Xiao Qin's Grandfather, the Firebird's Feather

At the cave entrance.

"That Li Mo, the true disciple, entered the third layer of the Divine Edge Cave?"

"Damn, how did he even get in there?"

"He's done for. A few years ago, an inner disciple who had just reached the Inner Breath realm accidentally wandered into the third layer. By the time they rescued him, his body was riddled with wounds, and his mind was broken. Even after treatment, he was left drooling."

"Yikes... He won’t die on our peak, will he?"

"That’s Shang Wu’s disciple... Oh, I just remembered I left my laundry hanging at home. Gotta go."

The cave entrance was bustling, with many disciples abandoning their blacksmithing work to gossip.

If a true disciple were to meet misfortune in the Divine Edge Cave, it would be a major scandal for the Qingyuan Sect.

Murong Xiao paced back and forth, as restless as an ant on a hot pan.

"Brother Li is such a good guy... Please don’t let anything happen to him..."

As he muttered to himself, his spirits suddenly lifted.

"What are you all gathered here for? Get back to your duties!"

Han He strode forward, scolding the nosy inner disciples.

Shang Wu and Li Mo emerged from behind him.

Li Mo still wore his usual faint smile.

"Brother Li, are you alright? Do you recognize me? How many fingers am I holding up?"

Murong Xiao bounded over to Li Mo, waving his fingers in front of him.

"Five... Wait, don’t you only have five fingers?"

Li Mo thought this was some kind of riddle.

"What’s five plus five?"

"...Ten."

After a brief intelligence test:

"You’re not an idiot. That’s good."

Murong Xiao exhaled in relief, looking genuinely pleased.

Li Mo: "...Thanks."

Before they could exchange more words, Li Mo was promptly hauled onto a carriage by Shang Wu.

"Let’s go, old man."

Shang Wu cheerfully flicked the horse’s rear with her whip.

As the carriage gradually disappeared into the distance:

"Take care, Brother Li."

Murong Xiao waved after him.

Han He watched, puzzled.

Since when did his disciple know Li Mo so well?

No matter.

The Nine Peaks Tournament had nothing to do with personal relationships. When the time came, they would still have to compete.

No matter how prodigious Li Mo was, he had only just stepped into the Blood Qi realm. The gap between him and Murong Xiao was still vast.

But in the future... That might change.

"Xiao."

"In ten days, all new disciples will participate in the sect trials. From now on, you will train with me every afternoon to refine your martial techniques."

"Yes, Master."

Night fell.

The vast Qingyou Mountain Range was enveloped in silence.

In the outer disciples’ residence, a single room still glowed with lamplight.

Xiao Qin clutched an Empyrean Crystal, his cultivation now fully restored to the ninth meridian of the Blood Qi realm.

The crystal had already turned mostly gray.

This wasn’t solely his doing.

"Haah..."

"Tenth meridian! I’ve returned to the tenth meridian of the Blood Qi realm!"

Xiao Qin opened his eyes, his usually stern face breaking into a rare smile.

But then, he frowned at the now completely gray crystal in his palm.

"It’s completely drained? I shouldn’t have been able to absorb this much..."

"Of course you couldn’t. That was my doing."

A hoarse voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Who are you?!"

"My name... Well, that’s a long story."

Ten minutes later.

Xiao Qin sat in stunned silence, torn between shock and disbelief.

His cultivation had plummeted because of the jade pendant hanging from his chest—or rather, the old man inside it, who called himself the "Thousand Forms Martial Venerable."

If the old man was to be believed, he had once been far stronger than even the Qingyuan Sect’s patriarch.

And now, he offered to teach Xiao Qin, on one condition: once Xiao Qin grew powerful enough, he would help the old man regain his physical form.

"It seems the Seven Stars Ancient Pendant chose well. You endured hardship without abandoning the martial path, which is why I awakened."

The aged voice carried approval.

He was quite satisfied with Xiao Qin’s perseverance and talent.

"Since that’s the case, I’ll give you a gift—a token of our master-disciple bond."

As he spoke, the pendant glowed faintly, as if opening a tiny portal.

From within, a brocade pouch floated out.

"This pouch contains a feather from a Flame Sparrow. Though it only carries a trace of the True Phoenix’s bloodline, after my refinement, it’s still a rare treasure."

"Wear it, and evil shall retreat. It will also temper your body—its uses are boundless."

Xiao Qin held the pouch, warmth spreading through his limbs.

But he remained honest.

"If not for Li Mo, who gave me an Empyrean Crystal, I wouldn’t have lasted long enough to awaken you, Master."

"Empyrean Crystal?"

The old voice paused, then noticed the drained stone in Xiao Qin’s hand.

"Such crystals are exceedingly rare in the Eastern Wasteland Domain... And he just gave it to you?"

"Yes. Junior Brother Li is a man of noble character. Master, I’d like to repay his kindness by giving him this Phoenix Feather Pouch."

Xiao Qin’s eyes burned with determination.

With the old man guiding him, he wouldn’t face much danger. But this was a gift from his master—he couldn’t just hand it over without permission.

"Your gratitude is commendable."

"Once you achieve greatness, you can always support him in the future."

The Thousand Forms Martial Venerable didn’t object.

He preferred Xiao Qin to be loyal—it boded well for his own revival.

Besides, anyone who could casually gift an Empyrean Crystal must have some backing in the Eastern Wasteland Domain.

"Support Junior Brother Li?"

Xiao Qin laughed bitterly. "He’s a true disciple. I’m just an outer disciple."

He had personally witnessed Li Mo’s monstrous talent—mastering the Six Harmonies Fist in a single day.

"True disciples, at best, become elders."

"The Qingyuan Sect is just a minor sect in a single prefecture of the Eastern Wasteland Domain."

The old man’s voice grew solemn.

"Soon, you’ll leave this place and shine on a far grander stage."

"As my disciple, never belittle yourself."

"I will remember your teachings, Master."

Xiao Qin nodded, though hesitantly.

"You lack confidence in yourself—and in me."

"Fine. Tomorrow, I’ll see this Li Mo for myself. Let’s see just how extraordinary he is."

Reading Xiao Qin’s thoughts, the Thousand Forms Martial Venerable couldn’t help but feel curious.

But he quickly steered the conversation back.

"Your current cultivation technique isn’t suited for you."

"Listen closely. I will teach you the ‘Transforming Nether Heart Sutra.’"

"Thank you, Master!"

Xiao Qin focused intently.

Soon after, the old man fell silent, likely returning to slumber within the pendant.

Tucking the pouch into his robes, Xiao Qin began practicing the new technique with fervor.