Xu Qi’an could not hide his disappointment.
If Xu Pingfeng had seen this half of the shaman clans’ map years ago, then the so-called ancient tomb had probably already been visited by Xu Pingfeng.
No matter who the tomb’s owner was or what it concealed, it no longer has any meaning… Xu Qi’an sighed.
Wait, that’s not what Chai Xing’er said… He immediately frowned, summoned the Stupa tower, and through the tower spirit, sent a voice transmission to Chai Xing’er:
“Chai Xing’er, you once said that opening the ancient tomb requires the blood of a descendant of the Chai family.”
A few seconds later, Chai Xing’er’s voice arrived:
“Yes.”
“How much is needed?” Xu Qi’an asked.
“That… I don’t know.” Chai Xing’er replied via voice transmission.
Then there’s no point in digging further, getting some blood from a member of the Chai family would pose no difficulty to that unfilial son… Xu Qi’an said,
“In a while, I’ll send you to Li Lingsu. He’ll look after you.”
Now that Chai Xing’er’s usefulness had plummeted, Xu Qi’an wasn’t willing to keep her under lock and key any longer. As for the crimes she had committed in the past, he simply handed them over to Li Lingsu to deal with.
Li Lingsu had said before, if Chai Xing’er had committed unforgivable sins, he would take her back to the Heaven Sect, never to let her leave again.
It just so happens that the Holy Son has been rather lively lately, let’s give him a bit of trouble. Xu Qi’an muttered inwardly.
Chai Xing’er was startled, then burst into tears of excitement:
“Thank you, Silver Gong Xu, for sparing my life. Thank you, Silver Gong Xu, for fulfilling my wish with Li Lang.”
There’s nothing to thank me for. Your freedom will be gone for the rest of your life… Xu Qi’an put away the Earth Book fragment. Then, through the circling seagulls in the sky, he saw distant islands.
He had been using the ability of the Heart Gu to control nearby seabirds to scout the way and keep the ship on course.
Of course, he had also controlled fish in the sea, having them bite at Mu Nanzhi’s bait, or slap Baiji in the face.
He watched as Mu Nanzhi, hands on hips, looked smug, thinking herself a little fishing expert. And after Baiji had been slapped by several fish, she started to fear them greatly, and no longer dared to dive in to help when the line was caught.
These were his private mischiefs, indulging his “chessmaster” tendencies.
At this moment, Mu Nanzhi was leaning by the ship’s rail, washing her handkerchief.
Xu Qi’an took out the Huntian Divine Mirror from the Earth Book fragment.
“Not bad, you have remembered my instructions, you have not disturbed me for a long time.”
On the bronze mirror, the spirit’s single, striking eye appeared.
No, I’ve just been too busy lately… Xu Qi’an replied tactfully,
“You are a magic treasure, with an extraordinary status, and therefore deserve respect.”
The Huntian Divine Mirror was delighted. “You’re sensible. What is it you want?”
As it spoke, ripples like water spread across the mirror’s surface, conjuring up an image: it was a gently swaying, abyss-like chasm and a fair, enticing expanse.
Xu Qi’an glanced at Mu Nanzhi, who was bent over at the prow washing her handkerchief, then looked away, focused on the Huntian Divine Mirror, as if he had become a diligent pupil whose eyes never left the blackboard, and said:
“What’s the meaning of this?”
The Huntian Divine Mirror said solemnly,
“I thought you might like it. Pity there are no men here, or you’d be even more pleased. This is my reward to you for your good attitude.”
You’re the real expert here. Also, for the last time, how many times must I explain, I don’t like men… Xu Qi’an stared at the mirror with a critical eye, and said,
“Using your powers for underhanded deeds is not what a true man does. Hmm, let’s not have a repeat of this.”
The Huntian Divine Mirror snapped,
“If you’ve got something to say, say it. If not, let me go back, stop disturbing me and let me enjoy myself.”
“It’s nothing urgent,” Xu Qi’an said, his eyes bright as he stared at the mirror, “Don’t speak. I just want a moment alone. Hmm, let’s sit for a while. And in future, if you behave like this again, I’ll criticise you again.”
…
In a secluded valley, clouds drifted, and water murmured.
A dozen thatched huts sat in the valley, while the gentle, graceful Daoist Bailian led her disciples to meditate by the stream, taking in the spiritual energy of the mountains.
Several ginger cats chased each other among the houses and shrubs.
The disciples of the Earth Sect had relocated here for half a year already.
In recent months, the cold disaster ravaged the Central Plains, driving people to become refugees, a heaven-sent opportunity for the Earth Sect, at least in terms of cultivating virtue.
Now, more than half the disciples of the Earth Sect were away, doing good deeds and amassing merit, the progress in cultivation was remarkable.
Even Daoist Bailian, who rarely ventured out, had reached the peak of fourth rank, when half a year ago she had only been at mid-stage fourth rank.
After the daily necessary meditation and drawing of qi, the gentle, mature Daoist Bailian opened her eyes, gazed at her two dozen disciples, and said with satisfaction,
“In at most two months, or as little as ten days, some of you will need to go out and earn merit.
“But remember this, accumulating merit should come from the heart, do not do good deeds just for profit or cultivation.
“To do good just for the sake of doing good invites karmic backlash. Do you understand?”
The disciples replied in unison,
“We understand.”
Daoist Bailian nodded and was about to continue her guidance, when suddenly a thatched cottage to the south exploded with a “bang.” A magnificent halo rose up.
“Senior Brother Jinlian has broken through?!”
Daoist Bailian whipped around, both startled and delighted.
“Uncle Jinlian has broken through!”
The disciples were overjoyed.
Looking back, they saw an old Daoist with a head full of black hair, sitting cross-legged in mid-air, enveloped by dazzling, seven-coloured light, it was a splendid, majestic sight that radiated calm and peace.
It was the light of merit.
After a moment, the golden rays receded, and the old Daoist slowly descended.
Daoist Bailian walked over gracefully, a gentle smile on her face.
“Senior Brother Jinlian, your hair has turned black, you must have had a great leap in cultivation.”
What she really meant was that he had recovered some of his strength, but, surrounded by so many disciples, she chose different words.
Daoist Jinlian sat unmoved, giving no reply.
“Senior Brother Jinlian?” Bailian tried to call him.
“Yes, I have now achieved the Yang Spirit and entered the beyond-mortal realm.”
Suddenly, Jinlian’s voice sounded behind her.
Bailian turned around in astonishment, to see an orange cat elegantly licking its paws. Noticing her gaze, the cat froze, and put down its paw.
“Ahem!”
The orange cat cleared its throat, and in its usual tone said,
“The beyond-mortal realm is indeed marvellous. For a moment, I lost control of my soul and was forced to possess a cat.”
All the disciples suddenly understood.
So Uncle Jinlian had only just become beyond-mortal and couldn’t control his power, so his soul left his body and ended up in a ginger cat.
Daoist Jinlian left the cat’s body, returned to his own, and opened his eyes.
“How long was I in seclusion?” Jinlian asked.
“It’s been half a year,” Bailian replied.
Jinlian nodded slowly, with a calm and indifferent manner. “Has anything big happened in the outside world lately?”
“Silver Gong Xu killed Emperor Yuanjing.”
“Silver Gong Xu single-handedly stopped the three hundred thousand strong army of the Church of the Warlock God.”
“Silver Gong Xu ascended to the beyond-mortal realm.”
“Silver Gong Xu killed two Vajras in Jianzhou.”
“Wei Yuan is dead.”
“Yunzhou has rebelled.”
“The Buddhist Sect has torn up its alliance with the Great Feng.”
“The Central Plains is suffering terrible cold and disaster; the people are starving and the world is in chaos.”
The disciples spoke one after another, hardly pausing.
”… ” Daoist Jinlian’s face froze as he listened. He turned to Daoist Bailian with a wooden expression and asked,
“I have only been in seclusion for half a year?”
Are you sure it’s not been ten years?!
…
At the border between Xiangzhou and Jianzhou.
A bright young girl in a yellow dress walked freely along the official road.
Chu Caiwei had been travelling outside the capital for over a month now. The wind had slimmed her waist, hardship had sharpened her chin, and plain food had tempered her temperament.
Compared to her naive and lively self when she left the capital, Chu Caiwei now seemed calmer. Her face was thinner, but her large almond eyes only shone brighter.
At first, she followed the “food map” Xu Qi’an had given her, wherever she went, she sought out the local delicacies.
Then she would happily write letters to Lina and Xu Lingyin back in the capital.
Gradually, she wrote home less and less, and the smile on her face faded as well.
Her route shifted from food tours to chasing after sites of disaster.
“Senior Brother Yang, where are we going this time?”
As one banished from the Sitianjian, Chu Caiwei could only follow Yang Qianhuan.
“Recently I managed to get in touch with my sworn brother, I want to see how he’s doing.”
Yang Qianhuan walked ahead, only showing the back of his head to his junior.
“Where did you get a sworn brother from?” Chu Caiwei blinked her big eyes.
“Li Lingsu! The Holy Son of Heaven Sect,” Yang Qianhuan replied. “I’ve already come up with a brilliant plan to overshadow Xu Qi’an and shine alone. Now I’m going to share it with my dear brother, and see how he’s been lately.”
Chu Caiwei replied with an Oh, but remembered how, not long ago, when Yang Qianhuan heard that Xu Qi’an killed a Buddhist Vajra in Jianzhou, he was so jealous he thumped his chest and howled.
After digging deeper, she found out that Senior Brother Sun had been involved too and made a name for himself.
Yang Qianhuan thumped his chest and stomped again, raging at the sky that that stammering scoundrel must have fawned on Xu Qi’an to steal the spotlight.
Yang Qianhuan utterly despised Senior Sun’s behaviour.
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