"Congratulations, junior brother," said Dan Ya, approaching first. Her eyes sparkled with an unreadable emotion, and her words were sincere, as if she truly rejoiced in Liu Jiang Fusheng's fortune.
After the contract between the Immortal Sword and Liu Jiang Fusheng was sealed, the sword had vanished, leaving him to slowly process the bewildering events.
In contrast to Dan Ya's honeyed words, Fang Rui, her face flushed, exclaimed with restrained excitement, "Fusheng, the Immortal Sword has chosen you and bonded with you. This will undoubtedly greatly benefit your cultivation in the future. You've received an immense opportunity!"
Other young disciples also gathered around, offering their congratulations to Liu Jiang Fusheng. While some felt a twinge of envy, they were self-aware enough to know such a monumental opportunity was not meant for ordinary individuals. They quickly came to terms with it, preventing any lingering resentment.
However, the Mountain Lords and Elders present were a different story. They, with their seniority and proud dispositions, felt a surge of indignation at losing to a newly admitted disciple. A knot of frustration tightened in their chests, unbearable yet inescapable. Nine Tun Mountain Lord, in particular, was so enraged he felt as if he would spit blood.
His usually impassive and stern face was now a dark cloud. He glared at the beaming Daoist Zhi Yang, his voice dripping with sourness, "The appearance of an Immortal Artifact in the Eleventh Heaven has not only been sensed by our Great Yan Sect, but by the powers of the Eleventh Heaven, no, perhaps even the Twenty-Eight Heavens. Do you truly believe a mere disciple, newly initiated, can keep it safe?"
Daoist Zhi Yang, aware of his foul mood, did not engage in a prolonged debate. "I will inform the Sect Master of this matter. You, Nine Tun Mountain Lord, need not concern yourself."
"We shall see."
He would not let this matter rest.
With a chilling glare directed at Liu Jiang Fusheng, he transformed into a streak of light and departed in a huff.
The other Mountain Lords, seeing Nine Tun's extreme displeasure, surmised that if not for the crowd, he might have abandoned his dignity and tried to seize the artifact by force.
But they couldn't entirely blame him. It was an Immortal Artifact, after all. They would bet that since the great calamity a thousand years ago, the various sects had nearly exhausted their trump cards. Even the Twenty-Eight Heavens could barely produce a handful of Immortal Artifacts.
Someone remarked with veiled sarcasm, "Wu Mei, where did you find such a fine disciple?"
Stroking his beard, he arrogantly raised an eyebrow. "Are you envious?"
"..."
Indeed, his shamelessness was beyond their reach, and he had, quite accurately, struck at the heart of their thoughts.
There was indeed something appealing about the situation.
For now, the matter seemed settled. With so many witnesses present, they couldn't resort to open theft. What else could they do but avert their gaze? After everyone dispersed, Daoist Zhi Yang also went to dismiss the disciples who were still bombarding Liu Jiang Fusheng with curious questions about the Immortal Sword.
Once Liu Jiang Fusheng was left in peace, he asked Daoist Zhi Yang, his heart filled with curiosity, "Master, what exactly is an Immortal Sword?"
When Daoist Zhi Yang became serious, he was quite imposing. His bald brow furrowed, and his thin, gaunt face was offset by a pair of sharp, intelligent eyes. "You know that after establishing your foundation, you can wield artifacts. These artifacts are classified as precious artifacts, magical artifacts, spiritual artifacts, and immortal artifacts..."
After enumerating them, he concluded, "For any sect to possess even one Earth-tier spiritual artifact is considered a treasure of the sect. But you, you now possess an Immortal Artifact that others dream of... tsk tsk..."
At this, he felt both immense pride and heavy concern for his young disciple.
"If Immortal Artifacts are as powerful as you say, Master, why did it choose me?"
"Are you an idiot? You have the Heavenly Spirit Root. If it wasn't blind, who else would it choose!"
Cultivation could be temporary, but innate talent was a gift from heaven.
At this moment, Liu Jiang Fusheng finally grasped the reality of what had happened to him.
Daoist Zhi Yang suddenly asked, "What's wrong?"
Liu Jiang Fusheng frowned, his lips pale. He forced a smile. "Since a moment ago, I've felt some pain..."
Daoist Zhi Yang was startled. He quickly checked Liu Jiang Fusheng's pulse and understood the reason. Then, he jumped up in anger, cursing, "You fool! You bonded with the Immortal Sword, and its spiritual energy entered your core, your meridians have automatically started innate qi cultivation! And you're still babbling here! Hurry back with this old Daoist for closed-door cultivation to circulate your spiritual power!"
Saying this, he grabbed Liu Jiang Fusheng in a hurry and, with a flash of blue light, pierced through the night, speeding away.
After the Sword Washing Pool was once again quiet, Gu Junshi emerged from the shadows. On the ground lay a pool of blood. She looked at the ghost infant, lying on the ground like a dead dog, his fate uncertain.
Compared to his beloved junior husband, who was doted on by his master, he lived like a weed, trampled upon yet stubbornly refusing to yield.
"Find a new master. You can't stay in Nine Tun Mountain anymore."
Hearing the familiar female voice, his stiff body finally stirred. His hoarse, toneless voice asked, "Where else can I go?"
He let out a strange, self-mocking chuckle. "...Who would want me?"
"I do," she said calmly. She half-knelt before him, her cool, jade-like fingers lifting his sharp chin. Though the young boy appeared rough, his skin was actually smooth and tender to the touch. "However, I am not what you would call a righteous person. So... do you want to follow me and become a ghost cultivator?"
He was stunned, his forcibly raised posture like a lamb being led to slaughter.
On one hand, his body had never been touched by another person. Everyone either disdained him or avoided him. This was the first time he felt another person's warmth, causing him to shiver. On the other hand, it was because of her words.
Ghost, ghost cultivator?
His dull, empty eyes fixed in one direction.
After a moment of hesitation, he weakly refused, "No... I will not associate with evil."
Gu Junshi, however, smiled. "You, a ghost infant, are born with an indelible ghostly aura. Do you truly know your innate, powerful talent?"
The ghost infant trembled at her words.
He indeed never knew the secrets within his body, such as why he became a ghost infant, why he was born blind, why...
"No rush. You can consider this matter slowly."
Gu Junshi's fingertips slowly slid away from his jawline, her eyes deep and cool. Initially, she had only intended to invest a "small sum" in him, and later, when he achieved the status and position he had in previous lives, she would reap the "harvest." But the situation had changed.
Taking out a handkerchief, she meticulously wiped her bloodstained fingertips. It was human blood, no different. The skeletal age was also genuine.
In this life, because of the existence of his junior husband, his life's trajectory seemed to have deviated. No, perhaps many people, including herself, would experience deviations because of this. However, it also allowed her to discover things she had previously overlooked.
Therefore, she intended to keep him by her side, to observe and study him slowly, until she obtained what she desired from him.
After Gu Junshi left, the ghost infant lay alone on the cold ground. For the moment, he forgot his deep-seated hatred for Liu Jiang Fusheng, his mind consumed by the "ghost cultivator" Gu Junshi had spoken of.
He did not trust this woman of extreme depth and cunning.
Yet, he also understood that if he truly had no other options, this woman might be his only recourse.