Star Martial Soaring Cloud

The following May, the grass grew lush and birds sang in Jiangnan, and Yangzhou was bathed in warm, moist air.

After a long journey of nearly ten months, the caravan finally arrived at its destination.

Instead of entering the city, the group headed straight for Ziqi Manor in the east of the city—the retirement home of Situ Hong, a prime minister of three dynasties and the current emperor's mentor.

Nestled amidst verdant mountains and forests, Ziqi Villa boasts blue bricks and gray tiles, exuding tranquility and seclusion.

In the center of the villa stands a magnificent nine-story pavilion, a sacred structure commissioned by the current emperor to repay his teacher's kindness.

A long, gilded plaque hangs under the eaves of the pavilion, bearing the nine powerful characters: "Cultivate oneself, regulate one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world."

The scale of this pavilion is unparalleled in the world: the beams and pillars are all constructed from priceless Bauhinia wood, guaranteed to last for a thousand years; the walls are polished from precious jade from the Western Wilderness, smooth as a mirror. During construction, the craftsmen infused the building materials with sandalwood, so that the pavilion is filled with a light and elegant fragrance throughout the year, which can both calm the mind and repel snakes, insects, and rodents.

But just as the caravan arrived at the gate of the manor, the scene before them made everyone's pupils shrink in shock—the once tranquil and solemn Purple Qi Manor was now filled with thick smoke and flames soaring into the sky!

The nine-story pavilion, a symbol of supreme glory, was being consumed by raging flames. Orange-red flames licked at the jade walls, and the acrid smell of burning bauhinia wood mixed with the lingering fragrance of sandalwood permeated the air, pungent and eerie.

The manor was in complete chaos. Servants were fleeing in all directions, clutching their clothes and belongings, their faces filled with terror. Guards were carrying buckets and basins, desperately trying to pour water towards the attic, but the fire was too fierce, and their efforts were futile. They could only watch helplessly as the flames grew stronger and stronger.

Cries for help, the sounds of breaking objects, and the crackling of burning wood mingled together, completely shattering the tranquility of the mountain villa.

"The master is still inside! Quick, put out the fire!"

"Father!" Mulan's face turned deathly pale instantly. She abruptly pulled on the reins, her voice trembling uncontrollably. She dismounted and, ignoring the guards' attempts to stop her, rushed towards the manor. Her military uniform, illuminated by the firelight, only added to her disheveled and anxious appearance.

"Miss! Danger!" Old Man Bai followed closely behind, but was grabbed by Wang Xiao. "Old Man Bai, you stay here and help put out the fire, I'll go!" Before he finished speaking, Wang Xiao's figure flashed, his energy surged, and he directly disappeared into the sea of ​​fire—after several months of recuperation, his cultivation had fully recovered.

Inside the ninth floor, Situ Hong sat upright, closing his eyes to rest, completely ignoring the towering flames outside.

Having weathered decades of ups and downs in officialdom, what storms hadn't he seen? How could this veteran of three dynasties possibly be afraid of such a scene?

Despite his excellent care, the years have left indelible marks on him: his temples are now gray, and his face is covered with wrinkles that tell the story of a life full of ups and downs.

"As expected of a veteran of three dynasties, Prime Minister Situ has quite the spirit!" A hostile voice suddenly rang out, and before the words were finished, two figures slowly stepped into the center of the pavilion.

The speaker was an old man with red hair, tall and straight as a pine tree, with sharp eyes and an air of unruly ferocity.

Situ Hong slowly opened his eyes, his piercing gaze sweeping over the newcomer. His tone was as cold as ice: "The universe possesses righteous energy, which manifests in countless forms. Below, it becomes rivers and mountains; above, it becomes the sun and stars. When righteous energy resides within, evil cannot invade! We Confucian scholars are upright and honorable; how could we fear you demons and monsters? It's utterly ridiculous!"

"What a fine 'righteous spirit resides within'!" The red-haired old man sneered. "Unfortunately, most Confucian scholars are unbearably vulgar and lack heroic spirit."

"I wonder what brings you, members of the Tianyi Sect, to my humble abode so late at night?" Situ Hong avoided answering directly and revealed the other party's identity.

At this moment, the young man beside the red-haired old man stepped forward, his tone arrogant: "Old man Situ, don't play dumb! You know perfectly well what our purpose is, hand over the *Nine Provinces Catalogue*!"

Tianyi, also known as Yitian, is a demonic sect that once changed the very fabric of the Nine Provinces.

Thirty years ago, it stirred up countless bloody storms across the Nine Provinces. At its peak, it had no fewer than a million followers and countless experts within its ranks, repeatedly thwarting the Great Qian Dynasty's attempts to suppress it.

The sect leader, Ouyang, was even more powerful and unparalleled. He led the Tianyi Sect to occupy half of the Great Qian Dynasty, defeating top experts from all over the Nine Provinces. His prestige was unmatched for a time.

He boasted that he would sweep across the land and unify the world. He thought his plan was going smoothly, but a mysterious person claiming to be from Seven Star Mountain stormed into the headquarters of the Demonic Sect alone. He severely injured many experts of the Heavenly Yi Sect with his own strength and even killed Ouyang on the spot.

After this battle, the Tianyi Sect was devastated and never recovered.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Great Qian Imperial Court united with various forces to reclaim lost territory and launched a full-scale manhunt for the remnants of the Tianyi Sect. Left with no other choice, the remaining members of the Tianyi Sect fled overseas and have not set foot in the Nine Provinces for thirty years.

"You really haven't given up your wicked intentions!" Situ Hong roared, his beard and hair standing on end. "What virtue or ability do you, you covetous rats, have to lay a finger on the 'Nine Provinces'?"

The "Nine Provinces Map" is a top-secret map recording the city defenses and strategic locations of mountains and rivers throughout the Nine Provinces. It is a treasure that can influence the course of a war for any faction.

"Since you refuse to hand it over, don't blame us for being impolite!" the young man roared, his vital energy surging, and he used a grappling technique to lock Situ Hong's throat.

"Don't even think about it!" A long spear pierced through the air, abruptly cutting off the young man's attack.

Before the gunshot had even landed, a figure in a gray robe had already arrived, none other than Zhou Yi, Situ Hong's personal bodyguard. He was handsome and refined, with elegant manners, and although dressed as a scholar, his marksmanship was exceptionally sharp.

"Youngster, how dare you act so presumptuously here! Take this from your grandfather!" The young man appeared to be in his early twenties, but was actually over sixty. He was Wu Ziming, the White Tiger Protector of the Tianyi Sect. He formed a hand seal and unleashed a divine power called "Blazing Fire to the Heavens," which carried a scorching wave of energy towards Zhou Yi's eyes.

With a flick of his spear, Zhou Yi unleashed a gentle force, effortlessly neutralizing the fiery attack. His movements were fluid and composed.

Frustrated by his failed attack, Wu Ziming unleashed a torrent of energy, leaping forward to close the distance and prevent Zhou Yi from utilizing the range advantage of his spear. His palms moved with explosive force, his fiery divine power flowing at his command, unleashing layers upon layers of flames that engulfed Zhou Yi like a tidal wave, his attack incredibly swift and fierce.

Although Zhou Yi was on the defensive, he remained calm and composed, moving with ease and grace. His spear techniques were steady and elegant, each move exuding the magnanimity of a Confucian gentleman. The two were evenly matched, one attacking and the other defending, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.

Seeing this, the red-haired old man Yang Yi stepped forward, his fierce aura surging, clearly intending to take the opportunity to capture Situ Hong.

"Are the people of the Demonic Sect only capable of bullying the weak with numbers?"

"You can't act recklessly here!"

Two voices rang out at the same time, and two figures flew over like shooting stars, barely blocking Yang Yi's path.

The visitors were none other than Master Jiechen of the Sumeru Sect and Elder Min Wuwei of the Purple Qi Mansion. The three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have deep ties with the Great Qian Dynasty, so it is only natural that three powerful experts from the Dragon Gate Divine Realm are here to protect them.

The situation suddenly changed. Wu Ziming abruptly turned and retreated from the battle, bursting into laughter: "Good! Good! Good! Today we'll turn the world upside down! Don't think you're the only ones prepared; we're prepared too!"

"Situ Hong, it's been many years, and you're still as impressive as ever!" A thunderous voice came from the east, followed by a black shadow that streaked through the air faster than a meteor, leaving only a blur.

A clear, cheerful voice drifted in from outside the window. Situ Hong, who had been calm and composed, suddenly changed his expression and jumped up from his chair, his eyes filled with disbelief: "It's you?!"

The approaching black shadow erupted with a dark and fierce light, its body seemingly burning with ghostly flames. A boundless aura of hatred surged forth like a vast ocean, instantly enveloping the entire Purple Qi Pavilion.

The words fell like a thunderclap, causing the rocks inside the pavilion to tremble, the spring water to flow backward, and dust to billow everywhere.

In the blink of an eye, the dark figure had already landed on the ninth floor of the Purple Qi Pavilion.

As the ghostly flames dissipated, the true face of the newcomer was finally revealed—white hair and a youthful face, an extraordinary aura, and bright, piercing eyes. This person was none other than Jin Wei Daoren, Situ Hong's close friend from decades ago and now the vice leader of the Tianyi Sect.

"Haha, it's been many years! Brother Situ is even more robust than before, truly a cause for celebration!" Jin Wei Dao Ren clapped his hands and laughed, but his tone was somewhat cold.

"It's you... How is this possible? How did you end up here?" Upon seeing the newcomer's face, Situ Hong's expression darkened completely, and his voice trembled slightly.

The appearance of Jin Wei Dao Ren caused everyone present to gasp in shock. Master Jie Chen and Min Wuwei, in particular, felt a chill run down their spines—the infamous saying "Jin Wei Dao, Yama arrives" from thirty years ago still circulated throughout the land. This man was bloodthirsty and ruthless, second only to Ouyang, the leader of the Tianyi Sect, and his fearsome reputation was even greater than Ouyang's.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Jin Wei Dao Ren looked at Situ Hong, a complex light flashing in his eyes. "Thanks to you, I was a cripple for thirty years. To be honest, I never thought my legs would recover, let alone that we brothers would meet again under these circumstances. Time flies... In the blink of an eye, we've both grown old, very old..."

His words seemed to be a recollection of the past, yet also a venting of pent-up resentment; joy, anger, hatred, and sorrow were intertwined, making him difficult to understand.

"We walk different paths, so we cannot work together. There's nothing more to say to you!" Situ Hong's tone was resolute. "Even if we perish together today, I will keep you here!"

"Brother Situ, in that battle thirty years ago, you crippled my legs, and I crippled your cultivation. We were even." Jin Wei Daoist's aura suddenly changed, like a drawn celestial blade, filled with chilling killing intent. "To this day, your cultivation has not recovered. What right do you have to speak to me like this?"

He changed the subject, his tone softening slightly: "You know very well why we're here today. Hand over the 'Nine Provinces Chronicle,' and I can guarantee the safety of everyone in your household. Even if you are heartless, I am not willing to be ungrateful."

"Hahahaha!" Situ Hong laughed so hard he almost fell over, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. "A butcher dares to talk about mercy? Jin Wei, stop pretending! Use whatever tricks you have! I could beat you thirty years ago, and I can make sure you leave empty-handed today!"

"Fine! What a 'returning empty-handed' story!" Jin Wei Daoist laughed angrily. "I'd like to see what makes you think you can stop us! Just the few of you?"

"Sect Leader Jin, stop wasting time talking to him!" Wu Ziming took a step forward and threw a punch at Zhou Yi. "When dealing with these stubborn fools, fists are the only way to win!"

Jin Wei Dao Ren and Yang Yi exchanged a glance and attacked simultaneously, heading straight for Situ Hong.

"You wicked creature, how dare you!" Master Jiechen, with his thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuded an imposing aura even without anger, like a Vajra descending to earth. He extended his large, fan-like hand and forcefully blocked Jin Wei Daoren's path.

Master Jiechen stepped forward, his mind free of all distractions, entering the Buddhist state of emptiness and clarity. His face was calm and undisturbed, showing no trace of joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness.

He clenched his left fist and threw a punch. A golden, misty wind, like a giant dragon emerging from the sea, actively met Jin Wei Dao Ren.

On the other side, Yang Yi was stopped by Min Wuwei of the Purple Qi Mansion. Both were sword masters, and their swords clashed, creating surging waves of energy.

As the Azure Dragon Protector of the Tianyi Sect, Yang Yi's swordsmanship was ruthless and unpredictable. With a single swing of his sword, a chilling aura emanated, which condensed in mid-air into a dazzling seven-colored rainbow bridge. The sword light was like moonlight spilling onto the ground, omnipresent; yet it was also like misty white clouds, elusive and unpredictable, making it difficult to grasp.

Min Wuwei was no ordinary person. He thrust out his sword with the ultimate technique of the Purple Qi Palace, "Purple Qi Comes from the East." The sword energy soared into the sky like a purple rainbow, forcing back all of Yang Yi's attacks and preventing him from getting close.

Faced with Master Jiechen's attack, Daoist Jinwei smiled calmly and ignored it completely.

With a thought, his True Demon Domain suddenly unfolded, instantly freezing Master Jiechen in place—he was actually a powerful being in the Divine Sense Void Realm! The Dragon Gate Divine Power manifested, and his Divine Sense Domain formed on its own. Within the domain, he was the ruler, capable of overturning everything.

Jin Wei Dao Ren stepped towards Situ Hong and sneered, "Situ Hong, you've hired far too few helpers!" He had just taken a step when he suddenly stopped, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "I forgot, you are also a master of formations."

"You couldn't do anything to me back then, what can a mere broken formation do to me today?" Jin Wei Dao Ren took another step, and the True Demon Domain pressed down on Situ Hong like Mount Tai.

Situ Hong remained silent, took out a writing brush from his sleeve, and began to wield it. With his movement, a majestic Confucian aura flowed through the pavilion, and ripples appeared in the air where the brush touched the paper.

With a deafening clang of metal, six large, golden characters leaped into the air: "Sun, Moon, Stars, Heaven, Earth, Man." These six characters, written with powerful strokes and possessing a natural elegance, exuded a peaceful yet majestic aura, their brilliance dazzling and awe-inspiring.

"The Three Lights and Three Talents Formation!" Daoist Jinwei's expression changed slightly, finally revealing a look of caution.

The Three Lights refer to the sun, moon, and stars; the Three Powers refer to heaven, earth, and humanity. The Three Lights and Three Powers Formation connects the brilliance of the sun, moon, and stars above with the spiritual essence of heaven, earth, and humanity below. All things can enter the formation, making it infinitely versatile and unpredictable in its power.

Once the formation was complete, its power erupted instantly. Jin Wei Dao Ren's True Demon Domain was dispersed in all directions by the power of the formation, diminishing and eroding layer by layer until it finally vanished without a trace. The attack power, several times greater, rebounded, and the immense pressure, like a mountain pressing down, made it difficult for Jin Wei Dao Ren to move.

"Hmph!" Jin Wei Daoist grunted, steadying himself, and took another step. "Situ Hong, stop your futile resistance!"

With a crisp "crack!", Situ Hong, exhausted, could no longer fully activate the formation. Jin Wei Dao Ren's attacks surged like a tide, and the purple thorn wood chair beneath him was the first to shatter, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

"Old friend, if you don't think about yourself, shouldn't you think about your only daughter? It's not easy to have a daughter in your old age..." Jin Wei Dao Ren's voice carried a hint of seduction.

"You..." Situ Hong trembled, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

"Old friend, apologies!" Jin Wei Dao Ren seized the opportunity and suddenly unleashed a grappling technique, enveloping Situ Hong. Even with the assistance of the Zi Qi Pavilion's Three Lights and Three Talents Formation, he could only barely hold him off for a moment.

"Get your dirty hands off me!"

A judgment-like voice, carrying supreme pressure, suddenly descended, like a divine ruling, shaking the entire audience!