Spirit qi condensed into paper, phoenix plume sword trailing fire as the brush.
Thus in the void, Lu inscribed a poem.
Each character leaped alive, pupils in Kong Nanfei’s eyes contracting.
At first glance, nothing shocking.
But…
The deeper one gazed, the more heart-shaking—a vast vortex dragged the mind.
Kong Nanfei’s righteous qi surged uncontrollably.
He was horrified; tempered heart storage qi vortex emerged, a milky righteous sword manifesting.
He could not control his righteous qi.
What was this?
What exactly?
Kong trembled.
Unnoticed, Lu finished writing.
The Song of Righteous Qi—gift promised to Kong Nanfei, reward for forging the righteous qi path.
Lu sat atop Baiyujing pavilion, ladling green plum wine.
Void text—visible two quarters only.
After—dissipate.
How much Kong memorized—Lu cared not.
Kong’s righteous qi surged; mouth spewed righteous sword.
The text like heavenly scripture, quivering in the firmament.
Kong’s qi baptized by scripture.
Black impurities, filth—washed away; righteous qi shrank from fist-thick to finger-thin.
Yet Kong paid no heed—gazed more intently.
He recited with difficulty—each word draining vast energy.
Long after.
Sky Song of Righteous Qi slowly scattered—character by character.
Like post-rain rainbow—brief splendor.
Pfft.
Kong exhausted—coughed heart blood; pale, body shook, collapsed seated.
Then wailed.
Lu startled—why cry?
Song meant for insight; Confucian path inspiration.
Unexpected—Kong like child, sat ground, wept sorrow.
From the depths—grief, regret.
“You never saw this text… never the Song of Righteous Qi… regret…”
Kong wiped tears snot.
Lu understood.
Afar.
Mo Tianyu watched; saw Kong, heard cries.
Saw no word.
Lu for Kong alone.
But guessed—special chance.
Kong cried briefly.
Rose—sleeve wiped tears; sky text gone.
Phoenix sword returned guard.
Kong straightened robes—cupped to Lu: “Thanks Young Master Lu.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
No more.
Turned—strode lake.
Step by step—wandering heart firmed.
Stepped lake surface—no sink; flat ground.
Water exploded.
Little Yinglong surfaced—wings flapped, hovered front.
Mouth water swirled—ready squirt.
Halfway—Lu voice drifted.
“No mischief.”
Yinglong slurped back—tail wagged smug sky.
Like saying—see, no mischief.
Kong ignored—all; figure vanished thick mist.
Exited Beiluo—back West Mountain.
Found Lv Dongxuan before white jade tower, hot tea—asked paper ink.
Kong sat—racked brain write Song; but… forgot every word.
Beiluo, Lu Manor.
Lu Changkong no lake isle—stayed manor; precisely garden.
Green buried thick snow.
Lu Changkong cleared stone bench snow; held peach petal—vivid; blue droplet—spirit liquid.
Compressed spirit qi.
Knew spirit stones; liquid… no.
“Compress qi… Body Storage cannot?”
Lu Changkong marveled.
“Fan’er’s strength… ever opaque.”
No refine liquid.
Paced garden—swept snow flowers.
Content, lazy, nostalgic—strolled manor garden, admired snowscape.
...
Yuan Chi City.
Black mane horse galloped snow plain—snow mud flew.
Wall Xuanwu guard saw horse rider—face changed.
“Xiliang first general, Xu Chu!”
Xuanwu grave.
Why Yuan Chi?
Rushed city lord mansion—Tantai Xuan within.
Tantai Xuan emerged—held half Imperial Dragon Seal.
“Overlord values half gold dragon seal.”
Tantai Xuan smiled.
Mo Beike hunched out.
“Let Xu Chu in.”
Tantai Xuan no block—opened gate.
Xu Chu rode in—burly, fierce bear aura.
Dismounted—saw armored Tantai Xuan, Mo Beike.
Cupped: “Xiliang Xu Chu, greets North Xuan King.”
Tantai Xuan laughed hearty—strode: “Long heard Xiliang fierce Xu Chu; seeing surpasses hearing.”
Mo Beike silent.
Xu Chu familiar—once aided Overlord Xiliang.
Xu Chu scorned Mo Beike—sneered.
Ju Zi so what.
Abandoned Overlord; now Overlord Purple Gold; you Mo Beike outside?
“Under Xiang King order—banquet invite North Xuan King…”
“King chanced gold dragon seal; heard North Xuan one; invites Purple Gold banquet; admire seals together.”
Xu Chu presented Overlord handwritten letter.
Wild domineering script.
Tantai Xuan took—scanned; seemed see Overlord mad face through paper.
“This king has seal; but vs King’s—firefly moon; fear disappoint… no ugly show.”
Tantai Xuan calm smile.
Passed to Mo Beike.
Mo Beike read—heavy bags squinted near vanish.
“Today, general Jiang Li retires; this king grieved; plans Beiluo… cannot attend.”
Tantai Xuan said.
Mo Beike aside squinted smiled.
Tantai Xuan knew advance retreat.
Overlord banquet clearly for other half seal; go—cannot leave capital.
Mo Beike advised no contest, exit capital; return now—fool.
Xu Chu stunned.
Tantai Xuan clear—no go.
Jiang retire surprised; Beiluo excuse blunt—Xu Chu speechless.
Tantai Xuan… this miserable?
Cannot beat Overlord; military god retire—Daxuan tiger broke claw.
Xu Chu hesitated.
But no ordinary.
Up—eyed Tantai Xuan; slight squint, frank smile: “North Xuan no banquet—fine… return explain King; but…”
“King joy gold dragon seal; hope North Xuan lend other; take back; King admire; personally return—how?”
Xu Chu words echoed room.
Instant—air froze.
Outside.
Xuanwu solemn appeared—blades slow unsheathed; cold glint Xu Chu face.
Tantai Xuan smile faded.
Mo Beike quiet aside; heavy bags twitched—unfathomable thoughts.
Xu Chu calm; enemy heartland, hundreds Xuanwu stares—fearless; rolling blade meat.
Overlord sent Xu Chu—anticipated refusal.
Else servant scout suffice; no need first general.
Overlord unmatched; lose Xu Chu heavy blow.
Yet sent… Xu Chu rough but fine; grasped intent.
Air confrontation thick.
Xu Chu faced needles—composed.
Face no red, heart no jump.
Enemy camp—like home garden.
Mo Beike bags twitched—glanced Tantai Xuan; light cough, hoarse voice ready.
But…
Tantai Xuan stopped.
“Commander Xu suggestion good; King admire seal—this king grant.”
Finished—pocket half gold dragon seal.
Mo Beike eyes flashed brilliance.
Unexpected—Tantai Xuan bold.
Xu Chu calm shifted slight.
Felt pressure from Tantai Xuan—qi pill peak.
Tantai Xuan handed seal; faint gold glow body.
Like gold dragon coiled, watched him.
Xu Chu unaware—hand taking seal trembled slight.
“See guest out.”
Tantai Xuan said.
Xuanwu eyes anger entered.
“Please!”
Tantai Xuan personal Xuanwu angry.
Xu Chu bully too much.
Overlord bully too much!
They pitied Tantai Xuan.
Hard-won immortal fate; followed long; knew Tantai Xuan fate path hard…
Xu Chu held seal—heavy thousand jin; shook mind.
Deep eyed Tantai Xuan.
Turned leave.
Entered Yuan Chi easy though enemy.
Now exit with seal… back soaked sweat.
Yuan Chi.
Tantai Xuan up snow sky.
Inhaled deep.
“In this era, true power for voice…”
Tantai Xuan eyes fluctuated.
Fate taken by Xu Chu—calm.
Accustomed.
“Ju Zi…”
“This king planned wait victor—found Daxuan Academy… now cannot.”
“From today, Daxuan at Tailing Ask Heaven Peak base—found Daxuan Academy.”
“Daxuan eight to fifteen children all enter cultivate; graduates qualify court, Xuanwu; cultivation rank—titles treatment…”
Tantai Xuan said.
Words firm; eyed window snow; eyes flame burn.
No repeat his losses on Daxuan posterity.
Cultivator era—cultivator court!
Mo Beike body shook—incredible eyed Tantai Xuan; felt bold again.
Founding academy no easy.
Resources… too much.
Vs Xiliang foe—still decide?
But Mo Beike silent; dare not interfere; cannot judge.
Decision change Daxuan future.
Tantai Xuan exhaled slow.
“Prepare carriage—this king… to Beiluo.”
Tantai Xuan said.
“Yes.”
Attendant hurried.
...
Beiluo, lake heart isle.
Lu sipped light.
Watched Tantai Xuan Overlord post-seal attitudes.
Knew Overlord sent Xu Chu banquet—raised brow surprised.
“Hongmen Banquet?”
Lu smiled.
Coincidence; not true.
Tantai Xuan attend—Daxuan Xiliang contest end early…
No insider Overlord; attend—kill easy.
So no fool—cannot go.
But development interested Lu.
“Refused, gave seal…”
Lu eyes lines danced.
Sipped green plum—dumbfounded laugh.
Immortal fate insulator…
Of course, laugh with—admired Tantai Xuan bold.
Plus decision—most showed resolve.
Eyes fluctuated; sipped—smiled.
“Found Daxuan Academy?”
