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

[Overload69]

A few minutes later, Fu Yuzhe left the estate, he wasn't allowed to his sister because he was using the excuse of being on a mission. But he stepped out of the village finding solace in looking at his sister's Life medallion.


"I didn't have much expectations of him, but he surprised me. Desperation always makes people do more than they could normally." Gu Changge reeled in his Qi sense as Yuzhe ran down a path leading to the nearby Jizu Province, his eyes however went to Li Ling. She stood there watching the door to this room that Yuzhe had walked out of, her eyes were downcast filled with a surge of emotions.


"Are you sad that he didn't greet you?" Changge sneaked up on her, his hand snaking around her thin waist in a swift motion. "Should I help you deal with your broken heart?"


"…I-I apologize Master, but please……" Li Ling's voice shook yet she couldn't move, the only objection was her weak words that were akin to a paper wall.


"Don't make it look like I am forcing myself on you, people will get the wrong idea. I am simply concerned about my precious little subordinate, don't you understand?" Changge smiled moving back.


"…I do not deserve your concern, Master. I'll go and tend to the needs of Miss Fu." Li Ling slipped away from the room.


"Tsk Tsk, so stubborn." Changge's words turned sour as he took a seat in the family head chair, but the dissatisfaction was only momentary. "It is always more satisfying when there is resistance."


A few hours later, a pigeon-like bird with colorful feathers and a crooked beak rushed into the room from the door, with a single flap of its wings it appeared on the table near Gu Changge. Opening its beak it spat out a scroll two fists long, one would question how it fit into the bird's small body, but he opened the clean scroll without batting an eye.


Inside the words listed the mundane tasks of a tailor, from finding new fabrics brought in by the Western Continent's merchant to taking measurements of the local customers and the process of making dresses for weddings and everyday wear. To anyone else, it would've been a simple letter written to the person's close friend who lived in another country, but not to Gu Changge. His eyes went to the vertical lines used in writing the date, in a moment he gathered the first letter of each word from the start to the end before arranging them backward on a new paper, making a new line every twelve letters.


The sky is much calmer.


Leave the pruning to others.


Be hasty with acquiring the Plum seedling.


The time to replant is near.


He stared at the lines with a solemn look, it was an ultimatum for him. He had succeeded in creating discourse between three of the four major sects, but it wasn't as big as he had hoped. Because of that, he couldn't acquire one of the key goals of the mission. No matter how sudden the request was, the fact that he failed remained.


"Those bastards chose a good time to come out of their fucking caves." The hatred in his heart had yet to be settled, and it only grew with each moment. However, he knew exacting it wasn't possible now, the task would have to go to someone else as he faced the two unknowns.


Without wasting a moment, he pulled out a scroll and brush from his storage ring, with quick and neat characters he formed a letter and attached a portrait to it. Soon, the letter addressed to Metal Fiend came to completion.


"Don't let me down, you bastard." Changge muttered feeding the scroll to the bird before it flapped away.


"I suppose I'll have no choice but to share my prey this time. Well, it is not like that sect will disappear overnight." His eyes were fixed on the bigger prey, the ever-elusive Li Muchen and the hermit Bian Que, but the most important of them all was the girl.


The portrait was of a young girl with green eyes and black hair, her beauty was above average but the resoluteness in her eyes would draw anyone in. Her name was etched on the back.


"Wu Kexin, I hope you don't struggle too much, or it will be a drag." He still had to confirm a lot of information and gather more. "It is so much fun seeing them scrambling about, but it doesn't matter, after all, they are still dancing to someone else's beat."


***


"Woah! We are so high up!" The cool wind carried Wang Yang's enthusiastic cry around the wooden deck.


He stood near the wooden railing on the ship racing across the rare clear sky enjoying the fresh breeze, passing by flocks of birds and mountains below. His high energy hadn't died down since we left the Sect this morning, and it attracted attention on a moderately crowded tea shop nearby.


"Be quiet you idiot." Once again, Wu Kexin dragged him back to the seating area meant for enjoying the view.


Many on board seemed to have a lot to say, rich merchants, delegates from other sects, scions of wealthy families, and traveling disciples of numerous sects. However, the Plum flower on Wang Yang's white robes made them stay in their places, even the staff didn't say anything even when it isn't allowed to stand too close to the railings. The reason was simple, even if they haven't met me face to face, anyone traveling to Azure Sky Sect knows of my peak's symbol.


"He's lively, isn't he?" I spoke to Sun Lingling, she had returned from the cultivation room on the ship.


"Yes." Her face looked solemn as she stood next to my seat, she didn't bother with what others did anyway.


Wu Kexin had also arrived a few moments ago when she found out that Wang Yang was up to his usual antics again. As she dragged him close, his wincing face changed into shock upon seeing me.


"Ah, Master and Senior Sister Sun too?" Wang Yang's gaze alternated between us, trying to understand the situation and when we arrived.


"Did you forget about the meeting at noon?" I asked.


"…N-No." He looked away.


Deep creases formed on Kexin's forehead making Wang Yang sweat, however, he was like that. With how fascinated he became with the Pheonix Boat, it was natural he'd forget about things and run around the place, it had happened even when he had aged and matured so it was not new to me.


"Pay it no mind, it was for a simple chat." Wu Kexin had got him before the appointed time anyway. "Now then, take a seat you three, order whatever you like."


Lingling took the cushioned seat adjacent to me without a word, Kexin and Yang sat on the opposite seats. Since boarding the ship from the Northern Gate of the Outer City, I have let them do what they wanted but I knew their curiosity was growing by the second as they didn't order anything, they knew nothing about the trip, not even the destination. Lingling and Kexin weren't the types to ask, while Yang was too busy exploring until now.


"Master, it is true that we are going to the Purple Cloud Sect's Territory?" Wang Yang must've heard the destination of this ship while walking around the place.


"Not quite, our destination is the neutral Tie province beside the Huang Province under Purple Cloud's territory." This ship was a designated vessel that only moved from our sect to Huang City bearing goods and people, the Pheonix boats moved from sect to sect but because of the tensions between the two rival sects, this arrangement was made long ago to prevent conflicts.


Wang Yang and Sun Lingling looked at me with clear confusion, for the latter it was understandable as she wasn't from this continent. Wang Yang, however, should've known this. I suppose I'll have to increase his study time from now on.


"The province that once produced the largest amount of iron ore on the continent, we are going to that Tie Province, Master?" Wu Kexin asked. She had loosened up a lot compared to before, but in front of everyone still maintained the usual courtesy.


"Yes, we are going there to investigate a fable passed down in a remote mountainside village." I said.


"To investigate a fable?" Wang Yang tilted his head.


"What is the fable about?" For the first time, Sun Lingling looked attentive, waiting for the information. Fables among mortals were always loosely connected with cultivators or valuable places full of treasures, so many sought after them.


"It is about an orphan boy who lived in a tea farming village with his sickly younger sister, it is known as the fable of Heaven's Pond in that province." The Heaven's Pond was the reason we were going there.


"The fable starts with the strong-than-average boy working in the fields witnessing the deteriorating health of his sister since childhood, after checking with the village doctors multiple times it is revealed that she had an incurable constitutional condition. Her body was failing to contain her vital life force which resulted in a constant state of weakness which only grew, and that would eventually lead to death." They listened with alert ears.


"There wasn't a way to cure his sister at that time and the doctor told the boy to count her days, but the kid had grown up hearing of the Heaven's Pond at the summit of the highest peak behind his village, a peak that reached the clouds. It was said that if someone could bath in its water, they would live for two hundred years and no disease would ever affect them." At my words, Wang Yang's eyes lit up.


"Is there such a place?"


Fascination would be the right word, after all this boy always enjoyed stories, just not in written form.


"We are going there to confirm that ourselves." I said.


"What happened next? Did the Boy stop?" Kexin was invested too, I did hear about her enjoying fables of old and such, so I decided to continue.


"No, he didn't. Despite many warnings, he tried to climb the peak himself, using the side of a waterfall he climbed his way up the tangled brown vines and slippery solid rocks to reach the top. Failing multiple times and breaking his arms and legs from the falls that landed him in the water, despite the pain and disapproval he continued for the next few years." It was an admirable effort for anyone, this was a mortal trying everything he could to save his family despite the low chances. "Then after two years, his sister's health deteriorated further. Seeing that he made up his mind, although a storm had hit and the waterfall's current was much stronger than normal, he started his climb."


The people around him called him foolish, to them it was like he was wasting his life away for a legend that no one believed. But that boy believed it, if his sister could live a healthy life because of it, he would believe anything.


"A climb that lasted for two days, struck by lightning twice he almost fell from the top. Despite that, he reached the top with one broken arm, and there he saw the pond. Unlike the dark clouds he saw while climbing up, the hope from the shimmering pond was blinding, when he filled his sheepskin and bamboo pot, the water from the pond splashed on his broken arm healing it on the spot. Elated he doused himself with the water, and all his injuries and tiredness vanished like fog, then he started his descent as the storm passed, revealing the clear morning sky." I stopped there for a moment, wondering if I should continue the story.


"…Did he save his sister?" Sun Lingling asked, her voice low but her eyes seemed eager to know.


"Do you really want to hear the rest?" I asked.


"Of course, Master. You can't leave the ending, that's the most important part!" Wang Yang's enthusiasm was palpable, so much so that he had stood up from his chair which slid backward. Even Kexin was too deep to chide him.


I suppose this would be a good lesson for them, so holding it off wouldn't be good either.


"About his sister, she died alone in their hut on the first day, the villagers buried her the next day."


Not only did the boy fail to save his sister, he wasn't there for her in the last years of her life, not even her last moments, and he couldn't even see her burial.


Even after he had succeeded, such an end welcomed him home.


...


We have now caught up with Royalroad so the uploads will follow the pattern of M/W/F from this week on.


Hope you are enjoying the chapters.


If you have anything to say about the novel or have questions, put them in the comments.


That is all, bye bye.

 

[Overload69]

Along with the solemn mood created by the ending of the story, we arrived at landing site on the outskirts of Huang City the next day. A few hours before sunrise, every passenger on the ship aside from us made their way towards the city gate nearby. Sun Lingling and Wu Kexin climbed on the second flying sword as Wang Yang stood with me on the first, on those we went towards the western border of Huang Province beyond which our destination awaited.


"Are we there yet?" Wang Yang asked as we landed on a dirt road leading through several farms on the slope, forming a set of green stairs alongside the mountain with a gentle slope.


"The village is before us, if we ask a local it will give us a definite location." I said.


It wasn't like I didn't know of the location, but the reason for contacting the villagers was for something else. A village such as this whose only contact with the outside world was through peddlers was a close-knit community where everyone knew everyone. If one person knew of our arrival, the entire village would, and anyone else who may visit later.


The first rays of sunlight had only reached the ground, yet smoke could be seen rising from the small wooden houses near the farms. Near the house closest to us, a middle-aged woman with a young baby girl tied to her back with a cloth blew air into the mud stove outside of her wooden house to kindle the flames.


By the time Wu Kexin and Sun Lingling noticed the woman, Wang Yang had already reached her.


"Big sister, can I ask you a question?" His voice stayed low enough so that the sleeping baby wouldn't stir awake, he even stepped on a few twigs on the way to make sure she noticed him before he spoke up.


It was because of this consideration that the woman didn't react much, even after noticing his expensive clothes. The relaxed air about him had always helped him in such areas, if Sun Lingling went and did it the same, the result would be a lot different.


"Big Sister? Just call me aunt kid, I have a son your age." The woman tried to hide it, but her wide smile showed an improved mood. "You said you wanted to ask a question, right? Go on, this aunt will help you."


"Thank you, I was looking for the tallest peak around here, you know the one with the Heaven's Pond." Enthusiasm filled Wang Yang's voice.


However, the response wasn't quite what he was looking for.


"Heaven's Pond? That's the first I've heard of that."


Of course, this was expected, words passed through generations would often be forgotten with time and such was the case with the story of Heaven's Pond too. Before regression I had only heard of this place first through a thousand-year-old cultivator who recounted the adventures of her youth, and how this became the only failure in her treasure-hunting journey.


Thankfully, Wang Yang's efforts weren't in vain.


"But I can tell you about the tallest peak around here. It is a few li to the east of the village, if you take the trail from the foot of this mountain and follow it through the cinder wood forest, you reach it in about an hour after passing by the Koi pond." She said with a smile.


Wang Yang returned after giving his thanks once again and our journey to the destination started, flying around the dull brown trunks we arrived at the foot of a tall peak. In the story this peak was said to be reaching the clouds, however the reality was much different.


"It isn't that tall… there isn't even a waterfall, is this really the right place?" Kexin muttered.


"That waterfall dried up thirteen hundred years ago, and an angry cultivator broke the peak in anger after failing to secure the treasure, seventy percent of the peaks and mountain ranges in the whole province came from that." I said.


"Failed? No, if they destroyed the peak, wouldn't the heaven's pond which was at the top also be destroyed?" Sun Lingling's curious eyes turned towards me.


"Master, don't keep us in suspense… no wait…" Wang Yang still looked a bit traumatized by the ending of the previous story.


If I said that I only brought them this far, filled them with excitement along with the promise of a mystical site only to tell them at the doorstep that it didn't exist at all, it would be a hell of a prank.


Although their crestfallen expressions would certainly make a hilarious sight, but that isn't my intention. Walking around the foot of the peak I beckoned them to follow me.


"After the story of the Heaven's Pond caught wind two thousand years ago, many cultivators rushed in, be they stray or the sect affiliated. Among them, many climbed to the top of the mountain with ease with their strength alone." Their eyes had a dubious look in them, after all the timeframe seemed a little too far back but that was exactly why it had become like this. "The Heaven's Pond was nowhere to be found, only a few persistently continued for the next few hundred years till only one person remained, and after finding no progress that cultivator broke the peak to vent for her wasted years."


"So, does the Heaven's Pond still exist?" Lingling asked. Unlike the other two who took the information in, her eyes were set on the prize, such was her conviction and trust.


"Of course, it does, before passing away Iron Body Deity moved the Heaven's pond to a cave at the foot of the peak."


"Why would he do that?" Wang Yang had forgotten about his fears in the face of the interesting question.


"It was because he didn't want someone else to go through the same pain he did." The answer made their eyes wide, what did the Iron Body deity go through?


He defied all odds for the sake of his sister, yet still failed because it took too much time. But instead of being resentful, he brought Heaven's Pond to the ground so others wouldn't lose the precious time and would save the ones important to them.


Unlike Wang Yang and Wu Kexin who seemed touched by the actions of a long-dead senior, Lingling raised an eyebrow at the information.


"Then how come no one found it?"


"The annals of time can bury even Gods, what is pond to it?" We came to a halt in front of a straight slop of the peak with vibrant moss growing along the rocks going halfway up with a few trees peaking out. "The main reason was that Iron Body deity passed away before he could disclose the new location of the pond, since then no one had found it."


"Then how did Master…" Lingling stopped as my fingers sunk into the solid rock, numerous cracks ran along the side of the peak as I pulled away a boulder the size of a carriage.


"You can say that I was lucky to find it through someone, however, they can't use it so we will." They cannot use it because three years remain before they unearth this treasure.


"May the heavens bless them." Wang Yang's eyes shone as pieces of broken rock started to pile up before my feet.


"Master, why are you smiling?" Kexin asked, her eyes had a glint of seriousness.


"I am simply feeling elated for getting an opportunity such as this from them."


She narrowed her eyes at my answer but soon nodded.


Though, I do wonder what would happen if Heavens did bless the demonic cultivators. They are already enough of a problem as is, however I know one thing. I've taken this blessing of theirs, I need to stunt their growth before they sow more seeds of chaos on this continent.


With this pond in their hand, they had pumped out hundreds of high-quality soldiers to aid their plans. Destroying this stronghold of theirs came with a hefty sacrifice, it was a price too high for both me and the Purple Cloud Sect.


Breaking away into the mountain piece by piece have way to a descending tunnel two meters wide and four meter tall. At my order, the disciples laid down the elementary formations that only required placing down the markers. The hard rocks turned into loose soil, it had been unearthed after a long time and gave off a floral scent that got stronger with every ten steps. Fortifying the tunnel with Qi so that it holds its shape we placed some luminous stones for sight, I could only guess that the destination was nearby.


Aside from Heaven's Pond, this mountain itself has special properties, my Qi sense would simply bounce off it as if light on a mirror. If it wasn't for this the cultivators with extraordinary sensing abilities would've sniffed out the place years ago, they couldn't even use the rock or soil from here because once it left the mountain it would lose these properties. So it was abandoned even faster as many places with similar properties were around, ones where the Qi sense blocking property remained with the material even after it was mined.


An hour passed and from calculation, the tunnel was about five li deep with a gentle downward slope, the disciples were trailing behind me without a word. The land had changed a lot from the time that Iron Body Deity had made this place, but my memory of this place is perfect, not because I wanted to but because of what happened here.


As if to attest to it a ray of light leaked out of the cracks in front, tearing it away like a paper wall, I stepped into a cavern two li wide and a half a li tall.


A shining ball of light stuck to the blue marble ceiling shone down on the soft soil, although the soil appeared fertile there wasn't a blade of grass in sight. Only a rundown shack in the right corner with a few cave openings in the rocky walls surrounding the place appeared, but most importantly, the shimmering pond in the middle, the Heaven's Pond awaited us.


Melted gold poured into a mud bowl, the white smoke spilled over the ground seeping into the soft soil around. The rich and earthy scent filled the area, and the disciples moved forward as if mesmerized by it, even Sun Lingling couldn't resist the allure. Just breathing in the vicinity washed away the slight sluggishness in Kexin and Wang Yang's steps.


As they marveled at the sight before them, mesmerized by the beauty of the pond that stood out from the barren and rusty surroundings, I busied myself with the tasks they should've done.


Having your attention stolen in an unknown place without checking the area for traps and formations leads to lethal consequences, many young cultivators lose their lives because of this. Normally this would've called for discipline, but since I am around this time it wouldn't create an issue.


I'll teach them these things slowly, but I hope they adopt caution of the highest degree on their own moving forward.


Using a concealing and illusion array to cut off the tunnel from the cave the traces such as footsteps and fingerprints vanished from the muddy hole before me that had turned dark, now not even the initial starting point was visible.


Now, with ample time and resources in my hand, it was time to kick things off officially. Although the demonic sects had made their move, their plans had already diverted from what they intended.


To wipe out the Demonic sect's influence and forces in the Eastern Continent, I need three swords. One sword had already been unsheathed, now it is time to sharpen the second one.


"Shall we start our special training?"


The three disciples broke out of their reverie and turned to me, their eyes full of conviction and strong will to improve for the coming harsh days.


Accepting that, my eyes landed on Wang Yang that would kick things off for this plan.


"Take off your clothes," I said.


"…Huh?"


The three looked at me with widened eyes, the boy's face turned slightly red at my seriousness while the girls looked at me in confusion.


Ah… looks like I was a bit too forward.


I suppose some habits of mine need correction too.

 

[Overload69]

"The pond before you is made by gathering the Five Mortal Qi (Water, Wood, Earth, Metal, Fire) and the Two Heavenly Qi (Yin and Yang), the very Qi that makes everything between Heaven and Earth. Such a strong concentration can melt normal humans down to their bones, so going in with clothes would be wasteful." I explained.


"B-But why me?" Wang Yang became smaller, telling him to undress so abruptly had put him on the spot.


I suppose it is because the ones next to him are young women, he never had such a reaction when it was only men around. An understandable case, no matter how outspoken he seemed, Wang Yang was a reserved person in his own sense.


"I can't ask the two of them to do that, now can I?" I moved forward. "Ladies look away."


"W-Wait Master!" Wang Yang moved back, but for a different reason as my hand caught him. "Didn't you say that humans will melt if they go inside it?"


"Normal humans, yes. But you are a cultivator now, in appearance you may look like an ordinary human, however, you have twice the physical attributes of humans who have trained their entire life." Hearing this he stopped for a moment, thinking it was safe. "But if you make a mistake in Heaven's pond, even this strengthened body of yours will crumble."


"Master… I don't know if you are trying to console me or scare me." A wry smile appeared on his lips as he had given up on getting out of my grasp.


"Don't worry, I intend to teach you so that such a situation doesn't come to pass." The serious proclamation seemed enough for him.


Wang Yang took off his upper robes and dropped into the pond like a swift horse, he didn't take his pants off because of Kexin snickers from the side. Leaving that aside, his feet found ground when the golden water reached his chest, for now, this was good.


"It feels tingly, like an army of ants walking all over me." His brow scrunched up. "What should I do next, Master?"


"You have to meditate like you usually do and take in as much of the Qi in the air and from your skin." The three disciples looked at me with titled heads, their confused expressions asking 'Is that it?'


"Well, the only difference is that you cannot absorb this Qi in your Dantian like usual. You have to constantly circle it around your meridians in the fixed cycle till all of the Qi is absorbed by the body, then you can take in the next one." I explained as Wang Yang closed his eyes.


His back was pressed against the ground for support as sweat gathered on his brow, with increased sensitivity to touch the current situation presented a challenge to him. Usually, cultivators practice behind closed doors, away from all the noise and chatter as they prefer a tranquil atmosphere where not even a fly would come to distract them. However, just as a butterfly had to break open the cocoon to spread its wings and soar, cultivators too had to break out of that secluded atmosphere to reach newer heights.


Cultivation was not something one could do by sitting in one place, even if they have extraordinary talent.


The best way to go about this is not to let them fall into the habit that you can only meditate while in a closed room from the start. Everyone had their ways of doing this, even though I used another method before but this was more suitable for now as it provided more benefits and aligned with other things.


It took Wang Yang five minutes before he entered meditation as opposed to the usual minute, his breathing smoothened as his chest rose and fell like gentle waves that went through the pond. The first wisp of the hovering white Qi entered through his nostrils as his pores took in the Qi greedily, his body shuddered for an instant as all of the muscles in his body twitched, but went back to calm the next moment.


"Master, is it like that solution from Iron Palm Fortress?" Sun Lingling asked, her voice low yet her eyes were colored in shock.


"In a way, but that solution is inferior to this by multitudes, not to mention its side effects." I wouldn't let my disciples near something like that stuff.


In this conversation, one person was completely lost.


"I don't understand what is going on."


"We are talking about the bone condensing solution of the Iron Palm Fortress from the north, they use it to make the skins, muscles, and bones around the palms thicker and resilient so they can withstand their techniques. Because of how costly it is only their elites use it." Sun Lingling explained. "But I heard that it turns their hands numb to all stimulation, and they can never feel anything from it for the rest of their lives."


"Wait… so you are saying this is similar to that?" Kexin's pupils shrunk when she saw Wang Yang neck-deep in the pond.


"In its effects, this is much superior to that. Not only does it strengthen one's skin, muscles, organs, and bones, but the main point is that this strengthens one's meridians and Qi pathways as well, aspects that are usually impossible to improve on. And of course, there are no side effects, aside from the limitation that you have to be a Golden Core cultivator or lower to get the benefit." As Kexin's doubts cleared, Lingling's eyes turned serious, that was how lucrative this pond was.


"Normally one would be stuck with the meridians and Qi pathways they had since birth, in very rare cases the meridian's strength and endurance perfectly match the spiritual root's grade allowing the cultivator to bring out 100% of the root and techniques. If this method is known to the world, then even if the increment is small it will certainly…" Lingling cut off her own words, even then Kexin could understand the weight of this.


If one gathered all the cultivators across the five continents, 80% of them would be Golden Core and below. Every faction, sect, kingdom, organization, association, or army had these people in bulk. What would happen if a method to strengthen 80% of the cultivators saw the light?


"In simple words, this place could cause a war larger than the Saint War from two thousand years ago." It was no mere exaggeration on my part, I have seen the dirty side of the cultivators when this place was captured. The greed of humans was much more evil and viler than anything I had had the misfortune to lay my eyes on.


That greed led to a loss that I could never recover from.


"…Master?" Sun Linling's confused words reached me.


"Ah… yes, as I was saying. This place is super important, so not a word to anyone and don't worry about anything else. Just praise your venerable Master for taking such good care of you." I said, my nose pointing towards the ceiling with a smug smile.


"…Master, if you hadn't said it like that, I probably would've considered it." Kexin sighed.


"What a bummer. I would've liked it if you started the day with three kowtows in my general direction."


"Knock it off, Master." Kexin laughed, understanding that it was simple teasing, but the second one didn't.


"Understood Master, I shall do it every morning without fail." Sun Lingling's flat voice sailed between us.


"…Please refrain from doing that." That was all I could muster in front of her confused expression.


Thankfully, Kexin stepped in with another question.


"So, how will we enter the pond?" Her face had a slight blush as the situation didn't help her, and this was enough to divert Sun Lingling's attention too. Who else would be more concerned about their skin showing in public?


Women of this world took even greater caution when it came to this, but there were always some oddballs.


"Don't fret, I have prepared well."


They followed me to the other side of the pond, near the edge I placed a yellow talisman and took twenty steps back. With a puff of smoke a single-story wooden cabin appeared, it had one fully furnished bedroom with two beds, one sitting room, a reading room, bathroom and toilet, and a kitchen with supplies that could last a month. Elevated above ground by pillars the set of stairs led down to the edge of the pond, and near it was a changing room for privacy.


But this wasn't enough, I formed a few hand seals as my Qi gathered the nearby dirt. Like fluid water the soil flowed under my command and divided the pond in two by a ten-meter-high earthen wall, walling off the sides so no one could peak in not even from above because of the formation that worked like a one-way mirror, and the only way inside was from the cabin.


Wang Yang wouldn't peek, but it was one way to give them peace of mind, slipping up because of divided attention would cause damage.


"I have also placed a timer on your tokens, they will ring once every two hours so keep them close to the edge. After every two hours in, you have to take a one-hour break before going in, take more if your body demands it. I will call you through the token around dinner time to check up on you, if you ignore my words, I will not let you enter the pond again." My words were directed at the two, they were the type to overdo their tasks after all.


And before their high talent or the aid they can provide me in the future, they were my disciples. Yes, I did want something from them in return, but not to the extent that it would put their potential in jeopardy.


However, the two of them weren't really listening, more accurately something else weighed on their minds. They faced me yet their eyes remained fixed on the cabin.


"Master… what… how?"


Kexin looked like she had seen a ghost, in the form of a house, Sun Lingling's attention also became fixed on the sudden change in the scenery.


"Do I have to start there?" The two nodded and even took a tour of the inside before getting to the pond.


It seemed they had readied themselves for days when they wouldn't be able to get a proper bath and use a sanitary toilet, most of the cultivators were like that when they left on their journeys and some more affluent ones carried cleaning talismans or learned water spells to cover up, overall camping out was still a rough experience unless one could drop tens of thousands spirit stones to get a larger storage ring for their conveniences.


However, this one talisman changed everything. It contained the entire house along with the different needs and comforts, and the space it took in the ring was also negligible.


Who other than Chen Zhipeng could make it? The reason was the swampland investigation of the Northern Continent a century ago, he accompanied me for his own reasons and after hearing about the conditions there locked himself in his workshop after hearing the idea of movable houses that slipped out of me, he stepped out with dark eyebags with this product after two months.


It still costs a fortune to make though, but it is relatively cheaper than buying a ring large enough to fit a house of this size inside. This got a lot of attention among the sects that participated in that mission, but Chen Zhipeng never accepted any other orders to personally make them as it took a lot of time for him.


So other arrangements were made, Zhipeng and I still get good royalties thanks to Gu Fei who made the process public. As to how she managed to get such an incredible hold on this difficult process in this world?


"A woman of steel, that one." I have never seen a person more adept in business than her, in my current or past life.


Someone like that could be a competent ally or a terrifying opponent, and I'd rather not have her as an opponent.


However, the truth is that I'd have to face worse opponents than her going forward, each more despicable and lacking in morals than the last. In a cutthroat world like this such behavior is common practice.


But this time I'll be better prepared and strengthen myself with every means possible. Setting up the cabin on Wang Yang's side with the walls I removed my clothes and entered Heaven's Pond.


I'll use everything I can, even myself if I have to. This chance won't be wasted.


I closed my eyes as the day of confrontation came closer.

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Hello my dear readers.


I hope you have been enjoying the story so far, and you have my thanks for pointing out grammatical mistakes that go past me. That really helps.


I am always eager to read your predictions and thoughts on the chapters.


And if you enjoy the story and have the means for it, join the patreon.


There is also some art for the characters there that I drew so check that out, it is for free... I feel like I said it before...


I can't recall, well I'll just leave this as is. The link is below, so join at your discretion, I'll be waiting.


Bye bye, see you on Monday.


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[Overload69]

The Heaven's Pond. The only thing it brought to the alliance was trouble, not only did it help in skyrocketing the growth of the Demonic cultivators in large numbers, but it also helped them produce numerous geniuses that terrorized the Alliance. And even after the Alliance captured the Heaven's Pond the only thing it did was cause factions to form, deepening the already apparent cracks in the system.


But now, neither the Demonic Sect nor the Alliance knew about it. Right now, this major resource is in one person's hand, Li Muchen, me. To not use it fully would be foolish, as the time it could be useful to me was running out quick after the change in Spiritual root.


The Black Lotus, I was internally elated that the aspect that held me back was replaced by something much higher grade. However, that was foolish of me.


If there is an up, there must be a down. Such was Heaven's way of doing things for the common man, one cannot experience fortune without misfortune of some kind.


In my case, this misfortune seemed much bigger than the fortune. The speed of Qi absorption this Spiritual root had far outclassed the durability of my meridians and Qi pathways that had stayed unchanged. If it wasn't for my cultivation method that allowed me to reduce the base absorption, I would've died after only a few seconds of cultivation. As much as I wanted to use the higher-ranking Cultivation methods, they were impossible to use with my current meridians, and if I went any lower than my current method it would only result in an unstable cultivation.


And I could not allow myself to put a cap on my growth, to strengthen the meridians and the body Heaven's Pond was the perfect place.


The Mortal Qi (Fire, Water, Wood, Earth, Metal) and the Heavenly Qi (Yin and Yang) everything was made up of these, and living beings were the greatest creations to come out of this union facilitated by the Goddess Nuwa.


The body and the soul, the mortal and the heavens, it was the creation that came about from an intricate balance created by the Mother of All. To intervene in such a process was like crossing a tightrope with your hands and feet tied while a tornado rages on, everything was bound to go wrong.


But I have no choice, and it isn't like there weren't ways created to make this possible. The condition was that one needed to find a source that had the perfect mix of the Mortal and Heavenly Qi, although found in nature such a thing was closer to a miracle than anything. Only seven such items had been found thus far, but the help they could give was abysmal compared to the pond I was in. Even then I couldn't carelessly start absorbing the Qi right now.


My spiritual root is raring to go rogue again… Rather than a lotus it would be accurate to call it a starved beast in a craze. If I so much as started mediating that would be the end of me, even the cultivation method I was familiar with for several centuries couldn't help, however, there was still a way to get what I wanted.


After completely closing my Mind realm gate, I emptied my lungs. With a relaxed motion, a stream of flowery air and Qi entered through my nose, holding my breath for four seconds the Qi quickly passed through my meridians before it was exhaled over three seconds, and the cycle continued.


What I was doing was a little more tedious than normal breathing, a breathing technique used by the very first cultivators to achieve the state of Pseudo-meditation, in other words, a passive state that allowed a common to get stronger without their knowledge. It was from this knowledge that the first cultivation method was born.


In this state one is meditating, yet completely aware of their surroundings and senses. Cultivation started with something that could be considered one of the hardest things to achieve.


Perfect for me even with the speed being reduced to five percent because it excluded my Dantian and Mind realm gate flawlessly, both of which had become a problem for me. However this breathing technique cannot be used for proper cultivation because of the slow yield, but that was of no issue as cultivating wasn't the goal.


The Qi circulating through the meridians and pathways passes by organs, bones, nerves, and muscles, ridding them of any impurities while nourishing them further. While doing so, Qi from Heaven's Pond gets absorbed in the body and doesn't cause an imbalance because of the identical structure.


I had never used it in my previous life, by the time the Alliance took this pond over I had already gone past Golden Core Realm. The reason was that the first three realms are known as the Mortal realm of cultivation, is these realms cultivators only strengthened their bodies the best they could, as their souls resided in the heavenly plane.


But as soon as one reaches the Nascent Soul Realm their soul descends into the body, thus the balance becomes more intricate. Any rash tempering here results in being crippled. That is why I was thankful for being in the Golden Core Realm, although the benefits I get won't be as great as my young disciples who have only started their journey, the results I get would be a hundred-fold more than any other method of doing this.


So, I kept at it. My skin felt hot, my bones were itchy, the muscles twitched in joy, and the nerves tingled with intensity. The wave of rejuvenation passed through my wound-ridden body, from every previously torn muscle to broken bones to punctured organs, my entire body drowned in the soothing touch, relieved of the lingering pain along with the shadows that came with it.


My aching meridians cracked, but not in a bad way. They were opening, slowly but surely, they widened to allow the passing of slightly more Qi as the previously damaged Qi pathways made recovery, absorbing all of the Qi with glee. A blissful experience like swaying in a hammock letting the spring breeze wash over you.


But as good as it felt staying here all day wasn't possible, even at my stage 12 hours was my limit, any more and the potent energy will run rampant. However, I couldn't use those twelve hours completely, at least not today.


A sharp beep pierced my ear, this made it the seventh time but instead of ignoring it again I opened my eyes and turned around. With a light touch, the token fell silent, but the second one continued, on the stairs Wang Yang stirred awake by the sound of his token as I wrapped a robe around myself.


"Oh, Master…" He rubbed his eyes while turning the alarm off.


He was fully dressed with dry hair as he had stopped meditating in the pool three hours ago. I expected him to jump in again after an hour of rest like before, but he fell asleep on the stairs.


"So how was it?" I asked fastening the white belt around my robe.


"It was like swaying in a hammock in the spring wind."


His words brought a smile to my face as I too had the same thought, but most people would have a similar thought as that is a common experience.


I contacted Sun Lingling and Wu Kexin through the token after taking a quick bath, they came over to the cabin Wang Yang and I shared as preparations for the dinners started. Although I say that, food was prepared in advance and kept in the storage ring.


As the quick but hearty dinner came to a close, I made the closing remarks.


"From tomorrow morning you three are to use the ingredients in the pantry to make your own meals, if you run out the forest outside will be your hunting ground." They looked over, eyes full of confusion.


"Why so suddenly?" Lingling asked, her eyes clearly showing her interest in training continuously.


"Food is important for sustenance, and being able to cook is a skill everyone must know. Especially cultivators who have to brave through unknown territories alone knowing the fauna and flora is an advantage, the Food pills can run out and in a situation like that this skill will help you. Also, cooking skills are a foundation that will help in alchemy." I explained.


"Food as medicine like the one in the old books…" Kexin's mutter gave them an idea of it.


"Along with that, I will start teaching you about the Four Cardinal Direction of Cultivation in earnest."


"Does that mean we can learn about swordplay from tomorrow onwards?" Wang Yang's excitement rose.


Sun Lingling and Wu Kexin had their attention set on this too, and I didn't plan to dampen the mood.


"Since we have eaten our fill, how about some after-meal exercise?" It was time to show them the first mountain.


***


"Sword Mastery is divided into three major milestones, Sword Qi, Sword Silk, and Sword Soul. Each stage is much more difficult than the last taking cultivators decades to centuries to understand them." I said holding a slender black sword in my hand, it emitted a dull white glow responding to my heart. "The first stage is accomplished when you can wrap your heart around the sword, giving it an edge as sharp as your ambition."


Outside the cabin, the three looked at the glowing sword with intense focus. Pointing the sword at them I dropped an ingot of meteoric iron, the very metal this sword was made of, on top of it. Even if dropped from only an inch above the edge, the ingot was split in two even with the sword held still as if butter sliding over a hot knife.


Wang Yang and Wu Kexin's eyes widened as the ingot, now cut sunk into the soft soil below. Sun Lingling's eyes however were fixated on the edge of the blade, or more precisely the light green sword qi surrounding it, the Qi gave this sword a robust and hair-raising edge anyone who couldn't feel that wouldn't have the makings of a Sword Cultivator. But this wasn't all I had to show today.


"The Sword Silk is a realm in which you can extend your Sword Qi beyond your blade. It creates an illusion of a long sheet of silk following the path of your sword. It is taxing, but its attack power is several times higher allowing continuous motion and unbreaking strikes that help weave offense and defense together, making it a trump card that every sword cultivator wishes to have." Stepping forward my blade moved diagonally downwards in the air leaving a grass-green trail behind.


Although it appeared as soft and non-lethal like silk, yet the more I turned in tandem with the swing the more momentum gathered behind the blade, the sheet of silk now covered the openings as the edge sharper than steel moved towards the target. The meteorite iron ingot I had thrown in the air ended up in 10 pieces, each a passable cube.


"…Has Master already reached the Grandmaster realm?" A subtle emotion entered Sun Lingling's voice.


"G-Grandmaster realm?" Kexin's voice trembled.


"Is that great? Isn't it the second stage?" Wang Yang looked at the two.


"Of course it is! There are only 20 Sword Grandmasters on the Eastern Continent. This not only makes Master the 16th but also possibly one of the youngest to reach it!" Kexin's enthusiasm pushed Wang Yang's shining eyes toward me, bearing the eyes of admiration was tedious, especially for people who weren't special.


"No, that won't be possible, the current youngest Sword Grandmaster on the Eastern continent would be Miss Gu Yue who reached the stage at the age of 180. But if we include the people who weren't born on this continent the list would differ, however, Master would still be in the youngest ten." Sun Lingling's unblinking red eyes turned to me, now much more intense than before.


"Well, that would indeed be true if I had achieved true Sword Silk." I said much to their confusion, there was a big reason why so few reached that stage even with the abundance of Sword Cultivators. "What I did not was but a trick to emulate Sword Silk."


With the square pieces of meteorite iron placed before them, their confusion deepened.


"Look at the rough edges, the weight, and the number. A sword grandmaster can cut a 1 kg ore into thumb-size cubes of the same size and weight without the loss of any material. This is the difference between the fake and the genuine article." The explanation seemed to be sinking in as the imperfections became clear to them.


Can I use Sword Silk? Yes. My insights with the sword had stayed with me along with my experience in battlefields, the most important aspect. But I cannot openly admit to it, such a rare prowess comes with equally scrutinizing attention, something that was of no use to me at this stage. So, the previously developed trick that imitated the sword silk by lining up individual Sword Qi, a technique developed by Sword Feind, and guiding threads came into play for cleaner cuts.


"With that, the demonstration will end." I sheathed the sword.


"But what about the Sword soul?" Wang Yang asked.


"To understand that you must reach Sword Silk." Such answers cannot be given that easily, regardless the bar had been set now so it was time for the push. "But before becoming the Sword Master, you must first become a first-rate sword cultivator."


"First-rate sword cultivator?"


Wang Yang's question made me worry if he had been reading properly. Maybe I have been a tad bit lenient with him to make up for the time before regression.


"One becomes a first-rate swordsman when the sword becomes a part of the cultivator." Kexin explained, jabbing his side.


"The sword becomes the part of the person? Like Uncle Han?" Wang Yang's innocent question was met with a glare.


"To a first-rate swordsman, a sword isn't simply a tool, rather it becomes an extension of their hand. It is the moment where both the cultivator and his weapon become one entity." I answered before the subject was lost in the moment.


"That sounds cool!" Wang Yang said.


"It indeed is, but it is also the first major roadblock that will show one how much talent they possess with the sword." Cleaning up the ore I looked at the three with a smile. "You three will begin training first thing tomorrow so be sure to rest properly, unless you wish to faint halfway through the training."


"Will do Master!"


Understanding the severity of the situation Wang Yang and Wu Kexin made their way to the cabins without missing a heartbeat, however, Sun Lingling remained behind, and the reason was clear.


"You may have used Sword Qi, but you aren't a first-rate sword cultivator yet." So, I answered before she could ask.

 

[Overload69]

"You may have used Sword Qi, but you aren't a first-rate sword cultivator yet." I said to Sun Lingling.


"…Why?"


Her confusion was understandable, even geniuses cannot skip over the Sword-Body unification before achieving Sword Qi. It was a prerequisite as a user would have to connect their pathways with the sword to bring about the transfer of energy and meticulous control. However, Sun Lingling wasn't a normal genius.


"Just like I used a trick for Sword Silk, you too have arrived at Sword Qi realm with a trick." My eyes went to the sword on her hip.


That sword belonged to an accomplished and hardworking sword cultivator, paired with Lingling natural talent and spiritual root reaching the Sword Qi would be as difficult as walking for her. But therein lay the problem.


"You cannot achieve Sword-Body unification with that sword, because to you that is the same as affirming that the previous owner of the Ashen Blade had passed away."


Sun Lingling's gaze lowered, and for a moment she bit her lip before speaking.


"Master… How much do you know?"


"Not enough to let your worries at rest." Shaking my head was all I could do.


"…Do I have to part with this too?" That weak mutter was unlike the stoic Sun Lingling, the small shoulder trembled as her hand gripped the scabbard.


"If you want to go beyond Sword Qi then yes, you'd need a sword you can accept as your own. In truth, I have already prepared one so tell me after you have thought things over." There was not much I could do to help her here even if I wanted to, as fantasy like Cultivation sounded there were many preset rules that couldn't be broken for one's convenience.


"…I will." Her words were barely audible as she left for her cabin on the other side of the pond.


Do forgive me Lingling. I can't have you breaking down over news I haven't confirmed with my own eyes. Looking at her back I turned and entered my own cabin. I understand your torment better than anyone else, that is why I cannot let you live with it.


A boatload of trouble waited on the Horizon.


***


The schedule inside the cavern reflected that of the outside world, even if the place was lit for 24 hours. To sleep everyone used the curtains to block the windows and used the clock in the cabin to know of the time.


As for how they woke up…


"This thing is annoying… but it works." Kexin ripped off the green talisman from her forehead, it functioned as an alarm clock that sent a string of sounds straight into her ears to wake her up.


Since no one else would hear it, this became the perfect tool for the three disciples because of their variable schedules in the past month.


On the bed next to her Sun Lingling lay on her side, her eyes shut giving her the visage of a sleeping princess yet a sword handle peaked out from the blanket. The Ashen Blade was synonymous with her, and she hadn't been seen without it even when she entered the heaven's pond. Although unexpected, Kexin had grown accustomed to it now, leaving the bedroom she washed her face with cold water kept in the kitchen and made herself a light breakfast.


It was five in the morning, an hour earlier than yesterday. She stepped out of the cabin with a sword in hand, deep black in color with sliver lines stretching from the hilt to the tip, made with quality iron giving it a sharp edge and proper weight.


"Mornin' Kexin." However, she wasn't the first one out here, as usual, Wang Yang had already completed the physical training and started swinging his own sword, one similar to hers but a bit longer and wider.


"Morning, aren't you pushing yourself a bit too much? That's almost twice the weight compared to last week." The black straps wrapping around his arms had several pockets filled with solid metal sticks for the weight.


One four-inch stick weighed around 2 kilograms, and Wang Yang had 10 of those on each arm and ankle with a weighted vest of similar weight.


"If it wasn't for Master's warning I would've doubled the weight." He said doing downward slashes without breaking a sweat.


"Well, a gradual increase is better, it will cause problems if you hurt yourself because of overconfidence." She sighed, she had only reached about four sticks on each limb.


Kexin wrapped the straps on her body in preparation of her run when an explosion occurred behind the cabin she shared with Sun Lingling. Despite the echoes ringing in their ears, the two didn't bat an eye at the rising smoke. They had grown used to it over the past month, however there was one thing they couldn't understand.


"How can she cause explosions while cooking meals?" Wang Yang's question went unanswered again.


After physical training and following the sword drills instilled in her by Li Muchen, Kexin entered the heaven's pond to meditate and strengthen herself. She entered the water in silence to not disturb Sun Lingling and closed her eyes.


My strength is still increasing, and even my speed of cultivation is seeing progress. She still couldn't rival Wang Yang's speed not to mention Sun Lingling, but her speed had almost doubled from what she started with. And according to Li Muchen, she still had more room to grow, but the same was true for the other two.


Wang Yang is already making his way to the third layer of Qi Refining, Sun Lingling is nearing a breakthrough to the seventh… No, don't think like that, remember Master's word. She clenched her fist under the glow of the pond. I am a turtle, not a hare. But even hares come to a halt along the way, and that will be my time to catch up.


With burning passion, she slipped into meditation once again.


***


Around afternoon the three disciples had finished with their physical training and moved to alchemy practice, the three sat down outside of the cabin. Wang Yang and Kexin sat only a few steps away from one another with a brown cauldron the size of a pot before them while Sun Lingling was about a hundred steps away, they focused their eyes on the murky liquid inside.


Like water mixed with dirt, the scent of it was as appealing as its appearance, strong enough to make their noses numb. However, the two kept their burning eyes close to the pot, their hands grabbing on the sides of the cauldron, sweat trickling down their forehead.


I'll pass today! With a mental battle cry, Kexin sent her Qi into the cauldron, the earthy liquid burbled along the side of the earthen cauldron as a hint of green hue broke out from the cloudiness.


The liquid was a mixture of water and Ligu seeds, an inexpensive spiritual herb, that were about as small as mustard seeds, the three had to separate the Ligu seeds from the water. But they could only use their Qi to form a clump in the center and then extract it so that it doesn't scatter afterward, such was the exam Li Muchen used to know of a student's alchemy potential.


Kexin had been doing this test for over three weeks now and had succeeded in gathering ninety percent of seeds at a time, the concentration it took to gather each seed had many roadblocks, the biggest problem being the seeds rejoining the water because of her weak control over Qi and even if she tried to extract them the seeds wouldn't stick together.


But that is what this training is for. Not only does it help in increasing my control over Qi, it also helps in learning how to focus on two tasks at the same time. This way, even if I don't have a talent for alchemy, the time I spent would still benefit me in other things. Kexin has seen the results of it when she meditated, so she put her all in the training to reap the maximum benefits from them.


"Oh… It worked." Wang Yang had surprised himself with the way he looked.


Kexin stopped her practice for a moment and looked at the clump of tightly packed Ligu seeds, they hadn't separated even after he had taken it out of the water marking the first success out of three disciples.


"What… How did you do that?" The result was exactly what their Master wanted.


"Well, I saw a kid playing with a toy yesterday in the nearby village." He brought in an unexpected variable.


"A toy?" Kexin titled her head.


"Yeah, they were some marble-sized metal balls that stuck to one another for some reason. I thought that if I treated the seeds like those balls and used Qi to hold them together it could work, and it did somehow." Wang Yang showed the clump of Ligu seeds in his hands to Kexin so she could have a closer look.


Using Qi to bind them rather than keeping them in place? Kexin had tried to hold the seeds in place by wrapping each seed with Qi, however, her mental capacity had limits and her control slipped at times. I was going about it the wrong way? This wasn't about Qi control and concentration training alone…


"So, this is how pills are made…" Kexin looked at the seed clump with a deep gaze. "From herbs to pills, the process to remove the unneeded, binding the medicinal properties from a myriad of different and contrasting materials together. It all happens like this."


"What?" Wang Yang blinked.


"Nothing. About the toy you mentioned, can you show me who has it? I'll be going to the village today to barter eggs and milk, so come if you can." Kexin had to look deeper into this, and not because she wanted to succeed in her test.


"I don't see why not. But I'll go in the evening, I have to hunt now."


"Didn't you go hunting yesterday from afternoon to sundown?"


"Ah… well…" Wang Yang scratched his cheek.


"Did you really waste time playing yesterday?" Kexin already knew the answer when he averted her gaze.


Li Muchen gave them one day in a week to hunt for food after the pantries had emptied, true to his word he didn't help them cook or gather things. With everything left to them, only today the real problem arose.


"Since you are done with this, you should leave now and handle the food, I'll give you some for today." Kexin sighed.


"Wouldn't master punish us then?"


"This isn't simply sharing, you gave me valuable information and I gave you food in return, it is a proper transaction. Remember that." She wouldn't take no for an answer as his grumbling stomach told her the state of his food reserves.


"If you say so." He stood up with a smile and stored the cauldron in his storage ring. "Meet me at the village in three hours then."


"I hope he doesn't get distracted today too." Kexin cleaned up and got ready to enter the pond again, but then a booming explosion rang through the cavern.


It was the fourth one since morning.


"I should be grateful that it isn't happening in the cabin at least." With a sigh, Kexin moved towards the pond.


***


A couple of hours before sundown, Kexin left the Heaven's Pond through the cave Li Muchen had dug. The chilly evening wind made the damp forest much duller, as if night had already fallen.


The light outside and inside, the atmosphere, the temperature, and the taste of the air, everything differed. As if the tunnel she had taken brought her to a different world, such was the difference between them.


The clouds are gathering… an untimely rain? Kexin observed while making her way through the forest at a maintained pace.


After roaming the place for a month, she knew the area well enough to take shortcuts through the dense trees with confidence even if there were no animal trails. The falling leaves made for a good dodging exercise in the meantime.


Master really has some wei-Ahem* unique ways of training. Coughing away Kexin climbed the small mountain to reach the village, the men who worked in the field had grown used to her timely visits to the village.


"Young miss, here to trade meat again? Did you get a big haul again?" A guy knees deep in mud asked with a smile.


"Not a big haul, but it should be enough to get me some goat milk and eggs." Kexin smiled back with a rucksack in hand, she had taken it out at the foot of the mountain to avoid suspicion.


"Ain't that perfect? My chickens have been working hard lately. How bout it?" The man offered.


"I don't see why not."


The transaction didn't take long as the boar meat she brought got her enough eggs and milk for the week. After climbing a little more, she found Wang Yang sitting outside a house, he was enjoying a bowl of congee with a smile.


"Oho, if it isn't the hunter lady. How you doing?" The middle-aged woman with a baby girl strapped to her back smiled, she was the one they first talked with in this village.


"As usual, here is the meat you wanted. I put in a little extra as a thanks for taking care of this fool." Kexin handed over cured meat wrapped in yellow paper.


"It is nothing, my Liu becomes more energetic whenever he is around." The woman reigned in her kid that tried to climb over her back to reach Wang Yang.


"Looks like you are as popular as ever with kids." Kexin turned towards her troublesome friend.


"Don't act like you didn't diss before this, also you'd be popular too if you don't get angry so often."


"What'd you say?" She looked over.


"Nothing, big sis." He coughed as his grumbling stomach demanded the congee.


"You two sure get along." The woman smiled stirring the pot of congee. "The village always feels lively with many visitors."


"Is it rare?" Kexin asked.


"Of course, who would want to come to a remote mountain village in the middle of nowhere? Even merchants wouldn't come by if it wasn't for the tea leaves, but more people have come here since you arrived."


"More people?" Kexin's eyes narrowed.


"Some relatives of village chief from a nearby city, they brought some valuable spices as gifts too. I haven't seen them around, but the men were causing a ruckus at how beautiful and polite they were." The woman's tone turned low.


"Was that all?" Kexin tried to smile, it seemed this woman's husband was one of those men.


"No, the problem's something else. Two days ago, Hunter Yu saw a bear-like man roaming about the Jo River, and yesterday night some men came by the village to find directions. I heard they looked like ruffians or the sort, so be careful when you go in the forest."


"I will be careful." Kexin nodded and turned to look at Wang Yang. "Then, I'll go ahead."


"Sure sure." The woman waved them off.


"Have you seen the bear-like guy they were talking about?" He asked waving the woman and kids goodbye.


"I haven't. Don't look for him either, if you do encounter him alert Master immediately." She said looking around, they were quite deep into the village.


Unlike the small houses attached to the field on the outskirts, the main village had a dozen of wooden and mud-walled houses.


"Where is the kid who had that toy?" She asked.


"The village chief's grandson. Their house is just 20 or so steps ahead." Wang Yang pointed at the house at the end of the dirt road.


This was the only house with two floors in the village, a waist-high wooden fence surrounded the residence with a slanted roof made of hay. Kexin didn't think much of the unassuming appearance, such houses were commonplace in the countryside, however as soon as they were within 10 steps of the house her expression stiffened.


"Wang Yang, we are getting out of here." Her voice turned grave as the vision before her changed.


Unlike Wang Yang and Sun Lingling, Kexin had a passion for learning every path she could to follow in the footsteps of Li Muchen, her master. So much so that she had been learning swordsmanship, alchemy, formations, and forging, at the same time even if it meant losing time to rest.


And to get started on formations Li Muchen gave her a Talisman to access Qi sight. In non-complicated words, she could see the Qi in nature using her sight, such a skill became necessary to Formation users who used the natural Qi to their advantage and it helped in locating hidden formations.


I only found out about it after stepping in it, we are too late. Sweat trickled down her forehead as her disciple token in a panic, almost dropping it.


"What happened suddenl-?!" Before Wang Yang could finish his sentence she pushed him away.


A woman in purple, one a little older than Sun Lingling rushed towards them with a silver sword in hand.


"Shi-!" Kexin tried to bring her sword out of the ring, but her vision dyed crimson the next instant.

 

[Overload69]

When a sword cultivator attacks, their eyes are the last thing you focus on. Any cultivator with a sword will be worth his salt. Li Muchen's lesson replayed in Kexin's head. There is a technique called Thousand Yard Stare that every cultivator learns to get an edge in the fight, however, given you are only starting that is an advanced territory. So, I'll teach you all the One Yard Stare instead.

That lesson was a weird one even if it came from Li Muchen. The Thousand Yard Stare as he explained took in all information about the opponent and the surroundings through sight, however, the One Yard stare only focused on the opponent's movements, a single part of the picture. That being the movement of their shoulders and hips to figure out where they would attack. But that wasn't all he taught them about one-on-one situations.

The initial rush of the woman was aimed towards Wang Yang. Kexin pushed him to disrupt that, thus the woman turned towards her. The sharp turn limited the number of strikes she could do. Kexin confirmed the sword raised towards the right shoulder, the options were a simple downwards slash or a diagonal slash to the lower left from the top right.

Given the speed of the woman, Kexin didn't have enough time to take her sword out. Dodging being her only option. She moved to her left rather than stepping back to remove the first option.

Crimson shell, Activate. The bracelet around her left arm shone with a red hue. It created a shell in front, shielding her torso and head.

This was her trump card. An artifact her master bestowed upon his disciples before they left the sect.

The sword's tip scratched against the crimson barrier like nails on a board. The sparks died down in an instant. The momentum carried the sword and the wielder down left. Her back now exposed to Kexin.

A swordsman is most vulnerable after their swing. So, taking advantage Kexin thrust the sword that finally came into her hand.

The thrust aimed for the opponent's neck. A clean and straight attack that she had practiced over thousands of times. Given that and the woman facing away, the attack should land without problem.

However, the woman moved backward. No, it would be clear to say that she started to move the moment Kexin thrust her sword. As if she had eyes on her back. Without missing a beat her sword moved at an angle to target Kexin's sword hand.

To avoid losing her fingers, Kexin let go of the sword and pulled her hand back. A cut on her palm burning with intensity. She jumped back to gain some distance.

The purple-haired woman kicked the airborne sword back at its wielder. The sword struck the barrier giving birth to sparks. Kexin's hair stood on end when the sparks covered her vision. By the time she noticed the woman had arrived in front of her. Her sword already descending from above.

It's no problem, this shield can block the attacks of Formation Realm cultivat—! Kexin's vision sank before she could finish her thought. A dull pain rising from her legs.

In the moment her eyes latched on the sword above, the woman swept her legs. With a thud, Kexin back struck the pressed dirt road. Her head spun and the shield vanished with her focus breaking.

"Guh!" She grunted as the woman's foot landed on her shoulder.

The woman's sharp eyes glinted with the promise to break crush Kexin's shoulder if she so much as took a long breath.

Looking down on Kexin, with the sword pointed at her neck. For the first time, her lips parted.

"A quality work made with ore of equally rare quality." A bell-like voice, clear and concise just like her attacks. "Given your skill, I suppose I have to believe it now."

"What are you talking about?" Kexin's words were measured as the woman stepped away from her.

"No need to be so tense, I won't attack you anymore. Especially after confirming that." The woman's light purple eyes landed on the white token in Kexin's hand.

"Master's token?" Wang Yang muttered, confused but still gripped the sword handle while helping Kexin up.

"Yes, there isn't anyone in the Orthodox Sect that would intentionally attack his disciples." The woman's sheathed her sword, a sense of pride and coldness in her. "Unless they are foolish enough to oppose the Demon in White."

"But you still attacked us." Wang Yang looked at the blood dripping from Kexin's palm and the back of her head.

"I had to make sure that you weren't impersonators. I've had the misfortune to run into them recently." The woman retrieved the black sword and returned it to the owner.

Kexin understood the situation, her aggression dying down. This woman didn't need them to lower their guards with conversation. She had enough strength and skill to kill them right there. The impersonator checking also made sense, she had faced them in the caravan attack.

"Wang Yang, it is fine. She isn't an enemy." She said bandaging her wound, it wasn't deep because of the woman's mercy.

"…I'll keep it out just in case." His answer almost made her chuckle. But Kexin turned her attention to the woman.

"Is there a reason you are here? We will be reporting this to our Master, so it would help in being out of each other's way." With the cat out of the bag, Kexin decided to start the next step, which was intimidating the other person now that she knew of the connection.

"Fear not, I am not here for the same reason you are. I am only using this village as a rest stop." Cultivators going for the same treasure always bred disputes, thus she tried to make her reasons clear.

"Are your companions from the Purple Cloud Sect in the house there?" However, Kexin's question caused the woman's expression to turn fierce.

"How do you know that?" She had already redrawn her sword, ready to attack.

"Calm down. Even if you are dressed like a villager your storage ring is the one only Purple Cloud Sect's disciples can use." Kexin spoke even faster to avoid confrontation.

Li Muchen had taught them ways of identifying cultivators from the major factions, the easiest way was to look at the details on the storage ring. For the Purple Cloud Sect, it would be a black ring with a purple cloud, which the girl had forgotten to camouflage.

"And you have only came out when we approached the house. It is almost like you are defending your companions. Which could mean that they are either asleep or incapacitated." Kexin said.

"T…That's correct." The woman faltered, realizing her mistake.

"So, is there something we can help you with?" Kexin smiled. Trying her best to be friendly, unlike Wang Yang.

The woman opened her mouth for a moment but closed it again to stop the words from coming out. Kexin notices the woman clench her fist before she decides to speak.

"If possible… I would like ask for your Master's help." The power behind her voice dropped for a moment.

"Alright, I'll contact Master and ask him about it." The matter looked severe so Kexin didn't waste time.

"Too late, I am already here." But Li Muchen's voice came from behind her before the transmission connected.

"Master, please stop appearing behind me." Wang Yang would've swung the sword if Li Muchen didn't hold his shoulder to stop him.

"How long have you been here?" Kexin noticed the shock on the woman's face too, none of them noticed his presence.

"From the moment you entered the formation." He said.

"Then why didn't you help us?" Wang Yang asked.

"Since you two have been doing well in practice, I wanted to see you in action where it really matters. And that kid wouldn't hurt you badly after noticing the Disciple Tokens, even if she suspected them to be fakes." Muchen already knew of the woman and her companion's arrival in the village.

He waited for the disciples to encounter them and see the result. Which was why he didn't make contact with the other cultivator and kept his disciples in the dark.

"Master… that habit of yours… no never mind." Kexin stopped herself as her Master should've already accounted for everything. That's how he was.

"It is good to see that you are doing well, kid. This makes it the second time we've met, right? Is Gu Yue doing good?" Muchen moved to the woman who had finally gotten out of her shock.

"Indeed. My Master is healthy as always, but busy. She had greatly regretted not attending the last East Martial Meet." With cupped hands, she did a martial bow towards him.

"Tell her not to worry. That matter was been smoothed over." Giving a small smile, Muchen turned to his disciples. "This is Gu Yingyue from the Purple Cloud Sect, and she is the only disciple of the Second Abode's Matriarch."

"My name is Gu Yingyue. Although the situation isn't ideal, it is a pleasure to meet you two." Yingyue gave a short bow to the two even when she was the senior.

"We understand, my name is Wu Kexin and this is Wang Yang." Kexin said with a martial salute, giving her proper respect.

Wang Yang followed without a word and finally put his sword away.

Seeing them finish their introductions, Li Muchen turns to Yingyue for the main topic.

"So, what do you need my help on?"

"…I think it would be better if you saw it in person." With that, she led the way.

The three followed her inside the mud house, they passed through the sparsely furnished first floor. The family of four having their dinner didn't notice them at all.

"Is it because of the Formation?" Kexin asked as they took the stairs to the second floor.

"Yes, the concealment formation is a helpful one. I also used it so that no one in the vicinity noticed the battle, so you can continue your interactions with them as normal." Yingyue said.

"So, you knew about us from the start, huh." Kexin almost let out a dry laugh. This woman deliberately attacked from the front to sound them out and confirm their identities.

"Yes, but I still failed to confirm Senior Li's arrival." She said.

"That shows your lack of practice, otherwise you'd have a little more chance of catching me." He said in a droll tone.

"Only a little chance, is it?" Yingyue shook her head as they arrived on the second floor.

Rather than a floor, it was a single room with no windows. A better description would be an attic with a bed. A woman with bluish hair lay on that single bed under the illumination of the oil lamp, asleep but restless. Beads of sweat slid down the fair face and pained grunts left her pink lips.

"She's…" Kexin couldn't help but notice the reddening hands of the woman.

"She is the third elder of the Second Abode, Zhi Rou. She got poisoned while protecting me from the Demonic cultivators." Yingyue stood next to the bed, her eyes flashing with anger at her helplessness. "It has been four days and her condition keeps worsening. Now, she can't even walk so I carried her to this village. We've been unable to receive any help because of the recent chaos. And no matter how many times I administer the antidote it just doesn't work."

Li Muchen stared at the Peach blossom mark marring Zhi Rou's forehead. It was about 3 centimeters in diameter with five petals slightly overlapping each other to form the flower. However, unlike the usual lush and light pink flowers, this Peach blossom was pitch black, save for one petal that was halfway there.

Li Muchen checked Zhi Rou's vitals and took her temperature. Next, he used a needle to draw a drop of her blood and added it to a glass tube filled with a clear liquid. The blood drop immersed in the liquid morphed into darker shades of purple with pinkish spots.

"This is a variation of Black Blossom Poison the Dark Petal House uses. The normal antidote wouldn't work. It has progressed towards the last stages, but worry not I can make the antidote given a few hours." A poison that enhanced one's base desires and drove them mad. It was a poison that claimed many lives and destroyed many more.

"You have my endless gratitude." Yingyue's tense face eased a little.

However, she couldn't relax because of Li Muchen's dry tone as he continued.

"If you want to preserve her image in your eyes, you better leave the formation." That wasn't a request, but an order.

"…Ok." With a slight hesitation, Yingyue chose to leave.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Li Muchen, but she was unable to leave the suffering woman alone even for a moment.

"We'll be going too." Kexin and Wang Yang followed her out evacuating the family below, leaving only Li Muchen in the house with Zhi Rou.

"You can open your eyes." He said causing the woman to stop shaking.

The Black Blossom Poison was a troublesome one, there were many variations of it used as it was a go-to for the Demonic Cultivators. The one used on Zhi Rou was specifically made to corrupt captured cultivators and humans. However, for the first time, someone had resisted the poison for so long thus worsening the effects.

"You… look so good…. Ah~!" A thick haze of desires covered Zhi Rou's green eyes. But before she spoke, she tackled Li Muchen to the floor her face clouded with her primal desire.

This variation of Black Blossom multiplied the person's desires several times making them act in ways they wouldn't normally. A dirty method Demonic Cultivators liked to use, it made controlling the targets and extracting information easier.

There were two scenarios where the poison would work even better when lust was involved.

First, the poisoned is faced with someone they like.

Second, the poisoned is faced with a person of extraordinary looks.

Zhi Rou was too intense for it to be only one of the scenarios.

"Senior Li… I've always… always…" Gasping, she closed the distance between their faces.

This is going to be troublesome.

 

[Overload69]

"Senior Li… I've always… always…" Her mind overwritten with uncontrollable lust, Zhi Rou's hot breath landed on Li Muchen's face.

Her floral scent overpowering his nose, he looked at the glazed eyes with a hint of helplessness. Even in her current state, Zhi Rou was his equal in cultivation, and with nothing weakening her the strength she gained from strong emotions was terrifying.

So, to avoid the lips that sought his innocence, Muchen covered her mouth with his right hand.

"Mmph!" Her hot tongue slide across his palm, sending a chill down his spine

"You are moving a bit too fast for my taste. At least ask me out on a date before." He flipped her to the ground, holding her down with force.

The hand did more than hold her at arm's length. The pill hidden in his palm slipped into the mouth of the woman thrashing with passion. Understanding that it would be harder to make swallow in her current situation Li Muchen had made the pill in a way that it dissolved when touched with saliva.

It took but a few moments for the medicine to slide down Zhi Rou's throat and spread throughout the body from the stomach. Given the half-conscious state, the pill had been programmed to follow the Qi pathways from the stomach to other meridians and eliminate the poison that had taken root.

"She's finally calm." He took his hand away from Zhi Rou's mouth as her heavy eyelids lowered.

Now pacified, Li Muchen placed on the hay mattress and covered her with the blanket. The blackness of the Plum blossom on her forehead started to recede by a hair's width a moment. According to his calculations, the process would take at least twelve hours.

During that time, he couldn't leave as the antidote had to be administered every half an hour. Since the poison had stayed in her for a while, the chance of her going out of control remained high.

Even after preparing everything in advance, there is still a chance for things to go awry. Li Muchen gazed at Zhi Rou's pale skin.

Opening her mouth slightly he could see the cuts in the lower lips and tongue made from her resistance against the poison.

One of the reasons he came to Heaven's Pond around this time was to meet Gu Yingyue and save Zhi Rou.

In the future, Zhi Rou couldn't get the antidote in time and the Peach Blossom blackened completely. In that state the poisoned was reduced to a mindless animal, in that moment they can't identify between friend or foe such was the common point of all Black Blossom variants.

To avoid killing Yingyue in her craze, Zhi Rou chose to end her own life.

They only got her because they went after Yingyue. Incriminating their Sect on the side to keep them busy on all ends. And from there, Purple Cloud Sect's true downfall began.

However, Li Muchen had dampened the effect of the initial plan. And with this, he had taken another step to prevent more cracks from emerging in the monument called Purple Cloud Sect. What was left was to bring the antagonistic relationship between Azure Sky Sect and Purple Cloud Sect to an end, thus strengthening the relations between the Four Major Sects of the Continent.

Two more… Two more steps and it will be achieved. Li Muchen could take care of the third step, but Wang Yang was the only one who could handle the fourth.

Like the sun tailing the night, he waited for Zhi Rou to recover. The tar-like blackness waned, one petal at a time before the center faded into her skin.

Muchen could hear the roosters from the village when Zhi Rou's long eyelashes fluttered. She appeared to be in a daze, but it wasn't like the one before.

"Arhhhhhhhhh!" She shot out of the bed, kicking her blanket. Her scream loud enough to rouse the village if it wasn't for the concealment formation.

"S-S-Senior Li… T-T-That wasn't me I swear!" Her voice cracked, not a hint of calmness on her red face.

"What are you talking about?" Muchen tilted his head.

"Y-You know… last night…" Even in that state, Zhi Rou remembered what she had done. Such a scandalous act was too much for her normal self to fathom.

"Did something happen last night?" However, Li Muchen acted dumb for her sake.

"…Nothing happened last night?" She asked, her voice meek as a little child.

"Nothing happened." He said.

"You aren't lying?"

"I am not."

"Really?"

"Really."

Li Muchen's unfaltering smile made Zhi Rou question if her mind had played tricks on her. She could've sworn she remembered pushing him down. But now it all felt like a fabricated memory, one born out of her drugged state.

"Come now, take a seat so I can monitor your situation. Yingyue is probably worried sick." He said.

"Understood, also I am really thankful for your help." Zhi Rou's face returned to seriousness, still maintaining a healthy blush.

"You can save that for later." With the poison and the antidote gone from her body, Muchen examined her physical state in detail to administer extra medicine. But he had some questions that she needed to answer so he could understand the situation.

"So, how did Gu Yingyue, a successor for the Abode Head fall into a situation where she only had one bodyguard with no contact from the Gu Family?" He asked.

"About that…" Zhi Rou hesitated.

"You don't have to tell if you can't." He reassured her.

"It's not like I can't tell Senior Li, rather if I do you may get in trouble too with how the Purple Cloud Sect is."

"The Azure Sky Sect may be at odds with Purple Cloud Sect but I have a good relationship with your Abode Head, Gu Yue. If I leave her disciple in trouble and something happens, that woman won't let me rest in peace." Muchen said.

"…...That does sound like her." Zhi Rou smiled a little, that was all the joy she could find in that moment.

Rather than a collective organization like Azure Sky Sect where all the Peak Masters were the disciples of the Sect leader. The Purple Cloud Sect was more of a collection of five major and twenty small families that came together to form a single sect, one of them being the Gu Family.

The Sect had no Sect Leader, rather the patriarch of each major family participated in the council that overlooked the Sect while also maintaining the tug of war under the table.

The second strongest in the Purple Cloud Sect was Gu Yue, the current matriarch of the Gu Family.

Both Muchen and her were from the same generation and held considerable power in their respective sects. Their numerous encounters had forged a strong friendship between them.

"You shouldn't stand on ceremony with me. It isn't like you are a stranger to me either, I have seen you grow up." Muchen patted Zhi Rou's shoulder with a gentle smile.

"When you pull that argument, I have no choice but to comply…" Zhi Rou fell silent for moment to gather her thoughts before continuing, "Senior, do you remember Gu Changge? He's back."

"Wasn't he executed? Could it be someone using his name and identity?" Li Muchen tried to give a sound assumption one would make. "After all, he was executed 20 years ago for using a Demonic Cultivation Method and went on a rampage."

The execution of Gu Changge was done in secret and only people trusted by the Gu family's head knew about the truth. To the rest of the world, a rising star simply died on a journey because of Demonic Cultivators along with his group. Li Muchen had heard the news straight from the one who carried out the punishment.

"That did happen, he may have been Lady Gu Yue's older brother but she didn't shrink from her responsibility as the matriarch. I helped her bury his body in the Shan mountains because they couldn't let a demonic cultivator rest in the ancestral mountain." She said.

"So, did you go check the burial site?" He asked.

"Yes, we had to after the letter in his name arrived at the Family's main house. He promised that he would destroy the family who did him wrong. Only the direct family knows of the estate's location so it caused a stir. With the unrest caused in the Purple Cloud Sect by the recent events, only a few people could take on this task. Thus, it fell on Lady Gu Yingyue and me."

"So, after putting the sect in peril he spread the manpower thin before sending a provocation, knowing the number of people who could follow up was limited. It seems like a deliberate move to bring out the current successor of the Gu Family." Li Muchen looked at her with an indifferent expression. "But his target wasn't Yingyue in the end, was it?"

"He has always disliked me, no it is better to say he dislikes anyone with more talent than him. But there is a bigger purpose here. Steward Han was killed last month when he left to gather Xingqin fruit for Lady Gu. There was an attempt on Lord Gu Jun's life two weeks ago while he was returning from the Purple Cloud Sect. He is still receiving treatment for his fatal wounds. And then the attack on me using Lady Yingyue…" Zhi Rou stopped speaking.

"Essentially, he wants to isolate Gu Yue. Going in order of people who found out about his Demonic Cultivation Method, the people she trusts the most." Li Muchen smiled at the pattern. "He might be coming for me sometime in the future too."

"Unlikely, only I and Matriarch Gu know that you have this information. And we won't divulge it to anyone to get you involved." Her voice turned firm.

"What are you talking about? I am already involved, aren't I?" He chuckled, he wouldn't step away even if they asked him to.

"…My apologies." Zhi Rou's voice deflated.

"Don't worry about it. If the Gu Family is weakened then the balance in Purple Cloud Sect will collapse. In turn power shifts will happen on a major scale across the Twelve Minor Sects eyeing the position. When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman gains. So, ignoring this is detrimental to my sect too." Muchen was already involved in the whole fiasco, now he'd simply get into it officially.

"You are once again looking at the bigger picture. Lady Gu was grateful for your consideration in the ambush cases too…." Zhi Rou's sparkling eyes turned to him. "If someone like you was in Purple Cloud Sect, we would've become a monolith sect by now."

"Give it up."

"Come on, Matriarch Gu Yue is a great match for you, everyone thinks so." She insisted, her face turning a deeper hue of red. "…But if you prefer me then…"

"Come to think of it, what were you asking about last night?" He faced her head-on.

"Please forgive me for I have been immature!" She bowed immediately.

"Apology accepted. Now, go meet the kid before she grinds her feet walking in circles." He nodded to himself, finally acquiring a card to counter her pestering.

"Ruthless as always." She muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, I'll go now!" Zhi Rou rushed down the stairs at breakneck speed.

Exiting the door on the first floor she saw Yingyue walking in circles thirty steps away from house chewing her fingernail.

Like a gust of wind, she arrived behind the troubled youth. A soft smile on her lips as a pang of guilt pierced through her heart. Wondering what would've happened if Li Muchen didn't meet them.

"Lady Yingyue." But now wasn't the time to think about what could've been.

Zhi Rou's voice froze her in place like someone had hit her on the head with a rod. She turned around slowly, making sure to see the woman in front of her.

"Haven't I told you not to chew your nails? That's very unladyli-"

Yingyue interrupted the sermon with a hug. However, Zhi Rou didn't have it in her to chide the trembling girl in her arms.

"I… am glad that you are safe, aunt." Yingyue choked but still got her words out in her chest.

"What is this? Aren't you the one who normally wants me to get out of your hair?"

"I swear… I'll never say that again."

"Then, I'll keep bothering you till I am all wrinkly." Zhi Rou spoke with an impish smile.

"…Isn't that a bit too much?" Yingyue said after a pause.

"Tsk Tsk, so you are all talk after all. I should've known."

Yingyue smiled at the obvious teasing, her eyes started to water at the thought of never hearing it again.

Li Muchen walked over on the banter and let them be. He couldn't sense Wang Yang and Kexin in the village. Since the token failed to tell their location, they should be at Heaven's Pond with Sun Lingling.

"Before I take you to a safe place, I need you two to understand two things." Li Muchen got Zhi Rou and Yingyue's attention away from the reunion.

"First, contact the Gu Family and report Zhi Rou dead and contain the news within the main family for now." He set up the first task.

"That's a good plan. Lady Gu has recently had doubts about a leak." Zhi Rou understood the benefits in an instant.

Yingyue had something to say but decided to comply for now.

"Second, not a word about the place I am about to take you to." He stressed this point.

"Don't worry, we will keep it a secret for the rest of our lives." Zhi Rou assured him with a smile.

A few minutes later…

"There is no way someone can keep this place a secret!" Her voice echoed in the cavern when she faced the Heaven's Pond.

The unfathomable treasure had them wide-eyed.

 

[Overload69]

Faced with the golden pond overflowing with Qi, Zhi Rou and Yingyue had different reactions.


One had been stuck in place after her initial outburst. The second one slowly took the sight in. Careful to not miss a single detail.


"This is… really something." Yingyue felt the extraordinary Qi whirling through her body.


Even without Muchen explaining, the two could instinctively understand how miraculous this place was. And they were standing right there, right in front of a treasure that could start a Sect War.


"It's not like I am asking you to keep the secret for free." Li Muchen sliced in.


"You don't mean…?" Zhi Rou's eyes widened.


"I'll let you use it for the duration you are with us." He smiled.


"Heh, good thing my memory is bad." Zhi Rou rubbed her hands together like an evil merchant.


Yingyue shook her head. But her gaze soon landed on the two disciples taking a break from practice.


Kexin noticed her and waved with an amiable smile, which she returned a bit awkwardly. However, when her eyes met with Wang Yang's, he looked away.


Swept away by Zhi Rou, Yingyue didn't have much time to dwell on that. The rest of the day went by in a blur. When she tried the pond, Kexin helped her get used to it. Sun Lingling didn't speak at all too. But her silence was different from Wang Yang's.


He refuses to meet her eyes and left the vicinity as soon as she arrived. The awkwardness had been noted by others too. Prominently by Kexin.


"He is not like that normally. I guess he is focusing too much on training and is burnt out." Kexin swept the issue under the rug with a smile, or at least she tried.


Yingyue understood why Wang Yang behaved like this. That was the reason she couldn't let it be.


Wang Yang's Master (Li Muchen) and her Master (Gu Yue) were the last bridge that connected the two rival sects. If it wasn't for their influence and friendship the conflict between the two sects would've escalated to new heights.


With Wang Yang and her being their disciples, they would meet often and needed to maintain the friendly relationship they would inherit from their Masters.


She could ignore this and try to build a strong friendship with the other two disciples, but it wasn't like her to ignore a grudge.


But how would she go about fixing the situation?


This was the first time Yingyue had to think about such things.


***


A few days had passed since Zhi Rou and Yingyue entered the cavern.


Three hours ago, another day came to an end and night fell. At least according to the clock. The cavern remained lit as everyone retreated to their cabins.


Everyone aside from one.


"15,987… 15,988… 15,989…"


Wang Yang kept swinging his sword. Each of his slash laced with strength from his muscles. He practiced each stroke shown by Li Muchen from his memory over and over. From the 16 slashes, the current one was the 13th.


However, when he played his movements next to his Master's, he couldn't help but frown.


He finally understood why people use the swan and frog in that idiom. His flaws remained apparent even when he compared them to Lingling's methodical swings to Kexin's gracefulness. But next to Muchen, they popped out like mud stains on white silk.


He had been practicing for the same time as his fellow disciples, yet the result varied greatly. They were closer to Li Muchen than him.


"…I have to have it down, the way master moves." Wang Yang wiped the sweat off his forehead. The clothes stuck to his body as his breathing fell out of rhythm, yet he wanted to continue.


"You see that's where you are wrong." That's when a voice came over his shoulder.


He whipped his head in the direction of the voice. There Yingyue stood in simple clothes, her long hair tied in a single ponytail with a white ribbon.


"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop." She had been seeking an opportunity to talk with him alone over the past three days, and it arrived today.


"…It isn't your fault." Wang Yang looked away once again. His voice remained distant.


It looked like he would walk away again, but after a short silence, he opened his mouth.


"What did you mean by that?"


Yingyue smiled. He was new to cultivation. Thus, comments like this would catch his attention, prompting him to continue the conversation even if he didn't like her.


"Well, it is a bit embarrassing to say this, but I really admire my Master. So much so that I want to be just like her." Yingyue scratched her cheek for a moment as a wry smile formed on her lips. "But it was different at first, I hated her."


"What?" Wang Yang tilted his head.


"Yue (Moon) and Yingyue (Reflection of the Moon). Since my birth others had determined that I'd follow in her footsteps. I was taught the way she learned, and I was expected to do the things she did. Being trapped in that box, it felt suffocating so I tried to break out of it." A smile of resignation appeared on her face. "But in a twist of fate, every strength of mine mirrored hers. I couldn't break out of it, the cage that trapped me. That was until I met her. In anger, I threw a fit forgetting all the manners the family had taught me and complained to her."


Wang Yang saw her chuckle as if remembering a fond memory now. But how did her mind change so drastically?


Yingyue stepped towards the tunnel, beckoning Wang Yang to follow. In silence, the two arrived outside. The pleasant, breezy night welcomed them, their gazes drawn to the stars peeking through a canopy of whispering leaves.


The stars, that looked so small shone with stellar radiance on the black canvas.


"Now, I'll ask you the same question she asked me that day." She said without taking her eyes off the sky. "Do you think that every star out there is the same?"


"I don't know… they look pretty similar." He said. The brightness and color were the only differences he could catch.


"Don't they? My Master said that cultivators are like stars. They are the same fundamentally, made of the same things, and ability to reason, yet some shine so brightly while others are barely noticeable. It is true even when two stars are made of the same elements and born in the exact same circumstances." Yingyue sighed. "Still, one can become the brightest star in the night while the other is destined to die in obscurity."


"So, you mean this applies to the cultivators too?" Wang Yang understood that the two stars in this question were Yingyue and her Master.


"Yes, no matter what we try. Every human is different from the one next to them. The difference in habits, morality, understanding, resilience, and situations creates forks in everyone's lives. Everyone walks a path of their own and can never follow someone else's in essence. That is what it means to be unique." Yingyue saw him scratching his head a little. "It is a bit messy, isn't it? I am still trying to figure it out after all. But… I understand that I have a path of my own. Even if I am her reflection in talent and teachings, even if I grew up like she did, my life will be different from hers because of who I am as a human and my experiences. Even if I use the same techniques as her, or wield the same weapons, there will always been differences between the way we do things."


"Wait, do you mean…?"


Yingyue nodded in agreement.


"Don't change yourself to fit the technique, changing the technique to fit you will always be easier. That is the advice my Master gave me before." She said.


Wang Yang thought back on Li Muchen's way of teaching. Whether it was swordsmanship, alchemy, or cultivation. He always explained to them what to do, showed them how to do it, but always let them handle the rest with practice while answering their questions.


Never once did he say Do it just like me.


To Wang Yang who had recently become a cultivator, this wasn't something he'd know from the get-go. The teachers in his city wanted him to follow whatever they said and how they said it. He had carried the same mindset in cultivation unknowingly.


But after listening to this, he understood that he was closer to the answer than he had expected.


"The Azure sky swordsmanship is a versatile one. Peak Master Li had lacked strength compared to his peers, thus he focused greatly on the technical aspect. Your friend Kexin has decent power and technique so she works on her flexibility. As for Sun Lingling, she had power, technique, and flexibility, thus she works on variations." Yingyue had analyzed the disciples in the few days, and her surprise increased with each day. "You have great strength and speed for your realm, all you need is to change the technique to suit your strong points and work on the aspects that can enhance them."


"It is the same set of 16 slashes shared by you four, yet everyone uses them differently based on their strong points. Isn't it fascinating?" Yingyue asked.


Wang Yang could only nod in return. His mind sailing through his memories. There he saw the small changes he had instinctively made to the techniques.


The extra lift when doing a downward slash. The missing step when driving a thrust. The wider arc in the horizontal slash. The increased recovering time after the diagonal slash.


The previous flaws in the techniques came together. They showed him that the parts he looked at as flaws had started to shape up his own variation of the Azure Sky swordsmanship.


"…Thank you, Yingyue." Wang Yang smiled.


The heavy stone on his shoulders had been removed. Unlike Yingyue he had tried to follow the path of his Master in swordsmanship thinking it was the only way, that held him back.


"…I was just being nosy, so you don't have to thank me." Yingyue looked at the sky for a moment, accepting that this was a good moment. "I also wanted to apologize to you again, just like I did to Kexin."


"Apologize?" Perplexed, Wang Yang looked over.


"Yes, I was a bit heavy-handed when checking your identity. You have a strong bond with Kexin, so I understand that you are upset because of… what I did." She clenched her robe, knowing she would be the same in his position.


"Oh?" However, Wang Yang scratched his head. "I was upset with you?"


"You weren't?" Her eyes widened at his cluelessness.


"I am upset, but not with you." Wang Yang said shaking his head. "The reason Kexin pushed me away was because I wasn't ready for a battle. If it was a real enemy she would've died and all I could've done was watch. I had vowed to not let that happen again, but my old habits got in the way. I was simply… upset with myself."


"So, you haven't been avoiding me because you were angry?" Yingyue asked.


"I wasn't avoiding you… more like I was focusing on training so I can improve." Wang Yang smiled. "You don't have to worry about it. I would've done the same as you if Kexin was poisoned… No, I don't think I would've been able to think so calmly in that situation. If anything, I think you were amazing."


"A-Amazing you say?" The unexpected praise caught her off-guard.


"Yeah, you also helped me with practice and apologized even when you did nothing wrong. I have to say you are super amazing Senior Gu." Wang Yang gave her a big thumbs up.


"W-Well, if you say so." She cleared her throat, unable to meet his eyes. The innocent praise without ulterior motives shook her heart.


A little distance from them a shadow moved down the birch tree. Under the moonlight's illumination, the white sleeves of the robe fluttered towards the nearby cave.


They have gotten close on their own. Li Muchen smiled.


The reason he ignored Yingyue's presence in the village and let the disciples meet her, there were many reasons for that. But the reason he brought her to the Heaven's Pond was only one, Wang Yang.


In the now-voided future, Wang Yang and Gu Yingyue had developed a great bond because of their similarities and nature. A bond that was about to become stronger through ceremony.


However, because of the dire state of the Purple Cloud sect, the stubborn Gu Yingyue chose to stay with the Gu Family and perished at the hands of Gu Changge.


Li Muchen had seen a change in Wang Yang after that, one that almost killed him down the line. So, given the chance, he wanted to see the harmonious future his future disciple couldn't have.


I did my job of bringing them together, what they become after this isn't under my control. Li Muchen entered the pond, his eyes gleaming in green light. But it is my duty to not let them meet the same end again.


A better future, not only for his disciples but for everyone he knew. That was what Li Muchen wanted.


"Being the matchmaker is unexpectedly quite fun." He chuckled.


However, a problem arose soon after that.


Li Muchen was setting up new traps for the rabbits and boars in the forest around evening when his token buzzed.


When he accepted the sound transmission, Kexin's voice came without a hint of calmness.


Master, Wang Yang has disappeared in the tunnel!

 

[Overload69]

A week had elapsed after Yingyue and Wang Yang had their midnight discussion. Since then, she had taken it upon herself to be his sparring partner as Kexin and Lingling busied themselves in their practice.


Her ample experience shone through the tips she gave Wang Yang. Muchen also kept an eye on them from a distance. This exchange with Yingyue would bring about substantial growth in his disciple, a type of growth that came without hardship in exchange.


Wang Yang sat on the soft dirt, his sword on his lap. His eyes closed as the mind went into meditation. The white qi flared up for a moment before forming an even layer alongside his body. Taking that sign, he placed his right hand on the sword's handle and exhaled.


The stable qi encroached on the sword an inch at a time, pushing back the silver qi that the blade exuded. Beads of sweat ran down Wang Yang's forehead as he tried to match the sword's wavelength with his qi. The pathways in the sword were much like the one he had, thin, numerous, and complex. However, moving Qi outside his body became several times harder.


Even after he memorized the pathway pattern and structure of the sword, it was like transversing a maze without sight.


"Guh!" Wang Yang fell flat on his back as the sword's rejection sent his arm reeling.


"You were halfway there, such a shame." Yingyue muttered from the nearby rock.


"I…Is it normal for it to hurt this much?" Wang Yang groaned. His hand still trembled in agony.


"Normally it shouldn't hurt that much, but it looks like you have weaker mental resistance than normal. So, the pushback is more prominent." Yingyue said.


"That's bad." Thinking that he'd have to go through the same pain over and over till he succeeded didn't help at all.


"Don't feel down. Connecting half of the Qi pathways in sword after only one month of training, your talent is clear. It shouldn't take you more than a few months to become a full-fledged sword cultivator. That's faster than 80% of them, so bear with it." Yingyue smiled.


"I almost don't feel the pain anymore." Wang Yang laughed.


He left to give Li Muchen a report on his daily training as usual. And after hearing of his results, a small party was in order. Leaving them in the main cabin, he had left the cavern for preparations.


"…So, what should we do with this break while Master is out gathering ingredients?" Kexin asked.


The one who got them this brief four-hour break and feast was her. She succeeded in forming a pill from the seeds and passed the test for alchemy with flying colors.


"I am going to explore the caves." Wang Yang stood up.


There were about five caves inside the cavern and they ran deep from what they had seen so far. But aside from Li Muchen, no one had entered them yet.


"There you go again." Kexin sighed.


"Don't be like that, there could be treasures in there." His eyes were already shining at the prospect. "Even if we don't find anything, it can be a fun experience."


"I suppose there's no harm in it." Yingyue supported it.


Muchen had told them that they were free to move in the cavern, including the caves. Kexin decided to follow the upbeat Wang Yang with Yingyue tagging along.


Sun Lingling stayed behind to rest while Zhi Rou remained for watch duty in Muchen's place.


"This one smells like a treasure." Wang Yang nodded facing the cave behind Kexin's cabin.


"What are you, a Gold-seeking rat?" Kexin asked.


"Not that I am aware of? Maybe I have a nose of one?" He laughed.


The cave had nothing of note aside from starting in the rock wall, just like the other caves in this place. However, Wang Yang's steps seemed confident as he led the other two with a luminous stone lamp.


"Slow down, and watch your step." Kexin chided him.


The slippery and rocky surface of the cave didn't give them much trouble. But the high ceiling was adorned with stalactites, sharp and jagged, like nature's frozen daggers. So, a sense crisis loomed over their heads.


The only good was that the tunnel wasn't deep, it took them 20 minutes to come in front of a rock wall marking the end.


"There wasn't anything special aside from the stalactites." Yingyue couldn't feel anything special even after she examined the walls.


If anything, the place seemed too ordinary.


"That was a waste of time, let's head back then." Kexin had already turned around when a bright flash of light came from behind, dying the cave white.


"Gah!" The high intensity of the light blinded Yingyue.


After two breaths the light died down. Kexin turned around and noticed Yingyue had her eyes closed, still maintaining her balance thanks to the wall.


"…Yang?" However, she couldn't find Wang Yang.


The lamp that should've been in his hand rolled to her feet. The jagged rock wall from before now had thousands of intricate lines. The geometrical pattern formed by these lines along with cursive letters along the circumference pulsated with white light, the same light that had shone a moment before. What happened was easy to understand.


"Xiao Yang!" With a scream, she tried to rush towards the rock wall.


"Kexin, calm down. You can't rush in like that." Yingyue caught the panicked Kexin based on the sound, her voice akin to a calm lake. "These types of traps are rare, so touching them carelessly can lead to damage stranding Wang Yang on the other side. We must contact Senior Li immediately. I'll stay here so don't worry and go."


"Y…Yes." Clenching her fist, Kexin rushed out of the cave.


***


After he received the call, Li Muchen wasted no time to make his way back. Entering the cave, he came face to face with the culprit of this situation, the Translocation Formation.


"This wasn't here when I checked the place." Muchen noticed the presence of rock powder just below the formation, another new component compared to before.


"It looks like its lines were hidden. With properties similar to Heaven Binding stone it is no wonder this went undetected." Yingyue's rubbed her pained eyes.


Even to make contact with Muchen they had to leave the cavern as Qi couldn't escape this mountain nor could it enter from outside. Thus, a simple layer of rock could turn formation detection devices useless in here.


"This is rather worrisome." Li Muchen muttered examining the formation. "A formation made using the Five Phases structure. It only works when the perfect balance of five elements is present. But this formation is broken in one place with deterioration along its core structure. Logically it shouldn't even activate, much less work."


Muchen stared at the missing part of the outer circle of this formation. It was around his shoulder's height, there a familiar qi lingered in the gap wide enough for one finger.


"So, that means Wang Yang was able to connect the formation with his body." Yingyue noticed it too. "If that is true then…"


"His body has a perfect balance of five elements. His finger happened to connect the broken line." Li Muchen sighed, he had seen and heard of such cases multiple times. "This was simply dumb luck."


The situation left Yingyue flabbergasted.


Formations weren't that simple. For someone to connect a broken formation with their finger perfectly while having the perfect qi to run it? The odds for that were so low that no one bothered to calculate. However, it happened right in front of her.


"Yingyue, relay the information to others. I'll have to fix this formation, that is the only way to bring Wang Yang back." He said, taking out a scroll from his storage ring.


"As you wish... Kexin seemed worried, what should I tell her?" Yingyue asked.


"Tell her to get used to it." He said.


With a wry smile, she walked towards the exit. Cruel, but that was the best thing they could tell Kexin now that they had become cultivators.


Left alone, Muchen unfurled his scroll. On the yellow paper spread on the floor were drawings of numerous tools. Picks, hammers, chisels, brushes, needles, pikes, rulers, clay, and colors.


There was no mention of this formation in the future. Wang Yang had stumbled across something that neither the Demonic Cultivators or the Alliance found. All that just because he happened to be the perfect puzzle piece that touched the perfect point.


If he had touched any other point on the formation, the structure would've collapsed. Burying the secret behind it.


"For now, I have to restore the missing part and the damage done to it by time." The formation had other cracks too, they hadn't broken the circuit yet but a few more uses could do that.


Formations came in many forms. Special flags and stones needed to be arranged in perfect order to form a majority of them. Some eccentric people exchanged the stones for gems, trees, or cloth. As long as they could arrange a set number of Qi conductive element, the Formation masters would use it.


However, this formation was ancient. It belonged to a time when the entire formation was created at once. Such formations had potent power, but as long as a single fault roused its head in the structure the entire formation would become scrap.


And Li Muchen had to repair a formation that teetered on the verge of scrap.


To start the repairs, he touched the drawing of the fine brush in the scroll. In the next moment the brush appeared in his hand, the brush was made of fine Horned horse's tail hair with its horn for the body.


With the brush, he copied the array on a sheet of rice paper. Next, he closed in on the wall with a piece of glass. It was a fragment of Vidya Demon's mirror that allowed him to see Qi pathways embedded inside the stone.


Muchen couldn't see them horizontally because of the stone's property. So, he had to memorize the vertical order to match the pathways and connect the formation with proper measurements.


After noting it all down he drew a reference piece on the paper. Calculating the angles and curvature of the pathways and formation, even a single mistake could cause the formation to break.


The moment of truth. Li Muchen took the piece of transmuting clay from the scroll and tore out a fingernail-sized ball.


With closed eyes, he imagined the drawing of the piece he made in his mind. His Qi entered the clay mixed with the rock powder on the floor to kickstart the process. As soon as the clay gave a dim glow, he stuck it on the formation's damaged part. His finger still touching the clay.


Under his guidance, the clay elongated and spread apart. As if it had a mind of its own it filled the crack and reformed the formation according to the numbers inputted. In the next moment, the clay turned into the same material as the rock face, giving it a dusty brown color. Taking a total 90 minutes to make this work.


"The residual flow of Qi seems good, but a little shaky." The Qi moved about the lines uninterrupted, but to fortify the formation Muchen continued to use the clay and fill in the tiny cracks he noticed over the next three hours.


The formation was now born anew without a single leakage. Given the ancient design and deterioration of the formation, there weren't many in the world who could fix it with such swiftness. The only reason Muchen could do this was because of his prepared tools and years of experience with formations and repairing them.


"I owe it all to this brat."


Muchen slapped five elemental talismans on the formation, one at each gate of the corresponding element on the outer circle of the formation.


The qi flowed in from the gates and circulated in the outer circle each color trying to overlap the other. As it whirled the five-color line soon turned pure white. The now five-element qi bled into the inner circle, lighting up the heliographic symbols and patterns one at a time.


The formation turned white as a blinding flash washed over Li Muchen. His body floated as if the ground slipped beneath his feet. But the weightlessness remained for a moment before he found solid ground.


"Another cave… but I can't tell the location." Muchen looked back at the similar formation on the previous rock wall. But this one seemed in better condition, aside from warmer temperature.


The darkness of the cave was cut by a ray of light two steps in front of Muchen. It was one of the extra lamps he had his disciples carry around. The light was enough to make a portion of this cave visible.


The cave's walls, floor, and ceiling were bone dry just like the corpse leaned against the wall. Facing the bony remains was a painting that hung on the opposite wall. Next to the corpse was a blue cover book, it yellowed pages open wide in the cave with no airflow.


There, Wang Yang sat crossed-legged right next to the metallic skeleton.


Muchen could read the words on the page from his position.


Harken, ye who dare gaze upon her countenance, for unless thine will be as unyielding as the firmament itself, thou shalt be consumed without quarter. Those of frail mind and spirit shall find no mercy in her, for she is fashioned in the likeness of the Creator.


Yet, I tell thee, no soul is more accursed than she within the Three Realms. To thee who read these words, I beseech thee—nay, I implore thee with all that I am—grant her peace.


Deliver her from her eternal suffering, and thou shalt be rewarded with a treasure for which even the Saints salivate.


Wang Yang faced the painting, with eyes wide open in horror. His pupils missing the sheen of life, as if his soul was whisked away.


Li Muchen clenched his hand. His eyes stayed on the words at the bottom of that painting.


The Descent of Goddess Nuwa.


"What has he gotten himself into?" His heavy question sunk into the murky air.

 

[Overload69]

Goddess Nuwa, the creator of Humans, the sustainer of balance, and the one who mended the heavens with her hands.


Her name had been spread throughout history as emperors and immortals had claimed to have heard her revelations. They had done many things in her name, claiming it to be her will. Thus, her presence had not only created humanity but also molded it throughout the millenniums.


The descent of Goddess Nuwa. That painting should be in the possession of the Dragon Sovereign of the Northern Sea.


Li Muchen stared at the name with a heavy heart. A pit formed in his stomach, preventing him from looking upwards. The murky and rotten Qi emanating from the painting told him that it wasn't original.


The portrait made in the image of the Goddess gave off a gentle hue, a feeling of being embraced by one's mother as a child. He could never forget that feeling after experiencing it in person. However, the current painting in front of him wrapped around his neck like death's bony hands.


She levitated in the shadows of a broken sky, her form grotesque. The divine now felt wrong, like a beautiful painting smeared with madness.


Her body, the shape of a woman but far from human, skin stretched taut over bones, too thin, too fragile, and yet gleaming with an unnatural sheen as though she were carved from polished porcelain that threatened to crack with each movement. But it wasn't porcelain—it was flesh, pale, cold, and painted over with unnatural light that shimmered like sickly oil.


The serpentine lower half, instead of coiling gracefully, dragged behind her, malformed and grotesque. Scales black as midnight, slick with something that might have been blood, clung to her like the remnants of a nightmare.


Her face was a canvas defiled by a hand that did not know mercy. Eyes wide and hollow, reflected neither warmth nor wisdom—only emptiness, an abyss where sanity had long since dissolved. Around her lips, the faintest traces of a smile lingered, though it was a smile not of kindness but of something far more sinister.


Her hands were tools no longer used for creation but for desecration. One hand clutched a crimson-stained stone, glowing faintly with the dull light of a world that had forgotten its birth.


Robes hung like shredded skin, torn and stained, draped across her figure in a mockery of grace. The colors that bled through the fabric were not vibrant but murky and spoiled.


Even without looking up the image formed in Li Muchen's mind. An image that stood in stark contrast to what he knew. Yet, he didn't look up, because the moment he did he too would end up with his soul whisked away.


"What are the chances to get him out of this with my current preparations?"


Muchen came here with the preparations made to deal with Iron Body Deity's remains, dealing with the fake Nuwa Painting wasn't in his plans. No, he never even dreamt about facing it.


He turned his back to the painting and picked up the book, hoping to get some answers. But what he read seemed to only deepen his frown.


The alphabet system used in the book predated any he had known. The characters didn't match with any regional change or exclusive alphabets he knew. The archaic characters along with hieroglyphics made it even harder to understand a sentence, much less one out of the thousand pages.


The only difference was the page that he had read before, written in characters and writing style used two thousand five hundred years ago. That handwriting and the rest of the book were different alongside the quality of the ink. Suggesting it to be written by someone else.


"It has to be this guy, the Iron Body Deity." Muchen turned to the skeleton covered in rags.


Although it had not a lick of flesh, the bones had a metallic sheen to them. Muchen moved the rags covering the rib cage and saw the words carved into the sternum.


Heaven's Might. He could still feel the Tribulation's power emanating from it, although faint.


Iron Body Deity received a blessing from the heavens since the day of his birth, and it finally manifested when he tried to reach Heaven's pond. But the real question was, how did he end up here?


"He found the painting and that became the reason for his disappearance." The fact had always bothered him. Why would someone who worked to move Heaven's Pond for other people vanish before he could even tell others?


Now it made sense. He was the last person to enter this area and chanced upon the painting. And just like Wang Yang his soul was whisked away.


The original painting of Goddess Nuwa promotes mental recovery and soul strengthening; it is situated in the grandest palace ever created and allows the world to see the beauty of its creator.


But this painting is the opposite of that. It was sealed away in the darkest corner, it does nothing but paint a grotesque image that can one's stomach churn. Thus, its effects are also the opposite, mind break and soul deterioration.


"It killed a man destined to become an immortal with that." Muchen pinched the bridge of his nose.


The chances Wang Yang survived this was 0.00000001% if he was being generous. An impossible odd that even the man blessed by the heaven couldn't overcome. However, could Wang Yang be compared to a man blessed by Heavens?


"You can do it… no, you will. You always come out of these without any problems. Impossible? Luck? Odds? These concepts lose meaning in front of you." Muchen stood up with a deep breath, his gaze lingering on his disciple as a pit formed in his heart. A sense of fear of it not working this time.


"Geez… Even for a Regressed master, raising the son of heaven ain't easy."


Muchen took out seven talismans, red, blue, green, brown, silver, white, and black. He formed a star around Wang Yang using six talismans and stuck the white one to the boy's forehead.


"Revolving Heaven Formation, Activate." Muchen commanded, his voice laced with qi.


The six-talisman glowed in unison and formed a six-pointed star on the ground before a line extended up from each of them to connect to the final one.


This was to strengthen Wang Yang's mental strength and serve as a stronger anchor point so the soul isn't pulled in completely. Even now his soul maintained a connection with the body, making it a good backup.


This gave Muchen more time to prepare and increased Wang Yang's chances although a little as the formation served as a way to monitor his mental state too.


Clenching his fist he made the choice, Muchen took out the necklace hidden under his robes. A milky white pearl, the size of a nail sat in the silver pendant held together by a red string. This item had been with him since the day he became a cultivator.


A gift from his Master for passing the test, an acknowledgment of his grit and determination. This pearl had been fostered by his mental strength over the years, bringing about the culmination of its owner's cultivation. One of the rarest forms of treasure, a Life bound treasure.


As soon as Muchen put the necklace on Wang Yang, the pressure from the murky Qi in the formation dropped. The qi from the painting that had been trying to eat away at Wang Yang had come to a halt, its target now changed to the wall that stood robust to guard the young man.


Now, Wang Yang had been embraced by the pearl, giving birth to a defense that rejected all mental corruption. However, waking up still depended on him.


"Now, it is time to deal with the problems outside." Muchen decided to move things forward to accommodate the deviation.


"Master, where is Xiao Yang?" Kexin asked the moment Muchen walked out of the cavern.


"It will take some time for him to come back." Muchen said, his words didn't change a beat. "You should continue your training in the meantime."


"…Understood." Although she had a lot to ask, Kexin chose to close her mouth.


"Yingyue, Zhi Rou I'll leave the security to you two for the time being." He turned to the two who maintained their calm, having gone through these types of ordeals.


"Senior Li, are you going somewhere?" Zhi Rou asked noticing the sheathed sword in his right hand.


"I have to settle some old scores, you should too." He said leaving through the tunnel.


Exiting the tunnel, he walked down the animal trail. The trees started to get denser, and the sunlight that reached the loose soil started to thin out by the canopy of leaves. He was now on the edge of Tie Province, several hundred kilometers away from the pond. These areas were where he had laid out his traps, and he had caught his prey without fail. But this one wasn't a rabbit.


A man two heads taller than Muchen walked forward, his dirty red hair flowed behind him as his wide shoulders knocked the oak trees down like they were twigs.


"It is good to meet you again, Ordinaire of the Second Genius Generation, Li Muchen." A big smile splayed his face.


"You become quite the sorry sight. Shu Huang, the first disciple of the Fist King from Iron Palm Fortress, the rising star equal to Xiao Miaorui, The Lightning Sword Emperor." Muchen saw the anger flashing on his opponent's face. "But I suppose you left all that behind to join the Demonic Cult, Iron Fiend."


"And whose fault do you think that is?" Iron Feind unwrapped the bandages on his right arm. His palm was big enough to squeeze Li Muchen's head like a lemon, however, a nasty scar ran up his entire palm reaching halfway up his forearm.


"I was here for that kid, but I'll pay you back first." Madness flashed in Iron Fiend's eyes, but more than that was his obsession. "I'll pay you back for every bit of humiliation you've made me go through!"


With words akin to a fiery storm, he arrived in front of Muchen in a blink. His thunderous fist met the sheathed sword. The clash turned the trees around them to splinters as the ground cried under the weight.


Iron Fiend's Qi flared as if announcing his cultivation level. Third Lamp of Nascent Soul Realm. Such was his strength, overshadowing Muchen by a whole major realm.


"I'll crush you to bits along with the sword you are so proud of!" Iron Fiend's frontal kick sent Muchen flying back even after he blocked.


Crashing through a small hill, Muchen landed on his feet. Not a hair out of place. He looked at the mad bull obliterating the hill to charge at him with fists full of fury.


It was the moment that every action of his since the regression was made for.


Attacking the Cult members, tricking them with the illusion, catching and sending Fu Yuzhe to Gu Changge, disrupting his plans for Purple Cloud Sect to bring him to a crossroad, forcing him to send out Iron Feind to get Wu Kexin, then placing his traces to draw in Iron Fiend.


The culmination of all that planning was to catch Iron Fiend alone. Gu Changge's equal and one of the Four Demonic Generals that brought the downfall of the Four Major Sects on the Eastern Continent. It was all for this face-off.


For Li Muchen, failure wasn't an option at this point.

 

[Overload69]

Two years.


It has been two years since I woke up from that dream.


A dream of the future where I joined the Azure Sky Sect. It was a long dream, a dream with half of the colors missing. A dull dream. A dream that I always wanted to wake up from.


"Yang'er get up or your mother will get angry." My father peeked into my room, a bump of his head as his voice seemed deeper than normal.


"I am already up." I turned to him already putting my pillow in place.


"C'mon now, how come you don't get in trouble with your mother for stuff?" He pouted, acting the child my age should.


"Tian, Wang'er come quick. The breakfast is ready."


The opposite of his childishness was my mother's authoritative voice, it reverberated in the entire house whenever my father made a mistake. Which happened more than it should've.


"Let's go before she gets mad with me again, if I get hit a few more times I'll grow horns." My father picked me up and bolted for the kitchen, it was our ironclad rule to not mess with mom.


Our house wasn't that big so we arrived in no time. The kitchen itself doubled as a dining room with a low table on the right side of the entrance. On it were two bowls of noodle soup and steaming dumplings.


"Take a seat you two, any more time and it wouldn't taste as good." My mother said, her back towards us.


She stirred a pot, cooking some soup for the orphan children in the nearby city. Every morning, she would get up at dawn and start cooking, she had breakfast before us. I still can't wake up early no matter how much I tried.


"Oh! It tastes so good! The vegetables must be rejoicing that they get to be part of such a good dish."


As usual, my father sang praises of the food, only to get no reaction from my mother. I suppose even the greatest compliment loses its value if not used sparingly. But I understand his zeal, I feel the same way.


However, I don't say it out loud like him.


"Thanks for the tasty food, mom."


"It makes me happy that you liked it. I'll make some for you tomorrow too."


I don't want to miss on this part like my father, it makes me happy.


"You'll eat it right?" She asked


"I will!" I picked up the cup of water.


Why wouldn't I eat food made by my mother?


"Is it all I wan—ted!"


A second voice resounded in my head. It sounded like mine but it had lost its childish touch, just like the voice I had in that dream. The face reflected on the water was mine, but older.


I rubbed my eyes but the face remained, staring at me unblinking. Why won't it go away? Why is it reaching out to me?


I don't want it… I don't want to return to that dream. I don't want a world without…


"…ang'e… Wang'er…" My mother's voice brought me out of the daze.


"You are going nowhere." She said, her arms around me. "You'll stay with me forever, won't you, my son?"


"Yes… Yes, I will." Leaning into her body I grabbed her white robes, the familiar scent of jasmine filled my heart.


If I can, I don't want to live in a world that lacks this warmth.


"Bye bye mom, I am going to the temple!" I waved goodbye to my mother and ran out of the house.


The scrolls and brush box should be heavy for my body, but I didn't feel any problem with it. Bolting down the road to the city I waved to my father who took care of the orchards before reaching the city gates.


Near the gates was a temple that taught children of the city for free, I have been studying how to read and write here. There was also a cultivator that visited us often.


I can't wait for the stories about immortals today. With a smile, I climbed the temple stairs.


And right outside the gate was my teacher, a monk, and a man with a stern face wearing expensive clothes.


"So little Kexin wouldn't be coming to school from now on?" The teacher asked, his voice full of worry.


"Yes, her engagement has been finalized. So, we have to teach her in the finer arts." The man said, he was the complete opposite of my father.


"Finer arts? Looks like little Kexin is marrying in a good house, I will handle the procedure on our end. Also congratulations." The Teacher sounded relieved as I passed by.


Engagement… I remember it happens before marriage from what Father explained. But the bigger shock was to see someone similar to my age getting engaged. It was as good as sealing the deal for marriage, I think?


Well, it doesn't have anything to do with me. Once the thought entered my mind, the rest of the day flowed like water. Before I knew it night had arrived and we had dinner at home, dumpling soup, and honey roast chicken.


Soon after I went to bed, this time swearing that I'd wake up early to have breakfast with Mother. Even if I ask her to wake me up, she says no.


I'll really really wake up early tomorrow. With that, I drifted into sleep.


However, a little later I was stirred awake. It was a gentle tug yet my eyes opened identifying the familiar touch. Sitting up, I located my mother, she stood near the open door with her back to me.


"Yang'er, come with me." She said walking into the corridor.


"Wait! Mom!" I jumped and rushed after her. I didn't know why, but I felt dread building up in my stomach.


She held a lit candle, her steps slow but steady. However, no matter how fast I ran the distance between us didn't shrink, as if we were in different worlds. The corridor kept on getting longer no matter how much I tried, my face paled when the distance grew.


"Mom! Mom! Stop!" My shouts fell on deaf ears, my small legs started to burn.


I stumbled, my face grated against the wooden floor, my twisted ankle swollen. It hurt, this small body couldn't cover that distance. If I… if I don't run fast enough, she'll go away. Mom will…


The realization made my chest tighten, a pain that I was all too familiar with. The pain that came because my mother wasn't there.


"Mom stop!" Maybe it was because I knew that it was time, my voice mirrored the one in that dream.


Same with my body, but I didn't care. With the longer legs, I strode faster than I ever could, the distance shrank as my strength soared.


"Stop right there!" I grabbed her hand bringing her steps to a halt. "Don't leave… Please don't… mom…"


"I am not your mom… you know that, don't you?"


Her words made me freeze in place.


"This is nothing but a wraith made from your wish. You know it is fake, you have been provided with a way to leave, yet you choose to stay behind." Her voice was calm, even though it sounded full of anger, it had gentleness hidden within. "Why are you still here?"


"I…" Why was I here? That much was obvious even to a dull person like me.


"I wanted to meet you, Mom. I wanted to see you." I have only known my mother's voice, that gentle but firm tone, I always remember it before I go to sleep.


But I didn't remember her face. It is a big blur that I can never fill in myself because I have never seen her.


"I am not your mother. I am the spirit of this treasure, a spirit that lures the onlookers into a dreamscape of their most cherished memories and devours them." The corridor started to crack, plumes of dark qi pouring in as she turned around.


Behind the veil of silky black hair was a dark purple hole. No eyes full gentleness, no firm nose, or glistening skin in sight, not even a mouth. Just a hole that seemed adamant on devouring my very being.


"The only reason it didn't work on you is because you didn't even know the face of your mother, along with the intervention of that blasted man outside my hold on you couldn't grow stronger. If it wasn't for him cutting off his vision, I would've eaten a man laden with regrets like that in a moment." She walked towards me, her voice echoing in the corridor. "You will find nothing but deceit and cruelty in me. I shall inflict upon others what has been inflicted on me, that is what I am. That grudge is the sole reason for my existence."


"W-Wait!" My shout was in vain as the corridor collapsed like an old mirror.


"Begone… I don't need a dirty human's sympathy." She turned away once again.


Falling between the shimmering shards I could only reach out to the woman walking away. She granted my wish, although these were short two years and the only thing that resembled my mother was her voice, I saw my family together.


"I promise… I'll free you from this never-ending humiliation." My vision darkened as the memories from before flooded in. The ones I had seen while opening the book.


I saw a woman in a small mansion, a woman more beautiful any I have ever seen. She lived a happy life with her husband, and soon that happiness grew as they welcomed their child.


However, when her husband left the house for work another man arrived.


He slaughtered the village the woman lived in and ate her child in front of her, he dragged her out of the village and slit her throat. Drained her blood, crushed her bones, made a paste of her organs, and separated her nerves. With those, he created a painting, a painting of the woman and trapping her soul in it.


The woman, humiliated, tortured, and trapped for eternity cursed everyone who laid their eyes on her. Her grudges bled through and turned that painting depicting a goddess into a monster of hell that lived to torment.


I swear… I'll help you. And like that, my dream once again came to an end.


"U..gh…" My eyes stung from the sudden burst of light.


However, that light soon dimmed and retracted to the necklace around my neck. Before I could question the situation, my master's voice came into my ear.


Since you have woken up, make your way to the cavern immediately.


"Weird, the voice isn't coming from the token." I muttered, my confusion reaching its peak.


I am conversing through the formation. The answer came timely.


"That is possible?"


Normally yes, but because of the characteristics of this place, it isn't.


How were we talking then?


"It is prerecorded." The voice cut through my thoughts.


"So, you predicted all my questions and recorded the answers?"


"Yes."


"That's… impressive." I couldn't wrap my head around it, this sounded like he was sitting next to me.


"It becomes easy when you know the person well enough."


I wanna do that someday, it sounds kinda cool and mysterious. I wonder what Kexin's reaction to this would be.


"Stop meandering and go out, an attack should be happening on the pond around this time."


"Seriously!" I shot up to my feet, the formation around me dimmed and stopped working.


"Yes, I have been leaving false traces around the forest coupled with yours to mislead the pursuers behind Yingyue and Zhi Rou for some time now. But they should arrive at the cave while I am facing their leader. Go out and help if you can, though you most likely won't have to."


With that as the last message, I picked up the lamp and took a step towards the wall on the left. But my eyes lingered on the painting for a moment.


It was as horrifying as when I first saw it, but nothing happened this time. Like the painting itself was rejecting me. After a moment of thought, I decided to roll it up and take it along with the book. A promise was a promise.


"Where did that corpse go?" I couldn't find the skeleton from before though.


I intended to give it a proper burial before my mind was pulled in by the painting. I guess I'll look for it later.


The formation sent me out without problems, last time it almost made me throw up but nothing happened this time. Rushing out of the small tunnel, I arrived in the cavern.


Heaven's pond was before me as a cacophony of voices echoed.


No doubt the enemies had arrived.


"Let go of me you fucking bitch!" A young man in all black barked.


"You have a foul mouth there, sir. That'll earn you extra punishment." Senior Zhi giggled, tightening the thorned ropes around his body.


"Agh! Gah! B-Bitch!" The guy had his entire torso and arms squeezed, any more than that he might just burst. "K-Kill me!"


The young man was the only survivor of the twenty people that attacked. His comrades formed a pile right next to him. Many cut clean in half, most with several missing limbs, and heads. The attack happened and was taken care of already, just like Master said.


Before I could register, Senior Gu was already in front of me wiping the blood off her sword.


"Wang Yang, glad to see you are safe." She smiled not a drop of blood on her clothes.


"Yeah, sorry to worry yo-AGH!" Before I could finish, a fist landed on my head, a very familiar situation to me.


"Goddamn it! How thick is your skull!" Kexin roared, half in anger and half in pain from her throbbing hand.


Only an awkward laughter escaped my mouth, I didn't know how to explain it but my body had gotten stronger somehow.


"Oh, Junior Brother Wang is back. I didn't doubt Senior Li, but it is good to see you are healthy." Senior Zhi came over, dragging the guy behind her like cattle.


"Aunt, why did you leave one behind?" Yingyue asked.


"To extract information of course. They were only able to plan an attack on us because they had information on my low poison resistance and your position, both of which are confidential information." Senior Zhi said.


"But will he talk? Demonic cultivators are notorious for being tight-lipped. And they have poison too." Lingling said.


"No worries, this lands in my area of specialties." Senior Zhi showed us a purple tablet covered in saliva, probably taken out of the guy's mouth before he could use it. "And Senior Li is nearby too."


"I suddenly feel a bit of pity for him." Yingyue sighed for some reason.


However, before I could ask a question the young man scoffed.


"Senior Li? Iron Fiend will crush that noname bastard, then he'll come here to rip you bitches in half!" He shouted, spit flying and all.


"My My, I am shaking over here." Senior Zhi almost chuckled.


"Is Master fighting someone strong?" I couldn't help but ask.


"Yes, Iron Fiend has a bounty of 50,000 spirit stones. Many cultivators tried but no even their corpses were found." Senior Gu answered, her face a little tense.


The mood turned heavy and our eyes turned to Senior Zhi who just chok-gagged the young man with a rotten fish for some reason.


"I know what you kids are thinking, but I'll only get in the way if I try to help." She said before turning to Senior Gu. "Yingyue, do you remember Lady Gu's favorite line?"


"Ah… I don't fear the person who has practiced ten thousand techniques one time, but the one who has practiced one technique ten thousand times. I believe she heard it from the head of the Buddhist Temple's Victorious Fighting Buddha Hall." Senior Gu said, her eyes shining a little.


This was the first I heard of the saying, but even I could understand the meaning behind it.


"I once asked Lady Gu, what would she feel from a person who practiced every one of the ten thousand techniques ten thousand times?" Senior Zhi smiled turning towards tunnel. "She said, you'll know when you see Li Muchen."


It seemed that my Master was more amazing that I had initially thought.

 

[Overload69]

Shu Huang met Li Muchen for the first time 250 years ago.


At the time the former was making waves in the Orthodox Cultivators for his otherworldly talent and cultivation speed. The latter was also somewhat famous but for the opposite reason.


Gu Yue of the Purple Cloud Sect, Hua Jiahao of the Azure Sky Sect, Dharma of The Buddhist Temple, Han Yue of the Frozen Flower Holyland, Jing Yuan of the Flaming Lion Sect, Mei Ling of the Illusive Dream Palace, and Long Tian of the Dragon Clan.


Each of these era-defining geniuses were part of the same generation as Li Muchen. Each of them soared higher and higher redefining the Cultivation society. Among them was Li Muchen, the first disciple of Sky Mending Siant, someone from the first Genius generation.


Thus, people expected the same from him, yet he failed to deliver. Unlike his fellow disciples, Li Muchen was quickly forgotten as a mediocre cultivator who couldn't even become a golden core before turning 100.


That was when Li Muchen left on his journey and arrived at the Iron Palm fortress to meet with the Fist King. However, he happened to clash with Shu Huang in the market which devolved into a messy fight.


Shu Huang was arrogant, he sat at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm only at the age of 80. Not even the early golden cores could keep up with him at the time, however, he tasted defeat for the first time and by a cultivator of the same realm at that. None of the strikes he was proud of landed, and the arm he claimed to be tougher than iron was split in two. But what hurt more was the look on his opponent's face.


"Oh… sorry about that. I misjudged the strength."


Dead. His opponent's face looked like he wasn't even trying, like this was the same as waking up for him, the same as eating a meal or taking a shit, a mundane task he did every day.


Defeating Shu Huang didn't even need his attention.


The wounds were healed, yet the scars remained. The whispers of the incident became shackles, the talk behind his back stung him like a million daggers. The small changes in everyone's eyes started to grow, the problem wasn't his defeat but who he lost to.


The top genius of a generation lost to the black sheep. Even if the elders and his followers brushed it up as a coincidence or him being unprepared, Shu Huang couldn't accept those words. His cultivation speed plummeted and he couldn't even sleep without facing the uninterested eyes of Li Muchen.


Eventually, the pressure built to the point that he left the fortress to train. And while hunting demonic cultivators, he met someone. A woman covered in clothes as dark as the starless night. She wielded an equally black sword so masterfully that one would doubt the cloth covering her eyes.


"Little one… I can feel your desire for power… your thirst for revenge. It is so sweet and innocent that I can't help but want to take it from you." Her presence was like a flower dyed in blood. "But the hand has to obey the eyes, so make your choice."


She extended towards him her hand, her palm gripping a beating heart. It belonged to the elder who tried to protect him, his uncle by blood who was his only family, someone who raised him. And she wanted him to eat that heart.


The offer was simple, the woman showed no hostility. However, the clothes, the blandness of her voice, the way she walked, even the gaze behind that cloth, it was a thousand times more intimidating than the one in his nightmares. Even then, only one thing dominated his mind.


"Are you saying that you can make me stronger?"


"The strongest on the continent, that should be enough for your goal, right?" The woman smiled for the first time, a maniacal smile of the devil that mirrored Shu Huang's.


"I am in." He chewed on that heart like there was no tomorrow.


That was the day Shu Huang left everything and joined the Demonic cultivators. His only reason was to kill Li Muchen.


"I was sent to track down that kid and Bian Que, but look at my luck!" Shu Huang cackled as he slapped away five flying swords, two of them bent and broke. "I could smell your cowardly ways from a thousand miles, those traps, the little formations, and fake traces!"


Muchen jumped back to avoid the flaming fist that turned the soil into slag. 50% of the forest had been blown to bits by the continuous clashes.


"I didn't expect you to turn into a stalker, let alone stalk a man like that." Muchen said, his tone unhurried.


He had the place in lockdown with a formation so no one else could enter.


"Those taunts of yours won't work on me this time. I know all your methods." Shu Huang tried to give chase, but he noticed the red light shooting out of the ground.


It was a talisman with the characters for 'Explode' blinking bright, the qi flared to warn of a huge explosion. In the moment he jumped back. But his bare feet touched the paper, and not just one. Without the indication of the light or Qi, the stacked talismans exploded with enough force to blow up a mountain.


Shu Huang couldn't feel his left leg and his right foot was without support making him fall in the crater below. A cloud of smoke covered his eyes while his ears rang because of the explosion. Vision, hearing, and freedom of movement, in an instant he had three important aspects of combat locked away.


Knowing the trick, he looked out for the sword's gleam, and sure enough, he saw the green gleam. But instead of one, there were tens of gleams. Flying swords clad in green qi rushed in. He couldn't feel which one was real as they all had the same trace of sword Qi, however only one of them would be fatal. In a hurry, he put his guard up to protect his neck.


Shing!


Five swords dug into his muscles only a little shy of his bones. The sixth sword sliced his right arm from the elbow in a swift motion. The passing wind cleared the smoke and the Muchen sheathed his sword.


"Azure Sky Swordsmanship: Mountain Splitter." Muchen said facing his opponent. "You don't know all of my tricks, you only know the ones I've shown."


"And you don't know anything about me!" Shu Huang smirked. "Dark Semblance: Blood Payment."


The sliced bone elongated and strands of flesh wriggled around it to reform his arm and leg. In less than two seconds his wounds were gone.


"Those expensive talismans of yours went to waste, and a move like that should zap half of your Qi, all for nothing." Shu Huang waved the healed hand in front, his confidence rising. "I will feast on your flesh and blood to wash away my suffering, it will be the perfect winning banquet!"


"I see. You've long crossed the point of no return." Muchen's face lacked any emotion just like his voice, however, in the corner of his heart he felt a sting.


A promising prodigy had turned like this. Why? Because of him?


Being in his position, the first disciple of the Sky Mending Saint came with an equivalent burden. A burden too heavy for his talents. That was what pushed him to a state of despair, a point where he started to doubt his efforts. His actions in those times affected Shu Huang.


Everything the guy did after that, or what he did in the future, all the blood he spilled, and the people he murdered, Li Muchen believed that he was responsible for them too.


So, he decided to end the flames of revenge before they could reach his family this time. Thus, arranging this battle became the first thing he planned for.


Muchen took his stance, his hands gripping the unsheathed as he dropped low. His Qi vanished, every last bit of it covered the edge bathing it in green sword qi.


"I pray that the Tenth Court grants you entry." He said.


"You want the Wheel of Rebirth to accept a Demonic Cultivator?" Shu Huang's body dropped low to the ground. Like a beast ready to pounce he growled at Muchen. "Do you intend to belittle me till the end!!"


Muchen didn't say anything else, the time for words had long passed.


Shu Huang leaped forward. Leaving the obliterated ground in his wake he extended his right hand ahead. A brown claw formed around his palm, the sharp nails slicing the wind. His body covered in Martial Qi was like a chariot charging full speed ahead.


With a smile like the crescent moon, he intended to end his opponent with overwhelming power.


However, Muchen didn't look hurried. He hadn't even moved as the beast in human form closed in. He was far outclassed in speed and strength. It was difficult to rely on normal senses in these situations and he hadn't used any of them till now to dodge the attacks.


Knowing Shu Huang's nature and hatred, only a frontal rush made sense. His ample knowledge of enemies in similar realms showed Muchen the correct time to move or block the attack.


1.63… 0.89… 0.65… 0.43 He waited for his opponent in place as even a fraction of a second could cost him his life.


And the moment arrived soon.


"Qilin Rush!"


"Azure Sky Sword: Mountain Splitter…" Muchen's eyes shot open.


His sword left the sheath at blinding speed. It shot straight to Shu Huang's neck. Seeing the attack his arrogance rose. The strike was swift and powerful but it wouldn't be enough to kill him. Just a slight crack of the neck and the sword would only cut the air.


I've got you! He could already feel his hand crushing Muchen's throat.


That was what would've happened if the attack ended with only one strike.


The sword reaching for his neck seemed to slow down, no it was like the world had stilled. However, this was all an illusion created in Shu Huang's head. In that moment, Muchen's body shifted leaving a silhouette behind, then again, and again, and again.


The process was repeated six times each shift giving birth to a new slash that connected to the previous one. He had used Sword Silk paired with his trick to connect different attacks and bring them down at the same time.


"…Six Fold." Muchen sheathed his sword.


The web of attacks left no escape.


The first cut tore upward, swift and unforgiving, slicing through the air with lethal precision.


The second strike followed immediately, descending with the weight of inevitability, bearing down like a judgment rendered from the sky.


The third slashed diagonally from left to right, cutting across the body, while the fourth swept back in the opposite direction, carving an unmistakable X on Shu Huang's chest.


The fifth strike came in an upward arc, aimed to end any hope of escape. Finally, the sixth and final blow lashed out horizontally at neck level, sealing the onslaught with a line that bisected the enemy in its path.


"…Y…ou…" Shu Huang's eyes stayed wide open, he couldn't even let out the hatred in his heart.


His body fell in pieces and blasted past Muchen, carved apart without mercy, each segment slipping away, life extinguished before he could even realize the battle had already ended.


Muchen stood over the scattered of bodyparts drenched by the mist of blood. His right hand swaying in the wind like silk. 32 factures, his right hand soon swelled up as pain coursed through the minor fractures he suffered throughout his legs and spine.


"As expected, it's still not enough." Muchen muttered, his eyes looking on the horizon.

 

[Overload69]

The plan was a success.


Even though I had put Kexin's life on the line with the little information available, it had ended the life of one of the Four Generals of the Demonic Cult in the Eastern Continent, Shu Huang.


Before returning I had to set up the scene a little. After all, it should look like Shu Huang had died in a battle with Bian Que while trailing Kexin, who was supposed to leave with me to cover their escape.


Dissolving the corpse and the centipede I only left the head. The bounty of his head had to be claimed after all. The spirit stones were one thing, but it was about sending a message.


"These injuries are killing me though." Grumbles left my mouth as I spread the poison and formations I used while battling as Bian Que, also had to leave behind several daggers while also stabbing one in the head to make it a more believable fight.


It took a little over an hour to set up the scene before I stumbled back to the cavern. By that time the minor fractures had been healed by the Healing pills, but my right hand was still unusable.


"Welcome back Senior Li." The only one to welcome me back was Yingyue with her usual respectful salute.


Kexin and Lingling had returned to training, and Zhi Rou was doing her thing in one of the empty tunnels. The only one missing was Wang Yang who was in the mountain village nearby for some reason.


"Sorry to put you on the guard duty, I can take it from here." I said.


"Then, I shall accept the generosity." With quick yet graceful steps, Yingyue made her way to the female side of the pond.


I headed for the pond too. It was the quickest way to heal up.


"It's just like a hot spring, just more showy and dangerous." I felt my tense muscles loosen up by the soothing qi. The broken bones in my arm started to come together like nothing happened, there was some pain involved but mostly negligible to me.


What I had to do was face forward now. Shu Huang wasn't even the most dangerous of the four generals, yet if I didn't have this pool my recovery time would've been way higher and I wouldn't have recovered fully either. As it wasn't my arm alone that broke, a good part of the pathways in my right hand snapped from the overload of Qi too. Normally I should've collapsed at the scene after that attack but I had taken the pills in advance to boost my recovery.


The amount of Qi and snappy movement it took to make that move possible wasn't something my body could handle even at the peak of Golden Core. I was far too weak to even start the true fight, thus I came here first.


And now that the first General was gone, it was time to focus on the second one.


Gu Changge, even if he wasn't the strongest, he was the most cunning one among them.


The damage he had caused was enormous, not just to Purple Cloud Sect but to the orthodox faction as a whole. A ruthless and egotistic maniac who could never see himself in the wrong, that was my next target.


However, the noose was already around his neck. All I had to do now was tighten it. The process was already underway, but it would take more time to lure him into the bottle.


I have to break through Nascent Soul if I want to succeed in this. The goal dangled in front of my face, but only thorns lined my path.


My meridians and qi pathways had certainly increased their durability. They had become equivalent to Heaven Grade Mid rank, a jump of three stages. A miracle really, but that didn't seem enough for my spiritual roots. The bad news was that they had started to approach their limit.


They'd reach the high rank of Heaven Grade for sure, but anything beyond that was impossible with this method. Because of their low level since the start, how much they grow from that point was decided.


Even with pond If I forced cultivation and kept on piling injuries to my pathways and meridians, the time will come when I would be crippled or my potential would reach a ceiling. Both of which I can't let happen.


To deal with that I'd need to use another method, a method that I had used to help Wang Yang in the future.


"But I am no good with pets." I muttered fighting through the headache.


"Pets?"


The question made me open my eyes, Wang Yang was sitting next to me. His eyes unblinking, a great interest in the topic.


"Nothing really, I just remembered the days when I had to take of Bai'er's cats. Those were some tough days." Those cats shattered the confidence I had about being good with animals, they scratched me from hell and back.


"Bai'er?" Wang Yang tilted his head.


"Huang Bai, the one who took you to Plum Peak after the Disciple Selection Ceremony." I said.


"Oh? The pretty and gentle lady from back then, come to think of it she did have scents of multiple cats on her." Wang Yang nodded as if to confirm his own words.


"She's had the nasty habit of taking in every stray she finds, and they all love her to the point that they'll attack others who try to take care of them." Their attachment was too strong in fact.


They wouldn't let me pet them even after I fed them a Rainbow Dragonfish. Ungrateful I say.


Wang Yang laughed a little before silence sunk in, I looked ahead at the wall as he seemed to be thinking some things over. It was understandable after all.


"Master… I am sorry about my reckless behavior." He said finally.


"It's not your fault, that painting was too strong for you. It almost tempted me to look as well." That treasure had a soul of its own, such treasures were rare and equally dangerous.


"If anything, you should be proud of coming out of this alive." Sure, I could reprimand him all day and even punish him. But that would net nothing, no matter where you keep him locked up, trouble would come knocking. That much I was aware of.


"Well, it was thanks to you Master." He said, before he realized something. "Also, thanks for this, it really saved my butt from the looks of it."


He held out the pearl necklace, it still had its usual shine, just a little dimmer from using the stored energy to protect him. But I couldn't take it back from him.


"It is yours now." I said.


"Mine? But isn't this expensive? Senior Gu and Senior Zhi went star-eyed for it." He scratched his cheek.


"Well, it was given to me by my Master. So, its value is quite high even if put moderately." It made me recall the day I got it.


"Then… isn't this important to you?"


Of course, it was important, it was the greatest treasure I had. However, it wasn't for me.


"My Master told me that even if this necklace was in my possession and was made by me, I would never use it." It was specifically made for me to give to someone else. "My mental strength is too strong to be boosted by this, or so my Master said. So, I only fostered it with the mind to hand it to someone in need, and you happened to be the one. It belongs to you now, because you need it for that painting."


Even before regression, I had given this to someone else, I guess I'll need to find a new present for her this time.


"Well, I can't deny that." Wang Yang said. "Master, you are seriously too amazing."


"Not really." However, I couldn't let him think that. "Your Master is a lot weaker than he seems."


In that moment the painting tempted me to look, if I hadn't regressed I don't think I would've been able to stop myself. The nature of that painting was to trap the person's soul in a dream, a dream that they would never want to wake up from while eating them.


People with regrets were its prime targets, like Iron Body Deity who lost his sister and couldn't move on from it. Maybe Wang Yang too wouldn't have broken out of it if not for that necklace, even at that age he had his regrets like anyone.


Sometimes a single regret or a mental shadow can destroy a cultivator, no matter how talented. And I had led a life filled with regrets.


The people I lost, the bonds I couldn't protect, and the mistakes I made, each one of them are fresh in my mind.


"No way Master is weak, Senior Zhi was praising you so much and everyone in the sect also respects you a lot." Wang Yang said, his eyes brimming with admiration. "I really want to be like you, a strong and respected Cultivator."


"Well, you don't have to worry then." I smiled.


"Huh?" His confusion was clear.


"You'll reach higher heights than I ever can, that's my promise as your Master." I patted his shoulder.


He would be stronger than not just me, but anyone in history this time.


"Now, focus on training." I said.


"Yes, Master." Wang Yang's eyes looked firmer than before.


The slight confusion and hesitation that new cultivators had vanished after today's incident. There was only the will to grow stronger now.


***


After dinner, I went to look for the only person missing from the table.


I stepped into the tunnel lathered in concealment arrays. As soon as I stepped in, rugged breaths reached my ears as the scent of iron stung the back of my throat.


In the middle of the dimly lit tunnel, the detained demonic cultivator was strapped to a wooden chair. The spikes digging into his bare bottom made him squirm, and knowing her they should be laced with the strongest chilies found on the continent for extra kick.


Next to the chair was a bucket full of chopped fingers, toes, and molars. One look at the blackened nails of the man and it became easy to understand what happened.


"Zhi Rou, any progress?" I asked.


She looked away from the table full of saws, knives, pikes, some special equipment that I saw for the first time, and many more tools to bring pain and torment.


"None, the guy won't say a thing, or more like he can't." She sighed. "I had my hopes up since he had three brands on his right arm, but their methods are wicked as always."


Each brand represented 100 complete missions for the Demonic cult, the three brands were what made her capture this guy alive. From the looks of it, they didn't find anything on him that could help either.


"You can take a break, I'll handle him." I said, putting on my best smile.


"Well… sure." Zhi Rou looked at the man with some pity for some reason before walking out.


Now that we were alone, I tampered with the formation to disable to recording array. It wouldn't do me any favors if someone heard what would happen next.


"Do your worst, fucking lapdogs."


His hostility filled the cave, even as cultists these guys had quite the pride sometimes. However, it only looked like a joke to me since the only reason they couldn't spill their guts was because of the curse placed on them.


"Don't get so riled up, you are low on blood after all. I only need to confirm some things I got from your leader." My tone always remained amiable when dealing with them, it hid my personal feelings while also bringing uncertainty to the victim.


"T…there is no way you got anything from Iron Fiend, keep your bluff to yourself." He somehow mustered the strength to speak. "Put a dress on you and you'll easily get a job in any brothel run by us, some of our customers have weird tastes after all, but you look no different than a woman. There is no way you could have won against him, let alone get anything out of him."


His taunts were something I heard often, these demonic cultivators really lacked creativity or maybe these worked on orthodox cultivators? Maybe I'll try them someday too.


"But I did get a lot out of him." I walked around him in circles, closing the distance with Shu Huang's black ring. "Things like how Gu Changge directed the attack on Purple Cloud Sect. Their next target. The insider feeding them information about their targets. And that Iron Fiend was sent after Wu Kexin for her Spiritual Root. I know it all because I have the storage ring of that buffoon."


The man trembled the more I spoke, even more so after seeing the ring.


"N-No way. You can't have broken through the defenses so quick!"


"You are correct, I didn't break through it. I haven't even started." My words drained all blood from his face. "But, thank you for confirming my guesses, your sacrifice will be remembered."


"Y-You bas—!" Black blood poured out of his mouth as the centipede wrapped around his heart crushed it into a mush.


Even with the curse placed to forbid them from giving out information, many loopholes existed to get the desired results. I used the one found by the most famous torturer of the future.


Although using such methods wasn't to my liking, I couldn't deny that they worked like a charm.


"So, they are after her spiritual root too." It finally solved the mystery of their attempt on Wu Kexin.


However, a new question arose.


How did they know of her spiritual root before she even had it tested?


A plethora of possible scenarios raced across my mind, but one seemed most likely. To test that, I'd need to wait for the opportune moment.


Which would come soon.

 

[Overload69]

An entire month had passed since the incident with Shu Huang. At that time, the progress of my meridians had come to a halt.


But I stayed until the pond provided results for the disciples. The first one to see no progress after me was Kexin, her case was understandable.


The second was Sun Lingling, her meridians and pathways were perfectly in tune with her spiritual root to begin with, so there wasn't much higher it could go.


Unsurprisingly, Wang Yang was the last one to see a decline in his progress. However, the improvements were jaw-dropping in his case, in a way he profited more from this than all of us combined.


The disciples along with Yingyue and Zhi Rou were making their way to Huang City. I waited outside the tunnel leading to Heaven's Pond. The plan over with, I revamped the protection and concealment formation around this place to the highest level I could.


Even erasing our traces from the nearby village and tying up any loose ends that remained before the demonic sect's spies came along. Now, only the traces of Bian Que's battle with the Iron Fiend remained they sent low-level—disposable—cultivators after.


There they are. And the people I have been waiting for finally arrived.


In front of me stood a team of ten cultivators, three of them wore pure white uniforms with a lotus imprint, one wore a yellow uniform with a chrysanthemum, two with red uniforms along with a tiger imprint, and the other wore pink uniforms with a peach flower.


The young man leading them wore pure white robes matching his short white hair, and his disciple token had a lotus symbol with the name, Lian Xu. Li Xianqian's second disciple. Although he looked unassuming, this kid rivaled my realm in cultivation.


"Sorry to keep you waiting Peak Master Li." He bowed as the team behind him followed.


"Don't worry about it. I know the journey here is quite slow." I waved it off.


"Your generosity knows no bounds."


His overly respectful way of speech hadn't changed yet, even when he was in a position of considerable power.


The Hidden Dragon Hall was built under the Grand Elder's order, teams that could respond to any immediate call for support. Comprised of elites gathered from all the peaks, they only answered to the Peak Masters and the Grand Elder taking on missions of the highest difficulties.


"Follow me, I'll show you the place you have to safeguard for the next six weeks."


"Yes, Peak Master Li."


The team followed me in the tunnel without a single complaint. Their eyes stole glances at me at every step, after all this was the first time I had called upon the Hidden Dragon Hall of our sect.


"I want you to hole up inside here. Use Heaven and Earth Formation to isolate this mountain and the surroundings in a pocket of space, then lock it with the Seven Revolving Door Formation for maximum security." I gave them a more detailed plan etched on the scroll along with the placement of traps and such.


"Are we to turn this place into an artificial Grotto-Heaven?" Formations that dealt with space were Lian Xu's specialty, therefore his team was sent.


"Simply put yes. However, what you are to defend is of great value, not just to Azure Sky Sect, but to the entire continent. So, keep that in mind." I said eliciting some gulps from the team that followed, their nervousness was understandable but I had faith in the team that boasted a 95% mission completion rate.


"I understand, I shall guard this place with my life." Not wavering a bit, Lian Xu followed me into the cavern.


It took them a few minutes to survey the area after marveling at the sight and start unpacking their supplies. I left them the houses to make the place a bit more comfortable. If possible, I would've wanted to place a Peak Master here. But with Hua Jiahao and Zhao Jun out of the sect, making another leave would weaken the force that was needed to defend the sect against any attackers.


So, the best option was to hide this place in a pocket of space and make arrangements for it in the meantime.


"Leave this place to us Peak Master Li, the Fifth Team will not disappoint you."


"I would expect nothing less from you, Lian Xu." At times like this, his serious demeanor was quite reliable, unlike the fourth team's leader.


Leaving them to it, I left the tunnel and made my way towards Huang City on the flying sword. The disciples left early in the morning had only covered half the distance so far. The reason, traveling on foot.


"Finally, we can fly!"


Overjoyed to use the flying sword, Wang Yang stood in front of me with a big smile. Kexin and Lingling stood on the second one, as Yingyue and Zhi Rou operated their own. Now, our travel speed increased several times over.


"No matter how many times I see Senior Li use a second flying sword, it never gets old." Yingyue said flying next to us.


"Is it not normal?" Wang Yang asked.


"No, usually using one flying sword is hard enough. As it is connected with one's mind, it is essentially seen as a third hand. Using it is like writing with both of your hands, but the hands are writing about different subjects." Zhi Rou added. "Now add a second sword and three hands are writing about three different subjects at the same time. Processing, control, and avoiding mistakes in that state are very difficult."


"…I've seen Master control four flying swords at the same time." Kexin muttered.


"Since it was for transportation, the difficulty lowered quite a bit." I cut in.


"You are the only one who could say something like that, Senior Li." Yingyue had a wry smile.


The rest seemed to agree so I didn't say anything further. The journey to Huang City went by in a flash. And, as the last passengers for the Phoenix boat boarded, us, we set off to Azure Sky Sect in an instant.


By the time I reach the sect, the envoy group from the Purple Cloud Sect should've already finished their talks. If everything goes smoothly the Heaven's Pond can be dealt with in the next three weeks after I send Yingyue back with them.


My plans were coming along pretty well so far, but I didn't know that a wrench would soon fall on my head.


"What the hell took you so long? I've been waiting for you for hours." A woman with purple hair welcomed me on Plum Peak with a scowl that could be seen from a mile away.


"It is a pleasure to meet you, Senior Qian." Yingyue and Zhi Rou paid their respect with a slight bow.


After all, the annoying woman in front of me was Qian Yun. The next Matriarch of the Qian Family, and my lifelong nemesis.


***


Around the same time, in a dark room where the light from the sun couldn't reach, four altars made in the form of four divine beasts stood tall. However, their positioning was the opposite, the Azure Dragon soared in the west, the White Tiger roared in the east, the Phoenix spread its wings in the south, and the Black Tortoise slumbered in the north.


Each altar gave off its distinct light, there were no faces on them but their gaze focused on the man kneeling in the middle.


"Not only have you failed to eliminate that witch's successor, but you have also failed to acquire that little girl and kill Bian Que, on top of that you lost an important ally in the process." A voice devoid of all emotions came from the western altar, the only thing distinguishable about it was that it belonged to a woman. "What say you, Gu Changge?"


Gu Changge tried to hide it, but sweat dripped down his forehead like a waterfall as he answered.


"I… apologize. I didn't expect Bian Que to be that strong, I had misjudged his strength and sent Iron Fiend. I hav—"


"Three times…" However, the aged voice from the southern altar cut him off. "The eastern front had failed to fulfill my request three times, I ought to cut your head off for that one Bai (White)."


The voice laden with anger made Changge tremble in place, even if it wasn't aimed at him the power in that voice was more than he could handle.


"My My, so it is true that women get crankier with age." A frivolous voice answered from the eastern altar.


"You cur!" The southern altar trembled as the red in the room intensified.


"Can it, you old hag. It isn't like you have given an easy target anyway. I admit that we didn't prepare enough for the battle of Jingyuan Pass, but didn't your scheme to get that Wu kid fall apart? Isn't that hoot?" The man spoke without a hint of mercy, but his voice stayed playful.


"Silence you two, do you not know whose presence you are in?" The voice from the western altar cut the conflict short.


Understanding the situation a short silence dawned in the room. They only continued after no voice from the northern altar.


"So, how should we deal with you Brother Changge? We usually cut people off after their first failure, but I gave you a second chance because I like your style and you fail again." The first words came from the eastern altar. "Since you are my precious subordinate, I don't want to kill you off for something like this. If only some heartless aunty would have mercy on me."


"You brat…" The southern altar seemed to boil in anger, but it soon calmed down. "Bring me both, Li Muchen and Wu Kexin, do that I will forget your failures."


"The old cow likes fresh grass, huh."


"Stop egging her on, Bai." A warning came from the Western altar.


"Yes, Yes, Lady Qing."


"One 'yes' is enough."


"Yes, Lady Qing."


"Then, the trial is over. Gu Changge, if you want to overwrite your failures, you must bring in Wu Kexin and Li Muchen, dead or alive." After the proclamation, the light from the three altars vanished.


How… how will I do that? My current force is not enough to attack Azure Sky Sect, if only that Li Muchen left his sect often I could've done something but I have to face both Bian Que and him. Gu Changge wanted to pull his hair out, but that would be disrespectful in his superior's presence.


"Don't mind me, Brother Changge. I understand your frustration, Li Muchen is as slippery as a mud skipper." Bai laughed before continuing. "However, I can't let you fail again. This task will determine my pride and honor in front of the lord too, so I will give you some help. But only after you finish the plan."


"I am eternally grateful for your aid." Changge felt a little load off his shoulder, but he remained tense.


"Come on now, no need to be that formal between brothers." The guy laughed. "Normally I would've rejected that request, but you are lucky that a good opportunity to make this happen is at hand. Just hit me up when you have sorted the details."


After the last altar lost its light, Gu Changge stood up and walked out of the basement. He locked the room and swallowed the iron key once again to keep it safe.


"Fucking bastards looking down on me!" His blood boiled every time he had to talk with them and get on his knees, it was a rage that burned brighter than the one he had for his former clan. "I'll show you all, Bai, Li Muchen, and that pathetic sect what I am made of!"


Just like Bai had said, the opportunity was close at hand. His hand crumpled the poster for East Martial Meet as his emotions came under control.


"Gu Changge will never bow in front of anyone again." He vowed to shake the entire continent in two months.

A/N:

This is the end of Book 1 for Regressed Master.
Thank you for spending time with my characters and I'll see you on Monday with the start of Book 2.
Bye Bye.

 

[Overload69]

I still remember that day.


The sky over the eastern continent had turned black. With the sun blocked out, true darkness blanketed the land and its dwellers throwing them in the age of chaos.


In that darkness, the Orthodox Alliance was the only ray of light for the weak, however corrupt or self-serving the cultivators within were. But the few who truly fought for justice overshadowed the greedy.


"Your sect was attacked… so why are you here?" Qian Yun turned to meet my eyes.


Her previously expensive silk robes had numerous cuts and splatters of blood. Yet, her sharp beauty contrasted with the muddy battlefield.


We were taking down the most important hideout of the Demonic Cultivators on the Eastern Continent, the Heaven's Pond which fuelled their strength when the transmission came to me about the sneak attack on the Azure Sky Sect involved in the war.


"That's what they want, what would happen here if one of the two leaders leaves?" We had pushed them back to the point where the Demonic Cultivators had no other choice but to shut themselves in the stronghold, this was an obvious trap.


"Stop the sophistry. You want to go back, anyone whose home is attacked would do the same." She scoffed. "I'd leave you here in a heartbeat if my sect was… Just leave, I don't want to see your stupid face around anyway."


She was correct. I couldn't sit still after that message, that was why I came to meet her.


"…I'll remember the favor." I said.


"What favor?" She stood with a smirk. "After this is over, I'll make you my servant for a week, so get ready to brew my tea and cook my meals, I won't take anything average."


"Well… I suppose that isn't that bad." I left for my sect after that.


Till my death, I thought about that decision of mine.


I never got to return that favor.


And, I died thinking that I would never be able to.


But things are different now.


"First you make me wait five hours, then you drift off in your thoughts? Do you think my time is free?"


Sitting across the table, Qian Yun's face had the usual annoyed look. Her eyes teeming with dissatisfaction.


"I don't remember promising a meeting to you. So, it is your fault for coming in without an appointment." My fingers tapped at the polished wooden table, getting on her nerves.


"Like you ever stand true on those appointments. Last time you made me wait ten hours just to give some information you could've passed along with a servant!"


"You have no patience as usual. Good things only come to those who wait."


"If I didn't have patience, you'd be six feet under in a jar you damned fossil!"


"We're only one generation apart. If I am a fossil, so are you." I shrugged.


"Grr!" She banged on the table, cracking it.


"Now, what's the matter?" I asked before the situation and curses escalated, I didn't want this room to be thrashed as it gave a good view of the garden.


"Diving straight into the talk? There's a distinguished lady in your house and you won't even offer tea or snacks?" She clicked her tongue.


"Oh… I forgot." With the wave of my hand, a ceramic teacup and plate of sesame seed candy appeared before her. Although I said that, the tea I poured into her cup could buy a palace in the mortal world, the sweets were simple though.


"…" Qian Yun stared at the steaming cup of tea and plate in front of her then at me in turn a few times.


"What? This is all I have at hand right now, so don't complain." I picked up my cup of tea.


"I… I am not complaining, it's just…" Her eyes settled on my face in the end.


"It's what?" I tilted my head.


"Creepy."


"I see, too bad then." I smiled.


My hand reached over the table to take it all away, but she snatched the plate away.


"This is mine!"


"Wasn't it creepy?" I raised an eyebrow.


"You are creepy, not the sweets."


This damned woman and her sweet tooth. If the Demonic Sect laid down a trail of desserts, she'd probably follow it.


"Forget that, why are you here?" Even though I expected this situation I had to play dumb.


"…About that, why did you help my sect?" She asked, her vigilance spilling over the room.


"Do I really need to explain you something so basic?"


My Master, the Leader of the Azure Sky Sect, and Qian Yun's Master, the Highest seat of the Purple Cloud Sect had a good relationship as they were both new Leaders at the time. And, they hoped that it would be passed down through their disciples, however Qian Yun and I were like oil and water.


"Don't act, I know you are hiding something." Her eyes locked onto me like a hawk.


"If you know, there is no point in me explaining, is there?"


Qian Yun clenched her fist under the table, her anger was reaching its limits. It wasn't out of the ordinary for her to doubt people given her position. Anyone who had done a favor to her had always expected something in return because of her status.


In truth, I am no different this time. Of course, I can't say that out loud, I have a reputation to uphold too.


"I only looked out for your sect because I had sufficient evidence at hand to expose the Demonic Cultivators, shielding them while harming a neighboring sect is not something I would do."


"I can't deny that you helped tremendously, to the point that it is making me mad." Qian Yun's face scrunched up as if she had bitten a lemon.


"That's just you being petty because I helped."


"True." She acknowledged biting into the sesame balls. "Hmm~ tas—! Ahem, anyway you did great."


"For sending an envoy or making those?" I pointed at the plate.


"Just shut up!" She glared for a moment. "Still, if the evidence from your sect didn't come in time, our relationship with Frozen Flower Holyland would've fallen through."


Qian Yun should've guessed it too, this result would've been more than a hostile stance from the Frozen Flower Sect. This incident was used as an excuse by the stronger minor sects to cut off the Purple Cloud Sect from important trade routes, deals, and even gatherings. Their inability to prove their innocence had jeopardized their credibility, inviting further leaps of judgment.


The list of Four Major sects was made with power, scale, and wealth, in mind but the most important part was undoubtedly heritage. The reason Purple Cloud Sect and Azure Sky Sect were on the lower end of the list was because their power was divided within the sect, and our sect was new even if under one leadership.


The only way to replace one of the Major sects was to wait for them to weaken while sharpening your claws, like what the minor sects did in the future.


Purple Cloud Sect's fall would've benefited many so no one helped them as their relationships with the other major sects soured because of the incident.


"…If Azure Sky Sect needs any help in the future, do contact us. That's what my master said. I've already told this to the Grand elder of your sect, but I am telling you this just so you don't think we are taking the help for granted." She folded her arms after clearing the plate, regaining the dignified air.


"Now that you say it, I have something else to share with you." The time for the real talk had come.


She scoffed as if saying I knew it! but waited for me to continue.


"Qian Yun, is your sect going to take this lying down?" The answer was obvious.


"Of course not." Her eyes turned firm understanding the shift in subject.


"You see, the Demonic cultivators have gotten too brazen lately. Not only did they conspire against your sect, they dared to step foot so close to our home. So, I plan to retaliate."


"It is more about your pride than us in the end." She said understanding part of the puzzle.


"You in?" I had to set up a few more things before that.


"I'll decide after you explain."


An acceptable response in normal situations, but not this time.


"I'll only explain after you agree, and I won't let you back out." This was different from the promise her Master sent so I couldn't force her, but I knew how to get her riled up better than anyone else.


"You think I would leak information?" Her brow furrowed.


"This is beyond you and me, Qian Yun. You should know that." This was for the reputation of the two sects, and above all else the numerous lives, I won't take any chances.


Understanding my serious gaze she nodded, even if annoyance dripped down her face.


"If you are thinking of using my sect as bait… I won't forgive you." Although her words were simple, the intent behind them wasn't.


At the peak of Nascent Soul Realm, Qian Yun could kill me with a slap at this point. However, considering our positions all she could do was threaten me. Considering she did that in my very backyard showed the seriousness of the matter, and how much she cared for her sect.


"Worry not, the bait has been prepared and it's not your sect." The one I am trying to catch didn't care for the Purple Cloud Sect as a whole anyway, and I doubt he would have the time to worry about them after the recent failures.


"Then, I promise you full support." Qian Yun's words were the same as her Master's in this situation.


"Good, I'll contact you within a month with additional information." Above all, I had trusted her with my back on many occasions, and she hadn't disappointed me once in that regard.


After the topic came to an end we left the garden-side room and headed down the hallway. On the way, we met Sun Lingling and Wang Yang who were headed for the kitchen. They were quick to give us a bow before standing straight.


"You guys wait at the table, I'll come cook after seeing her off."


But before I could walk past them, Qian Yun stopped. A lopsided smirk hung on her lips for obvious reasons.


"Come to think of it I am in the mood for some food too, so make my portion too."


I am gonna make fun of you as you do it. It was all written on her face. But I guess I owe her that much.


"Hmm, it won't be anything fancy."


She looked aghast. "…Creepy."


"Get out." Needless to say, she didn't get anything to eat after that.


Like that, the day came to an end, or so I had hoped. It was night time and I was called to Lotus Peak to discuss the current affairs with Purple Cloud Sect and my little trip. However…


"What's the meaning of this, you all?"


Chains of the five-element bound my body as Li Xianquan looked over from his seat, his face cold as ice. Near him were Huang Bai and Lui Zhi, the latter getting her tools and artifacts ready while the former's eyes stayed fixed on me, obviously to restrain me if I broke out.


"That is what we want to ask too." Xianquan stood up, the formation below me firing up.


This is bad, really bad. That was all I could think of at the moment.

 

[Overload69]

"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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[Overload69]

"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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[Overload69]

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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[Overload69]

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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[Overload69]

"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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[Overload69]

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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[Overload69]

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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[Overload69]

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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