The burly man was named Feng Tie, an Earth-rank peak weapon wielder.
He was an acquaintance of the notorious defiler Grandmaster Hengshan; the two had once explored a secret realm together.
That secret realm had been fraught with perils, claiming the lives of several Earth-rank weapon wielders.
Only he and Grandmaster Hengshan had escaped alive.
It was through that ordeal that he had learned Grandmaster Hengshan's greatest secret.
Grandmaster Hengshan had once received an inheritance left by an otherworldly visitor. Following the methods of Thorn Blood, he had altered a guiling and ultimately merged with it, acquiring a bizarre ability.
Illusion arts!
The chief reason Grandmaster Hengshan had wrought havoc far and wide, building a notorious reputation without ever being brought down, was precisely his mastery of illusion arts.
Every time, he could swagger away in broad daylight.
This secret was likely known only to Feng Tie.
Thus, unlike the other Earth-rank weapon wielders watching the Shen family outpost, Feng Tie paid attention even if a cat slipped out from inside.
Unless one paid close attention, the chameleon that Chen Kangbao had transformed into would have been overlooked by the other Earth-rank weapon wielders.
Feng Tie was different.
He watched the chameleon, a smile in his eyes.
"Grandmaster Hengshan, what is this? Afraid I'll ask for a share of the spoils?"
Carrying the kitchen knife on his shoulder, Chen Kangbao grew anxious. He froze in place, hesitating deeply.
He did not dare move a muscle.
The burly man before him exerted immense pressure.
Seeing the chameleon remain still, Feng Tie's smile broadened. "Could it be that Grandmaster Hengshan wants to monopolize the Mysterious Yin Physique?"
The greatest reason Grandmaster Hengshan was hailed as a grandmaster was his bizarre illusion arts.
Yet once his methods were known, his combat strength would drop considerably.
If Hengshan had been a match for Feng Tie, how could he have let Feng Tie—the man who knew his deepest secret—remain alive?
"You have the wrong person. I am not Grandmaster Hengshan." At this point, Chen Kangbao concealed his form no longer. He shifted into an old man and spoke in a hoarse voice.
If he did not answer, Feng Tie's temperament would never allow the chameleon to walk away alive.
"Who are you... to know illusion arts as well?" Feng Tie was astonished, a trace of wariness surfacing on his face.
If the newcomer had been Grandmaster Hengshan, he could have simply admitted it openly; there was no need for such deception.
"The State of Ning doesn't seem to have someone like you... nor does the State of Moshan..."
"I am merely passing through. Would you allow me to leave?" Chen Kangbao asked tentatively.
"Leave the item behind," Feng Tie said coldly, eyeing the kitchen knife.
This old man had used illusion arts to sneak into the Shen family outpost just to steal a kitchen knife.
That knife was surely out of the ordinary.
Now that he had seen it, he had to discover what was so special about it.
"All right."
To Feng Tie's surprise, Chen Kangbao did not hesitate in the slightest. He tossed the kitchen knife straight in Feng Tie's direction.
Having thrown it, Chen Kangbao fled swiftly.
This caught Feng Tie completely off guard.
Leaving the kitchen knife behind just like that?
Wasn't he being far too cooperative?
Could there be a trap?
Even so, he quickly caught the kitchen knife.
He examined the knife closely, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. "What an exceedingly sharp kitchen knife. In terms of sharpness alone, it is likely no inferior to an Earth-rank artifact!"
Feng Tie assumed Chen Kangbao had been caught red-handed stealing a treasure and had thrown the knife to buy time for his escape.
"Wait, why is there a gap left along the edge of this kitchen knife?"
He scrutinized the knife, a puzzled expression in his eyes.
That gap was actually the opening for the zipper on the outer casing Qi Yuan had forged.
Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao had been in such a rush to leave that neither had paid attention to such details.
"An artifact within an artifact?" Delight flickered in Feng Tie's eyes.
If the outer shell alone rivaled an Earth-rank artifact, what kind of treasure lay inside?
Thrilled, he pried at the gap with force, trying to pull the inner knife out.
Right then, a helpless voice rang out.
"Fiddling with even a kitchen knife—you're a real pervert!"
The moment the voice fell, a flash of light burst forth.
In utter disbelief, Feng Tie clutched his throat as blood spurted violently.
His massive frame crashed to the ground. To his dying breath, he never imagined that this kitchen knife would be so sharp—and that it possessed a sentience of its own.
An artifact with sentience was a legendary divine artifact!
Yet how could the State of Ning possess a divine artifact?
Caught completely off guard by the ambush, he had no time to resist before dying on the spot.
Qi Yuan shifted his form, returning to his original appearance. "I didn't expect that killing someone with the kitchen knife would actually increase my proficiency a little."
He looked down at Feng Tie on the ground, his expression calm.
In a direct confrontation, with his strength only partially restored, Qi Yuan would have had to expend quite a few tricks to bring the man down.
Transforming into a kitchen knife for an unexpected sneak attack, however, had made it simple.
At such close range, against an unguarded opponent, a single slice was all it took.
Murmuring to himself, Qi Yuan began looting Feng Tie's corpse.
He fished out three Earth-rank artifacts:
A suit of soft armor, a short sword, and a lamp.
In addition, there were a hundred and ten thousand taels in silver banknotes inside the storage artifact.
This was likely the man's entire fortune.
"There are even letters from that defiler Hengshan?"
Inside the storage artifact, Qi Yuan spotted several letters.
The earliest ones were somewhat dated, written by Hengshan to Feng Tie, inviting him to explore a secret realm together.
"Shiwanshanjue?"
This secret realm was called Shiwanshanjue, located in an uninhabited zone on the border between the State of Ning and the State of Moshan.
It spanned a hundred thousand mountains stretching endlessly, with treacherous ridges, thick miasma, and various bizarre guiling lurking within.
Rumor had it that not even a Heaven-rank weapon wielder could cross Shiwanshanjue.
"According to Hengshan, he discovered a newly constructed underground palace in Shiwanshanjue?"
A newly built underground palace? That was rather intriguing.
"Shiwanshanjue... why does that name sound familiar to me?" Chen Kangbao muttered beside him.
Qi Yuan's gaze was calm. "It probably triggered a side quest of yours."
"Huh?" Chen Kangbao had no idea what a "side quest" was.
"By convention, we'll have to go take a look at Shiwanshanjue sooner or later.
"Hengshan and Feng Tie were very interested in this Shiwanshanjue.
"They even agreed that after abducting Shen Lingxuan, the three of them would head to that palace in Shiwanshanjue together. Once they finished dual cultivating and broke through to Heaven-rank weapon wielder, they would explore it again.
"Tsk, tsk. Imagining he can abduct the wife of me, the live-in son-in-law Qi Yuan—this defiler truly has a death wish!
"They also agreed to meet at Xianyun Temple in five days to discuss how to capture Shen Lingxuan.
"What wishful thinking."
Qi Yuan remarked indifferently.
...
"Milady, the young master... he's gone."
Anxiety showed in Zhishuang's eyes. Standing aboard a skiff, she handed a letter to Shen Lingxuan.
Zhishuang's features were cold and striking, yet standing before her mistress, that icy demeanor was entirely eclipsed.
Her mistress's coldness chilled one to the very soul.
"Delicacies of the mortal realm?" Shen Lingxuan read the letter, her expression tranquil.
"It must have been that Chen Kangbao who took the young master out, but... I don't know how Chen Kangbao managed to take him past the guards," Zhishuang offered her deduction.
"Investigate Chen Kangbao's identity. If... he harbors no ill intent toward Qi Yuan, let the matter rest for now," Shen Lingxuan said mildly.
So long as Qi Yuan was in no danger, things could run their course.
"Understood." Zhishuang nodded and hurried away.
Holding the letter, Shen Lingxuan's thoughts were complicated. "With... a spirit guarding him, he should come to no harm."
She knew many secrets, including some concerning Qi Yuan's father.
Back then, Qi Yuan's father had mysteriously disappeared, only to reappear abruptly, bestow something upon Qi Yuan, and subsequently perish.
According to what Shen Lingxuan knew, Qi's father had left behind protection for Qi Yuan's safety.
"According to what destiny revealed, you and I share a bond. Yet this bond..." Shen Lingxuan felt conflicted.
Her marrying Qi Yuan was naturally not solely because of his father, but also because of destiny.
Destiny was ethereal and elusive, impossible to fathom.
Even in her previous life, Shen Lingxuan had found it hard to see through.
Just then, another skiff drifted toward Shen Lingxuan. A green-robed man stood quietly upon it, gazing at Shen Lingxuan with admiring eyes.
"Junior Sister, it has been many days. Your cultivation has grown even more profound."
The newcomer was named Xie Danran, a true disciple of the Heavenly Sect and one of the top three in sequence among them. Barely past thirty, he was already an Earth-rank weapon wielder.
The gaze he cast upon Shen Lingxuan made no attempt to conceal his admiration and affection.
"I heard that Grandmaster Hengshan, the foremost defiler of the State of Moshan, has come to the implement master conference specifically for you, Junior Sister. Upon hearing this news, I was deeply worried.
"Grandmaster Hengshan is cunning and treacherous. Junior Sister, you are currently only a Mystic-rank weapon wielder. If you encounter him unprepared, you might not even have time to send a distress signal before being carried off by him.
"It so happens that I am patrolling Yeshan Lake as well. Why don't you travel with me, Junior Sister?
"Though my strength falls short of Grandmaster Hengshan's, should we encounter him, I can hold him off for a time and summon reinforcements from the sect." Xie Danran's voice was refined and gentle, his words steeped in devotion.
"Senior Brother, I already have a husband and must keep my distance from other men. I thank Senior Brother for your kind intentions." Shen Lingxuan's voice was chilling, keeping him ten thousand li away.
Xie Danran's expression shifted slightly, a spark of fury igniting deep in his eyes. "Junior Sister, I only went into secluded cultivation for three months, and you were wed. Was it because I angered you before my seclusion, and you casually married that Qi Yuan just to spite me...?"
"..." Shen Lingxuan's shoulders trembled faintly. "Senior Brother is truly... rendering me speechless. My marriage to my husband is the will of destiny; it has nothing to do with you."
The detachment in Shen Lingxuan's words was unmistakable.
"Please leave, Senior Brother. I would not want my husband to misunderstand."
"Are you... not afraid Grandmaster Hengshan will carry you off?" Xie Danran fumed with frustration. "If you are taken, do you know what fate awaits you? How could that useless husband of yours ever protect you?"
"See the guest out!" Shen Lingxuan waved a hand, and Xie Danran's skiff was abruptly propelled backward across the water.
Standing on the boat, Xie Danran clenched his fists, a raging fire burning in his chest.
"A Mysterious Yin Physique—that is the Mysterious Yin Physique! How could that trash be allowed to enjoy it!"
...
Xianyun Temple stood upon Mount Dongnan, an abandoned, dilapidated little shrine.
Outside the shrine was a weathered pavilion constructed of marble.
At this moment, a continuous drizzle fell over Mount Dongnan. Dressed in a blue gown, Shen Lingxuan sat just outside the pavilion, gazing at the gentle rain, lost in thought.
Within the rain, a strand of sword intent seemed to hide.
Once the rain ceased, that sword intent would reach its peak momentum, unleashing its mightiest strike.
Sitting in the pavilion, Shen Lingxuan wore an icy expression, appearing as though she had merged into one with the world.
Even if someone were to pass by outside, they would never notice her presence.
At this moment, the aura emanating from her was not that of a Mystic-rank weapon wielder, but distinctly an Earth-rank weapon wielder.
Right then, through the curtain of rain, two figures—one old, one young—appeared. The young man held an oil-paper umbrella, splashing water as he stepped through the mud.
"Him?"
Seeing the young man, Shen Lingxuan was taken aback.
She had seen this young man once near Kunling Ferry, and had encountered him again in the ghost market.
To think he would head here now?
Her expression instantly turned even colder.
At this moment, weren't all those heading to Xianyun Temple scoundrels contacted by that defiler Grandmaster Hengshan?
Shen Lingxuan knew full well what kind of schemes those villains harbored.
She had not expected this young man to be one of them.
Just then, the young man stopped in his tracks, glanced toward the pavilion, and called out, "Beauty, what a coincidence! We meet again. Mind if I come in to take shelter from the rain?"
Hearing this, a flicker of astonishment crossed Shen Lingxuan's beautiful eyes.
*He can see me?*
One had to realize that the current Shen Lingxuan had already attained the realm of the harmony of heaven and humanity.
In terms of combat prowess, she might not match a Heaven-rank weapon wielder, but in terms of comprehension and realm, she stood even higher than ordinary Heaven-rank weapon wielders.
Under the harmony of heaven and humanity, while she sheltered from the rain in this pavilion, it was virtually impossible for anyone to detect her.
Now that she had been discovered, a faint sense of crisis arose in her heart.
"This place does not belong to me. If you wish to shelter from the rain, sir, you may do so as you please," Shen Lingxuan replied mildly.
Qi Yuan stepped into the pavilion, looking at the graceful figure with a calm expression. "Beauty, regarding what I mentioned last time about becoming my mount—would you care to reconsider?"
"Ah... so cold!" Suddenly, Chen Kangbao felt a bone-chilling frost settle over him.
"Are you with the people inside Xianyun Temple?" Shen Lingxuan asked indifferently.
Originally, her plan had been to slowly gather momentum and unleash a single sword strike to severely wound the villains inside Xianyun Temple.
Now that she had been discovered, making a move would inevitably expose her, meaning today's plan had fallen through.
She felt a hint of danger.
She could not see through the young man before her at all.
Perhaps only by truly achieving the harmony of heaven and humanity and recovering the strength of her previous life could she pierce his veil.
"How about this? I'll help you take care of the people inside Xianyun Temple, and you become my mount in exchange. What do you say?" Qi Yuan extended the invitation once more.
Having finally found someone he took a liking to, how could he let the chance slip by?
Suspicion surfaced in Shen Lingxuan's eyes. "You aren't with them?"
"Not to discriminate based on looks, but they're so ugly—how could they possibly be with me?" Qi Yuan retorted.
"Young Master, I'm ugly too!" Chen Kangbao couldn't resist chiming in.
"Shut up!" Qi Yuan was rendered speechless. Why did this Chen Kangbao always talk back?
Shen Lingxuan shook her head. "No matter what, this humble woman will never become a mount."
"What a pity." Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked somewhat disappointed. He added, "Your sword momentum is quite good. Could you lend it to me for a moment?"
Shen Lingxuan's vigilance grew sharper.
The man before her could actually perceive even her sword momentum.
Did this not mean that if he wished to kill her, she would find it difficult even to flee?
"Why not?"
"Good. Watch closely."
Qi Yuan reached out his fair, clean palm and made a grasping motion toward the air.
Instantly, the curtain of rain falling from the heavens seemed to freeze.
The droplets hung suspended like beads strung together.
A sword materialized in his grip, piercingly cold and grim.
Holding the water sword, he thrust it forward from afar.
In an instant, the rain ceased.
The earth trembled, and the mountains shook.
Chapter 509