Chapter 63: An Old Acquaintance Encountered Again in Fuling

Dongfang Shun acted quickly; within just two or three days, he had gathered a considerable amount of demon beast hides and beast blood. The low-grade hides and blood were of little use—except for a few specific kinds of hides that could be refined into magical instruments, most were seldom collected. Yet Dongfang Shun had his own network among the outer disciples; a simple word from him, and someone would collect and deliver them for sale.

On the day of departure, Ji Yao sent Dongfang Shun a message, agreeing to meet at the entrance to the secret realm a month later, before setting off with Gu Qiu. She had never expected that what appeared to be a dashing sword flight would in practice be so awkward and grueling. High above, the cold wind howled, numbing Ji Yao’s throat. Even though Gu Qiu was carrying her on his sword, shielding her from the front, Ji Yao barely managed to sustain her balance with spiritual power, no longer needing to cling to Gu Qiu’s robe, yet she was still battered by the wind.

Only now did Ji Yao truly appreciate the benefits of traveling with a large group. Though progress was slow, at least there were dedicated flying artifacts to ride—no need to endure the elements day after day. This time, she was, in every sense, exposed to wind and dew, and Ji Yao dearly wished to ask how much longer it would take, but opening her mouth only filled her belly with cold wind and mist.

To make matters worse, Gu Qiu in front maintained the bearing of a worldly sword immortal, highlighting Ji Yao’s own disheveled state. Luckily, the ordeal lasted only a day. Just before sunset, Gu Qiu withdrew his flying sword, stopping a mile outside the gates of Fuling City, intending to enter on foot.

The moment her feet touched solid ground, Ji Yao could finally take a deep breath. Without delay, she sat cross-legged where she stood. Gu Qiu said nothing, simply cradled his sword and wandered over to a nearby tree, leaning against the trunk for a leisurely nap.

A quarter hour later, Ji Yao had recovered her composure, stood up, cast a cleansing spell to tidy herself, and finally spoke, “Uncle Gu, we can go now.”

Gu Qiu had already started back when Ji Yao stood, and upon hearing the formal address, he understood: this girl was once more intent on keeping her distance from him.

“Now you see why only those at Foundation Establishment can fly on swords?” Gu Qiu remarked, his words seemingly disconnected.

Ji Yao instantly grasped his meaning, and it was clear he had done this on purpose.

Sword flight was not the same as riding a dedicated flying artifact. Flying artifacts were inscribed with levitation and protection arrays—provided there was spiritual energy, one could ignore air currents and float aloft. Flying on a sword, however, relied entirely on the practitioner’s own spiritual power and consciousness to ascend, maneuver, and defend oneself.

Thus, Gu Qiu, flying at speed, could still appear elegant, but Ji Yao, only at the Qi Refining stage, could barely keep herself from being blown off, unable to worry about anything else.

“Uncle Gu, don’t you have a flying artifact?” Ji Yao asked.

Gu Qiu looked surprised, “Do I need one? Besides, isn’t sword flight faster?”

Well, she realized she was foolish to ask a sword cultivator such a question. They were, after all, the sort who could travel the world with a single sword.

Ji Yao decided to keep silent, reminding herself that once she reached Foundation Establishment, she must get a proper flying artifact, the kind powered by spirit stones—let’s see if those who hitch rides in the future dare not pay for their passage.

Fuling City was the largest cultivation city in Central Continent, jointly administered by seven major sects and the loose cultivator alliance. The so-called City Lord’s Mansion was, in truth, staffed on a rotating century-long basis by the seven sects and the alliance.

At present, the City Lord overseeing Fuling was a master sent by Qingyang Sect. Since Lingyun Sect and Qingyang Sect were at odds, Gu Qiu and Ji Yao had not worn sect robes but entered the city in ordinary attire.

Fuling City boasted teleportation arrays to every major sect’s market and main towns. The market near the Awakening Immortals Secret Realm also had such an array. So long as only a few people traveled—not a large group—taking the route through Fuling was the fastest.

Gu Qiu, realizing they would arrive at their destination by midnight if they left now, decided they should rest in the city overnight and depart via the teleportation array in the morning.

Yet, before they could settle in, Gu Qiu received a message from Mu Baiyun, who had not returned to the sect in some time. Upon receiving it, Gu Qiu frowned, “Junior Sister, find an inn and settle yourself first. I’ll assist Senior Brother Baiyun. Contact me by message if necessary.”

Before Ji Yao could respond, Gu Qiu left.

Ji Yao stood bewildered for a moment before realizing she had been abandoned. So be it—if he disliked her low cultivation, he could have said so. Ji Yao, knowing her own limitations, looked around and picked a discreetly located inn in which to wait.

In truth, Ji Yao had noticed Mu Baiyun’s message as well; apparently, he had tracked a demonic cultivator to the area, but once the suspect entered Fuling City, their aura was completely concealed, prompting Mu Baiyun to ask Gu Qiu—who was presently in the city—to keep an eye out.

Ji Yao knew Gu Qiu was off to meet Mu Baiyun, but she sensed their chances of finding the person were slim. After all, Mu Baiyun was a Golden Core cultivator with a wind spiritual root. Even if he tried not to alert the target, their tracks should not vanish so utterly just by entering Fuling City. Unless the suspect’s cultivation was higher—but if so, even Gu Qiu would be of little help, and a city like Fuling would never allow demonic cultivators in without scrutiny; they’d be stopped at the gate.

That left only one possibility: the suspect knew they were being followed and possessed a powerful concealment artifact.

With these thoughts in mind, Ji Yao proceeded upstairs to her reserved room.

No sooner had she reached the second floor than she heard a faintly familiar voice from the reception desk below. Instinctively, Ji Yao turned, catching sight of a woman in a frost-colored gown, her back to Ji Yao.

The woman’s aura was weak, at first glance no more than a newly initiated cultivator. To avoid being noticed, Ji Yao glanced as any ordinary person would, then continued on her way.

She opened the room’s warding spell, stepped inside, and closed the door. She didn’t restore the barrier immediately, but left a thread of her consciousness outside before releasing the ward.

Through her senses, Ji Yao watched as the frost-gowned woman walked to the end of the corridor and entered the last room.

Ji Yao withdrew her consciousness, her brows furrowing. Others might not recognize this woman, but Ji Yao remembered her well.

The woman was far more mature and alluring than when Ji Yao first met her—then, she was sixteen or seventeen, her expression still tinged with innocence. Now, seven years later, her face betrayed only world-weariness.

Even back then, she had already reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Her current cultivation couldn’t possibly be as it appeared; Ji Yao’s inability to discern it merely showed her own lack of skill—but for someone like Situ Jing, that was hardly a limitation.

Resolved, Ji Yao directed her consciousness into her storage space. This time, she would not allow herself to be caught off guard as she had been before.