The goose-yellow brocade robe swelled with surging Light-attributed Spirit Power.
The calm composure on Xue Qinghe's melted away like ice.
In its place—
Was unrestrained joy, rushing toward a belief worth any sacrifice.
Her figure shot out of the woods like an arrow loosed from its string.
No longer following the proper path of the official road—
But plunging into a steeper, harsher mountain track.
Her robe was torn by thorns as she ran, and her hairbun came loose, flying wildly in the fierce wind.
"Sigh…"
Porcupinefish's expression soured.
"Our young master is this happy about Li Zhexian."
"If something were to happen to Li Zhexian…"
Snake Lance's brows furrowed.
He had thought Porcupinefish would say, if Li Zhexian betrays the young master—but unexpectedly, it was Li Zhexian's safety he fretted over.
He recalled how the young master had only just returned at dawn today.
Placing a grass-woven locust under the flower that gleamed with morning light.
At that time, the young master's face had been lit with the joy of holding a treasure.
Thinking of this, Snake Lance's frown deepened.
If something were to happen to Li Zhexian... he didn't dare to imagine what the young master would do.
Xue Qinghe ran wildly toward the high cliffs in the distance. The fierce mountain wind whistled in her ears, stinging her cheeks.
The rough rocks scraped the soles of her boots, but she paid no mind, not slowing down for a second.
At last—
She reached the cliff's top.
The mountain winds, freed from restraint, grew wild and unbound.
Tearing wantonly at her flying hair.
And in that instant—
Light spread outward like water.
Xue Qinghe's figure faded, and Qian Renxue stood tall and elegant in his place.
Her golden hair streamed down like a waterfall in the wind.
Her brocade was gone, replaced by flowing white garments that fluttered like clouds.
As long as she was to see Li Zhexian, she would appear in her most breathtaking form—
adorned in every inch of scenery his eyes could take in.
Qian Renxue stood at the top of the high cliff, looking toward the winding end of the official road below, waiting for that white-robed young man to appear.
Perhaps it was because they had been suppressed in Heaven Dou City for too long, but everyone, except for Li Zhexian, was visibly excited.
"I love this feeling of galloping into the jianghu!"
Yu Feng eyebrows danced with excitement. "It's exactly like being the protagonist in a storyteller's tale!"
At those words—
All eyes drifted to Li Zhexian.
Wasn't Li Zhexian the living, breathing protagonist of those storytellers' tales?
Without the legends of "Sword Wine," the business of storytellers in Heaven Dou City and the surrounding towns would likely be a lot colder.
"I envy Zhexian too much."
Yu Tianheng shook his head, sighing:
"Last time I returned to the clan to cultivate, and so missed the trip to Star Dou Forest."
"When I came back, Yu Feng and Osler wouldn't stop bragging about it in front of me."
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling smiled as they looked at Li Zhexian.
That journey into Star Dou—
Had indeed been the most thrilling, the most unforgettable adventure of their lives.
It seemed that whenever they traveled with Li Zhexian, they were swept into that world of passion and peril, the true spirit of the jianghu.
Meeting the burning gazes of his companions—
Li Zhexian raised his whip, pointing toward the mountain peak at the end of the road.
"My fellow friends of the Jianghu, how about we have a race to see who can reach the top of that mountain first?"
"Good!" Seven voices rang clear in answer.
As soon as the words fell—
Hooves thundered like a storm-drum.
Eight figures shot out like arrows loosed from the bow.
Having entered and exited the Star Dou Forest several times, and even journeyed to the Wind Sword Sect, Li Zhexian's horsemanship far surpassed the other seven.
He surged ahead in the lead.
Galloping across the open ground beneath the cliffs like lightning.
But just then—
Li Zhexian's heart suddenly stirred. As if sensing something, the corner of his eye caught a fleeting glimpse of a beautiful figure at the top of the cliff.
Li Zhexian subconsciously tightened his reins, and his horse's speed abruptly slowed.
Behind him—
Seven companions galloped past with joyous shouts.
Li Zhexian suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed on that stunning, golden figure on the cliff.
Qian Renxue…
She truly had come…
He could almost imagine how Xue Qinghe, who had just bid him farewell at the Heaven Dou City gate, had crossed mountains and valleys to get here.
The distance was a bit far now. Li Zhexian couldn't clearly see Qian Renxue's expression. But he could very clearly feel her gaze on him.
In that silent exchange—
A single, soft and brilliant golden light fluttered down from the isolated, high cliff. It was not of the mortal world, as light as if it had no weight
Yet, it was unusually stable in the fierce mountain wind, carrying a sacred and warm aura.
The golden light drew closer—
Until at last—
It landed upon Li Zhexian's open palm.
It was a feather. It glowed with a warm, golden radiance and carried a strange life-like pulse.
The record about rare objects from the Brewing's Record surfaced in his mind:
A dragon has an inverted scale; touching it will incur wrath. An angel has a propitious feather, sacred and unstained by the mundane world.
Li Zhexian's gaze trembled.
So—
This was a Sacred Feather from Qian Renxue's Angel Martial Soul?
The warm touch of the feather in his palm seemed to penetrate his skin, reaching straight for his heart.
Li Zhexian suddenly looked up, his gaze once again fixed on the top of the cliff.
The mountain wind was still roaring fiercely, but that beautiful figure had vanished without a trace.
Li Zhexian gazed down at the feather in his palm for a long time before tucking it away close to his body. Then, he took a deep breath and shook his reins.
"Hyah!"
His steed neighed, hooves flashing like lightning as it surged ahead once more.
Just as Yu Tianheng and the others neared the mountain's foot—
Li Zhexian swept past them again like the wind.
"Whoa—"
He sharply pulled on the reins. Li Zhexian stopped firmly at the agreed-upon foot of the mountain.
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the rest soon arrived after him.
Looking at Li Zhexian's messy hair, the seven of them still had the flushed excitement on their faces. "Zhexian, you're still the best. What delayed you just now?"
"Were you deliberately letting us win?!"
Li Zhexian took his wine gourd, tilted his head back, and took a drink, smiling without a word.
Yu Tianheng and the other four were about to press him, but Li Zhexian's gaze had already swept past them, looking toward the distant, now empty, isolated cliff.
Then he tapped his heels to his steed, galloping forward again.
...
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stood firm upon the Fulong Mountain Range outside Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The range coiled like a slumbering dragon, its peaks stretching beyond sight.
At its heart, nine peaks reigned supreme.
Eight towering mountains encircled the central main peak, known as Yuming.
Before the mountain gates, a great river surged past, curling in the shape of the character "J."
Behind the gates lay the Thunder Valley, where storms raged year-round without end.
After more than half a day's journey—
Li Zhexian and his companions finally arrived at the foot of Yuming Peak.
Everyone looked up at the stone steps that pierced straight to the mountaintop, hidden in the clouds and mist. Their faces were filled with awe.
"This is the foundation of my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Yu Tianheng's voice brimmed with pride.
Yu Feng, Osler, and the Shi brothers gasped in wonder.
Dugu Yan was comforting Ye Lingling, who was afraid she couldn't climb the mountain.
Li Zhexian also nodded in praise. "The Upper Three Sect are truly worthy of their reputation."
A gleam of heat flickered in his eyes.
On the road here—
Yu Tianheng had already spoken of many wondrous places within the clan.
And among them—
It was that Thunder Valley, with lightning ever raging—
That most stirred Li Zhexian's heart.
"I wonder if the Thunder Valley will be as mysterious as the Wind Eye of the Wind Sword Sect."
"Perhaps it may help me comprehend the Fourth Form of the Qinglian Sword Song…"