Ye Wuji did not dare to lower his guard in the slightest. He continued to channel his Spiritual Power, preparing to launch another attack. The Fire Wolf King suddenly raised its head, as if sensing something, a flash of apprehension crossing its eyes.
"Damn it! That Nascent Soul stage cultivator is here!" The Fire Wolf King let out a low roar, then glared at Ye Wuji with fierce malice in its eyes. "Brat, remember this. The Chaos Spiritual Root, the Hunyuan Formula... interesting, very interesting! Until we meet again!"
With that, the Fire Wolf King spat out a massive wave of flames and, using the smoke and fire as cover, turned and fled at full speed. Ye Wuji wanted to pursue it, but over half of his Spiritual Power had already been depleted. Conjuring the Hunyuan shield had placed an immense burden on him, and he was now barely able to hold his ground.
Just at that moment, a cyan figure descended from the sky—it was Elder Xuanyang.
"Master!" Ye Wuji was overjoyed.
Elder Xuanyang quickly checked Ye Wuji's injuries and handed him a pill. "Take this. It will recover your Spiritual Power. Which direction did the Fire Wolf King run?"
Ye Wuji pointed in the direction of the wolf's escape, took the pill, and immediately felt a wave of warmth flowing through his body as his depleted Spiritual Power began to recover slowly.
"Are you alright? Have you found your family?" Elder Xuanyang asked with concern.
Ye Wuji nodded. "They are safe inside the ancestral hall. Master, that Fire Wolf King could speak human words. It was looking for an old man and something called the 'Hunyuan Pill'. I suspect—"
Elder Xuanyang's expression tightened. "We'll talk about that later. I'll go after the Fire Wolf King first. You go and help Lin Tianyu and the others clear out the remaining Demonic Beasts."
Without another word, Elder Xuanyang transformed into a streak of cyan light and chased furiously in the direction the Fire Wolf King had fled. Ye Wuji took a deep breath, turned, and pushed open the doors of the ancestral hall. Dozens of villagers were huddled together inside, including his parents.
"Wuji!" Upon seeing their son, Ye Tieshan and Lady Lin rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Are you alright? Why did you suddenly come back?"
A lump formed in Ye Wuji's throat, but he quickly composed himself. "Father, Mother, I am fine. I am now cultivating under Elder Xuanyang of the Qingyun Sect, and I've come to deal with the Demonic Beast attack on the village. Stay here and don't move; I am going to help the others."
Ye Tieshan gripped his son's hand tightly. "Be careful out there. Those wolves are not to be trifled with."
"Rest assured, Father," Ye Wuji smiled with confidence. "I am already a Layer 4 Qi Condensation cultivator now. Dealing with ordinary Demonic Beasts won't be a problem."
Leaving the ancestral hall, Ye Wuji flew swiftly toward the center of the village to search for the other Qingyun Sect disciples. From afar, he saw Lin Tianyu engaged in a fierce battle with two Demonic Beasts, his sword light flashing like a rainbow with astonishing momentum. On the other side, Zhao Linger was using talismans to attack the scattering Demonic Beasts.
"Senior Brother Lin!" Ye Wuji leaped forward, swinging his sword to strike down a Demonic Beast that was attempting to ambush Lin Tianyu.
Seeing reinforcement, Lin Tianyu was overjoyed. "Junior Brother Wuji, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Ye Wuji replied while clashing with a Demonic Beast. "Master went after the Fire Wolf King and told us to clear out the remaining beasts."
Working together, the two of them dispatched the nearby Demonic Beasts in no time. At that moment, Wang Chen's voice echoed from the village entrance. "Senior Brother Tianyu, Junior Brother Wuji, there are still a few fleeing toward the east!"
Ye Wuji and Lin Tianyu exchanged glances and immediately flew eastward. Along the way, they saw many injured villagers. A pang of distress gripped Ye Wuji's heart, but eliminating the threat was paramount, so he had to temporarily push aside the urge to rescue them.
For the next hour, the Qingyun Sect disciples engaged in fierce combat with the Demonic Beasts. In the end, with the help of Elder Xuanyang upon his return, all the Demonic Beasts were either slain or sent fleeing. Although the Fire Wolf King had been severely wounded by Elder Xuanyang, it managed to escape thanks to its immense strength and familiarity with the terrain.
Once the battle concluded, the Qingyun Sect disciples immediately threw themselves into rescue efforts for the villagers. Wang Chen, being an alchemist, carried a considerable supply of healing pills which he used to treat the severely wounded villagers. Meanwhile, Ye Wuji brought Lin Tianyu and Zhao Linger along to help put out the fires raging through the village and clear the ruins.
Ye Wuji's blacksmith shop had been burned beyond recognition, but fortunately, his parents were safe and sound—a blessing amidst the misfortune. Over a dozen villagers had tragically lost their lives, and more than twenty others had sustained injuries ranging from light to heavy. Compared to the total annihilation suffered by the neighboring village, Qingshan Village's losses could be considered relatively minor.
By evening, Elder Xuanyang gathered everyone for a meeting in the center of the village.
"This Demonic Beast attack was highly unusual," Elder Xuanyang said with a solemn expression. "First of all, for Demonic Beasts to leave the Flame Mountain Range and travel a hundred miles to this region defies logic. Secondly, they had a clear objective; it wasn't merely about hunting for food or plundering resources."
Ye Wuji chimed in, "Master, as far as I know, the Fire Wolf King was searching for an old man and something called a 'Hunyuan Pill'. Three months ago, a mysterious old man did indeed come to our village. He had been bitten by a Black Wind Serpent, and I saved him. Afterward, he gave me a copy of the Hunyuan Formula and then left."
Elder Xuanyang furrowed his brows deeply. "The Hunyuan Pill... That is a legendary treasure rumored to enhance cultivation and prolong life. However, the true recipe for the Hunyuan Pill has long been lost, and most so-called 'Hunyuan Pills' on the market today are fakes. If that old man truly possessed such a pill, it is no wonder he attracted the covetous eyes of Demonic Beasts."
"Master, what should we do next?" Lin Tianyu asked.
Elder Xuanyang pondered for a moment. "First, help the villagers rebuild their homes, then return to the Qingyun Sect to report the situation. This matter is not simple; I fear there are other factions operating behind the scenes. Though the Fire Wolf King escaped, it will surely return. I will ask the Sect Master to dispatch more manpower to protect Qingshan County."
The group acknowledged the orders and went about their respective duties. Ye Wuji returned to the ancestral hall and explained the ins and outs of the situation to his parents in detail.
"Father, Mother, I am worried the Fire Wolf King might come back to cause trouble. Although we will leave people behind to protect the village, for your safety, would the two of you be willing to come back to the Qingyun Sect to live for a while?"
Ye Tieshan shook his head. "Son, we are mortals. How could we go and disturb an immortal sect? Besides, now that the village has suffered this disaster, it's a time when everyone must pull together to rebuild. I, your old blacksmith, cannot be missing from this."
Lady Lin echoed his sentiment. "Indeed, Wuji. You just go ahead and focus on your cultivation without worrying about us. With the immortal masters of the Qingyun Sect protecting it, the village should be safe."
Seeing that his parents' minds were made up, Ye Wuji did not press further, only urging them to immediately notify the stationed Qingyun Sect disciples should any danger arise.
Over the next three days, Ye Wuji and the other Qingyun Sect disciples helped the villagers clear the ruins and rebuild their homes. The Qingyun Sect also dispatched more disciples to set up defensive formations around the village, leaving behind two Foundation Establishment stage disciples for long-term garrison duty to guard against a potential return of the Fire Wolf King.
On the fourth morning, Elder Xuanyang gathered everyone to prepare for the return to the Qingyun Sect. Before leaving, Ye Wuji said goodbye to his parents once more.
"Father, Mother, it might be a long time before I can come back to see you again this time. Master says my cultivation progress is fast, and in a few days, I might participate in the sect's advancement assessment to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."
Ye Tieshan patted his son's shoulder. "Go on, son, and cultivate diligently. Your mother and I don't understand the ways of immortality, but we are proud of you!"
With red-rimmed eyes, Lady Lin shoved a small bundle into her son's arms. "These are some pastries I made myself for you to eat on the road. There are also a few bottles of medicinal wine I brewed; though they can't compare to immortal miracle elixirs, they are still somewhat effective for fatigue and minor injuries."
A lump formed in Ye Wuji's throat as he pulled his parents into a tight embrace. "Father, Mother, I will definitely strive in my cultivation and soon become a powerhouse capable of protecting you!"
Bidding farewell to his parents, Ye Wuji accompanied Elder Xuanyang and the others back to the Qingyun Sect. Along the way, his mind was unsettled; he had a lingering feeling that this Demonic Beast attack incident would not end so simply. That mysterious old man, the Hunyuan Pill, the threat uttered by the Fire Wolf King... everything felt like the prologue to a much larger conspiracy.
Upon returning to the Qingyun Sect, Elder Xuanyang immediately reported the details of the mission to the Sect Master. Upon hearing the news, the Sect Master dispatched even more powerful disciples to Qingshan County to reinforce defenses and ordered an investigation into the cause of the Demonic Beasts' abnormal behavior.
As for Ye Wuji, he returned to his courtyard to resume his cultivation. Having experienced this actual combat, he gained a deeper understanding of his own shortcomings—despite possessing the Chaos Spiritual Root, his cultivation level was still too low, rendering him practically defenseless when facing truly formidable foes.
"I must cultivate with even greater diligence and elevate my strength as quickly as possible," Ye Wuji resolved inwardly.
Time flew like an arrow. In the blink of an eye, six months had passed since Ye Wuji joined the Qingyun Sect. Over these six months, he had poured himself into cultivation without sleep or rest, progressing at a startling speed. He had already broken through from Layer 4 Qi Condensation to Layer 7 Qi Condensation, making him a standout among the inner sect disciples.
On this day, as Ye Wuji was practicing the Five Elements Return to One Formula in his courtyard, he suddenly heard urgent knocking on his door.
"Junior Brother Wuji, the Sect Master summons you!" It was the voice of Li Mengzhu.
Ye Wuji immediately halted his cultivation, tidied his attire, and opened the door to greet her. "Senior Sister Li, what does the Sect Master want with me?"
Li Mengzhu wore a delighted expression. "Good news! The Sect Master has decided to hold the inner sect disciple Foundation Establishment promotion assessment ahead of schedule, and your name has been included on the roster!"
"What?" Ye Wuji was greatly startled. "But I'm only at Layer 7 Qi Condensation. I am still a long way from Peak Layer 9 Qi Condensation."
Li Mengzhu smiled. "This is precisely your opportunity. Although under normal circumstances, only disciples at Peak Layer 9 Qi Condensation are qualified to participate in the Foundation Establishment assessment, the Sect Master believes your aptitude is exceptional and your cultivation speed astonishing, so he has granted you special permission to participate early. Come on, don't just stand there; the Sect Master is still waiting!"
Hurriedly, Ye Wuji followed Li Mengzhu toward the grand assembly hall. Along the way, his emotions were a jumble of excitement and apprehension. Foundation Establishment was a major milestone for any cultivator; upon successfully establishing his foundation, his lifespan would extend to two hundred years, and his strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
Arriving at the grand assembly hall, Ye Wuji found that over a dozen inner sect disciples had already gathered inside—all elites at the Late-stage Qi Condensation level. Seeing Ye Wuji enter, many cast surprised gazes his way and began whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that Ye Wuji? He's only at Layer 7 Qi Condensation, why is he here for the Foundation Establishment assessment?"
"I heard he has the Chaos Spiritual Root; it's a special permission from the Sect Master."
"Hmph, he's just relying on a special spiritual root. The real test is still yet to come."
Sect Master Yun Tianqi sat high upon the main seat. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he spoke, "Fellow inner sect disciples, this Foundation Establishment assessment is being held ahead of schedule because the sect is about to open a secret realm and needs to select outstanding disciples to participate in its exploration. The Foundation Establishment assessment will take place in three days, and the test will consist of three parts: a spell duel, a state-of-mind test, and secret realm exploration."
The spell duel was the most fundamental assessment, testing the disciples' mastery of basic spells; the state-of-mind test examined whether the disciples' mental faculties were stable and capable of resisting inner demons; and the secret realm exploration required the disciples to enter a specialized minor secret realm to search for the 'Foundation Establishment Pill' required for the breakthrough.
"A total of twenty disciples are participating in this assessment, but only ten will ultimately secure the qualification for Foundation Establishment. I hope everyone prepares fully and showcases your strength," Yun Tianqi said, waving his hand to signal their dismissal.
Just as Ye Wuji was about to leave, Yun Tianqi called out to him, "Ye Wuji, stay behind."
Once the other disciples had departed, Yun Tianqi stepped down from the main seat and approached Ye Wuji. "Over the past half year, your progress has been truly eye-opening. To go from Layer 4 Qi Condensation to Layer 7 Qi Condensation in such a span of time is a rarity even in the history of the Qingyun Sect."
Ye Wuji bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the praise, Sect Master. This is entirely the result of Master's meticulous guidance."
Yun Tianqi nodded with satisfaction. "Modesty is a virtue, but one must also have confidence. Letting you participate in the Foundation Establishment assessment ahead of schedule this time is intended to give you an opportunity for tempering. Although your cultivation has not yet reached Peak Layer 9 Qi Condensation, with your innate talent and comprehension, you are more than capable of holding your own."
"This disciple will definitely give it his all and not fail the Sect Master's expectations," Ye Wuji solemnly promised.