Chapter 108 - Arc 8: Wuling Immortal Sect | Chapter 108: Checking On Yun Lie
Translator: Lynn
Master Qiu He was overflowing with joy. He paced back and forth, hands behind his back, repeatedly exclaiming, “Good! Good! Good!”
Although he couldn’t interfere with Yun Lie’s future path of cultivation, he knew that the most challenging period for Yun Lie’s temperament had passed. No matter what obstacles he encountered in the future, he would never be the same as before!
Seeing Master Qiu He’s ecstatic appearance, Master Zhu couldn’t help but sneer, “It’s just a disciple forming his golden core, yet you, a master, have lost your composure. How unseemly.”
Master Qiu He, who had lived alongside Master Zhu for many years, understood that his friend was just envious and filled with jealousy. He didn’t take it to heart and waved his hand generously, saying, “I may not look good, but with Yun’er’s temperament, I could be covered in mud, and it wouldn’t bother him. It’s no different for him!”
When Master Zhu noticed the young man in a green shirt standing nearby, he couldn’t help but inquire, “Is this young man your new disciple?”
Master Qiu He couldn’t hide his joy and proudly replied, “I personally accepted my second disciple, Xu Ziqing. He possesses a Wood Spirit Root and is Yun’er’s friend. Do you think he’s any worse than the precious disciple in your sect?”
Raising an eyebrow, Master Zhu glanced at Xu Ziqing.
Xu Ziqing respectfully stood aside, as the two elders argued and it wasn’t appropriate for him to intervene. When he heard his name mentioned, he stepped forward and greeted, “Xu Ziqing, junior, I have met Master Zhu.”
Master Zhu scrutinized him for a while, then curled his lips, pounded the cover with his fist, and flew back to his little peak.
Xu Ziqing was perplexed and looked at his master for an explanation.
Master Qiu He laughed heartily, “He’s just envious of my excellent student. Ignore him!”
Xu Ziqing found the situation rather amusing. He could tell that these two Golden Core Stage Daoists were well-acquainted, and despite their competitive banter, they were likely good friends.
Meanwhile, the abnormal phenomenon on Xiaozhu Peak had subsided. Extremely majestic coercion emanated from the peak, spreading like flowing water. Compared to the cold and sharp feeling before, it now carried a hint of mellowness. The severity remained, but it was no longer as rigid and uncompromising.
This was Xiaozhu Peak greeting the masters of the surrounding peaks and reporting the newly promoted Golden Core Stage Daoist’s history and recent situation to the sect leader.
The current coercion held no hostility, prompting the peak masters of other peaks to accept all the restrictions or magic weapons set up outside their territories.
With Yun Lie’s successful alchemy promotion settled, the spectators around had dispersed. Even if some held calculations in their hearts, they wouldn’t voice them openly here.
Overjoyed, Daoist Qiu He paid no heed to others’ judgments and comments. He performed a magic technique, causing clusters of brocades to move beneath his feet, and he flew towards his small bamboo peak.
Upon reaching the mountainside, Master Qiu He put away the brocade silk and smiled, “My disciple, I want to visit your shixiong. Would you like to accompany me?”
Xu Ziqing replied with a smile, “Of course, I’d like to see Yun Shixiong.”
The eight junior sisters, on the other hand, declined the invitation one after another, expressing their fear of offending a Golden Core Stage Daoist like Yun Lie. They decided to let Xu Ziqing represent them in congratulating their senior brother for successfully forming the alchemy.
Master Qiu He then suggested, “In that case, let Ziqing accompany me.”
Xu Ziqing nodded in agreement, saying, “Yes, Master.”
The two of them leaped into the air and ascended the peak against the wind.
As they climbed higher, the scenery transitioned from warm spring and blooming flowers to chilling coldness.
A seemingly intangible sword intent lingered in the air, hinting that it hadn’t been entirely restrained. Perhaps some remnants of the sword intent from when the core was formed had yet to dissipate.
However, these lingering sword intents had no effect on Master Qiu He, nor did they show any hostility towards Xu Ziqing, allowing them to easily reach the top of Xiaozhu Peak.
The peak was still quiet, but it seemed more alive than before.
The flat ground and rocks bore numerous sword marks, while the mountain walls on both sides had been significantly cut and even a peak was split in half! The smooth fracture displayed the tremendous strength of the swordsman’s swordsmanship.
Upon seeing this, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but be speechless.
On the other hand, Master Qiu He was used to it. He stretched out his hand, and with five fingers grasping, he uttered, “Rise, rise, rise!” Instantly, the mountains and rocks that had been haphazardly chopped up by the scattered sword intent quickly closed together, visible to the naked eye. Though not fully restored to their original state, only shallow marks remained.
His movements were smooth and flowing, showing that he had done this many times before. Watching this, Xu Ziqing began to understand.
This peak was where Yun Shixiong usually practiced his sword. However, with his powerful swordsmanship, if he used all his strength, the peak would undoubtedly be in disarray. Recognizing the master’s care for his senior brother, he would come here to restore the dojo for him. With Qiu He’s earth attribute, it was an effortless task, allowing Yun Shixiong to practice his sword with peace of mind. This deep love and concern for his disciples truly deserved respect.
Meanwhile, Master Qiu He saw that the ground hadn’t fully recovered and sighed slightly. He spoke with emotion, “Yun’er is strong-willed and diligent in cultivation. After forming his Golden Core, he surpasses his teacher. Now, the teacher is trying to level the land, but it seems that I can no longer keep up with the sword marks that Yun’er leaves behind.”
Hearing his tone, Xu Ziqing felt even more moved and heartened.
Master Qiu He wasn’t one to dwell on thoughts and worries. He simply sighed and let it go, then walked towards the cave dug into the mountain wall, calling out, “Yun’er, has your realm stabilized? Your shidi is here to see you!”
Moments later, a figure emerged from the lonely cave carved into the highest mountain wall. Even before approaching, a faint aura of killing intent was already apparent.
Who else but Yun Lie could emit such a cold presence?
Yun Lie was still dressed in a plain long robe, his long black hair cascading behind him, held in place by a blue hair band. His expression was stern, devoid of emotion. At first glance, he seemed much the same as before, but Master Qiu He and Xu Ziqing could see the difference.
If in the past, Yun Lie’s murderous thoughts were openly present, as evident as a walking giant sword with its sharpness exposed, now he had restrained most of that aura. He resembled a sword sheathed, still cold and piercing, but not causing immediate harm.
At this moment, as he gazed at Master Qiu He and Xu Ziqing, his eyes were still cold but no longer dark and lifeless. They now reflected the images of the two before him.
These two individuals held a special place in his eyes – his master and his friend.
Xu Ziqing raised his head, keenly sensing the slight change in Yun Lie. Overjoyed, he immediately congratulated, “Congratulations to Yun Shixiong on successfully forming the Golden Core.”
Yun Lie nodded slightly, “Thank you.”
Feeling immensely relieved, Qiu He reached out to pat him on the shoulder, but hesitated and withdrew his hand. He spoke, “Yun’er, you’ve grown up, and now you have amassed great cultivation. Your future in immortality is destined to be bright! It’s a shame that I may not be able to witness you become an immortal in my lifetime as your teacher, but it’s truly a pity…”
He, being over five hundred years old, knows that as a Golden Core Stage Daoist, his lifespan is limited to only eight hundred years. Considering his own limited qualifications, further progress is challenging. Achieving Golden Core Stage in this life is already a great blessing from the heavens, and the greatest achievement is accepting Yun Lie as his apprentice. Now, he looks at Xu Ziqing with a smile, and wonders if there is another Yun Lie in the making.
However, it’s also a regret, as these two disciples with exceptional talent and temperament are different. One has a destined affinity with swordsmanship, while the other possesses a single wood spiritual root. For Xu Ziqing, he can impart some advice from his experiences, but for Yun Lie, he can’t offer much help. Although they hold the titles of master and apprentice, he can’t truly pass on his mantle, which leaves him somewhat dissatisfied. In an instant, he’s swept away by countless memories, and even as a Golden Core Stage Daoist, he finds himself immersed in them.
Suddenly, a cold sword intent hits him, snapping him out of his thoughts. When he opens his eyes, he sees Yun Lie’s face, completely devoid of joy or anger.
Yun Lie speaks, “The lingering breath of the heart demon is still present. Please be cautious, Shifu.”
Daoist Qiu He is startled but quickly regains his senses. Those thoughts from earlier are the kind that will always reside in his heart. His Dao heart is stable, and he believes that he can’t break through to the Nascent Soul stage, so he doesn’t dwell on it too much. He hadn’t expected that while he came to check on his apprentice’s well-being, he would end up making himself feel uneasy.
Master Qiu He can’t help but chuckle. Seeing his elder disciple’s icy and cold appearance, he’s reminded of the stern-faced child from Yun Lie’s childhood, which he finds quite endearing. He laughs and says, “This time, I wasn’t cautious enough as your teacher.”
Then, Yun Lie looks at Xu Ziqing.
Xu Ziqing coughs lightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, and says, “I nearly fell into a demonic state just now, but I managed to snap out of it. I was standing there for a moment, and my mind was shaken as if I hadn’t broken through the Heavenly Barrier and Zifu1Spiritual Sea(?). Spiritual Domain(?). during the establishment of my foundation. But then, I suddenly received a clear message, and it woke me up, reminding me that I had indeed established my foundation. It seems that it was triggered by the bamboo tube Yun Shixiong gave me to tie my hair. It’s just not the right time to inquire about it now; I’ll ask about it later.”
Hearing Xu Ziqing’s explanation, Yun Lie nods slightly and says, “You need to be vigilant at all times.”
Xu Ziqing smiles and responds, “Yes, Yun Shixiong.”
At the moment, Yun Lie has emerged unscathed after forming the Golden Core, but their visit almost led to a mishap. It’s amusing that Yun Lie ended up guiding Xu Ziqing instead. This situation is both laughable and poignant.
Seeing the two brothers interacting, Qiu He finds it quite amusing. After Yun Lie finishes guiding Xu Ziqing, he speaks slowly, “Yun’er, I came here with two purposes besides visiting you. Firstly, your Golden Gore has been successfully formed, and the sect will bestow a third-level spiritual vein and a small peak as a reward. I wonder what your plan is after receiving this recognition? Secondly, it will involve Ziqing’s position and is connected to your decision.”
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1Spiritual Sea(?). Spiritual Domain(?).