Chapter 178: Wind Blade Valley

That night, the county yamen of Shanyang County was brightly lit.

Inside the spacious court hall, a gathering of martial artists and mystics stood in solemn attendance, each clad in distinct attire.

Among them was a white-robed Daoist with a long beard, a monk in a kasaya wielding a demon-subduing staff, and a shamaness in vibrant garb holding a ritual instrument.

These eccentric individuals from all across Great Qian had been summoned two months ago for a singular purpose.

Two months prior, an extraordinary phenomenon erupted from the depths of Wind Blade Valley, located five hundred li southwest of Shanyang County. A dazzling radiance soared into the skies, persisting for over a month.

When news of this reached the imperial court, it sent a chill down the Great Qian Emperor’s spine.

Though the Great Qian Emperor had only recently turned fifty, he had already begun to fear the limits of his own lifespan.

It seemed almost like an unwritten law of the world—the higher one’s status, the greater their power, the less they cared for longevity in their youth.

But as time wore on, such figures would inevitably turn to health preservation, seeking ways to extend their years. Some, in desperation, would even resort to forbidden and unorthodox methods for the sake of longevity.

The Great Qian Emperor, despite the imperial fortune that surrounded him, was still only human—bound to the same mortal cycle of life and death.

Thus, many years ago, he had already begun gathering mystics and scholars from all corners of the land, searching for methods to prolong his life—perhaps even attain immortality.

Now, with Wind Blade Valley’s radiance blazing for over a month without fading, the Emperor was certain that some divine treasure had emerged.

Perhaps—it was an immortal herb or celestial elixir, capable of granting eternal life.

Thus, the one man he trusted most—Qi Yuan—was assigned to investigate the matter personally.

To ensure success, the Emperor granted him three thousand Heavenly War Cavalry soldiers and a hundred mystics to aid in seizing the treasure.

Among them was the white-robed Daoist, known as Daoist Mei, a master of divination.

Seated at the head of the hall, Qi Yuan examined a letter left behind by Gu Ning’an, his expression unreadable in the flickering candlelight.

The three words written on it—“The people suffer”—felt profoundly mystical the longer he looked.

The moment he laid eyes on the script, a flood of images flashed through his mind, like a lantern reel unraveling the recent events of Shanyang County.

It was because of this that he had immediately understood the situation upon arrival and swiftly taken action to restore order.

Yet what surprised him most was something else entirely—

Under Mao Cuicui’s guidance, a journey that should have taken two full days had instead been traversed in less than half an hour.

The road before them hadn’t changed—but something inexplicable had occurred!

In Qi Yuan’s mind, Gu Ning’an had always been extraordinary—but within the bounds of human capability.

Thus, when he had requested an audience with Gu Ning’an and was refused, he hadn’t thought much of it.

But now—he realized the truth was far beyond his imagination.

Gu Ning’an was not simply a man of talent—he was of a different realm entirely.

A being of the immortal path.

No wonder he had refused an Imperial Preceptor’s summons—they were simply not on the same level!

As one of the few highest-ranking figures in the Great Qian dynasty, Qi Yuan knew all too well that the world was far more complex than it seemed on the surface.

Demons, monsters, immortals, and ghosts—such things were not merely folklore.

“Tell me—does anyone here know how we traveled to Shanyang County in less than half an hour today?”

As Qi Yuan’s words fell, silence engulfed the hall.

Nearly everyone present was a practitioner of arcane arts, yet none had witnessed anything akin to “reshaping heaven and earth” or “traversing vast distances in an instant”.

Of course—such feats existed only in storybooks.

Seeing no one respond, Qi Yuan finally turned his gaze toward Daoist Mei.

Daoist Mei’s expression turned bitter. “Master Qi, this… is likely the work of an immortal…”

Qi Yuan chuckled. “No need to be nervous, I was merely asking.”

Daoist Mei let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Even so, my divinations earlier did indicate that this journey would lead me to witness legendary powers… and sure enough, I have.”

Qi Yuan nodded. “Good. From now on, conduct a divination daily—perhaps we may gain further insight.”

“Yes!” Daoist Mei responded with a smile.

Qi Yuan then turned to address the group. “Tomorrow, we enter the deep forest. There will be no safe places to rest along the way, so make the most of tonight. Rest well.”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll be braving the wilderness.”

“I won’t delay your rest any further—dismissed.”

With that, Qi Yuan rose and made his way toward the rear courtyard of the county yamen, while the assembled mystics quickly dispersed.

In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, and the season had turned to Greater Cold.

The air was now frigid, and even the breath they exhaled crystallized into frost almost instantly.

For the past half-month, Gu Ning’an and Mu Sheng had been traveling southwest, venturing deeper into the forests.

The journey led them through desolate lands, where even wildlife was rarely seen due to the extreme cold.

Compared to the suffocating corruption of Shanyang County, walking these forest paths and taking in the untamed beauty of nature felt refreshing and grounding.

As they approached their destination, Gu Ning’an spoke calmly—

“We’re here.”

Mu Sheng was taken aback. “Sir… you don’t mean below Wind Blade Valley, do you?”

Gu Ning’an nodded. “That’s right.”

Mu Sheng couldn’t help but marvel—Gu Ning’an’s student was just as extraordinary as his teacher. To think his former residence was in a place like this…

He took a moment to survey their surroundings.

They now stood on the edge of Wind Blade Valley, a place infamous across Great Qian’s Huainan Circuit.

Wind Blade Valley was a massive rift canyon, stretching over ten thousand li.

Its sheer cliffs and jagged peaks made it a natural death trap.

The valley earned its ominous name due to the constant, violent gales that surged from its depths.

The wind was as sharp as blades, making it impossible for those with frail constitutions to even approach the cliff’s edge—one misstep, and they would be torn from the ground and sent plummeting.

Even mighty eagles, rulers of the sky, dared not descend within a hundred zhang of the valley floor—for the gales were no mere myth.

Even at their current distance, still dozens of meters from the canyon’s edge, the wind was so fierce that Mu Sheng had to grip the side of the carriage just to keep her balance.

Narrowing her eyes, she gazed toward the valley’s entrance, where an ethereal glow shimmered through the mist and frost.

With curiosity in her voice, she asked, “Sir… why is there light emanating from the valley floor?”

Noticing Mu Sheng struggling to speak against the wind, Gu Ning’an casually wove a barrier of wind-repelling technique around their carriage.

The howling gusts were so tangible that when the barrier took effect, Mu Sheng felt the wind vanish in an instant—not only that, but she saw the frost-laden gales curve around them, forming a semi-spherical arc, deflecting harmlessly behind them.

It was as if they had been sealed inside an invisible sphere, impervious to the raging storm outside.

“…Thank you, sir.”

“It’s nothing.” Gu Ning’an’s gaze remained fixed on the valley. “That glow at the bottom… is likely a lingering seal left behind by my student. Now that he has passed away, the seal is gradually dissipating due to the lack of sustained spiritual power. The glow is merely a sign of its dissolution.”

Mu Sheng listened intently, though she didn’t fully understand the concept of seals.

But one thing was clear to her—Gu Ning’an’s student had been a practitioner of spiritual arts.

And that meant…

He had been human.

After all, in Mu Sheng’s rigid perception of the world, immortals were beings that did not die.