Ye Wen’s sudden impulse to refine the Nine Provinces Cauldron was just that—an impulse. Had he possessed any deeper understanding of the treasure cauldron, he likely wouldn't have entertained such a notion.

Zhang Sanfeng, however, knew a great deal about the cauldron. He understood that it was not an artifact ordinary people could refine. The Nine Provinces Cauldron was no common treasure that an Earth Immortal could casually command; according to the universally accepted judgment within the cultivation world, commanding the Nine Provinces Cauldron freely required the power of a true Immortal, at the very least.

How could he not be astonished that Ye Wen was attempting to refine it with only the cultivation level of an Earth Immortal?

Yet, Zhang Sanfeng did not know that Ye Wen hadn't intended to complete the full refining process as others might assume. He merely wished to establish a preliminary connection with the cauldron. Furthermore, he believed he possessed an inherent advantage: due to the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire, he and the Nine Provinces Cauldron had already begun a nascent merging. In fact, Ye Wen felt it was more akin to the cauldron seeking a safe haven on its own after sensing danger.

Regardless of the underlying reason, since the Nine Provinces Cauldron was actively establishing a connection with Ye Wen, it would be utterly foolish not to leverage this opportunity to secure greater benefits for himself!

As his True Qi circulated, Ye Wen felt a channel of connection form between his vital energy and the Nine Provinces Cauldron. What surprised him even more was that his True Qi did not dissipate upon entering the cauldron; instead, it completed a circuit and returned to his body, seemingly purified in the process.

“Could it be… I’ve inadvertently discovered a method to cultivate using the Nine Provinces Cauldron?”

But this was not his primary goal. Thus, Ye Wen increased the output of his True Qi, while silently following the refining methods Zhang Hengguang had taught him.

This intense effort lasted a full hour. Zhang Sanfeng watched quietly from the side. He hadn't ruled out offering assistance, but when Ye Wen and the cauldron formed a loop, the cauldron automatically emitted a luminous screen that barred his advance. He could only wait until Ye Wen completed the process.

When the light dispersed, Zhang Sanfeng saw Ye Wen still standing in place, the Nine Provinces Cauldron appearing exactly as it had before. This led Zhang Sanfeng to believe Ye Wen had failed.

Just as he was about to speak, Ye Wen opened his eyes and murmured, “While not a complete success, it’s slightly better than I originally anticipated!”

Zhang Sanfeng started, “Has Sect Master Ye refined the Nine Provinces Cauldron for his personal use?”

Ye Wen shook his head. “Not entirely. I can only apply some of the basic functionalities of the cauldron. At best, it’s a preliminary application; I cannot utilize its profound and esoteric marvels!”

It turned out the Nine Provinces Cauldron possessed myriad subtle functions, almost forming its own internal realm. Tempering the primordial energy of heaven and earth and suppressing the destiny of a nation were merely broad descriptions. In reality, there were numerous specific uses, and Ye Wen currently only grasped the rudimentary aspects. Yet, precisely these rudimentary aspects were what Ye Wen needed most at the moment.

It was then that Ye Wen learned from the Nine Provinces Cauldron that Penglai Immortal Realm was also connected to it. He could use the treasure cauldron to open a gate for himself, allowing him to move in and out freely.

However, due to his current limited power, Ye Wen could only enter Penglai Immortal Realm from fixed locations. If his cultivation deepened in the future, as long as he held the Nine Provinces Cauldron, he could enter whenever and wherever he pleased, without restraint.

More crucially, besides the Penglai Immortal Realm and Kunlun Immortal Realm that Ye Wen already knew about, the Nine Provinces Cauldron could also connect to several other minor worlds, such as Luofu Immortal Realm, Changbai Immortal Realm, the East Sea Immortal Palace, and the South Sea Immortal Palace. Each of these minor worlds was abundant in spiritual energy, and because they lay within the Nine Provinces' domain, they all had a certain connection to the Nine Provinces Cauldron, allowing access through this artifact.

He would tell no one these things for now, as the implications involved interests too vast. If he revealed this information, the dispute over seizing the cauldron, which had only recently calmed down, might erupt again!

Possessing this cauldron was tantamount to owning several minor worlds. Which renowned sect would not desire exclusive control over one? And who would be willing to place the right to enter and exit these worlds in the hands of another? Therefore, a massive dispute over benefits would inevitably lead to conflict. To avoid becoming the target of everyone’s envy again, Ye Wen decided to act as if he knew nothing.

After all, if he didn't speak of these matters, no one would ever know! The only way to discover them was through the Nine Provinces Cauldron in his possession, and the cauldron would never be given to anyone else.

After exchanging a few words with Zhang Sanfeng, Ye Wen merely stated that he could now open a rift using the treasure cauldron, allowing the two of them to move freely, and that he could even use the cauldron to return to this immortal realm later.

Zhang Sanfeng nodded without saying much. After Ye Wen opened a rift, they departed together.

Returning to the secular world, Ye Wen felt an immediate sense of suffocation. Although he didn't place the same extreme value on spiritual energy as pure cultivators, an environment rich in spiritual energy always felt more comfortable. Furthermore, the mundane world not only lacked spiritual energy but also had far less abundant primordial energy, and was filled with countless chaotic and harmful substances, making it decidedly unpleasant.

Ye Wen was relatively fine. Zhang Sanfeng, standing beside him, immediately frowned. After a brief fluctuation of spiritual energy around his body, his frown eased. Ye Wen noticed that in that brief moment, Zhang Sanfeng had spread a thin layer of spiritual energy around him, effectively isolating himself from the outside.

This action was performed with utter ease, almost without any discernible movement or incantation, demonstrating the perfect mastery Zhang Sanfeng had over his spiritual energy. A master of this caliber could likely perform techniques far faster than ordinary cultivators.

Upon emerging, they found it was already night. Hovering above the vast sea, the old man and the young man exchanged a look. Ye Wen spoke first: “Let’s go straight to my school.” He then took out his mobile phone from the Birth of Venus Ring and called Tommy and Chris, instructing them to head immediately to his school in Sichuan, urging them to keep a low profile during their travel, preferably avoiding detection by those cultivators.

Fortunately, among their group, only Chris, who operated frequently in Europe, was known to the Vampires and Werewolves. Tommy and Zheng Ying had little public recognition. Outsiders might encounter them without realizing they were his disciples. Only the few from the Kunlun Sect had seen them, so as long as they avoided those individuals, things should be fine.

Thinking of this, Ye Wen’s mind drifted to the bizarre coma of the Reclusive Scholar of North River. Logically, since Ye Wen had already retreated from Europe, if North River had any plans, he should have woken up by now. Yet, in his earlier conversation with Chris and the others, he learned that Wang Zhao and the other from the Kunlun Sect were still attending to the still-unconscious scholar. This truly baffled Ye Wen.

At the same time, he recalled Chris mentioning the fake God-Beating Whip. He wondered what connection this item had to the current events.

“Could there be some bizarre, hidden conspiracy involved?”

Shaking his head, Ye Wen pushed aside these matters that seemed unrelated to him for the moment. He then called Ning Ruxue, telling her he would be returning to the school soon. He instructed the two women to find a safe place nearby and wait for him to return before seeking him out. Ye Wen wasn't worried they wouldn't understand; at worst, he could create a large commotion when he returned and leave quickly, confident that the two women, with their cultivation, would notice immediately.

After handling these matters, Ye Wen noticed Zhang Sanfeng standing nearby. The old Daoist took out a talisman, performed a few hand seals, muttered something, and tossed the talisman into the air. The talisman shot upward and vanished. It appeared to be a magical artifact used for communication in the cultivation world.

Zhang Sanfeng turned back to Ye Wen. “This old Daoist has already ordered all members of the Wudang Sect to withdraw from this operation. I expect my Wudang disciples will not act disrespectfully even if they encounter disciples from Sect Master Ye’s lineage! Furthermore, I have sent messages to the other Sect Masters, though whether they agree is something this old Daoist cannot know…”

Receiving this news was satisfying enough for Ye Wen. He didn't press for immediate trust from these others. He knew resolving this affair would take more than a day. So, he cupped his hands toward Zhang Sanfeng and said, “Thank you, Daoist Master Zhang. Please proceed!”

With that, Ye Wen took to his sword light and headed west. Zhang Sanfeng immediately followed using his own techniques. However, compared to Ye Wen’s dazzling, brilliant sword radiance, the old Daoist merely flew, with no visible anomaly surrounding him, nor was he riding clouds or anything similar. This sight astonished Ye Wen.

“Good heavens, could this be the legendary Skywalk Technique?”

Muttering internally, Ye Wen focused intently on flying as fast as he could. He wasn't worried that Zhang Sanfeng couldn't keep up; after all, this man was considered the foremost expert in the cultivation world.

By maintaining maximum speed, Ye Wen and Zhang Sanfeng arrived in Shu territory after only one day. Spotting his school from afar, Ye Wen unleashed his sword energy in mid-air and hovered quietly, waiting.

Although Zhang Sanfeng didn't understand what Ye Wen was doing, he asked no questions, remaining quietly by his side. After about half an hour, when Zhang Sanfeng saw two streaks of light—one green and one white—flying from a distance, he immediately realized Ye Wen was waiting for someone.

“These two…” His cultivation was profound, and his eyesight extended far. To ordinary eyes, they were just two bright spots, but Zhang Sanfeng could clearly make out that they were two women.

“These two are Ye’s wives!” Zhang Sanfeng heard this and asked no further. As for why these two weren't waiting at home… did he need to ask? Of course, they were hiding from this group of cauldron-snatchers.

Thinking this, the old Daoist felt a touch of awkwardness, a sense of deep shame.

He, the great founder of Wudang, whose entire life had been upright and honorable, never expected that one day he would force a fellow Daoist into a position where he couldn't return home and had to hide everywhere?

This feeling filled Zhang Sanfeng with remorse. So, when Ning Ruxue and Hua Yi flew near, the old Daoist completely dropped the air of the world's number one master. He looked no different from an old fortune-teller setting up a stall on the roadside, greeting the two women with a genial smile.

Ye Wen introduced everyone. Upon learning that this old Daoist was the founder of Wudang, the two women were greatly surprised and showed extreme deference. Both women had grown up in that sort of traditional world and were accustomed to such etiquette. Many customs from their previous world were quite similar to the era in which Zhang Sanfeng lived, and they should have been able to converse easily with him.

Unfortunately, Zhang Sanfeng came from a humble background, and the first half of his life was spent in turmoil, so he paid less attention to strict formalities. However, the subtle, antique flair in the women’s speech patterns gave Zhang Sanfeng the impression that they were also quite old.

Recalling the sword light they used to travel, the old Daoist formed a rough estimation and thought to himself, "The strength of the Shu Mountain Sect is indeed not to be underestimated!" The group saw an opportune moment, landed, entered the house, and sat down before continuing their conversation.

“About our school…”

As soon as they sat down, Ye Wen first inquired about the school, as Zhang Sanfeng had accompanied him specifically to see it and to witness the selection of disciples who were merely ordinary people—individuals he planned to train over the next few years. Therefore, he needed to clarify the school’s situation first, to ensure nothing had changed due to his sudden entanglement in these affairs.

Since Hua Yi handled most of the school's affairs, both Ning Ruxue and Ye Wen turned their gazes toward her as soon as Ye Wen spoke.

Hua Yi replied with a smile, “There is nothing wrong with the school. Externally, we merely announced that you are away on business. The few classes you were scheduled to teach have just been suspended!” Ye Wen nodded. “Daoist Master Zhang is accompanying me this time to witness certain matters. I plan to select some disciples with outstanding talent at the end of this semester to personally guide them, aiming to present them at the next Cultivation World Assembly in a few years.”

After speaking, he suddenly recalled something. “Oh, right. Junior Brother Xu and Rongrong are here too.”

“Junior Brother Xu?” Ning Ruxue paused, then realized who Ye Wen meant. “You mean Junior Brother Xu is here? And Rongrong? Did they also break through the Void?”

Ye Wen chuckled. “Junior Brother Xu truly deserves his great fortune. He actually found another Fruit of Enlightenment and, after consuming it, broke through the Void with Rongrong!”

Hearing that more familiar faces had arrived in this world, Ning Ruxue was visibly delighted. However, she was puzzled why Xu Xian wasn't with Ye Wen.

“That requires a longer explanation. Simply put, this Senior Brother accidentally discovered Penglai Immortal Realm… yes, the one whose entrance was supposedly destroyed. But now, this Senior Brother has a way to enter and exit it again! Junior Brother Xu and Rongrong are both cultivating inside Penglai Immortal Realm…”

“I see!”

Ning Ruxue didn't press for detailed answers. She knew Zhang Sanfeng was present, and this was not the time for such discussions; more important matters needed addressing.

“But if you plan to find suitable disciples this winter, we need to hurry!”

“Oh?” Ye Wen didn’t understand why Ning Ruxue said that. As he was wondering, he saw Ning Ruxue give him a slight glare. “Senior Brother, have you forgotten? The winter break is almost here! Most students will go home by then!”

Although the Shushan School of Arts and Martial Arts had holiday classes, it generally adhered to regular school schedules with winter and summer breaks. Only students enrolled in holiday programs attended classes during the winter break, but they usually only attended one or two lessons before leaving, mostly being locals.

Among this group of students, there was no one Ye Wen placed high value on. Perhaps due to regional restrictions or other reasons, most students who attended classes during the winter break were there purely as a hobby. The students Ye Wen prioritized were the boarding students, who came from all corners of the country.

This included his old buddy, Zhang Cheng. After being persuaded by Ye Wen, this child had to start learning from the very basics and had only just managed to reach the initial stage.

However, Ye Wen hadn't misjudged; this former close friend was indeed promising material. After a little more guidance, Ye Wen could teach him either the Absolute Domain or the Seven-Colored Battle Qi. But considering certain circumstances, he needed to see which path Zhang Cheng intended to pursue in the future. The specifics would have to wait until Zheng Ying and the others returned.

At this moment, Zhang Sanfeng, who had remained silent, suddenly asked, “How long is this winter break?”

Ning Ruxue was momentarily startled, perhaps surprised by the sudden question from the old master. After a brief pause, she answered, “Less than two months!” Zhang Sanfeng nodded. “Only two months. That’s not long. Sect Master Ye need not rush. The matter of disciples concerns the inheritance of a sect and requires careful consideration; there is no need to rush the selection! This old Daoist has nothing pressing; waiting a few more months is of no consequence!” Ye Wen was surprised that the old Daoist was so unhurried, but then he understood—Zhang Sanfeng wasn't unconcerned; he simply had no need to rush.

This elder already knew that Ye Wen had several disciples who had studied the techniques he taught. Once he met those few disciples, he would have a general idea. As for when Ye Wen formally accepted disciples, it was irrelevant to him; he could simply glance at them when the time came. In any case, Ye Wen would leave with his disciples before the assembly began.

Understanding this, Ye Wen no longer found it strange. He casually said to the two women, “Since that’s the case, there’s no need to rush. We’ll let the students have their break according to the original schedule. Before the next semester starts, I will group the students I plan to take as disciples into a separate class!” Setting them apart in their own class would save time and reduce potential complications during instruction. More importantly, it didn't mean everyone placed in that class would automatically become a disciple; they would still face a final test: if their progress in cultivation failed to meet Ye Wen’s expectations…

Furthermore, to expand the school’s influence in the secular world, Ye Wen planned to cooperate with the department where Zheng Ying worked—specifically, helping them cultivate elite combat power like Zheng Ying. Ye Wen even considered extending his reach into the military. If that happened, the Shushan School of Arts and Martial Arts would likely become a key protected entity.