Shan Hu returned to Dragon's Hidden Mountain from the extreme northern ice field in the span of just half a day.
In the main hall, Su Qingxue was busy processing the first batch of rare medicinal herbs delivered by the Ye family of the Capital. Since Shan Hu established the alliance, the Ye family had acted with impressive efficiency; not only were the ten billion funds instantly available, but a substantial volume of rare herbs, difficult to find on the open market, had also arrived in Longcheng via the fastest channels.
Seeing Shan Hu appear, Su Qingxue respectfully stepped forward: "Master, you're back! Was everything smooth?"
Shan Hu offered a faint smile and waved his right hand. An aged jade slip, several scrolls wrapped in animal hide, and a storage bag filled with herbs and refining materials landed on the table.
"The Black Fiend Sect is destroyed. This is all they possessed."
Su Qingxue stared at the items on the table in astonishment. Though she couldn't discern the value of the ancient scriptures and slips, the wealth of a sect powerful enough to require her Master's personal intervention was clearly immense.
"Your divine might is absolute, Master!" Su Qingxue praised sincerely.
Shan Hu ignored the compliment, his divine sense sweeping over the ancient jade slip submitted by the Black Fiend Sect. The slip contained scattered records of spiritual materials within the Chinese martial world, which Shan Hu hadn't reviewed closely during the conflict in the icy north.
Now, plunging his consciousness into it, he swiftly found a vague but critical entry:
"The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion in Xiangxi, whose mountain gate is built over an ancient bronze tripod, serves as a thousand-year guardian. They may know the whereabouts of the Deep Sea Dark Crystal. Legend states the Ancient Tripod holds inscriptions related to the Sea Soul, pointing toward an oceanic secret realm."
"Deep Sea Dark Crystal." Shan Hu repeated softly. This was the second of the nine primary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, containing the essence of water and fire, requiring collection from millennia-old sedimentation in the deepest parts of the ocean.
While the Black Fiend Sect's record was crude, it offered a distinct lead: the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion.
"Su Qingxue," Shan Hu called.
"Qingxue is here!"
"In the 'Martial Alliance Pact' delivered by the Capital's Ye family, how many ancient martial sects were mentioned?"
Su Qingxue immediately replied, "To answer Master, the Pact requested the collective endorsement of seven major ancient martial sects and dozens of hidden cultivation families. Currently, only three have explicitly complied. The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion is listed as one of the seven and has been the most resistant, directly rejecting the Ye family's invitation."
A cold smirk touched Shan Hu's lips: "The most resistant? Excellent. I require a disobedient sect to establish my authority."
"The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion guards something I need beneath its gate. Deliver a message to Ye Qingyun: tell him to cease all further communication with the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion. From today forward, whether the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion continues to exist is my sole decision."
"Yes, Master." A flicker of excitement crossed Su Qingxue's eyes; she knew her Master was about to move again.
After giving his instructions, Shan Hu retrieved an ordinary emerald jade talisman from his storage bag and placed it on the main hall table.
"This talisman contains a remnant of my divine thought, connected to all the arrays on Dragon's Hidden Mountain. Remember, until my parents and Shan Qing return, no matter what happens, you must not leave this mountain."
"Qingxue understands!" Su Qingxue carefully took the talisman.
Having completed all preparations and instructions, Shan Hu stood up. Without using any tools, he stepped out of the main hall, his figure instantly disappearing into the mist of Dragon's Hidden Mountain.
This time, he made no effort to conceal his tracks, moving at immense speed, heading directly toward the Xiangxi mountain ranges.
The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion—it was set to be Shan Hu's second stop for consolidating China's spiritual resources, and it was destined to become the first stepping stone for establishing his authority over the martial world.