The Nine Heavens, known in ancient times as the Celestial Court, the Immortal Realm, and the Divine Territory, is home to numerous deities and immortals. Legends say its primordial energy is pure and untainted, richly deserving the title “Immortal Spirit Land.” Laws of cultivation manifest clearly here, nearly solidified, making them easier to sense, grasp, and weave together. Yet, this realm does not impose excessive pressure on the physical body or the primordial spirit, making it a top-tier holy site for cultivation. Some even exaggerate, saying that a single breath of its immortal qi can extend one’s life by ten years!
Precisely for this reason, so many immortals chose to establish their hermitages in the Nine Heavens. Even if they did not serve in the Celestial Court, they were still slightly restricted. It is said that the Su Nu Immortal Realm was originally a part of the mysterious Nine Heavens that had vanished.
Meng Qi gazed into the distance, seeing only white clouds drifting in the sky, veiling the blue heavens above. Yet, the clouds did not block the light; instead, they enhanced its clarity and purity, making the entire realm appear refined and free of worldly taint.
In his perception, the sea of primordial energy in the heavens and earth seemed to blend with the swirling mists around him. The turbid energy sank, forming the “solid cloud land” beneath his feet, while the pure energy surged, filling every corner. With every breath, his primordial spirit and physical body felt cleansed, leaving him feeling unusually refreshed and light.
The laws of cultivation surrounding him subtly transformed, becoming more overt rather than concealed within the imperceptible rhythms of the sun, moon, and stars. However, unlike the core of the Nine Nether, where those who are neither deities nor immortals are repelled and unable to resonate with the heavens—leaving them with only the strength of ordinary mortals—Meng Qi even sensed an inexplicable feeling that his movements now carried significantly greater power.
Looking at the dancing celestial birds and the running spirit beasts, Meng Qi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: “Truly a treasure land for cultivation!”
In his heart, this was the grandeur befitting a grand master of martial arts. Compared to places like the Shaolin Mountain Gate, this realm was far superior.
However, compared to the legendary Nine Heavens, the Su Nu Immortal Realm seemed to fall short, likely due to being broken and decayed for countless eons.
White jade paved the solid clouds formed from turbid energy, extending in various directions. With the map from last night as a reference, Meng Qi roughly knew his way. Showing a hint of nervousness, he flicked at his robe, letting a few strands of fallen hair and dust flutter to the ground.
“Words wasted on the unwilling.” Gu Xiao Sang, disguised as the Shang Shui Immortal, deliberately ignored the Lian Yu Bodhisattva and others, stepping forward first, parting ways with them.
Meng Qi followed closely behind. A group of male disciples hurried after them, secretly glancing at Lian Yu and Ying Ning.
“Hmph, pretending to be aloof. Isn’t she just rushing to find a new dual cultivation partner after her husband barely died?” Lian Yu Bodhisattva looked at the back of the “Shang Shui Immortal,” not hiding her disgust and contempt.
Ying Ning wore a cold, pure, and charming expression, still reeling from the setback of Du Shou Mo Jun escaping. According to her plan, if she could delay Du Shou from reporting to the Sect Leader Bodhisattva, waiting until he reached the peak of his cultivation and faced a breakthrough, wouldn’t she naturally become his “cultivation partner”? At that moment, when he was unprepared, she would activate the Charming Maiden Joyful Chan, gaining everything she desired!
A Grandmaster-level furnace! An obedient furnace!
With this, even if she couldn’t ascend in one step, after reaching the Outer Scenery, she could catch up with rising stars like Kuang Dao Su Meng, Da Luo Demoness Gu Xiao Sang, Sword Immortal Jiang Zhiwei, and the Invisible Sword He Jiu. Plus, none of them had a Grandmaster-level “servant”!
But Lian Yu had been too hasty, ruining her plans. If not for Lian Yu being one of the Eight Bodhisattvas and holding a slightly higher status than her within the Joy Sect, she would have made her pay!
She would definitely speak ill of her more often in front of the master!
Lian Yu and Ying Ning, each lost in their own thoughts, turned right. In the distance, a vast palace complex was faintly visible, completely unaware that an extra celestial bird had appeared in the sky—an eagle-like creature radiating strong energy, whose species was unknown.
This was none other than Meng Qi in transformation. However, his Nine Transformations did not yet include major types of celestial birds and spirit beasts. He could only transform into an ordinary bird, slightly altering his appearance to emit a “strong” aura, making others mistake him for a rare celestial bird. Since Lian Yu and Ying Ning were not low-level disciples who raised such creatures, they wouldn’t detect the anomaly.
As for rats or the like, Meng Qi was certain they were extinct in the Su Nu Immortal Realm. Even if he had studied the body structure of a certain celestial bird or spirit beast beforehand at Shang Shui Immortal’s hermitage, he could only imitate about fifty percent of the appearance, lacking the essence and risking exposure.
Flying around other celestial birds to avoid being mistaken as an intruder challenging territory, Meng Qi flew ahead of Lian Yu and others, then reversed direction, constantly changing his form and aura so they wouldn’t notice anything amiss.
Perhaps because the Su Nu Immortal Realm had not faced intrusions for many years, the defenses along the way were not tight. Meng Qi successfully followed them to the edge of the endless palace complex.
By now, few celestial birds and spirit beasts were nearby. Meng Qi had to retract his wings and suddenly descended into a hidden garden. Glancing around, he identified his location, concealed his aura and form, and stealthily approached the “Milky Way” river that ran through the palace complex with many branches.
His body structure changed, his skin turning a translucent blue. In an instant, his entire body softened and dissolved into the water!
Although transforming into a “blue-blooded human” only achieved fifty percent accuracy, failing to grasp the essence of water transformation, Meng Qi could still mimic the appearance. After all, who would suspect the water itself as an enemy? People would only pay attention to fish, shrimp, crabs, and clams within it. According to the information from Gu Xiao Sang, Ying Ning had deliberately delayed reporting to the Joy Bodhisattva for her own purposes. Thus, the Joy Sect still remained unaware of the events at Linhai and would not specifically guard against a “blue-blooded human!”
Without this move targeting a blind spot, he would have faced far more obstacles.
The water flowed gently, entering the palace complex, nourishing the rare flowers and exotic grasses, providing water for core disciples, elders, and Bodhisattvas. Meng Qi no longer followed Lian Yu and the others but instead followed the map, turning into a tributary heading toward the palace residence of Mirror Word Bodhisattva.
Suddenly, a suction force appeared, accelerating the current of the water Meng Qi had transformed into.
Startled, he focused his “eyes” and saw a huge mouth reaching into the stream—someone’s pet beast drinking water!
“Even transforming into water brings danger…” Meng Qi changed form, becoming a swimming fish, diving downward to avoid the gaping maw. He sighed inwardly, “Indeed, there is no such thing as perfection in this world!”
Heightening his vigilance, Meng Qi alternated between transforming into fish and river water, successfully passing through layers of partially activated arrays and reaching the “Fish and Water Hall”—the hermitage of Mirror Word Bodhisattva!
…
The Xuan Nu Sect also comprised palace complexes, gardens, medicinal fields, and numerous rivers. Yet at its heart stood a small cluster of ancient halls, their eaves and beams all crafted in archaic designs, exuding an aura of timeless vicissitude.
Under Gu Xiao Sang’s guidance, Meng Qi and the others directly entered one of the edge halls. Inside, the beams and pillars were dull in color, exuding a faint musty odor, yet they remained upright and sturdy.
Even with protective arrays preserving them through endless eons, the materials of these beams and pillars were extraordinary—some even being spirit woods used by others to forge divine weapons!
“Wait here patiently for the summons. Whoever gains insight into the martial arts from the Overlord’s Blade will immediately become a core disciple and may personally select a dual cultivation partner,” Gu Xiao Sang, maintaining the cold and refined demeanor of Shang Shui Immortal, spoke plainly and directly.
“Disciples obey!” The male disciples responded respectfully, their excitement barely concealed, eyes filled with anticipation and fervor.
Who wouldn’t wish for a rare opportunity to ascend instantly?
Meng Qi stood quietly to one side, his attention partially on his blood-flesh body. Suddenly, his hand softened, and a delicate, smooth, and boneless hand gently rested in his.
Startled, Meng Qi looked up at Gu Xiao Sang, who simultaneously turned to him. Her eyes, still retaining the cold and refined aura of Shang Shui Immortal, carried a subtle hint of charm and intimacy: “That hall over there is the ‘Su Nu Hall,’ where the Overlord’s Blade is kept. Legend says it also hides the remains of the founding ancestor, the Nine Heavens Xuan Nu.”
Her other hand pointed toward the central hall of the complex.
Su Nu Hall, Overlord’s Blade, the remains of the Nine Heavens Xuan Nu… These words caused Meng Qi to briefly shift his attention toward that direction. There stood a ruined hall, its surface scarred by fire and lightning, the ancient marks never fading. Its original color was unknown, but now it was entirely gray and black.
Under the watchful eyes of many, Meng Qi couldn’t easily shake off Gu Xiao Sang’s hand.
Gu Xiao Sang’s eyes curved into a smile, her expression subtly enchanting: “Has he arrived?”
“Arrived. Looking for an opportunity.” Meng Qi replied, expressionless.
Seeing their usually cold and refined “Shang Shui Master” displaying feminine charm toward Guo Xi, an unremarkable fellow, the male disciples watched in awe, teeth clenched in envy, longing to take his place.
At that moment, a servant girl entered the hall, her voice crisp: “Follow me one by one to the Su Nu Hall.”
The male disciples rushed forward eagerly, while Meng Qi exchanged a glance with Gu Xiao Sang. The real game had begun!
…
Inside the “Fish and Water Hall,” moans echoed from the bedroom as pink mists swirled, concealing forbidden arts at work. No birds dared to fly nearby, and no insects ventured in. Meng Qi found himself unable to approach.
The woman’s voice was sweet and seductive, filled with indescribable pleasure, without a trace of gloom. Listening, Meng Qi couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pity for the Nine Heavens Thunder God, a mere medicinal residue. Mirror Word Bodhisattva seemed to care little for his death.
For female disciples of the Joy Sect, the only consequence of developing true feelings for a cultivation partner was losing control during union, allowing all their lifelong energy to flow into the man, causing them to suffer internal injuries, shattered meridians, and unbearable agony. The fact that Mirror Word Bodhisattva was still alive spoke volumes.
Seeing the male disciples being led one by one to the Su Nu Hall to seek enlightenment from the Overlord’s Blade, Meng Qi took a deep breath. Not daring to wait for the ceremony to conclude and the restrictions to lift naturally—which would allow him to sneak in—he instead approached a nearby maidservant, knocked her unconscious, and hid her in a secluded corner. Then, he transformed into her likeness and swiftly made his way toward the bedchamber.
“Bodhisattva, the Sect Leader has sent someone for you. You must go immediately!” Meng Qi, imitating the girl’s voice, shouted.
The groans suddenly stopped. The restraints loosened, and a spiritual aura permeated the entire Fish and Water Hall. The woman’s voice, still husky with lingering desire, asked, “Where is that person?”
The messenger sent by the Joy Bodhisattva.
Meng Qi’s expression hardened. His right hand transformed into a blade, crackling with purple lightning:
“Right here!”
Bang!
The half-open forbidden technique was instantly severed by the lightning blade!
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