In the Gobi Desert, nestled within a stone forest where stone peaks rose dozens or even over a hundred meters high, stood an inn.
At this moment, dark clouds loomed overhead and the sky was gradually darkening. If one listened carefully, faint rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance. It looked like a heavy rainstorm was approaching. It was a rare and precious blessing for the Gobi.
The inn was three stories tall. On the outside, it looked extremely dilapidated. The characters on the signboard were faded and blurry, and it hung crookedly, as if the slightest gust of wind could send it crashing down.
Before long, lightning flashed and thunder roared as heavy rain began to pour. A child who appeared to be only seven or eight years old appeared at the entrance of the inn. The large doors opened automatically, and within the child’s pitch-black pupils shimmered an eerie purple light.
Inside the inn, including the shopkeeper and the waiter, there were only three people. Upon seeing the child, a black-robed youth immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. “Junior Lin Ruo greets the Venerable One, Ghost Hand.”
The child looked calm and relaxed. Though he stood in the pouring rain, not a single drop touched his body. Glancing at the black-robed youth, he walked into the inn.
“So you’re the disciple of that old man, Ghost Nether?”
The child’s voice didn’t sound like a child’s at all. It was hoarse, more like that of an old man.
Lin Ruo took out a jade pendant and respectfully said, “Venerable One, this is my master’s token.”
At the sight of it, Ghost Hand made a beckoning gesture, and the jade pendant floated toward him.
He examined it carefully. It was indeed the personal token of Ghost Nether Venerable. That old guy…he had thought the man had died for sure in that great battle all those years ago.
The jade pendant flew back to Lin Ruo’s side as Ghost Hand spoke: “Since you’re Ghost Nether’s disciple, I will naturally offer you some protection. At least enough so you won’t starve. But that’s the extent of it. It’s been many years. While it’s true that he once did me a favor, that alone is not enough for me to act against the Yaochi Holy Land.”
Before Ghost Hand arrived, Lin Ruo had already contacted him and explained that Elder Li had been seriously injured by the hand of the Holy Master of Yaochi Holy Land.
Even Ghost Hand himself didn’t dare provoke the Holy Master of Yaochi. That woman had already reached peak Eight Rank a hundred years ago. Now, a century later, even if she hadn’t broken through to Ninth Rank, she was certainly close.
Unless Ghost Nether himself returned from the dead, no one in their right mind would dare to provoke the Yaochi Holy Land, especially with a few ancient monsters still sleeping within it.
“This junior is well aware of how powerful the Holy Master of Yaochi is. But this time, I’m asking you to target just a Second Rank cultivator.”
As Lin Ruo spoke, his eyes filled with hatred.
“A Second Rank cultivator?”
Hearing this, Ghost Hand’s tone turned cold. As a dignified Eight Rank cultivator, killing a mere Second Rank would be a laughingstock if word got out.
“You little brat, don’t think that just because you’re Ghost Nether’s disciple you can joke around. Do you really think I wouldn’t dare act against you?!”
“Please calm your anger, Venerable One. This person possesses a great secret treasure…enough to shake the entire cultivation world.”
Lin Ruo spoke in haste, afraid that if he was even a moment too slow, this old man would become enraged.
“A mere Second Rank cultivator… what kind of great secret treasure could he possibly have?”
Ghost Hand sneered. He plucked a wild blade of grass from the roadside and casually refined something that would be a treasure to a Second Rank cultivator.
Lin Ruo spoke in a low voice, “It’s the Five-Colored Stone…the legendary stone used by Nuwa to mend the heavens. It was obtained from within the Sky-Mending Secret Realm.”
As his words fell, silence followed. Absolute silence.
Even Ghost Hand himself was speechless for a moment.
He had heard the news some time ago about the Sky-Mending Secret Realm opening, but hadn’t paid it much attention. As far as he knew, all the great treasures within had already been plundered long ago.
But now, hearing about the Five-Colored Stone and that it was found within the Sky-Mending Secret Realm—
Then there was a strong possibility that it was the very stone Nuwa had dropped when repairing the heavens.
If this news got out, it would shake the entire cultivation world. Even those ancient monsters in slumber might awaken.
Bang! Bang!
The next moment, the innkeeper and the waiter both exploded into pieces. Even their souls were completely erased.
Ghost Hand withdrew his hand, which was still glowing with a faint purple light. His gaze turned cold as he stared at Lin Ruo and said, “Little brat, if you dare deceive me, then even if you’re that old Ghost Nether’s disciple, I will make sure you can neither live nor die.”
“Rest assured, Venerable One. I swear upon my Dao Heart this information is absolutely genuine.”
These past few days, even in his dreams, Lin Ruo kept seeing that sword strike from Chu Feng…it lingered in his heart, refusing to fade away.
“Let’s go. Let me see for myself whether the Holy Master of Yaochi has truly broken through to that realm!”
As Ghost Hand left with Lin Ruo, the space surrounding the inn began to twist and tear apart.
Within a few breaths, the large inn vanished without a trace.
***
Splash!
Chu Feng fell into the water once again. He swam to the shore, panting slightly, feeling that this was even more exhausting than sparring with Aunt Zi. Stepping on lotus leaves was truly a form of torment.
However, today’s progress had been swift. In just half a day, he had already completed a quarter of the journey. Now only half remained.
Moreover, during today’s sparring session with Aunt Zi, he realized he had made some progress in his understanding of sword intent.
His execution of the Soft Style Sword Technique had become more natural and sustained unlike his last duel with Lin Ruo, where he had unleashed everything all at once.
Candy. As usual, Zi Xin’er dried his clothes and rewarded him with a piece.
Seeing how quickly Chu Feng was improving, she became even more convinced that her rewards were working. The book said that good rewards could unlock a child’s learning potential and make them smarter.
By that logic, she was actually quite suited to teaching children. Xiyue’s disciple made her very satisfied.
Exceptional talent in swordsmanship, deep comprehension, and far more obedient than her goddaughter.
What a pity…he was a boy. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to resist taking him as her very first personal disciple in the truest sense.
Chu Feng noticed Zi Xin’er quietly watching him, her gaze never shifting. It made him feel a little uneasy, and he couldn’t help but speak up: “Aunt Zi, is something wrong?”
Zi Xin’er’s eyes were full of gentleness. “Little one, would you be interested in staying here with Aunt Zi to cultivate for the long term?”
Hearing this, Chu Feng quickly and politely declined: “No, thank you, Aunt Zi. If I stayed here to cultivate for too long, it might disturb your seclusion. Besides, my master treats me very well.”
“And my master’s teachings are excellent too.”
Just thinking about those horribly bitter medicinal herbs Zi Xin’er had prepared for him made his tongue go numb.
Not to mention, his master was incredibly kind to him, and Senior Sister Yuyan also took great care of him. There was no way he could just leave them behind.
Moreover, in Yaochi Holy Land, he always felt as if he was somehow incompatible with the place. He constantly found himself caught in awkward and suggestive misunderstandings.
Hearing Chu Feng’s refusal, Zi Xin’er’s gaze grew faintly melancholic, but she didn’t press him. In the end, she let out a soft sigh and said, “Since that’s the case, little one, just continue cultivating here for now. With your comprehension, it won’t take long before you’ve more or less mastered the basics of the Soft Style Sword Technique. After that, it’ll depend on your talent in swordsmanship.”
“I understand, Aunt Zi. I’ll get back to training now.”
Chu Feng quickly left, afraid that if he stayed in front of Zi Xin’er even a moment longer, she might become more determined to keep him here for long-term cultivation.
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