At the intersection of the Tianshan Sect, Honghe Sect, and Feiyan Sect lies a place called Qingyang City.
But a long time ago, this was just an empty plot of land.
It was only because merchants had to pass through here that it began to develop.
Coupled with the beautiful scenery, disciples of the various sects often stopped here to rest.
Thus, merchants gradually began to set up stalls.
Selling food and providing accommodation, it became increasingly lively over time.
Eventually forming a small town.
But back then, it was nothing, not even having a name.
Everyone called it the 'Three-Noes Land'—
—The nameless land at the intersection of the three great sects.
Although it appeared lively on the surface, the merchants stationed here were often replaced by new ones.
When sect disciples stopped here, they had to remain vigilant, lest they be framed.
Or be robbed by someone taking advantage of the situation.
Thus, after decades and centuries,
The Three-Noes Land remained just the Three-Noes Land, with only a few merchants residing there.
Until one year,
A man in simple cloth, with a head of messy hair.
Standing at the entrance of a tavern, holding a bowl of wine, he shouted heartily:
"This wine, I toast to the heavens!"
"May the heavens open the door for old Qingyang!"
At that moment, people in the tavern were drinking, watching the spectacle.
No one took it seriously.
Until the next moment, two beams of light fell directly at the tavern entrance.
The sky brightened.
People looked up and saw that the vast sky had indeed split in the middle.
A golden celestial gate, faintly visible.
It was as if celestial music could be heard.
"Hahahaha!"
"On this immortal path, with sleeves as clean as the wind!"
The man who called himself Old Qingyang laughed a few times and threw down his bowl.
His cloth robe was still the same, his messy hair still the same.
But his entire being was surrounded by spiritual energy.
Like an immortal from a storybook, he rode the clouds and mist, heading straight for the celestial gate.
By the time the surrounding people came to their senses, the celestial gate had already closed again.
"This, he ascended just like that?"
There were no fancy techniques—no formations or banquets, no thunder or lightning.
Ascending to immortality, was it that simple and unadorned?
"What's that smell?"
Suddenly, everyone's noses twitched.
They felt a captivating wine aroma wafting through the air, as if it were the nectar of the heavens.
It was said that those who were close enough, after just one whiff, became drunk for three days.
Upon waking, they had taken their first step into the realm of cultivation.
...
The Three-Noes Land produced a famous immortal.
As soon as the news spread, the Three-Noes Land was taken seriously by the three great sects, who immediately dispatched personnel for daily management and patrols.
The safety of merchants and sect disciples passing through here was also guaranteed.
From then on,
The Three-Noes Land became Qingyang Town, and gradually Qingyang City.
...
Qingyang City.
At the Auspicious Inn.
A youth in a blue robe with a round face walked down from the second floor.
He was holding a snack, and his mouth was not idle as he walked.
Arriving at the counter, he leaned his body against the corner of the counter lazily.
His gaze fell upon the pedestrians outside.
More disciples of the sects...
Thinking of something, the youth beckoned with his finger.
"Coming, honored guest~" The sharp-eyed waiter immediately approached.
The youth casually tossed a low-grade spirit stone: "Has anything new happened recently?"
He had just returned from a mission yesterday and decided to stay here.
Everyone said Qingyang City was lively, and he planned to stay for ten days to half a month before slowly returning.
The waiter took the spirit stone, his face lit up with joy, and he raised his eyebrows:
"Many new things have happened recently, but the biggest commotion is from the Tianshan Sect."
"What happened to the Tianshan Sect?"
The youth immediately straightened his body, turned around, and his previously carefree demeanor vanished.
The waiter quickly said: "Su Shenxue of the Tianshan Sect was possessed by demonic energy and killed many people. Yesterday, the Tianshan Sect expelled her from the sect!"
This matter was spreading like wildfire.
In recent days, more cultivators had come to Qingyang City.
One could clearly feel that the atmosphere around them had changed.
The youth pressed further: "What about Su Shenxue?!"
"She entered the demon territory, who knows..."
As the waiter was about to say more, his vision blurred.
When he looked again, the honored guest in front of him was gone.
It seemed to be another immortal disciple.
"Good thing I didn't speak carelessly just now."
The waiter muttered to himself, not knowing which side this immortal disciple belonged to.
"Waiter, a pot of wine."
"Yes! Coming!"
...
The youth was none other than Que Sixi.
He hurried back to his sect and found his master sitting in the Pear Blossom Courtyard, reading a book.
"Master, my senior sister..."
What about her?
Possessed by demonic energy?
Why?
Que Sixi didn't know where to begin asking.
After he had somewhat recovered, Jiang Lin put down his book.
"She has been possessed by demonic energy and will not return."
"From now on, you are my eldest disciple."
Que Sixi's expression flickered for a moment, and he staggered back two steps, "Master, aren't you going to look for senior sister?"
Jiang Lin: "You've already gone to see her, haven't you? What did she say?"
Que Sixi opened his mouth, then fell silent.
Before returning, he had indeed contacted her using a method only he and his senior sister knew.
But...
Senior sister said she would never return.
He tried to stop her, and she even struck him with a palm.
Jiang Lin stood up, leaving behind a bottle of healing medicine, "You don't need to worry too much about this matter. Just focus on yourself."
People are different from each other.
There's no need to expect everyone to live the same way.
"She has her way of living, and you have yours. If you see her in the future..."
"Whether to act or not depends on you. But remember, she is a demon now."
If one were to associate with demons, it would be inevitable to be accused of colluding with the demon race.
...
After that, Jiang Lin often went into seclusion.
When people couldn't find him, they turned their inquiring gazes to the 'second disciple'.
Senior sister became a demon, how would this junior disciple react?
Would he strike her down? Or assist her evil deeds?
Rumor had it that the relationship between these two disciples seemed quite good?
But they were soon disappointed.
Because this 'second disciple' was too ordinary compared to the previous Su Shenxue.
In appearance, cultivation, and knowledge, there was nothing outstanding.
If there was anything remarkable...
Did traveling all over the world count?
Did always carrying a small goldfish wherever he went count?
Gradually,
Those bored inquirers withdrew their gazes.
The turmoil subsided, but everyone remembered that the Tianshan Sect had produced a demon cultivator.
...