Chapter Thirty-Eight: Rain on the Mountain, Dampness in the Valley

A meteor streaked across the reddish-brown evening sky, dragonflies drifting in every direction. Birds yet to depart for the southeast perched on wooden fences and branches. Xu Xing’s words pierced the heavens like a sword, urgent and unwavering. Time waits for no one; even if only for a single night, he must give his all to secure a good ranking.

“Sister Zi Yan, where is Sister Zhou Lingya? It’s rare to see fiery clouds, and when the sky is so clear, how come she’s not here?” he asked.

“She’s gone out to seek a kindred spirit. I doubt she’ll return for at least two days,” Zi Yan replied with a gentle smile. Hearing Xu Xing’s determination, she felt proud—her expression radiated genuine satisfaction.

So, after all these days, Zhou Lingya already had someone close to her. Watching the paired birds in the persimmon tree, Xu Xing realized he had always treated her as single.

“How is the ranking at the Newcomers’ Tournament decided?” Xu Xing’s time was running out; he was desperate to know how to earn a top spot. He must strive for the top ten! Only then could he help Zi Yan obtain the Divine Essence Secret Method, and gain better cultivation resources for himself.

“There are three ways,” Zi Yan explained. “First, testing your spiritual roots—Sister Zhou Lingya has already told you about this. It’s innate and cannot be changed.”

“Second, the art of controlling objects. You seem already adept—I saw you wield a sword that day.”

“Third, the martial contest. This is what matters most. The first two merely show talent; the last tests much more—your state of mind, adaptability, fundamentals, and many other aspects.”

Xu Xing nodded, committing it to memory. He still didn’t know his own spiritual roots. His sword control had only been awakened by his bloodline power that day, and he was far from mastering it; more effort was needed. As for martial skills, so far he only knew the Burning Text Secret Method and the sword techniques he had grasped. He hadn’t really learned any other secret methods. The techniques he had borrowed from Xu Hai were shallow at best.

The thought troubled him. Now, he could only ask Sister Zi Yan to teach him some techniques to strengthen his abilities.

“Sister, could you teach me a technique?” Xu Xing asked.

“No, that won’t do. The rules are strict—before newcomers enter the academy, no guide may disclose their own techniques. Some methods are too powerful and would undermine the fairness of the competition. If you and I used identical techniques, it would be as if you forfeited.”

Zi Yan answered helplessly. Zhou Lingya had once promised to teach him a technique, but now she was nowhere to be found.

At such a crucial moment, she had gone off to flirt and dally! There was no other way; Xu Xing would just have to diligently refine his sword technique and aim to defeat his opponent in a single strike.

If he couldn’t cultivate other methods, why not master one move to perfection, so it could transform the mundane into the divine?

Bang, bang, bang.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation.

Upon opening it, two men entered. They were robust, about five feet tall, and wore robes marked with a white “Sea” character—a sign they belonged to the Northern Sea Academy.

“Zi Yan, join us for the journey to Northern Sea Academy,” one called out in a boisterous yet chilly voice.

Zi Yan turned her head, smiling warmly at Xu Xing, and stepped forward to gently embrace him.

Xu Xing, enveloped in her arms, felt warmth spreading through his entire body. He raised his own arms, meaning to hold her, but caught only empty air.

Zi Yan had already released him, stepped through the door, and smiled back.

“Tomorrow, I will come to lead you,” she said.

Xu Xing watched Zi Yan leave, her graceful figure fading among the dancing shadows of the trees. He spoke, but his words were indistinct and mumbled.

Zi Yan turned, her smile alluring. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“That beauty is… damp. No, that’s nothing. Farewell, Sister. I will shine like a brilliant new star, radiating my own light!”

In her final moments before disappearing, Zi Yan smiled sweetly at Xu Xing and called out, “Brother, don’t worry about rankings. Knowing me is reward enough!”

All was settled. Zi Yan was gone. Now he must calm his heart and focus on cultivation.

He took out the piece of decayed wood and pondered its origins. Injecting spiritual energy into it, his sword at his waist began to resonate and hum.

“What’s happening?” Xu Xing exclaimed, infusing more energy.

Suddenly, a tidal wave of memory surged into his mind, unearthing fragments long buried.

These were sealed memories.

He was born with the Six Innate Gifts: gold, wood, water, fire, earth, and chaos—six spiritual roots.

Years ago, he entered Zhuoding Academy, tested his roots, and took first place. He became famous, a force to be reckoned with at Zhuoding Academy.

This drew the attention of the three great sects behind the three major academies of Sea City. Just as everyone believed he would enter the Zhuoding Sect, disaster struck.

Li Chunyi, exploiting his family’s connections, falsely accused him of taking forbidden drugs.

Through sinister schemes, Xu Xing was branded a cheater and denied recognition by the three major sects.

He should have soared to greatness, but instead his reputation rotted. Now, everyone saw him as someone who relied on forbidden drugs for fame and fortune.

In fury, he beat Li Chunyi into a near-dead state. At the time, Li Chunyi was less than half as strong as Xu Xing.

Li Chunyi still had the backing of the Li family. When they learned of the incident, they were furious.

They dispatched a host of experts to hunt Xu Xing down.

His father, Xu Changjiang, leveraged all his connections to suppress the matter, allowing Xu Xing to survive.

Once, while traveling, Xu Xing was ambushed by the Li family’s agents, beaten until his memories blurred, all his meridians shattered, his life hanging by a thread.

Only through the intervention of a master did he survive.

Now, all those memories returned!

Hatred!

It grew clearer and clearer.

His father had ventured into the mysterious sea, seeking fortunes to hire experts for his protection—all because of Li Chunyi!

Li Chunyi’s enmity was etched into Xu Xing’s bones.

Until Xu Xing fell, until he lay buried beneath the sea, until the world forgot his name, he would never forget.

Even if Li Chunyi summoned the heavens, Xu Xing would make him bear their weight.

Gritting his teeth, Xu Xing drew his sword and danced in the courtyard, wind swirling around him.

With the rising wind, the clouds soared.

He continued until his strength was spent, his vision blurred, and darkness blanketed the sky.

Passersby near the courtyard felt a wave of resentment emanating from within.

Withered leaves dropped from the persimmon tree, carried by the wind to the bustling night market.

A cultivator who had reached the peak of Qi Refining touched a leaf and was struck by the sword energy within, falling unconscious.

Night.

The wind picked up.

The withered leaves in the courtyard, swept by the breeze, flew into streets and alleys.

Cultivators who merely glanced at the drifting leaves felt an unexplainable sense of oppression.

That night, the city was shrouded in a mysterious fear.

Leaves fell like dandelion seeds carried by the wind.

Those who practiced swordsmanship saw the floating leaves and felt their souls tremble; their swords at their waists resonated for the leaves.

It rained in the city that night.

Each drop carried sword energy, resentment—the anger of a young man!

Rain fell in the places where cultivators lived atop the mountain.

No rain fell where the townsfolk below resided, but the city below was drenched.

Kong Mo stood beneath a dead tree, noticing the damp ground.

He first wondered, then looked up in astonishment at the dark sky.

“Strange, rain falls atop the mountain, but how does it wet the city below?”

He pondered for a long while, leaning on a wooden staff, and sighed.

“How could those on the mountain move those below?”

“Could it be that the bloodline power of that brash youth has erupted? I must go see!”

...

“Hey, boy, get up and drink!”

The exhausted Xu Xing stirred at the mention of “wine,” blinking awake. Seeing Kong Mo perched on the wall, he was startled.

“You old man, how did you get here? And how did you know I live here?”

“Never mind that. This time, I brought fine wine.”

“Bring it out!”

Kong Mo entered the courtyard, and Xu Xing’s sleep vanished.

The two lay on rocking chairs, drinking as they watched the clear pond. Xu Xing, inspired, scooped up several red carp.

“Hurry up, old man, light the fire!”

Smoke rose from the courtyard, the aroma of fish drifting out.

“You know, the fish Zhou Lingya raised are truly excellent.”

“They taste superb! Dried fish with wine—may it last forever! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”