novelraw Chapter 203 : A Centipede That Won’t Die Even After Death
Chapter 203 : A Centipede That Won’t Die Even After Death
Chapter 203: A Centipede That Won’t Die Even After Death
“Exactly, that’s the one—Shang Court.”
Li Changhe leaned forward slightly.
“You mean the ones devouring our spirit veins are people from this Shang Court? That force hasn’t gone extinct? It still exists?” Ji Yuan asked several questions in succession.
“No rush, listen to your Brother Li tell it slowly.”
Li Changhe tapped the table with his fingers.
Ji Yuan tossed the teapot toward him. “Pour it yourself.”
Li Changhe rolled his eyes, and while pouring himself tea, began his explanation:
“Of course, Shang Court as an organization was destroyed long ago. But its legacy wasn’t. Some people inherited that legacy and saw themselves as the true successors of Shang Court, believing they are the rightful rulers of the Cangluo Continent… Maybe there’s something strange about that inheritance—or maybe those who got it were all lunatics. In short, their minds are filled with only one thought.”
“And that is to restore their ancestors’ glory.”
“They want to rebuild Shang Court?”
Ji Yuan folded his sleeves and rested his elbows on the table, asking with interest.
“Pretty much.”
Li Changhe took a sip of tea. “Those lunatics want to rebuild Shang Court. But to rebuild a force like that—how could they do it without Spirit Stones? So, they set their eyes on the spirit veins of our Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong.”
“True. Devouring a spirit vein like that—only Shang Court back in the day had that kind of power.”
Ji Yuan nodded.
That did make sense.
No other sect, not even the Sword Ruins, could do something like this.
“And to be honest,” Li Changhe continued with a carefree smile, “you might laugh at this, but even within our Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong—and even among the Three Demonic Sects of Western Shang—there are inheritances of Shang Court.”
“So, even within our sect, there are trait—Shang Court’s inheritors?”
“Call them traitors if you like. That’s basically what they are. Otherwise, how else would our sect’s spirit veins have problems? There must be an insider aiding them.”
Unexpectedly, Shang Court had been annihilated for perhaps tens of thousands of years, and yet, like a centipede that wouldn’t die even after death, remnants still clung on… Ji Yuan asked again:
“So, how will the sect handle this matter?”
“First, a thorough investigation of the spirit veins. If we can find the traitors within, we’ll deal with them as they deserve.”
Li Changhe leaned back in his chair and stretched lazily.
“With demonic cultivators invading soon, and now this mess inside the sect—truly internal and external troubles alike.”
“Indeed.”
At once, Ji Yuan recalled Hua Yaoyue’s earlier warning—that this demonic invasion might be too much for the righteous path to hold back…
Now, it seemed things really were heading that way.
Enemies outside—the demonic sects of Western Shang; remnants inside—the followers of Shang Court.
And it wasn’t impossible that those fanatics of Shang Court might even join hands with the demonic path, coordinating from within and without to break the Six Immortal Sects and divide the spirit veins again.
But then again, maybe not. If Shang Court’s remnants really dared such a move, after Western Shang destroyed Eastern Shang, the demonic sects would surely wipe them out next.
After all, it was Shang Court!
They once unified the entire Cangluo Continent. If a seedling of their legacy grew strong again, and they once more united the lands…
Then the Three Demonic Sects of Western Shang would be doomed.
So if those remnants truly tried that, they would only bring upon themselves the demons’ purge.
Ji Yuan reasoned that what he could think through, those from Shang Court could too. Ultimately, everything depended on how events unfolded next—on what choices those remnants would make.
“By the way, Brother Li—about all this, I’m not in trouble, am I?”
Ji Yuan’s concern was naturally for his own safety.
“No problem.”
Li Changhe waved his hand. “As for our sect, I can’t say for others, but my useless old man is definitely not one of those Shang Court lunatics, and neither is the Sect Master Martial Uncle.”
“Wait a second.”
Ji Yuan raised his right hand and cast several layers of restrictions to reinforce their defenses before speaking seriously:
“Brother Li, how can you be so sure the Sect Master Martial Uncle isn’t one of Shang Court’s people?”
When it came to his own life, Ji Yuan could not afford carelessness.
“Heh, Brother Ji, you just don’t know this.”
Li Changhe rubbed his stubbled chin, lifted his brows smugly, and said, “Before any Sect Master takes office, they’re tested layer upon layer by the Nascent Soul Patriarchs… They don’t test cultivation, only origins. So, a Sect Master being a traitor? That’s something you never have to worry about.”
“That’s true.”
Ji Yuan thought it over—it did make sense.
The Sect Master’s strength might not be overwhelming, but the secrets he held were many. A position like that had to be guarded tightly; they’d never allow something to go wrong there.
As for higher up… Ji Yuan didn’t voice his thought that perhaps even a Nascent Soul Patriarch could be a Shang Court descendant.
“Medicine King Valley’s the same,” Li Changhe continued. “Their Sect Master, Danyang Zi, is a deceitful and despicable man—but since he holds the position, there’s no need to worry about him being one of Shang Court’s people.”
“As for Joy Palace, that Grand Elder Shenxiao is close friends with our own Grand Elder, and he’s not one of them either. So even if Shang Court’s people tried to trace things to you, it’d be hard.”
“Even if they did, at most they’d suspect you, Junior Brother Liu, and Dan Chengzi from Medicine King Valley. They couldn’t pinpoint it on you.”
Li Changhe reassured him.
“Even so, this still gives me chills down my back.”
Ji Yuan rubbed his spine as he spoke.
“Don’t worry.”
Li Changhe easily caught his meaning. “Even if Shang Court really comes after you, at most they’ll send a Golden Core Real Person.”
“You’ve done great service for the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong this time. The sect won’t be stingy with rewards.”
“They’ll surely grant you treasures that can guard against a Golden Core expert’s attack.”
Hearing this, Ji Yuan immediately thought of that jade cup in his Storage Pouch, and his heart settled.
Once the sect rewarded him with one or two more life-saving items, even if he met a Golden Core attack, he could still escape with his life.
“But… Brother Li, not that I’m afraid—just hypothetically—if a Nascent Soul cultivator came to kill me, what should I do?”
Ji Yuan asked earnestly.
Li Changhe answered with equal seriousness.
He set down his teacup. “Then you should just wait for death.”
Ji Yuan looked at him wordlessly.
Li Changhe spoke even more seriously. “Not joking. If a Nascent Soul True Monarch wants you dead, unless you have another Nascent Soul True Monarch guarding you every second, without leaving your side even for a moment, you’ll die for sure.”
“…Alright then.”
Ji Yuan knew no such True Monarch would guard him full-time, so he dropped it.
Still, he knew it was only a guess. In all of Eastern Shang’s Six Immortal Sects, there were only so many Supreme Elders—two in the Sword Ruins, perhaps one or two more hidden among rogue cultivators—but altogether, maybe ten Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
Would such people personally assassinate a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him? Unlikely.
After delivering the news, Li Changhe left. Li Gang had gone out to inspect the spirit veins, and Li Changhe had to stay behind on Li Family Island to ensure stability.
And the message he brought made Ji Yuan, who had planned to go to Tianzhu Peak to condense his sword embryo, calm down.
The sword embryo could wait.
For now, it was better to first receive the sect’s reward.
Once he had more protective means, he could safely venture out.
Afterward, Ji Yuan tried sending a message to Dong Qian, but got no reply—she must have gone on duty in Maple Leaf City.
With nothing else to do in the sect, Ji Yuan returned to Misty Island and resumed his cultivation.
……
At the same time—
In Medicine King Valley, atop the Welcoming Guests Peak, within the main hall.
The white-haired old Daoist, Danyang Zi, was meeting the envoy delegation from Water Dragon Sect. The envoy had been sent by Real Person Xuan Shui, their purpose being to discuss the matter of the spirit veins.
Discussing it—what could they really discuss?
The highest cultivation among the envoys was merely at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Even if a Golden Core Real Person had come, could they make decisions?
No—ultimately, it was up to the Elders of the Patriarch Hall, or even the Supreme Elders.
So Danyang Zi just sat on the high platform, calm and unbothered, while those below chattered endlessly about how grave the matter was and how it should be resolved.
But… Danyang Zi noticed someone among the Water Dragon Sect envoys kept glancing at him from time to time.
What was that person’s name again?
He thought for a moment—ah yes, that should be the disciple newly accepted by Real Person Xuan Shui, named… Han Feiyu, titled Island Lord of Luohun Island.
Luohun? (Fallen Soul?)
Those two words stirred something in Danyang Zi’s memory, and his expression shifted slightly.
When he looked again, Han Feiyu gave him a faint smile.
Danyang Zi couldn’t quite believe it, but he didn’t speak. Instead, he sent a sound transmission: “Stay behind after the meeting.”
The meeting lasted a full hour.
After it ended, Han Feiyu left with his senior brothers and sisters from Water Dragon Sect. Danyang Zi, however, remained seated. A short while later, Han Feiyu’s figure reappeared at the hall’s entrance.
Once he entered, Danyang Zi activated the hall’s restrictions, sealing the area from all prying senses.
“I wonder, this Nephew—why were you staring at me all that time?”
The white-haired Danyang Zi nodded slightly.
Those who didn’t know him would see a Daoist of immortal grace.
Those who did, saw only a hypocrite cloaked in virtue.
Han Feiyu walked to the center of the hall, stopped, and sneered. “Old Ghost Ximen, after all these years, you still haven’t changed your habit of being someone’s dog.”
“By the second life already, and still playing Sect Master—truly bored of living.”
Strangely, the voice Han Feiyu used was not his at all, but sounded like a hoarse old man speaking.
Danyang Zi’s face changed at once when he heard that.
“Qu Old Demon, you actually came out!”
“What, you useless piece of trash can come out, but I can’t?”
Han Feiyu flickered onto the high platform and sat squarely on the desk in front of Danyang Zi without ceremony, saying, “I really don’t know how to put this to you. You’ve become Sect Master of the Six Immortal Sects of Shangdong, yet such things still happen—truly shameful for our Shang Court.”
Danyang Zi snorted coldly, “What’s that to me? Who knows what those undead old bastards that came back to life are up to—putting a useless body into the spirit vein, and in two or three moves someone already found the flaw.”
“Them?”
Han Feiyu laughed, “You’re not ignorant—you’re good for nothing except infighting. If it weren’t for those gangs infighting back then, who would’ve destroyed our Shang Court?”
“Even the Yin Ghost Sect couldn’t do that.”
Danyang Zi sized Han Feiyu up and down, sneering, “What, not going to possess them? Why keep them—let them rot?”
“No, no.”
Han Feiyu leaned back and put his left foot onto the desk, “This is my most beloved disciple. How could I bear to possess him? If I were to possess someone, I’d pick another.”
“And my disciple promised to find a fine body for me.”
“That’s your nature.”
Danyang Zi then asked, “Have you found a suitable candidate? If the power’s too weak, forget it—once people from Western Shang arrive, those weaklings won’t be of use.”
“Found one. The Water Dragon Sect’s Sect Master is a good pick and preparations are underway. Once I take his position, we’ll get two birds with one stone.”
Han Feiyu chuckled “heh heh heh.”
Danyang Zi took the chance to mock, “You called me a dog—aren’t you the same?”
“No, I’ll wait for the critical moment to possess. Then I’ll strive to break the Water Dragon Sect in one stroke. You’re different—you’ve been acting like a dog for decades, maybe hundreds of years?”
Han Feiyu laughed loudly at that.
Danyang Zi’s face darkened like water.
“All right, enough teasing you, Old Ghost Ximen. Tell me—who exposed this matter and dared to sabotage Shang Court’s grand plan?”
When Han Feiyu said this, his voice turned noticeably cruel.
“From what I’ve learned, the Grave-Herding Mountain first blew the matter up, but I don’t know which of our good brothers suppressed it. Later your Water Dragon Sect people opened it up.”
“Who?”
“Two people—one called Island Lord Liu Yuan, another called Island Lord of Wuyou. Exactly who they are, you’ll have to go back and check yourself.”
At this, Han Feiyu waved his hand, “Check?”
“What’s there to check? Kill the two together.”
“Right—that’s Shang Court’s style.”
“All right, nothing else. Once I take the Water Dragon Sect, I’ll inform you.”
Han Feiyu sprang off the desk, waved his hand at Danyang Zi with his back turned, and disappeared at the door.
After he left, excitement flickered in Danyang Zi’s eyes as he murmured, “Qu Old Demon actually slipped out. With him around, things will be much easier.”
“Looks like this time it’s almost certain.”
“……”
Elsewhere, Han Feiyu returned to his residence and listened to the introduction from the master within his dantian; in the end he stood frozen for a long time.
“What, afraid to die at this moment?”
“No—Master, who do you want me to kill?”
“One called Island Lord Liu Yuan, and another called Island Lord of Wuyou.” The voice sounded somewhat impatient.
Han Feiyu took a deep breath.
“No—Liu Yuan is hard to kill… though not impossible.”
“But Ji Yuan is easy to kill, yet… he is my friend.” Han Feiyu smiled wryly, “Killing others is fine, but Master, could you not have me kill him?”
“You can pay more.”
The hoarse voice sounded a little interested—forcing the unwilling was, after all, one of its favorite pastimes.
“It’s not about money. Some things can be done, some things truly can’t.”
“……”
“For resolving the sect’s troubles, that’s what a disciple should do.”
Ji Yuan stood in the Water Dragon Island’s main hall and cupped his hands slightly toward Real Person Xuan Shui and the Wealthy True Person, saying,
“Very good!”
“If all our Water Dragon Sect’s disciples had such thoughts as our worthy nephew, why would our sect not prosper?!”
The Wealthy True Person clasped his hands and laughed loudly.
“Indeed. It is our Water Dragon Sect’s fortune to have such a worthy nephew.” Real Person Xuan Shui smoothed his beard and smiled.
Ji Yuan let these two uncles heap praise on him without speaking.
Words were empty; only the tangible benefits mattered.
“All right, enough idle talk. The specifics, worthy nephew should have learned from Li Changhe.” The Wealthy True Person Li Gang rubbed his fat belly and said,
“The Shang Court people didn’t find much on you, but we can’t relax, so the sect’s protection for you must be thorough.”
“Here, after discussion by several elders, this is the reward decided for you.”
Real Person Xuan Shui pushed his right hand forward, and before Ji Yuan appeared a scale and a golden page.
Li Gang explained:
“These two items can be refined and absorbed into your body. When you suffer a mortal wound, the scale will automatically activate; even if a late-stage Golden Core cultivator attacks you, the scale will protect you.”
“After the scale shields you, tear open this page. As long as you are still in our Eastern Shang, you will instantly return to our Water Dragon Sect.”
“What?”
Ji Yuan almost couldn’t believe the last sentence.
The scale was fine—he had a similar cup that could protect him—but the golden page… a teleport talisman? That seemed exaggerated.
“Yes. This was left by our Water Dragon Sect’s founding ancestor—only this final page remained, and now it has come into your hands.”
“Even if a Golden Core sent a sealing array to lock the space, this page would ensure your instant return to the sect.”
Real Person Xuan Shui spoke extremely earnestly.
Ji Yuan did not put them into his Storage Pouch; in front of the two Golden Core Real Persons he refined both items into his body.
After refining them he cupped his hands and bowed, “Disciple understands.”
“Hmm, but it only works within Eastern Shang. If you go out to sea or go to Western Shang, the page won’t work.” Real Person Xuan Shui repeated, worried Ji Yuan hadn’t heard.
“Yes.”
“Also, here are a few drops of millennium Spirit Milk and some talisman treasures. Worthy nephew should keep them for emergencies.”
Real Person Xuan Shui handed over a Storage Pouch.
Ji Yuan accepted it with both hands, refined a little of it, and hurriedly put the pouch away as if afraid Real Person Xuan Shui would change his mind.
The two Golden Core Real Persons laughed heartily.
The Wealthy True Person Li Gang added, “No need to be so wary. The Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang have deeper roots than you imagine.”
Ji Yuan had no other thought—only one: leaning on a big tree to enjoy the shade.
Being with the Water Dragon Sect was undoubtedly the right choice.
If he had been a lone cultivator outside, who knew when he would have gathered such treasures.
With these, Ji Yuan felt somewhat more confident about the coming righteous–demonic war.
……
Meanwhile—
West of Medicine King Valley, from a deep pool called Black Water Pool, a young man slowly crawled out.
He was handsome, but his face was ghastly pale, like a drowned ghost.
After a while he leaned against a huge rock, muttering to himself.
“What was the first thing to do after coming out?”
“Oh right—avenge that kid. Find who… Han Feiyu.”
“Heh, the old demon will be shocked to see me. He trapped me under the water for thousands of years—time for revenge, ke ke ke!”