That Night! . . .
While others relentlessly pursued him, even though he remained a feeble presence in the Qing-Yun Realm, he clung to the unwavering belief that, as long as he survived, he would eventually ascend to the pinnacle of this world, thanks to his exceptional martial art.
All his accomplishments were a testament to Cha Eun Xiao's invaluable assistance. Ning Biluo possessed a heart filled with gratitude, never forgetting the kindness bestowed upon him. He was acutely aware of the immense debt he owed Cha Eun Xiao, a favor impossible to fully repay.
Nevertheless, fear was conspicuously absent from his heart. Instead, he harbored a thirst for the challenges that lay ahead.
"Come! Bring it on!"
"Each victory in these battles fuels my rapid improvement."
"Every time I win, I grow stronger."
"One day, I'll uproot your wretched sect!"
In unwavering tranquility, he vanished into the dense underbrush. After a while, several men arrived, cursing and swearing while meticulously scouring the area. Yet unbeknownst to them, Ning Biluo's eyes suddenly gleamed with determination. He materialized seemingly out of thin air, a spectral figure silently shadowing the men. His sword glistened, and with each strike, another adversary fell, invincible.
In a stark contrast to Ning Biluo's predicament, Zhao Pingtian's night was sleepless for entirely different reasons. Embarking on a self-inflicted journey as a brazen and avaricious thief, he was widely despised within a ten-thousand-mile radius. His reputation had plummeted, leaving him scorned and loathed by all.
Resembling Ning Biluo, he also experienced a remarkable surge in his cultivation. Although he lacked Ning Biluo's fortuitous circumstances, he enjoyed the unwavering support of his wife, who, while remaining an apparition, offered invaluable assistance. In battle, she stood by his side, attempting to aid him, and in moments of safety, she departed to seek spiritual materials, uninhibited by physical threats.
That night, Zhao Pingtian chose to meditate beneath a cliff, while Rou'er ventured out to collect medicinal materials. In her explorations, she stumbled upon a hidden cave within the mountainside, replete with a potent medicinal aroma. The cave appeared far too narrow for a person to enter, but she, being a spirit, could effortlessly slip inside. To her astonishment, it led to the spacious residence of an ancient and immensely powerful cultivator.
Excitedly, she returned to Zhao Pingtian and relayed her discovery. Together, they returned to the cave. Zhao Pingtian expanded the narrow passage, concealed the entrance, and eagerly ventured inside.
His elation was palpable. This place appeared to have once belonged to a Saint Origin Stage cultivator. Despite his astonishment at the existence of such a powerful figure within the Qing-Yun Realm, the reality before him was undeniable.
Meanwhile, the martial world experienced a brief respite within the ten-thousand-mile radius. The notorious thief Zhao Pingtian temporarily vanished from the limelight, though upon his return, he would prove an even greater and more formidable menace, significantly enhanced and increasingly difficult to thwart.
In contrast to Ning Biluo and Zhao Pingtian, Liu Changjun faced an arduous journey since his arrival in this world. He had scarcely known peace and remained in constant pursuit, fleeing from death's relentless grasp. This night was no different.
Liu Changjun had, at the very least, managed one significant accomplishment – he had advanced to the second level of the Dream Origin Stage. However, his presence in the only place he could call home in the new world was no more. It was not a voluntary departure, but rather his only option. He was driven away by circumstances beyond his control.
In a realm filled with heroes, rogues, and now a newcomer heinous character, Liu Changjun continuously fled eastward, a man perpetually pursued and pursuing. As he journeyed, he pillaged and antagonized others, amassing an ever-growing cadre of pursuers. Paradoxically, with each confrontation and escape, his skills and power grew, which only fueled his audacious behavior, creating an unending cycle of escalation.
Perhaps fate guided him eastward, and he found himself nearing the region where Ning Biluo had settled.
In the depths of night, Liu Changjun resembled a scavenging rodent, indulging in unsavory and ignoble acts. His actions were despicable, but he remained resolute and unyielding in his trajectory eastward.
"When I become a formidable cultivator, I will return and make them pay for pursuing me and forcing me to flee like a dog," he silently vowed.
And with that oath, he vanished into the eastern horizon.
Finally, the break of dawn arrived, and Cha Eun Xiao had waited patiently throughout the night. As the winds ushered in the dawn over the Mountain of All Medicines, the eastern horizon came alive with a spectacular display. A profusion of purple qi, the East-rising Purple Qi, ascended and bathed the surroundings in radiant hues.
Cha Eun Xiao's eyes gleamed with anticipation as the East-rising Purple Qi surged, a sign that it was operating at its full potency. Beside him, Han Bingxue had stirred occasionally during the night, but Xuan Bing had remained motionless, her form shrouded beneath a voluminous black robe.
When the waves of purple qi emanated from the east, Xuan Bing's attention shifted in that direction. Despite her exceptional standing as a renowned and peerless cultivator within the Qing-Yun Realm, she remained second only to Wu Fa, who had been conspicuously absent for some time. Her renowned power of the past left lingering questions about her abilities following the complete eradication of her illness. Could she truly be defeated by Wu Fa in a direct confrontation? It was a question even she had pondered.