After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 59

The air grew heavy, filled with unspoken tensions.
Shi Wufang maintained a warm yet distant smile, her expression like a tranquil landscape painting. She neither agreed nor disagreed, simply watching Luo Lingfeng with a calm heart.
Luo Lingfeng didn’t particularly enjoy dealing with people like Shi Wufang. Her brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at the clouds drifting freely across the sky.
Floating clouds come and go, truly gathering and dispersing without predictability. She thought nonchalantly. She didn’t go to the peak where Wei Yunshu was to say goodbye; after all, their “meetings” now held no meaning other than conflict. However, she had plenty of patience.
Only when Luo Lingfeng transformed into a streak of light and departed did the smile on Shi Wufang’s lips fade. She raised her hand to press her temples, a hint of weariness showing on her face. The appearance of the Shang Qing Divine Realm and the six Divine Lords was truly unexpected, and their ambiguous relationship with the Corridor of Sins also indicated that the Fu Li Immortal Realm would find it completely impossible to achieve true peace!
Shi Wufang returned to the hall and sent a command sword to each peak. Before long, several streaks of light converged towards the grand hall. Shi Wufang composed herself and began to discuss the rules for the sword duel with them.
In the night, the mountains were rugged. A flying palace, nearly ten zhang long, moved slowly in the darkness.
Luo Lingfeng sat cross-legged in the hall, constantly playing with a delicate paper crane in her hand. She lowered her eyelids, a faint, almost imperceptible smile gracing her lips. She had suggested the sword duel, yet she was completely unconcerned with the location or rules to be decided, not even intending to inquire. A ball of bright light condensed at her fingertip. She lightly tapped the paper crane, watching it come to life and fly out the window. Only after it was completely out of sight did she withdraw her gaze.
If Dustless Sea didn’t take advantage of the sword duel to do something, she would surely suspect that the Dragon Lord’s mind was somewhat… lacking.
The five Cavern Heavens of the Shang Qing Divine Realm… Luo Lingfeng thought of their titles and slowly smiled. Although she had never truly met them, her aversion towards them was never small. Was it because she still retained some uprightness as an immortal sect cultivator? Everything she loathed should vanish from this world.
As Luo Lingfeng was pondering, a clear voice reached her ears through the dense and deep night. Luo Lingfeng rose and gazed towards the outside of the flying palace, seeing a somewhat familiar figure. The Daoist stood suspended in the night with a blank expression, blocking the flying palace’s path. Luo Lingfeng smiled, removed the restrictions outside the flying palace, and allowed the Daoist to enter.
“Greetings, True Monarch Luo,” the Daoist bowed.
Luo Lingfeng glanced at him, too lazy to move, simply waving her hand casually in return. Looking at his stern, frost-like face, she asked nonchalantly, “Didn’t True Monarch Yun return to Cloud City earlier? Why are you here?”
Yun Yong’s gaze was serious. After leaving Buzhou Peak, he should indeed have returned to Cloud City first, but a matter weighing on his heart remained unresolved, so he patiently waited for Luo Lingfeng. At this moment, he held anger due to Luo Lingfeng’s casual attitude, but he knew now was not the time to dwell on it. Suppressing that frustration, he asked, “True Monarch Luo stayed at Buzhou longer. Have you seen that person?”
Luo Lingfeng raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance, “Who?”
“Cloud Sovereign,” Yun Yong’s eyes were sharp, and he enunciated each word clearly, “Someone saw a person who greatly resembles Cloud Sovereign, who has become a guest elder of Buzhou.”
Luo Lingfeng said dismissively, “There are plenty of people who resemble Cloud Sovereign.”
Yun Yong’s tone became aggressive, “Then what about the Taiyi Sword? And the Three Lights Dao technique? Are those all coincidences as well?”
Luo Lingfeng chuckled lightly and asked, “What does True Monarch Yun want to say? Don’t you know that as long as no one acknowledges her, she might as well not exist?”
“True Monarch Luo speaks so easily!” Yun Yong’s tone suddenly rose, “If she is still alive, how could she not return to seek revenge? True Monarch Luo, don’t forget, you also had a hand in forcing her to her death! You brought those who resembled Cloud Sovereign back to Cloud City, so why, now that it might actually be Cloud Sovereign, are you not doing the same?!” He was genuinely wary of Wei Yunshu. This person’s talent was simply too high. In a mere two hundred years, she had achieved what others might take a thousand years to accomplish. It was a pity everything was ruined by her being too naive.
In truth, at the beginning, although the aristocratic families were resentful and looked down on Wei Yunshu, they didn’t plan to kill her, as having such a person boosted Cloud City’s strength. While they valued their families, they did not disregard the sect’s interests. Moreover, aside from the Yun family, the other four Cavern Heaven families all felt that since Wei Yunshu, in the Nascent Soul stage, had arrangements left by Yun Qingzi that prevented them from eradicating her, there was even less reason to destroy a Cavern Heaven combat force once she reached that realm. In the end, it was the Yun family who offered substantial benefits and put forward someone about to enter the Cavern Heaven realm, guaranteeing they could fill Wei Yunshu’s vacancy, that the other families were willing to proceed.
Luo Lingfeng sighed, half-truthfully and half-falsely, “But this plan was spearheaded by your Yun family. I simply overheard Yun Dansu’s conversation with you by chance. If I hadn’t gone along with your wishes, I might have faced certain death.”
Yun Yong looked coldly at Luo Lingfeng. Initially, they feared the matter would be leaked, so they forced Luo Lingfeng to take a Dharma oath and join them. But later, they realized Luo Lingfeng was the “oriole” hidden behind everything. What Nascent Soul stage? That was merely a disguise. If she had ultimately joined forces with Cloud Sovereign, the surviving Cavern Heavens among the five families might have been even fewer. But she didn’t. She endured until the final moment, watching as Cloud Sovereign and the various families’ Cavern Heavens fought to mutual injury, before suddenly making her move. After succeeding, when she returned to Cloud City, she indeed showed her true colors. Not only did she not support Yun Dansu’s rise to power as planned, but she also purged Cloud City, framing it as the work of evil cultivators! The two Cavern Heavens of the Chu and Wu families ultimately died by her hand!
Yun Yong sneered coldly, “Does True Monarch Luo think she can stand at the pinnacle of victory just because she controls Cloud City’s Dao artifact?”
“Otherwise?” Luo Lingfeng retorted. The reason the families ultimately chose to cease fighting was partly because they were injured, and partly because they were intimidated by the “‘Heaven and Earth United in Chaos” Dao artifact. In the end, they were forced to swallow their pride and reached a “peace agreement” with Luo Lingfeng. Looking at Yun Yong’s angry face, Luo Lingfeng chuckled softly, “I don’t care about Cloud City’s millennium-long foundation. Your initial lack of fear towards Wei Yunshu was simply because you believed she had taken an oath before the ancestor not to let Cloud City be destroyed in her hands, and that she would not use the Dao artifact due to internal conflict. But I am different from her.”
“You are indeed different!” Yun Yong’s anger grew increasingly intense. He looked at Luo Lingfeng with utter sarcasm, sneering repeatedly, “Cloud Sovereign’s greatest regret was likely marrying such a heartless, vicious woman like you!”
Luo Lingfeng’s eyes suddenly narrowed upon hearing this. After a moment, she looked at Yun Yong and smiled, “Are you trying to stand up for Wei Yunshu? Weren’t you still worried about Wei Yunshu returning to seek revenge and kill you earlier?”
Yun Yong: “…” He pursed his lips, struggling to suppress his anger. He remembered the purpose of his visit and said bluntly, “Regardless of whether she is Cloud Sovereign or not, she cannot remain alive! After doing that three years ago, we have no way back. If she reveals the truth, the Fu Li Immortal Realm will surely be in turmoil.”
Luo Lingfeng, “What? Have your families not completely expelled the remaining forces of Yun Qingzi yet? Or are you afraid of those people from the Northern Continent returning?”
Yun Yong did not want to argue about the past with her. He looked at Luo Lingfeng, “Now, when people talk about your marriage with Cloud Sovereign, they might praise it as a ‘perfect match, only unfortunate in fate.’ What do you think will happen if they learn the truth?”
Luo Lingfeng smiled, “True Monarch Yun can go shout it out now and see how many people will believe you. They will only think I have no grudge against Wei Yunshu and no reason to kill her. As for you—the distinction between aristocratic and common families in Cloud City is like a chasm, it can be called the pinnacle of such divisions. The aristocratic families are powerful, and historically, every Cloud Sovereign has come from an aristocratic family. Yet, this generation’s Cloud Sovereign is someone who climbed out of the mud. The aristocratic families felt greatly humiliated, and coupled with their desire to gain benefits for their families, they had sufficient reason to attack her.”
“You—” Yun Yong’s chest rose and fell violently, so angry he felt dizzy.
“Oh, and there’s one more thing to remind Fellow Daoist,” Luo Lingfeng said lightly, gazing at the grim-faced Yun Yong, “All families have heavenly Dao oaths. Be careful not to die for breaking your oaths.”
Yun Yong ground his teeth audibly. He said angrily, “I just want one answer: kill or not kill?”
Luo Lingfeng flicked her sleeve and said calmly, “What? Do you need this True Monarch to make every decision?”
Yun Yong not only wanted Luo Lingfeng to make the decision, but even wished she would personally act. “True Monarch Luo, you speak as if you’re an outsider. Wasn’t that plan concocted by everyone together? If True Monarch Luo hadn’t lured Cloud Sovereign into the Abyss Vortex, how could we have succeeded so easily? Repeating the same trick now would not be difficult.”
“Repeating the same trick?” Luo Lingfeng could only laugh upon hearing these four words. She withdrew her gaze from Yun Yong and sighed, “I wonder whether to sigh for my poor Dao companion, whose corpse is still in Cloud City, or to grieve for those who resemble her face.”
Yun Yong stared at Luo Lingfeng, “Does True Monarch Luo mean that person is not Cloud Sovereign?” After a pause, he questioned, “After Cloud Sovereign’s corpse was brought back, it was sealed in the forbidden area, and no one has seen it since. Could it be that True Monarch had a moment of compassion, allowing a wisp of Cloud Sovereign’s soul to escape? Or did you even discard the body?” The more Yun Yong thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, why would Luo Lingfeng have been searching for Cloud Sovereign non-stop for those three years?! They had been too careless. But in that situation, many people from various clans had died, and they didn’t have the leisure to attend to so many things.
Upon hearing this, Luo Lingfeng said leisurely, “If True Monarch Yun wants to know, when you return to Cloud City, you can accompany this True Monarch to the forbidden area and see whether it is there or not.”
Yun Yong stared at Luo Lingfeng, truly feeling an urge to visit the forbidden area and see. But he quickly suppressed that thought and smiled at Luo Lingfeng, “Since True Monarch Luo has spoken thus, Yun naturally has no reason to continue doubting.”
Luo Lingfeng smiled slightly, “True Monarch Yun might as well focus on the upcoming sword duel. This time, the disciples stationed in the Northern Continent will also participate, such as Chongxu, Beichen, and Taiqing. They are all subordinate sects of Cloud City. If their disciples win the top prizes but the disciples of the Yun family show no brilliance, it will raise suspicion.”
Yun Yong’s face immediately turned ashen. There were capable disciples on the aristocratic side, but they were far fewer than before. On one hand, it was true that their comfortable life had reduced their Dao heart’s tempering. On the other hand, he had to blame the person before him. When Cloud City was dyed with blood, it wasn’t just Cavern Heaven True Monarchs who died, but also the meticulously nurtured disciples of various clans!
“True Monarch Luo doesn’t need to worry about this matter!” Yun Yong said coldly. He didn’t want to see Luo Lingfeng’s face at all. After bowing with cupped hands, he turned and left.
Luo Lingfeng watched his retreating figure with great interest, the smile on her lips growing wider.
The hall was quiet. The thin gauze curtain, light as a cicada’s wing, floated gently. Smoke from the precious duck-shaped incense burner curled upwards, casting shadows on the landscape screen, resembling rising mist in the mountains.
Luo Lingfeng flicked her hand, and a painting flew out, slowly unfolding in mid-air. Shimmering lights dotted it, resembling a painting of stars entering the mountains. From the brilliant light, a young girl, carved from pink jade, emerged from the painting. She bowed to Luo Lingfeng and called out, “True Monarch.”
“Ah Ying, how is Luoshui Divine Palace?” Luo Lingfeng asked.
The young girl replied crisply, “Everything is as usual. The Blood Thorns are being spurred on and are growing very quickly. Their roots have already spread underground. However, after that calamity, Luoshui Divine Palace has made arrangements outside the Southern Continent spiritual vein, preventing the Blood Thorns from extending in.” Previously, when the Universal True Form Map was absorbing the spiritual energy of the Southern Continent spiritual vein, it also left a trace of strange energy within. The Southern Continent spiritual vein had already entered the painting, and to a certain extent, its spiritual energy could be manipulated.
Luo Lingfeng gave a hum and said, “That avatar of mine—” She then frowned slightly, as if thinking of something, and sighed, saying softly, “Luoshui Divine Palace is divided into four regions, and Luoshui Divine Palace only controls a quarter of the Heavenly Mandate Talisman. While this can prevent them from using the Dao artifact, what I want is more than just this.”
The young girl’s expression was somewhat blank. She thought for a moment and suggested, “Then, should we stir up the spiritual energy in the Southern Continent spiritual vein and make them riot?” It was only an artifact spirit and had no concept of good or evil.
Luo Lingfeng smiled and shook her head, saying, “Wouldn’t that be a great sin? No rush, the opportunity will come soon.”
The young girl looked at Luo Lingfeng, seemingly understanding yet not. Seeing that she was no longer speaking, she dispersed into a ball of bright light and returned to the Universal True Form Map.
Luo Lingfeng raised her hand and put the Universal True Form Map into her sleeve. She glanced at the precious duck-shaped incense burner, relit a stick of incense, and closed her eyes to rest.
At the peak of Buzhou.
The disciples, upon hearing about the sword duel, were all spirited and confident. Although the number of participants had not been set, they knew that not everyone could go to the Northern Continent. Therefore, they all agreed to spar and determine their rankings first. Those who lost would remain at Buzhou and not mention participating in the sword duel again.
On the mountain path, the grass and trees swayed joyfully, full of vitality.
Xie Zhichao and Wei Yunshu walked side by side on the mountain path, their conversation also revolving around the “sword duel.”
“Eldest Senior Sister sent news that the location for the sword duel has been decided. It’s at Youluo Mountain, at the intersection of the Northern Continent, Western Continent, and Eastern Continent. The peaks there are rugged and towering, reaching the Extreme Heaven. Fighting up there, even the most intense spiritual energy fluctuations will not affect the spiritual veins below.”
“Youluo Mountain?” Wei Yunshu mused for a moment and said slowly, “That place is surrounded by mountains on three sides, with Youluo Astral Winds that can erode flesh and blood. There’s only one opening to the north, leading directly to a great marsh. Also, the peaks on both sides resemble swords pointing downwards, leaving only a narrow gap. Once that great marsh is blocked, there’s no free entry or exit.”
“Yes,” Xie Zhichao nodded, her spirits high. She said, “That way, we only need to guard one place, saving us the trouble of those annoying evil cultivators from the Northern Continent causing problems.”
Wei Yunshu nodded and asked, “Who proposed this location?”
Xie Zhichao pouted. She hadn’t wanted to mention that name in front of Wei Yunshu, but then she thought that the other party would eventually find out. So, she answered, “True Monarch Luo.”
Wei Yunshu’s brow furrowed slightly. She felt it wasn’t that simple, but no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t figure it out. She had to give up this idea and focus on the “sword duel” itself. This time, the sword duel was not a typical arena battle but a competition for “sword talismans.” A total of thirty-six sword talismans were prepared, with one dropping every hour. Each family could send participants to contend for them. Until successfully brought back to their own peak, the sword talismans were considered ownerless. At the end, the family with the most sword talismans would win. In this kind of fighting, the more people a family sent, the greater advantage they would have, as it was never a one-on-one fight.
“We of Buzhou are most fearless in this kind of competition,” Xie Zhichao said with high spirits and a smile. “The avatars of Cavern Heaven True Monarchs are not allowed to participate, but Fellow Daoist Bo, you are different. You are a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator and can enter. The number of participants hasn’t been set yet, but I guess Senior Sister Ran, you, and I will all go. Eldest Senior Sister said that the Daoist texts cannot fall into the hands of others. In the past, there was no need to contend with those families over unnecessary matters, but times are different now. Our Buzhou should unsheath our swords and test our sharpness!”
The details of the sword duel were settled. Announcements were posted in the public pavilions throughout the immortal realm. Low-cultivation cultivators didn’t think much of it, but those at the Golden Core and even Nascent Soul stages developed different ideas.
“The location for the sword duel is set in the Northern Continent region. Won’t it be very dangerous?”
“I’ve thought about it, and there’s no real benefit for us to participate in this sword duel.”
“You’re really foolish! If you happen to get a sword talisman, you can sell it if you don’t want it yourself. Someone will always want to contend for rankings. Besides, if a family takes a liking to you and chooses you as a guest elder, wouldn’t that be a marvelous opportunity?”
“Brother Daoist, I remember you have a small sect to support, right? If you catch the eye of one of the Four Sects and become their subordinate sect, your whole group can ascend!”
The news spread extremely quickly, reaching all corners of the Fu Li Immortal Realm in an instant.
Northern Continent.
The sky was overcast, the ground bleak. Demonic roars echoed.
A gigantic, seemingly endless, skeletal whale bone hung in mid-air, from which countless icy chains descended. On the whale bone, five rugged and towering mountain peaks pierced the clouds. On the mountain peaks, five gloomy and eerie palaces were situated. Countless evil thoughts intertwined, forming winding and chaotic bridges. At this moment, dull thudding sounds emanated from the twisted paths. A vortex formed in the sky, resembling a wide-open demonic eye. Beneath the demonic eye, five figures shrouded in malevolent energy slowly appeared.
“The secret realm from thousands of years ago has opened. They have obtained the Daoist texts and are now holding a sword duel for their ownership, the location is near the Northern Continent.” A voice accompanied by rolling thunder echoed. Behind him coiled a ferocious and menacing giant dragon, its eyes glaring with anger, filled with killing intent and malice.
“There’s no need for us to make a move,” a captivating female cultivator smiled and smoothed her hair. “Haven’t some people mistaken us for their true selves?”
“I wonder if the people from over there have come down, and if they’ve brought the guidance talismans.” A cultivator holding his head poked his cheek, uttering a bored voice.
“Even if they don’t give it up, we can take it ourselves,” the Daoist with the black dragon coiling behind him licked his lips, his eyes filled with endless greed. They had wanted to charge out of the Northern Continent for a long time, but those immortal sect people were truly annoying. Although they had eliminated several Cavern Heavens back then, they themselves had been struck by the True Nature Sword and had only awoken after nearly three thousand years of recuperation. And during these three thousand years, the Ten Thousand Li Great Wall of the Northern Continent defense line had become increasingly solid and difficult to breach.
“Even if they don’t let us, we can take it ourselves,” Yong He’s gaze swept over her companions, then she smiled and said, “The immortal realm is very lively. No matter what, we have to get involved. What do you all think?”
A resounding voice echoed, “Junior Sister, which avatar are you planning to part with?”
Yong He cultivated the Myriad Demon Myriad Form Technique and had many avatars. However, each avatar was independent and had its own life trajectory and experiences. Generally speaking, they would not have contact with Yong He while alive, only returning their memories after death to become a part of Yong He. However, as the main body, Yong He did have means to influence her avatars, but doing so would make her avatars incomplete and affect her cultivation. She had not done so in the past.
Yong He’s laughter was as clear and pleasant as silver bells. She said, “Senior Brother Qiong Sang is joking. Although my technique learned from Tai Sui’s three thousand avatars, it’s ultimately different. The main body must remain uninvolved to achieve perfection. How could I influence them?”
Venerable Ji Jun sneered, “Tell me directly what you want.”
Yong He turned her eyes to him. After a moment, she said softly, “Senior Brother Ji Jun, it was my people who contacted Luo Hengjun before, and the result was heavy losses. We haven’t recovered yet.”
Venerable Ji Jun flicked his sleeve, and the furious dragon behind him roared. He said coldly, “You were incapable of obtaining benefits yourself. What does that have to do with me?”
Venerable Qiong Sang did not want to listen to them argue and turned to Yong He, saying, “I will give you a measure of Tai Sui Golden Sand.” After a pause, he added, “Junior Sister, Tai Sui Golden Sand is one of those things that diminishes with use.”
Yong He said dismissively, raising her eyebrows, “Are there none left up there?”
Qiong Sang, “There have never been. Tai Sui Golden Sand is also called ‘Divine Maiden’s Tears.’ It is produced by Tai Sui’s blood tears. Now, who could make that one shed blood tears?” He frowned slightly. There were some things he didn’t know clearly enough. They were born from the evil thoughts severed from those few, but they were ultimately not the same individuals, so their knowledge was naturally limited. What they knew now was precisely what those few in the Shang Qing Divine Realm were willing for them to know.
Yong He was not interested in this and put on a captivating smile, saying softly, “Then I thank Senior Brother Qiong Sang.”
Venerable Ji Jun was impatient. Just as he was about to say something sarcastic, the black dragon behind him suddenly lowered its head and let out a soft dragon’s roar.
Wu Shou Rahu said, “Ji Jun, did your dragon descendants have news?”
Venerable Ji Jun nodded, his expression proud. He laughed heartily, “We only need to sit back and reap the rewards!”