Chapter 16 | How Could the Master of All Villains Be Righteous?

Once they were further away from Yongdi City, Wen Li and her group dismounted from the horse-drawn carriage and switched to riding swords.

Yao Dai sat on the sword as usual, hugging Wen Li's leg, while Xie Tinglan...

Chose to lie flat on the sword, clutching the blade itself.

Amidst the clouds in the high sky, the three headed toward the northwest.

Fortunately, Yongdi City was already located within the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom, a third-rank cultivation nation. In just a day, they arrived at Taiwei City, where the Taixuan Sect was situated.

Yao Dai's eyes shifted slightly. “So this is Taiwei City, the capital of the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom.”

Before them, a pitch-black city gate rose abruptly from the ground, soaring at least several hundred zhang high—an immensely majestic and imposing sight.

The guarding cultivators stood tall or sat in meditation atop the walls, their casual glances sweeping down with intense pressure.

One adult and two children stood before the city gate of the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom, watching a queue of cultivators waiting. It seemed registration was required to enter.

Xie Tinglan, whose identity was special, knit his brows slightly.

Wen Li led the two forward. Before she could even speak, Yao Dai stepped up and addressed a young man with a sweet voice to ask.

“Big Brother, do we need to register to enter the city? We came from another city and aren't familiar with this place.”

Dressed in a long robe, the young man was also a cultivator. As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face, so he politely answered her.

“Ah, normally registration isn't required. However, next month is the birthday celebration of the Ancestor of the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom's Taixuan Sect. Guests from various other nations will be visiting, so entry and exit in Taiwei City must be strictly managed to prevent any mishaps. Since you are from out of town, just join the line, register your names and cultivation realms, and pick up an entry-and-exit token to enter the city.”

Yao Dai's eyes curved into crescent smiles. “Thank you, Big Brother.”

“Think nothing of it.” The young man gave an elegant nod, glanced at Wen Li, and turned to leave with a gentle smile.

Wen Li watched the man walk far away.

Yao Dai asked in confusion, “Master, what's wrong?”

“The artifact at his waist is Heaven Grade First Order, and his cultivation is at least at Mid Golden Core Stage. His attire is somewhat similar to what Du Mojin and Lin Qing wore.”

The difference was that his robes were far more refined, and she could tell they were bolstered by defensive talismans.

“Could he be from the Lingjian Sect?” Yao Dai was astonished.

“The Lingjian Sect is one of the four major sects of the Western Province, affiliated with a fourth-rank cultivation nation. Since it is the birthday of the Taixuan Sect's Ancestor, it is only normal for their people to be here.” Seeing that the line ahead was indeed only recording names and cultivation realms without further checks, Wen Li led the two over.

While they were waiting in line, a sudden commotion arose outside the city.

The three looked over to see a black-and-gold sedan chair carried by eight black-robed figures gliding through the air. On either side of the carriage stood two exceptionally beautiful female cultivators clad in crimson robes, their graceful figures poised elegantly.

Dark red drapes swathed the sedan chair, making it impossible to see who was inside.

Only faint shadows could be seen through the fabric.

Unlike the crowds waiting in line to enter, before the sedan chair even touched the ground, the city gate opened wide, and a group of cultivators in matching deep-purple sect robes emerged to welcome them.

“We respectfully welcome Senior Feng to Taiwei City! The Grand Elder has already instructed us to arrange quarters for Senior, and we shall serve as Senior Feng's escort.”

The dozen or so cultivators bowed respectfully.

The sedan chair did not descend, hovering in midair instead. The drapes fluttered gently as a cool, indifferent voice drifted out from within:

“Mm.”

That single, faint word allowed the welcoming cultivators to sigh in relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted. They hurriedly made way and escorted the sedan from the side.

“Please, this way.”

They were even courteous and polite to the bearers carrying the sedan.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the party entered the city, and the gate closed behind them, blocking out all prying eyes.

While everyone else was discussing the stranger's identity and cultivation level, only...

Yao Dai blinked. “Master, what a showoff.”

Xie Tinglan, who was usually aloof and quiet, also nodded. “Even more of a showoff than Master.”

“...” Wen Li's temple twitched. She raised her hand and delivered a quick chop to his head.

“Lacking strength is called showboating; possessing strength is called grandeur.”

Strangely enough, even though Xie Tinglan was an ancient demon, and even in human form should have had thick skin and tough flesh, he was still struck into baring his teeth in pain, clutching his head with both hands.

“Hss... If you're so grand, why don't you get yourself a sedan chair?”

Wen Li raised her head, looking cool and distant. “Can't your master prefer keeping a low profile? If I wanted to, there would be plenty of people willing to carry my sedan.”

No way. Once she gathers six disciples, she's definitely going to get a sedan chair to sit in too—preferably a golden one that blinds people's eyes, with people throwing flowers and scattering money along the way!

Xie Tinglan grunted and pursed his lips, squatting on the ground while holding his head. A real man doesn't pick fights with women.

“Master, I heard people nearby saying that man's surname is Feng. He should be Feng Ling, the Third Island Master of Jiuyin Island,” said Yao Dai, who had leaned over to gossip earlier.

Jiuyin Island was one of the four major sects of the Western Province. The other three were the Lingjian Sect, Fuxian Sect, and Xuandu Sect. While their power seemed roughly equal on the surface, Jiuyin Island held a slight edge if one truly looked into it.

Supposedly... it was connected to the Nine Corpses Palace, one of One Hall and Three Palaces in the Central Province.

Upon hearing this, Wen Li warned the two, “In the future, if you see this person, stay far away.”

Yao Dai asked, “Why? Does he kill people on sight?”

Having rubbed his head and comforted himself, Xie Tinglan also stood up and perked his ears.

“Jiuyin Island slaughters people like grass, striking at the slightest disagreement. Even if you don't provoke him and just watch from afar, you'll be dragged into it.” Wen Li glanced sideways. “Especially Feng Ling. His methods for silencing witnesses are infamously disgusting and cruel. I heard he's also an exhibitionist who particularly likes stealing female cultivators' clothes to take back and smell.”

At those words, Yao Dai's face paled in disgust. What kind of person is that? What a pervert.

It was finally the three's turn to register, and Wen Li wrote down three lines of text:

Wen Li, Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Yao Dai, Qi Refinement Fifth Layer.

Xie Xiao'er, Qi Refinement First Layer.

Xie Tinglan pursed his lips, but ultimately said nothing.

The three picked up their tokens and headed into the city.

The Linggang Immortal Realm was divided into five provinces. Between each province lay a natural chasm and vast ocean, and to reduce friction, ten-thousand-zhang barriers had been erected to separate the regions.

Territorial divisions within each province were mostly defined by cultivation nations, whose ranks were determined by the strength of the top sect within their borders. Though called cultivation nations, except for the Eastern Province, the resources were managed by the core figures of the top sects rather than imperial authority.

Mortal capitals were ruled by imperial authority, keeping mortals and cultivators separate from each other.

In the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom, for instance, the largest sect was the Taixuan Sect, which controlled all cultivation resources.

No wonder the Heavenly Yuan Kingdom attached so much importance to the birthday of the Taixuan Sect's Ancestor.

The three found an inn to rest.

“Right now is the birthday celebration of the Taixuan Sect's Ancestor. A third-rank cultivation nation must have at least one Soul Formation Mid Stage cultivator and three Soul Formation Early Stage cultivators. With major factions gathering from all over, killing Chen Feng right now might bring immense danger. Are you sure you still want to do this?”

Wen Li asked Yao Dai while sitting on the couch.

Yao Dai's expression darkened. She had not expected the Taixuan Sect, which Chen Feng had joined, to be so powerful. Furthermore, he had been accepted as a core disciple; after so many years, his cultivation had surely progressed far beyond his former Qi Refinement level.

“Master...”

Yao Dai lowered her head, struggle and hatred intertwining in her eyes. Clenching her fists, she found it hard to decide.

She knew her strength was insufficient and that she must not implicate her master, yet her enemy was right in front of her.

Wen Li stood up, walked to the window, and pushed it open slightly. She glanced sideways at the bustling street below, where many cultivators in sect attire were walking about.

“Let's leave,” Yao Dai finally looked up, having made her decision before Wen Li could even speak.

Xie Tinglan sat boredom-stricken, munching on something, completely unconcerned.

Wen Li turned back and lowered the window sash.

“You're giving up on your revenge?”

“It's not that I won't get revenge, but that it's not worth it right now.” Yao Dai shook her head, her face—usually somewhat reckless—now deadly serious. “Master said that staying alive is more important than anything. Without a hundred percent certainty, one must bide their time and strike when they are down.”

“If seeking revenge this time means risking our lives, that would truly be stupid.”

Seeing that the thirteen-year-old girl had grown considerably more composed, Wen Li's lips curled up slightly. She raised her hand and stroked her head. “You remember my words very well.”

“However,” Wen Li shifted the conversation, “your master will teach you another lesson today. Cultivation is not merely a contest of strength; it is also full of schemes and deceptions like those among mortals. No matter how powerful a cultivator is, they can still be undone by underhanded plots.”

She turned her head toward the four-year-old child at the table who was focused entirely on eating, sighed, and slapped the back of his head with an air of disappointment, causing the snack in Xie Tinglan's mouth to fly out.

“Pfft!”

“Especially you. You're used to viewing yourself as a demon beast and disdain human intrigue. But while you don't have to use it, you must know how it works. From now on, no eating while I'm speaking. Listen carefully, or I'll cut off your rations.”

Xie Tinglan glared furiously, his crimson eyes nearly spewing fire. Pouting, he spat out the last bit of food, crossed his arms, turned his head away, and temporarily yielded.

Even so... those old fogies from the Beast Taming Sect really had lured him into a trap with delicious food back then. Curse them.

Wen Li looked at Yao Dai, who seemed to half-understand. “When it comes to killing someone, doing it yourself is the lowest form of execution.”

“If you want someone dead, there are countless ways: borrowing a knife to kill, framing them for a crime... Especially when you are weak enough that no one would ever suspect you—that is the absolute best time to act.”