Chapter Seven: The Slumbering Immortal Forest

Although Li Chengzhu unintentionally broke through another level while refining his sword, reaching the mid-stage of Spirit Serenity, the outcome was still quite satisfactory.

The originally unnamed flying sword, once a mid-grade magical treasure in the Mortal Realm, had, after Li Chengzhu’s refinement, nearly surpassed its original class. In some aspects, it even outperformed top-grade flying swords. Furthermore, Li Chengzhu employed new smithing techniques to inscribe numerous offensive arrays within the sword, allowing it to unleash even greater destructive force in his hands.

Holding the newly named “Cold Radiance” flying sword, his long hair unkempt after half a year without a trim, Li Chengzhu felt the wind sweep his locks as he stood poised—truly embodying the spirit of “With a sword in hand, the world is mine.”

With the sword’s assistance, Li Chengzhu no longer needed transformation techniques to hunt low-level spirit beasts in the forest. At the mere sight of one, he would form seals with his hands and command Cold Radiance from afar, striking down his target without hesitation.

As a result, for quite some time, not a bird sang nor a beast cried within a ten-mile radius of Immortal Birth Lake.

In the blink of an eye, another half year passed. It had now been two full years since he arrived in the Immortal Realm. Even without deliberately cultivating the “Gathering Spirit Codex,” Li Chengzhu had already reached the Nascent Soul stage. His previously unremarkable appearance had become strikingly handsome and elegant.

Cold Radiance could now be stored within his body, and after numerous improvements, its performance had grown immensely superior. Entrusted to his Nascent Soul for safekeeping, the sword could be summoned at a moment’s notice in battle or whenever needed—most convenient indeed.

Though the Immortal Envoy felt uneasy at how swiftly Li Chengzhu had reached the Nascent Soul stage, seeing the excitement on his face, he couldn’t bring himself to lecture him further. Besides, over the past half year, Li Chengzhu had worked diligently—practicing swordsmanship, mastering the use of his sword, and spending the rest of his time learning smithing, alchemy, and formation arts from the Immortal Envoy.

One day, after imparting all his knowledge of these arts, the Immortal Envoy stroked his beard and said, “Disciple, you have learned all I have to teach. What are your plans for the future?”

Li Chengzhu straightened up, stepped forward, raised Cold Radiance, and declared loudly, “I will cultivate to become an immortal, unite the Immortal Realm, and uphold its peace!”

The Immortal Envoy cleared his throat and replied, “Ah, that goal is a bit too ambitious. Try another.”

Li Chengzhu glanced at his master and continued boldly, “Then I shall become the most handsome man in the Immortal Realm, woo all the beauties, and establish three palaces and six courts!”

The Immortal Envoy looked at Li Chengzhu’s earnest and rather shameless expression, wiped sweat from his brow, and said, “Let’s just stick to upholding peace in the Immortal Realm!”

...

Half a month later, while Li Chengzhu was experimenting with forging a new flying sword, the Immortal Envoy approached with a stern face.

“Master, what’s wrong?” Li Chengzhu asked, uneasy.

“You little rascal, you dare ask me after what you’ve done!” the Immortal Envoy replied angrily.

Li Chengzhu grinned sheepishly. “Don’t be mad, Master. Look, this is the new sword I forged. It’s not as good as Cold Radiance, but it’s the only successful one so far. Pretty decent, right?”

The Immortal Envoy snatched the sword, examined it, and his expression instantly aged by centuries. With a woeful face, he cried, “My amethyst, my icy soul crystal, my secret silver—all rare imports! And you wasted them forging this piece of junk. You wretched disciple, don’t you run! Today I’m going to deal with you!”

Li Chengzhu had anticipated his master’s outburst and leapt onto Cold Radiance, flying swiftly into the depths of the forest. Seeing the Immortal Envoy’s furious face, he thought to himself how fortunate he was to have acted quickly. Otherwise, he would already have become a sacrifice to his master’s lost treasures.

A few days prior, Li Chengzhu had sneaked away one of the Immortal Envoy’s storage rings while his master was meditating, rummaged through it for materials suitable for smithing, then returned the ring as if nothing had happened.

Having not studied smithing for long, Li Chengzhu couldn’t recognize amethyst or secret silver. He simply took anything that seemed usable and tossed all the materials into a mixed batch. After all, his stingy master usually only gave him inferior goods to practice with—this time, he had to make him pay up. But he hadn’t anticipated such serious consequences. For now, he had better not return until his master’s anger cooled.

Having made up his mind, Li Chengzhu rode his sword deeper into the forest. Since arriving in the Immortal Realm, he had always stayed by Immortal Birth Lake. Now, seizing this opportunity and motivated by necessity, he finally ventured out—he would be remiss not to enjoy the Immortal Realm’s scenery. In any case, his master could not stray far from Immortal Birth Lake, so he could wander to his heart’s content and return when he pleased.

Controlling Cold Radiance in agile arcs, Li Chengzhu darted and soared through the woods, utterly carefree. Low-level spirit beasts that had been steering clear of him were once again thrown into chaos, left sniffling from the bullying.

Though his days were carefree, Li Chengzhu remained unaware that the true dangers of the Immortal Realm were about to unfold before him.

This forest was renowned even in the Immortal Realm, known as the “Sleeping Immortal Forest,” also called the “Forbidden Land of Immortals.” It was so named because even immortals were forbidden to enter.

The reason was simple: the Heaven-Encompassing Ground-Sealing Array laid by the Immortal Emperor in concert with ten Immortal Lords barred any immortal from entering unauthorized. Both the Immortal Envoy and newly ascended immortals were provided with a safe passageway that circumvented the forest to enter the Immortal Realm. Thus, since the dawn of the Immortal Realm, almost no one had ever set foot within.

Li Chengzhu, unaware of the forest’s history, had only encountered third-tier spirit beasts near its edge and assumed spirit beasts in the Immortal Realm were nothing extraordinary—a mistake for which he would soon pay dearly.

Riding upon Cold Radiance against the wind, his long hair danced around his cheeks, and with a devilish smile, Li Chengzhu thought himself without peer among handsome men.

In high spirits, he looked skyward and recited, “Alas for Emperor Qin and Han Wu, lacking in literary grace; Yang Guo and Guo Jing—too ostentatious; and the grandmaster Dongfang Bubai, only known for embroidering birds in seclusion!” Shaking his head, he bore the air of “The world’s heroes, none compare to me.”

He wandered and rested in the forest, dispatching any spirit beast that challenged him with a flash of Cold Radiance. Occasionally, when a stubborn foe appeared, Li Chengzhu relied on his flying sword’s power and pills to vanquish it on the spot. His smooth passage only reinforced his belief that the Immortal Realm was vast and ripe for exploration.