Chapter 496: Xiaqiu

Soon the mist dispersed and clouds parted; a bright, round moon shone unobstructed in the zenith.

Beneath the moonlight, Chen Hang rolled up his sleeve, casually storing Qian Lie’s corpse in a storage artifact, then the sword-light shot skyward again and vanished in an instant.

By the time several stewards from Qian Lie’s mansion stumbled upon the scene, bewildered by the news,

the central courtyard was utterly empty—save for a few bloodstained flagstones—no trace of a soul remained…

River mist hung hazy, the tide’s murmur gentle.

Not long after, the sword-light halted above a region of Liang State.

Here was where countless rivers converged; several great rivers raced down from wild mountains, twisted and churned into a dense tangle before merging into one mighty stream, roaring toward the sea.

Chen Hang stepped out calmly and ascended the clouds to look down.

He saw the moon above the clouds, water below—rippling reflections, one luminous hue.

Water and moon mirrored each other across the distance, a truly celestial wonder, rendering sky and water alike brilliantly clear…

“This river ultimately flows into the Western Crossing Sea?”

Chen Hang pointed with a finger and smiled at the still-dazed old dragon Xun Jian.

Xun Jian nodded instinctively, then suddenly remembered something and scrambled backward several steps, his face filled with wary vigilance, as if facing a mortal foe.

A True Person of Golden Core Third Reckoning, a master alchemist of Miaobao Land, an external patron of Baiman Palace—

With all these titles combined, Qian Lie was a figure Xun Jian dared not treat lightly.

Yet just now, he had been slain as easily as a chicken or dog by this man before him?

No—Qian Lie didn’t even know who killed him before death; in that regard, he fared worse than even the lowliest chicken or dog…

Xun Jian was now utterly regretful.

He had invited Chen Hang into his underwater palace, believing he was securing a profitable deal—helping to investigate Qian Lie’s whereabouts, hoping to demonstrate his own connections, thereby gaining leverage over Chen Hang in the upcoming Dragon Essence transaction to extract maximum gain at minimal cost.

Who could have known the man he invited was a dragon that had crossed the river?

With a single shift, he had thrown everything into chaos, crushing every one of Xun Jian’s plans without warning.

This one…

“Your actions today truly surpass this old man’s expectations!”

After a long pause, Xun Jian steadied his nerves, his vigilance easing slightly, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on his face.

Though Qian Lie was not famed for combat, he was still a Golden Core Third Reckoning.

Chen Hang had slain him so effortlessly, and given his earlier displays, he must have some background—not a nameless hermit.

But times have changed—

Now

Qian Lie had become an external patron of Baiman Palace, tied to Elder Liu of that sect.

Indeed, according to Xun Jian, Elder Liu had recently been summoning alchemists from across the land to forge a Heavenly Human Xu Bai Pill, to present to Baiman Palace’s Dao Heir as a birthday gift—and Qian Lie had been among those summoned.

At such a moment, how coincidental…

Who could guarantee Baiman Palace wouldn’t suspect? Would Elder Liu avenge Qian Lie?

And in Xun Jian’s view, no matter how powerful Chen Hang was, he was still merely a Golden Core True Person.

If he thought he could stand alone against any future retribution from Baiman Palace, it was pure fantasy.

At present, if this man wished to live, he must flee at once…

“Though I know not what deep grudge you bore Qian Lie, your actions today were recklessly foolish!”

After a long silence, Xun Jian finally sighed, helplessly saying:

“Go, go! You have the power to kill Qian Lie, so you must have some backing—but Elder Liu of Baiman Palace is a vengeful, ruthless man, utterly unyielding!

Once, when he visited Miaobao Land, we all accompanied him. Sun True Person of Chi Li Palace, delayed by family matters, arrived a moment late to greet him—and later, Elder Liu found an excuse to execute him. Even Chi Li Palace dared not protest.

Such arrogance…”

Xun Jian shook his head and earnestly advised Chen Hang:

“Listen to this old man: don’t rely on your own strength and treat Elder Liu or Baiman Palace lightly! Return to your sect promptly to seek refuge, explain this matter to your senior masters—that is the only proper course!”

Chen Hang regarded Xun Jian with interest and said:

“We’ve only just met today—why do you speak so loyally on my behalf?”

“Of course for the Dragon Essence!”

Xun Jian now spoke frankly, spreading his hands wide:

“At first, I didn’t know your true standing, so I tried testing you with wealth and connections—if you showed weakness, I could haggle harder in the transaction, ha!

But all these schemes, though clever, didn’t go as planned…”

Chen Hang smiled: “In your eyes, Baiman Palace is so powerful—why aren’t you afraid of offending them, or Elder Liu?”

“I didn’t kill him—how can they blame me? Besides, I’ve spent years bribing officials in Wenzhao Heaven; even if Elder Liu wants to take revenge, his own sect brothers won’t allow it!”

Xun Jian smiled proudly, hands behind his back.

Hearing this, Chen Hang realized Xun Jian, though greedy and cunning, was not truly evil-hearted.

And faced with Xun Jian’s repeated earnest advice,

Chen Hang no longer teased, shaking his head and speaking plainly:

“I killed Qian Lie today not out of personal grudge, but for public justice—here, even the Baiman Palace Sect Master himself could not fault me.

Of course, if Baiman Palace insists on harassing me over this, I am not afraid.”

Xun Jian noticed Chen Hang’s tone was calm, yet his words carried immense weight.

Intrigued, he seized the moment to voice the question lingering in his mind:

“Are you from Wenzhao Heaven? Which sect’s prodigy are you? Qingya Sect? Zongyuan Mountain? Surely not Kanghai Dao Palace?”

The sects Xun Jian named were all mighty powers within Wenzhao Heaven, each governing over a hundred Dao lineages, with ancient lineages and profound foundations.

Compared to them, Xun Jian’s ancestral fortune was but a single hair from a nine-ox team—utterly insignificant.

Especially the latter, Kanghai Dao Palace—its lineage could even be tied to the legendary Xuan Feng Cave!

Legend says Kanghai Dao Palace’s founding ancestor was once a disciple of Xuan Feng Cave, but lost a succession struggle, had his power stripped, and was falsely accused of crimes, losing most of his followers.

In fury, he reluctantly accepted his sect’s decree, crossed vast voids to arrive in Wenzhao Heaven, and founded Kanghai Dao Palace in this alien realm.

Through the founding ancestor’s tireless efforts and successive sect leaders’ diligent governance, Kanghai Dao Palace eventually rose to its present prominence.

Though Kanghai Dao Palace is not among Wenzhao Heaven’s absolute top sects, neither Qingya Sect nor Zongyuan Mountain dares underestimate it.

Even its disciples, when traveling abroad, are treated with courtesy by others, regarded as equals from major sects.

The reason? Simply because Kanghai Dao Palace’s founding ancestor was once a disciple of Xuan Feng Cave, and later, through political maneuvering, returned to Xuan Feng Cave and regained power.

In Xun Jian’s mind, if Chen Hang truly came from one of these sects, then with senior masters backing him, he need not fear Elder Liu too much.

But the notion of the Baiman Palace Sect Master coming himself? That was surely exaggeration—not credible.

“I am from Yucheng.”

Chen Hang said.

“Yucheng? Which Yucheng—”

Xun Jian, hearing this, was momentarily confused, still puzzled.

But soon his voice cut off abruptly; he turned to Chen Hang, stunned into silence.

“Qian Lie—the so-called Jilei True Person I just killed—was originally a disciple of Yunting Mountain of the Yucheng Dao Lineage. His secret crimes were exposed, so he stole treasures and fled his sect.

This matter was reported to Xiao Ming Marsh,

and the sect naturally placed a bounty on Qian Lie’s head.”

Chen Hang added briefly:

“How many have taken up this sect decree? More than ten fingers’ worth. I am merely one of them—and happened to arrive first.

Even without me, Qian Lie would eventually die at the hands of a Yucheng disciple.”

Xun Jian felt as if he were lost in mist.

His whole body felt weightless, his feet numb—he couldn’t even be sure he’d heard correctly.

“The Yucheng of Xudu Great Heaven? The one among the Eight Sects and Six Clans?”

Xun Jian asked, trembling. Seeing Chen Hang did not deny it, he summoned courage, asking in a voice almost dreamlike:

“May I ask, what is your position within the Yucheng Immortal Sect?”

“I am Chen Hang, currently a True Heir of the sect, disciple of Dao Jun Tongxuan.”

At these words, Xun Jian was struck as by lightning—his mind went blank, unable to speak for a long while.

When he finally recovered from the shock, his expression remained dazed.

Carefully glancing, he saw Chen Hang gazing at the boundless heavens, eyes deep and still, as if lost in thought.

“….”

Seeing this, Xun Jian dared not disturb him, quietly stepping aside to stand behind Chen Hang, his mind swirling with countless thoughts.

The moon was bright, the wind clear, the sky a boundless blue.

Looking down, rivers and lakes wove into a vast water net; even with heavy night dew, small fishing boats dotted the river and lake surfaces, their lanterns flickering like tiny fireflies among the grass.

Focus your mind.

The sky felt still, the earth silent, all sounds vanished…

And beneath, the dense web of water converged into one great river, flowing into the Western Crossing Sea.

No matter their prior clarity or turbidity, size or scale, in the end, they became one—indistinguishable.

Chen Hang stood suspended in emptiness, suddenly moved by emotion.

He had already stirred that sliver of Xuanguan, awakening the subtlety of inner landscape cultivation.

Once all matters are settled, he would tread the path once walked by predecessors, venturing into the mortal world to undergo trials and tribulations, thereby fully entering the third layer of Golden Core.

Since the Inner Scene bears the name “Minor Manifestation,” it is naturally far more closely tied to the Primordial Spirit Manifestation than ordinary realms could ever be.

It is not merely the final minor stage before the Primordial Spirit, but also the necessary preparation for achieving it; moreover, the Inner Scene may itself be regarded as the embryonic form of a Manifestation.

Ordinary cultivators, even if they awaken to the mystery and ascend to the third layer of Golden Core, struggle to fully grasp the subtleties of the True Dao, and rarely can they push their Inner Scene to its utmost limit upon first forming it.

They must spend years of painstaking effort, slowly accumulating insights, before their Inner Scene practice gradually becomes complete, allowing them to attempt Primordial Spirit cultivation.

Five or six percent completion is already the peak most cultivators can reach upon first forming their Inner Scene.

As for seven or eight percent—

That is an achievement attainable only by those of exceptional talent and supreme intellect.

As for those who, the moment they break through the minor stage, already bring their Inner Scene to nine-tenths completion—such individuals are likely only the elite among the true disciples of great sects, like Lu Rong.

And ten percent—

According to Chen Hang’s knowledge, within the vast Yuchen, only two individuals in the past three thousand years have accomplished this: Xiang Junyao and Ji Fakai.

Both of them later attained the Supreme Manifestation and became renowned throughout the Nine Provinces!

One was the former Yuchen Daozi, the rightful lord of Xiyi Mountain, who once governed the immense Zhou Xing Palace with nothing but his Primordial Spirit.

The other was the direct scion of the Yuecen Ji clan, the leading figure among the younger generation of the Twelve Clans of Xu Du, and Chen Hang’s undisputed greatest rival in the Yuchen Daozi contest!

Although all cultivators seeking to attain a Manifestation must push their Inner Scene to its absolute limit—until no further progress is possible—

Those who achieve perfect completion upon first forming their Inner Scene undoubtedly spare themselves immense future hardship.

Moreover, the depth of one’s mastery at this stage clearly reflects the cultivator’s innate Dao nature.

Chen Hang, who harbored a longing for immortality, naturally refused to lag behind—he sought to reach the ultimate state in one decisive stroke!

Although cultivators in the mortal world often venture into the realm of human affairs to cultivate their Inner Scene—

The nature of this mortal trial varies greatly depending on the specific Primordial Spirit Manifestation one seeks to attain.

Some immerse themselves in the marketplace, learning to live like commoners—engaging in trade, marrying, and establishing families; others devote themselves to court politics, wielding state power, commanding the Three Dais, and dispensing titles and rewards at will.

Some wander through literary circles, donning official caps and leading poetic academies.

Others endure prolonged battles, witnessing only weapons and war…

Chen Hang had initially been uncertain how he should conduct his mortal trial, unsure which path to follow.

But tonight, with the fine wind and bright moon, as he gazed down upon the vast river systems rushing together into the sea, all his doubts vanished, and every worry dissolved.

He suddenly grasped a flash of spiritual insight, illuminating his body and mind with clarity, and could not help but clap his hands and laugh aloud.

The Primordial Spirit Manifestation he sought to cultivate was ultimately “Great is the Qian Yuan”—not some silent, esoteric manifestation of cosmic cycles, nor any abstract principle or heavenly pattern.

To uncover the true essence of his Inner Scene, he must seek it not only in the emotions and affairs of mortals, but even more so in this vast heaven and earth.

His Dao lay right before his feet—so all he needed was to feel the mountains and awaken to the waters; there was no need to abandon the near for the distant, nor to pursue other elaborate practices.

“What is the name of this city?”

Suddenly, Chen Hang pointed down at a small riverside town, surrounded by several villages; due to the vast waters and crisscrossing rivers, most households here made their living by fishing, with numerous fishing boats moored deep within the willow shadows.

“Your Majesty, this area still lies within the borders of Liang State. That small town appears to be named Xiaqiu.”

“Xiaqiu?”

Chen Hang pondered, nodded slightly, and sighed:

“This place shall be where I open my gateway!”

Xun Jian was momentarily bewildered, wanting to say something, but held himself back, lowering his head and respectfully assenting.

The next day, a wandering scholar suddenly appeared in Xiaqiu City, taking up residence there for half a year.