27: Golden Spear Qi-Inducing Technique

Deep within the Qingxuan Mountains, at Military Dao Peak.

This peak was starkly different from the others, which were shrouded in mist and permeated with Immortal Qi.

The mountain was as steep as if carved by knives and axes, with exposed rocks showing a cold, hard iron-gray hue.

Vegetation was sparse, consisting mostly of resilient, cold-hardy pines and low shrubs, exuding a chilling and desolate aura.

The summit was hidden within shifting clouds; occasionally, dull thunder-like crashes or sharp metallic scrapes pierced through the clouds, making one's heart race.

Halfway up the mountain, a massive platform had been carved out following the terrain.

On the platform, rows of simple stone houses built from grayish-white rock were neatly arranged.

This was the residence for the Outer Sect Disciples and candidate Inner Sect Disciples of Military Dao Peak.

The stone houses were crude, containing only a bed, a table, and a prayer mat; the four walls were bare, the only decoration being the cold iron door numbers hanging on the wall.

Li Qingfeng and Wang Tiezhu were assigned to two adjacent stone houses.

Pushing open the heavy stone door, a blast of cold, dry air mixed with the scent of rock and metallic dust rushed out.

The interior was biting cold, a world apart from the warm, earthy cottage in Li Family Village.

"Good grief... this place... is tough!"

Wang Tiezhu rubbed his arms, exhaled a puff of white air, and clicked his tongue while looking at the empty stone house.

Li Qingfeng didn't speak; he walked silently to the hard stone bed and sat down.

The cold touch made him frown slightly.

He looked around the room of nothing but stone, thinking of the shimmering flying shuttle and the immortal scenery below, then of his parents and brothers in the new house at Li Family Village... a huge sense of disparity surged, his excitement fading into loneliness and confusion in a strange land.

"Qingfeng, do you think... we can really learn immortal arts tomorrow?"

Wang Tiezhu leaned in, his voice carrying uncontrollable excitement and a hint of uncertainty.

"If we succeed, will we... will we really be Immortal Masters?"

Li Qingfeng took a deep breath; the cold air stung his lungs but calmed his chaotic thoughts.

He nodded firmly, his gaze turning resolute again:

"Yeah! Definitely! We have to practice hard! We can't let this trip be for nothing!"

He thought of his parents' expectant gazes, the Qing Family's roots, and the character 'Feng' in his name!

That night, the two squeezed onto cold stone beds under thin cotton quilts provided by the Sect, listening to the howling mountain wind and the distant roar of either smithing or martial practice, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Great anticipation for tomorrow's teaching and anxiety about the unknown path ahead intertwined and churned in the cold stone room.

At dawn, the mountains were filled with bone-chilling mist.

A sharp, ear-piercing metallic clanging sounded like a bugle, suddenly exploding over the stone house area!

"All new Disciples! Quickly gather at Libing Platform! One quarter-hour late, thirty lashes!"

A cold, emotionless voice, like a blade scraping rock, pierced the stone walls and clearly reached every stone house.

Li Qingfeng and Wang Tiezhu practically sprang up, threw on their drab gray Disciple uniforms, and rushed out.

Outside, other new Disciples poured out, faces filled with fear and panic, merging into a stream of people heading toward a larger, more open stone platform higher up the mountainside.

Libing Platform.

This was a square leveled from a single, massive block of black rock.

The ground was smooth as a mirror but cold and hard as steel.

At the edge of the square stood several huge, ferocious metal beast statues covered in marks from knives and axes, radiating a chilling aura.

In the center of the square stood a middle-aged Cultivator in dark gold martial attire, his face as hard as rock and his eyes as sharp as a hawk's.

A dark metal short whip hung from his waist, and he exuded a suffocating, murderous aura. He was the one who sent the transmission last night, the Deacon of Military Dao Peak—surname Tie, whom the Disciples called Iron Yama.

"Form ranks!"

Iron Yama's voice wasn't loud, but it had an unquestionable piercing power, like a cold iron hammer striking everyone's heart.

Nearly two hundred new Disciples, including Li Qingfeng and a few other Profound-grade candidate Inner Sect Disciples, Yellow-grade candidate Outer Sect Disciples, and even more numb-looking Utility Disciples with noticeably weaker auras (arranged at the back), crowded together chaotically.

Under Iron Yama's cold gaze, everyone scrambled to form crooked lines, not daring to breathe loudly.

"Military Dao Peak does not care for empty pleasantries, only strength!"

Iron Yama's gaze was like a cold blade sweeping across the young, terrified faces below.

"Starting today, I shall grant you the introductory Qi-nurturing technique of Military Dao Peak—the Golden Halberd Spirit Induction Art!"

Without further words, he sat cross-legged on the cold black stone ground, his hands forming a strange seal as if holding a weapon.

"Watch closely! I will only demonstrate once! The spirit induction method concerns the Foundation of your Dao path! If you cannot learn it, get off the mountain!"

As soon as he finished, a sharp whistle, as if it could pierce eardrums, erupted from within Iron Yama without warning!

His pores seemed to open instantly, and the thin mist of Spiritual Qi in the air, drawn by invisible weapons, converged toward him frantically!

That Spiritual Qi was no longer a gentle flow but transformed into countless visible, tiny "gold needles" shimmering with metallic light, racing to drill into his body with sharp whistling sounds!

His breathing became long and heavy; every inhalation was accompanied by a low hum like metal grinding inside his chest, and every exhalation sent a strand of condensed pale gold air from his nose, lingering in the cold air for a moment before dissipating!

A powerful, sharp, and invincible aura, like a sleeping lethal weapon awakening, exploded outward with Iron Yama at the center!

The Disciples nearby even felt their skin sting from the invisible sharp edge and involuntarily stepped back!

Li Qingfeng widened his eyes, staring intently at the flowing pale gold light on Iron Yama and the whistling "gold needles" in the air!

This was the spirit induction method of Military Dao Peak! So overbearing! So fierce!

It was completely different from the cool, gentle, water-like aura his Fourth Brother Li Qinghe had shown in the room that night!

This feeling... was like forcibly seizing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and refining it into sharp weapons!

Iron Yama's demonstration lasted for about half an incense stick's time.

When he finished and stood up, the oppressive sharp aura instantly retracted as if it had never existed.

Only on the cold black stone ground remained several shallow white marks cut by the aura he had unconsciously emitted.

"The essentials of the art have been imprinted in your Identity Jade Plaques. Meditate on them yourselves; tomorrow at this time, demonstrate them here! Those who fail will be greeted by the whip!"