Qingchuan City.
The sun hung high, its light fierce. In a corner of the city, a massive vermilion double gate loomed, steady as a mountain — like a crouching beast swallowing clouds and spitting mist, grown all the more bloodthirsty beneath the blazing sun.
This was the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall.
Unlike the terror and twists of his last entry into the city, this time Mu Yun walked in calm.
Yet beneath that calm, a growing alarm stirred in his chest. Qingchuan appeared as usual, prosperous and thriving, but Mu Yun knew well — a storm was brewing in silence.
Mu Yun stood before the gate, his eyes lifting slightly.
Above the lintel hung a gold-framed, black-backed plaque bearing four vigorous characters — "Wind and Cloud Martial Hall!" The calligraphy moved like a dragon brandishing a sword, its edge bared, as though it could cleave straight through a man's very spirit.
Two bronze lion-head knockers adorned the doors, their ancient patina still faintly exuding an aura of ferocity. The lion eyes, deep-set and sharply defined, seemed almost possessed of a living sentience, fixing him so that a chill crawled down his spine.
A cold light flickered in Mu Yun's eyes. His mind steady as bedrock, he raised his right hand and struck the gate heavily.
Dong—!Dong—!Dong—!
After a moment, the vermilion door creaked slowly open, and a burly figure stepped out.
The newcomer wore a martial tunic, his skin the color of bronze, his face carved like a blade. A pair of eyes bright as cold stars swept over Mu Yun, exuding the iron-and-blood aura of one long seasoned in slaughter.
"Who knocks?" His voice rolled like thunder.
"Please announce me — Mu Yun, seeking an audience with the Hall Master."
"Oh? Then come in. The Hall Master is on the training grounds." The burly warrior's gaze swept over Mu Yun, his brow lifting slightly, but he asked no further. He turned and led the way.
Through a long corridor and deeper into the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall, an open plaza came into view.
The sun blazed overhead, heat waves rolling.
On the plaza, more than a dozen bare-chested youths drilled in formation — their steps uniform, their movements swift and forceful.
Their shouts rose like thunder and surging waves, layer upon layer, churning across the grounds, faintly echoing the roar of a tiger.
Every motion cleaved wind and split stone, setting the air trembling — clear evidence of arduous cultivation.
At the very center of all this clamor, Lei Gang sat with hands behind his back, his expression calm, his gaze like lightning. In silence he watched the trainees, an indefinable pressure emanating from his form — as immovable as an iron tower.
Mu Yun and the guide halted at the edge. He watched the scene in silence, his face impassive.
Only when a round of drills concluded did the guide turn his head slightly and speak through transmitted sound: "Hall Master, someone seeks an audience."
At the words, Lei Gang slowly turned his head.
His gaze was indifferent at first, but as it swept over Mu Yun's figure, his brow twitched almost imperceptibly. The next instant, a glint of keen light flashed from deep within his pupils, and his expression shifted subtly.
He rose slowly and walked toward Mu Yun.
"Young friend, is it... Elder Zhu who sent you?" Lei Gang spoke, his tone no longer carrying the indifference of their first meeting.
His eyes now held a measure of appreciation.
Mu Yun did not move, only gave a slight nod. "It is."
Lei Gang's expression tightened, the corner of his eye twitching. Looking at this youth whose aura was deeply restrained yet whose edge faintly peeked through, he already had his judgment — this person had broken through to the Minor Subtle Realm.
In secular martial arts, the Minor Subtle Realm was a pinnacle existence; to enter it was to be called an expert in one's own right. That Mu Yun had reached this level at such a young age spoke not only of talent, but of the heritage standing behind him.
Lei Gang's heart stirred, his expression softening. He bowed slightly and waved a hand at the warrior beside him. "You may leave."
The man withdrew at once.
"Friend, please follow me." Lei Gang's tone was gentle now.
The two went one after another through corridors lined with racks of swords.
Before long, they arrived at an inner tea chamber.
The place was quaint and antique — lattice windows with hidden patterns, curls of white smoke rising from an incense burner, the fragrance of tea drifting through the air, carrying a quieting, spirit-focusing effect.
They had barely sat when Lei Gang asked gravely: "Friend, have you already broken through to the Minor Subtle Realm?"
Mu Yun said nothing more, merely nodded calmly.
"Good, good!"
Lei Gang repeated the word twice, clearly pleased.
"Come, come, friend, be seated."
Lei Gang gestured and took the main seat himself, his eyes falling on Mu Yun as he invited him to sit.
Before the tea table, aloewood incense curled. A blue-robed maidservant stepped in, her movements practiced, saying little, brewing tea with efficiency. The tea in the cup was emerald and clear, a delicate fragrance lingering in the air.
Lei Gang gave a slight nod after she served, and said softly: "Withdraw."
The tea room door closed slowly, completely sealing off the clamor outside. Only the soft lapping of tea water remained within, as though hiding hidden waves.
Lei Gang personally filled a cup to the brim and pushed it before Mu Yun; between the cups, tea steam rose. Then he lifted his own tea and blew gently.
Mu Yun gazed at the light and shadow reflected in his tea and finally spoke: "May I ask, Uncle Lei, why you summoned this junior here?"
"Oh?" Lei Gang paused, looking up at him, seeming somewhat surprised. "Elder Zhu did not mention it?"
Mu Yun shook his head, his expression placid.
Lei Gang gave a low laugh, a complex light crossing his eyes. "That figures. Your old patriarch has always acted in secrecy, fond of concealment."
He took a light sip of tea, then set down his cup, his voice turning slightly somber as he recounted the whole story.
It turned out that the Purple Water Chestnut Bamboo Mu Yun had cut in the past was no useless thing. Elder Zhu had been selling it to the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall all along, exchanging it for spirit coins and medicinal resources to supplement the household. At first it was mere trade, but after several exchanges, a substantial friendship grew between him and Lei Gang. Later, body-refining medicinal materials were also obtained from Lei Gang — all so that Mu Yun's blood and bones could progress further.
Until several months ago, Elder Zhu had used a rare Dragon Whisker Grass as a medium to obtain something from Lei Gang, while also making a promise: once Mu Yun's cultivation reached the Qi Refining stage, he would come to the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall as a hidden trump card — to aid Lei Gang in contending in the Qingchuan City Martial Tournament, and to fight for first place.
This had been arranged long ago.
"So that's how it is." Mu Yun nodded, his expression unchanged, though a faint ripple stirred in the depths of his eyes. He had never known that Elder Zhu had secretly laid out such a path for him.
"Uncle Lei, might I ask when this tournament... begins? And what are its rules?"
Lei Gang stroked his beard, sitting back as his expression grew solemn. He said slowly: "This contest is an ancient tradition of Qingchuan City, spanning nearly a century. Every five years, under the pretext of selecting talent through martial competition, they widely recruit young heroes. Originally, it was to choose city guards and elite soldiers for the old city lord; whoever won would be granted official rank and a protective seal, their status leaping overnight."
"But..." He paused, his gaze slowly turning cold, "ever since the Treasure Gathering Pavilion intervened, this tournament... has changed its flavor."
Mu Yun's brow furrowed slightly, his heart stirring.
Lei Gang glanced at him, his tone suddenly lowering. "Friend, have you heard of — the Treasure Gathering Pavilion?"
"The Treasure Gathering Pavilion?"
Mu Yun's heart jolted, though his face showed no ripple. His tone was flat as he said: "Naturally. Not long ago, I even went there to exchange some items."
Lei Gang nodded, his expression tightening. "In that case, it will be easier to explain."
He paused, choosing his words carefully, then said in a low voice:
"Ever since City Lord Mu took power, he has reached some agreement with the Treasure Gathering Pavilion. Since that tournament, the rewards for Qingchuan City's martial contest... have all been provided by the Treasure Gathering Pavilion."
His voice was not loud, but carried a heavy weight.
"Gold, silver, jewels, cultivation manuals — these are commonplace. In past tournaments... there even appeared a heavenly treasure capable of helping one break through to Foundation Establishment — the Foundation Establishment Pill."
At this point, Lei Gang's tone could no longer conceal its excitement, and a flicker of near-greedy desire surfaced in his eyes.
"The path of cultivation is no legend to us secular warriors at the Qi Refining stage. But stepping from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment is as hard as ascending to heaven — almost a dead end."
He slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. "For us... that single Foundation Establishment Pill is the only bridge we can see."
Mu Yun was silent for a moment, then asked: "If that is so — if the Treasure Gathering Pavilion can offer this pill as a prize, why can it not be directly exchanged for?"
"Exchanged? Of course it can..." Lei Gang gave a bitter smile, his voice low as stone. "But the price is so enormous that no ordinary noble clan or sect can afford it."
Mu Yun nodded slightly, his heart growing enlightened. How could a miraculous pill that allowed one to glimpse the threshold of Foundation Establishment circulate so freely? Even if the Treasure Gathering Pavilion claimed 'everything can be exchanged,' it must surely be locked away behind deep protections and immense profit.
Lei Gang's eyes flickered as he continued: "The Treasure Gathering Pavilion is no ordinary force; the rewards it bestows are naturally extraordinary. Thus, powers from far and near within and beyond Qingchuan City have flocked in. Every tournament is no longer a simple exchange of skills, but has instead become an arena for contending for power and treasure."
"There have been scions of noble houses who fell on the arena, dismissed as 'accidental mishaps'... and no one was held accountable. The name of martial competition has long since departed from its original intent."
He looked at Mu Yun gravely. "This tournament is no longer a gathering of martial arts. It is a contest of forces — open strife and hidden scheming, the strong fighting for their lives."
Pausing slightly, he lowered his voice: "This tournament begins exactly six days from now."
"As for the specific rules, they differ each session. Only at the very moment the tournament begins will the Treasure Gathering Pavilion itself announce them."
"This is also their measure to prevent secret collusion."
When Lei Gang finished speaking, he fell silent for a moment, his expression growing solemn. "Now, within the Wind and Cloud Martial Hall, only my foolish son Lei Yu and I have reached Qi Refining. With you added... we at last have three Qi Refining experts."
"If you aid us this time, our hopes of taking the championship... will increase by three parts!"