Zhang Wuding (Rank Eight martial artist). Destiny pattern: two liang, three qian; convertible into two liang, three qian of primordial profound spirit...
Through his connection with the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, Zhou Wuji naturally understood how Zhang Wuding had appeared on the page, as well as how to make use of him there.
The Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment had gathered the spiritual nature that dispersed upon Zhang Wuding's death and condensed it onto the page.
This bit of spiritual nature could be converted into primordial profound spirit, which could then be used to comprehend martial arts and esoteric spells.
The greater the weight of a destiny pattern, the more potent the primordial profound spirit converted from it.
Just like with that baleful ghost, the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment could quantify profound spirit...
Of course, such conversion required strict adherence to the precepts.
He had already violated several precepts, yet after every line of red text, "All Exempted" was appended.
Without this trait, not just him, but several generations of his blood relatives would have been wiped out completely!
As the blazing flames by the river gradually died down, Zhou Wuji gazed ahead, lost in deep thought. His solemn demeanor kept the disciples and servants at his side from daring to utter a sound.
After a good while, once Zhou Wuji had grasped the changes in the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, he showed no haste in using the primordial spiritual light converted from Zhang Wuding.
Stepping forward, Zhou Wuji bowed deeply before his master's burned ashes, silently chanting the Supreme Rebirth Incantation.
After reciting the Supreme Rebirth Incantation three times in succession, Zhou Wuji scattered the remaining charcoal and ashes into the river.
A full moon hung in the sky. The churning river swept the swirling ashes downstream, obliterating all traces in the blink of an eye.
He prayed in his heart, "Master, you loved the Xiao and Xiang Rivers. Following the Huamei River straight down to the Jiuyuan River leads right to where the Xiao and Xiang converge. I imagine you will like it there, old man..."
Zhou Wuji remained lost in thought for another moment before flicking his sleeve and addressing the crowd. "Everyone, return to the grand hall."
None dared object, meekly following Zhou Wuji back to the Seven Stars Hall.
"No one is permitted to leave the hall without my permission. Understood?" Zhou Wuji said in a low, heavy voice.
None dared defy him; some quietly voiced agreement, while others nodded repeatedly.
Zhou Wuji glanced at the two corpses lying in the hall, but paid them no further mind. Leaving them there for a while posed no harm.
With a bloody lesson right before their eyes, everyone would remain clearer-headed, which effectively prevented them from doing anything foolish.
As he was leaving the hall through the rear passage, Zhou Wuji considered for a moment and called Li Ruyi out from the crowd.
"Wuyi, come here. I have something to tell you."
All eyes turned toward Li Ruyi. She was a seventeen-year-old girl with fair skin, clear, bright eyes, delicate features, and a tall, slender figure.
Even in Daoist robes, her graceful and poised bearing could not be concealed.
Li Ruyi had generally gotten along well with Zhou Wuji, but right now, she truly did not want to be alone with him.
Yet she dared not disobey his summons, so with an impassive expression, she slowly followed behind him.
The middle-aged woman responsible for protecting Li Ruyi wanted to follow, but Li Ruyi waved her hand to stop her.
Bypassing the hall and stepping out through the back door brought them to the rear courtyard. Flanking wings lined both sides, facing five main rooms.
The courtyard was usually used for practicing martial arts and studying esoteric methods, making it spacious and open.
No lamps were lit in the surrounding rooms. With only the stars shining overhead, the courtyard appeared rather dim and secluded.
Li Ruyi slowly walked into the rear courtyard and saw Zhou Wuji standing in the center with his hands behind his back, gazing at the main rooms where their master had once lived, his thoughts unreadable.
She had always considered Zhou Wuji gentle-tempered, even downright simple and honest. His lack of ambition and contention indeed bore some semblance to the non-action espoused by the Daoist tradition.
Yet in this chaotic world, falling a step behind meant being left at the mercy of others. Whether in martial arts or cultivating the Dao, one had to strive vigorously to be first.
Talking about non-action and non-contention was all well and good, but taking it seriously was foolishness.
Thus, in her heart, Li Ruyi had always felt Zhou Wuji was somewhat incompetent.
Tonight, seeing her second senior brother slay Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen with her own eyes had delivered a tremendous shock to her mind.
The deeply familiar second senior brother had suddenly become utterly unfamiliar—even terrifying!
Evidently, Zhou Wuji had broken through to the Rank Eight Qi Ingestion realm at some unknown point, which was why he possessed such brilliant swordsmanship.
She could not tell whether Zhou Wuji had deliberately feigned incompetence in the past or had suddenly awakened and advanced.
Whatever the case, facing a Zhou Wuji who had abruptly turned powerful and domineering, she had to tread with utmost caution.
"Second Senior Brother." Stopping seven paces away, Li Ruyi bowed respectfully with hands clasped in salute.
Zhou Wuji turned around and nodded at her. This junior sister's Daoist name was Wuyi, but her real name was Li Ruyi.
The Zhang clan was the foremost family in Siming County, followed by the Li clan.
Zhou Wuji had interacted with Fang Wuzhen, Li Ruyi, and the others for several years. Though they all came from families with strict upbringings, his mature mind made it easy to coax information from a group of youths.
Over the years, Zhou Wuji had gained a clear understanding of the county's major clans.
He knew well that while these prominent families presented a united front to the outside, internal power struggles and intrigue were inevitable.
The Li clan ranked second in Siming County, inferior in strength only to the Zhang clan.
On the surface, the two families enjoyed amicable relations, but beneath lay sharp, bitter friction. Only because times were perilous did they refrain from outright bloodshed, barely huddling together for warmth.
Having killed Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen, he needed to win over the Li clan.
Zhou Wuji spoke gently to Li Ruyi. "Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen viciously plotted against Master. Left with no choice, I had to execute the two traitorous disciples with thunderous force."
Li Ruyi nodded on the surface, but she did not believe Zhang Wuding and Fang Wuzhen had the guts to plot against their master.
Li Yiyuan was a Rank Seven registered Daoist, renowned for his exquisite swordsmanship. Against a Rank Seven martial artist, the outcome would be hard to call.
What kind of audacity would those two need to plot against him?
Besides, what could they possibly gain from murdering their master?
Whether in the Daoist, Buddhist, martial, or Confucian paths, or even within demonic sects and heretical cults, the lineage between master and disciple was regarded with utmost sanctity.
A traitorous disciple who killed their master would be reviled and ostracized by all.
By the same token, it was even more impossible for Zhou Wuji to have slain his master. Therefore, Li Ruyi truly could not fathom what had actually transpired tonight.
Zhou Wuji offered only that single line of explanation before shifting the topic: "I killed Zhang Wuding. Zhang Xinhu dotes dearly on this son of his, and he will surely fight me to the bitter end."
Li Ruyi nodded again. Zhang Xinhu was the strongest Rank Seven martial artist in Siming County, renowned for his unyielding temper and domineering conduct. Zhou Wuji had indeed courted massive trouble by killing Zhang Wuding.
Zhou Wuji continued, "Your talent is extraordinary. Master told me long ago that given time, your achievements would surpass his."
He paused, then added in a heavy voice, "However, the Zhang clan will never allow the Li clan to produce a Rank Seven Daoist."
Though naturally composed and opinionated, Li Ruyi could not help but pale slightly at his words.
They were blunt, yet painfully true.
A place like Siming County could not accommodate so many experts. To safeguard its own dominance, the Zhang clan would inevitably do everything in its power to suppress the other families.
Young as she was, Li Ruyi was exceptionally clever. She quickly deduced the intent behind Zhou Wuji's words.
She shook her head slightly and said, "Our family will never help you go against the Zhang clan."
"There's no need for your family to openly turn against them," Zhou Wuji said solemnly. "All I need is for you to oversee Canglong Temple for a few days, preventing the Zhang clan from running amok here... Once I receive transmission and advance to Rank Eight, I will recommend you to cultivate at the Yunlong Branch Abbey. I will never break my word."
He knew Li Ruyi well. This young woman was fiercely ambitious; she would never pass up an opportunity like this.
Sure enough, after considering it for a moment, Li Ruyi nodded firmly. "Very well. It's a promise!"
Chapter 7