"Brother, here’s a spirit pill for you," Yun Yanshuang said, extending her hand. Resting in her palm was a perfectly round pill that glowed with a faint red light.
"This isn’t an Embryo Breath Pill, is it?" Yun Yanshui asked, glancing at the pill with curiosity.
"No, this is an Appearance-Altering Pill that I managed to refine a few days ago," she replied with a smile.
"Appearance-Altering Pill?"
"Yes. Consuming this pill will temporarily change your appearance and aura. Its effect is strong enough that even cultivators above the Qi Refinement stage might struggle to discern your true identity.
"Since you’ll be protecting us from the shadows during our trip to the Dan Ding Sect ruins, this pill should come in handy to keep others from recognizing you," Yun Yanshuang explained.
"Thanks! This will be really useful. I was wondering how to disguise myself, but this solves the problem," Yun Yanshui said with a grin, carefully pocketing the pill.
He stood up, stretching. "I should head back to the clan. The family’s weapon forge has a lot of work waiting for me."
"Be careful on the road," Yun Yanshuang said, watching him leave.
Yun Yanshuang and Yun Yantian bid their family farewell and set off in a carriage toward the Dan Ding Sect ruins.
The ruins were located near the border between Yue Kingdom and Wu Kingdom, in a remote area overseen by a frontier town called Yuhuang County. The journey from Yunxiang County to Yuhuang County was a long one, requiring at least five days of travel.
Compared to Yunxiang County, Yuhuang County was a desolate and impoverished place.
The region consisted mostly of barren desert, with its residents eking out a living by venturing into the treacherous Canglong Ridge, a wilderness filled with poisonous mists and ferocious beasts.
The residents gathered wild fruits, vegetables, or hunted game to survive. However, the ridge was perilous, and over a thousand people from Yuhuang County lost their lives there annually.
Over time, many of the county’s young adults left in search of better opportunities, leaving behind only elderly residents clinging to memories of their hometown.
The town’s remaining vitality came from two sources: the thousands of elite soldiers stationed there by the imperial court and the rogue cultivators drawn by the allure of the Dan Ding Sect ruins.
The ruins, located deep within Canglong Ridge, had become a magnet for rogue cultivators hoping to find fortune or enlightenment despite the immense risks.
"To think that Yuhuang County, one of our kingdom’s vital frontier towns, is so desolate compared to Yunxiang County," Yun Yanshuang said, lifting the curtain of the carriage to observe the desolate streets.
It was broad daylight, yet the streets were almost empty save for a few elderly residents wandering about. The sight of the abandoned and worn-down town left her deeply moved.
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"This county is too barren. In the past, the younger generation could venture into Canglong Ridge to gather wild fruits and hunt to sustain their families.
"But ever since the Tongshan Xia family revealed that the Dan Ding Sect ruins are within the ridge, the young people here have been forbidden from entering the area.
"With no other means of survival, they had no choice but to leave their hometowns.
"Over time, this county naturally fell into decline, leaving behind only the imperial troops and the rogue cultivators drawn by the ruins," Yun Yantian explained.
"So, there are many rogue cultivators living here?" Yun Yanshuang asked.
"Yes. The proximity to the ruins makes it an ideal gathering spot for them. Some hope to find fortune and establish a foothold, transforming Yuhuang County into a sanctuary for rogue cultivators.
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"Some may even seize the opportunity to start a family lineage or establish a cultivation clan," Yun Yantian said with a small smile.
"And the imperial court allows this?"
"Of course. In fact, the court encourages it.
"With so many rogue cultivators gathered here, Wu Kingdom wouldn’t dare launch an invasion. Yuhuang County has effectively become a buffer zone protecting Yue Kingdom’s border," Yun Yantian explained.
"That makes sense," Yun Yanshuang agreed, nodding in understanding.
Arriving at a modest inn named Yuhuang Inn, Yun Yantian parked the carriage.
"Tomorrow, the ruins will open. Let’s rest here tonight to recuperate and adjust ourselves," he suggested.
An elderly innkeeper, noticing their arrival, hurriedly approached with a warm smile. Taking the reins from Yun Yantian, he led the horses to the stables while the siblings entered the inn to settle in for the night.
"Esteemed guests, are you here to lodge for the night?"
The innkeeper’s assistant greeted them with an ingratiating smile.
Yuhuang County had seen an influx of outsiders recently, and though the assistant was just an ordinary man, he was sharp-eyed and adept at gathering rumors. From what he’d learned, these visitors were mountain cultivators from Yue Kingdom, individuals with extraordinary abilities.
Both Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang dressed impeccably and carried themselves with an air of nobility, clearly marking them as members of a prestigious family. The assistant dared not neglect them, knowing that offending cultivators could bring disaster.
"Yes, we’ll be staying," Yun Yantian said with a light smile. He reached into his sleeve, retrieved a bar of silver, and placed it into the assistant’s hand. "We’ll take two of your finest rooms. Keep the change as a tip."
"Thank you, kind sir!"
The assistant beamed with joy. Such generosity! This silver bar was worth a small fortune to him, enough to significantly improve his family’s life.
He dreamed of catering to more visiting cultivators and noble heirs, thinking this could be his ticket to leaving Yuhuang County behind and settling somewhere prosperous.
Snapping out of his daydreams, he eagerly led Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang inside, stopping by the front desk to pay for the rooms and collect the keys. He then guided them to their second-floor accommodations.
Yun Yanshuang glanced around her room. The decor was plain, even bordering on spartan, but the space was clean and orderly.
She was relieved to find that Yun Yantian’s room was right next door. If anything happened during the night, they could quickly come to each other’s aid.
With that reassurance, she dismissed any lingering dissatisfaction about the simplicity of the accommodations.
"Esteemed guests, I hope you won’t mind the modesty of these quarters," the assistant said nervously.
"Yuhuang County has always been poor, and these are the best rooms our inn has to offer.
"You may not be aware, but recently, many outsiders from across Yue Kingdom have come to our county. Most of the inns are fully booked. Ours is one of the few that still has rooms available," he added quickly, afraid they might take offense.
"It’s clean enough. You can go now," Yun Yantian said, waving dismissively. He wasn’t bothered by the simplicity of the rooms—having a decent place to rest was sufficient.
"Of course, of course! Should you need anything, just call for me.
"While Yuhuang County is poor, we can still provide basic meals and hot water," the assistant assured them.
"Good. We’ll let you know if we need anything," Yun Yantian said with a smile.
As Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang prepared to retreat to their rooms, a familiar voice rang out.
"Oh? Brother Yantian, Lady Yanshuang, you’re staying at this inn too? What a coincidence!"
Turning toward the voice, they saw Wang Liyuan approaching.
Trailing behind him were two other Wang family members.
One was a woman in her early twenties—Wang Lizhu, who had been defeated by Ye Xiaolin during the Wang family’s gathering.
The other was a young man whose features bore a striking resemblance to Wang Lijiao.
Yun Yanshuang and Yun Yantian exchanged a quick glance, silently concluding that the boy must be Wang Lijiao’s younger brother.