The Immortal Venerable Used Me and Then Abandoned Me - Chapter 4

On the plaza from yesterday, the Sect Leader and the Elders were already seated in a row.

Standing in the queue, Jian Zhu felt a faint, almost imperceptible gaze fixated on him. He acted as though he hadn’t noticed, quietly waiting for the Sect Leader to announce the rules for the third trial.

The hour arrived, and the crowd fell silent.

The Sect Leader spoke from his high seat. “The Qianyuan Peak is rich in spiritual veins, where a vast number of spirit beasts and plants grow. You have been divided into five groups based on your cultivation levels. You must bring back a designated spirit beast or plant within the allotted time. We will send personnel to follow you along the way; your performance will serve as the final judgment.”

As he finished, a small stir rippled through the crowd. Immediately following, an inner disciple read out the group lists. Given Jian Zhu’s superior aptitude, he was designated as the leader of his group.

Once the names were read, the Sect Leader swept his gaze across the participants. “Are there any objections?”

In the brief silence, Jiang Yin suddenly spoke up. “Sect Leader, this disciple has a suggestion.”

Jiang Chaoyun frowned and whispered, “What kind of trouble is he trying to stir up now…”

Jian Zhu’s lips moved slightly. “Glug, glug.”

“What?”

“The sound of someone pouring out bad water.”

While they whispered, Jiang Yin spoke up loudly, “Fellow Daoist Jian Zhu is injured. I fear he won’t be able to lead a group through the trial. I suggest he join my team so that I can look after him.”

The plaza went quiet, and Master Wei Yi’s gaze shifted over.

Jian Zhu watched Jiang Yin’s face fill with concern. His expression of worry and pity was so convincing he looked like a devoted, filial son.

He didn’t say a word, which the onlookers took as silent confirmation.

Jiang Yin suppressed the surge of triumph in his heart and continued to “share the burden.” “Fellow Daoist, there’s no need to force yourself. I saw it yesterday. The fresh wound on your waist was likely sustained only a couple of days ago. Moreover, it looks like an injury from a talisman array; it surely hasn’t healed yet.”

Jian Zhu gave Jiang Yin a half-smile. To see so much through a layer of clothes, he certainly knows how to spin a yarn. A regular runaway worker from the Three Realms Textile Factory.

The problem was, his fabrication was uncomfortably close to the truth.

“A talisman array injury from two days ago?” Elder Hui Yu suddenly cast a sharp, piercing look. “You should have been in Luqi City two days ago. How were you injured by a talisman array?”

Jian Zhu spoke up. “I accidentally injured myself while practicing my calligraphy—er, talisman drawing.”

Hui Yu’s suspicion intensified. “What kind of talisman were you drawing that could injure your waist?”

“Ghost-scrawl peach-wood talismans.” (Nonsense scribbling).

“…”

Bang! On the high seat, Elder Hui Yu struck his chair in a rage. An overwhelming aura surged toward the group below, his voice booming like a great bell. “Are you making a fool of me?”

The crowd erupted in chaos, everyone scattering in fear.

The pressure arrived in an instant. Jian Zhu raised his hand to meet it, a Minor Orbit Five-Element defensive array manifesting from his palm to guard his face. Boom! Spiritual energies collided, the aftershock sending a gale of wind through the area. The surrounding disciples were horrified.

To hell with Foundation Building, this is clearly the Nascent Soul stage!

Jiang Yin’s face turned deathly pale. He felt as though he had accidentally unsealed some terrifying monster.

Now, even the Sect Leader and Elders couldn’t remain seated. Master Wei Yi flew down, a flick of his whisk smoothing out the tremors in the air.

As the wind died and the noise ceased, Jian Zhu raised a hand to tidy his slightly ruffled hair and looked toward Elder Hui Yu.

Hui Yu had only intended to test him; he hadn’t expected to blast out a Nascent Soul cultivation level. This person’s age surely exceeded the selection limits. He bellowed, “You hid your identity to sneak into the disciple selection—what is your true motive!?”

Jian Zhu reminded him, “You forgot. I am a man of deep affection.”

Hui Yu: “…”

The Elders exchanged glances, weighing the situation in their minds.

If his words were true, adding a powerhouse to the sect was a good thing—it would be convenient for intimidation during future group fights. But if he had ulterior motives, wouldn’t they be “inviting a wolf into the house”?

Seeing the hesitation, Hui Yu urged urgently, “Sect Leader, we cannot lose the big picture for a small gain!”

Master Wei Yi pondered for a moment. “Fine. Let us ask the Immortal Venerable to come and decide.”

________________________________________

The Arrival

The message was sent, and the Elders stood in the center of the plaza, waiting for Huai Wang’s arrival.

Jian Zhu tucked his hands into his sleeves and looked at the motionless horizon of clouds, having every reason to suspect Huai Wang was playing the “big shot” card.

As prying eyes measured him up, Jiang Chaoyun was filled with regret. “That bastard Jiang Yin, always snitching!”

Jian Zhu didn’t understand how the boy could be so angry yet still manage to rhyme. He remained calm. “Remember what I said yesterday? In the journey of life, eight or nine times out of ten…”

Jiang Chaoyun thought he had been scared into idiocy.

A moment later, a crane’s cry echoed from the distance. The fragmented whispers died instantly as everyone looked up.

The mist parted and the clouds cleared. The wind surged like a tide as a massive spiritual crane flapped its wings toward them. Only one person stood on its back, yet he seemed to carry the weight of the entire Cang Mountain.

With a sweep of the clouds, the crane landed at the edge of the plaza in a heartbeat. Huai Wang’s silver crown bound his hair, his long robes fluttering lightly. His aura was like a frost-covered sword drawn from its sheath; he was as handsome as a fallen deity from a painting.

Under the surrounding mountains, there was absolute silence. Everyone present bowed in unison, their dark-green robes snapping in the mountain wind. “Greetings, Immortal Venerable—”

The Mahayana stage has arrived. All living beings must bow.

Jian Zhu looked past the crowd at Huai Wang, and for a fleeting moment, his heart jolted.

“Rise,” a cold, distant voice echoed across the plaza. Huai Wang lifted his eyes, his gaze as calm and unruffled as a still lake. “Nascent Soul stage?”

“Yes, Immortal Venerable,” Sect Leader Wei Yi answered.

Jian Zhu remained silent. He suspected Huai Wang wouldn’t be easily convinced. He had suppressed his cultivation to the Nascent Soul stage; generally, no one below the Integration stage could detect his true level, but Huai Wang was at the Mahayana stage.

Huai Wang stood his ground. “I have already been informed of the circumstances. Why did you not submit a formal petition instead of sneaking into the disciple selection?”

Jian Zhu weighed his choice of words. “To follow the trend.”

“…” Wei Yi held back Elder Hui Yu, who was on the verge of losing his temper again.

Huai Wang spoke, “Since you are here to find someone, leave once you have found them.”

“I don’t know their true name, nor their appearance; I only know they belong to your Lin Yuan Sect.” Jian Zhu added, “Ours was a ‘cloud romance’. It died the moment we met in person.”

Everyone: “…”

Standing nearby, Jiang Chaoyun’s feelings were complicated: It’d be a miracle if you DIDN’T break up.

Huai Wang’s gaze swept carefully over Jian Zhu’s features. Jian Zhu had a clean, elegant brow and an air of casual laziness that made it very easy for others to let their guard down.

The Immortal Venerable suddenly spoke, “Two nights ago, an intruder broke into our Lin Yuan Sect. Their cultivation was profound, capable of breaking the arrays of Cang Mountain.”

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. A ripple of agitation spread among the disciples.

Jian Zhu acted as if he hadn’t noticed. “I suppose I’ve arrived at just the right time, then exactly when you’re in need of extra hands.”

Hui Yu was once again stunned by his sheer audacity.

Huai Wang stared at Jian Zhu for several seconds.

Suddenly, a massive wave of pressure erupted in the center of the plaza! Jian Zhu’s heart tightened; he protected himself with spiritual energy and raised his hand to meet the blow.

The green and silver figures became a blur of combat. Jian Zhu had to keep his cultivation suppressed to the Nascent Soul level. He could feel that Huai Wang wasn’t using his full strength either; otherwise, even if Jian Zhu used his Integration-stage power, he wouldn’t last more than a few breaths.

Palm winds acted as blades and sword intent took physical form. Jian Zhu faced Huai Wang’s assault head-on, already intimately familiar with every move and style. As he parried and retreated, the wound on his waist was pulled taut. He let out a muffled groan. “Ugh…”

Huai Wang’s gaze shifted downward, his voice icy. “What? Is the injury from the Cang Mountain array not yet healed?”

Jian Zhu was almost driven to a frustrated laugh. He suddenly took a sharp step forward, closing the distance until their faces were barely an inch apart, their hair intertwining in the air.

Jian Zhu let out a light chuckle. “Why doesn’t the Immortal Venerable check for himself?”

Huai Wang’s face instantly darkened with rage. “Shameless!” BOOM— The indestructible platform beneath them actually cracked like a spiderweb.

Suppressing his cultivation, Jian Zhu couldn’t possibly withstand this strike. Right at that moment, the hair ribbon behind his head manifested a Seven Luminaries barrier in front of him.

CLANG! The barrier shattered. The last trace of Daoist magic within the ribbon vanished completely.

Jian Zhu retreated several meters, his robes slightly disheveled and a lock of hair falling across his cheek, looking like a tray of exquisite pearls that had been tossed into disarray.

Once he steadied himself, he tucked the hair behind his ear and looked at Huai Wang with a blank expression. “Does the Immortal Venerable intend to bury me in this scenic land?”

Huai Wang said coldly, “Mind your words and conduct.”

A ball of fire burned in Jian Zhu’s chest. He curled his lip. “I meant it literally.”

Since he claimed it was literal, Huai Wang couldn’t force a different interpretation. The dead-end topic was skipped. Huai Wang scrutinized him. “That strike just now… it would be difficult for anyone below the Spirit Severing stage to block it.”

Jian Zhu stared fixedly at Huai Wang. With a backhand tug, he let his hair fall loose. The silver ribbon carved a beautiful arc through the air, the blood-red jade shimmering. “It was thanks to this spiritual tool.”

Huai Wang felt as though there were an indecipherable emotion in Jian Zhu’s eyes, but he didn’t understand it nor did he need to.

“A high-grade spiritual tool?”

Jian Zhu pursed his lips and didn’t deny it. “The Immortal Venerable has such great spirit. Now that the tool is destroyed, it is no different from common trash.”

Hui Yu frowned and cut in, “You’re a mere Nascent Soul cultivator. Where did you get a high-grade spiritual tool?”

Jian Zhu said, “My ex-husband gave it to me.”

He said it very softly, yet it struck everyone’s heart like a thunderclap. The Elders exchanged a look: …Oh boy.

Having finished his piece, he re-tied the ribbon in silence. The ribbon had been handmade for him by Huai Wang. Now that its magic was destroyed, it was nothing more than a useless decoration, and Huai Wang’s protection would no longer shield him.

Huai Wang was suddenly speechless. He was cold-hearted, but even he knew that such a memento was deeply significant to a person.

“Immortal Venerable.” Sect Leader Wei Yi stepped out from among the Elders; it seemed they had reached a conclusion. “If the disciple Jian Zhu is willing to swear an oath never to betray the sect, perhaps we could give him a chance to complete the trials.”

Huai Wang pondered for a moment before turning to Jian Zhu. “Are you willing?”

Jian Zhu said, “I came here for one person. As long as the sect does not fail him, I shall never fail the sect.”

Hui Yu wanted to instinctively scold him, but remembering that Huai Wang had just destroyed the man’s keepsake, he could only mumble, “Why must he always add a condition…?”

Wei Yi didn’t mind. “No matter. Our Lin Yuan Sect follows a righteous path; naturally, we would never fail anyone within our gates.”

________________________________________

The Aftermath

With the agreement reached, the trials continued.

Huai Wang didn’t linger. He turned and rode his crane back toward Cang Mountain. The massive wings kicked up a gust of wind; Jian Zhu watched his receding figure, his green outer robe billowing in the breeze.

The group followed the leading Elder and two inner disciples toward Qianyuan Peak.

Jiang Yin stayed far away from Jian Zhu, walking close to the Elder for fear of a late reckoning. Jian Zhu and Jiang Chaoyun walked at the very back, occasionally catching curious glances from those ahead.

Jiang Chaoyun felt like he was in a dream. “I really didn’t expect it would end up alerting the Immortal Venerable… could you have imagined it?”

Jian Zhu tucked his hands into his sleeves. “I wouldn’t dare.”

“Neither would I,” Jiang Chaoyun sighed. “I suppose this is what you meant. That meeting people is eight or nine times out of ten a matter of fate.”

Tree shadows danced along the road, light and shadow alternating in Jian Zhu’s eyes. “If only it were.”

“What?”

He didn’t reply again. His gaze passed through the crowd ahead and landed on Jiang Yin’s back.

Meeting people in life is eight or nine times out of ten a matter of fate. The remaining one or two percent is intention.

From his deliberate response to Jiang Yin’s provocation, to guiding the gate disciples to leak information, to letting Jiang Yin see his injury. It was all designed so that Jiang Yin would point the finger at him without any real evidence.

He wanted to stand firmly at the peak of the storm, level with the sea of clouds atop Cang Mountain; he wanted Huai Wang to see him.

…

Qianyuan Peak was located to the west, abundant in spiritual veins. One could feel the dense, heavy spiritual energy the moment they entered the mountain.

The slopes were blanketed in vegetation, with the faint cries of birds and beasts echoing through the air. After briefing them on the safety precautions, the lead Elder stopped outside the mountain gates, leaving the remaining trial-takers to enter the mountain according to their groups.

Jian Zhu had originally been assigned to a group with Jiang Chaoyun, but since his cultivation level now far exceeded the others, he was required to pass the trial alone to ensure fairness.

Whoosh— A signal flare ignited in the sky, marking the start of the final trial.

Dozens of figures surged into the mountain, vanishing from sight within breaths.

Jian Zhu followed behind at an unhurried pace. His spiritual sense instantly blanketed more than half the mountain; the movements of every participant and the distribution of spiritual plants and beasts were transmitted clearly into his mind.

In less than the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, Jian Zhu had already gathered most of his required materials. He tossed them into his spatial bag and was about to turn toward the next objective when he suddenly paused.

Within the range of his spiritual sense, there seemed to be a spot that blocked his perception, a place he couldn’t probe.

Estimating that he still had plenty of time, Jian Zhu flickered away, heading straight toward that anomaly.

The grass rustled beneath his feet, and the trees grew lush on either side. The air was thick with the scent of fresh grass and damp earth.

One trial-taker was bending over to pluck a spirit herb when they suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind. With a patter, a flowery snake, snapped into two pieces, fell by their feet.

Having performed his daily good deed, Jian Zhu didn’t stop. He streaked through the dense jungle, traveling all the way to a mountain ravine on the shady side of Qianyuan Peak.

Clear spring water gurgled down from the mountain stream, and a cold valley wind whistled through the low shrubs. He stopped by a weed-choked riverbed, following his intuition.

He struck out with a burst of spiritual power. The nearby magnetic field vibrated slightly, and a flash of light appeared, looking like a portal to another space.

Qianyuan Peak was usually used for disciple trials; the Elders and Sect Leader rarely set foot here. Since the disciples’ cultivation levels were low and this anomaly was extremely well-hidden, it was likely no one had discovered it until now.

Jian Zhu rubbed his smooth chin with his index finger, then—BOOM!—he landed a full-strength attack on it. In an instant, the magnetic field surged, the yin and yang polarities reversed, and a blinding white light erupted, enveloping him.

Jian Zhu: “…What the hell?”

Before he could react, he was yanked in by a violent suction force.

…

The teleportation lasted only a heartbeat.

When he opened his eyes again, the sound of rushing water filled his ears. He was standing in the middle of a pool, an arctic chill seeping out from the bottom.

The icy spring water poured down from above, drenching him completely. His thin robes clung to his body.

Jian Zhu fell silent: Well, I fell into the water fully armored this time.

He looked around and saw a vast grove of towering parasol trees. It was the peak of spring elsewhere, but this place was covered in layers of pristine mountain snow, draped in white.

Only Cang Mountain was perpetually sealed in frost and snow.

So, that unknown teleportation array leads to Cang Mountain?

Jian Zhu flew up from the water, intending to reach the shore. As his spiritual power shifted, the surrounding barriers were suddenly triggered. Almost simultaneously, a wave of sword intent tore through the parasol forest!

Reflexively, he spun around. His robes were soaked with the cold spring water, which sprayed out in a circle like water spinning off a frantic umbrella.

Huai Wang’s figure followed the sword intent, arriving before him in an instant. The two met in mid-air amidst a chaos of wind, water droplets, and the frost-covered blade.

His silver outer robe was half-open. Jian Zhu glanced down and could see half of Huai Wang’s collarbone exposed. The lines were strong and smooth.

His body was forced back a dozen meters until—Thud!—his back hit the trunk of a massive parasol tree. Fine snow rustled down. Jian Zhu looked up to see Huai Wang’s face inches from his own.

Their breaths mingled, yet there wasn’t a hint of romance in the air. Huai Wang’s icy sword edge was pressed against the side of Jian Zhu’s vulnerable neck.

Huai Wang looked down at him coldly. “How did you get in here?”