There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 107 The Decline and Rebirth of Fire [First Update]

The night was as dark as ink, and stars hung low over the plains.

At the Xuan Tie Wharf on Black Reef Island, the Silver Shuttle Flying Boat floats silently.

Xu Yan, Ling Xiao, Hui Chi, and others came to see him off, creating a lively atmosphere.

Before leaving, Xu Yan sighed, "Sect Leader Chen, your progress is really fast! However, if you want to condense the Yin Spirit, involve the interaction of heaven and earth, and seize the mysteries of creation, there may be twists and turns and minor tribulations. You will need someone to protect you. Ling Xiao doesn't have anything else to do, so why not let him accompany you and act as your protector?"

"Huh?" Ling Xiao was in the crowd, seeing Chen Qing off with everyone, reminiscing about their experiences in Xuyuan Mountain, and she really missed him. She didn't expect that her master would give her such instructions in the blink of an eye!

"No need." Chen Qing shook his head, not intending to cause any more trouble. "After I condense my Yin Spirit, I will return to the sect to teach the younger generation and manage things steadily. There is nothing to worry about."

Su Zhijin replied, "I have already arranged for An Ning to escort Sect Leader Chen. With An Ning's protection, there should be no need to worry."

Xu Yan nodded and said, "In that case, let Ling Xiao visit Mingxia Mountain when there is time in the future."

The monk Huichi clasped his hands together and came up with a smile, saying, "Amitabha! Benefactor Chen, the day when I will disturb you in this secluded place of Mingxia Mountain is not far off! At that time, I hope you will give more consideration to the matter of the Star Luo Alliance and work together to explore the Great Dao."

“We eagerly await the Master’s arrival,” Chen Qing said, then remembered something. “By the way, I have already gained some understanding of the Buddhist teachings the Master has given me. When I have some free time, I will exchange ideas with the Master.”

"I see. Fellow Daoist, you truly have a deep affinity with Buddhism. I will visit you to seek your guidance in a few days." Hui Chi's eyes lit up, but he was currently bound by duty and could not leave, so he could only arrange a time.

"Take care, everyone, until we meet again!" Chen Qing then cupped his hands in greeting, and together with the little monkey, turned and boarded the flying boat.

The silver shuttle, like a shooting star, streaked through the sky and disappeared.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, gazing at the passing sea of ​​clouds and stars. He glanced at the woman in a palace dress behind him who was controlling the flying boat, his mind racing.

"Fewer people means more peace and stability."

The woman in the palace dress noticed the gaze and smiled, "Sect Leader, you can rest for a bit. Wanghai City is not far from here, we'll be there soon."

Then, he closed his eyes and pondered, recalling the strange phenomena in the world just now. However, as he was about to condense his Yin spirit, he temporarily suppressed any distracting thoughts.

More than an hour later, at the horizon where the sea meets the sky, the outline of a city nestled against the mountains and facing the sea, dotted with lights like stars, slowly emerged.

When Chen Qing entered the city, he saw that it was bustling with people and quite noisy.

"Sect Leader Chen, would you like to come with me to say hello at the government office?" The woman in the palace dress led Chen Qing into the city with light steps.

“No need,” Chen Qing said, glancing at the numerous shops on both sides. “This place is quite lively, quite different from the quietness of the mountain gate.”

The woman in the palace dress smiled faintly, "This border port is a melting pot of all sorts of people. The Kong family, a prominent family in this prefecture, has governed this city well, hence its current state. Since the sect leader has no interest, I will first go to the government office to finalize the matters concerning the spiritual vein, and strive to have everything settled before midnight." With a flick of her hand, she handed out a jade talisman, "Use this to send a message; it will arrive in an instant."

"Thank you."

The woman in the palace dress turned and left, her figure gracefully disappearing into the crowd of lights and people.

Chen Qing strolled along, the hustle and bustle of the world around him, his longing for home growing stronger. He paused slightly as he passed a study.

"I need to bring some gifts back for Erxiao."

He then pushed open the door and entered. The scent of ink filled the air. The study was small, but exceptionally clean.

Behind the counter was a beautifully sculpted little girl, who looked no more than ten years old. She was practicing calligraphy at her desk, her little face serious, and her strokes showed a certain order and technique.

Upon seeing a customer arrive, the young girl put down her pen, jumped off the high stool, and bowed respectfully, saying, "What kind of book would you like, sir? Classics, histories, philosophical works, or calligraphy practice books for beginners? We have them all." Her voice was clear and crisp, yet she tried hard to sound mature.

A look of surprise flashed across Chen Qing's eyes: "You're the shop owner? Where are your parents?"

The girl said in a clear voice, "I will look after this place. Don't underestimate me because of my age. I can recite the Three Character Classic, the Hundred Family Surnames, and the Thousand Character Classic. I can also remember the accounts clearly! In the three cities and six shops of Nanbin, the Confucius family has passed down the tradition of poetry and books. We are honest and trustworthy, young and old!"

Chen Qing chuckled, finding it amusing. He casually picked out a few calligraphy practice books and primers, paid for them, and the girl carefully wrapped the books and handed them over, her little face serious: "Take care, guest."

As soon as he stepped out of the study, the jade talisman in his bosom vibrated slightly, and An Ning's voice came: "Sect Leader Chen, come to the 'Listening to Waves Pavilion' in the west of the city for a gathering."

Tingtao Pavilion is an elegant teahouse facing the street. There weren't many people there at the moment. Most of them were men dressed as merchants, gathered in a corner talking in hushed tones. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

"Have you seen that red light over the eastern sea? Lately, there have been more and more strange phenomena; something big is about to happen!"

"I just came back from the north, and there were several places where the earth shook!"

"I encountered several groups of immortal masters along the way, all of them in a hurry."

"Shh! Keep your voice down, don't speak ill of the immortals..."

Chen Qing chose a seat by the window and listened to the discussions that were mixed with fear and speculation.

Before long, the woman in the palace dress arrived as promised.

Her beautiful appearance attracted many eyes as soon as she entered the room, and even the buzzing discussions fell silent for a moment.

"Sect Leader, you have been waiting for a long time."

"It's alright." Chen Qing put down his teacup. "I have something to ask you, young lady. I saw a strange phenomenon of crimson flames on the horizon when I was on Black Reef Island. What is the mystery behind it? And what harm does it pose to us cultivators?"

Upon hearing this, An Ning was not surprised and said, "Since Sect Leader Chen has asked, I will answer. This matter is an omen of disaster for mortals, but for those who cultivate immortality, it is a matter of great importance concerning the fate of the Dao."

She lowered her voice: "Since the sinking of Zhongling Continent, the balance of heaven and earth has been disrupted. The foundation of the five elements in Dongling Continent is like an unbalanced wheel, no longer constant. Every so often, it will rotate and change, like the changing of the seasons. At that time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, destiny and fortune will all change drastically. Moreover, the interval between rotations is getting shorter. Initially, there was a thousand years between rotations, but now it has been less than three hundred years since the last one."

At this moment, the woman in the palace dress trembled slightly in her hand and stood up, saying, "The time is approaching, and the spiritual vein node is the most critical moment for the sect leader. Let's talk as we walk."

"it is good!"

Once the two left, they reached a sparsely populated area and set up their escape light.

The discussion resumed in the teahouse. While marveling at the woman's beauty, they also guessed that she was one of the two "immortal masters".

"The foundation of the two kingdoms of the Eastern Spirit Continent, the Great Yan and the Northern Li, is the element of 'fire.' Fire is intense and governs conquest and change, hence the world is often in turmoil. The Great Yan was originally named 'Lie' (烈), but later, fearing that the excessive fire element would harm the foundation of the nation, it was renamed 'Yan' (炎) in the hope of longevity. However, it is still commonly known as the 'Lie Kingdom' among the people." The woman in the palace dress continued the conversation on the way.

Chen Qingze asked, "Was that strange phenomenon in the sky a sign of the impending cycle? How long until the actual cycle begins?"

The woman in the palace dress replied solemnly, "Historical records show that the last time the signs appeared, only a month passed before the actual cycle began! This time it will probably be soon as well."

Chen Qing frowned slightly: "When the cycle turns, the world will undergo drastic changes, which may not be a good situation. Under such great power of heaven and earth, how should cultivators conduct themselves? Will their path to cultivation be hindered?"

"This is precisely where the danger lies!" the woman in the palace dress said solemnly. "The change of the five elements, the disorder of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, the turmoil of the earth's veins, and the frequent occurrence of natural disasters are only the surface phenomena. What lies deeper is that the old virtues are declining and the new virtues are not yet stable. The cultivation techniques, supernatural powers, and even the fortune of the sects that rely on them may be impacted or even suffer a backlash!"

She paused, then explained in detail: "Those who dominated the era of Fire Virtue, if their new virtue is Water, will likely be rejected by Heaven and Earth, and their path will be difficult! The opposite is also true. This is the cycle of Heaven, which cannot be resisted by human power. One can only follow it or make arrangements in advance to compete for that sliver of new virtue fortune!"

As she spoke, she looked up at the distant solitary cliff, changed the subject, and said, "The secret of reincarnation can be explained in detail after the sect leader has achieved success. The dangers and opportunities involved cannot be fully described in a few words. Sect leader, please focus your mind on the Yin spirit first."

South of Wanghai City, a solitary cliff overlooks the sea.

This cliff is named "Fishing for the Turtle". It is a towering cliff with a top that is only about ten feet square. However, nourished by the spiritual veins, ancient pines are gnarled and strong, vines hang down green, and the clouds are faintly visible with the glow of dawn.

The woman in the palace dress led Chen Qing down the escape light. Kong Liu, the patrolman of Wanghai City, was already waiting there. He was dressed in a brocade official robe, and was elegant and capable. When he saw the two arrive, he greeted them and said, "I, Kong, wish the sect leader a successful completion of his mission and that his Yin spirit will be forever secure!"

Chen Qing was about to nod in thanks.

"Boom—boom—"

No warning!

A deafening roar rolled down from the depths of the sky!

The entire Diao'ao Cliff, and even Wanghai City, trembled violently!

Kong Liu's expression changed drastically!

The woman in the palace dress also paled, and subconsciously looked up at the sky!
In the eastern sky, the brilliant stars suddenly dimmed, and in their place came an endless expanse of crimson fire!
Although the flames were raging and overwhelming, they gave Chen Qing a sense of exhaustion, and after the raging changes, they gradually dimmed! At the same time, he felt something on his body tremble, faintly echoing his own.

He focused intently on sensing, his expression revealing a strange look.

"Star-Stabilizing Bead?"

"The fire element is waning! This time the interval is so short! Less than a day!" Kong Liu exclaimed in surprise.

The words have not yet been spoken!

"Zheng——"

A sharp whistle resounded throughout the world!
Countless sharp, white rays descended from the heavens, moving with lightning speed and shaped like swords!

In just a few breaths, the chilling and murderous aura of Geng metal filled the vast wilderness!

"The Metal element will rise!" The woman in the palace dress murmured to herself, her pretty face pale. "The rotation of the Five Elements in the Eastern Spirit has begun!"

The sight of ten thousand swords suspended in the air lasted only a moment. Then, countless white rays scattered like meteors, merging into the mountains, rivers, grass, trees, and rocks, returning to calm.

Kong Liu took a deep breath, his expression grave: "The five elements are in rotation, and the world is turning upside down! The metal element is flourishing, while the fire element is declining. Fortune and misfortune are unpredictable!"

He suddenly remembered something and shouted to the array masters behind him, "Quickly check the node array! It cannot be missed!"

The array masters snapped out of their daze and rushed to the array base to examine it carefully.

A moment later, the elder in charge reported: "The patrol point is stable! Although the spiritual energy fluctuated slightly, the source is undamaged, and it has gained a bit more of the sharpness of Geng metal, which may be beneficial for guiding spiritual energy and tempering the spirit!"

Kong Liu's tense expression eased slightly, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Qing, saying, "It was a false alarm. I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Sect Leader Chen. The node is safe and sound. The time is approaching, please!"

Chen Qing's gaze swept across the now calm night sky, clearing away distracting thoughts and questions. He nodded, stepped into the core of the array, sat cross-legged, and with a thought, made a move.

"The Three Stars establish the boundary, protecting my true form!"

Three small flags, each shimmering with starlight and moonlight, flew out from her sleeve, transforming into three condensed pillars of light that formed a triangle, firmly protecting the array's core.

Starlight, like a curtain, separates the inside from the outside.

He slightly closed his eyes, and the illusory image of the Dao seed in his Niwan Palace shimmered with light. The natal talisman in his dantian hummed and trembled, instantly connecting with the surging and pure spiritual power beneath his feet!
The cool moonlight falls, adding to the desolate and lonely atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Qingmo used profound techniques. Since it was his physical body condensing Yin spirit, he did not follow the "Silent Vajra Hidden Yin Sutra", but the Yuan Qi Great Dao obtained from the Hidden Star Sect. This method had been deduced and supplemented by his dream body, incorporating the meaning of mountains, rivers and stars!
"boom!"

A surge of powerful spiritual energy rushed in!

When the seeds and talismans combine, the Yin spirit is condensed!
The air currents within the formation spun silently, forming a massive vortex of spiritual energy centered on Chen Qing, continuously drawing in, absorbing, and refining the spiritual energy from the spiritual veins!
Kong Liu and the woman in the palace dress were both surprised as they watched the figure whose aura was rising steadily!
Such a demeanor of swallowing the ocean and handling heavy matters with ease is far beyond what ordinary Yin spirits can match!
At this crucial moment when all was quiet and a breakthrough was imminent!

"call out--"

A sharp whistling sound tore through the night sky!

A streak of dark blue light shot out from the black sea! It was faster than lightning and crashed into the outer protective barrier!

"Oh!"

The barrier light curtain trembled, and ripples flashed wildly!
The azure light dissipated, revealing a middle-aged cultivator dressed in brocade robes.

He stood on a swirling mass of mysterious water, his face filled with anxiety, and shouted, "Who's in the formation! Make way at once! This is a Grade-one water-based spiritual vein, requisitioned by the Cangming Water Palace!"

He then looked at Kong Liu and the others, pointed to the sea, and said in a chilling tone: "My young master comprehended the secrets of the Five Elements' rotation in the spiritual veins at sea, but the spiritual veins mutated and he suffered a backlash from the metal energy, putting his foundation in danger! Only such pure water veins can save him!"

　I guarantee at least three chapters, and I'll try to update the second chapter as early as possible...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)