Chapter 123: Ants

Chen Lingxi refined the Sword Edge Qi and opened his eyes underwater.

The newly refined precious qi had completely integrated into his qi sea. It now circulated slowly within, flanking his Profound Qi on the left and right.

At that exact moment, a rumbling roar echoed from the distant horizon.

The sound rolled in like muffled thunder at the edge of the world, swelling in an instant into an earth-shattering boom.

Chen Lingxi's expression remained unchanged. He simply tilted his head up slightly, his gaze piercing through layers of rippling water toward the source of the blast.

Over there, spiritual qi seethed like boiling water.

Three distinctly different fluctuations of spiritual qi fiercely collided, each clash erupting with dense, heavy spiritual light.

'Lu Baizhong is fighting those two Great Zhou cultivators, and Lin Suri is watching from the shadows.'

Chen Lingxi calculated the timing based on his Absolute Perception Deduction.

A short while later.

A pale golden streak of lightning suddenly exploded across the distant sky. Right behind the lightning came a towering, radiant bridge of spiritual light spanning the heavens.

'Xi Yuan's Longevity Bridge is here.'

Chen Lingxi watched in silence.

He watched the Longevity Bridge and the pale golden lightning smash into each other in midair. Spiritual light and thunder clashed madly, the shockwaves shaking the heavens.

Following the impact, the pale golden lightning abruptly dimmed. Like a dying star, it plummeted diagonally from the sky, crashing straight toward the third mountain peak.

Lu Baizhong.

He had been injured in his clash with Xi Yuan.

Just as the Absolute Perception Deduction had foreseen.

Within Chen Lingxi's mind, the myriad scenes he had witnessed in the Absolute Perception Divine Chamber flashed past like a spinning lantern.

Lu Baizhong had been struck by Xi Yuan's Longevity Bridge so hard that he coughed up blood, forcing him to flee and heal.

His destination was exactly that cliffside cave on the third mountain peak.

'Now is the perfect chance to kill him.' Chen Lingxi's eyes were as calm as still water.

He stood up, employing the Hidden Edge Method to conceal his presence, and set off toward the cliffs of the third mountain.

His pace was neither rushed nor slow. Strolling leisurely in a quiet courtyard, he passed through the dense forest, crossed mountain streams, and crested the ridges.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Ancestral Mountain.

Lin Suri had transformed into a streak of pale golden light, also intending to head toward Lu Baizhong.

He had sensed Lu Baizhong's aura.

Though the pale golden lightning had dimmed, it still could not escape his divine sense.

Just as he was about to give chase in that direction...

The sound of footsteps drifted over from the distance.

Lin Suri abruptly turned his head.

Approaching from behind was the young general Zheng Wuzheng, carrying a massive banner on his back and leading three hundred Silver Bone soldiers. Not far away, the spiritual lights of several other experts flared as they closed in on him.

Lin Suri's eyes flickered, and he stopped in his tracks... Back among the mountain cliffs.

Lu Baizhong sat cross-legged inside an extremely well-hidden cave.

His eyes were closed, and extremely faint pale golden lightning circulated around his body.

He was healing his injuries.

Xi Yuan was at the Qi Circulation 8th Floor. Combined with the joint attacks of the two Great Zhou cultivators, even someone as strong as Lu Baizhong had suffered significant wounds.

Right now, he was using a strange streak of lightning to heal. Coupled with the profound properties of his Golden Blood, his wounds were mending at an astonishing rate.

At that exact moment, Lu Baizhong opened his eyes and looked toward the cave entrance. The lightning around him surged, and wariness flashed in his gaze.

The sound of footsteps echoed from outside the cave.

The footsteps made no attempt at stealth. Instead, they were as relaxed as if someone were taking a stroll through their own backyard.

Yet within that casual, unhurried gait lay a chilling murderous intent that struck fear into the heart.

Lu Baizhong rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Then, he saw the newcomer. Outside the cave, a figure walked slowly through the starlight.

The man was tall and lean, with a saber strapped to his waist. He wore dark black robes, the hem fluttering gently in the night breeze.

His face was young and handsome, carrying an extraordinary air, while the aura surrounding him felt as deep and heavy as an abyss.

Chen Lingxi.

Lu Baizhong's pupils shrank slightly.

Not long ago, he had hunted this very man down on account of his jade decree agreement with Crown Prince Ying Chi.

At that time, this person was merely at the Qi Circulation 4th Floor. A casual bolt of lightning had forced him to flee in a panic. If not for the overwhelming blood energy pressure of a peerless expert like Xiao Changlv abruptly sweeping across the sky, the man would have already died by his hand.

But now, after a mere seven or eight months, this person had reappeared, and his entire presence and spiritual qi were completely different.

Lu Baizhong remained silent, fixing his gaze on Chen Lingxi. The precious sword resting across his knees crackled with hidden lightning.

Chen Lingxi stared back at Lu Baizhong.

He had now stepped into the Qi Circulation 7th Floor. Bolstered by his cultivation base, his Six Qi True Method had become even sharper and more extraordinary.

The Method of Qi Observation circulated silently in his eyes, allowing him to see straight through Lu Baizhong's internal energy flow. Then, a hint of surprise flashed in his gaze.

'Lu Baizhong actually stumbled upon such an opportunity?'

Under the Method of Qi Observation, he could faintly see a streak of lightning brewing within Lu Baizhong's body.

It lay dormant deep within Lu Baizhong's qi sea like a slumbering lightning behemoth. Though it had not yet awakened, it already radiated a terrifying, heart-palpitating pressure.

That lightning was immensely dense and profoundly mystical.

It was not something Lu Baizhong had cultivated himself. Rather, it looked like a strand of unripened origin qi that had been forcibly refined into his body.

Though it had yet to mature, it still harbored an array of extraordinary energies.

Within that energy, one could faintly hear the rumble of thunder, see arcs of electricity dancing, and feel the vast majesty of heaven. It was as if someone had sealed a true heavenly bolt inside his qi sea, just waiting for the right moment to violently detonate.

This lightning qi was overbearing, fierce, and incredibly difficult to control.

Lu Baizhong had integrated this precious qi into his body, yet he hadn't been able to fully refine it.

It acted like a vicious beast imprisoned in his qi sea. Despite being suppressed, it continued to struggle and roar, desperate to break free of its bindings and return to heaven and earth.

A glint of golden light flashed in Chen Lingxi's eyes. 'This lightning precious qi is this profound? Did Lu Baizhong acquire it here in the Ancestral Mountain?'

'Lu Baizhong's lightning sword light is nurturing this qi. At this rate, it will take only five or six days for this lightning precious qi to fully mature and grow even stronger.'

As he thought to himself, Lu Baizhong finally spoke. "Chen Lingxi... I underestimated you last time. Just what is your background?"

Chen Lingxi remained silent.

He simply stood there, meeting Lu Baizhong's gaze with calm eyes.

Lu Baizhong waited a moment. Seeing no answer, he asked again, "Did you ambush me here, hoping to take advantage of my heavy injuries to kill me and get your revenge?"

As he spoke, a hint of disdain crept into his tone.

It was as if he were looking at a petty coward trying to kick a man while he was down.

Chen Lingxi still said nothing.

The Method of Qi Observation hummed in his eyes as he gazed at the dormant lightning precious qi inside Lu Baizhong.

The lightning circulated slowly in the depths of his qi sea, every rotation accompanied by a microscopic rumble of thunder.

And that unripe lightning precious qi was slowly transforming under the nourishment of Lu Baizhong's spiritual qi. 'If I could obtain such a precious qi...'

But he immediately shook his head. 'It hasn't matured yet. Forcibly harvesting it now would only damage the precious qi.'

So Chen Lingxi thought for a moment, then suddenly shook his head. "In the struggle for the Great Dao, you revealed a flaw. I really should kill you."

He paused, shifting his gaze from the lightning precious qi in Lu Baizhong's qi sea to his cold, indifferent eyes.

"However..."

Chen Lingxi suddenly raised his hand, and a beam of purple light shot from his fingertip.

Purple True Precious Qi!

The precious qi traced a purple arc through the air, shooting straight toward Lu Baizhong.

Lu Baizhong's pupils constricted slightly.

He remained seated cross-legged, not moving an inch, but the precious sword on his lap instantly flew from its sheath.

The layer of pale golden lightning on the scabbard flared blindingly bright, and a bolt of lightning erupted from the blade to intercept the Purple True Precious Qi.

Lightning and purple qi collided in midair. Sizzle.

A soft hiss echoed out.

The lightning and the purple qi canceled each other out. Only a few specks of light drifted slowly through the air before vanishing without a trace.

Chen Lingxi stood with one hand clasped behind his back, his aura burning fiercely.

"With the augmentation of this unripened precious qi, your lightning sword qi has grown vastly more tyrannical... This lightning precious qi truly is extraordinary."

He stood there, his robes snapping in the wind, his whole being like a famous sword concealed within its scabbard.

He raised a hand, pointing his index finger straight at Lu Baizhong. "But I have taken a liking to that strand of lightning precious qi in your body. I intend to harvest it for my own cultivation!"

"This precious qi still needs five or six days to mature. I will come back to kill you then."

At those words, Lu Baizhong's expression shifted slightly.

He narrowed his eyes. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, and a look of genuine interest appeared on his face.

"The spiritual qi you just revealed places you only at the Qi Circulation 7th Floor. Among everyone at the seventh floor, my killing power is second to none."

His tone was calm. There was no arrogance in his eyes, only unvarnished honesty. Then, the man slowly stood up.

A bone-chilling pressure surged out, blotting the sky as it crashed toward Chen Lingxi.

"I suggest you make your move while I am heavily injured. Otherwise, once my wounds heal, you won't have to come looking for me. I will hunt you down."

At those words, an unimaginable aura of slaughter erupted from his body and bore down entirely upon Chen Lingxi.

Meeting Lu Baizhong's gaze, Chen Lingxi's eyes showed not a shred of fear. "That streak of lightning qi within you is a truly great opportunity here in the Qi-Depleted Grotto-Heaven. The virtuous shall claim it—such is the law of heaven and earth."

"Besides, Lu Baizhong, since you proclaim your killing power to be unmatched at the Qi Circulation 7th Floor..."

Chen Lingxi stared straight back at him. "If I don't defeat you, how will I know that my cultivation has already surpassed those so-called noble cultivators?"

Having said his piece, he lingered no longer and turned around.

"Rest and heal well."

"In five or six days, I will come to take that precious qi."

With those parting words, he strode out of the cave.

His footsteps were measured and unhurried, just as composed as when he arrived. Lu Baizhong stood in the cave as Chen Lingxi departed.

The smile on his face vanished completely, replaced by a look of deep solemnity.

"This man is even more arrogant than I am... He must have something to back it up."

"Chen Lingxi..."

—

Chen Lingxi left the mountain cliffs.

He walked slowly along the path he had come from. Half an hour later, he raised his head and gazed into the distance.

Far away, high in the sky, a towering Longevity Bridge spanned the heavens. Xi Yuan sat securely atop it, his Daoist robes snapping violently in the night wind.

The Longevity Bridge was pursuing two silhouettes.

It was the two truth-seekers from the Great Zhou Empire.

One wore dark robes, and the other was dressed in moon-white brocade. Right now, they were fleeing in sheer panic. Their spiritual light was dim, and their clothes were in tatters—it was clear they had been completely suppressed by Xi Yuan, unable to fight back.

Xi Yuan, an expert at the Qi Circulation 8th Floor, steered the Longevity Bridge as he hunted down these two unfamiliar truth-seekers. Chen Lingxi narrowed his eyes.

He watched for a moment but made no move to intervene.

'If I act rashly and disrupt the current timeline, it might ruin my plans. The losses would outweigh the gains.'

He stopped watching the chase playing out in the sky and deliberately sought out a river extremely close to where Imperial Consort Chun was destined to appear, sinking into its waters.

He concealed his edge and masked his presence.

He simply sat peacefully at the bottom of the river, closing his eyes to breathe and cultivate.

A long time passed.

Another heaven-shaking roar erupted in the distance.

Chen Lingxi opened his eyes.

He lifted his head, his gaze piercing the layers of water to look in the direction of the noise.

Over there, blood energy seethed like boiling water.

An unimaginable surge of blood energy shot into the sky, clashing wildly against a wave of spiritual qi. 'Lin Suri has made his move to kill that old eunuch from the palace.'

Chen Lingxi recalled the Absolute Perception Deduction, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.

'At this point, Imperial Consort Chun will be showing herself soon.'

Right at that moment, the clouds and mist in the far distance violently churned. A massive hand formed of spiritual qi, carrying terrifying pressure, slammed down toward Lin Suri!

The overlapping layers of clouds were pushed aside, revealing a small, flawlessly white boat.

The boat hovered above the sea of clouds, and a slender, tall figure stood at its prow.

It was none other than Imperial Consort Chun!

Just as it had been during the Absolute Perception Deduction.

Imperial Consort Chun had indeed arrived.

Her opening move was that heaven-shaking, earth-shattering grand handprint.

In the exact instant the giant palm crashed down, several more streaks of spiritual light blasted into the sky from the distance.

Xi Yuan, the Great Zhou cultivators, a recovered Lu Baizhong, and numerous other cultivators all appeared at once, surrounding Imperial Consort Chun to slay her! In an instant, the Ancestral Mountain trembled, and the void flashed white.

The brilliance of their spells and divine abilities interwove, dyeing the clouds in the sky into a gorgeous yet terrifying display of multicolored light.

Chen Lingxi sat peacefully at the bottom of the river, watching the spectacle unfold in the heavens.

His eyes were entirely devoid of ripples.

'Imperial Consort Chun...'

The scenes he had witnessed that day in the illusion of the Host Star Stone surfaced in his mind.

Within that treasure mirror, a foot wearing an embroidered flower shoe had stomped down from the highest heavens, crushing that densely packed swarm of ants into powder.

And as Imperial Consort Chun watched the reflection in the mirror, she wore a condescending, indifferent smile on her face, completely uncaring.

Ants.

Those whose homes and clans were exterminated because of a single word from her Mirror Listening; those who knelt on the execution grounds and had their heads severed; those who died in agonizing pain in the reverse-facing rooms—in her eyes, they were all nothing but a swarm of insignificant ants.

Crushed to death, and that was that.

His father, his mother—they were just two among that swarm of ants. Chen Lingxi remained seated at the bottom of the river, the water flowing gently three feet away from his body.

Yet the aura surrounding him was entirely different from before. The spiritual pool in his qi sea was no longer tightly suppressed by the Hidden Edge Method; instead, it began to slowly churn.

The golden light of the Profound Qi and the silvery-white of the Sword Edge Qi seeped out from his body in thin, continuous strands.

It was at this exact moment that Chen Lingxi raised his head.

His eyes pierced the layers of water, locking onto the fierce battlefield still raging high in the sky.

Up there, Imperial Consort Chun stood upon her boat. Her spiritual light blazed fiercely, her robes flowing like the twilight clouds, exuding an unmatched, regal grace!

She waved her hands, and spell after spell poured out in all directions like a torrential rainstorm, forcing the cultivators surrounding her to retreat again and again.

Meanwhile, Chen Lingxi's eyes overflowed with killing intent.