Chapter 214 - As Long As I’m Here, You Are All Second-Rate

Xiao Guike and the azure bull trudged out of the Yunmeng Marsh in low spirits.

“Xu Fu came to Shangjing Palace to ask me to emerge from seclusion and travel the world. He told me that exorcism arts run rampant in this era, and people eagerly line up to become prey for the fishermen. The thought breaks my heart,” said Xiao Guike.

Xiao Guike arrived at the shores of Dongting Lake. Pausing in his tracks, he snapped off a willow branch and said gloomily, “True cultivation focuses on Qi and leads to longevity, never to a death trap. Since they remain obstinate, I will beat some sense into them and prove that Qi cultivation alone grants eternal life.”

He snapped the willow branch in two and said bitterly, “But I lost just like that, not to Xu Ying, but to a young girl. I’ve let Xu Fu down, and I've let down all the ancestors of Shangjing Palace.”

The azure bull said, “Young Master, a single defeat never dictates a lifetime. A Qi Cultivator’s life is long. You have over three thousand years ahead of you, whereas Exorcists barely survive three hundred.”

Gazing across Dongting Lake’s vast blue waves, Xiao Guike sighed. “Unless I defeat Xu Ying, I cannot prove Qi cultivation's superiority. Letting evil exorcism techniques run wild shames every Qi Cultivator!”

The azure bull said, “The girl who defeated you used the divine abilities of Qi Cultivators. It wasn’t an exorcism technique, much less exorcism art! This isn’t enough to prove that Qi cultivation is inferior to Exorcism.”

A tiny spark of hope lit up in Xiao Guike’s eyes. Indeed, Shi Yuqing had wielded Mount Shu Sword Sect’s divine techniques, which owed nothing to exorcism!

He had lost this duel, but Qi cultivation had not lost!

“My own skills fell short. Qi cultivation itself remains undefeated!”

The spark of flame in his eyes blazed ever brighter. If his skills lagged behind hers, he would simply train harder and master his craft. There was always hope to win against her!

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted from the lake, stirring one’s thoughts. The music was deep and melodious, piercing through the white mist over the lake, as if passing through time.

Xiao Guike looked toward the sound and saw a small boat cutting through the calm lake surface. It emerged from the white mist and approached him. On that small boat, a blue-robed elder rowed the boat with creaking sounds as he worked the oars.

Seated at the bow was a man in white robes with blue accents, playing a zither.

When the song ended, the white-robed nab put down his seven-stringed zither and rose to his feet. Standing at the bow, he looked toward Xiao Guike and said softly, “You must be Xiao Guike of Shangjing Palace.”

Xiao Guike nodded and replied, “I am Xiao Guike. You are?”

“Exorcist Yuan Weiyang.” The white-robed man exuded calm, carefree grace.

He[1] gazed at him across the water and said unhurriedly, “I heard that you challenged twenty noble clans in the Divine Capital, and none of their descendants could defeat you. You dismissed exorcism techniques as trivial and vowed to abolish Exorcism in favor of Qi cultivation. Is that true?”

Xiao Guike’s expression darkened as he recalled his recent defeat. “Yes.”

Yuan Weiyang said, “If I defeat you with exorcism arts and techniques, will you recognize your error?”

Xiao Guike raised his eyebrow. He couldn’t help but laugh. “You will use exorcism arts and techniques to defeat me?”

Yuan Weiyang nodded slightly.

Xiao Guike said indifferently, “Ever since I emerged from the mountains, I’ve visited all the major Exorcist noble clans. Their disciples claimed to confront me with exorcism techniques, yet they merely copied the mystic arts and divine abilities of Qi Cultivators.

“When I challenged them to demonstrate true exorcism skills, they shrank back, terrified that their flawed techniques would shatter at the first blow. You are the first person brave enough to face me using true exorcism.”

Yuan Weiyang raised his hand. “Please.”

Xiao Guike took a deep breath and summoned his Golden Core. Primordial qi gathered beneath his feet, drawing Immortal Dao runes. He said in a deep voice, “Please!”

Yuan Weiyang let out a sharp cry and activated the Primordial Dao Heavenly Domain Resonance. Divine light mixed with vital energy shone forth from his acupoints, forming projections of gods and demons in the void around him like the orthodox gods of the Heavenly Dao!

The heavenly domains around him made it seem as if the Heavenly Dao World had descended!

Xiao Guike heard the chants of countless gods and demons. The incense offerings and prayers of innumerable creatures across the myriad realms transformed into an intrusion of the Heavenly Dao, flooding his mind with distracting thoughts!

Yuan Weiyang soared up at an angle, bearing the supreme might of the Heavenly Dao as he crushed down upon him!

Boom!

A terrifying tremor erupted from the shores of Dongting Lake. The surface exploded, sending towering white waves dozens of zhang high into the air before crashing down. Instantly, fierce shockwaves blasted outward, snapping trees and launching boulders through the air.

A moment later, silence returned. The waters of Dongting Lake surged back, refilling the crater that Yuan Weiyang's palm strike had blasted into the earth.

The azure bull’s eyes widened as he glared fiercely at Young Master Yuan Weiyang. However, the green-robed elder behind him reminded the bull of the old, dim-eyed Golden Crow perched on the Fusang Tree behind Xu Ying. He didn’t dare to act up.

This green-robed old man is likely a hidden great expert. I’d better not cause any trouble, or I’ll need to kowtow to save my life again.

The azure bull retracted his gaze and leaped onto a pitch-black demonic cloud, flying toward Mount Dongting dozens of li away.

On Mount Dongting, Xiao Guike lay sprawled out in a giant crater, steam rising from him.

The azure bull landed and found the young master of Shangjing Palace staring blankly up at the sky.

He cursed inwardly. I could easily console the young master when that girl, Shi Yuqing, beat him. She merely used Exorcism as a supplement to her primary Qi cultivation. But this young master, Yuan Weiyang, focuses primarily on Exorcism, and he crushed him with pure exorcism arts, not Qi cultivation divine abilities!

The bull shook his head. How could there be someone this strong?

Just as he was calculating what to say, Xiao Guike suddenly grabbed his wrist and said hoarsely, “Uncle-Master, I want to research Exorcism!”

On the shores of Dongting Lake, Yuan Weiyang stepped onto the shore and said to the green-robed elder, “Uncle Xiao, after this battle, I think I can return to the Divine Capital.”

Uncle Xiao bowed slightly. “I will go summon the clansmen.”

With an indifferent expression, Yuan Weiyang drifted away. His voice echoed back from afar, “I'm going ahead to secure a foothold in the Divine Capital to ensure no one can shake our Yuan clan upon our return.”

***

The Divine Capital.

A gloomy atmosphere hung in the air.

No one knew how many times it had happened already this year. Another young Qi Cultivator stormed into the Divine Capital to challenge the younger generations of the noble clans, using pure Qi cultivation to fight exorcism arts and setting off yet another conflict between Qi and Exorcism.

The younger generations of the noble clans had suffered defeat after defeat. These repeated failures severely shook their confidence and faith in exorcism arts and techniques!

The shock from these failures was even greater than when Ancestral Dragon stormed the Divine Capital!

After all, Ancestral Dragon was a legend, a myth, a great emperor who had dominated the ages. It only made sense for the noble clans to suffer defeat at his hands. In fact, exhausting the entire empire’s might to drive him back was already a glorious feat.

Things were different this time, however. It was those young people who had practiced Qi cultivation techniques who defeated them time and time again, trampling them and Exorcism under their feet, telling them that what they practiced was completely useless!

All of this only sent them a message: what they upheld was worthless. Even if they practiced dual cultivation, they could never match orthodox Qi cultivation!

It also told them they had only one path available: submit to the orthodoxy and return to Qi cultivation!

This was Qi cultivation’s retaliation against Exorcism; it was Qi cultivation's restoration!

On this day, as everyone in the Divine Capital panicked, Young Master Yuan Weiyang quietly walked into the city. He stepped forward to challenge the Qi Cultivators who had come to challenge the Divine Capital.

That day, these prodigies from three thousand years ago witnessed a figure who pushed exorcism arts to the fullest and used the six secrets to their limits!

Yuan Weiyang single-handedly crushed sixteen elite Qi Cultivators who had held the Divine Capital under their sway for over three months!

These sixteen Qi Cultivators were the prodigies selected by the ancestors of various ancient sects in the Immortal Realm three thousand years ago, during the great upheaval, to inherit their legacies.

They had endured countless hardships before their immortal ancestors recognized them as the seeds to carry on the lineage.

Their dominant reign over the Divine Capital had fully vindicated their ancestors' sharp judgment.

Yet they were all incapable of withstanding a single strike from Yuan Weiyang.

“Young Master Weiyang! The hope of exorcism techniques!”

In the Divine Capital, weeping crowds cheered Yuan Weiyang’s name, enshrining him as a god in their hearts until he turned to face them.

Yuan Weiyang said, “I’ll use Qi cultivation techniques to face your exorcism arts.”

That same day turned into a devastating calamity for the practitioners of Exorcism. Adopting the role of a Qi Cultivator, Young Master Weiyang swept through the heirs of every noble clan in the Divine Capital, unleashing divine abilities with unmatched power.

“Neither Exorcism nor Qi cultivation falls short. You do,” he declared.

Upon returning to the Yuan residence, he told the successors of the various noble clans who came to visit, “As long as I am here, every one of you remains second-rate.”

A few days later, the few remaining Yuan clan members returned to the Divine Capital and their residence.

Yuan Weiyang led the clan in paying respects to their ancestors. Their properties, which had been seized and distributed, were all returned one after another. The various noble clans began to curry favor with him, and people constantly came to propose marriage. One matchmaker even came under Old Ancestor Guo's orders to arrange a marriage with Guo Xiaodie.

Word came from the imperial city that the emperor was in poor health and planned to bestow a marriage on Yuan Weiyang.[2]

Yuan Weiyang neither refused nor objected. No one knew his true intent.

The green-robed Uncle Xiao walked up behind Yuan Weiyang and bowed. “Young Master, can you still not forget that person? In that case, why not reveal that you’re a woman?”

With a somber gaze, Yuan Weiyang replied, “If the Yuan clan hopes to survive in this dog-eat-dog era, it demands a domineering, strong-willed patriarch, not a woman. A girl will only make others think of us as weak.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “Since I have chosen to carry the Yuan clan on my back, I need to be a worthy patriarch and ensure that the Yuan clan is not harmed again. As for love...”

Her eyes dimmed. “We’ll talk about that in the future.”

Uncle Xiao sighed. “Young Master, you're the one carrying the Yuan clan on your back right now. Your return to the capital has shocked the world, but it also makes it easy for others to plot against you.”

Yuan Weiyang replied, “I’ve already comprehended the Dao of Heaven and Man. I’m connected to the myriad realms below and the gods of Heavenly Dao above. Even if an Exorcist Immortal strikes, they might not be able to do a thing to me.”

Just then, news spread in the city.

In the Qilian Mountain Range to the west, divine light ebbed and flowed within the Abyss of Cangwu. Several mountains of immeasurable height emerged overnight. Immortal light cascaded from above, stretching from the sky above to the underworld below, seemingly the legendary Kunlun.

The various noble clans stirred restlessly upon hearing the news.

***

At the Mount Shu Sword Sect.

The Bashu mountain ranges were massive, rivaling the hundred thousand mountains of Yunxiang. Among them, although the sword sect's seventy-two peaks weren't quite on the level of Mount Emei, they were still incredibly magnificent.

At the height of their prosperity, sword qi often flashed back and forth between these seventy-two peaks, weaving through the air.

Xu Ying and Shi Yuqing arrived at the sword sect. “Yuqing, where are our sword sect’s ancestors buried?”

Shi Yuqing asked warily, “Why are you asking about the ancestors’ graves?”

Xu Ying laughed. “Look at you. You think of me as a grave robber, don’t you? I’m the sword sect’s supreme elder, after all. How can I not pay my respects to them on my first visit?”

Shi Yuqing felt deeply ashamed and explained, “I wasn’t doubting you, Uncle-Master Ah Ying. It’s just that I discovered that grave robbers had desecrated our sword sect after I woke up. Many of our patriarchs' graves buried in the shaded areas at the base of the mountain have been dug up!”

She took out some tokens and said, “I was furious. When I went in to investigate, I found many of those tomb raiders dead inside the tombs. They had plundered my ancestors’ burial items clean, leaving only these tokens behind.”

Xu Ying took a look and recognized the items immediately. They were Mound-Rummaging seals engraved with the “Zhou” character, and General of the Household tokens engraved with the “Cao” character.

He wondered, I recognize the Zhou clan’s token, but which noble clan is the Cao clan?[3]

Shi Yuqing led him to pay respects to the successive patriarchs of the Mount Shu Sword Sect. Xu Ying memorized the tomb locations. It’s not that I’m coveting the ancestors’ treasures; I only wish to learn their Dao arts...

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his chest. A chilling light descended upon him, as if sword qi had pierced his heart.

Shocked and bewildered, Xu Ying scanned the horizon and spotted an immortal sword hanging upside down from the main peak among the seventy-two peaks. Its sword light shone in all directions, its sword qi overwhelming, making the mountain ranges seem as sharp as blades!

Whenever the sword light struck him, pain flared in his chest.

“This sword is the immortal artifact left behind by the founding patriarch, known as Think No Evil. It means that its wielder must possess pure thoughts, live with integrity, have an open, magnanimous heart, and judge others with the heart of a sword.”

Shi Yuqing added, “Legend says anyone harboring wicked thoughts feels sword qi piercing their heart from afar. The more malicious their thoughts, the sharper their pain.”

As she spoke, Dazhong clanged loudly as streaks of formless sword qi struck him, and he staggered backward.

Meanwhile, Xu Ying’s complexion wasn’t looking good either. The Purple Immortal Herb on his shoulder toppled over and began convulsing.

Only Yuanqi and Jin Buyi were completely fine.

Shi Yuqing said, “If you let Think No Evil’s sword qi refine you for some time, you will be rid of evil thoughts. Cultivating under this sword will ensure that your Dao heart is clear and unobstructed.”

Clang!

Dazhong tumbled and flew far away as a streak of sword qi struck him. He cried out, “You can't blame me for having wild thoughts. My master Li Xiaoke was a hypocrite with the face of a man but the heart of a beast!”

Xu Ying felt sharp pains in his chest again and again. He hurriedly channeled the Grand Unity Guiding Method and focused his mind, finally stopping the sword qi attacks. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Master Zhong must have led me astray. Should I just hang him under Think No Evil and let him be purified all the time? Hmm, I need to have no distracting thoughts when I raid the tombs tonight. If not— It hurts!

Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, he quickly reined in his thoughts.

Shi Yuqing brought them to see Think No Evil and said, “Venerable Cangyang is heavily poisoned by the Immortal Dao. Perhaps only Think No Evil can purge the Immortal Dao within him.”

1. Author is using he/him for Yuan Weiyang here. ☜

2. The tradition of using a marriage to wash away bad luck is known as Chong Xi (冲喜), which literally translates to "flushing away misfortune with joy.” ☜

3. Remember how higher-ranking tomb raiders are called Mound-Rummaging Generals, based on Cao Cao’s alleged specialized military unit? ☜