Chapter 128: Chapter 127: Vast Sea of Clouds
On this day, an unexpected guest arrived in Feiyun City.
Inside the Yue Mansion’s main hall, a middle-aged, handsome scholar stood with his brows knitted tightly, an arrogant look on his face.
Yue Shan smiled. "Master Liu Qing, you’ve come from so far. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner, truly."
The middle-aged scholar waved his hand dismissively and frowned. "I just want to know how my junior brother died. I don’t have time for pleasantries."
Yue Shan nodded hastily. "Yes, of course. It was because of a man from the Xia Family named Wen Qingye. Somehow, he obtained Master Lei’s Pill Formula. Master Lei was infuriated, so he went to the Xia Family to challenge Wen Qingye to a duel. He was severely wounded by Wen Qingye and ultimately died a tragic death when his injuries couldn’t be treated."
At this, Yue Shan sighed, his expression a mixture of grief, indignation, and helplessness.
Liu Qing took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And where is this Wen Qingye now?"
"Wen Qingye is a student at Qig Mountain Academy. He’s currently studying there," Yue Shan replied.
Upon hearing this, Liu Qing paced back and forth a few times, then said in a harsh voice, "Wen Qingye did this to help the Xia Family, correct? In that case, I’ll turn the Xia Family upside down. Let’s see if he comes out then."
Yue Shan, standing by, was inwardly overjoyed. He quickly added, "With Master Liu’s help, the Xia Family will surely be unable to withstand the pressure. Given Wen Qingye’s relationship with Xiaxia of the Xia Family, he’s bound to intervene."
"Xiaxia of the Xia Family?" Liu Qing asked, puzzled.
Yue Shan explained, "Xiaxia is the daughter of the Xia Family’s Patriarch. She is Wen Qingye’s apprentice."
A flicker of amusement crossed Liu Qing’s eyes. "Oh? Is Wen Qingye’s Alchemy Dao that formidable? He even has an apprentice?"
Remembering the pills Wen Qingye had refined, Yue Shan couldn’t help but nod. "Yes, Xiaxia is his apprentice."
Liu Qing burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! A student of Qig Mountain Academy must be in his twenties at most, yet he dares to take on an apprentice? Just watch how I’ll deal with their Xia Family."
Hearing Liu Qing’s words, Yue Shan was ecstatic. For some time now, his Yue Family had been thoroughly suppressed by the Xia Family. If Liu Qing hadn’t arrived, Yue Shan had been planning to give up and leave Feiyun City. But now that Liu Qing was here, the situation might just change.
Yue Shan thought to himself, ’Xia Heng, it’s finally my turn for revenge.’
........
A thousand gullies vied for passage, a thousand cliffs competed in splendor. After the rain, the sky joined with moistened jade-green bluffs; as the wind blew, the pines unfurled like emerald screens.
A faint, clear fragrance drifted through the air. Beneath an ancient pine, near the edge of a ten-thousand-foot cliff, Wen Qingye leaned against a tree, a jug of wine in his hand.
’I wonder where I can find the Innate Grass. I need to find information about the Spirit Dew quickly, too,’ Wen Qingye thought, looking at the letter in his hand.
Today, a letter had arrived from Xiaxia. She said she was going to stay home to practice alchemy diligently and wouldn’t be returning to Qig Mountain Academy for now.
The Innate Grass was the herb needed to heal the wound on Zhang Xiaoyun’s face, while the Spirit Dew was a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure that Xiaxia would need for her fourth tribulation. Spirit Dew was ranked 374th among the Waters of Heaven and Earth, making it quite precious. The Innate Grass was even rarer—a King Grade herb, above the Ninth Grade.
"Qingye!"
Suddenly, a clear voice called out from behind him.
Wen Qingye turned his head and smiled. "What are you doing here?"
Gao Yuerou walked to his side and pouted. "It’s not like the Inner Courtyard is a Dragon’s Cave and Tiger’s Den. Why can’t I be here?"
Gao Yuerou continued, "After you left, a lot of people were hoping you’d come back to teach them Swordsmanship."
"When I have time, I’ll teach them," Wen Qingye said with a nod.
Gao Yuerou smiled. "You said it. Don’t go back on your word."
"When I give my word, I keep it," Wen Qingye replied, the corners of his mouth lifting into a slight smile.
Gao Yuerou sat down next to him and glanced at the wine jug in his hand, chuckling. "You really do love your drink."
Wen Qingye swirled the wine in the jug and smiled. "Can’t help it. It’s something to do when I’m idle."
Gao Yuerou pressed her lips together and said softly, "I’ll probably have to take the assessment next year, too. But I know I probably won’t pass."
Wen Qingye shrugged. "You never know. Maybe your strength will increase by leaps and bounds during this time, and you’ll make it to the Inner Courtyard."
Gao Yuerou looked at him. "If I make it, will you still be here?"
Wen Qingye shook his head, gazing at the distant, ethereal sea of clouds. "I don’t know. A lot can happen in a year."
"Actually, it would be nice to go back to Phoenix City, too," Gao Yuerou said suddenly with a smile.
’Phoenix City?’
Wen Qingye glanced at Gao Yuerou, not sure what she meant by that.
Neither of them spoke again. They watched the graceful sea of clouds in the distance and the faraway peaks gathered like clusters of verdant, hardy pines—a scene as picturesque and timeless as a painting.
The next day, Wen Qingye went to the Inner Courtyard’s Sacrificial Hall.
The Sacrificial Hall was situated atop Extreme Night Peak. It was a magnificent structure of jade, with a roof of golden-glazed tiles. Flanking it were towering, coiling-dragon osmanthus trees and a dais with finely carved white marble balustrades.
Wen Qingye strolled inside. Today was the day cultivation resources were distributed to the Inner Courtyard students, so the Sacrificial Hall was crowded with people.
An elder was seated at the front of the hall. His eyes were bright and sharp, and dozens of people were lined up before him.
This was the person in charge of the Sacrificial Hall, a lecturer at Qig Mountain Academy whom the Inner Courtyard students all called Elder Sunx.
Wen Qingye spotted Guu Lei, Ren Hua, and Wei Qiutong ahead and walked toward the three of them.
Suddenly, a man cut directly in front of the three of them without saying a word.
"What do you think you’re doing?" Wei Qiutong demanded with a frown.
The man shot Wei Qiutong a cold glare and sneered, "Get lost, kid. Scram before you piss me off and I kill you."
Wei Qiutong was instantly furious, but just then, Ren Hua grabbed his arm. "Don’t be rash. He’s a senior student in the Inner Courtyard."
The man’s cultivation was at the Refining Essence Seventh Layer Heaven. Ren Hua, even after his breakthrough, was only at the Refining Essence Sixth Layer Heaven and couldn’t gauge the true depth of the man’s power, so he couldn’t help but issue a warning.
Hearing Ren Hua’s voice, the man nodded in satisfaction, then turned back to face the front.
Wen Qingye’s eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing within them. He too had heard of and witnessed the arrogance of the Inner Courtyard’s senior students.
Wen Qingye walked up to the man’s side. With a sudden shake of his shoulder, a vast, boundless wave of Primordial Qi, carrying the force of a thousand-ton hammer, slammed into him.
SMACK!
The man felt as if his shoulder had been dislocated. Caught completely off guard, he fell heavily to the ground.
"Who was that?" the man roared, catching his breath and leaping to his feet.
Wen Qingye paid him no mind, simply standing in the man’s former spot and looking calmly ahead.
"Tang Feng is getting bullied by a newcomer! It’s one thing to be a coward normally, but you’re going to be a coward in front of a newbie?"
"Hahaha, even a newcomer dares to provoke you!"
"Tang Feng, what are you spacing out for? Get him!"
