On the Path

After hearing Lord Xingde's request, Liu Xiaolou knew his injuries should be minor, and his days of care hadn't been in vain. He felt relieved and couldn't help but tease him, "Senior, are you not kicking me out anymore?"

Lord Xingde thought for a moment and repeated, "Fresh meat, not grilled, but stewed."

Liu Xiaolou shook his head, "You have quite a few demands. Get some rest."

Xingde Mountain was located in the Taoyuan Mountain Range, which was abundant with beasts and birds. Before Liu Xiaolou even descended into the valley, he had already returned with a full haul of prey: two wild rabbits and a pheasant.

Upon returning to Xingde Temple, he went directly to the kitchen and called out loudly towards the East Annex, "Senior, I also got some Cornus officinalis, wild ginger, cinnamon, and Sichuan pepper. There are plenty of wild goods in the mountains, but I didn't see any garlic sprouts... Are there garlic sprouts on Xingde Mountain? Never mind, I'll look for them myself later..."

The pheasant was stewed as Lord Xingde requested. It was a shame there were no bamboo groves, otherwise, adding some bamboo shoots would have made it even more delicious. As for the two wild rabbits, after skinning them, he stir-fried them in a large iron pot with a spicy flavor, using the fat from cured meat. The aroma was truly intoxicating, spreading throughout the temple.

Lord Xingde's appetite was already whetted. He waited eagerly by the door of the East Annex's room, with the table already set, just waiting for Liu Xiaolou to serve the food.

A pot of pheasant soup, a bowl of spicy rabbit meat, a bowl of steamed cured meat, and two bowls of rice were laid out. The two men sat opposite each other and ate.

Lord Xingde immediately drank a bowl of chicken soup and smacked his lips. Suddenly, he remembered, "Quick, get the wine! It's buried under the shrine in the main hall. Just pull the candelabrum outwards."

Liu Xiaolou got up and went to the main hall. He indeed found the mechanism under the shrine, where a mud-sealed wine jar was buried.

Well, so there was a hidden trick here. I didn't notice it before.

He brushed off the mud seal, and a clear fragrance with spiritual energy wafted out. Liu Xiaolou exclaimed happily, "Isn't this Bamboo Leaf Green from Hongji Restaurant? Senior, you've been hiding such good wine! We must have a good drink today!"

Lord Xingde hadn't eaten properly for over half a month. He was too busy eating to even respond verbally, only making muffled sounds in response.

After the meal, only a little more than half of the jar of spirit wine was consumed. Lord Xingde's injuries had not yet recovered, and Liu Xiaolou's cultivation couldn't handle it. Therefore, the remaining wine was resealed to be drunk later.

The two men didn't have time for much conversation and returned to their rooms to circulate their energy. Liu Xiaolou spent the night in the artifact refining room, meditating and converting the spiritual energy from the spirit wine. He felt that it was no less effective than cultivating with spirit stones.

When he opened his eyes, Lord Xingde was no longer in his room. He had already gone to the cliff behind the main hall and was gazing into the distance with the wind.

Liu Xiaolou joined him. Looking at the surrounding mountains, he said, "It's going to snow again."

The dark clouds hung heavily, pressing down on the peaks of the mountains. The north wind blew fiercely, but it didn't feel cold. These were the signs that snow was about to fall.

Lord Xingde looked up at the clouds, lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "You bought two Heart Nurturing Pills?"

Liu Xiaolou replied, "Yes. Senior's injuries were too severe, and I was worried one pill wouldn't be enough, so I bought two, costing six spirit stones. These two spirit elixirs are from the Miaofeng Pill Sect. Have you heard of them?"

Lord Xingde frowned, thought for a moment, and shook his head, "I haven't heard of them."

Liu Xiaolou said, "It doesn't matter, the Heart Nurturing Pill's efficacy is quite good anyway."

Lord Xingde said, "Indeed, it's quite good. It seems to be even better than the spirit elixirs refined by the major sects... This time, you've spent too much."

Liu Xiaolou waved his hand, "Saving your life is the priority. Spirit stones are external possessions. As long as I can save you, it's fine even if I spend all the spirit stones I have. Senior, please don't worry about it."

As they were speaking, snowflakes indeed began to fall, and the surrounding mountains were immediately enveloped in a vast expanse of white.

Liu Xiaolou wanted to help Lord Xingde back, but Lord Xingde wanted to watch a little longer. "My injuries have already healed by thirty percent. A little mountain wind and flying snow won't hurt."

Liu Xiaolou then accompanied Lord Xingde, walking slowly along the cliff.

Lord Xingde asked, "Which sect are you a disciple of?"

Liu Xiaolou replied, "I am Liu Xiaolou from the Three Xuan Sect. Have you heard of the Three Xuan Sect, Senior?"

Lord Xingde pondered for a moment and murmured, "I seem to have heard of it... On which immortal mountain is your sect located?"

Liu Xiaolou smiled, "Then Senior can truly be called knowledgeable. My Three Xuan Sect is located on Wulong Mountain."

Lord Xingde was stunned for a moment, unsure how to respond. After a moment, he slowly said, "Wulong Mountain is not entirely filled with ruffians. As long as one diligently cultivates, yes... one can ascend the great path of cultivation..."

Having been looked down upon more than once or twice, Liu Xiaolou didn't mind. He seized the opportunity, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I will definitely cultivate diligently, sincerely follow the Dao, and never do evil! I have come this time for the way of formations, traveling over a thousand... five hundred miles, to seek your guidance and request the refinement of a formation disk."

Lord Xingde nodded and asked again, "Who told you that my Xingde Temple is skilled at refining formation disks?"

Liu Xiaolou said, "Your esteemed name..."

Lord Xingde promptly stopped his flattery, to avoid awkwardness for everyone. "I understand artifact refining, and I am particularly skilled at formation disks. Few people know this, which is why I wanted to ask you clearly."

Liu Xiaolou had no choice but to answer truthfully, "It was a disciple from Tianmu Mountain who informed me."

Lord Xingde was a bit curious, "A disciple from the Lu clan of Tianmu Mountain? They have always maintained their integrity and never associated with... ah... Besides, they don't know much about my affairs."

Liu Xiaolou said, "My friend's surname is Wei, and he has just entered the outer sect of Tianmu Mountain."

Fortunately, Lord Xingde didn't press further, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to answer. Would he really expose the new acquaintance of Wei Hongqing?

"What formation do you wish to refine?"

After more than half a month of busy work, he had been waiting for this question. Liu Xiaolou quickly took out the formation book from his bosom and said, "Please take a look, Senior. I wish to refine the formation disk for this formation."

"Lin Yuan Xuan Shi Formation?"

Lord Xingde flipped through the formation book, quickly scanning it.

The formation book was not thick, less than twenty pages. The first half mainly described the materials, structure, and techniques for refining formation disks, mostly with diagrams. The last three pages detailed the formation's efficacy and usage.

Lord Xingde stopped at the section on the formation's efficacy and did not flip further. He closed the formation book and said to Liu Xiaolou, "It's a small illusion formation. Refining the formation disk is not difficult, it just takes a little effort and requires some materials to be prepared."

Liu Xiaolou quickly replied, "Yes, please instruct me, and I will go purchase them."

Lord Xingde said, "No rush. I will refine it after my injuries have recovered. Leave the formation book here with me for now. I will look at it again these few days and ponder it."

Liu Xiaolou nodded, "That's only right. Senior, please examine it thoroughly. It's fine even if you copy it."

Lord Xingde chuckled, "That won't be necessary. There's no reason to steal someone's secret techniques."

Liu Xiaolou curried favor with him, "Senior, what good dishes would you like? I'll make them immediately."

Lord Xingde nodded, "Then I'll trouble you...". He thought for a moment and said, "In a few days, I want to go down the mountain to collect materials for refining formation disks."

Liu Xiaolou was very pleased, "Thank you, Senior, but your body..."

Lord Xingde said, "Will you accompany me then?"

Liu Xiaolou immediately declared, "Ah, that's no problem at all. Taking care of Senior is what I should do!"