Shen Xi opened her eyes with some difficulty, and saw a pretty, adorable young girl looking at her excitedly, “Elder Shen, you’re awake!”
Just as Shen Xi was about to speak, other voices were heard from the room.
“Elder Shen has woken up…”
“Have we been able to contact the Wushi Sect?”
“For some reason, there’s still no response from the Wushi Sect…”
There seemed to be many people talking, their voices overlapping. After a moment, people began to emerge from behind the screen.
A cultivator with thick eyebrows and big eyes bowed to Shen Xi and said, “Elder Shen, I am Sang Tian from the Canghai Tower.”
Shen Xi had heard of this Sang Tian, who was the eldest son of Tower Master Sang Xuanqing. Upon hearing this, she tried to get up to return the greeting, but her face turned pale from the movement. The young girl beside her quickly supported her, “Elder Shen, you’re seriously injured. You absolutely mustn’t move carelessly.”
Shen Xi nodded slightly at her, then looked at Sang Tian, “Thank you, Elder Sang, for saving me.”
Sang Tian hurriedly shook his head, “You’ve misunderstood. It wasn’t me who saved you, but these young people.”
Shen Xi looked at the young cultivators standing behind him.
A young man wearing a deep red robe with a small tripod hanging at his waist, with regular features and a small mole under his eye, cupped his hands in greeting and said in a gentle tone, “I am Jimo Hongcai, a disciple of the Qingdan Sect.”
Next to him, two ordinary-looking disciples who seemed very honest, also wearing deep red robes with their hair tied up with ebony hairpins, bowed to her together, “We are disciples of the Qingdan Sect, Zong Liu and Zong Sheng.”
The young girl supporting her smiled sweetly, “My name is Bu Qing, I’m also a disciple of the Qingdan Sect. They are my senior fellow disciples.”
Beside them was a cultivator with deep-set features and a handsome appearance, wearing a tight-sleeved long robe with a high ponytail. Seeing Shen Xi look at him, he cupped his hands and said cheerfully, “I am Pei Heguang from the Wanghai Sect.”
There were also two identical brothers in shabby clothes, their voices equally cold, “Wei Xuesong, Wei Yuquan.”
Sang Tian explained to Shen Xi, “You fainted at the edge of the Changsheng seaside at the foot of the Dao Discussion Mountain. Fortunately, they discovered you, and seeing the waist token of the Wushi Sect on your waist, they worked together to bring you up the Dao Discussion Mountain.”
As soon as Sang Tian finished speaking, the Wei brothers said, “We were just passing by and didn’t contribute much. Since Elder Shen has awakened, we’ll take our leave.”
With that, they left directly without saying goodbye to the others.
Sang Tian smiled helplessly at Shen Xi, “The Wei brothers have an odd temperament. Please forgive them, Elder Shen.”
Shen Xi shook her head, “It’s alright.”
Sang Tian asked puzzledly, “There’s only half an hour left before the Dao Discussion Conference, but the disciples of the Wushi Sect still haven’t arrived. Father even had me specifically contact the Wushi Sect, but there’s still no news. Did something happen on your way here, Elder Shen?”
Shen Xi smiled bitterly, “It’s a long story. I heard you say earlier that you haven’t been able to contact the Wushi Sect?”
Sang Tian nodded, “Neither through message talismans nor teleportation arrays, not even through water mirrors. There’s been no news.”
Shen Xi frowned, thought for a moment, then said to Sang Tian, “I still have more than a dozen disciples trapped on Yumian Mountain. I would be grateful if Elder San could lend a hand to help.”
Sang Tian nodded repeatedly, “Of course, Elder Shen, don’t worry. I’ll send disciples to rescue them right away.”
“Thank you,” Shen Xi said gratefully. “This kindness from the Canghai Tower, I and the Wushi Sect will remember in our hearts.”
Sang Tian smiled, “It’s nothing. Please rest well, Elder Shen. I will continue to help you contact the Wushi Sect.”
Shen Xi nodded, then thanked Jimo Hongcai and the others one by one.
Seeing that Shen Xi did not wish to mention what exactly had happened, Sang Tian knew better than to ask further, and tactfully took his leave.
Just as he stepped out of the door, someone came up to report, “Great Elder, Madam has sent someone to say that the young ladies and young masters have suddenly fallen ill, and she wants you to go and check on them.”
Sang Tian, who was already overwhelmed with the Dao Discussion Conference, impatiently waved his hand, “Just go and ask the medical cultivators from the Medical Immortal Valley to help take a look. Why come to me for everything?”
The person nervously said, “The cultivators from the Medical Immortal Valley have all closed their doors and are not seeing anyone, and also… also…”
Sang Tian angrily said, “If you have something to say, say it quickly! Why are you hemming and hawing?”
The person said with a dejected face, “Many cultivators have already reported feeling unwell.”
Sang Tian frowned and said, “Let’s go take a look.”
As Sang Tian left with his people, Jimo Hongcai, Pei Heguang, and the others also came out of Shen Xi’s room.
Jimo Hongcai said to Pei Heguang, “Fellow cultivator Pei, the Dao Discussion Conference is about to begin. Why don’t we go to the Changsheng Dao Field together?”
Pei Heguang smiled and said, “Sure!”
Bu Qing curiously asked, “Fellow cultivator Pei, did only you come from your Wanghai Sect?”
Pei Heguang said helplessly, “Since my old master passed away, the sect has been in decline. My fellow disciples are busy selecting the next sect leader. There’s a shortage of disciples in the sect, and no one cares about this Dao Discussion Conference, so I took the opportunity to come out and travel.”
Zong Sheng said regretfully, “It’s a pity that Venerable Nanshu passed away. My condolences, Fellow cultivator Pei.”
“Ning Buwei really is a scourge,” Zong Liu shook her head. “He has harmed so many sects.”
Jimo Hongcai glanced at her, “Be careful with your words.”
Zong Liu pouted.
“As cultivators, we should slay demons and eradicate evil. The motto of the Chongzheng Alliance is also to uphold righteousness and eliminate evil. Although my master passed away, he died with a clear conscience,” Pei Heguang’s eyes flashed with pain, but his expression was firm as he said, “I came out to travel the world to inherit my master’s will and live up to his great reputation.”
Jimo Hongcai smiled and said, “Brother Pei has great ambitions.”
****
“Dad!”
“Father!”
Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng had just opened the door early in the morning when they saw Ning Buwei sitting under the corridor. They immediately called out in surprise and joy.
Ning Buwei, who had just managed to coax Ning Xiu to sleep and had just hung up the diapers to dry, wanting to come out and relax a bit: “…”
Cui Yuanbai buried his head in Ning Buwei’s embrace, probably thinking he was still a knife, and grabbed onto his belt, trying to climb up.
Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng were a bit more composed, but couldn’t hide their excitement.
The window in front of them was pushed open from the inside, and Chu Jun stood at the window, handing him a small cotton quilt embroidered with ducks, “Let it air out a bit, for Ning Xiu to use today.”
Ning Buwei, with Cui Yuanbai still hanging on his waist, reached out to take it, “Alright.”
“Father, when did you arrive?” Feng Zizhang circled around him, only relaxing after confirming that Ning Buwei hadn’t lost any limbs during this time.
Jiang Yizheng took out a rope from her storage ring, “Father, where should I tie the rope?”
“I arrived last night,” Ning Buwei spread out the small quilt in his hands. “Tie the rope over there.”
“Dad, I want to eat candied haws,” Cui Yuanbai had almost loosened Ning Buwei’s belt.
Ning Buwei reached out to lift him up and toss him onto his shoulder, “There’s no one selling them on the mountain. I’ll buy you some when we go down the mountain.”
The big yellow dog sleeping under the tree was awakened by the noise, yawned, and stretched out a long, lazy stretch.
Ning Buwei hung out the small blanket to dry. He turned to look at Chu Jun, only to find that Chu Jun was also looking at him.
Although it was an unfamiliar place and an unfamiliar courtyard, Ning Buwei suddenly had the illusion that they had been living here for a long time.
It was as if… continuing like this wouldn’t be so bad.
Unfortunately, he was destined not to enjoy this peace. The waist token belonging to Wang Zizhuo suddenly lit up. Ning Buwei’s expression paused, and he reached out to place Cui Yuanbai on the window.
Cui Yuanbai still wanted to climb, but Chu Jun pressed him in place with his hand.
“I’m leaving first,” Ning Buwei said to Chu Jun.
“Mm,” Chu Jun nodded.
“Father, why are you leaving already?” Jiang Yizheng, crouching beside Big Yellow, looked up and asked him.
Feng Zizhang also had a look of reluctance, “Xiao Shan hasn’t woken up yet.”
Cui Yuanbai gazed at him longingly.
Ning Buwei sneered, “Tch, it’s not like I’m not coming back. I’m off.”
With that, he cast a formation and disappeared on the spot, leaving decisively.
Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng both looked disappointed. Cui Yuanbai was even more direct, tugging at Chu Jun’s sleeve with red eyes, saying softly, “Father, I don’t want Dad to leave.”
Chu Jun looked towards the neighboring courtyard and said gently, “Don’t worry, he won’t be able to run away anymore in the future.”
Cui Yuanbai looked up at him with confusion, “Won’t be able to run away anymore?”
Chu Jun reached out and stroked his head, “Mm.”
On the other side, Ning Buwei opened the door to see Xie Jiu standing outside.
“Young Master Wang, it’s time for the Dao Discussion,” Xie Jiu said, stepping aside slightly. “Please.”
Ning Buwei walked out with his hands behind his back. After a few steps, he suddenly turned his head to look at Xie Jiu and asked, “Is Young Master Xie really a disciple of the Linggu Sect?”
Xie Jiu smiled with his hands in his sleeves, “Of course.”
As they walked, Ning Buwei said, “The culinary skills of the Linggu Sect have always been able to turn the rotten into the divine. When I was young, the first time I ate their roasted sparrow, I was truly amazed.”
“The Linggu Sect has a secret sauce,” Xie Jiu walked beside him. “I once had a picky friend who wouldn’t touch any poultry since childhood. He was tricked into eating it once and broke his vow.”
Ning Buwei’s expression slightly paused, “Then what happened?”
Xie Jiu turned to look at him, his eyes filled with amusement, “Later I found out that those things weren’t even fit to feed dogs.”
Ning Buwei stopped in his tracks.
“Young Master Wang, why have you stopped?” Xie Jiu’s expression darkened. “You still have important matters to attend to today.”
Ning Buwei took out the Wang family’s waist token from his sleeve and sighed in relief, “Father suddenly sent me a message. It startled me.”
Xie Jiu’s gaze fell on the waist token, “What instructions did your father give?”
“It’s about my younger brother,” Ning Buwei said with contempt. “No need to take it to heart. Let’s go.”
At the Changsheng Dao Field, the crowd was bustling. The vast majority were young disciples from various major sects and noble families, while the rest were mostly unaffiliated cultivators trying their luck. The elders leading the sects and noble families couldn’t help but exchange polite greetings when they met.
Which sects were close to each other, their disciples interacted a lot. Which sects had old grudges or new enmities with which families, they had to be arranged far apart, even the atmosphere among the disciples was tense…
“Hey, how come we don’t see disciples from the Wushi Sect? I heard that Elder Shen Xi was leading the team this time…”
“I heard Elder Sang say that something happened… Elder Shen was rescued up the mountain by some disciples from the Qingdan Sect.”
“It was just luck, those useless people from Qingdan Sect who only know how to burn furnaces.” A disciple sneered.
Jimo Hongcai and others happened to pass by and heard this remark. Zong Liu, known for her hot temper, immediately became angry, “Who are you calling useless!”
“We’re talking about your Qingdan Sect!” Li Jianqing rolled his eyes.
Zong Sheng coldly sneered, “I thought it was someone important, turns out it’s just the Hanyan Sect, nothing but a bunch of witchcraft tricksters, not worth mentioning!”
“You—” Li Jianqing’s face turned red with anger, wanting to rush over and argue, but was held back tightly by someone beside him.
Li Jianqing glared fiercely at Zong Liu and Zong Sheng.
Everyone knew that the Hanyan Sect and Qingdan Sect had always been at odds. Soon, someone came to mediate, and the brewing storm was silently suppressed before it could start.
“What kind of people,” Bu Qing was angered, crossing his arms angrily, “They think they’re justified in speaking ill of others behind their backs.”
“Have you heard? It seems Zen Master Mingsang can’t make it due to some last-minute business,” a passerby said with regret.
“What, you want to become a monk?” Someone teased with a laugh.
“Get out of here!” The person waved his hand. “Someone saw Zen Master Mingsang in the Floating Void Realm earlier. They say he’s investigating the cause of his disciple Zen Master Baiyu’s death.”
“Come on, didn’t the Chongzheng Alliance already reach a conclusion? The Rejuvenation Array of that vine demon in Linjiang City wasn’t refined enough, it couldn’t save people.”
“But no matter what, that vine demon was indeed trying to save people.”
“But if it wasn’t for him, would these people in Linjiang City have died? Ultimately, it’s his fault! A demon is a demon, they only cause chaos in the mortal world.”
“See? Look at what Ning Xingyuan raised,” Li Jianqing sneered. “A great demon and a vine demon, all things that bring calamity to the world.”
Ning Buwei, who was just walking behind him, turned around upon hearing this, his eyes turning cold.
Jimo Hongcai frowned.
Pei Heguang looked at Li Jianqing, his eyes filled with anger, “Young Master Xingyuan cared for the world and sacrificed himself for others, yet here you are slandering him?”
Li Jianqing said carelessly, “I’m just telling the truth.”
An invisible spiritual force wrapped around his ankle, transforming into a green gu worm that seeped into his skin, but he was completely unaware.
Xie Jiu looked at Ning Buwei, “Come to think of it, didn’t Ning Xingyuan and Young Master Wang have some conflict back then?”
Ning Buwei tugged at the corner of his mouth, “Just some trivial matters.”
The two continued walking forward and took their seats. The Wang family’s seats were very close to Wanxuan Academy. With just a glance, he saw Chu Jun sitting next to Hao Zheng.
Cui Yuanbai was lying on his knee, looking at the small wooden doll in Ning Xiu’s hand. Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng were standing behind him, sharing some peanuts. There was also a dog wagging its tail and gnawing on the chair leg.
In the entire vast Changsheng Dao Field, it was the only scene that stood out as different.
However, Venerable Jinghe himself sat calmly in his seat. He naturally took the half wooden doll arm that Ning Xiu was biting out of his mouth and put it back, suppressed the purple flame true fire that suddenly appeared in Cui Yuanbai’s palm, then with a wave of his hand, turned the peanut shells that Feng Zizhang and Jiang Yizheng had dropped on the ground into powder, and repaired the chair leg that Big Yellow had nearly gnawed through. Yet his face still maintained that otherworldly expression, as if he were above worldly affairs.
Ning Buwei: “………..”
Taking care of children was really hard work.
Chu Jun seemed to sense his gaze and turned his head to look at him. That look was deep and calm, even giving the illusion of gentleness.
Ning Buwei’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze.
This surnamed Chu was really… really disturbing one’s peace of mind.
The master of Canghai Tower, Sang Xuanqing, was still in seclusion. The one in charge was his eldest son, Sang Tian. Sang Tian was narrow-minded yet arrogant, with a personality that refused to admit defeat. Ning Buwei looked carefully for a moment before recognizing him as the one who had tried to snatch the knife in the Yumian Mountain Secret Realm.
“…This Dao Discussion is graced by distinguished guests, especially with Dean Hao Zheng of Wanxuan Academy and Elder Wang Bin of the Wang family discussing the Dao here. It is truly an honor for our Canghai Tower… Now, the spiritual energy in the seventeen states is depleted, and for hundreds of years, there hasn’t been a single ascendant…”
This Sang Tian, whether drunk or possessed, kept saying offensive nonsense. Ning Buwei was dozing off listening to him when Xie Jiu suddenly transmitted a message to him. “Young Master Wang, you should go to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion now.”
Ning Buwei nodded and, taking advantage of everyone’s attention being on Sang Tian and others, quietly left the venue. However, he didn’t actually follow Xie Jiu’s arrangement to go to the Flowing Cloud Pavilion, but instead took out the Suzaku knife fragment.
His original intention was to use this opportunity to check if any other Suzaku knife fragments had appeared, as Xie Jiu’s appearance made him feel uneasy. However, this time he didn’t detect any trace of other Suzaku knife fragments. Instead, the half-dead gu worm he had thrown into his storage ring suddenly began to stir.
“Martial aunt, I feel very uncomfortable,” a young girl who looked about eleven or twelve years old walked out, led by another woman. Both were wearing long, wide-sleeved dresses in moonlight white, with tassel earrings swaying due to the little girl’s movements.
“Lingzhu, bear with it a little longer. I’ll take you to find the master,” the female cultivator leading her quickened her pace.
The girl named Lingzhu scratched her neck, “I feel like there are insects crawling inside my body. Martial aunt, can I put in another insect to eat it?”
Female cultivator: “………”
Ning Buwei, who overheard this: “………”
The little girl was ruthless.
But insects?
Ning Buwei narrowed his eyes, secretly releasing a strand of spiritual energy and attaching it to the little girl’s tassel earrings.
Unexpectedly, the little girl suddenly turned her head and glared at him fiercely.
Ning Buwei smiled grimly, his eyes instantly turning blood-red, like a fierce ghost crawling out of hell.
Little girl: “!!!”
Just as Ning Buwei turned the corner, he heard the little girl burst into tears with a “Wah”. He curled his lips into a smile and looked down at the green gu worm he had plucked from her dantian while she was shocked.
It was identical to the green worm in Wang Zizhuo’s hand.
****
Meanwhile, at the Changsheng Dao Field.
Sang Tian was still giving a long-winded speech on the stage. Elder Wang Bin of the Wang family showed a trace of impatience on his face. His son, Wang Haoxuan, was respectfully pouring tea for him.
On the other side, countless cultivators sat cross-legged on the field, outwardly appearing serious, but many were secretly transmitting messages to each other.
Jimo Hongcai pressed down on Bu Qing, signaling her to listen carefully. Zong Liu and Zong Sheng were yawning.
Pei Heguang was hugging his sword, his eyelids struggling to stay open.
The Wei brothers, Wei Xuesong and Wei Yuquan, had fallen asleep without any pretense.
In front, the disciples of Wanxuan Academy were restless, frequently receiving silent warnings from the elders.
Hao Zheng sat motionless in his seat, transmitting a message to Chu Jun. “This surnamed Sang is really long-winded, nothing but nonsense. He’s far inferior to his father.”
Chu Jun replied. “Sang Xuanqing was also long-winded.”
Hao Zheng couldn’t help but laugh, “You really hold grudges.”
Chu Jun didn’t deny it at all.
“Have you noticed anything unusual?” Hao Zheng tapped the armrest of his chair. “The spiritual energy fluctuations around us seem a bit abnormal.”
“It’s like a formation,” Chu Jun frowned slightly.
Chu Jun had never been skilled in the art of talismans and formations, so naturally, he didn’t particularly like them.
Hao Zheng said with schadenfreude. “Then why did you let your person go? Wouldn’t it have been perfect to keep him here?”
Chu Jun cleared his throat, “It’s better that he went out.”
As he was speaking in riddles with Hao Zheng, the little yellow dog at his feet sniffed and started gnawing on the chair leg again. Suddenly, a fragrant chicken leg emerged from the chair leg and darted into the crowd.
“Woof!” Big Yellow barked and shot off like an arrow, following it.
“Hey? Big Yellow!” Jiang Yizheng was the first to notice and hurriedly went to chase after it. Feng Zizhang followed closely behind.
Cui Yuanbai thought there was going to be a fight and wanted to follow, but Chu Jun held his little head down with one hand. He could only look on enviously.
“Ah~” Ning Xiu was still immersed in the joy of his new favorite wooden doll, unable to extricate himself.
Hao Zheng said leisurely, “How did you lure them out?”
“The formation on this field is too powerful. If those two stayed here, they might not have survived,” Chu Jun said calmly.
Hao Zheng couldn’t help but look at Ning Xiu and Cui Yuanbai, “What about these two?”
“No problem,” Chu Jun said calmly.
Ning Xiu was transformed from the Linglong Bone, and Cui Yuanbai was transformed from the spirit of the Purple Flame Knife. With them here, it was the one who set up the formation who should be afraid.
Hao Zheng asked. “Are you sure that green light will come out?”
Chu Jun wrapped Ning Xiu’s swaddling cloth a little tighter.
“When my heart demon acts up, he will certainly appear.”
