Li Tongya swallowed the Jade Sprout Pill and felt spiritual power surge within him. Spiritual qi erupted from his Qi Sea as he broke smoothly through to the third layer of Qi Refining.
Compared to the gate-by-gate progression of Embryonic Breathing, cultivation at the Qi Refining stage tended to flow smoothly. Some major sects even advocated dividing Qi Refining into early, middle, and late phases — the entire realm treated as a simple accumulation of power, with all obstacles condensed into a single formidable barrier: the transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.
Li Tongya spent one night breaking through and two more days stabilizing his cultivation. Calculating the days, he murmured:
"I'm at the third layer of Qi Refining now. Ching-er must be at the peak by now. I wonder what his chances are for Foundation Establishment. They say the southern frontier is dangerous — I hope he hasn't been hurt."
A wave of doubt washed over him. Li Tongya thought:
"It's been so many years — and not a single letter from home…"
Suppressing his unease, Li Tongya left the Meichi Mountain cave dwelling, found Li Xuanxuan, and said in a low voice:
"Have the Wu-tonic silkworms produced silk this year?"
"Second Uncle — they've spun silk three times. Six balls in total."
Li Xuanxuan looked as though he hadn't slept all night, busy processing the demon beasts Li Xuanfeng had hunted. Dust still clung to his clothes.
"Have someone weave a foot of spirit cloth."
Li Tongya stroked his chin. As Li Xuanxuan nodded and departed, he thought:
"Only this spirit cloth can block spiritual sense. I'll use it to conceal myself — at the very least, it will prevent anyone from remembering my face. A pity our supply is so low. If only enough could be woven into a cloak."
Li Tongya took down the wooden slip Li Chijing had left behind from a shelf. He had read it so many times that the leather binding was nearly worn through, and every time he was struck anew by its ingenuity.
He had studied the Lunar Crescent Sword Arc for over a decade, and it was committed to memory — but the technique consumed enormous energy. He had never used it in actual combat.
"The talent for the sword truly cannot be compared…"
Li Tongya smiled bitterly. Of the Li family's younger generation, all had read the Dark Water Sword Scripture and Li Chijing's Lunar Crescent Sword Arc. Only his eldest son, Li Xuanling, showed a modicum of talent. Li Xuanfeng and Li Xuanxuan could make no headway.
After some study, Li Xuanxuan returned with the spirit cloth. Li Tongya accepted the gray, gauzy fabric and swept it with his spiritual sense — indeed, nothing could penetrate it. He nodded, folded it away, and stood to leave the cave dwelling.
From his storage pouch, he took several jade bottles containing healing pills and tucked them away. He unstrapped the storage pouch and handed it to Li Xuanxuan. Outside, Lu Sici had already descended on the wind at the mountain's base. Li Tongya rose, landed silently beside him, and cupped his hands:
"Honored Elder Lu!"
Lu Sici nodded. Without a word, the two set off eastward on the wind. Li Tongya followed at a leisurely pace, studying Lu Sici's aura — his pure clear qi was far more refined than that of the Mountain Yue Qi Refining cultivators. Li Tongya thought:
"The Lu family practices orthodox methods. The qi they consume must be that Small Clear Qi."
Years ago, when Li Tongya had traveled with Wan Yuankai to pay tribute, he had heard that the Lu family's Qi Refining cultivators practiced with Small Clear Qi. Now he saw it for himself.
They flew for a time, and Huagan Mountain gradually appeared on the horizon. Lu Sici abruptly gained altitude and slapped his storage pouch — a talisman appeared in his palm.
*Whoosh—*
Lu Sici flicked it backward. The talisman shot into the sky and burst into a great crimson flower. Below, figures darted through the trees.
The defenders on Huagan Mountain reacted swiftly. A translucent shield shimmered into view, and two figures rose into the air. The leader gripped a long blade, his expression grim — it was Ji Dengqi.
"You're actually at Huagan Mountain?"
Lu Sici's expression turned peculiar. The jade ruyi was already in flight from his hand as he called with a laugh:
"Excellent — no need to ambush you after all. Brother An, come out!"
No sooner had Lu Sici spoken than another man flew from the trees. Li Tongya glanced sideways, taking in the burly, bearded, bald-headed figure. His true essence was flowing strongly — mid-stage Qi Refining.
"Lu Sici!"
Ji Dengqi narrowed his eyes coldly, assessed the group for two breaths, then deflected the jade ruyi with a slash of his blade. He demanded sharply:
"What has happened to Tang Gold Gate?"
Li Tongya studied Ji Dengqi's grim face and saw in it a mirror of his own despair on the day the Mountain Yue had struck — the cold stamp of "Endure for now." Understanding dawned:
"Just as the Mountain Yue and Qingchi Sect had their arrangement — the current siege of the abandoned families must also be part of an understanding between the Qingchi Sect and Tang Gold Gate. That is why Ji Dengqi received no warning…"
Seeing Ji Dengqi engaged with the other two, Li Tongya honored his agreement and moved to intercept the Ji family's second Qi Refining cultivator.
The man wielded a long staff. Young-looking — perhaps twenty-eight or twenty-nine — his face was tight with tension and shock. Li Tongya raised his hand and sent a single arc of sword qi sweeping across, forcing the man into a stumbling retreat.
"This boy has decent talent, but it's clear he's spent twenty years doing nothing but cultivating. His technique is clumsy."
Li Tongya's second sword strike nearly knocked the staff from the man's hands. Meanwhile, Ji Dengqi, fending off both opponents, shot a glance from the corner of his eye and couldn't help but shout:
"The swordsman over there! My Ji family serves the young master of Tang Gold Gate! Don't be deceived by those two. Withdraw now, and the Ji family will hold no grudge!"
Li Tongya laughed coldly. His sword sent the man's staff flying. Then, as if by divine impulse, he said:
"My surname is Wan!"
Ji Dengqi was momentarily speechless. He blocked Lu Sici's jade ruyi with his blade, used the force to propel himself northward, and fled.
"Don't let him escape!"
Lu Sici and the bald man hurried to cut off Ji Dengqi's retreat. Li Tongya caught the falling staff and saw the Ji family's young Qi Refining cultivator already fleeing southward. His true essence was notably pure — he too had consumed Small Clear Qi.
Li Tongya gave chase on the wind. The River True Essence rolling through his body made him slightly faster. The fleeing man turned and tossed several Embryonic Breathing-grade talismans over his shoulder. Li Tongya felt a pang of regret:
"Those are my spoils."
His sword cleaved apart the incoming techniques, and Li Tongya had already drawn comparisons.
The true essence refined from river clear qi was denser and more vigorous than Small Clear Qi. Flight speed was also somewhat faster, though lateral agility was marginally slower — a trivial difference.
They flew several dozen li before Li Tongya's sword broke through the man's protective true essence. He thrust straight through, the blade piercing the young man's back. The youth screamed and tumbled downward.
Li Tongya followed slowly. The young man writhed on the ground, too pained to hold a technique, blood pooling around him. A series of bone-cracking sounds echoed out, yet the man still reached for his storage pouch. Li Tongya was quicker — his sword severed the man's arm. He watched the youth roll in agony, then finished him with a backhand stroke.
Li Tongya picked up the storage pouch, tucked the staff inside, and fastened the pouch at his waist. Now he had a storage pouch of his own.
No time to inspect the spoils. Li Tongya flew back toward Huagan Mountain on the wind. He could see the three combatants still exchanging blows in the sky, so he turned his sword toward the mountain's defensive formation.
The formation on Huagan Mountain was not the original Earth Lock Huagan Array, but a newer one erected by the Ji family — barely at the peak of Embryonic Breathing in defensive power. One sword thrust tore a great hole, which slowly healed.
After a dozen more strikes, and with the Lu family forces attacking from below, the formation flickered erratically, unable to draw enough power. With a thunderous crash, it shattered.
"Charge!"
A roar rose from below as the Lu family stormed the mountain. Li Tongya concealed himself and dropped straight into the courtyard.
The interior was a wreck, everything scattered and empty. A sweep of his spiritual sense told him all the defenders had fled to the mountain's base. The storehouses were bare too. Li Tongya clicked his tongue, hovered in the air for a moment, and located the cave dwelling entrance.
The formation at the mouth of the cave was more tenacious — it took over a dozen sword strikes to make it flicker. Then a tremendous boom shook the sky.
*CRACK!*
Lu Sici plummeted from above, his true essence spent, his body charred black. He spat blood as he tumbled into the trees. The bald man retreated in alarm:
"What kind of talisman was that?!"
Ji Dengqi said nothing, his face ashen, and slashed at the man. The bald man scrambled back, shouting:
"Wan — I can't hold him alone! Come help!"
Li Tongya cursed silently, abandoned the cave dwelling, and rose on the wind from Huagan Mountain. A sword streak shot straight for Ji Dengqi's back.
"The Wan family remnant!"
Ji Dengqi's eyes bulged. He twisted and deflected the sword qi, then raised his blade and brought it crashing down.
Ji Dengqi's true essence was sharp and turbulent, his blade techniques powerful and crushing. Li Tongya blocked several strikes with his sword aura and was forced back several steps.
The bald man's techniques clung like a parasite. Ji Dengqi had to turn to parry them — only for Li Tongya's sword qi to arrive at his back once more.
Ji Dengqi was stretched to the breaking point. After sustaining this for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the screams from below grew fewer and fewer. Ji Dengqi gritted his teeth and produced a talisman from his robes, flinging it into the air.
"Watch out?!"
Li Tongya and the bald man retreated hastily — but the talisman merely drifted lazily, emitting a few feeble sparks. Looking back, they saw Ji Dengqi had already fled a considerable distance.
"Tricked!"
The bald man was still cursing himself when Li Tongya had already taken several great strides in pursuit. He said gravely:
"We absolutely cannot let him escape — chase!"
Ji Dengqi had fought both the bald man and Lu Sici for a prolonged time, and his reserves were nearly depleted. He had been forced to use his trump card talisman, only to face Li Tongya in turn. With his true essence nearly dry, he fled northward in a single burst.
Only a few breaths after Ji Dengqi started running, a jade ruyi smashed into his path. He was forced to halt and raise his blade, the impact stopping him cold.
Lu Sici hovered on the wind, legs streaked with blood — it looked as though his bones were broken. The old man's mouth was still stained with blood, his beard bristling with rage, and he shouted hoarsely:
"Don't let him go!"
The jade ruyi's impact had bought Li Tongya's sword time to catch up. Ji Dengqi blocked desperately, eyes red, knowing there was no escape today.
Seeing Ji Dengqi's expression of grim resolve, Li Tongya deliberately slowed his attack by half a beat. The bald man charged in, sword raised, staring coldly at Ji Dengqi.
Ji Dengqi threw back his head and laughed. He unstrapped his storage pouch and flung it far away, then turned and charged the bald man, blade blazing with golden light — clearly his final, desperate strike.
Li Tongya and Lu Sici exchanged a glance, both reaching for the storage pouch with their true essence. The bald man caught several of Ji Dengqi's blows, his hands going numb and legs buckling. He yelped and leapt back.
But Ji Dengqi pressed his advantage, driving his blade upward toward the bald man's chest in a mutual kill exchange. The bald man sidestepped — and a flash of cold light burst from Ji Dengqi's chest.
*Pfft.*
Ji Dengqi spat blood and turned his head to see Li Tongya sheathing his sword, flicking the blood from the blade. The man's body crumpled to the ground, staining a wide patch of earth red.
The two landed and delivered several more techniques to confirm the man was truly dead. Only then did they see Lu Sici approaching on the wind, the storage pouch in his grasp, his leg wounds roughly bandaged. He said with undisguised glee:
"Who will accompany me to the Ji family's stronghold at Huazhong Mountain?"
"You two go ahead. I'll search Huagan Mountain."
Li Tongya sighed, affecting an air of weariness. Most of the spirit stones and materials were likely in Ji Dengqi's storage pouch. Lu Sici had been closer to Ji Dengqi during the fight — first come, first served. A pity.
As for Huazhong Mountain — that held only the Ji family's cultivation inheritance. Lu Sici had sworn a Profound Vision Oath to share, so Li Tongya had little interest. Better to examine the cave dwelling on Huagan Mountain.
The bald man nodded and departed with Lu Sici on the wind. Li Tongya returned to Huagan Mountain.
The mountain was in ruins — cries of grief and pleas for help echoed everywhere. A ring of Lu family cultivators surrounded the cave dwelling entrance. Having seen Li Tongya fight alongside Lu Sici, they bowed respectfully and addressed him as "honored elder."
Li Tongya nodded and spent the time it takes an incense stick to burn blasting through the cave dwelling's formation, then strode inside with deliberate calm, leaving the Lu family cultivators staring at each other outside.
Inside, the first thing Li Tongya saw was a clear spring bubbling forth. He extended his spiritual sense and fished several jade stones from the water.
Stowing the stones, Li Tongya proceeded without pause, smashing through one stone door after another. He found a tea table and stone chairs, with two jade bottles — one large, one small — resting on the surface.
The small bottle contained Jade Sprout Pills. Li Tongya pocketed them. The large bottle was too big to store directly; when Li Tongya probed it with spiritual sense, he found it held a wisp of natural spiritual qi — sharp and blinding. He tied the bottle at his waist instead.
The remaining chambers held only miscellaneous items — and several letters from a Ji family daughter, written with heartfelt sincerity and carefully pressed under wooden slips by Ji Dengqi. Checking the dates, the most recent was already five years old.
"So the young master of Tang Gold Gate is called Situ Yi…"
Li Tongya read through the letters with a furrowed brow, his expression shifting from surprise to shock. He murmured as he read:
"The Qingchi Sect has been increasingly active in recent years. The family must be extremely cautious. If the Mountain Yue advance eastward, do not contest them. The Great Shaman waited a hundred years to find one man capable of unifying the northern foothills to serve as the sacrificial offering. He must not be killed — the fury of a Purple Mansion cultivator is more than we can bear…"
Li Tongya felt cold sweat prickle his skin and his hair stand on end. He silently tucked the letter into his storage pouch and muttered:
"Of course — of course Ganixo raided Lijing Mountain from the east, and the raids on Tang Gold Gate's northern vassal families were all ignored, and we were told to endure… The Great Shaman must have paid an enormous price to allow every branch of the Mountain Yue to invade — all to conceal Ganixo's movements. How ruthless! What a grand design!"
"Sweeping through all the tribes, creating the first unified power in the northern foothills in a century, then using this son of destiny as the sacrificial offering — how cruel! And after Ganixo dies, who knows how much more chaos will engulf the northern foothills…"
Li Tongya felt the sky above him darken. He slowly raised his head and squinted at the stone ceiling, as though peering through layers of mountain rock and a cloudless night sky — to see a pair of giant hands moving chess pieces across a board.