CH 23

Even if it was only a palm-sized crack in space, there were some cultivators with a high level of cultivation that could transform themselves to fit through the crack and come through to Yunhua Realm.

Furthermore, if someone hadn’t deliberately done it, how could such a good spatial barrier be cracked?

Yan Jiuge frowned deeply, “Check the whereabouts of the high-ranking cultivators in Yunyin Realm. To be able to break the spatial barrier, their strength would have to be at the Integration stage at least.”

“When the crack in the spatial barrier was discovered, the Patriarch already sent someone to check, but the cultivators above the Integration stage were all in Yunyin Realm and there were no abnormalities.”

“Then they may have used a special method to hide the truth.” Yan Jiuge lowered his eyes, “In Yunyin Realm, the Yao Clan seems to have made a contract with some cultivators in Yunhua Realm?”

“Yes, before the spatial barrier was formed, the Yao Clan liked to go to Yunhua Realm. But now, tens of thousands of years have passed since then and most of the contracts have dissipated with the fall of those cultivators. Very few would have survived this long and they are rather reclusive. It will be very troublesome to check.”

“Go and investigate.” Yan Jiuge’s tone was firm.

“This subordinate has received his orders.”

“There is also Gu Qi’s family, the Medicine King of Yunyin Realm, they are also possible.” Yan Jiuge was checking the list of suspects one by one.

“The Qi family shouldn’t be able to. Eighteen years ago, the natal card of the last direct descendant of the Qi family was broken, and their cultivation method was not continued. Since then, the Valley of the Medicine King has been closed and no longer appears in the world.”

Yan Jiuge: “The Baiyou Pavilion Commander?”

“The Mahayana stage cultivator from the Ling family also passed away eighteen years ago. He died while trying to ascend to Heaven.”

The three main suspects were unlikely to have done it. Yan Jiuge couldn’t help asking in a low voice, “Is there a traitor in the Yan family?”

“…”

The person on the other end of the dragon-patterned jade was silent for a moment, “The Patriarch is also investigating this matter, but the family crest of our Yan family has the commandment seal. Any traitors are bound to die. It isn’t likely. Even if there was, the moment they destroyed the spatial barrier, they would die.”

“But they may have created the crack in the spatial barrier for others to go through instead. Let me know the result after checking.” Yan Jiuge concluded.

“This subordinate has received his orders. Does the Young Master have any other commands?”

Originally, there was no such thing, but Yan Jiuge suddenly thought of the silver leaf hair ornaments that he helped Chu Qi take off that evening, so he suddenly asked.

“I want an earring. It should be suitable for medical cultivators and can be used as a magic weapon for both offense and defense. The style should also be exquisite.”

There was another long moment of silence on the other end, “But Young Master, the Yan family doesn’t have such earrings… There are many other magical tools suitable for medical cultivators, look…”

“Let Yan Chi refine one. Use the best materials. I want it within three months.”

“Then this subordinate will report to Yan Chi-daren.”

The arraignment ended here.

Yan Jiuge removed the restrictions around him, restoring his previous appearance and cultivation level, then went back to his room from the roof.

The person in the room was still sleeping peacefully, and there was no sign of waking up. 

Yan Jiuge sat down on the edge of the bed, sitting in the quiet moonlight from the darkest part of night until the crack of dawn.

—

When he woke up, he woke up naturally.

Chu Qi opened his sleepy eyes, and the sunlight coming in through the window fell on his eyelashes, dazzling him a bit.

A figure walked towards the bed, blocking the ray of sunlight.

“Are you awake? Feeling better?”

The deep voice sounded in front of Chu Qi, causing him to raise his eyes involuntarily, and saw Yan Jiuge’s worried expression.

His groggy mind took a second to recall what happened yesterday. Chu Qi felt warm in his heart, and also a little helpless, “I just exhausted my spiritual power, I’m not injured. But you, your internal injuries still haven’t fully recovered, I should be the one asking you this.”

“You’re so weak, so a lack of spiritual power is a big deal. My internal injuries don’t affect my sword control.” Yan Jiuge said.

“…”

After so many years, Yan Jiuge’s way of speaking had not changed. Even when he was speaking out of care, it didn’t sound like consolation.

“Okay, then I’ll rest for a while.”

Chu Qi stopped getting up. While half-lying on the bed, he continued to look at Yan Jiuge with a pair of warm eyes, “You stretch out your hand and let me feel your pulse.”

“…”

The corners of Yan Jiuge’s lips twitched slightly. Before he could think of what to say, his hand automatically moved in Chu Qi’s direction.

When Yan Jiuge came back to his senses, Chu Qi had already naturally held his hand and was carefully feeling his pulse.

Unlike the hands of a sword cultivator, Chu Qi’s palms were smooth. The skin on them was very thin, and felt like warm jade. If you used a little force, it would turn red. Very delicate.

Medical cultivators had more vitality than other cultivators. It wasn’t that Chu Qi’s hands never grew calluses, but that after they were grown, they were healed by his own spiritual power, so his hands were always maintained in their best condition.

Chu Qi concentrated on checking Yan Jiuge’s pulse and found that his internal injuries had already healed. The remaining injuries would gradually improve on their own even without treatment.

Letting go of Yan Jiuge’s hand, the expression on Chu Qi’s face relaxed a bit, “I’ll give you another treatment later and your wounds will be completely healed.”

“No need.” Yan Jiuge withdrew his hand and spoke briefly, with a slightly heavier tone.

“What’s wrong?” Sensing his emotional fluctuation, Chu Qi asked in surprise.

“There’s no need for any more treatment. Your health isn’t good. Yesterday, I wasn’t in the right state of mind…”

At that time, Yan Jiuge agreed to Chu Qi’s words without thinking and caused Chu Qi to have to rest and recuperate today.

Naturally the same mistakes couldn’t be repeated.

“Ah-Yan, we’ve been together since we were young. It is not a burden to help you treat your internal injuries. Moreover, as a medical cultivator, this is my duty.”

Yan Jiuge: “…”

“Or is it that you don’t want me to treat you?” Chu Qi’s tone was a little disappointed.”

“No!” 

Yan Jiuge quickly retorted. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the place that Chu Qi had just touched. His heart throbbed inexplicably and he could only dryly explain, “It’s almost time for the Yunxi Secret Realm to open, you should take a good rest and save your healing skills for when you need them more.”

“Oh, alright.” Chu Qi didn’t insist.

Yan Jiuge breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He didn’t know what was wrong with him just now. When Ah-Qi held his hand to feel his pulse, his attention was always being pulled to where the two of them were touching.

If he was treated again, that subtle feeling would inevitably expand. It wouldn’t be good if it got out of hand in the end.

Therefore, Yan Jiuge needed to refuse.

It’s just that after he did so, his heart throbbed with inexplicable loss. He didn’t understand why.

At this moment, the identity token on Yan Jiuge’s waist flashed with light, indicating that someone from their sect was summoning him.

When Yan Jiuge answered the summons, Liu Weiming’s voice could be heard from the other end, “Shixiong, we went downstairs today and happened to meet some members of Qingling Sect. They invited us to form an alliance and go through the Yunxi Secret Realm together. What are your thoughts?”

“There’s no need for an alliance. After entering the secret realm, except for those from the same sect, there will inevitably be a conflict of interest. After obtaining treasures, it will be too much trouble to share it with them.”

Yan Jiuge’s tone was indifferent, but in a few words, he concisely explained the inconvenience of forming an alliance.

“Oh, but the people from Qingling Sect said that they have many medical cultivators, and that it may be difficult to go through the secret realm without any healers…” Liu Weiming repeated the words of the Qingling Sect.

“Ah.”

Yan Jiuge sneered unceremoniously, his voice changing from its earlier flat tone, sounding a little more mocking, “That’s because the other cultivators in Qingling Sect aren’t strong enough, so it’s difficult for them to move a single step without the support of their medical cultivators.”

Chu Qi felt a little complicated: “…”

Even though he was only listening to the summons from the side, Chu Qi could feel how much of a blow Yan Jiuge’s words had on the members of the Qingling Sect. It seemed like what Yan Jiuge said to him earlier was really not worth mentioning.

Unexpectedly, when Liu Weiming on the other side heard Yan Jiuge’s words, he appeared enlightened, “Shixiong is right. When our Tianxuan Sect went out to practice before, we also did it without medical cultivators.”

With that, the connection was cut.

Tianxuan Sect did not form an alliance with Qingling Sect, and later also rejected an alliance with Yushou Sect. Unexpectedly, the sword cultivators of Tianxuan Sect were so stubborn. Qingling Sect and Yushou Sect had no choice but to give up.

—

Two days later, to the east of Huacheng, colorful rays of light descended from the sky.

At that moment, the aura in the area experienced a huge upheaval. With the location of the secret realm as the epicenter, it spread like a tide in all directions.

Wherever it passed, cultivators raised their heads as if sensing something and looked towards the direction of the secret realm.

One month before the opening of the Yunxi Secret Realm, there had been faint aura fluctuations and there were a few cultivators that came here by following them. Now that the secret realm had finally opened, many cultivators were impatiently rushing towards the location of the light in the sky. 

The cultivators from Tianxuan Sect weren’t that impatient. They got up at chenshi, and in the empty backyard of Menghua Inn, they practiced the basic sword forms of Tianxuan Sect in pairs.

Everything in Menghua Inn was good, except for the fact that their open space was very cramped. It was not very convenient for sword practice. If they weren’t careful, they might accidentally condense their sword energy and cut off the branches and leaves of the trees planted in the yard and owe more money.

When everyone finished their sword training, the only ones that were left were the head shixiong and Chu-shidi.

Two days ago, Chu-shidi was refining medicine in their room and didn’t come out, but now he actually came out to practice the sword.

Although Chu-shidi was a medical cultivator, his swordsmanship was excellent. If Elder Qingyue hadn’t protected him fiercely, Elder Chang and Elder Ming would have transferred him under their tutelage.

As such, the Elders often quarreled. The most serious fight was one where they saw with their own eyes as the elegant and easy-going Elder Qingyue took out his spiritual sword on the spot and chased and beat Elder Change for half an hour. Afterwards, the sword cultivator disciples could only sigh and feel sorry for Chu-shidi not practicing the sword. They never dared to ask him to transfer.

“Shixiong, Chu-shidi, it’s time for the two of you to practice.”

Everyone wanted to see it very badly, and Liu Weiming was no exception. He even had the gall to tactfully remind the two of them.

The former’s swordsmanship was at its peak, while the latter’s was transparent.

No matter what kind of sword training it was, it was not only pleasing to the eye, but it could also help them gain insights and improve their moods.

“Okay.” Chu Qi nodded.

Since they left Tianxuan Sect, Chu Qi hadn’t been able to practice his swordsmanship, so he was a bit rusty. Since he had a good rest today, he would naturally make up for it.

To make it convenient to train with swords, Chu Qi wore the robes of the sword cultivator disciples today.

Shing—! 

The sound of metal colliding sounded throughout the yard.

Two spiritual swords were pulled out of their scabbards at almost the same time. The clear sound of the swords made the cultivators who were on their way out of the inn take a second glance.

With just one look, they forgot that the reason why they hurried downstairs in the first place was to go to the Yunxi Secret Realm, not to watch others train with their swords.

The morning light fell wantonly from the top of the wall onto the two figures in the yard, highlighting their tall and straight backs.

The next moment, they pointed their spiritual swords directly in front of themselves. When the swords were drawn, it was as if they had pierced the sun itself, with an unstoppable sharpness.

Light and shadow flickered, and the sword glowed brightly.

Even without condensing spiritual power on their swords, just by relying on their movements, it was like watching flowing clouds and water. People couldn’t look away.

What was even more surprising was that the two people performed the same set of moves, but they felt entirely different. One was wanton and fierce, the other was free and easy. They were different, but they complemented each other as a pair. Even their sword intent had a faint sense of resonance.

Om—!

After completing the set of sword moves, the bodies of the spiritual swords let out a long cry, as if they were responding to the other party’s swordsmanship.

But this was just the Tianxuan Sect disciples getting up in the morning to practice after all. After they finished, the swords were returned to their sheaths.

The two spiritual swords were sheathed at the same time, and Yan Jiuge and Chu Qi walked out of the yard side by side.

The other sword cultivators on the sidelines still hadn’t come back to their senses. They were all reminiscing about what they had just seen. Some of them couldn’t wait to take out their own spiritual swords and try it for themselves.

Clap—!

At this time, sudden applause broke the silence and brought the swordsman who were immersed in their own thoughts back to their senses.

Everyone turned towards the sound and saw the Qingling Sect’s young master dressed in pale golden robes, standing at the bottom of the stairs, clapping.

He was the only one in the audience who did such a thing. As more people recovered, he also realized that it was quite inappropriate for him to applaud like that.

Luo Xin stopped clapping embarrassedly. Rubbing his palms together, he blushed as he explained, “I was too absorbed when watching. I didn’t expect that the fellow cultivators from Tianxuan Sect trained with their swords with such momentum.”

At the end, Luo Xin added in a low voice, “It’s very beautiful. This is the first time that I’ve seen such a sword technique.”

Ling Wu, the head disciples of Qingling Sect: “…”

Forget it. He couldn’t expect this shidi to be reliable all the time.

“Fellow Cultivators of Tianxuan Sect, our Qingling Sect was going to head to the Yunxi Secret Realm, but when we went downstairs, we saw you practicing your swordsmanship and were immediately attracted by your superb skills. I’m sorry for the disturbance.” Ling Wu greeted all of the Tianxuan Sect disciples.

Even if they couldn’t form an alliance with Tianxuan Sect, they still needed to maintain a superficial relationship. As long as they left a good impression, if they met in the Yunxi Secret Realm, they could at least avoid a conflict with the other party.

“It’s fine. We were also about to head over to the Yunxi Secret Realm.” Yan Jiuge’s voice was light.

“Then will we be going the same way?” Luo Xin’s eyes lit up. After witnessing them today, he felt that sword cultivation was more elegant than artistic cultivation.

If there was a chance, he thought it would be great if he could switch to become a sword cultivator. If he was able to hold a spiritual sword in hand and bring out the sword light, oh, that’d be so handsome!

Luo Xin looked forward to it from the bottom of his heart.

Yan Jiuge did not answer Luo Xin.

Instead, Ling Wu glanced at him and told him to stop talking.

“Let’s go, shidi, it’s time for us to go to the Yunxi Secret Realm.” Ling Wu sighed and said to the Tianxuan Sect disciples, “Our Qingling Sect will take our leave first. Bidding the fellow cultivators farewell.”

“Farewell.”

Yan Jiuge didn’t want to leave ahead of this group of people. His family’s Ah-Qi was a medical cultivator and couldn’t fly with a sword. He would be recognized before he even entered the secret realm. It wouldn’t be good if he was targeted during a fight because of this.

Looking back, he felt that he needed to urge Yan Chi to refine that spiritual tool quickly.

Yan Jiuge thought expressionlessly.

As far as everyone else knew, all of the Tianxuan Sect disciples were ‘sword cultivators’.

And their strength was impressive. With a spiritual sword in hand, it would be no problem at all to level the walls of Menghua Inn with a single swipe.

After the Qingling Sect left, the other miscellaneous cultivators in Menghua Inn also left one after another.

A quarter of an hour later, Yan Jiuge checked out of their rooms with the innkeeper and led the Tianxuan Sect disciples out of the city gates.

Twenty spiritual swords were drawn.

Their leader, Yan Jiuge, raised his dark eyes. The sun was reflected in them, adding a touch of light to his eyes, making him look more radiant.

But those eyes could only accommodate one delicate and tall figure.

“Ah-Qi, get up quickly. I’ll take you there on my sword.”

Yan Jiuge spoke as usual, and looked at Chu Qi steadily.

“Okay.” Chu Qi nodded.

First time strangers, second time friends. He had stood on Long Yin many times by now and was not as nervous as he was the first time.

On the other hand, the other sword cultivator disciples still felt complicated when they saw this scene again.

The relationship between the head shixiong and Chu-shidi was too good. They could even ride on the same natal spiritual sword! If it were them, even if they were siblings from the same sect, if they touched their spiritual swords, they would have a knot in their heart that they couldn’t move past!

Although they were still shocked the second time around, everyone remained silent with tacit understanding.

Afterwards, twenty sword lights blazed and they all set off towards the Yunxi Secret Realm to the east of Huacheng.