Chapter 161 A World Without Thieves

A bizarre incident occurred during the mid-year grand competition at Jishui Peak.

A disciple at the third layer of Qi Refining first won without a fight, becoming the foremost among the junior disciples, and then challenged a senior brother at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, leaving him severely injured. Because his challenge had been permitted by his elders, he faced no punishment for the act. Perhaps life within the immortal sect was overly monotonous and dull, for such a peculiar event spread rapidly, making its rounds through Jishui Peak, then to Tianxiu Peak, and finally reaching Chuanchuan Peak.

"That disciple's surname is Yu, given name Ye. He is eighteen years old, at the grand completion of the third layer of Qi Refining, and hails from a declining noble family in the Wei State. He has practiced some unorthodox ways, perhaps adept at close-quarters combat, which allowed him to injure a disciple at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. However..."

Standing inside a stone pavilion on Chuanchuan Peak was a robust man—none other than the chief senior brother of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall, Hong Lie. At this moment, he stood with his hands bowed and his head lowered, speaking respectfully, "When the junior disciples were holding their matches, I happened to be away. Hearing of the matter the next day, I have come specifically to report it to Master!"

The stone pavilion was situated atop a sheer precipice. Three sides of the pavilion opened out into empty air, while the fourth side connected to a cave dwelling carved into the cliff face. Sitting upon a straw mat in the very center of the stone pavilion was an elderly man dressed in black. Well past fifty years of age, with grey hair and a ruddy complexion, he sat with his eyes half-closed. His name was Tie Shan, a mighty Core Formation expert, an elder of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall, and Hong Lie's master.

"You may handle the affairs of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall as you see fit; there is no need to report every single matter!"

Tie Shan remained seated as before, responding in a soft voice.

"This disciple wouldn't dare..."

"What is there that you wouldn't dare?"

"Ever since this disciple took charge of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall, its condition has deteriorated day by day. This disciple is incompetent..."

"You have only been managing the Spirit Enlightenment Hall on your master's behalf for three or five years. Could it be... could it be that our Sect Master brother has once again acted arbitrarily and alone?"

Hong Lie took a step back and lowered his head in silence.

His master, busy in secluded cultivation, had entrusted the management of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall to him—a gesture born of paternal care from a master to a disciple, as well as a trial to temper him. Yet the Sect Master repeatedly interfered in the affairs of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall, leaving him, a junior, caught in the middle and placed in a most difficult position.

Tie Shan slowly opened his eyes and said, "Between you and me, master and disciple, speak freely of whatever is on your mind!"

Hong Lie bowed slightly and said, "The Sect Master has successively dispatched dozens of disciples out on various missions, yet most have failed to return to this day. Presently, the Spirit Enlightenment Hall is short-handed, with very few capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. From what this disciple has gathered, the immortal sects of the Four States are growing restless. Once they join forces against us, I fear Chuanchuan Peak will find it difficult to cope!"

"Oh..."

Tie Shan reached out to stroke his beard, musing aloud, "Since you observed the mid-year grand competition at Jishui Peak, you may select a batch of outstanding disciples from the outer sect."

"This disciple indeed has that intention, but alas, the outer sect consists mostly of mediocre talents."

"That Yu Ye whom you mentioned just now might well be a moldable talent."

"At the third layer of Qi Refining, it is difficult for him to shoulder major tasks."

"Use your discretion and make the best use of everyone. Should disaster befall Chuanchuan Peak, no one will be spared."

Hong Lie raised his hands in acknowledgment, then hesitated before asking, "I know not where the disciples dispatched by the Sect Master have gone. If they were all recalled, we would not have come to this pass..."

"Choose your words carefully!"

Tie Shan's expression darkened as he said, "What you ought not to ask, do not ask. Go!"

"Understood!"

Hong Lie bowed in farewell, then stepped upon his flying sword and departed.

"Sigh..."

Tie Shan let out a silent sigh, a flash of helplessness crossing his eyes.

Though he was an elder of the Spirit Enlightenment Hall and the supreme authority among the five halls, there stood a Sect Master above him. As for the whereabouts of the dispatched disciples, he was actually well aware of them. Two batches of disciples had gone overseas, while three batches had gone to the Qi State, the Yun State, and the Xuanfeng State. Yet, because these matters concerned the deepest secrets of the immortal sect, it was not appropriate for him to inquire too closely. It was merely that his Sect Master brother was inherently suspicious and exceedingly stubborn. Present-day Chuanchuan Peak was already facing a gathering storm, and his Spirit Enlightenment Hall alone could hardly prop up the crumbling edifice...

...

Inside the cave dwelling.

Yu Ye sat cross-legged.

Before him lay a short sword—none other than the flying sword bestowed by his imparting-arts master, Mo Xiao.

A month had passed since the mid-year grand competition, and he was still smashing his stones. Yet, along the daily path to and from Jishui Lake, whenever he encountered fellow disciples, they would all greet him. Inadvertently, he had become a prominent figure once again. Unlike his rise to fame in the Great Marsh, which had only brought disaster upon him, within the immortal sect, the strong were revered. His fierce and terrifying reputation had earned him both attention and the respect of his peers.

Of course, his enemies would not simply vanish because of this. Perhaps even more venomous schemes were awaiting him. As for Ming Ye, he was recovering from his injuries, and Chen Qi was busy with his cultivation. For the time being, peace reigned among them.

Six months after arriving at Chuanchuan Peak, Yu Ye's cultivation had finally broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining. The true qi within his body was more abundant, his bones stronger, and his meridians tougher and clearer. His spiritual awareness could now reach outward for over forty zhang. At the same time, his mastery over the Seven Kill Sword Qi, Avatar Technique, Hidden Dragon Technique, Heavenly Dragon Shield, and Heavenly Sealing Technique had grown even more proficient. As for the minor spells within the *Chuanchuan Secret Manual*, he could cast them with equal ease. Only the Divine Dragon Escaping Technique still progressed slowly; wishing to cross its threshold would require a period of arduous cultivation.

Today, Yu Ye intended to refine his flying sword.

Jiaoying had once told him that his cultivation at the third layer of Qi Refining was comparable to the fifth layer, and though he was capable of refining a flying sword, its power would be ordinary and of little practical use. Now that he had reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining, that should change. Otherwise, in combat, he would always be relegated to passive defense. Just like during the mid-year grand competition when he fought Ming Ye, he had been forced to suffer disadvantages in order to close in for hand-to-hand combat. If he wielded a flying sword, he could rid himself of that frustrating predicament of being unable to strike from a distance.

Yu Ye gazed at the short sword before him.

The short sword was only a foot long, exceedingly compact, with the hilt and blade forged as one continuous piece. The entire body emitted a faint golden luster, feeling as light as a feather in his hand.

Silently recalling the refining methods from the *Chuanchuan Secret Manual* and the *Chuanchuan Sword Formula*, Yu Ye raised a hand and performed a series of hand seals.

As his true qi was poured into it, the short sword rose gracefully, hovering quietly three feet above the ground. He extended the index finger of his right hand, forced out a drop of vital blood, and flicked it forward. The droplet instantly vanished into the short sword. Following this, he waved both hands in unison, sending out a flurry of seals and boundary restrictions. The short sword began to spin slowly, and a moment later, a resounding hum filled the air as dazzling rays of light burst forth.

Not daring to be careless, Yu Ye seized the moment to cast the final hand seal.

The sword's hum abruptly ceased, though a lingering resonance continued to echo within the cave. The flashing light gradually subsided, leaving a three-foot sword radiance suspended silently in the air.

Yu Ye tested it by pointing a finger.

The sword radiance paused slightly, then circled around him, blade first and hilt trailing behind. The fierce killing intent emanating from it whipped up a faint whistling sound, resembling the sudden onset of wind and thunder, poised to roar through the open skies.

Yu Ye lifted his hand in a beckoning gesture.

The sword radiance completed one final circle, its golden light receding as it transformed back into the short sword, gently dropping to rest before him.

"Heh!"

Yu Ye could not help breaking into a grin.

He was not lacking in flying swords, but this was the very first time he possessed one that truly belonged to him. Once his cultivation and spiritual awareness grew sufficiently powerful, he would be able to step upon his sword and soar through the heavens to roam the four directions. When that day came, would he not be able to fly all the way back to the Great Marsh on his sword...

"Bang, bang—"

Someone was tapping against the boundary restriction.

Yu Ye put away the flying sword and withdrew the restriction.

Dang Guiyi walked in, bowed slightly toward the spirit tablet, and beckoned, "Your cave dwelling is far too chilling and gloomy; come outside and speak—"

Although ghost-cultivation arrays had been set up inside the cave, they were currently inactive, meaning there was no chilling aura at all. The only reason he said such a thing was that he had a guilty conscience and feared a scolding.

Yu Ye got up and walked out.

On the day of the mid-year grand competition, Dang Guiyi had secretly resorted to deceit. He had whispered to several fellow disciples that while Yu Ye appeared honest and sincere on the surface, he was actually ruthless and had once slain a formidable expert at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. When sparring with him, they might as well admit defeat—doing so would prevent them from being injured by him, and furthermore, they would receive two spirit stones as compensation from him. Liyun and Yuxing had no desire to contend for victory and also wished to make amends for past wrongs, so they agreed. Who could have expected Yu Ye to be so fiercely formidable? Naturally, Liyun and Yuxing would not accept spirit stones obtained through such means, leaving Dang Guiyi to claim the credit and seek reward alone, which had infuriated Yu Ye and earned him a thorough scolding.

Just imagine: winning without a fight through fraud and deception—had the immortal sect discovered it, Yu Ye would never have been able to raise his head in the sect again. Dang Guiyi's scheming intention had been to help Yu Ye establish a mighty reputation so as to suppress Ming Ye, that heartland threat; in short, it was done purely for his own selfish motives. Fortunately, Yu Ye had adapted to the situation in time; otherwise, it truly would have been impossible to clean up the mess.

What was unexpected, however, was that Zhan Kun had stubbornly demanded the spirit stones, claiming that if they were not handed over, he would report the matter to the elders to seek justice. With no alternative, Yu Ye had been forced to part with his spirit stones to avert disaster with money. Feeling he was in the wrong, Dang Guiyi had consciously or unconsciously avoided Yu Ye ever since. Coming to visit him again today, he wondered what scheme the fellow was hatching now.

Standing outside the cave were Yuxing and Liyun.

Dang Guiyi reached out with a hand and offered an awkward, ingratiating smile, "The scenery around Jishui Lake is simply marvelous. These two junior sisters have invited you to take a stroll there, so please do us the honor, Junior Brother Yu, heh heh!"

Yuxing and Liyun nodded in greeting, their faces wreathed in charming smiles.

Yu Ye wore a hesitant expression.

He had no appreciation for scenery and much preferred solitude.

"The way of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation. After arduous cultivation, one should also know how to unwind a little!"

"To witness the mountains and rivers is to attain a realm of one's own. Junior Brother Yu, let's go—"

Ever since their misunderstandings had been cleared up, Yuxing and Liyun had grown quite affectionate toward Yu Ye. Especially Yuxing, within whose twinkling eyes a gentle warmth now lingered.

Yu Ye scratched his head and said helplessly, "Alright..."

It was plain to see that the two young women were using Dang Guiyi as an excuse to invite him out to play by Jishui Lake. Yet he spent all day smashing stones by the lake and had never comprehended any profound realm of mountains and waters.

By the afternoon hours.

Jishui Lake was bathed in sunlight. A gentle mountain breeze blew, rippling the lake and hills. Walking along the lake embankment did indeed bring a sense of relaxation to the mind.

"Look here, both of you. This path was paved by Junior Brother Yu and me. Joining forces, we can slay demons and vanquish fiends, punish the wicked and promote good; we can also smash stones and pave roads, bringing welfare to the immortal sect..."

"Dang Guiyi, don't you dare bully Yu Ye from now on!"

"Yuxing, how can you talk nonsense? With his ability, who would dare bully him!"

"Junior Brother Yu is honest by nature and not fond of words. Even if you bullied him, he wouldn't utter a single syllable!"

"Oh my, Senior Sister Li, if he is considered an honest man, then there are no thieves left in this world..."

"Hehe..."

The four of them strolled along the lakeside, their laughter echoing from time to time.

Yu Ye, too, wore a leisurely expression.

Putting everything else aside, the Chuanchuan Immortal Sect was indeed a fine place. The senior elders were reasonable, the fellow disciples shared mutual affection and righteousness, and his imparting-arts master taught him with utmost care. Life here was stable and tranquil—far superior to Mount Xuanhuang or Mount Beiqi—making it an ideal sanctuary for cultivation.

Yet, it was precisely this very immortal sect that wreaked havoc on the Great Marsh and slaughtered the innocent...

To the north of Jishui Lake lay a grove of trees.

Beyond the grove stretched a hundred-foot precipice and an open mountain valley. Looking eastward from there, peaks stood in staggered arrays amidst faint wisps of cloud and mist, presenting an entirely different vista. The spiritual energy within the grove was quite rich, and several disciples were seated there, regulating their breathing and absorbing essence.

"Senior Sister, why don't you and I rest here for a moment?"

Yuxing suggested softly, her expression full of anticipation.

"Let us do as Yuxing says, so as not to waste such a fine view!"

Liyun readily agreed.

Finding it rather tedious, Dang Guiyi proposed, "In my view, nothing compares to the joy of fishing! Fish can be roasted, steamed, or boiled into soup, tsk tsk..."

"Yu Ye?"

The three of them looked toward Yu Ye, waiting for him to make the decision.

Instead of answering, Yu Ye stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing intently into the distance.

In the distant midair, a figure seemed to be walking upon the clouds. Yet, in the blink of an eye, the figure vanished without a trace.

Dang Guiyi, Yuxing, and Liyun also noticed the anomaly and exclaimed in simultaneous astonishment—

"Eh, which elder has manifested..."

"Yet they are not riding a sword—how are they flying? Could our eyes be playing tricks on us..."

"Perhaps we saw wrong. Rumor has it that only experts at the Divine Transformation stage can ride the wind..."