Painting of the Nine Immortals

Translator: _Tat_ Editor: Rundi

Yuezhou is one of the nine continents in the Taoism community.

The land here is enormous with endless amount of resources that can be collected to make effective medicine and weapons.

Since ancient times, Yuezhou has been a place where many Heaven's Favorites were born. There have been far too historically famous heroes born from this land. That is why this continent has a reputation for being rich and bountiful.

In other words, what Yuezhou needed the least is Heaven's Favorites.

Because of the generous number of Heaven's Favorites, Yuezhou's capability as a continent is much higher than many of the other continents. The only continent that is stronger is the one that is able to make people turn pale at the mere mention of it - the main continent. It means other than the main continent, Yuezhou is very high in status. Just like a king on the top, it peers down on the other continents.

To Ling Xian, this continent was a place he would find hard to forget.

At the moment, the Sun was just about to rise. At the border between Yuezhou and Yunzhou, a young man in white suddenly appeared. He had sharp brows, bright eyes, and a handsome face. His temperament in particular was even more unique, just like a descended immortal who was beyond all beings.

It was Ling Xian.

Yunzhou and Yuezhou were extremely far apart. Normally, it would take a cultivator years to cross the border. However, because Ling Xian had the Winged Blitz and was at the completion level, it didn't take him too long to travel here.

Plus, there is something called spatial portal in this world.

Therefore, after roughly half years of traveling, Ling Xian finally arrived at the border between Yunzhou and Yuezhou.

As soon as he took a step forward, he would come to the most prosperous continent in this world, Yuezhou. However, this step is to make him stagnant and difficult to take.

"Yuezhou, you are truly a place that I both love and hate." Ling Xian sighed gently. His legs felt as heavy as mountains as he struggled to take this one step.

During the lost century, he visited Yuezhou. He also spent a major chunk of his time here. There were people he longed to visit, scenery he longed to see. There were things he hated, and places he loathed.

It was in Yuezhou where he learned how love, hate, greed, and stupidity worked. It was also in Yuezhou where he experienced tragedy, happiness, and a turmoil of emotions.

Even though the lost century was just a mirage and it was not real, the events that happened and the people he met there were truly existed. This was something Ling Xian had realized when he encountered Tang Thirteen.

If everything that happened during the lost century was pure imagination, then the person Tang Thirteen would not exist. Since he encountered Tang Thirteen, it meant everything that happened in that world was real.

Only Ling Xian himself was a replica. Or more accurately, his journey there was fake.

He had pondered about it before and deduced that the Hidden Territory had the power to design and create different tracks for different people depending on the person. Then, the Hidden Territory forced the person into a state of dream in order to experience different flavors of emotions and life.

In other words, the journey Ling Xian experienced inside the Hidden Territory was fake, but the places and the people were completely real.

This made him both happy and a bit sad. He was happy because he would get to meet everyone he'd encountered before. He was sad since the people he wanted to meet would not be able to recognize him.

"I wonder if the enemies I will run into are as powerful as they were during the lost century. I wonder how my old friends are doing." Ling Xian's expression was nostalgic as he remembered the enemies and friends he'd made during the lost century.

Then, the face of a woman that's imprinted in his memory appeared.

The woman was very much alluring and her appearance was as beautiful as a real fairy. She was graceful, gentle, and stands out in a crowd.

From first sight to acquaintance, from acquaintance to mutual understanding, to love - scene of happiness appeared in Ling Xian's mind and flashed by like a parade. It brought a smile to his lips and formed a warm grin.

However, the last image that flashed by froze in place and the smile on his face completely disappeared all at once. It was replaced with bitterness and agony.

That day, he was going through God's Trial and was bathed by the holy water to be transformed to the original level.

Everyone somewhat prominent or powerful all came to watch. It was clamorous and very much busy. Just as he was about to succeed in his breakthrough, he was betrayed by the person he loved the most.

Everything he was, everything he owed, was stripped away by that woman. The method she used to take everything away from him was also extremely cruel and ruthless.

That day, he tasted the agony of being betrayed by his most beloved, and also understood what was called heartbreak. Even though he knew at the moment that those things were not real, he still couldn't help but feel a little bit sad.

"Yu Wu Xiu…"

Ling Xian sighed deeply. Remembering this shrewd woman whom he both loved and hated, he mumbled, "I wonder if I will meet you again this time."

The moment he spoke, he shook his head and corrected, "No, I will definitely meet you again."

As he spoke, he sighed again and again in helplessness.

Originally, he had no plans to come to Yuezhou. Despite all the good memories he made here, this was a also place that saddened him greatly. Sad memories always seem to weigh more than happy ones.

However, because Yuezhou was the closest to Yunzhou and he also planned on acquiring some fortune - he decided that this place was his best bet.

The fortune he was looking for required him to go to the Shang Qing Sect - one of the controlling forces of Yuezhou. This was why Ling Xian claimed that he would definitely run into the woman that he both hated and loved.

He just didn't know who would scheme whom this time.

"The last time that event happened was in the Shang Qing Sect. It seems like I need to plan ahead for myself now."

Ling Xian chased away the image of Yu Wu Xiu out of his mind and began to meticulously plan what he needs to do to get the fortune he wanted.

After all, the Shang Qing Sect was one of the controlling forces of Yuezhou with powerfulness that was impossible to imagine. If he didn't have a detailed plan, he would not be able to snatch the food out of a tiger's mouth and get his hands on what he wants.

As to how he could pull this off… Ling Xian wasn't too certain. After thinking about it over and over, there seemed to only be one way.

That is, he had to join the Shang Qing Sect.

After all, the Shang Qing Sect was extremely powerful. Getting his hands on stuff through brutal force was a no go. The only way for him to succeed was to infiltrate the sect from the inside, gain their trust and finally steal the fortune at the most critical moment.

"It appears that this is the only way."

Ling Xian frowned. Even after pondering for a long while, he still could not find a better way. So he couldn't help but to sigh, "I sure am fated to be with the Shang Qing Sect. During the lost century, I became a part of them, now I have to do so again."

"Whatever. For what I want to achieve, I will have to compromise."

Ling Xian made his decision to infiltrate the upper management of the Shang Qing Sect. This was the only way for him to gain the elders' trust, and then from there he would find an opportunity to get his hands on the fortune and plot against them.

His entire body relaxed after he made his final decision. Especially after he realized how much benefits he would receive after joining the sect, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

A cold smile, though.

"In the Hidden Territory, although the Shang Qing Sect accepted me, you already knew that Yu Wu Xiu was planning on stealing my intelligence and aptitude. Because of that, you never taught me real techniques from the House. You only taught me some beginner and easy tricks."

Ling Xian's eyes flashed with anticipation and mumbled to himself, "Today, I must enter your sect and learn all the techniques you've inherited and created."

Then, he marched forward one small step and crossed the border between Yunzhou and Yuezhou.

He also crossed over the curb in his heart.

As to whether or not he was truly over it, he wasn't too sure himself. Perhaps only after he met the people and experienced the things, he would truly know and understand.