This was the highest point in Great Qian, offering the only vantage point from which to take in the entire Forbidden City, with its smoky lights and crimson hues. Xiao Wuchen had discarded the bloodthirsty, python-patterned robe he had worn in Jiangnan and was now clad only in a plain white undershirt as he leaned against the wooden railing adorned with carved dragons.
Behind him stood the Imperial Preceptor, Xuan Weizi, who had long lurked in the shadows of imperial power, bowing slightly. This elderly man, who had served three generations of emperors, now gazed at Xiao Wuchen with awe in his eyes.
"Is the Seal Master gazing upon these vast lands?" Xuan Weizi murmured.
'This one observes this cage,' said Xiao Wuchen, turning his head so that the moonlight bathed his profile, rendering it almost translucent. 'Though I have ascended to the pinnacle of power, I constantly sense a pair of eyes above the heavens, watching me coldly.'
Xuan Weizi drew a deep breath, swept his sleeve, and a sound-blocking barrier enveloped the entire tower.
'Your Excellency observes keenly. This Great Qian Dynasty is merely a 'blood-feeding ground' controlled by the major sects.' Xuan Weizi smiled bitterly. 'What you call "spirit veins" are dragon veins to mortals, but to cultivators, they're merely batteries to be devoured and refined. Every Da Qian emperor had his lifespan drained by these sects and distilled into longevity elixirs."
Xiao Wuchen narrowed his eyes, and the sword intent of birth and death flowed naturally, causing the surrounding air to crackle under the strain.
"How exactly are the cultivation factions divided?"
II. The Chart of the Cultivation Realm: The Hierarchy of Dimensional Strikes
Xuan Weizi extended his withered fingers and traced a golden list in the void.
[Cultivation Realm Divisions]
Qi Refining: Harnesses spiritual energy to transcend mortal form. Can single-handedly defeat a hundred men in battle.
Foundation Establishment: Forges immortal foundations. Longevity extends to two hundred years. They can be crowned king or appointed general in the mortal realm.
Golden Core: Solidifies spiritual power into an inner丹. Grandmasters are mere ants that can be crushed at will.
The Nascent Soul transcends the elixir to form a soul embryo with an immortal spirit that cannot be destroyed. A single individual can slaughter an entire city and divide mountains and rivers with a single thought.
Deity Transformation: Mastery of the laws of the universe and the ability to traverse ten thousand miles in an instant. They are the true rulers of this continent.
'Master, although you have not yet begun to cultivate, your "Sword Intent of Birth and Death" is already terrifying beyond measure. Judging by your combat strength alone, you likely possess the power to slay a Vajra Realm cultivator — the peak of the mortal martial realm — and are approaching the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment. However, the realms beyond — Golden Core and Nascent Soul — remain beyond the reach of mortal fire," said Xuan Weizi, his voice trembling.
The moment Xuan Weizi had finished speaking, the long-dormant system in Xiao Wuchen's mind suddenly emitted a piercing roar.
"Ding! Detecting high-tier energy system (Xiuzen civilisation) integration!"
"Updating core system logic... Data processing functions activated!"
The blurred world projected onto Xiao Wuchen's retinas suddenly sharpened into crystal-clear clarity. He looked at Xuan Weizi and saw a line of cold text appear above the old man's head.
Target: Xuan Weizi
Cultivation level: Mid Foundation Establishment (Impaired State).
Technique: Three Purities Qi Absorption Art
Weakness: A forced breakthrough attempt three years ago caused a blockage of spiritual energy in the Zhongji acupoint.
Predicted drops: Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, Broken Whisk, 30 years of lifespan.
A faint smile touched Xiao Wuchen's lips. This sensation of absolute control was more intoxicating than any power.
[Personal Attribute Panel Updated]
Name: Xiao Wuchen
Current status: Mortal (extremely dangerous, unopened meridians).
Combat assessment: Pseudo-Late Foundation Establishment (entirely reliant on 'Sword Intent of Birth and Death').
Main quest activated: Plunder the Spirit Vein.
Quest description: The imperial throne of mortal emperors pales in comparison to the power of a single spirit vein. Devour the cursed spirit vein beneath the Great Qian Realm to formally enter the Qi Cultivation Stage.
"Where is the spirit vein?" Xiao Wuchen asked coldly.
'Beneath the Forbidden City, directly beneath the golden throne,' replied Xuan Weizi, kneeling on the ground. 'But the spirit vein is sealed by the Spirit-Locking Array of the Qingyun Sect. Once the palm print moves, we will become enemies of the immortals!"
Xiao Wuchen walked slowly to the railing and gazed down at the palace below — the very structure that had sparked countless battles.
"Immortals?"
With a light press of his palm, the Sword Intent of Birth and Death instantly transformed into a pitch-black dragon and plunged straight into the earth.
'In my eyes, anyone who stands in my way is already dead.'
'I renounce the Dragon Throne of Great Qian! I shall claim every spiritual vein across the Nine Provinces!'
At his command, the entire Forbidden City rumbled like an earth dragon stirring. Centuries of suppressed golden spiritual energy emitted wails of anguish as it was torn apart by the black sword intent and forced to surge towards Xiao Wuchen's broken yet still formidable body.
On the rooftop of the Star-Plucking Tower, the wind and clouds shifted abruptly.
Xiao Wuchen stood with his hands behind his back on the edge of the tower. Behind him, the face of the Imperial Sage, Xuan Weizi, was deathly pale. His eyes, which could discern the nation's destiny, now stared in terror at the barren, cloud-shrouded mountains to the north.
'The seal... the dragon vein of Great Qian... it's stirring,' Xuan Weizi said, his voice trembling with dread and breaking into a sob. 'No! That isn't merely a dragon vein — it's the very lifeblood of this land! The supreme spiritual vein that the cultivation world has sought for a century!"
Xiao Wuchen turned his face, his phoenix-like eyes radiating a bone-chilling coldness under the moonlight. "Speak clearly. Are the recent earthquakes in the capital connected to this?"
Xuan Weizi tremblingly presented a scroll sealed with forbidden techniques. Half a month ago, the Dragonfall Valley in the northern suburbs of the capital experienced a catastrophic ground collapse. Within a hundred-mile radius, not a blade of grass remained, yet a five-coloured radiance shot skyward. The advance team of the Imperial Guard dispatched by the court did not return. I had always assumed it was due to unstable earth veins. However, three days ago, I detected several terrifying divine senses far surpassing the Golden Core stage converging on the ancient site from all corners of the Nine Provinces and the Four Seas.
He swallowed hard and whispered, 'This isn't a natural disaster — it's the awakening of an ancient site. Legend has it that it is the final resting place of a peerless ancient sword cultivator. His lingering essence fused with the earth's veins, forming a 'Sword Intent Spirit Vein' potent enough to drive Nascent Soul cultivators mad."
"Sword Intent Spirit Vein."
Those four words struck like a sledgehammer, hitting Xiao Wuchen's weak spot. The 'Life-Death Sword Intent' in his hand seemed to sense a fated call and roared wildly within his consciousness.
[System Awakening: Spirit Vein Tracking Mission Activated.]
At that moment, a dark crimson light screen unfolded abruptly before Xiao Wuchen's eyes. The system's mechanical voice resonated with an unprecedented sense of pressure:
[Ding! High-concentration spiritual energy fluctuations detected. Causality Law locked! Main Quest updated: Track the Spirit Vein'.
Quest location: Ancient Ruins of Fallen Dragon Valley, North Capital.
Objective: Penetrate the ruins' core and locate and mark the source of the Spirit Vein.
Current progress: 0% (not yet within the perimeter of the ruins)
Reward: Unlock the first tier of the 'Primordial Divine Demon Body' and obtain a random Earth-grade cultivation technique scroll.
[System Warning: Multiple Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stage lifeforms have been detected, rapidly approaching the target location. Although the host currently possesses cross-tier combat capability, their cultivation realm is incomplete. Exercise caution when harvesting.]
Xiao Wuchen stared at the flickering red dots on the holographic map, a cruel and excited smile curling his lips.
'The Cultivation Realm... Immortals...' he murmured softly, his fingers tightening abruptly. 'Since mortal authority has reached its zenith, this sovereign shall ascend the path of immortality and claim that throne for himself!'
"Transmit the imperial decree."
Xiao Wuchen strode downstairs without looking back, his crimson dragon robe billowing in the wind like a sea of blood.
'The First to Third Squads of the Xuanyi Guards shall accompany this sovereign out of the city. The Office of Ceremonial Affairs must seal all the capital's gates. No one may leave the city without authorisation. Those who disobey shall have their entire clan exterminated."
Xuan Weizi watched the resolute figure depart, a foreboding rising within him. With this departure, Xiao Wuchen might no longer be the 'Nine Thousand Years' of Great Qian. Instead, he might become the one to unleash a bloodbath across the Nine Provinces, capable of burying countless immortals.
Under the night sky, three thousand iron-clad cavalrymen crushed the frost on the outskirts of the capital.
Xiao Wuchen rode atop his Jade Lion, Illuminating the Night. He could sense the immense 'energy vortex' in the north, frantically sucking away the surrounding vitality. In the face of this force, the emperors, ministers and noble clans of the mortal world were as fragile as ants.
Two hours later, the group stopped at the edge of Fallen Dragon Valley.
Where towering mountain ranges once stood, a colossal, bottomless pit now lay. Golden mist billowed continuously in and out of the cavern, and the lush forests that once grew along its rim had been reduced to charred, blackened stumps.
[System Real-Time Scan—]
Environment: Extremely high spiritual pressure zone (ordinary humans will explode upon entry).
Forward Detection: Traces of cultivators detected.
Targets: Three Qingyun Sect stewards (Early Foundation Establishment stage) and several wandering cultivators (Qi Cultivation stage).
Xiao Wuchen dismounted, his sword qi of birth and death swirling around him as he held back the spiritual pressure that could crush ordinary soldiers from three feet away.
"It seems all the guests have arrived."
Gripping his sword hilt with his other hand, he strode towards the mist-shrouded entrance of the ruins.
In that moment, his crimson robe fluttered wildly amidst the desolate storm of spiritual pressure. Behind him stood trembling mortal soldiers and before him lay the unfathomable abyss of the immortal path.
"Since they are ruins, let them become the final resting place for these immortals."