Chapter 133: The First to Defy Fate—But…

Clear Dew Residence, shrouded in mist.

In the White Tiger Western Territory, vast yellow sands stretch endlessly, and green is rarely seen. Clear Dew Residence is one of the few cool and refreshing places in this desert city.

As soon as Lian Mu stepped in, for a moment she thought she had returned to the Azure Profound Sect.

Layered green mountains, cascading waterfalls, a flower-lined path winding deep into a bamboo grove. Just like the Ten Thousand Flowers Garden in Azure Profound Sect, flowers of all seasons bloomed together in this realm, with melodious birdsong faintly audible.

She looked up at the nearby waterfall. The source of the water was unknown, and the mountains rose suddenly from flat ground—jarring compared to the surrounding desert.

Yet outside, she couldn’t see this place, and from here, the outside was hidden too.

Ji Mingyue had stayed behind; Lian Mu came alone.

She scanned her surroundings. There was only one path beneath her feet, so she followed it.

As she crossed a pond, Lian Mu saw mountains and rivers reflected in the water. This was no illusion—it was real.

She continued walking until she stopped before a wooden pavilion. Sect Master Shen was nowhere in sight. Only clear birdsong surrounded her.

She waited for a quarter of an hour. Sect Master Shen still hadn’t appeared. Growing tired of standing, she found a place to sit inside the pavilion.

There was a game of Go set out on the table. The black and white stones filled half the board. Extra pieces sat nearby, as if someone had recently played. Steam still curled from a teacup.

Lian Mu glanced at the board. The game had already been decided. Black had the upper hand. White was in a deadlock, surrounded on all sides—every move led to defeat.

She hadn’t expected such a contrast between Sect Master Shen’s residence and the rest of Clear Thought Sect. No wonder rumors claimed he disliked handling affairs and spent all day cultivating indoors.

In this barren desert, who would willingly step outside with such a sanctuary?

Lian Mu looked away and checked the time, debating whether to leave—just then, someone arrived.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

A figure flickered past. When she blinked, Shen Minglu was already before her.

“I was discussing sect matters with the elders and couldn’t get away,” Shen Minglu said, brushing dew from his robes. “But I hope this little mountain and water retreat is at least somewhat enjoyable.”

Today, Shen Minglu wore Clear Thought Sect robes, his features gentle—very different from the stern figure she had seen atop Biyun Platform.

Perhaps his attitude had shifted after realizing she wasn’t of the demon race.

Lian Mu asked, “Clear Dew Residence is unlike the rest of Clear Thought Sect—it has the air of Vermilion Bird South.”

Sect Master Shen smiled. “Indeed, this is landscape from Vermilion Bird South. The scenery in White Tiger West was too dull. Years ago, I came across a spot I liked in Vermilion Bird South and moved it here.”

His “years ago” likely meant several centuries.

“I stayed in Vermilion Bird South for a time in the past. After returning to White Tiger West, I missed it every day.” He seemed to be reminiscing.

Lian Mu nodded slightly. “Sect Master Shen is worthy of being the foremost talisman cultivator of our time.”

The mountain-moving and water-shifting technique—she had heard Bai Li Que speak of it before. Among talisman cultivators, it was one of the most difficult formation arts. For Sect Master Shen to transplant an entire landscape like this—his strength was unfathomable.

With such a powerful sect master in place, even if he didn’t manage daily affairs, his presence alone was deterrent enough.

When Returning Immortal Sect was at its peak, Clear Thought Sect had always ranked lowest among the Four Great Sects. Yet, no one ever suggested removing it from the four.

If Returning Immortal Sect had someone like this, it wouldn’t have fallen so far.

“You’re from Black Tortoise North?” he asked. “Which family?”

Lian Mu knew he was probing and answered, “No parents. Wandered a lot in my early years. Only found a place to rely on after joining Returning Immortal Sect.”

Shen Minglu pondered. “I see… Black Tortoise North is a good place. I had wanted to send two younger members of the Shen family to Returning Immortal Sect. But Wuxie was too attached to home and refused to leave. Wusang got talked into going to Crimson Sky Sect instead.”

“I remember your relationship with Wuxie wasn’t good. I saw it myself on the lottery platform. That child’s been spoiled—impulsive and unruly. If he ever offends you, don’t hold back. Teach him a lesson if needed.”

Lian Mu asked, “Are these your words to me alone, or would you say the same to anyone?”

Shen Wuxie was clearly the family’s precious gem. He had dared snatch a lot in front of all Four Sects, sure someone would cover for him.

“Of course, not just you,” Shen Minglu replied. “The Shen family won’t hold it against anyone.”

Lian Mu: “…”

Even if he hadn’t said so, if Shen Wuxie truly crossed her, she’d deal with him.

“Sect Master Shen, is this the ‘benefit’ you promised?” Lian Mu raised an eyebrow. “That’s quite stingy.”

Shen Minglu chuckled softly and finally got to the point. “Of course not. When you struck in the illusion realm, your sword touched my barrier. I thought then, finally a disciple worth noticing. But I realized at Biyun Platform—I underestimated you. You are truly extraordinary.”

Lian Mu also felt she had come far. She smiled, then humbly threw shade: “You flatter me. In terms of sword talent, I’m far behind the Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivators of Azure Profound and Crimson Sky Sects.”

Shen Minglu heard her meaning clearly. “Geniuses aren’t rare, but they’re all the same. The world keeps praising them, but for centuries, there’s been nothing new.”

He clearly looked down on the so-called Heavenly Spiritual Root disciples of the Four Sects.

Lian Mu knew—someone like him, sitting as sect master for so long, had seen hundreds of “geniuses” over the years.

She tested him: “What newness could a Heavenly Spiritual Root need? If you don’t think highly of them, let alone someone like me with a mediocre three-spirit root—there’s dozens like me in any sect.”

“Don’t belittle yourself,” Shen Minglu said. “Three-spirit root, yet at your age you’ve reached this level. That sword strike of yours far outclasses any sect’s chief sword cultivator.”

“You’re neither demon race nor Heavenly Spiritual Root. How did you manage it?”

Lian Mu reminded him, “Sect Master Shen, I’m not from Clear Thought Sect. You’re asking too much.”

Shen Minglu hadn’t expected such a blunt answer. After a moment, he said, “Apologies. I’m truly curious. I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

“If Sect Master wants to know, it’s not impossible.” Lian Mu said, “I’ve heard Elder Murong mention you before—you’re old acquaintances. As his disciple, I won’t show disrespect.”

“You’re Murong’s disciple? No wonder he’s so fond of you… If you’re willing to tell me, with what you’ve said so far, I owe you a favor—and a reward.”

A sect master’s favor.

Lian Mu weighed it, then admitted, “You’ve likely guessed it. My spiritual root was reforged.”

Shen Minglu’s fingers tightened. He closed his eyes briefly. “I thought so. You’re just like him.”

“Who?”

“If your root was reforged, you must have heard the name Feng Tianche.”

Lian Mu nodded. “The world’s number one alchemy cultivator. The first to defy fate. Of course I’ve heard.”

“You’re wrong,” Shen Minglu said, gazing toward the waterfall. Beneath it was a pond, feeding a dark river. The current flowed away and never returned.

“He was only the first to defy the heavens—but he couldn’t change his own fate.”

Shen Minglu lightly tapped the scattered chess pieces. “Cultivators merely seek immortality and eternal life, to one day ascend as immortals. He may have forcefully defied fate, but in the end he was suppressed by the heavenly Dao and didn’t even live as long as an ordinary mortal.”

Lian Mu said, “Sect Master Shen, it’s true that many powerful people from our Returning Immortal Sect have died, but did you really have to say that right in front of me?”

“Do you know how Feng Tianche died?”

“I’ve never heard.”

“His dantian shattered, spiritual energy dissipated, and he died.”

Lian Mu froze. Ji Mingyue often warned her that damage to the dantian was dangerous, but she never imagined it could be fatal.

“The spiritual energy you infused into the spirit-testing stone was off. It wasn’t your own, but borrowed from a spirit replenishing pill. This method may solve an urgent need for a time, but over the long term it only depletes your body, eventually shattering your dantian.”

A reforged spiritual root is ultimately different from an innate one. An innate spiritual root can draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and truly make it one’s own. But for a reforged root, the body is merely a vessel—no matter how much you forcibly replenish it, the energy will constantly leak away.

Shen Minglu’s gaze flickered. “Feng Tianche was an old friend of mine. Back then he didn’t even go by that name yet. When I first met him, he couldn’t even step over the threshold of a minor sect. I watched him rise from a commoner to the world’s greatest alchemy cultivator, only to exhaust his life in the end.”

“All these years, I have never seen a second reforged root cultivator.”

Lian Mu asked, “So, Sect Master Shen, you mean…?”

“Before he died, I advised him to abandon that path, but at the time I had no solution. After he died, I’ve always felt guilty.” Shen Minglu said.

“You, like Feng Tianche, are from the Returning Immortal Sect. You’re also Murong’s disciple… I’ll give you the same advice: stop before it’s too late.”

“Sect Master Shen, the root has been reforged—I can’t turn back now.”

“If you’re willing, I can seal your meridians. From then on, you’ll never cultivate again, but I guarantee you a peaceful life.” Shen Minglu’s fingertips moved slightly as he withdrew a black chess piece.

Lian Mu frowned, caught sight of the chessboard—removing the black piece left a path for the white side to live.

She was silent for a moment, then said, “No need.”

“This is the path I chose. From the moment I decided, I never planned to turn back,” Lian Mu said. “As for the dantian, I’ll find a way. Thank you for your kindness, Sect Master.”

Even if it’s a dead end, she has to walk it.

What Feng Tianche couldn’t change, she will change.

“You…” Shen Minglu was slightly taken aback. “You really are just like your master. Very well.”

“But let me warn you—after Feng Tianche died, the Feng Clan did discover a method to repair the dantian, but it’s a family secret. They would never share it with an outsider. I once pressured them for it too, but they would rather perish to the last than reveal it, so I had to let it go.”

Lian Mu lowered her gaze, looking at her hand. “…There will be a way.”

She refused to become useless. As long as there was hope, she would keep going.

“Sect Master Shen, about what you promised me—I’ve made up my mind.” Lian Mu thought for a moment and said.

“Fine. Since you insist, I won’t stop you. Say it—what do you want?”

Lian Mu pulled out a sheet of paper from her spatial pouch, snapped a twig at hand, gathered spiritual energy at her fingertips, ignited the twig into charcoal, and wrote a line on the paper.

Shen Minglu watched her and couldn’t help but laugh. He took the paper and tucked it into his sleeve. “Did Murong Yi teach you to come demand this from me? You people from the Returning Immortal Sect, really…”

“Sect Master, you’re not going back on your word, are you?”

“Of course not. A promise once given, even four horses can’t chase it down.”

Lian Mu smiled. “Then thank you, Sect Master Shen.”