Chen Changsheng was a very unusual person.

At least, that’s what ‘Yu Xuan’ thought.

She wondered why someone with such profound cultivation could play so happily with children.

Shouldn’t he be concerned with other matters?

Chen Changsheng’s gaze shifted to the tree in the courtyard, or more precisely, to a leaf on that tree.

‘Yu Xuan’ paused, her thoughts calming instantly.

“What are you looking at, Uncle Chen?”

“It was just the wind,” Chen Changsheng replied.

“Oh.”

Ping An didn’t ask further and resumed practicing his sword.

In the afternoon, Ruyi returned. Once again, she practiced needlework and argued with Chen Changsheng, debating topics beyond a child’s understanding.

She wasn’t good at handling teasing and often stormed off in frustration after being provoked by Chen Changsheng.

By dusk, they had both gone back.

The courtyard became quiet again.

‘Yu Xuan’ materialized and appeared before Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng looked at her. “Is something wrong?”

Yu Xuan asked, “How can you hear my thoughts?”

“When did I ever hear your thoughts?”

“Earlier today, when that child called Ping An asked…”

Chen Changsheng blinked. “I truly only heard the wind.”

Yu Xuan opened her mouth but no words came out.

She couldn’t exactly argue with that explanation.

But she didn’t believe it was just a coincidence.

She studied Chen Changsheng, trying to uncover something.

She was the Heavenly Dao made manifest. No matter how formidable Chen Changsheng’s cultivation was, he shouldn’t be able to hear her innermost thoughts.

Chen Changsheng shifted the topic. “We might consider each other acquainted by now. May I know how you wish to be called?”

Yu Xuan hesitated. “Manyue.”

“Yu Xuan gave you that name?”

“You could say so.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Miss Manyue, if your injuries have healed, I suggest you leave soon. I’d prefer not to invite unnecessary trouble.”

Manyue’s heart clenched slightly at those words. The sound of ‘Miss Manyue’ felt strangely unreal. It might be because no one had ever addressed her like that before – it held a hint of disrespect.

But then again, she was living under someone else’s roof now.

Manyue said nothing more to Chen Changsheng and vanished, transforming back into the leaf on the tree.

Chen Changsheng sat on the long bench, lost in his own thoughts.

He, too, was puzzled. Why could he hear Manyue’s thoughts?

Logically, it shouldn’t be possible.

This felt disturbingly close to stealing the Will of Heaven itself.

…………

Beneath the Disrupted Providence

Evil Spirits fell into various corners of the world. Some seized the Souls of unwary victims, others sought remote, uninhabited places to tend their wounds and recover.

Within just a few days, grim news flooded the Cultivation World.

Many cultivators had already fallen victim.

Mostly solitary Rogue Cultivators.

“This suggests these leftover Evil Spirits are still weakened. Otherwise, they wouldn’t just target lone Rogue Cultivators.”

“Exactly!”

“We must issue warnings immediately. Also, rigorously inspect all Sky Skiffs arriving recently. See if we can uncover any leads.”

“It won’t be easy. These Evil Spirits are scattered far and wide, making it as hard as finding a needle in a haystack.”

“We must capture as many as possible. The Daoist Friends from Tianji Mountain are descending the mountain to aid us. Their help should double our efficiency.”

This time, Tianji Mountain dispatched nearly a thousand cultivators down the mountain.

One purpose was to investigate the collapse of the Great Wall. The other was to eradicate the Evil Spirits – a task that also served as their Cultivation practice.

Somewhere within the Desolate Sea

Inside one particular Sky Skiff gliding through the emptiness, a dark shadow crept up behind unnoticed. In a blink, it slipped into the ship’s hold. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

A Cultivator meditating within the hold suddenly opened his eyes, seemingly on the verge of shouting. “…!”

Before any sound could escape him, a wisp of Evil Qi surged into his Sea of Consciousness, engulfing his Soul Spirit, and seizing possession of his Mortal Body.

This was not the only place such events were unfolding.

In the Mortal Realm

Ying En, who governed the Water Deity incense offerings, stood at the mouth of a great river, gazing upwards.

Dozens of trails of Evil Qi were rapidly descending from afar towards the Mortal World.

Frowning, she raised her hand and cast a spell.

“Bind!”

The river waters surged into towering waves, crashing towards the Evil Qi.

Though many trails of Evil Qi were blocked, several still escaped the onslaught, slipping unnoticed into the Mortal World.

Ying En sighed. She then took the captured Evil Spirit down to the Riverbottom Dragon Palace and presented it to the Old Dragon King.

……

Qingshan City enjoyed balmy, sunny weather that day. Green Mountain filled the view, and for a fleeting moment, mist seemed to tumble downward from its slopes.

No one expected a surge of Evil Qi to suddenly burst from that same mist, plunging straight into Qingshan City.

Manyue within the small courtyard seemed to sense it.

Chen Changsheng also lifted his head and looked.

Manyue materialized, saying, “It’s one of the suppressed Evil Spirits.”

“Just one,” Chen Changsheng noted.

He glanced at Manyue, noting her lingering injuries, and added, “I’ll go take a look.”

Manyue nodded. “My thanks.”

Strictly speaking, purging such spirits was her responsibility. Even now, despite opposing the original Heavenly Dao, eliminating Evil Spirits remained her duty.

“It’s no trouble.”

Chen Changsheng was also curious to see what these Evil Spirits were like.

He stepped out the door. Unexpectedly, the hiding skills of this particular Evil Spirit proved formidable. Within moments, he could barely sense its presence anymore.

But Chen Changsheng didn’t need to blindly follow its trace.

Before the Evil Spirit had even fully descended, he had already spread his Divine Sense. Every single movement within the borders of Qingshan City was laid bare before him.

He began walking towards the northern part of Qingshan City.

The north of Qingshan City was primarily home to the nobility. Tall walls and wide courtyards dominated the landscape – no doubt the residences of prominent families.

Chen Changsheng looked around briefly before heading towards a specific estate. Beside the gate was an inscribed plaque reading: ‘Loyal and Incorruptible – Generations Uphold the Name’. Clearly, this family bore the surname Yang.

The Evil Spirit that had entered Qingshan City was likely hiding within this very residence.

Chen Changsheng walked up and knocked on the gate.

“Creak…”

The Yang Residence gate opened. A servant peeped out.

“Who’s there? … No one?”

Muttering, the servant promptly closed the gate.

Chen Changsheng, however, had already stepped inside the compound.

He noted the unusually high number of servants milling about. Clearly, the Yang family was extraordinary indeed; likely, they had someone holding a high position within the Imperial Court.

Chen Changsheng made his way directly to the rear garden of the estate.

After sweeping his gaze around, his eyes finally settled on a flowerbed.

“So there you are…”

He approached, focusing on one rather plain-looking flower amidst the vibrant blooms.

Seeing it had been discovered, the flower-like creature immediately tried to flee.

Chen Changsheng spoke a Divine Decree: “Bind!”

As the word fell, Magical Power coalesced into ropes of light, swiftly ensnaring the fleeing flower.

Chen Changsheng raised his hand in a beckoning gesture. The transformed little flower landed neatly in his palm.

He turned it over, inspecting it carefully.

“It doesn’t look like an Evil Spirit at all…”

Chen Changsheng murmured this observation, then quietly left the Yang Residence with the small blossom.