A name with "Shang" in it?

And they achieved the Sun and Moon Emperor’s Life?

’Who is this sacred personage who could silently claim the top rank?’ Liu Huan’s expression darkened.

’Even Ying Xingzi of the Primordial Corpse Sect from Dangyin Ridge is far from his equal?’

Liu Huan glanced at the purple-robed youth and asked with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes:

"And I have yet to ask for your esteemed name?"

The purple-robed youth shot him a sidelong glance, his tone arrogant:

"Judging by your appearance, you don’t seem to be from a Branch Sect Dharma Lineage. Don’t even think about associating with me."

Rage flared in Liu Huan’s heart. He was a Dharma Lineage Master, after all, a station even slightly above a First- or Second-grade Village Clan Lineage. He’d never been looked down on like this before.

"You whelp..."

His brow rose, and he was about to teach the boy a lesson to display the might of a High Cultivator, but then he saw a gray-robed Daoist standing behind the purple-robed youth.

He sucked in a sharp breath.

’Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer?’

Liu Huan’s pupils contracted. His raised right hand gently lowered, and he clapped his palms together with a laugh.

"Little brother, you certainly have a straightforward and candid personality, hahaha. I am Liu Huan of the Qianji Sect, and I preside over a Dharma Lineage.

If you happen to pass by one day, little brother, feel free to visit Observing Sun Peak for a cup of tea."

The purple-robed youth muttered under his breath:

"So he’s from an ’Inner Sect.’ Beimang Ridge really is a backwater. No impressive figures to be found."

Liu Huan’s cultivation had reached the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer, and his five senses were so keen he could hear the faintest of sounds.

Whispers spoken right under his nose like that were no different from a direct insult.

But he acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, smiling as he said:

"To meet is fate. Perhaps we will have occasion to meet again in the future..."

Jiang Yi witnessed this from the side and thought to himself:

’No wonder the Sect Leader could outlast Sui Liushu. His ability to endure humiliation is truly remarkable.’

Only after the purple-robed youth and the gray-robed Daoist had walked away did Liu Huan let out a long sigh of relief, saying with lingering fear:

"Indeed, whenever an Opportunity appears, dragons and snakes mingle. I nearly stepped into a pit just now!"

Drawing on his rich experience in serving his superiors, Jiang Yi spoke up at the perfect moment:

"Sect Leader, what do you mean by that? I saw how insolent and arrogant that boy was! If not for my inadequate cultivation, I would have certainly taught him a lesson!"

Liu Huan feigned magnanimity, waving his hand as he explained:

"He must be a Dao Race Direct Lineage from some Ancestral Sect. It’s normal for him to have a bit of arrogance.

To have a Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer cultivator as a servant, his status in his clan must be quite high.

When you go down the mountain for training in the future, remember that discernment is of utmost importance. The Demon Dao Dharma Lineages have always had the nasty habit of ’pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.’

Especially those High Cultivators and Upper Cultivators. They either hide behind the scenes, dangling a line to fish, or they deliberately feign weakness to toy with people. They are truly wicked."

Jiang Yi drew out a long "Ohhh," feigning a look of sudden realization.

"Thank you, Sect Leader, for your guidance! This Disciple has learned his lesson!"

Seeing him so quick on the uptake, some of the gloom in Liu Huan’s heart dispersed. He glanced at Jiang Yi again and said with a note of pity:

"I wonder if the Innate Sect will send anyone. If word of Sui Liushu’s death reaches Sui Yuzhu’s ears, I’m afraid you’ll have a difficult trial to endure."

Jiang Yi remained silent.

Seeing this, Liu Huan didn’t say more, only offering some comfort:

"Rest assured, I’ve already given the letter about the North and South Dipper Sword to Yang Xun. He and Xu Yan will also take over Observing Fate Peak and handle its affairs."

"Thank you, Sect Leader."

Jiang Yi forced a smile.

Seeing his expression, much of the frustration Liu Huan felt from being slighted earlier dissipated.

He took one last deep look at his own "Earth and Wood Life"—ranked third from the bottom on the thick stone wall—then snorted coldly, flicked his sleeves, and left.

...

...

「In Hanyang Prefecture, at the now-desolate Huang Family Mansion.」

Inside the empty hall, Huang Zishang stood with his hands lowered, respectfully facing a Half-Grand Daoist Child with rosy lips and pearly teeth.

He heard the other party ask in the pompous tone of an old man:

"The Master sent me to ask you. On the Three Lives Stone, there is someone with ’Shang’ in their name whose Life Qi is astonishingly profound, having achieved the Sun and Moon Emperor’s Life.

Are they connected to you in any way?"

’Sun and Moon Emperor’s Life? Me?’

Huang Zishang’s mind went blank. He was completely bewildered, just as he had been for the past several days.

He thought back to how he had excitedly received Elder Kang’s brocade pouch and descended the mountain to Hanyang Prefecture. He had used his methods to manipulate the patriarchs of the Huang and Wang Families, instigating them to organize the grand Myriad Beast Ceremony.

He had originally been waiting for the Thunder Core’s punishment to descend and for the gates of Fengdu to crack open so he could be guided inside to seize the Opportunity for Foundation Establishment.

Who would have known that a True Inheritance Disciple from the Taifu Sect would appear out of nowhere, on top of the world-shaking Opportunity that was now known throughout the northern and southern lands...

It made Huang Zishang feel as if he had stumbled into a grand scheme, completely unable to fathom its intricacies.

The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.

It felt as if an Upper Cultivator might descend from the sky at any moment, seize him, and refine him on the spot.

He replied helplessly:

"Reporting to the Daoist Child, I truly do not know the details of the recent events on Goose Mountain, and I wouldn’t dare to investigate further."

The Half-Grand Daoist Child with rosy lips and pearly teeth narrowed his eyes. His gaze was sinister, as if an ancient being resided beneath his tender flesh.

"Timid as a mouse, afraid of your own shadow—how can you enter the Dao? The Master has already performed a divination for you. The Opportunity for Foundation Establishment remains unchanged; it is still within Fengdu.

He wants you to go and compete for it. You are not expected to catch that Lady’s eye, but just to see if you can absorb some of its destiny to increase your chances of achieving Foundation Establishment."

Huang Zishang’s heart trembled, and he immediately agreed:

"I will obey the Elder’s command."

He raised his eyes, hesitated for a moment, and asked:

"What if... this Disciple is fortunate enough to be chosen by that Lady? What should I do then?"

The Half-Grand Daoist Child rolled his eyes impatiently:

"Do you even need to ask? The Master will naturally write a letter of divorce for you!"

Huang Zishang’s heart surged with excitement. He could not only break through to Foundation Establishment and become a True Master, but he could also divorce that tigress at home.

Promoting to a high position and getting a new wife—it was a double blessing!

"Thank you, Elder, for all your hard work and concern for this Disciple! I will engrave this great kindness upon my heart!"

He hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground. This Half-Grand Daoist Child was an incarnation True Master Kang had specially created to act on his behalf in the outside world. Kowtowing to it was no disgrace.

"Oh, right."

The Daoist Child seemed to have suddenly remembered something and instructed in a low voice:

"The Master later performed another divination. If you encounter someone else in Fengdu who also has ’Shang’ in their name, you must eliminate them!

If you don’t seize their destiny, they will seize your Opportunity instead.

This is the nature of prophecy. Nothing is set in stone. You can fulfill it, but so can others."

A cold glint flashed in Huang Zishang’s eyes. The Opportunity for Foundation Establishment was right before him. Even if the other person had the backing of an Ancestral Sect Dharma Lineage, he would not hesitate for a second.

"Zishang understands! If I meet an enemy who blocks my path to the Dao, I will cut them down!"

...

...

「Gao Village.」

For the past few days, Jiang Yi had grown used to living in the ancestral hall. It was only for meditation and quiet cultivation, anyway.

The day he killed the Disciples of the Youquan Sect, he had used his Ding Fire to drive the villagers away, telling them not to come near and disturb him.

"Grandpa, how did you end up coming down the mountain this time?"

Jiang Yi brought a wooden chair to the main entrance of the ancestral hall, looked at Yang Xun, and asked teasingly:

"Surely you didn’t actually come to join the excitement of the ’husband selection,’ did you? Although that Lady, the Direct Descendant of a Daoist Lineage, is a bit on the older side, she’ll surely still pick a younger man as her husband."

Yang Xun gave a dry chuckle.

"What nonsense! The Sect Leader heard an Opportunity had appeared on Goose Mountain and rushed over. He just brought me along for the ride."

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunched up as he sighed softly.

"Although I’ve broken through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, I’m stuck half a step from the Divine Barrier and can’t advance. In the end, it’s all because I’ve benefited so much from you. I, Yang Xun, already had one foot in the grave. How could I have ever imagined breaking through realms consecutively, let alone taking the seat of an Inner Peak Elder?

People always say elders should plan for their children and grandchildren, but look at me. I’m making my grandson worry about me instead. I’m truly ashamed."

Yang Xun’s gaze fell on a stove set up in the hall. A paste-like medicinal concoction was simmering inside, thick as condensed milk and emitting a faint, strange fragrance.

This was something Jiang Yi had made from the "Spiritual Materials" gifted by the Youquan Sect Disciples. It had an effect similar to a Small Nourishing Essence Pill, serving as a makeshift meal that also nourished his flesh and blood.

"Grandpa, you’re being too formal saying that."

A smile played on Jiang Yi’s lips, and his tone was gentle:

"As the saying goes, all beginnings are difficult. For me, going from the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer all the way to the Twelfth Layer might not have been any harder than crawling out of the Quenching Room on Red Flame Peak back then."

Yang Xun didn’t dwell on the topic, only saying gravely:

"Ah Yi, can you promise me one thing?"

Jiang Yi nodded.

"Grandpa, please speak."

Yang Xun seemed to have mulled it over a thousand times, and now he poured it all out at once:

"With your Dao Wisdom, you definitely won’t be trapped in the Qianji Sect for a lifetime. If you ever get the chance to leave Beimang Ridge, you must not hesitate!"

Jiang Yi raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

Yang Xun’s expression grew urgent, and he gripped Jiang Yi’s arm tightly.

"If one day you can achieve Flying Foundation Establishment and be Promoted to True Master, then even if I, Yang Xun, do not meet a good end, I can die with a smile on my face!

But if you’re trapped in Beimang Ridge for your whole life, stuck before the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer like Sui Liushu, I won’t be able to close my eyes even in death! I’ll only feel that this old fool dragged you down!"

Jiang Yi looked down and met Yang Xun’s cloudy eyes, which were like dusty mirrors filled with guilt, regret, and all sorts of gloomy thoughts.

He asked softly:

"Grandpa, is it because of the guilt in your heart that you can’t pass the Divine Barrier?"

"It’s not just guilt towards you."

Yang Xun muttered to himself, the Qi Mechanism of his Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer unconsciously spreading outward. The Brain God at his Primordial Gate seemed to be growing restless.

"There’s also my guilt towards Zhi’er and my late wife... I’ve killed countless people and committed endless evil in my life. I’ve chopped off the heads of bandit leaders and wiped out the gentry of village clans. I’ve groveled before others and been the master they had to flatter.

In my youth, I had ambitions of reaching the peak of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer. In my middle age, I placed my hopes on my son, wishing he would amount to something. In my old age, my heart turned to ash. I bought a coffin and just waited to be buried!"

Jiang Yi understood.

The critical pass of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer involves the intersection of the human body with heaven and earth. Under the induction of the Qi Mechanism, the Divine Thought gives birth to all kinds of terrifying visions and mental obstacles.

That surging Spiritual Energy, whether scorching or frigid, would rush straight to the Primordial Gate, damage the Brain God, and then sink into the Inner Mansion, harming the organs and skeleton.

In a light case, one would become muddled and idiotic. In a severe case, one’s flesh and blood would disintegrate, turning completely to dust.

A candle flame flickered in his eyes as he watched Yang Xun’s twitching face, his voice soft and thin:

"Grandpa, why must you feel guilty? Why should you feel guilty... Just listen to me."

The Ding Fire rose and floated above his head, drawing out the myriad gloomy thoughts from Yang Xun’s heart and smoothing out each and every distracting notion.

The latter only felt his Primordial Gate gradually clear up. His Brain God also became light and airy, no longer as turbid and heavy as before.

If anyone else were to Cultivate Ding Fire, they would find it absolutely impossible to achieve this step. But Jiang Yi had already formed the image of a Primordial Ancestor of Mixed Refining Origin, so sorting, refining, and collecting Spiritual Energy was second nature to him.

Coupled with the fact that Yang Xun had consumed Sui Liushu as a "Daoist Can," his accumulated cultivation was abundant enough to grind open the perilous pass of the Divine Barrier bit by bit.

’If my own breakthrough to the Seventh Layer can be as smooth as Grandpa’s, then I won’t have to go through so much trouble.’

After about four hours, the restlessness in Yang Xun’s Primordial Gate gradually subsided. His Brain God condensed and refined into Essence, coalescing into a pearl the size of a mud pellet, faintly glowing.

All those chaotic thoughts that had scattered like clouds and mist were gathered and unified.

This was the Great Success of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, known as "Light of Life Divine Sense."

’I guess this counts as experiencing the process of passing through the Seventh Layer’s Divine Barrier myself.’

Seeing Yang Xun immersed in the changes of his cultivation, Jiang Yi did not disturb him. He silently got up and sat back down in the wooden chair.

[I beg the Celestial Book, show me the calamities I might suffer when breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, and what are my chances of overcoming them?]