Birthday felicitations

A rare rain had fallen over Green Luo, and the sky at the horizon had just cleared.

Chen Weiyuan's grand birthday celebration had finally arrived. Only the Great Red Abbey had been invited from Green Peaks. After offering incense, Xu Xuan settled the [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl] in a precious greenwood box and prepared to leave.

He emerged from the True Abode Hall and descended the steps, only to find Wen Si'an already waiting there.

She stood beneath a green pine, having changed into a pale yellow dress woven with gold thread. The sunlight fell in scattered fragments, making her figure a little difficult to discern.

"Senior brother."

That call carried Xu Xuan back many years. In his youth, he had listened to teachings and practiced outside the True Abode Hall. When he finished and stopped to rest, he would find Wen Si'an waiting beneath the pine, fiddling with the flowers and grass on the ground. Once Xu Xuan was free, she would approach with a smile and call him senior brother, just as she had now.

Seeing that Xu Xuan seemed lost in thought, Wen Si'an stepped forward. She was a little younger than him. Leaning slightly toward him, she tipped up her clear, radiant face, revealing her pale neck.

She held a robe in her hands and said hesitantly:

"Senior brother, perhaps you could change into this Robe of Law Master left behind, to lend you greater presence."

Only then did Xu Xuan come back to himself and look at the Robe of Law Wen Si'an held, the one Wen Fufeng had worn in years past. Its base remained a profound black, but it bore designs of red sparrows and fiery clouds, scenes of crimson fruit offered to immortals. It was warm to the touch and untouched by worldly dust.

It was one of Wen Fufeng's belongings, [Red Sparrow], the abbot's Robe of Law handed down through generations at the Great Red Abbey. Though it was only upper-grade Qi Refining equipment, its significance was extraordinary. It had come all the way from Shu, and every other Robe of Law in the abbey was modeled after it.

"Why did you bring this out?"

Xu Xuan was a little puzzled. Since Wen Fufeng's passing, this Robe of Law had been kept deep within the Contemplation Hall. Occasionally, Xu Xuan and Wen Si'an would take it out, but only to look at it. They treasured it dearly.

"If something isn't used, it's merely a lifeless object. You're the abbot now, senior brother. Of course you can wear it."

Before Xu Xuan could say anything more, Wen Si'an had already unfolded the Robe of Law and said gently:

"Let me help you put it on."

At the fifth level of Qi Refining, dressing required no more than a thought, but Xu Xuan still allowed Wen Si'an to help him change. Her slender hands thoughtfully straightened his robe and headwear.

"It fits very well."

Xu Xuan took a couple of steps. The Robe of Law could adjust itself to its wearer, so naturally it suited his build.

Wen Si'an smiled faintly. Xu Xuan had not seen that smile in years, and it felt wonderfully familiar.

"I'll be going now. Take care, Si'an."

Xu Xuan calculated the time and decided he ought to leave. With a word of farewell, he rode away on a cloud.

Wen Si'an went to sit on the steps before the True Abode Hall. Lost in unknown thoughts, she looked at the blue bricks beneath her feet, where traces of Xu Xuan's practice all those years ago still seemed faintly discernible.

"A pity it was only Sword Qi. A blessing it was only Sword Qi."

Those had been Chen Weiyuan's first words to Xu Xuan when he came to the abbey to offer his condolences that year.

The words lingered in Xu Xuan's heart. Whenever he took up [Constant Light], he felt all the more that they hinted at something, hanging over his heart like dark clouds.

Sword Qi was already something rarely seen in a century. How much rarer was sword intent?

At the very least, one needed a clear, luminous sword heart, a heart free of encumbrances, and thoughts that flowed unhindered to have even the slightest chance of Mingwu.

Wen Fufeng had been a true Daoist. Xu Xuan knew he could not reach his master's realm. In his eyes, the sword in his hand was merely a weapon, nothing more than a means to guard the sect's gates, slay demons, and kill enemies.

He rode his cloud away from the abbey and seemed to hear, faintly, the sounds of metal being forged and iron being hammered on Cloud-Sweeping Peak. Senior Brother Wang was practicing Artifact Refining.

That sound had continued ever since their master's passing, scarcely pausing. The heavy pounding seemed to chase him relentlessly, sending waves of searing pain across his back.

There was some distance between Green Luo and the Chen Household on the Great Scenery Plains. Even riding his cloud as swiftly as he could, Xu Xuan spent quite some time on the journey.

He used the abbey's secret [Cloud-Seeking Sun-Chasing Art], a second-tier art for riding clouds and practicing Wind-Riding. It was virtually without equal in Green Peaks.

As the Chen Household came into view, Xu Xuan descended from the sky and proceeded on foot as a sign of respect.

The Chen Household's gates stood on a low mountain. Spiritual energy abounded there, far surpassing Green Luo. Xu Xuan felt his cultivation would advance considerably faster if he practiced here.

Xu Xuan had only just reached the foot of the mountain when he saw cultivators gathered like clouds. People from every household and sect walked along the road to offer birthday felicitations.

"Brother Xu, you're here! Come in, come in."

A woman in golden robes laughed brightly. Radiant and striking, she exuded nobility. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Xu Xuan, and she came straight over to welcome him.

"Is that you, Xiyue? It's been a long time."

After a moment's recollection, Xu Xuan recognized her. She was Chen Xiyue, a member of the Chen Household's direct line and Chen Weiyuan's own granddaughter.

"Well, you're seeing me now. When I heard you were coming, I made a point of waiting here. You took so long to arrive, I was getting terribly anxious."

Chen Xiyue had gone to the Great Red Abbey to cultivate when she was young, and Xu Xuan had taught her. They had been on good terms in their youth. Unexpectedly, after years apart, she acted even more affectionately, revealing a sweet, playful side that left Xu Xuan unsure how to respond.

As they followed the road upward, River Pearls and Flawless Jade and Amber and Cinnabar could be seen everywhere. Golden Horses raced with light, and Jade Roosters shone in splendor. There was no need to recount every wonder; it truly looked like an immortal paradise.

As expected of an immortal clan that once produced a True Person. Even if its fortunes are no longer what they were, its foundations still far surpass our abbey's, Xu Xuan silently compared.

Upon entering the main hall, he heard one congratulatory greeting after another. Spiritual treasures and enchanted implements of every kind arrived in an unending stream, leaving Xu Xuan somewhat alarmed. He had probably not seen as many Foundation Establishment items in his entire life as he had today.

An old man in black robes sat in the seat of honor. He was well advanced in years, his hair and beard entirely white, yet his back remained straight as a green pine growing among mountain cliffs. This was Chen Weiyuan. He had actually appeared in person and seemed to be in no serious distress, which eased Xu Xuan's mind considerably.

"The Great Red Abbey presents one [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl], wishing you success in your cultivation and an early entry into the immortal register."

When his turn came, Xu Xuan stepped forward respectfully, bowed, and offered the [Earth Mother's Benevolent Pearl]. He kept his gaze lowered and his manner deferential, not daring to make any unnecessary movement.

The old man in the seat suddenly stirred and looked at Xu Xuan's face. Pressure descended like a great mountain bearing down on his head. Xu Xuan merely circulated his qi in silence and planted his feet, never wavering in the slightest.

Chen Weiyuan finally spoke his first words of the day. His voice was steady and deep, carrying a trace of emotion:

"Xu Xuan, how have you grown old so quickly?"

With that, he waved a hand and had Chen Xiyue lead Xu Xuan away to take a seat at the banquet.

Old?

Xu Xuan was only middle-aged. Measured against a Qi Refining cultivator's two-hundred-year lifespan, he was still in his prime. Yet the years had exhausted his heart and spirit. He could not conceal the weariness on his face, and worry had even flecked his temples with gray.

"You've become the head of a sect, brother, but you've neglected your own appearance. Back when you drew your sword on Azure Sky Peak, what youthful spirit you had!"

Chen Xiyue studied Xu Xuan's much-changed face, seemingly striving to recognize the man who had once ridden his sword among the clouds. It was as though he still hid between Xu Xuan's brows and eyes, only buried deep.

"Why talk about such things at your grandfather's birthday celebration? Once I break through to Foundation Establishment, I can always take on a youthful form to come see you."

Xu Xuan offered those words of reassurance. His seat was at the edge of the banquet, with few people nearby. After sharing a few cups with him, Chen Xiyue had matters to attend to and had to excuse herself, urging him only to drink his fill.

He was drinking cup after cup of spirit wine, enjoying the peace, when he suddenly noticed someone sitting down beside him.

Blue robes, a feather fan, handsome and unworldly-who else could it be but Liu Qiuqi?

"You're a fortunate man, fellow Daoist. Chen Xiyue is a daughter of the direct line. Very few people win her regard."

"Get to the point. None of that."

Xu Xuan could not be bothered to explain. He merely filled the cup before Liu Qiuqi and passed it over, making the blue-robed young gentleman look uncomfortable.

"For this birthday celebration, the honored elder has prepared something fine as a prize. I wonder whether you're interested, Brother Xu."

"What is it?"

Liu Qiuqi leaned closer with a somewhat furtive air and whispered:

"A Foundation Establishment Pill."

There will be another update tonight.