Joining Forces

Shen Yi wasn't someone who craved culinary delights. However, being new to the area, a restaurant was an excellent place to gather information. He naturally followed the waiter's lead, tossing him plenty of Spirit Stones and letting him make the arrangements.

A table full of dishes was laid out, but Shen Yi had no appetite. He merely picked at the food casually, paying attention to the surrounding conversations.

"The Qingxuan Sect is recruiting disciples widely. It's said to be related to the Grand Elder Wang Shangren."

"What kind of relation? Tell me more."

"It's rumored Elder Wang was sent to Ninghai City to establish the Yunxuan Sect. Although it's nominally a branch of the Qingxuan Sect, it already has the support of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator."

"Ninghai City, isn't there a Ninghai Immortal Academy there? I have a distant cousin who's there."

"There's no Ninghai Immortal Academy anymore. The entire Ninghai City is under the Yunxuan Sect's control. I heard Commander Lin Hong there has already been recalled to the capital."

Shen Yi finally learned news about Ninghai Town, but his heart was filled with worry. Without Lin Hong's support, he feared the Ninghai Immortal Academy would sooner or later be annexed by the Yunxuan Sect. He wondered how Dean Feng Yang was doing.

"This Later Zhou imperial family is truly cowardly."

"Yeah, they're practically ostriches with their heads in the sand!"

"Shh, quiet!"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd made a shushing gesture. Everyone followed his gaze and saw a man sitting by the window, dressed like a soldier, with a large saber placed beside him.

"Hey, what's there to be afraid of? In this Qingxuan City, what can their City Guard do?"

"Smash!"

The man slammed his wine cup heavily on the table and abruptly turned around, looking indifferently at the person who had just spoken so wildly.

"Immortal Master, that person is Chu Feng, a Captain of the City Guard in Qingxuan City. It's funny, he's someone without cultivation, yet he can still be a Captain."

The waiter explained in a hushed tone, a hint of mockery occasionally appearing on his lips, but his hand continued to pour wine.

"Oh? Since he has no cultivation, he must have some other extraordinary qualities."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi became interested. His gaze focused on Chu Feng, and he realized the man exuded a subtle aura, like a long saber, possessing a sharpness that could cut through anything. This reminded him of someone, very much like the Chu Feng before him.

But the waiter beside him, hearing Shen Yi's words and thinking of his own mortal body, yet bowing and scraping before him, felt a surge of anger in comparison. His voice grew a bit louder.

"Immortal Master is joking. He probably just has a bit more strength, so what? He's still a dog of the Later Zhou imperial family, keeping his tail between his legs in Qingxuan City!"

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

It turned out Chu Feng, already feeling stifled by their conversation, had his emotions further ignited. He struck his saber, and a cold glint flashed, sending the killing intent flying.

Shen Yi, holding his wine cup in one hand, reached out with the other and blocked the saber's glint, shattering it with a palm strike. The waiter, meanwhile, was completely stunned, his legs trembling uncontrollably. A pool of yellow liquid flowed down his leg and onto the floor.

Shen Yi frowned, exchanged a look with Chu Feng, and then, with a disgusted glance at the waiter, stood up and left.

News of someone clashing with Captain Chu Feng of the City Guard spread like wildfire through Qingxuan City, causing a sensation. Engaging with the City Guard was equivalent to insulting the dignity of the imperial family.

Meanwhile, in a secluded house somewhere in Qingxuan City, Shen Yi was drinking and conversing with another person. That person was none other than Chu Feng.

"So, Brother Chu also received a note from a mysterious person, which led you here?"

Shen Yi said, taking out a piece of paper with instructions for him to come here, as someone wished to meet him.

Chu Feng nodded and also produced a piece of paper with the exact same content.

"Now that I think about it, that mysterious person was probably among the guests at the restaurant just now. To be able to deliver notes to both of us without anyone noticing, they must be quite skilled."

Shen Yi speculated, carefully recalling the events at the restaurant, but he couldn't figure out who it was.

"It seems we've become acquainted through this encounter."

Chu Feng poured a cup of wine and drank with Shen Yi.

"I see that although Brother Chu has no cultivation, his combat prowess is extraordinary. It's no wonder you could become a Captain."

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

"What's the point of being a Captain if I can't serve the country? I have all this strength, yet I'm bullied by the Qingxuan Sect."

Shen Yi sensed Chu Feng's unwillingness to accept his fate and immediately felt a desire to join forces.

"To be frank, Brother Chu, I have a deep-seated hatred for Wang Shangren, the Grand Elder of the Qingxuan Sect. This time, I intend to feign allegiance to the Qingxuan Sect and dismantle them from within."

Shen Yi paused, looking intently at Chu Feng, awaiting his response.

"Brother Shen, why don't we join forces? An inside and outside attack. Besides dealing with the Qingxuan Sect, we can also eliminate a scourge for the nation."

Chu Feng raised his wine cup, drank it down, and voiced his thoughts, which perfectly aligned with Shen Yi's.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The next morning, as Shen Yi opened his door, he saw Zhu Siwen waiting at the entrance, with the waiter from yesterday behind him.

"Junior Disciple Kongming, how have you been?"

"Greetings, Senior Disciple Zhu."

Shen Yi and Zhu Siwen exchanged pleasantries for a while before Zhu Siwen got straight to the point.

"Yesterday, Junior Disciple, you clashed with that Chu Feng and saved my servant. Senior Disciple is immensely grateful. From now on, if you face any difficulties within the Qingxuan Sect, feel free to come to me."

Zhu Siwen patted his chest, assuring Shen Yi. He also brought the news that Shen Yi would be directly admitted into the Qingxuan Sect as an Outer Disciple.

"Junior Disciple, don't be alarmed. The fact that you dared to clash with the City Guard and disregard their authority is something that brings honor to the sect. The sect will naturally offer rewards."

Shen Yi nodded gratefully, repeatedly vowing to serve the sect with his life, to go above and beyond for it, and to never rest until death. As he spoke, he took out a bag of Spirit Stones from his bosom and handed it to Zhu Siwen, as a return gift for his patronage.

Zhu Siwen was very pleased with Shen Yi's actions, almost to the point of proposing they become sworn brothers on the spot and share all fortunes.

Next, Zhu Siwen told Shen Yi much more, all concerning the Qingxuan Sect.

It turned out that the Qingxuan Sect, unlike the Immortal Academy, had a strict hierarchy. Disciples in the Body Forging stage could only serve as handyman disciples. Disciples in the Qi Condensation Realm were called Outer Disciples. Foundation Establishment stage disciples were Inner Disciples. As for the Golden Core stage, they could be promoted to Sect Master and gain the right to participate in sect management.

"Junior Disciple, you can currently reside in the town allocated by the sect. Once you become an Inner Disciple, you will be granted a Cave Mansion within the sect."

After giving his instructions, Zhu Siwen left contentedly. He had made the acquaintance of a disciple with the potential to reach Foundation Establishment, which would make his own path within the Qingxuan Sect smoother in the future.

After Zhu Siwen left, Shen Yi tossed aside the uniform symbolizing the Qingxuan Sect and turned to study the sect's rules, contemplating how he could achieve Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and become an Inner Disciple.

"I wonder if the Qingxuan Sect has any unique cultivation methods."