Poison Valley in Taichu Mountain

Zhang Kuang was making his own little calculations. If I managed to become the sect leader, wouldn't I be the Guardian Immortal Master of Xianglong Kingdom? That title would be even more imposing than the emperor's!

Xu Tunhu took over at that moment. "Hmph. If our Taichu Sect could enter the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley and retrieve the Magic Treasures and Spiritual Arts left behind during the Immortal-Demon War, how could we be merely the foremost sect of Xianglong Kingdom?" He paused, then said proudly, "Our Taichu Sect possesses an advantage no other sect has: we are closest to one of the battlefields from the Immortal-Demon War hundreds of thousands of years ago—the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley!"

"Countless powerful figures fell in that Immortal-Demon War, and all sorts of treasures they spent their lives collecting were scattered throughout the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley. There are long-lost Ancient Spiritual Arts, Demonic Arts, and many Magic Treasures capable of stirring the entire Cultivation World into a bloody storm!"

"Then... then why don't we go get them?" Zhang Kuang, who had been pretending to be honest, pricked up his ears as he listened to Zhao Jialong and Xu Tunhu, afraid of missing a single word. When he heard that the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley, where countless treasures lay scattered, was near the Taichu Sect and was still an untouched virgin land, he immediately grew anxious. "Wouldn't it be terrible if other sects stole the treasures first?"

Xu Tunhu shot Zhang Kuang, whose intelligence had instantly dropped to zero upon hearing the word treasure, a disdainful glare. He sneered, "If they could be taken at will, would we need your reminder? And if other sects dared trespass into the sphere of influence of our Taichu Sect, did they take our Taichu Sect for a place with no one to defend it?"

Zhang Kuang cursed Xu Tunhu furiously in his heart after being rebuked, but he showed an honest smile on the surface and repeatedly agreed.

"Back when the Immortal-Demon War reached its most critical juncture, the demonic path showed signs of defeat. In a fit of rage, the Myriad Poison Demon Lord, one of the ancestors of the demonic path, self-destructed, poisoning countless experts from both the immortal and demonic paths to death. Aside from a tiny handful of powerful figures whose cultivation was roughly equal to his and who escaped by sheer luck, not one survived! The Myriad Poison Demon Lord was an unrivaled powerhouse. Even now, cultivators who enter the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley are poisoned to death. Even knowing there are treasures inside, who would dare barge in to hunt for them?"

"After the Myriad Poison Demon Lord self-destructed, the poisonous miasma spread across more than half of Dayu Mountain, forming the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley! Present-day Dayu Mountain is only one-third the size it was then. Even cultivators of extremely high realms do not dare enter lightly, and still find it difficult to enter the Poison Valley or withstand the poison miasma. The vast Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley has always allowed entry but never exit."

Qin Haoxuan clicked his tongue inwardly as he listened. He had possessed Little Snake and explored the depths of Xiaoyu Mountain before; that place alone had been unimaginably dangerous, and it had been easy to lose one's way. How much more dangerous, then, was the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley—three times larger than Dayu Mountain, the greatest mountain in Xianglong Kingdom, and a battlefield from the Immortal-Demon War?

Xu Tunhu let out a low sigh. "Places where the world's yin, poison, or yang energies are at their most extreme are especially likely to produce Mutated Spiritual Herbs. After being nourished for so many years, the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley must have produced many Mutated Spiritual Herbs. If we could bring those herbs out, perhaps the ancestors of our sect whose lifespans are nearing their end could break through to the fifth level, the Immortal Infant Dao Fruit Realm, and gain several hundred more years of life. Then the strength of our Taichu Sect could soar once again!"

Listening to Xu Tunhu, Qin Haoxuan gradually came to a conclusion. These so-called Immortals were actually cultivators. Though they could fly through the skies and burrow through the earth, they were not true Immortals. There were still places in this world they did not dare visit, still disputes and territories of influence. Nor were they immortal as the legends claimed; if they wished to live longer, they had to break into new realms, defy heaven to seize life, and add to their lifespans.

"You two senior brothers are so formidable. You must be experts of the third or fourth level, right?" Zhang Kuang asked with a foolish grin, laying on the flattery.

"How could it be that simple?" Xu Tunhu sighed when cultivation was mentioned. "The first level of cultivation is the Immortal Root Planting Realm. Only by guiding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one's body, watering the immortal seed, and making it sprout and grow leaves can one break through to the second level, the Immortal Seedling Realm. An immortal seedling can grow forty-nine leaves; the more immortal leaves it has, the stronger one is. Only after all forty-nine leaves have grown does one have a chance to pull up the seedling and turn it into a tree!"

"I entered the sect thirty years ago and only broke through to the Immortal Seedling Realm, growing eleven immortal leaves! Senior Brother Zhao is the outstanding talent of our generation. He spent more than thirty years growing twenty-two immortal leaves. If one cannot pull up the seedling and turn it into a tree, breaking through to the third-level Immortal Tree Realm, then once one's one hundred and fifty years of lifespan are exhausted, without miraculous pills to prolong life, death is the only road left! How could the third and fourth levels on the path of cultivation be as simple as saying a few words?"

"If one had miraculous pills to assist cultivation, would it not yield twice the result with half the effort?"

"What nonsense. If miraculous pills that aided cultivation could be obtained as easily as picking them up and used without end, even Elder Huang's useless son would have the cultivation of the seventeenth leaf of the Immortal Seedling Realm. If Senior Brother Zhao's father were also an elder of the sect, then with Senior Brother Zhao's talent and aptitude..."

Seeing Xu Tunhu's words growing more and more outrageous, Zhao Jialong gave several dry coughs and said coldly, "Junior Brother Xu! Watch your words!"

Xu Tunhu's expression turned cold. Realizing he had said too much, he shut his mouth and did not dare make another sound.

Qin Haoxuan and the other two each had their own thoughts, all quietly making their own little calculations.

It seemed that supreme aptitude alone was not enough on the path of cultivation. One also needed countless miraculous pills, rare treasures, and exotic artifacts as support in order to advance faster! Although his aptitude was inferior to Zhang Kuang's, he had Little Snake, which was immune to a hundred poisons. Perhaps he could possess it and enter the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley. If he could obtain one or two treasures, he would surely shine brilliantly in the Taichu Sect!

Though it was extremely dangerous, Qin Haoxuan's desire to enter the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley in search of treasure only grew stronger!

There were more people in the Taichu Sect with better aptitude than his than could be counted, along with many second-generation immortals born with golden keys in their mouths. With merely average aptitude and no special background, if he did not seize this opportunity and stake everything on one throw, he would have no hope of making a name for himself among the tens of thousands of Taichu Sect disciples.

They said nothing for the rest of the journey. After racing on horseback without sleep or rest for three days and three nights, they finally arrived at the foot of Dayu Mountain.

Dayu Mountain, the home of Xianglong Kingdom's foremost sect, was lofty and majestic, its ranges rising and falling without end.

Amid layer upon layer of mountains, the main peak, Emperor Huang Peak, pierced straight into the clouds. A winding, rugged yet magnificent Heaven-Reaching Ladder stretched from the mountaintop all the way to its base. At its starting point stood a mountain gate carved in openwork from an enormous slab of bluish stone—simple and grand, beautiful without being gaudy.

Two blood-red characters in clerical script were inscribed upon the gate—"Taichu."

At the end of the Heaven-Reaching Ladder stood Taichu Treasure Hall, a sacred immortal ground longed for by all of Xianglong Kingdom. If one was not a disciple of the Taichu Sect, even an emperor who stood head and shoulders above all others could enter only once in his lifetime, when receiving an investiture.

Dayu Mountain, brimming everywhere with immortal spiritual energy, was utterly different from the barren and perilous Xiaoyu Mountain. They walked amid birdsong and fragrant flowers until reaching the foot of Emperor Huang Peak. Emperor Huang Peak in particular was veiled in drifting clouds and mist, with immortal melodies lingering in the air, like a realm of immortals.

Even the steady-minded Qin Haoxuan could not help staring blankly. He had thought Dayu Mountain, so close to the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley, would be desolate and miserable, and that the Taichu Sect must surely lie deep within its depths. He had expected those depths to be even more dangerous than the depths of Xiaoyu Mountain, and had already steeled himself to risk his life, prepared to climb the mountain through thorns and blades to learn the arts. Yet he had never expected this place to be nothing short of an earthly paradise!

"Dayu Mountain has the finest Feng Shui and spiritual energy in Xianglong Kingdom. It has also been steeped in our sect's immortal aura for thousands of years. Naturally, its mountains are clear, its waters beautiful, and it produces outstanding people in a place of spiritual excellence." Xu Tunhu did not mock them, for thirty years ago, when he and the others had first entered the sect, they had been just as shocked.

"After rushing for three days and three nights, we finally made it before tomorrow's final test!" Zhao Jialong let out a breath, dismounted, and said to Qin Haoxuan and the other two, who were still immersed in the scenery, "Riding is forbidden up Emperor Huang Peak. Follow the Heaven-Reaching Ladder to the Mid-Mountain Pavilion, where someone will arrange your accommodations. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow's final test is extremely important, so remember this!"

After guiding Qin Haoxuan and the other two through registration at the desk below the mountain gate, he and Xu Tunhu headed up the mountain. They moved with astonishing speed and soon vanished from sight.

Besides Qin Haoxuan's group, Taichu Sect disciples continually brought in newcomers who had passed the selection. After likewise telling them someone would receive them at the Mid-Mountain Pavilion, they disappeared in a hurry, presumably rushing off to meditate and cultivate to make up for the losses from their days away.

Even at top speed, Qin Haoxuan took a full three hours to reach the Mid-Mountain Pavilion. By then, evening was approaching, and the setting sun spilled across Dayu Mountain, sketching the beauty of dusk in all its splendor.

Standing halfway up the mountain, he saw refined houses and tiled buildings as far as the eye could reach: red walls, green tiles, tall and straight trees, and flowerbeds of every color exuding faint fragrances. The buildings, flowers, and trees had been arranged with perfect care.

The Mid-Mountain Pavilion was actually a long corridor, as well as the Taichu Sect's public display board. Various patterns were carved into the waist-high low walls of the corridor: rare beasts and exotic creatures, famous mountains and great rivers, many oddly shaped Immortals, and portions of the Taichu Sect's history.

The corridor was crammed with around one or two hundred people, all new disciples selected this year.

The Taichu Sect's several-thousand-year foundation left these young lads amazed. One by one, they studied the murals and writings with rapt attention, and all felt a surge of pride at becoming Taichu Sect disciples.

By the time the scattered newcomers had all arrived, the sun had already set. Only then did a Taichu Sect disciple in his forties stroll over, his expression arrogant. "Follow me!"

After leading more than two hundred newcomers to eat in the dining hall, he threaded through the refined buildings toward their lodgings. A noble youth in luxurious clothes, a jade pendant hanging from his waist, could not help exclaiming, "Good heavens, this is even more beautiful than the imperial palace's royal gardens!"

Thinking that they would live in an immortal realm more beautiful than the royal gardens, most of the disciples from poor families could not help feeling excited and expectant.

However, after twisting and turning through several paths, the senior brother leading them brought them near a row of low, shabby houses.

"Gather here at dawn tomorrow. Someone will take you to the final test. Above the mountainside lies important sect territory, and you are not qualified to enter yet. Remember not to wander around, or you will be expelled from the sect and never accepted again!" He pointed at the low, dilapidated houses. "Those are your lodgings for tonight."

Though their hopes had been shattered, the youths only cursed the Taichu Sect for being stingy in their hearts. None dared voice his dissatisfaction as they watched the senior brother turn and leave.

"Wait! Is this a dog kennel? Is this fit for people to live in?" An imposing youth frowned and demanded without reservation.

He wore a yellow robe embroidered at the chest with two golden dragons playing with a pearl. His hair was coiled with a white jade hairpin, an exquisitely carved dragon-shaped jade pendant hung at his waist, and an amber-colored jade thumb ring rested on his hand. One glance was enough to tell that he was no ordinary family's son.

The guide halted and turned back with a gloomy expression. Had he not seen the youth's attire and guessed his identity, a new disciple putting on such airs before even making a name for himself would have made him explode long ago. Even so, he replied in an unfriendly tone, "New disciples receive only this treatment. If you refuse to accept it, go argue with the elders!"

"Impudent! Do you know who he is? He is Li Jing, the third Prince most favored by the current emperor of Xianglong Kingdom!" a follower beside Third Prince Li Jing shouted. This follower was likewise dressed in splendid robes and carried himself with grandeur; he was presumably also the child of nobility.

A smile full of disdain appeared on the guide's face. With a sweep of his great sleeve, he said, "Even if your old emperor himself came here, he would have to obey the Taichu Sect's rules on Dayu Mountain. Third Prince? You are nothing more than a mortal. Stop putting on airs in Taichu."

With that, he strolled away.

Li Jing and several noble youths beside him darkened after being rebuffed. Li Jing laughed heartily and said, "Does Father Emperor not often teach us to go deep among the people and understand their hardships? Is this not an excellent chance to experience it?"

Worthy of being a member of the imperial family, he successfully found himself a step to descend from and won the goodwill of many disciples from poor families.

Li Jing took the lead in entering the house. A moldy smell rushed into his nose. The long, narrow room was dark and damp; when he stepped on the floor, he even squeezed out water, producing a faint sizzle.

Li Jing's identity as a Prince drew much attention. Quite a few people had already taken the initiative to gather around him and build connections.

Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang wore enthusiastic smiles as they had already drawn several youths to their side, chatting with blazing fervor.

While everyone was making friends and gathering factions for their future, a small number sat silently at the edges of their beds. These people were either insecure by nature or too introverted and poor at socializing.

Qin Haoxuan did not join the excitement. He gave perfunctory replies to the youths who approached him, chose a quilt, and began cleaning it.

Beside Qin Haoxuan stood a thin, small boy only as tall as Qin Haoxuan's shoulder. Delicate-looking and at a complete loss, he seemed to be away from home for the first time and sharing a room with so many people for the first time. Being small and inconspicuous, no one took the initiative to greet him.

"Hey, help me shake out this quilt, will you?" Seeing how lonely and helpless he looked, Qin Haoxuan's compassion surged. He greeted him first. "Qin Haoxuan from Xiaoyu Mountain. And you?"

The boy smiled faintly, revealing white teeth. He deftly took the quilt and shook off its dust with Qin Haoxuan before saying timidly, "Xu... Xu Yu..."

While most people were socializing, Qin Haoxuan and Xu Yu, who were arranging their bedding, caught Li Jing's attention.

The thin and tiny Xu Yu was one thing, but Qin Haoxuan was open and sunny. His bronzed muscles and sturdy build showed that his physical constitution was good, and his aptitude ought to be quite good as well.

Li Jing walked before Qin Haoxuan and cupped his hands. "Li Jing. May I ask this brother's honored name?"

"Qin Haoxuan." Qin Haoxuan returned the salute with cupped hands.

"Brother Qin, from now on we are all disciples of the Taichu Sect and fellow senior and junior brothers of the same generation. The Taichu Sect is filled with powerful experts, and we disciples who have just entered will not be valued. In the future, we should support one another and advance or retreat together!"

Li Jing smiled warmly and draped an arm around Qin Haoxuan's shoulders, appearing extremely intimate.

After all, Li Jing was the third Prince of Xianglong Kingdom and had taken the initiative to speak with him. If Qin Haoxuan brushed him off, it would seem as though he were putting on too many airs. Qin Haoxuan smiled and chatted with him half-heartedly. Yet Xu Yu stood right beside Qin Haoxuan, and Li Jing did not spare him so much as a glance, as though he simply did not exist, completely ignoring him.

Before long, Qin Haoxuan had formed an assessment of Li Jing: outwardly warm, but deeply calculating. He only befriended people he considered valuable and promising.

After the youths chatted for a while, night fully descended, and icy mountain winds howled through the cracks in the walls.

Though temperatures were not low during the day in early autumn, the difference between day and night was enormous. Especially in this cold, damp house, some of the weaker youths were already shivering violently from the cold.

Although the two communal sleeping platforms had more than enough room for two hundred people and held more than two hundred quilts, the quilts were damp and thin. Water could be squeezed from them with a hard pinch, and they gave off a pungent smell of mold.

This was the clearest outline in my heart: this was Taichu. Welcome, everyone.