Seeking the Flying Sword Path

On the second floor of the tea restaurant, Qin Yun was listening to the tunes while drinking tea and having some pastry.

“Oh?”

Qin Yun sensed something as he turned his head. He saw a blurry figure instantly appear on the second floor of the tea restaurant. He was tall and wore wide and loose golden robes. He leisurely walked through the tea restaurant, but despite the numerous customers, none of them seemed to see him.

“Sword Immortal Qin.” The golden-robed man stood by the table and looked at Qin Yun with a smile. “Might I request a drink from you?”

“Of course, as long as you do not mind such mortal liquids.” Qin Yun looked at him and began pouring some wine for him.

He instantly recognized him.

He was the ancient god, Rushou.

Before the Three Realms opened up, the Chaos gave birth to five extremely powerful Godfiends. They separately helmed the Connate Five Elements. They were Water God Gonggong, Fire God Zhurong, Wood God Goumang, Earth God Houtu, Metal God Rushou. Even among the perfected Great Dao existences, the five were considered extremely powerful. Early on in the Three Realms, God King Zhurong and God King Gonggong fought for supremacy. Eventually, Gonggong angrily slammed into Mt. Buzhou after suffering defeat, causing the Three Realms to undergo immense changes. Gonggong died and Zhurong, along with a group of Godfiends, were suppressed by Goddess Nüwa under Mt. Three Blades. They were only recently released.

As for Houtu, Goumong, and Rushou, they did not enjoy striving for supremacy. Goddess Houtu now helmed all mountains and rivers and the underworld, bringing prosperity to the Three Realms. As for Goumang and Rushou, they kept even lower profiles and were mysterious. They were almost never seen. As these two reclused themselves in the Chaos beyond the Three Realms, their strength had been a mystery. But without a doubt, their strengths neared that of the half-step Heavenly Dao realm at the very least.

“Sword Immortal Qin, you swept through countless Skyfiends in the Three Realms by your strength alone. It’s truly impressive,” marveled Rushou. “There are many experts in the Three Realms who wish to do so, but lack the strength and courage to act on those wishes. You are the only exception.”

“It didn’t really damage the fiend’s foundations, unfortunately. All I did was snip off some branches and leaves. It’s nothing worth mentioning.” Qin Yun looked at Rushou. “Fellow Daoist Rushou, you attempted to snatch my Lotus Seed of Fate the last time we met. Yet, you appear so cordial this time. If there’s anything important, why don’t you get straight to the point?”

Rushou laughed. “Sword Immortal Qin, you sure don’t beat about the bush. Back then, everyone was trying to snatch the Lotus Seed of Fate. I naturally had to partake in the event. Unfortunately, fate was not on my side. It’s true that there’s an important matter that brings me to you today. I wish that you can help me.”

“You wish for me to help?” Qin Yun looked at him. “What matter in the Three Realms can actually stump you?”

Rushou was one of the ancient gods. He was powerful and he had a wide circle of acquaintances. Why was there a need to seek his help?

“There are few things in the Three Realms that can stump me, but beyond the Three Realms… there are several things that stump me,” said Rushou.

“Beyond the Three Realms?” Qin Yun pricked up his brows.

“Sword Immortal Qin, have you heard of the Chaos spatial rift?” inquired Rushou.

Qin Yun was taken aback before he shook his head lightly. “Never.”

Rushou nodded with a smile. “Sword Immortal Qin, you haven’t cultivated for long. It’s likely that Numinous Treasure Dao Ancestor does not wish to influence your cultivation. It’s very normal that he hasn’t told you. I know that you are constantly seeking immense merit. In the Chaos spatial rift, you will be able to obtain immense merit, probably as much as you wish.”

“Oh?” Qin Yun felt stirred.

He was now short of ten percent from a Merit Cardinal treasure.

Although ten percent seemed so little, Qin Yun was at a loss on how to gather that.

“Sword Immortal Qin, don’t tell me you believe that those in the Three Realms are the only living beings in the expansive Chaos?” said Rushou. “After all, the Three Realms was only a universe formed when Pangu split the heavens from the earth. It’s a trivial speck in the expansive Chaos.”

“There are other living beings beyond the Three Realms?” Qin Yun’s heart quaked as he pressed.

“Speaking of which, like me, like the other Chaos Godfiends, we are all considered living beings beyond the Three Realms. We were all born out of the Chaos,” said Rushou. “And the domain we are in is just a speck in the expansive Chaos. If Pangu can create a universe, can’t other existences do the same? For instance, the Dao Ancestors and Buddhist Ancestor are all pondering over the means to open up a new universe.”

“Other universes?” pressed Qin Yun.

Rushou laughed and continued, “This will then involve the Chaos spatial rift. To pass through it is to be met with boundless spatial tides. Amid the spatial tides, there are paths that lead to our Three Realms and naturally, there are rifts that lead to other domains. We have also discovered the rifts that led to other domains and have remotely spied through the rifts. We have seen powerful beings from other universes, but… no one that entered these other rifts have not returned to date.”

“They failed to return?” Qin Yun pressed. “Then what about sending avatars?”

“The moment one enters the spatial tide, their connection with the Three Realms is severed. The avatar and the actual body itself will not sense each other,” Rushou said. “Therefore, it’s still unknown if the avatars that were sent out are dead or alive.”

Qin Yun nodded.

What Rushou said alarmed Qin Yun; however, it was believable to him. After all, the expansive Chaos was boundless. It was nothing strange that there were other universes like the Three Realms.

“No one has returned after heading to the other domains. Then, what is it that you came to me for, Fellow Daoist Rushou?” Qin Yun pressed. “Also, you mentioned gaining immense merit. Where do I earn that?”

“Haha, we might not dare to enter the other universes through the rift,” said Rushou with a laugh. “But amid the spatial tides lurk powerful biological creatures.”

“Biological creatures inside the spatial tides?” Qin Yun was alarmed.

“Yes, they enjoy hunting lives like us that enter the spatial tides,” said Rushou. “We have found nine Chaos spatial rifts in the vicinity of our Three Realms. We have failed to probe the nine domains as well… We have also discovered powerful biological creatures in the spatial tides. One of them is my target! I wish to invite you to help me to kill it together.”

“Just you and me?” asked Qin Yun.

“And Goumang as well,” Rushou said. “Sword Immortal Qin, your Misty Rain Array is peerless in the Three Realms. Your protective means can be said to be the strongest among the perfected Great Dao existences. I need you to cast the Misty Rain Array to withstand any danger. Goumang’s means at constraining the enemy can be deemed as best beneath the Heavenly Dao realm. He would bind and constrain the enemy while I’ll be responsible for killing it.”

Qin Yun nodded slightly.

Rushou grasped the Connate Metal Element Great Dao! In terms of offensive means, he was ranked as one of the best among the perfected Great Dao existences.

“How will I gain immense merit?” Qin Yun pressed.

“When we kill the creature, the treasures will belong to me and Goumang. Its corpse will be yours,” Rushou said. “As long as you bring its corpse back to the Three Realms and sacrifice it to the Three Realms, the Three Realms will naturally bestow immense merit to you.”

“Sacrifice the corpse to the Three Realms to earn immense merit?” Qin Yun pondered.

“These creatures of another universe are especially powerful. The powers their corpses contain are beneficial to the Three Realms,” said Rushou. “If you can capture these creatures and bring them to the Three Realms before killing them, the merit would be even higher, but capturing them alive is just too difficult.”

Qin Yun also understood.

The Heaven and Earth spiritual energies in the Three Realms were constantly declining. Clearly, it was weakening.

If it gained external aid, it was normal for it to bestow merit in exchange.

“Do you have confidence in killing it? What is the creature’s strength like?” pressed Qin Yun.

“That spatial tide can be entered and traversed only by those below the Heavenly Dao realm,” Rushou said. “Heavenly Dao experts have no means of entering the spatial tides. The Dao Ancestors had tried early on; therefore, the creatures that lurk in the spatial tides are below the Heavenly Dao realm.”

Qin Yun felt relieved.

Those at the Heavenly Dao realm could not enter?

“Of course, they have are strong enough to entrench themselves in the spatial tides and rampantly kill other experts. However, there have been situations in the Three Realms’ history where such powerful beings from other universes have been slain. There’s definitely a chance if the three of us join forces. Of course, when fighting with such powerful beings from a different universe, there can be accidents.” Rushou looked at Qin Yun. “Therefore, you will have to consider carefully before choosing to accompany us.”

“Do you have detailed information about the target you wish to kill?” Qin Yun asked.

“I have information, but not much.” Rushou flipped his hand and placed a jade token on the table.

Qin Yun took the jade token. “I’ll take a look and give you an answer in three days.”

“Alright.” Rushou got up with a smile. “Then, I’ll be awaiting your good news.”

With jade token in hand, Qin Yun searched through the information within as he pondered, “Powerful beings from other universes in the spatial tides?”