Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

It was mid-September of that year, autumn.

The leader of the Southern Star Sword Sect, accompanied by his wife Duanmu Meiqing, four elders, and several disciples, set off for Zhongmiao Xingzhou.

All matters within the sect are handled jointly by Qi Wenling, the head of the Enforcement Hall, Zhou Yaoqi, an elder within the sect, and Wu Yushi, a disciple of the Third Elder.

For a time, the sect was deserted and desolate.

Several outer disciples watched the shadow of the spirit boat grow smaller and smaller, and an expression of envy inevitably rose in their eyes.

"The Five Continents Conference, held once every sixty years, must have been incredibly lively, right? It's just a pity we won't be able to see it."

"I've heard people say that Zhongmiaoxing Prefecture is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery, quite different from our Yuling Prefecture. I really want to go and see it!"

"Elder Ji of the inner sect once taught in the Mingtang Hall, and he talked about Zhongzhou. Didn't you go to listen?"

"It must be Master Ji Qingyuan. I missed his lectures on Zhongzhou, but I was fortunate enough to hear him talk about Nanchun and Hezhou. Master Ji even showed us some pictures of Hezhou in the four seasons!"

"Master Ji's painting skills are superb, almost to the point of being divine. He is truly amazing."

"It seems that Master Ji also followed Sect Leader Shen to Zhongzhou, right?"

"The Sect Leader and his wife are still in Zhongzhou for next year's Outer Sect Competition. This year's Outer Sect Competition is probably the most deserted one yet."

Suddenly, all voices fell silent. After a moment of silence, everyone quickly bowed and greeted him, saying, "Master Zhou."

Zhou Yaoqi, dressed in a snow-white robe embroidered with cranes and lotus flowers, stood with his hands behind his back and said sternly, "The outer sect competition is just around the corner. What kind of behavior is this, being so lazy and undisciplined? Do you really not want to enter the inner sect?"

Everyone shook their heads vigorously.

"Since you want to, why don't you go practice your sword?"

The crowd dispersed like birds and entered the training ground to begin practicing their swordsmanship.

Why has Master Zhou suddenly become so fierce?

"Perhaps it's because the sect leader put pressure on him to work with Elder Qi and Elder Wu."

The sounds of fencing were mixed with hushed conversations.

“I know Elder Qi, he is the head of the Enforcement Hall. As for Elder Wu, I have never heard of him.”

"It is said that he came from the Three Peaks. The Three Peaks seem to have a very prominent position within the sect. I saw that Master Zhou was quite respectful when he met Elder Wu."

"When Master Zhou met Elder Qi, his attitude was also very respectful."

"Oh, it's because Master Zhou's position is too low."

"What position did Master Zhou hold within the sect? Did he ever mention it? I've forgotten."

"It seems... they didn't say that."

The two fed each other swords and let each other hold back, their minds completely absorbed in gossip.

But if you think about it carefully, you'll realize that Zhou Yaoqi was able to manage sect affairs together with Qi Wenling and Wu Yushi, so his status couldn't be too low.

The elders sent by the Southern Star Sword Sect each year to manage the new disciples are all upright and highly respected individuals.

Many people only have the opportunity to meet them during these three years in the outer sect.

Each year, the instructors are absolute powerhouses whom they can get close to. Ordinary cultivators might not even encounter one in their entire lives.

Ignorance breeds fearlessness.

This was vividly demonstrated in the disciples who had just begun their spiritual practice.

*
The Southern Star Sword Sect is located in the southern part of Lingzhou, bordering Zhongzhou. Therefore, it took the spirit boat more than a month to reach Zhongzhou City.

For this Five Continents Tournament, the Southern Star Sword Sect specially wove new styles of disciple robes. The moon-white robes were elegant and refined, exuding an ethereal aura. The arena was set up in the east of the city, with each of the five continents having a tall building for lodging and rest. After assigning the accommodations, Shen Hongxue said a few token words and then didn't keep everyone in the buildings.

Upon arriving in Zhongzhou, everyone was naturally curious about everything.

Shen Hongxue understood the young people's thoughts. Going out for a stroll was harmless as long as they didn't cause trouble.

Furthermore, he had to receive guests every day and was never free, so he didn't have the energy to manage his disciples meticulously.

After receiving Shen Hongxue's approval, everyone went out excitedly.

Because of the Five Continents Conference, entry and exit from the city gates were strictly controlled. With experts from all the major immortal sects gathered in one city, no villain would be so foolish as to cause trouble at this time.

However, as the host, the Zhongzhou Immortal Sect strengthened the city's defenses and patrols.

Ning Fusang found out the location of Xuan Ying Pavilion, the best magical artifact manufacturer in Zhongzhou City. Inside the pavilion, people came and went, their colorful robes dazzling, and cultivators at the fifth and sixth levels of the cultivation realm were gathered together.

The first floor displays many ritual implements, all housed in glass cases. One can only look closely at the details of the implements, but not touch them.

These transparent glass cabinets are actually quite special; they are all special objects crafted by weapon refiners, possessing the hardness of metal and stone, making them impossible for ordinary cultivators to break open with brute force.

The transparent glass makes it very convenient for everyone to choose their favorite magical artifacts and treasures. There are all kinds of items, such as mermaid tears bracelets, jade whisks, water-repelling beads, eight-scene lanterns, bows, arrows, daggers, and beauty daggers. They are dazzling and radiant.

Speaking of which, Yuling Prefecture is rich in minerals, but the immortal sects in Yuling Prefecture are not very enthusiastic about refining weapons and pills. There are no large weapon refining sects, nor are there any pill sects that specialize in pill refining.

The only sect with a relatively large number of alchemists is Su Ling Valley, but it is limited to the lineage of Su Yi (素醫).

Most of the ore from Lingzhou is sold to Zhongzhou and Dongyao Mingzhou.

Like Yuling Prefecture, Yangchi Prefecture has no interest in the Dao of cultivation.

As for Chunhe Prefecture, due to its remote geographical location, Ling Prefecture has never traded directly with them, but instead transships through Zhong Prefecture.

Seeing that Ning Fusang was dressed in what appeared to be the attire of a disciple of some immortal sect, and that she was strolling around the shop without having taken a liking to anything, the shopkeeper took the initiative to approach her and ask, "What is your name, fairy?"

"My surname is Wang, and I am the third son in my family. You can call me Wang San. I noticed that you seem uninterested, so I guess these things don't meet your standards. Why don't you tell me what kind of magic treasure you need, and I can go to other branches to get it for you?"

Wang San was a smooth talker; he spoke flawlessly while maintaining a warm and friendly smile.

"I'd rather you die."

She said with a half-smile.

Even though Wang San had met all sorts of people and experienced many ups and downs, he was speechless after hearing her short sentence.

A slight crack appeared on his smile as he racked his brains to praise her, "Fairy Ning is truly unparalleled and extraordinary. She is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

I'd rather you die.

Is that true?
Who introduces their surname like that? Aren't they afraid of being hacked to death?

If Wang San hadn't failed to perceive the other party's malice, he would have truly thought that this Fairy Ning had come to cause trouble.

Ning Fusang took out a sketch and said directly, "I need a weapon refiner to refine a magic weapon for me according to the blueprint."

Wang San took the blueprints, glanced at them briefly, and invited her upstairs.

"Our Xuan Ying Pavilion can make this magic weapon. I wonder when Fairy Ning will need it?"

"Can it be refined before the Five Continents Conference ends?" Otherwise, she would have to make a trip to Central Continent City, which would be too much trouble.

Wang San shook his head: "Fairy Ning, you may not know this, but the crafting of good magic weapons takes at least several years."

(End of this chapter)