Part 1
Three months into his life as a personal disciple of the sect leader, Su Yan had seamlessly integrated into daily life on Azure Cloud Sect's central peak.
His cultivation cave was situated on a secluded cliffside east of the main peak. Pushing open the window, he could see the rolling sea of clouds. In half a year, Su Yan's apparent cultivation had "steadily" risen from Qi Condensation Stage Three to Stage Six—a pace befitting a personal disciple without being so rapid as to cause alarm.
Of course, this was merely camouflage. In reality, with the System's relentless plundering and assistance, his true cultivation had already quietly stepped into the early Foundation Building Stage. Deep in his dantian, that mass of dark demonic qi lay like a slumbering abyssal beast, patiently awaiting the day it would bare its fangs.
"Junior Brother Su!"
A clear voice called from outside his cave.
Su Yan shifted his focus, suppressing the last traces of demonic energy around him, and rose to open the door. Chu Yanran stood outside, dressed in a pale green long dress, her hair still adorned with the white jade orchid hairpin. Lately, she had been visiting under various pretexts of "being nearby," and each time she stayed for a long while.
"Senior Sister Chu." Su Yan offered a warm smile, flawlessly pleasant. "What brings you here today?"
"Father asked me to deliver some pills to Senior Brother Lin. I thought I'd drop by since I was in the area." Chu Yanran walked into the cave with practiced familiarity, her gaze falling on the open copy of The Gazetteer of Kyushu on the table. "Oh? You're interested in geography, Senior Brother Su?"
"Just browsing." Su Yan poured a cup of spiritual tea. "I'd hate to go out on training missions and not even recognize the borders of Kyushu."
"This book mostly records myths." Chu Yanran rested her chin on her hand, speaking casually. "For instance, it says here that Fusang Valley was once the site of the 'World Pillar' in ancient times, where the Primordial Divine Tree grew. But I've never seen any mention of a World Pillar in the sect's archives."
The hand pouring tea paused for an almost imperceptible fraction of a second.
World Pillar. One of the eight core nodes where the "Fortune-Sealing Nails" were to be driven—the System's ultimate mission!
His expression remained curious. "World Pillar? Sounds like a place where fortune gathers."
"It's a treasured place, but also dangerous." Chu Yanran lowered her voice. "Fusang Valley is three thousand li southwest of Azure Cloud Sect, bordering the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. Last month, several inner sect disciples were attacked by demons while gathering spiritual herbs there—they nearly died."
At that moment, a blinding red alert flashed through Su Yan's sea of consciousness.
[Ding—Side Mission Triggered: Investigate Fusang Valley!]
[Mission Description: Abnormal energy fluctuations detected in Fusang Valley region. Suspected remnants of 'World Pillar.' Host is to proceed immediately to investigate!]
[Mission Reward: 1000 points, Polaris Positioning Map ×1.]
Su Yan lowered his eyes, watching the ripples spread across the tea in his cup. Beneath his lashes, a cold, resolute glint surfaced. It seemed Fusang Valley was a place he had no choice but to visit.
Part 2
Three days later, the Sect Mission Hall.
Su Yan stood before the mission board, his gaze precisely locking onto a B-rank mission: "Escort alchemy materials to the southwestern border, with an optional side objective to harvest Millennium Divine Wood from Fusang Valley."
Lead Disciple: Senior Personal Disciple Lin Yue.
Participant: Third Personal Disciple Zhai Tiantian.
One more spot remained open.
"Fourth Junior Brother, interested in this mission too?"
A gentle, steady voice came from behind. Lin Yue and Zhai Tiantian, dressed in red, approached side by side.
"Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister." Su Yan bowed, his expression showing some hesitation. "I was just looking. I've heard Fusang Valley... is quite dangerous?"
"The demons of Ten Thousand Demon Ridge are indeed no pushovers." Zhai Tiantian patted her sword hilt, her bearing spirited. "But Millennium Divine Wood is immensely valuable. Fourth Junior Brother, with your elusive footwork, you might actually be a great help."
Lin Yue looked at Su Yan, his gaze like deep, still water. "If you want the experience, Fourth Junior Brother, you can join us. With you providing support, our investigation would be more thorough."
Su Yan was silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Then I'll trouble Senior Brother and Senior Sister."
Seven days later, the three arrived at Fusang Valley.
At the valley entrance stood a weathered stone tablet covered in moss, carved with the ancient characters "Fusang."
The moment Su Yan stepped into the valley, his whole body jolted. The System interface flickered wildly across his retina:
[Warning! Extremely high concentration of fortune fluctuations detected!]
[Fortune concentration in this region is seventeen times the world's average—purity not seen since before the homeworld withered!]
[Recommendation: Find the source of fortune at all costs!]
At the same time, Lin Yue, walking at the front, also stopped. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowing slightly. As one blessed by Heaven's will, he did not see cold data. What he sensed was an ancient, desolate pulse—as if the land itself was sighing, telling the tragic story of the divine tree that had withered millennia ago.
"Careful." Lin Yue's eyes snapped open, his hand on his sword hilt. "Hostile presence ahead."
Before the words faded, five figures leapt from the dense forest, surrounding them in an instant. At the lead was a woman in red, her features bewitching, a flame pattern on her forehead. Behind her, four furry fox tails swayed gently. Mid Foundation Building Stage! Flanking her were four wolf and snake demons, all at peak Qi Condensation.
"Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, Fox Clan—Ning Ning." The woman in red laughed lightly, her gaze sweeping over the three with disdain. "Friends from Azure Cloud Sect, I've taken a liking to this divine wood. Withdraw nicely, and I'll let you leave alive."
"Let us leave alive? With you lot?" Zhai Tiantian sneered, her sword flying from its sheath, her blade rushing toward Ning Ning's face like a waterfall of light!
Part 3
The battle erupted instantly.
Lin Yue engaged two wolf demons, his Azure Cloud Art pushed to its limits. His fists struck with fierce power, his sword intent flowing endlessly. Though outnumbered two to one, he held his ground, even gaining the upper hand.
Su Yan was caught between two snake demons. He could not reveal his Foundation Building demonic cultivation, forcing himself to suppress his power to "Qi Condensation Stage Six." His Phantom Steps flashed, his figure weaving like a ghost between the steel forks. After ten exchanges, he spotted an opening and shattered a snake demon's heart with a single palm strike.
He looked up, his gaze passing over the battling figures to fix on the golden divine wood not far away. At its base, a massive current of fortune—enough to drive the System to frenzy—flowed.
In that split second of distraction—
"Trying to steal?" Ning Ning's cold shout rang out as she abandoned Zhai Tiantian, her hands forming seals with blinding speed. The temperature around them spiked. A terrifying demonic flame materialized into a massive, vicious fire fox, jaws wide as it roared toward Su Yan!
This was a full-powered strike from a mid-Foundation Building cultivator!
Su Yan's pupils contracted. If he took this head-on with his disguised Qi Condensation body, he would die. If he used his demonic qi to shield himself, his identity would be exposed!
In that critical moment—
A cyan figure shot through the air like lightning tearing across the sky, slamming to a stop in front of Su Yan!
It was Lin Yue!
He had taken a gash across his back from the wolf demons to reach Su Yan in time. Facing the fire fox—capable of melting metal and bones—Lin Yue did not retreat an inch. He drew a deep breath, thrust both palms forward, and pushed out the purest Azure Cloud spiritual energy within him without reservation.
BOOM—!
The explosion echoed through the valley. The shockwave toppled ancient trees. Lin Yue staggered back three steps, coughing up a mouthful of blood. But his broad back had blocked every last ember, shielding Su Yan completely.
"Fourth Junior Brother, fall back!" Lin Yue wiped the blood from his lips, his voice hoarse but unyielding. "I'll handle her!"
Su Yan stood behind him, staring at the man who, despite his injuries, stood like an immovable mountain between him and danger.
His fingers twitched violently.
The System frantically calculated Lin Yue's combat damage data, but Su Yan could no longer hear the mechanical voice. This was the first time in his long, desperate life that someone had protected him with such utter selflessness.
[Warning: Host's heart rate abnormal. Do not form emotional attachments to natives.]
The System's cold words splashed over him like ice water.
Su Yan closed his eyes. When he opened them again, every trace of emotion had been erased. "Senior Brother, be careful."
With Lin Yue's surge of power, the battle began to turn. Half an hour later, the demon forces had suffered one death and three injuries. Ning Ning clutched her torn fox tails, glaring hatefully at Lin Yue before gritting her teeth and shouting, "Retreat!"
Part 4
Night fell.
The three withdrew to the outskirts of Fusang Valley to make camp. Lin Yue took the first watch while Zhai Tiantian rested under a tree, tending to her injuries.
Su Yan, citing a need to scout the perimeter, slipped silently into the darkness. Using Phantom Steps, he moved like a ghost, precisely following the route Ning Ning had taken during her retreat.
In a hidden cave, Ning Ning leaned against the stone wall, gasping for breath. Her four fox tails hung limp, her robes stained red with blood. Suddenly, her head snapped up, killing intent flaring in her eyes. "Who?!"
Su Yan emerged from the shadows. Moonlight illuminated his face—calm, but unnerving.
"Come to kill me?" Ning Ning bared her teeth.
Su Yan did not speak. He took a medicine bottle from his robes and tossed it to her feet.
"Top-grade healing pills. A gesture of goodwill." Su Yan looked down at her. "I have no hostility toward Ten Thousand Demon Ridge. Quite the opposite—I believe we can work together."
"Work together?" Ning Ning laughed coldly. "A personal disciple of Azure Cloud Sect wants to cooperate with demons?"
"Because we're searching for the same thing." Su Yan's voice was like a demon's whisper, tempting and corrupting. "The World Pillars. Am I right?"
Ning Ning's pupils contracted sharply. "How do you know about that?!" This was the demons' most closely guarded secret!
"I not only know—I know how to find them." Su Yan crouched down, meeting her eyes directly. "The first World Pillar is right here in Fusang Valley. I can help your people locate the others. In exchange, I need you to kill someone for me when the time comes."
"Who?"
"You'll know when the time comes." Su Yan stood. "Think about it. I'll find you again on the next full moon."
He turned and left without looking back.
Ning Ning stared at the medicine bottle on the ground, then at Su Yan's figure disappearing into the darkness. A chill crept up her spine. Why did this Azure Cloud Sect disciple, with only Qi Condensation Stage Six cultivation, give her the same terrifying pressure as facing an ancient great demon?
Part 5
When he returned to camp, the campfire was still crackling.
Lin Yue sat cross-legged by the fire, his face slightly pale from his injuries, but still gentle. Hearing footsteps, he looked up. "Is the area secure?"
"Secure." Su Yan walked over and sat across from him.
They sat in silence for a while. The night wind rustled through the leaves. Just as Su Yan was about to close his eyes and rest, Lin Yue spoke—his voice soft, but it struck Su Yan like a thunderclap.
"Fourth Junior Brother. In today's fight, the footwork you used to evade the snake demons... that didn't seem like an Azure Cloud Sect technique."
Su Yan's heart stopped for half a beat.
Lin Yue's eyes, in the firelight, were unusually deep and sharp—the gaze of a sword cultivator seeing through the mist. He had not drawn his sword, but his words were more lethal than holding a blade to Su Yan's throat.
[Alert! Host's disguise facing major scrutiny! Initiate deception protocol immediately!]
Su Yan's fingers tightened within his sleeves, but when he raised his head, his face showed only the right amount of awkwardness and embarrassment.
"Senior Brother has sharp eyes." Su Yan smiled ruefully. "I picked that up from a tattered manual I found propping up a table leg while working in the outer sect herb garden. Just footwork, no heart method. My foundation was weak, and I thought it might help me run faster if I ever needed to escape. I've just been practicing on my own... It's nothing impressive, Senior Brother."
Ninety percent truth, ten percent lie. He had indeed been in the outer sect. He had indeed had a weak foundation. He framed this "wild technique" as the survival instinct of a low-ranking disciple.
Lin Yue looked at him across the crackling fire, his gaze lingering.
It was too sharp. Too clear. Su Yan almost felt that if Lin Yue asked one more question, the demonic qi in his dantian would spiral completely out of control.
One breath. Two breaths. Three breaths.
Just as the System prepared to seize control of his body for combat, Lin Yue looked away.
"I see." Lin Yue nodded, even adding a piece of wood to the fire with his usual gentleness. "To learn such footwork from a damaged manual shows remarkable insight. But remember, techniques from unknown sources can lead you astray. If you have questions, come to me."
The cold sweat on Su Yan's back had soaked through his inner robes. "...Thank you, Senior Brother."
Lin Yue did not press further. He chose to trust. Or rather, he chose to accept that his unfortunate junior brother might keep a few secrets.
"It's late. Rest. We have an early start tomorrow." Lin Yue closed his eyes.
Su Yan sat by the fire, watching Lin Yue's defenseless sleeping face. His fingers trembled slightly.
Lin Yue's perception exceeded his expectations. This senior brother was not just a "good person"—he was a mortal threat who could expose Su Yan's true nature at any moment.
Part 6
Three days later, Azure Cloud Sect.
The mission was completed successfully. Su Yan returned to his cultivation cave, sealed the stone door heavily, and activated the highest-level protective array. Collapsing onto his meditation cushion, he called up the System interface.
[Ding—Side Mission: Investigate Fusang Valley—Completed.]
[Mission Rating: A.]
[Reward Issued: Points +1000. Polaris Positioning Map ×1.]
A beam of deep blue light coalesced in the air, forming an ancient scroll that fell into Su Yan's hands.
He unrolled the scroll.
It displayed a three-dimensional map of Kyushu's mountains and rivers. Eight crimson points of light flickered slowly across the image.
First Pillar: Fusang Valley—Activated.
Second Pillar: Abyssal Flame.
Third Pillar: Golden Sky Plain.
Fourth Pillar: Darkwater Sea.
...
Su Yan's gaze moved downward. When he reached the location of the fifth point, his breath caught in his throat.
Fifth Pillar: Azure Cloud Peak.
That crimson dot pulsed deep beneath the very ground on which he stood. Azure Cloud Sect's main peak was the site of the fifth World Pillar!
Su Yan slowly lowered the scroll.
Outside his window, moonlight flowed like water. In the distance, the main hall of the central peak blazed with light. Within it lived Sect Leader Chu Xiong, who had taught him cultivation techniques. Within it lived Lin Yue, who had shielded him with his own body just days ago. Within it lived Chu Yanran, whose eyes lit up whenever she saw him.
To drain this world dry, he would have to destroy Azure Cloud Sect with his own hands. He would have to drive the sealing nails into the very hearts of these people.
Su Yan stood quietly before the window, watching those warm lights.
After a long time, he closed his eyes and let out a breath so soft it was barely audible.
The false normalcy continued. But the noose of fate had already tightened around everyone's necks.