Yun Manor buzzed with excitement both inside and outside its walls.
Disciples and servants all heard that someone extraordinary had arrived, since the family head himself issued a strict order forbidding anyone to approach.
This made everyone wonder who exactly had come to Yun Manor.
Actually, saying nothing might have been betterâthe mystery just stirred everyoneâs curiosity, making them eager to see this legendary figure.
But curiosity didnât mean anyone dared to go; ignoring the ban was no joke, and surely no one would risk it so soon.
After dark, Yun Li followed Mr. Chen out of Yun Manor, heading toward the high mountain east of Qingyuan.
âThat Evil Spirit hid within these Ten-Thousand-Mile Mountains. For many days, Yun Manor disciples couldnât find any trace of it.â
Chen Changsheng gazed at the endless mountains; finding the creature here truly seemed difficult.
He paused briefly, then brightened with an idea. âYoung Master Yun, how intelligent would you say that severed arm is?â
Yun Li thought it over. âLikely not very.â
âAnd do you enjoy fishing, Young Master Yun?â
âHuh?â
âFishing.â
Chen Changsheng grabbed Yun Li and leaped into the air, flying straight into the Ten-Thousand-Mile Mountains.
Under the night sky, a patch of clouds glowed softly.
Chen Changsheng spotted one particular cloud and landed right on it.
Yun Li glanced down nervously. âMr. Chen, please donât let go! I canât walk on clouds like this!â
Chen Changsheng chanted a Divine Decree.
Immediately, Yun Li stood firm on the floating cloud.
Yun Li marveled silently: This Divine Ability to tread on clouds truly is remarkable.
ButâŠ
Why come up here?
He watched as Chen Changsheng flicked his wrist, pulling out a bamboo fishing rod.
The Black Pagoda flew from his sleeve, attaching to the fishing line.
âSir, whatâŠ?â
âFishing.â
Yun Li hesitated, then saw Mr. Chen sit down and lower the line with the Black Pagoda into the void below.
He felt bewildered. What could this mean? Is âfishingâ another Divine Ability?
Chen Changsheng mused: since the arm was likely ignorant and finding it in this vast mountain range seemed impossible, dropping a single lure and waiting was far simpler than combing the entire âsea.â
Yun Li also sat cross-legged. Though confused, he trusted Mr. Chen had his reasons.
He peered downward.
The endless mountains stretched below, covered in lush greenery like a green ocean.
Sitting high on this cloud, it really did resemble fishing.
Yun Liâs respect for Mr. Chen deepened.
Chen Changsheng asked, âDo you often travel the Cultivation World, Young Master Yun?â
âI visit places outside Qingyuan regularly.â
âI wonder if youâve heard anythingâa True Dragon and a Chenghuang once lived at my mountain retreat. They journeyed into the Cultivation World together. Any news?â
âNot exactlyâŠâ
Yun Li paused, then remembered. âBut there was an incident, possibly involving Senior Moyuan. About a year ago, rumors said a True Dragon churned the waters of the Desolate Sea, affecting an Immortal Mountain. Cultivators went to investigate and saw countless corpses of Great Demons floating upon a sea turned red with blood. Terrified by the Dragonâs Might, the Cultivators fledâbut thought they glimpsed a True Dragon writhing in the waves.â
âI seeâŠâ Chen Changsheng murmured. âAre there other True Dragons in the Desolate Sea?â
Yun Li shook his head. âThe Desolate Sea holds many secrets. Besides Senior Moyuan, I canât say for certain.â
The vast, unexplored Desolate Sea remained mysterious to most Cultivators.
Just as Chen Changsheng was about to speak, the rod suddenly jerked.
âSomethingâs biting.â
Chen Changsheng tugged the line upward.
Yun Li focused intently on the rod.
Lifted onto the cloud wasnât an armâbut a cat yowling under the glow of a Divine Decree, utterly paralyzed.
âMeow!! Meow!! Meooow!!!â
Its cries sounded desperate: Let me go! Yet struggle as it might, the spell held it fast.
Spots covered its furâa Tabby Cat.
Chen Changsheng glanced at Yun Li.
Yun Liâs eye twitched. He grabbed the struggling cat firmly.
The cat blinked, noticing the two figures.
âLittle Pear?â The Tabby Cat squeaked.
Yun Li clenched his fist. âWhat are you doing here? Why bite Mr. Chenâs hook?â
âWhat hook? Whoâs Mr. Chen?â
The Tabby Cat, âLihua,â stared blankly, then noticed the Blue-Robed Gentleman nearby.
âIt was you!â the cat hissed. âYou trapped me!â
âWoof! Woof! Woof!âŠâ
Suddenly, barking broke the night air.
âLihua! Big Broâs coming!â
A large Black Dog charged from below, skidding to a halt just in time.
Spotting Yun Li, the Black Dog scowled. âKid Yun! Thought we had an agreementâyou stay away!â
Yun Li raised an eyebrow. âIâm here with Mr. Chen hunting an Evil Spirit. She was the one who took his bait.â
The Black Dog stalled, finally seeing the other Cultivator.
Chen Changsheng studied the Tabby Cat, then the Black Dog. âHmm⊠I heard cats and dogs donât make friends?â
âStinky Taoist!â The Black Dog snapped. âWhoâre you?â
Yun Li sighed. âCanât save you now, Black Dog. Youâre on your own.â
A flash of sword light erupted.
In an instant, an Immortal Sword hovered at the Black Dogâs throat.
Its body tensed; an icy chill ran down its spine.
Meanwhile, the Tabby Cat dangled from a hand, helpless.
As the Black Dog tried retreating, the blade stayed with it.
Its throat tightened. I messed up. Messed with someone I shouldnât have.
And called him âStinky TaoistââŠ
The Black Dog met Yun Liâs eyes.
Yun Li shook his head. âDonât look at me.â
âDonât kill him!!â the Tabby Cat begged desperately. âImmortal Elder⊠letâs talk this through! Calmly⊠calmlyâŠâ
âSir, wait!â
Another voice cut in.
A figure emerged from Chen Changshengâs sleeve.
âWhoâs there?â Yun Li gripped his sword.
âAt ease, Young Master Yun,â Chen Changsheng reassured.
Jian Shenghua appeared fully, bowing respectfully.
The Black Dog gasped. âGhost Sword Immortal! Youâre alive!â
âFlower Boy! Itâs you!â the Tabby Cat cried happily.
Jian Shenghua faced Chen Changsheng. âSir, these two are friends. They once saved my life. May I beg you to spare them?â