Shan Hu returned from Xiangxi to Dragon's Hidden Mountain as the setting sun painted the sea of clouds atop the peak with hues of red and gold.
He landed contentedly at the core of the Spirit Gathering Array. The trip had been immensely fruitful: he had successfully subdued the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion, acquired the Primordial Geng Metal—one of the primary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill—and, more critically, the clues from the ancient tripod's inscriptions precisely pinpointed the locations of two other crucial herbs, significantly boosting his efficiency in gathering materials.
He took out a piece of the Geng Metal, which emitted a sharp, golden aura, and held it in his palm. This item, a relic from ancient battlefields, was pure and vital in its Metal element—an essential component for the pill.
"The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion held great destiny. It is merely a pity they knew not how to use it." Shan Hu sighed faintly, placing the Geng Metal into his storage ring.
In the main hall, Su Qingxue greeted Shan Hu upon his return, noticing that her Master's aura was now even more profound and contained than when he left, like an immeasurably deep ancient well, inspiring awe.
"Master, Qingxue has completed all the tasks you assigned." Su Qingxue reported respectfully. "From the Ye family, Ye Qingyun immediately ceased all contact with the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion upon receiving your command and sent back a message: 'Everything shall follow Mr. Shan's arrangement.' Furthermore, the global procurement of Qi Replenishing Pill ingredients has fully commenced as per your requirements."
Shan Hu nodded, pleased with the Ye family's prudence. As the most powerful family in the mortal world, the Ye family's resources and network were the best tool for his strategic deployment on Earth.
"Very good. Now, you have one more matter to handle."
Shan Hu handed the aged jade slip containing the Black Fiend Sect's information to Su Qingxue: "This slip has a restriction I personally placed on it; only you can open it. It contains fragmented information about all ancient sects in the Chinese martial world. The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion has submitted; henceforth, they are renamed the Nine Tripods Custodians, and you will be directly responsible for commanding them."
Su Qingxue accepted the jade slip, her eyes wide with shock. The Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion, one of the seven major ancient martial sects, had been subdued in her Master's half-day trip and handed over to her management!
"Qingxue... I obey!" Her voice carried an unconcealable tremble. This was not just power; it was absolute trust in her capabilities.
"The Nine Tripods Custodians, with their generational duty of guarding the tripod, possess knowledge of spiritual materials far surpassing the mundane. You must order them to use the next three years to swiftly collect all documented Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma and other supplementary spiritual herbs, and deliver them to Dragon's Hidden Mountain as quickly as possible." Shan Hu calmly issued his commands, as if mobilizing an army.
"As for the Capital's Ye family, they shall focus solely on the secular world. Have them use their funds and influence to collect ancient artifacts, jade, and any materials containing faint traces of spiritual energy, which I require as auxiliary components for my array formations."
"The mortal realm has its uses."
Shan Hu's strategy was perfectly clear: the Nine Tripods Custodians would gather ancient spiritual treasures, while the Capital's Ye family would manage the secular funds and resources. The two forces were distinctly separate yet worked in coordination, all commanded by Su Qingxue alone, freeing him to concentrate on cultivation and the search for the core ingredients.
Having deployed his two strategic pieces in the secular and martial worlds, Shan Hu turned his attention to the next core ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill—the Thousand-Year Spirit Turtle Herb.
"The ancient tripod's inscription shows the Millennium Spirit Turtle Herb grows on a hidden island in the depths of the South Sea, named 'Spirit Haven Island.' The island is perpetually shrouded in sea fog, surrounded by a natural Illusion Array, and the waters are guarded by exotic beasts. With my current peak Qi Condensation cultivation, I can force a breakthrough, but I must prepare thoroughly."
A thought flickered in Shan Hu's mind, and he retrieved the storage bag acquired from the Black Fiend Sect.
As a major dark sect, the Black Fiend's treasures mostly comprised poisons and dark artifacts, but among them was one unexpected item: the "Water Repelling Pearl." This pearl was refined from the essence of a deep-sea giant clam and could temporarily repel water pressure and provide breathable air deep underwater.
"Perfect. With the Water Repelling Pearl, I can conserve thirty percent of my power." Shan Hu refined the pearl and stored it in his Dantian. He then located a dark cultivation manual within the Black Fiend's scriptures that detailed methods for taming sea beasts.
"Dark arts are beneath me, but the records on sea beast habits are detailed."
Shan Hu spent an hour distilling the essence of the manual, integrating it into his Immortal Emperor Divine Sense, forming a temporary "Sea Control Art." His journey to the South Sea was not just for the herb; he intended to subdue some powerful sea beasts as mounts, both to increase his speed and to act as formidable guards.
That night, Shan Hu instructed Su Qingxue to enter the rear hall of Dragon's Hidden Mountain to begin the preliminary purification of the supplementary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill. He then stood alone on the mountain peak, gazing toward the distant south.
In the secular world, he had laid a vast net; Dragon's Hidden Mountain was impregnable under Su Qingxue's guard and his array formations. In the martial world, the annihilation of the Black Fiend Sect and the subjugation of the Nine Tripods Sword Pavilion were enough to intimidate all minor entities.
Now, it was time to embark on the true quest for the remaining core herbs.
Shan Hu adjusted his state to absolute perfection, ensuring nothing was overlooked.
The next morning, a red sun rose slowly from the eastern sea. The instant the first ray of light illuminated Dragon's Hidden Mountain, Shan Hu stepped onto a temporary flying sword refined from fragments of Geng Metal and shot into the sky. His speed was astonishing, leaving only a faint, thread-like golden afterimage across the heavens.
His destination was Spirit Haven Island, deep in the vast South Sea.
The consolidation of the Chinese mainland was temporarily complete. The Immortal Emperor's journey had officially turned toward the larger, more dangerous oceanic secret realms.