Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Xiao He stood frozen in place, the faint but clear voices of his three junior brothers echoing in his ears. The sharpness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming sense of guilt.

The hand that had been gripping the longsword suddenly loosened, and the blade fell to the ground with a soft "clang," breaking the silence.

"Please forgive me, my benefactor. It was Xiao He who was blind..." The man who had previously wanted to stand tall and slay evil with a single sword actually knelt down, his tone full of regret and self-blame.

Just as the hem of his black and white scholar's robe was almost touching the ground, a pair of hands steadily supported him.

"Brother Xiao, you're too kind! Your actions were understandable given the urgency of the situation. Fighting with all your might to protect your fellow disciples, upholding the moral responsibility of a Confucian disciple, is admirable. Moreover, Brother Xiao's righteous sword intent is fierce and pure, combining offense and defense, truly top-tier among those in the Fish Leap Realm. Fighting with Brother Xiao has been a rare and valuable experience for me, from which I have benefited greatly."

Behind him, three weak yet resolute voices rang out. The three disciples of the Righteous Qi Pavilion had struggled to their feet, and though their bodies were unsteady, they insisted on bowing to Lu Yang, their movements synchronized and solemn.

"We will never forget your life-saving grace! Senior Brother Xiao misunderstood you earlier and was very offensive. Please forgive him!"

The first disciple to awaken spoke with a still weak voice, yet each word was earnest. He had delicate features, gentle eyes, and a fine beard: "My name is Wen Wen, and these two are my junior brothers—"

He then gestured to the two people beside him: the disciple on the left had a slightly pale complexion, clear features, a straight nose, and well-defined lips, exuding a strong scholarly air, "This is Li Yan"; the disciple on the right was tall and handsome, with a wisp of hair falling across his forehead, adding to his heroic bearing, "This is Zhao Shuheng. Thank you for saving us in our time of crisis, otherwise we would probably be dead today."

Li Yan and Zhao Shuheng echoed, their eyes filled with gratitude: "If it weren't for our benefactor, the three of us would have had no chance of survival. We are deeply grateful and will go through fire and water for him if he ever needs our help! We would like to know your name so that we can remember it and visit you in person to express our gratitude in the future."

"Please, no need for such formalities. My surname is Lu, and my given name is Yang. As fellow cultivators of the Nine Provinces, helping each other is only natural!" Lu Yang said calmly. "You are all injured, so healing should be your priority. If you trust me, I can protect you."

"How could I trouble you, my benefactor!" Xiao He suddenly remembered something, reached out and untied the brocade pouch at his waist, took out a bright white jade bottle, poured out a brown pill, and presented it with both hands. "Brother Lu, this is the 'Righteous Qi Pill' made by the Haoqi Pavilion. It is our pavilion's holy medicine for healing injuries. No matter whether it is an internal or external injury, just one pill can nourish the meridians and replenish vital energy."

Hearing that Lu Yang not only did not blame him, but also expressed admiration for his character and cultivation, Xiao He felt less guilty, but still dared not be negligent.

After handing over the Qi-Boosting Pill, he distributed the remaining pills from the jade bottle to his three junior brothers, telling them to rest and recuperate. He himself stayed by Lu Yang's side, his expression still apologetic: "Brother Lu's magnanimity makes me feel ashamed. Did Brother Lu also come here for that Immortal Ephemeral Flower?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Wen stepped forward to explain the situation: "My benefactor, about three days ago, while we were exploring this hilly area, we unexpectedly discovered a seedling of a Celestial Ephemeral Flower. The seedling was pure white and exuded a pure spiritual energy, which is exactly the treasure needed to break through to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm."

"But as soon as we approached the seedling, Yingzhao, who was guarding it, discovered us." Li Yan continued, still shaken by the memory. "Yingzhao was extremely powerful, capable of flying and unleashing attacks imbued with pure primordial energy. Even the three of us combined our Haoqi Formation, but we were no match for it. After several fierce battles, we were severely injured and fell unconscious. If it weren't for our benefactor arriving in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He turned to look at Lu Yang and said sincerely, "Brother Lu, although our Haoqi Pavilion discovered the Immortal Epiphyllum first, the outcome would have been unimaginable without your help. We will give you this seedling of the Immortal Epiphyllum as a token of our goodwill. We can help you distract Yingzhao so that you can take the seedling with peace of mind, but it will take some time for it to mature."

Seeing that Xiao He was willing to give away the fairy epiphyllum flower that he had discovered himself, Lu Yang felt even more respect for the group.

Most people came to the island for the sake of the Immortal Epiphyllum Flower, and then to the Dragon Gate Godhood. With it, they can now leave the Demon Island and, when the time is right, step into the Dragon Gate Realm and truly enter the realm of transcendent gods.

Although it is just a seedling, it is equivalent to giving away a tremendous opportunity and an unlimited future.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang gently shook his head and said with a smile, "Brother Xiao, you are mistaken. The Immortal Epiphyllum was discovered by you all first. I merely happened to be passing by. How could I take what others love? In the words of your Confucian school, 'A gentleman does not take what others love.' If you truly wish to express your gratitude, you may simply tell me how to find the Immortal Epiphyllum."

The members of Haoqi Pavilion were both surprised and amazed: they were surprised by Lu Yang's magnanimity and immediately decided to befriend him; they were amazed that their benefactor did not know how to find the Immortal Epiphyllum—their core objective in entering Demon Island was this Immortal Epiphyllum, which was truly unbelievable.

Xiao He said frankly, "The appearance of the Immortal Epiphyllum is not fixed, but each Immortal Epiphyllum is guarded by Ying Zhao. As long as you find Ying Zhao's traces, you can find the Immortal Epiphyllum nearby."

Yingzhao guarded the Fairy Epiphyllum to prevent people from picking it, but it was precisely because of him that everyone was able to accurately find the Fairy Epiphyllum's whereabouts, which was quite a strange thing.

Yingzhao has a unique appearance that is unforgettable once seen; in addition, it has wings and often goes out to forage for food or fights fiercely with humans and beasts to protect its treasures, so it is not difficult to find its traces.

"Thank you all. We'll take our leave now! The journey of life is long, we'll meet again!" With that, Lu Yang turned to leave. He had originally intended to explore the island, and now that the mystery of the Immortal Ephemeral Flower had been solved, it was already a considerable gain.

"Brother Lu, please wait!" Seeing this, Xiao He quickly stepped forward to stop him, his expression urgent yet polite. "Brother Lu, I have something else to discuss. Could we speak in private for a moment?"

Lu Yang stopped and turned to look at Xiao He. Seeing that Xiao He looked solemn and didn't seem to have any ill intentions, he nodded and said, "Brother Xiao, please speak frankly."

Xiao He gave his three junior brothers a wink, and the three of them immediately understood. They walked to a distant boulder to heal their injuries, deliberately keeping their distance from the two.

Xiao He then turned around and bowed deeply to Lu Yang again: "Thank you again, Brother Lu, for not blaming me, and thank you even more for saving my fellow disciples. I dare to ask to become friends with you, Brother Lu."

He straightened up, his gaze falling on Lu Yang with a mixture of inquiry and certainty, and slowly said, "I wonder if I should address you as Young Master Lu or Young Master Wang?"

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Lu Yang's body stiffened abruptly, the calmness on his face vanished instantly, and his eyes sharpened as he stared intently at Xiao He, his heart churning with turmoil.

Seeing Lu Yang's expression change drastically, Xiao He remained calm and slowly explained, "Brother Lu, there's no need to panic. I didn't mean to pry into your privacy. It's just that I know more or less about the sword masters in the Nine Provinces, whether they are core disciples of major sects or top figures among independent cultivators. Their moves and sect techniques can all be traced."

"But just now, when I sparred with Brother Lu, your swordsmanship was agile and unpredictable, and your footwork was exquisite, like a flowing wind or scattered stars. It had no signature moves of any sect, nor did it resemble any known rogue cultivator's style. It was completely unique." Xiao He said with certainty, "After thinking it over, Brother Lu can only be that young hero Wang who has recently risen to fame in the Nine Provinces, who forced back the Divine Sense Void Realm expert Song Qing with his Fish Leap Realm cultivation, and stirred up the storm in Lishan."

Seeing that Lu Yang did not answer, Xiao He's eyes were sincere, and his tone became more respectful: "Since you are using the alias Lu Yang, you must have some unspeakable difficulties, which I understand. From now on, I will address you as Brother Lu and will never reveal your true identity to others. However, although Brother Lu's appearance and temperament have changed greatly, the unique aura he exudes when he fights is ultimately difficult to hide—Brother Lu, if you need to conceal it, you can put more effort into this aspect."

He paused, then stepped forward, his eyes growing even more sincere: "Brother Lu's strength and character deeply impress me. I sincerely wish to befriend you. If you don't mind, whatever you need in the future, just send a message to the Haoqi Pavilion, and I will do my utmost to assist you, even at the cost of my life!"

In interpersonal relationships, the worst thing you can do is to expose or pry into someone's secrets that they don't want to talk about. But some people just don't understand this, and instead use the opportunity to explore other people's privacy as something to brag about, not realizing that such self-indulgence will only drive those around them further away.

Clearly, Xiao He is a person who knows how to maintain appropriate boundaries. This sincerity and insight also won Wang Xiao's response.

He glanced at the wine flask at Xiao He's waist and asked with a smile, "Do you have any wine? When life brings good fortune, one should drink a large cup of wine."

Wine is a wonderful thing. When you have something on your mind, wine can provide an outlet; when you have joy in life, wine can bring celebration.

But youth does not know the taste of wine; it tastes bitter. By the time one understands the flavor of wine, one is already a part of the wine itself, and where can one find one's youth again?

Wang Xiao raised his wine glass, lightly clinked it with the members of Haoqi Pavilion, and drank it all in one gulp.

Drinking is such an elegant activity that it is always better to enjoy it with others than to enjoy it alone.

The wine, smooth and mellow, slid down the throat and into the stomach, instantly transforming into a warm current that flowed through the limbs and bones.

The group sat around the campfire, chatting about their experiences on the Demon Island, enjoying themselves immensely.

Wen and his two companions were already injured and had a low alcohol tolerance, so they were quickly defeated and moved to a temporary resting place not far away, where they lay down to rest and recuperate.

The moon was bright and the stars were few; the campfire flickered, and only Wang Xiao and Xiao He remained before them. The leaping firelight cast their shadows long and short, sometimes near and sometimes far.

Wang Xiao put down his wine cup, gazed at Xiao He, and finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time: "Brother Xiao, there is something I still have a question about. During the Lishan Trial, we met briefly. You clearly had a chance to make a move, but you ultimately left without a word. Why? And who was the 'person' you mentioned at that time?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao He's smile gradually faded, replaced by a solemn and serious expression. He slowly asked, "Brother Lu, do you believe in history?"

"History is the past that has already happened, so it naturally exists." Before Wang Xiao could answer, he gave his answer to himself, casually adding firewood to the campfire, and then asked, "Perhaps I should rephrase my question, Brother Lu, do you believe in history books?"

History and historical records differ by only one word, yet the difference between them is far more than a thousand words.

Wang Xiao stared at Xiao He and noticed that the light in his eyes was gradually dimming.

"Historical records are all selective accounts, naturally containing both truth and falsehood," Wang Xiao pondered for a moment before answering truthfully. "But why did Brother Xiao suddenly bring this up? What does this have to do with you letting me go and the person you mentioned?"

Suddenly, Wang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he finally understood why Xiao He's eyes had darkened.

Because Xiao He was a scholar!

What a despairing thing it is for a scholar to doubt the books he believes in! Behind the dimming of his eyes lies the collapse of his faith, the shattering of the seed of reading in his heart, and perhaps even the guiding star that has always led him has lost its luster.

Wang Xiao grew up in the Qixing Mountain area, where he was raised in a free-spirited manner. He knew that books are written by people, and that accounts naturally contain both truth and falsehood.

If he sees an idea in a book that he doesn't agree with, he might even bluntly call it "utter nonsense."

But Xiao He was different; he was a traditional Confucian scholar. Their path to adulthood had been carefully planned, and the books they read were the finest selections of sages' teachings and sayings.

Yet even someone who revered the sacred way began to doubt the classics of sages.

No wonder I always felt that he was not like an ordinary scholar—how could a scholar have such a strong killing intent in his eyes?

It must have been during those days of questioning the classics and wavering in his beliefs that his state of mind underwent such a change.

Just as Wang Xiao was lost in thought, Xiao He's dim eyes lit up again.

"Xiao He is truly extraordinary." Wang Xiao observed Xiao He's transformation and sighed inwardly. "He clearly had doubts about the path he had chosen, yet now he has regained his resolve—perhaps he has already let go of the past, but mentioning it still inevitably hurts him. What secrets did he discover in those ancient texts?"

"Brother Lu, do you know that our Confucian school produced a sage 150 years ago?" Xiao He asked, his tone filled with reverence. "It is said that the cultivation methods we practice today were all reshaped, organized, and perfected by him. Before him, cultivation methods were chaotic and disorganized, with each sect operating independently, resulting in slow progress and making it easy to go astray. He summarized the ancient cultivation experiences and combined them with the laws of the Nine Provinces to create a complete and systematic cultivation system, which led to the nearly one hundred years of flourishing cultivation in the Nine Provinces. Yet, such a person seems to have vanished into thin air!"

"He left many traces in the Confucian school, and had a profound influence on its doctrines and practices. But for some reason, the Haoqi Pavilion seems to be deliberately covering up all of this, either blurring his achievements or shifting the blame to the sages of the past." Xiao He's tone was full of confusion. "But how could such a person be completely erased? I once accidentally browsed through the incomplete books treasured in the forbidden area of ​​the Haoqi Pavilion and found some clues there."

"Hmm?" Wang Xiao had grown up on Seven Star Mountain since childhood and knew very little about the history and stories of the Nine Provinces, except for cultivation. Before he could fully process Xiao He's words, Xiao He asked again, "Brother Lu, you should have heard of Yan Zixi, the number one beauty of the Nine Provinces, right? But do you know the name of the founding emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty?"

One hundred and fifty years ago, the Daqing Dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles, with corruption in the court, neglect of military preparedness, local warlordism, and displacement of the people.

Just as the Nine Provinces were embroiled in internal strife and severely weakened, a five-eyed alien race and the overseas Fusang clan seized the opportunity to invade, sweeping across half of the Nine Provinces like hungry wolves pouncing on sheep.

At a critical juncture for the survival of the Nine Provinces, the Great Qian Emperor stepped forward to defend against foreign tribes, quell internal strife, and usher in a new era of prosperity.

This hero who reshaped the landscape of the Nine Provinces—Wang Xiao realized he had never heard of him before—and it was clear from Xiao He's gaze that he knew nothing about him either.

Disappeared!

Whether it was the Confucian sages or the founding emperor of the Qianlong Emperor, they established unprecedented and unparalleled achievements. We can clearly sense the traces of their presence, yet they vanished so mysteriously.

As the most beautiful woman in the Nine Provinces, Yan Zixi's daily life, including her routines, clothing, food, and housing, can be compiled into a book for people to enjoy.

But now, the names of the founding emperor who restored order to the Nine Provinces and the Confucian sage who reshaped the foundation of cultivation in the Nine Provinces have been completely hidden.

Even a major Confucian sect like the Haoqi Pavilion has such scarce records about this period of history, let alone other sects and ordinary people.

What kind of power could conceal this so completely? And what extraordinary abilities would be needed to obscure a brilliance comparable to the sun and moon?

"Are they the same person?" Wang Xiao asked tentatively.

"Perhaps, but who knows?" Xiao He said with a helpless smile.

People can't even remember their names, so how would they know if they were the same person?

But Wang Xiao knew Xiao He wasn't lying. In Liangshan, Senior Brother Song Qing had briefly lost his composure. The person who could make Senior Brother yearn for so much might be one of these two, or perhaps they were the same person.

Putting aside the founding emperor of the Qianlong era, the Confucian sage that Xiao He spoke of might actually have some connection to himself.

The idea of ​​reshaping the cultivation methods of the Nine Provinces, and the saying that "all martial arts under heaven originate from the Seven Stars," inevitably leads people to make connections.

Could someone really teach someone who is invincible among his peers as soon as he comes down the mountain by simply leaving him on the Seven Star Mountain and using everything in the mountain as a guide? Could someone really teach the two most promising prodigies in the Nine Provinces to break through to the Divine Sense Void Realm?

Wang Xiao, filled with doubt, tentatively asked, "Brother Xiao, do you know about Seven Star Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao He frowned slightly and shook his head, saying, "Seven Star Mountain? I've never heard of it. I know a little about the famous mountains of the Nine Provinces, but I've never heard of this one. Brother Lu, do you perhaps know something about it?"

Wang Xiao gently shook his head, offering no further explanation, but his heart was already churning with turbulent emotions.

My master and fellow disciples often say that the world's martial arts originated from the Seven Stars.

But after descending the mountain, he discovered that Qixing Mountain was not as famous as he had imagined, and was even little known.

At first, I thought it was because I was ignorant and had not met enough people, but now it seems that this is not the case—even someone as knowledgeable as Xiao He had never heard of it. In that case, Seven Star Mountain has also "disappeared," just like that Confucian sage and the founding emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, silently disappearing into the long river of history.

"So, I come from a vanished place?" Wang Xiao murmured to himself, utterly shocked.

Seeing this, Xiao He didn't press further, and continued, "During the Lishan Trial, I saw your swordsmanship was agile and graceful, containing a natural and innate mechanism, which resonated quite well with the 'Tao follows nature' philosophy recorded in the incomplete manual left by that Confucian sage. Therefore, upon seeing you, I couldn't help but think of that sage." He looked at Wang Xiao, his eyes sincere, "Think about it, how could someone who is the successor of such a great figure be a murderer?"

"But none of that matters anymore." Xiao He raised his wine cup and smiled with relief. "It is my great fortune to have made such a close friend as Brother Lu. Moreover, according to those incomplete records, that Confucian sage passed away fifty years ago."

"I see. Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding." Wang Xiao nodded gently, but his heart was still turbulent. "My master is still alive and well. He is not the senior that Brother Xiao mentioned. It seems that the Confucian sage may not have any connection with Seven Star Mountain."

Even so, Wang Xiao vaguely felt that this Confucian sage and the cultivation philosophy of "all things can be teachers" of Qixing Mountain seemed to have some unknown connection.

"Brother Xiao," Wang Xiao put down his wine cup and asked, "the one who can reshape the cultivation methods of the Nine Provinces must possess extraordinary abilities. Could such a person also perish?"

The lifespan of a person who leaps over the lake to refine their body is no different from that of an ordinary person. The lifespan of a person who transforms into a god through the Dragon Gate is doubled. Once the realm of divine thought is created, there is a world of its own, and the lifespan cannot be estimated by ordinary standards.

That sage had only been a saint for a hundred years, at the height of his power, so how could he have suddenly perished?

Xiao He sighed, shook his head, and then said firmly, "I don't know the specific details either. But now that I know about this matter, I must find out the truth."

"Brother Xiao, I admire your spirit!" Wang Xiao raised his wine cup and said loudly, "There will be times when the wind and waves will be overcome; let's drink this bowl first!"

Even with a thousand questions and ten thousand doubts, even with countless difficulties and obstacles ahead, with wine in hand, everything seems less important at this moment.

As long as heaven and earth exist, and the fine wine is not yet exhausted, what is there to worry about?