Chapter 186: 48: Chaoyang Cave at Mount Wutai
The nested Formation within the room, along with the grand array outside in the valley, had been fully activated.
In his mind, he meticulously and repeatedly went through the “True Spirit Seal Sword Technique” taught by the Green Duckweed Sword last time.
Then he raised his left hand, and the Shangyang Sword Qi burst forth from his meridians, shaping into a saber-like blade several feet long at his fingertips.
Next, he ran his technique with all his might and pressed the Sword Qi powerfully onto the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword!
Instantly, a multitude of ghostly wails erupted within the room, no longer the plaintive sobs from before, but the lamentation of thousands of people.
Pain, fear, resentment, despair… endless negative emotions flooded in through his ears, causing Wei Dongliu’s mind to tremble tremendously, nearly breaching his defenses.
Fortunately, the wailing of the ghosts at this moment was not driven by a cultivator’s True Yuan, and thus the damage they could do to the psyche was limited. He soon managed to resist the demonic sounds piercing his ears, grinding his Sword Qi over and over against the spine of the sword on his knee until the wailing weakened completely, seemingly subdued.
“If you wail recklessly outside in the future, I will eradicate all of you residual souls!” Wei Dongliu transmitted his Divine Sense into the sword and began to refine it only after issuing a threat.
Perhaps intimidated by the threat, the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword just trembled without making a sound, allowing him to drip his Essence Blood onto it, infuse his Divine Sense, and permeate it from beginning to end.
After finishing the refining process, Wei Dongliu fetched a strip of cloth and said,
“You are now a mature Eleventh Rank Immortal Sword; you should learn to wrap yourself up.”
The Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword vibrated slightly, allowing him to drape the cloth over the hilt; it then began to spin vertically, wrapping the cloth tightly around the blade.
Perfect.
Wei Dongliu was extremely satisfied. Using this cloth to wrap the sword, rather than putting it into a scabbard or sword box, gave off the impression that its sharpness could not be concealed.
It suited the temperament of his mysterious and powerful persona perfectly.
Having adjusted the Formation one more time, Wei Dongliu left the valley intending to check out the wanted poster at Mount Wutai.
Last time, he had meant to check it with Jiang the Witch by his side, but as they passed by the Market, he stumbled upon the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword and had to hurry back to settle it. He couldn’t delay it any longer this time.
He rode the cloth-wrapped Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword towards Mount Wutai, only to see a purple streak of light rushing toward him halfway there, coming to a halt in front of him.
What a coincidence, if not Jiang the Witch, who else could it be?
“Wei Daoist friend, how come you’re here?” Jiang Liyan asked urgently, “That Old Smoke Ghost sold you out!”
“Oh,” Wei Dongliu replied, unfazed.
“Although he didn’t go directly to confront the Nether Ghost Path, he used a puppet to find Judge Wen Yang and sold our information to him!” Jiang Liyan spoke rapidly and urgently, her face darkened as she said, “We are both wearing masks, so your identity has not yet been revealed, but Wen Yang now knows that I come from the Heavenly Demon Path!”
“So, is the Nether Ghost Path going to negotiate with the Heavenly Demon Path?” Wei Dongliu inquired.
“That’s unlikely,” Jiang Liyan frowned and said, “I suspect Old Smoke Ghost has no hard proof, so he can only describe the characteristics of the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword roughly to gain Wen Yang’s trust.”
“But the Myriad Demons Evil Spirit Sword has been lost for many years; how can one be sure whether the features Old Smoke Ghost described are from actually having obtained this Immortal Sword or from some ancient tome?”
“Therefore, Wen Yang will most likely not report back to the Sect but will instead follow this clue alone, searching all the way to the Heavenly Demon Path!”
“I see,” Wei Dongliu nodded in understanding, “This Wen Yang you speak of, is he powerful?”
“This man is extremely formidable in magical competition, and among his peers, he is almost without equal,” Jiang Liyan said gravely, “If the Nether Ghost Path were to select a ‘number one person below Golden Core,’ it would undoubtedly be Wen Yang. It is said that he has fought against Golden Core Realm cultivators at the Soul Storing Rank and in the end, none could get the better of him!”
In other words, he considered himself a degraded version of Qiu Changtian, Wei Dongliu thought to himself.
Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, Jiang Liyan became even more troubled. She thought to herself, I’ve already greatly exaggerated Wen Yang’s strength; how can this guy still look so unconcerned?
Does he not believe what I said?
Or does he not think Wen Yang can find out his identity?
Or is it even possible… that he’s confident he can contend with Wen Yang without falling short?
Jiang Liyan was inherently suspicious. At this thought, all kinds of past clues immediately linked together in her memory.
For example, their first encounter, when Wei Dongliu remained indifferent to her Heavenly Demon Wonderful Music Technique.
And then there was their second meeting, where Wei Dongliu still ignored the Prepared Ghost Illusion Water she had—something that could lead an unguarded Golden Core True Person astray.
Furthermore, his expertise in various Daoist Magic, Sword Control Technique, and even Formation. Perhaps it wasn’t because he was learned and talented, but because his cultivation level wasn’t at the Foundation Establishment Realm at all…
As her thoughts delved deeper, Jiang Liyan became increasingly uneasy.
This guy, he couldn’t really be a Golden Core True Person who has lived for a very long time, or even an ancient Nascent Soul, could he?
Wait a minute, a Nascent Soul is too outrageous, but a Golden Core True Person is not impossible.
If he’s really undergone Core Formation, then why pretend to be at the Refining Mansion rank and establish a sect on Shiping Mountain?
It’s like a big shot playing house with a little girl…
“Right, Daoist Jiang,” Wei Dongliu said gently, “we spoke of a warrant from the Mortal Life Path last time, but I’m curious about its location in Mount Wutai. Could you lead the way for me?”
“Ah? Oh, of course,” Jiang Liyan was momentarily startled, then she immediately revealed a flower-like smile, with even a bit more enchantment and eagerness to please, “I will lead the way for you right now.”
No matter whether he is a disguised Golden Core True Person, she decided to maintain a good relationship with him first, believing there would ultimately be an opportunity to use him in the future.
After all, Jiang the Witch was part of the Demon Cult. Not to mention outsiders, even the fellow Sect disciples, senior and junior sisters, and even the master were nothing more than utilitarian targets with clear price tags in her heart.
She then took Wei Dongliu and flew northward, diligently saying:
“This Demon Cult wanted notice is in the Chaoyang Cave in Mount Wutai.”
“There is a cliff in the Chaoyang Cave which an ancient prowess cast a spell upon, allowing names to be inscribed on it.”
“Once the person the name represents dies, the name will vanish from the cliff.”
“That’s quite peculiar,” Wei Dongliu commented without a change in expression, though he was surprised inwardly.
“Qiu Changtian” is a fake name! How could it correspond to me?
Or could it be that it doesn’t actually correspond to me but to someone else?
“Actually, it reacts to the ‘Daoist Heart Clarity’ personality template engraved in my mirror,” the Kunlun Mirror said helplessly, “Because if I didn’t let it react, they’d immediately know ‘Qiu Changtian’ is a fake name.”
“I see, Ah Jing, you did well,” Wei Dongliu breathed a sigh of relief, “So you’re saying this kind of reaction won’t harm me, right?”
“Of course not.”