Old Daoist Wu Shen (Part 1)

Liu Xingzi looked at Old Daoist Wu Shen's furious face, pursed his lips, and casually clasped his hands in greeting. "Fellow Daoist Wu Shen, it has been three hundred years since we last parted. This is already our third meeting. I remember the first time I saw you, you had only just entered Emei and were still a little Daoist acolyte. Heh heh heh heh. Who would have thought that now you would have so many disciples and have become the master of the 'Heart' Sect of the Emei Sword Sect? When Senior Disciple Brother mentioned it just now, this old Daoist scarcely dared believe it." As he spoke, Liu Xingzi wore a deeply sincere smile, as though he were truly overjoyed to see Old Daoist Wu Shen again after hundreds of years.

Old Daoist Wu Shen's expression became incomparably awkward, and he could not help cursing himself inwardly. How did I forget about this? Those fellows from Yiyuan Sect all have terrifyingly high seniority. Liu Xingzi truly is... Infinite Longevity Buddha, three hundred years ago he seemed already to be... If seniority is truly counted, I should call him Martial Uncle. But this... this, this...

The Emei Sect disciples, who could only remain aloft by relying on the power of their flying swords, shouted loudly, "Who are you, to dare speak to our Martial Grandfather like that?"

Liu Xingzi's expression chilled. The disciples of Yiyuan Sect merely could not be bothered to stir up trouble, but when something truly happened, even the most dull-witted Ling Guangzi would kill people—let alone Liu Xingzi. Supreme forgetfulness of emotion? Among the twelve disciples of Yiyuan Sect, it seemed not one had cultivated to such a state. Hearing these junior disciples hurl curses at him, Liu Xingzi gave a fierce snort through his nose. A strange ripple spread from his body. The low-ranking Emei disciples suddenly felt their connection to their True Essence and flying swords severed. Like dumplings being dropped into a pot, they fell from a height of more than ten zhang, each crashing down amid miserable cries. Several were even knocked unconscious.

Old Daoist Wu Shen flew into a rage. With a wave of both hands, two black longswords abruptly appeared in his grasp. Pointing the sword in his right hand at Liu Xingzi, he shouted, "Liu Xingzi, what do you mean by this? Does your Yiyuan Sect bully others by relying on its power?"

Liu Xingzi tucked both hands into his sleeves and folded them before his chest. Half-closing his eyes, he revealed a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Fellow Daoist, your words are too grave. Few disciples of Yiyuan Sect ever travel below the mountain. Other sects may often bully others by relying on their power, but if Yiyuan Sect truly wished to do so, heh heh, what does Fellow Daoist think?... Ah, this old Daoist has been negligent. When friends come from afar, we ought to offer tea and wine. Fellow Daoist, please, please, please. And all you little friends, please, hahaha, do not stand on ceremony."

Liu Xingzi raised a hand. Below, Xie Yuezi and the others had long since silently circulated their profound arts. Seeing the gesture, they each expelled a breath of True Essence. Faint thunder rolled through the air, and golden flowers scattered wildly through the sky. Two streaks of azure light flashed, then opened with a crash like a pair of doors, revealing a tiny gap within. Without another word, Liu Xingzi casually gestured and flew inside first.

Old Daoist Wu Shen froze for a moment, then gritted his teeth and charged in with more than a hundred disciples. His face had turned iron-blue, and he bitterly regretted not striking harder and keeping Ling Guangzi and Ling Houzi behind. If he could have captured the two alive, then brought them to Yiyuan Sect to demand an explanation, would that not have looked far better? Now that he had arrived at Yiyuan Sect's nest, would not everything depend on what they said?

Old Daoist Wu Shen knew perfectly well what his own strength was. Other than Xie Yuezi, Gu Lingzi, Xiao Longzi, and a few others who had cultivated for less time than he had, every other Yiyuan Sect disciple was difficult to handle. Though Master Celestial Sword of Emei had, before perishing in body and spirit after failing his Heavenly Tribulation, poured all his True Essence into Wu Shen's body, at most Wu Shen could handle one or two people at Ling Guangzi or Liu Xingzi's level. As for the disciples under him, they were absolutely no match for the remaining disciples of Yiyuan Sect.

Wu Shen felt some regret. He already knew his enemies belonged to Yiyuan Sect, so why had he not personally invited Emei's experts to assist him? If several of his martial brothers had been here, he would not have needed to fear Yiyuan Sect at all. A miscalculation, a miscalculation. Old Daoist Wu Shen's belly was full of fury. He had always thought himself loftier than the heavens, and especially after becoming the master of Emei's Heart Sect, his arrogance had known no bounds. Coupled with the legacy left by his master, there were not many people under heaven who could make things difficult for him. That was why he had come in such an imposing manner, leading men to hunt down Ling Guangzi.

Only after standing at Yiyuan Sect's entrance did Wu Shen suddenly realize, This Yiyuan Sect is known in the Cultivation World as reinforced taffy. If you strike too lightly, it merely bounces once and cannot even be bothered to notice you. But if you smash down with a full-powered fist, there are blades mixed into that taffy—enough to leave your head split and your blood flowing... Do not be fooled by how these old Daoists of Yiyuan Sect cannot be bothered to take disciples, cannot even be bothered to wash their clothes, and never leave their gates. It is because their cultivation has reached its pinnacle. But if you dare slap the Sect Master of Yiyuan Sect across the face, Yiyuan Sect will dare wipe out your entire clan.

Wu Shen drew a long breath. This matter would not be easy to handle. But no matter what, Ling Guangzi had slain his disciple. Yiyuan Sect had to give some sort of explanation, did it not? In all his life, no one had ever humiliated him like this. His final disciple! On Mount Emei, that disciple had strutted about with his shoulders thrown back, yet after only one year of traveling beyond the mountain, he had been slaughtered, even his primordial spirit utterly destroyed. If he did not win back this face, could he still call himself Daoist Wu Shen?

Ignoring the disciples beneath him, Old Daoist Wu Shen narrowed his eyes and followed Liu Xingzi to the center of Qingyun Flat. The Emei disciples behind him had been scared half to death by the display Liu Xingzi had just revealed. How could they dare continue acting arrogantly? Other than those with deep cultivation who could maintain an ordinary expression, the disciples who had been shouting just moments before had all shrunk to the back like plague-stricken chickens, not daring to make a sound.

Seeing the Emei disciples in such a state, Xie Yuezi and the others could not help shaking their heads repeatedly and sighing. "They wilt at the first setback. These junior Emei disciples are far too unworthy."

Xiao Longzi, however, wore a smile as he smugly thought, Mm, compared this way, Yiyuan Sect was right to follow the elite route. Look at that boy Li Feng. If he had been humiliated like this before us, he would have cursed even their ancestors. And Li Feng's courage is not small either. I heard that when that old monster pursued Second Disciple Brother last time, he and Little Junior Sister were the ones who went forward to meet it. This Daoist has truly taken in a fine disciple this time.

The two groups stopped at the center of Qingyun Flat. Liu Xingzi nodded slightly and said to Wu Shen, "Our sect lives in simple seclusion, and it is not very convenient for receiving guests." As he spoke, he gestured toward the simple bamboo huts and wooden houses amid the woods and grass.

At once, more than a dozen of Emei Sect's lowest-ranking disciples showed smug expressions. They had resumed their lofty, disdainful manner, seemingly mocking Yiyuan Sect's crudeness. Xie Yuezi sneered inwardly. We cultivators only seek to follow our hearts. We are not mortal emperors—must we really live in palaces every day? Still, he only scorned those shortsighted Emei juniors in his heart and did not say it aloud.

Old Daoist Wu Shen said coldly, "Brother Daoist Liu need not be polite. We came this time to seek justice. There is no need for such courtesy."

Liu Xingzi hurriedly smiled. "How could that do? We will certainly speak of justice, but honored guests have arrived. If the disciples of Yiyuan Sect do not properly entertain you, would that not make us seem terribly discourteous if word spread? Please wait a moment while we tidy the place for receiving guests."

Aside from Ling Guangzi, who still stood where he was staring blankly at Old Daoist Wu Shen and muttering something incomprehensible, the other eleven Yiyuan Sect disciples rose some three zhang into the air. Their hands repeatedly formed spirit seals, sending streams of spiritual light in every direction across Qingyun Flat. The whole of Qingyun Flat immediately trembled faintly. The pool at its center, over a hundred zhang in diameter, emitted a shimmering glow as a thick water pillar thirty zhang wide shot straight up from its depths.

Old Daoist Wu Shen's expression changed slightly. After rising more than ten zhang high, the water pillar crashed apart with an enormous roar, countless droplets scattering down to reveal within it a grand three-story pavilion, resplendent in gold and jade, entirely built from spirit jade, refined gold, and all manner of rare treasures. The first floor was an unobstructed great hall, spacious and bright, containing more than a hundred enormous Grand Tutor's Chairs. At its center stood a vast bluestone table ten zhang long and five zhang wide.

As soon as the pavilion emerged here, four streams of spiritual light shot forth there, flying from the banks in the four directions of east, south, west, and north toward the pavilion. Behind the spiritual light, vermilion bridges, seemingly illusory, stretched across the pool. Once the lights reached the pavilion's four entrances, the four bridges abruptly took solid form amid crackling lightning.

With a flick of Xie Yuezi's sleeve, ten thousand points of golden light flew out and scattered into the pool and onto the nearby grass. Jade-colored radiance rose from the pool, and before everyone's eyes, thick stems grew upward, formed flower buds, and finally blossomed into golden lotuses. Black leaves, jade stalks, golden lotus flowers—they trembled gently in the breeze, releasing a faint fragrance that seeped into the heart.

The light motes that had fallen upon the shore swiftly grew into clusters of white orchids. As the orchids bloomed, glittering pollen drifted out, carried high into the sky by the wind, making it seem as if a rain of light were falling from heaven. Their rich fragrance, like aged wine, made everyone feel as though they wanted to sleep.

Gu Lingzi spread his hands and shouted. The True Essence within his body surged at full force. Driven by his seals, all the spirit herbs across Qingyun Flat burst into bloom. In an instant, Qingyun Flat became a sea of flowers, a splendor of crimson and violet beyond compare. With lotus flowers and orchids adorning its center, countless motes of light drifted through the air, and the entirety of Qingyun Flat resembled an immortal realm.

Old Daoist Wu Shen's face looked terrible, as did those of his deeply cultivated disciples. The junior disciples, however, were utterly dumbfounded, unable even to find words. Though they had entered Emei Sect, they had been disciples for too short a time. When would they ever have had the chance to see such a sight?

Yet it was not over. Liu Xingzi made an empty gesture with both hands, and a small emerald-green mountain riddled with holes abruptly appeared some ten zhang before him. He pointed a finger, and streams of clear qi, like flowing water, poured from those holes and swept onto the enormous stone table in the pavilion. Starlight glittered, and countless wine jars, tea cups, and trays appeared atop the stone table. The trays held all manner of strange fruits, releasing waves of rich fragrance.

Liu Xingzi and the others descended, clasped their hands slightly, and gestured toward the pavilion. "Fellow Daoist Wu Shen, please, please, please... Yiyuan Sect ordinarily has few visitors, so this place for receiving guests has not been cleaned for over two hundred years. We prepared it somewhat hastily today, and have given you all cause for laughter. Whatever there is to say, let us sit down and discuss it slowly. What do you think? Even if Fellow Daoist Wu Shen wishes to pursue Senior Disciple Brother's responsibility, both sides can sit down and speak calmly. How about it?"

Old Daoist Wu Shen gave a cold snort and was about to walk toward the pavilion when Ling Guangzi—the old Daoist whose name meant spiritual brilliance but whose mind was not especially brilliant—suddenly blurted out, "Junior Brother, Old Daoist Wu Shen came to cause trouble, so why are you entertaining him? Wouldn't it be better to make things clear right here?"

Liu Xingzi and the others rolled their eyes, inwardly crying that this was bad. Ling Houzi shook his head helplessly and said softly, "I knew it would be like this. If I had not dragged Eldest Brother back with all my strength, he probably would have challenged all these people alone. Sigh, I truly do not know how Eldest Brother cultivated to such a realm."

But to Old Daoist Wu Shen, it sounded entirely different. Oh, so your Yiyuan Sect is playing me? You put on such a grand display before my eyes just to flaunt your profound magical power before this old Daoist? Hm? Fine, fine, show it off if you wish. What, you even want to deliberately shame this old Daoist? Is that it? What kind of words were those, Ling Guangzi? Hmph... Even if you have cultivated far longer than I have, you cannot humiliate people like this, can you?

At once, Old Daoist Wu Shen's face turned as black and glossy as his beard. He said icily, "Fine. Let us make things clear here. You, Ling Guangzi, killed this old Daoist's final disciple. Your Yiyuan Sect must give me an explanation. Unless your Yiyuan Sect intends to bully others by relying on its power and refuses to hand over the culprit, in which case I, Wu Shen, will have no choice but to invite fellow cultivators from across the realm and reason things out with you." Old Daoist Wu Shen understood his own strength very well. Knowing he could not defeat Yiyuan Sect, he intended to invite fellow cultivators first, then come reason with them.

After a pause, Old Daoist Wu Shen shouted, "Enough. What is the use of speaking with you? Have your Sect Master, True Man Qingquan, come out."

Liu Xingzi gently shook his head and spread his hands helplessly. "There is nothing to be done about that, Fellow Daoist Wu Shen. Our Sect Master is in secluded cultivation, and our martial uncles and martial elders are protecting him. I fear he will not have time to come out and receive guests anytime soon. This is not Yiyuan Sect being pretentious. You simply arrived at an unfortunate time."

Old Daoist Wu Shen was overjoyed, and his tone immediately rose. "That is fine as well. Ling Guangzi, the eldest founding disciple of your Yiyuan Sect, killed this Daoist's final disciple. We need not trouble your honored Sect Master over this. Let Ling Guangzi come out and fight me one-on-one. Each shall submit to fate."

The newly initiated Emei disciples began shouting again. "One-on-one, each shall submit to fate." Some of the tactless ones had already forgotten the shock of seeing a pavilion rise from level ground. Their mouths once more spewed foul curses. "Your Yiyuan Sect has quite the reputation, but it turns out you are all a bunch of turtles hiding their heads, too afraid to show yourselves. A life for a life—do you not even understand that?"

Gui Xinzi shot those Emei disciples a sidelong glance, and two points of green light flashed in his eyes. The Emei disciples immediately felt a chill spread through their bodies. A hidden yet incomparably immense force seeped through every pore, pressing the life force within them tightly into a ball. Their muscles tensed, their tongues went numb, and their eyes turned blank. They became like stone statues. How could they possibly continue cursing?

Other than a few Yiyuan Sect disciples, no one noticed that Gui Xinzi had already acted. Lei Zhenzi and the others secretly found it amusing and quietly shifted a few steps to the side, faintly encircling Old Daoist Wu Shen in their midst. Every finger moved lightly, as though they could unleash sword light and sacrifice magical treasures at any moment. Old Daoist Wu Shen's heart lurched, and his tone immediately dropped two notches. "Brother Daoist Liu, look, the Emei Sword Sect and Yiyuan Sect may be considered old friends with a long-standing friendship, but Brother Daoist Ling Guangzi's actions have truly chilled this Daoist's heart. In the future, they may well affect the relationship between our two sects."

Liu Xingzi was secretly enraged. A petty man who turns with the wind, using relations between sects to threaten us? Hmph. Apart from your Emei Sword Sect, which of East and West Kunlun, East Sea Dragon Palace, Azure Wander Immortal Palace, and all the others among the righteous sects is not bound to Yiyuan Sect by common cause? Even if we offend one Emei Sword Sect, so what?

Liu Xingzi immediately spoke harshly. "Fellow Daoist Wu Shen need not say anything else. Since Fellow Daoist wishes us to provide an explanation, then let us properly reason this through and see what truly happened. My Senior Disciple Brother has cultivated for hundreds of years and has never even stepped on an ant to death. Yet he happened to encounter your final disciple, and happened to kill him. What was the crux of this?" Liu Xingzi understood in his heart. Ling Guangzi had just said that Wu Shen's final disciple had been collecting inner cores and Nascent Souls. Presumably, he had not used proper means. Their side already possessed reason—what was there to fear from Daoist Wu Shen's arguments?

Daoist Wu Shen's expression changed several times in an instant. Narrowing his eyes, he hesitated.