Chapter Fifty: The Sichuan Sword Shines White

After Qin Feng pursued the two figures through the forest for some time, he completely lost track of them. With no other choice, he sighed and bitterly complained to himself about his inability to fly.

Yet, it wasn't entirely his fault. For a body cultivator, after reaching the Human Gang Realm, unless one possessed a special constitution or practiced a unique technique, flight was generally impossible without the help of trained mystical beasts. At best, a Human Gang cultivator could rely on their physical strength to briefly hover in the air, but true flight would only become possible upon reaching the Earth Gang Realm.

But for spell cultivators, things were quite different. Skilled practitioners could, even in the Mortal Gang Realm, use mystical energy to control certain magical artifacts for short bursts of flight. Once they advanced to the Human Gang Realm, sustained flight on their magical implements became the norm.

Flying through the sky and running on the ground were worlds apart, especially since flying allowed one to ignore the obstacles of the terrain entirely. Still, Qin Feng at least had the advantage of knowing the general direction the two had taken. Losing sight of them mattered little; as long as his heading was correct, he would eventually find them.

After advancing to the Human Gang Realm, Qin Feng's spiritual sense had grown exponentially, thanks to his cultivation of "Tai'a Spirit Tempering" to the second level. The range and acuity of his perception had multiplied several times, giving him a decisive edge. The maze-like forest that had previously confounded him was now easily navigated.

Resolutely following the southwest direction, Qin Feng pressed on for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense. Suddenly, the forest opened up before his eyes.

What lay ahead surprised him—a mountain within the mountains. Amid the encircling peaks stood a small, black, mound-shaped hill, oddly reminiscent of a grave. This peculiar mountain was shrouded in a thick red mist, and a mysterious force seemed to block spiritual perception. At its summit, the ruins of an ancient temple could just be glimpsed, long abandoned.

"That temple..." Qin Feng had barely laid eyes upon it when a darkness fell over his vision. In an instant, he found himself in a world awash in blood, a sinister vortex of crimson liquid swirling as if to suck his very soul inside.

Fortunately, the sensation lasted only a moment before clarity returned. It was clearly the "Tai'a Spirit Tempering" technique acting once again to stabilize his mind at a critical juncture.

Qin Feng was increasingly aware of how vital this technique was. Even at the second level, its effects were profound. If he could master the entire technique, how formidable would his soul become? His father's foresight was truly remarkable.

The mountain exuded a heavy, chilling aura, rife with a strange and sinister energy that set Qin Feng's nerves on edge. It was an unsettling sense of imminent, unknown danger.

This time, when he looked toward the mountain, Qin Feng deliberately avoided the ruined temple at its summit. Instead, he noticed two figures in white climbing the slope—one male, one female—the very same pair he had been pursuing.

It seemed that, out of caution, they had abandoned flight and continued on foot. The mountain was small, after all—merely a few steps for cultivators like them.

As Qin Feng hesitated, the man suddenly glanced back toward where Qin Feng was hiding, smiled, and sent a voice transmission: "Since you have followed us all this way, friend, why not step forth openly? There is no need to skulk in the shadows. Why not come with us up the mountain?"

Qin Feng was momentarily stunned. He realized his own experience was still lacking. He couldn't tell how the man in white had detected him, but since his presence was already exposed, he might as well act openly. With a wry smile, he stepped out from his concealment and, in several quick bounds, appeared before the two.

Now, bathed in the dim moonlight, Qin Feng could finally see them clearly. He was taken aback; both were stunning figures—truly outstanding among their peers.

They wore matching loose white robes, presumably the uniform of their sect, swords strapped across their backs, and a simple, ancient character for "Shu" embroidered on the left breast.

The man was tall and well-proportioned, a white sash with a peculiar piece of mutton-fat jade at his waist. His hair was loosely tied with a white ribbon, his brows long and spirited, his eyes gentle and narrow, giving off a warm and friendly aura.

Handsome, refined, and naturally so—without the slightest hint of affectation.

The woman was strikingly beautiful, her white robe accentuating her graceful curves. Her brows were delicately shaped like willow leaves; her lips were a soft cherry red; her ears as exquisite as jade ornaments. But most captivating were her lively, expressive eyes, their clarity and purity exuding an air of ethereal elegance.

She seemed the very image of a noble lady—elegant yet unpretentious, reserved yet not cold. Such an extraordinary presence could only belong to a disciple of the number one immortal sect in Yunqi Kingdom—the Shu Sword Mountain.

What surprised Qin Feng even more was that, upon sensing their cultivation, he realized the woman was about equal to himself—at the first stage of the Human Gang Realm. The man, however, was clearly much stronger, at least fifth stage or higher, though his exact level was unknown. Most astonishing of all, the man appeared to be only in his twenties, but was in fact not yet forty.

This realization made Qin Feng regard the power of Shu Sword Mountain with even more respect. No wonder it was the preeminent sect in Yunqi Kingdom—their younger generation was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

As Qin Feng assessed the two, they were also sizing him up. He had the tall, robust build typical of the Azure Dragon lineage, yet his physique was impressively well-proportioned. His forthright features and sunny, unpretentious demeanor made it difficult for anyone to suspect him of ill intent.

Moreover, his youth in reaching the Human Gang Realm was enough to elicit a trace of surprise in their eyes. Upon seeing the large "Qin" character embroidered on his chest, however, their curiosity was satisfied.

The Qin family—Heaven's favored, children of destiny!

The young man in white, with an approving nod, clasped his hands in greeting, his tone courteous and gentle: "My surname is Zhan, given name Bai. I am a disciple of Shu Sword Mountain under the Yunqi Kingdom. This is my junior sister, Fang Xinyi. May I ask your name, friend?"

Qin Feng returned the gesture with equal politeness. "My surname is Qin, given name Feng, a disciple of the Qin family from Luoyang Town."

"Luoyang Town?" Zhan Bai clearly hadn't heard of this small place, but after a brief pause, he relaxed and continued, "So, Brother Qin of the Qin family—I have long heard of you!" Though perfunctory, his words were sincere and his manners entirely without pretense.

Qin Feng, having lived two lives, was naturally cautious by temperament. Yet, something about Zhan Bai inspired trust; if he was acting, his sincerity was so seamless as to rival a master performer.

The woman, Fang Xinyi, though silent, watched Qin Feng closely, her eyes still tinged with some curiosity. Nevertheless, she deferred to Zhan Bai in all things, making it clear she understood her role well.

After the pleasantries, Zhan Bai's tone turned direct as he looked Qin Feng in the eye. "If I am not mistaken, it was you who was hiding in the forest earlier, and who has been following us since. May I ask your purpose?"

"Indeed, that was me," Qin Feng admitted readily. "But I was simply passing through by chance, and happened to receive an unexpected opportunity, which allowed me to advance my cultivation at that very moment. As for following you—" he paused and rubbed his nose, "it was merely curiosity, nothing more."

He had already guessed in the forest that Zhan Bai was aware of his presence, so now he admitted it frankly. Still, he withheld the matter of the two corpses—after all, the secret of absorbing the essence of blood and flesh through his bloodline soul was too shocking to reveal. The fewer who knew, the better.

"You advanced? You mean you broke through in the forest just now?" Zhan Bai's astonishment was plain to see, and Fang Xinyi's lips parted in surprise. Yet Zhan Bai quickly composed himself, and after a moment's thought, smiled. "Very well. I believe you."