With a quarter hour left before the end of the first hour, the crowd fell silent.
No one had found a way to dispel the Deceit.
Li Qingxian said, "I have a method we can try, to deal with the Gate of Yellow Springs."
"What?" Everyone turned to look at Li Qingxian.
Wu Zhao’s expression shifted. "It couldn’t be the legendary Heaven Gate, could it? That’s a Fate Skill only a Great Fate Master can use."
A few others paled slightly upon hearing "Heaven Gate."
Li Qingxian adopted a troubled expression. "This method involves my core Fate Skill, so I can’t say much. What I can say is that it requires a great sacrifice. I have an ancestral Life Artifact, and if I use it to dispel the Deceit, it will surely be destroyed."
A Fourth-Grade Deputy Disciplinary Officer who was a Martial Cultivator said, "It’s already shameful for a dignified Fourth-Grade cultivator like me to be saved by you. As long as you can dispel the Deceit, while I can’t help with much else, you can take any of my Life Materials and Spirit Gold. I’ll also add a reward of ten thousand taels of silver."
"I happen to have two vials of Spirit Gold on me. They’re yours." Another Fourth-Grade Martial Cultivator tossed Li Qingxian two small vials containing a total of twenty pellets of Spirit Gold.
Wu Zhao said decisively, "I’ll authorize it. If you can dispel the Deceit, I’ll grant you special permission to take any Treasure from the Imperial Prison Department’s warehouse, up to a value of fifty thousand taels of silver. Furthermore, you can come to the West Courtyard to buy a life anytime."
Zhou Chunfeng said, "If you can handle the Gate of Yellow Springs this time and avert the great disaster facing the Imperial Prison Department, I will petition the Imperial Court. It might be possible to request a Deceitful Seal for you."
Everyone’s gazes trembled. A Deceitful Seal was a peerless treasure, forged by consuming National Fortune and Emperor’s Fortune, making it exceptionally rare.
"Since everyone is so united, I, Li Qingxian, won’t dawdle. I will go and dispel the Deceit." Li Qingxian returned the two vials of Spirit Gold, saying, "We can talk about this after it’s done."
Li Qingxian strode toward the Gate of Yellow Springs.
Watching the young man’s back, they felt both ashamed and moved.
"Sigh, to think I’ve lived all these years for nothing. In the end, I have to rely on a boy to save my life."
"This kid isn’t even as old as my youngest son. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
"He reminds me of those young soldiers in the River Guard Army. So young, yet they died on the battlefield to defend the Human Race. Their backs looked just like his."
"The rumors outside say Li Qingxian is ruthless and cruel, but seeing him in person, I know the son is like the father. Though he is Cultivating Fate, he has the integrity of a Scholar and the courage of a Martial Artist."
"His journey to the Yellow Springs will illuminate the entire Divine Capital."
Li Qingxian walked up to the Gate of Yellow Springs, pondering inwardly.
’This Gate of Yellow Springs needs to send out twelve Yellow Springs Ships, which means I’ll need to use at least twelve Destiny Stars to dispel the Deceit. Luckily, I bought eighteen Destiny Stars before. I used six for fate-fishing, so I still have twelve left, plus two spares. Still, this really hurts...’
But then he thought about the rewards, and his heart didn’t ache anymore.
’Some of them have probably seen the Sacrificial Technique before. I’ll have to put on a show to cover my tracks.’
The way Jiangg Youfei had performed the ritual surfaced in Li Qingxian’s mind. He thought for a moment and formulated a procedure.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Li Qingxian first began muttering incantations, circling in front of the Gate of Yellow Springs and performing the Yu Step.
Then, everyone present, both those who understood Daoist Skills and those who didn’t, was baffled.
They had never seen anything like it.
The Fourth-Grade Daoist Cultivator, Wu Zhao, was the most confused of all.
’How have I never seen this kind of Stepping on the Stars and Treading the Dipper? Could it be that this boy has inherited a mysterious Fate Skill lineage that surpasses the Daoist Sects? It’s highly possible. Judging by this display, it resembles the Heaven Gate technique. Could this Fate Skill be a branch of Heaven Gate? I must study this carefully...’
With the devout hearts of students, the crowd watched Li Qingxian, who looked for all the world like he was performing a shamanistic dance.
When he figured he’d done enough, Li Qingxian began to chant unrelated Fate Skill Rhymes in a strange, muffled voice.
After chanting, Li Qingxian secretly channeled his Thunder Skill. A Thunderbolt sparked between his two fingers, which he then used to tap points all over his body. A moment later, electricity was flowing across his entire form.
The onlookers were even more shocked.
They’d never heard of a Magic that let you splash yourself with lightning as if it were water.
Wu Zhao was stunned. Controlling fire wasn’t difficult, as Fire Techniques were a direct conversion of Magical Power. But Thunder Skill was different; it required an Inner God.
’Would an Inner God be willing to play around like this?’
Impossible!
And yet, Li Qingxian had managed it. What did that prove?
It proved that Li Qingxian’s mastery of Thunder Skill was exquisite, bordering on the Upper Grade!
"Old Zhou, you’ve got yourself a fine nephew."
Zhou Chunfeng nodded dazedly.
His preparations complete, Li Qingxian looked at the Gate of Yellow Springs. He thought of the terror of the Deceitful Land and the legendary strangeness of the Yellow Springs Emperor. He bowed, his lips moving as he silently recited, ’Great Emperor of the Yellow Springs, this humble one, Li Qingxian, means no offense. To protect myself, I specially offer these Destiny Stars as a sacrifice.’
Li Qingxian took a deep breath. His hands moved as if holding a taichi ball, and he bowed slightly. He visualized with his Spirit Platform, his Magical Power surging forth to condense a phantom twin-dragon altar in front of him, one that only he could see.
He silently recited the Fate-Offering Skill.
"With this sincere heart, may the heavens show mercy. With life I offer, with fortune I receive..."
The Fate-Offering Skill was a lengthy incantation of a thousand words, originally used by Fate Masters on special occasions to sacrifice Destiny Stars to the heavens and dissolve their own tribulations.
After he finished reciting the Fate-Offering Skill, twelve streaks of light flew out from Li Qingxian’s Life Mansion and hovered above the altar.
On either side of the altar, two arm-thick red candles materialized, each entwined with a golden, coiling dragon. Their flames burned brightly.
BOOM...
The Gate of Yellow Springs suddenly trembled slightly, then let out an earth-shattering roar and produced an immense suction force.
The phantom altar and the twelve Destiny Stars were all sucked into the Gate of Yellow Springs.
BOOM...
The Gate of Yellow Springs slowly began to sink.
Li Qingxian remained respectful while the hundred or so officials from the Imperial Prison Department behind him wore looks of excitement.
Just as the Gate of Yellow Springs was about to sink completely underground, a stream of yellow river water suddenly shot out from a river depicted on the gate, landing in the Yellow Cloud on Li Qingxian’s wrist.
The Yellow Cloud crept up his forearm, stopping in the middle.
Li Qingxian was horrified and hurriedly tried to wipe it off.
A thumb-sized patch of Yellow Cloud was branded there.
Li Qingxian cursed inwardly, his face turning ashen.
A Night Guard had just mentioned that some Fate Masters who successfully dispelled a Deceit would attract the attention of some terrifyingly powerful Deceits.
’I can’t believe I’ve been targeted.’
The mist dissipated and the Deceitful Land vanished. The Night Guards looked at their wrists, saw the Yellow Clouds were gone, and burst into cheers.
"Sigh..."
Li Qingxian heaved a long sigh and walked back, dejected.
Zhou Chunfeng asked, "Qingxian, what’s wrong?"
Li Qingxian listlessly raised his left arm. His long sleeve slid down, revealing the Yellow Cloud.
The Night Guards and Prison Guards looked over, the smiles on their faces vanishing.
The Fourth-Grade Martial Cultivator Deputy Disciplinary Officer from before shoved the two vials of Spirit Gold into Li Qingxian’s hands and said, "My name is Sunx Herr. I owe you a huge favor. If you ever run into trouble, come find me at the Imperial Prison West Courtyard!"
"If you ever need anything, go directly to the Northern Peak Martial Arts Hall. Take this Jade Pendant and tell them you’re my savior, Xu Jinxian!" The other Fourth-Grade Martial Cultivator Deputy Disciplinary Officer finished speaking, stuffed all his silver notes into Li Qingxian’s hands, and presented the Clear Heart Jade Pendant, a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact he wore at his waist.
"I’m just a minor Sixth-Grade official, nothing compared to you sirs, but I am a Daoist practitioner and know a few minor spells. My name is Hu Yuanhu." The Sixth-Grade Taoist practitioner shoved an umbrella-shaped Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact into Li Qingxian’s hands.
One by one, the crowd came forward. Those with Treasure Materials gave Treasure Materials; those without gave silver coins. There was so much that Li Qingxian had to lift the hem of his lower garment to use as a makeshift bag.
Li Qingxian looked at the faces, unfamiliar yet sincere, took a deep breath, and said, "Everyone, I wasn’t just saving you; I was saving myself, too. This is too much..."
"You saved the families of at least twelve of our Night Guard brothers. No amount of thanks is excessive. Take it, so we can have some peace of mind. We’re leaving!" Sunx Herr turned and left after speaking.
The crowd thanked Li Qingxian and departed one after another.