Regressed Master: Raising The Son Of Heaven Isn’t Easy (Xianxia/Progression)

"Condition of bones, perfect."

"Nerves, all connected."

"Organs, without visible damage."

"Muscles, no tears."

"Qi Pathways, uninterrupted."

"Scars, none."

Lui Zhi circled me with her tools as a sixth-grade formation prevented me from moving. Each aspect of my body was checked, even sliding the robes off my shoulders to observe my bare skin. She announced the result for the Xianquan and Huang Bai to hear.

This Formation alone could bind a peak Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, not to mention I was under the eye of two Nascent realm cultivators on the higher end, not to mention a Two Revolution Deity transformation cultivator watching over my every move.

All in all, this was overkill.

"Hey now, how can you strip your older brother like this? Did you forget any decency?" I would've liked to struggle but the formation kept me in place.

"Don't talk with me about decency Brother Li, because of how frequently you get injured I've seen your body more than my own." Lui Zhi poked my ribs with a smirk.

"…Still, there is no way to go this far." My eyes landed on Xianquan, the ringmaster of this fiasco.

"Well, what else do you expect us to do with your track record?"

Truthfully, I couldn't refute him. When injured I had always tried to heal myself with my skills, it was to get used to the process while learning how to do a better job on my own. Yes, it came with its downsides but talented doctors like Lui Zhi wouldn't always be at an arms-length after all. Of course, these guys didn't take very kindly to that approach.

"Don't avert your eyes now, Senior Brother." Huang Bai's words were gentle but her eyes had a hint of coldness. "Why did you face Shu Huang and put yourself in danger?"

"I wasn't alone, and Bian Que did most of the work anyway." A sigh escaped my lips, "…And I had no other choice but to do this."

"Hearing that from you is as unconvincing as it can be." Huang Bai saw through that immediately.

"Indeed, you always avoid things that don't gain you anything." Xianquan added, his eyes blinked faster than normal.

Don't try to fool me.

That was what he said in the code we used, after all, he knew that Bian Que was me.

"What do you guys think I am?" I said, replying to Xianquan.

"Thick-faced." Xianquan said.

"Swindler with no conscience." Huang Bai smiled.

"Slave driver." Lui Zhi hit my back in spite.

"Hey now, you are hurting my precious feelings here." I can't believe I raised these kids.

Of course, what they said wasn't far off. Even in this position, I had several ways to break away, but if I did it would only complicate the situation so staying put was the better option. I wouldn't stand a chance if Xianquan became serious in the sect. It was like fighting a shark in the ocean.

I didn't have to fear them finding out about my changed spiritual roots, even if forceful, these little siblings of mine were respectful in their own way. A spiritual root, a part of a cultivator's soul, wasn't to be touched without consent. Unless one was an enemy, and that was one thing I didn't have to worry about here.

"So, what is the final verdict?" Xianquan asked.

Even if he tried to maintain his indifference, this guy's eyes showed his hidden worry.

"Perfect. It's almost too perfect. The traces of previous injuries have vanished too." Liu Zhi came to the front, a keen shine in her eyes. "That Heaven's Pond or whatever has got some miraculous effects."

The word from the site should've already reached Xianquan, and Lui Zhi through him. As much as she liked to drink and laze around, some things did get her going.

"I have a three-hundred-page report on its effects if you want." I had put it together during my stay there.

"Sounds troublesome, can't you like summarize it to three pages or less?" She demanded.

"It is the summarized version." I smiled.

"Ugh…"

Needless to say, this girl was just as lazy as before when it came to reading. Finally, the chains around me vanished in smoke and Huang Bai's vigilance blew away like a breeze. It seemed like the two were satisfied with my current condition, even if they didn't want to.

"We don't have enough evidence to sanction Senior Brother this time." Huang Bai said.

Well, I did erase it all in the Heaven's Pond. Hurray for that.

"Leaving that behind, did Long Lingxin bring in good news?" I asked taking my seat.

"Of course. We now have control over Tie, Zhou, Xian, and Xing Province. Not only do we have the Heaven's Pond under our territory now, but now we share a direct border with Purple Cloud Sect." Xianquan passed me the scroll.

Inside it, the additional compensation of spirit stones and many rare poisonous herbs were listed along with the signs of the leaders of Purple Cloud Sect recognizing the deal.

"If it wasn't for Brother's nasty schemes that took advantage of their high pride and dire circumstances, they would've never agreed to this." Huang Bai poured me sweet tea with some bitter words.

"Aren't you being a little too honest, Bai'er?" I looked at her sweet and innocent smile.

"I am always honest." She said.

It was hopeless. A dry laugh later I turned to Xianquan, we had to think about further actions.

The area was veiled in obscurity right now, but when the situation calms down Purple Cloud Sect would send people to investigate the areas we have demanded. It was common courtesy to keep each other in check and probe for information, just that I didn't want anyone to discover that pond anytime soon. That was why I matched the borders between the two sects and made a bigger, more imposing problem to draw attention. And, I knew the value of those areas because of the future.

"If possible, I want you to go and study the place. It would be great if we can recreate that pond in our sect and move that pond altogether." Creating a stronghold was also an option, but now wasn't the time to divide forces. Since that place was built upon a formation of sorts, that's what the records from the Demonic cultivators read, Xianquan would be the best one to go.

"I plan to leave tomorrow." Xianquan said instantly.

"At least wait till Jiahong is back." I added.

With Zhao Jun barely staying in the sect the combat force of the sect was low at the moment. And the last thing I wanted to do was give the hyenas a chance.

"I'll trust you to watch over the sect as always." Xianquan flashed a handsome smile, but it only had bad intentions.

This is your punishment. His eyes said.

This kid… well whatever.

"Alright."

"He accepted it so easily. Brother is definitely scheming something." Lui Zhi pointed at me with a wine jug in her hand.

There wasn't a point in contesting so I left it be.

"How did you find such a place, Brother?" Huang Bai asked ignoring the previous topic.

Heaven's Pond was a treasure that couldn't be explained easily, matter of fact the sudden discovery gives rise to suspicion even within the sect because of how abrupt it was. Paired with how much these guys knew about me, they could catch any half-hearted lie. However, I had a foolproof reason in place long before I left.

"I heard about the legend from Granny Long." It was the woman who broke the mountain out of spite, and these kids should remember her too.

"That old h—esteemed senior?" Xianquan grimaced, he had the hardest time because of Granny Long.

Her desire for excellent treasures extended to people too, and this kid was almost stolen from under Master's nose because of his talent.

"After remembering about it I thought it would be a good lesson for the disciples to get some idea of how cultivators search for treasures. I planned to take them to another place but I never thought that we'd end up finding the thing." I gave them a made-up list of events about how we discovered the place, it was a whole lot of convincing slop that would work in most scenarios similar to this.

"We better not let that hag find about it." Lui Zhi spoke in a stupor. Even if she wasn't drunk, she wouldn't mince her words.

And, the gentle Huang Bai didn't correct her this time. Every one of my fellow disciples, aside from me, had braved the relentless recruitment tactics of Granny Long.

"She'll try to claim it as hers, that petty old woman." I too had very little respect for the elder of the world's strongest royal beast clan.

As this sour topic was glossed over, a new one came to the surface. The topic I have been waiting for.

"About the Eastern Martial Meet this time. Any volunteers?" Xianquan's question was met with a brief silence.

It wasn't surprising. Although the event only happened once a decade, the only people who actively participated in that event were Hua Jiahong and Zhou Jun, both weren't available at the moment. Chen Zhipeng hadn't left the sect in three decades, Lui Zhi hadn't left in five decades, Xianquan couldn't leave his post for long, and Huang Bai mostly stayed behind to defend the sect too.

I only attended the meet a few times in secret and only attended once openly.

With a wry smile, Xianquan was getting ready to take out the paper chits we made before. Of the three chits, two were safe and one wasn't. We had agreed on this method to choose who would go between Huang Bai, Lui Zhi, or me in case Jiahong and Zhou Jun weren't around, which happened rarely.

But this time things had to change.

"Since there is no one else, I guess I'll go as the Elder in charge." I said.

The three in the hall looked at me like kids who had seen ghosts. Exaggerated expressions, well not really in a sense.

"Stop it you brats. I just think it'll be a good opportunity for my disciples so I am going." I said.

Xianquan smiled with a wriggle of his brow because of how much the past me had avoided this.

"Your disciples, huh?"

"It is like seeing Jiahong all over again, just that it is over disciples." Liu Zhi cackled.

"At least Senior Brother has become more active like before." Huang Bai was the only one who seemed respectful in a way, but even she was giggling.

"Well, being a Master is a heavy responsibility." I added. Just as a disciple viewed the Master as a parent, it was the Master's duty to protect and guide their disciples as if they would their children.

"I guess we can't argue with that." Pleased for some reason, Xianquan moved on. "Sister Huang, I'll leave him to you."

"I'll keep an eye on him." Huang Bai responded.

"Your brats… can't you trust me for once?"

"Sorry Brother, you have yourself to blame." Xianquan stood up from his chair. "Now, I'll contact other peaks about the trial to select the disciples for East Martial Meet, we'll hold it in four weeks so please prepare well."

The discussion came to an end. The drunk Liu Zhi was taken away by Huang Bai, and I left for Plum Peak myself as Xianquan had a lot on his plate right now. Just the addition of the new territories was enough to keep him busy, but he also had to visit the pond.

That pond would become an important source of strength not only to our sect but for the entire continent when the Demonic cultivators start moving.

For now, I had to focus on the growth of my disciples. They arrived in the lecture room immediately and sat down, ready for a class on formations. But I had to let them know of the new development first.

"We are participating in a trial this coming month?" Wang Yang spoke in part surprise and part excitement over the event.

"It is to select disciples for the upcoming East Martial Meet. You'll meet with the top geniuses of the eastern continent there and get a chance to face them." I decided to give them some more incentive, "The sect will give you an additional reward for qualifying, if you stand out in the meet you'll get even greater rewards from the pool gathered by the sects and a separate reward from our sect. Of course, the competition will be tough in both places."

"Will the Jade Sword Hall also participate?" Sun Lingling asked.

"Yes, their name is on the list as usual." The sect she asked for was a powerful minor sect made of only sword cultivators.

With the tenth youngest Sword Grandmaster on the continent at its helm, it was the sect Sun Lingling joined in the future because of the sect leader's connection with her sister.

My confirmation had increased her determination to some degree. Wang Yang already seemed interested, now Sun Lingling had made up her mind too.

"Master, what is the Trial we'll have to participate in?" He asked.

I held back my laughter behind the façade of coolness. No matter what, Wang Yang's success was etched in stone during this.

"It is a Treasure Hunt this time."
....

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"During our stay in Heaven's Pond, you learned about Alchemy and if you could use it or not. We'll do the same for Formations now." I said laying down two white cotton cloths on the floor, wide enough to be used as curtains these cloths had a series of inscriptions going across them.


"Alchemy is more about pushing the elements that are already present to form a pill, it creates chances where even people with other innate elements can refine 9th to 7th rank pills if they are diligent and try for specific pills." Wang Yang was a prime example of this, usually, alchemists preferred to have only wood element as their single element. The more elements mix their advantages dim if a bad pair was made reducing the effectiveness of the wood element or making it stronger.


He would've faced the same issue if he didn't have the perfect balance of elements, not to mention his diligence. Even if lucky, the kid was never outworked by anyone else.


"With Formations, however, things change drastically." Using Qi I illustrated a picture for them on the board behind me. It showed a person, the land, surrounding qi, and the lines of qi running below the earth that connected with the formation above.


"Here, you not only have to push the Qi to attack your enemy and neutralize them but also pull Qi from the surroundings to make it possible and stabilize the formation."


"Why do we need Qi from the surroundings?" Wang Yang asked.


"Because cultivators rarely have enough Qi to power high-grade formations alone, so they use their energy as the trigger and gather QI from the leylines below, or use spirit stones as an alternative."


"Is that why Earth element is preferred for Formation users?" Sun Lingling has a little more knowledge compared to Wang Yang.


"Exactly, they use Earth element to their advantage and draw Qi from the leylines underground. Using high-ranking formations with spirit stones costs a fortune, but that also makes it a bit more flexible because the lack of talent and element can be supplemented by knowledge and preparation." Lingling failed to pass the Alchemy test without a doubt, and I wouldn't trust her to make anything, not even medicine for mortals.


"The test is simple, place your hand on the cloth and run your Qi through it. The further your color is in the rainbow the higher your talent, for reference I had green and the Grand Elder's test showed red." This couldn't even be called a test because it was nowhere near to evaluating true geniuses.


We simply used it for new disciples to get an idea of their potential while saving the real test if someone reached red. Wang Yang didn't show that sort of talent for formations, and I couldn't guess for Lingling so I kept the real test for later in case it was needed.


If they could use formations, that would boost their combat power. Especially for Sun Lingling, I don't need her to focus on formations, her specialization in sword supported by formations would blow away even stronger opponents with the techniques I had in store.


"It's Yellow." Wang Yang's talent was the same as last time.


"…"


However, nothing showed from Sun Lingling's side. The formation didn't even light up, which was something I'd never seen before.


This was what it meant to put all eggs in one basket. And, that was how true geniuses were, they were good at one thing and stood at the summit of that mountain.


In my view, that was better for Sun Lingling. After all, a pure sword cultivator that had no connections to other paths whatsoever was a terrifying existence in itself. With this, I understood how to train these disciples of mine.


"Sun Lingling, you are free to use the lecture time for other paths as you wish as long as you memorize the books here." I handed her five books, each as thick as a dictionary. They were about sensing, disrupting, dismantling, and destroying formations based on terrain along with information on different types of formations.


The books were compiled from knowledge of various sword grandmasters, past and future, and their know-how about dealing with formation users after years of experience. It was pure knowledge and didn't need explanation from me, just remembering would be enough.


"Ok." Lingling's answer was as short as the time it would take her to memorize the books.


Taking the books, she left the lecture room and headed for her cultivation room. Now, I turned to Wang Yang and he already sensed that he'd have to read books. However, I won't be as kind as last time.


"You have to finish these books in the next week." Three stacks of books as tall as me appeared nearby, each book as thick as a diary.


"T-That's too much!" He moved back in horror.


"If you don't memorize ten books before midnight, no sleep for you~." He had four hours and fifty minutes.


"Noooooo!!!"


As promised, I decided to be strict with him about reading. He couldn't sleep for the next two days, but that wasn't so bad in hindsight.


It was the fourth day since the lecture that something happened. I walked into the kitchen area around noon, only to see the two disciples snooping around the place. In truth, it was only Wang Yang who was opening and closing shelves and taking off jar lids with a serious look.


"What happened?" I asked.


"The Food array is empty." Sun Lingling answered.


"But I refilled it yesterday." I said looking over at Wang Yang since Sun Lingling rarely ate food from there, so it should've been enough for the week.


"I only ate two dishes for breakfast, and it was all gone." Wang Yang claimed his innocence. "Someone is stealing our food!"


"Hmm? Like who?" I leaned against the doorframe.


"Like a food thief that sneaks in the dead of the night when it is past dinner time and eats without supervision." Wang Yang clenched his fist.


"So, you?" Sun Lingling's words made him take a step back.


"…I don't eat everything though." He didn't deny it.


Normal people had three meals a day, Wang Yang had six. Since becoming a cultivator, his body has started to demand more energy so it was understandable, and I made the food according to that. So, it couldn't be him, if he had eaten everything he would've admitted to it.


"There has to be a secret tunnel or something around here." He went back checking the floorboards and walls with narrowed eyes, then he swung around his arm making a big arc. "Or the culprit could be invisib—ah!"


He froze up, his arm was caught causing his sharp twirl to come to an abrupt stop. The air moved, creating a ripple that showed a small silhouette on the table. Soon, the form took definition, it was a nine-year-old girl with shiny red hair tied in two buns on each side of her head and blazing golden eyes.


"Rude." Indignant, the girl's lips, smeared with chili oil, turned crooked.


Wang Yang looked at the little child in the red clothes with a golden collar sitting cross-legged on the table, then at the bowl in her hand. He repeated this another time before it finally registered.


"That's my chili oil fried rice with roasted pork!" He lunged at her, trying to grasp what was left.


But he could only grasp air. The kid had already jumped and now stood right on top of Wang Yang's head.


"Can't you see I am eating?" She flipped through the air once again, dodging the attempt to catch her legs.


Landing on the windowsill, she took another bite as if it was nothing special.


Wang Yang looked ready to try and catch her again, even Sun Lingling seemed alert. So, it was a good time to stop here.


"What are you doing, Mei'er?" I asked, bringing them to a halt.


"Hmph!" However, the kid refused to meet my eye. "Mei doesn't talk with liars."


"Liar? Me?" My head tilted to the side.


"See? You forgot about it, uncle!" Mei's anger exploded alongside the fiery qi filling the room.


"U-Uncle?" Wang Yang repeated.


"That kid…" Sun Lingling felt the realm of this little kid, the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.


"Now now, calm down Mei'er." This was quite the situation.


What did I forget? No, it would be better to think what Li Muchen before my regression had promised her. What could it be?


"There! You are using sweet words to buy time to think, just like Mother said." She pointed at me with the white chopsticks. "Mei is too smart, I won't fall for your excuses this time!"


Damn her mother, giving away my tricks like this. But before that, excuses in situations where Mei was involved, huh? That helps in narrowing it down, and given her age it could only be that.


"Come on Mei'er, forgive your uncle for not taking you to the Immortal forest this time. I was truly busy." I took her to that forest almost every two to three months, but with the regression and the little time I had, it slipped my mind because we had grown out of that routine in the later years.


"I won't hear it, uncle even went on a fun trip outside too without Mei." She puffed her small face like a squirrel.


If only I could tell her how fun that trip was, regardless I had to bring out my trump card before the situation got any worse.


"It was for the disciples you know? And I went on a short note so I couldn't tell you." I stepped closer gauging her reaction.


"Mei is not listening!" She stomped the windowsill ready to run away.


I closed my right eye and took out a small plate from my ring. A soft, creamy white dish that gleamed under the warm glow of the room. A drizzle of honey glistened over the top and slivered almonds upon its jiggly surface.


"I see, it is too bad then. I was planning to give you this brand-new Almond Pudding I made."


"M-Mei won't falter in front of food." She sneaked a few glances anyway.


"I see, then you can have the first taste, Wang Yang. I wanted Mei'er to have the first taste, truly such a shame this is."


The faint aroma of sweet almonds and vanilla had already caught the attention of his hunger. He was reaching for the plate when the plate was snatched by the blur. The trap worked.


"Mei is willing to listen this one time!! Just this one time!!" Like a mother shielding her child, she hid the plate behind her so it wasn't taken away.


This method works everytime as Mei'er loved eating new dishes, so I always kept a few new dishes in my pocket, just in case they had to be used by me or someone else.


"So, this is my niece, Hua Mei, the princess of Tiger Peak." I introduced the defiant kid, now sitting in my arms like a docile cat, to my two disciples. "She has a habit of sneaking in for food so don't mind her."


"Yesh, niceh to meeth youg!" Mei was too lost in the pudding to speak normally. She was kicking her legs while taking the bites so I knew it was successful.


"The Princess of Tiger Peak…" Lingling muttered not stopping at the adorable exterior of the kid.


"Yes, she is the daughter of Tiger Peak's Peak Master, Hua Jiahao." Although through ties, I would be her Martial uncle, she still referred to me as an uncle.


"Now that I think of it, this is a good chance." Since the opportunity arrived, it's best to make use of it.


"What is?" Wang Yang wiped his drool, trying to distract his mind from the pudding.


"I'll show you around Immortal Forest, the first wondrous sight of Azure Sky Sect."


It makes me wonder. Would it happen this time, too?
...
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Immortal Forest.


Although the sounded grand, it partially met the grandeur. In simpler words, a glorified garden where rare herbs and trees prospered all year around.


We walked down the path where four seasons meet. Along the wide path were flowers of distinct colors and seasons in full bloom giving house to numerous rare butterflies and bees.


"This used to be Osmanthus Peak Master's personal garden, but the Grand Elder takes care of it now." I explained.


"It certainly lives up to its name." Lingling said, her eyes swimming through the flowers.


"Hehe, this is my personal playground now." Hua Mei skipped ahead of us. Her mood always became better upon entering this place.


"A playground this big?" Wang Yang looked at me for confirmation.


"Technically speaking, yes." We opened this place for the disciples so they could have a relaxing time and even get some rare herbs too, if they could find the place and herbs. Only a handful of disciples knew of this garden's location now.


"What? You don't trust me?" Hua Mei looked at Wang Yang with a raised brow. "Looks like I'll have to show you some proof."


She snapped in the air with a smug smile.


"Start!" The cute yelp didn't go far, but it reached the intended person.


A slow, somber melody permeated the air. A classic song from a great musician that transcended the world and instruments.


"…Music? From where?" Wang Yang looked around the flower field but he couldn't locate the zither.


He looked around because it seemed to him that someone had played the zither behind him, and when he turned the sound's position changed too. In truth no one played, it was a recording from the time I played to keep Hua Mei entertained at the bamboo forest. Xianquan recorded it and played it for the kid at times like this.


I could've done better along the middle notes. I started learning about zither at the time of recording, so it left a lot to be desired.


"Are you impressed yet?" Hua Mei asked Wang Yang.


"Totally." He admitted easily.


"Heh, this is nothing." With her nose to the sky, she turned around and beckoned him. "I'll show you something real amazing, follow me."


Wang Yang followed Hua Mei down the path after I permitted him. We evacuated the disciples in advance so it shouldn't be a problem.


As the path of flowers ended, we entered the wood paradise, it had numerous species of wood from the continent, both ordinary and spiritual in spades. This place helped a lot in construction because the array helped in rapid growth, it brought about a decent profit while doubling as a place to play hide and seek for Hua Mei.


Mei and Yang had long left the path and entered the birch forest that seemed endless at a glance. Only Lingling walked a step behind me in silence.


"If you need answers you can ask, I am your Master after all." I turned to Sun Lingling.


"I… Well…" She must've felt a big shock to tumble over words.


"Is it about Hua Mei?" I spoke it for her.


"…Yes."


Any cultivator would have questions after seeing Hua Mei's realm. How come a nine-year-old is already in Foundation Establishment realm? The question was similar to asking why birds fly or why fishes swim. However, the answer had every bit of grandness a cultivator could ask for.


"Lingling, have you heard of Blessing of the Dao?"


"Yes, it is a famous saying that no one believes but still wishes for." She said.


"Who wouldn't want to receive such a blessing? It reveals to you the mechanisms of your destined path and the intricacies of the universe. The boost it gives to your cultivation and prowess is enormous." Blessing of the Dao surfaced in the Saint Era and had been immortalized alongside the one to encounter it, only brief mentions of it came in the first genius generation and it remains a mystery to this day.


"Is master saying that…" She caught on quick.


"At the age of four Hua Mei received Blessing of the Dao while watching her father practice. Without ever learning about a cultivation method, she reached the peak of Qi refinement in three hours, her understanding of Martial Dao and its potency rivaling a Peak Master."


A little kid achieved something her father had pursued his whole life, but the blessing itself came to Hua Mei for a reason. Blood plays a strong role, but the innate talent and physical potential of the kid who could walk after one month of her birth played a bigger role.


At that moment, the blood, the innate talent of the child, and the high-level insight of a master from a higher realm observed by that child came together to bless the child and left the absorption of that Dao to her. Of course, Hua Mei didn't disappoint anyone, not the parents that gave birth to her or the heavens that gave her the opportunity.


"So, it is like that." She muttered.


"It can't be helped if it is like that. That's what you are thinking, right?" I turned to her, dropping my stride to match her.


"Yes, it is not something I can use."


"Do you want to be in her position?" I asked.


"Being associated with the Blessing of Dao, it should draw a lot of attention." She said.


"That's putting it mildly. If the news gets out there'd be no end of trouble for her and the sect." Assassination attempts from the Demonic Cultivators would rise, more powerful sects would come around to get their way, and there wasn't a shortage of old, despicable monsters around the world. "Since that day we've had to limit the places she can go, the number of people she can meet, and what she can do. It is no different than living in a cage."


"Must be suffocating." She muttered.


"It is, even when we try to give her some joys of childhood." The same happened before regression. "But I wish to change a few things from now on, and for that, I plan to talk with her parents."


"They must be worried too." Sun Lingling understood it too.


"I want them to worry about the present more than the future."


It wasn't Jiahao or his wife's fault for focusing on cultivation, they were doing it to gather enough strength to protect their child. Us fellow disciples were the same, but that left Hua Mei even more isolated because we barely had time. Before regression, I didn't have enough strength or means to suggest anything to them, but after knowing the future I couldn't let it go on.


If one sect isn't enough to protect her, how about an alliance of the major sects, the minor sects, and the friendly foreign sects? An alliance to stand against the Demonic Cultivators remained my ultimate goal, but I also wanted to give Jiahao and my sect the safety net I couldn't give them last time. Of course, it would be far from easy, but I have started laying down the groundwork.


"Is there a reason Master is telling me about this?" She asked, stopping at the border between the birch and oak forest.


A reason, of course, I had one.


"Even with a longer lifespan than mortals, how many years do you think we live?" This mindset became the reason for the current situation, and I couldnt fault with it. "Cultivating, studying, practicing, vying for a higher realm than the current one to protect what we have, and then we burn the extra years the same way. I say we live even less than mortals."


"To be the ideal cultivator you have to rid yourself of the past that haunts you and the bleak future that unsettles you, one must enjoy the present and accept the joy of being alive. This was the teaching of the first saint." The first cultivator who received the Blessing of the Dao.


Of course, it applied to Sun Lingling as much as Jiahao.


"…" Sun Lingling still carried her older sister's sword and with it a purpose.


"I can't ask something of you that I am incapable of." An ideal is an ideal because it is unattainable, as it should be. "Between the past and the future, don't overlook the present that defines you. That is all I am asking."


"The present that defines me…?" She muttered, almost in a trance.


Her eyes moved to the sword in her hand, and an immediate response came from within her. She must know what she needs at this moment, what she has to do. The choice remained simple, but the weight attached to it was enormous for a young girl like her.


"Master!! Help!!" Wang Yang came running down from the opposite end of the path, and he wasn't alone. A horde of frost bees chasing after him.


"Keep running. If they sting you again, it is over!" Hua Mei kept up with ease and even had a fun time teasing as usual.


"I suppose it is not that bad." I said.


"Is it not?"


Lingling's question made me smile. The kids had fun like this after all, and now Hua Mei had two people who were close in age.


After chasing the bees away, I tended to the stings on Yang's right hand. It had swollen to triple its size and turned blue. Frost bee's sting did hurt a lot, but it did increase the person's resistance to cold.


"Damn you Mei, I trusted you." Wang Yang huffed, forgetting his pain.


"Why would you trust someone when they say there is a treasure in a bee hive? It's not like I told you to stick your hand inside it."


"…" He couldn't refute that.


"Mei, it looks like you need some punishment." I pulled her right cheek before she could run away.


"Sowwy! Stap!" She squirmed around for a while before giving up.


"Master…" Lingling called out as we passed into the oak forest. "…I'll accept it, the sword."


She had let go of the past for the moment to gain strength so she could face it in the future. I handed her the prepared sword, she placed the Ashen Blade in her ring and placed her hand on the hilt of the white sword.


The sword in her hands hummed in response.


Sun Lingling pulled it out of the sheath to obverse the crimson edge it had now. Her sword qi changed, more importantly, it stayed free from the tiniest of waves seen before. In one single moment, she had broken past the barrier of Sword Cultivator and reached the Sword Master realm, becoming the youngest to achieve it on the continent.


As they say, a nudge is enough to guide a genius.


Of course, that nudge wasn't easy to pull off.


"Uncle! Come on or we'll be late!" Hua Mei called out from ahead with Wang Yang.


"Let's have a feast for this."


Sun Lingling nodded and followed after me.


Upon exiting the library the next day, I noticed Hua Mei's presence in the training area. And with her were Wang Yang and Sun Lingling. Arriving at the rooftop in stealth, I watched the two spar with Hua Mei.


It's good that nothing changed from last time. If anything, Hua Mei had another friend.


But I couldn't continue watching them, my token buzzed and a message came through.


[Partner, I've completed it.]


The key to destroy Gu Changge came within reach.
...
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Even after Li Muchen left the Plum Peak, the residence stayed high in energy and screams. If anything, it had increased over the next few days.

The reason?

"How long are you going to keep lying on your back, hm?" Hua Mei looked down on Wang Yang with a blank look.

The boy's pristine white uniform had been covered in dirt along with some tears. Even his face didn't escape damage, his right eye turned black from the punch that sent him reeling.

It all started after they came back from the Immortal Forest.

"Since the trial is near, I'll be your sparring partner to keep you in shape." The two agreed to Hua Mei's suggestion without hesitation.

Even if a kid, her realm and skills weren't anything to scoff at. Sun Lingling especially wanted to have a challenge to get herself used to the new sword while trying to fight above her realm.

Thus, the sparring began.

"You call this sparring? You are just beating me up like a hooligan!" Wang Yang thought that he'd get to learn the same way Yingyue taught him.

However, far from the calm lectures and gentle tips for improvement, the only talking Hua Mei did was with her fists. Day and night she one-sidedly clobbered him while Sun Lingling barely escaped the same fate.

"It's not my fault that you can't keep up with me even when I limit myself to 6th​ level of Qi refinement." Hua Mei folded her hands. "How will you face the beasts in the trial like this?"

"Master said that most of them would be lower-level or equal to me. And don't lie, you definitely aren't matching my realm." Wang Yang had thought that the trial would be simple.

"Are you telling me you'll be ok with getting mediocre results? Do you think you'll be chosen for the Eastern Martial Meet like that?" Hua Mei stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "And, if you want to be a joke, go be one, but I won't let you make Uncle a laughing stock in front of those elders!"

"W-Wha-?" Wang Yang sat there shocked.

"Senior Hua, what do you mean by that?" Even if older, Lingling addressed Hua Mei with respect for her higher realm. "I get that we are expected to have great results as a Peak Master's Disciples, but who are those Elders?"

Even if Sun Lingling had barely explored the sect, she had heard how much the disciples and other elders respected Li Muchen. And, among the Peak Masters that held the most power in this sect, three were his junior disciples, and counting the Grand Elder who had the highest authority also being his junior disciple there shouldn't be any way or reason to laugh at Muchen.

"There are some idiots who don't look at reasons. They think that Uncle's position is because of special treatment, these are mostly elders who have lower positions with the same realm or higher realms than Uncle's. Mother told me that because of the pressure from Martial Uncle and Aunts they have been suppressed so far, but now they have an easier way to make a statement." Mei looked at Wang Yang. "That is by letting their disciples defeat you. Your shame will become Uncle's shame and they'll poke at it for years."

"…So, we will be targeted even among our fellow disciples in the trial." Lingling said, not a wrinkle of worry on her face.

"They will go that far?" Wang Yang muttered.

"They are people who will fight over a chicken leg just to prove their strength. But worry not, I have a plan." Hua Mei smirked. "With this, you will defeat their disciples, and also give those petty elders a big slap across their faces."

"What's the plan?" Wang Yang asked, back on his feet.

"You have to aim for the top treasures." She said with confidence.

The treasures in the trail were pooled in from the strongest people from the sect, it had items they acquired on their journey or used themselves. So, the top treasures would be from the Elders, Peak Masters, and the Grand Elder himself.

"If we get one of the higher-level treasures, Master won't be criticized." Lingling nodded at the obvious answer.

"Exactly! Now, let's get back to training." Hua Mei pulled Wang Yang, throwing him back at the center of the training area.

"Stop, stop, at least let me use my sword!" Wang Yang had been forced to fight barehanded this whole time.

"What if you don't have your sword? Will your opponent let you find it?" Hua Mei cracked her knuckles. "And, you should know the rice before adding side dishes."

"What does that even mean?" Wang Yang stepped back to dodge a punch. "At least teach me with words before doing this!"

"The proof is in the pudding!" The one-sided beat-sparring continued.


"That kid is ruthless for such a cute, harmless-looking girl." Freshly healed, Wang Yang made his way down the Plum Peak.

Since Muchen wouldn't come back today, his disciples had the evening off as long as they read the assigned books. Wang Yang planned to do that after coming back from his dinner plans. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, the people waiting for him waved back.

"Yo, Brother!" Xu Qiang hugged him straight away like a bear. "Look at these muscles. You've gotten manlier, as expected of my brother!"

"It just happened." Wang Yang faced the other three familiar faces. "You all seemed to have improved too."

"Of course we have." Haomu's shorter frame looked muscular compared to before.

"The teachers over at our peak don't let any of us rest." Huajun smiled bitterly as they walked down the path.

"Looks like it, I almost didn't recognize Yesu at all." Wang Yang looked at the young kid who used to be lanky, now his muscles rivaled Xu Qiang's.

"I was put on a special diet and training." The young kid still shed tears of blood.

"Leave that aside, how was your trip outside? Had fun?" Xu Qiang asked.

"A little, I learned a lot from Senior Gu." Wang Yang didn't know if the whole trip could be counted as fun, but it certainly opened his eyes to a bigger world.

"So, she did come to the sect, huh." Haomu muttered as the faces around them changed.

"You know Senior Gu?" Wang Yang noticed the subtle changes.

"Of course we do." Xu Qiang smirked. "She's the successor of Lady Gu Yue, our Peak Master's rival."

"Oh…" Wang Yang learned something new.

"There were rumors that Senior Gu Yingyue came to Tiger Peak to meet her rival, Fang Yinchen. Well, only a few people saw it so we don't know for certain." Haomu said.

"Fang Yinchen?" Wang Yang scratched his head.

"Seriously man, how do you not know the second-strongest disciple of Tiger Peak?" Haomu sighed.

"Well, Brother Wang didn't spend much time in the sect to begin with, he must be busy as is," Huajun said.

Haomu nodded, and tried to explain, "That's true, so about Senior Fang, he isn't someone you can ignor—!"

"Senior Fang is the strongest of his generation only followed by Senior Gu, they are the moon and sun of the current era like their masters were before." Only to get cut off by Xu Qiang.

"Hey, I was talking!" Haomu glared.

"You take too long, keep it short like yourself." Xu Qiang laughed keeping him at arm's length. "Besides, isn't it more amazing that my brother here is already rubbing shoulders with such cultivators?"

"Rubbing shoulders is a bit…" Wang Yang couldn't see himself on the same level as Yingyue because of the difference in their strength.

"In terms of position Brother Wang is without a doubt on the same level, and you've just started your journey so be patient." Huajun cut in.

"Being Second Peak Master's disciple, you'll reach them in no time Brother Wang." Yesu cheered him on.

"Well… I hope so." Wang Yang said.

The group reached the main path and took a turn to head for the Peach peak. Since they weren't able to have lunch last time, Wang Yang invited them this time.

Along with the horde of disciples heading the same way, the five reached the foot of Peach Peak. They took the stairs that snaked upwards, passing by forks other people took to reach other areas.

Peach Garden, Crescent Lake, Silk Pagoda… those sound interesting.

The five headed down the route for Jade Hall like the bulk of the other disciples in an orderly manner. But the closer they got to the hall the lesser disciples were seen. It confused Wang Yang as they numbered around a hundred before and there weren't any more forks for a while for them to take.

"You're curious aren't you brother?" Xu Qiang asked.

"It's a formation that only allows disciples with a reservation token." Haomu answered before Wang Yang could even ask.

"See, you can answer concisely." Xu Qiang laughed.

"…You are asking for it." Haomu clenched his fist.

"Ok, break it up you guys, don't leave Brother Wang hanging." Huajun pulled the raging Haomu back.

"Well, to eat in Jade Hall you need to make a reservation, it is super famous and reasonably priced so usually the wait time is a little long." Xu Qiang said.

"Then did you make a reservation in advance?" Wang Yang certainly didn't make one.

The four shook their heads and smiled.

"Then how did we…" Wang Yang followed their gazes and they all landed on his disciple token.

"Thank you for the free meal Big Brother Wang, you are the best!" The four said in unison.

"S-Sure…" He could only nod at that point, after all, he did invite them.

They said it is priced reasonably, but what is reasonable? Wang Yang hoped it wasn't like those luxury restaurants of the capital, he didn't want to wash dishes because he couldn't afford the bill.

His worries melted with the setting sun as the huge pagoda covered in mist stole his attention. Its surface shimmered green like high-quality jade with white stairs leading up to it from four sides.

As Wang Yang noticed the enormous lion statues at the stairs, a blonde girl dressed in pink descended from the Pagoda. Her pink robes with red petalled sleeves carried the scent of roses catching everyone's attention.

"Welcome to the Jade Hall, Senior Wang. My name is Qiu and I'll be serving you today." The girl bowed slightly in front of Wang Yang, oozing youthful exuberance. A picturesque beauty.

"…Me?" He pointed at himself.

"Yes, Senior Wang, this is a special service for distinguished guests like yourself, of course, it extends to your entourage as well." Qiu's gentle smile won the hearts of even the passersby. "So, please allow me to show you around."

"O-Ok." Wang Yang followed Qiu up the stairs, oblivious to the hostile stare locked on him among the hundreds there.

On the fourth floor of the pagoda, a young man in white robes looked down the balcony. His purple bangs swayed in the cool breeze as he took a sip of alcohol from his cup.

"You are finally here, Wang Yang." Zhang Jun smiled as the young boy stiffly climbed the stairs.
...
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"Hey, isn't that?" Huajun muttered.


"Yeah… Why is Lady Qiu down here?" Haomu gulped and checked if his uniform looked neat and presentable.


Hearing the hushed whispers behind her, Qiu looked back with a gentle smile and beckoned the group towards the white jade stairs leading to a rising platform.


"Please mind your steps, gentlemen." She said, locking eyes with the timidest one in the group.


"Eek!" Yesu tried to hide behind Haomu, which created a funny sight given their size difference. However, the crowd on the bottom floor appeared as enchanted with Qiu as the group she led. They all stole glances at her fluttering visage and pleasant fragrance, attracting the gaze like a colorful butterfly.


Heh, they are all so easy to read. Qiu's nose rose high behind the polite smile. If it weren't for this chance, these poor souls would never get to see me. That's how much of a privilege it is, and they are aware of it.


Qiu wasn't a simple waitress at Jade Hall; as one of the elite entertainers of the establishment, she had half a floor to her name and dozens of rooms to arrange banquets for her customers. Fellow elites like her wouldn't even leave their floors, much less come to the bottom floor. However, special people required special actions.


Wang Yang, the second direct disciple of the Second Peak Master. He took his sweet time coming here. Qiu and many others from Jade Hall had kept an eye out to form connections with him. I've already taken the lead in this, now I need to secure the connection.


Qiu smiled as the task didn't pose much difficulty for her. Even as the youngest among the elite ladies of Jade Hall, she had climbed her way up with the help of her most defining feature, her beauty.


Making a young boy fall for me is as simple pouring tea. Even with her short walk today she had captured the hearts of many guys that watched from the sidelines wishing she'd invite them for drinks and food.


"You're saying my Master painted this?" However, Wang Yang's words cut through the subtle atmosphere. His eyes focused on the painting with Li Muchen's name displayed beside it.


"This is where the Sect Master and the first disciples had their meals together, and it has now turned into Jade Hall. Amazing ain't it?" Xu Qiang smirked.


"Yeah, it looks so detailed, like I am seeing the real thing." Wang Yang admired the painting of the old jade hall in the middle of a lake with swans and lotuses.


His attention is on the damn painting! Qiu almost tripped over herself, but soon took swift action.


"Indeed, this painting was a gift from Peak Master Li to commemorate the opening of Jade Hall, it's displayed so everyone can appreciate the history of Jade Hall." Qiu stood in front of Wang Yang ready to throw her hook. "And there are many such pieces of art displayed for admiration, if Lord Wang would like it, I could arrange for a full tour at a later date."


"I'd love to." Wang Yang beamed.


"I'd be honored to." Qiu bowed with a smile, reeling in the line.


"Ho, I see now…" However, her line had caught something else, too.


Wait, did he… Qiu looked at Xu Qiang's wide smirk.


"That's a good idea, I should've thought of that sooner. You beat me to it, Qiu Qiu." Xu Qiang laughed.


It's good that the fool of the Xu clan hadn't changed. Qiu sighed in relief in her mind and turned their attention back on track.


"Let us go to the room, the delicacies wouldn't taste as good once they are cold." Qiu led the group to the seventh floor and entered the prepared room before anyone else could ambush them.


The wooden room with paper windows had a red wooden table in the middle and several auspicious decorations in red. She had lined the entire table with porcelain plates and bowls full of steaming food.


"I hope you enjoy my humble skills." Qiu sat the group down on the feather cushions and took seat beside Wang Yang in a way that no one could question it.


"Let's dig in!" After a long training session and walk here, Wang Yang's hunger had grown to the size of a mountain.


"Do you enjoy the Rainbow trout?" Qiu asked after the first dish.


"It's tasty!" Wang Yang replied while scarfing down the fillets steamed with several herbs.


"What about the raven goose?"


"It's tasty!" The stuffed, whole roasted goose had become the star of the show.


"…The emerald pig?"


"It's tasty!" The rare breed of pig became of pile of bones in a few minutes.


Are those the only words he knows?! Qiu's smile twitched. Even disciples of the top elders sing praises of my food, elevating it to high heaven with long poetry to get a smile out of me, yet he keeps repeating those two words over and over! What's wrong with him?


Qiu's hand clenched under the table, but she maintained the sweet smile above. So far, all the usual methods she used didn't work as Wang Yang didn't respond as others would.


He didn't ask about the dishes like Haomu, showed no interest in the cooking process like Huajun, wasn't captivated by her beauty like Yesu, and had no interest in learning about the history of Jade Hall like Xu Qiang.


But what was life without challenges?


There are still a lot of dishes left, so I'll chip away at him and gather his focus on me alone. This wasn't Qiu's first rodeo.


Aside from extravagant and royalty-like dinner, Jade Hall's main attraction were the women who worked there. Their job wasn't to sell expensive dishes, but to have the wealthy customers revisit the establishment with their service and generate revenue from the top 1%.


So, no matter how tough a nut one was, it'd crack under the hammer of beauty, or so Qiu had learned from her senior sisters.


The meal ended in an hour, and the result came out.


"Thank you for the delicious meal, Miss Qiu." Wang Yang smiled in satisfaction while exiting the room.


"I'm glad it was to your liking. Allow me to escort you out." She forced a smile.


…Not an iota of interest. He sat there and ate the whole time. Am I not attractive enough or something? Qiu wanted to crumble away, but the gazes from the men around the hall made her realize the problem. It isn't me, but him.


Even now Wang Yang's eyes stayed on the art pieces around the place than her.


Does he like men or something? No, the information I received came from a reliable source. I need to put in more effort. Once again mustering up her resolve, Qiu wanted to extend Wang Yang's stay to talk about his next visit, and the opportunity arrived as they reached main door.


"Why's there a line in front of that stall?" Wang Yang asked, his eyes locked on the old woman with grey hair working at the sole stall near Jade Hall.


This line that extended almost as long as the line for Jade Hall had formed in front of her hunched figure, the hot-blooded youth waited with patience to have a bowl of soup.


"That's Granny Meng. A lot of disciples and travelers come for her Soup of Remembrance." Qiu wasted no time delving into the topic to catch his attention.


"Soup of Remembrance?" As Wang Yang muttered those words, the young man who took a sip of the soup collapsed on the ground. "What happened to him?"


"It happens all the time." Qiu held him back from rushing over to check.


"Don't worry, brother, look there. The guards are already on it." Xu Qiang said as the guy built of an ox got carried away, foaming at the mouth.


"Is something wrong with her soup?" Wang Yang couldn't wrap his head around this.


"Granny Meng's soup isn't normal, it is like a test of sorts." Qiu chimed in.


"A test?" A shine of understanding appeared in his eyes. According to his Master, tests presented good opportunities for introspection and growth.


"Yes, it is a test of mental strength and the potency of one's spiritual root. If one doesn't pass out after drinking her soup, they are bound to get famous in the sect. So, all the new disciples give it a try. I even held out for 5 seconds." Xu Qiang smiled.


"You still passed out, though." Haomu said.


"At least I held out small stuff, you were crying after seeing your pet mouse."


"Ugh…" Haomu had no choice but to accept his losses.


"Did you all try it?" Wang Yang looked at Yesu and Huajin.


"We tried it together, the result was the same as Haomu." Huajin said with a wry smile.


"I saw my grandfather beckoning me from the other side." Yesu shivered.


"It does make your life flash before your eyes, that's why it's named the Soup of Remembrance." Even Xu Qiang shuddered a bit.


"Would you like to try that?" Qiu zeroed in on the curiosity-filled eyes of her target.


"I would, but the line seems long." Wang Yang thought over his schedule.


"We can skip it." Qiu showed him a silver token from her storage ring. "With this, I can get one bowl of the soup once a month without waiting in line."


"Would it be, ok?" Even with the question, his eyes showed a willingness to try.


"If I don't use it for my valued customers, when would I ever?" Qiu smiled and guided him over.


Even while standing at a distance, the eyes of the passersby and those in the line gathered on Wang Yang since he first appeared. Whispers travelled swiftly and low to let everyone know who he was. The second disciple of Li Muchen had arrived to take the infamous test of will, word spread fast in the line, and people who watched him from afar all gathered to form a small group.


"Granny Meng, may I have a bowl?" Qiu spoke with respect before the next customer could place an order.


"Of course." Granny Meng took the silver token and poured the bone-colored soup with the iron ladle that looked as old as her. "Drink it in one gulp."


Wang Yang took the bowl from the harmless looking granny, contrary to his expectations, the steaming soup didn't warm up the bowl. However, he didn't dwell on the matter and brought the bowl to his mouth, and felt a sting on his nose. Rather than hot, the soup appeared like liquid ice.


The lips came in contact with the chilling soup first. His tongue felt numb, and the freezing liquid slid down his tingling throat like mud. Wang Yang felt the extreme cold building up in his stomach, even if cold it spread like a fire encroaching his body. The chill that started deep in his abdomen reached the tips of his fingers, but that wasn't all.


What's happening? This… Wang Yang stumbled as a pain ran across his chest, his heart drummed in his ears and his legs felt like grass.


"Lord Wang!" Qiu tried to help when she saw his shortness of breath and prevented him from falling.


He's burning up. This is bad… Qiu felt the heat rising from his body in the form of evaporated sweat. His body temperature rose to a dangerous level.


"What happened? Did he fail?"


"He's still conscious. His body is fighting against the poison."


"Poison? The soup has poison?!"


"Of course it has poison, you idiot, it's to check the potency of your Spiritual root so it is harmless overall."


"He's holding out well…"


The murmurs grew as Xu Qiang and the other three gathered around to check on Wang Yang's condition. However, among the voices of curiosity, a person full of malice appeared.


"Seriously, falling over for something so basic." A young man with blond hair snickered behind his black fan. The mocking tone caught everyone's attention as much as his pure black uniform with an emblem of clouds.


His arrival started a new wave as he caught people's attention like a lightning rod. He took out a gold token and showed it to Granny Meng.


That's Senior Sister Long's token! Qiu gulped at the sight and soon felt the snake-like eyes locking onto her from the Hall's upper floor. Could it be… did she set everything up?


"May I have a bowl, Granny?" The young man spoke with a respectful bow.


"Here you go." Granny Meng handed the bowl with her wrinkled hand.


"Thank you." With a dashing smile, the young man gulped down the soup in front of the audience and showed no signs of discomfort.


"Nothing's happening to him." The crowd started to whisper again.


"That's Lie Feng, right?" A young woman, attracted by the boy's charm spoke up.


"That genius from Sky Peak that Peak Master Zhao recruited Black Moon City?!" Another exclaimed at the first public appearance of the disciple from the rumors.


"The soup isn't affecting him. Is this real?"


"Wait! Doesn't that mean that he…!"


"Yes, he has the potential to be a Peak Master one day!"


"Don't make any quick judgments, he has to hold out for at least 3 more minutes. But he is already impressive."


The hubbub turned louder as this had now become more than a test for Wang Yang. Li Muchen's new disciple had fallen to his knees, yet Zhao Jun's new disciple didn't, the gossipers were having the time of their lives in the background.


However, Lie Feng did not mind the words and folded his fan to show his grin.


"I expected something from you after hearing about it from Elder Ning Fan, but you're nothing." Lie Feng sighed at the huffing Wang Yang. "The subpar can only gather the subpar, I suppose."


He's not insulting Wang Yang, but also insulting Peak Master Li. These guys… Qiu gulped as the two hostile gazes gathered on her, too. They had been waiting for an opportunity to dig into Peak Master Li, I should've known better that others would target Wang Yang for their agendas. I have to take him away from here at least.


"Hey, bud, you're taking it a bit too far." Xu Qiang's eyes turned sharper.


"I am calling it as I see it." Lie Feng shrugged.


"You…"


"What did… You say?" Wang Yang muttered, but his words reached the target.


"I called you subpar, of course." Lie Feng smirked.


"No… Not that." Wang Yang may be simple minded, but he wasn't that dense.


Xu Qiang was about to step forward, but a voice came from behind him.


"How dare you…" Wang Yang's voice regained its strength, no it had increased several folds, "How Dare You!!"


By the time any of them could react Wang Yang had reached his target. A searing haze distorted the air around him, but his target could still see the unadulterated anger on Wang Yang's face. His hand reached out as if he wanted to claw Lie Feng's face off.


Lie Feng, who had received information that his target's a mellow and simple guy who avoided conflict even when hearing people badmouth him, least expected such a visceral reaction.


Shit! He's too fast! Even though late, he tried to react.


But the hand never reached him. The ladle in Granny Meng's hand struck Wang Yang's neck and clanged on the floor.


"Take him away, he'll be fine after a short rest." The old woman said to Xu Qiang catching Wang Yang before he fell to the floor.


"…Ok." Xu Qiang and their group left the Jade Hall through the parting crowd.


"Thank you for your help, Granny Meng." Lie Feng smiled through the confusion.


"I don't like blood near my stall." She said.


"I wouldn't have gone that far, Granny Meng."


"…I wasn't talking about you." Granny Meng picked up the ladle and walked back.


Foolish kid. The soup in that boy's body evaporated within five seconds. She touched the now-hot ladle she could twist with her hands. Heat high enough to make iron bendable from mere contact.


She opened her eyes for the first time, and the crystal blue pupils turned in Plum Peak's direction.


"Xiao Muchen, what have you taken in?"


...

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When Wang Yang returned to the Plum Peak with the help of Xu Qiang, he climbed up the stairs in a daze. His body still refused to calm down, and when he passed through the gate of the estate, someone even more volatile awaited him.


"Go on, let's hear it." The air around Hua Mei scattered turned hazy as her qi poured down on Wang Yang.


"What happened?" Sun Lingling arrived after sensing the sudden spike of power.


"Your junior disciple fell into Lie Feng's schemes and became the butt of a joke." Hua Mei gritted her teeth. "I told you to be careful, and you gave them a bigger chance to disrespect Uncle. Granny Meng's test is one thing, you should've at least flattened his nose if you were going for the punch!"


Still half lost, Lingling could only guess what happened outside. And, the increasing pressure from the little, playful girl hinted at a serious issue. However…


"If I wasn't stopped, I would've." For the first time Wang Yang wasn't pushed back, instead his eyes turned red. "You weren't even there, so don't talk down to me!"


He seems too… unstable. Lingling couldn't understand the sudden change.


Wang Yang has never talked that way before when Mei had grilled him during training. She had a bad feeling about this and turned to Hua Mei for an opinion, but stopped.


"Ho? Did getting high on power give you the courage to face me?" Hua Mei scoffed. "Looks like I was going too easy on you."


"Do you think I wasn't wary of hitting a child before?"


"I see, so that's what you have been thinking deep down. Use your sword for the next match, I'll crush you thoroughly." A red Qi enveloped Hua Mei's body, she was through with talking.


Great… Now both of them have lost it. Sun Lingling could only watch as the two arrived at the training area.


Wang Yang showed no signs of backing off and picked up the training sword. But the moment his foot crossed the line into the arena, fire surged. A hiss, then a crackle—his training sword burned to ash in seconds.


"What the hell!" Wang Yang jumped back.


"Use your real sword, not that stick. I'll suppress my cultivation, qi, and physical abilities to your level." Hua Mei struck her acupoints to form a temporary seal.


"You said it." Wang Yang wasted no time and brought out the real sword.


"Senior Hua, this…" Lingling felt the drop in cultivation, but the danger signals that came from Hua Mei still didn't decrease.


"The surge of power has messed with his head. I have to snap him out of it or it will leave a negative impact on his psyche." Mei said much calmer than before.


"How will you do that?"


"Fear." Hua Mei stepped into the practice area and cracked her knuckles.


Sun Lingling realized that Hua Mei wasn't angry over whatever had happened outside. She provoked Wang Yang into this state and had a plan in mind, even if it did sound ominous. However, that's the best they could do since Li Muchen wasn't available.


"Let's set some conditions. I'll lose if you get one hit on me," Hua Mei grinned. "You'll lose only when you admit defeat. Simple, right?"


Sun Lingling didn't think Wang Yang would admit defeat in his current state. However, the odds were against Hua Mei. Her cultivation and qi brought down, even if she had more experience, there was a limit to physical ability with the conditions she had set. If her opponent held out of giving up till she ran out of stamina, he'd win.


"Yeah, it is simple." Wang Yang lunged forward with a thrust aimed right at the girl's chest.


"Your mind has become dull, but your attacks are duller." Hua Mei moved to the left.


"Shut up!" Wang Yang swung his right leg hoping it would connect.


The unstable posture and wide arc gave Hua Mei enough time to duck. With a timed sweep that targeted the standing leg, Hua Mei brought Wang Yang down to the ground. With a foot on the right hand to restrain the sword, she punted his chin with the other. Wang Yang's left hand only struck air as Hua Mei jumped back.


He stood up with the taste of iron on his tongue and a few loose teeth. But that didn't seem enough as he kept dashing forward like a cornered animal. He could've stood a chance if he had thought about his attack plan and conserved his stamina. On the contrary, he kept swinging wantonly and missed his target by a hair's breadth. All while his body received blow after blow from the small tyrannical fists.


What's happening? Why can't I land a hit?


Wang Yang's head felt hazy after an uppercut, but he picked himself up and shook his head to refocus. Hua Mei had stayed out of his range of attack the entire time. If he tried to extend, she'd always slip away and land a counter without missing a beat.


Her sense of distance is on another level. Barehand, even with the height and reach disadvantage, she is untouchable. Sun Lingling kept track of all the movements for further reference, as this wasn't a simple beatdown but an actual lesson in combat.


"Aren't you giving up? Hitting you is getting boring." Hua Mei asked.


"You can only do that because you keep running away." Wang Yang swung his sword.


But this time, Hua Mei didn't back away. She slid under the slash and landed a gut punch that almost folded his body. This brought Wang Yang to his knees and the elbow soon connected to his jaw spraying his blood on the floor with a tooth.


"Do you think I can't hit you if I stay in your range?" She looked at Wang Yang spitting blood and gave him a chance to stand up again. "Range matters when two fighters are on the same level, but that's not the case here."


"Su-Ack!" Wang Yang couldn't even finish his words. A punch landed square on his nose. He stumbled back and tried to regain his balance.


By the time his eyes opened, Hua Mei closed in and swept his legs. This time she didn't even give him time to recover and laid down punches in succession.


"What good is range when you can't attack? Just because you can swing a sword, doesn't mean you know how to use it." Hua Mei didn't let up and weaved through the wild slashes to deliver a beatdown.


She only stopped when Wang Yang had passed out on the floor with a bloody and swollen face.


"Looks like the effect wore off." Wiping the blood off her little hands, she shoved a healing pill in his mouth.


"What happened to him?" Sun Lingling came near to check on the situation.


"A surge of fire qi. It's a problem that happens often in wood-fire type spiritual roots, in this mode their strength increases about 30%, but they become reckless and their anger explodes at the simplest trigger." Hua Mei yawned. "Granny Meng's soup triggered it in him; that's why things escalated."


"Will this become an issue for him?" Sun Lingling asked.


"It can, but we don't know how it's triggered. If he controls it, this will become a tool that allows him to fight opponents on a higher cultivation realm than his own. Right now, his strength was around the 8th layer of Qi refinement, a two-layer jump, even if in the Qi Refinement realm, is impressive." Hua Mei jotted down the information on paper.


"Such an increase… but how will he control it?" Lingling moved Wang Yang to the resting area while thinking over the case.


"I told you before, fear will help to an extent." The little girl stretched her arms and said words that didn't suit her stature or cuteness. "I'll beat him up till he becomes aware that there's someone stronger than him, even in that state of elation. Otherwise, he will rush to his death with no regard."


She is doing this to help him, right? Something about Hua Mei's smile unsettled Sun Lingling.


"If I get a few pots of soup from Granny Meng, heh~." Without Wang Yang knowledge or consent, the little devil of Tiger Peak constructed his brutal training regime.


***


Leading up to the sect-wide trial, Wang Yang found himself in the middle of constant sparring (beating) in the name of training. From morning till evening, Hua Mei made him drink the soup of remembrance to trigger his powered-up stage, then beat him silly till it wore off. If not for the excellent healing pills Li Muchen had given his disciples, he would've been in the medical hall with multiple fractures and missing teeth.


If this happened before, Wang Yang would protest this training but…


"If you want to rub Lie Feng's face in the ground and get back at the elders scheming against Uncle, I'd better not hear a complaint." As Hua Mei asked, he didn't complain, no matter how unreasonable the training seemed.


Through the constant repetition of the process, he could stay somewhat levelheaded in the powered-up state because of the fear built up inside him. He also found out the cause of this state and why his case differed from the usual, thanks to Muchen's research notes Hua Mei dug out from the estate's library.


The cold qi from the soup agitated the fire qi in my body, and it went out of control. When the balance breaks, it causes an effect in my mental state because this happens in the spiritual root. Wang Yang wanted to find a way to induce this without the soup, as of now he could only do it because of Granny Meng's soup.


Hua Mei had tried frost pills, freeze arrays, and even encased him in an ice pillar, but nothing worked aside from the Soup of Remembrance.


"Seriously, kicking me out without dinner in this cold and calling it training." He lit a small bonfire outside the estate's wall on a crisp night that made his every exhale curl like a dragon's breath. "Maybe I should ask Master for some help."


"What help do you need?" The man himself answered his hopes when he returned. Muchen had been away from the estate for a while and only came back for lectures or refilling the pills and food array. So, when found Wang Yang alone outside the estate at night, he couldn't help but check in.


"Ah… well…" The brief excitement that he could find his answer soon dimmed down. With how busy he seemed, Wang Yang didn't want to pile more work on him. And more than that, he couldn't look at him at the moment.


"You want to know how to control the fire qi, right?" Muchen sat on the rock beside him.


"…Y-Yeah." Wang Yang couldn't backtrack, of course his master knew.


"Hmm… Let's see, what do you think is the difference between this fire and this fire?" Muchen conjured a yellowish-red flame in the palm of his hand and placed it near the bonfire for comparison.


"…One is made with qi and the other is normal, I guess?" Wang Yang said.


"That's one of the answers. Now, what would you do if you wanted to increase the strength of this fire?" Muchen pointed at the bonfire


"…Add wood." Wang Yang thought for a moment. "But would that work with the fire made from qi?"


"Why wouldn't it?" Muchen brought the ball of fire in his hand closer to Wang Yang. "How do you think a wood spiritual root type like me lit a fire?"


Wang Yang looked at the fire for a moment. He wasn't dazed, but tried to focus on the phenomenon Muchen wanted to show him. A stream of qi flowed into the fireball from Muchen's palm, but it wasn't fire qi, but plain wood qi. He used the wood qi from his body and ignited it from the fire qi in the air, then sustained it with wood qi like a normal fire.


"Granny Meng's soup finds which heavenly qi (Yin and Yang) the consumer's body has in abundance, then takes the form of the opposite qi. Your body has an abundance of Yang, so the soup turned into pure Yin. The fire qi in your body moved first to suppress it, but it didn't have enough strength. So, it absorbed the wood qi in your body and went out of control. That sudden spike in fire qi causes an imbalance in the spiritual root, and your strength increases at the cost of mental clarity." Muchen extinguished the flame in his hand. "By controlling your wood qi, you control the increase in strength and stay level-headed."


"So… if I manage the wood qi feeding it, I can… control how wild it gets?"


Muchen nodded. "Exactly. Balance the fuel, and the flame won't burn you."


"Are there any more ways like these that can increase my strength?" Wang Yang's eyes sparkled brighter then stars in the sky.


"Of course there are." Muchen smiled.


"Can you teach me those as well?" Wang Yang's excitement burned bright, but…


"Not happening." Muchen poured cold water all over it with a gentle smile.
...

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After days of harsh training, Wang Yang finally felt like he made a leap thanks to Muchen's timely guidance. He expected more since his master has always been generous, but…


"Not happening." Muchen shut him down with a clear smile.


"Why…?" Taken aback, that's all he could ask.


Muchen thought for a moment and looked at the starry sky, his breath visible in the cold moonlight.


"Wang Yang, what are your favorite dishes?" He asked.


"Why suddenly…" Wang Yang felt like his master tried to divert the topic.


"Just answer." But Muchen pushed for it.


"Well… golden fried rice, sesame noodles, braised pork, smoked salmon, that Dim sum, those noodles made to dip in cold broth, and um… anything Master places in the array becomes my favorite." Now that he remembered the fragrant dishes, Wang Yang's stomach cried for missing the dinner and he could almost taste the dishes he named.


"I see, how about I let all those dishes be your dinner?" Muchen asked.


"I mean… I'll definitely be happy, but that'll give me a stomach ache." Wang Yang knew the limit of his stomach very well after overeating a few times.


"Of course it would. You're trying to digest too many dishes at once." Muchen looked at him with a smile again.


"…Oh." This time Wang Yang understood the intent behind it.


Like food, learning about too many techniques at once will stretch him thin. It will not only slow his progress, but also make the techniques he gains subpar.


"You've only taken the first step in your journey. What's the hurry?" Muchen leaned against the wall and stared at the moon.


"Well… I just…" Wang Yang couldn't say it. Even if he knew that the news should've reached Muchen by now. But he couldn't say it himself, at least not before he made a point.


"If it's about defeating Lie Feng and what happened at Jade Hall, you don't have to worry about it." Muchen chuckled. "That's those old fogies being petty, they can't touch me so they are going after my reputation by any means."


"But still… I should've done better." Wang Yang looked at the ground. "No, I'll do better in the trial. Better than others."


Since he learned of how his actions could implicate Muchen, he had tried his hardest not to cause trouble. He wasn't a genius like Sun Lingling who could handle the pressure, he had to walk a tighter rope. And, one slip caused waves of rumors and badmouthing according to Hua Mei. However, Muchen hadn't mentioned it till now.


"Do you think that some rumors will hurt me more than seeing my disciples risking injury?" Muchen asked. "Do you see me as such a person?"


"N-No… it's just…"


Even days after the incident, Li Muchen never asked him about what happened. He never asked him to take accountability or correct his mistakes. Every time he returned, he only asked how much he had progressed in training and studies before leaving him some rewards.


So why was Wang Yang so adamant on defeating Lie Feng? Was it to repay the grace his Master has shown him till now, or was it for his self-satisfaction?


"Wang Yang, I've said multiple times that the only thing I ask of my disciples is that they don't skip on training." Muchen patted Wang Yang's shoulder. "The only thing I want from you is to do the best you can in any situation, even if the best you can do is run away. I'd rather have that than to bury you with my hands."


"……Understood." Wang Yang felt the urgency in his words.


He couldn't refute good advice, as death's blade was sharpest when one became reckless. And, he didn't have the heart to talk back to a master who had his best interest in mind. However, deep in his heart, he still wanted to get back at the people who targeted his master. He wanted to teach them a lesson, while still following what Muchen said.


That backfired, didn't it? Muchen could see the determination dripping off Wang Yang's face.


"If you want to defeat Lie Feng, I won't stop you as long as you don't do anything reckless." Muchen could only smile and go with the flow.


"Really?" Wang Yang clenched his hands.


"Do what you want, but with caution. I'll handle the elders behind him." Muchen stood up and pointed towards the estate. "Let's go in, I'll cook dinner for you."


"Haha, thanks, master!" Wang Yang stomped the fire and followed Muchen inside, but something weighed on his mind. "Master, your hand was colder than usual today."


Muchen stopped in his tracks and turned back. His eyes looked straight into the curious, inquisitive gaze of his young disciple.


"Must be because this winter is colder than usual." Muchen smiled.


"That's true, if these uniforms didn't have that warming array, I would've gotten a cold when Hua Mei threw me in the frozen lake." Wang Yang shuddered.


"That would've been a problem. Should I make some chicken soup for you?" Muchen led him back inside.


"Yeah, I'll really like that."


He is sharper than most, but still naïve. It'll take time for him to get used to the cultivator society. Until then, my job is to protect him from schemes and teach him how to get out of them. However, the smiling Wang Yang wasn't aware of the thought in Muchen's head.


"I've let those guys run around for too long to not unsettle the sect affairs." He muttered in the cold wind before entering the estate.


No one knew that a new wind would blow through the Azure Sky Sect after the coming trial.


***


Two days passed by and the day of sect-wide trial came. The location of the trial to select disciples for the Eastern Martial Meet took place in the eastern side of the inner sect. The location, Heaven Rending Valley.


Although called a valley, a major part of this place was a closed system of caves sealed off from the world. However, the valley, known as the outer area, had a size comparable to a province. To access the valley area of this place, known as the outer area, everyone went through the Tiger Peak.


The Xu group, alongside Wang Yang, were on their way to the gathering location. The sun had risen an hour before and things were great before they passed through the East gate of Tiger Peak. The sudden spike in heat in the middle of winter made them sweat and take off the extra layers. The dust kicked up by the hundreds of disciples walking down the arid earth had most of them covering their mouths and noses.


"I heard that there are multiple Qi beast kings locked up in the cave system." Huajun felt fear creep up, even if he only mentioned it.


"Not only Qi Beast kings, but thousands of strong qi beasts spawn in the depths of Heaven Rending valley every year." Haomu learned of this recently.


"How do they even contain that many beasts in one place?" Yesu trembled.


One Qi Beast king could rally thousands of beasts, and it'd take a few mid-sized sects to suppress them. If three or more beasts appear, a major sect would have to move before the beasts wipe out a country.


What would numerous Qi Beast Kings do when gathered? And, all of them were much closer than anyone thought.


"They are all sealed inside the deeper parts of Heaven Rending Valley thanks to our Sect Master and Grand Elder's combined formation. And, the Peak Masters and Elders lead teams of elite disciples to thin out the numbers every six months. Other major sects also participate from time to time. I want to join the Flaming Tiger squad our Peak Master leads, they kill the most Qi beasts out of all the squads." Xu Qiang added with much excitement.


"Our Sect leader has kept this place sealed for centuries while working with other major sects. After recruiting the first disciples from all over the continent, the Sect Leader established the Azure Sky Sect to form a tight fortress around this place." Haomu's eyes also sparkled with pride.


They are both Sect fanatics. The rest thought as the two agreed on something for the first time since they met.


"What do you think, Brother? Wanna join the Flaming Tiger Squad with me? They have trials every year in the month of the Tiger. The competition is super tough, though." Xu Qiang wrapped his hand around Wang Yang's shoulder.


"I'll think about that, but before that…" Wang Yang scratched his face and pointed at the crowd behind them, and Sun Lingling stood in the middle of that encirclement. "Why aren't we going with Senior Sun?"


He had left Plum Peak with her, then met Xu Qiang and others at the entrance of Tiger Peak. He thought they'd go to the gathering area together, however, the passing-by disciples started to circle around Sun Lingling. As the curious crowd thickened, they drifted apart.


"Ah…" Huajun had a wry smile.


"I mean…" Haomu and Yesu looked away, their ears red.


None of them had been able to look Lingling in the eye since they met her, it almost made them thank the heavens that Wang Yang was so approachable. A girl their age had a suffocating pressure that they only felt from elders at Tiger Peak. They couldn't wrap their heads around it.


"If we go in now, we'll get lynched." Xu Qiang said with a laugh.


"I don't think the disciples would go that far." Wang Yang tilted his head.


"I am not talking about the disciples." Xu Qiang gestured towards Sun Lingling's face with his chin, and one look showed anyone the real danger.


"Senior looks real pissed today……" Wang Yang could see the subtle rise of sharpness in Sun Lingling's eyes.


Other disciples felt it too. The If you get too close, I'll cut you down energy. That's why they stayed about a few meters away from her and didn't slow down their pace in fear of stopping her.


"Well, I understand their enthusiasm. This is the first time she has made an appearance since the selection ceremony. With that much progress, it's not inner disciples alone, I am sure the core disciples and elders of each peak are keeping an eye on her too." Xu Qiang smiled, his blood boiling to have a match with Sun Lingling.


"Of course, they are." A sharp jeer came from the left, and the crowd parted. "Unlike this fool here, she is a genuine genius with heaven's favor."


"Lie Feng…" Wang Yang could recognize that voice even in the current hubbub.


"Hello, Mr. Subpar." Lie Feng closed the fan to show off his smile. The young man captivated the attention of the female disciples nearby without even trying.


"What do you want again?" Xu Qiang wasn't amused.


"Calm your horses, big guy. I am not here for this idiot. I only came near you peasants to take a closer look at the real gem. And, I have to say…" Lie Feng glanced in Sun Lingling's direction, "She is beyond what I expected. A marvelous existence."


"What's with those cringy ass lines? Don't you feel embarrassed?" Xu Qiang scoffed.


"Why would I be embarrassed while praising true beauty? If anything, it is my privilege." He unraveled his black fan, the word Heaven etched on it with gold. "A privilege granted to me by heaven~!"


"I thought he had a few screws loose, but the entire top floor is gone here," Haomu muttered.


"Now now…" Huajun tried his best to keep the conflict from escalating.


The commotion drew more attention from nearby disciples. Under the eyes of many, the rumors from before stirred up again with both Wang Yang and Lie Feng present. Adding Sun Lingling's presence seemed to have sparked it even more than before.


"There's such a big difference between the two, no?"


"I can't understand how they are junior and senior who started at the same time."


"Why would Peak Master Li even choose him, because of him… ugh!"


The whispers seemed to grow louder. But Wang Yang paid no attention to them. Instead, he approached Lie Feng. His eyes had no doubt, and with each step filled with confidence.


"What? You want to try punching me again?" Lie Feng's lips formed a slanting, mocking smile.


Everyone expected a showdown. But, what Wang Yang did next shocked them all.


"I am sorry." Wang Yang bowed his head. "I wasn't in my right mind at the time and tried to attack you."


Wang Yang wasn't the type to talk with his fists. If it wasn't for the surge of fire qi that day, he wouldn't have attacked. He would've asked for a sincere apology for insulting his Master and proved him wrong in other ways, but he wouldn't react with violence at the very least.


"Hahahaha." Lie Feng found the situation hilarious. "So, you finally know what you did wrong? Fine. I am generous, so I'll forgive you."


"Thank you." Wang Yang smiled, but took a step closer and continued. "But I haven't forgiven you for insulting my Master."


"W-What?" This caught everyone off guard, including Lie Feng.


Wang Yang wasn't a violent person. He had a forgiving nature and tried to find the good in everything. But, no matter how young and naïve Wang Yang was, he would never let go of the people who attacked people important to him.


"I will defeat you in this trial and make you take your words back." Wang Yang declared and returned to his friends.


"Haha, that's my brother!"


Xu Qiang smiled ear to ear and Wang Yang received a nod from Sun Lingling. With his determination high in the sky Wang Yang entered the gathering area.


The stage to prove himself awaited Wang Yang under the curious gaze of the entire sect.
...

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The gathering area at the mouth of the Heaven Rending valley rarely saw this much foot traffic. However, the desolate area didn't change much even with the wave of heads. The sudden gusts of wind kicked up the fine, discolored soil. Even in winter, the sun above the valley made them all sweat. Surrounded by deteriorated rocky hills, their wait wasn't long. Mist rose from the mouth of the valley and formed a curtain. Color blended in, and soon a figure appeared. Clad in white robes, long hair deep black as a moonless night, and deep charismatic eyes, Li Muchen brought the mic closer to his moist lips.


"Welcome, you diamonds-in-the-rough." His smile had both dignity and softness. "Today is the day you can prove your true worth as warriors and open doors to wider stages to leave your mark on."


Loud cheers erupted. Not only from the hundreds of disciples there to participate, even the one who came to watch the show from outer sect shouted at the top of their lungs. Especially the women.


The reason?


"Today's trial is simple. You have seven days to roam the outer area of Heaven Rending Valley and search for the hidden treasures. They are valuable items, techniques, pills, and precious resources like rare herbs. The generous seniors of our sect had provided enough to develop and strengthen you kids. Anything you find will belong to you, and you will be free to sell or use it for yourself with the sect's support." Once Muchen began explaining the trial, the squealing vanished and everyone clung onto his every word with bated breath. "The more precious your find, the higher your rank. Aside from navigating, you will also have to face Qi beasts. But your reliable senior disciples will be watching over you. So, if you target your fellow disciples with ill intent, you'll be disqualified."


Peach Peak Master Huang, Grand Elder Li, and Chrysanthemum Peak Master Chen Zhipeng appeared on the curtain. Behind them were several elders who held high positions in the seven peaks.


"We are watching and rooting for you. There are two routes, quality or quantity, you are free to choose your methods." Muchen's speech came near its end, so he moved on to the rewards they had prepared.


"I wasn't able to provide any treasures for the hunt itself, I will reward the first ten disciples with pills and items I created in preparation for the Eastern Martial Meet. And, the next twenty will receive a bottle of 8th-tier Earth grade recovery pills. So, give it your all and don't look back." The curtain dissolved, and the air grew thick with excitement.


However, more than the young men who eyed the treasures and position of fame, the true excitement came from the female demographic. The guys could see the red eyes and leering smiles of the women around them. They seemed crazed, insane even.


"Man, Peak Master Li has a lot of fangirls…" Haomu covered his ears so the screeching of the nearby female disciples didn't rupture his eardrums.


"I am scared." Yesu hid behind Xu Qiang.


"Whatever, we just have to win." Xu Qiang smirked.


The senior disciples from Lotus Peak opened an entrance in the formation covering the valley.


"Yeah, we have to place first." Wang Yang held onto the handle of his sword and stepped forward.


The disciples could enter the trial in two ways. First, alone like Sun Lingling, or in groups like Wang Yang.


With Xu Qiang, Haomu, Huajin, Yesu, and himself, Wang Yang became determined to place first. The team wore identical red badges with the number 7 on their chest and stepped onto the circular formation prepared by an elder from Lotus Peak.


"If any of you feel nauseous after this, give it a second and it'll go away." The elder with a white beard spoke with an amiable tone. "Now, only open your eyes when you feel the earth below your feet."


They stood on the transfer formation. The sect prepared this to spread the disciples across the valley using the existing formation of Li Xianquan. The badges on the disciples worked as markers, using that they could all stick together in the transfer and keep track of the disciples.


How does this formation work? I'll ask Master when I come back.


With his eyes closed, the land underneath his feet disappeared. He felt the floating sensation for a moment, like a bird that opened its wings for the first time. It seemed like an eternity had passed with surges of qi circling him like fireflies. Even in the darkness behind his closed eyelids, Wang Yang could see the colorful streaks of qi like shooting stars across the night. And, this pure white streak in particular caught his attention because it headed towards him. He extended his hand on impulse, but before that streak collided with him, he felt the ground again.


"Where is this?" Wang Yang found more darkness after opening his eyes. "Brother Xu? Haomu, you there?"


His voice seemed to echo on in the darkness. The humid, stagnant air assaulted his nose and mouth. He took out a lamp to secure light and fought the urge to vomit. With the light, he noticed the layer of water running down the jagged edges of the cave wall. The water came up to his ankles and flowed down to his right, where endless darkness mingled with eerie silence.


"There's no one around…" Wang Yang gulped.


No matter where he turned, only darkness greeted him. But he calmed himself. His Master had prepared him for situations like these. He tied a cloth around his nose and mouth. With a deep breath, he spread his Qi to get an idea of the space around him with his sword unsheathed. The cave wasn't as wide as he had expected, but it had a high ceiling. And, stuck to that ceiling were beasts. A lot of them.


This half meter black beasts hung upside down from the ceiling. His Qi alerted it and a set of red eyes opened up. Then, like a wave many eyes appeared behind the first two. All eyes landed on the sole source of light present in the cave like vultures.


Sonic bats. Wang Yang stepped back.


Sonic bats weren't strong individuals, each only had the realm of the 5th layer of Qi refining realm. But, in a group, they could hunt beyond their realms. In darkness where they could see, their danger level rose by another level. They didn't mind sacrifices and would tear into anything, even their dead brethren, for food.


—Kieeeeekkkkk!


With the echoing screech, the hundred or so bats took off. Waves of air from their flapping wings rustled through the cave. If Wang Yang hadn't cut off his hearing with Qi, he would get hit by the sound bombardment released in the combined screech. With ruptured eardrums and destroyed balance, he would've become an easier target.


I can't let them surround me. Wang Yang cut down the first bat clean and ran back.


The sharp claws attached to the thin wings and the clattering teeth followed him like a shadow.


The bats kept track of him with the splashes of water and light from the lamp, but he couldn't discard them. He couldn't see well in this darkness. Even if he did discard the lamp, the bats would still find him with their hearing and eyes. He could only run and fight. But his stamina had limits. He couldn't fight for too long, the bats would surround him.


The damp cave also limited his options for attack. He couldn't use fire in a cave with the danger of it caving in. He hadn't trained enough with water to control it. And while he had good attainments in martial arts and sword arts, those had their limits in the face of this bat mob.


The number that started at a hundred bats had grown several times over because of his noisy retreat. If it continued, Wang Yang would have no way out. The numbers would continue to increase till he runs out of gas and gives up.


I can't contact anyone. What happened to the disciple token? Wang Yang sweated as his hope for help didn't show any promise. Think, Think… What can I do to survive till they come looking for me? Everything that Master taught me… everything… use everything.


Since something went wrong with the transfer, his master should be on the way to save him. If he could bide his time. He would be ok. With a deep breath, Wang Yang looked through his storage ring. His master had emphasized multiple times to prepare for every situation. And, now he felt glad listening through hours of those lectures.


He spun on his heel and threw two balls at the wave of bats, one grey and one white.


The grey ball, wrapped in silk cloth, exploded with an ear-piercing bang that shook the cave. The sound assaulted the ears of the sound-sensitive bats. They screeched in pain. The damaged ears bled and their senses went haywire.


But the crashing bats had more to worry about. The white linen ball spread a white powder upon explosion. The wild flapping of the bats spread this powder all over the place. That's when their true problem began.


With the hearing gone, they could only rely on their qi sense to find their target. However, the white powder, a special by product left behind while making qi dispersing pills, limited their senses to only a meter around them. The bats went crazy. Crashing into the cave and each other in a heated frenzy. With their direction destroyed and no ways of finding their target, they flapped around in the white cloud and attracted nearby bats.


From that white cloud, Wang Yang appeared in a black cloak with a low hood. With a bloody sword in one hand, he had killed as many as he could. Touching the cave wall with his left hand, he inched forward with closed eyes. He stored the lamp and gathered qi at the soles of his feet to stay above water. With the presence-concealing cloak his master gave him after their first journey outside, he didn't have to worry about the bats locating him. That brought him to the next agenda.


Slow… and precise. I have to find a shelter and wait for rescue. Wang Yang couldn't move fast on the water's surface. Walking on water with Qi manipulation took precise control. He couldn't train the technique enough because of Hua Mei. But he took his baby steps to the ideal situation.


Wang Yang found a small crack in the wall. There weren't any beasts crawling in this little crack. It only had a small pool of clean water. He checked the fifty-meter-wide clearing with extreme caution and only breathed easy when he found nothing wrong.


He had found the ideal shelter and went straight to work. With a camouflage formation etched on a silk cloth beforehand, he hid the crack. Then he checked the water with a tool his master had him carry. After he filled half a glass cup with the water and dropped in a pill the size of his pinky nail. The pill dissolved in an instant, then the water bubbled changing color. This lasted only a moment, the water settled after turning green.


Green means drinkable, after boiling. Wang Yang checked his notes and nodded in satisfaction.


With a tool that used spiritual stones, he could boil the water without fire. His ring had food for two weeks and enough supplies to give the bats a slip if needed. With a sigh, he leaned against the wall, wishing his master would arrive soon.


But no one arrived, and two months had passed by. At least according to lines on the wall behind him.


Wang Yang sat by the wall with the rumbling of his stomach. His food ran out, even after he started to minimize intake after the first week. If it wasn't for the food pills he had for emergencies, he would've died of hunger. And, even those would run low in a few more days. At least the water would last him another month. But he didn't know if he could survive that long. His reflection showed cheeks had started to sink in and dark circles. In a beast-filled cavern with little to no sleep, his health would've plummeted more if he didn't have healing pills. But all he could do was think over and over in his mind, with no one around.


Why did Master not arrive?


Could he not find me?


Was I… abandoned?


No… don't think about that. Wang Yang took a deep breath in and started to meditate. Being alone started to mess with his psyche. That's all he had done since coming to the small hideout. Even though he had progressed a level and reached the 7th layer of Qi refinement, he couldn't feel the joy in his heart as his progress started to come to a standstill.


Water from the ceiling again. Maybe the water will increase more this time. Wang Yang thought as a few more drops fell on his hood.


But his expression stiffened when the drop landed on his hand. It wasn't water. Slimy, pungent enough to make him cough, but he held it in. In the past two months, Wang Yang had practiced gathering qi in his eyes to get accustomed with the dark.


He gathered his resolve and looked at the ceiling with his racing heart. Eight green eyes stared at him, each the size of his head. This beast that ate through the cave wall had eight long, hairy legs that kept it stuck to the ceiling. It had a humungous body that could crush Wang Yang like an ant. And, the mouth looked like a creature out of a nightmare. Sharp, claw-like lips with slobbering saliva and sharp teeth inside.


I have the cloak on, it shouldn't be able to see me. Wang Yang tried to reassure himself in front of the unmoving spider like beast.


—Aiiek!!


However, the beast's screech shook the cave. It jumped down, carving a crater in the cave's floor. The cloak provided more than stealth. It also had a function to estimate the strength of its user's target. And, the estimated strength of the beast before him was, Peak of Foundation Establishment Realm.


A death sentence.
....
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