Chapter Thirteen: Turning the Tables on the Robbers

The fate of the bandits from the Clear Wind Stronghold was predictable. Under Jiang Qian’s assault, Hu Yidao quickly fell into a disadvantage and was soon suppressed to death by the opponent’s use of the Heavenly Dao Formation.

The other bandits at Clear Wind Stronghold, seeing Jiang Qian’s fierce prowess, immediately scattered in retreat. Jiang Qian then unleashed the Heavenly Dao Formation once again, trapping all the fleeing enemies, and proceeded to slaughter them single-handedly.

After this battle, the Jiang family gained a clear understanding of their own strength and grew increasingly adept at utilizing the Heavenly Dao Formation.

A pillar of energy shot straight into the sky as Jiang Qian’s cultivation broke through to a higher realm.

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Jiang Qian has broken through to the Celestial Spirit Realm. Rewarding the host with ten million cultivation experience points. Upon accumulating ten billion experience points, the host’s cultivation can directly advance to the Grand Emperor Realm. Rewarding the host with 10,000 Supreme Spirit Weapons ‘Rainbow Sword,’ 1,000,000 fourth-grade Supreme Essence Pills, and 1,000,000 Supreme Marrow Refining Pills.”

Liao Chen had not expected such a generous reward for his disciple’s breakthrough. However, gathering ten billion experience points was no small feat and would take considerable time. He could guess that this system was likely setting him up for a challenge. Fortunately, recruiting disciples was not overly difficult, especially since the system always notified him in advance when a disciple with nine-star aptitude appeared, sparing him the trouble of searching.

“Master, I have broken through to the Celestial Spirit Realm!”

“Jiang Qian, you have done well. I am proud of you. Here are your rewards.”

Liao Chen then produced one hundred fourth-grade Essence Pills and one hundred Supreme Marrow Refining Pills and handed them over. He then turned to Qin Tian.

“Qin Tian, since I have accepted you as my disciple, I have yet to give you a welcoming gift. This Rainbow Sword will serve as your self-defense weapon. Here are a hundred third-grade Supreme Essence Pills and a hundred Supreme Marrow Refining Pills as well.”

“Since you possess a peerless sword body, I will transmit to you the ‘Heavenly Dao Sword Technique.’ If you train diligently, you will undoubtedly become a peerless sword cultivator in the near future.”

“Now, take these pills. My disciples cannot be without cultivation.”

“Yes, Master!” Qin Tian accepted the weapon and pills and immediately began meditating.

As Qin Tian swallowed the pills, spiritual energy surged through his meridians. His cultivation quickly reached the Qi Refinement Realm. But this was not his endpoint. As more spiritual energy gathered in his dantian, he finally opened his own Qi Sea.

His Qi Sea expanded rapidly. While others' Qi Seas measured only about ten meters square, Qin Tian’s Qi Sea expanded to a staggering hundred zhang.

This was not the end. Regardless of how many pills Qin Tian consumed, his Qi Sea continued to expand, eventually reaching an astonishing ten thousand zhang. Then, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred—a golden giant sword’s phantom appeared above Qin Tian’s head.

“Master, Qin Tian’s sword aptitude is perhaps unmatched throughout the entire Great Wilderness Realm,” Little Dragon marveled.

Liao Chen nodded in agreement. “I hope this boy remains humble and cautious, so he won’t cause me too much trouble in the future.”

Little Dragon chuckled. “Master, that doesn’t seem to suit your character. Have you forgotten the sect’s motto?”

At this reminder, Liao Chen couldn’t help but laugh heartily.

Indeed! The Dawnlight Sect’s motto was: “If others do not offend me, I will not offend others. But if others offend me, I will certainly annihilate them.”

If Qin Tian didn’t provoke others first, things might be manageable. But in the cultivation world, who could avoid being provoked? After all, survival of the fittest was the law. Qin Tian was destined to stir up a bloody storm.

Liao Chen was unperturbed by this. His words were merely cautionary, for if Qin Tian could not handle a situation, he, as master, would intervene personally.

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the first level of the Qi Sea Realm. Rewarding the host with 100,000 cultivation experience points.”

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the second level of the Qi Sea Realm. Rewarding the host with 100,000 cultivation experience points.”

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the third level of the Qi Sea Realm. Rewarding the host with 100,000 cultivation experience points.”

...

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the first level of the Nascent Soul Realm. Rewarding the host with 1,000,000 cultivation experience points.”

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the second level of the Nascent Soul Realm. Rewarding the host with 1,000,000 cultivation experience points.”

System: “Ding! Congratulations, disciple Qin Tian has broken through to the third level of the Nascent Soul Realm. Rewarding the host with 1,000,000 cultivation experience points.”

...

Qin Tian’s cultivation soon reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm. Just as he intended to press onward to the Celestial Spirit Realm, Liao Chen interrupted him. This child had yet to experience real combat; rushing ahead could leave hidden dangers in his cultivation.

“Qin Tian, your cultivation is to remain capped at the Nascent Soul Realm for now. Without my permission, you are not to break through to the Celestial Spirit Realm.”

“Yes, Master!”

Liao Chen nodded, then the group proceeded to the Clear Wind Stronghold. At this moment, the bandits were slaughtering pigs and sheep, awaiting their leader’s return with spoils to celebrate. However, what arrived was not their leader but the deadly quartet led by Liao Chen.

“Who are you? I am Li Sankuai, second-in-command of the Clear Wind Stronghold. This is our territory; you cannot just come and go as you please!” Li Sankuai brandished a heavy blade, preparing for battle. From the newcomers, he could only discern the cultivation levels of Jiang Qian and Qin Tian. As for Liao Chen and the Azure Dragon, their cultivations were unfathomable to him—a telling sign.

Liao Chen replied coldly, “Li Sankuai, your leader tried to steal our property and was killed in retaliation. This time we are here to send you and him on the same journey.”

“Boy, don’t act recklessly. Your leader has paid for robbing us, so why slaughter us all? We may not be able to deal with you, but we have connections with the Wanhsiang City Lord’s Mansion. If the city lord learns you’re exterminating us, you won’t have a good end.” Li Sankuai, desperate to save his life, invoked his backing to intimidate Liao Chen’s group.

Liao Chen and his companions were unfazed. Curiously, he asked, “Oh? I didn’t expect Clear Wind Stronghold to have ties with the City Lord’s Mansion. Care to explain your relationship?”

Thinking Liao Chen intimidated, Li Sankuai proudly explained, “Nothing to hide. Our leader was connected to the City Lord’s eldest son. Since you killed him, you’ve offended the eldest son. I advise you to leave quickly, or you won’t keep your life.”

So that was the source of their confidence. Before transmigrating, Liao Chen had only heard of collusion between officials and bandits. When fiction became reality, he understood why good jobs were impossible to find after graduating university—those positions had long been monopolized by the powerful and hereditary elites. How could a child from an ordinary background ever rise?

With this realization, Liao Chen wasted no hesitation. He turned to his two disciples.

“Jiang Qian, Qin Tian, leave none of these scoundrels alive.”

“Yes, Master!” The two nodded and raised their swords, cutting into the bandits.

As for their safety, Liao Chen was completely confident. With himself and Little Dragon both possessing Emperor Realm strength, protecting the disciples was no challenge at all.