Chapter 103 - Arc 8: Wuling Immortal Sect | Chapter 103: Xiaozhu Peak
Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (3/4)
After confirming the name of this place, Xu Ziqing surveyed his surroundings. He stood on a peak, surrounded by floating clouds as thin as smoke. The ground lacked much soil but was strewn with rocks. Behind a boulder not far away, a solitary clump of cold bamboo stood, covered in a faint hoarfrost. Apart from that, there were no flowers or trees in sight.
The mountain wall beside him was quite high, and in the middle, a cave appeared as if it had been forcibly broken open, devoid of any additional carvings, giving it a deserted look.
The climate on the peak was bitterly cold, not due to natural weather, but filled with a peculiar and sharp aura. This aura was as unyielding as a sword, invincible and relentless, coupled with icy killing intent, perpetuating an atmosphere of extreme cold throughout the peak all year round.
After taking in the sight, Xu Ziqing felt a chilling sensation sweep over his entire body. He glanced at the plain-clothed man once more and realized that the man emitted the same aura as the peak. The man appeared as if he was an inherent part of this place, fully integrated with its essence.
At this moment, the world seemed to be permeated with endless killing intent, and the plain-clothed man personified this intent and swordsmanship, akin to an unsheathed, unstoppable killing sword.
The imposing presence and harmonious feeling left Xu Ziqing momentarily stunned. It seemed as if he was drawn by a mysterious force, and his feet felt rooted to the spot, unable to move. Within the depths of his inner world, a powerful killing intent stirred, rushing to his heart before entering his consciousness, and filling his entire being.
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Eradicate all evil! Destroy all wicked men! Annihilate intruders! Exterminate everything in the world—
…No!
Suddenly, a sense of coolness descended upon him, awakening Xu Ziqing. He gasped involuntarily. The impact was powerful; he had nearly succumbed to the killing intent, causing it to engulf his entire heart and mind. However, he managed to detect something was amiss and rouse himself in time. The thoughts he had were not truly his own.
It appeared that another set of thoughts, borne from a different kind of intent, intruded into his consciousness, creating a sense of empathy…
And this killing intent, along with its accompanying thoughts, belonged to… Xu Ziqing turned to look at the plain-clothed man… belonged to him?
Xu Ziqing’s breathing steadied, and he hesitated before asking, “Um…?” He paused again, then continued, “This…”
The plain-clothed man approached, standing before him instantly. “This is where I practice my sword. All the grass, trees, earth, and rocks here carry my sword intent. As a first-time visitor, you were influenced by my sword intent, hence your reaction.”
Exhaling slowly, Xu Ziqing nodded and said, “I understand.”
The plain-clothed man continued walking, distancing himself four or five feet. “Follow me and pay respects to the Master.”
Xu Ziqing hesitated briefly before complying, “Yes.”
As they proceeded, an eagle’s cry echoed in the air, and a black shadow plummeted down. Xu Ziqing’s heart trembled, and he exclaimed, “Chonghua!” He hurriedly picked up the black shadow, cradling it in his arms.
The eagle, Chonghua, seemed to be breathing heavily as if on the verge of exhaustion. Xu Ziqing checked on him and discovered no injuries; he was merely fatigued.
Chonghua had been in a scuffle with Si Feng and had refused any assistance from her. However, Si Feng’s quick movements and high cultivation forced Chonghua to follow, expending a significant amount of energy. Chonghua persevered until reaching the peak of Xiaozhu, where the ruthless killing sword intent overwhelmed him, causing him to collapse.
Relieved that Chonghua was unharmed, Xu Ziqing held him tightly and, upon raising his head, saw the plain-clothed figure almost out of sight. He hastened his steps to catch up.
Although the plain-clothed man’s pace seemed steady and not overly fast, Xu Ziqing discovered that the man covered ten feet in a single step, which was astonishing.
Xu Ziqing quickened his pace and managed to catch up. Before long, they arrived at a narrow road down the mountain. The sides were flanked by peculiar rocks, devoid of any vegetation, and extremely cold.
After walking for a while, Xu Ziqing noticed the weather growing warmer, and the landscape started to flourish with vegetation. As they descended the mountainside, they encountered a blooming meadow, rich with colorful flowers and lush green grass, surrounded by trees that created a picturesque scene.
Soon, Xu Ziqing heard cheerful voices, and though surprised, he maintained his composure. However, as the plain-clothed man advanced, the laughter ceased abruptly.
As they turned around a dazzling rock, a wide grassland came into view. Several brightly dressed young girls were present, remaining silent and respectful upon seeing the plain-clothed man. They quickly greeted him in unison, “Greetings, Shixiong!”
Xu Ziqing felt taken aback, realizing that these girls were likely the plain-clothed man’s junior sisters. As he scanned the area, he couldn’t spot any junior brothers. Could it be that there were only junior sisters in his sect?
The plain-clothed man nodded, inquiring, “Where is Master?”
The girls looked at each other before one of them, dressed in a pretty green robe, stepped forward and replied with a trembling voice, “Master is inside the cave…”
Ignoring her, the plain-clothed man proceeded to the right.
Xu Ziqing followed closely behind, passing through shaded flowers and trees, circumventing mountains and rivers until they reached a cave entrance on the face of a mountain.
The cave’s entrance was wide and intricately carved, featuring beautiful scenery on either side, contrasting with the icy environment atop the peak. On the left stood a dense bamboo forest, producing a refreshing aroma as the wind blew through the swaying bamboo shadows. On the other side, a wooden railing surrounded a garden of spirit herbs.
The plain-clothed man and Xu Ziqing entered the cave, finding it incredibly spacious, able to accommodate nearly a thousand people. The interior wasn’t entirely stone walls; instead, it featured small bridges, flowing water, pavilions, and terraces, all seamlessly blending together with refined craftsmanship that surpassed typical wealth.
As they walked along a stone path paved with blue bricks, they encountered numerous strange plants, flowers, and trees competing for brilliance, creating an otherworldly ambiance. When Xu Ziqing scanned their consciousness, he felt an overwhelming sense of joy and vitality compared to the ordinary flora he had seen before.
Following the stone path, they reached a grand hall, grand and majestic in appearance. However, with a flick of the plain-clothed man’s sleeves, the hall vanished, leaving only a simple wooden house in its place. Although spacious, it appeared much less ornate than the hall.
Xu Ziqing realized that the hall he had witnessed earlier was an illusion, whereas the wooden house was the genuine abode of the peak owner.
With a flex of his fingers, the plain-clothed man gestured to the left, and a ray of golden sword light dashed toward a cluster of thick purple flowers and trees. A figure materialized, dispelling the sword light with a swish of his robe sleeves. The man seemed rather pitiful as he spoke, “Yun’er, stop; you’re going to destroy my cave again!”
The plain-clothed man explained, “Master, I’ve brought someone to meet you.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing quickly faced the man, bowing respectfully, “Xu Ziqing pays his respects to the senior.”
Only then did Xu Ziqing get a clear view of the person emerging from the dense purple flowers and trees. He appeared to be an old man in his fifties or sixties, wearing a gray cassock, and had a rather plump and round physique, exuding a festive air.
As Xu Ziqing saluted, the fat old man waved his hand, saying, “No need to be overly polite. Your name is Xu Ziqing?”
“Yes, senior,” Xu Ziqing replied.
“You’re the one brought by Yun’er. Come inside with me first,” the fat old man said, gesturing for Xu Ziqing to follow.
Upon seeing the plain-clothed man nod in confirmation, Xu Ziqing followed them inside the wooden house.
The interior of the house was also spacious, with only a single stone futon in the main hall, which was about twice the size of a regular futon. As the fat old man entered, he promptly sat down, tapping the ground with his fingers, and invited, “Yun’er and Ziqing, please sit and talk.”
Xu Ziqing complied, sitting on the floor as he listened. He felt somewhat uneasy, assuming that the master of someone as composed and rigorous as the plain-clothed man must be serious and strict, but the fat old man seemed to be quite easy-going. He wondered what impression the master had of him and whether he would be accepted as a disciple.
The man in plain clothes also sat down and said, “Master, please accept Xu Ziqing as your disciple.” He glanced at Xu Ziqing with a hint of concern, and added, “My teacher is Master Qiu He.”
Xu Ziqing felt a bit embarrassed but nodded, saying, “I’ve seen Master Qiu He.”
Master Qiu He looked at the plain-clothed man with a hint of surprise and then turned his gaze to Xu Ziqing, smiling, “For over ten years, Yun’er’s celestial soul has been wandering outside. Have you become friends with Ziqing?”
The plain-clothed man nodded, affirming, “We’ve known each other for eight years, enough to be friends.”
Master Qiu He nodded in satisfaction and then looked at Xu Ziqing again and said, “So, can you see Yun’er as a friend?”
Xu Ziqing felt a bit embarrassed, stammering, “Well, I do have a friend named Yun Lie, he’s my best friend, but…”
Master Qiu He laughed heartily, saying, “Haha, I’m afraid Ziqing might get confused when you see two Yun’ers!” He turned to his apprentice again, shaking his head playfully, and said, “Since fate has brought you together and you’ve become good friends, why don’t you quickly explain Ziqing’s doubts, Yun’er?”
Xu Ziqing’s curiosity was piqued, and he looked at the man in plain clothes. The answers to his previous doubts might finally be revealed at this moment…
The man in plain clothes nodded slightly and said, “Indeed, it’s time to explain.” As he spoke, Xu Ziqing suddenly felt something strange, and his gaze focused on the little finger of his left hand.
He noticed the storage ring’s starting point glowing faintly, and then his vision blurred, revealing a white shadow in the room.
At the same time, the man in plain clothes stood up, and the white shadow stood shoulder to shoulder-with him. While the white shadow was an illusion, the man in plain clothes was real. However, their appearance, posture, and aura were entirely identical.
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