Chapter Twenty-Three: Here, I Make the Rules

Tianhe City, Qiyuan Avenue.

Where once a dense crowd of cultivators had blocked the way, they now scattered at once, retreating to either side of the street. All eyes gathered, staring in the same direction.

Two squads of Cold Crow Army soldiers, each composed of dozens of men clad in black armor and helmed in black, marched in perfect order through the city gate.

As they drew closer, it became clear that the black armor they wore still bore many fresh scratches, as if they had been pulled straight from the frontier battlefield and dispatched here without delay.

They walked at the front, faces expressionless, eyes icy cold, exuding a murderous aura so intense that many cultivators present involuntarily shrank back, afraid that standing too close might mean being cut down in the next instant.

“Even at the Foundation Establishment stage, the gulf is so wide—is this the killing intent forged only through slaughter and bloodshed?” someone in the crowd, also at Foundation Establishment, sighed with self-abasement.

At that moment, following behind the two squads was a lean, tall young man who strolled forward at an unhurried pace.

He wore black and gold armor—a mark of a Cold Crow Army officer.

Yet his appearance was gentle, a smile upon his lips. Though he lacked the air of nobility or striking features, he was instantly memorable.

For his hair was long and white as snow.

The broad expanse of Qiyuan Avenue, which had been filled with hushed whispers, fell utterly silent at the sight of Qi Ming. Not a sound could be heard.

The blood of the Scarlet Ape, Qi Ming, the peerless talent.

Everyone recognized his name in their hearts, but all instinctively held their breath, silent as the grave.

“Fellow cultivators, I am General Qi Ming of the Cold Crow Army. By order of the Four Continents Council, I command three thousand Cold Crow soldiers to garrison Tianhe City. From this day forth, all authority in the city belongs to the Cold Crow Army.”

Qi Ming stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over the many gathered cultivators, announcing the takeover with a calm smile.

Then his gaze fixed on a certain direction—a shattered window on the third floor of the Heaven’s Pride Pavilion, where a figure stood by the window, meeting his eyes.

“In a moment, I will announce the new prohibitions.” Qi Ming’s gaze never left the window as his voice suddenly rose, echoing with authority: “Anyone who violates them will be executed without mercy.”

Then, as swiftly as it had risen, his aura receded.

Qi Ming’s smile returned, and he raised a hand, waving lightly toward the figure at the window as though in greeting.

By the window, Xu Zhe smiled in return, nodding slightly.

Qi Ming was an old classmate whom Xu Zhe remembered well.

Back at university, Qi Ming had come from a difficult background, always juggling part-time jobs and relying on scholarships to get by.

He was introverted and withdrawn, rarely seen outside of class and with few friends.

It was only because Xu Zhe had been class president that he had more contact with Qi Ming, even helping him out on several occasions when times were hard.

When Qi Ming couldn’t find a part-time job and had no money for food, it was Xu Zhe who topped up his meal card.

When Qi Ming got into trouble with local delinquents and was bullied and extorted, it was Xu Zhe who happened to pass by and intervened on his behalf.

Gradually, the two grew closer, and Qi Ming began to open up to Xu Zhe. Over time, they became friends.

Near graduation, Xu Zhe even used his connections to secure Qi Ming a job with excellent benefits.

At a farewell gathering, Qi Ming had been so moved he wept openly, downing several bottles of liquor and drunkenly swearing that he would repay Xu Zhe’s kindness not just in this life but the next, even if it meant being reborn as an ox or a horse.

Recalling those days, Xu Zhe was filled with emotion.

Upon seeing Qi Ming again, he found his appearance little changed, but his whole bearing was transformed—no longer withdrawn and shy but brimming with vigor, and seemingly possessing great leadership ability.

Xu Zhe turned to leave the room in search of a new private chamber—his current one was battered and broken, hardly suitable for receiving guests.

To his surprise, Heaven’s Pride Pavilion was now deserted. The attendants who had been about moments ago had vanished.

He simply went downstairs, and just as he reached the foot of the stairs, Qi Ming appeared in the doorway, striding inside.

They exchanged smiles at the sight of one another.

“Class president, long time no see.”

“It’s been a while, Qi Ming.”

A greeting both familiar and distant.

Qi Ming seemed to revert to a touch of his old self. He grabbed a chair, sat down, picked up a bottle of Eternal Life Cola, bit the cap off, and downed it in great gulps.

“Ah, that’s the stuff!”

He finished the whole bottle in one go, letting out a satisfied cry.

“It seems life on the frontier isn’t easy. Yesterday another from the frontier was here, craving this stuff—heard she even made off with several crates before she left.” Xu Zhe laughed, setting another bottle before Qi Ming.

“You mean Qu Hongxiu? I know she was here. That little spitfire—she’s been raising hell on the western front, even ran over to the northern front to stir things up. She’s basically the second Chu Xiaotong.” Qi Ming laughed heartily.

“That’s good.” Xu Zhe’s gaze drifted to Qi Ming’s hair. “Your white hair suits you.”

“Scarlet Ape blood, white-haired monkey, you know? Some things run deep.” Qi Ming replied carelessly, shrugging.

He opened another bottle, took a deep drink, then looked back at Xu Zhe.

“So, what’s your plan now?” he asked with a smile.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Xu Zhe replied, shaking his head.

“I’ll be here defending Tianhe City for the next ten years or so. Whatever you want to do here, I’ll have your back. Hell, why not just make you city lord for a bit? Indulge yourself—this place is under my command now.” Qi Ming thumped his chest, beaming with pride.

Xu Zhe merely smiled and shook his head. “I don’t have any concrete plans, but I’d like to travel a bit.”

“Travel?”

Qi Ming’s smile vanished. He stared at Xu Zhe, expressionless. “Where to?”

“I hear the Four Continents are interesting places. Would be a shame not to see them for myself, don’t you think?” Xu Zhe replied, still smiling.

Suddenly, Qi Ming turned his bottle upside down, letting the cola pour onto the floor, where it fizzed and bubbled.

He watched the foam rise and vanish, his voice suddenly cold. “You want to go to the Western Kun Continent, don’t you? To the Sacred Pool Sanctuary?”

“If I have the chance, I’d like to see the Sacred Pool Sanctuary,” Xu Zhe admitted.

“Don’t go.” Qi Ming said flatly. “You’re of mortal blood, your spiritual roots are muddled—you shouldn’t harbor such grand ambitions.”

With a clatter, he discarded his bottle and looked up at Xu Zhe, his gaze cold and indifferent. “I’ve already heard about your deeds during the Night of Souls. I don’t know who taught you how to temper your body, but you seem to overestimate yourself.

“Cultivating the body is the path of brutes, nothing worth showing off. You’re disgracing all ninety-nine of us. You’d best stop, and abandon any idea of venturing into the wider world.”

With that, he stood up.

“Just stay here in Tianhe City. This city is your whole world now.” Without looking back, Qi Ming headed for the door.

Xu Zhe’s smile had faded. He asked quietly, “So? Are you here on behalf of some northern continent big shot? Here to keep an eye on me?”

Qi Ming paused, then slowly turned, a broad grin spreading across his face. “Class president, what are you saying? I’m a commander in the Cold Crow Army—defending Tianhe City is my only mission. As for that lord from the northern continent, yes, he did mention you in passing. He hopes you’ll stay put in Tianhe City.”

“You’re of mortal blood, your roots are impure, and you lack the gift for cultivation. Don’t force yourself to fit in. Even if you have talent on the path of the body, so what? The gap between us is unbridgeable.

“Why not just stay here in this city? Consider it a favor to me, a little gesture for that lord from the north. I remember you’d always help me when I was in trouble—why change now?”

“Oh, and one last thing: don’t even think about leaving Tianhe City. It’ll be the death of you. Here, my word is law.”