Wandao 013
Autumn frost had just arrived, and the morning mist had yet to disperse. Three li east of Niupu Village, the Stone Forest Valley remained shrouded in dense grey fog, untouched by the morning sun. Amid the stone groves, shadows flickered, and the wind murmured faintly, as if whispering in secret.
Wan Xiaochuan, clad in a deep green robe with faintly glowing spirit patterns at the cuffs, stepped into the valley entrance. In his hand was the Wind-Thunder Sword, which moved in tune with his thoughts, the sword's intent naturally dispersing his presence. At this point, he had steadily reached the sixth layer of the Qi Refining realm; his meridians had expanded, his dantian had stabilized, and the twin spirits of wind and thunder flowed through his body like dragons and serpents, gradually taking shape.
Lin Qixian followed closely behind. He wore a grey-white short robe, a pouch of spirit insects at his waist, and bore a vigilant expression. In his hand was a talisman of spirit wood that emitted a dim glow—his own creation, a "Spirit Insect Detection Charm" capable of sensing disturbances.
The two had been tasked by Xiang Chengdao to investigate the recent anomalies outside the village following the spirit herb trial. It was rumored that villagers walking this path at night had seen ghostly shadows flitting among the stones, with sinister winds blowing and even spirit beasts avoiding the area.
"Xiaochuan, do you feel that?" Lin Qixian frowned slightly. The insect pouch trembled, and a faint, weeping chirp of insects could barely be heard.
Wan Xiaochuan stood silently for a moment. His Wind-Thunder Sword quivered slightly. As the air currents reversed, he spoke in a low voice, "Thirty feet southeast, the aura is distorted—as if something is hidden by a concealing array."
No sooner had he spoken than a deep, beast-like roar echoed from the cliffs. With it came a wave of dense, malevolent demonic energy.
Lin Qixian instinctively stepped back. "That's no spirit beast... it's demonic aura! And thick—like corpse gas mixed with miasma. If this is the work of a demon, we may not be its match."
Just as they were preparing to retreat, a figure suddenly appeared in the mist, walking toward them.
The man was burly and rotund, at least nine feet tall, dressed in loose greyish-blue Daoist robes. A heavy jade gourd hung at his waist. His gait was slow, his expression kind, with smiling eyes, resembling a kindly old candy vendor from the market.
"Oh my, oh my! What are two young fellows doing deep in this poisonous mist so early in the morning? This place is not fit for lingering."
Wan Xiaochuan narrowed his eyes slightly and asked calmly, "And you are...?"
The man halted and laughed heartily. "This poor Daoist is surnamed Qi, given name Shu—people call me Uncle Qi. I've been wandering these lands in recent years, seeking spirit insects and herbs for alchemy and poisons. I heard there was something strange in this valley today, so I came to take a look—and stumbled upon two fine young talents."
Lin Qixian and Wan Xiaochuan exchanged a glance. The latter gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"So it is Senior. I am Wan Xiaochuan, and this is my companion, Lin Qixian. We've been ordered to investigate the anomalies outside the village. Sensing the oppressive demonic aura here, we suspect something unusual is at play."
Uncle Qi rubbed his round belly and chuckled, shaking his long sleeves. "There's some demonic qi, yes. But… it may not necessarily be the work of a demonic cultivator. Sometimes underground spirit veins shift, or cursed grounds revive, and such murky air is born."
Wan Xiaochuan said nothing, but quietly circulated the Wind-Thunder True Art to secretly probe the aura around the man.
To his shock, he found that although Uncle Qi showed no clear signs of spiritual fluctuation, he was like a still pond—so calm that not even a ripple stirred. His cultivation… was impossible to discern!
"Ahem, Xiaochuan," Lin Qixian suddenly whispered through a transmission spell, "That gourd on his waist… it's not filled with pills—it's soul energy!"
Wan Xiaochuan's heart tightened. He was just about to respond when the mist surged violently—a single-eyed demonic wolf covered in bone spines burst out from between the rocks, howling as black mist surged toward them.
"Stand back!"
Uncle Qi waved his palm, and the gourd at his waist spun. A strand of black-green vapor shot out like a thread, instantly entangling the demonic wolf.
The beast froze, its eyes hollowed out for several breaths before its body twitched and exploded into a puff of black smoke with a loud bang.
"This demonic wolf was barely formed. Nothing of concern." Uncle Qi shook his head, tone calm. "No need to panic. However… this area may need to be sealed off for a time."
Wan Xiaochuan frowned deeply. "Senior Qi, is there a greater source of demonic energy here?"
Uncle Qi laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder. "Just a bit of demonic qi. If there were a true demon here, would there be only one stray wolf? You youngsters worry too much."
With that, he swept his sleeve, and his figure vanished like smoke on the wind.
The Wind-Thunder Sword let out a faint hum, lightning flashing briefly. Wan Xiaochuan exclaimed, "What speed… and not a trace of spiritual fluctuation left behind. As if he never appeared."
Lin Qixian's expression turned grim. "That man… is no benevolent soul."
A flicker of resolve lit up in Wan Xiaochuan's eyes. He turned toward where the demonic aura had dispersed and murmured, "From today on, I must grow stronger—not just for myself, but to protect everyone around me."
The morning mist slowly lifted. Sunlight slanted through the valley, illuminating the side of his sweat-slicked face, his sharpness undiminished. The winds of thunder had not ceased, and with a newly forged will, the first true shadow on his path to immortality had finally fallen.