Chapter 126: Under the Starry Sky

"It is only a matter of time."

The middle-aged man heard these words, his expression turning peculiar. He seemed moved, his demeanor complex. He took a deep drink from his bowl, smacked his lips, and remarked, "This wine is much better than the swill in my own shop."

Shen Yu, seated on a wobbly stool, asked curiously, "Why is it that I have never heard of you in the Dao Sect?"

For a True Immortal of the Spear, ranked among the best in the world, to be unknown even within the Dao Sect—or indeed the world—was a strange thing indeed.

The man was unfazed. "I left the Dao Sect when I was young, hiding my name and wandering the world. When I return, it is either to go into seclusion or to sleep; I have no time to be roaming about."

A hint of self-mockery touched the corners of the man's mouth. "Besides, after the carnage I wrought in Fengdu City, how could that... that Dao Sect protect me?"

The massacre ten years ago was a tragedy of unimaginable scale. The intensity of the conflict, the level of the practitioners involved, and the sheer number of casualties far exceeded what the world could conceive. For those few short days, it was as if the man stood against the entire world.

Shen Yu said nothing, merely stating calmly, "Not everyone is given such an opportunity."

The man was taken aback, then suddenly felt a sense of kinship with the young man before him. He laughed heartily. "That is true. I must admit, it felt exhilarating."

A gentle breeze drifted in from the village path in the dead of night. Shen Yu looked outward. The middle-aged man’s expression was calm as he said, "Go."

Shen Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "That child is not ready to enter the world; it would easily ruin his pure, unblemished heart."

The man replied bluntly, "I will drop Qingshan at the Dao Sect. After that, it will depend on his own fortune."

Shen Yu nodded slightly.

In this world, everything emphasizes heritage and the continuity of the Dao. Although neither of the two men cared much for worldly rules, seeing a nascent Innate Dao Body, they both held onto kindness and a desire to teach. This is how the flame of the world is passed down.

Shen Yu stood up and walked toward the door. The middle-aged man watched his retreating figure and suddenly called out, "Wait."

Shen Yu paused slightly.

The man seemed somewhat intoxicated, his eyes narrowing as he said, "I like you. If I still have time in the future, I will teach you my spear techniques."

Shen Yu nodded.

The man glared. "Well? No reaction at all? You could at least pretend to be grateful."

Shen Yu walked out without looking back. "Killing might require a reason, but saving someone does not. The same is true for the inheritance of the Great Dao."

The man seemed to be savoring these words. A moment later, he curled his lip and shook his head. "Stinking brat, so full of philosophy. By seniority, I am supposed to be your junior grand-uncle, after all."

***

Shen Yu traversed the dim path and arrived at the village entrance. High above, a seven-colored phoenix hovered. A familiar figure stood upon the spirit bird's back.

Shen Yu flashed onto the back of the phoenix. The spirit bird let out a long cry, flapped its iridescent wings, and soared into the sky.

Su Mo immediately tossed a pill from his sleeve and said, "Your injuries are indeed not optimistic. Fortunately, I brought a few pills that are specialties of the Dao Sect."

Shen Yu swallowed the pill and began to meditate, regulating his breath. As waves of gentle medicinal power dispersed through his body, flowing through his internal organs, the rogue blade energy rampaging within him was increasingly suppressed.

Su Mo thought for a moment and said, "That woman was injured when she fought me. She shouldn't come looking for trouble with you for some time."

The cultivation of the Blade Immortal, Li Moxuan, is considered among the best in the Spirit Desolation realm. Yet, Su Mo—who had never practiced and possessed no cultivation—said this without the slightest awkwardness, his tone utterly serene.

What was more interesting was that Shen Yu did not seem interested in this news. Instead, he looked at the pack on Su Mo’s back, appearing somewhat surprised.

Su Mo nodded and smiled. "That is right. My master was afraid I would encounter danger, so he bestowed this upon me. It is a pity I do not know how to use a sword, so it can only serve as a deterrent."

Shen Yu nodded slightly and smiled. "I see."

Su Mo continued, "Blade Immortal Li Moxuan is injured, but her foundation remains. If you, Junior Brother, hold a grudge, it would be best to wait until your cultivation has matured."

Judging by his various deeds since entering the Dao Sect, Shen Yu could be considered a man who held a grudge. To be struck down by a single blade strike over ten thousand miles, and to be so severely injured—the less he said about it, the more he kept it etched in his heart. Moreover, Su Mo knew this junior brother well. He was, in truth, a man who cared deeply about his pride.

Shen Yu’s expression remained unchanged as he said calmly, "The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Do not worry, Senior Brother."

The spirit bird dived into the sea of clouds. The incoming moisture and gale-force winds caused their robes to rustle—one dressed in green, one in white.

Not long after they left the village, an invisible spear formation erupted into the sky. Countless strands of tyrannical, peerless intent swirled around the small village, severing all spiritual energy from the world.

Shen Yu looked back. Had one not seen it with the naked eye, one would never have detected a single trace of life within.

Su Mo smiled and explained, "He likely did it just to be safe."

Shen Yu asked, "Why didn't you go in and sit for a while?"

Su Mo thought for a moment and laughed. "I was afraid of getting scolded."

***

Shen Yu frowned and asked, "Who exactly is he?"

In the tavern, Shen Yu had not asked this question because he felt the man would not answer.

Su Mo smiled slightly. "The Academy’s three-story tower holds many rankings. The Lingyun Ranking is opened once every hundred years to record the heaven-defying geniuses of the younger generation in the Spirit Desolation continent. But the Academy also has an Ascension Ranking, which records the truly top-tier cultivators of the world."

Shen Yu closed his eyes slightly, waiting for the rest.

Su Mo spoke softly. "One hundred years ago, he was ranked first among the younger generation on the Lingyun Ranking."

"Thirty years ago, he was ranked fifth on the Ascension Ranking."

"He is the youngest junior brother of the four hall masters of the Dao Sect, and also the one with the highest talent."

"Throughout hundreds of years of history, he has been the youngest practitioner to ever make the list."

"His name is Xiang Cangqiong."

...

Shen Yu gazed at the brilliant galaxy in the sky, saying nothing. He knew the man’s cultivation level well, so he was not surprised by these facts. But one thing left him deeply puzzled.

Shen Yu said, "He should not have been able to fall into the demonic path."

It was not a question, but a statement of certainty.

Su Mo’s expression was indifferent. He spoke calmly: "Some places allow the Dao Sect to produce one cultivation genius, but they do not allow two to appear at the same time—such as the Southern Barbarian Demon Domain, the Devil Domain, the Thousand-River Lands, the Great Tang, or even... the Nine Great Sacred Lands."

Shen Yu let out an "oh" and murmured, "The entire world?"

The night winds grew more rapid. The stars shone brilliantly, and the spirit bird’s pace slowed.

Su Mo stood with his hands behind his back. "That year, the grand and tragic Battle of Fengdu City—on the surface, it appeared that the woman our Junior Uncle loved was seized by the city’s inhabitants, inciting public outrage. But behind the scenes, there were too many who fanned the flames."

"What is more interesting is that these people did not necessarily plan or conspire in advance, but at a certain node, on a certain issue, they all maintained silence or gave their tacit approval, leading to the final tragedy."

"It is obvious: they did not want our Dao Sect to produce a second person capable of changing the entire landscape of the Spirit Desolation."

Shen Yu remained silent. Pondering it, it was truly a dull and clichéd story.

Su Mo looked up at the sky, delivering the final verdict: "The entire Spirit Desolation remained silent, using a righteous, open conspiracy to destroy our Junior Uncle, and in doing so, destroyed a peerless genius of the Dao Sect with the potential for ascension."

Shen Yu’s expression was calm. He said faintly, "But this matter is not over. I look forward to the day that it concludes."

Su Mo looked up at the deep night sky, and after a long while, he smiled. "Indeed."