Chapter 504: Departure

At that time, besides Tu Shan Ge, Qiao Qiwu of Mi Mountain’s Qiao clan was also visiting as a guest.

Because half a year ago, when Chen Hang had asked Xie Jing and Liu Fengye, two elder patriarchs of noble families, to eradicate the bandits of several mountains, Qiao Qiwu had been traveling with several friends deep into the Tianbao Cave in Beilu Province and missed that victory.

Though Qiao Qiwu knew he had not deliberately avoided battle—only bad timing—he still felt a pang of guilt after careful reflection.

Currently, among those who had come to serve in Chen Hang’s household, only three noble elders had arrived: Xie Jing, Liu Fengye, and himself, Qiao Qiwu.

The rest were either still observing from afar, had already joined another lord’s retinue, or secretly favored their own clans.

Since Xie Jing and Liu Fengye had both taken the field, it was only him left idle—and that was hard to justify.

Thus, upon returning from the Tianbao Cave, he had rushed immediately to Changli Island to pay his respects, arriving just in time to witness this scene in the hall.

And at this moment, Qiao Qiwu was indeed curious.

Due to Qiao Rui’s connection, he fancied himself somewhat familiar with Chen Hang’s character.

Whatever moved Chen Hang to such emotion could not be an ordinary matter.

What feat had Yin Wujie accomplished to earn such praise from Chen Hang?

As if sensing Qiao Qiwu’s thoughts,

Chen Hang flipped through the jade slip once more, then casually handed it out with a smile:

“Yin Wujie has now returned victorious. He is a first-rank Golden Core, his Inner Landscape complete. Upon his emergence, he made a grand stir in Nan Chan Province.”

Qiao Qiwu rose first to thank him, then reached out with slight hesitation to take the jade slip.

But as his eyes scanned it, his pupils shrank sharply—he was left speechless, brow furrowed involuntarily, expression strangely complex.

“So that’s why I heard nothing of Yin Wujie—he went to Yuqi Heaven? And upon returning to Xu Capital, he challenged Yu Huangshang of the Primordial Demon Sect—and defeated him?!”

“This matter, this matter…”

After a long silence, Qiao Qiwu came to his senses, yet his face remained stunned.

After muttering to himself, his voice gradually faded until it stopped entirely.

He merely shook his head silently, expression grave.

Yu Huangshang—

A first-rank Golden Core, true disciple of the Primordial Demon Sect, and unquestioned leader of the younger generation in Nan Chan Province!

Qiao Qiwu’s understanding of this veteran Golden Core far surpassed that of anyone on Changli Island—he had witnessed Yu Huangshang’s prowess when the man first attained Golden Core.

At that time, Qiao Qiwu had a close younger cousin named Qiao Yangzhi, a prodigy of extraordinary talent, hailed as the future hope of the Qiao clan, even drawing high expectations from Qiao Ding, who frequently held lectures for him.

Young Qiao Yangzhi himself considered himself the second Ji Fa Kai, eager to test his sword against all the world’s talents.

But during one Dharma assembly, he crossed paths with Yu Huangshang, newly arrived at Golden Core—and everything came to nothing.

Even today, Qiao Qiwu clearly remembered how Qiao Yangzhi gradually faltered under Yu Huangshang’s assault.

After five hundred moves, Yu Huangshang—who had already secured victory—did not rush to finish him. Instead, like a cat playing with a mouse, he publicly humiliated Qiao Yangzhi, stripping the Qiao clan’s prodigy of all dignity.

Only when he grew bored did Yu Huangshang strike suddenly, severely damaging Qiao Yangzhi’s Golden Core and utterly destroying his physical body, then walking away with arrogant indifference, not even glancing at the assembled cultivators.

At the time, a senior cultivator from the Primordial Demon Sect stood nearby, and Qiao Qiwu, who had tried to intervene, was firmly suppressed in his seat, unable to move.

Only after Yu Huangshang had departed could he rush forward—but it was already too late.

Afterwards, Qiao Yangzhi, his body and Golden Core ruined, had no choice but to reincarnate.

Though years had passed, Qiao Qiwu’s hatred for Yu Huangshang had never faded—he longed to devour his flesh and sleep on his skin to vent his fury.

Yet even with murderous intent toward Yu Huangshang, Qiao Qiwu had never doubted his talent.

Had it not been for preparing for the Dan Yuan Assembly, Yu Huangshang would have long since achieved Primordial Spirit and cultivated his supreme Dharma Form.

Had Qiao Qiwu faced him then, his fate would have been no better than Qiao Yangzhi’s—he would have been crushed to death by Yu Huangshang.

But Yin Wujie…

“A first-rank Golden Core, Inner Landscape complete—that’s one thing. But Yin Wujie has cultivated for so short a time—how could he defeat a veteran like Yu Huangshang?”

It is said that now the demon sects are rising, their fortune flourishing.

Yet such a glorious victory is truly astonishing!”

Qiao Qiwu sighed inwardly, his mind swirling with thoughts, filled with profound emotion.

One Ji Fa Kai, one Yin Wujie…

Though noble families have always been suppressed by sects and never risen to prominence, over countless ages, they have still produced extraordinary talents.

Like Liu Xiang of the Northern Pole Garden, Sima Changsheng of the Divine Control Sect, Xie Yuanchen of the Dou Shu School, and Qiao Yubi of the Zhongyi Sword Sect.

Though all these men achieved greatness only after joining sects, they were born of noble families.

Yet across the vast Mi Mountain, in recent years, not a single young talent has risen to fame across the Nine Provinces—clearly, the generation gap is severe.

Speaking of which,

Qiao Qiwu could not help but sigh…

As Qiao Qiwu fell into silent thought, Chen Hang, recalling the jade slip’s contents, also felt a pang of insight.

Though Yin Wujie and Yu Huangshang deliberately moved their duel to the South Sea, some details were still glimpsed by those with intent.

According to the jade slip, when Yu Huangshang summoned the Xuan Sand of Ji Hua Immortal Capital, Yin Wujie did not dodge—he absorbed the golden sand with his bare body.

As another practitioner of the Tai Su Jade Body, Chen Hang knew full well the weight of such an act.

Based on his understanding of this profound technique, Yin Wujie must have already pushed the Tai Su Jade Body to its Golden Core peak—surpassing Chen Hang himself, reaching Level Six of the Yuan Realm!

“After defeating Yu Huangshang, Yin Wujie surely deserves the title of young leader among the demon sects? To face such a rival at the Dan Yuan Assembly—how intriguing!”

Chen Hang thought inwardly, a torrent of battle-lust surging in his chest.

Yet his eyelids flickered slightly, concealing any outward sign.

Beside him, Qiao Qiwu had now regained his composure.

Holding the jade slip, he gazed at Chen Hang’s calm expression, lips parting—then he held his tongue.

“Never mind. With the True Person’s abilities, even if he cannot defeat that Yin Wujie, securing a top-five rank at the Dan Yuan Assembly should be no great feat.

According to past tradition, any who place in the top ten of the Dan Yuan Assembly receive rewards—the True Person may not win the Xu Capital Great Elixir, but he certainly won’t have come for nothing!”

Qiao Qiwu nodded inwardly.

After exchanging a few more words, he did not linger, rising promptly and taking his leave with tact.

With the Dan Yuan Assembly approaching, Chen Hang had been in seclusion, rarely appearing outside.

Only because Qiao Qiwu had submitted a formal invitation had he emerged from his retreat.

Knowing this, Qiao Qiwu’s visit to Changli Island was merely a courtesy call and gift-giving—he would not disturb Chen Hang’s cultivation.

Yet as the two stepped outside the hall, Qiao Qiwu’s polite words urging Chen Hang to stay still hovered on his tongue—when Chen Hang’s voice cut in ahead of him.

He asked:

“I heard Qiao Rui has returned to Mi Mountain to enter seclusion?”

Qiao Qiwu froze. Before he could gather his thoughts, Chen Hang continued:

“May I ask—is your clan’s ‘Chongguang Secret Realm’ truly capable of transforming one’s essence and enhancing innate talent? And is its danger truly as rumored?”

Qiao Qiwu now understood. He suppressed his suspicions, shook his head, and smiled bitterly:

“You’ve heard that Xiao Qiao entered the ‘Chongguang Secret Realm’?”

To be frank, when I first heard this, I was startled. My cousin may not neglect cultivation, but she certainly isn’t obsessed with it.

For no reason, she suddenly changed—like she’d suffered qi deviation—and many were astonished.

Yet the Chongguang Secret Realm…”

Qiao Qiwu trailed off, shaking his head.

According to him, the “Chongguang Secret Realm” was crafted by the Qiao clan’s ancestor, Qiao Chongguang.

Though rumors claim that anyone who passes through gains purification of their roots and enhanced talent,

Such benefits are merely icing on the cake—never true transformation.

Moreover, the Chongguang Secret Realm is genuinely perilous; a single misstep could trap one in a killing ground, drowning the soul.

Thus, the cost far outweighs the reward—and due to its extreme danger, even members of the Mi Mountain Qiao clan rarely enter.

“If the Chongguang Secret Realm truly granted transformation, to speak plainly, my Qiao clan could never have kept such a treasure—it would have been seized long ago.”

Qiao Qiwu gave a self-deprecating laugh, then added:

“Yet though perilous, exiting the realm is simple—just a thought, and one may leave at will. It is truly a place of free entry and exit, for it was designed by our ancestor as a training ground for descendants, not a death trap.

Even if my cousin fails to cultivate within, she faces no mortal danger—this much is safe.”

Chen Hang listened, then nodded.

He said:

“Good.”

After exchanging formal bows with Qiao Qiwu, he stood still for a moment before turning away, dispelling the seals, and returning to the quiet chamber deep within the inner hall.

Time passed swiftly—like the blink of an eye, spring turned to autumn once more.

On this day, Chen Hang, seated in meditation within the quiet chamber, suddenly opened his eyes.

He turned inward, silently activating his cultivation technique, confirming he was only a step away from breakthrough—then took from his sleeve a palm-sized, brilliantly glowing talisman covered in golden tadpole script, murmuring:

“Now is the time!”

…

…

Due to the Zhonglang Catastrophe, Xu Capital now suffers from heavenly deficiency, and most cultivators of the Eight Sects and Six Clans regard Shao Kang Mountain as enemies.

When Chen Hang sent Lu Shen’s three severed heads to Xiao Ming Marsh, it stirred a minor storm across the Nine Provinces.

Not only did his own Yuanchen Sect bestow rewards, but other Xuan sects and demon sects also offered elixirs, Dao texts, and magic treasures in gratitude for Chen Hang’s deeds.

The golden talisman in Chen Hang’s hand now was a reward from Tai Fu Palace.

This talisman is called the True Talisman of Mingjun Shangyang, evolved from one of the forty-nine Supreme True Talismans of the Tai Fu Palace, with wondrous effects such as dispelling calamity and illness, replenishing spiritual essence, and nourishing tendons and meridians.

Even among the rewards sent by all sects, it ranks among the highest, truly exceedingly precious.

And this True Talisman of Mingjun Shangyang was personally selected for Chen Hang by Elder Fu Can.

This elder knew Chen Hang cultivated the Tai Su Jade Body, and understood just how terrifying the spiritual energy demands of the Tai Su Jade Body truly were.

Thus, upon hearing Chen Hang had defeated Lu Shen, he devoted considerable thought to selecting this very talisman for him, intending to lend some aid to Chen Hang’s physical cultivation.

Yet to refine the Tai Su Jade Body to this level, Chen Hang’s reserves had been nearly exhausted—ninety percent spent—even the Celestial-Human Xu Bai Elixir he had obtained from Miaobao Ground was consumed, yet he still fell just short.

But with this True Talisman of Mingjun Shangyang…

Chen Hang smiled faintly and firmly pressed the Golden Record talisman onto his third eye.

As soon as he guided his qi, he felt a vast, pure stream of spiritual energy pouring relentlessly into his major acupoints, surging like a tide, threatening to burst him open!

Chen Hang’s eyebrows twitched; he quickly steadied his mind and seized the moment to refine the energy into his flesh, ensuring it did not injure his tendons and meridians.

And with this practice begun, over a month passed.

Now, as Chen Hang dispersed the incantation, the True Talisman of Mingjun Shangyang on his third eye dimmed abruptly.

With a slight tremor, it dissolved into wisps of smoke and vanished utterly.

“Sixth Layer of Yuan Realm, the peak of Golden Core…”

Chen Hang exhaled a long breath inwardly.

After exhaling, the entire meditation chamber trembled slightly; the sealing runes glowed faintly, as if a dragon and elephant within were shifting their limbs, heavy and immense!

After carefully examining the changes within his body and testing his abilities in a True Dharma Realm, Chen Hang once again stilled his spirit and resumed his meditation.

But this time, his seclusion did not last long.

Within a few months, a distant, lingering bell tone rang out, filling the air, clearly originating from far beyond, yet sounding as if beside his ear, audible and clear despite the vast seas and lands.

A splendid celestial melody, unfathomable and inexpressible.

In an instant, the bell tone swept across the entirety of Dongmi, stirring countless cultivators, each with differing expressions.

“The Dan Yuan Assembly… still three months away—this is announcing to the mortal realm that it is time to depart?”

Chen Hang pondered, rose, and stepped out of the meditation chamber.

Just as he looked up at the sky, a brilliant, radiant light descended from the boundless azure heavens, passing through the island’s seals as if they were nothing, and landed in Chen Hang’s palm.

“Is this the talisman decree for entry?”

Chen Hang examined the small jade tablet in his hand, brushing his fingers over it—the texture felt like cloud and mist.

And not only Dongmi, but nearly simultaneously with the bell’s sound, the entire Nine Provinces and Four Seas were filled with its resonant tones.

Reprimand.

Heaven and earth responded in kind; blossoms rained down in profusion, pure and radiant, auspicious mists and blessed light swirling endlessly.

“It is finally time to depart—where will this Dan Yuan Assembly be held?”

In the South Sea, on a desolate island.

Yin Wuji, who had been sitting with closed eyes, suddenly opened them, gazing at the grand, magnificent phenomenon in the clouds, and smiled.