Arhat Duqing pointed with his fingers, as sharp as swords, pressing through the air to the two Demon-Sealing Nails on Xu Qi’an’s back.
A golden bolt of lightning shot from his fingertips, linking with one of the nails on the Governing Meridian.
Pain burst across Xu Qi’an’s back, as if someone had stabbed him with a sabre.
Yet this pain was only the beginning.
Arhat Duqing’s withered right arm suddenly swelled, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. With a firm pull, the Demon-Sealing Nail began to emerge inch by inch.
This caused Xu Qi’an’s wound to crack, and the remaining seven nails resonated with each other, resisting together.
“Ugh…”
Xu Qi’an grunted, his vision dimming in waves. Sweat poured from his skin, his face contorted with agony.
His reaction was much better than last time, not that the pain had reduced, but rather, since his primordial spirit had recovered, his endurance for suffering had increased.
But the toll taken on Arhat Duqing was no less than what Shenshu’s severed arm had endured.
His frail body had swelled to the size of a Protector Vajra, golden shimmers danced over his skin, and the golden lightning at his fingertips was dazzling, as glaring as a spark at maximum power.
Furthermore, the halo behind his head was no longer gentle, but shone with blinding, radiant light.
Brilliant and piercing!
At this moment, if anyone happened to look towards the Stargazing Tower, they would see a mass of light atop the building as dazzling as the summer sun.
This process lasted for five minutes. Finally, with two crisp ‘clang’ sounds, the two Demon-Sealing Nails fell to the ground.
As the nails struck the floor, Arhat Duqing’s aura faded rapidly. His body shrank, returning to its shrivelled, thin form. He shut his eyes, full of exhaustion, and silently pressed his palms together.
When the Demon-Sealing Nails sealing the Governing Meridian were removed, the Qi flow in the dantian erupted like a bottle of cola furiously shaken.
With irresistible force, it surged through the Governing Meridian in an instant, bursting forth.
“Roar…”
Xu Qi’an leaped skywards, raising his head to the heavens, and a Buddhist lion’s roar exploded from his throat.
Qi gushed out from his throat, eyes, and Baihui acupoint, shooting into the sky. The layers of white clouds above the Stargazing Tower shattered instantly.
The whole Sitianjian building shuddered slightly, as if rocked by an earthquake.
Such was the terrifying might of a Third Rank martial artist.
Across the capital, many gazes turned towards the commotion: government warriors, jianghu martial artists, noble retainers, Human Sect experts, and all sorts of cultivators noticed the stir atop the Stargazing Tower.
In Anshen Hall, Emperor Yongxing, who had just finished dinner, heard a lion’s roar like thunder burst in the distance. By the time the sound reached the palace, it was already somewhat distorted.
“What happened?”
With eunuchs clustered behind, Emperor Yongxing hurried out towards Sitianjian.
Standing beneath the eaves, he looked distantly towards Sitianjian, and saw that under the blood-red setting sun, there was not a single cloud above the Stargazing Tower, while ripple-like rings of clouds gathered all around.
It was as if some force had blasted clear the centre and forced the clouds to stack outward in layers.
“Perhaps the Jianzheng has had a sudden breakthrough in his cultivation.”
The young eunuch beside him smiled.
A phenomenon such as this would warrant vigilance and investigation wherever else it occurred. But if it happened at Sitianjian, one need only watch with curiosity.
After all, no one could possibly cause trouble at Sitianjian.
Emperor Yongxing’s expression eased a little, and he nodded slightly, intending to return to the inner hall for rest. Suddenly, his brows knitted and he ordered the eunuch beside him:
“Go and summon the Imperial Guard commander on duty.”
Out of all Emperor Yuanjing’s sons, he was one of the few “tenacious” princes who had endured through the Refining Vitality state, and was now at the Refining Qi level.
Though he had fallen behind in cultivation due to limited talent and the demands of governance, as a warrior, he could still discern the nature of Qi energy.
Qi was a power unique to martial artists. Though other systems at higher ranks could forcibly train Qi, it was mostly an auxiliary method.
Soon, the commander of the Imperial Guard hurried over with his men.
Emperor Yongxing stood beneath the eaves, looking down at the commander below:
“That disturbance at Sitianjian just now, was it a Qi fluctuation?”
The commander bowed with fists cupped:
“Indeed, Your Majesty, it was a Qi fluctuation.”
Yongxing nodded, musing, and then asked,
“The commotion was not small, I imagine the rank was not low?”
The commander frowned slightly and did not reply.
Emperor Yongxing fixed his gaze, took a step forward, and pressed in a low voice, “We asked you a question.”
“Your Majesty, I cannot judge accurately. The Qi fluctuation just now was vast and mighty, well beyond the reach of a Fourth Rank martial artist.”
As a Fourth Rank martial artist himself, the Imperial Guard commander had the confidence and authority to make such an assessment.
Beyond the reach of a Fourth Rank martial artist… Emperor Yongxing’s eyes flashed with a keen light, but he concealed it well. He instructed:
“Go to Sitianjian at once and inquire as to the situation.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
After sending away the commander, Emperor Yongxing wasted no time, turning quickly, barely concealing his eagerness and excitement, and urged,
“Hurry to Shaoyin Palace, summon Princess Lin’an to us.”
The eunuch hesitated, then reminded, “Does Your Majesty wish to move to the Imperial Study?”
It was past dinner, and according to palace custom, the princess should not visit the Emperor’s private quarters.
Emperor Yongxing nodded, “Tell her to come to the Imperial Study at once.”
…
Dexin Courtyard.
Standing at the edge of the dark eaves, dressed all in white, Huaiqing gazed at the Stargazing Tower.
“He’s actually back?”
Huaiqing murmured to herself, a barely perceptible look of delight in her clear eyes.
She soon drifted gently down from the rooftop, summoned the captain of the guard, and instructed,
“Go, notify the Director of Ceremonies: we are leaving the palace.”
…
It sounds like Silver Gong Xu was not in the capital lately… Li Lingsu overhead, but did not pay it much mind, listening idly as his junior sister and the upright, white-robed arcanist chatted amiably.
“I haven’t been doing much, just wandering around, looking and seeing, pretty boring really,” Li Miaozhen said.
“Indeed, that’s right!” Chu Yuanzhen echoed.
Why bother! Really, why bother!
If you knew he’d upended a Buddhist temple in Leizhou, snatched the Stupa tower right under a Vajra’s nose; if you knew he had suppressed a host of Fourth Rank experts in Yongzhou and plotted with the National Teacher against an Arhat… Would you ever find peace again?
Li Miaozhen and Chu Yuanzhen felt it was best for Yang Qianhuan’s peace of mind not to mention any of this.
“By the way, why do all the Sitianjian disciples now carry ink and paper on them?” Li Miaozhen abruptly shifted the topic.
She was just as curious about this, as it had not always been the case.
Yang Qianhuan snorted, “Because that mute Sun Xuanji has returned.”
Sun Xuanji?
Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Hengyuan had all heard of Sun Xuanji, the Jianzheng’s second disciple. But they could not understand what that had to do with bringing paper and brush.
Li Lingsu, on the other hand, suddenly realised and instantly grasped Yang Qianhuan’s meaning. He said,
“So that’s it! They certainly ought to carry ink and paper. Hmm, I need a set myself.”
Li Miaozhen and the other two looked at the Holy Son with questioning eyes. Though they had never met Sun Xuanji, it seemed Li Lingsu was not unfamiliar with him.
Li Lingsu hesitated a little, “It’s not very gentlemanly to speak ill of others behind their backs. Hmm… Senior Brother Sun doesn’t talk much, he’s got a mild speech impediment.”
Li Miaozhen’s face brightened with sudden understanding: “Senior Brother Sun has a serious speech impediment, perhaps he really is mute.”
Chu Yuanzhen added: “Speaking with Senior Brother Sun is truly a painful experience.”
Hengyuan: “Amitabha!”
Li Lingsu’s expression cracked, staring at the trio in shock and confusion: “How do you all know?!”
Li Miaozhen, Chu Yuanzhen, and Master Hengyuan exchanged glances, each marvelling, thinking things such as Just as expected, truly in keeping with Sitianjian’s reputation.
Then, Chu Yuanzhen and Master Hengyuan privately exchanged glances:
Li Miaozhen really is the pot calling the kettle black!
It was a clear and obvious pecking order of disdain.
Suddenly, everyone felt the floor tremble slightly beneath their feet, and dust fell from the beams above.
A fearsome and powerful aura pierced through the building and pressed down upon them all, like an ancient slumbering demon god awakening.
Beyond-mortal level?!
Everyone present, apart from Miao Youfang, had strong backgrounds and rich experience, and all were very familiar with the aura of a beyond-mortal cultivator.
No matter which system it was, after stepping into the third rank, one’s life level would transform, no longer belonging to the realm of mortals, and a corresponding aura of oppression would be born.
When mortals faced beyond-mortal experts, they would feel the pressure from a higher lifeform.
When the tiger body moves, mortals prostrate themselves in worship.
Xu Qi’an’s seal has loosened further… Chu Yuanzhen and the other two showed looks of delight.
Is it Senior Xu? Has Senior Xu regained his cultivation?
Li Lingsu felt a familiar lurch in his heart, and a smile appeared on his face as well. Suddenly, he heard the white-clad arcanist in the stone chamber roar:
“Xu Qi’an has recovered his cultivation. Damn it, why so fast? I haven’t even had time to replace him and he’s already recovered!
“No, you can’t do this to me, no!”
The white-robed arcanist stretched out his arms and let out a long howl toward the sky.
Did he say that Xu Qi’an has regained his cultivation?
So the person causing all this commotion wasn’t Senior Xu, but Xu Qi’an?
This sentence seemed to have an enlightening effect, instantly allowing Li Lingsu to piece together all kinds of fragmented details.
Xu Qian came from the capital, and Xu Qi’an was a native of the capital as well.
Xu Qian was a beyond-mortal expert, and Xu Qi’an was also a beyond-mortal expert.
Xu Qian was collecting Dragon Qi, yet Dragon Qi only dispersed after the fall of the emperor of the Great Feng.
Li Miaozhen showed Xu Qian no respect at all, and the other two Earth Book fragment holders also did not act junior to him.
And just now, this white-clad arcanist had said the one who regained his cultivation was Xu Qi’an!
… In Li Lingsu’s mind, it was like a thunderbolt exploded, and his expression stiffened little by little, his pupils gradually dilating.
After a while, he slowly twisted his head and looked at the three holders of the Earth Book fragments.
“Xu—Xu Qian is Xu Qi’an?”
The Holy Son stared hard at them.
Li Miaozhen’s face could not hide her smile. “Seems you’ve figured it out.”
Li Lingsu’s face twitched violently. “Why—why didn’t you tell me?”
Chu Yuanzhen said sincerely, “He hid his identity to avoid his enemies and collect Dragon Qi. You’ve travelled with him for so long, you should have noticed that he has many people after him.”
“For example, the Buddhists!” the Holy Son nodded.
He let out a breath in his heart. That’s fine, whether Xu Qian is Xu Qi’an, or Xu Qi’an is Xu Qian, they’re both beyond-mortal experts in essence.
It wasn’t embarrassing to treat a beyond-mortal expert as a senior in front of them, even if they were of the same generation.
Xu Qian—no—Xu Qi’an, was treated as an expert senior mainly out of necessity, due to the demands of the mission and the situation.
He and Xu Qi’an had never met before; you didn’t know me, I didn’t know you, there was nothing embarrassing about that.
If both sides were old friends and one was played around by the other like this, that would be truly humiliating.
The Holy Son pondered a moment and thought it was nothing too serious, the awkwardness in his heart eased a little.
“So Xu Qian was Xu Qi’an all along. Looks like I don’t need to find him for a drink now.”
Li Lingsu laughed. He deliberately said this, even poking fun at himself, to indicate he wasn’t embarrassed in the slightest.
He even thought of a better way. The Holy Son “heh”-ed and said with a smile,
“You don’t know, but Xu… Xu Qi’an was quite good at acting the expert. He even recited a poem; something something I received the Dao eight hundred springs ago, my flying sword never letting blood flow…”
He recited the poem and said, “Thinking about it now, I feel embarrassed for him.”
Yes, the better way was to actively make Xu Qi’an lose face, exposing his pretentious behaviour.
That way, Li Miaozhen and the others would not focus so much on his own embarrassing “senior, senior” attitude these past days.
“Shameless!”
Suddenly, a loud rebuke rang out. Li Lingsu turned in surprise to see the white-clad arcanist in the room, who seemed to have been triggered and was muttering that poem over and over.
In a voice both excited, jealous and resentful, he said,
“The reason I could never surpass him is simply because he can write poetry. How frustrating…
“He’s just a brat, and yet so pretentious.”
Li Lingsu curled his lips and smiled in agreement,
“Right, but keep these matters to yourselves, everyone. Best not to spread them.”
He was afraid Xu Qi’an would take revenge on him.
The Holy Son withdrew his gaze, trying to act casual as he looked at Li Miaozhen and the other two, only to find their expressions strange, as if they were scrutinising an idiot.
“You…”
A bad feeling rose in the Holy Son’s heart.
Li Miaozhen said quietly, “We forgot to tell you something.”
Chu Yuanzhen sighed, “Xu Qi’an is also a holder of an Earth Book fragment.”
Just as Li Lingsu’s face turned instantly pale, Master Hengyuan twisted the knife:
“He also knows you’re a fragment holder. We all know Number Seven is very close to Daoist Li, probably the same sect.”
Li Lingsu’s body shook, as if unable to withstand the blow; he staggered back until he hit the wall and slid down slowly.
He knows I’m also a Heaven and Earth Society member, and he is too, but he never said, just letting me call him senior and treat him with utmost respect…
Li Lingsu recalled every little moment of their companionship through the lands…
Li Miaozhen said quite happily, “Ah, we still need to see Zhong Li, we’ll go on ahead.”
At last, it’s not me who’s the most embarrassed… Chu Yuanzhen nodded with a big smile, “Alright.”
The two walked off down the dim corridor. Master Hengyuan saw the Holy Son looking like he’d lost the will to live, and could not help but feel compassion.
“Amitabha, Daoist Li…”
Li Lingsu interrupted him dully, “Master, let me be alone for a bit.”
Master Hengyuan shook his head helplessly and left, following after his two companions.
The Holy Son wallowed for a while, then suddenly heard a sigh from the room:
“It seems you have suffered greatly at the hands of Xu Qi’an.”
Li Lingsu’s voice was calm and emotionless: “Shame I’m not his match.”
Yang Qianhuan said gravely, “You have spoken my mind.”
Li Lingsu’s eyes brightened somewhat: “What do you mean by that, friend?”
“It’s a long story…”
…
Bagua Platform.
Night had fallen, and the sun had completely sunk below the horizon.
Xu Qi’an calmed his turbulent qi, examined himself, and was delighted to find that after his Governor Vessel had cleared, the rate at which he could mobilise his qi had reached eighty percent.
Before the dual cultivation with Luo Yuheng, eighty percent qi mobilisation would have equalled the weakest third-rank martial artist.
After dual cultivation, his present eighty percent was equivalent to a newly advanced third-rank martial artist.
In other words, Xu Qi’an’s current cultivation had already surpassed the early third rank but had not quite reached the mid stage.
Of course, his physical strength was still sealed. If he fought a third-rank martial artist in close combat, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.
If I faced Vajra Du’nan now, even if I couldn’t win, I wouldn’t be so desperate. He couldn’t take me either, or kill me.
For my next journey in the jianghu, I will no longer need to be so careful and hide myself.
…
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
Lin’an, followed by two personal palace maids, arrived outside the Imperial Study.
The maids consciously waited outside at the foot of the steps, watching as Her Highness ascended. Under the guidance of the eunuch on duty, she entered the room.
Inside, the Imperial Study was brightly lit and luxuriously decorated. Emperor Yongxing was sitting behind a desk covered in yellow silk, reading memorials.
“Brother Emperor, what did you summon me for?” Lin’an said coyly.
Emperor Yongxing quickly put down the memorial, came up, and smiled:
“Good sister, we have a favour to ask of you.”
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