The Tower Room Threw Open Its Doors to Await the Mountain Wind

At this moment, having heard Zhang Qiwei recount this half of the secret, Liu Dongqing felt not the slightest joy at obtaining such a great fortune.

All he saw was a concealing curtain being lifted before his eyes, revealing an abyss of despair beyond.

An abyss that cleaved aristocratic clan descendants from ordinary cultivators.

And on the far side of that abyss lay a prosperous, splendid world of cultivation built by aristocratic clans joined branch to branch, breath to breath.

There was no place there for ordinary cultivators.

No.

Perhaps there was.

Liu Dongqing could not help but think: the deliberate concealment of the Seven-Light Incantation Method's secrets, the forceful restriction of exchanging for its cultivation arts—were these gaps in foundation, deliberately created by the great clans,

merely for the sake of getting ahead in the struggle for position at some crucial juncture?

Did they value nothing more than taking a few steps ahead on the road of competing for the Great Dao, the first to sweep clean the resources lying in their path?

No!

The struggle for position involved far more than victory and defeat!

Sometimes, a lead of merely half a step was enough for these clan disciples to turn around and forcibly suppress ordinary genius cultivators who had once raced alongside them, turning them into Dao Slaves!

They could transform another's talent and natural gifts into their own foundation!

The more heaven-defying a prodigy was, the less likely there were mediocrities around them.

Just as Liu Dongqing had once used this very method to determine that behind that mediocre sixth-layer Qi Refining Dao Slave stood Senior Brother Zhao, who had yet to succeed in his bid for position, rather than Jiang Xiaoqi's opponent.

Just as Zhang Qiwei, before she had even succeeded in her own bid for position, had already followed the instincts of a clan descendant and begun to covet Liu Dongqing.

Those astonishingly gifted Dao Slaves around the aristocratic prodigies of Departure Peak had, in all likelihood, come about in just this way!

There was no joy.

The instant Liu Dongqing grasped this essential truth, an ice-cold chill welled up from the depths of his heart.

It was as though he had only just barely broken free from the cage Manager Hou had built, only to be about to enter a breeding ground for venomous creatures constructed by even more numerous and more cunning "Manager Hous."

Today, Zhang Qiwei's spoken secret had barely allowed him to step half a pace beyond ordinary genius cultivators—but what then? Could he still break through this breeding-ground prison forged by aristocratic clans linked branch to branch, breath to breath?

In a flash of lightning and sparks, a vast torrent of thoughts surged wildly through him, only to be successively suppressed by Liu Dongqing's steadfastly righteous mind.

He even revealed an excited expression of "sharing in the honor" at having heard this secret to Zhang Qiwei.

Then, beneath Zhang Qiwei's gaze, his eyes shifted as though he had thought of something further, and he impatiently pressed on.

"May I ask, Senior Sister: the seven lights—scarlet, orange, yellow, green, azure, blue, and violet—are linked one after another. Senior Sister originally cultivated the Little Scarlet Light Incantation, yet now also cultivates the Little Green Light Incantation.

Does this mean there is nothing particular about cultivating the seven lights together?

Or is there some hidden principle this junior brother does not know?"

At that, Zhang Qiwei's smile became even more profound.

"Junior Brother, I have already recounted half the secret. For the sake of the karmic affinity between us, I will answer only one more question. Are you certain you wish to ask this?"

Liu Dongqing nodded without hesitation.

"This one!"

Thus, Zhang Qiwei said,

"The seven lights spring from the same source. They are merely the Great Sun Heavenly Light divided into seven; therefore, there is no principle of mutual generation between the seven lights. It was only because I accidentally obtained an ancient Pill Formula from the Little Green Light Incantation lineage that I resolved to cultivate this path as well."

By this point, the intention to depart had already appeared on Zhang Qiwei's face.

She gave Liu Dongqing one last steady look. At that moment, everything that had happened since their encounter seemed to surge back into Zhang Qiwei's mind all at once.

From the accident involving the medicinal properties of the Jade Cloud Fruit to the unbelievable Perfect Round Departing Fire Pill.

At last, Zhang Qiwei spoke again.

"In the coming turmoil, I permit you to place your own life and safety first. If you do not possess absolute certainty of victory, you may trade a defeat for the preservation of your life.

At that time, no matter whether you are injured or crippled, so long as you can still stir your natal candle flame, come to Rising Mist Dao Academy. This senior sister will still take you in.

Of course...

If you truly possess some skill I do not know of, then consider what I just said unsaid.

But if one day you desperately seek the means to cultivate two methods together and cannot find it...

Then this senior sister will still be willing to take you in. When that time comes, I will give you a Seven-Light Incantation Method as a meeting gift!

A person will not have many chances in a lifetime to exchange a stretch of karmic affinity for an opportunity.

Junior Brother, think carefully."

As her words fell, Zhang Qiwei turned completely away.

She spoke no more. Facing Departure Peak, a scarlet jade pendant dropped from her wrist, and in that instant raging scarlet flames wrapped around her form.

Boom—

At once,

heavenly fire surged up from the earth. Just as when Zhang Qiwei had arrived, it dragged a fiery tail behind it and soared straight toward Rising Mist Dao Academy.

Only this time, beneath Liu Dongqing's gaze, it possessed three parts more blazing spiritual power, yet no longer carried any heavenly might or fear.

Not until that cluster of scarlet flame vanished at the end of Liu Dongqing's vision

did he remain standing where he was, as though deeply absorbed in contemplation.

Today, I presented the Jade Cloud Fruit, and Zhang Qiwei descended from Rising Mist Dao Academy in the form of heavenly fire. With such a tremendous reaction, if I were Senior Brother Zhao, I ought to be certain that it is time to make a move, shouldn't I?

The wind and rain have arrived.

The wind and rain have arrived...

That day.

The night had grown exceedingly deep.

On the originally narrow mountain path of Sunward Dao Academy, the figure of a young man suddenly emerged from the shadows.

Pure moonlight spilled down, setting off his upright figure and illuminating the arrogance and unruliness on his face.

It was as though he was not walking along a mountain path in the dead of night, but through his own family hall, beneath the gaze of countless onlookers.

And at the end of the direction he walked lay the outline of Liu Dongqing's small courtyard.

Having spotted his target, the youth continued forward at an unhurried pace.

Closer, then closer still.

Only when the youth could clearly make out every detail of the little courtyard by moonlight did his body abruptly halt.

An expression of surprise appeared on his haughty face.

"Eh?"

And beneath his gaze,

the courtyard gate, which should have been shut tight, now stood wide open.

At the very center of the courtyard,

Liu Dongqing had moved the only wooden chair from his bedroom outside. He now lounged against it lazily, seeming to have quietly watched the youth approach for a very, very long time.

"When Liu is waiting for someone, I have the least patience for it. I've been sitting here doing nothing for ages. If Fellow Daoist had not come soon, I would have gone back inside to sleep."

Hearing this, the youth gave a cold laugh.

"Perhaps, in a moment, you will regret not being able to die directly in your dreams!

When I came, Cousin even told me to give you another chance—a true chance to pledge allegiance to the proper path.

But looking at you, there is no need for me to waste my breath."

As his words fell, Liu Dongqing leaned forward slightly.

"Cousin? Senior Brother Zhao is your—?"

The youth flicked his sleeve.

"You are worthy of calling him Senior Brother?

That is right, he is my cousin!

He said a variable had emerged at Sunward Dao Academy. As luck would have it, I was cultivating quietly within the clan and had not yet entered the ranks of inner or outer sect disciples, so he asked me to set things straight and return Qingyuan to its source.

I did not hear the details clearly before coming. Perhaps you have this ability or that ability.

But in our eyes, none of it is worth anything.

Still, being able to die by my hand will be enough for you to boast a few more lines on the road to the Yellow Springs."

As he spoke, the youth took a step forward.

"Departure Peak, Yang Fire Path, Seven Astral Rainbow Branch—Fang Jing!"

At the same time, Liu Dongqing had already risen to his feet. He walked slowly out through the courtyard gate, then gave a silent laugh.

"I... I have not yet entered any path, so I cannot be counted as belonging to either side. For now, I can only form a branch of my own.

Very well—

Departure Peak, Yang Fire Path, the branch that specializes in fighting vile beasts—Liu Dongqing!"