There were over a hundred men and women dressed in white, silently heading northward. They first crossed the sea and then entered Shu, gathering lightning from mountain peaks, collecting water from the sky, subduing mountain spirits and demons, and guiding wandering souls. Yet they avoided common folk and did not reveal themselves easily. Occasionally, woodcutters or hunters who trekked through the mountains caught a fleeting glimpse of this procession of immortals, mistaking them for divine beings of the mountains and rivers. In their panic, they hurriedly knelt and bowed, only to find no trace when they dared to look up again.
These ninety-six Guanyin Sect masters hailed from a solitary island in the South Sea, differing from the northern Fulong sects in their cultivation principles. They never involved themselves in court politics. Even when occasionally stepping onto the mainland, they preferred the wilderness and mountains, as was the case this time. The Guanyin Sect’s near-complete departure from the island was a rare occurrence unseen in six hundred years since its founding. The founding emperor of the Great Feng Dynasty once issued an imperial decree inviting the island’s master to serve as the emperor’s teacher, but the Guanyin Sect refused, nearly sparking a military conflict. However, due to the vast distance and the sea separating them, the Great Feng’s founding emperor reluctantly gave up.
This time, the Guanyin Sect’s journey north was led personally by the island’s master. Of the six elders, only one, a centenarian, remained behind to guard the sect’s premises. The other five elders accompanied the group. In total, ninety-eight cultivators from four generations followed the master northward. They crossed mountains and rivers, all dressed in flowing white robes, exuding the grace of immortals.
One evening, they rested briefly in a remote forest of ancient western Shu. They halted by a lake, following ancient customs, using the sky as a blanket and the earth as a bed. Apart from their light travel packs containing simple clothes and coarse provisions, they carried no unnecessary items. The Guanyin Sect disciples included both men and women, though women outnumbered men by about three to one.
The lake where they temporarily camped featured a wooden bridge and ancient prayer flags on the shore, though long abandoned and decayed. Under the moonlight, the lake shimmered like a vast emerald jade. Most younger and lower-ranking cultivators sat by the lake, contemplating the moon and the Dao, much like the Daoist Zhenren sect, whose disciples, upon reaching the first rank, mastered the art of “Zhi Xuan” (Pointing to the Profound). The more experienced cultivators, being “near the water,” mostly grasped one or two techniques of this arcane skill.
Cultivation emphasized youth and early awakening. The later one opened their spiritual gates, the harder it was to achieve greatness. Late bloomers were rare. The current sect leader had mastered Zhi Xuan at sixteen, and since then, her cultivation had steadily advanced. Approaching a hundred years old, she retained the appearance of youth. Yet the most gifted cultivator in the Guanyin Sect’s history over the past century was a woman who had grasped the Zhi Xuan technique at twelve and entered the Zhi Xuan realm at twenty-one. However, at that time, the young sword saint Li Chungan was the unrivaled master on land. With his sword Muma Niu, he shattered all obstacles, forcing this extraordinary woman back to the South Sea. She never set foot on land again and died in exile. But in her old age, she finally found a final disciple, passing on all her knowledge. Like her mentor, the disciple traveled the Central Plains at a young age and seemed luckier, surviving where her master had perished. Yet in truth, it was only a narrow escape. If the young feudal lord had not honored a three-year pact with the Guanyin Sect, not only would the “Landward Pilgrimage Scroll” have been taken, but the young woman, known as the “Charcoal Girl,” might have drowned in the martial world. She had taken over a hundred swords from Xu Fengnian at Youyan Manor but returned only one of the Guanyin Sect’s two sacred treasures, suffering a significant loss.
Yet for reasons unknown, when she was escorted back to the island under the watch of the Zhi Xuan swordsman Mi Fengjie, she had prepared dozens of excuses in her mind, but none were needed. The island’s master, who was also her senior sister, neither questioned nor reprimanded her. Even now, as she stepped onto land once more, the Charcoal Girl still couldn’t understand why. At this moment, she walked along the ancient bridge with her senior sister and another cultivator, whom she addressed as “Great-Grandmaster,” her usual mischievousness subdued. She was unusually obedient, leaving her juniors utterly baffled.
The Charcoal Girl’s senior sister, the Guanyin Sect’s leader, was indeed as described in the Central Plains’ legends—her beauty unmarred by time, as if a newlywed bride. Her eyes, which often betrayed age, were free of wrinkles. Her skin was smooth as jade, glowing faintly under the moonlight. Her eyes were enchanting, yet her figure was unusually tall, surpassing even most northern men by half a head, exuding a rare vigor. A simple copper mirror hung at her waist. Gazing at the rippling lake, she softly asked, “Yingyi, since entering Shu, have you gained any insight?”
The woman named Yingyi, whose appearance seemed older than the master’s, carried a black-sheathed talisman sword on her back. Though she was nearly thirty, she looked no more than twenty. Still, compared to the master ahead of her, she paled. She respectfully replied, “Shu lies between high and low realms of the continent, like two opposing forces clashing here. Hence, it abounds with angular peaks, knife-edged ridges, trough valleys, and cirques. This small corner of the Shu Kingdom has long been a battleground for several jiaos, none of whom could ascend to dragonhood. Its fate cannot rise or fall, making it unfit to become a land of imperial rise. This remains unchanged even after Chen Zhibao entered Shu as a prince. Thus, the Liyang Zhao clan placed him here with a dual purpose: to curb Beiliang’s expansion and limit Chen Zhibao’s own fortune. However… there is one thing I cannot grasp. Since our sect entered Shu, a vast surge of righteous energy has flowed into the land. Chen Zhibao rode this tide to enter Nanzhao. There, a former prince of Liyang’s previous dynasty established a court, long despised by the people. Chen should have absorbed his fortune, gaining strength like a tiger with wings. Yet he deliberately avoided it. This is another mystery.”
The Charcoal Girl wrinkled her nose and said, “Shu has always been a cage to bind dragons. But originally, the Liyang emperor had no intent to scheme against Chen Zhibao. He merely wished to station him in the southern frontier, opposite Gu Jiantang in the north, to guard the nation’s borders. But Chen insisted on entering Shu. In my opinion, Chen is a madman with ambitions beyond the sky. He believes even in Shu, alone and starting from nothing, he can still achieve greatness and prove himself to the world. There’s no man more arrogant than him. Senior sister, don’t you agree?”
The sect leader remained silent, then asked, “Charcoal Girl, can you trace the source of that surge of righteous energy that entered Shu?”
The Charcoal Girl blinked. “Senior sister, do you really want me to say?”
The leader hesitated briefly, then changed the subject. “This journey to Beiliang, upon entering its territory, no trouble is allowed. Especially you, Charcoal Girl. Do you understand?”
The Charcoal Girl lowered her head and murmured, “Okay…”
The leader’s voice grew firmer. “If I hear you’ve caused trouble with the Beiliang King, you’ll face double punishment.”
The Charcoal Girl, whose mind had been racing moments ago, now looked dejected. “Senior sister, Deng Tai’a was too arrogant! He raised a wave to flood our Guanyin Sect, and yet we let him stay as a guest and leave so freely? If you hadn’t broken your retreat early, he would’ve smashed our sacred well that suppresses countless demons! Such a troublemaker, even Uncle wouldn’t endure it, let alone Auntie! And you, Senior sister, you’re not truly weaker than him. Even if you weren’t certain of victory, Deng had just fought an old foe, neither gaining the upper hand. If you had intervened, you could’ve dealt with both at once. Then, when we go to that wretched place in Beiliang, we could’ve bargained with confidence!”
The leader chuckled, then flicked the Charcoal Girl’s forehead with her finger. “If your heart is not right, your breath will not flow. If your breath is not smooth, even with vast energy, you cannot break through. Like a famous sword trapped in its scabbard, what can you accomplish?”
The Charcoal Girl clutched her head, looking wronged.
The leader smiled gently. “I know you said that on purpose, out of concern for me, fearing I might be hindered by Deng Tai’a and lose my cultivation path. But Charcoal Girl, you worry too much. Even if I hadn’t broken my retreat early and knew I couldn’t defeat Deng Tai’a, what of it? We cultivators don’t need to compete in martial prowess. Our task is merely to suppress and subdue those demons that slip through the heavenly net.”
The Charcoal Girl sighed. “Senior sister, the Guangling Road will have countless wandering souls needing salvation, and it’s safer. Why don’t we go there instead of risking ourselves in Beiliang?”
The leader shook her head. “Firstly, there are already northern cultivators aligned with the Zhao clan handling that area. If we went, would we become mere brawlers? Secondly, there is another matter to confirm in Beiliang—whether this generation’s Zhenwu is truly the one destined to ‘Cease the War.’ The Liyang has barely unified the Central Plains, and peace has lasted only twenty years. If the Bei Mang were to disrupt it, it would become a great mockery.”
The Charcoal Girl paused, then softly asked, “So, if we’re bringing peace for our enemies, isn’t that Xu fellow an even greater joke than the world?”
The leader turned and asked, “Do you still hold resentment against him?”
The Charcoal Girl grinned. “I won’t stoop to his level anymore.”
The leader gazed at the mirror-like lake. “Good. Then you will lead. This visit requires a gift.”
The Charcoal Girl nodded solemnly. The swordswoman beside her, though puzzled, could only wait and see. The Charcoal Girl murmured, “First the respectful wine, then the punitive.” She raised her ring finger, dipped it in the lake, and flicked a droplet into the air, as if pouring a toast. She repeated this three times, each time offering wine to heaven, earth, and ancestors. After the three toasts, the ninety-odd cultivators by the lake, whether sitting or lying, rose in unison, sensing an impending threat.
After the toasts, the Charcoal Girl clasped her hands in a ritual seal and, with a loud voice, instructed everyone to temporarily channel their energy into their talisman swords and then relinquish control. Without hesitation, all cultivators followed suit. Remember, the Charcoal Girl possessed the rare innate “Sword Embryo,” allowing her to excel in both cultivation and martial arts with half the effort.
Thirty-six cultivators bore swords, though a few carried multiple talisman swords, the most having seven in their cases. Altogether, there were eighty-four talisman swords on the lake, their blades radiating colorful light.
Suddenly, something split the lake’s surface, revealing a massive, grotesque head.
At the same time, the Guanyin Sect’s leader did not watch the emerging lake dragon. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the mountaintop.
There stood a figure, before whom floated a white bowl.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage