After the Great Dao Died

Twelve days passed. Deep winter was nearing its end, and Yuanjiang Prefecture welcomed a rare stretch of sunny days.

Days of continuous breathing exercises and martial cultivation made Chen Lingxi’s aura increasingly steady.

When he pushed open his door in the morning, sunlight spilled across his face. He could feel the vital blood surging beneath his skin, a warmth rising and circulating throughout his body.

Though his physique had not grown bulky, the lines of his shoulders and back had become sharply defined, and a warm, jade-like luster faintly emanated from beneath his skin.

This was the exact sign of abundant vital blood and gradually strengthening internal organs.

He had woken early to gather flower branches from the rear garden, preparing the floral arrangement he needed to present to Lin Longyue in three days.

The weather had warmed over the past few days. A few early spring flowers had quietly budded in the garden, contrasting with the lingering patches of late-winter snow. They possessed a unique vitality, breaking through the cold to emerge—perfect material for a floral arrangement.

Carrying a bamboo basket, Chen Lingxi strolled through the West Courtyard’s moon gate. Just as he stepped onto the bluestone path on the eastern side of the rear garden, a sudden chill ran down his spine.

A cold gaze, like a physical ice awl, pierced him from the side.

Ever since his breathing technique had grown more proficient and the strand of Qi in his dantian had strengthened, his senses had grown increasingly sharp.Following the sensation, Chen Lingxi immediately looked over.

Not far away, beneath a covered corridor beside a rockery, stood two men.

One of them was Wang Kong.

His narrow eyes were slightly squinted, staring unblinkingly at Chen Lingxi. His gaze was a mixture of scrutiny, surprise, and an unconcealed trace of grim hostility.

What made Chen Lingxi’s heart clench even more, however, was the man standing half a step in front of Wang Kong.

It was a middle-aged man in his early forties, standing as tall and straight as a pine. He wore a plain white scholar’s robe beneath a black crane cloak devoid of any patterns.

His face was exceptionally handsome, his features exquisitely chiseled. This was especially true of his eyes—the gaze clear and bright, the outer corners slightly elongated. Whenever he glanced around, they carried a chilling sharpness, like two famed swords hidden in their scabbards.

He did not intentionally exude any aura; he simply stood there casually, yet an indescribable, razor-like edge lingered around him.

The very air seemed to stagnate and grow murderous simply because of his presence.

At this moment, this handsome middle-aged man was also looking over indifferently.

The instant their eyes met, the vital blood throughout Chen Lingxi’s body suddenly plunged into chaos!

The gentle strand of Qi in his dantian jolted violently, circulating spontaneously to protect his heart meridian. Meanwhile, his newly cultivated, still-feeble vital blood careened wildly through his limbs and bones like a startled wild horse.

He was horrified.

This middle-aged man... his cultivation was unfathomably deep!

A mere glance was enough to agitate his recently formed, unsolidified vital blood.

Wang Kong clearly noticed Chen Lingxi’s chaotic aura and instantly pale face.

The surprise in his narrow eyes deepened, soon shifting into mockery.

Beneath the ridicule, his gaze toward Chen Lingxi held a deep-seated killing intent.

The handsome middle-aged man’s gaze lingered on Chen Lingxi for two breaths, as if he had merely spotted an insignificant servant.

He shifted his sight indifferently, gave Wang Kong a slight nod, and turned around with his hands behind his back, strolling slowly along the corridor toward the south courtyard.

Wang Kong hastily reined in his outward emotions and respectfully stepped aside to make way, watching the middle-aged man leave.

Only when that white-robed figure vanished around the corner did he turn his head back to look at Chen Lingxi, who was still rooted to the spot.

This time, the coldness and killing intent in his eyes were no longer disguised in the slightest, and his lips even curled into an icy sneer.

He did not speak. He simply extended his right hand, slowly clenched his five fingers into a crushing gesture, and then turned, hurrying after the middle-aged man.

Chen Lingxi shook his head.

‘This Wang Kong...’

He was nothing but an official bondservant. Even if he had temporarily caught a sliver of Lin Longyue’s attention with his flower-arranging skills, he posed absolutely no threat to Wang Kong. They had no past grudges, either.

Yet the killing intent in Wang Kong’s eyes was so thick, it felt as though they had a life-and-death blood feud.

‘Wang Kong wouldn’t want to kill me for no reason.’

His thoughts churned rapidly, then suddenly cleared.

‘It’s not hard to guess. The crux of the matter still lies in those two words: testing medicine.’

That day, Wang Kong had attacked him unprovoked and mentioned ”the two who survived testing the medicine.”

Wang Kong was surprised by his physical changes, but it was not completely beyond his comprehension.

Did he... actually anticipate that Chen Lingxi could recover so quickly and even step onto the martial path?

Or rather, was he only surprised by the speed of this progress?

Thinking back to Wang Kong’s unprovoked probing attack that day and his mention of ”the two who survived testing the medicine”...

Chen Lingxi’s heart sank slightly.

Zhao Yong! Wang Kong!

‘Those two seem extremely concerned with me, this medicine slave. That look in Wang Kong’s eyes—mockery laced with killing intent—it was almost as if... he was looking at prey about to fall into his trap.’

Chen Lingxi had no idea what secret was hidden behind the words ”testing medicine.”

But seeing Wang Kong today and sensing his murderous intent, he knew he had to be on guard.

‘I’ve only just found the doorway to immortal cultivation. If I die at Wang Kong’s hands, it would be far too much of a pity.’

However, despite his days of bitter cultivation resulting in abundant vital blood and a body gradually taking on an iron-like quality, with major changes to his muscles, bones, and fascia...

...his time cultivating was ultimately too short. Wang Kong’s fist wind that day had been extremely strong, his vital blood blazing like fire. There was no need to overthink it; Wang Kong was definitively in the Bronze-Red Realm.

‘With spiritual Qi transforming my physical body, coupled with my increasingly abundant vital blood, it won’t be long before I can cultivate the River Entering Form of the Seven Forms of Halting War.

By then, my bones and sinews will be like iron, and my vital blood like fire. It’s not impossible for me to clash with Wang Kong.’

Chen Lingxi snapped off an old plum branch and picked a few holly leaves.

His thoughts swirled wildly.

‘It’s just that behind Wang Kong is the unfathomable Zhao Yong. And who knows who that handsome middle-aged man with a sword-like aura and terrifying cultivation was!

Given Wang Kong’s respectful attitude toward him, this person is highly likely connected to Zhao Yong, or perhaps he’s a newly arrived guest minister in the marquis’s manor? Could he be that new guest minister, Zhao Qinglou?’

‘How can I resist two such figures?’

Chen Lingxi felt like a lone skiff caught in a raging storm, liable to be torn to shreds at any moment.

‘I must prepare before it rains! I have to find a backer as soon as possible!’

A backer...

Chen Lingxi picked up a few stalks of withered yellow reeds.

‘Lin Longyue? Although she gave me a sliver of a chance at survival, she explicitly warned me that I have no right to ask for more.

Besides, to her, my value mainly lies in flower arrangement. It doesn’t carry enough weight.’

‘I haven’t even seen her the past few times I went to deliver flowers. That tells me... she doesn’t actually value these floral arrangements all that much. It’s nothing more than a tool for her to build a connection with County Princess Yunhe.’

His gaze grew increasingly tranquil.

‘My vital blood is growing vigorous. Soon, I will be able to circulate it throughout my entire body, giving my blood a fiery nature.

When that time comes, I won’t be able to hide it from the manor’s experts at all... Not to mention, Wang Kong attacked me that day. If anyone has been paying attention, they already know I’ve been completely reborn.

Rather than waiting for others to discover it, I might as well take the initiative and reveal my talent... If anyone actually asks, Zhao Yong’s medicine will serve as the perfect excuse.’

Chen Lingxi’s past memories fluttered through his mind, and he suddenly thought of an opportunity.

The West Courtyard! The new guest minister, Jiang Yuan!

When he went to the Martial Arts Courtyard a few days ago, Instructor He Duan had mentioned that Jiang Yuan was going to accept a disciple in the West Courtyard and teach them the Mountain-Collapsing Force!

Accepting a disciple?

Chen Lingxi took a deep breath. The icy air flooded his lungs, suppressing his churning vital blood and the anxiety in his heart.

His gaze returned to the depths of the garden, where several tender yellow daffodils were breaking through the snow, unfurling their fragile vitality in the morning light.

He bent down, carefully plucked the most robust stem, and placed it into his bamboo basket.

The flower arrangement had to continue; this was his stepping stone to enter the West Courtyard East Hall.

It was also his ”value” in the eyes of County Princess Yunhe. Such value might one day play a small role.

But aside from that, he also needed to display his martial talent in front of Lin Longyue.

That new guest minister of the West Courtyard who wanted to take a disciple could also be considered a way to solve his predicament!

‘I just don’t know... whether my current talent, bone structure, and vital blood can actually outshine all the disciples of the West Courtyard and catch Jiang Yuan’s discerning eye.’