I Reborn on the Night I Divorced the Sword Deity, My Childhood Friend - Chapter 33

That night, upon receiving the letter, Lord Tiantong brought Meng Xingyan to visit the side hall where Shen Junyu was staying.

Recalling the contents of the letter and seeing Shen Junyu’s current state, Lord Tiantong was quite surprised. He asked, “Little Friend Wen, do you truly intend to assist me in my advancement tonight? Is it not a bit too hasty? I am actually in no hurry. Perhaps you should rest and heal for a few days before we revisit this matter.”

The moment Lord Tiantong spoke, the expression of Wen Su, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly shifted. A surge of nameless fury welled up in his heart once more, and he could not help but cast a cold glare at Shen Junyu.

At that moment, Shen Junyu clearly felt Wen Su’s burning, piercing gaze. He went still for a heartbeat, yet he did not turn to look back. Instead, he looked calmly at Lord Tiantong and explained, “It is no matter. Today’s injuries are merely superficial; they are of no great consequence. Drawing a Star Map does not require one to be in peak condition; it only requires a sufficient expenditure of demonic energy. Now that the Young Marquis is here, it should be fine.”

Originally, if Lord Tianhuang and the Demon Venerable had not intervened today, Shen Junyu would have been content to delay. However, he could no longer afford to wait. He needed to learn the outcome of a certain matter through Lord Tianhuang’s Spiritual Eye as soon as possible. In doing so, the future for both him and Wen Su would become clearer than it was now. If that matter truly carried too much risk, he still did not wish to involve Wen Su.

After all, regardless of whether there was another possibility for him and Wen Su in the future, Wen Su was the most important person to him at this very moment. In his actions, he always sought only to have a clear conscience. Even if Wen Su became worried or displeased because of his physical state, Shen Junyu could no longer take it into account.

Standing nearby, Meng Xingyan was surprised by Shen Junyu’s words and asked, “What do you need me to do?”

Shen Junyu replied, “Young Marquis, do you remember what Brother Wen did the day I drew the Spiritual Array for you? It seems that person must now be you. Brother Wen’s Golden Core cultivation may not be enough to withstand the consumption required by the Star Map.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Xingyan immediately recalled the scene of Wen Su assisting from the side while Shen Junyu drew the array. He opened his mouth to say “Alright.”

Unexpectedly, a voice interrupted. “Let this Lord do it. Advancing to the Void Refinement stage is a major event; there must be no room for error.”

Lord Jiuyou suddenly appeared, causing the three people present to startle slightly. Turning around, they saw Lord Jiuyou, still clad in his formal attire, stepping over the threshold of the side hall. His exquisite face bore a cold, detached expression that made it impossible to read his emotions.

However, Lord Jiuyou’s willingness to help was a pleasant surprise. Meng Xingyan, being the quickest-witted, immediately said, “Since Uncle Wen is willing to step in, then nothing could be better.”

Coming to his senses, Lord Tiantong considered it for a moment and felt relieved. He smiled and said, “If Ninth Brother is willing to help, then this matter is surely foolproof.”

Only Shen Junyu felt a faint sense of strangeness in his heart. He had thought that Lord Jiuyou had grown resentful toward him, yet he had not expected the man to appear here suddenly and volunteer his help. It was truly unexpected. But considering Lord Jiuyou’s upright nature, if he said he would help, he would not sabotage the process; on the contrary, his involvement would greatly increase the probability of success.

After a brief silence, Shen Junyu chose not to dwell on the details. He composed himself, cupped his hands, and thanked Lord Jiuyou. Lord Jiuyou gave him a faint, unreadable look, but Shen Junyu lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Finally, Lord Tiantong smoothed things over by saying, “Now that everyone is here, Little Friend Wen may begin whenever he is ready.”

Shen Junyu nodded and said, “Very well.”

With that, Shen Junyu walked to the center of the inner hall. He raised his hand, using demonic energy to sketch a basic Spirit-Gathering Array that glowed with a faint golden light, large enough to accommodate three people. He then took a white jade cushion and placed it in the center of the golden array, looking at Lord Tiantong. “Lord Tiantong, please.”

Without hesitation, Lord Tiantong stepped forward and sat cross-legged on the cushion within the array. At this point, Shen Junyu turned to Lord Jiuyou and said, “I must trouble the Lord to assist.”

Lord Jiuyou looked deeply at Shen Junyu. Without any refusal or pretension, he walked straight over and stood behind Shen Junyu. This familiar stance and sensation caused Shen Junyu to daze for a moment. Thinking of this, Shen Junyu could not help but glance at Wen Su in the far corner.

Wen Su seemed quite displeased; his sword-like brows were furrowed, and his thin lips were pressed into a tight line. However, out of consideration for the bigger picture, he was clearly enduring it. Seeing this, Shen Junyu sent a telepathic message: “Wen Su.”

Wen Su finally looked up at him. Their eyes met. Shen Junyu intentionally ignored the dissatisfaction in Wen Su’s eyes and face, saying softly in his mind, “I know what I am doing. Do not worry.”

Those few words caused Wen Su’s expression to soften considerably. After a moment of silence, Wen Su replied, “Do not push yourself next time.”

Shen Junyu responded, “Alright.”

Wen Su said no more. Just then, Lord Jiuyou spoke in a slightly cold voice, “Are you not starting yet?”

Shen Junyu snapped back to reality. No longer hesitating, he nodded and formed hand seals. Using the golden Spirit-Gathering Array as a foundation, he began to draw the Star Map step by step above it.

In the cultivation world, Spiritual Arrays were the earliest tools evolved to assist in cultivation and combat. These arrays drew upon the five elements of the world, primarily utilizing Earth Qi. The Star Map, however, was a later evolution. It was drawn based on the magnetic fields and layouts of the shifting celestial bodies, borrowing the power of the stars to elevate a cultivator’s prowess to a higher level. The principles behind it were far more profound and mysterious than those of the Five Elements school.

Previously, what Shen Junyu had drawn was merely a crude, two-dimensional Star Map. In reality, a Star Map was three-dimensional. As countless golden streams of light wove through the Spirit-Gathering Array, they outlined exquisite celestial orbits.

Although Meng Xingyan usually studied and practiced drawing arrays and Star Maps, he had been limited to flat surfaces. This was his first time witnessing the process of creating a three-dimensional Star Map. He knew that Lord Tiantong could also draw three-dimensional maps, but because Lord Tiantong disliked being disturbed while working, Meng Xingyan had only seen finished products, never the process.

Now, seeing the three-dimensional map Shen Junyu was drawing, he found it even more complex and delicate than Lord Tiantong’s finished works. Meng Xingyan was initially struck with awe, but he quickly focused himself, observing the process with rapt attention.

Lord Tiantong was also shaken by Shen Junyu’s display of skill. Previously, he knew Shen Junyu possessed extraordinary abilities, but he had rationalized it by thinking the man was a Special Envoy sent by the Demon Venerable. Seeing it with his own eyes now, he was even more shocked. He had lived for over a hundred years and prided himself on being second to none among his peers in the art of Star Maps and arrays. Yet, seeing Shen Junyu’s handiwork today, he could only feel inferior.

At the same time, a strange sense of lamentation arose in his heart: “Since Heaven gave birth to such a youth, why was I also born?” Once this thought appeared, a sense of competitiveness arose in Lord Tiantong. Thinking back to the discrepancy between Shen Junyu’s soul and physical age, he concluded that Shen Junyu must have possessed another’s body.

After a moment of contemplation, Lord Tiantong could not help but ask, “Though I have been calling you Little Friend Wen, I wonder how old the Strategist truly is? I would hate to make a fool of myself by addressing you incorrectly.”

As soon as Lord Tiantong spoke, Shen Junyu understood what was on his mind. Since he was a reborn soul who had lived an extra hundred years, there was no need to lie. After a pause, he replied truthfully, “From the time I was born until the end of next autumn, it will be exactly two cycles of sixty years. While I am not as old as the Lord, the difference is not vast.”

Lord Tiantong was enlightened, and his heart felt much more balanced. Linking this to the act of possession, he assumed that Shen Junyu must have specialized in the art of star divination before taking over this body, neglecting his own cultivation. Since he himself had managed both cultivation and divination, his current standing was quite respectable. He felt at peace.

However, Lord Jiuyou, upon hearing Shen Junyu’s words, could not help but steal several glances at him. Suddenly, Shen Junyu said, “Lord, I request your assistance.”

Lord Jiuyou snapped back to his senses and realized that Shen Junyu’s profile had turned slightly pale; he had clearly been enduring for a long time. This time, Lord Jiuyou did not hesitate. He placed his hand directly on Shen Junyu’s shoulder, injecting a vast and powerful surge of demonic energy into his body.

Shen Junyu’s condition instantly improved. “My thanks to the Lord.”

Lord Jiuyou said in a deep voice, “Focus.”

Shen Junyu said nothing more. Following this, they entered the critical phase of the Star Map: identifying the optimal celestial orbits based on the alignment of stars at the moment of Lord Tiantong’s birth. From this point on, every step required extreme caution. Because the orbital speeds of each star varied, a single mistake would mean starting over.

Shen Junyu first marked the Sun and Moon on the orbits, followed by the five planets: Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury. Finally, he placed the minor stars such as Ziqi, Luoji, and Yuebei in sequence. By the time the last star was lit, Shen Junyu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, but his clear, glazed eyes shone with an extraordinary brilliance.

The moment that final star ignited, the stars within the map began to rotate in a dazzling display of light. Spiritual energy was drawn from outside, following the celestial orbits and descending like dozens of rainbows, pouring frantically into the Star Map. Simultaneously, above the side hall, thunderclouds gathered, and the wind began to swirl as the stars shifted.

Sensing the disturbance outside, Shen Junyu did not have time to recover even though his blood was churning. He immediately pressed his lips together, withdrew his hands, and looked toward the sky. After focusing for a moment, he said in a heavy voice to Lord Tiantong, “Lord, please proceed with your advancement quickly. The lightning tribulation will likely descend in forty-five minutes.”

Lord Tiantong replied, “Understood.”

Meng Xingyan could not help but ask in surprise, “Forty-five minutes? Brother Wen, how did you deduce that? Can you teach me?”

Shen Junyu was already exhausted, but hearing Meng Xingyan’s question, he looked back, intending to explain. However, having looked up for too long, his vision went black the moment he lowered his head, and a wave of dizziness hit him. Before he could explain, he began to slide straight toward the ground.

Meng Xingyan cried out in alarm, “Brother Wen!”

However, he swallowed the rest of his words before he could finish. Lord Jiuyou, who had been standing behind Shen Junyu, had stepped forward and caught him. Even after catching him, he did not let go. Instead, with a deep frown, he grabbed Shen Junyu’s wrist and began to transfer demonic energy into him.

Meng Xingyan watched for a second and felt as though he had discovered something monumental. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately looked away, hurrying to Lord Tiantong’s side to act as a protector.

In the moment he fell, Shen Junyu vaguely heard Meng Xingyan call his name. But his vital energy was nearly spent; it felt as though his senses were wrapped in a thick cloth, and his soul was trapped within it, unable to break free. He could only allow himself to fall in a daze.

Yet, he did not hit the floor. Instead, he fell into a very warm and broad embrace. A familiar fragrance of a hundred flowers drifted toward him, and thick demonic energy poured into his body. Shen Junyu was naturally very alert; after a brief recovery, he regained his senses. When his long lashes fluttered and he forced his eyes open, he found himself staring directly into Lord Jiuyou’s eyes.

At that moment, the faint anger and anxiety burning within those beautiful blue-gold eyes were almost palpable. Their eyes met. Shen Junyu went still for a moment, then, forcing himself to ignore the cold sweat and discomfort, he used every ounce of his strength to pull away from Lord Jiuyou’s embrace. He bowed and said, “This subordinate was impolite and offended the Lord. I beg for the Lord’s forgiveness.”

After saying this, Shen Junyu realized something and looked up at Lord Jiuyou. He suddenly saw Lord Jiuyou’s hand hanging in mid-air, having almost touched his cheek. The atmosphere in the hall became exceptionally strange. Finally, those long, pale fingers curled into a fist in the air and were withdrawn.

“Am I truly so terrifying that you avoid me like a venomous snake?”

Shen Junyu remained quiet for a long while before whispering, “The Lord is kind, but I must understand the boundaries of propriety. It is not the Lord’s fault.”

A muscle in Lord Jiuyou’s face twitched.

 

The hall fell into a deathly silence, leaving only the continuous roar of the lightning tribulation overhead. Lord Tiantong’s advancement speed increased, his demonic energy swirling as the light became blinding.

 

Finally, the first bolt of the lightning tribulation struck.

 

Meng Xingyan was well prepared. Seeing the lightning, he steeled his heart and threw himself forward to intercept it. He was instantly struck, leaving a deep, bloody gash across his body.

 

By the time the second bolt descended, Lord Jiuyou had already recovered his composure. He stepped forward and brushed his sleeve, easily blocking the second strike. This was followed by the third and then the fourth bolts.

 

The anomalies created during the drawing of the Star Map had already aroused suspicion among the many demon cultivators on Phoenix Bathing Mountain. However, knowing that Shen Junyu was one of the Demon Venerable’s people, they did not dwell on it, assuming his actions were within reason.

 

But now, seeing the clouds of a Void Refinement stage advancement, they were struck with shock. They immediately guessed that Lord Tiantong was breaking through.

 

For a time, the thoughts of the gathered demon cultivators were in disarray. Some felt worry, others felt envy, and some were already planning to switch their allegiances.

 

Finally, the last bolt of the lightning tribulation crashed down.

 

The roof of the side hall, already battered and broken, was completely flipped over by the force of the strike. Simultaneously, a brilliant and dazzling beam of purple demonic energy shot into the sky, piercing the clouds.

 

Lord Tiantong had successfully advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

 

At this moment, his white robes fluttered despite the lack of wind, and his aura became increasingly transcendent and majestic. Countless ethereal starlights swirled around him, proving that his star divination skills had also ascended to a new level.

 

Seeing this miraculous sight, the various demon marquises and lords watching from other peaks could no longer restrain themselves. They transformed into streaks of light, rushing toward the Jiuyou Palace to curry favor. For a moment, the sky was filled with demonic light, a truly spectacular scene.

 

Lord Jiuyou had anticipated this. With an expressionless face, he said to the group, “Follow me into the main hall so we are not disturbed by idle people.”

 

Having successfully advanced, Lord Tiantong felt refreshed. He smiled and replied, “I shall do as my Ninth Brother says.”

 

Inside the Main Hall

 

Once inside the main hall, Lord Jiuyou closed the doors and set up a restrictive ward. Lord Tiantong turned toward Shen Junyu, who had recovered by now, and cupped his hands. “Thank you for your help, Little Friend Wen. Such a great favor cannot be expressed with mere words.” He then thanked Lord Jiuyou as well.

 

Lord Jiuyou raised his hand, stopping the unnecessary formalities. “Fifth Brother still owes my little strategist a favor. It is only right that you repay it promptly.”

 

Both Lord Tiantong and Shen Junyu were surprised by his words.

 

Lord Tiantong soon realized that Lord Jiuyou likely wanted this favor himself but was using Shen Junyu’s name as a pretext. He immediately said, “Ninth Brother is right. Little Friend Wen, what is it that you wish to see?”

 

Shen Junyu, looking at Lord Jiuyou’s exceptionally cold expression, suspected that the Lord did not trust him. He thought the Lord feared he and Lord Tiantong might make a private arrangement, which was why he wanted the divination performed now.

 

However, he did indeed have a specific matter he wanted Lord Tiantong to investigate.

 

Without hesitation, he bowed slightly to Lord Tiantong and said, “I would like the Lord to open his Spiritual Eye and provide guidance on the matter currently in my heart.” He did not state the matter directly, clearly for the sake of secrecy.

 

Lord Tiantong was accustomed to such requests and nodded. “Please focus on the question in your heart, and I shall open my eye now.”

 

“Very well,” Shen Junyu replied.

 

A moment later, Lord Tiantong stood still as his aura began to surge. The eye on his brow, which usually remained closed like a golden line, slowly opened. A mysterious Spiritual Eye, saturated with intricate totems, blossomed on his forehead. A beam of light shot out from the eye, passing through Shen Junyu and toward an unknown future.

 

This time, there was no interference from the previous mark. The light moved forward clearly and unobstructed. Seeing this, Shen Junyu’s suspicions about that mark became even more defined. He stood there calmly, allowing Lord Tiantong to look.

 

After an unknown amount of time, Lord Tiantong’s body shuddered. He suddenly closed his eyes and reached up to touch his forehead, his face turning slightly pale. Meng Xingyan rushed forward to support him, but Lord Tiantong waved him off.

 

He looked at Shen Junyu with a complex and serious expression. “It is strange. When I use my Spiritual Eye, I usually see very clear scenes. However, this time, I could only see fragments of guidance. Although they are clear, they are not entirely self-explanatory. By all rights, my vision should have improved with my breakthrough. Perhaps my state is simply unstable.”

 

“It is no matter,” Shen Junyu said. “Please tell me what you saw.”

 

Lord Tiantong paused for a moment before slowly uttering three terms: “Soul Lamp, Sword Sect, and the East Sea.”

 

At these words, the expressions of everyone present shifted. Shen Junyu was the first to recover. He bowed calmly to Lord Tiantong and said, “Thank you, Lord. I understand.”

 

Lord Tiantong glanced at Shen Junyu again and pondered before saying, “You are entwined with an extraordinary destiny. You must be cautious in your actions, for a single move may affect the whole. I fear the consequences could be grave.”

 

“I understand. I will remember your words,” Shen Junyu replied.

 

Lord Tiantong and Meng Xingyan took their leave. For a time, only Lord Jiuyou and Shen Junyu remained in the main hall. Wen Su was considered an outsider, so Lord Jiuyou had not allowed him to come over.

 

Unusually, Lord Jiuyou asked nothing. He simply gave Shen Junyu a quiet look and said, “You have worked hard tonight. You may withdraw.”

 

Though surprised, Shen Junyu was preoccupied with his own concerns and did not overthink the matter. He promptly took his leave.

 

The Path Outside

 

Walking toward the hall’s exit, Shen Junyu faced the night wind. As he looked at the bright moon, his emotions began to stir. The question he had focused on was how to remove the inevitable obstacles on his path of cultivation. He was asking about his demonic cultivation and the hardships that might arise in his future.

 

He had not expected the first issue to be the Soul Lamp. He had completely forgotten about it.

 

In his past life, a hundred years ago, when he and Yuan Muzhou became Dao partners, Yuan Muzhou had taken his Soul Lamp from the Yuheng Sect and placed it on Lingyun Peak of the Sword Sect. A hundred years was long enough to forget many small details, and the Soul Lamp was one of them.

 

However, a Soul Lamp was lit by a strand of a cultivator’s own soul. If it was not reclaimed, it would always be a vulnerability. The Soul Lamps of the Yuheng Sect were controlled by a secret method; if they wished, they could track the owner’s every move. The persistent trace of white on his Nascent Soul was undoubtedly due to the Soul Lamp.

 

He had actually forgotten such a thing. Furthermore, he did not yet know the meaning of the other two terms Lord Tiantong had mentioned.

 

Shen Junyu’s heart grew heavy as he considered how to find an opportunity to return to the Yuheng Sect to reclaim his Soul Lamp. Suddenly, a light illuminated the cold, dark floor tiles in front of him. He startled and turned around.

 

It was Wen Su, who had come looking for him. He held a night pearl lamp that emitted a soft glow and stood at the end of the corridor, waiting quietly.

 

Upon seeing Wen Su, Shen Junyu’s tangled emotions vanished, replaced by a strange sense of stability. A smile slowly touched his lips as he hurried forward.

 

When they met, Wen Su asked nothing. He naturally reached out and took Shen Junyu’s hand. At the touch of their skin, Shen Junyu’s fingertips instinctively twitched inward, but after a silent moment, he relaxed and allowed Wen Su to hold him.

 

Wen Su gently rubbed his thumb against the cool skin of Shen Junyu’s hand and whispered, “It is a bit cold. Let us go inside. The side hall is damaged, so the Lord has assigned us a new courtyard.”

 

Shen Junyu was slightly surprised, not quite understanding Lord Jiuyou’s sudden kindness. However, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside and looked at Wen Su. “Alright. I also have something to tell you.”

 

“Mhm,” Wen Su replied.

 

They walked away together. Under the lamplight, their long shadows stretched out, exuding a soft warmth that stood in stark contrast to the lonely, empty main hall behind them.

 

Central Province, the Sword Sect

 

The Sword Competition was approaching. Talented cultivators from various major sects were arriving, hoping to secure a high ranking. Even smaller sects that had not received invitations sent people with gifts, hoping for a chance to connect with the larger sects, especially those within the Sword Sect.

 

The interior and exterior of the Sword Sect were incredibly lively. Only Lingyun Peak, where Yuan Muzhou resided, remained cold and desolate. Surrounded by mist and devoid of people, only the sharp sword energy carved into the stones told others that someone lived there.

 

Yuan Muzhou had been in secluded cultivation for a month. During this time, he forced himself not to think. He immersed himself in sword practice every day. His swordsmanship improved rapidly, yet he alone knew that his inner demons had also grown.

 

Suddenly, a servant interrupted. “Young Sect Master, the wife of the Yuheng Sect Master has arrived. She wishes to see you and has brought a gift.”

 

There was a muffled boom as snow flew into the air. A pine tree, thick enough to require three men to encircle it, collapsed under a sharp sword light. Clad in black robes, Yuan Muzhou slowly descended from the air. After a long silence, he said in a cold voice, “Send her in.”

 

The servant led Yuan Muzhou to the reception hall before withdrawing. Yuan Muzhou stood there silently, his back to the door. He did not know why he had agreed to see Yun Suyi. Perhaps it was because there were many things he had yet to clarify, and he refused to let them go. Perhaps it was because she was Shen Junyu’s mother and knew more than he did.

 

“Big Brother Yuan,” a very familiar yet hoarse and unpleasant voice called out.

 

Yuan Muzhou turned around abruptly with a look of disbelief. He saw Shen Siyuan, pale and thin as a skeleton, sitting in a wheelchair with bloodshot eyes.

 

“How did you—” Yuan Muzhou began.

 

Before he could finish, Shen Siyuan stumbled out of the wheelchair and threw himself at Yuan Muzhou’s feet. Clutching the hem of his robes, he cried, “Big Brother Yuan, save me. My father forced me to come and seduce you. He said if I did not, he would not treat my illness. He is even threatening me with my Soul Lamp at home.”

 

Yuan Muzhou’s first instinct upon seeing Shen Siyuan was to pull away, but he was shaken by the words he heard. He leaned down, grabbed Shen Siyuan’s arms, and helped him back into the wheelchair.

 

“Tell me everything that happened,” he said in a heavy voice.

 

Shen Siyuan wiped the tears from his eyes and began to speak in a raspy, broken voice. He described how Shen Du had coerced him into seducing Yuan Muzhou. He claimed he had refused to comply, so Shen Du attempted to use the Soul Lamp to force his obedience. Out of desperation, he pretended to cooperate so that Shen Du would send him here, allowing him to seek help from Yuan Muzhou.

 

He explained that the Soul Lamps of the Yuheng Sect were made with a secret technique. Once activated, the sect could track the location and status of the owner. He had truly been forced into a corner.

 

To his surprise, after hearing this, Yuan Muzhou remained silent for a long time. Finally, he asked only one question: “So, that is why they found us so quickly when your Golden Core was shattered, is it?”

 

Shen Siyuan’s heart skipped a beat. He did not understand the intent behind the question, but after a moment of consideration, he continued to sob. “It must be so. After all, my father still wanted to use me then.”

 

Yuan Muzhou suddenly gripped the handles of Shen Siyuan’s wheelchair. There was a sharp crack as the wood splintered, falling to the floor.