The day Qi Xiao emerged from his seclusion, a light rain was falling from the sky.
He couldn’t help but frown. How could it possibly rain in a place like the Heavenly Dao Sect?
This was utterly inconceivable. The sect maintained a grand protective formation; logically, it should be perpetual spring. It should absolutely not be like this, with a lingering, overcast drizzle.
Was it because the spirit herb fields within the peak needed watering? Or perhaps disciples on the peak were practicing cloud-gathering, rain-summoning spells? But it didn’t matter much.
As the saying goes, “A straw cloak lets me face misty rain, free to live my life.”
This long-absent rain, however, made Qi Xiao, who had just exited seclusion, feel a vivid sense of life’s vitality.
Within his body, a golden, lustrous Golden Core rotated smoothly, nine faint Dao lines shimmering upon it.
A ninth-grade Golden Core, formed! The Nascent Soul stage was now within sight!
At this moment, it was truly, “With a single Golden Core swallowed into my belly, my fate is in my hands, not Heaven’s.” He had already grasped the path of his Dao; the future was immeasurably broad.
With this thought, he no longer concealed his aura.
“Thirty years of cultivation, no hardship too great, Left hand grasps thunder, right hand holds a sword.
Today the Golden Core enters my belly, From now my Dao path leads straight to the heavens!”
He recited a poem, and then the aura of his Golden Core spread throughout the entire mountain peak.
Now, his master should appear, examine the grade of his Golden Core, and he would “casually and effortlessly” reveal his “ninth-grade Golden Core,” subsequently receiving his master’s praise and rewards.
Qi Xiao had already scripted the scene in his mind.
Just as he predicted, his master, Ning Fengxue, a renowned Nascent Soul grand cultivator of the sect, appeared before him at this very moment, descending like a celestial deity.
The person before him had an imposing, sharp aura; his entire being was like an unsheathed sword. A keen edge impossible to obstruct.
This was indeed his master—”True Master Dao Sword.”
Nascent Soul grand cultivators bore the title “True Master,” and each cultivator had their own “honorific name.” Dao Sword was clearly his master’s honorific name.
“I report to Master, your disciple has broken through to the Golden Core realm. The Core formed at the ninth grade, not failing Master’s expectations.”
True Master Dao Sword’s eyes were sharp as blades; they seemed capable of piercing all the world’s mysteries. Therefore, with just a single glance, he saw through Qi Xiao’s condition. The corner of his mouth finally curved into a faint smile.
Though a male cultivator, this master was indeed exceedingly handsome. Qi Xiao noticed quite a few passing female disciples showing infatuated expressions, whispering incessantly, “The Peak Lord is so handsome.” Though they wouldn’t dare show any actual disrespect towards the master, of course.
“Excellent, Qi Xiao. You have done very well. I was already quite satisfied with you before. In the past, I knew your heart for seeking the Dao was firm. To put it this way, you, your eldest senior brother, and your second senior brother are all ninth-grade Golden Cores now. My Dao Sword Peak’s future is truly boundless! Now, it remains to be seen what achievements your junior brother, Li Wangyan, will attain in the days to come.”
Qi Xiao revealed a smile. Junior Brother Li Wangyan was a personal disciple the master had taken in after he entered seclusion. He was said to be exceptionally talented and was already at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Since his innate talent was worthy of the master’s approval, then presumably, within two years, he could begin pursuing the path to the Golden Core.
“Within the Heaven Branch and the Dao Branch, I believe no other peak can compare to our Dao Sword Peak, all thanks to Master’s meritorious guidance.” Qi Xiao offered some flattery to his master.
The Heavenly Dao Sect was broadly divided into the “Heaven Branch” and the “Dao Branch.”
These were the legacies left by the sect’s two founders, which had evolved over time.
The so-called Heaven Branch mainly encompassed Alchemy, Artifacts, Talismans, Formations, Merits, and Spells, prefixed with ‘Heaven’ as in “Heavenly Alchemy,” “Heavenly Artifacts,” “Heavenly Talismans,” “Heavenly Formations,” “Heavenly Merits,” and “Heavenly Spells.” The Dao Branch was slightly more varied, mainly comprising “Sword,” “Spear,” “Saber,” “Bell,” “Cauldron,” and “Ring,” prefixed with ‘Dao’—”Dao Sword,” “Dao Spear,” and so on.
Each peak was led by one Nascent Soul True Master, with several Golden Core-stage core disciples, plus hundreds of inner sect disciples and thousands of outer sect disciples.
It was an immense immortal cultivation sect.
Having three Golden Core disciples among the many peaks wasn’t considered particularly formidable, but having all three at the ninth grade? That was incredibly impressive. Truly inconceivable.
Even the Sect Leader would praise True Master Dao Sword for his merit in nurturing disciples and grant him rewards.
True Master Dao Sword produced a storage ring: “Here are some magical treasures you’ll need at the Golden Core stage, consider it a reward. You may…”
He was about to hand the ring to Qi Xiao.
At that very moment, Qi Xiao suddenly sensed a fluctuation of spiritual power. He knew someone was sending a voice transmission to his master. His perception had indeed become much sharper after breaking through to the Golden Core stage.
He saw his master frown, then stuff the ring into Qi Xiao’s hand.
“I must leave!”
“Master!”
Before Qi Xiao could react, True Master Dao Sword had already vanished from before him.
His heart sank. Had something happened?
Something that could make his mid-Nascent Soul master so anxious? Recently, aside from matters related to the opportunity to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage, what could possibly cause his master to lose composure like this?
But since his master hadn’t informed him, presumably it wasn’t something he could intervene in anyway.
Could it be the righteous factions were finally about to wage war against the demonic sects? But he had just entered the Golden Core realm. At such a time, a ninth-grade Golden Core genius like him would be in the most danger, precisely the kind of “viable force” both sides would seek to eliminate.
If a true war between righteousness and demonic forces was imminent, he might need to think of a way to lay low, wait until his strength increased, and then consider whether to engage with the world.
He looked at the other disciples. “What are you all still staring at? Shouldn’t you be off cultivating?!”
“We respectfully obey senior brother’s instructions!”
The disciples present quickly scattered.
He returned to his cave abode.
He sat quietly, sensing the state of his body after the breakthrough.
Familiarizing himself with his new power was extremely important; he was unwilling to be negligent in such matters. Cultivation was a matter of reaping exactly what one sowed.
Of course, as a transmigrator, it wasn’t that he had no shortcuts to take, only…
Electricity flickered in his palm.
It was still far from enough. Perhaps he needed to reach the mid-Golden Core stage first…
He had only been meditating and regulating his breath in his cave abode for half a day when he received a voice transmission talisman.
“Junior Brother Qi! Come to the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall immediately!”
It was a message from his Second Senior Brother!
The Law Enforcement Hall?
His heart filled with doubt, Qi Xiao mounted his flying sword and headed for the Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall.
This place was dominated by dark colors, with many formations that suppressed spiritual power. Qi Xiao had to dismount from his flying sword and proceed on foot, finally arriving at the main hall of the Law Enforcement Hall.
There, he saw a youth dressed in black robes collapsed on the ground.
Seated in the main position of the hall was a Nascent Soul True Master, the sect’s Law Enforcement Elder—”True Master Prison Law.” His eyes were wide with anger, and he sternly rebuked, “Li Wangyan! Do you admit your guilt?!”
As he spoke, spiritual power surged, and the power of his divine sense permeated the air. Li Wangyan, lying on the ground with only mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, subjected to such a rebuke, felt his spiritual power churn and his internal organs roil. His face turned pale, unable to reply.
Yet, even so, Li Wangyan’s gaze remained firm. Though weak, his eyes were still filled with defiance: “This disciple does not know of any crime! When a crime is fabricated, excuses are never lacking!”
“Audacious!”
Even with True Master Prison Law this enraged, Li Wangyan continued, “By Master’s command, with early Foundation Establishment cultivation, I led fifty Qi Refinement ninth-layer disciples to a secret realm for training. I achieved first place in the secret realm, thereby breaking through to mid-Foundation Establishment, and brought all fifty disciples back completely intact, not a single one missing! True Master Prison Law, even if you argue until the sky falls, I, Li Wangyan, have rendered service to the sect! By what right do you punish me? Is this how the sect chills the hearts of its disciples?”
Hearing this, Qi Xiao couldn’t help but glance at Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother standing to the side. One wore blue robes, giving off an icy demeanor; the other wore red robes, appearing dashing and heroic.
The two of them were like a duo straight out of an anime, the male lead and the second male lead.
But he roughly understood the situation now.
“You still dare quibble! Clearly, you colluded with demonic sects within the secret realm! Causing great losses to other sects! You stole first place! Our Heavenly Dao Sect is a renowned righteous sect, a pillar of the righteous path! How can we tolerate such arbitrary actions? And you still dare speak so righteously! Truly ungrateful!”
“I colluded with demonic sects? Stole first place?! Hah!” Li Wangyan laughed loudly. “I dare ask the Elder! Have you questioned the returning disciples? I will confront them face to face!”
“It is precisely because I have questioned them that I pronounce you guilty!”
True Master Prison Law waved his sleeve. Projections of spiritual power appeared one by one, displaying the “testimonies” of disciples who had participated in this training expedition.
“Senior Brother Wangyan did indeed collude with demonic sects. Although we tried our utmost to dissuade him, he suppressed us with his cultivation, and we dared not speak further. We beg the Elder to uphold justice.”
“With a scum like Li Wangyan in our sect, I dare not even claim to be from the Heavenly Dao Sect outside, fearing others will look at us with the eyes of those who collude with demonic sects. If the sect does not handle this matter, though I am merely an outer sect disciple, I am willing to leave the sect! I have my own righteous spirit!”
“That day, Li Wangyan even tried to lay hands on me. If it weren’t for the solidarity of my fellow senior and junior brothers, and Li Wangyan having some顾忌, I’m afraid I would have…”
Accusation after accusation!
True Master Prison Law then tossed out a decree, shimmering brightly in mid-air. Upon it appeared the signatures of all fifty outer sect disciples who had gone on this training expedition.
“The testimonies of all the disciples are here! What more do you have to say?!”
Li Wangyan was stunned. He stared blankly at those projections, at that decree, at the signatures on the decree. He laughed, a very strange laugh.
“We returned from the training site less than half a day ago, and you’ve already completed these interrogations, even gotten everyone to sign? True Master Prison Law, you are a Nascent Soul grand cultivator; don’t take others for fools! Do you think that’s possible?”
True Master Prison Law’s face darkened. “That is because your crimes are heinous! All the disciples are dissatisfied with you! Everyone collectively accuses you of guilt!”
Li Wangyan laughed wordlessly. He seemed to have lost interest in conversing with True Master Prison Law. He merely said, “I want to see Master.”
“Hmph! Refusing to yield until you see the coffin! Your master has already agreed to your punishment.”
True Master Prison Law produced another decree. “The crime of Li Wangyan, I am already aware. Though he committed vile deeds, he did indeed seize first place. If this were exposed, it would instead be disadvantageous to our Heavenly Dao Sect. It would be better to secretly expel him from the sect.”
Li Wangyan stared at that decree, listening to the words emanating from it.
He remained silent for a long time.
“True Master Dao Sword’s intention, I must consider. However, merely expelling you from the sect is overly merciful. Combining the Sect Leader’s opinion, I will cripple your cultivation. If you do not die, you may leave here alive. This can also be considered displaying the sect’s benevolence.”
Cripple his cultivation?
Li Wangyan looked at True Master Prison Law. Then, his gaze shifted to Qi Xiao and the others.
“Eldest Senior Brother? You once said you would protect the disciples of our peak.”
Eldest Senior Brother “Lin Wushuang”‘s eyes were as still as an ancient well. He looked calmly at Li Wangyan. “Since Master has already rendered judgment, your collusion with demons is fact. What face do you have to ask me? How tedious.”
He turned and left.
Li Wangyan then looked at Second Senior Brother. “Second Senior Brother, you said if anything happened, I should just come find you.”
Second Senior Brother “Chu Jiao” looked at Li Wangyan with furious eyes. “You colluded with demonic sects! And still have the audacity to say such things! Truly shameless to the extreme! If you accepted your punishment honestly, I might still consider you somewhat heroic. But now, like this, you come begging me? Disgraceful! If not for Master’s words! I would surely kill you!”
He appeared far more agitated than Eldest Senior Brother.
Then, he too flicked his sleeves and departed.
Only Qi Xiao remained standing there.
He looked at this so-called junior brother. In truth, he had never formally met this person named Li Wangyan. To meet for the first time in such a setting…
His eyes met Li Wangyan’s.
He did not speak. Li Wangyan did not speak.
“It seems you have nothing more to say! Carry out the sentence immediately!”
True Master Prison Law immediately acted. A massive hand formed of spiritual power grasped Li Wangyan, then spiritual force surged. The power and vital energy within Li Wangyan’s body roiled. And then—his spiritual power began to drain away incessantly, like a punctured balloon.
His cultivation was crippled.
This process was excruciating, but Li Wangyan did not utter a word.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, yet he spoke, word by word: “Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the youth for his poverty! I, Li Wangyan, will absolutely never…”
Qi Xiao’s heart jolted immediately. These lines… this situation…
A myriad of conjectures instantly arose in his mind.
It can’t be? It shouldn’t be.
It couldn’t possibly be to that extent…
He looked at that figure, already severely injured, cultivation crippled, still struggling to stand up with difficulty, failing again and again, yet not giving up, ultimately succeeding in standing upright.
It really did seem a bit like it…
Could it be that afterward, those terrifying plotlines would appear? Something like a three-year agreement, directly assaulting the Heavenly Dao Sect, punching Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother, retreating unscathed under the protection of powerhouses from other sects, and by the time he reappeared, he could crush the Heavenly Dao Sect with a single kick.
“Hahaha~ Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! Haha~” True Master Prison Law found it absurd. “I’ve dealt with so many offenders, you are the most hard-headed one! No wonder you dared collude with demonic sects! Your cultivation is crippled! Let’s see how you seek revenge on me! I’ll be right here waiting for you!”
True Master Prison Law looked at Qi Xiao. “Qi Xiao, why don’t you escort your junior brother out of the mountain gate? The mountain gate does not accept mortals. If he dies here, it would be rather inauspicious.”
“As you command.”
Qi Xiao calmed himself down. He went to Li Wangyan’s side, lifted him onto his shoulder, used his spiritual power to gently warm the other’s meridians, and then mounted his flying sword.