The Myriad Affairs Hall and the Secrets of Qingyuan Sect

The trading market was bustling with activity. Most cultivators understood the importance of keeping their wealth discreet, so they all wore loose, flowing robes that concealed their figures and faces.

While combat was strictly forbidden within Hongshan City, the risk of opportunistic individuals being swayed by greed and resorting to desperate measures was ever-present. Thus, most cultivators chose to obscure their identities, believing it better to avoid trouble than to invite it. Su Hanxing and his companion were no exception. Although they had already disguised their appearances, they still donned black robes, adding an extra layer of precaution.

Inside the deep yellow building, a short, stout middle-aged male cultivator reclined on a long chair crafted from an unknown wood. He appeared to be in his forties, standing seven chi tall, with narrow, keen eyes that gleamed with intelligence. His two small, upturned mustaches gave him a slightly comical air.

He watched the two black-robed figures, one tall and one short, before him, a question in his raised eyebrow.

“Two fellow Daoists have come to the Myriad Affairs Hall. What information do you seek?”

“Is your intelligence trustworthy, fellow Daoist?” Su Hanxing asked, his gaze sweeping around the small building before settling on the owner.

“Myriad Affairs Hall has been operating here for over a century,” the owner replied with a wide grin. “Our intelligence is absolutely accurate; you may rest assured.” He showed no anger at Su Hanxing’s initial skepticism.

“Excellent. May I ask if the Heart God Sect has a base within the city?” Su Hanxing nodded slightly, then posed his first question.

“Since this is your first time purchasing information from Myriad Affairs Hall, consider this question a complimentary gift,” the owner replied, stroking his mustache. “The Heart God Sect indeed has a base in Hongshan City, but it’s not located in Qiudao City; rather, it resides in Xunxian City.”

Upon hearing the owner’s answer, Su Hanxing inwardly nodded. He already knew about the Heart God Sect’s base in Hongshan City; this first question was merely a test of the owner’s veracity.

“Very well. My second question concerns a sect once known as Qingyuan, located in Cuiya Commandery. I wish to know everything about them.” Su Hanxing pondered for a moment, then inquired about Qingyuan. He already possessed a considerable understanding of the sect, so this question served to gauge the depth of the owner’s information.

“Qingyuan, you say…” The owner frowned slightly, then nodded several times. “This information will cost five thousand Spirit Pills.”

“The Spirit Pills are here. Take them.” Su Hanxing produced a jade bottle and tossed it to the owner. This type of jade bottle was inscribed with a spatial array, containing precisely five thousand Spirit Pills.

“Fellow Daoist, your generosity is truly remarkable. I shall now inform you of all the intelligence regarding Qingyuan.” The owner took the jade bottle, his spiritual sense confirming the amount. A brilliant smile instantly lit up his face. He put away the bottle, stood up, cleared his throat, and slowly began.

“The founder of Qingyuan was a Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator named Lu Qingyun. His strength was quite formidable. A millennium ago, he once slew a Dharma Manifestation Realm Earth-tier arch-nemesis, earning him a modest reputation within Cuiya Commandery.”

The owner began to pace back and forth, narrating as he recalled the details. As he reached this point, he suddenly turned to face Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing. “Do the two fellow Daoists know of the Heaven, Earth, and Human tiers within the Dharma Manifestation Realm?”

“Naturally, we do,” Su Hanxing replied.

“Given your generous expenditure, I presumed as much…” The owner chuckled softly, then resumed his pacing. “This Lu Qingyun established Qingyuan after breaking through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm, on a tall mountain not far from here. He enjoyed playing the role of a teacher and loved taking disciples, yet his teaching abilities were rather subpar. He personally accepted thousands of disciples, but not a single one managed to break through to the Dharma Manifestation Realm.”

“Lu Qingyun had a close friend named Jin Yu, a cultivator of the Dharma Manifestation Realm Human-tier, though no records of his combat prowess have been passed down. After founding Qingyuan, Lu Qingyun invited Jin Yu to join and serve as the sect’s Grand Elder. These two were the only Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators within the sect.”

Upon hearing this, Su Hanxing nodded slightly. Everything aligned with the information he had obtained from Qibao Hall.

“Qingyuan was merely a third-rate sect within my Cuiya Commandery. Consequently, they maintained a low profile, never engaging in conflicts with other sects, content to slowly develop within their own small territory.”

“One could say Qingyuan was quite unlucky. Typically, sects are built atop spirit stone veins, allowing them to mine resources to sustain their operations. When Lu Qingyun selected a site for Qingyuan, he specifically sought out an incredibly rich vein. However, who could have known that as the sect disciples dug, they would actually cause the entire Qingyuan Mountain to collapse!”

The owner shook his head slightly, then continued: “Approximately sixty-seven years ago, an earth-shattering roar emanated from Qingyuan Mountain. According to some cultivators who witnessed the event, multicolored auspicious light flashed from within the mountain, then the earth tore open, and the entire peak rumbled downwards, ultimately vanishing completely.”

To collapse a spirit stone vein with such a grand spectacle? Su Hanxing’s face, hidden beneath his black robe, subtly creased. He didn’t believe that a massive chasm was merely the result of disciples digging.

“No one believed it, yet that’s what Qingyuan announced,” the owner said with a helpless shrug.

Qingyuan announced it themselves, did they… “Please continue, fellow Daoist,” Su Hanxing gestured.

“Overnight, Qingyuan Mountain transformed into the Qingyuan Ravine. I don’t know what Lu Qingyun was thinking. He surprisingly didn’t relocate the sect, but instead continued to recruit disciples within that very ravine.” The owner shook his head once more.

“Other surrounding sects all speculated that Lu Qingyun must have found some treasure within that deep chasm, which was why he was unwilling to move. Soon, some sects began to exert pressure on Qingyuan, constantly provoking them at their borders and gradually encroaching upon their territory.”

“Qingyuan offered no resistance, simply allowing their territory to be devoured. After several more years, a sect called Flowing Cloud Palace finally lost its patience. They gathered four Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators, intending to make a move against Qingyuan.”

“The two sides clashed fiercely ten thousand li outside Qingyuan Ravine. To the utter astonishment of all, Lu Qingyun fought one against four, successfully repelling Flowing Cloud Palace’s siege and even slaying one of their Dharma Manifestation Realm elders on the spot.”

“After this battle, Lu Qingyun’s reputation soared. He also used this opportunity to announce that Qingyuan—originally using the character for ‘far’—would henceforth be renamed Qingyuan Sect, using the character for ‘source’. The specific reason remained unknown to all.”

“Despite their victory, the Qingyuan Sect did not choose to expand their territory. Instead, they retreated once more into the ravine, remaining secluded. Approximately thirty years ago, the Qingyuan Sect suddenly ceased recruiting disciples, and thereafter, no further news emerged, as if they had vanished from the world.”

“A few years later, some cultivators once again ventured towards the ravine, hoping to investigate, but were blocked by the Heart God Sect. It was rumored that Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators from the Heart God Sect were stationed within. In my opinion, the Heart God Sect must have coveted the treasures within the ravine and thus acted to destroy the Qingyuan Sect.”

At this point, the owner paused. He looked at Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing, asking softly: “You two, this is all the information I have regarding the Qingyuan Sect. Are you satisfied?”

Su Hanxing nodded. “Indeed, I am very satisfied.”

“Do the two of you have any other questions?” the owner inquired.

“Fellow Daoist, do you know if any relics of the Qingyuan Sect still exist in the world?” Chi Qiu suddenly remembered the scroll she possessed and immediately asked.

“As for that, let me think…” The owner was momentarily stunned upon hearing Chi Qiu’s voice, then he frowned, stroking his mustache. “I have it! Consider this related information; you won’t need to pay more Spirit Pills. In a week, there will be an auction at the Treasure Pavilion in Xunxian City, and among the items will be an artifact from the Qingyuan Sect.”

“Let me find it, let me find it…” He turned and opened a huge cabinet. “Found it! It’s this one!”

Before long, he scurried back holding a jade slip. He channeled his true qi, and a series of images materialized. He pointed to a stone carving mural depicting mountains, rivers, flowers, and beasts. Beneath it was a line of small text:

[Qingyuan Stone Carving, starting bid: ten thousand Spirit Pills.]