The demonic qi around her surged, and her form transformed into a dim, dark light, chasing rapidly toward the southeast.
Her speed was far beyond that of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.
Clearly, she hadn’t been idle these past few days—her demonic arts had improved again.
—
Chaoyun Peak, Secret Chamber.
Under the dim green light of an Eternal Lamp, Yun Fuling was carefully dripping the last remnants of a dark red, sticky liquid with a cloying, bloody sweetness into a Corpse Puppet’s mouth.
In the puppet’s hollow eye sockets, a ghostly flame flickered.
A shadowy figure appeared silently behind her, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
“Peak Master, the scout reports that Heavenly Sword Peak Master Qin Shuying left the Heavenly Sword Peak half an hour ago, accompanied by an unfamiliar female cultivator. Judging by the direction, she seemed to be heading toward the Mountain Gate. Her movements were quite low-key.”
“Female cultivator?” Yun Fuling’s eyes glinted sharply. “Qin Shuying has always been a lone wolf, uninterested in men, let alone close to any female cultivator. This sudden appearance… could it be related to Shen Mo?”
“Reporting to Peak Master, the distance was too great, and sword qi blocked the view, so we couldn’t see the exact appearance. But the figure was slender, wearing moon-colored robes, with an outstanding aura. Our two A-level scouts only caught a distant glimpse before that madwoman killed them.”
The shadow replied with a pained tone.
She stroked the newly repaired, rotting high-rank Corpse Puppet in front of her.
“Plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell—who else could make her so attentive besides Shen Mo? Once out of Yunyin Mountain, without the Mountain-Protecting Grand Formation and so many eyes, opportunities… are plenty.”
—
Jinyun City—
A mid-sized immortal cultivation city.
Normally, because it was close to the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion, a famous scenic spot, many cultivators passed through, especially female cultivators.
The city’s commerce was thriving, filled with an atmosphere of indulgence and luxury.
However, in recent days, the mood in the city had become unusually panicked.
In front of the City Lord’s Mansion, a jade wall originally covered with various notices and mission boards was now crowded with cultivators, pointing and gossiping at the latest notice, stamped with the City Lord’s official seal and glowing with spiritual power.
The content of the notice was shocking:
[Emergency Wanted Notice]
In the past seven days, within and around Jinyun City, several cases of missing men have occurred in succession.
All the missing persons are young men between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five, with handsome features and possessing Spiritual Roots.
The disappearances were mysterious—no signs of a struggle at the scene, no strong fluctuations of spiritual power left behind, as if they had vanished into thin air.
Upon investigation, the missing include:
- Chen, a Loose Cultivator’s son, age 17, Qi Refining Layer 3, went missing after buying medicine in the Eastern Market;
- Liu, the direct heir of a small clan, age 19, Qi Refining Layer 6, disappeared while staying overnight at an inn;
- A merchant escort from out of town, age 28, Foundation Establishment early stage, vanished while on duty at a wilderness camp outside the city;
… (five missing persons with clear identities are listed)
Even more appalling, last night, within the inner courtyard of the City Lord’s Mansion, the City Lord’s newly acquired Favorite Attendant, Young Master Liu (age 18, extremely handsome, Qi Refining perfect stage), disappeared under heavy guard and array protection!
Only an extremely faint, unidentifiable cold and decaying scent remained in the room!
This series of cases is suspected to be the work of the same group or a single evil cultivator. Their methods are unpredictable, their target is clear—they specifically go after young, handsome men. Their purpose is likely extremely malicious!
A reward is now offered to the entire city and passing cultivators:
Anyone who provides effective clues that help the authorities find the truth and locate the missing persons (especially Young Master Liu) will be rewarded with a thousand Spirit Stones, or equivalent Elixirs and Magical Tools.
Anyone who captures or kills the culprit can make one reasonable request to the City Lord’s Mansion!
Fellow cultivators are urged to stay vigilant, pay attention to suspicious individuals and activities, and report any leads to the City Lord’s Mansion immediately!
Below the notice was the Spiritual Power Imprint of the Jinyun City Lord and the bright red official seal of the mansion.
The onlookers murmured among themselves:
“Another one missing? And the City Lord’s favorite? That villain is too audacious!”
“I heard Young Master Liu was quite favored by the City Lord, with a top-notch appearance and decent cultivation. How could he…”
“This is the ninth? Only targeting handsome young men—could some evil cultivator be using them as cauldrons for their practice?”
“Shh! Keep your voice down! If even the City Lord’s Mansion can’t find any leads and lost a favorite, this culprit must have a big background and deep cultivation!”
“Hurry home and keep your younger brothers and sons safe. These times…”
Panic spread through the city—especially among families with young, handsome men of appropriate age.
The guards and hired cultivators of the City Lord’s Mansion intensified patrols and inspections.
—
Mao hour three quarters, Luoyan Slope.
Morning mist still lingered, wild grass overgrown.
Qin Shuying, dressed in dark green form-fitting clothes, stood with hands behind her back on top of the slope, her posture erect like a lone pine, radiating an air of “keep away.”
Beside her stopped a massive flying boat.
Shen Mo halted several zhang away from her, head lowered in silence.
Ten zhang behind him, the silver-haired girl followed like a shadow.
He had seen flying boats before—there was a small one on Jiaoyue Peak used to transport supplies, so old and worn that the prohibition seals and array patterns were ground flat.
But this one before him was different. The boat’s body was long and slender, its lines sharp.
On both sides were carved wind and thunder patterns, faint electric light flowing.
The prow rose high, like a hawk ready to strike.
“Seen enough?” Qin Shuying’s voice came from behind.
Shen Mo turned around.
“A Wind Thunder Boat. From here to Wuyin City would normally take two days; with this, four hours.”
Qin Shuying had already leaped onto the prow and extended her hand.
Shen Mo understood.
Her palm was dry and warm, and she held tightly.
Shen Mo lightly tapped his toes and jumped up.
She chanted a spell, and the flying boat trembled once before shooting forward.
Wind howled past his ears. Shen Mo staggered a step and grabbed the railing.
Mountains rapidly receded beneath his feet. The clouds were torn open into a long gash. The ground quickly shrank.
Inside the small quiet room on the boat, Qin Shuying tossed Shen Mo a thin booklet.
“This records the detailed background, personality preferences, and a set of interrogation responses for the female cultivator you’re impersonating.”
After saying that, she stepped forward and personally adjusted a few crooked hairpins for him, then dipped her fingertip in some fragrant Lip Balm to touch up his lip shape.
“Remember: speak less, keep your eyes lowered, control your own voice. The Huanyin Jue can only assist. The key is how you regulate your own breath. Your story is: family declined, came to seek relatives but didn’t find them, drifted here. Got it?”
Shen Mo lowered his eyes and nodded.
Qin Shuying gave him one final look. “Before you reach the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion and enter the specific area, try to avoid crowds. If questioned, answer according to what’s in the booklet.”
The flying boat continued speeding southeast.
Shen Mo crouched in a corner of the quiet room, wrapping his cloak tightly around him.
Qin Shuying began to drill into him the rules of the Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion, the contest process, the various factions to watch out for, and the formidable figures that might appear.
“The Ten Thousand Flower Pavilion is not a simple pleasure house. The forces behind it are tangled and deep, connected to multiple immortal sects, noble families, and even secret organizations.”
“The pavilion is full of experts, with strict rules. They especially value face. Entering through the ‘Contending Fragrance’ contest is itself a challenge to the existing order and the forces behind the other candidates. It will inevitably attract scrutiny—even malice.”
“The contest is divided into four trials: Appearance, Art, Charm, and Fate. ‘Appearance’ is posture and bearing—public appearance, preliminary evaluation by guests holding jade tokens. ‘Art’ is a talent showcase—zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, song, dance, etc.—you can choose. ‘Charm’ tests elegance and conversation, adaptability and wit. ‘Fate’ is the most special: sometimes it’s solving a puzzle, sometimes completing a specific task, sometimes even… a dangerous trial. It varies each time, entirely at the mood of the Pavilion Master.”
“Your advantage is this face and your unparalleled constitution,” Qin Shuying paused, her icy eyes scanning him. “Your disadvantages are greater: mediocre skills, shallow experience. So you must make an instant, stunning impression in the first two trials—especially ‘Appearance’—to gain enough support. Otherwise, you won’t stand a chance later.”
Shen Mo silently memorized everything.
Several days of travel, passing several cities without stopping.
Shen Mo kept his face veiled, following Qin Shuying, trying to minimize his presence.
Just before reaching their destination, Qin Shuying received an encrypted message from the Heavenly Sword Peak’s undercover network.
After reading it, a trace of gravity crossed her face.
“Jinyun City has been unstable lately. Several youths of outstanding appearance have gone missing in succession—neither alive nor dead. Even a male favorite of the City Lord wasn’t spared. The City Lord is furious. The city is sealed for a thorough investigation. The atmosphere is tense.”
Shen Mo’s heart jumped. Thinking of his current disguise and gender, he felt a bit more at ease.
“It has nothing to do with us. Just be cautious. Stick close to me, don’t look around, and don’t talk to strangers.”
Shen Mo replied softly, but the string in his heart only tightened further.