Chapter 40: Revelry and Repeated Capture

Chen Changsheng had just taken a step forward.

Then he suddenly stopped.

“Huh?”

His gaze shifted toward a tall tower within the Imperial Palace.

The Old Sword Cultivator said, “That’s the Directorate of Celestial Observation. Does Celestial Immortal wish to take a look?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head and replied, “Not necessary. I simply saw someone I know.”

“Someone you know?”

The Old Sword Cultivator paused. “Could it be the Astrology Overseer there, Taoist Xuan Tian?”

“You know him?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“I do.”

The Old Sword Cultivator said, “After staying in the Imperial Palace this long, you end up knowing things. I had a couple of encounters with him before. Seeing he understood how things worked, I taught him some geomancy and fortune-telling.”

“Honestly, I’m curious how he became the Overseer.”

“The emperor’s obsessed with immortality, and Xuan Tian’s most skilled art is Alchemy. That’s how he got the job.”

“Alchemy? Those likely just poison pills.”

“Exactly. Poison pills.” The Old Sword Cultivator walked slowly, hands clasped behind his back. “Mercury, cinnabar… those pills would either poison a man or cripple him.”

Chen Changsheng remarked, “Seems every dynasty has emperors convinced immortality pills exist.”

The Old Sword Cultivator sighed deeply. “True. Everyone longs for immortality. With Immortal Fate, it’s just one step away. Without it? You’ll die without even glimpsing the door. Emperors? For them, Immortal Fate is forever unreachable.”

Chen Changsheng nodded in agreement. The Human Emperor embodies the Human Dao and carries the Mortal Dynasty’s Fortune. Taking the throne ensures no Immortal Fate could cling to him.

Everything unfolds by the Will of Heaven.

Chen Changsheng lingered no longer. He and the Old Sword Cultivator left the Imperial Palace, stepping into Shangjing City.

“Where are you taking me?”

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“Kangping Lane.”

Chen Changsheng paused, looking at the Old Sword Cultivator.

The Old Sword Cultivators grinned, showing a row of yellowed teeth. “Does Celestial Immortal dislike mortal world pleasures?”

“You call brothels… mortal world pleasures?”

“Why not?”

The Old Sword Cultivator truly was irredeemable. Chen Changsheng just sighed helplessly.

Seeing Chen Changsheng’s reluctance, the old man relented. “We’ll just listen to some tunes at the Opera House. Nothing else.”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then nodded.

Listening to music was acceptable.

But upon arrival, he realized it wasn’t what he imagined.

Two lightly dressed women attended the Old Sword Cultivator. One poured his wine while another peeled grapes. Every so often, he would grope the women, clearly enjoying himself.

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Chen Changsheng sipped his tea and shook his head slightly.

Who would have thought this guy was also a cultivator…

After enjoying himself, the Old Sword Cultivator dismissed the women. Sipping wine to the music, he turned to Chen Changsheng. “Is there something you might be interested in, Celestial Immortal?”

Chen Changsheng turned. “What would that be?”

The Old Sword Cultivator smiled and uttered two words.

“Dragon Ascension!”

…

Water snakes become Flood Dragons after five hundred years, hiding in lakes, deep pools, river branches, or caves. After a thousand years of cultivation and surviving a Tribulation, they follow a major river to the sea, completing the Dragon Ascension.

The Flood Dragon “Water Crossing”? Not just a myth.

Deep inside the mountains of Great Jing’s Jing Nan region, within Bibo Lake, lived such a thousand-year-old Flood Dragon.

The Old Sword Cultivator continued, “It has survived three Heavenly Tribulations, beaten nearly to death each time, failing every attempt. Yet, undeterred, it’s now gearing up for another try.”

“Such persistence?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“Indeed.”

The Old Sword Cultivator nodded. “Flood Dragons failing their tribulation usually lose the path to True Dragon form forever. Yet this Black Flood Dragon keeps trying. I actually admire it.”

“When is it?” Chen Changsheng asked.

“By my reckoning, it should face its tribulation by year’s end. Success means it will Ascend as Dragon via Flood. But…”

He shook his head. Success seemed terribly unlikely.

Chen Changsheng sighed. “Year end? I likely won’t make it.”

By then, he’d probably be “dead.”

“A pity, truly.”

The Old Sword Cultivator added, “A Flood Dragon’s tribulation is a marvel. Celestial Immortal will have to catch it next time.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “I believe there’s a True Dragon within Great Jing’s borders?”

The Old Sword Cultivator replied, “The Dragon Lord of Tongtian River ascended five centuries ago. Still receives offerings from mortals.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “I’d like to pay him a visit.”

The Old Sword Cultivator shook his head. “They say that old dragon’s temper is… quite sour. Best steer clear.”

He paused before adding, “Though with your cultivation, you might be fine. He probably can’t do much to you.”

Chen Changsheng took a quiet sip of tea.

“Perhaps someday.”

He was indeed curious about a True Dragon’s appearance. But after that comment, his courage vanished. Fighting it? He wasn’t sure he could win anyway.

A thought struck Chen Changsheng. He turned to the Old Sword Cultivator. “What’s your cultivation stage now?”

The Old Sword Cultivator said humbly, “I fall far short of you, Celestial Immortal. Barely Divine Transformation Realm, with Dongxu still distant.”

Chen Changsheng inquired, “I haven’t traveled the world in years. Heard little about the Path of Immortality lately. Any rising stars worth mentioning?”

“Rising stars?”

The Old Sword Cultivator mused, “Liu Yuanshan from the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion? Four centuries to reach Divine Transformation. Or that girl from Hundred Blossom Valley… name slips my mind… almost matched Liu Yuanshan…”

Chen Changsheng’s expression remained calm. He recognized none of these names or sects.

“What about you?” Chen Changsheng suddenly asked.

“Me…”

The Old Sword Cultivator chuckled awkwardly. “Ever heard of Sword Mountain, Celestial Immortal?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I rarely pay attention.”

The Old Sword Cultivator said, pride fleetingly crossing his face, “I come from Sword Mountain. In its prime? Ten thousand disciples! When the bell tolled, you’d see countless Sword Cultivators flying upon their blades. But now…”

“Only a few hundred remain in our mountains. And I… I was once an Elder of Sword Mountain.”

Chen Changsheng’s hand, holding the tea bowl, froze mid-air. He turned, studying the old man.

“Don’t believe me, eh?”

The Old Sword Cultivator chuckled dryly. “I really was an Elder… until I got dismissed.”

Chen Changsheng paused again at the last words.

He met the old man’s eyes. “What did you do?”

“Went down the mountain seeking revelry. Repeated offenses. Got caught every time. Lost the title.”

“…”

Chen Changsheng found himself speechless. He recalled the old man’s earlier groping grin. It all made morbid sense.

“Getting expelled entirely would’ve been too kind.”

“Effectively banished anyway. Not allowed back. Why would I be wandering otherwise?”

“…”

A muscle twitched near Chen Changsheng’s mouth. He muttered inwardly.

Truly…

Unbelievable!