Chapter 504: Chapter 334: 8 Gates (2)
He couldn’t help but think of the Hundred-Star Pill Battle he had practiced. ‘Perhaps the true purpose of this Fist Technique is to use the Hundred Beasts Fist as a foundation, to be all-encompassing like the sea that receives a hundred rivers, fusing numerous Schools to forge a new path.’
The core of the Hundred Beasts Fist is the Dragon Gate Secret Technique, and the Dragon Gate Secret Technique is the Dragon Transformation Skill!
‘What defines the Dragon Form?’
‘Horns of a deer, head of a camel, eyes of a rabbit, neck of a snake…’
‘It is the fusion of the forms of many beasts, a legendary and perfect existence born from their union.’
‘To break the limits of reality… Perhaps that is the true meaning of the Dragon Gate Secret Technique.’
A flash of understanding went through Zhao Xuanqi’s mind.
“Alright, that realm is still too far for you. Focus on the present for now. Condense your Blood Fire, and then I’ll teach you practical combat techniques.”
He Xijun’s words broke Zhao Xuanqi’s train of thought.
“Yes, Senior Sister.”
Zhao Xuanqi nodded and continued with his sham ‘training’.
Fortunately, he also had daily patrol duties to attend to, so their training only lasted for the morning. After lunch, Zhao Xuanqi was assigned to He Xijun’s squad to begin his daily patrols.
Zhao Xuanqi didn’t return to the New Disciple living area until evening. Although the assessment period for New Disciples was over and everyone had been assigned a master, their residences hadn’t been changed yet, so they still lived in the New Disciple quarters.
Along the way, New Disciples, whether he knew them or not, all greeted him with friendly smiles.
Soon, he neared his room and saw a figure standing before his door.
‘Sun Jiajin?’
Zhao Xuanqi recognized the figure.
“Zhao Xing… no, Senior Brother Zhao!”
Sun Jiajin seemed to have been waiting for some time. When he saw Zhao Xuanqi approaching, he started to call him by name out of habit, but he seemed to recall the vast difference in their statuses and quickly, with some reservation, corrected himself.
“There’s no need to be so formal. We’ve known each other for over a decade, right?”
Zhao Xuanqi said with a smile.
“But your status is different now. It’s only proper that I call you Senior Brother.”
Sun Jiajin said in a low voice, completely devoid of the cheerful, devil-may-care attitude Zhao Xuanqi remembered from Zhao Xing’s memories.
‘The catastrophe really has matured him.’
“So, what is it? Did you come looking for me because you’re in some kind of trouble?”
Zhao Xuanqi didn’t press the issue and simply asked.
“I just heard some news. Zuo Dongrui and his group have voluntarily applied to withdraw from the Red Heart Sect, and the sect has already approved it. They’ve all returned home. Also, I heard from my family that today, a large number of properties belonging to the Zuo Family and a few others were suddenly sealed and confiscated. Now, all those families are packing their bags and valuables, preparing to move out of Guming County entirely…”
At this, Sun Jiajin trailed off. He glanced at Zhao Xuanqi, his voice low, seemingly laced with a hint of fear.
He assumed that Zhao Xuanqi, having become an Elder Disciple, had used his new connections to make this happen.
When Zhao Xuanqi heard this, however, he was taken aback for a moment.
He knew nothing about it. Besides, even if they were wary of his status as an Elder Disciple, the Zuo Family and the others wouldn’t have gone this far.
Unless… someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes, putting immense pressure on the Zuo Family and the others, forcing them to make such a choice.
And among the people he was connected to, only Qiu Qing, the Innate Martial Artist who held dominion over the region, had the power to accomplish something like this so quickly.
‘Is this a “welcoming gift” for his new disciple?’
‘Such decisiveness, such methods…’
‘This gives me a new layer of insight into Qiu Qing. Beneath that gentle exterior lies an incredibly firm and domineering nature. I suppose that’s to be expected of a Martial Artist who practices the Spirit Official Dao.’
‘I was originally planning to find the right opportunity to deal with those families myself, to fulfill some of this body’s lingering wishes. It seems that’s no longer necessary now.’
‘In a way, Qiu Qing’s actions saved their lives,’
Zhao Xuanqi thought to himself. Still, his master’s intentions were good, and he now owed him a favor.
By going to such lengths, Qiu Qing had certainly shown him enough goodwill.
“I didn’t know about this.”
Zhao Xuanqi said, shaking his head at Sun Jiajin.
“You didn’t know?”
Sun Jiajin looked astonished.
“Never mind that. You didn’t come here just to tell me this, did you?”
Zhao Xuanqi said, looking at Sun Jiajin.
“I… actually, my family sent me. I didn’t want to bother you… You know the situation my Sun Family is in…”
Sun Jiajin trailed off, hesitant to continue.
“I understand. If you run into any trouble in Guming County, you can use my name.”
Zhao Xuanqi nodded. He believed in repaying a drop of kindness with a gushing spring. When Zhao Xing was at his lowest, Sun Jiajin had still thought of him, secretly risking a great deal to bring him medicine. He had not forgotten that kindness. Besides, the Zhao and Sun families had been friends for generations and had always been on good terms; they were practically allies.
Besides, offering the Sun Family some protection was a trivial matter for him now.
“Senior Brother Zhao, thank you! From now on, thirty percent of all income from the Sun Family’s businesses will go to the Zhao Family.”
Sun Jiajin said hurriedly, his expression filled with excitement.
“That’s a minor detail…”
After a bit more small talk, Sun Jiajin took his leave. Zhao Xuanqi returned to his room, and as he did, a strange sensation suddenly washed over him, as if from a place beyond perception.
It felt as if something within his body had completely dispersed.
‘Zhao Xing’s lingering attachment?’
A smile touched the corners of Zhao Xuanqi’s lips.
“You really are easy to please.”
…
…
Meanwhile.
「Somewhere in Heqing Dao.」
The child-like cloaked figure and the tall cloaked figure stood within a mountain cave covered in twisted Talismans, cutting them off from all outside Sensing.
“It’s about time, isn’t it?”
The tall cloaked figure spoke slowly, reaching into his cloak and withdrawing a blood-red bead the size of an infant’s fist. A character was inscribed on its surface in a bizarre, pitch-black script; it could vaguely be identified as the word “Fear.”
“Mm, this is the appointed time. Let’s begin.”
The child-like cloaked figure nodded, likewise reaching into his cloak and pulling out a similar blood-red bead. The only difference was the bizarre character on its surface; instead of the other’s, it was a twisted rendering of the word “Death.”
After producing the beads, they both began to pour Primordial Qi into them at the same time.
VMM!!
A blood-red Gate gradually materialized behind each of them. The one behind the child-like figure bore the twisted character for “Death,” while the one behind the tall figure bore the character for “Fear.”
Then, as if they had connected to some unknown power, illusory blood-red Gates began to appear one after another throughout the cave.
Open, Rest, Life, Harm, Delusion, Scenery, Death, Fear.
There were eight Gates in total, each bearing one of the twisted characters.
The full count of the Eight Gates.
The other six Gates, excluding those of the child-like and tall figures, trembled slightly. Illusory silhouettes, their features indistinct, stepped out from within.
“Jiuyin, Cold Mountain, report on the current situation in Heqing Dao.”
The tall figure standing before the Open Gate spoke slowly, turning to the child-like figure and the tall one.
“It’s not optimistic. The Ghost City plan failed. The Five Sects of Heqing and the Government Office’s forces have dispatched many people to search everywhere, forcing us to go into hiding. Evil Cultivation activities throughout the region have also had to be temporarily halted.”
The Jiuyin Child shook his head and spoke in a low voice.
“Under the circumstances, should we launch the plan ahead of schedule? Our preparations aren’t complete, but the probability of success isn’t low. If we delay any longer, we risk being exposed.”
Cold Mountain added.
“No. The plan is on hold. Gui Cang and Celestial Derivation will head to Heqing Dao at once to help you erase all traces. Sword Gu and Formless will also proceed to Heqing Dao to prevent any unforeseen incidents.”
The figure before the Open Gate spoke suddenly.
“We’re pausing it? But if we do, we’ll lose a large number of our ‘Believers’. It will take considerable time and effort to restart.”
Jiuyin asked, confused.
“Emperor Hengyang’s gaze has fallen upon this place. Someone from the Six Pillars of the Court and the Celestial Net Department’s Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches will be arriving in Heqing Dao.”
The figure before the Open Gate said.
The other figures fell silent.
Emperor Hengyang, ruler of the Great Wei Dynasty, and the current Seal Master of the Incense and Candle Dao.