Chapter 177: Chapter 66: Zhao Qing Enters the Realm

The matter with Wenhai was just a minor interlude for Wang Ping. Allowing him into the courtyard to help handle the Patrol Envoy’s official documents was something Daoist Zi Luan was pleased to see, and it also made it convenient for Wang Ping to monitor Wenhai.

Li Xingwen had been right. Daoist Zi Luan would subconsciously scheme no matter what he did; it had become one of his twisted pleasures.

After the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, Liu Shuang moved to the Mountain Peak Dojo. She needed to familiarize herself with the environment in advance, as she had calculated her advancement would be sometime after the Spring Festival of the following year.

「Early in the second month.」

As Wang Ping awaited news from Lv Wen, a dazzling pillar of light composed of Water Spirit Qi suddenly gathered in the sky above the back mountain.

Zhao Qing, who had been in Death Seclusion for decades, was unexpectedly breaking through to the next realm without any warning.

Yu Lian was the first to dart out. She had been rather quiet lately, likely because she was at a critical point for her own advancement but had yet to show any signs of a breakthrough. The Water Spirit Qi stirred by Zhao Qing’s advancement gave her a faint sensation.

Wang Ping followed close behind. He rose into the air, and upon seeing the disciples gathered outside the Water Institute, he drove them all away with a gentle wave of his hand.

Zhao Qing was breaking through in his independent Dao Field, surrounded by a Spirit Gathering Array built from Water Spirit Spiritual Objects. The array was now forming an azure light screen, looking utterly pure and flawless. The pillar of Water Spirit Qi falling from the sky created brilliant, beautiful ripples around his body, as if it were dancing gracefully with his divine soul.

"This is the inspiration of the Water Spirit. It requires an exceptionally strong spiritual sense to resonate with it. During this process, one’s mind must be calm and as gentle as water, or they won’t be able to capture the Water Spirit’s vibrant inspiration."

Yu Lian explained from beside Wang Ping, "Zhao Qing has gained much from his years in Death Seclusion. The Water Spirit inspiration within his divine soul is very active, so he’s passed this stage perfectly. However, Water Spirits can be mischievous sometimes, and this state can last for quite a while."

"How long?"

"It depends on luck. Maybe a day, maybe ten, but no more than a month at most," Yu Lian explained. "I played with them for half a month when it was my turn."

For Zhao Qing, it took six days. After the six days, the Water Spirit Vein gathered around him grew calm. Once the Water Spirit had quieted, he brought out the Spirit Vein he had nurtured with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, intending to merge it with the Spirit Vein cultivated inside his body.

"Something’s wrong!"

Yu Lian’s voice was laced with confusion. "Water Spirits don’t just have a gentle side; they also have a violent one. When they rampage, they can destroy and tear apart anything. But look at him now—it’s as if he’s completely unaware of this step. He’s actually trying to merge the Spirit Veins now."

Wang Ping frowned. Zhao Qing’s condition was exactly as Yu Lian described.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"I’m sure!"

The moment Yu Lian spoke, the previously calm Water Spirit Qi suddenly began to roil. Simultaneously, a frenzied downpour materialized within the Spirit Gathering Array.

As the rain echoed, the divine soul above Zhao Qing’s body appeared startled, and the expression on his physical body below twisted into a grimace. Wang Ping didn’t dare to rashly probe with his Wood Spirit Qi and could only look to Yu Lian.

Yu Lian understood and was about to investigate when the meditating Zhao Qing suddenly opened his eyes. Seeing Wang Ping in the sky, he shouted, "Senior Brother—"

Before he could finish, his mouth was covered by a mass of blue crystals, followed by more crystals piercing through his skin.

Before Wang Ping could even think of a way to save him, Zhao Qing’s entire body was engulfed by wildly growing Spirit Vein crystals from within. Then, the rampaging Water Spirit Qi inside the Spirit Gathering Array began to slam into the crystals. With a series of crisp pops, the crystals shattered like bubbles.

Witnessing this, Wang Ping’s gaze hardened. He descended abruptly, and a wave of Wood Spirit Qi swept out, completely suppressing the rioting Water Spirit Qi in the Spirit Gathering Array.

SPLASH... SPLASH...

Wang Ping walked through the pooled water in the courtyard, carefully examining Zhao Qing’s condition.

The man was beyond saving. The Water Spirit Vein inside him had almost completely mutated. A tiny wisp of Spiritual Qi still circulated in his Qi Sea, but his bones had been forced out of his body along with the erupting crystals. His internal organs were scattered across the ground, spilled from his torn-open flesh.

Yu Lian used her tail to pick up the Water Spirit Vein that had fallen to the ground. It was an azure crystal that looked like solidified water, with streams of deep blue light occasionally flowing within it.

Wang Ping’s expression was calm. He summoned two Golden Armor Soldiers. One began to tend to Zhao Qing’s body, doing its best to gather his organs and place them back inside. The other soldier pulled a Secret Technique manual from the mass of crystals.

The Secret Technique manual had a yellowed cover with two words written on it: *Water Binding*. Wang Ping quickly scanned its contents with his divine soul, but the light screen panel failed to appear.

’There’s a problem with the Cultivation Technique?’

Wang Ping took a deep breath and looked to his right as Yu Cheng Taoist descended from the sky.

Yu Cheng Taoist glanced at the Secret Technique in Wang Ping’s hand, then at Zhao Qing’s unsalvageable remains. He sighed and said, "There is no end to villains."

"They’ve gone too far this time."

Wang Ping said this softly, a knot of raw emotion tightening in his chest.

To prepare for this one advancement, Zhao Qing had spent decades cultivating his character, restraining his desires, and not even daring to glance at the outside world for fear of being influenced. And this was the end he met. In his current state of mind, Wang Ping simply could not let this injustice stand.

"You need to calm your mind. Only when you are calm can you handle matters effectively and see things with clarity," Yu Cheng Taoist said softly.

Yu Lian landed on Wang Ping’s shoulder and nuzzled his cheek with her head.

"Master is right!" Wang Ping bowed to Yu Cheng Taoist, then his body transformed into a streak of light and returned to his Dao Field. There, he calmed his mind and sank into meditation.

「Three days passed in a flash.」

Wang Ping awoke from his meditation, his composure restored. Yu Lian, perched on a branch, said, "Little Qianqian has been waiting outside for a full day."

"Let her in. We can take care of this at the same time."

As Wang Ping had expected, Hu Qianqian was here to report on the transaction involving the Outer Realm Demon Soldiers. She had negotiated with Lv Wen and his wife on Wang Ping’s behalf, and the initial terms of the handover were all settled. Now, Wang Ping needed to go and speak with Zi Luan.

"I feel like I’m about to fall into a deep sleep," Yu Lian interjected after Hu Qianqian and Wang Ping finished their conversation.

"How long will you sleep this time?" Wang Ping asked.

"Around three months," Yu Lian estimated, then added, "Go on and handle your business. Little Qianqian will keep me company."

"Alright. I’m going to Jinhuai Prefecture. I’ll be back as soon as I’m done."

"Okay!"

After Yu Lian agreed, Wang Ping shot into the sky. He dispatched a Golden Armor Soldier to the Dao Fields of Liu Zixiu and Xingshan, then sent them a voice transmission: "Come with me."

"What’s this about?" Liu Zixiu asked as the Golden Armor Soldier lifted him into the sky.

"It’s time for a confrontation."

"With whom?"

"With the one playing the game this time."

After pondering for a dozen breaths, Liu Zixiu said, "It is indeed time for a confrontation."