Chapter 71: The Celestial Immortal

The Next Day.

The elders of the Radiant Sun Sect convened once more. Guest elders were not involved in sect affairs, but meetings of this level typically required their attendance. Especially when matters might be connected to the Heavenly Net Sect—Qin Yue’s presence was essential.

Upon the dais, Ling Jinsong wore a mask of delight, though there was no true mirth in his eyes, as he relayed “tremendous and joyous news” to the entire sect.

“Under the leadership of the celestial immortals, with the Radiant Sun Sect at the forefront and the ten holy lands as support, the mountain stronghold of the Heavenly Net Sect has been breached. Nearly all of their foundation has perished in battle, their elite wiped out—this is a major victory for the righteous alliance…”

Ling Jinsong, however, felt no joy. He loathed the traitors of the Heavenly Net Sect with all his being. How much staggering wealth must an ancient demonic sect, one that had contended with the Radiant Sun Sect for countless years, have amassed? Yet the Radiant Sun Sect had failed to claim the lion’s share.

Even though the reports claimed that, following the destruction of the Heavenly Net Sect, no truly valuable treasures were found, how could he bring himself to believe such words?

Nonetheless, he could not betray his true feelings. For the righteous path, this was indeed a momentous triumph. In every sense, he was obliged to appear pleased.

For Qin Yue, this world had only just begun to feel like a home, and now, before he could even set foot there, it was gone.

Those who had treated him best—Feng Qianning’s life and death were uncertain, Mu Xingruo’s whereabouts unknown, and Hu Jiuyan’s last words had been a final farewell.

He had not slept a wink the previous night; for the first time since he began cultivating, he spent the entire night doing nothing at all.

His cultivation speed was already exceptional. He did not know the standards among the celestial immortals, but compared to his peers within the Radiant Sun Sect, he could easily outpace all of them.

Yet, his realm was still insufficient. Even if he could now slay a Daoist of the Fifth Fractured Realm, it was not enough to shake the foundation of the Radiant Sun Sect, which harbored profound reserves.

Within the immense peaks of the sect’s inner world, who knew how many ancient elders dwelled in seclusion—how many had reached the Luminescent Realm of the human immortals? Even Yue Mingxi could not claim full control over them.

So, even if he truly wished to overturn everything and take reckless vengeance, at best he could gouge a deep pit into this great mountain; to bring the entire edifice crashing down would be nothing but a fool’s dream.

The most rational and feasible path was to sever all ties with the Heavenly Net Sect, with whom his connection was not particularly deep, and to become a core figure within Yue Mingxi’s faction. He would carry his role as an undercover agent to the end, and strive to help this powerhouse—who once vied with Ling Jinsong for the position of sect master—ascend to the throne.

Only by fundamentally changing the tradition of past sect masters cultivating demonic arts could the cycle be broken.

Then, by proving his own worth, he might persuade the somewhat sympathetic Yue Mingxi to alter that ancestral decree and grant the Ice Abyss people their freedom.

Bit by bit, he would purge the sect of Ling Jinsong’s lingering poison, eradicating the remnants altogether.

Though this path was also arduous and would be long and fraught, it was, at present, the wisest choice.

Yet he was still too young; he could not mimic Sima Yi’s patience. Deep in his heart, it was truly hard to swallow this bitter pill!

That night, Qin Yue recalled his first encounter with Feng Qianning, the illusion-like season of spring between them; his first meeting with Hu Jiuyan, their joint victory over the Lu brothers, dividing the spoils—and her shy yet bold parting words: “Alright, as long as you dare!”

He also remembered Sect Master Senior Sister Mu Xingruo, Senior Brother Chen Qianzhang, and even Wei Jie, who grudgingly accepted the role of his senior… He was not one of those emotionless cultivators of the merciless path.

Ultimately, his heart could not let go.

He yearned to grow stronger, to ascend into the Luminescent Realm of the human immortals, to take vengeance with all the unrestrained passion of a hero of the martial world!

“We achieved remarkable results in this operation. Not only did we topple a thousand-year-old demonic sect, but we also uprooted their influence in the mortal world!”

Ling Jinsong, standing on the platform, continued, “Among the most corrupted was the Jin Kingdom, where we uncovered a great number of demonic cultivators—and even several demons…”

At this, he suddenly looked toward Qin Yue, his tone tinged with regret. “I must apologize to Elder Qin.”

Qin Yue looked up in surprise, confusion evident in his eyes. Many others also turned their attention to the sect’s youngest guest elder.

Ling Jinsong asked, “Elder Qin, you are quite familiar with Hu Yan of the Jin Kingdom’s Theft Suppression Division, are you not?”

Sensing the gazes around him, Qin Yue nodded.

“Hu Yan is a demon.”

Qin Yue was stunned, frowning slightly.

Ling Jinsong sighed, “She is a fox demon, and also a disciple of the Heavenly Net Sect. Her name was included in the list for this operation, though her crimes are not severe—she was likely only an outer disciple. While serving in the Theft Suppression Division, her reputation among the people was excellent, and she was much loved by the common folk. Sadly, she joined the wrong sect. According to the information received, during the siege, she unleashed her innate bloodline and revealed her true form. Though she escaped, she was gravely wounded.”

He paused briefly. “For your sake, Elder Qin, I will do my utmost to remove her from the wanted list.”

A fox demon?

Qin Yue could hardly believe it. He recalled her heroic and valiant face, but also remembered her mentioning that her cultivation method differed from his…

He rose and bowed to Ling Jinsong on the dais. “Hu Yan is indeed a friend of mine. Thank you, Sect Master, for your magnanimity and for giving her this chance!”

There was no need to deny such things. Often, frank acknowledgment was better than evasive attempts at concealment. Just as he had openly defended the Ice Abyss people—he sympathized with them, he had a soft heart, and what of it?

Ling Jinsong smiled. “These are all trivial matters. Elder Qin’s devotion to the sect is worthy of reward.”

When the “victory meeting” was finally over, a weary Qin Yue wished for nothing more than to return and sleep.

But he was summoned by one of Ling Jinsong’s attendants.

…

When they met, Ling Jinsong was alone in the reception hall, leisurely boiling water and preparing tea.

Seeing Qin Yue’s low spirits, he smiled reassuringly. “Don’t take Hu Yan’s matter too much to heart. I couldn’t say much in front of everyone, but rest assured—later, not only will I remove her from the wanted list, I’ll also notify the ten holy lands not to trouble her in the future.”

Qin Yue thanked him once more.

Ling Jinsong continued, “I’ve heard that Vice Sect Master Yue has sent you many cultivation resources recently? My two disciples, Qingxuan and Wanqing, have also been teaching you the sect’s techniques. Have you made any breakthroughs?”

Qin Yue replied, “The sect’s scriptures are indeed formidable. I have already broken through to the Perceiving the Void Realm, and I have also learned several forms of the Fallen Leaf Sword Manual.”

Ling Jinsong shook his head. “Your talent must be exceptional, though you started a bit late. But that’s not a problem. Coincidentally, some immortals from the celestial gate will be arriving soon. I will ask for a celestial-grade pill on your behalf to help you reach the second realm as quickly as possible!”

“Thank you for your care, Sect Master. But, may I ask, what is the second realm?” Qin Yue inquired.

“In the eyes of true immortals, the Art Realm is only the first stage of cultivation; the Dao Realm’s Fractured World and Luminescent levels comprise the second realm. The Fractured World is known as the Earthly Immortal, and the Luminescent level as the Human Immortal. But in truth, it is the third realm—beyond the second—that marks a true immortal, one who commands the laws and glimpses the Great Dao itself!”

Ling Jinsong was clearly intent on winning over this young man with extraordinary abilities. His attitude was warm and sincere, and he spoke at length about the higher echelons of cultivation.

For the mighty, such knowledge was hardly secret, but for ordinary cultivators, it was wholly inaccessible.

For instance, even if the celestial gate opened, ordinary mortals could not enter; without reaching the level of a human immortal, one would be crushed to death by the pressure.

And the world of mortals was far more complicated than it appeared on the surface.

“Recently, with the appearance of natural anomalies, ancient seals have been shattered and numerous relics of antiquity have been revealed—yet this is but the tip of the iceberg.”

“The truly fearsome places are the Seven Forbidden Zones. Even those from the celestial gate dare not tread lightly there.”

“When sky immortals enter the mortal realm, the laws suppress them to the level of human immortals. Only in forbidden zones and similar areas can they act without restraint. Yet within those zones lie all manner of unfathomable and powerful beings—some say that even decaying gods of ancient times are sealed within!”

Qin Yue suddenly recalled that the Enlightenment Tree had once told him that immortal lands existed in the mortal world, hidden within the Life Forbidden Zone.

If so, then this world too may have experienced a severance between heaven and earth, as in ancient lore.

Once, gods and mortals coexisted; then, catastrophe led to their separation.

“Many sky immortals covet the treasures within the forbidden zones and flock there, only to meet with disaster and perish utterly…”

“The Beast Valley, which treats you as an honored guest, is no simple place either! Like the Seven Forbidden Zones, it possesses a unique domain, wherein terrifying beast kings above the third realm slumber!”

“Xuan Cang, Jin Zhua, and Feng Li—the so-called beast kings—are but their disciples or subordinates. Were it not for the monstrous powers behind them, they would have long since been eradicated by demon-slayers.”

“The spiritual world is likewise mysterious and complex. With a powerful soul, one can act independently of the body. Yin spirits cannot endure sunlight, but yang spirits may walk beneath the blazing sun as if corporeal, wielding terrifying arts, even traversing the immortal gate at will in defiance of its laws… If you ever walk this path, take care. To resonate at high frequencies in the spiritual world without caution is perilous indeed.”

Noticing Qin Yue’s rapt attention, Ling Jinsong warmed to his subject. “For example, should you one day encounter a supreme treasure, our usual method is to attempt spiritual resonance, thereby subduing it.”

Qin Yue nodded; he had used precisely this method to tame the little cauldron.

“But that is in fact extremely dangerous, do you know?” he continued.

One had to admit, this handsome, refined, and ethereal middle-aged man was truly learned.

Qin Yue asked, “What danger lies in spiritual resonance?”

Ling Jinsong smiled and shook his head, “The older the artifact, the more cautious you must be. You never know what might dwell within. It’s like how not every idol contains a manifestation of the deity—if it is not properly consecrated, who knows what might take up residence? The more devout the incense offerings of mortals, the more likely it is to backfire.”

Qin Yue fell into contemplation, realizing the truth in these words.

“The best approach is to acquire the item and proceed by safe means, probing little by little. Even if time is short, never pour your entire spirit into it at once—you might well be possessed in turn!”

Qin Yue replied, “A single conversation with the Sect Master is worth ten years of study.”

Ling Jinsong’s gentle smile returned. He waved a hand, “It’s only idle conversation to pass the time. But there are two matters I would like to discuss with you in earnest.”