Chương 178: The Unseen Empire

The journey back to the Green Mountain Sect was one of profound peace. Tempest, the magnificent Skyshroud Leviathan, flew with a steady, silent grace, a pearlescent silver shadow against the endless blue sky. Cyra, in her elegant human form, stood near the great beast's head, her silver eyes taking in the lush, green landscapes of the righteous sects with a quiet, analytical curiosity. It was a world so different from the deep, silent chasm she had once called home.

Li Yu sat in a state of deep, contented meditation. He was not cultivating in the traditional sense. Instead, his consciousness was a quiet observer in his own inner world. He watched some of the new species he had acquired—the Aether-Fin Skyfish, the Sentient Coral Drifters, the Geode-Backed Creek Wyrms—as they acclimated to their new, perfect habitats within the vast, oceanic expanse of his Koi's Sanctuary.

He could feel their unique life energies weaving into the greater tapestry of his martial spirit, strengthening and diversifying his foundation with every passing moment. After two days of swift, uninterrupted travel, the familiar, majestic peaks of the Green Mountain Sect finally appeared on the horizon. As they drew closer, Li Yu guided Tempest to a secluded, high-altitude lake, miles away from any prying eyes. With a final, affectionate pat, he recalled the great leviathan into his sanctuary.

He and Cyra then proceeded on foot, two unassuming figures walking towards the sect he called home. His return was a quiet affair. Upon reaching his tranquil valley, he turned to his new companion.

"My first duty upon returning is to report to the Sect Master and the Grand Elders," he explained, his voice calm.

"As my new companion, it is only proper that you accompany me for a formal introduction. Please, come with me."

"As you command, Master," Cyra replied with a graceful nod, her silver eyes holding a quiet understanding. Together, they walked from his valley towards the Sect Master's peak, their journey drawing a few curious glances from disciples who wondered about the breathtakingly elegant woman accompanying their reclusive Junior Brother. He was granted immediate entry to the hidden chamber deep within the mountain. The Sect Master and the two Grand Elders, Chen and Mei, were already waiting for him.

The moment he entered, Grand Elder Mei's usually serene face broke into a wide, fond smile, the kind a grandmother gives to a grandson who has been away for far too long.

"Little Yu!" she said, her voice full of warmth and relief.

"You've returned! Come, come, let us look at you."

"Sect Master, Grand Elder Chen, Grand Elder Mei," Li Yu said with a deep, respectful bow. He then gestured to Cyra.

"Allow me to introduce my new companion, Cyra. She will be residing with me in my valley from now on." The three sect leaders' warm expressions didn't change as they knew she was with Li Yu. They were Core Formation experts, their spiritual senses were incredibly sharp. The woman who had just walked in beside Li Yu… her aura was vast, definitely stronger than their own. At what level they were not completely sure, but definitely in the upper core formation most likely.

She was an 8th-stage Core Formation sovereign, a being whose power was likely greater than all three of them combined. And she stood beside Li Yu with the quiet, respectful deference of a subordinate.

"A pleasure to meet the esteemed leaders of the Green Mountain Sect," Cyra said, her melodic voice calm and respectful as she gave a slight, graceful bow.

"She… she is…" Grand Elder Chen stammered, his mind struggling to comprehend the situation.

"She is a friend," Li Yu said simply, offering no further explanation. He then turned his attention to his report.

"My journey was… more eventful than I had anticipated. I have much to tell you." For the next hour, he gave them his report. He spoke of the Asura Demon Clan, of their dying Guardian, and of the new, ironclad alliance he had forged. He then moved on to the matter of the Ironmaw Range. He told them of the Bandit King, of the chaos he was causing, and of his subsequent defeat and subjugation.

He detailed the creation of Traveler's Rest, the new alliances with the Iron Heart Sect, and the establishment of a northern hub for the Golden Shell Guild and the White Paw Company. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. He was, as always, strategically vague. He spoke of his "associates" handling the battles which was true, of the "Grand Elder" of his organization providing the decisive force.

He painted a picture not of just his own personal power, but of a vast, mysterious, and incredibly powerful organization that he was a partner in. He was strong, but he didn't do everything which was also the truth. When he had finished, a profound, deafening silence filled the chamber. The three sect leaders simply stared at him. He had gone to the demonic territories to heal a single sick beast.

He had returned having toppled a regional tyrant, established a new city, forged alliances with both righteous and demonic sects, and recruited an 8th-stage Core Formation sovereign as a "companion."

"By the ancestors…" the Sect Master finally breathed, his voice a mixture of awe and a dawning, terrifying understanding.

"Li Yu… you have not just built a business. You have built an unseen empire. Even with all that you are still thinking and taking the interests of the sect into account."

"Our sect's prosperity is tied to my own," Li Yu said, his tone humble but the words carrying an immense weight.

"The resources flowing from these new enterprises are still in their infancy, with most profits being reinvested into growth. But the foundation is strong, and a steady stream of wealth is now guaranteed." He produced a high-grade storage ring and offered it to the Sect Master.

"This is a gift. Some resources from the recent… acquisitions in the north. A symbol of our continued partnership, and a promise of what is to come." The Sect Master took the ring. When his spiritual sense swept inside, his eyes went wide. The wealth within was substantial—enough to fund the inner sect's core disciples for a few years. It was very generous, how many would just donate that much back to the sect.

"This is a great boon for the sect, Little Yu," Grand Elder Chen said, his voice full of pride.

"But you must not neglect your own needs. Are you keeping enough for your own cultivation? That is what is most important." Grand Elder Mei nodded in solemn agreement, her expression one of genuine, grandparental concern.

"He is right. The sect can be patient. Your strength is a foundation of your own security and the sects. Do not stunt your own growth for our sake." Li Yu felt a genuine warmth in his heart. He bowed deeply.

"I will not forget the elders' kindness." With his formal duties concluded, his next visit was a personal one. He made his way to the quiet, fragrant peak of his master, Elder Ning. He found her in her herb garden, tending to a row of glowing Moonpetal flowers, a serene smile on her face.

"Master," he said, his voice soft. She looked up, and her face broke into a warm, radiant smile that was full of pure, unadulterated affection.

"Little Yu! You have returned." She walked over, her eyes scanning him, not for his power, but for his well-being.

"You have been gone a long time. The world outside seems to agree with you. You look… more centered."

"It has been an educational journey, Master," he said, a genuine, relaxed smile on his face. He sat with her by the small, bubbling spring in her garden, and for the next few hours, they simply talked. He told her not of the great battles or the sovereign beasts, but of the strange and wonderful things he had seen. He spoke of the volcanic city of the Asura Clan, of the beautiful, broken world of the Shattered Moon Realm, and of the bustling, hopeful energy of the new town of Traveler's Rest.

She, in turn, told him of her own, quieter adventures. She spoke of a rare, stubborn strain of Frost-Root that had refused to sprout for a decade, and how she had finally coaxed it to life by adjusting the soil's spiritual pH with a specific type of crushed seashell. She told him of a journey she had taken in her youth to the Myriad Beast Mountains, of how she had spent a month hiding in a tree, just to observe the nesting habits of a rare, three-tailed spirit fox.

He couldn't learn about cultivation from her anymore; his path had far surpassed her own. But he could still learn about patience, about the quiet joy of discovery, about the simple, profound wisdom of a life lived in harmony with the natural world. It was a grounding, peaceful conversation, a necessary balm to his soul after the chaos and violence of his recent travels. As the sun began to set, casting long, golden shadows across the garden, their peaceful conversation was interrupted.

A communication talisman on Elder Ning's belt began to pulse As the sun began to set, casting long, golden shadows across the garden, their peaceful conversation was interrupted. A communication talisman on Elder Ning's belt began to pulse with a bright, urgent light. It was a high-level summons, one reserved for matters of the utmost importance to the sect. She infused it with a wisp of her spiritual energy, and the Sect Master's voice, tight with a new, strange energy, echoed from the talisman.

"Elder Ning. The time has come. He has returned." Elder Ning's serene expression was replaced by one of quiet contemplation. She looked at Li Yu, her eyes holding a thoughtful light.

"It seems an important event is unfolding, Little Yu," she said, her voice calm.

"What is it, Master?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The Sect Heir," she replied, her gaze distant.

"Han Jian. After five long years in the northern wastes, he has finally returned to the sect."