Chapter 133: The Law of Truth Scriptures

After a frantic dash through the night covering three hundred leagues.

As dawn broke, Greyrock City came into view. Li Si placed Jiuxuanzi’s clay statue atop a hill roughly ten leagues outside the city.

The very next moment, the earth began to shake and the mountains quaked. The immense Fortune of Heaven and Earth reconnected with the Mortal Realm. A Hundred-League Law Seal flew up, placing the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect on its protection list.

In other words, the Moon Law Seal governing this territory would allow the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect one-third authority over it. This was more than enough to suppress the Mingyue Sect of Greyrock City.

Li Si then pulled bricks from his Storage Pouch. Right around Jiuxuanzi’s clay form, he built a stone house.

At this point, he issued a Divine Decree summoning the Lord of Greyrock City, the Temple Priests, and other key figures to pay their respects. Making it a done deal was the goal.

When Luo Ping, Qu Qi, Mai Bing, and others, who had fallen far behind, finally caught up, this was the scene they witnessed: Dozens of figures were performing a deep bow before a Stone House. Inside the Stone House sat Jiuxuanzi’s clay form, while Li Si stood nearby, his expression deeply alert.

“Junior Brother Li, what happened? Where is this? Have we reached Kaoshan City?” Luo Ping asked urgently.

“I really don’t know,” Li Shi replied, feigning confusion. “Last night, I was hurrying along when suddenly a figure appeared, claiming to be Old Ancestor Mingyue. He offered to guide our path, called us honored guests of Greyrock City, and even promised to help us establish our sect here. I didn’t dare decide alone, Senior Sister. What do you make of this? Does it seem… trustworthy?”

Luo Ping stared at him, suspicion churning in her heart. But with so many powerful eyes on them – people forming Golden Core and Foundation Building cultivators among them – panic gripped her. Leaving now was likely impossible. Flattery and caution seemed the only option… Wait, what?

As the thought formed, streams of Divine Grace Baptism rained down, instantly washing away Luo Ping and her companions’ exhaustion. Even deep-seated Aberrant Corruption poisons and lingering injuries were purged clean.

Simultaneously, a Divine Decree descended upon them, proclaimed in the voice of the Old Ancestor Mingyue, officially welcoming the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect to take root here.

Well, whether they believe it or not, I’ve done my part.

After that, more people poured out from Greyrock City. They helped build roads, erect buildings, and deliver supplies. By the time half a day passed, the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect was formally established on this land.

The key factor was the genuine humility shown by these people of Greyrock City. Especially their city lord, Meng Yu. Though he possessed Golden Core level cultivation, was deeply cunning, and a regional strongman in his own right…

But none of that mattered now. Yesterday, when Meng Yu had tried to play tricks, Li Si had simply summoned the Hundred-League Law Seal. The force had pinned Meng Yu down like a dog. Add to that Li Si operating under the banner of the Mingyue Sect’s founding ancestor – righteous authority in hand, the threat of force wielded, and the allure of Divine Grace Baptism – a ruthless combination that made Lord Meng Yu as docile as a kitten now.

Moreover, Jiuxuanzi was no fool. Once she awakened, she would realize Li Si had tricked her. But by then, matters would be irreversible. The rice would be cooked. Could she really chase after Li Si?

Jiuxuanzi’s fury might miss Li Si, but it would undoubtedly tighten her grip on Greyrock City, which was now the foundation of the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect. Li Si had played an overt, unstoppable trick.

“Senior Sister Luo Ping,” Li Shi addressed Luo Ping formally in the afternoon, once everyone had settled. “Master Jiuxuanzi has issued a decree. She allows me three hours to study the Jiuxuan Sect’s cultivation manuals and secret texts.”

By now, Luo Ping had no trust left in Li Si. She fetched a bundle, unwrapping it to reveal a rust-covered, broken sword. It looked utterly plain, devoid of any mystical aura.

“If Junior Brother truly has a verbal decree from our Master, then you may seek enlightenment yourself,” she stated plainly, refusing to cooperate.

However, Li Si did truly possess such a decree from Jiuxuanzi. True, by tomorrow she would deeply regret it, but that didn’t matter. He only needed a few hours.

He carefully smoothed his hair and robes, washed his face and hands, and then performed a deep, solemn series of nine kowtows before the decrepit sword. With this act, Jiuxuanzi’s verbal decree activated. A divine beam of light shot from the rusted blade. Within that light appeared the spectral image of a venerable white-haired elder. The elder surveyed Li Si for a moment, then nodded his head slightly.

This scene was invisible to everyone else. Not even the most talented Mi Zhou’er had ever been granted the chance to glimpse the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect’s most profound manuals. For others, learning came step by step.

Only Li Si had pried this promise from Jiuxuanzi last night. This seemingly worthless blade, in reality, concealed its divine nature. Without the Sovereign’s command, it remained shut.

“Has our Nine Heavens Cave Mystery Sect truly fallen so low?” the white-haired elder spoke, his voice tinged with lament, as if to himself alone. “That one of your caliber can gaze upon the Nine Heavens Cave Mystery True Scriptures? Nonetheless, tradition allows each branch of the sect one such contemplation every three thousand years. Remember: You have but one hour.”

Despite expressing his disappointment at Li Si’s apparent mediocrity, the elder did not break his promise. With a motion, volumes of grand scriptures unfurled like scrolls painted in brilliant crimson light. Like radiant clouds, they covered the entire mountaintop. Immensely profound runes shimmered within.

Li Si couldn’t comprehend a single one.

Undoubtedly, the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect, much like the Yunhua Sect, possessed its own secret language of runes. A single character contained vast amounts of information; ordinary language was inadequate to dissect it. Even an attempt would consume millions of words – a monumental task rife with potential for catastrophic misinterpretation.

Therefore, memorizing everything was impossible for Li Si, no matter how powerful his soul currently was. The elder’s disinterested expression confirmed it: Without direct instruction, the true scripture remained beyond his reach.

Thankfully, Li Si possessed the Fate Forge.

As he gazed upon the scriptures, lines of information materialized before his inner sight:

> “Discovered one fragment of the Law of Truth Scriptures. Cannot be recorded. Consume one unit of Golden Fate for comprehension?”

> “Discovered another fragment of the Law of Truth Scriptures. Cannot be recorded. Consume one unit of Golden Fate for comprehension?”

…

> “Discovered fragment nine of the Law of Truth Scriptures. Cannot be recorded. Consume one unit of Golden Fate for comprehension?”

Li Si blinked. Had the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Cult been this formidable? No, wait… it was the Nine Heavens Cave Mystery Sect. Clearly, the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect was just a branch lineage. And a branch that waited three thousand years for one opportunity? It seemed Jiuxuanzi had truly despaired of the future, using this precious chance simply to get rid of him, a hopeless case in her eyes.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Li Si activated the Fate Forge. Within its depths, he consumed nine hundred units of Golden Qi Luck Firewood. The fire blazed, forging the materials into nine singular, incredibly precious units of Golden Fate. He used them, one by one, for comprehension.

> “Comprehension of Fragment One achieved. Requirement for cultivation: Perfect Dao Foundation.”

> “Comprehension of Fragment Two achieved. Requirement for cultivation: Perfect Dao Foundation.”

…

“Perfect Dao Foundation?” Li Si wasn’t entirely surprised. The term “Perfect Dao Foundation” implied the attainment of nine Postnatal Dao Bodies and seven Dao Hearts. It might even include the legendary Innate Dao Body.

But it didn’t matter. Having a clear target was sufficient.

Li Si’s gaze then shifted past the nine sacred volumes. The sea of scarlet light rippled, revealing the core techniques of the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect beneath them. Wait… had he just stumbled into a colossal blunder?

A suspicion dawned on Li S: Those nine Law of Truth Scripture fragments… those were meant for Jiuxuanzi herself to comprehend. He had just squandered her three-thousand-year opportunity. Would she awaken and immediately try to flay him alive?

Damn it all. This was a True Immortal level cultivation technique!

But letting an opportunity slip past was for fools. Li Si proceeded without hesitation, consuming the Jiuxuan Spirit Sword Sect’s manuals and secrets ruthlessly. He memorized what he could commit to mind and instantly consumed the rest for comprehension through the Fate Forge, leaving nothing untouched.

That single hour ended up feeling profoundly satisfying.

As the divine light faded and the broken sword returned to its rusted state, Li Si was filled with contentment.

To Luo Ping and the others, however, he had simply stood frozen before the broken sword for an hour, lost in thought.

“Senior Sister Luo Ping, I have matters I must attend to. I take my leave now,” Li Si stated simply. Ignoring their expressions of bewilderment or anger, he turned and walked away. When he passed Mi Zhou’er, his gaze flickered towards her but not a word was spoken. He didn’t even pause his stride. Soon, his figure vanished into the distance.

“That man!” Luo Ping hissed, her face pale. “He is absolutely deceitful!”

“From this moment,” she commanded her disciples, “all must guard our Master! Senior Sister Mi Zhou’er…” Luo Ping’s tone became firm yet polite, “…please stand further back. It is not distrust, but the circumstances of this place are too questionable for comfort.”

Luo Ping acted as if facing a monumental threat, deploying the disciples into guard positions around Jiuxuanzi’s statue.

Night eventually fell. With Mi Zhou’er’s sharp cry echoing in the stillness, Jiuxuanzi exited the Illusory Realm. She felt exhausted. The situation there was growing increasingly dire. The clash between the corrupted Muan and the Giant Mushroom had become terrifyingly intense. Countless powerful, newly transformed Void Evil Spirits and Evil Immortals had emerged in recent days, their forms twisted yet again by rampant mutation.

This signified a single, horrifying outcome: Should Muan succeed in eradicating the Giant Mushroom or devouring its power, he would ascend into an even more dreadful Evil God.

A vast calamity was unfolding. Jiuxuanzi harbored no certainty she would survive it.

Hmm? Wait. Where… where is this?

Jiuxuanzi blinked, taking in her surroundings. Something felt deeply wrong. Last night, she had been within a tent. Tonight, she found herself inside a Stone House. Could that… that Li Si character have persuaded Luo Ping and the others to flee? Had they abandoned their position?

Fury, intense and sudden, ignited within her. It felt as though countless unseen insects were crawling beneath her skin, a suffocating wave of revulsion washing over her.

She knew the terrible weight anchored to reality by her clay form, burdened with Heaven and Earth’s fortune – easily surpassing ten thousand pounds. When Mi Zhou’er still possessed her full strength, she could barely carry it, managing perhaps a hundred leagues a day with immense effort. As for Luo Ping and Xiao Huicai, those two Foundation Building disciples, shifting the form a mere ten leagues daily was likely the best they could manage.

Jiuxuanzi’s plan – the reason she’d put pressure on that insufferable Li Si yesterday – had been to wring more Fortune and Magic Power from him. She aimed to restore Mi Zhou’er’s strength first. She thought her warning had at least kept him in check for a while.

And yet, in the span of a single day, everything had descended into outright disaster.

“Luo Ping!”

“Master! You’ve awakened?” Luo Ping’s voice rushed to her, thick with relief. Finally, leadership had returned.

“What… what place is this?” Jiuxuanzi demanded, her voice dangerously low.

“Master Jiuxuanzi,” Luo Ping stammered, “this… this is Greyrock City. Approximately three hundred leagues from our previous location. That Li Si from the Floating Cloud Sect… he claimed he was acting under your orders…” Her voice trembled. Her Master exuded an aura far worse than the fiercest demon lord.

“Three hundred leagues… Three hundred leagues…”

Jiuxuanzi’s teeth ground together audibly, a grating noise filled the Stone House. If she hadn’t clung to the dregs of her sanity, she would have unleashed her fury upon the Mortal Realm right then and there.

“And where,” she hissed, venom dripping from every syllable, “is Li Si?”

“He… he has already departed, Master Jiuxuanzi,” Luo Ping answered instantly. “He said he had urgent matters to attend to.”

“Hah!”

Jiuxuanzi let out a chilling, scornful laugh. Run? Li Si, you wretched brat. You honestly believe you can hide?

An urgent detail tugged at her thoughts… Greyrock City. That name sparked familiarity. A thousand years ago… a third-rate sect… Mingyue something, had they been near here?

But this place was at least two thousand leagues from Kaoshan City!

A suffocating impulse gripped Jiuxuanzi right then. A simple, visceral urge: To manifest a flying sword and rend Li Si into a thousand bloody pieces.