Fellow Sect Members

Fellow Sect Members . . .

After the Saberlord had escorted Qin Wentian and Mu Yan away, the silence that enveloped the area was broken by the arrival of several experts. They entered the Driftsnow City, their eyes wide with wonder as they beheld its grandeur.

"Such a formidable city, yet for years, no one has been able to unlock its mysteries," one of the experts mused with a sigh. They couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. If only they had been the ones to unravel its secrets and earn the Driftsnow Master's recognition, this incredible city could have been theirs. Alas, it was only Qin Wentian's exceptional talent that allowed him to forge an immortal connection through weapon-smithing and eventually claim this weaponized city as his own.

A voice called out, breaking the contemplative silence. Pei Yu, who had remained seated within the city, turned her gaze toward the speaker, none other than an expert from the King's Manor.

Despite the passing of time, even Pei Tianyuan, the Jiangling King, had met his demise. Yet, Pei Yu's loyalty to her cause persisted, even to the extent of aiding the Driftsnow Master.

"Do you comprehend the gravity of your actions?" the expert inquired with an icy tone, his voice dripping with murderous intent.

Pei Yu gazed calmly at the sky, her eyes fixated on the drifting snowflakes. In a composed tone, she responded, "Since I've chosen not to depart from this place, I'm prepared to offer my life willingly."

As her words hung in the air, Pei Yu reclined on the ground, her gaze still locked on the falling snow. A serene smile danced in her eyes as she closed them, emanating an aura of tranquility and acceptance. The fear of death had long lost its grip on her. She didn't mind sacrificing everything, losing herself in a story of her own making, where the sole characters were the Driftsnow Master and herself.

"You…" The expert's murderous intent flared, but the voices of those around him dissuaded him. "Let it be."

With a disdainful snort, he refrained from taking any action.

The sky continued to shower the world with snow, but the ancient city no longer radiated its former brilliance. Did the Driftsnow Master's soul still reside within the Nine Immortality Bells? When would the young man who had departed return to reclaim the city rightfully his? As for the major powers who had lost many members, would they dare seek revenge against the young man escorted away by the Saberlord of Death?

The questions swirled like the snowflakes, buried in the endless whiteness. No one possessed the answers; only time could unveil the truth.

...

Three days later, in the Heavenly Talisman Realm.

Within the Heavenly Talisman Palace, Qin Wentian sat cross-legged in mid-air, surrounded by an array of suspended runic inscriptions. He immersed himself in contemplation, seeking to craft new innate techniques. With each palm strike, he unleashed varying forces, each bearing undeniable power.

Three months had passed since the intense battle within the Driftsnow City. Back then, Qin Wentian had needed to harness external power to defeat an immortal, a strength not entirely his own but granted by the Driftsnow City. Nonetheless, this experience had bestowed him with invaluable insights. He had learned firsthand how to trigger law energy, and as a colossal figure on that battlefield, every strike he made carried the essence of immortal energy.

Qin Wentian understood that true cultivation required gradual accumulation, step by step. While achieving instantaneous immortality was feasible within the weaponized city, outside its confines, his progress depended entirely on his own efforts.

"It's time for a change of scenery," Qin Wentian thought aloud as he rose from his meditation and exited the Heavenly Talisman Palace. His gaze fell upon the imposing statue of the Realmlord, sparking thoughts of the Driftsnow Master. Regret filled him as he pondered whether there was a way to bring the Driftsnow Master back to life in this world.

"Finished with your cultivation?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. Qin Wentian stepped outside the palace and approached a river where the Saberlord of Death stood, tirelessly swinging his saber, repeatedly slicing through the waves. His strikes lacked force, as he focused on contemplating the art of the saber.

Every expert had their unique approach to cultivation, and the Saberlord's back-to-basics method demonstrated his dedication.

"Yes, I've stabilized my foundation and feel that I've reached the peak of the third level of the Celestial Phenomenon," Qin Wentian replied.

"When Senior Bai Wuya brought you here in the past, did he show you around, apart from the Heavenly Talisman Palace?" the Saberlord inquired.

"No, I left the Heavenly Talisman Realm directly after exiting the palace back then," Qin Wentian answered.

"Very well. This time, I'll take you to the combat region of the Heavenly Talisman Realm to refine your combat abilities," the Saberlord suggested. With that, he ceased his saber practice and led Qin Wentian away.

Before long, they arrived at an enormous palace. Its towering height seemed to pierce the heavens, and its vastness concealed the true extent of its interior.

Two females were present, indicating their affiliation with the Heavenly Talisman Realm. One exuded a commanding presence, her face perpetually icy. The other, a young woman of around twenty, possessed striking beauty. Her phoenix-like eyes conveyed vitality and health, while her form-fitting attire accentuated her curves, drawing the eyes of men.

"Is this a junior you've invited into the sect?" the older female inquired, her gaze fixed on the Saberlord of Death. Being an immortal king, she had invited the younger female to join the sect due to her violet-gold astral souls. Only outstanding geniuses received such invitations.

"No," the Saberlord replied, shaking his head. "I've never extended an invitation before. However, this young man is truly extraordinary. If I had met him earlier, I would have invited him into our sect as well."

"Oh, is that so? You hold him in such high regard?" The beautiful older woman arched her brows, her demeanor sharp and discerning.

"For those who display exceptional talent, they naturally deserve admiration," the Saberlord responded with a smile. "Fairy Xu, I wonder how the junior sister you invited will fare?"

"My judgment is undoubtedly superior to yours," the beautiful woman retorted, her tone far from friendly. She then turned her gaze to Qin Wentian and continued, "The Heavenly Talisman Realm boasts numerous geniuses. Encountering Zi Qingxuan by chance on your way to the combat region can be considered a stroke of luck. We can use this opportunity to compare the two of you."

The Saberlord's eyes gleamed with a sharpness as he addressed Qin Wentian, "Youngster, someone is underestimating you. This Fairy Xu, your senior sister Xu, thinks you can't be compared to the junior sister she invited."

"Haha, don't try to sow discord," Fairy Xu shot the Saberlord a glance before focusing on Qin Wentian. "Since you've joined the sect, you are also my junior brother. However, Zi Qingxuan's talent is truly exceptional, and her bloodline is unique. Entering the combat region with her is indeed fortunate. There's no need for comparison between you two. Just observe different geniuses; they may prove beneficial to your own cultivation."

"Did you hear that? Your senior sister Xu believes that merely observing junior sister Zi Qingxuan's talent will be beneficial to your cultivation. You should certainly learn from junior sister Zi," the Saberlord chimed in, apparently aiming to stir the pot. He turned to Fairy Xu and added, "Oh, by the way, when did she join? We must also determine who became a disciple of our sect first."

"Fairy Zi Qingxuan has been a member of the Heavenly Talisman Realm for five months," Fairy Xu replied.

"In that case, she should address Qin Wentian as senior brother. Hahaha," the Saberlord chuckled. Zi Qingxuan's phoenix-like eyes briefly scanned Qin Wentian before shifting away, choosing not to linger on the matter.

"Alright, let them enter," the Saberlord of Death declared.

"Wait a moment, one more junior brother is joining," Fairy Xu announced, causing the Saberlord's expression to stiffen. "What? Another junior at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm?"

"Yes."

"How rare. For Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants, unless they possess exceptional talent, they wouldn't receive an invitation," the Saberlord murmured, as though he were sharing his thoughts with Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian grasped the significance of this criterion. To be considered, Celestial Phenomenon Ascendants needed to possess a violet-gold astral soul. This alone made them exceedingly rare.

"They have arrived."

The haunting melody of the wind filled the air as two distinct figures materialized. One was undoubtedly the immortal king who had extended the invitation. The other figure, strikingly young and exuding an air of elegance, appeared barely in his twenties, showcasing remarkable features and immaculate grooming.

"Senior sister Xu, senior sister Qingxuan!" the young man exclaimed, his eyes eventually turning toward the Saberlord and Qin Wentian. "Greetings to the two senior brothers!"

"Saberlord, this is Jun Mengchen, junior brother Jun," the immortal king introduced.

"This is Qin Wentian, junior brother Qin," Saberlord added.

Qin Wentian offered a nod in acknowledgment. This marked his first encounter with several members of the sect. Joining the Heavenly Talisman Sect required stringent criteria. Given its long history and wide reach across the immortal realms, the Heavenly Talisman Realm undoubtedly wielded significant influence.

"Alright, you may enter," the recently arrived immortal king granted permission. The three of them nodded and proceeded into the combat region of the Heavenly Talisman Realm.

Once inside, the Saberlord and Fairy Xu turned to the newly arrived immortal king with inquiries. "Senior, you've extended an invitation as well? Who exactly is that young man?"

"I encountered him while traversing the particle worlds. His talent is undoubtedly exceptional, and his demeanor is beyond compare. When I met him, his talent left me in awe, prompting me to offer him an invitation," the immortal king explained.

"A person from a particle world managed to leave such a strong impression on senior?" Fairy Xu expressed a hint of bewilderment.

"He is the King of a particle world," the immortal king replied with nonchalance. His lips curled into a smile, reminiscing about the time he had encountered Jun Mengchen. Despite his own formidable power, he couldn't help but be amazed by the young man's talents.

Whenever that young man ascended into the heavens, his entire particle world would bow in reverence. Without witnessing it firsthand, it was nearly impossible to fathom the prestige of that elegant youth.

"What about you two?" the immortal king inquired.

"Zi Qingxuan is an orphan, but the lineage of her parents must have been extraordinary. She possesses a truly unique bloodline and possesses an innate supreme physique. Her combat abilities are nothing short of terrifying," Fairy Xu explained. Then, their attention turned to the Saberlord of Death.

The Saberlord casually waved his hand and grinned. "I encountered that young man inside a city in the Thirteen Prefectures of Eastern Sage. He triggered the will of an ancient immortal, connected with immortality through weapon forging, and acquired a weaponized city. Moreover, with a mere third-level Celestial Phenomenon cultivation, he single-handedly faced off against the combined forces of the Cloud Prefecture, even slaying numerous immortal-foundation experts."

"No wonder you extended an invitation for him to join us," the immortal king commented.

"I didn't personally invite him. It was Bai Wuya who did so," the Saberlord of Death chuckled. His words caused both of their gazes to sharpen, their eyes reflecting gleams of curiosity and surprise.