However!
Not lying did not equate to an absence of suspicion. Based on her past experiences as a Wandering Disciple, cultivators like Wang Yu who practiced heretical arts had an extremely high probability of being the very culprits behind such incidents. This was a conclusion drawn from experience, unrelated to mere prejudice.
The only point that gave Changxi pause was the first half of Wang Yu's story—his tragic life as a spirit slave in the Scarlet Kite Demon Domain. It had stirred a sliver of sympathy within her. Just a tiny bit, no more.
The situation in the Black Mountain Demon Territory was severe. It wasn't just that Black Mountain Pass had been corrupted and infiltrated by demonic influences; many high-ranking individuals had also secretly infiltrated the Scarlet Kite Demon Domain to procure rare and scarce resources uncommon in the Taihu Spiritual Domain. Even many demonic secret arts were among the things they sought. Most often, this was done for the sake of the worthless offspring born to those in the upper echelons, seeking to defy fate and change their destinies—a specialty of demonic cultivators.
And the ten billion inhabitants of the Taihu Spiritual Domain were precisely one of the resources the demonic path desired. The two sides found common ground, striking a covert deal. On the surface, righteousness and demonicism stood opposed, locked in a life-and-death struggle. In reality, their dealings in the shadows were frequent, involving not only major figures but also mid-level and even minor characters during peacetime, all colluding secretly with the demonic path. For a sword cultivator like her, who hated evil as if it were a personal enemy, this was nothing short of a bolt from the blue. When she first learned the truth, her entire worldview nearly collapsed. Fortunately, there were few such people within the Heavenly Void Sword Sect, and her unwavering, righteous sword heart had pulled her back from the brink. Over time, she decided that out of sight was out of mind and came to this border region to wander and fulfill her duties.
After a moment of silent contemplation, she finally spoke. "Fellow Daoist, since your entire cultivation was learned from the demonic path, do you have any thoughts of discarding your cultivation and starting anew?"
Wang Yu's brow furrowed. *Is she joking?* The amount of effort, blood, sweat, and danger he had poured into this cultivation base was immense. He had navigated between various young masters and mistresses like walking a tightrope. How could he be willing to discard it all!
"Fellow Daoist Changxi, please do not jest. I know the orthodox and demonic paths are opposed, locked in a lifelong struggle. But I, Wang, have never harmed anyone within the Taihu Spiritual Domain. Once I return to my hometown to visit my family, I will naturally choose a secluded place to live in seclusion and never emerge again."
"Oh?" Changxi was somewhat surprised. "Fellow Daoist, you are so young, yet you speak of seclusion. Why is that?"
"Naturally, because my lifespan is dwindling. I wish to find a place with clear waters and green mountains to bury myself."
Changxi: "…"
She looked at Wang Yu's expressionless face. She had almost forgotten the treatment of spirit slaves in the demonic domains. It made sense. Looking at his head of white hair, utterly devoid of vitality, and the faint trace of deathly aura she had detected during her earlier probe… these were often signs of someone on the verge of burning out, their life soon to be extinguished.
"It was presumptuous of me, Changxi. I hope Fellow Daoist does not take offense." The fact that he was a dying man caused another fraction of her suspicion to dissipate.
Wang Yu nodded, saying nothing more. Overall, the fact that this Sword Sect Wandering Disciple, with her peak Foundation Establishment cultivation, treated him with a degree of near-equality also indirectly reflected her character and way of handling matters. She had her forceful side, but also a backbone of righteous principle!
They waited for another half an hour. Changxi retrieved a blank scroll, watched as characters gradually surfaced upon it, and then said to Wang Yu, "Fellow Daoist Wang's identity has been verified. However, it seems the Wang Family of Stone Lake has recently encountered some… changes. If you are going to visit your family, you should hasten your journey."
Upon hearing this, he finally let out a sigh of relief. "If not for chancing upon an opportunity while traversing the Black Mountain Demon Territory, I would not have chosen to break through to Foundation Establishment before returning. It delayed me considerably. I was just preparing to depart."
As for what exactly was happening here, while she had promised to tell him earlier, there was no need to press for details now. Escaping this situation intact was the priority.
Watching Wang Yu's retreating back as he gathered his belongings and disappeared, Changxi felt that something was amiss.
"He just broke through to Foundation Establishment. Even for a Body Cultivator, his lifespan should have significantly extended. Yet he says he wants to find a quiet place to wait for death… He lied!"
She summoned her Moonbeam Sword, intending to chase after him and demand an explanation, when suddenly a loud shout erupted from ahead.
"Where did this demonic whelp come from! Reeking of evil energy. This master will eradicate your kind and defend the Dao today!"
"Oh no, it's Junior Brother Lan!" she exclaimed.
***
A kilometer outside the Fissured Cliff.
Wang Yu stomped violently on the ground, leaping backward. His face was dark as he glanced at the spot where he had just been standing, now a three-zhang-wide crater blasted by a spell. The killing intent he had been suppressing began to simmer, barely contained.
The middle-aged cultivator with the slender mustache hovered in mid-air, his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation on full display. His eyes were filled with utter disgust. "Demonic heretics deserve death without pity. River and Lake Sword Art: Water Origin Linear Slash!"
A second-grade, high-tier magical sword appeared in his hand. He swung it fiercely towards Wang Yu. In that instant, the air filled with the roaring sound of turbulent rivers and surging waves. Boundless water spiritual power transformed into a hundred-meter-wide expanse of ocean, like a celestial river tipping over, converging into a single, razor-thin line of blue sword light compressed to an extreme.
The distance between them was barely a hundred paces. The sword light arrived the moment it was unleashed!
Its ferocious might far surpassed anything Wang Yu had witnessed from Deacon Xu. It was as if their methods existed on entirely different levels.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Wang Yu growled.
He first summoned the top-tier first-grade magical artifact, the copper bowl, hurling it forward. It was cleaved in two under his pained gaze, rendered into scrap metal. However, the blue sword light slowed, its power diminished by a fraction. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Yu mobilized the spiritual power throughout his body, his left foot stomping the ground.
Six layers of ice walls, evolved from the Ice Coffin Curse, materialized one after another, standing firm between him and the attack. The collision was violent, but his defense still fell slightly short. Yet, it further weakened the sword light. Only then did Wang Yu viciously kick out with his right leg. The Yin Nether Demonic蛟 (Jiāo - flood dragon) materialized from his spiritual power, emerging from the great dragon of his spine, coiling around his kicking leg like a flood dragon bursting forth from the sea.
"BOOM—!"
A deafening explosion followed, and both forces vanished simultaneously.
*This Sword Sect Foundation Establishment cultivator seems to possess battle prowess a notch above that of a Blood Sect cultivator of the same level,* Wang Yu realized grimly. The combination of mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, a high-tier sword artifact, and an advanced sword art meant he had to expend nearly all his effort just to barely neutralize this single attack.
The dragon spine condensed from the Flood Dragon Force was intimately related to the dragon-blood secret medicine he had consumed during the Nine Dragons Living Sinews stage. Wang Yu had used the essence blood of a dragon-lineage Ice Python. Among all dragon-attribute demonic beasts, the dragon-lineage bloodline was the lowest tier. However, it had been fused with a trace of origin essence from a third-grade flood dragon inner core—a miraculous fortune—and further mutated by the Corpse Demon Secret Art. This convergence had resulted in the Yin Nether Demonic蛟 Spine, a superior and extraordinary Body Cultivation marvel!
Among Body Cultivators of the same level, he was not weak, at least in the upper-middle tier. The best way to strengthen this dragon spine was to continue consuming higher-grade dragon-blood secret medicines. This was equivalent to enhancing a Body Cultivator's innate divine ability, gradually deepening his physical foundation. Before his cultivation technique advanced further, secret medicines were his only method to enhance his Body Cultivation.
Now, facing a genuine major sect disciple, the inflated sense of confidence he had felt after breaking through to Foundation Establishment completely evaporated. What remained was only the shame-turned-determination and resolve to improve.
Of course, the emotion most充盈 (chōngyíng - filling, brimming) in his heart at this moment was still killing intent!
*If I was submissive and cautious before breaking through, and I'm still like this after breaking through, then didn't I break through for nothing?! The Taihu Spiritual Domain is truly not for me. I want to return to the Demon Domain.*
"You demonic heretic, you have some skill after all," the mustached cultivator sneered. "Remember, the one who kills you is named Lan Boting! River and Lake Sword Art! Heavy—"
"Cease!" A voice, cold as ice, cut through the air.
The Sword Sect's Wandering Disciple, arriving late, swung her sword, dispersing the gathering water origin energy with a single strike. Changxi fixed a cold gaze on Lan Boting. "I still have use for this person. Junior Brother Lan, do not interfere."