172 - Divine Mastering Dragon System

Chapter 172: Flight Tai Xu Zong, nestled in the heart of the Central Continent, stands as the unchallenged leader in the human cultivation world. Its prestige is unmatched, boasting a boldness that sets it apart from the likes of Yu Cang Shan and Tian Ji Men, sects hidden in the secluded mountains. While cultivators typically refrain from worldly matters, and the mortal realm remains under the control of human emperors, sects like Tian Ji Men, which exert control over entire cities, are rare and distinctive. Nearly seven centuries ago, the 325th sect master of Tai Xu Zong took a disciple as a partner, a union that drew the envy of everyone as a celestial match. However, their happiness was short-lived; although she was among the strongest in her era, the female cultivator tragically succumbed to old illness during childbirth. During the ensuing panic of leaderless chaos, the disciple courageously assumed the position of sect master, initiating numerous reforms to consolidate Tai Xu Zong's dominance. One such reform relocated the sect from Wu An Shan to a nearby town, marking the sect's foray into the secular world and the expansion of its influence. This shift signaled Tai Xu Zong's meteoric rise to an unshakeable position in the cultivation world, embodying a move from previous restraint to bold audacity. Setting aside these histories, Qin Miao truly admired this sect master. Before his rebirth and before rising with the Dragon Bone Saber, when he was oppressed by others, he would occasionally read about this revered figure's life. The young Qin Miao would silently equate this life's journey to his own and his mentor, dreaming of becoming a man worthy of his mentor's recognition. Why did he choose to act the way he did... Perhaps it was for this very reason that the young man now found himself in a remote town, close yet infinitely distant from Tai Xu Zong's main grounds. The splendid structures spread along the mountains and onto the plains, with countless mortals coming to seek immortality at its gates. Qin Miao was once again starkly aware that his youthful dreams were utterly unattainable. He donned a cloak and followed the crowd into the distant town. In his arms, he carried two broken wooden tokens, looking haggard and disheveled. Last evening, after realizing his plan had failed, he was stunned, akin to being struck by lightning, not knowing what to do for a long while. Eventually, he stole a disciple's identity token and, under Xiang Shi Yan's name, deceived the mountain guardian elder to activate the protective barriers, allowing his escape. Qin Miao dared not linger on his journey. He knew Xiang Shi Yan was intolerant of deceit. What driven madness had led him to such an action, believing he could deceive his astute mentor? The so-called memories of a past life had lent him unwarranted confidence, mistakenly believing Xiang Shi Yan would willingly submit to him and foolishly hoping to revert the disastrous present to the miserable past states of his previous life. "..." The young man clenched the wooden tokens, feeling the jagged edges dig into his palm. He realized his mistake but was unwilling to submit to punishment, holding onto a sliver of hope. His guilt and self-reproach were overshadowed by his self-preservation. Limping, he stumbled into a deserted alley, facing an ash-gray wall. Taking a step forward, he passed through it into a bustling black market, thriving under Tai Xu Zong's glory. The "Song He Tang" force, controlled by Xiang Shi Yan, was established in her youth while searching for her estranged father. She believed the fox demon would continue wandering the mortal realm, given humans' insignificant and harmless nature but their intense emotions more delectable than those of weathered cultivators. Until about twenty years ago, the woman had roamed far and wide but returned to Yu Cang Shan due to her elder sister’s marriage, taking up duties at the unmanned Mo Zhu Peak. Consequently, Song He Tang's behind-the-scenes master began actions supporting the sect as an elder, slowly integrating into the cultivation world's underbelly. Despite its relatively new footing, Song He Tang held little sway in the black market, heavily limited by competitors. Nevertheless, Qin Miao took refuge here, close to Tai Xu Zong, where tensions with Yu Cang Shan limited sect interference, offering him temporary shelter. Qin Miao held no illusions that after Xiang Shi Yan's anger subsided, his situation would improve. He accepted the need to live a life on the run, finding it tragically absurd. In his past life, he fled unduly accused, to evade Tai Xu Zong's pursuit. Now, he relied on his enemies' power to survive, while his mentor—once striving to clear his name—had turned into his greatest threat. How could this not be laughable? Ultimately… he had wronged her. Passing a quaint shop adorned with a crane-adorned plaque, Qin Miao lowered his cloak as he swiftly passed by, sighing quietly. Despite seeking refuge here, he dared not rest in the black market's inns, fearing it would draw Song He Tang's attention. Luckily, over four years of traveling, he had made a few friends toward whom he could turn. Qin Miao had resolved to rest tonight, suspecting Xiang Shi Yan couldn't react immediately, then depart by dawn to a friend's and eventually reach the demon territory, escaping Xiang Shi Yan's reach. Considering it, the demon tribe's uprising of his past was nigh; arriving now might allow him to leverage his foresight to right his wrongs. Turning a corner, nerves frayed, even the deserted lane incited panic. Adjusting his cloak, he concealed his face to find some solace. It dawned on Qin Miao that he missed something earlier: although Xiang Shi Yan wasn't present, the teaware lay shattered like clumsy discards. Meaning, she should have succumbed to his potent sleeping drug… intending to blame the innate defense of the Jade Fox tribe. Where had she gone? Did she realize the drug, moving away in confusion? Assuming that, he thought he might still find her if she couldn't go far. Could someone have taken Xiang Shi Yan away before Qin Miao noticed her absence? A shiver ran through him at the thought of suffering the consequences while someone else benefitted, and this angered him. Immersed in this turmoil, Qin Miao collided unpredictably with a passerby in the narrow alley, nearly jumping out of his skin, them being startled by him in mutual surprise. The passerby cast a strange glance, recognizing Qin Miao's face wasn't the kind to fetch a bounty and snorted: "Watch where you're going." Cold sweat trickled down Qin Miao's forehead, heart pounding madly as if it would leap from his throat. Realizing it wasn't Xiang Shi Yan or Yu Cang Shan's pursuers, he exhaled weakly, apologizing with cupped hands. Just a false alarm. Qin Miao leaned against the wall, wrestling free from dread, only for his clothes to soak with sweat in nervous tension. Why fret? Even with messaging artifacts, rallying forces so quickly was beyond Xiang Shi Yan. Logic dictated that even if she learned of his location, reaching him would take at least a day, well after his departure. Laughing at his skittishness, the young man wiped his brow in the dim alley. Instantly, the chilling voice behind him turned him cold as ice. "Why does Senior Brother seem so tense?" He He's consistent, gentle tone sharply echoed through the quiet alley. Qin Miao's face drained of color; the voice was unmistakably He He's, yet he had deduced that not even Xiang Shi Yan could find him so swiftly, let alone from faraway Yu Cang Shan. Why was He He here? He neither knew nor wanted to ponder the darker implications lurking behind. His neck stiff as wood, it took ages to turn halfway to see her frail presence. This was undoubtedly the sister disciple he suspected was destined to supplant him— the prophesied child of destiny. Ah, had he now shifted from the chosen to the scourge needing eradication? Staggering, he retreated, "...He He…" He He leaned casually against the wall, watching Qin Miao with a playful, cat-and-mouse gaze that belied the difference in their cultivation levels. She smiled and spoke, "Addressing each other as senior brother and sister seems rather unsuitable now. Should I call you Qin Miao or perhaps Gu Qin Song?" A sudden surge of heat and cold rushed through Qin Miao's spine, anxiety and surprise climbing up his back. He found himself suddenly afraid of this version of He He, as if his emotions were no longer his own. Fragments of someone else's memories flashed before his eyes, like a fleeting montage. He envisioned a slightly taller woman than the girl before him, with sharper features and an expression of aloof disdain. A woman perpetually calm in white robes. In his chaotic thoughts, Qin Miao vaguely saw an ancient dwelling atop a steep cliff, a tall tree by a cascading waterfall, and a stone table littered with dry leaves. Everything seemed so tangible, yet like an endless cycle of tragedy, and this time, he was the one who had lost. In confusion, he asked, "Who... are you?" "Why not inquire with the lingering spirit within your spine—your father, grandfather, great-grandfather—see if they recognize me. Or perhaps, ask yourself who I am?" "Master..." Strangely, with the shadow of death looming so close, Qin Miao's mind buzzed, almost prohibiting thought. Instinctively, he uttered this title. He He approached him with a smile. "You don't actually think Xiang Shi Yan is pursuing you in a fit of rage, do you? Quite unluckily for you, she realized the twins had left Yu Cang Shan while searching for you. She's now frantic over them, long forgetting about you." "How pitiful." The girl stood before him, leaned closer, and whispered in his ear, "Even after all you've done, you remain insignificant in her eyes." Insignificant... Qin Miao suddenly felt a surge of powerlessness. Whether it was the looming specter of death he couldn't resist or Xiang Shi Yan's indifferent attitude from afar, the sense of helplessness was overwhelming. A strange familiarity emanated from the girl before him, as if they’d been acquainted long ago. But that familiarity wasn't from the individuals in the recent montage of memories. "Tell me, who am I?" she teased, like a predator with her prey, carefully enunciating each word. "...Xuan Jiu." 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