Chapter Three: The City of Wind Does Not Return (Part Two)

Xiao Wanshan suddenly laughed heartily towards the sky, and the raging storm in the Wind City could not diminish his laughter in the slightest. At that moment, Mo Dao, who was listening, turned pale with anger, thinking that this rogue was untrustworthy and had broken his word. However, the laughter abruptly ceased. Xiao Wanshan stepped forward and said proudly: "Well, to not avenge the grievances between brothers is a disservice to brotherhood. If you were to speak insincerely now, it would only make me look down on the bond between you brothers. I have long heard that the Eight Blades of the Northern Desert are notorious for their wickedness and wrongdoing, but I respect your brotherly loyalty. Unfortunately, the timing of our meeting is not right. Today, I will heed your elder brother's words. I, Xiao Wanshan of the Xuanluo Divine Sect, will await your brothers' achievements at any time." Having said this, he took Lin Wanyao and floated away.

Xiao Wanshan could only withdraw his energy and look closely again, discovering that around the central Taiji diagram of the iron box were printed circles of small characters, including various terms such as Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding. Suddenly, he was taken aback, recognizing that these were indeed the symbols of the I Ching's Eight Trigrams. The leader of the Xuanluo Sect, Fengdu Xue Tongtian, had demonstrated the profound transformations of the Eight Trigrams and Five Elements when Xiao Wanshan studied under him. Although he recognized this as the Eight Trigrams, he could not decipher the many transformations within. Nevertheless, he remained undeterred and said, "Sister Yao, may I borrow your Autumn Water Sword for a moment"

Only Mo Wang, holding the wine, kept signaling to the second brother, while Mo Dao, seemingly oblivious, coldly stated: "If I survive, there will surely be a generous reward." Eight words delivered with absolute certainty

Lin Wanyao promptly followed his instructions and handed the Autumn Water Sword to Xiao Wanshan

The two of them lingered in the northern frontier for several days, procuring most of the items needed by the sect as instructed by the leader, often doubling the quantities. Even some incomplete items could mostly be purchased elsewhere, or they could buy substitutes with similar effects. However, there was one particular item that caused considerable trouble for Xiao Lin and the others: it was a rare object—the golden-spotted butterfly—that Nalan Xiu, the leader of the Qian Dapo faction among the Eight Divisions of the Heavenly Dragon, had specifically asked them to seek out before their departure.

Xiao Wanshan, instead of answering, countered with a question: "Your third brother was killed by me, and your eldest brother also died because of me. If I were to let you six brothers go today, would you come seeking revenge on me in the future?"

Xiao Lin and the others did not expect that there were others who had also come to this place in search of the golden-spotted butterfly. They immediately offered the mountain dweller some scattered silver coins, asking him to provide more detailed information. The mountain dweller, already resentful of his own shortsightedness that had led him to miss out on so much silver, began to recount how the foreigner with a large frame had arrived at this place, how he had searched everywhere for the golden-spotted butterfly, and how he had bought many but was still unsatisfied and had come to inquire about the breeding grounds of the golden-spotted butterfly, telling Xiao Wanshan and Lin Wanyao everything in detail.

The followers of the Xuanluo Sect number in the thousands, divided into eight divisions, namely the Celestial Beings, Dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, Garudas, and Asuras. This classification is derived from the Eightfold Division of the Buddhist protective deities. Each of the eight division leaders possesses exceptional skills, having been meticulously gathered by the Xuan Emperor and the two kings, each excelling in their respective fields, collectively safeguarding the sect for eternal prosperity.

Mo Dao, with one hand holding Mo Chen and the other embracing the corpse of Mo Sha, spoke in a cold tone, "If you are willing to heed my elder brother's words, will you both agree to cease today?"

Xiao Wanshan took it and weighed it in his hand, feeling that it was quite heavy. He also tried to pry it open with force, just like Lin Wanyao. At this moment, he had mastered the Sun Palm technique, and when he exerted his strength, he could generate a force of several hundred pounds. With his iron-like hands, he could deform even a piece of hard iron. Lin Wanyao noticed that his face suddenly turned red, realizing that Xiao Wanshan was using all his energy, yet when he looked at the small iron box, there was not the slightest change.

A few days later, Xiao Lin and his companion returned to Huangsha Stronghold, only to find the gates wide open and a scene of desolation. It was no longer as imposing as when they first arrived. Mo Dao had already followed Xiao Wanshan's orders to disperse the troops within the stronghold and had packed the gold, silver, valuables, and antiques, handing them over to Xiao Lin and his companion. The two did not refuse; their actions served the interests of the Divine Sect, and having more gold and silver would facilitate their endeavors. Furthermore, acquiring this ill-gotten wealth would not harm their reputation.

The two individuals learned from the local mountain dweller that approximately half a day's journey northeast from the market lies a treacherous valley known to the locals as the Valley of No Return. The golden-spotted butterfly resides and breeds within this valley; however, the terrain is perilous, filled with venomous creatures, and during the day, toxic mists pervade the area. Throughout the generations, there have always been some daring mountain folk who, disbelieving in superstitions, have ventured into the valley, lured by the abundance of life within. Yet, over the years, not a single person has been seen returning from the valley, only those who entered it. These mountain dwellers seem to have embarked on a path of no return, and gradually, the local inhabitants prefer to seek their livelihoods in more distant forests rather than risk entering the Valley of No Return. The mountain dweller then recounted how he had kindly advised a certain individual against entering, sighing as he said, "Considering that individual has been in the Valley of No Return for some time now, it is unlikely they will emerge, and it is probably a grim fate for them." After a brief pause, he continued, "If you truly need the golden-spotted butterfly, I can guide you to the outskirts of the Valley of No Return to try your luck. However, it would be best for you to search around the valley and not to enter it lightly, lest you jeopardize your own lives."

As the silver lightning flashed and blood splattered, when the brothers of Mo Dao rushed forward, they could only embrace the corpse of their elder brother, Mo Sha. Mo Chen and Mo Jiu, their hair standing on end, disregarded their unsteady footing and drew their knives, ready to charge forward together to die alongside him. However, they were tightly held back by Mo Dao, Mo Tan, and Mo Wang, struggling and weeping incessantly, cursing amidst the howling winds of the city, expressing an indescribable sorrow.

Xiao Wanshan understood that Lin Wanyao cherished this Autumn Water Sword as if it were her own life. After taking the sword, he did not dare to strike it forcefully; instead, he infused pure Yang internal energy into the tip of the sword to pierce. The sharp blade of the Autumn Water Sword left the iron box unscathed, which made him realize that he had discovered a rare treasure. He then carefully concealed it in his bosom, waiting for the day he would return to the sect to present it to the leader for further decision.

Xiao Wanshan and Lin Wanyao sought to purchase this golden-spotted butterfly from various sources, willing to exchange gold for it, yet they could only acquire a few. On this day, they encountered a mountain merchant during their search; the two offered a high price but could only buy a small quantity. The mountain and book merchants, seeing Xiao and Lin's generous spending, eagerly promoted their other mountain goods. However, Xiao and Lin were currently only interested in the golden-spotted butterfly and had little enthusiasm for other items. The mountain merchant, witnessing the wealthy customers right before him yet unable to profit, lamented: "It seems we are out of luck. In previous years, although the golden-spotted butterfly was not commonly seen, your generous spending would have sufficed to meet your needs after a bit of effort. Who would have thought that this year, these insects would be so sought after? Earlier, a certain Western trader came here and made a large-scale collection, seeking to purchase all our golden-spotted butterflies. We, along with a few other mountain merchants, sold them to that trader, but he was far less generous than you two. This transaction has significantly reduced our profits."

This Autumn Water Sword is a renowned divine weapon of the present age, capable of cutting hair and severing iron as if it were mud. This sword originally consists of a pair, named "Flowing Years Like Water." It is a masterpiece crafted with great effort and dedication by the former lord of the Furnace Fortress, Jian Xingtian, in his later years, blessed by heaven. It is forged from extraterrestrial meteorite iron, representing a harmonious duality of the male and female swords. On the day the swords were completed, Jian Xingtian stained them with his blood, and when this divine object descended to the world, its aura soared to the heavens, radiating magnificent light. This ultimately attracted countless martial arts heroes who fought fiercely, leading to the tragic loss of the twin swords by the Furnace Fortress, which could not withstand the overwhelming strength of its adversaries. Consequently, Lord Jian Xingtian fell into deep despair and passed away. After the great battle, the male sword, Flowing Years, vanished without a trace, while the female sword, Like Water, underwent several transitions before falling into the hands of Feng Du, the leader of the Xuanluo Sect. It was then bestowed upon Yin Sheng Lin Wanyao as her personal sword, complementing her swordsmanship, and was named Autumn Water.

The leader of the Qian Dapo sect, Nalan Xiu, is renowned for her extraordinary skills in the Western Regions, possessing martial arts that are both mysterious and unparalleled. She can walk on fire and tread on water, turning boiling liquid into ice. Particularly, she excels in a unique type of firearm, the power of which is truly astonishing. The golden-spotted butterfly is one of the essential materials required for her various secret medicines for firearms. However, this golden-spotted butterfly is extremely rare, found only in the outer regions of the northern frontier, with very few in number. The adult butterflies mate only once a year, and even if mating is successful, they produce only one or two larvae. It is often difficult to find them within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, which is why Nalan Xiu entrusted Xiao Lin and another person to search for them.

Xiao Wanshan and Lin Wanyao considered that there was nothing much to do, so it would be good to go outside the valley and try their luck. They then prepared provisions and water, along with other necessities, and set off with the mountain merchant to the Unreturning Valley

Xiao Wanshan looked at Mo Sha's corpse and slowly spoke: "In this case, it is credible"

As the two of them returned to their lodging, they did not mention the valuables in the box. It must be said that the Huangsha Stronghold has indeed accumulated a considerable amount of wealth over the years, harming the trade routes of the sand sea and the Mongolian merchants. Inside the large chest, there was an unknown quantity of gold and silver, mixed with many pieces of jewelry. However, it was Lin Wanyao, the most meticulous among them, who discovered a fist-sized black iron box deep within the vast treasure chest. The box was perfectly sealed, featuring a Taiji diagram at its center. After trying hard to open it and finding it impossible, she handed it to Xiao Wanshan, saying: "Brother Shan, look at this iron box; it is quite strange, with no lock or seams, and I cannot open it."

Although his experiences in the martial world are somewhat greater than Lin Wanyao's, they cannot be considered extensive. How could he have anticipated that among the desolate and rough characters he looked down upon, there would be such deeply principled individuals? He was profoundly moved at that moment