Chapter 51 Part 1

The Three Sects’ Daoists wore sour expressions. Wei Mingyi couldn’t be bothered with them—she was in a rush to discuss Shizun’s medicine with the Assistant Master! With a thought, she sent them out. The contract’s details were all there; it wasn’t her fault they hadn’t read them closely.

In the blink of an eye, buoyed by a gentle breeze, the Three Sects’ Daoists found themselves outside Yangchun Terrace. First came shock, then a feeling of having been tricked. Cultivators who read contracts focused mainly on the transaction terms and how the contract bound themselves. Other clauses, as long as no warning signs flared, were considered inconsequential. Now expelled from Yangchun Terrace, they had no choice but to re-examine the contract closely and found a line: “Inside and outside, the Mountain Protection Array cannot be breached. Internal matters are handled autonomously. All rights of interpretation belong to Chongyuan Sect.”

So “internal” meant they had to deal with the wicked wraiths themselves?

The deal was already done. Unable to communicate further with Yangchun Terrace, the Three Sects’ Daoists could only head to the marked location on the map—the Vast Desert Wilds. It was an expanse of wilderness dotted with massive boulders like pagoda mountains, the desolate grass roughly knee-high. Looking out, they could see wandering wicked wraiths.

This area was still within the explored zone; the Three Sects’ Daoists had been here before. In their understanding, it was no ancient relic and surely held nothing good. Already full of suspicion, that doubt only deepened. When they reached the boundary marked on the map, they got a close sense of the grand formation. Inside was a presence at the Nascent Soul level—a formidable wicked wraith, held back by the array and unable to escape.

The contract was signed by all three of them, so the authority to open and close it was shared. Though none of them was at the Nascent Soul level—and dealing with a Nascent Soul cultivator would be difficult—facing a mindless wicked wraith at Nascent Soul was still doable. After a brief exchange of glances, the three stepped into the Vast Desert Wilds.

Using their control over the Mountain Protection Array, they could precisely locate the wicked wraiths within. They didn’t kill all of them, only dealing with the most troublesome one. As for the rest, they could be left for their disciples to practice on. After all, they had tested it: what Yangchun Terrace provided had no major issues, and the wicked wraiths trapped inside were restrained by the array’s power.

“There’s a mineral vein in the Vast Desert Wilds, but nothing rare,” Liu Yuqi said with a frown.

“We’re not here for what’s inside,” Zhang Tianxin said flatly. “There’s a yellow-tier spirit vein below.”

“That won’t help our cultivation. We’d be better off staying on the Lifeless Land,” Liu Yuqi said. Because the Lifeless Land lay at the border of Pure Domain and Wild Domain, it had a heaven-tier spirit vein. In the Wild Domain, the Spiritual Energy was tainted—utterly unsuitable for a Daoist’s cultivation.

“Daoists entering the Wild Domain must constantly consume medicine or use artifacts just to withstand the Breath of Chaos. But inside a base camp, that’s not necessary,” Ren Piaoping said, her eyes calm. Unlike Liu Yuqi, she didn’t dwell only on the negatives. Of course the conditions couldn’t compare to the Pure Domain, but if they could withstand the Evil Tide, it would mean a huge step forward in their expansion into the Wild Domain.

“Who knows if it can truly withstand the Evil Tide?” Liu Yuqi said again. What if the first time had been a fluke? No sooner had her words fallen than a series of bell tolls reverberated through the air. Her expression instantly changed. “How can the Lifeless Bell sound again?” True, she felt the base needed to be tested by the Evil Tide, but that didn’t mean she wanted to face it right now!

“The Evil Tide… is gradually becoming chaotic and unpredictable,” Zhang Tianxin said, gaze deep. “This is the second time it’s deviated from the projected schedule.”

“Return to the Lifeless Land,” Ren Piaoping said. As for this base, they’d see if it could withstand the Evil Tide’s assault on its own. They themselves wouldn’t stay here and risk their lives.

And not only the Vast Desert Wilds—at Imaginary Village, the Prosperous Clan Daoists and the favored direct-line He Clan members all hurried back at the sound of the bell. But they forbade He Yaoluo from returning. They needed her to stay and hold the fort, to see whether Imaginary Village could truly resist the mad tide of wicked wraiths.

As for Fire Element Dwelling, there was little commotion. Most of the cultivators there were rogue cultivators who had offended the Lifeless Land’s people and couldn’t easily return. They had already weathered one Evil Tide; their moods remained relatively calm.

Yangchun Terrace.

Wei Mingyi had just been telling Wu Chongyun about the Three Sects buying land—before she could even mention “Wish Fulfillment”—when the sudden bell tolls scattered her thoughts. “So soon? How can the Evil Tide come again?” she said in astonishment.

Wu Chongyun frowned. “Perhaps some kind of mutation has occurred in the depths. The Evil Tide is becoming increasingly uncontrollable.”

As they spoke, the clouds that had been clumping in the gloomy sky heaved violently. A vast, majestic aura spread across the wilderness, making every Daoist in the Wild Domain look up.

Wei Mingyi also sensed that extraordinary presence. Before her eyes appeared an endless sea of mist and cloud. As she gazed longer, within the mist appeared soft tufts of grass and brilliant clusters of flowers—vivid and dazzling. It seemed like both a long time and a single instant. First, a faint prick of pain touched her eyes, then a cool, refreshing current swept over them.

A whisk brushed past Wei Mingyi’s eyes. Wu Chongyun said, “A Grotto-Heaven Dharma Aspect. Don’t stare.” The Grotto-Heaven level was far too high—not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could perceive. A Grotto-Heaven Perfected One didn’t even need to act; the unconscious emanation of their power could crush a tiny Foundation Establishment Daoist to death. Just now, she sensed that the Grotto-Heaven Perfected One passing over Yangchun Terrace had paused for a moment, perhaps even glanced this way. But there was no need to worry—first, the Mountain Protection Array shrouded them; second, to someone of that level, they were on entirely different planes and not people who needed special attention. That was also why she hadn’t felt an instinctive warning.

Wei Mingyi gave an “Oh,” caught the whisk, covered her eyes, and said, “I’m not looking.” She paused, then asked, “Which Perfected One has descended?”

Wu Chongyun said, “Judging by the changes in the Dharma Aspect, it should be the one from the Cloud Realm.”

Wei Mingyi nodded, and soon tossed both the Evil Tide and the Grotto-Heaven Perfected One out of her mind. What was destined couldn’t be stopped; there were plenty of people to worry about it. A small Foundation Establishment cultivator like her had to focus on what was right in front of her. Her spirits rose, and she released the whisk, fixing her gaze on Wu Chongyun to continue their interrupted conversation. “The Three Sects brought out an artifact called ‘Wish Fulfillment.’ Shizun, have you heard of it?”

Wu Chongyun’s languid eyes instantly turned sharp, and her voice chilled. “They tried to swindle you with that?” She knew of this artifact, stored by Heavenly Origin Sect; its effect was immense—but only if it could be used.

“I’ve already grasped how to use it,” Wei Mingyi said quickly, seeing Wu Chongyun’s displeasure. “This way, even if Assistant Master and the others lack sufficient magical power, it won’t matter. And Shizun, you won’t have to ponder any wicked schemes.”

Wu Chongyun froze, immediately understanding Wei Mingyi’s intention. That artifact had great uses. The further one traveled the path of cultivation, the harder it became; having a near-divine tool that could sweep away insurmountable obstacles—even if not used for oneself—would be of immense benefit to the world. And such a treasure was to be used on her?

After a long silence, Wu Chongyun said, “It’s not good.”

“There’s nothing not good about it,” Wei Mingyi answered. She hugged Wu Chongyun’s arm and half-leaned against her, beaming. “Let the future me deal with future problems. Right now, I only want you to recover fully, Shizun.”

“If it’s an antidote you want, I can think of a way myself,” Wu Chongyun averted her eyes, refusing to look at Wei Mingyi’s bright smile.

“And what price would that cost?” Wei Mingyi asked. If it could have been solved, it would have been long ago. Didn’t she want to live? “Return to Spirit Mountain to see those old acquaintances? Touch those sorrows? Walk back onto the road that long ago turned against your true self, casting away who you are to become the Four Paragons of Spirit Mountain again?”

“Shizun, I won’t let you fall back into suffering.” She spoke the last sentence with extreme seriousness. Seeing Wu Chongyun wouldn’t look at her, she simply reached out to hold her face, meeting Wu Chongyun’s misty eyes—like a thin autumn river fog—straight on. Gently, she said, “Shizun, accept me.”

Wu Chongyun’s lashes quivered, and for a moment she couldn’t speak.

Trading land for heaven-tier herbs—for her.

Entering the Eternal Cosmos Heavenly Realm to fight for the championship—for her.

Using a priceless heaven-tier artifact to refine the antidote—still for her.

And what could she give in return?

“When I was eight, I was taken into the depths of Spirit Mountain, treated just like those of the direct line. They told me, all blood kin, that the Wu Clan could give me everything I wanted—but they never told me what price I’d have to pay in the end.”

“The one who taught me was the Wu Clan Grand Elder, Wu Weiheng. She was like a teacher and a mother. She guided my cultivation and looked after my daily life. She said with my talent, I would sooner or later reach Grotto-Heaven and bring glory to the Wu Clan of Spirit Mountain.”

“She had a beloved son, Wu Jianren. Even with the Wu Clan’s resources poured into him, he only reached Nascent Soul. During a struggle against wicked wraiths, his Nascent Soul was tainted by a wraith and had to be completely crippled. To the Wu Clan, that was nothing—cripple one and use heaven and earth treasures to foster a new one.”

“The Grand Elder had already retrieved a suitable Nascent Soul from the alliance’s stores, but Wu Jianren refused. If he couldn’t have his own, he wanted the best.”

Wu Chongyun’s tone as she described this was flat—no trace of nostalgia for the Wu Clan, no resentment either—as if she were talking about something that had nothing to do with her. A chill ran through Wei Mingyi’s heart. She already guessed what came next. “Yours?”

“Yes.” Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes and continued in that same bland tone, “The Grand Elder didn’t agree at first, but Wu Jianren did it in private, using her people. She didn’t stop it. I… killed Wu Jianren, breaking the Spirit Mountain rule that kin cannot fight and kill one another.”

Wei Mingyi said indignantly, “But that bastard made the first move!” She frowned. “Was it then you were poisoned with the Wither and Flourish?”

“No.” Wu Chongyun shook her head. Her expression, previously untroubled, finally grew complicated. She gave a short, humorless laugh. “The clan rules demanded I face punishment, but the Grand Elder had it waived on my behalf. With her not pursuing Wu Jianren’s death, no one else could say much. She still treated me as before, and I… because I had killed her only son, I felt guilt.”

Wu Chongyun didn’t continue. She simply said, “Only later did I understand that the hatred was planted the moment I killed Wu Jianren. The peace that followed—she was pretending. She knew I would willingly accept the clan’s punishment, but she didn’t want to settle the score so easily. She wanted to execute my heart. Something like that, perhaps?”

“The Four Paragons of Spirit Mountain—future Grotto-Heaven seeds. In the Elders’ eyes, we were different from ordinary clan members. Some things, if allowed to fester, easily become heart obstacles. If the Elders didn’t want us to see, we would never know. In the past, she only let me see the boundless splendor at the peak. But later, she showed me the piles of white bones beneath the terraces. My brilliance was stained with blood. A single word—‘wrong’—summed up my two hundred-plus years. Sometimes I wonder: would ignorance have been better?”

“Was it for my own good, to make me leap out of the ancient rules? Or was it simply to force me out of Spirit Mountain, onto a path to death? I can’t tell anymore.”

“Until the very end, when Wu Jianwei and the others came to see me off.”

“I drank a cup of wine laced with Wither and Flourish, and walked into an ambush of a killing formation.”