Chen Changsheng thought that if this Daoist Friend Yi survived this ordeal, he would surely shine brightly in the Cultivation World in the years to come.

Perhaps many years later, Chen Changsheng might hear of his name from others.

He hoped it would be so.

“If Daoist Friend has time later, could you help me inquire about someone?”

“Please speak, Daoist Friend. I will do my utmost to help.” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

“He is an old friend of mine. I heard he traveled south, perhaps returning to the Cultivation World. His name is Jing Wuya. He is also a Sword Immortal, a bit… unconventional.”

“Jing Wuya…”

Yi Zuqian murmured the name, then asked, “Daoist Friend, are you referring to Jing Wuya, the Twelfth Elder of Sword Mountain?”

“Exactly.” Chen Changsheng raised an eyebrow. “Has something happened to him?”

Yi Zuqian paused. “Your friend, Daoist Friend… he did something quite remarkable back then…”

Chen Changsheng sat up straight and listened as Yi Zuqian began his story.

“This happened over ten years ago. At the time, I wasn’t yet isolating myself on the island, but I had heard rumors about Sword Mountain.”

“Rumors said this Twelfth Elder was once an unparalleled Sword Immortal. But then, he was unexpectedly attacked by a Great Demon in the Desolate Sea. When he returned, his cultivation had weakened, and he faced exclusion from several other Elders.”

Yi Zuqian said, “Back then, the Twelfth Elder held considerable sway on Sword Mountain. It was inevitable some would envy him. When he fell, people were quick to kick him when he was down. A sadly common occurrence.”

“So that’s how it was…” Chen Changsheng muttered to himself.

So the Old Sword Cultivator had once been so famous, yet suffered such humiliation.

Yi Zuqian continued, “After years of silence, this Elder took a different path. He created the ‘Sword Canon of Six Desires’. It drew upon the ‘Seven Emotions and Six Desires’ to forge a sword path toward the Great Dao! By rights, it should have been a peerless sword manual, rarely seen in this world! Why? Because this sword art didn’t care about one’s natural talent, only one’s comprehension! Truly exceptional!”

“But the Elders of Sword Mountain falsely claimed his ‘Sword Canon of Six Desires’ wasn’t orthodox. They even deceived the Twelfth Elder’s personal disciple into abandoning the Sword Canon’s cultivation method to switch to another.”

“Under such pressure and exclusion, the Twelfth Elder, Jing Wuya, was driven out of Sword Mountain.”

“Many years later, when he returned to Sword Mountain, he knocked on its gate with sword in hand. Alone, with just his sword, he challenged numerous Sword Immortals of Sword Mountain. It’s said those fortunate enough to witness that fight recalled how the Sword Immortal, after defeating the Sword Mountain heroes, took a huge swig of wine and left only a disdainful comment: ‘Nothing special’.”

“Only from that day onward did the truth of these events become widely known. Sword Mountain earned a notorious reputation and has likely declined ever since.”

“As for that Sword Immortal Elder, his whereabouts are unknown.”

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment before asking, “Was his encounter with the Great Demon in the Desolate Sea truly an accident?”

Yi Zuqian replied, “Some say yes, some say no. But only those shameless old things at Sword Mountain likely know the real truth.”

“Who would have imagined there was so much to it.”

Chen Changsheng breathed out slowly. “I wonder if I’ll run into him on this trip. It’s been ages since I last shared a drink with him.”

Yi Zuqian asked, “Daoist Friend Chen, you were well acquainted with this Twelfth Elder?”

Chen Changsheng said, “You could say that. We’ve shared many, many drinks.”

“I, Yi, would also like to meet this Twelfth Elder someday… I wonder what he must be like…”

Yi Zuqian wasn’t only admiring Jing Wuya’s swordsmanship but also his spirit. To challenge an entire Immortal Mountain alone — how overbearing! How utterly thrilling!

Chen Changsheng laughed. “If you truly met him, you might be disappointed.”

“Why so?” Yi Zuqian questioned.

Chen Changsheng explained, “In my impression, he wasn’t particularly dashing or possessed of a distinct Sword Immortal aura. Many people in the vast Cultivation World might pass him by without a glance. Unlikely anyone would recognize him.”

“That’s exactly how it should be!”

Yi Zuqian chuckled. “In my view, cultivators are still people. Since they are people, they should seem ordinary and unremarkable.”

Chen Changsheng said, “Daoist Friend Yi, you are destined for great Providence later on.”

Yi Zuqian offered a helpless smile. “First, I must get through this immediate trial.”

His journey ahead remained long and demanding.

Chen Changsheng was happy to hear news of the Old Sword Cultivator through others, especially good news. Who could have guessed that over the years, the old man had done something so earth-shattering?

It felt like meeting an old friend in a distant land. Though learned secondhand, it was especially precious.

Pretty good. Though hearing it recounted still felt a bit unlike him.

That eccentric old man who used to yell ‘Wind’s up, let’s run!’ sounded in others’ retellings as if he possessed a true Sword Immortal’s flair.

Quite surprising.

The Sky Skiff stopped at a certain pier to pick up passengers.

A fair number boarded. There were groups of disciples from Immortal Mountains alongside solitary cultivators. The Sky Skiff was also filled with diverse individuals, losing much of its earlier quiet.

“The Evil Spirit is truly hateful!”

“Senior Brother Chu died by an Evil Spirit’s hand last time. We must be ten thousand times more cautious this journey. I hear this Evil Spirit employs bizarre methods. If overpowered, we retreat immediately!”

“Agreed!”

The group of Immortal Mounatin cultivators aboard looked grave.

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng grew curious. He approached and inquired, “Might I ask, disciples of which Immortal Mountain are you all?”

Their leader was actually a woman. She cupped her hands respectfully. “Greetings, Daoist Friend. We are Cultivators from the Azure Phoenix Palace.”

“So they’re from Azure Phoenix Palace.”

“No wonder then…”

The mention of “Azure Phoenix Palace” elicited clear murmurs among others on the Sky Skiff.

While Evil Spirit incidents weren’t uncommon, few major immortal sects made such significant efforts to intervene. Azure Phoenix Palace was the exception.

Puzzled, Chen Changsheng asked, “I’ve heard many discussing Azure Phoenix Palace lately. What troubles have befallen it?”

The woman answered openly, “The Evil Spirit possessed a Cultivator of Azure Phoenix Palace. It murdered an Elder before fleeing. We’ve been tasked with pursuing and eradicating this Evil Spirit.”

Chen Changsheng’s interest piqued. He said, “Could I ride along with you?”

“Daoist Friend, you’d like to…?”

“I’d like to witness…to see it unfold myself.”

Just then, a sharp scoff came from behind the woman.

“‘Witness’? Evil Spirits are no laughing matter. Going just to watch might cost you your life!”

“Do not be rude!”

“Principal Senior Sister, I haven’t said anything untrue.”

The Principal Senior Sister of Azure Phoenix Palace clasped her hands towards Chen Changsheng. “Please forgive his discourtesy…”

Chen Changsheng replied calmly, “No harm done. In that case, I shall not impose.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Watching this unfold from the Sky Skiff deck, Yi Zuqian couldn’t help but shake his head. He then approached Chen Changsheng. “I’d heard rumors of Azure Phoenix Palace cultivators being arrogant and domineering since long ago. Daoist Friend Chen, no need to take offense. That Azure Phoenix Palace probably doesn’t have much future providence left.”

Chen Changsheng remarked evenly, “I was never truly upset. Hardly worth getting angry over them.”

Yi Zuqian nodded. Indeed, a Sword Immortal like Chen Changsheng stood far above such immature cultivators. They were beneath his notice.