Chapter 107: To Open the Celestial Eye, One Must Sever All Worldly Attachments (Part II)

He had originally thought he would be thoroughly questioned; neither the Ten-Thousand-Mile Reflection Talisman nor the Golden Light Divine Talisman he carried for protection and survival were trivial artifacts that a mere Qi Refiner like himself could easily explain away in a few words.

Not to mention questioning—he was prepared for interrogation, even coercion or torture, which wouldn’t have been unusual under the circumstances.

Thus, when Sima Lingzhen half-invited, half-forced him into the Purple Azure Eight Directions Palace, Chen Heng had already steeled himself for what was to come.

However, after summoning a group of Dongxuan Refiners, Sima Lingzhen said little, only delivering a harsh reprimand:

He scolded them for failing to guard their territory, neglecting their duty to patrol and eradicate evil, allowing a vicious Yin-Sheng Demon to roam freely beneath their noses for so long, destroying countless lives—a shameful dereliction of responsibility.

The normally aloof Dongxuan Refiners were left looking humbled and shamed under Sima Lingzhen’s biting sarcasm, utterly without dignity.

Even Xie Tan of the Flower Spirit Mansion and the Refiners of the Wuguang Sect bowed their heads silently, not daring to utter a word in defense, let alone the Dongxuan elders of smaller sects and free cultivators.

The tirade lasted for several rounds of tea before finally coming to a pause.

Sima Lingzhen then ordered the cultivators to intensify their patrols, vowing to root out any remaining traces of the celestial demon, before dismissing them with a wave of his hand as if shooing away flies and mosquitoes.

Though his manner was haughty and disdainful, treating them like household servants—calling them when he pleased, driving them away when annoyed, laughing, scolding, and speaking without restraint—the refiners dared not act impertinently, merely standing respectfully with hands folded.

Even the few hot-tempered ones were quickly warned in secret by their companions before they could show any impatience or retort; they swallowed their pride and looked down, their faces flushing dark red with embarrassment.

In principle, these sects were not subordinate to the Jade Court Sect, and some were even independent refiners, yet Sima Lingzhen, no matter how far-reaching his influence, could not truly control this small patch of the Southern Domain, nor oppress them as he might his own clan.

Yet in the immortal cultivation world, respect is always given to the accomplished.

Before a Golden Core Real Immortal of distinguished lineage from a great sect, no matter how rude his words or how sharply he scolded, the refiners could only silently endure the humiliation and even force smiles in return.

Even the most reckless and defiant among them dared not display a moment of rash courage before Sima Lingzhen, instead nursing the sting of this humiliation quietly in their hearts.

If he treated the Dongxuan Refiners with such disrespect, his insolence was truly extraordinary.

But after driving everyone out, when facing Chen Heng alone, Sima Lingzhen somewhat reluctantly suppressed his mocking smile.

After a few moments of silence and a thorough appraisal, he raised his hand, signaling Chen Heng to leave the Purple Azure Eight Directions Palace.

…

"He didn’t even ask about the Yin-Sheng Demon, nor did he probe into the origins of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Reflection Talisman or the Golden Light Divine Talisman. He just wanted to see me display some authority once?" Chen Heng mused.

"Perhaps my senior sister communicated with Sima Lingzhen beforehand by message, sparing me the trouble," he thought.

He cast another glance at the Purple Azure Eight Directions Palace.

At this moment, the flying palace was rising again into the clouds, slicing through the raging winds and air currents. With a thunderous roar, it flew to meet the void, its momentum grand and imposing.

Looking up from afar, it resembled a purple star returning to the vast celestial canvas, wrapped in a swirling cascade of light and clouds—resplendent beyond compare.

On the shore, the crowd gawked eagerly, erupting into bursts of amazed exclamations.

"Such a magnificent sight—that is the true aura of a Daoist immortal sect. I wonder when I might ever reach such heights..."

Only when the Purple Azure Eight Directions Palace vanished into the celestial clouds, leaving no trace of its brilliance, did Chen Heng slowly withdraw his gaze and sigh inwardly.

Around him, the noise continued unabated, and a few sharp-eyed onlookers recognized Chen Heng’s face and began whispering among themselves.

Under the Ten-Thousand-Mile Reflection Talisman, the images of the Huaiwu Cave Master, the Yin-Sheng Demon, and Chen Heng himself were all clearly revealed.

Chen Heng had no intention of getting caught up in their chatter. A few swift movements brought him into a narrow alley. Casually pulling out a mask, he covered his face, then summoned a pure white light of flight and headed straight for Red Leaf Island.

After about the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, he stopped on a shore planted thickly with red maples, gently descending to the street.

Looking up, not far ahead was the "Immortal Guest Residence," where he and Commander Wei Jiang were currently lodging. He took a step forward and strode toward it.

…

“Though the Ten-Thousand-Mile Reflection Talisman confirms that the Yin-Sheng Demon is eliminated, this matter concerns her cultivation path and future. It’s better to tell her in person and reassure her,” Chen Heng thought.

Though Wei Jiang’s method of exterminating the Yin-Sheng Demon seemed odd, even absurd, to him—a mere Qi Refiner wielding two talismanic treasures, yet ultimately relying on the external power of Sima Lingzhen from the Jade Court Sect—he had no choice but to accept it.

Delving deeper, it seemed like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Though the Yin-Sheng Demon was an obstacle that had to be removed for the path to be unobstructed, why couldn’t they simply ask a Golden Core Real Immortal for swift and decisive intervention?

If that were so, why bother with all these complicated schemes and painstaking calculations?

…

But this thought flickered through his mind and vanished. The trial method given by Wei Jiang was detailed and ultimately came from the edict of the Chiming Sect.

What secrets lay beneath the actions of such an immortal force remained beyond his comprehension.

With his current cultivation, even if he tried to guess, it would be like a blind man groping an elephant—no clear or practical understanding to be had.

As Chen Heng neared the Immortal Guest Residence, less than a hundred steps away, a voice suddenly called out from the roadside.

He looked up.

There, a single-wheeled flower cart leaned slightly by the road. Inside were hundreds of flower branches kept in jade bottles of pure water, their colors bright and exquisite like a beauty’s makeup—splendid and dazzling.

The owner was a young vendor who had just come of age, with a short mustache under his lips, wearing a simple blue cloth robe, a headscarf, and black boots. His appearance was plain, nothing remarkable.

Seeing Chen Heng pause briefly and glance over the flowers, the vendor’s heart leapt with joy. He eagerly called out, as if wanting to grab Chen Heng’s sleeve and drag him to his shopfront.

“Honored guest! Honored guest! Today is the Festival of the Snake—why not buy a bouquet here to gift your lady? If your noble wife receives such a gift, she will surely be delighted!”

The vendor smiled broadly.

“Have you heard of the Festival of the Snake? Honestly, it’s an ancient custom passed down through the Southern Domain. It is said even Master Yan Xi, before attaining Dao, observed it—”

“After such a major event today, wouldn’t the festival be postponed?” Chen Heng interrupted.

The vendor was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a laugh.

“Are you joking? It’s just the Huaiwu Cave Master and a celestial demon. Even if the sky were falling, life would still go on as usual. There’s no such thing as postponing celebrations…”

With that, he launched into a tirade against the Huaiwu Cave Master, a fellow free cultivator who showed no compassion for his peers. Though he had played the role of a good man for over two centuries, he was ruthless toward free cultivators—truly a beast in a real immortal’s guise!

The vendor hoped the Jade Court Real Immortal wouldn’t allow that villain to die easily, but instead make him suffer the world’s cruelest tortures before finally passing away.

After his rant, the vendor went back to promoting his wares.

Perhaps the conversation had warmed up, for he exerted even greater effort, spinning an elaborate tale in just a few words:

“Honored guest, if you don’t mind me saying, my marriage was all thanks to these flower branches…”

Chen Heng did not interrupt this time. Only when the vendor paused did he smile lightly and ask:

“Among so many Daoists about, why do you insist on attracting me as your customer?”

The vendor looked at Chen Heng with some puzzlement, but quickly smiled and explained:

“On the Festival of the Snake, only couples wear masks to cover their eyes and enjoy the lanterns together. Other friends and relatives come to admire the lights without masks. It’s just like any other festival, without this custom.”

He pointed to the jade mask covering Chen Heng’s face.

“Since you’ve specially covered your face, you must have someone in your heart you wish to invite to the lantern show. Even if you are not yet married, it’s close enough… Then, who else should I sell these flowers to but you?”

“Mask?” Chen Heng’s eyes flickered, and he was momentarily taken aback.

He had covered his face to avoid recognition and unnecessary entanglements, a habit he usually kept when traveling.

He had forgotten that on the Festival of the Snake, this custom still existed, leading the vendor to mistake him for a customer.

He was silent for a moment.

Looking around—

A few fireworks had already burst into the sky, exploding into intricate and splendid colors.

The streets were decked out with lanterns and decorations, though the arrangements were still in progress. The lively scene was unusual and festive.

“Honored guest, it’s still a bit early. The lantern show won’t start for another half hour or so.

Normally, this would be the time to enjoy the lights, but after what happened with that old Huaiwu dog, everyone’s a bit unsettled. Even Old Zhou and the others working hard to organize things couldn’t avoid the delay.”

The vendor sighed regretfully but continued his sales pitch:

“Honored guest, look at these flowers—”

“What’s the price per branch?” Chen Heng asked.

The vendor was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed.

“There’s a saying: ‘If there’s a flower worth picking, don’t wait until the branch is bare.’ Honored guest, you truly have a good eye!

Look here—this branch is called the Impudent Guest. It lives one year, flourishing day by day, blossoming beautifully. When the wind blows, it dances gracefully; without wind, it sways gently.

Wear it on your person, and its fragrance will pierce through heavy robes, lasting a full three months!”

The vendor smiled apologetically.

“But the Impudent Guest is difficult to cultivate. I only have this one branch—it’s the treasure of my shop.”

“Quite valuable?” Chen Heng asked.

“Indeed,” the vendor said with a wry smile, spreading his hands.

“Ten spirit coins. How about that?”

Seeing Chen Heng’s indifferent gaze and silence, the vendor guessed the price was too steep. Not disheartened, he rubbed his face and began describing the other flowers in his cart.

…

“The cheapest ones are two spirit coins? Alas, I am truly short of funds. I’m sorry to trouble you,” Chen Heng said, facing the vendor’s eager eyes.

He hesitated briefly.

Then, with a slight bow, he apologized and turned away.

“...Honored guest? Honored guest?” The vendor sighed softly, forced a smile, and returned to his flower cart.

Business was hard. Very hard.

He had been selling for quite some time today, but the flowers sold could be counted on two hands.

He knew the prices were too high. Ordinary free cultivators hated having to split a single spirit coin into two, never mind affording extras.

Who could buy such utterly useless trinkets for their Dao companions?

Even sect disciples might not be so lavish…

But the business was not really his—his great boss insisted on not lowering prices, leaving the vendor helpless.

Lost in thought, he took a jade carving from his sleeve and slowly rolled it in his hand.

Suddenly, a flash of white robes appeared before him.

“Uh… Honored guest, have you forgotten something nearby?” the vendor asked when Chen Heng hesitated and then returned.

“Thank you,” Chen Heng said plainly, lifting his wide sleeve, his voice carrying a subtle, hard-to-detect heaviness:

“Please pack that Impudent Guest branch for me…”

“Alright… alright! No problem!” The vendor was both surprised and delighted, jumping to his feet.

After receiving the spirit coins, he glanced at the glowing treasure pouch and almost stared in disbelief.

“Short of funds? That’s what you call short of funds? What an excuse…

Wait! Was this guest hesitating whether to buy the flower, turning the matter over several times in his mind before finally deciding?”

The vendor chuckled quietly to himself.

When he looked up again, Chen Heng had already entered the Immortal Guest Residence, far out of sight.

…

In the corridor, Qing Zhi pressed her ear against the door crack, eyes narrowed solemnly in concentrated listening.

Though the door was closed, it was purposely left slightly ajar, and the two inside did not try to hide their conversation, so she could catch the gist.

Golden Core… Daoist… Zhuoguang Palace… Three Calamities… Tai Wen Miao, the Daoist Lord…

Just as Qing Zhi was fully absorbed, a flash of light filled the air, the door loosened, and she suddenly tumbled inside, rolling awkwardly several times before stopping against the corner of the room.

“Enjoying the eavesdropping?” At the tea table, Master Zhuojing’s gaze was calm and cold as he said lightly:

“You arrived just in time. The matter of the Void Sovereign Heaven concerns that Red Essence Tao Rong Wanfushen King, and we need your assistance.”

“I…” Qing Zhi had barely gotten up when she swallowed hard, pointed incredulously at herself, and exclaimed:

“Me?!”