Fellow travelers on the same path

"You aren't seriously thinking of rebelling, are you? That's ten thousand times harder than cultivating."

Seeing that Lianshan Xin seemed to be seriously considering becoming emperor, Qi Shiyun nearly lost her composure.

"With all the fiends in the Demon Cult, even they don't dare dream of overthrowing the Imperial Court. Behave yourself."

Lianshan Xin explained, "Third-Place Qi, I'm not that bold. I was merely putting forward a hypothetical."

"Don't go dreaming up random hypotheticals. Thinking about things like that can send you to an early grave." Qi Shiyun gave Lianshan Xin a stern warning.

Had it been anyone else, Qi Shiyun would not have worried.

But Lianshan Xin had already shown potential in that direction. Qi Shiyun had no choice but to worry.

After all, if Lianshan Xin decided to court death, she would be implicated too.

"We embarked on the path of immortal cultivation in hopes of living long and seeing far, not bringing ruin upon ourselves," Qi Shiyun reminded him.

Lianshan Xin could not help laughing. "Third-Place Qi, unless I'm mistaken, outsiders already think our lineage is bringing ruin upon itself."

Qi Shiyun could not refute that. "True, but that's because outsiders don't understand how powerful our lineage is. The greater the danger of our cultivation method, the richer its rewards."

"I think I've got the gist of it."

He was accustomed to looking past appearances to the essence of things.

The approach with the highest success rate for the Dragon-Supporting Immortal Art was to support the Crown Prince, but the rewards would be modest. After all, even without their help, the Crown Prince had a fifty-fifty chance of becoming emperor.

The greatest rewards came from supporting a prince or princess who seemed least likely to ascend the dragon throne. But the odds of success were low, and he could easily sacrifice himself and all nine degrees of his kin in the attempt.

He needed to strike a balance between the two.

That would be a real test of his skill at maneuvering, as well as the qualities of the candidate he supported.

"Looked at that way, our lineage seems a little too dependent on outside forces." Lianshan Xin frowned slightly.

Qi Shiyun corrected him. "The greatest difference between humans and beasts is that humans excel at using tools. In ancient times, the ancestors of our Dragon Aiders lineage relied on spiritual energy to cultivate. But when the world underwent a great upheaval and spiritual energy vanished, they declined along with it. Now we rely on imperial bloodlines to cultivate. How is that any different from relying on spiritual energy? Don't think that cultivating the Martial Dao through your own efforts or Immortal Cultivation through spiritual energy makes you superior to those who rely on outside forces. The world only cares how high you ultimately rise."

Lianshan Xin said solemnly, "Your student has learned his lesson."

He was convinced. He had indeed harbored a similar prejudice, believing that pinning his hopes on someone else was an inferior approach.

But Qi Shiyun had a point.

People had to keep updating their views rather than stubbornly living in their own little worlds. Among any three people walking together, one could surely be his teacher. In this respect, Qi Shiyun was more than qualified to teach him.

"Besides members of the imperial family, anyone who possesses a spiritual root and great fortune can help our cultivation, provided we form a favorable bond with them. You, for instance-in my perception, you possessed both a spiritual root and a measure of fortune. Events proved that I was right. By guiding you onto the path, I also gained a slight increase in cultivation. As you continue breaking through and advancing in the future, I'll receive a boost in strength second only to your own.

"Of course, if you die young, I'll suffer a heavy blow too. Lianshan Xin, from now on, we truly are fellow travelers on the same path.

"What's that look on your face?"

Qi Shiyun had spoken very seriously, but when she saw the odd look in Lianshan Xin's eyes afterward, she could not help growing suspicious.

Lianshan Xin spoke frankly. "Third-Place Qi, I don't think the two of us can be fellows sharing the same passage."

Never mind that I have no interest in sharing that sort of passage with anyone-you don't even have the equipment for the deed.

"Did you not understand what I meant?"

"Ahem, I understood. But you're glossing over the important part, Third-Place Qi. I'm certainly tied to this great ship of yours now, but you can keep benefiting from me, while I won't benefit from your increases in strength."

Qi Shiyun did not deny it. "The greatest help I can give you is to guide you onto the path and set you on the road to immortality. Lianshan Xin, you're still young. There's much you don't understand. Often, taking that first step is the hardest part."

"No, your student understands."

Under Qi Shiyun's Little Cloud and Rain Art, Lianshan Xin had literally washed his heart clean and renewed his face, becoming a new man.

He straightened his clothes, rose, and gave Qi Shiyun a deep, solemn bow. "Lianshan Xin is not an ungrateful man. Without your help, Third-Place Qi, I would still be struggling to cultivate in the Body Tempering Realm, with no way to break through. By guiding me onto the path, you have shown me the kindness of a teacher and the grace of recognizing my worth. I will remember it always."

He meant every word.

Everyone who had started from nothing knew that the first pot of gold was the hardest to earn.

Qi Shiyun had given him his first pot of gold. So long as he had any humanity in him, he had to repay that kindness generously.

Compared with what Qi Shiyun had given him, Kong Ningyuan's contribution did not even qualify as founding shares.

Seeing how solemn Lianshan Xin was, Qi Shiyun regarded him with even greater appreciation. "It seems you truly understand. Good. If you run into trouble in the future, come to me. As long as it's something I can help resolve, I'll do everything in my power."

"Your student won't stand on ceremony. Third-Place Qi, does that mean I can start cultivating other children of fortune too?"

"Chosen One Son of Heaven," Qi Shiyun corrected Lianshan Xin, then explained patiently, "Your cultivation is currently in the Qi Condensation Realm. First, you must completely refine the dragon energy within you at this realm. In the Primordial Era, this realm was called the Qi Refining Stage."

Lianshan Xin blinked.

A Qi Refining powerhouse?

Then the next step should be a Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

"Once you've completely refined the dragon energy within you, under the current Martial Dao cultivation system, you must attempt to comprehend your own martial intent—ferocity, swiftness, protection, slaughter, nature, and so on. You infuse your spiritual will into your true qi and martial techniques, give your moves a soul, and form a martial conception uniquely your own. That is the fourth Martial Dao realm, the True Intent Realm."

"After acquiring your own martial intent, you then attempt to highly condense, compress, and transform the true qi within you, forming a special astral energy, such as blazing flame astral energy, frost astral energy, protective astral energy, or sharp metal astral energy. That is the fifth Martial Dao realm, the Astral Transformation Realm."

"The transition from true qi to astral energy is an enormous leap. Astral energy is far more powerful than true qi and possesses unique attributes, combining offense and defense. Most importantly, astral energy can be projected outward to form tangible attacks.

"And in our Dragon Aiders lineage, astral energy can also guide others onto the path, and even help you sense other favored talents blessed with fortune. This is the gift that sets us apart from other Astral Transformation Realm martial artists.

"The Qi Condensation Pill you just took contained my unique astral energy. Of course, guiding someone onto the path doesn't require a Qi Condensation Pill. A direct infusion of astral energy will do. I only took that extra step because you're too weak."

Lianshan Xin gave a light cough. "Third-Place Qi, there's no need to explain that last part. I understood. In other words, I have to break through two more realms, reach the Astral Transformation Realm, and become a grandmaster before I can support a Chosen One Son of Heaven I've taken a liking to."

"Correct."

"Two realms. That's not too bad."

Lianshan Xin was not disappointed.

If cultivating immortal arts were that easy, something would have been wrong.

"Third-Place Qi, how old were you when you became a grandmaster?"

"Twenty."

"Then, since I'm eighteen this year, if I advance one realm a year, I still have a chance of catching up with you."

Qi Shiyun patted Lianshan Xin on the shoulder and encouraged him. "Go to bed early. You can have anything you want in your dreams."