Past Events

"Miss, why have you stripped naked again so early in the morning? Don't get too carried away. Luckily Qingyue is still sleeping in and hasn't gotten up yet. Hurry and put on your robe."

Fuling carried a tea set into the sitting room and felt a headache coming on when she saw Fairy Wangshu lying face-down on the bed with her snowy buttocks raised.

Fairy Wangshu coquettishly said to her maid, "Fuling, take a look for me. I fell asleep at the bottom of the lake last night, and it feels like some bug bit my butt. Did it leave a scar...?"

Fuling's brow twitched. The two had spent so much time together that they had long since discarded all formality. She walked over and gave her a slap, making the fairy cry out. "Miss, you're a Nascent Soul Stage Real Person! Besides, you already ate every living thing in the Cold Pool. What could possibly bite through your skin? Stop teasing me and put on your undergarment. It's time for morning tea!"

"Eh... but I really was pricked..." Fairy Wangshu had a pile of clothes thrown over her, covering her face. She could only lazily climb up, twisting sideways as she sprawled half-reclined on the bed without a trace of decorum. "What tea are we having today? Did the outer mountain send over any Devil Embryos to go with the drinks?"

"Chrysanthemum tea and chrysanthemum cakes." Fuling irritably filled a cup for her mistress. "I heard that last night, Qin Jianshi nearly transformed into a Devil Form. They almost had to summon even the Black Sword from outside the mountain. In the end, he gritted his teeth and severed three heads and one tail of his own before stopping it. It was truly dangerous."

Fairy Wangshu was deeply disappointed, swallowing her saliva as she said, "What a pity. It would have been best if the master had broken through to Divine Transformation. Even if he had transformed into a Devil Infant Divine Embryo, eating him would have greatly improved my cultivation. But if he forcibly suppressed it and remained in a Nascent Soul Dao Body, then the flavor would be a little lacking...

"Tell you what, Fuling. Go to the outer mountain on my behalf and ask for a piece of meat. Cook it for Qingyue to nourish him."

Still shaken, Fuling bowed. "Yes, Miss."

Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the corridor. Fuling saw that Fairy Wangshu still had most of one pale leg spread out on the bed, and flicked her finger. Two rolls of light gauze curtains flew out from her Storage Jade bracelet, rising with the wind to hang before the room's entrance and conceal her mistress's body.

"Qingyue, it's still early. You can sleep a little longer while you're growing."

Then Fuling turned to look at the boy emerging from the front hall and froze.

This was clearly the Dao Child she had met last night, yet he seemed like a different person.

Golden light glittered in his eyes, bright as starlight. His entire body glowed with a faint white radiance, and his aura was peaceful, yet his qi body surged with vigor. He was like a sharp edge concealed within divine brilliance, like warm jade that was gentle and refined.

He looked as though...

"Eh? Qingyue, you actually comprehended the Heavenly Cycle Qi-Body Circulation on your own?" Real Person Wanshu spoke from behind the curtains, sounding quite pleasantly surprised.

"In reply to the fairy, it was thanks to Sister Fuling's guidance that this junior gained a little insight." Li Fan calmly glanced through the gauze curtains at Fairy Wangshu's beautiful, seductive figure. It no longer mattered. He had comprehended the immortal Dao of Heavenly Human Creation and qi-body circulation. He no longer possessed such worldly desires...

Li Fan's mood greatly increased by 1 point.

Well, perhaps he still had a little...

"It took him only one night to open his Inner Landscape and complete a Heavenly Cycle... How long until he reaches Foundation Establishment..." Fuling realized that she no longer had any sense of what normal cultivation progress was.

Fairy Wangshu casually gathered up her moon-colored robe, tied a silk sash around her waist, and stepped out from behind the gauze curtains, licking her red lips with a smile.

"Fuling, don't dwell on it. Qingyue is a Dao Child who has seen the Supreme Plain Heavenly Dao. His cultivation is naturally thousands, even hundreds of thousands of times faster than that of ordinary qi refiners. Haven't I told you before? If you wish to form a Golden Core, gazing at the stars and worshipping the moon is the great Dao method. Otherwise, Miss can cut off a piece of flesh for you to eat. That would also be a shortcut."

Fuling's hand suddenly trembled, spilling tea onto the table. Her eyes lowered. "I would not dare. Fuling would not dare rashly seek the Heavenly Dao."

"Everyone has their own aspirations. That does not count as a rash pursuit." Fairy Wangshu did not seem to care. She smiled at the baffled Li Fan. "But Qingyue, now that your qi has traveled through a Heavenly Cycle, you must have experienced the wonders of the great Dao, yes?"

Mm, he understood a little. It really did feel great. Li Fan had circulated his qi through the entire night without pause. He felt refreshed, his qi body full, his body light as a swallow. His meridian Inner Landscape was already brimming with true qi, while his five viscera were filled with Five Elements True Qi, which had formed a galaxy-like vortex in his Qi Sea and continued to rotate inward. Once this vortex completely filled the Qi Sea, condensed into liquid, and filled both the Qi Sea and all the qi apertures throughout his body's meridians, his Foundation Establishment would be complete.

Fairy Wangshu smiled. "I had intended to cultivate together with you today and personally teach you about meridians and qi apertures, joining our bodies to transmit qi and let you experience its sensation. I never expected your realm to advance so quickly. It seems you gained something at Void Star Dao Ancestor's place. Then there is no need for me to do anything redundant."

...Wait! Had he cultivated too fast and missed out on a fortune?!

Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.

Li Fan hurriedly said, "Cough, cough, cough. Well, Fairy, I actually feel that my cultivation is not very stable yet. I still need to cultivate togeth... I mean, receive more guidance..."

Fuling gave the little pervert a sidelong glare.

Fairy Wangshu smiled and shook her head. "Now that your Heavenly Cycle is complete, your Qi Sea is not stable enough. If I transmit qi to you again, it would instead hinder your cultivation. As for knowledge of qi apertures and meridians, merely memorize it. You can go to the Scripture Pavilion and borrow books to read later. I will not demonstrate it personally."

Fuck... His first dual cultivation experience was just gone like that! What a loss!

Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.

"But I never imagined that Void Star Dao Ancestor would even teach Dao arts meant for the Qi Refining Stage. Truly unfathomable..." Fairy Wangshu thought for a moment. "I had originally calculated that I would need to teach you closely for at least a month before guiding you to form a Heavenly Cycle and cultivate on your own. Yet you attained enlightenment by yourself. It would not be right to teach you nothing at all..."

Li Fan's eyes filled with tears.

Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.

"Let's do this, Fuling. Take Qingyue around the Outer Sect today and let him meet some of the inner and outer sect disciples."

"Yes, Miss."

Fairy Wangshu asked Li Fan again, "Qingyue, is there anything you wish to learn? Pill refining and artifact forging, talismans and formations, mechanisms and divination?"

I don't want to learn any of that. I just want dual cultivation...

Li Fan's mood decreased by 1 point.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent strongly recommends that the host choose mechanisms. The system agrees.

You two made me lose a dual cultivation opportunity, and you still have the nerve to say that?!

"This disciple wishes to learn mechanisms..." Li Fan pursed his lips.

"Oh, you want to learn mechanical arts..." Fairy Wangshu's eyes flickered, and she nodded with a smile. "Very well. I will make preparations."

As she spoke, she leaped lightly into the air. Like a flying Profound Maiden, she stepped across the fluttering gauze curtains, skimmed over the surface of the Cold Pool, and flew gracefully into the clouds.

Li Fan looked up at the sky, feeling lost.

Fuling said irritably, "Stop staring, little pervert. Miss has already flown away. Eat your tea and snacks."

"Oh." Li Fan sat at the tea table and took a bite of chrysanthemum cake, followed by a sip of chrysanthemum tea. It was fragrant and refreshing, soothing to the heart.

Li Fan's mood increased by 1 point.

"Oh, oh, oh~~~ Sister Fuling, this is really delicious!"

Fuling sat beside him and watched him eat. "Of course it is. Even the chief cooks of Liqiu Palace admire my skill."

Li Fan nodded repeatedly, his cheeks stuffed full.

Fuling hesitated before leaning closer and asking, "Qingyue, did you really see it?"

Here we go again.

Li Fan shrugged. "I did. I saw a Non-Thing, I suppose. What did you see, Sister Fuling? Oh, right, you didn't... What was that thing about entering meditation through Moon Worship?"

Fuling shook her head. "I did not dare. There is nothing bad about cultivating the Postnatal Immortal Dao like this."

So Fuling was like the Outer Sect Disciples, an immortal cultivator who sought only a lifetime of wealth and prosperity.

"You are truly brave, daring to pursue the great Dao after seeing a Non-Thing." Fuling rested her cheek on her knee. "I couldn't do it. When I was little, I saw Miss reveal her Devil Form... Anyway, I never want to become something like that..."

Li Fan struggled to swallow the cake in his mouth.

Come to think of it, that was true. Fairy Wangshu might look like she was handing out benefits, but Fuling, who knew her true nature, had actually been traumatized by it. What the hell did her true form look like to leave such a huge psychological shadow...

"Oh, you needn't worry about Miss. She only reached the Nascent Soul Stage a hundred years ago. Her realm is stable, and she has not yet reached the time to break through to Divine Transformation. You're full, right? Then let's go."

Fuling waved her hand and put the dishes into her Storage Jade bracelet. Honestly, the fact that it meant she never had to wash dishes made it a divine artifact on its own.

Fuling did not possess Golden Core cultivation, nor did she seem capable of carrying Li Fan through the air on a flying sword. But with the favor of her mistress, she naturally did not lack a magic treasure for travel.

She brought Li Fan to the courtyard outside Wangshu Residence and released a flying boat onto the lake.

This flying boat was probably one of those mechanical tools. Its prow bore a bronze kite's head, its stern had golden-winged mechanisms, and every feather on the wings spread along its sides was engraved with talismanic runes and spells. It could ride the wind and waves, shield its passengers from wind and dust, and its cabin was far more spacious than it appeared from outside. One could sit or lie down normally within it, drink wine and relax, and there was even a place to change clothes and wash up.

Fuling sat beside a table, arranging her hair before a bright mirror, applying floral ornaments, rouge, and powder as she carefully dressed herself up.

Li Fan looked out over the side of the boat as the small vessel rose into the sky and flew through the winds of the grotto-heaven. Naturally, it was certainly much slower than flying on a sword.

To be honest, Li Fan could not make much sense of the principles behind these mechanical arts. He could only guess that certain components were closely connected to qi. Otherwise, how could a wooden boat with merely decorative wings and no visible propulsion system fly through heaven and earth so freely?

"Qingyue, you should know that not every Real Person in our sect's mountain is as carefree and unconcerned with etiquette as Miss," Fuling said, glancing at Li Fan through the mirror. "When you travel outside in the future, you will be a boy attendant under Real Person Wanshu. Miss may not care about certain manners, but you must keep an eye on them yourself."

"Please instruct me, Sister Fuling." Li Fan understood what she meant and turned back to sit properly.

Fuling nodded. "We will first visit the Outer Sect and find you a post. A boy attendant under a Real Person must manage the affairs outside the mountain on the Real Person's behalf. It serves first to gain experience and build connections, and second to earn offerings to supplement daily expenses."

Li Fan was genuinely stunned. "Earn money? Immortals spend money too?"

Fuling dabbed at her lips with rouge. "Why would immortals not spend money? Do you think these things are truly conjured out of thin air?"

That was not impossible, but weren't immortal cultivation novels usually full of people spending millions and millions of Spirit Stones? There were also methods of "borrowing" money like turning stone into gold and Five Ghosts Transport. So many brown-robed disciples cultivated within the grotto-heaven of the Outer Sect. The offerings should have been substantial, shouldn't they?

"Those offerings are for the mountain master and the Real Persons. What Bamboo Mountain gives you is yours. Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures are naturally bartered, but for clothing, food, lodging, travel, cosmetics, and powder, you still need to keep some money on hand to buy things from the Human Dao. Only after you become a Real Person, have maidservants and boy attendants serving you, and receive offerings from sects and great clans, can you cast such matters aside and live freely."

Fuling flicked her wrist and took out a red pouch embroidered with golden fish, then poured out a string of gold and copper coins.

Li Fan leaned over to inspect them.

The coins were round with square holes. Some were strung together with red cord, while others were loose. They came in faint gold, silver, and red shades, though their sizes and weights were not greatly different. They were probably the equivalent of copper, silver, and gold coins...

Fuling used her index finger to separate coins of the three colors.

"This gold-colored one is a Divine Astral Coin designated by the Twelve Immortal Palaces. It is actually bronze. After the Human Dao imperial court mints it, they ask the Immortal Palaces to bless and consecrate it with a trace of Divine Astral Zhenqi, so the coin will not discolor after long use. The Twelve Immortal Palaces hold the greatest power and are most closely tied to the Human Dao, so Divine Astral Coins are also the most widely circulated.

"This silver one is a Spirit Coin minted by the Nine Great Xuan Sects. It is made from silver and can ward off evil and baleful influences, dispel devils and suppress wickedness. It can be used as a Magic Treasure, so it is more commonly used among independent cultivators. Mortals even use them to guard their homes. Once they attract misfortune and turn black, they can no longer be used.

"This red one is a Blood Coin cast through secret methods by the Ten Absolutes God Sect. It circulates within the God Sect's sphere of influence. In recent years, the Ten Absolutes God Sect has grown increasingly powerful, and more and more merchants use Blood Coins. I heard they soak red copper in Devil Embryo demon blood, though I do not know whether that is true."

Li Fan stood there dumbfounded.

What was this? Were they cultivating immortality or running a financial system?! Damn, the sects even issued their own currencies!

"What about our Bamboo Mountain?"

Fuling chuckled. "You're dreaming big. How could Bamboo Mountain have that kind of foundation?

"The Immortal Palaces, Xuan Sects, and God Sects—these three great powers have stood in opposition across the Central Plains since before ancient times, before the False Moon appeared. Each Immortal Palace and Xuan Sect under them is an ancient, enduring great sect. How long has our Bamboo Mountain Sect even been established in this barbaric land? How could we be mentioned in the same breath as them?"

Sigh, so he had joined some third-rate rural sect... Probably the kind located on the border between city and countryside...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent says: ask about the current state of the Beichen Sword Sect.

Beichen Sword Sect? Were they relatives or something? It sounded like a sword immortal sect, probably the sect of the Profound Heaven Sword Intent's former host.

Li Fan did not really care, but he still asked, "Sister Fuling, I suddenly remembered something from the past. When I was young, I think I heard a storyteller mention the Beichen Sword Sect. Was it fictional, or...?"

Fuling nodded repeatedly. "Oh, you mean that ancestor of sword immortals, leader of the Xuan Sects, the renowned Beichen Sword Sect? It is normal that you would have heard of it in the Human Dao. Sword immortals uphold justice, slay demons and eradicate devils. They are models of the righteous path. I admire them as well!"

Profound Heaven Sword Intent says this girl's aptitude is pretty decent.

Li Fan said, "..."

Then Fuling sighed and shook her head. "Unfortunately, Youquan destroyed the sect. It has been about five hundred years..."

Sword Intent?

Profound Heaven Sword Intent does not wish to speak for the moment.