Chapter 1189: Chapter 1189: The Pill Sect’s Past Affairs
"Alright, everyone find a suitable place and take a break."
Not long after the people from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers departed, the Ancient Abyss Sect and Pill Sect also halted their progress. Instead, the sect leaders of both sects ordered a pause for the journey.
The decision was just given, and the disciples of both sects were somewhat puzzled. People from the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers had already left first, why are we pausing the treasure hunt?
After a round of murmurs among the disciples of the two sects, they finally sent their senior disciples Lin Zimu and Ye Changqing to represent them and raised their doubts to the sect leader respectively:
Disciples within the sect are not tired yet, their physical strength is sufficient to continue; wouldn’t this pause make us fall behind?
The two sect leaders exchanged smiles and simultaneously looked at Yang Yan.
After all, it was his suggestion.
Yang Yan had long sensed something indescribably off but couldn’t pinpoint the issue, hence he proposed a pause to observe changes and clear his thoughts.
But it was just a feeling, he couldn’t be sure, naturally he couldn’t say he called for a halt because he didn’t understand the situation.
But since the question was raised, Yang Yan had to provide a persuasive reason.
Fortunately, he had already considered this issue thoroughly during his discussion with the sect leaders.
So, amid the puzzled gazes of the disciples, Yang Yan leapt onto a nearby high ground and explained:
"Everyone has seen that currently we are only in the outskirts, yet already encountered monsters that require our Ancient Abyss Sect, Pill Sect, and Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers to work together to handle."
"And that’s just the outskirts; it’s uncertain what level of creatures will appear once we enter the inner circle. Therefore, it’s best to take a break now and adjust our condition to be ready for the challenges ahead."
Many disciples nodded in agreement and didn’t dispute it, though some untimely voices of doubt emerged:
"With this halt, aren’t we afraid of letting other sects surpass us? Won’t we be leaving the treasures inside to others?"
Upon hearing this, many disciples began to waver and were caught in dilemma.
Seeing his persuasion take effect, that person was about to feel proud but saw Yang Yan smiling and looking at him with a gaze of compassion for his foolishness.
"You have to be alive to take it, don’t you..."
Yang Yan said with a cold smile, then swept his gaze over the disciples of the two sects, and said:
"Does anyone here still think there’s a sect that can proceed alone afterward?"
"Even if they manage to seize treasures, they will inevitably pay a price; why should we become the vanguards?"
"It’s better to let them take the risk first, then we can follow and reap the benefits."
Now, finally no disciple posed any more doubts.
After reaching a consensus, the disciples of the two sects began to set up the resting area.
On the Ancient Abyss Sect’s side, Elder Dugu directly arranged a simple Level-One Spirit Array, which only serves as an alarm if there are intrusions.
The disciples also took out spiritual treasures for area defense, quickly clearing the grounds and started resting.
Although currently the Ancient Abyss Sect and Pill Sect are on good terms, they haven’t reached a stage where they are inseparable, hence they rest separately.
Nevertheless, some privately amicable disciples from both sects seized the chance for exchange, contributing to the promotion of relations between the two sects.
Guoguo was interested in Pill Sect disciples’ spiritual treasures and enthusiastically approached to inquire and identify them. Knowing she was the Young Sect Leader of the Ancient Abyss Sect, the disciples of the Pill Sect, although somewhat annoyed by Guoguo’s temperament, had to accommodate her.
Meanwhile, Yang Yan also took the opportunity to converse further with Ye Changqing.
When asking about the relationship between the Pill Sect and Dharma Gate, Ye Changqing helplessly shook his head, covering up the initial trace of disdain he showed, and said:
"This Dharma Gate has no feud with my Pill Sect, but their attitude towards people and matters is truly annoying; many disciples look down on each other."
"Just like what Yang Yan saw earlier, that Snow Leisure Grass was discovered by me and some disciples first, and just as one disciple was about to pick it, a squad from Dharma Gate jumped in!"
Upon hearing this, Yang Yan couldn’t help but inwardly criticize.
Though whoever talks about this feels justified, if it had happened to him, he would have been fighting for it without a word.
"However, between our two sects, there are just minor conflicts. It’s the Yizheng Sect that is deeply despised by everyone in our sect."
The ensuing narrative from Ye Changqing provided unexpected information to Yang Yan.
Elder Dugu only informed him that Wandering Dragon Star holds the Immortal Cultivation Conference every ten years to select talents for the Dao Sect, but did not mention there is a pre-selection Sect Conference held before the Immortal Cultivation Conference.
Only the young generation that excels in the Sect Conference gets the eligibility to participate in the Immortal Cultivation Conference.
And in the Sect Conference seven years ago, Pill Sect’s leading disciple was murdered by Yizheng Sect contrary to the rules of the conference, losing the chance to participate in the Immortal Cultivation Conference.
From then on, the two sects harbored deep resentment towards each other.
But considering the Immortal Cultivation Conference was approaching at that time, and their own lack of strength, Sect Leader Lin Xuan braved the inner hatred and refrained from seeking vengeance.
They naturally didn’t accept the hypocritical compensation offered by Yizheng Sect, choosing to endure humiliations and await revenge.
Fortunately, the internal unity of Pill Sect managed to remain intact amidst the upheavals, understanding the actions of their sect leader.
However, during the last Immortal Cultivation Conference, a disciple from Yizheng Sect joined Dao Sect and Yizheng Sect received rewards from Dao Sect, further growing stronger, making revenge even more elusive.
Hearing the disgraceful deeds of Yizheng Sect, Yang Yan sighed repeatedly, then spat out word by word:
"Yizheng Sect, huh! Hmph, I wouldn’t forget what they did to me and the four swords."
"What happened?"
"Never mind..."
Just as Yang Yan responded, he felt the ground began to shake slightly, and increasingly violently.
The Spirit Array set up by Elder Dugu started to alert, waking up the resting disciples on the ground.
"What’s happening? Is this ice field going to... collapse?"
One awakened disciple shouted in alarm.
"No way... How could this happen?"
The disciples of the two sects started discussing anxiously, perplexed by the sudden situation.
The sect leaders, elders, Lin Zimu, Yang Yan, Ye Changqing, and other leading disciples managed to remain calm, analyzing the situation.
"I didn’t sense any spiritual power fluctuations underground; is the geological structure really changing?"
After sensing, Elder Dugu said.
"No. If you look closely, the tremor is coming from that direction."
"Moreover, there are indeed no spiritual power fluctuations; it seems like a normal external force."
As an alchemist, Pill Sect’s sect leader Dan Xuan’s perception of the external world is naturally more acute than those of the same level.
Before the elders of the two sects could speak to stabilize the disciples’ emotions, Guoguo’s loud order was heard:
"Why panic! Aren’t you supposed to be the elites of the sect? If the ground collapses, can’t you just fly up?"
The Young Sect Leader can indeed lead in a crucial moment!
Oh right, as long as they fly up, there’s no issue!
Those agitated disciples heard this and felt embarrassed, immediately flying into the air.
Looking in the direction pointed out by Sect Leader Dan Xuan, they saw the snow dust churning on that horizon, as if there was a fairly large group of people and horses storming towards them, causing the ground vibrations.
