Chapter Three: A Defiant Technique

The Xuanqi Sect’s core discipline was the “Xuanqi Mantra,” which comprised five stages, each divided into early, middle, and late phases.

Su Yizhao had been stuck at the mid-phase of the Third Xuan Stage for a year and nine months. Two months ago, Yang Yuanqing advanced to the late phase of the Third Xuan Stage, and ever since, Yang Yuanqing had spread the word that Su Yizhao was unworthy of the Gold Medallion and challenged him to a fair duel to seize it.

Yang Yuanqing’s shadow flickered through Su Yizhao’s mind and was soon replaced by lines of purple-glowing script.

The “Xuanqi Genesis Arts” consisted of three parts: “Genesis Art,” “Barrier-Breaking Art,” and “Illusory Evolution Method.” Each method was described in detail, but it was the “Genesis Art” that truly astonished him.

Was it possible that by cultivating this art, he could accelerate the progress of any technique under heaven?

His face showed skepticism—he didn’t believe such a thing existed, and even if it did, how could it have fallen into his hands?

Nonetheless, he sat cross-legged and began to practice the “Genesis Art” slowly.

To his amazement, the technique seemed tailored for him, without the slightest bottleneck. In just an hour, he had fully mastered it.

“It’s said to assist all worldly arts? Let’s see!”

He ran the “Xuanqi Mantra” again, letting the Xuanqi in his dantian gently surge through his meridians.

Unexpectedly, the “Genesis Art” began to circulate by itself, beyond his control.

Alarmed, he realized that running two methods simultaneously was a sure path to death.

Suddenly, he noticed that the circulation speed of Xuanqi within him had increased four- or five-fold, accelerating the expansion of his meridians by the same measure.

This was an absolute boon!

But before he could rejoice, sharp pain flashed in his eyes.

Agony!

A tearing pain racked every meridian in his body.

His eyes snapped wide as he tried to halt the methods.

Yet, gritting his teeth, he trembled and fought desperately to endure.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

After two hours, a gentle knock sounded at his door.

He opened his eyes, his face deathly pale, and looked toward the entrance. “Come in,” he said.

The door opened, and a middle-aged man appeared.

Seeing who it was, Su Yizhao was momentarily surprised. “Elder Huang, you’re looking for me?”

Elder Huang glanced him up and down, sighing with regret. “So the rumors are true. Your cultivation is lost! What a shame!”

Su Yizhao’s pale face remained composed, though his mind was churning.

“Upon investigation, Su Yizhao, Gold Medallion Law Enforcement Disciple, is no longer worthy of the title. Your exemption from the sect’s main trials is revoked. Take care.” With that, Elder Huang turned and left, closing the door softly behind him.

Su Yizhao hesitated to speak.

The Gold Medallion Law Enforcement Disciple was not only the focus of the Law Enforcement Hall’s training but also of the entire Xuanqi Sect.

More importantly, they were qualified to enter the Xuanqi Sect proper.

There were sixteen subsidiary sects under the Xuanqi Sect.

The branch overseeing Lisha City governed an area of thirty thousand miles, but it was merely one among the sixteen.

Rumor had it that the main sect, located in the coastal prefecture city, was saturated with Xuanqi and prodigies—truly a haven for cultivation.

There were two ways to enter the main sect: by being an outstanding disciple among the sixteen branches—such as a Gold Medallion Law Enforcement Disciple—or…

…the other way was to compete in brutal trials!

And now, his qualification for direct entry had been stripped away?

Su Yizhao pulled his mind back.

To the main sect, he must go! If not by exemption, then by competition!

But at this moment, his curiosity about his own origins outweighed everything else.

In two hours, aided by the “Genesis Art,” he had pushed the “Xuanqi Mantra” to the peak of the Third Xuan Stage, and with the “Barrier-Breaking Art,” ascended to the Fourth Xuan Stage.

Now, he stood at the mid-phase of the Fourth Xuan Stage.

In this world, the Qi Refinement path consisted of nine stages, divided into lower, middle, and upper trios. The lower three were Xuan stages, the middle three Shen stages, and the upper three Void stages.

It was said that reaching the Shen Stage qualified one to preside over a branch, at least as its head.

Attaining the Void Stage, one could split mountains and seas with a thought, a virtual god on earth.

Just now, to break into the mid-phase of the Fourth Xuan Stage, he had used all his Xuanqi to strike at his meridians and expand his dantian, which was why Elder Huang had sensed his empty dantian and assumed his cultivation was lost.

Little did anyone know, not only had he fully recovered, but he’d also advanced an entire stage.

He hadn’t explained because he was too shocked.

Who had hidden such a heaven-defying technique within him?

His mind searched for answers.

Aside from his parents, he could think of no one.

But who were his parents?

He did not know. Even Li Tiancheng, the Li clan chief who had adopted him, did not know!

He slowly formed hand seals.

As the “Xuanqi Mantra” circulated, the remaining spirit stones in the room shattered one after another.

Streams of Xuanqi surged into his body. In just half an hour, his now-doubly-expanded dantian was brimming full.

In the Third Xuan Stage, his dantian stored Xuanqi in the shape of an equilateral triangle. Upon advancing to the Fourth Xuan Stage, it transformed into a perfect square, doubling its capacity.

At the Fourth Xuan Stage, he was now on par with an elder!

Hall Master Liu Yushan was at the late Fourth Xuan Stage, and rumor had it that even the sect master had only just entered the early Fifth Shen Stage.

Su Yizhao’s pallor faded, his complexion flushing with health.

With a gentle gesture, a three-foot flying sword shot from his storage pouch, flashing coldly in the air.

He formed seals, and the sword spun rapidly.

With a thought, the cold light vanished.

“My Xuanqi capacity has doubled, my meridians are twice as wide, and my spells have doubled in power!”

He activated the “Illusory Evolution Method,” and a mysterious mist cloaked his dantian, making it appear indistinct to any spiritual probe.

Satisfied, he rose to his feet.

Just then, a streak of light shot into the room. He caught it instantly.

A message talisman?

Scanning it with his mind, he found only one line: “The Grand Elder summons all disciples to the Training Grounds!”

A faint smile played at Su Yizhao’s lips as he pushed open the door.

The training ground was already packed with disciples.

No sooner had Su Yizhao appeared than a chorus of whispers rose.

“He—he actually dares show his face?”

“He was a legend once, but after today, he’ll be nothing but a tale.”

“The Gold Medallion is the highest honor. Even if he’s done great service for us, after losing his cultivation, he ought to relinquish it willingly!”

Su Yizhao walked calmly toward the center.

From afar, Hall Master Liu Yushan watched him, a fleeting struggle flashing across his stern face.

But suddenly, Liu Yushan rose and declared, “I absolutely oppose revoking Su Yizhao’s Gold Medallion!”

Su Yizhao’s gaze flickered, his lifted foot pausing in midair before slowly setting down. He cupped his hands in salute. “Greetings, Hall Master.”

Liu Yushan nodded slightly. “Take your time to recover. We can wait. The Law Enforcement Hall can wait.”

Su Yizhao was about to reply when a voice came from behind, “Hall Master, Su Yizhao’s cultivation is gone. He can no longer bear the Gold Medallion. The Hall Master may have time to wait, but the Medallion’s honor cannot!”

Su Yizhao turned to see an elder striding forward with a young man beside him.

That youth’s eyes were fixed on him, a cold smile playing on his face.

“The Grand Elder! Yang Yuanqing!”

Su Yizhao’s expression remained calm, though a flicker of doubt passed through Yang Yuanqing’s gaze.

The Grand Elder stopped before Liu Yushan and bowed. “We cannot deny Su Yizhao’s great service to our hall, nor how much he has elevated our name. Within thirty thousand miles, as long as our Gold Medallion disciple stands guard, what outlaw dares defy us?”

Nearly a hundred disciples nodded in agreement.

Gold Medallion Law Enforcement Disciples never failed. Among the sixteen branches, not every one had such a disciple.

“But now, Su Yizhao has lost his cultivation and is but an ordinary man. If he keeps the Gold Medallion, and word spreads, not only will the Medallion’s honor be tarnished, but our hall and sect will be shamed as well. This is a burden neither the Hall Master nor the Law Enforcement Hall can bear!”

Silence.

The whole field fell silent.

The Grand Elder’s words were blunt but true.

Of the one hundred and eight Law Enforcement Hall disciples, all but seventeen on missions were present.

None wished for the Medallion’s repute to be sullied!

None wanted their hall or sect dishonored!

Su Yizhao looked around at them, saying nothing.

The Gold Medallion was the highest honor of the Law Enforcement Hall—a matter of faith.

In his place, he too would never let its honor be stained.

Liu Yushan frowned. “Grand Elder, it’s true Su Yizhao has lost his cultivation, but at the very least, he deserves time to recover. If we rush to reclaim the Medallion, it will chill the hearts of every disciple!”

He glanced at Su Yizhao. “The presence of a Gold Medallion Law Enforcement Disciple has brought our hall countless cultivation resources. If others don’t know this, Grand Elder, surely you do?”

His stern retort left the Grand Elder speechless.

Low murmurs spread among the disciples.

“No wonder our stipends have almost doubled these past years!”

“So that’s the reason—it was all because of him…”