Heartland of Xuan Mountain

The Plain Maiden was interested in me—or rather, in the "Azure Dragon of the Six Directions."

Likewise, White Deer Cave Academy had plotted against me because of this "Azure Dragon of the Six Directions," leading to that nearly absurd act of depravity by my former self.

So the most urgent matter was to find out exactly what this so-called "Azure Dragon of the Six Directions" was.

Su Che sat quietly in his seat, listening to the others converse.

"Is the information accurate?"

The Plain Maiden still seemed unwilling to accept it.

It seemed she placed great importance on the fate of the Azure Dragon of the Six Directions.

"I dug it out of the case files at the Great Liang Censorate last night. If you don't believe it, you can ask Gushe to verify it again."

Wu Zhiqi seemed to be mocking Gushe.

Clearly, Gushe was an upper-level figure within Great Liang, while Wu Zhiqi held no fondness for Great Liang.

But this man was formidable indeed. He had actually broken into the Censorate and rifled through its case files.

Su Che knew that the Liang Censorate could be called one of the gathering places of the dynasty's foremost combat power. Among the Night-Walking Censors and Embroidered Uniform Envoys, there was no shortage of experts.

The Embroidered Riders, the Censorate, and the Inner Palace formed the foundation of the Liang Dynasty's rule.

Wu Zhiqi had actually entered the Censorate and browsed through their files. Just how powerful was he?

"Be careful. The Censorate has already dispatched three Night-Walking Censors. Their leader is a fifth-rank cultivator." Gushe seemed to offer a kind reminder. "Among them is also a sword cultivator from the Sword Repository House of the East Sea Sword Palace. He is especially adept at restraining Demon Cultivators. Even if your Eight-Nine Primordial Art has countless transformations, you must remain cautious."

"Hehe, thank you for the reminder, Gushe. But calamities live for a thousand years. Three mere fifth-rankers cannot do anything to me."

Wu Zhiqi looked utterly bold and unconstrained. "Besides, we now have this Lord Dongwang among us. He must be an extraordinary person of exceptional methods. If Old Wu cannot hold them off, I'll turn to friends and relatives and ask you all for help."

"Wu Zhiqi, do you know where Su Che is now?"

The Plain Maiden continued to press the question relentlessly.

"I don't remember. Now that you have a name, investigate it yourself. Hehe, when it comes to abundant wealth, aside from Lord Zhongyuan, all of us put together cannot compare to you."

Mm, the man himself was standing right before you.

Zhongyuan struck the jade chime once more, bringing the discussion to an end.

"I have already confirmed that the remains of that person are indeed within the heartland of Xuan Mountain."

The corpse left behind by any great cultivator who had reached the third rank could be called remains. Their cultivated bodies possessed their own strange wonders, often representing the Dao Path of their entire lives and holding all manner of extraordinary uses.

"At the next gathering, you will need to travel into the heartland of Xuan Mountain and investigate."

Explore the heartland of Xuan Mountain and face the corpse of that great Western power?

"Lord Zhongyuan, I have something to say."

Gushe, who had been rather active all along, spoke up.

"Please."

"The heartland of Xuan Mountain should be the lair of the Black Mountain Old Monster. According to the relevant case files, this Demon King broke through to the fifth rank many years ago and has roamed the world for more than two centuries. Lord Zhongyuan, are you certain that the few of us can defeat it?"

Su Che caught an important piece of information.

Gushe was certain that none of the Zhongshan Society members present had cultivation above the fifth rank.

In other words, even Wu Zhiqi, who had previously broken into the Great Liang Censorate, had not reached the fifth rank.

What did all this mean?

It meant that the Zhongshan Society's members might not have high cultivation realms, but every one of them possessed astonishing combat strength and outrageous audacity.

They were a band of desperadoes through and through.

"Since Lord Zhongyuan has ordered us to go, he naturally has his reasons for sending us."

Yu Qiang, who had barely spoken until now, said, "Lord Zhongyuan's divine calculations and inscrutable schemes are beyond our ability to fathom. All we need to do is obey."

Damn it, he had beaten them to it.

Such thoughts arose in the hearts of Lord Dongwang and Wu Zhiqi, and they could not help feeling somewhat vexed.

Zhongyuan said only one sentence.

"Since I have sent you, naturally I have my reasons. Though nine deaths and one life is a perilous situation, it is also an opportunity for breakthrough."

"Do you have any further questions?"

Silence fell across the long bench.

"No, no."

Wu Zhiqi hurriedly replied.

"Lord Zhongyuan, I have one more question."

Gushe showed every sign of refusing to let the matter rest.

"Speak."

"May I ask, Lord Zhongyuan, has the Capital City God of Jiankang truly reached the point where his oil is spent and his lamp is dry?"

"Not only Jiankang. The Capital City God of Luoyang is in no better condition. In this age of great contention, how many among the Divine Path can sit securely on the fishing platform?"

Zhongyuan looked at Gushe. "If you have been plotting that matter all along, I think you would do better to wait."

"May I ask why?"

"The answer lies in the heartland of Xuan Mountain. See for yourself when the time comes."

Zhongyuan looked at everyone before him.

"Today's gathering ends here. Please depart."

With that, he lightly struck the jade chime before him.

At the soft chime, Su Che felt the sword intent nurtured within his brow begin to leap without cease.

The divine mountain beyond the reach of sun and moon, the giant dragon holding candlefire in its mouth, the orchid grass emitting a dim glow as it sprang forth from beneath jade, even those lifelike statues floating in the air.

All of it vanished before his eyes like dreams and bubbles, like shadows and illusions.

The last thing Su Che saw was Zhongyuan raising his bronze-masked face to gaze at the statues suspended in the air.

No longer did his eyes hold the passage of ten thousand years. They held only longing for the past.

The rise and fall of ages, the sorrow and laughter of a thousand years—all lay within a single glance.

If the Zhongshan Society was filled with disappointed men and avengers, then whom did Zhongyuan seek revenge against?

As that thought arose, another world appeared before his eyes.

Bright moon, ancient pines, a ruined temple, and scattered insect cries amid the desolation.

Several points of ghostly green fire prowled between the stone pillars, while faint spectral eyes swept past among the broken walls.

This place was clearly the first place he had stopped after entering Shanyin County.

Withered Forest Chan Temple.

Why had Zhongyuan sent him here?

Su Che immediately felt uneasy.

The Sword Case and his other treasures were all at his residence in the Shanyin County yamen. If he encountered that One-Eye Wood Wraith again, who knew what fate awaited him this time?

Calming his heart and steadying his breath, he gazed toward the bright moon overhead.

Su Che activated the heart-calming secret art contained within the Heaven-Supporting Heavy Sword, slaying the chaotic thoughts in his mind one by one.

Only by severing the Dao and seeing oneself could one reveal the true nature of Sword Cultivation.

What kind of man feared to pace back and forth in hesitation?

Su Che raised his eyes and looked around, recalling the layout of this place from his memories as he searched for a path down the mountain.

Yet he clearly heard someone muttering nearby.

"Qiu Sheng, Wencai, be careful. Shanyin is not like our Guobei. There are more demons than ghosts here. Judging this place by physiognomy, its baleful aura is deep and gloomy. You must be especially cautious."

"Rest assured, Master."

"Aiya, we know, Master."

He saw a Daoist wearing a sky-reaching crown and yellow Daoist robes embroidered with the Eight Trigrams. A bronze mirror was clutched in his left hand, a small yellow bundle slung across his back, and he led two disciples as they charged straight toward Su Che.