Chapter 27

The Emperor Realm is guarding the gate; I'm afraid this is a treatment only the Nether Emperor has ever had, right?

To be honest, after Li Zhangsheng left, the Nether Emperor still had mixed feelings.

But he could only hold it in.

Ah, at least he kept his life; guarding the gate is fine.

Guarding the gate is great; from ancient times to now, which Emperor Realm could have such treatment?

It's not just me; this is also a kind of unconventional independence!

I heard that in storybooks, most of those sweeping monks and gatekeepers are masters among masters, which suits me perfectly!

After a wave of self‑comfort, the Nether Emperor straightened his robes, sat cross‑legged on a stone stool, closed his eyes to cultivate, sat upright with dignity, bearing the air of a hidden master.

Although he closed his eyes, his divine sense was not honest, scanning here and there; after looking around, he noticed the statue standing on the square of Longevity Gate.

'Founding Patriarch of Longevity Gate!'

These few characters were carved beneath the statue!

Being bored, the Nether Emperor's divine sense began to examine this statue.

"It is said that the Founding Patriarch of Longevity Gate is an immortal, and moreover the teacher of the Seven Emperors of ancient times; no one knows what kind of person the Founding Patriarch of Longevity Gate really is!"

The Nether Emperor had also heard many rumors about Longevity Gate, so he was somewhat curious about its Founding Patriarch!

But as he examined it, he felt something was off!

Why does this statue look so familiar?

It seems I've seen it somewhere before.

"Huh?!"

Suddenly, his soul felt like it was struck by lightning!

His whole soul stood still for a moment, then after a long while…

Only then did the Nether Emperor slowly recover, his mind flashing with 'So that's it' and 'No wonder' and the like!

For a moment, he felt that the job of guarding the gate was also justified and proper!

Turns out he was meant to guard the gate; that's fine then!

Guarding the gate is good; one must learn to guard the gate!

……

However, after Li Zhangsheng brought the Nether Emperor back, he returned to his own Small Cool Pavilion and lived a simple, carefree life!

He drank tea, enjoyed the scenery, and occasionally practiced calligraphy and such.

"Sect Master, want tea?" That day, Liu Yiming walked into the Cool Pavilion laughing.

"Sure, have a taste." Li Zhangsheng casually poured a cup of tea for Liu Yiming.

Liu Yiming, this lively fellow, is still to Li Zhangsheng's taste; they usually call each other brothers, and Li Zhangsheng doesn't mind.

Liu Yiming took the cup, sipped, then from his storage ring took out a packet of spiritual tea, saying with a smile: "Sect Master, this is spiritual tea cultivated from Liu Yun Sect's willow heartwood; come, let me brew it for you to try, hehe."

Saying that, Liu Yiming himself took out a teapot, used his mana to boil it; after a moment it boiled, then he poured a cup for Li Zhangsheng: "Sect Master, come, try this specialty of Liu Yun Sect."

Li Zhangsheng narrowed his eyes at Liu Yiming; this kid seemed to have the air of 'no visit to the Three Treasures Hall without purpose'.

Li Zhangsheng smiled lightly, took the cup from Liu Yiming, sipped it—fresh, sweet, refreshing and calming—"Indeed, it's good tea!"

Seeing Li Zhangsheng like it, Liu Yiming felt pleased; he put the packet of spiritual tea on the stone table: "Sect Master likes it, that's fine; leave the tea here, and you can brew it slowly to drink."

"You're thoughtful." Li Zhangsheng smiled, then directly pointed out Liu Yiming's thoughts: "Just say what you want."

"Hehe, indeed nothing can be hidden from the Sect Master." Liu Yiming laughed: "I want the Sect Master to help me write some characters."

Having Li Zhangsheng write characters naturally means making talismans.

Your thoughts are practically written on your face; Li Zhangsheng muttered to himself.

"Making talismans, then." Li Zhangsheng didn't refuse; it was just writing a few characters; besides, he was bored, so he treated it as killing time: "Go on, what style do you want?"

Li Zhangsheng also understood Liu Yiming's nature; this kid coming to him privately must want to order some special styles.

"As expected, nothing can be hidden from the Sect Master." Liu Yiming gave a friendly smile, then pulled out several stacks of beast hide from his bosom like pulling out bills; after a rough count, there were indeed dozens of sheets!

Obviously, he came prepared!

Good fellow, he's about to give himself a full set of equipment!

"Sect Master, does writing a character produce a talisman of that type?" Liu Yiming asked.

"Well, logically, that's how it works." Li Zhangsheng nodded.

Only see Liu Yiming hand over a piece of beast hide, whispering timidly: "Please, Sect Master, write the two characters 'endurance' on this hide."

Li Zhangsheng gave Liu Yiming a sideways glance, smiling: "Is this talisman for proper use?"

"Of course it's proper use." Liu Yiming laughed: "In past fights, I always felt my fatigue came on too fast, so I wanted to strengthen this weakness; of course, it's for proper combat!"

"Ah, even after cultivation you still have this weakness?" Li Zhangsheng wondered, said nothing else, then took out his brush and the snake‑blood ink he always kept in his storage ring, and wrote the two characters 'endurance'.

Liu Yiming carefully put away the talisman: "Sect Master, this talisman is for proper use; don't think otherwise."

"I understand, I understand!" Li Zhangsheng gave a look that I understood.

Looking at Li Zhangsheng's gaze, Liu Yiming was a bit lost.

Sect Master, did you really misunderstand? I'm very capable in that area—I don't need these!!

"And these few pieces, help me write wind, flower, snow, moon, uh... plus thunder, earth, wood—just these few." Liu Yiming then handed a few more pieces of hide to Li Zhangsheng.

Li Zhangsheng's brush flew like dragons and snakes; in an instant he finished writing, and the few talismans were also completed!

"Good characters!" While collecting these talismans, Liu Yiming didn't forget to give them a lick, then he stuffed these few talismans into his left pocket.

Obviously, these few talismans were custom-made for his personal use.

However, he still had several dozen pieces of hide in his hand!

"These several dozen pieces, Sect Master, just scribble them casually—fast, hard, explosive, three styles will do." Liu Yiming said with a smile.

"Why do you need so many talismans? Who are you planning to fight?" Li Zhangsheng asked curiously while writing.

"Isn't that the Liu Yun Sect's cold weapon? I just want to take it back to give them a taste of it," Liu Yiming said with a grin.

"Fine," Li Zhangsheng said without asking further.

Although Liu Yiming had once said he would quit the Liu Yun Sect, it was probably just talk; having him make these talismans suggests he intends to take them back to arm the Liu Yun Sect a bit.

After a short while, Li Zhangsheng finished writing all dozens of talismans.

"Thank you, Sect Master," Liu Yiming said, collecting the talismans. He didn't put them into his storage ring, but stuffed them into the seam of his own clothing as if loading cash.

"By the way, Sect Master, do you enjoy visiting any wind-and-moon venues?" After stowing the talismans, Liu Yiming whispered in Li Zhangsheng's ear, his tone tinged with a hint of bribery.

Li Zhangsheng squinted, "Oh? You still like that sort of thing?"

"Hehe, I'm an insider; the Sect Master also enjoys it, and I have my ways—it's a different flavor," Liu Yiming leaned closer, his voice dropping further: "I know a place with cat girls who expose their ears, fox women with long tails, as well as snake women and scorpion women, all still uncompleted in their transformations..."

Li Zhangsheng shook his head, looking uninterested, and said, "I'm bored of all that, can't get excited."

"Alright then," Liu Yiming clicked his tongue.

"Hey, Liu Yiming, Sect Master, what are you whispering about?" At that moment, Xiao Jue, having arrived at the pavilion for unknown reasons, saw Liu Yiming and Li Zhangsheng murmuring and grew curious.

Liu Yiming straightened up, glanced at Xiao Jue, and said, "Go, go, go, stay away. Adults are talking, kids shouldn't interfere!"

"Hah, Liu Yiming, why are you pretending to be an adult? When I'm messing with wind and snow, you still don't know where you're playing in the mud," Xiao Jue sneered.

Seeing Luo Qingxue approaching from not far away, Liu Yiming stopped arguing with Xiao Jue, turned to Li Zhangsheng and said, "Sect Master, I'm heading back."

"Liu Yiming, didn't you cut ties with your father? Why go back?" Xiao Jue teased.

"I only cut half; there's still half a bond left, okay?" Liu Yiming replied irritably.

"Go ahead, go ahead," Li Zhangsheng waved his hand, then resumed drinking his tea.

After bidding Li Zhangsheng farewell, Liu Yiming left the pavilion; as he stepped out, Li Zhangsheng's voice echoed in his mind, "Send me the coordinates!"

Liu Yiming turned his head in surprise, looked at Li Zhangsheng, and a knowing smile spread across his face!!

Then Liu Yiming's figure flashed and he darted away.

Soaring through the sky, Liu Yiming produced the fast-character talisman Li Zhangsheng had crafted and muttered to himself:

"Honestly, I haven't tried this fast-character talisman yet, so I don't know its speed."

"Hehe, brothers of the Liu Yun Sect, your elder has returned."

He had Li Zhangsheng make so many talismans this time precisely to take them back and show off.

As the saying goes, wealth without returning home is like wearing brocade in the night!

Now his cultivation has risen to the Supreme Realm Great Perfection, solid as a rock, and returning will surely dazzle the Liu Yun Sect elders and disciples.

You always claim I'm all wind, flower, snow, moon and useless.

Yet in just a few days I raised my cultivation to the Supreme Realm Great Perfection, equivalent to decades of your training.

Without your effort, I advance faster than you; hehe, aren't you angry!

As for those talismans, Liu Yiming has already figured out how to show off with them.

After returning, he pulled out piles of talismans from his chest, splurging them on the Liu Yun Sect elders and disciples as if tossing a fortune in a wind-and-moon venue!

"Come, come, these are gifts from me to you all,"

The thought of the shocked faces of the sect's elders and disciples made Liu Yiming feel delighted!

"Alright, then, that's the plan!"

With that in mind, Liu Yiming slapped the fast-character talisman onto his body and flew toward the Liu Yun Sect!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The fast-character talisman was indeed swift; in just a quarter of an hour, Liu Yiming flickered back to the Liu Yun Sect!!

"Father, Elder Ancestor, I'm back," Liu Yiming shouted as he pushed open the Liu Yun Sect's main gate, marching in with high spirits.

However……

A cold gust blew from the side, swirling a few fallen leaves across the plaza, spiraling before Liu Yiming.

"Hm?" Liu Yiming frowned slightly, sensing something off.

The Liu Yun Sect was eerily silent, not a single person in sight.

The disciples who usually train on the plaza were nowhere to be found.

"Where are the people?" Liu Yiming wondered, rushing toward the inner hall.

"Father, Elder Ancestor!"

He called out in the main hall, but received no response!

This made things terribly wrong!

He hurried toward the underground secret chamber—no one!

The martial training hall—empty!

The scripture repository—empty!

The alchemy tower—empty

The side hall—empty!

The vast Liu Yun Sect resembled a ghost town, not a single soul inside!

"My... my sect has been robbed?!"

Liu Yiming froze in place, at a loss!