Li You’s tone left Meng Wei, who stood on the ground, shaking her head, while Yu Ci couldn’t help but laugh.
At this moment, only the two of them remained in the forest.
After the faint bell chimes dissipated, the atmosphere felt even more tranquil. The afternoon sunlight pierced through the forest canopy, casting beams of light downward. As it illuminated the female cultivator, most of it was absorbed by her coarse daoist robe. However, the light on her cheeks radiated a mesmerizing brilliance.
Yu Ci found the sight pleasant, so he openly admired her.
Meng Wei seemed to be lost in thought, likely pondering something related to Murong Qingyan, the figure who carried a less-than-stellar reputation. She paid no attention to Yu Ci’s slightly inappropriate behavior.
However, this led to a prolonged silence between them.
When they both realized the stillness, they instinctively searched for a topic to break the ice. Yet, having known each other only briefly, neither could find much to say.
Yu Ci, recalling the earlier dispute between Li You and Meng Wei, had several questions lingering in his mind—about the Jade Cleansing Alliance, the Myriad Cosmos Sect, and Murong Qingyan. However, considering Meng Wei’s current mood, he decided against bringing these up. Instead, he offered a polite but meaningless remark:
“I’ll trouble you to look after my induction into the sect, Senior Sister Meng.”
Meng Wei glanced at him and smoothly replied, “I will handle it impartially.”
Receiving the expected response, Yu Ci chuckled and used it as an excuse to bid her farewell.
He had already noticed Meng Wei’s mood was affected by the argument with Li You. Though her exceptional composure kept her emotions in check, Yu Ci could see through it.
As Meng Wei herself once said, she wasn’t a puppet bound by rigid rules. How could she remain completely unaffected?
It was clear that staying any longer would only risk displeasure. If not now, then when should he leave?
*****
“Why did you stop me?! If not for you blocking my strike, that Yu Ci would’ve already been trapped in my net and at my mercy…”
Inside the guest residence, Jin Chuan roared in suppressed anger. His low voice made every word seem like it was squeezed out between clenched teeth, betraying the depth of his fury.
Kuang Yanqi remained silent.
Earlier in the forest, Li You had already demonstrated what should be done. Moreover, Kuang Yanqi had said everything he needed to and given all the necessary advice. Jin Chuan was no fool; he should have understood that taking any action under such circumstances would have been a grave mistake.
Yet Jin Chuan’s attitude made it clear he was venting his frustrations rather than reasoning.
Kuang Yanqi chose to let him rage until he tired himself out.
Finally, after repeatedly justifying his actions and blaming others, Jin Chuan retreated into the inner room.
Kuang Yanqi sat in his chair, staring at the curtain dividing the rooms. After a long while, he lowered his gaze, hiding a mocking smile.
He held nothing but disdain for Jin Chuan’s behavior today.
Lacking strength, holding an awkward status, and acting in an unsuitable location—all while being unjustified in reasoning and lacking any concrete plan. Jin Chuan had recklessly confronted a notorious killer on impulse.
Kuang Yanqi was certain that if this had taken place in an isolated wilderness instead of outside the Heart Prohibition Temple, Jin Chuan would now be a dismembered c0rpse.
“Fool.”
Kuang Yanqi silently cursed and understood Jin Chuan’s thoughts all too well. This young master, the nephew of the Sun Light Sect Master, had always believed that the Sun Light Sect was the sole property of the Jin family. After Jin Huan’s tenure, it would naturally be his to command. Everything Jin Chuan did was in preparation for becoming the ruler of the Sun Light Sect and a dominant figure in Cliff City.
Thus, Yu Ci’s actions infuriated him.
Three stewards and over twenty guards, representing the backbone of the Sun Light Sect and Jin Chuan’s future authority in Cliff City, had been wiped out by Yu Ci. Jin Chuan hadn’t even had the chance to taste what it felt like to command such power before it was obliterated.
Yu Ci hadn’t just killed stewards and guards; he had slashed away at Jin Chuan’s very ambitions. How could such an arrogant young man not seethe with rage?
Kuang Yanqi, however, saw things differently.
He was well aware of his own position. Though he was Lu Yang’s disciple, Kuang Zheng’s nephew, and a rising star in the Sun Light Sect, destined perhaps to become Jin Chuan’s chief steward one day, he remained a subordinate.
A servant, ultimately, could not escape servitude.
Kuang Yanqi had come to terms with this long ago but never revealed it, not even to his master or uncle.
Jin Chuan’s lofty aspirations were widely known, but compared to Kuang Yanqi’s own ambitions, they were nothing.
Kuang Yanqi never wanted to be confined to Cliff City, playing the part of a warlord’s strategist. He longed to escape the Sun Light Sect, venture into the wider world, and find a place where no one could hold sway over him.
Having entered the Rifting Earth Sect for cultivation, Kuang Yanqi had witnessed the life of immortal cultivators. His ambition swelled like a balloon filled to bursting.
His future wasn’t in the Sun Light Sect—it lay within the Rifting Earth Sect.
He didn’t plan to stay for mere years of cultivation. He intended to remain permanently, advancing his skills, broadening his network, building his influence, and climbing step by step toward the unattainable pinnacle.
Kuang Yanqi also understood the difficulties ahead.
In the eyes of most Rifting Earth Sect cultivators, he and Jin Chuan were not seen as individuals but merely parts of a collective symbol—the Sun Light Sect. Changing this perception would take a long time.
Thus, Kuang Yanqi was extremely careful in maintaining the image of the ”Sun Light Sect” in the eyes of the sect disciples at the mountain gate. Not only did he act prudently himself, but he also tried his best to guide Jin Chuan to do the same. At the same time, he continuously tested the waters, hoping to leave a good impression on someone—or some people—within the sect.
Nearly three months had passed, and just when he thought he had made some progress, Jin Chuan, that fool, ruined it. Not only did Jin Chuan lose significant favor with Meng Wei and Li You, but he also dragged Kuang Yanqi down with him, embarrassing him as well.
Sitting in his room, Kuang Yanqi’s expression gradually darkened. The more he thought about it, the more he felt an overwhelming sense of foreboding. This ominous premonition stirred anxiety and restlessness within him. His fingers raked through his hair, gripping his scalp as he failed to come up with any solution. In the end, all he could do was curse: “That idiot…”
*****
The world often worked this way—some faced misfortune, while others thrived.
Five days passed. Jin Chuan and Kuang Yanqi spent the time simmering in their anger and frustration, while Yu Ci easily crossed what was perhaps the most significant hurdle in his life thus far.
Yu Ci had handed over the ”Dragon Fish” and passed the evaluation represented by Meng Wei. As a result, he officially became an external disciple of the ”Rifting Earth Sect”. While he did not yet have a clear master-disciple relationship, he had earned the qualifications to learn the innate Qi cultivation technique, as well as the right to receive a set amount of pills and tools from the sect to aid his cultivation. He could also freely access dozens of Qi nodes near the ”Heart Prohibition Temple” to enhance his training.
Of course, he now also bore certain responsibilities to the sect and was bound by its rules and precepts. He had to redefine his allegiances.
Overall, Yu Ci felt quite at ease over these past few days. At this moment, he was floating in the cold waters of a lake, gazing at the starry night sky, enjoying the serenity and mystery of the winter night.
Above the dark expanse of the sky, the stars were scattered like diamonds, evenly spread yet boundless. Gazing for a long time, the starlight seemed to transform into a massive vortex, as though it sought to draw his soul into it.
This was the Southern Frost Lake, about sixty miles from the ”Heart Prohibition Temple”, the same place where he and Bao Guang had previously caught the Flat-feathered Bird.
Last time they were here, it was late autumn, and reeds surrounded the lake. Now, after two or three snowfalls, the reeds along the shore had all toppled over. The desolate shoreline and the overflowing lake water were almost level, indistinguishable in the dark. At the center of the lake, Yu Ci seemed to become the focal point of this vast expanse.
At this moment, his breathing was faint, nearly imperceptible. Yet, it felt as if threads of starlight were pouring down from the sky, gathering at the center of this space—onto him—or perhaps directly projecting into his mind, unfurling a boundless ”Divine Map”.
The ”Celestial Qi Gathering Secret Talisman Manual” contained the term “Star Pivot,” and many of the talismans in it were closely tied to the transformations of celestial stars. When Yu Ci broke through to the Enlightened Spirit stage and divided his senses to form thoughts, his mind envisioned a void filled with stars—a mysterious and profound scene.
To master the Qi Infusion Technique as soon as possible, Yu Ci sought inspiration from the talisman manual, experimenting with various techniques recorded within to deepen his understanding of talismans.
Currently, he was practicing a method called “Star-Linking Secret Art,” which was both simple and intriguing. It required the practitioner to use their mind’s focus to reflect the starry sky above into their consciousness, ensuring the image remained sharp and undistorted. Then, among the myriad stars, they would select the most appropriate ones and connect them to form a talisman pattern.
During this process, the practitioner had to use their spirit to sense the stars’ alignment, their will to trace the connections, and their Qi to resonate with the pattern. Although these talismans were not truly activated, they caused waves of innate Qi within the body, nourishing the physical form. This approach simultaneously honed spiritual sensitivity, willpower control, and Qi regulation, making it highly effective.
Yu Ci had chosen the Southern Frost Lake as his training ground because the three surrounding mountains restricted the sky above. This created a starry expanse that was neither too vast, which would exhaust his focus, nor too small, which would limit his practice. After locating this spot with the ”Divine Map”, he was very satisfied. This was already his third night of cultivation here.
The stars lit up one by one, evoking the sensation of divine resonance he had experienced when entering the ”Divine Connectivity” stage.
This sensation was vastly different from drawing talisman patterns by hand—it was refreshing and vividly distinct, allowing him to gain deeper insights into the details of talisman crafting. This was precisely why Yu Ci had chosen the “Star-Linking Secret Art.”
In an instant, a Clear Heart Incantation formed in his mind. As he felt the surging Qi within his body, Yu Ci exhaled deeply and opened his eyes.
The winter lake’s chill tried to seep into him but was blocked by the innate Qi enveloping his body. Only the gentle touch of the water pressing against his skin remained, making him feel extremely comfortable. Even though his training was complete, Yu Ci was reluctant to leave.
At that moment, Bao Guang swam over in a dog-paddle style, wearing only a pair of shorts. The sound of splashing water echoed in the quiet night.
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