After the Immortal Venerable Failed to Attain Dao - Chapter 7

At the teleportation hub of the Tianji Realm.

A towering giant tree stood at the center, shimmering with a faint golden glow. The tree’s trunk formed a massive teleportation gate, inside which countless lights swirled, and the pattern of the Seven Stars floated horizontally.

Shi Che stood before the teleportation tree, deftly adjusting the star patterns. His fingertips brushed against the star at the end as he spoke to the person behind him, “If you don’t say anything soon, I might start thinking you’ve gone dumb from eating rabbits.”

“You… I you.” Xue Zhun struggled for a moment, then took a deep breath as he looked at the gleaming pass in Shi Che’s hand and recalled his earlier words. “The Young Lord is your cousin?!”

“That’s right,” Shi Che stepped into the teleportation gate first as it opened. “I called him ‘brother’ in the cave it’s not like you didn’t hear it.”

“Then why did you run when you saw him?” Xue Zhun glanced around the entrance of the teleportation gate before cautiously stepping into the shimmering light.

“Distant relative, not close.”

“So you originally didn’t plan to acknowledge him? You wanted to enter the Xuanqing Sect on your own merit, not through connections?”

Shi Che paused briefly before replying calmly, “Yes.”

Xue Zhun suddenly felt a pang of guilt. “Was it because I called your name that you were exposed? And then you had no choice but to accept so many favors from your cousin? How is that any different from using connections?!”

“It’s fine,” Shi Che replied calmly. “My cousin is so illustrious, while I’m so down on my luck. He couldn’t help but want to humiliate me with money. It’s something I deserve.”

“The Young Lord was just concerned about you. If I may ask, Brother Che, how much money did he humiliate you with?”

Shi Che opened his money pouch and showed it to her. Though small in appearance, the pouch’s interior was boundless, filled to the brim with deep blue starstones that emitted a powerful glow. Xue Zhun’s eyes widened in shock.

“The Young Lord he is this generous even to a distant cousin he just met?”

“Yes, he’s very wealthy.”

Stepping out of the teleportation gate, they were greeted by an entirely different scene.

The evening breeze was cool. Standing atop the mountain and gazing into the distance, the towering Luanxue Peak of the Xuanqing Mountain pierced the starry clouds, with the divine golden turtle circling lazily among them, sound asleep.

Below the mountain, the main district of Tianzhu was a sprawling maze of buildings, illuminated by colorful lanterns. Even at this hour, the city buzzed with life.

It was Xue Zhun’s first time in Tianzhu. In her excitement, she leaped onto a tree to get a better view but accidentally startled a resting celestial bird. The two tangled in a brief scuffle, and the bird’s wide wings fanned a gust of spiritual energy into her face.

Shi Che stared at the scene below the cliff. The main city of Tianzhu stretched for miles in all its splendor, its lights reflecting off his mask and into his deep blue eyes.

The bright moon in the sky and the dazzling lanterns on the ground made it hard to imagine the darkness that would shroud the world centuries later.

Blood would flow like rivers, bones would pile high, the dragon’s head would fall beneath the starry clouds to be devoured by countless ghosts, towering buildings would collapse and crush everything in their path, and the most prosperous city that never slept would be shattered to dust in a single night, plunging the world into darkness.

The item Shi Che had unearthed in the cave earlier was now stored in his Qiankun pouch, pulsing warmly and stickily against his consciousness.

He opened the Spirit Communication Talisman and messaged Shi Li: [Arrived in Tianzhu.]

Shi Li didn’t reply likely busy.

Staring at the blank talisman, Shi Che felt a sudden sense of disorientation, as if he had been busy for an entire lifetime.

Just when he had finally made peace with it all and was ready to rest, he was sent back.

The moment Shi Li saw him, he already knew that he must have made a misstep somewhere in the future, leading to this predicament.

That was why Shi Li not only kept him but also intended to keep him close, using him to readjust his own path.

Shi Che didn’t even need to express his stance he had no reason to refuse.

This matter was tacitly understood between them.

Just thinking about it was exhausting. The thought of his future days of toiling like an ox and horse, all while living under a false name, made Shi Che want to draw his sword and end it all.

Xuanqing Sect was his. Why should he have to wait two days, disguised as a new disciple, to return?

He should go back now find his master to rebuild his Dao heart, then slaughter everyone on Wentian Island, kill every last person in Xuanqing Sect, dig out their brains to nourish his master’s health, and from then on, let the world know only the ruthless path of the sword. He and his master would start over from the beginning.

But how could he start over?

Right now, his master belonged to Shi Li, Huajing belonged to Shi Li, Wentian Island belonged to Shi Li, and soon, Xuanqing Sect would belong to Shi Li too.

Shi Li’s existence was like ginger in a potato hateful and superfluous. If he was the potato, Shi Li was the ginger unpleasant, pungent, chaotic, and adept at disguise…

Shi Li had seen his message and replied: “Mm, anything else you need?”

Shi Che: “Hmph.”

Shi Li: “?”

Shi Che: “Nothing. Which building is Shen Hengchun in?”

Shi Li: “Looking for Shen Hengchun? Guess.”

Shi Che: “Xunxiang Pavilion. I’m going to beat him up right now.”

There was a long silence on the other end. Just as Shi Che thought he wouldn’t respond, he said: “Go ahead.”

Shi Che: “Aren’t you going to ask why?”

Shi Li: “Would you tell me?”

Shi Che ignored him.

Entering the main city, he pointed to an inn and told Xue Zhun to go ahead.

Xue Zhun asked, “It’s so late, where are you going?”

“Seeking flowers and asking about willows,” he said without batting an eye.

Xue Zhun was shocked. “You don’t seem like that kind of person. Is the pressure getting to you lately? There are healthier ways to relax. How about we draw our swords and spar for three hundred rounds first?”

“No,” the silver mask reflected a cold gleam as he turned away without hesitation. “I am exactly that kind of person.”

In front of Xunxiang Pavilion, laughter and chatter never ceased. Even before approaching, a strange fragrance wafted over.

“Oh, where did this young gentleman come from? Why are you hiding your face?”

A graceful beauty, catching sight of him from the corner of her eye, swayed her waist and leaned into his arms. He sidestepped, brushing away the silk veil that brushed against his face, and said, “I’m looking for someone.”

The beauty had a good temper; even nearly falling didn’t anger her. With a glance up and down, she sized him up thoroughly.

Her smile brightened even more as she guided him inside. “Young master, please come in~”

Tianshu Main City relied on Xuanqing Sect, and the most frequent visitors were sword cultivators of all kinds. Sword cultivators didn’t care about clothing the sword at their waist was enough to signify their status.

Swords were the most extravagant possessions. It was common to see someone in tattered clothes carrying a fine sword in the city.

Sword cultivators spent money quickly but earned it even faster, accumulating star stones as if their lives depended on it. Especially now, with Xuanqing Sect recruiting new disciples, if any of these people were to don those silver robes in the future, they would become the most honored of guests and must not be treated lightly.

And the sword Shi Che carried was enough for him to live lavishly in the main city for an entire month.

The beauty led the way ahead, turning back to ask whom he was looking for, only to find he had vanished in the blink of an eye.

Thinking he had been snatched away midway, she couldn’t help but glance around, huffed, and returned to the entrance.

Shi Che went up to the second floor, heading straight for the private room at the very end.

It was an ordinary carved wooden door, but inside was a world of its own.

A warm, petal-strewn pool occupied most of the room, surrounded by a stone embankment, with white, misty steam rising within.

The courtesan Yin Xunxiang stretched her body, comfortably closing her eyes as she soaked in the pool, enjoying herself.

Spiritual light filled the entire room, and at the corner of her eye, a vibrant pink silk-floss tree blossom mark shimmered brilliantly.

The sound of footsteps on the embankment reached her ears. Just as Yin Xunxiang was about to open her eyes, she was abruptly lifted out of the water in the next instant.

She let out a startled gasp and hurriedly grabbed a nearby light robe to cover herself. Recognizing the person before her, she flushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, jabbing her finger sharply against his chest. “What are you doing, Little Sect Master? Just because you’ve finished your cultivation, you think you can disregard others?”

The man showed no irritation at her scolding, merely lowering his peach-blossom eyes, brimming with affection, and gently taking her hand.

The robe he had just put on was dampened as he pulled her into his embrace. He adjusted the thin garment for Yin Xunxiang, then scooped her up and laid her on the bed, a faint smile curling his lips. “Why are you so shy, Sister Yin? We’ve been intimate, sharing necks and pleasures is there any part of you I haven’t seen?”

Yin Xunxiang’s gaze lingered on his face for a moment. Even with her vast experience, she couldn’t help but feel her cheeks grow warm under the sight of such a face.

She circulated the spiritual energy in her dantian, causing the floral mark at the corner of her eye to glow brighter. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she chuckled softly. “If the Little Sect Master visits me a few more times, I’m afraid I won’t be able to recover for the next half-year and won’t have the chance to seek anyone else.”

“Oh?” Shen Hengchun took her hand, playing with it in his palm, but his gaze had already shifted to the door. “So the person outside isn’t here for you?”

Yin Xunxiang froze, following his gaze toward the entrance.

Shi Che stood outside the door, holding his breath, still unprepared for what was to come.

Even the dense floral scent seeping through the cracks, carried by the rising steam, made him feel uncomfortable from the inside out.

Under Shen Hengchun’s leadership, the Joyous Union Sect truly remained unchanged for centuries indulging in debauchery, with lust at the forefront.

In his previous life, his greatest regret was indulging this childhood friend, his only true companion, allowing him to become obsessed with beauty, consumed by thoughts of love, and ultimately sacrificing his life for a fleeting, once-in-a-lifetime infatuation.

The Joyous Union Sect was founded on passion and nurtured by love. Severing Shen Hengchun’s emotional roots would be akin to crippling him. Moreover, if Shi Che were to do so, he would betray the trust of the late sect master and his wife.

But since he had been given a second chance, Shi Che had to find a way to prevent Shen Hengchun from losing his head to the blade of lust.

The best method would be to prevent their meeting altogether. Coincidentally, during this period, Shen Hengchun had yet to encounter the object of his once-in-a-lifetime infatuation and was not yet hopelessly obsessed or heartbroken over him.

But Shi Che wasn’t confident.

He couldn’t lock Shen Hengchun away until everything was over, fearing that fate would inevitably bring them together.

He felt guilty toward Shen Hengchun he had failed the late sect master’s trust, failed to protect their only child, his only friend.

Thus, the moment the carved wooden door swung open and that face appeared before him, a cold glint flashed. A broken sword was unsheathed and brutally plunged through Shen Hengchun’s damp, water-stained chest.

Inside the room, Yin Xunxiang only saw the sect master standing motionless in the doorway, completely blocking the person outside. But in the next second, a flash of spiritual light erupted, and the two vanished from sight.

Assuming the visitor had come for Shen Hengchun, she simply turned over on the bed and closed her eyes again, not bothering to investigate further. She failed to notice the few drops of crimson blood left on the ground where the two had disappeared.

In a hidden cave outside the main city, a man in green robes, a sword embedded in his chest, was thrown heavily to the ground. His back struck a rock, and he violently coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He clutched his chest as he sat up, looking at the silver-masked figure before him. Even his usually gentle peach-blossom eyes were tinged with anger as he asked in confusion, “Who are you? I’ve never been involved with a sword cultivator don’t tell me we have some emotional entanglement.”

The figure stood tall, looking down at him without a word. With a slight lift of the hand, the broken sword was pulled from his chest. Before he could even frown in pain, it plunged back in, deeper this time, forcing his face to turn deathly pale and leaving him with no strength to gather spiritual energy to resist.

“You…” The taste of blood filled his mouth. Shen Hengchun felt as though his heart was being shredded by these two strikes, the pain so intense that he no longer cared about manners or cultivation. He just wanted to curse this person’s ancestors for eight generations.

“Does it hurt?”

The figure finally spoke, his voice cold and heavy. Shen Hengchun froze.

“Shi Li?”

The broken sword was pulled out and plunged in a third time. Shen Hengchun spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground. Staring at the mask on the figure’s face, he forced out the words from the depths of his throat, even as he felt death approaching. “Go to hell. This can’t be Shi Li.” Then he completely lost consciousness.

Shi Che crouched down. He had just opened his Qiankun bag, and now he held a warm, beating heart in his hand.

These three strikes had severely damaged Shen Hengchun’s heart meridian, leaving him with only a faint breath. Fortunately, the Dual Cultivation method excelled at nourishment and restoration, and Shen Hengchun had just emerged from his cultivation partner’s room now was when his life force was at its strongest.

Holding the heart from the Qiankun bag in one hand and gripping the sword hilt with the other, Shi Che pulled the broken sword from Shen Hengchun’s chest and immediately pressed the spirit-infused heart into the wound.

Eager to repair the damaged heart meridian, the Dual Cultivation method absorbed the compatible material as soon as it made contact, merging it with the original heart.

Blood splattered across his white robe and silver mask. Shi Che sheathed his sword and waited quietly. Once Shen Hengchun had recovered enough to be out of danger, he lifted him up and sent him back to the Fragrance-Seeking Pavilion.

If he managed to ruin two hearts again, he deserved it.

By the time Shi Che reached the inn, dawn was approaching. He went straight to the room he had booked in advance, slammed the broken sword onto the table, and called for hot water to bathe.

He still couldn’t use his spiritual energy the strikes he had dealt Shen Hengchun were powered by the Life-Borrowing Jade Token Shi Li had given him.

How annoying, he thought. Shi Li could sense it when he borrowed spiritual energy.

The fact that he had no spiritual energy of his own and had to borrow from someone else and that the person could feel it in real time filled him with extreme displeasure.

As for whether Shi Li counted as “someone else,” he didn’t have the energy to dwell on that now.

When Shi Li had tossed the jade token to him, he could have disdainfully thrown it back. But the truth was, he needed that bit of spiritual energy now.

He tried to console himself with this thought, but it only made him more irritated.

As he sank into the hot water, he closed his eyes, forcing himself not to dwell on these unpleasant matters. Yet the lingering scent of blood filled his nostrils, growing stronger and stronger, as if it had permeated the entire room.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and looked at the broken sword on the table. Hidden in its sheath, it still carried the blood that had yet to dry.

He had forgotten to clean it again.