Chapter 7: Immortal Sect

The vast starry domain, the Ask Immortal Sect.

The high-crowned daoist in seven-colored robes descended from the clouds. He looked at the red-clothed woman waiting atop the peak, worry and helplessness on his face.

“Chiyan, is the missing one truly the Foundation Establishment Holy Son Zhang?” The daoist asked again, unwilling to accept it.

“Qiming, you know the answer.” Chiyan turned away. “Besides, as the guardian of Heavenly Universe Hundred Lands that day, no matter who went missing, you can’t escape responsibility.”

“I never expected any fish to slip the net during the great purge of Heavenly Universe Hundred Lands. It’s ruined me.” Qiming shrugged.

“No use saying that now. If you hadn’t abandoned your post, how could a mere Golden Core demon cause such chaos?” Chiyan glared at him.

“Senior Sister, help me think of something. You can’t just watch me suffer and do nothing.” Qiming looked at Chiyan pitifully.

“Cut it out!”

Chiyan avoided his gaze, annoyed.

“Everyone knows Azure Abyss Hall Lord dotes on the Holy Son most. The Hall Lord is currently dragged off by the Sect Master to harvest stars beyond the heavens. If he returns and finds the Holy Son missing, do you think you’ll survive?”

“Then I’m dead for sure?” Qiming wailed. “The Azure Abyss Hall Lord is an upper realm great power; killing me wouldn’t even require a finger.”

“Heh, don’t flatter yourself. If the Hall Lord wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have lived this long.” Chiyan glared again, then grew serious. “Your only chance is finding the Holy Son before the Hall Lord returns. As long as the Holy Son speaks for you, no one can touch your life.”

“But I don’t know where the Holy Son is! Senior Sister, any ideas?” Qiming perked up.

“I can track the Holy Son’s token, but only vaguely locate him. Heavenly Universe Hundred Lands has endless worlds; you’ll have to search them one by one.” Chiyan’s tone softened.

“Enough.” Qiming didn’t waste words. He took the coordinates from Chiyan, soared into the sky, transformed into a sky-obscuring seven-colored peacock, and plunged into the immortal dao portal.

Chiyan exhaled slowly.

She was about to follow when a bone-chilling presence suddenly appeared beside her.

“Who!”

Chiyan’s fingers erupted in eerie flames. She struck sideways; each wisp of flame far surpassed the Golden Core demon’s full-power attack from before.

Boom!

Chiyan’s fist was caught by a slender, pale hand. All flames scattered like candlelight in wind, leaving no trace.

“Chiyan… my little brother… something happened to him?” An indifferent, emotionless voice rang out.

A man in loose dao robes appeared, hair half-white half-black. Tall and straight, yet his face was blurred, like a rotating yin-yang diagram, impossible to look at directly.

Chiyan quickly bowed her head respectfully.

“Wudao Holy Son, you’ve emerged from seclusion?”

Chiyan’s expression was complicated; she wished she could follow Qiming away.

“Ah… emerged. A century; no, ten years without seeing you. Chiyan, how have you been? What realm are you at now?” Zhang Wudao murmured to himself.

“Thanks to your concern, I’m now Nascent Soul third layer.”

Chiyan’s forehead beaded with cold sweat. Zhang Wudao’s last seclusion was only a year ago.

“Oh, good. You’ve been diligent. Insufficient cultivation… can get you killed.” Zhang Wudao’s voice was fragmented. After a pause, he asked, “Where’s Yujun? I… want to see him too.”

“…Holy Son Yujun went traveling in Hundred Lands.” Chiyan’s voice trembled slightly.

“He’s only Foundation Establishment; so weak. Going outside… dangerous.” Zhang Wudao raised a palm, tracing the void.

Space twisted ahead. A scene suddenly appeared.

It showed Zhang Yujun and Chen Zhao.

Chiyan’s mind shook. She looked at the scene, then at Zhang Wudao, feelings complex.

This freak… has grown stronger again.

“Supreme Yin… not bad, not bad. Yujun’s Dao Body is indeed stronger than mine.” Zhang Wudao leaned forward. The scene zoomed, revealing a gray planet encircled by massive metal rings.

“Chiyan, do you know what these are?” Zhang Wudao pointed at the rings.

“Holy Son, I’ve heard some worlds don’t pursue cultivation but seek the Dao through crafting external objects. These devices should be artifacts from such a world.” Chiyan said.

“Yujun is still too fragile.” Zhang Wudao gazed at the rings and tapped the scene.

His finger passed through the image, as if truly touching the objects.

He pinched lightly.

Silently, the metal rings shattered, swallowed by darkness, as if they had never existed.

“This should do. Things that shouldn’t appear… better disappear.” Zhang Wudao waved, closing the scene.

“Why not bring Holy Son Yujun back directly?” Chiyan couldn’t help asking.

“Hm? Didn’t you say… this is his journey? As his brother, I naturally won’t interfere.” Zhang Wudao lowered his head. The yin-yang face looked at Chiyan.

“You’re right.” Cold sweat poured down Chiyan’s back.

“When Yujun returns, remind him to come see me. Before the Heavenly Star Assembly… I want to see him one last time.”

In that instant, Zhang Wudao’s voice seemed normal.

Chiyan looked up. Zhang Wudao’s body dispersed into wisps of mist, vanishing.

“Just an intent clone?” Chiyan felt extreme fear. “Has Wudao Holy Son truly reached the upper realm?”

*

Gray city.

A blinding meteor streaked across the night sky, bringing rare light to this world.

On the streets, countless ragged, skeletal figures raised their heads. They stared at where the meteor fell, an irrepressible greedy hunger rising from instinct.

The next moment, a tidal wave of corpses surged out of the city, charging madly toward the distance.

“Exaggerated. This is the first time in over a decade I’ve seen this.”

Atop a tall building, a girl in a gray hood watched, mouth agape.

She snapped her fingers.

A two-meter gray wolf emerged from the shadows, flicked its tail, bared sharp fangs. The girl flipped onto its back and patted its head.

“Good boy. Follow them. Let’s see what’s over there.”

The gray wolf nodded human-like, leaped to another rooftop, and vanished in a few flashes.