Chapter 55: Bestowing the Golden Light Spell!

“Thank Itachi, Master Luo.” Gong Qing bowed deeply to Luo Fu, then turned to Tian Jinzhong and said: “Master Tian, since my identity was exposed by the Quanxing traitors, Master Luo will surely not let me live—can Itachi grant me one final wish before I die?”

Gazing at Gong Qing, Tian Jinzhong let out a long sigh. “What is your final wish?”

“I only want to know: during the Jia Shen Uprising, when Itachi left Longhu Mountain to find Zhang Huaiyi, what exactly did Itachi say to him? Don’t tell me Itachi never met him!”

Gong Qing spoke with absolute confidence: “Itachi know, I served beside Itachi for three years—right from the first year, I realized your claim of ‘spirit full, no need to sleep’ was a lie. Itachi didn’t refuse sleep—Itachi feared it. So I’m certain Itachi met Zhang Huaiyi, and learned something from him. To keep that secret, Itachi chose not to sleep for seventy years, forcing yourself to stay awake. That secret is my final wish.”

Tian Jinzhong’s expression darkened. He shook his head. “That’s merely your guess. There was never any secret. I never met Huaiyi.”

“Ah.” Gong Qing sighed. “I’m about to die, yet I still can’t learn this secret? Do Itachi fear even the dead will betray it?”

“There truly is no secret.” Tian Jinzhong gave Gong Qing one final look—as if trying to erase the memory of the boy who had served him for three years—then urged Luo Fu: “Luo Fu, the Quanxing demon must be slain by all. Kill him!”

Gong Qing felt Luo Fu’s sudden surge of killing intent.

In a flash, Gong Qing spun around and sprinted toward the window.

Yet at the very moment he lunged for the window, Luo Fu’s breath changed abruptly.

Star Breathing: Second Form—Jumen Heavenly Spin.

This sword form, most adept at speed, erupted in an instant—behind Luo Fu, the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper flickered like fleeting light; at the position of Tianxuan Star, a starlight flashed—and Luo Fu vanished from his original spot.

When he reappeared, he stood already before the window, ahead of Gong Qing.

Gong Qing, who had been fleeing at full speed, froze in place, motionless.

Tian Jinzhong could feel the primordial qi—the vital energy marking life—rapidly fading from Gong Qing’s body.

In the world of One Below, primordial qi was the absolute distinction between life and death: where primordial qi remained, one lived; where it scattered, one died.

The dissipation of primordial qi was the most definitive symbol of death.

Gazing at Gong Qing’s upright, unyielding figure, Tian Jinzhong sighed: “Luo Fu, Itachi’ve thought of everything. Take Akatsuki Yu away.”

Gong Qing’s primordial qi had vanished, yet he still stood—this was not due to any strength of his own, but because Luo Fu did not wish Tian Jinzhong to witness Akatsuki Yu’s blood splattering across the floor.

Extreme joy or sorrow was a great shock to a centenarian, especially for Tian Jinzhong, who cultivated stillness—too much could cost him his life.

That was why Tian Jinzhong said Luo Fu had thought of everything.

“Yes, Master Tian. I’ll take Akatsuki Yu away.” Luo Fu nodded, then lightly tapped Gong Qing’s shoulder. The two moved as if arm-in-arm, exiting the room.

As they stepped outside the door,

Luo Fu met Zhang Zhiwei just after he had seen Ren Fei off.

Zhang Zhiwei, as the supreme Grand Celestial Master, had perfected the cultivation of both life and spirit. He had come to Tian Jinzhong’s room precisely because he sensed Akatsuki Yu’s primordial qi vanishing rapidly.

“This is…” Zhang Zhiwei’s gaze sharpened, startled as he stared at Gong Qing, whom Luo Fu had draped an arm over.

“Uncle, Master is inside. Let him explain to Itachi.”

Zhang Zhiwei gave Luo Fu a long, meaningful look, then entered the room.

After leaving the courtyard, Luo Fu released Gong Qing, letting his corpse remain seated in the Five-Points-Toward-Heaven posture, then chanted the Starfire Spell.

A spark of flame ignited instantly beneath Gong Qing’s feet, and in an instant, it became a dragon of fire, tightly wrapping his body.

After a full cup of tea, the dragon of fire finally faded—where Gong Qing had stood, only a pile of white ash remained.

“Dust to dust, earth to earth!” Luo Fu withdrew his primordial qi.

Had he not maintained continuous primordial qi to sustain the spell, the flame summoned by his Starfire Spell, though deadly, could never have reduced a man entirely to ash.

After reducing Gong Qing to ashes, Luo Fu had no intention of arranging a funeral. How long before Longhu Mountain ran red with blood? Countless would die—burying Gong Qing meant nothing now.

Since he served as a Daoist acolyte on Longhu Mountain for three years, let him stay with it forever.

When Luo Fu returned to Tian Jinzhong’s room,

Zhang Zhiwei had clearly learned the secret behind Gong Qing’s death.

With admiration and gratitude, Zhang Zhiwei said to Luo Fu: “Luo Fu, Itachi uncovered Akatsuki Yu’s true identity in time—Itachi saved Tian Jinzhong’s life. By the authority of the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master, I now bestow upon Itachi the Golden Light Spell, in reward for your deed.”

The Golden Light Spell differed from Thunder Magic: Thunder Magic was the symbol of a high adept of Longhu Mountain; mastering it meant one had a chance to inherit the Celestial Master’s seat.

But the Golden Light Spell was different.

All three branches of Zhengyi Talisman Sects studied the Golden Light Spell, differing only slightly in their qi-circulation methods. Many Longhu Mountain disciples who learned it later returned to secular life! In truth, knowing the Golden Light Spell did not necessarily mean one was a Longhu Mountain disciple—it could simply mean one’s ancestor had ties to the mountain.

Zhang Zhiwei taught Luo Fu the Golden Light Spell for two reasons: first, genuine gratitude for uncovering Gong Qing’s identity and saving Tian Jinzhong’s life; second, to publicly signal the Celestial Master’s stance toward Luo Fu.

The moment Luo Fu learned the Golden Light Spell, Longhu Mountain fully accepted him as one of their own.

Longhu Mountain had always protected its own. Only Zhang Huaiyi, years ago, had left of his own will and refused to return—dying decades after the Jia Shen Uprising.

Should Luo Fu ever face trouble beyond the mountain, he could now claim protection under Longhu Mountain by virtue of the Golden Light Spell.

Of course, whether Longhu Mountain could actually protect him was one matter; whether it showed the will to do so was another.

“Thank Itachi, Uncle.” Luo Fu first bowed to Zhang Zhiwei, then bowed slightly to Tian Jinzhong.

“The Golden Light Spell is our Longhu Mountain’s secret method of dual cultivation of life and spirit. Its essence lies in balancing both. The golden light it produces: when gathered, it shields the body; when dispersed, it strikes enemies—a truly balanced art of defense and offense.” Zhang Zhiwei began methodically instructing Luo Fu in the secrets of the Golden Light Spell.

(End of Chapter)