Chapter 820: Heaven-Granted Opportunity

Qingming has operated academies for several years; all qualified commoners must undergo three months of free elementary education—it is both a right and an obligation. Thus, the people of Qingming have long embraced the belief that one must study.

Wei Yuan originally planned to have the initial qualified students serve as instructors for the elementary classes, expanding education like a snowball rolling downhill, so that within a few years, Qingming would cultivate enough qualified teachers on its own.

Yet over the past two years, Qingming's population has ballooned too rapidly—doubling almost overnight—and academy construction has failed to keep pace.

This time, Wei Yuan launched a large-scale academy construction campaign, promoting universal enlightenment and transitioning from elementary to primary education; the groundwork has already been laid. Many now understand the value of reading. Even those who were previously unaware can grasp the saying: "Within books lie golden houses; within books lie beauties like jade."

After months of hard work, Wei Yuan gathered over two million qing qi, with nearly every student contributing.

After more than a decade of cultivation, the human realm's smoke and fire had accumulated sufficient data. Though the Way of Qi Yun was ethereal and elusive, the smoke and fire had now lifted a corner of its veil.

When refugees first arrived in Qingming, most were on the brink of starvation, their bodies depleted; only a few who were physically strong and deeply grateful produced qing qi, roughly one in every three or four.

As they grew well-fed and clothed in Qingming, their bodies gradually strengthened, and many who previously contributed no qi yun began to produce it. Those already robust, upon forging their bodies, generated one or several additional qing qi.

Forging the body yields extra qi yun; so too does studying.

Many among those who completed elementary education could now contribute one additional qing qi. The conclusion was clear: the stronger a commoner became, the more human qi yun he could produce.

When they forged their Dao foundations and entered the Immortal path, they became, in essence, another form of life, and the qi yun they produced gradually shifted from qing to deep qing.

When people attained the Yu Jing realm, their Immortal path deepened further, and their qi yun transformed again—from qing to purple.

Thus, Wei Yuan spoke no falsehood: his large-scale academy campaign, enlightening the people, was the best way to rapidly harvest vast quantities of human qi yun.

Yet as he gazed upon the vast expanses of golden, lustrous new qi yun within the smoke and fire, Wei Yuan knew something had gone awry—just as the Yin Soul Cauldron had suddenly become the Yellow Springs Cauldron.

The golden, lustrous qi yun stretched endlessly; when subdivided, it numbered at least one hundred thousand strands—unprecedented, unrecorded in any scripture.

To receive such qi yun was to accrue karmic debt beyond measure; even Tinghai Xianjun Yan Shi blinked in shock, let alone Wei Yuan himself.

After a long silence, Tinghai Xianjun Yan Shi sighed and said, "This matter now… do your best."

Wei Yuan had already steadied his heart and replied, "Disciple understands. Whether or not this is unexpected, it is precisely what I wished to do. Please, Ancestor, rest assured—I will give my all."

Yan Shi nodded, then suddenly grew weary, sighing, "Passing through the Immortal Gate merely steps from one cage into another—larger, perhaps, but still a cage. Before Heaven and Earth, we remain puppets, unable to escape our fate."

Perhaps realizing his gloom was inappropriate before a junior disciple, Yan Shi rallied himself: "The northern Shanmen's situation has eased, so we could spare the time to intervene. We came to first remove the hidden traps left by the Witch Clan, and to let them know that Tai Chu Palace is not to be trifled with."

When the great war begins, we will take turns guarding the heavens beyond. You may fight freely—I will handle the Heavenly Witches myself. I just surveyed your domain: you've already deployed the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Array across the entire realm, saving me considerable effort. Transfer control of the array to me."

Wei Yuan complied, transferring the core control of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Array. Yan Shi then drew forth a jade chime and tapped it lightly. Instantly, Wei Yuan felt his heart skip a beat.

In an instant, dozens within Qingming died without sound or warning—their deaths bizarre and varied—and hundreds more were gravely wounded.

Wei Yuan's spiritual sense remained linked to the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Array and instantly saw that every suddenly wounded person bore a conspicuous mark.

Yan Shi said, "Those who just suffered mishaps were Witch Clan spies, or those who had been seeded by Witch magic. Once activated, they fell under Witch control. I altered their fate, making their fortune abysmally bad for three breaths—hence this result. You need only arrest everyone who suffered mishaps during that moment; no stragglers should remain."

Wei Yuan activated the Renjian Yanhuo, instantly analyzing and cross-referencing to uncover every individual's identity. These people were diverse—occupations varied wildly, even including two young disciples of Tai Chu Palace.

Seeing their identities, Wei Yuan was stunned: "So many are Witch Clan spies? And Tai Chu disciples too?"

Yan Shi replied coolly, "Witchcraft is inscrutable. These two disciples may have harbored resentment toward you, leaving them vulnerable to Witchcraft—perhaps they themselves are unaware they've been tainted. By eliminating these hidden agents, we've already won a small victory. The one who planted them is surely suffering now."

Qingming is now clean. Proceed to the next step: disturb the Heavenly Mechanism. I shall now teach you the Art of Qi Yun Fishing. The version He Hai taught you was simplified; I shall now impart the complete version. Practice diligently. Fish within Qingming—you may gain unexpected rewards, or at least disrupt the Witch Clan's schemes."

Wei Yuan felt no joy, only dread. Qi Yun fishing was like angling—but both sides wagered their entire being, including innate destiny.

The angler is always at risk of being caught. Countless examples exist of men dragged under by great fish. Some are skilled anglers; some fish are skilled at angling men.

Thus, in Immortal history, those who excelled in Heavenly Mechanism and Fate arts, and loved Qi Yun fishing, rarely met good ends. But with a great enemy at hand, Wei Yuan had no choice. For the next several days, he studied earnestly with Yan Shi. The true essence of Qi Yun Fishing alone was immense—written down, it would fill hundreds of thousands of characters. Wei Yuan could only strive to comprehend his elder's intent, memorizing the specific incantations within the Renjian Yanhuo for later contemplation.

To others, mastering such a grand Dao art would take a month; Wei Yuan memorized it all in three days. No matter how Yan Shi tested him, Wei Yuan answered flawlessly. Yan Shi was deeply satisfied, and ordered Wei Yuan to practice alone, then departed with Lu Xuan Xuan Yue and the Lord of Mingwang Palace.

While Yan Shi taught, the two True Juniors wandered Qingming and unearthed dozens more assorted spies.

Most were agents sent by the Nine States or other sects. But when Yan Shi acted, they were caught in the crossfire—their fortunes and destinies severely diminished. These unfortunate souls, for one reason or another, ended up stumbling directly before the two True Juniors, walking straight into the net.

After Yan Shi left, Wei Yuan followed his instructions and personally set up a small fishing array. But he hesitated over what bait to use. After much thought, he went to the little rooster, plucked a single feather, and cast it into the array as bait.

The bait was set. Now came the wait.

…

Witch Domain, Moon City.

Inside a dilapidated ruin, Lady Hui Xin huddled in the corner, clutching herself, shivering from cold.

Sheng Xin, meanwhile, held a small charcoal stick made of spirit-charcoal, sketching an array on the ground as he spoke: "Stop acting like this! I've taken more beatings than you, suffered worse injuries, haven't I?"

Lady Hui Xin snapped, "You said there was plenty of qing yuan! Why have we only eaten two meals and now can't even pay for food? They made us work in the kitchen to pay our debt—and you? You just ran off. Ran and didn't even escape—ended up getting beaten senseless!"

Sheng Xin sighed, "Enough. I never imagined things in Moon City were this expensive—ten times pricier than outside. It's absurd. Now, with great winds and clouds converging, major events are approaching—this is our chance. We can't be trapped in the kitchen, wondering when we'll ever get out. No—this is a fate trap. Once caught, we'll miss our great opportunity!"

Lady Hui Xin exploded: "I've followed you for years, and all I've gotten is worse and worse! Where's the opportunity? Can you at least get some money? We don't even need food—just buy medicine!"

Sheng Xin sighed, "If you looked better, you could pay with your body—we'd fare much better. Too bad you're uglier than the guards. They can't even get aroused. It's hopeless."

"Shut up! Do you think you're any better?"

The array was complete. Sheng Xin ceased arguing and chanted: "I offer three years of my yang life, earned through sincere friendship…"

Before he finished, a bolt of golden, lustrous lightning suddenly appeared in midair and struck Sheng Xin's head, knocking him flat.

The lightning was brutal. Sheng Xin struggled to rise, bewildered: "I have no friends left?"

Lady Hui Xin retorted sourly, "Even if you once had any, you've killed them all on this journey."

"True enough…" Sheng Xin scratched his head, then suddenly said: "I offer the appearance of my fate-companion as sacrifice—Heaven, grant me opportunity!"

He spoke the second phrase quickly, urgently—Lady Hui Xin had no time to stop him. Shocked and furious, she drew her short sword—and saw her own reflection had changed drastically!

Seeing her face, Lady Hui Xin nearly fainted. Clenching her teeth, she lunged at Sheng Xin without a word, every thrust aimed at his vital points.

Sheng Xin scrambled desperately, crying: "Next time I'll use myself! Next time, I swear!"

"Really?" Lady Hui Xin doubted.

Sheng Xin sighed, "What else can I do? It's the only way! With your current face, where's any room left for further sacrifice?"

Lady Hui Xin said nothing, drove her sword deep into Sheng Xin's thigh.

At that moment, the door burst open with a crash. A Liao tribesman, drenched in blood, stumbled in and collapsed, unconscious.

Lady Hui Xin stared, stunned, at the fallen Liao man, hesitating: "Is this… opportunity?"

(End of Chapter)