Bowing to Cloud Hermit

As the stone gates of the White Tiger Lodge Domain closed, Shen Qingzhou followed Sword-Coming Peak's group back.

They had descended the mountain.

Looking back, the path they had taken had already blurred into obscurity.

The guiding disciple led them onto another road. The bluestone path was broad, with ever-burning lamps standing every few yards along both sides.

Everyone walking this road, without exception, was a disciple who had successfully gathered Qi today.

The ratio was roughly ten to one; there were only a dozen or so of them.

Those disciples who had failed were led away by another group at the Domain's exit.

No one paid them any further attention.

They had been fellow disciples only moments ago, yet now no one could even be bothered to look back at them.

"How realistic..." Shen Qingzhou sighed.

The moment one stepped into Qi Refining, people became different. Mortals were mortals, cultivators were cultivators—the line between them was as clear as the Jing River and the Wei River.

Sword-Coming Peak's mountain gate stood towering high, like a colossal sword cleaving down from the mountaintop, magnificent and imposing.

Beyond the gate lay a vast plaza.

Quite a few people were already standing in the plaza. They were the two groups of disciples who had returned earlier, with Lu Chen at the very front.

The instant Shen Qingzhou's group entered the plaza, dozens of gazes fell upon them. They lingered briefly on him before shifting away.

In the outer sect, he had been a genius, a prized prize everyone coveted.

But upon reaching Sword-Coming Peak's inner sect, he was merely a newcomer at the first level of Qi Refining. Everything had to begin anew.

Elder Li stood upon a raised platform at the center of the plaza. Seven or eight inner sect disciples sat beside him, holding roster jade slips and checking heads one by one.

"Everyone is here."

A registered disciple stepped forward and reported respectfully.

Elder Li nodded and rose to his feet, speaking softly.

"From this day forth, you are official disciples of Sword-Coming Peak. All resources for cultivation in the Qi Refining Realm will be distributed by the peak every month. Each person will receive three low-grade spirit stones, one bottle of Essence-Nourishing Pills, and one right to use the Sword Intent Chamber every month."

"What? The treatment is actually this generous?"

"Hmph, why are you country bumpkins making such a fuss?"

Someone below could not restrain themself and cried out in surprise.

Shen Qingzhou calculated silently. Three low-grade spirit stones and a bottle of Essence-Nourishing Pills were, converted in value, nearly half a year's income for an outer sect disciple.

And that was only for one month. It truly was no small amount of resources.

"Every three years, there will be a minor competition. The winners may receive high-grade spirit stones and advanced cultivation techniques. Every five years, there will be a major competition. The top ten may enter the sect's secret realm, while the top three will have a chance to meet the elders and receive a few words of guidance."

"For ordinary sect missions, accept them yourselves. Slaying demons, gathering herbs, escorting, reconnaissance—the harder the mission, the higher the reward. The more you work, the more you gain."

The plaza fell quiet for a moment before low discussions broke out.

"Dismissed. Go settle into your respective rooms. Your residences have already been arranged; simply follow the guiding disciples."

After saying that, Elder Li turned and left without a single unnecessary word.

Clearly, even Foundation Establishment True Persons were busy and had no time to waste on green recruits like them.

As the crowd dispersed, Shen Qingzhou did not move in a hurry. He saw Elder Li stop after taking a few steps and turn his head to say something to an inner sect disciple beside him. That disciple glanced in Shen Qingzhou's direction.

Then, the inner sect disciple walked over.

"Junior Brother Shen, Elder Li asked me to take you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Cloudveil True Person."

Shen Qingzhou's heart stirred. He remembered Zhao Heng saying that Cloudveil True Person was the leading figure of the Kan Water Lineage. His seniority was extremely high, but he had not involved himself in affairs for many years. Shen Qingzhou did not know whether he still held any authority in the sect.

Hopefully, this was not a bad thing. He asked no further questions and followed the man.

His choices were limited. He had to take a master eventually anyway, and making contact early was not a bad thing. Otherwise, where would his cultivation technique come from?

Sword-Coming Peak's inner sect was larger than he had imagined.

Beyond the plaza stretched a vast cluster of buildings, rising and falling in scattered layers, divided according to Dao Lineages. The Lou Jin Lineage occupied the finest location, facing southeast, with the greatest number and density of houses. The farther one went toward the back mountain, the fewer houses there were.

The guiding disciple led him to the end of a pebble path. The place was secluded and tranquil, even somewhat plain.

"We're here. Cloudveil True Person is inside. I can only take you this far."

The guiding disciple stopped and reminded him.

"Thank you."

Shen Qingzhou nodded. He walked to the courtyard gate, hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and knocked three times.

Knock, knock, knock.

There was no response.

He pressed his lips together and knocked three more times.

"Come in."

At last, an aged voice came from within the courtyard.

Shen Qingzhou pushed open the gate and entered. There were no flowers or plants in the courtyard. It felt as though he had stepped into a deep pool; he could almost hear the sound of water. Light and sound alike seemed submerged in deep water, dim and murky, impossible to discern clearly.

Beneath an ancient pine stood a stone table, its surface covered in moss, with a pot of tea resting atop it.

An old man sat behind the table. He wore a worn Daoist robe, its cuffs frayed at the edges. He looked like a simple ascetic cultivator.

Such dense Kan Water imagery... Even its unconscious leakage is this terrifying?

The moment his divine sense extended outward, it was like a drop of water falling into a great lake. His heart jolted, and he did not dare look further.

"Disciple Shen Qingzhou greets Cloudveil True Person."

The old man lifted his eyelids and sized him up from head to toe.

"So it is that Abyss-Hiding Sword..."

He muttered it without any indication of whether he was pleased or displeased. After a long while, he said, "I gathered this Qi Seed from the Northern Wastes... Since you obtained it, there is some measure of fate between us."

"Did Junior Brother Li send you to take me as your master?"

"Yes."

Cloudveil True Person lifted the pot of cold tea and took a sip, then shook his head.

"I do not readily accept disciples anymore."

Shen Qingzhou raised his head, somewhat bewildered. What did that mean?

"However... since you obtained the Abyss-Hiding Sword, I cannot entirely ignore you..." Cloud Hermit's tone shifted.

"Little Fish!"

The old man put down the teapot and called toward a corner of the courtyard.

There was no response.

"Little Fish."

Still no response.

Cloudveil True Person frowned, grabbed the teapot lid from the stone table, and hurled it at the window of the side room in the corner.

With a bang, the window flew open, and a groggy voice drifted out from within.

"...What is it, Master? I was sleeping... No, I mean cultivating."

The side room's door was pushed open, and a pretty young woman walked out. She appeared to be in her twenties, with an outer robe carelessly draped over her body. Her hair was casually tied into a bun, several strands hanging beside her face. One look was enough to tell she had just awakened.

Her features were lovely, but her manner was lazy and relaxed.

She yawned as she walked over. Seeing Shen Qingzhou, she blinked.

"Oh, so this is the new junior brother?"

She circled Shen Qingzhou once, looking him over from top to bottom with rather little courtesy. Grinning playfully, she said, "The skin you wear isn't half bad."

Cloudveil True Person pushed the pot of cold tea aside and said softly, "You will teach him his foundational lessons from now on."

"Me?" The woman's eyes widened. "Master, you truly know how to put people to work."

"Stop talking nonsense. Will you teach him or not?"

"I'll teach him, I'll teach him. Whatever you say goes."

She agreed readily, then turned to Shen Qingzhou. Curiosity gleamed in her upturned eyes.

"What was your name again?"

"Shen Qingzhou."

"Fine, Junior Brother Shen. My name is Su Yu, your senior sister." She drew a jade slip from her sleeve.

"Catch."

Shen Qingzhou reached out and caught it.

"There. This is the introductory cultivation method of the Kan Water Lineage, the key points for cultivating the first three levels of the Abyss-Sinking Formula. Go back and study it yourself. When you finish, come find me. I'll test you."

"When will the test be?"

Su Yu had already turned to walk back. Hearing this, she waved without looking back.

"Whenever fate allows. I'll test you when I wake up."

With that, the side room's door closed again.

Shen Qingzhou held the jade slip in his hand and stood in the courtyard, unsure what to say.

Cloudveil True Person flicked a finger, and a pale-blue spiritual glow landed upon him.

"This is..."

He was startled at first, but then he felt warmth spread through his body, filling him with an incomparably comfortable sensation.

The hidden injuries and lingering ailments left behind from the original owner's past battles—neglected for lack of treatment—began to vanish and heal completely.

His chronic afflictions were swept away.

Cloudveil True Person had already closed his eyes again and did not look at him further.

Shen Qingzhou stood there for a while, then gave a heartfelt bow and withdrew from the courtyard.

As the gate closed, he seemed to hear a very faint sigh from within.

Bamboo leaves rustled in the wind along both sides of the path. Shen Qingzhou clenched the jade slip in his hand and calculated silently.

By the time he returned to the residence assigned to him, night had already fallen.

It could not compare with the single room in the outer sect. He now had an independent little courtyard. Its location was somewhat remote, but the courtyard was neat and orderly, with three rooms: a kitchen, a study, and a bedroom.

A young Daoist attendant, perhaps twelve or thirteen years old, stood at the courtyard gate. When he saw Shen Qingzhou arrive, he hurriedly bowed.

"Immortal Master! This little one is called Ahu. From this day onward, I will attend to Immortal Master's daily needs."

Shen Qingzhou entered the courtyard and looked around.

Several booklets of foundational cultivation methods and a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone had already been placed on the shelves in the study.

The bedding in the bedroom was new. A small Spirit-Gathering Array disc sat in one corner. Its grade was not high, but once activated in this room, the spiritual energy concentration would be at least three times that of his outer sect residence.

He did not need to ask for these things, nor did he need to fight for them. So long as one entered Qi Refining, they would be delivered to one's door on their own.

Ahu had already gone to the kitchen to boil water.

Shen Qingzhou sat alone in the study and pressed the jade slip Su Yu had given him against his forehead.

His divine sense entered it.

The cultivation method for the first three levels of the Abyss-Sinking Formula appeared as dense golden runes, sinking into his divine sense all at once.

He recited them silently.

Metal gave birth to water, water nourished metal; hide the edge within gentle ripples, gather killing intent within a still abyss. These lines described the Qi Refining method of the Kan Water Lineage.

Shen Qingzhou placed the jade slip back on the table.

He opened the panel.

[Scripture Master · Azure Satchel Scholar (102/200)]

[Qi Collector (3/100)]

The Scripture Master was used to comprehend texts, while the Qi Collector was used to see clearly through the threads of Dao Lineages.

For now, he still had to first understand the first three levels of the Abyss-Sinking Formula and firmly establish his foundation at the first level of Qi Refining.

As for Cloudveil True Person and that senior sister, one did not manage affairs, while the other acted according to her mood.

That was actually rather good.

Shen Qingzhou consoled himself: at least he had entered a lineage and obtained what he needed. A master led one through the gate; cultivation depended on the individual.

With no one watching over him, he felt even more at ease!

It was the perfect chance to copy every book he could obtain and grind up his profession proficiency.

The candle flame flickered.

Shen Qingzhou picked up his brush, spread out the paper, and began copying the contents of the Abyss-Sinking Formula from the jade slip.

The instant the brush tip touched down, the Scripture Master's Focused Concentration took effect. He could no longer hear the sounds outside. The world contained only the words on the paper and the increasingly dense Dao resonance between their lines.

[Copied the first three levels of the Abyss-Sinking Formula. Scripture Master proficiency +10]

The night deepened.

Bamboo shadows fell across the window paper, swaying with the wind.

"Immortal Master is truly diligent..."

Ahu stood outside the door for a while with a teapot in hand. Seeing that the study light remained on and the brush had not stopped moving, he thought for a moment, chose not to knock, quietly placed the teapot beside the threshold, and withdrew.