Chapter 282 - 277: The Female Sword Immortal Above Grass Tower Temple

Yi Huai’an chuckled. He seemed like a kind and refined old man, but he didn’t speak right away.

As for Yi Huai’an’s true thoughts, the gap in their Cultivation and Divine Sense wasn’t so enormous that Du Youqian would risk trying to probe them.

When the Daoist Child, Qingfeng, served the Spirit Tea, Yi Huai’an took a sip and immediately looked up at Du Youqian in astonishment.

The Spirit Tea left a lingering fragrance in his mouth, and its Spiritual Power was like a gentle stream, continuously nourishing his entire body.

If his judgment was correct, this tea must have come from the Tier Two Upper Grade mother tree within the Taihe Sect.

Even with a Tier Three Spirit Plant Cultivator tending to it, that mother tree’s annual yield was less than three pounds.

Normally, only Core Formation Masters or the True Inheritors of Major Sects would receive a share.

He had only ever tasted it once, back in his youth, when he’d befriended a True Disciple from the Chongzhen Sect. That True Disciple had a Core Formation master, and Yi Huai’an had managed to freeload a cup of tea. The memory was still fresh in his mind, a taste he savored to this day.

’Who in the world is this Baili Jianxin?’

’The implications are terrifying.’

Seeing his expression, Du Youqian smiled with satisfaction.

’This extravagant show was worth the cost.’

In his previous life, he could have enjoyed such tea quite often. In this life, however, he only had about an ounce left in his inventory. Once it was gone, it was gone.

If this cup of tea were put up for auction, it would be enough to buy a quarter of the Shengxuan Sect.

But some things couldn’t be calculated by their surface value.

If he could exchange a cup of tea for the Shengxuan Sect’s cooperation, it would be well worth it.

The Shengxuan Sect’s cooperation would save him from expending energy on scheming and infighting, freeing up a great deal of time for Cultivation. That was what truly mattered.

Yi Huai’an mulled it over for a moment before speaking in a gentle tone, "If a fellow Daoist like you were to call the shots in the Wu Kingdom, I fear the Chongzhen Sect might take issue. I, for one, would be more than happy to have a young, yet profoundly cultivated and highly respected prodigy such as yourself manage the affairs of the Wu Kingdom."

As he spoke, he couldn’t resist taking several more sips of the Spirit Tea.

In the Mortal World, a generation is typically considered to be twenty years.

Yi Huai’an was over one hundred and eighty years old. By the standards of the Mortal World, he was eight generations Du Youqian’s senior.

Yet, in front of this young man, his demeanor was perfectly proper, his respect for Du Youqian written plainly on his face.

’It was probably thanks to the Spirit Tea.’

Du Youqian understood his general meaning and smiled. "The Chongzhen Sect will be easy to answer to. Besides, they rarely concern themselves with mortal affairs. As for me, I won’t interfere in the affairs of the Cultivation Realm; I’ll only manage things in the secular world. My previous promise still stands: I won’t touch a single bit of the Human Dao Fortune that belongs to your sect. Of course, the Shengxuan Sect shouldn’t ask about the share I’m due, either."

"I understand your terms, fellow Daoist," Yi Huai’an said slowly. "I have no objections."

"Elder Yi, since you’re here today, why don’t we discuss the Dao and have a friendly spar?" Du Youqian proposed.

’This was a call to see some real skill. Not a fight to the death, of course, but a demonstration of power to make Yi Huai’an back down gracefully.’

’In the future, if the Chongzhen Sect questioned them, they would have an answer—’Hey, we couldn’t help it. We didn’t want to, but we just couldn’t beat him.’’

Yi Huai’an was about to agree when his heart suddenly stirred, and he looked up.

The Grass Tower Temple blocked his line of sight, but it couldn’t block the immense, irresistible pressure.

Yi Huai’an sat still, but his mind was racing with speculation: ’Has the Core Formation master behind Baili Jianxin finally decided to show themselves?’

The other party was deliberately directing their aura at the Grass Tower Temple. It was obviously not aimed at him, but at the temple’s master.

Du Youqian’s expression turned strange. The "Broken Water" Sword Intent within him was triggered, and all the Sword Artifacts inside the Grass Tower Temple began to hum, "paying homage" to him.

He appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he was horrified. ’It’s a good thing we didn’t fight. This Baili Jianxin truly lives up to his name.’

’With such a powerful Sword Intent, forcing a fight would only bring shame to the Shengxuan Sect.’

’Better to hide one’s inadequacy than to make a fool of oneself.’

Du Youqian paused and gave Yi Huai’an an apologetic smile. "My apologies, Elder Yi. An old friend has come to visit. I must go and greet them."

Yi Huai’an lowered his eyes. "Of course. Please, feel free. If it’s convenient, I wonder if you might introduce me to that senior later?"

He had even dropped the formal "this old man" self-address.

Du Youqian couldn’t agree outright. "We’ll see."

Leaving Yi Huai’an in the Grass Tower Temple, Du Youqian stepped outside.

He saw a peerless beauty—no, an old acquaintance, dressed in a tight-fitting, short-cut female Dharma Robe. She stood atop a Flying Sword, her gaze imperious, her entire body seemingly filled with a piercing Sword Intent that could chill one to the bone.

An ordinary person would be pierced by ten thousand swords just by getting close to her, their body torn to shreds.

The Palace Maids and Guards near the Grass Tower Temple, as well as the temple’s Daoist Child, were already kneeling on the ground, none daring to look directly at this Female Immortal.

Du Youqian said nothing, merely looking up at her.

’At this point, explanations were meaningless.’

’Just now, she had deliberately used the "Broken Water" Sword Intent to provoke a resonance with the Sword Intent in his own body. She must have recognized him. Even if she had only been suspicious before, she definitely recognized him now.’

In his previous life, Du Youqian had used a method of exchanging Divine Sense to help her with her Sword Enlightenment. Even after he became one of the Living Dead, he had shared Sword Enlightenment with her many times.

Although Fang Hua had been able to innovate and forge her own path in the Sword Dao after reaching Core Formation, her Sword Intent stemmed from the same source as Du Youqian’s. That was something that could not be changed.

After a long silence, Fang Hua spoke, her voice cold. "How much longer were you going to hide from me? If I hadn’t been careful and discovered Lin Sha’s arrangements on Soul-shaking Mountain, and then found the letter you left for her there, and if I hadn’t known about your relationship with the Wu Imperial Family and come looking, you would have just kept hiding, wouldn’t you!"

Inside the Grass Tower Temple, Yi Huai’an was "eating melon"—watching the drama unfold—both terrified and thoroughly satisfied.

’This Core Formation Female Sword Immortal seems to have a romantic entanglement with Baili Jianxin?’

’And Baili Jianxin is actually avoiding her?’

’And it seems she mentioned another woman, too.’

’Wait, Lin Sha... that name, Lin Sha... I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere before...’

It was normal that Yi Huai’an couldn’t remember.

When a Core Formation Ancestor traveled, others would only address them by their Daoist name or title. Who would dare use their given name?

Even if he had occasionally heard the name Lin Sha before, he wouldn’t be familiar with it. He would only remember Master Qingqiu of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect.

Du Youqian sighed. "Come down. We can talk things over slowly."

"Hmph. You want me to come down? We’ll see if you’re qualified!" Fang Hua finished speaking coldly. Her Treasure Flying Sword shot out, seemingly striking out in resentment. The Sword Intent was so overwhelming that if Du Youqian couldn’t block it, the single strike would likely destroy half the Capital City.

Yi Huai’an sat inside the Grass Tower Temple, holding the teacup with both hands and drinking greedily.

He finished it in a few gulps, then picked up Du Youqian’s cup and started drinking that too.

’Such a vast and piercing Sword Intent... It’s impossible to block, and there’s definitely no escaping it.’

’If I get caught in the crossfire, there’s nothing I can do. If I die, I die.’

’It’s not a question of whether I want to die or not.’

’I’m simply powerless.’

’Might as well finish the Spirit Tea before I die. Can’t let it go to waste.’