Fortune Qi Spirit Spring

Xu Xuan had long heard of the dispute between the Chen Household and White Azure Cavern.

The Demon Calamity had begun in Witch South Commandery, southeast of Red Cloud. The commandery was broadly divided into two regions.

The Jade Flow Mountains to the south were occupied by demons, while the Wilderness of Witches to the east faced the stretch from Eastern Secret to the Great Scenery Plains, encircling the lower half of Red Cloud.

After the Demon Calamity, the surviving demons had gathered together and occupied a spiritual site near Jade Flow, on the Great Scenery Plains.

Jade Flow Demon Mountain had even dispatched a Foundation Establishment demon general to oversee it, establishing White Azure Cavern.

But that demon general had died at Zhu Yucheng's hands and become a birthday gift. The demon stronghold had fallen with it.

The spirit spring had naturally passed into the Chen Household's hands. Xu Xuan wondered why Liu Qiuqi had brought it up.

"Have you ever heard of [fortune qi], fellow Daoist?"

Liu Qiuqi changed tack, bringing up another subject.

Xu Xuan had never heard of the [fortune qi] lineage. Confusion showed on his face; he did not know what it had to do with the spirit spring.

Seeing his puzzlement, Liu Qiuqi explained:

"The three qi of fortune, office, and longevity originated in the Qi Kingdom. Later, Great Li conquered Qi, and these three qi scattered across the land."

"Now that the imperial lineage no longer manifests and rank no longer distinguishes high from low, [Fortune official qi] has dissipated. Only [fortune qi] and [longevity qi] still have surviving inheritances."

"The spirit spring the Chen Household fought over belongs to the [fortune qi] lineage. It is exceedingly rare, seldom seen in this age."

Xu Xuan took a sip of tea and continued asking:

"What is so special about this [fortune qi] spirit spring that you would bring it up, fellow Daoist?"

Liu Qiuqi's expression grew serious.

"This spirit spring is called the [Heaven-Bestowed Fortune Spring]. In ancient times, a Daoist lineage used this treasure to cleanse its disciples' root bones, dispel their karmic burdens, and purify their nature."

"The spring lies within an underground palace that only those in the Fetal Breath realm can enter. Now that the Chen Household has withdrawn from worldly affairs, it has distributed entry places among the households that resisted the Demon Calamity back then."

"Word has already been sent to the various households. Abbot Xu, you will find it when you return to your mountain.

"Each household may send one person into the underground palace's trial to compete for a chance at cleansing. I wanted to discuss this with you so our juniors could help one another."

Xu Xuan was tempted. Among the younger members of his sect who were still at Fetal Breath, Liu Xiaowen was the obvious choice. Zhang Gaoxia was not adept at magical combat and would likely gain little advantage inside.

"Are there any dangers?"

Xu Xuan was still worried that the underground palace might be perilous. He did not want to lose his disciple inside.

"It was prepared for the younger generation in the first place. Anyone who fails will simply be sent out. Similar things have happened before.

"This is the Chen Household's patriarch's intention, so there is naturally no need to worry."

Xu Xuan was somewhat persuaded. Since Chen Weiyuan had authorized it, nothing should go wrong.

The two discussed the matter and settled on a date to meet at the underground palace, where their juniors would enter together.

Xu Xuan also asked Liu Qiuqi where in the Plainlands he could find cultivation methods for Ji Earth and Yun Earth. The answer was still to try the Ghost Market.

Xu Xuan took his leave. Unable to see him off personally, Liu Qiuqi sent a servant to escort him out.

Once Xu Xuan had gone, Liu Qiuqi looked toward the [Verdant Willow]. Its shadows swayed, but how much vitality did it still possess?

"In the end, those great figures have grown impatient. They drove the Demon Calamity and harvested too ruthlessly, damaging every household's foundations. Afraid our yield will be poor, they have now set their sights on these juniors."

Liu Qiuqi's face darkened. The hatred in his words refused to dissipate, and he crushed the jade cup in his hand to powder.

"After the Demon Calamity, they already had the spirit spring prepared-a birthday gift for that great lord. Seeing the households of the Plainlands in decline, they borrowed the Chen Household's name to brand and rear the next generation!"

The maid beside him showed no reaction. Her slender, willow-soft waist leaned toward him, her pretty face lowered, her bright eyes looking at Liu Qiuqi as though there were no distinction between master and servant.

An overpowering rank odor wafted over. Rows of blue-green scales emerged on the woman's face, and a layer of dark gold covered her pupils. She laughed in a muffled voice.

"Liu Qiuqi, what do any of these matters have to do with you?"

"In the final reckoning, every household in the Plainlands must fight for a chance to survive. You alone-"

An unreadable meaning flickered through the woman's shifting gaze. She leaned close to Liu Qiuqi's handsome face and whispered into his ear:

"Did you see the lightning wood inside Xu Xuan? That is the fate awaiting you."

Liu Qiuqi said nothing. He merely tossed the shattered jade cup aside and spoke in a low voice:

"Qingyun, why aren't you bringing your young master some tea? Can't you see this cup has broken?"

The maid withdrew the strange signs from her face and revealed a radiant smile, speaking gently:

"I shall fetch it at once. Please wait a moment, young master."

Jade Glass Market, Ghost Market.

Returning here now, Xu Xuan felt differently. There was more wariness in his heart.

All the blood qi the households of the Plainlands needed came from here. Whose handiwork was this underground Ghost Market?

Wang Ya led the way through the tunnel. The dim cavern made their figures look like ghostly silhouettes.

Seeing that Xu Xuan had broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining, Wang Ya first congratulated him. After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Xuan explained that he was looking for offensive secret arts and cultivation methods for Ji Earth and Yun Earth.

"You are truly fortunate, Abbot Xu. There are plenty of earth virtue items in the Ghost Market these days."

Wang Ya smiled furtively. With business at his door, he stroked his long beard, tucked one hand behind his back, and led Xu Xuan to the cave abode they had visited last time.

"This is a third-grade [Ji Earth] cultivation method, the Origin-Falling Storage Method. Master it, and you can stir the earth veins and attune yourself to earth qi. It came from Heavenwater Commandery."

Hearing that it had come from Heavenwater, Xu Xuan's interest stirred. Remembering the [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl] from last time, he asked:

"What happened in Heavenwater Commandery? Why have all these things found their way to Red Cloud?"

Wang Ya chuckled, glanced around, and leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"I heard some demon escaped and crashed into an old True Person whose lifespan was nearly exhausted. That Purple Mansion cultivator died on the spot."

"The sects beneath him scattered immediately. True Disciple cultivation methods, spirit artifacts, and precious medicines naturally aren't for the likes of us, but a few good things have made their way here, letting us pick up a bargain."

Heavenwater Commandery? A demon?

The True Person from Tip-Feng Mountain who had come here last time had probably been investigating this matter.

At that thought, Xu Xuan inwardly inspected his Qi Sea without betraying anything. The blood flower showed no abnormalities. Suppressed by the White Jade Ancient Stele, it looked somewhat withered.

Is this that demon?

A chill ran through Xu Xuan's entire body. Anything capable of killing a True Person with a collision was certainly no Foundation Establishment demon. If it ran amok, his tiny sect could never bear the consequences.

Wang Ya noticed nothing unusual about Xu Xuan and continued introducing the cultivation method.

The seller wanted two mid-grade Qi Refining magic artifacts, or one high-grade Qi Refining artifact, though the latter had to be a magic sword.

That was easily managed. Before coming, Xu Xuan had taken several Qi Refining magic artifacts from the treasury. Among them was a high-grade magic sword forged years ago by his senior brother Xi Wei. It was just right.

Xu Xuan immediately handed it to Wang Ya, asking him to take it to the seller to inspect its quality.

Wang Ya returned shortly afterward. The deal had naturally gone through, and the cultivation method passed into Xu Xuan's hands. All that remained was to find a secret art suitable for magical combat, preferably one that did not favor any particular lineage, so more members of the sect could cultivate it.

This put Wang Ya in something of a quandary. He searched through the cave abode for a long while before finally bringing out a jade slip.

"Take a look, Abbot Xu. This is the third-grade secret art Starlight Upper-Heavens Illumination. It suits your requirements perfectly."

Wang Ya explained the secret art in detail. It involved absorbing and refining starlight, then storing it in the qi abode. Its effects changed according to the practitioner's lineage, and it was quite powerful.

But the seller wanted at least two high-grade Qi Refining magic artifacts, or one Foundation Establishment spiritual item.

That made Xu Xuan wince. Although the sect had Red Fruits from the [Earthflame Noon-Origin Tree], he could not part with them yet. As for the remaining Foundation Establishment Spirit Treasures, every one he used meant one fewer in reserve.

Still, Xu Xuan was very pleased with both the power and utility of this secret art. He could only take out another fire virtue Foundation Establishment spiritual item from the treasury and exchange it.

As for an array inheritance, Wang Ya merely smiled and said such things could never find their way into the Ghost Market. Xu Xuan would have to look elsewhere.

Leaving the Ghost Market, he rode the wind back to Green Luo and arrived at Colorful Cloud Peak.

Xu Xuan handed the cultivation method to Wen Si'an, telling her to keep it safe and send a copied version to the scripture repository.

As for Starlight Upper-Heavens Illumination, Wen Si'an read a little of it and decided to focus on practicing the sword and cultivating sword essence first.

As expected, the Chen Household sent a messenger with a letter concerning the spirit spring. It urged Xu Xuan to prepare early. The cleansing opportunities within were limited; if his disciple's cultivation was insufficient, entering might amount to nothing.

Xu Xuan had already considered this. He would now have Liu Xiaowen learn a secret art-this very Starlight Upper-Heavens Illumination-and then develop sword momentum. His magical combat ability would then be respectable.

As for cultivation, Xu Xuan planned to help him refine a Red Fruit, allowing him to absorb its medicinal power little by little and consolidate his realm. That way, he would have some means at his disposal if he had to fight others inside.

The river of stars was about to rise, and the sun's disk gradually sank. Night deepened over Azure Sky Peak.

With the moon dim and the stars bright, it was the perfect time to cultivate this secret art. Xu Xuan sat atop the peak, silently drawing starlight into his body. This step was simple enough, merely a matter of patient, grinding effort.

The difficult part was imbuing the starlight with a nature, transforming it into a [Light of the Upper Heavens] suited to his own Daoist arts.

Something seemed to stir within his Qi Sea. The blood flower also began absorbing and refining starlight.

The flower's methods were exceedingly sophisticated, concealing all traces in the night sky. Yet Xu Xuan felt the starlight pouring down like a celestial river. The blood flower drew away most of it, while the rest fell into his body.

Taking advantage of this, he accumulated enough starlight in less than two hours. All that remained was to imbue it with a nature.

Ancient seal-script characters manifested within his Spirit Platform, resonating with the violet-crimson lightning in his Qi Sea. This greatly accelerated his refinement of the starlight. At this rate, another two sessions would complete the [Light of the Upper Heavens].

What exactly is this blood flower?

The ancient stele still suppressed the blood flower, giving Xu Xuan a little reassurance. Yet he always felt that it possessed intelligence, that a demon lurked within, watching hungrily for his flesh and blood.

Xu Xuan had heard that demons were often skilled at worshipping the sun and moon, swallowing starlight and absorbing qi. That matched the flower's strange behavior perfectly.

"Now you and I are in the same boat. If anything goes wrong, death will come in an instant."

Xu Xuan did not know whether the blood flower could understand him. Saying it aloud merely eased his mind a little.

The night grew ever deeper, and starlight shimmered atop Azure Sky Peak.