Chapter Eight: My Wife Was Traded

The next morning, dawn pierced through the window, illuminating Zhou Xuanhong’s face as he sat cross-legged in cultivation. He opened his eyes.

“Halfway to Foundation Establishment. I must gather enough Foundation Establishment Pills as soon as possible—the more, the better.”

He stepped outside. At that hour, the grounds were crowded with many new disciples of the Form-Void Sect, most of them children under fifteen. Few possessed the cultivation Zhou Xuanhong had, so among the crowd he seemed more like a senior brother.

Naturally, the younger disciples mistook him for a senior, and every passing child greeted him with proper decorum: “Greetings, Senior Brother!”

He didn’t bother to correct them. With his current level, even among the outer disciples, there were only a handful whom he would address as senior.

The sect’s martial arena was set atop a mountain whose peak had been leveled. Its vast expanse was paved with spirit-infused ironstone—a mineral as hard as refined steel. Normally, no Qi Refining cultivator could damage it, making the arena one of the sect’s more extravagant constructions.

On the platform, older disciples were scattered across a wide area, while clusters of fresh-faced, newly admitted disciples gathered together, watching the seniors practice spells or hone their physical techniques with curiosity.

Zhou Xuanhong feigned interest, but in his heart, he pondered the events of the previous night. There should be news of Xiaona soon.

“All new disciples who joined yesterday, gather here!”

A melodious voice rang out. Overhead, a veiled woman hovered in midair, her unrivaled elegance barely concealed by her veil.

Nearby, the older disciples all looked up. Some male cultivators were entranced, others put on airs, but most critiqued her. The female disciples wore expressions of envy, jealousy, and admiration—clearly, this woman was highly esteemed within the Form-Void Sect.

Zhou Xuanhong knew that anyone capable of standing suspended in the air must be at the Golden Core stage—perhaps even an old monster in disguise. Some elder women enjoyed such quirks; after all, women loved beauty.

“I didn’t expect Elder Xu Yuan to guide this year’s newcomers. Had I known, I would’ve joined a year later.”

“Look at you—don’t get your hopes up. Elder Xu’s talent is extraordinary, a blue-grade prodigy, and she’s the Sect Master’s granddaughter. Her future husband will be a great power; nobodies like us can only dream.”

An inner disciple remarked with interest, “Seems Elder Xu is troubled by the Grand Elder’s son’s pursuit, so she took on this task to have a reason to leave the sect.”

Another, less advanced, asked, “Senior Brother, I heard the Sect Master and Grand Elder are…”

“Don’t ask. That’s not our business.”

Zhou Xuanhong, ever keen-eared, absorbed their conversation and pieced together several key points: first, the woman was here to avoid the Grand Elder’s son’s advances; second, there was discord among the sect’s leadership; third, connecting the dots, the Grand Elder’s influence seemed to outweigh the Sect Master’s—otherwise, why would the Sect Master’s own granddaughter need to evade the Grand Elder’s son?

These details were crucial for Zhou Xuanhong’s future plans. While others were awestruck by her identity or captivated by Elder Xu’s demeanor, Zhou Xuanhong was already refining a scheme that would overturn the Form-Void Sect.

“Good, everyone’s here. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Xu Yuan, Law Enforcement Elder of the Form-Void Sect’s inner court, and your instructor for the next ten days. Address me as Instructor Xu.”

“Greetings, Instructor Xu!” The crowd saluted with clasped fists.

“Sit!”

Xu Yuan waved her hand, and a gentle force pressed everyone to sit upon the arena floor, while she descended to hover three feet above the ground, perfectly visible to all.

“Your first lesson is the sect’s regulations, which everyone must hear.

In the celestial calendar year 3,748,591, a nameless one named Xu Yuqi, titled True Lord of Form-Void, founded the Form-Void Sect here…

First precept: As stated, loyalty to the sect, respect for elders, selfless dedication, mutual aid among peers, and absolute devotion to the Form-Void Sect.

Second precept: The teachings of Form-Void are imparted only to worthy disciples; not to the disloyal or unfilial; not to the unrighteous or unjust; not to those who betray teachers or ancestors; not to those of base character; not to the cunning and malicious; not to those physically weak; not to the unambitious or irresolute; not to those who do not diligently cultivate.

The sect’s laws are sacred above life itself—constantly self-reflect! Teachings must be passed by word, not by text; secrets must not be written down or revealed; no splinter sects shall be formed.

Third precept: …

The reading of the sect’s rules was a solemn occasion. Not just the new disciples like Zhou Xuanhong, but even the nearby older disciples sat attentively.

Zhou Xuanhong appeared to listen respectfully, but inwardly paid little heed. If the rules were truly enforced, someone like him, with a “base character and cunning mind,” would be expelled immediately.

Nevertheless, he memorized every rule. Regulations were both shackles and weapons—binding oneself and restraining others.

After finishing the recitation, Xu Yuan warned, “The Form-Void Sect is a righteous order in the Nameless Domain. Collusion with demonic, ghost, or corrupt sects is strictly forbidden. Any found guilty will be expelled; severe cases will be executed on the spot!”

A wave of murderous intent swept over the disciples, oppressing their hearts, but it quickly faded.

“Now, all disciples over fifteen, stand up. Those of you with cultivation may stay or, if you wish, use your token to access the library. For the next ten days, all books on the first floor are free to read for unlimited time, but none may be taken out.”

Disciples like Zhou Xuanhong were already in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, familiar with the basics of cultivation, though many still knew little, having focused only on their own training.

Only seven others rose alongside Zhou Xuanhong, all with mature faces, and one burly man nearly thirty years old who stood out, his cultivation surprisingly at the late stage of Qi Refining.

They departed, leaving Zhou Xuanhong alone. He remained, clasped his fists, and addressed Xu Yuan: “Elder Xu, I respectfully request an audience with the Sect Master!”

His words sent a ripple through the crowd. A mere mid-stage Qi Refining newcomer, daring to request a meeting with the Sect Master in public—everyone speculated about his identity. Was he a relative? An illegitimate child?

Xu Yuan asked coolly, “Why?”

Zhou Xuanhong replied with calm dignity, “My wife is the prodigy taken yesterday by the Corpse Mountain Fiend. After a night has passed, I know not her fate.”

“Damn, it’s this kid! What luck he has, marrying such a dazzling prodigy. Envy!”

“I’m no worse than him. Heaven is unfair!”

Others who didn’t know asked, “What happened? What are you talking about?”

Xu Yuan sighed and began, “This matter…”

“Yuan’er, let me explain.”

At that moment, a dignified elder appeared behind Xu Yuan—the Sect Master from yesterday at the mountain gate.

“Greetings, Sect Master!” All disciples rose and saluted.

The Sect Master raised his hand slightly. “Be at ease. I had intended to speak with you privately, but you’re so impatient. I’ll take this chance to make an announcement.

Boy, your wife is safe, unharmed. But seeing her again will not be easy. Yesterday, our Supreme Elder, in order to rescue a red-grade Phoenix Maiden, pursued the Grand Elder of the Corpse Yin Sect into the territory of the Lunar Extreme Corpse Sect. Both were stopped by a True Lord of that sect. After explaining their purpose, an agreement was reached.

Our Form-Void Sect is no longer as glorious as in the past. A red-grade prodigy would only be stifled here. Only in her true sky can she shine.

The agreement is for the Phoenix Maiden to join the Lunar Extreme Corpse Sect. In exchange, the Lunar Extreme Corpse Sect will grant our Form-Void Sect a small spirit herb world. After discussion with the Grand Elder, this world will open in one month. All disciples from mid Qi Refining to below Foundation Establishment may register. On the eve of the opening, twenty will be chosen to enter.”

“Wow, really? That’s exactly what I hoped for!”

“Yes, a red-grade prodigy. Even if we gave her all the sect’s resources, it wouldn’t be enough!”

“This is great—I’m at Qi Refining eighth layer, so I still have a shot to enter the spirit herb world!”

Yet only one among them was unable to rejoice. Zhou Xuanhong understood clearly: the Sect Master called it an agreement, but in truth it was a transaction, treating Xiaona as a commodity. The Lunar Extreme Corpse Sect—just the name sounded sinister.

The Sect Master, noticing Zhou Xuanhong’s dejection, raised his hand to quiet the crowd, then announced, “Additionally, I have another message. Outer disciple Zhou Xuanhong, who honors his teachers and values righteousness, and is diligent in cultivation, will be accepted as my personal disciple!”

“What?!”

“He’s not just lucky—he’s fallen headfirst into a pit of fortune!”

“I want a Phoenix Maiden wife too!”

It was clear to all that Zhou Xuanhong’s elevation was due to the prodigy’s influence; otherwise, no one would know this new disciple, and the lofty Sect Master would never have taken him as a disciple.

“Zhou Xuanhong, are you willing to become my disciple?”

Zhou Xuanhong rapidly weighed the advantages and disadvantages. Finding the benefits outweighed the risks, he knelt and bowed: “Disciple Zhou Xuanhong pays respects to Master!”

The Sect Master laughed, “Good, you’re clever. Come with me.”

Instantly, Zhou Xuanhong felt himself lifted by a force, flying away from the arena in a blink, leaving behind a crowd of envious, jealous, and resentful disciples, and Xu Yuan’s curious gaze.