The colossal roar of the Fire Dragon and the smell of ozone and burnt robes had completely eclipsed the glorious conclusion of the Seven-Pulse Martial Arts Competition.
Cangsong, the formidable Master of Longshou Peak, moved with the speed of pure, incandescent fury. He flashed down from the viewing stand and knelt beside his star pupil, Qi Hao, who was now a smoking, twitching lump of charcoal on the ground.
He shoved several top-tier, gold-grade healing pills down the boy's throat. The good news was that while the injuries were horrifying and immediately debilitating, the attack had been too fast to fully consume the victim; his life-force was intact.
The bad news, as Cangsong realized with a fresh surge of loathing, was that Qi Hao would be utterly, spectacularly bald for the foreseeable future.
On the ruins of the arena, Lu Xueqi was radiating a quiet, profound sense of triumph—a rare sight on her habitually frosty face.
"Lord Pig! We did it! We won!" she whispered, scooping the little golden swine into her arms. His small, fat face was stretched in a grotesque, magnificent grin of pure, vindictive satisfaction.
Lu Xueqi carefully unhooked the Xuanhuojian—now merely a cooling, palm-sized disc—from her victorious grip and reverently hung it around Lord Pig's neck. The small pig, draped in the treasure of an entire sect, looked like a particularly spoiled king's pet.
Almost instantly, the highest echelon of the Qingyun Sect—Daoxuan and the remaining Peak Masters—converged on them, their attention solely fixed on the artifact resting on Lord Pig's ample chest.
"Lord Pig, tell us true," Daoxuan asked, his tone grave, his eyes alight with suppressed avarice and professional calculation. "Is this truly the Xuanhuojian—the supreme spiritual treasure of Fenxiang Valley?"
"Wrong!" Lord Pig denied instantly and loudly.
The assembled masters froze, bewildered. Had they misidentified one of the most famous artifacts in the world?
"Are you suggesting that all of us—the Peak Masters of Qingyun Sect—are collectively blind?" Cangsong, his voice still tight with residual fury over his disciple's charred state, demanded. "That is unequivocally the Xuanhuojian!"
Lord Pig merely shook his head, looking down his snout at the raging Master. "It is clearly the Xuanhuojian in appearance, yes. But it is Lord Pig's Xuanhuojian. It is not, and has never been, from that dusty, overrated hole known as Fenxiang Valley!"
A thousand stampeding spiritual horses thundered through the minds of the masters. The sheer absurdity of the argument—a claim of ownership based on possession—was both infuriating and profoundly, strategically useful.
Daoxuan, the consummate politician, seized the narrative immediately, his eyes sparkling with amusement and insight.
"Lord Pig speaks the profound truth!" Daoxuan declared, his voice firm and authoritative. "As many know, the Mysterious Fire Mirror was originally the magic weapon of Linglong, the legendary shamanic witch of the Southern Barbarian Lands! It only later fell into the hands of Fenxiang Valley as a temporary guardian treasure.
Now that the esteemed Lord Pig has recovered it—clearly, due to his immense virtuous merit—it is now Lord Pig's magic weapon! And since Lord Pig is an indispensable member of the Qingyun Sect, the Xuanhuojian is now inextricably linked to our fate!"
Every Peak Master, save for the sputtering Cangsong, instantly nodded and voiced their agreement with loud, fervent conviction. The political calculation was simple: the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox incident had already soured relations with Fenxiang Valley.
Now, with the Supreme Artifact Xuanhuojian in their possession, they held a powerful trump card and were certainly not going to concede it over mere diplomatic courtesy.
"Senior Brother, your wisdom is unparalleled!" Shuiyue beamed, patting Lord Pig's side as if he were a particularly brilliant weapon of spiritual warfare.
Cangsong stared, utterly defeated. He knew he couldn't fight this decision. He roughly scooped up the smoking, whimpering Qi Hao. "Head Master, I must take Qi Hao back for urgent healing. Farewell!" he growled, his face contorted in a dark mask of fury and humiliation, before retreating with his charred disciple.
Daoxuan then turned to Lu Xueqi, his expression softening into profound pride. "Junior Sister, your Xiaozhu Peak has produced a magnificent successor in Lu Xueqi," he said, smiling broadly at Shuiyue.
"Thank you for the compliment, Senior Brother," Shuiyue replied, radiating satisfaction. Even though the victory was secured through an act of supreme, obvious cheating, Lu Xueqi's talent and the sheer spectacle of the win elevated her profile beyond question.
Daoxuan reached inside his robes and retrieved a small, ancient object, which he presented to Lu Xueqi. "Take this, my child."
Lu Xueqi accepted it. It was a small mirror, antique and bronze-rimmed, featuring complex engravings: a dragon at the top, a tiger at the bottom, and the central body inscribed with the Eight Trigrams. The central reflective surface, however, was not polished metal but a hazy, swirling yellow substance that defied clear sight.
"Xueqi, thank the Head Master immediately!" Shuiyue urged, her eyes glittering with excitement.
"Thank you, Head Master," Lu Xueqi said, instantly recognizing the immense value of the gift. This was the legendary grand prize of the competition: the Liuhe Realm artifact.
"You are welcome," Daoxuan said, waving his hand dismissively, though his pride was evident. He then leaned in and, through a powerful spiritual transmission, secretly conveyed the intricate mantra and technique required to control the ancient Liuhe Realm artifact directly into Lu Xueqi's mind.
Amid the awe-struck and profoundly envious gazes of thousands of disciples, the Seven-Pulse Martial Arts Competition concluded. Lu Xueqi and Zhang Xiaofan—the icy prodigy and the chaotic lucky charm—became the two most talked-about names in the entire Qingyun Sect.
Two months passed in a blur of peace and gluttony for Lord Pig. While the young heroes—Lu Xueqi, Zhang Xiaofan, Zeng Shushu, and even the newly rehabilitated, slightly singed Qi Hao—were sent out to gain experience in the mundane world, Lord Pig adhered strictly to his personal, highly effective regimen of napping, eating, and spiritually absorbing the infinite wisdom of the cosmos, all from the comfort of Dabai's lap.
That tranquil routine was shattered one afternoon.
Shuiyue entered the room, interrupting Lord Pig's post-lunch meditation. She reached out and gently rubbed the sleeping pig, who grumbled at the disturbance.
"Lord Pig," she said softly, "the Head Master has summoned you urgently to Yuqing Palace. He says it's a matter of critical importance."
Lord Pig pried open one sleepy, golden eye. "A matter of critical importance? Did someone finally perfect the spiritual equivalent of a pork bun?" he mumbled. "What is this fuss about, Xiaoyueyue?"
"It is serious, Lord Pig," Shuiyue explained, her voice low. "It seems this involves Zhang Xiaofan of Dazhu Peak, who has been accused of practicing the forbidden techniques of Tianyin Temple. Additionally, the presence of the Xuanhuojian has drawn the attention of Fenxiang Valley."
She continued, a hint of nervousness in her eyes. "The Divine Monks Puhong and Pukong from Tianyin Temple, along with Elder Shangguan Ce of Fenxiang Valley, have all arrived and are waiting in Yuqing Palace."
Lord Pig's eyes snapped wide open. The prospect of diplomatic chaos and potential spiritual warfare was, admittedly, far more stimulating than even the most perfectly cooked meal.
"Excellent! Intrigue and potential destruction! My favorite!" Lord Pig declared, a hint of genuine excitement creeping into his voice. He waved a small, imperative paw. "Dabai, Xiaoyueyue! To Yuqing Palace! Let us witness this marvelous circus!"
Dabai, effortlessly graceful, picked up Lord Pig and, with Shuiyue accompanying them, glided toward the central hall.
The Yuqing Palace was currently a pressure cooker of spiritual power. The massive hall was populated by the masters of the three great righteous sects. Daoxuan sat on the central throne. A smaller, yet clearly elevated, throne sat beside him—reserved specifically for Lord Pig.
To Daoxuan's right sat the Peak Masters of Qingyun Sect, with Shuiyue's seat now filled. To his left sat the dignitaries of the visiting sects. The robed, stern figures of the Tianyin Temple monks (Puhong and Pukong) sat with quiet, immense spiritual gravitas, while the elders of Fenxiang Valley, led by Shangguan Ce, radiated simmering, tightly controlled fury.
Swoosh, Swoosh, Swoosh!
Dabai carried Lord Pig and Shuiyue into the hall. Every single pair of eyes—Qingyun, Tianyin, and Fenxiang—lashed out toward them. Shangguan Ce, the Fenxiang elder, exploded from his seat, his eyes fixed not on Lord Pig, but on the Xuanhuojian dangling carelessly from the pig's neck. His face was a mask of raw emotion.
"What are you staring at, old man? Lord Pig does not appreciate being ogled by men!" Lord Pig snapped, unimpressed, staring back with his large, golden eyes.
"The Mysterious Fire Mirror! The Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox! It was you who set that demon free! You destroyed our Mysterious Fire Altar and stole our Xuanhuojian!" Shangguan Ce roared, unable to contain his righteous outrage any longer.
Ignoring him, the monks of Tianyin Temple rose, placing their palms together. "We greet Lord Pig," Puhong said, his voice deep and measured. They remembered well the terrifying, divine power of the pig from their last encounter.
"Elder Shangguan, please, control your temper," Daoxuan interjected smoothly, standing to bow deeply to Lord Pig. "Lord Pig, please, take your seat."
Lord Pig shot a look of pure disdain at Shangguan Ce, then motioned for Dabai to proceed. Dabai settled him onto the specially prepared seat next to Daoxuan.
"Brother Daoxuan," Shangguan Ce insisted, his voice trembling with fury but held firm by spiritual discipline. "I can perhaps overlook the incident with the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox in the interest of sect harmony, but the Mysterious Fire Mirror is the core treasure of my Fenxiang Valley! I must reclaim it today!"
"What ludicrous nonsense!" Lord Pig interrupted, pointing a tiny, accusatory paw at Shangguan Ce.
"You clowns imprisoned Dabai—the Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox—and let her escape, then lost your pathetic altar! If Lord Pig hadn't personally subdued her, she would have destroyed your miserable peak! You should be on your knees thanking Lord Pig for restoring balance to the world, not complaining about a trinket! Furthermore, as Lord Pig stated, the Mysterious Fire Mirror never belonged to your valley! Treasures belong to the virtuous, and its current location proves that Lord Pig is clearly the most virtuous creature in the realm!"
"You… you dare!" Shangguan Ce sputtered, pointing a shaking finger at the golden pig. He turned, appealing desperately to the Qingyun Master. "Brother Daoxuan, is this the official position of your Qingyun Sect? That you will simply rob us of our ancestral treasure?"
Daoxuan sighed, a picture of false regret. "Brother Shangguan, while Lord Pig's words may lack the finesse of diplomacy, his reasoning is sound. As all know, Lord Pig acquired the Xuanhuojian outside of Fenxiang Valley. It is an artifact he lawfully possesses. It has no connection to your sect now, and its transfer has already been recognized by all the Qingyun Peak Masters."
"Very well. Very well!" Shangguan Ce roared, the veins on his neck bulging. He suppressed his overwhelming urge to strike the pig down and, with a final, ominous wave of his sleeve, stalked out of Yuqing Palace with his disciples. "It seems Qingyun seeks confrontation! We shall meet again!"
With the Fenxiang Valley contingent gone, the focus shifted. Zhang Xiaofan was immediately brought into the hall.
"Zhang Xiaofan," Taoist Master Daoxuan began, his voice slow and heavy, "I am now going to ask you questions that require absolute honesty. You must answer truthfully."
"Yes, Head Master," Zhang Xiaofan whispered, his head bowed.
Daoxuan paused, measuring his words before continuing. "During your recent excursion to Liubo Mountain in the East Sea, our venerable colleagues from Tianyin Temple observed that the method you employed against the strange beast Kuiniu was the 'Great Brahma Prajna'—a supreme Taoist technique that is never passed to outsiders. Is this true?"
The hall became instantly rigid. Tian Buyi shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting away from the many stares fixed on his disciple. The air grew thick, humming with unseen spiritual tension.
After a long, painful silence, Zhang Xiaofan's voice finally emerged, barely audible. "Yes."
A collective gasp of shock, despite the expectation, swept through the hall. The Tianyin Temple monks' faces remained serene, only the slight widening of their eyes betraying their reaction. Tian Buyi's face, however, turned a sickly shade of purple, and his pupils, along with those of Tian Ling'er, were wide with dread.
"Furthermore," Daoxuan continued, reaching out to tap the hideous, black Fire Stick resting on the table, "it is alleged that this weapon in your hand contains the notorious Blood-Sucking Pearl—a nefarious artifact of the Demon Cult. Is this also true?"
Another dreadful silence. Zhang Xiaofan's reply was softer, filled with a deep, private sorrow. "Yes."
"He is a Demon Cult Spy!" Cangsong screamed instantly, seizing the moment with manic glee.
"I… I am not! I never… I don't know how to explain it!" Zhang Xiaofan stammered, his face turning sheet white, his defense crumbling.
"Hold on!" Lord Pig injected, leaping up dramatically. "If merely possessing a powerful artifact makes one a Demon Cult Spy, then what of it? If Lord Pig held this fire poker," he paused, pointing his paw at the black stick, "would Lord Pig also be a spy of the nefarious Demonic Cult?"
He reached out his paw, a purely comedic gesture, and casually grabbed the Fire Stick.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
A sudden, blood-curdling shriek of pain—high-pitched, utterly theatrical, and deeply disturbing—ripped through the Yuqing Palace.
Lord Pig recoiled, tumbling backward off Dabai's knee in a tangle of limbs and golden fur, shaking violently. He threw the Fire Stick away as if it were white-hot iron. The staff clattered onto the floor, bounced a few times, and rolled to a stop near Zhang Xiaofan's feet.
In that shocking moment, everyone saw it. A slender, black shadow shot up from the Fire Stick. It paused in mid-air, emitting a strange, high-pitched skree-ing sound. It was a terrifying, palm-sized Centipede, hideously bright in color, with seven wicked, multi-forked tails that twitched with malicious speed. This was not merely a centipede; it was the legendary Seven-Tailed Centipede, a venomous creature of unimaginable toxicity, intrinsically linked to the Demon Cult's darkest rites.
"OUCH! WOO WOO WOO! LORD PIG WAS BITTEN! LORD PIG IS DYING! FETCH A PRIEST! ARRANGE A STATE FUNERAL!" Lord Pig wailed, scrabbling desperately from the ground and diving straight back into Dabai's arms, where he began to thrash about hysterically, rubbing the tiny spot on his paw where the centipede had briefly touched.
The atmosphere of the palace shattered. Daoxuan and the other Peak Masters' faces turned ghastly white. The legendary, feared venom of the Seven-Tailed Centipede! Even the Tianyin Monks looked alarmed. They instantly flashed forward, creating a protective spiritual barrier between the hysterically weeping pig and the dangerous insect, confirming that the centipede's presence was indeed a terrifying reality.
Even Cangsong, forgetting all personal hatred in the face of the ultimate terror, rushed forward to join Daoxuan, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his greatest rival to guard the fate of the Qingyun Sect—a golden, blubbering pig.