Visitors from Rejuvenation Mountain

Rejuvenation Mountain kept its promise. Within a few days, it sent someone over to help Xu Xuan manage Longbright.

The blood flower inside Xu Xuan showed no unusual signs now. He was devoting himself wholeheartedly to figuring out how to draw sword qi into his [life foundation], but had made little progress.

The last time he treated the Jade Beauty Bamboo, he had guided sword qi into its leaf veins with painstaking care. To his surprise, his spiritual sense had become more concentrated than before, and his control over sword qi more effortless.

He felt this was a way to train his spiritual sense, though it consumed a great deal of mental energy.

After some thought, he decided to wait until Liu Xiaowen reached Qi Refining, then bring the boy over and put him through some grueling practice.

Rejuvenation Mountain had sent a female cultivator named Shi Yuanyu. She was Shi Mingsong's daughter and a True Disciple.

She was at the second level of Qi Refining and considerably older than Xu Xuan, but her skill at preserving her looks made her appear as young as Wen Si'an. With handsome, dignified features and a decisive manner, she headed straight for the spirit fields upon arriving and began examining the earth veins.

Xu Xuan stood to one side, watching Wen Si'an discuss medicinal spirit plants with her. He had originally intended to brew some tea and exchange pleasantries, but now he had no idea what to do.

A short while later, Shi Yuanyu approached, bowed in greeting, and began discussing the spirit fields:

"Abbot Xu, Longbright's spirit fields have been tended quite well. The soil conditions are unsuitable, however. Bright Origin Flowers prefer dry soil, while Pure-Origin Peonies require wet ground."

"Enriching the earth qi is one part of it. More importantly, each plant should be placed according to its nature and cultivated separately by type. That would increase the spirit fields' annual yield considerably."

Neither Xu Xuan nor Wen Si'an had considered these things. Their sect had almost no records concerning Spirit Planting, and they had planted them bit by bit through trial and error. Naturally, they found her advice thoroughly convincing.

With that settled, Wen Si'an led the two to her little courtyard to rest, leaving Gao Xia to begin preparing to divide the fields.

Inside the courtyard, beneath the small pavilion.

Wen Si'an had served spirit tea to both of them. This time, she used [White Mist Bud], of which the mountain had little left in stock. It was brought out only for guests.

Xu Xuan took a sip. Its rich fragrance gave way to sweetness after the bitterness, and even his qi sea grew livelier. It was far better than the watery brew Wen Si'an had served him last time.

At that thought, Xu Xuan looked straight at Wen Si'an and raised his brows slightly. His meaning was plain.

You wouldn't serve me the good tea? Don't I count as a guest when I visit you?

Wen Si'an remained perfectly composed. Her lovely eyes stared right back at him, leaving Xu Xuan unwilling to raise any further objections.

Shi Yuanyu failed to notice the exchange between them. After tasting the spirit tea, she praised it:

"Great Scarlet's [White Mist Bud] truly is superb. The last time I drank tea this good was the Liu Household's [Jade Leaf]."

"The Liu Household?"

Only then did Xu Xuan remember that Rejuvenation Mountain and the Liu Household had maintained ties for generations, with hints of an alliance between them. He began probing indirectly, asking as though in passing:

"Liu Qiuqi, the head of the Liu Household, and I could be considered friends. Rejuvenation Mountain is also on good terms with them. Friendship among all three of us is a fortunate thing indeed."

Somewhat surprised by this news, Shi Yuanyu set down her white jade cup and said:

"Our sect's friendship with the Liu Household stems from our cultivation paths. Liu Qiuqi is a cold-hearted man. I certainly hadn't expected Abbot Xu to be his friend."

Shi Yuanyu spoke with considerable familiarity about Liu Qiuqi, without any apparent reservations.

Xu Xuan's interest stirred, and he asked:

"Your cultivation paths? Could you enlighten me, Fellow Daoist Shi? The last time I saw him, he was still searching for Wood-Virtue Spirit Objects. I wonder which wood he cultivates?"

"The Liu Household cultivates [taboo wood], which has some connection to our [yi wood]. Our cultivation methods complement and support one another. When I was young, I even went to the Liu Household to cultivate and studied the Dao alongside Liu Qiuqi."

[Taboo wood]. The [Mystic Prayer Thunderwood] inside Xu Xuan had originally belonged to this wood as well, but it had now acquired a lightning nature and was transforming into a spiritual object of the lightning path.

[Taboo wood] was the essence of wood, while the [hidden metal] cultivated by that True Person of Tip-Feng Mountain was the essence of metal. By that comparison, what would it look like once Liu Qiuqi achieved Foundation Establishment? Would plants and trees everywhere come alive and move about?

The image clashed somewhat with his elegant young gentleman's bearing, making Xu Xuan chuckle at the thought.

Beside him, Shi Yuanyu continued her explanation softly:

"Only three woods manifest in the world today. [Jia wood] towers toward the heavens, [Yi wood] lies close to the earth, and [taboo wood] forms the essence. The most exalted, [Origin wood], remains hidden from the world. As for the final wood, I know nothing of it."

"Why is [origin wood] alone supreme?"

"I've heard that this lineage directly inherits [Lesser Yang] of the Four Images. In ancient times, it produced many wielders of great divine abilities. Its mysteries are beyond our reckoning. It simply no longer manifests in the world."

Xu Xuan felt a stirring of interest. In antiquity, the immortal Dao had flourished beyond anything the present age could compare with. Wielders of great divine abilities had walked the world, and even Foundation Establishment scarcely counted as a first glimpse through the gates of the Dao.

Wen Si'an refilled their spirit tea beside them. This time, she filled Xu Xuan's cup to the brim.

Shi Yuanyu thanked her, then looked at Xu Xuan.

He was now at the sixth level of Qi Refining, rapidly approaching her father's cultivation, so she continued:

"Though the cultivation method you practice is not of a high grade, Abbot Xu, [Shock thunder] was illustrious in ancient times as well."

Since this concerned his own Dao path, Xu Xuan grew serious and asked Shi Yuanyu to explain in detail.

Most of his temple's Daoist texts had been destroyed in the Demon Calamity. Rejuvenation Mountain, however, had escaped such devastation and knew more.

"I don't know much myself. I've only heard my father speak of it. [Shock thunder] is also called [successive thunder]. It arises from the interplay of yin and yang and is connected to both [Greater Yang] and [Greater Yin]. Its exalted nature truly defies description, but it too has declined."

Although her words stirred something within Xu Xuan, he soon suppressed it.

No matter how illustrious the path of [shock thunder] had once been, what did that have to do with his third-grade cultivation method? A third-grade method could take him only as far as Foundation Establishment. That was its limit.

The sect's fourth-grade Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture likewise extended only to Foundation Establishment, but it could genuinely be continued into the Purple Mansion realm. His third-grade method could not compare.

If they were to consider who in the sect might truly travel farther, perhaps only Liu Xiaowen had any real hope.

They stopped discussing such mysteries and simply drank tea while talking about the spirit fields.

Xu Xuan wanted to plant some higher-grade varieties, but Shi Yuanyu said Longbright's earth qi was thin, and the fields had already reached their limit. To grow higher-grade medicinal spirit plants, they would likely need Mount Dapan.

"Mount Dapan."

Both Xu Xuan and Wen Si'an had thoughts they left unspoken. Mount Dapan had troubled them for years. Whenever they saw the monks on the mountain opposite, they wished they could charge straight up and kill them, yet could only let the matter rest.

Wen Si'an had good aptitude, with a spirit root fully eight inches long. But her cultivation had stagnated somewhat over the years as she busied herself with Longbright's affairs.

She silently resolved that by the time Xu Xuan broke through to Foundation Establishment, she would reach the sixth level of Chain Qi and obtain a [life foundation]. Then the sect would not have to rely on Xu Xuan alone; he would have someone to support him.

The Shangyang Rain-Listening Method followed the path of [gui water], and she had long since prepared her [life foundation].

The sect now also had Red Fruits from the [Earthflame Noon-Origin Tree] to support cultivation, which had already quickened her progress considerably. If she continued steadily, Foundation Establishment would not be difficult, though she would probably reach it several decades later than Xu Xuan.

At the very least, I must reach the sixth level of Qi Refining and obtain my [life foundation].

After her father's death, she had been unable to shoulder the sect's burdens. She had not traveled as far along the path of cultivation as Xu Xuan, much less her father, Wen Fufeng.

Feeling guilty, she had thrown herself into tending Longbright's spirit fields.

Now, neither Lotus Temple nor Black Wind Valley would stand by and let Xu Xuan smoothly achieve Foundation Establishment, while the Chen Household had sealed its mountain and withdrawn from the world. She could only hate her insufficient cultivation, which left her unable to offer Xu Xuan much help.

I should take up the [Congming One-Qi Sword Art] again. At the very least, I must cultivate sword essence. Once I obtain my [life foundation], I'll be able to help him hold the others off.

The sword path could be divided into four realms: sword momentum, sword essence, sword qi, and sword intent.

Sword qi already marked someone who had entered the inner halls of mastery and could be called an accomplished expert. Those who comprehended sword intent could be called Sword Immortals-godlike figures such as her father.

Yet she had not inherited her father's aptitude and had comprehended only sword momentum.

The sect had once placed great hopes in her, but those hopes had ultimately come to nothing. Whenever she swung her sword, hatred filled her.

She hated her own inability, hated her mediocre talent, hated that she could help neither her father nor Xu Xuan.

That hatred of herself tormented her at every moment, leaving her unable to cry or laugh.

Now that Xu Xuan had broken through to the sixth level of Qi Refining, obtained his [life foundation], and looked much younger, she felt somewhat reassured. Yet deep shame followed close behind.

Beside her, Xu Xuan had not noticed her emotions. He held out his empty white jade teacup, his eyes flicking toward it as he rather sneakily asked for another helping. Wen Si'an could not help laughing.

Zhang Gaoxia loved spending time in the spirit fields. She usually wore a green silk dress, and after summoning rain, she would linger among the flowerbeds.

Pure-Origin Peonies gave off a delicate, fresh fragrance, while Bright Origin Flowers had a rich perfume. There were many other medicinal spirit plants as well, each with its own charm.

She loved burying seeds in the fields and quietly waiting for them to sprout and flower. When the medicinal plants matured, she would smile, revealing shallow dimples, and go find her master, Si'an.

Wen Si'an would draw her close then, gently stroke Zhang Gaoxia's dark hair, and share a few intimate words with her.

Zhang Gaoxia would close her eyes and breathe in the smell of the soil, the medicinal scent of the Spirit Planting, and the faint fragrance of her master.

Her parents lived in a village not far from the foot of Luoqing Mountain. Whenever she had time to spare, she could walk home in an hour or two.

Her family was quite wealthy, with vermilion gates, a grand residence, high walls, and deep courtyards. Yet whenever she entered, she always felt hemmed in.

Longbright's spirit fields offered far more freedom.

Among her generation, Junior Brother Xiao Wen had the best aptitude. His spirit root measured a full nine inches, and he had been chosen as a True Disciple. Zhang Gaoxia's spirit root was only five inches long, about the same as Senior Brother Qiyun's.

Yet she felt no jealousy. Instead, she considered herself fortunate.

Fortunate that her family was well-off and she had suffered little hardship as a child. When she grew older, Wen Si'an had taken an interest in her and accepted her as a True Disciple. Her aptitude was neither good nor bad: she did not have to shoulder the sect's burdens, nor would she be neglected.

That was enough.

She was easily contented, so she did not find tending the spirit fields tiring. Instead, she treasured her days in Longbright.

Senior Brother Qiyun had reached Qi Refining, and she dared not slack off either. Wen Si'an had never scolded her; Zhang Gaoxia was simply afraid of disappointing her master.

Now that a True Disciple from Rejuvenation Mountain had arrived, Longbright's spirit fields should yield considerably more. But there was only so much land here, and it still could not compare with Mount Dapan.

When will we be able to reclaim it?

Zhang Gaoxia understood nothing of the struggle between Daoists and Buddhists or the incursions of demons. She simply felt that Mount Dapan's slopes were low and its earth qi rich. If they planted medicinal spirit plants there, the harvest would surely be much better than Longbright's.

Perhaps, if I hadn't cultivated, I could have become a farmer's daughter?

After thinking it over, she decided her parents probably would not have agreed. Tending spirit fields was still different from being one of the farmers below the mountain.

After all, she was an immortal cultivator.

"Senior Sister, the earth veins are obstructed here. Please come help us take a look."

An outer disciple approached and called urgently. Zhang Gaoxia stopped letting her thoughts wander and went over with a smile, charming dimples appearing on her pretty face.

I'll change the update schedule from now on to two releases a day. The total length will stay the same-still over 6,000 characters. That should make for smoother reading and easier writing for me (ó×ò).

(End of chapter)