Chapter 88: Cultivating an Invincible Aura; Another Shift in the Young Saints Ranking

Tianbo Pavilion, a gentle spring breeze drifting by.

In the vast pool, koi twist and turn, bursting like fireworks, reflecting the octagonal eaves of Tianbo Tower. The rippling surface splinters the tower’s image into fragments.

Clad in white, a youth stands with boundless pride.

His gaze burns bright, a sunlit ambition that melts the winter snow from a thousand mountains.

Lady Hua watched the spirited youth who declared, "I am not unworthy of legend," and felt a peculiar emotion stirring within her.

This young man, who had only practiced cultivation for barely a month yet reached the fourth realm of Refining Spirit, already belonged to the realm of the unbelievable in her heart. Yet he yearned to forge a legend that would shake the world.

He aspired to retrace Li You'an's legendary path to scholarhood.

He even wished to surpass Li You'an, to create a legend more legendary.

Spring breeze, sword’s song, and soaring pride.

The youth’s vitality radiated like the sun leaping over the jade sea, shining its fierce brilliance over all, melting the winter in every heart, so that the light of legend could blossom in every eye.

Such infectious energy and determination made Lady Hua feel as if she’d returned to the prime of her youth, recalling those days of ambition and vigor.

"What do you need from me?" Lady Hua suppressed the stirring in her heart and spoke.

She had never thought that she could witness such sunlit determination in a youth; even in her own youth, she never dared claim she could create a legend.

"You don’t have much time. Typically, the spring examination results are announced five days after the exam ends. Then, ten days later, comes the imperial court examination."

"You have less than half a month. Li You'an challenged once every seven days, allowing himself time to consolidate his gains and break through his cultivation, fighting seven undefeated battles to forge his legend."

"But even so, that took at least two months. You have only half a month. Do you think you can succeed?" Lady Hua spoke softly, laying out the difficulties for An Le.

Li You'an took two months to forge his legend, while An Le wished to replicate it in half the time—a dream bordering on madness.

Yet Lady Hua suddenly felt the youth might truly surprise her with a miracle.

From learning the Sword Cascade Diagram and the Five-Beast Body Tempering Technique to the end of the spring examination, in just a month, the youth had gone from ignorance to the fourth realm of Refining Spirit.

Such progress might truly be unimaginable.

An Le’s gaze shone, his hand resting on the sword at his waist, Qingshan. Suddenly, his sword aura surged, echoing his passionate spirit and sweeping through Tianbo Pavilion.

Like a roaring wind and waves, propelling the youth ever upward.

"Lady, I need detailed information on every opponent. I am now ranked eighteenth on the Young Saints List—no, it should soon change. Having condensed my Yuan Spirit, my ranking should rise."

An Le stroked Qingshan, speaking gently but confidently.

"Once my ranking is confirmed, I will challenge the next. General Li You'an fought once every seven days; I will fight once every three."

"Though this imperial court examination is filled with geniuses, I still hope to strive for that seemingly unattainable top scholar honor. If I can win the Wind Settling for the Lin Family, that would be best."

Lady Hua understood An Le’s intent: he wanted to leverage the Lin Family’s power to investigate every opponent in detail.

The Young Saints List provided only basic information on cultivation; specifics were unknown. An Le wished to challenge each opponent in turn, but could not afford to be careless.

To nurture an undefeated aura, he could not lose; a single defeat would shatter it, greatly affecting his spirit.

Just as when the young Lu Qingchen from Qingzhou arrived at Lin’an Mansion, nurturing an undefeated aura, hoping to defeat each opponent step by step and ascend to the peak.

But he lost to Li You'an, his undefeated aura destroyed, even his Dao heart tarnished, reduced to a "tofu heart."

An Le did not wish to repeat Lu Qingchen’s fate; thus, he would not underestimate any opponent and sought to know both himself and his foes.

"If you have already made your decision, I will support you. I will collect and organize the information you need. But this path is fraught with difficulty; there is little I can do to help."

Lady Hua lifted her teacup, gently rubbing the lid against the rim.

An Le’s aura gradually subsided, his palm covering Qingshan, the sword’s song quieting, and the ink pool returning to calm.

An Le raised his teacup and saluted Lady Hua from afar.

"An Le thanks Lady Hua."

Lady Hua smiled, and the two drank their tea as if it were wine, downing it in one gulp.

An Le did not linger at Tianbo Pavilion; he rose, bowed, and, led by Xi Xiang, crossed the white jade arch bridge and left.

Lady Hua returned to her couch and took up her book, but not a single word could enter her heart.

A gentle breeze, the pavilion returned to peace.

Yet beneath this calm, waves of anticipation were gathering.

An Le’s request for information was not mere impulse.

After hearing of Li You'an’s legendary deeds from the elder at the Grand Temple, An Le’s heart surged with admiration and longing.

Now, having condensed his Yuan Spirit and glimpsed the true face of Qingshan within, his spirit soared.

He harbored wild ambitions—to climb Qingshan step by step, to reach its summit.

To enact that "stand atop the absolute peak and see all mountains as small" moment.

To fight with battle, nurture an undefeated aura, and maximize the gains from every challenge with a fearless heart.

An Le knew well how formidable the imperial court examination opponents were.

Whether Qin Hua'an, Ye Wenxi, or those Lady Hua had mentioned—Sima Pudu and Wang Qilin—they were all currently out of his league, having reached the fifth realm or even its peak.

They were extraordinary, geniuses who could fight across realms. An Le stood no chance against them now.

Currently, An Le was only ranked tenth on the Young Saints List, like Wang Qinhe.

He had not yet qualified to stand alongside the list’s top talents.

But he felt no fear. He aspired to walk Li You'an’s legendary path, fighting his way up, using his undefeated aura to shatter the walls woven by these geniuses and open a broad, clear road.

This road was arduous. Many had attempted it through the ages, nurturing undefeated auras, but dominating their peers was never easy.

After all, those who earned fame among their peers were no fools; those who held a Young Saints Token possessed their own ambitions.

This was a road to invincibility, but one paved with the regrets and tears of countless failures.

Take Lu Qingchen, for example: after one defeat, his undefeated aura was broken, and he languished for over a decade. Only recently, after deciding to sever his Dao heart, had he regained his former vigor and returned to Lin’an.

An Le did not wish to become another Lu Qingchen. The invincible path was difficult, yet legendary; if he could walk it, he would be like the legendary scholar Li You'an—renowned throughout the land, forging a legend and securing a place atop the summit of cultivation.

Blood flowed beneath his skin, his spirit restless, boiling like water, his fighting will rising.

The sword furnace between his brows rang, his mind overflowing, but he suppressed his emotions.

He arrived at the Martial Hall and met Lin Qingyin and Lin Zhuifeng.

"Mr. An."

Both greeted An Le with respect; Lin Qingyin’s face was calm, but Lin Zhuifeng could not hide his admiration and reverence.

The man was handsome, his bearing outstanding—Mr. An was even more captivating than an immortal descended to earth.

An Le smiled, exchanged pleasantries with the Lin Family’s sons, and began painting for the day.

Lin Qingyin quietly followed, learning diligently. Now that she had formally apprenticed under An Le, her dedication had only deepened.

She had witnessed An Le’s talent during his confrontation at the Qin Prime Minister’s mansion, and with such a master, she dared not slacken, lest she tarnish his reputation.

That was something Lin Qingyin would never allow.

Now, the Lin Family’s sons no longer harbored any dissatisfaction; all cooperated obediently with An Le’s painting, their eyes filled with reverence and excitement.

Beating the Qin Prime Minister’s mansion had brought them immense relief; they were even willing to call An Le brother.

The enemy of their enemy was their closest ally.

Spring mountains and waters shimmer, grass-roofed houses breeze-light, swallows flit.

On First Mountain, mist shrouds the peaks, clouds obscure the paths.

Within a thatched hut, an old man sits, sandalwood incense curling, a stick burning in the censer before him. Ash falls upon the paper, interrupting his nap.

"Another change?"

The old man, groggy, murmurs.

Ash forms characters upon white paper, declaring An Le’s breakthrough to the fourth realm of Refining Spirit, his condensation of Yuan Spirit, his rise from eighteenth to sixteenth in the Young Saints List, leaping two places.

"Again this child—it’s only been a few days."

The old man rubs his brow, whispering.

Then, he smiles, opening his weathered eyes, a spark of interest kindling within.

"Is this child also seeking to forge a legend like Li You'an?"

He steps to the threshold; the paper transforms into a white crane, spreading its wings.

A solitary cloud enters deeper mountains, men vanish, yet the crane flies on.

The white crane soars between peaks, beating its wings, entering the bustling, dreamlike world.

That day, Lin’an Mansion was shaken once more.

The white crane as proof.

The Young Saints List updated again.

As the crane flew over mountains and rivers, landing amidst the orderly black-and-white buildings of the Academy, many instructors looked puzzled.

First Mountain’s Young Saints List crane—here again?

It was rare to see it even once in half a year, yet now every few days it descended.

The chief and third instructors were boating on West Lake, so the second instructor, Pang Ji, reached out to take the crane.

The crane became a sheet of paper in his hand. Pang Ji, aged in face but bright in eye, stared at the news and paused, his gaze filled with complex emotions.

"An Le has condensed his Yuan Spirit, reached the fourth realm of Refining Spirit, and the Young Saints List has risen two places to sixteenth."

The one who caused the Young Saints List to shift once again was still An Le.

Pang Ji sighed; in a short period, the list had changed twice for him. This youth’s breakthroughs each caused him to leap ahead of other Refining Spirit fourth realm cultivators.

To rise on the Young Saints List showed that An Le’s every improvement was extraordinary and greatly enhanced his power.

Pang Ji felt that Lin’an was about to witness a surge of talent.

He recalled the youth who drank and composed poetry outside the Qin Prime Minister’s mansion—uninhibited and bold. Pang Ji sighed in regret: such a youth had never entered the Academy; it was a pity.

"Update the Young Saints List and announce it."

Pang Ji spoke softly, and several children beside him began their tasks.

When An Le finished his work at the Lin Family and left amidst the farewells of Lin Qingyin and the others, the many factions in Lin’an all received news of the Young Saints List’s latest update.

At the Lin Family, Tianbo Pavilion.

Fourth Master Lin suddenly appeared, looking toward Lady Hua, who sat lost in thought in the main hall.

"Sister-in-law, the Young Saints List has changed again—An Le has risen two places to sixteenth."

Fourth Master Lin spoke.

Lady Hua withdrew her distracted gaze, but was not surprised.

She had already learned of An Le’s breakthrough, and his ability to leap past Wang Qinhe showed the depth of his cultivation.

Though An Le had not practiced long, his progress was swift and his foundation deep, almost unimaginable for someone who advanced so quickly.

"An Le visited me today and said he wants to walk Li You'an’s legendary path, challenging his way up, nurturing an undefeated aura and vast sword qi."

"He doesn’t wish to be unknown in the imperial court examination. He wants to help the Lin Family win the Wind Settling, to dominate his peers and reach the top scholar’s honor."

Lady Hua spoke gently.

Fourth Master Lin’s eyes narrowed, then he laughed heartily: "What a fine young man! Truly like a wild horse that cannot be harnessed. Such spirit, such ambition—it fills me with awe and admiration!"

"If he is willing to help us win the Wind Settling, that’s good. If he truly succeeds, it will break the storm, and our Lin Family will find ease."

Fourth Master Lin said.

"But it’s too difficult. Qin Hua'an, Sima Pudu, and Wang’s Qilin are all geniuses, like mountains blocking the way, each representing their faction and determined to stop us from claiming the Wind Settling."

Lady Hua rose, walking gracefully to the poolside and spoke softly: "Only through hardship can one grow. A sharp sword must be tempered to reveal its edge."

"Let him try, even if he fails—it matters not. I have prepared to support him if needed."

Qin Prime Minister’s mansion.

Qin Qianqiu gazed at the updated Young Saints List, his eyes darkening with resentment and anger, hurling the yellow-covered book to the ground.

"This fellow has risen again! Watching him break through, while I have had my spirit severed and fallen back to the fetal breathing stage—I am truly furious!"

Qin Qianqiu’s anger burned, seeing An Le’s rise, feeling pain and discomfort.

Wang Qinhe drank wine in silence; he remained at nineteenth, still at the bottom, while the youth climbed ever higher.

"From fifteenth onward, every step is as hard as ascending to heaven. An Le has no chance."

Wang Qinhe tried to comfort Qin Qianqiu, and himself.

Only the weak search for excuses to comfort themselves.

But those ranked fifteen and above truly were monsters—Qin Hua'an, Ye Wenxi, Sima Pudu, and so on—what sort of people were they?

Qin Qianqiu suppressed his resentment; he had promised his father to stay calm, knowing he could not touch An Le yet. He would wait until after the imperial court examination to make his move.

Still, he felt deeply unsatisfied: his own cultivation had fallen, while An Le, the one who severed his spirit, had advanced to the fourth realm.

It was as if he had been killed twice—body and heart.

"This child’s growth is too rapid—it unsettles me. Clearly an insignificant figure, yet able to stir up the winds in Lin’an."

"Truly vexing."

At the Ye Family, Ye Wenxi and her sister Ye Yinping watched the updated Young Saints List, seeing An Le leap from the bottom to sixteenth.

"Sister, he’s so fast!"

Ye Yinping exclaimed.

"He’s already at the fourth realm of Refining Spirit—it seems he has no bottleneck at all. That realm traps so many."

"Sister, I’m ranked eighth. Will he challenge me once the imperial court examination ends?"

Ye Yinping grinned, silver spear on her back.

Ye Wenxi rubbed her head and smiled gently: "Do you know General You'an? He may well become the next You'an. Perhaps he won’t even wait for the exam to end; soon he’ll bring his sword to face you."

Ye Yinping’s smile faded. "Sister, do you think Mr. An will repeat General You'an’s legendary path? But he doesn’t have enough time—his ranking is too low. If he truly wants to repeat that legend, the difficulties he faces will be even greater."

She leaned close to Ye Wenxi, her face earnest: "Besides, times are different now. If he wants to forge a legend, he’ll have to defeat you. I don’t think he can win against you."

Ye Wenxi pinched her sister’s cheek: "I look forward to him coming with an undefeated aura. If I defeat him then, I’ll surely ascend the sacred mountain and meet the sage."

Ye Wenxi’s words quieted Ye Yinping.

By the still lake, the maiden stood tall, gazing at the surface, her eyes recalling the scene atop Sixth Mountain, where the youth climbed in the rain to claim the Young Saints Token.

Unconsciously, the youth had become a waking tiger, approaching step by step.

Ye Wenxi’s lips curled in a smile, a hint of anticipation in her heart.

That day, all Lin’an simmered—the Young Saints List had shifted once again because of the same person, becoming the talk of astonished conversation.

Those whose rankings had been surpassed—sixteenth and seventeenth—felt as Wang Qinhe had before, deeply dissatisfied.

Though An Le’s name was renowned throughout Lin’an, they could not accept that a single change in the Young Saints Token had knocked them down, making their hard-earned ranking slip and leaving them disgraced.

Their cultivation was stronger than An Le’s, yet they had been overtaken.

But Wang Qinhe’s lesson made them cautious, unwilling to challenge An Le easily.

Yet they did not know that by failing to challenge, they had lost their chance forever.

Night fell, stars filling the sky.

An Le went to a small tavern in Yan Chun Lane, bought a jug of old yellow wine, but did not return to his small courtyard in the Grand Temple Alley.

Instead, he walked beneath the starlight, strolling the long street, carrying a jug of wine and two swords.

His white robe billowed in the spring breeze.

A faint aura rose from him.

In his hand was a letter sent by Lady Hua, delivered by Xi Xiang upon his departure from the Lin Family. On the paper was detailed information about the Young Saints List’s fifteenth-ranked Ximen Qiuhua, and the places he frequented.

An Le folded the letter and halted.

He turned to gaze at the most brilliant, lavish building among the thousand lanterns, its lights blazing, its luxury and opulence unmatched.

Through the glowing lights, graceful figures could be seen, men’s laughter thundered, scents of rouge and powder mingled with the romantic atmosphere wafting on the wind.

Golden incense burners, jade boxes, orchid fragrance—tonight, all for the guest.

This building was Ximen Qiuhua’s usual haunt, the foremost pleasure house in Lin’an—Lin Hua Pavilion.

ps: Monday, asking for monthly votes, fresh recommendations

"Brother Shen."

"Mm."

Shen Changqing walked the street, greeting acquaintances with a nod or a word.

But no matter who it was,

No one showed much expression, as if indifferent to everything.

It was nothing new to Shen Changqing.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Bureau, an institution that maintained the stability of Great Qin, chiefly tasked with slaying demons and monsters, though it had other side jobs.

One could say

Everyone in the Bureau had blood on their hands.

When a person grows accustomed to life and death, they become indifferent to many things.

When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing felt uncomfortable, but over time, he grew used to it.

The Bureau was vast.

Those who stayed were either powerful experts or had the potential to become one.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The Bureau had two ranks: Guardian and Demon Slayer.

Anyone who entered started as a Demon Slayer at the lowest level,

Then rose step by step, eventually hoping to become a Guardian.

Shen Changqing’s predecessor was a trainee Demon Slayer, the lowest of the Demon Slayers.

He retained his predecessor’s memories.

He was thus well acquainted with the Bureau’s environment.

He did not take long to reach a certain pavilion.

Unlike the Bureau’s other grim places, this pavilion stood out, a tranquil oasis amid the blood-soaked Bureau.

The main doors were open, with people occasionally coming and going.

Shen Changqing hesitated only briefly before stepping inside.

Within, the atmosphere changed.

A whiff of ink mixed with faint blood greeted him, causing his brows to knit instinctively, then relax.

The Bureau’s members bore a scent of blood that could never be washed away.