Chapter Seven: Riding the Whale to the Clouds, Walking the Mists to Grasp the Secrets of Creation

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd outside the door, Chen Shuijun and Chen Zhian truly finished their meal. After eating, Chen Zhian tidied up the dishes while Chen Shuijun stood up, gently smoothing his sleeves before stepping forward and exiting the small courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, the nobleman clad in purple waited calmly, never pressing them to hurry. Only when Chen Shuijun emerged and came beside him did he turn, walking shoulder to shoulder with Chen Shuijun as they went away.

In the alley, the silver-robed youth, exuding an imposing aura, watched the two walk away before folding his hands behind his back and entering the courtyard. He saw Chen Zhian busily clearing the dishes and scrutinized him from head to toe. Suddenly, he sneered, “I thought Chen Shuijun never let you study for the exams, but surely he would have taught you cultivation methods. At seventeen or eighteen, even if you haven’t reached the True Essence realm, you should at least be transforming and nurturing your qi. Yet, I never expected you to lack even a trace of vitality.”

Chen Zhian straightened up and frowned at the newcomer. He saw the man’s face was proper, but the sarcasm in his tone was unmistakable, igniting Chen Zhian’s stubborn nature. He recalled that his thrifty father had allowed the purple-robed man to wait for them to finish eating, so likely, that man wouldn’t kill him over a few words… Besides…

“These rich brats are truly rude. Yesterday it was Zhou Xiujing, and today this silver-robed youth is no different,” Chen Zhian thought with disgust. He resolved not to endure any longer and snorted coldly, “None of your business.”

The silver-robed youth’s expression immediately froze before he frowned and stepped forward. “How bold!” As he spoke, the air around him shifted abruptly, the aura swirling like a fierce wind that stirred the pear blossoms on the ground and swept straight toward Chen Zhian.

Chen Zhian felt the surrounding air grow thin, making it hard to breathe. A heavy weight seemed to press down on him, forcing his body to bend involuntarily.

“You lack strength but can’t tolerate insult. If this were the capital, I’d have smashed your face long ago,” the silver-robed youth chuckled, narrowing his eyes at Chen Zhian. “But since I’ve come to Su Nan Prefecture, selling a few favors to Uncle Li, I won’t make you kneel and beg for mercy. Just bow to me once, and I’ll forgive you.”

The boy’s slow words exploded like thunder in Chen Zhian’s ears.

Chen Zhian gritted his teeth, refusing to bow. “Trouble even at home? These rich brats truly don’t regard others as human,” he thought bitterly, recalling his father’s words from earlier.

“Noble men often become fiends and demons—they love to devour flesh and blood!”

“But I’ve died once already—why should I fear you?” Chen Zhian’s stubbornness, rooted deep from a past life, surged forth. He took a deep breath and straightened his back with force.

Bow to you? Dream on!

He resolved firmly, even as the strange, peculiar pressure made breathing difficult. Just then, a warm current suddenly flowed out from his navel, spreading through his body. Chen Zhian immediately felt the pressure ease.

“This warm aura is exactly like the qi in the ginger tea,” Chen Zhian realized the source at once.

The silver-robed youth let out a light “huh.”

“Looks like I misjudged. You’ve actually transformed qi, but… a seventeen or eighteen-year-old at the Qi Transformation stage is truly unimpressive.”

The youth laughed loudly and took another step forward, his aura suddenly intensifying.

As the fierce wind-like aura surged toward Chen Zhian, his heart sank. At that moment, a voice suddenly came from outside.

“Third Young Master Si has arrived at Qi Huang Street. This old man failed to greet you properly—my apologies.”

The fierce wind-like aura vanished instantly.

Chen Zhian immediately felt a wave of relief mixed with dizziness, staggering slightly as he nearly lost his footing.

Turning his head, he saw at the alley’s entrance an elderly man with snowy white hair, accompanied by a young girl. The old man’s face was weathered, but his spine was straight and his eyes resolute. The girl wore a white embroidered cloak, her hair in two braids, her cheeks rosy and adorably curious as she looked at the two youths in the courtyard.

“Junior pays respect to General Iron Arm,” the youth called Third Young Master Si turned, a smile appearing on his face as he saluted the elder.

“Uncle Li and I came to Su Nan Prefecture unexpectedly. We had planned to visit General Iron Arm later…”

“Is your General Si Yuanqiao well?” The elder interrupted with a smile. “In his youth, I fought alongside him at Iron Buddha Mountain. I still remember his legendary spear, ‘Azure Sky,’ sweeping through the thirteen Hu cavalry of the Northern Kingdom, terrifying their soldiers! As he fought, he sang loudly, the song echoing for miles—

‘Enemies crushed, banners down, Hu intestines trampled in Hu blood!
Suspended Hu in the azure sky, buried Hu beside the purple frontier!’

Though this was over ten years ago, the memory remains vivid.”

The elder slowly approached the courtyard gate where Chen Zhian stood.

Hearing this, Third Young Master Si became even more respectful. “My second uncle often spoke of General Iron Arm. He said that in the biting frost and withered desert grass, the Northern Kingdom’s ten thousand riders charged Iron Buddha Pass. Though there was no iron Buddha there, only General Iron Arm stood firm, resisting ten thousand enemies with nine hundred armored soldiers. If not for that battle weakening the general’s foundation, our Great Yu would have had another perfect Jade Gate cultivator.”

“Jade Gate perfection…” The elder squinted, seemingly lost in recollection. After a few moments, he slowly shook his head, “Jade Gate perfection is rare in the world. I am old now, my cultivation stagnant, my divine image fading—only an old bear remains.

In contrast, General Yuanqiao is fierce and progressing. The famed Iron Spear Azure Sky has stained the blood of countless heroes these years… Among the top hundred riders in the world, he ranks forty-second. Perhaps in a few years, he’ll ride the whale to the clouds, stepping into the realm of Creation, truly ascending in one leap.”

The elder’s tone held a hint of melancholy, whether for his age or his dwindling strength was unclear.

Third Young Master Si, hearing such praise for his elder, felt honored and smiled proudly. “On the world’s Rider’s List, my second uncle recently advanced further. Ranked forty-first is the great craftsman Wu Youqing from Wei, who forged the Thunderfire Sword for Creation Master Xu Yuchan, exhausting his true essence. Though he created a sword ranked ninth on the Ancient Forged Stele, his cultivation greatly diminished; his divine image ‘Furnace Fire’ has died, removing him from the Rider’s List.

It’s both admirable and lamentable.”

Though he spoke of lament, his smile was bright, not sorrowful.

“Is that so?” General Iron Arm’s eyes showed rare sadness. “The Wei craftsman traveled the world seeking masters. When we met in Shengzhou, he told me he would one day forge a true master’s famed weapon to enter the Ancient Forged List, forever remembered in history. It seems he has fulfilled his wish.

Yet… he is not young, and having lost his divine image, his days are likely few. Whether it was worth it, who can say?”

The general’s voice was heavy with emotion. The girl with two ponytails suddenly glanced at Chen Zhian nearby and spoke up:

“Since General Yuanqiao is already forty-first on the Rider’s List and at his age, the Si family can advance further in Xuantian Capital. Third Young Master Si will thus be honored. With his status and ranking on the Tiger Cub Stele, he will soon enter the Xuantian Capital army as a company commander or a thousand-man commander. Why trouble a mere commoner boy?”

Her voice was crisp, tinged with mockery, staring directly at Third Young Master Si.

The young master looked to General Iron Arm, who seemed lost in memories and had not heard the girl’s words. At once, Third Young Master Si understood.

“Could someone like General Iron Arm really not hear what’s said beside him?”

He thought to himself, showing no displeasure. Turning to Chen Zhian, he smiled, “Hou Gui did not intend to trouble you. My father and Uncle Shuijun have been friends for years. Today, General Xuanzi and I came to visit out of curiosity and to test you. I did not expect your cultivation to be so weak and regret making you uncomfortable. This is my fault.

Miss Haohao and I are half disciples in the capital. Surely she knows I never bully the weak.”

“Si Hou Gui, don’t flatter yourself. Who says you’re a fellow disciple?” Shen Haohao frowned, sneering, “I heard in the capital that your family hired a matchmaker for the Li family. You came all this way with General Xuanzi to Su Nan Prefecture. Everyone knows your true intent: just to get a final letter from Uncle Chen…”

“Haohao!” General Iron Arm finally snapped lightly.

Shen Haohao snorted coldly and fell silent.

Third Young Master Si’s silver robe fluttered gently in the spring breeze. His handsome face bore no anger, not even acknowledging Shen Haohao’s rudeness, simply saluting General Iron Arm.

“Meeting General Iron Arm by chance is truly a blessing… though today’s visit was somewhat abrupt and unprepared. Tomorrow, Uncle Li and I will surely call on you. I take my leave.”

With General Iron Arm’s reply, Si Hou Gui turned without a glance at Chen Zhian, leaving the courtyard with the black-clad men.

General Iron Arm Shen Yue seemed saddened by the news of the Wei craftsman’s nearing end. Shaking his head, he urged Shen Haohao to return home early and waved to Chen Zhian before turning and departing.

At that moment, only a bewildered Chen Zhian and the scrutinizing Shen Haohao remained in the courtyard.

After studying Chen Zhian for a while, the plump-faced girl finally looked surprised. “Your aura is so chaotic. Haven’t you cultivated?”

Chen Zhian shook his head.

Shen Haohao was greatly astonished. “Then how do you transform qi?”

Chen Zhian sharply recalled the cup of fiery ginger tea he drank yesterday. He pondered and smiled, asking, “What is qi transformation?”