If not for Shen Ciyu’s decision to assume the sect leader’s position and promise not to involve the sect in Immortal Realm affairs for the next hundred years, as well as to refrain from taking in new disciples during that time, the Immortal Alliance would have long since eradicated the Sword Sect.
In his blind loyalty, he had almost harmed the girl he loved, realizing his feelings too late. Sang Dai had already become disillusioned with the Sword Sect and the Immortal Realm, standing on the opposite side from him. The next time they met, they were strangers.
Shen Feng’s breath trembled as he turned his head away with a sigh.
Straightening himself, he said, “You should go to Linglong Town.”
Shen Ciyu shook his head. “The Sword Sect still has matters to attend to.”
“I’ll take care of the Sword Sect for you,” Shen Feng said, trying again. “I’m sending you to Linglong Town for a reason. The city lord, Wu Hanshu, practices the Way of Steadfast Mind and recently broke through to the Soul Transformation stage. He can help you stabilize your state of mind. Right now…”
Your shattered state of mind leaves you with an empty cultivation level.
Shen Ciyu said nothing.
Shen Feng continued, “Think of the Shen family and the Sword Sect, will you? You’re the Shen family’s heir and the Sword Sect’s leader. If your state of mind remains unstable, your future cultivation will undoubtedly face setbacks. Both the Shen family and the Sword Sect need your protection. Child, listen to me—go to Linglong Town and let Uncle Wu help you repair your state of mind.”
Shen Ciyu lifted his gaze to meet his father’s.
Among Shen Feng’s black hair, a few strands of white were glaringly obvious. When had those appeared?
Raising his hand, Shen Ciyu reached out to touch his father’s hair, his fingers finding the white strands.
“Father, I’m sorry.”
Shen Feng’s eyes reddened as he wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes.
“Ciyu, you’re my only child. Even though I’ve been strict with you, you’re more important to me than my own life. Seeing you like this is breaking your mother’s and my hearts. Your mother has cried countless times at home. Child, pull yourself together.”
Shen Ciyu covered his mouth, coughing softly, fresh blood seeping from between his fingers. His state of mind was growing more and more fractured.
Looking down at the blood pooling in his palm, Shen Ciyu suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
Shen Ciyu murmured, “Father, I’m truly sorry.”
It seemed like he was always letting people down.
—
By evening, the mustard seed boat arrived at Linglong Town.
There was no rain in the Immortal Realm, so as they descended, they could see the distant setting sun and the evening glow.
The red light spread across the earth, adding a touch of color to the city gates.
Sang Dai tilted her head back, looking at the plaque hanging above the city gate. Three large characters, written in bold, flowing strokes, read:
Linglong Town.
Liu Lixue, fanning himself, clicked his tongue in amazement. “Such a small place, yet it managed to produce a high-realm spirit creature.”
Sang Dai had already heard Su Xuan mention this on the mustard seed boat.
Her expression was somber. “I don’t sense the presence of a high-realm spirit creature.”
In fact, the spiritual energy fluctuations within the entire city were unusually calm.
Linglong Town wasn’t a particularly large city, and with a single sweep of her spiritual sense, Sang Dai could detect the cultivation levels of those inside.
Su Xuan replied, “This hasn’t been confirmed yet. The disappearance of the cultivators may not be the work of a spirit creature; it could be something else.”
Liu Lixue sighed. “That’s why I say Wu Hanshu is utterly useless. Cultivators go missing, and he doesn’t even treat it as a big deal. If it’s not a direct confrontation, he simply ignores it.”
Sang Dai added, “It could be related to the mastermind. If they’ve come to Linglong Town, and cultivators have gone missing here, it may not be a coincidence.”
This was something all of them could easily deduce.
The flamboyant peacock waved his fan as he strode into the city, his red robes fluttering with an air of casual elegance. “Who cares?”
Su Xuan, already exasperated, started bickering with him again. “You’re a cultivator too. What if something comes to your room tonight?”
Liu Lixue turned back and winked mischievously at his lord. “I know my lord wouldn’t abandon me. And if it dares to come, you and Miss Sang will definitely smash it to pieces.”
Su Xuan rolled his eyes, not wanting to see the peacock prancing around in front of him.
“Dai Dai, are you cold?”
He had just taken his sword cultivator’s hand when he caught a glimpse of someone diagonally behind her out of the corner of his eye.
The little fox narrowed his eyes, and when he saw who it was, he nearly ground his back teeth to dust.
Why did he always run into people he didn’t want to see, no matter where he went?
Sang Dai shook her head. “Not cold, it’s not raining in the Immortal Realm.”
But Su Xuan wasn’t looking at her. He gave a cold snort, his gaze fixed on the distance.
Sang Dai, puzzled, followed his line of sight.
In the distance, another mustard seed boat had silently come to a stop. Standing at the front were over a dozen people, mostly Sword Sect members.
At the forefront stood someone Sang Dai instantly recognized. Dressed in white, his black hair tied high, his features were sharp and handsome, though his face was devoid of any color.
Sang Dai noticed that ever since seeing Shen Ciyu, Su Xuan’s grip on her hand had tightened.
He didn’t like people from the Immortal Realm, especially Shen Ciyu. Su Xuan despised him because, in the past, when Sang Dai went into battle, six or seven times out of ten, she shouldered Shen Ciyu’s share of responsibilities as well. Yet the positions of Sword Sect Leader and Immortal Alliance Leader belonged to Shen Ciyu, even though Sang Dai had sacrificed far more for the Sword Sect and the Immortal Realm than he ever did.
Su Xuan understood that Shen Ciyu was kind-hearted and dutiful, but it was precisely this blind loyalty that forced Sang Dai to bear responsibilities over the past hundred years that should never have fallen solely on her shoulders.
Liu Lixue noticed Shen Ciyu as well. Being a healer, he immediately saw that Shen Ciyu’s state of mind had collapsed.
The peacock raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with surprise. “Sect Master Shen, your state of mind has deteriorated to this extent—what kind of blow did you suffer? Instead of properly recovering, you’ve run here… wait, Wu Hanshu practices the Way of Steadfast Mind. You must have come to see him.”
Shen Ciyu remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Sang Dai. His lowered hand trembled—he couldn’t believe he was seeing her…
The Sword Sect was close to Linglong Town, and it had taken him only an hour to arrive. He never expected to run into Sang Dai here.
It was her. It was really her.
He didn’t dare face her, ashamed to meet her eyes. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to look away, not knowing when he might see her again if he did.
Shen Ciyu’s stare was so intense that it was clear something was amiss. The little fox grew furious, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter, though he said nothing.
This was a matter between Sang Dai and the Sword Sect. Su Xuan could only sulk quietly, unable to forcibly take the sword cultivator away.
Sang Dai reached out and gently stroked his paw, silently comforting him.
Then, she gave Shen Ciyu a polite nod. “Sect Master Shen, we’ll be taking our leave now. I hope you recover your state of mind soon.”
Her words were sincere. Sang Dai never lied—whatever she said, she meant it genuinely.
She truly wished for Shen Ciyu to heal his emotional wounds quickly. After all, he was the leader of the Sword Sect, and so many disciples still depended on him.
But to Shen Ciyu, her words felt like needles piercing his heart.
He knew what kind of person she was, and he knew that her words now were completely genuine—there was no falsehood or polite pretense.
She truly saw him as a stranger now. Her concern for him was no different than the concern one might show a passerby.
Shen Ciyu remained silent, while Sang Dai had already led the bristling little fox away, leaving only that one statement behind.
Liu Lixue glanced in their direction, the corners of his lips curling into a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes.
It was a mocking smile—mockery directed at the Sword Sect.
The Sword Sect had plenty of people, yet they were so ashamed they couldn’t even lift their heads.
Sang Dai had once been the cherished young mistress of the Sword Sect, devoting herself wholeheartedly to protecting it. Now, because of their foolishness and deceit, she had been forced to leave the sect and take refuge in the Beast Realm.
It was the Beast Realm that had shown her genuine care. All the Sword Sect had offered her was betrayal and lies, driving a Heaven-grade spiritual root awakener to the brink of despair.
Shen Ciyu stood frozen, like a statue, ever since he first saw Sang Dai. He neither moved nor spoke.
One of the disciples behind him called out softly, “Sect Master…”
Only then did Shen Ciyu respond. In a hoarse voice, he said, “Let’s go. We’ll find Uncle Wu.”
The words seemed to drain all his energy, as if forcing them out had taken everything he had.
“…Yes, Sect Master.”
The group of dozens entered Linglong Town.
Outside the city gates, something emerged from the ground, crawling along the towering city walls.
On top of the wall, a man stood with his hands clasped behind his back. The setting sun cast its glow on the mask covering his face. Perched on his shoulder was a peregrine falcon.
The falcon spoke in a human voice, “You must understand, this is your last chance. If you don’t kill Sang Dai this time, the Heavenly Dao will take your life instead.”
The man in black lowered his head, lazily stroking the man-eating vines that had emerged beside him. The usually ferocious vines were unusually docile under his hand.
Smiling, he said, “I’ve been trying so hard to kill her. Why can’t you see my efforts?”
The falcon let out a cold snort. “It doesn’t matter if I see it. He doesn’t think you’ve been trying hard enough. Ying Heng’s divine soul has already reformed. In a few days, he’ll awaken. I don’t understand why you even bothered to save him. When he wakes up, he’ll just be a cripple.”
The man in black sat down, letting his legs dangle over the edge of the city wall.
With a sly grin, he said, “Why, it’s all for the sake of killing Sang Dai, of course.”
The falcon retorted, “Ying Heng will kill Sang Dai? How could he possibly lay a hand on his own disciple?”
At this, the falcon’s sharp eyes turned icy. “You claim you want to kill Sang Dai, but none of your actions so far have succeeded. Did you really save Ying Heng for the mission? Ying Heng would never harm Sang Dai.”
The man in black laughed as he explained, “Of course. Ying Heng won’t do it, but who’s to say Sang Dai won’t die because of Ying Heng? Who does she care about in this world? Apart from Ying Heng, there’s no one—no, wait. There seems to be someone else now, another person she cares about…”
His voice suddenly stopped. His eyes narrowed slightly, and an ambiguous light flickered in their depths.
“Su Xuan.”