Chapter 23

The next morning, Xiang Qi led Wang Qi up the mountain path to Xin Mountain.

Xiang Qi looked at the young man beside her with a strange expression: "Hey, Wang Qi, why are you smiling so... creepy today?"

Wang Qi was taken aback: "Am I?"

"Your eyes are vacant, your steps are light, but you're smiling... very lewdly." Xiang Qi had an indescribable look on her face: "Did you not sleep last night?"

"I feel like there's a hidden meaning in your words, Senior Sister..."

Xiang Qi looked at him suspiciously for a while, then finally shook her head: "It's understandable that you've become strange after spending so much time with the people from the Myriad Laws Sect."

Are you self-deprecating...

Wang Qi held back the urge to comment and pretended to look up at the top of Xin Mountain.

The manuscript of Daoist Master Buzhun is entirely about transforming profound theories into exquisite techniques. For someone like Wang Qi, who was a researcher in his previous life, the value of the ideas and experiences in this manuscript is immeasurable. Now, as long as he obtains the cultivation techniques of the new method, he can gradually master the subtleties of the techniques. This way, it won't be difficult for him to make further progress in the realm of Daoist Master Buzhun, an Immortal cultivator!

And the cultivation techniques... hehe...

Wang Qi's gaze towards the top of Xin Mountain was like that of a miser looking at treasure.

Xiang Qi helplessly grabbed his head and turned it to the other side: "Look over here!"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! What are you doing?"

"The top of the mountain is the Golden Hall of the Immortal Alliance. I understand your desire to practice powerful techniques, but your place of cultivation is on the mountain's waist."

Xin Yue Immortal Academy, located on the waist of Xin Mountain, is a top-tier institution of the Immortal Alliance, where three out of the five great masters are selected from.

Wang Qi followed his senior sister up the mountain. As the altitude increased, the crowd gradually thinned out, no longer as bustling as when they first entered the inner city, but with a touch of ethereal beauty. The southern slope of Xin Mountain is gentle, but the soil layer is thin, and even rock layers are exposed, unable to support towering trees. However, after the Immortal techniques adjusted the climate, the area is now lush with vegetation, with short pines dotted among the strange rocks, adding a unique charm.

Wang Qi's gaze couldn't help but drift to the three large statues situated on the mountain's waist. These three statues were carved from local rock, each about a hundred meters tall, with two standing and one sitting. Each of the three figures held a long sword, exuding a formidable aura.

Seeing his junior brother's curiosity, Xiang Qi explained: "Those three are the revered seniors of the Immortal Alliance. The one on the left is one of the minds who captured Daoist Master Buzhun, the Deputy Palace Master of the Heavenly Sword Palace, 'Five Masters of Annihilation' Qian Xueshen. The one on the right is the other Deputy Palace Master, 'Three Strong Sword Saints' Qian Bingqiong. The one in the middle is the Palace Master of the Heavenly Sword Palace, 'Sword Resounding in the Sky' Deng Jiaxuan."

Wang Qi asked in confusion: "Why are only these three statues erected here?"

Xiang Qi replied: "Do you know the purpose of the Heavenly Sword Palace?"

Wang Qi shook his head, indicating he didn't know. Xiang Qi answered: "To protect the world in seclusion and safeguard all people."

"Although the new method has surpassed the ancient method, and the land of Divine State is no longer plagued by cultivators who kill to nourish themselves, there are still remnants of ancient cultivators on many islands overseas."

"The four seas are filled with countless sea monsters, far outnumbering the human race. The dragon race is naturally adept at battle, and even a Dragon King is not easily defeated by an ordinary Immortal cultivator! Sea monsters are hard to tame, unlike land monsters that have long been civilized, and they frequently invade the coastal regions of Divine State."

"Even within Divine State, there are still chaotic situations."

At this point, Xiang Qi smiled bitterly: "With the new method, you have just entered the door, and you should understand that to achieve great accomplishments, you must strive hard and fully devote yourself to cultivation. Now, except for a few Immortal cultivators, the top sages of the new method have all retreated from the world, fully dedicating themselves to exploring the great Dao. Hundreds of Immortal cultivators have all vanished without a trace."

Wang Qi pondered: "I've never heard of such things... is it because of these three seniors?"

Xiang Qi sighed: "There are always people willing to give up the joy of exploration for the sake of the world. These three are among them. Hundreds of years ago, Daoist Master Buzhun's split of the Ethereal Palace caused great turmoil in the Immortal path, almost affecting the entire human race. Ancient cultivators retaliated, and Dragon Kings emerged. In times of crisis, the Heavenly Sword Palace used its supreme power to suppress internal chaos, restore order, and exterminate ancient cultivators, pushing back sea monsters by three thousand miles, and forcing the Dragon King to sign a treaty, vowing that the dragon race would never approach the coasts of the Nine Provinces within three thousand miles. After the incident, countless Immortal cultivators lamented that their existence had disrupted the internal stability of the human race, and thus they all retreated from the world. Only a group of cultivators remained in the Heavenly Sword Palace, taking on the responsibility of protecting Divine State."

"The Hall of Enlightenment at the top of the mountain is dedicated to the statues of those who innovated the new method, the pinnacle cultivators. Although the Palace Master of the Heavenly Sword Palace is skilled in combat, in terms of Daoist cultivation, he cannot match the great masters whose names are inscribed in the Hall of Enlightenment. However, in terms of merit, the cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Palace are no less than those who innovated the new method."

After saying this, Xiang Qi bowed to the three large statues on the mountain's waist.

Wang Qi followed suit, bowing as well. He was born in Divine State in this life and had been protected by these great beings.

Xiang Qi continued: "Also, Senior Deng is the head of Xin Yue Immortal Academy. He suffered internal injuries early in his cultivation and rarely moves, staying in Xin Yue. You must remember this and not be impolite!"

Since they had left the crowded area, Xiang Qi decided to use her agility to reach their destination—although flying was prohibited in the inner city, rapid movement was allowed.

Before long, the two arrived at their destination. Xin Yue Immortal Academy was unremarkable in appearance and not very large, with only a dozen pavilions, including a relatively spacious martial arts training ground, which did not even meet the standard of an ordinary university. Therefore, it was not very noticeable from the foot of the mountain. The academy did not have a wall, only a gate with a sign that read "Xin Yue Immortal Academy."

Xiang Qi let her junior brother down and walked up with him.

Wang Qi said: "Senior Sister, you can stop here. As the saying goes, even a thousand miles of farewell must come to an end."

Xiang Qi was one of the few friends he had left in the Immortal path. She had taken care of him these past few days and even accompanied him here. According to his knowledge, Xiang Qi's role as a guardian was part of her training before her final test, and after her term, she would return to the Burning Gold Valley to close her training and prepare for her final test. The saying "cultivation has no time" made him feel a bit sad, knowing he wouldn't see her for years.

—Especially since Xiang Qi was quite attractive.

Xiang Qi shook her head: "I didn't come here just to see you off."

Ah?

Wang Qi looked at his senior sister in confusion. Xiang Qi explained: "After my seniors learned about my experiences, they believed that I should not enter seclusion with my current agitated state of mind and suggested I spend a year to calm down. I applied for a teaching assistant position at the academy—actually, I should have brought you here last night, but my transfer order only arrived today... Hey, Wang Qi? What's wrong with you?"

Wang Qi felt like crying: "Give me back my moved feelings!"

Didn't you know I was in a hurry? I thought you were taking care of me, but it turns out you delayed me for half a day!

With mixed feelings, the two walked towards the gate, or rather, the school gate that looked like a mountain gate.

Wang Qi saw someone standing at the gate from a distance. As they approached, the person also came forward. When he saw the person's face clearly, Wang Qi was greatly surprised: "Brother Su?"

It was Su Junyu, the cultivator from the Myriad Laws Sect who had played cards with him yesterday!

Su Junyu showed no surprise, greeting warmly: "Hey, we meet again, Wang Qi. And, it's been a while, Violent Girl?"

Xiang Qi was angry: "I felt familiar when Wang Qi described you yesterday. It's really you, Rich Bastard!"

Wang Qi was stunned: "You two know each other?"

Su Junyu laughed: "We are classmates from the same academy. Of course, I'm not very familiar with this tigress."

Xiang Qi smiled slightly: "After a few years, your skin condition must have worsened, Rich Bastard. Do you want me to help you change it?"

Su Junyu's body trembled slightly, but he laughed: "I'm here to welcome you. My task is to guide the new teaching assistants and new disciples to integrate into the academy. You can't attack me."

Xiang Qi sneered: "I'll beat you up later. Lead the way!"

Su Junyu gestured: "Please," and turned to walk towards the gate. Just as Xiang Qi and Wang Qi were about to follow, something strange happened.

A black-robed cultivator suddenly passed by the three of them. Cultivators have far superior senses compared to ordinary people, and among the three, Su Junyu and Xiang Qi were far above average. However, none of them noticed the black-robed person in advance. Wang Qi clearly heard True Enlightenment say "Hmm" in his spiritual consciousness. This black-robed person had managed to evade the perception of a Great Perfection cultivator!

The black-robed person's movements were not very fluid, as if they were disjointed and lacked coherence. However, his steps were steady and continuous, as if each movement had been meticulously calculated, precise to the extreme. Each of his movements was a replica of the previous one, with no change in posture or momentum.

This is... a high-level expert?

Wang Qi was surprised and then his heart suddenly burned with excitement.

This body technique, the ability to evade the perception of a Great Perfection cultivator, is definitely a high-level expert! Not to mention the demeanor that seemed to be in deep thought. Even walking exuded a wisdom-filled aura, and even bumping into a pillar was done with such grace...

Wait? Bumping into a pillar?

Just as Wang Qi was imagining the "master's aura" of the person, the black-robed person collided with the pillar of the mountain gate.

Moreover, because the black-robed person had used body techniques, he did not slow down before the collision, and the stone pillar, made of unknown material, actually cracked! The black-robed person, caught off guard, fell straight to the ground.

Since the entrance to the academy was on a slope, the black-robed person was almost in a head-down, feet-up position. Wang Qi finally saw the person's face clearly.

The person had an ordinary appearance, with a somewhat gentle expression, and slightly thick lips that were muttering something, though it was unclear what.

Xiang Qi and Su Junyu were shocked and immediately bowed: "Disciple greets Senior Uncle (Senior Master Chen)!"

True Enlightenment quietly explained to Wang Qi: "Although this person looks unremarkable, his cultivation has reached the pinnacle. If he wishes, he can ascend to the Immortal realm at any time!"