The old Daoist was utterly shocked by the surge of killing intent. “This is Heaven’s will… it has nothing to do with me. I’m only reminding you—if you stay on the right path, your master will surely live a safe and healthy life. Since you care so much for your master, then remember this always: don’t stray onto the wrong road.”
Mo Xuanli’s heart was in upheaval from what he’d just heard. When he came back to his senses, he pressed down the restless God Nine Transformations Sword. He wanted to ask more, but the old Daoist seemed to sense danger and had already dispelled the soundproofing array. He could no longer ask—why did this old man keep insisting he would go astray? The wrong path… did he mean the demonic path?
Could it be that this old man knew something? No—if he truly knew, he couldn’t be so calm about it. After all, being half-human, half-demon was no small matter. Which meant he really had seen something through fortune-telling and face-reading?
And he said that he might kill his master? Impossible. Even if he died, such a thing could never happen. Unless… he fell into demonic corruption, lost control… Mo Xuanli dared not think further. At that moment, it felt as if his whole body had been dropped into an icy abyss.
“Xuanli?” Gu Baiqing saw that the old man had already returned to the group, but Mo Xuanli was still frozen in place, his expression shifting back and forth. Worried, he stepped forward.
Mo Xuanli looked up and saw his master’s concerned face. The moment he recalled the old Daoist’s words, it was like a needle stabbing into his heart, painful beyond bearing. Not just to do it—he couldn’t even think it.
“Mas—… Brother.” Mo Xuanli reached out and grasped Gu Baiqing’s hand, staring at him blankly. The black in his eyes spread like ink bleeding past its borders.
Gu Baiqing was startled by his sudden show of weakness. The grievance and fragility between his brows looked as though he had just suffered a terrible blow or fright.
Gu Baiqing shot the old man a glare. The Daoist rolled his eyes around, scratched his head, and awkwardly deflected the other people’s questions.
He didn’t know what the old man had said, but seeing his disciple like this was Gu Baiqing’s greatest soft spot. He let Mo Xuanli hold one of his hands, and even reached out with the other to pat Mo Xuanli’s head.
Mo Xuanli froze at the pat, as if the terrifying thoughts from before had been scattered all at once.
But in that instant, Gu Baiqing felt the gesture seemed… oddly practiced?
Just as he was puzzled, the person before him suddenly moved—throwing himself straight into Gu Baiqing’s arms, clinging tight.
Gu Baiqing was startled both by the sudden influx of urgent spiritual energy and by the clearly masculine aura pressing against him, leaving him momentarily stunned. Instinctively, he wanted to push away.
But then he heard Mo Xuanli’s almost hoarse voice in his arms: “Master, I’ll protect you. I’ll never let anyone harm you—no one.” Not even myself.
Gu Baiqing was dumbfounded, his face full of question marks. Was he in danger?
This old man must be talking nonsense. If there was danger, it could only be the person in his arms. As long as he didn’t start getting any other ideas while hugging him…
“Xuanli, what did that old man tell you?”
Mo Xuanli stayed silent.
Gu Baiqing thought for a moment, then pushed him back and said seriously: “If it’s good, then believe it. If it’s bad, since you know in advance, then turn it good. Don’t tell me you don’t have that much ability? Otherwise, what did I teach you for?” His words sounded like a scolding, but they were really meant as comfort.
What fortune-teller could be stronger than him, who already knew the “plot spoilers”? If there were pitfalls, he would help avoid some. And if they couldn’t be avoided, then it was necessary for the story—for the protagonist to grow through pain. His disciple couldn’t be so fragile.
Mo Xuanli nodded dazedly, then his gaze firmed. “Master is right. I’ll work hard to grow stronger. I’ll solve any problem that comes.”
According to the Daoist who helped him back then, only by cultivating to the same level as his master—past the tribulation stage—could he hope to change his fate. He would never let what the old man said come true. And he would absolutely never walk the demonic path.
When the two finished speaking, they suddenly realized they hadn’t paid attention to how they addressed each other. Just as they thought their cover might be blown, they turned and saw the others had already drifted some distance away, as if deliberately giving them space to talk—probably ever since that awkward hug.
When they caught up, Ji Chuling openly teased: “How old is young master Mo? Encounter a problem and you go running to your big brother to whine for comfort? Weren’t you just saying ‘success depends on effort’? How’d a few words from an old man scare you so easily?”
Li Xiuran’s expression was a little unnatural. His belief in their “clear and innocent brotherly bond” wavered again.
When Mo Xuanli heard Ji Chuling’s words, he finally realized how bold his behavior just now had been. His master always resisted his touch when he was conscious. Yet just now… his master hadn’t overreacted. Was he more worried about him than anything else?
Mo Xuanli’s heart warmed again, but toward the Daoist his face still showed no kindness.
The Daoist, however, was thick-skinned, grinning foolishly.
At first, Gu Baiqing had thought this old man was some mysterious figure sent to hand Mo Xuanli a golden finger. But instead he had just frightened his disciple, making Gu Baiqing start to doubt his own judgment. Looking at him, Gu Baiqing asked directly: “We still haven’t asked your name?”
“I’m just an old Daoist who can read faces and tell fortunes. No title, and none needed.”
“How can that do? If your readings turn out accurate, we’ll want to find you again. But if they’re false, and you’re just playing tricks on us, then…” Gu Baiqing said with a half-smile.
“Right, senior, you already know our names. We can’t just keep calling you ‘old man,’ can we?” Ji Chuling chimed in.
“Ah, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s just—I’m afraid you’ll laugh at me.” The Daoist said awkwardly.
“Don’t worry, we won’t laugh.” Ji Chuling smiled.
“Then you mustn’t make a fuss. My title is… ‘Half-Step Mad.’”
As soon as Half-Step Mad finished speaking, the male cultivator burst out laughing.
Li Xiuran’s expression was also difficult to describe.
Ji Chuling only tilted her head. “I’ve never heard of ‘Half-Step Mad,’ but I have heard of ‘Half-Step Immortal.’”
“Miss Ji, everyone’s heard of Half-Step Immortal. This old Daoist is just riding on someone else’s name. Even if that person has already ascended to immortality, you can’t do this. If any of Half-Step Immortal’s devotees hear, you’re done for.”
“Ah, the name was given by my master, I had no choice. That’s why I didn’t want to say it. You insisted I tell you, and now you’re making fun of me.” Half-Step Mad said helplessly.
“Master? Don’t tell me you share the same master as Half-Step Immortal?”
“Ah, I forgot to ask. Maybe it really is the case.” Half-Step Mad said with exaggeration.
“Lie harder, will you. If you had the same master as Half-Step Immortal, would you still only have this level of cultivation?” the male cultivator said with open disbelief.
To speak of Half-Step Immortal—that was a legendary figure. No one knew where he came from, only that his powers were vast. His tale went back even farther than the Golden Immortals. It was said that he could have transcended tribulation and become an immortal long ago, but after passing the tribulation, he refused to ascend. Because he had calculated that calamity would strike the mortal world, he remained to wander among men. Later, he vanished without a trace. Some say, after completing what he had to do, he finally ascended. Others say he failed and perished. As time passed, people stopped speaking of this legendary person.
Everyone chatted lively, clearly not believing this old man had anything to do with Half-Step Immortal. But on the side, Mo Xuanli frowned slightly—Half-Step Immortal?
Gu Baiqing knew what Mo Xuanli was doubting. The expert who had sealed his demonic bloodline when he was young—someone who could see through bloodlines at such a high level of cultivation—must have been extraordinary. Even those in the tribulation stage couldn’t easily perceive it. That person was most likely Half-Step Immortal himself.
Although Mo Xuanli had investigated later, trying to find out who had helped him, he found no trace and had to give up, leaving only speculation.
But Gu Baiqing knew—the answer was indeed him.
And Half-Step Immortal had already ascended. After helping Mo Xuanli, he felt he could do no more, and simply followed the Heavenly Dao.
So this “Half-Step Mad”—who he really was, was hard to say. The original text never mentioned him. By usual novel logic, he was either Half-Step Immortal in disguise or at least connected somehow. But from his attitude, he clearly didn’t intend to speak the truth.
Gu Baiqing thought about it for a while, then let it go. But beside him, Mo Xuanli’s thoughts only grew heavier, as though sinking into the memories of that year.
They walked for quite some time, until reaching a more spacious area. Here, seven or eight passages branched off in different directions. Just as they were unsure which to take, they saw marks on the cliff wall—information left behind by earlier scouting members of different sects.
After careful checking, it was clear the group would have to split.
Gu Baiqing and Mo Xuanli would follow the marks of Zixiao Sect. Li Xiuran would take the Amaterasu Sect’s route to another entrance. Ji Chuling naturally went with him. The male cultivator, hugging Li Xiuran’s thigh, would of course follow. The old Daoist, smiling as ever, also joined Li Xiuran’s group.
Mo Xuanli and Li Xiuran agreed that if they didn’t meet again later, they would leave word with the guards at the entrance. After settling this, they parted ways.
“I wonder if there are really spirit veins here. So many people have been through, yet there’s been no news of any spirit crystals appearing.” The male cultivator looked around. “Even if we don’t get one, just seeing it would be worth it.”
“There must be. Didn’t senior just say so?” Li Xiuran gave the old Daoist a meaningful look. “He said we would all succeed. That proves there must be spirit crystals.”
Half-Step Mad didn’t care about Li Xiuran’s probing. Smiling, he said directly: “Young Master Mo will obtain the spirit crystal. Since you are his friend, if you want it, he will give it to you.”
Such certainty made Li Xiuran frown slightly.
“Then what you’re saying is, we won’t get anything?” Ji Chuling asked.
But Half-Step Mad looked at Li Xiuran and said, “You will get something better.”
“What good thing?” Ji Chuling immediately pressed.
“Heaven’s secrets cannot be revealed.”
“But didn’t you just reveal one to Young Master Mo?” Ji Chuling said indignantly.
“Some things can be told, some cannot.” Half-Step Mad simply refused to elaborate.
Li Xiuran wasn’t overly curious, but he did feel this old man was extremely strange. After a thought, he asked: “The secret you just told him—does it mean he will face calamity?”
Half-Step Mad laughed and said, “Your greatest strength is loyalty.” Then he let out a deep sigh. “And it’s exactly because of loyalty that you may face trouble in the future.”
“What do you mean?” Li Xiuran frowned.
But instead of answering Li Xiuran, Half-Step Mad spoke of Mo Xuanli.
“That boy… his fate is full of misfortune, and it’s easy for him to go astray. If you treat him as a brother, remember this—when he does something wrong, you must stop him in time. The earlier, the better.”
Li Xiuran froze, and suddenly the image of Mo Xuanli with Gu Baiqing and Mo Bai flashed in his mind. Master and disciple? Brothers? Going astray? Stopping in time? Was he hinting at that kind of thing—something that defied heavenly order and morality?
Li Xiuran instantly felt embarrassed. Other than that, with Mo Xuanli’s character and status, he couldn’t see any other way he might “go astray.” But matters of affection… as an outsider, how could he possibly interfere?
Truly baffling. Li Xiuran couldn’t be bothered with Half-Step Mad anymore and was about to quicken his pace.
Suddenly Ji Chuling stopped, her expression turning grave.
“What is it?” Li Xiuran halted to ask.
Ji Chuling frowned slightly. “Just now… I seemed to sense a surge of powerful demonic aura.”
The male cultivator was shocked. “Impossible! With so many cultivators here, what demon clan would dare to come?”
“How powerful?” Li Xiuran asked solemnly. “Which direction?”
Ji Chuling’s face looked grim. “A high-level demon. But it flashed by—didn’t head toward us. I can’t sense where it went. Could it also be here for the spirit vein?”
“Sigh…” Half-Step Mad suddenly let out a long sigh. “What must come, will come.”
He gave Li Xiuran a strange, lingering look, then suddenly slapped the back of the Cloud-Ascending Stork beneath him. “This old man will be going first!”
Before the three could react, Half-Step Mad rode his stork and vanished in a streak.
And just as his figure disappeared, a group of people suddenly charged over.
“Who just struck at my junior brother? Such a vicious heart, to actually dare to kill!”
“I saw it—it was that man in black up ahead who made the move.”
Li Xiuran looked at the group—some at Core Formation, some at Foundation Establishment, and not few in number. Quite troublesome. Just as he was about to step forward to ask, the other side charged over, ready to fight and kill.
In the chaos, Li Xiuran finally realized: the four people who had set up the roadblock earlier were dead.
Their companions assumed it was Li Xiuran who had killed them. Believing they held the moral high ground, they didn’t care if the other side came from a great sect—they came seeking trouble, perhaps even planning to demand compensation.
But just as the clash broke out, the ground suddenly cracked beneath them. In the blink of an eye, the ground gave way, and everyone fell. Strangely, even trying to fly on swords was impossible, just like that time on Ten Thousand Swords Island.
Meanwhile, Mo Xuanli and Gu Baiqing had joined up with the foreign-affairs elder. The elder didn’t recognize Gu Baiqing, so he carefully divided up the tasks with Mo Xuanli.
The elder had already explored half the area. The place was too vast; it would take much time to finish searching. The path he had chosen was rich in wind and fire elemental energy, but at most he had found some high-grade spirit stones—no top-grade ones. So he held little hope for spirit crystals. With half the range left, he and Mo Xuanli split up to save time and effort and prevent other sects from getting ahead.
But Gu Baiqing knew they were bound to find nothing. The place where the spirit crystal lay had already been overlooked by others—it was destined that only the chosen child of fate could find it.
Once the elder left, Gu Baiqing asked: “Where do you think we should go?”
Mo Xuanli shook his head. “I have no idea. Master may decide.”
Gu Baiqing froze. Wasn’t it originally Mo Xuanli who sensed it out? Thinking for a moment, he suggested: “Cover your eyes and sense with your heart. The spiritual energy will guide you.”
Mo Xuanli was surprised. “But this place is uneven everywhere, and spirit stones’ aura interferes. If I blindfold myself, how can I even walk?”
Gu Baiqing was instantly dumbfounded. Right—wasn’t it originally the master leading the disciple by hand?
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