Mist shrouded the floating island at the center of Dao-Questioning Plaza. A tower with upturned eaves lay hidden among lush tree shadows.
Bai Ying leaned against the railing, taking in everything happening in the plaza below.
Su Shiyan sat on a stone chair in the pavilion, copying Daoist scriptures with a brush. From time to time, she looked up to observe them.
The disciples’ words about Bai Zhenchuan’s transcendent bearing were not exaggerated in the slightest. Silver-haired and clad in white, their sharp brows and cold eyes carried an ethereal chill, like frost outshining snow, untouched by mortal dust.
In the plaza, when Chu Yue mentioned he belonged to Li Lanxiu and could only test his spiritual root with Li Lanxiu’s approval, Bai Ying let out a chuckle. They spoke leisurely. “Your friend is quite remarkable.”
“We’re not friends, but he did manage to slay the black jiao lord. That is indeed remarkable.” Su Shiyan pondered as she spoke.
Bai Ying cast her a sidelong glance, then turned back to scrutinize the tall and well-proportioned figure in the plaza. Their tongue pressed lightly against the roof of their mouth as they slowly savored the thought. “He’s very good at pleasing…Li Lanxiu.”
Su Shiyan fell silent.
The golden light radiating from the As-Willed Spirit Mirror illuminated the tower. The person at its center was engulfed in blinding brilliance, their form almost indiscernible. Bai Ying narrowed their eyes slightly. “So, he has an Immaculate Spiritual Physique.”
“Immaculate Spiritual Physique?” Su Shiyan had never heard of it before.
Bai Ying let out a soft hum and drawled, “You only need to know that he’s truly gifted. Master Meixue has gotten exactly what he wanted.”
Su Shiyan raised a hand to shield herself from the dazzling light and looked toward the plaza. The Master Meixue Bai Ying spoke of was the sect leader of Conundrum Sect. Bai Ying had never addressed him as Shizun, always calling him Master Meixue instead.
“The sect leader got what he wanted?” Su Shiyan was puzzled.
The corner of Bai Ying’s lips lifted in a faint smirk, tinged with mockery. “He’s always wanted to take in a disciple with an exceptional physique and has spent considerable effort on it. Today, he finally got his wish.”
Su Shiyan was momentarily stunned. She looked again at Li Lanxiu, who was patting Chu Yue’s head. She was at a loss for words and murmured, “He really is good at pleasing Li Lanxiu.”
A cold chuckle escaped Bai Ying’s throat. They flicked their sleeves and turned away without sparing another glance at Li Lanxiu and Chu Yue. “More like a well-trained dog.”
They recalled how the black jiao lord had presented his left cheek after being struck on the right, his despicable and servile demeanor. Chu Yue wasn’t quite at that level, but the similarity was unmistakable.
Su Shiyan glanced between Li Lanxiu and Bai Ying, suppressing her curiosity as she replied evenly, “Did you come here today just to see Li Lanxiu?”
“And if I did?” Bai Ying admitted it without a care.
Su Shiyan nodded and studied them. “I understand you. Even with the veil covering Li Lanxiu’s face in the great mirror, he does look quite beautiful.”
Bai Ying let out a soft laugh. “Is that so?”
“That’s what everyone thinks. Some disciples even recorded his image with memory stones and sold them to Sevenstar Tower.”
Su Shiyan observed their expression and chose her words carefully. “It’s only natural that Chu Yue wants to please him.”
Bai Ying glanced at her, their gaze keen and penetrating. “Some are willing to bow and scrape, groveling at others’ feet, but I, Bai Ying, have never stooped to that.”
They spoke casually, their tone unwavering.
Su Shiyan gave them a subtle nod, then asked, “Since you’re interested in Li Lanxiu, why not go see him?”
The indifference on Bai Ying’s face faded. They chuckled softly. “What would I see him for?”
"You can meet him, befriend him first, then take on a few sect-assigned missions together. Your mastery of the arcane arts is profound, and the yao of the demonic sect won't be able to do anything to you. You can showcase your skills in front of Li Lanxiu, and then—"
Su Shiyan was offering advice when she suddenly stopped, her gaze catching Bai Zhenchuan’s increasingly cold expression.
Bai Zhenchuan lifted their eyes to the plaza above. The faint ripples in the sky resembled drifting clouds, and sunlight filtered through them, light and transparent.
Conundrum Sect’s grand protective formation was usually imperceptible, only revealing itself when danger arose within the sect or when an external enemy attempted to force their way in.
The formation’s defenses were impenetrable. Each mountain peak housed a formation core, linked together in a tightly interwoven network that ultimately converged at the Dao-Questioning Plaza.
When activated, the formation transformed into an invisible web, densely interlaced to form an inescapable net, sealing the entire sect within.
And trapping Bai Zhenchuan inside.
Bai Zhenchuan withdrew their gaze and curled their lips into a sneer. "If the opportunity arises, I might give it a try."
Meanwhile, in Cloudwater Hall’s main hall, the peak lords had gathered, each sitting upright in their chairs. Attendant disciples served cups of spiritual tea.
Elder Shen sat at the head of the hall. His usually stern face was now brimming with satisfaction, his brows and eyes alight with joy. "For Li Lanxiu to have found someone with an Immaculate Spiritual Physique—Peak Lord Li, this is quite the achievement."
Li Yanbi glanced at the assembled crowd, remained silent and sipped his tea as he waited for the main event to unfold.
"Is this Immaculate Spiritual Physique truly so remarkable? Why have I never heard of it before?"
"Indeed, why is it that I know nothing about this physique?"
Elder Shen cleared his throat a few times but did not explain. Instead, he changed the subject. "Do any of you remember that disciple from Loftcloud Sect?"
He did not say the name, but the peak lords present all revealed looks of understanding.
The steward of Cloudwater Hall also wore a cryptic expression.
Loftcloud Sect had tens of thousands of disciples, but there was only one person who could be referred to simply as “that one.”
Over two hundred years ago, a genius emerged in Loftcloud Sect, as extraordinary as Chu Yue was today. His talent was unparalleled.
Rumor had it that he was incomparably handsome, the young master of an immortal cultivation family. At the age of ten, he entered Loftcloud Sect under the sect master’s tutelage, becoming the sole true disciple.
Even in his youth, his swordsmanship had already reached unparalleled heights. He comprehended the technique “heart-moved sword,” where the moment he harbored killing intent, his sword intent moved in tandem.
He traveled the world with his sword, eradicating demons and defending the Dao. He roamed over every corner of the Nine Provinces Continent, annihilating countless yao, demons and heretical cultivators.
He had once ridden alone into the Bloodmist mountain range, where his sword light swept through the mountains, reducing demons to ash. He had also once cut through the waves at the eastern sea, severing a sea yao’s foundation with a single strike.
Whether among Loftcloud Sect’s disciples or fellow cultivators in the cultivation world, all revered his brilliance.
His name had once been known by all.
A peak lord asked in confusion, “That disciple has been dead for two hundred years, hasn’t he?”
Li Yanbi set down his tea cup and gazed at the sea of clouds beyond the door. He sighed regretfully. “I was there when he died.”
“Peak Lord Li, you were at Sword-Bearing Manor that day?”
“You witnessed his suicide with your own eyes?”
The peak lords were deeply curious about this legendary figure. Rumors said he was so obsessed with swordsmanship that he went as far as to study the Red Sect’s techniques. The Red Sect was a notorious demonic sect, and its sword arts were infamous for their eerie cruelty.
He had been studying the Loftcloud Sect’s sword techniques when demonic thoughts eroded his mind. In the end, he lost all reason. First, he slaughtered many disciples of Loftcloud Sect. Then he returned to Sword-Bearing Manor and killed his entire family, one by one.
Li Yanbi closed his eyes, recalling the past. "I received an invitation from the manor lord to admire his swords. When I arrived, I saw only devastation. The entire manor was a sea of blood and fire. He stood in the midst of it, dressed in bloodstained robes."
"Then…he really killed his whole family?"
"When I arrived, there was no one left alive in the manor."
Li Yanbi furrowed his brow. "Aside from myself, there were others from various sects who had come to admire the swords. The sect master of Loftcloud Sect led nearly ten thousand disciples to the manor, determined to take him back for judgment…"
"At that time, he was cradling his mother’s corpse in his arms."
Li Yanbi slowly opened his eyes, a trace of sorrow in his gaze. "He knelt in a pool of blood, kowtowing one by one, begging those present to believe him, saying none of this was his doing. He kept going until his forehead was mangled and bloody. Still, no one believed him."
Li Yanbi let out a heavy sigh, his voice gradually lowering. "Back then, I was young and hot-blooded, filled with righteous fury. I despised demonic sects above all. Lord Dongchuan of Loftcloud Sect was a highly respected figure, and he claimed to have witnessed the massacre with his own eyes. Naturally, I believed him."
"If it were today…"
He did not continue.
Elder Shen sighed deeply. "He was born with a swordbone. That was why he was so extraordinary."
"A swordbone…I remember now. His name was Gu…"
Someone hissed. “What was his full name again?"
The events of two hundred years ago had long faded. None of the peak masters could recall the name of this once-brilliant genius.
Li Yanbi spoke softly. "Gu Zhengxing."
The scene remained vivid in his mind.
Sword-Bearing Manor burned with raging flames. Amid the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, Gu Zhengxing kowtowed over and over again, leaving deep red marks on the ground. His handsome face had been battered beyond recognition.
Until the final bow, no one responded. They all watched coldly.
Loftcloud Sect’s Ten Thousand Sword Formation spread across the sky above Sword-Bearing Manor like an inescapable net.
Ten thousand swords resonated in unison. The lights of swords flashed as countless silver-white blades spun in the air, weaving into a storm of swords.
Gu Zhengxing stood up and suddenly burst into laughter, as if he had encountered the greatest joke of his life. "Hahahaha! A righteous sect? What a joke. If I, Gu Zhengxing, was the one who did all of this, then so what?!"
Tears filled his eyes, but his gaze remained sharp. With a cold and resolute expression, he roared, "I’m the villain. I’m the demon here. Isn't this what you wanted? A devil? Then I am one!"
"I won’t just kill them. I’ll become a vengeful ghost and slaughter all your descendants!"
With that, Gu Zhengxing drew his sword and slashed it fiercely across his neck.
"After Gu Zhengxing died, Loftcloud Sect carved out his sword bone and discarded his corpse in the wilderness, leaving it for wild beasts to devour. One could say this was his retribution."
Elder Shen spoke in a low voice.
Xue Wujie could no longer hold back. "Elder, why bring up this man now?"
Elder Shen smiled at him and raised a hand, signaling for everyone to remain calm. "Encountering an Immaculate Spiritual Physique is both a blessing and a curse for our sect. Chu Yue, like Gu Zhengxing, is a treasured blade, but if mishandled, he could bring disaster upon the myriad beings of the Nine Provinces."
"Thus, teaching Chu Yue is of utmost importance. Who among you believes they are fit for the task?"
"Naturally, Peak Master Li—"
"Peak Master Li cultivates the way of the sword, while this person wields a blade. Giving him to Peak Master Li would be a waste. It would be better if—"
Li Yanbi let out a cold laugh. He had already seen through Elder Shen’s scheme before anyone else. "Elder Shen has already made his decision. Why toy with us?"
With that, he strode away.
Xue Wujie watched him leave and reluctantly said, "Since Peak Master Li has given up such an important responsibility, why not let me take over? What do you all think?"
Just as they were about to start quarreling over the disciple, Elder Shen stood up and, smiling, said, "Why rush? Chu Yue is still young and unaware of his extraordinary aptitude. As of now, he still sees himself as Li Lanxiu’s slave."
"That’s true. He holds a jade treasure without realizing it. Being Li Lanxiu’s boy is nothing compared to being the pride of the sect."
"If one day he rises with the wind and soars to the heavens, he will understand how ridiculous his actions today were."
Xue Wujie’s gaze flickered. "Elder Shen, are you suggesting he participate in the sect tournament?"
The sect tournament was set to take place in half a month. It was a competition among the peaks, with each selecting a few disciples to represent them and determine victory through their strength.
Elder Shen only smiled and took a brush from his storage ring. The brush was entirely silver-white, its shaft engraved with intricate mountain and river patterns. The bristles glowed with a faint, soft light, making it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary object.
"Your Blueword Brush?!"
"The Blueword Brush? The brush that can command the heavens and the earth?"
Everyone’s eyes locked onto the brush in his hand, eager to snatch it away for a closer look.
The so-called "Blueword" referred to Daoist petitions written in cinnabar ink on paper made from blue vines in order to summon divine generals.
Elder Shen’s Blueword Brush was his most prized treasure, one of the sect’s most significant artifacts. It could calm storms, exorcise evil, and had boundless other uses.
He displayed the brush to the crowd and smiled. "I will offer this brush as the reward for first place in the sect tournament."
With Chu Yue’s strength, he would surely shine in the competition. When the time came, Elder Shen would personally present the brush to him.
This was not just a reward—it was a message to the young talent, telling him that his future was limitless and that he had the ability to claim the best things for himself.
Simply put, it was to broaden Chu Yue’s horizons, to let him see a true treasure, so that he would never again feel the need to curry favor with anyone.
Ooooh, the plot thickens! I am really enjoying this story. Thank you translator, I see your hard work and I hope people with more money than I are going to smother you with money. You deserve it!
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