Boots

6.22 - The Legendary Tan Zihao

As He Yu slammed into Sha Xiang once again, Tan Zihao and Long Tingguang clashed in the skies above. All four of their presences pressed down on the world, creating a clash of aspects nearly as intense as the battle over the Shrouded Peaks had been. The difference was that this time, He Yu wasn’t a helpless Golden Core in the face of experts far stronger than himself. He was a part of it.

Above, Tan Zihao laughed as he worked through complex and fluid motions with his spear, the vermi...

6.21 - Siegebreaker

Across the field outside Iron Gate City, He Yu locked eyes with Sha Xiang for the first time in decades. She had changed during that time, to be certain, but she was also much the same as she’d always been. Yes, her advancement to Divine Body Attainment had perfected her, much like it had him. Her spirit still held the same rage and contempt as always, however. Even now, she sneered at him from atop her flying sword on the far side of the barren field.

“This is even better than I’...

6.20 - Return to Iron Gate City

The following morning, He Yu joined Tan Zihao in the palace courtyard. When He Yu stepped out into the early morning air, Tan Zihao was speaking with an official of the palace. The others were nowhere to be seen. As much as he would have liked to have bid them farewell, and given Chen Fei the chance to return from her journey, He Yu understood the need for haste. Sha Xiang wouldn’t wait any longer than she had to, so He Yu shouldn’t either.

Tan Zihao turned at He Yu’s approach. Th...

6.19 - A Journey East

He Yu stood before the desk in Tan Zihao’s study. The paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling cast a warm light over the polished wood desk, the shelf stuffed with yet more scrolls and jade slips behind the king, and the rack of spears against one wall. It was a cozy study, if a bit cramped with all of them present. Despite that, the mood was a serious one.

The bamboo scroll lay unfurled, the characters formed of brush strokes he’d come to know well in his time at the Shrouded Peak...

6.18 - Message from the Li

He Yu gave the Monarch his thanks once again and bid the great storm eagle his final farewell. When he activated the Sky Dragon’s Flight and set off into the storm, his own presence sheltered him in a way it never could have before his advancement. A pocket of wind and rain and heaven moved within the greater nexus of power surrounding Sky’s Throne. A pocket created by He Yu, and his newly Seventh Realm presence.

As he flew, unhindered by the storm he’d once had for fight for ever...

6.17 - Divine Body Attainment

Seated in his cycling position, He Yu reached out to the Monarch’s feather. The divine treasure pulsed with the power of the storm. Lightning crackled along its length while the delicate iron-gray vanes ruffled in the churning winds. Once again, the storm kicked up all around him, this time called by the feather rather than the Monarch himself.

Along with the feather, He Yu pulled one of his high-grade spirit stones from his storage treasure. He cradled the faintly glowing stone in hi...

6.16 - Always Another Step

The Monarch’s words echoed across the world. “What comes next?”

Even as the storm retreated, at least around He Yu and the great mountain of Sky’s Throne, a certainty settled over him. No doubts remained—this part mattered most.

“Next, I advance. Next, I—” he cut himself off. A sliver of truth stabbed into his spirit and thoughts.

Cycling the Cloud Emperor’s Peerless Judgment as he had this entire time was typically something he only ever did when cultivati...

6.15 - Monarch of Sky's Throne

The storm eagle reared up. Its massive head reached to the heavens, and its wings embraced the world. “Proclaim to me your nature, Regent of the Heavenly Palace, so that we may know one another in truth.” Its voice pierced the sky, and a sticky, wet trickle oozed out from He Yu’s ears. A taste of what was to come.

The Monarch of Sky’s Throne beat its immense wings, and the storm responded. Already, it had been a violent tempest of wind and rain, shot through with the scintillati...

6.14 - Heart of the Storm

For what seemed like weeks, He Yu and Chen Fei drew ever closer to the endless primordial storm. Angry clouds blackened the sky, eternally flashing with the light of heaven deep within. The cacophony of thunder rolling across the steppe never ceased. Wind and rain whipped at He Yu with each passing li as he and Chen Fei drew ever closer.

When they crossed the outer edge of the storm, the change was unmistakable. All the violence promised was paid in full, and with every passing moment. ...

6.13 - A Desperate Escape

Zhang Lifen fled for her life. To be sure, she gave almost as good as she got. But almost was far from enough. Especially, as it turned out, against someone who had fully mastered a demon core. When considering what Sha Xiang had become, the only word that fit was “monster.” Blow for blow she was more than a match for Zhang Lifen.

While she’d never been the strongest close-in fighter, Zhang Lifen was no slouch. There’d been a reason she taught He Yu the value of a good, solid pu...

6.12 - Northward Once Again

At Liao Shan’s invitation, He Yu and Chen Fei spent the day at the temple. They were glad for the opportunity to rest after their trip over the mountains and across the great steppe. The abbot provided cultivation chambers for them, and more mundane hospitality as well. They resumed their journey the following morning. Aside from his tempering of He Yu’s way—if that’s truly what he’d done, as He Yu didn’t fully understand the newly forged connection between his Wayborn Seed, Nasce...

6.11 - Abbot Liao Shan

Chen Fei rushed forward. “Abbot Liao! You’re still alive!” That, at least, let He Yu relax a bit. If Chen Fei knew this expert, he probably didn’t pose any danger to them. Still, He Yu followed behind her with considerably less enthusiasm.

“Chen Fei? It seems you’ve grown quite a bit since I’ve last seen you.” The old man’s eyes crinkled at their edges at Chen Fei’s approach. Then he looked to He Yu’s approach. “I don’t recognize who you’ve brought with you, ...

6.10 - Ghosts of the Past

He Yu and Chen Fei made their way down to the valley floor together. They walked, as using either treasure or technique would require at least some portion of their cultivation base. They’d agreed that on the chance anyone remained, they’d keep their spirits restrained. According the Chen Fei, the most powerful expert had been Golden Core when she’d left. Most of the village had been Third Realm or below.

As they picked their way along an overgrown path, Chen Fei said, “I don’...

6.9 - Mastered Core, Sundered Earth

For weeks now, Zhang Lifen had been traveling with Ren Huang and Yi Xiurong through the fertile plains of the central empire. Disguised as mortals, they’d been largely unhindered as they moved, sticking to the roads. They’d been headed mostly west, seeking to avoid the increasingly frequent attacks from cultivators of all walks of life. The bounty on their heads had climbed considerably, and plenty were willing to risk a fight with three peak Soul Refining experts for a chance at it.

6.8 - Under the Eternal Sky

It took them another two days to descend. Although the battle with Qingzhao had frightened away most of the spirits and beasts on the south slopes of the mountain, they’d needed a full week to recuperate after, and the north slopes had suffered far less than the side the battle had occurred on.

Much like on the way up, the dangers present in the Mountains of Heaven revealed themselves. Spirits and beasts pestered them frequently, although with less apparent organization than on the wa...

6.7 - Great Serpent Qhingzhao

He Yu flexed his spirit, but didn’t fully release it, cycling just enough of his cultivation base to push against the serpent’s own presence. Next to him, Chen Fei did the same. He saluted Qingzhao, but gave no more respect than that. They were, as far as he was concerned, equals here.

“Apologies, serpent,” he said. “I am called He Yu. I was unaware this mountain was your home. We will not stay, as our destination lies far beyond these peaks. I have no wish to trouble you, and...

6.6 - Mountains of Heaven

The sun had just fully crested the horizon when they crossed into the White Desert. With He Yu carried by the Sky Dragon’s Flight, and Chen Fei atop her bronze disk, they soared over the bleached sand. From their vantage, and with his enhanced Sixth Realm senses, He Yu could make out splashes of green against the otherwise featureless wastes. Oases, the sole points of refuge in this desolate place, and the only means by which lower realm cultivators could cross the desert.

He Yu and C...

6.5 - Seeking Legends

After spending the rest of the day in cultivation, He Yu joined the others for their evening meal. While all five of them were far beyond the point of needing to eat or sleep with any regularity, sustaining themselves almost wholly with qi, the meals served in the royal palace were a feast of cultivation resources. They were a large part of why they had all advanced so quickly through the Soul Refining stage.

He Yu and the others sat around a table in a private dining room in the guest ...

6.4 - Old Tiger's Guidance

He Yu made his way through the austere halls of the Tan royal palace. Weapons—each one a minor treasure—lined the walls, and constructs stood in alcoves ready to come to life in defense of the palace. He Yu didn’t think anyone for ten thousand li would be foolish enough to attack Jade Mountain Citadel. Not with an expert of the Divine Soul Apotheosis stage in residence.

Arriving at the gilt double doors of Tan Zihao’s study, He Yu cupped a fist in salute to the Seventh Realm gol...

6.3 - The Sixth Realm

Cradled by the wind itself, He Yu flew over the densely wooded peaks and valleys of the Jade Mountains. As he made his way back to the capital, he turned over this last errand in his thoughts. He knew what he did out here for the outlying settlements was exactly the sort of thing he needed to be doing. The sort of thing that resonated strongly with his Dao of Heroism. He did good. He saved lives. He built his legend.

All throughout the scattered villages and towns, whispers and rumors s...

6.2 - Soul Refining Expert

Lei Jianyu spit out a mouthful of blood. His jaw hurt from where he’d just been kicked. It was probably broken. He may be the strongest expert in his village, but he was only a Middle Golden Core. To deal with these raiders, it hadn’t been nearly enough. His meridians ached, and his dantian was perilously empty. He’d put up as good a fight as he could, but in the outlying villages of the Jade Kingdom, a good fight only mattered if you won.

All around him, the sounds of defeat drif...

6.1 - Empress

Surrounded by all the trappings of wealth and rulership, Jin Xifeng sat in discontent. She turned over the messenger’s words, considering how she ought to respond. An empress should not give herself over to uncontrolled displays of emotion. A thousand years of cultivation and self-mastery allowed her to keep her expression calm, outwardly aloof and cold. But in that moment, she raged.

She wanted nothing more than to give voice to her anger. To tear down the palace around her. Shatter ...

5.49 - Return in Triumph

He Yu and Tan Xiaoling made their way north, to the looming bulwark of Jade Mountain Citadel. They kept their pace sedate. Neither felt a need to rush, and the others still had to catch up besides. Tan Xiaoling carried her uncle’s sword, resting it on her shoulder as they walked. She said it would be a potent symbol to display as they entered the city.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He Yu asked after a while. The once-verdant hills and fields outside Jade Mountain Citadel were li...

5.48 - The Dragon of Heaven

The heavenly dragon roared. He Yu struck out with his guandao, the blade cloaked in wind and lightning both. Opposite their foe, Tan Xiaoling advanced with flames dancing along the edges of her paired dao. Tan Qingsheng met them both.

He used the metal blades manifested by his version of the Breath of the White Desert much in the same way He Yu used the Spring Rain Mirror. He beat back both his attackers with sword or technique, seeming to care little that he was outnumbered or outflank...

5.47 - Insight

Under the renewed clash of the storm and the twin black suns, a spiritual weight settled over the world. Weight that came from ever greater ideals, a grander sense of significance and purpose that all three experts brought to this struggle. This was more than simply an exchange of techniques. All three of them spoke their nature, their Way.

Before him, Tan Xiaoling and her uncle traded blows. As her tiger headed dao roared in fury and silence, tongues of flame leaped into the air with e...

5.46 - Strife

Tan Xiaoling nodded her thanks to He Yu as he helped her back to her feet. Her uncle’s kick still smarted in her ribs, but her qi had already repaired most of the damage. The Golden Tiger Cultivation Law had many strengths, the least of which was the sheer resilience it gave to its practitioners.

Which brought Tan Xiaoling to her current problem.

Her uncle stood atop a hill—or what remained of it—several dozen yards away. His presence expanded outward, leeching life from the...

5.45 - Matters Put to Rest

For the first time since his advancement, He Yu fully released his spirit. His Soul Refining presence exploded out. A heaviness pressed down on the world as the air grew thick and wet. The sky darkened, and the hairs on He Yu’s arms stood on end. The storm had always accompanied his spirit unbound, but now it manifested like never before.

Great arcs split the sky, and the constant rumble of distant thunder rose like a drum. Along the length of his guandao—forged for him by his own f...

5.44 - Return to the Jade Kingdom

“I’m leaving, with or without the rest of you.” Tan Xiaoling stood at the foot of the path leading up the valley, arms crossed and her chin lifted.

“It won’t be long,” He Yu said. He’d lost track of how many times he’d made the same point over the past few days. It sounded less like an argument and more like a plea now.

Tan Xiaoling had reached Soul Refining three days prior. Ever since, she’d been pushing for them to leave, to go end things with Tan Qingsheng. S...

5.43 - The Dao of Heroism

Days turned to weeks that stretched to months, then years. Among the peaks and in the valley, He Yu and the others cultivated and trained. They availed themselves of the resources left behind by the Cloud Dragon Valley Sect. The once-overgrown herb gardens now burst with life and qi. The formation scripts thrummed with power anew. Medicinal scents drifted through the central plaza, and the manual pavilion opened the doors to its many secrets.

As time passed, each of them spent longer in...

5.42 - A Battle Unending

Tan Xiaoling fought on a battlefield without end. Her spirit roared as each swing of her sabers trailed tongues of flame. A dark sun outlined with an orange-red corona beat down on a flat and desolate land. Metal and flame swirled around her in a storm of death. And still they came.

A trail of bodies told of her passing. Her passing through this unending strife. All around her, cultivators fought. They fought, and they died. Who they fought, it didn’t seem to matter. Two figures, lock...