Translator: AnubisTL
After bidding farewell to the Meng Clan, Li Qing once again embarked on his journey.
As he revisited the places he had once traveled, his heart felt as if it had undergone a baptism, his state of mind becoming increasingly serene.
Only by reliving past experiences can one truly understand which lingering regrets remain unresolved.
For instance, even seemingly insignificant verbal promises made long ago could later prove fatal during the heart demon tribulation.
Lost in thought, Li Qing unconsciously found himself at the northern edge of Small Jade Ridge.
Just beyond lay Maple Country, a realm of mortals where spiritual energy was virtually nonexistent. It was here that Li Qing had risen step by step, eventually reaching the pinnacle of the Martial Dao. He had then obtained a cultivation manual, which set him on the path to immortality.
"Maple Country..."
Gazing at the endless wilderness stretching before him, Li Qing's eyes flickered slightly.
I suppose I should go take a look after all.
Since this is a trial in the mortal world, I can't possibly skip the mortal realm where I once lived.
With these words, Li Qing turned north, heading towards the territory of Maple Country.
He concealed his immortal dao cultivation, immersing himself in the bustling, noisy world of mortals. He experienced life as an ordinary person, fully embracing the vibrant energy of mortal cities.
Having pursued the immortal dao for so long, Li Qing felt a strange, long-forgotten sensation as he absorbed the city's lively atmosphere and prosperity.
The sights and sounds of peddlers, traveling merchants, wandering knights, and all the daily events, both large and small, flooded into Li Qing's Sea of Consciousness.
"The mortal world is alluring, yet cultivation is arduous."
Stepping into the mortal realm, Li Qing shed his true identity, becoming like a genuine mortal. He immersed himself in the myriad experiences of worldly life.
At times, he transformed into an escort, escorting valuable goods. At others, he played the role of a street performer, entertaining crowds with his skills. Occasionally, he disguised himself as a wandering Daoist priest, traveling from place to place, offering medical consultations.
In this way, he wandered aimlessly, and before he knew it, he had arrived in Shengtian, the capital of Maple Country.
Shengtian was a city overflowing with the world's prosperity. Despite enduring centuries of trials and tribulations, it remained a pinnacle of opulence and splendor.
After entering the city, Li Qing walked down familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar streets, trying to find places from his memories of the past.
Shengtian had indeed changed greatly over the years, with generations of people having come and gone.
It took considerable effort for Li Qing to find the Blacksmith Shop where he had once spent a long time. However, the place was no longer a blacksmith's workshop but had been converted into a general store selling rice and grain.
Next, relying on his memory of the directions, he tried to reach his favorite tavern from the past.
Now at the peak of the core formation realm, he had naturally tasted many rare and precious spirit wines from the immortal realm.
These spirit wines far surpassed mortal wines in both flavor and rarity. Yet, deep in his heart, Li Qing still missed the Winter Plum Wine he had once loved.
Unfortunately, the Taoyuan Tavern was gone. Li Qing's divine sense swept across the entire street, but he couldn't find the familiar tavern.
In the end, he randomly chose a roadside tavern and ordered a jar of their signature wine, Spring Charm, savoring each sip.
The wine was smooth on the palate yet retained a robust intensity, with a lingering sweetness that made it quite enjoyable.
As Li Qing savored his fine wine, the other patrons of the tavern couldn't help but chatter about all sorts of matters, big and small.
In a tavern, the most common topics were naturally those of the Jianghu—the martial world.
For instance, they spoke of a martial artist from a certain county whose talent was so astonishing that he had already reached the Inner Strength realm at a young age, making him a likely candidate for Grandmaster status.
They also discussed the recent emergence of new sects in the Jianghu and the earth-shattering deeds of powerful figures.
These tales of the martial world served as the perfect accompaniment to Li Qing's wine.
The Martial Artist Jianghu of Maple Country remained unchanged, retaining its familiar flavor.
As he listened to the conversations, a nostalgic glint flashed in Li Qing's eyes, and a faint smile curved his lips.
He recalled his own martial journey. Though not particularly dramatic, it had left a vivid mark on the Jianghu of Maple Country.
"Rumor has it that the Giant Saber Sect leader has unsheathed Astonishing Silence, the renowned saber inherited from the sect's founder, and is personally pursuing that elusive thief across a thousand miles!"
"That thief is a master of Lightness Technique, his skills extraordinary. Ordinary Inner Strength Martial Artists can't even keep up with him!"
"I wonder what vital treasure the Giant Saber Sect lost that provoked their sect leader's fury."
"Heh, it doesn't matter what was stolen. The real issue is saving face!"
"..."
Li Qing was no stranger to Renowned Saber: Astonishing Silence, a weapon revered as a divine blade in the Jianghu.
After all, he had forged this very blade himself. Time had flowed by like a river, and now this treasured saber had finally become a legendary weapon that shook the Jianghu!
As a core formation realm cultivator, Li Qing couldn't help but feel a faint sense of pride.
Though he now possessed the means to easily refine countless weapons far superior in quality and power to these so-called legendary weapons, the significance remained different.
Amidst Li Qing's quiet satisfaction, the tavern patrons shifted their conversation to another widely known rumor circulating in the Jianghu.
"Do you think the Qian Family will weather this storm?"
The question hung in the air, momentarily silencing the tavern.
Clearly, everyone was wary of discussing this topic, yet they couldn't help but be interested.
After a long pause, as if confirming there were no imperial guards inside or outside the building, someone finally broke the silence:
"I doubt they'll make it. The situation escalated too suddenly. If not for the Holy Emperor's recognition of the Qian Family's past contributions to the dynasty, they would likely face complete annihilation!"
"Hiss... So what exactly did the Qian Family do? How could they fall from grace so completely overnight?"
"That remains a mystery. But without the court's protection, the Qian Family has become a target for many Jianghu Warriors."
"After all, the allure of the Limitless Art and the Qing Hong Sword is irresistible. Whether it's the inheritance of the Limitless Grandmaster or that legendary weapon known throughout the land, both could drive those Jianghu ruffians mad."
"In the past, with the court's backing, they were safe. But now? It's open season. Everyone will be scrambling to kick them while they're down."
"..."
Hearing these words, Li Qing, who had been sipping his wine, suddenly paused, his hand freezing mid-air.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully considering the patrons' conversation.
Limitless Art, Qing Hong Sword...
This must be the Qian Family I know, he thought.
Yang Province, one of the nine provinces of Maple Country, was renowned for its prosperity and wealth, ranking among the top in the nation.
Guangyang City, the provincial capital of Yang Province, had been the ancestral home of the Qian Family for generations.
Yet now, the Qian Family was teetering on the brink of collapse. Such is the fickle nature of fate; even the most powerful families eventually meet their end.
At the heart of the city stood the Qian Family Manor.
Before their fall from grace, the manor had been a bustling hub of activity, with visitors arriving daily in such numbers that one could say the threshold was worn thin.
But after their downfall, the once-constant stream of guests dwindled to a chilling silence.
Stripped of their military authority, every official, high and low, who had served the Qian Family in court was dismissed. With the eyes of the Jianghu watching closely, it was no exaggeration to say the family was in dire straits.
Fortunately, the Qian Family had not squandered its years of prosperity. The clan possessed deep reserves of strength, preventing them from facing complete annihilation.
Two Inner Strength experts, both direct descendants of the Qian Family, formed the bedrock of their continued survival, allowing them to maintain their precarious status quo.
But under the allure of the Qing Hong Sword and the Limitless Art, how long could this status quo possibly last? That remained to be seen.
The gazes from all directions had begun to unsettle the entire Qian Family, leaving them in a state of anxious unease.
The Qing Hong Sword was a divine weapon passed down through generations of the family, a legendary blade coveted by every martial artist!
The Limitless Art inheritance was even more extraordinary. This was the Martial Arts Legacy left behind by the Limitless Grandmaster himself, whose legends still echoed throughout the Jianghu.
He was the man who had infiltrated the Imperial Palace and slain the grassland emperor of his time. His Martial Arts Legacy undoubtedly contained the secrets of a Grandmaster.
To advance further on the Martial Dao path, Jianghu Warriors would stop at nothing, resorting to any means necessary!
In the past, the Qian Family had held immense power in the imperial court, with their influence permeating both civil and military circles. Few dared to challenge their authority.
But now, stripped of their power, the Qian Family resembled a toothless old tiger. Though their lingering prestige remained, their actual threat seemed diminished.
No one knew exactly how many Martial Dao experts and Jianghu celebrities had descended upon Guangyang City.
However, the Qian Family estimated that there were likely no fewer than ten Inner Strength experts among them.
Inside the Qian Manor's main hall, a dignified middle-aged man sat upright, his back resting against a painting of a fierce tiger descending the mountain. Flanking him on either side were the Qian Family's key figures—all high-ranking members.
"This is outrageous! Feng'er was injured by two Outer Strength brutes when he went out for wine yesterday!" one of the Qian Family elders growled.
"Who dares to be so bold? How dare mere Outer Strength brutes provoke the Qian Family?" a hot-tempered member of the Qian Family's direct lineage demanded.
"Alas, we've already killed the culprits, but it hasn't served as a deterrent. I fear there's a hidden hand behind this."
The Qian Family elders in the hall fell silent once more.
Bang!
"Damn it! I'll rally our old comrades from the Wu Li Army. I refuse to believe a mere band of Jianghu warriors can turn the world upside down!"
A young man with a heroic bearing slammed his fist on the table, rising to his feet. His demeanor radiated the steely resolve forged through years of military service, unwavering and unyielding.
The Wu Li Army, the cornerstone of Maple Country's defense, was composed entirely of martial artists, their strength unmatched. This force, alongside the Maple Guard, formed the two pillars of Maple Country's Martial Dao, capable of easily intimidating martial artists across the land.
At the head of the table, the Clan Head of the Qian Family, his authority radiating even in silence, rebuked softly, "Sit down, Yunwen. Do you think our family's situation isn't dire enough? Remember, you've already been stripped of all your positions in the Wu Li Army!"
"Continuing to collude with the Wu Li Army is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan!"
As he spoke, the middle-aged man struck his cane against the floor.
Thump! Thump!
After being reprimanded, Qian Yunwen's face darkened with despair. The family had fallen into such straits, yet he felt powerless to change their fate. This sense of helplessness filled him with rage. Even with his Inner Strength-level Martial Dao cultivation, he was at a loss for what to do.
The Clan Head surveyed the silent members of his clan and sighed inwardly.
"Ah!"
"The most crucial thing now is to regain His Majesty's trust!"
"We can set aside the threat from those Jianghu Warriors for now. Once we regain our influence in court, these problems will resolve themselves."
"If all else fails, we can even throw the complete Limitless Art and the Qing Hong Sword to those commoners and let them fight over it."
Hearing this, the Qian Family members could no longer remain seated.
"How can you say that, Clan Head?!"
"Exactly! That's the inheritance our Great-Aunt left for the family! We can't just hand it over to outsiders!"
"We must consider this matter carefully!"
Hearing his family's objections, the Qian Clan Head's beard bristled with anger. He repeatedly struck his cane against the ground, each strike ringing out sharply.
"Utter foolishness!"
"What Grandmaster's Martial Arts Legacy? What Magical Weapon? These are merely external possessions!"
"Is the survival of our family less important than these things?"
With that, the Qian Clan Head shook his head, his expression growing even more melancholy.
"Ah, why does His Majesty insist that this miraculous art is fake? It's clearly the original text left by our Great-Aunt!"
"..."
Unbeknownst to them, every word of this Qian Family meeting had been overheard by someone.
This person was staying at an inn two streets away from the Qian Manor, yet he had heard the entire conversation with perfect clarity.
The one capable of such a feat was naturally Li Qing.
Just now, he had pieced together a fairly clear picture of the Qian Family's recent troubles, including the reason for their sudden fall from grace in the imperial court.
It turned out that Emperor Fengwu of Maple Country had inexplicably developed a desire to pursue the immortal dao and seek eternal life!
An emperor seeking immortality was hardly a novel ambition.
However, Emperor Fengwu had somehow learned that the Qian Family possessed a cultivation manual for immortality!
This manual was none other than the incomplete Earth Origin Manual that Li Qing had gifted to Qian Hong long ago.
Naturally, the Qian Family dared not refuse the emperor's demand, even if his pursuit of cultivation would neglect state affairs. They obediently handed over their copy of the Earth Origin Manual to the imperial palace.
Yet after days of fruitless study, Emperor Fengwu, unable to grasp the secrets of immortality, flew into a rage, convinced that the Qian Family was withholding something!
This was precisely why the Qian Family had fallen from power overnight, now teetering on the brink of ruin.
"The Earth Origin Manual..."
In a guest room at the inn, Li Qing murmured softly, his memories turning back to Commander Qian, whom he had once known.
(End of the Chapter)