Joining The Sect 2

Suddenly, Yu Chen heard a strange rushing sound from the sky—like wind being sliced apart. His eyes widened.

Above, several figures soared through the clouds, their robes billowing, swords glowing faintly beneath their feet.

"They're flying… They're actually flying," Yu Chen whispered, stunned. "It's real…"

Descending gracefully on flying swords came four powerful individuals—each one radiating an overwhelming presence.

A broad-shouldered man with white hair, an elderly cultivator with a long beard, another old man with sharp eyes, and a graceful woman in a flowing blue robe hovered in the air above the crowd.

The first old man leaned forward and pointed at Yu Chen.

"Boy! Come to my peak. I'll make you a master of the sword. None will stand before your blade."

The second elder scoffed, stepping forward on his sword.

"What can you do with a sword when your opponent has a formation set? Come to my peak—I'll teach you ancient formations that can kill with a single trap."

The man beside them smiled calmly, then said in a firm tone,

"Join me, and I'll help you master both sword and cultivation. I'll push you into Foundation Realm faster than anyone here ever could."

Then a soft, almost melodic voice came from behind them.

"Boy… What's your name?" the woman asked, her voice gentle and curious.

Yu Chen looked up, slightly dazzled by the way her blue robe fluttered around her as she stood calmly in the air.

"I'm Yu Chen."

She smiled faintly. "Well, Yu Chen… If you come to my peak, I'll give you knowledge about alchemy. Pills. You know how valuable they are, right? You could make a fortune."

The second old man scoffed dismissively.

"The only peak elder who hasn't even reached Golden Core Realm yet dares to poach a promising disciple. What a joke."

Her eyes narrowed. "Hey, old man. You're over 200. I'm only 38. Don't lecture me about talent."

"Oh, right," he smirked. "You've had access to high-grade resources for a decade and still haven't broken through. Failed to refine a Golden Core pill and wasted five hundred thousand Coins in the process, didn't you?"

"Five hundred... thousand?" Yu Chen muttered under his breath, eyes nearly popping. That's half a fortune…

Without hesitation, he grinned. "I'll go to Alchemy Peak!" he said excitedly.

"I'm gonna be rich! Heheheheh."

The woman descended slowly, her beauty catching the eyes of everyone nearby. She landed in front of Yu Chen, her voice proud but composed.

"See? Talented people make the right choices."

She tossed him a folded uniform. "Take it. From today onward, you're an Inner Disciple of Alchemy Peak."

The others grunted and flew away, muttering, "Tch. Waste of time."

The woman turned back to Yu Chen and handed him a rolled-up parchment and a small pouch.

"Here's the sect map. And since you have no cultivation base, take these—five Qi Refining Pills and a basic cultivation technique."

Yu Chen received the items gratefully. Then, pausing, he looked up at her.

"Master… can I get Coins instead of pills?" he asked seriously. "I mean… I know someone who can make higher-quality pills cheaper than this."

She blinked, stunned. "Do you know what you're saying?" she said, tone firm. "One of those pills is worth 7,000 Coins. You think you can get them cheaper and purer?"

Yu Chen smiled innocently. "Yes, Master. I can even get Pure Foundation Pills. The ones that guarantee breakthroughs."

She didn't wait for another word. With a burst of spiritual power, she grabbed him by the collar and soared into the sky, carrying him straight to her peak. She landed with a thud and dropped him on the grass outside her house.

"Boy!" she snapped. "Don't go blurting out secrets like that in front of a crowd. Keep that mouth of yours under control."

Yu Chen stood and dusted himself off. "But Master… you're my teacher now. Why should I keep secrets from you?" he said casually. "Besides, those pills? They're real. They're not even from this world."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're joking."

He looked around at the girls tending the garden nearby. "Master… maybe we should talk inside. There are ears everywhere."

She followed his gaze and sighed. "Fine. Come in."

She led him inside her elegant wooden house—lined with jade shelves, scrolls, and bubbling cauldrons—and sat down on a cushioned bench. Yu Chen stood awkwardly.

She leaned in close, bracing both hands on the bench beside him. Her face was just inches away.

"Now speak. What do you mean by 'pure pills'?"

Yu Chen's eyes flickered to her chest.

"Master! Maybe you could… step back a little? I'm seeing things I probably shouldn't..." he muttered, flustered.

She straightened up quickly, folding her arms across her chest.

"Pervert."

Yu Chen grinned. "Not my fault. I've never had a woman touch me, and now suddenly a fairy-like beauty is standing inches away. I'm still human, you know."

She raised an eyebrow and let out a reluctant smile.

"Smooth talker."

Then her tone turned serious again. "Now—how many of these 'pure pills' can you get? And how much are you charging?"

Yu Chen leaned back, business-like now. "For you, Master? A discount. Each Pure Qi Refining Pill is high-grade. It not only strengthens cultivation but can help breakthrough bottlenecks at minor realms—even if the spiritual energy is thin."

"I know how they work," she said, intrigued.

Yu Chen nodded. "They cost 8,000 Coins each. I can get you five per week, but the supplier only trusts me. He's… my grandfather."

Her eyebrows shot up. "And who, may I ask, is your grandfather?"

He smiled proudly. "Not someone from this realm. He lives in the upper world of Nalan Realm. Lazy but powerful. He only refines pills when I ask. Sweet old man."

The air tensed.

"Show me one," she demanded. "If it's real, I'll believe you."

"Sure. But I'll need some Coins to send him for ingredients first."

She nodded and opened her system. "Give me your ID."

[You have received 8,000 Coins]

[Balance: 12,948]

Yu Chen opened his system, tapped through the shop, and purchased a single pill.

[You have spent 5,000 Coins on Pure Qi Refining Pill]

[Balance: 7,948]

He pulled the pill from his storage ring.

A silvery-white gas curled from the surface, giving off a chill as if from deep mountain snow. The pill shimmered with fine runes engraved along the edges.

She instinctively grabbed it, her fingers trembling.

"This aura… the chill... even the runes… this is far beyond the standard. It's… refined."

She scanned the pill with her system.

[You common people are not worthy of viewing items from Uncommon Tier users]

She gasped slightly.

> Even the system refuses to reveal its grade? That means… he's not lying.

"Boy," she whispered. "This pill is more powerful than anything I've seen in twenty years."

She turned toward the door, then paused and looked back.

"I want the other four. Now."

Yu Chen grinned.

[You have received 32,000 Coins]

[You have bought four Pure Qi Refining Pills for 20,000 Coins]

[Balance: 19,948]

He placed them on the table, carefully. She sealed them into her spatial ring.

Then, without another word, she turned and walked toward the door.

"Let's go. We're about to turn the sect upside down."