VHSTS CH16

Since ancient times, the human race and the demon race had been as incompatible as fire and water, locked in endless conflict.

The demon race consisted of demonic beasts that had cultivated into higher forms. As the saying went, “Those who are not of our kind are sure to have different hearts.” To compete for cultivation resources, humans and demons had waged war repeatedly since antiquity, accumulating a blood feud as deep as the sea with no room left for reconciliation.

Luo Jianqing was well aware of the great war Zuo Yunmo had mentioned—a brutal conflict that had raged for two hundred and thirty years. That war had been written in blood across the history of both races: three Demon Venerables had fallen on the demon side, while the human race had lost two Mahayana cultivators, one of whom had been the Peak Master of Taihua Mountain’s Haoming Peak, one of Luo Jianqing’s Shizu¹Shizu (師祖): Grandmaster or grand-uncle—specifically, a master’s master or a master’s senior martial brother.

However, Luo Jianqing had only cultivated for thirty-six years so far. The era he lived in had long since returned to peace—rivers clear and seas calm—with not a single war breaking out between the two races for a full century. High-ranking demonic beasts remained in closed-door seclusion, and the human race refrained from provoking disputes. Only cultivators below the Body Integration realm and demonic beasts below the eighth grade still clashed in border skirmishes, though full-scale war had vanished entirely.

Ten Thousand Beasts Ridge, which Luo Jianqing frequently visited, was a lawless buffer zone established between the human and demon territories. Demonic beasts below the eighth grade could enter freely, and cultivators below the Body Integration realm could step inside at will. There, life and death were left to fate, and wealth and glory to heaven; both races could vent their hatred and slaughter one another without restraint.

Zuo Yunmo’s soft chuckle echoed across the quiet courtyard: “Shixiong, although Beidou Zhenjun’s own strength was lacking, he accomplished numerous remarkable feats during that war and acquired quite a few treasures. The ruins you explored on this trial were actually his natal magic treasure, the Big Dipper Seven-Star Array—an Earth-grade formation capable of slaying Nascent Soul cultivators. It’s a pity the ruins have already closed; otherwise, you could have claimed it for yourself, and it would surely have been of great use in the future.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianqing curved his lips slightly and asked, “Shidi, since when did you become so shrewd and calculating?”

Zuo Yunmo replied helplessly, “The Sect Grand Competition is only half a year away. Shixiong, I really don’t want to get lectured by Sect Master Shizun again.”

After the two exchanged a few more pleasantries, the paper crane flapped its wings and rose slowly into the sky, quickly vanishing from Luo Jianqing’s sight. Gazing up at the clear heavens, Luo Jianqing narrowed his eyes gradually before sweeping his sleeve, turning around, and returning to his room.

Once back inside, Luo Jianqing immediately took out the blood-red jade slip from his storage ring and examined it closely.

Nine Plundering Heavens Record—the title alone was domineering enough, and the mere words “Plundering Heavens” filled Luo Jianqing with awe and trepidation.

Beidou Zhenjun had claimed this was a secret manual he had acquired, yet Luo Jianqing found that impossible to believe. Even if Beidou Zhenjun had amassed vast wealth during the war and carved out ruins far surpassing those of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, he still couldn’t possibly have obtained such a heaven-defying cultivation method.

Had Beidou Zhenjun truly practiced this technique, he certainly wouldn’t have been hunted down by a demonic beast until his cultivation dropped a full major realm, ending in a miserable death.

Following his struggle against the Phantom Demon Fox’s soul possession, Luo Jianqing remembered only excruciating pain, after which a chunk of his memory went completely blank. When he finally woke up, he had seen Li Xiuchen lying covered in blood.

Over the past two days since Li Xiuchen regained consciousness, although his eyes were blinded, neither his ears nor his tongue had been impaired. Luo Jianqing had sent someone to sound him out, and Li Xiuchen claimed he only remembered reaching the final trial, having no idea how he had ended up in such a state.

—Li Xiuchen had lost his memories as well.

Luo Jianqing’s instincts told him this matter was anything but simple; both he and Li Xiuchen had likely had their memories erased by some supreme powerhouse.

Thinking it over from every angle, Luo Jianqing could only deduce that the incident was somehow tied to Beidou Zhenjun, yet there was no way to re-enter the ruins to uncover the truth.

More than two months had passed since his rebirth, and Luo Jianqing could clearly feel the spiritual power inside his body slowly draining away. At this rate, in the Sect Grand Competition half a year from now, he would never be able to surpass his diligently cultivating Second Shidi, Zuo Yunmo—even Third Shimei, Wei Qiongyin, might stand a chance of defeating him.

Most critically of all, his cultivation realm was on the verge of dropping.

At this thought, Luo Jianqing gripped the blood-red jade slip tightly in his hand.

Outside the window, time slipped away as the setting sun sank slowly behind the mountains and a bright moon rose from the east. Only after the following morning’s sun leaped above the horizon did Luo Jianqing walk silently to the window, gazing at that radiant, vibrant orb of light before finally letting out a long sigh and returning to his couch.

This time, Luo Jianqing erected a restrictive barrier around the room and ordered that no one was permitted to enter.

He extended a thread of spiritual sense into the jade slip. Within moments, that deafening, thunderous voice resounded once more, reciting the arcane scripture of the Nine Plundering Heavens Record directly inside his mind. Closing his eyes, Luo Jianqing sat cross-legged on the soft couch, his hands forming hand seals in mid-air.

At first his movements were exceedingly slow, yet they accelerated faster and faster until his hands blurred into afterimages.

“Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all creation as straw dogs²“Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all creation as straw dogs” (天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗): A famous quote from Chapter 5 of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching). In Daoist philosophy, it means nature operates impartially without human sentimentality; in xianxia novels, it is frequently invoked to describe an unfeeling, ruthless Heavenly Dao.; the passing years leave no trace, viewing all living beings as worn-out sandals.”

“We who cultivate walk the path of our true hearts, our true selves, and all things in creation—save for the Heavenly Dao!”

“What is it that you cultivate?!”

Brilliant blue-green light erupted from Luo Jianqing’s body as that thunderous roar boomed inside his mind. Abruptly snapping his eyes open, he lifted his head upward, his gaze piercing straight through the roof to stare directly at the heavens!

“I cultivate the Dao of Plundering the Heavens! I defy the Heavenly Dao—I myself am the Heavens!”

Barely had his voice fallen when the three-petaled blue-green lotus between Luo Jianqing’s brows flared with dazzling radiance. An ancient aura seeped slowly upward from beneath the earth, coalescing into ethereal phantoms like slender serpents that coiled tightly around Luo Jianqing’s body. Yet Luo Jianqing seemed entirely oblivious; the moment those slender serpents slipped inside his body, they transformed into scalding torrents of spiritual qi.

Boiling like molten magma, the spiritual qi surged violently through every single inch of Luo Jianqing’s meridians, forcing him to clench his teeth in agony as blood trickled down from the corners of his lips. That trail of blood carried vast spiritual power; moments later, unable to hold back any longer, Luo Jianqing spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!

The spiritual energy contained within that blood surged as wide as a mighty river. Fortunately, Luo Jianqing’s barrier had been set up using the magic treasure gifted by his Sixth Shidi, capable of blocking even a Nascent Soul cultivator’s spiritual sense. The Yitian Sect’s First Elder was merely at the mid-stage of Golden Core and failed to notice anything amiss.

That first mouthful of heart’s essence blood was only the beginning. Next, as more ethereal serpents burrowed into his body, Luo Jianqing vomited mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood, as if purging every last drop of blood from his veins. The spiritual energy saturating that blood slammed wildly against the protective barrier before being blocked and slowly dissipating into the air, returning to the Heavenly Dao.

At that exact moment, Luo Jianqing’s cultivation realm plummeted continuously.

Early Golden Core, late Foundation Establishment, mid Foundation Establishment…

Until he dropped all the way back down to the Qi Refining stage!

After coughing up the final mouthful of blood, Luo Jianqing shuddered violently, collapsing weakly backward as he lost consciousness.

Just then, a faint voice sounding like a soft sigh echoed lowly inside his mind: “Nine Lotuses True Heart Record… So you are a descendant of Yuxiao Peak?”

As that voice faded, the thunderous roar resounded once more!

“The spirits of grass and trees vie only for spring and autumn; if you wish to follow the heavens, why not plunder the heavens instead!”

“Plunder the spiritual essence of flora; plunder the laws of spring and autumn.”

“First Plunder of the Nine Plundering Heavens Record—Plundering Springs and AutumnsPlundering Springs and Autumns / Duo Chunqiu (奪春秋): In classical Chinese, “Springs and Autumns” (chunqiu) refers to the passage of seasons, years, and natural lifespans. By plundering the “springs and autumns” of flora, Luo Jianqing steals their seasonal vitality and life cycles, disrupting natural laws (causing winter-blooming flowers to bud in spring and shade-loving herbs to seek the sun).!”

The instant those words fell, every flower, blade of grass, and tree inside the small courtyard began trembling and swaying violently. They shook timidly, as though trying to flee, yet a fierce gale swept past; an intangible force brushed over them, stripping away countless specks of brilliant light that ultimately merged into Luo Jianqing’s body.

All at once, Luo Jianqing’s body shuddered, and he unconsciously sat back up into a meditative posture.

His fingers instinctively formed hand seals as those glowing specks penetrated through the acupoints and meridians across his entire body. The radiance nourished his parched, withered meridians, restoring them to their original state before flowing toward his dantian and converging around the Golden Core at its center.

That Golden Core had shriveled completely when Luo Jianqing coughed up all his essence blood; now, utterly defenseless against those specks of light, it could only allow them to bore inside and temper it anew.

A soft blue-green glow bloomed across Luo Jianqing’s body as that intangible force swept far beyond the confines of his courtyard. Rampaging unchecked throughout the entire Yitian Sect, wherever it brushed past plants and trees, they trembled in terror and reluctantly surrendered a wisp of radiant light.

The force swept past the courtyard where the Taihua Mountain disciples were resting, past Li Xiuchen who was cursing furiously in resentment, past the countless lovestruck maidens of the Yitian Sect gathered outside Luo Jianqing’s courtyard, and finally straight into the Yitian Sect Master’s spiritual herb garden.

Every single spiritual herb bowed its head beneath the sweep of that force—save for a single third-grade spiritual herb that trembled fiercely, fighting desperately against the pull before finally yielding a wisp of light. That wisp was considerably larger than all the others, yet once the light left its body, the herb suffered no ill effects; instead, it stretched its branches and leaves outward with unrestrained abandon, reaching toward the sunlight.

Second Elder of the Yitian Sect cried out in horror, “Shixiong! Isn’t Cold Branch Grass supposed to fear sunlight?! Why is your most prized third-grade Cold Branch Grass actively stretching its leaves out into the sun?!”

Hearing this, First Elder gasped in shock as well: “Impossible! I have nurtured this Cold Branch Grass for years and it already possesses spiritual intelligence—it would never do something so self-destructive!”

Strange phenomena like this erupted all across the Yitian Sect.

Sunflowers that always faced the sun abruptly drooped their heads toward the earth; plants that only ever bloomed in winter suddenly sprouted buds in the middle of spring!

It was as if all the flora had abandoned the natural cycles of the Heavenly Dao, recklessly doing whatever they desired. Freed from the invisible laws binding heaven and earth, amidst this chaotic self-determination, some plants gradually withered and perished, while others flourished even more vibrantly than before.

Luo Jianqing remained completely unaware of all this. As his consciousness slowly returned, he sensed the power inside his body steadily recovering.

Specks of light streamed into him from every direction, and with them, his aura climbed steadily upward: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, early Golden Core… mid Golden Core!

He had returned to the mid-stage of Golden Core. Aside from a bone-deep ache lingering in his meridians, it seemed as though nothing had happened—yet gazing down at the congealed clots of blood on the floor, Luo Jianqing knew full well what he had just cast aside.

His entire lifetime’s cultivation of spiritual power had been reduced to nothing!

To cultivate the Nine Plundering Heavens Record, one first had to discard all previously cultivated spiritual power.

Although the spiritual power flowing through Luo Jianqing’s body right now looked no different from before, Luo Jianqing could feel that it was no longer the same as what he had once possessed. He now felt completely out of place in this world, as though rejected by all creation—save for the flowers and grasses within the Yitian Sect, which swayed joyfully as if cheering excitedly upon his awakening.

This was the First Plunder of the Nine Plundering Heavens Record: plundering the springs and autumns of grass and trees.

Luo Jianqing cultivated quietly in his courtyard for three days. Once his cultivation was fully stabilized, he bade farewell to the Yitian Sect and piloted his flying treasure ship back with his shidi and shimei. Initially, Third Elder Cao of the Yitian Sect had offered, “That Li-daoyou does not appear to have recovered yet—Luo-daoyou, why not stay and rest a little longer?”

Standing high in the azure sky in blue-green robes, his long hair fluttering in the breeze and his brows like ink paintings, Luo Jianqing smiled faintly. “There is no need; our sect urges our return. Many thanks for your sect’s hospitality.”

Third Elder replied, “In that case, this humble one will not detain you further. Originally, Sect Master Shixiong wished to see Daoyou off personally, yet that prized Cold Branch Grass in his courtyard suddenly began withering recently, and he is busy trying to save it, unable to spare a moment.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianqing froze slightly, a fleeting trace of awkwardness crossing his handsome face. As if hearing Third Elder’s words, the spiritual power inside his body surged gleefully a couple of times, seemingly angling for praise from Luo Jianqing.

Luo Jianqing nodded guiltily. Before he could speak, Third Elder added, “Strangely enough, though, another second-grade spiritual herb in the garden successfully advanced this very morning, evolving into a third-grade herb! Luo-daoyou, Taihua Mountain has stood for tens of millions of years with a long history and vast knowledge—do you happen to know what might have caused this?”

Luo Jianqing shook his head lightly. “I do not know either.”

After exchanging a few more polite remarks, Luo Jianqing swept his sleeve to steer the treasure ship, officially departing the Yitian Mountain Range.

Aboard the ship, Nineteenth Shidi quietly walked up outside Luo Jianqing’s cabin door, knocked, and stepped inside. Since they were returning to the sect—where rules applied strictly unlike outside—Nineteenth Shidi cupped his hands respectfully and said, “Eldest Shixiong, we will arrive back at Taihua Mountain tomorrow. Regarding Li Xiuchen…”

Luo Jianqing was currently looking down at a stalk of emerald immortal grass. Hearing this, he spoke indifferently, “Li-shidi’s injuries are extremely severe. As you mentioned earlier, only an elder at the Tribulation Transcendence realm could potentially restore him to his former state.”

Hearing these words, Nineteenth Shidi furrowed his brows in confusion.

Luo Jianqing continued calmly, “The elders are the pillars of our sect; healing his body would damage their cultivation. Relay my exact words to Sect Master Shibo—how the esteemed elder chooses to handle it is none of our concern.” Pausing briefly, Luo Jianqing turned his head toward Nineteenth Shidi and smiled, “Since Li-shidi is gravely injured and unable to cultivate anyway, his Inner Sect disciple resources would only go to waste. For the sake of his recuperation, have him move to the outer mountain of Haoming Peak until he recovers. Once you return, consult with Fourth Shidi—he should know what to do.”

Nineteenth Shidi blinked in surprise before grinning slyly. “Yes! Eldest Shixiong, I know exactly what to do.”

Watching Nineteenth Shidi’s retreating back, the smile on Luo Jianqing’s face gradually faded.

He could easily guess what Nineteenth Shidi was thinking—merely driving that arrogant, undeserving brat out of Haoming Peak’s inner mountain would satisfy him completely. To Luo Jianqing, however, he wanted Li Xiuchen dead!

The scene right before his death in his past life remained seared vividly into his memory. Luo Jianqing dared not forget it; yet now that he had broken slightly free from the Heavenly Dao, he could clearly sense that if the Heavenly Dao sent down three thousand wisps of providence, at least two thousand of them were concentrated onto Li Xiuchen!

He could not kill Li Xiuchen.

At least right now, killing Li Xiuchen was utterly impossible.

Moreover, Li Xiuchen carried immense fortuitous opportunities and heaven-defying luck—yet how could a cripple make use of those opportunities? At best…

He would merely be making a wedding dress for others to wear.

Luo Jianqing curved his lips into a faint, cold smile.

One day later, the grand procession returned to Taihua Mountain.

Having just survived a practical trial, all the new disciples felt as though they had been reborn, bragging proudly to the shixiong and shimei who hadn’t gone about everything inside the ruins. Meanwhile, Luo Jianqing went to Cangshuang Peak to hand over a jade slip to the overseeing elder, recording the general events of the expedition.

Once the elder confirmed everything, Luo Jianqing bowed in salute and flew back to Yuxiao Peak.

The very instant he touched down on the peak, a cool, aloof voice rang out from behind him: “Defying your master’s orders and leaving the mountain without permission. Jianqing, since when did you become so disrespectful of your elders and so recklessly audacious?”

Luo Jianqing’s body trembled as he turned around stiffly.

Standing before the emerald bamboo and green hills, the white-robed Zunzhe lowered his phoenix eyes, gazing at him coldly.

Meeting those ruthless, indifferent eyes, Luo Jianqing’s heart grew steadily colder, a bitter dryness rising in his throat. He bowed his head and replied stubbornly, “Shifu, this disciple has always cultivated earnestly without ever slacking off. The new disciples’ practical trial is a major sect affair; as Eldest Shixiong, it was only right that I lead them.”

“You still dare make excuses!” As he spoke, an overwhelming aura erupted outward instantaneously, pressing down until Luo Jianqing could not lift his head.

Listening to that icy voice, Luo Jianqing’s heart ached sharply as he gritted his teeth. “Jianqing does not know what wrong he has committed!”

After a long silence, Xuanlingzi spoke flatly, “In that case, allow Weishi to test the results of your cultivation. Endure ten moves and this matter will be dropped; otherwise, you will be punished with one year of closed-door seclusion on Yuxiao Peak, forbidden from stepping down the mountain!”

Barely had his words fallen when vast sword qi shot straight toward Luo Jianqing. Subconsciously leaping backward, Luo Jianqing still had a lock of hair sliced off by the sword qi. Blue-green light flashed between his brows as the Shuangfu Sword materialized in his hand.

Holding a simple bamboo branch in place of a sword, Xuanlingzi’s voice was as cold as frost: “Weishi will suppress his cultivation to the early stage of Golden Core.”

Luo Jianqing gritted his teeth. “Yes!”

Two figures—one in white, one in blue-green—flitted gracefully amidst the bamboo grove. The Shuangfu Sword unleashed bursts of crackling lightning serpents, only to be deflected effortlessly by an ordinary bamboo branch. That bamboo branch possessed nothing remarkable of its own, yet because its wielder was the strongest cultivator under heaven, it surged upward with towering sword momentum that pinned even Shuangfu down powerless.

Luo Jianqing parried Xuanlingzi’s assaults in a disheveled state. This time, Xuanlingzi seemed genuinely angered—every single strike aimed straight for Luo Jianqing’s vitals. Even with his cultivation suppressed to early Golden Core, his comprehension of the Dao left Luo Jianqing far behind; a mere wisp of his sword intent was enough to crush Luo Jianqing completely.

Another streak of golden sword light flashed past. Luo Jianqing dodged hastily, yet a bloody gash still opened across his cheek.

Unmoved, Xuanlingzi unleashed one sword move stronger than the last. By the ninth move, his blade pointed straight at Luo Jianqing’s chest; raising Shuangfu to block, Luo Jianqing twisted his body sharply to the side.

The bamboo sword sliced open Luo Jianqing’s sleeve, revealing a patch of snow-white skin—and right upon it bloomed a vivid, eye-catching crimson mark, like a red blossom opening against pale jade, strikingly alluring.

Xuanlingzi’s eyes contracted sharply, his movements freezing abruptly on the spot.

Now!

Luo Jianqing poured every ounce of spiritual power into the Shuangfu Sword. Brilliant sword light flared instantaneously as silver lightning churned and boiled along the blade. Lunging forward with his sword aimed at Xuanlingzi, Luo Jianqing watched in surprise as the latter failed to resist—only dodging hastily when the lightning and sword qi were inches from his face, losing a single strand of hair to the blade.

Recalling the Shuangfu Sword back between his brows, Luo Jianqing said, “Shifu, on the tenth move, this disciple defeated you.”

Xuanlingzi remained completely silent.

Luo Jianqing lifted his gaze in puzzlement, only to see Xuanlingzi staring with a deeply complicated expression at his torn sleeve. Turning his head to look at the crimson mark, Luo Jianqing said in a low voice, “I seem to have bumped into something inside the ruins and left this bruise. Even Congealed Jade Dew didn’t fade it, though since it wasn’t serious, I paid it no mind. Shifu, do you know what kind of mark this is?”

A faint flush of red flashed swiftly across Xuanlingzi’s fair face. Turning cold, he swept his sleeve to knock Luo Jianqing flying three meters backward before speaking in an icy tone: “Weishi… does not know what it is either. However, it appears harmless, so pay it no heed. Since you have indeed cultivated diligently, enter closed-door seclusion for half a year this time, and emerge only when the Sect Grand Competition begins.”

Luo Jianqing froze in surprise at those words before finally nodding in obedience.

In the blink of an eye, Xuanlingzi teleported away, as if unwilling to spend even a single extra second alongside his own disciple.

Watching this unfold, Luo Jianqing stood stunned for a long moment before letting out a soft sigh, murmuring to himself with a bitter smile, “I remember every time little shimei returned from a trial, Yuqingzi Zunzhe fussed over her endlessly, practically wishing he could lock her up so she’d never venture out into danger again.”

Wearing only a faint smile on his handsome face, Luo Jianqing gazed peacefully at the tightly shut bamboo door and whispered, “Wuyin, I narrowly escaped death nine times over on this trip, yet you didn’t ask a single question. Are you truly… completely indifferent?”

His bitter voice dissipated slowly into the air as Luo Jianqing walked through the bamboo forest and returned to his own cottage.

Half a year slipped by in a flash. Early one morning, a pale yellow figure appeared at the foot of Yuxiao Peak.

The newcomer possessed refined, pleasant features—not overwhelmingly handsome, yet gentle in brow and eye—and called out loudly: “Eldest Shixiong, the Sect Grand Competition begins in just three days! Shizun ordered me to come notify you so you don’t miss the hour.”

This person was none other than the second of the Seven Scions of Taihua, the direct eldest disciple of Cangshuang Peak—Zuo Yunmo.

Footnotes:

• 1
  Shizu (師祖): Grandmaster or grand-uncle—specifically, a master’s master or a master’s senior martial brother ↩︎
• 2
  “Heaven and earth are ruthless, treating all creation as straw dogs” (天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗): A famous quote from Chapter 5 of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching). In Daoist philosophy, it means nature operates impartially without human sentimentality; in xianxia novels, it is frequently invoked to describe an unfeeling, ruthless Heavenly Dao. ↩︎