“You want to send a Divine Connectivity cultivator to untangle the battle situation of the Core Refinement cultivators?”
No matter how respectful Jin Chuan’s attitude was or how tactfully he spoke, the meaning was perfectly clear:
[You manage all the affairs of Cliff City and maintain order within the city—so will you handle this matter or not?]
Geng Fu felt his head spinning as cold sweat began to pour down again. People’s thoughts are so strange—in agreeing on his end, and then watching the increasingly fierce scene outside, he truly felt that the Heavenly Wings Pavilion, which he had managed for decades, was teetering on the brink of collapse. But even more dangerous than the tower was his own life!
No matter which lord he had angered, he never ended well today…
He was even surprised he hadn’t collapsed onto the ground; he could only take out his handkerchief and keep wiping, muttering, “This is bad, this is really bad!”
Exactly what kind of disaster was unfolding, Manager Geng couldn’t figure out—simply because Yu Ci hadn’t responded at all.
Yu Ci had been watching the fight unfolding in the void outside the railing—even when Jin Chuan sought his advice.
Jin Chuan expected to see him falter, but little did he know that Yu Ci’s thoughts were entirely unrelated to earlier events.
At that moment, Yu Ci wondered: What exactly was the relationship between Lu Mingyue and Monk Yixin? Were they merely drinking buddies, or was Lu Mingyue a key figure in the chaos stirring in the Sky Rift Valley?
Yu Ci believed that Monk Yixin had companions. Judging by his experiences beneath the Sky Rift Valley, it was even possible that one of them was a cultivator of the Void Stepping realm. He also recalled that on the Divine Map, the vast mist flung out by Master Zheng Yan served as rather compelling evidence.
However, looking at Lu Mingyue now, he just didn’t seem to match that image at all.
Amid his doubts, he finally heard a heavy snort from Jin Chuan.
In the blink of an eye, Jin Chuan’s expression turned rather sour. No matter who it was, being ignored to that extent would dampen anyone’s mood.
Yu Ci wasn’t concerned with the young man’s inner turmoil. He simply thought the fellow’s brain must have been scorched by hatred. Under the current circumstances, even if he provoked repeatedly for a fleeting thrill, what good would that do? In the end, he’d just end up paying dearly—principal and interest!
Speaking of which, during this period, Jin Huan had been adjusting the external stance of the Sun Light Sect. Perhaps it could be seen as a clumsy test?
Coincidentally, Yu Ci needed just such an opportunity.
So, after Jin Chuan gritted his teeth and repeated his “request” for the second time, Yu Ci gave a clear response:
“Separate them!”
“Separate?”
No sooner had Jin Chuan finished speaking than sword energy from beyond the heavens cascaded like a waterfall, streaming down a thousand feet. It surged forward, causing clouds and mists on the high cliffs to roll like tides, followed by a buzzing sword howl.
For someone with cultivation as low as Geng Fu’s, all he felt was a buzzing sound in his ears, and he began to sway unsteadily; it was only with Yu Ci’s help from beside him that his plump body was steadied.
At that moment, looking again, Lu Mingyue and Zhao Ziyue—who had been locked in a fierce aerial battle—were now tumbling and crashing down in a messy heap. The overwhelming pressure of the sword energy, like the surging waves of the Yangtze River or an endless deep sea, had sealed the space around them, leaving only the cold, cutting sword intent slithering around like a dragon or a serpent, ready to strike.
In that state, the two Core Refinement cultivators even struggled to control their weapons, plummeting all the way down until they crashed onto the rocky ground of Cliff City, ending up in a complete heap.
For a moment, from the top to the bottom of Heavenly Wings Pavilion—and even the area surrounding the crash site of the two cultivators—everything fell silent.
Xie Yan made his move.
No one knew where this top disciple of Rifting Earth Sect—the foremost among three generations—was stationed, but that sword strike, turbulent like a flying waterfall, declared his presence with unmistakable clarity.
Next to Yu Ci, Jin Chuan and Geng Fu were left dumbfounded, while on the corridor bridge, Sha Cong, supporting his companion, wore an equally astonished expression.
*****
Yu Ci liked to gaze from the top floor of Heavenly Wings Pavilion, where one could see the full panorama of Cliff City, and which allowed him—temporarily deprived of the Divine Map—to once again feel in control of the overall situation.
After unleashing his sword strike, Xie Yan did not appear. However, Jin Chuan had no face left to linger and hurried downstairs. Yu Ci wasn’t sure what was in that kid’s head, but the message written all over his ashen face was enough for some to understand.
Geng Fu, who had just been caught in the middle, was still shaken. His plump body could hardly handle it, so after apologizing, he too went downstairs. As for Zhao Ziyue and Lu Mingyue, who had fallen, perhaps they had reached a reconciliation or were simply pacified by Xie Yan, and thus ceased their entanglement, hurrying off; at that moment, all of Heavenly Wings Pavilion was exceptionally quiet.
This was the might of Xie Yan’s sword strike—and it was also a testament to Yu Ci’s guidance.
The Dragon Fish resumed its frolicking and play, but of course it never forgot to siphon vital energy from Yu Ci to nourish itself, living a life of sheer indulgence. It had no sense of being a troublemaker, and naturally was unaware that it had already become the absolute focal point in many people’s hearts.
Yu Ci had been, in accordance with Xie Yan’s instructions, using the Spirit Control Technique to command the Dragon Fish and nurturing it with his own vital energy, in preparation for the Treasure Exchange Banquet eight days later; in this regard, his work was impeccable.
However, that did not mean he was completely adhering to Xie Yan’s orders, neglecting everything else in favor of obsessing over the Dragon Fish.
Yu Ci had his own affairs, principles, and pursuits. Before coming to Cliff City, he had sorted out the priorities of various matters and devised an overall plan. Even if the plan might change due to actual circumstances, it would not be thwarted by Xie Yan’s forcefulness.
After all, his purpose in coming to Cliff City was to achieve something.
Yu Ci’s most explicit goal was to enhance his cultivation, to find a truly viable opportunity for his Yin Spirit. This objective permeated all his matters, and even if things were somewhat delayed by the Dragon Fish now, he intended to make up for it later.
Beyond that, there were three specific tasks: foremost, undoubtedly, was to guard against demons, to prevent them from causing chaos, and to ensure the basic safety of the million citizens of Cliff City. This was the command of the sect—a line that must not be crossed—and all matters were to prioritize this as the fundamental principle of the mission.
Next was the task of consolidating control over Cliff City by setting up a channel for reliable communication with higher authorities—a matter that also encompassed the issue of the Sun Light Sect. Judging by current circumstances, it seemed that within the Sun Light Sect, from Jin Huan downward, there was no intention to cooperate with him. Therefore, he would need to establish a new channel that both embodied the sect’s will and could be smoothly controlled by him. He already had an idea for that.
Lastly—and most perilously—was the matter of probing the formidable power behind the conspiracy in the Sky Rift Valley. Yu Ci intended to leverage the immense strength of the Rifting Earth Sect to test the strong force behind the Sky Rift Valley conspiracy. This force was undoubtedly connected to Monk Yixin of the Pure Water Altar, and even the Mysterious Moon Sect was involved.
Yu Ci was well aware that achieving these three objectives on his own would be overreaching his capabilities; he had to rely on the power of the Rifting Earth Sect. And how to do that? Naturally, by merging with the western powerhouse of the cultivation world and becoming an inseparable entity. Once he was integrated into the Rifting Earth Sect and aligned his goals with theirs, he would be a giant capable of standing up to any force; otherwise, he would merely be an ant trampled by giants.
Yu Ci had already grasped the method of integration, just as the old daoist Yu Zhou had said: you must represent the sect’s will, and the sect’s will must be represented through you.
Thus, adhering to principles, not overstepping boundaries, and garnering as much support as possible was Yu Ci’s strategy in Cliff City, under which he could unleash all of his power.
So far, he had done well.
By nurturing the Dragon Fish, he had secured Xie Yan’s support. In Cliff City, Xie Yan was the true embodiment of the Rifting Earth Sect’s authority, and aligning with him was undoubtedly the wisest choice.
And thanks to his connection with Yu Zhou, Yu Ci could continuously test Xie Yan’s limits and garner more support. Surely, in Xie Yan’s heart, it was as clear as a mirror—this mutual understanding was the crutch Yu Ci could lean on, his greatest asset in Cliff City.
Hmm, doesn’t that have a hint of the “Dragon Fish Way”?
The Dragon Fish also seemed to sense his subtle change in thoughts, wagging its tail and weaving out from the verdant screen of bamboo shadows, then flying off into the vast sky beyond the railing—becoming the most exquisite embellishment to the panoramic view of Cliff City under the glow of the setting sun.
*****
After that cascading sword light earlier in the day, Cliff City had indeed fallen considerably silent.
Different groups of people had different views. Most of the city’s residents had witnessed the awe-inspiring presence of the Immortal of the Rifting Earth Sect, and as a result, their reverence deepened; whereas some had seen the high level of tacit understanding between the two figures from within the Rifting Earth Sect, which, to them, was not good news.
And no matter from which angle one looked, Zhao Ziyue and Lu Mingyue—who had been knocked flat to the ground by Xie Yan’s sword—had lost all face and dignity, appearing utterly miserable. In no time, the news spread throughout the city. Zhao Ziyue immediately adopted a much lower profile, and after taking over his companion, a group of seven shut themselves in an inn; even when the Sun Light Sect dispatched someone to deliver a rather blunt warning from Yu Ci, it didn’t cause much of a stir.
As for Lu Mingyue, he was even bolder. After a while of staying low and ensuring that Xie Yan and Yu Ci had both left, he actually returned to Heavenly Wings Pavilion, spent most of the night causing a ruckus with two popular courtesans, and only then staggered off; his spirits appeared even more robust, as was typical of him.
But since it was already late into the night and there was nothing left to do in Cliff City, he could only return to his own residence by the east wall of the new city to rest.
That was what the city patrol saw.
Yet they didn’t know that within a mere fifteen minutes, Lu Mingyue had escaped the city using Earth Escape, winding through the desolate mountains outside, until he finally reached an extremely secluded mountain crevice.
With hand seals formed, he passed through the restrictions in the crevice and continued forward. The passage led downward, and it was so dark inside that one could barely see a hand in front of them. With eyes adapted to the night, Lu Mingyue walked several feet slowly, found yet another sealed entrance, broke the seal, and used Earth Escape once again to descend even deeper underground. Repeating this process three times, he spent about fifteen minutes to reach his destination.
It was a spacious stone chamber. Lu Mingyue pinched his nose as he went in. Inside, he was met with a glaring expanse of blood-red light, and a heavy stench of blood assaulted his nostrils. The source was at the center of the chamber, on a stone platform, upon which lay a slender, elongated corpse, its body cracked open everywhere, exposing stark white bones.
In front of the stone platform stood a monk with one arm half-exposed, holding a palm-sized golden disc, pressing it down onto the top of the corpse.
The sound of a skull shattering was clearly audible, and then a brilliant golden radiance burst forth.
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