In front of the courtyard gate, Feng Zizhang scratched his neck and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Yizheng asked.
“The back of my neck feels uncomfortable,” Feng Zizhang reached to scratch it. Jiang Yizheng pulled open his collar to look and said puzzled, “There’s nothing there.”
Chu Jun was holding Ning Xiu in the courtyard looking at newly bloomed small flowers. Big Yellow had returned to his original form and was lying under the window sunbathing. Suddenly it raised its head and barked once, then stood up and walked towards Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng, anxiously wagging his tail, “Woof woof woof!”
“Ah~” Ning Xiu turned his head to look at Big Yellow, a head full of little question marks.
Chu Jun sensed something was amiss and walked over carrying Ning Xiu, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Yizheng pointed at Feng Zizhang’s neck, “Zizhang says his neck is uncomfortable.”
Feng Zizhang waved his hand, “It’s nothing, maybe a small bug crawled in when I was picking fruit earlier.”
“Woof!” Big Yellow barked once, anxiously wanting to pounce on Feng Zizhang, yet also seeming to fear something.
This dog usually wasn’t very close to Chu Jun, mostly cuddling with Ning Xiu, Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng, but when something happened he knew who was most useful to seek help from. He bit Chu Jun’s sleeve and pulled hard.
“Don’t move,” Chu Jun made a hand seal and pressed it on Feng Zizhang’s brow. A faint red light flashed, and a green mark appeared on Feng Zizhang’s neck, twisting and spreading, about to connect from front to back.
“Woof! Woof!” Big Yellow arched his back and started baring his teeth with bristling fur.
“What the hell is this thing!” Jiang Yizheng’s face showed terror.
Chu Jun joined two fingers and placed them on the side of Feng Zizhang’s neck. With a gentle pinch, he pulled the green mark out of Feng Zizhang’s neck. The mark instantly turned into a green light about to drill into Ning Xiu’s brow. Chu Jun flicked his sleeve to block the green light. Before Chu Jun could act, Big Yellow suddenly pounced up, caught the green light in his mouth, and brought it to show Chu Jun.
That wisp of green light struggled like a living creature in Big Yellow’s mouth, but couldn’t escape. Chu Jun took out a transparent glass bottle from his sleeve, “Put it in here.”
Big Yellow moved close to the bottle and spat. The green light was spat into the bottle, let out a painful howl, then turned into an insect the size of a fingernail and collapsed.
Chu Jun sealed the bottle mouth and looked towards Jiang Yizheng.
Jiang Yizheng’s face turned pale as she covered the back of her neck with her hand, saying tearfully, “I don’t have one on my neck too, do I?”
Chu Jun frowned slightly.
Jiang Yizheng’s legs weakened a bit, “Has it… has it connected?”
Seeing she was scared to tears, Chu Jun drew a symbol on her brow and patted it, saying, “Zizhang’s constitution is special, that green light couldn’t spread in his body. There’s no trace of green light in your body. To be safe, don’t use spiritual power.”
Jiang Yizheng nodded repeatedly. Feng Zizhang supported her and asked, “Venerable, what exactly is this thing?”
Chu Jun looked at the insect in the glass bottle, “It looks like a Gu.”
Big Yellow moved close to Jiang Yizheng, sniffed hard with his nose, and barked puzzled, “Woof?”
“Where did you go just now? Who did you meet?” Chu Jun asked them.
“Just now, Xiao Jiang and I went to pick wild fruits by the stream and met Chu Xin,” Feng Zizhang recalled what Chu Xin had said, still feeling depressed.
Chu Jun nodded and said to the two of them. “Stay by Big Yellow’s side and don’t go out. Wait for me to return.”
Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng instantly relaxed, obediently nodding. Chu Jun disappeared from the spot in an instant.
At Ruogu Peak of the Wushi Sect.
Hao Zheng and Shang Nuanwei were playing chess.
“Chu Linyuan said none of this year’s selected disciples will enter Wanxuan Academy. What a pity, I had my eye on a few promising ones,” Shang Nuanwei rested her chin on her hand and casually placed a chess piece. “Senior Brother, how much longer do we have to stay at Wushi Sect?”
“We’ll leave tomorrow,” Hao Zheng placed a piece.
Shang Nuanwei immediately perked up, “Which sect are we going to next? Is it time to go to Jiting Sect?”
Hao Zheng calmly glanced at her, “Zen Master Mingsang is an enlightened monk. You’re almost a thousand years old, stop messing with the younger generation.”
Shang Nuanwei said carelessly. “Chu Jun is older than me, but he ignores me.”
Hao Zheng shook his head helplessly.
At this moment, a young disciple pushed open the door, bowed and said, “Dean Hao, Venerable Jinghe has arrived.”
Shang Nuanwei hurriedly sat up straight and smoothed her hair, making Hao Zheng’s eye twitch.
Then they saw the otherworldly Venerable Jinghe walk in with a child in his arms.
The expectant expression on Shang Nuanwei’s face instantly cracked.
A child?
A child!
How could this cold, unfeeling ice block Chu Jun be carrying a child!?
Shang Nuanwei felt it would have been more realistic if he was carrying a bloody human head rather than a child. Her almond eyes widened as she stared at the child in Chu Jun’s arms. The snow-white, rosy little baby also curiously stared back at her, blinked, and smiled at her.
Shang Nuanwei covered her mouth with her hand. So… so cute.
“Finally decided to come out?” Hao Zheng ushered him to the seat of honor, pretending to casually glance at the little baby in Chu Jun’s arms.
Ning Xiu stared at his goatee for a moment, then smiled with crinkled eyes. “Ah~”
“Oh my, come, let uncle hold you,” Hao Zheng reached out to Ning Xiu.
Ning Xiu’s attention was drawn to his beard and started to fidget in Chu Jun’s arms, so Chu Jun handed him to Hao Zheng.
Shang Nuanwei watched longingly from the side. She also wanted to hold the soft, milk-scented baby.
Hao Zheng held Ning Xiu and stroked his little arm, “Why is this child’s soul so unstable?”
It looked like his soul was about to scatter.
“Too many destiny tribulations,” Chu Jun said. “We’re trying to find a solution.”
“We?” Hao Zheng raised an eyebrow. Beside him, Shang Nuanwei, who had been longingly watching Ning Xiu, also perked up her ears.
“Mm.” Chu Jun paused, “The child has another father.”
Shang Nuanwei’s eyes instantly widened.
Hao Zheng, however, stroked his beard meaningfully, “The one who underwent tribulation at Yijian Peak a few days ago?”
Chu Jun gave him a cool glance.
Hao Zheng held Ning Xiu and stared at him. “He’d been running amok in the seventeen states for so many years without issue, I can’t keep watch all the time.”
Who knew that in one moment of inattention, this troublemaker nearly punched a hole in the sky.
Chu Jun placed a small glass bottle on the table.
Hao Zheng and Shang Nuanwei, who had been eagerly playing with the child, immediately became serious.
“This thing looks a bit evil,” Shang Nuanwei said, crossing her arms as she stood at the table, staring at the small green worm inside for a while. “It looks a bit like a gu worm, but something feels off.”
Hao Zheng picked up the bottle and looked at it closely, “Where did you find this thing?”
“Pulled it off from a child this morning,” Chu Jun said. “The other child had no traces, but was also frightened.”
Hao Zheng and Shang Nuanwei’s expressions became a bit strange. Hao Zheng asked, “How many children do you have exactly?”
“Three,” Chu Jun replied calmly.
Hao Zheng stroked his beard, Shang Nuanwei gritted her teeth, muttering softly, “Such fertility…”
“A few days ago when you fought with someone in the void, could this worm have been left by your opponent?” Hao Zheng said while releasing a thread of spiritual power into the bottle. The previously listless small worm instantly devoured that thread of spiritual power and became energetic.
“It’s the same person,” Chu Jun said. “I’ve fought him twice, and both times he escaped.”
Hao Zheng speculated, “To escape from your hands, could his cultivation be above Hinayana?”
Chu Jun shook his head, “I can’t gauge his cultivation level.”
Hearing this, Hao Zheng’s expression became grave.
“This gu worm seems to be able to absorb cultivators’ spiritual power,” Shang Nuanwei opened the bottle cap and poured out the small worm. It instantly turned into a green light trying to fly towards her brow, but she easily pinched it between her fingers. “Quite vicious.”
As she spoke, a thin blade appeared in her hand. She casually took a tea cup lid from nearby and began dissecting the small green worm, marveling as she cut, “It is indeed a gu worm raised with human blood. There are several enchantment arrays inside. The moment it enters a human body, it would fuse with the host. Even a Hinayana cultivator might not detect anything unusual… You were actually able to pull it out at the right moment.”
“That child has a special constitution,” Chu Jun said. “I didn’t notice at first either. It was the dog at home who discovered it.”
Shang Nuanwei: “…You even have a dog?”
“My son raised it,” Chu Jun said calmly.
Shang Nuanwei: “……” What’s there to be proud of when you’re not even as useful as a dog despite being a Hinayana cultivator!
Shang Nuanwei finished dissecting the worm thoroughly and said, “This worm carries enchantment arrays that spread through a cultivator’s meridians and sea of consciousness. It’s very convenient for extracting spiritual power or planting demonic thoughts in a cultivator’s body. It might even be possible to turn someone into a puppet. It’s truly vicious.”
“If this thing becomes one with a cultivator, is there a way to extract it?” Chu Jun asked.
“Theoretically, of course. What can enter can also exit, but I’d need to study it carefully back at Wanxuan Academy,” Shang Nuanwei copied down the visible enchantment arrays and poured the worm back into the glass bottle. “May I borrow it for a few days?”
“As you wish,” Chu Jun nodded.
Having encountered something interesting, Shang Nuanwei instantly forgot about her former pursuit of Venerable Jinghe and her upcoming pursuit of Zen Master Mingsang, hugging the bottle as she went to a corner to study the enchantment arrays.
Hao Zheng shook his head helplessly, “So you just came here to make my junior sister work.”
Chu Jun said seriously, “Headmaster Shang is intelligent.”
Hao Zheng gave him a teasing look, then became serious, “But this thing is hard to detect. If it spreads throughout the seventeen states, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
Hao Zheng had led Wanxuan Academy for nearly a thousand years. The academy had produced many sect leaders and guest elders, while the rest were young disciples with excellent aptitudes, most of whom were carefully nurtured juniors from major sects and families. If anything happened to any of them, it would be a major incident, so he couldn’t help but be concerned.
He stared at Chu Jun carefully for a while, “You’ve cultivated the Path of Purity for five hundred years and still haven’t eliminated that heart demon?”
Chu Jun shook his head, “I’ve suppressed most of it. To completely eliminate it, I’m afraid I’ll have to wait until I reach the Tribulation Crossing and Heart Demon Slaying realm.”
Hao Zheng sighed, stroking Ning Xiu’s little head, “Well, at least you two have finally consummated your relationship.”
“Not yet,” Chu Jun coughed lightly.
Hao Zheng stroked his beard, “You have three children and still haven’t become Dao companions?”
Chu Jun silently averted his gaze.
Hao Zheng said meaningfully, “It’s fortunate that he cultivates the Heartless Path. Otherwise, by the time you came out of your five hundred years of seclusion, he might have had great-grandchildren.”
Chu Jun reached out to hold his son, “He’s only five months old.”
Implying that great-grandchildren were still premature.
Hao Zheng: “…How impressive.”
While Chu Jun and Hao Zheng were talking, Shang Nuanwei was studying the enchantment arrays. Suddenly, she stood up and drew an array in mid-air. The array suddenly expanded, occupying half the room, “The design of this enchantment array is very interesting. Perhaps we can use it to trace back to the person controlling the array.”
Hao Zheng stood up to examine it carefully, saying, “Judging by the array’s formation, this person has a talent for arrays, but seems to be self-taught. Some shortcomings are hard to overcome.”
Perhaps due to being a sect leader for so long, Hao Zheng unconsciously began to analyze, “It’s on par with Ning Xinyuan from back then.”
Speaking of his talented disciple who had perished early, Hao Zheng couldn’t help but sigh, “What a pity.”
Perhaps because Ning Xinyuan had been too brilliant and died too young, even after five hundred years, many people still couldn’t help feeling sad when remembering him.
Shang Nuanwei said, “Why don’t we try now? If we can find this person, we can prevent future problems.”
Hao Zheng and Chu Jun exchanged a glance, “Alright.”
The reason Shang Nuanwei dared to do this was firstly because she was already at the Fusion stage, and secondly because both Hao Zheng and Chu Jun were Hinayana cultivators. If the three of them joined forces and still couldn’t handle it—well, that probability was truly too small.
So Shang Nuanwei took charge of the array, with Chu Jun and Hao Zheng protecting her. She infused a considerable amount of spiritual power into it, her divine consciousness following the enchantment array across Jiuzhou, and countless mountains, intending to ferret out the person behind the array. After a moment, she let out a surprised “Huh.”
“What is it?” Hao Zheng asked.
Shang Nuanwei frowned, “How strange. After going around in so many circles, it finally landed on a Foundation Establishment peak disciple in Wushi Sect.”
Chu Jun said, “Is this person called Chu Xin?”
“How did you know?” Shang Nuanwei was surprised.
Chu Jun slowly furrowed his brow.
At the main peak of Wushi Sect.
Chu Linyuan, seeing the sudden arrival of three powerful cultivators, felt his heart tremble, “Greetings, Venerable, Dean Hao, Headmaster Shang.”
Although he was already the leader of a sect, faced with Hao Zheng and Shang Nuanwei who had taught him, he still had to properly perform a disciple’s salute. This was even more true for Venerable Jinghe.
After Shang Nuanwei explained their purpose, Chu Linyuan was stunned for a moment, “Chu Xin? Indeed, there is such a junior disciple. A few days ago, something happened…”
He then recounted the events that occurred at Yuanye Peak in detail, emphasizing the mysterious green light. Shen Xi had yet to find any results, and Chu Linyuan was troubled by this matter.
Hao Zheng said, “It seems this green light is indeed extraordinary. Since it’s targeting Ning Chengfeng, I’m afraid it will ultimately find him.”
Chu Jun nodded, “I’ve already sent a split soul to his side, just waiting for the green light to appear again.”
“Although we’re unclear about his purpose, this gu worm is truly vicious. Since it has appeared, it may not be an isolated case. We must be vigilant,” Hao Zheng pondered for a moment. “Nuanwei, return to Wanxuan Academy immediately and research a solution with the elders there. Linyuan, I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you to inform the major families and sects to be extra cautious.”
Chu Linyuan nodded, “This disciple will do his utmost.”
“Jinghe—” Hao Zheng saw Chu Jun was distracted and raised his voice slightly, “Jinghe?”
Chu Jun snapped back to attention, “Hm?”
Hao Zheng knew at a glance that he had placed most of his attention on Ning Chengfeng. His gaze was teasing, “Where is your family’s daughter?”
“I let them play in the courtyard,” Chu Jun coughed lightly, his fist against his lips.
“Let’s go, I might as well see the two children I haven’t met yet,” Hao Zheng said with a smile.
At this moment, the disciple Chu Linyuan had sent to find Chu Xin hurried back to report, “Sect Leader, Chu Xin left the mountain this morning with Elder Shen Xi for the Dao Discussion Conference at Canghai Tower.”
Chu Linyuan frowned, “Call them back.”
The disciple said, “Just now, the disciples tried various methods, but Elder Shen and Chu Xin… can no longer be contacted.”
As these words fell, Hao Zheng and the others had varying expressions.
How could there be such a coincidence in this world?
****
Zhongzhou, Leyuan City, Yumian Mountain.
Chu Jun watched as Ning Buwei dove into the belly of the giant dark python, tore open its stomach, and emerged from the pool of blood holding a fist-sized demon core. He was speechless for a while.
Ning Buwei shook the blood off the demon core. Seeing Chu Jun standing quietly under the tree in his white robes, he couldn’t resist the urge to toss the still-bloody demon core to him.
Chu Jun reached out to catch it, using a cleaning spell the moment it touched his hand. The demon core landed in his palm clean and pristine, emanating a lustrous, translucent glow.
Ning Buwei used a cleaning spell on himself but still felt some lingering bloody smell. He said to Chu Jun, “Let’s go.”
Chu Jun held out the demon core to him, but Ning Buwei didn’t take it. “It’s yours,” he said.
Chu Jun asked, “For me?”
Ning Buwei, too embarrassed to mention last night’s events, said with great restraint, “It’ll do you good.”
Although Chu Jun was of similar build to him and could move mountains and seas in battle, his excessively beautiful face always gave Ning Buwei the mistaken impression that he was frail, making him instinctively want to protect him—
After all, when he was young and could only see Wan Li’s wrists while being carried around, he had done the same.
Such an ethereal beauty, just looking at him occasionally could relieve boredom.
Chu Jun glanced at the demon core in his hand and accepted it without refusing.
Ning Buwei was very satisfied with this and said, “Let’s go east for a bit. If there’s nothing there, we’ll leave directly from that exit.”
“Alright,” Chu Jun had no objections. Seeing Ning Buwei sniffing at his collar, he said, “There’s a pond ahead. Why not wash up there?”
Although the cleaning spell was useful, sometimes it wasn’t as thorough as washing with water. When Ning Buwei decided to be particular, he wouldn’t compromise even a bit.
A moment later, they arrived at the pond. The water was clear and clean, with no traces of demons or spiritual creatures around. Chu Jun scouted ahead to ensure there was no danger before letting Ning Buwei enter the water.
Ning Buwei took off his outer robe and tossed it aside. Seeing Chu Jun standing still, he smirked and said, “Want to join me?”
Chu Jun’s gaze swept across the front of his inner garment, then he turned his back, saying, “No need. I’ll keep watch.”
A teasing laugh came from behind him, followed by the sound of someone entering the water.
Chu Jun focused on his breathing, reciting mantras in his mind, as still as a pine tree growing by the pond.
Ning Buwei rested his arms on the edge of the stone pond, his gaze wandering lazily over Chu Jun’s back, tracing from his beautiful shoulder line to his waist. He had to admit, with those broad shoulders and narrow waist, as straight as a pine, Venerable Jinghe had an excellent figure…
“Ning Chengfeng,” Chu Jun suddenly called out.
If only he didn’t call my name so intimidatingly, Ning Buwei silently added in his mind.
“What is it?” Ning Buwei narrowed his eyes.
“The water is cold. Don’t stay too long,” Chu Jun kindly reminded him.
Ning Buwei raised an eyebrow and said lazily, leaning against the edge of the stone pond, “The python’s blood is sticky. I need to soak longer to wash it off properly. Unless you want to come help scrub my back?”
Chu Jun fell silent, truly becoming a speechless pine tree.
Ning Buwei was admiring the beautiful tree-like figure, about to tease him further, when Chu Jun suddenly turned around and said, “Someone’s coming.”
Ning Buwei was enjoying his soak and showed no concern, leaning against the rock, “Let them come.”
Seeing that he didn’t intend to move, with half his chest exposed above the water, Chu Jun disapprovingly said, “How improper.”
Ning Buwei raised an eyebrow, “They might not even come this way.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a clear female voice came from not far away. “Senior brother, this way.”
Ning Buwei: “……”
The great demon , unhappy about his interrupted soak, got out of the water with a disgruntled look.
Chu Jun had already turned his back the moment Ning Buwei stood up, continuing to look straight ahead.
Ning Buwei had just fastened his belt when he saw three men and a woman come around the lush green trees. All four wore crimson robes with black wooden hairpins, looking hurried, with two supporting each other. They all had bloodstains on their clothes.
Among them, one man had straight eyebrows, bright eyes, and regular features, with a tear mole under his eye. A small cauldron the size of a fist hung at his waist, clearly marking him as the leader of the group.
Sure enough, when this man saw them standing there, he bowed in greeting, “Greetings, fellow cultivators. We are disciples of the Qingdan Sect, passing through. We didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Ning Buwei clearly didn’t want to deal with him. Chu Jun turned and returned the greeting, “We are wandering cultivators. Please, carry on.”
When the man saw Chu Jun’s face, his eyes instantly lit up with admiration. His tone became much warmer than before as he said solemnly, “I am Jimo Hongcai of the Qingdan Sect. These are my junior brothers Zong Liu and Zong Sheng, and my junior sister Bu Qing.”
“I am Chu Shan, and this is Li Chengfeng,” Chu Jun replied.
“Ah, so it’s fellow cultivator Chu Shan.” Jimo Hongcai noticed that both of them remained expressionless, showing no interest in the treasure cauldron at his waist. He thought for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, “My brothers and sister and I accidentally entered this secret realm and have been unable to find our way out. We’re all injured as well. If you two fellow cultivators could help escort us out of this place, the Qingdan Sect would surely offer a generous reward!”
Alchemists had extremely low combat abilities, but their value was incredibly high. Especially alchemists from the Qingdan Sect – they could casually refine heavenly-grade pills. Being on good terms with them was like having access to an endless supply of pills, far more beneficial than being enemies. This was why alchemists from the Qingdan Sect were very popular in the seventeen states, and also why Jimo Hongcai dared to ask for their help so boldly.
Of course, it was more likely that he was just having an attack of his usual ailment. Junior sister Bu Qing silently rolled her eyes, thinking about his inability to move on when he saw a beautiful person.
However, they did indeed need help now, and wandering cultivators were more inclined to be friendly with alchemists. Bu Qing thought these two wandering cultivators would be no exception.
Ning Buwei had no previous interactions with the Qingdan Sect. His impression was just that they were a group always tending to their furnaces, selling a single pill for thousands of spirit stones – quite greedy.
He was about to refuse when he heard Chu Jun say, “Alright.”
Ning Buwei turned his head to glare at him.
What do you mean, alright! Can’t you see that colorful rooster’s eyes are practically glued to you?
Chu Jun gave him a slight smile.
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