Early morning mist had not yet dispersed. Qingxu Temple's mountain gateappeared especially solemn in the morning light.
Xiao Qi stood on the stone steps before the mountain gate. Behind him was the sect he had lived in for dozens of years. Halls and pavilions scattered in order, spiritual energy misty like gauze, morning bell soundsleisurely came,as ifseeing off the travelers.
Hetook a deep breath, turned to face the crowd seeing him off.
Senior Brother Mu Qingfengclad in green robes, his expression composed yet eyes hiding reluctance. He stepped forward, handing a plain storage ring to Xiao Qi: "Inside are pills and talismans I prepared for you, also some spirit stones. Star-falling Land isdangerous and unpredictable, be careful in all things."
Xiao Qi accepted the ring, feeling the abundant supplies within, his heart moved: "Senior Brother, over these years you worked hard. Sect affairs,I'll entrust this to you from now on."
Mu Qingfeng shook his head: "Between us, no need for such words. Having a junior brother like you is my fortune." He lowered his voice, "The Sect Master asked me toconvey you, no matter the road ahead, Qingxu Temple is always your backing."
Xiao Qi nodded. His gazebypassing the senior brother, falling on the Third Senior Sister standing slightly farther.
Third Senior Sister today changed intodressed in neat sword attire, waist hung with long sword, heroic and striking. She came forward, without superfluous words, simply stuffed a warm jade token into Xiao Qi's hand.
"This is astrand of sword intent condensed from my sword heart. In critical moments can be triggered,equivalent to my full-powered strike." Her voicecalm, yet eyes showinga trace of imperceptible'sfluctuation. "Do not die."
Xiao Qi's heart warmed. He carefully stored the token: "Senior Sister rest assured, I will definitely return alive."
Third Senior Sister's lip corner slightly lifted,barely smiled, then stepped aside.
Second Senior Brother Luo Feng leaned on a cane, under two junior brothers' supportwalked with difficulty. His injuriesthough stabilized but cultivation greatly damaged, movement still inconvenient. Even so, he still squeezed out acarefree'ssmile: "Xiao Qi ah, your Senior Brother has nothing good to give you. These are talismans from my new research. Effectswell...should be fine."
He took out a stack of colorful talisman paper from hisbosom,covered with strange'spatternspath.
Xiao Qi accepted,couldn't help asking: "Second Senior Brother, these talismans' effects are..."
"For example this one, theoretically can summon fog totrap enemies, but might also summon bees." Luo Fengscratched his head. "And this one, supposedly can brieflyincrease speed, but direction mightrather...anyway youlooking atuse,criticalwhenmoment might save your life."
Hearing this, everyone smiled.
Xiao Qi carefully stored the talismans: "Second Senior Brother'ssentiment, I will cherish."
Luo Feng's eyesslightly red,patted Xiao Qi's shoulder: "Return alive. Your Senior Brotherstillhavemany new inventions waiting for you to try."
Zhao Tiezhu stood last in the crowd. Thishonest and simple'sman now also reddened his eyes. He came forward, said nothing, justgave a tight hug Xiao Qi, then stepped back.
"take care." Hesaid with a hoarse voice.
Xiao Qilooked around at everyone,memorizing each face in his heart. Senior Brother's composure, Third Senior Sister'scool and distant, Second Senior Brother'sfree and easy, Zhao Tiezhu'ssimple and honest, and those unnamed yet similarlyeyes showing reluctance'sfellow disciples.
The rabbit spirit squatted on his shoulder. Usually active, now also quiet, seemingly sensing theparting'satmosphere.
Sect Master Xuan Xuan True Lordleaning on a fly-whisk,slowly walked out of the main hall. His ancient facewith kindness'ssmile, voicelightly yet clearly entered everyone's ears: "Xiao Qi, you go for sect's glory, for the world's righteous path. Whatever the result, Qingxu Temple is proud of you."
Xiao Qi bowed deeply: "Discipleremember Sect Masterteachings."
Xuan Xuan nodded,fly-whisk lightly waved: "Go."
Xiao Qi stood straight. Finallyglanced at the mountain gate'splaque. Those threegold-plated characters shining in the morning light,just as when he first entered Qingxu Viewwhensaw.
He turned,stepped down the stone stairs.
Each step was steady,determined.
Behind, the bell rang again,each sound longer than the last.
Walking several li, Xiao Qilooked back. Qingxu Templealready faintly visible in the clouds. Those seeing-off figures,gradually blurred into a small dot.
The rabbit spiritsuddenly"squeak"called out twice,use it'ssmall head rubbed against hisneck.
Xiao Qi patted its head: "you can't bear to leave either,right?"
The rabbit spirit nodded, then shook its head, eyessparkling's.
Xiao Qi smiled,quickened his pace: "let's go,beforepathstill long ahead."
Mountain pathboth sides, ancient treestowering,birds singing melodiously. Sunlightfiltered through gaps in leaves,forming patches of golden light on the ground.
He remembered many years ago, his first time leaving Qingxu Temple, also walking this mountain path. Then he was justQi Refining stage,understood nothing,filled with passion and a bit of ignorance,stumbled into the cultivation world.
Now he was Golden Core True Lord, Three Realms Alliance Demon-Patrol Envoy, a being countless cultivators admired.
Yet at this moment, he felt again like thatinexperienced'syouth, bothexpectation for the unknown road anda trace of anxiety.
"Star-falling Land, Heavenly Dao Palace..." Xiao Qi murmured.
Tianji Zileave behind'sclues point there. That piece containing strange soul power fragments, and clues about Four Symbols Soul Crystals, all gathered at that mysterious place.
More importantly, he faintlyhad a premonition that there might be secrets about the demon lord,about his father,about the source of purificationhaverelated'sultimate answer.
Noon. Xiao Qi rested at a small town.
The town was small, onlydozens of households, yet becausenear several trade routes appeared quite lively. On the streetmortal merchants shouting to sell,alsohavecultivatorhurried past,impure aura.
Xiao Qi sat at a tea stall, ordered a pot ofclear tea.
The rabbit spirit jumped off his shoulder,curiously wandered around the tea stall,sometimes sniffing the tea canister,sometimes looking at the steamer'ssteamed buns,making the stall owner laugh heartily.
"Guest, your spirit beast is really clever." The stall owner was middle-aged,fullfacefleshy face yeteyes revealing kindness.
Xiao Qi smiled: "Is quite mischievous indeed."
The rabbit spirit heard this,immediately ran back and bared its teeth at him, seeming toprotest"mischievous" this evaluation.
Xiao Qipoured it a cup of tea. Itholding it with two front paws,drinking in small sips,looking extremely cute.
At the next table satseveralcultivator,by their attire looked like rogue cultivators,were discussing animatedly.
"Did you hear? This time the Heavenly Dao Palace appears, even those reclusive old monsters can't sit still."
"Right. I heard Central Plains Royal Court sent three princes, Ten Thousand Sword Sect's Sword Heir also descended from mountain..."
"Xuanji Holy Land? That ancient sect supposedlyinherited for ten thousand years?"
"That's right. I heard Sage Maiden Mu Xue's cultivation isunfathomably deep, isthis Dao-seeking assembly'sfirst place."
Xiao Qiholding a tea cup,quietly listening.
"There is also Qingxu Temple's Tang Xiao Qi!" Arogue cultivator lowered his voice,tone full ofawe. "I heard he is also Golden Core True Lord, at the Dao Inquiry Assembly defeated three opponents easily. This time to the Heavenly Dao Palace he will definitely go."
"Tang Xiao Qi? Is that the hero who purified demonic energy and slew Golden Core demonic cultivators?"
"That's him! I heard he also has ancient inheritances, extremely powerful."
"Tsk tsk, such a genius. We can only look up to him."
Xiao Qiput down the tea cup,corner of his mouth slightly raised.
The rabbit spiritlooked up at him,eyes curved like crescent moons,seemed to be saying: They're praising you.
Xiao Qiflicked it'sears: "leaving,stillhavepathneed to hurry."
Heleft a few copper coins,got up and left the tea stall.
Town's end,an official road extended into the distance,end shrouded in clouds and mist,couldn't see clearly.
Xiao Qistopped for a moment, thenstepped into that unknown'sclouds and mist.
noise behind gradually faded,ahead'spath,onlyhavehe and the rabbit spirit walked side by side.
Sunset. Xiao Qistopped at a mountain peak.
From herelooked, Qingxu Temple's directionalready out of sight,replacing'swas continuous'smountains and endless'swilderness.
Evening windblew,carrying plants'sfresh scent.
The rabbit spiritsquatted on a rock,gazing into the distance lost in thought.
Xiao Qisat down beside it: "what are you thinking?"
The rabbit spirit "squeak"called out twice,voice very soft.
Xiao Qithough couldn't quite understand,yet somehow felt in its emotions'sa trace of melancholy.
"don't worry," hepatted it'shead, "no matter what lies aheadpathhow,I will protect you's."
The rabbit spiritturned to look at him. Itslike purple gems'seyes reflecting the sunset glow.
Then itjumped onto his'sshoulder,use it'ssmall head rubbed against him'sface.
Xiao Qismiled,stood up,opened arms to the evening wind.
"let's go,to see those geniuses,to venture into that legendary'sHeavenly DaoPalace."
His voicescattered in the wind,yet exceptionally clear.
"thispath,we walk together."
night gradually deepened,stars lit up one by one in the sky.
one person and one rabbit'sfigure,gradually merged into thisvast and hazyheaven and earthwithin.
ahead'spathstill long,beforepathunpredictable,fortune hard to predict.
But at this moment, Xiao Qi's heartyet very calm.
Because he knew,wherever they went, Qingxu Templewould always be his'shome,senior brothers and sisters would always be his'ssupport.
And ahead at Star-falling Land, waited a bigger stage,stronger'sopponents,and deeper'ssecrets.
He, Tang Xiao Qi,ready.