Great Moonlight Temple

Green Luo, Frostreturn Peak.

Liu Xingfang was temporarily studying under Liu Xiaowen. After giving him a few instructions, Xu Xuan hurried back into seclusion.

The peak was spacious, with plenty of vacant residences. Liu Xingfang was still a young boy, but he conducted himself with impeccable courtesy. Though slightly uneasy when he first arrived, he had now settled down to cultivate in his own little courtyard.

He came from a lesser branch of his clan, but his aptitude was more than enough to earn him a place in the main branch as a direct descendant.

Yet the clan head had not arranged that. Instead, he had kept Liu Xingfang out of the manor and sent him to cultivate on a spirit mountain under the clan's rule. Several years ago, Liu Xingfang had heard his parents' resentful complaints and felt somewhat puzzled himself, but he had never shown it. Young as he was, he already knew how to read faces and moods.

He did not like the rather gloomy Liu manor. Cultivating in the mountains might suit his own wishes better.

"Xing Fang, a cunning rabbit keeps three burrows. By joining Green Peaks, perhaps you've found our family a way to survive."

His elder brother Bai Yuan's words still echoed in his ears. Sometimes, when he thought of his relatives in the Plainlands, an inexplicable fear stirred in his heart.

His little courtyard was well situated, and its spiritual energy was fairly abundant, though it fell somewhat short of the spirit mountain back home. Elder Brother Bai Yuan had said the Great Red Abbey conducted itself uprightly and was a good place to go, but he still felt uneasy.

He had been here several days now. When he woke each morning, he still spent a little while in a daze before remembering that he was no longer home.

Green Luo was sparsely populated, and life in the sect was austere. Everything required his own labor; there were no servants to attend him. As he practiced in the morning, white mist surged through the mountains, dreamlike and illusory, bringing with it a chill stillness that made him feel lonely.

Liu Xingfang was practicing when a burst of playful chatter came from outside his courtyard. One voice belonged to Senior Brother Xiao Wen, and the other to a woman.

"Junior Brother Xiao Wen, is this where Junior Brother Xing Fang lives?"

"Senior Sister Gao Xia, slow down. Don't frighten him."

Two figures appeared at the gate: Liu Xiaowen and Zhang Gaoxia, who had come to visit.

Zhang Gaoxia wore a pale-yellow silk dress and stepped forward with a smile. Liu Xiaowen followed behind her, looking somewhat helpless, and quietly told Liu Xingfang:

"This is Senior Sister Gao Xia. She normally oversees the spirit fields in Longbright."

Liu Xingfang bowed in greeting, his manner composed and proper.

"There isn't much fun to be had in Green Luo. Xing Fang, you certainly have patience. When your Senior Brother Xiao Wen first came up the mountain, he started running all over the place after just a few days."

Liu Xiaowen looked embarrassed and quickly changed the subject with a smile:

"Didn't we agree to take Xing Fang to see Longbright? Let's get going."

With that, Liu Xiaowen hurriedly raised a cloud, channeled his magical power, and invited the two aboard.

"Come on, hop up."

Still a little bewildered, Liu Xingfang stepped onto the cloud. As he watched his courtyard rapidly shrink beneath his feet, a smile finally appeared on his face.

Most of Green Peaks' mountains were tall and precipitous, far loftier than his family's spirit mountain. Viewed from above, each resembled a heavenly sword piercing the sea of clouds.

Mindful of the two behind him, Liu Xiaowen slowed his wind-riding pace, and the cloud drifted leisurely toward Longbright.

The sun rose little by little, scattering the mountain mist. Liu Xingfang felt it truly was a fine day, perfect for going out for a stroll.

Elsewhere, Wang Qiyun was rather overwhelmed.

A monk had arrived at Horse-Tethering Road. The disciples stationed there reported it immediately, and Wang Qiyun first sent word to Xu Xuan and his father before rushing over to guard the grand formation.

He had assumed the Lotus Temple had finally lost patience and intended to act, but the scene he found was not what he had imagined.

A young monk in a simple, old-fashioned moon-white robe walked barefoot.

Formations had been laid here, and years of battling the evil creatures from Eastern Secret had fouled the soil with blood energy and baleful energy. The mountains were withered and yellow, and the former fields could no longer grow any crops.

Wang Qiyun arrived just as the monk walked into the [Little Baleful Wind Formation]. Countless blades of marrow-red baleful wind descended, but parted of their own accord upon touching him, leaving him untouched.

Every demonic creature lingering outside the formation vanished into drifting ash. The monk loudly invoked the Buddha's name and stopped.

Wang Qiyun had already led a group of disciples into position, relying on the formation to confront him. Seeing the unfathomable depths of the monk's cultivation, his heart chilled, but he still asked in a grave voice:

"Master, may I ask where you've come from? Our sect has had many clashes with the Lotus Temple lately. You would do better to take another road, lest your sacred body be injured by mistake."

"I am Jingyan. I have come from the north to see the abbot of the Great Red Abbey. I mean no harm."

With that, the monk withdrew his supernatural manifestations and let the formation's baleful winds fall upon him, without so much as a frown.

"He's at least a late-stage Hearer. He may be ready to become a Dharma Master at any moment."

The monk seemed to bear no ill intent, which eased Wang Qiyun's mind somewhat. He still dared not let him through, however, and merely restrained the formation for the time being. Both sides waited quietly.

A short while later, a thundercloud descended from the horizon with a rumbling roar. Xu Xuan had arrived.

"Why is there another monk?"

Though somewhat apprehensive, Xu Xuan tightened his grip on [Constant Light]. As long as the other man was not a Dharma Master, he could put up a fight.

Wang Qiyun and the disciples stationed there brightened at Xu Xuan's arrival, their confidence gradually returning. Wang Qiyun stepped forward and reported everything that had happened.

Xu Xuan remained on guard, not daring to underestimate the seemingly plain and unassuming Jingyan in the slightest.

"He's a successor of the Great Moonlight Temple. There's no need to panic."

Tiantuo's voice finally sounded, easing Xu Xuan's mind a little.

"The Great Moonlight Temple? What sort of lineage is that?"

"A great temple in the north. Though they remain secluded from the world, their reputation is formidable. That lineage is a bunch of reasonable bald donkeys who dislike warfare."

Xu Xuan relaxed somewhat. The monk had indeed neither fought back nor harmed any disciples, and had even helped clear away the surrounding evil creatures.

Xu Xuan put away his Dharma Sword, opened the formation, and stepped forward, speaking gravely:

"Our abbey has seen many clashes lately, and we overreacted upon seeing a Buddhist Cultivator. Please forgive us, Master."

Jingyan's expression remained calm, with even a trace of guilt. Instead, he apologized:

"I came without notice and neglected the proper courtesies. Please forgive me, Abbey Master."

"Master Jingyan, what business brings you to see me?"

Seeing that his visitor meant no harm, Xu Xuan relaxed a little, though he kept the formation active.

Jingyan looked around, seemingly reluctant to speak openly, then leaned closer and said quietly:

"It concerns the Wilderness of Witches. That is why I wished to visit Abbot Xu."

Xu Xuan immediately grew alert, his expression turning solemn. He dismissed the others and led Jingyan into Green Luo.

This place had a Foundation Establishment grand formation, yet Jingyan entered nonetheless. It seemed he truly meant no harm, allowing Xu Xuan to set his mind at ease.

They entered Azure Sky Peak, where Xu Xuan led Jingyan into a side hall used for receiving guests. Only then did he ask gravely:

"What insight do you have, Master? And what does this matter concerning the Wilderness of Witches have to do with our abbey?"

"Abbey Master Xu, you must already have sensed something, or you would not have brought me into your sect. I have something for you to examine. Once you see it, you will understand."

Jingyan quietly invoked the Buddha's name and took an object from his robes: a somewhat damaged ancient painting.

Painted on animal hide with wild brushstrokes, it depicted a chain of mountains surrounding a heavenly pit as deep as an ocean abyss. Countless poisonous insects crawled out of the mountains and gathered around it.

The sky was a pitch-black night, and the moon and mountains were blurred, as though about to join together. Above the heavenly pit, red clouds surged and heavenly fire blazed. Within the clouds, something like a great sun seemed about to emerge, radiating ten thousand beams of golden light.

As Xu Xuan studied the painting, he vaguely felt this matter might concern his own inheritance, yet his sect had no records of it.

He thought of asking Tiantuo within him through his inner voice, but the old demon had fallen silent the moment the painting appeared, as though he had shrunk into hiding.

"Abbot Xu, have you ever heard of the [Calamity Poison] lineage?"

The monk opposite him asked with a solemn expression.

Xu Xuan nodded, somewhat surprised. After thinking it over, he still nodded in acknowledgment.

"Something unusual may happen next. Please prepare yourself, Abbey Master."

After warning Xu Xuan and receiving his assent, Jingyan began reciting scripture.

A Glazed Treasure Box appeared, seemingly wreathed in cold, clear moonlight. It was covered in talismans, and appeared to contain a sealed precious pearl or Relic. The faintest trace of its aura leaked out, nearly crushing Xu Xuan.

Fortunately, Jingyan quickly restrained the manifestation and apologized. He drew out only a strand of moonlight and let it fall upon the ancient painting, which immediately began to reveal supernatural visions.

Xu Xuan looked over. The Ancient Stele within him actually responded as well, sending a strand of clear energy upward and drawing his consciousness into the painting.

Ten thousand insects cried out, and the vegetation withered yellow. Within the heavenly pit appeared a giant cocoon as massive as a Great Mountain.

White insect silk wound around the surroundings, while dense black incantations flowed through the mountains like rippling water. Countless emotions arose, only to be held up by the bright moon overhead, gradually stabilizing the giant cocoon's form.

Moonlight encircled the giant cocoon, slowly merging with the deathly white insect silk to form a lustrous shell as white as jade.

The surging red clouds overhead finally stirred, and a Daoist emerged with a sword on his back.

He wore a black Daoist robe embroidered with red sparrows amid fiery clouds and scenes of red fruit offered to an immortal. Its design resembled the abbey's [Red Sparrow] ritual robes, but an additional band of intricate star patterns encircled the cuffs.

Xu Xuan could not make out the Daoist's features. He only felt an instinctive sense of closeness.

Golden fire raced, and the heavens blazed with light. The Daoist rose but did not draw his sword. He merely brought his palms toward one another, and the vault of heaven seemed squeezed between them. Night, moonlight, and fiery radiance were all compressed into a fine line, which he held in his hand.

Looking skyward again, Xu Xuan saw that night had dispersed, revealing the hazy, dreamlike Great Void, like a shattered mirror. Holding the entire night sky in his hand, the Daoist gave a soft cry.

"Sword, go."

At that voice, two of Xu Xuan's three souls fled, along with six of his seven spirits. He felt a sword intent like the collapse of heaven, threatening to crush his entire being into dust.

The giant cocoon split open, and a deep green light emerged. At once, the poisonous creatures throughout the mountains cried out, and something that had long stood still began turning again in the unseen world.

From then on, good and ill fortune left traces, and calamity and blessing revealed themselves. Certain ancient medicinal formulas and gu poisons became effective once more. Many poisonous creatures transformed and leaped about, while countless barbarians with tattooed upper bodies cried out wildly.

"My deepest thanks to the Profound Offering Sword Lineage and the Great Moonlight Temple for helping me attain the Dao. I, Yuanxiang, shall never forget this grace."

An exultant voice came from within the deep green light, and Xu Xuan's consciousness withdrew.

Opposite him, Jingyan grew worried as Xu Xuan remained absorbed in the painting. Several times he hesitated, wanting to wake Xu Xuan directly, but in the end he did not act.

He had never seen anyone study this ancient painting for so long. Still, it normally only jolted people away and had never injured anyone, so Jingyan waited for Xu Xuan to come back to himself.

Xu Xuan regained awareness, but the memory of that sword intent still reverberated in his mind. That heaven-toppling, earth-shattering sword intent seemed to have cleaved both his body and his soul apart.

Blood immediately poured from his seven orifices. His soul gathered and scattered again, while the sword qi within him circulated uncontrollably, shredding everything nearby.

At last, Tiantuo could no longer remain calm. Though the Ancient Stele protected Xu Xuan's Qi Sea, leaving Tiantuo safe within it, Xu Xuan's soul and internal organs were on the verge of being pulverized.

Tiantuo steeled himself and acted ruthlessly. Bloody blossoms spread, and countless black spots gathered into something like a celestial river, surging toward that lingering impression. Yet they turned to ash at the slightest contact, and the shock made him vomit blood repeatedly, his face paling.

"How did this brat provoke something like this?"

Tiantuo trembled all over. A mere impression, a memory rather than actual sword intent, possessed such terrifying power. In his day, he had been a Heavenly Demon at the pinnacle of the Purple Mansion realm, yet he knew he could not have withstood that sword strike.

Seeing Xu Xuan's abnormal state, Jingyan recalled his master's instructions and hurriedly summoned the Glazed Treasure Box again. He opened it gently, and a stream of multicolored light flowed out, carrying a strand of moonlight into Xu Xuan's body.

Everything immediately settled. Xu Xuan's injuries healed little by little, and the memory of that sword intent gradually fell dormant. Nourished by the multicolored light and moonlight, his soul and body recovered completely, becoming even stronger than before.

At that moment, he actually achieved the second extraordinary manifestation of the [Jade Blood Heavenly Heart Art]. An exceedingly fine slit appeared on his forehead, seemingly flashing with golden light before smoothing over again, leaving no outward sign.

Only then did Xu Xuan fully regain consciousness. His face filled with guilt, Jingyan actually bent down and bowed:

"Abbey Master Xu, I never anticipated this. I came on my master's orders, intending to offer you some help, but I never imagined such a disaster would occur. I am truly ashamed."

Xu Xuan did not particularly blame Jingyan. He seemed to have glimpsed something extraordinary within that painting, something worth the risk. Besides, he had achieved the second extraordinary manifestation, so he had hardly lost out.

Xu Xuan helped Jingyan up and said gravely:

"Master, there is no need to feel guilty. I believe you meant well and could not have foreseen this."

"But could you now explain the secrets of this painting?"

Seeing that Xu Xuan truly had no injuries left, Jingyan relaxed and answered quietly:

"Fellow Daoist, do you know how the ancient High Shaman attained the Dao of [Calamity Poison]?"

Xu Xuan grew solemn and sat down, ignoring the ruins around him. Jingyan's voice became faint and hollow, as though it came from ancient times, as he spoke softly:

"[Calamity Poison] is a lineage formed by fusion. However, both of the paths brought together had flaws. This High Shaman already possessed [Calamity Blessing] and sought to incorporate [Origin Poison] to achieve completeness."

"You can imagine the difficulty. Naturally, it was not something one person could accomplish alone. At the time, both our Great Moonlight Temple and the ancestral lineage of the Great Red Abbey offered assistance."

"That deed was inscribed in history and upon the Great Dao, becoming the ritual through which the [Calamity Poison] lineage attains the Golden Core realm."

Xu Xuan's expression shifted, but he merely said:

"Surely you jest, Master Jingyan. Though our abbey's inheritance is ancient, nothing has been passed down to us-not even its cultivation methods. How could we be connected to that lineage?"

Jingyan sighed, finding it difficult to explain. He leaned closer and said:

"The ties between lineages are not determined by what we think or how cultivation methods are passed down. Their origins and transformations, the rise and fall of their allotted destiny, are all visible in the heavens."

"Your abbey branched off from a Sword Lineage in the Shu Kingdom, and naturally inherited its standing. Even the Hollow Sword Gate in the Plainlands is only a subsidiary sect's offshoot, with origins less orthodox than your own inheritance, Abbot Xu."

"Could you speak plainly, Master? What connection is there between this lineage's origins and the Wilderness of Witches' present actions?"

Jingyan softly invoked the Buddha's name. Moonlight surged around him, and the Glazed Treasure Box screened off their surroundings. Only then did the monk look Xu Xuan directly in the eye and speak gravely:

"If you were a Purple Mansion cultivator, Abbot Xu, the Wilderness of Witches would certainly seek friendly relations with you. If you had attained sword intent, they would also be willing to wait a while. But now you possess only sword qi, with no prospect of reaching Purple Mansion, and they can wait no longer."

"To attain [Calamity Poison] once more, they cannot do without a Purple Mansion cultivator touched by the destiny of Ancient Shu's sword Dao to help them escape their tribulation."

"Our Great Moonlight Temple also helped them attain the Dao back then, and has now been invited to assist again. The only reason they dare not act against us is that my master is still alive."

"Their idea is that, since a Sword Immortal of Ancient Shu is hard to find, they should forge a sword imbued with that destiny, then find a Sword Immortal to wield it."

"Abbot Xu, both you and the sect leader of the Hollow Sword Gate are part of this scheme."

Fine beads of cold sweat seeped down Xu Xuan's back. He almost felt a deep, shadowy gaze coming from the east, fixing upon him like a venomous insect.