Chapter 440: To Do Good, One Must First...

“They’re all dead? How do you know?” Xu Sanyan asked, his voice filled with surprise. When he had left Chaotic Cloud Mountains, the Wang Family and Supreme Harmony Gate were still intact. Logically, they should have retreated at the first sign of trouble. Why would they stay and fight to the death?

Could they really be that foolish?

“Father told me. Even the Zuoqiu Clan evacuated their entire family a hundred miles, abandoning their ancestral lands.”

“Hmm…” Xu Sanyan nodded slightly, then instructed, “If you hear any more news about this, tell me immediately.”

The two women nodded in unison, replying in perfect harmony, “Yes, Brother Liang. Don’t worry.”

After speaking, they exchanged a glance before simultaneously turning their heads away.

The capital of the Qian Kingdom was abuzz with activity as the capital examination approached. Talented individuals from every province had gathered in the city, eager to prove their mettle and secure a prestigious ranking. The streets teemed with lively crowds, creating a vibrant and bustling scene.

In stark contrast, the Golden Luan Hall was shrouded in silence. Not a single official spoke, each lost in their own thoughts, their gazes lowered in contemplation.

This somber atmosphere stemmed from the recent news: the White Jade Prefecture had fallen.

Barely a day had passed since reports of the encroaching mist first surfaced, yet the news of the prefecture’s collapse followed swiftly, sending shockwaves through the imperial court and silencing all officials.

The White Jade Prefecture, along with its seven surrounding counties, had suffered nearly a million casualties—the greatest natural disaster in the Qian Kingdom’s history since its founding.

Emperor Qian sat upon the dragon throne, his face stern and his eyes like drawn swords, piercing through the hall and daring anyone to meet his gaze.

“The mist continues to spread, and that demonic entity has devoured another million of my subjects, making it increasingly difficult to contain. Do any of you have a solution?”

A hint of weariness crept into Emperor Qian’s voice, betraying the immense strain he had endured.

An elderly official stepped forward from the front ranks, bowing deeply with his ceremonial tablet in hand. “In this humble servant’s opinion, the immediate priority is to evacuate the populace away from the encroaching mist. We must also unite the Heaven’s Will Demon Subduing Temple, the Source Worship Sect, the Praying Dao Sect, and other immortal sects to jointly suppress the mist’s expansion.”

“This calamity is unprecedented. I believe they will not stand idly by.”

Emperor Qian nodded slowly. “I entrust this matter to you.”

“As you command.”

Xu Sanyan paid attention to the calamity at Chaotic Cloud Mountains, but not overly so. After all, the mountains were far away, making it unlikely the disaster would spread to his location.

Time passed steadily, and two months flew by. As the final stroke was completed, the formation patterns on the city walls suddenly glowed faintly. The light spread rapidly from a single point in all directions, and within moments, the entire city was enveloped in a crimson aura.

Thousands of formation patterns intertwined into a complex and profound design, their points connecting and spiraling like crazily growing vines merging in mid-air. The result resembled a massive, transparent bowl inverted over Qianzhou City.

Fortunately, it was daytime, and the intense sunlight made the glow barely noticeable, preventing widespread panic. The people couldn’t help but stare curiously, though they couldn’t discern the formation’s purpose.

Xu Sanyan had no time for distractions; a crucial final step remained.

With a swift motion, he retrieved soul crystals and tossed them into the air. Over a thousand crystals hovered in mid-air, spinning rapidly. Xu Sanyan held his breath, his spiritual power swirling around him, causing his robes to billow violently.

The violent currents pushed Qin Shutong and Jiang Yun’er far away, ensuring no one could approach within a hundred feet of Xu Sanyan.

Crack!

A sharp crack echoed as one soul crystal shattered. Immediately, the remaining crystals exploded one after another like firecrackers, releasing massive amounts of soul power that surged into the formation under Xu Sanyan’s control.

The crimson web that had blanketed the city instantly shifted its hue, its demonic aura fading under the encroaching gray.

Jiang Yun’er blinked her beautiful eyes, gazing intently at Xu Sanyan hovering in mid-air. Her face was filled with admiration and reverence. The universal weakness of women was their attraction to strength, and her case was undoubtedly more severe—she yearned for advancement with every fiber of her being.

The luminous barrier in the sky gradually faded, leaving no trace of its earlier anomaly. To the casual observer, everything appeared unchanged. Yet the city’s inhabitants remained blissfully unaware that their lives had just begun their final countdown.

As the Great Formation vanished, a wisp of pure wind descended from the void, lingering over Qianzhou City for an extended period.

Someone noticed that the withered tree in their courtyard had begun to sprout new buds, the grass underfoot had turned a vibrant green, peach blossoms were blooming on the branches, and the well water tasted sweeter than ever.

The breeze lifted the scholar’s turban, clearing his mind and sharpening his senses, his thoughts racing like lightning.

When it brushed past the swaddled infant, the child’s cries abruptly ceased. Wide, clear eyes blinked up at the sky, and a toothless grin revealed pink gums.

In that instant, everything had changed. Prefect Jiang, immersed in official documents at the prefectural office, felt a sudden shift. He pushed open the door and stepped outside, sensing the vibrant spiritual energy permeating the air. A slow smile spread across his lips.

The boy had actually pulled it off.

At the same time, Associate Magistrate Qin, Commander He, Zhao Wenshu, Patriarch Huang, and others all learned what had happened and couldn’t help but feel delighted.

Xu Sanyan grinned, watching the smiles bloom on the faces of the townspeople. He felt deeply gratified that his efforts hadn’t been in vain. As long as everyone was happy, that was all that mattered.

A good deed for the day, accomplished.

“Brother Liang… what kind of formation is this? It’s so magical!” Qin Shutong exclaimed, gazing at the birds soaring high above. The sky seemed particularly clear today, lifting her spirits even higher.

Xu Sanyan didn’t answer directly. Instead, he offered a lesson: “Heh, this is a beneficial formation for both the nation and its people. Formations themselves are neither good nor evil; their virtue lies in how they’re used. Used justly, they bring justice; used maliciously, they bring malice.”

“Mm, Brother Liang is so kind…” Qin Shutong agreed wholeheartedly, her admiration for Xu Sanyan growing even stronger.

Xu Sanyan turned to gaze into the distance, sighing, “Now that this matter is resolved, it’s time for me to leave.”

Qin Shutong froze, a flurry of questions tumbling from her lips: “Leave? Brother Liang, you’re leaving? Where are you going? When will you be back?”

“I don’t know. Maybe two months, maybe half a year, maybe…”

Xu Sanyan smiled. “My sect teaches that kindness must always come first. Though my abilities are limited, I must do what I can, even if it only helps one person.”

“Hahaha! Well said!” Prefect Jiang clapped his hands and laughed heartily, his eyes overflowing with admiration, revealing his deep affection for Xu Sanyan.

Now that the formation was complete and its effects were evident, Prefect Jiang no longer harbored any reservations about Xu Sanyan and had come specifically to meet him.

“Greetings, Master.”

“Father!”

“Greetings, Uncle.”

The group bowed in unison.

Prefect Jiang nodded with a smile. “Excellent! ‘Kindness must always come first.’ To have such wisdom at such a young age truly puts this old man to shame.”

“Master, you flatter me. It is all thanks to my sect’s teachings. I dare not take credit.”

“Heh, I heard you plan to leave soon. Is that true?”

“Yes, Master. The formation is the only skill I possess. By using it to benefit the people, I hope to honor my sect’s reputation.”

Prefect Jiang glanced at Jiang Yun’er with a hint of regret, shaking his head inwardly. What a fine young man… if only…

His daughter was unworthy of him.

As the saying goes, a father knows his daughter best. He understood her temperament all too well; the two were simply incompatible.

(End of the Chapter)