Chen Changsheng first flew by sword to the nearest port in the Cultivation World. He found a wine tavern, sat down, ordered a jug of wine, and then called for the waiter, Xiao’er.

Xiao’er was also a cultivator, though his level of Cultivation wasn’t particularly high. In the Cultivation World, those who truly mattered were always the major powerhouses. Just like commoners and scholars in the mortal world, it was all about layers of status.

“Xiao’er, may I ask you something?”

Seeing this, Xiao’er replied, “What would you like to know, sir?”

“Are there any Evil Spirits around here, or on the nearby Immortal Islands?”

“Sure are!”

Xiao’er immediately started talking.

He began with the nearby area. A place infested with an Evil Spirit was only eighty miles away.

“That Evil Spirit’s methods are truly vicious! It drained the Essence Blood of dozens of cultivators one after another. Later, the Immortal Mountain even invited a major powerhouse to come eliminate it. Who’d have thought that cursed thing managed to slip away by luck! After that, it got even more careful. The cultivators from the Immortal Sects came several times but never even glimpsed its shadow. After a while, they just gave up on dealing with it. With no one policing it anymore, the Evil Spirit committed crimes dozens more times. Nowadays, that path isn’t used at all.”

“Sir, best not take that road. Before, even a grandmaster of the Dongxu Realm stumbled there! This is no joke.”

“That powerful?” Chen Changsheng paused before saying.

“Aye!”

Xiao’er said, “The owner even put up a reward before. Many came hoping to claim it. Some never returned; others simply couldn’t find the thing. That Evil Spirit truly excels at hiding.”

Chen Changsheng murmured after hearing this, “I understand. My thanks, Xiao’er.”

“No trouble at all.”

Chen Changsheng tipped Xiao’er a little something and paid for the wine.

Xiao’er accepted the tip with a grin. “Oho, many thanks, sir!”

After all, this was a tip he rightfully earned. Such news didn’t come entirely free.

Chen Changsheng gave a little wave, picked up his jug of wine, and left.

However, at the doorway, he paused.

“…Xiao’er.”

“Do you need anything else, sir?” Xiao’er asked.

Chen Changsheng said, “Do me a favor. Point me the way.”

“From here, going in leads to the city center; going out leads to the departure point for Sky Skiffs…”

“I’m asking for the way to the Evil Spirit.”

“Huh?”

Xiao’er was stunned.

He immediately began trying to dissuade Chen Changsheng.

“Sir, that is truly no joking matter.”

Chen Changsheng didn’t seem bothered. He told Xiao’er just to point him in the direction.

After several back-and-forths, Xiao’er resignedly raised his hand and pointed towards the direction where the Evil Spirit lurked.

Chen Changsheng thanked him and walked out of the inn.

Xiao’er sighed softly. “Couldn’t persuade him…”

He shook his head and put it out of his mind. After all, he’d said what he needed to say. If the person insisted on going, he couldn’t be blamed anymore. Xiao’er returned to attending guests. Plenty of people came for drinks and food during this hour, making him terribly busy.

He had a lot more work yet today. For someone like him, scraping by with minimal Cultivation talent in the Cultivation World, such days felt endless. So really, places weren’t all that different after all. Be it the mortal realm or the Cultivation World, people were ultimately just people, and where they gathered, things weren’t that dissimilar.

He was busy from noon until dusk approached. Only then did Xiao’er finally find a moment to catch his breath. The master at the kitchen made two plates of stir-fried noodles, providing him a hasty meal – barely even half-full. His level of Cultivation hadn’t reached the point where he could go entirely without food.

After eating, Xiao’er hurried back to serving guests, one thing right after another.

The sun set in the west; dusk’s shadows grew long. Golden rays fell into the inn. The smell of wine drifted everywhere. Piping hot dishes steamed slightly. The noisy atmosphere might have seemed out of place here, yet somehow it blended perfectly.

“What an eye-opener! Truly an eye-opener today!”

A few men settled down at a table, bolstered by their own powerful auras. Xiao’er quickly stepped forward to serve them, asking what these gentlemen would like to eat. From their demeanor, they didn’t seem local, likely arriving from outside. The three or four men, all possessing solid Cultivation, were chatting animatedly.

“That person truly possesses profound Cultivation! His words became reality! Face to face, he broke through the Evil Thing’s Daoist Arts! Then, one sword strike! Truly, that sword strike…!”

“One must bow in admiration!”

“Never expected to encounter such a mighty one! This trip was worth it! Using his finger like a sword! Truly remarkable!”

Xiao’er spoke up, “Did you gentlemen just witness that great master working his arts?”

“A Sword Cultivator! An immensely powerful Sword Cultivator! No… perhaps one should say a Sword Immortal!”

“I’ve never seen a Sword Immortal, myself.”

“Heh! It was our first time too! Such an Evil Thing meant nothing in that exalted one’s hands! Just his words and one sword strike, shattered!”

Xiao’er clucked his tongue in wonder, mumbling, “Such a Sword Immortal… I wonder what demeanor he possessed…”

The cultivators pondered for a bit. One said, “So different!”

“Indeed, different from what one imagines.”

“Looked… quite ordinary.”

One of the cultivators looked at Xiao’er and said, “That Sword Immortal came right out of your place, didn’t he? Haven’t you seen him?”

Xiao’er shook his head; he hadn’t seen any Sword Immortal.

“His Excellency wore a Blue Robe, Green-White boots on his feet, held… hm, a jug of wine.”

The speaker glanced at a wine jar placed on their table and suddenly brightened up. “Right! Just like those jars here in your tavern.”

“J-jar…”

Xiao’er froze, stiffening for a moment.

In his mind’s eye flashed an image: a scholarly cultivator clad in a blue robe! The one who’d asked for directions, the one he’d pointed towards the direction! That very one who left… carrying away a jug of wine!

Could it be…?

Xiao’er’s heart jumped. He stood rooted to the spot.

The men were still deep in discussion when they noticed Xiao’er standing there motionless and asked him what was wrong.

Xiao’er snapped out of it. “N-nothing at all, sirs! I’ll go fetch your drinks and food right away!”

Muttering, “Not possible,,,” as he turned. Gathering the wine and food, he was so distracted he almost bumped into someone. His mouth opened slightly, and his gaze drifted towards the doorway.

He shook his head again. It seemed unlikely.

When he returned with the food and drinks, he couldn’t help but ask again, “Sirs… was the Evil Thing you mentioned vanquished… the one haunting Fishbone Path?”

“Fishbone Path?”

Xiao’er elaborated, “Fishbone Path, shaped like a fish skeleton. Did you gentlemen pass through that area, perhaps?”

They all tried to recall the details, but it remained fuzzy.

Then, one pointed towards a vague direction.

“Anyway, we were coming from that way.”

Xiao’er’s mouth hung open again. That direction… wasn’t that precisely where the Evil Spirit dwelled?!?

“S-so… that Evil Spirit… it was really dealt with?”

“What’s the matter with you, waiter? We saw it with our own eyes! Surely it can’t be false?”

Xiao’er pressed further, “That exalted one… he truly wore a blue robe? Also… exceptionally handsome?”

One cultivator asked pointedly, “You wouldn’t perchance… have seen him?”

Xiao’er’s heart jolted. He opened his mouth and answered,

“Perhaps…”

“… really seen him.”

And right at that moment, right here, he’d exchanged many words with him.