Chapter Seventy-Four: Ascending Towards the Heavens

Inside the private room on the fifth floor of the Taibai Pavilion, a middle-aged man in a purple robe sat with composed dignity. Flanking him, a man and woman stood respectfully at his sides.

Before long, the door sounded. A middle-aged man clad in golden python-embroidered robes strode in with long, purposeful steps and seated himself without ceremony. He shot a glance at the man in the purple robe, his eyes sharp with accusation. “Shenshang, you seem quite at ease. Am I to understand that the death of my son means nothing to your Ziyang Sect?”

Daoist Shenshang calmly set his teacup down. “Brother Huangpu, your words are unjust. Your son, Huangpu Kong, was a core disciple of our Zhenyang Peak. His death not only tarnishes the Ziyang Sect’s reputation, but it also challenges the very limits of our tolerance. Rest assured, we will find the murderer and give your family a proper explanation.”

At this, Huangpu Zun's expression softened a touch. He drained his cup of fragrant tea in one gulp and said in a deep voice, “I do not mean to question you, Brother Shenshang. It’s just that you know well how much the old master of my clan doted on his grandson and placed great hopes in Kong’er. Now that he’s gone… the hopes of the entire Huangpu family have vanished without reason.” As he spoke, emotion welled in Huangpu Zun’s voice and he grew agitated once more. “I just want to know, who killed Kong’er?”

Daoist Shenshang pondered for a moment before replying, “That day, your nephew was sent down the mountain to assassinate someone. As for what transpired afterward, perhaps it would be best to let Junior Brother Zhenyang explain the details when he arrives.”

Suppressing his discontent, Huangpu Zun took up his tea in silence and waited patiently.

———

Over the next two days, Lin Cheng had explored nearly all of Chang’an. Overhead, streaks of colored light would occasionally descend into the city—he recognized members from the Eastern clan, the Huangpu clan, and the Western Sand Sect among them. He even saw the Wencheng Changsun family escorting several men and women into the Taibai Pavilion.

For a time, the eyes of the entire city were fixated on Taibai Pavilion. Nearly every faction that arrived made it their first destination. Yet, despite the endless stream of visitors, the pavilion remained orderly, showing no sign of chaos. Even those harboring grudges dared not act out within its walls, revealing the formidable deterrence the pavilion held in secret.

After acquiring the Fire Crystal Stone and Cloudwood, Lin Cheng decided at once to refine and fuse them into his Heavenward Sword.

In a modest inn room, Lin Cheng formed several seals with ease, activating a secret restriction from the Deceiving Heaven Array to isolate the space within the room. All was ready.

He laid out all the materials he’d gathered for refining, proceeding according to the method imparted by the white-robed sword cultivator. Harnessing the advantage of his Five Elements Physique, he circulated his internal fire-attribute spiritual power, conjuring a crimson flame in his palm. Enveloping the materials to be fused, Lin Cheng gradually increased the flame’s heat.

The Heavenward Sword appeared before him, hovering silently. With careful control, he guided the refined essence into the sword.

The process was long and painstaking.

———

Outside, the city was growing ever more lively. One after another, factions large and small from across the Zhao Kingdom poured into Chang’an.

“Brother Feng, I thought you wouldn’t join this secret realm trial. You’ve spent almost the entire past year in seclusion, trying to break through. You’ve missed so many interesting things…”

A group strolled through the bustling streets of Chang’an as a woman in purple chattered cheerfully at his side.

The leader, a red-robed man, smiled gently. “Jiuchi mentioned to me before that we have a new junior apprentice. Earning both of your praises, it seems he truly is no ordinary person.”

A man carrying a longsword and a wine gourd at his waist added, “I’m not exaggerating—our new junior is exceptionally talented. In just a few short months since joining, he’s already reached the level of a True Qi Master. When we first entered the sect, it took us a full year just to barely reach that stage!”

As he spoke, Jiuchi habitually took out his gourd, took a swig, and smacked his lips in appreciation of the fine wine.

This group consisted of Han Meng and others who had come from the Qingyang Sect. The red-robed man at the front was Liu Feng, the chief disciple of Cangjian Peak. Behind the trio trailed Niu Shisan, Pang Bo, and others, who followed along, peering curiously at this and that, touching and sniffing the items at street stalls with the air of country folk visiting the city for the first time.

“Brother Feng, you must have made a successful breakthrough?” Han Meng asked with a smile, turning to Liu Feng.

“Just barely,” Liu Feng nodded, unable to hide his joy.

“Sigh, Brother Feng, your strength is becoming ever more unfathomable…” Jiuchi shook his head with a wry smile. “Jiuchi, don’t hide your own prowess—I’ve heard you fought Sun De for ten rounds without falling behind,” Liu Feng replied.

“So our Brother Feng isn’t just a dedicated cultivator after all…” Han Meng teased, laughter rising among the group as they continued on their way.

Lin Cheng knew nothing of what was happening in the city. At this moment, he was fully absorbed in fusing the last two materials.

The Fire Crystal Stone—a crimson crystal formed only within glaciers—was exceedingly rare, as it took the most frigid environment to nurture such a gem.

Unlike fire-attribute spirit stones, the Fire Crystal Stone was a pure substance, a material of extraordinary hardness for forging weapons.

The Heavenward Sword had once suffered severe damage: not only was its sword spirit destroyed, but all the spiritual essence within its blade had dissipated. To restore it, the only way was to seek out top-tier treasures and refine them into the blade, slowly repairing its injured body.

As the refined essence of the Fire Crystal Stone and Cloudwood was absorbed by the Heavenward Sword, a sword-light flickered.

A radiant glow burst from the sword, its entire body pulsing as if in the throes of transformation.

A piercing sound rang out.

The blade shone like a miniature sun, filling the room with blinding brilliance.

Lin Cheng squinted and turned his head away, unable to look directly at the sword’s dazzling light. He was secretly grateful he had sealed the room with restrictions—otherwise, such a spectacle would surely attract unwanted attention.

As the radiance gradually receded into the sword, a longsword of pure gold, entwined with black patterns, floated before Lin Cheng.

Gripping the Heavenward Sword, a cold gleam flashed at its tip, and a fierce aura radiated forth.

A superior-grade spirit weapon!

Feeling the powerful spiritual pressure emanating from the sword, Lin Cheng burst out laughing.

What a magnificent sword!

Suppressing his joy, Lin Cheng sat cross-legged once more.

With a wave of his hand, tens of thousands of spirit stones encircled him.

Indeed, he intended to use this time to break through in cultivation, preparing for the upcoming secret realm trial.

He produced a Spirit-Breaking Pill, contemplated briefly, and swallowed it in one gulp.

A massive surge of spiritual power from the surrounding spirit stones formed a whirlwind that enveloped him, visible streams of energy pouring into his body.

If any outsider witnessed him absorbing such vast amounts of spiritual energy, they would surely call him mad.

Even cultivators at the Spirit Realm would not dare absorb the energy of tens of thousands of spirit stones at once—their dantian simply could not contain such power, and forcing it could easily lead to their bodies bursting.

But for Lin Cheng, who possessed a Sea of Pills, this was a mere trifle. The energy from tens of thousands of spirit stones was hardly enough to fill the gap between his teeth.

At this moment, Lin Cheng was single-mindedly circulating the Five Elements Sword Art, preparing to transform all the spiritual energy in his Sea of Pills into sword essence to charge into the Spirit Realm.