The One Who Held the Flame

The scene in the courtyard startled her slightly.

In the center of the courtyard, Qing Wangchuan sat on a stone bench with his back to her, playing the zither.

Jiang Yan stood beside him with a blind girl, a small red bird perched on the girl's shoulder.

That power that had caused her to fight to the bitter end and still suffer a crushing defeat, a power capable of overwhelming all living beings, was now completely unaffected by him, as if he were truly just an ordinary cultivator.

In the distance, Tongtian Xuanming and her followers stood silently to one side, each with a restrained expression, not daring to breathe loudly.

The usually dignified Patriarch now looked at Feng Qingjue with an unconcealed worry in his eyes.

Before the Zither Music stopped, Qin Wangchuan, without looking up, said, "Now that you're awake, your clothes..."

Only then did everyone notice Feng Qingjue standing in front of the door.

Her followers glanced at Qing Wangchuan warily before daring to gather around.

From the flickering look in their eyes, Feng Qingjue could tell that something must have happened while she was unconscious.

Without saying a word, she turned and went back into the house to change into white clothes. Then, she took the Green Robe back to the courtyard and handed it to Qin Wangchuan, who was playing the zither.

Throughout the entire process, Feng Qingjue did not utter a single word.

She had already vaguely guessed Qin Wangchuan's background.

Qin Wangchuan didn't say much. He changed the Zither Music on his zither, and the Green Robe flew up on its own.

The Golden Crow on Ye Jianwei's shoulder chirped and spat out a wisp of Golden Flames, instantly turning the Green Robe into ashes.

Those in the courtyard shuddered involuntarily at the sight, even their breathing became shallow—just now, they had personally experienced the terrifying power carried by the little bird's wings.

The melodious Zither Music flowed through the courtyard, but at this moment, it seemed that only Ye Jianwei could calmly appreciate it.

"Sit down," Qin Wangchuan said casually.

Feng Qingjue sat down on the chair next to the zither table, and several items were suspended in front of her.

It refers to the Nine-Turn Pill and the Thunder Furnace Cultivation Method from before.

However, looking at Feng Qingjue, he frowned. "Since I lost, these things rightfully belong to you. And..."

"You are not from this world."

"I never said I was from this world," Qin Wangchuan admitted frankly, his hands still moving as he played the zither.

Jiang Yan, standing behind him, couldn't help but interject, "Eldest Brother, didn't you say you came from the Wen Dao Palace of Middle Thousand Provinces?"

Qin Wangchuan did not respond.

Suddenly, the Jiujiu on Ye Jianwei's shoulder took flight, flapping its wings angrily in front of Jiang Yan, its crimson feathers bristling as it began to intimidate him.

Jiang Yan fell silent.

Feng Qingjue gazed at the calm face behind the zither strings, then asked, "I clearly said I had perished... how did you come back to life?"

"Just one Sacred Medicine."

His fingertips gently caressed the strings, as if he were talking about something trivial:

"It not only reshapes the physical body, but also cleanses the marrow and removes impurities, allowing for even greater advancement in the future."

The words "Sacred Medicine" were used casually.

But the value of such an elixir, capable of reversing life and death and reshaping the physical body, would likely move even a saint.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath and said in a cold voice, "I am the loser, and I feel ashamed to receive such kindness. I will repay this favor."

Instead of making excuses, they said they would definitely repay this kindness.

"Feng Qingjue," Qin Wangchuan casually plucked the strings, finally raising his eyes to look at her.

His gaze was calm, yet unfathomable.

"You are very valuable. But..."

"You're going in the wrong direction."

"Ascending to Heaven and Attack Heaven differ by only one character; perhaps it's better to change it—"

He raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Feng Qingjue: "Go Attack Heaven, destroy the Immortal Court."

"Destroy... the Immortal Court?" Feng Qingjue repeated blankly.

These four words seemed to possess some kind of magic, causing everyone in the courtyard to tremble with fear.

This is already an act of blasphemy against Heaven, and the destruction of the Immortal Court is unheard of!

Even Tongtian Xuanming was secretly alarmed— the Divine Son originally came from the Immortal Court; what exactly was his intention in doing this?

"Since you believe that cultivators from the Upper Realm are superior..." Qin Wangchuan's fingertips traced a clear, resonant sound on the strings of his zither, "Why not overthrow them and reshape a new world?"

He looked up at Feng Qingjue, his gaze sharp and intense.

"What do you think of this ideal?"

Feng Qingjue trembled, as if those words had struck the deepest longing in his soul.

She thought of the obsequious officials in the Golden Hall, of the arrogant Upper Realm cultivator she had known in her childhood, and of the countless beings bound by Heavenly Rules for millennia—

Countless images flashed through my mind, but what ultimately settled was the pure and untainted heart I had when I made that vow.

Feng Qingjue lowered her eyelids slightly, then firmly met his gaze:

"No."

Her voice was calm yet powerful. "Whether it's shallow or laughable, my ideals have never changed—this is a promise I made to myself, and also a promise I made to those who follow me."

The girl spoke firmly, each word distinct. "I want to go to heaven, not to prove anything or gain anything. I want to see with my own eyes whether those high and mighty Celestial Person are truly different from us, and whether they can rightfully be high above us."

Qin Wangchuan was not surprised by this response.

Even without their Qi Yun, these people are still Myriad Above powerful and not so easily swayed.

As expected.

He lightly stroked the strings with his fingertips, playing the last, lingering note.

Only after the lingering effects had faded did he raise his eyes: "Since that's how it is—"

As he rose, his robes swayed, and an invisible current seemed to surge through the courtyard.

"I'll take you to heaven."

These words were spoken casually, yet they made Feng Qingjue suddenly raise his head.

For the first time, an incredulous glint appeared in those ever-steadfast phoenix eyes.

The ideal that I had always held dear was promised to me in such a casual tone.

So shallow...

"I'll take you to the heavens," Qin Wangchuan repeated, his tone calm yet weighty, "until you see it with your own eyes—"

"If you want to Attack Heaven then, I'll help you."

"The rest is up to you."

Qin Wangchuan's goal was simple.

Those who Attack Heaven are like sparks scattered across the wasteland, impossible to extinguish or eradicate.

Since that's the case, why not gather all the sparks together and turn them into a Sky-high Wildfire?

To keep it firmly in our grasp.

And he was the one who held the fire.

Feng Qingjue for a moment, then parted her red lips slightly:

"Good."

After saying that, she pointed to her followers beside her and said in a clear voice, "But they will come with me."

Qin Wangchuan slowly stood up, Ye Jianwei immediately stepped forward. Her fair hand gently brushed across the body of the zither, and the Seven-stringed Zither transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into her sleeve.

Green Robe brushed against the Bluestone Path as Qin Wangchuan walked out of the courtyard, his voice carried on the wind:

"Whatever, let's come together."

"You can rest here; we'll depart tomorrow."

This casual attitude stunned everyone.

The Path to Heaven they dared not even dream of in their entire lives was described by this man as ordinary as going out for a walk.

After Qin Wangchuan left, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly relaxed.

Feng Qingjue's gaze returned to the stone table, where the Nine-Turn Pill and the <Wanjie Thunder Furnace> technique were still in their original places.

She picked up the ancient book without thinking, and the moment her fingertips touched the cover, she felt as if a subtle Thunder Spirit flowed through it.

Turning to the first page, a powerful and domineering character "Qin" comes into view, its ink strokes subtly exuding the pressure of Principle.

A thought flickered in her mind. She looked up at Tongtian Xuanming, who was respectfully bowing in the direction Qin Wangchuan had gone, and asked softly, "Uncle Xuanming, who exactly is he...?"

Tongtian Xuanming turned around, his expression complex.

The Imperial Dynasty to which Feng Qingjue friendly relationship with the Tongtian Family.

His Original Intention in inviting her here was to use her help to obtain the elixir and to introduce her to Qin Wangchuan, but he never expected things to develop to this point.

"Qingjue," he sighed softly, lowering his voice, "there are some things I cannot say more about. I can only tell you that that That Lord comes from 'Heaven Above Heaven,' as for their identity—"

Tongtian Xuanming took a few steps closer as he spoke, his gaze lightly sweeping over the cover of the cultivation manual in her hand, his fingertip subtly tapping the character "Qin".

Everything is understood without words.

Feng Qingjue's fingertips unconsciously traced the bold, elegant character "Qin" on the title page, her eyelids trembling slightly.

"Qin..."

She murmured softly, the last glimmer of hope in her heart completely vanishing.

No wonder he could command such terrifying Soldier Puppet —he was actually Qin Clan.

He slowly closed his fingers, clenching the pages of the book beneath his palm until they formed fine creases.

An indescribable bitterness welled up in my heart.

'As expected... no matter how detached they appear, these Upper Realm people are ultimately just ordinary people.'

Treating all living beings as pawns, manipulating them at will.

Feng Qingjue's knuckles turned slightly white, and his eyes were filled with turbulent emotions.

Tongtian Xuanming took in her reaction and said in a deep voice, "Qingjue, don't have any ulterior motives. That Lord... is definitely not anyone you know."

"What he plots... Non-Self comprehension. This cause and effect, in which you and I are involved, is both a calamity and a blessing."

After a slight pause, Tongtian Xuanming lowered his voice even further:

"Furthermore, as far as I know, the Upper Realm is about to hold a Prodigy Grand Competition. Judging from that That Lord's movements... he seems to intend to personally take the stage."

Feng Qingjue was completely stunned.

Is there another Grand Competition in the Upper Realm?

In other words, the battle I fought with all my might was just a few scattered moves in another Chess Game.

What exactly is he planning?

What, then, is the ideal he seeks?