Chapter 134: The Entire Sect Locked Down — Lian Eats Everything

The day after meeting Sect Master Shen, word spread immediately that the Returning Immortal Sect’s second-seat sword cultivator was heading back to the sect.

After the illusion realm ended, there was supposed to be a two-month rest period, giving disciples from various sects time to interact and spar — leaving without permission during this time was strictly forbidden.

Last time in Vermilion Bird South, the Returning Immortal Sect already had two chief disciples leave early. Now it was happening again, naturally raising suspicions.

“Why is the Returning Immortal Sect always causing trouble? They really don’t care about the rules.”

“Leaving again? Why do they always get special treatment? Is their sect that rotten?”

“Shut up. This time Sect Master Shen personally approved it. I heard he’s quite fond of Lian Mu from the Returning Immortal Sect. So many Heavenly Spiritual Root geniuses in the chief team, yet he ignores them and meets her alone. Now’s not the time to provoke him.”

“Tch. Isn’t it just because she triggered Sect Master Shen’s barrier? If the Azure Profound Sect and Crimson Sky Sect chiefs had realized the barrier could be manipulated, they’d have done even better than Lian Mu.”

On the sparring grounds, the disciples gossiped nonstop. The “two chiefs” they spoke of were there as well.

Lu Feishuang leaned against the sword rack, holding her sword, and glanced at Ying You across from her, who was wiping his blade. The Crimson Sky Sect and Azure Profound Sect chief teams stood on either side.

Lu Feishuang fixed her eyes on Ying You and said slowly, “What do you think of what they’re saying?”

Ying You sheathed his sword without changing expression. “I’m standing and watching.”

Lu Feishuang: “…That’s not what I asked.”

“Don’t you think that Lian Mu is strange?” she pressed.

Ying You raised his hand in polite farewell. “Other people’s business doesn’t concern me. Miss Lu, I have matters to attend to. Excuse me.”

Just as he stepped away, Lu Feishuang’s voice rang out behind him. “You sensed her anomaly in the illusion realm too, yet you blamed it on Wen Yun. Ying You, you’ve never been able to meet someone’s eyes when lying — you’ve been that way since childhood.”

Ying You paused. “Miss Lu, people change.”

“Changed? I think you’re hiding something.” Lu Feishuang looked him over. “Don’t tell me… something’s wrong with your body?”

Before she could finish, Fengyun Yi stepped forward to block her line of sight. “Miss Lu, this doesn’t concern you.”

Lu Feishuang withdrew her gaze. “If you won’t talk, I won’t ask. But remember what you wrote in the contract — half of the next illusion realm’s gains must go to the Crimson Sky Sect.”

She smiled faintly. “This Lian Mu is more interesting than you. Judging by her performance, she’s clearly not an ordinary three-spiritual-root cultivator. Her return to the Returning Immortal Sect must be related to her spiritual roots.”

“Though she looked miserable, covered in blood at Biyun Platform, once she recovers she’ll surely rival us for the top spot on the Orchid Ranking.”

Perhaps even surpass them by far.

Lu Feishuang added, “You really don’t care?”

“Only strong opponents push us forward,” Ying You said calmly. “As long as she’s not demon race, the rest doesn’t concern the Azure Profound Sect.”

“So righteous, but…”

Lu Feishuang looked up — a silver kite flashed across the sky. Sitting on its edge, legs dangling, looking down on them, was none other than Lian Mu.

“That sword strike of hers — even if you and I joined forces, we might not match it. I once thought you alone were worthy to be my rival in this Immortal Sect Grand Competition. Now it seems that the declining Returning Immortal Sect hides dragons and crouching tigers too.”

“You may not know, but their current chief team is formidable,” Shen Wusang said. “Leaving aside the uncanny Lian Mu, even a mere miner’s son recreated a version of the Pearl-Seeking Instrument.”

Yuan Huai was stunned. “What? Xu Xianxing? Him!?”

The Azure Profound Sect chief team was shocked too — they’d been too focused on Lian Mu to notice anyone else.

“Though it’s only a replica, it’s about sixty percent accurate,” Shen Wusang continued. “Not only that, Bai Li Que has grown much stronger and is closing in on first place on the Orchid Ranking, plus Wen Yun is already first on the Red Lotus Ranking. In the next Penglai Immortal Island illusion realm, they’ll have a huge advantage.”

“It’s said their chief alchemy cultivator, Ji Mingyue, is the most gifted heir the Ji clan’s had in a century — an expert in the Misty Ridge’s poison arts. Haven’t seen her skills yet, but she won’t be easy to handle.”

Seeing it this way, the Returning Immortal Sect’s team could rival the top two sects, the Crimson Sky Sect and Azure Profound Sect.

“Their chief sword cultivator is the only weak link,” Lu Feishuang murmured. “Ying You, though the Crimson Sky Sect tricked you last time, that’s in the past. Next time, why not join forces again?”

Ying You replied, “No need. We have our own plan.”

With that, he led the Azure Profound Sect chief team away, leaving only the Crimson Sky Sect behind.

Changsun Li clicked his tongue. “Tch, so arrogant. That Lian Mu is infuriating, but honestly, I look forward to seeing this so-called Innate Sword Bone genius get trampled under her feet.”

Lu Feishuang had expected the Azure Profound Sect to refuse. She turned her gaze toward the Clear Thought Sect’s chief team.

“Leader, are you sure you want to ally with them?”

Lu Feishuang lifted her hand dismissively. “Forget it.

“The Clear Thought Sect isn’t worthy of being our partner — useful as a pawn, perhaps.”

——

——

In the Black Tortoise North.

“We’re almost at the Returning Immortal Sect, right? I can see the mountain!”

On the silver kite, Lian Mu sat at the edge, looking at the distant snow peaks.

“Once you enter the Black Tortoise North, the cold is really… a hassle.”

Hearing the trembling voice, Lian Mu turned to see Ji Mingyue’s face twisted from the frigid wind, startling her.

“Too fast.” Lian Mu tapped the vermillion markings on the silver kite, slowing its speed.

Ji Mingyue finally recovered. “That scrap kite Xu Xianxing built flies way faster than normal ones — my face nearly froze solid.”

Still, it was convenient. In less than half a day, they’d crossed into the Black Tortoise North and could already see Hidden Guest Mountain, its summit wreathed in clouds and blanketed in snow.

“He can’t be a sword cultivator, so he finds his thrills tinkering with kites,” Lian Mu said, used to the speed and even finding it a bit slow. “Strange — it’s broad daylight, but the city below is deserted.”

There was still some distance to the Returning Immortal Sect, and beyond the sect’s borders lay the mortal settlements.

Hovering above a mortal city, they looked down to find not a single person in sight.

“Maybe it’s some local festival,” Ji Mingyue guessed. “A holiday custom, maybe.”

The silver kite quickly passed over the city’s domain. Lian Mu withdrew her gaze and dropped the matter.

Half an hour later, they finally reached the Returning Immortal Sect. They wanted to fly straight in but were stopped by the barrier, so they had to land at the main gate.

“Senior Sister, we’ve returned from White Tiger West and have urgent business with the Fragrance-Attracting Peak master.” Ji Mingyue showed a special travel token. “By Elder Murong’s order.”

The senior sister guarding the gate checked the token. “You can’t go in yet — the Sect Master has ordered that everyone wanting to enter must first report to the main peak elders.”

She took the token. “Please wait here. I’ll take it to the elders.”

Ji Mingyue asked, “Senior Sister, did something happen in the sect?”

The gatekeeper hesitated, then said nothing, sealed the gate barrier, and turned away.

Ji Mingyue was puzzled and turned to ask Lian Mu, only to find her standing under the giant spirit tree by the gate.

Ji Mingyue called out, “What are you doing?”

Lian Mu tilted her head back, looking at the fruit on the giant spirit tree. The ground around it hadn’t been cleaned for a long time; crystal-blue leaves covered the steps, emitting a faint glow.

Ji Mingyue thought she had discovered something. “Is there something wrong with this tree?”

Lian Mu thought for a moment, then said, “No. It… seems taller than before.”

Ji Mingyue: “…Of course trees grow taller.” Wasn’t that obvious?

“Wait, how do you know it’s grown taller?”

Lian Mu: “To be honest, I used to sweep these steps every day and watched it all the time.”

Ji Mingyue was stunned. “You used to…”

“Five years ago, I was an outer disciple of Returning Immortal Sect, responsible for sweeping the three thousand immortal steps,” said Lian Mu.

Ji Mingyue hadn’t expected that at all and was a little surprised. “Were the ones sweeping the steps always as strong as you?”

Lian Mu withdrew her gaze and looked toward the mountain gate. “Why is the barrier still sealed? Wasn’t it open before?”

“I don’t know.” Ji Mingyue frowned. “The sect master ordered travel restrictions. He’s in seclusion now—if something forced him to act, it must be serious.”

Since they couldn’t get in for now, the two sat on the steps to wait.

Ji Mingyue took out a Fish-and-Goose stone to contact the other chief team members. Soon there was a response.

“You guys at the sect yet?” Xu Xianxing’s face popped up, with Bai Li Que, Wen Yun, and Guan Shize behind him.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lian Mu noticed someone appear in the stone and paused. “Your Fish-and-Goose stone lets you see the other person?”

Ji Mingyue was puzzled. “Yours doesn’t?”

Lian Mu: “…”

“She uses an old Fish-and-Goose stone that can only transmit sound within a hundred miles,” Xu Xianxing said cheerfully. “I told her to get a new one, but she wouldn’t spend the money.”

Ji Mingyue chatted with them about what they saw on the way. Lian Mu quietly moved aside—she’d been flying all day, didn’t feel like talking, and was a bit hungry.

She looked around, found some fallen fruit from the giant spirit tree, picked a few up, cleaned them, and started eating.

“You… what are you eating?”

Ji Mingyue stared at her in shock, and the people in the Fish-and-Goose stone were also dumbfounded.

Lian Mu hesitated. “…Fruit.”

“That stuff is so bitter—how can you swallow it?” Bai Li Que frowned. “Lian Mu, seriously? Didn’t we give you food before you left?”

Lian Mu: “It’s fine, not that bad.”

Five years ago it was bitter; now it had gotten a bit sweeter, with only a hint of astringency. The tree had indeed matured a lot.

Ji Mingyue picked one up, bit into it, and almost spat it out. “So bitter—worse than my medicine, and it has a weird taste.”

She couldn’t hold it in anymore; her face twisted again.

Lian Mu: “Your tolerance is too low.”

She finished it in a few bites, feeling refreshed. “The sect master’s barrier has sealed the whole sect. Elder Murong didn’t tell us—do you guys know what’s going on?”

“The sect master?” Wen Yun said, “He came out of seclusion again?”

Lian Mu: “No idea. The senior sister guarding the gate didn’t say.”

“Elder Murong probably doesn’t know either,” Xu Xianxing said. “We’ll ask him later.”

“Oh right, Lian Mu, don’t forget what you promised me in the illusion realm. My leg is still lame!”

Lian Mu glanced at the gate; the senior sister had returned. She stood up and replied, “I remember. I’ll make you a wheelchair when I get back.”

Ji Mingyue cut off the Fish-and-Goose stone connection and went over with her.

The senior sister handed back their token, head lowered. “The elder approved it. Please go in.”

Ji Mingyue didn’t think twice and stepped in directly. Lian Mu was a step behind; as she crossed the barrier, she suddenly turned and looked back.

Ji Mingyue noticed her movement. “What now?”

Lian Mu narrowed her eyes slightly, stared for a moment, then turned away. “Nothing. Let’s go.”