With Chen Ming's introduction, Shen Gongbao made his way up the mountain and smoothly joined the Five Elements Sect as an inner disciple. It took only a moment to complete all the formalities.
"Junior Brother Chen, you're back. Who is this?"
Looking up, he saw a woman watching Chen Ming as she spoke. She was pretty, lively, and charming, seemingly in her early twenties, though she looked a little annoyed.
"Senior Sister Fengling, you broke through!"
Once Chen Ming recognized Li Fengling, he hurriedly asked.
He remembered that when Li Fengling had announced she was going into seclusion, she had asked him to look after several spirit herbs outside her cave abode. Surely nothing had happened to them!
Over the past few days, Chen Ming had been so busy plotting revenge against the Blazing Purple Tiger, buying medicinal ingredients and preparing medicine, that he had completely forgotten about that task.
"Who do you think you're talking to?"
Li Fengling immediately smiled smugly.
"Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Sister Fengling!"
Chen Ming hastily said.
"Who is this?"
Li Fengling glanced at Shen Gongbao behind Chen Ming and asked curiously.
"Senior Sister Fengling, let me introduce you. This is Junior Brother Shen Gongbao. He used to be a disciple of Iron Bamboo Peak in the Falling Moon Sect too, though he was only an outer disciple..."
Chen Ming briefly introduced Shen Gongbao's background and past, then turned to him and gently patted his shoulder. "Junior Brother Gongbao, why haven't you greeted her yet? This is Senior Sister Li Fengling. She used to be from Iron Bamboo Peak too!"
Hearing this, Shen Gongbao hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Senior Sister Li!"
"The Falling Moon Sect has always valued unity and mutual support. Now that we're in the Five Elements Sect, we need to stick together even more. In that case, let's invite Senior Brother Tang You, Senior Sister Li Mei, and the others who came from the Falling Moon Sect over this afternoon to get acquainted with Shen Gongbao. That way, we can look out for him!"
After a moment's thought, Li Fengling promptly suggested.
"Right, Senior Sister Fengling, breaking through to late Foundation Establishment is such wonderful news. We should celebrate!"
By then, the three of them were sitting beneath the old banyan tree outside Chen Ming's house. Chen Ming brought out a pot of spirit tea and spoke as they drank.
Holding his teacup, Shen Gongbao felt an indescribable emotion rise within him. He had never expected Senior Sister Li to be so considerate, even gathering their former fellow disciples from the Falling Moon Sect so he could get to know everyone!
"Senior Sister Li, wouldn't this... be too much trouble for everyone?"
Shen Gongbao asked, a little embarrassed.
"What trouble?"
Li Fengling waved her hand.
"As I just said, disciples from the Falling Moon Sect have always stood together and helped one another. We left our homeland to come to the Five Elements Sect, so our footing here was weaker than everyone else's to begin with. If we don't support each other, wouldn't we struggle to take even a single step?"
"Besides, it won't be everyone, just the dozen or so people here on Green Wood Peak. I don't really know most of the others!"
Li Fengling quickly explained.
Chen Ming nodded repeatedly beside her. "Senior Sister Fengling is right! Junior Brother Gongbao, you don't know this, but there are only a dozen or so of us who transferred from the Falling Moon Sect to Green Wood Peak in the Five Elements Sect. We visit each other often. If anyone's short on cultivation resources, they only have to say the word, and everyone will chip in. We also gather for meals during festivals to liven things up."
Shen Gongbao truly hadn't known any of this. Although he had come from the Falling Moon Sect, he had always scraped by in the outer sect and had barely interacted with the inner disciples. He had no idea how any of this worked.
"Then I'll be shameless today and take this chance to get to know all my senior brothers and sisters."
Shen Gongbao replied.
"Junior Brother Gongbao, stay here and have tea with Senior Sister. I'm going down the mountain for a bit. I'll be back soon."
With that, Chen Ming dashed off and vanished.
Shen Gongbao sat facing Li Fengling, momentarily unsure what to say.
Although he had already become an inner disciple, he was still a newcomer at heart. Facing an expert at late Foundation Establishment like Li Fengling, he couldn't help feeling a little reserved. Moreover, despite her gentle manner, the presence of a high-level cultivator was unmistakable, exerting an invisible pressure.
Noticing his discomfort, Li Fengling spoke first. "Junior Brother Gongbao, you don't need to be so nervous. We're all fellow disciples. We have plenty of time together ahead of us, so we'll gradually get to know one another."
Shen Gongbao nodded. "Thank you for looking after me, Senior Sister."
"I wouldn't call it looking after you." Li Fengling poured herself another cup of tea. "Come to think of it, meeting Chen Ming was a stroke of fate. That boy may never have a serious word to say, but he has a good heart and gets things done reliably. If you need anything in the future, you can't go wrong asking him."
"Senior Brother Chen really has helped me a great deal," Shen Gongbao said sincerely. "If it weren't for him, I'd probably still be fretting in the outer sect."
"Oh? What happened?" Li Fengling's interest was piqued.
Shen Gongbao hurriedly waved his hands. "There's no need to trouble yourself over me, Senior Sister. It's already been resolved."
That afternoon, Chen Ming returned laden with supplies.
Not only had he bought food and wine, but he had also notified all the disciples who had come from the Falling Moon Sect along the way. Once word spread, everyone promised to attend that afternoon, both to celebrate Li Fengling's breakthrough and to meet their newly arrived junior brother.
They chose a clearing behind Green Wood Peak for the gathering. The ground was flat, the view open, and a small stream flowed nearby, making it an excellent spot for a picnic. Chen Ming and Shen Gongbao went ahead to set things up, bringing over several tables and meditation cushions before arranging the food and wine.
Shortly after one in the afternoon, everyone began arriving.
The first to arrive was a burly man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face, who strode along with the vigor of a tiger. The moment he arrived, he called out at the top of his lungs, "Junior Sister Fengling! I heard you broke through? Congratulations!"
"Senior Brother Tang You, you're here! Come, sit down!"
Li Fengling greeted him with a smile and said.
Behind Tang You came a female cultivator with a gentle air, dressed in a simple, elegant lake-blue Daoist robe. Her long hair was gathered into a plain bun secured with a white jade hairpin. She approached with a smile and congratulated Li Fengling. "Sister Fengling, congratulations."
"Senior Sister Meimei, it's been ages! How have you been?"
Seeing that it was Li Mei, Chen Ming immediately greeted her with a smile.
A voice came from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned to see a tall, thin young man strolling over, waving a folding fan with an air of rakish elegance.
"Lin Hao, you've got some nerve showing up!"
"You still haven't paid back the spirit stones you borrowed from me last time!"
Tang You suddenly jumped up and said.
"What's the rush? It's not as though I won't pay you back," Lin Hao said unhurriedly. "Once I strike it rich, I'll repay you with interest."
"Once you strike it rich? We'll probably have to wait until the year of the monkey and the month of the horse."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Once everyone had arrived, Chen Ming counted them. Including Li Fengling, Shen Gongbao, and himself, there were fourteen people in total. All fourteen sat in a circle on the grass, with food and wine spread before them and a wonderfully lively atmosphere.
"Come on, let me say a few words first," Chen Ming said, standing with his wine cup. "Today is a fine day. First, we're celebrating Senior Sister Fengling's breakthrough to late Foundation Establishment. Second, we're welcoming Junior Brother Gongbao into our big family. We all came from the Falling Moon Sect, and being reunited here in the Five Elements Sect is fate! Come, everyone, let's drink!"
"Cheers!"
Everyone raised their cups together and drained them.
After that opening drink, the mood relaxed completely. Everyone chatted in small groups, some discussing their insights into cultivation, others complaining about the strange happenings in the sect, and still others exchanging the latest gossip.
Chen Ming took Shen Gongbao around, introducing him to everyone present.
"This is Senior Brother Tang You. He's at late Foundation Establishment and mainly practices fire cultivation arts. His Blazing Flame Palm is so masterful it borders on the miraculous, but he's a little hotheaded and starts fights at the drop of a hat."
"You little brat, who are you calling hotheaded?" Tang You glared at him indignantly.
"See? There he goes again," Chen Ming said with a grin.
Tang You bristled and glared, but there was nothing he could do about him, so he could only pick up his cup and take a gulp.
The two traded barbs, making everyone roar with laughter.
Chen Ming then introduced Shen Gongbao to Lin Hao, Lin Lie, Shen Yueru, and the others. By the end of the circuit, Shen Gongbao still couldn't match every name to a face, but he could already feel the warmth and harmony of the group.
Although these people came from the same place, their personalities differed greatly, as did their cultivation levels. Yet there were no barriers or rivalries between them. They got along like a family. For Shen Gongbao, who was used to struggling alone in the outer sect, it brought a sense of belonging unlike anything he had ever experienced.
After several rounds of wine and a good deal of food, their conversation gradually turned to cultivation.
"Speaking of which, Junior Sister Fengling, how did you break through to late Foundation Establishment?"
"I remember you were still stuck at mid Foundation Establishment three months ago. How did you suddenly break through?"
Li Mei suddenly asked.
"There wasn't really any special secret. A while ago, I obtained a jade slip in an ancient ruin. It contained a senior cultivator's insights into cultivation. I studied it for half a month, gained some understanding, and then broke through."
A thought struck Li Fengling, and she quickly answered.
"An ancient ruin? What sort of ruin? Are there still good things inside?"
"There are, but the risks are great too. I nearly lost my life in there. If Chen Ming hadn't been waiting outside to help me, I might never have made it out."
Everyone turned toward Chen Ming, their gazes carrying a little more admiration.
"Don't look at me. I was just running errands. Senior Sister Fengling was the truly impressive one. She went in alone, obtained the jade slip, and even triggered the restrictions. In the end, she fought her way out through a trail of blood. I only helped her from outside. I didn't do anything."
Chen Ming kept grumbling inwardly. It certainly was dangerous. How could sneaking back into the Wangshui Kingdom not be dangerous? All I did was keep watch by the lake. Senior Sister Fengling really doesn't even need a rough draft to spin her tall tales. Despite his inward complaints, he still played along.
"That's why opportunities are something you really have to fight for with courage and strength," Tang You said with feeling. "We cultivate safely here in the Five Elements Sect. Our progress isn't exactly slow, but compared to Junior Sister Fengling, we're far behind."
"You flatter me, Senior Brother Tang You. I was just lucky. Besides, everyone follows a different path. There's no need to insist on comparing yourself with others. Cultivating step by step and building a firm foundation is a proper path too."
"Well said! Come, another toast to 'building a firm foundation'!"
Everyone raised their cups with a laugh and enjoyed another round.
The day grew late, and the sunset's lingering glow stained the sky orange-red.
As the gathering drew to a close, everyone began taking their leave. Before departing, each person greeted Shen Gongbao and offered a few words of encouragement, telling him not to hesitate to ask if he needed anything.
"Junior Brother Gongbao, here's my Communication Talisman. Contact me anytime you need something." Tang You took out a talisman and handed it to Shen Gongbao.
"And mine," Li Mei said, offering him one as well.
Lin Hao teased him, but still handed over his own Communication Talisman. "If you want to learn formations, though, come find me. I do have a few insights in that area."
Before long, Shen Gongbao had accumulated a stack of Communication Talismans in his hands. They felt heavy, each one carrying everyone's goodwill.
He stood there watching the figures gradually recede, his eyes stinging.
"What are you standing there for? Look, it's almost dark. Aren't you going to build yourself a cave abode or a house? Where else will you sleep tonight?"
Seeing Shen Gongbao suddenly standing there in a daze, overwhelmed with emotion, Chen Ming glanced at the sky and hurried over to speak.
The following morning, a thin veil of mist still shrouded the mountain gate. Dewdrops clung to the trees, refracting the rising sunlight into scattered flecks of rainbow color.
Chen Ming stepped out of his house and, just as he had expected, saw that familiar figure approaching again.
"Senior Sister Fengling, where are we going today?"
By now, Chen Ming was used to it. He ambled over and asked calmly.
Seeing Chen Ming approach, Li Fengling said little, merely smiling softly and moving her small hand. In an instant, a streak of azure light flew from her sleeve, traced a graceful arc through the air, and settled steadily before her.
The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing and translucent throughout. Cloud patterns could faintly be seen flowing along its edge, which radiated a soft, clear glow. It was the Azure Wind Sword, weightless yet incomparably sharp.
"Let's go." Li Fengling said only those words, her voice cool and clear as a spring yet firm beyond question. With a light tap of her toes, she floated up like a falling leaf and landed steadily on the Azure Wind Sword. Her robes fluttered as she glanced back at Chen Ming, something like anticipation hidden in her eyes.
Before Chen Ming could respond, she had already activated her spiritual power. The Azure Wind Sword gave a clear ring and carried her soaring into the sky, toward the foot of the mountain. The morning breeze lifted her long hair and flowing sashes, making her look like an immortal descending to the mortal world amid the rosy light.
Watching her receding figure, Chen Ming shook his head helplessly. This senior sister of his always moved like thunder and wind, unwilling to spare even another word.
He took a deep breath, loosely curled his right hand, and silently recited an incantation. A dark green light rose from his dantian, traveled along his meridians to his palm, and transformed into a longsword.
Although this sword was less precious than the Azure Wind Sword, it was still a high-grade magical artifact his master had given him when he first joined. Its blade was deep blue-green, with a dark pattern along its ridge resembling some ancient rune. The instant Chen Ming grasped its hilt, he felt a gentle warmth emanating from the sword, like a reunion with an old friend.
He tossed the Azure Glow Sword into the air, leaped up, and planted his feet steadily on its blade. A faint vibration came from beneath him, the resonance of sword energy rubbing against the air. Chen Ming adjusted his stance, formed hand seals, and called out softly, "Rise!"
The Azure Glow Sword carried him up from the ground, into the wind, in pursuit of the direction Li Fengling had disappeared.
The wind howled past, making his clothes snap and flutter. The mountains beneath him rapidly shrank, clouds and mist streamed alongside him, and the occasional early-rising immortal crane swept past with a clear cry.
Seeing the white figure far ahead, Chen Ming couldn't help smiling. No matter how many times he flew on a sword, the feeling always set his heart surging. Heaven and earth are vast, and I am free to roam.
He picked up speed and caught up.
The world below gradually came into focus. Fields, rivers, and villages slowly awakened in the morning light. Cooking smoke curled upward, and the calls of chickens and dogs mingled, filling the scene with the warmth of everyday life.
Chen Ming didn't know where Li Fengling intended to take him, but he knew that with this senior sister leading the way, the troublemaking duo was setting out again.
Ahead, Li Fengling suddenly slowed, seemingly waiting for him. Warmth filled Chen Ming's heart, and he accelerated to catch up, flying beside her.
Neither spoke. Only the wind and the ringing of their swords echoed in their ears.
The morning sun finally rose fully above the horizon, spilling golden light across the earth and illuminating the two figures flying on their swords.
Just then, however, they spotted two furtive figures beside a mountain, sneaking out of a small town and heading up a mountain.
"Let's follow them and have a look," Li Fengling said at once.
There was no further explanation and no hesitation. Li Fengling turned and, instead of mounting her sword again, sped silently along the ridgeline in that direction.
Her movements were exceptionally light. Her toes touched the rocks without leaving so much as a trace, and though her robes fluttered in the morning breeze, she did not disturb a single leaf.
Chen Ming hurried after her.
He poured spiritual power into his legs, moving as swiftly as flight as he followed closely behind Li Fengling. He kept a distance of a little over ten zhang, neither falling behind nor approaching so closely that he risked exposing them.
One behind the other, they circled along the mountain's contours and soon reached a position above and to the side of the two figures. From that higher vantage point, their view opened up, and every movement of the pair fell within their sight.
It was not yet fully light, and mist curled through the mountain forest, limiting visibility.
Yet the two figures clearly knew this route extremely well. Even in such dim light, they moved swiftly, scarcely pausing.
They passed through a dense forest, crossed a dry streambed, and climbed a steep mountainside for roughly an hour before finally stopping in front of a sheer cliff.