Qin Lianxin said indifferently, “That’s for your Empire to resolve.” With such a massive blunder in the Shanyue True Form Chart, the Empire owed the sects an explanation no matter what. She had no interest in lingering in the Nation-Securing Chart. Her gaze swept over Lian Rusu and Yue Rushuang as she raised her hand in salute. “I need to head to Shanyue City.”
If Fu Luo had truly opened a rift, the trial cultivators might emerge.
Even if there was only one from Wind Moon Heartless Sect in the Shanyue True Form Chart, she had to go pick them up.
“I’ll go with you, Fellow Daoist,” Yue Rushuang said warmly. She needed to bring Yue Shenlin back to the Origin Sea.
Most Cave Heaven True Persons from the various sects spent their time in secluded cultivation in their sect Cave Heavens or guarding Return to Ruins Gaps, rarely appearing in public. Yet now, within the Empire’s borders, several Cave Heaven true bodies had descended—a grand spectacle rivaling the Empire’s heyday. Unfortunately, only two were from the Empire, while the rest… had come to demand accountability.
Rong Yin looked weary.
Unlike Liang Daoqi, who stayed in Shanyue City, she had focused entirely on investigating Empire cultivators after receiving the news, searching for existences corrupted by Ruin Spirits like Rong Heng. But implementing this order proved difficult. The Sheng Clan obstructed repeatedly—not because they colluded with Ruin Spirits, but because the search warrant made them suspect the Empire was probing other matters. In fact, the Empire’s forces did exactly that, skimming benefits during the inspections as much as possible.
In the past, Rong Yin hadn’t cared about the Empire cultivators’ habits resembling those of mortals, as long as the goal was achieved.
But after this incident, she suddenly realized that a decaying aura different from Ruin Spirits had taken deep root in the Empire’s flesh and blood.
Was that why the East Sea rebels gathered? Why no one could wield the Ying Di Wang? Had the Empire’s path gone astray?
Rong Yin’s face chilled as she spoke. “We, the Empire, will find a way to resolve this matter.”
Qin Lianxin lifted an eyelid and gazed meaningfully at Rong Yin. “Find a way?”
Rong Yin’s face stiffened as she corrected herself. “We must resolve it.”
Qin Lianxin asked again, “This incident proves that merely sealing the Nation-Securing Chart isn’t enough. It needs to be guarded. Between the two of you, who will go?”
Among the Empire’s two Cave Heaven experts, Rong Yin’s cultivation was higher, having reached the Cave Heaven Second Layer. However, she was handling the Empire’s administrative affairs in place of the emperor and couldn’t leave at will. As for Liang Daoqi, she commanded the Empire’s armies. If she went to the Nation-Securing Chart, she would have to transfer her authority to Rong Yin.
Liang Daoqi glanced at Rong Yin but didn’t respond.
Lian Rusu said calmly, “There might be another person.”
Fu Luo’s face was full of curiosity. “Who? Does the Empire have another hidden Cave Heaven cultivator?”
Lian Rusu replied, “Ying Wugui.”
Qin Lianxin looked at Lian Rusu several times.
Why did she feel like the Taiyi Sect Master was here to stir up trouble?
Qin Lianxin said slowly, “Fellow Daoist Ying is indeed from the Empire, but she has now established her base at the Sea True Mansion. If she goes to guard the Nation-Securing Chart, what if the Empire slaughters her disciples? Or will the Empire formally issue a document recognizing the existence of the Sea True Mansion?”
The Empire had many rules, and cultivators were quite restricted there. But the Sea True Mansion was a very free sect—as long as you had talent, they wouldn’t suppress or constrain you but would nurture you based on merit. Even though Ying Wugui was still in the Nascent Soul Realm, many people already followed her. Once she achieved Cave Heaven and could protect the sect, even more cultivators would defect from the Empire.
Rong Yin pondered Lian Rusu’s suggestion.
Meanwhile, Liang Daoqi’s expression darkened. She stared straight at Lian Rusu and said expressionlessly, “I’ll go guard it.”
Lian Rusu didn’t engage with her emotions and simply nodded.
Her goal was to have someone restrain the Ruin Spirits in the Nation-Securing Chart. She didn’t care who went to guard it.
“For this Prodigy List from the Tianjiao Pursuit Contest, now that all the Daoists inside have come out, how should we rank them? Based on the Sun and Moon Divine Sand they hold?” Rong Yin changed the subject amid the tense atmosphere.
Lian Rusu lifted her eyelids slightly and said seriously, “Not all of them have come out.”
“Hm?”
—
Li Ruoshui walked through the Shanyue True Form Chart.
Many of the Ruin Spirits that had passed through the formation to this place had been slain, but plenty still scattered in all directions.
Li Ruoshui’s main goal was to stay in the chart to kill Ruin Spirits while also trying her luck to find any Sun and Moon Divine Sand that the other cultivators hadn’t searched out.
From Xie Chaosheng, she had learned that there was only one Nascent Soul Realm Ruin Spirit, and they had already killed it. The remaining Golden Core Realm and Heart Fixing Realm Ruin Spirits were manageable. If she unfortunately ran into a group of Golden Core-level ones, she could avoid their edge first, hide, and plan from there. Anyway, there was plenty of divine sand, spiritual herbs, and treasures here—it was like she had the whole place to herself.
“It’s a pity no one is here to talk to me,” Li Ruoshui said regretfully.
There was even a network in the Return to Ruins Gap, but she couldn’t connect to the outside world from here.
“Isn’t being alone too lonely? You’re all spiritual energy—can’t you turn into a group?” Li Ruoshui stroked the Blue Butterfly and chattered to it. She hadn’t expected much, but the Blue Butterfly trembled lightly, flapped its wings, and a dreamy blue mist enveloped it. Soon, it transformed into a flock of butterflies that swirled around Li Ruoshui.
Li Ruoshui raised her brows and smiled. She blinked, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.
“Best friend, can you dance for me?”
The Blue Butterfly didn’t refuse.
Under the sunlight, the flock’s thin wings shimmered with flowing light and vibrant colors. As they spun, they formed a natural and elegant dance.
Li Ruoshui sat on a rock and watched for a moment. When she sensed movement from the east, she stood up reluctantly and said, “Time to get to work.”
Experience delivered to her doorstep shouldn’t be refused.
Half a year later.
Li Ruoshui’s cultivation had already reached perfection at the Golden Core Second Layer.
But to successfully advance to the Third Realm, there weren’t enough Ruin Spirits left in the Shanyue True Form Chart. She would have to go hunt small monsters in some sect’s Return to Ruins Gap later.
She wasn’t in a hurry to leave. Instead, she used the Sun and Moon Divine Sand she found in the Shanyue True Form Chart to cultivate new techniques. While slaying Ruin Spirits, besides gaining experience, she had searched a cultivator from the Empire and found a scripture called Yin Talisman Three Absolutes.
This scripture contained sword moves: three forms—Heaven Absolute: Shift Stars Change Hosts, Earth Absolute: Dragon Snake Rises from Land, and Man Absolute: Heaven Overturned Earth Reversed. It required compatibility with one’s foundational Sword Dao and was useless for other paths. But Li Ruoshui cultivated Vow Dao and wasn’t bound by a foundational Dao.
Li Ruoshui never minded having more techniques at hand. She picked up a dharma sword and began practicing in the Shanyue True Form Chart.
A secluded Cave Heaven paradise like this had no shortage of external medicines and no fear of disturbance—it was a great place for cultivation.
If only she could take it with her.
This artifact actually had no master; it had merely been wielded by the Empire’s cultivator, which meant one possibility.
What if luck was on her side?
In the Tianyan Mirror, discussions about the “Great Purge” filled the entire Dharma Realm section.
It started as the Empire’s self-inspection, but soon major and minor sects responded, forcing bound cultivators to link their Tianyan Mirrors. The Tianyan Mirror, which originally cost two Spirit Jade Pills, became as standard as sect robes—an issued item.
Fortunately, the Tianyan Mirror already had extremely high coverage. It was lively inside with many benefits, even free root bone testing to determine one’s path. Almost every cultivator tried to get one. Even the reclusive, cold-tempered ones bound a Tianyan identity—they just didn’t post.
Talk of the Prodigy List had died down, but the True Persons from various sects hadn’t forgotten.
In the Tianyan Mirror, a majestic and grand Dao Palace appeared, with the avatars of True Persons from each sect gradually manifesting. It was clearly another court assembly.
“The Tianjiao Pursuit Contest ended due to the Nation-Securing Chart incident. For the last group that came out, should we rank by the amount of divine sand, or hold another round?”
“Using divine sand isn’t fair. Sects like Taiyi and Joy Sect obtained a lot but used them to deal with Ruin Spirits. Counting them would disadvantage those sects.”
“That was their own choice.”
“Redo it as an arena contest.”
“Arena contests are different from the Shanyue True Form Chart—those are individual. We fought Ruin Spirits; should it only count personal ability?”
“Since the change was caused by Ruin Spirits, shouldn’t it be based on the number slain?”
“But in the end, everyone teamed up to kill Ruin Spirits. Whose kill is that? For fairness, redo the contest.”
Another voice spoke up. “Someone is still in the Shanyue True Form Chart. The Daoists who came out said a Taiyi disciple volunteered to stay behind, intercepting the Ruin Spirits surging toward the exit as the Unfettered Boat rushed out.”
The avatars of the Cave Heaven True Persons fell silent for a moment. A soft sigh rose. “Could they still be alive?”
The previous speaker was Lian Rusu. This was her first appearance at the assembly. She had concealed the name “Chen Buyan,” leaving only “Lian Rusu.” She lowered her eyelashes and said faintly, “Alive.” The name seal was dim but unbroken, just isolated in a Cave Heaven paradise unable to connect outside. Moreover, the qi trace she had last sent in hadn’t dissipated or returned.
If they strictly followed Empire rules, the winner was Li Ruoshui, who hadn’t yet left the Shanyue True Form Chart.
If they wanted fairness and a redo, they had to wait for her to come out.
Lian Rusu had heard the name “Outer Disciple Li Ruoshui” from Xie Chaosheng, right after she escaped danger. Xie Chaosheng anxiously begged her to reopen the Shanyue True Form Chart and rescue the trapped Li Ruoshui.
Li Ruoshui, Li Shangshan.
As the saying goes: Shangshan Ruoshui (The highest good is like water).
She never imagined her close friend was a Taiyi outer disciple.
She had clearly said she was a carefree itinerant cultivator with no sect!
Why deceive her? Was there no choice?
With Shangshan Junior Sister’s cultivation, why stay in the outer sect? She might have been poor at first, but later she shouldn’t lack Spirit Jade Pills for entry. Once the application was approved and standards met, the inner sect offered subsidies to advance her cultivation further.
Many confusions and an indescribable restlessness stirred in Lian Rusu’s heart. She could only wait for Li Ruoshui to emerge from the Shanyue True Form Chart.
They had agreed to meet at the Immortal Dao Conference. Perhaps then, all the questions would find answers.
