After conveying the last message, Yu Chang crushed the reincarnation wood. He took out a pearl and put it in his mouth, silently “melting” into the shadows—this was the shadow transforming pearl, his last life-saving trump card. 

With the shadow transforming pearl in your mouth, you could blend into the shadows of all things. He could move freely within the shadows, and he could also remain unmoving himself, letting the shadows of other things carry him along. A single beam of light could send him very far. With Yu Chang’s cultivation level, as long as no one saw him transform into a shadow, he could even avoid the notice of a shed skin. 

The only shortcoming was that he couldn’t use spiritual energy, or else he would immediately give away his location. 

This was something he had anonymously found a toolmaker on the black market to make by draining Yu Chang’s own essence. After it was completed, he had killed the toolmaker to keep the secret. 

In the rear of the mountain of the Yu family main residence by moonlight, there were swaying shadows of trees and flowers everywhere. They concealed him perfectly. 

The spiritual stones he had detonated had precisely the amount of spiritual energy that a cultivator half a step from an ascended spirit would release upon dying. He had “lost his mind and died”; his corpse would have turned to dust. His consciousness would have been destroyed. 

“I’ll ‘die’ for now out of respect.” Amid the dancing shadows of the trees, Yu Chang changed form, extending and contracting, rambling with the wind and the light. Secure in the knowledge of his own safety, he thought, “Those two can do as they please.” 

Sadly, he didn’t have a handful of spicy melon seeds, or else he could have spat them in that qin demon’s face. 

Xi Ping had been connected to Yu Chang’s spirit. He could now faintly sense that traitorous mad dog’s general position, but he couldn’t pull him into the Law Breaker Bracelet while he was clear-headed. Yu Chang wasn’t an open-eyed cultivator—in just the same way, a strong man could lift a baby with hardly any effort, but he couldn’t carry off a man of the same build as himself. 

In a flash, Xi Ping seemed to have come to the end of the line. But as if he had been driven mad, he suddenly laughed. 

The next moment, the consciousness of the ascended spirit cultivator who was already at the gate covered them, enveloping all of Yu Family Bend County within itself. 

But just before the ascended spirit consciousness covered them, the paperman Xi Ping was occupying turned and was taken away by a transport array. 

Yu Chang, watching him through the grit worms that covered the whole valley, froze: was he giving up just like that? 

Yu Chang was forced to gasp in admiration once more. Tai Sui was so cautious, so restrained—he stood his ground in the face of temptation and suppressed his greed when faced with a mountain of gold. Suffering defeat on the verge of victory, he could break off his tail to survive without any hesitation. 

No wonder he had managed to cultivate to half a step from an ascended spirit without giving himself away. 

“A personage like this, if he doesn’t die, there’s no saying how far he’ll go in the future,” Yu Chang thought. “He’s even more frightening than that brash and showy Qiu Sha. Perhaps I ought to do a good deed. While he has yet to reach an ascended spirit, lead the Xiang family master to Tao County and give those two a chance to ‘make friends’…” 

But that Tai Sui had after all saved his life, and helped him remove the brand. 

There was a colossal difference between their histories and styles, but deep down there was a subtle similarity between them. It wasn’t precisely “encountering a bosom friend by the high mountains and flowing waters,” more like “a fly and an ant meeting in a manure pit”… Maybe that was also why Tai Sui had given him a helping hand. 

As he thought this, Yu Chang secretly sighed: if not for the fact that the Great Way to heaven was long and full of obstacles, and this person knew too much about him, he thought they might have gotten on pretty well. 

But just as Yu Chang was for once finding his conscience, deciding “Forget it, I’ll do the right thing and leave a chance for us to meet in the future,” his spiritual sense suddenly manifested with a shudder, squashing Yu Chang’s rare good intentions. 

Roaming through the shadows, Yu Chang suddenly raised his head: Wait, this was wrong. Why was he sensing…his own aura?! 

Xi Ping thought that in destroying the reincarnation wood amulet the two of them had used to communicate, Yu Chang’s intention had been to stifle him to death. Right now, he had nowhere to express his bellyful of self-satisfaction and mockery—a person who had been in the Law Breaker Bracelet, no matter how careful he was not to get brought in a second time, already had his traces preserved forever inside the Law Breaker. 

“Tao County and Yu Family Bend put together make up about a hundred li of land. In a day or two, even a mortal could stroll over, never mind a cultivator. Why would it take a transport array? Hilarious.” 

Yu Chang was haughty and self-important, extremely crafty. Xi Ping had to use him, but he didn’t dare to trust him…and he was planning to use him to do something rather dishonest. 

So back when everyone had been making their preparations, Xi Ping had copied two “Yu Chang” consciousnesses, then brought the two of them into the world through papermen—the copies were of the “Yu Chang” who had entered the Law Breaker Bracelet at the beginning. They hadn’t signed a blood covenant with Xi Ping, didn’t know their complete plans, and didn’t know that the original Yu Chang’s brand had already been removed… This was the “Yu Chang” who had known upon seeing the original that the original was planning to use him as a substitute for the brand, so he struck first in self-defense. 

The copied Yu Changs were miraculous. When Xi Ping wasn’t paying attention to them, they shared the original’s evil designs. But as creations of the Tai Sui Qin, the two of them were also like two walking reincarnation wood trees whose spirits could be controlled by Xi Ping at any time—and they didn’t know it themselves. 

Privately, Xi Ping decided to call the two of them “Yu Chang the First and Yu Chang the Second.”

If Yu Chang didn’t make trouble, the two papermen would be Xi Ping’s avatars. If Yu Chang got up to tricks right before they entered battle, these two were there to restrain him. 

The two dear friends “First” and “Second” had been born half a shichen apart and hadn’t seen each other. They didn’t know of each other’s existence, and each thought he had been copied in order to serve as a “vessel” for the original’s brand and had reached an agreement with Tai Sui, who “seemed to be working with the original, but was actually opposed to him”; they were scheming towards the same goal: first work with Tai Sui to kill the original, then, after replacing the true Yu Chang, try to turn around and kill Tai Sui. 

Right now, Yu Chang the First had already reached Yu Family Valley a step ahead on his sword. 

Xi Ping’s pretext to “First” had been, “In order to investigate Southern Wan’s spies, Sanyue is sending a master to patrol the Wan-Chu border. Their first stop will be Yu Family Bend, where the Zhao family came ashore. The original Yu Chang is planning to fake his death and escape from Yu Family Bend, hide for a while after removing the brand, then when Sanyue has left return to Yu Family Bend to get revenge.” 

“A guest from Sanyue” had originally been Xi Ping’s made-up reason, used to fool “Brother First,” but it turned out that at this critical moment, Yu Chang really had summoned a great personage from the Sanyue inner sect, completely living up to expectations as a traitor on the battlefield. 

It was true that schemers all had bad luck—there was nothing wrong with that statement. Yu Chang-xiong knew that very well. 

Sadly, knowing was one thing—his knowledge didn’t match his actions. He kept on crawling through the pit he himself had dug. 

When the original Yu Chang detonated the rear mountain and seeped into the shadow transforming pearl, Yu Chang the First, who had stealthily infiltrated Yu Family Valley, already had a “perfect understanding” of the situation. 

No one understands a person better than himself. Even with his eyes closed, this Brother First could deduce the path the original had taken to escape via the shadow transforming pearl. 

Now, “First” heard Tai Sui’s “weak and hoarse” voice in his ear: “I’ve captured the Yu family clan leader… Cough-cough, I…I can’t leave Tao County too long, I can only help you this far.” 

Yu Chang the First said, “Understood, thank you.” 

But what he thought was: So his actions are limited. No wonder. He must have realized the original would betray him and simply wanted to replace him with me, turn Yu Family Bend’s dog into his dog… “I” really am asking a tiger for its skin. This person must have tampered with me. I’ll take my time working it out, and when I understand it, I’ll get rid of him. 

Tai Sui cut contact with him amid a bout of almost breathless coughing. 

Xi Ping, already back in the Law Breaker, held his throat, dropping soy bean skins dripping hot oil onto Xi Yue. He was even tearing up. “Are you trying to kill me with spice, little scoundrel?!” 

Yu Chang the First sent out a grit worm from his fingertip, deliberately leaving a trace in the clan leader’s room. Then he went straight towards the rear mountain. 

The original Yu Chang at the rear mountain had a bad feeling right away. He turned tail and ran. But there was no wind now. None of the shadows were moving, and he couldn’t use spiritual energy. Who could he outrun? 

Indeed, soon after, his vision swirled, and a “him” landed in front of him. Upon meeting, without another word, a beam of spiritual energy like a knife sliced towards his shadow! 

Yu Chang knew that Tai Sui could use papermen to duplicate consciousnesses, and these papermen who were identical to real people and could use transport arrays to travel. But a transport array needed two ends. He had been on his guard against this move of Tai Sui’s. Though he had run off himself, he hadn’t forgotten to use grit worms to keep an eye out. 

But there was no transport array. In other words, the paperman had come to Yu Family Valley flying his sword—he had been prepared in advance! 

He had only just now come up with a last-moment plan on seeing the unexpected appearance of a Sanyue master and knowing that Tai Sui’s game was up, but that guy was always scheming; he’d never had good intentions in the first place. 

This Tai Sui must be fucking cultivating the way of wickedness, no? And his conscience had just been uneasy on that fucker’s account! 

The world was large and full of all kinds of marvels. Even in death Yu Chang couldn’t have imagined that he would one day experience the grievance of “a good person being let down.” 

Even worse, he had no way of explaining himself to this “self” that wanted to drive him to death, no way to communicate and incite defection—Xiang Wenqing’s consciousness was already looking this way. If he spoke, he would be exposed! 

After hearing what had passed at the rear mountain, Xiang Wenqing’s first reaction would certainly be to go see the Yu family clan leader. Seeing that the clan leader had mysteriously disappeared and that there was a trace of Yu Chang’s aura in the room, he would immediately know that Yu Family Bend’s chief offering was up to no good. 

“Yu Chang the First” laughed. “I only have a paperman’s body, while you…” 

The original Yu Chang swore inwardly: “Only a paperman’s body” my ass! When that paperman is destroyed, let’s see whether you’ll still exist! 

The ascended spirit master was approaching. “Yu Chang the First”’s killing move sliced towards the original Yu Chang in the shadow. “Let’s see whether you’ll come out!” 

If he didn’t come out, he’d be beaten to death by himself. If he came out, he’d be captured by a Sanyue inner sect ascended spirit… 

Yu Chang’s vision simply went dark. 

But it seemed that heaven didn’t want him to die. Just then, the wind rose, and a cloud suddenly floated across the sky, covering the light of the moon and stars! 

The shadow of the cloud instantly covered everything. Yu Chang hastily ducked into the cloud’s shadow, spreading himself out dozens of times larger, narrowly avoiding getting hit anywhere critical as he took “his own” hit. 

In that momentary delay, Xiang Wenqing arrived and aimed a blow at the paperman “Yu Chang the First.” 

Laughing, Yu Chang the First said, “Calamities last a thousand years. You have a bit of dumb luck after all!” 

While Xiang Wenqing and Yu Chang the First fought, the original Yu Chang used the quickly moving cloud shadow to flit through the rear mountain. Then he spat out the shadow transforming pearl and made his escape! 

The difference in cultivation level between “half a step from an ascended spirit” and “middle ascended spirit period” was no small thing, and what was more, Xiang Wenqing had always had a close connection to the Yu family. He had a perfect grasp of the so-called “chief offering”’s depths. 

There was practically no suspense in this battle. In less than half an incense stick, the dust had settled. Seeing that Yu Chang actually dared to fight back, the master from Sanyue’s inner sect didn’t listen to his explanations at all. In a flash, he got Yu Chang the First under control and simply performed a soul-searching. 

Xi Ping was astonished that Yu Chang the First had collapsed at the first blow like a mortal. At the same time, he quickly pulled out Yu Chang the First’s consciousness. 

The consciousness dispersed immediately. The paperman body showed its seams. 

Xiang Wenqing frowned at once. He raised his head and sent out his consciousness, instantly locating the original Yu Chang, fleeing towards the southwest. 

The secret report Sanyue’s inner sect had received said that creating papermen was the power of the Luwu’s half-demon surnamed Bai. Yu Chang was colluding with the Luwu! 

Without so much as thinking about it, Xiang Wenqing flew off in pursuit. 

The original Yu Chang grit his teeth, viciously swallowing a mouthful of blood. He felt that all his innards were churning. 

“Tai—Sui,” he said from between his teeth, “if you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being faithless. This being the case, I’ll lead this inner sect master to Tao County to call upon Your Excellency!” 

And just as the two of them left Yu Family Bend, the second paperman Xi Ping had prepared—“Yu Chang the Second”—arrived. 

“First” had been to guard against Yu pulling any tricks at the last moment. “Second,” on the other hand, had been created in case of malice on Yu Chang’s part while showing him the arrays. 

Xi Yue was a genius…in embryo. 

He had been alive only twenty-some years, and over a decade of that had been spent as a befuddled little wretch. All told, his study of arrays had lasted no more than six years. That four-century-old tortoise Yu Chang would only need to give the arrays a bit of his attention while devoted to the “way of betrayal”; he was much more experienced than Xi Yue.  

If their “planted agent” made up his mind to trick them, Xi Yue wouldn’t be able to win against him. 

So what Xi Ping had said to “Yu Chang the Second” was: “Your original is preparing to disturb the spiritual energy in the valley by faking his death and use that opportunity to sneak into the array hub, cut off the valley’s arrays, and appropriate the Yu family’s treasury.” 

Yu Chang the Second reached Yu Family Valley slightly later than his “big brother” Brother First. He saw the might released by Xiang Wenqing from afar and didn’t dare to act rashly, rapidly passing judgment on this situation: the original must have gotten halfway through his plan, then run right into a master from Sanyue’s inner sect coming to visit Yu Family Valley… What kind of incessantly plotting unlucky star incarnate was he? The more he schemed, the more his luck betrayed him? 

After a moment, Yu Chang the Second sensed that great personage leaving the Yu Family Valley, going towards the southwest. 

Brother Second seemed to also understand “himself” very well. He smiled: The original is bringing the trouble to Tao County? Wonderful, let Sanyue’s inner sect’s great personage kill that bizarre Tai Sui, I’ll wait here to give him a nice surprise when he gets back. 

Then, like a shadow, he slipped into the chaotic Yu Family Valley, familiarly heading straight for the center of the arrays. 

Xi Ping quickly said to Xi Yue, “Didn’t you say that Yu Family Valley’s arrays are complex and profound? Watch what the old fox does closely. You can’t pass up this opportunity. Heaven’s Design Pavilion and Xuanyin’s ancient texts won’t teach you this.” 

Xi Yue said, “…What did you bring me here for?” 

He had thought he was here to help, but instead his soul had flown to Western Chu in the middle of the night, and he found that he had actually been kidnapped to attend class! 

Xi Yue said, “So why did you have me research Yu Family Valley’s array formation beforehand, rack my brains to come up with a way to break them?” 

“That’s obvious.” Xi Ping adopted the manner of a family elder and logically said, “How can learning in a quick passing glance have the same outcome as coming prepared with questions after careful study?” 

Xi Yue: “…” 

If he hadn’t seen the cartoon faces drawn on the classics in the study at the Marquis Manor, he would have fallen for this. 

Xi Yue said, “But that Yu Chang has already reached Tao County with the cultivator from Sanyue’s inner sect after him. That Xiang family member’s cultivation level is about the same as the peak master’s, how can you still…” 

“About the same as whose? Don’t insult the peak master behind his back. Concentrate, kid. You’re so full of worries. If you don’t do what I say, I’ll smack your hand.” Xi Ping held down the back of his head, turning him to face the dizzying array formation—when he was little, san-ge had pushed him towards books with this motion many times. He finally had a chance to try it out on someone else. Heh, this head was very round. It felt great! 

“I’ve emptied out the Snake King’s Immortal Palace. It’s waiting for him. If he hadn’t come, I’d have had to make a ‘Yu the Third¹’ to lure him there.” 

Xi Yue: “…” 

Before, he’d witnessed this liar single-handedly trick Lin Zhaoli out of his wits and lead Lü Chengyi and Zhao Zhenwei to their deaths. He never would have thought that, in the years he hadn’t seen him, this person would not only have learned a pile of talismans and arrays with “saving money” as their first principle, but also gone up a level in digging holes and burying people in them! 

Xi Ping laughed. “This story teaches us that in the future, when you’re with Heaven’s Design Pavilion and run into an evil cultivator like me, even if their cultivation isn’t as good as yours, you can’t think that you’ll be able to handle them. You have to go back and get Lao Pang. Heaven’s Design Pavilion doesn’t encourage one-on-one fights.” 

Xi Yue acutely picked something out of his words. He abruptly knocked his hand aside. “What nonsense are you talking! What do you mean, an evil cultivator like you!” 

As though nothing were the matter, Xi Ping said, “Hey, I was just making an analogy, shh, look—”

Xi Yue struggled a few times without success. His attention was quickly drawn by Yu Chang the Second’s dizzying movements. 

Xi Ping tilted his head and looked at him. He tapped the table, and a little teapot next to him automatically flew up and poured Xi Yue a cup of a Chu specialty. 

Then, waving a fan, he laughed soundlessly: Your ge is a “great evil cultivator” who had to be sealed by Xuanyin Mountain’s three high elders working together, the same treatment that the demon host received. Awesome, huh? 

Tao County was just like him. It only wanted to live in peace, only wanted to take back what belonged to it, but it could only work in secret, hiding itself. 

It really was a disgrace. 

In Yu Family Valley, with the whistling of the spiritual wind raised by the “death” of a cultivator half a step from an ascended spirit echoing, no one noticed when the core arrays stopped. 

Totally unimpeded, Yu Chang the Second passed through three layers of prohibitions and entered Yu Family Valley’s storehouse. 

Xi Ping had spent all these years trapped in a little border town. He had no basis for imagining what the Xiang family was like. But he suspected that the imperial treasury in Jinping’s Guangyun Palace couldn’t match up to this. Inside were immortal tools of every grade, over a thousand downgraded immortal tools, spiritual stones heaped up in one “spiritual store” after another. Xi Ping recognized the inscriptions for preventing the leakage of spiritual energy on the spiritual stores. The spiritual energy content of a spiritual store was about equivalent to three thousand liang of white spirits. 

There were so many spiritual stores that they couldn’t be counted at once. 

The inscriptions lit Yu Chang the Second’s face snow-white. He laughed and extended a hand to create a grit worm, ready to set up an ambush for the original Yu Chang here…

Before it could take shape, the grit worm disappeared. 

Yu Chang the Second stood where he was blankly, like a wooden puppet. His consciousness dispersed. The paperman was occupied by Xi Ping. 

“One, two…” Xi Ping counted carefully, pointing at one fully loaded spiritual store after another. Wherever he pointed, the spiritual stones within were all taken into the Law Breaker. “Forty.” 

He stopped in his tracks. 

That was enough for the spirit gathering array.