Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"You're awake?"

Yaoguang stirred in the smoky alchemy chamber, his bare chest exposed as he lay on a couch, clad only in a pair of loose sleeping pants. Seated by the window was an ethereal figure gently pounding herbs. Yaoguang noticed numerous burns across his body, but they had faded after being treated with herbal ointments, leaving behind only red marks.

He attempted to mobilize his true energy, but found his organs entangled, obstructing his breath.

"They've inserted golden needles in you," the fairy said. "You mustn't use your true energy for now, nor can you perform any immortal techniques."

Yaoguang frantically checked his belongings. His hexagonal crystal pendant, hard-earned sword tassel, invisible immortal robe, and green branch were all gone!

"Where am I?" Yaoguang's voice trembled slightly.

The fairy chuckled. "Are you still dazed? You don't recognize your own sect?"

Yaoguang hastily got off the couch and approached a mirror. His body appeared unscathed, but the demonic seal on his neck was also missing. Could the seal be removed? Unlikely, he thought. Perhaps because his true energy was sealed, Long Jianlu couldn't communicate with him for the time being.

"What did you do outside?" the fairy asked again. "Senior Brother Ling Yun seems to be quite upset."

"I…" Yaoguang began, "didn't do anything."

She extended her delicate hand and lightly tapped a bell on the medicine table, producing a soft sound. Soon, footsteps echoed from outside.

"Your clothes are on that rack," the fairy said. "Put them on and go. I'm sure the Headmaster has many questions for you."

Yaoguang thought to himself: Being captured by my sect, they didn't even shackle me or neglect my injuries. It seems the Sky Sword Sect still adheres to humanitarian principles in their treatment... However, his heart sank when he saw who had come to escort him.

It was Dai Ye!

Dai Ye's face was as stoic as ever as he studied Yaoguang. He then turned to the fairy and said, "Aunt-Master, I'll take him now."

After Yaoguang dressed, Dai Ye continued, "You don't even have the manners to thank Aunt-Master Ruyi for healing you? Do you have any upbringing at all?"

Yaoguang thought to himself: You're the one who hit me! Despite this, he turned around, bowed to the fairy, and expressed his gratitude. This fairy was Ruyi, the youngest junior sister of the Sky Sword Sect's Headmaster Chen Xing and Deputy Headmaster Ling Yun. She gave Dai Ye a look, indicating not to make things difficult for Yaoguang. With that, the two of them left.

Exiting the alchemy chamber, the fresh air and mist enveloping them brought instant joy and relaxation to Yaoguang's body.

The Sky Sword Sect was a prominent cultivation sect in Central China, with half its structures perched atop the Azure Gorge Peak and the other half suspended in the sky. It was morning practice time, and junior disciples could be seen learning martial arts on either side of the training grounds or practicing immortal techniques on the mist-shrouded platforms. Dai Ye's generation of disciples were busy guiding their younger siblings in their training.

Many passing disciples, upon seeing Dai Ye leading Yaoguang, paused to pay their respects, addressing him respectfully as "Senior Brother."

Despite having contributed extensively to the Sky Sword Sect's lore, this was Yaoguang's first visit in person, and he couldn't help but marvel at the enchanting, fog-draped scenery that resembled a celestial realm.

They were in the Heavenly Region, where Dai Ye led him up a long stretch of white jade stairs to the main palace hall.

The hall was suffused with a gentle glow, yet no source of light was apparent. After Dai Ye brought Yaoguang in, they proceeded to a side study. Inside, two elders and two middle-aged individuals sat at opposite sides of a desk, upon which was spread a red cloth. On this cloth lay a tray, containing Yaoguang's personal belongings.

A hexagonal crystal pendant adorned with the Celestial Maiden's sword tassel, a Sky Sword Sect storage ring, an amber ring acquired from the Love Nostalgia Hall, a green branch, and a jade pendant gifted by Shan Rong, as well as the Invisibility Immortal Robe - all these items were laid out before him.

Seeing this arrangement, Yaoguang understood that he was about to be interrogated. However, he had always been nonchalant about such matters and didn't consider the situation particularly grave.

Dai Ye stood before a middle-aged man and whispered something to him. This must have been Chancellor Chen Xing, while the other person was Shan Rong's master, the renowned Immortal Ling Yun.

As for the two elders, Yaoguang vaguely recalled that they might belong to the previous generation of elders within the sect.

"Your name is Duan Yaoguang?" Chancellor Chen Xing's voice was loud and resonant, filled with vigor.

"Dai Ye reminds you to answer whatever the Supreme Patriarch asks," Dai Ye instructed.

Yaoguang replied, "Yes."

"Are all these belongings of yours?" Chen Xing was skeptical as he pointed at the items on the tray. "Where did you acquire them?"

For a moment, the sect leaders seemed quite intrigued by Yaoguang's magical artifacts, yet they refrained from touching them out of respect.

"Mm..." Yaoguang attempted to step forward, but Immortal Ling Yun intervened, "Just stay there and speak."

Reluctantly, Yaoguang used his finger instead, saying, "This pendant is an heirloom in my family."

"When he joined the sect, he already had this pendant with him," Dai Ye added.

Yaoguang fabricated another explanation, "This knot was left to me by my mother."

Everyone looked at Yaoguang, who continued, "The green branch, clothing, and ring were unintentionally found by me at a place called the Hall of Yearning. The jade pendant was a gift from Senior Brother Shan Rong."

"You still refer to that traitor as 'Senior Brother'?" Dai Ye's tone conveyed his anger.

From Yaoguang's observation, he'd captured him but not Shan Rong, possibly suffering a loss in the process. This likely fueled his anger even more.

Patriarch Chen Xing waved his hand, gesturing for Dai Ye to be quiet. Then he asked, "Duan Yaoguang, why did you choose to enter the Sky Sword Sect?"

"Hmm..." Yaoguang hadn't expected this question and took a moment before honestly replying, "I sought immortality and a carefree life."

At that moment, Immortal Ling Yun spoke up. His voice was clear and resonant, like the sound of a chime or drum, echoing softly. He asked, "Why did you disregard the prohibition and leave the mountain on your own?"

"I wanted to search for treasures and improve my cultivation," Yaoguang admitted frankly.

He had complicated feelings toward these reputable sects. On one hand, he felt they were somewhat rigid and traditional. On the other hand, based on the original setting, cultivators at least had good moral characters.

"So after leaving your sect without permission," Ling Yun picked up the map, "you crossed mountains and rivers, reaching Feng Zhou, then Yong'an, and finally the Northern Sea? You've traveled across half of Middle Earth in this time?"

"Yes," Yaoguang answered with a forced calmness.

Patriarch Chen Xing, however, laughed. Glancing at Ling Yun, he seemed to be considering how to deal with Yaoguang.

"When and how did you encounter Shan Rong?" The expression on Immortal Ling Yun's face turned serious as he mentioned Shan Rong. He coldly addressed Dai Ye, "Did they know each other within the sect?"

Dai Ye replied, "Reporting to Master, this disciple can attest that they indeed did not know each other beforehand."

"I ran into him by chance," Yaoguang recounted, telling the story of how he had stumbled upon a clue in the sect's library, ventured to search for treasure, and then encountered Shan Rong in an ancient tomb in front of the Pavilion of Yearning. Although most of it was fabrication, it loosely aligned with the truth.

Dai Ye bowed again and said, "Patriarch Zhenxian, Master, according to Li Wenjia from the Rainbow Spirit Sect, it was Shan Rong who abducted Duan Yaoguang, not that he willingly aided the traitor."

Yaoguang was surprised by this revelation, but Dai Ye shot him a look, cautioning him not to divulge anything unnecessary. Dai Ye was currently pleading his case on Yaoguang's behalf.

Immortal Lingyun's expression darkened. After all, there had long been tensions between the Sky Sword Sect and the Rainbow Spirit Sect.

Zhenxing Realmsage, however, chuckled and said, "As a mere Qi Refinement disciple, even if he wanted to help, would he have had the capability?"

Zhenxing glanced at Lingyun and continued, "This boy is quite daring and ambitious. Given time, who knows if he might become another...?"

Immortal Lingyun cut in, "Enough."

In the Sky Sword Sect, Zhenxing held the highest status as the patriarch, but Lingyun was the one with the highest cultivation level, nearing the Great Achievement Realm. The others remained silent, awaiting Lingyun's judgment.

"Ling Yaoguang," Lingyun stated, clearly having formed an opinion before his arrival, "you left the sect without permission and violated our rules. I sentence you to three years of confinement within the sect. Do you accept this punishment?"

"Yes," Yaoguang replied, "I'll abide by the order."

With countless opportunities to escape in the future, how could he take such a punishment seriously?

"The magical artifacts you found in the mortal world," Ling Yun Sword Immortal continued, "will be temporarily confiscated. As a Qi Refinement disciple, using them recklessly will only bring trouble."

"Oh…" Yaoguang thought to himself, I can always steal it back.

"As for your family heirloom," Immortal Ling Yun said, "return it and make sure to practice diligently. If you ever dare to leave the sect without permission again, you'll be expelled. Go now."

Putting on the ring and pendant, Yaoguang sighed in relief. He had been worried about what would happen if the pendant was seized, but now he realized he could find a way to retrieve it without anyone noticing its significance. The same had been true in his previous world; even scientific methods couldn't identify the pendant's material.

Dai Ye led him out once again, returning to the disciples' activity area.

"Li Wenjia pleaded for leniency on your behalf," Dai Ye said as they walked, his head turned slightly. "From now on, you'd better behave."

"Yes, yes…" Yaoguang had disliked Li Wenjia, but it seemed that while tracking down Shan Rong, Li Wenjia had also requested that Yaoguang not be punished harshly and had even tried to justify Yaoguang's presence with Shan Rong, claiming he had been coerced.

The explanation wasn't convincing, but as a Qi Refinement disciple, Yaoguang posed little threat. Who could have imagined he was plotting to release the Demon Overlord and revive the Evil God?

"Dai Ye stood outside the disciples' activity area and asked seriously, 'Where did you get that pendant? Not even the two elders could identify its origin.'"

Yaoguang thought to himself: Of course they can't. There's so much they're oblivious to... This is a divine artifact! Besides, no one noticed the Heavenly Maiden's Sword Tassel – I got away with it purely by luck.

"I've had it since birth," Yaoguang replied.

"Diamonds in the rough," Dai Ye continued solemnly, "remain unpolished without proper refinement."

Yaoguang mused inwardly: This senior disciple has an impressive aura of righteousness, but his words carry an overpowering sense of paternalism.

"What are you thinking about?" Dai Ye noticed his wandering gaze.

"Nothing," Yaoguang whispered back. "Thank you, Senior Brother Dai Ye."

"Go on," Dai Ye said. "If any fellow disciples give you trouble, come find me at the Mountain Sound Hall."

Yaoguang turned and left. Most of the day had passed, and after the senior disciple, a formidable figure, led the hundred or so interns through their afternoon session, everyone dispersed for lunch. Yaoguang headed straight for the canteen, sat down alone, and was surrounded by the murmur of voices. Many were looking his way, presumably discussing him.

In this story, Yaoguang had no friends within the sect, and in reality, he was content with his solitude. Moreover, he discovered that the sect's food was quite delicious – though vegetarian, it was flavorful and refreshing. A large bowl brimming with mushrooms, black fungus, vermicelli, bean curd sticks, greens, and bamboo shoots, served with unlimited steamed white rice and a side of the sect's homemade chili sauce, allowed Yaoguang to easily devour five bowls in one sitting.

It was far more pleasant than eating instant noodles and takeout in the real world, with better air quality and spacious living quarters... Yaoguang was now somewhat reluctant to return.

In the world of the book, there were magical artifacts and silver coins – this realization startled Yaoguang, who hastily checked his personal space. Fortunately, the silver was still there.

But in the mountain sect, there were no places to spend money. Oh, I see... Yaoguang understood. Indeed, cultivators didn't care much about money since most of their time was spent on cultivation, with little need for it. Perhaps when they went down the mountain for tasks, they would receive some silver from the sect and then return it later, treating currency as mere daily necessities like toothpaste and toothbrushes.

The teaching senior approached Yaoguang and said, "Since you're back, we'll treat you the same. Lessons will resume after lunch."

Yaoguang nodded and, after lunch, joined the disciples for meditation. Over half of the hundred disciples dozed off. Yaoguang dared not speak carelessly, knowing that everyone would practice swords afterward. They would first learn sword techniques before pairing up.

"Yuan Yuan Guang," said the fellow disciple practicing with Yaoguang, "where did you go?"

Yaoguang replied, "I just went for a walk down the mountain. Didn't do anything special."

All his fellow disciples knew of his misdeed. Before entering the mountain gate, they had all been children of wealthy families, shrewd individuals who naturally wanted to keep their distance from troublemaker Yaoguang.

They also understood that only a fraction, less than one in ten, would pass the final assessment and enter the realm of immortals. They were all competitors, so they wouldn't try to forge connections but instead push themselves relentlessly in training, hoping to stand out.

This fellow disciple seemed relatively friendly and asked again, "How is it down in the village now?"

Yaoguang: "That's it, nothing much has changed."

They had been on the mountain for over a year. Yaoguang had merely created a persona and assumed it, so he didn't feel much difference. However, for the other disciples, the time in the mountains was monotonous and challenging.

"I heard that the Evil God is reviving," one disciple mentioned, as their sources of information were limited. They then asked, "How is the world outside?" Clearly, they were all a bit worried about their families in the mortal realm. Many disciples left without completing the formal entrance exam because the secluded life of cultivation was too dull.

"I haven't seen many from the Demon Sect..."

"Stop chatting!" a senior disciple scolded. "It's you again! Duan Yaoguang?!"

Yaoguang quickly shut up.

There was no dinner at night; the sect only served two meals a day, promoting a healthy lifestyle. After sunset, the disciples dispersed to bathe, finally having some free time.

"Long Jianlu?" Yaoguang whispered softly.

Long Jianlu remained silent. Yaoguang found a pool and looked into it, only to notice that the demonic mark on his neck was gone.

What happened? Yaoguang thought. Could communication be restricted within the sect? Has something happened to Long Jianlu? It shouldn't be... Nobody knows he's in the Suspended Heaven Cave Mansion.

"Long Jianlu, can you hear me?" Yaoguang attempted to infuse his true energy into the demonic seal. The seal flickered briefly, but its radiance swiftly diminished.

The demonic seal was still there! It just couldn't function anymore! Why? Yaoguang scanned his surroundings and noticed an elusive barrier enveloping the Sky Sword Sect. A protective shield? Ah! Yes! He recalled setting it up. Each cultivation sect had its own defensive barrier to guard against demonic forces.

This meant that demonic spells would be blocked from entering the barrier. Communication with Long Jianlu could only occur once he was outside its confines.

Now, he was on his own... Yaoguang looked around, searching for a new plan to escape and inform Long Jianlu of his safety. However, wandering aimlessly within the sect would surely draw attention, and his absence during the day would be noticed in no time, leading to his swift recapture.

First things first, he needed the invisibility cloak. But where was it? The Treasure Pavilion existed within the Sky Sword Sect – might it be stored there?

Yaoguang took a few tentative steps, deciding to first scout the area before stealthily reclaiming his magical artifact.

On a night with a bright moon and sparse stars, as the bell rang in the disciples' activity area, Yaoguang paused the day's activities and hurried back. The novice disciples were arranged in groups of ten to a room, sleeping on large communal beds. Because Yaoguang had caused trouble, he was now a key supervision target and was placed beside the teaching senior brother. The senior brother's snoring was earth-shattering, while Yaoguang tossed and turned until the latter half of the night before he could finally fall asleep.

The following day unfolded in the same routine: waking at dawn for breathing exercises and absorption of the essence of heaven and earth, then breakfast. Afterward, I studied spells and mastered true energy. Lunch came next, followed by silent meditation. In the afternoon, martial arts practice took precedence, with no food consumed after noon. In the evening, after bathing, time was left open for leisure activities.

Yaoguang's current focus revolved around two issues. First, how could he leave the sect to continue his mission and search for the Heaven-Sealing Sword for Long Jianlu? Second, after secretly escaping the sect, how could he travel far without the ability to fly on a sword? It would take him another half a year to reach the Suspended Heaven Cave Abode on foot...

I truly brought this upon myself... Yaoguang regretted endlessly why he had designed the map to be so vast!

It was uncertain if the Creator of the universe in reality held the same thought - with such an immense cosmos, even traveling at the speed of light would take two billion years to reach the other end.

On several occasions, Yaoguang considered cultivating for a while first, learning sword control before fleeing. However, he soon discovered that sword control required reaching the second level of cultivation, Foundation Establishment. Any disciple who broke through to Foundation Establishment during their internship would be exempted from the examination and become a formal disciple, demonstrating its difficulty.

Moreover, even after mastering it, one needed ample practice. Sword flight at the Foundation Establishment stage wasn't swift; Shan Rong's ability to fly from Yong'an to the Northern Sea in a day relied on his Core Formation foundation.

Dai Ye's cultivation was only at the Golden Core realm.

Thus, Yaoguang abandoned the idea of mastering skills before rescuing the Demon King. By the time he reached Foundation Establishment and learned sword control, Long Jianlu might still be waiting in the cave for another ninety-nine years.

Could he deceive Dai Ye into taking him to the Sky-Hanging Mansion? That seemed unrealistic, especially since the Heaven-Blocking Sword had yet to be obtained.

For the following three days, Yaoguang scouted around, sneaking around at night. This behavior suited his curious nature, so no one found it unusual.

Besides, Yaoguang's cultivation was too low, causing many to overlook him entirely.

"Duan Yaoguang? What are you up to, sneaking around again?"

One evening, as Yaoguang ventured further into the rear mountain, he startled at the sound of Dai Ye's voice while passing by a fence.

"I wish to visit the Scroll Pavilion," Yaoguang hurriedly said.

Dai Ye had changed into a new attire, sitting under the moonlight with his figure partially obscured. It was the sleepwear of an advanced disciple, nearly transparent on top, revealing the outline of his muscles, and paired with long pants. In his hand, he held a jade flute.

"Follow this path upwards, and you'll arrive," Dai Ye said nonchalantly.

All cultivators shared a common trait – their skin was exceptionally fine, smooth, and as white as jade. The higher one's cultivation, the better their skin and physique. With a vegetarian diet in the sect, daily breathing exercises, and regular sleeping habits, their lifestyle promoted health and vitality. Yaoguang took a few more glances, thinking to himself: This Senior Brother is quite alluring. If he didn't always have that stern look on his face, he would be considered quite the handsome man.

He wondered about the relationship between Dai Ye and Shan Rong. Perhaps they were once close senior and junior brothers?

As Yaoguang led the way, he suddenly heard Dai Ye testing the notes behind him, playing a melody on the flute. Instantly, a gentle breeze swept through the air, white petals scattered around, and the moonlight cast a serene glow. The vast expanse of the world filled one with a sense of tranquility.

Yaoguang momentarily forgot everything else, standing high up, leaning against the railing, and listening to Dai Ye play the flute.

When the tune ended, Dai Ye's voice came again, "Still not going?"

Yaoguang turned and walked away.

His goal for today was to locate the Scroll Pavilion and the Treasure Pavilion. In his understanding, these two places should be situated together. Indeed, he found the entrance to the Scroll Pavilion, filled with books that had accumulated over a thousand years. Not far away, he also spotted the Treasure Pavilion, but it was currently out of reach – the Treasure Pavilion was a floating island suspended in mid-air, about twenty meters above the Scroll Pavilion.

The Sky Sword Sect didn't have many defensive forces, nor did they have disciples patrolling constantly. Most of the guardianship responsibilities for restricted areas were taken up by formations and guardian beasts. By locating the Treasure Pavilion on an aerial island, they prevented Qi Refinement disciples from accidentally wandering in.

How do I get up there? Yaoguang mused. Should I use a grappling hook? That would probably be easily noticed, wouldn't it? Forget it, I'll figure it out tomorrow.

The following evening, Yaoguang returned to the library. From the window, he could see the Treasure Pavilion clearly.

As he passed the path behind the mountain, Dai Ye was once again sitting there.

Yaoguang nodded slightly, bowing his head slightly as he walked past Dai Ye, catching another melody from the flute.

On the third night, Dai Ye was back at the same spot.

"You're looking for a book?" This time, Dai Ye put down his flute and asked, "What's wrong? Are you that afraid of me? Come here."

Yaoguang had no choice but to approach. He sensed heat emanating from Dai Ye's body, which felt particularly warm against the cool starry night, despite the thin veil covering him.

Yaoguang replied honestly, "I'm not looking for anything specific, just browsing."

Dai Ye said, "Are you planning to skip levels and practice another spell? Without a solid foundation, blindly learning and practicing can lead to demonic possession and self-explosion. Don't say I didn't warn you."

Yaoguang replied, "No, I just wanted to read some anecdotes about the Land of the Divine."

Dai Ye studied Yaoguang, then asked again, "What did Shan Rong say to you?"

"Hmm?" Yaoguang wondered, How can this issue come up again?

"He didn't say much," Yaoguang explained. "He let me off the hook because we're fellow disciples and he was considering old ties. I begged him to take me to Changguang Mountain, and since he had nowhere else to go, he agreed."

"Why did you trust him?" Dai Ye asked earnestly.

Yaoguang hesitated to answer easily. Dai Ye continued, "I assume the upheaval in Yong'an City was your doing, together with his?"

Yaoguang responded, "It was all his doing. I didn't do anything."

Fixing his gaze on Yaoguang's eyes, Dai Ye said, "He was under control back then. Being ambushed can't be blamed on him entirely."

"But his feelings for that demonic girl were genuine," Dai Ye commented casually. "A momentary lapse in judgment led to a grave mistake – that cannot be denied."

Yaoguang thought to himself, How would you know?

Dai Ye seemed to have guessed what Yaoguang was thinking from his expression and added, "Don't make the same mistake as him. Let lust cloud your judgment."

Yaoguang replied, "I don't even know anyone from the Demon Sect."

Dai Ye fell silent and began to play his flute.

Yaoguang couldn't shake the feeling that Dai Ye was hinting at something, but it was impossible for anyone to know about his connection with Long Jianlu! Perhaps the sect was simply on high alert due to Shan Rong's mistake, fearful that another young talent might fall under the Demon Sect's spell and betray their master?

After days of reconnaissance, Yaoguang was ready to make his move. He had been in the sect for over ten days and was now so tired of the vegetarian diet that he could almost see green. All he wanted was to descend the mountain and indulge in some meat.

Taking advantage of his free time, he crafted an iron hook, tied it to a rope, and concealed it in his personal space. Sometimes, the simplest physics could provide the best solution for infiltration. He planned to use the grappling hook to scale the wall.