Chapter 51 The Shepherd of the Moon

The two women who entered, though both wore veils and purple gowns and shared a similar aura, possessed unmistakable differences. One exuded a vast and boundless presence, like an endless ocean, clearly marking her as a master who had already stepped into the Innate realm. Her aura was steady and enduring, tinged with a cool and aloof quality. The other, however, resembled an unsheathed sword of ice and snow—proud, solitary, and keeping others at a distant remove.

With their arrival, the disciples of the Narcissus Sect within the grand hall immediately rose and greeted in unison, “Greetings, Senior Sister!” The senior sister of the Narcissus Sect was the organizer of this year’s Eastern Domain Heroes’ Gathering, the sect’s foremost disciple, known as “Lady Narcissus,” her true name Wang Shuiling. Within the entire Yun River Prefecture, she stood as a peerless talent, rivaling Senior Sister Qiu Yingying of the Lingyuan Sect.

The news of Lady Narcissus’s presence sent a surge through the crowd of young talents; everyone straightened their backs, striving to appear poised and dignified, even if only in pretense.

Qingxi glanced over the two women, his eyes filled with growing astonishment.

[Species: Human]
[Name: Wang Shuiling (Lady Narcissus)]
[Spiritual Root: Profound Grade]
[Cultivation: Innate Middle Stage]
[Age: 24]
[Note: The Narcissus Sect’s first disciple, possessing a Profound Grade spiritual root, her internal energy is enduring and abundant, her strength no less than those at the later Innate stage, currently one of the seventy-two rising stars of Yun River Prefecture.]

After reviewing the information on Wang Shuiling, Qingxi felt his breath catch. This woman was formidable; so young, yet she had already reached the middle stage of the Innate realm, surpassing many older generation figures.

But the next set of information nearly made him cry out.

[Species: Royal (Descendant of the Sacred Dynasty)]
[Name: Mu Yue (Amnesiac)]
[Spiritual Root: Quasi-Earth Grade (Suppressed)]
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Mastery (Suppressed)]
[Age: 17]

[Note: This individual is a descendant of the mysterious Sacred Dynasty within the cultivation world; origins unclear. Currently amnesiac (preliminary estimate: memory lost before age sixteen), spiritual root and cultivation both suppressed. Presently a disciple of Hong Jiu, Lord of Volcano Island. Has comprehended true Sword Intent. Extremely powerful. Host is advised to start fleeing.]

“A descendant of the Sacred Dynasty?”
“Both spiritual root and cultivation suppressed?”
“She’s realized the exceedingly rare Sword Intent?”
“And to top it off, she’s Hong Jiu’s disciple? What am I supposed to do now?” Qingxi’s mouth hung open, wide enough to fit a fist.

Even with her spiritual root suppressed, Mu Yue still displayed a quasi-Earth Grade talent, higher than Profound Grade—no wonder she reached Qi Refining Mastery at such a young age.

“No, Mu Yue’s cultivation is suppressed too. If it weren’t, she’d already be Innate. How could I ever hope to match her?” Qingxi felt like hanging Hong Jiu up and giving him a good beating.

From Qingxi’s perspective, challenging Mu Yue with his own thirty layers of Qi Refining was asking for humiliation. Even if he advanced to Qi Refining Mastery, he might not be her equal. After all, she was an invincible genius who had comprehended Sword Intent.

As a veteran reader of cultivation novels in his past life, Qingxi knew full well the power of Sword Intent. If cultivating sword energy made one a swordsman, then comprehending Sword Intent crowned one king among swordsmen—the ultimate goal of every sword cultivator.

Sword Intent sharpened sword energy; a single strike could cleave even the toughest high-grade spiritual weapon. Battling a swordsman who had grasped Sword Intent, a single misstep could mean being cut in two.

Contemplating such a fate, Qingxi’s spirits plummeted.

He possessed the strongest auxiliary system; his spiritual root had advanced to Spirit Grade, and his cultivation had broken through to Qi Refining Mastery. Yet he remained neither arrogant nor deluded about his invincibility.

He was realistic.

“In my current state, to defeat Mu Yue, I’d have to use the Five Elemental Essences stored in my system space. But that’s far too costly. I think, honestly, it’s best to flee!” With this thought, Qingxi furtively scanned his surroundings but found no sign of Hong Jiu.

He grinned, slipped out the side door, and quietly sneaked away from Volcano Hall.

Along the way, Qingxi activated his scanning function, confirming that Hong Jiu was nowhere nearby. His smile widened, and he quickened his pace, even using his energy to accelerate. He was about to cross the boundary of Volcano Island when a sudden rush of wind swept toward him.

He knew instantly that trouble had arrived—Hong Jiu was here. Qingxi turned around and muttered, “So exciting, the Heroes’ Gathering is about to begin. Might as well warm up first.”

Without a trace of embarrassment, he headed back along the main road and returned to Volcano Hall.

Seated again in his corner, chin propped in one hand, he wore a look of utter despair.

He couldn’t run, and he couldn’t win—what was he to do?

“How infuriating! How could a remote place like Yun River Prefecture produce a terrifying talent like Mu Yue?” Qingxi scratched his head, feeling an urge to jump into the river.

Suddenly, he began to speculate, “The system says Mu Yue is amnesiac, her cultivation and spiritual root suppressed. Given all the plot patterns I know, she must have been ostracized in the Sacred Dynasty, or perhaps her parents were targeted, pursued by enemies, and she was sent to Yun River Prefecture under the protection of some mysterious expert, where she ended up as Hong Jiu’s disciple.”

He added several more conjectures, growing increasingly convinced of their plausibility.

Mu Yue’s background was extraordinary, even more astonishing than Lin Feng’s mysterious luck.

While Qingxi pondered, Wang Shuiling had already finished her opening speech and addressed the crowd: “Now that everyone is here, this year’s Eastern Domain Heroes’ Gathering officially begins!”

Her ethereal voice had barely faded when someone leapt onto the stage.

Qingxi glanced indifferently and saw it was a disciple of a prominent family, possessing twenty-six layers of Qi Refining.

“I am Wang Le of the Wang Family, Qi Refining twenty-six layers. Please, let us learn from each other,” Wang Le cupped his hands to those around him, then stood with hands clasped behind his back, demonstrating proper etiquette.

The Heroes’ Gathering was held every year, and the champion was always a genius at Qi Refining Mastery, whose fame spread far and wide, becoming a subject of public discussion.

Yet aside from these dazzling talents, those with weaker cultivation could still earn recognition through their performance at the Gathering.

There had once been a youth of modest cultivation who never lost a match against peers. Though merely a disciple of an ordinary family, he was later taken in by a master at the late Innate stage and soared to the peak of his life.

Some, owing to exceptional combat power and daring to challenge those above their level, became tomorrow’s shining stars.

Others, catching the eye of an opponent on the battlefield, became envied and admired as immortal couples.

Qingxi, however, cared nothing for any of that.

He was nervous—very nervous!