“Do I frighten you?” A hundred thousand talismans laid between Wu Jilong and Lu Deyang yet Lu Deyang could still clearly feel Wu Jilong’s aura. Even without any Qi Wu Jilong exuded a menacing aura that made Lu Deyang’s heart race giving him the feeling of an inescapable death.

“275. That is the number of times you heart has beat since you laid eyes on me a minute ago,” Wu Jilong said. But no reply came. Lu Deyang practiced what he would say a hundred times before he arrived, yet now the words would not come out. Wu Jilong approached, his crimson hair stirring in the wind was accompanied by the faint melody of the golden bells braided into his hair. Wu Jilong’s expression was completely calm.

“Who are you?” he asked.

An awkward silence hung in the air until Lu Deyang finally found the courage to speak. “My name is Lu Deyang. Cao Peng the current head of the Cao Clan sent me to release you from the seal that trapped you.” Lu Deyang’s voice was thin and quiet, just these few words were difficult for him to say.

Perhaps even if Lu Deyang did not know the history behind Wu Jilong he would still feel frightened, because Wu Jilong felt inhuman. Wu Jilong’s golden eyes shined with such brilliance that all the gold in the world paled in comparison. His face was flawless and beautiful to a point that it made Lu Deyang feel that Wu Jilong was a demon sent to tempt humans with jealousy and lust.

“Cao? Where have I heard that name before? That lowly farmer my parents raised to the Heavenly Perception Realm? He was so insignificant that the Devas completely ignored him, that explains why this Cao Peng would have the key to the seals,” Wu Jilong said while strolling past Lu Deyang without sparing him a single glance.

This upset Lu Deyang greatly. It’s like Cao Peng said, he may have been peerless once but now he is a cripple! My strength is still much to weak to use the Bewitching Mind Blade though, for now I must be polite. “Wu Jilong where are you going? Because of the seal your cultivation is crippled! If you wander around the Arctic Isle without cultivation you will die!” His voice was filled with so much concern it immediately came off as ingenuine.

Wu Jilong’s face was still completely calm. “You insult me. This is not the first time in my life I have been without cultivation. When I would grow tired of my Dao Palace’s design I would destroy it and erect a new one,” Wu Jilong said casually.

Lu Deyang on the other hand almost died from shock. After 123 years of cultivation Lu Deyang had entered the peak of the Earthly Understanding Stage yet he was still two stages away from sculpting a Dao Palace within his Daitan. So to hear Wu Jilong casually mention destroying his Dao Palace to erect a new one because he grew tired of its design stupefied him. “H-how many times did you destroy your Dao Palace if I may ask?” Lu Deyang asked in disbelief.

“Five times. The fifth Dao Palace was exceptionally grand. Over a thousand rooms carefully designed and carved with hundreds of pavilions and courtyards. A palace that put those of Devas’ to shame.” Wu Jilong exclaimed. For the first time since he had been unsealed he wore a smile on his face. From the happiness in his voice it was clear he cherished his fifth Dao Palace or maybe he just hadn’t had enough time to grow tired of its design.

There are ten stages in the Qi Cultivation of Man. The first stage is one that all humans begin at. The Aimless Wandering Stage, without enlightenment and reason one will never learn to cultivate, doomed to live their entire life ignorant of Qi. The Shamanic Foundation Stage, the second stage of Qi Cultivation, was the starting point of cultivation where one's body would begin to be refined while Qi accumulates in their Daitan.

After a certain amount of Qi is accumulated in one's daitan they would be able to enter the third stage of cultivation, The Aura Sea Formation Stage. The Essence of Qi within their body is transformed into Liquid Qi giving birth to the Aura Sea. Unlike the second stage of Qi Cultivation, Aura Seas had different grades in the order of: Tsunami, Roaring Waves, Gentle Tides, and Still Sea. The calmer ones Aura Sea was the easier it would be for them to breakthrough the fourth stage of cultivation known as Traversing the Aura Sea Stage.

If someone was unfortunate enough to form a Tsunami Grade Aura Sea they would never be able to break through the fourth stage because the fourth stage required traveling down to the heart of one's Aura Sea with their soul and solidifying the Qi. After the fourth stage came the Shrine Sculpting Stage in which Solid Qi is refined into a Dao Shrine. The Earthly Understanding Stage, Heavenly Perception Stage, Dao Palace Sculpting Stage, Heavenly Ascension Stage, and Divine Ruling Stage followed in that order.

Wu Jilong left Lu Deyang who had his mouth wide open from shock behind. He ventured out of the frozen tomb and up a winding staircase of ice for the first time in 5,000 years. Glaciers as tall and sharp as mountains covered in powdered snow stretched endlessly towards the horizon. Behind dull gray clouds dim rays of sunlight warmed Wu Jilong’s face. “So beautiful!” he said with joy.

“Wu Jilong! There is something I forgot to mention,” Lu Deyang said. Moments ago he had climbed up the staircase as well.

“Oh? Out with it then,” Wu Jilong said coldly.

Lu Deyang gestured and a scroll appeared. On the scroll three breathtaking bracelets were painted. Dragons, tigers, and cranes were engraved on the bracelets to form an indescribable work of art. “These belong to you, yes? The Cao Clan Founder described these three bracelets as your most cherished weapons, and the bracelets pictured match their descriptions perfectly,” Lu Deyang said.

Wu Jilong grinned. This was the first and last time Wu Jilong showed thankfulness towards Lu Deyang. “Very good! Bring them to me!”

“I am afraid that is impossible for me to do. The Wang Clan is offering them as a reward for first place in the Black Dragon Run in three years time. The Wang Clan has three Heavenly Perception Stage cultivators and hundreds of Earthly Understanding Stage cultivators. If you helped me break through to the Dao Palace Sculpting Stage I could go take them for you,” Lu Deyang said.

“How presumptuous of you. Help you breakthrough to the Dao Palace Sculpting Stage? With your talent it would take ten years.” Wu Jilong meant this as an insult but hearing that he would be able to enter the Dao Palace Sculpting Stage in as little as ten years, Lu Deyang began to cry tears of joy.

“All I have to do is win this Black Dragon Run then. How do I enter this competition?” Wu Jilong asked.

“To enter the Black Dragon Run one must be the apostle of a sect in the Grand Peak Continent. With your talent and knowledge this is but a small task,” Lu Deyang said while drying his eyes.

Gazing off in the distance at the towers of ice that reached towards the heavens refusing to melt Wu Jilong was silently thinking that he was very similar to these glaciers.Wu Jilong examined his reflection on the smooth frozen cave wall. After 5,000 years all the color in his robe faded and the silk cloth he used to tie up his hair frayed and faded as well.

“What was your name?” Wu Jilong asked.

“Lu Deyang.”

“Lu Deyang, which sect is the best in this continent?”

“That would be the Sect of Five Corners!”

The Sect of Five Corners is the strongest and most prestigious sect in the Grand Peak Continent, its name comes from the fact that the sect was built in a spot where the borders of the continents five most powerful kingdoms touch. Inside the Sect of Five Corners there are five factions, one for each respective kingdom. Each faction has their own teachers and techniques and culture.

“Take me to buy the supplies I’ll need to cultivate and then take me to this Sect of Five Corners. After I shall tell you how to breakthrough to the Dao Palace Sculpting Stage,” Wu Jilong said indifferently.

“Okay!” Lu Deyang let out a shrill whistle and a seven colored crane descended in a dive bomb towards the ground. Rainbow Cranes are notoriously cruel magical beasts, Lu Deyang was preparing to protect Wu Jilong from the crane’s fierce attacks. But much to Lu Deyang’s surprise the Rainbow Crane only nuzzled its large head into Wu Jilong’s chest, something it would never do towards Lu Deyang. In a flash Wu Jilong and Lu Deyang climbed onto the massive cranes back and shot off into the sky flying towards Polar Lotus City the largest town in the Northern Domain.

Of course you will help me breakthrough. Once my Qi returns I’ll control your mind with the Bewitching Mind Blade. After all you are nothing more than a cripple. Lu Deyang thought.