C11 Xia Xuanji's Tyranny

Thirty years ago, an incident occurred that remains widely known to this day. A sect, seeking to propose marriage, inadvertently provoked the wrath of Xia Xuanji, who in her fury, annihilated the entire sect, including its animals. This act sparked widespread discontent among other sects, prompting them to seek retribution.

Unexpectedly, Xia Xuanji confronted the situation head-on, unleashing the Purple Heaven Sword Formation and mercilessly refining those who opposed her within the formation itself. This bold move sent shockwaves throughout the Spirit Realm, and since then, no one has dared to challenge her.

Even the formidable Great Sun Heaven Sect harbors a degree of fear towards Xia Xuanji's relentless nature, solidifying her dominant status within the Spirit Realm.

Her sect boasts a Vice Sect Master and three Great Elders, all of whom are highly skilled in their cultivation. Though they may not rival Xia Xuanji's strength, their renown within the Spirit Realm is undeniable.

The sect's ranks include seven Core Disciples, hundreds of Inner Sect Disciples, and thousands of Outer Sect Disciples, making it a behemoth towering over nearly all other sects.

Zhou Mu was deeply shaken by these revelations, yet what troubled him even more was the discovery that the Vice Sect Master and the three Great Elders were plotting to overthrow Xia Xuanji in a brewing rebellion.

"What misfortune have I brought upon myself? To be caught up with the Vice Sect Master and the three Great Elders in such a plot?"

Confronted with this dire predicament, Zhou Mu's anxiety was palpable. He fantasized about fleeing to the wilderness, seeking refuge in a remote forest where he could live out his days in obscurity.

But he knew that any attempt to flee would be futile, as his every move was likely being watched. Escaping would only signal his complicity, and he feared he would be captured immediately.

"Alas, why must my fate be so cruel? Time, please hasten your pace."

Overwhelmed with despair, Zhou Mu could only hope that the conspirators would exercise patience. Perhaps it would still be possible for them to delay their rebellion until after he had returned to the Mortal Realm.

Ten thousand years prior, in the Mortal Realm, stood the Vast Azure Mountain.

Xia Xuanji was extremely frustrated and abruptly ended her cultivation session.

"This man's body is utterly useless. A whole day of cultivation and only a slight increase in Spiritual Force."

She ceased her cultivation efforts, feeling the meager increase in Spiritual Force within her and her expression darkened.

At least, despite the body's deficiencies, she was capable of cultivating. With her own consciousness, she had some means of self-defense. Yet, the sluggish pace of her cultivation was disconcerting.

"Maybe I should steal another Pill?"

Her eyes once again settled on the Medicine Refining Pavilion of the Jade Sun Sect. To her, the Pills were insignificant, but given her current weak state, even the better ones were out of reach.

"I'll wait a little longer. I'll make my move after midnight."

Time slipped by, and the moon climbed high, casting a frosty glow over the darkened earth.

Since the recent Pill theft at the sect, patrols had noticeably increased, particularly around the Medicine Refining Pavilion, now guarded by two teams.

A breeze whispered overhead, unnoticed by the patrolling guards.

"Did you feel something just fly past?"

One guard looked up, querying his companion.

The other guard glanced skyward, seeing only darkness. "No, I didn't. Maybe you're just on edge?"

In the shadows of the Medicine Refining Pavilion, Xia Xuanji slipped in undetected. She swiftly made her way to the Pill storage without raising any alarms.

"Fools, adding more defensive formations is futile against me."

She scoffed at the colorful, layered protective formations before her.

To her, the formations were rudimentary. She summoned the faint Spiritual Force within her and with a flick of her finger, the formations dissolved.

"Three bottles of Marrow-Cleansing Pill, five of Spiritual Transformation Pill, and what do we have here? Spirit-Cleansing Pill? Excellent, I'll take several."

Like a rat in a granary, Xia Xuanji filled her Storage Bag, thoroughly plundering the Medicine Refining Pavilion.

"It's unfortunate I didn't find any higher-grade Pills, but these should suffice for my initial cultivation. Time to go."

Xia Xuanji patted her Storage Bag, which was stuffed to the brim, feeling that her haul was less than impressive. Nonetheless, she decided to let it be for the moment. With a shimmer, she vanished from the Medicine Refining Pavilion.

As the moon set and the sun began to rise, a frantic shout echoed from the Medicine Refining Pavilion.

Shortly thereafter, Han Ye arrived in a flurry. Discovering the pavilion completely barren, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

"What a ruthless thief, not a single pill left. Absolutely merciless."

Before long, Sect Master Huang Feng, along with Elder Xiao Hee and others who had been alerted, rushed to the scene.

Huang Feng surveyed the void before him, clicking his tongue in disbelief. The thief who had stolen the pills had been audacious, leaving nothing behind.

"Sect Master, the Bright Moon Sect will be here any moment. With all the pills gone, how will we manage if a major battle ensues?"

Xiao Hee's expression grew somber. With the imminent arrival of the Bright Moon Sect, a potential clash between the sects could leave the Jade Sun Sect at a severe disadvantage without their pills.

"Don't panic. Have the alchemists expedite the pill production. Elder Xiao, take these Spirit Stones and see if you can urgently purchase more pills from the external markets."

Xiao Hee nodded in agreement. It was the only viable option for now. They needed to navigate this immediate challenge before they could focus on apprehending the pill thief.

After bidding farewell, Xiao Hee swiftly departed with two disciples in tow.

"Elder Han, we must focus on overcoming the current predicament before anything else," Huang Feng said, giving Han Ye a reassuring pat on the shoulder. The repeated thefts had taken a significant toll on Elder Han.

"But how did the thief manage it?" Huang Feng wondered, gazing at the empty jade box. The protective formation had been completely dismantled. Though not an expert in formations, he recognized the quality of the Medicine Refining Pavilion's defenses.

The ease with which the formation was bypassed and the pills were taken was a testament to the thief's mastery over such arts. Yet, Huang Feng pondered, if one was so skilled in formations, why not come forward?

It's widely acknowledged that a Cultivator skilled in formations is highly sought after these days. The Jade Sun Sect, for instance, would go to great lengths to recruit such an individual, offering whatever was desired, as long as it was within their means.

There's simply no need to stoop to stealing pills – it just doesn't add up.

Regrettably, despite racking his brain, Huang Feng failed to realize that the Cultivator he believed to be an expert in formations was, in fact, merely a novice who had only recently embarked on the path of cultivation.

Upon returning to the secluded valley, Xia Xuanji retrieved a bottle of Marrow-Cleansing Pills from her Storage Bag, her expression one of mild satisfaction.

"With the aid of these pills, I'm confident that I can reach the peak of Qi Refining in no time at all."

The body she inhabited was frustratingly inadequate. Without the assistance of pills, reaching the Foundation Stage was out of the question. Whether for self-preservation or other motives, it was imperative for her to advance to the Foundation Stage as swiftly as possible.