Chapter 497 (6): I Can Also Split Apart the Sky With My Sword

Du Wensi was standing at the entrance of the inn located at the north of Green Cottage Town.

The young woman who was born in Copper Stench City but had grown up in Green Cottage Town was already familiar with this Golden Core Tier cultivator from the Flax Robe Sect. Du Wensi was renowned for his noble demeanor, so the young woman who was responsible for greeting customers at the entrance of the inn didn't feel uncomfortable at all. After seeing Du Wensi stand at the entrance for a long time, she asked in curiosity, "Are you waiting for someone, Esteemed Immortal Du?"

Du Wensi shook his head and replied with a smile, "No, it's too stuffy inside, so I've come out for some fresh air."

The young woman was rendered speechless, but she quickly recalled a matter. In the past, Esteemed Immortal Du had also stood in a daze at the entrance of the inn by himself.

Some years ago, a young Daoist nun with an incredibly high cultivation base had acted in a haughty and domineering manner, surprisingly not entering Malicious Ghost Valley from the entrance through the archways. Instead, she had directly slashed apart the sky and descended into the mystical realm. However, she had immediately turned around to leave after entering, once again slashing apart the so-called indestructible barrier of Malicious Ghost Valley.

The Daoist nun repeated this two more times, yet she coincidentally arrived near Green Cottage Town the final time she did this, and it was only then that she stopped and descended into Green Cottage Town. She then stayed at this inn located in the north, and it was none other than Esteemed Immortal Du who had hosted this guest. In the end, even Sect Leader Zhu had come to the inn as well.

The Daoist Nun had wantonly barged into Malicious Ghost Valley several times, attracting the pursuit of several heroic spirits each time.

In the end, even the sect leader had launched a saber strike at her, yet the Daoist nun had blocked the attack head-on.

Of course, Sect Leader Zhu had only been displaying her might in a symbolic manner, and she hadn't actually drawn on her full strength to unleash the saber strike.

After some conversation, Zhu Quan had returned to her thatched cottage and allowed the Daoist nun to enter the mystical world, essentially signifying that she had received the approval of the Flax Robe Sect.

The Daoist nun from the outside world had only stayed at the inn for a single day, and she had once again slashed apart the sky to leave, appearing as arrogant and unreasonable as could be.

However, she had already held back a little compared to her arrival, and she had flown on her sword to the sky above a city in the north before slashing apart the sky to leave in an unfettered manner.

Afterward, Esteemed Immortal Du had stood at the entrance of the inn for a very long time, giving the same answer as just then when she had asked him if he were waiting for someone. He had replied that it was too stuffy inside the inn, so he had come out to get some fresh air.

Esteemed Immortal Du was truly a noble person, not even knowing how to lie properly.

Following that, she had heard the immortal customers of the inn say that the Daoist nun from the outside world was a female cultivator from the Parasol Leaf Continent. There was a cultivation prodigy at Temper Mountain called Liu Jinglong, and he was a well-renowned prodigy among prodigies whom even a measly itinerant cultivator like her had heard about before. Liu Jinglong and the Daoist nun from the outside world had engaged in a huge battle at Temper Mountain, with both of them suffering heavy wounds as their battle ended in a draw.

An ordinary-looking woman with a saber by her hip slowly walked over from the street.

The female inn attendant standing at the entrance hurriedly held her breath and gathered her concentration, greeting the sect leader in a quivering voice when she arrived near the inn.

Sect Leader Zhu Quan smiled and acknowledged her with a nod.

She then asked Du Wensi to take a walk with her.

Du Wensi walked next to Sect Leader Zhu Quan.

Zhu Quan smiled and teased, "Huang Ting did say that she would pay a visit to Green Cottage Town when she returned south, but whether or not she actually comes and what time she does come isn't known at all. Will she come sooner simply because you're standing at the entrance and waiting for her?"

Du Wensi's cheeks flushed slightly red.

"I've heard that the young sword immortal who has caused huge commotion in Malicious Ghost Valley has already entered this small town and settled down?" Zhu Quan asked.

Du Wensi nodded and replied, "He just arrived from Copper Stench City, and he's staying at the inn located in the south."

Zhu Quan smiled and remarked, "This person is very interesting, and the Deer Rider Divine Maiden had been aiming to serve him the first time that she had left her mural. However, things hadn't turned out the way that she had wanted for some reason. I'm not sure who was unsatisfied with whom, and the Deer Rider Divine Maiden eventually ended up following the youngest sect leader in the history of the Northern Complete Reed Continent.

"This little missy actually stole my fame, so if I encounter her at someplace outside Malicious Ghost Valley, I'll definitely engage in a sparring match with her. If I win, then everyone in the world will learn of the fight. If I lose, however, then there's no need for her to spread the news either. I'll announce it to the world myself and give her the fame that she deserves."

Du Wensi smiled knowingly.

This was the temperament of his sect leader.

Zhu Quan suddenly smiled and said, "Treasure Mirror Mountain is thoroughly destroyed now, and the battle that took place there caused quite a big commotion. Even though I'm not across the specific details, the young man was, as you said, probably the person by the name of Yang Rentu who ranked last. It appears like he's already obtained the fated opportunity of Treasure Mirror Mountain.

"In any case, I allowed him to leave with the treasure of Treasure Mirror Mountain since he didn't run around and cause trouble all over Malicious Ghost Valley. However, because of the young man who has entered this small town and a scholar of unknown background joining forces with each other, they caused huge commotion and trouble at both Peeling Mountain and Accumulating Cloud Mountain.

"My goodness, the two of them were very capable, with their schemes being even more profound. They easily toyed with all of the powerful demons in Malicious Ghost Valley. However, guess what happened afterward?"

Du Wensi smiled bitterly and replied, "How can I possibly guess the result, Sect Leader?"

There was an exasperated look on Zhu Quan's face as she said, "Your personality is truly very boring. I'm not trying to criticize you or anything, but just be honest with yourself and confess if you truly like Huang Ting. If she wants to leave, then just drop to your knees and kowtow. What's a person's face and dignity worth? Once you trick her into getting together with you, do I need to teach you how to treat your wife in bed and out of bed?

"Even if you can't beat Huang Ting out of bed, will this still be the case once the two of you get in bed...? Actually, forget about it. It's always been the case since ancient times that men can't defeat women in bed. Sigh, in that case, it makes sense that she isn't interested in you. I initially wanted to become a matchmaker for the two of you, but by the looks of it, it's better that I don't.

"It's your own fault for being so incapable. Say, why are you still not advancing to the Nascent Tier? Is it truly very fun to crawl like a turtle at the Golden Core Tier? Do you think you're a relative of that old turtle? If that's the case, then why don't you go and marry that old turtle's daughter?"

Du Wensi's face became beet red, and he felt a strong urge to dig a hole in the ground and crawl inside. "Sect Leader!" he exclaimed in embarrassment and anger.

"Okay, okay, okay, I won't poke at your insecurities anymore. I'm just worried about your cultivation, okay? You and the others always call me a lazy and irresponsible sect leader, but just look at your response now that I'm starting to show some care. You're not happy to hear any feedback from me. Just what do you want me to do?"

Du Wensi raised his hands and started to massage his cheeks.

Zhu Quan patted Du Wensi's shoulder and said, "My condolences. I encourage you to give up on her. When Huang Ting visits Green Cottage Town afterward, don't beg me to knock her unconscious for you so that you can do the deed with her or whatnot. Even though I'm the sect leader of you little melons, I'm ultimately not your mom or your dad. However, I must say that you're more pleasing to the eye than that Yang Lin, Wensi. How about you try to call me Mom? Perhaps I'll change my mind after I become both your sect leader and your mother."

Even as good-tempered as Du Wensi was, he couldn't prevent the corners of his mouth from twitching when he heard this.

Zhu Quan roared with laughter, and she was unable to calm down for a long time. After finally stopping her laughter, she mumbled that she had almost split her mouth from laughing too bloody hard just then. Her looks were already mediocre, so how would she find a handsome and smooth-skinned husband in the future?

Du Wensi had no option but to suggest, "Sect Leader, can we discuss some proper matters for once?"

"Is your marriage and your future not a proper matter?" Zhu Quan retorted.

She then coughed and said with a nod, "Both the old monk of the Great Round Moon Monastery and the Daoist priest of the Small Mystery Capital Temple left that peach tree forest at some point in time. As for where they went, I didn't observe any further according to our old agreement. However, why don't you tie together the different events? There was the young sect leader on the Flowing Iridescent Boat, the Deer Rider Divine Maiden, the stinky bastard who cast a net and collected flying swords two times, Pu Rang's sudden appearance, and several large cities in the central region of Malicious Ghost Valley becoming restless and joining forces with each other. What do you think this signifies, Wensi?"

Du Wensi sighed and shook his head, replying, "Sect Leader, you're well aware that I've never been good at understanding plots and schemes."

Zhu Quan nodded earnestly, appearing very satisfied as she forcefully slapped Du Wensi on the shoulder and caused him to stumble forward. "Very good. You're just like your sect leader. We're both here to enjoy a lively show!"

When they reached the end of the street, Zhu Quan turned around first to walk back to the inn.

Du Wensi also turned around after her.

Zhu Quan didn't say anything else, and only when they arrived back at the entrance of the inn did she say slowly, "You're at a critical stage of the Golden Core Tier where you're on the verge of breaking through the barrier, so once you succeed in overcoming the barrier, pay a visit to the ancestral hall and don't hesitate no matter what. Perhaps the old geezer who squats on the immortal ship and drinks wind all year round speaks nothing but bullshit and nonsense, but there was one thing he said that I think is correct. The Flax Robe Sect needs to have a sect leader who knows how to use their brain.

"So, it doesn't matter if other people in the Flax Robe Sect fall in battle, and the same applies to me as well. The cultivators of the Flax Robe Sect should be prepared to sacrifice themselves. However, you're a special case, Du Wensi, and you shouldn't die in a pathetic place like Malicious Ghost Valley. It's best that you don't die at Skeleton Shoal either. If you want to die, then travel as far north as you can."

Du Wensi shook his head and replied, "I can't do this, Sect Leader. I can't retreat and flee without participating in the battle. Even if it means that I have to sacrifice my Great Dao and my life, I definitely won't..."

Zhu Quan suddenly pushed Du Wensi's head gently with her palm, with her expression calm and her voice composed as she said, "Don't be stupid, Du Wensi. I'll act like a sect leader before I leave and tell you something from the bottom of my heart. In this world — at least in my eyes — a truly upstanding person is one who can endure immense hardships but also tolerate big humiliations. Even if suppressed by the mountains, the spine of such a person will still remain firm and upright!"

Du Wensi stood still.

Zhu Quan continued to slowly walk forward.

————

Atop the city wall of Skeleton Wall City that towered into the clouds...

A handsome and graceful middle-aged man leisurely walked along the perimeter of the wall.

In the distance, two women and a skeleton were standing on the carriageway and gazing toward the south.

There was Sect Leader He Xiaoliang, the Deer Rider Divine Maiden, and City Lord Gao Cheng, the owner of Skeleton Wall City and the strongest yin spirit in the history of Skeleton Shoal and Malicious Ghost Valley. While in this mystical realm, City Lord Gao Cheng could essentially rival an Immortal Tier cultivator who was skilled at combat.

However, there was surprisingly no record of Gao Cheng's life before death in the history books.

It wasn't that historians and cultivators in the mountains didn't want to trace the origins of Gao Cheng, rather, they genuinely couldn't find any records about him in the documents of the two large empires and their dozen or so vassal states. There wasn't a single sentence about him. However, they did indeed find the name Gao Cheng recorded in the lowest level household register of a nation's Ministry of War.

Infantryman Gao Cheng.

It appeared like this ghost who had stood up among the close to one million skeletons on Skeleton Shoal many years ago had indeed been a low-ranked and nameless soldier who had died on the battlefield.

It seemed like he had only risen to the top step by step after standing up as a skeleton.

Gao Cheng wasn't very tall, and he continued to appear in front of others as a snow-white skeleton. He was simply dressed in a suit of the most ordinary metal armor, with the armor damaged and the saber by his side as normal as could be.

"He Xiaoliang, you said that you would only take a look around my Skeleton Wall City. Have you finished looking around yet?" Gao Cheng asked.

The young Daoist nun wearing Daoist robes and with a lotus flower hat on her head smiled faintly and replied, "City Lord, are you preparing to shoo me away?"

"I'll give you three more days. If you don't leave at that time, then I won't simply shoo you away. I'll kill you instead," Gao Cheng said.

Standing beside them, the Deer Rider Divine Maiden felt slightly terrified.

The murderous aura in the city was far too powerful, and her five-colored divine deer was most susceptible to this kind of environment. As such, she had put her deer away upon entering this city.

The Deer Rider Divine Maiden didn't doubt the city lord's words, knowing that he definitely wasn't saying this as an empty threat.

"Then three days it is," He Xiaoliang replied with a faint smile. "I'll definitely leave Skeleton Wall City when the time is up."

Gao Cheng glanced at "Zhou Fei" who was walking along the city wall in the distance, and he said, "It's best that Jiang Shangzhen doesn't leave on the same Flowing Iridescent Boat as you. Otherwise, I'm scared that I won't be able to contain my urge to attack with my saber."

He Xiaoliang didn't offer a comment on this.

Gao Cheng walked down the city wall.

Jiang Shangzhen returned to the area where He Xiaoliang and the Deer Rider Divine Maiden were standing, and he jumped off the parapet and said with a faint smile, "If Sect Leader He Xiaoliang continues to not say anything and not do anything, genuinely just observing the situation, then it's okay for you to not give me a ride after three days. At most, I'll be detained in Skeleton Wall City by Gao Cheng. In any case, those white skeleton beauties offer a completely different experience."

"What do you think Malicious Ghost Valley is lacking most?" He Xiaoliang asked using her mind's voice.

Jiang Shangzhen leaned against the parapet and rubbed his bum, also using his mind's voice to lazily reply, "It's naturally lacking living people. In reality, the spiritual energy of this small world has never really changed. It can't change much anyway, and after so many years, the only thing that's happened is Gao Cheng temporarily storing some spiritual energy in the bodies of Pu Rang and the other individuals. However, there are far too few living people with yang energy in this mystical realm. At the same time, Copper Stench City, the treasured land with extremely good feng shui, is under the tight observation of Green Cottage Town and Zhu Quan. It's clear that she'll do away with all pretenses of geniality and charge into battle if Gao Cheng dares to kidnap living people from Copper Stench City."

He Xiaoliang smiled and replied, "Then what if Gao Cheng can create his own cycle of reincarnation and allow the immortals who are unable to gather their dispersed souls and yin energy to undergo reincarnation in Malicious Ghost Valley? What if these immortals can reincarnate into humans? After one hundred years, when yin and yang draw equal and complement each other, Malicious Ghost Valley will advance two significant levels and become a completely different world. It will become a genuine treasure land that has both a mystical realm and a blessed land. What will happen then?"

Jiang Shangzhen's expression was solemn, but he quickly thought this through and shook his head, saying, "Gao Cheng possesses a lofty cultivation base, and I won't be able to defeat him in Malicious Ghost Valley. I can begrudgingly concede this, and it makes sense that a powerful dragon can't defeat a strong local beast. However, to say that Gao Cheng has obtained another ancient forbidden secret technique allowing him to learn a reincarnation technique that he has yet to master? I, Jiang Shangzhen, can... reluctantly concede this possibility as well.

"However, for the city lord of Skeleton Wall City to coincidentally possess a paramount immortal tool that can withstand the profound karmic consequences, allowing him to forge something akin to the underworld in Malicious Ghost Valley that's still ultimately a part of the yang world? I refuse to believe this no matter what!"

"Then I guess we'll wait and see?" He Xiaoliang said with a smile.

Jiang Shangzhen's expression became dark.

He finally developed a solemn feeling for the first time.

He Xiaoliang suddenly smiled and commented, "Jiang Shangzhen, you actually made one incorrect guest."

A smile returned to Jiang Shangzhen's face as he said, "Please go on, Sect Leader He."

However, He Xiaoliang didn't say anything else.

There was a complicated expression on her face.

Jiang Shangzhen started to silently analyze things in his mind.

However, it was a shame that there were two spots of confusion that he couldn't make sense of. This made things very troublesome.

When it came to some matters, a small mistake in one's assumption could cause one's expectations of the results to be off by an incredibly large margin.

This was because the Daoist priest of the Small Mystery Capital Temple and the old monk of the Great Round Moon Monastery had both left the peach tree forest one after another at some stage. Moreover, they had both used mystical abilities to conceal their actions.

One of them had appeared on the cliff at the southern end of the suspension bridge, standing there for an entire night.

The other had appeared on the bank of the Burial River near the water god shrine. Compared to the Daoist priest, however, the old monk had come and gone very quickly.

As for Chen Ping'an, there was no way to observe him after he arrived at Green Cottage Town. This was the case for Jiang Shangzhen, so it was presumably the case for He Xiaoliang as well. However, it was difficult to say whether this was also the case for City Lord Gao Cheng.