Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 323 Stealing the Sky
The three listened with great interest. The storyteller wasn't actually telling any secrets; they were just anecdotes from the streets.

But its strength lies in its entertainment value, making it enjoyable even for people like Song Yan and Xiao He who have no interest in painting.

Because of the influence of Daozi's hometown, the storytellers naturally told stories about the painting sage.

After all, among the cultivators present, countless have come for this very reason.

The story we are about to tell is as follows.

Wu Daoxuan had a close friend who was observing mourning at Tiangong Temple after his mother passed away.

At that time, Wu Daoxuan was invited by the Tang court to paint a mural at Tiangong Temple.

Seeing that his friend was very sad, Wu Daoxuan tried to distract him and ease his grief.

He lied and said that he hadn't painted in a long time, and asked his friend to perform a sword dance to inspire his painting ideas.

This friend was skilled in swordsmanship and hoped that the painting by the Sage of Painting could help the souls of the dead. So he immediately took off his mourning clothes and rode away on his sword.

But then, the sky above Tiangong Temple suddenly surged with wind and clouds, and countless flying swords and sword energy flowed in the air.

Not to mention mortals, even cultivators at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages would think they were seeing the stars in broad daylight.

At that time, both the monks at Tiangong Temple and the surrounding monks who saw it were all shocked and amazed.

Wu Daoxuan originally only wanted to comfort his friend and help him accept the loss, but he never expected to witness such an astonishing swordsmanship technique.

Moved by the star-like sword light, his artistic inspiration flowed quickly, as if divinely inspired.

So he picked up his brush and painted on the wall, and suddenly a gust of wind arose.

Soon, a magnificent mural, "Eliminating Disasters and Calamities," was completed.

After the story was told, applause rang out from all over the restaurant.

Song Yan ignored Xiao Yu and prepared to return to the inn with Xiao He.

"Thank you very much, fellow Daoist!"

Xiao Yu could tell that Song Yan didn't want to stay any longer, and called out to his departing figure, "I will definitely return the spirit stones!"

Song Yan, who had already blended into the crowd, slightly raised his hand and waved.

Forget it, there's no need.

Xiao Yu stood still, only realizing what had happened at that moment, and felt a wave of fear wash over him.

"Thank goodness, I left the Qiankun bag containing the black jade with my sister beforehand and didn't bring it out."

She shuddered as she recalled her father's stern, unsmiling face.

"Otherwise, I'll really get beaten to death by my father this time."

She walked back home, lost in thought.

"But how could the Qiankun Bag have been stolen? How is that possible..."

There was not the slightest reaction from divine sense, and the spiritual imprint had not been erased at all; it had simply disappeared without a trace.

quietly.

A Qiankun bag bearing the imprint of his own consciousness and spiritual power disappeared from his body without him even realizing it...

That's really weird.

The Central Region is indeed dangerous. I should go back and go with my father and the others, lest I lose my life.

……

There are still about two months until the painting workshop at Daozi's hometown officially begins.

In the days that followed, Song Yan spent his time, apart from his daily cultivation, wandering around with Xiao He. Occasionally, he would leave the market to experience the local customs and culture of Fufeng County.

Xiao He's demonic power is growing stronger and stronger, which cannot escape Song Yan's notice. Perhaps she will soon advance to the second-tier demon beast.

According to the original agreement, Xiao He would leave him and go to the mountains and seas with the great demon named Bai Qi.

Although Song Yan was also very reluctant to part with it, he was equally clear about one thing.

With Xiao He by my side, her cultivation progress is far too slow.

I wouldn't say I'm holding her back, but perhaps I really am wasting her exceptional talent.

Song Yan never regarded Xiao He as his subordinate.

Like everyone else, she should have her own path.

Furthermore, although the world is vast, as long as two people care about each other, even if they are separated for a short time, they will surely meet again one day.

Thinking of this, my original sorrow and reluctance were somewhat lessened.

The scene in Fufeng County was becoming more and more lively, with every household decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. Only then did Song Yan realize that the Lunar New Year's Eve in the mortal world was approaching again.

I don't know when it started, but I haven't had a proper New Year since.

Perhaps because the time spent in seclusion for cultivation was too long, I often missed it.

At first, I felt a little regretful, but after it happened many times, the festive mood gradually faded.

Embarking on the path to immortality, perhaps this is something everyone is destined to experience.

Looking back now, it was truly a rare treat to spend New Year's Eve with so many friends at the sect's food stall.

Memories are invaluable.

A human and a snake transformed into mortals and walked along a bustling street.

It felt like I was back in my childhood, in Shiliang Town.

Back then, my grandfather was still alive, and he would take them to the market before the New Year to buy new clothes and snacks.

At night, the two mingled among the bustling crowds of the market.

Bang!
Suddenly, fireworks lit up the night sky over the entire city of Fufeng.

"Wow……"

Xiao He's eyes sparkled, and suddenly she bit the sugar figurine in her hand, clasped her hands together, and muttered something.

Song Yan looked at her and asked, "Xiao He, what are you doing?"

"Make a wish! Children can make New Year's wishes."

Snake Baby mumbled for a moment, then took the sugar figurine out of his mouth: "But you can't. By human standards, you're already an adult."

Song Yan pretended to be thinking: "According to human age calculations, you should be older than me..."

"Nonsense!"

Snake Baby was furious, and a rain of tiny fists rained down on him.

"Hahaha." Song Yan quickly begged for mercy: "What did you wish for?"

"I won't tell you, because it won't work if I tell you."

Xiao He gazed at the dazzling fireworks in the sky, her heart filled with emotion.

I hope Xiaohe and Yanyan can be together forever, even if they are separated occasionally, they can meet again in the end and never be separated again.

This wish is not excessive and should be achievable.

It can definitely be done!
……

The second day of the new year.

In the courtyard of Jing Shui Ju Inn, a thin layer of snow covered the bluestone slabs and withered bamboo branches.

Song Yan and Xiao He were in the courtyard, watching Lin Qing paint.

Lin Qing focused intently on her brushstrokes, sometimes outlining gently, sometimes rendering with force.

Song Yan and Xiao He had absolutely no understanding of these techniques of painting.

But from his layman's perspective, Lin Qing's paintings were already very impressive.

"I don't understand the art of painting, but watching you paint, the artistic conception flows and the spirit is natural."

Looking at this practice piece depicting a snowy courtyard scene, Song Yan exclaimed in amazement, "Senior Brother Lin, with your skill in painting, you might actually find an opportunity in this painting competition."

Lin Qing breathed a sigh of relief, looking at her work with a satisfied expression in her eyes, but after examining it closely, her expression turned serious.

"Junior Brother Song, you flatter me. I'm afraid it's not that easy."

He shook his head: "Who wouldn't covet the calligraphy of the Sage of Painting? When the Daoist Garden opens, those who gather from all directions will not only be half-baked cultivators like me."

"The Central Region, Qi Kingdom, and Chu Kingdom have gathered here countless talents. Among them are scions of noble families with deep roots in the art of painting, or true masters of painting who have immersed themselves in this art for decades."

"Many outstanding individuals have emerged, which is probably beyond my reach."

"I believe I have never slacked off in my diligence, and I have studied Wu Sheng's calligraphy style for many years."

"However, the path of painting is not only about mastering skills, but also about having a moment of inspiration and enlightenment."

"My greatest hope this time is to hone myself through the Daoist's paintings. If I can gain even a little insight, then this trip will have been worthwhile." "As for the Daoist's calligraphy... I can't force it."

Song Yan nodded, and the courtyard fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the withered bamboo in the breeze.

Perhaps many people think the same way.

Ok?
Suddenly, Song Yan had a thought and stood up.

"Senior Brother Lin, I'm just an outsider, so I won't disturb your comprehension of the Dao of Painting."

After informing her, he and Xiaohe returned to their room.

He then took out the "Jiazuo" Nuo mask, and saw that it was filled with spiritual light.

I almost forgot, today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day of the Nuo Jing meeting.

With nothing else to do, Song Yan put on the mask.

His vision was engulfed by the boundless darkness, but by activating his Observational Sword Eyes, he could see the scene before him almost instantly.

On the ten fingers of the outstretched hands of the Fangxiangshi statue, many people are now standing.

"Burch" and "Misjudgment" are also on the list.

Several acquaintances were already chatting.

"I heard that the former residence of Daoist Daoist of Junping Prefecture will be opened soon. Has Fellow Daoist Boqi already gone there?"

Birch nodded and said, "Yes, I am traveling with a friend and we arrived in Fufeng County, Junping Prefecture half a month ago."

"That's great, traveling all over the country!" Lan Zhu said somewhat resentfully, "I want to go out and play too!"

Seeing Song Yan appear in Nuo Realm, Cuo Duan suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Jia, you are in the border region, which is not far from the Eastern Wilderness and Junping. Why don't you give it a try?"

Song Yan shook his head: "Hehe, I know nothing about painting and calligraphy. I would only embarrass myself if I went. I'd better not join in the fun."

Everyone laughed it off and moved on; no one pursued the matter further.

Soon, the Buddhist monk Xiongbo also appeared.

"Amitabha, I am late because of some trivial matters at the temple. I hope you fellow practitioners will not be offended."

"It doesn't matter."

Then, the group began to talk.

Song Yan usually just listened, but if someone asked, he would talk about matters concerning the border regions.

From their conversation, I learned that there seemed to be a painting sect with some reputation in the border region, and some people went to Junping Prefecture to participate in painting training.

There was no such sect in the State of Chu that used painting to cultivate Taoism; it must have been in the State of Qi.

However, Song Yan didn't pay much attention to it.

What truly caught his attention was another matter that the group was discussing.

According to a Daoist named "Lanzhu" from the Tang Clan, a prominent clan in Sichuan, a precious imperial artifact has been stolen from the residence of the Zhenyuan General in the Tang court.

The Tang Clan and the Immortal Dynasty do have some cooperation, a fact she learned from her cousin, and it seems quite true.

"This matter has caused quite a stir, and several senior brothers and sisters in the fortress have been invited by the Daitian Prefecture to go and assist in the investigation."

It’s weird.

Song Yan was puzzled.

Some time ago, in a restaurant, he heard for the first time that theft could occur in the cultivation world.

Most of the spiritual items were stored in Qiankun bags, so it's really strange that they were stolen.

Even if a small number of spiritual objects are placed in the outside world, they will be protected by restrictions and array formations.

To steal something silently, unless it's an inside job, it would be discovered eventually, right?

Moreover, it was the residence of some general from the Tang court, a place that sounded like it was heavily guarded.

"Could it be that the people from the reclusive evil sect, Stealing Heaven Gate, have entered the mortal world again?"

"Soothing the Stomach" fellow practitioner said, her voice was very pleasant.

Stealing from the Heavenly Gate...

This term is not unfamiliar to Song Yan.

Among the spoils of war from the battles fought while guarding Tiansheng Pass and slaying those demonic cultivators, there was a jade slip that mentioned this sect.

However, there is no detailed description.

It is only said that the Daoist foundations of Stealing Heaven Gate and Shaomeng Mountain are not in the Demon Ruins.

Furthermore, they remain largely neutral and rarely participate in the conflicts between the two sides.

"It's not surprising that the evil sects also showed up when the demonic cultivators made a comeback."

Listening to their conversation, Song Yan became increasingly alarmed.

"But if it really was the work of the Heavenly Thief Gate, then I'm afraid everyone in the Central Region will be in danger again."

Judging from their tone, the Stealing Heaven Sect, true to its name, seems to practice a special, evil art.

It is possible to bypass certain restrictions and formations to steal spiritual items.

It can even temporarily block the cultivator's connection with the Qiankun bag, magic artifacts, talismans, and other items that have already been refined.

It's really scary.

The key point is that these people are like rats in the gutter; they are not only good at disguise and hiding, but they also appear and disappear unpredictably.

Even the Imperial Guard would find it difficult to arrest them.

Fortunately, the number of members of the Stealing Heaven Sect is very small, and the Central Region is so vast that ordinary people would not encounter them.

As for encountering...

Then you can only accept your bad luck and hope that the other party doesn't even want your piece of junk.

Song Yan was now somewhat panicked.

A few days ago, I heard that female cultivator disguised as a man talk about the theft of her Qiankun bag.

Could it be that some cultivators from the Heavenly Stealing Sect have already infiltrated this Maoling market, intending to take advantage of the Daoist's Hometown incident to steal spiritual items?
"..."

Song Yan frowned, unnoticed by anyone in the shadows.

Although it hasn't been stolen yet, just thinking about it makes me furious.

Damn it, all his possessions were earned through life-and-death struggles. He couldn't accept anyone casually taking any of his magical items.

Soon, everyone informed each other of what they needed, and the meeting in Nuojing was about to end.

He gave a quick greeting and then vanished without a trace.

Just as Birch was about to leave, a voice suddenly called out to him.

"Fellow Daoist Boqi, please wait a moment."

Song Yan looked at Bo Qi: "I have something to discuss with you."

Seeing this, the others wisely took their leave.

Within the Nuo realm, only Song Yan and Bo Qi remained.

Birch looked at him with some curiosity: "Fellow Daoist Jia, is there anything I can help you with?"

Song Yan pondered for a moment and said, "I remember you mentioned before that you were looking for things related to combat techniques, is that right?"

Birch nodded: "Not bad."

"I happen to have a jade tooth scepter containing battle tactics here."

"Oh?"

Birch's eyes lit up, but then he fell into deep thought: "Uh... what does fellow Daoist need again?"

"Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. My consciousness is somewhat erratic, and I am easily distracted. My memory is also not very good."

“It’s alright.” Song Yan wasn’t angry. “What I need is the ancient sword, or related clues.”

"If you don't have that, you can exchange it for something else."

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "For example... does fellow Daoist know how to guard against the cultivators of the Heaven-Stealing Sect?"

Song Yan intended to exchange the jade tooth scepter containing the sword technique "Wu You" for the information he needed.

Since Wuyou had already mastered it, and could even glimpse its artistic conception and imagery from the cleavage, this jade tooth scepter was no longer of much use to him.

Asking these pampered second-generation immortals of the Central Region to search for ancient swords, which they see as mere scrap metal, is probably unrealistic.

His biggest worry right now is encountering cultivators from the Stealing Heaven Sect in Fufeng County, which is why he asked this question.

(End of this chapter)