Chapter Ten: The Defeat at Foundation Establishment

“My dear little sister, where else do you think you can go?”

In a long, winding corridor, Shen Qingyun and Qin Ning finally crossed paths with the Second Prince and his entourage.

The Second Prince’s face was alight with a broad smile as he looked at Qin Ning across from him.

“It really is the Ninth Princess!”

The others’ delighted voices followed swiftly: “Your Highness, Ninth Princess, come here quickly. The Second Prince has gone through so much trouble to find you!”

From their mouths, the Second Prince seemed like a truly caring elder brother, while Qin Ning appeared to be a willful child, naughty and stubborn.

Beiming Han watched all of this with an indifferent expression, refraining from any sarcastic remarks. In truth, he felt a surge of sympathy for Qin Ning. There is nothing more heartless than the imperial family. He had spent time with Qin Ning and had grown fond of her, and so he pitied her all the more...

Shen Qingyun, too, observed the scene in silence. He did not interfere with Qin Ning’s choice; this was something she had to face on her own.

“No...” Qin Ning pressed her hands to her ears and shrank back to Shen Qingyun’s side. “No, I don’t want to!”

“Brother Qingyun, take me away!”

Shen Qingyun glanced at those opposite, a faint smile curling his lips. “As you wish.”

It was only then that the others noticed Shen Qingyun’s presence. Seeing that he was merely at the first stage of Qi Refinement, they were taken aback. What could a first-stage Qi Refiner do? Even the weakest guardians within the ruins could chase him down with ease.

Yet, when Zhou Weiqing and another disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect—both in the same pale blue-and-white robes—caught sight of Shen Qingyun, they were stunned. What was he doing here?

“Stop! Where do you think you’re taking the Ninth Princess?” the group shouted. Shen Qingyun, however, ignored them completely and, taking Qin Ning by the hand, disappeared around the corner.

By the time they gave chase, Shen Qingyun and Qin Ning were already gone.

A faint ripple flickered in Qin Ning’s eyes. At this moment, as she felt Shen Qingyun’s hand grasping hers, a strange emotion arose in her heart.

Shen Qingyun led her through twisting corridors, finally arriving at a stone chamber.

“Who are you, really?” Qin Ning fixed her gaze on Shen Qingyun. He was only a first-stage Qi Refiner, yet these ruins were said to have been discovered decades ago. Shen Qingyun did not look old enough. Moreover, this stone chamber was intact, clearly undiscovered.

An impossible suspicion surfaced in Qin Ning’s mind, but she quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought.

“Are you wondering if I might be some old monster who’s been hiding here for years?” Shen Qingyun remarked.

Qin Ning was startled, staring at him in shock. She found herself unable to meet his gaze; his eyes seemed to hold a strange power, as if they could see straight through her heart.

“This isn’t the time to talk about me,” Shen Qingyun said calmly. “What will you do now?”

“I won’t go back!” Qin Ning’s tone was cold. Killing her once was not enough—now that they saw she’d survived, they had to seek her out again. Would they not let her go unless she was dead?

...

“It’s almost time. We should be going,” Shen Qingyun announced.

“Going out?” Qin Ning frowned and asked, “Do you really want to face those disciples of the noble families and sects?”

“If you, a ninth-stage Qi Refiner, won’t face them, and you expect me, a mere first-stage, to go instead—don’t you have any compassion?” Shen Qingyun replied.

“Compassion?” Qin Ning gave him a strange look. How could he say such things without blushing?

Shen Qingyun had no time to humor her. In fact, these ruins were an ancient city buried beneath the Dapeng Mountains. They were currently in a labyrinth within that city, with many such stone chambers scattered throughout. What Shen Qingyun sought was within one of these rooms.

...

Within the labyrinthine corridors, Beiming Han and the Second Prince walked side by side. For any outsider to witness these two—who would usually come to blows if they came within three feet of each other—strolling together in harmony, it would have been nothing short of astonishing.

“There’s only the two of us here. No need for such pretense,” the Second Prince said coldly.

Beiming Han scoffed. “Pretense? Who could rival the Second Prince of the Tianlan Empire in that art?”

“We’re well-matched,” the Second Prince replied.

Suddenly, the jade pendant in the Second Prince’s hand glowed again. He glanced down at it, then, ignoring Beiming Han, turned to follow the direction indicated by the pendant.

Beiming Han quickly followed.

...

“I’ve found it!” Shen Qingyun’s eyes lit up. In this stone chamber stood a bookshelf, but only two books sat atop it.

He tucked the books into his storage ring, then his gaze fell upon a dusty object in the corner. Despite the thick layer of dust, he recognized it at once.

“You came all this way just to find these things?” Qin Ning asked quietly.

Shen Qingyun’s lips curved in a faint smile. Just as he was about to pick up the dust-covered fire poker in the corner, a mocking voice drifted in from outside the chamber.

“Little sister, do you think you can run this time?”

Qin Ning’s face changed instantly. She darted to Shen Qingyun’s side.

At the chamber’s entrance, a figure appeared—none other than the Second Prince.

His smile unchanged, he looked at Qin Ning, now hiding behind Shen Qingyun. “Little sister, do you think hiding behind a first-stage Qi Refiner will keep you safe?”

“May I ask your name, sir?” the Second Prince addressed Shen Qingyun, his refined smile unwavering, despite addressing someone at such a low cultivation.

Expressionless, Shen Qingyun slowly replied, “I don’t like your smile. It’s too fake.”

The smile on the Second Prince’s face stiffened. “You jest. Can you really tell if a smile is genuine or not?”

“It’s not only your smile that’s false. You, as a person, are false as well,” Shen Qingyun stated.

The Second Prince’s smile faded, replaced by a sinister look. “Boy, you court death.”

Shen Qingyun grasped the dusty fire poker and mocked, “I thought you could keep up your act longer. Turns out, that’s all you have.”

“Hand her over, and I’ll spare your life. Otherwise—”

“If you want her, come and take her yourself.”

“You’re seeking death!” The Second Prince’s storage ring flashed, and a longsword appeared in his hand.

The sword exuded spiritual energy as he thrust it toward Shen Qingyun. At that moment, Shen Qingyun raised the so-called fire poker, revealing it was, in fact, a long halberd. The halberd’s tip had been deeply embedded in the ground, leaving only the shaft visible.

With a metallic clang, the sword was swept aside by the halberd. The jolt knocked the dust from the weapon, exposing its true form: entirely dark red, adorned with intricate, obscure patterns—a weapon that radiated heaviness.

As Shen Qingyun held the halberd, a sense of familiarity surged through him. In his heart, he murmured, “Old friend, we meet again.”

The halberd trembled slightly, as if in response.

He looked at the spiritual sword in his hand and saw a fine crack running along the blade from their clash. This was a third-grade spiritual weapon!

“What grade is your spiritual weapon?” A glint of greed flickered in the Second Prince’s eyes. His previous indifference to the treasures of the ruins had been nothing but a façade. After so many raids, what treasures could remain in these ruins?

“Give me your spiritual weapon, and I’ll overlook your offense. In fact, once I ascend to the throne, you’ll be a duke of the realm—second only to me, revered by all!”

The Second Prince’s words dripped with temptation. What do cultivators seek if not status, prestige, and longevity?

Even Qin Ning glanced anxiously at Shen Qingyun, fearing he might be lured by the prince’s promises.

A mocking look surfaced in Shen Qingyun’s eyes; his lips curled. “Your offer is indeed tempting.”

But his next words were a bucket of ice water.

“But I refuse.”

The Second Prince stared at him in disbelief—even Qin Ning was astonished. He had refused outright, without a moment’s hesitation!

“You dare refuse me?” Spiritual energy surged around the Second Prince.

“Is it so strange to refuse you?” Shen Qingyun sneered. Once, he had stood at the pinnacle—what glory he had known! When one stands on a height unreachable by others, the treasures others covet become meaningless.

“Then I’ll just have to kill you and take it for myself,” the Second Prince said coldly. Azure spiritual energy coiled around his sword.

With a slash, a green whirlwind formed out of thin air, whistling toward Shen Qingyun.

Shen Qingyun swung the halberd, and the moment it met the whirlwind, the wind vanished without a trace.

The Second Prince was shocked, and his desire for the halberd only grew. Shen Qingyun, a first-stage Qi Refiner, could never possess such power—this had to be the halberd’s doing.

“I want your weapon more than ever now!”

“If you want it, come and take it!” Shen Qingyun leveled the halberd, its tip aimed squarely at the prince.

“Then let me show you the true power of the Foundation Establishment stage!” Azure energy swirled around the Second Prince, forming a faint suit of spiritual armor over his body.

Shen Qingyun’s face remained impassive. He thrust the halberd, striking the prince’s armor.

“It’s useless. You could never—” The Second Prince’s words faltered as he realized the spiritual armor was crumbling, fissure by fissure.

In a flash, Shen Qingyun flipped his hand, and the halberd struck the prince’s chest.

With a muffled groan, the Second Prince spat a mouthful of blood. Shen Qingyun’s expression remained calm, as though he had long since grown accustomed to such scenes.