Qin lingered by the river of magma for a brief while. When he finally left the Ten Thousand Wither Caves after three years, the entire complex had utterly transformed. The third level of the caves now hosted numerous fire-elemental ore collection sites, with low-level miners from over a dozen sects digging for minerals within the scorching caverns.

On the second level, the spirit stone mining tunnels had long been carved up and claimed by the various cultivation sects, fortified with extensive restrictive arrays, making passage impossible for unauthorized disciples. He found he could only proceed through the tunnels controlled by the Azure Pill Sect.

Even the Azure Pill Sect’s tunnels were riddled with formidable restrictive formations, guarded by a host of miners.

“Crack!”

Inside one of the spirit stone tunnels on the second level, a burly miner foreman, a fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator of the Azure Pill Sect, cracked a whip in his hand. Staring at the barely half-full wicker basket before him, he roared at the group of low-level miners, “You wretches, you don't feel right unless you’re beaten every day, do you? You’ve only dug up this little all day—what good are you?”

The miners in their short tunics—some mere seventeen or eighteen-year-old youths, others sixty-year-old men—all possessed extremely low cultivation levels. They clutched their mining picks, shrinking away from the foreman. One miner, though struck by the whip, dared not utter a sound lest he invite a far more vicious beating.

At that moment, a streak of green shadow materialized within the tunnel, moving outward.

The burly foreman was muttering curses when he spotted a green-robed cultivator emerging empty-handed from the tunnel behind him. Rage instantly flared. Here was another one shirking work—unacceptable! He immediately lashed out with his whip.

But the whip struck nothing but air. The green-robed cultivator merely swayed slightly, avoiding the strike, and stood silently in place, a frown creasing his brow as he regarded the foreman.

The brute was stunned. There was no miner in this passage capable of evading his whip. He quickly activated his Spiritual Sight technique to investigate, only to discover that he could not discern the cultivation level of the green-robed cultivator before him at all.

Within the same minor stage of cultivation, cultivators could generally probe each other’s levels. A fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator could usually detect a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator. However, once a cultivator crossed an entire minor stage boundary, detection became exceptionally difficult.

A fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivator simply could not probe the tier of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whose power far surpassed his own.

Foundation Establishment?

The miner foreman paused for a flicker, then immediately grasped the terrifying possibility. Fear ripped through him, and he shrieked in alarm, dropping his whip and falling to his knees to kowtow and beg for mercy.

“M-Martial Uncle, forgive me! I was mistaken, I truly deserve death.”

The brute stammered wildly, slapping his own face several times, desperate that the green-robed cultivator would not hold a grudge. A Foundation Establishment master was certainly not someone a nobody like him could afford to offend. Even if this Martial Uncle killed him, not a single soul in the sect would speak a word on his behalf. As for when this Martial Uncle entered the mines, it was utterly irrelevant to him.

Ye Qin’s gaze swept over the handful of dusty, cowed miners huddled to the side, and then landed on the foreman kneeling on the ground begging for pardon. He felt no goodwill toward the foreman, only a surge of distaste. His voice was cold and indifferent. “Enough. You are all disciples of this sect. What were you doing just now?”

The brute looked up tentatively, sensing that his Martial Uncle seemed relatively reasonable, not the type to fly into a rage over trifles. He quickly explained, “I was just instructing them, Martial Uncle. By the rules, they must hand in one basket of spirit stones daily, but these few are too lazy. After half a day, they haven’t even dug half a basket, and I fear they won’t meet today’s quota.”

Ye Qin stared at him coldly, his voice deepening with a sneer, “So you resorted to using a whip to discipline fellow disciples? Who authorized you to use corporal punishment?”

The foreman felt the immense spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator pinning him to the ground, rendering him immobile. Dripping with sweat, he pleaded miserably, “Martial Uncle, we aren’t truly disciples of the Azure Pill Sect—this is hardly corporal punishment. Martial Uncle, please see clearly!”

“Not disciples of the Azure Pill Sect?”

Ye Qin quietly dissipated the spiritual pressure, frowning. “Then who are you people?”

The brute instantly felt the weight lift, the mountain of pressure vanishing. He became exceedingly compliant, ignoring his sweat-drenched state, and hastened to placate the master with a strained smile. “My Lord might be unaware, but the Azure Pill Sect has eight thousand green-robed disciples. Many of them form dual cultivation bonds, and naturally, quite a few have children. If a child has decent spiritual root potential, they are naturally taken in as official Azure Pill Sect disciples. But not everyone has spiritual roots. Mortals without roots are sent away from the sect to be fostered by secular families in various kingdoms.”

“Furthermore, there is another segment: those who possess spiritual roots but whose potential is extremely poor—the mediocre cultivators. After decades of effort, they barely reach the low tiers of Qi Refining and are never counted in the official roster of the Azure Pill Sect disciples.”

“The first generation of children was fine; at least they were looked after by official Azure Pill Sect disciples and suffered no hardship. But after several generations, the connection to the Azure Pill Sect essentially vanishes. Take me, for example. My ancestor was an official disciple three generations ago. After my great-grandfather died, none of us descendants received any support. We were forced to come here and work as foremen to earn meager wages. Please, Martial Uncle, do not make things difficult for me. This is true not just for our Azure Pill Sect; it’s the same for every sect—the dirtiest and hardest labor is performed by cultivators like us.”

The foreman spoke faster and faster. Seeing that Ye Qin did not press his earlier accusation, he poured out everything in one breath, hoping Ye Qin would not hold the initial incident against him.

“How many people like you, who are not considered official disciples, are there in the Azure Pill Sect?”

“This lowly one doesn’t know precisely. But there must be several thousand, and that’s only counting those with spiritual roots. Those without roots were sent away immediately and aren’t counted.”

Ye Qin was silent for a moment. “Why don’t you leave the Azure Pill Sect and seek livelihoods elsewhere?”

“Leave the Azure Pill Sect? Our ancestors have lived here for generations. If we leave here, where else can we go?” The foreman’s face was blank with bewilderment. “Besides, isn’t being a cultivator in the Azure Pill Sect a good thing? Maybe my son will be born with high spiritual roots, and we can send him straight into the sect! If we left, it wouldn’t be nearly so easy.”

Ye Qin grew even more silent. After a long period of thought, he ultimately shook his head with a sigh of helplessness. Though he found the plight of these miners distressing, what could he do? As long as cultivators engaged in dual cultivation, children were inevitable. With children came those without roots or with extremely low potential—this was natural, beyond human control. Such people were born weak and found survival in cultivation sects incredibly difficult.

Should he tell cultivators they were forbidden from having children?

Unions between cultivators were far more likely to produce offspring with spiritual roots. Among secular mortals, it was much harder to find individuals with spiritual roots. In fact, every sect encouraged its disciples to dual cultivate and propagate.

This issue could likely never be eradicated; even the Sect Master couldn't resolve it, and it was certainly not his place to interfere.

Ye Qin found it hard to criticize the foreman further. The foreman and the miners were much the same; they held no standing within the Azure Pill Sect. The foreman could only throw his meager authority around against weaker miners in these tunnels. They were all pitiable figures.

His expression softened, and he walked toward the tunnel exit.

Seeing Ye Qin preparing to depart, the foreman quickly tried to ingratiate himself. “Martial Uncle, is there anything small I can assist with? I may not be good at much, but I am of some use here in the mines.”

“Is Elder Zhao still at Ten Thousand Wither Peaks? Have you heard anything about him? What has been happening regarding him over the last three years?”

“He is. Elder Zhao has remained at the Azure Pill Sect encampment outside the Ten Thousand Wither Peaks. The year before last, I heard he was searching for news of his younger son, but that pursuit has quieted down over the last two years. I haven’t heard anything about Elder Zhao this year. Shall I inform Elder Zhao that you are here?”

“No need. I will return directly to the main gate.”

Ye Qin had no desire to actively seek out Elder Zhao. Since there had been no movement from Elder Zhao’s side, he wasn’t overly concerned that the Elder would cause him trouble.

“Yes!”

The foreman followed Ye Qin with extreme deference until he escorted Ye Qin completely out of the Ten Thousand Wither Caves, only then reluctantly returning to the tunnel. Having spoken with a Foundation Establishment Martial Uncle was capital he could boast about to his peers later, even though he didn't know the Martial Uncle’s name or why he had appeared in that tunnel.

Ye Qin felt a slight annoyance regarding the foreman who had bowed and scraped along the way. Even if he had wanted to secretly pilfer some spirit stones, it would have been inconvenient. However, having now achieved Foundation Establishment, his need for spirit stones was not pressing. The stones required for routine alchemy were few, and the remainder in his storage bag would suffice for the time being.

Emerging from the tunnel, Ye Qin glanced up at the searing sun blazing in the sky above Ten Thousand Wither Peaks, and the empty, vast wilderness. A feeling of re-emergence washed over him. After the cave trial and secluded advancement to Foundation Establishment, he was finally out after three years.

Ye Qin summoned a flying sword, formed a hand seal, and the sword erupted into a nearly ten-foot blade of light. He then leaped up, landing on the sword, and soared high into the sky, controlling the sword’s flight toward the Azure Pill Mountain Range while savoring the exhilaration of aerial travel.

Sword Riding is an advanced application of the Object Control technique; the principle is similar, relying on spiritual sense and magical power to manipulate an object. After reaching Foundation Establishment, spiritual sense and power greatly increase, allowing a person to stand atop the manipulated object without easily falling off.

Of course, this was only the most basic form of sword riding. To effectively use the flying sword for combat, one ideally needed to practice specialized sword mantras; otherwise, the sword’s full power could not be unleashed.

More than ten days later, Ye Qin arrived, encountering no incidents, and flew over the Azure Pill Mountain Range.

The Azure Pill Mountain Range spanned a thousand miles in circumference. Flight was generally permitted across most areas, but the seven main peaks were protected by restrictive arrays; only the large bluestone plaza before the main hall permitted landing. Unauthorized flight in other areas was forbidden.

Upon entering the Azure Pill Mountain Range, Ye Qin encountered several small patrols of mountain-guarding disciples. These disciples merely checked his token respectfully and did not ask many questions.

Ye Qin landed in the plaza of Azure Pill Peak, retracted his flying sword, and proceeded toward the Purple Gold Grand Hall to pay respects to Sect Master Wu.

On the way back to the Azure Pill Sect, he had been repeatedly weighing two matters. The first was Wu Zijian. That fellow had once led a group to hunt him down; that grudge wouldn't vanish easily. Wu Zijian’s father was Vice Sect Master Wu, which gave Ye Qin a major headache; avenging his past humiliation wouldn't be simple. Yet, letting the matter slide was also unacceptable—who knew what schemes Wu Zijian might concoct?

The other matter was Huangfu Bing’er. However, with Martial Aunt Chen Min present, even if he met her, he would have to remain silent.

As for Elder Zhao’s son, Zhao Qiankun, that was the simplest issue. As long as Elder Zhao remained at Ten Thousand Wither Peaks, far from the Azure Pill Sect, he couldn’t stir up much trouble. Elder Zhao ranked third in status within the sect, which wasn’t particularly high. Now that Ye Qin was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had nothing much to fear.

Ye Qin decided to see the Sect Master first.

He recalled that any Azure Pill Sect disciple who reached the Foundation Establishment realm was entitled to several small plots of land on the main peak—where the spiritual energy was densest—for cultivating medicinal herbs. Although he didn’t urgently need them, having a few extra plots wouldn't hurt.

In the Purple Gold Grand Hall, four blue-robed attendant disciples of the ninth layer of Qi Refining stood guard. Upon seeing Ye Qin, they immediately sensed his Foundation Establishment cultivation. Though he was unfamiliar to them, they dared not be negligent and quickly saluted, “Greetings, Martial Uncle. May we inquire as to your purpose here?”

Ye Qin was slightly unaccustomed to the deference from Qi Refining disciples. He politely returned the bow and smiled, “Is the Sect Master in?”

“Sect Master Wu is currently handling an important matter with several Elders. If you wish to see him, Martial Uncle, I fear he may not have time to receive you right now,” one leading blue-robed disciple said with an expression of difficulty. “May I ask if your matter is urgent? Perhaps…”

Ye Qin smiled faintly. “I have just reached Foundation Establishment and wished to inform the Sect Master. It’s nothing critically important.”

The blue-robed disciple brightened. “Oh, I see. No wonder you look unfamiliar to this disciple. Congratulations, Martial Uncle, on successfully reaching Foundation Establishment. This is simple; you only need to register in the side hall. I can arrange lodging for you; Martial Uncle can reside in the pavilion on Azure Pill Peak temporarily. I will report your arrival to the Sect Master, and when he has a moment in a couple of days, he can discuss the matters of the herb plots and lodging with you.”

Hearing that the Sect Master was unavailable, Ye Qin could only nod in agreement, feeling slightly helpless.

The leading blue-robed disciple led the way.

Ye Qin followed him to the side hall to re-register, officially changing his status from a Qi Refining disciple of the Azure Pill Sect to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, becoming one of the two hundred Foundation Establishment members, and exchanging his token for a new Azure Pill Sect identification plaque.

He was then escorted to the living quarters reserved for Foundation Establishment cultivators for temporary residence.

The architectural complex on Azure Pill Peak was vast. Very few cultivators were qualified to live here; in total, only about thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators resided on Azure Pill Peak.

Each Foundation Establishment cultivator was allocated a small private courtyard, featuring a three-story pavilion and an attached yard. It contained everything needed: living quarters, a main hall, guest rooms, a study, an alchemy chamber, a meditation room, and a seclusion chamber—all fully equipped. There was even ample space should one later acquire a dual cultivation partner or even offspring.

The pavilion was impeccably clean, clearly maintained regularly. The carved beams of the doors and windows, and the small pavilions, were crafted from expensive materials like purple sandalwood and other top-grade woods, exquisitely detailed, radiating the imposing atmosphere of a major sect amidst its luxury.

Ye Qin couldn't help but nod. This level of treatment was far beyond what Qi Refining disciples could ever expect.

“This is just temporary lodging. If Martial Uncle finds it unsuitable, you may commission the construction of a new pavilion, selecting master craftsmen from the Southern Liang Kingdom to build exactly what you desire. Additionally, if Martial Uncle requires servants or attendant maidens, they are available upon request; many disciples in the sect are eager to serve a Martial Uncle such as yourself.”

The blue-robed disciple stated respectfully.

Ye Qin paused in surprise. Although the blue-robed disciple spoke subtly, Ye Qin understood that these attendant maidens were not merely there to perform chores. Low-ranking cultivators in the sect, particularly those not even counting as ordinary disciples, possessed negligible status. Being able to attach oneself to a high-ranking sect member, even as a serving maid, was far from a poor alternative path.

He remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand.

The blue-robed disciple immediately bowed low and retreated humbly from the pavilion. (To be continued. For the next installment, please visit www**com for more chapters, supporting the author and legitimate reading!) First release