The Tianyi Demonic Sect

Most of the children couldn't see it, but An Jing understood.

Xuanming Manor often hunted Fierce Beasts. Even apprentices like them got beast meat as an extra meal, so they must have special techniques that ordinary hunting parties lacked.

A battle formation designed to fight Fierce Beasts was probably the foundation.

But with An Jing's martial arts experience, he could vaguely tell that the formation wasn't meant only for Fierce Beasts... It was also for monsters that were bigger and more vicious.

And the formation was meant for Fierce Beasts "confined to one place." But surely they also needed to prepare for Fierce Beasts that "attacked by surprise."

Could Xuanming Manor lure Fierce Beasts to a trap somehow?

He couldn't figure it out, but there was no harm in practicing.

An Jing's mind was in turmoil with doubts. He had everything ready and was simply waiting for a cloudy night.

He didn't have to wait long.

Time in the mountains was hard to track, but the seasons were obvious. The weather had grown increasingly hot lately, a clear sign that summer was drawing near. As the wind swept through, thick clouds began to blot out the sky.

In the distance, dark clouds billowed and spread over the mountains like living things, their inky outlines carrying a chilling, oppressive weight.

A storm was coming.

"That's enough for today."

Even the instructors at Xuanming Manor wouldn't make them train in weather like this. He dismissed the boys and girls and sent them back to their dormitories to wait.

"Ye Qi, A-Cang, wait a moment."

As the others dispersed, An Jing motioned for his two closest friends to stay. Gu Yeqi happily agreed, while Cang Linzu had been curious too. But then he thought of one possibility and shuddered. "Wait, Brother Jing, you're not going to make us train in the downpour, are you?"

"It'd probably be useful, but I'm afraid the cold might get into my body..."

"Do I look that terrifying?" An Jing blinked in confusion. "Are you making me out to be worse than I am? I take good care of my brothers and sisters."

He had completely forgotten how the leg-training days he'd arranged for his squad had made the other eight members groan at the mere mention of them, and how Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu, as his assistants, often had to stay behind and train with him.

The young man put on a serious expression. "You've got it wrong. I just have something to tell you."

As he spoke, An Jing handed them two booklets. "These are my insights into the Linyuan Qi-Nurturing Stake and Armor-Piercing True Energy. Some of the things in them... you know where those techniques came from."

As the two eagerly accepted the booklets, An Jing's expression remained grave. "Manor Master told me not to pass these on, and I don't want to break the manor's rules. But you can probably see it too, right? The battle formation the Manor Master wants us to learn... Our initiation trial might be a hunt for Fierce Beasts."

"Hmm... That's true." Gu Yeqi nodded. They'd all spent a long time with Zhang Ying, so they knew just how terrifying Fierce Beasts were.

Cang Linzu hesitated, then said, "I don't think it'll be an ordinary Fierce Beast. The things that formation's meant to fight are huge, or incredibly dangerous."

"Maybe a Fierce Beast with a demon's bloodline."

"Mm. That's exactly what worries me." An Jing didn't deny the possibility. "Whatever it is, it'll be dangerous."

"To be honest, I really don't want you two to die. So even if it means risking a violation of the rules, I'm going to pass my insights on to you."

"Wait." Sensing something, Gu Yeqi frowned. "Brother An, are you... planning to do something dangerous?"

Cang Linzu wasn't nearly as perceptive as Gu Yeqi, but as soon as he heard that, he caught on too. An Jing's manner sounded like he was settling his affairs before a final farewell—not quite that, but his worries were plain enough. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

"If you can get stronger and protect yourselves, that'll help me plenty."

An Jing sighed. If they hadn't been so slow in their progress with Armor-Piercing True Energy, he would have passed his insights to them long ago. Their skill wasn't up to par; copying his techniques would only get them hurt. "One by one, the people I know keep leaving. I don't want you two to suddenly disappear one day, either."

He patted them on the shoulders. "Do your best."

Rumble.

A dazzling bolt of lightning plunged from the distant sky to the mountains, linking heaven and earth and bleaching the whole world white.

The downpour began.

The two looked at An Jing, then silently nodded.

Time passed.

Late at night.

A flash of lightning lit the pitch-black dormitory, then faded, leaving only a pair of open eyes in the darkness.

An Jing rose and changed into a set of clothes he'd prepared. He folded his original clothes and arranged them beneath the covers into a rough human shape.

With his strength, he could easily shake the water out of wet clothes. But to be safe, he'd changed into something better suited for exploring.

He slipped out of the dormitory without a sound. The torrential rain masked his footsteps, while the cloud-covered stars and moon concealed his figure. An Jing moved as quickly as he could, passing the Medicine Pavilion and heading straight for Dongshan Manor.

The Medicine Pavilion.

The Medicine Pavilion's Manor Master—or rather, Vice Envoy Yao.

The white-haired old man narrowed his eyes. The ghostly green flames in his pupils drew tight, letting him clearly see a red silhouette of blood energy leave the dormitory and make its way toward Dongshan Manor.

"Heh..." he murmured gently. "Just as the Northern Patrol Envoy said, the cleverer the child, the more they like to poke around in secrets."

"Good!"

He laughed heartily. "Those who blindly follow the rules are second-rate."

"Only those who can break free from their innermost reverence for 'authority' and 'rules,' for 'gods' and 'death,' and even for 'Heavenly Will' and 'Fate'—and seek out the answers they want for themselves—can belong to my Tianyi Divine Sect!"

"An Jing... will you be a 'Star Constellation Heavenly Official' or an 'All-Evil Divine General'? A 'Mysterious Yin Goddess' is out of the question, of course, but if you turn out to be one of the 'Seven Killings'..."

The Vice Envoy of the Tianyi Divine Sect shook his head, apparently finding his guess too far-fetched, and said no more.

Still, he kept his gaze on An Jing's direction, then smiled and turned back to his chair.

After checking the time, the old man picked up an hourglass, turned it over, and began to count.

Vice Envoy Yao lifted his tea and took a sip. The ghostly green flames in his eyes wavered. "I'll set a time limit. Can't let him wander wherever he likes and make too much trouble."

"But I really am curious to see how he'll feel when he discovers the truth."

At the same time.

[You have been discovered.]

The mysterious, clear voice rang out. Running through the night, An Jing wasn't surprised. "I know. Thank you for your help last time. But this time, I'm well aware that Manor Master Yao has discovered me."

[Oh?]

Hearing how calmly An Jing responded, the voice couldn't help but sound surprised. [Not bad. No wonder you have Past Life Wisdom. In that case, how do you plan to handle it?]

"If I'm not mistaken..."

An Jing didn't answer the mysterious voice right away. Instead, he continued on his own. "The whole of Xuanming Manor belongs to the renowned sect of the northwest, the Zuntian Shenyi Sect, known to the world as the Tianyi Divine Sect."

"And the Tianyi Divine Sect has another rather famous name."

"The Tianyi Demonic Sect."