Joining Forces

Shen Yi was not one to indulge in the pleasures of the palate. But having just arrived, and with taverns being excellent places to gather information, he naturally followed the waiter's suggestion, tossing him a good many Spirit Stones and letting him make the arrangements.

A table full of dishes was laid out, yet Shen Yi had no mind to taste them. He merely picked at them absently while listening for news from those around him.

"Qingxuan Sect is taking in disciples on a large scale. They say it has something to do with Great Elder Wang Shangren."

"What does it have to do with him? Tell us more."

"I heard Elder Wang was sent to Ninghai City to establish Yunxuan Sect. Though it is nominally a branch sect of Qingxuan Sect, it has already gained the backing of a Nascent Soul powerhouse."

"Ninghai City? Isn't there a Ninghai Immortal Academy there? One of my distant brothers is there."

"What Ninghai Immortal Academy? The whole of Ninghai City is under Yunxuan Sect's control now. They say Commander Lin Hong there has already been transferred back to the capital."

Shen Yi had finally learned of Ninghai Town, yet his heart was filled with worry. Without Lin Hong's support, Ninghai Immortal Academy would likely be swallowed up by Yunxuan Sect sooner or later. He wondered how Dean Feng Yang was doing now.

"This Later Zhou Royal Family really is as timid as a mouse."

"Exactly. They're nothing but turtles hiding in their shells!"

"Shh, keep it down!"

Someone in the crowd suddenly made a silencing gesture. Following his gaze, everyone saw a man seated by the window, dressed as a soldier, with a large saber resting beside him.

"Ha, what's there to fear? In Qingxuan City, what does a City Guard officer amount to?"

Smack!

The man slammed his wine cup heavily onto the table, then abruptly turned around and stared coldly at the one who had just uttered those wild words.

"Immortal Master, that man is Chu Feng, a captain of Qingxuan City's City Guard. It's rather amusing—someone like him, without any cultivation, can actually become a captain."

The waiter explained in a low voice. A mocking curve occasionally rose at the corner of his mouth, though his hands never stopped pouring wine.

"Oh? Since he has no cultivation, he must possess some extraordinary ability."

Hearing this, Shen Yi grew interested as well. His gaze settled on Chu Feng, and only then did he notice the faint aura emanating from him. He was like a long saber, carrying an edge sharp enough to slash through all things. It reminded Shen Yi of someone—someone very similar to the Chu Feng before him.

Yet when the waiter heard Shen Yi's words, he thought of how he too possessed only a mortal body, yet had to bow and scrape before Shen Yi. Comparing the two, rage flared in his heart, and his voice rose several degrees.

"Immortal Master, you jest. He is probably only a little stronger than ordinary people. So what? He is still a dog of the Later Zhou Royal Family, still forced to tuck his tail in Qingxuan City!"

Shen Yi frowned slightly. Before he could speak, he felt a chilling killing intent shoot straight toward the waiter.

It turned out that Chu Feng had heard those words. His heart had already been choked with pent-up resentment, and now it was stirred anew. With a slap of his hand against the saber, a cold flash gleamed, and killing intent streaked forth in an instant.

Shen Yi held a wine cup in one hand and extended the other, blocking the saber light before crushing it with a single palm. Looking back at the waiter, he found the man frozen stupid. His legs trembled without pause, and a ring of yellow liquid streamed down his trouser legs onto the floor.

Shen Yi frowned. He exchanged a glance with Chu Feng, then cast a disgusted look at the waiter before rising and leaving.

News that someone had exchanged blows with Chu Feng, captain of the City Guard, spread through Qingxuan City without wings. It immediately caused a tremendous uproar. Fighting the City Guard was equivalent to humiliating the royal family's dignity.

At that moment, in a secluded house somewhere within Qingxuan City, Shen Yi was drinking and chatting merrily with a man. That man was Chu Feng.

"So Brother Chu received a note from a mysterious person and came here as well?"

As Shen Yi spoke, he took out a slip of paper. It told him to come here, where someone wished to meet him.

Chu Feng nodded and took out a note as well. Its contents were identical.

"Thinking about it now, that mysterious person was most likely among the guests at the tavern just now. To deliver notes to both of us without anyone noticing, he must be an expert as well."

Shen Yi made his deduction, carefully recalling what had happened in the tavern, but he still could not determine who it had been.

"Today, the two of us can be said to have become acquainted through a fight."

Chu Feng filled a cup with wine and drank with Shen Yi.

"Brother Chu may have no cultivation, but your combat strength is remarkable. No wonder you were able to become a captain."

Chu Feng's saber strike had left a deep impression on Shen Yi, and he praised him sincerely.

"What good is being a captain? I cannot serve my country. With nothing but this strength, I am instead bullied by Qingxuan Sect."

Shen Yi heard the unwillingness in Chu Feng's voice, and the thought of joining forces immediately arose within him.

"To be honest with you, Brother Chu, I bear a deep hatred for Qingxuan Sect's Great Elder Wang Shangren. This time, I intend to pretend to join Qingxuan Sect and dismantle it from within."

Shen Yi paused, his eyes blazing as he looked at Chu Feng and waited for his reply.

"Brother Shen, why don't we join forces? We can coordinate from within and without to eliminate Qingxuan Sect. It would also count as ridding the country of a scourge."

Chu Feng raised his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, voicing the very thought that happened to coincide with Shen Yi's.

Cheers!

Cheers!

Early the next morning, Shen Yi had just pushed open his door when he saw Zhu Siwen waiting outside, with the waiter from yesterday standing behind him.

"Junior Disciple Kongming, I trust you have been well!"

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Zhu."

After the two exchanged pleasantries for a while, Zhu Siwen finally broached the subject.

"Yesterday, Junior Disciple, you fought that Chu Feng and saved my servant. I am deeply grateful. If you encounter any difficulties in Qingxuan Sect in the future, you may come to me at any time."

Zhu Siwen patted his chest as he gave Shen Yi his assurance. At the same time, he brought news that Shen Yi could enter Qingxuan Sect directly and become an Outer Disciple.

"Junior Disciple, do not be alarmed. Just because you dared to clash with the City Guard and disgrace them, you brought honor to the sect. Naturally, the sect must reward you."

Shen Yi nodded gratefully, repeatedly declaring that he would serve the sect unto death, that he would spill his liver and brains for it, and would not rest until death. As he spoke, he took a pouch of Spirit Stones from his robes and handed it to Zhu Siwen as thanks for his support.

Zhu Siwen was greatly pleased by Shen Yi's gesture. He was almost ready to suggest that they swear brotherhood on the spot and share fortune together.

Afterward, Zhu Siwen told Shen Yi much more, all of it information concerning Qingxuan Sect.

Qingxuan Sect, it turned out, differed from an Immortal Academy in that it had strict divisions of rank. Disciples in the Body Forging stage could only serve as menial disciples. Those in the Qi Condensation Realm were called Outer Disciples, those in the Foundation Establishment Realm became Inner Disciples, while those at the Golden Core Stage could rise to become Sect Master and gain the right to participate in sect administration.

"For now, Junior Disciple, you may reside in the towns assigned by the sect. Once you become an Inner Disciple, you can obtain a cave mansion within the sect."

After finishing his explanation, Zhu Siwen left in high spirits. Having made the acquaintance of another disciple with hopes of Foundation Establishment, his path in Qingxuan Sect would become even smoother in the future.

Once Zhu Siwen had left, Shen Yi tossed the set of robes symbolizing Qingxuan Sect aside. He then turned to study Qingxuan Sect's rules, pondering how he could achieve Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and become an Inner Disciple.

"I wonder whether Qingxuan Sect has any unique cultivation techniques."