Ignoring Zhao Huaixu’s curses, Shen Qi strode out of the dungeon.
The commotion had alerted the guards, allowing him to slip away from Slaughterblade Peak-though he didn’t immediately return to Moonlight Heron.
Standing atop the peak with hands clasped behind his back, Shen Qi gazed toward the Tower of Ten Thousand Scrolls in the distance.
The sandalwood-colored round tower stood quietly on Celestial Blessing Peak, swallowed by the deep night, showing nothing unusual.
Yet according to Zhao Huaixu, the top floor of this tower concealed Xuanling Sect’s greatest treasure-the Cauldron of Creation.
Legend claimed this artifact predated the Mist Plague calamity, capable of stealing human fortunes and usurping heaven’s designs.
In his previous life, Shen Qi had heard rumors no one knew their origin—that the cauldron could help cultivators break through to the Feathering Immortal realm, transcending the cycle of life and death to ascend as immortals.
Whispers spoke of a great conflict over this very treasure.
But at the time, he’d been trapped in the Withering Abyss, and by his escape, only fragmented tales remained-hints that Xuanling Sect had been involved.
Now, piecing together Zhao Huaixu’s words, if the Cauldron truly was Xuanling’s treasure hidden within the tower… it explained the later downfall of the leading Daoist sect.
With spiritual energy scarce in this era and ascension long relegated to myth, the ancient monsters who’d survived the Mist Plague-having witnessed the golden age of cultivation-would inevitably covet such an artifact when facing mortality’s approach.
Yet even if they seized the Cauldron, Shen Qi doubted any could ascend.
Tilting his head toward the crescent moon, breathing air unpolluted by corrosive mists, his lips curved in anticipation.
A century later, the entire Western Territories would be devoured by the Sea of Corrosion.
This place too would become ruins, just as in his past life.
But not yet.
He’d orchestrated this grand performance with meticulous effort.
The curtain wasn’t meant to fall so soon-he wouldn’t allow anyone to dismantle his stage.
Once the play began, only he would decide its finale.
“Find where the Fengdu envoys are hiding. I want their location within fifteen minutes.”
With a flick of his sleeve, Shen Qi released the Crimson Falcon brothers.
Not daring to disobey, the twins multiplied into dozens of clones that scattered into the night.
Soon, Red Wind returned to report: “Traces were detected near a cave by Blazing Salamander Peak. But they’re using some concealment artifact—the birds sense their presence but can’t pinpoint them.”
“Let’s see.”
Following Red Wind toward the isolated southern peak, Shen Qi noted how its remoteness kept most disciples away. Previous searches had turned up empty.
The shallow cave halfway up the mountain couldn’t possibly hide anyone.
As Shen Qi stepped inside, wisps of gray mist seeped from his body, filling the cavern until one section of wall-untouched by the fog-stood out glaringly.
“So here you are. Let’s see what trinket you’re using.”
Pressing a palm toward the anomaly, Shen Qi unleashed a torrent of vile energy— corrupt power that within moments forced a translucent barrier to shimmer into visibility across the stone.
Shen Qi narrowed his eyes and sized up the situation before chuckling, “So it’s the Four Symbols Cube-Chen Po’s men.”
“Powder-Faced Buddha”
Chen Po possessed a magical artifact called the Four Symbols Cube.
This treasure could conceal one’s form and aura.
As long as the barrier remained intact, even a supreme heavenly realm expert would struggle to detect it.
However, this artifact had a major flaw: once activated, the user couldn’t move from their spot.
If the cultivator’s skill wasn’t sufficient to completely erase residual traces of their aura, and if the pursuer happened to be more powerful, they could easily be tracked down.
The two men Chen Po had sent were only at the Forgotten Dust Realm-no match for Shen Qi.
As he spoke, the Four Symbols Cube’s barrier was forcibly torn apart by the Filthy Yuan energy, revealing the figures hidden within.
Two monks in kasayas seemed to have planned this in advance, splitting up and fleeing in opposite directions—
They reacted swiftly, but Shen Qi was even faster.
With a flick of his sleeve, he set up a barrier.
Extending his fingers, the Locked Red Tower rings gleamed under the dim moonlight as countless filthy threads shot out, binding the two men tightly like zongzi, even sealing their mouths shut.
Shen Qi casually waved his hand, and the two were dragged before him.
“Seems you’re not planning to cooperate,” Shen Qi remarked indifferently, pressing a palm lightly against one man’s head.
“Then I’ll have to expend some effort myself.”
Filthy Yuan energy poured into the man’s skull.
His body convulsed violently until Shen Qi finished extracting his memories and withdrew his hand-leaving the man lifeless.
The other monk’s eyes bulged in terror, muffled whimpers escaping his throat.
Shen Qi turned his gaze to him and repeated the process, obtaining the information he sought.
“That old monster Chen Po must be fearing death now,” Shen Qi sneered.
Among the four Ghost Kings, “Powder-Faced Buddha” Chen Po was the most senior and oldest.
He had been among the first to rebel against the Western Realm and establish Fengdu.
Legend said that in the earliest days, Fengdu had a Ghost Emperor who ruled the city, standing as an equal to the Western Realm.
But after the Ghost Emperor’s death, with no one to suppress the various factions, chaos ensued.
The surviving powers became independent regimes, constantly shifting until the present day.
Chen Po was one of the victors who survived that turmoil, clinging to life all these years through secret techniques and treasures seized during the struggle.
In recent years, he had almost completely withdrawn from public view, holed up in the Plague God Temple.
Rumors spread through Fengdu that his lifespan was nearing its end-yet it turned out he’d been scheming in the shadows for the treasures of Xuanling.
Unfortunately for him, he’d crossed paths with Shen Qi.
Others’ misfortune was his delight.
Casually tossing the two corpses into the cave, Shen Qi returned in excellent spirits.
*
Dawn had barely broken when Unfounded Peak buzzed with activity.
Mu Congyun was about to head to Sunview Cliff with Shen Qi for sword practice when they ran into Jin Ni, who came bearing news.
Jin Ni, no longer as despondent as he’d been the past few days, exclaimed excitedly, “Eldest Brother, Jiang Ling has woken up! And the two Fengdu demons have been captured!”
Mu Congyun paused to listen.
“Senior Sister Lingyin from the Punishment Hall said Jiang Ling’s life is no longer in danger. The corrupting power of the Erosion Mist wasn’t as strong as feared-the Sect Master managed to save him.
But remnants of the mist in his meridians can’t be fully purged. He’ll likely never be able to use spiritual energy again, or risk losing his sanity.”
At this, Jin Ni’s smile faded slightly, a sense of mourning the rabbit while fearing for the fox.
Even if the corrupting power wasn’t extreme, cultivators tainted by Erosion Mist were essentially cut off from the Dao.
Mu Congyun’s expression darkened as well, though Shen Qi merely raised an eyebrow.
Quite the survivor.
“Where are the Fengdu demons? Where were they found?” Mu Congyun continued to ask.
“After Jiang Ling woke up, he mentioned the person who attacked him. Based on his description, the elders guessed it must be Fengdu’s ‘Deceitful Emperor.’
Elder Zhuge immediately sent people to search again, and they found the bodies of two Fengdu demons in a cave on Huowen Peak-apparently someone called the ‘Powder-Faced Buddha.’
Both had their souls searched before death, leaving no trace of their spirits.
The elders suspect there was infighting, and the ‘Deceitful Emperor’ silenced them. Now they’re searching for his trail.”
“Given how elusive the enemy is, they may not find him.”
Recalling his encounter with the man in Nanhuai Town, Mu Congyun wasn’t optimistic about the search.
Jin Ni sighed dejectedly.
“From what the elders say, since the killer struck silently on Huowen Peak, he’s probably already left Xuanling.”
-As expected, the search yielded no results.
That same day, Xie Cifeng visited the underground prison. Not long after, Mu Congyun heard that the Fengdu Ghost King, “Crimson-Robed Immortal,” had been released, as it was determined he had no involvement in the infiltration of Xuanling.
Jin Ni muttered in confusion, “How was he proven innocent? Letting him go is like releasing a tiger back into the wild!”
Mu Congyun, however, had some inkling of their master’s reasoning.
The Crimson-Robed Immortal was, after all, a Ghost King.
If Xuanling pushed him too far, it could provoke a full-scale battle and escalate tensions with Fengdu.
With two Fengdu Ghost Kings appearing in Xuanling one after another, it was hard to believe there was no connection.
Releasing the Crimson-Robed Immortal might allow them to trace the Deceitful Emperor’s movements.
He understood this but kept it to himself.
Guan Lingyue, however, said calmly, “Master and the elders must have their reasons for doing this.”
Jin Ni couldn’t fathom what those reasons might be.
Absentmindedly looking up, he suddenly pointed to the western sky and exclaimed, “That Ghost King is out!”
Following his gaze, the group saw a figure soaring through the air, his deep purple robes fluttering in the wind—none other than the “Crimson-Robed Immortal,” Zhao Huaixu.
He clasped his hands in a salute to the Xuanling elders, uttered a casual “Until we meet again,” and then mounted a giant puppet bird, his purple robes billowing with an air of unrestrained elegance.
Jin Ni grumbled, “That demon got off too easy.”
Mu Congyun shook his head and turned away, only to notice Guan Lingyue still staring blankly at the retreating figure.
After a long moment, she finally snapped out of it.
“Was he the Fengdu demon they captured earlier?”
Jin Ni cut in, “Not just any demon-he’s a Ghost King who rules a territory in Fengdu! Called ‘Crimson-Robed Immortal’ Zhao Huaixu!”
“Zhao Huaixu…”
Guan Lingyue murmured the name softly, her hands clenching unconsciously in front of her, though her expression remained composed.
Always reserved, neither Mu Congyun nor Jin Ni noticed her odd behavior.
After chatting briefly, they each went about their tasks.
Guan Lingyue returned to her courtyard in a daze, lost in thought for a long while before finally retrieving a lacquered wooden box from her room.
Inside lay a peony branch, its petals slightly wilted despite preservation spells.
Holding the branch, she recalled the words spoken when it was given to her:
“My name is April. Peonies bloom in April. When they flower next year, I’ll come to Xuanling to find you-let this branch be my promise.”
April-Huaixu.
Guan Lingyue watched for a moment before dispelling the spell preserving the j peony branch.
Withered flowers and those without fate-neither could remain.
*
After the departure of the Scarlet-robed Immortal, the mountain-protecting array was withdrawn, and daily patrols ceased.
The atmosphere in Xuanling seemed to have returned to normal.
Only Mu Congyun, who practiced his sword daily at Sunrise Cliff in the early mornings, often noticed Elder Zhuge from the Punishment Hall heading to the Hall of Dim Stars at dawn and not leaving until nightfall.
He guessed Elder Zhuge must have come for Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling’s parents had already arrived at Xuanling, but since his injuries had just healed and he wasn’t fit for travel, he remained recuperating at Slaughterblade Peak.
It was said that after waking and learning he could no longer use spiritual power, Jiang Ling hadn’t made a fuss.
Instead, he had shed his former domineering and aggressive temperament, comforting Elder Zhuge and his parents instead.
Mu Congyun, Jin Li, and Guan Lingyue had also visited him.
His external wounds had healed quickly, but he looked much thinner, no longer wearing his flamboyant red robes.
The Sunblade Sword, once inseparable from him, was nowhere to be seen.
Mu Congyun felt an indescribable emotion but, lacking eloquence, could only offer the same hollow words of comfort as everyone else.
Upon returning, he spent the entire day practicing his sword at Sunrise Cliff.
Shen Qi, watching from the side, was puzzled.
“Why has Senior Brother been so downcast since returning from Slaughterblade Peak?”
In his view, Jiang Ling had always caused trouble for Mu Congyun.
Now that something had happened to him, shouldn’t he be pleased?
Why did he seem to grieve for the other instead?
If it were his own enemy who had suffered, Shen Qi would probably only regret not being the one to strike the blow.
Mu Congyun sheathed his sword and shook his head without explanation.
Just as they were about to return to Moonlight Hidden Heron, a disciple arrived with a message:
“Eldest Senior Brother, the Sect Master summons you to the Hall of Dim Stars.”
Mu Congyun and Shen Qi went together, only to find Jin Li already there.
Once everyone had gathered, Xie Cifeng spoke.
“The Poison Sect of the Eastern Wastelands possesses a treasure called ‘Sin Cleanser,’ capable of stripping a cultivator of their cultivation.
After several discussions with Elder Zhuge, we’ve decided to send Jiang Ling to the Poison Sect to borrow ‘Sin Cleanser.’ It may have a chance to cleanse the Corrosive Mist from his body.
Coincidentally, your junior sister has been staying at the Poison Sect for months without returning. You will escort Jiang Ling there and bring her back on the way.”