I want to tread the heavens

The Heavenly Sword Sect's market is located in a valley between the twelve outer peaks. Calling it a market is a bit of a stretch; it's really just a street about half a mile long, crammed with all sorts of shops and stalls. They sell everything from pills and magical artifacts to cultivation manuals and jade slips, and even food for spirit beasts.

But Ling Xiao came to the market today not to buy anything, but to listen.

The market is where the outer disciples gather the most, especially in the days following the end of the competition registration. Almost everyone is discussing the same topic: who will win the championship.

Ling Xiao and An Ling sat in a corner of a teahouse, each with a cup of spiritual tea. On the surface, they were drinking tea, but their ears were perked up like those of a wolf looking for a fortune.

Fa Cai lay under the table, pretending to be an ordinary greyhound, but actually used his mind to complain to Ling Xiao that the tea in this teahouse was terrible, not even as good as the dew he drank on the mountain.

"You're a wolf, not a bee," Ling Xiao replied telepathically, "Shut up and listen."

Three outer disciples at the next table were having a lively discussion.

"Let me tell you, the champion of this competition is a foregone conclusion," a tall, thin disciple slammed his fist on the table. "Senior Brother Han Yuan has been in seclusion in the outer sect for three years, reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment. Last year, he even went to the Monster Beast Mountain Range for training and personally killed a third-tier monster beast. Who in the outer sect can rival him?"

Another short, stout disciple was unconvinced. Han Yuan was indeed strong, but don't forget Senior Brother Shi Lei. His body cultivation had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage; his physical body was comparable to a spiritual weapon. Ordinary attacks were like tickles to him. In the last competition, he single-handedly fought three mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators, finishing them off with just three punches.

The third disciple was a bespectacled man who appeared refined but spoke with sharp insight: "You're all veteran powerhouses. But this competition has seen several dark horses emerge, such as the Azure Cloud Peak duo, Ling Xiao and An Ling. Ling Xiao defeated Zhao Hu, who was at the early Foundation Establishment stage, with only the ninth level of Qi Refining in the last minor competition, and is now said to have broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. An Ling's swordsmanship talent is widely recognized as being among the top three in the outer sect."

The tall, thin man scoffed. "Mid-Foundation Establishment? What's that? In the outer sect competition, mid-Foundation Establishment is only considered average. No matter how talented the Azure Cloud Twins are, their cultivation time is limited, and their foundation isn't strong enough."

The short, stout disciple chimed in, "That's right. Senior Brother Han Yuan has cultivated in the outer sect for seven years, and Senior Brother Shi Lei for five years. Their foundations are far superior to those of juniors who have just broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

The disciple with glasses adjusted his glasses. Foundation is one aspect, talent is another. Ling Xiao's ability to defeat Zhao Hu, a level above his own, indicates his combat strength far surpasses that of his peers. If he is currently in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, then his true combat strength is at least at the late-Foundation Establishment level.

Ling Xiao listened from the corner, a slight smile playing on his lips. This bespectacled disciple certainly had good taste.

An Ling whispered, "Han Yuan, Shi Lei, write these two names down."

Ling Xiao nodded. The discussion at the previous table, though rough around the edges, was packed with information. Han Yuan, the top outer sect disciple, a Foundation Establishment cultivator at its peak, possessed rich combat experience. Shi Lei, a late-stage Foundation Establishment body cultivator, had astonishing defensive capabilities. Both were favorites to win the championship.

The teahouse filled up, and the discussion grew increasingly lively. Ling Xiao heard a few more noteworthy names.

Liu Bai, a sword formation genius of the Liu family, is in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. His Three Talents Sword Formation is infinitely variable. It is said that he once used the sword formation to trap a demon beast in the early stage of Foundation Establishment when he was in the Qi Refining stage.

Fang Qingxue, the only female sword cultivator in the outer sect, is in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. Her swordsmanship is known for its speed, and it is said that her sword speed is the fastest in the outer sect.

There were also a few veteran disciples who had been in seclusion for many years. Ling Xiao didn't remember their names, but their cultivation levels were all above the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Fa Cai poked his head out from under the table and said telepathically, "Boss, it sounds like you're in trouble this time. There are tons of Foundation Establishment Perfection and late Foundation Establishment cultivators. How are you, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, going to fight them?"

Ling Xiao took a sip of tea and said unhurriedly, "High cultivation level doesn't guarantee victory. In actual combat, many factors influence the outcome: cultivation method, technique, mentality, performance on the spot, and even luck."

You talk as if you have so much practical experience. Get rich and keep sabotaging others.

I don't have much practical experience, but I'm very experienced at taking beatings. Ling Xiao is perfectly justified; after taking so many beatings, he naturally knows how to hit someone.

He was speechless at the prospect of getting rich.

An Ling stood up and went to the medicine shop to check; the Mind-Concentrating Pills she ordered last time should have arrived.

The three left the teahouse and walked along the streets of the market. Ling Xiao observed the crowd as he walked; the market was several times more crowded than usual, mostly with people inquiring about the competition. Occasionally, powerful disciples could be seen weaving through the crowd, and those around them would automatically make way for them.

Ling Xiao saw a young man dressed in black, with a cold and hard face and sharp, eagle-like eyes. The air seemed to chill wherever he went. The surrounding outer disciples pointed and whispered about him, their tone full of awe.

"That's Han Yuan," An Ling said softly.

Ling Xiao examined him carefully. Han Yuan's aura was indeed very strong; his Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation was no exaggeration. His spiritual energy fluctuations were steady and profound, like a volcano poised to erupt—calm on the surface, yet containing terrifying power within.

Han Yuan seemed to sense Ling Xiao's gaze and glanced at him sideways. Their eyes met in mid-air, and Han Yuan's lips twitched slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. He then turned and walked into a spirit weapon shop on the street corner.

Fa Cai used his mind to say, "This person is not to be trifled with. The way he looked at you just now was like he was looking at prey."

Ling Xiao didn't speak, but in his heart he had already listed Han Yuan as his number one rival.

After walking a few more steps, a series of heavy footsteps sounded ahead. A burly man nearly two meters tall walked towards them from across the street, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly. It was the same body cultivator they had seen in the square yesterday.

"Shi Lei," An Ling said.

Shi Lei's physique was even more awe-inspiring than it appeared from a distance. His muscles seemed to be cast from steel, and his skin had a faint metallic sheen. Ling Xiao noticed that when he walked, he left shallow footprints on the bluestone slabs. This wasn't due to deliberate exertion, but rather because his physical density was so great that his own weight was enough to crack the slabs.

Ling Xiao mentally assessed his defensive capabilities and wondered if his Star Thunder Finger Sword could break through them.

Shi Lei didn't notice them and walked straight into a body-refining materials shop. Ling Xiao heard him say to the shopkeeper, "Three portions of Iron Bone Grass, two portions of Golden Marrow Liquid." His voice was deep and rumbling like thunder.

The path of body cultivation is indeed ruthless, Ling Xiao sighed, using his own body as a spiritual weapon for refinement.

Therefore, physical cultivators are either very weak or very strong, An Ling said, and Shi Lei belongs to the latter.

After touring the market, Ling Xiao gained a clearer understanding of the intensity of the competition in this grand contest. There was Han Yuan, who had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment; Shi Lei, Liu Bai, and Fang Qingxue, who were in the late Foundation Establishment stage; several veteran disciples in the late Foundation Establishment stage; and newly emerging dark horses like himself and An Ling.

In this competition, at least thirty or forty people have the potential to break into the top twenty.

Only those in the top twenty can secure entry into the inner sect. Ling Xiao counted on his fingers, which meant he had to eliminate at least half of his competitors.

An Ling corrected him, saying it should be at least twenty.

You two are gloating over getting rich. One of you is going to take down twenty, and the other is going to take down twenty, that's forty in total. Good luck, I'm ready to see you get ganged up on.

Ling Xiao kicked it.

As dusk fell, the crowds in the market gradually dispersed. Ling Xiao and An Ling finished buying what they needed and prepared to return to Qingyun Peak. When they passed the end of the market, Ling Xiao suddenly stopped.

At the end of the market was a narrow alley, rarely frequented by anyone. At this moment, a person wearing a black bamboo hat stood at the alley's entrance, the hat pulled low, obscuring most of his face. He wore a grey robe, was of medium build, and it was impossible to discern his gender or cultivation level.

It's that man in the straw hat.

Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He recognized the man in the straw hat; it was after the last minor competition, on the mountain path of Qingyun Peak. At the time, the man had only glanced at him from afar before leaving, and by the time he caught up with him, the man had already vanished.

Now, the man in the straw hat has reappeared.

And she was looking at him.

The man in the straw hat raised his right hand, made a simple gesture, and put his index and middle fingers together, pointing towards the depths of the alley. Then he turned and walked into the alley.

He was gesturing for me to follow him, Ling Xiao said.

An Ling's hand was already on the hilt of her sword. Be careful, it might be a trap.

Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment. This man in the straw hat was too mysterious; his two appearances were perfectly timed, and the man clearly knew of his existence. If this was a trap, following him rashly would indeed be very dangerous.

But if he didn't go back, he might never know who the other person was or why they sent him a letter.

"Wait for me here," Ling Xiao said.

An Ling frowned. No.

"I'll go alone. If there's danger, I can use my 'Fish Step' to escape," Ling Xiao said. "You stay here and meet me. If I haven't come out by the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, go find Elder Tie."

An Ling was silent for a moment, then nodded cautiously.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and walked into the alley.

The alley was narrow, with high walls on both sides, and dimly lit. The man in the straw hat stood in the middle of the alley, his back to him. Hearing footsteps, the man in the straw hat did not turn around, but simply stood quietly.

Ling Xiao stopped three zhang away from the other party. "Who are you? Why are you sending me a message?"

The man in the straw hat slowly turned around.

The half of his face visible beneath the straw hat had a faint smile playing on his lips. Then he spoke, his voice a hoarse woman's voice, carrying an indescribable sense of vicissitude.

Ling Xiao, seventeen years old, an awakened member of the Starfall bloodline and a carrier of the Devouring Heaven bloodline. His father, Ling Zhan, was a disgraced disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Battle Sword Peak and left the Azure Profound Continent twenty years ago. His mother, a descendant of the Starfall Clan, is missing.

Ling Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

The other party knew everything about him, even his Devouring Heaven Bloodline. He had never told anyone about this, not even An Ling.

"Who exactly are you?" Ling Xiao's voice turned deep.

The man in the straw hat didn't answer, but instead took something out of his sleeve and gently tossed it over. Ling Xiao caught it; it was a jade pendant about half the size of his palm, entirely black, with the six-pointed star emblem of the Starfall Clan engraved on it.

The material and patterns of this jade pendant are exactly the same as the decorations on his father's ancient sword.

The man in the straw hat said that your mother entrusted me with the safekeeping of her belongings for seventeen years. Now, they have been returned to their rightful owner.

Ling Xiao's hand holding the jade pendant trembled slightly. The jade pendant felt warm and smooth to the touch, but beneath the surface, there was a faint, extremely weak fluctuation of spiritual energy—the aura of meteorite power—that resonated subtly with his bloodline.

Where is my mother?

The man in the straw hat shook his head. "Meteor City. Find the answer yourself in three months."

Why should you help me?

The man in the straw hat remained silent for a moment, his gaze from beneath the hat seemingly scrutinizing him, yet also seemingly looking through him at someone else.

Because your father once saved my life.

After saying this, the figure of the man in the straw hat suddenly became blurry, like a reflection in water rippled by a stone thrown in. Ling Xiao reached out to grab him, but his fingers passed right through the man's body, touching nothing at all.

phantom.

The man in the straw hat was never a physical entity, but rather a projection formed from spiritual energy.

Silence returned to the alley, leaving only Ling Xiao standing in the darkness, clutching the black jade pendant in his hand. The six-pointed star on the pendant gleamed faintly in the moonlight, echoing the light of his ancient sword.

Fa Cai and An Ling rushed over from the alley entrance. Fa Cai sniffed hard and said in his mind, "It's that woman's scent again, exactly the same as the one who delivered the letter last time."

An Ling looked at the jade pendant in Ling Xiao's hand and asked, "What did she say?"

Ling Xiao put the jade pendant into his pocket and remained silent for a while before speaking.

She said, "My mother is waiting for me in the ancient city of Meteorite."

He looked up at the northern night sky. The seven bright stars were still shining, like seven eyes watching him.

Three months.

Three months left.