Chapter 60: Entering the Country

Lingyu focused intently on the spirit talisman before her, the talisman brush in her hand moving lightly as she drew stroke after stroke, conjuring a dozen intricate runes that flowed with effortless grace. Though they appeared chaotic, they followed a unique order. At last, with a gentle dot—like breathing life into a dragon—she swept her brush, and the entire talisman suddenly radiated with spiritual energy, dazzling with brilliance.

Below the talisman, the spirit sword, once gleaming with a chilling light, gave a sharp crack and broke into several pieces, its glow fading, reduced to a pile of scrap metal. Correspondingly, on the talisman, a small sword motif emerged in relief, shimmering with gold, almost ready to leap from the talisman itself.

"Success!" Lingyu exclaimed in delight, cradling the artifact talisman, tempted to kiss it. But she dared not; a careless touch of saliva might ruin it—not that a high-level talisman could be destroyed so easily, but it was so precious she was extra cautious.

She gazed at it lovingly for quite some time before reluctantly placing it in an empty jade box, which she stowed in her storage pouch. After some thought, she decided it wasn't quite right, took it out, examined it from all angles, and finally tucked it into her bosom. A moment later, still dissatisfied, she slipped it into her belt for easy access. Not long after, fearing it might get damaged, she sandwiched it inside a book and put it back in her bosom.

After fussing over it for a while, she was finally satisfied. With the artifact talisman completed, she no longer needed to ask Zhang Qingshu to buy her spirit swords. Having relied on him time and again, she felt embarrassed.

Within two days, word arrived from Han Funing: the message on the paper crane contained only a few words: "The candidates are chosen. Come quickly."

What a coincidence—neither too soon nor too late.

With the artifact talisman in hand, Lingyu was content. She packed up her belongings and headed to the high platform on the mountainside.

Behind this platform was a small cave, the elders’ usual place for strategizing. The entrance was tiny, camouflaged with chains and wooden boards; without careful attention, one would never notice it.

When Lingyu arrived, the cramped cave was already packed with people—about thirty, most of them cultivators. Among such a crowd, her cultivation at the sixth stage of Qi Refinement seemed low, but there were others even lower: Fan Xianshu was one, and Luo Yun, the eldest grandson of Luo Tonglin from the Palace of Great Void, had somehow squeezed in as well. She also spotted Ding Huaqing and Meng Xuefeng; one was at the sixth stage, the other at the seventh—just about adequate.

Soon, everyone had arrived. With a glance from Elder Feng, Han Funing stepped forward.

This fellow had been quite prominent lately; all the senior members knew that if the Pillar of Heaven failed to be repaired, the path to the Upper Realm would be their last hope. Entrusting such a matter to Han Funing would surely provoke dissent, but he happened to be favored by Master Yutang and supported by Elder Feng. Neither the Limitless Temple nor the True Essence Temple could find a better candidate and so conceded his authority.

Fortunately, Han Funing was clever, holding only the most critical information while distributing other powers, maintaining a relative balance.

"Fellow cultivators," Han Funing addressed them calmly, his voice neither loud nor soft, "We all know why we are gathered here. Tomorrow, we set out into the unknown, seeking a way to survive. We carry not just our own fate, but that of our sects and this world. I ask only one thing: before you depart, reflect on yourself, your fellow disciples, your friends and family. Act honestly, and let your conscience be clear."

With that, he said no more, handing a stack of booklets to a young attendant, who distributed them one by one.

Lingyu accepted hers and was slightly surprised. The booklet contained information about the Southern Immortal Realm—from terrain to resources, dangers to opportunities—comprehensively compiled. The authors’ names made it clear that all three major temples had worked together to produce this. She hadn’t expected such unity in so short a time, nor that such valuable information would be shared.

It seemed there was genuine hope of finding the path to the Upper Realm.

"This material must be studied thoroughly. Once you enter the Immortal Realm, you’ll pass through a hurricane passage; whether you stay together depends on luck—others cannot be relied upon." Elder Feng spoke coolly from his seat, his presence sharp as a blade.

Everyone’s heart tightened; they bowed respectfully. "Yes."

Next, another attendant distributed storage pouches—just from their appearance, it was clear they were not the common goods used by ordinary disciples. Lingyu received hers and, upon exploring its contents, was momentarily stunned. Inside were not only numerous spirit stones but also thick stacks of talismans and countless elixirs. Such generosity!

After a few brief words from the elders, the gathering dispersed.

As the disciples of Xuan Yuan Temple were leaving, Han Funing called them aside to a secluded spot.

The disciples of Xuan Yuan Temple were few—counting Han Funing, only ten: five disciples and five cultivators. The disciples included two at the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, two at the sixth, and one at the seventh; among the cultivators, three were at the ninth stage and two at the eighth, with Hua Tongxu among them.

Lingyu immediately understood: the three cultivators at the ninth stage were the main force, with the disciples included to balance the factions—after all, besides the three major temples, there were others involved. Of course, this main force was the sect’s perspective; in Han Funing’s mind, perhaps she and Fan Xianshu were more trustworthy.

"Elder Feng asked me to pass on his words," Han Funing said coolly. "If you enter the Immortal Realm and fail to find the path to the Upper Realm, so be it. But if you do find it, be wary of everyone else."

This left the group momentarily stunned. Luo Yun couldn’t resist asking, "Why?"

Han Funing glanced at him, indifferent and remote. "The Immortal Realm is full of rare herbs and treasures. If the path isn’t found, everyone will focus on survival. But if it is found... once greed awakens, it cannot be suppressed."

Lingyu recalled the sect rivalry at Baishui Temple years ago and nodded lightly.

The five cultivators remained calm; Lingyu and Meng Xuefeng were unfazed; Fan Xianshu’s expression was unreadable; only Luo Yun and Ding Huaqing murmured softly.

Han Funing turned his gaze to Luo Yun, his eyes flashing sharply. "Luo Yun, I was against you coming. With your cultivation, survival in the Immortal Realm will be difficult. Since you’re here, don’t blame me for not warning you—inside, even your life may be at risk, and you’ll have only yourself to rely on."

Called out in front of everyone, Luo Yun felt uncomfortable and muttered, "You yourself brought two with low cultivation..."

Having said his piece, Han Funing didn’t bother further. "Alright, go rest. Prepare well. Sometimes, the arrangement you make on a whim is what saves your life."

The group took their leave.

Lingyu, among them, was about to depart when Han Funing tossed her a storage pouch. "This is from Sister Liu. Keep it."

Lingyu held the pouch, standing dazed for a moment before regaining her composure and thanking him, her voice trembling. She wasn’t sure if she was thanking Han Funing or Liu Weiyi.

Back in her tent, Lingyu immediately began preparations. Spirit stones were for absorbing spiritual energy; after battle, the speed of restoring vital energy determined one’s safety, making spirit stones indispensable. Elixirs replenished vital energy, cured poison, healed wounds—each had its use. Talismans were crucial, their quantity directly affecting a cultivator’s combat effectiveness.

She placed these three items where they’d be easiest to access, putting everything else in her miscellaneous pouch, tucked into her bosom.

The talismans from Liu Weiyi, delivered by Han Funing, came in thick stacks. Lingyu recalled that Liu Weiyi was a pure sword cultivator, who never cared much for talisman arts. Her eyes reddened. Sword techniques couldn’t be improved at the last minute, so even if she looked down on talismans, Master Liu still sent her some...

She took a deep breath, relaxed, and gripped a spirit stone to begin meditation.

The night passed smoothly. At dawn, over thirty people assembled. Elder Feng and several other elders summoned a paper boat, carrying them up toward the Pillar of Heaven.

Standing on the paper boat, Lingyu watched the ground recede, the cultivators below shrinking, yet her heart felt unusually serene. Zhang Qingshu had said the repair of the Pillar would begin tomorrow, lasting days or even months. Now that it had failed, their lives might be numbered in days...

He knew nothing of the Immortal Realm, focusing his passion on repairing the Pillar. Lingyu could only hope silently for both the Pillar’s restoration and the discovery of the Upper Realm’s path. The tragic death of Shi Jingbai was enough to make her grieve; she didn’t want to lose any more friends or family in this world, even if she might never see them again...

Lost in thought, the paper boat came to a halt. An elder in red from the Limitless Temple called out, "Everyone, disembark!"

Lingyu turned and saw that, suspended in midair above the Pillar of Heaven, there was a small platform, like a natural arena.

One by one, everyone filed out and walked to the center. Lingyu then noticed a small opening at its heart, just large enough for one person. Inside, flowers bloomed in vivid colors, radiant against the pale stone of the Pillar.

"This is it," Elder Feng pointed at the hole. "Next, you’ll jump in one by one—remember, as soon as you go in, the hurricane will sweep you away. No one knows where you’ll end up; perhaps right into the jaws of a monster. All you can do is pray for good luck."

With that, he ignored everyone else and began calling names. "Han Funing, you first."

Han Funing said nothing, saluted the elders with a fist, and leapt in.

When his figure vanished, the scene in the hole remained unchanged, leaving everyone wondering if they’d seen it wrong.

Lingyu didn’t dwell on it, quietly reciting scriptures as she waited her turn. When it came, she was calm as still water.

She drew her Kanli Sword, slapped a protection talisman onto herself, gripped an explosive talisman, and jumped lightly into the opening.

The moment she entered, a rush of wind swept her up, and she felt herself whisked away, carried by the current, blown outward.