After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 55

The sound of sword energy piercing the air was incessant. The sky outside the secret realm was almost filled with brilliant sword light.
After discovering no other benefits within the secret realm, disciples from various families gradually flew out. Some were extremely submissive to the disciples of Buzhou, while others shook their bodies and soared into the sky. However, after traveling a few dozen feet, they were forced by a sense of danger, their hair standing on end, and they had no choice but to descend from mid-air.
Xie Zhichao and Wei Yunshu emerged neither too early nor too late. A single glance at the grand spectacle startled even Xie Zhichao. She met the greetings of her fellow disciples, spoke a few words with Wei Yunshu, and then transformed into a stream of light, heading towards the flying carriage. Although Senior Sister Ran had brought out the news of the “Severing All Selves” technique, the subsequent events could not be taken lightly. At least five of the Dao-transmitting statues had a deep connection with the Corridor of Sins.
Inside the flying carriage, Shi Wufang sat cross-legged. Across her lap lay a six-foot sword that seemed to be condensed from infinite golden energy, constantly emitting a sharp aura. This sword reflected Shi Wufang’s gentle eyebrows and eyes, adding a touch of sharpness to her appearance. Xie Zhichao gazed at her, dazed for a moment, before lowering her head and speaking about the disciples within the secret realm in a calm tone.
Shi Wufang listened attentively, then said after a long silence, “Were all their bodies brought back? Did any primordial spirits escape?” Dustless Sea intended to oppose Buzhou, and this debt would eventually be repaid. A trace of sadness and melancholy clouded her eyes, but soon, that gloom dissipated.
“Two Senior Brothers’ primordial spirits are gone, but the rest are here,” Xie Zhichao pursed her lips and added, “After this matter is concluded, I will personally escort them for reincarnation.”
Shi Wufang gave a hum and then sighed softly. These secrets from thousands of years ago were not so easily investigated. Her gaze fell on the long sword resting on her lap, and she said, “I originally thought of using formations and instruments to erase the memories of those people, but now that True Nature Ancestor is willing to act, it’s not that troublesome. With a single sword strike, their thoughts can be severed. However, we still need to carefully search for those transmission jade slips and prevent them from being taken out.”
“Yes,” Xie Zhichao replied with a sigh, “After this matter, I wonder how many people will speak ill of Buzhou.”
Shi Wufang was unconcerned, saying, “It’s just a matter of sacrificing some reputation. I only hope that the ‘Severing All Selves’ technique can be completely eradicated.”
Below the flying carriage.
The cultivators who emerged from the secret realm were led to an open space one by one. They looked around with uncertainty, their hearts filled with unease.
The disciples of Cloud City had originally intended to leave. However, seeing that Luo Lingfeng had not spoken and had even walked towards the disciples of Buzhou, they could only suppress their inner astonishment and also moved closer. The three families of disciples from Luoshui Divine Palace were greatly displeased, their complaints echoing incessantly. However, their Nascent Soul elders had been killed, and they were no longer able to contend with the disciples of Buzhou, so they were forced to the open space.
“What is Buzhou trying to do?” Jiang Pu whispered.
“Who knows.” Wen Yutang’s smile had vanished. She lowered her eyelashes, her thoughts completely vacant. Since the incident at the Sunset Burial Mounds, worldly matters had become inscrutable to her.
Tang Changsheng, who was usually the most boisterous, closed his mouth tightly, acting uncharacteristically. Seeing that Jiang Pu and Wen Yutang were not paying attention to him, he rolled his eyes and shook a hiding escape talisman from his sleeve. It was difficult to use within the secret realm due to spatial limitations, but now that they were outside, the disciples of Buzhou wouldn’t be able to control him. As for the disciples of Guangyuan Marsh, he didn’t believe Buzhou would kill them.
The talisman activated in an instant, and a ball of bright light enveloped Tang Changsheng’s body as he suddenly leaped towards the outside. But the next moment, a beam of sword light slashed down, lightly piercing the talisman and shattering the runes. A broken talisman drifted down. Tang Changsheng’s figure reappeared, his triumphant smile not yet faded, only to be replaced by shock.
“Where are you going, Fellow Daoist Tang?” a Buzhou disciple holding a sword tilted his head and gazed at Tang Changsheng, a leisurely and carefree smile playing on his lips.
Tang Changsheng’s face turned cold. He could not escape at all. He dared not move rashly and could only say verbally, “Buzhou is using the secret realm as bait to trap and kill us all? It’s like a mantis stalks a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, committing such unjust acts. What a fine Buzhou!” His words were loud and struck a chord with the cultivators present, causing a great uproar, and dissatisfaction was evident on everyone’s faces.
“True Monarch Luo.” A cultivator from the Yun family cupped his hands towards Luo Lingfeng, bowing his head and calling out, his face full of hesitation.
Luo Lingfeng cast a cold glance at the cultivator, knowing what he was about to ask without him needing to say more. She said indifferently, “Take out the transmission jade slips you obtained.”
The Yun family cultivator was perplexed and didn’t think further. He respectfully took out the transmission jade slip. The remaining disciples were somewhat reluctant, but then they thought that even if they brought it back to Cloud City, the items would still end up in Luo Lingfeng’s hands, so they took out their jade slips. Luo Lingfeng couldn’t be bothered with their thoughts. She let out a cold laugh, collected the pile of jade slips, and then flicked her sleeve, sweeping them towards Wei Yunshu.
Wei Yunshu was talking to the disciples of Buzhou when she suddenly sensed a surge of wind. Thinking she was being attacked from behind, she immediately circulated her spiritual energy, and a faint glow appeared around her, floating like morning mist. When she saw clearly, she reached out and caught the jade slips, glancing at Luo Lingfeng with a hint of suspicion. Buzhou indeed intended to collect the jade slips. Among the cultivators who entered the secret realm, they all believed Luo Lingfeng was the most difficult to deal with, and it would likely take considerable effort, or even a fight, to persuade her. They hadn’t expected her to be so proactive.
After a moment of thought, Wei Yunshu couldn’t figure out Luo Lingfeng’s intentions, so she stopped trying to guess. She handed the jade slips to the Buzhou disciples beside her, asking them to keep them safe.
“True Monarch?” The cultivators from Cloud City stared at the scene in disbelief, taking a long while to recover. They knew that True Monarch Luo was somewhat deranged due to the fall of Cloud Sovereign. But this person before them had denied being Cloud Sovereign, and was now an elder of Buzhou! How could their gains from Cloud City be given to others? The cultivator with the surname Yun’s expression turned displeased. While still hesitating, he saw Luo Lingfeng flick her sleeve and gracefully walk towards that person.
The disciples of Buzhou suddenly became alert, but seeing Wei Yunshu’s calm expression, they loosened their grip on their sword hilts.
Wei Yunshu stood in place, her white sleeves fluttering in the wind like flowing clouds, resembling a serene and tranquil landscape painting. But Luo Lingfeng did not wish to see such tranquility. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and turbulent emotions welled up in her eyes. She smiled at Wei Yunshu, exuding peerless elegance.
“How can we cultivators touch the things in the secret realm? The esteemed Daoists of Buzhou are too law-abiding. When you discovered the secret realm, you should have sealed off all four sides, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving. Anyway, the outcome is the same as what you are doing now, isn’t it?” Luo Lingfeng said lightly. She raised her hand, her soft, smooth sleeve gently brushing across Wei Yunshu’s cheek. Her fingers were long and slender like jade. As they were about to rest on her shoulder, Wei Yunshu subtly took a step back, widening the distance between herself and Luo Lingfeng. This evasion made Luo Lingfeng’s smile even brighter, with a crimson glow flowing from the corners of her eyes, enchantingly beautiful. Luo Lingfeng, never one to be restrained, coiled around Wei Yunshu like a snake, almost pressing against her ear, and whispered with a smile, “Didn’t I tell you in the secret realm?”
Wei Yunshu knitted her brows. Her divine sense shifted, and she realized many people were casting glances at them. She suspected that after they left, the affair between Luoshui Divine Palace and “Cloud Sovereign” would be even more dramatically portrayed in the Fu Li Immortal Realm. But the protagonist in the story was long unrelated to “Cloud Sovereign.” She lowered her eyelids and said calmly, “True Monarch Luo, please wait patiently. Senior Shi will give everyone an explanation for what happened here.”
Now that Buzhou Peak could trap people from various sects here, they could not ignore the attitudes of the various sects in the subsequent arrangements.
“Oh?” Luo Lingfeng gazed intently at Wei Yunshu, then asked nonchalantly, “Then, which sect’s disciples are you representing?”
Wei Yunshu’s face showed a hint of weariness. The past and present were the same. Even if she had recovered some memories from her childhood, Luo Lingfeng’s behavior would not have changed in the slightest. She was always like that, refusing to see what she didn’t want to see, refusing to hear what she didn’t want to hear. She was completely immersed in her own thoughts, repeating that idea again and again until it became “unique,” becoming “heart’s obsession.” “I will not return to Cloud City,” Wei Yunshu transmitted mentally.
Luo Lingfeng’s eyes slightly darkened, as if speaking to Wei Yunshu, or perhaps to herself.
“No, you must go back.”
She reached out to grasp Wei Yunshu’s wrist, as if only by touching that physical body could she feel at ease.
“Your Dao body is in Cloud City. Don’t you truly want it?”
The secret techniques of the Three Lights could condense the soul and perfect any imperfections. She could use spiritual energy to form flesh and blood, but that would not be her innate physical body. With an incomplete form, her path to Dao was visible at a glance. She wanted to pursue the supreme Dao, but “incomplete form” meant she had no choice but to resolve it. But would she achieve her desire by returning to Cloud City? To take a step back, even if she successfully retrieved her “innate Dao body,” could she return to how things were before? Without immense amounts of precious medicine, how could she recover completely? Even the single Qilin Life-Returning Fruit from Dustless Sea was not something that could be easily obtained. Even if she had the patience to collect it, the Fu Li Immortal Realm was in chaos now, and there was no time.
Wei Yunshu would no longer share her inner thoughts with Luo Lingfeng. She merely looked back calmly and softly asked, “Why don’t you retrieve the Sacred Heart yourself?”
In the past, Wei Yunshu didn’t quite understand what Luo Lingfeng wanted if not the pursuit of the Cultivation path. But later, she understood. Luo Lingfeng, like her, was incomplete, and had no Dao fruit to speak of. Without the Sacred Heart and with a damaged Dao body, even without demonic thoughts or obsessions, she could not attain the Dao fruit. Therefore, unlike other Cavern Heaven True Monarchs, she could freely squander her own Cavern Heaven essence. Since she could no longer build a path to the heavens, why keep it?
The wind blowing towards her inexplicably carried a chill. Wei Yunshu looked at Luo Lingfeng, a trace of pity gradually appearing in her eyes, pity for Luo Lingfeng, and also for her own fate. “Is your Sacred Heart bait? Then might my physical body also be bait?” Wei Yunshu asked softly. Even if Luo Lingfeng no longer harbored killing intent, would the aristocratic Cavern Heavens of Cloud City let her leave Cloud City alive?
The words “Sacred Heart” touched a sore spot for Luo Lingfeng, and the smile on her lips slowly disappeared. She grabbed Wei Yunshu’s wrist and suddenly pushed her to her side, almost whispering into her ear, “Do you think I’m pathetic? I’ve become like this, and it makes you sad, Wei Yunshu?”
Wei Yunshu no longer struggled. Making a scene in public would not result in a good outcome. The warmth of her breath brushed against her skin, but she could not sense any warmth, only feeling as if she were in an ice cellar, shivering with cold. “Yes, I am very sad,” Wei Yunshu replied with a blank face. “Sometimes I feel it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t met you, perhaps the outcome would have been different.”
“Ha.” Luo Lingfeng let out a short laugh. She asked coldly, “Can this ‘if’ convince you?”
Wei Yunshu did not reply.
They both knew very well that even without that incident, there would be others. As long as those who coveted the Sacred Heart were not dead, they could not erase Luo Lingfeng’s tragedy.
Heaven’s will played tricks, and it was not by choice. Wei Yunshu chewed on these eight characters repeatedly in her heart, but what of it? What had happened had happened, and the pain was still ongoing. That bit of warmth was merely a one-sided embellishment from the past, unable to shake Luo Lingfeng, nor could it make Wei Yunshu choose a different path.
“I can no longer do anything for you,” Wei Yunshu’s pity did not completely dissipate, but her calmly spoken words were stern and decisive.
“Who says you can’t?” Luo Lingfeng smiled, the darkness in her eyes like dark clouds, suppressing a terrifying frenzy that made one’s heart pound. She said again, “Listen to me, come back to Cloud City with me, and I will kill them for you, so you can continue to be Cloud Sovereign, how about it?”
Wei Yunshu’s heart filled with even greater sorrow.
Luo Lingfeng was the one who thought she was an obstacle and wanted to kill her back then, and now it was Luo Lingfeng who was offering the position of “Cloud Sovereign.” How could her thoughts be so difficult to guess? Wei Yunshu no longer deluded herself. She shook her head, broke free from Luo Lingfeng’s hand, and said softly, “Just think of me as a cowardly, lowly, ungrateful wretch. That way, what you do will be correct, and you won’t be trapped by that sliver of weak kindness, never to escape.”
The words were filled with probing, perhaps this was what Luo Lingfeng was fixated on.
Wei Yunshu still shook off Luo Lingfeng’s hand.
Luo Lingfeng’s eyebrows raised, and just as she was about to step forward, she suddenly caught sight of a figure. His face looked as if it had been torn by the claws of a fierce beast, with no part intact, making his true appearance unrecognizable. He strode forward, knelt before Luo Lingfeng, kowtowed a few times, and said in a hoarse voice, “I want to go to The Northern Continent.” He paused, then transmitted mentally, “I have already killed Luo Yuankun and have now made an enemy of Luoshui Divine Palace. I have ruined my appearance and will not be recognized.”
From that familiar aura, Luo Lingfeng easily identified the person’s identity. She crossed her arms and looked at Luo Yuanshu with great interest, smiling and saying, “Your pursuit of Dao is truly earnest.”
Luo Yuanshu said firmly, “In Guangyuan Marsh, all benefits are not my turn. If Eldest Sister doesn’t believe me, I can take a Dharma oath.” Seeing that Luo Lingfeng did not respond, he hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “I saw Su Yun Tian in the secret realm. He attacked rogue cultivators and seems unwilling to return to Cloud City.”
Luo Lingfeng glanced at Luo Yuanshu. Whether it was Su Yun Tian or someone else, she was indifferent. Suddenly, her brows furrowed, and a paper crane glimmering with spiritual light appeared at her fingertip. She lowered her eyelids, and after a long while, she smiled and said, “I understand. You may go.” She issued a talisman and placed it on Luo Yuanshu, “Someone will guide you when the time comes.”
Luo Yuanshu thanked her respectfully. After standing up, he left Luo Lingfeng without looking back and headed towards the group of rogue cultivators.
Luo Lingfeng looked up and resumed her pursuit of Wei Yunshu’s trace. The spiritual energy around her rippled, and with a gentle sway, it transformed into paper cranes, fluttering and dancing around her. A smile played on her lips, as if she were enjoying herself. Wei Yunshu glanced at Luo Lingfeng several times. She couldn’t discern anything from her expression, so she suppressed her unease and continued discussing matters with the disciples of Buzhou.
As dusk fell, the vortex at the entrance of the secret realm gradually contracted. With a muffled thud, countless intertwined spiritual lights flickered, dazzling more than the sunset in the sky. This phenomenon lasted for about fifteen minutes. After it completely dissipated, the vortex was no longer visible. At this moment, Shi Wufang slowly emerged from the flying carriage, gazing at the disciples from various families, and said gently, “Upon entering the secret realm, many of you must have encountered strange sights and should know that the transmission jade slips are not something you can possess. We of Buzhou are willing to exchange a measure of Cloud Sand for the jade slips.”
Although everyone had some guesses in their hearts, when Shi Wufang plainly stated her intentions, a clamor erupted from the crowd.
“The items in the secret realm have always belonged to us. What right do you Buzhou have to take them?”
“This is robbery. How could Buzhou Peak do such a thing?”
“With a measure of Cloud Sand, you want to exchange for cultivation techniques that lead directly to the Dao. Buzhou’s calculations are indeed shrewd.”
“Even if we cannot handle it, our sects have elders. It is not for Buzhou to decide.”
One after another, their words were like the clamor of sparrows, shaking the heavens and earth.
Shi Wufang had long anticipated that everyone would be unwilling. Her expression was dignified and calm, her eyelids not even lifting as she continued, “This time, it is not a matter of discussion with all of you.” When they didn’t know what was inside the secret realm, they were willing to follow the rules of the Fu Li Immortal Realm. But now, knowing the situation inside, such a significant matter was worth sacrificing Buzhou’s reputation of thousands of years.
The disciples of each sect, confident that they were not the opponents of the Buzhou cultivators, felt stifled. Their eyes darted around, finally casting pleading glances towards the disciples of Cloud City. Among the four sects, none of the demon cultivators from Dustless Sea had emerged alive. As for Luoshui Divine Palace, they had also suffered heavy losses. Only Cloud City had the avatar of a Cavern Heaven True Monarch presiding over it, capable of contending with Buzhou.
Normally, the disciples of Cloud City would have stepped forward. However, at this moment, their jade slips had already been collected by Luo Lingfeng. Considering the events that had transpired, they could only surmise that the higher echelons of Cloud City had already colluded with Buzhou. Since even their True Monarch had not refused, they had no grounds to insist further. Moreover, in their hearts, they hoped that others would not be able to cultivate superior techniques, reducing the number of rivals among their peers.
The cultivators looked at the approaching Buzhou swordsmen, their hearts filled with despair. The bolder ones turned towards Luo Lingfeng, who stood with her arms crossed, a smile playing on her lips, and called out, “True Monarch Luo?” As long as someone was willing to support them from behind, they could dare to fight Buzhou.
“Buzhou has not dispatched any Cavern Heaven True Monarchs. Do you all think that if I join, you will have a chance to fight?” Luo Lingfeng asked.
The cultivator scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly. He had indeed thought that way. Although Buzhou had several Nascent Soul cultivators, at the same realm, an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator and a Cavern Heaven True Monarch’s avatar were incomparable.
“Have you all perceived the pervasive sword intent?” Luo Lingfeng asked again, a hint of mockery in her eyes. “This is not because the disciples of Buzhou have exceptional sword intent, but because they have brought out the Dao artifact. Under the True Nature Sword, why must you all struggle?”
“What?” The cultivator was greatly astonished. Even if he didn’t know the power of the “True Nature Sword,” the words “Dao Artifact” were enough to crush their courage. After all, the reason the four sects were the four sects was not only because they had Cavern Heaven True Monarchs presiding over them but also because each possessed a Dao artifact. Thousands of years ago, during the succession of sects, only the four sects, with their Dao artifacts in hand, had stood firm. Their ears buzzed, and the cultivator who cursed first changed his expression repeatedly. Finally, he silently took out the jade slip obtained from the secret realm and threw it to the Buzhou cultivators.
The disciples of Buzhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If possible, they did not want to fight these rogue cultivators. After all, swords and blades were blind, and causing casualties would be unfortunate.
The cultivator silently accepted the Cloud Sand and turned to leave. However, after walking a few dozen feet, streaks of brilliant golden light shot out, illuminating the cultivator like the sun’s rays. The cultivator’s body suddenly stiffened. He widened his eyes, seeing only a beam of sword light slashing towards his mind, filling him with fear and dread. But he had no strength to dodge. When the sword light disappeared, he was freed from the restriction. It felt as if something had been severed from his mind. He scratched his head, unable to figure it out, stood silently for a moment, then walked away.
The rogue cultivators trapped by the disciples of Buzhou watched with trepidation. When the golden light shone upon them, they almost thought Buzhou intended to silence them permanently. Only when they saw the cultivator emerge unharmed from the golden light did they secretly breathe a sigh of relief. They urged each other a few times, not hesitating any longer. They took out their jade slips, exchanged them for Cloud Sand, and left.
Thousands upon thousands of golden sword lights emerged, becoming more and more brilliant.
The sun sank behind the mountains, the sky grew dark, but it was illuminated as brightly as day by the light.
A golden-clad female child, about seven years old, emerged from the golden light, her face looking remarkably old, and said, “Let’s deal with everyone together.”
Shi Wufang quickly bowed respectfully to the young girl and replied, “Yes.”
The spirit of the Buzhou Dao artifact.
Wei Yunshu immediately recognized the identity of the young girl and glanced at her with curiosity.
The True Nature Sword seemed to sense something and turned to look at Wei Yunshu. The calm and steady aura was immediately swept away, and it ran towards Wei Yunshu like a cheerful child, showing her a innocent and playful smile.
Wei Yunshu was taken aback.
Just as she was gazing at the True Nature Sword, she suddenly felt spiritual energy fluctuations from her spirit beast bag. The little Tai Sui, who had been sleeping in a sprawled posture, awoke and crawled out of the spirit beast bag. Initially, its bean-like eyes were filled with confusion, but upon clearly seeing the girl pouncing on Wei Yunshu, it became visibly angry. It puffed up like a black ball, pecking fiercely at the girl with its bird’s beak. Instantly, a series of crisp clanging sounds rang out, scattering sparks.
Wei Yunshu: “…”