The spirit qi of heaven and earth seemed to respond to the call of the Heavenly Dao Spear. Slowly, the spirit qi gathered, thickening the clouds above, until a flash of lightning split the sky and a sudden downpour followed. Leading the attackers was Song Gen, the fifth disciple of the Jade Flame Academy. He looked up at the rain. "Why is it raining all of a sudden? No matter. This storm will obscure those at the top. It's the perfect chance for us to strike." "Heh, what a fine storm," Jun Laoye muttered, lifting the Heavenly Dao Spear across his chest. "You've always wondered what happened to my Second Uncle back then, haven't you?" "Then let me show you," he continued, brushing his left hand over the spear and coating its shaft with his own blood. The weapon seemed to awaken, its energy surging into the heavens. "How he, with a single spear, climbed Deer Ridge on a stormy night." "Little Jian, play a tune of Journey to Cangshan!"[1] Nantian Yijian had never learned to play the Journey to Cangshan. Hearing Jun Laoye's call, he could only strum what came from his heart. The strings cracked and screeched, harsh and jarring, yet carried a tragic, grand resonance. Watching the twelve men charge toward him, Jun Laoye murmured, "What a fine melody... though it might have been better if it weren't so sorrowful." He kicked the spear shaft lightly with his right foot. "Still, that must have been exactly what Second Uncle felt on Deer Ridge that night." The Heavenly Dao Spear spun twice in midair before Jun Laoye thrust it forward. Gripping its end, he surged into the crowd, recounting the tale of his Second Uncle's stormy night on Deer Ridge as he struck. "This spear is born of my divine ability, but its name—Heavenly Dao—has been passed down in my family for generations. Its previous master... was my Second Uncle." Spear in hand, he plunged into the crowd, striking and slaying. Blood gushed from the wounds, mingling with the rain to form a crimson river in his wake. "On that night, my Second Uncle held the Heavenly Dao Spear, sang the Journey to Cangshan, and charged alone up the Deer Ridge of the Western Mountain, against the twelve Talisman War Gods and a hundred thousand disciples." Jun Laoye roared, "Haah! Heavenly Lightning Giant!" The lightning giant reformed behind him. This time, blood, lightning, and rainwater had mixed into its body, giving it a filthy appearance, yet it stood tall and unyielding, proud in its solitude. "In one night, my Second Uncle slaughtered eight War Gods at the Human Core Realm and shattered the Western Mountain's belief in the way of the Talisman." Jun Laoye fought desperately, unleashing his strongest attacks. From his top-tier lightning arts to his high-grade spear techniques, each strike was a technique unseen by the outside world. He suddenly thrust his spear forward in mid-air. Where there had been nothing, a bloody figure appeared. The Heavenly Dao Spear had pierced through his chest. "Heh, a despicable sneak attack?" Jun Laoye stomped forward and kicked the man aside. The man stared in disbelief at the hole in his chest. "Impossible! How could someone at the first level of Qi Regulation Realm spot me?" With that, he collapsed to the ground. Jun Laoye bellowed, "Heavenly Lightning Eye! Open!" A vertical eye tore open on his forehead. "How could you possibly hide from a divine ability born of the Heavenly Dao?" From that eye burst a beam of thunderous light, sweeping across the platform. Two men who had been lurking in hiding were instantly revealed. Taking advantage of their shock, Jun Laoye hurled the Heavenly Dao Spear, skewering them both. "Die! You were right. The rain came at the perfect time. Even if I kill you here, those at the top won't see a thing." Blood gushed from his body, soaking his black armor. The rain washed it clean, only for fresh blood to stain it again. Wang Long's heart trembled. "Who is he? How did he suddenly become so strong?" He had witnessed it himself. The man who had nearly been defeated earlier was now cutting down three mid-level Qi Regulation Realm cultivators alone. "This is bloodline power," Song Gen watched the endless stream of blood pouring from Jun Laoye and murmured. "That's the innate gift of a bloodline cultivator. But it comes with the cost of an immense drain on energy. He won't last long." Jun Laoye sneered. "Heh... to think someone from a backwater place would recognize me as a bloodline cultivator." He lowered his head, bitterness clear in his eyes. Song Gen is right. The price of my bloodline gift is enormous. I can only hold out for so long. "Then let's see whose strength prevails." He raised his head, eyes burning with grim resolve. "Little Jian, play me a funeral ode. I want to continue my Second Uncle's story." Nantian Yijian lay weakly on the ground, worry etched across his face. "Little Jun, are you alright?" Jun Laoye's body was covered in wounds, with not a patch of skin left unscarred. Even Nantian Yijian, a mere Qi Absorption Realm cultivator, could see Jun Laoye was nearing his limit, without needing Song Gen or Wang Long's comments. "Who are you looking down on?" Jun Laoye laughed wildly, holding the Heavenly Dao Spear in both hands. "If I say I can fight, then I can. My Second Uncle faced twelve War Gods and a hundred thousand disciples without retreating, while I'm only facing a handful of petty Qi Condensation Realm cultivators. What reason do I have to retreat? "Play me a funeral ode! I want to feel the same will my Second Uncle carried that night." Seeing the determination blazing in his eyes, Nantian Yijian could only relent. "Uh... fine! Just hold on a little longer. Boss will be ready in one more minute." "Begin the funeral ode," spirit qi flowed from Jun Laoye, gathering slowly within the Heavenly Dao Spear. "This was the very move my Second Uncle used when he faced the War Gods on the Deer Ridge of the Western Mountain." Jun Laoye tightened his grip, and the Heavenly Dao Spear began to crack at its center. "I wasn't forced into this desperate situation today. I chose it myself." "Is this Decay Energy?" Wind Dragon's eyes widened at the surge erupting from Jun Laoye, his voice tinged with doubt. "This energy... It belongs to an ancient clan. But that brat is far too weak. He shouldn't be able to control it." A flash of light flickered at the center of Wind Dragon's forehead as the Hunyuan Greatsword stirred. "Once the spear born of his divine ability shatters, his cultivation and foundation will collapse. He must be stopped now." Jun Wudi clasped his hands toward Shan Long. "Peak Lord, I'll take my leave for now. My nephew is far too reckless. His cultivation is still shallow. That move isn't something he should be using lightly." "Isn't he just imitating you?" Shan Long murmured. "First, imitating one man and one spear on Deer Ridge in the rain. Now he even tries to replicate you by breaking his divine ability spear." Shan Long laughed as he looked at Jun Laoye. "Go quickly. He's a promising seedling. Don't let him ruin his own future. They say like father, like son, but in this case, it's the nephew following the uncle, putting his life on the line." "Peak lord, I should leave as well," Fang Yuan bowed to Shan Long. "To set an ambush and harm fellow disciples right under my eyes. That is a grave offense." "Go. There's no need to test Lu Chen's strength anymore." Shan Long cast a cold glance at Zhou Chang and his group in the distance. "Withdraw your men from the Discipline Court within three days. To harm your own under the guise of storming the mountain gate... this time, I'll let you handle it yourselves. But if it happens again, I won't show mercy." "Y-yes, peak lord!" Overwhelmed by Shan Long's presence, Zhou Chang dropped to his knees, unable to rise. "We'll deal with them immediately." Shan Long snorted. "Hmph. It better be that way." He then led the disciples of the Mountain Ocean Peak deeper into the inner sect. The attendants of the Wind Lightning Academy hurried to lift Zhou Chang. One asked softly, "My lord, what should we do now?" Zhou Chang slapped him hard across the face, sending him sprawling. "What else can we do? Go find Zhou Fan. Tell him to deal with Lu Chen and bring back that useless trash." "Yes, right away!" The attendant clutched his face, scrambled to his feet, and bolted toward Wind Lightning Academy. Zhou Chang's eyes flashed with malice as he looked in Jun Laoye's direction. "Jun Wudi, Shan Long... you will regret this." Witnessing the absurd scene, the surrounding inner sect disciples remained silent. They didn't know exactly what had happened, but they understood one thing: The Serene Void Academy was no longer what it used to be. On the mountain gate stairway, Jun Wudi and Wind Dragon released their spirit qi to prevent Jun Laoye from shattering the Heavenly Dao Spear. Just then, Lu Chen made his move. "Wind Dragon! Return! Spirit Light Chain! Stone Wall Formation!" The Spirit Light Chain coiled upward from Jun Laoye's feet, mending the cracks in the Heavenly Dao Spear. At the same time, massive stone walls rose, shielding him from the attacks of the others. Jun Wudi looked at Lu Chen, deactivating his power and concealing himself near the cliff. "He's finally awake." Wind Dragon returned to the Hunyuan Greatsword, streaking down as a beam of light and landing before Lu Chen. "Little Lu, you're awake?" "Yes." Lu Chen gave a brief reply, then flashed to Jun Laoye's side. "You've done enough. Leave the rest to me." "Little Lu, you're finally awake." Jun Laoye sounded regretful. "Too bad I couldn't do what Second Uncle once did and defeat those twelve dogs by myself." "You've done well already," Lu Chen slowly enveloped the Jun Laoye with the Yang Purifying Water. "As for what Uncle Jun did on Deer Ridge, we'll surely retrace that path someday." "For now, let them see what a main character looks like." Lu Chen lifted Jun Laoye and flashed to Nantian Yijian's side. He turned to Nantian Wan'er and said softly, "Wan'er, come back. Those petty thieves aren't worth worrying about." He then turned to Nantian Yijian and asked, "Little Jian, can you still play?" Stretching his body, Lu Chen looked around at the twenty-two cultivators.[2] "If you can, play me a tune. Anything will do. A main character needs background music when he takes the stage." Hearing Lu Chen's request, Nantian Yijian stuffed two Heaven Restoration Pills into his mouth. "Boss, I can still play. I'll play for you." "Then play whatever you're best at." Google seaʀᴄh novel✦fire.net "Alright. I have recently composed a melody called the Everlasting Ode. It's perfect for this moment," Nantian Yijian sprang to his feet and set up the Thirty-Six Cosmic Guqin Sword. "Boss, I'll start now." The strings crackled with their familiar harshness, as if he knew only one tune. Yet this time, to Lu Chen, the sound didn't feel as grating as before. "Let's go. Time to show them the strength of a main character," Lu Chen swung his right hand back. The Hunyuan Greatsword detached and traced an arc behind him. On the steps, the ten disciples who sought to strike while he was vulnerable suddenly found a bone-deep wound carved right above their Heavenly Pools. It was just a hair away from piercing their Heavenly Pools through. "The thing I despise most in life is betrayal. Since you're my fellow sect brothers, I'll let you off this time. But if there's a next time, you'll live as ordinary mortals forever," Lu Chen recalled his sword, his voice cold. "Get out. Don't let me see you in the Discipline Court ever again." "Yes, yes! We'll never stay in the outer sect ever again." Terrified, the ten clutched their wounds and fled desperately toward the gates, leaving behind foul trails of yellow filth. The guqin's harsh crackle followed from behind, like a death knell in their ears, spurring them into a panicked, frenzied escape. 1. Cangshan holds considerable historical and cultural significance in China, particularly in the Yunnan region. For centuries, it has been a natural landmark for the local Bai people and a symbol of the Dali area, often paired with Erhai Lake in poetry and painting. Historically, the mountains served as a natural barrier and defense for the Dali Kingdom (937–1253), helping protect the region from invasions. Cangshan is also home to numerous temples, ancient paths, and inscriptions that reflect the religious and scholarly activities of past generations, particularly Buddhist and Taoist practices. Its striking peaks, seasonal snow, and cloud-covered ridges have inspired countless literary and artistic works, embedding it deeply in the cultural consciousness of southwestern China. Today, it remains a symbol of natural beauty, resilience, and historical continuity in the region. ☜ 2. The other ten came from the previously defeated cultivators at the lower steps of the mountain gate. ☜