Chapter 34 Part 1

Mountain winds whistled mournfully, and clouds and mist shrouded everything in haze.

After dealing with Gao Yin, Li Ruoshui did not linger in place. The scent of blood here was too thick; she did not know if it would attract higher-level Ruin Spirits. She needed to find another spot to “fish” with the Spiritual Nature Treasure Pearl.

In the Return to Ruins Gap, she could not see the rift that had appeared in the sky, but as the familiar scenery multiplied, she knew that soon the entire White Sun Town—and even towns farther afield—would be engulfed by the Return to Ruins Gap.

By then, Empire cultivators would come in for training, right? She wondered when the Tianyan Mirror signal would recover.

At that moment, at the center of the Return to Ruins Gap where the true rift had appeared, Liang Daoqi stared expressionlessly at the fissure that resembled a ghostly eye. The clashing positive and negative energies stirred the vital qi into turmoil, and the vital qi storm that whipped up from flat ground was enough to grind low-realm cultivators to dust. From within this vortex, Ruin Spirits drifted out one after another, though the highest among them were only at the Golden Core Stage.

Ruin Spirits at the Golden Core level already possessed some instinct for seeking profit and avoiding harm. They subconsciously kept their distance from Liang Daoqi, but before they could drift far, she flicked her sleeve and reduced them to ashes.

A Golden Core level Return to Ruins Gap.

Liang Daoqi formed her judgment in her heart. Normally, after setting up the array flags nearby, she could leave the Return to Ruins Gap and dispatch suitable disciples to train here. But she did not leave—not even making a move to set up the array gate. She stared fixedly at the Return to Ruins Gap, a bold and eerie thought surfacing in her mind.

The Return to Ruins Gap represented both danger and opportunity. The higher its own level, the more powerful the Ruin Spirits that might emerge, but it also meant more treasures. The Empire’s Nation-Securing Chart had once been at the Cave Heaven level, but ever since it was sealed away, the Empire’s domain had lost a major source of treasures, suffering no small loss.

Empire cultivators could certainly seek treasures in Cave Heaven level Return to Ruins Gaps controlled by other sects, but how could that compare to the freedom of doing so on their own turf? The benefits of a Return to Ruins Gap mostly belonged to the sect that guarded it.

Waiting for a Cave Heaven level Return to Ruins Gap to form depended on fate; no one knew when or where it might descend. But what if one actively created one? This mad idea took root in Liang Daoqi’s mind. The array flags had not yet been placed, and the Return to Ruins Gap was unstable. If she attacked the rift in the sky at this moment, could she tear it up to the Cave Heaven level?

But what consequences would attacking the Return to Ruins Gap bring? What if she failed to create a larger rift and instead brought disaster upon the Empire—or even all of the Nine Provinces?

Liang Daoqi hesitated in her heart. Vital energy churned around her, the majesty unique to a Cave Heaven True Person sweeping forth like a gale. Ruin Spirits emerging from the rift turned to dust before they could even approach her.

“Liang True Person.” A clear, chilling voice rang out beneath the deathly still rift. Liang Daoqi snapped back to her senses. She whipped her gaze toward the suddenly appearing Lian Rusu, alarms blaring in her mind. A familiar energy signature—the visitor wore a brocade cloak embroidered with flowing cloud patterns and a jade crown on her head, exuding an otherworldly transcendence beyond the mortal dust. Yet her face could not be clearly seen, as if veiled by a layer of mist.

“Liang True Person, why haven’t you set the array flags yet? Is there something strange about this Return to Ruins Gap?” Lian Rusu asked mildly.

The mad notion gradually faded with the arrival of this peer. Liang Daoqi suddenly felt a sense of relief, but she did not fully relax. She asked warily, “And you are?”

Lian Rusu: “Lian Rusu of Taiyi.” She offered no explanation for coming to the Return to Ruins Gap, merely urging Liang Daoqi with her eyes to set the array flags.

Liang Daoqi fell silent for a moment, then a array flag shot from her sleeve like a streak of flowing light. Under the array’s influence, the turbulent vital qi gradually calmed. This Return to Ruins Gap was only at the Golden Core level; there was no need for fine divisions. Once they exited, dispatching a Nascent Soul True Person to guard it would suffice.

Lian Rusu did not interfere with Liang Daoqi’s array setup. In her heart, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This Return to Ruins Gap had formed abruptly, but fortunately, no anomalies occurred. She could sense the energy signatures of cultivators within the Return to Ruins Gap—perhaps her Fellow Daoist Shangshan. But she had no intention of meeting her; Fellow Daoist Shangshan needed to slay Ruin Spirits to fulfill her vow and advance to the Golden Core Realm.

No matter what initial thoughts she had harbored while observing the Return to Ruins Gap, Liang Daoqi maintained meticulous caution during the array setup. Only after the array flags were placed and the formation fully stabilized did she gaze at Lian Rusu and say offhandedly, “Why has Lian True Person come here?”

Back on the East Sea, it had been her interference that allowed Ying Wu Gui to break through to Cave Heaven.

What exactly was Taiyi’s stance?

Among Taiyi’s four existing Cave Heaven experts, she had interacted most with Xiang Ying—this one who handled Taiyi’s major and minor affairs was the Sect Master’s capable assistant. Her temperament was gentle, following the medical path, but she was not as approachable as she seemed. She knew little of the other two, though she had at least met them and even discussed the Dao a few times.

But this was the first time Liang Daoqi had seen Taiyi’s Sect Master, Lian Rusu. She did not know what sort of temperament Lian Rusu had.

Lian Rusu lowered her eyelashes: “Afraid of the disaster repeating.”

This disaster referred to the upheaval of the Nation-Securing Chart and the calamity of the imperial house.

Liang Daoqi’s expression soured instantly. She furrowed her brows. “A low-level Return to Ruins Gap like this—my Empire can handle it.”

Lian Rusu nodded, going along with Liang Daoqi’s words: “With Fellow Daoist’s abilities, it can indeed be handled.” Before Liang Daoqi’s expression could improve, Lian Rusu added, “But I’m afraid Fellow Daoist doesn’t wish to handle it.” She had entered the Return to Ruins Gap without immediately revealing herself and had seen Liang Daoqi’s hesitation.

Liang Daoqi: “…” Her brows knitted even tighter. Her eyes, full of wariness, swept over Lian Rusu once more. She said indifferently, “Then can Lian Fellow Daoist rest assured now?”

Lian Rusu: “For the time being.” After cupping her hands toward Liang Daoqi, Lian Rusu politely took her leave, transforming into a sharp sword light and departing.

The annoyance surging in Liang Daoqi’s heart gradually subsided with Lian Rusu’s departure. She ignored the state of the Return to Ruins Gap and leaped out of it. As soon as she took out the Tianyan Mirror, she saw Rong Yin’s message: Taiyi’s Sect Master had arrived at the Return to Ruins Gap and advised her not to offend anyone.

Who had offended whom, exactly?

Liang Daoqi irritably messaged Rong Yin back: “What did she come for? Isn’t she always in seclusion, never appearing in public? It couldn’t be that you invited her to help out, could it?”

Rong Yin: “I don’t know what Taiyi is planning. The major sects already distrust us because of the Nation-Securing Chart incident. This Return to Ruins Gap cannot go wrong. It’s good that Taiyi’s Sect Master came—at least her presence affirms the Empire’s righteousness.”

Liang Daoqi stared at Rong Yin’s message for a long while, saying nothing.

Her unusual silence chilled Rong Yin: “What did you do?”

Liang Daoqi: “Nothing yet.”

Lian Rusu’s timely arrival was, all things considered, a good thing.

Rong Yin: “One more thing—the people near that rift have all been evacuated by the East Sea side.”

Liang Daoqi: “Did Ying Wu Gui send people to attack?”

Rong Yin: “Not exactly.” She recounted the events to Liang Daoqi.

Having gotten no answers from Taiyi, they had to send people down to investigate themselves. Those swaggering Daoists began to panic after the great kun appeared and spilled everything like beans from a bag without daring to hide anything. Rong Yin was quite angered. If they continued arguing with Taiyi, it would only lose the Empire face in the end.

“Perhaps we should seek change,” Rong Yin added.

Liang Daoqi sneered sarcastically: “Change? Change with what? Can a thousand years of old habits be easily altered? Rong Yin, don’t forget— to this day, no one has taken up the Emperor Sword. The Empire remains leaderless. What we need to do is stabilize the court until a new sovereign ascends. If change is to come, it must be under her decree.”

Rong Yin fell silent for a long time upon hearing this, then changed the subject: “How is the Return to Ruins Gap on your end?”

Liang Daoqi replied listlessly: “Golden Core level. Have the Futu Gao Clan send a Nascent Soul True Person to guard it, then let Empire cultivators explore it like any other rift.”

Rong Yin: “Golden Core? Not bad.”

Liang Daoqi: “The Empire doesn’t lack such Return to Ruins Gaps.”

How could Rong Yin not understand Liang Daoqi’s implication? She said, “If a rift at the Nation-Securing Chart’s level truly appeared, who would guard it? You or me? Or just let it be?” The Empire was in a weakened state, and precisely because of that, they could not rush. With no sovereign, the other sects were willing to give the Empire some leeway, which was already considerable.

Liang Daoqi did not want to argue further with Rong Yin. When words did not align, half a sentence was too much.

–

In the Return to Ruins Gap.

Li Ruoshui had just dealt with a few grotesquely shaped Ruin Spirits and was hiding in a mountain cave to meditate and regulate her breathing.

Though she knew the network was down here, she still could not help taking out the Tianyan Mirror and fiddling with it.

Suddenly, she noticed the dim nameplate light up, and the posts in the Dharma Realm refreshed normally.

“Huh? Recovered so quickly?” Li Ruoshui raised her brows in surprise. With a glance, she indeed saw the latest post in the Dharma Realm—it was from the Empire’s official account.

The anomaly in White Sun Town had been resolved. An Empire Cave Heaven True Person had stamped it as Golden Core level and invited willing cultivators to train there.

There were scant replies beneath the post. After all, there were plenty of Golden Core level rifts to choose from—who but Empire cultivators would go to the Empire’s territory for no reason?

“Confirmed no Redemption Talisman for me?” one anonymous Fellow Daoist replied.

Li Ruoshui nearly burst out laughing. It was a pity there was no like function in the Dharma Realm.

The Empire’s methods were dishonest, but this post was good news for Li Ruoshui. Per the Nine Provinces’ conventions, the announcement included a regional map, sparing novice explorers the risk of wandering into the wrong areas. Fighting above one’s level was for the strong; fighting a horde above one’s level was usually a pipe dream for most.

With a map as a guide, the danger decreased, and monster-farming efficiency would rise sharply.

Exiting the Empire’s announcement, Li Ruoshui glanced at Chen Buyan’s nameplate.

Her close friend who seemed to live in the Tianyan Mirror still had not come online.

Afraid of “network issues” in the Return to Ruins Gap, Li Ruoshui thought for a moment and left a message on Chen Buyan’s nameplate: “Fellow Daoist, I’m training in the Return to Ruins Gap. Planning to leave after reaching Golden Core, so replies might be slow.”

She hoped her close friend would not forget her.

Exiting Chen Buyan’s nameplate, Li Ruoshui went to the “Water Tower” in the Dharma Realm to browse messages.