Chapter Sixty-Two: Bei Minglie Emerges from Seclusion

On the Third Mountain.

Wang Ran sat cross-legged.

Before Yao Jianjia secluded herself, she had given him a candle and a red string, tools to access the spiritual spring beneath the Third Mountain’s waters. Yet Wang Ran did not use them. Instead, he gauged the direction and settled atop a river stone above the spiritual spring.

Here, he could still feel the intense surge of spiritual energy, though not as potent as directly above the spring. But this time, Wang Ran intended to absorb and refine a spiritual core, requiring prolonged meditation and isolation—not something one could endure underwater for long.

Thus, Wang Ran chose the river stone.

He took out the spiritual core in his hand, and immediately, the surrounding spiritual energy surged, almost becoming tangible.

“Heh, Bei Minglie really gave me a fine gift,” Wang Ran recalled his fortunate disciple, a smile flickering on his face.

Not daring to waste a moment, Wang Ran gently placed the spiritual core above his lower dantian, closed his eyes, and began to absorb its essence, circulating the Everlasting Dao Divine Art within. Gradually, all its energy was drawn into him.

He sensed the influx of pure spiritual energy from the core, his meridians growing crystalline and translucent.

The energy transformed into threads of spiritual power, suffusing his limbs and bones. For a moment, his mind felt clear and sharp; many tangled matters suddenly found clarity.

He even felt, as if in illusion, that with a single gesture he could split the waterfall before him in two.

“Hm?” Wang Ran opened his eyes, puzzled by his thoughts.

He carefully examined his cultivation. His face froze in surprise.

He had broken through to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.

Just recently, he had entered the third layer. Though he had been cultivating whenever he found time in the past days, such rapid progress was impossible.

Normally, it would take at least another half month for a breakthrough.

Clearly, the credit belonged to the spiritual core.

Thinking this, Wang Ran’s anticipation soared for this seclusion. He wondered how far his cultivation would advance once the core was fully absorbed.

Suppressing his excitement, Wang Ran returned to his meditative state.

Meanwhile,

On the Fifth Mountain’s Beidou Alliance plaza.

Several figures approached on swords. Among them, one disciple stood with hands behind his back, an aura fierce and sharp as a blade.

The gathered disciples all looked at him with respect.

“Senior Brother Bei is back!”

“Senior Brother Bei has been secluded for so long—how much has his cultivation grown?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Look at Senior Brother Bei’s aura—several times stronger than before!”

“That’s right. I heard Senior Brother Bei secluded himself after gaining great fortune in Falling Cloud City, learning a powerful eight-star Dao technique. With this, he could even challenge Ye Cang!”

“Eight-star Dao technique? Rare as phoenix feathers! With such fortune, how could the Beidou Alliance not thrive?”

On the sword blade,

Bei Minglie leapt down when still ten yards above the ground. His feet tapped seven times midair, as if there were invisible steps, landing lightly.

The other prodigies gathered, faces filled with joy.

“We congratulate Senior Brother Bei on his return!” The disciples of Beidou Alliance greeted him, hands clasped.

Bei Minglie nodded with pride.

“Brother, you’re finally back!”

Within the crowd, Bei Minglie’s younger brother, Bei Guoxia, called out joyfully.

Bei Minglie doted on his brother, smiling, “Brother, your wall-facing punishment is over?”

Previously, Bei Guoxia had tried to break into the formation to cultivate within the spiritual tide, was discovered, and sent to wall-face in the Ten Thousand Serpent Valley of Beast Mountain.

Trespassing on formations was a serious offense. The punishment lasted months. Before Bei Minglie’s seclusion, his brother was not yet released. Seeing him now, Bei Minglie nodded slightly.

Mentioning the punishment, Bei Guoxia gritted his teeth. “Brother, did you find the bastard who caused me to wall-face?”

Hearing this, Bei Minglie recalled how, at the Dao Ceremony, Wang Ran had tricked him, leading to his own wall-facing punishment by the Elder. Both brothers had fallen to the same person’s schemes. Fortunately, his own punishment was shorter.

Yet, the matter was too embarrassing; Bei Minglie did not want his brother to know. He coughed and replied vaguely, “Well... I found him, but the Elder was present, so I couldn’t teach him a lesson.”

Bei Guoxia grew resentful. “That bastard! He’d better not cross me again!”

“Let’s discuss that later. By the way, while I was secluded, has anything changed in the Enforcement Hall?” Bei Minglie shifted the topic, not wanting to dwell on Wang Ran.

After all, Wang Ran was the Elder’s disciple. For revenge, he’d need to find the right opportunity.

A prodigy nearby stepped forward, reporting, “Senior Brother Bei, the Enforcement Hall has been quite lively recently.”

“Oh? Tell me,” Bei Minglie’s interest was piqued.

He had now mastered the eight-star Dao technique, Righteous Spirit Art, bestowed by Senior Chen, integrating it into every move. He believed his strength had soared, invincible beneath the Golden Core stage—even Ye Cang he dared confront.

The prodigy spoke gravely, “Senior Brother Bei, there is a man named Wang Ran, recently joined the Enforcement Hall. After entering, he defeated Mighty Elephant Xu Ke, took him as his own, and founded the Righteous Alliance. Now, he recruits disciples with spirit jade, attracting many prodigies. There is a trend of it becoming the Fifth Alliance.”

Before he finished, Bei Minglie’s expression had darkened, a sneer curling his lips.

He had thought Wang Ran, as the Elder’s disciple, would be difficult to handle as an Enforcement Hall member. Yet Wang Ran had joined the Enforcement Hall.

Now, the rules were clear: in the Enforcement Hall, strength speaks. No one could object if he dealt with Wang Ran.

With this realization, anger turned to delight. Bei Minglie threw his head back, laughing fiercely, “Where is the Righteous Alliance?”

The reporting prodigy paused in surprise, but gave the location. Then, hesitantly, he asked, “Senior Brother Bei, are you going to—”

“Tear it down!”

Bei Minglie stood proud, didn’t even enter his house, and strode directly toward the Righteous Alliance.

The others exchanged glances and followed.

On the way, the Beidou Alliance’s procession drew much attention.

“Isn’t that Bei Minglie?”

“He’s out of seclusion?”

“Huh? Where’s he going?”

“Looks like the Righteous Alliance!”

“Is he going to confront Wang Ran?”

“Hurry, let’s follow and see!”

The disciples murmured excitedly. Those who knew of the friction between Wang Ran and Bei Minglie during the Dao Ceremony had a glint in their eyes.

Among them were spies from the Four Alliances.

Soon, news of Bei Minglie marching on the Righteous Alliance spread everywhere.

The Righteous Alliance had been in the limelight lately. Seeing Bei Minglie target them, disciples harbored all sorts of thoughts—some thrilled, others anxious.

In the Chu Alliance,

Chu Yingxuan waved her jade hand and simply ordered, “Monitor closely.”

In the River Alliance,

Meng Jiang, meditating, squinted and smiled slyly, looking as if all machinations were in place.

“Look, here comes the one to clear the path for us.”