A huge thanks to Katy for the kofis. Enjoy the bonus chapters!

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Three days later, news of Administrator Li’s death reached Shanning Realm.

“It seems he couldn’t withstand the brutal torture. Just as he was about to reveal the truth about the Dark Hall, a curse took effect, and he died. It’s likely that the mastermind behind this had already placed a curse on him before he arrived,” Shen Yun said, adding, “The Dark Hall is the stronghold of the Demon Beast Tamers.”

“Although we didn’t pry anything out of Chief Li, his death has eliminated a traitor, which is a good thing for the Shanning Realm.”

“Mr. Li of Shanning Realm, Jiang He of the Red Cloud Sea…It turns out both major powers in the Spirit Mountain Realm have spies from the Dark Hall. The Dark Hall has been lying dormant underground for many years; I fear it’s not just these two major powers—other factions may also harbor their spies. The Lord of Shanning Realm and I have jointly drafted a letter, which we’ve sent to all the other factions, hoping that every sect will thoroughly investigate the matter of spies.”

After Shen Yun finished his report, he realized that hardly anyone was listening to him.

“Senior Lu Yi…” Shen Yun looked at Lu Yi with a pitiful expression.

Wen Jue was dozing on a lounge chair. Upon hearing this, he lifted his eyelids slightly. “What is it?”

“Where are Senior Qin Zhou and Senior Lu San? Yan Qi isn’t here either.” Shen Yun looked around, and sure enough, he couldn’t find them. In this entire courtyard, only Senior Lu Yi and Zhanyu were present.

“Qin Zhou borrowed a blacksmith’s shop in Shanning Realm and took Ling Yan and Lu San there to work the forge.” 

“You didn’t go?”

Wen Jue: “……” He actually wanted to go, but Qin Zhou said that if he went, he was just going to sleep, so he told him to sleep in the courtyard. He wouldn’t let him sleep at the blacksmith’s shop. 

He could actually stay awake, but Qin Zhou didn’t believe him. Not even Lao San believed him. If he wasn’t going, he wasn’t going.

Besides, he wasn’t really interested in blacksmithing anyway.

“Master Shen, would you like some tea?” Zhanyu slowly approached from the other side, carrying a teapot.

Shen Yun: “Thank you, Brother Zhanyu. Just call me Shen Yun, Brother Zhanyu. Whatever they call me in the Zhutian Realm, that’s what I’ll go by here.”

Having said that, Shen Yun couldn’t help but ask about their plans moving forward. “After Shanning Realm, do you seniors plan to go find Senior Shisi?”

“We’ll wait for him to come to us,” Wen Jue said.

Huh?

Shen Yun was taken aback.

Zhanyu explained, “With a seventh-tier spirit artifact appearing, the beam of light will remain for several days without ceasing. Once Uncle Shisi sees this beam, he’ll surely come looking for us.” 

“We’ve even marked the direction for him. If he still doesn’t know where to go, it’s just because he’s too slow on the uptake,” Wen Jue said bluntly.

Shen Yun understood, yet didn’t quite grasp it.

So that’s why Senior Qin Zhou borrowed the blacksmith’s shop? To temporarily forge a seventh-tier spirit artifact, so that the light of its emergence would guide Shisi here?

A seventh-tier spirit artifact—in the Spirit Mountain Realm, isn’t that practically the same as a divine artifact? Could such a divine artifact really be forged on a whim?

Well, that’s Qin Zhou for you.

“It was actually Zhanyu who came up with this idea,” Wen Jue said, not hesitating to praise his nephew.

Zhanyu chuckled lightly, “Grandfather, the Village Chief said he wanted to borrow the blacksmith’s shop to forge some items, so I happened to think of this.” 

“By the way, Shen Yun, how’s the investigation into the spirit beasts’ migration coming along?” Wen Jue asked.

“That’s exactly why I’m here,” Shen Yun replied, his expression turning serious. “I’ve been observing the area for two days alongside several elders from the Shanning Realm. We’ve discovered that there are indeed many more spirit beasts inhabiting the territory under the Shanning Realm’s jurisdiction.”

Yesterday, he went to take a look with several elders from the Shanning Realm. That trip…they actually made a discovery.

“There is a place within the Shanning Realm where the spiritual energy is far more concentrated than elsewhere,” Shen Yun’s voice grew solemn. “In all my time in the Spirit Mountain Realm, I have never seen a place with such dense spiritual energy. It feels like a harbinger of something about to emerge into the world. But whether that thing will be a blessing or a curse, I dare not say.”

“Strangely enough, we searched that area for an entire day and still couldn’t locate the source of that dense spiritual energy.”

“If Senior Shisi were here, he could surely learn the truth from the migratory spirit beasts.” 

Wen Jue: “Don’t worry; Shisi should be arriving soon. As for the place you mentioned, take me to see it.” 

Hearing that Wen Jue intended to go, Shen Yun naturally stood up. “Alright.”

“Uncle Wen, I’m coming too.” “Let’s go.”

The three had barely stepped outside when they spotted a disciple dressed in the robes of the Shanning Sect, looking around nervously and pacing by the entrance. Upon seeing them emerge, he flinched like a startled bird. Zhanyu glanced at him and lowered his eyes.

“Senior Brother, is something wrong?”

The man was none other than the senior disciple who had previously shared a courtyard with Zhanyu. He was also the one who, threatened by Xu Chengli and driven by jealousy, had taken Zhanyu’s medicine.

Liu Chenglin.

“Are… are you going out?” The man stammered, not daring to look at Shen Yun and Wen Jue behind Zhanyu. He merely bowed to Zhanyu and said,

“I have no other business, only… I’ve come to apologize. The Sect Master has demoted me to an outer-sect disciple, so I’m afraid… we likely won’t be seeing each other again.”

An apology? Wen Jue turned to look. Zhanyu said, “There’s no need for an apology.”

If one were to say that Liu Chenglin was wicked, he certainly was—he had taken his medicine and handed it over to Xu Chengli, and the words he spoke on the day he was exposed were indeed cutting. But upon reflection, after he went to see Xu Chengli, it was Liu Chenglin who had risked his own safety to go to the Sect Master.

Whether out of fear or a sense of guilt, he went to see the Sect Master—that much was true.

“Even if you don’t want an apology, I… I still want to thank you,” Liu Chenglin said, casting a cautious glance at the two people behind Zhanyu.

If Lu Zhanyu had named more than just Xu Chengli in the main hall that day, his fate today would likely have been no better than Xu Chengli’s.

“We lived in the same courtyard, and I treated you poorly. Thank you for letting bygones be bygones,” Liu Chenglin said, pressing his lips together. Zhanyu shook his head. “There’s no need. You are not someone of great importance to me.”

He didn’t say it simply because he didn’t care.

“Since he’s not someone of great importance to you, then go on, Zhanyu.” 

“All right, Uncle Wen.”

Zhanyu walked past Liu Chenglin and followed Wen Jue.

Liu Chenglin didn’t chase after him; he merely watched, feeling a vague sense of anger welling up inside him, yet also an inexplicable sense of loss. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was.

Shen Yun turned back and glanced at Liu Chenglin, who was still standing there. Suddenly, he asked in puzzlement, “Brother Zhanyu, why have you come to the Shanning Realm?”

Even though his cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, given Brother Zhanyu’s intelligence, he surely wouldn’t have come here just to be bullied. And even if this was his first time in the Spirit Mountain Realm, he could have gone straight to the Red Cloud Sea to find me.

After all, they knew each other. Even if only out of respect for Senior Lu Yi and Senior Qin Zhou, they wouldn’t let anyone bully Zhanyu. Zhanyu opened his mouth, then didn’t know what to say.

“It’s simply that he’s never seen what a cultivation sect is like since childhood. He figured that now he’s lost the title of Young City Lord of Demon-Immortal City and no longer has the protection of his elders, this would be a good opportunity to see what an ordinary cultivation sect is really like.” 

Wen Jue cut straight to the heart of the matter. “These are not good times. We can hold our heads high because we’re stronger than others. But as for those below… all this scheming and backstabbing within the sects—seeing too much of it only clouds the mind.”

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Lu Zhanyu’s face. “Uncle Wen…”

“Don’t play like that again.” Wen Jue shot him a glance. “You don’t seem to feel much pain yourself, but you’ve given us elders nothing but worry.”

Zhanyu pressed his lips together but smiled. “Uncle Wen, I was wrong.” Wen Jue gave a soft snort, choosing not to hold it against him.

He had watched Zhanyu grow up. Didn’t he know deep down whether he was good or evil?

If Xu Chengli could truly have the medicine taken from right under Zhanyu’s nose, then the position of Young City Lord of Immortal-Demon City should rightfully be his. The Zhanyu of today bore a striking resemblance to Lu Yi when he first entered the Sword Sect—back when he was just over a thousand years old.

Whenever he got injured in a sparring match—even if it was just a minor scrape—he’d rush back to the village immediately, afraid that if he waited a single day, the wound would heal, and Qin Zhou wouldn’t be able to see it.

Qin Zhou was right about one thing.

In their eyes, Zhanyu was nothing more than a child.

As they were speaking, suddenly, the spiritual energy all around them was rapidly absorbed. It surged in unison toward the direction behind them.

This is…

Immediately afterward, a golden pillar of light shot skyward. A seventh-tier spirit artifact had manifested.

Shen Yun stared in astonishment.

The Shanning Realm was rich in spiritual energy, yet in that instant, it seemed as though the spiritual energy within a radius of dozens of miles had been completely absorbed. The golden light reflecting in his eyes nearly stole the color from his pupils.

Wen Jue glanced back, “That idiot Shisi—I hope he doesn’t get lost.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Shisi didn’t actually get lost; he just took a wrong turn.

After leading his group out of the Dark Hall, he headed toward the Red Cloud Sea. Everyone was clad in black robes and cloaks; though they came from the Dark Hall, they were good people. As they walked, they did good deeds along the way.

Whenever they encountered someone in need of a helping hand, they never hesitated to lend it.

For instance, when they encountered injured cultivators on the road, they would treat their wounds and then help escort them back to their sects.

The rescued cultivator asked them with hopeful eyes which sect or school they belonged to. The junior leaders of the Dark Hall stammered a bit before revealing their name: they were from the Thousand Machinations Hall—a small, newly established sect.

“The Thousand Machinations Hall… I will never forget the kindness of your elders.”

Upon receiving the thanks, the Dark Hall members all pulled their hoods down a bit—a bit shy.

“I always said that it’s not just beast tamers who deserve respect in this world, right?” Shisi declared passionately. 

The crowd: “Right!”

Duyan, watching from the side, snorted.

“Why are you scowling again?” Shisi asked, staring at the demon wolf whose face was a picture of displeasure. The demon wolf glared back at him, saying nothing.

Over the past few days, Duyan had figured it out: his master, the Demon Beast Tamer, had somehow learned the language of demon beasts and could now understand what they were saying.

In this entire world, there actually existed a human who could understand the language of demon beasts. It was simply beyond belief, but it seemed he truly was the Chosen One. From that moment on, Duyan made up his mind: he would keep his mouth shut.

Shisi patted the wolf on the head.

“Awoo!” That hurt!

Shisi narrowed his eyes. “If you’re not speaking, what kind of mischief are you plotting in your mind?” 

Duyan: “Woof woof woof woof!” He wasn’t plotting anything!

His inner dan was still in this guy’s hands! How dare he even think of anything!

“Don’t get any funny ideas,” Shisi warned again. Duyan let out a weak howl.

He wanted to go back—back to the Red Cloud Sea.

He had to find his true form. Even if Lu Yi kept him pinned at the bottom of the lake, he had no intention of doing good deeds alongside this Demon Beast Tamer master! It was so frustrating, so incredibly frustrating!

Who could possibly understand the agony of having his wolf head pounded on every single day!

He was a mighty spirit transformation-stage demon beast, yet his status was lower than that of the little fox by his master’s side, who was only good for warming hands. He was a demon beast, after all!

Well, he’d just have to endure it a little longer. Once he returned to the Red Cloud Sea…

…he wouldn’t have to endure this humiliation any longer! Duyan comforted himself with these thoughts.

Just then, a beam of light suddenly appeared in the eastern sky. This caused all the Dark Hall cultivators to stop in their tracks.

“Hall Master, what is that?”

Shisi stared intently for two seconds, then suddenly clapped his hands. “It’s the light of a Seventh-Tier Spirit Artifact manifesting!” The Village Chief—it must be the Village Chief! He, Shisi, was going to find the Village Chief!

Shisi took a stride and mounted the Demon Wolf Beast. “Everyone, turn around and move at full speed! Head toward that light!” 

Duyan: “……”

Shisi slapped the wolf’s head. “Go!”

Duyan tried to resist, “But—weren’t we supposed to go to the Red Cloud Sea? It’s on the other side.” 

“We’re not going to the Red Cloud Sea anymore. We’re heading to where that beam of light is landing!”

Duyan felt like crying, but had no tears left.

Why had they suddenly decided not to go to the Red Cloud Sea? He wanted to go back… What did the emergence of a seventh-tier spirit artifact have to do with them…

Wait a minute, what tier?

The Demon Wolf suddenly raised its head, gazing intently at the golden light in the distance. Could it be… the final Divine Artifact has appeared?

If all ten Divine Artifacts are gathered, doesn’t that mean my life is forfeit?! No, he had to go and seize that Divine Artifact!

The Demon Wolf surged forward at full speed.

Shisi, who had nearly been knocked off his feet: “……”

“Thud!”

One punch later, the Demon Nightmare was subdued.

As he slowed his pace, he made up his mind—never underestimate a demon beast just because it’s poor!

Aaaah, once he rules the world, the very first thing he’ll do is find out what sound this Dark Hall Master’s head makes when it hits the ground!