A voice suddenly rang out:
"Fellow Daoist not far away, please lend me a hand! I am a disciple of the Qiling Sect. As long as I can hold out for a short while, my sect will send reinforcements. This humble girl is willing to offer all her belongings—three hundred spirit stones—as thanks, and even pledge myself in marriage! I beg you, please help!"
The voice was soft and delicate, clearly that of a beautiful young maiden, one that naturally stirred pity and protective instincts in any who heard it.
Not long after, hundreds of shimmering fragments of spiritual light scattered through the dense forest in all directions, proof that her words were not entirely false.
Li Yuan frowned deeply. He absolutely did not want to get involved. Even though they were technically fellow sect members, many disciples had never even met each other before, so there was no real sense of camaraderie.
But the sect's rules were strict: if one encountered a fellow disciple in danger and refused to help, the punishment varied. At best, one could be thrown into the Dead Abyss prison for half a year; at worst, one's cultivation could be crippled entirely.
And on the sect's registry, it was clearly written when he left for the marketplace. If anyone investigated, he could never hide it.
Li Yuan's mind turned quickly, and he sent back a loud transmission with spiritual power:
"Which peak is Senior Sister from?"
Hearing someone respond, the young woman's voice came again, filled with joy:
"I am under Spirit Peak! I beg Junior Brother to aid me!"
Li Yuan asked again:
"Senior Sister, did you use the rescue talisman that Senior Brother Yu Zhong gives only to us steward disciples? How long until the sect arrives?"
The maiden's weak yet determined voice replied:
"That's right! Junior Brother need not worry. These bandits are only three at the early stage and three at the mid stage. Our sect will arrive within one incense stick's time!"
But then, a rough and arrogant voice boomed:
"Brat! I advise you not to meddle! What damned Qiling Sect disciple? Leave this place immediately, or you'll die too!"
If it were an ordinary young disciple, their blood would surely ignite at these words, and they would rush in to show off their skills to the bandits.
But Li Yuan's heart turned cold. Without looking back, he furiously activated his Lightfoot Technique and bolted straight toward the sect gates.
Because he knew the truth: Spirit Peak and Qi Peak only issued those rescue talismans through a sentient puppet that required spirit stones to dispense them. Furthermore, it was forbidden for any disciple to hand one over privately. There was no way that so-called Senior Brother Yu Zhong could have given her one.
With a leap, Li Yuan stepped onto a tree branch, covering several zhang in one bound, racing forward with incredible speed.
From above the forest, a streak of light suddenly rose. A man wearing a white mask with black markings cursed:
"That cowardly brat! Run like hell, will you? After him!"
Mounting a white cloud, he shot after Li Yuan.
At the same time, seven other figures burst out of the forest below, each riding cheap paper crane artifacts, and gave chase. Another shadow remained behind, swiftly collecting hidden formation flags from the ground, while the scattered "spirit stones" dimmed into ordinary pebbles.
Li Yuan's feet were like the wind. Sprinting toward the sect gates, he immediately activated his genuine rescue talisman.
Since breaking through to mid-stage, he had focused on refining only two techniques: the mid-tier Ice Spike spell, and the basic Lightfoot Technique.
Though the latter was considered low-tier, he had trained it until he could move like a storm wind. Combined with his insights into the sect's "Water Cloud Escape" movement art, his speed while fleeing actually surpassed most mid-stage cultivators.
Behind him, the pursuers closed in from the sky. Li Yuan, legs burning, threw out a handful of talismans—ten at once: Fireball Talismans, Wood Sword Talismans, Metal Thorn Talismans…
They exploded like fireworks in mid-air, forcing the pursuers to slow. After all, those cheap paper crane artifacts could barely handle a single fireball before being destroyed.
The bandits cursed furiously, scattering in all directions.
Li Yuan resisted the urge to summon his puppets. Three mid-stage opponents could easily tie up his three strongest puppets. Worse, the sect gates weren't far—if the elders saw how many puppets he possessed, it would be difficult to explain.
He recalled what Ruan Jinghu had said: as long as one reached within a hundred li of the sect gates, there would always be an elder on duty. Once the rescue talisman was triggered, within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, help would arrive.
If no elder appeared before the bandits caught him, then he would be forced to reveal his precious White Jade Mist Veil artifact.
Still fleeing, Li Yuan began weaving hand seals, charging his Ice Spike spell.
The first pursuer to catch up was a cultivator wielding a dark green banner, his robe marked with the character "Qian." His speed far surpassed the paper-crane riders.
Li Yuan glanced back just as the man swung a water-blue longsword that cleaved through the air.
His heart sank. That opponent carried two artifacts of excellent quality. These were no ordinary rogue bandits.
Without hesitation, Li Yuan maintained his calm, waiting for the right distance. When the flying sword drew within thirty zhang, he suddenly unleashed his fully charged Ice Spike spell.
Shhh!
Three gleaming ice spears shot forth, colliding head-on with the flying sword.
Boom!
The spears shattered, but the flying sword's momentum slowed, its blade coated in frost.
The masked man in Qian robes paled. He recalled the sword, only to find it covered in a layer of icy powder that severed his spiritual connection.
"Freezing Powder! This brat is cunning!"
Snarling, he slapped the banner and shouted:
"Swift!"
At once, the banner shot forward like lightning, appearing ahead of Li Yuan, blocking his path. With a wave of his sleeve, he scattered dozens of small stones that exploded into clouds of black smoke.
Li Yuan skidded to a halt and veered sharply, but the delay allowed the others to close in.
The Qian-robed cultivator did not approach recklessly. Instead, he kept a measured distance, clearly cautious.
Li Yuan realized he might have to reveal his artifact.
But just then, a piercing metallic sound rang from the skies. A golden streak of light descended, landing above them.
Li Yuan's heart leapt with joy. He bowed deeply.
"Many thanks to Elder for saving this disciple's life!"
The bandits froze, their faces wary. In the golden light stood a handsome man in autumn-yellow robes, his sharp sword-like brows drawn together. His eyes radiated murderous intent, sending a chill through everyone.
"What brazen fools dare attempt to kill one of my sect's disciples within Qiling territory?"
The man stood upon his sword, late Foundation Establishment aura sweeping out. The autumn wind howled, scattering countless dead leaves.
The Qian-robed man spoke first, his tone respectful:
"Senior has already seen it—we are of the Jiugong Sect. This disciple's soul is extraordinary, and we desire it. We only ask…"
"Insolence!"
The sword-rider's expression darkened. He drew his three-foot longsword, its golden blade shimmering under the moonlight.
"If not for your Jiugong robes, my sword would already have taken your head. The others may leave—but you, Qian-robed dog, will stay!"
With that, his sword flared, releasing a golden arc of energy several zhang long, cutting straight toward him.
Panic flashed across the man's face.
"Jiugong! Combine!"
The others tore off their black cloaks, revealing their robes of the Eight Trigrams—Qian, Kun, Zhen, Dui, Kan, Li, Gen, Xun—only the Central Palace missing.
Each held a different colored banner. Their lights merged into an enormous Eight Trigrams diagram, blocking the golden strike.
The sword energy clashed with the barrier. The Qian and Dui glyphs shone brightest, and the strike was stopped.
Li Yuan, now standing safely behind the elder, was shocked.
The gap between late-stage and mid-stage Foundation was vast, yet these eight could actually withstand a sword strike from Elder Cui Huaiqiu—a famed sword cultivator who had already manifested Sword Qi!
Cui Huaiqiu's eyes grew colder.
"Where is your Zhong Son? If you wish Jiugong to lose one of its Nine, then face me for a few more exchanges! I am not one to trifle with."
The Qian-robed man paled.
"Senior, calm your anger! This junior spoke rashly—please, spare us!"
But Cui Huaiqiu sneered.
"My Dao-companion was slain by your Jiugong. If not for our sect's patriarch, I wouldn't bother with words."
He raised his sword high.
"Enough talk. Face my blade!"
With a shout, he merged with the howling wind. Autumn leaves swirled into a towering tornado, fusing with his golden sword.
"Cut!"
A blazing sword light tore the sky, shattering the Eight Trigrams shield. The eight banners exploded into fragments.
The Qian-robed man shrieked, trying to flee, but the golden light cleaved him in half. His body fell in two, blood soaking the leaves scarlet.
The other seven retreated in terror, their figures vanishing into a dissolving Taiji diagram of light.
Cui Huaiqiu did not pursue. He turned to Li Yuan.
"You managed to escape a Jiugong ambush. Not bad. But what you saw today—the secrets of Jiugong—not a word is to be spoken. Break this rule, and death will be kinder than the consequences. Return and cultivate diligently."
With that, he mounted his sword and vanished into the sky.
Li Yuan bowed deeply.
"Many thanks to Elder for saving me. I swear to speak not a single word of this day!"
Then he hurried back. Before leaving, though, he summoned his sect's wooden puppet, sending it to collect the Qian-robed man's storage pouch. Pocketing it, he raced toward the sect gates.
Soon, he arrived. The two duty stewards—a fat one and a thin one—were still bickering. They rushed over.
"Junior Brother Li, was it you Elder Cui saved just now?" the fat steward asked.
Li Yuan replied modestly:
"Yes. I ran into bandits outside—three or five at mid and early stage. I was too weak, so I immediately used the rescue talisman."
The thin steward laughed.
"No wonder—it was you, the weakest in the sect! Don't forget, you owe thirty spirit stones as offering for using the talisman."
Li Yuan's face stiffened.
"I know. But I'm short on spirit stones right now. Is there a time limit?"
The fat steward said:
"Just pay within a month. Now tell us—what was Elder Cui like? I've admired him for so long! That Golden Cloud Autumn Sword, in the hands of such a master, must have been incredible!"
Helpless, Li Yuan exaggerated slightly, saying Elder Cui had annihilated all the bandits with one mighty strike before departing gracefully.
The two stewards listened, enraptured. The thin one sighed:
"They say Elder Cui is not even a hundred years old, yet already the strongest in the sect besides the two Peak Lords. Truly, his reputation is well-earned."
It was past midnight before Li Yuan could return to his own courtyard.
Sitting cross-legged, he replayed the night's events, then opened the Qian-robed man's storage pouch.
Inside was a pile of spirit stones—over a hundred in total. Enough to cover the offering. Before, he had spent all his wealth acquiring the White Jade Mist Veil, leaving him nearly penniless.
The rescue talisman's cost was steep—thirty spirit stones as tribute to the sect and elders—but none dared complain. After all, if it saved one's life, who would think their life not worth thirty stones?
Still, the talisman only worked within three hundred li of the sect. Beyond that range, the sect could not sense it.
Rummaging further, Li Yuan found nothing else valuable in the pouch—strange, for a mid-stage cultivator. Perhaps the "Zhong Son" Elder Cui mentioned had already taken all their treasures. Even the green banner had been shattered by that sword strike.
Only a few unknown pills remained, along with a strange book.
Opening it, Li Yuan saw not cultivation techniques, but notes: bizarre diagrams of the Eight Trigrams, the Nine Palaces, hideous ghosts devouring men…
The script was strange, either some secret code or ancient language. Li Yuan could not understand it at all.
"This Jiugong Sect… far too mysterious."
(End of Chapter)