Chapter Sixty-Eight: Turning to Penglai to Gaze Upon the Apricot Blossoms

The fish measured seven feet and four inches, its head round and its body slender, with a tail resembling a whistling serpent. Across its entire form, not a single scale could be seen; it was slick and slippery to the touch, like a wriggling mud snake. This was one among countless White Sand Spirit Fish.

Chen Heng watched as the fish vendor easily scooped it out of the livewater. Despite its desperate struggle, the young man merely pressed firmly on its gill fin and the fish stiffened, then fell limp. From beginning to end, it revealed not a hint of anything miraculous—just like its thousands of kin, kept and bred in the water pools. In front of him, it seemed no more than an ordinary White Sand Fish.

The young vendor, still smiling, watched as Chen Heng accepted the talisman coin and stowed the fish in his universe pouch. Today had indeed been a fortunate day; while White Sand Fish could barely be counted among spirit fish, their bodies held little spiritual essence. Most buyers simply prized their sweet, delicate flavor—raw or cooked, the flesh had a fresh sweetness that satisfied the palate. Yet, no matter how one valued it, it seldom fetched half a talisman coin.

The young man found himself puzzled. By his usual temperament, he would have quoted a higher price, bargaining slowly with any truly interested buyer. Why, then, had he so carelessly just blurted out half a talisman coin? The regret flickered only briefly through his mind and soon faded. The transaction was settled; there was no point in dwelling on it, especially since half a talisman coin was no loss—he still profited.

Just then, an old regular, belly protruding, sauntered over. The young man quickly set aside his doubts, plastering a smile on his face and bowing to greet the customer.

Not far away, Chen Heng observed the scene, standing quietly a while longer before turning to leave.

"Superior Dao Arts—Innate Great Sun Divine Radiance. What a strange stroke of fortune; was it sheer coincidence that I stumbled upon it?" Amidst the bustling streets, Chen Heng pondered silently: "Innate Great Sun Divine Radiance is recognized as a superior Dao art. If truly acquired, it would be my only superior Dao technique besides the unattainable Polar Light Grand Escape. Yet superior Dao arts border on divine powers; their conditions for cultivation are always stringent, often requiring rare external objects as catalysts. The Polar Light Grand Escape, for instance, demands the Dry Silver Star Mineral to begin. I just hope this Divine Radiance..."

At this thought, he shook his head slightly. The Dry Silver Star Mineral needed for Polar Light Grand Escape was already a peerless rarity—priced beyond measure, available only to the highest masters and refiners. If Innate Great Sun Divine Radiance required something equally rare, like the Yuyi Essence or Great Sun Star Elixir, Chen Heng could only give up.

Lost in his thoughts, he was startled by a low chuckle from nearby.

"So this is where you idle away your time. No wonder you vanished—I even went to Red Leaf Isle looking for you." Chen Heng halted, turning to see, less than twenty paces away, an elderly man with graying temples and a slender frame gazing calmly at him.

Judging by appearance, the old man was about sixty, dressed in plain gray robes, a few strands of white beard hanging over his chest, brows sparse and eyes mild, like a humble teacher from a rural school, poor and unassuming. Yet the occasional glint in his eyes crackled like lightning, exuding a quiet authority that demanded respect.

"Elder Gu Jun," Chen Heng's pupils contracted at the sight.

He quickly suppressed the ripple of emotion, maintaining calm composure and respectfully saluting the old man.

"Rest easy," Gu Jun said, "Of the three elders of the Xuan Zhen Sect, only I have come. Yan Feichen is still under the sect leader’s watch, unable to leave Little Gan Mountain, and the Yan family are likewise confined."

"I noticed your qi was unusual," Gu Jun continued, "At first I doubted if it was truly you. Only after careful scrutiny did I confirm it."

He raised his eyes, scanning Chen Heng up and down, then suddenly seized Chen Heng’s wrist.

Channeling profound skill, he examined, and a barely perceptible smile flickered across his face before he swiftly released his grip.

"As expected, you have reached the Qi Refinement stage. It seems Zhou Xingling of White Crane Cave spoke truthfully." Gu Jun nodded in satisfaction, speaking in a measured tone. "Chen Heng, you lived in the sect for three years, never showing the slightest sign of cultivation, nor any desire for the Dao. Yet not long after Yan Zhen’s death, you broke through both the Fetal Breath and Qi Refinement stages."

"It appears," Gu Jun said, enunciating each word, "her death was quite a catalyst for you, even turning out to be a blessing."

"It was merely happenstance," Chen Heng replied evenly. "Elder, you sought me out—what matter requires my attention?"

"Just days ago, while playing chess with Master Jiang Gu of White Crane Cave, I heard his disciples praise you highly—especially Zhou Xingling, who extolled you as the peerless cultivator, claiming you had reached Qi Refinement, possessed extraordinary abilities, and broad knowledge. I did not believe it."

Gu Jun gazed into Chen Heng’s eyes, his tone filled with approval. "How many days has it been? Qi Refinement is not so easily comprehended, nor are its practitioners so readily cultivated. At first, I suspected you had gained some demonic opportunity, using shortcut methods from the evil path. But your Fetal Breath is clearly the ‘Refined Gold True Qi’ of the gold-sharp aspect, so I am reassured."

The technique acquired from Wei Lingjiang—Scattered Scene and Concealed Form—could mimic any qi, nearly flawlessly. Even cultivators many realms above, unless truly gifted with divine powers, could hardly detect the truth upon personal inspection. These days, as Chen Heng traveled through the islands, he used Scattered Scene and Concealed Form to alter his Fetal Breath, adopting the ‘Refined Gold True Qi’ aspect.

By this precaution, he avoided Gu Jun’s sudden probe from exposing his true origin.

...

"If I had truly cultivated a demonic shortcut, rather than comprehending ‘Refined Gold True Qi,’ how would you have dealt with me?" Despite the abrupt test, Chen Heng remained calm, asking another question.

"If you practiced the evil path, you would be a demonic fiend. Even if Yan Feichen spared you, I would never tolerate you!" Gu Jun’s eyes flashed, murderous intent radiating, sending chills down the spine.

"But..." His tone softened, sighing, "Since you practice ‘Refined Gold True Qi’ and are no demonic fiend, I have a fortune to bestow upon you."

He placed a hand on Chen Heng’s shoulder, and in a blink, both vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, in a nearby teahouse, Wei Lingjiang, witnessing this, instinctively stood up, her water-clear eyes narrowing beneath her veil, her expression growing serious.

"Has Brother-in-law not finished talking with that old man yet? I’ve already eaten my eighteenth bun—any more and my stomach might burst!" Beside her, Qingzhi, mouth greasy, lifted her head and spoke in a muffled voice: "His room is next to yours, Miss, just go back. If you really want to see him, I can help you break the lock. If you’re generous with money, I’ll stand guard for your secret meeting tonight—just say the word."

Surprisingly, this remark did not earn her a beating. Qingzhi, unused to such reprieve, burped and glanced up in confusion.

Looking again, she saw that both Chen Heng and Gu Jun had vanished, leaving only emptiness.

"Oh no! Brother-in-law has been taken by the wicked old man! Miss, go rescue him!" Qingzhi shrieked, abandoning the last venison bun she had saved. "If he dies, will you have to be a widow? Wait... is that right? Widow?"

Bang!

A small, pale fist landed firmly atop her head.

Qingzhi yelped, crouching in pain, tears springing from her eyes.

"This... this is more like it! I wondered why I felt off today—it’s because Miss hadn’t beaten me yet, ha ha ha!" She rubbed the lump on her head, inwardly delighted.

Her shout nearly lifted the roof, drawing the attention of all in the teahouse to their corner.

What they saw was a slender maiden wearing a white veil and fine gauze, standing tall and graceful as a willow by spring waters, radiating a crystalline charm. Though her face was obscured, her beauty shone like jade among blossoms.

A few bold men straightened their attire, about to approach, but a glance from her cool eyes sent a chill through their hearts and they retreated in fear.

"Let’s go," Wei Lingjiang said coldly, leading the way from the teahouse.

The young girl, reluctantly wrapping the last venison bun in oil paper and stowing it carefully, gulped down all the tea on the table before grinning mischievously at the crowd.

She skipped after Wei Lingjiang, her short legs pounding the ground.

...

Both sides of the street were lined with teahouses, taverns, inns, stone shops, pawnshops, beast arenas, and book rooms. This island, called Jiyan Isle, stood high, and in the distance, strange peaks and jagged rocks dotted the landscape, rising like spikes and shoots.

Qingzhi wandered after Wei Lingjiang, bored and aimless, unsure where they headed. At her waist hung a small green bell, jingling in the wind like some erratic melody.

"Miss, any news of the Malicious Resentful Yin Demon?" Wei Lingjiang shook her head.

"You’ve searched everywhere these days, digging through records and asking around, but still haven’t found its true form?" Qingzhi exclaimed.

Wei Lingjiang gave no reply.

"Do you think Ai Jian, after such a mistake, can ever return to Jade Heaven Sect?" Seeing her mistress uninterested, Qingzhi sighed and switched topics.

"I don’t know."

"Miss, do you remember that boy from Huai Shui Pavilion in the sect? I heard he and Sima Fang challenged each other, but before they could fight, your teacher slapped them both away, ha ha ha!"

Qingzhi laughed, then lamented, "Actually, I wish Sima Fang had been beaten to death. Of the twelve noble clans, Sima’s is the most annoying. Never mind Xie’s boy—I would love to smash Sima Fang myself."

"…"

"I hear the East Sea Dragon Palace is about to choose a son-in-law again. The old loaches can’t wait to marry off their daughters!"

"…"

"I’m a fool!" Qingzhi suddenly declared, hands on hips.

Wei Lingjiang stopped, finally murmuring a soft "Mm."

"You’re a big fool!" Qingzhi rolled her eyes. "Stop pretending—if you want to see him, just go! Miss, you’re so awkward! Is your head made of wood? Did you fall as a child? You’ve only met him a few times, yet you care so much!"

"I…" Wei Lingjiang frowned slightly, instinctively protesting, "I don’t! He still owes me a favor; if he dies, all my efforts will be wasted."

She said no more, simply nodding gently.

"Ah, yes, you’re always right! Your mouth is the hardest part of you!" Qingzhi sneered. "Did he curse you? In the sect, you always kept a cold face, never responding to anyone’s warmth. Is it because they were too friendly, or because Chen Heng was too indifferent—never seen before, so you found him intriguing?"

"I…" Wei Lingjiang shook her head, her exquisite face showing a hint of helplessness.

Lately, as she hunted the Malicious Resentful Yin Demon and sifted through records, a hidden suspicion had formed in her mind. Chen Heng’s cultivation of the ‘Great Non-Phase Constant Realm True Qi,’ combined with the Dao Sovereign’s bestowed ‘Ten-Thousand-Mile Revealing Talisman,’ might well be the key to breaking the situation.

Yet she had not spoken to Chen Heng in days; their occasional encounters were marked by feigned indifference. Now, needing his help, she did not know how to begin, nor wished to dwell on it.

She could not act as Chen Heng did, treating everything as if nothing had happened.

That was only the outward excuse. As for the thought deep within her heart, even Wei Lingjiang herself could not quite say what it was…

Beside her, Qingzhi kept chattering. Wei Lingjiang suddenly snatched the oil paper bundle from Qingzhi’s arms and stuffed the venison bun—meant as a midnight snack—into her mouth, biting down forcefully.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Qingzhi’s voice stopped, staring in disbelief, so angry she nearly fainted.

"Let’s go, find him," Wei Lingjiang said, cheeks puffed, her words muffled, expressionless as a rabbit chewing a carrot.

"Uh… I get to watch the show again?" Qingzhi grinned, her dizziness vanishing.

"If something happens to him, he’ll never repay what he owes me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t care if he lived or died!" Wei Lingjiang said coolly.

"Heh heh, exactly, that’s the spirit! Mouth says no, heart says yes—the mouth is the hardest part!" Qingzhi laughed, hands on hips.

In the next moment, a slender hand grabbed her ear and dragged her forward.

...

...

Jiyan Isle.

Within a tavern hall.

Chen Heng and Gu Jun sat facing each other. Suddenly, Gu Jun put down his goblet and spoke:

"After the journey to the Abyss, you should leave Xuan Zhen Sect. I will speak to the sect leader on your behalf."

"What?" Chen Heng was taken aback, staring at the thin, clear-eyed elder across from him.

"You will join White Crane Cave as Zhou Xingling’s junior," Gu Jun continued, ignoring Chen Heng’s surprise. "I have spoken to Master Jiang Gu; that benevolent elder has agreed to take you as his last disciple."

...

...