Chapter 144: A Long Journey

Amid a rustling sound of skirts dragging along the floor.

It did not take long.

Before a beautiful woman with cloud-like hair buns and misty tresses, lightly powdered, emerged from behind that Kong Que screen.

Her form featured sloping shoulders and a long neck, slender yet not revealing bone, like white peonies in autumn; her eyebrows were curved, her eyes delicate, and her glances spirited and flying.

She first stepped to the main seat, performed a deep wanfu bow toward Ding Xian, and gracefully knelt down.

Then she shook her head and spoke lightly:

"Since Father already knows the answer in his heart, why ask what you already know? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass your daughter?"

Ding Xian let out an "Eh?" and asked in surprise:

"What answer do I have in my heart? How would I know?"

"With pearls and jade already present, tiles and stones cannot compare... Compared to that Young Master Chen, your daughter is ashamed to show her face and feels inferior, which is why she dared not come forward to dance."

Ding Yu sighed leisurely, her eyebrows, as delicately painted as ink, furrowing imperceptibly, revealing a trace of melancholy.

Hearing this, both Ding Xian and Ding Wei could not help but freeze in shock.

After a few breaths of bewilderment.

It was finally Ding Wei who could not hold back; his facial skin twitched, he spat out the wine in his mouth in one go, slapped the table, and burst into loud laughter.

When he finally managed to stop and catch his breath, he looked up only to meet Ding Xian's iron-green face.

Ding Wei was startled, his heart shivering violently; he immediately sat up straight, eyes fixed on his nose and nose fixed on his heart, daring not to utter another word.

"Brat! Brat! What great thing will you ever accomplish in the future?!"

Ding Xian first scolded impatiently, then found himself both angry and amused, saying:

"And what kind of nonsense are you spouting? Even if he is indeed pearls and jade, how does that make you tiles and stones?"

"Why does Father need to make excuses for me? It is simply the truth, something I do not even care about," Ding Yu said dismissively. "However, forgive your daughter's incompetence; I truly cannot help Father with this..."

Ding Xian was choked up; after frowning in silence for a moment, he helplessly waved his hand, signaling Ding Yu to withdraw.

"Your daughter takes her leave."

Ding Yu bowed slightly, passed through the Kong Que screen again, lifted her long tassel-adorned skirt, and leisurely turned into the rear hall, her expression calm and quiet.

"... Since the attempt to recruit a son-in-law failed, it is not surprising; in my view, only a noble lady from the Rouge Rating would be a suitable match for that Brother Chen, their beauty being well-matched."

Seeing Ding Xian on the main seat frowning in silence, Ding Wei racked his brains, his eyes flashing, before suddenly speaking with a smile:

"In my opinion, since the beauty trap failed, why not treat him generously for these few days? That would at least preserve some fragrance of old ties... Besides, Little Sister has always been spoiled and indulged by Father; asking her to humble herself would indeed be difficult.

Is not Brother Chen going to meet Master Qiao Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun? Perhaps he and Noble Lady Xiao Master Qiao will hit it off upon their first meeting; who can say? If we place our bets early like this, the return might be even greater!"

"Ignorant brat! How dare you privately comment on a noble lady of an aristocratic family? Shut your mouth immediately!"

Regarding Ding Wei's well-intentioned comfort.

Ding Xian simply scolded him thoroughly from head to toe, leaving him with a face full of ash.

Afterwards, however, he paused.

Then he spoke slowly, saying:

"However, what you said does hold a grain of truth."

"..."

Ding Wei's eyes widened in shock; not daring to react outwardly, he only muttered inwardly:

"That 'grain of truth' is nothing but a fallacy! You fool!"

Seeing Ding Wei's expression, Ding Xian knew he was unconvinced; he raised his eyebrows and sneered coldly:

"Noble Lady Master Qiao is currently studying the Dao within the Yu Yuchen Sect, not in the Earth Abyss; how could they possibly hit it off upon their first meeting? Care to enlighten me?"

"Ah?"

Upon hearing these words, Ding Wei was greatly shocked in his heart.

The matter of hunting the Fluorescent Sparrow seemed to have been personally ordered by Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun to all the listening disciples under him, explicitly stating it was a gift for Little Master Qiao to congratulate her on joining the lower branch of the Yu Yuchen Sect, where her future Great Dao looked promising.

Upon first receiving this order, Ding Wei had been quite exhilarated, full of vigor and spirit.

Because creatures like the Fluorescent Sparrow are born in the turbid yin and dark barriers of the Earth Abyss, feeding on the qi of hangxie; if they do not have their owner's Five Shades to lodge their spirit and nourish their form.

Once they leave the Earth Abyss, within less than an hour and three quarters, they will disintegrate into a mass of fluorescent light and die.

Furthermore, due to their inherent misty nature, their temperament is such that they would rather break than bend; throughout their lives, they will recognize only one owner, remaining loyal without wavering.

These two reasons combined.

Naturally.

Ding Wei had concluded that Little Master Qiao was currently residing within the Golden Drum Cave in the Earth Abyss, waiting for the Fluorescent Sparrow to arrive.

Initially, he had harbored thoughts of climbing the dragon and attaching to the phoenix, hoping to stumble upon great fortune and form a good match with Lady Master Qiao.

It was for this reason that he had devoted himself entirely to the capture of the Fluorescent Sparrow, deploying troops and generals, tirelessly enjoying the task all day long.

It was only later, after looking at himself in the mirror a few times, and ultimately feeling ashamed of his own form as a yin ghost.

That these hidden thoughts quietly extinguished.

Now, hearing Ding Xian's words.

Even though Ding Wei no longer dared to harbor other thoughts regarding Little Master Qiao, his heart instantly cooled by half; a boom resonated in his brain, leaving him quite dazed and dispirited.

Even if he could not win the beauty's affection, merely witnessing her lovely countenance with his own eyes would still be good.

But now.

He could not even meet her once?

"If Little Master Qiao is not in the Golden Drum Cave, then even if we capture the Fluorescent Sparrow, how are we to deliver it to her?" Ding Wei asked in confusion.

"The magic power of a Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun is boundless; how could it be imagined by earth-abyss ghosts like us? We are truly like frogs in a well gazing at the sky."

Ding Xian laughed at himself.

Seeing Ding Wei still looked somewhat dazed, his thoughts grew even more complex.

"If one indulges in such petty affairs of men and women, obsessed with beauty, how can one possibly shoulder the family estate of Five Clouds Wild? None of my descendants show promise; in the end, I must rely on myself! If I cultivate to the realm of 'Sword Qi Thunder Sound' and join the Myriad Phenomena Palace, once my Daoist arts have greatly advanced, perhaps I can even send away the descendants of Wei'er and Yu'er in the future..."

Ding Xian's mind churned; he couldn't help but sigh softly, then reined in his thoughts and spoke:

"However, your suggestion to befriend this Chen Heng aligns perfectly with my intentions."

Ding Wei asked, "What does Father mean?"

"Nothing more than holding a small banquet every three days and a grand one every five, treating him with sincerity; what other method could there be?" Ding Xian said. "Although True Lord Master Qiao is summoning him and he likely won't stay here long, our etiquette must be flawless. Do you understand?"

Ding Wei hastily bowed his head in agreement.

"I intend to enter secluded cultivation soon to comprehend the realm of the Sword Dao and cannot spare myself. When it is time to depart, I will entrust those two Nether Jiaos to you; you must safely escort Chen Heng and the Fluorescent Sparrow to Golden Drum Cave for me!"

After pondering for a moment, Ding Xian spoke thus.

Before joy could even surface on Ding Wei's face, he waved his hand, signaling him to leave on his own.

The distance from this land of Five Clouds Wild to Golden Drum Cave was, in truth, quite vast.

Along the way, one must pass through certain dangerous lands and barriers, unavoidable by any means.

Even with Ding Xian's current cultivation base, he sometimes could not afford to treat them lightly.

Under the current circumstances, where he needed to achieve the realm of 'Sword Qi Thunder Sound' as soon as possible to obtain that examination talisman from the Myriad Phenomena Palace...

Ordering the Nether Jiaos to act as guardians...

Was truly the most prudent method Ding Xian, who was stretched too thin to divide his attention, could devise.

If the two Nether Jiaos joined forces, even Ding Xian would not be able to easily subdue them within two or three days of effort; they could be said to be the most important combat power within Five Clouds Wild, second only to himself.

"Be cautious if you encounter incidents along the way; do not charge forward recklessly. You have been to Golden Drum Cave before, so there is no need for your father to elaborate on the perilous spots."

Just as Ding Wei was about to step out of the hall gate, Ding Xian suddenly added:

"Oh, and take that precious register True Lord Master Qiao once bestowed upon me with you as well."

"Father?"

Ding Wei turned back in surprise, only to see Ding Xian had already closed his eyes, appearing unwilling to speak further.

Harboring a heart full of confusion and strangeness, he bowed deeply and then departed.

In a tidy, exquisite incense chamber, after thanking the female attendant who had shown him the way, Chen Heng waved his sleeve to close the room door, cutting off the connection between inside and outside.

He turned back, sat on the chair, pondered for a moment, then took out a beast-headed token from his Qiankun Bag and held it in his hand to examine.

"Old Monster Yin Xing... The 'Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui' I obtained actually does not originate from True Lord Master Qiao's Daoist arts, but is a legacy left behind by this individual?"

He looked at the beast-headed token in his hand, thinking silently.

During the banquet earlier,

Ding Xian had revealed this title to him and personally handed over this beast-headed token, urging Chen Heng to keep it safe as it would serve a great purpose in the future.

However, exactly what great purpose the beast-headed token served,

And what exactly the relationship was between that Old Monster Yin Xing and True Lord Master Qiao of the Zhongyi Sword Sect—

When Chen Heng had inquired about this matter,

Ding Xian had displayed an air of deep secrecy, clamping his mouth shut.

He had only smiled bitterly, saying it was to avoid speaking ill of one's superiors, that he could not rashly discuss a True Lord's stories in private, and thus brushed it off hastily...

"It is neither a talismanic device nor a dharma tool of the orthodox Immortal Dao, nor does it resemble a ghostly implement of the Nether Ghost Dao? Apart from being extremely sturdy, this beast-headed token reveals no other supernatural qualities."

He tried activating it several times within the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, but failed to trigger it.

Even when he helplessly applied the Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui, dripping it onto the surface, it revealed no strange phenomena, remaining utterly motionless.

After repeated unsuccessful trials within the dharma realm, Chen Heng could only set it aside temporarily, no longer bumping around blindly like a headless fly hoping for luck.

Sooner or later, he would go to pay respects to that True Lord Master Qiao.

The mysteries within this beast-headed token, True Lord Master Qiao would surely have instructions to explain.

However, the extreme sturdiness of this beast-headed token was indeed the finest Chen Heng had ever seen in his life.

Not only did the simultaneous release of all eighty-one drops of Yin-Yin Shi Hong Shui fail to leave the slightest trace of corrosion on the beast-headed token,

Even his Tai Su Yu Shen at the eighth layer of the Mystic Realm could do nothing against it.

It was simply like the legendary Luhun Magnetic Stone or Five-Colored Divine Sand, indestructible!

After fiddling with it for a while longer, Chen Heng still tucked the beast-headed token into his sleeve.

He sat for a moment, silently gazing at the various luxurious furnishings and ornaments in the incense chamber, his mind racing, yet for a time he remained silent.

Zhongyi Sword Sect.

True Lord Master Qiao...

At this moment, recalling the unfinished words of Fuchan Fuchan Laozu before his departure, he pondered slightly, and suddenly a bold thought surged forth.

The "Divine House Pivot Hua Daojun Explains the Tai Shi Yuan Zhen Sutra"...

This superior Qi-cultivation method deliberately left behind by his predecessor's birth father, and the detailed background of his predecessor's life—

There must undoubtedly be some strange intricacies hidden within this.

High-minded elders from major sects, such as Fuchan Fuchan Laozu, clearly knew the inside story.

Then, regarding this True Lord Master Qiao,

Perhaps,

He could invite him to resolve some of these doubts for him?

"It is a pity that Fuchan Fuchan Laozu only instructed me not to establish my Foundation easily, without explaining fully what hindrances would arise if I did... Since he is also an elder from one of the Eight Sects and Six Clans, perhaps I can ask True Lord Master Qiao about this obstacle?"

Chen Heng's face showed an expression of deep thought.

When his thoughts reached this point.

Even he.

Could not help but lower his gaze, his expression stagnating for a moment.

Whether this doubt could be resolved ultimately concerned his future cultivation for immortality; he could not be careless.

After deep contemplation, Chen Heng still reined in that lurking sense of gain and loss, calming his mind to sit in meditation for a while.

Once his five senses became clear and bright.

He let his consciousness descend into the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, continuing his daily routine of cultivation within the realm.

"To accept disciples, the Zhongyi Sword Sect requires forging 'One Kill Every Ten Steps' before the age of sixteen; alas, this body has already exceeded that limit, with only two years remaining until the coming-of-age ceremony at twenty."

A flash of light sparked in Chen Heng's eyes; he waved his hand, causing distant light and shadow to ripple, summoning forth a cold-looking youth clad in green robes.

That was precisely Lou Fu's mind-image.

Ever since Lou Fu was Ta Yin-ed into the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, the one accompanying Chen Heng for sparring had switched from Xu Zhi to Lou Fu.

However, speaking purely of sword technique, across over a hundred duels within the True Yizhen Yizhen Fa Jie, he had never once defeated Lou Fu in a single move; within twenty exchanges, he would be beheaded by a single sword strike.

In an instant.

Amidst Chen Heng's focused anticipation.

Lou Fu raised his hand, and a sword qi resembling an enraged dragon surged skyward, charging fiercely toward him...

Time passed swiftly.

Two days flashed by in a blink.

Along the way, Chen Heng was also invited by the father-and-son pair Ding Xian and Ding Wei to share several banquets and drinks.

But ultimately, this was a summons from Chen Yuanshu Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun Master Qiao, which could not be slighted, so the time for departure soon arrived.

Under Ding Xian's vehement insistence, Chen Heng could not decline; he boarded the precious carriage drawn by two nether-jiaos, while Ding Wei personally led three hundred fierce, armored ghost generals to clear the path along the way.

One could see a massive cloud of yin energy rolling forth majestically, heading straight from Five Clouds Wilds toward Golden Drum Cave.

Within the yin cloud, nether-jiaos roared and churned, some baring hooked teeth and saw-like claws as they dragged a heavy giant carriage radiating beams of light from every inch of its body.

Those three hundred fierce ghost generals were divided into two shifts, standing in attendance on either side, holding bows and wearing blades; their towering eight-foot figures stood like deep green giant pillars, truly terrifying to behold.

Ding Wei, riding a giant white-furred bat, was likewise clad in formidable armor; leading several personal guards, he scouted at the very front, serving as a lookout.

Gazing from afar.

It appeared as a distinct spectacle of turbid winds running rampant and ghostly qi lingering softly, a procession of grand scale.

Wherever it passed, all manner of lone ghosts and wandering spirits feared nothing more than encountering it, retreating from a great distance.

They dared not even lift their heads, let alone meet it with a direct gaze.

Seeing this sight.

Ding Xian burst into two loud laughs, flicked his sleeve, turned around, and returned to his palace, no longer watching from afar.

"Even if you are most unwilling to owe this old man a favor, today you must still accept this kindness! Young Daoist friend, given such generous treatment from me, remember to speak a few good words on my behalf when you meet the Chen Yuanshu Zhenjun!"

His laughter shook the surrounding palaces until they trembled, causing bricks and tiles to boom and rattle.

Meanwhile, the jiao-carriage raced toward Golden Drum Cave, swift as wind and lightning, meeting no obstruction.

It was not until three days had passed.

After passing through a long, dark underground cave, that it finally came to a halt before a vast ocean of muddy yellow clay, turbid and reeking of blood.

Just as the jiao-dragon paused amidst the clouds.

And Ding Wei entered the carriage to discuss the next move with Chen Heng.

Ten-plus li away.

A tall, thin nether ghost cultivator with no eyebrows also waved his hand, restraining the host of myriad cultivators and fierce ghosts behind him, bringing them to a stop.

"Troublesome."

His voice was sharp and piercing as he spoke to himself:

"Judging by these whelps from Five Clouds Wilds, do they intend to escort the Buddha all the way to the West?"