Chapter 110

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 110: The Position of the Leader

“To completely rid myself of the cold poison’s influence, I fear I will have to wait until I break through to the Human King stage,” Qin Chu Yi said, her gaze lifting to meet Ming He’s. “Once I reach the Human King stage, I must go to the battlefield of the heavens to slay the alien race. It may be a long time before I see you again.”

Every cultivator who ascends to the Human King stage is bound by the decree to enter the battlefield of the heavens and slay the alien race. Only after annihilating one hundred thousand aliens can they choose whether to remain on the battlefield or withdraw. This law was established by the human cultivator, Sword Master, and enforced by the Imperial Palace. No one, not even Qin Chu Yi, the Young Master of the Qin Clan, is exempt.

Qin Chu Yi intertwined her fingers with Ming He’s, her eyes shining with determination. “Ming He, will you wait for me? Will you wait until I break through to the Human King stage and return from the battlefield of the heavens?”

“Of course, I will,” Ming He replied with a soft smile. “No matter how long it takes, I will always wait for you, Senior Sister.” To Ming He, Qin Chu Yi was her one and only Dao partner.

The Human King stage, the battlefield of the heavens, one hundred thousand aliens—these thoughts lingered in Ming He’s mind. Her eyes flickered as she spoke softly, “Senior Sister, you are now at the Heaven Origin realm, while I am still at the Wind Master realm. Though the gap between us is vast, I will follow closely in your footsteps. By the time you break through to the Human King stage and enter the battlefield, I will have reached the Human King stage as well, before you slay one hundred thousand aliens.” Ming He’s confidence was unwavering; she was determined to keep pace with Qin Chu Yi.

Her gaze drifted to the endless clouds outside the window, her expression distant. “When that time comes, it will be your turn to wait for me.” Slaying one hundred thousand aliens would become her goal, but her ambitions stretched far beyond that number.

Ming He’s thoughts turned to her conversation with Ji Wu Xu, her expression growing pensive. “When we establish our contract, I believe the world will be transformed.” The human race would grow stronger, and their ranks of powerful allies would swell.

“A transformed world?” Qin Chu Yi paused, then smiled. “I look forward to it.”

Before meeting Ming He, Qin Chu Yi had never considered a Dao partner or the idea of establishing a contract with anyone. Her sole focus had been on cultivation, enduring the agony of the cold poison to break through to the Human King stage. She had risked her life to obtain the Star Lock, all for the sake of reaching the battlefield of the heavens. This was her mission, her duty, from the moment she was born.

“I look forward to it as well,” Ming He said, sharing a smile with Qin Chu Yi. If they could not establish their contract now, they would do so when the world was at peace, when the World of Martial Arts was free from corruption.

“Where is your Spirit Gathering Stone?” Qin Chu Yi suddenly asked, her gaze falling to Ming He’s chest. She remembered the jade pendant that once hung there, a symbol of their connection and understanding.

“That’s a long story,” Ming He replied, glancing down at the empty space where the pendant had been. She then looked up, her expression calm, and briefly recounted her experience in the Blood God Wilderness. In that life-and-death situation, survival had been her only concern; the jade pendant had been the last thing on her mind.

“The Blood God Wilderness?” Qin Chu Yi’s eyes softened, though a hint of pain lingered beneath the surface. Though she had not been there herself, Ming He’s account and the Blood God Wilderness’s reputation as one of the ten Absolute Death Zones in the World of Martial Arts were enough to convey its dangers. “Did you agree to Ji Wu Xu’s proposal?”

“Yes,” Ming He nodded. “The current leader of the Demon Race has distanced himself from the human race due to the death of his child. Many high-ranking members of the Demon Race are dissatisfied with Ji Wu Xu’s position as the young leader and seek to violate the treaty between our races. Ji Wu Xu promised that if the human race helps her secure the position of leader, she will stand firmly by our side.”

“But I’m not certain if Ji Wu Xu is being truthful,” Ming He admitted, rising to her feet with a troubled expression. “Still, I want to take the chance.”

Her gaze turned to the scenery outside, her thoughts drifting to Qu Lingyun. If Qu Lingyun had not taken her as a disciple during the outer sect grand competition, Ming He would not have seen the world beyond so soon, nor would she have reached the Wind Master realm. Qu Lingyun had taught her few incantations, but he had opened the door to the Great Path for her. Much of her understanding of the Great Path and sword cultivation came from him.

After leaving Liu Yun, Ming He came to truly understand the legacy of Qu Lingyun. She had seen a brilliance in him that surpassed even that of the Sword Master. And then there were the Nine-Character True Words, an ancient inheritance of soul mastery. Though she had not yet fully comprehended its depths, she had already gleaned profound insights from it.

To Ming He, Qu Lingyun was undeniably her Master. How could she stand by and let him live out his days in the Liu Yun Sect, bearing the scars of a sword wound? Her Master had once been a prodigy known across the five regions, full of ambition. He did not deserve such a fate.

The Demon Race demanded that Qu Lingyun’s disciples or fellow apprentices slay a million aliens to clear the debt. It was an impossible task, one Ming He could not hope to achieve anytime soon. Ji Wu Xu was her only hope.

“Ji Wu Xu’s words are likely true,” Qin Chu Yi said, stepping closer to Ming He. Her gaze darkened, and her aura grew somber. “If she is willing to face heaven’s wrath by committing patricide and ascends to the position of leader, the human race will gain a powerful ally. With the full cooperation of the Demon Race, it may not be impossible to cleanse the world of the alien threat and restore peace in our lifetime.”

“But how can Senior Sister be so certain that Ji Wu Xu’s words are true?” Ming He frowned, puzzled by Qin Chu Yi’s unwavering confidence. She herself harbored no trust for Ji Wu Xu.

That woman had been cold and ruthless when they first met in the ancient cave dwelling, treating human lives as if they were nothing. She was indeed a fitting young leader of the Demon Race, her every scheme driven by self-interest.

“Because, like me, she bears an unyielding hatred for the alien race,” Qin Chu Yi said, her gaze lowering. “My mother, like Ji Wu Xu’s, perished on the battlefield of the heavens, slain by the emperor of the Tian Yan Tribe.”

She tried to force a smile as she met Ming He’s shocked eyes, but it quickly twisted into a bitter grimace. “Twenty-three years ago, the alien forces that had infiltrated the Tianwu Continent were nearly eradicated by the combined efforts of our two races. Yet, the alien race launched a ferocious assault, plunging the Tianwu Continent into peril once more.

All cultivators at the Human King stage, save for those on the brink of death, were summoned to the battlefield to defend the Tianwu Continent. Even some at the peak of the Heaven Origin realm were called to fight.”

“My mother was at the Human King stage at the time. When the survival of humanity hung in the balance, there was no other choice. Even though she was ten months pregnant, she had to go. Every human cultivator on the battlefield meant a greater chance of victory. Even those clinging to their last breath went to fight—my mother had no reason to stay behind.”

Qin Chu Yi’s voice trembled. “In the end, humanity managed to hold the Tianwu Continent, but the cost was staggering. So many human cultivators died in that war—so many that it was horrifying to behold.”

“Senior Sister,” Ming He murmured, her eyes reddening. She had never set foot on the battlefield of the heavens, but the mere mention of it evoked the cruelty of the alien race—a cruelty that words could scarcely capture.

In an instant, she recalled the carvings in the Tomb of the Divine Sword in the Blood God Wilderness, the image of a human cultivator clad in heavy armor, smiling as he charged toward the aliens, his self-detonation staining the deep blue sky with blood.

“At a critical moment, my mother delayed the emperor of the Tian Yan Tribe, preventing him from reaching the heart of the battlefield,” Qin Chu Yi said, her fists clenched, her eyes tinged with crimson. “The outcome was inevitable when a Human King faced an Earth Emperor Realm expert.”

She lifted her head, refusing to let her tears fall, and for the first time, she spoke openly about the hatred she had carried since birth. “The emperor of the Tian Yan Tribe practiced the path of ice, his spiritual energy forged from frost.

After the battle, my mother left the battlefield and gave birth to me, but the cold had seeped into her heart, and she died.”

“I never saw her. The only trace of her existence is the cold poison that courses through my body,” Qin Chu Yi said, as Ming He pulled her into an embrace. A single tear escaped despite her efforts. “If it weren’t for me, perhaps she could have survived.”

Her father had not hidden the truth from her. When she first asked, he had told her everything in detail. She knew her mother had already reached the peak of the Human King stage. If not for her existence, if not for the need to protect her life…

“It’s not your fault, Senior Sister,” Ming He said softly, reaching up to wipe the tears from Qin Chu Yi’s face. “The blame lies with the alien race, not you.”

“When we go to the battlefield of the heavens, let’s join forces and kill that emperor of the Tian Yan Tribe. We’ll avenge your mother, okay?” Ming He’s gaze was steady, her resolve clear.

“Yes, we’ll kill him together,” Qin Chu Yi said, exhaling deeply before returning to the earlier topic. “Ji Wu Xu’s mother met the same fate. That’s why her words are true. The human race can help her seize power.”

“If Ji Wu Xu’s mother died at the hands of the alien race, why…” Ming He hesitated, “is Ji Wu Xu… illegitimate?”

“Exactly,” Qin Chu Yi confirmed. “As the leader of the Demon Race, the emperor naturally had many women in his harem. Ji Wu Xu’s mother was not favored; otherwise, she would not have been sent to delay the emperor of the Tian Yan Tribe.”

The Demon Race was different from the human race. Even with the treaty in place, they would not commit fully—a foolish stance.

“The previous young leader of the Demon Race was the emperor’s eldest son. Ji Wu Xu only ascended to her position after the previous young leader fell to your Master’s sword. She rose to power through the omen of the Stellar Tablet of the Demon Race, so even if the emperor disliked her, she could still claim the throne,” Qin Chu Yi explained.

“The Stellar Tablet of the Demon Race?” Ming He asked, confused.

“It’s a sacred artifact of the Demon Race, equivalent in status to the Tablet of Heavenly Dao for the human race. It was born in ancient times, connected to the spirits of heaven and earth, and imbued with the essence of the sun and moon,” Qin Chu Yi said, her eyes thoughtful. “But why would Ji Wu Xu seek to collaborate with you?”

Ming He, despite her exceptional talent, held no significant position in the human race and could not yet represent humanity as a whole.

Could it be because of her? Did Ji Wu Xu know that Ming He would seek her out? Or was it because of the Ancient Sword Xuanyuan?

As Qin Chu Yi pondered the connections, a thought struck her. “Was the white figure you saw dressed like this?”

She conjured a mirror-like image in the air, her fingertip tracing the outline of a white figure—a long robe of snow-white with dark patterns, draped in a cloak that obscured the face, even the eyes. At the waist hung a crescent-shaped jade pendant.

“Yes, that’s how he looked,” Ming He nodded. “Does Senior Sister know who he is?” Just from the white robes and a pendant?

“He’s from the Nine Heavens Pavilion,” Qin Chu Yi said, her brow still furrowed as she tried to piece things together. Though the young master of the Ancient Clan held a noble status, her understanding might still fall short of Ji Wu Xu’s.

Ji Wu Xu had chosen to collaborate with Ming He, likely because Ming He possessed something extraordinary—not just the Star Lock or the Ancient Sword Xuanyuan. Before the white-robed figure appeared, Ji Wu Xu had never mentioned collaboration.

“The alien race has the Black Wind Alliance and the Alien Race Hunting Hall, and the human race naturally has its own forces,” Qin Chu Yi explained, turning to face Ming He’s puzzled expression. “Besides the Imperial Palace and the Armored Guards of the five regions, the Nine Heavens Pavilion is another faction of the human race, spread across the Tianwu Continent.”

“The Black Wind Alliance and the Alien Race Hunting Hall operate in the shadows, while the Imperial Palace and the Armored Guards are in plain sight. If this continues, the human race’s strength will only diminish. That’s why the Nine Heavens Pavilion was established.”

“The Nine Heavens Pavilion takes its name from the saying ‘Bright Moon at the Highest Point of the Heavens.’ The jade pendant worn by the white-robed figure is called the Moon Reaching Pendant,” Qin Chu Yi said, her gaze lingering on the plaque in the palace that bore the words “Moon Reaching.” She had named her sleeping quarters long before she knew of the Nine Heavens Pavilion’s existence.

“The Moon Reaching Pendant can conceal one’s presence and also allow communication. The Nine Heavens Pavilion is a hidden faction of the human race. The Nine Heavens Guards wear such white cloaks, hiding their presence and cultivation. They operate in the shadows, protecting the human race’s geniuses, eliminating traitors, and carrying out all secretive tasks for humanity.”

Respect gleamed in Qin Chu Yi’s eyes. “No one knows the origins of the Nine Heavens Guards, their names, or even who they are. All I know is that once you enter the Nine Heavens Pavilion, you shed your past, dedicating your life to the human race.

If they die, their names won’t be recorded in the Tianwu Record, and they will own nothing, their bones left to rest among the green hills.” Though often, not even a single bone remains.

The Nine Heavens Pavilion.

Ming He recalled the white figure in her mind, her grip tightening on the Jing Ying Sword. Her emotions surged within her—the alien race was far more ruthless than she had imagined, and the human race far more resolute.

“Did Ji Wu Xu leave you any token?” Qin Chu Yi asked, looking at Ming He.

“Yes,” Ming He nodded, producing a red fox-shaped jade pendant. “She said that when the pendant lights up, I can use the fox clan incantation to reach her side.”

“A Soul Fox Pendant?” Qin Chu Yi’s eyes widened in surprise, her gaze deepening as she looked at Ming He. “She actually gave you something so precious?”

Ming He was unaware of the Soul Fox Pendant’s significance, but Qin Chu Yi, as the Young Master of the Qin Clan, understood its value. The pendant was forged from the body of a Nine-tailed Fox, enduring the pain of losing its tail. It symbolized the supreme status of the young leader of the Demon Race, granting its bearer free passage among the Demon Race.

“And the incantation?” Qin Chu Yi asked, her tone calm as she lowered her gaze, masking her expression.

“Oh, she taught it to me orally,” Ming He said, hesitating before reciting it again.

The incantation was brief, and Qin Chu Yi, with her exceptional memory, committed it to mind after a single hearing. She calmly stored the pendant away. “I’ll keep this Soul Fox Pendant for now. If it lights up, I’ll let you know.”

As she spoke, she had already tucked the pendant away, leaving no room for Ming He to object.

“Okay,” Ming He replied, dazed. She sensed that Qin Chu Yi wasn’t entirely pleased, though moments ago, everything had seemed fine. She still couldn’t quite understand Qin Chu Yi.

“Senior Sister, what should we do next…” Ming He asked, rubbing her head, feeling somewhat lost. She had traveled all the way from the Floating Cloud Sect to Qin Huang Mountain to see Qin Chu Yi. Now that she had achieved her goal, it seemed she should return to Floating Cloud. Yet, she felt reluctant to leave. If she stayed in the central region, she had nowhere else to go. Staying at Qin Huang Mountain… didn’t feel quite right.

“Next, you’ll train here for a while. There’s an auction in a month, and I’ll take you to see it,” Qin Chu Yi said casually, clearly unaware of Ming He’s inner turmoil.

“Here?” Ming He stammered, her ears turning red. “You mean I’ll stay here?” Her heart raced, and her movements grew clumsy.

Though they had lived together in the Moonlight Courtyard of the Floating Cloud Sect, it had been to help Qin Chu Yi cultivate the true essence of Ice. Now, things were different. Their relationship was no longer just that of Senior Sister and Junior Sister—it felt… strange.

“Yes,” Qin Chu Yi said, looking up in surprise. Seeing Ming He’s expression, she understood her concerns and smiled. “Is there a problem?”

“But…” Ming He hesitated, “what about the Clan Ancestor of the Qin Clan and the elders…”

She remembered that the Qin Clan had a peak Earth Emperor Realm ancestor, and Qin Chu Yi’s father was also a powerful Earth Emperor Realm expert. Now that she had sneaked in, she was openly staying in her Senior Sister’s sleeping quarters, which made her feel uneasy.

Moreover, speaking of sneaking in, Ming He patted her head, finally remembering that she had forgotten something.