Stellar Transformation-Chapter 168: Episode 8: Qin Yu Returns - 5 - Skyward Killing Intent
Time had flown by, and over a month had already passed.
Outside the Capital of the Ming Dynasty, as soon as True Master Yan Xu arrived, the Ming Dynasty began massive construction efforts. Not only did they mobilize all 400,000 soldiers of the Central Guard Army, but they also enlisted the help of a large number of civilians. In just one short month, they rapidly built a residential area.
Most of these residences were made of wood, bamboo, or stone, and were surrounded by a tranquil environment with small bridges over running water. Even True Master Yan Xu was satisfied after seeing them.
That night.
True Master Yan Xu, True Master Huo Tian, True Master Di Feng, Dongfang Yu, and five other disciples from the Chaoyang Sect, along with Emperor Zhu Yan of the Ming Dynasty and dozens of his subordinates, waited quietly outside the city. They all knew that tonight, two thousand cultivators from the Chaoyang Sect and surrounding sects were due to arrive.
According to their speed, they should have arrived during the day. However, True Master Yan Xu, considering that they might be seen by ordinary civilians during the daytime, had the group stay by the seaside first and wait until late at night to come over.
"Two thousand Upper Immortals, Your Majesty, are there really so many?" a pretty woman whispered beside Zhu Yan. This woman was Zhu Yan’s most favored concubine. Although the matter was highly confidential, Zhu Yan still informed her and brought her along.
Zhu Yan’s throat ’gurgled’ as he also whispered back, "I’ve only heard about it myself. Don’t speak, just wait quietly, and you’ll see."
Zhu Yan and his group were all anxious in their hearts.
To every mortal in the Hidden Dragon Continent, the status of an Upper Immortal was supreme. If the Emperor represented the pinnacle of power, then the Upper Immortals were the pinnacle of strength, unreachable. Yet tonight, two thousand Upper Immortals were coming.
Two thousand!
"They’re here."
True Master Yan Xu said calmly, a hint of a smile playing on his face.
The status of True Master Yan Xu, True Master Huo Tian, and True Master Di Feng was extraordinary. On the Hidden Dragon Continent, it was common for any of them to mobilize tens of thousands of cultivators, so two thousand cultivators naturally wouldn’t surprise them.
In a moment, in the pitch-black night sky, vague figures appeared and then plunged from the sky at high speed. In just an instant, two thousand cultivators landed on the ground, and the leader bowed deeply, saying, "Chaoyang Sect’s Dongfang Nian greets True Master."
Following that, only the leaders of the other sects bowed and paid their respects, while the rest of the cultivators knelt on one knee, shouting in unison, "We greet True Master!"
Their voices echoed through the air, but since it was curfew, no civilians dared to come out and see.
"Sect Master Dongfang, and other Sect Masters, please rest for a day or two. We can talk about the search for the Black Jade Box after a day or two. Please do not worry, sects from within a million miles have already dispatched their forces here. It’s just that some are coming from farther away and will take a few more days to arrive," True Master Yan Xu said with a light smile.
Dongfang Nian responded with a smile, "We will follow True Master’s orders. True Master, I hope my son hasn’t bothered you during this period."
That Dongfang Yu was very respectful at the moment.
True Master Yan Xu stroked his beard and laughed, "Sect Master Dongfang has raised his son well; this young man from the Dongfang family truly knows manners."
At this moment, Emperor Zhu Yan of the Ming Dynasty, his beloved concubine, and all his subordinates felt their hearts pounding violently. Hearing about two thousand Upper Immortals was one thing, but seeing two thousand Upper Immortals fly down from the sky was another matter entirely.
Sword Control Flight.
To any mortal, flying in the sky was the mark of an Upper Immortal. Usually, seeing a single Upper Immortal flying past in the sky was astonishing enough, but now the sky was filled with Upper Immortals descending, and everyone present was stunned.
Zhu Yan may have been the Emperor, but he still had greater fortitude. He stepped forward respectfully and said, "Sect Master Dongfang, the residential area has been prepared for you and the others to stay in."
Dongfang Nian glanced at the nearby residential area and nodded in approval.
******
Qin Yu had spent these past few months very happily—chatting with his brothers when he had nothing to do or allowing the ’mighty’ Li’er to trounce his older and second brothers in chess. Li’er’s terrifying skill at chess soon spread far and wide, to the point where even the so-called Chess Saint of the Capital had to admit defeat.
Qin Yu was also concerned about how Little Lu and Tie Shan were doing nowadays.
He later learned that Little Lu had married a talented man named Tang Yuan, styled Qing Lan, a few years ago. Tang Yuan was a renowned and extremely talented artist and calligrapher of the Qin Dynasty, whose every word was worth its weight in gold. The couple was said to be very happy together. As for Tie Shan, he was the commander of the military in Tang Yuan’s city, Su Yan City, in charge of the city’s troops.
Knowing that Little Lu was leading such a blissful life, Qin Yu was not in a hurry to visit her. He wanted to see his father, the King, first, and then go to see Little Lu and Tie Shan—as they were his childhood friends.
...
In the Yu Royal Mansion of the Qin Dynasty Capital.
At this moment, Qin Yu leaned against the railing of the pavilion, while Miss Li’er was playing Go quietly with an old man with white hair. It had been so long since they started that the sky had already darkened.
"Hey, Elder Su, you’re still playing Go with my Miss Li’er, eh? Alas, isn’t that just asking for a loss?" Qin Yu said with a smile.
Miss Li’er showed no reaction at the moment, probably because Qin Yu had returned to his old home and was in such good spirits that he became increasingly outspoken. He often teased Miss Li’er. At the beginning, Miss Li’er would punish Qin Yu by pinching his ear in anger. Now, Miss Li’er merely glared at Qin Yu.
That Elder Su was no ordinary person, he was known as the number one national Go player of the Qin Dynasty.
Since the Chess Saint of the Capital had indisputably been defeated by Miss Li’er, this senior from Upper Sparrow County had made a special trip to the Capital. He began to learn Go from Miss Li’er. To be honest, Elder Su’s Go skills were indeed terrifyingly good.
But that level of greatness was in Qin Yu’s eyes. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
In Qin Yu’s eyes, Miss Li’er’s skill in Go was described as "beyond what a human could achieve."
There was suddenly a trace of joy on Elder Su’s face, and he glanced at Qin Yu and chuckled, "Miss Li’er’s Go skills are superb. However... Lord Yu, I too have been playing Go all my life, and they say there’s no substitute for experience."
Miss Li’er remained calm and continued to play Go with a smile.
After a while, as soon as Miss Li’er played a move, Elder Su’s expression changed.
Elder Su looked for a moment and then shook his head, "Miss Li’er, you, you, you actually targeted my entire big dragon. No wonder you didn’t strike harshly just now. So that’s it, a bait of sacrificing to gain, such clever craftsmanship indeed. I admit defeat."
Elder Su conceded with conviction.
Falling into someone else’s trap yet remaining blissfully unaware until it was too late, even Elder Su’s Go skills hadn’t allowed him to spot Miss Li’er’s trap in time.
"Playing Go with Miss Li’er every day gives me something to gain," Elder Su was a pleasure to be around, not getting angry even when he lost, but instead being quite happy.
Qin Yu laughed, "Elder Su, how come you change clothes every day? I understand... the special clothes you wear for playing Go, you think they bring luck. But you change every day and still lose. I think you should not bother changing tomorrow."
But Elder Su stubbornly said, "I’ll change tomorrow."
Qin Yu was speechless.
The Go masters had quite a few who believed that some clothes were lucky for them, increasing their chances of winning when worn. But despite Elder Su changing clothes time and again, he never won a single game.
"Alas, it seems...there are no clothes left to change into," Elder Su suddenly frowned, "Well, let’s save some money, no more changing."
Having played so many days in a row, despite Elder Su’s not insubstantial family wealth, he had gone through all his clothes already.
"Miss Li’er, I’ll take my leave first and come back tomorrow for another game," Elder Su said smilingly, and Miss Li’er replied with a smile, "Elder Su’s Go skills are superb, and your mid-game and endgame plays are extremely fierce, it’s only the opening setup that is somewhat lacking."
Elder Su smacked his lips and said, "Miss Li’er, it’s not that my opening game is lacking, it’s that you’re too strong. Your opening moves are too ingenious, with creativity soaring freely. It takes dozens or even a hundred moves before one sees their brilliance. I am utterly convinced in my defeat."
After Elder Su left, only Qin Yu and Miss Li’er were left in the pavilion.
"Li’er, Father and Uncle Feng have been in seclusion, and though by all accounts they should be finished in a month or two, these matters are quite uncertain. I’m planning to visit my teacher, General Zhao Yunxing, first since I can move quickly," Qin Yu suddenly felt an urge to see his first teacher, Zhao Yunxing.
Li’er nodded and said, "Alright, if you want to go, you should go. If anyone asks, I’ll cover for you. If your father comes out of seclusion, I’ll notify you immediately with a Communication Order."
"Great, then I’ll be counting on you, adorable Miss Li’er."
Qin Yu said with a smile, and after finishing his words, he turned into a meteor and shot away.
...
Back when Qin Yu was still known as the ’Assassin Meteor’, he had already looked up Zhao Yunxing’s residence. Being a great general, his residence was naturally easy to find.
Flying through the sky, Qin Yu was not in a big rush.
Thinking of his soon-to-be reunion with his teacher, Qin Yu couldn’t help but recall various moments from the past, whether it was the first time he chose Zhao Yunxing as his teacher or the harsh training that followed, Qin Yu kept it all deeply etched in his mind.
"Hm?"
Qin Yu frowned and then took out a Communication Order; it was from Yan Rui, the first of the Eight Guardians, informing that the ten thousand guards of the Star Pavilion had arrived at the Hidden Dragon Continent under the lead of the Four Great Guardians.
"Good, continue flying north, and you will see a huge primordial forest where you can temporarily station yourselves. Wait until I have arranged your accommodations, then fly to the Qin Dynasty Capital!" Qin Yu directly ordered his subordinates.
That primordial forest was where Qin Yu had built a simple wooden boat when he first left the Hidden Dragon Continent.
It only took a moment for Qin Yu to arrive at the General Mansion. After a sweep with his Spiritual Sense, Qin Yu’s brows furrowed; he did not find his teacher, Zhao Yunxing, but only Zhao Yunxing’s son, Zhao Yanyun.
...
Zhao Yanyun had already been promoted to General, about to take over command of the army from his father, but was now ordered by the Emperor to reflect at home. Zhao Yanyun did not resist. Instead, he stayed at home with his wife and children, earnestly reading military texts.
While deep in thought in the pavilion, Zhao Yanyun suddenly heard a familiar voice—
"Big Brother Yanyun."
Zhao Yanyun turned his head to look, and was taken aback: "Third Prince!"
In the past, after Qin Yu had killed Xiang Yang, armies from various regions gathered at the Capital. Later, Zhao Yunxing brought his son to meet Qin Yu, and over those few months, Qin Yu got to know Zhao Yanyun very well, and they formed a good relationship.
"Third Prince, you’re back, that’s great, when did you return?" asked Zhao Yanyun excitedly.
Qin Yu smiled, "It’s been a while. By the way, where’s teacher? How come he’s not in the General Mansion?" Qin Yu asked with confusion.
The previously excited Zhao Yanyun suddenly hesitated, then sighed, "Third Prince, father... he has passed away. He died on the battlefield!"
Dead?
My teacher is dead?
Qin Yu’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, and his mind felt like it had been struck by thunder, reverberating with a tumultuous roar. After several deep breaths and the clear stream within the Meteor Tear flowing through his mind, Qin Yu managed to calm down.
"Big Brother Yanyun, you said teacher is dead, died on the battlefield? How could that be? Teacher had reached the peak of Outer Strength, how could he possibly be killed on the battlefield? It’s absolutely impossible!" Qin Yu said in disbelief, unable to accept such a reality.
Fire blazed in Zhao Yanyun’s eyes: "Of course, it wasn’t ordinary soldiers who killed him; it was an Upper Immortal from the Ming Dynasty. If it wasn’t for that Upper Immortal, ’Jialing Pass’ would have been breached by my father long ago. But they were too despicable, they had an Upper Immortal kill my father."
"An Upper Immortal? From the Ming Dynasty? I understand now."
A terrifying murderous intent flashed in Qin Yu’s eyes.
"Whoosh!"
In a flash of light, Qin Yu completely disappeared, leaving Zhao Yanyun stunned. However, in a moment, he was greatly alarmed— he knew what Qin Yu intended to do.
...
"Yan Rui, lead the ten thousand troops to the Qin Dynasty Capital first. This is the map."
Qin Yu’s eyes were filled with icy determination, as he swiftly conveyed the necessary information through his Spiritual Sense.
Now was not the time to go to the Ming Dynasty, but to the Imperial Palace. He sensed something unusual. His teacher was killed by an Upper Immortal from the Ming Dynasty, so why hadn’t his elder and second brothers informed him? With the temperament of the Qin Family, they would never tolerate this. What exactly had happened?
Wars involving an Upper Immortal would undoubtedly involve his father, the king, and now his father was in seclusion? Could it really be such a coincidence?
******
Night, outside the Imperial Palace.
Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, the secluding Qin De, and Feng Yuzi, all four stood silently; they opened their Spiritual Senses fully and waited carefully for Qin Yu. Since they learned from Miss Li’er that Qin Yu had gone to ’General Zhao Yunxing’s’ house, they knew they couldn’t keep it secret any longer. Now, they all came out to stop Qin Yu.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of light shot across the sky at high speed.
"Yu’er." Qin De and the others had already sensed Qin Yu’s aura and immediately communicated with him using Spiritual Sense, but within a flash, Qin Yu had descended.
"Father, Uncle Feng," Qin Yu exclaimed upon seeing his father. He guessed something must have happened. His father appeared neither early nor late, but right after he visited the General Mansion, confirming his suspicions.
Just as Qin Yu was about to ask questions, his face suddenly changed dramatically—
Both his father and Uncle Feng had lost an arm!!!
"Who did this? Father, who did it? Was it the Upper Immortals from the Ming Dynasty? Did they kill Teacher Zhao Yunxing, and did they sever your arms? Weren’t there only two Upper Immortals? Don’t you both have Middle Grade Spiritual Artifacts? How could this have happened to you? What exactly happened?"
Qin Yu pressed on, questions pouring out without pause, as he teetered on the edge of madness.
Qin De looked at Qin Yu with a smile: "Yu’er, calm down. It’s just an arm that we lost, not our lives. I know your temperament, and I will not hide it from you. Yes, originally there were only two Upper Immortals from the Ming Dynasty, but now there are five, one of whom is the Young Sect Master from Chaoyang Sect."
Feng Yuzi said, "Little Yu, Chaoyang Sect is the number one cultivator sect within a million miles, with thousands of disciples. My Qingjian Sect simply cannot compare with them, and that Young Sect Master is even an expert at the early stage of the Nascent Soul. He only severed our arms out of disdain..."
Anger surged within Qin Yu.
Disdain?
Severing his father’s and Uncle Feng’s arms out of disdain, in the eyes of a Young Sect Master from the Chaoyang Sect, indeed, two Golden Core Stage cultivators from the Hidden Dragon Continent amounted to nothing, not even worth dirtying one’s hands over.
"Arrogant enough," Qin Yu’s eyes brimmed with the intent to kill as he envisioned the scene.
That arrogant Young Sect Master, casually severing the arms of his father and Uncle Feng, blood spraying everywhere...
Qin De, seeing the look on Qin Yu’s face, said sternly, "Yu’er, remember, you must endure until you have sufficient strength. It doesn’t matter if your father lost an arm, but you absolutely must not act rashly. Only with enough power can you take revenge. Otherwise... if you die, your father’s lost arm will have been for nothing. Do you understand?"
Qin Yu’s fists were so tightly clenched that his knuckles turned white.
Qin De knew his son’s character well.
He believed that once his son realized the insurmountable gap between himself and the Chaoyang Sect, he certainly would not rashly seek death. Qin Yu would only take such a risk if he felt at least a fifty percent chance of success in his revenge.
"Little Yu, don’t be impulsive," Qin Feng and Qin Zheng also looked at Qin Yu with concern.
Qin Yu was the Qin Family’s only hope.
Although they longed for revenge, they would rather forgo it than see Qin Yu throw his life away.
"Chaoyang Sect! Upper Immortals of the Ming Dynasty! Death!!!" Qin Yu’s deep voice rose, as if coming from hell, "Father, wait for me here. I will return soon." With these words, Qin Yu quickly turned around.
"Little Yu, don’t," Qin De hastily said, never expecting Qin Yu to be so impetuous.
Suddenly—
Like an endless rain of arrows breaking through the air on a battlefield, the sound made Qin De, Feng Yuzi, Qin Zheng, and Qin Feng all change their expressions.
"It’s the sound of extremely fast Sword Control Flight, so many people!" Feng Yuzi’s face paled.
Sword Control Flight, the cultivators’ method of movement, and the sheer number of people making a sound akin to a sky full of arrow rain—there was no time for further thought as countless figures descended like an obscuring barrage of arrows.
A dense crowd landed just outside the city.
With unified voices, the throngs of cultivators kneeled on one knee, while the four leading figures bowed with utmost respect.
"Greetings to the Pavilion Master."
The sound echoed through the skies!
PS: Chapter three arrives, exceeding five thousand words. I’m seeking monthly votes, please take a look at the gap on the monthly ticket leaderboard. Help by casting a monthly vote, thank you!
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