Chapter 519: The Sword Returned, But Not Its Wielder

For a cultivator, there was minimal difference between day and night. They could perceive their surroundings clearly at any time using their spiritual perception or immortal perception. Those who had grown accustomed to sight still relied heavily on their eyes, though.

At nightfall, various light-providing artifacts illuminated every corner of the marketplace that Wang Sheng was in. However, shadows and darkness naturally formed on the opposite side of whatever light touched, including living beings.

Known for its refined entertainments, the Laifeng Pavilion was a favorite leisure spot for many cultivators. Unaffiliated practitioners weren't the only ones to frequent it; disciples of various celestial gates also visited occasionally in search of pleasure.

Some cultivators valued purity and self-restraint, while others preferred freedom and indulgence, disregarding minor rules. Their paths of cultivation differed, and so did the principles they followed.

The Laifeng Pavilion grew livelier in the evening. Lamps burned brightly, guests moved in and out, and ethereal music continuously drifted through the halls. Wang Sheng entered it once more, gently fanning himself and appearing calm.

He had altered his appearance and adjusted his aura. Since he was in the Fengli Sect's territory, he used a secret technique from the Heavenly Court rather than the mental cultivation technique that Lan Huilin had taught him. Fortunately, it proved effective enough.

To any observer, he looked like a delicate young man at the mid-stage Ascended Immortal Realm. In a place where cultivators sought romantic diversion, no one would greet a customer with crude shouts the moment they entered.

Wang Sheng followed two cultivators, who were dressed as refined scholars, through the main doors. Two female cultivators in simple, long skirts stepped forward to welcome their familiar patrons. Meanwhile, another similarly dressed young woman approached Wang Sheng with a graceful bow.

"Immortal Master, is this your first visit here?"

"It's my second time," Wang Sheng replied smoothly, revealing no hint of pretense.

The gentle-featured female cultivator offered a welcoming gesture. Softly, she asked if he wished to reserve a private room and politely mentioned that entry required ten medium-quality Immortal Stones that were one

cun

thick and three

cun

long.

Since they were the most widely produced and circulated, they served as the standard currency. However, there was no fixed exchange rate between the various grades of Immortal Stones.

Wang Sheng calmly placed a stone, which was wrapped in a faint mist of immortal essence, on the table and nudged it toward her with his immortal power. Her eyes brightened instantly. Becoming far more respectful, she accepted it with both hands.

It was a high-purity, top-grade Immortal Stone with no elemental attribute. Its value far exceeded the ten stones that she had mentioned. Those like it would be wasted on ordinary cultivation; it was usually reserved for array formation, pill refinement, or artifact crafting. Its value stemmed from its quality, not just the sheer amount of primal qi it contained.

The female cultivator guided Wang Sheng onto a wooden boat, which slowly descended through several layers of arrays. Ethereal music mixed with human voices drifted toward him.

Looking down, he saw a spacious hall. Immortal mist coiled through its carved pillars and painted beams, and sheer veils hung from above.

Tables and chairs were scattered all over it. Many figures were drinking and celebrating, and beautiful female cultivators in revealing outfits moved among them. They danced, leaned into open arms, chatted intimately in secluded corners, or engaged in less refined acts behind array barriers.

Since Wang Sheng had chosen a private room, which was reserved for higher-spending guests, the wooden boat simply hovered above the main hall instead of landing on it.

The female cultivator guided him onto a corridor suspended in midair. Its undecorated walls were made of simple carved stone, and white mist drifted across the floor, creating a surprisingly otherworldly atmosphere.

After several turns, she led Wang Sheng into an elegant private room. He took a seat on a stone chair while she poured him tea.

Softly, she asked, "Immortal Master, how many people would you like to assist you with your drinking, and how many to provide music?"

Wang Sheng placed four top-grade Immortal Stones on the stone table and said calmly, "Bring as many as these can afford."

"You are truly generous, Immortal Master."

She covered her lips as she laughed charmingly.

"Our pavilion's young ladies range from graceful and clever to seductive and bold. Some are voluptuous and soft; some have slim waists and rosy faces. However, each one is charming and has a unique style. Since their beauty comes in many different forms, it would be best for you to give me a general idea of your type. That would allow me to choose the right women to introduce to you."

"Then choose the more refined among them," Wang Sheng replied. "No need for those who are too seductive."

"Right away, Immortal Master."

She bowed, gathered the Immortal Stones, and went away.

Wang Sheng rose and gazed around the room. The jade pendants hidden in his sleeve remained wrapped in immortal power, keeping them still.

Before long, he stepped out with his fan in hand and wandered through the pavilion. Most of the female cultivators he passed lowered their heads, though a few raised their gazes to study him.

At some point, one of the jade pendants slipped from his sleeve and landed in an inconspicuous corner.

Instead of looking down and retrieving it, he followed the music to a courtyard where several immortals drank and laughed. He observed them briefly and then returned to his room.

He had completed his task. There was no need for him to put in more effort.

Since the immortal power concealing the jade pendant wouldn't dissipate for another half-month, it would remain hidden for quite some time.

After a short wait, the female cultivator returned with four young women. Though all four were lovely and refined, Wang Sheng asked for nothing improper. He had them play the zither and dance while one poured his wine as he drank slowly, creating a rare moment of relaxation.

The moment he felt slightly tipsy, he sighed with a touch of weariness. He then rose, waved the women away, and left.

As though they were already accustomed to disappointed visitors like him, they showed not even a hint of surprise. They bowed and sent a message to the administrator using a communication talisman.

The female cultivator who had first welcomed him appeared again and guided him back to the wooden boat, following the same route they had come from.

Outside the entrance, she gently asked, "Immortal Master, do you have a place to stay? If you're only passing through, you may rest here. I can arrange a quiet room for you."

"Thank you." Wang Sheng cupped his hands and opened his fan, making a mental note that the Laifeng Pavilion truly understood how to run a business. He cupped his hands at the young woman again, turned around, and left.

Most of the female cultivators who served inside were only at the Nascent Soul Realm or the Tribulation Realm. The women in plain long skirts, who were responsible for receiving guests, were all Ascended Immortals. Some of them were most likely disciples of the Fengli Sect.

That night, Wang Sheng left the small city and traveled to another nearby city of similar size. He rented a small courtyard and settled down to cultivate.

***

Half a month later, a rumor concerning the Celestial Wind Sect's young sect master spending a passionate night in Laifeng Pavilion spread wildly among unaffiliated practitioners. Every conversation that Wang Sheng had eavesdropped on generally discussed the same rumors.

"Li Tianyao of the Celestial Wind Sect reserved all of Laifeng Pavilion and even said he would request the company of the Fengli Sect's Fairy Hanyao next time."

"The young sect master apparently fell for one of its beauties and fought a rival out of jealousy. During their altercation, he dropped his jade pendant accidentally, revealing his identity."

"The Fengli Sect sure has a lot of tricks up its sleeves. Since they couldn't win head-on, they relied on their sect's special talents and sent their alluring fairies to capture the heart of the Celestial Wind Sect's heir.

Tsk tsk tsk.

"

Those were only the mild versions. Wang Sheng had filtered out the far more unpleasant remarks.

***

Three days later, instead of fading like a passing breeze, the rumors spread even further and took on more variations. Wang Sheng, who had started it all, made no further moves. He crushed the other jade pendant that he had prepared, leaving no evidence behind.

Too much would only backfire; stopping at the right moment was best.

The spark he had ignited had been subtle and unexpected. On Earth, important national affairs sometimes gained no attention while celebrity scandals dominated discussion for days. He had simply taken inspiration from that.

No one could have ever imagined that someone would manipulate such a trivial matter.

Li Tianyao represented his sect's reputation. Moreover, he was of high status and was tied closely to the North-River Sword Sect. Hence, the argument between the Celestial Wind Sect and the Fengli Sect escalated quickly.

The former denounced the latter's shameless behavior and accused them of slandering Li Tianyao. Naturally, the latter naturally fought back. They mocked the Celestial Wind Sect's heir for sneaking into their Laifeng Pavilion and ridiculed him without restraint.

***

Two days later, two small groups from the two sects encountered each other outside Fengmo. Refusing to hold her tongue, a female cultivator from the Fengli Sect provoked the other group.

"If your young sect master can't hold himself back anymore from meeting his lover in the Laifeng Pavilion, we can look the other way and act as if we never saw him."

The True Immortal leading the Celestial Wind Sect group burst into rage. The two sides clashed, and their fight swiftly intensified.

Both factions kept calling for reinforcements. Celestial soldiers joined, and casualties climbed quickly. By the time the people in charge arrived, their altercation had already turned into a chaotic battle involving hundreds.

By the time the flames of battle spread across various parts of the thirteen qi planets[1], it no longer mattered whether the jade pendant that started all the rumors truly belonged to the young sect master.

Wang Sheng watched the commotion unfold and then calmly prepared for his seclusion.

He intended to treat Fengmo as the first stop of his journey across the endless space. Once the nearby battle ended, he planned to purchase a small courtyard and live in the city while waiting for his sword spirit to return with news.

Wang Sheng then pondered whether he should establish a faction in advance to support his plans. However, after careful consideration, he concluded that he should avoid taking any big actions for now. Once he became a True Immortal and gained a secure foothold, he could start planning an intelligence organization.

His scheme involving the jade pendant had only been a small trial.

Since cultivators often focused solely on their own cultivation, this was where Earth's cultivation world held a distinct advantage. Many of its strengths had yet to be fully utilized.

Before entering seclusion to comprehend the undying true spirit, Wang Sheng prepared a brush and paper. He wrote several large characters on it.

Catching Rumors and Shadows.

Only he understood the meaning behind those words.

***

11th month, winter, sixth year since Junior Brother left.

I gaze at the distant Milky Way and think of him.

Mu Wanxuan exhaled softly and set down her writing brush. With a dazed expression, she stared at the scenery within the Small Immortal Realm.

She lived on the edge of a moon laurel tree's crown, closest to the Small Immortal Realm's gate. If any message from her junior brother arrived, she would be the first to know.

Blood mines, Celestial Wind Sect, the fiendish devil skeleton, a nameless sword immortal...

Every time Mu Wanxuan thought of Huai Jing's and the others' chaotic reports, her heart ached with worry. She longed to rush to her junior brother's side and see for herself the hardships that he had endured all these years.

Back on Earth, her junior brother had always been under her protection. He had never suffered in the slightest. At least, that was how she remembered it.

She sighed, stepped away from the window, and walked toward the jade bench to continue her comprehension of the Great Dao of Yin and Yang. The moment she took her first step, a sudden boom shook the air. Something had struck the outer shell of the Moon Palace with tremendous force.

Mu Wanxuan blinked in confusion. She intended to fly out to investigate, but before she could leave the immortal palace, a primal qi fluctuation surged from the entrance of the Small Immortal Realm. The gateway of the Small Immortal Realm opened on its own.

"Junior Brother!"

Joy filled her instantly. She rushed barefoot out of the palace, her long dark hair streaming behind her as she ran toward the gate.

Her excitement turned to shock when the gateway of the Small Immortal Realm closed without him in sight. Instead, a familiar celestial sword tore through the air toward her.

The sword had returned, but not with its wielder.

1. After careful deliberation, the team has determined that the thirteen "solar systems" around the ancient battlefield are actually thirteen "qi planets," or "qi stars" for non-Earth cultivators. ☜