Spring passed, autumn arrived. Three years quietly elapsed since that world-shaking demonic disaster that nearly toppled Qingxu Temple. The sect's mountain gate had long been repaired of war's wounds, even more magnificent than before. New spirit plants luxuriated among the spirit field furrows, exuding vibrant life.
In the martial arena, sword lights gleamed brilliantly, shouted commands rang continuously. New disciple recruits, guided by senior brothers and sisters, cultivated assiduously, eyes filled with anticipation for the future and sense of sect belonging. In the Scripture Repository, disciples borrowing texts came and went in an endless stream. Besides traditional techniques and sword methods, those several new artifact refining theory texts attributed to "Luo Feng" were frequently borrowed and passed around, sparking low discussions.
A long-unseen, thriving peacefulness shrouded this land that had endured calamity. On the blue stone plaza outside the Technique Transmission Hall, several hundred inner disciples sat cross-legged in silence. On the high platform, Tang Xiaoqi wore no elder's robes but still simple cyan garments. His voice was calm, narrating subtle key points about spiritual power circulation during qi introduction.
His words were accessible yet profound, often directly pointing to the essence of disciples' cultivation confusions. Occasionally he flicked his finger, a wisp of pure, gentle purification spiritual power—like having spiritual awareness—sinking into some disciple with stagnated qi, helpingneglectall their meridians and guide their circulation. ". Therefore, cultivation is not forcefully charging through, but the work of water dripping through stone.
When the heart is calm, qi flows smoothly; when qi flows smoothly, meridians open." With the lecture concluding, Tang Xiaoqi's gaze swept across the disciples below with bright eyes, nodding slightly: "That's all for today. Return and contemplate individually." "Thank you, Elder, for transmitting the law!" The disciples responded in unison, voices filled with respect. This young Protector Elder not only had unfathomable strength but was patient and meticulous in teaching, without any arrogance, deeply beloved by disciples. After the disciples dispersed, Tang Xiaoqi didn't immediately leave.
He stood alone on the high platform, gazing toward distant layered mountains, his eyes deep. These three years of peace were like precious breathing room after the storm. Under his protection, Senior Brother's governance, Third Sister's rectification, and Second Brother's alternative contributions, the sect was recovering at an astonishing rate, even more cohesive than before the demonic disaster. His own cultivation, nourished by the Azure Lotus Origin and Four Symbols Soul Crystals, had completely stabilized at Nascent Soul early stage peak, his control over purification power increasingly refined.
Occasionally, he exchanged messages with Mu Xue through communication jade slips, learning that Xuanji Holy Land was well, and her cultivation was steadily advancing under the holy land's resource support. Everything seemed developing toward the best direction. Yet Tang Xiaoqi's heart had never truly relaxed. This tranquility was too beautiful, and too. fragile.
His form moved slightly, and the next moment he appeared before a back mountain cave dwelling with strict restrictions. Within the cave, cold air misted, and Aunt Su lay quietly on a dark ice platform, her expression peaceful as if merely sleeping. But her soul fluctuations remained faint as a candle in wind. Three years, Tang Xiaoqi had tried various methods, even not hesitating to use the Azure Lotus Origin for nourishment.
He could only maintain her life force from extinguishing, yet awakening seemed infinitely distant. The demonic entity's final backlash attack not only severely wounded her body but nearly tore her soul origin. This injury was far more troublesome than it appeared. "Aunt Su." Tang Xiaoqi softly called, his fingertip releasing an extremely gentle purification power, like the warmest sunlight, slowly transferring into Aunt Su's brow, nourishing that fragile soul.
His brow slightly furrowed. These three years he had consulted countless pill formulas and medical texts, asked elders skilled in medicine within the sect, even through Mu Xue's connections consulted medical experts at Xuanji Holy Land. The conclusions were largely similar—a need for some heavenly treasure that could nourish and repair origin soul power, perhaps offering a sliver of hope. And such treasures were all extremely rare, depending on fate rather than effort.
After settling Aunt Su, Tang Xiaoqi visited the "Peculiar Skills Courtyard." Second Senior Brother Luo Feng was contemplating over a pile of complex diagrams. Seeing Tang Xiaoqi arrive, he merely raised an eyelid, casually greeted him, then immersed himself in his world again. Tang Xiaoqi watched his Senior Brother's focused, bright eyes, his heart slightly relieved. Though losing cultivation was a tremendous blow, finding a new direction and pouring passion into it was not without fortune.
He left someelixir pill aiding spirit calming and soul nourishment, then quietly left. Finally, he arrived at the document room beside Taiqing Hall. Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng was still buried in paperwork, but the steadiness and bearing in his brow had changed vastly from three years prior. He quickly processed information and affairs from all sources, his directives decisive, his coordination capable.
"Xiao Qi, you've come at just the right moment." Mu Qingfeng, seeing him, put down his brush and rubbed his brow: "Just received communication from surviving forces of the Celestial Mechanisms Pavilion. Using their damaged star disk for observation, they detected abnormal energy fluctuations in the northwest star region. The nature. somewhat resembles the demonic energy of those years, but morehideobscure and elusive." Tang Xiaoqi's heart tightened. He took the jade slip Mu Qingfeng handed him, his spiritual sense diving in.
The information within was vague—only mentioning observed abnormalities without definite conclusions, yet sufficient to set off alarms. "Additionally," Mu Qingfeng continued: "In the past half year, within several allied sects' territories, several cases of cultivators mysteriously disappearing or losing their minds have appeared sporadically, causes unknown. Though all were suppressed. somehow it feels off." Tang Xiaoqi was silent. The Celestial Mechanisms Pavilion's observations, various sects' abnormal events, Aunt Su's stubbornly unrecovered injuries. these seemingly isolated events, like scattered jigsaw pieces, faintly outlined an inauspicious pattern in his mind.
Was the demonic entity truly completely sealed? Father Xu Zhan's final words, Tian Jizi's former warnings—all reminded him that existence from the "ultimate darkness of the world" could never be easily and thoroughly destroyed. It was like a venomous snake lurking in shadows, waiting for opportunity to return. This current tranquility might only be the final illusion before the storm.
"I understand, Senior Brother." Tang Xiaoqi returned the jade slip, his tone calm yet his eyes sharp as blades: "Within the sect, we must strengthen vigilance, especially regarding new disciples' heart examinations, preventing demonic corruption. Externally. I'll have the 'Sky Patrol Guard' expand their patrol range, focusing on the northwest and those areas with anomalies." Mu Qingfeng nodded, his face also showing solemnity: "Rest assured, internally I have it covered. Externally. hard workthe." Leaving the document room, Tang Xiaoqi strolled along the sunset-lit mountain path of Qingxu Temple.
Temple buildings on both sides were peaceful, disciplesshuttle withbalanceand smiles. All this was purchased with blood and sacrifice—they would not permit it to be destroyed again. He raised his head toward the gradually darkening sky. At the horizon's end, a trace of imperceptible, distorted shadow seemed to flash by.
Peace was only temporary. Hidden undercurrents never ceased surging. Future storms might be even more violent. But he, and Qingxu Temple behind him, were prepared. Volume Three's first half slowly concluded amid this seemingly stable yet secretly troubled tranquility. Greater waves were quietly brewing in the distance.