Farewell

In a mountain cave dozens of miles from Silver Moon Bay,

Qin Jue leaned against the cave wall with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing as he felt the flow of blood and qi through his body. Though they had escaped with their lives, the aftershocks of the two Nascent Core Realm powerhouses' clash still haunted him.

"Damn, we actually made it out alive."

Tang Xiaoman plopped down on the ground, looking completely drained, his face frighteningly pale.

"When those two old monsters started fighting, their energy went wild. To them, Hundred Refinements Realm warriors like us probably weren't even ants." Tang Xiaoman wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, still shaken, "If you hadn't reacted so quickly, Brother Qin, the three of us would've been crushed into meat paste by now."

Pei Qingyan leaned against the cave wall, his face pale, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

"Blade Qi... now that's the true Blade Dao! My blade still has a long way to go." His voice was hoarse, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

"If I could take one of those blows head-on..."

"Bah! You lunatic, are you trying to get yourself killed?" Tang Xiaoman glared at him. "I haven't had my fill of life yet. There's a whole world of pleasures waiting for me to enjoy."

"Nascent Core Realm..." Qin Jue murmured, his expression grave. "The dantian becomes a sea, qi can be released beyond the body, and condensed qi becomes astral energy... That is what a true martial powerhouse is. Before them, our cultivation really is no more than an ant's."

The earth-shattering sword strike from Executor Lin Xiuyuan flashed through his mind. The green Sword Qi had torn through the sky, its power leaving him stunned—and making his resolve to pursue the martial path all the more steadfast.

"But that realm isn't beyond reach!"

Qin Jue quietly calculated his prospects. He had the experience of a Sword Dao Grandmaster from his previous life, and the [Void Clarity Sword Heart] sharpened his comprehension. As long as he had enough resources, reaching the Nascent Core Realm was only a matter of time.

After a moment's thought, he looked at the two of them and asked, "What are you planning to do next?"

Tang Xiaoman grinned. "I'm in this state, so naturally I'm going back to recover and take some time to rest."

Pei Qingyan ran a hand over Frost Scar and said hoarsely, "I'll find somewhere to go into seclusion. My blade technique has made a breakthrough, and I need to consolidate it."

Qin Jue nodded. "I'm going back to the academy. The Outer Court Grand Competition is in eight months, so I need to hurry and improve my cultivation."

"The Outer Court Grand Competition?" Tang Xiaoman's eyes shifted. "I've heard of it! It's a major event at Qingcang Academy. The rewards for the top ten are incredibly generous—not just high-level techniques and spirit medicines, but also a chance to enter the Inner Court! Brother Qin, you're about to soar to the heavens!"

Qin Jue shook his head. "My cultivation is only middle of the pack in the Outer Court. I still have a long way to go before I can stand out in the competition."

He knew full well that the Ning Family wouldn't let the matter of Ning Zhiyuan go. And after the battle at Silver Moon Bay, the three of them had joined forces to badly wound Meng Kuang. The Ning Family wouldn't let that grudge go easily, either.

To survive under the Ning Family's pressure, let alone strike back, he had to become stronger!

The next morning, the sun rose over the horizon.

At a fork in a mountain path,

"Brother Qin, I'll be heading off first."

Tang Xiaoman set aside his usual joking manner and, for once, straightened his clothes with a serious expression. He clasped his hands toward Qin Jue and said, "If it weren't for you, both Old Pei and I would've ended up as food for the fish in Silver Moon Bay. I'll remember what you did for us."

He thumped his chest, his tone solemn. "If you ever need anything, just send word to Hunter King Hall. Whether it's a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, I, Tang Xiaoman, won't even furrow my brow."

Pei Qingyan gazed at Qin Jue, his eyes blazing. "Next time we meet, we'll cross blades again."

Qin Jue looked at Pei Qingyan and said earnestly, "All right. I look forward to seeing an even more astonishing strike from you next time."

"There'll be a chance."

With that, he didn't linger. He turned and strode down the path to the left.

"Hey, Old Pei didn't even say goodbye." Tang Xiaoman laughed, then waved at Qin Jue. "Brother Qin, the green mountains remain, the rivers flow on. We'll meet again! You'd better get back to the academy soon, too. Those bastards from the Ning Family are probably searching everywhere for us! You're an obvious target at the academy, Brother Qin, so be extra careful!"

With that, Tang Xiaoman darted into the dense woods to the right like a nimble ape and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Watching the two of them disappear into the distance, Qin Jue took the reins of his Black Scale Horse and swung himself into the saddle.

"It's time to return to the academy." He murmured, squeezing his legs against the horse's sides. The Black Scale Horse let out a high-pitched whinny and galloped off, kicking up a trail of dust as it raced toward Qingcang Academy.

On the journey back to the academy, Qin Jue didn't hurry.

He had gained a great deal from the battle at Silver Moon Bay as well. Not only had his cultivation broken through to the Jade Bone Realm, Hundred Refinements Fourth Layer, but his understanding of the Cicada Wing sword technique had deepened.

More importantly, the Gold Notes he'd looted from Meng Kuang, Shen Yutang, and the others added up to at least fifteen hundred gold. That was enough to cultivate to the Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer, so he wouldn't have to worry about resources for the time being.

That afternoon, Qin Jue led his Black Scale Horse into an inn by the roadside to rest for a while.

He had just found a corner seat and casually ordered some food when the conversations of the nearby martial artists reached his ears.

"Did you hear? Something big happened at Silver Moon Bay!"

"Of course! Who hasn't heard? They say the Executors from Zhanfeng Academy and Qingcang Academy—both Nascent Core Realm powerhouses—got into a fight over that Moon Marrow Vermilion Fruit. They shaved the top right off a mountain!"

"Tsk, when immortals fight, mortals suffer. I heard a lot of people died?"

"You bet! The place was strewn with corpses! Plenty of martial artists who'd gone after the treasure didn't even leave a whole body. The aftershocks blasted them into bloody mist!"

At that, Qin Jue's eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered the carnage at Silver Moon Bay that day. If the three of them hadn't retreated decisively, they might have been buried there, too.

"Well, look who it is! Isn't that Brother Qin? We haven't seen each other in days. Why do you look like a different person?"

Qin Jue looked up and saw a slender young man approaching with a grin. It was Mo Xingkong.

Qin Jue glanced at him and said flatly, "Just passing through and stopping for a rest."

"Fancy that. So am I."

"Tsk, that was quite a spectacle." Mo Xingkong rubbed his hands and lowered his voice. "I hear Executor Lin from our Qingcang Academy won in the end and claimed the Moon Marrow Vermilion Fruit. Heh, wonder who'll get to use it."

Qin Jue's eyes flickered. "A treasure like the Moon Marrow Vermilion Fruit will probably be kept for the Inner Court's talented disciples, though you never know." He paused. "Maybe they'll use it as a prize for the Outer Court Grand Competition, to spur on the Outer Court disciples."

Mo Xingkong's eyes lit up. "Hey, you've got a point, Brother Qin! If they used what Executor Lin risked his life to win as the prize for the Outer Court Grand Competition, things would get lively."

Then he sighed and shook his head. "Still, even if they did offer it up, only the top three would be in the running. Ordinary disciples like us might as well forget about it."

Mo Xingkong shook his head and was about to continue when his gaze fell on Qin Jue. He suddenly paused.

"Hm? Brother Qin, your aura..."

Mo Xingkong's eyes widened. "Brother Qin, did you break through?"

Qin Jue didn't deny it. He merely nodded.

"Hss—"

Mo Xingkong sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes full of astonishment.

"Hundred Refinements Fourth Layer! Jade Bone Realm! My goodness, Brother Qin, you cultivate way too fast!" He clicked his tongue. "I saw you at Silver Moon Bay just a few days ago, and you were still at the Hundred Refinements Third Layer. It's only been a short while, and you've already broken through to the Fourth Layer? What talent... Tsk, no wonder you managed to badly injure Ning Zhiyuan. You really do have some tricks up your sleeve!"

As an information broker, he was best at assessing a person's worth. He'd thought highly of Qin Jue before, seeing him as a man with courage and resourcefulness, but no more than that. Now, though, Qin Jue's rate of growth had exceeded his expectations.

And Qin Jue had defeated Ning Zhiyuan while still at the Hundred Refinements Third Layer, punching above his weight. Now that he'd reached the Fourth Layer...

Mo Xingkong's eyes darted, and his smile instantly grew even more eager.

"Brother Qin, since you've reached the Jade Bone Realm, I happen to have a lucrative opportunity for you. Would you be interested?"

Qin Jue raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "Oh? I imagine the fortune you're offering isn't easy to come by, Senior Brother Mo?"

"Heh, fortune favors the bold!" Mo Xingkong glanced around to make sure nobody was paying attention, then lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "Brother Qin, if you want to make a name for yourself in the Outer Court Grand Competition and break into the top ranks, just cultivating hard won't be enough. What do you need most? Resources! A mountain of resources!"

Qin Jue's eyes flickered. He said nothing, but Mo Xingkong had clearly hit the mark.

Seeing that, Mo Xingkong grew more confident and continued, "Have you heard of Qingqiu, Brother Qin?"

"Qingqiu?" Qin Jue furrowed his brow. "That geothermal valley on the outskirts of Black Wind Marsh?"

"That's the one!" Mo Xingkong nodded. "Qingqiu's a mixed bag. It's full of ruthless types who play around with poison and Gu, as well as all sorts of strange alchemists. Half the rare pills in Skywind Martial City come from those freaks."

He paused, then continued, "One of the families in Qingqiu is caught up in an internal feud and needs a few outsiders to back them up. But let me be clear, Brother Qin: this isn't an ordinary spar. That family's rules are that anything goes, even death!"

Qin Jue's eyes sharpened. "Anything goes, even death?"

"That's right." Mo Xingkong's expression grew serious. "Once you step into the ring, you're responsible for your own life or death. The family says that if they're going to settle their feud, they need to see who's truly stronger. So the reward is generous, but it's genuinely dangerous."

He looked Qin Jue up and down, a glint flashing in his eyes. "That's why the requirements are strict. You need to be at least in the Jade Bone Realm and among the top fighters at your level. It's a fight to the death, after all. If your strength falls even slightly short, you'll be walking straight to your grave. Brother Qin, you've only just reached the Jade Bone Realm, yet you managed to leave a perilous place like Silver Moon Bay unscathed. You're undoubtedly one of the best at your level. I'd say you're the perfect man for the job!"

Qin Jue didn't agree right away. He simply asked, "What's the reward?"

"The reward's no small thing!" Mo Xingkong lowered his voice, looking all mysterious. "An eighty-year-old spirit medicine! And that family specifically said it's especially effective for Jade Bone Realm martial artists. It can greatly increase your blood and qi, and might even help you break through to a higher realm!"

Qin Jue's eyes flickered.

An eighty-year-old spirit medicine wasn't just any resource. Medicines of that grade were practically impossible to find on the market. Even with money, he might not be able to buy one.

And a fight to the death... He couldn't ask for anything better. The martial path was like rowing upstream: if you didn't press forward, you fell behind. To reach the summit, you had to keep moving ahead, even if a mountain of blades and a sea of fire lay in your path.

"When?"

"In about three months," Mo Xingkong hurriedly replied. "They haven't set the exact date yet. If you agree, I'll go give them your answer, and let you know three days in advance."

Qin Jue considered it for a moment. Three months still left some time before the Outer Court Grand Competition. If he could get that eighty-year-old spirit medicine, his cultivation would certainly advance further.

"I'll take the job."

At that, Mo Xingkong slapped his thigh, his face breaking into a broad grin. "Excellent! I knew you were a man destined for great things, Brother Qin!"

"Let me know in advance."

"Sure thing!"

"I'm off."

Qin Jue rose and left. A short while later, the sound of hooves faded into the distance outside the inn.

Mo Xingkong watched Qin Jue's departing figure, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Miss from Qingqiu, I've found you a fine fighter. Let's hope you win this time."