Chapter 320: The Blood-Dissolving Divine Sword

Since the female liaison wasn't a cultivator, she volunteered to stay behind and guard the area. She also reminded the three Special Warfare Unit soldiers stationed near their scientists not to let their guard down. Worried that she would hold the team back, Hao Ling also offered to stay back and man the barbecue so the others could return to a hearty feast.

In the end, only Mu Wanxuan accompanied Xi Lian. The two lifted off from the rooftop and vanished into the night. Following Xi Lian's directions, they headed to the "crime scene."

Judging from Xi Lian's excited expression, she would have likely stirred up quite the commotion if Mu Wanxuan had not been with her to restrain her.

***

Inside the bar.

As Wang Sheng drank sake and joked around with his friends, Yaoyun telepathically said, "

A cultivator is raising a devilish sword a hundred

li

away. He's using an ancient secret method. Do you want to take a look?

"

Wang Sheng blinked. "

What is a devilish sword?

"

"

A sword forged from the blood and souls of living beings. If forged to perfection, it could wound even a True Immortal,

"

Yaoyun explained calmly.

"

The one I just detected was made with a decent method, but the craftsmanship is beginner-level at best. It won't be able to harm you.

"

Wang Sheng replied, "

We should leave this matter to Sakura Island cultivators. We'll only complicate things if we interfere. Give me the location and the opponent's strength, and I'll inform them. We can't just ignore corrupt cultivators, considering they harm others.

"

Just then, new information surfaced in Wang Sheng's mind. He sorted through it briefly and sent it straight to Mou Yue via text. He didn't have to meddle further.

While drinking and conversing, Wang Sheng telepathically asked, "

Yaoyun, why do so many corrupt arts circulate in this world?

"

"

The Heavenly Court caused half of that. Cultivators who had strayed from the right path caused the other half. To ensure the cultivators of this realm would not be helpless in battle, the Heavenly Court initially decided that cultivators must also have opponents.

"All things are divided into yin and yang, good and evil. The Heavenly Court governs the Three Realms, overseeing the lives and deaths of countless beings, so of course, there exist malevolent immortals and malevolent gods. In the beginning, the god of pestilence spread certain corrupt arts, and the heavenly soldiers and generals monitored those who practiced them to prevent true catastrophe.

"

The method used to forge a devilish sword is considered a divine technique, yet it gravely offends the order of the Heavens. I don't know who spread it to this realm, but it came from an unaffiliated practitioner connected to the Heavenly Court. Anyway, the devilish sword I detected seems to be called the Blood-Dissolving Divine Sword.

"

Blood-Dissolving Divine Sword... The name alone sounds domineering.

Wang Sheng remembered something from ten years ago. He unknowingly glanced at Shi Qianzhang.

When the young master of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect pursued Shi Qianzhang, he was with a Blade Slave who wielded a sinister demonic blade. There's a chance that it was forged using that method, too.

Wang Sheng quietly asked Yaoyun to monitor the sword cultivator. If the Sakura Island cultivators failed to handle him, Wang Sheng would not mind striking from the shadows.

At the table, his three companions continued discussing foreign corrupt cultivators. They also spent some time sharing some common knowledge with Wang Sheng.

Yaoyun asked softly,

"

Do you think the way the Heavenly Court dealt with corrupt cultivators was improper? Many beings suffered because of them.

"

Wang Sheng smiled faintly. "

My master taught me that everything has two sides. You cannot judge from a single angle. When I learned that the Heavenly Court found Earth only after being cornered, and that they trained heavenly soldiers here to bolster their ranks, I felt disappointed.

"If the Heavenly Court had descended upon ancient Earth only to grant the way of cultivation, all cultivators today would have owed them gratitude. But they came with a purpose, making it seem as though the Heavenly Court and Earth are even, and the beings of Earth did not learn cultivation for nothing. For cultivators who seek freedom and carefree wandering, the Heavenly Court's actions are indeed somewhat unjust."

Yaoyun sighed lightly but did not argue against him.

Wang Sheng clinked cups with Huai Jing. Calmly, he added, "

Still, I myself benefit from cultivation. I cannot stand aside and pass judgment on the Heavenly Court. I lack both the strength and the leisure.

"

Now that Earth is tied to the Heavenly Court, the Daoist heritage of Earth can be seen as an extension of theirs. The Daoist sects' founding forefathers were also all members of the Heavenly Court. That connection can never be erased.

"

As for the corrupt cultivators, the Heavenly Court passed down many practices to temper the cultivators of the Daoist sects. That ought to be condemned, but I am not in a position to deliver it. Those who have the right to condemn the Heavenly Court are the beings who suffered at the hands of corrupt cultivators.

"

"

Mm...

"

Yaoyun fell silent.

Wang Sheng continued eating and drinking with his friends. With string music around them, the atmosphere stayed warm and pleasant.

When they were slightly drunk, Huai Jing remembered the arcade hall that he wanted to visit. He urged them to settle the bill and leave. Conveniently, the Hua Republic currency could now be used in Sakura Island.

When the four left the bar, the servers, cooks, and even the owner lined up at the door and respectfully sent them off.

The streets were still bustling. Sakura Island cultivators continued to secretly guard them while they strolled toward the arcade.

As they stepped out of the pedestrian street, two middle-aged men in black suits hurried over, bowed to Wang Sheng, and said in halting Hua language, "Thank you for your intel, Esteemed Heavenly Tribulation Executor. That corrupt cultivator has troubled us for so long already. He has committed dozens of crimes, yet he always manages to slip away before we can find him."

"Following your intel, we have now locked onto his trail and deployed many cultivators to encircle him. We believe we'll emerge victorious soon."

Huai Jing and Zhou Yinglong gave Wang Sheng a puzzled look. Wang Sheng could only shrug.

"If there is nothing else, we'd like to be on our way."

"Please, go ahead. You have our deepest thanks."

Once the two strangers had bowed and left, Zhou Yinglong and Huai Jing immediately questioned Wang Sheng.

"What was that? Why did they thank you?" Zhou Yinglong asked.

"Did you help them with something, Fei Yu? Our grudge with Sakura Island still stands, you know," Huai Jing whispered.

"I just detected a corrupt cultivator committing a crime. I gave them his location and let them handle it," Wang Sheng replied. I haven't forgotten about our grudge, but even if we're abroad, we cannot just ignore corrupt cultivators. Besides, the one I found is quite unusual and has a close connection with the Hua Republic."

The two nodded slowly.

Shi Qianzhang sighed, spread his arms, and tilted his head. With tender passion, he declared, "Embrace the world, and it will be even warmer because of you!"

Wang Sheng and the other two backed off at once. They pretended not to know him and hurried away with their heads down.

Despite the interruption, the four still reached the long-awaited arcade hall. Before they could enter, a group of young women wearing cat-ear and rabbit-ear headbands greeted them. They were all dressed rather lightly.

Wang Sheng gave Huai Jing a meaningful look, while Zhou Yinglong glanced at him in approval. The monk seemed to have broken more than just his alcohol precepts.

"

Ahem.

This is just their companion service. We will not order it. Let's go," Huai Jing said. "I will lead you all to a clean sweep today."

As the girls gathered, Buddhist light filled the air around Huai Jing. Several cultivators in suits ran over at once to block the girls.

Due to Wang Sheng's sword case and Zhou Yinglong's treasured sword, the two looked out of place. Nevertheless, they followed the monk into the vast game hall.

Shi Qianzhang lingered behind. He took off his jacket, draped it over the shoulders of a rabbit-eared girl, and sighed. In fluent Sakura language, he said, "Even if you work part-time to earn extra money, take care of yourself. Some things, once lost, are nearly impossible to regain in a lifetime."

Eh?

The girl froze. She looked completely at a loss.

"By the infinite gods above." Shi Qianzhang raised his head and sighed. He then strode off to catch up with the others.

The girl could only stand still, almost frightened to tears.

If someone nearby had not stepped in to explain, she might have thought she had encountered a new breed of creep.

***

By the time they came out of the arcade, it was already midnight.

Wang Sheng wasn't very interested in games, but his curiosity led him to try a few immersive ones. After that, he decided to just wander around instead.

During that time, Yaoyun reported that the corrupt cultivator had been killed, which saved him the effort of taking action. He stopped paying attention to the matter.

His services were expensive. In Sakura Island, it would cost double.

Just kidding.

Wang Sheng did not want to meddle in Sakura Island's affairs. If the Blood-Dissolving Divine Sword had not been linked to remnants of the Yin-Yang All-Creation Sect, he would not have spared it another thought.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The four headed back to the hotel. On the way, they stopped talking about cultivation and discussed gaming techniques instead.

Huai Jing looked satisfied. The sacred light around Shi Qianzhang had dimmed. He frowned now and then in thought, as though he was about to free himself from some restraint.

Bzz! Bzz!

Wang Sheng's phone vibrated. When he answered, he heard Xi Lian.

—Little Fei Yu, hurry back! I found a treasure!

A treasure?

"Huh? Big Sister, aren't you having a barbecue?"

—Yes, we are grilling. Listen to how happily your senior sister eats chicken wings!

Teehee.

I went out to buy cola and saw a weapon on the road. It looks extraordinary. Hurry back and take a look!

Went out to buy cola and found a weapon? What kind of situation is that?

Wang Sheng then came across a thought that rendered him momentarily speechless.

Surely not...

"Big Sister, if that thing feels even a little sinister, stay away from it. Do not touch it."

—Eh? How do you know it feels sinister?

As expected...