Fate weight

Zhang Wuding (eighth-rank martial artist), fate weight: two taels and three mace, convertible into two taels and three mace of origin profound spirit...

Through his connection with the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, Zhou Wuji naturally understood why Zhang Wuding had appeared on its page, and how to use the Zhang Wuding on that page.

The Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment had collected the spirituality that dispersed after Zhang Wuding's death and condensed it on the page.

This bit of spirituality could be converted into origin profound spirit to gain insights into martial arts and Law Techniques.

The greater the fate weight, the stronger the origin profound spirit it could produce.

Just as with that baleful ghost, the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment could quantify profound spirit...

Of course, this conversion required strict observance of the precepts.

He had already violated several precepts, and each line of red text was marked "blanket exemption."

Without this feature, every blood relative in his entire family across several generations, himself included, would have died!

The roaring flames by the river gradually died out, but Zhou Wuji's gaze remained deep and contemplative, leaving the many disciples and servants beside him afraid to make a sound.

After quite some time, Zhou Wuji figured out the changes in the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, but he did not rush to use the origin spiritual light converted from Zhang Wuding.

Zhou Wuji stepped forward and kowtowed deeply before his master's cremated remains, silently reciting the Supreme Rebirth Incantation.

After reciting the Supreme Rebirth Incantation three times in succession, Zhou Wuji scattered all the remaining charcoal and ashes into the river.

The full moon hung overhead, and the river surged on, carrying the drifting ash downstream in its turbulent current, swallowing every trace in the blink of an eye.

He prayed silently, Master, you liked the Xiao River and Xiang River. Follow the Huamei River downstream from here to the Nine Sources River, and you'll reach the confluence of the Xiao and Xiang. I imagine you'll like it there too...

Zhou Wuji remained lost in thought for a while longer before sweeping his sleeve and telling everyone, "Back to the main hall."

None of them dared say anything. They obediently followed Zhou Wuji back to the Seven Stars Hall.

"None of you may leave the hall without my permission. Understood?" Zhou Wuji said gravely.

No one dared disobey. Some murmured their assent, while others nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Wuji glanced at the two corpses in the hall but paid them no further attention. Leaving them there for a while would do no harm.

With that bloody lesson before their eyes, everyone would keep a cooler head, effectively preventing them from doing anything foolish.

As he left the hall through the rear passage, Zhou Wuji gave it some thought and called Li Ruyi out of the crowd.

"Wuyi, come here. I have something to tell you."

Everyone turned to look at Li Ruyi. She was a seventeen-year-old girl with fair skin, bright, clear eyes, lovely features, and a slender, upright figure.

Even her Daoist attire could not conceal her lovely, poised bearing.

Although Li Ruyi usually got along reasonably well with Zhou Wuji, she truly did not want to be alone with him now.

Yet she did not dare refuse his summons, either, and slowly followed him with an expressionless face.

The middle-aged woman responsible for protecting Li Ruyi wanted to follow, but Li Ruyi stopped her with a wave.

Going around the main hall and out through the back door brought them to the rear courtyard. Side rooms stood on both sides, with five rooms in the main building.

The courtyard was usually used for practicing martial arts and learning techniques, and was spacious and open.

None of the surrounding rooms had lamps lit. Only the stars shone overhead, leaving the courtyard rather dim and shadowy.

Li Ruyi slowly entered the rear courtyard and saw Zhou Wuji standing in its center with his hands behind his back, studying the main rooms ahead where their master had lived. She had no idea what he was thinking.

She had always thought Zhou Wuji was mild-tempered, even rather meek. His refusal to compete or grab for anything really did have something of the non-action Daoists spoke of.

But in these chaotic times, falling a step behind meant being left at others' mercy. Whether practicing martial arts or cultivating the Dao, one had to forge ahead courageously.

Non-action and non-contention were fine things to talk about, but how could anyone take them seriously?

So, in her heart, Li Ruyi had always considered Zhou Wuji somewhat incompetent.

Tonight, however, she had personally witnessed her second senior brother cut down Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen with his sword, and it had dealt her an enormous shock.

The second senior brother she knew so well had suddenly become a stranger, even someone terribly frightening!

Clearly, Zhou Wuji had broken through to the eighth-rank Qi ingestion realm at some unknown point, which was how he possessed such superb swordsmanship.

She could not work out whether Zhou Wuji had deliberately acted incompetent before, or had suddenly awakened and advanced.

Whatever the case, she had to be cautious around this suddenly powerful and forceful Zhou Wuji.

"Second senior brother." Li Ruyi stopped seven paces away from Zhou Wuji and respectfully bowed with her hands clasped.

Zhou Wuji turned and nodded to Li Ruyi. This junior sister's Daoist name was Wuyi, and her real name was Li Ruyi.

The largest Lineage in Siming County was the Zhang Household, followed by the Li Household.

He had been dealing with Fang Wuzhen, Li Ruyi, and the others for several years. They all had strict upbringings, but he was mature, after all. Drawing information out of a group of boys and girls was hardly difficult.

Over the years, Zhou Wuji had come to understand the circumstances of Siming County's major Lineages very well.

He also knew that although the major Lineages were fairly united against outsiders, all manner of open strife and covert struggles were inevitable among them.

The Li Household's strength was second only to the Zhang Household's, making it the second strongest in Siming County.

On the surface, these two Households got along well, but in private their conflicts were quite sharp. It was just that times were bad, and neither dared truly go to war. They could only huddle together for warmth, however reluctantly.

Having killed Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen, he needed to win over the Li Household.

Zhou Wuji said gently to Li Ruyi, "Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen viciously plotted against Master. I had no choice but to strike like thunder and execute those two traitorous disciples."

Li Ruyi nodded outwardly, but she did not believe Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen had the courage to plot against their master.

Li Yiyuan was a seventh-rank register reception Daoist, renowned for his exquisite swordsmanship. Even against a seventh-rank martial artist, the outcome would have been hard to predict.

How much nerve would those two have needed to dare plot against their master?

Besides, what could they gain from it?

Whether Daoists, Buddhists, martial artists, followers of the Confucian Dao, or even demonic cults and the Evil Dao, all placed enormous importance on the transmission from master to disciple and on the relationship between them.

A traitorous disciple who killed his master would be loathed and rejected by everyone.

By the same reasoning, Zhou Wuji was even less likely to have killed their master. So Li Ruyi truly could not understand what exactly had happened tonight.

Zhou Wuji offered only that single explanation before changing tack. "I killed Zhang Wuding. Zhang Xinhu treasures that son of his. He won't rest until one of us is dead."

Li Ruyi nodded again. Zhang Xinhu was Siming County's strongest seventh-rank martial artist, stubborn by nature and overbearing in his actions. By killing Zhang Wuding, Zhou Wuji had indeed brought enormous trouble upon himself.

Zhou Wuji continued, "You have exceptional talent. Master told me long ago that, given time, your achievements would surpass his."

He paused, then said gravely, "But the Zhang Household will never allow the Li Household to produce a seventh-rank Daoist."

Although Li Ruyi was composed and had a mind of her own, her expression could not help changing slightly at his words.

It was a very blunt statement, but a very true one.

A place the size of Siming County had no room for so many experts. To maintain its position, the Zhang Household would certainly do everything it could to suppress the other Households.

Li Ruyi was young but very clever. She quickly understood why Zhou Wuji had said all this.

She shook her head slightly. "Our Household could never help you fight the Zhang Household."

"You don't need to fall out with the Zhang Household. Just manage Hidden Dragon Temple for a few days and keep them from running wild here..."

Zhou Wuji said solemnly, "Once I receive transmission and become eighth rank, I'll recommend you to cultivate at the Cloud Dragon Lower Court. I will not go back on my word."

He knew Li Ruyi very well. This girl's ambitions towered higher than the heavens. She would never let such an opportunity pass.

Sure enough, after considering it, Li Ruyi nodded firmly. "All right. It's a deal!"