Cultivation of the Immortal in Black| Pt.3

Below the starless sky were multiple gatherings of cultivators. The oppressive atmosphere had startled the majority and awakened the rest. The spiritual qi swirled and created strong winds, forming dark clouds above a certain area.

"Who's the person attempting to ascend!?" The murmuring of people became louder as the dark clouds split open, revealing dangerous lightning that struck down.

"Isn't that Wei Xianjun's peak?" The gasps of those around could be heard above the loud thundering roar of the heavens. "I heard he took in disciples."

While the lower-level cultivators gossiped in excitement and jealousy, the elderly of other sects gathered together.

"I've counted 17 strikes so far..."

"Someone is attempting to ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm."

"It must be the rumored child he kept hidden away. I must go and have a look, better yet, steal such a genius while Wei Xianjun is gone."

"Elder Wang of the Jinlong Sect, mind your actions!"

"Mind my actions!? Let me ask Elder Shi this. Is the Lianhua Sect going to bow at the feet of Xingrong forever?" Elder Wang scoffed. "I'm certain that everyone in the Jinlong Sect shares my sentiments. I'm unwilling!"

His words caused a shift in the attitudes of those around him. Their hidden agendas were leaking out of the cracks created by those words. Greed flashed in their gaze, but apprehension and fear kept them grounded.

"Even if we joined hands, Xingrong is still too powerful for us all to beat. They have three masters at the last stage of Soul Formation. The highest amongst us is only at the late stage of Nascent Soul."

"That's only true if Wei Xianjun is around. He's currently doing closed-door cultivation. Who knows how many more years he will take to ascend to the Soul Transformation Realm? Now is the perfect time to steal such a talent!"

"Even so—!"

"Elder Shi's loyalty is commendable." The sarcastic remarks turned Elder Shi's face purple from anger.

"Blessings to your endeavors! The Lianhua Sect will sit and watch as you make fools of yourselves!" With an impatient bow, Elder Shi left.

"HMPH!" Elder Wang gritted his teeth after a few more followed Elder Shi. Only a handful of greedy sects remained. "I will approach the mysterious cultivator and seal his cultivation. You will keep the Xingrong Sect busy and lure them to Mount Duanqi."

The discussion didn't last long. The Elders called upon their sects to request aid and relay their plans.

+

Xingrong sect was bustling with excitement. It had been a century since anyone had attempted to ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm.

The Sect was large, spanning multiple mountains, each belonging to an Elder. Mount Xue was the most famous, which belonged to Wei Xianjun.

The top of the peak was a forever Spring, while the bottom was a forever Winter. Although warm, the hearts of those who lived atop the peak were as cold as ice.

"A-Yi is attempting to ascend! That means he will be out soon, right?" A clear and bright voice broke through the loud thundering of the sky. Her dark purple hanfu fluttered at the swirling winds.

Her bright eyes stared at the profile of the white-haired youth. His sharp gaze focused only on the enormous amount of qi being gathered at the cave entrance. He was tall and beautiful, capturing her attention at every turn of his head.

"Shixiong?" She blushed at her thoughts about the other.

"It seems Shidi is a lot more knowledgeable than I thought..."

CRACKLE!

The strikes from heaven continued with force, striking past the cave and into the person inside.

"Shizun must have given A-Yi all the books needed for cultivation." She grinned innocently. "Shixiong waits here every day for A-Yi. I'm sure he would be happy to know how much you like him."

"Hmm..." Li Weisheng's eyes narrowed slightly. He noticed the slight spite in her voice but remained silent.

His dark eyes hid a poisonous mind. Something is different...

He felt his legs tremble under his hanfu. The pressure in the atmosphere increased as the last and largest strike from the heavens fell. His body shuddered at the thought of receiving such a strike.

The last strike ceased, and the peak became silent again. The dark clouds opened up, shining beams of light upon the person who had successfully ascended. The mixture of colors was breathtaking to those who witnessed it.

Loud chimes from the sky above congratulated the new Nascent Soul cultivator. But it wasn't loud enough to drown out the clanging of swords.

"Shixiong, something is happening at the foot of Mount Xue!"

"Once the cave opens, take Shidi and head to Mount Hua. Shibo1 will take care of you two."

"What about you?" Jing Qinru disliked the idea of leaving the other person. She watched as he unsheathed his blade and probed the area with his senses. This was a familiar sight to her, but now she had to abandon the person she had become attached to.

"They're here for Shidi. I'll hold them off." His voice was stern and filled with command.

"A—alright..."

Right as she stepped back, a shadow came flying toward them.

CLANG!

Li Weisheng kicked off the ground and swung his sword. The sword aimed for the shadowy figure, scaring it momentarily. The shadow swung its sword, redirecting the blow towards the ground.

"As expected of Wei Xianjun's disciples..." A glimpse of his grin appeared as he swept away the spell of disguise. A man in his early 30s, wearing the bright golden robes of the Jinlong Sect, appeared beneath it. "Hair as white as snow and gaze as cold as ice...the infamous owner of the blade of frost."

"You seem to know me well."

"Greetings, Young Immortal. I am Wang Kai, an elder in the Jinlong Sect." Elder Wang bowed, showing his sincerity to the young cultivator in front of him. I'll take them both back with me.

"I have yet to become a Xian2." Li Weisheng ignored the bow. His curt words made Elder Wang's eyebrows crease.

"Like Master, like disciple."

Li Weisheng responded with a flick of his sword. The slash was delivered with qi, aiming straight for the other's head.

Elder Wang had experience that came with age. His reflex was fast, quickly redirecting the blow elsewhere. His eyes were focused on the strike, failing to notice the owner's dash towards him.

"ACK!" He groaned as he countered the heavy strike of the sword.

A battle between cultivators had less sword contact than normal fighters. The manipulation of qi was all it needed to get the job done. The Elder mistakenly overlooked this as he failed to notice the true reason behind the close contact.

A black smoke snaked around his arm within the hidden sleeves of Li Weisheng's hanfu. It followed down to his finger, and struck forward, sinking its teeth into the hands that held the enemy's sword.

Elder Wang found himself unable to speak. His body had frozen from the excruciating pain that crept into his meridians. The black snake sucked his meridians dry as he moved closer toward his golden core.

Demonic cultivation!? The draining of his qi made him aware of what was happening. His eyes shot toward the white-haired demon with fear.

"What's wrong, Elder?" His voice was like poison to the ears. His eyes glowed red as he stared at the stiffened man.

The snake nestled into his dantian, wrapping tightly around the golden core. His paralysis lasted a second in the eyes of outsiders.

"Just—just what—!?" He regained his ability to move.

"What?" This red eyes subsided, but his demonic nature remained within Elder Wang. The snake was quick to wrap tightly, cracking his golden core and nearly causing him to collapse from the pain.

"Ughhh..." His eyes watered. His body was covered in cold sweats.

"You don't seem well." Li Weisheng's sudden politeness and concern scared Elder Wang silly. He scrambled back, further away from the culprit of his fear.

"No—nonsense!"

"My strike was quick because I misunderstood that Elder Wang came here to steal my Shidi away. Elder Wang is not that stupid, are you?"

"Of course not..."

"Then my apologies for striking you." Li Weisheng bowed a little, but his glare caused goosebumps everywhere. The snake around his core released its pressure, giving him the relief he needed.

"Many thanks, Young Cultivator..." Elder Wang was speechless. He could only bow and thank the other for sparing him.

"Shixiong...?" Seeing as the situation had calmed down, Jing Qinru approached Wei Ziyang.

Wei Ziyang ignored the girl. His eyes were glued to the cave entrance, watching to see when the other would emerge. His hands impatiently clenched around his sword, tapping nervously against the sheath. He had been waiting for nine years, and the chance had finally arrived.

His mind began to reminisce about when he first laid eyes on Jing Yi, about the curious gaze filled with confusion.

He wasn't like this...Jing Yi is gloomy and pathetic, someone overly dependent on Jing Qinru.

The Jing Yi of my past was—.

His trail of thoughts stopped when a sudden rupture occurred. The cave entrance slowly collapses, revealing a figure shrouded in darkness. The pressure of a Nascent Soul Cultivator made the hairs on the napes of their necks crawl.

"A—A-Yi!" Jing Qinru shrugged off the fear and composed herself. She ran forward, meeting Jing Yi at the entrance of the cave. "You look..."

Her eyes widened with surprise. She expected to see a scrawny Jing Yi but was met with a tall and muscular man. His skin was unblemished and glowed from the recent ascension. His eyes were dark and mysterious, sharp and dangerous, as they glanced at her with a unique calmness.

His body was covered with only a pair of pants, revealing the upper part of the body. Jing Qinru couldn't help but gulp with surprise. Her eyes sharpened with danger before quickly shifting to one filled with concern.

"A-Yi! I was so worried about you. How could you leave me alone all these years!" She ran into his arms, whining cutely as she normally did.

"You should blame Shizun, not me." Tora felt repulsed at the sudden physical contact. Her hands were quick to push Jing Qinru away. Tora didn't miss the surprise on her face. "Sorry, Shijie. I'm a bit sensitive and can't control my strength yet. You should keep your distance for now."

Shijie? Thought Jing Qinru as she narrowed her eyebrows. He's never called me that before...

"Congratulating Shidi on his successful ascension."

"Shixiong." Tora greeted the protagonist of this book in a lukewarm manner. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the peak. "Where is Shizun?"

"Why do you ask for Shizun?" Almost immediately, Li Weisheng retorted her question with another. His gaze and voice showed frustration for a brief moment before he coughed. "A year after you entered the cave, Shizun also entered closed-door cultivation."

"Did Shizun tell you where I was?" The location was obscured, deep within the forest, hidden from the eyes of outsiders.

Tora didn't miss the momentary pause in his movements.

So he didn't.

"Where are the others?" Her eyes locked with Elder Wang's, bringing him to her attention. "Greetings, Elder."

"Greetings, Young Daoist." Elder Wang's impression of Jing Yi was filled with amazement. The tribulations from the Heavens were no joke. Being able to stand, let alone walk around, was already a miracle.

A cultivator during and after their ascension was at their most vulnerable. They needed to regulate their qi, otherwise, qi deviation could occur and wound their cultivation. Seeing that the other seemed unaffected caused his heart to drop.

A body that could withstand tribulations from the heavens is one in a billion, the Heavenly Constitution. I almost made a mistake. I should thank Li Weisheng's interference, lest I would be dead.

The glances Elder Wang gave Li Weisheng didn't go unnoticed. Hmm?

Li Weisheng's attitude is suspicious. What regression is he currently on?

"An array cast by Shizun guards this peak. Uninvited guests would be thrown out immediately." Sweat dripped down Elder Wang's face under the piercing gaze of the Nascent Soul Cultivator.

The sound of chaos at the foot of the mountain drew Tora's attention. Her gaze shifted, relieving the Elder of its pressure.

"Earlier you called me a Young Daoist." The flash of blue was quick. By the time Wang Kai noticed, his head had already hit the ground. "I don't follow the path of Daoism."

"AHHHHHH!" Jing Qinru had never seen death before. The lifeless wide eyes that stared back at them were frightening.

"Shidi!" Li Weisheng reached over to grab hold of Jing Yi's arm. "Why did you kill him? If people found out—!"

"Why didn't YOU kill him?" She shrugged his hand off and walked over to the corpse. "If they found out then what? kill ME?"

"Who would dare?"

"Shi—Shizun!" The cold and calm voice unique to Wei Ziyang startled everyone. 

As expected. Tora sidestepped to show the corpse. "Greetings, Shizun. This disciple has successfully ascended to the Nascent Soul Realm."

Wei Ziyang seemed pleased at her progress, but his eyes trailed her body with a frown. 

Oh? 

Tora turned to the corpse, shoving her hands into the lower abdomen. She skillfully cut out the golden core with qi and handed it to her Master. 

"It seems the reasoning behind Elder Wang's action is due to demonic influence. This disciple asks Shizun to investigate." Tora glanced slightly at Li Weisheng, taking in the surprise hidden in his eyes.

The golden core gleamed with a bluish hue, but mixed within was the red and black of a corrupt qi. Wei Ziyang took the core. The corner of his lips turned upwards slightly, barely noticeable. 

"Get dressed." With a swipe of his hand, a set of new clothes appeared. Tora had always wondered where he stored stuff. It wasn't until rereading the novel that she understood it was because of the spatial ring.

"Thanking Shizun." Tora felt embarrassed having to change in front of people. "I'll change in the cave." She excused herself. 

The clothes were exquisitely made. The inner layer was white with silver laces, while the outer layer was light purple. 

The lighter the purple, the higher your position was in the sect. Tora felt uncomfortable wearing the outer layer, so she only wore the inner. 

The smell of a burnt corpse entered her nose when she returned. 

"Shidi, why aren't you wearing the outer layer?" Li Weisheng was the first to notice her. He glanced at the light purple in her hands. "Ah, I see. You can wear mine." 

"What's wrong?" The light purple in her hand was snatched away and placed around her shoulders. "Do you dislike purple? Should I get you something red?" 

Li Weisheng felt the corner of his lips twitch in annoyance. 

"It's not the color that I dislike. I'm afraid I'll be punished for wearing the color of an Elder." 

"It doesn't matter." Wei Ziyang's gaze fell on Li Weisheng. "Just kill them." 

His words were so casual, it sent a shiver down Tora's spine. 

Tora had never met anyone so decisive in the act of killing before. Wei Ziyang felt alien to Tora. She wasn't sure how to act or treat the other without risking her neck. 

"Um! Shizun! Shixiong!" Jing Qinru's bright voice relieved the weird atmosphere. "I think I saw some people heading this way!" 

"Put it on." Wei Ziyang reminded Tora. His eyes continued to watch her, only shifting away once she fully dressed. 

The battle had shifted closer up the mountain path. The sound of metal striking one another echoed in the air, striking fear in Jing Qinru's heart. 

The wind blew Tora's long hair, tickling her face as it brushed against it.

Fucking hell. Tora felt annoyed as the strands of hair threatened to blind her sight. 

'Ask them to help with your hair.'

No. Tora broke off a stick and twirled her hair around it to make a bun.

She walked forward, picking up Elder Wang's sword. Tora swung the blade around, testing its weight and grip. The action was casual, drawing the attention of all three that stood there.

"A-Yi...you know how to use a sword?" Jing Qinru's question nearly made Tora's heart stop. 

Fuck. I forgot that Jing Yi had never touched a sword before.

"No." 

'No?' 

Shut the fuck up. Asier was good at annoying Tora. Her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pressed tightly against each other. 

'I love you.' 

What the fuck? Her expression turned sour at the sudden confession. 

'That's what Wei Ziyang and Li Weisheng want to say.' 

Oh, so Creation's incarnations are no longer your favorites? 

'Hm? He's watching you, too.' 

...He's here? Tora's expression shifted again. She felt flabbergasted, unsure of what to make of Asier's attitude. 

The shift in her expressions intrigued Li Weisheng, while the weird energy around Tora intrigued Wei Ziyang. 

"Shizun!" A person came running towards them. His body was covered in cuts. 

"Hao Ran." 

"Congratulations, A-Yi Shidi!" Even with blood soaking into his purple garments, Hao Ran still smiled at Jing Yi. "Reporting to Shizun! Jinlong Sect, Yushe Sect, and Jinli Sect have conspired against us!" 

"Is that so..." Wei Ziyang took out a pill and handed it to Hao Ran. "Where is Qingyang?" 

Hm? Are they related or something? Tora understood the reasoning behind Wei Ziyang's attitude toward her, but she never understood his attitude toward Yu Qingyang. 

"Qingyang Shidi is currently stalling the Elders. He noticed Shizun had returned and asked me to report our situation." 

"Take the pill first and follow us down."

"Yes!" Hao Ran took the pill and sat cross-legged. He regulated his qi and began the process of absorbing the pill. 

"I—I'll stay with Shixiong!" Seeing that the others were going into battle, Jing Qinru quickly interjected. She didn't want to participate in the fight. 

Wei Ziyang simply glanced at her and walked away. He couldn't care less about what Jing Qinru wanted to do. 

The three arrived at the foot of the mountain. They struck down all the invaders along the way, making quick of them as they hurried to the bottom. 

Yu Qingyang expertly wields his sword. He looked elegant as he dodged the attacks aimed at him. The movements were more like that of a dance, graceful and smooth, enchanting everyone around him. 

Every slash he delivered was accompanied by a gold and red mix of qi. 

That color... The color reminded her of Percy.

Yu Qingyang paused in his movement when he noticed the three. The Elders didn't miss this. They charged at him, hoping to cripple the young cultivator. 

Tora watched Wei Ziyang's actions, waiting for him to step in. Her hands clenched the sword with impatience, fearing that Yu Qingyang would get injured. 

Fuck.

Wei Ziyang never moved. 

With all the experience she had from all the other worlds, Tora used qinggong3 and dashed forward. Her movements were like liquid, weaving seamlessly through the strikes of the Elders. She grabbed Yu Qingyang's collar, throwing him out of the way. 

Using the principle of magic from the last world, Tora covered her sword in a fire that was born from her inner qi. She made quick use of her actions, directly decapitating the nearest Elders while burning away their corpses. 

The actions of the young cultivator were like that of a demon, scaring the others into submission. They backed away, huddling near each other for support.

"What? I thought you were here for me. Why are you backing away?" Tora clicked her tongue in annoyance. I should've just let Yu Qingyang die.

"How dare you kill another cultivator!? Are you truly a Daoist!?" 

"Are you?" Are these people stupid? They came here to kill some disciples and cripple Xingrong Sect, and now they're claiming Daoism? 

Another stupid fucking world.