Ye Qiu’s heart jolted at the ragged old man’s words. Shu Mountain Sect Leader? Dugu Wudi? He recalled the spirit tablets in the Sword Tomb—seven for Shu Mountain’s sect leaders, six with names, but the first was blank. Could Dugu Wudi be the first sect leader? If so, he’d lived for over a millennium.
Dugu Wudi gazed at the “Shu Mountain Forbidden Land” sign, his vacant eyes flashing with divine light, as if memories stirred. “That night, the crescent moon hung low. That night, Shu Mountain ran red with blood. That night, all died, died…” Tears streamed down his face. “It’s my fault. I ruined Shu Mountain. I killed them…” He collapsed, weeping.
A chilling wind howled, sand and stones swirling. Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal felt apocalyptic dread. “A Saint’s sorrow moves the heavens. This Dugu Senior might truly be a Saint,” the Long Eyebrow Immortal said, puzzled. “But how can a Saint remain in the secular world?”
Dugu Wudi stood abruptly, yanking the stone sword from his head. Instantly, he transformed—vibrant, his aura dragon-like, as if a heavenly sword unsheathed. Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal, standing nearby, felt crushing pressure, their bones creaking, as if they’d be obliterated. “Senior…” Ye Qiu called.
The pressure vanished. Dugu Wudi turned, his eyes flickering between vacancy and clarity. “Little rascal, his condition’s unstable. We should leave,” the Long Eyebrow Immortal whispered.
“I won’t harm you,” Dugu Wudi said. “Senior, have you recovered?” Ye Qiu asked, hopeful.
Holding the stone sword, Dugu Wudi said, “I sealed two souls and six spirits with this. One soul and one spirit are lost. Some memories returned, others haven’t.” Ye Qiu asked, “Senior, what happened to Shu Mountain? Why did it fall overnight?”
Pain crossed Dugu Wudi’s face. “Shu Mountain was glorious, brimming with masters. But because of me, it’s gone. My disciples all died… by my hand, it seems.” Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal gasped. Why would the sect leader kill his own?
“Senior, what happened?” Ye Qiu pressed.
“I don’t remember clearly. I killed them, buried them… No, they’re not dead! They can live again!” His eyes blazed, locking onto Ye Qiu. “You can save them. You can save Shu Mountain!”
“Me?” Ye Qiu was stunned. “Senior, you must be mistaken. My cultivation’s weak. How can I revive the dead?”
“You can,” Dugu Wudi insisted. “You know the Nine Needles Against Heaven. Linglong said mastering it can bring the dead back to life. She said its wielder is born of heaven’s mandate, destined for the immortal path.”
Ye Qiu was confused. “Who’s Linglong?”
“My daughter, Shu Mountain’s Saintess. Something happened to her,” Dugu Wudi said, his voice breaking. “I must save her…” He clutched his head, screaming, “My head hurts!” Each strike to his skull boomed like a hammer.
“I remember! Linglong used a secret art to keep Shu Mountain’s disciples undying, then fell into eternal slumber. Only you can wake her.” He stared at Ye Qiu. “When you reach the immortal path, you must awaken my daughter.”
Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal exchanged glances, both thinking of the woman in the ten-thousand-year ice coffin in the Sword Tomb—could she be Linglong, the Saintess?
“Daughter, daughter!” Dugu Wudi raised his arm, summoning the ice coffin to his side. “I’m sorry, I failed you…” He wailed, his cries like a lone eagle’s.
Then, laughing maniacally, “Daughter, I found the one you spoke of! He knows the Nine Needles. Shu Mountain is saved!” His emotions swung wildly.
After a long while, he calmed. With a wave, the Cyan-Purple Twin Swords appeared. “I forged these for Linglong. They’ve lost their edge over time.” He pointed, and the swords erupted in radiant light, piercing the heavens. With a sweep of his sleeve, they landed gently on the coffin, guarding their master.
The Long Eyebrow Immortal signaled Ye Qiu, who hesitated before asking, “Senior, is Shu Mountain’s dragon vein still here?”
“Dragon vein?” Dugu Wudi’s face grew nostalgic. “Gone. I consumed it. To become a Saint, I devoured nine hundred ninety dragon veins, including Shu Mountain’s.”
Ye Qiu and the Long Eyebrow Immortal were shocked. A Saint, truly? The Long Eyebrow Immortal asked, “Senior, the secular world’s laws forbid those above King Realm from staying, or the Heavenly Dao destroys them. As a Saint, how are you here?”
“Because I’m a Saint,” Dugu Wudi said. The Long Eyebrow Immortal rolled his eyes, thinking, *Show-off.*
“The Heavenly Dao doesn’t know everything. It can be deceived,” Dugu Wudi added. Ye Qiu thought of the Heaven-Avoiding Pill from Ziyang Heavenly Venerable, which could evade heavenly tribulations.
Dugu Wudi handed Ye Qiu the stone sword. “Your cultivation is low. This may help you. I must find my lost soul and spirit. We’ll meet again in the cultivation world.” Lifting the ice coffin, he stepped into the air and vanished.
