Chapter 7: The Empire’s Pursuit

After three months of grueling physical training, Mels and the others finally began their real martial arts training! Because each of them had different talents, the young trainees no longer gathered as a single group but instead followed different masters to learn martial arts!

Mels followed the White-haired Wind God to master the preliminary skill of "external Qi release"; Rek, because of his unique skill with blades, was ordered to follow the Frost Death God to learn dual blades; Sol followed the Cold Ice Deity and the Angry Thunder Fairy to learn magic; Akafir, because of his natural, exceptional talent for the sword, became a disciple of the Cloud-reaching Sword God! The only female, Bagina, followed the Swift Lightning Fairy to learn whip techniques. Among the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, except for Feixue Kuanglong, who often traveled outside and taught no one, the remaining six were kept extremely busy.

Time flew by, and a year passed silently in the valley without seasonal changes.

During this year, Mels and the other youths not only made great progress in martial arts but also underwent significant changes in appearance! Rek grew even more muscular, Mels appeared increasingly handsome, and Sol remained exceptionally handsome as before. The most surprising was Akafir—originally thin and sallow, he now had a much more solid physique and a handsome appearance! Combined with his fair, rosy skin, akin to a young girl's, it was no wonder even Sol envied his extraordinary handsomeness!

Because they progressed so quickly, the White-haired Wind God tested their individual martial arts development and then granted them a special privilege: one day of rest each week. This way, these youths, who could only chat during breaks, could finally gather during the day, crossing mountains and valleys to have fun!

Lannis and Bagina still alternated appearances as before, but now both personalities would appear during the day, and the timing was not fixed! If not for the difference in their hair colors, Sol and the others might have been even more confused!

Regarding this phenomenon, the White-haired Wind God and the others were relatively optimistic! At least now they no longer had to worry about Lannis staying up all night and her health!

Perhaps because of experiencing a major battle in Feiji Nando, the gentle Lannis realized she couldn't help Mels and the others on the battlefield. Therefore, after she took the initiative to ask to learn offensive magic, the Cold Ice Deity specially found books on fire magic for her to study.

It was also because of this that everyone discovered Lannis possessed astonishing magical energy! For the Cold Ice Deity, who originally planned to just go through the motions, he never expected that within a year, Lannis would master most of the fire magic recorded in the books and be able to use it proficiently!

Generally speaking, the Qi energy possessed by warriors and the magical energy possessed by mages are two conflicting substances! Therefore, except for a few senior warriors who have trained for many years and can become Magic Knights, others who rashly practice both skills will suffer severe consequences!

However, this rule simply did not apply to Lannis! From the beginning, Lannis possessed the light auxiliary magic of a priest, while Bagina was not only proficient in dark magic but could also simultaneously use whip techniques driven by Qi energy! Now, with the addition of Lannis's fire magic, the magical energy within her body was already very powerful, yet Bagina's Qi energy was also increasing daily! Regarding this phenomenon, even the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, who had practiced martial arts for many years, could only shake their heads in amazement, unsure how to respond.

While Lannis possessed such a unique constitution, Sol could not match her.

Originally, the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes also wanted to try teaching Sol some simple Qi-based martial arts, but no matter how hard Sol worked, the Qi energy gathered in his body would always be disrupted by his magical energy! After a year of study, he only mastered some simple lightness techniques, with no progress in other skills.

However, the Cold Ice Deity and the Angry Thunder Fairy were not at all disappointed in Sol! When Sol successively used the high-level attack spells "Sky-Filling Frost" and "Thunder God's Roar" before them, both felt excited to have a worthy successor!

Of them all, Mels had improved the most in a year! Although he possessed the Supreme Innate Qi, and his wisdom and understanding of martial arts were already accounted for by the White-haired Wind God, the White-haired Wind God still did not expect that Mels could master the most difficult "Qi External Release Technique" of the True Nameless Divine Style within a year!

Relying on this super-strong Qi martial art, Mels could already coat his sword with a layer of sword energy and use it to break through the Qi barriers set up by the White-haired Wind God!

Seeing Mels master the Qi External Release Technique so quickly, the White-haired Wind God optimistically believed that within another year, Mels would surely grasp the essence of the True Nameless Divine Style!

Among the youths, the most astonishing was Akafir. Although his understanding of Qi energy remained superficial, his superb swordsmanship was truly breathtaking!

Without using Qi energy, even Mels and Rek combined could hardly last fifty moves against Akafir! Moreover, Akafir's swordsmanship not only perfectly fused his unique fierceness with the Cloud-reaching Sword God's sophistication but also exhibited a kind of innate sword energy!

This sword energy was different from the sword energy Mels released through Qi energy; it seemed to exist naturally within Akafir's body. Whenever in critical moments, it would break free from his body's constraints and swiftly attack the enemy with lightning speed! Because of this, whenever Mels sparred with Akafir, he would inexplicably lose, even when he felt he was about to defeat his opponent, only to be struck by a sudden powerful force and forced to withdraw from the battle!

Regarding Akafir's peculiar ability, the White-haired Wind God and the others could only explain it as an innate talent he possessed, unable to provide a more detailed rationale. However, the Cloud-reaching Sword God was very pleased to have a disciple like Akafir!

Among the youths, Rek trained the most diligently! However, due to limitations in innate talent, Rek's progress was not as obvious as that of Mels and the others. Yet he was fortunate to have the most cautious and strict master among the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes—the Frost Death God!

During daily training, if Mels and the others encountered problems, their masters might stop training and extend the learning period to allow them to digest the material slowly.

The Frost Death God was different. If Rek could not master the blade techniques he required, even if it meant going without food or sleep all day, he would stay by Rek's side, practicing over and over again until Rek could fully meet his demands!

Throughout the year, Mels and Sol lost count of how many times they saw Rek and the Frost Death God in the night, continuously swinging their dual blades! Although Rek's training was indeed arduous, the achievements he gained were remarkable!

During the White-haired Wind God's assessment, Rek perfectly utilized Qi energy and dual blade techniques, fighting Akafir to a draw, and only lost to Mels due to the vast difference in Qi energy! It was only then that a trace of a satisfied smile appeared on the Frost Death God's face!

However, Akafir was severely scolded by the Cloud-reaching Sword God for such a result!

Although the day-to-day training life was extremely arduous, the youths gradually became immersed in it, even organizing sparring matches among themselves on some rest days to gauge their progress!

Seeing how hard these youths worked, what more could the White-haired Wind God and the others say? Besides gratification, all that remained was full anticipation! They looked forward to the day when these youths would become famous across the continent and truly carry forward the exceptional skills of the True Nameless Divine Style!

Time passed swiftly, and under the careful guidance of the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, another year hurried by. By now, Mels and the others were no longer the ignorant youths of the past but had become handsome, upright, and extraordinary twenty-year-old young men!

One night, after concluding the final day of training, the White-haired Wind God and the other six elders summoned Mels and the others to their bedroom.

The White-haired Wind God scanned Mels and the others for a long moment before speaking: "What have you learned during these years with us?"

"Learned what?" Not understanding why the White-haired Wind God suddenly asked such a question, Mels and the others were momentarily unsure how to answer to satisfy their masters.

"Rek, you are cautious by nature, so you speak first!" the Frost Death God suddenly said.

"Hmm... I not only learned the martial arts my master taught me but also understood that no matter what you do, if you put in twice the effort of others, you will gain greater rewards!" Rek said after a brief contemplation.

Hearing his answer, the Frost Death God only nodded slightly without any further response. Then the White-haired Wind God turned to Mels, instructing him to reply.

"The martial arts my master taught me are deeply engraved in my heart! As for other things, I think the most important is learning the importance of teamwork! The masters not only had us live together but also frequently required us to engage in team battles. I believe you wanted us to understand that in times of danger in the future, we must closely cooperate with our companions!" Mels said.

"Very good, that is indeed important!" the White-haired Wind God said to Mels with satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Sol!

"Me?" Sol pointed at his own nose, puzzled. After receiving a clear affirmation, he could only say with a bitter face: "Actually, I think everything I wanted to say has already been said by Big Guy and the boss. I guess the only other thing is that the masters wanted me to understand not to think about chasing girls all day but to practice magic more! Because the masters didn't even give me a single day to go out! Over two years, it's been so tough!" As soon as Sol finished speaking, everyone, including the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes, burst into laughter!

"You rascal, looking at your slick-talking appearance, I really want to keep you here for another three years!" the Cold Ice Deity laughed.

After the laughter subsided, the White-haired Wind God turned his gaze to the girl and said: "Bagina, what about you?"

"Hmph, I don't know anything about teamwork or hard work! I only know I've learned many advanced martial arts these years! When I encounter blind fools in the future, I can teach them a good lesson!" Bagina rolled her eyes and said arrogantly.

"Correct! Progress in martial arts is indeed our focus. But you must also remember to show mercy when appropriate! Bagina, especially you, don't act impulsively; understand that there is always someone better!" the White-haired Wind God said seriously.

Although Bagina was always exceptionally arrogant, she dared not be overly insolent in front of the White-haired Wind God. Though she did not nod in agreement, she also did not dare to speak arrogantly!

"Alright, since you all understand what you've learned over these years, then I will..." Before the White-haired Wind God could finish, Akafir suddenly shouted beside him: "And me, I haven't spoken yet!"

"Hehe, then you speak!" the White-haired Wind God didn't mind Akafir interrupting him and agreed with a smile.

"Hehe, I've learned many ways to cook good dishes these years! In the future, I can cook for myself and won't starve by the roadside! But this wasn't taught by the masters; Brother Mels taught me!" Akafir said proudly.

As soon as his words fell, everyone burst into laughter again. Originally unable to speak clearly, the greatest skill Akafir learned in these two years was probably speaking! At least now he wouldn't say things others couldn't understand!

After the antics of Sol and Akafir, the originally serious atmosphere seemed to have completely dissipated. However, the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes didn't mind much.

After everyone laughed for a while, the White-haired Wind God slightly waved his hand and said: "Actually, I gathered you here today for two things to tell you!

First, over these three years, your performance has deeply gratified us old folks. From now on, we have nothing more to teach you! Training in the deep mountains ends today, but your cultivation is not yet complete! I will order you to go out into the vast world to temper your bodies and minds! However, before you leave, I must remind you: since you are disciples of our True Nameless Divine Style, you must abide by our principles! If you go out and commit evil deeds, killing innocents recklessly, we old men will definitely not stand idly by. At that time, we will not only reclaim your martial arts but also cleanse our ranks. Do you understand?"

"Yes, we heed our masters' command!" Mels and the others said in unison.

"Hmm, very good! The second piece of news should have been told to you two years ago, but..." The White-haired Wind God's expression turned somber. After a slight pause, he raised his gaze to look at Mels and said: "I don't want to explain much. Mels, the Blue Whirlwind was destroyed by a group of mysterious enemies two years ago. The three fortress leaders are missing, and I fear the worst has happened."

"What!" This news was like a bolt from the blue, causing Mels's legs to weaken, nearly making him collapse to the ground.

"Great Elder, what did you say? Say it again!" Sol's eyes were bloodshot, as if the White-haired Wind God had destroyed the Blue Whirlwind himself.

"I know you are deeply distressed now, but I must tell you, this is indeed the truth! Back then, when we left the capital of Feiji Nando, you asked the Magic Family to deliver a letter home to the Blue Whirlwind's headquarters. They, of course, quickly sent personnel to the central Chaotic Country! Because the Blue Whirlwind was quite famous locally, they soon found Skull Ridge, but what they saw was utter devastation...

Later, through their inquiries, they learned that the Blue Whirlwind had been attacked by a group of enemies in a night raid two years ago in January. It is said that in that assault, no one escaped the enemy's slaughter; not a single soul survived among the five thousand people in the mountain fortress! The enemy's methods were so cruel it was appalling, but precisely because of this, we still don't know who these people were.

When I received this news initially, I should have told you immediately. But fearing it would hinder your martial arts training, I decided to conceal it temporarily and reveal the truth after you completed your training.

Over these past two years, I have repeatedly sent the Seventh Brother to the Chaotic Country, hoping to find traces left by the enemies. Unfortunately, these bandits were not only brutal in their killing methods but also very experienced, leaving almost no information to investigate!" the White-haired Wind God slowly explained.

"Over these two years, I have borne the responsibility of tracking down the culprits, hoping to eliminate them to console the spirits of the many righteous warriors of the Blue Whirlwind in heaven. Unfortunately, these murderers were exceptionally cunning. They not only came from various places but also, after attacking the Blue Whirlwind, killed all the dozens of farming households in 'Luoma Village,' where they last gathered, to avoid exposing their whereabouts!

I’ve been investigating for two years and have finally located a farmer who once lived in Falling Horse Village—the sole survivor—and extracted some crucial information!

This farmer had left Falling Horse Village the day before the murderers attacked the Blue Whirlwind, making him the only eyewitness to their true identities!

According to his account, the assailants numbered approximately one thousand, were extremely well-organized—resembling an elite military unit! Upon arriving in Falling Horse Village, they caused no disturbances whatsoever; on the contrary, they even assisted the villagers with kindness and courtesy! Thus, the kind-hearted and simple farmers never suspected them to be enemies!

The most critical clue is that, per the farmer’s testimony, most of these individuals spoke with northern accents—strongly suggesting they originated from the Relkes Empire!

However, I cannot verify how much of the farmer’s story is accurate. Nor can I confirm whether the group that arrived in Falling Horse Village that day was indeed responsible for the Blue Whirlwind massacre! Yet one thing is certain: these individuals are undeniably linked to the Blue Whirlwind’s downfall, as no other sizable, suspicious group appeared in the region within such a short timeframe!” Feixue Kuanglong added, picking up where the White-haired Wind God left off.

Upon hearing these words, Mels fell silent. After a long pause, he slowly raised his head, sorrow etched deeply across his face, and said to the White-haired Wind God, “Enough, Master—you’ve done more than enough for us! Leave the rest to us! I will personally unmask those murderers and avenge my foster father and the others!”

Seeing Mels clench his teeth in anguish, what more could the White-haired Wind God and the others possibly say? They knew hatred had already consumed Mels’ heart. Unless he personally slew those who attacked the Blue Whirlwind, this blood feud could never be resolved.

Observing Mels’ reaction, the White-haired Wind God felt immense relief—at least Mels hadn’t erupted into hysterical accusations over their concealment of this matter! For the White-haired Wind God, earning Mels’ understanding was their greatest wish.

The meeting’s previously harmonious atmosphere grew oppressively solemn after this interlude. Even the White-haired Wind God himself didn’t know how to console Mels. He could only silently watch his disciple—his loyal follower for over two years—praying Mels would not be possessed by the demon of hatred!

The next day, heavy with grief, Mels and the others bid farewell to the Seven Immortals of Myriad Changes and set out for home.

Unexpectedly, the White-haired Wind God not only permitted Rek, Sol, and Akafir to accompany Mels but also allowed Bagina to join them.

Under normal circumstances, Mels would have been ecstatic at the chance to travel alone with Bagina—but today, he remained silent, head bowed low, quickening his pace.

Witnessing Mels’ state, Rek and the others longed to comfort him yet didn’t know where to begin. Even Bagina seemed to sense his sorrow, abandoning her usual haughty arrogance and quietly following behind him as he pressed forward. Moving at breakneck speed, they crossed the mountainous terrain—which normally took two or three days—in just one day and night. Passing through a small town, they purchased horses and the five of them swiftly headed toward the Chaotic Country, returning to the charred ruins that had once been their warm, beloved hometown.

Fifteen days later, Mels and the others arrived at Falling Horse Village, nestled at the foot of Skull Ridge!

Ever since Mels was old enough to understand, he’d often sneak away from Skull Ridge to find joy in this tranquil little village! And this peaceful hamlet, protected by the Blue Whirlwind, had remained untouched by bandit raids!

Yet today, what greeted Mels was neither a thriving village nor verdant farmland—only a few withered trees and desolate weeds stood scattered about!

Gradually slowing their mounts, Mels and the others silently absorbed the scene before them. They could scarcely believe this was the same village that had accompanied them through childhood! Suddenly, Mels raised his whip and lashed it fiercely against his horse. The pained steed bolted forward like a mad thing, carrying Mels like lightning toward Skull Ridge!

“Boss, wait for us!” Sol shouted upon seeing Mels race ahead—but Mels paid no heed, focused solely on charging forward alone.

Skull Ridge—once famed throughout the Chaotic Country and the place where Mels had grown up—had long lost its former majestic aura, its banners gone, its grandeur vanished. The path leading to the mountaintop had crumbled into decay, and the cavalry road built for the stronghold now lay buried beneath dust and rubble!

After repeatedly whipping his warhorse—yet still failing to scale the summit—Mels angrily flung aside his whip, leapt from the saddle, and unleashed his agility, sprinting all the way to the peak!

“They must be up there! My foster father and the others were masters of martial arts. It must have been Second Uncle—who, seeing the enemy’s overwhelming force—led everyone to escape elsewhere! Two years have passed—they must have returned; they must be safe and sound!” Clinging desperately to this final hope, Mels drove his body upward in a frantic sprint!

At last, the mountaintop came into view—but Mels froze, dumbfounded, unable to utter a single word!

“Is this the Blue Whirlwind’s stronghold? Can this even still be called a stronghold? This is hell—it must be hell!” Mels stared blankly at everything before him, questioning himself again and again!

Not a single intact wall remained atop the mountain; even most of the trees had been uprooted. Charred earthen walls, land corroded and riddled with holes, skeletons strewn everywhere! Where was this? If not hell, then what?

Collapsing to his knees, Mels stared vacantly at the devastation before him.

Fierce battles had taken place here. Scenes of blood and fire, life-and-death struggles, replayed vividly before Mels’ eyes! Screams, clashing weapons, triumphant roars—like ghostly howls and wolf cries—drifted endlessly on the mountain wind, echoing relentlessly in Mels’ ears!

“Ah… no!” Mels covered his ears—but the sounds still pierced through! He shut his eyes—but the life-and-death struggle refused to fade! It was as if a cruel command forced him to relive it firsthand—to feel the agony of losing his loved ones!

Sol and the others, who had followed Mels to the mountaintop, now arrived. Witnessing the horror laid bare before them, their hearts were struck with shock and pain equal to Mels’! Yet upon seeing Mels’ indescribable sorrow, they set aside their own grief and reached out warm hands, desperate to pull Mels from the abyss of suffering!

“Boss, don’t be so upset. The chieftains would be heartbroken to see you like this,” Sol gently consoled him.

But his gentleness earned no approval from Mels. Mels angrily shook off Sol’s hand and retorted, “Not upset? Only *you* wouldn’t be upset! Do you know I have no family left? Do you know how vital my foster father was to me? You speak so lightly—of course you wouldn’t be upset! But me—how could I *not* be upset!” As he spoke, tears silently streamed down his cheeks.

Seeing Mels’ hysteria, Sol’s heart felt as though stabbed by a knife—he could utter no further word. In truth, how could he and Rek *not* grieve? Their own relatives and brothers lay exposed to wind and rain right before their eyes—for two full years!

*Slap!* Just as Rek and Sol bled inwardly yet struggled to explain themselves to Mels, Bagina suddenly stepped forward and delivered Mels a hard, stinging slap!

Rek and Sol were utterly shocked. Even the dazed, near-mad Mels stood frozen, speechless, unsure how to face Bagina!

“Mels, I originally thought you were at least a man who cared for his brothers and bore responsibility! But now I realize I was completely wrong about you! You care only for yourself—you don’t care about anyone around you at all. Why did everyone fight so desperately to rush back here with you? Was it for the words you just uttered?

When you think you’ve lost your family—have you ever considered Sol and Rek? Don’t *they* have parents? Are *their* parents safe and sound? Let me tell you—on this journey, I’ve lost count of how many nights I’ve seen them weeping in each other’s arms! But do you know why they pretended nothing was wrong in front of you? Why? To spare you added pain—to shield you from further burdens!

But now? What have you done? Are you worthy of your brothers? I slapped you because I still hold you in high regard. If you still don’t know what you must do—I’ll kill you right now! If you’re still a man—wipe away those tears, properly bury the dead here, and then come with us to the Relkes Empire to hunt down those murderers one by one and make them pay the price they deserve!” Bagina roared.

Hearing Bagina’s words, Mels remained speechless for a long time.

Staring blankly at Bagina for a moment, Mels suddenly strode toward Sol, his knees buckling as he dropped to the ground before him and said, “Sol… Rek… I…”

Before Mels could finish, Rek and Sol simultaneously knelt down and tightly embraced Mels, saying, “Boss—there’s no need to say anything. We understand. We’ll always be the best brothers—always!”

In the biting mountain wind, a massive earthen grave was erected atop Skull Ridge’s summit. Years of wind and rain had rendered the bones indistinguishable by gender or age. The few young men could only bury them together—letting them rest forever at Skull Ridge’s highest point!

“Let’s go—we’ll head to the Relkes Empire together! No matter what, we *will* exterminate those murderers!” Mels declared solemnly before the grave. Before his words faded, Sol’s and Rek’s hands were already resting firmly on his shoulders!

“Foster father—I truly have lost you all. But I still have the best brothers. Even if it costs me my life, I *will* avenge you! Wait for me—wait for me to bring the enemies’ heads here!” Silent words revealed the youth’s unshakable resolve. Across the turbulent continent, a legendary journey would now begin!