Chapter 103: Going with the Flow
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The Fire Springs painted the Night Fog in shades of red. In Luo Fu Immortal Town, the weathered blue stone streets, scarred by the passage of a thousand years, carried an ancient, timeworn charm.
The “evening glow” flowed over everything, casting a sacred light. Li Qing Yue, cloaked in soft gold radiance from the fire-lit sky, stood with serene authority. Her presence commanded attention, and her words carried immense weight.
Dressed in regal purple, Li Qing Xu felt a shift in the atmosphere. The subtle murmurs among the disciples of the Beyond, even those beside him, signaled a brewing storm. He tightened his grip on his violet-hued bamboo staff, remaining composed outwardly but sensing the danger.
“Li Qing Xu, this is none of your concern,” he declared, his tone steady yet wary. He could see the tides shifting against him.
Li Qing Yue’s clear voice cut through the murmurs. “I don’t intend to repeat myself.”
Her pristine white attire glimmered faintly, reflecting the fire-lit heavens. In her stance, she radiated an aura of unyielding resolve, making it clear that she was ready to settle old scores if necessary.
The core disciple Tang Xu Mi joined the fray, his voice sharp. “Li Qing Xu, we’ll settle matters in the spiritual cave tomorrow.”
Another core disciple, Jiang Sheng Yu, added without hesitation, “Count me in.”
“And me!” echoed a third.
In mere moments, the air became charged with tension. Everyone could see the unspoken agreement forming between the core disciples. Li Qing Xu was the target, and once they entered the spiritual cave, they intended to ensure his elimination.
Li Qing Xu’s mind raced. He realized that Li Qing Yue’s intervention had orchestrated this dangerous situation. Tang Xu Mi had no prior disputes with him—this was simply an opportunistic move, a calculated way to align with Li Qing Yue and strike against him.
The momentum was now against him. Who would dare resist the combined forces of several core disciples? If they truly united, resistance would be futile.
Still, Li Qing Xu tried to steady his position. “They’re bluffing,” he told his followers. “Inside the spiritual cave, our paths will diverge. It’s unlikely we’ll clash immediately. And even if we meet, a full-scale battle is improbable—we all understand what’s truly at stake.”
His words were meant to reassure those around him. Without their support, he would struggle to contend with the competition for the near-immortal treasure.
One of his loyal disciples, Zeng Yuan, stepped forward. “Li Qing Xu, rest assured. We will do everything we can to help you secure the treasure.”
Zeng Yuan had once been friendly with Qin Ming, but their paths had diverged after entering the Beyond, aligning him with Li Qing Xu. Their last encounter at Black and White Mountain had been marked by animosity.
Another follower echoed the sentiment. “We stand with you, Li Qing Xu.”
Their declarations showed early loyalty, knowing that core disciples needed allies. However, Li Qing Xu was acutely aware that, once inside, these same disciples might hesitate to commit until they could gauge the situation.
He nodded calmly, maintaining an air of poise. He knew that overreaching to keep his followers would only weaken his position.
Outside the town, experienced observers watched the unfolding drama.
“That girl has skill,” said one expert of the Beyond, admiring Li Qing Yue. “A few words, and she’s nearly sidelined a powerful rival.”
“If that old master finds out his prized new disciple might be the first eliminated, would he explode with rage?” someone mused.
“Silence!” snapped another, glancing nervously around. “Don’t speak of him. That man is untouchable.”
Indeed, the mention of Li Qing Xu’s master—the one who had effortlessly killed the legendary Overlord—was enough to send chills through even the most hardened experts. His reputation for ruthlessness had only grown with age.
Meanwhile, a young man outside the town spoke up, defending Li Qing Xu. “Li Qing Yue, aren’t you going too far? Stirring up trouble before the competition even begins?”
Before he could continue, an elderly man cut him off sternly. “You—yes, you, so-called old disciple. Be quiet and step back!”
The youth was momentarily stunned. “Old disciple? I’m only twenty-four!” he wanted to argue, but the elder’s authority was absolute. He retreated without a word, embarrassed and wary.
The elder turned to another group, barking orders. “And you lot, step back as well. Don’t hover near the town. You’re all old disciples—you don’t belong here.”
The group complied reluctantly, muttering amongst themselves. Among them was Cui Chong He, his expression unreadable. Though close in age to the participants, he had been barred from competing and now found himself lumped in with the “old disciples.”
Back in the town, the tension eased. The initial standoff gave way to a semblance of camaraderie as core disciples mingled, laughing and chatting. Yet beneath the surface, their alliances and rivalries remained sharp.
These interactions were little more than performances. Most core disciples had already established their strategies and alliances long ago. The public displays were simply to reassure their supporters.
Qin Ming, however, distanced himself from Li Qing Yue’s growing circle of followers. Instead, he observed the Awakening Stage cultivators, identifying those who had mastered unique celestial light forces.
Among them, a few stood out—figures even the core disciples regarded warily.
“See that boy with arms that reach his knees? That’s He Tai. He’s mastered the Great Ape King Force to a terrifying degree, even managing to kill an Outer Saint during his Awakening Stage. Don’t provoke him—he’s violent and unpredictable.”
Qin Ming took note, hearing whispers about He Tai’s background. “He Tai was handpicked by the lord of a massive city. He topped the city’s exams and killed an Outer Saint as a teenager. Now he’s stepped into the Outer Manifestation stage—who could possibly match him?”
The murmurs grew louder, drawing many eyes to He Tai. Qin Ming learned that He Tai had been invited by the Zheng family to assist Zheng Mao Ze.
“The Great Ape King Force is an advanced composite technique,” someone explained. “It’s notoriously difficult to master, but He Tai is already being hailed as a future grandmaster of martial arts.”
Qin Ming quietly memorized everything he heard, knowing He Tai was a dangerous contender.
Suddenly, someone gasped. “Is that a Pure Sun Palace disciple? They’ve joined too!”
The next formidable figure to be identified was Jiang Cong Yun, a disciple of the Pure Sun Palace. His Pure Sun Force, notorious for its unmatched offensive power, was said to be as unstoppable as the rising sun, overwhelming and domineering.
Jiang Cong Yun had been personally invited by a millennial aristocratic family on behalf of Wang Cai Wei, demonstrating the extraordinary stakes of this competition.
Many disciples of the Beyond were visibly uneasy. At the Spirit Mind and Yellow Court stages, specific celestial light techniques required extreme caution. Otherwise, a moment of carelessness could lead to crushing defeat.
Pure Sun Force was particularly terrifying—it could burn and shatter one’s spiritual light of consciousness, leaving little room for recovery.
Wang Cai Wei held Jiang Cong Yun in high regard, keeping him by her side and formally introducing him to any group of disciples of the Beyond they encountered.
Nearby, Qin Ming nudged a broad-shouldered youth and asked, “Do you know which one is the Tathagata’s Abandoned Disciple, the Yuqing Force inheritor, or the Five Element Palace disciple? Can you point them out?”
The youth shrugged. “No clue. They’re staying hidden. Feels like those types could even threaten the core disciples.”
It wasn’t just the Beyond that focused its attention on the unfolding event. Practitioners from other cultivation paths gathered outside Luo Fu Immortal Town, keenly watching the competition. Meanwhile, far beyond the region, betting pools were springing up. People placed wagers on which core disciple would emerge victorious, turning the event into a major spectacle.
“The inheritor of Yuqing Force, the Tathagata’s Abandoned Disciple, Jiang Cong Yun, Cui Chong Xuan, He Tai… Which of these specially invited figures will conquer the spiritual cave and claim the near-immortal artifact? Will one of them defeat a core disciple outright on their employer’s behalf?”
Bets were made on not only the outcome but also the matchups of celestial light techniques. “Five Element Force versus Pure Sun Force, or perhaps Six Imperial Force… Which is stronger? Worth a gamble, don’t you think?”
Clearly, it wasn’t just the core disciples attracting attention. Those skilled in fearsome celestial light techniques, especially the specially invited figures, were hot topics in the betting pools.
That night, Qin Ming slept holding his White Jade Alloy Blade, wary of potential unrest. He had good reason to be cautious. The stakes were high—Beyond experts and even the descendants of millennial aristocratic families had personally sought reinforcements for this competition, underscoring its significance.
The night passed without incident, but just before “dawn,” the Fire Springs fully revived, their coverings pulled aside to reveal molten flows beneath. It was then that an attack struck suddenly.
“Li Qing Xu, I knew you’d try this. Why bother hiding?” Li Qing Yue threw open her door, her presence immediately dispelling the encroaching Night Fog with a radiance of shimmering light.
In the distance, a shadowy figure shattered an empty house in silence before retreating, unwilling to face her directly.
Moments later, Tang Xu Mi arrived, his expression sharp. “Should we join forces and take him down?”
“There’s no time,” Li Qing Yue replied, shaking her head. The shadow lingered near the entrance of Luo Fu Immortal Town, clearly hoping to ambush someone. However, an outright confrontation in such a conspicuous spot would attract the attention of those waiting outside.
“He’s missed his chance, trying to launch a sneak attack for intimidation,” Tang Xu Mi observed before vanishing into the Night Fog.
Meanwhile, Qin Ming had donned his full armor. The golden glow of his Golden Armor shone brilliantly against the dark, accentuating his tall and commanding figure. Twelve short spears were strapped to his back, his White Jade Alloy Blade rested at his side, and he gripped his Bronze Staff with confidence.
He now understood the craftsmanship of Beyond artisans. The Golden Armor, engraved with intricate sigils, could provide life-saving protection by activating a defensive barrier at the moment of critical danger. While this ensured participants could retreat safely, exceptions always existed. Should someone repeatedly obstruct the escape, breaking the barrier entirely, or if the user themselves chose to linger despite the activation, death in the spiritual cave was still possible.
Li Qing Yue exited her room holding a thin Golden Garment, its softness belying the protective sigils that shimmered across its surface. “Put this on too,” she said. “It’ll give you an extra layer of protection.”
Qin Ming immediately declined. “I already have this armor. If I take your life-saving treasure and something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“I’m more than capable of handling myself. None of the core disciples can kill me. And even if things go wrong, I have my protective methods. But you… You’ve only just awakened five times. I’m not looking down on you, but you haven’t had the time to build your foundation yet. I’m worried about unforeseen dangers.”
Li Qing Yue’s honesty was genuine, but Qin Ming shook his head again. While he had joined her as a protector, the thought of wearing her life-saving treasure unsettled him. He couldn’t allow her to face uncertain perils alone.
“If you don’t wear your Golden Garment, we might as well forfeit this competition,” Qin Ming countered firmly.
In the end, Li Qing Yue returned to her room and donned the Golden Garment beneath her silver armor. The added layers only enhanced her already radiant presence, making her appear both regal and indomitable.
By dawn, as the Fire Springs cast a luminous glow across Luo Fu Immortal Town, the group prepared to set out. They marched toward the ruins of the immortal mountain, entering the network of stone caverns that lay ahead.
“Each team will take a separate path. You’ll enter through different passages,” a Beyond expert instructed.
Qin Ming followed Li Qing Yue through one of the tunnels, expecting to delve into a dark, subterranean space. To his surprise, they emerged into a sunlit forest of towering pine trees. The sound of bubbling streams filled the air, and the area was bathed in warm light, reminiscent of an era before the Night Fog.
The other Golden Armor Protectors were equally astonished. Li Qing Yue, however, remained composed, her gaze fixed on a clearing beyond the forest. There, she spotted a familiar figure—Zheng Mao Ze.
From another direction, Li Qing Xu appeared, smiling as he approached. “What a coincidence, Li Qing Yue. I didn’t expect to meet you so soon.”
His gaze shifted to Zheng Mao Ze. “Shall we team up to take her down?”
Then, seeing another figure emerging—a radiant Wang Cai Wei accompanied by Jiang Cong Yun—Li Qing Xu’s grin widened. “Cai Wei, how about the three of us join forces to send Miss Li on her way?”