Chapter 1 The Offering Temple

“Gongyuan…”

Across from a wine shop on the fourth floor, Yan Xiake quietly observed the Gongyuan, a ghostly fire flickering under his cloak.

Looking at the Gongyuan, he inadvertently thought of himself more than a decade ago.

At that time, he was confident in his talent, not taking anyone in the world seriously. Along the way, he easily obtained the top spot in the county, prefecture, and academy examinations, which further fueled his arrogance, scorning nobles and laughing at kings…

During the provincial examination, disregarding the three-day time limit, he submitted his paper after only half a day and rushed to the military examination.

Alone, with a single sword, he defeated an entire cohort of military examinees, forcing them to hide their faces and flee, and won the top spot in the military examination in one fell swoop.

On the day of the palace examination, he was confident and aloof, aiming to become both the top scholar in the civil and military examinations in one day, achieving San Yuan and Liu Shou (winning the top scholar in six different categories), shaking the capital and causing nobles throughout the city to want him as their son-in-law.

Gazing at the Gongyuan, the scenes of the past seemed to flash before his eyes.

He thought his heart would be very complex, but it was very calm, without any ripples.

Even Sa Wuling attracted more of his attention.

Anyone with Daoist arts would inevitably be detected upon entering the Gongyuan. The only reason he dared to let Sa Wuling try was because he knew that Sa Wuling did not possess any magical power, or rather, his aura, like An Qi Sheng’s, was different from the five paths of Daoism, Buddhism, demons, ghosts, and evil.

Even so, he was prepared to strike at any time.

He was relieved only after seeing Sa Wuling enter the Gongyuan gropingly.

His gaze shifted, looking at the majestic imperial city in the due north of the city, and a hint of killing intent brewed in his heart.

There were quite a few people in the wine shop. The passing heroes of the martial world clinked glasses, talked loudly, discussing many events in the martial world, and also intermingled with many legends of seeking immortals.

No one knew that the cloaked figure by the window harbored a killing intent in his heart, wanting to kill the current emperor again.

…

Due north of Qingdu, adjacent to the imperial city.

Several Daoists stopped here, looking at the magnificent and luxurious Daoist temple not far away, with different expressions.

The old Daoist at the head shook his head inwardly, but the minds of the younger Daoists were quite active, and they couldn't help but feel admiration and awe.

“Grandmaster, this Heavenly Will Sect is truly magnificent, much more luxurious than our Innate Temple.”

A young Daoist couldn’t help but say in a low voice, unable to hide his envy.

They were the Daoists from the Innate Temple who had been invited. Their grandmaster, Innate Zhenren (True Man), had already cultivated supernatural powers and survived the Four Nine Heavenly Tribulation, and his reputation was quite high.

Below the Yuanshen (Primordial Spirit) realm, his name was the most resounding.

“It’s certainly not in the style of our Daoist family. What’s the point of being so extravagant?”

Some Daoists also shook their heads.

For cultivators, gold and silver were of little use, only having some effect when traveling in the mortal world or when needing to assign tasks to ordinary people.

How much silver would it cost for the Heavenly Will Sect to build so splendidly?

This kind of act of competing with the people for profit was not the style of their Daoist family.

“There are ways to establish Daoism in the mountains, and there are ways to manifest before the world. Splendor and extravagance will naturally make people more convinced than dilapidated temples and thatched huts. Just now, weren't you also shocked?”

Innate Zhenren stroked his white beard, his narrow eyes slightly narrowed, and said:

“Daoist Xiao, am I right?”

“Hahaha! Daoist Innate is right. The people of this world are ignorant and don’t recognize highly skilled True Men, but they are particularly fond of these few taels of gold, silver, and copper! If that’s the case, it might as well be good to take some gold and silver to decorate the scene.”

Laughter echoed, and the many disciples of the Heavenly Will Sect who welcomed guests in front of the gate bowed in unison:

“We have seen the Vice Sect Leader (Grandmaster)!”

The faces of the Daoists behind Innate Daoist also tightened.

Before the laughter fell, Xiao Feng had already come out of the door in a fluttering Daoist robe, bowing from dozens of feet away:

“Daoist Innate, it has been a Jiazi (sixty years) since our last farewell. This little brother really misses you!”

“Daoist Xiao is burdened with many affairs, so it’s usually not good to disturb you.”

Innate Daoist also smiled faintly, returning the greeting.

His attitude was neither close nor distant.

“Not as good as Daoist Brother’s purity in the mountains.”

Xiao Feng’s smile did not diminish, and said:

“The Sect Leader has not yet emerged from seclusion and cannot greet you in person. Daoist Innate, please don’t blame him.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

Hearing that the Heavenly Will Zhenren was still in seclusion, a flash of light flickered in Innate Daoist’s eyes.

Only then did he look at a small Daoist nun who was inseparable from Xiao Feng:

“Is this a newly accepted disciple of Daoist Xiao?”

The small Daoist nun was quite pretty, with a childishness that had not yet faded from her face, seeming to be only eight or nine years old, but there was often a hint of maturity in her clear, cold eyes that did not match her age.

It seemed similar to seizing a body and reincarnation, but it was similar and yet not.

“This is a Daoist child I accepted two years ago. I haven’t formally registered her yet, but her talent is acceptable. In a few years, I can accept her as a disciple.”

Xiao Feng glanced at the small Daoist nun.

The small Daoist nun had already bowed slightly, and said in a crisp voice:

“Disciple Ye Xiaoyi, greetings, Great Zhenren.”

“She possesses spiritual and beautiful essence, and her bones and talents are extraordinary.”

Innate Daoist casually took out a talisman, flicked it, and it had already crossed the void and landed in Ye Xiaoyi’s hand:

“This is a Spirit Gathering Talisman, and it has some small uses.”

“Spirit Gathering Talisman!”

The disciples behind Innate Daoist were all surprised.

This Spirit Gathering Talisman was no ordinary talisman, but a supernatural talisman. In other words, as long as there was heaven and earth essence, it could always exist.

Wearing it for a long time could not only change one's physique, but also prolong life and increase the speed of cultivation.

What was even more rare was that it could be passed on to future generations.

It was almost equivalent to a family heirloom.

They didn't have such a talisman.

“Daoist Brother is too polite.”

Xiao Feng was also a little surprised by Innate Zhenren’s generosity. After smiling, he also took out a snow-white porcelain bottle in return:

“This is a pill refined with the Grass Reversion Pill, which can best help increase one's cultivation. Although Daoist Brother can’t use it, I think it will be of some use to your disciples.”

Grass Reversion Pill.

Innate Zhenren’s eyes moved, and he looked at the few disciples who were also surprised:

“Since it was given by the Zhenren, you should accept it.”

Only then did the disciples accept it.

And Ye Xiaoyi silently stretched out her hand to take the talisman.

“Daoist Innate, please come in. Zhenren Tianhu, Pavilion Master Yi, and Zhenren Zilei have already arrived and are waiting in the main hall.”

Xiao Feng woke up as if from a dream, waved his hand, and the middle door opened wide.

The people he mentioned were all famous Tribulation Crossing Zhenren within the Great Qing Territory, whose cultivation was still above him, either the founder of a sect or the head of a sect.

“Several Daoists have arrived early enough.”

Innate Daoist smiled lightly, and walked into the gate side by side with Xiao Feng.

The few people Xiao Feng mentioned were all from the sects that had the deepest friendship with the Heavenly Will Sect, so it was natural for them to arrive early.

A group of Innate Temple disciples curiously looked at the small Daoist nun in front of the door, and then followed.

The Heavenly Will Sect occupied a large area, with artificial mountains, lakes, pavilions, and towers. The floor paved with white jade had no gaps. Walking in it felt like walking in a fairyland.

The disciples of the Innate Temple showed calm expressions on their faces, but their hearts were surging with waves.

This was no longer the luxury of mortals that they had imagined. The artificial mountains, the lakes, the magnificent halls, and the white jade floors were all engraved with patterns, which outlined each other.

It transformed into a huge formation that was difficult to describe.

The abundance of spiritual energy here was more than a notch above their mountain gate.

They could actually build such a blessed land and a holy place for cultivation in Qingdu City!

Unconsciously, everyone’s awe for the Heavenly Will Zhenren deepened.

Only Innate Daoist was not surprised at all, and walked towards the main hall with Xiao Feng, talking and laughing as usual.

A disciple looked into the distance.

He saw that there seemed to be streams of aura escaping from the main hall, some detached, some peaceful, some cold, some evil, some sinister…

At a glance, it was unknown how many people were inside.

…

Ye Xiaoyi pinched the Spirit Gathering Talisman, dazed, as if in a trance. The Heavenly Will Sect disciples who welcomed guests in front of the gate did not dare to disturb her.

They only thought she was comprehending the mysteries of the Spirit Gathering Talisman.

In fact, she was communicating with a flickering divine will in her mind:

“Teacher, what should I do?”

The divine will was extremely subtle, and the fluctuations it emitted were almost non-existent.

Ye Xiaoyi was seriously asking for advice.

Because this divine will had saved her three years ago, and in recent years, it had been silently guiding her cultivation.

It was the only teacher she acknowledged in her heart.

The divine will fluctuated, and the invisible fluctuations turned into a line of words in her mind:

“Just wait.”

Ye Xiaoyi agreed in her heart, and was a little curious:

“Teacher, you want me to wait for someone outside the door. Are you waiting for Senior Brother?”

“Consider him half your junior brother.”

While the divine will responded, it silently flowed down from her eyebrows, turning into an extremely subtle fluctuation and dissipating out of her body:

“He’s here.”

“Teacher…”

Ye Xiaoyi felt extremely reluctant in her heart as the divine will left, mixed with fear, nostalgia, and other emotions.

But she still didn’t show it.

She had experienced too much, and at a young age, she had already learned how to hide her emotions and expressions.

She pretended to look casually. The invisible fluctuation spread with the wind across the long street, floating towards a pedestrian in a black cloak at the corner.

Was that the junior brother?

But, why only half?

Whoosh~

On the long street, a slight breeze seemed to blow, stirring Yan Xiake’s cloak.

“Zhenren An’s means left here really exist?”

The moment the fluctuation entered his body, Yan Xiake’s body trembled, but he forcibly suppressed it. He pretended to be ignorant and walked through the Heavenly Will Sect's gate with the crowd, heading into the distance.

He could feel the small Daoist nun’s probing gaze, but he didn’t stop and quickly passed by.

After walking past three or four long streets and circling back and forth a few times, Yan Xiake slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

As his spirit relaxed, it seemed as if a light shone brightly in his heart, illuminating the darkness.

Vaguely, in that light, a divine sword seemed to rise and fall.

The divine sword had no hilt and seemed to be colorless, but as Yan Xiake’s mind sensed it, he seemed to ‘see’ the myriad colors of the world in that divine sword!

The brilliant starlight, the scorching sun, the beautiful mountains and rivers, the verdant green of vegetation, the sparkling blue lake… and a white-clad swordsman sitting quietly by the lake, with an aura vast and ethereal, like a banished immortal.

This colorless divine sword seemed to contain the essence of the world.

For no reason, he felt the essence contained in this divine sword in his heart.

It was a set of swordsmanship.

A set of swordsmanship with only one move.

Its name was Sword Twenty-Three.