I Might Be a Big Shot — Chapter 21

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Mount Shu had indeed sent out hero invitations, but the date was set for six months later.

There was no helping it — cultivators’ sense of time was far longer than ordinary people’s. A casual closed-door cultivation could last decades. Within a sect, even Foundation Building disciples’ competitions were held only once every ten years, and the great hero gatherings between sects below the Golden Core stage happened only once every fifty years. Mount Shu simply couldn’t guarantee that the invitations they sent out would reach everyone successfully. Since Yin Changkong had already been missing for a year without any major incident shaking the cultivation world, they simply postponed the gathering to try to invite more people to discuss the matter.

Shortly after Mount Shu sent out the hero invitations, however, came news that the Li family had been exterminated. To the great sects, a small clan like the Li family was barely noticeable — but that such a massacre happened at such a critical time demanded attention. Mount Shu, Emei, and even Kunlun, now in crisis, all sent people to investigate the Li family, but found no clues.

Mount Shu wanted to move the gathering forward, but since the invitations had already gone out, and no great catastrophe had yet occurred, they could only continue waiting. Fortunately, there were only a few dozen days left, and many righteous sect cultivators were already arriving early at Mount Shu, so nothing much was expected to happen if they just waited a bit longer.

Li Xinglun and Changkong Zhuoyu were hidden within the Mount Shu sword formation by Sage Yipin, leaving Rang Cencen alone. Teary-eyed, she watched as her Sect Master Xue abandoned her for that fox spirit Pei. She was like a falling flower, but Sect Master Xue was like a flowing stream, single-mindedly throwing himself at the fox spirit, leaving Rang Cencen heartbroken.

Seeing Rang Cencen about to cry, Sage Yipin gave a light cough and said to her: “This immortal maiden, please stay here and rest at our sect for now. When the two of them come out of seclusion, I will send someone to inform you immediately.”

After crossing hands with Changkong Zhuoyu, Sage Yipin had already sensed that Changkong Zhuoyu was no villain. During their spar, there was no killing intent — only the joy of a true duel. He then asked Rong Jian, who held a hero invitation, and learned that Changkong Zhuoyu and the others had come specifically to help upon hearing of the great events shaking the cultivation world. Since they didn’t have an invitation and also wanted to see the Mount Shu sword formation, they resorted to this desperate measure, but bore no malice.

Rang Cencen had no choice but to stay at Mount Shu and wait for Changkong Zhuoyu, cursing the fox spirit Pei from head to toe in her heart.

Meanwhile, within the sword formation, Li Xinglun entered a profoundly mystical state.

The Li family’s mental cultivation method could at most reach the Golden Core stage; without an extraordinary opportunity, they could never reach Nascent Soul stage. Li Xinglun wanted revenge and to quickly grow stronger — so he could no longer practice the family’s original mental method.

His master’s own cultivation was unfathomable — perhaps the strongest in the cultivation world — but he remembered nothing, and only practiced his own mental method without knowing how to teach a disciple.

Fortunately, Li Xinglun was a genius, with exceptional aptitude and comprehension. Watching Changkong Zhuoyu break the formation with his sword in the Soul-Breaking Gorge had already given him some insight. And when Changkong Zhuoyu helped him cultivate, Li Xinglun began to form a clearer idea of the path he wanted to take — but he was still missing something. It wasn’t until he witnessed Changkong Zhuoyu sparring with Sage Yipin that the paper window that had blocked his heart was finally pierced.

At this moment, Li Xinglun was cultivating with a mental method never before seen in the cultivation world. He chose to cultivate the mental method he had comprehended himself. How far he could go in the future would depend now entirely on him. As Changkong Zhuoyu’s disciple, even if his master recovered his memories, he could no longer teach him much — only guide him.

When Changkong Zhuoyu’s sense of fear passed, he quietly sat down beside Li Xinglun and closed his eyes. At this moment he was within the divine formation of Mount Shu, using his body to sense the formation, hoping to gain a unique harvest.

After Changkong Zhuoyu entered his meditative state, the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure also silently came to their side. The two dragons, purple and azure, rubbed against Changkong Zhuoyu before separating and coiling around Changkong Zhuoyu and Li Xinglun, their massive tails encircling the two, leaving only a little space in the center for them to sit cross-legged.

The two in meditation were completely unaware — one simply felt that absorbing spiritual energy became a bit smoother, while the other felt the Mount Shu sword formation open its gates to him, letting him freely explore its exquisite mysteries.

Like this, more than a month passed. Just as the righteous gathering was about to begin, Li Xinglun opened his eyes. At the very instant before he awoke, the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure quietly turned back into swords and returned to the center of the formation.

Opening his eyes, Li Xinglun lowered his head and looked at his hands, smiling silently.

It had taken him twenty years to barely reach the Foundation Building stage, and now, in less than a year, he had already formed his Golden Core. In the cultivation world, of those who started from Foundation Building and reached Golden Core, not even one in a hundred succeeded. Many disciples of small sects and clans were stuck at Foundation Building their entire lives, dying without ever forming a core.

And yet, for him, forming the core had been so easy.

As Li Xinglun was lost in thought, he suddenly heard a voice, faint yet close: “My disciple has already formed his core — not bad. That speed is only a little worse than your master’s.”

Only his eccentric master Changkong Zhuoyu could speak such immodest words so casually. But what was with this voice? It seemed to come from right beside his ear, yet also from unimaginably far away.

Li Xinglun looked to the side and saw Changkong Zhuoyu still sitting cross-legged next to him — yet he could sense no presence at all, as if Changkong Zhuoyu had merged with heaven and earth, everywhere and nowhere.

Under Li Xinglun’s incredulous gaze, Changkong Zhuoyu opened his eyes and smiled faintly. “While you were making a breakthrough these past days, I also cultivated a bit — mainly tempering my heart. I seem to have broken through a layer of a cultivation stage {early to middle to late} as well. But I should already be at the peak of the cultivation world — the next step ought to be facing the heavenly tribulation. Yet I feel no sense of the tribulation’s approach… so what stage am I really at?”

Li Xinglun couldn’t answer.

“Ah well, as long as your master is impressive, that’s enough.” Changkong Zhuoyu stood up, then suddenly remembered something and leaned close to Li Xinglun, lowering his voice: “There’s something I want to tell you.”

Seeing his mysterious expression, Li Xinglun became serious and listened closely.

“I think I might actually be Yin Changkong,” Changkong Zhuoyu declared solemnly.

Li Xinglun: “…”

“Really. I’ve always wondered why I liked using ‘Changkong’ as a surname — turns out that’s actually my name!” Changkong Zhuoyu exclaimed in sudden realization. “Xue Qianjie was from two thousand years ago. Apart from the Hundred Flowers sect that worshiped him, his subordinates have long since disappeared from the cultivation world. But I keep feeling like many subordinates are waiting for me to return and turn the tide — isn’t that contradictory? So I think I must be Yin Changkong. See, even the timing matches.”

The Kunlun divine formation was broken, Yin Changkong went missing, and not long after Li Xinglun fell off a cliff and encountered the awakened Changkong Zhuoyu.

It did seem to make a certain amount of sense — the kind of story many would believe.

But Li Xinglun knew all too well the endless tales that spun in his master’s mind, so he immediately countered: “But Master, about being Xue Qianjie — that’s already been confirmed by the Hundred Flowers sect. And besides, Yin Changkong wasn’t a sword cultivator. How do you explain your swordsmanship, which matches even the Mount Shu Sect Leader?”

Yin Changkong was known as stern and reserved — not only Kunlun’s leader but also the head of the righteous sects. To say Changkong Zhuoyu was Yin Changkong, Li Xinglun would rather believe he was Xue Qianjie.

“I never denied that I’m Xue Qianjie,” Changkong Zhuoyu said, perfectly justified. “Yin Changkong hasn’t even lived a thousand years yet, and Xue Qianjie disappeared a full thousand years ago — the two could absolutely be the same person!”

It was the first time Li Xinglun had heard anyone propose that the lord of the demonic path and the leader of the righteous path were the same person. He was utterly stunned, unable to retort.

But the more Changkong Zhuoyu spoke, the more convinced he became: “Actually, you can tell from Xue Qianjie’s character. Though he was a demonic cultivator, he charged into the Kunlun divine formation — showing he harbored deep longing for Kunlun. After breaking out of the formation, he didn’t harm a single blade of grass of Kunlun, but instead ascended Heaven-Shaking Peak, defeated the entire demonic sect, and became its master — proving he cherished Kunlun. After becoming the sect master of the demonic sect, he didn’t attack the righteous path to start a great war. Instead, he restrained the demonic path, stopped them from doing evil, and maintained the cultivation world’s stability for a thousand years. That shows that although he stood in the demonic path, his heart was with the righteous!”

Li Xinglun was dumbfounded. Master, if you said this in front of Rang Cencen, she’d have her snakes bite you.

Yet Changkong Zhuoyu continued to analyze: “Clearly he was so kind and righteous, yet he was a demonic cultivator. No matter how profound his skills, he could never have joined Kunlun. Xue Qianjie traveled the entire cultivation world and couldn’t find a way to move from demonic to righteous. In the end, before ascending, he used his great power to disassemble his body and soul and reincarnate — becoming Yin Changkong.

“Look at Yin Changkong’s life — Foundation Building at twenty, Golden Core at fifty, Nascent Soul at a hundred, and reached Great Ascension at only four hundred, becoming Kunlun’s leader. He became sect leader exactly five hundred years after Xue Qianjie vanished, at a time when the demonic path was rising, the righteous path retreating step by step. Yin Changkong turned the tide, led the nearly shattered righteous sects, and within a century crushed the demonic path, forcing them to shrink back to Heaven-Shaking Peak, winning five hundred years of peace for the cultivation world. Someone so capable — if he wasn’t some great figure in a previous life, how could he rise like the protagonist of a story? He must be Xue Qianjie reborn!”

Impressive, impressive — Li Xinglun was almost convinced. After comprehending the Mount Shu sword formation, his master’s arguments sounded even more plausible.

“And I… that is, Yin Changkong… after the Kunlun divine formation was broken by a mysterious enemy, met his deadly tribulation, and finally fell into the depths of the Soul-Breaking Gorge, severing his past ties to undergo the tribulation. Who would have thought — misfortune turned to blessing. That forgetting actually let me recall past lives, not only retaining Yin Changkong’s power, but also remembering the techniques of Xue Qianjie. I’m truly the number one in the world — both righteous and demonic!”

As Changkong Zhuoyu spoke, he reached to his waist but felt nothing. Only then did he remember his fan had already turned to ash. Feeling something was missing, he turned his glittering eyes toward Li Xinglun.

But Li Xinglun was broke too — that broken fan had been bought with his hard-earned money from copying books. Changkong Zhuoyu had treated it as a magical treasure, eventually burning it to nothing. And now he wanted another? Was he expecting Li Xinglun to copy books again?

Li Xinglun felt like he was being squeezed dry by his little demon of a master.

No, no — that wasn’t the point. The point was that Changkong Zhuoyu still believed he was Yin Changkong and now wanted to attend the righteous gathering. If he declared himself Yin Changkong in front of the Kunlun sect, the two of them would be hunted by the entire righteous path.

So Li Xinglun quickly grabbed the eager-to-reunite-with-Kunlun Changkong Zhuoyu and advised: “Master, do you remember who struck you down into the depths of the Soul-Breaking Gorge? And who, under your protection, broke the Kunlun divine formation?”

Changkong Zhuoyu: “…?”

“To defeat someone like you — the number one under heaven — just how terrifying is that person’s strength?”

Changkong Zhuoyu: “…?”

“I don’t think such a person even exists!” Seeing that Changkong Zhuoyu wilted the moment he remembered being defeated, Li Xinglun quickly changed his tone. “So you definitely can’t be Yin Changkong. My master is way too amazing for that!”

Changkong Zhuoyu finally cheered up a little. He nodded and said: “What my disciple says makes sense. There may be hidden truths in all this. Whether or not I am Yin Changkong, it’s best not to act rashly before the truth is clear.”

“That’s more like it.” Li Xinglun’s worried heart finally settled. “Master, the righteous gathering probably hasn’t started yet. Let’s hurry to Mount Shu.”

Li Xinglun still brooded over the extermination of the Li family, hoping to uncover some clues — he was determined to attend this righteous gathering.

“Exactly,” Changkong Zhuoyu nodded. “These past days I’ve observed the changes in Mount Shu’s spiritual energy — it seems quite a few important figures have already arrived. Fortunately, you just broke through to the Golden Core stage, or else you wouldn’t even qualify to enter.”

This was different from the duels held every fifty years. At such meetings to discuss important matters, low-ranking disciples at the Foundation Building stage could only wait outside — they had no right to enter. Even if Changkong Zhuoyu wanted to bring Li Xinglun in, others would likely object. But now that Li Xinglun had reached the Golden Core stage, and with Changkong Zhuoyu’s strength at least at the Great Ascension level, naturally he could bring him in.

“Saves me from having to fight my way in against other sect leaders — what a hassle,” Changkong Zhuoyu added.

Li Xinglun was slightly stunned. “Master, are you saying that even if I were only at Foundation Building, you’d still take me in?”

“Of course,” Changkong Zhuoyu nodded matter-of-factly. “You need to go in and investigate some things, don’t you?”

At this moment, Changkong Zhuoyu was unusually considerate. He didn’t directly mention the extermination of the Li family but hinted at it tactfully.

A trace of softness flashed in Li Xinglun’s eyes.

Changkong Zhuoyu’s kindness was so natural it felt entirely justified. His tone when saying “you’re my disciple, so of course I’ll protect you” was almost identical to when he claimed “of course I’m the number one in the world” — without condescension or arrogance. To him, it was as natural as rain falling from the sky.

So candid it was almost endearing.

Li Xinglun silently kept this feeling in his heart but said nothing aloud. When Changkong Zhuoyu spoke such words, he never expected Li Xinglun to repay him with anything. He simply felt it was his duty — that a master should treat his disciple well. To say thanks at this moment would insult his kindness, as if implying he’d only done it to gain gratitude.

Remembering it in his heart was enough.

“Then my breakthrough really saved a lot of trouble,” Li Xinglun said, naturally taking Changkong Zhuoyu’s hand.

“It’s fine,” Changkong Zhuoyu replied casually. “Even if we had to fight, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But since I’m the head of the righteous path, if I regain my identity later and remember that I once fought all the sect leaders… it might be a little awkward.”

Knowing Changkong Zhuoyu still hadn’t given up on the idea that he was Yin Changkong, Li Xinglun felt both helpless and amused.

“Master, earlier you said you sensed changes in Mount Shu’s spiritual energy… but aren’t we inside the formation? And you were meditating — how did you notice?”

“My divine sense has already merged with the Mount Shu sword formation these past days,” Changkong Zhuoyu said. “The sword formation is me, and I am the formation. Even the Mount Shu disciples don’t know it as well as I do now. That’s why I dared to tell you my secret within this formation — no outsider will know.”

“That’s good.” Li Xinglun nodded in relief. At least when they fled Mount Shu, the formation wouldn’t block them.

Perhaps because of his recent breakthrough to Golden Core, Li Xinglun’s sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth still lingered. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this Mount Shu gathering might bring them some small difficulties.

But surely nothing major would happen — he reassured himself.

Once they were ready, the two of them left the sword formation hand in hand.

By this time, many important figures had already arrived at Mount Shu. As soon as Changkong Zhuoyu stepped out of the formation, countless people sensed something unusual.

And by his side, Li Xinglun felt it most keenly.

What kind of aura was this? Like Mount Tai pressing down, making it hard to breathe — like a sharp sword at one’s throat, ready to draw blood at the slightest movement. This fierce and terrifying pressure crushed everyone at Mount Shu. Even Rang Cencen, sulking in her room, felt it, her eyes lighting up as she rushed out toward the source.

This must be the aura of Sect Master Xue — even stronger than at Hundred Flowers Valley that day!

Sensing several unusual divine senses probing him, Changkong Zhuoyu suddenly remembered he was outside the formation now, leaking his aura. He quickly restrained it — otherwise, some of the weaker cultivators wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

In an instant, he transformed into someone who seemed to have no spiritual energy at all — an ordinary man.

Before, even when he restrained his aura, people could still tell at a glance that he was a master. But now, as long as he willed it, even with unmatched beauty, if he didn’t want to be noticed, passersby would unconsciously overlook him.

One could say that after cultivating in the sword formation, Changkong Zhuoyu’s cultivation stage had indeed risen.

This was a rather frightening thing. In the later stages of cultivation, progress slowed greatly. At the Great Ascension stage, one might remain stuck for centuries without any improvement. Yet someone at Changkong Zhuoyu’s peak level, where advancement was almost impossible, had in such a short time reached a level ordinary cultivators couldn’t even imagine.

Li Xinglun’s eyes couldn’t gauge the depth of his master’s power — but he could sense that Changkong Zhuoyu’s state of mind was unblocked, as if, should he wish, he could ascend to an even higher stage.

Could such a person really just be an ordinary cultivator?

Li Xinglun had always believed his master was a great figure. But he was sure his master wasn’t Xue Qianjie or Yin Changkong — those two were merely the peaks of the cultivation world, while Changkong Zhuoyu had clearly already surpassed its bounds.

Who was he, really?

With this question in mind, Li Xinglun and Changkong Zhuoyu walked toward the main hall of Mount Shu under the scrutiny of many divine senses. As soon as they set foot on the stone platform, Rang Cencen came running, tears glistening in her eyes. She looked at Changkong Zhuoyu as though she wanted to embrace him but didn’t dare. When she saw them, she stopped pitifully and said: “It’s so good that Young Master Changkong has come out — Cencen missed you greatly.”

Faced with her deep affection, Changkong Zhuoyu uncharacteristically responded. He raised a hand and gently stroked her hair, saying softly: “Cencen, this master has always advocated cultivating with a free heart. When calamities come, pass them if you can. If you can’t, there’s no need to forcibly sever attachments. The path of cultivation is long — better to be lost in the tribulation forever than to be a cold and lonely soul.”

“Master…” Rang Cencen’s eyes lit up. Was Sect Master Xue finally returning her feelings?

“But,” Changkong Zhuoyu continued blandly, “I am not your love tribulation — merely a fleeting infatuation. One day you will encounter your own true tribulation. When that happens, if you find it sweet, walk your own path; if it becomes unbearable, come to me — I will lend you a hand.”

{Love Tribulation - the emotional and karmic ordeal a cultivator faces when they develop deep feelings of love or attachment, that are seen as a test or obstacle on the path to enlightenment or immortality. Emotional attachments are thought to bind a cultivator to the mortal world, weakening their resolve, distracting their mind, or leading them into danger. The cultivator may have to choose between their lover and their cultivation, or endure heartbreak, betrayal, loss, or temptation. Overcoming the tribulation — often by transcending attachment without hatred or obsession — can lead to growth and advancement. Failing the tribulation can lead to stagnation, inner demons, or even destruction.}

With that, he withdrew his hand and walked on, not sparing Rang Cencen another glance.

Rang Cencen felt a wave of emptiness and helplessness. Ever since seeing his portrait at eighteen, her heart had been tied to Xue Qianjie. She had read the jade slips left by Hundred Flowers sect, snuck into the Central Plains to hear tales of him — thinking that if she could meet Sect Master Xue once in her life, she would have no regrets.

And now, she had met him and been fortunate enough to follow him all this time. She couldn’t let go anymore. But now, hearing him speak this way, she felt her life had lost all meaning.

“Don’t forget — you are the Miao Saintess, the sect master of Hundred Flowers sect,” Changkong Zhuoyu transmitted to her. “The Hundred Flowers sect is neither righteous nor demonic and doesn’t participate in the war between them. Yet you’ve come to this righteous gathering because of me — do you want the demonic path to hunt you down for this? Stay in your room and cultivate during these days. Don’t take part in the meeting. Afterward, I’ll send you back to the Hundred Flowers sect. From then on, keep your doors closed and don’t join any righteous or demonic conflicts until the calamity passes.”

“Sect Master Xue…” Rang Cencen’s heart leapt with joy — so he still cared about her.

She nodded, wiped her tears, and quickly ran back to her room, savoring his concern.

Li Xinglun: “…”

Holding Changkong Zhuoyu’s hand, he silently wrote a few words.

Changkong Zhuoyu transmitted: “Disciple, I feel guilty toward the sect master of Hundred Flowers and don’t want her caught up in this conflict. As much as I hate to part, I’ll still send her back.”

Li Xinglun immediately understood. Indeed, luring Rang Cencen into the righteous gathering just for some silver and spirit stones was inappropriate. But letting her go still felt a bit regretful — their purse would go with her, and their journey ahead would be frugal.

No — frugal for him alone. Changkong Zhuoyu didn’t even know how to spell ‘frugal.’

At that thought, Li Xinglun almost wished he could craft a bunch of puppets to earn money as they descended the mountain. Now that he was at the Golden Core stage, he could start making ordinary puppets.

While he was pondering, they had already entered the main hall of Mount Shu. Along the way, there were only divine senses probing them — no one came out in person. Which was normal — these were all high-ranking masters who wouldn’t appear so rashly.

Once inside the main hall, they saw Sage Yipin standing by the door with a horsetail whisk. He cupped his hands to Changkong Zhuoyu: “We haven’t met for a few days, and yet you’ve already broken through again — truly admirable. You are ever closer to the Dao — a joyous occasion.”

“The Dao has no end — I have merely taken my first steps,” Changkong Zhuoyu said modestly.

In front of Rang Cencen he could call himself ‘this master,’ but before another Great Ascension-level master like Sage Yipin, he remained humble.

In just the span of one incense stick, Changkong Zhuoyu had played many roles: the mysterious master who united with heaven, the story-telling immortal, the aloof but warm-hearted demonic sect master, and now a modest righteous cultivator before Sage Yipin — the transformation dazzled Li Xinglun, who thought that during this time of meditation, his master’s acting skills had improved as much as his cultivation.

Sage Yipin invited Changkong Zhuoyu to the seat of honor, while Li Xinglun stood behind him, without a seat.

“The gathering will begin in three days. Please rest in the upper rooms for now — we will discuss the plan to eliminate the demonic path then,” said Sage Yipin.

“Of course,” Changkong Zhuoyu nodded. “In the face of the calamity, we cultivators all share responsibility. I will do my utmost.”

“You truly have the people’s well-being at heart. I am ashamed in comparison. With your cultivation, taking the first seat three days from now would not be too much. But… as the head of Mount Shu, I have many details to consider. Might I ask what your true identity is, so I can properly arrange your seat at the gathering?”

After all, everyone present was a prominent figure — arranging the seats was no easy task.

Hearing this, Li Xinglun suddenly had a bad feeling. He wanted to stop him, but it was too late.

Changkong Zhuoyu said: “Since you and I understand each other, it would be rude to conceal my identity. To be frank — I am Xue Qianjie. Though I cultivate the demonic path, my heart leans toward the righteous. I came to this gathering precisely to express my stance: I will suppress the demonic path and lead them to stand alongside the righteous to resist the calamity.”

Li Xinglun: “…”

It’s over — now they’d be hunted by all the righteous cultivators.

~ Chapter End ~

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