I Might Be a Big Shot — Chapter 26
Seeing that the identity of Yin Changkong was about to be accepted just like that, Li Xinglun grew anxious and couldn’t help but tug at Changkong Zhuoyu’s sleeve.
Changkong Zhuoyu was about to utter “junior brother” when he felt someone pulling at him from behind, so he immediately said to Elder Yin, “Elder Yin, forgive me. I truly have some unspeakable difficulties and cannot explain why I use Kunlun’s secret techniques. Someday, I will certainly go to Kunlun and explain everything to you all.”
After Sage Yipin left earlier, Li Xinglun had told Changkong Zhuoyu, no matter whether he could wield the Spring-Autumn Brush or not, he must never acknowledge himself as Yin Changkong.
“Why?” Changkong Zhuoyu looked at Li Xinglun with innocent eyes, eyes that clearly said, “I want to be Kunlun’s sect master.”
Li Xinglun took a deep breath and hardened his heart to say, “Master, do you know why you lost your memory? How did Yin Changkong disappear? Is the demonic fiend who broke the Kunlun divine formation still alive? Before these questions are answered, I think it’s unwise to return to Kunlun.”
“But the righteous path is still waiting for me to lead them to stop the calamity in the mortal world,” Changkong Zhuoyu said seriously. “As your master, I believe this is my responsibility.”
Li Xinglun clenched and unclenched his fists several times before he finally calmed down enough to advise: “But Master, remember the matter of surviving the death calamity and cutting ties with the past. I suspect your death calamity is not yet over. If you acknowledge your identity as Yin Changkong now and expose yourself, you might play right into the hands of those in the shadows. I believe we should move in secret for now and find out what really happened to you before you fell into the Soul-Breaking Gorge — then you can reclaim your identity.”
“I understand what you mean!” Changkong Zhuoyu suddenly stood up and nodded vigorously. “Kunlun has many senior disciples — when the forest is big, all kinds of birds roost there. Perhaps the Kunlun divine formation was sabotaged by an internal traitor, and I too was betrayed. When I told myself to cut ties with the past, it was really a reminder not to get entangled with Kunlun for now — wait until I uncover the traitor before returning.”
Li Xinglun: “…”
He just had an ominous premonition, afraid that Changkong Zhuoyu would bluff his way through Kunlun like he did at the Hundred Flowers sect, afraid that Elder Yin would misidentify him like the Rang siblings had — if exposed later, being enemies of the Hundred Flowers sect and Kunlun were two entirely different matters. Better to firmly deny it. That way, when the truth came out later, they could say they never claimed anything, it was Kunlun’s mistake — a major sect would at least maintain face and not turn against them publicly.
Making an enemy of just Kunlun was manageable — as long as the entire righteous sect didn’t hunt them down.
Since meeting Changkong Zhuoyu, Li Xinglun’s outlook had improved. His needs had lessened, his demeanor had grown calmer, as though nothing in the world could trouble him anymore.
In that frame of mind, his comprehension of the Dao deepened — one could say this was Changkong Zhuoyu tempering Li Xinglun’s heart.
Whatever Changkong Zhuoyu thought, at least for now, he was persuaded not to acknowledge the identity.
Elder Yin’s hands trembled involuntarily when he heard Changkong Zhuoyu’s words. He asked, “Master… Changkong, can you tell me why you can’t explain?”
He didn’t add ‘Daoist’ after ‘Changkong’ — clearly, in his mind, it was a name, not a surname.
Changkong Zhuoyu gazed at the sky at a melancholy forty-five-degree angle, sighed, and said helplessly, “Elder Yin, it’s not that I don’t want to say — I truly don’t remember. Since I woke nine months ago, I’ve forgotten my past, even my own techniques. I can only recall bits in moments of crisis. If not for sparring with you, Elder Yin, I wouldn’t even know I had such a grasp of formations.”
“This… it seems you’ve suffered greatly…” Elder Yin’s eyes welled with tears that almost fell. He forced himself to hold back and let his gaze fall on Li Xinglun, who had tugged at his senior’s sleeve earlier. His eyes grew sharp.
“Changkong, who is that young man behind you?”
“Him?” Changkong Zhuoyu flashed a proud smile. “He’s my newly-accepted disciple, Pei Xingchen, twenty-one years old at the Golden Core stage — more talented than… than your sect master, with an unusually stable mind. Despite his rapid progress, he hasn’t lost his composure. Unfortunately, I can’t remember anything — I can’t even teach him the most basic incantations. Fortunately, he’s resourceful and devised his own mental cultivation method. I have nothing left to teach him. I’m a useless master — no incantations, no pills to stabilize his cultivation stage, no divine treasures. He’s already at Golden Core and still has no decent artifact — truly… derelict of duty.”
Hearing this, Elder Yin immediately took out a storage pouch, rummaged through it for a while, then simply handed over the whole bag.
“These… these are some pills and treasures I’ve collected over the years. Master… Changkong’s disciple is my disciple too. Such an outstanding young man will surely become a pillar of the cultivation world. Consider this forming good karma — these are all his now. Also, there are some Great Ascension-stage healing pills in here, for internal injuries and damaged soul — if you feel unwell, Changkong, you can use them too.”
Changkong Zhuoyu accepted the pouch without the slightest reservation, even before Li Xinglun could refuse, and clasped his hands in thanks.
Li Xinglun: “…”
It’s over. They took Kunlun’s things, and it was probably all good stuff — this grudge is firmly locked in now.
But seeing the joy on Changkong Zhuoyu’s face, Li Xinglun suddenly felt like he was “laying down his life to accompany a gentleman.” For his master’s smile, even if they were hunted by the entire cultivation world, it didn’t matter.
The conflict was resolved. Changkong Zhuoyu and Elder Yin shook hands and made up, like true senior brothers. The youngest Golden Core cultivator in history, Li Xinglun, followed behind his master with dead eyes, bearing witness.
Thus the righteous path conference ended. Mount Shu’s crisis was temporarily suppressed with Changkong Zhuoyu’s help, but no one knew when the demonic energy would again ravage the world. They needed to root out those deceived by demons within the cultivation world. This was connected to the annihilation of Li Xinglun’s family — Changkong Zhuoyu immediately promised, patting his chest, that he would travel the cultivation world and root them all out.
Kunlun’s people left Mount Shu. Elder Yin was reluctant to part, wanting to invite Changkong Zhuoyu to Kunlun, but was refused. As for why he could draw the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure, he still needed to discuss that with Sage Yipin, so he would remain at Mount Shu for now.
Before Elder Yin left, Changkong Zhuoyu placed a jade slip in his hand. “Elder Yin, I seem to have some insight into formations. Earlier I promised to help you rewrite the Spirit Gathering Formation and improve the Sumeru Ruler. This jade slip contains my rewritten Spirit Gathering Formation. I’ve merged it with the Two Principles Formation, which has the property of endless regeneration. Combined, even if the Spirit Gathering Formation is broken, it can quickly recover.”
This was something Yin Changkong had once proposed for the Sumeru Ruler but had never figured out how to merge the two formations. Now Changkong Zhuoyu had thought of it effortlessly and handed it over. Elder Yin quickly skimmed the contents of the jade slip — his face went from realization to shock, cycling through a dozen expressions in moments, his facial muscles nearly cramping.
This wasn’t just merging the Spirit Gathering and Two Principles Formations — it was rewriting the entire formation. If executed properly, it could even absorb the opponent’s spiritual energy during attacks, converting it into power for the Sumeru Ruler — truly endless regeneration.
If this formation really worked, the Sumeru Ruler would instantly become an immortal artifact. Elder Yin’s heavenly tribulation was only a few decades away, and because of his obsession with formations, his foundation was shaky — he might not survive the tribulation. But with this formation, the Sumeru Ruler could absorb heavenly lightning and counter its might. As long as Elder Yin could supply true essence to the end, he could survive the tribulation.
Of course, it would still require some rare treasures resistant to lightning to reforge the Ruler, but it would be foolproof then.
This gift was too great — what he’d just given Changkong Zhuoyu was nothing by comparison. Elder Yin looked at him with a fond gaze, clutching the jade slip like a treasure, and once back at Kunlun, went into seclusion to study it.
After he left, Sage Yipin looked at Changkong Zhuoyu with a complicated expression — full of familiarity and heartache, as if lamenting how an old friend could become like this.
Li Xinglun: “…”
Except for some heavily injured cultivators, the others all gradually left Mount Shu. Sage Yipin could finally discuss the matter of the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure.
“Changkong,” Sage Yipin began to call him just as Elder Yin had, “now that you’re at the Sword Tomb, can you sense the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure?”
Noticing that even Sage Yipin thought Changkong Zhuoyu was the sect master, Li Xinglun’s expression grew more wooden as he silently followed behind.
Changkong Zhuoyu circled the Sword Tomb, trying each sword, but none could be drawn — he even cracked the skin of his palm on Xue Qianjie’s iron sword. Li Xinglun quietly walked over and bandaged his wound.
“Why was it that the Twin Swords of Purple and Azure could be drawn back then?” Sage Yipin asked in confusion. “I thought you were their destined master — a certain immortal of Mount Shu reincarnated. But it seems that isn’t the case.”
“Hm?” Changkong Zhuoyu’s ears twitched, and his eyes lit up. “Sage Yipin, why don’t you tell me about this immortal reincarnation?”
Sage Yipin said, “It’s nothing much — just an ancient legend. The Twin Swords of Purple and Azure were divine swords left by the ancient gods, different from ordinary swords — they only acknowledge one master. In Mount Shu’s lore, the Twin Swords have changed hands several times, but they’re actually always wielded by the same person — merely reincarnated through tribulations. I thought you were the predecessor, reincarnated to save the mortal world, but now it seems the Twin Swords merely sensed Mount Shu’s crisis and borrowed your hand to manifest their power.”
Changkong Zhuoyu listened with shining eyes, nodding the whole time. Seeing this, Li Xinglun’s expression remained calm, even showing a faint smile. In his gaze toward Changkong Zhuoyu was a rare hint of affection — though he himself seemed unaware.
~ Chapter End ~
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