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The sanctuary Li Yuanli had scouted was every bit the paradise he'd promised. It was a hidden cradle of lush peaks, crystalline waters, and a thundering waterfall that veiled the valley in a silver mist. By every standard of geomancy, it was a land of supreme fortune.
Tucked deep within the Kunlun range, the valley maintained a perfect, temperate climate, shielded from the biting mountain winds by jagged, sentinel peaks. It was a ghost of a place, beautiful and utterly forgotten.
"Impressive," Qin Yi noted, a rare flash of genuine approval in his eyes.
"My scouts picked up rumors that this was once the secluded retreat of an Ancient Immortal," Li Yuanli explained, gesturing toward the center of the lake. "When they ascended or moved on, the world simply forgot it existed. Look there, that thatched cottage on the water is where they once meditated."
An Yi gazed at the small, weathered hut, her voice soft with a touch of melancholy. "The Immortal is long gone, yet their home remains. Time moves differently for those who chase the Dao."
As a demon who had lived through centuries of human history, she understood the fleeting nature of life better than most. To her, she was as human as any mortal; the only difference was the blood in her veins and the weight of her memories.
"This is the foundation," Qin Yi declared, his voice ringing with the authority of a sovereign. "From this day forward, we transform this valley. Here, we establish the Magnificent Qin Faction."
Standing there, the king who had once commanded the wealth of the Four Seas felt a surge of his old ambition. Six years in this world had been a prelude; this was the first true step of his conquest. Once he established a Realm Gate to bridge his territories, the tide would turn. He wouldn't just be a lone cultivator anymore; he would be the spearhead of an empire.
The four of them didn't waste a moment. Utilizing their mastery of Immortal Techniques, they began the reconstruction. Where ordinary laborers would have spent decades, they spent weeks. They stripped the ruins of the Magnificent Jasper Faction for jade and ancient stone, repurposing the bones of a dead sect to birth a new one.
One month later, Forget-Worry Valley had been transformed.
A sprawling complex now hugged the mountainside. At the entrance to the valley, a towering mountain gate stood defiant against the elements. Carved into its header in bold, silver-brushed strokes were three characters that radiated a sharp, piercing intent:
MAGNIFICENT QIN FACTION
Beyond the gate lay a path of pure white jade, nine hundred and ninety-nine steps that shimmered like a staircase to the heavens. The sect was compact but complete: a Pavilion of Scriptures, a Sword Hall, a Martial Arena, and the Headmaster's Palace. The architecture was aggressive, every roof topped with sword-like spires that seemed ready to pierce the sky itself.
Qin Yi stood in the central courtyard, his shadow falling over a massive stone sword artifact. "Today," he said calmly, "the sect is born."
Behind him, Li Yuanli and Ning Ya watched with bated breath, the gravity of the moment settling over them.
An Yi, however, looked conflicted. "So... I've really jumped into this pit with you?" she asked, her voice a mix of trepidation and curiosity. She looked at Qin Yi's back. "Tell me... do you truly not care? That I am a demon?"
In this world, the line between human and demon was a blood-soaked trench.
Qin Yi laughed, a bold, booming sound that echoed off the valley walls. He turned, closing the distance in a single stride, and swept her into his arms.
"The world is changing, An Yi. On such a joyous day, why settle for one celebration? Tonight, we marry!"
The command was absolute. He didn't ask; he decided.
An Yi's face flushed a deep crimson. She opened her mouth to curse his arrogance, to rail against his shamelessness, but the words died in her throat. She looked into his eyes and saw a soul that didn't give a damn about the "righteous" laws of men.
"Fine," She whispered, leaning into his chest. "If you don't mind a demon bride, I suppose I don't mind a madman for a husband."
Night fell, and the crescent moon hung like a silver hook over the valley.
The wedding was a quiet affair. There were no thousand-man banquets or roaring crowds, just four souls in the Great Hall. Li Yuanli channeled his spiritual energy, sending a rain of flower petals spiraling through the air as celestial music hummed from the very walls.
Qin Yi and An Yi, clad in flowing red wedding robes, walked the length of the hall.
"First bow, to Heaven and Earth!" Ning Ya called out, her voice bright.
They bowed.
"Second bow, to the ancestors!"
They bowed again.
"Husband and wife, bow to each other!"
As they faced one another, An Yi's hands trembled beneath her red veil. Qin Yi reached out, his grip firm and steady, grounding her. With that final bow, the contract was sealed.
"Ceremony complete! To the bridal chamber!" Li Yuanli shouted, grinning ear to ear.
Inside the quiet of the room, the candlelight flickered. Qin Yi felt the dampness of An Yi's palm. "Nervous?" he teased.
"Are you satisfied?" An Yi countered from behind the veil, her voice shaking slightly. "You are an elder of Mount Shu. Marrying a demon... the world will spit on your name."
"Let them spit," Qin Yi said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate growl. "I didn't choose you because the world approved. I chose you because I wanted to."
He reached out and lifted the veil, revealing a face of haunting beauty.
"You seek the Dao," she sighed. "The path of 'Forgetting the Dao' requires you to sever your ties. Promise me... when you finally cross that threshold and leave your humanity behind, you'll let me go."
Qin Yi leaned in, his eyes burning with a light that wasn't just spiritual. "Forgetting the Dao doesn't mean forgetting you. My Dao is not their Dao. I don't follow the path, I pave it."
He didn't give her a chance to argue. That night, the wind rattled the branches outside, and the candlelight in the Magnificent Qin Palace burned low and steady until the dawn.
The next morning, the sun broke over the peaks.
Li Yuanli entered the main hall, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, only to find Qin Yi already seated, calmly reading through ancient scrolls.
"Your Majesty... you're up early," Li Yuanli smirked, his eyes dancing with mischief.
Qin Yi didn't look up, but he tossed a manual across the room. "Practice this. And from now on, address me as Headmaster."
Li Yuanli caught the book. The Great Turning Stroke Sword Secret Art. His eyes widened. This was high-level stuff. "Yes, Headmaster!"
Soon, An Yi joined them, her movements slightly more reserved than the day before. She caught Qin Yi's gaze and looked away quickly. "Morning."
"Morning, Yiyi," Qin Yi replied, his smile widening.
When Ning Ya arrived, Qin Yi laid out the inheritance of the Magnificent Jasper Faction: three hundred and sixty-five volumes of sword-forging, Qi refining, and forbidden arts.
"We stay here until we have mastered these," Qin Yi commanded. "The world can wait. Power cannot."
As the others began to study, Qin Yi looked out toward the mist-covered mountains. He was at the precipice of the Ninth Realm, the "Trial of Emotions."
He realized now why so many failed. To "Forget the Dao," one had to first feel everything. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her. Every time he opened them, she was there. It was a heart-demon, a blade made of affection, and it was the most dangerous thing he had ever faced.
But as he looked at An Yi, he knew he wouldn't change a thing.
(End of Chapter)