Chapter 74: Truth and Illusion

“These spirit stones are truly spent too quickly.”

As they emerged from the mission tower, Xin Niang couldn’t help but sigh.

Though the Shadow Tracing Technique had taken less than half an hour, it had cost them five thousand spirit stones—a considerable sum for them.

“The Gu clan still has plenty of people. Just sell a few more, and you’ll have what you need,” Chu Xingyun replied unconcernedly.

Slaves with spiritual roots had always been in high demand. With the Gu clan’s flourishing numbers, why worry about spirit stones?

Xin Niang’s eyes flickered at his words, a trace of reluctance rising in her heart, but it vanished as quickly as it came.

“What, are you growing soft-hearted?” Chu Xingyun glanced at her, his voice calm.

Xin Niang smiled and wrapped her slender, fair arm around him. “Yun Lang, how could I be?”

Chu Xingyun’s eyes darkened. He pulled her close and led her into a secluded corner.

With practiced ease, he cast a concealment spell, and in an instant, their forms vanished without a trace.

…

Gu Weiyu had assumed Chu Xingyun, as a high-ranking cultivator, was wealthy enough to post such a massive bounty. How could she have known that all those spirit stones had been acquired by selling her own clansmen?

“From the Shadow Tracing Technique, it seems Gu Weiyu went north of Danyang City,” Xin Niang said, draping herself languidly over Chu Xingyun’s side as they stood upon their swords, hovering above Danyang City and gazing toward the undulating mountains to the north.

“We only know the general direction. Finding her is nearly impossible,” Chu Xingyun said, a touch of discouragement in his tone.

“Yun Lang, I happen to have a Shadow Tracing Jade. Why don’t we try our luck over there?” Xin Niang suggested, producing a stone gleaming with a peculiar light.

Chu Xingyun nodded. For now, it was their only option.

…

Ten Thousand Swords City.

A young girl in red stood amid the bustling crowd, a radiant smile on her face.

Unlike Danyang City, here in Ten Thousand Swords City, nine out of ten people wore swords—so much so that even the common folk did, a testament to the supreme status of the sword in this city.

Gu Weiyu decided she ought not to be an exception. She straightened the row of flying swords hanging at her waist—more than a dozen in all—and strode onward with a touch of pride.

As she walked, the flying swords at her waist rang out in a melodious chorus, drawing curious glances from the passersby.

Those who got a clear look at her face, however, showed unmistakable shock. Some who were close even stepped back in alarm.

Gu Weiyu paid it no mind. Instead, she smugly stroked the scar that stretched across her right cheek.

From behind, one might mistake her for a pretty, lively young girl—until she turned around, and her appearance could truly startle!

Gu Weiyu was quite satisfied. She had spent a considerable sum of spirit stones on this disguise, and it seemed the effect was well worth it.

As she traveled, her disguise technique grew increasingly refined; she could now alter her own bearing for short periods.

The scar on her face, of course, was not the result of disfigurement nor disguise magic, but rather a high-priced human-skin mask—the texture of the scar was uncannily realistic.

After all, when the false appears real and the real feigns false, truth and illusion blend—this is what truly deceives.

This time, instead of seeking out the city’s alchemy halls, she found herself an ordinary lodging—a single spirit stone for a month.

Though it was but a small room, it was warded with protective spells, far safer than staying outside the city.

She had no plans to venture out again soon, and had prepared a bottle of fasting pills for the purpose. She had wasted too much time and could not afford to lose more.

“At last, I’ve broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining!”

In her small room, Gu Weiyu opened her eyes. With a sweep of the Purifying Dust technique, she rid herself of the filth left from her breakthrough.

She had spent more than three months, but at last she had succeeded.

Recalling how few spirit stones she had left, Gu Weiyu decided to go out, buy some spiritual herbs, and refine a few batches of pills to exchange for more stones.

“It’s only been three months, but why does Ten Thousand Swords City seem twice as crowded as before?”

Stepping out and joining the throng, Gu Weiyu quickly realized the city was teeming with people.

She followed the flow and listened with her spiritual sense to bits of conversation. It wasn’t long before she learned the reason.

“In just ten days, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect will open its gates to new disciples…”

Moreover, this time not only the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, but the other four great sects would be taking disciples as well.

Thus, all five great cities were now packed to the brim.

Gu Weiyu’s eyes shone. If she could enter the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, Chu Xingyun and the others would be powerless against her.

Suddenly, her gaze sharpened. Speak of the devil—she had just spotted Chu Xingyun in Ten Thousand Swords City!

Dressed in white and ethereal as an immortal, Chu Xingyun stood on the balcony of a nearby tavern, his head turned to speak with Xin Niang.

Gu Weiyu glared at Chu Xingyun, her eyes burning with fury. If looks could kill, she would have torn him to pieces!

Within her mind, Xiao Shu, sensing her tumultuous emotions, cried out, “Master, what are you doing? High-level cultivators have incredibly sharp senses. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Gu Weiyu came to her senses with a jolt. She quickly adopted the same expression as those around her and looked away.

On the tavern balcony, Chu Xingyun seemed to sense something and glanced in her direction, but saw only the bustling crowd.

“Yun Lang, what’s wrong?” Xin Niang asked curiously.

Chu Xingyun smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze. “It’s nothing. We’ll return to Danyang tomorrow.”

He could have sworn someone had been watching him, but when he looked, there was nothing unusual.

Could it have been a young maiden too shy to meet his eyes?

Chu Xingyun had always been inexplicably confident in his appearance.

“Are we really just leaving like this?” Xin Niang asked softly.

“What else can we do? It’s been over three months. We know she came to Ten Thousand Swords City, but not where she is or what she looks like now,” Chu Xingyun said helplessly.

Xin Niang offered gentle consolation. “Perhaps she’s already left the city. After all, she’s skilled in alchemy—surely her goal is Danyang Sect.”

Chu Xingyun nodded. That had been his thought as well.

It was, undeniably, a clever misunderstanding.

How could they have guessed that Gu Weiyu had chosen the Ten Thousand Swords Sect precisely to avoid them?

…

That chance encounter with Chu Xingyun’s group had soured her mood. She hurried to the city’s Baicaotang branch for some spiritual herbs, then returned to her lodgings.

She resolved not to step outside again until she had refined her pills and sold them, not until after the Ten Thousand Swords Sect opened its doors.

What rotten luck!

Still, she did not intend to leave the city this time. Since Chu Xingyun had failed to recognize her, it proved her disguise was a complete success!