Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Lunar New Year's Eve is also known as the end of the year.

"除" means to say goodbye to the old year and replace it with the new year, and "夕" means night. It means that the old year ends here and the new year begins.

For the vast majority of people in Kyushu, if they had to choose one day of the year that truly belongs to themselves and their families, they would probably choose New Year's Eve.

All the toil and hard work of my life, all that I sought, became tangible in this moment.

It was just a fireside chat, just a wish for the well-being of loved ones.

Wang Xiao has never had a deep feeling about Lunar New Year's Eve.

When he was at Qixing Mountain, he was unaware that such a festival existed.

With his master and fellow disciples by his side, apart from the hardships of practicing martial arts, he lived a carefree and happy life every day.

With the wind and forest as companions, and insects and beasts as friends, every day is a good day, so why bother with New Year's Eve?

The first Lunar New Year's Eve after I came down from the mountain was not celebrated in a formal way.

He spent the day hastily traveling with Miss Mulan's caravan, only remembering that everyone was joyful and feasting.

He arrived at Qianwan Village just in time for Lunar New Year's Eve.

Qianwan Village, the hometown of Zhou Qian and Xie An, is a small coastal village located in northern Yuhang.

The village is small, with about a hundred households, nestled between mountains and the sea.

At the entrance of the village stands an old banyan tree, its canopy like a giant umbrella, blocking out the sun. It is said to be three hundred years old.

The houses in the village are mostly made of blue bricks and gray tiles, scattered among the mountains, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys and the sounds of chickens and dogs echoing through the air.

It lacks the bustling prosperity of Yuhang and the wealth of Zhongyun City, but it possesses a unique and reassuring cultural heritage.

That's the unique scent of home, accumulated over the years.

Because Zhou Qian and Xie An were to travel north to the capital after New Year's Eve, this year's New Year's Eve was exceptionally lively, with the whole village gathering together to celebrate the festival.

When Wang Xiao followed Zhou Qian into the village, he was stunned by the scene before him.

Every household has Spring Festival couplets pasted on their doors, with red paper and black characters, written in a free and unrestrained style.

The upside-down "福" (good fortune) character swayed gently in the breeze, as if inviting in the blessings of the New Year.

Children, dressed in new clothes, chased and played in the streets and alleys, holding firecrackers in their hands, which crackled and popped, startling chickens and dogs.

The adults, however, didn't seem to care at all. Instead, they smiled and reminded the children to be careful not to fall.

As evening fell, the entire village gathered at the village's grain-drying ground to share their New Year's Eve dinner.

Several long tables were joined together, covered with a red cloth, and filled with a sumptuous feast.

Braised fish, stewed chicken, stir-fried rice cakes, dumplings, glutinous rice balls... steaming hot, with aromas filling the air.

The elders sat in the head seat, with children sitting on either side, while young people moved among the guests, serving dishes, pouring wine, adding tea, and serving rice.

Wang Xiao was seated next to Zhou Qian, with a table full of bowls and plates in front of him. Before he even picked up his chopsticks, his bowl was already full of food from the others.

"Eat up, eat up, don't be shy!" A ruddy-faced man patted him on the shoulder, his enthusiasm so irresistible that it was hard to refuse.

After several rounds of drinks, the bonfire was slowly lit.

The villagers held hands and formed a circle, singing and dancing.

Some people were playing the erhu, some were playing the suona, and others were banging gongs and drums.

The drumbeats were rough and enthusiastic, unconventional yet exceptionally inspiring.

The young women, dressed in new clothes, smiled radiantly.

The elderly sat to the side, clapping and cheering, their wrinkled faces beaming with smiles.

Wang Xiao was engrossed in watching when Shanhu, holding a wine glass, walked lightly to him.

"My benefactor, I would like to offer you a toast." Coral bowed slightly, raised her glass in farewell, her voice soft yet full of sincerity.

Wang Xiao noticed that the gloom between Shanhu's brows had long since disappeared, and her whole demeanor was more relaxed and cheerful.

She was dressed in a light blue new dress, her long hair was tied up, revealing a section of her fair neck. In the firelight, her whole body seemed to be enveloped in a layer of soft light.

She enjoys life here; the peace that comes from the bottom of her heart is undeniable.

He raised his glass in return and drank the wine in it.

Coral wanted to say a few more words, but before she could open her mouth, she was surrounded and pulled away by a group of old ladies and aunties.

"Coral, come quickly to Grandma! I'll introduce you to my young master!"

"Coral, come here, I have something good to show you!"

"coral……"

As Shanhu was led away by the crowd, she turned back to look at Wang Xiao and gave a helpless smile.

As soon as Wang Xiao sat down, an elderly woman with gray hair came over, smiling and looking him up and down, her eyes almost squinting into slits.

"Young man, are you engaged? How about I arrange a marriage for you? Old Zhao's granddaughter from the next village is a renowned beauty for miles around..."

"Grandma Lin!" Zhou Qian appeared out of nowhere, perfectly positioned to block Wang Xiao's path. "Stop worrying, or you'll scare Lu Yang away!"

"You child, you're just talking nonsense!" Grandma Lin playfully patted Zhou Qian, then looked Wang Xiao up and down several times before shaking her head and muttering to herself as she walked away.

Zhou Qian pulled Wang Xiao aside, handed her a glass of wine, and asked with a smile, "How are you feeling?"

Looking at the joyful crowd, the flickering bonfire, and the smiling faces glowing red in the firelight, Wang Xiao slowly smiled and murmured, "That's wonderful."

So this is the warmth of home, the peace and happiness of humanity.

Everything was so new, the atmosphere so vibrant, that even I, a stranger in a foreign land, couldn't help but be deeply captivated.

No matter where you are in the world, wherever your heart finds peace is your home.

"Zhou Qian! Come on, it's your turn to set off the firecrackers!"

"Brother Lu, come along too!" A group of children swarmed forward and pulled the two of them over without saying a word.

"Whoosh—Bang!"

Fireworks suddenly burst into bloom in the night sky, dyeing the entire sky with vibrant and dazzling colors.

"Crackling and popping—" The sound of firecrackers was deafening, the ground was covered with festive red debris, and the air was filled with a strong festive atmosphere and joy.

Children covered their ears, shouting and jumping, adults laughed from ear to ear, and the elderly stood under the eaves, gazing up at the fireworks, their eyes reflecting the dazzling light.

The atmosphere of Lunar New Year's Eve reaches its peak at this moment.

Several elderly men carried bamboo baskets and went from house to house distributing New Year's gifts to children, including candy, pastries, coins, and small toys, filling the children's arms to the brim.

Wang Xiao was also stuffed with a huge pile.

Standing in the crowd, smiling, my eyes suddenly started to sting a little.

"Master, senior brother, where are you now? If this is what New Year's Eve looks like, I would like to spend it with you."

All the excitement eventually comes to an end.

As the elderly and children gradually settled down to rest, the bustling Qianwan Village slowly returned to tranquility.

The waves gently lapped against the rocks, their sound filling the air; the night breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, the leaves whispering softly.

In the distance, sporadic fireworks still bloomed on the horizon, flashing on and off, as if someone were whispering in your ear.

Wang Xiao and Zhou Qian sat on the rooftop, drinking and chatting.

Two jars of old wine were placed at his feet, one of which was already empty.

Xie An was still packing his bags inside the house. The three of them would set off north early the next morning. The journey was long and the luggage was complicated and tedious. He never trusted others to take care of it.

Higashihama refers to the eastern coastal area of ​​Kyushu, which means that Higashihama spans a very wide area from north to south.

Wang Xiao and his group traveled to the capital, almost from the southernmost tip of Dongbin to the northernmost tip. The route was mostly official roads, and many sections were off-limits to air traffic, so they had to set off early.

Zhou Qian has entered the Dragon Gate Divine Realm, his spirit and energy have been completely renewed, and his words and actions have become more calm and composed.

He was determined to acquire the Jixia Academy.

He has no shortage of talent or perseverance, but he lacks only an opportunity to shine.

And the fairy epiphyllum happened to open this door for him.

"Lu Yang, I have just entered the Dragon Gate Realm and still have many questions about the use of supernatural powers. I wonder if I could ask you for some guidance?" Zhou Qian put down his wine cup, turned to look at Wang Xiao, and said solemnly.

Wang Xiao was slightly taken aback.

Could you please explain how to use supernatural powers?

You've really come to the right person, but you've asked someone who doesn't follow the path of supernatural powers at all.

"This..." Wang Xiao hesitated for a moment.

"Isn't that inappropriate?" Zhou Qian quickly spoke up when he saw him remain silent. "I was too abrupt. If it's inconvenient, just pretend I didn't say anything..."

"It's not that it's inappropriate, I'm just thinking about how I can better help you," Wang Xiao said seriously.

He stood up, brushed the dust off his robes, made a "go ahead and attack" gesture, and said calmly, "Then I won't hold back later."

As the saying goes, a hermit has his own clever plan.

Real-world experience is the best teacher; why not just have a match?

Zhou Qian was taken aback at first, then suddenly understood, thinking to himself: Is this the correct way to solve this problem? Hone your skills and break through in actual combat! It seems that Lu Yang must be a top-notch master of supernatural powers.

The two figures stretched out and simultaneously rose from the ground, soaring straight into the night sky.

Beneath my feet lies the tranquil and peaceful Qianwan Village, and above me stretches a vast and dazzling Milky Way.

Zhou Qian made the first move.

With a flick of his wrist, a silver-white spear with a red tassel appeared out of thin air, its body shimmering with spiritual light, and its blade wreathed in crimson flames.

He let out a low shout, his spear stretched across the sky, and a divine power burst forth!

"Spiritual Fire Crosses the Thousand Heavens!"

A fiery dragon roared out from the tip of the spear, swirling in the void, its flames burning the sky and dyeing half the sky crimson like a sunset.

The fire dragon opened its massive jaws and swooped down towards Wang Xiao, carrying with it a devastating and earth-shattering force.

Wang Xiao neither dodged nor avoided the attack.

He stepped into the void, his figure suddenly rising higher, and threw a punch. Golden light burst forth, and his fist collided head-on with the fire dragon!

"boom--!"

The raging fire dragon was decisively defeated, turning into countless sparks that scattered across the sky.

Wang Xiao's figure emerged calmly from the sparks.

Zhou Qian's pupils contracted slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

He knew Wang Xiao was powerful, but he didn't expect him to be this strong.

That was his signature divine power, unleashed with all his might, yet it was shattered by a single punch from the opponent, without even a scratch on his clothes.

He remained calm.

With a whirlwind of his spear, the tip thrust downwards, followed immediately by the second divine technique!

"Heavenly fire engulfs mountains and rivers!"

In the void, a crimson dragon appeared from below, soaring into the sky with raging flames, and directly attacked Wang Xiao's lower body.

Compared to the fire dragon, this jiaolong is more agile, its moves are more unpredictable, and its trajectory is ever-changing and impossible to predict.

Wang Xiao lowered his body slightly, pressed his palms down lightly, and an invisible force crashed down, suppressing the dragon.

However, this dragon was originally a magical killing move condensed from flames, not a physical entity. The moment it was suppressed, it exploded with a bang, turning into thousands of fire snakes that surged in from all directions.

Wang Xiao stepped on the Seven Star Rain Steps, his figure moving calmly among the fiery snakes, leaving overlapping afterimages.

"Interesting." Wang Xiao's lips curled up slightly.

Zhou Qian, having gained the upper hand, pressed his advantage, unleashing his third supernatural power in quick succession!

"A raging wind whips up crimson flames!"

Three fiery storms that stretched across the sky coalesced around him, swirling rapidly and emitting a deafening roar.

Where the storm passed, the air was ignited, and the void was distorted and deformed by the flames.

The three storms converged in a triangular formation, completely blocking all of Wang Xiao's escape routes.

"Three gods and three seals!"

Even more astonishing is that these three supernatural abilities are not isolated moves; they can complement each other and transform into a complete and deadly array!

"Spiritual Fire Crossing the Thousand Firmaments" seals the heavens, cutting off the essence of the heavens and isolating the supply of primordial energy from above;

"Heavenly Fire Covers Mountains and Rivers" covers the earth, locking in the earth's vital energy and blocking its rise and flow.

With the primordial energy of heaven and earth sealed off, the battlefield became a vacuum prison, where those trapped inside had nowhere to draw strength and no way to replenish their own primordial energy.

Meanwhile, three fiery storms, "Burning Wind and Crimson Flames," pressed in from three directions, attempting to annihilate all living beings.

The three supernatural powers are: one seals the heavens, one covers the earth, and one attacks people.

The three elements of Heaven, Earth, and Man are complete, interlocked, and perfectly integrated.

Trapped in the center of the killing formation, Wang Xiao clearly sensed the rapid loss of the surrounding天地元气 (heaven and earth energy), as if an invisible giant net had completely isolated him from the entire天地.

The three fiery storms drew ever closer, their scorching heat completely enveloping him.

He took a deep breath and stopped deliberately holding back his strength.

Wang Xiao's body suddenly sank, narrowly avoiding the combined attack of the three storms, while simultaneously pushing his physical strength to its peak.

A burst of golden light shot into the sky, the surrounding flames receded, and he hurtled straight toward Zhou Qian like a meteor streaking through the air!

Zhou Qian's expression changed, and he hurriedly parried with his spear, taking the hit from Wang Xiao.

"Bang--!"

He was thrown dozens of feet away by the impact, and his spear almost slipped from his hand.

Before he could regain his footing, a fist was already right in front of him.

This punch contained no fluctuations of vital energy, only the pure, condensed, and immense physical strength.

The moves are simple and unadorned, yet unavoidable.

"Bang!"

Zhou Qian subconsciously closed one eye.

The competition has come to an end.

Zhou Qian's left eye was swollen and bruised, resembling a panda's eye.

"Lu Yang, what kind of supernatural power do you have?" He covered his left eye, his face full of shock, but his tone contained an undisguised excitement.

He had clearly sealed off the primordial energy of heaven and earth, yet Wang Xiao's punch was still as heavy as a mountain, completely unaffected by his killing move.

Wang Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed, his lips slightly raised, his gaze deep, and his tone unfathomable.

"This technique of mine is called 'Nothingness Surpasses Everything,' which is a higher realm of supernatural power application." He paused briefly and said slowly, "If you cultivate diligently, you will understand it in the future."

"Are there still any doubts?" he asked, feigning concern, but a hint of expectation lurked in his eyes.

Zhou Qian scratched his head, pondered for a moment, and then said, "There's still one thing I don't quite understand..."

"Then let's have another match!"

"Huh? Wait a minute..."

Before long, Zhou Qian's eyes were covered in dark circles, turning him into a panda.

Now it's symmetrical.

Panda eyes look better when they're symmetrical!

"Any more questions?" Wang Xiao asked with concern.

Zhou Qian shook his head vigorously, waving his hands repeatedly, "It's gone, it's completely gone, everything's connected!"

"Come find me if you have any questions." Wang Xiao patted his shoulder, turned and left, secretly pleased.

Indeed, real-world experience is the best way to find the answer.

Answering questions with my fists feels pretty good. It seems I have quite a talent for teaching people how to cultivate themselves!

The three arrived in the capital at dusk in late February.

The capital city, formerly known as Shuntian, was the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty, and people are more accustomed to calling it the capital city.

The capital city is only about 100 li away from the Bohai Bay, the closest point to the East China Sea, and only about 300 li away from Shanhaiguan, the first pass under heaven.

For cultivators, such a distance is reached in an instant.

Even without using cultivators' supernatural powers, one can reach the capital in a day by landing from the Bohai Bay; and by marching from Shanhaiguan, one can reach the city in a few days.

Therefore, people say that the Great Qian Dynasty was "the emperor guarding the country's gate".

These five short words fully express the Great Qian Dynasty's determination to resist foreign tribes, vowing to keep all foreign wars outside the country's borders and prevent the flames of war from spreading across the land.

Wang Xiaoli stood beneath the city gate, gazing up at the magnificent city, his heart filled with awe.

The city wall is over ten zhang high and is made entirely of giant blue-gray stone bricks. Despite a century of wind and rain erosion, it remains majestic and sturdy.

The city walls are covered with mottled marks, which are the marks etched by time and the scars left by war.

Every few dozen steps, an arrow tower stands, with upturned eaves and a majestic presence.

The city gate tower is three stories high, with a glazed tile roof that gleams faintly in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Above the gate is a huge stone plaque inscribed with the two characters "Shuntian" (meaning "following the will of Heaven"), written in a powerful and majestic style.

The entire city has a regular and symmetrical layout, with two main roads crisscrossing each other, dividing the city into well-ordered neighborhoods and markets.

The city is filled with palaces and towering pavilions, with streets and alleys that connect in all directions, and the market is well-organized.

In the distance, the golden glazed tile roof of the imperial palace could be faintly seen, gleaming in the twilight.

Before Wang Xiao could take a closer look, a dispute suddenly broke out beside the city gate.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a carriage being stopped by the city guards on one side of the city gate.

The driver was a middle-aged man with a weathered face, dressed in coarse linen clothes, with strong hands and feet, clearly someone who traveled all year round.

"Sir, please have mercy! The cart is loaded with life-saving medicines. Patients in the city are waiting for the medicine and treatment. If we delay any longer, it may be too late!" The driver was sweating profusely, and his voice was trembling.

"No!" The guard said expressionlessly, his tone harsh and cold. "Rules are rules. Today's entry quota is full. Try again tomorrow!"

Wang Xiao frowned slightly. The capital city was indeed strictly regulated, with even carriages being subject to restrictions and quotas when entering the city.

In desperation, the coachman pointed to another carriage that had just entered the city gate, his voice filled with resentment: "That carriage was clearly behind me, why were they allowed to enter the city? These are life-saving medicinal herbs!"

The guard glanced at the departing carriage, sneered, and his eyes were full of contempt and arrogance.

Do you know who is sitting in that carriage?

The driver shook his head blankly.

"Inside that carriage sits Young Master Ye's most beloved Pekingese!" The guard enunciated each word with a hint of obsequiousness. "That dog is of noble status; its city entry pass alone costs a thousand taels of gold a year, allowing it unrestricted passage all year round. How could you possibly compare?"

The people waiting to enter the city around them began to whisper among themselves.

"Which Young Master Ye is it?" someone asked, looking puzzled.

"Who else could it be?" The person next to him lowered his voice, his expression complicated. "Ye Xin, the grandson of Ye Huaiyuan, the King of Southern Xinjiang. Who in the capital doesn't know that Young Master Ye's beloved dog costs hundreds of taels of gold a day? It not only has its own carriage, but also eight servants to attend to it. Tsk tsk, I wish I could be that dog."

"That's right! The dog's house is several times more spacious than our ordinary homes; the food it eats is even more exquisite than our New Year's banquet."

The surrounding chatter was filled with envy, while the rest of the people felt a numb, resigned helplessness.

Are humans worse than dogs?

This was Wang Xiao's first impression of Beijing.

However, this impression is not very good.