The nights of Shijiu Zhou were deep and long.
This mountain’s sense of tranquility, along with the warm yellow lights, all reminded Jian Chou of bygone days.
However, she only had these memories of the past left.
“This will be the eldest senior sister’s residence from now on.”
Pointing ahead, Shen Jiu’s voice sounded quite relaxed.
They had come up from below, then summoned Yashan’s cloud ladder and quickly reached a higher part of Yashan.
Thus, Jian Chou saw the scene before her.
At night, the misty clouds were all thin and not very clear.
Gnarled old trees rooted in the rocky peaks, while the hard mountain wall beside them had been carved into a huge recess. Three feet into the recess, two carved wooden doors were embedded.
On the stone wall beside the wooden doors hung a brand-new wooden plaque with two characters: “Jian Chou.”
This wooden plaque was like a plaque on mortal dwellings, letting others know this was her residence.
Qu Zhengfeng also stood beside the wooden doors with his hands behind his back, smiling at Jian Chou: “While Junior Brother Shen was showing eldest senior sister around, I came to tidy up eldest senior sister’s residence. However, we haven’t had much contact with female cultivators, so we don’t know if the eldest senior sister is satisfied. Please take a look.”
Speaking thus, he stepped back half a step, indicating for Jian Chou to come forward and see.
Jian Chou slowly walked over—a very short distance, just two steps.
She reached out and pressed on the door, hearing a soft “creak” in her ears.
The door opened, and the furnishings inside became visible.
This was just an unusually simple room, different in that it was carved within the rock wall. The four inner walls were all fitted with wooden panels, perfectly covering all the gray stone.
Jian Chou could smell the fresh fragrance of wood in the air.
The room contained simple furniture placed against the walls: four chairs, one table with a lamp on it. The lamp held only a jade bowl without lamp oil or wick, yet warm yellow firelight burned from within the small bowl.
Behind that was a simple wooden screen, with an extremely plain wooden bed placed behind it.
Stepping inside, she discovered the floor was carved with formation after formation.
Shen Jiu and Qu Zhengfeng stood on either side without entering, remaining just outside the door frame.
The difference was that Qu Zhengfeng stood properly upright, while Shen Jiu leaned against the door frame as if boneless.
“There are three formations on the floor: a Spirit Gathering Formation, a Demon Detection Formation, and a Clear Mind Formation.” Seeing Jian Chou seemingly examining the floor formations, Shen Jiu explained. “Though Yashan has abundant spiritual energy, having a Spirit Gathering Formation makes cultivation more effective and saves much effort. The Demon Detection Formation guards against evil intrusions to warn cultivators. The Clear Mind Formation clarifies the heart and nature, keeping the mind clear. Simply essential for fighting drowsiness!”
Three formations, each with its function.
Jian Chou nodded, stepped over the three formations, walked to the table, and reached out to touch it.
The wood grain on the table was visible, with flowing light occasionally passing through—perhaps made from extremely special wood.
Looking around, though this place was very simple, it was clean and modest, giving one a sense of security.
She smiled and turned to thank the two: “Thank you, both junior brothers, for your thoughtfulness. I very much like this room.”
Shen Jiu chuckled: “As long as eldest senior sister doesn’t find it too simple. Our Yashan is full of rough, careless men who don’t understand what female cultivators like. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, feel free to ask Second Senior Brother for help. Our Second Senior Brother is the warm-hearted person in all of Yashan!”
Speaking thus, he reached out and patted Qu Zhengfeng’s shoulder.
“Right, Second Senior Brother?”
Qu Zhengfeng coolly glanced at him: “Fourth Junior Brother, please conduct yourself properly in front of the eldest senior sister. Don’t ruin our Yashan disciples’ image and embarrass Master…”
These words sounded somewhat familiar.
Jian Chou silently glanced at the perfectly proper Qu Zhengfeng without speaking.
Shen Jiu pressed his temples, clearly not wanting to hear Qu Zhengfeng’s words, quickly making a pause gesture.
“It’s too late today—I won’t argue with you. Well, eldest senior sister, it’s too late today, so we won’t disturb your rest. Tomorrow, after the eldest senior sister has rested well, we’ll come bother you again.”
Speaking thus, he cupped his fists toward Jian Chou.
Qu Zhengfeng, beside him didn’t argue either. Both took their leave of Jian Chou.
“Eldest senior sister, farewell.”
“Take care, junior brothers.”
Jian Chou saw the two off.
When Qu Zhengfeng left, he even helped close the door for her.
Jian Chou turned back, walked to the table, and looked at the lamp without oil that burned on its own, finding it quite marvelous. After studying it for a long while without understanding, she could only think that there were probably many more miraculous things on Yashan.
What she didn’t understand today, she would gradually understand in the future.
She withdrew her gaze and walked toward the screen.
Lying fully clothed on the wooden bed, Jian Chou felt no cold at all.
Originally, she thought she might not sleep well in a new place, but unexpectedly, just closing her eyes made her entire body relax, and she quickly fell asleep.
Tonight, no dreams.
Outside.
Shen Jiu and Qu Zhengfeng, who had just emerged, both looked back at that tightly closed door.
Shen Jiu said, “Why do I feel the room you arranged is so ugly?”
“Really?”
Qu Zhengfeng pondered.
“Yes.” Shen Jiu was certain, but doubt appeared in his eyes. “However, why do I find that lamp in the eldest senior sister’s room somewhat familiar?”
“Oh, that…” Qu Zhengfeng’s eyelids drooped. “You didn’t recognize it?”
“Recognize it?”
Somehow, seeing Second Senior Brother’s bland expression, Shen Jiu’s heart sank with a bad feeling.
Qu Zhengfeng looked at him and reached out to pat his shoulder: “I noticed you’ve been hiding that Heavenly Fire Bowl in your room for quite a while, secretly keeping it from us. Today, I thought the eldest senior sister’s room needed lighting, so I conveniently installed it. I must say, eldest senior sister’s room looks bright and cheerful—your thing is quite useful.”
Heav… Heavenly Fire Bowl…
His Heavenly Fire Bowl!
Shen Jiu felt a white light flash before his eyes, like a bolt from the blue!
“What did you say?!”
Heavenly Fire Bowl?!
That lamp in the room was his Heavenly Fire Bowl?!!
“Junior brother, stay calm. I praised you for maturing lately—how can you not handle praise? Anyway, you were just keeping it around. Better to benefit the eldest senior sister.”
“Bullshit!”
Shen Jiu immediately wanted to jump up!
His heart was bleeding!
“You’re standing there talking without your back hurting!”
But Qu Zhengfeng waved his hand with a calm appearance.
“The item has already entered the eldest senior sister’s room and has nothing to do with me. If you want it back, don’t ask me—ask the eldest senior sister. Oh my, it’s so late, I’m sleepy. Going back to sleep!”
As his voice fell, a wind blew.
Shen Jiu reached forward to grab, wanting to tell Qu Zhengfeng not to run, but unexpectedly grabbed empty air.
Qu Zhengfeng’s shadow before him was blown by the wind and slowly dissipated.
“He ran!”
Shen Jiu was stunned!
“Second Senior Brother, you’re going too far!!!”
The grief-stricken voice suddenly rang out, echoing throughout Yashan.
The next day.
Jian Chou woke very early. Opening her eyes, she felt her entire spirit was extremely full.
The firelight in the white jade bowl still burned quietly.
Jian Chou got up, stretched comfortably, stepped over the formations in the room’s center, placed both hands on the door, and slowly pulled it open, but was startled by the person standing outside.
“Shen… Junior Brother Shen?”
Outside, morning light was already bright.
Because this place was extremely high, all Jian Chou could see were vast white clouds. Sunlight pierced through from the ground, slanting upward to illuminate the surging clouds.
The wind carried a slight chill.
On the gnarled old tree rooted in the rocks beside the door, leaves were sparse but now all touched with dew.
Similarly, Shen Jiu standing before Jian Chou’s door also showed some moist traces.
Like… dew?
His eye sockets seemed to have some dark circles.
Jian Chou was surprised: Where had he come from, and why was he at her door?
Shen Jiu felt both painful and embarrassed inside.
He hadn’t stood here all night, just risen early this morning. For a Nascent Soul cultivator, not drinking, eating, or sleeping wasn’t a big deal, so Shen Jiu still looked quite spirited.
However, that strange tension and awkwardness on his face still made him look odd.
His hands unconsciously rubbed together as Shen Jiu worked up his emotions, about to speak: “Well, eldest senior sister, it’s quite embarrassing to say, but I have something I want to discuss with you…”
“Eldest senior sister, you’re awake.”
A clear voice suddenly interrupted from the side.
Shen Jiu’s long-prepared words were cut off.
“Second Senior Brother, shut up!”
Hearing the voice, Shen Jiu knew who it was and cursed while turning around.
Qu Zhengfeng came treading on the clouds. Seeing Shen Jiu’s extremely frustrated appearance made his heart secretly pleased, but he paid no attention to him, looking directly at Jian Chou.
As he landed, his voice rose simultaneously.
“Zhengfeng greets the eldest senior sister. At this moment, Master is discussing matters with the sect master in Lanyue Hall. He instructed Zhengfeng to bring the senior sister there. Please follow me.”
“Hey! At least let me finish speaking!”
Shen Jiu was furious to the extreme.
“Are you jealous that I’m better looking than you, so you’re deliberately messing with me?!”
Qu Zhengfeng finally turned back to look at him, saying coolly: “Do you want to draw swords with me?”
“I…”
Previously arrogant Shen Jiu immediately shut his mouth, showing an expression like he’d swallowed a fly.
In Yashan, when he drew swords against people, he’d never been defeated, actually because he was particularly perceptive.
Simply put, Shen Jiu never drew swords against people he couldn’t beat!
Just that shameless!
However…
At times like this, Shen Jiu could only swallow bitter tears.
Because Qu Zhengfeng belonged exactly to the category of people he couldn’t beat.
Seeing Shen Jiu had nothing more to say, Qu Zhengfeng showed a somewhat satisfied expression and turned back to Jian Chou.
Jian Chou didn’t know what had happened between them, nor what Shen Jiu had come so early to find her about.
She only said: “Since Master has given orders, I’ll naturally go immediately. However, Junior Brother Shen’s matter can probably only wait until I return. Junior Brother Shen, what do you think?”
“I… I…”
Shen Jiu wanted to speak, wanting to get back that Heavenly Fire Bowl, but with Qu Zhengfeng’s disdainful expression of “you have the face to ask a newly entered eldest senior sister for things,” he really couldn’t bring himself to speak.
After holding it in for a long time, Shen Jiu internally spat blood.
“Then let’s wait until eldest senior sister returns to discuss it.”
Qu Zhengfeng’s face immediately showed a triumphant expression, his mood quite cheerful.
Turning aside, he directly summoned a dark blue long sword.
“Then please board, eldest senior sister. I’ll take the eldest senior sister to Lanyue Hall.”
Another flying sword.
Jian Chou’s gaze swept over this narrow long sword, and he calmly stepped onto the hilt.
When would she be able to fly on a sword?
“Ready.”
Qu Zhengfeng nodded slightly, then glanced at Shen Jiu standing in place, smiled coolly without speaking, and directly formed a hand seal. The sword rose.
Jian Chou had previously ridden the Swordless and sat on Nie Xiaowan’s Mingxin Bracelet, but both felt different from Qu Zhengfeng’s sword.
The dark blue long sword, contrary to its cold appearance, actually surrounded Jian Chou with a warm feeling when she stepped on it.
She was secretly amazed.
Qu Zhengfeng said: “This sword is named Sea Light, made from a thousand-year sea jade from a thousand zhang depth in the Western Sea. Sea jade usually stays in deep seas but has warm flowing light because it’s buried deep underground—different from how outsiders see it.”
So that was it.
It looked cold but was comfortable to use.
Jian Chou slowly nodded and asked: “What does Master want me for?”
“Probably to meet the sect master, or maybe something else.” Speaking of this, Qu Zhengfeng also found it strange. “However, Master has always been someone in our Yashan who ignores worldly affairs and never likes dealing with the sect master. Now they’re both in Lanyue Hall, which is indeed somewhat odd.”
Perhaps it was just to meet?
After all, Jian Chou was Fudao Shanren’s disciple.
Unable to learn anything more, Jian Chou didn’t think much about it.
The clouds by the mountain were dispersed by the intruding sword light.
Qu Zhengfeng’s long sword rode the wind upward, following the cliff wall, going up and up…
Finally reaching higher ground, Jian Chou looked down to see even the enormous Lingzhao Peak beginning to shrink.
On both sides of the mountain wall, only bare rock remained without even a blade of grass, and strange rocks were everywhere, extremely precipitous.
A stone pavilion hung alone in mid-air, as if it might fall from the mountain wall at any moment.
Qu Zhengfeng brought Jian Chou to land in this stone pavilion. Looking into the mountain wall, Jian Chou discovered there was a broad road carved within the mountain wall, leading to the front mountain.
“This place leads to the front mountain’s Lanyue Hall.”
Qu Zhengfeng gestured for Jian Chou to go inside.
Jian Chou nodded slightly and walked inward.
The broad road showed no sign of being built within a mountain. Overhead were carved giant totems and patterns, with tightly closed stone doors on both sides—their purpose unknown.
Light faintly showed through at the end.
Jian Chou walked all the way, going directly from Yashan’s back mountain wall to the front mountain’s Lanyue Hall.
Lanyue Hall’s center had a high platform with nothing on it, but bronze crane lamps stood at all four corners. Eight giant bronze furnaces still burned with seemingly never-extinguishing flames.
At this moment, two people sat ungracefully on the hall’s smooth, clean floor.
One was naturally the always image-less Fudao Shanren, smacking his lips while happily eating a chicken leg. The other was a clean, plump man—Yashan’s sect master, Zheng Yao.
He slowly rubbed his chin with one finger. Though somewhat corpulent, his eyes showed thoughtful light—an intelligent fat man.
“Master Uncle Fudao, don’t you find this matter somewhat suspicious? The struggle for Enforcement Elder, happening exactly when your cultivation has regressed—isn’t the timing too coincidental?”
“I recall Hengxu Laoguai’s recent letter saying he had important matters to discuss—probably this Enforcement Elder position.” Fudao Shanren remained quite calm. “Originally, this position was forced on our Yashan when they couldn’t agree among themselves. Now that they’ve fought enough, naturally, they want to take it back. As for whether this timing is coincidental or not, that requires examination.”
While gnawing his chicken leg and speaking words full of mystery, Fudao Shanren’s expression showed mockery for the first time.
Zheng Yao sat across from him.
Fudao Shanren was the sole survivor among all thirty-fifth generation disciples and currently Yashan’s highest-ranking person by seniority. Even Zheng Yao had to respectfully call him “Master Uncle Fudao.”
For many years, Zheng Yao had never seen Fudao Shanren’s mouth stop moving.
He glanced at that greasy chicken leg and continued: “Our Yashan doesn’t covet the Enforcement Elder position. This position is useless to us anyway. I’m just worried whether someone is targeting Yashan…”
“Nonsense, of course someone is!”
Fudao Shanren cursed and spat a small chicken bone forward.
“Whoosh!”
A sharp sound cut through the air!
Zheng Yao’s scalp tingled. Startled, he quickly dodged sideways.
“Master Uncle, you’re spitting bones everywhere again!”
“Snap!”
A crisp sound came from behind.
Zheng Yao paused and looked back.
Somehow, Fudao Shanren’s eldest and second disciples were already standing there.
The chicken bone was steadily caught between two fingers, but the bit of saliva on it had stuck to those fingers. Qu Zhengfeng’s face was as black as could be.
That chicken bone was only a finger’s width from Jian Chou beside him.
If they’d entered unprepared just now, that chicken bone wouldn’t be between his fingers but on Jian Chou’s face.
Jian Chou blinked, clearly not expecting such a “thrilling” scene upon arriving at Lanyue Hall.
Fudao Shanren looked up and saw the two, showing no guilt about spitting bones randomly, directly saying: “Girl Jian Chou’s here. Come over quickly—your sect master junior brother wants to pay respects to you.”
“…”
Sect master junior brother…
Though Jian Chou knew her seniority was high, this was still…
Walking in Yashan always felt like floating in clouds.
Seeing Jian Chou completely speechless, Qu Zhengfeng, beside her, frowned, discreetly threw away the chicken bone, gave Jian Chou a meaningful look, and withdrew.
Jian Chou pondered that look’s meaning—probably…
Good luck?
“This must be Senior Sister Jian Chou?”
A refined voice suddenly came over.
Jian Chou came back to herself and looked toward the voice, seeing Yashan’s current sect master—the “bastard Zheng Yao” from Fudao Shanren’s mouth.
A plump white face, skin as clean as a newborn baby’s, small but bright black eyes. When he smiled with squinted eyes, no hostility could be seen.
Kindly.
Too kindly.
Jian Chou was somewhat surprised that Yashan’s sect master…
Looked like this?
Perhaps guessing Jian Chou’s thoughts, Zheng Yao smiled without anger: “Everyone who sees me for the first time thinks I don’t look like a Yashan sect master.”
“Sect master is joking.” Jian Chou didn’t know how to respond.
Zheng Yao didn’t get up either, sitting on the ground naturally: “Yesterday, upon first arriving at Yashan, how does Senior Sister Jian Chou feel?”
“Thank you for the sect master’s concern. Everything’s fine, and the junior brothers are good too.”
So he came to check if a new disciple was adapting well?
Jian Chou roughly understood.
“Good is good.” Zheng Yao showed a relieved expression. “Now our Yashan can also be considered a sect with female cultivators.”
That phrase again.
Jian Chou felt that entering Yashan made her like some rare animal—everyone who saw her had to sigh for a while.
More importantly, from this strange attitude, Jian Chou always sensed something different.
Why would Yashan have no female cultivators?
Was it simply because of high talent requirements?
No.
It seemed that no female cultivator could tolerate certain things in Yashan.
As for what exactly, Jian Chou didn’t yet know.
She’d already boarded this pirate ship and couldn’t get off. Rather than continue on this dark path, she might as well not ask, only saying respectfully: “Jian Chou owes Master a life-saving debt. Having reached Yashan, I should cultivate diligently and not disappoint Master’s teachings.”
“…”
In that instant, the intelligent Yashan sect master Zheng Yao’s eyes suddenly became somewhat strange.
He looked at the serious Jian Chou, then back at the thoroughly unserious Fudao Shanren.
His eyes were dazed for quite a while before Zheng Yao rubbed his chubby chin and muttered: “This shouldn’t be right… How could such a proper disciple be taken in by Master Uncle?”
Jian Chou had thought he was silent about something important, but after a long while, he said such words.
She couldn’t help glancing at Fudao Shanren, still gnawing on his chicken leg.
Just how unreliable was this master?
Unfortunately, Fudao Shanren had no self-awareness and was proud.
“Why not? Do you have some misunderstanding about me? A cultivator like me with an immortal bearing and justice sense is rarely seen in Shijiu Zhou—precious! What’s wrong with taking in a good disciple? Enough about empty talk—hurry up with the meeting gift!”
Zheng Yao was immediately speechless.
He looked at Jian Chou once, finally sighing deeply and saying, “Senior Sister Jian Chou has newly entered Yashan. By rights, the current Yashan sect master should prepare a meeting gift. However, the senior sister’s entry was hasty—we were all caught off guard and didn’t prepare anything particularly suitable for female cultivators. This Liwai Mirror will be given to Senior Sister Jian Chou for protection.”
Speaking thus, he flipped his palm, and an ancient bronze circular mirror appeared in his hand.
Only then did Jian Chou understand she’d been called here for a meeting gift.
She hesitated a moment and looked toward Fudao Shanren.
Fudao Shanren glanced sideways at the circular mirror and shook his head disdainfully: “After all these years, nephew, you’re getting stingier. Girl Jian Chou, don’t be polite—this thing isn’t valuable. Take it!”
Zheng Yao turned, his heart bleeding as he glared at Fudao Shanren.
Fudao Shanren continued gnawing his chicken leg leisurely.
“Then Jian Chou thanks the sect master.”
Since Master had spoken, Jian Chou couldn’t refuse. Without being coy, she received the circular mirror with both hands.
Sect master Zheng Yao casually gave her another jade slip: “This records the Liwai Mirror’s usage methods. If you can unleash its power, it can withstand a full-force attack from an ordinary mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. Also, last night, messages came from both Fengmo Sword Sect and Wuwang Studio for you. After leaving Lanyue Hall, just ask Junior Brother Zhengfeng as usual.”
Fengmo Sword Sect and Wuwang Studio?
Jian Chou was delighted, momentarily forgetting her joy at receiving the meeting gift, thinking instead of Li Sui and Nie Xiaowan.
Earlier, Fudao Shanren had said that if they returned to their sects, they would contact Yashan. She hadn’t expected it to be so quick.
Jian Chou’s face unconsciously showed a smile: “Thank you, sect master. If there’s nothing else, Jian Chou will take leave.”
“Senior Sister Jian Chou needn’t be polite.”
Zheng Yao smiled slightly with appreciation in his eyes, but a strange look flashed across the Liwai Mirror in her hands.
For an instant, Jian Chou almost had the illusion: How did the sect master’s junior brother seem a bit reluctant?
But Master had said it wasn’t valuable, so Jian Chou didn’t think deeper. She bid farewell to Zheng Yao and Fudao Shanren and left.
Once she was gone, Zheng Yao stamped his feet and sighed deeply: “My Liwai Mirror!”
“It’s just a broken mirror! Look how distressed you are! If you gave it to me, I wouldn’t even want it! I ask you to give my disciple a meeting gift, and you act aggrieved?”
Fudao Shanren threw away his chicken leg, rolled up his sleeves, and stood up.
Zheng Yao clutched his chest: “Master Uncle, do you know why I don’t want to be this sect master? It’s all because you people exploit my little treasury! Grandma, hiding so many precious treasures and weapons—do you think it’s easy? Today, you take in a disciple and I must give a meeting gift; tomorrow, he takes in a disciple and I still must give a meeting gift! Too much! Where do I get so many treasures to give?”
“Well…”
Fudao Shanren chuckled.
“Can’t blame me for this—blame Yashan’s predecessors for making such rules. Sigh, our Yashan is getting smaller and smaller. It must be because you sect masters are getting poorer…”
Damn, just a few words and he’s already putting on hats!
Zheng Yao was nearly driven to spit blood by this master uncle. After a long while of speechlessness, he finally sighed: “If not for Master Uncle’s current cultivation problems, I would draw swords.”
“Draw swords?”
Fudao Shanren was completely unconcerned, directly shaking his hand. A swordless blade with a large crack fell to the ground with a “clang.”
Zheng Yao looked closely. Seeing that huge crack on the Swordless, he suddenly jumped up with contracted pupils!
“Master Uncle?!”
Fudao Shanren’s thoroughly unserious expression finally completely faded. Standing before this broken wooden sword with hands behind his back, he said: “It’s been with me over six hundred years. Didn’t expect it would break in Qingfeng Nunnery’s hidden realm. This time, the dao seal that appeared out of nowhere has probably alarmed all the old monsters in Shijiu Zhou. I’ve been to that Qingfeng Nunnery hidden realm before, but didn’t know there were such mysteries inside. Shijiu Zhou is probably going to have major events. This Central Domain Enforcement Elder position—should we yield it or not?”
“…”
The previous relaxed expression also disappeared from his plump white face.
The intelligent light in Zheng Yao’s eyes reappeared as he slowly said, “Master Uncle has suspicions?”
Fudao Shanren smiled: “Not exactly—let’s talk slowly.”