My Golden Elixir!

That night, stars studded the sky, and the moonlight was hazy.

Jiang Wang looked toward the courtyard where candlelight flickered. Zhao Si was still painting with fervent strokes.

He turned to the White-robed Cultivator and asked, "Where's Xiaoyu? Why haven't I seen her at all today?"

There had been no trace of Xiaoyu even in the place where she often practiced her swordsmanship.

The White-robed Cultivator said, "When my brother left, he noticed Xiaoyu following him out as well. I asked her about it, and she said she was going to buy something. By all rights, she should have returned long ago."

Jiang Wang felt that something was off.

Not to mention that the marquis's residence lacked nothing, Xiaoyu did not like cosmetics or powders. It was unusual enough for her to go out shopping, let alone remain gone for so long.

He immediately told the White-robed Cultivator to find Xiaoyu. After thinking it over, he decided to head out himself as well.

But before he could leave the marquis's residence, a voice came from the now-bare banyan tree. "If you step out the gate at this moment, you may lose your life."

Jiang Wang turned to look at the banyan tree. That bird stood clearly upon a branch.

"You like my family's tree?" Jiang Wang said mildly. "How would I lose my life by stepping outside? Don't spout monstrous nonsense to bewilder the public."

The bird said, "Stop pretending. I already told you—I've been observing you these past few days. I saw through the problem with you long ago."

Jiang Wang's expression tightened slightly, then he sneered. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The bird said, "There are immortality-seekers in Hun City, and the traces of demons are growing heavier by the day. Their purposes are actually the same. Cultivators seek immortals because they want to drive demons from the human world completely, and they also want to obtain the method of immortality. Demons, meanwhile, seek to kill immortals."

"Do you know why, even now, no highly cultivated immortality-seeker has come to Hun City?"

"It is because even more powerful demons are causing trouble elsewhere, forcibly drawing away their attention. They can only send some Cave Insight cultivators to Hun City to scout the way."

"Not to mention the vicinity of Hun City—even across half of Kutan, there is no existence stronger than me. The first to find an immortal is destined not to be a cultivator."

Jiang Wang frowned deeply.

The bird continued, "And do you know why I am here?"

Jiang Wang said in a deep voice, "What do seeking immortals or killing immortals have to do with me? And what does your being here have to do with me?"

The bird said, "Your mouth truly is hard. Few cultivators in the world know what Immortals Descend actually looks like, but I know very clearly."

"Those immortality-seekers all take the 'Mirage' to be the phenomenon heralding Immortals Descend, but the 'Mirage' that once hung high above Qixia Street was not a phenomenon at all."

"Though they have never ceased their immortal-seeking journey for centuries, how many cultivators truly believe there are immortals in this world?"

"Most so-called immortality-seekers do not believe immortals exist at all, or else harbor immense doubts, because from beginning to end, they have never seen an immortal."

With a trace of disdain in its voice, the bird said, "Their desire to seek immortals is mostly just spiritual consolation. Unable to defeat demons themselves, they pin all their hopes on immortals, believing that if they find one, they can slaughter every demon in the world."

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that there are no immortals in this world?"

The bird fell silent for a moment, then said, "Naturally, there are immortals in this world."

Its crystalline blue eyes stared at Jiang Wang. "Do you think I'm a demon?"

Jiang Wang said in surprise, "You aren't a demon?"

The bird said, "I am indeed a demon now, but I was once a deity. I was called Night Roaming."

Jiang Wang smiled. "The Night Roaming God? That is merely an immortal from mortal legends. Besides, in those legends, the Night Roaming God was not a bird. The night heron given the name Night Roaming only resembles you somewhat."

The bird said, "Deities are not immortals, but attendants of immortals. The exalted immortal I served has fallen, and my divine position shattered along with them. I was reduced to a monster. If I can find a new immortal master, then given time, I can return to my divine position."

Jiang Wang frowned. "I don't understand any of this. Whether you are a demon or a deity has nothing to do with me. I'm going out to find Xiaoyu, so don't block my way."

The bird flapped its wings and flew before Jiang Wang. "I have already made it very clear. So long as you remain in Hun City, demons will sooner or later raze this place to the ground. I need you, and right now, you need me as well. With my help, even if you leave the safe range, you can still display that power."

Jiang Wang's advancing footsteps stopped.

The bird landed directly upon his shoulder and said again, "I know where that Qingxuan Bureau cultivator is today. I also know your little maid is looking for him. If those two meet, I think you should know what the result will be."

"I am being very sincere. I've been in the marquis's residence these past few days. If I wanted to harm you, you would have been dead long ago. Without the power of the Mirage, going alone would merely be walking into death, and you would not be able to save your little maid either. This is an easy choice to make."

Jiang Wang remained silent.

He turned his head toward the bird and said, "Why would Xiaoyu seek that man for no reason? Could this be an excuse you made up to deceive me?"

The bird explained, "When you were confronting each other, Xiaoyu was hiding by Arch Moon Gate. The way she looked at that Qingxuan Bureau cultivator was filled with deep hatred. Perhaps there is an irreconcilable blood feud between them."

Something stirred within Jiang Wang.

Could the Brocade-robed Man be connected to the cultivators who had hunted Xiaoyu back then?

"Fine. What do I need to do?"

"Why would I deceive you? If I wanted to possess your body, I would not need your consent..."

The bird was still chattering on endlessly when it froze. "You agree?"

Jiang Wang said in a deep voice, "Cut the nonsense. If you're doing something, do it quickly!"

The bird immediately said with great excitement, "Simple!"

It opened its beak, and a Golden Elixir flew out, shooting straight into Jiang Wang's brow.

Every muscle in Jiang Wang's body instantly tensed.

The Mirage appeared levelly in his mind.

He watched with his own eyes as that Golden Elixir flew into the Mirage.

"What is this?"

In that brief daze, he felt as though he had formed an extremely close connection with the bird.

But the bird suddenly cried out in alarm.

"Something's wrong! You aren't an immortal?!"

"The Divine Kingdom is something only the most peak great cultivators can glimpse, and only true immortals can forge it. You clearly possess a Divine Kingdom—why aren't you an immortal?!"

A true Divine Kingdom was vast, with ranked immortal offices and divine fruits belonging exclusively to deities. Yet Jiang Wang's Divine Kingdom was utterly empty, with nothing inside!

"My Golden Elixir!" The bird was grief-stricken and tried to yank the Golden Elixir back out, but the power of the Mirage surged forth and swallowed the Golden Elixir whole.

Immediately afterward, within the empty Mirage, the image of a jet-black divine bird emerged, its luminous blue eyes shining brilliantly.

Jiang Wang looked at the bird, which had directly withered away, and asked in confusion, "What's going on?"

The instant the Golden Elixir was swallowed, Jiang Wang sensed that the bird truly was a deity. Perhaps because it had been promptly shielded off, he did not learn anything more.

The Night Roaming God lay sprawled on Jiang Wang's shoulder, looking utterly devoid of the will to live.

"This is impossible... why did it turn out like this..."

Jiang Wang wanted to ask more questions, but seeing it in this state, he figured it would be difficult to get anything out of it.

Setting all his doubts aside for the moment, he walked straight out of the marquis's residence.

Standing on Qixia Street, he patted the Night Roaming God's head again and asked, "Where is Xiaoyu?"

The Night Roaming God muttered, "South City Alley."

The moment it finished speaking, it buried its head and began to sob.

The corner of Jiang Wang's mouth twitched. Just then, the White-robed Cultivator returned. "Mr. Jiang, I couldn't find Xiaoyu."

"I know where she is."

At the mention of South City Alley, he instinctively thought of the Du Family.

This had better not be your doing.

He sensed the power continuously welling up within his body.

Then he tried stepping out of Qixia Street.

That power did not weaken in the slightest.

Jiang Wang raised his eyes, and a sinister smile spread across his lips.

South City Alley, the Du Family.

The Green-robed Cultivator stood outside the residence wall.

Though Akong had carefully helped Tan Lao Liu back into the Du Family residence, there had been civilians along the way. The Green-robed Cultivator had only needed a little time to track them down.

He had originally intended to investigate and leave, but unexpectedly discovered Xiaoyu.

Because Xiaoyu had not followed too closely, and because it had still been early evening when she left, with many civilians in the streets, the Green-robed Cultivator had been wholly focused on tracing Akong and Tan Lao Liu. He had not noticed her in time.

Once he confirmed that his targets were inside the Du Family residence, Xiaoyu suddenly climbed over the wall.

The Green-robed Cultivator hesitated briefly, then leaped over the wall into the Du Family estate as well.

Akong was gnawing on a chicken leg in the courtyard.

Xiaoyu walked straight past her.

Seeing that scene, the Green-robed Cultivator froze slightly.

What was going on here?

But while he was distracted, Akong flung out her great scythe.

The Green-robed Cultivator immediately swung his sword to block, retreating several zhang in a flash.

Why was she only attacking me?

He had climbed over the wall because he feared Xiaoyu might be in danger. Why was Xiaoyu being ignored outright while he was the one under attack?

Could it be because Xiaoyu was merely a martial artist, and of such low cultivation that she was not worth noticing at all?

And because I pose a much greater threat, she attacked me first?

That was right. It had to be so.

Akong beckoned with one hand, and the scythe returned to her grasp. Looking at the Green-robed Cultivator, she said flatly, "You're too weak. Even if you found this place, you won't have a chance to send any message back."

The Green-robed Cultivator's face darkened. He said in a deep voice, "Little girl, your mouth is certainly big. You merely possess strange brute strength. In terms of cultivation alone, I am far stronger than you."

Back at the marquis's residence, the White-robed Cultivator had described the brief exchange with Akong.

So long as he remained cautious, he did not think he would lose to Akong as well.

Akong tossed the chicken bone onto the ground, then wiped her hands directly on her black dress. As if provoking him, she gave the Green-robed Cultivator a disdainful look.

How could he possibly endure that?

The Green-robed Cultivator shot forward, his longsword wrapped in Yellow Court Qi. It dragged a string of sword shadows through the air and struck straight at Akong's face!

He had to get away quickly.

Though the Brocade-robed Man had been gravely wounded by Mr. Jiang, he was still no opponent Xiaoyu could contend with.

While the Green-robed Cultivator fought Akong, Xiaoyu had already swung her sword repeatedly, knocking multiple Du Family servants unconscious. Recklessly, she charged straight inside.

Tan Lao Liu was drinking in a long pavilion.

When he saw Xiaoyu appear, he chuckled. "I was wondering why my eyelid had been twitching all this time. So the fish that slipped through the net three and a half years ago had come knocking at my door of her own accord."