Looking at the entirety of the Legend of Sword and Fairy series, the number of sects dedicated to cultivating immortality is truly vast. The mortal realm alone boasts the Ten Continents and Three Islands, the Ten Great Caves, the Thirty-Six Lesser Caves, and the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands—each a sacred ground for cultivation. Yet, none of these places can compare to the Shu Mountain Sect.
The Qionghua Sect, situated on Kunlun Mountain, is undeniably located in a sacred land of cultivation. Otherwise, eight cultivation sects wouldn't have established their roots there. However, compared to the Shu Mountain Sect, which resides atop the roots of the divine tree formed around Pangu's Heart as a floating mountain, the Qionghua Sect lags far behind in terms of geography and spiritual energy.
In the mortal realm, Shu Mountain is recognized as the foremost sect for cultivating immortality.
Even so, while the Qionghua Sect's location is not as advantageous as Shu Mountain's, it is still superior to that of most other sects. After all, its position directly beneath the Heaven Realm and its so-called Gate of Heaven has allowed the Qionghua Sect to aspire to ascend to the heavens as an entire sect. Such a feat would be impossible for any other sect, even with the same resources and strength.
For Daniel Davis, if he had landed in a different entry from the Sword and Fairy series, his obvious destination would have been Shu Mountain. But since this was Sword and Fairy 4, his priority was naturally the Qionghua Sect. Shu Mountain wasn't going anywhere, but the Qionghua Sect might not remain for long after this.
"Let's go. Time to set off."
The next morning, after a good night's rest, Han Lingsha was in high spirits. Having seen a real Sword Immortal and feeling close to achieving her goal, she excitedly urged them to get moving after breakfast.
Yun Tianhe, caught off guard by the sudden rush, quickly and clumsily packed up his father Yun Tianqing's memorial tablet. Despite traveling far from home, Yun Tianhe still retained the habit of offering three incense sticks to his father morning and night, even going so far as to ask his father not to come looking for him anytime soon.
"Those who seek immortality fail, while those who don't seek it come close—truly unpredictable," Daniel murmured to himself as he watched Yun Tianhe carefully tuck the tablet into his pack.
In Sword and Fairy 4, many characters aspired to become immortals, the Qionghua Sect being just one example. Yet, none of them succeeded. In fact, throughout the entire Sword and Fairy series, the number of individuals who truly became immortals through cultivation is pitifully small.
Even Xu Changqing, who eventually achieved immortality, did so by borrowing Zixuan's cultivation rather than through his own efforts. The series often preaches that cultivating immortality requires accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, but the reality seems entirely disconnected from this principle. If you look at the few who managed to become immortals, most relied on opportunism or outright theft of others' powers. Clearly, morality has little to do with achieving immortality.
As long as one possesses enough power, becoming an immortal—or even a god—is possible. If someone were strong enough to storm the Heaven Realm and kill Fuxi, they could even claim the title of Emperor of Heaven.
However, that's easier said than done. In this world, with both Nuwa and Shennong absent, there is no one capable of challenging Fuxi. Even Feipeng, the so-called strongest warrior of the God Realm, and Chonglou, the mightiest of the Demon Realm, fall short of Fuxi's power.
Chonglou's single-minded pursuit of Feipeng, rather than targeting Fuxi, is proof enough. Though a battle-hardened warrior, Chonglou isn't a fool—he knows he can't win against Fuxi.
As for Yun Tianhe, he never sought immortality. Yet in the end, due to his connection with Zhulong, he reached a state that was practically equivalent to immortality.
"How should I warn this guy…" Daniel pondered as they traveled, glancing at the Wangshu Sword tied to Yun Tianhe's wooden bow. He wondered how he could subtly alert Yun Tianhe without raising suspicions.
Han Lingsha, still energized and excited from seeing a Sword Immortal, seemed to have fully recovered her spirits after a good night's rest. With her decent cultivation, the group traveled quickly and encountered no significant obstacles along the way, soon arriving at Shouyang County.
"What a big gate!" Yun Tianhe exclaimed in awe at the sight of Shouyang County's city gates. His loud exclamation drew the attention of several passersby, prompting Han Lingsha to hurriedly feign ignorance of him.
"Stop embarrassing yourself, you bumpkin," Han Lingsha whispered, leaning closer to Yun Tianhe to remind him to be mindful of his behavior.
Shouyang County was just a small town, and for someone like Han Lingsha, who had traveled far and wide and even raided tombs, it was unremarkable. But for Yun Tianhe, who had never left his isolated village at the foot of Qingluan Peak, it was an entirely different story. Even a small county like Shouyang was a bustling metropolis compared to Taiping Village.
"So many people!" Ignoring Han Lingsha's advice, Yun Tianhe dashed toward a bulletin board on the left side of the city wall, where a crowd had gathered.
"I will endure," Han Lingsha muttered through clenched teeth. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she tightly balled her fists, taking several deep breaths to calm herself. Only after repeatedly telling herself to remain composed did her expression return to normal, and her fists slowly relaxed.
"Haha," Daniel chuckled quietly at Han Lingsha's reaction. He couldn't help but find her antics adorable.
"Are you laughing at me?" Han Lingsha turned to glare at him, her barely recovered composure vanishing in an instant.
"No, I just think you two are very interesting," Daniel replied, waving his hand dismissively. He had no intention of mocking her. Whether it was Han Lingsha or Liu Mengli, Daniel now regarded them with a purely appreciative attitude. He had no desire to interfere with their relationships with Yun Tianhe.
If this had been at the beginning of his journey in this world, Daniel might have entertained other thoughts. But now, things were different.
"What's so interesting about it? Ever since I met him, I've been so mad I could die. I've been angrier in these past few days than in all the years before combined."
"Well, then why not laugh more? Ever since I met him, I've laughed more than ever."
"You…" Han Lingsha was about to retort when Yun Tianhe's voice interrupted her.
"Lingsha! Lingsha! Come and look—this looks just like you!" Yun Tianhe called as he walked over, holding a piece of paper in his hand. The image on it was a perfect likeness of Han Lingsha's upper body.
"Yun Tianhe, you idiot!"
Han Lingsha's face turned bright red with anger as she saw the paper. Her body trembled as she struggled to contain her fury. Yun Tianhe was holding a wanted poster with her face on it.
Having grown up on Qingluan Peak, Yun Tianhe's literacy skills were limited. His father, Yun Tianqing, had taught him some basics, but after Yun Tianqing's death, Tianhe had been left to fend for himself, using books as kindling. Naturally, he didn't recognize many characters.
"What's wrong, Lingsha? It really looks just like you. Here, take it." Completely oblivious, Yun Tianhe handed her the paper.
"You…"
"It really is you, you thief! Someone notify Captain Pei immediately!"
Before Han Lingsha could say anything, four constables surrounded her, comparing her face to the wanted poster. One of them quickly instructed another to report to their captain, while the remaining three stood on guard, eyeing her warily.
"There's killing intent! What are you trying to do to Lingsha?" Yun Tianhe immediately sensed their hostility. He stepped in front of Han Lingsha, drawing the Wangshu Sword and preparing to strike.
Normally, Yun Tianhe appeared slow-witted, but as soon as he sensed killing intent, he acted instinctively. This ability had played a crucial role in his survival after his father's death, allowing him to live safely on Qingluan Peak.
"What are you doing?" Han Lingsha leaped up and smacked Yun Tianhe on the head, though she had to jump to reach him due to their height difference.
"Lingsha, why did you hit me?" Yun Tianhe rubbed his head in confusion, looking back at her with a puzzled expression.
"How many times have I told you? They're government officials—you can't attack them!"
The constables themselves weren't a significant threat, but the authority they represented couldn't be ignored. Being wanted by the authorities was the last thing Han Lingsha needed.
Turning to the constables, Han Lingsha demanded loudly, "What's this about? What crime am I accused of? What evidence do you have for this warrant?"
Her commanding tone made the constables hesitate. Although the wanted poster bore her likeness, it didn't specify her crimes. Furthermore, her youthful beauty made the constables unsure of how to proceed.
"These constables are surprisingly disciplined," Daniel noted, impressed by their restraint.
In a feudal society, finding officials with such high standards was rare. It seemed Shouyang's county magistrate was quite competent.
"Wait for Captain Pei to arrive," one of the constables finally said, after exchanging uncertain glances with his colleagues.
Shortly afterward, a stern-faced young man with refined features arrived, accompanied by the constable who had gone to fetch him. The three constables immediately greeted the newcomer with respectful salutes.
"This might get troublesome," Han Lingsha muttered under her breath, sizing up the captain.
To her surprise, the captain ignored her entirely, instead focusing on Yun Tianhe. After studying him for a moment, the captain stepped forward and asked politely, "Are you Young Master Yun?"
"Young Master Yun? What does that mean?" Yun Tianhe asked, looking genuinely baffled.
"Didn't expect this bumpkin to know people here," Han Lingsha muttered in surprise, staring at Yun Tianhe.
"Mind your manners! Do not disrespect Young Master Yun!" Captain Pei's sudden reprimand startled Han Lingsha, leaving her momentarily speechless.
"You scared Lingsha! What's your problem?" Yun Tianhe growled, clenching his fists as he glared at the captain.
"My apologies. I am Pei Jian, the head constable of Shouyang County. I've been tasked by the county magistrate with finding you," the captain said, bowing slightly in respect. He then produced a carefully preserved piece of paper that carried a faint fragrance. The illustration on the paper depicted a young man in blue robes, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Yun Tianhe. Beneath it was the name Yun Tianqing.
"That's your father's name, isn't it? Tianhe, Tianqing. No wonder you look so alike," Han Lingsha said, pointing at the image.
"It really is you, Young Master Yun," Pei Jian said, carefully tucking the paper away before clasping his hands and bowing again. "The magistrate is eager to meet you. Would you be willing to accompany me to the county office?"
The importance of Yun Tianhe's identity seemed to overshadow any concerns the captain might have had about Han Lingsha.
"Looks like this captain fancies Liu Mengli. Too bad for him," Daniel thought, watching the situation unfold.
The illustration was undoubtedly Liu Mengli's work. The exquisite detail and lingering fragrance were telltale signs of her craftsmanship.
"Captain Pei, what about this?" one of the constables whispered, reminding him of Han Lingsha's wanted status and recounting her earlier words.
"Miss Han, there have been reports of a tomb robbery in Bagong Mountain. You were seen nearby, raising suspicions," Pei Jian said, finally turning his attention to Han Lingsha. Though he didn't accuse her outright, his implication was clear.
Bagong Mountain, just outside Shouyang County, housed the tomb of a former Prince of Huainan.
"Captain Pei, merely being seen nearby doesn't constitute a crime. Surely someone passing through by coincidence isn't forbidden?" Daniel interjected, shaking his head slightly at Han Lingsha's hesitation. It seemed the customs of this era made her overly cautious, as if she were already inclined to admit guilt.
His words momentarily silenced Pei Jian. In a more modern society, such baseless accusations would have led to serious consequences for the authorities. But in this feudal setting, officials wielded significant power, and Daniel's challenge left the captain momentarily speechless.
"That's right, I was merely passing through," Han Lingsha quickly added, emboldened by Daniel's intervention.
Had this been any other time, Han Lingsha might not have denied the accusation. After all, she didn't consider tomb raiding shameful, especially since she often used the proceeds to help the poor. In fact, her most notable act of charity was aiding Jing Tian's ancestor. However, she didn't want to waste time in Shouyang while she was eager to reach Chenzhou and find the Sword Immortal.
"I will report this matter to the magistrate. The final decision rests with him," Pei Jian said after a moment's thought. However, since the warrant had already been issued, Han Lingsha would still need to visit the county office.
"How about this," Daniel suggested. "You're already escorting Yun Tianhe to meet the magistrate, so why not bring this matter up to him at the same time? Meanwhile, we'll stay at an inn in town. Surely you can trust us to wait here?"
Pei Jian considered Daniel's proposal before finally nodding in agreement. While the matter of Han Lingsha's warrant couldn't be ignored, it seemed reasonable to delay further investigation until Yun Tianhe's meeting with the magistrate.
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