Chapter 610: Fengli Sect's Sect Master

Considering that the one seeking him out so abruptly had such profound cultivation, Wang Sheng could already tell that this had nothing to do with Earth's cultivators.

He waited for a bit. Soon, a disciple hurriedly arrived on a cloud and reported that two unfamiliar seniors had come looking for him outside the mountain gate.

The visitors did not conceal their aura at all. The Xinghai Sect's disciples wouldn't fail to identify the distinctive Heavenly Immortal Realm pressure that they exuded.

Wang Sheng asked, "Did they give their Daoist name or sect?"

The disciple answered respectfully, "No, but they both exude extraordinary presence. One of them is a male cultivator with a sword on his back, while the other is a female cultivator wielding a sword. They may be sword cultivators."

A Heavenly Immortal Realm sword cultivator is looking for me?

Wang Sheng immediately thought of the North-River Sword Sect, though he couldn't be certain. Either way, there was no reason for him to avoid meeting them now that they were here.

With a powerful cultivator now backing him, his confidence was naturally firm.

He quietly slipped out of the small pavilion and closed the array again to prevent the commotion outside from disturbing his senior sister. With his hands clasped behind his back, he rode a cloud toward the front palace.

Lishang, who was holding a scroll and preparing for their meeting with the Fengli Sect later that day, used voice transmission from inside the palace to tell him that everything was fine and that he shouldn't worry.

When he reached the mountain gate, several disciples stepped forward, intending to open the grand defensive array. However, he raised his hand to stop them and walked out using his own jade talisman.

Upon exiting the sect, the two figures standing quietly on the cloud path outside the mountain gate looked over at once. They were certainly Heavenly Immortals, though only the male was a sword cultivator. The female immortal seemed to practice something else.

Wang Sheng looked at the pair. They couldn't be called a match made in heaven, but they were still a beautiful couple.

The male Heavenly Immortal was tall, slender, and imposing. An immortal sword was slung across his back, his long hair flowing freely. He looked exactly like Wang Sheng's idea of a classic "swordsman."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The female Heavenly Immortal was also quite attractive, but her beauty was gentle rather than striking—soft but not too delicate. She was in a wide-sleeved long dress and had a short sword in her hand, her eyes lively and alert.

Wang Sheng had a fairly good first impression of the two.

They were likely disciples of a major sect. Since unaffiliated practitioners spent countless years struggling and honing themselves, many of them simply weren't as calm and composed. It was only natural for them to behave differently from disciples who had powerful beings of major sects protecting them.

The two were also observing him. The female Heavenly Immortal merely glanced at him a few times and then smiled politely. Meanwhile, the male Heavenly Immortal's eyes brightened a bit more than his companion's. He also took the initiative to clasp his hands in greeting.

"Are you Pi Kachew, Daoist Friend?"

Wang Sheng nodded in response. "I am. May I ask why you two are looking for me?"

The male cultivator smiled. "I am Yun Xizi, a cultivator of the North-River Sword Sect, and this is my junior sister Wan Ru, from Zexiang Valley. Li Tianyao, whom I'm sure you're familiar with, is also my junior brother. At my master's request, we have come today to meet you and pass along a message."

Just as I expected...

Wang Sheng said calmly, "I see. Forgive me for being discourteous until now, esteemed members of the North-River Sword Sect."

"You seem to hold some prejudice against my sect, Daoist Friend." Yun Xizi sighed quietly. "Junior Brother Li sometimes cannot distinguish between family matters and sect matters. Please forgive his lack of judgment."

"You two didn't come here just to speak ill of the Celestial Wind Sect's heir, did you?"

Wan Ru frowned slightly, clearly displeased by the word "heir."

Yun Xizi smiled once more. "My master arrived here yesterday. He couldn't help but be deeply moved when he heard that you had comprehended the Dao of the Sword Heart at the Primordial Immortal Realm and generously gifted our sect a piece of sword heart scripture.

"After reading that scripture, my master couldn't help but conclude that you're a great master of the Dao of the Sword, with boundless potential ahead. Since he can't come out and meet you himself right now, he had me deliver a few small gifts instead. He hopes to be your peer in cultivating the Dao of the Sword and avoid engaging in clashes that break swords and pleasantries with you."

As he spoke, Yun Xizi wrapped several brocade boxes in immortal power and sent them before Wang Sheng, who was somewhat baffled.

The North-River Sword Sect sent Li Tianyao's senior brother—a Heavenly Immortal Realm sword cultivator—to "make peace" with me?

Although Wang Sheng had certainly put some effort into the sword heart scripture, for Li Tianyao's master to value it so highly felt somewhat excessive.

One of Wang Sheng's strengths was self-awareness. He had only cultivated and comprehended the Dao for so many years. Though he had a high starting point, high aptitude, and great alignment with the Great Dao of the sword, his Dao of the Sword Heart was far from complete.

Unbeknownst to him, his sect's forefather had traumatized the North-River Sword Sect earlier that day, leaving it as jumpy as startled birds.

After Li Tianyao's master arrived at Tianfeng, he met with Xiao Ende. Only then did he learn of Wang Sheng's existence and carefully studied the sword heart scripture.

Right now, it was better to believe that Wang Sheng did have a sword heart.

The possibility was almost nonexistent, but they still couldn't conclude that "Pi Kachew" was unrelated to the great being from that day. After all, they had heard that he advanced in his cultivation by leaps and bounds. He also broke through sword realms that should have been formidable barriers one after another. Finally, despite only being a late-stage True Immortal, he could already rely on his Dao of the Sword to fight a Heavenly Immortal Realm fiend head-on.

Such people were generally referred to as cultivation prodigies.

The North-River Sword Sect had been around for hundreds of thousands of years. In the Eastern Sky Region, they had seen no shortage of all kinds of prodigies and geniuses. Those who truly rose to prominence were only a handful, yet there was really nothing unusual about it.

However, they were in an extraordinary period right now. They had to be cautious and first mend their relationship with Wang Sheng. What they would do afterward depended on whether a powerful figure was truly backing him up. In any case, it wouldn't be a huge loss to send him some gifts.

Yun Xizi smiled and cupped his hands, clearly intending to depart. "When are you free, Daoist Friend? Please come visit Tianfeng for a while."

Wang Sheng smiled mockingly. "I will never visit the Celestial Wind Sect."

Sitting around in Tianfeng was no different from walking straight into a banquet of doom.

Yun Xizi made a Daoist salute. "It's getting late. I won't chatter any longer since I still have to hurry back and report to my master."

Wang Sheng said a polite farewell and prepared to watch the two of them leave when Yun Xizi took two steps forward. With a sharp clang, the immortal sword on his back slid half a

cun

out of its sheath. A vast and majestic sword intent pressed down on Wang Sheng!

Nevertheless, Wang Sheng remained perfectly calm. Not only did the surprise probing strike fail to ruffle him, but he even smiled faintly and carefully analyzed the incoming sword intent.

Yun Xizi slightly turned his head and gave Wang Sheng a small smile. He then raised his hand and pressed the immortal sword that had leaped out back into place.

In return, Wang Sheng cupped his hands. He had already shifted his attention to the brocade boxes circling him and had even begun to check what items were inside them.

Once far enough from the Xinghai Sect, Yun Xizi's eyebrows knit tightly together.

His junior sister asked, "What's wrong?"

With a solemn expression, Yun Xizi replied, "I have no doubt that Pi Kachew isn't just an ordinary sword cultivator. His sword intent gives me a feeling I've never had before. Though his cultivation realm is clearly lower than mine, his Dao of the Sword was able to put me under pressure. It only subtly suppressed me, but when I faced him, I couldn't muster even the slightest confidence."

Yun Xizi paused, then smiled bitterly.

"I tested him with my sword intent before we left, yet I couldn't even force out his sword intent."

The female Heavenly Immortal looked slightly surprised. "He's that formidable?"

"Although Master has already taken notice of him, I still have to remind Master once I return." Yun Xizi shook his head and sighed. "Ever since that great expert paid us a visit, the sect has been in a state of panic. We questioned every single member, yet we still have no idea how we offended that senior."

"Could this be related to Pi Kachew?"

Yun Xizi frowned. "If that's the case, then we're definitely in trouble. The sect will inevitably punish Master. Anyway, make sure not to speak of this carelessly. You never know who might be listening."

The female Heavenly Immortal softly agreed and lowered her head, becoming unusually docile and dependent.

The two were very obviously developing a... romantic relationship.

***

Once the pair had left, Wang Sheng opened the brocade boxes. Inside were nothing more than some Immortal Stones, spirit pills, and a few precious materials. He didn't find any of the gifts particularly valuable.

"How stingy," he complained.

After inspecting all the brocade boxes and treasures, he stored them away in his storage artifact.

Who would have thought that the North-River Sword Sect would not only arrive even faster than the Fengli Sect, but even attempt to befriend me?

Once back inside the mountain gate, Wang Sheng returned to the rear mountain and stayed by his senior sister's side.

He could not quite understand why the North-River Sword Sect's attitude had shifted so dramatically from arrogance to courtesy. Yun Xizi's visit had given him and the Xinghai Sect more options, but that was all.

The hostile relationship between the Celestial Wind Sect and the Xinghai Sect could not possibly be resolved. To top it all off, there were even more old scores that could never be settled between Wang Sheng and the Celestial Wind Sect.

Wang Sheng had only been meditating for less than half a day when Yao Xingzi used voice transmission to inform him that the Fengli Sect's delegation was already outside Fengmo. Wang Sheng was then instructed to go over and make preparations as well.

The real main agenda of the day had finally arrived.

Wang Sheng took out Spiritless and suspended it outside his senior sister's meditation room, leaving Yaoyun behind to guard the area.

The Fengli Sect likely wouldn't do anything to harm the Xinghai Sect today since its members were genuinely nervous right now. After all, they had been fighting the Celestial Wind Sect fiercely when the North-River Sword Sect came in as reinforcements. It certainly looked as though they were trying to wipe out the Fengli Sect.

The Fengli Sect didn't play any self-wounding stratagem this time, either. The sect master came personally, along with four elders and six of the Thirteen Fairies who were still alive and unmarried.

Wang Sheng and Linyuan stood at the mountain gate. Behind them were many of the Xinghai Sect's elders and outstanding disciples.

From afar, they could already see the Fengli Sect's "fleet." One celestial tower ship after another slowly approached them amid the clouds and mist.

Displeased, Linyuan muttered, "Why did they bring so many people? Are they here to form an alliance, or to attack the mountain?"

Wang Sheng chuckled lightly at the side, unsure how to respond.

He could not help but wonder what the Fengli Sect's sect master looked like. There were countless rumors about her across the thirteen qi planets, yet even in the Fengli Sect, barely anyone had actually seen her. Those who had seen her true face were even fewer since she used many different appearances daily.

The chief culprit who had forced Lan Huilin into her predicament had already arrived at Fengmo.

Wang Sheng was naturally curious.

Will she look like an old hag? Or a beauty? Maybe a female version of Zhang Fei[1]? Oh, what about a living tank? No, that's unlikely, unless she cultivated some special divine art related to devouring others' souls to increase one's power.

1. A famous general from the Three Kingdoms period, known for his brawny and muscular build. ☜