Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Palace Beyond Mortal Dust

Liu Junhuai led a few companions to the edge of a small lake, where he found Shen Yihuan crouched by the shore, intently watching something. When the group arrived, they exchanged cheerful greetings.

Liu Junhuai asked, “Uncle Huan, did you plant the Black Jade Lotus? How is it doing?”
Shen Yihuan replied, “It’s hard to say just yet. I’ve only just planted it, but its color has become even darker, almost as if it’s quite happy. See how the lotus leaves keep moving?”

Wu Yaohan strode forward eagerly, exclaiming, “Did you say this is Black Jade Lotus? Incredible! This is a treasure of the heavens and earth, Junhuai. You’ve left me utterly speechless.”

Shen Yihuan said, “Uncle Wu, I know how rare the Black Jade Lotus is, but does it only grow in the Immortal Realm?”
Wu Yaohan quickly responded, “Please, don’t call me ‘uncle’—I’m Shaoyuan’s grandfather, just call me Wu. I can’t say exactly where it grows, but every part of it is precious. The Ink Spirit Pill refined from it is a true immortal medicine. It’s so rare, money can’t buy it.”

Listening to their conversation, Liu Junhuai suddenly remembered Bian Jizhong. Turning to look, he saw Bian standing there, stunned, his face etched with disbelief, and a trickle of drool at the corner of his mouth.

Mo Sitong and Wu Bini stood nearby, holding each other’s shoulders and giggling.

Liu Junhuai went over and patted Bian’s shoulder, saying, “What’s wrong, big brother? Are you shocked? Before you leave, you should cultivate here and see how it feels. Later, we’ll bring grandfather over too.”

Bian Jizhong gave an awkward laugh. “I wondered how you could be so generous, giving me so much spiritual liquid. Turns out you have so much of it. No wonder those Spirit-devouring Bats chased you so desperately—you raided their nest.”

Liu Junhuai laughed as well. “It’s true! I only took a tenth of their stores, and now I regret not taking more.”

Meanwhile, Wu Yaohan and Shen Yihuan were deep in conversation about medicinal herbs, their enthusiasm growing as they spoke. Eventually, Shen Yihuan led Wu Yaohan to the medicinal field.

At that moment, Liu Junhuai felt his communication jade tremble—it was Shen Qianqian’s family arriving at Cloudfall Valley.

After recalling Shen Duoduo from her aerial play, the group left the Mountain River Gourd to welcome Shen Qianqian’s family.

This time, Shen Qianqian’s party numbered ten, all elders who had followed the Mei family for decades. Unable to part with them, she brought them along.

After arranging accommodations for the entourage in the outer courtyard, Liu Junhuai led the Mei family of three into the Chaos Space.

First, they visited the medicinal field to greet the elders, then Liu Junhuai took Shen Qianqian and her husband to the lakeside.

Shen Duoduo happily took charge as their guide, while Liu Junhuai and Mo Sitong discussed housing arrangements.

Liu Junhuai summoned the Hongyuan Chaos Furnace, and together with Mo Sitong, quickly crafted new homes. With experience from before, their speed was much improved.

Over the course of nearly a day, three new three-story residences rose beside the earlier two small buildings, thus solving the accommodation problem.

That evening, everyone gathered for a simple welcome feast. With all his loved ones reunited, Liu Junhuai finally felt at ease.

Mo Sitong’s heart brimmed with pride as she looked at the large family, all brought together thanks to Liu Junhuai, whether they had known each other before or not. They formed a new harmonious family, proof that her young husband was loyal and virtuous.

Every member of this family respected Liu Junhuai, just as she did, considering him a true relative.

Such a person, so righteous and compassionate, was destined to attract even more people to his side and to live an extraordinary life.

She didn’t know when Liu Junhuai had come to stand beside her. The two quietly leaned against each other, watching the joyful crowd—their own family. They both believed their future home would be vast, filled with many people.

The next day, Liu Junhuai and Bian Jizhong accompanied Mo Sitong to the Supreme Sect, Dustless Palace, the greatest sect in Mojue Kingdom.

Cloudfall Valley lay within the Yunluo Mountains, not far from Dustless Palace, which also resided in those mountains. The three traveled by flying sword and reached the palace gates in a single day.

After agreeing on how to meet, Mo Sitong parted ways with them and entered the sect alone, while Liu Junhuai and Bian Jizhong returned to the Mountain River Gourd.

Along the way, they discussed many things, including returning to Pingdu City.

Bian Jizhong repeatedly suggested finding more helpers, but Liu Junhuai refused. He believed the few he could bring were enough; more would be unnecessary.

In truth, Liu Junhuai intended to wipe out Yanfu Palace completely. Since they had assisted the Shen family, they had become his mortal enemies. If he killed one, he might as well destroy them all and establish his own sect.

The old steward had been right: to make one’s mark in the cultivation world, one must build their own power. Alone, one can never compete with the great sects.

He had the Redfire Nine Infants as his secret weapon, but that was strictly a hidden trump card. If he ever revealed it, he would draw the ire of the entire cultivation world.

Once he became the target of all, his own downfall would not be far off.

Bian Jizhong was completely captivated by the training environment beside the small lake, where cultivation advanced far faster than elsewhere—even without activating the Spirit Gathering Array. Whenever he found a chance, he appeared there. As Shen Duoduo remarked, he was now thoroughly dragged into Liu Junhuai’s world.

Ajiu, meanwhile, had taken a keen interest in the God-slaying Spear. Whenever Liu Junhuai was in Chaos Space, Ajiu pestered him for it.

But the God-slaying Spear was Liu Junhuai’s life-bound treasure—no one else could wield it. Whenever Ajiu tried to grab it, the spear would flee, and their daily chase had become a spectacle within Chaos Space.

Watching two streaks of white lightning darting through the void, Liu Junhuai mused that rather than Ajiu bullying the spear, it seemed the spear was teasing Ajiu. One had gained intelligence, the other a spear soul—neither was ordinary.

Now, Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini’s training duo had gained Shen Qianqian, easing Mo Sitong’s supervisory burden. When Mo Sitong returned, Liu Junhuai planned to take her to Myriad Forms Pavilion to study pill refining. Her skills had already surpassed his own.

Wu Shaoyuan was now close friends with Mei Bingyi, and Liu Junhuai instructed Wu Shaoyuan to help Mei Bingyi advance to the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible.

While contemplating these changes among his companions, news from Mo Sitong arrived, prompting Liu Junhuai to call Bian Jizhong and return to Dustless Palace’s gates.

Seeing Mo Sitong approach with some urgency, Liu Junhuai guessed the reason.

Indeed, Mo Sitong said, “Junhuai, my grandfather and grandmother wish to meet you. Bring big brother along and come with me inside. If my family doesn’t agree, I’ll just leave with you. Also, people from Xiashan Wuling Gate are here. They suspect we had something to do with Xia Cangshu’s death.”

Liu Junhuai patted Mo Sitong’s head. “Don’t worry. Even if they object, we’ll stay together. How did you answer about Xia Cangshu?”

“What else could I say? I just told them we never saw him. I hadn’t planned for big brother to come in, since most people know only a few of us entered the seventh floor of the manor. But I realized, even if he stays out, they’d find Bian’s family in Leshou Mountain anyway, so it’s better to resolve it all now,” Mo Sitong replied.

Bian Jizhong said, “Sitong, you’re quite right. Better to settle matters quickly. Xia Cangshu schemed against me in every way; his death was deserved. If Xiashan Wuling Gate behaves the same, I won’t go easy on them.”

Liu Junhuai agreed, “Big brother is right. Sitong, which floor did we reach in the end?”

“The eighth floor!” Mo Sitong answered.

“Good. That’s better—too obvious a target would make things difficult. Let’s go. Together.”

With that, the three entered Dustless Palace.

It was indeed a grand sect. Passing through its towering main hall doors, they found themselves in a vast chamber, spanning thousands of feet. Dozens of massive stone pillars stood throughout, each carved with ascending dragons, their heads emerging, mouths emitting golden rays.

The overlapping gold beams illuminated the hall with splendor. Hundreds of white-glowing stone sculptures, each unique, added a touch of regal elegance.

Walking across the jade floors, not a single sound was made, as if treading on carpet.

As Mo Sitong explained, several Foundation Establishment cultivators approached. Among them, a young man with a wicked smile brightened upon seeing Liu Junhuai and his companions. His tone was mocking: “Sitong, is this the little brother you mentioned? Third brother doesn’t see what’s so special—so even the famous Fairy Mo can make mistakes!”

Mo Sitong retorted angrily, “Fang Wenyu, your mouth is as foul as ever. Don’t sleep with the blanket over your head, or you’ll suffocate from your own stench.”

Behind the smirking youth, a middle-aged man in fine clothes scolded, “Sitong, how can you speak to your third brother like that? Where are your manners? Who are these two? Stop bringing strange people into the palace.”

“Uncle, did you not hear what Fang Wenyu just said? If your ears are failing, get them treated. There’s no shame in illness,” Mo Sitong replied.

The youth exploded, “You brat! What manners—just because you’re the palace master’s daughter, you think you’re special?”

A middle-aged woman chimed in, “Didn’t you hear your uncle? Stop bringing random people in—make them leave at once!”

Bian Jizhong, furious, stepped forward to act.

Liu Junhuai stopped him. “Big brother, don’t waste your anger. Didn’t Sitong say these people are sick? We should be patient with the ill—otherwise, people will say we’re bullying them, and that wouldn’t be right.”

The middle-aged man shouted, “Where did this bastard come from? Beat them out with sticks!”

At his words, several people rushed forward.