Chapter Forty-Two: Replacing the Pillars with Beams

Ge Qian immediately felt as though he were truly beginning a brand-new life.

It was as if he had fallen into another world. His expression shifted rapidly—anger, panic, joy—flashing across his face with increasing speed, like thunder and lightning. In the blink of an eye, a day had passed; Ge Qian’s hair had turned gray, his features grown haggard and aged, though he remained unaware. At this rate, he would be lost in this state, growing old and dying without escape.

At this moment, the tender shoot in Ge Qian’s dantian quietly emerged, madly absorbing spiritual energy. Yet, it did not release a single drop of spiritual liquid; all was consumed by the shoot itself. Though it seemed merely a day and night had passed, in reality, Ge Qian had lived a full fifty years within that simulated life.

This was the true mystery of the Confucian classics. They could temper one’s mind and will, but were fraught with danger—a single misstep could mean never returning, leaving only a pile of dry bones behind.

That tender shoot, through Ge Qian’s dantian, absorbed fifty years’ worth of spiritual energy. The two leaves unfurled, lush and translucent, growing to the size of a palm, strange runes flickering across their surface.

Fortunately, the inn was filled with exceptionally rich spiritual energy. If not for that, even a cultivator at the Core Formation stage would have found it difficult to detect, and such a mighty cultivator would hardly stay at an inn like this.

Just as Ge Qian’s life was about to be extinguished, the tender shoot had already become a verdant palm-sized leaf, swaying gently. A ripple of pure vitality spread forth, coursing from his dantian throughout his body. Where the ripple passed, the withered bones that Ge Qian had become were swiftly restored—old age, middle age, youth, all reversed in an instant.

Ge Qian’s eyes snapped open, his back drenched in sweat. Remembering how he had just skirted the gates of death, his heart was left pounding with fear.

Thankfully, he had the green leaf. Without it, he would never have escaped doom. His face broke into a joyful smile, his eyes shining with newfound clarity.

Clutching the jade slip as if it were a priceless treasure, he cherished it deeply. Not only had he gained a profound improvement in his mental state, he had even comprehended a secret technique of the Confucian school. Though it lacked the aura of scholarly scrolls, by channeling his own spiritual power, its might would not be diminished by much. After all, since Ge Qian had realized it himself, the technique naturally centered on him.

Stowing away the jade slip, Ge Qian formed a seal and silently recited the incantation. Spiritual light flickered around his body and, in a flash, he vanished, instantly swapping places with the bedding on the opposite side.

Ge Qian smiled broadly, thinking to himself, “This Confucian secret technique is truly uncanny. ‘Stealing Beams and Replacing Pillars’—even the name is scholarly, but in plain terms, it’s nothing more than a stealthy exchange of positions.”

He cast the spell again; a flash of spiritual light, and he and the bedding switched back once more.

By now it was nearly time to leave the city. Though three days had passed quickly, Ge Qian had no regrets.

He rose, left the inn, and made directly for the east gate. From a distance, he saw Liu Jie waiting. Hastening his steps, he soon stood before him. Liu Jie clasped his fists politely, saying, “Daoist Ge, you’re late. You must have gained much, I presume?”

“Not at all. You and I are both at the Qi Absorption stage, just looking around for the experience. Who has so many spirit stones to spare?” Ge Qian replied with a helpless look.

“Indeed. It’s getting late; we should be on our way. Daoist Ge, you did promise to help me refine a Water Spirit Pill, didn’t you?” Fearing Ge Qian might go back on his word, Liu Jie hurried to remind him.

Seeing Liu Jie’s anxious face, Ge Qian said, “Rest assured, Daoist Liu. Leave the pill to me. What we should worry about is—after killing Wang Yang of the Five Wolves of the Wang Clan, do you think the other four will be lying in wait for us on the road?”

Liu Jie’s expression changed at once. Swallowing nervously, he replied, “How did I not think of that! Given their reputation, they’re most likely waiting for us halfway. You and I are certainly no match for them. Returning would be suicide. What should we do—my sister is still waiting for the pill!”

Ge Qian rubbed his nose and said, “There is a way, if you have the courage for it.”

With a raised brow, Liu Jie replied, “Is Daoist Ge doubting me? Our cultivation is the same, fourth level. If you dare to do it, why shouldn’t I? What’s a trip to the gates of hell?”

Ge Qian laughed. “Since a frontal assault won’t work, we’ll have to use our wits. I do have a plan, but I’ll need your cooperation, as well as an array to trap them—then we’ll defeat them one by one!”

“Very well! I’ll do as you say. But two of them are at the sixth level of Qi Absorption—we mustn’t underestimate them,” Liu Jie said, gritting his teeth and steeling his resolve.

“Don’t worry! I wouldn’t risk my life for a joke. Let’s head out of the city and find a secluded place to talk in detail,” Ge Qian said, heading to the east gate. Handing in their passes, they left the city and mounted their flying swords, shooting off in the direction of the Heavenly Star Sect.

Liu Jie followed close behind. After flying a hundred li, they landed in the dense woods on a mountain peak. Liu Jie unfurled an array flag and, with a series of incantations, concealed them within an array.

The array Liu Jie used was a simple concealment formation. Inside, Ge Qian took out his pill furnace, along with over a dozen poisonous herbs, and began to refine them with skilled fingers.

Liu Jie sat cross-legged, his flying sword at the ready to protect Ge Qian as he worked.

After two days, Ge Qian finally finished refining the Hundred Poisons Pill. Though he hadn’t gathered a hundred kinds of poisonous herbs, its potency was such that even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would die if carelessly exposed.

Once the pills were stored away, Ge Qian stretched and said, “The poison pill is ready. Now, let’s finish setting up my trapping illusion array.”

Liu Jie, skilled in formations, quickly completed the setup. Ge Qian nodded, saying, “Let’s go,” and took off on his sword, Liu Jie close behind.

Soon they had flown another ten li. Ge Qian handed the Three Talents Formation to Liu Jie, pointed out where to place it, and said, “Set up another formation here, then we’ll proceed as planned.”

Once all was prepared, the two set off on their swords, flying openly. Suddenly, four sword-riding cultivators appeared ahead, charging toward them with piercing wolf howls.

Exchanging a glance, Ge Qian and Liu Jie split up and sped away.

Wang Bao, one of the Five Wolves of the Wang Clan, said, “They’re quick-witted. Let’s split up. Grey Wolf and Fat Wolf, you go after the pretty-faced kid; Red Wolf and I will handle the other one.”

Grey Wolf and Fat Wolf shot after Liu Jie like lightning, while Wang Bao, unwilling to fall behind—especially after Wang Yang failed to return, almost certainly dead—remained cautious. Since then, the group had never split up during action.

Wang Bao was exceptionally swift, and soon nearly caught up with his prey, calling out gleefully, “Hand over your storage pouch, little fourth-level, and I’ll let you live.”

Ge Qian, fleeing in panic, plunged into the thickets below, dashing through the underbrush. Wang Bao appeared ahead, blocking his path. “You’re not just stupid, you’re slow! In the air, you’d be faster than on foot. Such a simple thing and you don’t get it. Now you’re trapped for sure.”

—End of Chapter 42: Stealing Beams and Replacing Pillars.