The main hall of Yueying Peak.
"Elder Chen has not yet come out of seclusion," the steward said to Zhu Wu.
"Junior Brother, you're back?" Several senior sisters walked in from outside and greeted him happily.
"Yes. How are you all doing?" Zhu Wu asked, greeting them.
"We're doing all right."
"Not so good..." The senior sisters gave mixed answers.
"Um, Junior Brother, we'd like to ask you to take us along on some missions," one senior sister began.
"The Peak Master gives us no resources, so we can't cultivate properly, but we don't dare take on missions by ourselves," another senior sister continued.
"No problem. Let me go check the Mission Hall first."
Even though he had never met some of these senior sisters, remembering the words Elder Chen had spoken on his behalf, he decided to help them out.
"Which of you are going? Get yourselves ready in a moment," Zhu Wu paused to say, and then headed toward the Mission Hall.
Zhu Wu went to the Mission Hall to turn in his missions, trading his two thousand-plus contribution points for over a hundred rank-five middle-tier qi pills.
He also exchanged five middle-grade spirit stones for five hundred low-grade ones.
Zhu Wu looked over the board. There were more than ten missions to the Hengduan Mountains with meager contribution points, ranging from three hundred to six00.
The missions weren't difficult, making them just right for the senior sisters to gain some practical experience.
Zhu Wu took all the missions and returned to Yueying Peak.
Outside the main hall, Zhu Wu got a shock.
Dozens of senior sisters were waiting outside, bustling and clamoring, all ready to head down the mountain for field training.
"So many people..." Zhu Wu muttered to himself.
"Steward Chen, here are five hundred spirit stones and one hundred qi pills. Please distribute them among the senior sisters first. Save some for the ones who haven't arrived yet." Zhu Wu handed the spirit stones and pills to the steward.
"Junior Brother Zhu is truly righteous! On behalf of Elder Chen, I thank you!" Steward Chen nodded as he took them.
Zhu Wu sat to one side of the table, pondering how to lead the senior sisters down the mountain.
"Senior sisters, please don't be impatient. Everyone will be taken along. We'll head down the mountain in two batches, and half of you will go today."
"Groups of seven. Form your own teams. I've accepted ten missions today, which is just enough for everyone to handle."
"Under normal circumstances, it can be completed within three days including travel."
"I hope all senior sisters will follow my arrangements."
"Also, before we set off, I need to understand everyone's basic capability levels so I can make the appropriate preparations."
"Please refine your pills while you listen to me."
"Before we leave, I'll teach you all a footwork technique that can boost your movement speed."
Taking advantage of the gap while everyone formed their own teams, Zhu Wu gave his instructions and refined a simplified version of the Yueying.
The methods annotated in the *Liuhuai Yinyang Baojian* were not suitable for the senior sisters.
No wonder the stall owner had been willing to sell it at a low price; although annotated by a Void Refinement qi immortal, it was useless to ordinary people.
"One qi transforms into three pure ones, under the moon they become three. Two modes knit the four spirits, three minds forge the two modes. One spirit generates wind of itself, two spirits spark stars of fire, three spirits leave water boundless, four spirits kick up dust and sand..."
"Today, everyone will practice this footwork first."
"Tomorrow morning, the left group departs first; the right group waits for our return before going."
Perhaps the senior sisters had been cooped up for too long, because the cultivation results were astonishingly good.
"Tonight, consolidate your cultivation gains and get a good rest."
"Thank you, Junior Brother Zhu..." Everyone cupped their fists in happy gratitude.
Along the way, Zhu Wu observed the condition of the senior sisters.
Using the streamlined *Yueying* accelerated their travel speed while consuming very little true qi.
At this rate, they would reach their destination in half a day.
Some senior sisters could manifest three phantoms, while others could manifest two. Together, charging into the Hengduan Mountains, they looked like a mighty procession of over a hundred people.
Fortunately, nobody was around to see them for now.
"While everyone is in good condition, let's head right first to slay the tier-four cyan flower snakes and harvest their venom and gallbladders," Zhu Wu said.
"Understood," all the senior sisters chorused.
"Waning moon... waning moon... waning moon... crescent moon..."
The senior sisters had all entered the sect for the sake of Illusion Techniques, and even the lowest among them had reached the fifth stage.
Offensive techniques were severely lacking, however; much like Zhu Wu in the beginning, many of them could only slash about bare-handed with swords.
"As women who chose Illusion Techniques, I suppose they naturally enjoy a bit of fighting and killing."
"It seems best to focus primarily on raising their mastery of Illusion Techniques." Zhu Wu stood to the side and watched.
After a while, everyone finished harvesting the snake venom and gallbladders.
"Should I take them to the cliff cave? Let them experience my cultivation method?" Zhu Wu wondered.
"Next, we go left to gather spirit herbs," Zhu Wu announced.
Along the way, the tier-three and tier-four monster beasts weren't too difficult for the senior sisters, especially given their cooperation using the simplified Yueying.
Consequently, gathering the spirit herbs proved effortless.
"Tonight, I'll take you somewhere to rest." After pondering for a long time, Zhu Wu finally made up his decision.
With over thirty senior sisters crowded inside, the cliff cave felt somewhat cramped.
"This is where Senior Sister Zhu passed away," Zhu Wu said in a deep voice, pointing at the stone platform.
Everyone looked on in silence, cupping their fists and bowing with mixed emotions swirling in their hearts.
"I don't want anyone disturbing Senior Sister Zhu, nor do I want others to know about this place. But you are my senior sisters as well, which is why I brought you here."
"Aside from those of us from Yueying Peak, I hope none of you will leak the situation here."
"Others only know this is a cave; they have no idea it has anything to do with Senior Sister Zhu."
"I brought you here not just to pay respects to Senior Sister Zhu."
"You have all cultivated the *Liuhuai Yinyang Baojian*. Do you know what yin-yang balance is?" Zhu Wu asked, looking at the senior sisters.
The senior sisters offered all sorts of answers, none of them hitting the mark.
"Tonight, this place will become very cold. Tomorrow morning, for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense after the sun rises, sunlight will shine directly here."
"If you can use your true qi to balance the chill and the sunlight, I believe your mastery of Illusion Techniques will improve."
Zhu Wu explained for a while and exchanged insights on true qi circulation methods with the senior sisters.
"Senior Sister Wang, you have a wood spiritual root. Your true qi is gentle and continuous, lacking in high offense. You should focus on entanglement, targeting the true qi in your opponent's hands and feet to restrict their movement."
"Senior Sister Chen, you have a water spiritual root. Your true qi is even gentler; attacking the true qi around your opponent's ears and nose yields the best results."
"Senior Sister Huang, you have an earth spiritual root. Your true qi is fierce and unyielding; attacking the true qi between your opponent's ribs yields the best results."
"Senior Sister Xie, you have a fire spiritual root. Your true qi is tyrannical and can attack anywhere, but since true qi is limited, it is best to strike directly at the waist."
"Concentrating your true qi for a single-point breakthrough will make it easier for you to cast Illusion Techniques."
"If you do this, when facing opponents of the same realm, as long as they lack magic treasures to counter you, you can easily win."
"Moreover, if you cultivate the Yueying I taught you to Perfection, even if you can't win against someone a realm higher, you can easily escape."
"Yueying can split into up to seven phantoms, and one of them can even launch independent attacks. Of course, I haven't cultivated it to Perfection myself yet; who knows, perhaps one of you might master it faster than I can."
"..."
An hour passed, and everyone sat cross-legged to rest.
Dawn broke.
"Senior sisters, you can prepare to cultivate now," Zhu Wu said.
Everyone circulated their true qi.
Zhu Wu circulated his true qi as well. The true qi of everyone present packed the cliff cave so tightly it felt as interconnected as a honeycomb.
"I've broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!"
"I've reached the sixth stage!"
"..."
A total of six senior sisters achieved breakthroughs to varying degrees.
The other senior sisters also sensed something; though they didn't break through, they still made marked progress.
"Junior Brother, you're amazing! How did you come up with this method?" one senior sister asked excitedly.
"I had a sudden epiphany when I came here..." Zhu Wu explained.
"Does that mean anyone can do this?"
"Not necessarily. I noticed that the six senior sisters who broke through all have dual spiritual roots, don't they?" Zhu Wu asked.
"It seems... yes, we all have dual spiritual roots," a senior sister said after checking.
"Could dual spiritual roots be better? What about triple spiritual roots?" another senior sister asked.
"Hard to say. This is my first time watching you all break through. Still, you can try cultivating this way in the future; the results should be favorable," Zhu Wu said.
"All right, let's finish our missions first. At this rate, we can head back by noon," Zhu Wu continued, turning to step out of the cliff cave.
Everyone walked out of the cliff cave in high spirits, blooming like spring wildflowers under the sunlight.
On the second day, at the Mission Hall, the dozens of senior sisters split up their contribution points—seventy or eighty per person, enough to trade for a few qi pills to sustain their cultivation for a while.
Zhu Wu led the remaining senior sisters to continue their missions.
On the fourth day, back at the Mission Hall, the other group of dozens of senior sisters also exchanged their points for qi pills.
Since the remaining locations on the mission board were scattered and unsuited for the senior sisters, everyone returned to Yueying Peak.
Disciples across the entire sect were bewildered.
"What's going on? Why did Yueying Peak suddenly take on over ten missions?"
"Aren't the people of Yueying Peak supposed to be cowards? Why did they all head down the mountain at once?"
"Yeah, I heard a handyman saw over a hundred people heading down the mountain together yesterday."
"Did Elder Chen break through in seclusion? They used to be too scared to let their disciples leave the mountain, so why are they all out now?"
"Could Yueying Peak be making such a big move to fight for quota slots in the secret realm?"
"Likely. After all, that secret realm is quite safe, making it just right for young girls to play around in."
"I heard all the missions were accepted by that Zhu Wu fellow, and he's leading the pack."
"Didn't Zhu Wu go on a long trip?"
"He's been back for a few days. I only just found out myself."
"Word is Zhu Wu exchanged a pile of low-grade spirit stones; he must have encountered some fortuitous encounter outside."
"Damn, what incredible dog-shit luck. I'm going to take on missions too."
"..."
Zhu Wu lay on his bed.
"How can I combine *Yueying* with Illusion Techniques?" Zhu Wu pondered.
Yueying itself could manifest phantoms, operating on principles largely similar to Illusion Techniques.
"Dual spiritual roots... two phantoms... at least one can attack automatically..."
"The waning moon's true qi is like a net, the crescent moon's true qi is impervious, the full moon..."
"If the manifested phantoms can also cast Illusion Techniques, then releasing the full moon simultaneously would be equivalent to a nine-fold true qi attack. Not even a Golden Core Stage expert could withstand that, right?"
Thinking of this, Zhu Wu sat up in excitement to test his idea.
Zhu Wu's Illusion Techniques hadn't reached the seventh stage yet, but several senior sisters had already reached it.
Zhu Wu spent the entire night experimenting in his room.
The phantoms capable of attacking could indeed cast Illusion Techniques.
Zhu Wu possessed two phantoms capable of automatic attacks.
The only difficulty lay in controlling both phantoms to cast Illusion Techniques simultaneously. Of course, that applied to others.
Zhu Wu figured he found it easier because one needed to channel the five elements of true qi respectively into five phantoms, and only when the five elements of true qi were in equilibrium could one synchronize the release of Illusion Techniques.
By this logic, dual spiritual roots could control two synchronous manifestations, and triple spiritual roots could control three. Quadruple spiritual roots made control practically impossible because ordinary people lacked sufficient true qi. As for quintuple spiritual roots, unless one possessed a complete equilibrium like Zhu Wu, it was even less feasible.
The main hall of Yueying Peak.
Everyone crowded inside, sharing the joy of their trip down the mountain.
"My senior sisters, from now on, cultivate according to the methods I described."
"Also, you can check the Mission Hall every day; as long as the locations aren't too far, you can take them. If you run into trouble, I trust you can at least run back to the sect."
"Furthermore, travel in groups of several people. Even if you share fewer contribution points, it will be much safer."
Zhu Wu stood to one side, addressing the senior sisters.
"Aren't you coming with us?" a senior sister asked.
"I might accompany you on missions far away in the future, but not for nearby ones. You need to gain more field experience yourselves so you won't get bullied later on." Zhu Wu replied.
"What we harvested these past few days is enough for everyone to cultivate with for quite a while. First, raise your footwork mastery."
"Once your footwork reaches Great Accomplishment, paired with Illusion Techniques, you can unleash double or even triple attacks."
"All you need to do is divide your true qi into attributes matching your spiritual roots, distribute them among the phantoms, and then control them to release Illusion Techniques synchronously."
"Sisters, start cultivating first, and ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
The grand hall of the sect's Council Chamber.
"Elder Wei, I hear you've also reached the ninth stage of Illusion Techniques. If Elder Chen breaks through further, what realm will that be?" an elder asked.
"I've heard of a tenth stage, but it isn't recorded anywhere," Elder Wei replied.
"I hear you stepped into the ninth stage over a decade ago. Have you seen any signs of a breakthrough?"
"No. It probably requires a certain opportunity," Elder Wei replied.
"In your view, is it possible for Elder Chen to break through to the tenth stage?"
"Hard to say. Elder Chen has better talent than I do; perhaps they've had some sort of epiphany." Elder Wei replied.
"I heard Elder Chen originally came from a major sect in the Great Metropolis. Why would they come to a small place like ours?" an elder asked.
"It must be because of our sect's mental cultivation method. *Blazing Prairie Fire* enhances the Illusion Techniques Elder Chen cultivates," an elder said.
"If it's mental cultivation, the Great Metropolis has much better ones. *Blazing Prairie Fire* is only Earth-grade beginner tier," another elder said.
"Could there be something special about Yueying Peak?" an elder asked.
"I've looked over Yueying Peak left and right, and there's nothing special about it at all," Elder Wei replied.
"Yueying Peak mobilized their entire peak to take on missions this time. What does everyone think?" an elder asked.
"What else is there to think? Weren't the lessons from last time enough?" an elder retorted irritably.
"They've gotten smarter now. Moving out together makes them much harder to deal with," an elder remarked.
"They're probably aiming for the secret realm quotas. Still, if they really have the ability, they can go earn it themselves," an elder said.
"If they really go to the secret realm, then... hehe," an elder laughed sinisterly.
"Everyone should first consider which of your own disciples you'll be sending," an elder said.
"I think the focus should be on that Zhu Wu. If Elder Chen comes out of seclusion, he'll likely be the one sent," an elder said.
"That Zhu Wu was already at the sixth stage of Illusion Techniques before. Could he have broken through to the seventh stage by now? If he's at the seventh stage, your disciples had better watch out," an elder warned.
"It's not that easy to break through. Though he advanced quickly before, the further you go, the more resources and fortuitous encounters you need," Elder Wei said.
"In any case, let's first discuss the resources of Yueying Peak..."
"Let's wait for the Sect Master to return from the main sect to make a decision. Perhaps the main sect will make arrangements."
"Yueying Peak... perhaps it shouldn't exist after all..."
Many people knew about the secret realm in Mobei City.
After all, it was a fixed secret realm that opened once every two years.
The heavenly treasures within weren't exceptionally rare, but because it was relatively safe, it was just right for testing disciples from various nearby minor sects, as well as a time for rogue cultivators to grab a share of the spoils.
Moon Shadow Sect had reserved seven disciples to participate.
Zhu Wu was not among them, so he headed to Mobei City on his own.
Although many senior sisters wanted to go with Zhu Wu, the simplified *Yueying* they cultivated was not suited for long-distance travel.
Moreover, since Zhu Wu didn't know what dangers might lurk within the secret realm, he chose not to bring the senior sisters along.