Chapter Twenty-One: The Elusive Art of Magic

Of course, there were still quite a few people who did not kneel; these were mostly those who already knew of cultivators’ existence and understood that cultivators were not truly immortals but simply mortals with stronger abilities. In fact, Wang Changsheng even noticed several cultivators lurking among the crowd—these people were even less likely to kneel.

Wang Changsheng himself did not kneel either, though he did take a few steps back, trying not to draw attention to himself.

“This Crown Prince is truly remarkable—what a cunning move!” Wang Changsheng murmured to himself. “‘Respectfully welcome the immortal’? Surely, this is meant to mislead the common folk and bolster his own reputation!”

Such a tactic was transparent to Wang Changsheng. To the common people, if the Crown Prince was receiving immortals, did that not mean even the immortals supported him? Naturally, the masses would become even more convinced that the Crown Prince was destined for the throne.

Wang Changsheng couldn’t help but sigh—no one raised within the imperial family was ever simple.

Before long, several figures appeared upon the cloud barge. Leading them was a woman, her face veiled by gauze, her white garments fluttering—clearly, she was no ordinary figure.

Wang Changsheng did not recognize her.

“Rise,” the woman spoke softly.

Her voice was quiet, yet it reached every ear present as though it was spoken directly into their minds. Immediately after, the crowd watched as she floated off the cloud barge, descending gently toward the square.

“Is she truly an immortal? She’s flying! She’s flying!”

“I saw an immortal! I saw her! I must make a wish, I must make a wish!”

“What’s so special about flying? My cousin’s family has a younger girl who can jump that high—she can even leap onto rooftops if she tries hard enough!”

The kneeling crowd had barely stood up when they saw the white-clad woman float down from the cloud barge. The barge was no small height—any normal person falling from there would be shattered to pieces. Yet this woman descended as if weightless, and many among the commoners became even more convinced they were witnessing an immortal.

“I can’t discern her cultivation...” Wang Changsheng muttered gravely.

He could not perceive anything of the woman’s level. Not only her—even the maidservant-like figures still standing on the cloud barge had cultivations beyond his perception.

“If I can’t even see through the maids’ cultivation, they must be beyond the Open Meridian Realm!” Wang Changsheng said quietly. “Who knows which great power from Shentian Domain they belong to? No wonder they possess a cloud barge.”

Of course, it didn’t matter which power they belonged to—Wang Changsheng didn’t know any of them. After all, he had only passed through Shentian Domain once and had not spent as much time there as in Chengtian Domain.

The leading woman walked up to the Crown Prince and asked softly, “Where are my junior sisters?”

“They’re in the palace!” The Crown Prince replied with a flattering smile, looking nothing like a man about to inherit the throne.

“Send out invitations—three months from now, invite all peers from Chengtian Domain to gather here,” the woman said again.

With that, she brushed past the Crown Prince and headed toward the palace.

The Crown Prince had meant to exchange a few pleasantries, to build rapport—for he knew well that while his chances of inheriting the throne were high, nothing was certain yet. If he could strengthen his ties with these cultivators, he might not even need to lift a finger for the throne to come to him.

Unfortunately, the woman gave him no opportunity, leaving him standing there awkward and embarrassed.

“Didn’t you hear? Send out the invitations!” the Crown Prince said darkly to the two cultivators behind him. “If your cultivation was higher, would I need to curry favor with them?”

The two cultivators at the Open Meridian Realm looked at him, wanting to speak but finally only cupping their hands and saying, “Yes, Your Highness.”

They were helpless. Even if their cultivation were higher, could they afford to offend these women? That would be asking for a short life indeed.

Others might not know the identity of these women, but the two cultivators had been around in Shentian Domain for many years. They might not know who exactly the woman was, but the cloud barge’s insignia was unmistakable.

Yungong Peak!

The leading power of Shentian Domain!

Though Wang Changsheng couldn’t hear their conversation, he saw the Crown Prince’s expression clearly after the woman left.

“There’s a story here...” Wang Changsheng murmured.

But he wasn’t interested in that. What concerned him was—when would cultivators be allowed to leave the city?

Before long, soldiers began dispersing the onlookers. Wang Changsheng followed the crowd toward the city gate.

At the gate, he saw there was no congestion; people entered and exited in good order.

As he approached, Wang Changsheng decided to try his luck. Whatever happened, it shouldn’t concern him—even if there were cultivators guarding the gate, surely they wouldn’t make trouble for him.

“Fellow Daoist, please wait,” a faint voice sounded in his ear just as he neared the gate, before the soldiers could check him.

Looking up, he saw an elder on the city wall, gazing at him with a half-smile.

“And what advice does fellow Daoist have for me?” Wang Changsheng sent back a message with his mind.

“Do you not know? The capital is sealed to cultivators. No one can leave—only enter,” the elder’s voice came.

“Oh?” Wang Changsheng inquired, “Since when?”

“Never mind since when. The point is, you can’t leave right now,” the elder said gravely. “Have patience. It shouldn’t be long before the restriction is lifted.”

“Is there no way to make an exception?” Wang Changsheng frowned. “I truly have urgent business outside the city.”

“Haha...” the elder chuckled. “Every cultivator who wants to leave claims urgent business, but so far, none have succeeded.”

“Very well.”

Wang Changsheng cupped his hands in salute and left the gate.

He then tried the remaining three city gates in turn. Each was guarded by cultivators, and he was detected as soon as he approached, then politely turned away.

“I’ve suppressed my aura, yet they can still tell I’m a cultivator...” Wang Changsheng’s expression grew grave. “The cultivators guarding these gates must be at the peak of the Open Meridian Realm!”

He was now certain—cultivators genuinely could not leave the city!

Returning to Fang Qing’s courtyard, Wang Changsheng found Fang Qing not cultivating, so he recounted all that had just happened.

After listening, Fang Qing showed no concern about leaving the city. Instead, his eyes grew bright. “So, the Crown Prince hasn’t actually gained their support?”

“That’s right, judging by their expressions,” Wang Changsheng replied.

“That’s great! That’s great!” Fang Qing exclaimed, excitement lighting his features. “It seems the Fourth Prince still has a chance to turn things around!”

“Thank you, Senior Brother. I’ll head out for a bit!” Fang Qing stood up, cupped his hands, and prepared to dash off.

“Get back here!” Wang Changsheng’s face darkened. “Where do you think you’re going? Planning to stir up trouble?”

“You know the Crown Prince’s people are still looking for you. I saw the two cultivators with him—they’re at least at the third level of the Open Meridian Realm. If you get caught, do you think you’ll survive?”

“No, Senior Brother... You don’t understand...” Fang Qing did not sit down but said quietly, “From the day the Fourth Prince was born, I have supported him. Not because of his virtue, but because... he is the descendant of an old friend.”

“So, there’s a story there as well,” Wang Changsheng observed.

“Best to leave it unspoken,” Fang Qing said. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know what I’m doing. If I’m unfortunate enough to fall into the Crown Prince’s hands, I’ll say what must be said, and anything that shouldn’t be spoken will stay with me to the grave.”

With that, Fang Qing’s figure vanished from the courtyard.

“This Fang Qing, he’s just like I was in my youth,” Wang Changsheng said with a wry smile.

He meant nothing by it—these were extraordinary times, and he simply worried that if Fang Qing were caught by the Crown Prince, it would be impossible to support the Fourth Prince and even his own life might be at risk.

After thinking it over, Wang Changsheng returned to his room and began cultivating.

Since reaching the second level of the Open Meridian Realm, his body’s functions had recovered noticeably, and even the gray in his hair was fading. Still, compared to others of his level, his vitality was lacking—even compared to Fang Qing, he fell short.

But Wang Changsheng believed that as long as he continued cultivating the Longevity Art, his condition would continue to improve.

As for his actual strength, he had no idea just how powerful he was now.

Since breaking through to the Open Meridian Realm, he hadn’t engaged in a life-and-death struggle with another cultivator. The only time he’d fought was in the cave against Li Fusheng, but the gap between them was too great; he’d been instantly defeated, with no way to gauge his true strength.

“In sum, I’m still lacking ways to fight other cultivators,” Wang Changsheng thought grimly.

Aside from the martial techniques he’d previously learned, he only had the little sword technique he’d worked out himself. Martial arts, when facing cultivators, were of limited use unless one could get right up close. The sword technique was far less flexible than the one used by the late Foundation Establishment cultivator he’d encountered. Against someone in the Open Meridian Realm, how much use could it be?

“The Longevity Art is only a method for cultivation—it lacks combat techniques. If I could obtain some, my prospects would be much brighter!” Wang Changsheng mused. “It seems my only option is to return to Shentian Domain and seek out Second Uncle, to see if he can teach me any arts for confronting enemies.”

Arts and methods—one is cultivation, the other is combat. The Longevity Art is a method: it allows one to train, grow stronger, and advance in cultivation. Techniques for confronting enemies are arts.

Methods are hard to come by. Arts, even harder.

Now Wang Changsheng possessed the Longevity Art; what he lacked were the arts for battling foes.