The name Yunxiao City is taken from an ancient poem: “Now a solitary traveler returns from rivers and seas; one day, a man of ten thousand miles among the clouds!”

It is a city of rogue cultivators, but contrary to what its name suggests, it is not built high among the clouds. Quite the opposite. This city is built within a valley, a heavily fortified stronghold surrounded by towering, pitch-black cliffs. The air is thick with the power of restrictive formations and Dao Rhythms, making the city appear sinister and terrifying from the outside.

If one didn’t know its name was Yunxiao City, many seeing it for the first time might suspect this place should be called the Palace of Yama instead.

“Most people in Yunxiao City are rogue cultivators. Among them are inevitably some who betrayed their sects or clans and are being hunted. As long as they follow the rules, they can receive protection from the City Lord.”

“Naturally, Yunxiao City is also the most heavily guarded. Flight is prohibited, and using cultivation is forbidden—or at least must not be discovered. Furthermore, there are no teleportation arrays. The only way to enter is through the city gates, and a curfew is enforced…”

While the caravan waited to enter, Su Rumei explained the rules to Gu Xiu. But as she spoke, she suddenly stopped.

She noticed that as Gu Xiu looked at Yunxiao City, a flicker of complexity passed through his eyes. However, before she could ask, Gu Xiu had already snapped back to attention. The complex emotion vanished without a trace, replaced by that hint of tranquility that seemed never to change.

Like a breeze, gently brushing past without sorrow or joy.

“Let’s go,” Gu Xiu said. Then, surprisingly, he stepped down from the carriage, stood with his hands behind his back, and walked forward at a leisurely pace toward the city.

Su Rumei was startled and hurriedly called out, “Fellow Daoist Feng, wait!”

“This is Yunxiao City. For first-timers, you need an entry guide; otherwise, you’ll trigger the city’s restrictions…”

But before she could finish her sentence, she saw Gu Xiu take a light step forward and walk right into Yunxiao City.

At this moment, Su Rumei was dumbfounded.

Gu Xiu… just went in like that? Without triggering any restrictions? No, not even the most basic restriction check appeared?

The reason Yunxiao City was so highly regarded was largely because its restrictive formations were extremely powerful. Ordinary people entering for the first time needed to obtain a guide token. Anyone trying to force their way in would trigger the grand formation for execution.

And even with a guide token, entering still required passing through a restriction check.

Just like now: Su Rumei had only taken a few steps when she was blocked by an invisible wall of air. Only when the jade token at her waist grew warm did that unseen restriction disappear.

It was nothing like Gu Xiu’s effortless entry.

Unless…

The Shadow nearby clearly had the same thought. “There’s a rumor that among Yunxiao City’s restrictive formations, there are several individuals listed as eternal friends. When they enter, they can bypass the checks!”

“Could it be that this Feng Bugui is one of them?”

“He…”

“What exactly is his background?”

…

While Su Rumei and the Shadow were wildly speculating about Gu Xiu’s identity, far away on Qiming Peak in the Qingxuan Sacred Land, someone was staring blankly at a jade token.

“Second Senior Sister, what are you doing? Someone with your personality actually spacing out?” Little Senior Sister Lu Qingyao leaned in curiously. “What’s this?”

Second Senior Sister Yuchi Chunlei snapped back to reality and replied with an honest smile, “This is an entry guide token for Yunxiao City.”

“Yunxiao City? That rogue cultivator city?” Lu Qingyao thought for a moment. “Second Senior Sister, have you been there?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“About five hundred years ago.”

“Huh?”

“Five hundred years ago, I went there with Gu Xiu,” Yuchi Chunlei answered straightforwardly.

But the mention of Gu Xiu instantly wiped away Lu Qingyao’s playful smile, replacing it with disgust. “Second Senior Sister, you’re not thinking about Gu Xiu again, are you?”

“I did think of him,” Yuchi Chunlei scratched her head and nodded.

Lu Qingyao curled her lip. “What’s there to think about with someone like that? A hopeless case who can’t be helped up, and on top of that, a despicable person with deep schemes. Just mentioning him dirties my mouth.”

“Little Junior Sister, you misunderstand,” Yuchi Chunlei shook her head with a smile. “Thinking of Gu Xiu doesn’t mean I miss him.”

“Then what is it?”

“I was thinking about whether he really took away our sect’s fortune source.”

The fortune source again? Lu Qingyao frowned. “Senior Sister, you don’t actually believe in that fortune source talk too, do you? Isn’t that all nonsense? In our entire sect, only Eldest Senior Sister believes it. How come you believe it too?”

“Little Junior Sister, you don’t understand,” Yuchi Chunlei shook her head.

Lu Qingyao was displeased and was about to speak when she heard Yuchi Chunlei say, “Although talk of fortune sources can’t be proven definitively, talk of Heavenly Dao fortune sources definitely isn’t groundless. I actually think fortune sources likely do exist.”

“Think about it: over these five hundred years, our sect has faced several crises but has also turned danger into safety each time.”

“And several times were purely due to luck.”

“Tell me: how can it be such a coincidence?”

“That’s because our sect is united as one! It’s because we sisters and Master worked together—our combined strength can cut through metal!” Lu Qingyao declared.

Yuchi Chunlei asked, “There must be a reason for everything. Then what about Little Junior Brother’s Dragon’s Roar Sword breaking this time?”

“This…” Lu Qingyao didn’t quite know how to refute that. After all, Second Senior Sister was a grandmaster artifact refiner; she certainly understood more. Still, she couldn’t help saying, “But Master said herself that talk of fortune sources is just conjecture. She’s a Mahayana Paragon; surely she can’t be wrong?”

“It’s true Master is a Mahayana Paragon,” Yuchi Chunlei said slowly. “And whether talk of fortune sources is true or false is another matter… But Little Junior Sister, have you ever considered: what if talk of fortune sources is true?”

“This…”

“What if our Qingxuan Sacred Land’s fortune source really was taken away by Gu Xiu?”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Lu Qingyao instantly gnashed her teeth in anger. “If he really dared do such a thing, I would definitely pull out his tendons! Flay his skin! Lock his soul inside a dog! Make him live as a dog for all eternity!”

Yuchi Chunlei laughed heartily. “That won’t do.”

“Second Senior Sister! You’re not going to speak up for Gu Xiu now too?” Lu Qingyao complained.

“That’s not it,” Yuchi Chunlei shook her head. “I just think if we really must do something like that… better choose some other animal instead. After all… I quite like eating dog meat. I wouldn’t want my image of dogs tainted because of Gu Xiu.”

“Pfft!” Lu Qingyao couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Second Senior Sister! Master always says you’re too blunt! I didn’t expect you could beat around the bush too!”

“Well… I can’t keep getting scolded by Master forever,” Yuchi Chunlei replied with an honest smile.

Lu Qingyao patted her chest in relief. “Hearing you say that puts me at ease, Second Senior Sister! I thought maybe like Eldest Senior Sister… you’d been bewitched by that scheming villain Gu Xiu too… still unable to forget him…”

“How could that be?” Yuchi Chunlei shook her head without hesitation. She glanced at the Yunxiao City guide jade token in her hand, then crushed it without any lingering attachment, tossing it into her forging furnace.

“Him? How could he possibly be worthy?”

“What I was thinking about just now… was something else entirely.”

“What were you thinking about, Second Senior Sister?” Lu Qingyao asked curiously.

Yuchi Chunlei watched as the flames within the furnace intensified, reflecting in her eyes.

“I’m thinking…”

“How I should…”

“Kill Gu Xiu!”