Cohabitation with Sword Spirit-Chapter 210 - 177: From Now On, We’re Family—No Need to Be So Formal

As Wang Jiu and the Holy Sect Immortal Envoy engaged in a secretive conversation, the atmosphere in the room became quite awkward.

People only saw the Holy Sect Envoy, wearing a milky white mask, enter through the ancient bronze door and jump straight into the topic. However, after questioning Wang Jiu, a prolonged silence ensued, so long that everyone in the room began to feel their hearts heavily burdened, their breathing difficult.

What was with this inexplicable quiet? Was there some conversation that couldn't be spoken openly? Could it be that the two were conducting some indescribable transaction in public?

On the other hand, the Holy Sect Envoy also felt somewhat suffocated.

"...How did you see through it?"

Yu Zishen did not waste time making excuses or denying it. Since his identity had been exposed, he openly admitted it. However, he was utterly puzzled as to how the other party had seen through the concealment of the milky white mask.

As the standard Magical Treasure for Holy Sect Envoys, the mask's concealing effect was enough to shield against the gaze of 99.9% of Cultivators in the world. Even the heads of some prominent families couldn't see through the true self behind the mask. Over the years, there have been instances of Envoys having their identities discovered, though such occurrences are very rare.

Wang Jiu retorted, "The encryption method for the True Essence Fluctuation of your Four Symbols Divine Mask is too simple. Why did you think using such a method to conceal your identity wouldn't be seen through?"

Yu Zishen was shocked at the time. The encryption method of the Four Symbols Divine Mask was too simple!? You owe an apology to those early-balding algorithm engineers in the Celestial Derivation Hall of the Holy Sect!

However, it is undeniable that there indeed exist a handful of Immortal Cultivation prodigies in the world, who not only cultivate far faster than ordinary people but also possess an extraordinary keenness and analytical ability. While ordinary people may struggle with astronomical data even with the help of an abacus, some can deduce results at the mere turn of a thought. Despite being a standard Magical Treasure of the Holy Sect, the Four Symbols Divine Mask's popularization was based on an ancient Magical Treasure that has existed since the Primordial Era, with limited alterations made to it. From the first generation of Envoys till now, it has been over a thousand years, and those in the Celestial Derivation Hall, aside from making breakthrough designs in the field of preventing hair loss over the years, have not escaped the original rut in encryption work on the Four Symbols Divine Mask. They've only done minor patchwork within a large framework.

Therefore, it is not inconceivable that after such a long time, the algorithm characteristics of the Four Symbols Divine Mask would be detected and even cracked. After all, a similar situation happened just twenty years ago.

Yu Zishen sighed secretly and decided to let this matter pass for the moment, as it was not the immediate focus.

In the secretive conversation, Yu Zishen coldly laughed and said, "Impressive perception, but seeing through my identity is meaningless. Yu Zishen is just my personal identity, while the Holy Sect Envoy is an official position. Even the most inexperienced and weakest Envoy wouldn't let personal matters interfere with official duties. Although I am indeed a loyal fan of Miss Shen Qingming, if she indeed engaged in any cheating, I would not cover it up. If you hope to rely on personal connections to make me pass unfair judgments, you'd better dispel that daydream early on."

Wang Jiu said, "Understood, putting righteousness above family loyalty, right."

"Ha, putting righteousness above family loyalty? In the end, Shen Qingming and I merely share an idol and fan relationship, nowhere near that of family."

Wang Jiu was suddenly curious, "Aren't you her uncle?"

"..."

In the next moment, people only saw the Holy Sect Envoy raise a hand, an indomitable surge of True Essence burst forth, distorting the space within the judgement chamber, creating a path leading to the Unnamed Space, and enveloping both himself and Wang Jiu within it.

——

In a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land filled with lush grass and the first rays of morning light, Yu Zishen quietly took off his mask, revealing a handsome yet age-bearing face.

Bearing some resemblance to the former Yu Zishen, there were numerous differences in the details, making it impossible for anyone to connect the two at first glance. And now this face showed a bit of similarity to Shen Qingming.

"Don't be nervous, this is my private residence, where conversations are more discreet." Yu Zishen spoke, appearing calm and composed.

As he spoke, Yu Zishen waved a hand, the flower clusters beside him swayed suddenly, and a multitude of tiny dew droplets, like a starry river, mixed with a few crystalline petals, eventually condensed into a fist-sized water sphere.

"Tea?"

"Sure." Wang Jiu casually thanked, unfurled the Shape Manipulation Array, receiving the entire water sphere, then to Yu Zishen's surprise, integrated it into the body of the Sword World.

In an instant, the Sword World was abuzz with life, sprouting countless buds of red flowers and green grasses from the blank earth. The majestic yet solitary Myriad Spirits Hall suddenly appeared brimming with vitality.

This was pure life force, small in size, yet contained the entire life force of a Great Cultivator in its raw form, unprocessed and akin to raw meat, difficult for ordinary Cultivators to consume directly. However, for the Celestial Divine Sword, it was an exceptionally high-quality supplement. With this good tea, Wang Jiu's Sword World reconstruction efforts accelerated by at least a month.

"Thank you." Wang Jiu earnestly expressed gratitude, then saw Yu Zishen shaking his head in dismay, smiling wryly.

"That was something I've accumulated over the years; I originally meant to offer you a few drops to dilute yourself. Who knew you would... But unrefined Celestial Immortal Tea, even a Great Cultivator in the Rain Cover Realm might not be able to drink it. You really are becoming more and more unfathomable."

Wang Jiu pondered for a moment: "If that's the case, should I spit it back out for you?"

"No need," Yu Zishen said, "It's nothing too serious, although Celestial Immortal Tea is precious, with my current cultivation, it has little benefit to me. Most of it has become impurities, requiring day and night sacrificial refining and purification with the Heart Method, which is far less efficient than practicing cultivation techniques honestly. And someone like you, who drinks it in one gulp without any issues, is unprecedented. Of course, everyone has their secrets, so I won't rashly ask who you are or how you did all this. I just want to know, how did you discern my relationship with Qingming?"

At this point, Yu Zishen's expression became extraordinarily solemn.

There are some things he could disregard, such as some unpleasantness during his crazy fan period with Wang Jiu, such as that incredibly precious ball of Celestial Immortal Tea that Wang Jiu gulped down without ceremony, or such as his carefully hidden identity being unveiled in one breath...

But there are some things he cannot disregard, such as his blood relationship with Shen Qingming.

Faced with Yu Zishen's aggressive gaze, Wang Jiu retorted: "You should know that the name Yu Zishen, read backward, is Shen Ziyu, right?"

"..."

After a long silence, Yu Zishen—Shen Ziyu slowly spoke: "Just this?"

Then, not waiting for Wang Jiu to answer, Shen Ziyu angrily repeated: "Just this? Just because Yu Zishen read backward is Shen Ziyu!? You concluded I am her uncle!? What's wrong with you people, idly reading people's names backward? And what does it prove if it reads Shen Ziyu backward? By the dialect of Nether Sea natives, Yu Zishen reads as Hai Yunfan, do I look like a spare tire!?"

Wang Jiu said: "Firstly, you have a very distinct blood aura of the Shen Family; the bloodline of the Immovable Tyrant Body also lies dormant within you, so it's not hard to deduce your familial relationship with Shen Qingming. Secondly, I somewhat understand the situation of Shen Qingming's maternal relatives; her mother, Shen Yue'e, is the eldest daughter of the City Lord of Shen City, Shen Ruoshi, with two elder brothers, Shen Ziqiong and Shen Zicheng, a younger sister, Shen Yueying, and a younger brother, Shen Ziyu. Clearly, your age is smaller than Shen Yue'e, and being male, naturally, you are undoubtedly Shen Ziyu."

"Blood aura?" Shen Ziyu incredulously shook his head, "Using blood aura to recognize people, such a method is really unheard of... No wonder Master wants us to travel the world more; indeed, there are countless capable individuals, even the Holy Sect cannot completely control."

Finishing, Shen Ziyu was silent for a long time before speaking again.

"I came to see Qingming. Of course, in my official capacity, I am a Holy Sect Immortal Envoy, responsible for adjudicating the whole Cyan Cloud competition, but the reason I applied to go to Cyan Cloud was all for Qingming. The last time I met her was when she was two years old... It's been over ten years; her life is quite different from what I imagined, but I can see she's very happy and joyful. As her uncle, I should thank you, her guardian."

Wang Jiu said: "You're welcome."

Shen Ziyu chuckled: "So earlier, that ball of Celestial Immortal Tea, treat it as my thank-you gift."

"Alright."

"Alright, with private matters settled, let's get back to the point; my personal identity has nothing to do with my official capacity. Privately, I would love to directly give the championship trophy of the Cyan Cloud competition to Qingming, but as long as I am an Immortal Envoy, I cannot forsake public duty for personal reasons. Whether or not she engaged in any cheating, I will judge without any personal bias," Shen Ziyu said, slowly putting on a milky white mask.

The next moment, from the eyes of the mask, bursts of dazzling light erupted.

The light persisted for a long time, along with several intense fluctuations until the flowers and plants beneath Shen Ziyu's feet wilted under the strong light, he then extinguished the light, sighed a bit tiredly.

"Though somewhat borderline, indeed everything is within the framework, with no transgression... How did you do it? Don't give me your previous theory, I don't want to play word games with you."

Wang Jiu thought for a moment and said, "If you don't accept the previous theory, there's only another theory, which I personally don't prefer, to explain all this."

"Let's hear it."

"As her Sword Spirit, everything I possess can be seen as her equipment bonuses, since the competition allows contestants to bring family heirloom Immortal Treasures—although ordinary people cannot exert the effect of Immortal Treasures—then Shen Qingming using my power is also justifiable."

"Huh?" Shen Ziyu frowned, squinting his eyes, gazing at Wang Jiu with a hard-to-understand look.

Until the latter shrugged and lifted the Illusion Sword Technique, revealing the White Sword form...

"Ha..."