"The latter part of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade, detailing the sword refinement and sword manipulation techniques for the Lesser Three Wonders Sword Array!"

Ye Qin stated. (WW.)

"The Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade?"

Palace Master Zhou paused, his face etched with difficulty. Clearly, he hadn't expected Ye Qin to request the refinement and manipulation techniques for the Lesser Three Wonders Sword Array, the final section of the Purple Sword Palace's foundational scripture.

"This is the ancestral immortal scripture of Purple Sword Palace, inherited for tens of thousands of years. Only core disciples of the Zhou lineage within the Purple Sword Palace are permitted to study this ancient slip. Even as Palace Master, I have no authority to violate the ban and privately impart the ancestral scripture to cultivators outside the Zhou lineage. Otherwise, the Elder Council of Purple Sword Palace would certainly veto it. Moreover, if an outsider were to learn our immortal scripture, according to our prohibitions, we would pursue them to the ends of the earth to prevent its transmission."

"But, I already possess the upper section, the Great Five Elements Sword Array, from the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade. Didn't the Palace Master know this long ago? Yet, the Palace Master never mentioned any transgression."

Ye Qin spoke, slightly startled at first, then quickly questioned with suspicion.

"That is different."

Palace Master Zhou shook his head. "My ancestor, the Violet Sword Divine Monarch, left behind two lines of inheritance. One lineage is in the Spirit Mist Cultivation Realm of the Central Continent, inherited by the Divine Monarch's direct personal disciples, most of whom are cultivators of different surnames. The other lineage is in the Purple Sword Immortal Palace of the East Sea Cultivation Realm, inherited by the Divine Monarch's direct bloodline descendants. Both are disciples of the Zhou lineage. The Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade you learned came from the Spirit Mist Cultivation Realm of the Central Continent, so it does not violate the prohibition of the Purple Sword Immortal Palace. The very reason the Purple Sword Immortal Palace invited you to join was precisely because you studied the Central Continent lineage's inheritance, meaning you have a connection to the Purple Sword Immortal Palace. Otherwise, the Purple Sword Palace would not so easily accept an outsider as a member. However, for me to impart the latter section of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade to you would still be a violation."

"Palace Master, is there no flexibility?"

Ye Qin couldn't help but feel a pang of worry. If he couldn't obtain the latter part of the slip from the Purple Sword Palace, would he have to return to the Central Continent to search for it? Traversing the vast ocean, even a Golden Core cultivator would need a year and a half to two years of continuous sword flight—a round trip would consume several years. This was far too time-consuming.

"Flexibility? Let me think!"

Palace Master Zhou paced back and forth in the grand hall, deep in thought. After a long period of contemplation, he suddenly remembered something and looked at Ye Qin. "The Immortal Palace has a regulation: any Elder of our Palace has the privilege to review all immortal scriptures within the palace, including this Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade. Furthermore, the ranks of Immortal Palace Elder are not restricted to Zhou lineage disciples; cultivators of different surnames within the Purple Sword Palace can also hold the position."

"This is the only way for you to obtain the latter section of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade from me. Tell me, do you wish to become an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace?"

"An Elder?" Ye Qin was astonished. "You want me to become an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace?"

"Precisely. I will do my utmost to persuade the Immortal Palace Elder Council to agree to your appointment as an Elder. Ultimately, the Central Continent lineage and the East Sea lineage both stem from the Purple Sword Divine Monarch's heritage—one through direct discipleship, the other through direct descent. If you can become my Elder by virtue of being a descendant of the Divine Monarch's Central Continent lineage, then the matter of reviewing the latter section of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade will become entirely logical. Moreover, whether one can become an Immortal Palace Elder is largely determined by the merits a cultivator has established for the Immortal Palace."

"By securing the Xu Nian Drum for the Purple Sword Palace, you have established merits of such magnitude that they surpass those of any other Elder. You are entirely qualified to hold the Elder position."

Ye Qin hesitated for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Palace Master, what duties do the Elders of the Purple Sword Palace normally handle?"

He had joined the Purple Sword Immortal Palace only recently, and immediately upon joining, he was dispatched with a team to carry out a mission to suppress the Tu Clan tribes. He knew almost nothing about the internal affairs of the Purple Sword Palace. Ye Qin certainly did not want to become an Elder only to exhaust himself managing trivial palace affairs.

"The Elders of our Purple Sword Palace hold a position of reverence, second only to the Palace Master. Typically, it is a position of leisure; they do not handle trivial matters, but rather oversee the Immortal Palace Elder Council. The Purple Sword Palace Elder Council wields immense authority; with the unanimous consent of all Elders, they can reject any order issued by the Palace Master. Furthermore, an Elder can use their Elder Token to directly command all Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Palace to execute missions."

"Our Purple Sword Palace Elders are usually cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage. The Purple Sword Immortal Palace currently has four Elders, all of whom are Nascent Soul cultivators who have rendered significant service to the Palace. However, if you agree, you would become the fifth Elder—and the only Golden Core stage Elder in the Purple Sword Palace."

Palace Master Zhou explained to Ye Qin with considerable patience.

"The other four Elders of the Purple Sword Palace are all Nascent Soul cultivators?"

Ye Qin was slightly taken aback, a shadow of concern crossing his face. "With my cultivation at the first layer of the Golden Core stage, even if I become an Elder, I won't be able to command the high-stage Golden Core cultivators of the Purple Sword Palace effectively. It won't be enough to command respect!"

"Cultivation is not the issue; you can slowly cultivate and improve later. I heard from Yao'er that you are close to perfecting the Great Five Elements Sword Array, correct? Once you reach the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage, the Great Five Elements Sword Array alone will be sufficient to win the complete submission of all Golden Core cultivators in the Purple Sword Palace. Consider it. If you agree, I will immediately notify the Purple Sword Palace Elder Council to appoint you as the fifth Elder. I trust the other four Elders will not oppose this appointment."

Palace Master Zhou smiled.

Ye Qin considered for a long time. He was alone and without strong backing in the East Sea. If he refused the kind offer of the Purple Sword Palace Master, he might find himself isolated and without aid should danger arise in the Northern Islands in the future. Becoming an Elder of the Purple Sword Palace would grant him a formidable backing. Moreover, being able to command the Golden Core cultivators of the Purple Sword Palace meant that no cultivator in the Northern Islands would dare provoke him later on.

"Very well. However, concerning the position of Elder in the Purple Sword Palace, I do not wish to expend my energy dealing with the palace's affairs. I intend to enter secluded cultivation to enhance my cultivation and break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck as soon as possible."

Ye Qin hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded in agreement.

"You need not worry about that. The other four Elders of the Purple Sword Palace are also typically in long-term seclusion, focusing purely on their cultivation. Unless the Purple Sword Palace faces a major crisis, the Elders rarely venture out."

Palace Master Zhou was overjoyed when Ye Qin agreed. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement. By appointing Ye Qin as the fifth Elder, he expended almost no capital while successfully winning over a Golden Core cultivator brimming with potential and promise. Since Ye Qin had mastered the Great Five Elements Sword Array, he had a high chance of becoming an Elder of formidable combat power in the future.

"Wait a moment. I need to consult with the four Elders." He quickly wrote a few characters and sent a Transmission Talisman flying towards the secret chamber in the rear hall of the Purple Sword Immortal Palace.

A while later, four talismans flew back from the secret chamber within the Purple Sword Immortal Palace.

"I have presented the matter to the four Elders, and they raised no objections. You are now the fifth Elder of the Purple Sword Palace. Here is a replicated copy of the latter section of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade. Additionally, I will include some of my personal insights on sword manipulation."

After reading the four talismans, Palace Master Zhou smiled, and a jade slip appeared in his palm, transforming into a beam of fluorescent light that flew towards Ye Qin.

Ye Qin waved his hand, grasping the jade slip, and extended his divine sense into it. After a moment, joy bloomed on Ye Qin's face. It was indeed the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade—this purple sword jade slip, which he had been unable to obtain, was finally in his possession.

"Many thanks, Palace Master!"

Ye Qin contentedly tucked the jade slip away.

"The Great Five Elements Sword Array has not been mastered by anyone for thousands of years, and the Lesser Three Wonders Sword Array has gone untouched for over ten thousand years, gathering dust in the secret chamber. The formidable reputation of the Purple Sword Palace's 'Great Five Elements Sword Array and Lesser Three Wonders Sword Array' has long since faded from the East Sea, almost making people forget its might. I hope that in your hands, its prestige will once again resound across the seas."

Palace Master Zhou sighed softly. After some thought, he continued, "The rewards I grant you are incomparable to the importance of the Niu Drum; they are not on the same level. This copy of the Ancient Jade Slip of Violet Jade alone is insufficient reward for the merits you have established. Let me consider what other rewards I can offer! How about this: the Immortal Palace will supply you with spiritual pills of the seventh to ninth grades, sixty pills every month, and high-grade spirit stones required for your cultivation techniques, thirty pieces every month, until you reach the peak of the ninth layer of the Golden Core stage. Are these rewards satisfactory?"

Ye Qin nodded, though he wasn't overly concerned about them. As a Grandmaster Alchemist, he was not short of spiritual pills or spirit stones. He could easily acquire high-grade spirit herbs and high-grade spirit stones at the market in White Float City. However, since Palace Master Zhou insisted on giving them, he would not refuse.

Palace Master Zhou seemed to feel that he still owed Ye Qin something. "Junior Martial Nephew Ye, if you require any other items, do not hesitate to ask me. Or, when you are breaking through the bottleneck to the Nascent Soul stage, I will lend you a hand." His tone had become much warmer, directly addressing Ye Qin as a close junior relative.

"Thank you, Palace Master. I don't lack anything at the moment. If I have needs in the future, I will certainly ask the Palace Master."

Ye Qin stated calmly. The Palace Master's offer to help him break through the Nascent Soul bottleneck was likely just a courtesy; Ye Qin didn't take it seriously. It was not an easy feat for a Golden Core cultivator to break through to Nascent Soul, and even with the assistance of a Nascent Soul cultivator, the probability of success remained slim. Otherwise, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in the East Sea Cultivation Realm would not be so sparse.

"The appointment of a fifth Elder to the Purple Sword Palace is an event of utmost solemnity. I shall issue orders now to prepare over the next few days. We will convene all Nascent Soul, Golden Core, and Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Purple Sword Palace for a grand celebration."

Palace Master Zhou nodded and spoke. That day, Zhou Yu, the Palace Master of the Purple Sword Palace, instructed his direct descendant, Zhou Yi, to summon all Purple Sword Palace cultivators back to the Immortal Palace to prepare for the celebration.

Several days later, thousands of cultivators from the Purple Sword Palace received the summons from the Palace Master and rushed back from all corners of the East Sea, converging upon the Purple Sword Immortal Palace. The Palace instantly became bustling and lively.

"With the Purple Sword Summons issued, almost all members of the Palace, from the Nascent Soul Elders to the Golden Core cultivators, have returned, save for those in life-or-death seclusion."

"There are five Nascent Soul cultivators, including the Palace Master and the four Elders. There are eighty-four Golden Core cultivators in total. The Foundation Establishment stage cultivators number nearly two thousand. The Qi Refining stage cultivators were not summoned and are thus disregarded."

"In addition to our own cultivators, as per the instructions of our ancestor, we have also invited the major Immortal Palaces from the Northern Islands of the East Sea to witness this event. The various Immortal Palaces have sent representatives. The closely allied Immortal Palaces were attended by their direct heirs or Elders personally. Other Immortal Palaces mostly sent important members of their respective palaces." (To be continued)