Chapter 56: Chapter Fifty-Six: Cleaving Open the Heavens to Clear the Sky

After returning to the Mo Yun flying vessel, Chen Hang pondered today’s events and couldn’t help but smile. Tu Shan Ge curiously came over to ask, and Chen Hang told him the whole story.

“Since I came to Xiao Gan Mountain to study the Dao, everyone I’ve met has been like Yan Zhen and Yan Feichen—sect members scheming against each other, leaving no trick untried…”

The two sat across from each other at the table.

Chen Hang looked at the pale green tea in his cup, the steaming heat rising and swirling toward his face, and let out a soft laugh.

“But I never imagined there still existed a true orthodox sect like Baihe Cave. Today seeing how these brothers treat each other with affection—it’s truly enviable.”

“Master, do you regret it? If you had truly joined Baihe Cave, today might have been a different scene.”

“I realize the past cannot be undone; I know the future can still be pursued.”

Chen Hang’s expression was calm.

“Even if the path ahead is fraught with hardship, with my three-foot sword, I shall cleave open the heavens and carve out a clear, frost-lit void!”

His voice was calm, yet Tu Shan Ge sensed within it a ferocious, boundless will—unconstrained by heaven or earth, free to roam and surge with unrestrained fury and exhilaration! His blood boiled, and he couldn’t help but let out a long cry.

“Only thus does Master truly embody the steadfast heart of the Dao.”

Tu Shan Ge said: “The Immortal Path is about nothing but this one word—‘struggle.’ You must struggle for opportunities, struggle for cultivation techniques, even struggle for your master’s favor and your place in the sect! If you refuse to struggle, what’s the point of cultivation? Baihe Cave can afford to maintain this harmonious atmosphere only because it’s a small sect. Even among the Eight Sects and Six Clans—the giants of the Immortal Path—among their disciples—”

Here he stopped.

Tu Shan Ge silently shook his head, unable to continue.

His former master had been too naive and idealistic, believing fellow disciples he spent every day with could be entrusted with his deepest heart—and thus was betrayed and killed just before becoming a True Disciple.

He didn’t know whether, after reincarnation as a human, he would still have the chance to cultivate and enter the Dao.

Even where she had been reborn—whether in the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, or some other land or realm—Tu Shan Ge did not know…

After a few more words of conversation, and after Tu Shan Ge departed with boundless melancholy,

Chen Hang took out the jade slip given to him by the Baihe Cave disciples, spent half a watch reading it carefully, and his expression subtly shifted.

“I was just worried about where to sell my stolen goods and how short I was on talisman coins—yet Master Huaiwu is rebuilding the Immortal Market. It’s a timely relief.”

In this great age where the Immortal Path manifests openly, establishing a market was no small feat.

The chief overseer of such a market had to be not only of high cultivation to intimidate all petty villains and maintain peace in the region,

But also of outstanding reputation.

Only then could he, at least on the surface, eliminate deception and fraud, ensuring that traveling cultivators and merchants would not fear for their lives or fortunes.

Though Master Huaiwu was a lone cultivator who had emerged suddenly, he was universally praised for his word being gold, embodying the ancient Qi cultivators’ sincerity and integrity.

His “Jingu Market” had, in just fifteen years, become a premier trading hub in the Southern Region.

At its peak, nearly a thousand small and large stalls had settled there, paying tribute to him and under his protection.

Clouds of mist and light rose day and night without cease; rare birds and exotic beasts were everywhere; those who came and went were all true cultivators—even high-ranking Masters and Lianshi would come here to purchase what they lacked.

But several years ago, after Master Huaiwu suddenly developed the desire to journey to the Eastern Sea to seek a Dragon Maiden, the “Jingu Market” lost its central overseer. Though it struggled to hold on for several months, it ultimately collapsed, scattering like wind and clouds.

It is commonly said that Xudu Heaven encompasses the vastness of the Nine Provinces and Four Seas; these Four Seas are the Eastern Sea, Western Sea, Southern Sea, and Northern Sea.

The Eastern Sea is held by the Dragon Clan, renowned far and wide.

The Southern Sea is home to twenty-four tribes of demonic cultivators.

The Northern Sea was once a place rich with spiritual energy, but after a great upheaval in ancient times, it is now a vast, white, lifeless wasteland, rarely mentioned among the Four Seas.

As for the Western Sea, it teems with countless divine kingdoms, heavenly beings, demons, and Buddhist lands.

Many paths coexist, wildly complex—

And among the Eight Sects and Six Clans, the Pestilence Sect is the only major sect whose mountain gate is not on the Nine Provinces, but built on a spiritual isle in the Western Sea.

Though these vast Four Seas are far less powerful than the cultivation forces of the Nine Provinces, they are still mighty, and among them, the Eastern Sea, held by the Dragon Clan, is the most formidable.

When Master Huaiwu abandoned the “Jingu Market” to seek a Dragon Maiden in the Eastern Sea, everyone laughed at him.

Though Xudu Heaven is now divided and ruled by the Eight Sects and Six Clans, who hold absolute authority with no rivals,

Many ancient Dragon Lords of the Dragon Palace still live, having performed manifest miracles.

These celestial beings naturally possess long lifespans; some even conversed as equals with the former sect masters of the Eight Sects and Six Clans, their authority deeply entrenched.

Master Huaiwu was merely a Dunxuan lone cultivator, not even a Golden Core or Nascent Soul True Person—in the face of the mighty Dragon Palace dominating the endless Eastern Sea, he was utterly insignificant.

To seek a Dragon Maiden and return defeated was only natural.

Yet now, upon returning to the Southern Region, he intends to rebuild the “Jingu Market,” choosing as its foundation the Fuyu Lake within the Dan Su Kingdom—not far from Rong State.

For Chen Hang, this was good news.

If he flew from Yang Mountain nonstop, it would take at most three to five days.

After his trip to Yuanjing, he had truly gained a fortune: twelve Qiankun bags, and even more inferior talisman weapons.

Whether for advancing his Qi Condensation realm or cultivating the Tai Su Jade Body, he needed vast amounts of spiritual energy—he could hardly wait to sell off useless items to push his cultivation further.

In addition, he wished to purchase a mid-grade flying sword talisman weapon.

With his current sword realm, having such a sword in hand would be like adding wings to a tiger.

In fact, even in Yuanjing, Chen Hang had already asked Tu Shan Ge to investigate such markets—but the results were often absurd.

Those underground black markets were strictly guarded, seemingly legitimate: one needed a trusted reference, had to conceal one’s face, and if one revealed one’s true identity, one was immediately expelled and never allowed back.

Yet their goods were mostly vulgar.

Salt vouchers, land deeds, slave registries—all were common.

Occasionally, a few manuals claiming to break through the Primordial Stage appeared—like Mighty Divine Palm, Five Tiger Severing Gate Knife, Bawangqiang —and everyone scrambled for them. As for talisman coins or inferior talisman weapons, they were unheard of for years; the latter were often unobtainable even at any price.

Tu Shan Ge visited several black markets; though some had decent goods, overall, none were satisfactory.

Thus, the news of the “Jingu Market” reopening was truly vital to Chen Hang’s cultivation.

…

After a day passed, the Mo Yun flying vessel finally arrived at Yang Mountain’s territory.

Seeing the familiar scenery after so many days away, Tu Shan Zhuang cheered, and as soon as the vessel landed, he leapt down and shouted loudly.

At his shout, the previously silent Yang Mountain burst into life: white foxes emerged from the divine realm behind the mountain’s waterfall, and the entire mountain rang with “yīng yīng yīng yīng” sounds, deafening and lively.

“Friend, you’ve traveled far—rest now. When Master Huaiwu rebuilds the ‘Jingu Market’ in a few days, I’ll go to attend the ceremony; you may stay here at Yang Mountain.”

Watching Tu Shan Zhuang roll around with the foxes, Chen Hang said.

“Master, won’t you need me to accompany you? Let’s feast together now,” Tu Shan Ge asked.

Chen Hang smiled and shook his head, bowed farewell, and walked alone toward the mountain’s quiet chamber.

The frost and snow had fully melted; though the mountain wind remained chilly, the grass and trees were beginning to show tender green, sprouting new buds.

Chen Hang casually broke off a branch of golden-splashed plum blossom to admire. On the path near his cave, quiet bamboo groves and Luofu trees were scattered, birdsong and insect chirps rose and fell, emerald hues curled and wound, water murmured softly.

After walking several hundred steps, he suddenly stopped.

Before the cave’s large stone lay a pure white fox.

She seemed exhausted from play, covering her eyes with her tiny paws to block the early spring light, her fluffy tail like a canopy draped lazily over her head, covering most of her body.

Had the mountain snow not yet melted, she might have looked like a soft, white snowball.

Hearing footsteps, she paused.

Tu Shan Ningning first twitched her ears upright, then after a long while reluctantly stretched her front paws forward, stretched her body, and slowly turned her head to look back.

“…”

Not far away, a young man stood quietly watching her, holding a broken plum branch, its petals red and white interwoven, radiant as clouds of Xia .

“Yīng yīng! Yīng yīng!”

Caught in this moment, the sleepy Tu Shan Ningning was instantly mortified. She arched her back and barked at Chen Hang like a puppy, fierce on the outside but timid within.

“Sleeping in daylight? Don’t you cultivate? Truly, uncarvable rotten wood.”

Chen Hang glanced down at several clay figurines on the ground. Their faces were comical, and scattered across them were deep and shallow paw prints, as if dusted with plum blossoms.

“Are these your friends? Or me?”

Chen Hang couldn’t help but laugh: “Their heads seem too big, their arms too short—but why do they have no eyes?”

“Yīng yīng!”

Tu Shan Ningning grew even angrier, her fur bristling. She curled her tail and hid all the figurines behind her, baring her teeth at Chen Hang.

“Tu Shan Dao friend has returned. Tu Shan Zhuang brought many things from Yuanjing—they’re probably searching for you everywhere.”

Chen Hang walked to the cave wall, moved the large stone aside, and said calmly: “If you don’t hurry, all the food will be snatched away.”

“Yīng yīng!”

Tu Shan Ningning was overjoyed, her eyes narrowing. Her four paws kicked up dust as she dashed off.

But after running half a zhang, she seemed to remember something. With great effort, she hugged the clay figurines to her chest and yīng yīnged frantically at Chen Hang.

She yīng yīnged for a long while, but seeing Chen Hang still didn’t understand, she grew frantic—her tail spun like a waterwheel, as if ready to summon a whirlwind.

“Write it down.”

Chen Hang pointed to the ground.

A beast without its tongue bone cultivated could not speak human language; Chen Hang did not understand beast speech, so he could not decipher Tu Shan Ningning’s yīng yīng sounds.

“Yīng yīng?”

The little fox tilted her head, then suddenly understood, nodding vigorously. She extended her paw and carefully carved two characters into the soil.

“Gift?”

Looking at the crooked, scribble-like characters on the ground,

Chen Hang frowned, studying them for a long while before finally recognizing their shapes.

“You want a gift for coming back?”

“Yīng yīng!”

Tu Shan Ningning nodded approvingly, her two small ears standing tall.

This trip was rushed; I’ll make it up to you next time, but…

Seeing her entire fox form instantly droop, Chen Hang softly changed his tone: “Here, take this.”

Tu Shan Ningning perked up instantly, wagging her tail like a puppy, eyes fixed eagerly on Chen Hang’s sleeves, waiting with bated breath for him to pull out something wonderful.

“In Jiangnan, I have nothing to offer—just a branch of spring to give you.”

Chen Hang placed the plum branch he held before her and smiled faintly:

“I must continue cultivating qi; I’ll take my leave now.”

“…“

Tu Shan Ningning stared blankly as Chen Hang stepped into the cave, and with a metallic click, a massive stone slid shut, obscuring his figure.

“Ying ying!”

Long after, she finally snapped out of her daze.

The little fox let out a disgusted squeal, hugged the clay sculpture again, and turned to run.

But barely had she slipped into the grass when she crept back, eyes darting left and right; seeing no movement from the stone, she held her breath, crept closer, and snatched the plum branch in her mouth.

Then she glanced furtively around once more, confirmed no one had seen, happily flicked her tail, and bolted away.

Inside the cave.

A thin layer of dust had settled on the table and bookshelves; Chen Hang swept his sleeve, brushing it away, then sat cross-legged upon the mat.

Faintly, one could still hear Tu Shan Ge’s booming voice and the cries of the foxes.

Tu Shan Zhuang had brought back many delicacies from Yuanjing—things none of these foxes had ever seen—and now Yang Mountain buzzed with lively chaos, as if it were a human festival.

Chen Hang paid them no mind, chuckled softly, and took out talisman coins to begin cultivating qi.

Only after three days had passed did he calculate the hour was right; he slowly emerged from stillness, transformed into a streak of white light, and shot skyward toward Fuyu Lake in Dan Su Kingdom.

…

…

“Miss, why did we send our spiritual avatar to the Southern Region? To hunt that evil Chen Yin Sheng Demon? How do you even know it’s here?”

The sky stretched vast and clear, as if washed clean.

A flying carriage rose through the clouds; inside, a plump girl in green robes rolled over heavily, sprawling on her back.

“The Dao Lord commanded me to come here and capture that evil Chen Yin Sheng Demon—to repay the debt I owe the Ai family for allowing me to study their Dao arts.”

Beside her, a woman in plain white robes spoke softly:

“Qing’er, do you dislike your aunt?”

“No, I just hate leaving the house. If I had to pick someone I truly dislike, it’d be Ai Jian… but why don’t we get someone to help us?”

The girl rolled over again with effort: “Also, why is our spiritual avatar’s cultivation base so low? What if we get killed on the way?”

“After I joined the sect, my Master asked the Dao Lord to cast a divination for me. It said that if I sent a spiritual avatar here, captured the evil Chen Yin Sheng Demon, I would encounter a chance.”

At this, the woman shook her head: “As for the low cultivation base of the avatar—it was instructed by the divination. You don’t understand, and neither do I. So…”

She tapped the girl’s forehead and warned: “Don’t act as haughty and reckless as you used to. Our spiritual avatar’s cultivation is extremely shallow—if we die, it’ll be a mess.”

The girl in green robes nodded dismissively, about to cling to the woman’s arm and pout, when the carriage suddenly jolted violently, nearly flinging her sideways.

The woman looked outside and saw seven figures rising, surrounding them—clearly hostile.

“Big Brother, we caught another heading for Fuyu Lake! Today’s lambs are plentiful—enough to honor the Ancestor’s birthday!”

A yellow-robed cultivator laughed aloud; beside him, a giant covered in pustules grinned eagerly.

“Miss, we are the Seven Sons of Miao South. The Ancestor’s birthday is near—if you’re wise, hand over some talisman coins, and we’ll let you pass. But if you insist on resisting—”

The pustule-covered giant sneered, swinging his massive axe: “I’ll crush you into pieces, strip you of every bit of your cultivation—you won’t even rest in death!”

“…“

The woman frowned slightly, tempted to crush them all at once, but too lazy to stir up trouble—she decided to pay the talisman coins and be done with it.

“Wait! I’ve changed my mind!”

Seeing the woman on the carriage wore a veil, hiding her face, but her figure was lush and graceful, he imagined her a beauty—and his lust flared hot.

“I’m Huang Hao, eldest disciple of the Miao South Ancestor. You don’t need to hand over talisman coins.”

Huang Hao chuckled lewdly: “If you’ll spend one night with me, I’ll personally escort you to Fuyu Lake—and after, I’ll give you thirty more talisman coins. How’s that?”

The woman’s face turned icy.

“Die, you piece of shit!”

The green-robed girl exploded in rage: “Auntie’s gonna smash your head until it’s as thin as your cock! Stick your neck out nice and straight!”

“Hmph!”

Huang Hao sneered, about to strike—when, far off on the horizon, another flying boat approached.

He gave a glance; the other Six Sons of Miao South instantly understood, and waited to intercept the boat as it neared.

“Hey, you’re awfully rude—get lost now!”

Huang Hao swung his axe, grinning wickedly: “You wanna be a hero and save the damsel? How many heads do you think you’ve got to lose?”

“Hey! Come save the damsel! Help us out!”

Seeing the arrival, the green-robed girl bounced up and down, waving frantically.

After a moment, a faint voice drifted from the flying boat:

“Please, carry on. I have no intention of interfering.”

“What? You’re so cold-blooded! You just watch while I and Miss get raped?” The girl sneered in utter contempt: “Cowardly worm, you’re grown so big for nothing!”

“None of my business. I didn’t come to rape you.”

The voice from the flying boat remained cool:

“If you don’t want to be humiliated, I suggest you kill yourselves now.”

Two become one