Feng Qi flipped the small pouch of coins in his hand, feeling utterly without direction. Remaining in the arenas would lead him nowhere; being a punching bag could hardly be called training. Yet, as he pondered his next move, an unexpected figure approached.
"Hey, you!"
It was the young madman who had just fought Bai Lan. His expression was grim, his gaze piercing Feng Qi as though he were a threat.
Sensing the danger of being extorted, Feng Qi moved quickly to continue on his way. Yet the madman caught up in a single stride, gripping Feng Qi by the shoulder.
"You heard me! I know it!" he shouted.
Feng Qi fixed him with a sharp glare. He was unwilling to lose this pouch of coins, a fortune he had never seen since his father's death.
"What is it?!"
"Hmph! I'm not here for the money the Young Lady gave you, beggar! I'm here only to give you a sincere warning."
Surprised, Feng Qi's heart lightened slightly. This was not a robbery.
"The Young Lady is extremely busy and important. Do not dare trouble her with your pathetic pleas! Whatever you do, she will never regard you as a man!"
Feng Qi's expression froze at the words, then cooled. "You must be joking. Interested in her? I was crushed less than a month ago. I am not here to court her, only to gain knowledge."
With that, Feng Qi ignored the troublemaker entirely and continued on his path.
"You'll regret this!" a sudden strike sent Feng Qi flying, blood gushing from his nose as he coughed violently.
"Do not let my eyes catch you begging in these streets. This city is pure, orderly, and ruled by clear laws—not the filth from the pit you crawled out of."
Feng Qi dragged himself slowly, propping his elbow on his knee as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His eyes burned with murderous intent, staring directly into the man's without fear.
First lesson learned: never turn your back on an enemy… Second lesson: never allow scum like this to live!
"Hmph!" The madman trembled slightly, surprised at the young man's resilience, as if striking a bar of iron.
He finally averted his gaze and departed. Those nearby watched discreetly, and an intense shame stirred in Feng Qi's heart.
If fate allows, what just happened here… will be the reason for your death. Wait for me! Feng Qi thought, moving on with resolve.
That afternoon, in a certain grand mansion at the heart of Qingyao City, a beautiful young woman made her way to an immense hall. Her steps were light and gentle, echoing like petals brushing across jade floors. The columns rose like silent mountains, engraved with ancient runes that pulsed faintly, breathing in rhythm with the world. A veil of spiritual incense filled the air, and each step seemed to stir not just the atmosphere, but the invisible flow of Qi itself. Her eyes remained lowered—not in submission, but in respect to the presence awaiting her beyond the golden gates.
Two powerful guards opened the gates, and the young woman continued gracefully. They were stronger than she, yet their authority was calm, not oppressive.
Ahead, mountains of books, scrolls, and documents sprawled endlessly. At the center, a tall man stood, upright as an ancient pine, immersed in silence. His beard appeared untamed, yet a youthful vitality lingered; though he looked to be in his forties, his eyes were focused intently on the piles of documents.
His white hair fell like snow over ancient mountains, every feature of his face carrying the weight of authority.
"Governor, I would like to discuss something with you," the young woman said politely.
The man paused, lifting his gaze to meet hers with a neutral expression.
"Governor? No need to call me that at home… my daughter."
"This is my respect for you. If I cannot set an example, what will the people of this city think of the Governor?"
"Who in this city would dare to say anything? You are my beloved daughter. You should call me Father—or better yet, Papa," he said, suddenly smiling widely.
"Please, Papa, I only wish to converse," she murmured, secretly embarrassed to speak so casually. The old man, of course, continued smiling.
"Very well. What does my dear daughter wish to discuss?"
"Papa, first, the paperwork destined for the imperial court has been reviewed. It now requires your approval."
With a flick of her hand, another pile of papers appeared—retrieved effortlessly from her spatial ring.
"Already done? That was fast… my dear is truly exceptional."
"I am merely doing my duty. If I could not even manage this, I would be shaming the Governor."
"You are too strict on yourself. I would rather you act freely… Do you desire anything?"
"No, Father, I want nothing."
"Good. Then what is it you truly wish to discuss?"
The young woman hesitated, her eyes distant, calculating carefully in her heart.
"This morning, I encountered a young man, seemingly wandering yet intriguing, and I cannot stop thinking of him."
A spark seemed to pierce the Governor's mind. Surprised, yet delighted, he exclaimed, "My daughter has finally fallen in love! Come now, introduce this young man, we shall arrange a marriage immediately!"
"Marriage?! Papa, I am not speaking of that. What I mean is… this young man is special. And he is much younger than me—only seventeen."
"Oh? Then what is it?" The old man's expression softened.
"You insist… very well. This youth, Zhao Long, is strange. He has no special techniques, and though young, only began cultivating a little over two weeks ago. His movements are awkward, as if… he has never stepped into this world before."
The Governor considered this, then concluded, "This is not uncommon. Occasionally, a youth may display talent unlike any other, as if touched by heaven itself."
"The issue is that this youth is already in the Fourth Layer of Physical Refinement. Despite two fortuitous encounters, acquiring the Root of Vital Purity and the Spiritual Blood Flower, his attack power rivaled my suppressed cultivation in the Seventh Layer."
"Hmm…" The old man gazed into the distance, deep in thought.
He rose, searching through drawers of manuals, extracting several texts.
"Some possess special constitutions. Most are born ordinary; others, by fate or chance, awaken with innate talent. Some children reveal it early, others may take a lifetime. Most cultivators have average Mortal-grade bodies."
"I have read of this. Some of these exceptional individuals gain immense strength or unmatched adaptability, mastering techniques at a glance."
"Exactly. Perhaps this youth is one of them."
The young woman reflected inwardly, her heart racing with curiosity. Then, she recalled the words of the youth, Zhao Long, and smiled softly.
"It is but a brick cast into the lake—the true jade remains hidden," she murmured.
"Do you believe he already knows of his special constitution?" her father asked.
"Perhaps… though I have a feeling there is more. Papa, when I struck him, I used almost all my strength, and yet that boy remained unharmed. My hand… it reminded me of the days before cultivation, when striking trees and stakes would leave my hand sore!"
"Hmm. Intriguing indeed. This youth… I believe he shall become powerful. Why not invite him to visit our mansion?"
"May I?"
"Of course. Bring him here, and we shall see how he behaves."
"And what do you intend to do?"
"If he truly has no place, I can assign him an important task with generous pay. A person like this will one day be sought by the Sects—why not seize the opportunity ourselves?"
"That is wise, Papa. I thought the same," Bai Lan said with a broad smile, her curiosity piqued, a genuine interest in Zhao Long forming.
"You seem fond of him…" the old man remarked.
"Well… I cannot deny his appearance is pleasing, but what captivates me is his sincerity."
"Sincerity? How so?"
The young woman laughed softly. "He came to me, asking to learn the Azure Wave style."
"Oh, so that is how you met. I wondered. It seems clear he has truly never stepped into the world of martial arts."
Both father and daughter could not help but laugh.
...
The day was breaking. The sun rose like a massive cauldron of fire, scattering its light across the clouds. Small birds chirped among the trees, while a few rodents scurried down in search of food. This was, in truth, a small grove within one of Qingyao's most prosperous inns.
At the heart of the grove, a gentle stream cascaded into a waterfall, and beneath it, vast quantities of Spiritual Qi permeated the surroundings. Among the rocks, the silhouette of a figure could be seen—a man.
It was Feng Qi, who had spent the night cultivating in this Qi-rich haven.
At the inn, dinner had been a special affair for the young man, bringing memories of his father's life. After eating, he treated his injuries with medicines he had purchased and some pills to enhance circulation. With rest, a fire often blazed in his chest, and an even stronger will was born within him.
Feng Qi spent the night in cultivation without feeling fatigue when the sun emerged. On the contrary, he felt invigorated—something that would have been impossible before.
Stepping out of the inn, he sought better clothes, for the coins given by Old Chen and Bai Lan still lay in abundance in his hands. A strange sensation of wealth briefly stirred within him, but soon faded, leaving him once again with the bitter awareness of his poverty.
"Why are clothes here so expensive? This is highway robbery!"
Feng Qi knew the value of a single gold coin. For him, earning that amount would have been almost impossible, even after years of work.
To put it into perspective: one gold coin equaled 100 silver coins, and one silver coin equaled 100 bronze coins. A satisfying dinner the night before had cost him two silver coins. Lodging had cost five. Spending such sums before would have been impossible, even after months of saving.
Yet, this elegant and refined outfit cost him two gold coins.
Feng Qi hung his head, feeling that all the money in his hands was mere pocket change, his level of poverty laid bare.
"I need to find something. But what?"
Suddenly, an arena full of spectators appeared ahead. At its center, two young men bowed lightly to one another, their hands forming the shape of a cup—a symbol of respect between combatants. Feng Qi was one of these young men.
It was a wagered duel. Both spectators and fighters could participate, winning substantial sums—or losing them.
The duel began. With no weapons or artifacts allowed, every strike and movement relied solely on the body's strength. Feng Qi sought to better understand the steps of the Azure Wave style and integrate them into his own form. To refine his technique, nothing was better than a real battle, purging impurities.
At the same time, he could earn money from bets and gain valuable battle experience. In his heart, Feng Qi had already planned to join a Sect once his fighting style had been perfected.
With a swift movement, his opponent closed the distance, striking first. Feng Qi dodged and countered immediately. The exchange continued—strike and dodge, again and again.
The opponent was roughly at the Sixth Layer of Physical Refinement, slightly weaker than Bai Lan at the same stage. Yet the force behind each strike was far greater. Feng Qi could feel the intensity with every dodge—one hit could compromise his victory.
Yet, nothing of the sort occurred. The duel was not difficult; even merely dodging and awkwardly countering allowed Feng Qi's understanding to grow with each clash. After four duels and four victories, he earned an average of thirty-seven gold coins.
"Finally, I am earning my own money!" he exclaimed. Yet he knew well that life in the arenas held no future.
Almost three hours later, as he considered his next move, someone approached.
It was Bai Lan, accompanied by her loyal bodyguard. Feng Qi paid no mind to her presence.
"Huh?" he said, unsurprised. After all, she had been present at the arenas yesterday. Yet today, she came specifically to see him.
"I knew you'd be here. You seemed to be searching for something… the way you dressed gave it away."
The clothes Feng Qi had stolen from the village were simple and humble. The memory still left a bitter taste—he had never before felt compelled to steal.
"You didn't come here just to mock me, did you?" Feng Qi asked.
"Mock? I do not understand. Why would I do such a thing?"
"Your last opponent yesterday struck me off guard just because I spoke to you. Seems he is infatuated with someone."
Bai Lan's eyes narrowed, a dark expression slowly forming.
"I see… Lin Tianhao did that?"
"He's called Lin Tianhao? Good to know."
"I am sorry about that, but I advise against acting rashly. That man is vindictive and unpredictable. Once, he pursued the lover of an acquaintance—things could have turned serious. Worse, he belongs to the Great Lin Family. They will spare no effort to hunt him down wherever he goes," Bai Lan explained.
"I see…" Feng Qi remained calm, his mind considering the many possibilities. "In this world, I fear no one who can be killed," he murmured to himself.
"I know what you are thinking. My advice: have patience and let fate take its course. But… I came here especially to find you."
Feng Qi's eyes remained distant, but he stayed focused on the conversation. "I noticed… and I appreciate the coins from yesterday. I am willing to repay them."
He had suspected as much. In the end, fifty gold coins was still a considerable sum—who in this city could offer that to a stranger so casually? It was clear to him that Bai Lan was extremely wealthy; perhaps her surname even belonged to a Great Family.
"No need to return them—they are yours. I came with a proposal. I spoke with my father yesterday. He not only agreed to teach you the steps of the Azure Wave style, but also invited you to discuss employment. The pay is generous. What do you say?"
Feng Qi was taken aback.
"Employment?" He remembered something from his past years. "Forgive me, Bai Lan, but I have been a servant for many years. I have no interest in serving anyone else." Feng Qi made his position clear.
Bai Lan's expression remained neutral, though a small smile appeared.
"I suppose I should tell you who my father is. The person you will work for is no ordinary man."
"Ah… the Patriarch of a Great Family, I assume?" he asked.
"I said my father is more than that. He serves the Imperial Crown. As one of the high officials of the court, he has been appointed Lord of Qingyao City for a long time. Essentially… he is the Governor."
Feng Qi's eyes widened. He understood the power and status of a Governor. While perhaps not the strongest in combat, he would certainly be the wealthiest—and with the Crown's protection.
"W-Wait! Your father is the Governor?"
Bai Lan smiled tenderly, nodding.
"So… I would actually be working for the Imperial Court?"
"Almost," she replied.
"I see…" Yet Feng Qi remained hesitant. His goal was to join a Sect the following month. Once there, countless techniques, masters, artifacts, and medicinal pills would be at his disposal.
"I know what you're thinking. You believe working for the Governor is mere labor for a few coins. But we have policies. All servants receive substantial resources: pills, techniques, counsel, even artifacts. If you prove worthy, you may earn bonuses. Every journey has a beginning… and you can pave your own path."
Her words were kind and sincere, and Feng Qi felt it deeply. After a moment of thought, he sighed heavily.
"With one condition."
"Yes! Speak."
"I am a Free Man… born loved, lost my way, lived in chains for many years, and broke them only through great sacrifice. Now, my path is—to live. My destiny is not to be confined to this city or region. My goal is greater! I wish to see the world, uncover all its secrets, and become incomparable between Heaven and Earth. I am… Free."
His words were spoken with a genuine smile. His gaze burned with a reddish glow, like flames that would never be extinguished. Nothing could stop him—not even Destiny itself.
Seeing this passion for life, Bai Lan could not help but admire the young man. And so, a consensus was reached between them.