I want to tread the heavens

Fa Cai rubbed against Ling Xiao's leg as if seeking praise, its tail wagging happily. Ling Xiao rubbed its head and chuckled, "Well done, I'll give you an extra treat tonight." Fa Cai let out a smug "Awoo!"

Yue Rong walked up to Guo Yun and bowed, saying, "Thank you for helping me out, Third Elder."

Guo Yun waved her hand, her gaze lingering on Ling Xiao and Fa Cai for a moment, especially on Fa Cai, before saying, "Let's go inside and talk."

Inside the study, the doors and windows were tightly closed.

"Guo Dahai is desperate." Guo Yun sat down and cut to the chase. "The competition is just around the corner, and he wants to take this opportunity to get rid of you, or at least prevent you from participating and ruin your mood. If he doesn't succeed this time, he'll do it again. You all need to be extra careful."

"I know," Ling Xiao nodded, "but I didn't expect him to use such a clumsy frame-up."

"Clumsy, but effective. If it weren't for that wolf's cleverness, even if I could have suppressed it today, you would have suffered a beating and your reputation would have been damaged." Guo Yun looked at Fa Cai with a probing look in her eyes, "This wolf is becoming more and more unusual."

Fa Cai seemed to understand the praise, raised his head, and made a proud "woo-woo" sound in his throat.

"Its origins are probably not simple," Yue Rong said in a deep voice, "but for now, it is indeed a great help to Xiao'er."

Guo Yun stopped pressing the matter and instead asked, "What are your plans for the competition?"

"I'll participate." Ling Xiao replied without hesitation. "I need a qualification from the Secret Pavilion."

Guo Yun pondered for a moment: "With your Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, you're considered above average in the outer academy, but getting into the top ten will be difficult. Guo Dahai will definitely tamper with the group assignments and draws, making you encounter strong enemies early on. Moreover, the secret realm exploration phase is fraught with danger; if he bribes someone to attack from inside, it will be impossible to defend against."

"I'm prepared." Ling Xiao's eyes were sharp. "If I can't beat them, I can hide or run. There might be an opportunity in the secret realm."

Looking into his calm and confident eyes, Guo Yun's heart stirred slightly. This child was even more resilient than she had imagined. She nodded: "In that case, I will try my best to arrange for you to avoid being grouped with Guo Xiaoyue and the other mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators. Also, I will have some healing and recovery pills sent over in the next few days. Make the most of this last bit of time to consolidate your cultivation. Get rich..."

She looked at the gray wolf: "During the competition, spirit beasts are not allowed to enter the arena, but it might be able to... create some 'accidents' outside the arena."

Ling Xiao and Fa Cai exchanged a glance, both seeing a tacit "mischief-making" glint in each other's eyes.

"Oh, right," Guo Yun said, her expression turning serious as she recalled something, "Last night, there was a slight disturbance in the fire at the alchemy room. The disciples on night watch heard some strange noises inside, but when they went in to check, everything seemed normal. Guo Dahai also seems to have sent someone to check it out. You didn't leave any traces in the alchemy room last time, did you?"

Ling Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately shook his head: "No, we were very careful when we left." But then he remembered the miniature altar that had turned into ordinary stone, and the star map in his mind. Could it be that the complete annihilation of the altar had caused some kind of change in the earth's fire or veins?

Yue Rong frowned as well: "The unusual movement of the earth fire... it might just be a coincidence. But we still need to be careful; Guo Dahai may already suspect there's something wrong with the alchemy room."

"I will send more people to keep an eye on that area," Guo Yun said. "You should not go near the alchemy room in the near future. We'll discuss everything after the competition."

After giving a few more instructions, Guo Yun got up to leave. Reaching the door, she turned back to look at Ling Xiao, hesitating to speak, but ultimately only letting out a soft sigh: "Take care of yourself. Some roads you have to walk alone, but only by living can you reach the end."

Ling Xiao nodded emphatically: "I understand, Grandma."

Guo Yun's body trembled slightly. She gave him a deep look, then turned and left.

The news of Guo Dahai's humiliation at Ling Xiao's courtyard spread like wildfire throughout the outer courtyard that very day.

"Have you heard? Guo Dahai led his men to search Ling Xiao's yard, but that lecherous 'Fa Cai' managed to pull a bellyband from one of his men's clothes! Haha, the scene was..."

"Guo Dahai's face turned green! As soon as the Third Elder arrived, he gave him a thorough dressing-down, fined him, and put him in solitary confinement!"

"That kid Ling Xiao is really lucky. He has that cunning wolf and the Third Elder protecting him."

"Luck? I think it's skill! Didn't you see how calm Ling Xiao was back then? Every word he said made sense, leaving Guo Dahai speechless. If it were you, you would have peed your pants in fear!"

"Guo Dahai has really lost face this time; he's definitely not going to be quiet until the competition..."

Various discussions arose, further enhancing Ling Xiao and Fa Cai's "reputation." This time, however, there was a lot of sympathy and subtle admiration—after all, not everyone could escape unscathed from Guo Dahai, the number one bully in the outer courtyard, and even turn the tables on him.

The atmosphere at Guo Dahai's residence was so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!" Guo Dahai swept the tea set off the table, shards flying everywhere. Guo Laowu knelt on the ground, trembling, a clear handprint on his face.

"Master Hai, please calm down. It's just that the beast is too cunning..." Guo Si said cautiously.

"Cunning? You're the stupid ones!" Guo Dahai's chest heaved with anger. "You can't even handle a beast! And that old hag Guo Yun, she's always going against me!"

He took a few deep breaths, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "The competition...it's still a month away. This time, we absolutely cannot let him get away with it! Guo Si!"

"exist!"

"Go and summon Guo Xiaoyue. Also, find out the terrain of the secret realm for this competition, as well as the possible monsters and resource points. Ling Xiao wants to enter the secret realm, right? I'll make sure he's inside and never comes out!"

"yes!"

"Also," Guo Dahai lowered his voice, a glint of mystery flashing in his eyes, "contact 'Black Snake' and ask him if he has any 'good stuff' that can temporarily arouse the ferocity of demonic beasts, or make a specific target attract demonic beasts. Price is negotiable."

Guo Si's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly nodded, "Understood, I'll take care of it right away!"

Guo Dahai walked to the window, looked in the direction of Ling Xiao's courtyard, and a cruel smile appeared on his lips.

"You little bastard, you think you can rest easy just because you have a beast and an old woman protecting you? The Grand Tournament will be your burial ground!"

At this moment, however, Ling Xiao's courtyard was filled with "peace and tranquility".

Ling Xiao was practicing a new set of close-quarters combat techniques in the courtyard. It was a simplified version of Yue Rong's "Swimming Fish Step" and military formation fighting techniques. The moves were ruthless and tricky, targeting joints and vital points. He practiced very seriously, and sweat dripped down his increasingly angular jawline.

Fa Cai lay sprawled under the old locust tree, three "trophies" spread out before him—a pale yellow herringbone embroidered with butterflies, a light green bodice adorned with beads, and the light red lotus-embroidered bib he'd worn that morning. He tossed them with his little paws, tilting his head, seemingly comparing which was prettier, his amber eyes filled with the focused attention of a connoisseur. Occasionally, he would lean in to sniff, letting out a satisfied "purr" from his throat.

Yue Rong sat under the eaves, silently watching the boy and the wolf. The boy's diligence and the wolf cub's absurdity created a strange yet heartwarming scene in this perilous old land.

He stroked the broken knife in his hand, and the rust on the blade seemed to fade slightly.

Storm is coming.

But at least for now, they can enjoy this brief moment of peace.

But the gears of fate, hidden from view, have been slowly meshing, turning steadfastly toward the unknown.