Chapter Ten: After a Night’s Sleep, I Became a Master?
Ye Qingyu, carrying the weight of righteousness, restored the name of the Xuanqing Sect and assisted the bewildered, young emperor to ascend the throne, establishing a new era—Great Qian.
The following day, she led the emperor in ancestral rites.
She commanded the disciples of Xuanqing Palace to call forth rain through their mystical arts, ending the drought and nourishing all living things.
Auspicious clouds appeared, heralding blessings from heaven, and the sacred melodies of the Dao echoed without cease.
That same year, the disciples of Xuanqing Sect retrained the Imperial Guard, quelled rebellions across the realm, and executed traitors.
By means of continuous rainfall, they revitalized the farmlands, enriching the soil with their arts, so that rice grew lush and vigorous—resulting in bountiful harvests through spring, summer, and autumn.
Food is the foundation of the people.
With three abundant harvests, the grain fed the refugees, relieved disasters, and the grievances of the populace dissipated; all soldiers laid down their arms and returned to their fields.
The following year, Ye Qingyu ordered the Great Qian Dynasty to eradicate banditry, suppress local despots, restore order to the martial world, recruit the loyal and upright, and strengthen the governance of the court.
Several years passed.
The Great Qian Dynasty enjoyed favorable weather—its people lived in peace and prosperity, harvests flourished year after year, and thus Xuanqing Palace was honored as the Nation-Guarding Immortal Sect.
Ye Qingyu convened the grand sect assembly, recruited thousands of young disciples, and ultimately led them all to the wild mountain ranges for cultivation.
On the day of departure, the emperor and his ministers came to bid farewell; the citizens of the imperial capital, unwilling to part, followed for miles, their faces streaked with tears.
...
Returning to the majestic, endless wilderness mountains.
Ye Qingyu resolved her worldly attachments, her aura rising ever higher, and gathered everyone together, declaring:
“I will enter seclusion!”
At her words, all were overjoyed, offering heartfelt congratulations and sincerely happy for their palace master.
For more than twenty years,
The palace master trained diligently, leading everyone out of the valley to freely roam the wild mountains, hunting monsters, and leaving behind the days of hardship and wandering.
Should she break through to a new realm, it would mean a whole new future for them all!
As Ye Qingyu entered secluded cultivation,
The other disciples of Xuanqing Palace began to instruct the thousands of new recruits, guiding them to explore the sights of the valley.
They gazed at the endless palaces, towers, pavilions, and residences; watched the winding streams, the medicine gardens abloom with butterflies, and the cascading waterfalls—all these marvels left the children awestruck.
“This is our Xuanqing Palace’s treasure—the Ancient Cauldron of Exiled Immortals!”
Uncle Tie, exuberant and proud, pointed to the colossal cauldron, recounting its origins: how an exiled immortal brought it from ancient times, thunder rolling, monsters fleeing in terror, and mountains destroyed.
Thousands of children gasped in admiration, their faces filled with reverence.
They fixed their eyes on the towering cauldron that rose into the clouds.
Their eyes were wide, mouths agape—such a marvel verging on the realm of immortals, they had never seen before.
The cauldron was as grand as a mountain, taller even than the ancient incense trees, its fragrant mist swirling about the valley, transforming it into a fairyland.
“What a tall cauldron—higher than any mountain I’ve climbed!” said Yan Jun, his youthful face transfixed, longing to touch it.
“Such a huge cauldron, so big and so tall!”
---
Beside Yan Jun stood a young girl named Xiang Yunqian, her expression proud, dressed in splendid attire, clearly someone of distinguished status.
Yet, facing the cauldron, she too was stunned, her mouth open wide enough to hold a cherry.
“Even if I climbed for three days and nights, I still might not reach the top!”
Another child, Pei You, cold and solemn, gazed up at the cauldron, his eyes filled with yearning.
“This is the trace of immortality! There really are immortals in this world!”
Yan Jun was visibly excited; his clothes were equally fine, like a child from a prince’s household, full of vigor and bearing.
He couldn’t help but look up, longing to glimpse the ancient exiled immortal spoken of by Uncle Tie, but the sky held only thick clouds—nothing could be seen.
“Children, let’s go!”
“I’ll take you to see Spirit Stone Mountain next!”
Uncle Tie was pleased by the awe on the faces of the thousands of children—these were the seeds of Xuanqing Palace.
They were the future of the sect.
At this moment, experiencing the traces of the ancient exiled immortal might earn them the favor of the Dao itself.
Meanwhile, as great changes swept the world within the box,
Qin Feng slowly awoke.
...
Morning light appeared in the sky.
Qin Feng had slept soundly through the night and awoke feeling refreshed, energized, and brimming with strength.
“What’s happening...”
“Why does my qi and blood surge like waves?”
Sitting up, Qin Feng sensed something unusual in his body—he felt as if he’d consumed a pile of nourishing medicine and was full of vigor.
“My martial arts realm—after just one sleep, I’ve broken through two major barriers. My qi and blood are like mercury; I’m now a first-class martial master!”
Qin Feng was bewildered.
What on earth was going on!
Thinking for a moment, he suddenly recalled the world within the box!
Surely something had changed inside...
Perhaps while he slept, the little people within were constantly offering sacrifices to him...
That must have caused his qi and blood to soar...
Qin Feng hurriedly got up, ran to his study, entered the secret chamber, and looked intently at the world in the box.
He was dumbfounded.
After just one night’s sleep, the majestic wilderness mountains were now covered with endless structures: pavilions, palaces, towers, residences, mansions, and courtyards.
Where there had once been only dozens of Xuanqing Palace figures,
Now their numbers had soared to thousands!
---
“The former Xuanqing Palace figures all look as if they’ve aged over twenty years, each exuding a powerful aura...”
“Could it be that while I slept, more than twenty years passed inside?”
Qin Feng was stunned; he remembered that during the day,
The passage of time inside the box hadn’t been so rapid.
Perhaps standing nearby slowed the flow?
His mind was full of questions, but at this moment, one thing was clear:
His qi and blood had surged.
It must have been caused by the relentless sacrifices of the little people inside the box.
“No one else would believe this if I told them...”
“I slept, and became a martial arts master—a first-class one, at that...”
“If I remember right, the strongest person in the county is only second-class; doesn’t that make me the county’s top expert now?”
Qin Feng let out a self-deprecating laugh, continued to watch the box for a while, but couldn’t find Ye Qingyu.
All the little people inside were busy cultivating.
Nothing else seemed to be happening.
“Gurgle—”
As he watched, Qin Feng’s stomach growled; hunger set in.
“A bit hungry—time for breakfast, I’ll check the box again later...”
He rubbed his stomach, turned and left the secret chamber, locking up the house.
He followed the familiar road to the well-known restaurant, taking his usual seat by the window.
“Bring me twenty plates of steamed buns, five eggs, ten meat dumplings, five bowls of rice porridge, and three bowls of wontons.”
Qin Feng called out to the waiter.
With his qi and blood circulating, his energy was boundless, but his hunger grew stronger and his appetite had increased.
“Right away, please wait a moment.”
The waiter responded respectfully, then went to the kitchen and brought out all the breakfast Qin Feng ordered.
“Delicious!”
Qin Feng wasted no time, picking up his chopsticks and devouring the buns, oil dripping from his mouth.
As he ate,
A group of constables gradually entered the restaurant.
Qin Feng glanced over—he recognized them all as familiar faces.