"Ahh… my head."
Lian groaned as he slowly sat up, the burning sensation in his mind fading away.
"I must have overused my Qi—"
His words cut off as his eyes darted around the room.
"…What's this?"
Only then did he notice the book resting on his chest.
"It must be the spirit book that the master spoke about."
He lifted it carefully, turning it over in his hands. The cover was pitch-black, cold to the touch, with no markings whatsoever.
"Mmm… it doesn't seem like anything special."
Frowning, he tried to open it—but the cover refused to budge, as though sealed shut by an invisible force.
"Hah! Maybe I need to place my intent on it and refine it."
Closing his eyes, Lian separated a thin strand of consciousness and pressed it into the book. The moment his spirit Qi made contact—
The book shook violently.
Its surface trembled as though resisting him, then suddenly calmed.
Lian's eyes snapped open.
"Oh… hell—thi—this is something else."
He swallowed hard. "This truly deserves the title of a master refiner's treasure."
The interior space of the book unfolded before him.
It was vast.
Endless fields of spirit herbs stretched across the land. Mountains upon mountains of pills were stacked neatly, radiating dense medicinal Qi.
Piles of spirit stones glittered like stars, while weapons and artefacts lay arranged with terrifying order.
All the treasures combined could sustain a large martial family for a hundred years—at the very least.
"Mmm…"
Lian felt his chest tighten. His breathing grew uneven, and tears gathered at the corners of his eyes.
"Finally… I'm no longer broke."
He laughed shakily, small tears forming at the corner of his eyes.
"The God of Fortune has finally shone upon me."
Moving deeper into the space created by the spirit book, he reached an area where jade shelves floated in the air.
Upon them rested manuals—cultivation methods, refinement techniques, and sealed inheritances.
Lian rushed forward, his heart pounding, and began reading the titles.
"Great Star Body Refinement…"
"Heavenly Lotus Seal…"
Each name alone carried overwhelming pressure.
As his gaze shifted
Something at the corner of his vision caught his attention.
At the far edge of the space stood a small stone table, surrounded by flickering sparks of Qi. As Lian approached, he noticed arrays etched into the ground, their lines faint but ancient. Atop the table rested a single pill box, silently absorbing heavenly energy, its surface glowing with a restrained brilliance.
Beside it lay an old manual, its pages yellowed with age, and next to that, a blade.
The weapon was long and slender, partially concealed within a red-and-black scabbard. Even sealed, it radiated a sharp, oppressive aura that made the air feel heavy.
"Yes… finally."A grin spread across Lian's face. "I can get a weapon, and this one seems extraordinary."
His eyes then drifted toward a thin piece of paper lying on the table.
Dear successor, These are my greatest treasures.
The Thousand Buddha Body Reconstruction Pill, and the blade Demon Slayer (Guǐ Shā Shǒu).
As you can see, they have been gathering spiritual Qi for many years and are on the verge of developing their own sentience. I entrust them to you.
Continue refining the blade. Though incomplete, it possesses the potential to become the greatest blade under Heaven.
Lian's breath grew shallow.
His hand drifted toward the blade.
The moment his fingers closed around the scabbard,
Pain exploded through his palm.
It felt as though countless needles pierced his flesh as the blade shook violently, trembling with barely contained rage.
"Guǐ Shā Shǒu…" Lian laughed softly through clenched teeth."Ha… I'll make you obey me."
RUMBLE!!!
The space around him began to collapse.
Cracks spread across the walls as violent Qi surged outward.
"Damn it, I need to get out of here!"
Lian leapt across the room, landing near the exit. Just like before, the door was unbearably heavy. Gritting his teeth, he poured nearly all his remaining strength into prying it open.
With a roar, he forced it wide and leapt out as the space behind him continued to crumble.
The moment Lian stepped out, he found himself in absolute chaos.
The ground shook.
People roared and screamed as blades flew through the air, colliding violently with Qi. A great battle was unfolding right before him.
"What—?"
His eyes widened.
"They're chasing Shéyǎn?!"
Around ten cultivators were in pursuit, yet every few breaths, one would suddenly drop dead, collapsing mid-stride as if struck by an unseen force.
"He took the Supreme's treasure—don't let him escape!"
"Kill him!"
They pressed forward relentlessly.
"Supreme treasure…?
They already got it?
Just how long was I inside that place?" Lian thought briefly—then acted.
He rushed forward.
"Blooming Lotus!"
Lian thrust his fist out. Lotus-shaped Qi exploded forward, slamming into two pursuers and sending them crashing to the ground.
"Hey, Shéyǎn! What's going on?!" Lian shouted.
Shéyǎn glanced back.
His face was covered in blood, his breathing ragged. One hand clutched something tightly wrapped in cloth—but he didn't slow down.
He kept running.
"He's at his limit, Lian realised. If I don't do something, he'll be caught for sure."
Channelling all his Qi carefully into his legs, he used a movement technique; Lian shot forward. He dashed past the pursuers in a blur, grabbed Shéyǎn by the robes—and accelerated.
Their speed became terrifying, the world streaking past them as Lian leapt off the edge of a mountain cliff.
They plunged downward.
Straight into a roaring river below.
"What the f*ck was that?!" one pursuer shouted, skidding to a halt.
The others rushed to the edge of the cliff, staring down into the depths.
"Did they just… kill themselves?"
They stood there in stunned silence, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
"Ah—what should we do?" Zhou Lung said anxiously. "He wanted that treasure… but who's going to follow them down that river? I know I'm not."
Deep beneath the rushing waters, inside a hidden underwater cave, Lian dragged Shéyǎn onto solid ground.
Water streamed off their clothes as Lian steadied him.
"Hey, man—are you alri—"
The cloth in Shéyǎn's grasp slipped open.
Lian froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
Inside was Momo's severed head.