The night was deep, all was still. Xiaoqi sat in meditation within his cave dwelling, guiding Evergreen Art spiritual power to flow slowly through his meridians, consolidating the gains from daytime alchemy and cultivation. Suddenly, he felt something and opened his eyes. A jade talisman of antique design, its edges carved with Qingxu Temple cloud patterns, silently materialized before him.
On the talisman was no written text, only an extremely subtle yet carrying undeniable authority spiritual perception imprint—Temple Master Xuanxuan Zhenren's unique aura.
Xiaoqi's heart moved. He knew this was by no means ordinary communication. He immediately gathered his aura, reached out, and grasped the talisman. Next, gentle yet powerful spatial force wrapped around him. His vision instantly blurred and twisted.
When his sight cleared, he was no longer in his cave dwelling but in a completely unfamiliar place.
This was an extremely simple meditation room. The walls were bare except for one cushion and a blue lamp. The air was imbued with a faint, ancient-wood-and-sandalwood-like spiritual power, serene and distant. On the cushion sat an elderly figure in dark robes, his face thin and sharp, his eyes deep as the starry sea—none other than Qingxu Temple's Temple Master, Xuanxuan Zhenren.
"Disciple Tang Xiaoqi greets the Temple Master." Xiaoqi suppressed his surprise and immediately bowed to pay respects. He realized this was likely the Temple Master's private place for seclusion, normally impossible for ordinary disciples to enter.
"No need for such formality. Sit." Xuanxuan Zhenren's voice was peaceful. He made a gesture, and a cushion appeared before Xiaoqi.
Xiaoqi sat as instructed, his mind racing. The Temple Master summoning him in such a covert manner meant the matter was certainly out of the ordinary.
Xuanxuan Zhenren did not speak immediately. He simply looked quietly at Xiaoqi, his gaze seeming able to penetrate flesh and directly observe his spiritual soul origin. That gaze carried scrutiny, exploration, and more—a trace of inexplicable, complex emotions.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice low and clear, echoing in this absolutely silent secret chamber: "Xiaoqi, you have been in our Qingxu Temple for several years. From the confused child at the beginning to the Foundation Establishment cultivator you are now, bearing extraordinary techniques and being renowned throughout the sect. Your growth far exceeded our expectations."
Xiaoqi bowed his head respectfully, not daring to interject.
"Your background, Master Xuanlin already reported to me." Xuanxuan Zhenren turned the conversation, his tone becoming several degrees graver. "Xu Zhan's son of Xu Lan Villa."
Xiaoqi raised his head sharply, his heart involuntarily accelerating. Although he had long guessed the sect's high officials might know his background, hearing the Temple Master say it personally carried entirely different significance.
Xuanxuan Zhenren met his gaze, slowly nodding, confirming his guess: "All these years, the sect was not ignorant of your background. Master Xuanlin taking you as disciple was with my tacit approval. It was only that previously your cultivation was too shallow; knowing too much would only bring harm, not good."
He paused, continuing: "Recently, Mu Qingfeng went out to investigate. Combined with clues the sect has been secretly gathering over the years, we have a deeper understanding of the events at Xu Lan Villa back then, and the Shadow Snake Pavilion behind it."
Xiaoqi held his breath, listening with complete focus. This was the first time he heard confirmed information about his family's blood feud from the sect's highest authority.
"The root cause of Xu Lan Villa's destruction was the 'Purification Source' your Xu family passed down through generations." Xuanxuan Zhenren's gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing that tragic past. "This power is fatally suppressive to those cultivating demonic techniques, especially the demonic soul remnant behind the Shadow Snake Pavilion. They coveted this power and wanted to seize it at all costs. Xu Lan Villa... met its fate because of this."
Although he had long guessed this, being confirmed still made Xiaoqi feel an aching heartache and surging hatred. His fists unconsciously tightened, nails digging deep into his palms.
"The Shadow Snake Pavilion is not an ordinary demonic sect." Xuanxuan Zhenren's voice carried a trace of wariness. "Behind it lies extremely deep involvement, connected to an ancient sealed demonic soul remnant. Its forces are deeply rooted and hidden. Even now with its headquarters destroyed, its remnant strength should not be underestimated. Now they are secretly issuing bounties on you—this is clear proof."
He looked at Xiaoqi, his eyes sharp: "You bear the Purification Primordial Source. You are their natural, must-eliminate target. This is a conflict of destiny. Unavoidable."
The secret chamber fell into a brief silence. Only the blue lamp burned steadily.
Xiaoqi digested this enormous amount of information. His heart surged. Family hatred, personal danger, the enemy's strength and hidden nature... everything became clear in the Temple Master's words, and also heavier.
"Disciple... understands." Xiaoqi's voice was somewhat hoarse, but his eyes were exceptionally firm. "This feud is irreconcilable. This path, disciple will walk."
Xuanxuan Zhenren looked at the resolution and determination in this child's eyes, inappropriate for his age, and inwardly nodded. This child's heart-nature truly was extraordinary.
"Today summoning you here to tell you this is not to increase your burden." Xuanxuan Zhenren's tone warmed yet carried unquestionable power. "But to let you know: Qingxu Temple is both your sect and your solid backing."
His gaze burned with intensity as he spoke each word: "No matter the external storms, no matter the Shadow Snake Pavilion's schemes. As long as you remain in Qingxu Temple for a single day, the sect will spare no effort to protect you. Your vengeance, to some extent, is also the vengeance of Qingxu Temple against evil and heterodox forces. Sect resources and intelligence will, when necessary, tilt toward you."
A warm current spread through Xiaoqi's entire body. He stood, bowed deeply: "Disciple... thanks the Temple Master! Thanks the sect!"
This promise weighed more than mountains.
However, what Xuanxuan Zhenren said next caused Xiaoqi's heart to sink once more.
"But, Xiaoqi," Xuanxuan Zhenren's voice returned to its previous calm, even carrying a trace of otherworldliness, "you must remember: the sect can shelter you from winds and rains, can provide you assistance, but cannot walk your path for you."
"Your Dao is beneath your feet. Your vengeance must be personally avenged. The karma between you, that demonic entity, and the Shadow Snake Pavilion ultimately must be resolved by yourself. External strength is ultimately external; true power originates from within you."
"The road ahead is destined to be full of thorns and dangers. You need to grow faster, possess the strength and heart-nature to face any challenge. The sect is your starting point, your reliance, but never your terminus."
These words, like evening drums and morning bells, struck Xiaoqi's heart. He understood the Temple Master's deep meaning. The sect was his backing, but would not keep him forever caged in a greenhouse. True strength must be born in tempering through blood and fire.
"Disciple remembers the Temple Master's instructions!" Xiaoqi bowed once more. This time, his waist and back straightened, his eyes clear and firm, no longer a trace of confusion or dependence.
A satisfied smile appeared on Xuanxuan Zhenren's face. He waved his hand: "Go. Cultivate peacefully, consolidate your foundation. The external disturbances, the sect will handle. When your wings are full and your feathers grown, that is the day you soar through the nine heavens and resolve the karma."
Spatial force wrapped around Xiaoqi once more. His vision changed; he was back in his own cave dwelling, as if everything just now was merely a dream.
But in his palm, the lingering warmth from the jade talisman the Temple Master gave, and the words echoing in his mind, all told him this was no dream.
Xiaoqi gripped the talisman, looking toward the heavy night outside his window. His gaze seemed to penetrate the mountains, seeing the enemy hidden in darkness.
The road ahead was clear; the responsibility was on his shoulders. He was no longer a child needing the sect's complete protection, but a cultivator bearing blood feud, possessing firm goals, and having obtained the sect's full support.
The Temple Master's secret summons were like a key, completely unlocking the shackles in his heart and pointing out the direction for his future.
He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes. His heart and spirit were unprecedentedly serene and transparent.
Cultivate, grow stronger, and then... go collect that blood debt!
Inside the cave dwelling, spiritual power circulated once more, steadier and firmer than ever.