Thump… Thump… Thump…
Again and again Li Qiye used the Kunpeng Six Transformations to strike at the door of his Life Palace.
He no longer knew how many tens of thousands of times he had knocked — and still, the palace remained silent, its gate unopened.
To most cultivators, such a result would be utterly bleak — so many attempts without success spoke of hopelessly poor aptitude.
But Li Qiye's heart was unshakable.
Even if he had to strike a million times, he would not stop until the door yielded.
At last, after five days and five nights, a soft resonant sound answered his knocks.
A creaking—grinding note followed, clack, clack, clack … and finally the door of his Life Palace opened.
At that moment a wave of life‑force rose from within.
He was of mortal fate, so the energy was modest; a genius with royal or saint fate would have shone like a sun.
Now the true formula of the Kunpeng Six Transformations surged in like the tide — his will followed, diving into the Palace.
### Within the Palace of Life
Boundless. Endless.
Inside his spiritual sea stretched a world without limit.
At its center a mass of radiant light floated, around which the runes of the Kunpeng Six Transformations circled endlessly — as if trying to awaken it.
That ball of light was the True Life, the Life Soul, the three souls and six spirits of legend — the very root of destiny.
Only when this True Life awakened could one wield divine power, command life itself, and move heaven and earth.
The Kunpeng Six Transformations was a Life Art — it had to stir the True Life as its foundation and forge its own path of Dao.
Its runes danced around the light, sometimes becoming a sky‑soaring Peng, sometimes a sea‑leaping Kun, sometimes a shape between both — bird and fish merged as one.
Each time the mystic bird‑fish dived into the True Life and leapt out again, waves rippled through that ocean‑like radiance.
This was the process called Awakening — the second stage of the Knocking Realm.
Only after the True Life awoke could true cultivation begin.
For those born under royal or saintly fate, this stage came effortlessly — some opened their True Life within half a day.
But Li Qiye was a mortal; he knew he could not compare. Still, he never hurried — as long as the art flowed unceasingly, his True Life would wake in time.
### The Vast Domains Within
His Life Palace was limitless, a horizon of mist and void beyond sight.
Though his True Life had not yet fully awakened, he could sense shadowy presences lurking far away in the four directions.
In the east — a colossal spring, dry and silent: the Spring of Life, one of the four aspects of every Life Palace, source of vital energy itself.
In the west — a towering furnace, cold and dark: the Life Furnace.
They say Heaven's Dao is like a furnace that refines all things — within the Palace, this represents the flame of the soul.
In the south — a sky‑piercing tree, its branches withered, void of vital force: the Tree of Life, said to connect Heaven and Earth and seize Creation itself.
In the north — a mighty pillar reaching from earth to heaven, carved with infinite runes — the Pillar of Life, foundation of existence; without it, nothing could stand.
These four aspects — Spring, Furnace, Tree, and Pillar — were the deepest mysteries within the Life Palace.
Throughout history, sages had risked everything to understand their truth.
It was said: He who masters the Four Aspects of Life shall bear Heaven's Will, become an Immortal Emperor, and know no death.
As both arts flowed — the Kunpeng Six Transformations within his Palace and the Lunar Vortex · Solar Wheel driving his Life Wheel — Li Qiye entered a state of profound harmony.
Just beginning his path, he remained patient, for he had absolute confidence in himself and a Dao‑heart no force could shake.
### The Return of Nan Huairen
After ten days, Nan Huairen finally returned to the sect.
He rushed up the lonely peak and bowed.
"Senior Brother, forgive the delay. The sect master entered seclusion — I had to wait for him to emerge before I could deliver the report."
"A small matter," Li Qiye replied calmly.
Seeing his brother's unruffled demeanor, Nan hesitated before saying,
"The Sect Master mentioned that Second Brother will return soon — he is the Sect Master's personal disciple."
At that, his gaze turned a bit odd.
"What of him?" Li Qiye asked without interest.
"Ah — well… You'll understand when you meet him. His situation is … unique," Nan admitted awkwardly.
Li Qiye merely smiled — whatever the Second Brother was, it mattered little to him.
Whether the man came to instruct or to watch him, none of it would change his path.
His resolve to restore the Washing‑Dust Sect was iron.
When the time came, he would rebuild the sect and sweep across the Eight Wastelands once more.
Whoever blocked that path — be it god or Buddha — would be cut down.
He had founded the sect in the first Era of Emperors, and he would raise it again in this life, to one day stand atop the world and shatter the Demon‑Heaven Cavern.
Nan Huairen merely shook his head. He was used to that calm self‑assurance — even before the Sunwheel Demon Emperor, his senior had been unmoved; how could a mere Second Brother matter?
Glancing at Li Qiye again, he noticed the subtle change around him — a quiet breath of power.
"Senior Brother, you opened the Life Palace! How long did it take you?"
"Not long," Li Qiye answered mildly, "five days and five nights."
"Uh…" Nan was speechless. Anywhere else, a disciple who took three days would be called a dullard; five days and five nights would be mocked as hopeless!
Yet, looking at Li Qiye's calm face, one could see he regarded it as no different from eating a meal.
Those who once called him fool — Du Yuangguang, Xu Hui, Protector Xu — were all long dead.
A man who could remain so serene after knocking for five nights was terrifying indeed — his confidence and Dao‑heart unshakable as eternal stone.
Nan dared not say more and simply accompanied Li Qiye to the Treasure Hall.
### The Armory of the Triangular Hall
They returned to the black Triangular Hall, hand seals in place.
With the Grand Elder's token, they passed through the gates of the Armory Pavilion.
The moment they stepped inside, a colossal statue rose before them — an immense figure propped within the chamber, gazing down as if across ages.