No one had expected the Wen Shen Sect to have another formidable cultivator at the Immaculate Realm. This greatly increased the number of variables.
After discussing the matter among themselves, they realized that they probably could not afford to use force against Shu Xin. They would have to adopt a softer approach.
Thus, the elder whose severed arm had regrown immediately withdrew, and Elder Liu stepped forward to play the peacemaker.
“I never imagined that the Wen Shen Sect still had such an impressive cultivator. You’ve truly opened our eyes,” Elder Liu praised. “Our exchange just now was merely a friendly spar. There’s no need to take it seriously, much less allow it to damage our relationship.”
With that, Elder Liu turned to Shu Xin and said with a beaming smile, “Fellow Daoist Shu, as you said just now, if we wish to settle here, we must first seek an audience with Senior Book Spirit. What procedures should we follow?”
No wonder these sects had sent such people to the Wen Shen Sect.
Every one of them truly knew when to bend and when to stand firm, without the slightest trace of an Immaculate Realm cultivator’s arrogance.
Or perhaps they had possessed such arrogance originally, but when it came to matters concerning their sects, they were all willing to yield.
In Shu Xin’s eyes, these people were the true backbone of their sects.
After all, for a sect to develop and grow powerful, it absolutely could not do without diplomatic talents who knew how to bend with the circumstances, had flexible principles, and knew how to speak.
“There’s no need for the elders to worry. I’ll return and properly seek Senior Book Spirit’s instructions,” Shu Xin said with a cupped-fist salute and a smile. “However, Senior Book Spirit may not necessarily wish to meet with you. That isn’t something I, as a disciple, can control. All I can say is that I’ll do my best.”
“Of course, of course.”
The group chatted and laughed together in perfect harmony. Anyone unaware of the circumstances might have thought they were close friends.
Only after the pleasantries were over did Shu Xin call out, “Jingzhi,” and rise to leave.
As she departed, Shu Xin looked meaningfully into the distance and gave a slight cupped-fist salute.
“To the fellow Daoists—or seniors—over there, please make yourselves at home as well. Since it isn’t convenient for you to come out, I won’t trouble you with a formal visit.”
The cultivators hidden in the darkness remained motionless.
No one was foolish enough to actually come out and meet Shu Xin.
Sometimes, it was necessary to leave a thin layer of paper between people.
Shu Xin let out a soft laugh.
Sigh. They were all familiar faces.
If she really had to kill them, she would find it somewhat difficult to bring herself to do so.
“Let’s go, Jingzhi. Stop looking,” Shu Xin called again before taking Wen Jingzhi by the hand and leading him away.
Qu Yougu seemed somewhat crestfallen, looking completely distracted.
White Crane Dao Lord did not pay much attention to Qu Yougu’s mood. After all, in his view, trying to arrange a marriage between Shu Xin and the Myriad Thousand Dao Sect had always been a difficult proposition.
White Crane Dao Lord’s plan had been quite well thought out.
If Shu Xin and Qu Yougu ended up together, everyone would be happy. Their Myriad Thousand Dao Sect would gain a cultivator who could one day reach the pinnacle of the Immaculate Realm, while Qu Yougu would gain Xu Guan, a powerful ally at the Grand Ascension stage. For the Formless Law lineage, it would be a deal that could only profit them.
If they did not end up together, they could take this opportunity to sever Qu Yougu’s attachment and allow him to cultivate in peace toward a higher realm.
By contrast, if he continued to hesitate and failed to act decisively, that would be fatal to Qu Yougu’s future.
Taking action before he became hopelessly entangled was the wisest course.
White Crane Dao Lord had lived for countless years and had seen more than enough infatuated men and women. The romantic affairs of the young were all much the same; they were nothing worth making a fuss over.
If one wished to cultivate, there were things one had to experience—and things one had to give up.
Shu Xin left with Wen Jingzhi, while the elders also needed to return and discuss with their sects how they should continue dealing with the Wen Shen Sect.
Should they launch a forceful assault, or form an alliance?
Meanwhile, the demonic cultivators hiding in the shadows could no longer sit still.
“Junior Brother Cui, were you able to identify what cultivation technique that young cultivator used?” one of the Blood Demon Sect’s cultivators asked maliciously. “The Old Ancestor once praised you for your knowledge and experience.”
The people who had appeared here were none other than Cui Yuhua and Xi Fu of the Blood Demon Sect.
However, aside from this master-and-disciple pair, another Immaculate Realm cultivator had also come, bringing Yin Rushi with him.
After Xi Fu returned to the Blood Demon Sect with Cui Yuhua, he had successfully advanced to the Cave-Heaven Realm. During the fierce competition within the Blood Demon Sect, he had also experienced the cruelty of demonic cultivators firsthand.
Previously, Xi Fu had still harbored some resentment toward Cui Yuhua for possessing his body and destroying the Busi Manor. After entering the Blood Demon Sect, however, he learned that in this place, disciples killing their masters and masters treating their disciples as expendable materials were everyday occurrences.
For example, Yin Rushi, who was also at the Cave-Heaven Realm and was regarded as the future star of the Blood Demon Sect, had already killed five or six masters. He had now taken yet another master.
Likewise, Yin Rushi’s new master had a particularly poor relationship with Cui Yuhua and had a record of killing dozens of disciples.
By comparison, Cui Yuhua could truly be considered a good master.
Xi Fu no longer dared to harbor the slightest complaint. He obediently followed Cui Yuhua wherever he went. Only after steadily advancing to the Immaculate Realm would he truly possess the capital to establish himself and survive.
Because Cui Yuhua’s return to the Immaculate Realm had been personally driven by the Blood Demon Ancestor’s incarnation, the entire Blood Demon Sect had to treat him with a measure of respect.
Now, one of them had returned to the Immaculate Realm while the other had advanced to the Cave-Heaven Realm. Both had regained their youthful, handsome appearances. They no longer looked like master and disciple, but more like fellow disciples from the same generation.
This time, they had been sent to the Wen Shen Sect partly to stop Xu Guan from reaching the Grand Ascension stage and partly to capture Shu Xin and bring her back.
Well, capturing Shu Xin was Yin Rushi’s mission.
“I couldn’t tell,” Cui Yuhua replied indifferently. “But judging from the technique used by that young cultivator, he seems able to absorb the spiritual energy within other people’s bodies. It somewhat resembles the demonic techniques of the Hehuan Sect.”
“The Hehuan Sect is overwhelmingly female-dominated, and male cultivators have almost no standing there. If they managed to nurture a male cultivator to the Immaculate Realm, they would be too busy using him for cultivation to willingly place him at Shu Xin’s side.”
The Blood Demon Sect elder sneered. “I think that young man is more likely someone secretly cultivated by the Wen Shen Sect. The Divine Fire Diagram Spirit Book has survived for who knows how many tens of thousands of years. It knows some ancient inheritances, so it wouldn’t be surprising if it had cultivated a few henchmen.”
“I think Master has a point,” Yin Rushi said with a broad smile from the side. “That young cultivator’s cultivation is higher than Shu Xin’s, yet he obeys her every word and hasn’t spoken a single word himself. I suspect there’s something wrong with him.”
Sometimes, sects would deliberately cultivate certain “special talents.”
These people were often not very bright, but they possessed exceptional constitutions and made remarkably capable combatants.
Because their minds were simple, techniques that involved tempering the body and spirit were not particularly difficult for them to master.
However, cultivating such people consumed far too many resources, and they were also prone to dying in the sect’s internal struggles. Since the cost was simply too high, such practices had gradually disappeared.
Yet judging from that young cultivator’s appearance, he seemed rather like one of these people.
“This Divine Flame Spirit-Map Book is indeed formidable. It has sealed off Xu Guan’s place of cultivation so tightly that not even air can get through. Breaking through this defense will be incredibly difficult,” said a cultivator from the Fiendish Demon Sect with a frown. “So, I imagine the rumors Shu Xin deliberately spread about the grudges and entanglements between Xu Guan and the Book Spirit were also fabricated to conceal the fact that Xu Guan had entered secluded cultivation to break through to the Mahayana stage.”
How hateful. They had actually believed the rumors were true and had even planned to find a few demon spirits to make up the numbers and present them to Xu Guan.
“I think we should still find a way to kill Xu Guan,” said another cultivator. He was short and thin, with a pale face and a vicious expression. “Xu Guan destroyed my physical body and caused my cultivation to plummet. He and my Fiendish Demon Sect already have a blood feud. If he achieves the Mahayana stage, it will bring us nothing but trouble.”
Those who had come here either wanted to take advantage of Xu Guan or destroy him.
The problem was that no matter what they wanted to do to Xu Guan, they first had to break through the Divine Flame Spirit-Map Book’s seal.
If they had the ability to do that, they would have become Mahayana cultivators long ago!
The only option was to make a move against Shu Xin.
That was also why so many of Shu Xin’s “acquaintances” had come.
After all, people who already knew one another would find it easier to negotiate—and to guess what Shu Xin was really planning.
Xi Fu had never imagined that the female cultivator who had once pretended to call him “foster father” at the Restless Mountain Manor would have changed so completely. She was now on the verge of having a Mahayana cultivator as her backer.
“Shu Xin is truly interesting,” Yin Rushi said ambiguously. “Not long after she arrived at the Asking Gods Sect, the sect’s way of doing things changed. Xu Guan is now attempting to break through to the Mahayana stage, while her former fiancé, Situ Jian, has become a cultivator being pursued by both the righteous and demonic paths. Shu Xin herself not only severed ties with Situ Jian early on, but also acquired a young cultivator at the Immaculate Realm by her side. She seems always able to withdraw perfectly from the very center of every storm, yet somehow appears at every crucial occasion. She has enough fame to attract attention, but she is constantly drawn into battles far beyond her level—and still manages to emerge unscathed every time.”
The Restless Mountain Manor had contained the Blood Demon Ancestor.
The situation at the Profound Spirit Daoist Sect was even more extraordinary, with Mahayana cultivators and Earthly Immortals alike.
And now, her master was about to ascend to the Mahayana stage as well.
Shu Xin was clearly only at the Grotto-Heaven Realm, yet whenever major gatherings or momentous events took place in the cultivation world, she never missed one. Every time, she managed to obtain enormous benefits.
During her trip to the Profound Spirit Daoist Sect, she had firmly established herself as the foremost cultivator of the Grotto-Heaven Realm.
What was more, there was a very real possibility that she was the demon who had slaughtered countless demonic cultivators over the past century and struck terror into their hearts.
So many extraordinary matters had converged upon a single person. How could Yin Rushi not be curious?
Hearing Yin Rushi’s words, Xi Fu could not help falling into deep thought as well.
Indeed, this Shu Xin was far too strange.
Only after seeing Xi Fu’s troubled expression did Yin Rushi finally shift her gaze away.
If she wanted to probe Shu Xin’s true strength, she would have to use some of Shu Xin’s old acquaintances as stepping stones.
Shu Xin and Wen Jingzhi did not truly relax until they had returned to their room.
“Damn it, these old foxes are really difficult to deal with,” Shu Xin complained. “Sometimes I really want to cut them all down.”
[I can do it right now. Shall I go?] The Sword Spirit sounded eager.
“You’re actually serious about attacking them?” Shu Xin said irritably. “There will be no shortage of probing from these people in the days ahead. Just wait and see.”
Given the moral standards of those cultivators, it was not difficult to imagine what would happen next. One familiar face after another would appear, each using all sorts of methods to test her, coax information out of her, and pressure or tempt her into joining their side.
[What a pity.] The Sword Spirit sounded aggrieved. [So many Immaculate Realm cultivators are right in front of me, yet I can’t attack them. It’s unbearable.]
The corner of Shu Xin’s mouth twitched. “Once Master begins his tribulation in earnest, you won’t have to worry about being unable to attack them. You’ll only be worried that you can’t swing fast enough.”
Only then did the Sword Spirit lower its banners and cease its protests.
“Jingzhi’s performance just now was pretty good.” Shu Xin waved a hand in front of Wen Jingzhi’s face. “He even knew to help me. Sword Spirit, when do you think Jingzhi will recover?”
[Hmm, that’s hard to say. The demonic energy in his eyes hasn’t been completely eliminated. Once he can control the demonic energy at will and restrain his divine radiance, he should be almost recovered.] The Sword Spirit could only make a judgment based on its own experience.
Still, it harbored some suspicions.
The Little Fox did not feel quite as honest as he appeared.
“Looks like all we can do is wait.” Shu Xin reached out and pinched Wen Jingzhi’s cheek. “But I think he’s rather cute like this—so dazed and obedient.”
Heh. As long as you’re happy.
The Sword Spirit was somewhat doubtful about whether Wen Jingzhi had really regained consciousness, but judging from his appearance, it did not dare to be certain.
From beginning to end, Wen Jingzhi remained perfectly obedient, and not the slightest hint of emotion could be seen on him.
The next day.
Someone from the Myriad Dao Sect came to request an audience with Shu Xin.
“I’m a little surprised. I thought White Crane Dao Lord would be the one coming.” Shu Xin raised her brows slightly and looked at the elder who had accompanied White Crane Dao Lord but had kept a low profile. “May I ask your name, Elder?”
“My surname is Shao. You may call me Martial Uncle Shao. I’ve met your master several times as well.” Elder Shao did not appear overbearing in the slightest. Unlike White Crane Dao Lord’s ethereal, transcendent bearing, he looked somewhat simple and honest. His round face made him seem quite affable.
“So you are Martial Uncle Shao.” Shu Xin was willing to show him some respect. After all, one did not strike a smiling face. “May I ask why Martial Uncle Shao has gone out of his way to see me?”
“White Crane Dao Lord isn’t very good at saying these things, but I am.” Elder Shao smiled warmly. “Fellow Daoist Shu, you’re an intelligent person—and one who knows how to adapt to circumstances. I’ve met many people in my life, and I have some confidence in judging character. I’ve lived for a thousand years and seen more young people than I could count, but someone as clever as Fellow Daoist Shu is truly one in ten thousand. As long as you don’t die prematurely, reaching the Immaculate Realm—or even the Mahayana stage—will be well within your grasp. If you had lived in ancient times, you might even have become an Earthly Immortal.”
“Elder Shao and I have never met before, yet you’ve given me such high praise. I’m truly flattered.” Shu Xin was not the sort of person who could be won over by a few pretty words.
“My words are naturally sincere.” Elder Shao shook his head. “Fellow Daoist Shu, there’s no need to belittle yourself. I came here bearing genuine sincerity.”
“I wonder what kind of sincerity Elder Shao has brought?” Shu Xin was genuinely curious.
Could the Myriad Dao Sect be planning to promise her the position of Daoist Maiden?
“How does Fellow Daoist Shu feel about our Myriad Dao Sect’s Daoist Heir, Qu Yougu?” Elder Shao did not beat around the bush. He got straight to the point. “As the Daoist Heir of our Myriad Dao Sect and the successor to the Formless Lineage, he is destined for great achievements within our sect. Once he reaches the Immaculate Realm, White Crane Dao Lord will use the excuse that he can no longer teach him and apply for him to become a disciple of one of the Earthly Immortals in our sect. However, our sect has many different lineages. Although Qu Yougu is outstanding, the Daoist Heirs and Daoist Maidens of the previous and the preceding generation are also competing for this opportunity.”
The Earthly Immortals of the Myriad Dao Sect would only choose the three most outstanding candidates as their disciples.
Even if Qu Yougu became the best of his generation, he would still have to compete with the Daoist Heirs and Daoist Maidens of the previous two generations.
“Oh?” But what did that have to do with her?
No way.
A possibility occurred to Shu Xin, and she found it somewhat amusing.
“If Fellow Daoist Shu is willing to marry into an alliance with our sect, Qu Yougu’s chances of becoming a disciple of an Earthly Immortal will increase considerably with your assistance,” Elder Shao said, unwilling to give Shu Xin the chance to play dumb. “Of course, Fellow Daoist Shu, don’t rush to refuse. Hear me out first. It won’t hurt to learn more about the reasoning and intricacies involved.”
“And what exactly is your reasoning?” Shu Xin now genuinely found the whole thing funny.
Even a sect’s Daoist Heir had to be weighed and sold by the pound.
The only question was whether the timing and price were right.
“From our sect’s perspective, the Longevity Dao Sect has gained an additional Great Ascension cultivator. If the Myriad Dao Sect wishes to avoid falling behind, we also need a Great Ascension cultivator. Your master is undoubtedly an excellent candidate. He is young, full of potential, and possesses an admirable character,” Elder Shao said slowly. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how difficult it is to support a Great Ascension cultivator. You witnessed the spectacle when Master Yushan underwent his tribulation, so you should understand how much spiritual energy they require. Forgive my bluntness, but given the Divine Inquiry Sect’s current circumstances, unless you sell the Divine Flame Diagram Spirit Book, you absolutely cannot afford to support one.”
That struck the heart of the matter.
“Could it be that the Myriad Dao Sect intends to support my master without asking for anything in return?” Shu Xin said it aloud and found the idea ridiculous herself.
“How could there be goodwill in this world without a reason?” Elder Shao laughed heartily. “Once you and Daoist Heir Qu enter into a marriage alliance, the Divine Inquiry Sect will become our ally. At that time, your master can become an honorary elder of the Myriad Dao Sect, and our sect will provide him with a corresponding share of resources. If those resources prove insufficient, then once you and Daoist Heir Qu become partners whose fortunes are tied together, and he successfully becomes the disciple of an Earthly Immortal, will you still have to worry about obtaining the resources a Great Ascension cultivator needs?”
“If you’re worried that the Myriad Dao Sect will use this opportunity to annex the Divine Inquiry Sect, Daoist Heir Qu can marry into your sect instead,” Elder Shao added. “If circumstances change in the future, you can dissolve the relationship then. After all, at present, we are the ones who need you more.”
With the Divine Inquiry Sect as a thorn in its side, the Longevity Dao Sect could not act quite so smoothly. Should it make a move, the Divine Inquiry Sect would be able to sense it in advance. Under the guise of a marriage alliance, the Myriad Dao Sect could also secretly provide aid to the Divine Inquiry Sect and help it stand against the Longevity Dao Sect.
By comparison, all they had to offer was a Qu Yougu in exchange for a Great Ascension cultivator and a thorn capable of opposing the Longevity Dao Sect. It was an extraordinarily profitable bargain.
As Shu Xin listened to Elder Shao, she found the whole matter laughable, yet at the same time, she felt a faint sadness.
The disciples of great sects—even their marriages and their lives—could all be used as bargaining chips.
They were like pigs raised by farmers. No matter how many watermelons and carrots they were fed, the pigs ate what the people ate, and what the pigs ate was ultimately meant to be eaten by the people. Once the pigs had been fattened, they were still destined for the slaughterhouse.
The so-called Daoist Heirs, such as Qu Yougu, were no different.
“Did Qu Yougu know you were coming to discuss this with me?” Shu Xin asked in return.
“Whether he knows or not is irrelevant. But he and Fellow Daoist Shu are familiar with each other and have gone through certain experiences together. Knowing each other is naturally better than being strangers, so he is willing. If Fellow Daoist Shu takes issue with him, we can always choose someone else. If you need it, I have the profiles of several other Daoist Heirs and Daoist Maidens here.”
Shu Xin smiled.
“That won’t be necessary.” She shook her head. “Whether it’s a marriage alliance or an alliance between sects, I have no interest in either. It’s not that I have anything against Qu Yougu. I’m simply accustomed to being free, and I don’t know what my master thinks about the matter.”
“If Elder Shao is willing to wait, you can discuss it with my master after he comes out of seclusion.” Shu Xin still gave him a way to save face.
Elder Shao was not angry. “It’s understandable that you can’t come to terms with it immediately. Fellow Daoist Shu needn’t worry. My offer will always stand, and you may change your mind at any time.”
At present, Shu Xin could not feel it. But once the Divine Inquiry Sect was surrounded and attacked, on the verge of becoming the next Profound Spirit Sect, she would realize that marriage was the best way out. She would also understand that the Myriad Dao Sect’s sincerity was the greatest.
“Then I won’t disturb you any longer.” Elder Shao smiled. “There’s no need to see me out, Fellow Daoist Shu.”
As if I was planning to.
Shu Xin maintained a smile on her face while secretly rolling her eyes several times.
“...The Little Fox is rather cute when she’s all dazed and confused too.” The Sword Spirit was thoroughly convinced. “You humans really know how to make trouble.”
The Sword Spirit turned to look at Wen Jingzhi and found that he had shown no reaction whatsoever. For a moment, it was uncertain.
Was he actually awake or not?
“It’s nothing unusual,” Shu Xin said, waving a hand. “Forget it. Rather than discussing this, I might as well check on my master’s progress.”
Thinking too much would only make her lose her hair.
Meanwhile, Qu Yougu was waiting for Elder Shao to return.
White Crane Dao Lord sat calmly, drinking tea.
The moment Elder Shao returned, Qu Yougu eagerly went to meet him.
“She didn’t agree.” Elder Shao looked at Qu Yougu. “From here on, it’s up to you. I’ve already used this old face of mine once.”
A trace of disappointment appeared on Qu Yougu’s face.
“Since Shu Xin refused, you’ll have to think of a way to make her agree yourself. Otherwise, give up altogether. Yougu, I don’t remember teaching you to be like this. You’re far too indecisive when it comes to matters of the heart.”
“Look at the state you’re in. If I were Shu Xin, I wouldn’t fancy you either. She is currently the number-one cultivator in the Grotto-Heaven Realm, and she’ll soon have a Great Ascension cultivator as her master. As for the Divine Inquiry Sect’s current predicament, she has been handling everything alone. Anyone who saw that would have to praise her endlessly. Now look at yourself. If you weren’t born into the Myriad Dao Sect, being able to see her at all would count as an extraordinary stroke of luck!”
Shu Xin’s excellence was obvious to anyone who was not blind. How many people envied Xu Guan? How many mocked the Longevity Dao Sect for mistaking a pearl for a fish’s eye?
If Qu Yougu wanted to win Shu Xin’s favor, what use was it to merely stand there looking heartbroken? A good partner, like good resources, could not be obtained by waiting. One had to fight for them!
White Crane Dao Lord’s furious reprimands pulled Qu Yougu directly out of the depths of his emotional despair.
Qu Yougu took a deep breath and said, "Master, your lesson is absolutely right. I have indeed been distracted these days, and I will sort things out on my own."
White Crane Dao Lord nodded in satisfaction only then.
Qu Yougu was still far too young and had never gone through the trials of romantic affection. When he looked back on this period later in the future, it would be nothing more than a hurdle to temper his Dao heart.
Those with feelings always get hurt by the unfeeling, which is never half as worthwhile as walking the path of great Dao cultivation.
