Qingxu Temple, the cliff at the back mountain.
Tang Xiaoqi stood alone at the edge of the vast sea of clouds. Mountain wind billowed his robes, making them flap loudly. He tightly gripped the warm jade pendant in his hand, his gaze piercing through the rolling clouds as if to see through the void to that distant and perilous depths of the Southern Frontier.
In his mind, two voices, two intentions, were intensely interweaving and colliding, finally converging into an unshakable torrent.
On one side was the divine intent transmission from his father Xu Zhan before his soul scattered—every word dripping with blood and tears, still ringing in his ears:
"Destroy... the Soul-Controlling Jade in the Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters... only then can I be saved... protect... yourself..."
That voice was weak yet determined, carrying the pain of being eroded by demonic energy for a century, and carrying a father's deepest, most helpless love and final instructions for his son. The words "save me" were like a branding iron seared deep into his soul. Though he had personally witnessed his father dissipate into heaven and earth, this final message buried an unextinguished fire seed in the depths of his heart—perhaps, perhaps there was still a thread of hope? Even if it was just a lingering obsession of his father remaining in the world, he had to find it, to liberate it!
On the other side was Aunt Su's anonymous secret letter, coldly and cruelly revealing the dangers ahead, yet precisely pointing out the direction:
"Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters... Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley of the Southern Frontier... Soul-Controlling Jade... Ten Thousand Souls Hall... Nascent Soul guard... without reaching Golden Core, do not act rashly!"
Map, location, guards, warning... each piece of information was like a heavy boulder, piling up around that slim fire of hope, forming a barrier that could only be blasted open with strength. Golden Core! This was a realm he currently had to strain even to look up to, yet it was the minimum threshold on the path to vengeance and saving his father.
Two kinds of information—one born from blood ties and unresigned obsession, one from cold reality and survival warnings. They contradicted each other, yet strangely unified.
Was it hatred?
Yes! Hatred for the Shadow Snake Pavilion that destroyed Xu Lan Mountain Manor, for the demonic entity that controlled his father and caused him to fall into the demonic path and ultimately scatter his soul—he hated them to the bone! This hatred was the initial motivation that supported him in rising from the ruins.
But was it merely for vengeance?
Xiaoqi asked himself. If it were only for vengeance, he might choose a more radical, more reckless approach, even if it meant moths flying into flames. But his father's parting words emphasized "save me" and "protect yourself." Aunt Su's warning also intended "don't go to your death."
He slowly closed his eyes, withdrawing his spiritual sense into his dantian. The transformed Purification Source pulsed slowly like a cyan heart, emanating the dao rhythm of "guardianship" and "rebirth"; in his sea of consciousness, the Crimson Flame Sword Heart flowed with dark gold, crimson fire contained within—that was the embodiment of his path of guardianship; the Universe Wok, reforged in his hand, transmitted a warm and solid tactile sensation—it was a partner, and also a shield.
His dao was guardianship.
Guarding the unfulfilled wishes of the deceased, guarding the peace possessed by the living, guarding the future he must continue.
Vengeance was part of guardianship—it was cutting off the root of continuing harm. And "saving father," no matter how slim the hope, was the final guardianship and response to that mountain-like fatherly love!
Destroying the Soul-Controlling Jade was not merely for vengeance, but to sever the demonic entity's possible final thread of desecration and control over his father, to let his father's soul truly rest and be liberated—this, too, was guardianship!
The goal, at this moment, became unprecedentedly clear and firm. No longer merely vague hatred, but concrete to every step:
The first step, and the most urgent one currently: spare no effort to increase strength!
Golden Core stage was the baseline, the ticket to entry. He needed to break through Qi Refining, cross Foundation Establishment, and condense a Golden Core in the shortest time possible! This required massive resources, required tempering between life and death, required enlightenment and opportunity. Qingxu Temple's stable environment could no longer provide the growth speed he needed. He had to go out, into a broader, more dangerous world, to find opportunities that belonged to him.
The second step: gather intelligence, wait for the right moment.
Aunt Su had provided a general direction, but how exactly to enter the Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley? What mysteries did the restrictions of the Ten Thousand Souls Hall hold? What weaknesses did the stationed Nascent Soul demonic cultivator have? All of this required more detailed information. He needed to consciously gather all clues related to the Shadow Snake Pavilion, the Southern Frontier, and the Ten Thousand Souls Hall during his travels. At the same time, he needed to closely monitor the Shadow Snake Pavilion's movements, searching for possible weaknesses they might reveal.
The third step: infiltrate, destroy!
When strength was sufficient and the moment right, he would infiltrate alone into that dragon's pool and tiger's den—the Ten Thousand Miasmas Valley of the Southern Frontier—find the Shadow Snake Pavilion headquarters, break into the Ten Thousand Souls Hall, and at any cost, destroy that accursed Soul-Controlling Jade! This process meant nine deaths and one life, but he would not turn back.
This was not a momentary impulse of hot-blooded recklessness, but the calmest, most resolute strategic planning made after deeply understanding his responsibilities and weighing enemy against self. He knew what the road ahead meant. He knew how slim the hope of success was. But he knew even more that this was the path he must walk, the best account he could give to the past and the future.
Xiaoqi opened his eyes. All confusion, hesitation, and grief had settled in his gaze, transforming into a determination that seemed bottomless. It was a realization that, having recognized the goal, he was willing to give everything for it.
He lowered his head, looking at the jade pendant in his palm that seemed to sense his determination, and spoke softly: "Father, wait for me. No matter how slim the hope, no matter how difficult the road ahead, I will go. I will destroy the Soul-Controlling Jade and bring you... home."
The voice was soft, yet heavy as mountains, carrying all of a son's faith and strength.
He turned and walked down from the cliff, his steps steady and powerful. The sea of clouds churned behind him, just like his current state of mind—turbulent yet with a clear destination.
In the days to come, he would no longer be merely a talented disciple of Qingxu Temple who needed protection. He would actively seek storms, embrace danger, temper his sword edge at the edge of life and death, and refine his dao heart in the myriad tribulations of the mortal world.
The goal was clear, the heart-sword sharpened.
Only waiting for the wind to rise over the Southern Frontier.