The nine major vital acupoints of the Hand Jueyin Meridian were clearly far harder to open than the acupoints on the previous four meridians, and required much more true essence. On average, the earlier meridians had taken one spirit stone per acupoint, but at the Tianchi acupoint of the Hand Jueyin Meridian, two were needed to break through successfully. The Tianquan acupoint he was currently attempting seemed likely to require two spirit stones as well. As for the seven acupoints after that—Quchi, Ximen, Jianshi, Neiguan, Daling, Laogong, and Zhongchong—how many they would require was still unknown.
The days of cultivation were simple and plain. The entire Qianzhu Ridge seemed to have fallen silent. Every day, he meditated, ate, kicked Big White, meditated, ate, kicked Big White...
Whenever it was time to cultivate, Big White Goose would transform under Liu Xiaolou's fists and kicks, carrying out its duties as the Three Xuan Sect's steward and household servant. It caught insects and pulled weeds in the yard, cleared away vines that had climbed the beams and pillars, and sometimes even dealt with mice. The Three Xuan Sect's meat supply also largely depended on Big White Goose's contributions: plump fish from the Wu Chao River were the main staple, supplemented by mountain snakes, pheasants, wild rabbits, mountain rats, and the like from the Bamboo Forest.
That fellow ranged far and wide. Not only did it scamper all over the mountain, but now and then it would follow the Wu Chao River out of the mountains, returning with several slabs of cured meat snatched from some household, or glittering, eye-catching objects—several Copper Coins, a scrap of silver, a gold bean, and so on. Thus, as far as Liu Xiaolou's standard of living was concerned, it was more than enough to cover the sect's daily expenses.
Whenever he needed money, he only had to rummage through Big White Goose's grass nest, and there would always be a small surprise.
The harvest season for the spirit fields of Goose-Goat Mountain had always fallen in late autumn. Only a few days after Liu Xiaolou returned to the mountain, a fine mountain rain began to fall, thin as ox hair. The mountain wind blowing with the rain was also far colder than before.
Liu Xiaolou cultivated in a cross-legged position on the terrace beneath the eaves. Every so often, he would emerge from the circulation of his cultivation method, listen to the rain, feel the faint chill, and clear his mind.
When it was time to eat, Liu Xiaolou would gather bamboo fungus, wild vegetables, and tender bamboo shoots from the woods outside the courtyard. He would slice up a plate of cured meat brought back by Big White Goose, or boil a pot of fish soup, roast a wild rabbit or pheasant.
Sometimes, he would think of the female cultivator harvesting spirit fields on Goose-Goat Mountain. He wondered whether she had taken the things he said that day seriously. If she truly came to him with work, that would be wonderful.
No matter what, a cultivator at the Paragon of Qi Refining tenth layer was beyond the reach of a low-level cultivator like him in terms of vision, foundation, and resources at hand. Any task she entrusted to him would be an opportunity. Even if he worked for nothing once, he could accept that. Once there was a first time, there would be a second—could he possibly work for nothing every time?
The autumn rain fell without pause for seven or eight days. Big White Goose returned from below the mountain once more, buried the spoils of this trip in its nest, then habitually came to the top of a crevice at the highest point of Qianzhu Ridge.
With its wings folded behind its back, it looked down over the entire ridge, inspecting its territory with satisfaction. It let the fine rain gather into droplets atop its head and slowly slide down. The peculiar coolness of Wulong Mountain made it feel exceedingly comfortable.
Clusters of cloud rose now and then from every valley, some swiftly and some slowly, spreading among the mountains.
Several times, Big White Goose spread its wings and wanted to fly over, into the cloud-wreathed mist. But after tumbling headlong several times, it had no choice but to rein in its wild fantasies and clamber back to the peak in a miserable state, continuing to do what lay within its power.
In the misty autumn rain, it suddenly spotted someone climbing the mountain at an unhurried pace, their figure appearing and vanishing amid the clouds. It flapped its wings and leapt onto a small tree nearby, tugging at a thin vine hanging among the branches.
"ding-dong, ding-dong..."
The wind chimes hanging beneath the eaves gave off a crisp ringing, making the mountain ridge seem all the more secluded.
Liu Xiaolou awakened from cultivation and listened carefully. Having advanced another step in cultivation, his hearing was much sharper than it had been half a year ago. After listening for a moment, he made out faint footsteps coming from the Bamboo Forest. He checked the Misty Incense Tendon around his arm, placed the Three Xuan Sword behind him where it could be seized at a turn of his hand, then drew a deep breath and called out, "What eminent guest enters my mountain?"
The visitor wore Qingyi robes, but was not the female cultivator he had hoped for. It was Dai Shenggao.
Liu Xiaolou hurriedly rose to greet him. "Hermit Dai!"
Dai Shenggao pushed open the wooden door and nodded. "Xiaolou, half a year has passed, and your cultivation has improved greatly."
Liu Xiaolou felt somewhat ashamed. Bowing, he said, "It is all thanks to Senior's support... Please take a seat and shelter from the wind and rain."
Once they reached the terrace, Dai Shenggao looked at the eaves overhead sheltering them from wind and rain, then at the rainy mountain scenery around them. Sitting opposite Liu Xiaolou, he smiled. "Qianzhu Ridge is at its finest in wind and rain. Today, I have been treated to a feast for the eyes."
After sitting down, thick water vapor radiated from Dai Shenggao's body. In the blink of an eye, his clothes and shoes had dried.
This was an ability only available to high-level Qi Refining cultivators, at least those at the eighth or ninth layer. Liu Xiaolou was greatly envious, feeling all the more that the road ahead was long and the journey distant.
He went inside for the tea set, then used the rain dripping steadily from the eaves to make a fire and brew tea.
"Senior's cultivation is profound, and your prestige is well established. Finding a place of magnificent scenery to cultivate in would be as easy as turning your hand."
"I was born to toil. I can hardly ever sit idle. If I have the fortune to reach Foundation Establishment, then I can enjoy my old age in peace. Heh heh."
"Before my teacher passed away, he said that among all his lifelong friends, if anyone could reach Foundation Establishment, Senior would surely be the first."
"Haha, then I will borrow your teacher's auspicious words."
When the water boiled, he added a handful of wild tea bought in Wu Chao Town. Before long, the tea leaves unfurled. Liu Xiaolou raised his cup in invitation. "Senior, please."
Sipping his tea, Dai Shenggao said, "The matter of the Hero Assembly has more or less settled down. The Dongyang Sect has withdrawn its hand, so you need not worry."
This was good news. Liu Xiaolou nodded. "Yes."
Dai Shenggao continued, "So... there is something you should consider for yourself."
The spirit stones in his possession were about to run out, while the Tianquan acupoint was still far from ready to be opened. With a new opportunity before him, how could Liu Xiaolou possibly be unwilling?
"Please speak, Senior!"
Dai Shenggao said, "In truth, I am only passing along a message. As for the details, I do not know them."
"A message? Whose message?" Liu Xiaolou asked in confusion.
"Wei Hongqing."
"Ah... Brother Wei? Senior has news of him?"
Dai Shenggao explained, "A few days ago, I made a trip to Tianmen Market. Do you know Tianmen Market?"
Liu Xiaolou nodded. "I heard my teacher speak of it. It is the largest market in western Xiang, even bigger than the market in Tanzhou, but I have not yet had the chance to see it."
Dai Shenggao said, "Tianmen Market lies two hundred li east of Wulong Mountain. It is not merely the largest market in western Xiang, but in all of Jingxiang. That was where I saw Wei Hongqing. He asked about my itinerary, and when he learned I would return in the next couple of days, he asked me to bring you a message, inviting you to go to Tianmen Market and see him as soon as possible."
As he spoke, he took out a sheet of yellow paper. Written on it were the words: "There is an important matter to discuss. Come at once upon receiving this letter."
It was indeed Wei Hongqing's handwriting.
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