Chapter Nine: Conflict

This was the first time the two of them had ever knelt before Yin Tianfang since they began following him. In the Azure Cloud Sect, the menial workers had no rights whatsoever. Ordinary people, ignorant of this reality, imagined that entering the path of cultivation would elevate them above others. Little did they know that entering a sect was merely the beginning of cruelty.

If a formal disciple killed a menial worker, it was no different from crushing a grasshopper. But if a menial worker so much as injured a formal disciple, death awaited them. How utterly unjust! Yet such were the rules—the rules of the cultivation world’s sects. But to become a formal disciple was not something ordinary people could achieve; most had survived the menial phase, their strength formidable and their minds deep as the sea. How could a menial worker possibly harm them?

Despite learning these brutal truths, those who became menials in the sect did not consider leaving. Having sacrificed so much to enter a cultivation sect, who would willingly give up? Even without access to cultivation techniques, they were unwilling to surrender their hopes. They all longed that, one day, by their own efforts, they could shed their menial status, obtain the way of cultivation, and soar to the heavens.

It was this hope that sustained tens of thousands of menial workers in the Azure Cloud Sect, allowing them to bitterly cling to their dreams.

Humans must have hope to survive; if hope is lost, then they wait for miracles. For Zhang Ping and Lin Fan, the day of their miracle had arrived. Staring at the three Qi Condensation scrolls placed upon the table by Yin Tianfang, both felt a surge of uncontrollable excitement in their hearts.

Years of perseverance were finally rewarded in this moment.

“Thank you, young master!” This bow came from the depths of their hearts, the sincerest of bows. Yin Tianfang had given them hope, given them a chance to rise above their station. This bow also strengthened their resolve to follow Yin Tianfang faithfully.

After a long while, the two slowly rose from the ground, stepped to the table, and carefully unrolled the scrolls, reading and memorizing every word of the three Qi Condensation techniques with utmost seriousness.

At that moment, Yin Tianfang was unaware that his gesture would provoke such a profound reaction in the two.

Seeking out a secluded spot, Yin Tianfang sat cross-legged and began the breathing exercises described in the three Qi Condensation scrolls. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him, drawn by his peculiar breathing, flowed into his body and circulated within...

After a long time, Yin Tianfang ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes, a trace of confusion flickering within them. According to the scrolls, when one sensed Qi within, it meant the spiritual energy of the world had been drawn in. With the prescribed circulation, it would gather in the dantian, becoming a sea of Qi.

Yet every time the spiritual energy sank into his dantian, it vanished without a trace. No matter how hard Yin Tianfang searched, he could not find the slightest remnant of spiritual energy. This troubled him deeply.

Fortunately, the large amount of spiritual energy within his body, unable to find release, had been stagnating and solidifying his meridians. Now, as he began to walk the path of cultivation, this condition was gradually improving. The crystalline spiritual energy clogging his meridians was, little by little, dissipating under his efforts. Yet where this vanished energy went, Yin Tianfang could not fathom.

“Sigh, never mind. So long as I live, that is enough.” Yin Tianfang was optimistic. Even if he could not enter the immortal path, living a peaceful, ordinary life was not a bad thing.

Time passed swiftly—three months went by in a blink. During these three months, Yin Tianfang cultivated tirelessly. The spiritual energy that had once clogged and solidified his meridians was now nearly all gone. At this rate, it would not be long before he was no different from an ordinary person, never again to suffer that inhuman torment.

“Where has Master gone? Why hasn’t he returned yet?” It had been three months since autumn began and since the Daoist Wuchen departed from Azure Cloud Sect.

Yin Tianfang found himself missing the Daoist Wuchen.

He held a special affection for his master. Orphaned from childhood and scorned in the Ye family, it was Daoist Wuchen who took him away, accepted him as a disciple, cared for him, taught him the way of cultivation, and protected him without question.

In his heart, he thought, even a true father could do no more.

After such a long absence, Yin Tianfang missed him dearly and yearned for his swift return.

...

On North Peak, in another courtyard both simple and refined, Ye Tianxing sat cross-legged with eyes closed, practicing his breathing. Traces of spiritual radiance, invisible to the naked eye, hovered about him, quivering gently with each measured breath.

Suddenly, the radiance sank into Ye Tianxing’s body. He opened his eyes, their inky depths now sharper, his aura subtly transformed. Almost at the same moment, Qingfeng and Qingyue arrived.

“Congratulations, junior brother, you’ve finally reached the first level of Qi Condensation,” Qingfeng said with a smile.

“Yes, in just three months you’ve reached the first level. Such talent even Qingfeng and I cannot match,” Qingyue added.

“You flatter me, senior brothers. Without your patient guidance these past three months, I could never have succeeded so quickly. Truly, it is thanks to you both,” Ye Tianxing replied, deeply grateful though his heart brimmed with joy.

“Don’t be so modest. Come, I’ll take you to the Treasury Pavilion. Once one reaches Qi Condensation, they may choose a treasure there.”

Overjoyed, Ye Tianxing hurried after Qingfeng and Qingyue toward the main peak. Before long, they reached a stone bridge, where Ye Tianxing paused, glancing toward Yin Tianfang’s cave dwelling.

“What’s wrong, junior brother?” Qingfeng and Qingyue stopped, puzzled.

“Could I trouble you both to wait a moment? Yin Tianfang is, after all, my cousin, and now a fellow disciple. He’s been frail since childhood, and I worry for him. I’d like to check on him,” Ye Tianxing said apologetically.

“You are certainly loyal, but that boy is too arrogant. I advise you not to treat him too well,” Qingfeng and Qingyue responded, their expressions darkening at the mention of Yin Tianfang. Clearly, they still resented the previous incident.

Yet Ye Tianxing’s loyalty only improved their opinion of him. Such a person, they felt, was worth befriending.

“Go ahead, we’ll wait here,” Qingfeng said.

Ye Tianxing, delighted, thanked them and hurried toward the cave. Arriving nearby, he looked around but saw no sign of Yin Tianfang, so he furrowed his brow and entered the cave.

“Stop! Who are you?” Two figures approached swiftly, shouting as they came. Ye Tianxing halted and turned, a cold light in his eyes.

“Are you speaking to me?” Ye Tianxing replied icily. Even before, no one dared address him so rudely. Now that he had entered the path of immortality, with his status and cultivation far above what it once was, how could he tolerate such insolence?

“Forgive us, my lord! We did not know it was you!” Zhang Ping and Lin Fan immediately paled, bowing in terror at the sight of Ye Tianxing’s face.

“Forgive you? And what if I don’t?” Ye Tianxing sneered, a sense of superiority swelling within him. “Two lowly menials, daring to raise your voices to me—you must have a death wish. Kneel!”

Zhang Ping and Lin Fan exchanged glances, anger flashing in their eyes. It was clear Ye Tianxing meant only to humiliate them.

“What? Still thinking to resist? It seems you’re tired of living!” Seeing their hesitation, Ye Tianxing’s gaze grew colder.

“Ye Tianxing, that’s enough!” A figure rushed over, placing himself before Zhang Ping and Lin Fan, glaring at Ye Tianxing.

“Ye Tianxing, don’t go too far. This isn’t the Ye family,” Yin Tianfang said angrily.

Ye Tianxing merely smiled indifferently. “So what if it isn’t? Remember, I’m still your senior brother. What, your two servants offended me—shouldn’t they be punished? I’m only making them kneel, not killing them.”

“Hmph! And who are you that they should kneel?” Yin Tianfang retorted coldly, shooting Ye Tianxing a fierce glare. “Let’s go, don’t bother with him,” he said, pulling Zhang Ping and Lin Fan away.

Ye Tianxing’s expression darkened, and he reached out to grab Yin Tianfang. Yin Tianfang felt a chill down his spine and spun around just as Ye Tianxing’s hand clamped onto his shoulder. Once, Yin Tianfang was no match for him; now, with Ye Tianxing at the first level of Qi Condensation, the gap was even greater. Pain shot through Yin Tianfang as he struggled, but Ye Tianxing’s grip was like iron.

“Let go of the young master!” Zhang Ping and Lin Fan turned pale at the sight, seeing Yin Tianfang’s pain. Without hesitation, they rushed to attack Ye Tianxing.

The moment they moved, Ye Tianxing’s face changed and he hastily released Yin Tianfang, retreating in alarm. There had been a faint ripple of spiritual power when Zhang Ping and Lin Fan struck.

They had both reached the first level of Qi Condensation!

“What’s going on?” Qingfeng and Qingyue, having waited long, finally came over—only to find the confrontation on the verge of erupting. Sensing the faint aura about Zhang Ping and Lin Fan, their frowns deepened.

“How dare you, menials—stealing the method of cultivation!” Qingfeng and Qingyue’s eyes narrowed, cold light flickering within.

“Senior brothers, I taught them the technique. It has nothing to do with them,” Yin Tianfang quickly interjected.

“Hmph, junior brother Tianxing came to see you out of kindness, yet you let your servants lay hands on him. Is this how you treat your fellow disciples?” Qingfeng snapped.

“Senior brother, I—”

“Silence!” Qingfeng cut him off, not allowing any explanation. “If you show no respect to your own cousin, how will you treat me, your senior brother?”

“Don’t think that just because the master favors you, you can act with impunity,” Qingyue added coldly. Both harbored jealousy toward Yin Tianfang due to the master’s favoritism, and with Ye Tianxing fanning the flames, they had no fondness for him at all.

“When the master returns, I’ll report everything. As for these two, I’ll cripple their cultivation as punishment!” With a tap of his toe, Qingyue launched himself at Zhang Ping and Lin Fan.

In Azure Cloud Sect, menials had no right to cultivate. Only outer disciples were given the three Qi Condensation scrolls, while inner disciples had to reach the third level before receiving more advanced teachings. Qingyue was an inner disciple of the sect, and also a disciple of Daoist Wuchen, possessing formidable strength. Zhang Ping and Lin Fan were no match for him; even if they were, the difference in status meant they dared not strike back.

A faint spiritual light danced around Qingyue as his aura transformed. Zhang Ping and Lin Fan felt a suffocating pressure descend, their faces going pale. Under such weight, they could not even muster the thought of resistance.

“No!” Seeing disaster about to befall Zhang Ping and Lin Fan, Yin Tianfang leaped forward, blocking their path.

A muffled thud rang out.

Qingyue, startled, tried to pull back, but it was already too late. His palm struck Yin Tianfang’s chest. Blood spurted from Yin Tianfang’s mouth as he was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground...