Life Foundation

The ghost market lay underground, where the earth's qi hung heavy and the chill seeped into the body.

Xu Xuan silently weighed how much truth there was in Liu Qiuqi's words, and how much falsehood.

North of the Li River stood the Lotus Temple, facing off against the Seven Azure Peaks. Back then, the Blood-Burying Demon Sect had served as a barrier, holding back the monks for the households of the Great Scenery Plains. Otherwise, that Demon Gate could never have remained here so long.

Then Chongyangzi of the Great Red Abbey had emerged and slain the demon with his sword, leaving Xu Xuan's master to battle the Lotus Temple.

Ordinarily, the struggles in the Plainlands would not involve the sects of Green Peaks. What did it matter if one household annexed all seven mountains? Green Peaks' spiritual veins were inferior to those in the Plainlands. Would anyone seize them merely to fight those bald donkeys?

Even if the Zhu Clan's patriarch intended to unify the Great Scenery Plains, he should not move against the sects of Green Peaks. He would only bring them under his control.

The Lotus Temple had deep reserves. Only because two of its Dharma masters had perished in the Demon Calamity, damaging its foundations, had it failed to conquer all of present-day Green Peaks outright.

The old monk Cihai was about to become a Dharma master. Only if Xu Xuan reached Foundation Establishment would Green Peaks have any strength to oppose him. Although the master of Black Wind Valley was at the peak of Qi Refining, he had only reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining at eighty and had no hope of Foundation Establishment.

The Zhu Clan should not try to harm Xu Xuan. Otherwise, they would merely be sewing a wedding gown for the Lotus Temple to wear. Of that, Xu Xuan was fairly certain.

But if the Great Scenery Plains truly were unified, his Great Red Abbey would likely spend all its days beneath another's heel, reduced to a vassal. The households and sects of the Plainlands continuing to fight among themselves would suit Xu Xuan far better.

His thoughts raced. A faint look of alarm appeared on his face, and he hurriedly asked:

"From what you say, fellow Daoist, is the Zhu Clan's Foundation Establishment cultivator ready to tear away all pretense and act directly, killing every household's prospective Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

Seeing Xu Xuan's unease, Liu Qiuqi seemed to breathe easier. He sighed and continued:

"They're only testing the waters. Rejuvenation Mountain has already contacted me. I had intended to visit Green Peaks again to see you, fellow Daoist Xu. To think we would meet here today-it must be fate."

Worry still clouded the brows of this young gentleman in blue. Like a startled white sparrow, he seemed frightened by the news of the Wu Clan's young patriarch's death. He spoke hesitantly:

"The Wu Clan has some ties to the Chen Household. Now their young patriarch is dead, but where would wandering bandits come from in the Plainlands?"

"The Chen Household has made no move. They've been fighting the White Azure Cavern for so long, yet Chen Weiyuan remains silent. The Zhu Clan has begun to stir."

"Everything still depends on the stance that elder of the Chen Household takes at his birthday celebration. But our strength is waning. We should exchange what we have and aid one another in secret first. Once you and I reach Foundation Establishment, we won't be fish and meat on someone else's chopping block."

Xu Xuan weighed the gains and losses. The Zhu Clan was powerful, but the households and sects of the Great Scenery Plains were not molded from clay. It was only the Demon Calamity of years past that had given the Zhu Clan an opportunity to annex them.

For now, Chen Weiyuan's formidable reputation still protected the Great Red Abbey, but how long could that last?

If the Zhu Clan unified the Great Scenery Plains, the Great Red Abbey would likely be reduced to their hawk and hound. He needed to make plans early, so he agreed to Liu Qiuqi's proposal.

The two discussed a few more details and broadly settled on an arrangement for mutual support. The specifics would have to wait until after Chen Weiyuan's birthday celebration.

As for the [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl], Xu Xuan did not take it for nothing. He exchanged his [Red-Patterned Firestone] for it. Still, the [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl] was probably worth forty mid-grade spirit stones. In effect, Liu Qiuqi had let Xu Xuan get the better end of the deal as a gesture of goodwill.

He followed the winding tunnels out of the ghost market. Beneath the brilliant daylight, the surrounding clamor seemed to draw Xu Xuan back into the mortal world. The schemes and intrigue of moments ago felt like an illusory dream.

He had no spare funds left to buy anything else. Spending a Foundation Establishment spiritual item on this trip had already pained him greatly.

Xu Xuan kept his gaze straight ahead, refusing even a glance at the magical artifacts, talismans, and spiritual medicines on the stalls, afraid some fool would invite him, an abbey master, to honor their wares with a look.

After leaving the Jade Glass Market, he rode the wind all the way back to Azure Sky Peak.

Liu Xiaowen was waiting before the True Abode Hall, the [Fire Tiger Fang] at his waist. He paced outside the hall, muttering something. When he saw Xu Xuan return, he hurried forward and bowed.

"What is it? Have you encountered a hurdle in your cultivation?"

Xu Xuan felt rather pleased. This disciple was still a boy at heart, with a somewhat unruly streak. He had not expected him to come and wait here today to seek guidance on cultivation.

Liu Xiaowen froze briefly. He had come for something else, but since his master had asked first, he could only describe his difficulties one by one and let Xu Xuan explain them.

Merely discussing the finer points of circulating spiritual qi and forming hand seals to cast spells took two hours.

Only after the explanation ended did Liu Xiaowen hastily bow and kowtow to Xu Xuan, saying plainly:

"This disciple would like to return to White Ridge and see his family."

Xu Xuan had not expected this. It had been three years since Liu Xiaowen entered the mountains to cultivate, and he had not returned home once. However, Xu Xuan had entrusted Liu Shengshui to Liu Fanhe's careful attention and sent some lifespan-extending pills. His circumstances should not be bad.

"Before you go, come to the Founders' Hall and offer incense with me."

Xu Xuan closed the bamboo slips in his hands and had Liu Xiaowen fetch three sticks of golden incense. They followed the old mountain path upward to the summit of Azure Sky Peak and entered the Founders' Hall.

Xu Xuan lit the incense, bowed, and kowtowed. Liu Xiaowen wore a solemn expression as well. Not daring to speak, he followed his master's gestures.

Rows of memorial tablets stood within the hall, as though the gazes of their predecessors were falling upon them, inspiring reverence. At the very front stood the tablet of Xu Xuan's master, Chongyangzi.

"Memorial tablet of Wen Fufeng, Chongyangzi of the Great Red Abbey."

The tablet was made of chestnut wood, with a square base and a height of roughly one foot and two inches. Its lettering was sharp and forceful, suffused with chilling Sword Qi. Xu Xuan had carved it himself years ago.

Drifting incense made the hall seem all the more deep, quiet, and cold. Xu Xuan grew distracted, staring blankly at that blackened tablet.

How old had I been when I came up the mountain? Just twelve?

An auspicious snowfall had just passed over White Ridge Village then. Every household bustled with activity. Some people laughed, celebrating the new year and laying out feasts to celebrate the Demon Gate's destruction, looking forward to better days ahead.

Others wept. Many corpses, no longer recognizable as human, had been brought back from Blood-Burying Mountain-men, women, and children-staining the snow crimson.

An elderly man cradled his son's head, wiping its brows and eyes little by little. The features of his dark, flushed face seemed to twist together. No tears came; only harsh, rasping breaths escaped his mouth, like a dying water buffalo. Children huddled before their parents' remains, crying themselves hoarse like lost young beasts, until adults carried them away, unwilling to let them look any longer.

Xu Xuan was twelve then. His hands covered in chilblains, he helped the others move the bodies.

The village's joy and sorrow seemed to have nothing to do with him. The snow was terribly heavy, and all he could think about was whether to endure the snowy night in his own thatched shack or swallow his pride and ask to stay in someone else's home.

The crowd suddenly parted. Respectful bows and greetings sounded all around, but Xu Xuan was dizzy with hunger and had no idea what was happening.

Someone took his chilblain-covered hand. The touch was wonderfully warm, like a stove.

"What is your name?"

That voice sounded like the howl of wind through snow, as though it came from above the clouds.

"Xu Xuan."

"A good name. From now on, you will cultivate with me."

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The Daoist before him wore black robes embroidered with fiery clouds. An ancient, eight-sided sword like white jade rested on his back. Snow clung to his long brows, and a faint smile softened his austere face.

Liu Xiaowen's voice interrupted Xu Xuan's reminiscence. After offering incense, they returned to the True Abode Hall, where Xu Xuan granted his disciple three days to visit White Ridge Village.

The True Abode Hall was lofty and spacious, rich in spiritual qi. It had always been where the Great Red Abbey's leader cultivated. Xu Xuan had never thought much of it during seclusion. Earlier, Liu Xiaowen's visit for instruction had brought some liveliness; now it felt cold and empty.

"Cultivating to become an immortal... the character for immortal is a person beside a mountain. Once cultivation reaches its end, must one truly sever the mortal world and abandon worldly ties?"

Xu Xuan found such matters mystery upon mystery, beyond his ability to unravel. For now, he should focus on cultivation and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.

The Sixth Layer of Qi Refining was called [Stepping Through the Profound Gate]. At this stage, one had to refine a life-bound item and complete one's [Life Foundation], gathering the lesser medicine from outside and using the human body to emulate nature. As the ancients had said, "One who understands true lead and mercury is an immortal who lives forever, never aging."

Lead represented life, while mercury represented nature. Without cultivating both nature and life, how could one speak of seeking the elixir?

Before the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, cultivation was merely a process of accumulating magical power and strengthening one's foundations. To break through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining, one had to cultivate a [Life Foundation], borrowing spiritual things of heaven and earth for one's own use.

As for breaking through to Foundation Establishment, one's [Nature Root] had to be full, with fortune gathered around oneself. Xu Xuan did not understand the intricacies involved, but his master had once said that he possessed some measure of fortune. When the time came for his breakthrough, there would also be incense in the Founders' Hall, so he need not worry about that.

It was the matter of the [Life Foundation] that troubled Xu Xuan. He did not cultivate the abbey's true inherited scripture, the fourth-grade "Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture," but the third-grade "Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method."

The abbey's "Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture" was incomplete. Its passages on cultivating nature and life were missing in places. Although the scripture was powerful, after entering Qi Refining, one had to use one's own life destiny and fortune to fill the gaps. Without those, one would never advance another inch, remaining at the first or second level of Qi Refining for life.

Wen Fufeng of the previous generation and Liu Xiaowen of the present one both had an affinity with this scripture. Only that gave them the chance to fill its gaps and reach Foundation Establishment. Anyone could cultivate the techniques and Dao Paths of the world; it was simply that some people were closer to a particular lineage and better suited to cultivating its path.

Perhaps because of that ancient seal-script character, Xu Xuan had chosen Thunder Arts.

When cultivating Qi Refining through the "Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method," one had to gather [heavenly thunder qi channeling]. During the Awakening of Insects, when spring thunder first stirred, one erected an altar and prayed for it. Repeating this nine times would yield a wisp of that qi.

At the sixth level of Qi Refining, one had to transform qi into life, then use the method to form a [Life Foundation]. The life-forming method of the "Thunder Radiance Spirit-Inquiry Method" required choosing a thunderstorm, entering the clouds, and drawing heavenly lightning into the body.

The method was so violent that Xu Xuan frowned as he read it. Even with his deep reserves of magical power at the fifth level of Qi Refining, facing heavenly lightning head-on would probably leave him injured, if not dead.

"No wonder this method is so domineering, yet none of the abbey's predecessors cultivated it."

Xu Xuan assessed it silently. The profundities of these Thunder Arts were no less remarkable than those of the "Heavenly Fire Eternal Radiance Scripture." Only its difficulty and its many missing secret arts had reduced it to the third grade. It should originally have been a fourth-grade inheritance as well.

An urgent cry suddenly came from outside the hall. A woman rushed in, wearing a blue gauze dress, her figure slender and her waist narrow. Anger simmered beneath her expression. Her breathing was unsteady, and she bore injuries.

Ripples now disturbed her autumn-lake eyes, like a white deer startled in the mountains.

She was Wen Si'an, Wen Fufeng's orphaned daughter and Xu Xuan's junior sister. She now managed the spiritual medicines on Everbright Mountain and had not returned to Luoqing Mountain in a long time.

Seeing that she seemed to have been injured in a magical battle, Xu Xuan hurried to his feet, about to ask what had happened.

But Wen Si'an spoke first, her beautiful eyes filled with menace as she said bitterly:

"Senior brother, Black Wind Valley has sent people to attack us again."

Xu Xuan said nothing more. Silently, he brought forth [Cinnabar Thunder] from his qi sea. Fine sparks flickered around it, accompanied by the faint cry of a dragon.

(End of chapter)