The Unusual Ancient Mulberry City, the Steward Man
The Unusual Ancient Mulberry City, the Steward Man
“Logically speaking, with his methods, destroying our world wouldn’t actually be difficult.”
“Then why doesn’t he do it? What exactly is his purpose in descending upon this realm?”
“That’s the question I’ve never been able to figure out.”
The Snow Sword Immortal’s figure was tall and slender, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall. She stood atop the absolute peak, dancing lightly in the cold wind, possessing a strange sort of beauty.
At this moment, beneath the moon-white mask, her delicate brows were tightly furrowed, and her words carried a sense of disbelief even to herself.
“That fellow’s origins are actually that great? Then all the more reason not to trust him.”
The Old Sword Immortal’s brow furrowed even tighter, his heart filled with even greater doubt.
If Gu Changge had no ulterior motive, he would never believe it even if beaten to death.
There was no such thing as kindness without reason in this world.
Let alone from this group of demons from beyond the heavens.
According to the information he had obtained, those Otherworldly Sky Demons had already conquered and overrun who knew how many ancient worlds like the Profound Sword World.
All that talk about pursuing longevity and staying aloof from worldly strife—in his view, it was all bullshit, utterly unbelievable.
“Perhaps not necessarily. If he truly had designs on our world, there would be no need for him to go through all this trouble,” the Snow Sword Immortal said, gently shaking her head.
“Are you really planning to trust him?”
The Old Sword Immortal frowned, his gaze sharp as a sword, making the void itself tremble and hum. His words carried a hint of displeasure.
His expression was extremely grave.
“Girl Xue, you are, after all, the current Cliff Master of Sword Cliff. In all matters you must think thrice before acting. You can’t be as reckless as you were in the past.”
In terms of seniority, he was actually of the same generation as the Snow Sword Immortal’s master.
In her earlier years, the Snow Sword Immortal had even been personally taught by him.
So he had some understanding of her temperament. He knew that when she spoke like this, it meant she actually intended to go meet that Young Master Gu.
But according to the intelligence gathered, even the subordinates at that Young Master Gu’s side were suspected to be Ninth Level experts.
Let alone Young Master Gu himself—his strength was likely even more unfathomable, beyond imagination.
Although the Snow Sword Immortal had already stepped into the Earth Sword Immortal Realm, before that Young Master Gu, she was absolutely far from enough.
If the other party harbored ill intentions, wouldn’t the Snow Sword Immortal be a lamb walking into a tiger’s den?
“At a time like this, is there any other choice?” the Snow Sword Immortal said, her expression utterly without ripple.
“I’ve already thought through the consequences very clearly. Shibo, you needn’t concern yourself further.”
“You...” The Old Sword Immortal’s face flushed with anger. He stretched out his hand, pointing at the Snow Sword Immortal, trembling incessantly—clearly furious beyond measure.
In the end, seeing that the Snow Sword Immortal’s expression remained utterly unmoved, he couldn’t help but let out a long sigh toward the heavens, then transformed into a sword rainbow and departed with a sweep of his sleeve.
The Snow Sword Immortal’s mind was made up, and he could no longer persuade her.
However, he did not trust that Young Master Gu.
In the Old Sword Immortal’s view, since his status and position in the Beyond were so terrifyingly immense, if he could be captured, it would surely make the forces of the Beyond wary and hesitant to act.
At a critical moment, it might even produce miraculous effects.
It was time to bring out the Sword Immortal Order and unite all the Sword Immortals to subdue the demon.
Within the Old Sword Immortal’s gaze, tens of thousands of sword lights circulated. He streaked across the sky, striding through the void.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished beyond ten thousand li, heading back toward the Shu Sect.
Watching the Old Sword Immortal disappear without a trace, the Snow Sword Immortal stood for a long while before letting out a soft sigh.
Then her figure burst with a peng into a puff of white mist, and when she reappeared, she was already ten thousand li away.
She actually understood the Old Sword Immortal’s worries, but some things had to be attempted.
For the entire Profound Sword World, this was the only chance.
The Profound Sword World consisted of Thirteen States, and in each state there sat colossal powers like Sword Cliff and the Shu Sect.
Such powers had extremely ancient inheritances, spanning over hundreds of thousands of years, and within each power there were at least two existences of the Earth Sword Immortal Realm.
So the news of Gu Changge’s appearance in the Southern Light Empire quickly spread among these great powers, causing an enormous sensation.
As a visitor from beyond the heavens, he was, in essence, even of the same kind as those Otherworldly Sky Demons.
Yet he bore no malice whatsoever, as if he had come to this world purely to sightsee and relax.
Afterward, the many details—including Gu Changge’s origins, intentions, and so on—were continuously analyzed by the various great powers, sparking endless speculation.
Although he had saved Chen Ah Qing and also saved Princess Xuan Die of the Southern Light Empire, it still couldn’t make people fully trust him.
After all, those who are not of our kind are sure to have different hearts.
Some expressed worry and concern, while others expressed disdain, feeling that Gu Changge’s intentions were unclear, that he definitely harbored no good will, and that utmost vigilance was required.
However, the Emperor of the Southern Light Empire placed absolute trust in Gu Changge’s words, beginning to assemble the various surrounding forces and sending people to search for the location of the Profound Sword World’s Will.
According to Gu Changge, the World Will was not awake at all times, but would appear during a certain period. Ordinarily it would choose to slumber somewhere, and unless its location could be found, it would be difficult to awaken it.
In the following days, a terrifying great war erupted within Southbarren State.
The vast army of the Beyond descended upon this place, clashing with the Southern Light Empire and the many surrounding powers at the ruins of Southbarren City—an incomparably brutal battle.
This battle raged until mountains and rivers changed color, corpses piled up like mountains, blood converged into rivers, countless bones floated and sank within them, and heaven and earth turned dim and gloomy.
The powers of the other states also dispatched armies to provide support at the first opportunity.
It could be said without exaggeration that this battle was the true beginning of the conquest of the Profound Sword World by the many Daoist traditions of the Beyond.
The entire Profound Sword World was shrouded in a terrifying shadow. Too many experts perished within it, vast swathes of territory fell, turning into scorched earth, a scene of devastation everywhere.
In this battle, the many Young Prodigies from the Beyond also performed exceptionally, sweeping through all opposition, unstoppable like a bamboo-splitting force.
They did not fight alongside the great army, but instead went alone to the various cities, challenging the younger generation of the Profound Sword World, their attitudes incomparably arrogant and insolent, completely disregarding the younger generation of this world.
The outcome was naturally predetermined. Even disciples of powers like Sword Cliff, the Shu Sect, and Kongshan of the Profound Sword World were no match for the younger generation of the Beyond.
They either fled in defeat, or were slain on the spot, perishing in the open sky, their blood splattering in all directions.
At the same time, on the other side.
Ancient Mulberry City was located in the northernmost reaches of North Cool State in the Profound Sword World, named after an ancient mulberry tree from ancient times.
However, tens of thousands of years had passed, and the ancient mulberry tree in today’s Ancient Mulberry City had long since withered and died, leaving only a dried-up stump.
Gu Changge followed Ah Qing away from the Southern Light Empire and returned here, waiting for her to go see her mother.
The city walls were dilapidated, the two great gates nearly collapsing, and the moat was murky, filled with silt, nearly dried up.
One could see loaches drilling about here and there—it looked extremely run-down.
“Halt! Who are you?”
On the ancient city wall covered in cracks stood a dozen or so soldiers.
Their armor was in disarray; they clutched iron spears and held rusted long sabers, extremely vigilant, shouting at Gu Changge and the others who approached.
Now that the Otherworldly Sky Demons had invaded, although Ancient Mulberry City was far from the battlegrounds, news had long since reached here, making everyone extremely cautious, jumping at every shadow.
Moreover, Ancient Mulberry City was extremely remote and desolate, and had experienced quite a few calamities during this period.
Even the common folk within lived extremely hard lives.
They rarely saw figures like Gu Changge, dressed in extraordinary clothing, refined and otherworldly. At this moment they were incomparably vigilant, runes flickering on their bodies, ready to strike at any moment.
“I’ve come back.”
At this moment, the young girl Ah Qing looked at the ancient city before her with a complicated expression, stepped out from behind Gu Changge, and spoke.
Ancient Mulberry City was originally an ancient city under her grandfather’s charge. In the past, though remote, it wasn’t as dilapidated as it was now. Something must have happened during the time she was gone.
After her father stepped onto that rift beyond the heavens, she and her mother had moved from their secluded dwelling to Ancient Mulberry City to live with her grandfather.
And half a year ago, she had quietly left this ancient city, setting foot on the path to find her father.
“What happened to Ancient Mulberry City? Why has it become like this?”
Princess Xuan Die, who had come along, was also astonished. Because of her relationship with Ah Qing, she had visited Ancient Mulberry City before.
Back then, though Ancient Mulberry City couldn’t be called prosperous, it wasn’t as run-down as it was now—it was practically like two different cities.
“This city is rather strange.”
Gu Changge’s gaze held a trace of unusual color, black and white hues circulating within his eyes as he looked carefully.
“What?”
“It’s really the Young Miss! The Young Miss has returned!”
Several soldiers standing on the city wall recognized Ah Qing, their eyes widening in shock, unable to believe it.
News about Ah Qing had not yet traveled from Southbarren State to this place. They had all believed the Young Miss had died beyond the heavens, and the Old City Lord had nearly fainted dead away, unable to accept this fact.
They never imagined they would see the Young Miss today—they almost suspected this was all an illusion.
“It’s me. I’ve come back,” Ah Qing nodded, her expression complicated and somewhat dazed.
“Wonderful! It really is the Young Miss! The Young Miss is safe and sound! Quickly, go report to the City Lord!”
The soldiers on the city wall all erupted in excitement, incomparably thrilled.
Very soon, the entire Ancient Mulberry City was stirred. The Young Miss who had disappeared for over half a year had suddenly returned, safe and sound, causing an enormous sensation.
Streaks of divine rainbows swept over as everyone from the City Lord Manor appeared. The Old City Lord, upon hearing the news, rushed over at the first moment.
His aged face was streaked with tears, incomparably emotional.
“Grandfather.”
Ah Qing looked at her grandfather, who had aged so much compared to before, her nose stinging with sourness as she said softly, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. Ah Qing, it’s good that you’re back, good that you’re back, good that you’re unharmed.”
The Old City Lord’s figure appeared somewhat hunched, his head full of silver hair like steel needles, resembling an old lion whose majesty showed without anger, carrying an awe-inspiring presence. One could faintly discern the heroic extraordinariness of his youth.
He stretched out his palm, broad as a fan, and gently stroked Ah Qing’s head, his eyes full of gratification.
“I’m sorry for making you all worry. I shouldn’t have hidden it from you and Mother, secretly leaving Ancient Mulberry City to search for Father,” Ah Qing said with guilt.
“That’s all in the past. It’s enough that you’re safe and sound now. Your mother worried about you so much during this time that she nearly fell ill from grief. Knowing you’ve returned, she can finally set her heart at ease,” the Old City Lord sighed. As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Gu Changge behind Ah Qing, carrying inquiry and doubt.
“And this is...?”
Princess Xuan Die he naturally recognized; he only felt that Gu Changge looked extremely unfamiliar.
His granddaughter had suddenly returned, with such a young man at her side.
Anyone would feel puzzled by this.
Moreover, with his cultivation level, he actually couldn’t see through Gu Changge’s depths, which made his heart tremble with apprehension.
“Mother, she...”
Ah Qing was somewhat worried in her heart, but she still explained, “This is Young Master Gu. He is my benefactor. If not for him, I wouldn’t have been able to return safely.”
“Benefactor?”
The Old City Lord was taken aback, suppressing the further doubts in his heart, and had Ah Qing bring everyone into the city.
Along the way, he briefly told Ah Qing what had happened during this period, including how Ancient Mulberry City had become so dilapidated.
At the root of it, it was still because of the enemies Ah Qing’s father had provoked back then. Hearing that he had disappeared, they had come to their door seeking revenge.
“Father’s old enemies?”
A trace of coldness surfaced on Ah Qing’s small face, her delicate, fair fists clenching tightly.
Her father was an existence at the Earth Sword Immortal level; his enemies were at least Eighth Level, or even Ninth Level experts.
And her grandfather was merely at the Seventh Level—fundamentally unable to contend with them.
“Are those enemies still coming to our door now?” she asked, a hint of killing intent on her face.
Hearing this question, a smile appeared on the Old City Lord’s face as he shook his head. “Some time ago, for some unknown reason, those enemies who came to provoke and cause trouble all suddenly vanished. I suspect it was the doing of your father’s old friends, helping in secret.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Ah Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Since her father was gone, it was now up to her to protect her grandfather and mother.
“This place is actually a convergence point of the world’s Spirit Veins?”
After stepping into Ancient Mulberry City, Gu Changge’s expression grew increasingly peculiar.
Although from the outside this place was extremely desolate, in his eyes he could see purple qi steaming upward, flooding heaven and earth, like tens of thousands of immortals returning to their nest, like a host of dragons ascending to the sky.
Such terrain was clearly the source of ten thousand veins, the root of spiritual grace—even more precious beyond measure than the Imperial Palace of the Southern Light Empire.
“Could something be hidden here? Or is there something special about it?” Gu Changge fell into thoughtful contemplation.
Soon, within the City Lord Manor, Ah Qing and her mother, separated for half a year, were finally reunited. Unable to conceal their excitement, it took a good long while before they calmed down.
“You wretched girl, leaving without a word—do you know how worried I was these past six months?”
Ah Qing’s mother spoke in a reproachful tone, gripping her daughter’s hand tightly.
“I’m sorry, Mother. This time I’ve come back, and I won’t leave. Father shouldn’t have fallen into the hands of those Otherworldly Sky Demons. According to the information I received, at the critical moment Father’s cultivation broke through once more, and he escaped by fleeing into a space rift.”
Ah Qing took several deep breaths before slowly speaking.
“I knew your father wouldn’t fall so easily.”
Hearing these words, both Ah Qing’s mother and grandfather let out a collective sigh of relief.
Then her gaze fell upon Gu Changge, and she couldn’t help but ask, “This young master is the benefactor you spoke of?”
Although Gu Changge appeared refined and extraordinary, gentle and elegant, she had an indescribable feeling—this kind of person didn’t seem like he should appear here, as if he were not of the same world as them.
“Yes, Young Master Gu saved me. He actually also comes from beyond the heavens...” Ah Qing’s gaze carried a hint of gratitude. Then, after thinking for a moment, she nodded and spoke, intending to explain.
“From beyond the heavens?”
But just at that moment, a somewhat surprised voice sounded from outside the great hall. A young man of medium build, dressed in a steward’s clothing, stood there holding a tray of tea, looking somewhat astonished.