Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 2 Taoist Longshan

Beneath the veil of night.

Blazing flames leaped high, with ferocious fiery tongues consuming the Snow Plum Manor and its structures all at once.

Figures in black garments observed the escalating inferno before them with icy detachment, showing no mercy or pity. From time to time, a few who slipped through the encirclement stumbled out from the blazing chaos, unable to endure the intense heat, only to meet their end with a swift sword strike to the neck.

A smile gradually formed on Lord Feng’s lips.

His desire was to witness the complete destruction of Snow Plum Manor into nothingness personally.

The blaze intensified further.

From afar, a man in black attire rushed over in alarm.

"Lord Feng, Taoist Longshan from the True Martial Sect is approaching. Do we withdraw immediately?"

Lord Feng’s brows knitted together, a flicker of profound worry in his gaze.

"Wasn’t that cunning old fox Longshan meant to arrive tomorrow? How come he’s here ahead of schedule?"

"I’m unsure, my lord."

"Worthless!"

With a cold huff, Lord Feng issued the command at last,

"Pull back!"

Renowned as a genius, Taoist Longshan was said to have received the True Martial inheritance, bursting onto the scene in the Great Yan dynasty and gaining immense fame. He subsequently reestablished the True Martial Sect, becoming a celebrated figure among Taoist sects worldwide.

Legends held that he neared the Celestial Being Realm, and neither he nor his followers believed they could overpower him through sheer numbers.

He cast a profound glance at the estate now engulfed in flames.

Amid such raging fires, a typical martial artist would perish, much less an infant who must have already passed out and would soon char to cinders while unconscious.

A frosty grin appeared as the black-garbed group vanished into the whipping winds.

...

Within the secret chamber.

Ning Qi sensed the ambient heat gradually climbing, filled with both shock and rage.

These assailants turned out to be far more ruthless than anticipated, slaughtering everyone in the manor before reducing it to rubble.

A frosty, murderous glint filled his eyes.

Yet this moment wasn’t suited for dwelling on vengeance; survival demanded immediate focus.

The Innate Fetal Breathing Skill operated steadily, mitigating the advancing scorching heat considerably. Still, with the flames gaining strength and invading the secret chamber, Ning Qi faced an absolute impasse!

Freshly born, he couldn’t budge and hadn’t nursed yet. Without the Innate Fetal Breathing Skill he devised, death would have claimed him already.

Nevertheless,

the predicament appeared utterly dire.

"What can I do?"

Ning Qi’s thoughts whirled rapidly. Through the crackling blaze, he vaguely caught that the black-clad assailants had departed.

"Taoist Longshan? True Martial Sect? Could this Taoist be an ally to my parents or some upright figure?"

A torrent of ideas flooded Ning Qi’s mind.

Survival might hinge on this Taoist Longshan.

He huddled tighter in the swaddling fabric. Its unique composition offered slight relief. Endurance until Taoist Longshan’s arrival was key, and crucially, ensuring the Taoist noticed him.

"Make noise!"

"I need a sound strong enough to cut through the fire’s roar."

Though Taoist Longshan ranked as a supreme expert, releasing the Innate Fetal Breathing state might alert him, yet Ning Qi understood he had to vie for notice on his own.

"How to amplify my voice?"

"Merge it with breathing, expel the sound via exhalation... A baby’s wail is piercing; optimizing the vocal cord frequency could enhance it..."

"..."

Concepts raced through Ning Qi’s thoughts.

Experimenting with mouth movements, he channeled the innate qi in his body, sensing that any cry would resonate powerfully.

This formed a vocal method; Ning Qi deemed it the Sound Wave Vibration Technique.

A spark lit in Ning Qi’s eyes.

Were he versed in martial arts presently, he could devise a Sound Wave Martial Art, akin to the Lion’s Roar from his past life’s wuxia tales!

Such was the might of peak enlightenment.

Preparations complete.

Hope stirred within him.

"Taoist Longshan, hasten your arrival!"

Tardiness from Taoist Longshan would leave him as a charred remains.

The mounting heat pressed in, accompanied by occasional crashes of collapsing structures in the inferno. The secret chamber’s exceptional build spared him from being buried alive.

...

Night deepened further.

Yet Snow Plum Manor’s vicinity glowed crimson, mimicking broad daylight; the fiery expanse tinged half the heavens scarlet.

Upon reaching the site, Taoist Longshan beheld the sight, fury igniting in his eyes.

"Such a despicable villain!"

Invited to come, he never foresaw stumbling upon this slaughter, the attacker’s brutality exceeding all bounds.

An enraged bellow escaped Taoist Longshan, as Gang Qi churned in his hands like misty drizzle, bearing down on the flames.

Sections of fire died out, only for fiercer blazes to erupt anew.

His face darkened more.

Had the blaze been nascent, extinguishing it posed no challenge, but now it raged unchecked. Even at full power, he could salvage mere wreckage.

Enveloped in Gang Qi, he traversed the inferno unharmed, calling repeatedly:

"Manor Master Ning!"

"Heroine Jiang!"

"Taoist Longshan is here!"

Certainty loomed that the Ning Ye pair had fallen, yet a faint hope lingered in his heart.

He persisted in shouting.

Long silence answered.

Regret gripped Taoist Longshan, musing that arriving mere hours sooner might have averted the catastrophe.

Abruptly.

He halted, as if catching an infant’s wail.

Dismissing it as hallucination at first—how could a baby endure such flames?—

But promptly, his features shifted.

For the wail intensified, slicing through the blaze, confirming it as real.

"A survivor remains!"

Excitement surged through Taoist Longshan.

Propelling skyward with inner force, he darted toward the cry’s origin, then gathered Gang Qi in his hand to douse the flames instantly.

Drawing near cautiously, wonder filled his eyes.

The weeping emanated from the secret chamber ahead.

His palm’s Gang Qi acted like a blade, carefully parting the chamber to unveil a swaddled form.

Regarding the infant.

Amazement deepened in Taoist Longshan’s gaze, for upon exposure, the baby ceased crying and gazed at him calmly, suggesting the wail aimed to summon him.

Furthermore.

He’d gauged the chamber’s warmth, marginally milder than outside, yet for a newborn to persist was nothing short of miraculous!

Even then, the child’s cheeks flushed from heat.

"This infant possesses remarkable vitality!"

Tenderly lifting Ning Qi, Taoist Longshan found a jade pendant etched with ’Qi’ and a manual of Night Plum Swordsmanship in the wrappings.

"The Night Plum Swordsmanship stands as the supreme work of Manor Master Ning and Heroine Jiang; clearly, you are their child."

Taoist Longshan exhaled deeply.

"Fate may guide this, or their souls guard you, granting survival amid calamity."

"Henceforth, your name is Ning Qi."

At that declaration.

To Taoist Longshan’s surprise, the infant seemed to beam with joy.

"Clever child, brimming with innate spirit, instinctively sensing kindness from malice; greatness awaits you."

Ning Qi studied the middle-aged Taoist before him, clad in gray robes, sporting a goatee, with warm eyes that inspired trust instantly.

Hearing Taoist Longshan’s prior calls, Ning Qi had deployed the Sound Wave Vibration Technique in his cry, escaping peril at last.

Tension eased from his mind.

Transmigrating into this ordeal as a helpless newborn, yet retaining his name as Ning Qi, elicited a faint smile before deep slumber overtook him.

Startled, Taoist Longshan.

Hastily probing Ning Qi’s pulse, relief came upon noting exhaustion from strain and hunger, but astonishment followed swiftly.

For the child harbored plentiful innate Qi.

"No surprise he endured the blaze; recalling that cry, it bore traces of a method?"

"Could legends of innate wisdom hold true?"

Admiration swelled as Taoist Longshan viewed Ning Qi.

Undeniably, a raw talent.

Robust aptitude, profound spirit, and keen intellect.

"Manor Master Ning, your heir with your wife shines with such brilliance; rest easy. Fear not, I’ll accept him as disciple, nurture him properly, and instruct him well. The culprits behind your demise—I’ll unearth them all!"

Facing the flame-wrapped Snow Plum Manor, Taoist Longshan vowed inwardly.

...

Dawn broke.

Taoist Longshan, cradling Ning Qi, positioned himself before a mound of garments.

This served as the grave for Ning Qi’s parents; last night’s blaze consumed so utterly that, save for Ning Qi, no one else survived the manor, not even bones remained.

Sustained by food procured by Taoist Longshan, Ning Qi stirred awake.

His gaze toward the garment mound held intricate emotions.

Newly transmigrated into orphanhood, the warmth from Jiang Xuemei yesterday lingered vividly; they perished to safeguard him, an indelible debt of kindness.

"Someday, vengeance will be mine."

Ning Qi pledged silently.

Memories of ’Lord Feng’ and the killers from the previous day stirred icy murderous resolve within.

This foe slew his true parents and almost condemned him to fiery death.

Retribution demanded!

With utmost enlightenment, stability for growth would propel swift advancement; revenge loomed not distant.

Presently.

Such secure nurturing was secured.

Witnessing Taoist Longshan’s sigh, myriad reflections surfaced, culminating in an affectionate grin as he regarded Ning Qi:

"Young one, you’ll now rank as Taoist Longshan’s ninth disciple!"

"Follow me to the mountain!"

With Ning Qi in tow, probing the murderers awaited later; securing the child first allowed gradual pursuit. The power that razed Snow Plum Manor in a night proved mighty, considering the Ning Ye pair’s strength.

The smile on Ning Qi’s face eased Taoist Longshan’s heart.

Cradling Ning Qi, he soared away elegantly.