Tianhe Sect
With a Comprehensive Mirror, Xie Qingxue's hand flew into her waist and transformed into a delicate and exquisite sword pendant.
Just now, she had a chat with Zheng Fa in the Comprehensive Mirror and roughly understood what the Five-Element Orchid was.
"The Nine-Turn Golden Core Method..."
She gazed out the door, her brow slightly furrowed, her slender fingers still fiddling with the miniature Comprehensive Mirror, while she pondered to herself:
Zheng Fa explained the matter very clearly.
The Five-Element Orchid may be related to the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method, but it is probably a taboo in the Xuanwei Realm nowadays.
Seeking help from Xie Qingxue was a last resort.
It's possible that the Five Sects deliberately erased certain records; there are simply too few records about the Five-Element Orchid.
However, if any sect might have some remaining records...
But it must be the Tianhe Sect.
According to rumors, the Tianhe Sect cultivator who used the Five-Element Orchid Venerable Tianhe was definitely not the only one.
That's why I came to ask her.
Zheng Fa didn't hide anything, Xie Qingxue naturally understood the danger involved:
The Nine-Turn Golden Core Method was already taboo, and the existence of the Five-Element Orchid was deliberately erased...
However, Xie Qingxue still wanted to find out more—after all, the Nine Mountains Golden Core Method was the long-cherished wish of her lineage.
not to mention...
Xie Qingxue glanced at the Green Duckweed Sword.
She could feel that as she gradually cultivated the Nine Mountains Golden Core Method, the Green Duckweed Sword became more and more in accordance with her will.
Perhaps one day, she, the sword spirit, will truly be able to turn the tables and become the master!
What taboos or taboos?
Is there anything more taboo than what their lineage does?
After pondering for a while, Xie Qingxue stepped out of her courtyard and walked into the Transmission Tower.
The Tianhe Sect's Transmission Tower is divided into three parts. The main building has five floors. Starting from the first floor, it stores Cultivation Method for the Foundation Establishment Realm, Golden Core Stage, Nascent Soul Realm, and Spirit Transformation stages. As for the top floor, it contains the Tianhe Sect's True Disciple Cultivation Method, which are absolutely inaccessible to ordinary people.
She didn't go into the main building, but turned right at the entrance and walked to a two-story building.
Hidden within this small building are records of various arts and techniques related to cultivating immortality.
Since the Five-Element Orchid is related to alchemy, it is most likely found in the records of the sect.
Xie Qingxue entered the small building, and a middle-aged male cultivator on the first floor hurriedly stood up and bowed, saying, "Senior Sister!"
She nodded slightly, remaining silent. The male cultivator didn't seem to mind, simply smiling and asking, "Senior Sister, are you looking for any scriptures? This disciple can help you."
"Thank you, I'll take a look myself."
Xie Qingxue was polite, but her expression seemed to indicate that she was keeping people at arm's length.
The middle-aged man paused, not daring to say anything more. He simply watched the senior sister walk into the small building, his face showing a mixture of regret and expectation—after all, this senior sister had a reputation for being difficult to please within the sect.
As soon as Xie Qingxue entered the small building and stood behind the bookshelf, she took out the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government) and eagerly tried to curry favor with Zheng Fa, saying:
"I'm searching through the Transmission Tower to see what I can find."
After a while, Biography of Zheng Fa a message: " Fairy Xie, you should protect yourself first."
"I see."
Zheng Fa then added, "Be extremely careful. Perfecting the < Nine Mountains Golden Core Method > is not something that can be accomplished overnight. Do not rush it."
Xie Qingxue read the message twice, a slight smile appearing on her lips. Her usually icy expression softened, and she replied, "I will be careful. The < Nine Mountains Golden Core Method > isn't just your concern; it's extremely important to me."
Having said that, she stopped talking and walked to the bookshelf labeled "Dao of Dao of Alchemy," where she picked up a Jade Slip and began to read it.
This observation lasted for a month.
Because all the clues could be summed up in the three characters "Five-Element Orchid," and she couldn't ask anyone else, she had to search for them herself, one Jade Slip Jade Slip at a time.
What troubled her even more was that, for fear of missing anything, she couldn't let any of the jade Jade Slip containing information about Dao of Alchemy go unnoticed.
In other words, she had to read each Pill Formula aloud.
She even couldn't let go of some Dao of Alchemy Method Formula.
In the end, she also read some travelogues and anecdotes from senior Dao of Alchemy.
Xie Qingxue stayed in the Transmission Tower, neither eating nor drinking, nor returning home. She simply reviewed the records day after day, her expression growing increasingly cold.
She found no records about the Five-Element Orchid.
Not a single word.
This certainly frustrated her, but on the other hand, it also made her somewhat interested in the Spirit Plant.
Setting down the last Jade Slip from the bookshelf, Xie Qingxue buried her head in thought:
Regardless of whether the Five-Element Orchid is related to the Nine-Turn Golden Core Method, this thing should be somewhat connected to the Founder...
Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why all records about this Spirit Plant have disappeared.
Furthermore, this Five-Element Orchid must have been extremely important to one of the Founder's Cultivation Method... Otherwise, given that the Founder consumed many Spirit Plant Spirit Plant, why is there no record of this particular one?
But how can we find other clues?
She looked up, somewhat confused.
At this moment, the middle-aged man at the door cautiously asked, "Senior Sister, are you looking for some kind of elixir recipe?"
Xie Qingxue pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded, but didn't say what she was looking for. Instead, she asked, "Are all the sect's records about Spirit Plant or Dao of Alchemy here?"
"Most of them are."
The middle-aged man spoke frankly.
"Most?"
"There are some classic texts on Dao of Alchemy stored in the Secret Pavilion," the middle-aged man explained hastily, having no intention of distrusting Xie Qingxue, the sect's senior disciple. "However, that place is inaccessible to outsiders. Senior Sister, you are safe..."
" Secret Pavilion..."
Xie Qingxue looked outside.
This Transmission Tower has three parts: the central five-story main building, the right wing containing knowledge about various arts and crafts, and the left wing being the Secret Pavilion.
No one may enter unless they have a special status.
Xie Qingxue pondered for a moment, but still slowly nodded to the middle-aged man guarding the pavilion, took out a sword Talisman Dao, "Thank you, junior brother. Please take this sword talisman."
After saying this, she left in a hurry without waiting for the Humanity's Dao.
Behind them, the middle-aged man stared at Xie Qingxue's retreating figure, a sword talisman clutched in his hand, his face displaying an almost bewildered surprise.
Wasn't this senior sister supposed to be hard to please?
He just said something completely ordinary, how did he end up with such a treasure?
Xie Qingxue didn't go to the Secret Pavilion first, but returned to her own courtyard. After thinking for a long time, she summoned Yan Wushuang.
"Senior sister?"
" Zheng Fa asked me to look into a Spirit Plant called the Five-Element Orchid. I've been searching for a month, but haven't found anything," Xie Qingxue said succinctly and directly. "I want to go to the Secret Pavilion to take a look."
Upon hearing this, Yan Wushuang's expression became serious.
" The Five-Element Orchid... is it related to the Founder?"
Xie Qingxue nodded.
"Then you must be careful, senior sister, there are elders watching over that Secret Pavilion..."
" Zheng Fa said the same thing."
"It seems he also feels it's dangerous!"
So I've decided to let you go.
"... ah?"
Yan Wushuang's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open as she stared at her senior sister, her face filled with disbelief.
"It's you," Xie Qingxue said decisively, adding, "Master probably suspects me."
"..."
Yan Wushuang understood Xie Qingxue's concerns.
The Secret Pavilion is considered a highly valued place within the sect, with elders above the Spirit Transformation stage stationed there year-round. Normally, Xie Qingxue wouldn't mind going there, but now she needs to be cautious.
"Father... he's been acting strangely lately." Yan Wushuang frowned, his expression odd. "Ever since he was injured by Zheng Fa, he's been going into seclusion every now and then, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better..."
"But when I asked him, he said he was fine... and even said he had found a breakthrough opportunity."
"Breakthrough?"
Xie Qingxue raised an eyebrow, not expecting this to be the case.
"Yes, this has made it difficult for me to even criticize Zheng Fa."
Yan Wushuang muttered to herself.
"Master's breakthrough is never a bad thing, but last time he probably really suspected me..."
Xie Qingxue was also somewhat conflicted. Of course, it was a good thing that her master's cultivation had broken through, but the current situation was hard to predict. Who knew how he would treat her, a traitor, after breaking through?
Upon hearing this, Yan Wushuang felt that her senior sister's concerns were quite reasonable.
The only problem is--
You can be cautious if you want, but why are you trying to trick my junior brother?
Seeing his indignant expression, Xie Qingxue paused for a moment before speaking, "You are, after all, Master's own son. Let me try to persuade him again..."
"..."
He shouldn't die.
Yan Wushuang's expression instantly turned blank. She desperately wanted to refute him, but didn't know how.
Xie Qingxue sought out Yan Wushuang, but of course, this wasn't the only reason; she further explained:
"I'm sending you because, firstly, you're currently at the Golden Core Stage, so it's a good opportunity to find some Golden Core Stage texts and secrets in the main building without attracting attention."
"On the other hand, you don't have a good reputation within the sect, and your cultivation level is low."
"Ah?"
"Such minor transgressions probably won't reach Master's ears."
Yan Wushuang slowly frowned, and after a moment's thought, he said, "Does Senior Sister mean that you're too conspicuous?"
"It wasn't me, it was Green Duckweed Sword... I was planning to go to the Secret Pavilion, but I noticed someone seemed to be watching me."
Yan Wushuang's expression became even stranger:
The eldest sister's meaning was simple: his cultivation level was low, so no one would really care—ultimately, for cultivators above the Spirit Transformation or even those at the Dao Fruit stage, who cared what a Golden Core cultivator was thinking or doing?
Xie Qingxue, however, was different.
As the master of the Green Duckweed Sword, she has too many targets, which makes her feel restricted in some ways.
"Of course, this matter is also quite dangerous for you..." Xie Qingxue added, "If you don't agree, I'll find another way."
Yan Wushuang was silent for a moment before speaking:
"Senior sister, there's no turning back now, is there?"
"No." Xie Qingxue nodded calmly, stroking the Green Duckweed Sword felt increasingly close to, and added, "I never thought of turning back."
"And you..."
Xie Qingxue looked at her junior brother and slowly said:
"You were the first in the sect to come into contact with Zheng Fa..."
"Um."
"You've also learned the Nine Mountains Golden Core Method and are almost at the Golden Core Completion? It seems you've also learned a few decent Thunder Method on the Nine Mountains Forum?"
Yan Wushuang said awkwardly, "Some of the posts on that forum are really good. I learned a couple of moves... The < Nine Mountains Golden Core Method > is extremely helpful for cultivation."
" Zheng Fa is becoming stronger and stronger, and you will likely achieve more and more in the future. Perhaps one day, you will surpass me and even your father. This is your destiny, but some destinies come at a price."
"Senior sister..."
"I have already paid the price for the Green Duckweed Sword... What about you?"
"..."
"We Sword Dao cultivators should... forge ahead without hesitation."
A few days later, Xie Qingxue went to the Transmission Tower again, but instead of going to the Secret Pavilion, she went to the right wing room where all the arts of cultivation were hidden.
"Senior Sister?"
The middle-aged man asked in surprise.
"I made some progress last time, so I'm coming back to check."
The middle-aged man suddenly realized what was happening. He watched as Xie Qingxue walked to another bookshelf, feeling curious but not daring to ask any further questions.
Xie Qingxue held a Jade Slip and felt the Green Duckweed Sword tremble slightly.
She knew that one of the Dao Fruit cultivators from the sect was watching her.
Xie Qingxue's face remained expressionless, but her mind was not on the Jade Slip; half of her attention was fixed on the entrance to the Secret Pavilion pavilion, while the other half was on the Comprehensive Mirror.
A new post, unknown to outsiders, has appeared on the Nine Mountains Forum.
The post is only accessible to a select few, including Zheng Fa, Yan Wushuang, and Xie Qingxue.
Yan Wushuang posted first. "Senior Sister, I've arrived."
Xie Qingxue immediately replied, "I've drawn the attention of the elders in the sect. If there's any problem, I'll stop him myself."
Zheng Fa seemed to have been watching them for a while, and continued, "Brother Yan, Fairy Xie, I'm all ready on my side as well."
Inside the Nine Mountains Sect Heavenly Palace Hall, another project team was established.
There are very few group members.
Besides Zheng Fa, there was only Xiao Yuying and a few disciples—these disciples were from the batch sent by the Hundred Immortals Alliance, and they all knew some alchemy techniques.
Although not profound, it is still considered respectable within the Nine Mountains Realm.
He glanced at the group and wrote in the post, "Brother Yan, I have Xiao Fairy here, as well as some disciples who understand Dao of Alchemy."
Xie Qingxue felt a mix of amusement and exasperation upon hearing this, experiencing a thrill akin to the excitement of a group crime.
She was a lookout.
Zheng Fa led a group of logistics and command personnel.
Yan Wushuang was the most dangerous... unlucky one.
The unlucky fellow soon appeared at the entrance of the Secret Pavilion. Although his cultivation was only at the Golden Core stage, as the son of the Sect Leader and True Disciple, he was qualified to enter the Secret Pavilion.
By displaying a token, Yan Wushuang entered the hall without any trouble.
"There aren't many books here."
Yan Wushuang explained.
"Brother Yan, you must remember not to look at the Pill Formula!"
Zheng Fa immediately replied.
"Will this work?"
Yan Wushuang seemed somewhat hesitant; how could she find the use of the Five-Element Orchid without Pill Formula?
Zheng Fa glanced at Xiao Yuying, and seeing her nod, replied in the post:
"As Xiao Fairy once said, some travelogues, accounts of sights and experiences, or even No-Mind records, actually contain more clues."
"Furthermore, I believe that the Pill Formula for the Five-Element Orchid have probably all been destroyed."
"On the other hand, I'm also worried that something might happen to you, Brother Yan."
Yan Wushuang did not reply, but silently put away the Comprehensive Mirror in her hand and looked at the bookshelf in front of her.
The Secret Pavilion is only one floor high, and the number of Jade Slip is not large. If it is limited to travelogues and other miscellaneous writings, then it is even rarer.
He picked up a Jade Slip, but didn't examine it closely. He glanced at it twice as if he were bored, then tossed it back onto the bookshelf, pursing his lips as if he was somewhat impatient.
There were other disciples in the pavilion, and seeing this, they assumed that the Sect Leader's son was simply bored and playing around.
Even the elders in the pavilion only paid attention to him for a moment. Seeing that he only glanced at each Jade Slip twice, they thought he was just fooling around and didn't care.
In the Ke Comprehensive Mirror forum, Yan Wushuang was posting like crazy.
"This is a travelogue by a Spirit Transformation elder..."
"This senior, uh, the Taishang Elder..."
"I've never heard of that..."
This was a little trick that Zheng Fa and Xie Qingxue had come up with to deceive them:
For a Golden Core cultivator like Yan Wushuang, glancing at the contents of the Jade Slip a few times wasn't enough to fully understand them, but it was sufficient to memorize and transcribe them into the Jade Slip.
To outsiders, Yan Wushuang seemed to lack common sense.
But the problem is...
Zheng Fa, with a large group of men, is acting as his brains:
Although Xiao Yuying, an Archaeology, did not receive highly specialized training, she was quite capable of textual analysis.
In addition, several disciples skilled in alchemy were there to explain some unfamiliar terms to them.
These travelogues, written in different eras and even with different grammatical structures, were quickly and thoroughly analyzed.
Through the Nine Mountains Forum, Yan Wushuang also received the same treatment as Zheng Fa —becoming a ruthless scanner.
Yan Wushuang quickly scanned dozens of Jade Slip, but found no record of the Five-Element Orchid.
Two hours later, Xiao Yuying suddenly called out:
"This!"
Let's take a look at Zheng Fa Yan Wushuang's new posts.
This was a very long note, but with Zheng Fa's Divine Sense far exceeding that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators, he quickly found the place Xiao Yuying was referring to.
"... It is said that the Clear Spirit Pill has an ingredient called Five-Element Orchid, but unfortunately it no longer exists. However, the Clear Spirit Pill is extremely important to cultivators, so a virtuous Alchemist spent a hundred years finally improving the formula for the Clear Spirit Pill Formula..."
Five-Element Orchid!
Zheng Fa was thrilled, but quickly posted a message: "Brother Yan, don't look back!"
Yan Wushuang, who was in the Secret Pavilion, was initially excited and wanted to see the Jade Slip that recorded the Five-Element Orchid. However, she suddenly froze and walked straight to the next bookshelf.
Fortunately, Zheng Fa gave me a reminder.
Otherwise, he might have turned back and taken a closer look at the Jade Slip...
Xie Qingxue scanned him with her Divine Sense, inwardly cursing her junior brother for being foolish, but also feeling relieved.
Zheng Fa looked at Xiao Yuying, who pondered for a moment and said:
"The writing style and vocabulary of this travelogue are likely typical of the early years of this era."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa's spirits lifted. In that case, the account in the travelogue became much more credible.
But Xiao Yuying's next words left him somewhat disappointed:
"The Clear Spirit Pill is not a very rare type of pill."
Zheng Fa didn't speak, but instead looked at the disciples who were skilled in Dao of Alchemy.
" Xiao Fairy says is true." The disciples exchanged glances, and the Golden Core disciple in the middle, who had the highest cultivation level, stood up and explained somewhat nervously, " The Clear Spirit Pill is a kind of pill that purifies spiritual energy, suitable for cultivators above the Foundation Establishment."
"We don't know the Pill Formula for the Clear Spirit Pill, but we've certainly never heard of any sect acquiring the Five-Element Orchid."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa understood the meaning:
Since the Clear Spirit Pill is not rare, there must be a reason why no one is buying the Five-Element Orchid —this reason should be what this travelogue says: the Pill Formula for the Clear Spirit Pill has been changed.
The reason why the Clear Spirit Pill is not rare is probably because, as mentioned in the travelogue, cultivators have a great demand for this kind of pill, and it has always been in high demand.
At this moment, Xie Qingxue from the post suddenly spoke:
"I saw the Pill Formula for the Clear Spirit Pill a few days ago!"
Zheng Fa perked up, waiting for Xie Qingxue to continue.
Xie Qingxue walked a few steps along the bookshelf, picked up a Jade Slip, checked it again, and then said definitively, "The ingredients in the Pill Formula formula do not include Five-Element Orchid."
After reading this sentence, Zheng Fa thought for a while before slowly analyzing it in the post:
"What you see now, Fairy Xie, is the current Pill Formula... which means it has been modified."
"Brother Yan's travelogue mentions the Clear Spirit Pill from the past, which used the Five-Element Orchid."
Yan Wushuang quickly replied, "So, the pills that the Founder used for cultivation back then were Clear Spirit Pill?"
Zheng Fa pondered for a moment before saying, "I don't think so. Even the Five-Element Orchid isn't recorded, so I'm afraid no one would dare to refine that kind of elixir back then."
"This... isn't it all for naught!"
Yan Wushuang's words were tinged with deep disappointment.
Not only him, but also Xiao Yuying and the others in the hall looked somewhat disappointed.
Zheng Fa, however, was not so discouraged. He comforted Humanity's Dao, "At least we've figured out that the Clear Spirit Pill is related to the Five-Element Orchid..."
"What's the use of this?"
"I don't know," Zheng Fa replied again, then added, "I'll find out in a bit."
Not only Xiao Yuying, but even Xie Qingxue and Yan Wushuang, who were far away in the Tianhe Sect, looked puzzled.
But Zheng Fa sent another message to another traitor:
" Seventh Young Master, do you know about... the Clear Spirit Pill?"
Xiao Yuying looked at him as he took out the Creation Jade Disc, seemingly guessing what he was doing. Her expression was also shocked—you've already bribed the senior sister and the Sect Leader's son of the Tianhe Sect, which is outrageous enough, and you still come here?
Zheng Fa smiled slightly, seemingly a little shy. "At home we rely on Senior Sister Zhang, but when we go out we rely on traitors, bah, good comrade."
Research always requires data collection, but the Nine Mountains Sect happens to lack some data and can only rely on... borrowing.
It just so happens that the Azure Wood Sect, where Seventh Young Master Zhao Jingfan belongs, is extremely skilled in Dao of Alchemy!
(End of this chapter)