Chapter 181: Shura

Xiang Can stood at the doorway, his gaze slightly raised, looking over Shao Xiaoli's head into the courtyard. He saw the white-robed young man seemingly practicing swordplay, and on the grass in front of him, there were traces of weeds neatly cut by a sword.

"Do you need a new sword?" Xiang Can asked with a smile.

Ning Changjiu ignored him.

Xiang Can said, "You don't need to pretend with me. I know you're not an ordinary spirit. You can understand our words. If you have any needs, just tell us. I can even... find you a different master."

Upon hearing this, Shao Xiaoli immediately panicked and interjected, "He and I have already formed a pact, and we're perfectly compatible! Besides, it was my blood that summoned him. In this whole city, I'm the only one qualified to be his master!"

Xiang Can didn't refute her, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his face.

This smile made Shao Xiaoli feel a little guilty. She quickly continued, "Of course we need a sword! Since Lord Xiang Can knows my spirit is extraordinary, then naturally, he deserves the best sword!"

Xiang Can looked at the girl, who was clearly showing false bravado, and said, "Miss Shao, you've become quite assertive now, haven't you?"

Shao Xiaoli harbored fear and apprehension towards Xiang Can. Her assertiveness immediately diminished, and she lowered her voice slightly, asking, "Does Lord Xiang Can have anything else to say?"

Xiang Can shook his head. "Nothing else. The new sword will be delivered this afternoon. Don't forget about the assessment. You are a member of the royal family, so I shouldn't need to elaborate on the relevant matters, right?"

"Understood," Shao Xiaoli replied, avoiding his gaze and sounding rather unconfident.

After Xiang Can left, Shao Xiaoli turned around, a little disheartened. She took small steps and slowly walked behind Ning Changjiu, skillfully placing her hands on his shoulders and beginning to massage and pat him. "Boss, you heard that, right? We have to go to this assessment..."

"Mm-hm," Ning Changjiu nodded.

Shao Xiaoli earnestly said, "Let me explain the details to you. Let's practice first so we don't run into any problems during the assessment."

Ning Changjiu said, "Alright."

Shao Xiaoli began to explain, "This assessment isn't troublesome; there are only two parts. The first part tests my mental power, whether I can precisely control your actions with my mind. The second part is a bit scarier: they'll throw us into the first level of the Ghost Prison, where the cell doors are wide open, and we have to come out alive after an hour."

Ning Changjiu thought for a moment and decided the second part shouldn't be difficult. As for the first part...

Ning Changjiu opened his eyes and looked at her distrustfully. "To what extent have you cultivated your mental power?"

Shao Xiaoli's talent was not outstanding to begin with, and despite over a decade of effort, her progress was modest. However, she had already thought of a solution the previous night. "Boss, wait a moment," she said mysteriously.

With that, Shao Xiaoli quickly massaged his shoulders, then turned and went back into her room. She emerged with a small stack of papers, which she rolled up and held in her palm, pinching it with her thumb. She obediently handed it to Ning Changjiu, whispering, "Boss, this is a script! We just have to act according to it during the assessment. I've even predicted many difficult and sudden situations. Boss, please take a look!"

"..." Ning Changjiu was speechless. He silently accepted Shao Xiaoli's script and began to read through it.

"Boss, if you find it tiring to read, I can read it for you!" Shao Xiaoli offered, demonstrating her thoughtful consideration.

Ning Changjiu continued to read on his own.

Shao Xiaoli's handwriting was exquisite, appearing graceful and refined, like that of a noble lady from a secluded chamber, with every stroke imbued with elegant charm.

"Looks can indeed be deceiving..." Ning Changjiu thought to himself as he looked at the beautiful handwriting.

He held the edge of the paper, skimming through it, turning pages with his fingers. He secretly admired the girl's meticulousness. She had even considered how to portray the subtle distance between them when her mental power was insufficient, and detailed her expressions and movements as she teetered on the verge of mental collapse yet persevered, gritting her teeth to maintain control, as well as his own expected reactions in those moments.

"Let's stick to this," Ning Changjiu said, unable to find any fault.

Shao Xiaoli's previously tense expression immediately relaxed. Squatting beside Ning Changjiu's chair, she bounced with joy, but Ning Changjiu's perpetually indifferent face seemed to pour cold water on her enthusiasm. She composed herself and cautiously asked, "Are you really sure it's fine?"

"Yes," Ning Changjiu replied.

Only then did Shao Xiaoli completely relax. "Shall we start practicing now?" she asked.

Ning Changjiu said, "You just need to practice your part well. I..."

Ning Changjiu had intended to say he didn't need to practice, but fearing the girl would worry, he instead said, "I'll practice secretly on my own. We can just combine our parts when the time comes."

Shao Xiaoli looked slightly enlightened, thinking that her boss must be rather shy about such things.

For the rest of the morning, Shao Xiaoli spread a blanket and sat in the middle of the stone path, meticulously and rigorously practicing according to the script she had written. Ning Changjiu, meanwhile, sat under the eaves by the house entrance, quietly pondering what he had seen in the library the previous night, guessing and deducing the origins of the city.

It was nearly noon.

After bouncing around all morning, Shao Xiaoli finally rested. She was quite satisfied with the results of her practice, already picturing herself astonishing everyone during the assessment.

"Boss, are you really not going to practice?" Shao Xiaoli asked tentatively, wiping sweat from her brow with her arm.

Ning Changjiu, mindful of his status, subtly resisted many of the actions in the script and shook his head in refusal.

Shao Xiaoli didn't dare to insist and quickly said, "Boss, I'll go make you lunch then!"

Lunch was much more elaborate than breakfast.

Shao Xiaoli busily cooked in the back kitchen. Smoke rose from the stove, and a fragrant aroma filled the air.

Once the table was laden, Shao Xiaoli confidently invited Ning Changjiu to sample her cooking.

After they sat down, Shao Xiaoli eagerly began to introduce the dishes: "This is Azure Dragon Leaping into the Sea, this is Sea-Calming Divine Needle, this is Bashful Maiden, this is Peerless Twins... and this is The Unique One!"

Ning Changjiu picked up his chopsticks from the table and followed her gaze as she introduced each dish. He looked at the clear soup with boiled greens, steamed eggs with green onions, slow-cooked clam meat, and stir-fried bell peppers, and his mouth twitched slightly.

That morning, he had eaten ordinary porridge, thinking Shao Xiaoli simply preferred light flavors. But now, he finally began to question Shao Xiaoli's claims of "sumptuous food."

Shao Xiaoli was clever and knew what Ning Changjiu was thinking, so she quickly explained, "Boss, you must have been a big shot in the outside world before your reincarnation, but this place is nothing like out there. These river clams were painstakingly dug out and cultivated from underground springs, and it's already quite difficult to get vegetables."

Ning Changjiu nodded. He wasn't picky about food or drink. At that moment, he stared at the last dish, hesitated for a moment, and, knowing he shouldn't ask, still couldn't help but say, "Why is it called 'The Unique One'?"

On the plate was a thin, yellowish pancake, with a bit of something resembling minced garlic rolled inside.

Shao Xiaoli's eyes curved, like a hunter spotting prey caught in a trap, and she happily explained, "This is 'laobing' (pancake), and this is 'da suan' (garlic)... When combined, the names sound like 'laoda' (boss)! And of course, Boss is 'the unique one'!"

"...Oh," Ning Changjiu said, giving the dish a profound look and nodding.

Shao Xiaoli looked at her pancake, thinking that the minced garlic hadn't just been sprinkled on, but meticulously placed clove by clove, a truly commendable effort... She wondered if her boss had noticed, and why his reaction was so indifferent.

Ning Changjiu lowered his head and quietly picked up a piece of another dish with his chopsticks.

He recalled the phrase "The Unique One," and his feigned indifference finally broke, a slight smile involuntarily curving his lips. Shao Xiaoli keenly caught this. Her heart bloomed with excitement, but she composed herself, showing no outward emotion. She simply lowered her head slightly, furtively glanced upwards, and whispered, "Boss, you look even better when you smile than Sister Su."

Ning Changjiu's face immediately returned to its calm state.

Being compared to a woman... he didn't feel Shao Xiaoli was praising him.

He had no desire to experience the awkwardness of Linhe City again.

After eating, Ning Changjiu practiced Shao Xiaoli's exclusive cultivation technique, the Northern Darkness Divine Sword.

Shao Xiaoli was overjoyed. "Boss, isn't my swordplay quite remarkable?" she asked.

Ning Changjiu grunted and replied, "It's quite visually appealing."

Shao Xiaoli narrowed her eyes. "Boss, I think you act calm and collected on the surface, but deep down, you're secretly mischievous, aren't you?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Shao Xiaoli began to regret her slip of the tongue.

"Hmm?" Ning Changjiu glanced at her indifferently.

That casual glance shattered Shao Xiaoli's defenses. She patted her cheeks, meekly pleaded for forgiveness, looking as if she wished she could tear down candles from a memorial hall in repentance.

Ning Changjiu was quite helpless, unsure of what attitude to adopt towards her.

All he wanted now was to leave this place quickly, return to his original world, and see his beloved junior sister and master.

Inside him, the Spirit of the Sword Scripture held a rather high opinion of the girl, saying that even if one were critical, she was definitely a virtuous and promising talent. "If you don't believe me," it added, "we can examine her together tomorrow morning."

Of course, Ning Changjiu paid it no mind.

Meanwhile, Shao Xiaoli secretly rejoiced at her boss's good temper and even fantasized about her powerful boss carrying her out of the snowy plains someday.

Once they were out of the snowy plains, the outside world would surely be colorful and exciting, and by then, she would definitely have grown into a beautiful young woman.

Hmm... what should she name the children?

A knock on the door interrupted Shao Xiaoli's fantasy.

It was the sword delivery person.

The person delivering the sword gave a few instructions, then quietly departed.

It was a sword with a scabbard made of black leather, adorned with gold foil and intricate subtle patterns. The mouth of the scabbard was banded with a bright, silvery metal ring. The entire sword was slender and long, appearing quite elegant.

Ning Changjiu gripped the hilt and gently drew the sword.

The blade was like gently flowing water, reflecting his equally clear and serene face.

Near the hilt were engraved several ancient, profound inscriptions.

In ancient times, emperors forged swords from the copper of Mount Shou, engraving them with ancient astronomical characters, hence the tradition of inscribing famous swords.

Shao Xiaoli loved the sword, thinking it suited her boss perfectly.

Ning Changjiu's expression, however, grew much more serious.

He recognized this sword.

It was the sword worn by the woman who had claimed to be a handmaiden of the Star Spirit Palace the previous night. At the time, the sword had remained sheathed, but now it had been unfastened from her waist and delivered to him.

What could this mean?

Ning Changjiu pressed his palm against the hilt, pushing the sword back into its scabbard. He carefully examined it with his divine sense, finding no issues, but he still couldn't feel at ease. He decided that once the Golden Crow awakened, he would melt and recast the sword.

Time flew by, and another two days passed in a blink.

The seasons here subtly mirrored those of the outside world, but since this place existed as a severed realm, isolated from the world, the climate wasn't strongly perceived. Even if it felt slightly warm during the day, the city's temperature would drop sharply after nightfall.

Every night, Shao Xiaoli would bundle herself in a thick cotton quilt, huddle in a corner, trembling and muttering in her sleep.

For these two nights, Ning Changjiu secretly helped her to calm her mind and sleep, then channeled spiritual energy to try and dispel the cold within her body. However, this action caused his index finger, which touched her brow, to become covered in a thin layer of frost, almost leading to a backlash from the cold.

He was certain that her body had been afflicted by some kind of curse, but for some reason, the girl seemed completely carefree and unaware of it during the day.

Over these two days, Ning Changjiu's attitude towards her was no longer as cold as it had been initially, which made Shao Xiaoli secretly delighted for a long time, feeling that a bright future lay ahead.

Ning Changjiu also taught her some more advanced breathing techniques, and Shao Xiaoli clamored to become his disciple.

On the afternoon of the third day, Shao Xiaoli finally had the feeling that her good days were coming to an end.

It was the deadline for the assessment.

Shao Xiaoli was like a scholar who had studied diligently for over a decade, and with the deadline for the imperial examination approaching, she reluctantly packed her bags and travel money, heading to the capital with a nervous yet serious expression.

Ning Changjiu, on the other hand, was like a calmly composed study companion, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, seemingly detached from the matter.

Xiang Can had been waiting for a long time in front of the metallic stone blocks of the royal palace, accompanied by several recording and supervising officials. They put down their pens and watched the young man and woman approaching from a distance, feeling a slight relief.

Xiang Can looked deeply at Shao Xiaoli. "Are you ready?"

Shao Xiaoli disliked his gaze, deliberately avoided it, and nodded. "Yes."

Ning Changjiu followed behind her, his expression cold but not dull, indeed looking different from an ordinary spirit.

Xiang Can glanced at the metallic platform of the dynasty.

Shao Xiaoli understood and placed her hand on it.

The metallic platform emitted a sword hum. The sound wasn't loud, but it was clear, proving that Shao Xiaoli's sword arts were decent enough for her to qualify for the assessment.

The sword hum faded.

All eyes fell on her, awaiting the start of the assessment.

Shao Xiaoli stood with one hand behind her back, her dark hair cascading to her waist, her expression cool and aloof, with an inherent nobility in her features.

She slowly closed her eyes, extended a hand, and spoke with an air of haughty authority, "Divine attendant, heed my command."

Ning Changjiu watched her majestic, ice-cold demeanor, and in his mind, he already pictured her back home, miserably pleading with him while holding a washboard.

He cooperated, saying, "Yes."

Shao Xiaoli secretly breathed a sigh of relief and cast a cool, elegant gaze towards the sky above the imperial city.

Ning Changjiu, as if linked to her by mental power, also looked towards the sky.

"Go," Shao Xiaoli commanded softly, pointing with two fingers towards the tall courtyard wall of the royal palace.

Ning Changjiu, as if responding to a summons, vanished in a flash and quickly appeared atop the courtyard wall.

Shao Xiaoli moved her fingers, making his figure dart back and forth between several points within the royal palace.

A quarter of an hour later, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and the girl's silver teeth were tightly clenched, as if she were slightly exhausted.

Shao Xiaoli squeezed her eyes shut, as if her mental power was rapidly depleting. Her fingers also curled convulsively, trembling uncontrollably.

"Slay!" Shao Xiaoli forced herself to look up, her slightly bent knees straightened little by little, and her trembling fingers stiffened before sweeping downwards.

Ning Changjiu moved, darting past a wooden stake in the middle of the field. With a few swishing sounds, the stake broke into several pieces.

This action seemed to consume a lot of strength, as Shao Xiaoli pressed her fingers against her temples.

And the mental link between them seemed to have been severed.

After severing the wooden stake, Ning Changjiu stood rooted to the spot, as if he had lost control. His gaze also slightly unfocused, and he looked blankly from side to side.

Xiang Can stared at him with profound eyes.

He suddenly raised his hand.

A severed section of the wooden stake rose from the ground and hurtled towards Ning Changjiu's back.

Ning Changjiu felt a warning, but he made no reaction, allowing the wooden stake to hit his back and then be shattered by the sword intent he emitted.

"That's enough," the chief scribe, who was recording, called out. The other supervisors also found nothing unusual, nodding gently and even casting approving glances at Shao Xiaoli.

Shao Xiaoli knelt on one knee, covering her mouth, seemingly utterly exhausted.

Only Ning Changjiu knew she was secretly smiling.

Next was the journey into the Ghost Prison.

Ning Changjiu couldn't understand why this place, like the State of Zhao, preferred to build its most dangerous prisons beneath the royal palace.

Legend had it that the Ghost Prison had three levels; the deeper one went, the more powerful the monsters held there.

Shao Xiaoli and Ning Changjiu arrived at the entrance of the Ghost Prison, led by Xiang Can.

"If you wish to quit midway, just crush this at any time," Xiang Can said, handing over a bamboo tube. Its size and design were similar to those used by the Sword Decree Heavenly Sect.

Shao Xiaoli casually took the bamboo tube, and then she and Ning Changjiu slowly proceeded along the deep stone path.

Shao Xiaoli maintained an unusual calm throughout, as if she were not facing a horde of malevolent ghosts, but merely a few ants that could be crushed effortlessly.

But Ning Changjiu knew she was very nervous inside.

The hand holding his sleeve was trembling continuously, her heartbeat against his ear grew faster and faster, and her breathing became increasingly rapid.

All the large doors in the Ghost Prison were merely ajar.

Monsters, twisted beyond recognition by torment, lurked in the dark depths. Some huddled in corners out of fear, while others hid nearby, hungry for blood, waiting for an opportunity.

For cultivators who came here, this was both a hunting ground where they could freely hone their sword skills, and a place where the roles of hunter and prey could quickly reverse. Historically, quite a few had been impaled through the back by a monster's claw before they even had a chance to crush their bamboo tube.

"That's enough, stop pretending," Ning Changjiu said flatly.

Shao Xiaoli's tense composure immediately broke. Her face fell, her previous haughtiness and confidence vanishing completely. She burrowed herself against Ning Changjiu, as if she wished to throw herself into his arms.

Ning Changjiu put out a hand, pressing her forehead to prevent her from coming too close, so Shao Xiaoli's movements resembled someone struggling to stay afloat in water.

Ning Changjiu looked around.

In the dark, gloomy cells, pairs of eyes, like bats' nocturnal vision, stared at them eerily from the deep shadows.

Ning Changjiu also opened his Sword Eyes.

And so, those faint, eerie, greenish lights, like ghostly flames, began to outline distinct forms.

Inside the cells, most of the monsters were four-legged creatures with long tails and rows of sharp teeth in their mouths. Their flesh resembled sticky, muddy sludge, with no discernible skin. They half-crouched on the ground, their backs hunched like cheetahs, as if poised to pounce at any moment.

Shao Xiaoli clung tightly to Ning Changjiu's arm, which was pressed against her forehead, her heart pounding incessantly. She didn't dare to look at the monsters.

But for some reason, the monsters didn't launch a rash attack. Instead, they slowly watched Ning Changjiu's steps as he moved deeper, as if counting his rhythm.

The iron cages of the prison bore countless bite marks.

"Boss, where are you going? Are you angry with me? That was just acting earlier. When we get back, how about I make you my newly researched Jade Maiden Fiery Lotus to apologize..." Shao Xiaoli pleaded weakly, extending her arms as if hoping Ning Changjiu would embrace her.

Ning Changjiu remained unmoved, simply walking deeper.

"Boss, Boss, where are you going? You're so powerful, just kill them all quickly and let's get out of here, okay?" Shao Xiaoli felt chilling drafts and was utterly terrified.

Ning Changjiu said, "To the next level."

"What?!" Shao Xiaoli thought she had misheard. "Boss, are you crazy?!"

Outside the Ghost Prison, the chief scribe stood beside Xiang Can and asked uncertainly, "Will they be able to come out?"

Xiang Can nodded and counter-questioned, "How do you think their first assessment went earlier?"

After deep thought, the chief scribe said, "There was nothing amiss."

Xiang Can sighed, murmuring to himself, "Is that so?"

The chief scribe frowned. "What does Your Excellency think?"

Xiang Can looked at the well-concealed entrance of the Ghost Prison, puzzled. "I just don't understand why they haven't come out yet after all this time."

A pale, yellow twilight had already appeared on the horizon.

There was no sun in the sky, so the light seemed to emanate from the entire firmament, though it was brighter towards the west.

The chief scribe glanced at the hourglass in his hand and said, bewildered, "Only half an hour has passed. By the rules, shouldn't they only come out after a full hour, just like Kui Yuan? Why would Lord Xiang Can say this?"

Xiang Can didn't explain much further.

He had detected too many abnormalities about this young man, and what shocked him most was Sima Ming's high regard for him.

Sima Ming was an even more mysterious figure in Severed Realm City than the king.

Apart from them, almost no one knew of Sima Ming's existence.

Such a mysterious and supremely beautiful woman rarely appeared in public, yet that day she descended as if foreseeing the future, bringing with her the legendary divine revelation.

This was an unprecedented event in Severed Realm City in a hundred years.

The light was slowly drained away.

Large red lanterns lit up one by one in the royal city.

An hour passed, and the Ghost Prison doors opened on their own.

Ning Changjiu and Shao Xiaoli emerged from it. Their clothes were pristine white, not a speck of dust on them, as if they had not been to a ghost prison but a snow-covered wilderness.

Xiang Can narrowed his eyes.

He noticed that Shao Xiaoli's expression was slightly dazed, as if she had been greatly startled.

"Assessment passed," the chief scribe announced, taking out a new register and writing down Shao Xiaoli's name.

Xiang Can frowned and walked into the Ghost Prison.

The moment he stepped inside, a heavy stench assaulted him. Even he could hardly believe the scene before his eyes.

The floor of the Ghost Prison was littered with corpses, lying haphazardly. The bodies appeared intact, but upon closer inspection, one could find wounds—each identical, a clean, decisive sword stroke.

As he walked deeper, seeing the shocking reddish-black liquids on the ground, his heart tightened little by little.

He didn't know how the white-robed young man had managed it.

And even though he already knew of Ning Changjiu's extraordinary nature, he still couldn't fathom what had happened inside the Ghost Prison during that hour.

In the royal city, Shao Xiaoli and Ning Changjiu walked home together.

When they arrived at their doorstep, Shao Xiaoli took out her key, but her hand trembled incessantly, and she tried to insert it into the lock multiple times without success.

"Let me," Ning Changjiu said, opening his hand.

Shao Xiaoli, however, clenched the key tightly in her palm.

She turned her head, her timid eyes glistening with what seemed like tears, but it was not from emotion, but from fear.

She opened her mouth and asked, "What... what did it say to you?"

Even Xiang Can hadn't imagined that within that hour, Ning Changjiu had broken through numerous obstacles and gone alone to the third level of the Ghost Prison.

He had seen the deepest part of the darkness, the most evil and powerful vengeful spirit, which had been imprisoned in the Ghost Prison for hundreds of years. The spirit was entwined with countless chains, its form indistinct. Shao Xiaoli had merely glimpsed it from afar and immediately felt a splitting headache and continuous dry heaving. In the end, she vaguely heard the malevolent spirit say something to Ning Changjiu.

It was a single syllable.

Ning Changjiu held her hand, gently pried her fingers open, took the key, and effortlessly opened the door. As he pushed the door inward, he repeated that syllable.

"Asura."