Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: I Have Acquaintances in the Heavenly Realm - Chapter 29

Having uncharacteristically woken up early, Wei Wuxian was struck by a sudden whim to see Lan Wangji while he was teaching. Come to think of it, he had never actually seen Lan Wangji’s teaching persona up close.

He crept quietly to the window of the Lan Room, listening to the rhythmic sounds of recitation coming from within. It reminded him of the days when he, too, attended morning lessons here. More than ten years had passed; everything had changed, yet it felt as if nothing had changed at all this chanting, for instance, was exactly the same. He wondered if Lan Zhan was currently writing, reading, or perhaps reciting along with the students?

He peeked in cautiously, looking left and right, but he didn’t see Lan Wangji. Instead, he accidentally locked eyes with Lan Qiren.

Wei Wuxian immediately pulled back his head in a fright. It’s over. Just yesterday he had solemnly told himself not to break any sect rules, and today he had been caught red-handed. But something wasn’t right—wasn’t Lan Zhan usually the one to teach the morning lessons? Why was Old Master Lan there today?

Wei Wuxian began to tiptoe away from the Lan Room, intending to check the Library Pavilion; perhaps Lan Zhan was there reading. He had only taken a few steps after turning around when he felt someone approaching from behind. He didn’t even need to look to know who it was.

Wei Wuxian lowered his head in an admission of guilt. Before he could speak with his hands cupped in salute, the newcomer called his name.

Lan Qiren said, “Wei Ying.”

Wei Wuxian kept his head down and nodded. “Teacher Lan, I was wrong. I didn’t mean to disturb you, I just…”

Lan Qiren frowned. “Raise your head when you speak. A man of seven feet should stand tall and sit straight. Acting like this—what kind of decorum is that?”

Hearing this, Wei Wuxian immediately looked up and said with a grin, “Yes, yes, yes. Teacher Lan is right. Wei Ying understands.”

After a moment of silence, Lan Qiren asked, “Are you here looking for Wangji?”

Wei Wuxian scratched his head. “Hehe, as expected of Teacher Lan; you guessed it in one go.”

Lan Qiren, however, was in no mood for jokes. With a grave expression, he said, “Wangji went to Biling Lake.”

Wei Wuxian felt a sudden jolt of unease. Had something happened at Biling Lake? Could it be another Water Abyss? Had it not been completely eradicated after all these years?

Lan Qiren explained, “Early this morning, disciples reported another shipwreck incident at Biling Lake. And this time, three ships sank at once.”

Wei Wuxian said, “How could this be? I thought the Water Abyss at Biling Lake had been dealt with years ago.”

Lan Qiren looked weary, yet remained as rigid as ever. “You know how difficult it is to completely eliminate a Water Abyss. Over the years, we have tried every possible method but failed to eradicate it entirely. We could only suppress it with a formation.”

It was true. To completely destroy a Water Abyss, one would have to drain the lake and let the riverbed bake in the sun for three years—something the people of Caiyi Town could not afford if they were to maintain their livelihoods. Since the formation had kept things peaceful for so many years, why had it suddenly failed?

Wei Wuxian suddenly remembered what Hua Cheng had said about the restrictions in this cultivation world being broken, affecting the formations. A Water Abyss that had been forcibly suppressed for so many years would surely be even more ravenous for the living. If that was the case…

Wei Wuxian’s heart tightened, and his voice rose involuntarily. “Did Lan Zhan go alone? If the formation can’t hold the Water Abyss anymore, isn’t he in danger?”

Lan Qiren looked at him and said, “That is why I stopped you. Xichen is currently… sigh! I cautioned Wangji not to overreach, but…”

Wei Wuxian turned and left immediately, disregarding all etiquette and sect rules. He left Lan Qiren with only the sight of his retreating back as he called out, “Teacher Lan, don’t worry. Lan Zhan will be fine.”

Watching Wei Wuxian’s hurrying figure, Lan Qiren did not feel angry this time. Instead, he felt a sense of relief. Wangji truly did not choose the wrong person.

Wei Wuxian raced to the mountain gate, where he ran into Xie Lian and the others. Seeing Wei Wuxian in such a hurry that he didn’t even notice them, Xie Lian quickly called out, “Master Wei, please stay a moment.”

Wei Wuxian turned his head and said, “Daozhang Xie, my apologies. I have an urgent matter. Whatever it is, we’ll talk when I get back.” Without looking back, he continued running down the mountain.

Once past the mountain gate of Cloud Recesses, the barrier ended. The area was sparsely populated with almost no pedestrians, so the four from the Celestial and Ghost realms simply used their speed to catch up with him in an instant.

Xie Lian asked, “Master Wei, is there some evil creature causing trouble nearby?”

Wei Wuxian said as he hurried, “Yes. Lan Zhan is there alone right now; I have to get there quickly.”

At this moment, Wei Wuxian felt the true agony of not having a Golden Core and being unable to fly by sword. He cursed Mo Xuanyu’s body for being so weak!

Just as he finished speaking, he felt someone grab his arm. He looked down—it was Xie Lian. By the time he looked up again, Lan Wangji was right before his eyes. Wei Wuxian couldn’t help but think: It’s great being a Heavenly Official!

Lan Wangji was standing on his sword above Biling Lake, staring expressionlessly at the water. Others might not have seen it, but Wei Wuxian could tell that Lan Wangji’s eyes were filled with fury—he was preparing to strike.

Wei Wuxian shouted, “Lan Zhan!”

Lan Wangji turned his head. “Wei Ying?”

Wei Wuxian said, “Lan Zhan, it’s me! Don’t be in a hurry to strike. This Water Abyss is much more formidable than the one from over ten years ago.”

Lan Wangji’s brow furrowed. “The formation cannot hold it. It must be eradicated.”

Wei Wuxian argued, “I know! It’s precisely because it can’t be held that you shouldn’t rush. It’s been suppressed for so many years; right now it is in a frenzy and at its strongest!”

Lan Wangji started, “But…”

Wei Wuxian interrupted, “It just swallowed living people and is currently ‘savoring’ them. It won’t cause more trouble in the short term. Let’s plan carefully and think of a way. Lan Zhan, trust me! I will definitely find a way!”

The waters of Biling Lake had turned entirely black, especially at the center, where a massive, violent whirlpool churned.

Xie Lian stared at the lake, his brow knitted. “San Lang, is this the evil presence you sensed earlier?”

Hua Cheng nodded. “It is.”

Xie Lian sighed, “This will be difficult. There are so many people in this town, and it’s inconvenient for us to intervene directly. Otherwise, it’s impossible to say if something even worse might happen in this cultivation world.”

Shi Qingxuan looked at the black water and remarked, “This is almost like the South Sea. Could it be that this world also has a Black Water Submerging Ships?”

Wei Wuxian turned to him. “Lord Wind Master, what do you mean? You have a ‘Black Water Submerging Ships’ in your South Sea?”

Shi Qingxuan laughed. “Yes! Didn’t I tell you? Black Water Submerging Ships is my cultivation partner—the one right here beside me.”

Wei Wuxian scratched his head. “My apologies, Lord Wind Master. My memory is a bit poor. I only remembered your partner was a Ghost King.”

Shi Qingxuan grinned. “That’s not wrong. He is indeed a Ghost King, hahahaha.”

Lan Wangji asked, “‘Black Water’? ‘Submerging Ships’? What does it mean?”

Shi Qingxuan explained, “Exactly what it sounds like! The South Sea is Black Water’s territory, and it’s a stretch of water just as black as this. No matter what passes over the South Sea, it must sink—except for the dead, of course.”

Lan Wangji’s brow tightened. “Does that not mean the living die upon reaching it?”

Xie Lian sensed Lan Wangji’s displeasure and quickly clarified, “Second Master Lan, please don’t misunderstand. No living person goes to Black Water’s South Sea. Even if they did, they wouldn’t die unless Black Water willed it.”

Lan Wangji’s expression finally relaxed. “I see.”

Wei Wuxian found it fascinating and asked, “Then, Lord Ghost King ‘Black Water Submerging Ships,’ what kind of black water is your black water? How is it made?”

He Xuan replied flatly, “Nothing special. Just resentment.”

Wei Wuxian asked, “Then, Lord Ghost King, how do you think this Water Abyss compares to your black water?”

He Xuan said, “Different, yet the same.”

Wei Wuxian knew there was hope. He hurriedly asked, “Does the Lord Ghost King have a solution?”

He Xuan nodded. “There is a way. It only depends on whether you can do it.”