Watching Wang Lin and the monstrous mosquito vanish into the distance, a mask of shame and regret washed over Du Qing’s face. He looked as though he yearned to slap himself. Suppressing his inner turmoil, he spurred himself onward, chasing after them with all haste.

“Alas, this one is laden with potent artifacts and diverse origins,” he muttered, “even beasts of the wild pale in comparison… and he boasts a lineage of considerable depth! He has even manifested a rare true essence… best not to provoke him, nor to compare oneself.” Du Qing repeated these words as a balm to his wounded pride, yet a feeling of profound grievance lingered.

“By the heavens, why must I be so impoverished?” he lamented. “This is simply… unbearable!” The more he pondered, the more wretched he felt. He flew for what seemed an eternity, yet still could not catch sight of Wang Lin ahead.

“He is surely a favored scion of the heavens,” Du Qing reasoned, “akin to the true disciples of those great sects. I cannot hope to match him. Yet, all that I possess, be it cultivation or treasure, I have earned myself. Though it pales in comparison to his vast array, I dare wager that all he owns is a gift from that Grand Empyrean! He merely enjoys good fortune.” With this thought, a semblance of equilibrium returned to his soul.

Had he known Wang Lin’s true identity and origins, had he comprehended the hardship that had marked his two millennia of cultivation, such thoughts of balance would have crumbled to dust. For even he, if born within the Realm of the Caves, granted two thousand years and the favor of the Star of Greed, could scarcely have achieved what Wang Lin had, and escaped the confines of that realm!

Time drifted onward, and half a month passed. In that span, Wang Lin had paused several times, waiting for Du Qing to catch up. The monstrous mosquito, however, was invigorated. It showed no sign of weariness. Having undergone countless transformations and evolutions, its speed was terrifying, surpassing even Du Qing’s ability to pursue it.

Moreover, as it flew, it absorbed the very essence of the Immortal Astral Continent, drawing it into its body and breathing it out in the manner of a cultivator. Thus, its speed grew ever greater, outpacing even Wang Lin’s own advance by several fold.

Du Qing, in the rear, presented a pitiable sight. These past two weeks had been relentless. He had pressed onward without respite, and each time he saw Wang Lin and his dread beast waiting for him, as if they had been there for an age, his frustration boiled anew.

He gazed upon the mosquito-beast with incredulity. He had witnessed many a wild creature in his time, but few possessed such formidable speed.

“Alas,” he sighed. “He withheld the Golden卯 earlier, merely to torment me. Now I see, he could have easily outstripped me, yet he deliberately allowed me to pursue him… The man is utterly cunning!”

Days turned into weeks, and finally, on a day when Du Qing felt his exhaustion reach its nadir, the Azure Dragon Sect came into view.

Beholding its spires, Du Qing glanced at Wang Lin, who sat with an air of serene composure upon the beast’s back, neither flushed nor panting. He then turned to the beast itself, which seemed to regard the journey as if it were a mere trifle. Du Qing found himself speechless.

As they approached the Azure Dragon Sect, its disciples poured forth from every corner, their faces turned skyward. Even the three elders, their卯 seals yet unremoved, soared aloft.

They had initially believed their venerable forebear had subdued the villain and returned him in triumph. Yet, upon seeing the sweat-drenched Du Qing and the tranquil Wang Lin, their jaws dropped in astonishment.

“Why do you stand there gaping? Come and greet my esteemed friend, a boon to our sect! I have brought him here to express our heartfelt gratitude.” Du Qing, his eyes blazing, swept his gaze across the disciples. With a flick of his sleeve, he scattered them aside.

“Esteemed Daoist Wang, please…” Du Qing plastered a smile upon his face and extended a welcoming hand.

The sudden turn of events left the Azure Dragon Sect in bewilderment. Yet, the venerated forebear’s authority was deeply ingrained within them. They fell silent, watching as he led the mysterious man away towards the distant mountains beyond the sect.

“Something is amiss. Our forebear is not one to forgive slights, and now he treats this strange Wang with such reverence. It can only mean that even he fears him,” mused the middle-aged man, his severed arms now restored.

“The forebear has likely already clashed with him, and found himself wanting…” The other two elders exchanged glances, their eyes wide with apprehension.

Meanwhile, Du Qing led Wang Lin towards the rear mountain, a place scarred by battle, yet with its mountains intact and its caves undisturbed.

Inside the cave, lavish decorations met the eye. Countless luminous pearls, each the size of a man’s head, adorned the walls, casting a starlight glow throughout the chamber. Within were several stone rooms, each designed for the needs of a cultivator: alchemy, secluded meditation, and more.

“Esteemed Daoist Wang,” Du Qing said with a fawning smile, “this place is humble, I pray you forgive it. Rest here for a few days, until the sect is rebuilt. Then we shall find you a more suitable dwelling.” In his own eyes, the stone chamber was a masterpiece. The floors were paved with Hai Dong stone, known for enhancing the flow of heavenly essence. The luminous pearls were of the highest quality, creating an atmosphere conducive to contemplating the vastness of the cosmos.

The alchemy chamber, in particular, was a testament to the fruits of his past rapacious deeds.

“It suffices,” Wang Lin said, his expression unchanging. He settled into a cross-legged posture, and then turned to Du Qing. “Esteemed Daoist Du, I hail from beyond these shores. I know not where the Earthfire Main Vein lies within the Heavenly Bull Continent.” The continent was vast, far exceeding the range of Wang Lin’s spiritual sense. Finding the vein would require a considerable investment of time and careful searching.

Hearing these words, Du Qing divined Wang Lin’s intentions. After a moment’s hesitation, he seated himself opposite Wang Lin and spoke slowly, “The Heavenly Bull Continent is one of fire. Its ley lines are mostly fire veins. Legend has it that these fire veins form a great array, one that suppresses a celestial bull from beyond this world. This bull was once a creature of immense power, slain by our Immortal Ancestor at the dawn of the Immortal Astral Continent. Its body became the Heavenly Bull Continent, and its spirit was imprisoned beneath the fire veins.”

“This is but a legend, and over countless years, many have sought evidence to prove or disprove it, but none have found any conclusive proof.”
But there was another whisper, a legend whispered on the winds, that this very vein of earthen fire was not placed by the celestial race, but was instead…the very essence, the flow of life-blood… of the monstrous Sky-Fire Ox. The one you seek, the Grand Vein, if this tale holds truth, is nothing less than the largest meridian within that beast’s colossal frame, piercing it from head to tail!

“And such a meridian,” Du Qing’s voice dropped to a bare murmur, his hand sweeping in a warding gesture, surrounding them with an invisible barrier, “finds a nexus, a point of contact, within the gates of the Great Soul Sect!”

“The Great Soul Sect is one of the Nine Sects and Thirteen Orders of the Eastern Continent,” Du Qing continued, his voice hushed and reverent. “Its ranks are filled with formidable cultivators, their mastery of arcana is profound. One must take precautions when speaking of them, lest unintended ears should listen.”

“From the very core of my being, I am aligned with the flame. My senses are keen to the pulse of the earth. Each time I have ventured to the Great Soul Sect, the fires within me have been… muted, suppressed, as though a potent will emanated from within, forcing all flames to submit.”

“It is my belief,” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “that the Grand Vein of the Sky-Fire Ox lies within their walls. Nay, I suspect that within the Great Soul Sect, there are those whose very essence of fire has reached heights beyond comprehension.”

He shivered, his voice dropping further. “Moreover, I have learned that the venerable Patriarch of the Great Soul Sect, the Azure Ox Ascendant, possesses a power that runs deeper than the deepest mountain, and a true form mirroring your own!” Fear flickered in his eyes as he spoke the Ascendant’s name.

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed, filing the name away within the labyrinth of his mind.

“My own cultivation is but meager,” Du Qing continued, “granting me only the station of an outer sect elder. It is thanks to this, and the patronage of a kinsman who holds a senior position within the inner ranks, that the Azure Dragon Sect is afforded a modicum of protection.”

He hesitated, his gaze flickering towards Wang Lin. “You, Wayfarer, are blessed with a treasure granted by the Grand Empyrean. In theory, the Great Soul Sect would treat you with utmost reverence. But to seize the Grand Vein itself…that is a matter that could prove…challenging.”

Wang Lin remained impassive. His knowledge of the Great Soul Sect extended only to two individuals.

“Have you heard tell of two disciples within the Great Soul Sect, named Fan Shanyou and Fan Shanmeng?” he inquired, his gaze fixed on Du Qing.

“Fan Shanmeng!” Du Qing’s face flickered with recognition.

“I have indeed heard the name of Fan Shanmeng. She is a core disciple, hailed as one of the twin jewels of the Great Soul Sect! You are acquainted with her, Wayfarer?”

“I have heard of her,” Wang Lin replied, his gaze distant. He abruptly shifted the conversation. “What of the Returning Unity Sect? It, too, resides within the Sky-Fire Continent. How does it fare in comparison to the Great Soul Sect?” Kang Ren, after all, possessed only a limited understanding of such matters. Wang Lin sought a more informed perspective.

“The Returning Unity Sect is powerful, perhaps now surpassing the Great Soul Sect. Indeed, the rankings of the Nine Sects and Thirteen Orders may soon shift. In recent years, a disciple named Yun Yifeng has risen to prominence within its ranks. His cultivation is formidable, his talent unparalleled. He is now regarded as the foremost expert within the Sky-Fire Continent, save for the ancient immortals!”

“I have had the opportunity to observe him. He is truly extraordinary!” Du Qing recalled the image of Yun Yifeng, his sword a blinding flash, scattering the disciples of the Great Soul Sect.

“Speaking of Yun Yifeng, I recall a tale he once spun. He claimed there was one who had cultivated for over two millennia, possessing unfathomable depths of power. Even Yun Yifeng, he said, would dare not draw his sword in that being’s presence! The Four Heavenly Chosen of the Eastern Continent, he claimed, would be unworthy to even carry the robes of this individual.”

“This tale caused a great stir, though many dismissed it as mere boasting. Yet, the Great Soul Sect strangely remained silent, neither confirming nor denying it. And the Returning Unity Sect offered no clarification. Now, after all these years, I believe it to be false. I cannot imagine that anyone could truly…” Du Qing trailed off, suddenly aware of the strange intensity in Wang Lin’s eyes.

“To believe that someone could cultivate for two millennia and inspire such fear in Yun Yifeng, such reverence…”

“Such a being, if real, would have long since shaken the foundations of the celestial realm…likely plucked up by a Grand Empyrean!” He paused, his eyes darting back to Wang Lin, a dawning realization breaking over his face.

His pupils narrowed, a daring notion flashing within his mind. He inhaled sharply, regarding Wang Lin with a mixture of awe and trepidation.

“If the Sky-Fire Continent possesses veins of earthen fire, then are there lands nearby with veins of celestial thunder?” Wang Lin inquired, steering the conversation away from its perilous course.

(To Be Continued…)