Chapter 231: Chapter 225: The Sky is Falling!
Yama’s Law Seal! This was the first technique one could master after familiarizing oneself with [Yama’s Golden Chapter], and also the most central technique in the entire Dharma Gate.
This Yama’s Law Seal contained extremely profound soul-based Divine Marvels.
Against soul-spirits and spiritual bodies, it possessed an almost inescapable power of suppression and confinement.
If complemented by other Hell Dao techniques, it could deliver a devastating blow to specters and sprites.
Although Qi Xiu himself did not know any other soul techniques, as someone possessing an Innate Mixed Yuan Holy Body with integrated spirit and flesh, he could rely on this Yama’s Law Seal. It allowed him to directly detain soul-spirits and spiritual bodies within the Ancestral Aperture between his eyebrows.
Then, through the integration of spirit and flesh, he could use his soul to execute the Star Absorption Skill, directly devouring the detained soul-spirits and spiritual bodies.
This allowed him to rapidly improve his soul’s Cultivation Realm.
This Yama’s Law Seal greatly compensates for my lack of soul techniques. The integration of spirit and flesh allows my soul to utilize the body’s techniques. But after integration, the soul can only remain within the Ancestral Aperture; it cannot leave the body. What idiot would foolishly invade my Ancestral Aperture with their soul? This spirit-detaining power, though seemingly ordinary, strikes directly at the vital core of soul-spirits and spiritual bodies. Once I detain them and they enter my Ancestral Aperture, even those with a higher Realm than mine become like fish in a barrel.
With another of his shortcomings addressed, Qi Xiu felt quite pleased.
Since beginning his Cultivation, he had always aimed to become a ’hexagonal warrior’—an all-around combatant.
In terms of offense, he had now mastered both the Five Thunder Orthodox Skill and the Gourd Sword Skill—two techniques capable of defeating opponents beyond his Realm.
For evasion and movement, he possessed the Black Water True Skill; in any body of water, he could teleport at will.
Additionally, he had the White Bone Demonic Dao’s ability to let a substitute die in his place.
He was protected by Human Path Merit, granting immunity to divinatory deductions.
The Observing Qi Skill served for scouting and surveillance.
The Upper Clarity Bell was useful for group confrontations and probing enemy strength.
His four great Mysterious Abilities provided logistical support.
Now, with [Yama’s Golden Chapter], he had addressed his deficiencies in soul-related abilities.
It seems I truly don’t have any particularly obvious weaknesses now.
But the more perfect one becomes, the more cautious one must be. Caution is the parent of safety. It’s always right to be a bit more stable.
His soul returned to his body. Qi Xiu slowly stood up, taking a deep breath.
In the blink of an eye, six years had passed.
The prophesied sixty-year calamity, warned of by Human Path Merit, was already one-tenth over.
Still, there can be no slackening.
He rubbed the Golden Cry Jade Beads on his wrist, then turned and walked towards the door. His calligraphy was just a little shy of breaking through to the Sixth Realm.
He was determined to persevere and complete the breakthrough of this Mysterious Ability.
...
...
"Stop, stop, stop! I’m not playing anymore, not playing!"
On Yunti Peak, at the edge of the Azure Sea Spirit Pool, Ge Ping’s exquisite robes were torn to shreds, making him look like a pitiful beggar. He helplessly waved his hands, signaling a halt.
"What I said just now doesn’t count! From now on, you can’t use Thunder Magic, talismanic techniques, or swordsmanship! Seventh Brother, I’m your senior after all. Can’t you go easy on me a bit? Look at me, what kind of state am I in?"
Gazing dejectedly at his tattered outfit, Ge Ping shouted up to the young Daoist standing atop a giant red gourd.
"Fifth Senior Brother, stop yelling," Qi Xiu, dressed in a deep blue robe that accentuated his handsome and elegant bearing, leaped down from the Sword Gourd with a faint smile. "Master asked me to train your combat techniques. I can’t very well tie both my hands, can I?"
"Besides, if you were really fighting someone out there, could you dictate what techniques they’re not allowed to use?"
Flopping onto his back on the soft grass, Ge Ping heaved a long sigh. "But combat is my weakness! I’m not going out adventuring, so why learn these things?"
"If Master hears that excuse, you’re guaranteed another couple of kicks," Qi Xiu chuckled, sitting down beside Ge Ping and patting his thigh. "I heard from Master that the inter-peak exchange is starting soon. Master has been doing business outside these past few years. By cornering the market on rare goods, he’s offended quite a few people. Several Martial Uncles and Martial Elders are already preparing to use this opportunity to get back at Master. Their specific method will likely involve trying to make Master lose face during this inter-peak exchange. If you don’t step up your training, you might end up badly bruised, and don’t blame me for not warning you."
"What’s there to be afraid of? You can just go up first! Anyway, during the exchange, each peak fights a maximum of three matches. In our generation, anyone who could beat you is out traveling. Among those remaining in the sect, even ten of them fighting you at once would be beaten until they cried for mercy. Fifth Senior Brother, I’m counting on you for this!"
Ge Ping rolled over and patted Qi Xiu’s hand, his eyes filled with hope.
He really didn’t want to compete in combat against his fellow disciples.
"I’d really like to help you," Qi Xiu said, "but Master said that as the senior brother, you must go first. If you lose too badly, besides the beating you get in the arena, you’ll probably get another one from Master afterward. So, Fifth Senior Brother, if you want to avoid extra beatings, you still need to practice more."
Qi Xiu shook his head. It was harsh, but he had to relay Daoist Yunxiong’s instructions to Ge Ping.
"No!"
As if struck by lightning, Ge Ping let out a tragic scream, collapsed onto the grass, and began to twitch his limbs, feigning death.
"Alright, you rest for a bit then," Qi Xiu said.
Smiling, Qi Xiu placed both hands behind his head and also lay back on the soft grass, quietly gazing up at the vast, cloudless azure sky.
Just like that, another fifteen years had passed.
The mortal world often says, ’A single day in the mountains is a thousand years in the world.’
Indeed, time spent in Cultivation flew swiftly.
During these fifteen years, he had cultivated steadily and with determination.
It wasn’t like his earlier days of roaming, where opportunities abounded and his Cultivation had soared rapidly.
Yet, this stable Cultivation, this quiet sense of his power growing day by day, brought him a profound sense of peace.
Perhaps this kind of tranquil, water-like life was what he had been pursuing all along.
Just as Qi Xiu lay on the grass resting with his eyes closed, Ge Ping, beside him, began to form a spell, preparing to sneak away.
Suddenly, the clear sky became overcast with dark clouds. A terrifying dragon, nearly a kilometer long, descended upon Yunti Peak with a roar, swallowing clouds, spewing mist, and commanding thunder, wind, and rain.
"Eldest Senior Brother?"
Sensing the anomaly, Qi Xiu and Ge Ping sprang to their feet. They instantly recognized the kilometer-long dragon wielding wind, rain, and lightning as their Eldest Senior Brother, Wei Wujie, and exclaimed in joyful surprise.
"Hahaha! Fifth! Seventh!"
The massive, sun-obscuring dragon vanished. Wei Wujie, grinning broadly, approached Qi Xiu and Ge Ping and pulled them into a hearty bear hug.
"Tell me, it’s been over twenty years! Did you miss your Eldest Senior Brother? Eh? Seventh Brother, you’ve broken through to Bloodstain?" Wei Wujie stared at Qi Xiu in astonishment, his face a mask of disbelief.
"Just luck," Qi Xiu replied, also overjoyed to see his Eldest Senior Brother, with whom he had once shared life-and-death experiences. "Eldest Senior Brother, why have you returned?"
"What? You only see this big oaf and don’t notice your Senior Sister?"
Before Wei Wujie could speak, a gentle, melodious voice drifted from behind him as a coolly elegant figure slowly approached.
It was Daoist Yunxiong’s second disciple, Nangong Qingqiu!
"Junior Two, you’re back too... Ouch!"
With a yelp, Wei Wujie was sent flying by a kick, crashing headfirst into the ground. Nangong Qingqiu casually averted her gaze and huffed, "How many times have I told you not to call me Junior Two?"
"What a coincidence, everyone’s here."
Before Wei Wujie could pull his head from the dirt, two more figures descended upon Yunti Peak.
One was a thin, middle-aged man who looked somewhat sickly. This was Li Jun, Third Senior Brother of Yunti Peak, born with a Ming Body.
The other was powerfully built and bare-chested, his muscular arms wrapped in black bandages. Dressed like a martial artist, his eyes were strikingly bright. This was Song Guanjia, Qi Xiu’s Fourth Senior Brother, whom he had never met.
"Third Senior Brother? Fourth Senior Brother?" Nangong Qingqiu, clearly unaware that Li Jun and Song Guanjia were also returning, frowned slightly, a trace of solemnity in her eyes.
In just a few minutes, everyone on Yunti Peak—except for Sixth Junior Brother Gan Xingba, who was still in seclusion—had unexpectedly gathered.
Nangong Qingqiu murmured, "Is... something wrong?"
It was plausible for one or two people to return coincidentally at the same time. However, for all the disciples who were out traveling to return to the sect simultaneously... that was unlikely to be a mere coincidence.
"You all must have returned because you received Master’s summons, right?" Looking at the assembled group, Nangong Qingqiu spoke slowly.
"Mmhmm."
"Of course! I was just in the middle of a fight with that old bastard from the South Sea..." Wei Wujie started.
"Shut up!" Nangong Qingqiu snapped.
It seems something really has happened, Qi Xiu thought. For their Master to summon back all disciples who were out traveling was clearly no small matter.
Just as Qi Xiu and the others were frowning, wondering what could have prompted their Master to summon everyone, Daoist Yunxiong’s voice suddenly resonated throughout Yunti Peak, echoing far and wide, "Since you’ve all returned, come to Guanlan Cliff. I have something to discuss with you."
Hearing their Master’s summons, the disciples dared not delay. They transformed into Lei Mang and sped towards Guanlan Cliff.
「A short while later.」
The disciples arrived at Guanlan Cliff one after another.
Daoist Yunxiong had already arranged seats for them before the main hall.
The young Daoist attendant, Zhong Xia, was holding a large Copper Pot and pouring tea cup by cup.
"You must be tired from your journeys. Sit down, rest, and have some tea," Daoist Yunxiong said.
They exchanged glances, then took their seats one after another, each picking up a teacup from the table to take a sip.
However, their minds were all preoccupied with why their Master had summoned them. Clearly, none of them were particularly interested in the tea.
"Good tea!" Wei Wujie gulped down the tea, leaves and all, then slapped his thigh and exclaimed with great enthusiasm.
"Shut up," Nangong Qingqiu hissed. Startled, she nearly dropped her teacup. She reached out, gave Wei Wujie’s thigh a vicious twist, and glared at him fiercely.
"Hehehe, you rascal." As Wei Wujie’s antics broke the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Daoist Yunxiong sat up straighter, his gaze slowly sweeping over his disciples. "Actually, the reason I called all of you back is to share some news."
Seeing Daoist Yunxiong’s solemn expression, the disciples also adopted serious countenances.
Even the usually flippant Wei Wujie wore a somewhat serious expression.
"According to reliable information... the current Dianchuan Festival Envoy, Gao Tianxiong... perished five days ago."
"What?!"
"Damn it! The sky is falling!"
...