Chapter 20: The Opening of the Meridians

The demonic creature nurtured inside the egg-shaped stone amidst the sea of fire was about to break free ahead of time. The cracking sounds mingled with a strange, piercing wail, reminiscent of an infant’s cry, echoed incessantly. The nine pitch-black appendages that emerged first from the cocoon writhed wildly in the blaze.

This figure was clearly the “Master of the Manor” mentioned in the earlier conversation between the servant and the lady of the house. The inferno, the writhing tentacles, the bizarre manor—such scenes, as if from a human purgatory, left Pei Xiunian with an overwhelming sense of unreality. The difference between mortals and immortals was vast; what they could touch belonged to entirely separate realms.

Xiao Qin’s expression was slightly grave. She first guided her true energy to shield Pei Xiunian’s body. Once a thin layer of protective aura enveloped him completely, she raised her hand, forming an intricate spell, and urged the flying short blade to strike at the creature’s first emerging appendage.

With a flash of the blade, that slippery segment fell into the flames and was instantly reduced to ashes. No new growth sprouted from the clean cut as they’d feared, and both Pei Xiunian and Xiao Qin breathed a sigh of relief.

The creature seemed to finally sense its target and let out a hoarse roar, like a beast in agony. Its nine appendages rained down like swords. Xiao Qin, unfazed by the onslaught, stepped lightly as if treading on lotus petals, dodging with the grace of a butterfly weaving through flowers. She even had the presence of mind to toss a talisman hidden in her sleeve. The yellow paper turned to ash in the fire, and a moon-like blade shadow manifested around her.

The blade light fell, severing several appendages, which dropped into the sea of flames with a sizzling hiss. In torment, the beast within the egg howled louder. The flames boiled, blood water evaporated rapidly, and the water level plummeted. At last, the creature revealed its true form from the fire.

The nine severed appendages were not its tentacles but its tails. It lifted its nine strange heads, its shape resembling a malevolent fox. Pei Xiunian suddenly recalled what this was, as recorded in ancient texts: “There exists a beast, shaped like a fox, with nine tails, nine heads, and tiger claws. Its name is Longzhi.”

The not-yet-fully-grown Longzhi let out a chilling screech and lunged forward. Xiao Qin turned aside, and the beast’s claws sank deep into the wall. Whether from the searing flames or Xiao Qin’s palm striking the foundation, the beast’s blow sent countless cracks spidering across the wall. The entire main building now began to tremble precariously.

“This place is about to collapse, Your Highness. We must leave at once,” Xiao Qin exclaimed, hastily pulling Pei Xiunian with her. They rushed out of the building while the beast’s claws were still lodged in the wall.

Outside, there were not the expected crowd of servants surrounding the manor with torches. Instead, the open ground was strewn with corpses. Most of the servants were likely ordinary people, but their vital essence had been drained, their deaths grotesque, resembling those of evil spirits. Though not transformed by yin energy, they could no longer be considered human. Even though they had been cleaved in two by the sword, without the foul aura of the manor, they would have wasted away to bones even without intervention.

Standing at the center of the corpse pile, clad in feathered robes, the blindfolded sword cultivator lifted her head. Moonlight glinted off her blade, blood droplets falling to the ground, steaming faint wisps in the chill of early winter.

Pei Xiunian was taken aback to see the blindfolded sword cultivator. He was about to speak when a tremendous crashing sound came from behind them. The three instinctively looked toward the once magnificent pavilion. Now, it had become ruins, broken walls buried corpses and a sea of blood, flames rising higher and gradually consuming the entire building.

If the fire burned until dawn, everything here would be reduced to ashes. Whether the creature was truly dead remained unknown. Pei Xiunian could not use his celestial sight to investigate further.

Just as he thought this, a shadow suddenly surged from the rubble. The blood-soaked Longzhi still clung to life. Its silhouette arced eerily under the moon. One head had been severed by Xiao Qin’s short blade, yet it lunged forward undeterred, aiming straight for the nearest person—Pei Xiunian.

There was no time to react. Xiao Qin did not expect her protective aura to withstand the beast’s attack. She hurriedly dashed forward, wrapped her arms around Pei Xiunian, her eyes tightly shut, determined to shield him with her own body.

Pei Xiunian did not close his eyes. In the moonlight, he saw the figure leaping and the cold gleam of her sword. Jiang Yunhe’s blade met the Longzhi, her movement so swift it was nearly invisible.

With a sharp hiss, silence settled once more. Only the faint wind and the crackling of fire among the wreckage could be heard. Pei Xiunian’s gaze followed the disintegrating remains of the Longzhi in midair, blood mist scattering in the firelight like crimson fireworks.

Jiang Yunhe landed, her sword sheathed, black hair flying, blood spattered across white robes. Pei Xiunian stared in a daze at her slender, delicate silhouette, momentarily lost for words. Jiang Yunhe’s sword strike was the very essence of a true cultivator.

Only now did Pei Xiunian fully comprehend why armies in this world of cultivation refrained from using the full power of cultivators on the battlefield. Cultivators were no longer human.

Jiang Yunhe turned to the pair still holding one another, unfazed, and said calmly, “I have entered the Fifth Realm.”

Xiao Qin released Pei Xiunian, lowered her head, and turned aside. “Thank you, Miss Jiang, for your help,” she said softly.

Jiang Yunhe waved her hand, indifferent. “You both acted with great righteousness. Yunhe merely followed her own path, doing what was necessary.”

Then she approached Pei Xiunian, solemnly presenting a small jade vial she had carefully protected. “Young Master, my teacher instructed me to give you this pill. He said taking it will help you open your meridians.”

Pei Xiunian accepted the cool, slightly warm jade bottle. If Jiang Yunhe intended to harm him, she need not have intervened; besides, she seemed so earnest and quiet, unlikely to deceive him.

Pei Xiunian’s ears caught the distant sound of soldiers and the clamor of voices.

He knew the situation had escalated beyond control. There was no time for further deliberation or for his celestial sight to recover and carefully examine the pill. He swallowed it directly.

This was his second time using a cultivation pill. Though the world was one of immortals, pill refining was hardly a simple trade. Each pill was precious, its cost prohibitive for most mortals.

The pill entered his body, and a surge of clear energy swept through his limbs and bones at an indescribable speed, unlocking all blockages. Within a few breaths, he exhaled a long, turbid breath. When he opened his eyes, a clear light shone.

Pei Xiunian used his celestial sight to inspect himself, discovering a small cauldron, like a bronze wine vessel, seated within his dantian. Before he could examine it closely, he noticed a vortex of energy forming within, drawing in the elusive atmospheric energies of the heavens and earth.

Xiao Qin, noticing the change, exclaimed with delight, “Congratulations, Young Master, you have entered the Second Realm.”

“You built your foundation in mere moments—surely you will achieve greatness,” Jiang Yunhe added quietly, genuine surprise flickering across her usually impassive face.

The path of cultivation: First realm, Foundation Establishment; Second realm, Qi Refinement. Foundation Establishment was no trivial matter. Those destined for immortality often spent a year or two as children to achieve it. Even Jiang Yunhe, a prodigy, required time to build her foundation.

Pei Xiunian, from swallowing the pill and clearing his meridians to completing Foundation Establishment and condensing his energy vortex, accomplished it all in an instant. What extraordinary talent! In a fantasy novel, he would surely merit the phrase, “This child must not be allowed to live.”

Pei Xiunian himself was not shocked. This was the fruit of his own effort and perseverance—a harvest sown by hard work. Had two years of diligent practice in this new world amounted to nothing?

Setting aside these thoughts, he clasped his hands in gratitude to Jiang Yunhe. “Thank you, Miss Jiang, for seeking out Elder Li on my behalf, and for saving my life tonight. I will never forget this great kindness.”

Jiang Yunhe waved her hand lightly. “I did not ask the teacher for this pill; he specifically sought me out and instructed me to deliver it to you.”

Her words stirred a storm in Pei Xiunian’s heart. Countless possibilities raced through his mind. He was about to ask for clarification when distant hoofbeats and shouts mingled together.

Troops clad in various uniforms rode in from several directions, surrounding the area. The leader, dressed in ordinary clothes, dismounted and demanded angrily, “Who are you all?”