The morning after the divine pressure descended on the Clear Sky Sect, the mountain air was unusually still.
Birds did not sing.
Leaves did not rustle.
Even the wind seemed hesitant to blow.
As though the world itself was afraid to disturb the boy who stood against Heaven the night before.
Wuya sat at the edge of the courtyard, eyes half-closed, breathing with calm clarity.
His bones hummed with faint resonance.
His veins tingled with new emptiness—
as though waiting to be filled for the first time.
Xueyi sprawled across his lap like a sleepy cat, clutching his sleeve.
"Never… do that again…"
"…I won't," Wuya said softly.
"You said that before!"
"…I will try."
Elder Yun Feixue approached them quietly.
"Wuya. Xueyi. Come."
Xueyi sat up instantly.
"Are we learning something today?! Something that won't kill him?!"
Elder Yun nodded.
"Yes. Today is important. Today… Wuya will learn how to circulate Qi."
Xueyi gasped.
"You mean… he'll start real cultivation?!"
Elder Yun nodded.
"And you," she added, "will begin as well."
Xueyi squealed, nearly falling over.
"FINALLY!"
Wuya blinked at her enthusiasm.
"…You're excited."
"Yes!"
"…Why?"
"Because I can protect YOU too!"
"…I see."
---
THE TOP OF CLOUD PEAK
Elder Yun led them up a long flight of carved stone stairs.
The air grew thicker with each step.
Rich.
Pure.
Filled with faint Qi traces.
Clouds drifted below them as they reached the summit.
At the top stood a circular stone platform, etched with ancient characters.
Xueyi pointed at them.
"Master! What do these characters mean?"
Elder Yun smiled.
"They describe the path of Qi flow. The first ancestor of the sect carved them."
She placed her hand over Wuya's back.
"Wuya. Sit."
Wuya sat cross-legged.
Xueyi sat beside him, mirroring his posture.
Elder Yun looked at them gently.
"Good. Today, we begin:
The Clear Sky Breathing Method."
Wuya listened carefully.
It was time.
---
THE THREE GATES OF BREATH
Elder Yun raised three fingers.
"Cultivation begins with three internal gates."
Gate 1: The Heart Gate
Controls rhythm, calmness, clarity.
Gate 2: The Lung Gate
Controls breath, absorption, release.
Gate 3: The Navel Gate
Controls storage, conversion, nourishment.
She looked at Wuya.
"Your bones and body are already trained enough. Now your cultivation in the Mortal Foundation Realm will begin properly."
Xueyi raised her hand.
"Master, what about me?"
Elder Yun smiled gently.
"You will train your breath first. The Qi will come later."
"I won't fall behind Wuya, right?!"
Elder Yun lowered her voice.
"No one can keep up with Wuya. But that is not your goal."
Xueyi deflated.
"...Unfair."
Wuya patted her hair softly.
"You will be strong too."
Her cheeks turned bright red.
"W-Wuya…"
---
THE FIRST QI CYCLE
Elder Yun touched Wuya's back lightly.
A soft glow formed around her hand.
"This is the Clear Sky Qi Guiding Technique.
I will lead the first cycle through your meridians."
Wuya inhaled deeply.
"I'm ready."
Her Qi entered him gently—
light, soft, refined.
It flowed into his chest.
Then down toward his navel.
Then into his limbs.
Then finally—
Into his bones.
Elder Yun whispered:
"Follow its path with your mind."
Wuya did.
He saw it.
The Qi was like a thin silver thread running through his veins.
His breath stabilized automatically.
His pulse synchronized with the flow.
Elder Yun smiled softly.
"Very good. You're in harmony."
Xueyi watched intently.
"Wuya looks so calm… but he's glowing…"
The glow was faint—
but real.
Wuya exhaled.
"Master… the Qi feels warm."
Elder Yun nodded.
"That means your meridians are ready. Continue following the thread."
Wuya did.
The Qi completed one full cycle.
Elder Yun's eyes widened.
"…Already?"
Xueyi looked confused.
"What does that mean, Master?"
Elder Yun answered quietly.
"It means Wuya's breath and meridian paths are aligned perfectly.
Most disciples take weeks to complete one cycle.
Wuya did it in minutes."
Xueyi grinned proudly.
"Of course he did! He's Wuya!"
Wuya blinked.
"…Is that a compliment?"
"Yes!"
"…Thank you."
---
XUEYI'S TURN
Elder Yun turned to Xueyi.
"You will begin as well."
Xueyi sat up straight.
"I'm ready!"
Elder Yun placed her hand on Xueyi's back.
"Breathe in."
Xueyi inhaled—
Too fast.
"Not like that."
Xueyi tried again—
Too slow.
"Not like that either."
Xueyi puffed her cheeks.
"This is harder than it looks!"
Wuya watched.
"…Xueyi."
"What?!"
"Stop thinking."
"…I'm thinking too much?"
"Yes."
"How do I stop?!"
"Just breathe."
Xueyi glared at him.
"That is NOT advice!"
Wuya blinked.
"…But it worked for me."
"YOU'RE NOT NORMAL!"
Elder Yun stepped in.
"Xueyi. Here."
She placed both hands on Xueyi's back.
"Follow my breath."
Slow.
Soft.
Gentle.
Xueyi's breathing steadied.
Her Moonveil Seal glowed faintly.
A small Qi thread formed inside her.
Elder Yun smiled.
"Yes. That's it."
Xueyi grinned.
"I'm doing it!"
Wuya nodded.
"…Good."
"Say it like you mean it!"
"You're doing well."
"Better!"
"You're doing very well."
Xueyi grinned triumphantly.
"THERE!"
---
ELDER QIONG LUO MAKES HIS MOVE
Far across the sect, in a dark hall lit only by blue talismans—
Elder Qiong Luo opened his eyes.
A disciple knelt before him.
"Elder… the beast failed. Heaven's omen failed. What now?"
Qiong Luo's lips curled.
"Now?
We simply test again."
He raised a small jade charm.
"This charm suppresses meridians for one day.
Place it in Elder Yun's training courtyard."
The disciple trembled.
"That's… punishable by death, Elder…"
Qiong Luo glared.
"Do you fear death more than you fear me?"
The disciple shook violently.
"…No…"
"Then go."
He vanished.
Qiong Luo sneered.
"Let us see how the forbidden child resists weakness."
---
THE DIVINE LINEAGE GIRL
Back at the Cloud Peak—
The wind suddenly shifted.
Footsteps approached the summit.
A girl appeared—
Wearing white robes embroidered with pale gold threads.
Golden eyes.
Long dark hair tied with a celestial ribbon.
A presence calm yet overwhelming.
Xueyi gasped.
"Wuwa—!!! Wuya!! Who is THAT?!"
Elder Yun bowed slightly.
"Lady Linghai."
Wuya blinked.
"…Who?"
Elder Yun whispered:
"She is from the Azure Celestial Clan.
A divine lineage."
Xueyi froze.
"A DIVINE—?!"
The girl approached Wuya directly.
Her golden eyes studying him.
"You… are the one Heaven watches."
Wuya blinked.
"…Yes."
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You smell… wrong."
Xueyi hugged Wuya tightly.
"DON'T SNIFF MY WUYA—!!"
The divine girl blinked.
"…I did not sniff."
"Yes you did! With your divine sense!"
"That is not sniffing."
"It is!!"
Elder Yun sighed.
Lady Linghai ignored Xueyi and faced Wuya again.
"I came to witness the forbidden fate."
Wuya tilted his head.
"…Why?"
"Curiosity," she said simply.
Then she bowed.
"I will observe you, Hao Wuya."
She turned to leave.
Xueyi glared at her.
"DON'T OBSERVE TOO MUCH!!"
"…I will observe as much as I wish," Lady Linghai replied calmly.
Xueyi hissed.
"RUDE!!"
Wuya blinked.
"…Who is rude?"
"HER!! AND YOU!! BOTH OF YOU!!"
"…Why me?"
"BECAUSE YOU LET HER LOOK AT YOU LIKE THAT!!"
"…That is unfair."
---
THE SIXTH SIGN-IN — LOCATION REVEALED
As Lady Linghai left, the Codex pulsed again.
Wuya inhaled sharply.
Xueyi panicked.
"Wuya?! WHAT IS IT THIS TIME?!"
"…The Codex."
Elder Yun turned sharply.
"What does it say?"
Golden symbols filled Wuya's mind.
The whisper came:
[Sixth Sign-In Location:
The Moonfall Cliff.]
[Requirement: Face a life-and-death decision.]
Wuya's breath slowed.
"…Moonfall Cliff."
Elder Yun's face paled.
"No.
That place is too dangerous."
Xueyi grabbed Wuya's arm desperately.
"You're NOT going there."
Wuya looked at her gently.
"…I might have to."
"NO!"
Elder Yun placed a hand on Xueyi's shoulder.
"Xueyi. Calm yourself."
Xueyi trembled.
"No! The Codex keeps trying to kill him!"
Wuya shook his head.
"…It keeps making me stronger."
"That's WORSE!"
"…But necessary."
Xueyi buried her head against his chest.
"Don't go…"
Elder Yun looked at Wuya.
"There will be time.
For now, stabilize your cultivation."
---
END OF TRAINING — NIGHTFALL DANGER RETURNS
That night—
As Wuya and Xueyi sat beneath the plum tree—
Wuya felt it again.
A presence.
A watcher.
He lifted his head.
The sky trembled faintly.
A flicker of divine power.
Xueyi clung to him.
"Wuya… it's back…"
Elder Yun stepped out of the shadows.
"I feel it as well."
Wuya's eyes narrowed.
"…Heaven. Again."
Xueyi shivered.
"Why won't it leave you alone…"
Wuya placed a hand on her head.
"…Because it fears me."
Xueyi looked up at him.
"Then I'll protect you."
He blinked softly.
"…Thank you."
She hugged him tightly.
And above—
The clouds shifted ominously.
A new omen forming.
The next danger approaching.
And the Moonfall Cliff calling.