"Big Sister, how are things in the Imperial Capital?" Bai Lan asked, a flicker of hope for good news shining in her eyes. Her heart was still pounding from the events of the previous day.
"To be honest, things are not going well at all. The Emperor's reputation is crumbling like a mountain beneath a raging storm. Whispers of his downfall echo through every street and teahouse... I fear that day is not far off," Bai Lanyue replied, her eyes fixed on the table as her thoughts drifted far beyond the peaceful city of Qingyao.
"Big Sister... what should we do?"
Bai Lan's voice suddenly trembled with sorrow. Her gaze fell to the table, anguish etched across her face. Although she had agreed to Tian Ming's terms, the thought of serving the Northern Region gnawed at her pride like a hidden blade.
Only a select few knew the grim truth: little by little, every region of the Shanyue Continent was falling under the Northern Region's ruthless control. With time, the lives of those under its rule had been reduced to misery and despair. If the Southern Region suffered the same fate, its people would share that miserable destiny. Fear constantly lingered in their hearts—they understood the danger—while ordinary people, blissfully unaware, continued with their lives.
Bai Lanyue gazed at her younger sister from afar and spoke softly.
"The Emperor has a plan."
With a slight wave of her hand, she performed an unknown technique. An invisible aura enveloped the entire teahouse, sealing every sound within its boundaries. Nothing could escape.
"Big Sister?"
Bai Lan sensed the gravity of what was about to be revealed. The guards remained at their posts, silent and motionless, but neither sister paid them any attention—they were trusted souls, as close as family.
A chill ran through Feng Qi's body.
He was about to hear a secret that would be guarded at all costs. Secretly, curiosity burned in his chest.
"The Emperor knows of an ancient teleportation portal, a lost inheritance of the Imperial Family. Ancient records mention it—a portal that leads to a small island somewhere beyond the vast ocean. The Emperor is personally overseeing the matter. His finest Formation Masters are working to reconstruct the array."
"An island? Wait, Big Sister... are you saying we're going to flee to this island? How large is it? Is that even possible?" Bai Lan asked in disbelief.
"We don't know. The ancient records only mention an island on the other side of the portal, without saying anything about its size. But if events unfold as we expect... yes, we must escape, taking everything precious to us with us. Little Sister, to speak frankly, I came here as the Emperor's trusted informant. If the plan succeeds, we must be prepared to leave at any moment."
Bai Lanyue's tone carried the weight of an imperial command—authoritative, inflexible, a decree that allowed no disobedience.
Bai Lan shot to her feet in shock.
The idea was absurd, yet it was precisely what she had been trying to say. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead. Swallowing hard, she forced the words out.
"Big Sister... what about the other families and clans? The people of the city? Does the Emperor intend to abandon them all?"
"Not necessarily all of them. But yes... many will be left behind. It is impossible to take everyone with us. A great number will turn against us, and those who have already sworn allegiance to the Immortal Sects of the Northern Region—we must avoid such obstacles. We will depart as soon as the Imperial Court gives confirmation. That is all we can do."
Bai Lan narrowed her eyes in thought.
She had questions, but all of them seemed trivial in the face of the Imperial Court's decree. In truth, it was not as terrible as it sounded. Between fleeing to some distant island at the ends of the world and falling into the hands of the Immortal Sects, condemned to a life of misery, she would choose the former without hesitation.
With a sorrowful expression, Bai Lan made one final appeal.
"I know it sounds absurd, Big Sister, but... has the Imperial Court never considered defending our lands against these invaders? Is the Emperor really that cowardly?"
Bai Lanyue could not suppress the faint smile that curved her lips, leaving her younger sister momentarily stunned.
"My dear sister, tell me something. Here in Qingyao, what could our family possibly do if a battalion of Foundation Establishment experts—including dozens of Core Formation Masters—attacked under the command of a powerful Golden Core expert?"
Bai Lan clenched her fists tightly.
Although her eyes remained fixed on the table, her mind vividly imagined the devastation such a force would unleash.
It would mean the complete destruction of the Bai Family.
Even the Tian Family, the most powerful family in Qingyao, possessed only a little more than ten Qi Condensation experts and merely three Core Formation elders. A single battalion like that would not only crush the Bai Family—it would massacre every powerful clan and sect in Qingyao, leaving nothing behind but blood-soaked ruins.
Bai Lan envisioned the tragic end of the city, and the thought that the entire Southern Region might share the same fate within a few years filled her with despair.
"The gap grows wider with every step we fail to take. A Nascent Soul is already incomparable to a Golden Core, but that difference pales before Soul Transformation. Such is the power of the Northern Region. To them, we are nothing more than fish upon the chopping block."
A heavy silence descended upon the room.
Everyone's gaze drifted into the distance, lost in the vastness of their own thoughts. Feng Qi had heard something he had previously overlooked, and genuine curiosity stirred within him.
"Don't worry. Act naturally. When the time comes, we'll give those bastards a surprise before we leave," Bai Lanyue said calmly.
"What kind of surprise are you preparing, Big Sister?" Bai Lan asked, secretly surprised by her sister's behavior. She rarely saw her like this.
"A surprise is a surprise. Now go. I spoke with Father yesterday. We must gather as many people loyal to the Imperial Crown as possible and escape those who scheme in the shadows."
"Yes, Big Sister!"
Bai Lan's heart pounded.
Nervousness and determination warred within her. Although the sadness of leaving her hometown consumed her, she convinced herself that the future of her family was what mattered most.
Her promise to Tian Ming?
She no longer cared about it.
If better opportunities arose, why cling to the tiger's paw when the rope was still within reach?
The sisters continued talking for some time, discussing various matters and concerns.
Suddenly, the young Bai Lanyue turned toward her young guard, Feng Qi, with a sweet smile and a calm voice.
"It is a shame what happened to your family. Your father was a brilliant and respected man. I admired him greatly. If you ever need guidance in your cultivation, come find me."
Feng Qi remained motionless, unsure of how to respond.
His instincts still warned him that this woman was dangerous. After a moment of thought, he replied respectfully.
"Thank you for the offer, Young Miss. I will seek you out when the time is right."
"Come now, there's no need to be so formal. I don't care much for servant etiquette. Just be yourself—open and straightforward, as you always have been."
Her words did nothing to soften Feng Qi's cautious heart.
Although he remained polite, he refused to fall into her trap. He knew there was more behind that appearance.
To think my father may have been swayed by her sweet words...
Feng Qi remained vigilant as Bai Lanyue spoke with natural grace.
Her smile was too gentle.
Her posture was too relaxed.
Something was wrong.
Her simple words carried an invisible weight, drawing the attention of everyone inside the teahouse.
Strange... Very strange, Feng Qi thought.
He suppressed any bolder thoughts.
Accusing someone like Bai Lanyue without evidence would be no different from signing his own death warrant.
Bai Lan was different. There was a certain trust between them.
But Bai Lanyue?
Every instinct in his body screamed caution.
Standing behind the Governor's eldest daughter was her personal guard—silent and expressionless, an intimidating shadow rooted firmly to the ground.
"Big Sister," Bai Lan suddenly broke the silence. "Father mentioned that you have been devoting yourself to cultivation lately."
Bai Lanyue offered a subtle, elegant smile.
"Nothing special. I am merely refining what I already know, with the help of a few supplementary techniques."
"I see..."
A faint distance lingered between the sisters—something Feng Qi had noticed the instant he arrived.
The scene seemed strange, but apparently, he was the only one who noticed it.
Glancing toward Luo Zixuan, he saw the man's eyes wandering into the distance, completely uninterested in the conversation.
"Dear sister, I must leave now. I have matters to attend to," Bai Lanyue said.
"I understand, Big Sister. Please be careful on your journey."
Bai Lan clasped her hands and gave a slight bow.
Her elder sister's personal guard was just as sinister as she was—his face expressionless, as neutral as a corpse.
A chill ran down Feng Qi's spine.
A possibility crossed his mind, but there was no way to confirm it.
...
"Bai Lan, what kind of technique does your sister cultivate?" Feng Qi asked.
"My sister is exceptionally skilled in the Azure Celestial Wave Steps. She is a combat-oriented cultivator, with a preference for palm arts above all else. I have never seen her practice anything else," Bai Lan replied.
"I see... By the way, when will I be able to learn the Azure Celestial Wave Steps?"
Bai Lan suddenly covered her face, though it was obvious she was laughing.
"I thought that after all this time here, you would have figured it out already," Luo Zixuan interrupted.
"You mean the hints hidden in my fighting movements? I already understand the essence, but it is still insufficient," Feng Qi said.
Bai Lan replied with a mischievous smile.
"The Azure Celestial Wave Steps are a technique exclusive to those who cultivate Yin Qi—in other words, women."
Her smile became playful.
"Do you still want to try?"
Even Luo Zixuan chuckled at the situation, yet Feng Qi remained completely impassive.
"What's the problem? These steps can still teach me a thing or two. Guardian Zixuan practices them; I want to comprehend their essence for myself."
Contrary to their expectations, Feng Qi felt no embarrassment.
To him, knowledge and techniques were indispensable treasures.
As if the ice had finally broken, Bai Lan sighed in defeat upon seeing that her young guard was completely unmoved by their teasing.
"Wait."
She searched through her spatial ring and took out an ancient tome, its pages filled with years of history.
"Here. It contains everything you need."
Feng Qi ran his fingers across the pages, his interest growing with every line.
At last, he could properly study the Azure Wave style.
"You could have given me this earlier."
"Everything has its proper time. Why are you in such a hurry? You have talent. You will soon reach Qi Refinement, and who knows? Perhaps one day you will even form a Golden Core."
Her final words were dripping with sarcasm.
"Thank you for the encouragement. I hope you can achieve it too, Young Miss!" Feng Qi replied in the same tone, a smile on his face.
Bai Lan did not mind.
Despite their frequent teasing, their future seemed promising.
"Learning it is not impossible. Good luck."
A genuine smile appeared on her lips.
That afternoon, after completing his duties, Feng Qi climbed to the top of the hill.
There, with the cool breeze and breathtaking view of the city and distant mountains, he could finally unravel the secrets of the Azure Celestial Wave Steps.
A high-level Yin movement technique—truly powerful, Feng Qi thought.
The Azure Celestial Wave Steps were a movement art rooted in Yin Qi and the observation of celestial tides—intangible currents that flowed throughout Heaven and Earth.
Unlike explosive techniques that sought raw speed, this art pursued continuity, rhythm, and perfect adaptation.
When activating the technique, the practitioner did not force their body forward.
Instead, they aligned themselves with the flow of the world, allowing each step to emerge, reach its peak, and fade away like a natural wave.
The movement did not tear through space.
It flowed through it.
Yin Qi spiraled through the lower meridians, enveloping the legs and waist like a silent tide.
With every step, the body became as light as water, yet as stable as the depths of the ocean.
Observers would swear that the practitioner never occupied the same place twice, even when their feet touched the ground.
That was why the movements were so fluid and unpredictable—slow, yet impossible to follow with the eyes.
This technique could also disperse force and redirect direct attacks.
Many details had been forgotten or neglected, but gradually, Feng Qi became accustomed to the art.
It's a shame that it requires such a high affinity with Yin Qi... Only women can push it to its limits—unless I find a way around this restriction.
He sighed, gazing solemnly at the sky as the breeze brushed against his body.
Night slowly descended.
With the additional scrolls he had brought with him, Feng Qi deepened his understanding of cultivation.
Sitting in meditation, he immersed himself in ancient volumes.
The scent of old paper mingled with the spiritual aura of the hill as his eyes moved across records of the cultivation realms with increasing concentration.
First, he refined his understanding of Body Refinement, where the mortal body was tempered like raw steel.
Next came Qi Refinement, the stage in which vital energy circulated under conscious intent.
In the treatises on Qi Condensation, he came to understand how inner chaos was transformed into order, paving the way toward Foundation Establishment—the true foundation of cultivation.
Further ahead, the texts described Core Formation, divided into two stages.
The first was Core Construction.
The second was Core Perfection—also known as the Golden Core—where the practitioner's essence solidified, followed by the long and arduous process of Core Refinement.
Purity and stability determined one's future.
When he reached the final pages, he felt an almost reverent weight as he read about the Nascent Soul—the true birth of the spiritual self—and finally, Soul Transformation, a realm reserved for those who ruled the continent.
After closing the book, Feng Qi felt that he had gained more than mere knowledge.
Each realm had engraved a silent mark upon his mind, awaiting the day when understanding would become true power.
Immersed in contemplation, he felt something within him slowly loosen.
He had touched the threshold of the Sixth Layer—
when a sudden blow struck his head.
Feng Qi was sent flying down the hillside.
Branches snapped, dust erupted, and when he finally came to a stop, blood gushed from his scalp, flooding his face.
A severe headache overwhelmed him; the wound was deep.
Still dazed, he struggled to his feet and tried to stop the bleeding.
He frantically looked around, staggering in confusion.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Four steps backward—
then he sensed an approaching aura.
He dodged at the last possible moment as a short blade sliced through the air.
"What the hell is this?! Who are you?!" he roared.
From the shadow of a tree, a figure slowly emerged.
A harsh sound—like knives scraping against one another—accompanied the man's hoarse, incredulous voice.
"How the hell are you still alive? My blades should have severed your head!"
Fear colored the man's voice.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the young man groaning before him.
Blood gradually clouded Feng Qi's vision, and dizziness threatened to overwhelm him.
Then, suddenly, his chest erupted with flames, and the nausea vanished in an instant.
As clarity returned, another knife strike shot toward him—
but this time, Feng Qi dodged.
In the same breath, he channeled a fragment of the Azure Celestial Wave Steps and unleashed a storm of attacks upon the assassin.