Chapter 49 - Arc 5: Loose Cultivator Alliance | Chapter 49: Check-in

Chapter 49 - Arc 5: Loose Cultivator Alliance | Chapter 49: Check-in

Translator: Lynn

Xu Ziqing’s intention was to provide him with a good residence. Naturally, Xu Ziqing would not be ungrateful, so he smiled and said, “Please make the arrangements, my Daoist friend.”

Upon hearing this, Su Xin was pleased and waved his hand, saying, “I’ve thought of a perfect place.”

“I dare not disobey,” Xu Ziqing responded.

Ascending the winding and steep stone steps, which posed no difficulty for a cultivator, they arrived at a hillside where a narrow stone path extended in a circular pattern, leading to a wide rocky outcrop.

Su Xin stepped onto this rocky path and led the way, with Xu Ziqing following closely. As they ventured deeper, the surroundings grew cooler, and the light dimmed.

Looking around, Xu Ziqing noticed two thick trees extending horizontally above, with enormous canopies providing shade from the scorching sun. The canopy covered the entire rock, so when viewed from above, only one side of the green shade was visible, while from below, one could only see the massive rock, bare like an inverted pot.

Beneath the two towering trees stood a house made of vermilion wood and adorned with green tiles that matched the color of the foliage, offering additional shelter.

The house appeared new, and as soon as Xu Ziqing stepped onto the mountain rock, he felt a fresh woody aroma enveloping his senses, refreshing his heart. The spiritual aura here was so dense that each breath filled his throat with a cool and invigorating sensation, revitalizing his internal organs.

As Xu Ziqing surveyed the surroundings, a sense of joy welled up within him. Even in a tranquil state of mind, he couldn’t help but feel immense delight at discovering this precious cultivation location. The abundance of spiritual energy here was comparable, if not superior, to the cave at the bottom of the secret lake!

Su Xin, although possessing a bold temperament, was not impolite. Since he had guided Xu Ziqing to this place, he carefully observed Xu Ziqing’s expression. When he noticed the look of satisfaction in Xu Ziqing’s eyes, a smile formed on his lips. “Does this place suit you, Daoist Xu?” he inquired. Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

Xu Ziqing replied, “This place is excellent. Thank you.”

Su Xin’s eyebrows lifted, and he continued, “There is a prohibition placed around the house by our ancestors. However, each token is only applicable to a single room, so once you have decided, it cannot be changed.”

Understanding that Su Xin had already presented a remarkable option, Xu Ziqing had no intentions of being greedy. He smiled and said, “I am already very satisfied.”

Su Xin also smiled and said, “Then I won’t bother you any longer.” With that, he produced a red jade sword and handed it to Xu Ziqing, explaining, “If you ever need to reach me, use this jade sword to send a message. It contains a trace of my consciousness, ensuring it reaches me successfully.”

Expressing his gratitude, Xu Ziqing accepted the jade sword and added, “Thank you very much. I have gained a lot from the battle with the blood demon, so I plan to enter seclusion for a few days. When I emerge, I may have to ask for your guidance to ensure I haven’t missed anything.”

His friend Yun Lie had reminded him that the incident involving the Chenghuang Kingdom was related to borrowing the sword from Heavenly Dao. Even if Xu Ziqing didn’t make an appearance now, he would still gain something from his cultivation. Although Su Xin had overheard the elders’ projections within the alliance and had used his human power to glimpse the heavens, he was still involved in the matter and would surely benefit as well.

However, even great benefits needed to be seized in a timely manner, as time waits for no one. Xu Ziqing and Su Xin had only recently become acquainted, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for Xu Ziqing to directly remind him. Instead, he politely conveyed his request for Su Xin’s confirmation, indicating that he, too, would close himself off to avoid missing any important opportunities.

“After careful consideration, I will need some time for myself as well. We can meet again once I have completed my seclusion,” Xu Ziqing said with a faint smile.

Su Xin also cupped his hands in farewell and replied, “Until then!” With that, he turned around, waving his sword, and swiftly descended the path, visibly eager.

Xu Ziqing watched him depart before turning his attention toward the house and taking a few steps forward. However, an invisible force gently pushed him back, halting his progress.

“This must be the prohibition,” Xu Ziqing surmised. He didn’t need to use the token to test it but instead delved into his storage ring with his consciousness and asked his friend, “Brother Yun, can you examine the prohibition? Is it possible to break it?”

Yun Lie remained unseen but raised his eyelids slightly, stating, “The individual who placed the prohibition possesses a higher cultivation level than me.”

Xu Ziqing was taken aback. He had known Yun Lie for quite some time and had never encountered a situation he couldn’t handle. Xu Ziqing had always held the belief that “Brother Yun can accomplish anything.” Therefore, hearing Yun Lie’s words came as a surprise.

However, Xu Ziqing’s smile returned soon after.

Yun Lie had always given people the impression of being profound and unpredictable. Despite considering him his best friend, Xu Ziqing held great respect for him and refrained from causing any trouble. However, now that Xu Ziqing realized there was something even Yun Lie couldn’t do, he felt a closer bond with him.

The fourteenth meridian was also opened up!

Xu Ziqing exhaled a long breath, and a green-colored mass of Qi formed in front of him. It felt as if a certain barrier in his body had been torn open, and his entire being grew lighter.

He had now reached the eighth level of Qi refinement!

Slowly awakening from his cultivation, Xu Ziqing opened his eyes and looked at his hands. Due to the massive influx of spiritual energy coursing through his bones, his palms appeared extraordinarily moist and slender.

He finally understood that by defeating the blood demon, the Heavenly Dao had indeed bestowed him with great benefits. In that battle, the Heavenly Dao had granted him and Su Xin an ample amount of luck and grace.

Xu Ziqing closed his eyes and reflected on his past experiences. Throughout his journey to immortality, he encountered various inner demons. One such demon arose from a colorful illusory butterfly, which had invoked feelings of despair and thoughts of loved ones from his past life. Fortunately, he overcame that demon without any danger.

However, he couldn’t rest easy, knowing that his path to immortality was filled with potential demons. Another demon he recognized was the mental shackles inherited from his previous life. He was unwilling to take lives, even though circumstances in the secret realm had pushed him to strike. Even the despicable Tian Liang and Xu Zi Qian were killed by the sword qi Xu Zifeng had bestowed upon Xu Zitang, not by Xu Ziqing’s own hands. But he knew that one day he might have to take a life, and if he couldn’t overcome his reluctance in a critical situation, it might cost him his own life.

If he remained weak in such moments, he would be ashamed and unable to face his friends, even without Yun Lie’s reproach. Although he recognized his weakness and anticipated it to be his next inner demon, he didn’t know how to overcome it and refine his heart further.

This time, Heavenly Will’s first blessing was to rid Xu Ziqing of this particular demon. The blood demon had committed numerous atrocities that could not be compensated for by consoling the countless victims in the South. Even a benevolent man like Xu Ziqing desired to kill such an evil being. However, in killing the blood demon, he inadvertently took Jiao Tu’s life as well. Jiao Tu was innocent, but Xu Ziqing couldn’t afford to be lenient. He felt genuinely remorseful afterward.

But then he discovered that although Jiao Tu had died, his soul remained intact. Through all the twists and turns, the contradictions, and the choices between righteousness and trivial matters, Jiao Tu met his death honorably. Despite Jiao Tu’s demise, there was still hope.

With his unwavering integrity, Xu Ziqing succeeded in accepting Jiao Tu’s death and his own choices. Reflecting on the past, he found solace and overcame his inner demons. As a result, he could now face the possibility of taking a life without being rendered powerless.

Furthermore, the second benefit he gained was the breakthrough in his cultivation level and directly reaching the eighth level of Qi refinement.

The third benefit was the invaluable experience and insights he obtained from battling the blood demon, a cultivator who had already reached the late Golden Core Formation stage.

Even Xu Ziqing, known for his calm demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a wave of excitement in his heart. However, he quickly composed himself, taking a deep breath to regain control of his emotions and temporarily suppress his joy.

But being youthful at heart, Xu Ziqing couldn’t resist calling out in a low voice, “Brother Yun, Brother Yun.”

Yun Lie responded as he emerged, his white robes resting on the ground, his posture cold and distant. He asked, “What is it?”

With a smile and a lighter tone, Xu Ziqing replied, “Brother Yun, I’ve made significant progress in my cultivation thanks to your guidance. I couldn’t contain my excitement and wanted to share it with you.”

Yun Lie lifted his gaze, observing the changes in Xu Ziqing’s eyes, and stated, “Well done.”

Xu Ziqing felt increasingly delighted upon hearing Yun Lie’s words. “I am truly grateful for your kindness, Brother Yun,” he expressed his gratitude.

He proceeded to narrate his breakthrough and transformation to Yun Lie. After spending a considerable amount of time in the other world, there was no one closer to him than his friend who resided in the storage ring.

Yun Lie patiently listened until Xu Ziqing finished, then nodded slightly. “I am pleased that you have overcome your inner demons,” he acknowledged.

Xu Ziqing’s smile grew wider. It was the first time Yun Lie had shown satisfaction, and even though Xu Ziqing couldn’t see his friend’s smile, it filled his heart with joy.

However, Yun Lie added, “The battle with the blood demon will bring you great benefits. Therefore, you should conduct further research and not neglect it.”

Xu Ziqing cleared his throat lightly, composed his expression, and responded solemnly, “I understand, Brother Yun. I will take it upon myself.”

Afterward, Yun Lie’s figure faintly dissipated, swiftly disappearing without a trace once again.

Xu Ziqing didn’t dwell on it and settled back down, reopening the acupuncture points on the top of his head. He guided his spiritual energy in accordance with his techniques, deeply reflecting on his battle with the blood demon.

He became so engrossed in his thoughts that he lost track of time, unaware of how much had elapsed.

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