Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Seed of the Dao

“Today, I truly owe everything to you, Master Ye.”

Returning victorious, having won over the hearts of the people, Song Tingye wore a broad smile, warmly taking Qi Xiu by the arm and inviting him to the seat of honor.

“You flatter me, Magistrate. I was simply fulfilling a favor entrusted to me. However, I was delayed by some matters this evening and failed to arrive in time—please forgive me.”

“No, no, had you not been here tonight, Master, I would have suffered a grievous loss.” Song Tingye waved his hand, relief etched on his face.

Had Ye Wen not arrived in time tonight, he would have had to abandon the Hibernating Dragon Cultivation Technique and take action himself. Doing so would have delayed his entry into the Dao by a whole year. A single misstep leads to endless delays. The loss would have been immense.

“As long as I haven't delayed your affairs, that is for the best. After all, in this period, you have gone to great lengths to gather so many medicinal herbs for me. If I had failed to be of help, I would be ashamed indeed,” Qi Xiu replied politely.

“A few herbs are nothing. Should you need anything else, just let me know, and I will see it done.” After witnessing the terrifying might of Qi Xiu's combat strength tonight, Song Tingye felt that the herbs he had given away were well worth it. After all, the expenses were charged to Jiufang.

“In that case, I am relieved,” Qi Xiu’s eyes brightened, his smile growing more radiant.

“Ha…haha. Someone, bring wine! Tonight, Master Ye and I will not leave until we are drunk!”

Seeing that familiar smile on Qi Xiu’s face, Song Tingye’s heart skipped a beat, and he forced a strained laugh.

Oh no, it seems I’ve said the wrong thing again.

…

By the time he left the Song residence, it was already dawn of the next day.

Striding down the road, dense white mist steamed off Qi Xiu’s body. The rich scent of alcohol was so potent that birds perched on nearby branches rolled their eyes and dropped to the ground with a squawk. Using his inner energy to force out the alcohol, Qi Xiu snapped awake, lifted his foot, and, employing his art of shadowy movement, vanished from the street in an instant.

After dozens of rapid shifts, he circled most of the county and finally returned to his own courtyard. Making sure he wasn’t tailed, Qi Xiu rubbed his cheeks and tore off the Hundred-Faced Mask.

He poured hot water into the basin and looked down at his reflection, a head full of purple hair. Qi Xiu smiled wryly.

It seems, for a while now, I can’t appear as my main self.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Qi Xiu lay on his back on the bed, eyes slowly closing.

Within his dantian’s Violet Palace, the gas spring, once like a nebula, had vanished.

In its place was a seed-shaped point of light, faintly glowing with a purple radiance.

A Dao Seed!

On the hundred-foot cliff, after downing ten bowls of the Ten Suns Qi Replenishing Soup, Qi Xiu finally succeeded in advancing the Violet Pole True Art to the third stage. With the innate advantage of his original intent, he fused his intent directly with his gas spring, condensing his very first Primal Dao Seed—the Violet Pole Dao Seed.

The mystical power contained within this Dao Seed was called the Crimson-Gold Gourd. Its effect was the summoning of the violet-gold gourd, wielding the violet flame. This flame was the purest, most potent yang fire, infused with fierce poison. Once touched, it clung persistently, nearly impossible to extinguish. Its power was so great that Qi Xiu alone could rout four corpse herders, sending them fleeing in terror, unable even to think of countering.

“Unfortunately, only the creator of the original intent can condense a Primal Dao Seed. Even if I teach others myself, they can only form ordinary Dao Seeds, whose mystical power is not the crimson-gold gourd, but a common purple gourd. The copyright awareness of this world is truly remarkable.”

Staring at the Violet Pole Dao Seed in his Violet Palace, Qi Xiu felt both joy and worry.

Joy, because he had returned to the Intent Realm. With the Primal Dao Seed and original intent, except for the favored sons of great sects and noble families, ordinary martial artists and sorcerers were unworthy of even challenging him.

Worry, because from the instant he re-entered the Intent Realm, the road beneath his feet had reached its end.

He glanced at his proficiency panel.

[Violet Pole True Art (Third Realm): Perfected]

Without the secret method of the Ancient Gathering Heaven Gang, no matter how powerful his Primal Dao Seed, he could not advance further. And without entering the Dao, he would forever remain mortal, powerless against Daoist cultivators. The difference in strength was fundamental, almost impossible to bridge.

“But where am I supposed to find the secret method of the Ancient Gathering Heaven Gang?”

With his hands behind his head, Qi Xiu stared quietly at the ceiling. The great sects and noble families guarded the secrets of the Ancient Gathering Heaven Gang with utmost care; this was evident from Yuan Baiyi and Song Tingye alike. This was a secret utterly monopolized, forbidden to those outside the class.

If the martial path is blocked, perhaps I should try the path of the sorcerer?

Looking at his panel, at the perfected Violet Pole True Art and the still unbroken first stage of the Jade Pool Serpentine Sutra, Qi Xiu could only give it a try.

But before that, I need to find a way to restore my hair.

Tugging at his silky, conspicuous purple hair, Qi Xiu could only sigh. Once Violet Pole True Art reached the Intent Realm, his hair inexplicably turned purple. And likely due to the influence of the Dao Seed, even the mystical power of the Hundred-Faced Mask could not alter it. No matter what disguise he assumed, he’d always bear that distinctive purple hair.

Wait! If I recall correctly, the Jade Pool Serpentine Sutra produces mana of a deep green color…

Narrowing his eyes, Qi Xiu couldn’t help imagining himself with a head of green seaweed. All green wouldn’t look too bad, but half purple, half green…

…

Since the night of the corpse herders’ assault on the city, half a month passed with not a whisper of trouble.

Qi Xiu discreetly inquired with Song Tingye and learned that the Blood Alliance branch responsible for the earlier chaos had provoked a mysterious cultivator, who laid siege to their gates and slaughtered for three days. Few disciples remained, and those left dared only to hide behind the branch’s formation. The mysterious cultivator had declared he would not rest until the Blood Alliance branch was razed to the ground. The main Blood Alliance headquarters had sent their experts as reinforcements, but so far, neither side had met.

With no one causing trouble, Qi Xiu, as the Protector, could finally enjoy some peace. Each day required nothing of him but practicing calligraphy, painting, concocting medicines, requesting herbs from Song Tingye, and reciting the sutra’s chants.

After all this time, though he was still a step away from breaking through the first realm, his recitation skills had become truly transcendent—fluent to perfection, rivaling a television host from his previous life.

Sunshine bathed the world, a gentle breeze stirred the air.

In the small Qi family courtyard, Qi Xiu adjusted the latest version of his Fragrant Fish-Tendon Powder while reciting the Jade Pool Serpentine Sutra as usual.

Suddenly, his grinding motion paused.

He looked up. Within his eyes, a ghostly emerald radiance flared—cold, mysterious, and eerie.

He had entered the first realm of the Jade Pool Serpentine Sutra!

…