CHAPTER 86: YUE XIN IV

The frost-mist still lingered in the chamber, but the storm had passed. Yue Xin sat quietly, her hand over her chest, as if afraid the glow of the newborn core would vanish if she let go.

Tian Lei stood, brushing the cold dust from his sleeve, and with a flick of his wrist a thin jade-bound book appeared in his palm. Its cover gleamed faintly, the characters for Nine Yin Heart Core Method etched in icy silver.

"This," he said, placing it before Yue Xin, "is the method I just guided you through. Not only the way to stabilize your physique, but also the cultivation technique born from it. Use this as your foundation from now on. What was once a curse will be your path forward."

Yue Xin stared at the book as though it were a dream made real. Her fingers trembled as she reached out, not daring to touch it at first. Finally, she pressed her hand to the cover, bowing her head. "...Thank you."

Mu Qinxue’s gaze sharpened instantly, her playful smirk fading into something far more calculating. She stepped closer, eyes fixed on the jade book.

"A completed method?" she asked softly, her tone edged with suspicion. "Where did you get this?"

Tian Lei met her stare without the slightest flicker. His tone was calm, almost dismissive. "From a legacy I inherited."

Mu Qinxue studied him for a long moment, searching his face. But his golden eyes were steady, unshaken. At last, she gave a short hum and turned away with a flick of her sleeve. "...Hmph. So that’s it."

Yue Xin hugged the book to her chest, her golden eyes shining with new determination. For the first time in years, the weight pressing on her heart felt lighter. No longer chains. No longer a curse.

Tian Lei adjusted his sleeve, his voice calm, as though everything that had just shaken the chamber was no more than daily routine.

"From now on," he said, glancing at Yue Xin, "practice with this method. Once the core stabilizes, your strength will grow faster than any ordinary cultivator’s. But remember—if you lose discipline, even this method won’t save you."

Yue Xin nodded firmly, her jaw set. "I understand."

Mu Qinxue’s lips curved faintly again, slyness returning. "Careful, Tian Lei. Give her too much hope, and she may outgrow you one day."

"Then it’s good for her," Tian Lei replied with a shrug.

Mu Qinxue shook her head at his indifference, while Yue Xin’s eyes lingered on him with newfound warmth.

"I’m going back to cultivate," Tian Lei said evenly. "I’m ready to enter the Spirit Realm."

Yue Xin nodded at once, her voice soft. "Be careful."

"Go on then," Mu Qinxue waved him off. "And don’t forget the rest of your sect missions."

Tian Lei paused mid-step, glancing back at her. "...Rest of my missions?"

She raised a brow. "What, did you think disappearing for months and completing just one task would clear your entire quota? Hmph. You’ve been missing missions for too long. You didn’t expect to slack your way through, did you?"

Tian Lei sighed, the sound flat as stone. "Fine. I’ll do it." With that, he turned and walked out, his figure disappearing into the misted passageways.

Mu Qinxue turned back toward Yue Xin, her expression softening slightly. "Don’t mind him. He’s not as cold as he looks. That boy... lost someone he cared for deeply. It left him stiff, guarded."

Yue Xin’s eyes flickered with surprise. Her lips parted, hesitant. "...Who?"

Mu Qinxue shook her head gently. "Another time. For now, focus on your own path. The Nine Yin Heart Core won’t stabilize itself."

Yue Xin lowered her gaze, but curiosity and a quiet ache remained in her chest.

The two women began speaking in hushed tones, their conversation carrying faint warmth.

Meanwhile, Tian Lei returned to his Immortal Cave. He settled cross-legged on the soft mat, closing his eyes as his breathing evened. The quiet hum of spiritual energy surrounded him, his body already beginning to draw in the ambient qi.

"The Spirits Realm..." he murmured under his breath. His golden eyes flickered open for an instant, sharp as a blade. "Time to step across."

At once, his dantian stirred violently. His qi core—long condensed to perfection—began to tremble. Fractures spread across it like lightning dancing on glass. Each crack resonated through his meridians, thunderous booms shaking his very soul.

Then— shatter.

The core split open like an egg. From its radiant shell, something far greater emerged.

A bow.

It was not forged of wood or steel but of destiny itself. Golden in hue, its surface gleamed with flowing white patterns that seemed carved from starlight. The bowstring hummed softly, as though resonating with every breath of the heavens.

It was no mere weapon—it was Tian Lei’s spirit. His true foundation.

The moment it appeared, his cave was drowned in brilliance. A sacred aura spread outward, filling every crevice with reverence. Even the ambient qi bowed in silence before its majesty.

In his mind, a name etched itself, as though whispered by the cosmos.

"The Celestial Fate Bow."

The instant the name resounded, Tian Lei’s spirit stabilized, anchoring itself to him with absolute permanence. A surge of power coursed through his body, fierce yet harmonious. His cultivation climbed with unstoppable force until it firmly locked onto a new height.

The Spirit Realm.Specifically, its first stage—the Spirit Awakening Realm.

Here, a cultivator’s spirit was no longer hidden within. It awakened, manifested, and began to merge with the world. For Tian Lei, his bow wasn’t just a weapon—it was his will, his destiny, his very essence.

Breathing slowly, Tian Lei opened his eyes. His pupils glowed faintly gold, reflecting the silhouette of the bow behind him.

"...So this is Spirit Awakening," he whispered. "The first step on the endless climb."

The bow behind him pulsed once, as though answering its master.

The cave was still glowing faintly when Tian Lei slowly extended his hand. The Celestial Fate Bow hovered behind him like a guardian, its golden radiance pulsing in harmony with his heartbeat. With a thought, he summoned it forth.

The weapon settled into his palm, impossibly light yet carrying the weight of a mountain. Its surface shimmered with intricate white markings, each one shifting like flowing rivers of destiny. When Tian Lei’s fingers brushed the bowstring, a low hum rang out, echoing like the song of creation itself.

"So... you are my spirit," he murmured. His lips curved faintly, a rare spark in his usually calm eyes. "A bow... no, the bow."

He stood, drawing the bowstring back with nothing in his other hand. Yet the moment he willed it, qi condensed into form—a luminous arrow of golden-white light, sharp enough to pierce through the heavens.

With a flick, he released.

Boom!

The arrow streaked forward, splitting the air, and struck the stone wall of the cave. But instead of shattering stone, the arrow dissolved into pure energy, leaving behind not destruction but a ripple that spread like concentric waves in a still pond. The wall hummed softly, untouched—yet Tian Lei could feel it. If he had willed it, that arrow would have pierced not just stone, but spirit, soul, and fate itself.

His gaze deepened.

"The Spirit Weapon... is a bow. Which means my path is no longer just cultivation." He ran his fingers along the radiant frame. "It’s archery... perfected."

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his soul resonate with the Celestial Fate Bow. Slowly, he began testing different pulls, adjusting his breathing, his stance. Every draw of the string refined the connection, the bow merging ever more seamlessly with him.

By the time he stopped, sweat glistened faintly on his brow—but his smile was clear.

"My spirit has chosen. Archery it is."

After steadying his breath, Tian Lei’s figure blurred. His consciousness sank inward, and once more he stepped into the vast Golden Fortune Realm, the golden skies stretching endlessly above, the jade-like ground shimmering beneath his feet.

With another thought, the world folded—and he entered the Infinite Library.

Row upon row of shelves rose higher than mountains, each groaning with books and scrolls bound by threads of qi. The faint sound of pages turning filled the air, as if the knowledge itself whispered.

Tian Lei’s golden eyes sharpened.

"Bow arts," he commanded.

The shelves shuddered, and thousands of tomes ignited with brilliance, cascading from above like a storm of falling stars. Titles of bow arts, archery scriptures, and forgotten manuals blazed around Tian Lei, each one heavy with killing intent and profound meaning.

His gaze swept through the flood, calm and unwavering.

"So many paths... but I don’t need all of them." His voice was steady, carrying across the endless hall. "Three are enough. One to touch the heavens. One to tread the divine. One to echo the ancients."

At his will, the flood stilled. The countless manuals froze midair, then shattered into sparks, leaving only three suspended before him, each emanating an aura so distinct it felt as if three worlds pressed down upon his chest.