Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Astonishing Discovery on the Wings!
They plotted and schemed with all their might, desiring only to be a good dog for the Wolf Clan. At this moment, the nobles, gazing up at the blood-colored barrier overhead, felt their resolve to betray humanity swell within their hearts, ballooning wildly like air blown into a fragile sphere.
Within the imperial city, in places unseen but easily imagined, dark currents surged, and the threat of turbulence grew ever more sinister…
Outside the imperial city, beneath the crimson light, Zhu Yuheng lifted her gaze, staring intently at the blood-colored curtain. Within it, the Wolf Lord laughed with utter arrogance and unrestrained dominance, as if victory was already his. His confidence brimmed over, because whether in sheer strength or cunning, he considered himself far superior to the old human emperor.
“I am destined to be the Emperor of Fate in this world!” the Wolf Lord exclaimed, his laughter rampant. “In a year, I shall ascend to the peak and rule all under heaven!”
With that, he swept away the blood-colored barrier.
“He’s even more brazen than I am!” Zhu Yuheng frowned, scoffing in disdain. Then her gaze shifted to Lin Qiye.
“What will you do? Ruling the nobles through slaughter only forces them to submit outwardly. Now, they have found a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; they will surely manipulate the common folk and use public sentiment to flee, becoming dogs for the Wolf Clan.
If you try to stop them, you show weakness. If you do not, masses of nobles and cultivators will escape.
When that happens… the combat strength of the Great Qin Empire will visibly shrink. Will it not shake the very foundations of the nation? The Empire already has far fewer cultivators than the Wolf Clan. You slaughtered a batch, and now another is about to run away. The gap between humanity and the Wolf Clan is like heaven and earth.”
Zhu Yuheng analyzed earnestly, deeply concerned for Lin Qiye’s position.
Yet Lin Qiye only smiled, unconcerned.
“The Wolf Lord has indeed made a clever move. For an ordinary emperor, cultivators and noble cultivators are indispensable. He must use them, unite them, to maintain his rule.
But to me, hundreds of thousands of nobles are nothing but rubbish! If they wish to become dogs for the Wolf Clan, I’ll open a path for them to flee.”
Lin Qiye’s strange calmness baffled Zhu Yuheng.
“Are you truly confident you can deal with that foolish wolf? He has now opened eight celestial gates. After a year of secluded cultivation, with his realm stabilized, none will be able to stop him.
I have opened two death gates, but after the fate dragon was slain, opening the rest is extremely difficult… In total, my strength is only equivalent to seven celestial gates. Against an eight-gate expert, I’d be killed in a hundred rounds.
As for you, though you are immune to the Divine Arrow of Misfortune, surely you cannot leap from five gates to eight in just a year?”
She weighed the advantages and disadvantages carefully. All told, she and Lin Qiye were at a dire disadvantage, unable to turn the tide.
Zhu Yuheng sighed softly.
“If only I had ten hearts, I could open ten death gates and instantly kill that foolish wolf.”
She gritted her teeth, muttering in frustration, her imbalance between victory and defeat lending a touch of innocence.
Lin Qiye couldn’t help but chuckle, about to tease her, when suddenly he froze, as if he’d caught a crucial detail.
“Ten hearts… hmm?! When Zhu Yuheng gained an extra heart, she opened another celestial gate…”
“The heart is an organ, and aren’t wings organs as well? My wings… could they open two celestial gates?!”
He pondered for ten seconds. The light in his eyes gathered and shone brilliantly.
The relentless researcher of his first life finally ‘logged in’ and began ‘operation.’
“It feels entirely feasible! Given the nature of wings, opening two celestial gates isn’t a dream. And since my wings are condensed from the Nine-Colored Divine Thunder, the speed will far outpace opening the birth gate!”
At this thought, Lin Qiye was inwardly ecstatic, his features overflowing with joy.
“I must say, Qin Xingtong is truly a super genius! The ‘life-bound artifact’ Angel Wings not only grows with the cultivator, but even allows for the opening of two extra celestial gates!”
He pictured Qin Xingtong in his mind. That fellow was indeed the ultimate research prodigy! Although born in the microcosm of the Silver Space, she could work from the genetic level to bestow humanity with a ‘life-bound artifact.’
In Lin Qiye’s view, Qin Xingtong’s research surpassed even the Wolf Lord’s Divine Arrow of Misfortune. She was multiple times more monstrous than the Wolf Lord!
Yet… Could Qin Xingtong live as long as Ji Qinghuan, three million years or more, until their next meeting? Lin Qiye did not know. He could only wish her well.
“But… how can I open the two celestial gates in my wings?”
Lin Qiye silently activated the Genesis Simulation.
[This simulation requires 10,000 Movement Points; after use, 290,000 remain.]
[Simulation successful: Carefully study Zhu Yuheng’s heart. As a natural dual-heart individual, her unique fate can provide an unprecedented path forward.]
Reading the simulation, Lin Qiye paused and turned to Zhu Yuheng.
Study Zhu Yuheng’s heart? To study thoroughly, she’d have to remove her clothing, at least the upper half… But given her temperament, how could she tolerate such a thing?
Lin Qiye took a deep breath, knowing he was in for a beating, but for the sake of research, he was willing to risk it all.
“Um… Miss Zhu, when you opened the two injury gates at your heart, did you use any special method or have any particular experience?”
She shook her head. “Nothing special. When I wanted to open the injury gate at my heart, the other heart resonated as well. Naturally, smoothly, I opened two celestial gates—it was very simple.”
“Natural resonance? My wings don’t seem to have that…”
Lin Qiye fell into thought.
After a while, he looked up, meticulous, at Zhu Yuheng.
“I have an idea. You have an extra heart and can open another injury gate; I have a pair of wings—could I open two celestial gates at the wings?
After all, the wings are part of my body, no different from the heart. If I can open two celestial gates in my wings, I’ll have the power to kill the Wolf Lord! Even if he opens eight celestial gates, he won’t be my match!”
As he spoke, the thunderous wings unfolded behind Lin Qiye. Milky-white lightning flowed across them, casting a sacred and strange glow.
Zhu Yuheng, seeing Lin Qiye’s wings up close for the first time, felt a solemn awe at the holy white light. She reached out with her slender hand, gently touching the wings. Threads of thunder crackled between her fingers, sending a strange sensation racing through her body and making her heart beat faster. She quickly withdrew, stepping back.
“Such curious wings—where did they come from? They retract at will and shine with lightning—are they martial arts or an artifact? But I think… only important body parts or organs can open celestial gates; your wings… probably won’t work.”
She shook her head.
“No, they’re not an artifact or martial skill—they’re part of my body, an organ, truly! They must be able to open celestial gates, but I don’t know how yet…
I’d like to borrow your experience…”
Lin Qiye laid his intentions bare.
Zhu Yuheng hadn’t realized what was about to happen, but nodded calmly.
“How do you want to borrow it? Now that the fate dragon is slain, my breakthrough is a hundred times harder. Only you are unaffected.
You’re the only one who might defeat that foolish wolf, so… whatever help you need, I’ll give it!”
She nodded boldly, her gaze sincere and forthright. Lin Qiye was no longer just a stranger to her; he’d saved her life by reconstructing her heart, shared an embarrassing ‘intimate contact,’ and held a special place in those ‘classic moments’ burned into her memory. Though she still wouldn’t admit her feelings for him, at this moment, she was willing to help wholeheartedly.
Seeing Zhu Yuheng’s earnest expression, Lin Qiye felt a twinge of guilt.
“If… to get results, we need a laboratory. You’d lie on the bed and remove your clothing. Then…”
He hadn’t finished before Zhu Yuheng exploded, covering her shoulders and adopting a defensive stance.
“Xia Ji! Are you courting death?!”
She called Lin Qiye by his ‘name,’ her tone suddenly severe.
“Though I’ve always lived in isolation on the snowy plateau, I know that men and women should not touch, and no one should see another’s body—even women, let alone men!
When I was wounded, you treated me—that counts as legitimate, so I let it go. But you actually want me to strip for you to see… you bastard!
Do you believe I’ll crush your face?!”
Her tone was icy, tendrils of chill wafting from her body. Her eyes were wary, and her beautiful face bore deep disdain.
Lin Qiye had expected this.
“Don’t be angry… I’m just asking your opinion. If you’re unwilling, I’ll find another way.”
He immediately dropped the topic. This was not his first or second life, where, with proper explanation, people would accept research procedures. In this life, people had no concept of research; no matter how much he explained, Zhu Yuheng would only grow more wary and repulsed.
So Lin Qiye quickly moved on.
“I’m sorry, I was only asking. No special demands. Let’s return to the palace.
There’s a year left—I’ll find a way to open the two celestial gates at my wings. If I succeed, it’ll be equivalent to a seven-gate realm!
With that strength, I’ll be able to deal with the Wolf Lord, even if he opens eight gates—unless he breaks through to true Nascent Soul.”
With that, Lin Qiye’s wings swept behind him, and he sped toward the imperial city, leaving Zhu Yuheng standing silently among the clouds.
“From his demeanor and gaze, it seems he truly only wants to study a breakthrough. But to have me strip and lie before him—how did he come up with that?”
Zhu Yuheng snorted coldly, unable to accept it.
Outside the palace, Lin Qiye parted from Zhu Yuheng, feeling guilty, and hurried back.
Inside, the old emperor stood atop the flying eaves, quietly awaiting Lin Qiye’s return.
“Little Seventeen… hmm? You’ve opened the fifth celestial gate?! How is that possible? After the fate dragon was slain, weren’t all bottlenecks in humanity strengthened a hundredfold?”
“How could you break through?!”
The old emperor raised his brow, astonished.
“I have a special opportunity—not only am I unaffected by the Divine Arrow of Misfortune, but I used it to open the death gate at my heart, and gained another unique chance.”
Lin Qiye smiled in explanation. The emperor was first amazed, then overjoyed. After the three evil blood dragons slew the fate dragon, he’d been deeply worried. Now, seeing Little Seventeen break through in adversity, hope was rekindled.
“You truly are the destined emperor to save humanity! To withstand the Wolf Lord’s divine arrow—your fate is unbreakable!”
He grinned broadly, slapping Lin Qiye’s shoulder.
“Good lad! With such indomitable fate, how can the human race not rise again?”
But Lin Qiye shook his head.
“The Wolf Lord has opened eight celestial gates. After a year of secluded cultivation, his realm will be solid, and he’ll lead his army south to wipe out humanity. For the battle a year from now, I must seclude myself and seek new breakthroughs.”
His gaze was calm, not at all complacent from opening the fifth gate or gaining ten threads of Violet Qi. Facing the equally talented Wolf Lord, he had to open the two celestial gates within his wings to suppress him.
Otherwise, he would surely die at the Wolf Lord’s hand, and all his efforts in this world would turn to dust—a loss Lin Qiye could not accept.
Thus, Lin Qiye’s fighting spirit surged. He went straight to the underground cultivation chamber.
Inside, his thunderous wings spread wide. He recalled the details of opening the first five gates, guiding his consciousness with spiritual energy through the meridians in his wings, seeking a way to open the gates.
“What’s going on? When opening the other five gates, it happened naturally and swiftly. Only the two gates in my wings elude me.”
He frowned, at a loss.
“The gates in the wings are different from those elsewhere in the body—but how?”
He puzzled over it for days, finally forced to emerge.
“No clue. Must I really study Zhu Yuheng?”
He ordered the palace maids to prepare medicinal baths to ease his exhaustion, stripped, and soaked in the water, eyes closed…
Threads of medicinal power seeped into his body, soothing his fatigue.
Suddenly, Zhu Yuheng appeared outside, sitting at the desk, her left leg crossed over her right, long and gleaming as jade, dangling and swinging gently.
“Hey, do you have any clues?”
Lin Qiye detected her presence early.
“I’m bathing—you barging in isn’t proper.”
“I’m not staring at you! Besides, you’ve laid hands on me; why can’t I look at you?”
She sat on the desk, exuding an arrogant, dominant aura.
Lin Qiye: “…Fine.”
“I’m asking if you’ve found a way to open the two gates in your wings.”
“Not yet.”
He sighed. Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of wind rustling the beaded curtains.
“So… do you really need to study my heart?”
“I’ll figure it out myself…”
Zhu Yuheng cut him off, her voice crisp and resolute: “I’m asking you, would studying my heart speed up your progress?!”
She spoke firmly, though her voice trembled slightly, clearly relying on her tough tone to maintain composure.
Lin Qiye saw through it, but said nothing. He knew Zhu Yuheng’s proud, stubborn nature.
“Yes. If I could study it, my breakthrough would be much faster.”
“Then I can help you.”
She exhaled deeply, voicing her decision after nights of hesitation. As she spoke, her cheeks felt as if a volcano was about to erupt.
How did it come to this? She’d always avoided contact with other humans, yet fate had brought her to this man. At first, it was to repay a favor, but then she saw him annihilate the six major sects for the common people, rivers running red with blood. Later, in her dying moments, she pleaded with him, her most humiliating side exposed.
Then he rebuilt her heart. The moment she opened her eyes, the ‘classic scene’ was etched deep in her mind, impossible to erase.
Everything spiraled out of her control, becoming surreal. Now, she was even willing to give more for his research.
Originally, she found the idea shameful and hard to speak of. But after finally expressing her decision, a subtle satisfaction blossomed within her.
Why did she become so strange? Zhu Yuheng didn’t understand herself. Her two hearts pounded, drums beating in her chest.
In the bath, Lin Qiye turned to Zhu Yuheng, his gaze tinged with surprise.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. But… if you dare let your eyes or hands wander, I’ll gouge out your eyeballs and feed them to the dogs!”
Her warning was cold, her expression severe.
Lin Qiye resigned himself.
“I won’t look. I’m only here to study.”
He trusted his own discipline; his pursuit was ever higher ratings and better rewards, not lust or romance.
After all, he could never forget: in the main world, he was only a newly minted Gold-level Walker, unable to afford Gold-level cultivation methods. Just the day before, he’d been attacked by the Jianghu faction, one step from death. Even as a Gold Walker, he felt no safety—there was still a Platinum Walker eyeing him hungrily!
Lin Qiye remained utterly clear-headed. He only wanted to grow stronger, to forever eliminate Li You, so Li You would learn: to provoke him was to invite certain death.
Lin Qiye was exceedingly vengeful. That grudge would never leave his heart unless Li You was dead.
With that, Lin Qiye rose, dressed, and approached Zhu Yuheng, gratitude shining in his eyes.
“Thank you. Please follow me. I swear I won’t look.”
Thus—
Lin Qiye led Zhu Yuheng to the underground cultivation chamber.
“Lie on the stone bed and remove your clothes.”
Zhu Yuheng: “…”
Though she’d made up her mind the night before, now, with the moment upon her, her heart raced wildly.
But, whatever happened, she couldn’t lose nerve. Zhu Yuheng pressed her red lips together, shed her white tiger pelt, and removed everything.
Even though Lin Qiye was upright and kept his eyes straight, he couldn’t help his heart pounding and heat rising within him.
His mind involuntarily composed a verse:
She stands as an empress in the spring breeze,
Her heart pure, untouched by dust.
Her form like a goddess, divine in beauty,
The great Dao fulfilled, the ages fall silent.
(An acrostic poem…)
Truth be told, Lin Qiye had never witnessed such a sight. His heart beat faster, heat stirring in his body.
But he quickly held his breath, suppressing the restlessness in his dantian.
Then, with a solemn gaze, he extended his fingers, gently touching Zhu Yuheng’s soft chest.
At the same time, his intent, guided by a thread of Violet Qi, entered Zhu Yuheng’s body, carefully sensing the unique dual hearts within.
Across from him, Zhu Yuheng’s mind went blank. Lin Qiye’s two fingers touched her heart! Though it was a gentle contact, those fingers felt hotter than burning iron, making her two hearts overlap, thudding wildly, unable to pause for a moment. She closed her eyes and held her breath, but her shoulders still trembled slightly, and her ears were glowing red…
Fortunately, Lin Qiye made no improper move, only earnestly studying her dual hearts and their mysteries. While this reassured her somewhat, it also left her with an inexplicable sense of loss.
One day, two, a month, two months… Each day, they interacted thus. At first, Zhu Yuheng couldn’t calm herself, but after a while, she grew accustomed, realizing that Lin Qiye was truly focused on his research. He observed and thought rapidly, often sweating from the effort. His gaze was so intent, so concentrated, it seemed to shine with a special effect, leaving Zhu Yuheng amazed.
Six months passed. The research continued. Lin Qiye’s forehead was drenched with sweat.
Suddenly—
The light of thought in his features vanished, replaced by excitement gathering in his eyes.
“I understand! I understand! Thank you, Miss Zhu! I know how to open the two celestial gates in my wings. Thank you! Please dress and leave—I must enter seclusion, I must!”
Lin Qiye was beside himself, jumping up, wiping sweat, breathing heavily.
Zhu Yuheng: “…”
Her dragon-arched brows furrowed in deep fury for the first time. Her phoenix eyes flared, anger burning in their depths.
Used me and discarded me immediately?
Why do I feel so uncomfortable inside?
This is infuriating! Infuriating!
She clenched her fists and punched Lin Qiye, sending him rolling several meters across the floor.
Stunned, he asked, “Why did you hit me?”
Zhu Yuheng was speechless. She couldn’t reveal her true feelings. Coldly, she said, “You stared at me for six months—a punch is hardly excessive.”
She dressed quickly, donning her white tiger pelt, looking down at Lin Qiye. She was furious, but not because he saw her, but because he truly researched for six months without a single stray thought. And after using her, he simply told her to leave.
She understood—after six months of hard research, sudden enlightenment left him excited. But she couldn’t swallow her anger!
“Stop hitting me, or my inspiration will disappear. After I break through, you can strike me as much as you like, alright?”
Lin Qiye sat cross-legged on the stone bed, closing his eyes to focus on the breakthrough.
Seeing him so intent on breaking through, Zhu Yuheng’s chest heaved in anger, but she was helpless. She could only sit on a nearby cushion, brows raised, watching Lin Qiye closely.
“Such a bastard! When you break through, I’ll stomp you again and again.”
She clenched her fist in secret.
But Lin Qiye was already fully immersed in the breakthrough.
His thunderous wings unfolded.
Then, he did something astonishing: he controlled his inner power and crushed his wings, inch by inch!
“Crack!”
“Crack!”
“Crack!”
The chilling sound of bones shattering echoed in the chamber.
The bloody noise extinguished Zhu Yuheng’s anger, replaced by worry in her phoenix eyes.
“What’s happening? He’s smashing his wings piece by piece?”
She watched Lin Qiye closely, concern and confusion in her gaze.
At that moment, Lin Qiye’s forehead was drenched in sweat, enduring extreme agony.
Yet he did not stop, continuing to crush his wings in torment. Blood stained the thunderous white wings, turning them crimson and filling the chamber with a pungent scent. The smell made Zhu Yuheng’s heart ache, and she wanted to stop him but feared ruining his breakthrough. She could only grip her fists so tightly her knuckles turned blue.
“Such ruthless methods! Such iron will! How does he endure it?”
She couldn’t help but admire him, watching Lin Qiye, weak and barely breathing, and his shattered wings, kept in shape only by lightning.
The wing bones were completely crushed. Only the lightning maintained their form.
Lin Qiye was on the verge of death, yet he refused to heal himself with innate or Violet Qi, relying solely on willpower.
After destroying his wings, he exhaled deeply and slowly drew them into his body. The damaged wings, once internalized, were swiftly healed by Violet and innate Qi, regenerating inch by inch.
As the wings were reborn, they finally established a clear connection with the heart and other celestial gates!
“There it is—this is the feeling! This is it!”
Lin Qiye was ecstatic.
“Just as I thought! The fastest way to deepen the connection with other body parts is to break them inch by inch and let them regenerate! It’s the quickest and simplest method, though it requires unbearable pain.
But to increase my strength, to earn SSS ratings, to defeat the Platinum Walker… what’s a little pain?”
He felt nothing; he laughed freely.
“Go, seize this opportunity, open the two celestial gates! Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance!”
With that, Lin Qiye exhaled a long breath of white mist and began the final push.
Though failure was possible, Lin Qiye would not allow himself to fail.