Han Weicheng felt helpless; the person he least wanted to see deep inside was Ding Huan, yet he had to meet with him. Because, truth be told, he didn’t have Ding Huan’s communication bead. Most of what he had said previously was made up, other than the items he really sent, and Ding Huan’s promise to help once was also true.
Ding Huan bought some materials for setting up a teleportation array in Sky Device City before leaving the city. To Ding Huan’s surprise, as soon as he left the city, he saw Han Weicheng, looking dejected, walking toward Sky Device City.
Han Weicheng was in Sky Device City to use the teleportation array; he was searching for Ding Huan, and he had to take the teleportation array to Purple Garden City first, which made it much closer to head to Blue Star Sect from there.
He was pondering over what excuse to use to visit Ding Huan, and how many materials to prepare at the Heavenly Device Pavilion to give Ding Huan as a greeting gift.
"Lao Han, did you lose at gambling or did you argue with your wife? Why the long face?"
Ding Huan called out to Han Weicheng.
Han Weicheng hadn’t expected to run into Ding Huan, having not yet left and to encounter him right outside Sky Device City; he hurried forward to greet him respectfully:
"Ding Sect Master, I’ve come to ask for your help; I’m truly sorry to trouble you."
He was trembling with fear, a question incessantly nagging at his mind: why hadn’t Ding Huan left yet?
"Speak, what’s the issue?"
Ding Huan didn’t really mind. Considering the piece of Void Sand, he was willing to help if he could.
Han Weicheng quickly explained:
"It’s like this: My Heavenly Artifact Sect has always had a dispute with Seven Star Sect over a mining vein, which has escalated into some conflicts recently..."
Ding Huan could relate. Before establishing the Blue Star Sect, hadn’t Purple Mist Valley and Nine Sounds Sect been in conflict over Purple Garden Mountain too?
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"The elder of our sect, Chen Kuang, and an elder of the Seven Star Sect clashed over the mining vein, and as a result, with our Elder Chen outnumbered, he was captured by the Seven Star Sect. They are demanding our sect to compensate with an upper grade spirit vein and to give up the disputed mining vein as a condition for his release. Clearly, we cannot fulfill these demands, but Chen Kuang is the number one elder of our Heavenly Artifact Sect..."
Chen Kuang was indeed indispensable to the Heavenly Artifact Sect. Bu Tangtang was considered the number one Artifact Refining Master in the sect, and his master was Elder Chen Kuang. Chen Kuang was a walking encyclopedia of artifact refining knowledge; while he might not be the most skilled at refining, his theoretical understanding of artifact refining was unmatched in the Heavenly Artifact Sect.
It could be said that the Heavenly Artifact Sect could do without a sect master, but not without Chen Kuang.
"So, you want me to go and rescue Chen Kuang?" Ding Huan understood Han Weicheng’s implication.
Han Weicheng quickly rubbed his hands together with an awkward tone:
"It depends on whether it’s convenient for you, Ding Sect Master; if it’s not, that’s alright too."
Ding Huan nodded:
"Lead the way. Let’s go to the Seven Star Sect now."
What was this talk of convenience or inconvenience? His next stop had been to visit the Yanyue Sect to collect debts. Taking a detour to the Seven Star Sect was no big deal.
"Thank you, Ding Sect Master." Seeing Ding Huan agree so readily, Han Weicheng was elated and quickly summoned a spaceship, leading the way.
He had been ready to bleed himself dry, ready to gift everything from the Heavenly Device Pavilion to Ding Huan, but never expected Ding Huan to agree so easily.
Ding Huan simply stepped onto his Separation Spear, following behind Han Weicheng.
Seven Star Sect and Heavenly Artifact Sect were close by; in just half a day, Han Weicheng was standing outside a sect that was somewhat imposing.
To Ding Huan, what lent the sect this air of grandeur was the seven stars suspended by an array outside the Seven Star Sect. These seven stars seemed to follow some cosmic law, giving the illusion of a vast void.
However, that was only an illusion to others; Ding Huan practiced the Great Universe Technique, and to him, those seven stars were simply linked by a starry sky array, with no actual cosmic law involved.
"Ding Sect Master, shall I go and knock at the mountain gate?" Han Weicheng still sought Ding Huan’s opinion.
Ding Huan looked at Han Weicheng, speechless. Wasn’t it obvious? Was there even a need to ask?
Han Weicheng felt he was talking too much. He quickly approached the mountain gate and knocked on the protecting array of Seven Star Sect.
The array gate opened, and two guardian disciples frowned upon seeing Han Weicheng.
Obviously, they recognized Han Weicheng. Though he held a position in Heavenly Artifact Sect, to them, he was just so-so.
They were proud to be the guardians at the mountain gate, equally Foundation Establishment Cultivators; Han Weicheng was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"Please go and inform your sect master that Han Weicheng of Heavenly Artifact Sect seeks an audience," said Han Weicheng, bowing with utmost sincerity.
"Hehe, you, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, seek an audience with our sect master? What delusion has you under its spell?" One of the guards sneered at Han Weicheng, too lazy even to move.
Ding Huan couldn’t agree with Han Weicheng’s efficiency and spoke loudly:
"Ding Huan of Blue Star Sect, passing by Seven Star Sect, wishes to visit."
Ding Huan?
At the mention of Ding Huan’s name, both guardians instinctively grabbed their magical treasures, then quickly came to their senses, realizing that if Ding Huan wanted to confront the Seven Star Sect, their magical treasures were useless.
Before they could decide how to inform their sect of Ding Huan’s arrival, they saw five or six streaks of light rapidly approaching.
"Which one of you is Sect Leader Ding? I am Luo Changqing, Sect Leader of the Seven Star Sect." The young man at the forefront greeted with a fist and spoke in a very polite tone.
The man bore a scholarly appearance, looking every bit the part of a literate.
Ding Huan returned the greeting: "This humble one is Ding Huan, my apologies for disturbing Sect Master Luo."
"Haha, for Sect Leader Ding to visit our Seven Star Sect is an honor for us. Please, Sect Leader Ding..."
Luo Changqing laughed heartily, his invitation even more eager.
The elders following behind Luo Changqing also paid their respects to Ding Huan one after another, while Han Weicheng at their side was outright ignored.
Han Weicheng didn’t feel slighted or disrespected; in his heart, he was still pondering the weight of reputation.
Sect Leader Ding was here only to give his name, and the sect leader hurried out to welcome him.
After returning the greetings, Ding Huan continued,
"I am just passing through, I’ll find another opportunity to visit next time. Today, I am mainly here to assist the Heavenly Artifact Sect with a small matter, and I heard that there is a minor dispute between our sects..."
Before Ding Huan could finish speaking, Luo Changqing once again burst into laughter,
"What matter could it be, such a trivial thing. Elder Duxun, go and invite Elder Chen Kuang from the Heavenly Artifact Sect right away."
Han Weicheng was stunned by the efficiency of Ding Huan’s handling of the matter. Was it resolved just like that?
Not to mention the Seven Star Sect’s Sect Leader coming out to greet them personally, Ding Huan hadn’t even entered the Seven Star Sect yet, with just a single sentence...
No, not even a full sentence, and the sect leader had already guessed what Ding Huan was intending to do and sent someone to invite Elder Chen Kuang directly.
To think that the Heavenly Artifact Sect was still in a meeting discussing how to rescue Elder Chen Kuang.
Indeed, it was only a moment later that Elder Duxun of the Seven Star Sect arrived with a man with wild and unkempt hair.
"Elder Zhang..." Han Weicheng saw that Chen Kuang was unharmed and quickly went forward to greet him.
"Haha, so I am out now, and it turns out Elder Han has come."
Chen Kuang was wild, but not foolish.
He knew very well that this had absolutely nothing to do with Han Weicheng, but he had to speak as such, if only to maintain the prestige of the Heavenly Artifact Sect.
Han Weicheng internally sweated, thinking, Elder Zhang, aren’t you aware of how much weight I, Han Weicheng, carry?
Do I have such clout that the Seven Star Sect’s Sect Leader, accompanied by five elders, would come out to greet me at the sect’s entrance?
"Elder Zhang, this is Sect Leader Ding, the Sect Leader of the Blue Star Sect," Han Weicheng hurriedly introduced Ding Huan.
Upon hearing this, Chen Kuang immediately understood that his release must be related to Ding Huan. He too quickly greeted with a fist.
He had been detained for quite some time and was unaware that Ding Huan had recently eradicated the Dual Soul Sect.
After returning the greeting, Ding Huan, recognizing the awkwardness among them, interjected,
"Elder Han, you and Elder Zhang head back first. I will speak with Sect Master Luo for a moment."
"Yes, we will take our leave then. Should Sect Leader Ding pass by the Heavenly Artifact Sect next time, please be sure to visit so that I, Lao Han, can extend the hospitality of the host."
Before leaving, Han Weicheng gave himself a figurative pat on the back,
That is to say, he hinted to Luo Changqing that his relationship with Sect Leader Ding Huan was quite substantial.
Once Han Weicheng and Chen Kuang had left, Luo Changqing invited Ding Huan once again.
Ding Huan gestured with his hand,
"I indeed have matters to attend to, however, I see that Sect Master Luo’s cultivation is stuck in the True Pill Realm, and it seems there is a little problem with reaching perfection..."
Luo Changqing was startled, then sighed,
"Yes, perhaps it is related to my aptitude; despite decades of effort, I just cannot break through this final barrier."
Ding Huan smiled slightly,
"Would Sect Master Luo be willing to cultivate now for me to observe?"
Upon hearing Ding Huan’s words, not only was Luo Changqing shocked, but the other elders’ faces also showed anger.
They feared Ding Huan; hence upon learning Ding Huan’s intention, they had immediately released Chen Kuang without even stating a single condition.
And yet Ding Huan dared to insult their Sect Master, asking a Sect Leader to cultivate in front of them? This was too much.
Luo Changqing quickly realized his error in judgment—what kind of person was Ding Huan? Was there a need for him to humiliate a sect leader of an ordinary sect?
With this in mind, Luo Changqing immediately sat down and began to rotate his cultivation technique.
Witnessing Luo Changqing bear such humiliation, the other elders sighed inwardly, but being weaker, they had no choice but to be accommodative.
Luo Changqing practiced the Seven Stars Technique. As he began the cycle, Ding Huan immediately pinpointed the issue.
Luo Changqing had only run two cycles when he heard Ding Huan’s voice,
"If one possesses the Star Essence in their cauldron, the pill is the gold among stars... The Cycle traversed by the Star Essence constitutes the duty of thrice crossing, to and fro the three fields.
At the inception of the Star Essence Cycle, divert it downward to the lower field... When reaching great success, send it upward to the upper field, and henceforth, the cycle has no need of reversing to transform into spirit or qi, nor a need to return to the place of rebirth for the Star Essence. This signifies the true Cycle..."
A realization struck Luo Changqing, and he suddenly came to an epiphany that he had been following a convoluted path; his Cycle process was unnecessarily complex.
This was Sect Leader Ding guiding him.
Realizing this, Luo Changqing quickly started to run the Seven Stars Technique as per Ding Huan’s words. In just seven cycles, his True Pill became perfect.
Luo Changqing knew this was an encounter with great fortune; he didn’t stop there and immediately pushed towards the Primordial Soul Realm.
Only a single cycle had passed when suddenly, a muffled thunderous roar sounded from the sky.