Cangsong Passes On a Technique, Resources Opened

Decades ago, at the Eight Gods Pavilion.

A light rain was falling that day, and Bai Junhao was already soaked through. He knelt silently before Purple Myrtle Peak, staring blankly at the steps ahead. In the great hall above the steps, countless elders from the immortal sects were arguing. After an unknown length of time, the hall finally fell silent.

Life slowly returned to Bai Junhao's eyes. Cangsong stood silently before him, and at last, Bai Junhao slowly spoke, his voice hoarse. "Go on, Master."

Cangsong closed his eyes in anguish. "The immortal sects have decided to strip you of your cultivation. Even if you cultivate anew someday, you will never be allowed to leave the Eight Gods Pavilion again."

Bai Junhao gave a scornful smile. "Those bald donkeys really know what they're doing. Trading one useless Buddha's son for all my cultivation, heh heh..."

Cangsong had wanted to persuade Bai Junhao further, but when he remembered how proud and lofty his disciple was, he held his tongue. Bai Junhao slowly rose and worked the stiffness out of his legs, then walked up the steps toward his cave abode.

"Master, I'm sorry."

Cangsong watched Bai Junhao's lonely figure retreat, his heart filled with self-reproach. If only he had come out of seclusion earlier, none of this would have happened.

After returning to his cave abode, Bai Junhao sorted through his belongings, changed into a brand-new scholar's robe, and took out a token that had lain untouched in his Storage Bag for a long time, holding it in his hand. He knew that once he took this step, there would be no turning back.

After a long while, Bai Junhao gritted his teeth and crushed the token. A pitch-black vortex abruptly appeared, and at the same time, a thunderous shout rang out from the mountaintop. "You've crossed the line!"

Bai Junhao stepped forward. Watching the light slowly vanish behind him, he murmured, "Wait for me. I will come back, and all of you will pay the price."

The next day, word spread through the Eight Gods Pavilion that Bai Junhao had defected to the demonic path. The Heavenly Buddha Temple personally confirmed the news, and the entire righteous path erupted in an uproar.

"It was only after that that we realized the demonic path had broken through the Eight Gods Pavilion's barrier long ago. Afterward, all of the pavilion's original barriers were dismantled, and new ones were set up. Every barrier you see now was laid down by me."

Cangsong slowly let out a breath. He had kept these matters buried in his heart for so many years that he had thought he would forget them, but to his surprise, he still remembered them so clearly when he spoke of them again.

Qin Yi finally understood why the grand elder had told him to be careful. An outright villain was not to be feared; it was the hypocrite one had to fear. Thinking of the Heavenly Buddha Temple's conduct, Qin Yi could not help giving a cold snort.

Cangsong put away the fine wine on the table and said to Qin Yi, "I see your spear technique is quite good. Very well. Though I'm not skilled with a spear, I do have a spear technique I can pass on to you."

Before Qin Yi could react, Cangsong touched a finger to his forehead. At once, a flood of memories surged into his mind, and Qin Yi had no choice but to close his eyes and begin absorbing them.

Seeing Qin Yi enter a meditative state, Cangsong seemed to think of something. He rose and drifted away.

At dusk, Qin Yi's tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open. "This Jade-Shattering Spear truly is extraordinary." Cangsong had seen Qin Yi's weakness: his spear techniques lacked power in close combat. The Jade-Shattering Spear made up for precisely that, choosing to shatter like jade rather than remain whole like a roof tile, striking straight for the enemy's life.

"It looks like you and Martial Uncle Cangsong had a good talk. He passed another martial technique on to you?"

Song Qi's voice came from afar. Qin Yi put away his smile, lowered his head respectfully, and bowed. Song Qi moved so quickly that before Qin Yi could raise his head, he had already flashed to a stop in front of him.

"Martial Uncle already sent me a voice transmission, saying you did quite well. You didn't make me lose face."

Hearing the teasing note in Song Qi's voice, Qin Yi smiled and asked him, "Master, what do you think of Bai Junhao?"

Song Qi stroked his chin and said in a low voice, "What happened back then was never his fault. As for whether there are secrets behind it that no one knows about, you should ask him yourself in ten years."

Qin Yi was just about to nod when he suddenly realized something was off. He hurriedly called out, "Master, what do you mean? Why does it sound like there's something behind your words? Don't set me up!"

Song Qi gave Qin Yi an encouraging look. "Martial Uncle told me a great deal in his voice transmission just now, and he also gave you a task."

Looking at Song Qi's expression, Qin Yi felt a little uneasy. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Starting today, the Eight Gods Pavilion's resources will be fully opened up. As my disciple, you'll naturally receive more benefits, but you won't get them for nothing. Martial Uncle said you must break through to Golden Core within ten years. When the time comes, you'll lead the Eight Gods Pavilion's disciples into the decisive battle."

Qin Yi had been a little excited by the first part, but as he listened to the rest, his smile slowly vanished. In the end, he said to Song Qi with a bitter look, "Master, can't we discuss this a little more?" It was not that Qin Yi was afraid, but that no one knew just how strong the demonic path was now. He had no confidence.

Song Qi knew that Qin Yi had been exceptionally cautious since childhood, leaving not a drop of water able to leak through in anything he did. But even if Cangsong had not mentioned it, Song Qi would have made the same demand of Qin Yi. He did not want his disciple trapped forever in the tiny Eastern Region. If they wanted to step onto the greater stage of Central Province, however, they still needed an admission ticket.

Seeing Qin Yi try to avoid the task, Song Qi patted him on the shoulder and said gravely, "Yi'er, you must be the one to do this. Don't worry. I will make sure you break through to Golden Core within ten years."

"But, Master, you..."

Qin Yi was about to bargain some more when Song Qi simply produced a cyan Flame Cloud Fruit, making him swallow the words on the tip of his tongue. The Flame Cloud Fruit floated gently into Qin Yi's hand. Feeling the immense spiritual power within the spirit fruit, Qin Yi suddenly had a thought: if there were enough resources, it was not impossible for him to lead the team.

Seeing this, Song Qi said no more. He had watched Qin Yi grow up and knew him better than anyone. He trusted Qin Yi to know what to do.

"Don't worry, Master. I know what to do," Qin Yi said to Song Qi after putting away the Flame Cloud Fruit. Since they wanted him to serve as the vanguard, he would have to make full use of those "fully opened resources." They couldn't expect a horse to run without letting it eat grass, could they?