Chapter 62: Consulting

Chapter 62: Consulting

“Peace and joy don’t last forever. Life can change in an instant, but that’s not what I’m afraid of. What worries me is whether our next generation will carry on their responsibilities.”

Li Xiangping let out a wry smile and then changed the subject. He handed over a cloth and brush to Li Chejing so that he could document the sword technique.

“I only have one move for this sword technique. Its name shall be...” Li Chejing paused, a vision of a white sword aura in the shape of a crescent flashed through his mind.

“I’ll name it the Celestial Moon Slash,” he declared.

With that, he set to work, detailing the technique across several pieces of cloth with meticulous attention to the flow of qi, the distribution of mana along the sword, and the execution of the move. Once done, he set his brush down with a nod of satisfaction.

“I’ll transfer these onto a wooden slip once you return to the immortal sect,” Li Xiangping said happily as he carefully put away the pieces of cloth.

Li Chejing looked at the sky and realized that two hours had gone by. He spent the remainder of the evening imparting important knowledge on talisman arts to Li Xiangping, then talked with his father until late at night and nourished the old man’s body with spells and supplements.

With dawn approaching, he prepared to depart for Lichuankou Village.

————

After spending a quarter of an hour aboard the Dawn Cloudliner, Li Chejing found his thoughts continually drifting back to his family.

Noticing that his mind was preoccupied, Yuan Tuan softly asked, “How’s your father?”

Li Chejing, who was reminded of the excuse he used to visit home, clutched the slender green jade bottle hanging at his waist and responded somberly, “He’s still able to eat. I've reconditioned his body, so he should hold on for a few more years.”

Yuan Tuan sighed gently, interpreting Li Chejing’s worry as sadness, and offered some words of consolation. “In the world of cultivators, the natural cycles of life and death are an inevitable reality, even more so for mortals. Perhaps it’s best to push through the pain.”

As they conversed, Li Chejing mulled over how to justify the acquisition of the Supreme Yin Moonlight to Si Yuanbai.

If the Golden Autumn In Lake has to be acquired from the sect, borrowing the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique manual alone will definitely require Master’s approval. This means practicing the technique in secrecy isn’t possible. I must first speak with Master, he concluded.

He then turned to Yuan Tuan and asked, “Senior Sister, is Master currently on Qingsui Peak?”

“Yes, I received a letter yesterday mentioning that Master has returned to Qingsui Peak. Upon hearing that you got bullied, he unleashed twelve Rain Summoning Talismans on Yuanwu Peak, nearly flooding it,” Yuan Tuan replied with a grin.

Si Yuanbai, visibly concerned, quickly pulled Li Chejing up to his feet. “What made you go to such lengths? Get up and tell me more.”

Li Chejing hung his head and then nervously revealed, “Years ago, I received a letter from my family that they had stumbled upon the cave dwelling of a predecessor. After much effort, they finally breached its formation only to find that the cave had been emptied, except for a jade green bottle. My family checked the jade bottle and realized that it contained a spiritual qi of heaven and earth. It was white like frost and fluid as water.”

Si Yuanbai’s brow furrowed as he mulled over Li Chejing’s words. “White as frost, fluid as water? Could it be Frosty Snow Qi or Pine Forest Wind? No... It couldn’t possibly be...”

Si Yuanbai shook his head, his eyes widening in disbelief as he gasped. “Supreme Yin Moonlight?!”

Li Chejing confirmed with a solemn nod. “I spent a long time researching in the scripture pavilion but still, I was not convinced. So, I made up an excuse to return home to verify it for myself. Indeed, it is the Supreme Yin Moonlight!”

“Show it to me!” Si Yuanbai urged.

Li Chejing quickly presented the slender jade green bottle. Si Yuanbai examined it and remarked, “This jade green bottle indeed looks like one of those from a century ago.”

He closed his eyes, and after a moment of concentration, snapped open his eyes again. “It truly is the Supreme Yin Moonlight! You’ve handled this exceptionally well,” he exclaimed.

He then regarded Li Chejing thoughtfully, “The Supreme Yin Moonlight holds immense value. You must carefully consider how it should be utilized.”

“I entrust all decisions to Master,” Li Chejing responded, cupping his fist respectfully.

Si Yuanbai chuckled, affectionately ruffling Li Chejing’s hair, before adopting a serious tone. “What a cunning boy you are.”

“Given that your cultivation has reached the peak of the Embryonic Breathing Realm, if you plan to attain mastery of the Moon Lake Autumn Reflection Technique, the existence of the Supreme Yin Moonlight must not be disclosed to the sect. Your senior sister will request access to the technique on your behalf. Meanwhile, I shall request for the Golden Autumn In Lake spiritual qi. You’ll begin cultivating the technique first, and we’ll only inform the sect after you’ve made substantial progress.”

“If word of this discovery spreads, it could spark a vigorous pursuit among the members of the Moon Lake Peak. They’ll all be eager to get their hands on the Supreme Yin Moonlight, even if the old ancestors in the sect are too proud to fight for it.”

He paused, concern shadowing his features as his voice dropped to a whisper. “No one in the Azure Pond Sect has been able to master this technique for the past three hundred years. They’ve been waiting too long for the opportunity...”

After hearing Si Yuanbai’s words, Li Chejing felt a twinge of guilt and gritted his teeth. He acknowledged his master’s concerns, his emotions a whirlwind of gratitude and determination.

Li Xiangping and himself had always been skeptical of everything. Having grown up away from home, Li Chejing had always approached the world with caution. Yet, standing before Si Yuanbai, whose face radiated kindness, Li Chejing felt a profound sense of relief and belonging. At Qingsui Peak, among his fellow seniors and juniors, he could finally lower his guard.

“Thank you, Master!”