Chapter 73: The Talisman That Illuminates Ten Thousand Miles

As soon as Chen Heng ceased the art that concealed their scents and forms, the delicate, sweet fragrance of the Crane Embryo Pill filled the entire chamber, wafting faintly and imperceptibly from both of them.

With a slight bow, Chen Heng said nothing more, simply seeking out a pale yellow meditation cushion and sitting down cross-legged. He circulated his breath, letting it wash repeatedly through every acupoint in his body.

A gentle jade-like radiance began to emanate from his flesh, ebbing and flowing in rhythm with his breath, like the waxing and waning of the tide.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he gradually ceased his practice, regulated his breath, and rose, flicking his sleeve.

“Though Lord Huaiwu’s pill is called the Crane Embryo Pill, and is gifted to assist one’s cultivation, it is but a façade. Once ingested, within less than an hour, one transforms into the likeness of a Celestial Demon, even one’s primal spirit would be tainted.”

A glint flickered in Chen Heng’s eyes as he silently weighed the matter. He wondered if Luo Zhang was aware of this. But the rotund Daoist nun he had brought—whom he addressed as his Ninth Senior Sister—must certainly know. Perhaps she was even complicit.

Today was the day the pill was perfected, the timing exact; that plump nun had calculated the moment precisely, arriving at just the right time.

Had Chen Heng not tested the pill first in the True Law Domain but swallowed it outright, who knows what the nun’s true intentions might have been when she arrived—but his own fate would surely have been dire.

“It seems I can no longer remain in the Floating Jade Lake; perhaps not even Yang Mountain is safe. I must return immediately to the Xuan Zhen Sect on Little Sweet Mountain. Even if trouble awaits me at the sect, I cannot be concerned with that now…”

His gaze deepened. He had remained at Floating Jade Lake for two reasons: to purchase a mid-grade flying sword, and to await the formal opening of the Golden Valley Market, where Lord Huaiwu would bestow favors upon the guests—he, too, would receive a share.

But with things as they were, with Lord Huaiwu entangled with Celestial Demons and setting his sights on Chen Heng, there would be no benefits to gain—he’d be lucky to escape with his life.

He could not even wait for Baoju Zhai’s shipment of flying swords.

Returning to Xuan Zhen Sect might mean falling under the watchful eye of Yan Feichen, who would surely hinder him and bring ruin at the slightest misstep.

Yet within the sect’s gates, at least there was Ai Jian, the Grand Alchemist and master of the Cave Profundity realm. No matter how reckless Lord Huaiwu might be, he would not dare provoke Ai Jian’s wrath!

Though Chen Heng did not know exactly which level of the Cave Profundity realm Ai Jian had attained, when the sect was founded thirty years ago, he had defeated at least two Grand Alchemists of the third tier, his strength and fearsome reputation unmatched!

In the domain of such a cultivator, even should Lord Huaiwu harbor dark intentions, he would not dare act openly.

As these thoughts churned in his mind, Wei Lingjiang, a few paces away, finished expelling all traces of the Crane Embryo Pill’s fragrance from herself, letting it dissipate as a wisp of smoke.

The maiden, pure as snow and jade, had a blazing aura above her head like a golden sun, radiant and majestic. With a flick of her finger, a streak of firelight shot forth, enveloping the escaping wisp of smoke. Within a few breaths, the smoke vanished without a trace.

The chamber was instantly cleansed—no hint of medicinal scent remained.

“So swift?”

Wei Lingjiang was surprised to see Chen Heng standing quietly a few steps away.

Though the pill was called the Crane Embryo Pill, in truth it was bait for demonic transformation. Once consumed, one’s body would be seized by endless evil spirits, life and death no longer in one’s hands, doomed to become a living puppet for the one behind the scheme.

Though she had seen through the plot and avoided the trap, she could not prevent the pill’s fragrance from clinging to her when she opened the box.

Once the scent attached itself to a person, it was nearly impossible to drive away in a short time.

That was why they had not opened the door to welcome Luo Zhang and the plump Daoist nun. If she caught a whiff of the scent but saw neither of them showing signs of demonic corruption, she would surely be suspicious, making matters difficult to explain.

The fragrance was notoriously hard to dispel; once Chen Heng dropped his concealing art, there was nothing to mask it. Only after circulating her breath for several rounds had Wei Lingjiang managed to rid herself of it.

She had not expected Chen Heng to be even quicker than herself.

“Quick? Senior Sister, you were not slow either.”

Chen Heng’s brow lifted imperceptibly at her words. He inclined his head to her.

“I suspect Lord Huaiwu means us no good. For the sake of our lives, Senior Sister, it would be best if you left Floating Jade Lake as soon as possible, and went far away. I must take my leave as well.”

With that, he gestured slightly, signaling for her to go.

Wei Lingjiang was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words. Seeing his cold and distant manner, a surge of nameless anger flickered through her heart.

“Since Lord Huaiwu is involved with Celestial Demons, what do you intend to do about it?” she demanded, stepping forward.

Chen Heng glanced sidelong at her.

Today, she wore a splendid Immortal Skirt with wide sleeves, moon-shaped earrings, and a golden hairpin askew in her hair, making her seem even more dazzling and striking.

She had left in a hurry, so she had not donned her usual veiled hat.

Now, her brows, dark as ink, furrowed in anger. Though she tried to restrain herself, frustration and resentment showed in her expression.

Meeting his gaze, Wei Lingjiang stared coldly back at him. But she could not endure the depth of his eyes for long; closing hers, she took a deep breath, then glared back stubbornly, refusing to yield.

“You ask my intentions—what would Senior Sister have me do?”

Chen Heng was the first to look away, lowering his lashes.

“Should I go to the Five Lights Sect or Divine Fire Cliff and expose Lord Huaiwu’s collusion with Celestial Demons? We have no solid proof—the two Crane Embryo Pills would count for nothing. We might even be accused in turn.”

“Besides—” he continued, “even if we had proof, why would the great sects believe me?”

He pondered the nature of vital energy, how it splits into pure and turbid, how the world is divided into such dualities. The orthodox Daoist arts draw from the pure, the demonic from the turbid; yet, though Daoists are shaped by the pure, not all are paragons of virtue, devoid of human desires.

Demons, for their part, are often viewed as bloodthirsty and cruel, but those who conquer their inner demons and break free from old molds are far from rare—especially among the six major demonic sects.

The difference between Daoists and demons is but a matter of pure and turbid energy.

Chen Heng would not stake his life on the so-called righteous sects and hope they would rid the world of Lord Huaiwu.

Even the Xuan Zhen Sect was rumored to be subordinate to the illustrious Jade Celestial Sect; its leader, Ai Jian, was said to be a true disciple of that sect. Yet, who could say that all their dealings were aboveboard?

“I... I never meant for you to expose him to the Five Lights Sect—they would not believe you anyway,” Wei Lingjiang said anxiously. “I just...”

Her words trailed off into silence.

She had wanted to ask: after all we’ve been through together, is your heart truly so cold, so indifferent to all save yourself?

But at the last moment, she swallowed the words, falling into a mute silence.

After all, this was only her spiritual avatar; she had come south to deal with the Malignant Wrath Demon and thwart the schemes of her clan’s ancestor.

If this vessel died, her true body in the “Nine Sovereigns’ Golden Palace” would remain unscathed.

So, had they truly shared life and death?

Perhaps, to Chen Heng, they were merely strangers passing on the road, and with his indifferent nature, he likely felt no real bond at all.

Wei Lingjiang took a step back, saying nothing more, her expression quickly growing distant.

She could not say why a surge of anger had welled up inside her, only to vanish in a heartbeat.

Her true body had already gathered thirteen rare herbs and was on the verge of condensing a golden core; at such a time, inner demons often arose to disturb one’s mind.

Since meeting Chen Heng, a faint, unfamiliar emotion had lingered in her heart—perhaps this, too, was an inner demon.

“To set the heart aright is difficult; to restore one’s nature, even more so. Is this not the obstacle of inner demons?” she thought, sighing silently and closing her eyes.

After a few breaths, she opened them again—all stray thoughts had been cut away, leaving only her usual tranquility and detachment.

She looked calmly at Chen Heng, ready to propose a bargain. After all, she had come to deal with the Malignant Wrath Demon, and Chen Heng’s “Great Formless True Qi” was indispensable.

With his True Qi and the talisman bestowed by the Dao Lord, she quickly formulated a plan.

But before she could speak, Chen Heng fixed her with a steady gaze and shattered her composure like a stone tumbling from a mountaintop, scattering water in its wake.

“You think I’m being heartless, eager to send you away?” Chen Heng said, his eyes resting quietly on her face. “You don’t know. I am from the Xuan Zhen Sect, and when faced with someone like Lord Huaiwu, I have no choice but to return there. But I have a deadly enemy in the sect—Yan Feichen, chief of the three elders. Ever since his daughter Yan Zhen died, he’s wanted me buried with her—he hates me to the bone.”

“My return to the sect is a last resort, not a deliberate attempt to leave you behind. There, I cannot even guarantee my own safety; how could I look after you?”

He added, “You are beautiful, like a jewel among stones. If I asked you to come with me, you would only draw Yan Feichen’s resentment and bring trouble upon yourself.”

Wei Lingjiang’s heart skipped; the fingers clenched in her sleeve relaxed. She stood there, stunned, a blush slowly rising to her cheeks, her fair earlobes turning crimson.

“You think a compliment is enough to patch things up? Clearly you’re just making up for it after the fact!”

Wei Lingjiang snorted, but her expression suddenly relaxed.

“Don’t forget, you still owe me a favor. Don’t think you can get away so easily!”

“Do you always ignore the second half of what people say?”

Chen Heng’s expression was unreadable.

Wei Lingjiang glared at him, her fist clenching again.

“You wish to flee Floating Jade Lake, but since Lord Huaiwu gave the pill ahead of time, it means he’s been watching you. Even with your concealing technique, slipping past his notice will be nearly impossible.”

The art of concealment, though powerful at masking one’s aura, could not alter one’s physical form. In the eyes of a Cave Profundity cultivator, a change in aura but not in body was like covering one’s ears while stealing a bell.

“What would Senior Sister propose?”

“Kill Lord Huaiwu!” Wei Lingjiang declared.

Chen Heng remained unmoved.

“I mean to borrow another’s hand,” she said, the corners of her lips curving. “Once he is exposed colluding with Celestial Demons, we can use outside forces to easily eliminate him.”

“Why are you so determined to kill him?”

Wei Lingjiang hesitated, considering evasion, but after thought, she spoke honestly.

“Lord Huaiwu is involved with a Malignant Wrath Demon. The elders in my sect cast a divination; if I can eliminate that demon, it will bring me great benefit…”

“A Malignant Wrath Demon?” Chen Heng smiled faintly. “You, a rogue cultivator, have a sect?”

“You—!” Wei Lingjiang flushed.

“You say you’d borrow outside power—what power? To pit a Qi cultivator against a Cave Profundity master, surely you have some resource?”

“What if I say I have none? Will you stand with me?” Wei Lingjiang looked at Chen Heng with wide, hopeful eyes.

“Are you truly determined to slay that demon?”

“I am.”

“If you have no means and insist on such recklessness, then it’s suicide.”

Chen Heng pointed outside. “For the sake of our time together, tell me what style of paper effigy you prefer? On festivals, if I remember, I’ll burn you a few more. That will settle my debt to you. But before you die, could you give me your storage pouch?”

Wei Lingjiang froze, then suddenly stepped forward and punched him hard on the shoulder! But her hand struck something like black iron, making her palm tingle; when she looked, it was already bright red.

“I do! This—this Ten-Thousand-Mile Seeing Talisman!” she snapped, pulling a golden talisman from her pouch.

The talisman spun in the air, transforming into a three-foot-tall, white-bearded, hunched old man. He glanced at Wei Lingjiang, then at Chen Heng, sniffed the air, and his expression grew lively.

“Ancestor Fu Can, your disciple—”

“Damn! That’s that Qi cultivation art!” Before Wei Lingjiang could finish her salute, the little old man jumped onto Chen Heng’s shoulder, sniffed him carefully, and shouted, “You’re wild-born? Your father hasn’t dragged you back yet? Incredible, incredible—I’ve truly seen it all now!”

“...What do you mean by that, Senior?” Not only Wei Lingjiang, but even Chen Heng frowned.

“You don’t know? Neither of you knows? How amusing—this is getting interesting.” The little old man’s gaze darted between them, a strange smile twisting his face.

“So quickly entangled, are you? Takes after his father, that one! What a rascal! Hey, girl, though I’m from the Grand Talisman Palace, for the sake of our shared Daoist roots, let me give you some advice.”

“If you don’t want to lose your life for no reason, not only will your reputation be ruined after death, but even your primal spirit won’t enter reincarnation.”

The little old man pointed at Chen Heng and shook his head. “Stay away from this lad, truly—this is for your own good!”