Chapter 13

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Suzhen stared at him in a daze. “Senior—”

Was he joking or serious?

But how long had they known each other?

Upon reflection, no one had ever made such a promise to her before.

Many years ago, her mother would gently stroke her head on her birthday and ask what gift she wished for, saying she could give her anything as long as she could manage it. Almost every time, Suzhen wished only to go out and play with her mother.

Many years later, a few people had joked with her, saying things like, “Whoever you hate, we’ll go and slaughter them together—even if they’re some Immortal Lord, we can give it a try.” Such talk was merely banter, not a true promise, and not to be taken seriously.

“Of course,” Xiao Yu added earnestly, “If you want something, you’ll achieve it yourself sooner or later. I believe that very much. What I just said was not because I look down on you.”

Suzhen laughed and cried at once. “Senior means well; how could I misunderstand? Otherwise, there’s no need to send gifts at all—sending means you think the other can’t afford it.”

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but smile. “I actually know you wouldn’t misunderstand, nor do I think you can’t figure this out... Ah, this is an endless loop—we better stop here.”

Suzhen found it amusing too. Despite still feeling somewhat shocked and confused, her mood had improved greatly.

Xiao Yu added, “But what I said stands forever, assuming I know you won’t always need others’ help.”

Suzhen: “...”

Anyone slow-witted would be bewildered by such words.

She smiled brightly. “Then I thank you for your kindness. Besides, who in this world can always go it alone? Who can say they never need others’ help?”

Usually, she disliked asking others for help simply because she hated owing favors and the headaches that came with it. But if she truly needed assistance, she would seek it without hesitation.

“Indeed,” Xiao Yu agreed. “Many seniors said similar things before. When I ventured out on my own, I realized these words were true.”

Suzhen didn’t want to stay in her master’s room any longer and directly invited him to leave.

They strolled slowly along the stone path outside, below them mist drifted over the lush mountains, and the distant sound of bells and chimes floated softly in the breeze.

“Moreover,” Xiao Yu suddenly said, “the whole matter was actually caused by me. If I hadn’t given you that origami crane, you wouldn’t have quarreled with your master.”

Suzhen hesitated.

She thought if she hadn’t carried it on her person, none of the earlier incidents would have happened.

Yet it felt strange to say this aloud.

After a moment of silence, Suzhen said seriously, “In the end, it was just that he...”

The Immortal Lord Yuchen heard that Leng Xiang had given it away and noticed she carried that object, which led him to suspect something and confront her, probably to uncover that person’s identity.

Of course, as the leader of Weiyun Peak, it was natural for him to question any suspicious items.

Or perhaps he didn’t actually find it suspicious and was simply using his authority for personal gain—that was also commonplace.

Suzhen didn’t bother to investigate the true reason.

Whatever his motive, if she hadn’t mentioned Leng Xiang’s gift today, none of the subsequent events would have occurred.

“...I’d rather not tell you what we were discussing earlier, it’s all trivial nonsense,” Suzhen said seriously. “In any case, it’s definitely not your or my fault.”

“That’s good,” Xiao Yu smiled. “I guess you’re going back to cultivation?”

Suzhen gave no clear answer. “Maybe. Are you in a good mood, senior?”

“Mm, it’s good that you don’t care so much anymore. Although it’s your affair, I’ve always thought he’s unworthy.”

Suzhen: “?”

What on earth?

Several thoughts flashed through her mind. “Unworthy of what? Being my master?”

Xiao Yu cleared his throat. “Yes, he’s unworthy of everything.”

Suzhen felt that was debatable; at least in terms of ability, Immortal Lord Yuchen was qualified to teach her.

But she didn’t want to argue. “I’ll head back first. Farewell.”

Xiao Yu waved briskly.

And so, they parted ways.

Suzhen secluded herself in the courtyard for several days. Upon waking, she checked her jade slip, dispelled several layers of protective barriers outside the courtyard, and set off down the mountain.

Leaving Weiyun Peak, she traveled eastward until she reached the nearest town, where she bought a few items at the market.

A fresh bucket of milk and fermented rice wine, a small bag of dried fruits and nuts, five pounds of peas, and a copper pot. After returning to the mountain, she also visited the outer gate once more.

The Tianyuan Sect’s inner gate comprised four peaks, each occupying the highest main peaks, while the outer gate’s four halls were scattered around the periphery of these peaks.

Among these, the Herb Hall occupied several lower peaks. The mountain range was lush and green, wooden fences hidden among rich vegetation, and cultivators could often be seen busy among the trees and flowers.

Suzhen found a few acquaintances and purchased a batch of syrups and powders extracted from spiritual plants, a pack of Thornheart flower seeds, and some other items.

Back home, she scattered the seeds on a vacant patch in the flower garden, nurturing them with spiritual energy and watering them. Within less than fifteen minutes, the seeds sprouted, becoming small, tender green seedlings.

They then grew slowly but visibly.

She also cleaned the small kitchen that hadn’t been used for a long time, boiled a pot of peas until they crumbled to fine sand, stir-fried them with sugar powder, and packed the mixture into a box.

During this time, she mixed the milk and rice wine, simmered them over medium heat for nearly half an hour, then cooled the mixture before placing it in a box filled with ice cubes.

Suzhen’s Ice Spirit Root was of low purity, barely able to cast a few minor spells, but it was just enough to create a chilled drink.

She sat nearby to replenish her spiritual energy as needed.

Checking on the Thornheart flower, less than an hour had passed and it had already sprouted countless emerald branches covered with sharp thorns, bearing dozens of umbrella-shaped blossoms layered with pink-white and vivid red petals, completing growth that normally took months.

After tidying up, she sat at the table waiting for the chilled dessert to finish and received a message from her master.

Immortal Lord Yuchen sent a direct transmission, summoning her to Lingxiao Peak.

Suzhen glanced at the box of pastries and pea jelly, confirmed all was well, and left immediately.

As usual, she landed in front of Mingxin Hall, ascended the grand staircase, and greeted the disciples on duty at the entrance.

The cultivators of Lingxiao Peak all recognized her and congratulated her on her advancement.

One of them, who knew her well, whispered a warning: “Junior Brother Zhou’s family has arrived, and your junior sister has been summoned. They were causing a scene wanting to see the sect leader, so they came to Lingxiao Peak...”

In immortal sects, it was not uncommon for disciples to perish for various reasons—some lost control during seclusion, others were killed during trials. Such incidents happened every year.

The Zhou family, being an aristocratic clan, surely had heard of such matters or had similar experiences themselves.

So logically, they shouldn’t be overly shocked. Those causing disturbances likely couldn’t accept the loss emotionally or hoped to gain some advantage.

At least, the Lingxiao Peak disciples at the gate thought so.

“Thanks for the warning, senior sister,” Suzhen nodded. “I’ve been secluded again these past two days and don’t know what’s happened.”

Her expression was indifferent, as if the death of Junior Brother Zhou meant little to her.

The disciples exchanged glances; some thought her cold-hearted, others thought it fitting since everyone knew the relationship between Zhou Ziheng and her.

Suzhen tilted her head. “They’re in the side hall?”

The Zhou family members weren’t high-ranking, so they wouldn’t be received in the main hall.

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“Correct,” a cultivator pointed. “The sect leader is in seclusion, your master has arrived, and now they are all in the south side hall...”

The summer air was rich and warm. Mingxin Hall was grand and luxurious, surrounded by cloud corridors. On both sides stood phoenix trees and cypress, their shadows dancing in the sunlight.

A cool breeze blew across the mountaintop, passing through the layers of halls and brushing her face.

Suzhen was unhurried, strolling leisurely until she stopped suddenly.

Ahead, at the end of a winding corridor, two paths diverged. She was supposed to go left, but the right path led to a hexagonal pavilion by the water, where a figure sat.

That person lounged in a goose-neck chair, dressed all in black, one hand resting on the railing, turning his head from afar.

His profile bathed in sunlight was astonishingly handsome, with loose strands of hair cascading down and a crystal ornament gleaming at his ear, refracting a halo of colors.

The black-clad, black-haired youth stood and smiled brightly.

Suzhen: “...”

Since this was the peak of Lingxiao and this person was an Immortal Lord from Lingxiao Peak, she wasn’t surprised to encounter him here.

Whether he was waiting for her or not, what did it matter?

Xiao Yu waved at her.

Suzhen imitated him with a wave.

Afterward, she felt the gesture was silly.

Inside the pavilion, his eyes brightened.

He looked delighted but said nothing, just smiled at her and sat back down, seemingly assuming she would continue left and not turn right to him.

Xiao Yu leaned on the railing, watching her from afar.

At the fork, Suzhen hesitated, then decided to turn right toward the pavilion.

“?”

Xiao Yu immediately stood up. “You’re not going?”

Suzhen blinked. “Senior, do you know what happened?”

Though Zhou Ziheng, a disciple of Weiyun Peak’s leader, had died and his family had come, involving the Soul Devouring Cult’s demonic cultivators—

It sounded serious, but to someone like Xiao Yu, probably not worth much attention.

“Hm?”

Xiao Yu said casually, “The Zhou family thinks your master took the resurrection orb, so they’re making a fuss.”

Suzhen: “...”

Although the term ‘resurrection orb’ sounded ridiculous, how did this guy know about it?

She wanted to ask how he learned it but felt she should keep playing ignorant. “What?”

Xiao Yu glanced at her. “They were rude and said some harsh words, mentioning me, so I eavesdropped a bit...”

Suzhen nodded.

Not only Saint Realm experts but even her in a past life could sometimes sense others’ calls, whether friendly or hostile.

Xiao Yu continued, “I was too lazy to think, so I just ‘looked’ at what they were thinking.”

Suzhen understood immediately.

This approach was reasonable; why waste effort thinking when there’s a faster way? Just like what she did to Zhou Ziheng.

She had done this many times in her past life, more easily and quickly than now.

Only—

Suzhen blinked. “From here?”

Not every Immortal Lord could do that—it required profound expertise in spiritual arts.

Come to think of it, when he erased Immortal Lord Yuchen’s memory, he didn’t use any hand seals or make physical contact, revealing his mastery.

“More or less,” Xiao Yu replied, looking at her again. “They probably had headaches while being searched but didn’t know what I was doing. They might have thought I was intimidating them since they said harsh words.”

Suzhen found it amusing. “I thought seniors like you wouldn’t like these spiritual arts. Many sword cultivators see them as heretical.”

Before, he helped her; now he took the initiative.

Xiao Yu shook his head. “I’m not a pure sword cultivator anyway...”

Suzhen’s expression twisted.

He already held the title Sword God but claimed he wasn’t a pure sword cultivator? Other sword cultivators would cry hearing that.

“Alright then,” Xiao Yu said resignedly. “There’s someone I admire greatly who’s skilled in spiritual arts, so I spent a long time learning too. My talent isn’t as good as hers, so it took me nearly a hundred years.”

A hundred years?

Suzhen almost blurted, “That’s not bad.”

She had only spent thirty to forty years focusing on spiritual arts due to exceptional talent, gaining results quickly.

Later, as a demonic cultivator, she mastered many profound secret techniques, envied by many peers.

But talents like hers were rare, even one in a millennium. Even if she kept her true skills hidden, she was still a master of spiritual arts in others’ eyes.

Then she realized it wasn’t quite right.

At this time, she was barely at the Transformation God realm and just over a hundred years old. She might have studied spiritual arts, but truly profound and esoteric spells were limited by her realm and soul strength.

She shouldn’t be qualified to comment on such matters.

Damn it.

Xiao Yu’s casual tone always made her relax her guard. She cursed herself for not being more careful and was about to clarify.

“Really?”

Xiao Yu looked pleased. “I feel reassured hearing you say that.”

Suzhen: “...”

Who exactly is the Immortal Lord here?

She couldn’t understand what he was thinking.

Perhaps he was old enough to have forgotten what the standard was for a Transformation God cultivator, or maybe he was just humoring her.

Suzhen shifted the topic. “So it’s your master? I heard Immortal Lord Jingyang made achievements in many fields beyond the sword, edited many classics, including spiritual arts. I’ve read a few of them...”

“Mm, my master is indeed outstanding. Saying I admire her isn’t wrong.”

Xiao Yu was silent for a moment. “But she knows so much; if I tried to learn everything, I wouldn’t finish even by ascension.”

Suzhen: “?”

Listen to that—it’s like nonsense!

Considering most Immortal Lords die during ascension and only a few succeed—

His words made it sound as if ascension were easy, a natural process with time.

Trying to brag that he ascended faster than others?

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Suzhen felt complicated. “Senior, you’re lucky it’s you. If anyone else said that, they’d get beaten eventually.”

Xiao Yu was perfectly calm. “I know, but it’s true. Ascension isn’t difficult. What’s hard for me is—”

He didn’t finish his sentence but gave her a subtle look.

Suzhen: “?”

She didn’t overthink it. “Then why are you still standing here instead of breaking through the void and leaving? Others younger than you have ascended.”

Xiao Yu wasn’t annoyed, just lowered his eyes. “It’s a complicated story. Mainly because I have unfinished business. Even if I ascend, I’d want to come back and replay this world again.”

What?

Suzhen didn’t fully catch the last part, but she heard “ascend” and “come back,” sparking vague thoughts.

His tone was casual, almost joking.

Suzhen hesitated to ask about the ‘resurrection orb.’

The only real danger to Saint Realm experts was failed ascension—when one’s Dao dissipates and death is certain.

Gan Mu was the same.

This wasn’t speculation; Zhou Ziheng had mentioned it, and it was recorded in the scriptures.

If Xiao Yu used soul-searching on the Zhou family, he definitely knew that.

That treasure meant nothing to him.

Hence, he showed no interest.

Suddenly recalling his words, Suzhen asked, “The Zhou family thinks my master took Zhou Ziheng’s item?”

Xiao Yu shrugged. “They say so but aren’t sure themselves.”

That made sense.

The Zhou family didn’t know the truth and naturally thought the Soul Devouring Cult’s demon cultivators might have taken it since Zhou Ziheng saw that person before he died.

If Zhou Ziheng could summon someone, the Zhou family might also contact that demon cultivator to question him.

Suzhen nodded. “Senior, do you know what the resurrection orb is?”

Xiao Yu chuckled.

Suzhen: “...What’s so funny?”

“Sorry, I just find the term amusing,” Xiao Yu explained fully. “Their patriarch made a deal with Tiandu, so they got some Gan Mu pieces and blueprints for making magical treasures, drawn by an elder of the Divine Work Pavilion.”

“So the blueprint is for making resurrection orbs?”

“They don’t know. When the patriarch brought back the Gan Mu, it was already in the form of resurrection orbs.”

“So it’s unknown whether the Divine Work Pavilion made the resurrection orb?”

“Mm.”

In the central domain’s Tiandu Immortal City, where many sects gathered, the Divine Work Pavilion was the foremost forge sect.

Its disciples excelled at refining and forging, creating countless supreme magical treasures. The legendary Saint Sword Mieshi was said to have involved their craftsmen.

They compiled the “Heavenly Soldier Treasure Catalogue,” listing all famous magical treasures across the nine realms.

The catalogue graded treasures—bronze, silver, gold, spirit, immortal, divine—each divided into upper, middle, and lower tiers.

Among sacred treasures, only the Saint Sword Mieshi was listed, and it was lost.

Among divine treasures, Immortal Lord Yuchen’s sword Liushuang was listed.

Among top-tier immortal treasures, the Immortal Sword Leng Xiang was also included.

All three thousand sects in Tiandu obeyed the two Immortal City lords, forming an interconnected network. With many sects, there were many informants and news channels.

Ordinary cultivators’ treasures displayed in sect contests would be known and recorded in the catalogue within days and appear in the next edition.

If one wished, they could ask the Divine Work Pavilion to remove their treasure from the book.

Immortal Lords’ or top seven realm experts’ secret treasures were naturally known through other means.

The resurrection orb was not in the book because it only recorded weapons.

But judging from its effect, this Gan Mu-made treasure could easily qualify as a divine treasure.

Across the nine realms, known divine treasures were owned mostly by quasi-Saint Realm or higher.

Of course, those not strong enough, like the Zhou family, wouldn’t want to reveal theirs to avoid trouble.

Since it was several pieces of Gan Mu, there might be more than one resurrection orb.

Zhou Ziheng had one; his siblings might have others.

Suzhen: “...You mean the Zhou family only knows about a certain deal but not the details?”

Xiao Yu nodded slightly. “Their patriarch made the deal, but they don’t know much about it. If you’re curious, we could ask their patriarch.”

Suzhen looked up. “What kind of ‘ask’?”

Xiao Yu gave her a look. “What do you think?”

Suzhen laughed wryly. “People in Tiandu would definitely set memory seals if they had secrets they wanted to hide...”

Xiao Yu was noncommittal. “We’ll get the person out first. There are always more ways than difficulties.”

Suzhen: “I’m curious, but do you really want to know?”

Xiao Yu: “Honestly, I don’t care. But since you want to know, then I...”

Her eyes flickered as a familiar voice echoed in her mind.

Xiao Yu stopped.

Suzhen blinked. “No, my master just urged me to come over again.”

Xiao Yu cursed softly, “That kid is such a bother.”

Suzhen laughed. “I’ll go first. The sooner I go, the sooner I’m back. Later, I’ll give you—”

Xiao Yu looked surprised. “Give me?”

Suzhen cleared her throat, unable to say that the dessert was still chilling for him, so she blurted, “I’ll tell you something.”

“Really?” Xiao Yu looked eager. “Then just say it. Don’t go. If they have objections, they can come find me.”

Suzhen: “...You overthink. They don’t have the guts.”

Still, she had to go.

“It won’t take long,” Suzhen smiled. “After all, the Zhou family isn’t targeting me. I’m just going to watch the show. It’s only a moment—senior, you’re not that anxious, are you?”

Xiao Yu lowered his head slightly, his deep, beautiful eyes fixed on her. His long curled lashes fluttered, casting delicate shadows below.

He said seriously, “I am.”

Suzhen: “...”