Ying Lin stood on her tiptoes, curious. Li Xiang sliced the blood off her sword and dashed to Hui’s side.
Chen Xigui held Ya Ai by her throat. He grew rapidly, while Ya Ai shriveled further. At the sight of the interlopers, he laughed. “It’s too late. You fools—”
Burning with extra qi, Hui dashed to his side before he could react. He yanked Chen Xigui off Ya Ai and poured his qi into Chen Xigui without relaxing his control over it, forcibly locking down Chen Xigui’s qi...
2022-10-20 19:00:07 +0000 UTC
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A spark of white light appeared at the end of the long, dark tunnel. Hui charged for it, reaching out. Come on! Just a little further!
A last rune rose up, larger than all the runes before it. It stood in Hui’s way, solid as a brick wall. Hui stumbled, drawing to a halt. How do I…?
The rune pushed forward, pressing him back. Hui stood his ground, gritting his teeth. I won’t give up now. There has to be a way! There has to be a way through!
Gl...
2022-10-19 18:59:02 +0000 UTC
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Across the room, Lu Xubo startled. He looked up at Li Xiang and Wang Xiu clashing. “Li Xiang—!”
Ying Lin grabbed him by his collar and held him in place. She frowned at him. “Li Xiang can handle it. Our job is to be the smokescreen that allows her to fight freely!”
Lu Xubo stared over, biting his lip. “But I… but if she…”
Ying Lin frowned at Lu Xubo. “Believe in Li Xiang! She isn’t weak. We’ll do our job, and she’ll do hers. If she gets in danger, t...
2022-10-18 17:33:00 +0000 UTC
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Chen Xigui led Ya Ai along, the two exchanging polite conversation and occasionally giggling at whatever they talked about. The guards glared at Hui and the others, all but cracking their knuckles. For their part, Hui pretended not to notice, Li Xiang maintained her usual poker face, Lu Xubo glared single-mindedly at Chen Xigui, and Ying Lin bounced along, seemingly mindless.
At last, they came to a room at the end of the hall. Again, Chen Xigui darted ahead, drawing Ya Ai with him, but...
2022-10-17 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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“Let’s begin.”
“Not here. In my manor. Somewhere that’s safer, for both of us,” Chen Xigui replied.
Ya Ai stiffened. “Could you not do anything to me within your manor? I prefer to stay here, for my own safety.”
“Do you fear your future husband?” Chen Xigui said, hurt. He tutted and shook his head.
Ya Ai glanced at Hui. She took a deep breath. “In that case…”
Lu Xubo half-rose. Across from him, Li Xiang stiffened. Her hand dropped to her...
2022-10-16 15:00:06 +0000 UTC
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A strange sect elder sat in Ya Ai’s room beside Ya Ai, not Hong Haitao but someone new. The two sat close together, conversing quietly. Ya Ai nodded, covering her smile with a sleeve, while the elder drew something on the boards for her.
Hui frowned. Where are all these sect elders coming out of?
Seeing them come in, the sect elder stood and rushed over with unusually youthful vigor. With a young, fresh voice as delicate as petals on the spring wind, he asked, “Li Xia...
2022-10-15 14:59:02 +0000 UTC
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The city loomed up before them. Hui swallowed, checking his stock of talismans again. He peeked at the city from the ship’s rail, then went through his talismans one more time. There, there, there, yes, yes, hmm, okay, yes… all settled!
My mental energy is settled, my qi is circulating nicely, all my talismans are restocked, I’ve tried out the new beating stick—ahem, weapon, and it works fine, and… and, I guess, I guess there’s nothing to do but fight!
<...
2022-10-14 16:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Li Xiang nodded. She gestured as she explained. “I can’t afford to risk weakening myself with childbirth with the battle with All-Heavens on the horizon, but afterward, we can attempt reproduction.”
Hui blinked at her. “Eh… hold up, Li Xiang. You…”
She tilted her head. “We’ve been close for a long time, right? Breeding with someone you like after a long relationship is normal, no?”
“No, no, no, hold up, I’m… I’m lost,” Hui said, shaking his head...
2022-10-13 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Hong Haitao and Ya Ai exchanged a look. Silent communication passed between them. Hong Haitao’s frown deepened, but Ya Ai shook her head. Hong Haitao lowered his eyes first.
Ya Ai straightened up. “We will believe you. In any case, I have no desire to fight a large group of third- and fourth-stage cultivators. Although Hong Haitao is not convinced, we are both convinced that your side is the stronger side, as long as you have a method to deal with City Lord Chen Xigui.” Her eyes f...
2022-10-12 19:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Yellow petals blanketed the boat’s deck and rained down from the sky. Cultivators ran around, kicking up petals left and right. Lu Xubo glared imposingly down from on high. Petals poured out of his blade like water. A thick floral scent choked the air.
Li Xiang raised her sleeve to cover her nose. Her nose wrinkled slightly in disgust. “I can’t stand the smell of these flowers.”
Ah! Is that why she was so fastidious about them in her house? Hui wondered. He shook ...
2022-10-11 15:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Ya Ai sighed. She shook her head. “It’s a stabilization technique. If I don’t do it every day, my condition deteriorates more rapidly. I know it looks… unconventional, but it’s entirely pure.”
Hui nodded. Qi sharing isn’t anything unusual. The world’s conventions are the only thing making it weird. Everyone should be more open-minded, like Bai Xue.
…Well, maybe not that open-minded.
Ji Taiyu coughed. “Of course, of course. How could we m...
2022-10-10 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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Hui dusted off his robes and stepped out of the forge, his new bell tinkling at his hip. As he walked, he carefully wound his qi away from the bell, mindful not to accidentally feed the spell. Even my passive qi is enough to activate the spell. If I’m not actively excluding it, the bell will resonate and start bewildering people around me. It’s a bit annoying, but it’s good practice. Besides, a passive weapon is a wonderful thing. If I stuff some qi into it ahead of time, it can eve...
2022-10-09 18:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Hui drew about half of the molten metal out of the small bucket all at once. His brows furrowed, and he focused. The metal swirled in midair, obeying his urges. He shaped the rough form of a bell all at once, shaping more a simple bowl than a true bell shape. I don’t need it to sound good or look good, I just need it to resonate!
Turning his attention inside the bell, he drew out a crossbar at the top of the bell, then shaped a clapper from the crossbar. The clapper ran out o...
2022-10-08 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Hui looked around the room, nodding to himself. Well, that’s an anvil… and that’s a forge, a furnace, right? That’s a bucket, and over there, uhm, a fan? Is that a rake? And a hammer! Hammers are important, yes! Haha, those are some big tongs! Wow, look at that heavy… whatever-that-is.
Er… I take it back. Forging is nothing like talisman-making. Let this small Hui apologize to all those who forge magical instruments in this entire world.
No wood or co...
2022-10-07 20:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“We mean none of you any harm,” Hui pledged.
Li Xiang muttered something under her breath. Hui glanced at her. A little longer, just a little longer!
In any case, that shouldn’t have triggered her, right? I don’t mean her harm right now, but I might mean her harm, depending on her answers. Is that conditional too close to a lie for her?
Or maybe it’s just that I’ve asked her to not reveal lies for too long, and her ability is acting...
2022-10-06 18:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Hui fled at top speed, robes ragged and bloody. Li Xiang carried a pathetic Ying Lin behind him, all of them huddling together as they flew. Hui looked over his shoulder, then grit his teeth and jumped out in front of Li Xiang and Ying Lin. His sword clashed with a huge saber, and yellow petals swirled on the air.
“You won’t get away, you scum! Your Perfect Sword Technique belongs to me!” Lu Xubo declared, shouting a little louder than absolutely necessary.
“Li Xixi, go! I...
2022-10-05 18:02:01 +0000 UTC
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“Then, it’s decided,” Li Xiang said, standing.
What’s decided? When did we have a meeting? Wasn’t it just everyone somehow finding me intimidating for the first time in my life, and no one agreeing with anything?
Eh, wait. No, putting aside the intimidation thing… that’s pretty much how meetings go, isn’t it.
“Weiheng Hui and I set out tomorrow morning. Everyone else, prepare for battle. If you are not reassured to have a man even All-Heav...
2022-10-04 19:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Lu Xubo returned, but this time, five sword lights followed him in every color of the rainbow. He burst through her window in a flurry of flower petals. Five others materialized behind him, three women and two men. None of the rest of them created flower petals as they landed.
“Are we finally making our move against Chen Xigui?” one of the girls asked. She wore purple robes and a beguiling expression.
“I’ve been waiting,” a hot-headed female cultivator in orange added, c...
2022-10-03 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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“His beloved is arriving soon. We need to be prepared,” Li Xiang said. She led the way to a simple, clean house at the edge of town. Although nothing stood out about it except its cleanliness, it stood out anyways. As for why…
Hui swallowed, not daring to glance at the glamorous manors squeezing in as close to the humble house as possible. Glittering gold, spotless red paint, jade décor and all manner of gildings, carvings, decorations, gardens, and so on cluttered the scene.
2022-10-02 15:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Li Xiang raised her hand and pointed.
Far in the distance stood another village, but so far that Hui couldn’t make out any of the details. He squinted, focusing on the village. Li Xiang, what do you mean by ‘here?’ It’s way over there! Say ‘here’ when we get there, okay?
I overlooked it at first, but now it seems so obvious. Could this be some sort of illusory realm, one that distracts the eye?
The longer he looked, the clearer the village becam...
2022-10-01 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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Wang Xiu and Li Xiang battled back and forth. Both seemed familiar with the other, prepared for each other’s attacks and counterattacks. Although Wang Xiu had a stage on Li Xiang, Hui wouldn’t know it to watch the two battle. Li Xiang fought her on even footing. If possible, she even had the upper hand.
No, it is possible. Sword cultivators have always been able to fight above their realm. A sword spirit turned sword cultivator, even more so! Hui thought, nodding to himself...
2022-09-30 18:59:01 +0000 UTC
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The uninjured cultivator laughed. “What a fool. To think, he dared to rush into our battle without the skill or power to back it up! Only death could await him before my might!”
“That’s not true! Benefactor, I’ll make the most of this opportunity you gave me!” the injured cultivator shouted. His eyes glowed green, and he suddenly released a great aura of qi. A vicious wind raged around him, tugging at his ragged robes and Hui’s unfortunate body.
Elder brother, pl...
2022-09-29 18:59:02 +0000 UTC
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“Now, there’s an easy way and a hard way to find her,” Wang Xiu announced as they flew.
“Enlighten us, Elder Sister,” Hui said, bowing.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Easy: We corner that disciple of yours and attack as if to kill… or do other terrible things. She’ll show up.”
Ying Lin tensed. “Eh?”
“Respectfully, Elder Sister, no,” Hui said, moving in front of Ying Lin.
Wang Xiu shrugged. “Then we’re stuck on the ha...
2022-09-28 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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Night fell. Wang Xiu chose a broad, flat plains and dropped out of the sky, gesturing as she fell to catch her blade in her hand. She looked back up at the sky and gestured for Hui to come at her.
“Ying Lin, stay on Gu Tian and watch the battle from above. It’ll be good experience for you,” Hui said.
Ying Lin swallowed. She nodded, nervous. Drawing Gu Tian, she stepped atop the sword and soared away from Hui, maintaining a safe distance from the plains below.
“If it ...
2022-09-27 18:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Hui put a hand on his chin. Hmm… but if he isn’t really twelve and that dark hallway isn’t his porn stash, then…
Well, it’s probably the prison, isn’t it? Or the torture chamber, or whatever. It could be treasure storage, or a million other things… in any case, there’s a billion reasons for a cultivator to hide a room inside their residence. I’ll keep an eye open… but if nothing else, I’ll make sure I peek inside when—I mean, if—I end up looting hi...
2022-09-26 16:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Taken off-guard, the City Lord blinked. “She’s Wang Xiu, the notorious outlaw. I need her exterminated before my beloved arrives next week.”
“There isn’t anyone else? Someone else you need killed?” Hui prompted, hopeful.
“Hmph! Naturally, if you do well, I will give you more dangerous targets. I might even consider adding you to my Shadow Guards if you’re successful enough! But first, you have to clear the debt—”
Hui stood. He reached into his pouch and d...
2022-09-25 16:59:02 +0000 UTC
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Hui walked along the road, thoughtful. Li Xiang is hiding… well, it makes sense. All Heavens Sect should be after her as much as it’s after me. In that case, how will I find her? I’m good at hiding, but it’s not like I’ve practiced finding much. She’s doubtlessly disguised her aura and suppressed her qi… or has some item that can accomplish that for her.
A second later, a smile spread over his face. Hui nodded to himself, stroking an imaginary beard, then Zhubi ou...
2022-09-24 18:59:01 +0000 UTC
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A chill flew down Hui’s spine. Glancing over his shoulder, Hui rubbed his neck. He saw nothing but the street behind him, full of ordinary cultivators going about their business. I feel like someone was speaking evil about me just now. But who would bother to speak evil against a righteous cultivator like me?
“Should we ask around about that female warrior, then?” Ying Lin suggested.
Drawn back to the moment, Hui shook his head. “Only as a last resort! Ying Lin…...
2022-09-23 16:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Unable to focus enough to meditate or relax enough to sleep, Hui wandered around his house, pulling random things out of his node and stuffing them back. Spirit stones… gold… dried-up bits of herbs from back when he cooked Fatty… a random flying sword he didn’t recognize…
At last, he came up with a pair of scrappy pieces of paper. Hui frowned. Why did I keep these things around? He flipped them over, looking closer.
After a moment, his eyes lit up with recogniti...
2022-09-22 17:59:01 +0000 UTC
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Ying Lin spun around happily as they left the clothing store, all her master’s teasing forgotten. She wore a fine green-and-pink robe, the top pink and the bottom green, the two fading to white in the middle like a flower. The hems were short and practical to allow her to practice her newfound sword skills, and a white belt hung with a white jade lotus charm matched a white jade lotus charm in her hair.
“How do I look, how do I look?” Ying Lin asked, turning around for Hui to see....
2022-09-21 19:15:06 +0000 UTC
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