After the flying peaks lifted off, they headed directly downward toward Yun Capital. The journey was not smooth; although there weren’t many beasts in Qingqiu and Ziyun Dao before, as they delved deeper into the heart of the Yuntian Domain, in less than three days, they encountered a swarm of beasts almost daily.

The golden-feathered butterflies, vast as a tidal wave, made the hundreds of flying peaks look like fish swimming in the currents. Each of these beasts, numbering in the billions, had at least the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage, and countless Golden Core and Nascent Soul stage beings were mixed among them. The flying peaks had no choice but to land and form a defensive ward to withstand the attacks.

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The terror of it all gave the first-time expeditioners quite a fright, even Feng Qingxiu was somewhat overwhelmed.

“These are golden-feathered butterflies. Every ten years, they return from the North Sea to the Yuntian Domain to breed, lay eggs in the Fire Domain, and then, along with the young butterflies, return to the North Sea the following year. Their journey serves as food for countless greater spirit demons,” a nearby cultivator explained to the disciples who were there for the first time. “Recently, it’s been the migration season for many spirit demon clans, and their routes often intersect, leading to fierce battles where they prey on each other. Only the strongest reach their destination.”

Feng Qingxiu listened as he controlled the flying peak, keenly aware of the formidable power of the beast tide. The defensive wards of the peak consumed spiritual stones according to the intensity of the attacks, and watching the stones deplete at such a rate was nerve-wracking.

Ji Yunlai, standing nearby, was also quite excited. He had long wanted to venture outside, and now, with Xiao Qing accompanying him—even though he was just a split fragment—he felt the world was incredibly beautiful. He was merely a phantom, invisible to anyone but Xiao Qing. 

Besides enjoying the scenery, he liked observing Xiao Qing. He noticed that if he stared at Xiao Qing for a while, the boy’s ears would turn red. If he stared for an hour, Xiao Qing would start to show a bit of temper, becoming adorably fierce.

Sometimes, when his apprentice was practicing the sword techniques he had taught, he looked particularly serious. However, Xiao Qing’s learning ability was almost frightening; he mastered techniques whether he studied them or not, as if he was merely reviewing something he had already learned. Watching his apprentice effortlessly wield the formless sword energy, Ji Yunlai suddenly got the urge to teach Xiao Qing a few more techniques for self-defense, since he had been controlling the boy’s cultivation progress.

With a gentle flick of his hand, he sent out a sword intent. Feng Qingxiu immediately sensed it, raised his hand to catch it, and looked at his master with a puzzled expression.

“Come, let me teach you something fun.” Ji Yunlai reached out, drawing an elegant arc above a orchid in the courtyard. The slow movement seemed to brush away the morning dew from the fresh flower. Feng Qingxiu observed closely and saw a faint, invisible force being drawn out from his master’s hand. The next second, something extraordinary happened—all the light seemed to dim for a brief moment, as if the arc his master had traced stole away even the light in his eyes.

Then, he saw the orchid wither and fade at an alarming speed, the fallen petals turning to mud.

“This technique, in principle, should only be used by those at the Human Immortal or Great Sage stage. It briefly manipulates the flow of time within a space. Su Wan used a similar method to control your sword energy. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and although it requires a high level of comprehension, if you master it, it will be very advantageous in future battles.” Ji Yunlai retracted his hand and spoke slowly.

He then noticed the sparkling eyes of his apprentice, who exclaimed in admiration, “Please teach me, Master!”

“No rush on that. By the way, I haven’t seen the gift I gave you lately,” Ji Yunlai said with a smile.

Feng Qingxiu’s ears turned red, his gaze sharpened, and his expression cooled. “If you mean the item I threw away, I’m sorry, but I’ve already disposed of it somewhere you’ll never find.”

His apprentice was becoming less cute by the day, Ji Yunlai thought regretfully, knowing full well that the item was still safely hidden in that small box of his…

Feng Qingxiu managed to endure being stared at for a while, but eventually, he could take it no longer. “Are you going to teach me or not? If not, I’m leaving.”

Only then did Ji Yunlai demonstrate the technique for his disciple at an extremely slow pace.

Feng Qingxiu tried to follow along, but halfway through, he found he couldn’t continue. It was as if a force in the void was preventing him, and when he tried too hard, his movements would falter, rendering the technique ineffective.

Ji Yunlai frowned slightly, moved behind his apprentice, and guided his wrist through the correct motions where he had faltered. 

Though the movement seemed slow, it required precise control of the subtle Dao rhythm in the void, making it anything but simple to learn.

They practiced all day, yet the apprentice still hadn’t mastered it.

Ji Yunlai released his apprentice’s hand, pondering what might be the issue.

Then, with a thud, his apprentice collapsed to the ground.

“What happened?” Ji Yunlai reached out to help him up.

Feng Qingxiu hesitated for a moment, lowered his head, with a hint of confusion and panic in his eyes, then calmed himself before standing up and politely saying, “Master, I’m tired. Let’s practice again tomorrow.”

Huh, how could a cultivator get tired so easily?

Ji Yunlai gave his disciple a scrutinizing look before nodding, “Then go rest.”

Only then did Feng Qingxiu retreat to his room, quickly placing a talisman on the door. Last time, when he stuck over a hundred talismans in one go, his master had scolded him and told him that just one would do—after all, doors are meant to keep out gentlemen, not villains.

So, he stuck one talisman, confident that his master wouldn’t come in.

Finally, he allowed his heart to race as he silently covered his face.

How embarrassing! When his master leaned in from behind to guide him, he actually wanted to fall into his master’s arms.

Not only was he completely flustered, but when his master let go, he even fell to the ground!

He just wanted to die of shame.

How could I think my master’s scent was so comforting!

Even though he was merely a fragment of divine consciousness and didn’t have a scent!

He lay down on the bed, utterly defeated, feeling as if he was about to suffer an energy deviation.

He didn’t even want to bother with the shadow on the wall that was dancing with glee.

***

When Feng Qingxiu woke up in the morning, he felt as if he had another dream.

He couldn’t quite remember what the dream was about, but his underwear was tented quite high.

Low-level cultivators are better off not losing their vital essence, so Feng Qingxiu silently recited a mind-clearing mantra for a quarter of an hour until the issue subsided.

Then he took a bath in the hot spring behind the courtyard and changed into fresh clothes.

“How far have you gotten?” a soft voice suddenly asked from beside him.

Startled, Feng Qingxiu instinctively shot out his formless sword energy.

Yang Fuyin instinctively dodged, but this sword energy wasn’t just fast—it was as if it was ghostly. Despite his protective ward, the energy reached his forehead, triggering his own defenses before it finally stopped.

“It’s you!” Remembering the trap with the fabric earlier, Feng Qingxiu’s lips curled up slightly. He had been planning to find time to deal with this person, but since he came voluntarily…there was no need to be polite.

The formless sword energy exploded all at once, like a torrential downpour, instantly turning the place upside down.

Yang Fuyin’s expression was slightly nostalgic as defensive wards formed around him. In a flash, they clashed with the formless sword energy, creating countless sparks as they collided, evaporating most of the hot spring water in an instant, and spreading white steam everywhere.

“You’ll thank me in the future,” Yang Fuyin said, sensing that his Second Master’s sword energy seemed to have gained a new layer of power. He thought of his innate skill of summoning Master at will and took a few steps back, pulling out a letter. “Is this your writing?”

The handwriting was indeed his own, but Feng Qingxiu merely glanced up, and the shadow on the ground flashed with a similar letter in its hand.

Yang Fuyin looked at his empty fingers, shrugged, and said, “No need to get so worked up. Come, let’s talk this over calmly.”

“Then you better explain why you did what you did!” Feng Qingxiu replied coldly.

“Don’t make it sound so misleading,” Yang Fuyin instinctively kept a safe distance, explaining gently, “Let me put it this way: I admire the Sect Leader, so I wanted you to test the waters.”

“What! You?” Feng Qingxiu was genuinely shocked this time. “How could you think that way? He is… he is…”

“Why not? I admire him. If I don’t try, how will I know he’s not interested?” Yang Fuyin’s tone was as calm as if he were simply saying, “Ah, this signal ward is difficult. I need to overcome it.”

“Impossible!” Feng Qingxiu was furious.

“Then stop me. Give me back the letter,” Yang Fuyin extended his hand.

Feng Qingxiu tore open the letter and saw the words: “The mountains have trees, and the trees have branches. My heart loves you, but you don’t know.”

He raised his hand and burned it.

“If you don’t want me to make a move, then guard Master well.” Yang Fuyin smiled slightly and turned to leave.

But as soon as he turned, he saw the indifferent Kun-Lai Master standing behind him.

Senior Brother Yang was delighted and was about to pay his respects to Master when, in the next second, a large hand appeared out of thin air and instantly grabbed him back to his own flying peak.

Ji Yunlai didn’t say anything, he just went to his apprentice’s side, silently patted his head, and teased, “Having my apprentice is enough. Don’t worry, your Master won’t look for little tempters outside.”

Feng Qingxiu’s ears turned red again, and he nodded, but somehow he felt something was off…

***

On Zhuiyun Peak, a vertical banner with the words “The Sage cherishes every inch of time, and everyone else should cherish every minute; twenty days left, now only nineteen remain” hung on the cliff.

A nightingale perched on a branch, nibbling on cloud seeds, watching the scene of bustling activity in the trees below.

“If I hadn’t gone to get you, you’d still be in the city and causing delays!” He said while nibbling, scolding his brother at the same time.

“That snake demon was so annoying,” Black Snake complained, having just eaten a treasure-hunting mouse, “Too little meat, too many bones, not nearly as tasty as a Kun-Lai mice.”

“He said he’d go back to Yun Capital and wait for you. There, you’ll have plenty to eat and a strong body to satisfy you. Why didn’t you go with him?” Nightingale mocked his brother, “If you marry him, you’d be the Dragon-Snake Madam.”

“If I hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve eaten you! Stop messing around, will you?” Black Snake, sweating, nudged his brother with his tail. “Stop messing around, because if you fall, it’ll be trouble.”

Below them, a group of female disciples from Qingnu Peak were studying injuries. One of them heard the conversation, looked up at them disdainfully, and said, “Don’t worry, we’re not interested in spirit demons.”

She then turned back and smiled at another captive, “Come on, let’s have a fight. If you win, you won’t have to stay on Medicine Peak for three days.”

“Do you mean it?” The captive broke out in a slight sweat but asked calmly.

“Of course. When we reach Yun Capital, we’ll send you back unharmed.” The healer smiled kindly, like any ordinary mundane doctor.

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“Alright!” The captive immediately drew his sword, filled with fighting spirit.

And so a life-and-death battle began.

Nightingale nibbled on another seed, shook his head regretfully, and thought, these foolish kids, if you don’t stay on Medicine Peak, you’ll just end up on Poison Peak or Pill Peak. Kun-Lai’s meat only rots in its own bowl. With only nineteen days left, how could they possibly let you rest for three days?

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Hai Chaoxu had difficulty responding to this and could only repeat the conditions proposed by the Ziyun Dao sect. As a long-established sect with a history spanning thousands of years, Ziyun Dao indeed had many valuable items, including numerous medicinal herbs and spiritual artifacts that require time to cultivate, which were also the main commodities in their trade with Kun-Lai. However, to retrieve these disciples this time, they would have to pay a steep price.

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Qingnu listened to the terms and felt that this expedition was still very profitable.

After stating that they needed to discuss the matter further, they invited the emissary to a side room.

Hai Chaoxu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that this matter was basically settled. The only concern was if the price would be too high to negotiate.

As the local powerhouse of the Yuntian Domain, Hai Chaoxu represented the forces of the Yuntian Master, which was why Ziyun Dao had offered him such a high price to mediate. After all, if Kun-Lai wished to continue its expeditions, they would have to show some respect to the spirit demon clans of the Yuntian Domain. As for the small conflict a hundred years ago, Hai Chaoxu didn’t hold much of a grudge. Every major power has its skirmishes, and unless one can decisively eliminate the other, perpetual enmity only opens opportunities for other powers. Back then, it was said that the Xing Dao Master didn’t continue fighting Hai Chaoxu’s father because his father had already given him an explanation.

At the time, when Ziyun Dao stirred the trouble first, Hai Chaoxu’s father was enraged and demonstrated the vastness of the Kunpeng, flattening half of the land and all living beings on it. This forced the Human Immortals and Great Sages of that time to cease fighting. This was the spirit demon clans’ territory, and their word was law.

To be honest, Hai Chaoxu found these hairless monkeys annoying, always blowing small matters out of proportion.

Bored, he chewed on the snacks provided by Kun-Lai and reminisced about a particularly lively and spirited snake he had recently encountered. It was the first time in years that he had met a snake so active and assertive during mating. For a snake spirit demon, mating was the most important event, followed by food, and then cultivation. This beautiful snake had not only sought him out but had also brought tasty dried mice for him to enjoy while they played together. It was the most wonderful thing in the world!

Lost in the memory of that beautiful snake’s flexible body coiling around him, he was suddenly interrupted by someone entering the room, informing him that the negotiations had been concluded and inviting him to return to the main hall.

Reluctantly, Hai Chaoxu got up and returned to the hall.

The peak masters presented their conditions. Besides various material demands, one of the terms was that the captives should not be released in Ziyun City but rather in Yun Capital, the next stop, after Ziyun Dao had delivered the required items.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hai Chaoxu departed with the conditions in hand, ready to leave. His mission was accomplished, and any further negotiations would be between Ziyun Dao and Kun-Lai.

Suddenly, a series of explosions echoed from the direction of Ziyun City.

Hai Chaoxu extended a snake’s head outside the window and saw countless seals erupting from the grand ward in the distance. Lightning flashed across the sky, with golden thunder serpents darting everywhere. A group of cultivators took the opportunity to escape from the ward. A streak of purple light shot out from the clouds, attempting to stop them, but was immediately shattered by a collision with a beam of white light.

After some thought, Hai Chaoxu decided to follow the plan and descend the mountain, not wanting to get entangled in further troubles.

“That’s Qiao Qiao,” An Xian said, slapping the armrest and transforming into a beam of sword light. She quickly scooped up the group of cultivators and returned to the flying peak. The chaotic lights flickered, and a group of disheveled cultivators appeared on the platform.

“Are you all okay?” An Xian asked, her gaze landing on Qingnu.

“There’s nothing wrong. Their faces are covered with yellow powder, and the wounds are old, with sword marks left by you,” Qingnu commented after a quick scan.

“Then why can’t that disciple stand?” An Xian pointed to the smallest disciple among them, dissatisfied with Qingnu’s answer.

“You brought them back head facing the ground! Didn’t you see the big bump on his head?” Qingnu snorted, annoyed at the reckless handling by a senior.

An Xian coughed lightly and changed the subject. “Qiao Qiao, what’s your situation?”

The lead cultivator had an unremarkable face, but when he looked up, his features subtly shifted, revealing a handsome young man with deep, sculpted features. However, beauty was common in the cultivation world, so this wasn’t particularly noteworthy. What stood out was his calm demeanor, showing no sign of flinching even under the gaze of many powerful figures.

“When Yan Hui started the battle, I dismantled the sword intent you left in the Sword Pavilion and led the other disciples out through the prepared escape route…” The young man recounted calmly.

“There’s an escape route under the Sword Pavilion? How come I didn’t know?” An Xian asked in confusion.

“Not all escape routes are underground! Don’t interrupt!” the young man answered as usual. “I repaired the Sword Pavilion. Along the way, I took Bai Yue and Yan Ling with me because the situation was urgent, and they kept asking what was happening. I eventually subdued them.”

An Xian nodded, knowing this was typical of Qiao Qiao’s methods.

“The great ward was activated, and we couldn’t leave immediately. I settled them in a prepared house and explained the situation to them. After releasing Bai Yue, she left with Yan Ling to find Ziyun Dao. To avoid capture, the disciples scattered throughout the city. I found them one by one and, following the instructions on the Net Charm, disrupted the ward and seized the opportunity to escape.”

The young man finished speaking and fell silent, clearly withholding the details of how he had ruined the enemy’s ward, which could be sold at a high price to You Jia’s headlines.

An Xian silently crushed the armrest and said nothing more.

***

Hai Chaoxu returned to Ziyun City with the conditions. The city was in chaos, and the leaders of the Ziyun Dao wore expressions of anger. The city’s protective ward, which had been accumulating power for who knows how long, had been shattered in an instant. Repairing it would require immense manpower and resources. Without the ward’s protection, they were at a severe disadvantage and could no longer negotiate with Kun-Lai from a position of strength.

If they didn’t heed Kun-Lai’s demands, their captives might be taken away, which would be the least of their problems. Worse, Kun-Lai could become so enraged that they would launch an attack, and Ziyun Dao’s millennia-old foundation would fall into enemy hands.

The crowd’s gaze inevitably fell on Bai Yue, their anger and disgust evident, making Bai Yue cling even tighter to Yan Ling’s hand.

Even though many in Kun-Lai looked at those idlers with a certain disdain, they were at least somewhat restrained, unlike the open hostility she faced here.

Even if Bai Yue’s mother would scold her for being useless, she would never look at her this way.

“Don’t be afraid, Yue’er. They won’t harm you,” Yan Ling whispered to her, though his mind was focused on the fact that Bai Yue was still An Xian’s daughter. He thought he could use her to manipulate An Xian and get back at her for earlier grievances. Besides, Bai Yue still had many valuable things on her. If he distanced himself from her now, he wouldn’t get any of them.

“I only have you left,” Bai Yue said with a hint of pain, her voice low. Having colluded with the enemy, even if she returned, her mother would be the first to punish her.

“Elder Yan… This price is too high,” one of the elders of Ziyun Dao whispered. “Our medicine gardens may lose most of their thousand-year-old seeds. Otherwise, we could use her daughter to exchange for Elder Yan.”

There was no way to use An Xian’s daughter as a hostage. That would only further enrage Kun-Lai, and without the protective ward, they were no match for them.

“No!” Bai Yue screamed.

No one paid attention to her. Yan Ling’s face showed concealed anger, but he said nothing. His grandfather was the Yan family’s pillar in Ziyun Dao, and he couldn’t afford to lose him. He could only comfort Bai Yue, saying that her mother was surely worried about her and wouldn’t harm her.

The elder in purple nodded, “I received a directive from our Sect Leader earlier to temporarily back down from Kun-Lai. For now, this is our only option.”

As soon as he said this, the other dissenting cultivators fell silent.

Since the Dao Master is a Human Immortal, the Dao Master mentioned by the elder in purple could not possibly be the Kun-Lai Xing Dao Master, but must be the highest being of Ziyun Dao—the Yan Dao Master, who controls the mysteries of the void and infinite wonders.

With his Dao edict, there was nothing more to be said.

Suddenly, Yan Ling took a step forward and smiled, saying, “I have a plan that might satisfy both sides.”

The elder in purple nodded, signaling him to speak.

Yan Ling’s expression brightened with joy. He turned to Bai Yue and said, “Yue’er, are you willing to marry me?”

***

When the proposal from the groom’s side and the engagement gifts, along with the formal invitation and a live goose, were delivered, An Xian didn’t hesitate; she immediately charged over with the intent to kill.

Her plan was to kill Yan Ling and bring Bai Yue back.

But when she heard Bai Yue shout, “I’m already carrying his child!”

Peak Master An’s hand slipped, and she was struck by a Ziyun Dao elder in return, causing her to cough up blood. After retaliating, she ultimately didn’t say anything more.

She returned to her peak and went to find Qiao Long.

“These are the assets I’ve managed for you over the years. They’re all here.” Qiao Long raised his hand and produced a storage pouch. “But are you sure? Are you really giving up?”

“She’s been afraid of me since she was little. I wouldn’t know how to teach a child anyway. I suppose this is the price,” An Xian took a large swig of wine.

“In the future, she might regret it. Can you bear that?” Qiao Long asked.

“Only with great sacrifice can there be great gain. Back when I had no ties to Kun-Lai, I also ran away from an arranged marriage as a child bride.” An Xian sneered. “Without going through some hardships, how can one learn the difference between good and bad?”

“The flying peaks will soon head to Yun Capital.”

An Xian didn’t reply. This time she had lost, but with people from Kun-Lai in Ziyun Dao to keep an eye on things, it should be manageable.

She took the storage pouch and sent it to her daughter.

Then she sat on the cliff and stayed there for an entire day.

Until the flying peaks uprooted itself and left this place of strife.

As countless flying peaks ascended, two large foxes at the foot of the mountain, along with a somewhat frail small fox, watched the peaks drift away, feeling a bit nostalgic.

“I kind of want to be a guardian beast of a mountain,” Xiao Mi said as she nuzzled against her mother’s fur.

“It’s something to consider,” Su Wan also thought about relocating Qingqiu closer to Kun-Lai.

***

“Apprentice, are you upset?” Ji Yunlai asked.

“Yes. Are you going to comfort me?” Feng Qingxiu asked, feeling very angry—how could anyone be so stupid?

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“Good words can’t persuade someone seeking death, and compassion can’t save someone who is self-destructive. Instead of worrying about this, Xiao Qing, why not guess what kind of return gift you might receive for your gift last night? Aren’t you curious?” Ji Yunlai asked with a smile.

“Master, if you don’t mention last night, I’m still your good apprentice!” Feng Qingxiu blushed at the tips of his ears and snapped at his master.

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Ziyun Dao City, Taiji Hall.

Bai Yue uneasily shrank behind Yan Ling, sneaking glances at the various high-level cultivators in the hall. They were all dressed in light purple Taoist robes adorned with cloud patterns, casting cold and slightly hostile glances her way. This hostility was something she had never encountered before. She even regretted a little, regretted secretly helping Senior Brother Yan deliver that letter.

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In the center of the grand hall sat a middle-aged Taoist in a purple robe, with a scholarly appearance. He sat in the eye of a ward, surrounded by white light, which occasionally seeped into the large ward below him. The ward seals beneath him flickered, floating and flying, merging with the grand ward outside the city’s sky.

Soon, a young man walked in from outside. He was handsome, with extraordinarily bewitching golden vertical pupils, and his eyes lacked eyebrows. Instead, three snake patterns extended from his brow ridges to his temples, with a small snake pattern at the center of his forehead, slightly moving as if it were alive.

The purple-robed elder nodded slightly to the young man, “Ninth Prince.”

“So urgent to find me, what is it?” Hai Chaoxu stood in the hall, not beating around the bush, and lazily asked directly.

“Previously, our sect had some misunderstandings with Kun-Lai. Now that the matter has been clarified, we wish to reconcile with Kun-Lai. However, the two sides are currently hostile towards each other, so we hope Hai Gongzi can mediate, allowing our sect and Kun-Lai to clear up the misunderstandings and return to the right path,” the purple-robed elder said slowly.

“What kind of misunderstanding do you have?” Hai Chaoxu asked with a faint smile, glancing at Bai Yue and Yan Ling.

“Previously, this young lady delivered a letter stating that our sect’s Yan Ling had been imprisoned and tortured by Kun-Lai, which led to the misunderstanding. Now we know that Peak Master An of Kun-Lai was just a bit strict in her teachings, which is her usual temperament, so it was all just a misunderstanding…” The purple-robed elder left his words hanging.

Hai ChaXxu, a millennia-old spirit demon, could easily hear the unspoken meaning in his words, but he also knew that much of what the elder said was nonsense. Not to mention that their sect’s disciple had seized someone else’s body—just this alone would justify being beaten to death in any sect. Moreover, their sect’s Elder Yan had directly attacked Kun-Lai, and they weren’t good people either. They just wanted to capture a few Kun-Lai disciples who were alone as double insurance, in case the flying peaks launched an attack.

But they ended up losing an elder and disciples because of it. From start to finish, it was all self-inflicted, so why should he play the mediator? He knew that because of what happened a hundred years ago, that crazy Madwoman An had always harbored great hostility towards their Dragon-Snake Clan. If anything went wrong, losing a snake head would be the least of his worries.

Seeing Hai Chaoxu smile without saying a word, the purple-robed elder sighed slightly in his heart and then signaled to the disciple beside him.

“Hai Gongzi, here are twelve Treasure-Seeking Mice from Ziyun Dao, a small gift, I hope you will like it.” The disciple immediately took out a delicate animal cage containing a few golden mice, only as long as fingers, huddled together, trembling as they faced the snake spirit demon cultivator in front of them, occasionally letting out miserable squeaks, as if they were mortals seeing a terrifying ghost.

So small. Hai Gongzi nodded but did not accept them.

Then, another disciple beside him took out an exquisite jade box and respectfully said, “Hai Gongzi, this is the Dragon Pearl of the Central Continent, which can gather moonlight into dew, enhancing the purity of cultivation. I hope you don’t find it lacking.”

Hai Gongzi nodded again but still did not accept it.

Then, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth disciples came forward, each offering items better than the last. Finally, when the twelfth disciple came out, there were no more disciples left to offer gifts.

Only then did Hai Gongzi reluctantly nod and lazily said, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”

After speaking, Hai Gongzi‘s gaze fell on Bai Yue, the look of those cold-blooded golden vertical pupils almost suffocating her, before he faintly said, “This young lady, you must be An Xian’s daughter. Please take out something personal so I can go meet your mother.”

Bai Yue looked at Yan Ling for help.

Yan Ling’s face was somber, but he still held her hand tightly and comforted, “Don’t worry, it’s just to show your mother our sincerity, alright?”

Bai Yue’s expression relaxed a bit, and she gently lifted her head, taking off a pearl flower from her hair and handing it to Yan Ling, “This is a calming spiritual item made by my father, my mother will recognize it at a glance.”

The material was of exceptional quality, and Yan Ling didn’t really want to give it away, but under the elder’s watchful gaze, he handed it to Hai Gongzi.

Bai Yue whispered, “Senior Brother, I’m a little scared, don’t send me back.”

If her mother found out that she secretly sent a letter to Ziyun Dao, she would kill her.

“I won’t,” Yan Ling reassured her.

Hai Gongzi glanced at her thoughtfully, then turned and left.

***

On Kun-Lai’s side, things were still very lively.

The captured Ziyun Dao disciples were already being sold according to their cultivation levels. Most of them were seriously injured, with several sword cultivators having inflicted severe wounds, some even losing nearly all their blood. The medical cultivators had to put in a lot of effort to save them, and this rescue service wasn’t free, so the prices had to be adjusted accordingly.

Poison Peak and Pill Peak also bought quite a few, and the three peaks’ cultivators simply gathered on Zhuiyun Peak to study and progress together.

“Kill or be killed…” Some Ziyun Dao disciples were determined to resist until death.

“We don’t kill or mutilate, don’t misunderstand, relax, I’m just here to treat your injuries,” said a gentle female disciple from Qingnu Peak.

“I don’t believe… Ahhh—”

“The foreign spiritual energy in his body has been extracted, three breaths faster than our peak’s original method, see that?” The female disciple from Qingnu Peak turned and smiled at her fellow cultivator.

“These are practice dummies for me, don’t randomly experiment with your new ideas on them.” A nearby cultivator disapproved.

“That’s right… We’re all still at the stage of ‘chicken pecking chicken,’ don’t aim too high.”

“Alright then, I’m still not familiar with the first volume of the Vein Expansion Needle. The Kun-Lai disciples who came for vein expansion treatment all said it hurt…” The girl then raised her hand, gently pinching a needle, and complained, “Even though it’s free, no one is willing to come for vein expansion.”

“What’s so great about that? I’m even paying them for treatment. Who said medical cultivators earn a lot? They don’t see how tough it is for low-level medical cultivators!” Another disciple agreed wholeheartedly.

“Exactly, which medical cultivator hasn’t been on several expeditions, practiced on thousands of people before someone was willing to use our services voluntarily? Before that, we have to borrow money everywhere, even helping each other out as our own guinea pigs!” A female medical cultivator said angrily, “And then they still say our fees are too high, can it be higher than their lives!”

“You still have the nerve to say that? Can’t you be a bit gentler when we’re helping each other out?” a disciple immediately complained. “Last time I agreed to let you practice on me, and you directly used a life-saving needle as thick as chopsticks. It scared me so much I ran off.”

“That was because I needed to pass the level six medical exam. It’s all Kun-Lai’s fault for being so wealthy. Look at those spirit demon cultivators who can’t afford treatment but still want their injuries healed—they can be like these captives and be handed over to us newbies for practice.”

“What’s the use of only having spirit demon cultivators? We need humans—humans! Seventy percent of the exam is about treating humans!”

“Exactly, exactly! Those cats, dogs, birds, snakes, and scorpions aren’t the same as humans!”

“I’m considering marrying a sword cultivator from Sword Peak. Don’t they often get injured? That way, I’d have more time to practice.” The female cultivator said shyly.

“Wishful thinking. Sword cultivators want to marry mid-level healers. A few years ago, some tried marrying low-level healers, thinking they could start from scratch, but they ended up getting divorced during the process of low-level healers taking the mid-level healer exams,” someone poured cold water on the idea.

“…Yeah, Peak Master An is the only successful example.” The female healer sighed.

“She failed in the end too.”

“It seems so… We’re all the same. Sigh, Kun-Lai, the world’s getting worse. Let’s not talk about it.” The junior brother beside her gently said to the trembling female captive, “Don’t be afraid, we’re just going to treat your injuries, otherwise it could leave side effects that could impact your cultivation.”

“No, please don’t…” The female captive trembled slightly, shrinking to one side, her eyelashes wet with tears, pitifully saying, “I’m willing to marry you, just please be gentle.”

“Uh…”

As the flying peak master, Feng Qingxiu couldn’t help but laugh on the side, starting to understand why the rooms on Qingdi Peak and Qingnu Peak were all soundproofed so well.

You Jia shook his head and sighed, “These cultivators, not an ounce of tenderness.”

“Low-level cultivators have it rough.” Huang Wei, standing beside him, agreed with a heavy heart, “Back in the day when I couldn’t successfully calculate celestial mechanics, I could only copy books to earn a few spiritual stones each day.”

“Exactly. When I was low-level, I had to chop off hands just to get by. Later, I accidentally published ‘Why a Son with a Fortune Ended Up So Poor He Had to Cut Off His Hands—A Discussion on You Bazhua’s Ruthlessness,’ which hit the headlines and earned a lot of rewards. That’s when life started getting better,” You Jia shook his head. “Those days are hard to look back on.”

His words sparked a conversation among the others about amusing incidents from the past.

Feng Qingxiu listened quietly, but his mind was still on what happened last night.

After leaving the room, he pretended nothing had happened, but heaven knows he felt like he was burning up inside when he faced his master. He only managed to calm the blush on his face by quickly practicing an ice meridian technique.

But how should he speak to his master in the future? Why did seeing his master wear that particular robe make him so happy that he wanted to pounce on him?

This doesn’t make any sense.

And how was he so bold to dare help his master put it on again?

What will my master think of me? Will he think I’m too forward?

His heart was beating so fast—from last night until now, it hasn’t stopped pounding. Is this what they call feeling lovesick inside?

Who knows where his master went.

Maybe he doesn’t want to see me?

Should I prepare another robe for him…

Feng Qingxiu felt the need to calm down.

Suddenly, his communication jade flashed, informing the peak masters to attend a meeting. It said a spirit demon cultivator had brought out a reconciliation letter from Ziyun Dao for everyone to see, offering treasures and spiritual items to ransom back their disciples and elders.

With serious matters at hand, everyone quickly headed out. But as soon as they entered the hall, they heard a purple-robed spirit demon cultivator say, “…The young Miss Bai doesn’t dare come back to see you.”

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Everyone shook their heads inwardly. What a fool! Once she’s out there, there’ll come a time when she cries and begs to return.

But this matter… Their eyes all fell on Peak Master An, who coldly tossed a pearl flower to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

“If she doesn’t want to come back, then let her stay gone.”

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Ziyun Dao City was still under lockdown. 

The Sword Pavilion was already empty, and all the sword marks on the walls containing sword intent had been erased. Dozens of Ziyun Dao disciples inspected the place for a long time but found nothing. 

The underground had been dug three feet deep, yet no one was found. 

Black Snake Yin Wushe quietly glanced out the window and then continued to ponder in the inn’s room. 

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

How did things get to this point? 

He swore he had only gotten furious when he found out that the dried mice in his pocket had been eaten by a snake. He rushed out intending to kill that nine-headed serpent, but as soon as he entered the city, the cold wind cooled his head, and he realized that he wasn’t a match for the other right now. He planned to retreat and swallow this loss, knowing there would be opportunities in the future. 

However, with just that, Kun-Lai and Ziyun Dao went to war!

Once the wards were activated, no one could leave except the cultivators of Ziyun Dao!

Considering his identity, both as a Kun-Lai snake, even a Great Xuan snake, being caught by Ziyun Dao would likely result in being skinned and cooked. 

After weighing his options, Black Snake decisively sought out the nine-headed serpent that had contact with the Kun-Lai spy. 

This nine-headed serpent, as the son of the Dragon-Snake Great Sage, was also a well-known second-generation rich brat in the Yuntian Domain. He favored the bustling city of Ziyun Dao, so he had a nominal affiliation with Ziyun Dao, and the Ziyun Dao disciples rarely searched his place.

Hai Chaoxu warmly welcomed this beauty rat snake, even though he didn’t bring any dried mice this time. But just having him was enough… Without another word, Hai Chaoxu took him in.

From Hai Chaoxu, Black Snake also learned the cause of this war.

“You’re talking about Yan Hui, right? I heard that someone sent him a letter, handwritten by his grandson Yan Ling. He was certain it was genuine,” Hai Chaoxu lazily said, while brushing tails with Black Snake. “Apparently, this Yan Ling was his most beloved grandson, extremely talented, who suddenly disappeared in the Central Continent a few years ago. They couldn’t find him anywhere. Their family, because of internal strife within Ziyun Dao, was forced to retreat to an Outland territory, effectively exiled. Yan Hui was already furious when he received the letter, which said that his grandson Yan Ling had been captured by An Xian, that demoness, who tortured him daily and begged for his rescue.”

“So, he just went straight to confront her?”

“Yeah, An Xian firmly denied capturing his grandson, and the two of them started fighting,” Hai Chaoxu extended another snakehead, which was promptly grabbed by Black Snake Yin Wushe and slapped away, leaving it sticking out its tongue.

“And you just watched them fight?” Black Snake asked, somewhat puzzled. This nine-headed serpent had been freeloading in Ziyun Dao City for a long time. Didn’t he have any intention to help?

“Aren’t spirit demons like this?” The nine-headed serpent didn’t mind. “Monkeys fight to be the king, and should a snake help one of the monkeys? There’s nothing in it for us.”

Black Snake thought about it and found it very reasonable. It seemed his thinking hadn’t fully adapted to his new identity yet.

But just as he was thinking this, someone came to invite the nine-headed serpent to Ziyun Dao for a discussion, saying they had something to discuss.

It seemed there was something beneficial involved, so Hai Chaoxu brushed Black Snake with his tail, extended nine tongues to lick his neck, and said, “Little temptress~ wait for me to come back.”

Then, he left like the wind.

Black Snake was left with a fishy smell on his face, feeling a bit queasy. He cursed, calling him an idiot, and then thought that once this matter was over, it would be best not to come out again.

***

On the flying peak, Ji Yunlai removed his outer robe and tried on the new robe under Feng Qingxiu’s nearly burning gaze, finding them very fitting.

What should he do? Ji Yunlai found himself liking Xiao Qing’s flustered or angry expression more and more. 

This side of Xiao Qing was so lively. Usually, he appeared so serious and calm, lacking any youthful energy.

Back when he wasn’t his apprentice, Xiao Qing was very lively and cute, capable of arguing sharply, even making Ji Yunlai speechless.

“Tell me, if I wear this out, will it scare the junior disciples?” Ji Yunlai leisurely added fuel to the fire, tossing another bucket of oil.

Feng Qingxiu felt like the string in his head suddenly snapped!

His expression instantly turned fierce, and he slammed his master against the boulder, quickly pulling the robe off him.

The movements were so familiar that Ji Yunlai was momentarily dazed, forgetting to resist.

When Feng Qingxiu finally calmed down and realized what he had done, he looked blankly at the robe in his hands, then at his master leaning against the boulder, half-smiling at him. Ji Yunlai was only dressed in white inner robes, revealing a perfect neck and a section of a delicate collarbone, without a hint of embarrassment. He looked more like a big cat watching its prey, with playful eyes.

Feng Qingxiu calmly lowered his head, used formless sword energy to swiftly remove the incriminating trim, and then wove two patterns with fine threads to cover up the traces. After that, he shook the robe and draped it back over his master.

Even Ji Yunlai had to admire his calmness and courage now.

Xiao Qing, do you know what you’re doing?

Then Feng Qingxiu said mildly, “The wind is strong on the mountain, Master should rest early!”

He turned and left.

Although he tried to remain composed, his steps seemed unsteady.

Then he entered the room and quickly placed hundreds of sealing talismans on it, making it so that even Ji Yunlai couldn’t enter for without taking a moment…

Because those talismans were his own masterpieces given to Xiao Qing, does this count as being trapped by his own work?

And Xiao Qing, do you even realize how wasteful this is?

Standing outside the door, Ji Yunlai resisted the urge to knock, feeling that today’s mountain wind was particularly bleak.

He could only put on the robe that Xiao Qing had given him. Luckily, he was just a simple spiritual projection; it didn’t matter whether he wore it or not.

Otherwise, Xiao Qing’s earlier offense could have easily triggered a counterattack from his protective spiritual aura.

Moreover, did he just imagine it, or did the shadow behind his apprentice seem to be floating and almost flying?

Is there something wrong with his shadow?

He felt a bit worried, but Ji Yunlai always trusted Xiao Qing, so he quickly set his mind at ease and turned his gaze to the Great wrads of Ziyun Dao City.

Although the wards, operated by Ziyun Dao for ten thousand years, were vast and intricate enough to resist even Human Immortals for a while, to his eyes, it held no secrets.

Layer by layer, each ward seal, each connection, and each function was quickly analyzed, broken down into countless planar and three-dimensional diagrams. He even came up with new ideas on how to dismantle, redo, or improve it during his observation and analysis.

His spiritual sense gradually penetrated the wards, silently invading it.

No difficulty at all.

Soon, following the special energy fluctuations of the Kun-Lai cultivation method, he found those disciples trapped in the city.

The time had been too short, so they hadn’t been captured yet.

Led by a sword cultivator, they hid in a large, ruined temple in the city, dressed in ragged clothes, their faces sallow and green, blending in with many laborers as they slept in their clothes, devoid of the sharpness typical of cultivators.

The leading sword cultivator had an ordinary face and looked very young. He even adjusted the sleeping posture of a disciple beside him, whispering, “It’s cold for laborers, so they sleep huddled up. Don’t sleep spread-eagle like that. The common folk here don’t have many beds big enough to stretch out on.”

“Exactly, you look just like a rich young master,” another fellow sword cultivator whispered with a laugh.

“Nonsense! Before I was selected, my family was the poorest in the village. But at least we had a bed big enough to stretch out on,” the spread-eagle sword cultivator whispered back, curling up as instructed but still somewhat defiant.

“That’s different,” whispered an older cultivator nearby, who looked to be in his thirties. “Do you think all the outer sect disciples who were filtered out are incompetents? After so many Selections, many of those who didn’t make it returned to their villages and towns. They could read and fight, and with them helping out in the villages, life got better. Look at this city—if it were back home, these people would have been hired to do work, whether it was fixing roads or building dikes. By the end of the day, there would always be enough for a family to eat. But here? If they can buy even one steamed bun after a day’s work, they’re lucky.”

“And they are actually eating cornbread. Back home, even the cornbread has some wheat flour in it. But here, even the steamed buns are made of buckwheat, with no white flour…”

“It gets cold here early, unlike back home where we harvest wheat twice a year.”

“Exactly. I heard that in Hai City down south, they harvest rice three times a year. The Rabbit Peak has even created some good hybrids of spiritual rice and ordinary rice for them to grow.” Someone nearby chimed in, referring to Shennong Peak as Rabbit Peak.

“So that’s why the population hasn’t grown much in tens of thousands of years. I heard there’s a country nearby, and their farming tools are quite good. I passed by earlier and bought a lot.”

“Wasting pocket space! Just buy a few samples and make them yourself when you get back… Oh, forget it. You’ll end up throwing them away when your bag gets too full anyway!”

“Impossible. The mountain is still empty when we get back. Our mountain doesn’t weave cloth or sell medicine, so if you think there won’t be any space left, keep dreaming!”

“That makes so much sense…”

“Please, stop making so much sense… If I hadn’t chosen the sword path when ascending the mountain, I wouldn’t be poor like this now. Why didn’t I listen to the elders back then?”

“Exactly, exactly. You can’t even randomly kill beasts in the mountains. If you do, you have to compensate. It’s too miserable!”

“And those blood-sucking bats—applying the medicine costs so much. After dozens of trips back and forth, all the money we earned end up gone.”

“Exactly…”

Touched on a sore spot, the group of sword cultivators felt heartbroken.

“Can you all be quiet!” the leading cultivator whispered, annoyed. Don’t they have any awareness of being fugitives?

So everyone fell silent.

In Sword Peak, strength was respected. Qiao Long was their leader not only because of his terrifying sword skills but also because he had survived a hundred years under Peak Master An without leaving. Even Deputy Peak Master You had to admire him. Moreover, Deputy Peak Master You was quite happy to delegate the ordinary affairs of Sword Peak to Qiao Long or You Jia so that he could go live a lovey-dovey life at Poison Peak. However, neither Qiao Long nor You Jia was willing to let Deputy Peak Master You’s dream come true.

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The moment Qiao Long noticed something was wrong, he gathered them and hid. Such a large city couldn’t be sealed forever. As long as they could hide for a day or two, everything would be fine.

So they all listened to the boss.

As Qiao Long pondered where to go if they had to move, his communication jade suddenly lit up.

Seeing the message, his eyes brightened.

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In the quiet room, a slightly red long incense was lit, its lingering light smoke filling the room with a subtle fragrance.

Qiu Yuansheng sat at the desk, writing a letter. His demeanor was relaxed and natural, showing no sign of being a prisoner.

For him, there was nothing to worry about; it was all expected. He knew that the matter couldn’t be hidden for long and had never hoped that he would avoid exposure.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

From the moment he was taken in by the High Priest, he knew he would follow him for life. A hundred years ago, when the High Priest sent him to Kun-Lai, he had said, “Twelve years from now, when you come of age, you can choose whether to serve me. Observe with your eyes and judge with your heart. If Kun-Lai is worthy, stay with Kun-Lai; if I am worthy, take up my legacy. Make your choice, for there is no turning back.”

That was a chance to become a true member of Kun-Lai, but twelve years later, he had answered the High Priest’s choice with the lives of hundreds. 

Did he think Kun-Lai wasn’t worth it?

No, Kun-Lai was certainly worth it; Kun-Lai could be called his paradise. Over the past century, when he wasn’t helping the High Priest, he had been wholeheartedly working for Kun-Lai, never slackening, and his contributions to Pill Peak were significant, earning the trust and respect of many.

However, while Kun-Lai was good, it was a bit mundane; I am more interested in seeing what upheavals I can cause with you.

Choosing Kun-Lai or you? What choice was there?

Whether it was Bai Liu or the Pill Peak elders, they all treated him as their own, but so what?

He would be pleased to see Kun-Lai grow stronger and be delighted by his own achievements, but those feelings didn’t penetrate his heart.

So, despite feeling it was a pity, he still brought up the ancient spiritual beast blood that could enhance cultivation to Bai Liu to deal with the last knowledgeable person from that time.

The High Priest had long said that no strategy is easier to achieve than understanding human nature; as long as the key positions are given just a slight nudge, it was enough.

The feeling of manipulating the world in his hands was so enjoyable and wonderful; the only thing that could compare was being online.

Unfortunately, this time he hadn’t expected that the Sect Leader would come along. If not for the Sect Leader’s intervention, his plan could be played with for a long time.

What a pity.

After finishing the last word, Qiu Yuansheng sealed the letter, put away the pen and ink, and sat facing the wall.

After a while, he heard Yang Fuyin’s footsteps. Had he found a clue?

Then he heard a book being tossed beside him.

“This is the item you gave to the Dragon-Snake Sea Clan. Do you need to confirm it?” Yang Fuyin’s cold voice came from behind.

“No need.” Qiu Yuansheng turned around, picked up the booklet, and looked at the information on Qingdi Peak’s high-level cultivators and the defensive arrangements. He seemed somewhat nostalgic. “I drew this. I used the High Priest’s hand to give it to those impatient for death Sea Dragon-Snakes. As long as it piques their interest, a conflict with Qingdi Peak was inevitable. I just didn’t expect Hai Gongzi to handle it so well.”

“During the expedition to the Fire Domain, you had just ascended the mountain and were new to Qingdi Peak. How could you know such details?” Yang Fuyin recalled the details seen in the other’s memories. “Who helped you?”

“The knowledge of the Great Xuan Dynasty over ten thousand years contains some very practical techniques,” Qiu Yuansheng tilted his head and said generously, “I admit it was me who did it. You can do whatever you want.”

“Qingnu thinks the same way.” Yan Zhao, who walked out from the side, looked at him coldly. “Do you have any remorse?”

“Regret is only for not being able to go online. As for the dead…” Qiu Yuansheng looked up, his gaze pure and undiluted, and said leisurely, “After all, everyone will die. Early or late, what difference does it make? In a few decades, won’t they just be reincarnated?”

“Did the High Priest also teach you this?” a voice suddenly asked.

Both Yang Fuyin and Yan Zhao, as well as Qiu Yuansheng, who was sitting casually, tidied their clothes and paid their respects.

“Greetings, Sect Leader!”

The figure that emerged from the void was silent, merely observing Qiu Yuansheng as if looking through him to another person.

Qiu Yuansheng felt a twinge of guilt, lowered his head, and said earnestly, “Yes, the High Priest said that life is just a grand dream. Only the Abyss of Nine Hells, the place of reincarnation, is where dreams end. After waking, it’s just another dream. In dreams, taking things seriously is fine, but once the dream is over, it passes with the wind.”

To him, this meant: I am alive, and others merely existed.

“He overestimates himself,” Ji Yunlai said coldly. “Kun-Lai is not a dream he can create.”

Qiu Yuansheng was momentarily at a loss for words, feeling as if he might choke on a stifled breath.

It seemed that the Sect Leader had some valid points. Whether it was a dream or reality, it was his own matter, but such things couldn’t be scrutinized too closely. If examined closely, it would make his side appear wrong.

But why did it feel like the Sect Leader understood the High Priest’s meaning so well?

“Sect Leader, how do you want to deal with him?” Bai Shuixian, who also came in from outside, inquired. After all, Qiu Yuansheng was one of the Seven Talents of Kun-Lai, with great prestige in both Pill Peak and Kun-Lai. Directly killing him might be inappropriate and might lead to people reminiscing about him later.

Ji Yunlai glanced at him, reached out a hand then tapped his forehead, leaving a red mark.

He then turned and left, disappearing into the void.

Only a faint voice lingered from the void: “Take him back to the sect for a public trial.”

Yan Zhao nodded, acknowledging this. Since Qiu Yuansheng held great prestige in Kun-Lai, he couldn’t be allowed to deceive others further. As for whether anyone would come to rescue him… didn’t the Sect Leader leave a restriction on him? As long as he dared, the Sect Leader’s Calamity Sword seal would ensure he would never even think of reincarnation.

As for now…

Yan Zhao sighed, seeing that Qiu Yuansheng still showed no sign of fear, and made up his mind.

“Xiao Qiu, if you had even a bit of remorse, I could have given you a quick end, considering your past contributions to Kun-Lai.” His expression was heavy and regretful. “But it would be too unjust to the disciples who died unjustly back then. Besides, you must have done more than just these things over the years, right?”

“If I cried and begged…” Qiu Yuansheng shook his head vigorously at the thought. That was too inconsistent with himself. “It seems Elder Yan would still look down on me. It’s better to maintain some dignity.”

“In that case,” Yan Zhao turned to the door, “Qingnu, he’s in your hands now.”

Qiu Yuansheng immediately froze and bit down on the poison pill in his mouth. 

But the next second, Qingnu, with a satisfied look, quickly forced an unknown twig into his mouth and grabbed him, making a swift exit.

“Don’t leave any traces!” Yan Zhao instructed.

“Rest assured!” Qingnu’s voice came with an uncontrollable glee in the wind.

***

Ji Yunlai lay back on Xiao Qing’s chest.

Feng Qingxiu, who had been listening outside, brought him back to Zhuiyun Peak, sensing that his master was unhappy. 

He didn’t ask any questions. 

He simply stayed with his master at the peak, watching the starry river and the full moon in the sky. When his master was unhappy, he liked to go to the mountaintop to gaze at the sky. Sometimes, Feng Qingxiu even felt that they were not looking at the sky but at another world. 

He recognized the stars in the sky, as it was a mandatory subject for outer sect disciples, and it was also the best way to find direction when flying with a sword. 

“Xiao Qing,” suddenly came his master’s voice from beside him. He turned and saw his master sitting on the green stone beside him, with his white hair and dark robes, appearing even more dazzling than the bright moon in the sky. He was momentarily stunned.

His master said in a deep voice, “Actually, the Ways of the world are vast. The more you know, the easier it is to get lost in the path and give rise to heart demons.”

Just like that person… the grand dreams that Qiu Yuansheng spoke of, he had heard this word-for-word from his uncle, Luo Qingxiao, without missing a word or changing any part.

He had said this when he left home to seek the Dao. 

But he didn’t agree. At that time, he was still young and deeply yearned for cultivation, only smiling and replying, “If you don’t witness the vastness of this world, wouldn’t it be a waste of this grand dream?”

“Perhaps you will regret going out,” his uncle had sighed at the time.

“Perhaps!” He had simply nodded then, with provisions collected by his clan, and set off on the path of seeking the Dao.

The youth marched forward without looking back. How could he have known that there would be no return?

“Master!” A voice suddenly interrupted his moment of sadness. He turned his head to see Xiao Qing, somewhat hesitant and blushing, looking a bit shy.

Holding a piece of clothing, Xiao Qing gathered his courage and said, “Master, I made you a robe… Please, give me your guidance.”

A spiritual robe is essential for cultivators. It has wards that can provide defense and clean dust, requiring no washing or ironing. Kun-Lai cultivators always have at least one in their wardrobe, and it was often considered as a gift to show one’s intentions.

However, Ji Yunlai merely glanced at it and then looked at his apprentice with an ambiguous expression.

“Where did the small ward patterns on this robe come from?” Ji Yunlai asked, running his hand over the small trim on the robe.

“This is a ward pattern?” Feng Qingxiu was startled. The small, ornate trim seemed beautiful at first, but upon closer inspection, he realized something was off. His face turned red, and he almost jumped up.

Damn it, Yang Fuyin, we have a big grudge now. You dared to give me fabric with a dual cultivation ward!

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“However, since it was given by Xiao Qing, Master will accept it.” Seeing his apprentice’s face nearly burning up, Ji Yunlai’s mood instantly improved.

It was just a troublesome relative. With a sweet and obedient apprentice like Xiao Qing around, there was no need to let it ruin his mood.

Ji Yunlai thought this and smiled while gently patting his apprentice’s hair.

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After the battle, the cleanup and aftermath were conducted simultaneously. At the same time, it was necessary to clarify the cause of the incident; it was unacceptable to end up with unresolved issues after a fight.

Feng Qingxiu, now a high-ranking member of Kun-Lai, had the fortune of joining the highest-level discussion. The meeting hall was spacious and flat, about two yards high, decorated in a very simple and solemn manner. Dozens of desks were set up around the room, with leaders from each peak and vein seated.

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Peak Master An was sitting in the hall with her legs crossed, letting Guan Yuli cleanse the foreign spiritual energy from her wounds. Feng Qingxiu had heard from Madam Guan that human spiritual energy, like blood, is unique to each individual. If one’s meridians are invaded by foreign spiritual energy, it can easily damage the meridians and cause various difficult-to-heal injuries. Qingdi Peak had once researched hundreds of types of spiritual energy, categorizing them into the Five Elements, Eight Trigrams, Yin-Yang, and other classes, and developed different methods for extraction…

The Ziyun Dao elder who had initiated the battle was bound with a white fine rope at his wrist, standing in the center of the hall, looking coldly at the people seated around him with a lofty gaze. He appeared to be in his thirties, with a dignified and imposing face, free of signs of aging, though his clothes still bore bloodstains. Unfortunately, the purple bruises on his face marred his aura of authority.

Beside him, Yimeng Qingnu gazed at him with a tender, possessive look, as if she were a bride admiring her dowry, utterly focused.

“…How should I know why that Yan Hui suddenly went mad and attacked my Sword Pavilion, claiming I injured his grandson?” An Xian, like a queen, waved her hand dismissively, with a clueless expression. “Am I the type to cause trouble? Who is his grandson? Would I bother looking at someone who can’t withstand a single sword strike from me? Was there really a need for injury?”

Yan Zhao shook his head in disbelief. When it came to causing trouble, the peak masters of Kun-Lai combined were no match for An Xian. When she went wild, she never cared whether others were willing or not. However, she was not the type to lie, so if she claimed not to remember injuring anyone, she truly didn’t remember.

“That guy didn’t say anything either,” Yan Zhao glanced at the arrogant man in the center, who remained silent as if he were a martyr, and fell into contemplation. Although they had fought with Ziyun Dao sect, it was not yet time for large-scale warfare between Ziyun Dao and Kun-Lai. So should they use some methods to make him speak?

“I can definitely make him speak,” Qingnu said softly, “and ensure that he is returned to you whole.”

“Didn’t you just dissect a Demigod stage Ziyun Dao cultivator?” Bai Shuixian looked up at her, feeling that her grand apprentice’s prowess was already surpassing hers.

“That one’s no longer interesting,” Qingnu said dismissively. “Dissecting a Demigod stage cultivator in Kun-Lai is not a big deal and doesn’t give me much insight.”

She had long wanted to study the differences between Synthesis powerhouses and Demigod cultivators in detail, but even Kun-Lai wasn’t wealthy enough to offer a Synthesis powerhouse for her to dismantle. Her uncle had once cooperated with her, but later, he was unwilling to assist further.

“Enough! If I leave it to you, you’ll definitely use all methods to make him refuse to confess, just to give yourself more time to play!” Yimeng Qingnu’s nature was well known to Yan Zhao, who still hesitated. After all, giving it to her would create a major grudge.

“How is that playing! It’s for the great cause of Kun-Lai!” Qingnu, slightly aggrieved, approached Yan Zhao, tugged at his arm, and said coquettishly, “It’s a minor matter, don’t overthink it.”

The rare delicate tone of Qingnu made all the peak masters shiver. Yan Zhao couldn’t stand it: “Alright, let go, I’ll agree to it!”

Grudge or not, Queen An had already killed a Synthesis elder of Ziyun Dao sect in the Central Continent, so there was already a grudge.

Qingnu’s heart blossomed with joy. Without even saying thanks, she swiftly took the prisoner away, leaving everyone speechless.

“How many disciples are still missing?” Yan Zhao turned to ask the peak masters.

The peak masters reported the number of their peak disciples one by one. Fortunately, due to the recent tense situation, very few disciples went to the Ziyun Dao City—apart from some places that had spiritual energy and were the dwellings of cultivators, the rest of the city was just full of ordinary people, with nothing much to see.

When Feng Qingxiu reported the numbers, it was found that twelve disciples from Kun-Lai were missing, all from the Sword Peak, including nine Golden Core and three Nascent Soul disciples. They had gone to observe sword intent at Peak Master An’s Sword Pavilion, and the sudden incident prevented An Xian from bringing them out.

As for the unaffiliated cultivators who came on the expedition… Kun-Lai didn’t care.

“My Sword Pavilion is protected by a great ward, and Qiao Qiao is also there. They should be hiding somewhere in that time. After another hour, Ziyun Dao sect should respond. They probably wouldn’t dare harm my disciples’ lives.”

Ziyun Dao Sect had suffered severe losses after the battle. They would likely exchange disciples or negotiate ransom. Kun-Lai also couldn’t kill all captured cultivators. Whether to ransom, exchange, or use them to mine spiritual ores would be part of the upcoming negotiations.

“Who is Qiao Qiao?” Yan Zhao asked.

“An apprentice I accepted. Quite smart,” An Xian shrugged. “For the past hundred years, he has managed the Sword Pavilion.”

“To survive under your command for a hundred years?” Yan Zhao nodded, “He must be quite talented.”

An Xian’s hand holding her sword paused abruptly, and she lightly laughed: “Master, do you want to fight me again?”

Yan Zhao’s face turned cold as he angrily said, “Last time you dueled Bazhua, the matters at Sword Peak piled up like a mountain. Go deal with them quickly, or I’ll stop your salary for this year. Let’s see how you’ll pay off the debt you owe! No one will help you pay it now!”

“Anyway, no one dares make me pay it back,” An Xian replied dismissively.

“I’ll directly deduct it from your network account. Let’s see if you can pay it back,” Yan Zhao said coldly. “I heard Sword Peak recently bought the most expensive sword testing stones, is that so?”

“…”

After the discussion, Feng Qingxiu returned alone to Zhuiyun Peak.

The peak was bustling with activity. The medical cultivators brought by Qingnu were all cheerful, chattering about the captives they had bought and discussing where to rent ones they hadn’t acquired. Meanwhile, the Kun-Lai cultivators staying at Zhuiyun Peak, who were recovering from injuries, fell silent, shrinking their necks and trying to minimize their presence.

Feng Qingxiu was about to return to his room to have a quiet word with the paper man master when he saw a crumpled paper man crawling out from his chest pocket.

I actually crumpled Master!

Feng Qingxiu felt an immense pang of distress, holding the paper man in his hands and smoothing out the wrinkles until it was restored.

The paper man was stunned for a moment, remaining stiff while the apprentice handled it, only returning to normal once the apprentice let go. 

The apprentice’s hands are so soft and smooth…

“Alright!” The paper man patted the apprentice’s hand, trying to make its voice sound more normal. “There is a booklet with Black Snake. You should get it for your Senior Brother Yang.”

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

“But Master, Black Snake is still in the city and hasn’t returned to the flying peak,” Feng Qingxiu said, having just counted heads. “He said a snake stealthily ate all his mice so he wants to seek justice.”

That stupid snake…

But such a small matter can’t stump a Human Immortal. Recalling his memory, Ji Yunlai pulled out a booklet from the void and said, “Give this to your Senior Brother Yang.”

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