The people from the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect arrived faster than expected.
After only one night, a green-robed old man stepped across the threshold of the Yunshan Town Deacons Office.
The visitor called himself Deep in Simplicity; his hair was grizzled, but his complexion was as ruddy as if he had just drunk warm wine.
He was in a bit of a hurry when he entered, his sleeves fluttering with the wind of his movement.
Xue Sheng had been waiting there for a long time; seeing the man arrive, he bowed his waist three inches lower than usual.
"Where is the person?" Deep in Simplicity asked, his voice tinged with urgency.
Without saying much, Xue Sheng turned and went to the side hall to lead out Jiang Wanxing.
The young girl's hair was neatly combed today, but her fingertips were quietly clutched inside her sleeves.
Deep in Simplicity glanced at her, then looked at Xue Sheng:
"If it is truly as your Jade Talisman stated, you may return to the Sect to take up a post."
"Thank you, Elder," Xue Sheng bowed, his tone suppressing a hint of joy.
"Don't be in such a hurry to thank me." Deep in Simplicity took an object out of his sleeve.
It was a piece of crystal ore about the size of two fists, with brilliant colors flowing through it, looking like a small section of a rainbow condensed within the stone's core.
Seeing it, Xue Sheng's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
This was a Spirit-Testing Crystal, more than one grade higher than the crystal spheres in town.
"Little girl, place your hand on it," Deep in Simplicity said softly to Jiang Wanxing.
The little girl looked up at Xue Sheng, and only after seeing him nod did she slowly reach out her right hand.
The moment her fingertips touched the crystal.
Buzz.
A golden light so pure it was almost blinding erupted from the stone's core, instantly bathing the hall in a warm hue.
The wandering rainbow halos within the crystal were wiped away by an invisible hand, leaving only gold—intense, full, and indisputably occupying everything.
It was exactly the same as yesterday's scene.
The light that erupted was even more powerful than yesterday's.
Deep in Simplicity stared at the light, the corners of his mouth curling into a grin.
"Good!"
He uttered those two words, flicked his sleeve, and withdrew the crystal.
Xue Sheng quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"In a few days, I will arrange for someone to take over the affairs here." Deep in Simplicity couldn't stop smiling. "Once you have settled everything, return to the Sect."
"Yes," Xue Sheng bowed again.
Having finished, Deep in Simplicity turned to Jiang Wanxing, his tone becoming even more kindly: "Little girl, come with me."
But the little girl stood still.
"Hmm?" Deep in Simplicity raised an eyebrow.
"My brother..." Jiang Wanxing's voice was small but clear, "hasn't arrived yet."
Deep in Simplicity looked at Xue Sheng.
Xue Sheng quickly stepped forward half a pace:
"Elder, this girl has an older brother; they have depended on each other since childhood. Their parents passed away early, and she was raised entirely by that brother... their bond is extremely deep."
He spoke vaguely, framing the siblings' background as quite tragic.
The emphasis, however, fell on the words "extremely deep bond."
Deep in Simplicity didn't care much about that: "Where is he then?"
"Perhaps he is at home packing his belongings," Xue Sheng said. "I'll send someone to call him right away."
"Hurry up."
Elder Deep in Simplicity's fingers inside his sleeve rubbed together gently.
A Peerless Grade Heavenly Spiritual Root—it hadn't appeared in so many years.
If he hadn't intercepted the Jade Talisman, and this news had reached the Sect, those old fogies would surely have fought tooth and nail over it.
He had to take her back to his own peak, have her acknowledge him as her master, and register her on the rolls before they noticed.
Once the deed was done, who could say anything?
At this moment, Jiang Xun was sitting on the earthen bed of his old house.
His eyes were closed, and his breathing was so slow that his chest's rise and fall were almost invisible.
The aura around him retracted bit by bit, like receding tide water, slowly sinking into the depths of his Dantian.
Hidden Silk Art
This was the Cultivation Technique he had found in the Blood Prison Nether Spider's lair—a thin volume specifically for concealing one's aura and form.
The pages were yellowed, the corners mottled by insect damage, but the handwriting was still clear.
Jiang Xun knew that once he entered Yan Qingning's territory, he had to be careful and try his best to lower his presence.
Although its effectiveness might be limited, it was better than that night when Frost Radiance caught him instantly.
After running the Cultivation Technique for one cycle, a line of small text appeared in his consciousness:
[Hidden Silk Art: 100/500.]
Fortunately, there was the System.
There was no need for much practice; the initial mastery was extremely fast.
"Knock, knock—"
The sound of pounding came from outside the door.
"Jiang Xun! The Deacon calls for you to come quickly!"
Jiang Xun opened his eyes, his gaze calm.
They came so quickly.
Although he knew a Peerless Grade Heavenly Spiritual Root was rare, the speed of their arrival still surprised him.
In the Deacons Office, Jiang Wanxing's eyes lit up the moment she saw her brother enter.
"Brother!"
She trotted over and grabbed Jiang Xun's sleeve.
Jiang Xun patted her head and turned to Xue Sheng: "I'm sorry, I was packing some old things at home and got delayed."
As he spoke, he turned slightly, revealing the bulging coarse cloth bundle on his back.
The cloth of the bundle was washed pale, with patches on the corners.
Xue Sheng couldn't help but palm his forehead: "Why bring this junk? Once you enter the Sect, would they ever let you lack food or clothing?"
Jiang Xun scratched his head, smiling with some embarrassment: "These are all things I'm used to using... I couldn't bear to leave them."
Deep in Simplicity's gaze swept over at this moment.
The boy's bone structure was upright and his features were clear, but that was all.
His aura was ordinary, the kind that would be lost in a crowd in the blink of an eye.
Deep in Simplicity took only one look before withdrawing his gaze.
"Since everyone is here, let's go."
He flicked his sleeve, and a streak of light flew out, growing as it hit the ground.
Within a few breaths, a small boat hung quietly about a foot off the ground.
The hull was several zhang long, gleaming with a dark, ebony-like luster, with faint cloud patterns flowing along the sides.
Jiang Xun led Wanxing onto the boat.
The moment they stood firm, the hull vibrated slightly, then rose silently, passing through the courtyard gate and gliding over the eaves, becoming a small dot on the horizon in an instant.
Xue Sheng stood in the courtyard, looking up at the empty sky for a long time without moving.
Then he turned, took a piece of paper from his bosom, and handed it to the servant beside him.
"Go, give this to the Town Head. Tell him to find all the people listed on it."
Half an hour later, dozens of people stood scattered in the courtyard of the Deacons Office.
Brother Hu was among them, his face piled with smiles and his waist bent low.
Zhao Peng stood next to him, glancing around from time to time.
The Old Town Head leaned on his cane, standing at the very front, even his wrinkles exuding respect.
"I wonder what instructions the Immortal has?" the Village Head said respectfully.
Below, Zhao Peng's heart was racing; could that kid Jiang Xun have said something?
It wasn't surprising he thought that way.
Because most of the people standing here had had conflicts with Jiang Xun.
Xue Sheng stood on the steps, his gaze scanning over their faces one by one.
His thoughts went back to last night, when Xue Sheng was explaining the rules of the cultivation world to Jiang Wanxing, talking about Sect influences, about ascending to heaven in a single step versus eternal damnation.
Jiang Wanxing was just a Mortal and did not know the cruelty of the cultivation world.
So, naturally, Xue Sheng had to teach her some common sense before she left.
The little girl hadn't said a word, just listening silently.
Until he said:
"Cultivators transcend the world; they treat Mortals like ants..."
Jiang Wanxing looked up.
Those eyes, which always seemed soft and timid, were very quiet now.
"Will I also become an Immortal in the future?" she asked softly.
Xue Sheng replied, "Of course, and your future achievements will surely be greater than any Immortal's."
Jiang Wanxing took a piece of paper and wrote down over a dozen names on it.
Each stroke was neat and tidy.
"Then can you help me? Don't let these people die, okay?"
She handed the list to Xue Sheng.
At first, Xue Sheng thought these were people she cared about, so he folded the list and put it into his Storage Pouch.
"Don't worry, I will instruct the Town Head to take good care of them. In the future, when your cultivation is successful, you can come back to visit."
Jiang Wanxing lowered her head.
"When I come back, I'm going to kill them all."
Xue Sheng's expression froze, filled with confusion. "Why is that? Did these people bully you?"
Jiang Wanxing shook her head. "They bullied my brother."
"I've always remembered their names. Once I become an Immortal, I want them dead."
Especially Jiang Xun's "good brother."
It was he who had caused her brother to become addicted to gambling.
She wished she could kill him right now.
At this moment, Xue Sheng's expression was the same as Jiang Xun's when he first found out Jiang Wanxing wanted to poison him to death.
This girl is too ruthless... At this moment, Xue Sheng looked at those faces below the steps, some fawning and some terrified.
He raised his right hand, pressed his index and middle fingers together, and made a stroke in the Void Realm.
The long sword at his waist unsheathed at the command.
There was no sound of wind, no whistle.
Only a cold, clear arc of light rippled through the courtyard, like someone drawing a silver line in mid-air with a brush.
Then, those dozens of people were still standing, their expressions frozen in their final moments.
In the next instant, their heads fell from their shoulders.
They didn't even know why the Immortal was killing them.
Even the Town Head's eyes widened.
He recalled everything that had happened recently, and one name was fixed in the final moment of his life—Jiang Xun.
These people who had had grudges with Jiang Xun.
At this moment, they truly were like ants, insignificant.
By the time the blood sprayed, Xue Sheng had already turned around.
Without any emotional fluctuation, he simply instructed the servant beside him, "Clean it up."
He walked into the hall and closed the door behind him, shutting the bloody scent of the courtyard outside.