World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 598: Shrouded in Mystery

One corpse after another was covered with white cloth and laid out before the palace. They died gruesome deaths, shattering their Primordial Spirits.

Although the Xinghai Sect's bell had not been rung, many sect disciples who had heard the news still gathered near the front palace, watching how the matter would develop.

All twenty-eight corpses were the Fengli Sect's female cultivators. When Wang Sheng arrived, he also discovered that among them was the fairy who had exchanged an immortal sword with him that day.

Several female disciples helped Lan Huilin, who supported her severely injured Dao Body, reach the front palace to identify the bodies. Naturally, she recognized them all.

Among the corpses, the one with the highest status was Jiang He, another disciple of the Fengli Sect's sect master and Lan Huilin's junior sister. Her middle dantian had been pierced straight through.

Wang Sheng felt his resolve waver slightly. If this was truly a self-wounding stratagem[1], then the Fengli Sect had been ruthlessly decisive to an extreme degree.

Among the twenty-seven other bodies were attendants who had followed the four immortal maidens to the recruitment pavilion, as well as a group of the Fengli Sect's cultivators who had previously been hiding on the planet. According to Lan Huilin's identification, the corpses were precisely the companions who had been ambushed alongside her earlier.

Only two fairies were still unaccounted for: Qiu Ying, the Fengli Sect's eldest disciple; and Qu Lian, the fourth disciple.

"Help Fairy Caiwei to the rear palace to rest," Wang Sheng said. Seeing the grief in Lan Huilin's face and the pain in her eyes, he couldn't bear to let her face the cold remains of her fellow martial sisters anymore.

Two female disciples stepped forward and acknowledged the order. Yao Xingzi then arranged for three trustworthy True Immortal Realm elders to guard Lan Huilin closely.

Due to past incidents, even the sect master could not be certain whether there were still traitors within the sect. If anything were to happen to Lan Huilin while she was in the Xinghai Sect, the Fengli Sect would surely refuse to let the matter rest.

Lishang's ascension to the Heavenly Immortal Realm had just recently given the Xinghai Sect the capabilities to rise, and their first recruitment campaign hadn't even concluded yet. This truly wasn't the right time to clash with the Fengli Sect.

An elder couldn't help but say, "This incident happened right outside our own gates. Does the Celestial Wind Sect intend to smear our reputation and provoke the Fengli Sect into taking action against us?"

"The Fengli Sect's people are not fools. Plus, considering we've only just managed to push back the Celestial Wind Sect, how could they possibly turn around and provoke the Fengli Sect now?" someone retorted.

Wang Sheng stood to the side in silence, gazing at the corpses beneath the white cloth as his thoughts continued to churn. Nearby, Mu Wanxuan also looked at the bodies, though she clearly focused more on the fact that the cultivators had met tragic ends.

These dead cultivators would now be left behind, forgotten by history.

"Lishang," Wang Sheng called. Sensing that they weren't in the right atmosphere, he immediately corrected himself. "Vice Sect Master, please come with me."

Lishang nodded lightly. She went with Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan to the rear of the palace.

Wang Sheng said, "Vice Sect Master, I plan to go back to the site of the incident to investigate again. May I leave my senior sister in your care? Until I return, you two must never be separated, not even by an inch."

Instead of prying further, Lishang simply replied, "Alright."

Mu Wanxuan looked as if she wanted to speak but hesitated. In the end, she could only smile reassuringly at her junior brother and take the initiative to stand beside Lishang.

Only then did Wang Sheng feel slightly more at ease. With Lishang protecting Mu Wanxuan, he no longer had to fear any unforeseen mishap.

Although he had said before that he would bring his senior sister with him wherever he went, there was just too much danger involved. The Fengli Sect's party had suffered deaths and disappearances, and the situation itself was still shrouded in mystery. No one knew who was plotting behind the scenes.

Wang Sheng wanted to see what had truly happened at the time and whether he could find any trace or clue. Hence, he intended to investigate using the Rewinding Light Art.

With Spiritless back to his side and Yaoyun having achieved a breakthrough, Wang Sheng could now rely on the unity of man and sword to temporarily push his cultivation beyond the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Combined with the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Art and Green Lotus Ultimate, he was confident that he could still withdraw safely even if he were up against three to five Heavenly Immortals.

Golden Immortal Realm...

A Golden Immortal and a Heavenly Immortal were in completely different leagues. Even though the two realms were adjacent, one only had to recall how a single wisp of the Eastern Kang Star Deity's residual spiritual consciousness had cut the Celestial Wind Sect down from prosperity to decline to understand just how terrifying a Golden Immortal truly was.

As Wang Sheng turned to leave, he heard two people call out to him from behind.

One was his senior sister, gentle and brief. The other was Lishang, issuing a reminder imbued with the concern of a superior toward their subordinate.

"Return safely..."

"If you encounter enemies, prioritize disengaging. Do not fight them head-on. Whatever comes, we can face it together."

Wang Sheng looked over his shoulder and smiled. He then strode out, concealed his aura, and headed toward the back mountain.

Upon sensing that he had exited the defensive array, Lishang looked at Mu Wanxuan, who was beside her. Seeing Mu Wanxuan's eyebrows tightly knit, she asked softly, "What is it? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Junior Brother." Mu Wanxuan smiled bitterly, then pointed to a nearby corner. "Cultivate."

She was trying to say that she wished to cultivate off to the side. That way, Lishang wouldn't have to divert any attention to her.

At that moment, Lishang looped a red cord around Mu Wanxuan's wrist and tied the other end to her own wrist. Mu Wanxuan blinked. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The vice sect master calmly explained, "I don't wish to break a promise, especially not to Elder Pi. He is one of the friends I value most. Since he asked that you and I not separate by even an inch, I shall see that task fulfilled. If this offends you, then when he returns, I will personally apologize to you."

Lishang then gestured for her to come with her to the front palace.

Mu Wanxuan raised her hand and rubbed her brow, feeling a headache coming on.

Nuwa's descendant seemed to be a little... endearingly earnest. Her stubbornness in particular bore more than a few similarities to her junior brother.

***

I have to think of a way to get the Xinghai Sect away from the celestial sects' vortex of conflict as early as possible. Cultivating in peace is more important than anything. Unfortunately, even though I can hold myself back from seeking revenge against the Celestial Wind Sect right now, they could still come knocking on our door themselves.

Wang Sheng reflected for a few moments, but the only response he received was a soft snort from Yaoyun.

"You actually entrusted Hua Qing to Goddess Nuwa's descendant."

"What's wrong with that? Senior Sister can't follow us into danger every time."

"Are you truly not afraid that Hua Qing will be bullied?"

Wang Sheng was speechless.

As if you weren't the one bragging to Lishang at the Lotus Pavilion back then!

Wang Sheng replied with emotion, "Haaa... It's too bad that I'm not Emperor Qin, who can just easily sweep away the thirteen qi planets."

Yaoyun fell silent for a while. Finally, she replied, "Just finish this quickly. Find out what truly happened and return immediately. If anything happens to Hua Qing, let's see how you regret it then."

"Mm, I'll finish this quickly," Wang Sheng replied.

After being separated for so long, he finally grasped Spiritless's hilt again. He rushed out of Fengmo's atmosphere, shot upward, and flew in a Golden Crow manifestation toward the ambush's location.

Due to his cultivation realm now, Wang Sheng's Soaring Red Feathers allowed him to arrive at the scene of the incident almost in the blink of an eye.

Some immortal power and primal qi that had yet to fully dissipate still lingered in the area. There were also floating fragments of broken artifacts, along with a large amount of blood that had already congealed into solid form.

From Fengmo, this route led to the Fengli Sect's two celestial bodies. Continuing straight ahead would require passing through the ancient battlefield.

A question rose in Wang Sheng's heart. "If their goal was simply to ambush Qiu Ying and Caiwei, would the ancient battlefield not have been more convenient?"

"Not necessarily," Yaoyun replied. "The Fengli Sect's disciples would likely have deliberately taken a detour or used other methods. It is extremely unlikely that they would take a straightforward route. Their assailants may have considered that as well and decided that attacking them just after they leave Fengmo is more reliable."

Wang Sheng nodded. "Good point."

He strapped Spiritless on his back and flew toward the ambush site's more central area. Looking at the artifact fragments, he rapidly formed hand signs.

This was one of the arts that Wang Sheng had honed with care. Back when he pursued Ziyun, it had cost him a huge amount of effort.

The signs aligned with the five directions. He made a sword finger gesture and pointed forward, causing a wisp of gray mist to ripple outward from around him and quickly cover a space with a diameter of several thousand meters.

Fragmented phantasms emerged from the blood droplets and artifact fragments.

This place differed from the ancient battlefield, which was filled with remnants that could be called "materials." If the corpses of the Fengli Sect's young ladies were still here, what Wang Sheng would see would naturally be complete scenes. Unfortunately, those corpses had already been moved back to Xinghai Sect.

Still, he wasn't stumped.

He shouted lightly, causing a tiny fairy with a dazzling cyan glow to fly out from Spiritless. The light she emitted absorbed the surrounding fragments.

Before long, a relatively complete "scene" appeared in Wang Sheng's mind.

This was an unspoken secret art—the "when in trouble, ask the sword spirit" art!

The ambush, identical to Lan Huilin's description, played in his mind. Dozens of black-clad figures who had concealed their identities suddenly charged in from all directions, ruthlessly and mercilessly massacring the Fengli Sect's group. Using immortal arts, they tore apart the maidens' hastily organized defensive line.

Wang Sheng saw a palm strike blast away Lan Huilin, who had been isolated and without support. Moreover, he saw a sword pierce through Jiang He, shattering her Primordial Spirit.

Several of their enemies also surrounded Qiu Ying and Qu Lian. Failing to fend them off, the two were ultimately captured.

Finally, the enemy party headed to the ancient battlefield as its final destination.

The surrounding mist gradually dispersed. Wang Sheng stood in space and pondered for a while, clearly somewhat hesitant.

Those people had gone to the ancient battlefield, which had a complex environment. Moreover, they had deliberately concealed their movements. Even if he chased after them, it would be difficult to track them down.

There weren't any physical objects from this point to the ancient battlefield, which meant he wouldn't be able to use the Rewinding Light Art. As long as the other party slightly altered their trajectory, they would become nearly impossible to pursue.

"The Fengli Sect doesn't seem to have anything to do with this either."

"It's still too early to draw conclusions. Let's head back for now. The enemy didn't pursue Lan Huiling despite having energy to spare, which in itself is already suspicious."

Wang Sheng's mind raced.

He recalled the direction in which Lan Huilin had been blasted to and then slowly searched that area. Using his immortal perception to carefully examine the surroundings, he found traces of Lan Huilin's remaining blood.

Wang Sheng quickly used the Rewinding Light Art on the bloodstains, limiting the art's range to within three meters. A scene appeared in his mind, showing Lan Huilin turning her head and rapidly flying toward Fengmo.

She looked remarkably calm. Despite being severely injured and on the brink of death, her eyes showed not the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Let's return to Fengmo."

With a shake of Wang Sheng's sleeves, the scene was dispersed. A hint of helplessness appeared in his gaze.

That former mining companion of his had ultimately still chosen to stand with her sect.

Yaoyun remarked, "There are fluctuations of auras from two Heavenly Immortals behind us."

"Let us go see which sect they belong to," Wang Sheng replied. He immediately headed toward the direction where Yaoyun sensed the two Heavenly Immortals' auras.

1. This is a reference to the stratagem of inflicting harm on oneself or allies to gain the enemy's trust in Thirty-Six Stratagems(三十六计). ☜