The Liu Household

On Azure Sky Peak, a dozen or so days had passed, and Xu Xuan had finished making arrangements for the spirit fields.

Shi Yuanyu was, after all, a direct disciple of Rejuvenation Mountain, and she had pointed out many mistakes and oversights in the abbey.

She cultivated a third-grade [Yi Wood] cultivation method, the "Hundred Flowers Life-Rating Record."

This method could judge the grade and fate of flowers and plants, bearing some resemblance to a shaman's arts. With a rating manual, she assessed each spirit herb's fate, guiding it to grow in harmony with the seasons, free of disease and with its medicinal properties fully developed.

The spirit herbs in Longbright's fields had already been sorted and replanted according to the soil's properties. They were flourishing, and this year's harvest looked likely to improve considerably.

"Still, it's building a sanctuary inside a snail's shell."

Until Dapan was reclaimed, their spirit herb production could only grow so much. Yet compared with the spirit lands of the Great Scenery Plains, what did Dapan amount to?

His Great Red Abbey had produced only one Wen Fufeng in three generations, and he had died in the Demon Calamity without leaving much of a foundation behind for the Sect. They could not compare with the great aristocratic clans of the Plainlands, which had Foundation Establishment cultivators presiding over them generation after generation.

Xu Xuan had only come this far thanks to those eight Ancient Seal Script characters. Even then, he had merely edged a little ahead in this utterly diminished generation of the Plainlands.

Compared with his master and the previous generation, he still fell far short.

Zhu Yucheng and Wen Fufeng had both been hailed as seeds of the Dao. Zhu Yucheng had even reached the foundation establishment late stage; neither his cultivation methods nor his attainment in the Dao were things Xu Xuan could rival.

Even if he reached foundation establishment, Xu Xuan probably would not last more than a few exchanges against the Zhu Clan's patriarch.

If the man truly intended to unite Great Jing, Xu Xuan would have no choice but to bow his head in submission and obediently keep Lotus Temple penned in at Green Peaks, not daring to harbor divided loyalties.

Yet he still nursed a quiet longing for the spirit lands of the Great Scenery Plains. The various households of the Plainlands could nurture Foundation Establishment cultivators generation after generation precisely because they enjoyed those lands' advantages.

Green Luo was already the finest spirit mountain in Green Peaks, but it paled in comparison with the Great Scenery Plains.

Now that Xu Xuan had broken through to the sixth level of qi refining, Senior Brother Xi Wei had been overseeing the abbey these past few days, while he considered making a trip to the Great Scenery Plains.

First, he wanted to examine the situation in the Plainlands, visit the Liu Household, and discuss their future plans.

Second, he wanted to see whether the Ghost Market had any information concerning formations. With the [Earthflame Noon-Origin Tree] in the Sect, they had saved a considerable amount of cultivation resources and could also seek out some secret arts to protect their path.

Most of the Scripture Repository had been destroyed in the Demon Calamity. Many cultivation methods and secret arts passed down through the Great Red Abbey had either been lost or left incomplete, and those gaps urgently needed filling.

Qiyun had broken through to qi refining, and Wen Si'an would soon attempt to reach its fourth level.

Of the secret arts in the Sect, only the "Congming One-Qi Sword Art" was of much use in combat. Yet it was far too profound and difficult; only Xu Xuan had fully comprehended it, while Wen Si'an had gained an initial grasp.

Xu Xuan was just about to leave Skyblue when he saw a light, graceful wisp of cloud drift over from Colorful Cloud Peak. It was Wen Si'an.

With Shi Yuanyu staying in Longbright, Wen Si'an had returned to Green Luo, where the spiritual energy was richer, to prepare for her breakthrough. He wondered what she wanted with him.

"Are you going to the Great Scenery Plains?"

Wen Si'an asked softly, walking down the mountain alongside Xu Xuan.

"It's time to see what's happening in the Plainlands, and to look for cultivation methods and secret arts in the Ghost Market. Otherwise, there really won't be much for anyone in the Sect to practice."

Wen Si'an gently smoothed her silk skirt, then turned to Xu Xuan and said softly:

"That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you."

"Shi Yuanyu said Gao Xia has some talent for Spirit Planting. We ought to choose her qi-refining cultivation method carefully."

At the mention of this, Xu Xuan felt a headache coming on.

Wen Si'an looked at Xu Xuan with a trace of stubbornness in her eyes and said quietly:

"Shi Yuanyu examined Gao Xia for me. She said this disciple of mine has a gift for grasping the seasonal pivots, planting and tending, storing and harvesting. If she wants to study Spirit Planting in the future, the paths of [Ji Earth] and [Nurturing Earth] would suit her."

"There's nothing wrong with her practicing the Sect's other cultivation methods, but it would be something of a waste of her talent."

"Let's not shortchange her now. Please help me look for something suitable, so she can learn more of the Spirit Planting path in the future."

With that, Wen Si'an placed a pouch of spirit stones in Xu Xuan's hand. They were the little bits and pieces she had saved over the years.

Xu Xuan wanted to refuse, but he could not prevail against her insistence. He could only accept them, then ride his cloud toward the Great Scenery Plains.

Gao Xia does have some talent for Spirit Planting. Unfortunately, our Sect has no such inheritance. Rejuvenation Mountain merely sent Shi Yuanyu here in a role much like an attendant's. Naturally, she can't leave their true teachings behind.

Talent, cultivation methods, spirit objects, and influence-all these tangled considerations wound around Xu Xuan's heart like a dense net, tightening little by little. For the first time in a long while, dejection welled up within him.

The last time he had felt this way was when he had practiced the "Congming One-Qi Sword Art" tirelessly, yet still could not comprehend Sword Qi.

Back then, he would set aside his sword and run to True Abode Hall to pour out his troubles to his master.

Wen Fufeng would carefully explain every crucial point and offer him a few words of comfort.

Now, with worries weighing on his heart, who could he tell?

Xu Xuan was already the tallest person in the abbey. If the sky fell, he would be the one to hold it up.

His thundercloud broke through the daylight, and before long he reached the edge of the Great Scenery Plains.

Xu Xuan took a willow-leaf-shaped jade pendant from his robes, hesitating over whether to visit the Ghost Market or the Liu Household first.

After the Chen Household's birthday celebration, Liu Qiuqi had given Xu Xuan this pendant, saying that once he arrived in the Plainlands, he could activate it with his magical power and Liu Qiuqi would sense it.

Just as Xu Xuan hesitated, the jade pendant lit up on its own. Apparently, Liu Qiuqi already knew he had arrived.

Xu Xuan immediately rode the wind straight toward the Liu Household. The Ghost Market could wait until later.

The Liu Household's grounds were not particularly large. They lay directly below Rejuvenation Mountain, the two facing each other across the distance.

Upon reaching the household's formation, Xu Xuan descended. He was about to announce his visit when the formation opened of its own accord.

A young gentleman in green, holding a feather fan, emerged. This time, however, he was seated in a Greenwood Wheelchair, pushed by a maid behind him, with a silk cloth covering his lower body.

"Abbot Xu, you've arrived. Please come inside and join me for a chat."

Liu Qiuqi led Xu Xuan along a path into a garden. Green bricks and white tiles, lush vegetation, the long calls of azure birds, and the gentle cries of white deer gave it an otherworldly air, with a subtle undertone of nobility.

Willows swayed softly, and clear light shimmered.

The two settled in a pavilion amid encircling hills and winding waters. Beside it lay a pond ringed with white stones, engraved with the words [Falling Verdure].

Willow leaves drifted into the pond on the breeze and turned into blue-scaled treasure carp, swimming at their ease. Now and then, one leaped from the water, turned back into a willow leaf, and returned to the branches.

A treasure tree at the Foundation Establishment level, and its spirituality surpasses our abbey's [Earthflame Noon-Origin Tree] by who knows how much.

Xu Xuan gazed at the willow with some admiration. Beside him, Liu Qiuqi had sent the maid to brew tea. Seeing Xu Xuan's expression, he smiled and said:

"This [Verdant Willow] was passed down by our ancestors. Generation after generation, our elders passed away in meditation beneath it, and it gradually developed spirituality. But it hasn't become a spirit, cannot be moved, and can protect the household."

"Your household has a truly deep foundation, Fellow Daoist Liu. Our abbey cannot compare."

Liu Qiuqi neither agreed nor disagreed. Gently waving his feather fan, he asked in return:

"Have you broken through to the sixth level of qi refining and sought your [life foundation], Fellow Daoist?"

"I have."

Xu Xuan looked over, violet-crimson lightning flickering faintly in his eyes.

Seeing it, Liu Qiuqi nodded and said with a complicated expression:

"You've progressed quickly, Fellow Daoist. Still, the one from the Duan Clan should have reached it a little before you, and Hollow Sword Gate's direct disciple also broke through recently."

"As for me, although I took a pill made from blood essence, I'm still only halfway through seeking my [life foundation]. I need some time to refine it."

With that, Liu Qiuqi lifted the brocade cloth over his legs, exposing them. His lower body had actually become somewhat wooden, and his toes resembled tangled, intertwined roots.

"What is this?"

Xu Xuan had never heard of such a transformation occurring when seeking one's [life foundation], and he was startled.

"My household cultivates [taboo wood]. Seeking our [life foundation] requires taking a wood wraith into the body."

"It does no harm. It's just that we turn wooden immediately after breaking through, which is rather ugly. I want to refine it until I can conceal it within, so it'll take some time."

Liu Qiuqi explained everything in detail, leaving Xu Xuan somewhat amused. This man truly cared about his appearance.

"Did you also rely on blood essence to break through, Fellow Daoist Xu?"

Xu Xuan's expression shifted slightly, but he still answered in a low voice:

"I did. Our Sect had a treasure pill left behind, made using blood essence, that could increase cultivation."

"After taking it, I reached the peak of the fifth level, and only then successfully broke through."

Liu Qiuqi showed little reaction. Instead, he said:

"Blood essence is certainly useful. Every household is using the Blood Pills from the Ghost Market. It's just that once you take them, it becomes difficult to glimpse the Purple Mansion realm."

"But people of our generation don't have that destiny anyway. If there are promising youngsters in the Sect, don't let them touch it. Some things are ours to shoulder as their elders."

Xu Xuan had not expected that answer from Liu Qiuqi. Confusion showed in his eyes, and after turning it over in his mind, he asked:

"Fellow Daoist Liu, what is your view of this blood essence?"

"My view?"

Liu Qiuqi had not expected Xu Xuan to ask such a question. But recalling Wen Fufeng's character, he began to understand Xu Xuan's feelings and simply said:

"You ask for my view? Fellow Daoist Xu, what cultivation do you and I have now?"

"Merely qi refining, just beginning to seek our [life foundation]," Xu Xuan replied.

"Exactly. This debate over blood essence is not something people like us can weigh."

Liu Qiuqi seemed somewhat stirred, but merely said:

"In this world, doing good is hard. Most of us simply drift with the current and mingle with the mud, stopping short of actively doing evil."

"If I'm to ponder these matters, then those up in the heavens-"

At this point, Liu Qiuqi looked skyward with a trace of alarm and worry, then said quietly:

"The disorder of this world begins above. Don't imagine that the immortals don't eat, or that Purple Mansion cultivators don't eat. They merely eat more cleverly, more discreetly."

"If you truly care, protect your inheritance first. When the day comes that you can ascend, you can go reason with those people too, can't you?"

Xu Xuan merely sighed:

"Immortals prize themselves. Being able to protect the abbey and its inheritance would be enough. I don't have the leeway to hold myself aloof and pure in everything."

"I only hope the next generation will have the leeway not to take this blood essence."

Liu Qiuqi's spirits had sunk somewhat. He instructed the maid beside them to serve tea, took a few sips, then said solemnly:

"There is serious business behind my inviting you here this time, Fellow Daoist Xu."

"Do you still remember that spirit spring the Chen Household and White Azure Cavern were fighting over?"