Jade Spring Mountain

Xu Qingtong respectfully kowtowed to Chen Jialiang, bid his uncle farewell, and followed the visitor out of Spring Rejuvenation Hall. He glanced back at the place where he had lived for nearly a year. Once he left, who knew when he would return? With a trace of sorrow, Xu Qingtong departed Houtang Town.

Once they were outside town, the man took out a strip of yellow paper and stuck it to his leg. He grabbed Xu Qingtong and shot into the air. Startled, Xu Qingtong clutched the man's clothes tightly.

"This is a Beginner Flying Talisman. It can carry someone through the air for two hours and cover a hundred and twenty li," the man explained when he saw how nervous Xu Qingtong was.

"Immortal master, how should I address you?" Xu Qingtong asked.

"I am Sun Biao, the external affairs elder of Jade Spring Mountain. You may call me Elder Sun," the man said. As they flew, Elder Sun introduced Xu Qingtong to Jade Spring Mountain.

As it turned out, Jade Spring Mountain was a cultivation sect in Qingzhou, founded a thousand years earlier by Jade Spring True Person. At its height, Jade Spring Mountain had several Golden Core cultivators and forty or fifty Foundation Establishment cultivators. Jade Spring True Person himself had reached the Nascent Soul Realm. Back then, Biluozong and Gloomwind Valley had been no more than minor sects.

Later, Jade Spring True Person left to wander the world and never returned. Over the past two or three hundred years, struggles for power and profit had erupted within the sect. Several Golden Core patriarchs had come to blows, and countless disciples had been killed or wounded.

From then on, Jade Spring Mountain never recovered from the blow. Its pool of talent gradually withered, and its resources grew ever scarcer. In the end, it had fallen to a second-rate sect and become a vassal of Biluozong.

After they had flown for two hours, the Flying Talisman's spiritual energy ran out. Elder Sun hurriedly took out another and stuck it to his leg. Somewhat sheepishly, he said, "I could have carried you on a flying sword, but that would consume too much spiritual energy. Controlling the sword would also drain my divine sense. Using these Flying Talismans is easier. They cost a few spirit stones, but they let me travel at ease."

To make a long story short, they flew for a full fourteen to sixteen hours before finally arriving at a great mountain. Elder Sun descended, set Xu Qingtong on the ground, and said, "We're here. Follow me inside."

As he spoke, he took out a Jade Token and waved it before him. Suddenly, the scenery changed, and a mountain gate appeared before them. Before Xu Qingtong could even marvel at it, Elder Sun pulled him through.

"You're back, Elder Sun. This disciple pays his respects." Seeing Sun Biao, a disciple guarding the gate hurried forward and bowed.

Sun Biao nodded in acknowledgment, then led Xu Qingtong toward a great hall. When they reached it, he told the disciple at the entrance, "Go inform the sect master that I have something to report."

The disciple immediately turned and went inside to announce them. Xu Qingtong, meanwhile, was like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, looking this way and that, even reaching out to touch the hall's walls. He had never seen such a magnificent hall and gazed around curiously.

Just then, the disciple came back out of the hall and cupped his hands toward Sun Biao. "Elder Sun, the sect master asks you to come in." Sun Biao answered and led Xu Qingtong into the hall.

The hall was spacious enough to hold two or three hundred people. A couch stood at the far end, with a man standing before it. He looked to be in his forties, of medium build, and wore a dark green robe. With a round face, broad brows, and his hands clasped behind his back, he had a rather prosperous appearance.

Sun Biao strode up to the man and bowed. "Sect master, I have returned."

The sect master turned around and said with a smile, "Thank you for your efforts, Elder Sun! A disciple told me you wished to see me. Go on, what is it?"

Sun Biao said, "Sect master, do you remember how, half a year ago, word came down from above asking us to help investigate a matter? I kept an eye on it and spent these past few months making inquiries far and wide. At last, I have established what happened. This boy beside me knows something about Zuo Mo's death, so I brought him here to await your instructions."

After hearing Sun Biao's words, the sect master raised an eyebrow and looked at Xu Qingtong. "What is your name? Where do you live? Tell me what you know."

Xu Qingtong hurriedly bowed. "My name is Xu Qingtong. I live in Upper Yang Village, in Bluestone Town. One night, half a year ago..." He recounted everything that had happened that night from beginning to end, exactly as he had told Sun Biao before.

The sect master fell silent in thought after hearing him. A long while later, he let out a deep breath and said, "It seems Lu Mo must have gone without permission to explore that dangerous area on Bluestone Mountain. He was accidentally injured by a venomous creature and died as a result. We shall leave the matter here. I will report to Biluozong myself. If necessary, young friend, I will ask you to go to Biluozong to testify." Then he turned to Sun Biao. "Elder Sun, thank you for your efforts during this time. Still, I'm sorry for the trouble, but please take this boy home and give him some silver to offer a little comfort. Also, this matter must not spread beyond these walls. Remember that!"

Sun Biao said, "Sect master, after disaster befell this boy's family, he went to live with his uncle in Bingzhou. His uncle's ancestors left behind a cultivation method called the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art, and this boy unwittingly succeeded in cultivating it. He already has magic power within him. He seems clever and well-spoken to me. Why not let him stay in the sect?"

Only after hearing Sun Biao's words did the sect master examine the boy closely. Sure enough, he sensed fluctuations of magic power within him. He called Xu Qingtong over, placed a hand on his forehead, and closed his eyes to investigate. Then he said quietly, "Although this boy has cultivated magic power, his aptitude is far too poor. He actually has four spiritual roots. I have no idea how you managed to break through to the first Qi Refining layer."

Those seemingly casual words sent a chill through Xu Qingtong's heart. He calmly replied, "My uncle had some medicinal ingredients at home. I sensed spiritual qi within them, so I took them to consume. After a long time, I gradually became like this without realizing it."

"Oh? Mortal medicinal ingredients contained spiritual qi? What ingredients were they?" the sect master asked, seemingly interested.

"They were things like thirty- to fifty-year-old ginseng, amethyst, and dragon bone. To help me advance, my uncle gave me almost all the medicinal ingredients he had saved up, and even all the pieces of jade passed down through his family."

"Jade? What sort of jade?" the sect master asked again.

Xu Qingtong knew the truth, but feigned ignorance as he described the spirit stones to the sect master. Upon hearing this, the sect master understood. Presumably, one of the boy's uncle's ancestors had been a cultivator and had left behind not only a cultivation method but also a few spirit stones. The boy had certainly reaped the benefits.

Once he had worked it out, the sect master lost interest and said indifferently, "Elder Sun, this boy's aptitude is too poor. I'm afraid he has no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. Whether he stays or leaves is for you to decide."

Sun Biao was also deeply disappointed. The boy looked quite bright, yet he had turned out to possess four spiritual roots. Keeping him would probably amount to nothing more than wasting resources. But sending him away would leave Sun Biao unable to save face. After all, he had promised Xu Qingtong that he would bring him here to cultivate.

Suddenly, a good idea struck him. Why not do it this way!