Capítulo 19: A Força Ainda Prevalece
"Big Sister, how are things in the Capital?" Bai Lan asked, her gaze carrying a flicker of hope for good news. Her heart still pounded fiercely from the events of the previous day.
"Not well, to be honest. The Emperor's reputation is crumbling like a mountain in a storm. Whispers of his fall echo through every street and teahouse… I fear the day is not far off." Bai Lanyue replied, her eyes fixed on the table, her mind drifting far from the quiet city of Qingyao.
"Big Sister… what should we do?" Suddenly, Bai Lan's voice trembled with sorrow. Her gaze dropped to the table, her face etched with anguish. Though she had agreed to Tian Ming's terms, the thought of serving the Northern Region gnawed at her pride like a hidden blade.
Only a select few knew the grim truth: bit by bit, every region of the Shanyue Continent was falling under the Northern Region's iron grip. In time, the lives of those under their rule turned to ash and despair. If the Southern Region suffered the same fate, its people would share that miserable destiny. Fear lingered constantly in their hearts—they understood the peril—while the common folk, blissfully ignorant, carried on with their days.
Bai Lanyue met her younger sister's eyes with a distant stare and spoke softly, "The Emperor has a plan."With a subtle wave of her hand, she executed an unknown technique. An invisible aura enveloped the entire teahouse, sealing every sound within its boundaries. Nothing could escape.
"Big Sister?" Bai Lan sensed the gravity of what was to come. The guards remained at their posts, silent and unmoving, but neither sister minded—these were trusted souls, as close as family.
A chill ran through Feng Qi. He was about to hear a secret that would be guarded with life and death. Secretly, curiosity burned in his chest.
"The Emperor knows of an ancient teleportation portal, a lost inheritance of the Imperial Family. Ancient records mention it—a gateway leading to a small island somewhere across the vast ocean. The Emperor is handling that matter personally; his finest Formation Masters are working to reconstruct the array."
"An island? Wait, Big Sister… are you saying we're fleeing to this island? How large is it? Is this even possible?" Bai Lan asked, incredulous.
"We don't know. The old records only speak of an island at the other end of the portal—no mention of its size. But if events unfold as we hope… yes, we must escape, taking with us everything precious. Little Sister, to speak plainly, I came here as the Emperor's trusted informant. Should the plan succeed, we must be ready to depart at a moment's notice." Bai Lanyue's tone carried the weight of imperial command—authoritative, unyielding, a decree that brooked no disobedience.
Bai Lan shot to her feet in shock. The notion was absurd, yet it was precisely the idea. Cold sweat beaded on her brow. Swallowing hard, she forced out the words, "Big Sister… what about the other families and clans? The people of the city? Does the Emperor intend to abandon them all?"
"Not necessarily everyone. But yes… many will be left behind. It's impossible to take them all. A great number will turn against us, and those who have already pledged themselves to the Immortal Sects of the Northern Region—we must avoid those obstacles. We depart the moment the Imperial Court gives confirmation. That is the most we can do."
Bai Lan's eyes narrowed in thought. She had questions, but they all seemed trivial before the Court's decree. In truth, it wasn't so terrible. Between fleeing to some distant island at the edge of the world and falling into the clutches of the Immortal Sects, doomed to a life of misery, she would choose the former without hesitation.
With a sorrowful expression, Bai Lan made one final plea, "I know it's absurd, Big Sister, but… has the Imperial Court never considered defending our lands from these invaders? Is the Emperor truly so cowardly?"
Bai Lanyue couldn't suppress the faint smile that curved her lips, leaving her little sister momentarily stunned.
"My dear sister, tell me this: in Qingyao, what could our family possibly do if a battalion of Foundation Establishment experts—dozens of Core Formation Masters among them—attacked under the command of a mighty Golden Core powerhouse?"
Bai Lan clenched her fists tightly. Though her eyes remained fixed on the table, her mind vividly conjured the devastation such a force would unleash. It would spell the utter ruin of the Bai Family.
Even the foremost power in Qingyao, the Tian Family, boasted barely over ten Qi Condensation experts and only three Core Formation elders. That single battalion would not only crush the Bai Family—it would slaughter every powerful clan and sect in Qingyao, leaving nothing but blood-soaked ruins.
Bai Lan envisioned the tragic end of this city, and the thought that the entire Southern Region might share this fate in a few short years filled her with despair.
"The gap widens with every step we fail to take. A Nascent Soul is already incomparable to a Golden Core, yet the difference pales before Soul Transformation. Such is the might of the Northern Region. To them, we are nothing more than fish on the chopping block."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. Everyone's gaze drifted into the void, lost in the vastness of their own thoughts. Feng Qi had overheard something he had previously overlooked, and genuine curiosity stirred within him.
"Don't worry. Act naturally. When the time comes, we'll give those bastards a surprise before we depart," Bai Lanyue said calmly.
"What surprise does Big Sister have in mind?" Bai Lan asked, secretly startled by her sister's demeanor—she rarely saw her like this.
"A surprise is a surprise. Now go. I spoke with Father yesterday. We must gather as many loyal to the Imperial Crown as possible and evade those scheming in the shadows."
"Yes, Big Sister!" Bai Lan's heart pounded fiercely. Nervousness and determination warred within her. Though sorrow weighed on her for leaving the city of her birth, she convinced herself that the family's future mattered above all. The promise to Tian Ming? She no longer cared. If better opportunities arose, why grasp the tiger's paw when the rope still lay within reach?
The sisters conversed for a while longer, discussing many matters and interests.
Suddenly, the young Bai Lan turned to her young bodyguard, Feng Qi, with a sweet smile and a calm voice, "It's a pity what happened to your family. Your father was a brilliant and respected man. I admired him greatly. If you ever need guidance in your cultivation, come find me."
Feng Qi remained motionless, unsure how to respond. His instincts still warned that this woman was dangerous. After a moment's reflection, he replied respectfully, "Thank you for the offer, Young Miss. I will seek you out when the time is right."
"Come now, no need to be so stiff. I care little for servant etiquette. Just be yourself—open, as you always were."
Her words did nothing to thaw Feng Qi's guarded heart. Though he remained polite, he refused to fall into her trap. He knew there was more behind that face.
To think my father could have fallen for her honeyed words… Feng Qi thought.
He kept his vigilance sharp as Bai Lanyue spoke with effortless grace. Her smile was too gentle, her posture too relaxed. Something was wrong. Her simple words carried an invisible weight, ensnaring the attention of everyone in the teahouse.
Strange… Very strange, Feng Qi mused.
He suppressed any bolder thoughts. Accusing someone like Bai Lanyue—without evidence—would be signing his own death warrant. Bai Lan was different; a certain trust existed between them. But Bai Lanyue? Every instinct screamed caution.
Behind the governor's eldest daughter stood her personal bodyguard—silent, expressionless, an intimidating shadow rooted to the ground.
"Big Sister," Bai Lan suddenly broke the silence. "Father mentioned you've been dedicating yourself to cultivation lately."
Bai Lanyue offered a faint, elegant smile.
"Nothing special. Merely refining what I already mastered, with the aid of a few supplementary techniques."
"I see…" A subtle distance lingered between the sisters—Feng Qi had noticed it the moment he arrived.
The scene felt odd, yet apparently only he perceived it. Glancing at Luo Zixuan, he saw the man's eyes distant, utterly uninterested in the conversation.
"Dear sister, I must leave now. There are matters I need to attend to," Bai Lanyue said.
"I understand, Big Sister. Please take care on your journey." Bai Lan clasped her hands and bowed slightly.
Her bodyguard was as eerie as she was—face devoid of expression, as neutral as a corpse.
A shiver ran down Feng Qi's spine. A possibility flashed through his mind, but it was impossible to confirm.
...
"Bai Lan, what kind of technique does your sister cultivate?" Feng Qi asked.
"My sister excels at the Celestial Azure Wave Steps. She's a combat-type cultivator, favoring palm arts above all. I've never seen her practice anything else," Bai Lan replied.
"I see… By the way, when will I be allowed to learn the Celestial Azure Wave Steps?"
Suddenly, Bai Lan hid her face, though she was clearly laughing.
"I thought, after all this time here, you would have figured it out," Luo Zixuan interjected.
"You mean the hints in my fighting movements? I've already grasped the essence, but it's still insufficient," Feng Qi said.
Bai Lan answered with a mischievous smile, "The Celestial Azure Wave Steps are an exclusive technique for those who cultivate Yin Qi—women, in other words." Her grin turned playful. "Do you still want to try?
Though even Luo Zixuan chuckled at the situation, Feng Qi remained unfazed.
"What's the problem? These steps can still teach me one or two things. Guardian Zixuan practices them; I want to comprehend the essence myself." Contrary to their expectations, Feng Qi felt no shame. To him, knowledge and techniques were indispensable treasures.
As if the ice had finally cracked, Bai Lan sighed in defeat at her young bodyguard's indifference to their amusement.
"Wait." She rummaged through her spatial ring and produced an ancient tome, its pages heavy with history. "Here. This contains everything you need."
Feng Qi ran his fingers over the pages, interest growing with every line. At last, he could truly study the Azure Wave style.
"You could have given this to me earlier."
"Everything has its proper time. Why the rush? You have talent. Soon you'll reach Qi Refinement, and who knows—perhaps one day you'll form a Golden Core." Her final words dripped with sarcasm.
"Thank you for the encouragement. I hope you reach it as well, Miss!" Feng Qi shot back in the same tone, a smile spreading across his face.
Bai Lan didn't mind. Despite the frequent teasing, their futures looked bright.
"It's not impossible to learn. Good luck to you." A genuine smile graced her lips.
That afternoon, after fulfilling his duties, Feng Qi ascended the hilltop. There, with the cool breeze and the breathtaking view of the city and distant mountains, he could finally delve into the secrets of the Celestial Azure Wave Steps.
A high-grade Yin movement technique—truly powerful, Feng Qi mused.
The Celestial Azure Wave Steps were a movement art rooted in Yin Qi and the observation of celestial tides—invisible currents that flowed through Heaven and Earth. Unlike explosive techniques that chased raw speed, this art sought continuity, rhythm, and perfect adaptation.
When activated, the practitioner did not force the body forward. Instead, they aligned with the world's flow, allowing each step to rise, crest, and fade like a natural wave. The movement did not tear through space; it flowed through it.
Yin Qi spiraled through the lower meridians, enveloping the legs and waist like a silent tide. With every step, the body became light as water yet stable as the deep ocean. Observers would swear the user never occupied the exact same spot twice, even as their feet touched the ground.
That's why the movements are so fluid and unpredictable—slow yet impossible to track with the eyes.
This technique could also dissipate force and redirect direct attacks.
Many details had been forgotten or set aside, but gradually, Feng Qi grew accustomed to the art.
It's a pity it demands high affinity with Yin Qi… Only women can push it to the extreme—unless I find a way to circumvent that limitation. He sighed, gazing solemnly at the sky as the breeze caressed his body.
Night slowly descended. With the additional scrolls he had brought, Feng Qi deepened his understanding of cultivation.
Seated in meditation, he pored over aged volumes. The scent of old paper mingled with the hill's spiritual aura as his eyes traced the records of the cultivation realms with growing focus.
He first refined his comprehension of Body Refinement, where the mortal frame was tempered like raw steel. Then came Qi Refinement, the stage where vital energy circulated with conscious intent. In the treatises on Qi Condensation, he grasped how inner chaos transformed into order, paving the way for Foundation Establishment—the true bedrock of cultivation.
Further on, the texts described Core Formation, divided into two stages: the first, Building the Core; the second, Perfecting the Core—also known as the Golden Core—where the practitioner's essence solidified, followed by the long and arduous process of Core Refinement. Purity and stability determined the future
Turning to the final pages, he felt an almost reverent weight as he read of the Nascent Soul—the true birth of the spiritual self—and finally, Soul Transformation, a realm reserved for those who ruled the continent.
When he closed the book, Feng Qi felt more than mere knowledge gained. Each realm had etched a silent imprint upon his mind, awaiting the day understanding became true power.
Deep in reflection, he sensed something within him loosening slowly. He touched the threshold of the sixth layer—when a sudden blow struck his head.
Feng Qi was hurled through the air across the hillside. Branches snapped, dust exploded, and when he finally crashed to a stop, blood streamed from his scalp, flooding his face. A splitting headache assailed him; the wound was deep. Still dazed, he struggled to rise and staunch the bleeding.
He glanced around wildly, staggering in confusion. One, two, three, four steps backward—then he sensed an approaching aura. He dodged just as a short blade sliced through the wind.
"What the hell is this?! Who are you?!" he roared.
From the shadow of a tree, a figure slowly emerged. A strange grating sound—like knives scraping—accompanied a hoarse, incredulous voice, "How the hell are you still alive? My blades should have cleaved your head clean off!"
The man's tone carried fear. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the groaning youth before him.
Blood gradually filled Feng Qi's vision, dizziness threatening to overwhelm him. Yet suddenly, his chest ignited with fire, and the nausea vanished in an instant. As clarity returned, another knife strike flashed toward him—but this time, Feng Qi evaded. In the same breath, he channeled a fragment of the Celestial Azure Wave Steps and unleashed a storm of blows upon the assassin.