Chapter Seven: The Mandate Proclaims—The Four Treasures Descend Together

“I never expected that the World in the Box could actually nurture my body through their worship!” Qin Feng’s face was alight with surprise. He had been troubled by stagnant blood and a gloomy mood for some time. Yet, just as all seemed lost, a new path revealed itself.

With the offerings from the box-dwellers, Qin Feng’s injuries were not only healed, but his energy surged within him, his blood roaring like a river. Clearly, his martial cultivation had advanced by a small margin.

“It wasn’t in vain that I raised these little folk...” As Qin Feng’s thoughts spun, he turned his gaze to the shifting skies within the World in the Box. Dark clouds gathered swiftly, and thunder roared across the heavens.

A deafening crash of thunder split the silence.

Next, a torrential downpour crashed upon the wilderness, drumming against the dense branches of ancient trees, then streaming down to soak the earth. The valley was shrouded in darkness, oppressive under the onslaught of rain and thunder.

Suddenly, a terrifying demonic aura erupted, as if it originated from the very heart of the wild mountains. In an instant, countless monstrous beasts, as if frightened out of their wits, scattered in all directions. Herds of birds and beasts surged like a flood, shaking the earth so violently that stones flew and dust swirled.

Within the World in the Box—

“What’s happening?” Ye Qingyu sensed something amiss, confusion flickering across her features as she turned to see countless birds circling the sky. All around the mountains, hordes of beasts were desperately fleeing for their lives.

“This is bad! A great demon of profound cultivation is breaking through somewhere deep in the wilderness!” she exclaimed. “Its terrifying aura is spilling out, frightening all the birds and beasts on the mountains!”

“We must hide, quickly!” Uncle Iron tried to lead the group away. But within these towering, endless ranges, with countless beasts fleeing in a frenzy, there was nowhere safe to hide.

“We’re doomed!” Uncle Iron’s expression turned to despair as he watched the tide of beasts flood from the mountains.

Thunder crashed.

A guttural roar shook the air.

Amid the storm, hundreds—perhaps thousands—of colossal demons swept past the resting place of the Xuanqing Palace, leaving the assembled cultivators pale with terror. Before these titans, each as vast as a mountain, they were as insignificant as ants.

Perhaps too busy fleeing for their lives, the ancient giant beasts paid no heed to the group taking shelter in the valley. Even so, as they thundered past, their massive feet blotted out the sky, threatening to crush everyone below.

“We stand no chance against such behemoths...” Uncle Iron’s voice was bitter. “In a world so cruel, weakness itself is a crime!”

Ye Qingyu stared at the giants, biting her lip until blood welled forth, her eyes unwilling to yield. She yearned for strength!

She wanted to be strong enough to protect her companions of the Xuanqing Palace!

Yet, it all seemed a distant dream.

“Is this the end...?” In the face of life and death, Ye Qingyu’s face turned ashen. Unwilling to succumb, her gaze instinctively lifted to the heavens.

No—not yet! There was still the Exiled Immortal of the Ancient Heavens!

These mountain-sized demons were terrifying, seemingly unstoppable. Yet, before the Exiled Immortal, they too were but ants.

“Will the Exiled Immortal act again...?” Hope flickered in Ye Qingyu’s eyes as she gazed skyward. Though thunder rolled and clouds gathered, she believed that atop the highest sky, a being of unimaginable power watched over them.

Boom!

Naturally, Qin Feng would not stand idly by and allow the little ones in the valley to be trampled by giant beasts.

He raised his palm and brought it down.

With a single strike, he crushed hundreds—nay, thousands—of the monstrous beasts in an instant. His hand was stained with fragments of bone and viscera, dripping with blood as thick as jam.

“Heaven’s Mandate is resplendent, Humanity’s wilderness is vast,” he chanted. “From the first note of night, all rivers return to chill. By decree: the Four Treasures descend!”

Reciting ancient words, Qin Feng broke the incense he had bought, inserting it into a small cauldron. As it burned, he flung it into the valley.

Next, he took the soft armor and long sword forged by the blacksmith, and set them atop the highest peaks of the mountains.

“In recognition of your unceasing self-strengthening and your sincere worship, I bestow fortune and opportunity upon you! Those who receive my chance must value perseverance, remember kinship, uphold the righteous path, seize destiny, and seek their true heart!”

Qin Feng’s voice rang out: “If you have confidence, ascend the mountain peak and claim the treasure!”

His resounding words reverberated through the endless mountains of the box-world like the voice of Heaven itself, carrying a righteous, awe-inspiring force.

“The Exiled Immortal reveals their might!”

“The Four Treasures descend—Heaven’s grace!”

Ye Qingyu and the others stared wide-eyed, their faces a mix of excitement, shock, awe, fear, and longing.

In their eyes, Qin Feng was the incarnation of Heaven itself.

It was as if a hand from the heavens swept down, vast enough to blot out the sky, imbued with infinite, terrifying power.

With a single downward strike, hundreds—thousands—of giant beasts were smashed to pieces. Even the towering mountains, under such heavenly might, crumbled like tofu.

And with the heavenly words, a colossal cauldron seemed to descend through the rivers of time and space. As it landed upon the shattered mountain, the incense within soared among the clouds, its faint fragrance drifting on the wind.

A single breath of it was like a spiritual cleansing—one felt as if they could ride the wind, transcending all bounds, on the verge of becoming immortal.

“Those who receive my opportunity must value perseverance, remember kinship, uphold the righteous path, seize destiny, and seek their true heart.”

Heaven’s voice echoed with majesty.

Hearing this, Ye Qingyu’s gaze grew resolute. She looked up at the soft armor and sword gleaming atop the mountain peak.

Both treasures radiated dazzling light, as if absorbing the essence of sun, moon, and heaven itself. Yet below the summit, sheer cliffs bristled with thorns and peril; above, thunder crashed and flocks of birds wheeled, the journey fraught with danger and hardship.

“Favored by Heaven, I must cherish this opportunity, undaunted by hardship and peril!” Ye Qingyu gritted her teeth and began to climb.

She longed for power.

She wanted the strength to repel monsters, to protect her companions and win a peaceful life.

She was done with the days of living at the whim of fate!

She would avenge her sect, clear the names of her elders and kin!

“Qingyu, you are favored by Heaven—go and claim your fortune!” Uncle Iron watched, fists clenched, his face a mixture of excitement and tension as Ye Qingyu climbed higher.

Thunder rolled and rain poured.

As she climbed, Ye Qingyu was soon drenched, her hands bloodied and breath ragged with exhaustion. Yet she persevered, teeth clenched in determination.

Rainwater streamed from her long hair, sweat gathered on her cheeks, blood dripped from her hands.

When a giant bird swooped past, she narrowly dodged it. When thorns barred her way, she tore through them despite the pain.

Time slipped by, and soon dawn approached.

At last, pale-faced but triumphant, Ye Qingyu reached the summit. Her delicate features broke into a blissful smile.

She donned the pale silver armor, gripped the sword, and stood tall upon the peak, the wild wind tossing her hair like a heroine apart from the world, a lone immortal maiden.

Heaven and earth’s spiritual energy converged around her.

“Excellent!” Qin Feng, witnessing this, smiled and proclaimed, “A reward: the Spirit Mountain!”

With those words, he tossed a jade stone into the mountains, landing precisely where the shattered peak had been.

A towering mountain of spirit jade erupted with vital energy, causing countless seeds across the range to sprout and thrive. Ancient trees stretched their boughs, lush and vibrant.

Buds blossomed everywhere, spreading waves of fragrance, transforming the mountains into a sea of flowers—a veritable fairyland.

Such was the grace of Heaven.

And with the word “Excellent” echoing through the world, it lingered in Ye Qingyu’s ears, and those of her companions, for a long, long time.