Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 327: Changing the Heaven and the Sun
Cui Mi frowned and snorted coldly: "If you cooperate honestly, you will still have a chance to make amends."

"If they dare to play any tricks..."

He narrowed his eyes, revealing a threatening look.

Wu Mengliu didn't care at all, and just chuckled: "I know, I know."

"But officers, now that you've caught me, if you want to know the secrets and techniques of my sect, just use the Soul Searching Technique, and everything will be clear."

"Why bother setting up such a grand formation and wasting so much effort?"

Upon hearing Wu Mengliu's question, Cui Mi curled her lip in disdain: "Do you think everyone in my Daitianfu is a despicable person like you who steals chickens and dogs and uses any means necessary?"

"Oh……"

The girl had a look of sudden realization, which for some reason made Cui Mi very angry.

"Enough with the nonsense. I have a Qiankun bag on me. Steal the Divine Capital Guard token that's inside."

"Officer, you haven't told me what benefits I'll get..."

Wu Mengliu put on a pitiful look: "Officer, if I help you, it would be tantamount to betraying the sect, and if the elders find out..."

"If there's no benefit to it, I'm going to die anyway, so I might as well just die."

Cui Mi exchanged a glance with the young man and nodded slightly.

"You can rest assured about that. If you are willing to cooperate with us, I can report to the headquarters of the Divine Capital and ask them to exempt you from some punishments."

“Originally, someone as inexperienced as you, although your sins are not serious enough to warrant the death penalty, would have to have your cultivation destroyed and be detained for several decades.”

"This will save you a lot of years."

"Alright, but..."

Wu Mengliu raised her arms and waved her bound hands.

Bound by a special spiritual force, she was not only unable to use her spiritual power, but she also couldn't move her fingers.

"With this thing here, I can't make a move."

Cui Mi gestured to one of the guards beside him: "Go."

"Yes."

The guard nodded, stepped forward, and held a light blue jade leaf in his hand.

He made a hand seal, and the jade leaf shimmered with light, shooting out a beam of spiritual light.

The pressure on my wrist suddenly eased.

Wu Mengliu felt that she had regained feeling in her hands and could move them again.

However, he still couldn't use his spiritual power.

"Officer, what do you mean? If I can't activate my spiritual power, I'm no different from an ordinary person."

As she spoke, she glanced at the guard who was staring at her with his pupil technique: "How can I then demonstrate our sect's unique skills to you all?"

The guard in charge of watching over the place glanced back.

Choi Mi nodded: "At the very least."

The guards then carefully operated the jade talisman once more.

Wu Mengliu watched the guard's actions silently.

After a moment, feeling that she could barely activate a wisp of spiritual power, she moved her wrists.

He muttered to himself, "How stingy! He wants me to use the true skills of our sect, but he only removes one of my shackles."

“This is the prison of your Daitian Prefecture. It is heavily guarded and there are even Golden Core cultivators stationed here. Even if the three shackles of this Spirit-Binding Jade are removed one by one, I, a mere woman, will not be able to escape.”

Upon hearing this, Cui Mi's heart sank.

"How do you know that the Spirit-Binding Jade has three shackles?"

This Spirit-Binding Jade is a replica of a supreme treasure, made by the predecessors of the Daitianfu as part of the Daitianfu's standard equipment.

Many cultivators outside only know that this Spirit-Binding Jade has two shackles: one is to bind the cultivator's physical body, and the other is to bind the cultivator's spiritual power.

Little did they know, the Spirit-Binding Jade had a third shackle.

That was to prevent cultivators with special skills from forcibly breaking through the Spirit-Binding Jade and escaping; legend has it that such a thing happened before.

The inside story of the third shackle is probably unknown even to many of the new soldiers who have just entered the Daitian Prefecture.

Now, this disciple of the Heaven-Stealing Sect in front of us has seen through everything in a single sentence.

Wu Mengliu said casually, "How else could I know? Of course, it's because I know people from your Daitian Mansion..."

"Ha, save your breath for these divisive tactics."

Although he said that, Cui Mi had already made up his mind to report the matter to the government and conduct a self-examination and rectification.

"Enough with the nonsense, now steal what's in my Qiankun bag."

The two guards beside Wu Mengliu each took a step to the side, making room for her.

The girl raised an eyebrow, stepped off the interrogation table, and slowly walked towards Cui Mi.

"My most common trick is to walk right past them and then, accidentally... ouch~"

Wu Mengliu walked past the guards and came to Cui Mi's side. She dramatically stumbled towards Cui Mi, trying to throw herself into his arms.

But Cui Mi dodged it.

Wu Mengliu missed her target, barely managed to steady herself, and rolled her eyes at him: "You really don't understand romance."

Cui Mi frowned: "I asked you to demonstrate your evil skills from the Heavenly Gate, not these low-class tricks that can be seen in the mortal world!"

Wu Mengliu strolled back to the interrogation table leisurely, casually dusted off non-existent dust from her body, and slowly said, "I don't care about your superior methods from the cultivation world or your despicable methods from the mortal world. As long as you can steal something, that's a good method."

Cui Mi lowered his gaze and reached into his robes to take out his Qiankun bag: "But you didn't succeed at all. My Qiankun bag is still here."

Wu Mengliu looked at him with a half-smile: "But the things inside are gone."

Cui Mi was startled and quickly probed into it with his divine sense.

However, he immediately sneered, "I told you your skills are lacking, and you still won't accept it."

He took out the Divine Capital Imperial Palace token from his Qiankun bag and waved it in front of Wu Mengliu.

"It's still in my hands; you haven't succeeded."

Wu Mengliu revealed a sly smile, a smug look of someone who had succeeded in their scheme.

"When did I say..."

"You are my target."

Wu Mengliu flicked a light blue jade leaf from between her slender, pale fingers.

"what?!"

The guards around were all astonished, and the guard next to Cui Mi was even more shocked. He hurriedly took out his Qiankun bag, and when he checked it with his divine sense, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Even Cui Mi and that young man were momentarily stunned.

However, when they saw that the spirit-binding jade on Wu Mengliu's wrist had disappeared, they immediately gave the order.

"Watch out! Don't let her get away."

Wu Mengliu had no intention of giving these people another chance. As the two were talking, she used some method to make the surrounding space fluctuate more intensely.

"Wu Mengliu!"

Cui Mi was also somewhat flustered at this moment. He shouted sternly, "That Spirit-Binding Jade belongs to the Imperial Palace. If you try to escape with it, your crime will be compounded!"

"Put this thing down no matter what!"

"Look at you, you're in such a hurry again." Wu Mengliu's figure had already begun to fade, but her voice remained flippant: "Let me borrow it for a couple of days, I'll return it to you then, don't be so stingy."

"Let's go."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Mengliu's figure disappeared, leaving only Cui Mi with a livid face.

He looked at the guard: "What about the statement we took from her earlier?"

The guard took out a scroll from his storage bag and handed it over.

Cui Mi felt slightly relieved and unfolded the scroll, intending to examine it.

But when the scroll is unrolled, only two words remain on it.

"Technique".

The atmosphere in the prison was somewhat silent.

After a long pause, the guard standing nearby cautiously said, "Lord Cui, we..."

"Go out and search!"

Cui Mi waved his hand and said, "A trapping formation was set up here in advance. That woman is, after all, just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. No matter how powerful her Heavenly Stealing Sect's methods are, she cannot teleport too far."

"Yes, sir." Cui Mi's face was gloomy as he hurried out.

This opportunity arose only because we had obtained intelligence leads from unknown sources.

I never expected that they would still manage to get away.

I wonder if I'll be able to wait for another opportunity like this.

He cursed himself inwardly, "What an idiot."

Actually, you can't blame him. Even though a trapping formation had been set up here, the other party was still able to teleport away. The methods of the Stealing Heaven Sect are truly unpredictable and impossible to guard against.

The impression of the Stealing Heaven Sect in everyone's mind is even more mysterious.

Inside this prison, all the other guards had been transferred away, leaving only two guards who had previously set up the formation here to clean up the mess.

As they removed the formation, they said, "Alas, not only did that Heaven-Stealing Disciple escape this time, but we also lost the Spirit-Binding Jade."

"Yes, who would have thought? They could escape like that. The cultivators from the Heavenly Gate are truly bizarre."

"Do you think Lord Cui will be punished?"

"I don't think so..."

"Letting the disciples of the Heaven Stealing Sect demonstrate their skills was a decision made by the special task force through discussion. Lord Cui only made a suggestion. Besides, it has all been reported to higher authorities."

"but……"

The man spoke with a hesitant expression: "The loss of the Spirit-Binding Jade means I'm afraid I'll have to face some self-reflection."

"..."

"What do you say?"

Noticing that his companion had stopped moving, the soldier turned around to look.

"Ok?"

But then he saw his companion lying unconscious on the ground.

"..."

He was slightly taken aback, and before he could react, he felt a faint fragrance of orchids coming from behind him, followed by a numbing sensation that spread like a tide.

His consciousness began to blur, his body went limp, and he collapsed.

Behind him now stood a person who looked exactly like him.

He spoke slowly, and even his voice was exactly the same as his.

"Heh, do you think I'm easily scared?"

"Right now, the Golden Core cultivators from Daitian Prefecture in Fufeng County are accompanying the Wu family to observe the ceremony at Daozi's Former Residence..."

With his burly face, Wu Mengliu walked out of the Daitian Mansion, lost in thought.

"What kind of treasure is that sword box? With my current cultivation level, it still triggers karmic sounds. Could it be some kind of top-tier magic weapon?"

"impossible……"

Since she joined the sect, what couldn't she steal from cultivators of the same realm?
"No, I absolutely cannot let such a wonderful treasure slip by."

I still don't believe it.

"I have to steal something from him, at least to temporarily tie my fate to his. Later, when my skills improve, I can come back and take what's in his pocket!"

With these thoughts in mind, she left the Daitian Mansion.

……

There was no dizzying sensation like before; instead, the surrounding spiritual energy rippled outwards like waves on water.

The scene before Song Yan gradually became clearer.

This is a secluded mountain retreat.

Looking out, one sees lush bamboo groves and swirling mountain mists.

He was standing at the beginning of a winding bluestone path, with the wooden gate of a fenced courtyard just in front of him, ajar.

Listening closely, one could faintly hear voices coming from the courtyard.

Song Yan reached out and gently pushed open the low fence gate in front of him.

Following the bluestone path, we walked step by step toward the open space in front of the thatched hut.

The scene in the courtyard gradually became clear.

Beside an old-fashioned stone table sat two figures, one in white and one in gray.

The man in white, with his wide robes and flowing sleeves, was unrestrained and focused on drawing on a piece of paper with a brush in hand. He looked exactly like the senior artist, Wu.

The subject of his painting seems to be the scene in this courtyard.

The gray-clad man sat cross-legged, his figure blurred, as if shrouded in a layer of flowing ink-wash light and shadow, his facial features also indistinct.

However, Song Yan could sense his upright posture and a restrained yet profound sharpness.

The world depicted in this painting should only record the scenes of that year; Song Yan's arrival did not cause any disturbance.

The two senior artists continued with their own activities, painting and chatting.

"How many days are you planning to stay here?"

"Don't stay here. It's already this late, and you're still here drinking and having fun with me, as if I'm the one who's refusing to leave."

The man picked up the wine jar in his hand and shook it.

"We'll leave after we finish this jar."

"it is good."

Wu Daoxuan suddenly looked up at him, then picked up his brush and dipped it into the ink in the stone inkstone next to him.

In the blank space of the courtyard scenery, a vague outline was sketched.

"You old rascal, you really know how to enjoy yourself, you've got a good eye for places."

The man took a sip of wine: "If I can return here in my lifetime, I will not seek any ascension."

"I think it would be nice to retire here with you."

Wu Daoxuan casually replied, "I'll be waiting anytime."

"Or, I could leave it for your descendants, for you to keep?"

"That's not necessary."

The figure chuckled: "Just kidding, I have my own place."

"Where?"

"In...Xiangyang."

After a moment of contemplation, Song Yan quietly stepped back a few paces, sat down on a stone stool, and became a quiet listener.

There are seven days to practice painting, and I don't need to worry about painting at all.

Moreover, this senior might be skilled in sword control, perhaps even a sword cultivator. Song Yan was also very curious, so he decided to stay and listen.

"It's not that I'm bringing this up, but this matter really does have something to do with my mother."

The figure seemed to have started talking: "I was obsessed with swordsmanship when I was young, but my mother was just a rogue cultivator at the Qi Refining stage."

"They can't teach me anything, and they can't afford to buy me a really good flying sword."

"However, she did not make me switch to alchemy or talisman cultivation because of this. Instead, she took me around to visit renowned sword cultivators and beg them for guidance."

"He even sold his own magical artifacts to raise spirit stones for me to buy a flying sword."

"Then one year, we found a place in a valley in Xiangyang."

"That seems to be the place where a senior sword cultivator passed away."

"That place benefited me greatly, and even in recent years, I would occasionally go there to comprehend the essence of swordsmanship."

Wu Daoxuan suddenly stopped writing, looked up and asked, "Where exactly is it? I'll go and take a look later."

“A valley near Nanfan, Xiangyang.”

"it is good."

"Speaking of which, it was around that time that my mother felt that the flying swords she bought were not handy enough, so she went to learn weapon crafting herself."

"Then, on the day I joined the Sword Sect, they sent me a sword."

"She made it herself."

Upon hearing this, Song Yan's eyes widened.

"Join the Sword Sect?!"

Is this senior also a cultivator from the Sword Sect?
(End of this chapter)