Flowing Cloud Immortal Sect! Heart Set on Immortality!

Lin Changsheng's home was not far from East Street's main road.

The thunderous sounds of battle here had long since awakened the sleeping residents of East Street. Most of them hid in their homes with their doors tightly shut, watching the commotion. They were no strangers to such martial world vendettas.

The previous gang war had been much the same.

"It's coming from Changsheng's house!"

"I wonder if he's all right!"

Yan Zhen was also awakened by the waves of miserable screams. Standing by her window, deep worry filled her beautiful eyes.

"No, I should go check on him first."

After thinking it over, Yan Zhen put on an outer garment, opened the door, and, by the moonlight, carefully made her way down the long street toward Lin Changsheng's home.

At this moment,

With the sounds of fighting having already ceased, quite a few residents poked their heads out of their homes to peer in this direction.

Lin Changsheng swiftly searched the bodies of the Minnan Five Tigers, the Canglang Saber Warrior, the Violet Lightning Flying Dagger, the Lingnan Twin Eagles, and the rest.

He obtained over seven hundred taels of silver, most of it in banknotes, with a smaller amount in silver scraps and some copper coins as well.

There was a manual for the Six Killing Saber Slashes, a manual for the Grass-Skimming Technique, eight bottles of Blood-and-Qi Pills, and a Golden Saber Sect token!

"Not a bad haul!"

Lin Changsheng put away the two manuals and all seven hundred-odd taels of silver, filling a large bundle until it bulged.

"These corpses are rather troublesome, though."

Looking at the more than one hundred dead men, Lin Changsheng frowned.

Throw them all into the Grand Canal?

Even if he carried two at a time, he would need to make fifty trips. Wouldn't that keep him busy until dawn?

"Forget it. These people came to my door at night with blades in hand; they were bandits. Killing them was ridding the people of a scourge!"

"I'll notify Chen Ling tomorrow and have him come deal with them. I should even be able to exchange them for some bounty money!"

Lin Changsheng tossed the more than one hundred dead martial artists beside the bamboo grove and made up his mind. He could not be bothered with them; Chen Ling could bring the constables to handle things later.

"Changsheng! Are you all right?"

Just as Lin Changsheng was preparing to return inside and sort through his spoils, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

He abruptly turned around and saw, at the corner more than ten zhang away, a graceful, full-bosomed woman draped in a cloak. She was looking at him, deep concern shining in her beautiful eyes.

"Sister Zhen, why are you here?"

Seeing Yan Zhen, Lin Changsheng was quite surprised, and warmth rose in his heart.

"There were sounds of fighting near your home. I was worried about you, so I ran over to take a look. Seeing that you're fine, I'm relieved."

Yan Zhen swept her gaze over the chaotic scene outside Lin Changsheng's home, then asked with a frown, "Changsheng, what exactly happened just now?"

"Sister Zhen, I don't know either. Some martial artists got into a fight up ahead, and quite a few died. The killers all fled. We'll wait for the authorities to handle it tomorrow. Let me take you back first."

Lin Changsheng spoke lightly.

There were over a hundred corpses here. If Yan Zhen saw them, she would probably be frightened.

"Oh, so that's what happened. As long as you're all right, I'm fine. Then I'll head back."

Yan Zhen nodded at his words. Once she had confirmed that Lin Changsheng was unharmed, she was reassured.

She immediately headed home with Lin Changsheng, one after the other.

After escorting Yan Zhen to the door of her home, Lin Changsheng turned and returned.

"Something's wrong. There were bloodstains on Changsheng's clothes just now!"

"He didn't tell me the truth!"

"Could it be...?"

Standing by the window and watching Lin Changsheng's departing figure, Yan Zhen suddenly recalled a detail.

Although it was nighttime, she had still seen plenty of bloodstains on Lin Changsheng's clothes by the moonlight. Blood on his body meant that he had taken part in the fight!

For Lin Changsheng to join a fight and emerge completely unharmed meant that his martial arts were not weak!

"Forget it. I'll go see him again tomorrow during the day."

Thoughtfulness appeared in Yan Zhen's beautiful eyes as she murmured to herself.

"Changsheng, you saved me, yet because of me, you've been dragged into so much trouble. I truly feel terribly guilty."

"I didn't tell you the truth because I had my reasons."

When Lin Changsheng returned home, Yu Wenjing stood at the doorway of the room, deep apology in her beautiful eyes. She continued, "My surname is not 'Yu,' but 'Yu.' My name is Yu Wenjing..."

"Tomorrow morning, the people coming to receive me will arrive. Can... can you come with me?"

Deep hope appeared in Yu Wenjing's beautiful eyes.

Hearing Yu Wenjing's words, Lin Changsheng did not speak. He had already expected this.

"I know you like archery. I'll find you the divine bow best suited to you. You like the martial path; the strongest martial arts manuals, Blood-and-Qi Pills, even Dragon Blood Pills—I can provide them all for you!"

"Changsheng, come with me."

Sincerity showed on Yu Wenjing's breathtakingly beautiful face.

"Wenjing, I once saw two streaks of sword light in the sky. A man and a woman stood upon them, riding swords through the heavens. I yearn for a life of roaming between heaven and earth on a sword, drinking wine and treading in song—not one of restraint."

Lin Changsheng took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

"Changsheng... I know. What you saw were immortal cultivators. As far as I know, cultivating immortality requires a Spiritual Root. Without a Spiritual Root, one cannot cultivate immortality."

At Lin Changsheng's words, a flicker of astonishment appeared in Yu Wenjing's beautiful eyes.

She had not expected Lin Changsheng's ambition to be so great—that he wanted to cultivate immortality!

Yu Wenjing knew it well.

The chance of an ordinary person possessing a Spiritual Root

was almost one in ten thousand, perhaps even one in a hundred thousand.

Rather than pursue the misty, elusive immortal path, it was better to be practical and delve into the martial path.

"I know."

Lin Changsheng murmured. He also knew that cultivating the immortal path required a Spiritual Root, but he did not know whether he possessed one.

However, he had the panel.

Even without a Spiritual Root, could he not carve out another path to immortality?

Yu Wenjing looked deeply at Lin Changsheng and said nothing. After a long while, she sighed and said, "Since you insist on going your own way, I won't insist any further. But you probably don't know about immortal cultivation sects, do you?"

Lin Changsheng shook his head.

"I do know a little. To the west of Great Yu lies a sect called the Flowing Cloud Immortal Sect. It accepts disciples once every ten years. Next spring will be the time when the Flowing Cloud Immortal Sect recruits disciples, but its requirements are very strict."

"Not only does one need a Spiritual Root, but if that Spiritual Root is too poor, it will not accept them either."

"However, there is one exception. Elders or high-ranking members of the Flowing Cloud Immortal Sect who have made great contributions to the sect may receive a White Cloud Cultivation Token. The descendants of such elders or high-ranking members may be accepted as an exception even if their Spiritual Roots are somewhat lacking."

"In the end, though, a Spiritual Root is still required!"

Yu Wenjing said gravely.

"Oh?"

Lin Changsheng's heart stirred. He thought of the token in his bundle. It had a white cloud engraved on it. He remembered that Ling Ziyu had come to his door for that token, only to be killed by him.

"Changsheng, I truly want you to leave with me. How about giving it some serious thought?"

Yu Wenjing looked at Lin Changsheng and spoke sincerely.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I still intend to go to the Flowing Cloud Immortal Sect and try my luck!"

Lin Changsheng's expression was resolute.

That day, when he had seen two flying swords roaming the skies, envy had filled his heart, and he had never been able to forget it!

Having been reborn into the world of immortal cultivation, if he did not cultivate immortality, would that not be utterly in vain?