After I Died My Dao Companion Drowns in Endless Regret Chapter 62

When Wei Yunshu returned to the peak, Xie Zhichao was still in the center, vying for the sword token. Her movements were agile, like a dragon in flight. The Spring and Autumn Saber stirred up gusts of fierce energy, and within a few breaths, she easily repelled the Golden Core rogue cultivators. She reached out, grasped the sword token, and prepared to head towards Buzhou. However, the other major sects clearly wouldn’t allow her to succeed so easily. From the directions of the three sects, figures emerged, offered a clasped-hand salute, and silently moved to seize the sword token.
Xie Zhichao coughed lightly and laughed heartily, “Excellent timing!” Spiritual energy surged, and her saber light was like a flowing river. A wave of saber intent, like a flood from a breached dam, was unleashed. The clang of metal against metal sounded as several magic artifacts were knocked away. Even after fighting the rogue cultivator Golden Cores, Xie Zhichao, wielding the Spring and Autumn Saber, remained incredibly fierce, possessing the might of “one man standing guard, ten thousand cannot pass!” The Golden Core disciples of the three sects and the rogue cultivators who hadn’t retreated heavily surrounded Xie Zhichao, giving her no chance to escape. Xie Zhichao knew that returning to the peak quickly was impossible. She tightened her grip on the Spring and Autumn Saber, gathered her breath, and let out a roar, cleaving the heavens with her saber!
Buzhou Peak occupied Western Continent, and its number of true disciples was far less than other sects. However, each of them was a dragon among men, tempered by hardship. Facing the encirclement of peers, they did not fear battle; in fact, they held their own. Water surges, lightning, sword light, saber light… various colors intertwined, causing spiritual energy to surge endlessly. Besides her saber, Xie Zhichao carried no other magic artifacts. Her defense was her ferocious offense. During the exchange, she was hit by a bolt of lightning, her ears ringing and her head swimming, but she had no intention of retreating. She repeatedly exclaimed, “Good!” and fought more bravely.
“Third Senior Sister—” Ying Yue’s eyes showed a trace of anxiety. She suddenly stood up, gazing at Xie Zhichao ahead, wishing she could rush forward to assist her.
“It’s alright, Zhichao has her limits,” Xun Huan said gently. The matter of seizing the sword token was of utmost importance, but compared to the lives of Buzhou disciples, it was still insignificant. Turning to Wei Yunshu, who was meditating, Xun Huan lowered her voice, “Did you find anything?”
“Quiet.” Wei Yunshu uttered only a single word.
The water marsh under the moonlight was unusually quiet.
She repeatedly pondered Luo Lingfeng’s words, wondering what she was planning. This was Youluo Mountain, near Northern Continent! If the immortal sects caused trouble, the evil cultivators of the Corridor of Sins could take advantage of the situation. After some thought, Wei Yunshu asked, “The location was set at Youluo Mountain to accommodate the cultivators from Northern Continent. However, after the news spread, not many disciples actually came to participate in the sword competition at Youluo Mountain.”
Xun Huan’s eyes flashed. She said, “Our Buzhou disciples do not have the command token and will not leave without permission. Moreover, perhaps it’s a good thing they didn’t come here.”
Wei Yunshu suddenly raised her eyes and gazed at Xun Huan. Although she was now an honored guest of Buzhou, she did not know everything. Judging by Xun Huan’s expression, Shi Wufang clearly had her own plans, but did those plans account for a variable like Luo Lingfeng? Wei Yunshu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, her cheeks still taut, her expression cold and stern.
As the two spoke, Xie Zhichao sustained more injuries, and even her cheeks were splattered with blood. Her opponents had already retreated significantly, leaving only a refined cultivator in white, manipulating the water flow. The cultivator looked unfamiliar, yet there was a subtle sense of having seen him somewhere before.
“Fellow Daoist Xie’s skills are commendable, but it’s time to end. This sword token should belong to my Luoshui Divine Palace,” the refined cultivator said with a slight smile. He urged his spiritual power, and with a rumble, dense leaden clouds churned. Amidst the rolling thunder, spiritual energy spun wildly, and a dangerous current rolled down with immense force.
Xie Zhichao sneered coldly, “Wishful thinking!” she roared. Her saber light crisscrossed, one transforming into hundreds, thousands, slashing at the vast water marsh in a single breath. Cutting the water flow with her saber! The saber energy and the water surge rapidly approached, colliding in unison, emitting an incredibly violent rumbling sound. The water pearls from the severed river by the Spring and Autumn Saber scattered, each drop reflecting the dark clouds, the lights, and the faces of the two people present, filled with fierce battle intent.
“Does Fellow Daoist Xie still have strength?” the refined cultivator asked, looking at Xie Zhichao with some surprise. The scattered water pearls condensed around him again, finally forming a vast, rolling river at his feet. A faint gleam flickered in his eyes. Suddenly, dense mist spread across the water marsh, quickly covering several miles and obscuring the vision of all the cultivators on the peak.
The four lands of Luoshui Divine Palace.
Tang Changsheng turned to the somber Jiang Pu and teased, “Is your fellow clan brother so formidable? He was stuck at Foundation Establishment for twenty years before, and now, only having entered the Golden Core stage, he’s so valiant?”
Jiang Pu lowered his eyelids and did not reply. He had many siblings and naturally did not pay attention to those who were not promising. However, before the sword competition, the obscure Jiang Xuan had quietly stepped into the Golden Core realm. Among the direct descendants of their generation in Luoshui Divine Palace, not to mention the special circumstances of Luo Lingfeng, only Jiang Jiuxiao had achieved Nascent Soul. He had to admit that the younger generation’s talent was inferior to the other three sects, and their combat power was actually the weakest. He himself was only at the Golden Core stage, so his siblings who also entered the Golden Core stage would pose a threat to his position.
“If it were you, how many moves could you last against Xie Zhichao?” Tang Changsheng teased again.
Jiang Pu would not confide his inner thoughts to outsiders. He blinked and slowly said, “Brother Xuan’s accumulated power has finally erupted. I am happy for him. If he can obtain the sword token, it will bring great honor to our entire Yunmeng Marsh.”
Suddenly, the smoke violently churned. The saber light that was about to emerge from the mist seemed to be obstructed by something and shattered instantly. A strange aura emanated from within, and the spiritual energy surged violently, with a force far exceeding that of a Golden Core cultivator.
Xun Huan suddenly stood up, her expression changing. Before she could draw her saber, Wei Yunshu had already moved like the wind. She raised her hand and formed a hand seal, and thunderclouds churned. Innumerable lightning bolts intertwined, forming a vast canopy of lightning. The crisscrossing lightning descended upon the smoke, instantly shattering it into pieces. After the smoke dispersed, Xie Zhichao, covered in blood, stumbled out, propped up by her saber. On the other side, Jiang Pu stood with his hands behind his back on the water marsh, a smug smile on his lips. His aura had instantly surged to the Nascent Soul stage!
Wei Yunshu whispered to Xie Zhichao, “Go back and rest.”
Xie Zhichao nodded, her brow furrowed. “Be careful, there’s something strange about this person. He’s a bit like the demon cultivators I saw in the secret realm.”
Wei Yunshu grunted and gestured towards Jiang Xuan with her sleeve, “Buzhou Bo Fengliu.”
“Yunmeng Marsh Jiang Xuan.” Jiang Xuan cupped his hands towards Wei Yunshu and bowed, saying with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Bo’s appearance is very similar to someone. I wonder if you possess the same renowned abilities that shook the cultivation world.”
Wei Yunshu looked closely at Jiang Xuan. Previously, he had only displayed an aura of the first level of Golden Core. To advance to Nascent Soul so quickly, even with the aid of elixirs, was impossible. Either he had reached the Nascent Soul stage long ago and had been suppressing his cultivation, or it was some Daoist technique from the Shang Qing Divine Realm! A cold glint flickered in Wei Yunshu’s eyes. Having sensed an unusual aura moments before, she leaned towards the latter. However, this person was not among those from Luoshui Divine Palace who had entered the secret realm. From where did he obtain the Daoist techniques of the Shang Qing Divine Realm? From the Corridor of Sins? But many evil cultivators in the Corridor of Sins were unaware of this matter. How could he know? Wei Yunshu’s thoughts swirled. She returned the salute, lightning encircling her.
In Cloud City, the elders’ eyes lit up when they saw Wei Yunshu enter the arena. They had intended to say something, but the sound of chimes entered their ears – Luo Lingfeng had returned. The words at the tip of their tongues were swallowed. The hall fell silent. After a moment, Yun Kuan said, “Fellow Daoist Su, both Buzhou and Luoshui Divine Palace have sent Nascent Soul cultivators. We cannot lag behind.”
Su Jinling bowed to Yun Kuan and replied, “Yes,” before transforming into a white streak of light and soaring into the arena.
After returning, Luo Lingfeng remained silent, propping her chin with her hand and lazily leaning on her chair, casually observing the situation in the arena. She happened to witness the scene of Jiang Xuan transforming from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, and even detected a strange aura within it. However, looking at the expressions of the Luoshui Divine Palace members, they all showed the same astonishment, implying they were unaware. The news she had received was that Luoshui Divine Palace had not yet fully connected with that side. But now, it seemed, without waiting for that woman seeking revenge for her son to come to Northern Continent, could Dustless Sea drag those three families into the mire? Although Jiang Xuan’s situation was unclear, it did not hinder her plan, and there was no need to concern herself with his life or death. If nothing unexpected happened, that woman should be on her way by now, right? She had been hiding like a scared tortoise on Xiaohan Mountain. To do something to her was truly difficult! She tapped her bent fingers lightly on the armrest of her chair, her expression composed, and a faint smile curved her lips.
Seeing her expression, Yun Kuan and the others felt a chill creep up their spines, as if they had been plunged into an ice cave. Without further scrutiny of Luo Lingfeng’s face, they turned their attention back to the battle. After Su Jinling made her move, Dustless Sea remained inactive. However, Chi Fengchao from the rogue cultivator side stirred! She wasn’t going for the sword token, nor did she even glance at Jiang Xuan, who now held it. Instead, she charged directly at Su Jinling! Yun Kuan’s brow immediately furrowed.
“Daoist Brother, should we make a move?” From Dustless Sea’s side, Chao Ya’s gaze was fixed on the figures in the arena, showing an eager expression.
Xiang Jun frowned, and after a long while, he formed a hand seal, his expression grave. “The Dragon Carp guarding Youluo Gorge was killed.”
“Didn’t he disguise himself as a carp? With the mirage energy, there’s no way he would expose himself, right?” Long Xueyun turned to Xiang Jun and teased, “Could it be that he was fished out because he was too greedy for food?”
Xiang Jun did not speak, implicitly acknowledging the matter.
Long Xueyun: “…”
Qu Heng asked again, “Besides that Dragon Carp, were there any other demons guarding the gorge entrance?”
Xiang Jun: “Yes.”
Qu Heng chuckled and said slowly, “That Dragon Carp sought its own death. It won’t affect the overall situation.”
Xiang Jun did not think so. His frown deepened. “The people who temporarily left earlier were from Cloud City.”
“Tsk.” Qu Heng glanced at Xiang Jun and teased, “You’re not still thinking about your fated former fiancée, are you? You even know her every move so clearly? What kind of Cavern Heaven immortal would specifically fish for a single carp? It’s absurd! I think the people stationed in Northern Continent just wanted a snack.”
Chao Ya said gravely, hitting Xiang Jun’s sore spot, “What if she discovered something?”
Qu Heng’s eyelids twitched upon hearing this. After a moment, he regained his composure and said calmly, “Don’t forget how she dealt with demon cultivators in Luoshui Divine Palace. If she really discovered something, would there be any survivors from that side?”
A fierce glint flashed in Xiang Jun’s eyes. “Regardless, that plan needs to be expedited. Where has that True Monarch from the Wen family gone?” During the secret realm expedition, Luo Yuankun died at the hands of Luo Yuanshu, whose whereabouts were unknown. There were also rumors that Luo Yuankun slaughtered disciples from the three sects to avenge his father, hence the people of Xiaohan Mountain did not actively seek revenge after learning of his death. However, Luo Yuankun’s mother was still alive, so how could that woman be willing to give up? She searched everywhere for Luo Yuanshu’s whereabouts, and eventually, Jiang Jiuxiao provided the information that the person was on the Northern Continent defense line. Hearing this, that woman rushed over with all her might.
Long Xueyun said with a smile, “Jiang Xuan’s situation is a bit unusual.”
Xiang Jun said, “Don’t worry about it. In any case, it has nothing to do with our Dustless Sea.”
Although his cultivation had risen to the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, Jiang Xuan was still no match for Wei Yunshu. Using water techniques, just as Luo Lingfeng’s was a sudden cascade from the Nine Heavens River, Jiang Xuan’s was a gentle spring. Wei Yunshu stared coldly at Jiang Xuan, who stood on the surging water tide. She circulated her cultivation technique, and a blazing sun manifested behind her. It was not yet dawn, and Youluo Mountain was illuminated by the scattered candlelight or the light of precious pearls, like stars adorning the night. However, as this blazing sun leaped forth, all light in heaven and earth was stolen by its crimson glow. The water flow from the vast river was instantly vaporized by the scorching sun, becoming a misty expanse.
Once Wei Yunshu made her move, she would not give Jiang Xuan any more chances to breathe. One Qi Nine Dominance Heavenly Thunder descended like a storm, filling the world with magnificent and majestic purple light.
Jiang Xuan’s heart sank. Facing the immense offensive of the Nascent Soul stage, he felt a suffocating pressure. Such lightning techniques typically possessed immense power but also consumed vast amounts of spiritual energy. After unleashing a barrage of lightning, if the opponent did not die, one would be waiting for their own demise. Jiang Xuan pondered for a moment and decided to adopt a defensive approach. A jade talisman flew out from between his brows, opening a protective shield to resist the lightning technique. However, he soon realized that this path was untenable. The opponent’s expression was normal, showing no signs of excessive spiritual energy consumption, and the lightning bolts grew more ferocious with each one. His spiritual energy shield would eventually be broken! He was already no match for the opponent, and now he had chosen a narrow path, making his situation even more passive.
After thinking for a while, Jiang Xuan ultimately chose another path. His body trembled, and a figure identical to him stepped out. He roared, “Go,” intending to have this body block the lightning technique.
Those watching from afar thought Jiang Xuan had cultivated a splitting divine ability, but Wei Yunshu, who was closer, immediately sensed something was wrong. The body was indeed identical to Jiang Xuan in appearance, but its aura was extremely cold and evil, fluctuating between the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages, and its cultivation technique was extremely crude. Jiang Xuan summoned him not for the two bodies to join forces, but to use him as a shield to the death! The thought of the “Severing All Selves” technique immediately flashed in Wei Yunshu’s mind. With a cold expression, she dispersed that body, watching it transform into a ball of inexhaustible foul energy and flow outwards. Her gaze deepened.
Wei Yunshu looked at Jiang Xuan meaningfully and asked, “Fellow Daoist Jiang’s cultivation technique is peculiar. May I ask where you learned it?”
Jiang Xuan did not answer. Before the sword competition, although he was the son of the Jiang family head, he was like a transparent person in Yunmeng Marsh due to his lack of outstanding talent. One day, a cultivation technique appeared in his mind, teaching him how to sever his own burdens. After cultivating that technique, his cultivation truly advanced by leaps and bounds. Not only did he successfully enter the Golden Core stage, but he also felt a smooth sensation, as if he could enter the Nascent Soul realm at any time. Jiang Xuan also knew that it was too conspicuous, so he did not do so. However, during this sword competition with the Buzhou disciples, he felt he no longer needed to hide it.
How could he reveal the miraculous cultivation technique he cultivated to others? Jiang Xuan thought to himself, but his lips moved uncontrollably, and he even amplified his voice with spiritual energy: “It’s a very marvelous profound technique that teaches us to sever our burdens and advance easily. If everyone could cultivate it—” Before Jiang Xuan could finish speaking, Wei Yunshu’s expression changed, a killing intent flashing in her eyes. She raised her hand, and countless dark clouds emerged, bursting out in clusters. A sharp sword light ruthlessly slashed towards Jiang Xuan.
Meanwhile, Su Jinling, who had been entangled by Chi Fengchao for a while, returned with a cold expression. Continuing to fight would only deplete her spiritual energy needlessly, which was detrimental to her future actions.
“Truly useless.”
Luo Lingfeng’s soft sigh reached Su Jinling’s ears. Su Jinling thought she was referring to her and her scalp tightened. With her eyebrows drooping, she said solemnly, “It is Su’s fault for being less skilled.”
Luo Lingfeng finally raised her eyes to glance at her. After a moment, she chuckled and said leisurely, “If True Monarch Su wishes to temper herself, you can go to Northern Continent. Perhaps you will become the next Yan Danwo.”
Su Jinling’s eye twitched, and her expression froze. Although the scions of aristocratic families had the responsibility of guarding, who among them, except those who could not make it in their clans, would truly go to Northern Continent? They would pick and choose from subordinate sects and fulfill the quota by sending someone in their stead. She could cultivate in the blessed lands; why would she go to Northern Continent to suffer? She lowered her head, pretending not to hear Luo Lingfeng’s words.
Luo Lingfeng had no intention of concerning herself with their thoughts. She simply looked ahead and uttered, “Jiang Xuan is bound to die.”
Even Yun Kuan, who disliked Luo Lingfeng, could not help but interject after hearing this, exclaiming in shock, “Our major sects’ sword competitions are merely sparring matches. How could they be so ruthless?!” Moreover, that Daoist who called herself Buzhou’s Bo Fengliu was, nineteen times out of twenty, the Cloud Sovereign, who was actually still alive. It was known that Cloud Sovereign had a benevolent nature and was always compassionate. How could she be so ruthless to someone with whom she had no enmity?
Luo Lingfeng smiled, “Does True Monarch Yun not believe me?”
Yun Kuan sighed, “Doing so would tarnish Buzhou’s reputation.” Those swordsmen from Buzhou were indeed detestable, but it had to be said, their demeanor was closer to the ancient sword immortals described in historical texts.
Luo Lingfeng did not explain, but instead, with a peculiar smile, she said, “Then just watch.”
At this moment.
Thirty miles away, a Nascent Soul female cultivator with a grim expression was sprinting with all her might, her eyes filled with bone-chilling hatred. She rushed to a checkpoint, too lazy to greet the Daoists guarding outside, and flashed through the checkpoint, entering the territory of Northern Continent. The world was filled with a chilling wind. The female cultivator’s eyes were cold, and she released her divine sense outwards, quickly capturing a piece of information. A cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she immediately sprinted towards that direction.
“Fellow daoist, these mountain peaks are steep and treacherous. It’s an area difficult for the border town’s formations to cover. If we venture further, I fear we will fall into the hands of demons.”
“It’s just the border. If one doesn’t venture into dangerous places, how can one temper their cultivation?” said the Daoist speaking, dressed in black, wearing a black hat. A black veil, nearly a foot long, hung down, concealing a face full of sinister scars.
The cultivator then said, “I saw fellow daoist arriving with disciples from Cloud City, so I thought you were also an honored guest from a major sect.”
The black-clad person chuckled self-mockingly. “As a mere rogue cultivator, where would I have such status?” As he spoke, his eyes suddenly sharpened. He shouted, “Be careful!” and pushed the person beside him aside. He himself gathered his breath and struck out with a palm, knocking away an ice needle.
“Who is sneakily attacking?!” the black-clad person roared angrily.
“Hahaha!” A bizarre and mournful laugh echoed in the air. Moments later, a water-blue figure emerged from the darkness. Her beautiful face was contorted by malice and hatred, always giving off a sinister feeling. Staring fixedly at the black-clad person ahead, she angrily shouted, “Luo Yuanshu! It’s taken me so long to find you! You son of a bitch, do you deserve to live? Return my son’s life!”
The black-clad person did not reply.
However, the person traveling with him turned his head, looking at him with utter shock, as if stunned by his identity.
Luo Yuanshu, the black-clad person, no longer hid anything. He raised his hand, removed his hat, and turned to the cultivator, saying gently, “Fellow Daoist Shen, this matter has nothing to do with you. You should leave.”
The Daoist Shen looked somewhat pained. “But—”
The female cultivator, however, roared and flung her sleeve, unleashing a mystical light. “Scram!”
The Shen Daoist was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. How could he withstand the female cultivator’s strike? He immediately flew backward like a tattered doll, smashing onto the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood. Struggling to stand, he took one last deep look at Luo Yuanshu before staggering towards the checkpoint.
Luo Yuanshu looked up at the female cultivator and said calmly, “Luo Yuankun was killed by me.”
The female cultivator, Wen Danhua, was enraged upon hearing this, her eyes full of resentment.
Luo Yuanshu was not nervous at all. With his scarred face, he began to laugh, the twisting scars squeezing together, making him look terrifying. He looked at Wen Danhua and asked again, “True Monarch Wen Xianren, does he know you are here?”
Wen Danhua’s expression stiffened.
She had lost her freedom in Xiaohan Mountain for a long time! That scoundrel Wen Xianren had imprisoned her, claiming to the outside world that she had chosen to live in seclusion, but what was the reality? People were stationed everywhere, not only preventing her from leaving but also forbidding Luo Yuankun from visiting her! If Wen Qing hadn’t helped this time, she wouldn’t have been able to escape Xiaohan Mountain at all. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She raised her hand, and a torrential water tide surged. “You killed my son, and today you will pay with your life! After I kill you, I will go to Guangyuan Marsh to deal with that shameless slut!”
Luo Yuanshu’s eyes darkened. He retorted, “When it comes to shamelessness, you have no equal. Fortunately, your betrothal to the Yunmeng Marsh clan was never sealed. Had it been, one more family would have faced humiliation because of you.”