Spiritual Nexus Stirs (2)

In the side room, Shen Yuxi slowly lay back down on the bed. The soft bedding gently wrapped around his slightly weary body, like a pair of tender hands soothing him. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes carrying a trace of bewilderment.

Although True Person Yu Qing had twice used spiritual power to carefully mend and restore Shen Yuxi's damaged meridians, such severe injuries naturally could not recover fully in a short time.

Earlier, with someone tending to him at his side, Shen Yuxi's attention had been diverted, leaving him little leisure to notice the pain throughout his body.

Now, as the surroundings gradually fell quiet, the waves of pain growing stronger and stronger pulled his thoughts back, against his will, to the fierce battle with that Demonic Cultivator before he had lost consciousness.

It had happened while Shen Yuxi was returning from his journey—

The Heavenly Secrets Pavilion claimed to know the secrets of Heaven and understand all matters beneath it. Its location was not hidden, yet it was protected by an exceedingly intricate formation. Like an invisible, insurmountable barrier, the formation enveloped the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion within.

Without an invitation from someone within the pavilion, the lofty tower that appeared and vanished amid the swirling clouds was no more than a mirage. No matter how hard one pressed onward, one could not draw even an inch closer.

It was Shen Yuxi's first visit to the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, and he feasted his eyes on one novelty after another along the way.

After entering the pavilion, meeting its current master, Xuanji Zi, and successfully obtaining the item his master had instructed him to retrieve, Shen Yuxi promptly set off on his return journey.

Throughout the trip, Shen Yuxi acted with caution and kept a low profile. Relying on his considerable strength and quick wits, his journey had gone smoothly enough.

But just as he was about to reach the sect, the hand controlling his immortal sword abruptly tightened, and his brows drew together slightly. A strange sensation came from his chest.

He instinctively pressed a hand to his chest and discovered that the wooden box he had retrieved on his master's orders was faintly heating up. It seemed as though a power that had lain dormant for a long time was awakening. The warmth seeped through his clothes and slowly spread across his chest, bringing an indescribable restlessness, as if an invisible hand were stirring his mind.

He lowered his head instinctively and was about to take out the wooden box for a look when, suddenly, a beast-like roar crashed down like a heavy hammer, shattering the silence of the mountain forest. The roar was deafening, brimming with primal savagery and violence, as though it intended to mercilessly grind up and devour everything around it.

Shen Yuxi's pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react further, his body flashed away like lightning. Almost at the same instant, a black claw mark cleaved through the place where he had been hovering. The air seemed torn apart by an invisible giant hand, releasing a piercing shriek.

The surrounding trees snapped beneath the impact of that force, while a bottomless ravine split open across the ground. Dust billowed, shattered stones flew everywhere, and the area was left in complete ruin.

"Roar!" A low growl came once more from the forest. Immediately afterward, a disheveled old man burst out.

His eyes were crimson as blood, and demonic qi surged around him, coiling over his body like black flames. Every step he took carried an aura of destruction. The old man's movements appeared utterly chaotic, yet every move was lethal. Each strike bore violent force, as if he wished to tear all things in the world into dust.

Shen Yuxi swiftly landed upon the branch of an ancient tree nearby. The branch bent slightly beneath his weight, yet still supported him with stubborn resilience.

His gaze turned icy as he stared fixedly at the old man. With a light lift of his right hand, his longsword had already returned steadily to his grasp. Its edge pointed straight at his opponent, the azure sword light particularly glaring beneath the dim sky.

"Demonic qi has invaded his heart; he has lost his mind..." Shen Yuxi muttered under his breath, a trace of gravity unconsciously entering his voice.

The cultivation methods of Demonic Cultivators were unstable. At any step, they might lose their reason and become beasts that knew only madness. From the attack just now alone, it was clear that the other man's cultivation was far above Shen Yuxi's.

He had no room to pity the other man. His gaze abruptly became resolute, and with a flash, he vanished from where he stood once more, leaving behind only an afterimage.

The next moment, sword light flashed like lightning, driving straight for the old man's throat.

"Clang!" The sword edge collided with demonic qi, releasing a shrill metallic crash. Shen Yuxi felt his arm go numb, and his heart jolted in alarm.

Even though the other man was out of his mind, the immense disparity in cultivation still made him difficult to contend with. From that brief clash, even if the old man had not reached the Spirit Transformation stage, he was likely not far from it.

"Die! Die!" the old man howled madly, his voice hoarse and savage, like the roar of a vicious ghost from the depths of hell.

He suddenly swung a hand, and black demonic flames filled the sky, surging in like a raging tide. Bearing the momentum to destroy all things, they swept over Shen Yuxi from every direction.

Wherever the demonic flames passed, wood and stone instantly turned to ash, leaving behind nothing but scorched black earth.

Shen Yuxi retreated sharply, his longsword tracing a rapid arc through the air. The sword light was like the moon, cold and gentle, colliding fiercely with the violent demonic flames and erupting in a thunderous boom.

For a moment, mountains shook and earth trembled. Spiritual power surged and scattered in all directions, sending the surrounding trees reeling beneath the aftershocks and raising dust that filled the heavens. This was the sword art he had created himself—Moonlight Art, which emphasized overcoming hardness with softness and breaking a broad surface through a single point.

Yet, before this frenzied Demonic Cultivator, Shen Yuxi, though far from weak, still found himself struggling greatly.

When his attack failed, the old man flew into an even greater frenzy. Like a ghost, he instantly closed in on Shen Yuxi, his claws carrying black demonic radiance as they savagely raked toward Shen Yuxi's chest.

Shen Yuxi hurriedly twisted aside, but the demonic claws still grazed his shoulder. His clothes tore instantly, a bloody gash appearing as blood seeped forth. As though he could not feel the pain in his shoulder, his sword momentum abruptly changed. The formerly cold sword light became incomparably sharp, and a chain of sword shadows struck toward the old man, attempting to disrupt his rhythm.

The old man seemed to sense Shen Yuxi's intentions. Not only did he not dodge, he allowed the sword shadows to land on him. The demonic flames instantly devoured them, and he seized the chance to throw another punch. The fist wind howled, as though it could shatter space itself.

Shen Yuxi could not evade in time. The punch struck his chest, sending him flying backward like a kite with its string cut. He crashed through several ancient trees in succession. He hurriedly thrust his sword into the ground with his backhand, barely managing to steady himself—only to discover in horror that the wooden box from his chest had vanished at some point.

When he looked up, he saw the wooden box floating in midair, giving off a faint golden glow.

"Roar!" The old man seemed driven even more insane by the light. Throwing caution to the wind, he lunged for the wooden box.

A cold gleam flashed through Shen Yuxi's eyes. He forcibly drew up a breath of true qi, and his sword momentum suddenly changed. The previously cold sword light became incomparably fierce, as though it would rip apart everything within sight.

This was his trump card—Moonlight Art: Dawnbreak. Though it consumed an enormous amount of spiritual power, it could allow him to unleash strength far beyond his own realm for a short time.

The sword light arched like a rainbow, striking directly at the old man's lower ribs. Yet just as it was about to land, a terrifying surge of demonic qi erupted from within the old man's body. Like an indestructible black city wall, it shattered the sword light to pieces.

At the same time, black demonic flames surged toward Shen Yuxi like a mad tide. Unable to evade, he was struck by a stream of flame. Blood immediately spilled from his mouth, his body staggered, and his consciousness gradually blurred.

In the instant before he lost consciousness, Shen Yuxi vaguely saw the magical artifact within the wooden box transform into a streak of golden light and enter his body. The golden light was warm and gentle, as though it could soothe every wound and offer him a sliver of comfort.

"Wretch!" At the same time, an angry shout exploded like thunder. In Shen Yuxi's final awareness, a familiar streak of sword light tore through the sky. After that, he fell completely into chaos.

Remembering all of this, Shen Yuxi let out a long sigh.

The Demonic Cultivator's eyes had glowed with the ruthless scarlet of a starving beast. The black flames formed from demonic qi had burned furiously, yet carried a bone-eroding chill, as though they could melt away flesh and blood alike.

With every exchange, Shen Yuxi had felt as though he were crashing into an invisible wall of bronze and iron. The sharp pain of the recoil had raced through his body like an electric current, leaving him shaken even now.

What was I showing off for...

Staring at the bed canopy, the young man reached out and lightly flicked the Soul-Calming Jade Pendant, watching it sway lazily. He tugged at the corner of his mouth in self-mockery. His plain white inner robe had long been soaked through with cold sweat, clinging tightly to him and outlining his somewhat slender figure.

If any disciple had seen him in such a bedraggled state, they would surely have been too stunned to close their mouths. The second senior brother, usually as aloof and pristine as lonely snow upon a hanging pine, with an air as lofty as one beyond the mortal world, was now curled up without a shred of dignity amid embroidered bedding. Pain had reddened the corners of his eyes as though stained by the evening clouds at the horizon, while damp, tangled strands of hair clung to his neck. Compared with his usual dignified and proper bearing, he was like an entirely different person.

Damn it, this hurts like hell... the young man could not help cursing under his breath, his tone full of helpless indignation. I knew the task Master gave me could not possibly be anything good. Sure enough, just as expected. It was obviously just fetching an item. I'd already been so careful, yet something still went wrong. Heavenly Dao, you really deserve to die!

As he muttered complaint after complaint, he also beat a hand against the bed, as though that could vent all the frustration in his heart. The blows were weak, yet carried a childishly stubborn edge.

Shen Yuxi's complaints flowed on without end. He had no idea that the thoughts he believed he was merely venting silently in his heart had already reached True Person Yu Qing, who lived in the room next door, without missing a single word.

Clear Parasol Hall had always been the residence of the sect masters throughout the generations. As the sole personal disciple of the current sect master, Shen Yuxi naturally had his own quarters there. His room stood next to True Person Yu Qing's, separated by only one wall.

Concerned for his beloved disciple's safety, True Person Yu Qing continued paying close attention to the sounds from this side even after returning to his own room.

Now, hearing the disciple who was usually so solemn and steady grumble about him so incessantly, he unconsciously curled the fingers beneath his wide sleeves slightly. A trace of awkwardness crossed his face.

He did not feel offended. After all, it truly had been his own oversight. He had failed to consider everything thoroughly, causing his disciple to fall into grave danger and nearly lose his life. Thinking of it this way, it was only human nature for his disciple to harbor some resentment.

In the next room, Shen Yuxi's complaints grew fiercer, like floodwaters bursting through a dam, impossible to contain. I should've just run away. Right, next time I run into danger, I'll definitely turn tail and run!

As though recalling something, the young man rolled over and buried his face in the soft pillow. His voice trembled slightly. But with that Demonic Cultivator in that state, even if I ran, I probably would've died even worse... Looking at the outcome, whether I ran or not, it seems both roads led to death...

Ugh... This is so annoying, annoying, annoying! When it comes down to it, if Eldest Senior Brother hadn't gone into seclusion, how would this job have fallen on my head? It's all Eldest Senior Brother's fault!

The young man abruptly sat up, only to pull at his injuries with the excessive movement. He hissed in pain and fell back onto the bed. The brocade quilt piled into layers of snowy waves with the motion, while his final note rose sharply, carrying a hint of childish vexation.

Listening to the rustle of cloth, True Person Yu Qing could almost picture the figure rolling and tossing amid the brocade bedding. Yet when he connected that image with the obedient, sensible disciple in his memories, who had always been like a bright moon and clear breeze, his fingertips could not help trembling slightly, as though he had glimpsed some extraordinary secret.

If these sounds truly were his disciple's inner thoughts, then was his disciple, usually so cool and sparing with words, privately actually this... lively and unrestrained?

Just as he was hesitating, hurried sounds of fabric scraping suddenly came from the room. Shen Yuxi seemed to have finally remembered where he was and swiftly smoothed the cloud-brocade quilt as fast as lightning.

He frantically tidied his appearance, clumsily tucking his messy hair behind his ears. Crap crap crap crap crap crap crap! No wonder this bed looked familiar! This is Clear Parasol Hall, damn it!! Master is next door! Fuck!

Following that abruptly raised cry, the neighboring room instantly fell into dead silence. It was as though time had frozen at that moment, leaving only the lingering echo of that cry trembling faintly through the air.

Before long, a weak murmur drifted over, careful and cautious, as though afraid of disturbing something.

Master probably didn't notice, right? Good, good... Otherwise, that would've been humiliating...

True Person Yu Qing could not help laughing silently when he heard this. He had truly never expected that beneath his disciple's usual calm and composed appearance lay such an adorable true nature. Only...

He frowned slightly. In cultivation and seeking the Dao, the most important thing was to understand one's heart and see one's true nature—to face one's inner self honestly. Why force oneself to suppress one's true nature and bind oneself beneath appearances?

Shen Yuxi had no idea that his master had witnessed all of his reactions.

Things had only quieted down for a short while when, without warning, the final scene before his unconsciousness surfaced from the depths of his spiritual platform like a dream bubble—the golden stream of light that had entered his dantian as swiftly and lightly as a fish returning to the sea.

The light had been dazzling and brilliant. Even replayed only in his memories, it still bore a deeply shocking power.

He instinctively touched his abdomen lightly, his movement carrying a trace of caution, as though he could still vividly feel the strange warmth that had spread through him in that instant.

Come to think of it... did that thing Master told me to bring back glow before I passed out? And it somehow drilled into my body? What's that supposed to mean? A pie falling from the sky? A late-arriving cheat?

At the thought, unease could not help rising in Shen Yuxi's heart.

Although I don't know what use that magical artifact has, I could tell from how seriously Master took it when he sent me to retrieve it that it was no ordinary thing. And it came from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion... Could it be some precious treasure of the sect? It got "absorbed" by me so easily—won't that cause trouble?

But he quickly reasoned his way through it.

Well, since Master never mentioned the magical artifact after I woke up and only told me to rest and recover, perhaps it wasn't as important as I thought? At the very least, it definitely didn't cause any serious consequences.

Besides, it wasn't my fault. Who knew a crazed Demonic Cultivator would suddenly pop out? They usually hide so thoroughly you couldn't find them even with a lantern, but the one time I went far from the sect after so long, I had to run into one—and one only a step away from Spirit Transformation at that... Wait, could I have happened to catch him failing his breakthrough? Damn it! Who am I even supposed to complain to about this?

Shen Yuxi froze, on the verge of tears. What kind of cursed luck was this?

Forget it, forget it. Master saw everything anyway, so he surely knows the magical artifact entering me wasn't intentional. He must already have weighed right and wrong in his heart, which is why he didn't reprimand me.

After comforting himself in this way, the worries in his heart gradually faded, and he soon let the matter go.

Having a sect-master master is great. He has power and influence, so I don't have to worry about anything myself. This feels amazing.

Hearing this, the corners of True Person Yu Qing's lips lifted slightly. He found his disciple's innocence and frankness amusing. After such a hair-raising danger, the child could still remain so optimistic. That was truly rare.

Yet in the blink of an eye, that smile quietly vanished from True Person Yu Qing's face, replaced by worry too deep to dissolve. There were too many unknown variables tied to that magical artifact. Would it bring fortune or disaster?

Nine Domains Encyclopedia:

○ Misty Spirit Peak

Misty Spirit Peak was the tallest mountain in the Profound Heaven Sect. It was where the sect masters of every generation resided.

Clear Parasol Hall was the discussion hall, where matters great and small were debated. Behind the hall lay the sect master's residence.

Twin-Life Terrace stood behind Clear Parasol Hall, while the Twin-Life Tree grew right beside Misty Spirit Peak, soaring into the heavens.

The Twin-Life Tree stood west of Clear Parasol Hall, while Shen Yuxi lived to the east. True Person Yu Qing generally lived on the west side, only moving to the east side specifically when his disciple was there.