Chapter 27 Three Groups People At The Back Hills.
After thanking him again for the last time, Li Zidao and Li Yun’er left the back hills. Exiting the Immortal Palace, they flew south wards over a great distance. In fact, before they parted, Lyu Liang had warned them that they were free to go anywhere, except to where the Blood Divine Sect was located. Although Lyu Liang did not reveal the reason, the pair of Tao partners had nodded with conviction, willing to obey Lyu Liang’s instructions.
On the other hand, Lyu Liang casually strolled back to his residence in the caves, sighing and deep in thoughts as he walked. It was no wonder that Hunyuan Sword Immortal had commented that there were few people who would walk pass the Pill Division at the back hills, so this allowed Lyu Liang to have a secluded place to cultivate himself. The entire back hills area could be divided into three smaller areas. One of which was the herb garden, which basically took up half of the the entire area. Another area was the Elixir-refining Room, and the last would be area of cave residences. The latter two areas made up the remaining half of the back hills.
There were very few people around the entire area! In fact, there were only three people in the whole of the back hills. Apart from Lyu Liang, there was a green-robed young man who was in charge of all miscellaneous matters, and a white-bearded old man whose job was to maintain the herb garden. Lyu Liang was responsibile for the easiest task, which was to check for the seal of the Immortal Palace on the letters brought by those who had come here to collect the Spirit Grass or those who were using the Elixir-refining Room for refining their pills. He would allow these people to enter once he saw that seal. In simpler terms, Lyu Liang the checker who verified the seal.
Lyu Liang became familiar with the other two men within a short time. The green-robed young man was called Zhang Ran who was currently 16 years old. He was a disciple who had attained the Peak in his Qi Refining skills and possessed three Spiritual Roots, namely water, wood and earth. This young man had started cultivating to become an immortal since the age of eight.
Lyu Liang was certainly amazed at first by his possession of three Spiritual Roots! He had to be a genius! Why was he being assigned to this deserted place? Could he have offended someone to have ended up here?
Two days later, when chatting with Zhang Ran, Lyu Liang, unable to suppress his curiosity, finally asked him, “Honestly brother, you are so accomplished terms of the nature of your Spiritual Roots, perhaps only slightly lower than a person with special bodily constitution, how did you end up working in this deserted place? There isn’t even any elder who could mentor you in your cultivation here! Although I am not as talented, I may still make a petition to the seniors for you, so you may go back to cultivating yourself soon!”
Zhang Ran’s immediate response was a stunned look on his face, but he soon burst out laughing until his eyes welled up in tears. Lyu Liang was taken aback by his response and was totally confused. Was he touched by my concern? It did not appear to be so! Had he gone crazy from the blow? That was not quite possible!
“Brother! My big brother! I am going to acknowledge you as my brother regardless of our different level of cultivation!” Zhang Ran stopped smiling and stood up immediately to give Lyu Liang a respectful bow.
“Why? Don’t bow to me, I am serious about what I said! If I could put in a good word for you to the Hunyuan Sword Immortal Ancestor, whom I have quite a good relationship with, he would definitely help you out!” Lyu Liang said, thinking that Zhang Ran did not believe in his words, but was merely thanking him for his kind thoughts.
“You’ve misunderstood, big brother! However, I’m truly moved by your kindness, don’t you know that I’ve been here for the past three years?! Those of us who are here from Immortal Palace are either elites or geniuses, not to mention demons with special bodily constitutions! You have not been to the front where it is crowded with people. Over there, you wouldn’t be able to find many whom you could have a real conversation with. Sadly, they only talk about things regarding cultivation because everyone of them has a very competitive mindset. They usually don’t talk much because they want to go back to cultivating themselves as soon as possible.” Zhang Ran finally found someone to pour out his heart to. As he shared the sadness in his heart, he felt a burden lifted his heart. “This is a better place to be. Although there are not many people here, both you and the old man are easy-going and a pleasure to talk to!”
Hearing Zhang Ran’s words, Lyu Liang stuck out his tongue, thinking that it was no wonder that the second largest suzerain was the Wufang Territery. All the disciples in there desired to be the best! He had to be cautious if he were to go to the front one day, so he would not get into trouble with those geniuses and demons. At this instant, he suddenly remembered the “Token of love” that was rumored to have eyes and nose, and started to worry over it.
“Since big brother had just arrived recently, you may not know of this rule in Sword Character Immortal Palace. All new comers, apart from demons with special bodily constitutions, have to quietly cultivate themselves as a handyman for five years at some corner of the palace before they could receive instructions from a teacher. This was why I said that big brother, you had a misunderstanding,” Zhang Ran explained with a smile.
“Oh! I see. You have such an nice character that you wouldn’t offend anyone easily! So you were here since three years ago? Doesn’t the Sword Character Immortal Palace only accept disciples from outside once in a decade? How did you get in here?” Lyu Liang asked curiously.
“Oh, this saying of accepting disciples once in decade was meant for the rest of the world. There are exceptional circumstances when our masters and ancestors would leave the palace to attend to some external matters or for a tour for a period of time. During these times, if any of the ancestors or masters chance upon an outsider who fits the qualities of being a disciple, and this candidate eventually passes through the tests set by the ancestors, he will become a inner disciple straight away,” Zhang Ran blinked at Lyu Liang and continued speaking with as hush and secretive tone, saying, “My teacher is actually Saint Tianfang, one of the eight great Fairy Immortals. He was the tall skinny immortal in a green robe you saw on the day of the ceremony to recruit disciples. I was discovered by my teacher three years ago when he made me his disciple. My teacher is usually easy-going and kind, but he tried to put on a straight face during the ceremony.”
Lyu Liang finally realized that there was even such an eclectic mode for recruiting disciples! For a while longer, they continued chatting, with Zhang Ran addressing him as “big brother” all these time. Lyu Liang felt exceptionally pleased. After all, a confidante was hard to come by. While he could not be certain if Zhang Ran would eventually become a true confidante, at least they get along for now.
When Lyu Liang returned to his residence, Giant Tiger prostrated in front of him as a greeting of respect. Giving Giant Tiger a mystified look, Lyu Liang decidedly stretched out his hand to grasp the Void and immediately, a leaping remnant soul appeared in his palm.
Giant Tiger was apparently stunned at this sight. This wisp of remnant soul was none other than the wisp of sould he handed over to Lyu Liang the day he became his contracted servant. The agreement was such that Lyu Liang could destroy its soul with a single thought even it were to turn against Lyu Liang’s orders. What was Lyu Liang trying to say now that he had manifested its remnant soul? Was he going to destroy me?
Before Giant Tiger could even start feeling fearful, it heard something unbelievable. “Big tiger, although we were initially enemies, I knew it was because you had no choice. Did you know once my Devil Soul lost its freedom and was under bondage for 500 years! Although it was an act done by a kinsman who meant well, I could still vividly remember the excitement I felt the moment my Devil Soul was released! Therefore I’m going to nullify the contract and give you back your soul, your freedom!”
When Lyu Liang finished speaking and before Giant Tiger could react, Lyu Liang flung the wisp of soul onto Giant Tiger’s head in a flash and it immediately sank into its head.
“Alright, you’re free now. If you want to leave right now, I will explain to Hunyuan Ancestor senior clearly, so he doesn’t make things difficult for you. My only request is that you have to make a life-bonded vow not to leak out all the things I do! Also, you must not be a woe to the world outside, otherwise I would hunt you down no matter where you are!” Thereafter, Lyu Liang clapped his hands and appeared to be totally contented with his decision.
“Ow!!” a deafening sound thundered through the air and Lyu Liang could feel tinnitus. Giant Tiger’s eyes welled up with tears as it remained prostrate on the ground. Now, it had even bowed its head so low that it was touching the ground, as if it were kowtowing.
“No one had ever treated me this well, not to mention my master in the past! I had once made a vow never to be subjected to any human masters in my life! You are definitely not a mere human, but you are from the bloodline of a Devil Clan! I’m totally willing to serve you as my master, I’ve completely no qualms about it!” As Giant Tiger spoke, a wisp of remnant soul began rising from its head and floated into Lyu Liang’s hand. “Master! I’m going to acknowledge you as my master all my life! Please safekeep this soul of mine. It will be my means of attachment to you,” said Giant Tiger.
Lyu Liang was rather moved by Giant Tiger’s look of determination in its eyes. Who says emotions only exist between human beings? It also existed among demons and devils! “That’s great, Giant Tiger! From today on, you will be my first servant! I will share with you all the resources for cultivation I whenever I find them. I promise I’ll fight for your chance to rise to the Heaven Realm with me!”
“Be of good cheer, master! What was left of the scroll given to me by the founding father of Sword Character was actually passed down by a Powerful figure from my clan. It would benefit me greatly in my cultivation. The only challenge right now is the shortage of Demon Qi here. I was wondering if master, you have any solution to this problem?” Giant Tiger scratched it head and looked at Lyu Liang shyly.
“Oh yes, I’m so absent-minded! I remember now that Sword Charater Ancestor will be going to mine demon stones at the mines. Let’s see if I get a chance to ask him for some demon stones to bring back here.” Lyu Liang was not haphazard even in treating his servant. He knew that if his servant flourished, so would he.
Lyu Liang spent another two days wondering around the back hills, during which he spent his time chatting with Zhang Ran as well as making visits to the herb garden. The old man taking care of the garden was indeed a hospitable person, who would always invite Lyu Liang to enjoy a sumptuous meal with him. He even invited Zhang Ran over for these meals! By right, cultivators could go without food for many days, however, being offered sumptuous food such as chicken, duck and fish, Lyu Liang found it a struggle to stop his mouth from watering.
The table full of delicacies made Lyu Liang remember the time when he was a child. During the New Year Festival in his village, every household in the village would prepare dishes to be shared at the village square. The entire feast would last seven days in total, during which Lyu Liang would be going around to taste every kind of meat dishes which he rarely had a change to taste at home.
The old man taking care of the herb garden was not especially accomplished in his cultivation, but had achieved around the same level of cultivation as Lyu Liang, which was the Early-stage of Foundation Establishment. Although the old man also had an easy-going personality, Lyu Liang did not completely let down his guard when he was with him, compared to when he was with Zhang Ran. It was because when he first met him, Blackie had warned Lyu Liang that the old man’s cultivation was somewhat strange. Usually it was normal for the aura of a general cultivator to fluctuate in waves, however, this old man’s aura was far too calm and steady. There was not a sign of fluctuation and movement in his aura that it was like some decorative ornament!
According to Blackie’s explanation, this type of steady aura was either the result of the use of special Cultivation method or that this old man’s cultivation level had reached its ulmost limit. At the beginning of Chaos World, there used to be some powerful figures whose aura had reached the ultimate level.
They were even able to adjust the aura of their cultivation to their likings. They could camouflage themselves as mortals flawlessly. These were usually powerful figures who had surpassed the cycle of reincarnation of life and death, who were extraordinarily merciful individuals. Later on however, when there was a chaotic battle between the six clans, coupled with escalating temptations, these powerful figures in such a state more or less became extinct. They could probably be found only in Heaven Realm.
Lyu Liang could hardly make a connection between this old man before his eyes with that kind of powerful figures. Although Lyu Liang was still suspicious of him, he could not totally put away his good feelings towards this old man. At the dining table, the old man introduced everything about Sword Character Immortal Palace to Lyu Liang while they ate. His kind and friendly attitude reminded Lyu Liang of the old village chief of Siji Village.
The three ate and chatted heartily about anything under the sun. Lyu Liang realized he had not been so light-hearted for a long time. For this reason, he was truly grateful for these two wonderful people, one old and one young, in front of him.