Ye Tu

The herb hoe fell, and with a crash, a huge section of the cliff face was swept away. Yu Ci began to work more carefully, painstakingly grinding away the rock within. Even so, wherever the herb hoe passed, stone dust came sifting down. It was as though the wall before him was not rock harder than gold and iron, but something molded from clay.

At that moment, someone shouted from the clouds and mist nearby.

"Uncle Yu, there are three hundred plants over here already. Let's take a break!" The youth's voice still bore traces of puberty, hoarse to an extreme. Of course, it was also possible that he was deliberately playing pitiful to win sympathy.

Yu Ci turned his head and answered. Faintly, the youth's cheers drifted over from the other side. He shook his head and continued his work until he had completely carved out the herb and placed it in a stone box. This was the last "suspected Fish Dragon Grass" within fifty li, and progress had been ten times faster than in the previous days!

Whenever this happened, Yu Ci felt that Ye Tu was quite an interesting little fellow.

Ye Tu was the youth he had rescued. According to the boy himself, he had ridden a colossal ship piled from clouds, as vast as a mountain range, flying in from the sea at the far eastern edge of the world. He had traveled about, taking in mountains and rivers, until he reached Sky Rift Valley. While hunting there, he had revealed his gold saber and been targeted by the nearby Poisonous Snake Monk, who attacked to rob him.

Yu Ci was half-convinced and half-doubtful about things such as the "Mountain-Moving Cloud Boat." He was willing to believe that this world held all manner of unbelievable things, and he treated them as goals to pursue. What remained was merely his annoyance at the youth's fondness for boasting.

In Yu Ci's eyes, aside from loving to brag, this brat had a whole string of problems—cowardice in the face of death, pettiness, laziness, and more. He was the very picture of a sheltered young master from a wealthy family. The rest was one thing, but Yu Ci truly could not stand his "cowardice in the face of death." The boy's behavior had dealt a blow to Yu Ci's aspirations and admiration for cultivators as a group.

After Yu Ci lectured him a few times, Ye Tu nodded and bowed obediently, yet directly changed his formerly affectionate "Brother Yu" into "Uncle"—pure childish spite.

Still, the brat had things to be proud of. For example, he was loaded!

No wonder the Poisonous Snake Monk had been moved by greed at the sight of treasure. This brat was simply a Treasure Boy. Strange and peculiar items could emerge from the Storage Ring on his hand at any time. The herb hoe in Yu Ci's hand had been contributed by the youth. Its entire body was forged from some kind of hard jade, and even without being infused with true qi, it could cut stone like mud, greatly increasing Yu Ci's efficiency in digging herbs.

Furthermore, the youth's cultivation was astonishing. He was only fifteen this year, yet he had already Differentiated Consciousness, Transformed Thought, and stepped into the Spirit Communion realm. He was a genuine cultivator. Yu Ci, meanwhile, had only achieved it five days ago, and he was already twenty-five. No wonder the brat had insisted on calling him "Uncle" after learning his true age.

Yet Ye Tu did not appreciate Yu Ci's praise at all. He even felt insulted. "My little sister is ten this year, yet she has already produced her Yin Spirit. If Master did not think she was too young and wanted her to steady herself first, she might already have begun Sword Nurturing and cultivating Baleful Intent. Compared with her, what am I?"

You're nothing, so what does that make me? Yu Ci felt thoroughly displeased. Vindictively, he rubbed the brat's scalp, messing his topknot into an unspeakable disaster. Though the youth bared his teeth in displeasure, when all those expressions came together, he looked ridiculously pleased by it.

This brat... was he actually a dog?

"By the way, what is Sword Nurturing?"

"Sword Nurturing? Sword Nurturing is the starting point of the longevity arts of sword cultivators. It is roughly equivalent to the Elixir Return of the Mystic Gate or the relics of the Buddhist school. It emphasizes using one's own essence and qi to nurture the sword's Baleful Intent, controlling it with the spirit, unifying a person's three treasures with the sword, and externally supplementing it with Innate Geng Metal Qi. One then rises above all things; no matter what hardships, obstacles, demons, devils, or tribulations lie ahead, one cuts them all down with a single sword and gains longevity..."

This... I don't really understand. Yu Ci kept his expression under control and asked again, "Then what does it mean to produce a Yin Spirit?"

Ye Tu had been speaking with great enthusiasm, but at this question, he suddenly froze. Blinking, he looked toward Yu Ci. After a long while, he asked tentatively, "Uncle Yu, you're actually a Rogue Cultivator, aren't you...?"

Yu Ci was puzzled, but he still nodded. The youth's gaze immediately became incomparably sympathetic.

Fine. This was another virtue of Young Master Ye's: sincerity!

Yu Ci would rather he had been a little more hypocritical! Yu Ci was not vain—at least, he would not refuse another's goodwill for the sake of worthless face—but Young Master Ye's goodwill was truly not something an ordinary person could withstand. Once he learned that Yu Ci was a Rogue Cultivator lacking most of the common knowledge necessary for cultivation, he immediately enthusiastically offered to teach him. That was all well and good, but why was it that every word from the brat's mouth was familiar to Yu Ci, yet every sentence left him utterly baffled?

"The heart occupies the ruler's seat, overseeing through nonaction; that which causes it to move... You don't understand?"

"When acquired nature is exhausted, the original source first appears. When the original source appears, only then may it be put to use... Still don't understand?"

"Then Innate Qi... Fine, don't say it. I know—you don't understand!"

Ye Tu could not endure the successive blows. Clutching at his scalp, he dropped down onto the ground.

Actually, Yu Ci thought this was quite good. He had heard many theories unlike anything he had encountered before, broadening his horizons and deepening his knowledge. At the very least, he finally understood the true meaning of the six great cultivation realms beyond the Three Mortal Gates. According to Ye Tu's theory:

Spirit Communion was when a cultivator clearly understood the structure of the spirit and soul, refined the nature of spirit and soul, and elevated its level until a Yin Spirit was forged, allowing it to leave the body and roam freely.

Elixir Return was when a cultivator's spirit and soul embraced and merged with primordial qi, body and spirit becoming one. Through nine returns and seven reversions, a golden core was formed. Thus one shed flesh and remade bone, tempering body and spirit to the limits of humanity and extending one's lifespan to three hundred years.

Void Treading was the point at which a cultivator could fly by controlling qi without relying on external objects. It was also the beginning of "feathered ascension and shedding the mortal shell." From this realm onward, one drew in the purest and clearest "essence of Mystic Truth" from heaven and earth, gradually extending one's lifespan and nurturing a "True Form." At the level of spirit and soul, one also transformed from a Yin Spirit toward a Yang God.

A True Person had achieved both a cultivator's "True Form" and "Yang God." Aside from tribulations such as blades, weapons, slaughter, and battle, life and death could scarcely bind them. Their lifespan was long, and they could already be called immortal. Yet because they seized Heaven and Earth's creation and stole nature's vitality, they would inevitably invite Heaven's jealousy and tribulatory slaughter.

Tribulation Dharma referred to any True Person cultivator who had passed through one heavenly tribulation. At this realm, tribulations would strike at every moment, but every tribulation overcome would increase one's divine abilities and cultivation. A minor tribulation brought minor divine abilities; a great tribulation brought great divine abilities.

An Earth Immortal was one who had endured at least one Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, a cycle of three thousand six hundred years, and survived without perishing. At that point, cultivation was complete. Even Heaven and Earth's tribulations could do nothing to them, and in theory, they could share the same lifespan as Heaven and Earth.

These six realms formed a clearly marked road to longevity. Ye Tu had even organized them into two major stages: Spirit Communion, Elixir Return, and Void Treading were the "Three Steps to Heaven"; True Person, Tribulation Dharma, and Earth Immortal were the "Three Trials of Longevity." Together with the "Three Mortal Gates" at the beginning of mortal cultivation, they formed a complete system of cultivation realms.

Given enough time and a willingness to work hard, anyone could pass the Three Mortal Gates of Qi Movement, Long Breath, and Orifice Enlightenment. But once one reached the Three Steps to Heaven, each stage would weed out the overwhelming majority. As for the Three Trials of Longevity, they were problems only the foremost cultivators in the entire cultivation world would encounter. According to Ye Tu, failure to "ascend to Heaven" might not kill one when one fell, but failure to pass the "Trials of Longevity" meant death and the dissipation of the Dao, all previous efforts reduced to ashes. Of course, passing them meant true longevity—the summit of the Great Dao.

Those dispiriting tribulations were still far away from Yu Ci. For now, he merely let his imagination run free, gazing longingly toward those lofty realms. That feeling diluted his anxiety over still not understanding the exquisite longevity theories Ye Tu had explained. But Yu Ci could take it in stride; that did not mean Ye Tu could.

Ye Tu looked as though he wanted to tell the entire world that his life was utterly gray—so gray that he was nearly drowning in despair.

Seeing the youth like this, Yu Ci laughed instead and went over to press a hand on his head. But at this moment, the youth was far more sensitive than usual.

"Don't comfort me!" Ye Tu twisted away, refusing the gesture. "I had foolishly thought I had already mastered it, that I was merely inferior to A Chi in innate talent and therefore not as good as she was. But only now do I realize how far behind I still am. Master once said that one must set forth what one has learned from beginning to end, without contradictions before or after. What listeners gain may differ according to their level, but if none of them find it difficult, only then can one be considered to have achieved the first step of mastery. I'm still so far from it!"

"Didn't you explain those longevity realms very well? I understood them clearly."

"Those are common, pedestrian stuff... Besides, after talking for so long, repeat it for me. What is a Yin Spirit? What is a Yang God?"

Yu Ci was speechless.

The youth gave a disdainful snort. After that, no matter how Yu Ci tried to persuade him, he would not raise his head, continuing to sulk alone. Yu Ci had no solution for such childish temperament. He wanted to offer a few more comforting words, but feared provoking the boy's contrary streak, so he simply fell silent. He sat with him for a while, then went off to do his own work.

Yet he had not expected the youth's gloomy mood to last for two whole days. He barely spoke, and sometimes after night fell, he would curl up in a corner and secretly wipe away tears. Perhaps the setback here had stirred up some sorrow of his own. Yu Ci felt that was only reasonable. No matter how he looked at him, this brat resembled a rich young master who had run away from home. Perhaps he had left home in anger because he could not measure up to that younger sister named A Chi... That would fit his petty temperament well enough.

The youth's personality was almost the complete opposite of Yu Ci's. Yu Ci found it difficult to empathize and could only let the boy resolve it himself while he continued gathering herbs. After these days of effort, all fourteen stalks of "suspected Fish Dragon Grass" had been dug out, while seven or eight tenths of the Shrimp Whisker Grass had also been picked. Only the finishing work remained, and he was already considering when to leave.

Climbing up the cliff face about a li away from the slope, Yu Ci routinely opened the Zhaoshen Map. Within the hazy azure mist, a clear image of Sky Rift Valley for fifty li in every direction appeared on it. From this position, he did not need to worry about Ye Tu seeing the light emitted by the Zhaoshen Map.

Everyone needed a few secrets that could not be spoken to outsiders. Even a little brat like Ye Tu was no exception. For Yu Ci, the Zhaoshen Map was his greatest secret. Before he had thoroughly understood its mysteries and completely mastered it, he did not want anyone to know of it.

After opening the Zhaoshen Map, he habitually swept his gaze across the changes within its image, confirming whether there was any danger nearby. Yet today differed from before. The moment he looked, he paused in surprise, then smiled. "What is this? Enemies really did meet on a narrow road?"

The figure within the Zhaoshen Map was none other than the Poisonous Snake Monk.

Yu Ci was not at all surprised to see that thieving bald monk. He had long learned from Ye Tu that the fellow had been lingering around Sky Rift Valley, though no one knew what vile scheme he was plotting.

Now, however, a new problem had arisen. The thieving bald monk was not alone; he had two companions with him. The three were nimble and agile, climbing down the cliff face. They had already descended nearly fifteen li, and they were still going down.

In straight-line distance, they were only five li away from Yu Ci.

Aside from the Poisonous Snake Monk, the other two seemed no less formidable. This was because the Poisonous Snake Monk did not appear to be the leader. Beside him was a man dressed as a Daoist, with a baby face that made him appear young. But when he smiled, his forehead and the corners of his eyes were covered in wrinkles. He chatted and laughed with the Poisonous Snake Monk without the slightest reserve.

The middle-aged cultivator walking in front had a half-bald head, bulging eyes, and a sharp gaze. The route he led them along had a strong sense of purpose. Even if the three made a circuit, they would return to their original direction. That alone would have been one thing, but that direction was very likely to pass by the slope where Yu Ci and Ye Tu were staying.

Using the Poisonous Snake Monk as a standard for estimation, Yu Ci believed that in a direct confrontation, he feared no single opponent. Two would make victory difficult, while three... even escaping with his life would be a struggle, much less with a burden at his side.

Of course, he could drag Ye Tu away and flee now. But after working here for so many days, the pits and gouges they had left behind could not be hidden from others. It would only make their enemies wary. At that point, would he not be suffocatingly frustrated to hand the initiative over to others?

"Trouble!" Yu Ci cursed under his breath and swiftly returned to the slope. At that moment, Ye Tu was still moping. Yu Ci walked to his side and barked in a low voice:

"Hey, that thieving bald monk is here!"

Ye Tu had not yet recovered from his state of self-pity. Hearing this, he looked up blankly at Yu Ci. Yu Ci felt rather helpless and simply kicked him in the thigh. The sharp pain proved effective, and Yu Ci's words finally registered in his mind.

With a howl, the youth sprang up. To him, there was only one thieving bald monk—the Poisonous Snake Monk who had stolen his gold saber. That man was also the number one villain in the world in his mind.

"Where? Where? Where? Where? Where?"

As if seized by nerves, Ye Tu pulled out a short saber from his Storage Ring. Like the herb hoe he had given Yu Ci, this saber was made from the same kind of jade and was incomparably sharp. But it was only sharp, far inferior to the gold saber the monk had taken. That gold saber had undergone ritual refinement and was already a fine dharma artifact.

Clearly, this jade saber could not give him any sense of security. Even holding it in hand, the brat could not stop his legs from trembling. In that state, he would be lucky indeed if he could withstand even one strike from the Poisonous Snake Monk!

Yu Ci could not stand the brat's cowardly appearance and shouted in a low voice, "What are you panicking for? He's still far away. Even if he reaches us, just draw your saber and charge him. Why are you shaking like a bird?"

Those words did not work very well. Ye Tu breathed heavily and was still sweating, wasting what little strength he had. Yu Ci glanced at him, then suddenly said, "Didn't I tell you before about how I beat that bald donkey until he cried?"

Ye Tu stared at him in astonishment.