[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dao-dust-pearl":3,"chapter-the-dao-dust-pearl-the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-26":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dao Dust Pearl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2359527,4614,"Chapter 26: Chapter Twenty-Six: Blood-Red Sunset","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-26",26,"\u003Cp>At this moment, Elder Wanshi had already gripped his Songfeng Sword, and this legendary weapon of Wudang slowly drew from its scabbard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Can Yang Spear was a stunning long spear; its blade, once stained with blood, gleamed crimson like a setting sun, exquisitely beautiful—yet this beauty was forged at the cost of life. When Zhao Cheng wielded it to storm Buping Mountain, the entire peak turned crimson, as if bathed in the glow of a dying sunset, drenched in deep crimson…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On that day, the bandits of Buping Mountain were utterly terrified, and from then on, even the sight of evening clouds made them soil their pants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Songfeng Sword, however, was a broken blade—dull, aged, cracked, its pattern scattered like wind-carved pine branches… In any blacksmith’s shop, it would fetch no more than three taels of silver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With it, you might not even be able to chop through a broom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet when this blade was drawn, Master Kongming, standing opposite Elder Wanshi, instinctively raised his nine-ringed staff before him; Liang Dou, facing Zhao Cheng—the famed general of Can Yang Spear and chief of Changfeng Escort Agency—relied on his thick protective Gang qi and left his back exposed. But Master Kongming, facing Elder Wanshi, who was even more revered and renowned, even when trusting a close ally, could not help but place his divine weapon squarely before the sword’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was already the instinct of a martial cultivator!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hence, Master Kongming was a Grand Master, while Liang Dou was merely a Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!” Zhao Cheng roared, his Can Yang Spear straightening like a taut bow, its gleaming blade shaking loose countless shards of cold light—each icy gleam sent a chill down the throats of all onlookers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if a frozen blade pressed against the skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Songfeng Sword suddenly pressed down—this weapon with its blunt edge, lifted obliquely upward from Elder Wanshi’s hand. If one had to describe Zhao Cheng’s sensation in a single phrase, it was: a heart sinking endlessly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brilliant! This unassuming divine weapon carved a stroke of flawless perfection, utterly without flaw—like a deer’s antler hanging from a tree, unseen yet undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Qian Chen had already discerned the sword’s unique ability… The Songfeng Sword excelled at sensing qi. Holding it, every movement, every subtle shift in the enemy’s qi, became as clear as patterns on one’s palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, with this sword, one could effortlessly break through the Sensing Realm; in combat, it often allowed the wielder to seize the enemy’s fleeting, inconceivable openings in their qi. Even the most rudimentary swordplay, when enhanced thus, became divine—defeating foes as easily as turning one’s palm… Hence, though it lacked sharpness and could not harness heavenly qi, it still ranked among the legendary divine weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For it was a sword of the Dao—a sword seeking martial Dao, heavenly Dao, sword Dao…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Cheng thrust his spear, yet within his heart, despair deepened, sinking further… for he had calculated: after eighteen strikes, his entire spear technique would be shattered, and he would die beneath this blunt blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in the very next move, the Songfeng Sword pierced his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Master Kongming swayed his nine-ringed staff, its tinkling chime carrying the essence of Zen, momentarily stunning Zhao Cheng as if struck by a sudden rod to the head—he faltered… Only then did Qian Chen quietly retract his Green Phosphorus Five Poisons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Head-dog!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Master Kongming sighed: “Stealing the light of sun and moon—the Flying Yellow Divine Lord! So Master Zhao was the Flying Yellow Divine Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In years past, Buping Mountain was merely a small hill at the Dragon-Ending Ridge pass, blocking the north-south route. Because it controlled the vital trade corridor, eighteen bandit strongholds had sprung up upon it, each renowned in the martial world—even due to the mountain’s immense profits, they formed an alliance, supporting one another.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The righteous martial world launched multiple sieges, yet none succeeded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then Zhao Cheng ascended with his Can Yang Spear—and in just eight days, he wiped out all eighteen linked fortresses. That day, Buping Mountain blazed crimson like a setting sun… From then on, Buping Mountain was renamed Taiping Mountain, and the trade route flourished. Zhao Cheng was subsequently honored by the ‘Number One in the World, Changfeng Escort Agency’ as their Chief Escort… Such a righteous hero, reduced to this state.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dying Zhao Cheng sneered: “Chief Escort?… What else… but a dog kept by others?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why… can’t I… carve out… my own great legacy? Even if… I stain the world’s memory… the martial world… will know… I lived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Chief Escort of Changfeng Escort Agency, the Flying Yellow Divine Lord, breathed his last, carrying his infamous pride with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen, who had missed the kill, had already gone to inspect Tang Da’s corpse under Master Tang Da. Unlike Liang Dou’s violent, furious end, this so-called Tang Da—Tang Zhen, the rising star of Tang Clan—lay serene, as if asleep, showing no sign of pain before death. Yet precisely because of this, the killer’s terror grew even more chilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two men who had just gathered Tang Zhen’s body had unknowingly been poisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick search by Qian Chen confirmed at least seven or eight hidden weapons and over a dozen deadly poisons concealed on Tang Zhen’s corpse. Had the two rescuers not abandoned the body quickly, they would have had no time to wait for Master Kongming’s Shaolin secret remedy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kongming, with the righteous warriors, gathered the Flying Yellow Divine Lord’s remains, then turned to Xu Xiaoyang, lord of Zhengqi Manor: “Beard Lord Divine Lord, all your companions are dead—will you still conceal the truth?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xiaoyang’s lips trembled twice, whispering: “Master, what are you saying? How could I be one of the Twelve Zodiacs? I’ve been with you all along!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I’ve watched you constantly—never once giving you an opening,” Master Kongming said, fixing his gaze on Xu Xiaoyang’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughing Buddha shuffled forward, greedily devouring a vegetarian chicken leg from Sihai Hall, mumbling: “I’ve infiltrated the Twelve Zodiacs for so long—not without results. At least I uncovered one identity: the Sheep Lord, Beard Lord Divine Lord… Lord Xu, your family’s divine weapon, the Five-Colored Stone, is far too distinctive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Xiaoyang’s face twitched twice, then collapsed into his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no courage to resist, only stammering: “Gentlemen… fellow martial artists… please… spare my reputation… spare me…” Then he lowered his head—his heart meridians had been severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen, watching from the side, sneered dismissively… Fine. Even an assist slipped through his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having exposed two Zodiacs hidden among the righteous, Master Kongming showed no joy—only gathered Xu’s corpse, confirmed his death, and sighed: “The Xu family of Zhengqi Manor truly sacrificed much for the righteous martial world. I still recall Lord Xu’s father, the old lord, who led a host of heroes to block the former Demon Sect leader’s northern advance beyond the capital. In that battle, most of the old lord and the heroes perished, holding out until reinforcements arrived from the great sects—so much so that even the divine weapon Five-Colored Stone was lost to the Demon Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was only later that Wudang’s Sect Master Qingxu True Person led several heroes to storm the Demon Sect, slaying eight demons with his sword, and reclaimed the artifact, returning it to the Xu family’s heir. At the time, the martial world unanimously entrusted me to bestow the Zhengqi Manor plaque upon the Xu family… Who could have foreseen this day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Sihai sighed: “We must preserve some dignity for the righteous ancestors. If the rest of the Xu family knew nothing of Lord Xu’s true identity, let this matter be buried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Cheng’s head was severed; Xu Xiaoyang offered no resistance, so his body was left whole, to be returned to Zhengqi Manor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kongming, seeing Qian Chen still examining Tang Zhen’s face, stepped beside him and gazed at the corpse: “To my shame, we still haven’t determined how Tang Da was killed. I originally suspected poison—the Cloud-Riding Divine Lord among the Twelve Zodiacs has infiltrated us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I said you were the Yaowang heir, I still harbored doubts… Yet now I see, Qian, your martial skill has already surpassed the need to join the Twelve Zodiacs—you no longer require poison at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen smiled faintly: “Poison is convenient. And my cultivation isn’t as high as you imagine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen spoke truthfully: in this world, a Master equaled the breakthrough to Sensing, while a Grand Master with a divine weapon approached the level of a Cultivator who had attained the Law-Accessing Realm. Yet Qian Chen was still merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator—barely at the threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these past days, he felt his body grow increasingly transparent, the heavens’ touch warmer, like the embrace of his mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed that upon returning to Zhongtu Shenzhou, he would smoothly break through to Sensing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To reach Sensing, one must resonate with heaven and earth—best achieved back in Zhongtu, for it is one of the Celestial Realms, while this world is merely a minor origin, its spiritual foundation weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Scholar of Ministers, Li Qianqiu, joined Qian Chen, smiling: “Old man here must thank you, Master Qian, for clearing my name…” He gazed at Tang Zhen’s corpse and sighed: “What a pity for Master Tang. Had he not died so unexpectedly, I might have thought he perished of illness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kongming also frowned: “Tang Zhen remained with us in the Wuhu Hall, coordinating. Those present were myself, Elder Wanshi, Lord Xu, Mistress Shen, and others… If someone struck him, the killer must be among us. Zhao Cheng was with Lord Liang’s group, heading east to meet the enemy—he had no chance to act.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tang Zhen was quite fond of women,” Qian Chen chuckled. “He showed signs of practicing the Gathering and Absorbing arts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Qiandeng, trailing behind like a puppy, flushed awkwardly: “There are rumors in the martial world… but the dead deserve respect… Brother Qian, lower your voice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen shook his head: “Speaking of no visible wounds on the corpse, I once heard a tale from my homeland. There was a famed detective—a Divine Constable. While on duty, he passed a house and heard a woman weeping inside. The household had set up a funeral altar, as if mourning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The detective noticed the widow’s weeping lacked sorrow—it was half-sad, half-happy, half-crying, half-laughing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He immediately suspected foul play. He inquired neighbors and found the widow had motive to kill. Yet when the coffin was opened, the corpse showed no external injuries. The detective then recalled an ancient legend…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drive an iron nail through the nostril into the brain—and the victim dies without a single mark!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kongming shuddered, immediately crouching to inspect Tang Zhen’s nostrils. Li Qianqiu remained skeptical, murmuring: “Who in this world could drive an iron nail into Tang Zhen’s nostril? He was known as ‘Thousand Hands, Thousand Eyes’—he could catch hidden weapons flying from behind his head, let alone strike his nostrils!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen watched Master Kongming’s inspection, then shook his head: “To verify is simple.” He lifted Tang Zhen’s corpse and tapped gently on the back of his skull. Immediately, two thick streams of murky, yellowish-white fluid oozed slowly from Tang Zhen’s nostrils—brain matter mixed with clotted blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kongming was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kang Qiandeng gasped in horror: “Who could have driven an iron nail into Tang Zhen’s nostril to kill him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one least likely to be struck by hidden weapons had died by hidden weapons—and in this manner…\u003C\u002Fp>",1921,"2026-06-21T05:39:58.326Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","fed9c900e0622764acc29b0482af12c9b8376eddae7b0c8ed212f75e236efe64","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-27","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-25",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dao-dust-pearl-cover.jpg"]