The Aspect That Nourishes All Things

That day, when Qi Hong unleashed his power, the common folk needed only a day and a night to return safely to the sect alongside the Four Swords Gate disciples.

By then, Ouyang Zhenyue, Cai Tingyue, and Gong Haoyue had heard from Lei Zhouyue about the battle between Chang Yi, a fourth-realm Qi Refinement expert of the Zhou Kingdom, and ten sect members including Liu Yunshen, Lei Zhaoye, Huang Zongyue, and Cai Yuelin. Their faces had long since drained of color, and they immediately wanted to set out.

"No need for all of you to go. You three guard the sect—I alone will suffice!" Ouyang Zhenyue simply packed his things and rose into the air. Before he had flown even a mile, he was startled to see several hundred commoners gathered around the Four Swords Sect disciples. "This!"

"Look, Martial Uncle Ouyang!"

"Father!"

The heroes of the Four Swords Sect cried out in delight and hurried over. Ouyang Zhenyue stared at the strange power Qi Hong had unleashed below, his face changing dramatically. "Seven Sufferings Screen!!!"

Qi Hong smiled helplessly and waved at Ouyang.

"Mountain Lord Mei, you..."

"Cough!" Qi Hong coughed, and his body swayed. Liu Yunshen, Cai Yuelin, Wei Gui, and the others hurried forward to support him. "Elder Qi! What's wrong?"

"Perhaps I'm old. Maybe I got sunstroke!"

The young men all smiled bitterly. Gong Liefeng burst out laughing. "If Elder Qi can get sunstroke, we'd have long since been baked to death by the sun!"

"Think you're clever, do you?" Qi Hong laughed and smacked him on the neck. Gong Liefeng dodged with a grin, yet still received his one hundred and thirteenth hand-chop. A faint ripple gradually spread around him as he sighed with a smile, "If Senior Qi hits this junior a few thousand more times, perhaps this junior might break through this so-called 'Martial Dao' realm!"

"Cheap bones!" As Qi Hong gradually grew familiar with the youths, his words became less restrained, and he occasionally made jokes. At that moment, however, he quickly stepped forward, clasped Ouyang Zhenyue's arm, and said respectfully, "Sect Master Ouyang! The last time your sect escorted the goods, it spared this old man much worry. Such great kindness is truly hard to repay!"

Ouyang Zhenyue became even more respectful. "Mei... Mr. Qi, since you are here, please stay in the sect for a few days so that we may fulfill our duties as hosts!"

Qi Hong smiled and waved his hand. "I have already delayed for quite some days. Besides, your sect's affairs are likely far more pressing now than before!" Turning to look at the hundreds of displaced people, he smiled wryly. "Little Brother Liu saved an entire village in Zhao Family Village, and along the road..."

"Hahaha! My Brother Liu is the reincarnation of Emperor Zhaolie..." Ouyang Qingcang laughed loudly.

"What Emperor Zhaolie? He is clearly Yao and Shun! A village in three years, a town in five—give him twenty years, and he might establish the fifth great nation of the Nine Provinces!" Cai Yuelin said with a grin.

"This..." Ouyang Zhenyue did not know how to stop them. But Cai Tingyue approached from afar, looked at those simple and honest villagers, and scolded his son, "You are making a mess of things! Our Four Swords Sect is already struggling just to protect itself. Where would we find enough surplus grain to feed several hundred mouths?"

"But, Father! These people followed us of their own accord. We cannot possibly drive them away. Would that not wound the people's hearts as they turn toward virtue?"

Cai Tingyue looked at the countless pleading eyes, and his heart softened. He sighed. "I'll go back and think of a way. If it comes to it, I'll discuss it with your mother and sell some jewelry."

"Father, just take out a little of your hidden stash. That would be enough to feed the people for months!" Cai Yuelin said teasingly. Cai Tingyue laughed as he cursed his son, then led the sect disciples away to settle the refugees.

Qi Hong and Ouyang Zhenyue looked at the smiling faces of the people, and tears welled up in their eyes.

"How many years has it been? Such a sight has not appeared upon the lands of the Nine Provinces for so long!" Qi Hong sighed. Ouyang Zhenyue sent him a voice transmission. "Mr. Mei, could it be that the other six Mountain Lords of your academy are also in the Central Plains? I heard that Vast Sea Academy has remained aloof from worldly affairs for centuries!"

Qi Hong only smiled without answering, then gave a slight nod.

Ouyang Zhenyue was overjoyed. Just as the two were speaking, the aggressive Ying Xiao once again came galloping over with several hundred armored riders!

The people along the road scattered in terror.

Ying Xiao was surprised, then a vicious smile appeared on his face. He actually urged his horse faster and charged straight toward the crowd! Liu Yunshen leaped into the air and kicked Ying Xiao from his horse. He immediately yanked tight on the reins, and the horse reared up on its hind legs!!

"You death-seeking beast, you still dare resist!" Liu Yunshen shouted. The warhorse gave a faint neigh, seeming extremely afraid of the rider on its back, then promptly knelt on the ground!

"This kid wasn't this strong half a month ago!" Ying Xiao landed steadily on the ground, strode forward to seize the reins, and stared coldly at him.

Cai Yuelin and Ouyang Qingcang were furious. They walked up to Ying Xiao. "The task has already been completed. What have you come for now?"

Ying Xiao sneered and spread open his palm. "The inner cores of those you killed!"

Everyone froze. Liu Yunshen forcibly suppressed his anger. "When did your proclamation and task parchment ever mention that?"

"How was it not written? Look at the seal!" Ying Xiao sneered. The Four Swords Sect disciples examined it carefully. Gong Liefeng said doubtfully, "There is nothing wrong with the seal!"

Liu Yunshen lowered his head to inspect it closely, then suddenly tore the proclamation apart in fury. "You wrote the four words 'retrieve the inner cores' as tiny as ants and hid them in the gaps of the seal. Who would ever see something like that?"

"That is none of my concern. In any case, it was on the task proclamation. Since you did not do it, the reward for this task must be discounted!"

"Can I repay the money for them?" Qi Hong walked forward with a cold face.

Ying Xiao carefully sized up the plump middle-aged man and said solemnly, "This is not a matter of money. I am also acting for someone else! One sentence: if the task cannot be completed, you may still keep this land, but the spiritual energy of the earth veins within a hundred miles will be cut off!"

"You! Do you believe I'll slaughter you right now?" Gong Liefeng flew into a rage and grabbed Ying Xiao by the collar. Ying Xiao raised his chin. "You may certainly try!"

"We don't want this land anymore!" Cai Tingyue, who had always been mild-tempered, came striding over in fury. Gong Haoyue threw the land deed to Ying Xiao.

"That cannot be done! I have already handed the money over to His Majesty the Qin Emperor! It is impossible to sell it back now!"

"What exactly do you want?" Lei Zhaoye's voice was low as he stared at Ying Xiao.

"Isn't it simple?" Ying Xiao taunted them to the utmost, leaning his head close to Lei Zhaoye's ear. "Someone wants you dead!"

"I'll cripple you right now!" Lei Zhaoye raised his palm to strike. Amid Ying Xiao's laughter, he sent out his right palm! Their palm forces collided violently! Ying Xiao's shout thundered through the air, and Lei Zhaoye was blasted back more than ten yards!

Liu Yunshen helped Lei Zhaoye up, stepped forward, and gradually calmed down. In a deep voice, he asked, "Is there room for negotiation? If not, when will the earth-vein spiritual energy be sealed?"

"One month from now!" Ying Xiao waved a hand, turned, and left. Before departing, he let out a long burst of laughter. "Trash, enjoy your final days! Hahahaha!"

"This is bullying people beyond all reason!" Cao Langao glared at Ying Xiao.

"Pulling bones from graves, plucking every feather from geese that fly overhead!" Ouyang Zhenyue suppressed his anger and turned to Qi Hong, not knowing how to begin. But Cai Tingyue had already stepped forward first with a smile. "Qi... Elder..."

Qi Hong waved his hand and smiled. "There is actually another way. I have heard that your sect possesses a formation called Four Swords Harmonized Light. But what you do not know is that there is another formation within it, called One Sword Same Dust!"

The four sect masters, Liu Yunshen, Lei Zhaoye, Ouyang Qingcang, and the others were all baffled.

"This old man means that so long as one comprehends the fourth heaven of the Life Realm or above, even if your sect's earth-vein spiritual energy is sealed, you may rely on powerful experts within the sect to preside over it, use divine intent to commune with Heaven and Earth, and activate the formation at all times. It can sustain an area from several miles to several hundred miles, and the spiritual energy will show no sign of running dry!"

"How is that possible?" Liu Yunshen cried out, looking toward the four sect masters!

Ouyang Zhenyue picked up a piece of withered wood. A strand of intent emerged, and half an inch of yellow shoot sprouted from the dead branch!!