Choosing a Cave Mansion

"Junior Brother, although our Tianquan Peak ranks fourth among the Seven Peaks of Shushan, its importance is no less than Tianshu Peak, which ranks first. For you to come to Tianquan Peak and take the Master as your teacher is a stroke of fortune."

Xu Chang led Lin Chan out of the main hall, speaking with a smile.

"I am deeply honored."

Lin Chan nodded in reply.

"Haha! From now on, we're all brothers—no need to be so formal."

Seeing Lin Chan a bit reserved, Xu Chang patted his back to reassure him.

"Come on! Since you're new here, I'll take you to find a vacant cave dwelling first, then get you a Daoist robe, a sect manual, an Identity Jade Pendant, and such."

With that, Xu Chang summoned his flying sword and took Lin Chan with him, Sword Riding down the mountain.

On the Seven Peaks of Shushan, the highest point of each peak housed the palace-cave of the Core Formation True Person. Inner Sect Disciples' cave dwellings were arranged below, and Registered Disciples were even lower.

Xu Chang brought Lin Chan to find Steward Lu, who managed the cave dwellings. Steward Lu immediately took the two of them to make a selection.

"There are three vacant cave dwellings for Inner Sect Disciples. Junior Brother Lin, which one would you like?"

Steward Lu opened a map, and a phantom image of Tianquan Peak appeared before the two of them.

Inner Sect Disciples each had a single-person cave dwelling, each occupying its own small plot, unlike the outer sect's Registered Disciples who had to crowd together.

"Senior Brother, which one do you think is best?"

Lin Chan looked at Xu Chang. Having no experience himself, asking his senior brother was the safest bet.

"This one here! This area is full of our brothers. My cave is a li away from there—you can come find me to hang out whenever you're free."

Xu Chang picked a central spot for Lin Chan.

"Alright! That's the one."

Lin Chan nodded.

"Junior Brother Xu, Junior Brother Lin, follow me. I'll take you there."

Steward Lu put away the map, and the phantom of Tianquan Peak vanished.

Steward Lu flew on his sword, with Xu Chang carrying Lin Chan close behind. Soon, they arrived at the cave dwelling.

But since no one had lived there for a long time, it was covered in dust.

Steward Lu formed a hand seal, and a breeze sprang from his hand, blowing into the room and cleansing it entirely.

"Junior Brother Lin, this place has been uninhabited for too long, so there was some dust. It's no problem now. Later, come find me, and I'll arrange for an outer sect disciple to clean your room regularly."

Steward Lu said to Lin Chan.

Having taken True Person Xuan Chen as his master, Lin Chan was directly an Inner Sect Disciple, exempt from the many chores that outer sect Registered Disciples had to do.

"Alright!"

Lin Chan nodded. He was actually curious about the spell Steward Lu had just cast, so he could clean his own room.

After all, a personal cave dwelling was a rather private place.

The entire cave was carved into a stone wall, with three rooms hollowed out. Outside, there was a small courtyard where one could plant flowers or grass.

After a quick look inside, Lin Chan was quite satisfied. Steward Lu handed him a special wooden token, and from then on, this cave dwelling was his to use.

There was no rent to pay either—a pretty good deal.

"Junior Brother, for now, stay at my place. I'll teach you the Heart Sword Same Origin Art."

After settling the cave dwelling, Xu Chang said.

"I'll follow Senior Brother's arrangements!"

Lin Chan was eager to learn the technique.

Then, Xu Chang took Lin Chan back to his own cave, not far away.

Xu Chang's room was very simple, with hardly any furniture—just a few meditation cushions.

The two sat facing each other, and Xu Chang began explaining the essence of the Heart Sword Same Origin Art.

In short, the practitioner used their body as a sword sheath, their mind as a furnace, and their qi and blood as a spring, to nurture their flying sword, ultimately achieving Unity of Man and Sword.

"In that case, if the heart and sword are linked, and the flying sword is damaged, would the practitioner also be harmed?"

Lin Chan asked, somewhat puzzled.

"That's inevitable. That's why very few people practice the Heart Sword Same Origin Art anymore, especially cultivators below Foundation Establishment. If your Destiny Flying Sword is severely damaged or destroyed, your mind will suffer a violent backlash. At best, your cultivation is crippled; at worst, your soul scatters. After Foundation Establishment, the impact of a broken sword on oneself is very limited."

Xu Chang didn't hide anything and frankly told Lin Chan the drawbacks.

Hearing this, Lin Chan felt less inclined to practice it.

Tying his life to a single sword did carry considerable risk.

"But don't worry. Since the Master has you practice this art, he'll later forge a custom flying sword for you. Its quality won't be low—it won't break easily."

Xu Chang reassured him.

"I'll trouble Senior Brother to teach me."

Lin Chan steadied his mind and spoke.

In response to readers' requests, a VIP membership ad-free feature is now available.

Click to view.

He now had the merit from the Lesser Merit Record. According to True Person Xuan Chen, he could stabilize his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

This way, the risk of practicing the [Heart Sword Same Origin Art] would be greatly reduced.

True Person Xuan Chen also said this technique suited him best, and he'd get a free flying sword to boot—why not go for it?

Listening to Xu Chang explain the [Heart Sword Same Origin Art], the sky darkened before they knew it.

"You're still a mortal, haven't reached Bigu. I have some Bigu Pills on me—take them and eat."

Seeing it was getting late, Xu Chang pulled a jade bottle from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Chan.

Opening the stopper, inside were over a dozen gray-brown pills the size of broad beans.

"Don't eat too many at once. One is enough—it'll keep you from needing food or drink for five days."

Xu Chang explained the dosage to Lin Chan.

"Senior Brother, I understand."

Chewing on a Bigu Pill, Lin Chan suddenly thought of something.

His cat and dog were still down in Yuxi Town, not brought up.

Now that he was cultivating on the mountain, should he bring them up?

But there was no food on the mountain either—he could only eat Bigu Pills. Those two big eaters, if they came up, who knew if they'd stir up chaos.

Xu Chang noticed the hesitation on Lin Chan's face and asked, "What's wrong? Did my Bigu Pills go bad? That shouldn't be—they've only been sitting for half a year."

"No, Senior Brother. I just thought of something. I came seeking immortals with a cat and a dog. Now I'm up the mountain, but they're still down below."

Lin Chan shook his head and said.

"Why did you bring cats and dogs?"

Xu Chang looked puzzled.

"Senior Brother, it's like this. Little Li and Little White both have unusual traits—they're very intelligent. So I kept them by my side."

Lin Chan quickly explained.

"In that case, you can leave them with the outer sect. Let the junior brothers there look after them, or send them to Yaoguang Peak—there are plenty of demons there. Right now, your most important task is cultivation, not playing with cats and dogs."

Xu Chang said to Lin Chan.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Lin Chan nodded in agreement.

"Where are your Little Li and Little White now?"

Xu Chang asked.

"In Yuxi Town. They can hunt on their own, no need to worry much."

"Let's go fetch them now. For today, we'll keep them in my cave dwelling. Tomorrow, we'll send them to Yaoguang Peak."

With that, Xu Chang stood up and led Lin Chan down the mountain.

Back in Yuxi Town, inside the small courtyard where Lin Chan had been staying, Zhou Sheng was full of frustration.

He'd finally run into some Shu Mountain disciples today, but none of them paid him any attention.

He'd never imagined that his status as Heir of the Marquis of Wei would be so useless.

"Master! What's going on with that Lin Chan fellow? He got Shu Mountain disciples to come after him, and he's still not back yet."

The book boy Wang Yunxuan said with some worry.

"He probably did something bad. Shu Mountain disciples are the most righteous—if he hadn't committed a crime, why would they have caught him?"

Zhou Sheng speculated on Lin Chan's fate with the worst possible intent.

"No way! Lin Chan looks like a kind person!"

"Who knows?"

Zhou Sheng said meaningfully, as if Lin Chan was actually a beast in human clothing.

Just then, Little Li rode Little White back into the courtyard.

Little Li meowed twice at Zhou Sheng, and Little White, who rarely barked, let out a low growl, as if asking the two where Lin Chan was.

"Good riddance. This white dog and tricolor cat are mine now."

Zhou Sheng didn't understand Little Li and Little White's words, but instead looked at them with greed.

He'd coveted these two intelligent animals for a long time.

"That might not be right. Maybe Lin Chan will be back tomorrow."

Wang Yunxuan felt this was very improper—after all, they belonged to Lin Chan.

"I doubt it. The Shu Mountain disciples took him away—it won't be that easy to get him back."

Zhou Sheng said with schadenfreude.