Chapter 19: The Loyal Shen Yan!

Shen Yan grew increasingly eager to enter the Jade Immortal Sect and truly learn the way of cultivation.

Nodding in satisfaction, Yang Yun was not surprised by everyone’s attitude. After all, there were no fools here; they naturally understood the need to seek a powerful backer.

“I’m tired as well. Go and steer the boat,” Yang Yun instructed. With that, she sat cross-legged at the prow, gazing quietly ahead.

Shen Yan and the others dared not delay and quickly divided tasks, steering the boat toward Jingyun Island.

As dawn broke, Yang Yun, still sitting at the bow, suddenly stood and announced, “There it is—Jingyun Island.”

She pointed ahead to the surface of the sea, but Shen Yan saw only endless waters, no sign of the island she spoke of.

“Senior Sister, forgive my eyes, but this Jingyun Island you mentioned…” Shen Yan began to ask, but before he could finish, Yang Yun produced a jade token from her sleeve and pressed gently toward the front.

In the next instant, Shen Yan saw a massive island suddenly appear in the distance.

The island was lush with towering trees, and at its highest point stood a cluster of palaces. The grandeur of the Yang family’s inner residence had already left the former Shen Yan dumbfounded, but these palaces dwarfed even that by tenfold, more magnificent and imposing by far.

Yet to the present Shen Yan, these halls on Jingyun Island were nothing extraordinary. Compared to the supreme palaces of the Heavenly Court, which rivaled the stars themselves, what lay before him seemed mere thatched cottages in the countryside.

“Is this where the seniors reside?”

“The Jade Immortal Sect—this is it! I’ve finally arrived at a true Immortal sect!” The others exclaimed in awe, but Shen Yan cared most about the chance to learn immortal arts here.

“That’s right. This is the Jade Immortal Sect’s outer retreat, Jingyun Immortal Island. Steady the ship; there’s no need to go further.”

As Yang Yun finished speaking, several white lights shot out from the island.

As they drew near, Shen Yan saw that these “lights” were actually majestic immortal cranes! Their wings gleamed like gold, their talons hooked like iron—clearly rare and wondrous creatures. Most striking to Shen Yan was that each crane bore a white-robed Daoist atop its back.

The sight filled him with envy. To ride a crane through the sky—what freedom and joy that must be!

As the cranes approached, the wind stirred by their wings whipped up great waves around the fishing boat.

“Who comes bearing the Jade Immortal Sect’s token?” a young Daoist riding a crane called out from afar.

“You’re one of Senior Brother Yuqing’s welcoming disciples, aren’t you? Is this the hospitality he taught you?” Yang Yun’s voice rang from the boat—soft, but with a chilling authority.

“You are… ah, my apologies! I didn’t recognize you, Senior Sister Yang Yun, newly ascended to inner disciple. Outer disciple Sun Mingshuo greets you.”

As Yang Yun came into view, the young Daoist’s expression changed at once. He bowed with respectful words.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Yang Yun,” echoed the disciples behind Sun Mingshuo, each displaying utmost reverence. A true disciple of the Jade Immortal Sect outclassed them by far.

“No wonder outsiders say our sect is arrogant—it’s your kind, the welcoming disciples, who give us this reputation,” Yang Yun’s tone shifted as the others bowed their heads.

With a wave of her sleeve, streaks of white light shot forth, lashing at the young Daoists on their cranes.

“Let this serve as a lesson, lest you bring disaster upon our sect in the future.”

Her words barely faded before the white silks in her hand flashed like silver, striking the faces of the young Daoists and leaving bloody marks.

“Senior Sister Yang Yun, Senior Brother Yuqing is also a true disciple! Do you not fear his wrath for attacking us so brazenly?” Sun Mingshuo shouted in anger, stunned at the unprovoked assault.

Yet he dared not retaliate. First, he was merely at the middle stage of Qi Refinement, no match for one at the peak. Second, as an outer disciple, to strike at a true disciple would mean certain punishment.

“Fear? As a true disciple, I have authority over the lives of outer disciples such as you,” Yang Yun replied coolly, but her final words sent a chill through all who heard.

“I used my inner disciple token to open the sect’s barrier. Yuqing didn’t even bother to greet me himself, instead sending you worthless lot. Clearly he has no regard for me—I will settle this debt with him in time.”

With those words, her white silk flashed through the air, whistling straight for Sun Mingshuo.

“She’s making an example of them—Yang Yun is truly acting with deadly intent,” Shen Yan thought, observing everything clearly from behind her.

It was plain that the Jade Immortal Sect, like the Yang family, seethed with hidden rivalries. As a newly promoted inner disciple, Yang Yun was being suppressed by the established Yuqing; refusing to be cowed, she chose to make an example of his disciples.

“Indeed, no matter where you are, those of low rank are always expendable—immortal sects are no exception,” Shen Yan mused. Suddenly, a golden light flashed from Jingyun Island.

It moved with astonishing speed, and in a blink, it was before Sun Mingshuo, colliding with Yang Yun’s white silk and knocking it aside.

As the glow faded, Shen Yan saw it was a golden flying sword, no longer than a finger.

“Junior Sister Yang Yun, these outer disciples were merely a touch arrogant—why fly into such a rage? To let them die beneath your silken cord flatters them far too much,” came a long sigh. A middle-aged man with sharp brows strode across the waves.

“Yuqing, even you cannot stop me, if I have decided someone must die,” Yang Yun replied, her movements unceasing. With a flick of her sleeves, a strand of green silk shot forth, piercing directly through the forehead of an outer disciple behind Sun Mingshuo.

“Yang Yun… you…!” Caught off guard, one of the welcoming disciples died on the spot, igniting a blaze of fury in Yuqing’s heart.

“Senior Sister, be careful!” Shen Yan, upon first seeing Yuqing, had sensed his emotions through the Heavenly Emperor’s Divine Seal—disgust, anger, and a trace of fear.

Without hesitation, Shen Yan stepped forward to shield Yang Yun, eager to present himself as a loyal and devoted follower.

After all, among those who had come with them, Yang Lie was Yang Yun’s own brother, and the others were all her relatives. Though Shen Yan could search for innate spiritual treasures, that was a long-term task; he could not immediately offer her a trove of such treasures.

To gain an early advantage, he had to earn Yang Yun’s favor.

His action drew a surprised glance from Yang Yun; she hadn’t expected this servant-born menial disciple to display such loyalty.