Chapter 303: The Unlucky Black Robe Man

As Lu Qing and Yang Ming Dao Ren were deep in conversation, a dark figure suddenly materialized within a secluded grove beyond Sheng Cheng, crashing to the ground and sending ripples through the underbrush.

The Black Robe Man looked utterly wretched. One arm was missing, his black robes torn and frayed, revealing a body beneath that was bloodied and partially dissolved, as if his very flesh had been eaten away.

But before he could even register the agony of his wounds, the man frantically began checking his belongings. His face quickly turned ashen.

The ink jade bottle—sealed tightly against his chest, containing the precious Benyuan Qi—was gone.

Clearly, it had been thrown free during his earlier use of the Tenmoxie Ti Da Fa.

“Damn it! That brat must’ve taken it!” The Black Robe Man’s heart clenched with anguish. That Benyuan Qi was the real treasure of this world—rare beyond measure, an opportunity that came once in a lifetime.

With those three strands of Benyuan Qi, his Wu Shang Mo Qu cultivation could finally take root, and more importantly, the Dao Yun within it could completely resolve the hidden dangers of his transmigrated existence. He could finally integrate into this world without fear of being targeted by the Tian Dao Yi Zhi in the future.

But now… all was lost.

His face twisted in fury. A wild, desperate urge surged through him—return to Sheng Cheng and reclaim what was his.

Yet, reason ultimately prevailed.

That boy was too dangerous. The Heaven and Earth Rules had only just begun to evolve, yet he’d already triggered a Jie Shu phenomenon. Nine layers of Jie Lei had passed through him—and not only did he emerge unscathed, but he showed no sign of weakness afterward.

Such a prodigy, even in his homeland—the boundless immortal and demon realm—would be considered a top-tier genius, a Dao Zhi-level marvel.

And now, he’d stumbled upon one in this backwater world, where Qi had only just begun to revive.

Such a prodigy was meant to be a world-shaking anomaly. Even now, still raw and unrefined, he was far beyond the Black Robe Man’s current capabilities—especially with his Demon Body still unformed.

With immense self-discipline, the man forced himself to calm down.

“Boy,” he muttered, eyes fixed on Sheng Cheng, “you wait. One day, I’ll take back everything that’s mine.”

With a final, lingering glance, he turned and staggered into the depths of the forest, his body aching, his spirit broken.

This mission to Sheng Cheng had been a disaster. Not only had he lost his newly acquired Ji Yuan Fei Le, but his own body had suffered severe damage from the Tenmoxie Ti Da Fa. The dream of forming a Demon Body was now further away than ever.

“Looks like I’ll have to take the old path again—capture more geniuses, absorb their essence to rebuild my foundation. And that White Vortex… it spewed out Benyuan Qi in all directions. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find one or two more…”

…

“Lu Xiao Langjun,” said Yang Ming Dao Ren, handing over a jade token carved with strange inscriptions, its surface smooth like mutton-fat jade. “Take this. When you come to Xi Zhou, present this token at Qing Yang Shan. Someone will welcome you to our Qing Yang Guan. Our master is known for his kindness—especially toward gifted young talents. He would be delighted to meet you.”

Lu Qing studied the token. Recognizing the design, he knew it was likely akin to the one Lin Zhi Rui had once received from their Master. It must possess some unique function.

He accepted it without hesitation. “Thank you, Elder. When my current affairs are settled, I’ll be honored to visit.”

Seeing Lu Qing accept it so readily, Yang Ming Dao Ren smiled. But his expression quickly turned solemn.

“Lu Xiao Langjun, though your talent is unparalleled, I must warn you of something.”

“Please, I’m listening,” Lu Qing replied, his tone now serious.

“Xuan Ming was no ordinary disciple. He was the direct heir of the Fang Zhang of Xuan Kong Shan. You killed him—Xuan Kong Shan will not let this pass. With Tian Di Bian Hua now largely complete, the Heavenly Rules have relaxed their grip on the Xian Tian Shang Qiang Zhe. Xuan Kong Shan’s sect has a notoriously small tolerance for insults. Though the Fang Zhang himself may not emerge, it’s impossible to rule out the possibility of them sending out stronger Hu Fa to hunt you down.”

“Once this matter is settled, you should find a safe place to hide. You are the first to have passed through a Jie Shu since the awakening of Tian Di Bian Hua. Your Qi Yun is thick, and no ordinary Tui Suan Zhi Shu can trace your fate. As long as you remain hidden, even Xuan Kong Shan will struggle to find you.”

Seeing the genuine concern in Yang Ming Dao Ren’s eyes, Lu Qing, though unafraid, felt a deep sense of gratitude.

“Thank you, Elder. Once I’ve taken care of my business here, I’ll leave Sheng Cheng and stay out of Xuan Kong Shan’s reach.”

“Good. Be careful. If you ever face something you can’t handle, come to Xi Zhou. That’s our Qing Yang Guan’s territory. No matter how long Xuan Kong Shan’s claws are, they won’t reach there.”

He turned to leave. “We must go. Farewell, Lu Xiao Langjun.”

After delivering his warning, Yang Ming Dao Ren returned to his position and departed with his disciples.

So much had happened in Sheng Cheng. The existence of Benyuan Qi, the reappearance of Mo Dao Zhi Ren—these matters needed immediate report. And above all, Lu Qing himself—this anomaly—was the most urgent.

Watching Yang Ming Dao Ren and his companions vanish into the distance, Lu Qing turned and walked toward Gao Ta.

Other Xian Tian Jing Qiang Zhe had wanted to approach Lu Qing. But remembering that he had slain Xuan Ming and thus completely alienated Xuan Kong Shan, they hesitated.

What if they got involved and drew the wrath of Xuan Kong Shan? It wasn’t worth the risk.

So, with cautious eyes, they let him pass—silent, distant, and wary.

“Brother!”

As Lu Qing stepped into Gao Ta, a small figure darted toward him, throwing herself into his arms.

He caught her, feeling her tiny body tremble. Her head buried deep into his chest, refusing to lift.

“It’s okay now,” Lu Qing murmured, gently patting her back. “I’m here. I’m safe.”

“Brother… Xiao Yan was so scared,” she finally whispered, voice muffled and trembling. The fear was obvious.

Lu Qing’s hand stilled. Then he stroked her hair again, softly.

“This time was an accident. I promise you, I’ll never do anything so reckless again, okay?”

“Then… we make a promise?” she mumbled, still hiding her face.

“Alright. Promise.”

After they sealed it with a pinky promise, Xiao Yan finally smiled through her tears.

Once Lu Qing had comforted her, the others stepped forward.

Lu Qing immediately bowed to Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou.

“Master Elder, I regret that I accidentally destroyed the Xiao Yuan. Forgive me. I will compensate for all losses in full.”

“Haha, a mere Xiao Yuan? What’s the harm?” Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou chuckled, his face serene. “In fact, I’m the one who gained an advantage. You gave us a front-row view of the legendary Jie Shu phenomenon. That’s priceless.”

He wasn’t being polite. He was sincere.

To a practitioner of Tui Suan Zhi Dao, the chance to witness a real Jie Shu up close—feeling the raw Jie Qi, sensing the true flow of Heavenly Rules—was an unparalleled opportunity.

Tui Suan Zhi Dao thrived on predicting fate, avoiding disasters, and seizing advantage. And Jie Shu—the most powerful of all calamities—was central to the operation of Heaven and Earth.

By observing Lu Qing’s entire Jie Shu, Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou had caught a fleeting glimpse of the true mechanism of the Heavenly Rules. The experience had deeply enriched him. He even felt a faint loosening in his long-stalled Jingjie cultivation.

How could he possibly blame Lu Qing?

After hearing this, Lu Qing relaxed slightly. Still, he resolved to leave something behind as compensation before departing.

“Wait here for a moment,” he said. “I need to deal with the aftermath outside.”

His Jie Shu had caused a massive stir. And with Xuan Kong Shan’s entire group dead on the scene, if not properly handled, even Tian Ji Lou would face serious trouble.

Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou nodded. “Stay here. I’ll take care of the mess.”

Once he left, Lu Qing turned to Old Doctor.

“Master… I’ve disappointed you. I made you worry.”

He’d sensed it earlier—had the Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou not intervened, the Master had nearly stepped out to protect him.

“It’s fine,” Old Doctor said simply, not a word more.

But Ma Gu and Wei Zian were ecstatic, buzzing around Lu Qing, recounting their shock and fear.

Hu Ze Zhi stood quietly, smiling gently at them all.

When Lu Qing’s gaze finally landed on her, he paused.

“Master… Zhi Rui Ge Xia… look—Hu Gu Niang’s Hei Qi on her forehead…”

Old Doctor and Lin Zhi Rui turned. Their expressions froze.

The dark aura between Hu Ze Zhi’s brows—once so thick, so ominous—was gone.

“Lu Gongzi… is it because my Hei Qi has grown stronger?” Hu Ze Zhi asked nervously, sensing their eyes on her.

“No,” Lu Qing said quickly. “It’s not stronger. It’s… gone.”

“Gone?” she whispered, disbelieving.

“Absolutely,” Old Doctor confirmed.

“But… why? What exactly is her Jie Shu? How could it vanish so suddenly?” Lin Zhi Rui frowned.

Lu Qing remembered the fleeing Black Robe Man.

Then it clicked.

“Let me guess—Hu Gu Niang’s Jie Shu came from two sources.”

All eyes turned to him.

“First, the Benyuan Qi from the White Vortex. The opportunity flies out, seeking a worthy recipient. But it’s a double-edged sword. Without sufficient strength, even if you obtain it, you can’t hold onto it. And worse, you’ll attract the attention of others—possibly leading to death.”

They all nodded, remembering the dozens of Xian Tian Jing Qiang Zhe who had attacked the moment the Qi entered their Xiao Yuan.

Had it not been for Lu Qing and Old Doctor’s strength, Hu Ze Zhi would’ve been dead.

Her face paled at the memory.

“And the second?” Lin Zhi Rui asked.

“The mysterious Black Robe Man,” Lu Qing said. “I’ve sensed him before—when we went to Tian Ti. He was cautious, vanished the moment he sensed danger. But he never left. He was watching. And now I think… he was watching her.”

“He’s been tracking her because his aura matches the Hei Qi she once bore.”

“So now, because you’re here, no one dares approach her. And the Black Robe Man is wounded, fleeing—unable to threaten her anymore. Her Jie Shu has been completely neutralized.”

Lin Zhi Rui nodded slowly. “That makes sense.”

“I can’t be certain, but I’d say there’s about an 80% chance.”

Hearing this, Hu Ze Zhi exhaled, her eyes filling with gratitude as she looked at Lu Qing.

“Earlier, Qing Yang Guan’s Yang Ming Elder called him a Mo Dao Zhi Ren?” Lin Zhi Rui asked.

“Yes,” Lu Qing confirmed. “Yang Ming said he practiced the purest form of Mo Dao Gong Fa. His aura was unmistakably demonic.”

“First Wu Jian Lou appears… now Mo Dao Zhi Ren return. It seems our Master’s prediction was correct. Tian Di Bian Hua didn’t just revive Qi. It brought back the shadows—ghosts, monsters, the wicked. The world won’t be peaceful for long.”

Lin Zhi Rui sighed, his face clouded with concern.

“Still,” Lu Qing said with a smile, “if this is the path of Heaven, then so be it. Why worry? We’ve faced monsters before. As long as we have our Bings Ren Hai Li, what can they do? Let them come. We’ll just cut them down, just like our ancestors did.”

Lin Zhi Rui froze. Then his eyes widened.

He looked at Lu Qing’s confident smile—and suddenly understood.

“You’re right,” he said, voice firm. “I was overthinking it. No matter how many demons and fiends rise, we’re cultivators. Our swords aren’t for show. We’ll just follow in the footsteps of the past—slay the evil, purge the dark once more.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end