Chapter Twenty-Six: White as Jade

Ma Jun’s heart jolted with alarm. This was bad—he hadn’t expected Feng Lilin’s spiritual sense to be this formidable, nor that he would possess a complete set of magical tools. If this dragged on, he would surely be defeated. Glancing coldly at the three men he’d brought with him, Ma Jun felt only mounting humiliation; he’d come to prove himself, yet had only disgraced his name further. Gritting his teeth, he spurred his earth spirit root, determined to risk even the loss of his precious treasure rather than lose face. With reckless abandon, he hurled and smashed his weapon with all his might, shouting, “What are you all standing there for? Stop worrying about your worthless magical tools—strike with everything you have! If you break something, I’ll compensate you when we get back!”

Ma Shu responded, “Since Senior Brother Ma said so, strike with all your strength! I refuse to believe so many of us can’t defeat just one man!”

The other two, too, desperately urged their magical weapons forward, attacking in a frenzy without any semblance of order.

In an instant, the situation reversed. Now it was Feng Lilin who found himself flustered and overwhelmed. Controlling two magical tools at once was a severe drain on both his spiritual sense and power; he could not afford to prolong the fight and desperately needed a swift victory.

Determination flashed across Feng Lilin’s face. A murderous aura roared to life around him as his hand seals changed. The two fire spirit hooks merged into one, and the surging flames twisted together, forming a massive spiritual hook of unparalleled sharpness. With a single, merciless slash, he brought it down upon the four assailants. The oppressive force of a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Gathering stage swept toward them.

Ma Jun’s heart sank. Feng Lilin truly meant to kill. Knowing he was outmatched, Ma Jun slapped several Vajra talismans onto himself, surrounding his body in a shimmering golden shield.

The others, lacking such protective charms, could only muster their magic swords and strike fiercely at the fire spirit hook, then scatter in all directions, leaving their fates to chance.

Feng Lilin, having played his trump card, poured all his remaining power into the fire spirit hook. With bloodlust in his heart, he would not let a single soul escape. Forming another spell, he conjured a fireball the size of a bowl and, with his spiritual sense locked on Ge Qian, hurled it forward.

If he was to kill, there could be no witnesses—eliminating all evidence was imperative, for harming fellow disciples was a grave crime. Thus Ge Qian, too, was marked for death.

Though Ge Qian could not project his spiritual sense, his heavenly eye and keen perception caught the flash of the incoming fireball. The moment Feng Lilin’s will fixed upon him, the fireball seemed to gain a life of its own. No matter how he dodged, it would pursue him relentlessly until its target was destroyed.

Instead of retreating, Ge Qian surged forward, charging straight at the fireball. Feng Lilin sneered inwardly—trash would always be trash. Why Ma Jun had brought him here to embarrass himself was beyond comprehension.

Against my fireball spell, even dodging would be futile, Feng Lilin thought. Yet this fool actually ran toward it—must be scared witless. A mere touch and he’ll be reduced to ashes.

But what happened next left Feng Lilin dumbstruck. Ge Qian advanced against the current of searing heat, the muscles beneath his skin rippling as a protective membrane formed across his body, shielding him from the worst of the blaze. Just before the fireball struck, he braced his arms, summoned a burst of force, and redirected the fireball as though it were a boat on a flowing river, sending it crashing into a pine tree as thick as a man’s arm.

With a thunderous boom, the tree was instantly reduced to ash, the air choked with black smoke and surging flames. This was Ge Qian’s first time using that maneuver in actual combat, and the result exceeded his expectations.

Feng Lilin was utterly shocked. How could this be? Ge Qian was only at the second level of Qi Gathering—how could he possibly evade my fireball spell?

But facts spoke louder than words. Feng Lilin resolved: I must kill him.

At that moment, the enormous fire spirit hook was about to cut Ma Jun and the others in two, when suddenly a flash of white light streaked across the sky. A woman in snow-white robes, treading a flying sword, descended like a celestial maiden from the heavens. Her black hair fluttered, her gown as pure as freshly fallen snow. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her top-grade magical weapon, the Azure Breeze Sword, and, forming a quick seal, pointed her finger.

The Azure Breeze Sword transformed into a silvery ribbon of light, and with a gentle slash, sent the fire spirit hook flying. How could a mid-grade magical tool compare to the Azure Breeze Sword? Moreover, the newcomer was at the very peak of the Qi Gathering stage, her spiritual power fathomless.

The fire spirit hook let out a mournful wail, its spirit nearly shattered, and it tumbled down to the earth. Feng Lilin, bound to his weapon in both mind and spirit, instantly spat a mouthful of blood and clutched his chest, grievously wounded.

He glared at the woman, face twisted with resentment and venom, so shocked or enraged that he couldn’t utter a word.

Ma Jun and the others turned ashen, cold sweat pouring down their faces. Having just brushed past death’s door, they felt both relief and dread upon recognizing the newcomer.

The woman retrieved her Azure Breeze Sword, leapt from her flying sword to land gracefully before the group, and with a fluid motion stored her sword in her pouch. Her beautiful eyes flashed with chilling light, her face as cold as water. “You had the audacity to duel without permission,” she said, “blatantly disregarding sect rules and nearly causing bloodshed?”

Ma Jun hurried forward, bowing respectfully. “Sister Bai, please understand—we were momentarily reckless, merely seeking to hone our skills through a friendly bout. But as you saw, Feng Lilin harbored murderous intent—he tried to kill us and seize our treasures!”

Feng Lilin, pale as death and barely able to stand from the drain on his spiritual power and the backlash from his wounded weapon, forced himself to reply, “The four of you ganged up on me, and you accuse me of murder? I merely lost control of my strength for a moment and nearly caused tragedy. Please, Sister Bai, forgive my youthful folly. From now on, I will focus on cultivation and cease these pointless rivalries.”

“If you weren’t intent on murder and theft, why use a killing move? If Sister Bai hadn’t arrived in time, we’d all be corpses by now! Sister, let me do the sect a favor and rid us of this villain!” Ma Jun said, stepping forward as if to strike.

“Enough!” Bai Ruyu interrupted sternly. “You are all elite disciples of the Celestial Star Sect. Any mishap is a loss to the sect. Had I not been delayed in Five Peaks City to have a pill refined, I might not have arrived in time, and a true disaster could have occurred. Go back immediately and focus on cultivation behind closed doors. This matter ends here—but if there’s a next time, I won’t be so forgiving.”

With Bai Ruyu taking command, both Ma Jun and Feng Lilin realized she now held leverage over them; settling accounts would have to wait for another day. They quickly agreed, promising to retreat and devote themselves to their training.

Bai Ruyu nodded and was about to leave when Ge Qian stepped forward. “Sister Bai, please wait. I have something to say.”

Everyone stared in surprise. Though Bai Ruyu was a renowned beauty, she was beyond their reach; rumor had it she would soon enter seclusion to attempt her Foundation Establishment breakthrough and was favored by Elder Hong. Most thought the matter settled, yet this useless Ge Qian was actually daring to approach and address her—was he courting death?

Bai Ruyu paused. “What is it? Speak quickly. I have important matters to attend to.”

Ge Qian smiled faintly. “I overheard you mention you’d gone to Five Peaks City to commission someone to refine pills. The journey is long and arduous. In fact, I am a fifth-grade low-tier alchemist. If you ever need pills in the future, I would be honored to refine them for you, free of charge.”

Bai Ruyu’s gaze sharpened. Refined pills at Five Peaks City cost a fortune in spirit stones. Though Ge Qian was widely seen as a wastrel, everyone had their own talents. Still, she asked, “You claim to be an alchemist—why should I believe you?”

Ma Jun sneered, “Ge Qian, mind your tongue. If you ruin the spirit herbs, killing you a hundred times wouldn’t be enough to pay for it.”