Time flew by. Half a month later, Wei Yunshu and Xie Zhichao boarded the Wang family’s treasure ship bound for the south, holding their jade tokens.
On the wide river, countless large ships were lined up, but only this one was different. Besides the eighteen coiling dragon formation flags standing on the ship, there were at least three layers of restrictions. It was not a common treasure artifact for entering the water but a rather superior spiritual artifact. With all its restrictions activated, it could withstand the full might of a Nascent Soul cultivator’s attack.
After all, they were traveling through the water. In areas far from immortal cities, the control exerted by the major sects was much weaker. The waters were teeming with water demons like pythons and dragon species that cultivated themselves. If they encountered unruly ones, without some skill, they would suffer greatly. As for the stewards and elders of the immortal cities, as long as their own juniors were not in danger, they would turn a blind eye. After all, the path of cultivation was arduous; life and death were personal matters. If you couldn’t overcome it, it was simply your destined trial.
The treasure ship departed at dawn. Wei Yunshu stood at the bow of the ship, gazing at the horizon, a faint white line appearing. The sound of waves entered her ears, vast and resonant, clearing her mind.
“It seems the attraction of Cloud Sand is indeed great; so many cultivators are heading to the Southern Continent,” Xie Zhichao said, holding her wine gourd and leaning lazily against the railing, drinking.
Wei Yunshu raised an eyebrow and smiled heartily. “Perhaps it’s just to slay demons and eradicate evil.” With the descent of the demonic calamity, major sects would surely sense it. At such a time, if they couldn’t unite as one, it would be a huge joke.
Xie Zhichao laughed heartily upon hearing this.
As the two were speaking, a voice filled with worry suddenly reached their ears: “Is that matter true?”
Wei Yunshu followed the direction of the voice and saw two disheveled, rather distressed-looking cultivators in green robes speaking.
“Whether it’s true or not, it has nothing to do with us. Going to the Southern Continent this time is to temper our cultivation and, secondly, to try and gain the favor of that Palace Lord. It would be best if we could become guest elders. We can’t even afford Cloud Sand, let alone that sword.”
“But that’s ‘Taiyi’!” the first cultivator’s voice suddenly rose. Realizing his emotions were running high, he quickly lowered his voice. “‘Taiyi’ is the Cloud Sovereign’s sword; it’s a True Artifact that has already birthed a true spirit! After the Cloud Sovereign’s demise, the sword’s true spirit was inevitably damaged, meaning anyone can try their luck and become its master!”
“Junior Brother, stop!” the other cultivator’s voice suddenly turned stern. “Let alone us being only Golden Core cultivators; even if we became Nascent Soul cultivators, we still wouldn’t be able to contend for that sword. Not to mention it being a True Artifact, do you think that person would take action regarding anything related to the Cloud Sovereign? Remember, Cloud City even collected the Cloud Sovereign’s scattered ink traces, let alone the Taiyi sword.”
…
The two cultivators were still arguing.
Wei Yunshu’s expression was calm as water.
Xie Zhichao looked thoughtful, a flicker of light in her eyes. She whispered, “The Cloud Sovereign’s sword?” The Cloud Sovereign was not a disciple of Buzhou, but she also walked the path of the sword. Her cultivation technique was based on the “Grand Supreme Three Lights Jade Scroll,” and her sword energy flowed like myriad stars appearing together. Years ago, there was a Senior Brother at Buzhou whose age and realm were comparable to the Cloud Sovereign. During a grand Immortal Sect competition, he challenged the Cloud Sovereign, but his sword heart was shattered by the Cloud Sovereign’s sword. Afterward, he became muddled and only cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage before stagnating. He could only manage a steward’s post, living in a daze until his lifespan ended. Since the Taiyi sword was the Cloud Sovereign’s sword, its sword intent must be worth studying!
Wei Yunshu immediately saw through Xie Zhichao’s thoughts. Without hesitation, she said, “It’s false news.” After her “demise,” the Taiyi sword’s true spirit was indeed severely damaged and was currently recuperating in her apertures. How could it be at the Sunset Burial Mounds? She wondered who had released this information and what their objective was. Wei Yunshu knitted her brows, temporarily suppressing her doubts.
Not far away, the two green-robed cultivators were still arguing. Suddenly, a pale golden flower shot out, striking the two cultivators with lightning speed. The green-robed cultivators’ reactions were not slow. They formed hand seals, and a screen of profound light was immediately erected, blocking the golden flower. “Who!” a furious roar exploded like spring thunder.
“What wild Daoist dares to gossip so carelessly?” a cold scoff sounded. The golden flower’s light intensified, splitting into sixteen dazzling golden shadows, exuding a clear killing intent! With just two muffled thuds, it pierced through the protective profound light of the two green-robed cultivators, aiming to take their lives.
Wei Yunshu watched clearly from the side. This “golden flower” was clearly an offensive spiritual artifact called the “Flower God Tablet.” If she remembered correctly, it came from Cloud City’s treasure vault. Those two cultivators had indeed mentioned Cloud City, but they didn’t deserve to die for it. When had Cloud City disciples become so arrogant and overbearing? She couldn’t stand by and watch these two be killed by Cloud City disciples. She swept her whisk forward, and a continuous, soft light blocked the “golden flower,” gradually dissipating its spiritual energy.
“It’s you?” The attacking Cloud City disciple stepped forward. Upon seeing Wei Yunshu, he retracted his Dharma artifact and sneered coldly.
When the two green-robed cultivators saw that the attacker was from Cloud City, their faces immediately turned pale. They couldn’t utter any words of complaint or curse. Their lips trembled, and finally, they bowed to Wei Yunshu as a gesture of gratitude, then hurriedly left, wanting to return to their rooms, activate the formations, and not come out again.
“I wonder who it is. Oh, it’s a fellow Daoist from the Cloud Sect. As expected, they are truly domineering and unparalleled. They truly live up to their name as the foremost immortal sect,” Xie Zhichao squinted her drunken eyes and gave the disciple a thumbs-up, her sarcasm evident.
The disciple didn’t feel he had done anything wrong and scoffed, “What is their status to be slandering our Cloud City? They deserve to die!” He looked directly at Xie Zhichao. “You are a disciple of Buzhou; why stoop to such depravity?”
Xie Zhichao shook her head upon hearing this. She ignored the disciple and instead turned to Wei Yunshu with a sigh. “The Cloud Sovereign has only been gone for three years, and Cloud Sect has already degenerated to this extent. They accept anyone into their ranks. If this continues, I fear the name ‘Cloud City’ will soon be forgotten.”
The disciple, seeing Xie Zhichao insulting him, became enraged. “Shut up!” He urged the “Flower God Tablet,” and several flowers of different colors gradually appeared, differentiating into countless light projections in the air. They were vibrant and beautiful, but hidden within this radiance was a deadly killing intent! Xie Zhichao was also not afraid. The sword and saber intent cultivated by Buzhou disciples did not suppress their emotions. She immediately drew her saber from its sheath, regardless of whether they were fellow immortal sect disciples, intending to slay him with a single strike.
However, before Xie Zhichao could make a move, a stream of spiritual light flew out from the ship’s cabin. By the time everyone saw it, it had already struck the Cloud City disciple. As if countless sound blades were cutting down, the violent and presumptuous disciple instantly turned into bloody mist.
Xie Zhichao’s eyelids twitched, and she tightly gripped her saber.
She was not so ruthless.
“A scoundrel who cries like an owl and acts like a rat deserves to die,” a soft laugh rang out. Immediately after, a female cultivator in red, with white hair, walked out calmly. Her flowing robes exuded an air of grace. She didn’t look at anyone else; her gaze fell directly on Wei Yunshu, a faint smile playing on her lips.
“This is?” Xie Zhichao’s eyes widened, and a guess formed in her mind.
Wei Yunshu nodded with a soft “Mm” and bowed to the female cultivator. “Greetings, True Monarch Luo.”
Xie Zhichao: “…” Even if it was an incarnation of a Cavern Heaven True Monarch, she didn’t need to crowd onto the same ship as them, right? Anywhere she wanted to go, couldn’t she go? Moreover, her intently staring gaze, was she seeing through something? Thinking this, Xie Zhichao glanced at Wei Yunshu again. Her face was still ordinary and unremarkable. Could it be that she had already seen through her disguise?
“Daoist Friend Bo? Is she here for you?” Xie Zhichao secretly transmitted her thoughts.
Wei Yunshu was somewhat lost in thought. She hadn’t expected Luo Lingfeng to be here.
Luo Lingfeng gazed at Wei Yunshu with interest, speaking slowly, “My disciples’ behavior is presumptuous and unruly, making you Daoist friends laugh.”
