That Black Qi—what is it? Even this Hundred Sword Sect disciple can’t say for sure.

It seems only the Sect Leader Jian Hai and the elders are privy to the truth!

But Liu Zixiao has already begun to suspect something.

Back then, when she was trapped at the Ruins Rift, those Hundred Sword Sect elders had wanted to feed her and the old Nether Bone to the Black Qi.

"We must report to the Sect Leader at once!"

Liu Zixiao’s expression was grave, heavier than ever.

She’d thought Hundred Sword Sect had finally behaved lately, yet now realized they were extending their claws elsewhere.

She was deeply uneasy.

For Hundred Sword Sect to act thus, there must be some unspeakable secret—perhaps, it has to do with the sudden rise of so many Golden Core Peak cultivators in the sect.

Liu Zixiao was communicating with Su Xihe about these events; but Qin Yu’s attention fell on the Black Soul Banner.

At first glance, it was nothing more than an extremely ordinary scrap of rag, nothing remotely remarkable about it.

Qin Yu frowned slightly, scrutinizing it carefully, yet saw no trace of profundity. After pondering a moment, he slowly activated his Celestial Eye.

Under the Celestial Eye, nothing could hide—the delicate veins running through the Black Soul Banner unfurled before his sight.

Across its surface, he saw faintly etched a complex array—and at its heart, something alive seemed to reside.

It was a drop of blackness, darker than ink and even more viscous.

And those strange, unfathomable curls of Black Qi were all emanating from this mysterious, unfathomable black liquid.

Perhaps sensing Qin Yu’s detection, it actually possessed some intelligence and tried to burst from the flag and flee.

Qin Yu immediately pinched it between his fingers.

Instinctively it tried to corrode him, yet not only did it do him no harm, it instead began to belch curls of blue-green smoke.

"Aaaagh!..."

[Purify Ghost +1]

+1

+1

Qin Yu completely ignored its wailing, wraithlike screams, his focus settling on the flickering flame.

"What the hell?"

The Flame Point actually increased?!

This thing is called... a ghost?

And even this can boost my Flame Point?

To test it, Qin Yu squeezed the wraith again. More wisps of blue smoke, and another row of prompts flared above the flame.

[Purify Ghost +1]

+1

+1

This thing... could it be the flame’s little experience-farm?

Qin Yu was speechless.

Still, considering its form of nourishment... a slight scowl creased his brow.

This thing strengthens itself by corroding—or rather, devouring the flesh and Spiritual Qi of living beings. That, Qin Yu would never do.

He had too many ways to earn Flame Points.

Just now, he’d already absorbed plenty of fear points; but honestly, he didn’t even care for these scraps anymore.

After all, no living creature could linger forever in fear, could they?

Without hesitation, Qin Yu squeezed hard—and crushed the ghost to pieces.

[Purify Ghost +100]

Tch.

Well, better than nothing, I suppose.

Meanwhile—

Somewhere...

A figure cloaked in night’s shadows, face shrouded behind an inky black mask, suddenly shuddered violently before collapsing to the ground, writhing in a surge of pain and howling devastation.

"Wh—How is this possible?"

Beneath the mask, a voice rasped like stone on stone, trembling with a terror and confusion impossible to disguise—like the whisper of a lost soul in a winter’s night.

...

Liu Zixiao only glimpsed at Qin Yu, unaware of how much trouble he’d so casually resolved.

"Our Sect Leader will inform the other Immortal Lords across all domains!"

With this, the pressure on Cyan Mountain Sect would naturally lessen dramatically.

Hundred Sword Sect was in for hard times—even with a Lotus Platform cultivator overseeing things.

The matter was now resolved.

Still, Liu Zixiao regarded Qin Yu with a look of mixed uncertainty, finally unable to hold back, "When did you comprehend... Sword Momentum?"

"Roughly two years ago, give or take."

Qin Yu replied honestly.

In fact, the first to know was his little immortal wife, Su Xiyue.

To tell the truth, while he’d grasped Sword Momentum, he’d never truly understood its essence.

It wasn’t until just now—when his sword left its scabbard and an elder of Hundred Sword Sect fell in response—

—Instant kill!

Only then did he comprehend why, back then, Su Xiyue had been so incredulously shocked.

Liu Zixiao fell silent for a long time, without saying a word.

The more she spent time with him, the more she realized she didn’t understand this apparently unserious disciple at all.

Once, she’d thought Qin Yu and Su Xiyue—one leading offense, one skilled in support—were an inseparable pair, a union blessed by the heavens.

Who could’ve predicted that this low-profile, unassuming Qin Yu would outmatch even Su Xiyue in battle prowess!

Qin Yu could only sigh.

The mood was ruined. Liu Zixiao simply wasn’t buying his routine, and he couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Fine, fine, fine!

Hundred Sword Sect, is it?

He’d pay them a visit eventually!

Without lingering into the night, the two of them once again boarded the Flying Ship.

On the way, Qin Yu frequently communicated with his beloved wives, not the least bit secretive around Liu Zixiao.

She could faintly make out the voice of little demoness Leng Ruyu from the Sound Transmission Stone; it seemed she’d already gotten quite chummy with Qin Yu’s other Dao Companions, now calling each other "sister" and acting intimately close.

Hah!

Such a sly little charmer, that demoness!

This won’t do at all.

The demoness from Demon Sect was alluring in every gesture. Their family’s Saintess, by contrast, simply couldn’t compete—and honestly,

—Qin Yu really might get stolen away one day!

She had to come up with a plan.

Maybe...the only way to keep Qin Yu was...

Soon, they entered the Cyan Mist region.

Ahead, the outline of Cyan Mist Hall gradually came into focus, slowly unfolding like a gentle, misty ink-wash landscape.

Liu Zixiao stood at the prow, a serious reminder to Qin Yu by her side, "Remember, once you step in here, do NOT get into conflicts lightly—be discreet, in all things."

"Rest assured, Master."

Qin Yu nodded assent, but his eyes were already gazing far ahead, in the direction of mountain ranges winding endlessly like a sleeping dragon.

Amidst the sprawling peaks, he vaguely made out five towering mountains stabbing mightily at the heavens, their auras overwhelming.

Atop each peak, palaces could be faintly seen—half-lost amidst cloud-reefs, sometimes revealing themselves, like immortal halls fallen to earth, casting their gaze across the land.

"What a remarkable array."

Qin Yu withdrew his gaze, murmuring under his breath.

The five precipitous peaks were like five fingers reached up from the earth, thrusting into the clouds in a posture of grasping mountains or seizing stars and moons—the very sight seized the heart and refused to let go.

"That’s the fabled Five Directions Star Array that made Cyan Mist Hall famous. Legend says it predates antiquity—it once trapped and slew a Great Cultivator."

As if sensing his curiosity, Liu Zixiao explained.

"A Great Cultivator?"

Qin Yu arched a brow.

"Presumably a Lotus Platform Cultivator—but I can’t say for certain."

Liu Zixiao pinched between her fingers a faintly glowing talisman; as her Spiritual Power flowed into it, the talisman seemed to come alive—its edges flickered with cold blue flame, sending a message fluttering away.

"I’ve notified the Palace Envoy—let’s wait here."

Soon, a dazzling, rainbow-bright radiance burst from the hall’s rugged spires, slicing through the sky and descending in a flash, lingering elegantly before Qin Yu and Liu Zixiao.

"Greetings, Palace Envoy."

Qin Yu and Liu Zixiao bowed in unison, their manner betraying clear respect for the newcomer.

"No need for such formality."

Luo Lizhu’s voice was gentle as a spring breeze, lips curving into a graceful smile, her eyes softly intrigued by Qin Yu.

"So you really broke through to the Golden Core."

She was clearly surprised, but even more delighted.