Qing Yun and Liu Li understood what was being said, but the disciples from Tianjian Peak looked thoroughly confused.
Seasoned and steady, Ji Wusi continued, "Why have the Four Great Holy Lands remained prosperous for millennia? Why do nearly all the great heroes of this world come from them? Is it simply because they gather the finest talents?
That's part of it, but not the whole truth. What truly keeps the Holy Lands thriving is the vast, boundless fortune they've accumulated over endless years—Qi Luck.
Every time a genius joins, the sect's Qi Luck increases.
When a sect earns admiration, its Qi Luck grows again.
Eliminating evil, safeguarding the Dao, acquiring treasures—all of these boost Qi Luck.
Countless disciples of the Holy Lands contribute day after day, building up a torrent of Qi Luck that sustains their dominance.
This Qi Luck benefits not just the sect but the individual. It manifests as good fortune for the disciples—easier breakthroughs, smoother cultivation, and higher chances of attracting resources. And as more talented cultivators emerge, they, in turn, strengthen the sect's Qi Luck even further.
It's a cycle. One that naturally makes the Holy Lands stronger and stronger."
Ji Wusi looked toward Yun Jin, his voice steady. "As long as Qi Luck remains, the Holy Land will endure."
Yun Jin abruptly raised her head.
That sentence—was he hinting at something?
Was he teaching her how to eliminate Qingxiao Pavilion?
Ji Wusi smiled lightly. "A sect is essentially a vessel for collecting Qi Luck. In this region, Qingxiao Pavilion dominates the flow of Qi Luck. It distributes it to subordinate sects based on rank: superior, upper, middle, and lower. If Tianxing Sect is elevated to an upper-grade sect, it will receive a substantial boost in Qi Luck. With that, Xiao Jin, you'll find your cultivation improving more smoothly as well."
"And if Tianxing Sect becomes a superior sect," he added, "the Qi Luck will increase even more."
Yun Jin's eyes gleamed. "...Then what about becoming a Holy Land?"
It was a simple question, yet the ambition behind it was unmistakable.
Ji Wusi didn't seem surprised. He smiled again and replied slowly, "There are two possibilities. First, find an unclaimed region, develop it until it thrives, then claim its Qi Luck and cultivate it. If the accumulation reaches a certain level, you may birth the Fifth Holy Land.
Second, seize the Qi Luck from an existing ruler. Destroy the foundation of a current Holy Land, and rebuild a new one from its ruins."
Yun Jin fell into deep thought.
Either way, it all started with Qi Luck.
"But, Master," she asked, "Qi Luck is intangible. How does one gather it? Or steal it?"
Ji Wusi answered patiently, "Qi Luck is elusive by nature. The Four Holy Lands each possess an immortal artifact that anchors their Qi Luck. These treasures gather and stabilize Qi Luck over time. Shrouded in violet light, they allow observers to perceive the strength of a sect's Qi Luck. To collect it yourself, you would need an immortal artifact and a suitable method to direct and bind the flow."
As for stealing it, that's more complex."
He paused to think before continuing. "Suppose a sect possesses a peerless genius. That person, by nature, attracts great Qi Luck. If you defeat them, a portion of their Qi Luck may transfer to you. Or if you compete for a treasure and succeed where they fail, a part of their fortune will likewise shift to you. Over time—centuries, millennia—you might accumulate enough to found your own Holy Land."
Spoken like a true Swordmaster of the Kunlun Sword Sect, always thinking in spans of a thousand years.
Yun Jin stored his words in her heart.
But waiting thousands of years? That wasn't an option.
Compared to finding a wild, unclaimed land and nurturing it, wouldn't it be far easier to steal Qingxiao Pavilion's Qi Luck directly?
The question was—how?
That, she would have to ponder carefully.
Ji Wusi noticed her serious expression and chuckled.
He hadn't expected to go into so much detail. Surely, he didn't really believe Yun Jin could destroy Qingxiao Pavilion?
But giving his disciple a clear goal was not a bad thing.
They did say that ambition was fuel for growth.
"What I meant earlier, about raising Tianxing Sect's rank, ties into this," he said. "In every region, the number of superior and upper-grade sects is fixed. That rule was established thousands of years ago. Even if Qingxiao Pavilion is unwilling, they're obligated to share some of their Qi Luck. If Tianxing Sect rises in rank, it means taking a slice of Qingxiao Pavilion's fortune. No matter how you look at it, it's a win."
Yun Jin nodded slightly.
So now the path was clear.
First, she had to help Tianxing Sect rise in rank and pull more Qi Luck away from Qingxiao Pavilion.
Second, she needed to nurture more outstanding disciples. If those disciples could surpass Qingxiao Pavilion's in every area, they could gradually wrest Qi Luck away, strengthening Tianxing Sect in the process.
In short—
To bring down Qingxiao Pavilion, she had to strip away its Qi Luck first.
And she couldn't do it alone.
She needed a powerful sect to stand behind her.
Now that Zhao Wujie was no longer a threat, Tianxing Sect would make the perfect testing ground.
Ji Wusi had no idea his few offhand remarks had planted a full-blown plan in Yun Jin's heart.
Feeling she now had direction and motivation, he decided not to press further.
Just then, Qing Yun spoke. "Xiao Jin, what are your thoughts on Ye Danxia?"
Ye Danxia?
Ji Wusi and Liu Li looked puzzled. The name was unfamiliar.
Why bring up someone unrelated now?
Qing Yun arched a brow. "Over the past few days, Qi Yu has been staying at Tianjian Peak. One of the Tianxing Sect's disciples, Huo Lie, invited him for tea several times. With nothing better to do, he went. On his way, he ran into a young woman named Ye Danxia. She was walking while reading from a book, muttering to herself—clearly studying alchemy."
"Qi Yu said he felt oddly drawn to her and struck up a conversation. Despite only recently beginning her studies, she seemed to have potential. The thought occurred to him, maybe he should take her as a disciple."
"Ye Danxia must have sensed his interest. Out of nowhere, she burst into tears and mentioned Xiao Jin."
Yun Jin: "..."
Going by Ji Wusi's explanation earlier, she had already stripped away part of Ye Danxia's Qi Luck by suppressing her repeatedly.
That explained her recent streak of good fortune.
But the heroine was still the heroine.
Even the remaining scraps of Ye Danxia's Qi Luck must be formidable.
Otherwise, how could a seasoned cultivator like Qi Yu feel compelled to take her in on a whim?
It had to be the protagonist halo at work.
===
[Concept about Luck]
In both the cultivation world and the mortal realm, there exists an invisible current that shapes destiny. It flows through people, sects, empires, and dynasties alike. This force is known by many names—Qi Luck, Ziwei Fortune, Destiny Qi, or simply, the Mandate—but at its heart, it represents the cosmic recognition of worth, merit, and alignment with the Dao.
Qi Luck, within the cultivation world, is the breath of prosperity that gathers around sects, individuals, and sacred lands. It is earned, not granted. Every time a sect nurtures a genius, defeats a demonic threat, secures a divine artifact, or earns the respect of the world, a portion of this fortune flows to them. It accumulates slowly, over decades and centuries, shaping not only the fate of the sect but of all who dwell within it.
The benefits are real, if difficult to quantify. Disciples blessed by Qi Luck experience smoother breakthroughs, rare encounters, and a strange harmony with heaven and earth. Even coincidence seems to favor them. And as they rise, they draw more fortune to the sect, continuing the cycle. In time, such fortune becomes self-sustaining—a torrent of destiny that shields and elevates.
To safeguard this force, the greatest sects possess immortal artifacts that act as anchors. Shrouded in violet radiance, these treasures draw in and stabilize Qi Luck, allowing their wielders to perceive and even direct the flow of destiny. The Four Great Holy Lands, rulers of the cultivation world, owe much of their millennia-long dominance to these hidden sources of fortune.
Yet Qi Luck can also be stolen. Not easily, and never without consequence—but it is possible. Defeating a genius whose destiny burns bright may draw away a portion of their Qi Luck. Claiming a treasure they were fated to obtain shifts the tide again. Fortune, after all, favors the strong. And in time, a cultivator who claims enough Qi Luck through merit or force may birth a new Holy Land from nothing.
But while Qi Luck reigns in the world of cultivation, its counterpart governs kingdoms and emperors. This is Ziwei Luck, sometimes called National Fortune—the manifestation of a ruler's destiny, sanctioned by Heaven.
Ziwei Luck is more singular and personal, entwined with the monarch and their dynasty. It is the spiritual foundation of their reign, visible to the wise as purple qi that shields the emperor and stabilizes the nation. As long as this qi remains intact, assassins falter, rebellions fail, and the kingdom endures.
Yet like all fortune, Ziwei Luck is not eternal.
There are only a few ways to strip it away. One may wait for the dynasty's natural decline—when corruption festers and popular support fades, so too does the Mandate. Alternatively, a rising contender with stronger fortune can clash with the incumbent. If their destinies conflict, the old and new will battle, and fate will choose its heir. Finally, karmic debts can erode imperial fortune from within. In such moments, even a ruler cloaked in Heaven's will may fall.
In times of peace, mortal kings and emperors are shielded by this luck, deterring even powerful cultivators from interfering. But this protection is not absolute. Should an immortal sect will it, they may dismantle an empire not with a single strike, but piece by piece—tearing down cities, severing spiritual roots, and unraveling the karmic web that binds a ruler to their throne. This is why dynasties rely on powerful backers. Without them, even the highest crown may fall to time and ambition.
Of course, the concept of Qi Luck is not exclusive to sects or empires. The principle applies across all layers of existence. By now, the essence of this system should be clear: luck, or fortune, is not random—it is a force, and like all forces, it flows in patterns. And these patterns fall into two fundamental categories:
Group Luck and Individual Luck.
Group Luck governs collectives. This includes immortal sects, mortal and immortal dynasties, powerful clans, merchant associations, religious orders, and even regional alliances. Whether it is a vast empire ruling ten thousand miles or a minor cultivation family with a single ancestral hall, all such entities are bound by the collective fate they nurture.
The strength of a group's luck is determined by its cohesion, legacy, achievements, and alignment with greater heavenly principles. In this sense, a sect that cultivates virtue, gathers prodigies, and upholds justice will naturally accumulate fortune, just as a virtuous ruler draws the Mandate of Heaven to their bloodline.
Likewise, their downfall often begins when this current is disrupted. Internal corruption, betrayal, loss of public faith, or an external rival systematically siphoning away their fortune—these acts weaken their karmic foundation. And just as an empire can crumble when its Ziwei Luck decays, a sect can fall when its Qi Luck is stolen, broken, or dispersed.
But Group Luck is only half the equation.
The other half is Individual Luck.
Some people walk through life as if guided by the heavens themselves. Opportunities appear where none should. Misfortunes turn into blessings. Powerful allies flock to them, and miraculous escapes become routine. These individuals are often known as the children of destiny—be it sons or daughters of Heaven, chosen by the Dao, or simply "protagonists" in the story of their world.
Their fate is so radiant it eclipses that of kings.
Their presence can tilt battles, change nations, and shake the foundations of established sects. Trying to harm such individuals is not merely difficult—it invites backlash. Just as striking at an emperor too early may invoke the wrath of Heaven, harming a Heaven-favored individual may bring misfortune to the attacker. Cultivators call this Heaven's Retribution or Backlash of Luck, the silent, unseen punishment for daring to wound one of the Dao's chosen.
This is why ancient sects and wise clans are cautious around promising unknown talents. Not because of their strength, but because of the mysterious current of fortune that shields them. To challenge one openly is to court disaster. To kill them outright? Even worse. The heavens may not strike with thunder, but fate has subtler tools—loss of reputation, missed breakthroughs, spiritual deviation, or slow ruin disguised as coincidence.
And yet, such protection in most cases does not last forever.
Just like dynasties can fall and sects can crumble, the luck of an individual can fade. If their karmic merit is exhausted, or if their actions turn Heaven against them, the radiant flow around them begins to dim. In time, they become no different from any ordinary cultivator—mortal, vulnerable, fallible.
To hasten this fall, enemies often resort to indirect methods. They challenge the Heaven-favored not head-on, but by stealing their opportunities, claiming the fated treasures meant for them, winning the allies destined to protect them. In this way, fortune is gradually eroded, stolen not in one strike, but drop by drop. Done subtly, this does not incur divine backlash. It is not murder—it is redirection. The same strategy used to dismantle sects and topple kingdoms applies here as well.
You do not destroy the chosen.
You make them no longer chosen.
And once their luck has thinned to the level of ordinary people, they can be dealt with like anyone else.
In this way, fate is not fixed. It is fluid.
Luck is not permanent. It is earned, spent, stolen, and lost.
And in a world governed by the Dao, understanding the flow of fortune is often more powerful than any technique or sword.