Chapter 72: Concealing One's Strength and Biding One's Time

Gu Weiyu approached the ice statue that was once Sanshui. She saw frost steaming from his body, his eyes wide open, but utterly lifeless. What a formidable killing formation! Gu Weiyu marveled inwardly, tossing a fireball from her hand; in an instant, the fireball consumed Sanshui entirely.

She glanced at the ashes on the ground and, with a sweep of a cleansing spell, erased all trace of them. It was her first time taking a life, yet Gu Weiyu felt no discomfort at all, as if a thirst for blood had been etched into her very bones from birth.

After putting away the Four Symbols Slaughtering Array, Gu Weiyu crouched and sat alone on the slope of the small valley, gazing into the dusk-shrouded hills, her heart filled with loneliness. Clearly, she could not venture to Danyang City for the time being—not until her disguise technique had reached perfection. Out of caution, she would stay away.

Yet within her surged an urgent desire to grow stronger. Must she truly leave this place and seek another city?

She took out the jade slip etched with the boundary map and pressed it to her brow, studying the chart carefully. Near Danyang City stood four other great cities: Danqing City, Myriad Sword City, Spirit Forge City, and Thousand Array City. The names alone hinted at their specialties—Danyang City thrived on alchemy, while Danqing City was the domain of talisman masters. Myriad Sword City, Spirit Forge City, and Thousand Array City needed no further explanation; they were havens for sword cultivators, artifact refiners, and array masters, respectively.

She had heard long ago that these five cities were unrivaled in the central region of the Voidless Realm. Behind each, there stood one of the five great sects of the cultivation world: Danyang Sect, Spirit Talisman Sect, Myriad Sword Sect, Spirit Forge Sect, and Thousand Array Sect.

It was said that every three years, these great sects would open their doors to new disciples. If she could enter one and gain their protection, would she still need to fear Chu Xingyun, who was merely at the Core Formation stage?

Gu Weiyu intended to pursue the path of an alchemist, so her heart was set on joining the Danyang Sect. Now, it seemed, that plan would have to be set aside!

Still, unless there was no other option, she was unwilling to leave Danyang.

Returning to her valley, Gu Weiyu set up her formation and pitched her tent, then immersed herself in cultivation.

The next day, she set aside her alchemy practice and devoted herself to eighteen cycles a day of the Eight Desolations and Mountains and Seas Technique. The rest of her time was split between cultivating the Ninefold Spirit Refinement to strengthen her soul and perfecting her disguise technique. Since even Sanshui had recognized her from behind, there was no reason others could not do the same.

—

Qin Prefecture, Gu Residence, South Mountain Dwelling.

Chu Xingyun lounged lazily on his couch, while Xin Niang sat beside him, peeling grapes and feeding them to his mouth.

“Master Chu—”

A respectful voice sounded from beyond the courtyard. Chu Xingyun responded with a faint hum, and the gate opened on its own. A figure dressed in black entered, revealing only a pair of eyes.

“Speak—what business brings you here?” Xin Niang asked sweetly, seeing that Chu Xingyun did not intend to.

“News from the Mission Hall, master. Someone in Danyang City claims to have information—Gu Weiyu was reportedly seen at the Treasure Pavilion there. Here is the recording stone they provided.”

The black-clad man bowed deeply as he delivered his report. Chu Xingyun had heard countless such messages since posting a hefty reward—people sent news daily, yet none had led him to Gu Weiyu. He had spent many spirit stones, but hadn’t even caught a glimpse of her.

“Bring it here,” Chu Xingyun said languidly to the man.

Lately, he could feel his spiritual power leaking from his body, the rate of loss increasing by the day. If he didn’t soon obtain the pill formula, his cultivation would surely fall below the Core Formation stage!

The black-clad man approached with care, head bowed, and presented the recording stone before him.

Chu Xingyun took the stone and poured spiritual power into it. At once, the image of a young boy in a blue robe appeared before him.

“Yunlang, about these Ziling grapes…” Xin Niang began, holding a plump grape between her fingers, but Chu Xingyun, who had been reclining, suddenly sat upright, his gaze fixed on the tiny figure emerging from the stone.

“Yunlang, what’s the matter?” Xin Niang, caught off guard, dropped the grape, which rolled across the floor.

“Haha… ha!” Chu Xingyun burst into laughter. “So that’s where she’s been—Danyang!”

“That boy is Gu Weiyu?” Xin Niang’s gaze fell onto the image as well. “He does seem quite spirited—what a pity…”

“Come, let’s go to Danyang at once!” Chu Xingyun stood, summoned his flying sword, and stepped onto it.

Xin Niang readily agreed. She cast a cleansing spell on her hands before joining him on the sword.

The flying sword soared into the sky, and in a flash, the two were gone, leaving only the black-clad messenger behind at South Mountain Dwelling. The man glanced around, shook his head, and left in silence.

Meanwhile, Gu Weiyu remained in the valley outside Danyang City for two days, her heart pounding with a vague sense of foreboding. She could not calm her mind enough to cultivate.

It is said that cultivators possess a sixth sense, a subtle warning before danger strikes.

She thought of Sanshui, and realized he had likely gone to the Mission Hall. Without hesitation, she packed up her formation and tent and set off toward Myriad Sword Sect.

Back in Danyang City, after Sanshui’s hurried departure at dusk, no one at Hundred Herbs Hall had seen him for three days.

The head steward was annoyed. “That Sanshui is truly unreliable—no wonder the Treasure Pavilion dismissed him!”

“Please, don’t be angry, sir. He’s just a lowly assistant. There are plenty more in Danyang City!” another assistant fawned, stepping forward. “I happen to know someone—smart and diligent. Would you like to meet him?”

The steward glanced at the assistant and replied coolly, “Have him come tomorrow so I can take a look.”

“Yes, of course!” the assistant replied with undisguised joy. Had Sanshui not beaten him to the post, his own brother would have had the job.

Hundred Herbs Hall was one of the most reputable shops in Danyang City, and many aspired to work there. However, it only bought and sold spiritual herbs and elixirs, unlike the all-encompassing Treasure Pavilion. Sanshui had been but a minor Qi Refining cultivator—his disappearance barely caused a ripple in the city before he was forgotten entirely.

Chu Xingyun and Xin Niang, meanwhile, arrived in Danyang City by sword, only to learn that Gu Weiyu had left the Treasure Pavilion long ago. Since then, no one had seen her—she had vanished as if into thin air.

“Damn it!”

How could a living person simply disappear like that?

Frustrated, Chu Xingyun was unwilling to return to Qin Prefecture empty-handed, so he and Xin Niang remained for the time being in Danyang.

—

“Knock, knock—”

One day, as the two were staying at their lodgings, a knock sounded at the door.

A slightly ingratiating voice followed. “Master Chu, I am He Ming. I have a bit of news I wish to share with you.”

Zibi Literature