Chapter 212: “Removing Makeup

212. Chapter 212 "Removing Makeup"

Xiao Zhangqing stopped his flying boat, and several members of the enforcement squad immediately boarded from behind.

Xiao Zhangqing sensed from afar for a while.

On the other side's flying boat, there were over a dozen cultivators.

Except for the captain who remained on the boat, a Fake Core True Person, everyone else was in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

This scale of arrangement is comparable to Character: Liyang Immortal City.

However, the number of the Seven Star Sword Sect's enforcement team is certainly more than ten times that of Character: Liyang Guard.

As a Nascent Soul sect with such a vast territory, the Seven Star Sword Sect's enforcement force is truly terrifying.

"Greetings, Dao Companions of the Seven Star Sword Sect."

After stepping out of the flying boat, Xiao Zhangqing immediately folded the boat and placed it back into his storage bag, to prove he was alone.

If there were other cultivators inside the boat, this would be impossible.

"Dao Companion?"

A young sword cultivator bearing a long sword, who came to inspect, gave Xiao Zhangqing a sideways glance, with a hint of contempt, and asked coolly, "Aren't you a cultivator from the Northwest Territory?"

Xiao Zhangqing nodded and said, "I come from the Central Region; this is my first time in the Northwest Territory."

"No rush. If this is your first time in the Northwest Territory, and you're a recently wanted criminal, we'll use the Jian Tian Mirror to examine your magical power and Soul Transformation aura, and then we'll know whether you speak truth."

The young sword cultivator produced a cyan-colored mirror.

The aura emitted by the mirror was far inferior in grade to the bronze ancient mirror Xiao Zhangqing had confiscated from the Longxu True Person; it did not reach the Magic Treasure level, being only a second‑tier supreme magical instrument.

"Please dip a strand of your magical power and Soul Transformation into this mirror."

The young sword cultivator instructed.

Xiao Zhangqing nodded.

Deciding not to cause trouble, he chose to cooperate fully.

This mirror is evidently not a weapon, but rather a device used to detect illusion techniques and discern truth.

Fortunately, Xiao Zhangqing is not currently employing any illusion, so his Soul Transformation and magical aura remain as they originally are.

Otherwise, he truly wouldn't know if he could evade detection.

This Jian Tian Mirror is a magical instrument produced by the Seven Star Sword Sect; it must be quite formidable. Even the most notorious calamity cultivators roaming the Da Yu Cultivation World, from Fake Core stage to Jie Dan True Person, would likely not escape its scrutiny.

Xiao Zhangqing harbored no doubts as he prepared to pour his magical power and Soul Transformation into the Jian Tian Mirror for examination.

Suddenly.

From another direction, a flash of light streaked by, appearing to be a high‑grade flying magical treasure. Not only was its speed comparable to Xiao Zhangqing's boat, but its size was massive—over ten zhang tall, with three levels.

Such flying magical treasures are usually employed by sects or trade caravans for transport, not owned privately.

"Flying boat ahead, halt for inspection…"

The other members of the enforcement squad immediately issued the same command to the large flying boat as they had to Xiao Zhangqing.

No surprise.

Upon hearing the Seven Star Sword Sect enforcement team's designation, the large flying boat dared not act recklessly; it ceased its blind flight, obediently reduced speed, and flew forward.

Soon, several people disembarked from the large flying boat.

Leading them was a beautiful woman whose every movement exuded charm; her aura, surprisingly, was also that of a Fake Core True Person.

"So it is Bai Su True Person of Xuan Yin Pavilion."

The Fake Core captain of the enforcement team, seeing this, came forward to greet personally.

Although, in the eyes of the Seven Star Sword Sect enforcement team, a Fake Core True Person is nothing special.

Not to mention the massive Nascent Soul sect behind them; even if his enforcement squad formed a formation, they could still contend with a peak early‑stage Jie Dan entity.

Nevertheless, Xuan Yin Pavilion is a relatively powerful presence in the Da Yu Cultivation World, similar to Baihua Valley: a sect composed of female cultivators, but with a lineage far older and strength greater than Baihua Valley.

"Greetings, Chen Shan True Person."

The beautiful woman Bai Su bowed gracefully and said, "All aboard my flying boat are disciples of Xuan Yin Pavilion; may we be exempt from inspection?"

Chen Shan True Person shook his head: "Bai Su True Person has probably heard as well; lately calamity cultivators have been committing crimes frequently, and Demon Sect Evil Cultivators have crossed the Cloud Mist Mountain Range to wreak havoc, with a small contingent slipping into my Northwest Territory. Sect elders have decreed that any passing cultivator encountered by the enforcement team must undergo routine inspection…"

"Among these calamity cultivators and Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, many excel at illusion speed and disguise. Not long ago, the Qing Shui Mo family was infiltrated by a Fake Core Evil Cultivator masquerading as a close friend of the Mo family patriarch, silently entering their territory and slaughtering the entire Mo clan…"

"Therefore, not only must the others on the flying boat undergo inspection, but you, Bai Su True Person, are no exception."

The beautiful woman frowned upon hearing this.

But the matter being said, she could say no more and allowed all the disciples on the boat to disembark.

Xuan Yin Pavilion calls itself a sect, but it is more like an organization.

Unlike Baihua Valley, they lack a flagship industry; the technology of crafting magical robes is unrivaled in the Da Yu Cultivation World, earning them abundant wealth.

Xuan Yin Pavilion has no real industry; all they have are their own disciples!

The disciples of Xuan Yin Pavilion are skilled singers and dancers, masters of music; in major immortal cities across the Da Yu Cultivation World they have established brothel‑like pleasure venues. Of course, they sell performance, not themselves; they do not even serve as drinking companions, maintaining a proper distance and mystique.

On ordinary days, even a disciple of the Seven Star Sword Sect must spend a fortune, a hefty sum, to see a disciple of Xuan Yin Pavilion.

But when faced with a routine inspection, there is little choice.

Not only must they expose themselves, they must also submit to inspection, conceal all illusion and disguise, and even pour their magical power and Soul Transformation aura into the Jian Tian Mirror.

Such conduct is just like Xiao Zhangqing's past‑life as a female livestreamer, being forced to turn off the beauty filter and broadcast in a bare‑faced, un‑made‑up state.

Thus Bai Su True Person was naturally not very pleased.

But Chen Shan True Person, wielding great righteousness on behalf of the Seven Star Sword Sect, pressed her, leaving her unable to resist.

Xuan Yin Pavilion holds a certain standing in the Da Yu Cultivation World, but compared with the Seven Star Sword Sect, it amounts to nothing.

If she were to resist today and refuse inspection, her life might not be in danger, but the fate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion disciples aboard the boat would be extremely humiliating, and she herself would likely be insulted.

"Hold on a moment!"

The young sword cultivator who was supposed to inspect Xiao Zhangqing saw a group of celestial maidens from the Mysterious Sound Hall, and his eyes instantly lit with delight, full of anticipation.

It was clear that he was very interested in inspecting the Mysterious Sound Hall's celestial maidens.

"I'm alone; the inspection should be quick, right?"

Xiao Zhangqing said wordlessly.

"What are you in a hurry for! Can't you see this is the Mysterious Sound Hall's party, and the Fake Core True Person is here? Do you think your face is bigger than the Fake Core True Person's? Stay put!"

The young sword cultivator barked harshly, and without turning his head flew toward the Mysterious Sound Hall's party.

Xiao Zhangqing shook his head and had to wait patiently a while longer.

That said, he actually knew something about the Mysterious Sound Hall.

Because in Character: Liyang Immortal City, a disciple of the Mysterious Sound Hall ran a painted boat, and one of them ranked among the top courtesans of Character: Liyang Immortal City, the Peony Celestial Maiden who had crossed paths with Xiao Zhangqing several times.

On the day Xiao Zhangqing slew the young master Song Changning of the Song family, the Peony Celestial Maiden was present, performed a piece, and then handed Xiao Zhangqing an invitation. She thought Xiao Zhangqing's skill with the flute was profound, that the flute sound combined with spiritual attack, and wanted to ask him some questions.

Unfortunately, Xiao Zhangqing was not very interested in such a courtesan; even after receiving the invitation, he never visited.

There were later a few more chances, the Peony Celestial Maiden tried to befriend Xiao Zhangqing, but nothing came of it.

True Person Bai Su was the first to pour magical power and Soul Transformation aura into the Heaven-Inspecting Mirror; she thought nothing would happen, but the mirror immediately quivered and emitted a red glow, clearly abnormal.

"What's going on?" True Person Bai Su frowned, looking up at True Person Chen Shan: "True Person Chen Shan, does this Heaven-Inspecting Mirror think I'm an impostor?"

The young sword cultivator in charge of the Heaven-Inspecting Mirror answered on his behalf: "Senior Bai, please dispel the illusion technique on you. The mirror's reaction now indicates an illusion technique exists on you…"

True Person Bai Su's eyebrows shot up, a hint of anger in her voice, and said: "Even if I have an illusion technique, my magical power and Soul Transformation aura are genuine; can that still not prove my identity?"

True Person Chen Shan stepped forward, solemnly saying: "Advanced illusion techniques can disguise even magical power and Soul Transformation aura, so we ask you, True Person Bai, to cooperate and remove the illusion."

"Fine, very well." True Person Bai Su glared at the two, gritted her teeth, and activated a spell to withdraw her own illusion.

In fact, what she bore was not a conventional illusion, but the 'charm technique' inherent to her cultivation method.

It does not alter the disguised aura, only enhances her own charm.

After the spell was withdrawn, although True Person Bai Su remained graceful and alluring, she lost the tantalizing allure she had moments before, and no longer felt that itchy intrigue.

Moreover, she now looked more like a woman in her early thirties rather than the previously youthful twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight appearance.

Indeed.

Once the illusion was removed and magical power and Soul Transformation aura were poured back into the Heaven-Inspecting Mirror, the mirror became tranquil, with no alarms at all.

"It's done, thank you for cooperating, True Person Bai."

True Person Chen Shan said with a half‑smile.

The young sword cultivator and the other ten‑plus disciples of the Seven Star Sword Sect all stared intently at the Fake Core True Person.

Normally they would never get to see the Fake Core Celestial Maiden's true form! With True Person Bai as an example, the other Mysterious Sound Hall disciples dared not entertain any lucky thoughts.

Before the inspection, they all removed their own charm techniques and illusion techniques.

Thus the celestial maidens, who could have scored over ninety overall, all fell to the mortal realm, their scores dropping to around eighty at most.

Though their looks diminished, the excitement on the faces of these Seven Star Sword Sect law‑enforcing disciples grew even stronger.

Perhaps cultivators and mortals are the same in this regard.

They love beautiful women, but love seeing their true faces even more.

When they see a delicately made beauty, they can't help but wonder what she looks like without makeup.

There were over thirty Mysterious Sound Hall disciples on the flying boat.

The first twenty‑odd passed the inspection smoothly, with no issues.

However.

When it came to a female disciple who looked fifteen or sixteen, whose cultivation was only at the early stage of Qi refinement, yet whose natural beauty surpassed even True Person Bai's, the Heaven-Inspecting Mirror sounded an alarm again… (End of chapter)