At Qingxu Temple, within Tang Xiaoqi's secluded courtyard.
Dawn was just breaking. Thin mist draped like gauze, while dew from the fading night still glistened like crystal beads on the grass blades. After several days of secluded cultivation, Xiaoqi had initially integrated the gains from this journey. His Crimson Flame Sword Heart grew increasingly refined, his control over the Universe Wok became effortless, and his spiritual energy, nourished by the transformed Purification Source, grew ever more pure and profound.
He was practicing basic sword techniques in the courtyard. His movements appeared simple and unadorned, yet each sword thrust carried a hidden rumble of wind and thunder. The sword tip left faint scorching traces in the air—the natural manifestation of his Crimson Flame Sword Heart flowing freely.
Suddenly, his movement paused slightly. He sheathed his sword and stood still, his sharp gaze sweeping toward a cluster of dense phoenix-tail bamboo in the corner of the courtyard wall. Just moments ago, his keen spiritual sense had caught an extremely faint, fleeting energy fluctuation—not an attack, but more like... a delivery.
He walked slowly toward it, his spiritual sense probing carefully. At the base of the bamboo thicket, in the damp soil, there were no footprints. But among the overlapping bamboo leaves, he discovered a jade talisman about the size of a fingernail, thin as a cicada's wing, its color almost indistinguishable from the bamboo leaves themselves. The talisman bore no markings, only a divine intent seal so subtle it was nearly imperceptible.
Had his spiritual sense not been tempered multiple times, had he not just experienced the transformation of the Purification Source and the condensation of his Sword Heart, had his perception not far exceeded that of peers at his level, he never would have discovered this object.
Xiaoqi's heart grew wary. Who? Who could deliver something into the courtyard of a core disciple so silently? An elder from the temple? Unlikely—if there were instructions, they would simply announce them openly. An enemy? If it were remnants of the Shadow Snake Pavilion, what they sent would more likely be a trap or lethal strike, not such a jade talisman with restrained aura.
He pondered for a moment, then extended his index finger. A strand of spiritual energy, infused with both the sharpness of his Crimson Flame Sword Heart and the purity of the Purification Source, slowly reached out to carefully touch the divine intent seal upon the jade talisman.
"Pop—"
A barely audible sound, like a bubble bursting. That divine intent seal, upon contact with his unique spiritual energy, produced no resistance whatsoever. Instead, it quietly dissolved like ice and snow melting. Clearly, the one who set the seal was either extremely familiar with the characteristics of his power, or this seal was custom-made for him—any outsider forcing it would trigger self-destruction.
The moment the seal lifted, a blurry yet somehow familiar female phantom flashed across the jade talisman. Though he couldn't make out specific features, that brief glimpse of outline and aura made Xiaoqi's heart suddenly pound—Aunt Su!
Immediately, a stream of divine intent information flowed into his mind like a trickling spring. This information wasn't sound but directly imprinted images and characters into his consciousness.
First appearing in his mind was an extremely crude map marked with several key features. It showed a region covered in dense miasma and dark jungles. The map's edges outlined twisted mountain ranges, while the central area was marked with a crimson dot indicating a general direction, beside which were two small ancient seal characters: Southern Frontier. Near that crimson mark was an even smaller pattern resembling a coiled poisonous snake, beside which was written—Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley.
The information continued to flow: "The Shadow Snake Pavilion's headquarters is not fixed in one place. Its core is hidden deep within the Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley of the Southern Frontier, concealed by natural poisonous barriers and ancient remnant formations. Its entrance changes unpredictably—those who are not core members can hardly find the path."
Xiaoqi held his breath, his expression growing incredibly grave. Southern Frontier! Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley! This was, to date, the most concrete clue regarding the Shadow Snake Pavilion's lair!
Next, a second piece of information emerged—a more detailed yet sinister hall structure sketch. The hall was deep and dark, its pillars carved with countless twisted, wailing living souls. At its center was a massive blood pool altar. The sketch highlighted an annex chamber behind the altar, shrouded in layer upon layer of restrictions. Above its door hung a plaque whose phantom image bore three chilling characters: Ten Thousand Souls Hall. And deep within that annex, a point of dim light was specially circled, with the notation—"Soul-Controlling Jade suspected to be sealed here."
Soul-Controlling Jade!
At these three words, Xiaoqi's fist instantly clenched, his nails digging deep into his palm. This was the object that had controlled his father, that had caused Xu Zhan to fall into the demonic path and ultimately scatter his soul! A mixture of bone-deep hatred and endless grief nearly overwhelmed his reason.
However, the final part of the message was like a basin of ice water pouring over him, instantly cooling his boiling blood.
It was a warning conveyed with an extremely serious, even urgent, intent:
"According to investigation, the Ten Thousand Souls Hall is a forbidden ground of the Shadow Snake Pavilion. A Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator is stationed there year-round. Restrictions are layered thick, and danger is extreme. Though the demonic entity has temporarily retreated, its will remains. Remember: without reaching the Golden Core stage, before one's spiritual consciousness can initially condense and one's physical body can withstand deeper power fluctuations, one must never trespass! Such an act is not bravery but suicide, and would also betray the chance at life your father fought to give you! I implore you—be cautious! Be cautious again!"
At the end of the warning, that divine intent aura belonging to Aunt Su, complex and indescribable, fluctuated slightly, carrying a trace of barely perceptible concern and worry before finally dissipating.
The jade talisman, after transmitting all its information, quietly dissolved into a wisp of green smoke, vanishing completely without leaving a trace.
Xiaoqi stood motionless for a long time.
Dawn had risen above the horizon. Golden light flooded the courtyard, dispelling the thin mist, yet it could not dispel the heaviness and turmoil in his heart.
Aunt Su... she was indeed still alive, and seemed to maintain some special position within the Shadow Snake Pavilion. Otherwise, she could never have known such core secrets. She risked sending this secret letter—was it to repay her guilt toward her sister (Xiaoqi's mother)? Or was it from some feeling for Xu Zhan that had never completely extinguished? Or perhaps... she herself was secretly plotting something?
These thoughts flashed through Xiaoqi's mind but were soon replaced by more important information.
The Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters in the Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley of the Southern Frontier! The Soul-Controlling Jade in the Ten Thousand Souls Hall!
His goal had never been so clear.
Vengeance! Destroy the Soul-Controlling Jade, completely sever the demonic entity's possible last shred of control over his father's remnant soul (though his father had already scattered, he still subconsciously held onto a slim hope), and make the Shadow Snake Pavilion pay the price!
However, Aunt Su's severe warning tolled like a bell in his ears.
Golden Core stage!
He was now only at the peak of mid-Qi Refining, still some distance from Foundation Establishment, let alone the Golden Core path. That was a qualitative leap, a preliminary transformation of life's essence. Only by condensing a Golden Core, when spiritual consciousness transforms into divine sense, when perception and control over heaven and earth's spiritual energy surge dramatically, when body and spiritual power merge further, could one possess a sliver of possibility to contend within the Shadow Snake Pavilion's core territory, even against Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivators.
In his current state, rashly going there would indeed be no different from suicide. What his father had traded his life for was not for him to die meaninglessly, but the hope that he would live, grow stronger, and travel further.
Xiaoqi took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He walked to a stone bench in the courtyard and sat down, his gaze投向 the rolling mountains in the distance. The hatred and impulse churning in his eyes gradually gave way to something deeper, more determined.
The path had been illuminated.
The vengeance must be taken.
But not now.
He needed power. He needed to increase his strength faster. The Golden Core stage became the next threshold he must cross.
This secret letter from Aunt Su was like a double-edged sword—it brought the hope and direction of vengeance, but also made him clearly see the chasm before him that could only be crossed with true strength.
He deeply etched this map, this structure diagram, this warning into his heart.
Then, he stood up and picked up the Crimson Flame Sword again. The sword body reflected the rising sun, mirroring his unwavering determination.
Cultivate. Grow stronger. Break through!
For his father, for his master, for all those who had fallen, and to... personally destroy that accursed Soul-Controlling Jade and flatten the Shadow Snake Pavilion!
The road ahead was perilous, the goal was set. What remained was to forge ahead.