Published: March 8, 2025
Chapter 238: I Know You Are Here
The Sword Spirit, feeling displeased, said, “How could I deceive you!”
Chu Yang cheerfully replied, “That’s great! Recently, I’ve been feeling my strength is insufficient…”
“Insufficient strength?” The Sword Spirit scrutinized him and suddenly frowned. “Your current cultivation level is… how did you reach the seventh rank of the Emperor Sovereign?”
“Sixth rank!” Chu Yang corrected.
“Seventh rank!” The Sword Spirit retorted angrily. “How could I be wrong? With so much dao realm power within you, you’ve already broken through to the seventh rank; you are still dreaming! That kind of breakthrough cannot be compared to the breakthrough of the dao realm!”
“My cultivation level has advanced, but you seem a bit unhappy?” Chu Yang inquired.
“It’s not that I’m unhappy; I’m just puzzled,” the Sword Spirit murmured. “Logically speaking, you only have the Four Calamities Sword now, and at your level, you absolutely shouldn't have broken through to the Emperor of Swords’ seventh rank!”
Chu Yang was speechless: “Hmm?”
The Sword Spirit continued, “At this speed, wouldn’t you reach the supreme level with the seventh sword? Generations of Nine Calamity Sword Masters have never been this fast!”
Chu Yang was astonished: “Hmm?”
However, the Sword Spirit fell silent.
Chu Yang felt suspicious: “Could it be that generations of Nine Calamity Sword Masters have only been able to reach the supreme level by gathering all Nine Calamities, stabilizing the Nine Heavens?"
But the Sword Spirit said nothing, and Chu Yang naturally had no one to ask.
As they walked along, he noticed a peculiar phenomenon: the people on this entire street were clearly distinguishable.
On both sides of the road were ordinary merchants, crowds of outsiders, and then there were the members of the Zhuge family!
Three distinct groups. They seemed out of place, clearly defined.
Even first-time visitors could easily tell: which ones were from the Zhuge family, which were ordinary locals, and which were outsiders.
It was as if they wore labels on their chests!
But it was purely a distinction based on their inherent qualities.
“Young Master Chu must have noticed,” the guiding warrior smiled. “Anyone who seems composed and indifferent is a member of the Zhuge family; moreover, the Zhuge family is known as the leak of heaven's secrets and has its own ways of protecting itself. Therefore, while those with higher cultivation can see others' levels at a glance, they cannot discern the levels of those from the Zhuge family!”
Chu Yang nodded in appreciation. “This must be the Zhuge family’s ‘Concealing Light and Nurturing Weakness’ divine skill.”
“Young Master is indeed well-informed.” The warrior in blue chuckled.
“So here, conflicts are minimal. It is the most peaceful place,” the warrior in blue said with a smile.
“Hmm. Conflicts will increase soon.” Chu Yang nodded lightly.
The blue-clad warrior was taken aback. “Young Master is joking.”
As they walked, Chu Yang found many people exuding the distinctive fragrance of pharmacists. They were entering and exiting various inns, strolling along the streets.
However, his accommodation had not yet arrived, clearly not in this area.
He couldn't help but ask, “Where exactly is the Orchid Fragrance Garden? How far is it?”
The blue-clad warrior replied, “Just ahead; we’ll reach it after turning a couple of corners.”
Though he said it was ‘almost there,’ Chu Yang ended up walking for another half an hour before finally seeing the Orchid Fragrance Garden.
It was situated at the center of the city, a large mansion occupying a vast area! The carved beams and painted rafters were exquisite. Everywhere, blooming orchids wafted their fragrance.
Although it was in the city center, it was quite tranquil, possessing a unique elegance, as if saying, ‘While the world is intoxicated, I alone am awake, hiding among the crowds.’
The blue-clad man reported, and the gate of the Orchid Fragrance Garden creaked open, two middle-aged individuals respectfully welcomed them inside.