Chapter 344: Devilish Swords Beyond the Border

As the captain of the Special Affairs Unit, Qin Yishen was one of the most influential officials in the other circles of the Hua Republic's cultivation world. He currently sat in his dimly lit office with his eyes closed. Softly tapping his fingers on his desk, he asked in a low tone, "Was the breakthrough successful?"

He rested quietly as he listened to a routine report from the phone beside him.

—Yes, Captain. It probably happened just recently, but the Special Investigation Unit has already begun its publicity. What are your orders?

"Help them. Give Daoist Master Wang some extra promotion." Qin Yishen smiled faintly, then sighed. "I know you all want to compete with them, but don't make your rivalry so obvious. How many times do I have to remind you that we serve the nation and work for the people? Go do your duties properly. Also, remind them to immediately deliver the medical examination forms of all new regular staff within three years of recruitment."

—Yes, Captain.

The call ended. Qin Yishen gently set the receiver back in his old-fashioned desktop phone. He leaned back into the leather chair, swaying lightly.

Nascent Soul... investigation unit...

A subtle smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Though the expression seemed ordinary, it gave off an inexplicable sense of dissonance.

A sudden knock on his door made him straighten up. His smile faded, and his calm expression returned. He once again leaned back in his chair and rocked gently.

"Come in."

A middle-aged man in a suit stepped inside. He then lowered his head as he placed a thin, sheet-like electronic display on the desk. "These are the medical forms you requested, Captain."

Qin Yishen took a deep breath, stretched lazily, and sat upright.

The man lowered his voice. "You should rest more, sir. A day or two won't be enough to finish our workload. Health is the foundation of all effort. You can't keep depriving yourself of sleep."

"Don't worry about me. I can still handle it. Once this busy period passes, I'll take some rest." Qin Yishen casually put on his glasses and began scanning through the form. He then asked offhandedly, "Old Xing, how's your daughter?"

"You still remember that?" The man gave him a faint, sorrowful smile. "Thanks to the alchemical pills you helped me acquire, her condition has stabilized. I truly do not know how to repay you, Captain."

Qin Yishen waved his hand. Warmly, he replied, "There is no need for such formality. We're colleagues. If you encounter any difficulty, you may come to me at any time."

"Thank you very much, Captain—"

Clang!

From the window echoed what seemed like a pebble striking glass. The middle-aged man frowned and instinctively turned toward the source, ready to check.

"Likely just some insects," Qin Yishen said calmly. "Head back to work. You may apply to skip overtime so you can spend more time with your daughter."

The man smiled gratefully, bowed deeply, and left the office. He gently closed the door behind him.

Once Old Xing had left, Qin Yishen stood up. He walked softly to the drawn curtains and peered at the small paper crane pressed into the window's gap. Pushing open the window slightly, he let the crane flutter inside. It landed in his palm, spread open on its own, and transformed into a letter. A glance was enough for him to read it.

A Nascent Soul has emerged in this world. We cannot delay our plans any longer.

The letter glowed before vanishing into thin air.

"It seems those old people have run out of patience."

Qin Yishen's lips curved in a cold smile. He casually drew back the curtains, letting sunlight flood in. The clear weather allowed the world to bathe in bright, peaceful sunlight.

Beyond the office, Old Xing, who was supposed to have left, leaned against the wall. After a while, he lowered his head and walked toward the elevator.

***

Although Shi Qianzhang and the others tirelessly promoted Wang Sheng's breakthrough, the excitement of the news eventually died down. To most cultivators, it was almost taken for granted. Judging by Wang Sheng's earlier displays of strength, stepping to the Nascent Soul Realm seemed inevitable.

The word "first" later caused further discussions, however.

A few days later, Shi Qianzhang and the others calmed down from their excitement. The matter faded into idle gossip for tea tables and leisure between cultivation sessions.

Three months later, thunder roared through the midnight sky of the Longhu Mountains. Heaven and earth manifested countless visions as the Celestial Master advanced gloriously to the Nascent Soul Realm.

At that time, cultivators recalled with amazement that the first to reach the Nascent Soul Realm had not been the venerable Celestial Master, who had been the righteous world's top expert for over twenty years. Instead, it was a young sword cultivator whose location and activities remained completely unknown.

Roughly a hundred days after Wang Sheng's breakthrough, the sect master of Mount Mao and the sect master of the Shu Sword Sect both followed the Celestial Master to the Nascent Soul Realm. For the first time in years, the top ten of the Heavenly Rankings shifted.

Surpassing even his own master, Wang Sheng was officially placed fourth, right below the three other Nascent Soul Realm seniors.

Qing Yanzi, who was once the busiest figure in the cultivation world, had kept a much lower profile during these months. He had likely entered secluded cultivation to preserve his dignity as a master.

Though their sect didn't belong to any mountain, they now had three experts within the top fifteen of the Heavenly Rankings. The youngest among them already seemed poised to point his sword toward first place.

At the foot of the Daoist mountains all across the land, fruit shops declared that they had to increase their lemon supply for the coming years[1].

Wang Sheng, who was still in seclusion, remained entirely unaware. After entering the Nascent Soul Realm, insights flowed into him unceasingly as though a great reservoir had burst.

On the 124th day of secluded cultivation with his senior sister, autumn colors began to tint the lake and forest. That noon, in the master bedroom of the lakeside villa, Wang Sheng opened his eyes and found himself staring at the celestial beauty before him.

Just as the thought of moving closer arose, he involuntarily rose to the sky.

I'm floating?

Wang Sheng lowered his head and saw his body still seated in peaceful and serene meditation, his eyes still closed. He reached out with a translucent hand, feeling the faint pull of his body tugging at his soul.

He looked down again. His consciousness was anchored in a clump of phantasm.

Did my Nascent Soul leave my body to roam?

In his daze, everything around him twisted slightly. The sunlight on his body felt so warm that he nearly groaned aloud.

Lack of experience left him unprepared. Ancient cultivators knew that such moments, when the spirit roamed freely, were excellent opportunities to comprehend the Dao without endangering the soul. He was meant to draw close to the Great Dao itself. After all, this phenomenon meant his perception was heightened.

His Nascent Soul did not truly depart. His consciousness had merely temporarily left his body. The soul and the body remained still.

Dazed, Wang Sheng simply floated and stared at his senior sister, appreciating her serene beauty. He then sensed fluctuations of primal qi above. With a mental command, he drifted upward and passed through the ceiling. His vision brightened.

Xiaomiao sat by the lakeside in meditation, light rippling faintly around her. She was making a breakthrough.

And I thought I was the one who was advancing too swiftly!

Wang Sheng once worried that his rapid progress within the Earth Qi Seal had left hidden dangers. However, compared to his little sister, his concern seemed unfounded.

Thanks to the gifts her master had given her, she had already properly advanced to the middle stage of the Spirit Convergence Realm. Moreover, her Dao Body was nearly purified of impurities. In another month or two, she would step into the Seed Formation Realm.

It was simply outrageous.

Wang Sheng shook his head gently, noticing her subtle changes in appearance.

When she first came to the villa, Xiaomiao had been slender and delicate. In just a few months, she had become more graceful.

Having already witnessed his senior sister's golden year-and-a-half of development, Wang Sheng was not particularly surprised. Still, looking at his increasingly radiant younger sister made another concern rise within him.

These days, cultivators rarely follow rules and show even a little restraint. Surely someone will come after my little sister. I swear if she ends up falling for some scoundrel...

Wang Sheng snorted coldly.

No matter how handsome, whoever dares wrong her will be castrated!

Xiaomiao's breakthrough did not cause great commotion, but the primal qi fluctuations still disturbed Mu Wanxuan's meditation.

Inside the bedroom, Mu Wanxuan opened her eyes and yawned languidly. She had advanced in her cultivation greatly at the cost of constantly draining her energy.

Mu Wanxuan gazed absently at Wang Sheng's face, unaware that her junior brother was drifting through walls within the villa. She then suddenly leaned forward, moving carefully closer to him. Tilting her head, she closed her eyes and brushed her lips like dragonflies on water against the corner of his mouth.

Wang Sheng, who was hovering in the ceiling, widened his eyes. He darted away from the ceiling, tumbled through the air, and dove straight back into his body.

Wha... What's that supposed to be?! Why couldn't she wait just two seconds?

Wang Sheng opened his eyes, which showed a trace of grievance. Mu Wanxuan remained calm, turning her eyes toward the window as though nothing had happened.

At that moment, an idea sparked in his mind. It was the perfect chance to test how much his senior sister understood about men and women.

He deliberately sighed and muttered, "What if this leads to pregnancy?"

Mu Wanxuan blinked, then suddenly pressed her hand to her mouth and lower abdomen, her brow knitting slightly.

Wang Sheng felt a wave of helplessness. She truly still believed, due to television shows, that a mere kiss could lead to pregnancy.

He pulled out his phone, finding over "999+" unread messages from the group chat. With a decisive tap, he cleared them all and, while still slightly depressed, sent out a message, slightly depressed.

Wang Sheng: I'm going out of the country to search for devilish swords. Do any of you want to join, Seniors?

1. In Chinese, the term "eating lemons" means to be jealous or envious. ☜