Chapter 82: Terms

As the young man cast each successive spell, a wisp of spiritual energy would emerge from the walnut-sized Spirit Fruit King, disappearing into his nostrils without a trace.

Bai Ruyu’s jaw hung open in astonishment for a long while before she could speak, disbelief coloring her voice. “It really is you, Ge Qian! It seems Ye Yu was right after all?” Though she had her suspicions, the reality before her eyes was hard to accept. The Supreme Spirit Fruit King, which should have belonged to her, was now being refined by another, and all she could do was watch helplessly.

A tangle of emotions churned within her, bitter and hard to swallow.

It was indeed Ge Qian who had stolen the Supreme Spirit Fruit King that day. He had hurried to Serpent Shadow Mountain, lured the snakes from their lair with Hong Mei’s help, and harvested the Poison Fang Ginseng. After reuniting with Hong Mei, hundreds of crimson-crowned giant serpents were drawn into the Demon Gourd—an artifact that only revealed its true power in Hong Mei’s hands.

Ge Qian then instructed Hong Mei to wait for Bai Ruyu at the Cold Pool of Heavy Water. From Liu Qian’s words, he’d learned that the true aim of the four sects was not the Spirit Fruit King but to eliminate Bai Ruyu as a future threat.

After much deliberation, Ge Qian decided not to stand idly by. After all, they were both disciples of the Heavenly Star Sect, and perhaps rescuing Bai Ruyu could yield him further advantages.

Once Hong Mei departed, Ge Qian secretly made his way to Spirit Peak, donning his Shadow Cloak and expending no small amount of power to approach the formation undetected, lurking on the edge in wait. The moment the Spirit Fruit King ripened, he struck with five Fire Python Talismans, seized the fruit, and escaped successfully.

He then slipped into the Valley of Absolute Resentment to refine the Supreme Spirit Fruit King, using the secret art taught to him by Ying Xue.

The Spirit Fruit King was not to be consumed directly. Instead, one used spiritual power and secret techniques to slowly draw out its essence, opening the seven orifices, expanding the meridians, cleansing the muscles and bones, expelling impurities, and obtaining the Spirit Fruit Essence—transforming the body from the mundane to the miraculous, forging a spiritual physique.

Relying on his spiritual power, which was three times that of an ordinary cultivator, Ge Qian spent several hours fiercely refining the walnut-sized Spirit Fruit King until its last wisp of pure energy was absorbed into his body.

His hands flashed through a series of incantations, and suddenly, with a series of crackling sounds, a surge of pitch-black, inky vapor burst from his seven orifices.

Standing tall, Ge Qian stretched his limbs, feeling refreshed in both body and mind, as though he had cast off a tremendous burden. Only now did he realize how much impurity his body had harbored—the dense, reeking black vapor was so foul he felt sickened even himself.

Now, however, his spiritual power clearly flowed three times faster than before. Exhilaration surged through him.

After checking himself over, Ge Qian looked up to see Bai Ruyu’s face twisted in anger, as though he had stolen her spirit stones. In truth, the Supreme Spirit Fruit King was worth far more than gold.

Ge Qian smiled indifferently. “Sister Bai, I hope you’ve been well? Judging by your appearance, things aren’t going too well for you—you look seriously injured.”

Bai Ruyu snorted coldly. “Isn’t that thanks to you, after hitting me with two Fire Python Talismans?”

“I had no choice given the circumstances,” Ge Qian replied innocently. “Otherwise, how could I have obtained the Spirit Fruit King?”

Bai Ruyu drew a deep breath. “I truly misjudged you, Ge Qian. I underestimated you, and that was my mistake. I should have listened to Senior Ye Yu and dealt with you first—only then could I have claimed the Spirit Fruit King.”

Ge Qian shook his head. “Even if you had obtained the Spirit Fruit King, Sister Bai, with your Ice Phoenix bloodline, you still couldn’t have laid the Foundation of Heaven. The key is not just external aids, but whether you’ve comprehended the essence of it.”

A confused look crossed Bai Ruyu’s face. “Are you saying you’ve already grasped the essence and can lay the Foundation of Heaven?”

Ge Qian nodded. “I’ve grasped the essence, and the problems with my talent have been resolved. Whether I can establish the Foundation of Heaven depends on fate. It would be best if I succeed, but if not, I will still pursue my path and seek immortality. To put it simply, we are all on the road to eternal life. Establishing the Foundation of Heaven is like riding a horse—it’s faster, but even without it, I can travel on foot. No matter the outcome, I will not give up, for only by moving forward can there be hope, and only then will the future reveal itself.”

Bai Ruyu nodded in agreement. “Wise words. You’re advising me not to brood over the Spirit Fruit King and let it disturb my heart. But tell me, what must one comprehend to lay the Foundation of Heaven?”

Ge Qian clasped his hands behind his back and paused. “In my view, the Human Foundation is still tainted by mundane worldly qi. The Earth Foundation sheds the mundane, but cannot escape reliance on the earth itself. The Heavenly Foundation, however, is free of all vulgarity, unbound by the earth, soaring the skies and reshaping oneself. Do you understand?”

Comprehension dawned on Bai Ruyu’s face. Though she couldn’t fully grasp the depths, she gained some insight and her admiration for Ge Qian grew. His strength was clearly the result of his own efforts.

“Thank you for your guidance, Brother Ge. But how can I rid myself of the mundane?” Bai Ruyu asked respectfully, for a single word from a wise man was worth ten years of study, and if she could truly comprehend the secret, perhaps she too could lay the Foundation of Heaven.

Ge Qian spoke earnestly. “Whatever binds you, that is the mundane. These things can be spoken of, but not taught by example.”

Bai Ruyu pondered a moment. “Why did you bring me here, then? Speak plainly.”

Satisfied, Ge Qian replied, “You’re straightforward, Sister. I simply ask that you keep my secret—just say, upon leaving, that you obtained the Spirit Fruit King.”

Bai Ruyu frowned, understanding his intent—to let her take the blame while he reaped the benefit. But did she have any choice? Still, she said, “I can keep a secret, but I can’t guarantee others will.”

“They’re easily dealt with. Those who don’t know their place—I’ll send them to the afterlife. The dead are the most trustworthy; they won’t talk,” Ge Qian replied as if it were a trivial matter.

A chill ran through Bai Ruyu’s heart. If she refused, she might well become one of those dead herself. Calming herself, she asked, “Brother Ge, are you truly going to take on all three of them alone? Such boldness! I’ll be watching for your mighty display.”

Ge Qian smiled. “I’m not so arrogant. They’ve left you in this state—they’re hardly unscathed themselves. I’ll deal with two along with the resentful spirit. As for the third, you only need to lure him away for a moment. Once I succeed, you can bring him back—the rest isn’t your concern. But you must swear a Heart Demon Oath before I can trust you.”

Bai Ruyu was startled yet again. She had thought no one but herself could obtain the September Iceflower from the Cold Pool of Heavy Water, yet Ge Qian had done so. Perhaps even in her prime, she wouldn’t be his match.

Liu Xixi, Liu Mei, Jue Ming—just wait. Ge Qian will deal with you, and that’s just as well. I shall see who survives, and perhaps I’ll have a chance to benefit.

With that thought, she raised her hand to the heavens and swore the Heart Demon Oath.