The perpetually desolate and austere Wangxu Hall welcomed a guest—or, to be more precise, the primary culprit responsible for the trouble.
Song Yueaming, clad in crimson robes with a white sachet dangling from his waist, kept his head lowered as he followed closely behind Zhuang Mohan, his hands clenched tightly into fists at his sides. This single detail was more than enough to reveal the deep sense of injustice churning within his heart.
Zhuang Mohan’s jade token came to a halt half an inch away from the main hall doors, his clear, pristine voice carrying neither wave nor ripple: “Since the apology has already been delivered, you may take the person and leave.”
Song Yueaming knelt upon the stone steps, his voice hoarse and strained: “Song Yueaming, third-generation disciple of the Alchemy Peak, pays respects to Immortal Yunchuan. This disciple knows he violated sect rules and has come specifically to offer penance.”
Zhuang Mohan cast a sidelong glance at him before raising his head to stare at those tightly sealed doors. After Yeqing finished delivering those words, he had shown no intention of speaking further, leaving a protracted silence to stretch out between them.
The two stood stiffly waiting outside the door as time ticked away second by second, prompting Song Yueaming to shift his stiffened body.
With a creak, the heavy hall doors swung open. Raising their heads, the two beheld the youth clad in cyan robes standing at the entrance, his face deathly pale. His three thousand strands of unknotted, brownish hair danced in the gentle breeze, and his features remained utterly expressionless.
Upon catching sight of the two pairs of eyes fixed upon him, Lu Qing arched a brow slightly, a smile blossoming at the corners of his lips: “Master said that since the apology has been delivered, there is no need for the person to linger. After all, Master prefers tranquility.”
Song Yueaming withdrew his gaze from him, staggering slightly as he forced himself to stand up. Having endured floggings down at the Law Enforcement Hall, the wounds across his back were deep enough to expose bone; compounded with the chilling effects of the Frost Art, the circulation of spiritual energy within his body had slowed to a crawl.
Now, upon hearing those words, Song Yueaming offered an apology toward Lu Qing: “Junior Brother Lu, it was my inappropriate choice of words that allowed meddlesome individuals to misunderstand my intent and take action against you. Senior brother offers his apologies to you here, and sincerely hopes Junior Brother will not take it to heart.”
Lu Qing smiled, his gaze drifting across the youth’s face before he tilted his head toward Zhuang Mohan, asking in a teasing tone: “Immortal Jingxu, Senior Brother Song sure speaks eloquently.”
“Mingxin,” Zhuang Mohan rebuked him in an unenthusiastic tone, lowering his old face to bypass Lu Qing as he executed a full, formal bow toward the interior of the hall: “Yunchuan, I understand your meaning.”
Those who knew they were in the wrong yet refused to mend their ways, persisting in coming to provoke the aggrieved party right to their face such a person deserved nothing less than expulsion from the sect.
Panic flared within Song Yueaming’s chest. Turning his head to stare at Zhuang Mohan, he asked in sheer disbelief: “Master…”
“From this moment onward, the Alchemy Peak’s Mingjing Terrace harbors no third-generation disciples, nor does it hold a Song Yueaming.” Straightening his posture, Zhuang Mohan flicked his sleeve and departed from Wangxu Hall, paying Song Yueaming no further heed.
Having given prior instructions before they set out, Zhuang Mohan had intended that if Mingxin knew how to repent for his errors, enduring some physical torment this once would suffice. Yet since Mingxin stubbornly insisted on fighting for that inexplicable, petty pride and refused to lower his arrogant head, the Lingyao Sect could simply no longer afford him a place.
The sect would never tolerate a disciple who harbored malice and preyed upon his peers, regardless of whether he had executed the deed with his own hands or not.
As Song Yueaming turned to depart, the venomous hatred blazing within his eyes had nearly congealed into physical substance.
Thwack. Two invisible wisps of vital energy lanced straight toward Song Yueaming’s eyes, and in the span of a breath, his vision was completely obliterated. Pressing his hands over his eyes as fresh blood spurted from between his fingers, a wave of bitter resentment surged through his heart.
While Lu Qing watched in stunned terror, Yeqing walked out barefoot from the depths of the hall. With a casual flick of his sleeve, Song Yueaming was swept entirely out of the precincts of Wangxu Hall.
Lu Qing involuntarily took a step backward, his pupils dilating with a mixture of terror and speechlessness.
This seemingly immortal, ethereal Immortal Yunchuan… seemed to possess a rather dreadful temper, didn’t he?
Song Yueaming had merely cast a single glance in his direction, and just like that, his eyes were gone.
“Are you afraid of me?” Yeqing turned his head slightly, his expression frigid.
“N—No.” Lu Qing silently swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his complexion turning even paler as he lowered his gaze to avoid looking at him. “Master possesses boundless divine powers, this disciple is merely awestruck.”
Afraid of him? What a joke! This is my ultimate lifeline and golden thigh how could I ever let myself feel afraid of him? It was simply that he hadn’t processed the situation in time, having prejudged the Immortal with a preconceived label, which left him feeling temporarily incredulous.
Noticing his evasive posture, Yeqing fell silent for a moment before shifting the topic: “The reason the Lingyao Sect managed to claim its seat as the absolute head of the Nine Sects stems not merely from the sheer volume of its disciples, but far more crucially from their moral conduct and inner character. The sect enforces strict bounds and numerous restrictions, and this, too, constitutes a fundamental aspect of cultivation.”
“Yet cultivation remains cultivation; if an individual’s moral character is fundamentally corrupt and they plot against their peers behind the scenes, how do they differ in the slightest from beasts and fiends?”
This marked the first occasion Yeqing had delivered such an extended discourse, laying out the foundational ethos of the Lingyao Sect’s existence with brutal, unvarnished directness.
In one ear and out the other, Lu Qing nodded in enthusiastic agreement, replying submissively: “Master is entirely correct, and this disciple shall engrave it deeply upon his heart.”
“Master, what about that vicious beast inside the forbidden area…” Lu Qing lifted his eyes to peer at him. “That vicious beast was sealed away for five hundred years, yet it seemed to mistake me for someone else? Is there something fundamentally different about my physical body?”
Regardless of what excuses he tried to conjure, the sequence of bizarre events unfolding along his path coincidences though they might be was simply stretching the limits of probability far too thin.
With a cold and detached expression, Yunchuan spoke in an unhurried cadence: “Pay it no mind; having been locked away and sealed for a full five hundred years, it had long since lost its mind.”
“Considering that you were driven by extenuating circumstances, your unauthorized breach of the forbidden area will not be penalized. As for the sect administration, they will handle the aftermath of today’s incident accordingly.” Yunchuan turned to re-enter the hall, his wide, flowing sleeves brushing past half of Lu Qing’s arm. “For now, focus entirely on recovering from your injuries. Once you are healed, resume your cultivation.”
Halting his stride, he glanced sideways at the fragile youth standing near the doorway, a minor, imperceptible furrow marring his brow: “Only through absolute personal strength can one remain immune to malicious framing; only through sharp intelligence can one outmaneuver the schemes of petty villains.”
Strength alone could not guard against the venomous rats lurking in dark corners strength and intelligence were both indispensable.
Lu Qing was genuinely taken aback. He hadn’t expected that the seemingly cold and unfeeling Immortal Yunchuan would actually offer words of comfort and deliver them in such a refreshing, refined manner, to boot.
Naturally, he was well aware that in a world governed by the law of the jungle, self-reliance and overwhelming personal strength formed the sole reliable shield against death. That was precisely why, when the system bound him, he had half-heartedly agreed to tackle these missions, striving to fulfill them so he could secure his ticket home.
Given a choice, after all, who on earth would actively choose to perish?
Composing his expression into one of utmost reverence, Lu Qing bowed deeply toward Yeqing: “This disciple deeply appreciates Master’s guidance and will forever keep it in mind.”
“Return to your quarters to rest.” Yunchuan’s expression chilled as he ceased looking at Lu Qing, stepping straight into the inner chamber.
How could he fail to perceive that Lu Qing didn’t truly trust him? The boy maintained a thin veneer of defensive wariness toward him, yet forced himself to draw near out of necessity.
Just as it had always been in the past always drifting distantly beyond reach.
Why did you reappear this time around, and what is your true purpose?
The corners of Yeqing’s mouth pressed downward as he lowered his gaze, lost in unfathomable contemplation.
Srawled out across his bed, enduring lingering waves of physical ache while keeping his eyes tightly shut, Lu Qing muttered internally: [Is my ribbon fully repaired yet? What about my fan?]
The system chimed in: [Cloud-Yunchuan romance progress score +10, rewarding game asset currency: 100,000, and unlocking weapon: Demonic-Slaying Saber.] Shifting smoothly to address his question: [The ribbon has finished repairs; remaining repair count is 3. Repair material required: Ice Silkworm Silk. Currently 5 strands remain in storage, with each repair operation consuming 2 strands.]
Lu Qing drew in a sharp breath of cold air, protesting indignantly: “Are you kidding me? It’s just a minor repair job on a ribbon why on earth does it require so much Ice Silkworm Silk?!”
Ice Silkworm Silk ranked as the most expensive material utilized for weapon maintenance within the [Xiuxian] gaming universe, obtainable exclusively within the hazardous regions of Nine Vaults. Regardless of the weapon undergoing restoration, a single strand should theoretically suffice.
The system replied: [Unknown. Perhaps it correlates with the Host’s physical entry into the game simulation itself.]
“Fine, whatever.” Lu Qing pressed against the microchip embedded in his wrist, summoning a translucent control panel into his field of vision. Scrutinizing the interface closely, the [Log Out] option remained frustratingly absent.
A wave of frustration washed over him, accompanied by a helpless sigh. A hundred thousand game currency units couldn’t purchase anything of substantial value; for high-tier magical garments and elite armaments, a mere 100k was a drop in the bucket.
Currently, those 100k funds could only secure a handful of basic mounts, supplementary materials, or introductory martial techniques.
Lacking a reliable weapon left him entirely vulnerable to passive beatdowns whenever trouble arose. Fortunately, the newly rewarded Demonic-Slaying Saber provided a welcome buffer of confidence.
Only…
“Are romance progress scores tied directly to rewards?” Lu Qing caught the underlying pattern, his expression darkening. “These game currency funds were originally part of my personal assets to begin with using them as ‘system rewards’ feels borderline scammy, doesn’t it?”
The system countered: [All these rewards are triggered purely by the romance progress score. The game currency was never classified as a reward; it is simply unlocking gradually as your romance metrics increase. The Demonic-Slaying Saber constitutes the actual reward designated for the Host.]
“Fine, whatever, understood.”
Seeing the system’s blunt transparency, Lu Qing dropped the complaint. “I’m in agonizing pain here do you have any healing pills in inventory?”
The system fell silent for a brief second before suggesting: [Why doesn’t the Host go seek out Yeqing? Doing so might very well trigger another boost to the romance progress score.]
Naturally, the system aimed to assist Lu Qing, but with mandatory tasks governing its protocols, it naturally prioritized nudging Lu Qing into spending more quality time interacting with Yunchuan.
Choosing not to dignify that with a response, Lu Qing instead retrieved the Demonic-Slaying Saber. It manifested as a curved sabre, pitch-black from hilt to tip, with a gleaming scarlet gem embedded directly into the pommel giving off an ominous, blood-chilling aura.
“If I whip out this Demonic-Slaying Saber in combat, will people mistake me for a fiend or a demon?” Lu Qing affectionately stroked the blade’s dark surface while scanning through the catalog of available martial techniques, hunting for a compatible combat manual.
《Heaven-Striving Art》, 《Ten Astral Forms》, 《Flame-Fiend Technique》, 《Chaos Sabre Technique》, 《Demonic Arts》…
The choices were abundant, yet upon closer inspection, only the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》 aligned naturally with the Demonic-Slaying Saber after all, both revolved around the art of the blade.
As for the remaining manuals, their very titles betrayed their origins; they were clearly tailored for practitioners of demonic or fiendish paths.
Presently residing within the premier orthodox sect of the Lingyao Sect, he naturally could not afford to cultivate techniques tainted with demonic energies.
Moreover, the purchase price for the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》 happened to be exactly 100,000 units. Grimacing as though suffering from a toothache, Lu Qing muttered under his breath: “I’ve completely walked straight into a capitalistic trap did you orchestrate this on purpose?”
The system replied: [Host, I am merely a system; I possess no capacity to manipulate the internal mechanics of the game world.]
Letting out a soft huff, Lu Qing clicked the purchase button for the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》. A burst of swirling monochrome light erupted around him, and the foundational stances for the first tier of the technique flooded directly into his consciousness.
Two monochrome figures materialized within his mind’s eye, sparring against one another. Watching with rapt attention, Lu Qing split his focus to converse with the system: “Impressive stuff how on earth is this effect achieved?”
[Upon purchasing the technique, its execution forms naturally manifest within the Host’s spiritual consciousness,] the system explained. [Given your current cultivation level, utilizing spiritual consciousness is technically impossible; however, the acquisition of the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》 conveniently serves to help temper and train your nascent spiritual awareness.]
“Right, got it.” Lu Qing massaged his temples; a sudden wave of dizziness hit him hard, washing the color entirely from his face.
To make matters worse, the moment the demonstration of the first tier’s forms concluded, the physical pain intensified twofold. Every bone in his body felt as though an invisible blade were methodically shaving away the marrow wave after wave of excruciating agony.
Simultaneously, detailed lore regarding the Demonic-Slaying Saber materialized in his mind.
Forged from the primordial bone of an ancient demon god, the Demonic-Slaying Saber rivaled the density of a meteorite fallen from beyond the heavens. It functioned as a divine artifact dedicated to purging demons and slaying fiends; when paired with the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》, mastering the complete set of blade forms theoretically enabled the wielder to split the heavens asunder and reduce enemy souls and bodies to absolute nothingness with a single strike.
Destroying physical flesh, obliterating soul and spirit.
The sole prerequisite was mastering the entire set of the 《Chaos Sabre Technique》.
Running his thumb gently across the hilt, a bright light sparked in Lu Qing’s eyes: “What is this thing? It feels rather bizarre.”
Knowing he was referring to the scarlet gem embedded in the pommel roughly the size of a thumb, radiant and eye-catching the system provided clarification:
[It is the crystallized heart of the entity that forged this blade. Avoid gazing at it for prolonged periods, lest it corrupt your mental state.]
“Understood, noted.” Lu Qing offered a cautious smile, a cold shiver running down his spine.
This weapon didn’t sound particularly benevolent, either.
Oh well, I’ll figure it out if I get better rewards later. For now, since I lack any other reliable armaments, I’ll just make do with this.
Though potentially perilous, its raw destructive power was undeniably formidable it all depended on how skillfully the user wielded it.
Stowing his items away, Lu Qing pressed against his chest and hoisted his battered body upright.
Now, it was time to head out and farm some presence metrics.
Tasks had to be executed diligently, after all this was directly tied to whether he would ever find his way back home.