After the incident involving the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, the reputations of several young cultivators in the Grotto-Heaven realm rose even higher.
Situ Jian, Qu Yougu, Xie Xianzhi, and Shu Xin.
All four of them had confronted the Blood Demon Ancestor and managed to withdraw unharmed.
That was the legendary giant of the demonic path—a land-bound immortal!
The cultivation world had always respected strength above all else, and land-bound immortals already stood at its very summit.
To receive such lavish praise from a major figure of the opposing side proved that these four were all truly outstanding individuals.
To put it in modern terms, they were like scholars who had made it onto America’s sanctions list in their previous lives. Only then could they be considered genuine experts.
Praise from one’s own side was certainly worth celebrating, but praise from an enemy was even more gratifying.
The first few were not particularly surprising. After all, they were all disciples of the top sects, so there was nothing strange about their excellence. But then there was Shu Xin of the Seeking the Gods Sect, and that was what truly drew attention.
Originally, Shu Xin’s reputation had only been known within a limited circle. But after this incident, she became famous throughout the world alongside the others. Since Chai Lingxin of the Carefree Dao Sect and Xiang Peiyao of the Truth-Seeking Dao Sect had not appeared at the scene, Shu Xin was consequently regarded as the foremost young female cultivator of the present age.
Some even joked that Xu Guan, Shu Xin’s master, was the youngest cultivator ever to reach the Immaculate realm—and now he had such an outstanding disciple as well. It seemed that the Seeking the Gods Sect was destined to rise.
Whether the Seeking the Gods Sect wanted that or not, its name had indeed spread much farther than before.
As for the fact that Shu Xin had once been a disciple of the Longevity Dao Sect, people deliberately or inadvertently chose to overlook it.
After all, if a disciple had remained obscure in the Longevity Dao Sect, only to become famous after leaving, that was certainly not something the former sect would consider a good thing.
Chai Lingxin and Xiang Peiyao had never met Shu Xin before. Their knowledge of her was limited to rumors and the fact that she was Xu Guan’s disciple.
Therefore, when Xie Xianzhi called out “Fellow Daoist Shu” to an unfamiliar woman, Chai Lingxin and Xiang Peiyao immediately went over as well, hoping to make Shu Xin’s acquaintance.
Only after they actually flew up to Shu Xin and discreetly examined her did they realize that this female cultivator was even more impressive than they had imagined.
Shu Xin had delicate and attractive features, but there was a heroic sharpness between her brows. What stood out even more was the carefree, uninhibited air about her. She seemed like someone who could go anywhere beneath the vast heavens.
There were many ways for cultivators to make themselves look beautiful, but temperament was something difficult to define or explain. That was precisely why it drew even more attention.
After seeing her only once, Chai Lingxin and Xiang Peiyao both decided that this female cultivator would certainly become an unavoidable rival in their future cultivation.
“So it’s Fellow Daoist Xie.” Shu Xin smiled and returned the greeting. “We parted in such a hurry last time that we never had the chance to speak properly. I can tell that these two fellow cultivators possess extraordinary bearing and profound cultivation. May I ask which sects these two fairies belong to?”
“This is Senior Sister Chai Lingxin of the Carefree Dao Sect.” Xie Xianzhi immediately introduced them, pointing to a female cultivator dressed in black with golden embroidery whose bearing was cold and aloof. “Senior Sister Chai reached the Grotto-Heaven realm thirty years ago. Her ice-type divine abilities are exceptionally formidable.”
“This is Senior Sister Xiang Peiyao of the Truth-Seeking Dao Sect. She entered the Grotto-Heaven realm ten years ago, two months before I did.” Xie Xianzhi then pointed to a round-faced female cultivator dressed in pale green. “Besides being highly accomplished in cultivation, Senior Sister Xiang is also an alchemist. If there is a pill you cannot buy, and you have the necessary materials prepared, Senior Sister Xiang can refine it for you.”
Discussing seniority across different sects was rather troublesome, so people generally ranked one another according to how long they had been cultivating in the same realm. Calling someone Senior Brother or Senior Sister was purely a gesture of respect. If the relationship was only ordinary, they would simply address one another as fellow cultivators.
Shu Xin, of course, was more than willing to show them the proper respect. She addressed both women as Senior Sister.
“So these are the famous Senior Sister Chai and Senior Sister Xiang. It is a pleasure to meet you. These are my junior brothers and sisters. They came with me to broaden their horizons.” Shu Xin called her fellow disciples over.
Yi Renjie and the others had never met Xie Xianzhi or the others before, so they each stepped forward to pay their respects.
They had only broken through to the Dao Infant realm a month ago, and had undergone extensive training at the hands of their Senior Sister. They had considered themselves outstanding.
But when faced with these cultivators who had reached the Grotto-Heaven realm at such a young age, they could not help feeling inferior.
These were the people who could truly interact with their Senior Sister as equals.
They absolutely had to remain calm and composed. They could not afford to become arrogant again.
“Haha, I also brought some junior brothers and sisters with me, but they are shy and unwilling to show themselves easily.” Xiang Peiyao laughed cheerfully. “Their cultivation is roughly on par with your junior brothers and sisters. They can exchange pointers and learn from one another later.”
The quality of the Seeking the Gods Sect’s disciples was much higher than they had expected.
Every one of them was actually in the Dao Infant realm?!
Moreover, judging from their auras and bone ages, none of them seemed to be more than a hundred years old.
Disciples like these would be considered outstanding even in their sects.
They had heard that the Seeking the Gods Sect did not possess many resources. How had it managed to raise so many talented disciples?
However, that question touched upon the foundations of another sect. No one would be foolish enough to ask it outright. They merely took note of it in silence and planned to investigate further later.
As for dividing up the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, no one mentioned it at all for the time being. It was enough that everyone understood the unspoken arrangement.
“Fellow Daoist Situ doesn’t seem to have come. The Longevity Dao Sect sent his senior and junior fellow disciples instead, and they aren’t with us.” Xie Xianzhi took the initiative to explain. “Fellow Daoist Qu is at another entrance, so we missed each other. What a pity. If we had known Fellow Daoist Shu would be here, he could have waited at this entrance as well.”
There were two main entrances into the Profound Spirit Dao Sect. As a result, the cultivators from the various Dao sects were scattered between them, which also prevented them from immediately clashing with one another.
As for the smaller entrances, they would probably be controlled by the demonic cultivators.
The smaller sects that hoped to get a share of the spoils could only tuck their tails between their legs and sneak in carefully.
Someone like Shu Xin, who had arrived openly and without the slightest hesitation, was practically unheard of.
But since Xie Xianzhi and the others were all willing to show her respect, it became even harder for anyone else to criticize her.
Who could blame Fellow Daoist Shu for deliberately making a name for herself?
After all, having a reputation truly could bring benefits in many areas.
After the pleasantries, no one continued forcing themselves to remain together and chat. They each returned to their respective positions.
For one thing, they were not particularly familiar with one another. For another, they had come representing their respective sects and had missions to complete. Their first priority was to accomplish those tasks.
Shu Xin released her spiritual sense and swept it across the surroundings, but she found no sign of Situ Jian.
Since he had not arrived by this point, something had most likely delayed him on the Longevity Dao Sect’s side.
At that moment, in the Longevity Dao Sect—
“This time, I can’t really blame you. Even if I had been there when the Blood Demon Ancestor appeared, I wouldn’t have been able to do much.” Gong Changshou was being quite reasonable and did not simply berate Situ Jian. However, when he mentioned his junior disciples Fu Ge and Wen Jingshu, there was a clear trace of personal resentment in his voice. “Your two uncles are a pair of good-for-nothings as well. They couldn’t even seize the Blood Spirit Pearl, and they actually left you there and came back on their own? They were obviously trying to humiliate me!”
Gong Changshou had not revealed the Blood Spirit Pearl’s existence out of any good intentions.
He knew that both Fu Ge and Wen Jingshu needed the Blood Spirit Pearl. Given their terrible relationship, they would surely fight to the death over it.
Perhaps they would even perish together. If that happened, he would not need to go to the trouble of dealing with them himself.
“Master, there is something I don’t understand. May I ask about it?” Situ Jian lowered his head as he spoke.
“You want to ask about Fu Ge and Wen Jingshu, don’t you?” Gong Changshou replied.
“Master is wise.”
“I can’t tell you their exact origins, but they should have come from the same place.” Gong Changshou spoke indifferently. “My master is Wuweizi, an Earthly Immortal. From time to time, he sends an incarnation out into the world. He encountered these two while traveling and brought them back with him. Then, using supreme divine abilities, he forcefully raised their cultivation to the Immaculate Realm. Their aptitude is passable, but their state of mind is mediocre. Even after more than a hundred years, they still couldn’t stabilize their realms. If not for their master’s protection, those two good-for-nothings would have already fallen in cultivation and been plagued by inner demons.”
“They can be forcibly raised to the Immaculate Realm?” Situ Jian asked, somewhat astonished.
“My master, Wuweizi, is the closest to ascension among all the Earthly Immortals currently living in this world.” A faint pride appeared on Gong Changshou’s face. “Naturally, raising them to the Immaculate Realm damaged my master’s foundation and exhausted their potential for this lifetime. They will never be able to advance any further. But my master’s foundation is profound, so he can afford to lose that little bit.”
When disciples such as Ru Ning and Wei Xuan heard about this, they were naturally shocked and confused by their master’s actions.
What exactly were these two people, that they were worth such extraordinary effort from their master?
This was also why Gong Changshou had been secretly targeting them.
On the one hand, he feared that his master might pass the sect’s leadership to those two good-for-nothings. On the other, he had been trying every possible means to make them kill each other, ensuring that his master would never trace it back to him.
Unfortunately, although those two detested one another at first sight, neither had ever truly tried to kill the other. This left Gong Changshou deeply frustrated.
“I see.” Situ Jian nodded. “The abilities of an Earthly Immortal truly are beyond imagination.”
“You’ll understand even more deeply once you reach the Immaculate Realm.” Gong Changshou waved his hand, signaling that Situ Jian could leave. “I’ll discuss the affairs of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect with your uncles and senior brothers. You don’t need to concern yourself with them anymore. For now, focus on improving your cultivation. Once the Mahayana cultivator of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect dies, there will be plenty of things on my side that will require your assistance. As for the rewards you deserve, I certainly won’t be stingy.”
“Thank you, Master. This disciple will take his leave.”
Situ Jian slowly backed out.
Gong Changshou fell into deep thought.
He had originally accepted this disciple simply because he found him interesting. Among his many disciples, he had lacked someone like Situ Jian—a man of humble origins who was bold enough to court death.
But now, it seemed that he had inadvertently made an excellent move.
Once the Mahayana cultivator of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect died, he and his fellow disciples, who were also in the Immaculate Realm, would likely be drawn into a fierce battle.
The only way to obtain a high-level Mahayana cultivator was to wait for the previous one to die.
Why were his fellow disciples so eager to compete for the position of sect leader?
Because once someone became the sect leader of the Longevity Dao Sect, their master, Wuweizi, would personally assist them and promise to raise their cultivation to the Mahayana stage. After that, all they needed to do was kill someone to make room for themselves.
But now, two positions might suddenly become available.
As a result, there would inevitably be plenty of open and covert struggles between him and his fellow disciples.
And once they entered seclusion, they would have only their disciples outside protecting them. As for the other Immaculate Realm cultivators, he did not trust a single one of them.
When that time came, he might have to rely on Situ Jian to some extent.
Thinking of this, Gong Changshou drew a deep breath.
When, exactly, would that Mahayana cultivator from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect finally die?
But Gong Changshou warned himself that he absolutely could not become impatient.
Apart from the competition within his own sect, the Immaculate Realm cultivators from the other Dao Sects were also waiting for an opportunity. The competition would be anything but small.
After leaving Gong Changshou’s cave abode, Situ Jian immediately returned to his own residence.
Song Ping was already waiting for him inside.
Looking at that face, which bore an extraordinary resemblance to the one in his memories, Situ Jian still felt a moment of disorientation. But what rose within him more strongly was a fury so intense it seemed capable of devouring a person alive.
“You’re here? She didn’t notice anything, did she?”
“Before coming, I told her I was going to pay you a visit. She agreed.” Song Ping was the male cultivator Wen Jingshu had taken away from the Villa of No Thought.
At the time, his cultivation had been no more than the Qi Refining stage. Now, however, he had advanced an entire major realm.
Clearly, Wen Jingshu had treated him very well over the past few days and given him a great deal of resources.
“Good. For now, don’t make any rash moves. First, gain her trust,” Situ Jian replied firmly. “Before long, the Profound Spirit Dao Sect will be destroyed, and there will certainly be a battle within the Nine Sons of Longevity. When that happens, the sect will be fraught with danger, and all kinds of people will take advantage of the chaos. That will be the perfect opportunity for us to act.”
“Rest assured, my lord. I will definitely carry it out.”
Thinking of the grudge he had borne for so many years and the fact that he could finally have his revenge, Song Ping’s face filled with delight.
He had waited for so many years—even enduring the agony of changing his face—all for this day.
How could there be so many coincidences in this world?
Song Ping had not originally looked like this. After Situ Jian saved him, he had devoted himself to revenge. He had endured the agony of having his face remade and only then taken on his current appearance.
Changing one’s features with spells or pills could be detected by cultivators.
But if one used the most primitive method—cutting away the skin, altering the shape of the bones, and manually reshaping the face—even a cultivator’s methods would be unable to detect it.
“By the way, my lord, Wen Jingshu seems to be preparing to enter seclusion again.” Song Ping reported every detail of Wen Jingshu’s movements. “After making arrangements for her disciples, she went to some place within the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, but I couldn’t follow her there. When she returned, her aura was disordered and her state of mind unstable. It seems she is about to enter seclusion again. I’m worried that she might use this opportunity to avoid the conflict among the Nine Sons of Longevity. If that happens, it will be difficult for us to make our move.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. As long as she remains within the sect, there is absolutely no way for her to avoid the conflict.” Situ Jian gave a cold laugh. “But once she enters seclusion, she will certainly be afraid to meet you, while at the same time constantly longing to see you. When that happens, just wait for my signal.”
“Yes.” Song Ping nodded. “What about Fu Ge?”
“Him?” A chill flashed through Situ Jian’s eyes. “Since he married into the Murong family, naturally he went back there to enjoy the company of his fated partner, the one he fell in love with at first sight.”
They had once been his closest kin.
How laughable. Now, when they met, they no longer recognized one another.
And when the day came that they did recognize each other, it would surely be the day they fought to the death.
Song Ping knew that Situ Jian must have his own plans, so he did not ask any further questions.
If anyone could truly take revenge on the Longevity Dao Sect, that person could only be Situ Jian.
“Since you said you came to visit me, you can’t leave empty-handed.” Situ Jian gave Song Ping some pills and several spiritual artifacts as well. He made the whole visit look convincing before allowing Song Ping to leave.
Sister Shu had said that when putting on an act, one had to see it through completely and leave no flaws for anyone to discover.
Having played the role of Situ Jian for so many years instead of Wen Jingzhi, he had long since grown accustomed to a life of deception.
Situ Jian suddenly felt an urge to see Shu Xin, but he restrained himself and did not act on it.
She wanted to claim a share of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect, while he also needed to take advantage of the opportunity to lay the groundwork for his revenge.
It was better that they did not meet.
Near the territory of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect.
Once they learned that the newcomer was Shu Xin of the Inquiring God Sect, many cultivators from other sects came forward to introduce themselves, making sure Shu Xin would at least recognize their faces.
At the same time, they secretly remained on guard.
She had brought six Dao Infant cultivators with her and claimed they were simply here for experience. Who would believe that?
She clearly intended to seize a share of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect’s spoils.
However, the Inquiring God Sect was not very large, so they probably would not need much. As long as they were not too greedy, everyone was willing to give them a little and show them some respect.
But if they pushed their luck, then they would have no choice but to settle things with their strength.
The cultivators had already been waiting near the Profound Spirit Dao Sect for several days.
Suddenly, tribulation clouds began gathering in the sky.
The entire area within several thousand miles of the Profound Spirit Dao Sect grew dark.
“It’s that Mahayana cultivator from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect whose lifespan is almost exhausted. He wants to make one final attempt. He’s going to face the tribulation clouds and see whether he can become an Earthly Immortal or ascend?”
Everyone understood perfectly well.
When faced with certain death, no cultivator would simply sit around and wait for it. They would all choose to take that final step and gamble everything.
If they lost, they would die anyway. But if they won, they might be able to reverse their declining fortunes.
However, the cultivators lying in ambush all had their elders secretly following behind them.
Moreover, before they came, their elders had sworn that there was absolutely no chance this Mahayana cultivator could become an Earthly Immortal.
This was nothing more than the final struggle of a trapped beast.
The moment the Mahayana cultivator began his breakthrough would be the moment these cultivators made their move.
“Let’s go. We must reach the Profound Spirit Dao Sect as quickly as possible.”
“The Profound Spirit Dao Sect’s territory is vast. Once that Mahayana cultivator fails his breakthrough, we need to be the first to charge into the sect’s inner regions.”
“Remember, if the people from the Profound Spirit Dao Sect discover us, just say that we came to help.”
…
Everyone brought out their best methods.
Some flew on swords, some rode flying vessels, some lounged atop treasure gourds, and some even sat on alchemy furnaces or used talismans to speed through the air.
Yi Renjie and the others watched, utterly dazzled.
They would never have been able to see so many powerful cultivators display their abilities all at once in the outside world.
And judging from what they had seen, every one of these cultivators was at least at the Core Formation stage, with Dao Infant cultivators making up the majority.
“Sister, is this the foundation of the great sects?” Yi Renjie could not help sighing. “These sects brought at least dozens of Dao Infant cultivators.”
There had been at least three hundred Dao Infant cultivators among those they had just seen.
And there were surely many more elsewhere, far beyond their sight.
“Let’s go. We need to get there early too.” Shu Xin smiled. “That Mahayana cultivator can hold out for at most a year or half a year during his final breakthrough. He won’t last much longer. And for us to break through the Profound Spirit Dao Sect’s defenses and enter its inner territory will take at least several months.”
That was why so many cultivators were waiting here.
Once the Mahayana cultivator fell, the entire Profound Spirit Dao Sect would inevitably be thrown into chaos. Only then, by taking advantage of their weakness, could they seize the greatest possible benefits.
They even had to beat the demonic sects to the punch, lest only scraps remained by the time they arrived.
Shu Xin took out a flying vessel and motioned for her junior brothers and sisters to board.
“Senior Sister, where did you get a flying vessel?” Yuan Dawei’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “You didn’t give us one to ride before we came. Flying vessels are incredibly expensive. Even ordinary cultivators have to get on a waiting list to buy one. How could you just take one out whenever you felt like it?”
Like magical treasures, flying vessels were divided into different grades.
The flying vessel Shu Xin had produced was not the very highest grade, but it was certainly among the finest.
Cao Ru was even so excited that he began drooling. “Good heavens, these formations and inscriptions were definitely made by a master! Judging by its grade, it should be able to withstand several strikes from a Wugou Realm cultivator, right?”
“What? How much would something like this cost?” Li Qinghe asked in shock.
“At least several hundred thousand spirit stones to start.” Yuan Dawei clutched his chest. “And the price can only go higher, not lower. Senior Sister, didn’t you say that all your previous resources went toward rebuilding the sect? With that many spirit stones, did some aristocratic clan invite you over again?”
Unless she had robbed an entire clan of all its accumulated wealth again, how could she possibly afford this?
Xu Guan, who had been secretly guarding her from nearby without revealing himself, also drew in a sharp breath when he saw it.
Shu Xin’s wealth was terrifying!
What kind of work was she doing that made money so quickly?
Even if it was an improper line of work, Xu Guan was tempted to swallow his pride and work alongside Shu Xin.
There was no other reason.
It simply made far too much money!
“I ordered it a long time ago. I only just finished paying the balance, so it was delivered recently.” Shu Xin pretended to boast casually. “It didn’t cost much. I got it for half the market price.”
[Calling it half price is far too modest. You didn’t spend a single coin on it. I was the one who helped you seize it, wasn’t I?] The Sword Spirit could not help grumbling. [That little fox Situ Jian provided the information, and I made the move.]
This flying vessel had actually been stolen by the illegitimate son of an elder from the Longevity Dao Sect so that he could show off. After Situ Jian learned of it, he sent word to Shu Xin. Shu Xin then bullied the weakling and took the flying vessel for herself.
The reason she had not brought it out before was that the vessel contained too many restrictive formations, making it easy for others to lock onto its location.
Only in the past few days had she finished breaking all those restrictions. She had also spent some spirit stones to hire someone to alter its appearance, which was why she could now take it out in public without worry.
Having a flying vessel built from scratch was indeed extremely expensive. But modifying an existing one was a completely different matter—the price was far lower.
The entire cost of this flying vessel had gone into its modifications.
“Treasure belongs to the virtuous. I was only acting out of kindness,” Shu Xin said matter-of-factly.
Heh.
The Sword Spirit no longer wanted to speak to her.
Meanwhile, the cultivators who had been watching Shu Xin closely were also stunned when they saw her produce such a luxurious flying vessel without the slightest effort.
Wasn’t the Inquiring God Sect supposed to have fallen into decline?
They can produce a flying vessel of this caliber at the drop of a hat—which means the Wenshen Sect is anything but poor!
So they really were just keeping a low profile all this time, and have finally stopped pretending now?
The Wenshen Sect truly has been hiding its strength. It looks like they’re going to be a formidable enemy!
