Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 517 - 18: Permanent Property Rights Are Just a Joke

The interior of the square tower had, as expected, undergone spatial transformation.

Wang Jiu followed the Sect Leader, whose face was ashen with rage, through the door on the first floor, and a vast and bright world opened up before them.

Beneath their feet stretched an endless plain, with rolling hills in the distance, their peaks hidden in white clouds. On the plain lay serene lakes, the water deep and tranquil, as if several underwater caves lurked at the bottom. On the other side, a dense forest stood, where birds and beasts gazed curiously at the two unexpected visitors. Further away, beyond the mountains, came the faint sound of waves crashing.

The square tower housed the inheritances of dozens of generations of Sect Leaders of the Saint Sect. These inheritances included not only simple items like the Sect Leaders’ cultivation notes and crafted Magical Treasures and Elixirs but also precious Spirit Grass that had been nurtured over decades, Spirit Fields suited to the Spirit Grass, Exotic Beasts cultivated for years, and even a Cave Mansion World formed by a stroke of fate that encompassed special laws.

The very thing capable of accommodating all these legacies was this Square Tower World, one of the Primordial Ruins held by the Saint Sect.

As Wang Jiu stepped onto the land, he clearly felt a familiar atmosphere.

"This is... Hongzhou."

The most beautifully scenic region of the Jiuzhou Continent, known for its myriad natural wonders, Hongzhou.

Rich in resources and blessed with a pleasant climate, the cultivators of Hongzhou, like their nurturing land, possessed an unhurried and peaceful temperament. Despite the large number of cultivators, large sects were few, and most people quietly practiced cultivation absorbed in the nature around them.

Yet this peaceful world quickly fell when the Demon Race invaded. Years of environmental efforts meant that Hongzhou lacked the powerful arrays that could span a continent, leaving it nearly defenseless against invasion. The cultivators who enjoyed tea and philosophical discussions, focusing on realm over combat, were utterly powerless against the Demons.

Fortunately, Hongzhou’s unique geographical position spared it from the brunt of the first wave of invasion—the neighboring Yuezhou faced an unimaginably brutal purge, resulting in the complete extinction of human life.

Hongzhou’s downfall occurred when the Immortal-Demon War reached a stalemate. Despite the Demon Race eroding over half of the Jiuzhou Continent, the turbulent Myriad Immortals Alliance ascended the Jiu Immortal Venerables. Although on paper their power diminished, their actual combat capabilities grew daily, and the Celestial Divine Sword’s unprecedented activity caused heavy losses to the Demon Race’s vanguard generals, slowing their advance.

The East Province, the forefront of the battleground, became a gruesome grinder for both Immortals and Demons. Unable to conquer it, the Demon Race begrudgingly diverted to assault Hongzhou.

For the Demon Race, this rerouting was a desperate move, even shameful, but it worked brilliantly—a surprising strike pierced through Hongzhou. By the time the Myriad Immortals Alliance reacted, Hongzhou was already occupied by the Demon Race.

When the Celestial Divine Sword finally led others to reclaim Hongzhou, nearly all local cultivators were dead or injured, though the land itself was not heavily destroyed. The Demon’s surprise attack at the time had limited forces, barely sufficient to kill, not enough to scorch the earth. Shang Lanfei at the time even remarked thankfully that the eco-friendly cultivators’ demise would ease post-war reconstruction and development... Alas.

Hongzhou’s natural scenery had been shattered in the final decisive battles.

The Saint Sect acquired merely a fragment of Hongzhou; from the geological vein’s strength, the area wasn’t vast and lacked the vitality for expansion, like Xiangzhou. Still, the natural beauty of the era was well-preserved, making it a rather luxurious warehouse.

Of course, unsurprisingly, the Demon-Pointing Sword trembled again.

As a former battleground of the Immortal-Demon decisive battle, remnants of the Demon’s aura were only normal, not to mention Wang Jiu’s suspicion that among the First Generation Sect Leader’s relics, there must be something related to the Demons.

However, the immediate priority wasn’t searching for the First Generation Sect Leader’s relics but catching the illegal intruder first.

The Sect Leader, usually gentle in front of Wang Jiu, now displayed boiling anger.

"Zhao Chenlu, I know you’re here! Come out!"

A roar echoed, stirring waves of green across the plains, startling birds from the distant forest, and causing avalanches on the high snow-capped mountains.

Soon after, Zhao Chenlu flew disgruntled from the lake.

"So noisy, you old man."

The Sect Leader gritted his teeth and said, "Zhao Chenlu, I don’t want to waste words. This is the Saint Sect’s forbidden land! You used my name to trespass; do you really think I can indulge you without limit? Or do you think the Saint Sect won’t kill?"

But Zhao Chenlu completely ignored him, turning his gaze to Wang Jiu, his face suddenly filled with a tidal wave of a smile.

"Dear, you’re here too? I just found so many wonderful things, come take a look."

"Zhao Chenlu! I’m not joking with you!"

While speaking, the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect had already started circulating his True Essence. This cultivator of the Sea Overturning Realm, the undisputed number one in Xiangzhou, fully adopted a combat-ready posture.

"Your situation has long been contentious within the Saint Sect! Over the years, I’ve protected you with my personal identity, but the power of a Sect Leader shouldn’t be abused like this! If you keep acting so recklessly, don’t blame me for being rude!"

Zhao Chenlu realized he couldn’t easily fool the old man, so he sighed: "The Saint Sect Forbidden Land? Do you know what the precursor of this forbidden land was?"

"Precursor?" The Sect Leader paused for a moment then said, "This was accidentally discovered by the Saint Sect 1,200 years ago, a Primordial Ruins. According to research, it can be confirmed as part of the Jiuzhou Continent during the Primordial Era, but specifically it is..."

"It’s Hong Province, the most naturally beautiful region in Jiuzhou Continent, and this land previously belonged to the Sovereign of the Soaring Wings Kingdom within Hong Province.

The Sect Leader furrowed his brow slightly; the matter Zhao Chenlu mentioned was essentially unverifiable history for him. He knew about the Jiuzhou remnants of the Primordial Ruins, but determining the historical origins of these remnants was entirely beyond his capability.

"So, what of it?"

Zhao Chenlu said, "The Sovereign of the Soaring Wings Kingdom is my substitute identity in the Mortal World."

"..." The Sect Leader was instantly stunned, his rapidly circulating True Essence also halted in an instant, "Substitute identity?"

"It’s just a side account," Zhao Chenlu impatiently explained, then said to Wang Jiu: "You remember when the Myriad Immortals Alliance particularly valued the distinction between immortals and mortals, don’t you? They requested cultivators considerably reduce activities in the Mortal World. Especially those noble-born, powerful cultivators, every move would bring earth-shattering changes to the Mortal World, affecting its original civilization."

Wang Jiu frowned: "Never heard of it."

Zhao Chenlu clapped his hands: "See, you indigenous cultivator even haven’t heard of the news from the upper cultivation circles back then, shows how deep the gap was. But this forced separation into two worlds is brainless idiot nonsense, purely driven by the superiority complex of a few people’s bloodlines. The Mortal World is infinitely exciting, and its resources are abundant. Why shouldn’t they be exploited? Creating a substitute identity in the Mortal World to establish a country, the benefits are unimaginable to those old geezers in their grand estates. But as long as those old geezers aren’t completely overthrown, I couldn’t break the rules openly, so the substitute identity was the only way."

The Sect Leader snorted coldly: "So you did have times when you didn’t dare to break the rules."

Zhao Chenlu said: "After all, as long as I act like a good boy, that group of old geezers will endlessly provide resources for my cultivation, earning their money while secretly treating them as idiots. Why wouldn’t I do such a good thing?"

The Sect Leader, hearing this, somehow felt uneasy: "Is that how you treat me now?"

"Not at all, I openly despise you, no need for duplicity. After all, our power disparity isn’t significant, I can’t beat you but you also can’t do anything to me."

"You... I really was blind at the start to think you had potential for greatness!"

Zhao Chenlu said: "Back to the main topic, theoretically, the forbidden land of your Saint Sect is my private property. All these years you’ve illegally occupied private land, I didn’t mind letting you pay the land usage fee, yet you have the nerve to accuse me of intruding forbidden land? Does everyone in your Saint Sect have 72 companions after they die?"

"Nonsense! Where does such ancient private property still have validity after tens of thousands of years?!"

Zhao Chenlu said: "You’ve seen cultivators who live for tens of thousands of years, what’s strange about private property continuing to be valid?"

"...Your Myriad Immortals Alliance is already extinct, the legal system from back then naturally doesn’t exist anymore."

"Why is it extinct? According to the alliance rules, the leader position follows a ranking progression system, when the person in the front died, it automatically passes to the next. Logically speaking, my dear and I are the current legitimate leader and deputy leader of the Myriad Immortals Alliance. If we say the law is valid, then it’s still valid. If you declare it invalid, essentially, you are acting like a bandit. If you can bandit, why can’t I intrude on forbidden land?"

This forceful argument rendered the Sect Leader both amused and helpless: "Leaving other things aside, you claim you’re the landlord from tens of thousands of years ago, do you have any proof?"

"Certainly, though this place was only my vacation garden at the time, my arrangement is clear and distinct. If you don’t believe, go to the foot of the mountain over there, where there’s a Phoenix Stone Statue, and dig below. Within a hundred yards, you will definitely find orderly arranged Clear Heart Stones, which I meticulously designed back then to maintain the environment, unique indeed."

The Sect Leader was silent for a while, deciding not to question such possibilities.

Perhaps, as she said, this place was indeed her backyard garden from a long time ago, or maybe she was entirely fabricating, burying Clear Heart Stones underground might merely be a Jiuzhou Era convention. But actually, the ownership isn’t important, what matters is...

"What exactly are you here for? If it’s wealth, within the Saint Sect there must be storerooms more worth exploring than this."

Zhao Chenlu said: "Are you referring to ’Yulin’ and ’Huajiang’? I’ve already been to those, only then did I find this place."

The Sect Leader’s face abruptly changed: "I let you in for just one day, and you’ve already trespassed into three forbidden lands on me?!"