Chapter 283: Ominous Breakthrough, Danger Looms!

"Master of the Tian Ji Lou, you said someone was watching from outside after I left?" Lu Qing’s voice trembled slightly.

"Yes," the Tian Ji Lou Master replied gravely. "And that presence... it was utterly vile. Just a fleeting sensation was enough to send shivers down my spine. But whoever it was was no ordinary foe—remarkably powerful, and exceptionally cautious. They sensed my presence and vanished instantly."

Recalling that sinister aura, the Tian Ji Lou Master still felt a lingering chill. It was the most evil presence he had ever encountered in his life.

"So my instincts weren’t wrong," Lu Qing thought. "There truly is some being eyeing Hu Gu Niang."

Thankfully, before leaving, he had asked the Tian Ji Lou Master to remain in the small courtyard. Otherwise, Xiao Li alone might not have been enough to protect everyone. After all, human hearts were treacherous—Xiao Li, as a Spirit Beast, was still too innocent. Against enemies who lurked in shadows, wielding countless underhanded tactics, even great strength might not guarantee victory.

With that realization, Lu Qing concluded that staying at the Tian Ji Lou was indeed the wisest choice.

He no longer resisted the Master’s invitation and remained in the courtyard.

Not long after, Lin Zhi Rui returned safely to the Tian Ji Lou, bringing news to Lu Qing.

"Lu Xiao Langjun, Chen Lao Qian Bei," Lin Zhi Rui said, "that Xuan Kong Shan sect leader insists you two bear the marks of falling into the Demon Path. Though the other powerful cultivators present were skeptical, Xuan Kong Shan is one of the Four Secret Places. They still carry great influence among the major sects. If Xuan Kong Shan publicly declares this, I fear some factions eager to curry favor with them may take the opportunity to attack you."

Lin Zhi Rui recounted what had happened after Lu Qing and Chen Lao Qian Bei left, and admitted he had revealed part of their origins to the assembly of elders present.

"However, Lu Xiao Langjun, rest assured—I did not disclose the location of Jiu Li Village. I only said you two were acquaintances I met during my travels."

"Those bald-headed monks from Xuan Kong Shan will hardly believe that, won’t they?" Lu Qing asked.

"It doesn’t matter if they believe it or not," Lin Zhi Rui replied with a wry smile. "I’ve given them a statement. Whether it’s true or false now depends on their ability to discern. Standing before so many strong cultivators, can they really try to use the Jin Gang Fu Mo Array on me again? If they did, Xuan Kong Shan’s reputation would be utterly ruined."

His tone carried unmistakable mockery.

Once, Lin Zhi Rui had admired the mysterious aura of places like Xuan Kong Shan. But today’s experience had shattered that illusion. He now saw clearly—these so-called sacred sanctuaries were no different from the outside sects. Among them, there were still sycophants and schemers. Worse still, Xuan Kong Shan’s hypocrisy and arrogance surpassed even that of ordinary sects.

The disillusionment had only deepened his contempt.

As Lu Qing and the others spoke, high atop Sheng Shan, the monks of Xuan Kong Shan gathered around the corpse of the slain Hui Xin, their faces filled with grief.

"Xuan Ming Senior Brother, Hui Xin is dead. Are we truly going to let that brat go unpunished?" a young monk cried out, his voice thick with rage.

He and Hui Xin had grown up together, trained side by side. He had been the one to jump out and confront Lu Qing. Seeing Hui Xin crushed in a single hand, he felt terror, fear, and a flicker of relief—relief that Lu Qing had chosen Hui Xin, not him.

Had it been him, he would now be the one lying lifeless on the ground.

But he couldn’t let that relief show. So he spoke first, aiming to provoke action.

"Of course not," Xuan Ming said calmly. "But that youth is too strange. We must first uncover his origins before making any move."

"Xuan Ming Senior Brother," another large monk asked, "do you believe what that Tian Ji Lou disciple said?"

"Half-truths, mostly lies," Xuan Ming replied coolly. "The young man’s words can’t be trusted."

"Ridiculous!" Xuan Nu roared. "How dare a mere Tian Ji Lou disciple lie to us?"

Though he had been severely injured by Lu Qing earlier, now only a faint weakness remained in his breath—his wounds had fully healed. Clearly, Xuan Kong Shan’s cultivation techniques were extraordinary.

"Indeed," another monk added. "Why didn’t you simply seize that Tian Ji Lou disciple? With our methods, extracting the truth from that pair would be child’s play."

None doubted Xuan Ming’s words. They knew he practiced a soul-secret art capable of detecting lies instantly.

"Impossible," Xuan Ming said. "Today, using the Jin Gang Fu Mo Array to subdue that elder was already reckless. If we now recklessly capture a true disciple of Tian Ji Lou, not only would Tian Ji Lou never forgive us, but the other three secret places might also intervene. Moreover, Tian Ji Lou has deep ties to Sheng Shan. It’s impossible to say whether the Three Holy Lords would stay neutral."

The others fell silent.

They could ignore the other secret places’ stances—after all, a long-standing agreement forbade interference between the sanctuaries. But the Three Holy Lords were different. Here on Sheng Shan, their power was near-absolute. Even the heads of the four secret places would hesitate to challenge them.

Only a mutual agreement kept the Holy Lords from intervening.

"But you’re right," Xuan Ming said. "Our honor cannot be compromised. That boy killed Hui Xin. He must answer for it. Otherwise, how can we uphold Xuan Kong Shan’s dignity? The world has changed. We will enter the mortal realm soon. We cannot allow any defiance to go unpunished."

"Then what should we do?"

"Let Wu Jian Lou handle it," Xuan Ming said after a pause. "We’ve protected them for years. It’s time they earned some merit."

"Wu Jian Lou?" one monk gasped. "Xuan Ming Senior Brother, those people are madmen! What if they go berserk in Sheng Cheng?"

The real danger was that they were strong—and masters of assassination. Even the monks themselves could fall victim if careless.

"So what?" Xuan Ming said coldly. "It was Wu Jian Lou who acted. What does it have to do with us?"

...

That night, Lu Qing sat cross-legged on his bed, pondering the day’s events.

Xuan Kong Shan’s tactics were no surprise. First, smear the opponent as a demon cultist—positioning themselves morally above all. Then, justify any attack under the banner of justice.

These so-called noble sects always played this game.

Lu Qing despised it—but he knew the situation was genuinely dangerous.

The more righteous and sanctimonious a sect, the more insidious their methods. As the saying went: A direct arrow is easy to dodge, but a hidden one is impossible to guard against.

Who knew what schemes the monks of Xuan Kong Shan would unleash?

Even if he wasn’t afraid, he couldn’t deny the growing sense of peril.

Front and center: Xuan Kong Shan, a cunning and deceitful enemy. Hidden in the shadows: an unknown, eerie presence watching them. And after revealing his strength on Sheng Shan, who could say whether other factions weren’t now eyeing him with hostility?

Add to that the increasingly intense, mysterious aura of fortune calling to him from within.

All of it coalesced into a profound, unprecedented danger.

"Because I feel danger," Lu Qing reflected, "it’s because my strength is still insufficient."

He focused on the faint, prickling threat whispering through his soul.

Yet his mind grew clearer, more tranquil.

"Once my power is great enough, no scheme, no trap, no shadow—nothing will matter. All will be swept away like dust in the wind."

"Perhaps... it’s time for me to break through."

A sudden realization bloomed in his heart.

For so long, he had followed his inner instinct, suppressing his cultivation, waiting to break through only after securing the fated opportunity. But now, the overwhelming sense of danger made him realize: in this world of towering cultivators, where power and treachery ran deep, his current strength was far from enough to protect those he cared for.

Right now, it was still manageable. But when the true opportunity finally emerged, Sheng Cheng and Sheng Shan would be ten times more chaotic than they were now. Who could say what would happen then?

"Very well," Lu Qing sighed. "Life never goes perfectly. Sometimes, striving for perfection only leads to regret. If my stubbornness causes harm to Xiao Yan or Master, what purpose would that so-called perfection serve?"

These thoughts settled within him, quieting his spirit.

In that moment, he understood his true heart, and what he truly wished to protect.

As the epiphany struck, inspiration struck like lightning. Without hesitation, Lu Qing released his self-restraint. With a single thought, the Qi Cavity in his lower dantian snapped open.

At once, the Heavenly and Earthly Qi around him surged violently.

"Hmm? Heavenly and Earthly Qi fluctuation!" Old Doctor, in the adjacent room, sensed it instantly. "It’s coming from A Qing’s chamber! Is A Qing about to enter the Xian Tian Jing?"

He knew that sensation too well—the sign of a Hou Tian Jing cultivator nearing the threshold of Xian Tian Jing.

Old Doctor was startled. In a flash, his figure vanished from the room.

But when he reached Lu Qing’s door, the fluctuation had already vanished.

"A Qing…" Old Doctor began to call out—when a voice echoed in his mind.

"Master, it’s fine. I’m just having a breakthrough in cultivation. No need to worry. Oh, by the way, the commotion must have alerted Zhi Rui Ge Xia. Please help me handle it."

Old Doctor immediately understood. Lu Qing had reached a critical point and couldn’t afford to be disturbed.

Just then, he heard Lin Zhi Rui’s voice from outside the courtyard.

"Chen Lao Qian Bei, I just sensed a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy…"

Inside the room, Lu Qing relaxed. Hearing Master go to greet Lin Zhi Rui, he exhaled.

Yet almost immediately, a wave of confusion washed over him.

"Why can’t I enter the Xian Tian Jing?"

Lu Qing examined his body. His dantian’s Qi Cavity was open. Inside, he had already refined a wisp of true qi. But strangely, he still felt trapped in Hou Tian Jing.

He hadn’t stepped into Xian Tian Jing. There was no tremor of Heaven and Earth Laws, no appearance of Qi White Mist—nothing like what had happened when Master first broke through.

Yet he could still draw in Heavenly and Earthly Qi, refining it into true qi. He could use it. But without forming the Xian Tian body, this wasn’t true Xian Tian Jing.

"What is this?" Lu Qing frowned. "A Hou Tian Jing that can cultivate true qi?"

He was utterly baffled. He had always believed breaking through to Xian Tian Jing would be effortless—just a single thought. Now, it had turned into a farce.

But Lu Qing was no ordinary man. He quickly calmed himself and activated his Abilities, beginning a meticulous internal examination.

After a long while, a revelation dawned.

"Ah… I see now. It’s because my cultivation base is too vast. Once I truly break through, my power will be extraordinary. But the Heaven and Earth Laws have not yet matured. They’re still too weak to contain such an anomaly as me."

Through his Abilities’ analysis, he finally understood.

He had repeatedly shattered limits, expanding his foundation to unprecedented levels. In Hou Tian Jing, his accumulation was already immense.

If he broke through now, the resulting power would be earth-shattering—far beyond what the current world could bear.

But the world had only just changed. Qi was just returning. The Heaven and Earth Laws were still incomplete.

And incomplete laws lacked the strength to shape and purify an anomaly like Lu Qing.

So here he stood—caught between worlds.

He had drawn in qi, refined true qi, and yet his cultivation level remained Hou Tian Jing.

"Of all the absurdities…" Lu Qing could only laugh bitterly. He never expected this.

The only comfort? Even without officially entering Xian Tian Jing, refining true qi had significantly boosted his strength. With true qi flowing through him, and the Heritage in his mind, his arsenal of techniques had expanded greatly.

"Will the Heaven and Earth Laws ever fully evolve?" Lu Qing wondered.

At that moment, his expression snapped into alarm.

Because he sensed—several hidden auras, stealthy and silent—slipping into the Tian Ji Lou, heading straight toward their courtyard.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end