Chapter 7: Silver Sand City

After a long while, Xiang Haikui finally came to terms with the immense psychological gap and said somewhat resentfully, “Shall we set off now?”

“Alright, little sister Haikui,” Bai Xingxian replied, reattaching his “teeth” and pointing north.

“Once we leave this mountain, there’s a small town not far ahead. We can buy tickets there and take a flying boat to Silver Sand City.”

Xiang Haikui was puzzled.

“You’re so fast, why do we need to take a flying boat?”

Usually, Bai Xingxian would take Yin Changli around, flying through the skies and diving into the earth, reaching places like Gale Valley, Phoenix Garden, or the Ten Thousand Bones Cave in just an hour or two.

Bai Xingxian shook his head.

“That’s the power of ‘Chasing the Moon.’ It’s fast, but it has one flaw—it can’t distinguish directions.”

“Chasing the Moon” was the name of Yin Changli’s small black spherical palace.

Xiang Haikui understood that the black sphere was like an engine, and Bai Xingxian was just the steering wheel.

The two left the mountain and entered the city, paying two spiritual beads as an entry fee.

Spiritual beads were the currency here. Xiang Haikui had no money, so Bai Xingxian spat out the beads on the spot, leaving the city guards wide-eyed.

After purchasing the boat tickets, they had lunch at a restaurant near the dock.

Bai Xingxian, who usually didn’t speak, now found it awkward to converse. Sitting face-to-face in silence, Xiang Haikui, while eating her rice, asked, “Xiao Bai, how did you train your Tian Bao Sword?”

“It’s simpler than your Tian Kuang Sword. You just feed it treasures,” Bai Xingxian said with a well-mannered demeanor, swallowing his food and putting down his chopsticks before speaking.

“Once it’s full, it can release a divine ability. Then, you have to feed it again.”

“Moreover, it’s very picky. Once it eats a certain treasure, it won’t eat it again unless it’s particularly delicious.”

Xiang Haikui thought that feeding treasures to the sword was similar to her accumulating madness.

The “divine ability” of the Heavenly Treasure Sword corresponded to the “madness” of the Tian Kuang Sword.

No wonder Yin Changli was always searching for treasures. It wasn’t just a collecting habit; it was to help Bai Xingxian nurture his sword.

Bai Xingxian continued, “It’s one rank higher than yours.”

Xiang Haikui had no idea what her own cultivation level was.

After mortals established their foundation, they entered the first rank and could advance up to the ninth rank.

Her father was now at the ninth rank.

Beyond the ninth rank were the Tribulation Transcendence and Dao Union stages, but those who reached such levels usually secluded themselves from the world.

As for beings like Yin Changli, who weren’t from the human realm, they likely followed a different cultivation system.

Bai Xingxian added, “I’m at the sixth rank.”

Xiang Haikui was surprised. “Then I must already be at the fifth rank?”

She hadn’t expected this.

Most people took at least a hundred years to reach the fifth rank.

Her speed was like riding a rocket.

“Why are you surprised, little sister Haikui?” Bai Xingxian asked, puzzled.

“Every time you sleep, Uncle Yin helps you circulate your energy and clear your meridians.

This speed is actually quite slow.”

Xiang Haikui sighed inwardly. Yin Changli was truly a great boss.

No wonder she felt refreshed after just an hour of sleep, thinking it was the power of pills.

Why did he do it while she was asleep, and why didn’t he tell her?

Xiang Haikui pushed some wicked thoughts out of her mind and asked, “Then why can’t others see our cultivation levels?”

In the central cities, cultivators and ordinary people lived together. Cultivators enjoyed many privileges, and ordinary people held them in great awe.

But as they entered the city, aside from Bai Xingxian attracting the gazes of many young girls, beautiful women, and aunties, they didn’t feel any special treatment.

“Little sister Haikui, you don’t have a spiritual root. The Tian Kuang Sword is your spiritual root and dantian,” Bai Xingxian explained, pointing to the sword case on the table.

“This sword case isolates your aura. If you open it, they’ll sense it.”

Xiang Haikui nodded. She was just curious and didn’t plan to show off.

Bai Xingxian added, “However, ranks don’t mean much for us, the Twelve Divine Sword Masters. Our power is unstable; it depends on whether our swords are well-fed.”

If the sword is well-fed and has a big move, they can cause chaos from the East Sea to the Nine Heavens.

But once the accumulated power is exhausted, they can only lie flat like salted fish.

Xiang Haikui couldn’t help but mutter, “I still can’t understand why the Sword Sect’s founder thought of forging these stupid bitch swords.”

There was a question Bai Xingxian had wanted to ask for a long time: “Little sister Haikui, I understand ‘stupid,’ but what does ‘stupid bitch’ mean?”

Looking at the pure, beautiful face of the young man filled with curiosity, she felt too embarrassed to explain that it was a vulgar term.

“It means someone who is silly and cute,” she evaded.

Bai Xingxian nodded, happy to have learned a new word.

“Actually, I’ve also been curious about that and asked Uncle Yin.”

Xiang Haikui asked, “What did he say?”

Bai Xingxian recalled, “Uncle Yin explained a lot, but in summary, the Sword Sect’s founder forged these twelve ‘stupid bitch’ swords specifically for people like us, the ‘stupid bitch,’ to practice with.”

Xiang Haikui almost choked.

Why, even after being hundreds of thousands of miles away from Yin Changli, did she still have to endure his verbal blows!

On the third day, they boarded the flying boat heading to Silver Sand City.

Waiting for three days was considered short. This flying boat usually waited for a month.

It wasn’t because the distance was far, but because there weren’t many passengers going to Silver Sand. The boat needed enough passengers before setting off.

Just like Xiang Haikui’s previous question: since there was a teleportation array from the Ten Thousand Bones Cave, why not set it up near Silver Sand City?

The conditions didn’t allow it.

The environment around Silver Sand City was too harsh.

The cultivation world her father had transmigrated to had a geographical landscape very similar to Earth, but the overall area was many times larger.

Silver Sand City, located on the border, was somewhat similar to the ancient Yumen Pass in Huaxia, with demons and monsters everywhere outside the pass.

Her father, the city lord, was like a border general.

After two days of flying, the boat entered the desert area.

Just as Silver Sand City came into view, the flying boat suddenly stopped in mid-air.

The boat owner explained that there was a sandstorm ahead, and they couldn’t proceed.

They needed to detour or wait for the sandstorm to pass.

Sandstorms here were terrifying. They blocked spiritual senses, making it impossible to see, and monsters often hid within them, attacking the flying boats.

The passengers, familiar with the local environment, took it in stride and understood.

But after half a day, with the boat still not moving, some grew anxious.

A young man with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes walked out of the cabin and demanded, “How much longer do we have to wait?”

Xiang Haikui, who had been dozing, was sitting on the deck with Bai Xingxian and some others since they hadn’t gotten cabin tickets.

She woke up and glanced at the young man.

The boat owner was very respectful to him.

“Young Master Lu, it’s hard to say. It depends on the weather. If we’re lucky, it might be two or three hours. If not, it could take two or three days.”

“Two or three days?”

Young Master Lu frowned.

“No, we’re not waiting. Let’s go.”

“This…” The boat owner hesitated.

“What’s the matter? With me here, are you afraid of mere sand monsters?”

Young Master Lu said with an unyielding attitude.

“Set off now!”

“Alright,” the boat owner reluctantly agreed.

If the young man hadn’t acted, Xiang Haikui wouldn’t have been able to gauge his cultivation level.

She quietly asked Bai Xingxian, “What’s his cultivation level?”

Bai Xingxian looked up as the young man stepped into the cabin.

“Sixth rank, same as me.”

In her dream, Xiang Haikui had lived in Silver Sand City for half a year. The monsters hiding in the sandstorms could be big or small. If a high-level sand monster came out to hunt, even a seventh-rank cultivator would be its prey.

That’s why her father never allowed her to leave the city casually.

At first, she thought her father was exaggerating, until one day, while chatting with him, someone reported that a young noble from the capital, who had come to train near Silver Sand City, insisted on the flying boat moving forward during a sandstorm and was eaten by a high-level sand monster.

Everyone on the boat perished.

Wait, Xiang Haikui was stunned. Could it be this very boat?

Could it be that her first time on a flying boat was on a doomed vessel?

Xiang Haikui desperately tried to recall.

Ah, Lu Xiqiao, it was him!

But by the time she remembered, the boat had already entered the sandstorm!

Xiang Haikui was truly enlightened. When she read novels, she always thought authors forced characters to act stupidly to push the plot forward.

But in real life, there really were people who had no sense of their own abilities and were eager to court death.

“Xiao Bai, get ready.”

“A sand monster is coming, a high-level one out to hunt. No one on this boat can defeat it. We’ll work together to delay it. My father will arrive soon,” Xiang Haikui said, pulling up her dusty cloak to cover her head.

Her hair, burnt by a lightning ball, had been cut to shoulder length and tied into a bun.

She then took out the Tian Kuang Sword from the sword case and stored the case in her storage ring.

She couldn’t let anyone recognize her, or the person who had killed her wouldn’t easily show themselves later.

This was something Yin Changli had reminded her of many times, fearing she might impulsively draw her sword and fight at the slightest provocation.

As soon as she finished speaking, the flying boat lurched violently in the sandstorm.

In the darkness, sand arrows shot from all directions, hitting the boat’s protective shield.

The shield rippled like water and emitted a buzzing sound.

The boat owner, an experienced man, immediately realized they had encountered a formidable sand monster and inwardly cursed their bad luck.

He shouted, “Everyone, get inside the cabin!”

Those on the deck hurriedly ran into the cabin in panic.

Seeing Bai Xingxian also getting up to go inside, Xiang Haikui grabbed his sleeve.

“Where are you going? Didn’t we agree to work together?”

Bai Xingxian said, “I can’t. In this situation, I can’t use my sword. The sand monster isn’t using magical weapons; it’s harnessing natural forces. My sword won’t affect it and might even help it.”

“My Tian Bao Sword affects the power of magic weapons and artifacts. Its divine ability is to temporarily nullify their spiritual energy.”

Bai Xingxian blinked, as if to say, “Do you understand?”

The sand monster wasn’t using magic weapons, so his sword wouldn’t work on it.

But it would affect the flying boat, possibly disabling its formation array and rendering it useless.

Xiang Haikui was shocked.

“Then aren’t you just setting me up?”

Bai Xingxian quickly explained, “No, the Twelve Divine Swords can’t harm each other. If one sword is damaged, another can heal it.”

Xiang Haikui realized that from now on, she shouldn’t rely too much on Bai Xingxian.

He was just a money bag and a support healer.

She let go of his sleeve and waved him off to hide in the cabin.

At that moment, the sand monster revealed its true form—a giant face made of sand.

Amidst the howling wind, it let out a sinister laugh.

The boat owner’s hired guards took their positions, wielding various magic artifacts, each displaying their skills. But the power of their artifacts, when hitting the sand monster, was like mud sinking into the sea—utterly ineffective.

“We really encountered one,” Lu Xiqiao said, walking out against the flow of people, holding a long sword, looking somewhat excited.

As the boat’s protective shield was about to shatter, Xiang Haikui was gathering her madness.

Lu Xiqiao charged out first, and the boat owner couldn’t stop him.

“Young Master Lu, don’t act rashly! This is a sand—”

Once outside the boat’s protective shield, the wind roared past his ears, and Lu Xiqiao couldn’t hear what the boat owner was shouting.

But his expression immediately changed.

Not only could he not attack, but he also couldn’t control his body.

The sand monster’s face sucked in, and the swirling sand dragged him toward its mouth.

Just as he was about to be swallowed, a black shadow shot past.

It was faster than the force pulling him in, and with a graceful spin, it kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying back.

Lu Xiqiao instantly vomited blood and fell back onto the deck.

His servants rushed forward.

“Young Master!

“Are you alright, Young Master!”

Lu Xiqiao felt like his bones were about to fall apart, vomiting several mouthfuls of blood.

But the boat owner and the others had no time to attend to him. They were focused on the sword cultivator fighting the sand monster.

Wrapped up like a dumpling, it was impossible to tell if it was a man or a woman. The sword in their hand was also strange; if not for the slashing movements, one wouldn’t even recognize them as a sword cultivator.

They weren’t a match for the sand monster, but their speed in dodging and cutting the sand arrows was incredible.

If this person were a man, one could only wonder how many years of being single it took to achieve such hand speed.

“Retreat quickly!” the boat owner ordered, feeling grateful.

Xiang Haikui was only holding it off, so she was relatively relaxed and didn’t feel her speed was anything special.

She just hoped her father would arrive soon.

When her stamina was almost depleted, she finally heard the sound of a whistling arrow.

A light arrow pierced through the sand and wind, dispersing the sand and calming the wind wherever it passed.

Xiang Haikui quickly seized the opportunity to escape, catching up to the flying boat and sneaking back inside.

“The lord of Silver Sand City is here!” someone on the boat shouted.

Cheers of relief erupted.

The flying boat stopped again, and Xiang Haikui, along with everyone else, ran to the deck to look ahead.

They couldn’t see anything, only flickering sparks.

After a while, the sandstorm dispersed, revealing a group of people from Silver Sand City.

Among them was Xiang Tianqing in a crimson dress, along with several guards.

But Xiang Haikui’s eyes were only on her father, Xiang Heng.

“Is everyone alright?” Xiang Heng, dressed in a dashing black outfit, landed on the deck.

Lu Xiqiao struggled to push through the crowd and demanded, “Lord Xiang, how do you govern Silver Sand City!”

Xiang Heng glanced at him.

“Should I resign and ask the emperor to send you to govern it instead?”

Lu Xiqiao was instantly silenced. His family had a Tribulation Transcendence ancestor, so he looked down on everyone. He wanted to leave in a huff, but the movement aggravated his chest injury, causing him to vomit more blood.

Damn it, where was the person who kicked him?!

He looked around but couldn’t find them. They said they saved him, but did they have to kick him so hard?!

Xiang Haikui, who had been in a state of madness, had indeed kicked him hard.

Now, seeing his condition, she thought she should have kicked him even harder to immobilize him!

The flying boat prepared to continue its journey.

The path to Silver Sand City was now clear.

Xiang Heng left a few people on the boat and returned to the city first.

But as he was about to leave, he felt a gaze fixed on him.

Many people looked at him, mostly with curiosity or awe, but this gaze was strange, indescribable.

He stopped and turned to follow the gaze.

He saw a young girl standing on the deck, her hair in a bun, her big eyes filled with tears, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” Xiang Tianqing, seeing him stop, also halted.

Xiang Heng didn’t respond, so Xiang Tianqing followed his gaze and also saw Xiang Haikui.

Xiang Tianqing’s heart skipped a beat.

Could it be her?

Xiang Heng hadn’t seen his daughter in over two hundred years. When he left, she was only nine years old.

Xiang Heng himself was an orphan. Every time he thought of his daughter suffering the same hardships he had endured, his heart ached. How could he forget her appearance?

In fact, it had become even clearer.

He had repeatedly imagined what his daughter would look like grown up, and one of those images closely resembled the girl before him.

Surrounded by people, Xiang Haikui called out, “Dad.”

At her words, everyone from Silver Sand City was stunned.

“Haikui!” Xiang Heng quickly flew over!

A guard beside Xiang Tianqing asked, “Miss, is she the lord’s long-lost second daughter?”

Xiang Heng had already informed everyone about bringing Xiang Haikui back.

Xiang Tianqing remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

Everyone else looked at Xiang Haikui curiously, wondering why she didn’t resemble the lord at all.

On the way back to Silver Sand City.

Xiang Heng still couldn’t believe it, glancing at Xiang Haikui repeatedly.

“How did you get here?”

How was this possible?

“Senior Yin Changli brought me here. He said he sensed you had taken the wrong person and realized he had given you the wrong array, so he brought me here to make amends and sent someone to escort me.”

This was the story they had prepared in advance. Xiang Haikui, fearing Xiang Heng wouldn’t believe her, pointed to Bai Xingxian, who was watching the scenery not far behind them.

“Xiao Bai, show your teeth.”

After seeing the two large golden teeth, Xiang Heng finally believed her.

He then pulled his daughter aside to ask her many questions.

As Xiang Haikui chatted with her father, she felt many spiritual senses scrutinizing her.

She, too, was observing them—focusing specifically on their hands.

The murderer who had crushed her to death had been able to enter the City Lord’s mansion. That meant he was either in Silver Sands City or within the mansion itself.

He could be a guard—or even one of her father’s disciples.

But just looking wouldn’t reveal anything. She needed to find an opportunity to touch them.

When the killer had grabbed her hair bun, his fingers had brushed against her scalp. She remembered the sensation—that hand had been unnaturally cold.

Unforgettable.

After returning to Silver Sands City—

“Xiao Kui, this is the room I prepared for you,” Xiang Heng said.

Having spent so many years in the cultivation world, constantly being called “Father” by Xiang Tianqing, he had long since grown used to the title.

Xiang Haikui had initially called him “Dad” twice, but upon seeing his momentary confusion, she simply switched to calling him “Father” as well.

“Father put in so much effort—I love it, of course!”

In truth, her mood was awful.

She was all too familiar with this room—she had lived in it for half a year in her dreams.

Especially the bathtub behind the screen, prepared for her baths.

Just one glance at it made her shudder.

“What’s wrong?” Xiang Heng noticed her face had gone pale.

“Were you frightened by the sandstorm earlier?”

Even now, Xiang Heng still felt lingering fear. If it hadn’t been for that formidable expert on the ship restraining the sand beast, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

“I’m fine.”

Xiang Haikui propped her sword case against the wall, pretending to be in high spirits as she inspected the bedroom.

When she came back out, she saw her father reaching for the sword case and quickly interrupted, “Father, I’m hungry!”

She had already explained to Xiang Heng that Yin Changli, feeling guilty, had not only brought her here but had also helped her build a foundation.

But the moment her father touched the sword case, he would realize how heavy the Tian Kuang Sword truly was—something no mere Foundation Establishment cultivator could possibly lift.

“What do you like to eat now, Xiao Kui?” Xiang Heng withdrew his hand.

“I’ll have someone prepare a feast to welcome you.”

Xiang Haikui cheerfully took his arm.

“No need for all that trouble.”

In Central Continent, sacrificial rituals and body possession were strictly forbidden, making Xiang Heng’s true identity a secret.

Officially, Haikui was his long-lost daughter.

But Xiang Heng and Xiang Tianqing clearly looked like father and daughter, while she bore no resemblance to either of them.

Not to mention, both of them had rare single spiritual roots and exceptional talent, while Xiang Haikui was an ordinary mortal.

Somehow, a rumor had started that she was just her father’s concubine.

The only reason she was recognized as a daughter was that male cultivators in Central Continent were forbidden from taking mortal women as concubines—to protect the rights of ordinary people.

Xiang Haikui thought for a moment.

“Why don’t you personally make me a bowl of noodles?”

Xiang Heng was slightly taken aback.

“That…”

Xiang Haikui blinked playfully.

“Now that you’re the grand City Lord, is it embarrassing for you to cook?”

“Not at all.”

Xiang Heng wasn’t one to care about face, but he hadn’t stepped into a kitchen in over two hundred years and wasn’t confident in his skills. Still, since his daughter wanted it, he stood up grandly and tapped her nose with a smile.

“Alright! Wait here!”

As soon as he left, Xiang Haikui’s smile faded. She crossed her arms and shivered. The room felt deeply eerie, like a morgue.

Inside the sword case, Tian Kuang began to tremble.

Xiang Haikui sensed it and was surprised. She was clearly feeling afraid—so why was its battle fervor rising?

After pondering for a while, she understood.

The more she cowered, the more Tian Kuang assumed the challenge was great. And yet, she still dared to charge forward head-on—that was what it meant to be “mad.”

Xiang Haikui rolled her eyes.

“Xiao Kui.”

A voice came from outside.

It was Xiang Tianqing.

Xiang Haikui had no reservations and directly opened the door for her.

Xiang Tianqing handed over a bottle of pills with a smile.

“Were you frightened today? I refined some calming medicine for you.”

Xiang Haikui took it, tilted her head back, and swallowed them all in one go.

“Thanks, Sister.”

Xiang Tianqing was momentarily at a loss.

She had expected Haikui to mind suddenly having an older sister and having to share their father’s affection—especially since the two of them weren’t even blood-related.

Regaining her composure, Xiang Tianqing smiled.

“Technically, you should be the older sister, since Father met you first.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Xiang Haikui truly had no idea what Tianqing was fussing over.

And to this day, she still didn’t know whether Tianqing was aware of her true origins.

When she had taken the pill bottle, she had brushed against Tianqing’s hand in passing.

After exchanging pleasantries, silence fell between them.

Before long, Xiang Heng returned, holding a steaming bowl of tomato and egg noodles.

“Tianqing, you’re here too? Want some?”

Seeing them getting along eased some of his worries.

Xiang Tianqing shook her head.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Then I won’t be polite.” Xiang Haikui picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Cultivation realms had few seasonings—just a bit of salt.

The taste wasn’t great.

But as she ate, tears began falling into the soup.

She had always thought of herself as unlucky.

But eating this bowl of noodles, she suddenly felt… fortunate.

Xiang Heng wiped away her tears, avoiding any heartbreaking topics.

Instead, he chuckled, “Why do you still eat like someone’s going to steal your food?”

Xiang Haikui stuck out her tongue.

“Because you make it taste good!”

Xiang Tianqing hesitated several times, wanting to say something.

But in the end, she felt like an outsider and stood up.

“I’ll head back now.”

She lingered outside the door.

In the darkness, a spiritual sense locked onto her—followed by a cold sneer.

“Pathetic mortal.”

Inside the room, Tian Kuang trembled—not in excitement, but in warning.

It was the killer!

Xiang Haikui immediately extended her spiritual sense—but found nothing.

“Xiao Kui?” Xiang Heng noticed her odd expression, his gaze now tinged with concern and scrutiny.

Xiang Haikui composed herself and took out an exorcism pill.

“Father, Senior sent this for you. If you don’t deal with your demonic energy, it will only get worse.”

Xiang Heng was perplexed.

“Why is Senior Yin suddenly being so generous?”

“I asked him that too.” Xiang Haikui took a sip of soup.

“He said he’s never made a mistake before. This is the first time, so he has to fix it properly.”

Xiang Heng sighed.

“That man is eccentric. But next time I see him, I must thank him.”

“I already did,” Xiang Haikui smiled.

“You should focus on preparing for seclusion.”

“I’ll stay with you a while longer first, help you get familiar with Silver Sands City.”

“No need.”

Xiang Haikui pulled Bai Xingxian into the conversation.

“Young Master Bai will be staying in the city for a while. He’ll protect me.”

Then she suddenly remembered something.

“What happened to that classmate you mistakenly brought in?”

Xiang Heng’s expression turned serious.

“I was just about to ask—you and him, what’s your relationship?”

“Nothing.” Xiang Haikui answered without hesitation.

Her crush was her own business—it wasn’t “their” relationship.

Xiang Heng wasn’t convinced.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Well, that young man isn’t a suitable match. He’s meant for greater things…”

That night, she brought a letter to him.

Knocking on the door, she heard a familiar voice.

“Xiang Haikui.”

No extra words. She handed him the letter.

“If you agree, my father will send you to the royal academy tomorrow.”

Jing Ran opened it, scanning it briefly.

He had assumed Xiang Heng would forcefully keep him here. Looks like he had misjudged.

“Thank your father for me.”

Xiang Haikui just stared at him.

And then—she asked something she had always wondered.

“…Was the cartoon on your underwear Donald Duck or Psyduck?”

After saying this, she just wanted to slap herself twice.

But she really wanted to know…