As night fell, the streets of the Stele Forest Imperial City were brightly lit. A huge silver moon hung in the sky, its light pouring down on the entire city. In the distance, the sea of clouds rippled with faint light under the moonlight and the city's lanterns.
The streets were lined with buildings, pedestrians came and went, and various spirit beast carriages and flying magical artifacts shuttled among them. The sound of metal clashing could be faintly heard from afar, which was the direction of the Imperial City's forging workshop.
Qin Yu and the other eight walked through several bustling streets and along a long street paved with bluestone. As the street gradually quieted down and the flow of people thinned out, a clear aura of Spiritual Qi energy filled the air.
After a short while, Shen Qingchen stopped. "We've arrived." Everyone looked up and a pavilion-style mansion floating above the clouds came into view.
The entire residence sits atop a floating Kong Ling stone platform, its edges etched with faintly glowing array patterns, surrounded by slowly flowing clouds. Several blue stone bridges connect the street to the platform, their railings carved with intricate spirit patterns and floral designs.
The residence as a whole presents a classical pavilion structure.
The eaves overlap, their upturned corners stretching outwards like swallow wings, the blue-green glazed tiles gleaming softly in the moonlight. The main building has five stories, stacked high like an exquisite tower. Each floor's eaves are adorned with delicate wind chimes, which chime clear and melodious when the night breeze blows.
Several small pavilions and side halls are scattered around the building, connected by stone bridges, and decorated with lights, with a faint spiritual light spilling out from the eaves and window frames.
Although the mansion is not as grand as the palaces of those aristocratic families, it is still considered quite high-end and exquisite in this area.
Especially—that door.
The gate, several meters high, was crafted from a single piece of deep blue spirit wood, carved with coiled dragon patterns and inlaid with faint golden array patterns. A plaque hung above the gate, its characters vigorous and powerful.
The group of people were all slightly taken aback. One of them couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration.
"Brother Shen's house is truly magnificent..." He looked up at the gate. "Tsk tsk tsk—that gate."
Another person couldn't help but laugh. "This divine tree must be at least a thousand-year-old Azure Firmament Wood, right? Just these two door panels are probably worth a lot of Annihilation Starlight Crystal."
A person next to him looked up at the multi-story building.
"Moreover, the structure of this pavilion... the array layout is clearly a master-level arrangement." "Brother Shen is usually quite low-key."
"This residence is quite impressive even in the capital city," another cultivator couldn't help but joke.
"Brother Shen, you still call yourself an ordinary cultivator?" "If you're just an ordinary cultivator, then we're living in a dilapidated hut, aren't we?"
Everyone burst into laughter. Shen Qingchen stood in front of the door, feeling a little embarrassed by their comments.
His face flushed slightly, and he scratched his head. "Hehe..." "Fellow Daoists, you jest, you jest."
He quickly waved his hand. "It's just some savings my family accumulated in our early years." As he spoke, he hurriedly pushed open the door.
"Come on, come on—" "Let's talk inside, let's talk inside!" The door slowly opened, and the room was warmly lit. The group chatted and laughed as they went inside.
In the darkness of night, the floating pavilion stands quietly above the sea of clouds, its lights spilling through the windows, like a warm little world floating in the moonlight.
In the shadows of the distant street, several figures, barely visible, were quietly watching this place.
The gate to the mansion slowly closed, instantly shutting out the noise of the street outside. Inside, the courtyard was warmly lit, with lanterns hanging under the eaves, their pale golden light spilling onto the bluestone ground, making the entire courtyard peaceful and elegant.
Several bamboo stalks swayed gently in the corner of the courtyard, emitting a faint fragrance from their leaves. The air was also filled with the scent of medicinal herbs, indicating that this residence was frequently involved in crafting and processing spiritual materials.
Qin Yu and the others had only taken a few steps into the courtyard when suddenly—a clear and gentle voice came from inside the hall.
"Brother, you're back?" The voice was as melodious as a clear spring. Everyone looked over instinctively and saw the curtain of the main hall being gently lifted, and a young girl walking out of the hall.
She looked to be no more than twenty years old, with a slender and graceful figure, a willow-like waist, and a light and airy gait.
The girl had long, smooth, jet-black hair that cascaded down to her waist, the strands gleaming softly in the light of the spirit lamp. Her hair was styled in a simple yet exquisite updo, gently tied up with a jade hairpin, from which two delicate tassels dangled, swaying slightly as she walked.
Her features were extremely delicate, with eyebrows like distant mountains and eyes like autumn water. Her eyes were clear and bright, carrying a touch of gentleness and liveliness.
Her skin was fair and delicate, and seemed to glow faintly under the light.
The girl wore a light blue long dress, the fabric as soft as clouds, with delicate silver spirit patterns embroidered on the cuffs.
A plain white ribbon was tied around her waist, outlining her slender waistline. The hem of her skirt swayed gently with her steps, as soft as ripples on water.
Her overall demeanor Wenwan and refined, yet she subtly exuded a Spiritual Qi unique to cultivators.
Qin Yu glanced at her and immediately discerned her cultivation level— Realm Breaking Realm, Initial Stage.
The girl walked into the courtyard, her gaze falling on Shen Qingchen, a smile appearing on her face.
Upon seeing her, Shen Qingchen immediately laughed. "Haha, Mengling," he said, turning to Qin Yu and the others.
"Fellow Daoists." "This is my younger sister— Shen Mengling." Then he said to the girl, "Sister, these are the fellow Daoists who accompanied me on this mission to escort the medicinal herbs for the escort agency."
Shen Mengling was slightly taken aback after hearing this, then immediately gathered her hands into her sleeves and bowed to everyone. Her voice was gentle and polite.
"Mengling greets fellow Daoists." The others quickly returned the greeting. "Miss Shen, you're too kind." "Greetings, Miss Shen."
"Miss Shen, you are so young yet you have already reached the Realm Breaking Realm cultivation level. You are truly exceptional." Shen Mengling smiled slightly upon hearing the praise.
Qin Yu also clasped his hands slightly, his tone gentle and polite. "Miss Shen." Shen Mengling's gaze gently fell on Qin Yu, and she nodded slightly in response.
The atmosphere was very harmonious when Shen Qingchen suddenly asked, "Sister, where are Father and Mother?"
Shen Mengling replied, "My parents went to my aunt's house to help out." She thought for a moment, "They probably won't be back for a few days."
Shen Qingchen nodded. "Oh, okay." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said with a smile.
"Sister, go to town and buy some groceries." "Tonight, brother wants to have a good drink with all our fellow Daoists."
Shen Mengling nodded, a sweet smile on her face. "Mm." "Okay--brother." After saying that, she turned to leave.
Her skirt swayed gently, and her figure quickly disappeared outside the courtyard gate. Shen Qingchen turned to look at the crowd.
A warm smile returned to his face, and he gestured invitingly. "Come, come—" "Fellow Daoists."
"Please come in." "Please come in!" Everyone nodded with smiles.
They walked together toward the main hall. The hall doors slowly opened, revealing a brightly lit interior with neatly arranged tables and chairs, and a warm atmosphere greeted them.
Night had completely enveloped the Stele Forest Imperial City, and the lights of thousands of homes within the city stretched out like a sea of stars. The faint sound of metal clanging from the distant forge echoed like the heavy breathing of an ancient behemoth. In the shadows of the rooftops outside Shen Qingchen's residence, seven figures lay silently in wait. The night wind swept across the eaves, and their robes almost blended into the darkness.
One of the cultivators at the Realm Breaking Realm frowned and whispered, "What do we do now?" A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of another cultivator. "What else can we do? Just charge in!"
The words had barely left his mouth when the old man, Mystic Void Realm High Stage cultivator, suddenly turned cold and sharp. "Nonsense!"
His voice was extremely low, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.
He slowly surveyed the crowd, his tone calm yet stern. "Let's not even talk about how those people's cultivation levels are comparable to yours."
His gaze drifted to the towering temple that reached into the clouds at the center of the distant imperial city. "More importantly—"
"The Stele Forest Imperial City is now preparing to host its grandest martial arts competition."
Countless spiritual array patterns could be faintly seen flowing slowly above the city in the night sky. "The Chi Lineage had already set up a large array covering the main city to maintain order."
The old man's voice was deep. "Dare to make a move in the city?" He sneered. "They've got themselves tired of living."
"Even members of the Chi Lineage themselves don't dare to kill anyone easily in the city lord's territory." The group fell silent for a moment.
Someone asked in a low voice, "Then what do we do?" The old man narrowed his eyes slightly.
He gazed in the direction of Shen Qingchen's residence. The lamplight shone through the window lattices, casting shadows. He slowly said, "It seems... we must find a way to lure that brat out of the city."
One of the cultivators suddenly said, "Why don't I just tie up that little girl and lure him out of the city?"
The old man glared at him sharply, his gaze like a knife. "Fool!" The man immediately fell silent.
The old man said coldly, "I've already told you not to cause trouble in the city." "You make it sound so easy—kidnap that little girl?"
He pointed to the distance along the street, where he could vaguely see the figures of patrolling monks constantly moving about. "Now the city is full of patrolling Chi Lineage."
"In case we fail," his tone grew even colder, "our entire Holy Clan— " will be wiped out by the Chi Lineage."
Everyone's expressions tightened. Just then, another cultivator at the Realm Breaking Realm suddenly spoke up. "How about this?" "Wait until they're drunk."
"Sneak in after nightfall," he said in a very low voice, "And use spatial isolation to completely shut down that kid."
"Then—" "We'll attack together." "Kill him." The night wind gently rustled the eaves.
The old man remained silent for a while, his gaze deep and unfathomable. After a moment, he slowly nodded.
"Hmm..." "That's one way." He continued. "Wait until nightfall." "The Chi Lineage will be more focused on patrolling the martial arts arena."
"At that time." "We will use the space field." "Completely seal the room where he is." "Isolate the breath of heaven and earth."
"Then—kill him." A cold glint flashed in everyone's eyes, and they all nodded.
"Okay." "Let's do it that way." In the next instant, the seven figures disappeared again, blending into the night like a group of shadows waiting for their prey.
Meanwhile, on the street, Shen Mengling was already carrying many divine jade food boxes and slowly walking back to her residence. Her steps were light, and her skirt swayed slightly.
The night breeze ruffled her hair, and the faint aroma of food wafted from the food box. She quickly returned home.
Before long, the kitchen lights came on and the fire in the pot blazed, with a slight fluctuation of Spiritual Qi.
As the time it takes for an incense stick to burn slowly passed, the round table was already completely full when the last dish was served.
Divine beast meat, divine medicine soup, divine fruit wine, fragrant spirit grain rice... the whole table of dishes is a feast for the eyes and the palate.
Steam rose, and the fragrance slowly filled the hall. Shen Qingchen laughed heartily.
"Come, come, come--" "Fellow Daoists, please take your seats!" Everyone took their seats, and the wine jars were opened.
The spirit wine was poured into the cups, and its aroma instantly filled the air. Everyone raised their glasses, and laughter filled the air.
"Hahaha!" "Brother Shen, this wine is excellent!" "This mythical beast meat smells amazing!" "Miss Shen's cooking skills are truly superb."
The atmosphere immediately became relaxed and lively, with clinking glasses, flickering lamplight, and constant laughter.
However, just as everyone was drinking and chatting, Qin Yu, holding his wine glass, paused slightly.
His consciousness spread slowly like invisible ripples, and the night breeze blew in from the window.
As the curtains swayed gently, Qin Yu's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
A faint, extremely subtle aura flashed through the air, like a venomous snake lurking in the darkness.
Qin Yu remained calm as he slowly brought the wine glass to his lips and took a small sip.
He seemed oblivious to everything, but a thought had quietly surfaced in his mind.
"Looks like you're still up to no good." "Fine, then I'll play along with you."