Perhaps Su Li’s approach had exposed his presence. Hearing his master’s call, he suddenly snapped to attention and answered, “This disciple has come to serve tea to Master.”
“…Come in.” Lu Yin’s voice carried a hint of fatigue.
Su Li entered the bedchamber. It was clearly identical to how he had left it last night, yet somehow every corner felt entirely different.
Lu Yin’s bed was hidden behind layers of moon-green curtains. At this moment, the drapes were drawn, and the figure within was barely discernible, his voice merely mumbling: “Drunkenness, a hangover… Remind me not to drink wine in the future… Ah, go pour me a cup of spiritual tea…” His voice was raspy, forcing one to suspect whether things had been too intense the previous night.
Su Li walked to the table and surveyed the room, finding no further traces of a sword-cultivator companion’s presence. He took a cup of spiritual tea and held it in his hands.
From behind the layers of drapery, a hand reached out. The wrist was slender, the palm elegant and long, carved as if from flawless mutton-fat white jade. Even the fingernails bore a delicate pink tint, making one wonder: if sucked and bitten, would the fingertips flush with an even more radiant color?
Su Li’s breath hitched, and he turned his head away, yet he ultimately couldn’t suppress the surging waves in his heart.
He asked, appearing non-chalant, “A disciple should handle his master’s chores. If Master has a Dao companion, this disciple can slack off a bit. When does Master plan to tie the knot with a companion?”
The moon-green curtain seemed to swirl heavily, as if the person inside was making a flustered movement.
Then, silence fell once more.
Su Li pricked up his ears, yet could not capture a single sound.
This silence felt like ten thousand ants gnawing at Su Li’s throat, leaving him numb, tingling, and unable to bear it.
Had he angered Master by prying so deliberately?
After a long while, he managed a cough: “Master, this disciple knows his fault—”
He was interrupted by the sharp swish of the curtain being pulled aside.
Immortal Respecter Lingyue—his hair already neatly done, missing only an outer robe—emerged from within. His dark eyes were moist like water, his skin fair as warm snow, presenting a stark contrast of pure black and white.
With a flick of his hands, an outer robe embroidered with silver cranes and even matching auspicious-cloud talismans boots were neatly in place. A small ice-jade seal hung at his waist, highlighting the slender firmness of his wrapped midsection.
“At a young age, you don’t focus on cultivating properly, thinking about wild nonsense all day. Calm your mind.” His dark brows, sweeping straight toward his temples, didn’t move in the slightest. He remained like an unapproachable cold moon in the high sky, untainted by a single speck of worldly dust.
So-called love and so-called Dao companions couldn’t even touch a single strand of his hair.
Su Li stood frozen in a daze.
“What are you standing there for? Follow Master to the Xuanming Main Hall.”
The Xuanming Main Hall was the abode of the Sect Master of Linghua Sect, the core of the entire sect.
Sect Master True Monarch Xuanming, who presided at the center, possessed a Hedao (Dao-Merging) realm cultivation. He was the highest-cultivation figure aside from the long-secluded Ancestor, and also the master of Immortal Respecter Lingyue.
In other words, Su Li had to call him Grandmaster.
Resplendent arrays glowed inside the Xuanming Main Hall. Wall lamps carved into various flowers and auspicious beasts were embedded with countless night-luminescent pearls, complemented by a nine-tiered bronze lamp tower burning continuously. Even the deep, expansive hall was as bright as day.
Lu Yin took his seat close to True Monarch Xuanming. According to protocol, Su Li stood behind Lu Yin.
The dignified voice of the Grandmaster echoed from the deep hall: “The Sect Competition is right around the corner. This cycle marks a hundred-year milestone. Neither the Red Blood Lake nor the Jiyi Valley can be underestimated; prepare yourself well.”
Lu Yin gave a faint hum, his expression indifferent.
The Red Blood Sword Respecter was the master of Red Blood Lake and also the premier sword-cultivation sect in the present Spiritual Realm.
Red Blood Lake produced a special type of algae year-round. Refined, it allowed one’s body to walk through magma, enabling the cultivation of an immensely domineering and fierce Red Blood Sword Intent. The higher one’s cultivation, the more scalding hot it became, making them exceedingly powerful in the Spiritual Realm.
Standing below, Su Li’s thoughts drifted far away: An immensely hot Red Blood Sword Intent… could the man from last night be the Red Blood Sword Respecter?
Linghua Sect and Red Blood Lake held a tournament at the Immortal Gate Competition every ten years, disliking each other for a long time. Could it be… this was the reason Master was unwilling to publicly reveal that his Dao companion was the Red Blood Sword Respecter?
Arch-rivals on the surface, yet intimate lovers in bed… Or perhaps, even during dual cultivation, the two would first tear up heaven and earth in a fight before intertwining together…
Su Li shook his head vigorously to shake out these dirty thoughts.
He cursed himself inwardly: Su Li! I think you’re truly about to succumb to heart-demons! Thinking about all this messy nonsense in broad daylight!
Following Su Li’s movement, True Monarch Xuanming’s voice came to an abrupt halt, and an oppressive silence fell over the main hall.
The nine-tiered bronze dragon-holding lamp flickered once, as if intimidated by the invisibly spreading aura of pressure.
Only then did Su Li snap back to his senses and look upward.
True Monarch Xuanming’s voice carried slight anger. Having reached the Hedao realm, his face was blurred under the pressure, with only the silver hair at his temples gleaming with the light of the Thunder Spirit Root. He was long-renowned, having served as the Sect Master of Linghua Sect long before taking Lu Yin as a disciple.
His pressure was immense as he spoke: “What is it, Su Li? As a rising star of our sect, do you lack confidence in claiming the top spot?”
His voice sounded like a heavy dark cloud pressing down over the entire hall, causing even Su Li to feel a dull pain in his chest.
Su Li’s heart chilled, realizing that when he was daydreaming just now, Grandmaster was referring to him. He immediately flicked his robe and knelt down candidly:
“No! This disciple will definitely claim victory! For Master Lingyue! For Linghua Sect!”
True Monarch Xuanming did not speak, merely staring down at him heavily.
For some reason, ever since the day he entered the sect, Grandmaster hadn’t been very fond of him.
Heavy weight pressed on his shoulders—it was the Hedao-realm pressure from True Monarch Xuanming, pressing down until his knees ached, making it difficult to even stand straight.
If this pressure continued, with Su Li’s current cultivation, his legs would likely be broken outright.
Lu Yin’s index finger, hidden within his sleeve, moved imperceptibly. Su Li instantly felt a gentle breeze sweep over him; the heavy weight on his shoulders vanished, and his knees felt as if cushioned by soft pads, leaving his whole body light and relieved.
Master…
Su Li glanced at Lu Yin out of the corner of his eye, a wave of warmth rushing through his heart.
True Monarch Xuanming’s gaze grew sharp. He glanced at Lu Yin, his narrow eyes squinting slightly: “Fine. You may step down first.”
With a wave of his sleeve, Su Li was swept out by a gust of fierce wind. The hall doors slammed shut right against the tip of his nose without ceremony, vaguely cutting off Lu Yin’s words: “Master is being too harsh on Su Li…”
Master…
Su Li’s heart felt as if soaked in warm water.
Master was always like this—appearing cold and distant on the surface, but in truth protecting him at every turn, showing utmost care for him as a disciple, even daring to talk back to Grandmaster for his sake…
Grandmaster had always disliked him for unknown reasons.
Master’s subtle movement just now couldn’t escape his eyes either; would he… make things difficult for Master?
At this thought, Su Li’s heart hung high in his chest, as if gripped by something.
The tall, elegant youth stood straight outside the main hall, letting a tree’s worth of cold frost fall all over his shoulders.
Inside the hall, Lu Yin looked at True Monarch Xuanming seated high in the center and let out a helpless sigh: “Su Li only recently recovered from the injuries inflicted by the demonic cultivator. Has he fully healed today? Aren’t you being too hasty?” His tone carried casual complaint; if overheard by others, they would be terrified—this was hardly the attitude one showed toward a Sect Master and master!
As it turned out, neither Lu Yin nor Xuanming belonged to this world. Lu Yin was a star employee of the Quick Transmigration Bureau, deployed to various small worlds to repair the Heavenly Dao. Unfortunately, during a previous mission, he was separated from his Dao companion. His companion’s soul unexpectedly shattered into eight fragments, scattered across different small worlds. After painstaking efforts, Lu Yin had gathered seven soul fragments and stored them in his spatial magical item, the Ice-Dust Crystal Mirror. However, the crucial eighth fragment remained nowhere to be found.
Xuanming, on the other hand, was Lu Yin’s colleague and the guardian of this world. Lu Yin’s Dao companion, Shi Zeyi, was renowned in the Quick Transmigration Bureau, possessing immensely powerful soul energy. Xuanming had to ensure that this world would not be disrupted by his existence.
He snorted and said, “This world is about to face a calamity of destruction. The only one capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility is that good disciple of yours. If I’m not a bit strict with him, when the grand building collapses in the future, you and I might both meet our end here.”
Lu Yin: “Though that makes sense… could you stop deliberately imitating his tone when you speak?”
Xuanming looked a bit embarrassed: “You noticed? Ahem, I really admire Lord Shi Zeyi. In the last small world, he slayed demons with the Nine Heavens Profound Thunder, acting with swift and decisive vigor. I just wanted to indulge myself for once, which is why I picked the Thunder Spirit Root here, hehe.”
Lu Yin: “…”
Xuanming: “So can you project Lord Shi’s portrait again for me to study? I think those two silver dragon whiskers look ridiculously cool. I don’t have any other motives, I just want to die looking cool during the calamity of destruction so I can admire my own stylish posture back at headquarters.”
Lu Yin: “…”
Xuanming: “Please! I’m definitely going to be the first to bite the dust in the calamity anyway, just treat it as my dying wish…”
Lu Yin pressed his forehead. He was truly exasperated by Xuanming, this hardcore cosplay enthusiast. If he hadn’t arrived in this world a bit late, he wouldn’t have ended up becoming this guy’s disciple.
Yet what Xuanming said was true; this world was indeed crumbling, and a calamity of destruction was imminent, though he could not deduce the exact manner in which it would descend.
If he couldn’t find the eighth soul fragment before then, Shi Zeyi would likely remain seven broken portraits forever, trapped inside the mirror unable to be restored…
Lu Yin said, “I can show you the portrait, but in the future, be gentler with Su Li… Forget it, be as fierce as you want. I’ll just compensate Su Li with more cultivation manuals later.”
Xuanming: “Of course! What I give him is always the absolute best!”
With those words spoken, Lu Yin stood up. On the chest of his silver-crane embroidered outer robe, a bright moon seemed to rise—the magical artifact, the Ice-Dust Crystal Mirror, transformed into a soft halo of light between his long fingers, projecting a lifelike painting onto the main hall.
A supremely majestic figure sat within it. His features were remarkably handsome and deep, with sharp, chiseled lines like a carved blade. If one’s cultivation were low, a single glance would cause their eyes to sting, as though scraped by razor blades.
His natural, rare Thunder Spirit Root allowed him to harness Nine Heavens Profound Thunder within his body, turning even his eyes a faint silver, as if concealing infinite thunderbolts. The two strands of silver hair at his temples did nothing to soften his decisive, murderous aura.
Even as a mere projection, it felt as though a supreme power had descended, unmatched by anyone.
Xuanming: “Woah, yes! That’s the exact feeling!” Saying so, he silently analyzed it, imitating several poses himself. “No, no, something’s still missing. Hold on while I go pick out a long spear from the armory!”
With that, his figure vanished from the spot.
Lu Yin: “…”
He raised his hand to retract the projection, but as his fingers approached the Ice-Dust Crystal, they paused and dropped back down.
He gazed silently at the projection, and the silver-thunder eyes within the portrait seemed like two deep lakes, gazing deeply back at him. In a trance, he seemed to hear that man extending a hand to him: “Come here…”
He remembered how, in that world, the man would always say so, locking him firmly within his large palm.
“Zeyi…” His lips parted softly. “I will find you.” He stood up and stepped forward into the projected painting.
About two incense sticks of time passed before the tightly shut main hall doors finally opened. Lu Yin stepped out of the hall; if one looked closely, they would notice his face bore a faint flush and sweat, and the collar of his inner robe was slightly rumpled, as if grabbed forcefully by someone.
Su Li looked anxious: “Master, did Grandmaster punish you?!”
Lu Yin glanced at him, his stride steady: “Where did this nonsense come from? Be quiet.”
Su Li bit his lip: Master isn’t saying, mostly because he doesn’t want me to worry. He looked toward the high platform inside the hall from afar, where a figure cloaked in silver lightning flashed past, sitting high above with surging pressure, leaving no way to peek at his expression.
If one day I can also cultivate to Grandmaster Xuanming’s position…
The young, proud talent stole another glance at Lu Yin’s tall, slender back, his heart beating frantically.
In the afternoon, Lu Yin guided Su Li at Lingyue Pavilion regarding the upcoming Sect Competition: “Have the injuries you suffered from the demonic cultivator last time fully healed?”
Su Li touched his chest and nodded, “Yes, Master, fully recovered.”
Lu Yin nodded slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. He usually didn’t smile, looking like a statue carved from ice and snow, but the moment the corners of his lips curved slightly, the small mole became vivid, bringing a gentle spring breeze that melted the frost throughout Lingyue Pavilion: “That is good.”
Su Li’s heart stirred slightly. The spot on his chest once pierced by a demonic cultivator’s sword felt an itchy sensation radiating from the wound. He so badly wanted… to touch that small mole.
He snapped back to reality: No!
Lu Yin said: “Among the participants this time, the ones with the most extraordinary strength are the Red Blood Sword Sect and Jiyi Valley. The Red Blood Sword Sect consists mostly of sword cultivators with astonishing direct combat power. Jiyi Valley mostly consists of pill and medicine cultivators, as you already know.
In arena matches, Jiyi Valley can hardly win; even for the few who use poisonous insects, as long as you use a Pest-Repelling Talisman, the bugs won’t dare approach.” Immortal Respecter Lingyue looked stern. “However, the Red Blood Sword Intent grows fiercer the longer they fight; if injured, they become even more aggressive. You must be cautious—either do not strike, but if you do, strike to end it in one blow!”
He rose gracefully, his white-crane sleeves fluttering. The small ice-jade seal at his waist traced a circular arc through the air, reflecting the sunlight and gleaming with a captivating luster:
“Have you learned the Cloud-Catching Steps I gave you last time? Master will demonstrate for you.”
Under the osmanthus tree, Master moved freely through the golden flecks of light, shifting and leaping with a posture agile as a swimming dragon, startling as a flying swan. The small Ice-Dust Crystal seal danced along, adding streaks of silver light around his body.
Su Li watched without blinking.
As expected of Master… With such grace, he truly deserves to be called a proud favorite of heaven.
“Have you remembered the key points I mentioned?” Lu Yin stopped and lowered his eyes to ask.
Su Li: “…This disciple has remembered!”
“Good, then go ahead and practice first. If you have questions, come find me again.” Lu Yin nodded. As he moved, a strand of ink-black hair was playfully caught in the tassel of his hair crown by the wind. Su Li reached out almost naturally, wanting to tidy it for him…
No!
Su Li’s forearm raised slightly, then dropped heavily back down.
What on earth was he thinking just now?!
The only person allowed to tidy Master’s hair should be his Dao companion…
Su Li felt sourness in his heart, able only to comfort himself: Master has always done his utmost for me, caring deeply. With his cold temperament, personally teaching me the Cloud-Catching Steps is something outsiders wouldn’t even believe.
Su Li couldn’t help but fall into a trance: Could there be a possibility that Master deliberately approached the Red Blood Sword Respecter just to help me win the Sect Competition?
Even though logically this deduction was laughable, the subtle possibility still made Su Li’s blood boil.
Thus, he practiced for another three to four hours that day until night fell. Su Li exhausted his spiritual energy and felt a bit hungry.
Starlight covered the white snow as Su Li entered the small kitchen.
Although someone at Master’s level no longer needed food, spiritual rice tangyuan filled with osmanthus paste were often placed there—rich in spiritual energy and sweet in taste, perfect as a snack to replenish energy.
Su Li thought: I’ll boil a bowl and bring it over. If Master isn’t asleep, it can warm his stomach.
He boiled the water and cooked the dumplings, carrying the tray to Master’s bedchamber.
Passing through the rippling barrier, Su Li reached the door of Master’s room. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard an unusual laugh from Master inside.
Unrestrained, hearty, appearing extremely joyful.
Su Li froze in place; Master had never laughed like that with him.
“Who told you that? You even brought sweet fermented rice dumplings? Are you trying to get me drunk?” The normally stern Master was… flirting and joking with someone?!
A low voice, flowing like a gentle stream, sounded in response. Though the words were unclear, the incoming tone was deep and pleasant.
There was someone in Master’s room, and this person’s spiritual aura was completely different from that of the Red Blood Sword Respecter from last night!