Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Curse

“Dead? How could that happen?” A chill ran through Yue Qi’s heart as he asked timidly.

“I don’t know…” Xin Zi shook his head. “Some say this technique was incompatible with him, while others claim the cultivation method itself was a curse—otherwise, how could such a bizarre misfortune have occurred? Personally, I lean towards the latter explanation…”

“Why?” Bai Lian asked instinctively.

“Because the one who practiced this technique was already a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, only a step away from breaking into the Nascent Soul stage. He cultivated this method because he sought to deepen his understanding of the Five Spirits. Think about it—a cultivator nearly at the Nascent Soul stage ended up having his soul scattered because of this technique. If that isn’t a curse, what is?” Xin Zi replied with conviction.

“Then how did this technique end up in your hands?” Yue Qi no longer harbored any desire to master the Five Spirits Turning the Universe. He didn’t know whether the first part of the technique within him was a blessing or a curse, but at least for now, it didn’t seem to be causing any harm.

“That’s a family secret. Normally, I wouldn’t speak of it, but in times like these, there’s no difference whether I do or not…” Xin Zi smiled bitterly. “Because that Zhou Yi was actually an ancestor of the Xin family!”

“Ancestor?!” Yue Qi was stunned. “But you’re surnamed Xin, and he was surnamed Zhou! How are you related?”

“There are things you don’t know…” Xin Zi shook his head. “When Zhou Yi was swept away by that black cloud, his wife was heavy with child. On that very same day, his child was born. At that moment, a golden crow appeared in the west, carrying a golden branch in its beak. It placed the branch beside Zhou Yi’s son and then flew away. Of course, that’s all legend—even those of us who are his descendants find it hard to believe…”

“And then?” Xin Zi’s story had completely piqued Yue Qi’s curiosity.

“Afterward, the child was named Zhou Chang. From a young age, he showed an extraordinary talent for cultivation, but seemed dissatisfied with the monotony of the path. Eventually, he went on to found the world’s first dynasty…” Xin Zi said. “I’m sure you can guess—the dynasty was Xin.”

“So it was like that…” Bai Lian and Yue Qi both knew the founder of the first dynasty was said to be a cultivator of peerless power, rumored to have reached the very pinnacle of the Spirit Severing stage. Yet, despite his strength, he never managed to break through that final barrier. Some said it was the affairs of the mortal world in the Xin Dynasty that led him astray from his original path.

“After Zhou Yi’s death, every emperor of the Great Xin Dynasty seemed mediocre. The dynasty lasted barely a hundred years before it was overthrown. At that time, the Zhou clan changed their surname to Xin to escape, hoping to one day rise again…” Xin Zi concluded. “That’s the true origin of my ancestors, the beginning of the Xin clan.”

“But what does this have to do with the cultivation technique?” Bai Lian’s eyes brightened—she’d caught the crucial point.

“It was a wish of Ancestor Zhou Chang. During his reign, he called upon the whole world to search for the Five Spirits Turning the Universe, hoping to unravel its mysteries and find the secret behind his father’s disappearance. He even issued a reward, but to no avail—no one knew where the technique was. It became his only regret in life…” Xin Zi continued, “Later, for some reason, the technique ended up with that Core Formation cultivator. Our Xin ancestors tried to negotiate for it, but the cultivator refused to hand it over, as if he were possessed by some demon…”

“Possessed?” Bai Lian frowned. “Qi, do you feel anything like that?”

“No!” Yue Qi shook his head decisively. “Sometimes the summoning force gives me headaches, but whatever is inside me remains calm. I can sense the Wind Spirit quietly settled in a corner of my body…”

“The Wind Spirit? You possess the Wind Spirit?” Xin Zi asked, now more certain that Yue Qi and Bai Lian were telling the truth, for he himself held the Water and Earth Spirits.

Yue Qi nodded, sitting quietly while Xin Zi continued his story.

“There was no helping it. Our ancestors left strict instructions—we had to find the complete technique, even if we couldn’t cultivate it ourselves. So we followed that Core Formation cultivator, waiting for a chance to retrieve the technique…” Xin Zi explained.

“Why not just seize it? Your family descends from a peak cultivator—surely there must have been someone strong enough to take it by force?” Bai Lian was puzzled.

“It wasn’t that simple…” Xin Zi sighed. “After Ancestor Zhou Chang’s death, something strange happened to the Zhou clan—none of the descendants were born with spiritual roots. Some say the technique offended the heavens, and so the gods punished us…”

“Punished? Then how did Zhou Chang become so powerful…” Yue Qi scoffed.

“That’s the key, but we don’t know the reason…” Xin Zi thought for a moment and carried on, “Later, the Core Formation cultivator died a tragic death, and the technique split into five pieces. Our Xin family spent countless resources, but only managed to retrieve two of them…” He paused, then added, “The two that I have now.”

“So that’s how it is.” Yue Qi finally understood and, feeling apologetic, glanced at Xin Zi. “I didn’t realize things were so complicated—my apologies. If you don’t mind, you can stay here from now on. Life may not be luxurious, but there is peace to be found.”

Xin Zi had confided such a great secret to him, and Yue Qi was grateful. If he had recklessly cultivated the technique, he might have met an end even more miserable than the Core Formation cultivator.

“No need!” Unexpectedly, Xin Zi declined. “If you truly wish me well, just spare some provisions. I’ll stay a few days, then return home. No matter how much things have changed, it’s still my home. If you don’t mind, after I’ve visited Hidden Sword Manor, I’ll come bother you again!”

Yue Qi wasn’t concerned about the food, but rather worried for Xin Zi’s safety. Though they’d only met that day, Yue Qi felt that, for all his cunning, Xin Zi was a forthright man.

“In that case, it’s getting late. Why don’t you all rest and we’ll discuss things tomorrow?” Bai Lian said, glancing at the darkening sky.

“Very well. Thank you for your hospitality today,” Xin Zi said, rising and nodding to Bai Lian before taking his leave.

Yue Qi sighed and collapsed onto the bed.

“Tired today, Qi?” Bai Lian asked, sitting beside him and gently massaging his shoulders.

“Not really. I was just thinking about the Five Spirits Turning the Universe—I thought it was something wonderful, but it’s a cursed thing, not to be practiced… Sigh!” Yue Qi sighed again. Having grown up with nothing of value, he was all the more anxious about losing what little he had.

“Qi, listen to me!” Bai Lian suddenly took on a serious tone. “You mustn’t believe everything Xin Zi says.”

“Oh? Why?” Yue Qi was puzzled and sat up to listen.

“Do you know who Xin Zi’s father is?” Bai Lian paused, then said, “Xin Ao You—the man known throughout the realm as the greatest strategist alive! With such a brilliant father, how could his son be ordinary?”

“The greatest strategist in the world? And what’s their connection to the Hidden Sword Manor?” Yue Qi’s interest was piqued again, and he sprawled across Bai Lian’s lap, asking eagerly.

“Xin Ao You is the second master of Hidden Sword Manor, and its very soul. The manor is famous not only for its reputation, but especially for its swordmaking,” Bai Lian explained.

“Swordmaking? Mortal swords are only sharper—what’s so special about them?” Yue Qi asked, perplexed.

“It’s not the same. The first master of Hidden Sword Manor was none other than the great Ou Yezi!” Bai Lian replied.

“Ou Yezi! Him?!” Yue Qi sat up straight, staring at Bai Lian in shock.

Ou Yezi was no ordinary man—though he possessed no spiritual roots and couldn’t cultivate, the swords he forged were coveted by every cultivator in the world. Legend had it that of the ten famous swords he made, each became the treasured heirloom of a cultivation sect. For an ordinary person to forge swords more powerful than magical artifacts—how could he be simple?

“That’s why all the great cultivation sects maintain good relations with Hidden Sword Manor…” Bai Lian nodded. “And the Xin family has been there since Ou Yezi’s era, managing all the manor’s affairs across generations. The enduring fame of the Manor is not only due to their swordsmithing, but also the Xin family’s stewardship.”

“So you mean we shouldn’t fully trust Xin Zi?” Yue Qi asked.

“Not entirely,” Bai Lian replied. “I believe some of what he says is true, but not all…”

“Phew… I finally managed to fool those two…” Xin Zi lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling and sighing.

“Fortunately, I’m clever enough to spin such an airtight tale on the spot!” he murmured, glancing at the bracelet on his right wrist.

Xin Zi truly was a descendant of the Zhou family, but he had no connection to Zhou Yi or Zhou Chang. As for the Core Formation cultivator who died, that part was true—he had cultivated the technique, and its power was great, allowing him to fight Nascent Soul cultivators while still in the Core stage. Ultimately, his arrogance and many enemies led to his downfall.

“But why did Father send me to seek out the remaining parts of this technique?” Xin Zi wondered, but fatigue soon overtook him and he drifted into sleep.