Chapter :4
Three Feet Above, the Sacred Emperor Watches
Author: Wei Yi Yong Heng
Date: 2014-12-24
Above the Aperture Opening Realm lies the Crown Enlightenment Realm.
After stepping into this realm, one receives the baptism of heavenly enlightenment — the Heaven’s Anointment. For humans, it is the second great cultivation stage. A cultivator’s body holds one hundred and eight spiritual apertures; the more that are opened, the more divine enlightenment one can receive from Heaven. Thus, the more times one can undergo the Heaven’s Anointment, the stronger one becomes — with nine times being the theoretical limit.
However, in this current era, it is nearly impossible to open all one hundred and eight apertures. Even the most gifted human cultivators rarely open more than eighty-one. Hence, most can only withstand three anointments at most.
Only those with exceptionally powerful bloodlines and the rare talent to break this natural limit can reach the ultimate stage — ninefold enlightenment, perfection of the realm.
That was why the Great Elder of the Skyhawk Tribe was so shocked at Qin Lin’s cultivation. He was already at the Second Stage of Crown Enlightenment — just one step away from perfection, with a real chance to break through into the third realm.
The Skyhawk Tribe, though only a mid-tier one-star tribe, had once arranged a marriage alliance with Qin Lin’s family precisely because of his strength and talent.
But they hadn’t expected that Qin Lin’s potential would surpass even their highest estimations.
“Forgive my presumption!” The Great Elder of the Skyhawk Tribe stepped back, concealing his astonishment as his gaze fell upon Lin Yue — the proud daughter of their tribe’s future.
“See that it doesn’t happen again.” Qin Lin’s tone remained calm and cold, as though the person he had just repelled was no more than an insignificant underling.
That composure made the elder’s expression darken slightly. With such a state of mind… reaching the next realm won’t be difficult for him.
Lin Yue, however, cared nothing for any of this. Her beautiful face, proud as ever, was flushed with anger. In her heart, though Qin Lin was formidable now, he would one day still be beneath her feet.
After all — she possessed the Orange Bloodline, the sixth-ranked among the Nine-Star Bloodlines. Qin Lin, on the other hand, had tested only for Red Blood — the lowest, most common tier.
She had every right to be proud. Yet now, before this man of white blood — a so-called waste beyond even the nine grades — he actually dared to refuse her proposal to dissolve their engagement.
It was intolerable.
“What right do you have to refuse me?” Lin Yue strode forward, her pretty face twisting in fury.
“Right?” Qin Mo laughed — a reckless, bitter laugh. Since his reputation was already in shambles, he might as well smash the pot entirely.
“Our engagement was sworn under Heaven’s Oath. Three feet above our heads stands the Sacred Emperor himself. Tell me — do you think I have the right to refuse?”
“You—!” Lin Yue choked, her cheeks flushed crimson with indignation.
In this world, the Sacred Emperor is Heaven, the Sacred Emperor is Earth.
He is the honor of humanity; humanity’s honor is his life.
No one, not even Lin Yue, as proud as she was, dared to defy him. The marriage oath between the Skyhawk Tribe and the Qin Family had been sworn by her tribe’s own chief under Heaven’s Oath. Therefore, only Qin Lin’s side had the right to dissolve it.
Thus Lin Yue had to come with compensation, to formally end the betrothal — but she hadn’t expected to run into this infuriating Qin Mo, who was playing the rogue so brazenly:
I don’t agree — what can you do about it? Go challenge the Sacred Emperor if you dare!
Even if Lin Yue’s blood were violet — the highest of the Nine-Star Bloodlines — she still would not dare speak irreverently of the Sacred Emperor. The Sacred Emperor was humanity’s Heaven and Earth, its father and mother. Without the seven generations of Sacred Emperors who had each sacrificed their lives, the human race would never have carved out its own world on this vast Xuanhuang Continent.
Who would dare show them disrespect?
All Lin Yue could do was bow her proud head under Heaven’s Oath, glaring venomously at Qin Mo.
But Qin Mo, in that moment, felt a rare thrill of satisfaction. Since arriving in this world two months ago, he hadn’t felt this pleased with himself even once. Shameless as it was, it felt damned good to finally give this arrogant girl a taste of her own medicine.
What he didn’t know was that, in the eyes of the Hammerstone Tribe’s people watching nearby, his defiant stance seemed noble and heroic — dignified and resolute.
This, they thought, is how our young chief should be!
Before Qin Mo could enjoy the moment, Lin Yue suddenly smiled. Ignoring his smug expression, she turned toward Qin Lin and said respectfully:
“Patriarch Qin, is this the Hammerstone Tribe’s final decision?”
“His decision represents the tribe,” Qin Lin replied simply.
“Very well.” Lin Yue’s eyes flashed coldly as she declared, “Then I now formally challenge him. Once the duel is concluded, the engagement shall be automatically dissolved!”
“That depends on whether he accepts,” Qin Lin said, his gaze meaningful as it settled on Qin Mo.
Qin Mo was stunned. What kind of insane rule is that!?
Before he could protest, Qin Yu beside him chuckled and explained:
“In the wording of Heaven’s Oath regarding marriage pacts, there is indeed such a clause. If one party refuses to honor the engagement, they may challenge the other. If the opponent dies, the engagement dissolves automatically. But — if the opponent refuses the challenge, it doesn’t count.”
“Good… good…” Qin Mo let out a long breath of relief.
Given his current strength — and how badly he’d just provoked this woman — if the rule forced him to accept, he’d be dead in three months!
He would rather be assassinated in the dark, or throw himself off a cliff, than be beaten to death by this furious little demoness.
Just as he was about to shamelessly say, “Sorry, I refuse,” and anger her further —
The man seated on the main throne suddenly spoke:
“I’ll accept on his behalf.”
“You… you… you…” Qin Mo could only stammer three “you”s, unable to form another word — that was how suffocated he felt.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Qin Lin’s eyes locked onto him.
Qin Mo looked around. Everyone’s eyes gleamed like hungry wolves.
Even if he did have an opinion, it clearly didn’t matter.
“No!” he ground out through clenched teeth, rage boiling inside.
I was so righteously indignant, and you still had to sell me out like this?
Qin Lin ignored his inner turmoil and turned to Lin Yue.
“Any objections?”
“None,” she said coldly, her lips curling in satisfaction.
Then she shot Qin Mo a glare that said plainly — You’re dead.
Everyone was still in shock. No one had expected Patriarch Qin to agree on his son’s behalf to what was clearly a death match.
The Great Elder of the Skyhawk Tribe nodded in satisfaction.
Both sides seemed pleased — except for Qin Mo, who stood there dazed and hollow-eyed.
“To show fairness,” Qin Lin suddenly said, “shouldn’t you make some kind of offering?”
Lin Yue paused, then understood. Though unwilling, she gritted her teeth and declared,
“This Blood Condensation Pill, and these spirit stones — they’re his. He may use them to cultivate. I’ll challenge him one year from now.”
The Skyhawk elders’ eyes flickered with surprise, but they said nothing. It was, after all, the compensation they’d intended to offer anyway. They simply hadn’t expected events to unfold this way.
Still, an uneasy chill crept over them.
A patriarch who could trade away his own son’s life so coldly, just to protect the tribe’s honor — wasn’t that a bit too ruthless?
“Well said!” Qin Lin waved his hand, drawing the box toward himself.
The Hammerstone tribesmen looked at Qin Mo — their expressions filled with pity and sympathy.
But that pity quickly faded as they watched the pile of spirit stones being collected.
At least the young chief will die a meaningful death, they thought.
