Chapter 848 Beneath the Heavens Part 5: Dream (Large Chapter)

Three hundred and fifty years ago, mentioning the Leng family around Heng City was enough to turn heads. They weren't exactly villains or extravagant spendthrifts, but they were indeed a powerful family whose presence commanded respect and deference.

The Leng family's legacy stretched far back, starting with wineries and fine silks. They were the largest cultivator family in the area, hidden in the shadows. Even the Tang family, another prominent clan, couldn't compare. When it came to their respective inheritances, the Tang family's Spirit Manipulation techniques paled in comparison to the Leng family's ability to brew spiritual wine and transform water into soldiers, skills that caught the eye of the current dynasty.

Outside Heng City, the Leng family even built a vast manor for brewing tribute wine and housing their clansmen. The manor was heavily guarded, with walls over eight feet high. It was more like a small city than a manor, taking twenty years to build, complete with deep wells, fertile fields, and countless stores of grain.

But prosperity and decline are both dictated by the imperial court. When the previous dynasty fell and the Hundred Families Alliance swept across Shenzhou, the Leng family, as the designated supplier of imperial wine, couldn't escape the association. The entire family was wiped out, and its members changed their surnames and branches. Even those unwilling to change had their main bloodline's inheritance crippled, leaving them as ordinary people. Only a few branches were spared, avoiding complete extinction.

This is how most ordinary people in this world came to be. Which family doesn't have some history, some glory in their ancestry? But three hundred and fifty years have passed, and now it's a new era, with many glories returning to the world.

When Leng Mu was still in the womb, his father died due to a cultivation mishap. His mother, missing her husband, named him Mu, meaning dusk or late in life, lamenting that it was always too late, casting a shadow over his childhood.

Since he was old enough to understand, he often heard the older generation lamenting the family's glorious past, reminiscing about the Leng family's former skill, 'Chao Xi in the Kettle' (Morning and Evening in the Kettle). It was a spiritual martial art that used wine as its source, capable of turning water into knives, swords, and all sorts of spiritual manifestations, turning heaven and earth into a kettle where the sun and moon revolved. Even immortals trapped within would be worn away, turning into a wisp of dissipating smoke.

Even in the entire Zheng Kingdom, it was considered a top-tier inheritance. His father had cultivated this technique and suffered a qi deviation, turning his own blood into dissipating smoke, leading to his death.

Leng Mu's branch was not the main line of the old Leng family, but rather a branch of a dozen branches. Because of this, when the Leng family's main line was destroyed with the previous dynasty, this branch was able to keep its original surname and avoid implication.

Leng Mu was quite skeptical of the elders' talk of restoring glory. After all, at the end of the day, the Leng family was just local gentry. They may have been very rich and powerful, but that was impossible to replicate in this era. Moreover, after hearing the history, he felt quite ashamed of the Leng family's past actions, their bullying and oppression of others. The young boy even felt ashamed of his ancestors.

Such a family deserved to be destroyed.

Leng Mu married at the age of twenty-five to the youngest daughter of another cultivator family. They were deeply in love and had a daughter. Bearing the burden of his father's death, Leng Mu naturally hoped that his daughter would have a bright childhood, so he named her Xia (Summer). Feeling that Leng Xia sounded a bit too harsh, he doubled the character, calling her Leng Xiaxia, which sounded much more adorable.

When Leng Xiaxia was six years old, Leng Mu was supposed to take her to the ancestral hall to receive her inheritance. Although the 'Chao Xi in the Kettle' technique was theoretically passed down only to men, frankly, this rule had been abolished two hundred years ago. After all, in an era of spiritual energy depletion, having someone who could cultivate at all was a good thing. If they really had to argue over a name and delay their own inheritance, the Leng family weren't all foolish pedants.

The truly pedantic ones had long died out, and their genes weren't passed down.

But that time happened to be on the eve of the spiritual energy revival. The Leng family, the Tang family, and even all the cultivator families around Heng City, regardless of whether they were important or not, whether their past actions were good or bad, were all gathered together. Everyone seemed to be thinking about something, but they couldn't confirm the true situation. It wasn't until officials from the Safety Bureau arrived and directly announced the imminent revival of spiritual energy, asking the families to prepare in advance and subtly warning the cultivators not to cause trouble, or they would be severely punished.

This was all normal. The countries and major families had indeed known for a long time that the revival of spiritual energy was coming, but they weren't sure of the exact time. Now that the government had announced it, it seemed that the revival of spiritual energy was within the next five years.

Children couldn't cultivate, but they could receive inheritances. Leng Mu himself and his wife weren't particularly talented cultivators, not even to the point where his father could suffer a qi deviation. Wanting to cultivate to the point of qi deviation and death required a certain level of skill; ordinary people couldn't do it at all.

He himself didn't matter, so it all depended on his daughter. Leng Mu didn't really want to involve Leng Xiaxia in this stale family glory. He only hoped that his daughter could grow up happily and healthily.

But, since spiritual energy was reviving, could she really be happy and grow up healthily in such a world without cultivation?

With these doubts, Leng Mu and his wife walked home with some melancholy. The couple had actually made a decision long ago in their hearts. From the moment they returned home, they began planning Leng Xiaxia's future education, even if it couldn't make her a prodigy, at least she should have the ability to protect herself.

Who knew that just a few days later, during an autumn rain, they would be attacked? A roaring truck sped past, splashing countless droplets of water.

It deliberately crashed into them. There was no way to avoid it on the narrow road, certain death. His wife screamed, while his tightly held daughter couldn't see any of this, completely ignorant.

Before his death, Leng Mu sensed spiritual energy fluctuations, the aura of a dissipating ghost. Looking at the driver's terrified and somewhat dazed expression, it was clear that he was drunk and possessed by a spirit through magic, which was the only way he could do something so absurd.

"The Tang family?! Why...what are these guys planning to do?"

Leng Mu couldn't understand why the Tang family, who had always been law-abiding and at most exploited their own company employees, would suddenly use magic to harm him. Even if there was a feud between their ancestors, they shouldn't be acting on it three hundred years later.

If they really had a feud, the Leng family would have been destroyed during their three hundred years of decline. Why wait until now, when the government's authority was at its peak? Were they crazy?!

Leng Mu couldn't figure it out, but he wasn't stupid. He could guess that the Tang family, after being silent for so long, must have some big plans in mind. And his strength and the Leng family's foundation weren't their real target... That's right, he wasn't the target, but just a demonstration!

His death, his identity as the officially designated contemporary Leng family inheritor, was the Tang family's pledge of allegiance, a proof, a proof to another large overseas power that they wouldn't leak information.

As for whether that power was the Gods Descend Spirit Society or the Sacred Serpent Spirit Litany, that was something Leng Mu couldn't guess.

In the final moment, his wife hugged their daughter tightly, while Leng Mu stood in front of them. He wasn't carrying the wine pot that Leng family inheritors never left behind, because after his daughter was born, he was a good father who didn't drink, even if he couldn't see it.

But he could still use the 'Chao Xi in the Kettle' technique, just like his father had done when he suffered a qi deviation. Rising blood flowed out from the man's pores and orifices, swirling in the wind and rain, turning into a barrier.

He died.

Leng Mu's death attracted an investigation by the Safety Bureau, but after confirming that it was indeed a tragedy caused by a drunk driver driving while fatigued, they didn't continue to intervene. The driver was also a poor man who couldn't afford to pay any compensation, so he could only go to jail to face trial.

When Leng Xiaxia was sixteen years old, her grandmother, who was already showing signs of reversing aging, tearfully recounted this past to her.

Her husband and son had both died the same way. For an old woman, even just recalling it was enough to make her choke with sobs. Leng Xiaxia had to hug her grandmother and comfort her, telling her not to be sad.

The Tang family colluded with the Gods Descend Spirit Society, assassinating several representatives of cultivator families within Heng City as a pledge of allegiance. All of this was recorded, and they had all confessed when the Tang family remnants were tried. Leng Mu and his wife had indeed been good parents, dying to protect Leng Xia.

"That Tang kid..."

The two came to Leng Mu and his wife's grave, bringing flowers, fruits, and a pot of magic wine, the spiritual water most suitable for performing 'Chao Xi in the Kettle', as well as proof that Leng Xia had regained her eyesight and a copy of the document for her admission to a top-tier academy.

Knowing this, the couple would surely be pleased.

Leng Xiaxia, who had grown into a graceful young woman, knelt before the tombstone and kowtowed earnestly. This wasn't bowing to corrupt feudal etiquette, but rather an outpouring of emotion from the heart. There were many things in this world that didn't have a beautiful ending, and these actions were just a way to soothe the unfinished love and hate.

She heard her grandmother's unspoken words. She was talking about Tang-dage (Big Brother Tang). The girl knew what her grandmother meant. Although Tang Yuan was a loner who had betrayed his family, he was still a member of the Tang family. Even after so many years of care, the old woman who had lost her son couldn't face the young man who had Tang family blood flowing through him.

But the elderly woman, who had raised the child, wasn't stupid. So, after she opened her mouth in a moment of emotion, she immediately shut up. She knew better than anyone what true emotion was, and she knew better than anyone how that Tang kid treated her granddaughter.

Forget it, forget it. She thought wearily, it was already a completely new era, so why bother getting entangled in the love and hatred of the previous generation?

She couldn't move on, but there was no need to trap her granddaughter in it as well.

Leng Xiaxia was smarter than her grandmother, her father, her grandfather, and even her ancestors. She knew very well what her grandmother was thinking, the words she wanted to say but hadn't finished.

But she didn't care.

"Dage (Big Brother) actually told me about this two years ago. He knelt for half the night, and wouldn't stand up no matter how much I tried to persuade him. It was clearly the fault of the enemies, but he took it all on himself because of a surname."

She supported her grandmother as they left the cemetery, her heart calm: "Besides, it's not like I don't know that Dage came to our house as a thief... What a stupid thief, who steals and then turns himself in?"

This matter was coincidental but also not entirely coincidental. The biggest accident might have been that Tang Yuan went to the Leng family to steal something, but who could say for sure about the attraction of fate? At least Leng Xiaxia had always been grateful that she could meet Tang Yuan, whether for her or for Tang Yuan.

She was very afraid of what Tang Yuan, who hadn't met her, would be like. Would he continue stealing? Would he be lonely? Would he become unable to smile?

She was also very afraid of what she, who hadn't met Tang Yuan, would be like. Would she still be able to maintain her childhood optimism? Would she be able to heal her eyes immediately? Would she still have faith and love for everything in the world? Would she still be able to laugh?

Because she was so afraid, she was fearless instead, able to face her fears directly.

"I want to go to the Taixu Academy on the moon."

On the way home, Leng Xiaxia said softly to her grandmother: "I don't want to stay on Earth, and I don't want to be recommended. I will continue to participate in the Holy Trials selection."

"No way!" The old woman was startled subconsciously and then refused. Although she realized that what she said was wrong and that she should consider Leng Xiaxia's own thoughts, she continued: "Why go to such a faraway place? There are more people and more connections at the academies on Earth, and it's also safer."

The girl said: "Earth is just a corner of the universe. If I want to see the high heavens, I must witness every scene in the universe. Taixu Academy is an interstellar academy that accepts extraterrestrial immigrants. It is a joint international project. With my talent and grades, going there will be like buying horse bones with gold, receiving the best inheritance and training in the entire Milky Way."

Grandmother shook her head: "But it's the same now. You can get the best education on Earth... Didn't that Professor Su teach you a few tricks? There's no need to leave Earth at all."

"By doing this, you're even embarrassing your older brothers--with your relationship, if you still go to Taixu Academy and take a spot, people will definitely say you got in through connections!"

Grandmother was right.

Perhaps for other ordinary children, going to Taixu Academy and becoming horse bones bought with gold might be the best choice, but for her, just staying on Earth would allow her to enjoy the best education in the entire Milky Way, and even the entire Sealed Universe, the Multiverse.

"This is my wish."

But Leng Xiaxia wasn't just acting for this reason. Besides, she knew better than anyone that this little matter wouldn't bother her older brothers at all... In fact, with the personalities of those older brothers, they would even complain about why she was so well-behaved and hadn't caused any trouble in ten years, making it so that they couldn't find an excuse even if they wanted to put in some effort.

You know, sticking up for their younger sister and acting tough was an excuse for young men who were bored to do things openly!

Since it was Leng Xiaxia's wish, Grandmother naturally couldn't say anything, so she could only sigh.

And the real reason was actually very simple.

"Tang Yuan is very important. He is the successor specially trained by A-Zhou. Don't look at A-Zhou making him work overtime every day. In reality, if you want someone without a background to become a leader in a substantial sense, accumulating qualifications, the most important thing is to make him work, to become a substantial controller, so that he can inherit it legitimately."

At that time, Shao Qiming, sitting in his office, answered Leng Xiaxia's question seriously. The gentle and refined young man smiled and said, "If you want him to relax and play with you, what you need is not to wait, but to take the initiative."

"Leng Xiaxia, your talent is very good. After eating the Wisdom Fruit, your spirituality is even more profound. If your talent continues to develop, becoming a Earth Immortal with our help won't be a problem. Above the Heaven Immortal depends on your awareness. In short, being by Tang Yuan's side is definitely not a problem."

"But, if you want to surpass Tang Yuan, if you want to tie him back to rest and play with you."

Saying so, Shao Qiming handed Leng Xiaxia a piece of paper: "Then you need to do more things, get more resources, and actively strive for 'better', not just be satisfied with the current happiness."

Written on the paper was news about Taixu Academy.

Since the Zheng Kingdom took the lead in starting academy reform and opening up the right to create private schools, the academies also began self-regulation reforms. Taixu Academy was a relatively important plan in the series of operations of the academy faction.

Qiming-dage (Big Brother Qiming) had always been very smart, but even such a smart Qiming-dage hadn't caught up with Su Zhou-dage. Leng Xiaxia was very worried that she would be the same in the future, but she was comforted: "Don't worry, compare Tang Yuan and A-Zhou's talents? That's too much. Tang Yuan himself wouldn't dare to think that way."

"With your talent, Xiaxia, surpassing Tang Yuan is not impossible... At least, he is indeed not a combat-type powerhouse. In the final analysis, he is just a support type. He is really the type who is often challenged by people who are higher ranked than him."

This was the moment of firm determination.

"Am I doing this right? Lie?"

While in the car, confiding in her family-like AI intelligence, Leng Xiaxia was also a bit lost: "I have to abandon a stable life and not live it, but instead take the risk to do something with a very low chance of success for a little bit of advantage."

"Is this kind of thinking a bug?"

【Perhaps】

A gentle voice sounded, and Leng Xiaxia could sense a gust of cold air blowing towards her from the air conditioner, making her feel slightly calmer. Lie said: 【The most important thing is the purpose】

【If you are determined to complete the purpose in your heart, then you should try any risk, unless you don't really want to achieve your purpose. Otherwise, what you need to be confused about is not 'whether you need to change', but 'how you should change'】

"I love you!"

Leng Xiaxia was very grateful. She was always very grateful that there were so many smart people around her who truly loved her. They would always offer their opinions, but they would never force a path that they thought was correct.

They would only reach out and pull Leng Xiaxia out of the mud when she made a mistake, and Leng Xiaxia had never done such a thing, making a mistake that would lead her into the mud. Thanks to the influence of the people around her, she stepped firmly and cautiously on the path of her life, not daring to be careless and never hesitating.

【Love you too】

The symbols that appeared on the car's display screen showed that Lie was also very happy.

The qualification to be selected for Taixu Academy, and even just the qualification to participate in the exam, had to be fought for. She had to face all the underage elite cultivators in the world. It could be called the World's No. 1 Martial Arts Tournament for the new generation. Basically, regardless of whether they wanted to enter Taixu Academy or not, as long as they had some strength, young people wanted to use this stage to show their strength and display their glory.

Leng Xiaxia applied ordinarily, was ordinarily arranged for an assessment, and received a notice to wait for a practical test after passing the assessment.

How should she put it? Like a ring, the younger generation of cultivators would compete on a vast lunar sea on the moon that simulated the Earth's gravity. After all, in this era, there were many things that couldn't be tested by assessments. A person who could unleash ten points of firepower on a target would probably not be able to exert even half of that when facing a real person.

Or vice versa, they might deal with the target perfunctorily, but when they encounter a person, they become full of energy.

Leng Xiaxia was neither of these types. She just abided by all the rules and regulations and made every effort to respond to every assessment test.

The girl walked upright and sat steadily. Her words and actions didn't make people feel like they were in a spring breeze, but they didn't make people feel cold. She just let people know that this was her 'attitude', without any falsehood, generously showing everything.

It was difficult to say who she learned this from. After all, Su Zhou was always a little flamboyant, while Shao Qiming and Tang Yuan were very low-key, but that was also kindness. People who had seen Su Zhou's power didn't dare to resist. The majestic thunder was certainly harsh, but it could also bring peace.

And Tang Yuan and Shao Qiming's low-keyness also had power. When they didn't speak, the scene was silent, and no one would underestimate them.

"You actually use a sword."

On the Moon Sea Arena, a blonde girl with a curvy figure but a solemn aura held a shield and spear, ready and waiting: "I thought you would use a knife."

She was a strong member of the new generation of the American Federation. Although she was a woman, she had a calm demeanor and had obviously experienced many similar battles.

She looked at Leng Xiaxia, who was standing across the arena, and said seriously: "Show your full strength. Don't think that I will be lenient just because you are beautiful."

The black-haired girl stood on the loose lunar rock, initially a little dazed, just staring at the hand holding the sword.

The girl's wrist was fair, and her skin was delicate. It looked like the skin of someone who had been raised without any labor or wind and sand for many years. And her appearance didn't need to be said much. The girl who used to have a chubby face had already grown into a girl who could be called a beauty. Her long black hair was tied up behind her head, making her look dignified. Her clear and gentle eyes and slightly raised eyebrows made people feel that she should pick up a pen and a book instead of a sword.

Leng Xiaxia raised her head, seeming to finally realize where she was.

--Yes.

She thought, agreeing with her opponent's words.

In her childhood, she had been protected by her parents, and in her youth, she had been protected by Tang Yuan-dage and her other older brothers. And now, she could hold a sword and fight for the future she wanted.

Now, she finally understood the meaningful words that Shao Qiming-gege had said to her... If she lived this life obediently, she might get ordinary happiness, but if she wanted to strive for 'better', better 'happiness', then she had to take the initiative to change her old self into a completely new self.

It was time to use the weapon in her hand to open up the path she wanted for her future.

"I originally wanted to learn to use a knife."

Raising her head, the girl holding the sword smiled slightly: "But who told Su Zhou-gege that he actually doesn't know how to use a knife? His Getian (Revolution of Heaven) can use a knife, or a sword, an axe, a halberd, or even bare hands."

"So I gave up too. Anyway, I'm learning magic. It's the same whatever weapon I use, whether it's a wine pot or a kitchen knife."

"You've learned this point well."

Before her opponent, who was slightly shocked by her words, could react, Leng Xiaxia backhanded her long sword into the ground. Like cutting butter with a hot knife, her sword went straight into the depths of the lunar rock, and then a hot red halo lit up. Golden-red magma began to flow horizontally and vertically on the gray lunar earth, like wounds and blood.

"What?!"

The blonde girl opposite was shocked. She couldn't imagine that the dignified and lovely girl opposite her was actually a mage who could easily melt rocks into magma, but this wasn't beyond her expectations. The so-called accident was just that she thought the other party was a sword immortal who could unleash sword qi, but now she couldn't see the bottom line.

Buzz! With a buzzing sound, a dazzling halo surrounded the blonde girl, her state was like solidification, indestructible, and even the boiling and burning air couldn't get close to her. In the next moment, a white light pierced towards Leng Xiaxia, which was the blonde girl's long spear, like a meteor piercing through the starry sky.

The blonde girl's spear was the latest low-level cultivator magic weapon in North America. It was a small, controllable missile, with vector nozzles spraying out white light, and a sharp diamond halo lit up at the tip of the spear, with pure purification holy light lodged inside, enough to pierce through all magical defenses.

But Leng Xiaxia didn't move a step. She just smiled and held the sword, allowing the sword, which was only condensed by ice, to dissolve in the high temperature, turning into white water vapor. On the other side, the rising magma vapor quietly burned around her. The magma pool under her feet flowed like water, forming a vortex that surged endlessly. During the rotation, the light and shadows flickered, as if the sun and moon were rising and setting, and the morning and evening were changing.

The Leng family's inherited 'Chao Xi in the Kettle' (Morning and Evening in the Kettle) was to transform all things with water and to create illusions with fog. Wine, a liquid that easily evaporates, could easily induce hallucinations and was convenient to shape and control. Whether it was condensing water into ice to kill, or turning it into a tough whip to whip, it was all a matter of a single thought.

But Leng Xiaxia felt that her ancestors had only chosen convenient carriers such as water and wine as weapons because they had no choice but to choose in the era of spiritual energy depletion. Between the morning and evening of heaven and earth, was there only water?

The true meaning of 'Chao Xi in the Kettle' was obviously that all things could be transformed into each other. The liquid, solid, and gaseous states were just inaccurate classifications by humans. Under great power, iron was also a liquid, and air could also freeze. Gentle water could also be harder than steel.

The most important thing was the cultivator's will.

Raising her hand, the surging magma turned into a stream of water-like long strips, bubbles rising and breaking from it, releasing steam. All of this flowed quietly in Leng Xiaxia's hand, and then condensed into a terrifying firelight. The deep spiritual power flowed in the depths of the magma, giving the girl the energy to control them.

The long spear broke through the air, but a layer of blood-colored magma rose, transforming into a barrier, blocking the blow.

In the clash, the flames shattered, the spear retreated, and the magma barrier, which was enough to withstand a missile bombing, was pierced through a hole. The purification holy light did indeed break through all magic, but the magma itself was also the best material for absorbing impact. The blonde girl's full-strength blow was in vain, and she had to retreat three feet before the approaching magma vapor.

Although she had never seen that scene with her own eyes, the light of her father standing in front of her pierced through the darkness of her blindness and reached the girl's heart.

And now, his daughter had the power to protect herself.

"Dad will be happy." Holding the magic formula in her hand, Leng Xiaxia once again used Chao Xi in the Kettle. The scorching high temperature began to spread, the surrounding rocks began to melt, and the color of the magma condensing in front of her became more and more dazzling, from the blood-colored crimson to the now brilliant gold.

"The brothers too."

Finally, with a sharp cry, the golden-red fire patterns jumped. The vast majority of people present, whether spectators or examiners, could only see a blurred mist. In the midst of many changes, they could only see a halo, traversing the morning and evening sun.

When everyone came back to their senses, they could only see a long sword condensed from magma suspended three inches in front of the blonde girl's forehead. The modernly modified shield used to block this sword had been shattered. The explosive reactive armor, the firm iron magic circle protection, and the crystal stone force field were all broken through in an instant, as if they didn't exist at all.

"You're so strong..."

Raising her hand decisively and raising the white flag to indicate surrender, the blonde girl sighed and then said freely: "You are so strong, why did you come to participate in the arena competition? You can easily enter the internal selection."

"Even among those monsters in the internal selection, you are a top-notch powerhouse. Why do you have to expose your trump card now?"

"If this trump card is exposed, it will make me lose."

Taking back the magma, Leng Xiaxia reached out her hand and pulled the blonde girl up from the ground. Her smile was still ordinary, not making people feel gentle, nor making people feel cold, like a cold wind in summer, not saying that it can comfort the heat, but clearly announcing its existence.

She said calmly: "Then how can I go further?"

"Further?"

The blonde girl who stood up was a little confused. She was a little puzzled, so she asked: "Where exactly do you want to go? Explore the Milky Way or another world?"

Leng Xiaxia didn't answer this question immediately.

The black-haired girl just raised her head and looked at the moon and the cosmic void.

There, a silver vortex was spinning. It was a huge avenue anomaly that had appeared more than half a year ago and was suspended above the entire Sealed Universe. There were too many people in this universe who went to study the essence of this vortex. Zheng Kingdom was naturally the same. A careless man, a forgetful brother had been gone for a long, long time, and hadn't called back to say he was safe yet.

Perhaps soon, perhaps in the next moment, he would call back to congratulate her on her first victory--he must have been paying attention to her all the time, Leng Xiaxia had faith in Tang Yuan.

But so what? It was really a little annoying.

Yes, this wasn't reasonable, but when had this world ever been reasonable? She was a big girl, so she should try to get what she wanted herself.

Instead of always waiting, it was better to take the initiative and grab him back... And this required strength, hard work, and luck.

Leng Xiaxia stared at the cosmic starry sky and then opened her mouth.

"The place I want to go."

The girl said seriously, announcing her 'dream'.

"Is that 'above the heavens'."

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