Luo Shengyi and Ruan Yushu had initially speculated that Meng Qi had encountered issues while summoning heavenly thunder, leading to his qi going berserk and his blood energy surging uncontrollably. They intended to help stabilize his internal disorder upon arriving at Wanghou District before meeting the Fourth Prince.
However, when Meng Qi took out the “Sky-Viewing and Earth-Listening Pill,” both were familiar with this medicinal pill and immediately sensed something unusual. Yet, as they lacked knowledge of the inner workings of the palace, they couldn’t possibly guess that the relic of the Devil Patriarch had fallen into the hands of the old emperor. Thus, although they had many suspicions, they couldn’t arrive at any definite conclusion.
Ruan Yushu hailed from one of the Fourteen Great Clans and was the beloved youngest daughter of her elders. She had heard many strange tales and could vaguely guess Meng Qi’s current situation. Her expression, usually calm and aloof, slightly shifted as she curiously watched Meng Qi—this was the first time she had witnessed such a phenomenon firsthand!
The “Sky-Viewing and Earth-Listening Pill” dissolved instantly upon entering Meng Qi’s mouth. A cool sensation spread from his throat down to his stomach, significantly alleviating the scorching heat caused by his excessive essence energy. He began guiding this energy to unblock his nasal cavity.
The nine acupoints related to the nasal cavity had already been refined moments ago. Their unique positions formed an interconnected system, linking the external heavens and earth with his internal lungs. One by one, these acupoints lit up, glowing like brilliant stars in Meng Qi’s darkened vision as he closed his eyes.
At the center of these “stars,” the nasal cavity appeared faintly, like a gate sealing off a channel between the internal and external worlds.
Meng Qi channeled all his essence energy, along with the medicinal power of the pill, crashing like tidal waves against the nasal cavity. The accompanying tearing pain in both body and soul seemed bearable when contrasted against the explosive sensation of expansion.
Boom!
An invisible sound erupted. The “gate” formed by the nasal cavity held for several breaths before finally being shattered under the relentless bombardment of essence energy and medicinal power.
Everything seemed normal again, yet subtly different. The fragrance of trees, the dampness of the night breeze, the faint sweat from Luo Shengyi, and the faintly sweet scent from Ruan Yushu all entered Meng Qi’s nose in clear layers.
His lungs became exceptionally powerful. With each breath, most impurities in the air were blocked by the nasal cavity, while pure primordial energy surged in, nourishing his lungs, meridians, and physical body, enhancing his true qi.
This was the nasal cavity’s role in cultivation—it became the primary channel, with the oral cavity as secondary. Once opened, it enabled the intake of refined primordial energy, making cultivation much more efficient. During combat, it accelerated the recovery of true qi. Thus, opening all seven orifices marked the minor completion of the Orifice-Opening Stage, signifying the initial formation of an internal world. Meng Qi only needed to open the oral cavity to reach this stage.
The residual essence energy slowly flowed in, replenishing the emptiness in Meng Qi’s meridians after breaking through the nasal cavity. The bloated sensation vanished. Soon, the essence energy was fully refined, and Meng Qi’s internal energy reached its peak once again. Compared to his state after battling the Evil Sovereign, his power had at least doubled, nearly matching that of an ordinary cultivator with all seven orifices open.
At this level, Meng Qi’s palm strikes could kill.
“I’m fine now,” Meng Qi examined his condition and signaled that he no longer needed Luo Shengyi’s help.
Luo Shengyi smiled and asked, “Six orifices opened?”
He had been close enough to sense Meng Qi’s breakthrough. However, without clarity on the situation, it wasn’t worth taking unnecessary risks. Completing the main mission with double merit alone would yield over a thousand points of merit.
Meng Qi extended his left hand, revealing the Devil Patriarch’s crystal. Inside, it was completely empty—no longer containing any gelatinous, formless substance or the yellowish sensation. Transparent, colorless, cold, and refreshing, it was now devoid of any impurities: “The relic of the Devil Patriarch has fallen into the hands of the old emperor. As soon as I obtained it, essence energy surged through my body…”
Only now did he have the time to briefly explain everything.
“If we hadn’t decided tonight to investigate the old emperor’s life and death, in another two or three days, the Crown Prince would have been fully prepared and able to swiftly eliminate other princes and ascend the throne. By then, we wouldn’t even have known how we failed the main mission,” Luo Shengyi sighed, glancing deeply at the Devil Patriarch’s crystal.
As a wandering cultivator, Luo Shengyi always felt passionate about such rare opportunities because the path of normal advancement was too narrow and rare.
Meng Qi thought the crystal’s ability to store essence energy was quite rare, so he took out a black cloth-like material—neither quite leather nor fabric—and prepared to wrap the crystal in it.
Only now did he realize that to normally pick up the crystal, one must wrap it in this black cloth to insulate it from direct contact with flesh.
As the black cloth unfolded, four large, flowing characters appeared:
“Yuan Lai Ru Ci.” (“Originally Like This.”)
“Originally Like This…” Seeing these four characters, Meng Qi felt as if struck by lightning, stunned in place. Countless thoughts churned in his mind, unable to calm down, as scenes he had experienced while comprehending the “Fall into the Mortal World” technique resurfaced:
A monk, whose face was indistinct, bore an expression of profound suffering.
His body shrank into that of a child—obedient and endearing, doted upon by his parents. As he grew, he became filial and respectful, while his parents always prioritized him. When they passed away peacefully, he gazed at their coffins and sighed deeply: “Originally Like This.”
…
Born into royalty, he was the center of countless affections. As he matured, he held supreme authority, his words deciding life and death, his anger causing mass slaughter, his joy bestowing favor and promotion. Ten years later, he left the palace with hands behind his back, leaving only the words: “Originally Like This.”
…
The Devil Patriarch, a genius unrivaled in his time, entered the Grand Master stage before thirty. He unified the long-divided Devil Sect, becoming its most glorious leader since its founding. Later, he mastered all nine volumes of the “Holy Canon,” standing only half a step away from breaking through to the Primordial Unity. He then dominated the world, slaying Grand Masters, with even those surviving three rounds of combat becoming world-renowned experts. The current old emperor, then the Crown Prince, was nearly driven from the throne by the Devil Patriarch’s favored eighth prince.
At the height of his power, just as the Devil Sect was about to usher in a golden age, he suddenly attained profound enlightenment, renounced the world, became a monk, and lived in solitude among ancient lamps and Buddha statues. On a final mysterious scroll, he left only four words: “Originally Like This.”
Meng Qi’s scalp tingled. Could he possibly be A-nan? Was he still alive?
The Demon Sovereign was a mighty figure from the chaotic demonic age, a legendary figure during the late mythic era. Only after the Human Emperor emerged, forging the Human Emperor Sword at the Longtai Platform and subduing the world, did he fade into obscurity, ushering in the Middle Ages. A-nan lived during the same era as the Demon Sovereign—over ten thousand years ago. How could he still be alive?
Had he voluntarily fallen into the cycle of rebirth, drowning in the bitter sea of suffering, repeatedly reincarnating, realizing Buddhist truths, yet forgetting his own identity?
In emptiness and oblivion, the bitter sea was like a dream, worldly matters illusory. Perhaps it was better to forget… Somehow, Meng Qi suddenly gained deeper insight into A-nan’s Breaking Precepts Sword Technique.
“What’s wrong?” Luo Shengyi and Ruan Yushu noticed Meng Qi suddenly freeze, staring blankly at the black mysterious paper in his hand. They returned to his side, puzzled and inquiring.
The characters were large, clearly visible to both, yet they couldn’t understand why the phrase “Originally Like This” held such immense power, causing Meng Qi—who was usually calm and composed in critical moments—to forget the urgency of their current situation.
Meng Qi took a deep breath and smiled: “I thought the Devil Patriarch would leave behind martial arts insights, but I never expected such a strange phrase. I was just momentarily surprised.”
Since Luo Shengyi and Ruan Yushu weren’t that close to him yet, Meng Qi decided not to tell them about A-nan’s Breaking Precepts Sword Technique for now. He would discuss it later with Jiang Zhiwei and Zhang Yuanshan upon returning.
Right now, he felt a bit wary and cautious. If A-nan were still alive, would there be hidden dangers in practicing the sword technique? Was A-nan’s strange survival somehow related to the sword technique?
Before clarifying this matter, Meng Qi resolved to practice and use A-nan’s Breaking Precepts Sword Technique less frequently… However, he soon let out a bitter smile. In the perilous world of reincarnation, without relying on A-nan’s Breaking Precepts Sword Technique, he would have already perished long ago. Just like this mission, which was originally meant to guide new recruits with relatively low danger, his choices had continuously escalated the difficulty. He had used the Breaking Precepts Sword Technique repeatedly, and even consumed one of his only two uses of the Thunder God’s Mark.
Of course, the corresponding rewards were also richer.
“I must quickly learn other Exo-Techniques and not rely entirely on A-nan’s Breaking Precepts Sword Technique!” Meng Qi resolved firmly.
After retrieving the crystal and steadying his mind, Meng Qi hastened his steps, dashing alongside Luo Shengyi and Ruan Yushu toward the Fourth Prince’s residence in Wanghou Lane. By this time, the uproar and thunderstorm within the imperial palace had already unsettled half the capital.
Beyond the palace walls, the rain and lightning ceased. The trio hurried forward and soon arrived at the Fourth Prince’s gate.
“I have urgent matters to report to the Fourth Prince regarding the upheaval within the palace,” Meng Qi directly told the gatekeeper.
The Fourth Prince had been disturbed by the commotion but couldn’t yet determine the situation, so his estate was brightly lit, heavily guarded, though no one came or went.
Recognizing Meng Qi, the gatekeeper dared not delay and immediately went inside to report to the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince, decisive by nature, personally came out to meet Meng Qi, accompanied by the aged Sword Sovereign—clearly prepared to prevent any assassination attempt by Meng Qi in this dangerous situation.
Meng Qi’s mind stirred, and he solemnly said, “Your Highness, I offer you two ‘swords.’ Which one will you choose?”
The Fourth Prince sensed the hidden meaning and gravely asked, “Which two swords?”
Meng Qi’s expression turned solemn: “A sword possesses its aura—its edge is sharpness itself, its blade forged from iron, its spine courage, its hilt willpower, its grip self-sacrifice. It severs heads above and pierces livers and lungs below. In fury, blood sprays five paces; within inches, foes collapse like fallen kingdoms. It is the sword of vengeance and justice, sweeping across the world—such is the swordsman’s blade.”
The other sword embodies the blade of wise warriors, the edge of incorruptible scholars, the spine of virtuous men, the hilt of loyal sages, and the grip of heroic men. Straight, it cannot be halted; raised, none can surpass it; lowered, none can resist it; wielded, none can rival it. It follows the heavens above, aligning with the three celestial lights; it follows the earth below, responding to the four seasons; it harmonizes with the will of the people, bringing peace to all directions. When this sword is drawn, it thunders forth, and within the four borders, all submit and obey the ruler’s command—this is the sovereign’s sword.
“Your Highness, which sword will you choose? Will you discard the other?”
The Fourth Prince was deeply moved. Even the Sword Sovereign showed slight emotion, and the surrounding soldiers and swordsmen gazed at the Fourth Prince, hearts pounding, awaiting his decision.
The Fourth Prince clasped his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth a few times. His expression gradually hardened as he looked at Meng Qi and declared solemnly, “I choose the sovereign’s sword.”
As the words left his mouth, it seemed as if he had severed something, and his entire demeanor lightened. The guards and swordsmen were visibly excited.
“Really? If Your Highness chooses the sovereign’s sword, will you give all the swords in your study to us?” Meng Qi asked, testing him with an intense gaze.
About ten swords in the Fourth Prince’s study were exceptional weapons, while others were famous blades with historical backgrounds.
The Fourth Prince laughed heartily: “The sovereign’s sword is not held in one’s hand. If you, Meng, desire them, you may choose any from my collection, except the two gifted by my master.”
A master was like a father; the swords he gave could never be given away.
As soon as he spoke, he fixed his gaze on Meng Qi and the others, waiting for them to provide intelligence worthy of the swords.
“The Crown Prince has assassinated the emperor. The Left Chancellor has poisoned him. The emperor is dead!” Meng Qi finally delivered the shocking news.
At a time like this, gaining intelligence just fifteen minutes earlier could allow one to react faster and accomplish more than others!
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