Dividing the Stone

After Wei Hongqing left, Zuo Gaofeng looked at Lu Zi'an's corpse in the net bag and then at Tan Bazhang and Liu Xiaolou, seeming to want to say something.

Tan Bazhang's heart was also pounding, and he hesitated to speak several times.

Liu Xiaolou knew what they were worried about and said, "Don't worry, Brother Wei will be back soon."

Tan Bazhang muttered, "Brother Wei hasn't run away before..."

Zuo Gaofeng hesitated, "This is different from a wedding ceremony, this is a major event. Brother Wei should... not do that."

Liu Xiaolou said, "To Brother Wei, Lu Zi'an's corpse is more important than the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Tan Bazhang shook his head, "Then why not just leave the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

This was difficult to answer, and impossible to answer. Answering too much would only breed new suspicion among them. Liu Xiaolou simply changed the subject, "Let's bury the Western Mountain Hermit. After all, we were fellow Daoists, it's not good to let him lie exposed in the wilderness."

The three dug a deep pit and buried the Western Mountain Hermit. They also made a wooden sign and planted it on the grave. They stood in silence around the simple grave for a long time, unsure of what to say, each lost in their own thoughts.

After an unknown amount of time, Wei Hongqing finally returned, his face beaming with joy. He announced loudly, "The rewards have come down! Each of you brothers will receive fifteen spirit stones!"

After the Western Mountain Hermit died, Zuo Gaofeng and Tan Bazhang knew the reward would be more than originally agreed upon, but to each receive fifteen was still beyond their expectations, and they were overjoyed.

Fifteen spirit stones, this was a fortune Liu Xiaolou had never dared to dream of. Had it really come into his possession now?

"Brother Wei, did you give up your share too?" Liu Xiaolou asked.

Wei Hongqing joked, "It's fine. It's only right that you all get more. Consider it a return gift for the wedding ceremony gifts. Otherwise, if you all kept thinking about it, it would become a mental block and affect your cultivation, and I would be greatly to blame!"

The three of them burst into laughter. This finally cleared the air.

Wei Hongqing immediately distributed the spirit stones. Liu Xiaolou's palm was piled with fifteen gleaming spirit stones. He felt their weight as if he were holding up a mountain and carefully hid them in his embrace. He patted his clothes, afraid they might fall out.

With the matter settled, everyone said their goodbyes. Zuo Gaofeng was going to the market town at Tianmen Mountain, and Tan Bazhang had to rush home. After bidding farewell, they each set off on their way.

Liu Xiaolou was also preparing to return to the mountain, but Wei Hongqing stopped him and handed him a jade token.

"What is this?" Liu Xiaolou rubbed the jade token, unable to understand it. He only felt that this jade token was different from ordinary jade items like jade pendants, containing a dense spiritual energy, and could be considered a magical artifact.

Wei Hongqing said, "Didn't they give you that formation book? I managed to get a piece of spirit jade from my... well, you know. It's the material for refining formation disks. This spirit jade is nothing like the messy materials of the Western Mountain Hermit. His illusion formation can be completely refined into this piece of spirit jade, and its effect will certainly be much stronger."

Liu Xiaolou gave a wry smile, "Thank you, Brother Wei, but I don't understand formations."

Wei Hongqing was dismissive, "You can learn! Who knew formations from birth? You have the formation book, the formation disk, and spirit stones now. It's not impossible to refine an illusion formation. If all else fails, you can sell the formation book and spirit jade together, and at least get another five or six spirit stones!"

What else could he say? Any words of thanks were superfluous!

Liu Xiaolou put away the jade token and asked, "Brother Wei, judging by your appearance, there's no problem with joining the outer sect of Tianmu Mountain?"

Wei Hongqing nodded, "Almost. Once I'm settled, you can come to Tianmu Mountain to find me, and I'll show you the scenic beauty of the Tianmu Mountain blessed land."

Liu Xiaolou yearned, "A blessed land? I've never seen one before. I wonder what it's like."

Wei Hongqing smiled, "It's just like that, but with spiritual springs to nourish it, making it suitable for cultivation."

Liu Xiaolou envied him, "Brother Wei has been cultivating for many years and has finally joined a famous sect. You won't be burdened by the reputation of Wulong Mountain anymore. Congratulations, Brother Wei."

Wei Hongqing sighed, "Since leaving the mountain, I've been wandering and detoured so much. If it weren't for chance encounters, I wouldn't have today's fortune. To be honest, although Wulong Mountain has a bad reputation, it is, after all, our home. Leaving home in desperation back then was a rash decision. Only after wandering the world did I realize that cultivators without a home can't even dream of a peaceful day to cultivate. Having roots in Wulong Mountain, at least one can sleep soundly, as the outside world is truly perilous..."

Liu Xiaolou had also heard his master talk about the hardships and difficulties of cultivation for cultivators without a home, but he didn't feel it as deeply as Wei Hongqing.

Seeing that his sworn brother had found a good home, Liu Xiaolou was very happy for him. However, this happiness was tinged with a hint of loss – just half a year ago, he had wanted to join the Dongyang Sect of Xiangnan but couldn't. How could he not feel a sense of loss?

Wei Hongqing added, "I'm going to the Lu clan hall at Tianmu Mountain to undergo the initiation ceremony. I can't delay any longer..."

Liu Xiaolou teased, "Go ahead. Is sister-in-law waiting for you? It's a shame I won't get to meet her."

Wei Hongqing hesitated, "She... doesn't like meeting outsiders..."

Liu Xiaolou naturally understood Wei Hongqing's difficulty. That sister-in-law he hadn't met was a disciple of a famous sect. Her willingness to accept Wei Hongqing was already exceptional, so how could she be willing to acknowledge him as a brother-in-law? This wasn't just about lowering her status; if it were him, he wouldn't want to either.

"Then I'll meet her another time if there's a chance."

Wei Hongqing nodded, then said, "Well, I'm off then..."

Liu Xiaolou watched him leave. Not long after, Wei Hongqing remembered something and turned back to instruct, "Xiaolou, this place is Taoyuan. Twenty li to the northeast, there is a mountain called Xingde Mountain. There is a noble recluse in the mountain, known as Lord Xingde. If you want to refine a formation disk, you can go to Xingde Mountain."

Liu Xiaolou nodded and waved at him, watching his figure disappear into the distant mountain hollow.

Liu Xiaolou was left alone in the woods, with two graves, one deep and one shallow. He lingered for a moment before deciding to go to Xingde Mountain first, to see if there was an opportunity to refine a formation disk.

Having been trapped in the illusion formation before, he was still quite captivated by its power. His cultivation was low, and his combat strength was severely lacking. If he could have an illusion formation to protect him, it might save his life at a critical moment.

He traveled northeast and soon entered the chaotic mountains. What was said to be twenty li took until evening to reach. Fortunately, he met a woodcutter who helped him find the right mountain.

He climbed the mountain, seeing strange rocks and ancient pines along the way. The scenery was quite remarkable. As dusk fell, he reached the summit and saw a stone temple named "Xingde Temple."

Xingde Temple was not large, a small temple with a three-hall structure, occupying about half a mu of land and covering most of the mountaintop.

The temple had a gate but no surrounding walls. The main hall, the east side hall, and the west wing rooms were arranged in a "品" shape, enclosing a courtyard about three fen in size. On either side of the courtyard stood two bronze incense burners shaped like cranes, with wisps of incense smoke rising from them, giving off a slightly intoxicating aroma.

Having just experienced a fierce battle, suddenly arriving at this quiet little temple, Liu Xiaolou felt as if his entire soul had been cleansed and purified.

Liu Xiaolou stood solemnly at the foot of the steps and bowed towards the main hall, "Is Lord Xingde here? Junior Liu Xiaolou has come to pay his respects!"