Amid a flurry of blows, Feng Qi sent the assassin flying, buying himself a brief moment of respite.
"Argh!"
The wound was deep. Although his body was capable of recovery, the pain was nauseating.
Young Qi glanced at his blood-soaked hand as it passed over the gash.
"Damn it! It's far too deep!"
Panicked, he dashed toward the Bai Manor.
However, as he ran, a shadow suddenly appeared and struck again without warning. Two blades were buried deep into his back. The young man screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground moments later, as if dead.
"How the hell is this bastard so tough?!" the assassin shouted.
Another shadow approached from behind—it was the very man who had fought Feng Qi earlier.
"When I struck his head, it felt like hitting a bar of iron. This is ridiculous!"
"We're lucky he's still inexperienced, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to—"
Suddenly, with his back turned, the second assassin was caught completely off guard. A powerful blow struck his neck. A series of sharp cracking sounds echoed, as if bones had been shattered.
The assassin was sent flying. When he hit the ground, there was no movement at all.
He was dead.
"Y-You…" The first assassin stammered, unable to believe what he was seeing.
The young man he believed to be dead leapt to his feet in a single motion and instantly attacked. His eyes had turned white, and an intense aura surged violently from his body.
Feng Qi had broken through to the Sixth Layer of Body Refinement.
"You bastard!" the assassin roared.
With a single bound, Feng Qi closed the distance—but was met by a storm of flashing blades. Countless cuts slashed across his arms. His plain robe was torn to shreds, revealing strange markings etched across his body—ancient Sanskrit-like symbols.
"W-What?! What the hell is that on your body?!" the assassin bellowed.
Feng Qi was consumed by rage. He ignored the man's questions, though a sharp click of his tongue escaped him at the thought of others discovering those markings.
Though his body bore bruises and deep wounds, they were almost completely overshadowed by the strange letters covering him.
The assassin attempted to flee—but Feng Qi was faster.
Recalling the danger posed by his injuries, Feng Qi swiftly grabbed the two daggers left behind by the fallen assassin.
The first assassin had already put some distance between them, but Feng Qi quickly caught up. He unleashed countless strikes at the man's back—yet they failed to penetrate. The assassin was wearing battle-grade robes.
Thus began a fierce exchange of blades.
The clashing sparks were like stars dancing in the darkness. The only witnesses were the trees, swaying gently with the wind.
Though still inexperienced in many aspects, Feng Qi had trained relentlessly over the past few weeks under Guardian Zixuan. His improvement was evident—even Zixuan had noticed his rapid progress with every exchange.
He felt confident against this mere assassin.
Both were warriors at the Eighth Layer of Body Refinement. Under normal circumstances, they would not pose a threat to Feng Qi. However, he was gravely wounded, his pain unrelenting, and his movements slightly unbalanced.
Even so, little by little, Feng Qi suppressed his opponent, leaving him with no escape.
Then—A powerful strike severed the assassin's left hand instantly.
The next moment was filled with screams of pain and terror.
"Arghhh!!! Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"
The assassin repeated the same plea over and over.
Feng Qi did not hesitate.
He did not concern himself with moral dilemmas of killing. To him, anyone who dared harm him became his sworn enemy. There were still people who needed to pay dearly—and sooner or later, they would—if Fate allowed it.
With eyes radiating murderous intent, Young Qi approached the assassin, who writhed on the ground like a worm. Feng Qi grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up.
With a single, decisive motion, he drove the dagger straight through the man's skull.
Blood sprayed violently as the assassin finally died. His body fell limply to the ground, like mud breaking loose from a cliff. Blood soaked both the corpse and the earth, pooling at Feng Qi's feet.
"Now you fall like a piece of trash… huff… huff…"
Despite his victory, his wounds were severe. Without delay, he made his way toward the Bai Manor.
Dizziness overtook him. His steps alternated between hurried and sluggish. Suddenly, overwhelming fatigue crashed into his body.
When he entered the manor courtyard, an unfamiliar sensation enveloped him.
To his shock, he was touching the threshold of the Seventh Layer of Body Refinement.
Something wasn't right. What's happening? he wondered.
He needed to understand the nature of those Sanskrit markings—but first, he had to heal.
When someone finally spotted him, a scream echoed throughout the courtyard.
Relief washed over Feng Qi as he collapsed unconscious onto the ground.
While unconscious, he suddenly felt an inexplicably comforting sensation—followed by a dream.
In that dream, Feng Qi was once again eleven years old. It was his birthday.
His family surrounded him, gazing at him with warmth and joy, genuine smiles on every face.
His father stepped forward and handed him a gift—a book.
"How are you doing, my son? Things have been quite difficult for you lately, haven't they? All I ask is that you be patient, and walk your path firmly, without ever looking back."
His mother and little sister approached, each holding a gift.
"My son… I miss you. I'm sorry for being so weak. We could have run away together—at least I would still be by your side. This cloak is to protect you. It represents good fortune…"
"Big brother, this flower is for you. It symbolizes power and prosperity. Power—because you will need it to survive in this cruel world. Prosperity—because even in cruelty, you can grow, learn, endure, and bloom over time. Above all, your mind must remain strong… take care, brother."
Feng Qi was dreaming. He didn't question anything.
Something told him his name was Feng Qi, and that these people were his family. There was no reason to panic. Nothing had happened. He was just an eleven-year-old child, celebrating his birthday.
"What are you talking about? It's not like I'm going to disappear, right?"
Suddenly, the boy stepped forward and embraced them.
"I love you… I love—"
Tears streamed down his face without pause. While part of him insisted that nothing was wrong, another voice whispered that everything before him was false.
A profound sadness swallowed his being.
All he could do was hug his family.
There was no denial. No rejection. No resentment.
Only deep sorrow—and a long-awaited reunion.
...
"Search every corner of the manor—and every inch of the courtyard! If you find anything out of place, or even slightly suspicious, report it immediately. Do you hear me?!" Bai Lan shouted.
Beside her stood a beautiful woman with long, wavy hair, her expression solemn as her gaze swept across the vast space. Every person, every gesture, every reaction, every breath— even the subtle beating of their hearts—failed to escape her eyes.
"It doesn't seem that there's anyone from outside here. Everyone is in their right state of mind, and their heartbeats and fluctuations are stable," Bai Lanyue said calmly.
"Then you believe it was only those two assassins, Elder Sister?" Bai Lan asked.
"I wouldn't say that," Bai Lanyue replied. "We should remain vigilant. I believe we're being watched—from the shadows."
"Yes, Elder Sister." Bai Lan looked thoughtful, then turned back to her. "Elder Sister… what do you think those strange markings on his body are?"
Bai Lanyue did not answer immediately. Her eyes drifted toward the horizon, her thoughts far removed from Qingyao. Her solemn expression carried an air of mystery, as though she already knew something.
"I'm not certain," she finally said. "But I've heard of such things—Sanskrits, the ancient language. What's strange is why they are bound to his body. I need to investigate this more carefully. I'll tell you later."
"I understand. Please excuse me, Elder Sister."
As Bai Lan departed, Bai Lanyue gazed at the distant horizon. Her expression turned cold as she walked in a certain direction.
Her steps were light, yet swift. She moved through the manor's pathways, completely imperceptible to ordinary people—and even to warriors of the Body Refinement Realm. She emanated strength, authority, and an overwhelming presence.
Without anyone noticing, Bai Lanyue inspected every corner of the manor, the courtyard, and even those wandering through the streets beyond. Her perception was terrifying—nothing escaped her awareness.
What had happened the previous night had been a grave oversight on her part. Yet it was understandable; she had only recently stepped into the Foundation Establishment Realm, and maintaining an open control over her Divine Sense was still difficult.
With gentle steps, Bai Lanyue raised her index finger and flicked it lightly. Suddenly, something was forcibly pulled from her Spatial Ring. Taking the form of a Jade Pendant, she closed her hand around it.
There was no light. No explosion.Only the soundless distortion of space yielding to her will.
Her beautiful figure dissolved completely—then reappeared elsewhere.
She now stood within another manor, not far away, strolling forward unhurriedly. Powerful guards and warriors protected the area, yet she passed through all of them without being noticed, heading straight toward a small chamber.
Inside sat a young man—impatient, arrogant, and widely regarded as a nuisance.
Bai Lanyue approached him and asked calmly, "So? What have you found?"
The man was Han Yucheng. He seemed to be in a trance, his expression grim. Halting his cultivation at once, he turned toward her and knelt deeply in respect.
"My Lady, I discovered that Tian Ming has been accepted as a disciple by an Immortal from the Northern Region. Apparently, that Immortal visited the city about two months ago and recruited several forces in Qingyao," he said, remaining in a servant's posture.
"That includes you and your family," Bai Lanyue said calmly. She was well aware of what transpired within powerful families—thanks to a certain artifact that allowed her to infiltrate unseen.
Of course, it wasn't merely the artifact. There was clearly something more behind her.
"Yes, my Lady. That includes my family. As for the Bai Family, it seems the Immortal knew your father was loyal to the Crown, so he chose to remain hidden."
"He dares not confront the Golden Core experts backing the Imperial Court…"
"In truth, my Lady, the Immortals' arrival in the Southern Region isn't for resources."
"I know," Bai Lanyue replied. "Like all powerful beings, they seek the greatest talents the world can produce. Resources mean little to them—unless it's something extraordinary. Go on. What else did you learn?"
"To be honest, my Lady, they withhold much information for fear of leaks. However, it appears that many Nascent Soul Immortals will arrive in the Southern Region in about ten months. At that time, the Imperial Family may be stripped of its title, and the region will fall into the Immortals' hands. It's only a possibility—but I believe there are Golden Core specialists within our city."
"And why do you believe that?"
"Because Tian Ming frequently mentions a Grandmaster, claiming he will soon use his power to dominate this city. The Tian Family is planning to seize complete control of Qingyao. Their three elders will hold a meeting this afternoon to discuss how to deal with the Bai Family."
"Oh?" A faint killing intent radiated from her eyes. "Deal with my family? Where will this meeting take place?"
"In the Tian Family's Secret Assembly Hall. That's all I know."
"I see. And the Talismans I gave you—did you activate them?"
"My Lady… everything went smoothly until Tian Ming's turn. He appears to possess a protective artifact against mental control. I was unable to activate it. Please forgive me."
The beautiful woman's eyes gleamed, though she had already anticipated this outcome. Control Talismans had their limits—those carrying spiritual defense artifacts were immune, and Core Formation cultivators were naturally unaffected.
"Very well. Continue your work. Your family—aside from the elders and specialists—is already under my control. You know what will happen next, don't you?"
Her tone was authoritative, her gaze filled with killing intent as she looked down at Han Yucheng.
"Yes… my Lady," he replied softly, accepting his fate. He was already controlled—there was nothing he could do.
The Han Family had fallen, without anyone noticing. Many others would suffer similar losses, entirely unaware.
As for the elders, they would have to rebuild their family from scratch—an annoyance to Bai Lanyue. She would have preferred to control them as well, but feared they might discover her position and expose her plans to the Northern Immortals. She did not fear them for herself—but for her family.
One year ago, an event had changed her life forever. Thanks to it, she had reached Foundation Establishment at an astonishing pace and obtained countless techniques, resources, and artifacts.
That had been her Fortuitous Encounter.
Not only that—she was confident she would soon reach unimaginable heights. It was only a matter of time. Still, her family's situation remained precarious amid the impending fall of the Imperial Court, and that troubled her deeply.
The Bai Family might suffer retaliation—but most of the servants, loyalists, and warriors of those traitorous forces would fall like rotten fruit from a tree.
There was something even better.
Glancing to her left, Bai Lanyue saw countless chests filled with immeasurable wealth. Little by little, she would absorb everything from these families and sects. With a single motion, all the chests vanished—now stored within her Spatial Ring.
Some contained thousands of Spirit Stones. The value of a single one exceeded 110,000 taels of pure gold—enough to sustain a Great Family's expenses for six months.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she walked toward the door of the small chamber.
When she opened it, she was no longer in the Han Manor—but in a vast green field caressed by the wind. The sky was blue, filled with pure white clouds. Mountains and forests stretched across the horizon.
Several figures could be seen dozens of meters ahead, and behind them rose an enormous temple. Many people were present, all immersed in cultivation, murmuring what sounded like miraculous words as a mystical aura flowed among them.
"Lanyue!"Suddenly, a mischievous-looking young girl appeared out of nowhere in her path.
"Su Yuer! How many times have I told you not to scare people?" Bai Lanyue said, though she seemed quite fond of the girl.
Su Yuer was one of the many children in this place. She wore a light hanfu with long sleeves in soft jade-green and white tones, the fine fabric swaying gently with each step. Her outer robe was short enough to allow free movement, tied with a silk sash knotted carelessly, as if she hadn't bothered to adjust it properly.
Her skirt flowed in simple layers, without excessive embroidery, though small, childlike patterns adorned its hem—subtle hints of her playful nature. Cloth ribbons were tied loosely around her wrists, more out of habit than fashion.
On her feet were soft cloth shoes, perfect for running silently across the temple grounds. The pale colors of her clothes gave her an air of innocence, but the lively, untamed way she wore them made it clear that Su Yuer was anything but docile.
"Hi, Elder Sister! I missed you! Why don't you come here more often? I feel lonely…"Because of her mischievous nature, Su Yuer was often excluded by the other children.
"That's your own fault—you should behave better," Bai Lanyue said sternly at first. "I have many matters to handle. I can't simply abandon my family."
Despite her rigid tone, Bai Lanyue genuinely liked the girl. Su Yuer reminded her of the child she might have had with the man she once loved—and who would now be Feng Qi's age.