The “lake water” was the first to sense the stimulation. The surface rippled, and the tranquil, indistinct state wavered.
As the disturbance grew, the lake reacted. A vague figure emerged from the heart’s lake. However, the profound state was already on the verge of collapse, leaving no room for further discernment.
Then, the five senses and six perceptions rushed back to him. Amid this slight chaos, Yu Ci detected a familiar scent in the relatively pure atmosphere around him, which became the key to his judgment.
The figure of the visitor soon became clear. At this moment, the tranquil and indistinct state completely collapsed, and Yu Ci reverted to his mortal self. The peculiar phenomena, like the “lake water,” vanished entirely.
Finally, rationality reached a conclusion, identifying the visitor.
Ten breaths later, Yu Ci heard hurried footsteps approaching. After five more breaths, the person stopped outside his secluded courtyard and knocked on the door.
“Mr. Yu, are you in?”
The title made it clear this wasn’t Bao Guang. The voice wasn’t familiar either, but Yu Ci already had a guess. He walked over and opened the door.
Standing outside was a middle-aged daoist in a plain blue robe, exuding an unremarkable presence. He was the kind of person one would forget at a glance.
However, Yu Ci addressed him with precise familiarity:
“So, it’s Daoist Xu Song! What a rare guest. Please come in.”
Xu Song was an unassuming resident daoist at the Heart Prohibition Temple. Mediocre in both talent and cultivation, he had been there for ten years yet remained at the upper Enlightened Spirit stage, unable to enter the realm of Divine Connectivity. Warm and amiable, he had exchanged pleasantries with Yu Ci twice before, enough for a passing acquaintance.
The relationship between the two didn’t warrant a visit. Yu Ci felt puzzled but still invited him in, leading him to the main hall.
To his surprise, as soon as they entered, Daoist Xu bowed deeply.
“I am Xu Song, a disciple of the Thousand Spirit Gate, here under orders from my sect master to congratulate you.”
‘Thousand Spirit Gate?’
Yu Ci squinted slightly, momentarily dazed as the image of a spirited young girl surfaced in his mind’s lake, flashing him a radiant smile. Only then did he recall what the Thousand Spirit Gate was.
It had only been a few days, yet why did it feel like the events in the Sky Rift Valley had happened ages ago?
Shaking off his contemplative state, Yu Ci glanced at Xu Song. He had long known the Thousand Spirit Gate had spies in the Heart Prohibition Temple, but he hadn’t expected them to reveal themselves so openly. Was it really just to offer congratulations?
And congratulations for what, exactly?
“Sir, you are about to be accepted into the Rifting Earth Sect, paving a smooth path to immortality. Surely this is worth celebrating?”
The words weren’t necessarily an exaggeration. Yu Ci, however, didn’t bother explaining the nuances, dismissing the topic altogether. After some thought, he asked, “How is Ah Jiu doing?”
Xu Song had clearly come prepared and immediately replied, “Miss Jiu’s spirit was injured and has yet to recover. She drifts in and out of consciousness. Our sect master plans to send her south to an old acquaintance for proper treatment.”
“Oh?”
Yu Ci was slightly surprised. Was the girl’s condition truly so dire? Back then, Elder Yu Xuan and Monk Zheng Yan hadn’t made such an assessment.
Something didn’t feel right. And ‘south’?
Months ago, during a lesson from that brat Ye Tu, Yu Ci had gained a rough understanding of the geography of the cultivation world. His prolonged stay at the Heart Prohibition Temple and conversations with Bao Guang had further clarified this understanding.
The cultivation world traditionally divided itself into “east and west” or “north and south” based on relative regions. The geographical boundary for north and south was marked by the Broken Boundary Mountain Range, the Cloud Mountain Range, and the Azure River (Cang River).
The Broken Boundary Mountain Range was adjacent to the Sky Rift Valley and also served as a dividing line for the eastern and western cultivation realms. It was the source of the world’s two great rivers: the Azure River and the Sifted Split River. The Cloud Mountain Range, renowned as the central hub of the world, was the richest area in cultivation resources. The Azure River originated in the Broken Boundary Mountains, flowing west to east, nearly spanning the entire cultivation world, gathering countless tributaries before roaring into the Eastern Sea.
This was the standard division.
However, in tradition—or more accurately, in the minds of cultivators—“south” referred to a much smaller area: south of the Azure River and east of the lower reaches of the Sifted Split River, essentially the southeastern part of the cultivation world.
Like the Azure River, the Sifted Split River also originated in the Broken Boundary Mountains, with its tributary, the Ba River, flowing past Cliff City. As the world’s second-largest river, it was far more winding than the Azure River, splitting the geographical south into two distinct regions.
The western side of the Sifted Split River was infamous for its deadly terrain—the Thunder Marsh and Six Barbaric Mountains—teeming with demons and monsters. Meanwhile, the eastern side boasted the “Six Lakes and Three Rivers” water system, a hub of flourishing crafts and sects, making it the most prosperous area of the cultivation world.
Xu Song’s mention of the “south” undoubtedly referred to this southeastern network. That was precisely why Yu Ci found it strange.
The cultivation world’s vastness was beyond ordinary comprehension. For example, Yu Ci had defected from the Twin Immortal Sect and wandered for twelve years, traveling far and wide. Yet, he had always remained near the Broken Boundary Mountains. To the residents of Cliff City, their city and its surrounding region were practically the entire world.
Transporting Xiao Jiu south for treatment was a sound idea, but the journey from Cliff City to the southeast couldn’t be measured in mere thousands or tens of thousands of miles. It was a trek of over a million miles, likely taking more than a year. Was it worth such an effort?
Was this departure from Cliff City really just about treatment, or was there another purpose?
Xu Song offered an additional explanation: “The Sky Rift Valley’s demon chaos, though suppressed by immortals from the Rifting Earth Sect and Sunset Valley Sect, still left some demons at large.
Recently, Cliff City has suffered repeated disturbances, with many falling victim. The sect master likely considered this and decided to use the eastbound return of the ‘Mountain-moving Cloud Boat’ as an opportunity to send the young mistress south for safety.”
“Oh?”
Yu Ci responded with mild interest.
‘The Mountain-moving Cloud Boat?’
He had heard about it from Ye Tu before. Apparently, it was an extraordinary treasure belonging to a major southeastern merchant. Massive as a mountain, it could soar swiftly through the skies, carrying over ten thousand passengers. It made semiannual trips between east and west, providing transport for cultivators without long-distance flying capabilities.
Ye Tu had used this method to travel from the distant eastern sea to Sky Rift Valley.
However, this reason alone still seemed insufficient.
Yu Ci pondered for a moment before suddenly asking, “How is the Sun Light Sect faring these days?”
Xu Song gave him a thumbs-up, smiling as he spoke. “Talking about the Sun Light Sect, one cannot help but admire Mr. Yu’s capabilities. Out of the twelve stewards of the Sun Light Sect, three were killed by you. Among the fifty elite guards of the sect, nearly half were wiped out. These were their most elite forces. Although Jin Huan is obsessed with maintaining appearances and keeps this under wraps, how could such matters remain hidden? Right now, in Cliff City, who doesn’t know of your reputation? And who doesn’t know the Sun Light Sect has been thoroughly disgraced?”
Though this undercover agent of the Thousand Spirit Gate appeared plain, he had a knack for flattering people. His expression was full of sincere admiration as he continued, “What is most impressive, however, is how you, with your Divine Connectivity cultivation, managed to escape from Tu Du’s clutches. On the contrary, that old monster was injured by the demonic cold wave he encountered and has since retreated to recuperate in seclusion. It’s rumored that it might take ten years or more for him to recover. Mr. Yu—”
“Returned to his sect? In seclusion?”
Yu Ci raised a hand to interrupt, leaning forward slightly as he fixed his gaze on Xu Song. He spoke slowly, “You’re saying Tu Du has returned to his sect?”
Xu Song was taken aback but could only nod under such circumstances.
Yu Ci remained silent for a long moment. When he finally spoke again, it was to say, “Brother Xu, do you have any other business?”
Xu Song had come with the sect’s instructions to sound out Yu Ci’s attitude and strengthen their ties. Realizing it was time to back off, he quickly bowed and took his leave. In the end, he didn’t even sit down, nor did he drink a single sip of tea.
Watching Xu Song leave the courtyard, Yu Ci remained deep in thought for some time. He then retrieved the Divine Illumination Bronze Mirror and activated the Divine Map.
The entire small mountain, including the Heart Prohibition Temple and the daoist temple, was enveloped within the Divine Map’s range. Figures moved about in the buildings, halls, and gardens, all under Yu Ci’s observation. Yet, his focus wasn’t on these areas.
Staring at the Divine Map, his thoughts drifted to the night before he left Sky Rift Valley. He recalled the shadow that had expanded in an instant, devouring everything, and the shattered fragments of the Sun Soul Banner.
“This situation is becoming more and more incomprehensible.”
Sitting in the main hall, surrounded by the faint blue light and mist encircling the Divine Map, Yu Ci pondered in silence amidst the quiet.
After a long while, he suddenly chuckled softly. “Curiosity truly is a dangerous thing. Even when I was about to ascend the mountain, one piece of news managed to pull me back. Must I really crawl under the ‘giant’s’ feet and court death?”
Having reached a conclusion, Yu Ci shook his head and closed his eyes, gradually calming his thoughts. Time passed, and as the light in the hall began to dim, he reopened his eyes. The wealth of information he had just acquired settled into the depths of his mind, merging with similar matters and fading from his immediate attention.
Yu Ci re-entered his usual state and rhythm with remarkable ease—a testament to the mental discipline honed over ten days of constant focus.
Once his mind was fully adjusted, Yu Ci connected his consciousness to the Divine Map. Following his mental impressions, he quickly located several key nodes.
He remained particularly intrigued by the earlier phenomenon of “Concentric Circles.”
Initially, he sensed Xu Song’s position somewhere within the central courtyard of the daoist temple. Later, he identified Xu Song’s presence near the western courtyard entrance. By the time he heard Xu Song’s footsteps, the man was already outside Yu Ci’s residence.
The latter nodes were easier to explain, given Yu Ci’s extraordinary senses. But the first node was remarkable—it was over two miles away, separated by a large garden and several courtyards. No matter how sharp his six senses were, perceiving that distant location shouldn’t have been possible.
“This must be soul sense.”
The profound nature of soul sense was indeed extraordinary. Since entering the Divine Connectivity realm, this was a completely novel experience for Yu Ci.
Previously, Yu Ci had relied on the Divine Map to survey his surroundings. Its range and clarity far surpassed what he experienced this time. Yet, soul sense offered an indescribable mystique.
He thought of the mental image that naturally corresponded to the “Concentric Circle Theory,” the interplay between the faint glow and the reflecting water surface—a process that wasn’t merely perception but also enriched his self-cultivation.
As impressive as the Divine Map was, soul sense had its unique value. Yu Ci took this insight to heart.
Just as he prepared to re-enter the state of soul sense, someone knocked on the courtyard door. This time, however, it was a familiar face.
With practiced ease, the visitor pushed open the door after knocking. Upon seeing Yu Ci in the courtyard, the newcomer exclaimed joyfully, “Senior Brother Yu, what a great opportunity this is!”
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