Chapter 27 Part 2

This “Redemption Talisman” was an Empire specialty. Any suspicious person entering Empire territory got slapped with one, subjecting them to constant surveillance by Empire cultivators. Removing it was simple: have a major sect’s “household registration,” a powerful friend, or pay Spirit Jade Pills to expedite official review.

Those like Li Ruoshui, without backing or coins, just endured the “supervision.”

“What a crooked system. No wonder no one in the Empire can draw the Emperor Sword or cultivate the Human Emperor Dao,” Li Ruoshui grumbled as she inventoried the Universe Pouch. Aside from Spirit Jade Pills and elixirs, nothing worthwhile. As she prepared to discard it, she noticed a seal on the pouch. Patiently refining it away, she found a small pouch inside with several unactivated Identity Tokens. One side bore a lotus; the other, “True Yang Li.”

The Empire’s great clans like the Sheng Clan not only trained their own but adopted orphaned children, granting them names. These tokens recruited followers. This Daoist was from the True Yang Li Clan, with some minor authority. Smiling at the token, Li Ruoshui had an idea.

She’d kindly sent this Daoist friend on his way, and here was the karmic reward!

Li Ruoshui queried the True Yang Li Clan in the Tianyan Mirror, sifting through boasts like “My ancestor is so-and-so” to find useful info. The current generation of the main Li family used the “Fei” character, while adopted ones used “Zhi.” To fool people, it had to be main family.

After mulling it over, Li Ruoshui’s new name was born.

She took a token and inscribed “Li Feishuang” in the blank space with her mana.

She had originally thought she would need to use essence blood to activate it and had even prepared to use blood from a corpse. Who would have thought that after uttering those three words, a faint cyan glow flashed across the palm-sized jade identity token?

Li Ruoshui: “…” Should she call it a sloppy operation, or praise the True Yang Li Clan for their “broad-mindedness”?

With a suitable identity in hand, she no longer needed to agonize over whether to stay on the island or leave. The “adventuring spirit” honed from playing games in her previous life began to stir. Li Ruoshui summoned the rented dragon boat, leaped aboard in one bound, and roamed freely across the East Sea.

Perhaps the Empire had learned of the Daoist’s death, for a tower ship flying a cyan banner with the character “Liang” came slicing through the waves. Upon encountering Li Ruoshui at sea, four Daoists leaped from the ship, taking positions in all four directions to surround her.

“Who is on that boat?” a middle-aged Daoist with a Daoist topknot and gray robes boomed like spring thunder.

Li Ruoshui soared from the dragon boat and said coolly, “True Yang Li Feishuang.”

The Daoist watched Li Ruoshui, scrutinizing her impassively. Her water-blue cloak and sleeves fluttered in the sea breeze, her jade ornaments tinkling melodiously. Her face was as radiant as a bright moon, her eyebrows slanting sharply into her temples, her nose like a suspended gallstone, her demeanor heroic and spirited—truly dashing. Though he had never heard of her name, his suspicions faded.

“Do you have the token?” The Daoist’s tone softened somewhat.

Li Ruoshui took out the freshly forged identity token and waved it before him, then feigned curiosity. “Where might you all be headed?”

“You don’t know?” The Daoist eyed her suspiciously, surprised.

Li Ruoshui had her story ready. “I’ve been in secluded cultivation at sea for over a year and know nothing of outside affairs.”

For cultivators of the Nine Provinces, wandering far and wide was commonplace—like many in his own Liang Clan who ventured out to train. He said politely, “Those thieves in the East Sea have started acting up again. A True Person has personally come to lead the campaign against them. We’re patrolling the seas. Any thieves we encounter will be killed without mercy!” He spat the last three words with chilling killing intent.

“Those villains again.” Li Ruoshui feigned outrage, echoing the Daoist.

Flames blazed in the Daoist’s eyes; he wished he could devour every Anti-Empire Alliance cultivator alive. He ground his teeth and raged, “My young nephew died inexplicably overseas a year ago! This grudge must be settled!”

Li Ruoshui: “…” She nearly burst out laughing. The Liang who died out here—wasn’t that the one delivering her supply package? How unfortunate indeed.

The Daoist had no intention of chatting further with Li Ruoshui. Once her identity was confirmed, the other three Daoists withdrew unobtrusively. The Daoist pointed east. “The Li Family dragon boats are patrolling that sea region. You—” Before he could finish, a streak of light plummeted from the horizon into his palm. He glanced sharply at Li Ruoshui and changed tack. “We’re heading to Volcano Island. Will you join us, Fellow Daoist Li?”

Li Ruoshui had no desire to travel with them—after all, there were Golden Core Stage cultivators on that boat. She masked her expression and asked in surprise, “Has something happened?”

The Daoist said gravely, “Dong Wang has been imprisoned on Volcano Island. Our allies are already clashing with those scattered cultivators and need our aid.” With that, he sent the streak of light into Li Ruoshui’s hand. A quick glance confirmed it was an urgent plea for help.

At this point, she couldn’t refuse without raising suspicion. She leaped onto the Liang Family tower ship and frowned. “How did His Highness Dong Wang end up there? Imprisoned? Are those thieves holding him hostage?”

The Daoist nodded solemnly. “The Imperial Son is trapped.” Otherwise, a True Person wouldn’t have emerged from seclusion.

The tower ship sped forward, encountering other dragon boats along the way. By the time they neared Volcano Island, they had formed a fleet of fifteen dragon boats. The Liang Daoist had the highest cultivation—Golden Core Second Layer—so the Daoists from the other clans followed his orders.

Li Ruoshui settled into a small cabin on the tower ship and stayed put, meditating patiently. Besides the Liang Daoist, there were three other Golden Core cultivators. Better to avoid them and minimize any slips.

“Fellow Daoist Shangshan, have you left the East Sea?” In the Tianyan Mirror, Chen Buyan’s words brimmed with concern.

Li Ruoshui rubbed her forehead. Not only had she not left the center of trouble—she had even transformed into a member of the True Yang Li Family.

“I’ve left,” Li Ruoshui lied.

Chen Buyan didn’t doubt her and breathed a sigh of relief, changing the subject. “The times are turbulent. Why not seek studies at a major sect, Fellow Daoist?”

Li Ruoshui didn’t mention her empty storage pouch. “Which one do you think is suitable, Fellow Daoist?”

After a long pause, Chen Buyan replied, “Taiyi Sect.”

Li Ruoshui: “…” If heavenly tribulations were a storm, Taiyi was the eye of it—and she was thinking of leaving. “What about Three Saints Academy?” Li Ruoshui asked.

Chen Buyan replied without hesitation, “Not suitable.”

Li Ruoshui pondered. Was her close friend merely putting on a brave face, secretly suffering grievances at the academy, which was why she didn’t recommend it? The friend had mentioned her senior sister hoping for this or that before. But one couldn’t live for others. Be what you will—why fuss over propriety?

“I understand,” Li Ruoshui said.

Chen Buyan had helped her so much; in return, she would pull her friend out of the mire.

Three Saints Academy, was it? She noted that grudge!

The fleet drew closer to Volcano Island. Before they even reached shore, the rumbling clamor rolled in like thunderous tides. The Daoists on the boats soared into the air, and Li Ruoshui blended in among them. She gazed at the island ahead. After several claps of thunder, dozens of golden beams shot out like writhing golden snakes. Wherever the snakes struck, flames erupted in brilliant splendor.

“The Nascent Soul Daoist guarding this place has been drawn away by our True Person. Hurry and find His Highness Dong Wang!” Liang Daoist ordered those behind him before plunging into the fray, clashing with a Golden Core Cultivator from the Anti-Empire Alliance.

Earth-shattering booms rang without end. Sea waves surged and piled high, massive ten-zhang waves crashing viciously onto the shore. Dozens of multicolored beams—cyan, yellow, white, purple—danced in the sky, followed by splattering blood. Countless severed limbs, flying dust, and streams of fire rained down like a brutal apocalypse.

Li Ruoshui frowned tightly, her heart chilling at the sight. The Daoists beside her flew out one by one, loudly calling “Li Feishuang!” She forced herself to focus. Instead of heading toward the fierce fighting, she manipulated a wisp of smoke and drifted quietly toward a remote, deserted area.

She was here to fish in troubled waters, not to contribute effort.

Whether by good luck or bad, her brief moment of peace shattered. Looking up, she saw a group of maimed and limping soldiers fleeing in panic. In their midst was a Golden Core Daoist at the end of his rope, carrying an unconscious cultivator on his back—none other than Dong Wang Rong Ji, whom Li Ruoshui had met once before.

Spotting Li Ruoshui, the remnants instantly went on high alert. Only after she tossed out the True Yang Li Clan’s identity token did they relax slightly.

The Daoist’s face was ghastly pale. His picky gaze raked over Li Ruoshui, and in the imperious tone of a superior, he barked, “You there—come take His Highness and hurry away!”

Li Ruoshui didn’t move. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

“What are you standing around for?” the Daoist roared. As he spoke, ferocious pursuers caught up! Sword beams split into dozens of brilliant rays, mercilessly slashing toward the Empire’s Daoists. Most were gravely wounded and couldn’t withstand the vicious sword qi. The Golden Core Daoist still had fight left; he bellowed, and a stream of red sand burst from his sleeve, erupting into roaring crimson flames like a volcanic blaze, forming a several-zhang wall of fire.

“Come protect His Highness!” The Daoist’s voice grew shrill. With the sword beams closing in, he had no choice. He swallowed a pill haphazardly, slapped a talisman onto Rong Ji, and hurled him toward Li Ruoshui.

The talisman gleamed with eerie light. Li Ruoshui sidestepped, dodging the flying figure.

One of the rampant sword beams veered toward Rong Ji, but the Daoist paid it no mind, not even turning to block.

This couldn’t be trust—more likely, the talisman was the problem. Sure enough, as Rong Ji hit the ground, the sword beam followed.

The instant the sword beam struck Rong Ji, the talisman activated. Instead of hitting Rong Ji, it touched the ground where the talisman met it. With a boom, a one-zhang-deep crater formed.

If a person had caught Rong Ji, wouldn’t they have been shredded into bloody mist by the sword beam?

What a sinister old bastard!

She would heed her close friend’s instructions: anyone set on reaching the other shore must be sent there with utmost sincerity.

Li Ruoshui glanced at the yellow-shirted swordsman with the emerald jade dangling. Both the Empire and Anti-Empire Alliance had reinforcements coming—question was when.

She decided to play the good Samaritan and speed up the battle’s resolution.

Pinching the Spring Breeze Rain Transformation Art, Li Ruoshui used its gentle, harmless drizzle to peel the talisman off Rong Ji. Then, with a swift kick, she sent him flying into the heart of the storm of flames and sword beams.

Li Ruoshui called out loudly, “Why must you two Fellow Daoists fight and kill? If there’s any misunderstanding, wouldn’t it be better to sit down and talk?!”