Outside Ao Tiān Academy,
The winds had been quiet for over three months.
Since the blood-soaked duel,
Silver Mirror and White Profound Society had kept their heads low.
Even those who tried probing in secret—
Were stopped half a step before they could act.
—
The inner court selection board
Was finally posted on the Blackstone Steps.
Updated every three days.
Who advanced, who fell—
All laid bare in sunlight.
No one dared tamper.
—
And three names—
No longer needed to be listed.
They were already etched into everyone's mind—
Xiǎo Chén,
Xuán Chén,
And Shī Tóngbǎi.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi had survived the sickbed,
Trained basic forms with Xiǎo Chén,
And was no longer just a messenger.
He now worked the edges—
Connecting, scouting,
Quietly gathering intel for the other two.
Many still thought he was soft—
But they didn't know who stood behind him.
—
During this time,
Xuán Chén remained in the Talisman Pavilion,
Doors shut.
Unbothered by outside affairs.
A few elder talismanists tried to inquire—
Curious about the duel's secrets.
All were silently turned away.
—
Xiǎo Chén, meanwhile,
Continued sparring with Xuānyuán Dié.
His qi flow grew tighter,
Fate scars more stable.
Some senior students whispered—
If anyone of his tier faces him—
They won't last a hundred moves.
—
The outer court was quiet—
Like a sealed pool.
But beneath the surface,
The wind had begun to stir—
And it was blowing toward the inner court.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi stared at the inner court board,
Smiled bitterly—
"When you two get in…"
"I'll probably go back to the old days."
"No strength, no backing—
Just a tagalong in the outer court."
—
Xiǎo Chén threw an arm around his shoulder,
Grinning—
"Easy fix."
"Come with us into the inner court."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi shook his head,
Smile tinged with sorrow—
"I'm not like you."
"If not for my family's resources,
I wouldn't have made it into the academy."
"Besides—
My spiritual flow's been unstable since birth."
"Sometimes weak, sometimes gone."
"My family tried everything.
Every doctor said the same—
No cure."
—
Xiǎo Chén raised a brow.
He remembered the pulse-reading lessons from Suàn Wúyí.
His voice dropped—
"What kind of illness can't be cured?"
"Tell me."
"I know a bit of medicine."
"If it's really bad—
We'll find another way."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi
sighed,
Eyes drifting—
"The doctors said…"
"Unless two people—one yin, one yang—
With aligned hearts and minds
Help guide my spiritual flow together…"
"Otherwise, I'll never use qi properly in this lifetime."
—
Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén exchanged a glance.
Silent.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi saw their expressions.
Smiled bitterly—
"Forget it."
"I never expected a cure."
"Just tagging along with you two—
That's already worth it."
—
Xiǎo Chén raised a brow—
"You really think you're beyond help?"
—
Shī Tóngbǎi chuckled, voice hoarse—
"If I could be cured—
I'd die right now without regret."
"I've been looked down on for years."
"My heart's full of bitterness."
"If there's even a sliver of hope—
I'd try anything."
—
He lowered his head—
"But how likely is that?"
"How could I just happen to meet two people—
One yin, one yang,
Aligned in spirit,
Willing to help me?"
"I gave up long ago."
—
Xuán Chén's voice was soft as night wind—
"If you're not afraid of dying…"
"Why fear giving up?"
—
Shī Tóngbǎi smiled bitterly.
Looked at Xuán Chén,
Then at Xiǎo Chén—
"I'm afraid I'll die
Without ever finding those people."
"And even if I do—
Why would they help me?"
"This academy's just a mirror of the outside world."
"No power, no resources—
No one cares."
—
Xiǎo Chén suddenly grinned,
Voice teasing—
"How do you know you're not absurdly lucky?"
"Maybe the timing's just off."
"That's why you're stuck."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi saw him laugh.
Anger flared.
He shouted—
"If I were lucky,
Would I have this cursed condition?"
"If it's just timing—
What am I waiting for?"
"My coffin?"
—
Xiǎo Chén didn't stop laughing.
Laughed even harder.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi glared.
Turned to leave.
But a hand pressed his shoulder.
—
Xuán Chén stood behind him.
Voice calm,
But firm—
"If you walk away now—
You'll miss the one chance in your life."
"You know Xiǎo Chén's nature."
"He's not laughing at you."
"He's laughing at the setup."
"There are some setups in this world—
Miss them,
And they're gone forever."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi froze.
Turned slowly.
A flicker of light rose in his eyes.
He grabbed Xuán Chén's hand tightly.
Voice trembling—
"Senior brother…"
"You two…"
"Do you really have a way?"
—
Xiǎo Chén
finally dropped his grin.
His tone turned serious—
"We can't promise a full cure."
"But if there's a chance—
It's worth trying."
"You're not afraid of dying."
"So why not gamble once?"
—
Shī Tóngbǎi took a deep breath.
Looked at the two before him.
A light slowly rose in his eyes.
Softly—
"If I have a chance to walk upright…"
"Why crawl through life?"
"I'll try."
—
Xiǎo Chén nodded.
Said no more.
He drew a short spear—
A conduit for breath.
"Sit."
"Still your heart."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi hesitated,
Then obeyed.
Closed his eyes.
Sat cross-legged.
Palms resting on his knees.
—
Xiǎo Chén crouched beside him.
Left hand on his shoulder.
Short spear pressed to his abdomen.
The domineering breath of Xīnghén Sect
Flowed inch by inch along his meridians,
Probing for blockages.
—
Behind him,
Xuán Chén stood.
Talisman breath flowed silently from his fingers.
Three talismans hovered behind Shī Tóngbǎi—
At heart, abdomen, and spine.
Their runes glowed faintly,
Like locks.
He whispered—
"Heart-guarding talisman.
Leak-sealing talisman.
Spirit-guiding talisman—activate."
—
Xiǎo Chén said coldly—
"I break the front.
My brother holds the back."
"Shī Tóngbǎi—hold on."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi swallowed hard.
Gripped his knees.
Thought—
Just once…
Let me live.
—
The talismans pressed silently to his chest and spine.
One bright, one dim.
They glowed gently.
Talisman breath flowed like water,
Encircling Xiǎo Chén's fierce qi,
Shielding it from leaking.
—
Then—
Xiǎo Chén struck.
The spear tip tapped.
His qi surged like a blade into water.
The blockages shattered like ice.
Blood and breath surged.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi groaned.
His chest flared hot and cold.
But in his breath—
A faint warmth settled at his heart.
Something held the wild qi in place.
Kept it from scattering.
—
Almost simultaneously,
Xuán Chén exhaled—
"Stabilize—
Guide—
Seal—"
—
Xiǎo Chén murmured—
"I break the flow.
You hold it."
—
Xuán Chén replied calmly—
"Break as hard as you want."
"I'll hold it all."
—
The spear trembled.
Qi surged.
Inside Shī Tóngbǎi,
The blockages shattered—
And true energy
Rushed forth.
—
The chaotic qi threatened to scatter—
But Xuán Chén's hourglass talisman turned.
Three talismans flared—
Like locks, like cocoons.
They forced the wild flow back into proper channels,
Guiding it deep into the dantian.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi groaned.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
It felt like a thorn was pulled from his heart—
He exhaled fully,
Nearly collapsed.
—
Xiǎo Chén released his grip,
Smiled—
"How's that?"
—
Shī Tóngbǎi heard the question.
Eyes still closed.
Breath still ragged.
But he nodded firmly.
—
Xuán Chén whispered—
"One last surge."
"Let's finish it."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi swallowed.
Opened his eyes.
Lips trembling—
"Senior brother…"
"You two really are tearing me apart…"
—
Xiǎo Chén grinned,
Spear in hand.
Qi gathering again.
He patted his shoulder—
"Tear it down."
"Build it back."
"That's how you live."
—
He growled—
"One more time."
"This time—
Break it clean."
—
The second spear strike fell.
Qi surged toward a deeply buried blockage.
—
He sent a thought—
〖Brother, final gate.
This one's sealed tight.
Can't break it all at once.
He won't hold.
Watch closely.〗
—
Xuán Chén replied—
〖You break.
I hold.〗
〖Our minds are aligned.
Call me when it's time.〗
—
Xiǎo Chén nodded.
Inhaled.
His qi shifted—
Flowing in spirals along the meridians.
—
He didn't know—
This technique
Would later evolve his battlefield spear intent—
Faster, sharper, more destructive.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi felt his chest
Drilled open slowly.
Sweat poured.
He wanted to scream.
But in his mind—
Xuán Chén's words echoed—
"Some setups in this world—
Miss them,
And they're gone forever."
—
He clenched his teeth.
Endured.
—
Time crawled.
Xiǎo Chén's back was soaked.
His eyes—
Cold, but smiling.
Finally, he sent—
〖Brother.
Almost there.
Your turn.〗
—
Xuán Chén
's back was soaked.
Talisman breath surged through his fingers.
He sent—
〖Break freely.
I'll seal it.〗
—
The thought barely finished—
A surge of qi burst from Shī Tóngbǎi's core,
Like a beast crashing through his meridians.
Xiǎo Chén instantly cut his breath, withdrew force.
Xuán Chén's talisman breath formed a locking array.
He snapped—
"Seal!"
The wild flow was forced back,
Guided into the dantian.
Not a thread escaped.
—
Shī Tóngbǎi felt like his body was about to explode—
Then,
A soft force sealed the chaos,
Protected his channels.
—
The final blockage shattered.
Talisman breath calmed the storm.
His blood and qi settled—
Still as dead water.
—
He couldn't hold on.
His nerves relaxed.
Darkness closed in.
—
Xiǎo Chén caught him,
Clapped his shoulder,
Grinning—
"Didn't die, did you?"
"Then this life's yours."
—
Shī Tóngbǎi opened his eyes slightly.
Looked at the two of them.
The years of suffocation
Seemed to dissolve with his breath.
Before he could speak—
He passed out.
—
Xuán Chén chuckled softly.
Raised his hand—
"Channels opened."
"One yin, one yang."
"From now on—he can cultivate."
—
Xiǎo Chén said nothing.
Laid Shī Tóngbǎi aside.
Sat down beside Xuán Chén.
Both drenched in sweat.
They exchanged a quiet smile.
—
Xiǎo Chén murmured—
"Didn't think it'd be this hard…"
—
Xuán Chén replied calmly—
"But our qi—
Was pushed to the edge."
"Give it two days."
"It'll grow faster."
—
Moonlight spilled through the window.
Fell on all three.
Silent.
—
Just as the two lay back to rest—
Footsteps rushed outside.
Then stopped
At the dorm door.
—
Xuán Chén
's gaze darkened.
Xiǎo Chén heard the noise too—
Just started to rise—
Bang!
The door slammed open.
Cold wind rushed in,
Carrying killing intent.
—
The pressure hit like a beast.
Both froze.
Eyes snapped to the doorway.
—
When they saw who it was—
Xuán Chén exhaled softly.
Xiǎo Chén's face turned green.
Oh no…
Forgot to check in with Xuānyuán Dié…
—
Standing at the door—
The infamous "God of Slaughter" from the Sword Hall.
Her gaze swept the room.
Landed on Xiǎo Chén.
A flash of cold light.
—
"Well, well…"
"You skipped class?"
—
Xiǎo Chén waved his hands, grinning nervously—
"Teacher… I was helping someone—saving someone…"
"Used up all my qi.
Couldn't move…"
"Wasn't on purpose…"
—
Xuānyuán Dié snorted.
Stepped forward.
Placed a hand on Shī Tóngbǎi's chest.
Sent in her breath.
After a moment,
She withdrew.
Her eyes locked on Xiǎo Chén—
"You two did this?"
"Cleared his dead channels?"
—
Xiǎo Chén froze—
"You knew he had blockages?"
—
She replied coolly—
"When he first entered the academy,
The dean already knew."
"His imprint count was decent—
But his body was flawed."
"Couldn't cultivate much."
"We only accepted him
As a favor to the Shī family."
—
Xuán Chén and Xiǎo Chén exchanged a glance.
Only now did they realize
Shī Tóngbǎi's background ran deeper than they knew.
—
Xuānyuán Dié scanned them both.
Her gaze sharp—
"You knew his identity before?"
—
They shook their heads in unison.
—
Her eyes sliced across their faces.
Her voice dropped, icy—
"Shī Tóngbǎi's background
Is known to very few in this academy."
"If I find out
It leaked from your mouths…"
"You'd better think carefully
About the consequences."
—
Both nodded like pounding drums.
—
Xuānyuán Dié
withdrew her gaze.
Looked at Xiǎo Chén.
Her voice was cold—
"You have one day."
"If I don't see you in Sword Hall tomorrow…"
"You know what happens."
—
Xiǎo Chén's face turned pale as paper.
He nodded quickly.
—
She turned,
Flicked her sleeve,
And slammed the door behind her.
The killing intent faded.
—
Just before stepping out,
She paused.
Didn't turn back.
Just muttered—
"…Not bad."
"Next time—report first."
—
Inside,
Only the sound of three breaths remained.
Moonlight spilled like water.
Silent.