Chapter Six: Even the Lowliest Creatures Cling to Life

The academy grounds were already carpeted with fallen leaves. Xiao Lin was sweeping the vast courtyard alone; with each passing breeze, more leaves drifted down. He watched a leaf flutter to his shoulder, then continued to leisurely swing his broom.

All the menial workers of the academy had long since been dismissed by Xiao Lin; even those puppet-like students had been sent home one by one by Su Fan. Now, only Su Fan, Xiao Lin, and Lin Ling remained in the academy.

In the quiet east wing, Su Fan sat cross-legged in a dimly lit room. He was not cultivating—this was not because he had grown weary of the path of immortality after a month of relentless day-and-night training. No, Su Fan now stared at a wind chime hanging behind the door, muttering to himself, “Should I kill him? He is the teacher, but if I don’t kill him, he will kill me. Even an ant will struggle to survive, how much more so a man?”

Suddenly, the wind chime began to sway gently, its clear sound ringing out. There was no breeze in the sealed room; the scene was strangely eerie. The wind chime’s melody was pleasant, but Su Fan spared no thought to listen. In a flash, he darted out of the room, leaving only a faint afterimage in the courtyard.

At that moment, a woman emerged from the house opposite Su Fan in the courtyard, running her fingers through her hair as she spoke: “Xiao Lin claims Su Fan’s talent is poor, but in just a month, he has reached the third stage of Qi Refinement. Such talent is only seen among family prodigies. Still, compared to Xiao Lin, he’s a little lacking.” At the mention of Xiao Lin, a hint of joy flashed across her face. Then, with a swift motion, she too disappeared from the courtyard.

The academy’s main gates stood wide open. In the distance, a man in grey approached, swaying his head, his tiny eyes forced wide in an almost comical imitation of a bedraggled owl. Yet he was anything but downtrodden—he seemed delighted, muttering to himself, “At last, I’ve made it! My future will surely be glorious!” He ended with a hearty laugh.

Xiao Lin had already noticed him. Suppressing a smile, he hurried forward and greeted him respectfully, “Sir, you’ve returned.”

The man in grey was none other than the academy’s teacher, Xiao Chen. Seeing Xiao Lin, his smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression. “Why are you sweeping, instead of the academy workers?”

Xiao Lin’s eyes flickered with surprise. He quickly replied, “I knew you would be undertaking something important upon your return, sir, so I sent the workers and students home early.”

Xiao Chen’s expression eased, but inwardly he thought, “The little wretch must have discovered the secret of Su Fan’s treasure. Today, I will kill them both and claim it for myself.”

“Come with me to the back garden,” Xiao Chen said. This was his own residence.

Xiao Lin followed. The back garden was thick with the fragrance of flowers; most of the spiritual herbs planted here were of far higher quality than those in the other courtyards. Now, however, only withered roots and broken leaves remained, as if someone had destroyed them, though the air was still heavy with their scent.

Xiao Chen’s anger was plain as he roared, “Xiao Lin, what happened here?”

Xiao Lin smiled calmly. “I happened upon some alchemy methods in your room, sir, so I picked some spiritual herbs and used your cauldron to refine some pills.”

Xiao Chen’s face darkened, his clenched fists trembling. “You dared enter my room and use my cauldron without permission? Where are the pills?”

“I’ve already taken them,” Xiao Lin replied.

“And the treasure?” Xiao Chen demanded.

“What treasure?” Xiao Lin asked.

Xiao Chen’s already small eyes bulged with blood-red veins, terrifying to behold. “I sent you to approach Su Fan and obtain his treasure.”

Xiao Lin smiled lightly and countered, “Sir, have you no fear of retribution for your wicked deeds?”

With a furious shout, Xiao Chen’s trembling fist could be held back no longer. He swung at Xiao Lin, who did not dodge. The forceful blow struck Xiao Lin squarely in the chest. At the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, such a punch from Xiao Chen would shatter any ordinary man to pieces. Yet Xiao Lin only smiled, a trace of mockery on his face.

Xiao Chen’s sinister gaze faltered, his fist hanging in the air. He watched as Xiao Lin gently moved his arm aside and declared, “There’s something wrong with this garden.”

Xiao Lin smiled. “Indeed. When Water Grace Grass and Jade Dew Grass are grown together, their quality improves. But if their roots and fallen leaves mingle, they emit a strange fragrance. This scent can temporarily suppress the spiritual energy of cultivators below the fifth stage of Qi Refinement. Fortunately, sir, you are precisely at the fifth stage.”

Xiao Chen said, “You set this trap carefully. You must have already obtained Su Fan’s treasure. But you lack cultivation methods beyond the fifth stage. Why not sit down and talk? The entire academy can be yours, and I’ll give you techniques up to the seventh stage if you hand over the treasure.”

Xiao Lin snorted coldly. “If I let you go today, someone will surely return to kill me. Do you take me for a child?”

Xiao Chen smiled, his eyes flashing coldly as he struck Xiao Lin’s shoulder. Caught off guard, Xiao Lin was sent flying. Xiao Chen sneered, “I was cultivating long before you even knew what it was, and you dare play tricks on me? The effects of these herbs are strong, but brief. The one behind the garden wall, come out!”

As Xiao Chen’s gaze swept over, Su Fan emerged from behind the wall and approached Xiao Lin.

Xiao Chen’s lips curled into a sinister smile. “Third stage of Qi Refinement. The other day, I thought your talent mediocre and intended to use you for my own ends. But now I see I was mistaken. If you follow me, your path to immortality will be limitless.”

Xiao Lin retorted, “You villain, today we will kill you and bring peace back to this town.”

Xiao Chen mocked, “With your cultivation, I could kill you both with a flick of my hand.”

A clear wind chime sounded. A cloud of green mist drifted in, enveloping Xiao Chen. His gaze grew dazed, as if he might collapse. Then a sharp female voice rang out: “Xiao Chen, with the three of us joined, there’s nothing to fear in killing you.”

Before Xiao Chen could reply, Xiao Lin leapt up and struck him from behind. But even weakened, Xiao Chen, master of the fifth stage, managed to seize Xiao Lin’s arm with one hand.

Lin Ling’s eyes flashed with urgency. She tossed a short sword to Su Fan. “Su Fan, your cultivation is higher than mine—hurry, kill Xiao Chen with this sword!”

Su Fan took the sword, his gaze unfocused. Watching the two men struggle within the green mist, his heart was in turmoil, torn between the urge to kill and the urge to spare.

Lin Ling, growing desperate as the mist thinned, suddenly produced a dagger from her sleeve, leaped forward, and hurled it at Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen’s eyes snapped into focus. With a casual swipe, he caught Lin Ling’s dagger. “Foolish woman. Yet you do possess some treasures. Once I’ve slain the others, I’ll take yours as well.”

Enraged, Lin Ling rushed forward, but Xiao Chen struck at her through the air. The powerful spiritual force hit her squarely, sending her sprawling and vomiting blood.

Xiao Chen then raised the dagger and stabbed it into Xiao Lin’s arm. Xiao Lin let out a howl of pain but still clung tightly to Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen glanced at Su Fan and sneered, “Su Fan, help me kill them and I’ll recommend you to Heavenly Origin Sect—a great cultivation school. With your talent, your future will be boundless.”

At the mention of the Heavenly Origin Sect, fury exploded in Su Fan’s eyes. Realizing his mistake, Xiao Chen lunged, thrusting the dagger at Su Fan.

Su Fan raised the short sword to meet the attack; the dagger shattered instantly.

Infused with Su Fan’s spiritual energy, the short sword emitted a blinding white light, dazzling even in daylight. With a flick of his fingers, Su Fan sent the sword speeding towards Xiao Chen through the thinning mist.

Xiao Chen remained composed and tried to catch the blade, but it came with a shriek—so fierce it sliced off one of his arms.

A barely perceptible fear flickered in Xiao Chen’s eyes, but despite losing an arm, he stayed calm. With his remaining hand, he struck Xiao Lin, forcing him back, and dodged the sword’s edge.

Yet the short sword clung to Xiao Chen like a leech, relentlessly pursuing him. With a roar, Xiao Chen dispelled the mist and, in a flash, appeared before Su Fan, his severed arm dripping blood.

His glare was venomous as he closed in on Su Fan. Su Fan could not meet his eyes; exhausted from controlling the sword, he could only retreat.

Suddenly, Xiao Chen laughed, chanting an incantation. His palm seemed poisoned as he said darkly, “You dare harm me, an insect like you? Today I’ll let you taste the agony of being devoured by ten thousand ants!”

He raised his palm toward Su Fan’s brow.

In desperation, Su Fan’s mind moved, and the floating short sword, as if guided by his will, shot toward Xiao Chen. Intent only on killing Su Fan, Xiao Chen did not anticipate the attack.

His strike was swift, but the sword was swifter still.

His palm stopped just an inch from Su Fan’s forehead—the sword had already pierced his back, stabbing through his heart. Blood spouted like a fountain, staining the ground crimson.

Falling, Xiao Chen’s remaining hand landed squarely on his own brow.

From nowhere, countless ants poured into the now spotless courtyard—a black, seething mass. They devoured the blood, and before long, Xiao Chen’s flesh melted away, leaving only a pile of bare white bones.

Atop the bones lay a single jade tube, shimmering with a faint blue light.