The rising sun cast its first rays, lighting up the sand and dust that filled the sky where heaven and earth met.
After resting for a night, the Moon Shadow Sword Sect group did not stop further. After three days and three nights of travel, they could already see the tiny dot of Donghuang Immortal City ahead, and the towering black rock city walls stretching to the horizon.
Yun Tianchong stood on a weathered sandstone outcrop. Even with his late Deity Transformation stage cultivation, he was still visibly tired, and could not help but let out a long sigh.
“Ah—we’ve finally arrived…”
He took a deep breath, inhaling the air of the Central Domain desert, which carried a hint of sand, then turned to face those behind him.
However, upon seeing Yun Yiyi and Yun Jiujiu standing side-by-side behind him, their expressions were akin to those of two resentful wives. Yun Tianchong’s freshly donned smile faltered, replaced by an awkward grimace.
As for Yun Xi, her face was bandaged, making it impossible to discern her expression. But Zhang Yihe, who was pushing her wheelchair, had a cheerful smile.
Let’s just assume she was smiling too.
Yun Tianchong paused, then walked behind them and gently placed a hand on Yun Jiujiu’s shoulder. “Yiyi, Jiujiu, Xi’er… this is your first time here, right? Your Daddy last came here over three hundred years ago. Jiujiu, your mother is someone Daddy met here. I remember it very clearly. The City Lord of Donghuang hosted me then, and your mother was a dancer invited by the City Lord. I fell for her the moment I saw her…”
At that time, due to several beast calamities, Donghuang was in ruins. He and several cultivators from Imperial Sect and Taibai Sect had jointly helped Xing Tian Division defend against the demonic beasts attacking from beyond the Great Wall.
Recalling events from three hundred years ago, Yun Tianchong was filled with emotion…
But it was only him feeling emotional.
Yun Yiyi looked up at the tents stretching nearly twenty li and the towering sandstone walls of Donghuang Immortal City. She sighed and said, “Father, nine hundred and thirty-two disciples of the Sword Sect at Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining stages have lost contact. If you have time to reminisce here, you might as well hasten into the city and ask Xing Tian Division to help search for the lost Sword Sect disciples in the sand sea…”
“Ah… Yiyi is right.”
“Also, Third Sister needs a place to recuperate from her injuries.”
“Uh… mm.”
Yun Tianchong’s face was filled with awkwardness. He felt as if Yun Yiyi were the Sword Sect Master and he was just a servant. He busily nodded in agreement and raised his hand towards the Sword Sect disciples behind him, who were exhausted and could barely stand. He ordered, “Hold on a little longer. Once we enter the city, you can rest.”
“…” The remaining sixty-odd people weakly cupped their fists in response. Then, they quickly took out their flying swords, stepped onto them, and prepared to continue their journey.
After giving the order, Yun Tianchong walked back and asked, “Yiyi, Jiujiu, Xi’er… how about after Daddy returns from Xing Tian Division, I take you to wander around the city? The ‘Blazing Knives’ of Donghuang are truly exceptional. Jiujiu, you’ll definitely like it…”
Upon hearing this, Yun Jiujiu turned and shot him a big eye roll, saying nothing.
Yun Yiyi sighed again, inexplicably thinking, *If only my father were half as reliable as Ye Anping…*
“Forget it…”
She shook her head, ignoring Yun Tianchong. She exchanged a look with Yun Jiujiu, and together they lifted Yun Xi’s wheelchair, leaped onto their flying swords, and headed towards Donghuang Immortal City ahead.
***
As the bordering city between the Central Domain and Eastern Domain, Donghuang Immortal City was also the largest immortal family marketplace within a radius of nearly a thousand li. After the Demon Race occupied Tian’an City, most of the cultivators who had resided in Tian’an City had relocated here.
Because of this, under the black rock Great Wall, yellow cloth tents were erected everywhere to shield from wind and rain, and the marketplace stretched for nearly twenty li.
On the crowded streets, a man and three women, all wearing bamboo hats, walked slowly forward.
Ye Anping had only arrived at Donghuang by flying sword last night. According to his calculations, even if their group rushed at full speed, they should have arrived at Donghuang several days later than Yun Yiyi and the others.
Yet, after nearly half an hour of wandering the streets, he hadn’t seen a single Moon Shadow Sword Sect disciple.
Thinking of this, Ye Anping couldn’t help but worry. His original plan was to leave with Xing Tian Division and the Moon Shadow Sword Sect in advance, to avoid the first wave of demonic cultivators’ attack on the city as much as possible.
But with the Moon Shadow Sword Sect not yet arrived, if he left with Xing Tian Division, Donghuang would be left undefended, and the demonic cultivators could occupy it in an instant.
At that time, if Yun Tianchong and the others arrived, unaware that Donghuang had already fallen to the demonic cultivators, he might lead Yun Yiyi and the two others into the city to meet Gui Muqi…
Ye Anping pondered the worst-case scenario, his face etched with worry. However, Feng Yudie and Xue Tianqiao, who were accompanying him, were quite cheerful, as if they were on an autumn outing.
“Junior Sister Pei, I smell roasted chicken from over there, it smells so good. Shall we go get one?”
“No.”
“Senior Sister Xiao, are you going?”
“If Anping goes, I go…”
Hearing this, Ye Anping glanced at the small teahouse Feng Yudie was pointing to, then looked back at his junior sister and Xiao Yunluo. After the long journey, both of them showed signs of fatigue on their faces.
So, after some thought, he cast aside his worries and said, “Junior Sister, Yunluo, go sit and eat something with Senior Sister Feng. Donghuang’s food is quite distinctive, different from the taste of the Western Regions. Since we’ve come here so rarely, it’s good to try it.”
Upon hearing there was food, Xue Tianqiao, who had been hiding in Ye Anping’s collar, poked her head out.
“Brother Ye, Sister Fox wants to eat roasted chicken too~”
“Mm.” Ye Anping nodded, grabbed her by the back of the collar, then wrapped a demon-binding rope around her neck, handing one end to Pei Lianxue. “Junior Sister, keep an eye on her… this fox can disappear in the blink of an eye.”
Pei Lianxue took the rope and held Xue Tianqiao in her arms. She looked down at the little fox, thinking that it had been nestled in her senior brother’s collar, close to his chest, for over ten days. She felt a bit strange…
But she said nothing and asked, “What about Senior Brother?”
“I’m going to inquire about the Moon Shadow Sword Sect’s whereabouts.”
“Mm… be careful.”
Watching Pei Lianxue and the others enter the small teahouse, Ye Anping pulled down his bamboo hat. He ambled along the sandy market road, casually browsing the stalls on both sides, while searching for a Pill Shop called “Quicksand Pavilion.”
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Ye Anping found the “Quicksand Pavilion” sign among the hundreds of shops on either side of the marketplace.
It was a five-story building. As soon as he reached the entrance, he smelled the distinct aroma of medicine wafting from within. The owner of Quicksand Pavilion was a renowned physician in the Central Domain.
In the game, it was also a resurrection point, so Ye Anping was quite familiar with the owner’s face.
He looked around at the entrance for a moment. Seeing the white-bearded old man behind the counter looked much like the old physician he remembered, he then confidently stepped over the threshold.
The white-bearded old man behind the counter was preparing medicine. Hearing a customer arrive, he looked up. When Ye Anping removed his bamboo hat, his eyebrows twitched slightly. He stroked his beard and sighed.
“Hoh… a cultivator from the Western Regions, I haven’t seen one of those in a long time… Young Master, are you here to get medicine or for a consultation?”
“I’m here to inquire about some information.”
Ye Anping took out a small bag of spirit stones from his Storage Bag and placed it on the counter. Leaning forward, he directly asked, “I’d like to inquire about the Moon Shadow Sword Sect. I heard they came to Donghuang before, and judging by the time, they should have arrived by now. Why haven’t I seen a single cultivator in yellow robes?”
“Mm…” The white-bearded old man picked up the spirit stones and weighed them, then nodded. “Ever since the Moon Shadow Sword Sect passed through Jianmen Pass in the Southern Domain, there has been no news.”
“Is that so…”
Ye Anping felt a slight disappointment. If even the black market had no news of the Sword Sect, it seemed he would have to enact his backup plan.
He bid farewell to the white-bearded old man and prepared to leave to find his junior sister and the others.
However, just as he turned to leave, the white-bearded old man hesitated for a moment and asked, “Young Master, please wait.”
“Mm? Is there something else?”
“This old man sees you have a handsome face, Young Master. I imagine you must have quite a few wives and concubines. Perhaps I could prescribe you a tonic to strengthen your body? You must work hard in the marital chamber. If you have the need, I have a good item. Although it’s a bit pricey, it’s definitely worth the value. It can be used for soaking in wine or in medicinal preparations; it’s a top-grade Earthly Treasure.”
“…”
Ye Anping listened to the sales pitch and immediately understood what “top-grade Earthly Treasure” he was referring to.
“If you’re referring to the decomposed Golden Core of a Deity Transformation stage cultivator, then I must politely decline. Jade Sand Pavilion at Yuguan had already recommended it to me before.”
“Oh… I see.” The white-bearded old man’s face showed embarrassment. “Alas… this Golden Core has been sitting here for years without selling… I apologize for bothering you.”
Ye Anping waved his hand and did not linger any longer.
However, just as he turned to take a step towards the door, a man in a golden Sword Sect uniform with a sword on his back strode through the threshold.
Seeing the two plum blossom markings between the man’s eyebrows, Ye Anping froze for a long time.
Yun Tianchong walked into the medical clinic. He saw a rather handsome young man staring at him, and his eyebrows rose. He smiled.
“Oh? Little Daoist friend, why are you staring at this Seat like that? Is there something on my face?”
“…”
Ye Anping was silent for a moment, then cupped his fists and bowed slightly.
“Greetings, Senior.”
With that, he quickly quickened his pace towards the exit. Although seeing Yun Tianchong meant Yun Yiyi and the others had arrived, Yun Tianchong did not recognize him.
However, after a few more glances at Ye Anping, Yun Tianchong’s brow furrowed slightly, and he stopped.
“Little Daoist friend, wait a moment.”
“…”
Ye Anping stopped, his back to Yun Tianchong. He rolled his eyes, then turned around somewhat helplessly, bowed again, and said, “May I ask for your guidance, Senior?”
“A Golden Core cultivator with dual spirit roots… *hiss*—”
Yun Tianchong seemed disbelieving. He scanned Ye Anping with his Spiritual Sense several times, causing Ye Anping’s head to buzz. Even Xiao Tian, who was sleeping in his mind, actively came out, cursing with resentment.
“Who is it?! Why are you scanning my Anping with your Spiritual Sense…?”
Upon seeing Yun Tianchong’s golden hair, Xiao Tian froze instantly. She turned to look back at Ye Anping.
“Anping, this person couldn’t be…?”
“…”
‘As if it’s not obvious,’ Ye Anping thought tiredly. He gestured with his eyes for her to go back, then cupped his fists and replied, “Senior, are you perhaps Sect Master Yun of the Moon Shadow Sword Sect?”
“Precisely this Seat.”
Yun Tianchong’s eyebrows rose. He walked over and lightly patted Ye Anping’s shoulder.
“Little Daoist friend, you are young and promising. With dual spirit root aptitude, forming a Golden Core is no small feat. In my thousand-plus years of life, you are the first I’ve encountered like this… Who is your master?”
Ye Anping pondered for a moment. Yun Tianchong had likely seen that he had formed a Heavenly Dao Golden Core with dual spirit roots and thus wanted to build goodwill or perhaps take him on as a nominal disciple…
This was not uncommon. Generally, cultivators with excellent aptitude would have several masters, one direct disciple and several nominal masters.
However, in a sense, he should be Yun Tianchong’s junior brother.
But Ye Anping felt that telling the truth would not be good, especially with the black market owner present. If his identity as a direct disciple of Yun Jian Shang Xian were to spread, it could cause trouble.
So, after considering for a while, he cupped his fists and replied, “This junior disciple is from the Xuan Xing Sect.”
“Xuan Xing Sect, no wonder… Are you Elder Qin’s disciple? I’ve met your master a few times.” Yun Tianchong smiled and nodded, then said, “When we meet outside, it is fate. Would you care to join me for a cup of tea later?”
Ye Anping had originally planned to find Yun Yiyi first, but since Yun Tianchong had invited him, it was perfect.
After all, he would have to bring him to Yun Yiyi eventually…
“… This junior disciple would be honored to accompany you.”
“Then wait for me a moment. I’ll go buy some medicine and then we’ll go.”
Yun Tianchong chuckled happily, then turned to the white-bearded old man at the counter, who was now sweating slightly on his forehead. “Old sir, please get me some of your best healing pills. My daughter was buried by a level nine demonic beast and has a lot of broken bones. I’m out and about and didn’t bring any good bone-healing medicine. Name your price…”
“… Please wait.”
The white-bearded old man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, without a word, ran into the back room. He then came out carrying three boxes embroidered with golden dragon patterns.
“Immortal Master, this is Jade Dragon Pill. It was obtained by some gold prospectors from a secret vault beneath the imperial palace of Tian’an City several years ago. It’s said that as long as there’s a breath left, it can save them.”
“Hoh… something from Nancheng City… What’s the price?”
“Five hundred thousand… how about it?”
“Deal.”
Yun Tianchong looked back at Ye Anping, seemingly afraid of making him wait. He casually threw a large bag of spirit pearls from his Storage Bag, put the Jade Dragon Pill into his Storage Bag, and prepared to leave.
“Little Daoist friend, you’ve waited. Let’s go.”
Ye Anping looked at this ostentatious transaction with some speechlessness but said nothing more. He nodded in agreement and extended his hand. “Senior, please…”
Yun Tianchong nodded, thinking Ye Anping was quite polite. He then stepped towards the exit of the Pill Room. However, just like before, the white-bearded old man took a deep breath and mustered his courage to say, “Immortal Master, please wait, I heard Yun Shang Xian…”
Hearing these words, Ye Anping knew what he was about to try and sell. He immediately turned to look in disbelief, widening his eyes and asking with his gaze, *You actually dare?*
Seeing Ye Anping’s signal, the white-bearded old man came to his senses and closed his mouth.
“Mm?” Yun Tianchong turned his head. “Is there anything else, sir?”
“Ah… no… Farewell, Immortal Yun.”
“Heh heh, you are too kind, sir.”
Yun Tianchong cupped his fists, smiled, then gave Ye Anping a look, and led him out of the Pill Shop. Drawing the attention of the passersby on both sides, he headed towards a restaurant about a li away with Ye Anping.
***
