“Yes, but these are matters for the Grotto‑Heaven Perfected Ones to consider,” Lang Fengya said without thinking. After a few silent moments, she frowned again. “But I don’t think that everything obtained from the Wild Domain is unusable. This Wild Domain Restriction Decree the Heavenly Dao Alliance is pushing… who knows how many Daoists it will destroy.” Confiscating those artifacts and Dao manuals directly, without any compensation. There would also be people fishing in troubled waters, taking the chance to eliminate dissidents.
“What happens if someone refuses to destroy them?” Wei Mingyi asked.
Lang Fengya shrugged. “For Daoists in the Wild Domain, they’ll be forever barred from setting foot in the Lifeless Land. As for the Pure Domain, whether they live or die depends on the intentions of the Four Great Clans. The lenient ones might just exile them to the Wild Domain. The ruthless ones would outright erase them. But for me, it’s not that much of a hindrance. I rarely set foot in the Lifeless Land anyway, because I’ve made too many enemies.”
Wei Mingyi caught some information from Lang Fengya’s words. She asked, “Fellow Daoist Lang, does your cultivation method also come from the Wild Domain?”
Lang Fengya frankly admitted “Yes,” saying, “When I was training in the Wild Domain, I went to a place called Changbai Hills. There, I obtained a damaged scripture of a Dao manual called 【Diamond Chan Method】, and also an Earth-tier artifact called the Gift of White Hair.”
Changbai Hills? What a coincidence? Wei Mingyi raised an eyebrow. In the books she had read, white hair was merit left behind by a Buddha after attaining enlightenment, meant to sustain disciples in the Dharma-ending age. Only, she didn’t know if the Buddhist scriptures in this Nine Provinces overlapped with those of her own world. Many thoughts raced through Wei Mingyi’s mind. She didn’t say much else, just asked, “Are there any rogue cultivators planning to buy land?”
“The Three Sects and the clans are all spreading rumors that the land is exorbitantly priced. But it’s not convenient for me to say anything,” Lang Fengya said. She had made an agreement with Chongyuan and owed quite a bit, but it wasn’t an exorbitant price that even selling herself couldn’t afford. Looking at it this way, she had gotten a bargain. It wouldn’t be good to go around boasting about it and make the Three Sects and clans resent Chongyuan Sect.
“It’s fine,” Wei Mingyi said calmly.
Lang Fengya added, “However, some sect Daoists have come to me to inquire. In a few days, the people in charge will be arriving.”
“Which sect?”
“Sects led by Jialan Dao. They are not subordinate to the Three Sects.” Pausing, Lang Fengya continued, “The people of Jialan Dao also cultivate Chan methods. In the past, their disciples came to the Wild Domain and discussed the Dao with me.” The Diamond Chan Method had flaws. Lang Fengya also had some selfish motives; by contacting the people of Jialan Dao, she might find a chance to complete the Chan method.
Whirling Twin Trees, Chan Method, Changbai Hills… Wei Mingyi narrowed her eyes, understanding dawning in her heart. She said, “When the people arrive, Fellow Daoist can contact me.”
Lang Fengya agreed, then shared some interesting news from the Wild Domain before taking her leave.
Wei Mingyi sat in the Daoist grounds, deep in thought.
The Nine Provinces didn’t have a heavenly net that enveloped all directions. Daoists’ communication with each other was directional and limited by distance. If she returned to the Chongyuan Sect, she might not receive Lang Fengya’s message.
“System, produce a high-level super-brain.”
The Golden Finger didn’t respond.
“What about an artificial imbecile that can handle simple messages?”
Still no sign of activity.
Wei Mingyi refused to give up. The things her Golden Finger produced were linked to her current circumstances. She pulled up the Building Mall panel, and using the skills she’d picked up fixing televisions in the past, gave it two loud slaps.
Moments later, a segment of purple-glowing bone dropped out.
Wei Mingyi: “?” What in the world was this?
This segment of purple bone landed on the ground, a halo of light floating around it. It slowly took on a form, looking somewhat like a small purple puppy… No, dragon head, deer body, ox tail, single horn… it was a Qilin?! Seeing the Qilin, Wei Mingyi’s gaze shifted slightly. She immediately thought of the catastrophe in Lin Province. Activating her magical power, a Eight Trigrams Seal hovered above the Qilin’s head. Only when the Qilin let out a tiny cry and nuzzled against Wei Mingyi’s robe did she give a light scoff and push it aside.
Information on the little creature appeared in the System—there was no cultivation module, and it wasn’t a building either. Thus, in the lower right corner of the panel, a Qilin head appeared out of nowhere.
Qilin · Wisdom · Taiyi, Immortal Artifice Intelligence.
Was this Taiyi related to the Taiyi who transmitted the Dao? Why was Taiyi everywhere?
Wei Mingyi: “…” She poked the Qilin on the ground. “Turn into a dragon.”
The little Qilin immediately followed the change, and the information on the panel also changed to “Dragon · Wisdom · Taiyi.”
Wei Mingyi played with it for a while before letting it revert to its original form.
This System Intelligence body could change at will; it wasn’t a real Qilin.
It was just that it looked most genuine as a Qilin. Perhaps because during the trip to Lin Province, she had conveniently taken that segment of Qilin Bone from the Guo Clan?
Wei Mingyi checked the user instructions again.
It could only be used to transmit simple messages.
She inhaled sharply and consoled herself: for something free, don’t expect perfection.
Maybe in the future when it was upgraded, it would become useful.
But after searching for a while, Wei Mingyi simply couldn’t find its upgrade button.
Wei Mingyi tinkered for a time but couldn’t figure it out.
If she couldn’t solve the problem, she’d just treat it as if there was no problem.
She quickly tossed her worries to the winds, left the Immortal Artifice Imbecile to guard the door, and prepared to return to Chongyuan.
But just as she stood up, Wei Mingyi saw a familiar figure suddenly appear beneath the pear blossom tree.
“Shizun?” Wei Mingyi was taken aback. When she had left, Wu Chongyun had entered meditation, so she hadn’t called her.
“So long?” Wu Chongyun’s brows were slightly furrowed. Her tone was flat, but Wei Mingyi managed to detect a tiny thread of complaint. Actually, it had been less than an hour, right? Wei Mingyi thought to herself, yet still coaxed Wu Chongyun, saying, “I’m sorry, Shizun, I was out too long.”
Wu Chongyun gave a light humph. She lifted the Qilin that had been stepping on her foot and frowned. “What is this?”
“That Qilin Bone from Lin Province. Some profound change occurred,” Wei Mingyi said, watching the little Qilin whose four hooves were flailing wildly, even kicking at the whisk. She said, “So annoying.”
Shizun’s hands weren’t made to grab such a little trinket!
“Mn, annoying.” Wu Chongyun let go, and a cloud held the little Qilin as it drifted to one side. She didn’t ask further about the changes, only gazing at Wei Mingyi and saying, “You met Lang Fengya again?”
Wei Mingyi truthfully replied, “She brought some news from the Wild Domain.”
Seeing Wu Chongyun merely respond with a lazy hum, she grasped Wu Chongyun’s hand and guided her to sit on a rock, carefully recounting the matter of the Wild Domain Restriction Decree. At the end, she added, “The cultivation methods in our Chongyuan Sect… who knows where they came from? Could any be from the Wild Domain? If so, wouldn’t we also be restricted?” Pausing, she made a move as if to stand, “I’ll go back and ask the Sect Leader.”
Wu Chongyun flicked her whisk, brushing it against Wei Mingyi’s face.
Wei Mingyi understood her meaning and suppressed the sudden urgency in her heart, sitting back down.
Wu Chongyun lowered her eyelids, speaking demurely, “What she knows, I know too.”
Wei Mingyi blinked. Those universally known matters, she had to ask Shizun first, or else Shizun would feel dejected again. She stared directly at Wu Chongyun: “Please, Shizun, instruct me.”
But this sentence suddenly touched a memory deep within Wu Chongyun. Her brows furrowed. “You’re interrogating me.”
Wei Mingyi: “?” She was wronged!
Wu Chongyun added, “Before, when I couldn’t walk.”
Wei Mingyi froze.
Several years ago.
How was she still bringing up old scores?
She raised her hand, pretending she was going to slap herself.
Wu Chongyun knew Wei Mingyi was only putting on an act, but she still promptly caught Wei Mingyi’s wrist, saving her from having that soft palm actually fall. Her fingertips gently stroked Wei Mingyi’s wrist. She said, “Six Classics Unrolled, Chongxu Elixir Scripture, from the Cloud Realm; Guizang Scripture, from Heaven Evolution Mountain; Dragon-Capturing Hand, from Shifang Celestial Palace; Divine Firmament Lightning Method, from the Divine Firmament Sect.”
Wei Mingyi gave an “Oh,” and with a flash of inspiration, searched for the Dao manuals within the Chongyuan Sect in the shop. Aside from those her Shizun mentioned, there were still several others. The Record of Secluded Dreams, Daoist True Words, and the Crimson Ghost Flame were all scavenged from the Wild Domain. There was also a Nine Nethers’ Great Grievous Wind from the evil cultivation sect exterminated by the Merciful Sword.
Wei Mingyi was dazed for a moment, her heartstrings touched. She blinked, and finally input the four words “Flawless Sword Scripture.” Her gaze slowly swept across that line of text, brief but packed with explosive information: 【Flawless Sword Scripture】, created by the Merciful Sword, a legacy Daoist scripture of the Chongyuan Sect.
“What is it?” Wu Chongyun noticed Wei Mingyi’s distraction and thought her answer hadn’t satisfied Wei Mingyi. She tightened her grip on Wei Mingyi’s wrist slightly.
“Discovered a secret. Our Chongyuan Sect has so many enemies!” Wei Mingyi came back to her senses. She leaned against Wu Chongyun’s shoulder and sighed with feigned world-weariness. “Suddenly I feel my young shoulders can’t bear those mountain-heavy burdens.”
Wu Chongyun looked at Wei Mingyi seriously and, without thinking, said, “I will bear them for you.”
Just keep moving forward. Whatever sins the future holds, she would shoulder them.
Wei Mingyi let out a “pfft” of laughter. She hugged Wu Chongyun. “Then many thanks, Shizun. But… why doesn’t Shizun ask what secret it is?”
“It’s fine if you don’t want to say.” Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes. Secrets were things one couldn’t tell others. She… didn’t have to know everything.
Wei Mingyi perceived a subtle shift in Wu Chongyun’s mood. Her smile faded slightly, and another silent sigh rose from deep within her heart. Shizun was far too docile. If it were her, she would’ve pestered relentlessly, or pretended to be casual, then seized every opening, until she got a satisfying answer.
“If it’s something I can’t say, I wouldn’t let people know I even know a secret,” Wei Mingyi’s eyes swirled. Setting aside that convoluted phrasing, she leaned close to Wu Chongyun’s ear and said softly, “Shizun, quick, ask. I’m begging you.”
The warm breath swirled in her ear, bringing a string of tingling numbness. Wu Chongyun tilted her head slightly, and her earlobe brushed against Wei Mingyi’s lips. She was slightly dazed, and that sensation of damp warmth surged in unceasingly, making her entire body grow weaker. Her heartbeat quickened. Wu Chongyun didn’t know where to hide. Her heart was tangled in a mess, making her thoughts disjointed. She bit her lip and murmured softly, “Not asking.”
“Since Shizun asked me, then I’ll just say it directly.” Wei Mingyi lifted her head. The corners of her eyes were tinged with a flush of crimson, her eyes bright like brilliant stars. “That Merciful Sword, whom the clans wish they could gnaw the flesh and devour the blood of, is actually the founder of our Chongyuan Sect! Her name is Yue Wuque!”
Wu Chongyun: “…”
Wei Mingyi: “?” Why no reaction?
Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes.
She hadn’t asked!
And right now, she wasn’t very eager to hear about those things.
That numbness that had spread from her skin to her very bones lingered at a corner of her heart, like a row of tiny, furry hooks, brushing and sweeping faintly.
Wei Mingyi leaned into Wu Chongyun’s face again. “Shizun isn’t surprised? Or did Shizun already know long ago?”
Wu Chongyun’s eyelashes trembled. She didn’t want to pay attention, but Wei Mingyi kept pressing close and asking. She wanted to push Wei Mingyi away, yet she was unwilling to leave her embrace. She buried her head against Wei Mingyi’s shoulder, bumping it deliberately, and murmured, “Wei Mingyi, you’re so annoying.”
Wei Mingyi: “Mn, mn.”
