Volume One: Autumn Festival Chapter Twenty-Seven: Oh, My Golden Core!

The night was adorned with twinkling stars, and the moonlight hung hazy and dim. Jiang Wang looked toward the courtyard where candlelight flickered; Zhao Si was still engrossed in his painting.

He turned to the white-robed cultivator and asked, "Where is Xiaoyu? Why haven't I seen her all day?"

Even in the spot where she often practiced her swordplay, there was no sign of her.

The white-robed cultivator replied, "When my brother went out, he noticed Xiaoyu following behind. I asked her about it, and she said she was just going to buy some things. By all accounts, she should have returned long ago."

Jiang Wang felt a sense of unease.

It wasn't just that the Marquis’s estate lacked nothing, or that Xiaoyu had no interest in rouge or powder, making such an outing unusual; it was the fact that she had been gone for so long without returning.

He immediately told the white-robed cultivator to find her, but after a moment's thought, he decided to go out himself.

However, before he could step out of the estate gates, a voice came from the bare banyan tree: "If you step outside this gate now, you may very well lose your life."

Jiang Wang turned to look at the banyan tree. A bird was perched clearly upon a branch.

"Are you fond of the trees on my property?" Jiang Wang said indifferently. "Why would I lose my life by stepping outside? Do not spread such monstrous lies."

The bird replied, "Stop pretending. I have already said that I have been observing you these past few days. The problem with you has long been seen through by me."

Jiang Wang's expression tightened, and he sneered, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

The bird continued, "There are seekers of immortality in Hun City, and the traces of demons are growing daily. In truth, their goals are the same: cultivators seek immortality to completely expel demons from the human realm and to obtain the method of eternal life, while the goal of the demons is to kill the immortals."

"Do you know why, to this day, no high-level seekers of immortality have come to Hun City?"

"It is because more powerful demons are wreaking havoc, forcing their attention to shift elsewhere, leaving them able only to send low-level Dongming cultivators to scout the path in Hun City."

"Let alone the vicinity of Hun City, even within the vastness of the entire Kutan region, there is no existence stronger than me. The one who finds the immortal first is destined not to be a cultivator."

Jiang Wang frowned deeply.

The bird pressed on, "Do you know why I am here?"

Jiang Wang said in a low voice, "Whether they seek or kill immortals, what does that have to do with me? Why you are here—what does that have to do with me?"

The bird said, "You are truly stubborn. Few cultivators in this world know what it is like when an immortal descends, but I am very clear on it."

"Those seekers of immortality treat the 'mirage' as an omen of an immortal's arrival, but in truth, the 'mirage' that once hung high above Qixia Street is not an omen at all."

"Although they have spent centuries on the road to immortality, how many truly believe in their hearts that immortals exist?"

"Most so-called seekers of immortality do not believe in the existence of immortals, or they harbor deep doubts, because from beginning to end, they have never seen one."

The bird spoke with a hint of disdain, "Their desire to seek immortality is mostly a form of psychological comfort. Lacking the ability to defeat the demons themselves, they pin all their hopes on immortals, believing that once they find one, they can slaughter all the demons in the world."

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that there are no immortals in this world?"

The bird was silent for a moment before saying, "Naturally, there are immortals in this world."

Its crystal-blue eyes stared at Jiang Wang. "Do you think I am a demon?"

Jiang Wang asked, surprised, "Are you not?"

The bird replied, "I am a demon now, but I was once a deity named Yeyou."

Jiang Wang smiled faintly. "The God of Night Wandering? That is merely an immortal from worldly folklore. Besides, in the legends, the God of Night Wandering is not a bird, and the night heron that bears the name only shares a slight resemblance to you."

The bird said, "Deities are not immortals; they are subordinates of the immortals. The High Immortal I served has fallen, and my divine rank has crumbled, causing me to degenerate into a monster. If I can find a new immortal master, in time, I can return to my divine seat."

Jiang Wang frowned. "I don't understand what you are saying. Whether you are a demon or a deity, it has nothing to do with me. I am going out to find Xiaoyu; get out of my way."

The bird flapped its wings and flew in front of Jiang Wang, saying, "I have made it very clear: as long as you stay in Hun City, the monsters will eventually raze this place to the ground. I need you, and you currently need me. With my help, even if you leave the safety of this perimeter, you will be able to manifest that power."

Jiang Wang halted his stride.

The bird landed directly on his shoulder and said again, "I know where that Qingxuan Bureau cultivator is today, and I know your little maid is looking for him. If those two meet, you know very well what the outcome will be."

"I am being very sincere. I have been in the Marquis’s estate for these past few days; if I wanted to harm you, you would have been gone long ago. Without the power of the 'mirage,' going alone is simply throwing your life away, and you won't be able to save the little maid. This is a very easy choice to make."

Jiang Wang fell silent.

He turned his head toward the bird and asked, "Why would Xiaoyu go looking for that man for no reason? Is this just an excuse to deceive me?"

The bird explained, "When you were in that standoff, Xiaoyu was hiding by the Moon Gate. The look in her eyes as she watched the Qingxuan Bureau cultivator was filled with deep hatred. Perhaps there is an irreconcilable enmity between them."

Jiang Wang felt a stir in his heart.

Could the man in the brocade robe be related to the time Xiaoyu was hunted by cultivators?

"Fine, what should I do?"

"Why would I deceive you? If I wanted to possess you, I wouldn't need your consent..." The bird was still rambling, then suddenly paused. "You agree?"

Jiang Wang said in a low voice, "Stop the nonsense. If there is something to be done, do it quickly!"

The bird became visibly excited. "Simple!"

It opened its beak, and a golden core flew out, sinking directly into Jiang Wang's brow.

Jiang Wang’s muscles tensed instantly. The image of the mirage appeared clearly in his mind. He watched with his own eyes as the golden core flew into the 'mirage.'

"What is this?"

In a moment of trance, he felt as if a very close connection had been formed with the bird.

But the bird suddenly shrieked.

"This isn't right! You are not an immortal?!"

"The Divine Realm can only be glimpsed by the most powerful peak cultivators; only a true immortal can forge one. You clearly possess a Divine Realm, so why are you not an immortal!"

A true Divine Realm is vast, with arranged immortal ranks and specific divine positions, but Jiang Wang's Divine Realm was empty—there was nothing there!

"My golden core!" The bird was devastated and tried to pull the core back, but the power of the 'mirage' surged forth and swallowed it whole.

Immediately following, inside the empty 'mirage,' the image of a pitch-black divine bird appeared, its glowing blue eyes radiating light.

Jiang Wang looked at the bird, which had gone limp, and asked, "What is going on?"

The moment the golden core was swallowed, Jiang Wang realized that the bird was indeed a deity. It seemed that because it had been shielded in time, he hadn't been able to discern more.

The God of Night Wandering slumped on Jiang Wang’s shoulder, looking utterly broken.

"This is impossible, why is it like this..."

Jiang Wang wanted to ask more, but seeing its state, he knew he wouldn't get any answers.

Setting aside all his doubts for the moment, he walked straight out of the Marquis’s estate.

Standing on Qixia Street, he tapped the head of the God of Night Wandering and asked, "Where is Xiaoyu?"

The God of Night Wandering murmured, "South City Lane."

As soon as it finished speaking, it covered its head and began to wail.

Jiang Wang's mouth twitched just as the white-robed cultivator returned. "Master Jiang, I could not find Xiaoyu."

"I know where she is."

Mentioning South City Lane, he subconsciously thought of the Du family.

*I hope you aren't the ones behind this.*

He felt the power surging endlessly within him and attempted to step beyond Qixia Street.

The power did not diminish in the slightest.

Jiang Wang lifted his gaze, a grim smile spreading across his lips.

...

South City Lane, the Du family estate.

The green-robed cultivator stood outside the estate wall.

Although Akong had returned to the Du residence with Tan Laoliu in a very cautious manner, there had been commoners along the way. The green-robed cultivator had only needed a little time to track them down.

He had intended to investigate and leave, but he had unexpectedly discovered Xiaoyu.

Because Xiaoyu hadn't followed too closely, and because it was dusk when she left with many people on the streets, the green-robed cultivator had been focused entirely on tracking Akong and Tan Laoliu, so he hadn't noticed her immediately.

When he finally confirmed his targets were inside the Du house, Xiaoyu suddenly scaled the wall.

The green-robed cultivator hesitated for a moment before vaulting over the wall into the Du estate as well.

Akong was in the courtyard, gnawing on a chicken leg.

Xiaoyu walked straight past her.

The green-robed cultivator blinked in surprise at the sight.

*What is going on?*

But just as he was stunned, Akong flung her massive scythe.

The green-robed cultivator immediately swung his sword to parry, retreating several yards.

*Why only attack me?*

He had followed them over the wall out of concern that Xiaoyu might be in danger. Why was Xiaoyu being ignored while he was the one under attack?

Could it be that because Xiaoyu was merely a martial artist with a low cultivation level, she wasn't considered a threat?

And because he posed a great danger, he was the first to be targeted?

*Yes, that must be it.*

Akong reached out and recalled the scythe to her hand. Looking at the green-robed cultivator, she said flatly, "You are too weak. Even if you found your way here, you won't have a chance to send any message back."

The green-robed cultivator’s face darkened as he said in a low voice, "The little girl certainly has a sharp tongue. You rely only on your strange strength; in terms of cultivation, I am far superior to you."

Back at the Marquis’s estate, the white-robed cultivator had recounted his brief clash with Akong.

As long as he was cautious, he did not believe he would lose to her.

Throwing the chicken bone on the ground, Akong wiped her hands on her black dress and, as if in provocation, gave the green-robed cultivator a look of disdain.

How could he endure this?

The green-robed cultivator lunged forward, his long sword enveloped in Yellow Court Qi, dragging a trail of sword shadows through the air as he struck directly at Akong’s face!

He had to get away quickly.

Even though the man in the brocade robe had been severely wounded by Master Jiang, he was by no means someone Xiaoyu could contend with.

While the green-robed cultivator was busy fighting Akong, Xiaoyu had already knocked out several Du family servants in succession. She was charging recklessly toward the interior of the house.

Tan Laoliu was drinking wine in the pavilion.

Seeing Xiaoyu’s figure appear, he chuckled softly, "I wondered why my eyelid kept twitching. So, the fish that escaped the net three and a half years ago has come knocking on my door of her own volition."