Chapter 30: Abyss Listener, The Ancient Sword

The closer they got to their destination, the farther they were from home.

After leaving the high-speed train station, they transferred to a vehicle that took them back to the entrance of the Wudang Mountains. The small buildings and winding streets of the town below gradually faded into the distance, replaced by a dense primal qi that enveloped them.

Mu Wanxuan continued gazing out of the window, her expression unchanged from when they had descended the mountains before. However, unlike the excitement that she had felt when leaving, this time she carried a sense of anticipation, perhaps looking forward to the next time that she would get to go down.

Since his senior sister wasn't particularly expressive, Wang Sheng didn't ask about her thoughts on their trip to Mount Mao and his hometown. Still, from her demeanor, it was clear that she was quite contented—at the very least, she hadn't seemed genuinely uncomfortable at any point.

To seek immortality and cultivation is to find true words; to seek the home of the immortals is to find freedom.

The word "freedom" seemed a bit humbler compared to "leisure," yet it had its own unique charm.

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

As they ascended the mountain, Wang Sheng noticed that more people greeted him than before.

News of their performance at the exchange meeting had already spread across the Wudang Mountains thanks to Zhou Yinglong, Zhao Zhao, Meng Hong, and Hao Ling.

With modern communication being so convenient, several disciples had created group chats, allowing news to spread rapidly. Now, every Daoist temple and cultivation site on the mountains were aware of Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan's profound cultivation levels.

Wang Sheng's clarity in swordsmanship and mastery of the Seven-Star Sword Intent and Mu Wanxuan's Dual-Polarity Dao Rhythm and Seed Formation Realm had made them rising stars among the younger disciples of the Wudang Mountains.

As they walked, many more greeted Wang Sheng. He responded with a polite nod, refraining from unnecessary small talk without appearing aloof. Having spent years in a gang in his past life, he had endured enough condescending attitudes from so-called "experts.” He had no intention of becoming the kind of cultivator he once despised.

At the entrance of their courtyard, Qing Yanzi stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly having anticipated their arrival.

Upon seeing their master, Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan picked up the pace.

The mountain path seemed recently cleaned. The previously damaged sections showed signs of repair as well—likely arranged by Li Shiwu.

"Master!"

"

Mm!

"

"You two—weren't you told to keep a low profile during your trip to Mount Mao?" Qing Yanzi frowned. Just as the two exchanged uneasy glances, he broke into a smile and gently added, "You did well. Although we are merely guests here and do not inherit the Daoist heritage of the True Martial Great Emperor, we are still cultivators of this sacred place.

"You did not disgrace me, but from now on, you must remain focused and continue cultivating diligently. The world is vast, and there are countless experts. Even I dare not be arrogant. Do not let temporary success make you underestimate the heritages of the wider Daoist world."

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan bowed their heads in unison, committing their master's words to heart.

Qing Yanzi waved his hand with a smile. "Head inside. Yesterday, Junior Brother Li delivered some items, two of which are quite good. Consider them rewards for your journey. Now, I have a meeting at Taihe Palace. I’ll bring home dinner."

Qing Yanzi then left gracefully, seemingly riding the wind.

"Hasn't it only been a few days? Why does it feel like Master is about to break through again?" Wang Sheng muttered under his breath.

Mu Wanxuan nodded in agreement.

Qing Yanzi's accumulation of knowledge rivaled that of the Daoist elders on the Wudang Mountains, and his comprehension of the Dao surpassed that of many senior cultivators. His rapid progress in cultivation wasn't surprising, however. On the contrary, it was simply a testament to his profound foundation.

The two exchanged a glance and chuckled before carrying their luggage into the newly renovated courtyard. They eagerly entered the northern room.

On the table lay several items, but Wang Sheng's eyes were immediately drawn to a sheathed longsword.

As someone who loved swords, he understood his master's intentions in having him train with wooden and blunt swords for so long. However, now faced with a treasured sword that emanated a faint spiritual aura, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

He reached out and ran his fingers over the scabbard, which seemed to be made of some tough, unknown material. As he touched it, he thought he heard a faint sword hum.

This is no ordinary longsword.

Compared to the Tai Chi training sword that he had been using, the one before him had a wider hilt but a narrower blade, resembling the design of ancient pre-Qin swords. Upon lifting it, he found the sword heavier than expected. Holding it in his right hand, he felt an urge to draw it, yet a lingering hesitation held him back. He feared disappointment—feared that the sword wouldn't meet the expectations that he had unconsciously built in his heart.

For now, he could only trust in the craftsmanship of the Wudang Mountains.

His senior sister, who was holding up two antique-style dresses for comparison, curiously watched the sword in his hand.

Taking a deep breath, Wang Sheng slowly drew the longsword from its scabbard. The blade sliding against the scabbard pleased his ears.

A soft glow emanated from the blade, which was as thin as a cicada's wing and had a shallow fuller running down the center. Its surface seemed to ripple like water due to the primal qi entwined around the sword.

Near the guard, two ancient characters were engraved—Abyss Listener.

When he carefully infused a thread of true essence into the sword, it absorbed the true essence effortlessly. Through his meridians, the essence returned to his palm with a hint of chilling coolness.

Sword essence? This must be an artifact.

Though not as mystical as Liu Yunzhi's Golden Daoist Robe or Shi Qianzhang's Crescent Jade, this ancient sword, named Abyss Listener, was clearly crafted for sword cultivators.

As he infused more true essence, the sword began to emit a resonant hum, its surface rippling with light. However, he soon sensed the sword's limit—any more true essence could damage it.

He sighed. Even though its craftsmanship was superior to ordinary steel, the sword's strength was still limited. At the Spirit Convergence Realm and the Seed Formation Realm, it was still suitable for use. However, with his cultivation realm developing, the sword would eventually fall behind his abilities.

Nevertheless, Wang Sheng soon chuckled and smiled, feeling relieved. If Li Shiwu had brought him one of the Wudang Mountains' treasured artifacts, he would have owed the Daoist heritage of Wudang a great favor. Debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay, even for cultivators.

Meanwhile, though the sword he had received was precious, it wasn't the best. They could still consider it a reward for performance at Mount Mao.

"Senior Sister, take a look." Wang Sheng handed the treasured sword to Mu Wanxuan, who carefully put aside the clothes that she had been holding and accepted the sword with great care.

"

Hmm...

"

Mu Wanxuan gently traced a finger along the sword's fuller. She then shook her head lightly at Wang Sheng, a gesture that seemed to warn him not to let the sword affect his Dao Heart.

"Don't worry. I won't use it to take lives."

Relieved, Mu Wanxuan returned the sword to him. Wang Sheng sheathed the ancient sword and casually picked up two small, black lacquered booklets that had been beneath it.

Upon opening them, he saw their one-inch ID photos along with records of their ages, years of cultivation, affiliated Daoist temple, and sect lineage.

Their Daoist priest certificates had arrived.

Wang Sheng's recorded cultivation time was three years, while Senior Sister's was fifteen years—likely counted from the time she first became aware of cultivation. After all, no one understood the meaning of the Dao at birth.

Beneath the ancient-style robes, Mu Wanxuan found a jade pendant. She examined it for a moment and then happily handed it to Wang Sheng.

"Here."

"Senior Sister, since I’ll be taking the sword, you should have the pendant."

Mu Wanxuan shook her head and firmly pressed the jade pendant into Wang Sheng's hands. Then, she swiped across her phone screen and showed him a text.

I'm invincible in the world, number one in the universe.

She was essentially telling him that she had no need for the pendant, which helped focus and calm the mind, and that Wang Sheng should wear it instead.

However, Wang Sheng had principles. He could barely take care of his senior sister now—how could he accept something that rightfully belonged to her?

One insisted on giving, while the other firmly refused to take. After a few minutes, Mu Wanxuan looked at him with a hint of grievance, her gaze almost brimming with unshed tears.

Wang Sheng found himself momentarily at a loss.

"Senior Sister, don't be upset..."

"Take."

"Alright, give me a moment."

Wang Sheng turned and entered the inner room. He returned shortly with a long box in his arms.

"I originally planned to give this to you as a birthday gift, but since you want to give me something, you have to accept this in return."

Mu Wanxuan blinked and curiously opened the long box, revealing a beautifully crafted, vibrant-green jade flute.

"I found it online. It’s just an ordinary item, but I thought it looked nice, so I bought it." Wang Sheng scratched his head sheepishly.

Mu Wanxuan held the jade flute with joy, gently stroking it as if it were a treasure that she loved dearly.

As per their agreement, the jade pendant ended up in Wang Sheng's possession. While holding it, he felt a cool aura settling in his heart. Wearing it during cultivation would help dispel distractions and make entering a meditative state quicker.

This pendant wasn't exactly an artifact either, just a piece of high-quality jade imbued with primal qi.

Toot

—

t

oot toot!

Wang Sheng turned to the side, finding Mu Wanxuan sitting on the earthen bed. She was already trying to play the jade flute.

He watched his senior sister for a while. Smiling, he shook his head and carried his suitcase into the inner room to unpack. Not long after, he went to the roof in his usual baggy shorts, short-sleeved shirt, and flip-flops.

He settled into his usual meditation spot, still sitting on a wooden board. Since he was only at the late stage of the Spirit Convergence Realm, his flesh and bones were still vulnerable. His bum would ache if he sat on the roof without it for long periods.

Unlike the other times he cultivated on this spot, he had a sheathed ancient sword beside him now, and his jade pendant hung from its guard.

Mu Wanxuan had also changed into loose training clothes and meditated in the forest outside the courtyard. The jade flute lay by her side, gradually absorbing the primal qi around it. By dusk, the forest was already filled with intermittent flute tunes. Though the melody wasn't fully formed, it was gentle and soothing to the ears.

Meanwhile, Wang Sheng practiced his sword forms in the courtyard. After some time, he stood atop a boulder, thoughtfully gazing at the colorful clouds over the western mountains. He was pondering about his, his senior sister's, and his master's future.

The cultivation path had four requirements: methods, wealth, companions, and location. Though wealth was indispensable, their sect had no mountain, no deep foundation, and only a small bronze box passed down from their forefathers.

His master was accustomed to a life of seclusion, and his senior sister was naive to worldly affairs. Taking those into consideration, he would have to be the one to think ahead for the sect.

"

Tsk.

"

Feeling as if he were the backbone of the family, a tiny sense of pride welled up inside him.

Wang Sheng lightly ran his fingers across the sword's scabbard as he watched the sunset, his ponytail swaying in the evening breeze. Tall and lean, he now appeared anything but crude.