As a third-rank Realized Person, Zhihua had always possessed an open-minded and free-spirited nature.
Her earlier words of praise toward Zhou Wuji had carried a hint of teasing. Yet seeing him employ every conceivable tactic to slay Chen Dalu, she could not help but admire him from the bottom of her heart.
Back when she was at the sixth rank, she had possessed no such capability!
A twenty-two-year-old at the seventh rank was nothing out of the ordinary, but a twenty-two-year-old at the sixth rank would be considered a talent even in the Arctic Sect.
Zhou Wuji's mastery of combat arts and his nuanced, subtle application of spells and swordsmanship were arguably peerless at his level.
Even more remarkable were his handsome features and lofty bearing, an appearance that naturally endeared him to others.
Though Zhihua was a Daoist nun, she cared little for ordinary worldly conventions. Her appreciation of his looks and poise was just like her admiration for his martial arts and magic—entirely devoid of any romantic sentiment.
Offering him praise once more, Zhihua spoke with noticeably greater sincerity and emotion. For a minor Yunlong Branch Abbey to produce such a talent was indeed an unexpected surprise.
Zhou Wuji cupped his fists in salute. "I was fortunate not to have failed the mission."
He did not feign modesty. Zhihua's compliments had merely acknowledged the truth without exaggeration, and false modesty was uncalled for.
Realized Person Zhihua smiled. "You did very well."
With a flick of her finger, a speck of azure star flame settled upon Chen Dalu's remains.
The flame flared brightly, and in its azure luminescence, Chen Dalu's mangled corpse dissolved and transformed into light.
In the blink of an eye, Chen Dalu had scattered in all directions as motes of azure starlight, leaving behind not even a trace of ash.
Only the discarded iron staff nearby remained as the sole proof that Chen Dalu had ever existed.
Zhou Wuji's eyes lit up. What a marvelous technique!
His biggest dread had always been cleaning up after a fight; he routinely had to dig a massive pit and prepare firewood and kerosene, a chore both exhausting and troublesome. If he could master such a trick, nothing could be better.
Having lived two lives, Zhou Wuji knew that opportunities were fleeting. Having taken a fancy to Zhihua's wondrous art, he was determined to ask about it directly.
Waiting for Realized Person Zhihua to look upon him with favor and volunteer to impart her secret method was not entirely impossible, but the odds were far too slim.
Without hesitation, Zhou Wuji respectfully inquired, "Realized Person, may I ask what sublime method you just used? It is truly peerless."
Seeing right through his intentions, Realized Person Zhihua was not offended; instead, she found it rather amusing.
As an orthodox Daoist school of the highest standing, the Arctic Sect maintained strict rules. When ordinary cultivators met a Realized Person like her, they were universally reverent, terrified of the slightest impropriety. Even the seasoned Zhiyuan was extraordinarily polite toward her.
For Zhou Wuji to ask so directly about the workings of a spell was somewhat outside protocol, but that very audacity highlighted the young man's sharpness and spirit.
She smiled. "This is a variation of the Tianji Sword from the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword. Tianji is adept at change, capable of converting astral power into the shifting properties of water and fire. Because of this, the Tianji lineage is exceptionally skilled at artifact crafting."
With an amicable expression, she continued, "I hear you have no master. If you are willing to enter the Yuheng lineage, I can personally instruct you in the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword."
Zhihua did not speak of taking him as an apprentice. There was a generation's difference in seniority between them, and taking him as a disciple would violate the sect's regulations. Though she was indifferent to such rules, the sect would never permit her to act with abandon.
Not taking him as a disciple was no great loss; what she valued was his combat talent. Even if Zhou Wuji never advanced to the upper three ranks in his lifetime, relying on the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword would be enough for him to sweep through peers of his rank, and that sheer combat prowess would make him a pillar of the upper abbey.
Zhou Wuji felt sorely tempted. Having lived two lives, he had never cared about factional divisions between lineages. Moreover, he had cultivated under Daoist Yiyuan and had never received any benefits from the Tianshu lineage. To him, jumping from Tianshu to Yuheng was merely an internal transfer within the sect—completely normal. Only defecting to another sect would count as true betrayal.
However, jumping ship to Yuheng posed two dilemmas. First, it would bring scorn and curses upon his master, Daoist Yiyuan; second, it would deliver a vicious slap to Yizhen's face. After all, Daoist Yizhen had conducted the ordination ceremony for him, and everyone in the sect already considered him Yizhen's man. If he jumped to the Yuheng lineage, Daoist Yizhen would lose face completely.
As for Daoist Yiping, he probably would not care much. Wuming would certainly feel hurt and saddened, though she would not blame him too harshly...
Yet the greatest damage would be to his own reputation. The label of traitor would become his identity, and no matter how earth-shattering his future accomplishments were, people would still revile him as a turncoat. It was just like how Lü Bu, no matter how valiant in battle, could never shake off the derogatory moniker of 'the slave with three surnames'—a label that had ultimately allowed Liu Bei to end his life with a single word.
Most importantly, even if he did not mind the traitor's title, there was no need to deliberately defect to Yuheng just to learn the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword. He possessed the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment; whether sword arts or spells, he could cultivate them to the very pinnacle. Zhiyuan had also mentioned that he could strive to become the sect leader's true disciple in the future, at which point the secret arts of all seven lineages would be his for the taking. But if he became a traitor, no matter how brilliantly he performed, he would never be chosen as the sect leader's true disciple.
Zhou Wuji's thoughts raced as he weighed the pros and cons. As great as the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword was, it was not worth trading his reputation for.
He bowed sincerely toward Realized Person Zhihua. "Realized Person, the seven lineages share the same roots and origin. Tianshu and Yuheng are fundamentally of one family, so why make such a rigid distinction?"
Zhihua was somewhat amused. The boy wanted to learn the secret art without switching lineages; he clearly wanted to reap the benefits for free.
She said languidly, "Since the seven lineages make no distinction, what are you afraid of by coming to Yuheng?"
"If the seven lineages make no distinction, why must I go to Yuheng?" Zhou Wuji countered with a clear voice.
Realized Person Zhihua could not help laughing heartily. Turning to Zhiyuan, she remarked, "This boy has inherited Senior Brother's true teachings."
She was remarking on how slippery Zhou Wuji was, just like Zhiyuan. Considering Zhiyuan's advanced years, however, she could not say it too bluntly.
Zhiyuan gave a dry chuckle. "Realized Person is jesting."
Her smile faded, and Realized Person Zhihua said coolly, "The endless squabbling among the seven lineages is truly tiresome."
Looking back at Zhou Wuji, she said, "You are clever and capable, but above all, you have courage and broad-mindedness. That is extraordinarily rare."
Zhou Wuji kept silent, merely lowering his gaze and listening deferentially. He had said his piece and shown his wit; whether it succeeded or not, now that Realized Person Zhihua was speaking formally, he could not interrupt.
"Our meeting is fate. As a senior in the sect, I ought to bestow a meeting gift upon a junior. I hereby impart to you this routine of the Tianji Sword. Remember well not to display it carelessly, lest you invite trouble."
Realized Person Zhihua flicked her finger, sending a speck of spiritual light straight into the spot between Zhou Wuji's brows.
Zhou Wuji's divine sense jolted as the foreign light coalesced into a projection of Realized Person Zhihua, expounding upon the myriad methods and variations of the Tianji Sword...
Zhiyuan was taken aback. He had long heard that Realized Person Zhihua was open-minded, free-spirited, and unconstrained by convention, but he had never expected her to be this unrestrained. Granting Zhou Wuji a path of the Tianji Sword upon their very first meeting, even if only a partial sword incantation, was technically a breach of the rules between the seven lineages.
One could only say that upon reaching the realm of a Realized Person, one earned the right to act willfully. Even if others learned that she had imparted a secret technique to Zhou Wuji, none would dare find fault with her.
Zhiyuan cupped his fists solemnly. "For Realized Person to nurture a junior in such a manner, I thank you on Wuji's behalf."
"A trivial matter, nothing worth mentioning."
With a sweep of her sleeve, Realized Person Zhihua pulled the unconscious Chen Chaofeng inside. Nodding slightly to Zhiyuan, she said, "The matter here is concluded. I shall return to the upper abbey first. I leave the remaining trivialities to Senior Brother's disposal. Farewell..."
Before Zhiyuan could answer, Zhihua swept her sleeve, activated her technique, and drifted away into the distance.
Just as Zhou Wuji opened his eyes, he saw Zhihua enveloped in a mantle of azure spiritual light, soaring through the air at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, she had left the cave and vanished without a trace.
Filled with envy, Zhou Wuji asked Zhiyuan, "Abbot, what spell was that?"
"The sword escape from the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword, perhaps?"
Zhiyuan was not certain. His realm was too low, after all, and he knew nothing of the secret arts of the third rank.
Zhou Wuji grew even more envious. Flying through the sky and diving into the earth by riding a sword—this was the true demeanor of a third-rank Realized Person!
He murmured to himself, "I wonder when I might possess such divine abilities."
"Though sword escape is swift, it drains true qi terribly. One can fly a thousand li or eight hundred li at most in a single go. Unless it is an emergency, even a Realized Person will not travel by flight."
Zhiyuan sounded somewhat dismissive. Riding the wind and soaring through the sky was indeed the dream of every cultivator, yet the technique came with numerous restrictions and was not particularly practical.
Unwilling to dwell on the subject, he shifted the topic. "That you could hold fast to your original heart and refuse to enter the Yuheng lineage shows a steadfast loyalty that is truly commendable."
Zhou Wuji found it somewhat amusing; the old Daoist had actually used the word 'steadfast,' which showed just how fierce the rivalry among the lineages truly was! That also demonstrated just how precious it was for Realized Person Zhihua to impart the Tianji Sword to him, even if the sword incantation only went up to the fifth rank.
Though unconcerned in his heart, Zhou Wuji maintained a solemn facade. "I am a disciple of Tianshu; how could I ever turn to another lineage?"
Zhiyuan sighed again. "Realized Person Zhihua is barely in her early thirties, yet she is already a third-rank Realized Person with a great chance of attaining the first rank in the future. It is truly a pity that you refused her invitation."
Zhou Wuji was left speechless. The old man was arguing both sides of the coin.
He had no choice but to declare his loyalty once more: "Rest assured, Abbot. Even if I become the sect leader's true disciple, I will never renounce my identity as a member of the Tianshu lineage!"
Zhiyuan shook his head. He had genuinely felt pity on Zhou Wuji's behalf, not merely probing his intentions. After a moment's thought, he asked, "When did you open the Heavenly Gate?"
"When the Northern Emperor bestowed his blessing, I broke through the Heavenly Gate in one surge. I was afraid of inciting jealousy, so I did not dare speak of it."
Zhou Wuji fabricated an explanation for himself. To slay Chen Dalu, he had been forced to reveal his sixth-rank cultivation. Claiming that the Northern Emperor's blessing had opened his Heavenly Gate provided at least a plausible narrative. At the sixth rank, one could pre-store the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword within the sea of consciousness.
Sure enough, Zhiyuan nodded slightly, accepting the story. The old man could not help letting out another sigh. "A talent like yours will not be buried, no matter who comes to oversee the branch abbey."
Zhou Wuji was taken aback. "Abbot, you are leaving?"
Zhiyuan nodded. "Nearly ten thousand people died, and the hearts of the people in Yunyang City have been thrown into turmoil. Someone must bear the responsibility. The Five Dragons Gang committed monstrous evils, and no one expected the Myriad Fiends Cult to be behind them. It was my indecisiveness that brought about this calamity."
"The Myriad Fiends Cult?"
"The Myriad Fiends Cult is the root of all unorthodox and evil paths. The so-called Yin-Yang Dao, Heavenly Ghost Sect, Corpse God Cult, and Seven Emotions Mansion are all offshoots of it. The Myriad Fiends Cult calls itself the Myriad Gods Cult and worships the Chaos Fiend King. Its heritage is ancient, and beneath the Cult Master are the Six Paths Fiend Masters, said to preside over the six paths of existence. Every one of them is an exceptionally formidable power." Zhiyuan knew little of the Myriad Fiends Cult himself and could only offer a broad outline.
Zhou Wuji had always thought demonic cults were shadowy groups of little real consequence, never expecting an organization as powerful as the Myriad Fiends Cult to exist.
He spoke up on Zhiyuan's behalf: "Since the Five Dragons Gang had the backing of the Myriad Fiends Cult, this matter has even less to do with you, Abbot."
Zhiyuan was rather philosophical about it. "I am getting old. Returning to the upper abbey to retire is not a bad outcome."
Zhou Wuji fell silent. Greed for money aside, Zhiyuan had always treated him well. With such an abbot in charge, life at the branch abbey had been quite comfortable. If a new abbot took over, there was no telling what the situation might become. The intense factional fighting within the sect naturally made him anxious about the future.
Meeting Realized Person Zhihua had also given him a glimpse of the might of a third-rank cultivator, deepening his yearning for the upper abbey. He certainly did not want a change in abbots to sever his path there.
Sensing his concern, Zhiyuan consoled him, "You are already at the sixth rank; no incoming abbot will be able to suppress you, so there is no need to worry." The old man added sternly, "If anyone truly tries to make things difficult for you, I can still lend a hand from the upper abbey. I am merely retiring, not dead! I won't let anyone bully our Tianshu lineage!"
Zhou Wuji felt a touch of warmth. The old fellow truly was decent. While factional struggles were undesirable, they did force each lineage to band tightly together.
Taking advantage of the old man's emotional openness, Zhou Wuji hurriedly seized the moment. "Abbot, I will miss you dearly! Why not leave your precious sword behind? Whenever I look at it, I will be reminded of your voice and smiling face..."
"I'm not giving it to you—I'm selling it to you!"
The mention of money brought the old priest right back to his senses. "Do you have no conscience, you little brat? If I don't have money after I retire, am I supposed to drink the northwest wind? Anyone else could offer whatever sum they liked and I wouldn't sell, yet you're still not satisfied..."
Perhaps sharing that battle had deepened their bond, or perhaps Zhiyuan had truly recognized Zhou Wuji's competence, but the old man spoke without the slightest reservation...
Chapter 114