Chapter 54

The True Immortal Huaiyun couldn’t say “yes” or “no.”

He certainly knew that Xuanyuan Heng and Tan Mingtang had made a trip to Tianjiu Town, and that was precisely why he hadn’t sent further reinforcements.

If just one Golden Core cultivator and so many Foundation Establishment cultivators—among the elite disciples of three sects in the Five Sects and Three Paths—could not drive back a small demon tide, then when the true war comes in sixty years, the cultivation world might as well not fight at all and simply surrender.

The younger generation of disciples needed training.

They needed to stain their swords with blood and experience sacrifice and parting with death early on.

The more they did, the faster they would grow.

Because of this, he was willing to lose some disciples to allow others to grow rapidly.

Even if this brought resentment and dissatisfaction, it was of no consequence.

The reason why the sword of the Kunwu Sword Sect was so strong, and the sword intent so fierce, came from this very principle.

Only with feelings of dissatisfaction, discontent, and defiance could sword intent grow strong.

He wasn’t the first Kunwu Sect master to do this, and he wouldn’t be the last.

When he was a personal disciple of Taiqing Peak, he had once felt the same way as the current Kunwu disciples.

He had also witnessed the death of his fellow disciples, pleaded for aid in vain, and found no answers from heaven or earth.

Back then, he hated the Kunwu sect master.

Later, when he became the Kunwu sect master, he had to bear all that hatred.

This was the burden he had to accept when he took up the position.

However, though he knew this in his heart, when he saw these disciples, who carried the future of Kunwu, looking at him with such expressions and pressing him with such words, he still felt unsettled.

On top of that, if it were ordinary disciples requesting reinforcements, he could have turned a blind eye and let the matter fade.

But unfortunately, these two were the senior brother and senior sister from Xiya Tower and Baiyu Pavillion.

Ordinary disciples could plead ignorance of the rules, but as role models of their sects, how could these two do the same?

Even though they were also senior brother and senior sister to Yu Xizhi, their personal relationship with her had nothing to do with the principles Kunwu Mountain Sect had to follow.

There was no reason to consider Yu Xizhi’s face in this.

However, Yi Zui and Yu Xizhi had acted in concert, each supporting the other’s words.

In a light and casual manner, they had redefined the issue as “the cultivation world is one big family, and when one side is in trouble, all sides provide aid.”

And he couldn’t refute it.

There was indeed a clear demarcation map between the major sects, but it had been set by their ancestors, established by custom, and hadn’t changed for hundreds or thousands of years.

Every sect understood it well.

To accuse others of crossing boundaries by pointing to the map would only make things awkward.

Thus, Huaiyun had originally intended to use this as leverage, implying that in the next round of spiritual vein allocation, he would extract a few more veins from Xiya Tower and Baiyu Pavillion.

And the spiritual veins—those were the true determinants of a sect’s longevity.

A sect was not sustained by just one or two exceptionally talented disciples.

Beneath the rare prodigies, it was the solid foundation of a large group of middle-tier disciples that upheld the sect.

And cultivating these middle-tier disciples naturally depended on an unending flow of spiritual energy.

Yet, if he refuted Yu Xizhi now, it would not only contradict his previous nod but also be seen as uncouth behavior, which would bring shame.

Being the sect master was difficult.

If he had known it would come to this, he would’ve gladly let someone else take the role.

Those dog elders of Taiqing Peak’s back mountain must have known this all along.

That’s why they all shirked the responsibility that day, leaving this burden on his shoulders.

Huaiyun was furious inside.

Yu Xizhi’s few words were indeed to plead for her senior brother and sister, but they had instantly ruined his plans.

To be fair, when that red-robed Taoist and Master Tan took spiritual veins from his hands, they hadn’t gone easy on him just because Yu Xizhi was a disciple in Kunwu Mountain Sect.

But outwardly, he remained calm and gentle, saying, “Now that you’ve embarked on the path of immortality, slaying demons is your duty. The disciples of our sect have this awareness and this sword heart, so I believe the Great Dao is within reach. Now that you’ve returned safely, go back to Mu Yong Peak and rest. I understand the hardships you’ve faced. According to Kunwu’s traditions, those disciples who went will be rewarded based on their merits.”

He neither directly answered Yu Xizhi’s point nor denied it.

Yu Xizhi naturally did not press further, instead bowing with the other disciples and calling out, “Farewell, Sect Master!”

Though they were instructed to return to Mu Yong Peak to rest, as soon as Huaiyun left, Taiqing Peak became lively.

Disciples from all the peaks swarmed in, surrounding their fellow disciples, bombarding them with questions.

“Make way, make way! Junior Brother Ning and Junior Brother Zheng need to go to Xuecan Peak for healing—don’t block the path,” Gao Xiude’s voice held a hint of impatience, but more than that, it was self-satisfaction.

“Whatever you need to ask, ask later. The world is big, but their injuries can’t wait!”

In the past, Gao Xiude had his fair share of followers since he was a personal disciple of Xuecan Peak, but now he could clearly feel the added respect in their gazes.

“Senior Brother Gao, you said it yourself. After you take them there, we’ll wait for you outside the hall!” someone joked.

“Senior Brother, you have to tell us all the details and open our eyes!”

“Yeah, yeah! We heard you even went to a secret realm. Is it true? What was it like inside?”

“Did you get any spiritual treasures? Were there really traps every few steps before the treasure? Did any of you get hurt?” a junior sister asked with concern.

“Make sure to let the Master check you over. Don’t damage your spiritual roots.”

Each peak was bustling with activity.

Yu Xizhi intended to invite Yu Si to visit Qianya Peak, but after a moment’s thought, she reconsidered.

As she was pondering, a delicate voice rang out.

“Senior Brother.”

A young girl who had been in the crowd finally stepped forward, giving a graceful bow to Yu Si before turning to Yu Xizhi and Yi Zui.

“Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, thank you for your hard work.”

It was Xia Yiyao.

The girl spoke a few words, then coughed three times.

Cultivators naturally had strong bodies, so even in this cold weather with white peaks and snow swirling in the air, most of them only wore thin winter robes.

Yet, Xia Yiyao had a white fox fur scarf around her neck and a thick cloak over her body.

If not for the sword she carried, she would have looked like an ordinary young lady who rarely ventured outdoors.

“Junior Sister’s health doesn’t seem to have fully recovered,” Yi Zui, who had never been fond of this junior sister, remarked at her sickly appearance but refrained from saying anything harsh.

“In such cold weather, you should rest and recover.”

“I wanted to go with you on the mission to slay the demon beasts, but Master wouldn’t let me,” Xia Yiyao smiled wryly.

Seeing the indifferent look on Yi Zui’s face, she didn’t get upset.

Instead, she smiled again.

“Third Senior Brother, don’t underestimate me. I’ve made quite a bit of progress with my swordsmanship lately.”

The other disciples from Taiqing Peak were eager to join in but held back, knowing that although Yu Xizhi and Yi Zui were still officially personal disciples of Taiqing Peak, they had already moved to Qianya Peak.

This made the situation somewhat delicate.

Now, with Xia Yiyao stepping forward, everyone watched intently, waiting for her to break the ice so they could follow up with questions of their own.

As a result, the area around Xia Yiyao was naturally left clear.

After she finished speaking, Xia Yiyao smiled, and without even removing her cloak, she swiftly drew her  Xiaoyu sword.

The sword energy was crisp and resonant, carving a brilliant arc of light through the main hall of Taiqing Peak.

Cheng Luocen stood at a slight distance, naturally watching the scene unfold.

The old man’s remnant soul noticed Xia Yiyao even earlier and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Huh, that little girl is still alive?”

“What do you mean by that?” Cheng Luocen asked, forgetting what the old man had previously mentioned.

“Didn’t I tell you before? The sword she holds is a famous blade, but also a cursed one,” the remnant soul replied.

“That sword is called Xiaoyu, and it has a twin, pronounced the same but written differently, named Yu. Right now, who knows in which secret realm it’s lying abandoned? As long as she hasn’t found Yu, she will continue to suffer from Xiaoyu’s torment. It’s a pity she refuses to break the sword and still insists on using it. Call it stubbornness or lofty ambition… But what a fine sword!”

At the old man’s last remark, Xia Yiyao’s cloak billowed as she spun gracefully, her clothes tracing an elegant arc.

Her sword light whirled in her hand, slashing dozens of times in an instant.

The sword’s radiance lingered long after, though she had already landed, sheathing her sword, her hair flowing and her smile bright.

From the sword energy, it was clear that though she had been long ill, she had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage!

Ziyuan Peak had the Four Sacred Swords, Liuguang Peak had the One Thought Mystic Talisman Sword, and Xuecan Peak had the Dharma Sword of Deliverance.

Naturally, Taiqing Peak had its own sword too.

“Taiqing Gazing Moon, fourth style,” Yi Zui clapped lightly.

“In just a few days, you’ve refined your skills to such a level, Junior Sister. Congratulations!”

“I just broke through to Foundation Establishment a few days ago, so now I’ve finally reached the stage where I can use the fourth style of Taiqing Gazing Moon!” Xia Yiyao smiled brightly.

Suddenly, Yu Xizhi had a feeling of anticipation, and as expected, Xia Yiyao blinked and cast her gaze towards her.

She asked, “Now that Senior Brother is already at the Golden core stage, and Senior Brother Yi Zui and I are at Foundation Establishment, I wonder what stage Senior Sister has reached…?”

Hearing this, Yu Xizhi wasn’t surprised, as if she had predicted the question.

She wasn’t sure if Xia Yiyao asked out of her own curiosity or on behalf of someone else, but she certainly wasn’t going to answer truthfully.

She simply smiled, “Shouldn’t Junior Sister already know whether or not I’ve broken through?”

Of course, Xia Yiyao had been keeping an eye on Qianya Peak.

While she couldn’t know everything on her own, being in Taiqing Peak’s main hall gave her access to important information.

Though she stayed away from major discussions, no one was more informed about internal affairs.

She knew about the frequent breakthroughs at Qianya Peak in the past six months, whether it was Huang Li’s path of cultivation through farming, Cheng Luocen’s overnight Qi Refining, or Yi Zui’s progress to late-stage Foundation Establishment, even while eating or sleeping.

She was aware of all this immediately.

But about Yu Xizhi’s cultivation, she knew nothing.

If she hadn’t broken through, she would still be at the early Qi Refining stage.

But how could someone at that stage ride a sword through the sky, withstand Peak Master Han’s Four Sacred Swords, and make it through the desert, break into secret realms, and return safely?

“Congratulations to Junior Sister on reaching Foundation Establishment. It seems you’ll soon become True Immortal,” Yu Xizhi said, not particularly sincere but with an increasingly genuine smile.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

As the senior, she had said enough.

She smiled and turned to leave, her sleeves trailing behind her.

“Wait!” Xia Yiyao suddenly called out.

Yu Xizhi turned back with some surprise.

The girl with the white fox fur smiled sweetly, but her words carried a hint of challenge: “Senior Sister, I’ll see you at the Sword Selection Conference.”

Yu Xizhi paused, staring at her.

According to the original storyline, the Xiaoyu sword was supposed to first appear at the Sword Selection Conference.

Swords needed to be nurtured, and Taiqing Gazing Moon was no exception.

As the main peak of Kunwu, Taiqing Peak undoubtedly housed one of the sharpest and most domineering swords in the world, regardless of the current leadership.

The sword energy of Taiqing Gazing Moon needed to be cultivated, hidden, and stored.

When the sword was finally drawn, its intent would be strongest, and with one strike, it would deliver a fatal blow.

Yu Xizhi met Xia Yiyao’s gaze and smiled slightly.

“Junior Sister, your sword is excellent. I hope to still see your  Taiqing Gazing Moon at the Sword Selection Conference in two months.”

Though her words seemed casual, their meaning was deep.

Xia Yiyao felt a momentary unease but quickly convinced herself that Yu Xizhi’s remark was merely a coincidence.

As a direct disciple, Yu Xizhi would naturally have to learn Taiqing Gazing Moon too, but given her lack of skill and low cultivation, she should only know the first style at most.

How could she possibly know the secret of the fourth style? Did someone like Yu Si or Yi Zui tell her?

Yet, the sword techniques of Taiqing Peak were strict secrets, and though disciples could spar with them, they were forbidden from teaching them privately.

Being the direct disciples of Taiqing Peak, they surely wouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake.

Xia Yiyao realized that she had acted impulsively today.

In the past, she had always been the center of attention, and now she couldn’t stand to fade into the background.

The sword technique she had just performed, though seemingly a playful display from a young girl, would even prompt her master and mistress to call her “reckless.”

Yet, that very sword strike still lingered in the minds of the onlookers from the other peaks, drawing their attention back to her again and again.

Naturally, Xia Yiyao was very satisfied.

She had managed to erase the reputation of idling away in Taiqing Peak’s main hall, recovering from illness.

Thus, she used this moment to probe Yu Xizhi and added a hint of challenge to her words.

But unexpectedly, Yu Xizhi’s simple response hit the mark directly.

While Xia Yiyao’s mind was in turmoil, Yu Xizhi smiled again and repeated her earlier words, “See you at the Sword Selection Conference.”

With that, the girl with the unkempt little tree branch in her hair casually rode her sword, taking the disciples of Qianya Peak with her to collect their spiritual treasures from the sword boat.

Content and cheerful, they set off noisily towards Qianya Peak.

“Do we really not need to register at Ziyuan Peak first?”

Huang Li, who had memorized the outer sect rules by heart as a former outer disciple, was still unclear about his current status after joining Qianya Peak.

Out of caution, he had also studied the inner sect rules and now remembered them in great detail.

He reminded them, “The eighteenth rule states that spiritual treasures from secret realms are personal property, but to avoid restrictions or other issues with the treasures, they must be registered at Ziyuan Peak…”

“What restrictions or issues? Do you think our little junior uncle couldn’t tell?” Yi Zui replied carelessly.

“You’re still too young, Old Huang. Do you know how much treasure those greedy elders at Ziyuan Peak squeeze out of the disciples each year?”

Huang Li was shocked.

“In such a reputable sect, they really do this? Doesn’t anyone regulate it?”

“The larger the sect, the more of this there is. With so many layers of bureaucracy, even after three years, the Peak Master or Sect Master might not hear a word of any complaint,” Yi Zui shrugged.

“Just wait and see. Besides the direct disciples, how many of the inner sect disciples will still have all ten of their demon cores by the end?”

“Oh, Old Cheng, your new sword is quite something! You’ve got a good eye!”

Yi Zui, done with that conversation, switched topics and remembered something else.

“By the way, Old Cheng, you still haven’t formally entered Kunwu. Someday I’ll take you to get registered. If you want to change your mind, now’s your last chance, because it’ll be too late after that.”

It was clear that this journey through the desert had solidified Yi Zui’s acceptance of the two new additions, as they had fought and faced death together.

“I have no regrets,” Cheng Luocen calmly replied, riding his sword and gazing at the snow-capped peaks ahead.

The familiar sword energy drew nearer, sharp enough to cut the skin, but he smiled slightly.

“I’ll never regret it.”

…

A few unrestrained voices floated through the air, reaching Xia Yiyao’s ears.

She stood there in a daze, watching them disappear into the distance, a hint of melancholy creeping into her eyes.

Suddenly, she realized that Yu Si hadn’t gone with them.

She turned back, intending to say something, but saw that her senior brother with the simple jade hairpin and ancient sword case had already walked several dozen meters away.

His posture was upright, his black hair flowing like ink as he oversaw the Ziyuan Peak disciples counting the demon cores.

Several junior brothers and sisters surrounded him, methodically organizing everything.

She understood every word they said, but at the same time, she felt as though she didn’t understand at all.

Where was there even the slightest room for her to intervene?