Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 483 An old friend brings a child to visit the grand hall; merchant ships from the heavens weave a tapestry of mysterious light (Seeking donations and subscriptions!)

The main hall of Huangyun Prefecture, perched above the sea of ​​clouds, is brightly lit today, like a cascading galaxy, displaying a magnificent and awe-inspiring grandeur.

Lu Cheng sat high on the main jade platform, his Taoist robes shimmering with a faint mist under the surrounding spiritual lamps, and amber-colored spiritual wine filled the jade glass cup in his hand.

The envoy sent by the sect was someone Lu Cheng shouldn't have known before, but it turned out that he was one of the several aristocratic scions that Duan Tianyan had introduced to him hundreds of years ago. His name was Liang Jiyun, and he was even traveling with his granddaughter.

This old friend, whom he hadn't seen for hundreds of years, was now far less spirited than when Duan Tianyan had introduced him. His gray-blue Taoist robe was dim and lacked magic. Beside him was his young granddaughter, her little hands tightly gripping the hem of her grandfather's robe. Her large, clear eyes were filled with fear and curiosity about the majestic immortal palace, like a fledgling bird that had mistakenly entered a fairyland.

"Junior Brother Liang, you've come a long way and must be tired. Please don't stand on ceremony and take a seat." Lu Cheng's voice was gentle and calm. He even stepped down and took Liang Jiyun's granddaughter's hand.

The chubby little girl felt a certain affinity for the Taoist priest, because compared to the surrounding radiant spiritual light, only the Taoist priest in front of her was dressed in a plain robe, just like her grandfather.

The young girl didn't realize that some people in this world no longer need to adorn their identity with external things.

"Clap"

As Lu Cheng Daoist lightly clapped his hands, one after another, beautiful female immortals in gorgeous robes and strong warriors filed out from both sides.

In a short while, delicacies were laid out on the jade table in front of them:
The Dragon Blood Immortal Mushroom is enveloped in crimson mist, while the Seven Hearts Jade Lotus Soup is as clear as dew on a jade pool. On a jade plate lies a crimson fruit, freshly picked from a thousand-year-old Vermilion Fruit tree, its outer skin shimmering with flame patterns, its interior containing pure fire essence. A golden plate piled high with amber, containing a deep-seated gold-infused honey paste refined from the body of a giant bat deep within the Yellow Dragon Valley, its color flowing like molten gold, its aroma invigorating the blood and spirit. And on a snow-white saucer rests a translucent white substance, its shape like jade fat, melting in the mouth, containing extremely refined spiritual energy…

Standing on either side were four female cultivators at the peak of the Golden Core stage, with composed and dignified demeanors. Dressed in plain clothes and clean socks, their composure was as steady as a deep pool and a towering mountain, which made the banquet seem far more grand than the usual receptions of a manor lord.

As Liang Jiyun took his seat, his mind was in turmoil, and he accidentally knocked over a jade cup that was already filled with spiritual wine. The sound of the cup breaking was clearly audible in the silent hall.

A trace of shame and embarrassment instantly crept onto his withered face, and his granddaughter beside him lowered her head even further, revealing only the top of her fuzzy hair.

“Zhaodi.” Lu Cheng’s gaze swept over the hairpins in the little girl’s hair before he suddenly spoke.

A female cultivator with profound magical power emerged from the side of the hall, exuding a refined and otherworldly aura.

"Bring me a 'Azure Phoenix and Fire Phoenix Pendant' and put it on my junior sister."

"As ordered."

Zhang Zhaodi left first, and returned a moment later with a small, exquisite red jade phoenix pendant in her hand. The wisps of fiery energy on the phoenix feathers were intensely hot.

Zhang Zhaodi stepped forward and personally put the headdress on the little girl.

"Buzz!"

A clear phoenix cry rang out, and the crimson jade pendant shone brightly. The pure, gentle yet powerful fire spirit energy instantly spread out, transforming into a hazy light that gently enveloped the little girl.

A healthy blush immediately spread across the girl's face, and the timidity in her eyes was quickly replaced by surprise and joy.

“Junior Brother Liang, this child has good potential, but he is still young and his essence, energy, and spirit are limited, and his meridians are weak. It is not advisable to exert too much effort on him.”

Upon seeing the Azure Phoenix and Fire Phoenix Pendant, Liang Jiyun trembled, his eyes suddenly reddening, and he exclaimed, "Senior Brother Lu, this item is far too precious..."

Lu Cheng raised his cup with a smile and said, "Junior Brother Liang, there's no need to refuse. We have a history with Junior Brother Duan. This is just a small token of our hospitality from Huangyun Mansion. This is 'Hundred Spirits Glowing Wine,' brewed from the essence of a hundred kinds of spiritual flowers growing in the spiritual energy of the seven peaks within the manor and the morning mist. Please have a taste, Junior Brother."

After speaking, the Taoist priest took a sip of his drink, displaying an indescribable air of nonchalance.

Outside the hall, a fierce wind howled like an ancient cold current rising from the depths of the netherworld, repeatedly crashing against the invisible protective aura of the palace.

Inside the main hall, however, it was as warm and cozy as springtime, with the misty spiritual energy, the rich aroma of wine, and the vibrant warmth emanating from the Fire Phoenix Pendant all intertwined.

Jade cups clinked lightly, and elegant music flowed like a clear spring from the jade chimes at the corner of the palace. Delicacies melted in the mouth, their pure spiritual energy gently nourishing the limbs and bones.

After a few cups of spiritual wine, Liang Jiyun's stiff and restrained body gradually relaxed, and his pale face regained its rosy hue. Even his declining Dao foundation, which had not made any progress despite years of arduous cultivation, seemed to be greedily absorbing the subtle vitality under the nourishment of this unimaginable delicacy.

The two talked about Duan Tianyan's past, their own scattered and drifting experiences, and the passing of time. For a time, the host and guest enjoyed themselves immensely.

“Senior Brother Lu! Senior Brother Duan often said that we, the scions of noble families, may have good aptitude and extraordinary opportunities, but unfortunately we lack the indomitable spirit and ruthlessness forged in the mire of the mortal world…” Liang Jiyun’s voice grew increasingly somber, his wine cup trembling slightly in his hand. His cloudy old eyes looked at his granddaughter beside him, who was playing with a warm jade pendant. Her small face looked particularly bright in the red light, and his eyes held a heavy sense of powerlessness and deep worry.

"I am incompetent, which has led to the decline of my family and the waste of time until now... I thought that being a messenger would be a hard job, but I never expected that you, my senior brother, would treat me so kindly today. I will remember it forever."

When people are down on their luck, they are more likely to lose control of their emotions once they start drinking.

In fact, the fact that Liang Jiyun was able to associate with aristocratic families like Duan Tianyan and Sun Fei back then, and that he can still get a position as a sect envoy now, shows that although the Liang family has declined, it still has some foundation and is still regarded by some people in the sect's upper echelons.

However, if Liang Jiyun continues to wallow in self-pity and give up on himself, the entire Liang clan will decline as he imagines, and it will be difficult to salvage the situation.

“Junior brother, you flatter me. We are fellow disciples, there’s no need for such formalities. Come, come, sit down and drink. The bond between fellow disciples cannot be repaid with worldly gifts.”

Liang Jiyun wiped his eyes hard with his sleeve, and when he looked up again, he leaned forward slightly and said in a very low voice:
"Senior brother... Before I set off on this trip, I overheard an uncle in the clan who held a sinecure in the General Affairs Hall mentioning something!"

"Several hundred years later, 'Sword battles will take place at the Immortal Pool, and a thousand peaks will vie for supremacy!' The sect's higher-ups are already discussing this matter!"

The celestial music flowing through the hall seemed to subside slightly at this moment.

Lu Cheng's fingers, which were holding the jade cup, paused slightly as he looked up. His gaze remained calm, yet it sent a chill through Liang Jiyun, making the rest of his words catch in his throat.

"Sword dueling in the Immortal Pool, a thousand peaks vying for beauty?" Lu Cheng slowly repeated these eight words, his tone calm, carrying a hint of appropriate, seemingly uninformed inquiry.

This subtle reaction gave Liang Jiyun immense courage.

He nodded vigorously, almost hitting his chin against his chest: "Exactly! This is no ordinary contest of cultivators! It is... it is a gathering of the major sects and lineages of our human race, a meeting to bring together the most outstanding Nascent Soul cultivators! Discussions of profound mysteries and the exchange of goods are secondary; the ultimate goal is..."

"Arranging seating and determining positions! What we're fighting for is the reputation of our sect and the connections and destiny of a thousand years! Senior brother, if there's an opportunity, we must fight for this."

A banquet that delighted both host and guests lasted until the first light of dawn.

The grandfather and grandson were respectfully led to the depths of the mansion by a servant who had been waiting there, and were arranged to rest in a refined and warm pavilion adjacent to a small fire-elemental spiritual vein.

As he was leaving, Lu Cheng's gaze swept over the adorable little girl with rosy cheeks and wearing the phoenix pendant, and he said:

"The Liang family bloodline is quite good. Tomorrow, you can go to the 'Listening to the Waves Pavilion' and find a Golden Core instructor surnamed Zhang to learn some Qi-inducing and Foundation Building breathing techniques. This 'Fire Essence Marrow' should be placed in your chest before each day's cultivation to nourish your spiritual veins."

A crimson crystal, the size of a longan and containing a vast amount of primordial fire, floated into the palm of the somewhat bewildered little girl. Upon seeing this, Liang Jiyun trembled violently, tears welling up in his eyes again. His lips moved for a long time, but in the end, he could only bow deeply and lead his bewildered granddaughter away.

The message Liang Jiyun brought as an envoy of the sect was actually of little practical significance; it was a reward from the sect for Lu Cheng's management of Huangyun Prefecture and the increasingly prosperous trade.

If it were an important matter, Liang Jiyun wouldn't have been given this job. His own path in life was over, and he placed all his hopes on the younger generation.

The pitiful one is Liang Yunluo. Because of her excellent aptitude, she was forced by her elders to practice diligently at a young age, which resulted in some damage to her meridians. Although it was not serious yet, if Lu Cheng had not discovered it in time and helped her nourish it with warm jade, it would have inevitably become a bottleneck on her path of cultivation in the future.

"The Liang family is finished."

In Lu Cheng's view, his family was not self-reliant and instead placed all the pressure on the younger generation who could not resist. It was difficult for such a family to have any great future.

……

Although he had received many benefits from Senior Brother Lu, after staying in the warm pavilion of the academy for a few days, Liang Jiyun still took Liang Yunluo to visit the Huangyun Mansion as it is today.

Hundreds of years is but a fleeting moment for a high-level cultivator on the path to immortality, but for this spiritual land, it represents a complete transformation and a magnificent change.

Looking out, the once somewhat solitary main peak now appears even more majestic.

The mountain seemed to have been repeatedly refined by countless flowing jade marrow, radiating a warm and resilient spiritual light. In particular, the cloud pavilions and immortal palaces on the mountaintop, specially built for high-level weapon refining and pill refining, with their high-pitched eaves and flying roofs, ceaselessly absorbed the purest spiritual energy of the seventh-order spiritual veins day and night.

Seven-colored rays of light shot into the sky from the alchemy room, sometimes forming the shapes of dragons and tigers that swirled and murmured, sometimes transforming into phoenixes that spread their wings and stretched their necks to let out a clear cry, and sometimes even talismans that shone brightly into the sky, outlining intricate and profound Dao patterns in the clouds, and finally turning into specks of starlight that fell to nourish every inch of spiritual soil and exotic plants among the peaks.

Down the mountain, the area that was originally somewhat chaotic due to the large number of foreign tribes has long been restored to order.

The scale of the alien market has already expanded many times over. In the central square of the market, a huge jade stele pierces the clouds, its surface shimmering with spiritual light. It is the core hub of the entire market – the "Universal Knowledge Stele".

Countless cultivators from different regions and races with different auras shuttle here, trading rare treasures or exchanging special spiritual materials.

Cultivators dressed in uniform bluish-gray robes with the "Yellow Cloud Patrol" emblem embroidered on their arms moved about the mansion in an orderly fashion, maintaining the operation of the place.

The air was no longer filled with hostility and strife, but with the strange and fragrant aroma of various spiritual herbs, ores, and precious materials, as well as the clinking of spirit stones and crystals, a rhythm that represented prosperity.

The floating cloud boats carrying large quantities of supplies are like nimble fish, shuttling back and forth along the pre-set fixed spiritual hub tracks. They bring in resources such as Gengjin refined ore, Jiuyou Xuan iron, and cloud-patterned wood from various places, and export Huangyun Mansion's unique Xuanhuo stone sand, Biluo Qingqi that nourishes the soul, and even some core components for refining high-level puppets.

Along the shipping route, occasionally, enormous, ferocious alien caravans would slowly descend, carrying cargo boxes as big as small mountains, attracting onlookers. However, they were all silently guided to designated areas by tight magic arrays and guarding cultivators.

"This Senior Brother Lu is indeed skilled in management. He has only been in Huangyun Prefecture for a short time, yet he has managed to run this place so well. Compared to his predecessors, it is simply unbelievable."

Liang Jiyun wrote down everything in a hurry, and occasionally used the Zhuying Stone to illuminate it as evidence.

Any conflict stems from the uneven distribution of benefits. Lu Cheng uses the network established by Chu Yibai and Yan Xiao to supply a large amount of goods from the Treasure Light Merchant Guild in the mortal realm to support a prefecture. How much more can this be managed?
That in itself is a huge benefit.

Lu Cheng's decision to give two-tenths of his profits to the sect already greatly satisfied the sect's higher-ups. If he were to give all of his profits to the sect, the sect would definitely send someone down to investigate.

Liang Jiyun's gaze swept over a newly built, massive platform on the edge of the market—"Beast Taming Cliff".

This place is home to countless rare birds and beasts, making it another bustling hub of cross-regional trade. Cultivators specializing in beast taming display their unique abilities, subduing or showcasing exotic bloodlines from various regions.

A giant eagle with a wingspan of a hundred feet and feathers as if cast from black iron had just broken free from the enslavement ring, its ferocity soaring to the heavens. Just as it was about to take flight, a deep, muffled roar came from the cliff top, and the air suddenly froze. A phantom of a giant toad with shimmering red scales and a single fiery crystal horn on its head flashed by. The ferocious eagle was instantly struck as if by lightning; the ferocity in its eyes vanished, and it became utterly docile, obediently returning to the control of the beast-taming cultivator.

A low gasp arose from the crowd, with someone whispering, "The might of Lord Devouring Fire Toad is awe-inspiring... The guardian beast that Lord Shujun brought back a hundred years ago is becoming even more unfathomable today."

This is the Devouring Fire Toad that Lu Cheng and Han Qingyun subdued in the Heavenly Fire Secret Realm. It guards this place, serving both as a deterrent and as a symbol of Huangyun Prefecture's strength.

The spirit plant garden, built along the spiritual veins, is exceptionally lush. It is meticulously tended by spirit plant masters skilled in the ways of creation, based on advanced arrays for gathering spirit energy, drawing water, and promoting growth.

A thousand-year-old purple-veined Scrophularia ningpoensis swayed in the breeze, its roots like dragons, emitting a medicinal fragrance that soothed the mind; golden-threaded star grasses formed a shimmering silver sea of ​​grass; and there was also the "Ink Jade Bone Bamboo," successfully introduced from a foreign land, its body as black as ink yet incredibly tough, an excellent material for refining high-grade puppet bones, currently absorbing the essence of molten lava and earth fire from underground, growing taller and taller.

The abundant spiritual energy even gave rise to many companion spirits, such as tiny, thumb-sized, emerald-green wood spirits that aid in the growth of herbs, leaping merrily among the branches and leaves, adding a vibrant touch to the spirit plant garden. This sea of ​​spirit plants is the foundation of Huangyun Prefecture's inexhaustible wealth, and is also key to supporting the numerous cultivators within the prefecture and maintaining a balance in trade.

At the summit of Huangyun Prefecture's main peak, in this secluded cave dwelling nestled deep within the core of a seventh-order spiritual vein, the ancient, pure spiritual energy was now trembling slightly.

Daoist Yanxiao walked with heavy steps, the dark gold fire patterns on his black robe flickering with his movements, like the ceaseless flow of molten lava. He bowed first, and with a wave of his sleeves, three exquisitely refined jade boxes of spiritual light were already suspended in the void of the quiet room.

"Brother, I have fulfilled my mission." Yan Xiao's words were brief and powerful. He pointed a finger, and a burst of spiritual light suddenly unfolded, opening the jade box. Inside was a long black jade shuttle, its surface deep and dark, and upon closer inspection, it resembled a myriad of stardust.

The shuttle is only a little over a foot long, but its surface is covered with fine and mysterious twisted patterns that sting the eyes and make one feel as if their soul is being peeled away and pulled into an endless dark crevice.

A chilling aura, capable of tearing apart heaven and earth, silently spread out. This was a seventh-grade superior magic weapon, the Nine Netherworld God-Breaking Shuttle, a treasure for slaughter!
The radiance shone forth once more, a second beam of light leaping forth—a round bronze mirror with ancient, rustic patterns. A blurry, coiled dragon, its shape entwined with electric currents, coiled around the mirror's knob. The instant it appeared, the warm, jade-like light in the quiet room abruptly froze, as if a subject had encountered an emperor who ruled over all thunder. Tiny, almost imperceptible strands of lightning seemed to spring forth from nowhere.

The Heavenly Thunder and Fire Mirror controls thunder and fire, suppresses evil and wickedness, and condenses the mighty power of heaven within a small space.

The last treasure that appeared was a delicate jade pagoda about three inches tall, with a dark yellow color all over. The pagoda had nine stories, and each story's eaves were adorned with pale gold tassels that looked like smoke and mist.

The Xuanhuang Prison Tower, a seventh-grade superior defensive magic treasure, is unassuming yet the most expensive of the three treasures.

The spiritual energy emanating from the three seventh-tier treasures spread out like three invisible barriers, dividing the quiet room into several distinct worlds.

"Yanxiao, you've worked hard." Lu Cheng said, sitting cross-legged on the jade cushion.

Chu Yibai, who was standing to the side, also took a half step forward. Her usually aloof eyes now held a hint of weariness that was hard to hide, and deeper still, the hidden pain of having torn apart a beloved person.

With a wave of her hand, thirty-six longan-sized, radiant pills slowly emerged from the tray of rosy light.

As soon as this elixir was produced, the spiritual energy permeating the quiet room suddenly became warm and viscous, and the rich vitality almost transformed into a tangible spring.

Each pill is perfectly round and flawless, its color like the primordial chaos, where pure energy condenses. There are nine naturally formed tiny orifices on the pill's body! Strands of rosy light flow endlessly from these nine orifices, sometimes gathering into a dragon-shaped phantom that meanders and coils, sometimes scattering into a phoenix-like silhouette that seems to flutter its wings and sing. Celestial sounds and Daoist rhymes seem to be condensed within them. Just looking at them makes one's true energy lively and one's primordial spirit feel as if it is bathed in sweet spring water.

"This is the Pure Spirit Nine Aperture Pill, which I refined after visiting many old alchemists across the three continents and emptying my treasured collection. One pill can replenish the old damage to the primordial spirit, two pills can make up for the minor flaws in the foundation of the Dao, and can also purify the consciousness and restore the vital energy of life."

"Why are you in such a hurry for the pill, brother? You haven't suffered any serious internal injuries. If you wait a little longer, we can negotiate a much lower price."

(End of this chapter)