Vol. 1 - Ch. 126 - Light Screen

Previously, Chen Qingyu had only caught a glimpse of Yunmeng City from the back of the Wind-Chasing Falcon. But now, standing at the entrance of the Zhou clan's grand estate, he had a full view of the city below. Bright lights illuminated the night as towering jade pavilions and grand structures stretched toward the sky. The streets teemed with people, their voices blending into a lively symphony of hawkers calling out their wares and customers haggling. Further in the distance, a wide river meandered through Yunmeng City, its waters reflecting the shimmering lights. At a certain point, the river gathered to form a vast lake. Lantern boats and painted barges floated across its surface, their occupants engaged in revelry. From afar, the sound of flutes and laughter drifted through the air as graceful dancers performed on the boats, their silhouettes moving like ripples across the water. Such a vibrant and bustling scene left Chen Qingyu momentarily dazed. He had never seen anything like this in his life. But he quickly regained his composure and turned his attention back to the Zhou clan's grand estate. After the last of the blood rice had been unloaded, Zhou Honglang finally took notice of Chen Qingyu standing behind him. Seeing the stunned look in his eyes, a faint smile curled at the corners of his lips. A small clan is just a small clan. He hasn’t even seen the true strength of the Zhou clan, and he’s already in awe. After a brief moment of thought, Zhou Honglang spoke to a nearby clan member. “Take him to the guest room for the night.” The guest rooms were meant for entertaining visitors of some importance. In his eyes, Chen Qingyu wasn’t worthy of such treatment. But since his uncle had spoken favorably of him, Zhou Honglang didn’t mind putting on a display of the clan's wealth and power. Led by a Zhou clan attendant, Chen Qingyu stepped through the towering gates and into the heart of the Zhou residence. … As he walked through the estate, Chen Qingyu saw many things he had never encountered before. The Zhou clan's inner compound was patrolled by numerous Blood Coagulation Realm martial artists. They wore finely crafted armor, their expressions solemn and disciplined. The weapons they carried glinted coldly under the glow of luminous stones, their sharp edges revealing the meticulous craftsmanship that had gone into forging them. He had heard from his uncle that weapons, like cultivation techniques, had distinct levels. At the lowest level were ordinary iron weapons, which had to be refined through repeated forging to achieve sufficient hardness and sharpness. Weapons of higher quality were forged from rare minerals, capable of conducting a martial artist's qi and blood, enhancing the strength of their attacks. At the highest level were divine weapons, made from the remains of high-level wild beasts. A "divine" weapon wasn’t just a title—it was a requirement. Only a Blood Coagulation Realm cultivator could wield such a weapon, infusing it with their qi to unlock its full potential. Some were even said to develop intelligence over time, becoming extensions of their wielders. Meanwhile, the Chen clan's weapons couldn’t even compare to the poorest iron weapons. They were sturdy, but ultimately, most of the time, a martial artist’s fists were far more reliable in combat. Chen Qingyu sighed inwardly. When will my clan reach this level of strength? Soon, he arrived at the guest quarters. Though it was just a guest room, it exuded luxury. Exquisite murals adorned the walls, depicting ancient myths and battles. A faint scent of incense lingered in the air, its calming fragrance designed to ease the mind. The bedding was soft as silk, embroidered with intricate patterns that spoke of wealth and refinement. But none of this interested Chen Qingyu. His gaze kept returning to the sight of those sharp iron weapons. A martial artist must temper his mind. Comfort means nothing—only strength matters. He believed that, given time, his clan would rise to this level—or even surpass it. … That night, sleep did not come easily. Chen Qingyu had a responsibility to his clan. His task here wasn’t just to admire the Zhou clan's strength—it was to seek opportunity, knowledge, and a path forward. Instead of resting, he sat cross-legged on the floor, channeling his inner energy. After the clan elders’ resurrection, the Three Revolutions Mysterious Art had advanced, now reaching Six-Turn Mysterious Art. This technique could theoretically allow a cultivator to break through to the Qi Control Realm. But because much of the Chen clan's ancient knowledge had been lost, there was no one left to guide him. He could only rely on his own understanding. At the moment, he was still in the early stage of the Innate Realm—a long way from breaking through to Inner Qi Realm. But he was determined to press forward. … Meanwhile, in the Ancestral Hall of the Chen clan, the glowing light screen flickered before finally fading away. Chen Xingzhen and the others, who had been watching intently, slowly withdrew their gazes from the stone tablet. Though they had expected it, witnessing the vast disparity between the Zhou clan and their own still left them deeply shaken. The Zhou clan’s strength was undeniable. Perhaps, at its peak, the Chen clan had once rivaled them. But that era was long gone, buried beneath time and misfortune. A sense of regret settled over the group. But Chen Xingzhen quickly shook it off. His gaze hardened with renewed determination. As clan leader, he had one goal—to restore the clan’s former strength. Only a powerful Chen clan could stand tall without fear of domination by others. After a brief prayer before the Divine Tree, he and the others turned to leave the Ancestral Hall. Though the light screen had shown them a world far beyond their current reach, it had not dampened their spirits. If anything, it had ignited a greater fire within them. Once they departed, the ancestral spirits lingering in the hall let out deep sighs. They, too, had witnessed the Zhou clan’s power. But as mere souls, they could do little to aid the living. Their only path forward was to continue absorbing Yin energy and strengthen themselves in the hope of one day contributing to the clan’s rise. Recently, another spirit had successfully broken through to the Innate Realm. This was cause for celebration. Unlike the living, they did not require food or sleep. Day or night, they could cultivate without pause—limited only by the amount of Yin energy available. Many spirits even mused that, if given the choice, they would have advised their descendants to join them sooner. High above, Ji Yang remained silent as he observed their thoughts. Though he found their perspective amusing, he couldn’t deny the truth in it. Yet, his mind drifted back to the light screen and the scenes he had just witnessed. The Chen clan had too few people, and truthfully, he had grown bored with his current existence. The days when he could not absorb moonlight were excruciatingly dull. The light screen had been a small divine ability, fueled by the Aura of Incense. As long as the clan prayed, Ji Yang could use this ability through a locust leaf, allowing them to observe their clan members’ surroundings. If he ever formed a golden body using the Aura of Incense, he would be able to do even more—transmitting power across vast distances, even manifesting his divine might. For now, however, all he could do was watch, like an unseen spectator before a grand stage. Still, for the current Chen clan, this was already invaluable. At the very least, it allowed them to monitor the outside world and understand the Zhou clan’s strength. As the days passed, the weather grew warmer. Yet, deep in the mountains, the Chen clan's lands remained cool. By day, they repaired roads and prepared for the planting of summer blood rice and millet. By night, they gathered in the Ancestral Hall, watching over their distant kin through the light screen. Life continued as it always had—but now, they did so with a new sense of purpose. With the light screen, Chen Xingzhen and the others no longer worried about Chen Qingyu's safety. They could see him. And for now, that was enough. Patreon Chapter Release Update Hello! S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Exciting news for our Patreon supporters! 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