Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Two figures flew in from a distance, descending in front of the grand gate inscribed with the words "Xuanxin Sect."
One of them looked around and saw twelve towering peaks, majestic and steep, with clouds only reaching halfway up the mountains. The sea of clouds rose above, resembling a realm of immortals, prompting him to exclaim, "Indeed, it is magnificent!"
"Hahaha, I fear it still pales in comparison to your sect!" The other person affectionately draped an arm over his shoulder. "A-Lan, come on, Senior Brother Qi and Junior Brother Xie have been eagerly waiting to spar with you since they heard you were coming! They must be waiting for us."
"Is that so?" Shen Jinglan smiled and said, "I didn't realize I had become so famous."
"Of course you're famous! Ever since you defeated Jiang Zixuan of the Holy Fire Pavilion at the Swordsmanship Conference and claimed first place in the Youth Group, there are very few who don't know you," Di Zhen replied.
As they spoke, they began to ascend the steps.
"Who is that, kneeling here?"
Shen Jinglan looked toward a thin figure that remained motionless before the gate.
Dressed in tattered clothes and covered in dust, the child's knees were scraped and stained with blood that seeped into the cracks of the stones, as if he had endured great hardship to climb up from the foot of the mountain.
For an ordinary person who could not use teleportation techniques, reaching the gate of Xuanxin Sect was no easy feat—especially for a child like this.
"Come on, come on," Di Zhen tugged at his sleeve and lowered his voice. "The sect forbids any disciples from taking in this child; it's best if you don't get involved."
"What exactly is going on?"
"This child's sister, Yin Yunxiang, is also a disciple of our sect. A few days ago, she was abducted by the demon Du Feiqing. It's likely that..." he hesitated before continuing, "she was taken as a furnace for alchemy. This isn't the first time Du Feiqing has done such a thing. Several elders from major sects once united to hunt him down, but he possesses exceptional Spatial Techniques and is skilled in various means of escape. Instead of being subdued, he has become even more brazen. Abducting Yin Yunxiang is one of his retaliatory actions; several disciples from other sects have also been taken by him. Rumor has it that the major sects have secretly reached an agreement with that demon: he will no longer target our disciples, and past grievances will be overlooked. This includes your sect, Shattered Star Sect."
"So..." Di Zhen sighed lightly and looked sympathetically at the kneeling child. "What he seeks cannot be managed by anyone."
He quickened his pace and forcibly pulled Shen Jinglan away.
"..."
Shen Jinglan took one last glance at the lonely figure. The usually spirited young Sword Cultivator rarely showed such a serious expression in his eyes.
……
Pine Forest is serene, with the mountain stream gurgling.
The chilling sword energy startled the birds in the forest.
"Good sword, good sword!"
Wei Xuanfeng, while drinking, shouted to Xu Xiaofei, who was executing sword techniques: “Brother Xu, your skills have greatly improved! However, in my opinion, you…”
He provided commentary here and there.
Xu Xiaofei thought for a moment and gestured.
After pondering for a while, he swung his sword again.
The sword trembled slightly, as if merely stirred by a gentle breeze—yet at that moment, an invisible sword energy spiraled out, and in the blink of an eye, a tree large enough to be embraced by a person was severed in half.
Xu Xiaofei exclaimed joyfully: “Thanks to Brother Wei’s guidance, I always gain so much!”
“Hahaha, I’m just someone who has practiced swordsmanship for ten more years than you! The detours you’ve taken, I’ve walked them all before and know where to pay extra attention,” Wei Xuanfeng replied.
Beside him, Rong Han, who was drinking with him, said with a smile: “Although Xu Xiong lacks experience, his talent in swordsmanship is quite rare. Especially the move you just developed; it’s simply brilliant! Hey, Brother Wei,” he nudged Wei Xuanfeng with his elbow, “who knows, in the next Swordsmanship Conference, we might have to compete against Xu Xiong.”
“Next session?” Wei Xuanfeng took a bite of roasted chicken and gulped down some wine, grunting, “Do you believe I can win first place in the Youth Group this time? Why would I need to participate in some so-called next session?”
“Though Brother Wei’s sword skills are impressive, I’m afraid he may not be a match for Xu Brother’s senior brother Han Yue,” Rong Han remarked.
“Han Yue, huh…” Surprisingly, the proud Wei Xuanfeng nodded and agreed, “He is indeed a formidable opponent. I’ve heard that his self-created Azure Lotus Sword Technique has nearly reached the level of challenging beyond one’s rank.”
He then mysteriously said to Xu Xiaofei: “Brother Xu, my good brother, most of your sword techniques are taught by Han Yue, so you must be quite familiar with him. What new moves has he been studying lately? Can you let me take a look? Or perhaps you could take me to where he practices swords for a sneak peek?”
Xu Xiaofei knew he was joking and laughed, "This might not be good, right? If the Senior Brother finds out, he might break my legs."
He sheathed his sword, sat down opposite the two, and poured himself a cup of wine.
Although he had been diligently practicing recently, he still came out readily when these two invited him for drinks. Engaging in discussions and sparring with friends was far more beneficial than just staying cooped up in the sect practicing swordplay.
After drinking for a while and discussing insights on sword techniques, Rong Han suddenly said, "Where is Lu Zhi Feng? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"
"You invited him?" Wei Xuanfeng asked.
"Yes, I haven't seen him in a long time; the last time was over a year ago. He promised to bring wine for our gathering during next year's Double Ninth Festival and to spar with everyone."
"A year ago?" Wei Xuanfeng frowned. "He probably forgot all about it! To be honest, I've always thought that guy is quite mysterious. His background is unclear, and his whereabouts are unpredictable. Who knows what he's up to?"
"Alright," Rong Han raised his cup. "Let's not talk about him anymore; let's drink."
The three good friends gradually shifted their conversation from sword techniques to recent happenings in the cultivation world.
Before they knew it, the sun was setting, and the wine jar was completely empty, scattered across the ground.
"It's getting late; let's go," Rong Han said.
"…Hmm? What's the rush? Let's drink more…" Wei Xuanfeng slurred.
Rong Han glanced at him helplessly.
"Let's take this guy back to the inn first. A lot of people have gone missing around here lately, and no one knows where they went. Leaving him here alone might get him eaten by wild wolves."
Xu Xiaofei nodded. The two of them supported the dazed Wei Xuanfeng on either side.
"Today was really enjoyable, hahaha! Brother Xu, I didn't expect your drinking capacity to be quite good too. Unfortunately, you're still a bit worse than me… *hic*," Wei Xuanfeng boasted cheerfully.
The remaining two exchanged a smile.
This guy always drank quickly and got drunk just as fast, yet he thought he could handle a thousand cups.
After walking for a while, Xu Xiaofei suddenly said, "There's a child under that tree ahead."
Indeed, there was a lonely child curled up like a cat at the base of the large tree, peering at them with frightened eyes.
"What are you doing here all alone? Where are your parents?" Rong Han asked gently.
The child first trembled in fear, then shook his head in panic, "They... they..."
"Don't worry, take your time."
His soft words finally calmed the child down a little.
"They... they were eaten by a monster!" The child burst into tears, "A huge... big wolf with a horn on its forehead! It swallowed Grandma in one bite! Father told me to run quickly and took a big axe to fight the wolf... sniff sniff..."
The tragic situation described by the child surprised even Wei Xuanfeng, and the three looked at each other in shock.
"A wolf with a horn on its forehead... it must be the Snow Silver Crown Wolf?" Xu Xiaofei suggested.
"I think so too. Could the recent missing persons cases be related to this demon wolf?" Rong Han said. "If it's the Snow Silver Crown Wolf, the three of us can handle it."
"Of course! There's no time to waste; we should go eliminate this threat for the people right now!" Wei Xuanfeng quickly added, then asked the child, "Hey kid, where's your home? Lead us there. We'll kill that demon wolf and avenge your parents. Hey, stop crying; do you hear me?"
Rong Han shot him a glare, bent down, and patted the child's back, soothing him for quite some time before the child finally calmed down.
The child stopped crying and wiped his eyes, saying, "I'll take you there right now. Big brothers, you must help me avenge my parents."
In his words was a hint of determination.
The child led the way, and they followed behind.
The surroundings had turned completely dark. This child, perhaps having lived in the mountains for a long time, was not afraid at all, moving through the forested valleys with agility like a monkey.
After walking for quite a while, they entered an open valley and stopped in front of a giant rock shaped like a reclining tiger.
"Can't go on? Or are you lost?" Rong Han asked.
"I... I need to think..." the child replied.
He climbed up the giant rock using both hands and feet, seemingly trying to get a better view to determine the direction.
"Think carefully."
Before Rong Han could finish his sentence, the ground beneath their feet suddenly shook violently and collapsed.
The child stood on the giant rock watching them, a mysterious smile appearing in his pitch-black eyes.
This expression did not resemble that of a child at all.
Is it a trap?
Just as they were about to use Spatial Technique to fly up, the "child" stomped his foot, unknowingly triggering some mechanism, causing a net-like magical artifact to descend and intercept them again.
A force pulled from below, and the three of them fell into the endless darkness.
When Xu Xiaofei woke up, he found himself lying in a dimly lit Stone Chamber, his entire body feeling as if it had been severely beaten and aching all over.
After the ground collapsed, it seemed he had fallen for a long time before landing heavily and losing consciousness.
This place must be deep underground.
Wei Xuanfeng and Rong Han were still fast asleep, sprawled out beside him. Xu Xiaofei shook them awake one by one.
"Where are we?" Rong Han asked as he woke up.
Xu Xiaofei shook his head; he had no idea.
Wei Xuanfeng sniffed the air and said, "Do you smell something fragrant? This scent is a bit strange."
"What's strange about it?" Xu Xiaofei asked.
There was indeed a faint sweet aroma in the air that he could detect, but he couldn't pinpoint its source.
"Can't you tell what this is?" Wei Xuanfeng suddenly poked Rong Han with a mischievous grin and said, "This guy is such a novice; he really doesn't understand anything."
"He really is," Rong Han agreed. "We need to be careful around him in the future so we don't lead him astray."
"Hey, what are you guys whispering about? I understand just fine!" Xu Xiaofei protested indignantly.
As he spoke, a distant moan echoed from somewhere, the source unknown.
It sounded both pained and pleasurable.
He paused for a moment, and a flush crept onto his fair face as he finally grasped their meaning.
"Well, let's not make fun of Xu Brother," Rong Han said. "That person tricked us here while pretending to be a child; they must have some purpose. If we keep being careless, we might end up as their furnace."
"Furnace..." Wei Xuanfeng grimaced at the thought.
They looked around.
The Stone Chamber was empty, devoid of any furnishings.
There was no door, just an iron fence surrounding what should have been the entrance, resembling a prison.
Looking out through the bars, it seemed there were quite a few such cells in the dim hall, with shadowy figures of people trapped inside.
"Those locked up here might be the recently missing individuals," Rong Han said.
"Can we break out?" Wei Xuanfeng attempted to strike the iron bars with his palm. A thin golden light emerged, blocking his hand surrounded by sword energy.
He tried several more times but still could not break through the golden light.
"This barrier is incredibly tough!"
"It’s probably not that the barrier is tough; it’s that our spiritual power has been suppressed," Rong Han replied.
He raised his hand and summoned a Flame.
The Azure Light flame flickered in his palm for a moment before extinguishing silently.
"My spiritual power has also become sluggish; I can't even send out my Divine Consciousness to probe far," Xu Xiaofei added.
It seemed they were enveloped by a formation that suppressed spiritual power.
After discussing for a while, they saw a woman and two men gracefully enter the Prison Hall.
The woman was charming, while the men were imposing, dressed in Crimson Skirts and black clothing respectively.
They drove three unsteady-footed men into one of the dozens of cells and reestablished the barrier on the iron bars.
The men they had driven in wore soft white garments that did not match their ordinary appearances. Upon closer inspection, their hands and feet were rough, as if accustomed to farm work.
"It seems these are the missing Farmers from nearby," Rong Han whispered.
Seeing their pale yellow skin and unsteady feet, if they were to be picked a few more times, they would surely meet their end.
"What are those patterns on their belts?" Xu Xiaofei strained to identify. "A kind of flower, like... a begonia?"
"Begonia? What? It’s him!" Rong Han exclaimed, suddenly realizing. "I've heard people mention this before; it's the mark of the infamous flower thief Du Shaoqing! He hasn't shown his face in years; you probably don't know him. If this is truly his Secret Lair, things will be difficult. He was able to withstand the siege of several elders back then; we are no match for him."
"Then let's find a chance to escape. After we get out, we can find help to rescue these people," Xu Xiaofei suggested.
"Alright, let's proceed as we discussed earlier," Rong Han agreed.
Both of them looked towards Wei Xuanfeng.
"Bang bang, bang bang."
The iron bars were struck forcefully.
The three individuals approached them, and the woman coldly said, "What do you want? Stay put and don't even think about escaping."
Rong Han nervously replied, "Someone here has fallen ill; we request to change rooms!"
"Yes, yes," Xu Xiaofei chimed in. "Change places; we don’t want to catch that illness!"
What?
The woman peered through the bars and indeed saw a person curled up on the ground with their back to her, occasionally convulsing, with a pool of vomit beside them. She frowned slightly; there was a foul odor emanating from the person lying on the ground.
She hesitated for a moment and then glanced at the two who were pressed tightly against the bars.
Their faces were quite good-looking, with fair skin and well-proportioned figures; they were top-quality goods. Much better than those rough-handed farmers.
It would indeed be a pity if they caught that illness here.
"Alright, let me see." She took off the token hanging at her waist, embedded it into the mechanism on the gate, and opened the door.
Xu Xiaofei and Wei Xuanfeng both secretly flashed a look of joy in their eyes.
The "slumped on the ground" Wei Xuanfeng sprang to his feet.
In the blink of an eye, they had subdued the three individuals. They then transformed into their likenesses.
Although spiritual energy was not flowing smoothly underground, they could still barely perform simple transformation spells.
"Why do I have to disguise myself as this girl?" Xu Xiaofei complained.
"Because you have the thinnest skin," Wei Xuanfeng replied confidently, "you should be the one to practice more."
"That's exactly right," Lian Ronghan added.
They locked the three unconscious individuals in the prison and swaggered out.
Du Shaoqing's Underground Lair seemed quite expansive. Upon exiting the main hall, they saw three corridors leading in different directions.
Every so often along the corridor, there was a long-lasting lamp embedded in the wall.
As they walked, their shadows gradually lengthened and then slowly shortened.
Since Divine Consciousness could not probe, they could only feel their way to the exit as they walked.
Fortunately, although they encountered some people dressed in similar attire coming and going, none paid them any particular attention.
"Hey, how did you guys end up here?"
Suddenly, someone called out to them.
Looking back, they found it was the "child" who had tricked them.
"Didn't the master send you to move the Cold Jade Couch? Why are you taking so long?" the child said again.
"Yes, we will go move it now," Xu Xiaofei replied.
"Wait, where are you going? Don't you remember where the Cold Jade Couch is placed?" the child said helplessly. "What a bunch of fools, follow me and don't wander off!"
Behind him, the three exchanged glances and unanimously decided to follow him.
If they made a move in the corridor, they might be seen by others passing by, which would only cause trouble. It would be safer to act once they were inside the room.
The child navigated through the maze-like Underground Lair as if he were walking on familiar ground.
Seeing that they were heading into a more secluded area, Rong Han quietly said to Xu Xiaofei, "Should we take care of him here..."
Xu Xiaofei nodded slightly in agreement.
The "child" called out loudly, "What are you dawdling at the back for? Hurry up! We're almost there; do you want me to go move the Cold Jade Couch myself?"
The three had no choice but to keep up.
Since they were close to their destination, it would not be too late to act once they entered the room.
The child led them to a tightly closed stone door.
"You three, why are you disguised as my subordinates?"
A voice suddenly drifted out from behind the stone door.
—It immediately startled them!
This "child" actually brought them to where Du Feiqing is?
"Reporting to the master, they are the ones I captured. Earlier, they knocked out Yao Huang and others and escaped. If I hadn't run into them, they would have already fled!" The "child" quickly reported.
The three turned to run, but a strong pulling force suddenly came, dragging them in uncontrollably.
As soon as they fell into the inner room, the sweet fragrance that had been faintly present suddenly became intense.
A delicate purple bronze incense burner was emitting curling smoke. This sweet scent was coming from the burner.
The blazing Whale Fat Candle illuminated the room brightly and splendidly. A large piece of colorful Fur was spread across the floor, its dense fluff reaching up to their ankles.
However, no matter how luxurious the decorations were, they could not compare to the person sitting on the edge of the bed.
The snow-white robe was not wrapped tightly; it was loosely tied at the waist with a single strap, openly revealing his chest.
The exposed chest was even whiter than the robe—yet for some reason, it faintly showed a delicate rosy hue, with a layer of thin sweat glistening on top.
That person looked over each of them carefully.
"To think you are all Cultivators, not bad. I suppose you can hold out a little longer."
His voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of seduction.
When he cast a glance at them, their hearts inexplicably began to race. Xu Xiaofei turned his eyes away, not daring to meet his gaze again.
Before he finished speaking, the three of them drew their swords in unison and charged forward.
They had little time left!
That person let out a low laugh and did not even bother to dodge.
The gap in strength between them did not seem too significant at first. However, within this formation that restricted spiritual power, all three of their abilities were weakened, while this person was the master of the formation and remained completely unaffected. As a result, the disparity became quite pronounced.
Before long, the Flying Sword clattered to the ground.
They also fell heavily to the ground, their bones cracking in protest. Although they landed on soft Fur, it did little to mitigate the force of the impact.
Xu Xiaofei struggled to get up, and as he did, he saw that person standing right in front of him, extending a hand as white as jade.
His jaw tightened as the person lifted his chin.
"You really look like," the person gazed at his face and said softly, "the one who gave me a Sword Manual back in the day. It's a pity I'm not skilled at swordsmanship... Well, just for your face, I will treat you a bit better. Later, I will let you enjoy some more."
He smiled lightly, a smile that was captivating and enchanting.
Xu Xiaofei's transformation technique had quietly failed when he made his move just now.
"…"
Xu Xiaofei gathered his energy into a blade again and thrust it towards the person's heart.
This strike was also extremely swift.
Wei Xuanfeng and the others saw him attack and quickly moved to provide cover.
The person didn't even glance at them; with a few casual moves, he knocked all three back down to the ground.
He grabbed Xu Xiaofei by the chin and stuffed a crimson pill into his mouth.
"Spit it out quickly!" Wei Xuanfeng urged.
Xu Xiaofei lowered his head to vomit but nothing came out. The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth and had already turned into liquid flowing down his throat.
"I have this Blissful Pill, fragrant and sweet, allowing one to taste the blissful flavor. Others may ask for it, but they cannot obtain it," the person laughed. "If you want him to spit it out, how could he bear to do that?"
He gazed at Xu Xiaofei with a glimmer in his eyes: "Are you...?"
Xu Xiaofei gritted her teeth and remained silent.
...
Inside the Absolute Sect Branch.
Shen Jinglan was looking at a White Jade Dove perched on the back of his hand, with a brass tube tied to its leg. The dove's eyes sparkled like two rubies.
He sniffed the lingering scent on the dove and said, "Indeed, it's a letter sent by Yin."
That faint, enticing sweetness was something he could recognize, no matter how subtle.
"Is that so?" Spirit Sword Destiny remarked. "After all these years, he still remembers this promise."
"Haven't we also not forgotten?" Shen Jinglan sighed lightly. "He has ultimately come to this point. Over the years, he hasn't asked us for anything else; at least we should acknowledge our acquaintance. Yan, go see him off."
"Yes, Master," Spirit Sword Destiny replied.
Comment 0 Comment Count