"Suddenly," An Qing asked.
Xiayu was taken aback, his smile fading as he gazed at her in silence.
"Your sister’s condition has likely been suppressed by medicinal pills, but that treats the symptoms, not the root cause. Her constitution is quite unique."
"I know how to save her."
Xiayu looked at An Qing deeply, then suddenly bowed at a ninety-degree angle and said earnestly, "Seventh Princess, please enlighten me. I, Xiayu, would be eternally grateful! Should you have need of me in the future, even if it means braving mountains of blades or seas of fire, I will not refuse!"
An Qing froze, staring at Xiayu in utter surprise. To think their sibling bond went this deep! Growing up in the imperial palace, she had known only cold, distant family ties. A nameless emotion surged within her.
"You want to know? Defeat me first, and then we shall talk!"
**Chapter 19: Am I That Old?**
Xiayu narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he spoke two words.
"Truly?"
An Qing lifted her chin and said, "This Princess always keeps her word!"
"Good, I believe you!" Xiayu nodded heavily.
A moment later, a thunderous boom erupted from beneath his feet. Xiayu shot into the air like an arrow released from a taut bow. Instantly, an unbridled, wild aura exploded from his body. Simultaneously, a powerful battle intent enveloped him.
His fighting spirit boiled! This time, he didn't just channel three strands of Ancestral Dragon energy—he also activated the Dragon Movement technique. His speed reached the absolute limit.
A flash of cold light! Xiayu unleashed his spear!
The spear thrust out like a dragon, accompanied by a series of sonic booms. Wherever the cold light touched, the void trembled and buckled.
*Three Heaven-Splitting Styles: Heaven-Breaker!*
Mid-air, An Qing’s gaze tightened. Without hesitation, she held her long sword and rapidly wove several curtains of sword light before her. Beneath her feet, the light ring intensified as sword glows flared brilliantly. Countless blades of energy wove through the ring at blinding speed. This light ring was a unique domain belonging to cultivators above the Monarch Realm—the Monarch Domain. Within it, one's combat prowess was significantly boosted.
An Qing’s domain was a Sword Domain, focused on offense. However, at this moment, her first reaction was not to strike, but to block.
*Clang!*
The sound of countless metal collisions rang out as one. An Qing’s expression shifted violently; her Sword Domain and curtain of light had failed to stop Xiayu. It hadn't even delayed him for a single breath.
As he stopped, the tip of the Dragon Spear hovered inches from her throat, a single drop of blood slowly dripping from its point.
Xiayu’s chest heaved violently as he gasped for air, his body trembling slightly. His eyes were bloodshot, his face faintly purple, and the veins on his neck stood out. Only his hand, gripping the Dragon Spear, remained as steady as a rock.
"You lost."
An Qing was utterly shocked. She could hardly believe she had been defeated—defeated in a single strike! Even harder to accept was that the person who had beaten her in one move was merely a cultivator in the Spirit Origin Realm. Her own aptitude had once stunned the entire Daxia; she was known to all as the peerless Seventh Princess.
"I lost." After a long silence, she spoke the words in a daze.
In her entire life, she had been invincible among her peers, never having tasted defeat. But today, she had lost to someone two full realms below her—someone even younger than she was. Unable to describe her feelings, An Qing slowly closed her eyes. She did not fear failure, nor did she shy away from admitting it. It was simply that this defeat made her begin to doubt herself. At that moment, even her "sword heart" trembled.
"You are very strong. You won." An Qing’s lips moved as she struggled to voice the second sentence.
"For my sister, I can risk my life! It is all I have!"
*Risk my life!*
The words echoed in An Qing’s ears like a thunderclap. *Only by risking all can one succeed!*
At that moment, her heart was stirred. As a sword cultivator, one should charge forward with courage, without questioning the result, without fearing life or death! In her heart... there was only the sword!
*Clang!*
Suddenly, a resonant sword hum soared into the sky, lingering in the void. An Qing’s Monarch Domain, beneath her feet, suddenly contracted, then violently expanded. Within the domain, countless blades of light wove together. Xiayu’s expression changed, and he quickly backed away, landing on the ground.
In the air, An Qing was no longer visible; only countless sword lights wove through the sky, growing brighter and brighter. It was like a great sun descending! Moreover, this sun made of blade energy continued to expand—two zhang, two point two, two point three... Three zhang!
*Third Heavenly Layer of Monarch Realm!*
Xiayu stared blankly for a long time before saying, "Can you even breakthrough like that? It seems I won, didn't I?"
*Clang!*
Another clear, resonant hum of a sword rang out. The next instant, the countless blade lights vanished.
Xiayu looked up. In the air, An Qing stood holding her sword with one hand, her face serene, long hair and dress fluttering in the wind. Xiayu frowned slightly; he couldn't put his finger on it, but something about An Qing had changed. He didn't realize that his words about risking his life had triggered an epiphany in her, bringing her to the state of "Clear Sword Heart." Not only had she broken through to the Third Heavenly Layer of the Monarch Realm, but more importantly, her sword mastery had advanced from basic to intermediate sword intent.
In sword mastery, the difference between basic and intermediate seems small, but in reality, it is a world apart. In this battle, An Qing had gained a tremendous amount.
"Mingyue was right. Ultimate combat is most beneficial for cultivation," An Qing murmured, looking off into the distance.
"Hey, you've finished looking at the scenery, right? You lost—don't forget what you said!" Xiayu felt speechless. She’d finished her breakthrough, so why was she just standing in the sky? He couldn't help but shout.
His answer was a streak of sword light.
"Take another strike from me!"
Xiayu flashed, appearing several yards away. "An Qing, you are going back on your word! This is going too far!"
*Swish!* Another beam of light. Xiayu dodged.
*Swish!* Another one. Xiayu dodged again.
Beam after beam of light came, one after another. She clearly wouldn't stop until she landed a hit. Xiayu felt truly speechless—*women*. Seeing another strike flying his way, Xiayu puffed out his chest and stood his ground. The sword light *whooshed* into his lower abdomen, followed by several more that pierced him in quick succession.
"Why didn't you dodge?" An Qing slowly descended and couldn't help but ask. She hadn't actually expected to hit him. But the more Xiayu dodged, the more defiant she felt. She refused to believe she couldn't land a single blow. Yet, seeing him actually take the hits shocked her. "Are you alright? Are you stupid? Why didn't you move?"
Xiayu was silent. *It feels great!*
Inside his Burning Heaven Melting Furnace, an incredibly pure surge of spiritual energy was being fed back to him. His whole body felt warm and comfortable, so much so that he couldn't be bothered to reply to An Qing.
"Hey, are you okay? Say something! I didn't mean to—are you hurt? I have spirit pills here!" An Qing was panicking.
Looking at the jade bottle in her hand, Xiayu didn't take it. He stared fixedly into her eyes and said, word by word, "A bet is a bet. Tell me, how do I save my sister?"
An Qing paused, then said, "I don't know the specific method."
Xiayu’s expression sank.
"But I know someone who does," An Qing said hurriedly. "I suspect your sister's constitution is very unique—it resembles the 'Coexistence of Water and Fire,' also known as the Water-Fire Dao Body. Sister Mingyue mentioned it to me before; she certainly knows what to do."
"Sister Mingyue? Where is she?"
"In the Capital."
Xiayu turned and left immediately. He didn't want to wait a single second. His sister had suffered for over ten years; he didn't want her to endure a moment longer.
An Qing stood there, stunned. *Wait, you’re just leaving like that?*
"Xiayu, stop right there!" An Qing couldn't help but call out.
"No time!" Xiayu’s voice drifted back from afar.
An Qing swayed, quickly chasing after him. "Hey, do you even know how to find her in the Capital?" she asked, annoyed.
*Skritch!* Xiayu stopped and turned around, looking straight at An Qing.
An Qing hesitated for a moment, then took out a jade pendant and tossed it over. "This is my pendant. Take it to the Shengwu Academy in the Capital; Sister Mingyue will definitely help."
Xiayu caught the pendant, stunned.
**Chapter 20: A Man Should Be Like This!**
"Thank you, Sister An Qing!"
Xiayu bowed slightly and turned to leave. An Qing stood on the spot for a long time, the corners of her mouth curling upward as a rosy blush flew to her cheeks.
"That guy... calling me 'Sister'? Am I that old?"
Returning to the City Lord’s mansion, the crowds had yet to disperse. Seeing that only Xiayu had returned, many looked confused.
"Young Master Xia, where is the Seventh Princess?" Lu Tianxiang finally couldn't help but ask.
"The Seventh Princess? You mean Sister An Qing? She left," Xiayu said casually. He walked over to Xia Yao and smiled, saying, "Sister, let's go."
Xia Yao nodded.
As soon as Xiayu and Xia Yao left, the people from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion followed immediately. Duanmu Wenshan was the first to fall in line, looking humble and respectful.
"Sister An Qing?" Lu Tianxiang looked disgruntled as he turned to Zhu Kang. "City Lord Zhu, I want all the information on this Xiayu."
"Very well." Zhu Kang was straightforward.
Xiayu’s history was as ordinary as could be. Beyond that, there were only things that could not be explained. For instance, his sudden, massive spike in cultivation—how did it happen? No one knew.
After a long while, Lu Tianxiang said with a heavy expression, "It seems the person who caused the celestial phenomenon was not Xia Longfei, but Xiayu."
"It would appear so," Zhu Kang nodded.
"Hmph, a bunch of idiots in the Xia family!" Lu Tianxiang muttered irritably.
"Indeed, a bunch of idiots." Not only did Zhu Kang nod, but the heads of the Xu, Gong, and Zhang families also echoed the sentiment.
The prowess Xiayu displayed in the battle had left them stunned and deeply shocked. In a mere half-month, going from a shattered Dantian to the Imperial Origin Realm—it was like a dream. They had never heard of such speed. Furthermore, the strength Xiayu showed made him undoubtedly the number one in Hua City. A sixteen-year-old in the Imperial Origin Realm who could trigger heavenly phenomena—to think such a person was framed and driven out of his own family. If that wasn't stupidity, what was it?
"Prepare a gift. I am going to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to pay a visit to Young Master Xia," Lu Tianxiang decided.
"We are coming too," the others chimed in.
But when they arrived at the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Xiayu was already gone.
"Young Master Lu, City Lord Zhu, everyone—Young Master Xia left Hua City an hour ago," Duanmu Lin said.
"Then... where did he go?" Lu Tianxiang asked.
"I’m not entirely sure, but judging by what Young Master Xia said, perhaps the Capital." Duanmu Lin answered honestly. Xiayu hadn't ordered him to keep it a secret when he left.
Lu Tianxiang was silent for a while before turning to leave. On the way back, the head of the Xu family leaned in toward Zhu Kang and whispered, "City Lord, what about the Xia family's assets?"
Zhu Kang looked up and said thoughtfully, "Are you not afraid that Young Master Xia will return?"
"Young Master Xia said himself that he is no longer part of the Xia family," the head of the Xu family said with a smile. "I think our actions might actually please him."
"How shall we divide it?" Zhu Kang raised an eyebrow.
"The four families split it equally."
"Agreed." Zhu Kang nodded.
Xiayu did not know that just after he left Hua City, the City Lord’s mansion and the four other families had carved up all the assets of the Xia family. The Xia family was left with only a portion of their old residence. Without Xia Hongji and the others, the remaining family members were so weak they didn't even put up a fight. Overnight, one of the four great families of Hua City vanished into smoke.
Meanwhile, Xiayu, Xia Yao, and Duanmu Wenshan were on their way to Luzhou Prefecture. Luzhou had a waterway that led straight to the Capital. It was more comfortable than the land route, which required crossing mountains.
Upon arriving at Luzhou, Xiayu didn't stop, boarding a ship to the Capital immediately. Everything was arranged by Duanmu Wenshan, who even covered all the costs. Nowadays, Duanmu Wenshan acted more like Xiayu’s lackey. If anyone knew that the distinguished Duanmu Wenshan of Luzhou had become the attendant of a sixteen-year-old, their jaws would likely hit the floor. Even within the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, some had approached Duanmu Wenshan, suggesting he shouldn't lower himself so much, as it was bad for his reputation. Duanmu Wenshan simply ignored them. *What do they know of Young Master Xia’s background?*
*Jokes aside, I’m just running errands for him—haven't you noticed I’m on the verge of becoming a Monarch-grade Alchemist?* Duanmu Wenshan believed that as long as he had time to stop and refine pills, he could certainly reach that level. Recently, he had been seeking Xiayu’s advice whenever he had a chance, and he was shocked to find that Xiayu’s knowledge of alchemy was profound. Many of his insights into alchemical techniques were things Duanmu had never even imagined, and they vaguely hinted at ancient alchemical arts.
However, Duanmu also felt puzzled, as Xiayu didn't seem to understand many basic concepts. Because of this, Xiayu had asked for several introductory books on alchemy, which left Duanmu confused. After thinking about it for a day or two, he slapped his thigh and cried out, *So that’s it!* Alchemy foundation was of the utmost importance; the solidity of that foundation determined one's upper limit. Just like constructing a tall building, the foundation determined everything. So, Xiayu was simply solidifying his basics.
Duanmu Wenshan would never guess that Xiayu actually knew nothing about basic alchemy. After all, the mysterious old man had simply crammed knowledge of Monarch-grade and higher alchemy into his brain. Duanmu’s presence happened to fill in the gaps, and Xiayu, not being a prideful person, took the opportunity to learn.
Alchemists were noble professionals with high status and immense wealth. Xiayu knew very well that cultivation required a massive amount of money, and he was broke—otherwise, he wouldn't have permitted Duanmu Wenshan to tag along. Learning alchemy would ensure he never had to worry about money again. Moreover, powerful pills were also extremely beneficial to his cultivation.
Along the journey, Xiayu spent his time learning. Of course, his cultivation didn't fall behind. Every day, for twelve hours, he ran the Burning Heaven Melting Furnace, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy at a rate that was staggering. It was a "whale-swallowing" technique, a predatory style of cultivation that left nothing for anyone else. During the few hours he wasn't intentionally driving the furnace, it continued to run on its own—slower, but steady, and the amount was still impressive. If this ship hadn't belonged to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, someone would have surely come to investigate. Actually, it wasn't that no one checked; Duanmu Wenshan had intercepted them all. The crew had discovered that the ship’s spirit stones were being consumed exceptionally fast. The ship’s formation didn't run on wind, but on spirit stones. Normally, a dozen low-grade spirit stones were enough for a day. Now, they barely lasted half a day.
Ten days later, Duanmu Wenshan entered Xiayu’s room. "Young Master Xia, we have arrived at the Capital."
"The Capital!" Xiayu stood up and walked to the bow of the ship. Xia Yao had already arrived there ahead of him.
On the wide river, all sorts of ships shuttled back and forth. It was Xiayu and Xia Yao’s first time seeing such a bustling scene, and their eyes were filled with shock. Far off on the riverbank, a giant stone statue stood tall—a man with sharp eyebrows and eyes like stars, his face like a chiseled blade, holding a long sword pointed forward, looking down on the world.
"Young Master Xia, behind the statue is the Capital's harbor," Duanmu Wenshan narrated. "This statue is of the first emperor to establish the Daxia Dynasty, the ancestor of the An family, An Qi."
As the ship passed by the statue, Xiayu looked up at the dozens of yards of imposing stone, his gaze bright. A heroic spirit surged into his heart.
*A man should be like this!*
**Chapter 21: The Young Marquis**
The Capital’s harbor was a flurry of hurried footsteps and shouting—a chaotic, busy scene. The air carried a strange mixture of smells: fishiness, sweat, alcohol—all mixed together in a pungent way. It was the first time Xiayu and Xia Yao had seen such a sight, and they were left dumbfounded. After all, Hua City was just a small, sleepy town.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Where did such pure little country girls come from? Little Six, grab her and bring her here for me to play with. This dumpy place reeks to high heaven!"
"My old man says this is to toughen me up, but he's just out to screw me over, that old geezer."
Not far away, a young man in extravagant clothes had accidentally caught sight of Xia Yao, and his eyes lit up. He had slept with more beauties in the Capital than he could count, but he had never tried one like Xia Yao—delicate and beautiful, yet smelling of the countryside. He ignored Duanmu Wenshan and Xiayu entirely.
A group of fierce-looking, smirking men, led by a middle-aged man in finery, blocked Xiayu and Xia Yao as they were looking around.
Seeing this, Duanmu Wenshan immediately stepped forward and barked, "What are you doing? I’m from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Move aside!"
The middle-aged man in finery glanced at Duanmu Wenshan and said arrogantly, "You’re from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion? You may leave."
"However, this young lady must stay. Our Young Marquis wants her."
"This Young Master Xia and Miss Xia are honored guests of our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Get lost!" Duanmu Wenshan said coldly.
The brutes in front of him looked intimidating, but they were actually just harbor foremen, their cultivation at the Gathering Origin Realm at best. Duanmu Wenshan was an Elder of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, so he was naturally unafraid.