Zhu Zhongquan gazed up at Mount Dongting, his heart burning with ambition.
"Once I reach Dual Refinement and forge my golden core," he whispered, "I will defeat him."
For the young nobles of the God Capital, Su Yan had become an immovable mountain. Three years ago, he had carved a bloody path from the Guo estate to the Luo River, then to the Shi manor. In the eyes of that generation, he was already a living legend.
"The new territories have shattered imperial authority. The Li clan can no longer rule. I need his name to build my own legend."
The Guo and Zhu families pressed deeper into the marsh, searching for the dragon-headed god. Su Yan followed atop Yuan Qi.
"How did your brother open all Six Secrets?" Su Yan asked Zhu Hongyi.
She plucked a few notes on her pipa. "His talent surpasses mine. The old immortal in the prison cart took a liking to him. His status in the Zhu family now exceeds my own."
Su Yan's gaze fell on the black-shrouded cart. "Old immortal?"
"Every major clan has one these days," Zhu Hongyi said with a smile. "The Pei, Cui, and Li families keep several. We smaller clans must work harder to compete."
Guo Xiaodie explained. After the little fairy Zhu Chanchan escaped from the Guo patriarch's cave heaven, the old man had led another expedition to the other shore and captured a true immortal. Word spread, and now every clan sought their own.
"We keep them chained," Guo Xiaodie admitted. "Limbs locked, cultivation sealed, consciousness suppressed. They teach us cultivation methods."
Yuan Qi shuddered. "If Old Ancestor Chanchan fell into their hands..."
The bell growled. "If A-Yan were captured, he'd fare no better."
A massive shape burst from the water. An ancient fish-beast, wing-fins spread, swallowed a dozen nuo masters whole. Guo and Zhu fighters scrambled. The creature's hide turned even sword qi. Only the combined power of clan elders drove it back.
Su Yan watched the battle with narrowed eyes. "Almost every nuo master now cultivates two or three secrets. The fusion of nuo and qi has truly spread."
He thought of Zhou Qiyun, the pioneer. And of himself, who had refined the methods. Together, they had changed the cultivation world.
* * *
That evening, Su Yan finally completed the true Bubbling Spring method. Within his Xiyi Domain, his golden core blazed with light. It descended into the Yellow Springs, following the meridians deep into his body.
At the bottom lay a dark sea. A lotus floated upon it, petals closed. This was the Bubbling Spring secret.
According to the scripture, there were two—left and right. Opening both was necessary for true mastery.
Su Yan guided his golden core into the lotus. It bloomed, a cave heaven taking root in the dark waters. Then he opened the second. When both lotuses bloomed together, their medicinal energy merged.
His soul began to grow.
"Bubbling Spring nourishes the soul," he realized with joy. For too long, his spiritual cultivation had stagnated. Now he could strengthen his very soul.
He opened three Bubbling Spring caves in succession before his core exhausted its power. Twenty-one caves now shone within his Xiyi Domain.
"A-Yan," Yuan Qi called. "Look ahead."
Smoke rose in the distance. A stone city loomed on the horizon, villages scattered around it.
"People living in the Yunmeng Marsh?" Su Yan frowned.
A voice came from the Zhu prison cart. "They are Heavenly Dao Migrants, descendants of warriors brought from other worlds. That city is cursed. On full moons, it vanishes—and anyone inside vanishes with it."