Chapter 52: The Past of Wang Shuyuan

Chapter 52: Chapter 52: The Past of Wang Shuyuan

"That’s the truth. Since you’ve become involved in such a complicated situation, the best thing you can do is focus on cultivating and becoming stronger."

"I don’t know whether they’re still searching for those fragments. However, after learning that you were able to pull that sword from the altar, they may have begun to suspect that you know something about the fragments they’re looking for."

Ye Xuan explained that he had already given one of the fragments to Qingyu, which had caused some of her scales to turn crimson.

Hearing this, Wang Shuyuan reached an even clearer conclusion.

He told Ye Xuan that the Dao Sword Sect’s targets might not be limited to him and the Crimson Python Blood Sword. Qingyu might also be one of their targets.

"It’s been a long time since I last returned or heard any news about the Dao Sword Sect. Perhaps they’ve discovered information that I don’t know about," Wang Shuyuan replied.

"May I ask you something, Senior Wang?"

"Go ahead."

"From your explanation, it seems you were once connected to the Dao Sword Sect. Then why didn’t you capture Qingyu and me and hand us over to them?"

Wang Shuyuan smiled faintly. He extended his hand and snapped his fingers.

Using his ability to manipulate spiritual qi, he transformed the surrounding area into a projection of the Dao Sword Sect, complete with its buildings and disciples dressed in white and gray robes.

"I was indeed once a member of the Dao Sword Sect, but that changed after I left them."

"A conflict with the hypocritical Zen Sect led to me being dragged before the sect master, stripped of my status as a disciple, and cast aside without a second thought."

"I never started a conflict with those Zen monks. The bitter truth is that I was accused of killing one of their finest disciples during an expedition to the Emerald Jade Palace Cave."

"He was my friend, the person who accompanied me on that expedition. By now, he should have become either a Core Disciple or a Young Master of the Ten Thousand Virtues Temple."

"The Ten Thousand Virtues Temple is the largest sect and temple within the Zen faction, a place dedicated to spreading virtue throughout the world."

"Because of that misunderstanding, they accused me of killing Han Jin. When the news reached the Dao Sword Sect Master, he imposed a severe punishment on me."

"From that moment onward, I severed my ties with the Dao Sword Sect and went to vent my anger on the Ten Thousand Virtues Temple."

"It was during that battle that I obtained this Golden Pagoda and became afflicted with the Vajra Life-Exiling Seal."

Ye Xuan listened carefully to Senior Wang’s explanation.

He had never expected that Wang Shuyuan’s life had been ruined by false accusations from the monks of the Ten Thousand Virtues Temple.

Their accusations had spread and reached other sects belonging to the two different cultivation factions.

It was only natural. The Ten Thousand Virtues Temple and the Dao Sword Sect were the leaders of their respective cultivation factions: Zen and Taoist.

Even so, Ye Xuan couldn’t see any sign of regret on Wang Shuyuan’s face.

It was as though he had already accepted that this was how his life was meant to unfold and that there was nothing he could do to change it.

In short, Wang Shuyuan had entrusted his fate to Heaven.

"Forget about my past. The fact that I’ve managed to survive until this day is already a blessing from Heaven. Your presence has helped me greatly, Brother Ye."

"Is there something you wish to accomplish? Is there anything I can do about the Vajra Life-Exiling Seal on your body?" Ye Xuan asked.

Senior Wang let out a brief sigh before waving his hand, dismissing the projection of his past.

He stood up and walked toward the pagoda’s window, gazing at the sky clearly visible through the formation surrounding the pagoda.

"Yun’er..."

He sighed once more and turned around. Then he walked toward Ye Xuan and asked him to stand.

Wang Shuyuan extended his right hand and gently patted Ye Xuan’s shoulder.

"I’ll find a way to deal with it myself. Just focus on cultivating and becoming stronger."

"But I want to help you, Senior Wang."

"HAHAHA!"

"You’ve already helped me enough. Your presence and the Water Elemental Essence you gave me are the greatest gifts I’ve received after thousands of years of solitude."

He patted Ye Xuan’s shoulder again, as though entrusting something to him.

"Don’t act beyond your capabilities. Such foolish behavior could cost you your life."

"Almost every sect in this place belongs to the Taoist cultivation faction. Wherever you go, danger and the threat of death will always follow you."

Ye Xuan cupped his hands in respect.

"This junior has heard and understood all of Senior Wang’s advice."

Senior Wang nodded with a smile before returning to his cultivation spot.

However, just as he was about to resume cultivating, Ye Xuan turned toward him again.

"Who is Yun’er, Senior Wang?"

"She’s my dao companion. We learned many things together and came to understand how Heaven rules everything."

"But ever since that incident, I’ve never seen her again," Senior Wang revealed.

Ye Xuan listened to Wang Shuyuan’s words.

His hands slowly clenched into fists before he cupped them together once more and lowered his head.

"This junior requests Senior Wang’s permission to help you reunite with the woman named Yun’er."

"Consider it a gesture of goodwill, since Senior Wang has always helped me."

"This junior would feel deeply ashamed if Senior Wang refused my request."

Wang Shuyuan fell silent for a moment before chuckling softly and opening his eyes again. He glanced at Ye Xuan and saw the determination shining in the young man’s eyes.

He had never expected Ye Xuan to offer such help, especially when Wang Shuyuan himself had never asked him to search for his old companion.

"With your current cultivation base, that will be difficult and could cost you your life," Wang Shuyuan replied. "But since you’re so determined, I’ll allow it."

"Her name is Shi Yun’er. She doesn’t belong to the Dao Sword Sect, but rather the Ocean Sword Sect."

The Ocean Sword Sect? The people I attacked the other day...

"I don’t know whether she’s still there or not. Thousands of years have already passed, and I’m afraid you won’t find her easily," Wang Shuyuan replied.

"This junior will do his best not to disappoint you, Senior Wang."

Wang Shuyuan smiled and thanked Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan returned to his spot and began cultivating with full concentration. Wang Shuyuan did the same.

They spent a considerable amount of time cultivating in the pagoda.

Ye Xuan made use of the abundant spiritual energy within the Golden Pagoda to break through to the Peak Foundation Establishment.

Qingyu continued cultivating as well, although there was still no sign of when she might break through to the Profound-Beast stage.

Nevertheless, Ye Xuan was grateful to have met Wang Shuyuan and to be able to help him.

Perhaps only he and Qingyu could help Ye Xuan get through the difficult period he was currently facing.

As for Shi Yun’er, Ye Xuan had absolutely no information about her.

Still, since she belonged to the Ocean Sword Sect, finding her might prove difficult.

But difficult didn’t mean impossible. He will give it a try, even if it means having to go to someone else’s sect..