Dao Chapter 25: What A Tough Way Toward Foundation Establishment!

Chapter 1: Son Will Avenge His Father's Suffering

Dusky clouds enveloped the skyline, revealing an atmosphere of depression in the darkness. Bit by bit, the clouds in the east went red, gradually blazing up fiercely like a fire. A ray of morning light finally breached the darkness and sprinkled the whole earth, flushing the mountains and plains.

Surrounded by mountains, a small village with thirty to forty households struggled to keep living on the few barren fields among the peaks. While the sun rose and sprinkled the morning glow, a young boy in the room opened his eyes. A calm look beyond his peers appeared on the face after a short period of confusion.

Getting up in a hurry and washing himself, Shiao Chen rushed out. Today was the day to go to the town and fetch the seeds of each year at the early spring. He needed to make an early start with solid food, or he wouldn't get home at night.

However, he was in a trance for what he saw after stepping out of his room, then he asked, "Father, mother, why do you get up so early? Rest a.s.sured, I remember it's time to fetch the seeds and won't delay doing it."

His father, Shiao Wenshan, looked at him somewhat expectantly, waved his hands and said, "Change your clothes and I will go to town with you today."

Shiao Chen was a little surprised, and then he noticed his father put on the most solemn clan costume which he would only wear on the clan's sacrifice day. Although he felt confused, he nodded and went back to his room, taking out a green brocade long gown with embroidery from his only worn-out case.

They then had the breakfast in silence. There was a bit of worry in the eyes' of Shiao's mother and many times, she wanted to say something but was held back by his father's severe gaze.

"Let's go."

Getting out of the yard and seeing a green carriage outside the door, once again, Shiao Chen sensed something odd.

"Mr. Shiao, please get on. We should leave now." Living at the west of the village, Old Wu tried to support the whole family with this carriage. Exposed to the wind and sun every day, he looked like a little old man even in his early 40s.

Nodding while lifting the curtain, Shiao Wenshan went into the carriage regardless of his perplexed son.

"Hey, the date to fetch seeds has been put off, right? Then why do they hire Old Wu to go to town?"

"Who knows? This family has always been acting secretly and doesn't make much contact with us. Look what they wear, maybe they'll have a marriage interview."

"Maybe, Shiao Chen looks like a good boy with that handsome face. However, he’s not in good health and may not live very long, or I will betroth my daughter to him."

The carriage went down on the sole road of the village. Hearing of the discussion outside ambiguously, Shiao Chen was shocked in the heart and wondered if he was really taken to a blind date.

"Don't woolgather and keep yourself revitalized. Today you may have a chance to be someone powerful…Don't ask too much. You will know it later." Looking at Shiao Chen, Shiao Wenshan waved his hands with a complicated expression on his face which disappeared soon.

Shiao Chen nodded and closed his eyes to rest his mind.

Staring at his son's macilent face, a touch of firmness appeared in the eyes of Shiao Wenshan. Meanwhile he murmured, "Today, even I have to bow to him, so what? The kid's future can't be ruined because of me."

The carriage was caught in a silence after a long sigh.

"Mr. Shiao, We're in Shiao Town now." Old Wu said with a respectful and cautious voice outside.

Shiao Chen opened his eyes at the moment he heard the words, only seeing his father was a little absent-minded, which was rare.

"Oh…really?" Shiao Wenshan murmured, then pulled back the curtain and got off the carriage with a complicated expression crossing his face.

"Old Wu, you can go back first. No need to wait here", Shiao Wenshan said gently.

"All right." Seeing Old Wu driving the carriage far away, Shiao Wenshan stood at the huge gate of Shiao Town. Staring at the script of "Shiao Town", a touch of complexity flashed by in his eyes. After a long while, he said "Follow me", then went straight into the town.

Looking at the shadow of his aging father, Shiao Chen still tried to figure out why he had to come here in person. Thinking of what happened today, his suspicion became deeper.

After nearly an hour, they found a shabby inn to have a rest. Shiao Wenshan enjoined Shiao Chen not to go outside by himself and then left the inn hurriedly with a complicated expression.

Frowned with suspicion in his eyes, Shiao Chen followed his father secretly and immediately. The behavior of his father was too queer. He must be onto something.

Shiao Chen was far away from his father all the way and in the end, he saw his father go straight into a restaurant.

"Is it possible that father just comes to visit a friend?" Frowned a bit, Shiao Chen stepped into the restaurant. Glancing at the hall, he didn’t find his father, so he stepped forward to the second floor of private rooms. Seemingly thin and weak with a pale face, he acted gracefully and imposingly. Besides, what he dressed was far from common, so the waiter was hesitant to stop him.

It was much quieter on the second floor. Shiao Chen slowed down and trod lightly on the corridor while listening carefully.

"He's here!" Seeing the private room Heaven No. 1, Shiao Chen felt uncertain. Being poor, his father had always been thrift. It was odd enough to hire Old Wu today, and now he met someone in this expensive restaurant. All things just ran counter to his normal behavior.

Standing at the gate and taking a look around the room, Shiao Chen's eyes brightened suddenly. There was an air hole at the wall facing the street, which allowed him to catch a glance of the condition inside the room. Seeing n.o.body around, Shiao Chen held his breath and trod lightly and then looked inside on tiptoe.

Full of antique beauty, there was a scentedwood round table with four cyan chairs surrounding it. A piece of ink landscape painting was hung on the wall and a fresh and green bonsai sat at the corner, simple with lingering charm.

And now on the chairs, there were three fair and clear middle-aged men in brocade gown with slight coldness on their faces. Without saying anything, the aura they presented awed people. Obviously, they must have been in a high status for a long time.

However, what surprised Shiao Chen most at the moment was his father. He sat right in front of the three men with intricate expression. However, he was not scared at all by their imposing manner, behaving with ease and confidence.

"Hm, Shiao Family have a lot to deal with every day, so let’s just get to the point. Why did you send a message to call us here? Tell us now or we’ll leave immediately." Seeming to be the head of the three men, one man took a sip of tea and satirized with sardonic expression.

Similar expression was written on the other two men's face although they didn't say anything.

Hearing this, Shiao Chen was in a trance. Shiao family?

In Shiao Town, the first name Shiao belonged to Shiao Clan, so the three men were in charge of Shiao family? No wonder they behaved in such a lofty manner. But then he frowned and came up with another question – when did his father know these people? He didn't even mention it. And judging from their behavior, they seemed not to get along.

Many thoughts flooded into Shiao Chen's mind, but before he could come to himself, what his father said next nearly shocked him to tumble.

" Brother, why are you so ruthless? Although I have left the family, we are still brothers." With complicated expression, Shiao Wenshan took a glance of the three men in front of him and spoke in a low voice.

Hearing this, Shiao Wenting raised his eyebrows and sneered, "Brothers? You were expelled from the family twenty years ago, and now you remember we are brothers?"

"Or maybe you can't survive outside, so you decide to come here and wish we can give you a hand now?" The one who said this in cold voice was full of squib.

"Brother, why are we still talking with him here? The immortals are coming tomorrow. We’d better go home and prepare for that now." The second master of Shiao family, Shiao Wenqian gave a sardonic grin and suggested.

Taking a cold glance at Shiao Wenshan, they were ready to get up and leave.

"Wait!" Shiao Wenshan groaned suddenly and then took out a jade lion seal in thumb size from his chest with trembling hands.

"Brother, although you became the master of Shiao family with the help of our elder mother, this seal, the token of the family, was handed down to me by our father long ago. I wonder you may have worried about it a lot for these years, right?"

"If you promise me one thing, I will hand it to you."

Seeing the seal in Shiao Wenshan's hand, Shiao Wenting stopped. With longing in his eyes, he thought for a while and answered, "What do you want?"

Hearing this, Shiao Wenshan stared at him and shook his head, saying, "Why do you ask while knowing the answer, Brother? Today I come here for earning a chance for my son to attend the test of entering the divine gate."

With dodgy eyes, Shiao Wenting seemed to be thinking about it carefully, weighing the gains and loses.

"Brother, you can’t give him that promise. If his son is lucky to be chosen by the immortals, we’ll be doomed."

"Right, brother, please think it over."

Shiao Wenting waved his hands to stop their words, and then looked at Shiao Wenshan with sharp eyes, saying coldly, "You abused my mother in those years."

Hearing this, the expression of Shiao Wenshan became more complicated, and then he kneeled down facing the direction of the Shiao's Clan Hall and bowed and kowtowed repeatedly while saying, "Please forgive me, elder mother, for my ignorance and impertinency at young age." Then he seemed to be stripped off the energy, eyes becoming dull suddenly.

Turning a blind eye to it, Shiao Wenting continued, "You disrespected us in those years."

"I was too young and aggressive at that time, please forgive me."

At that moment, the wrinkles on Shiao Wenshan's face became deeper and he looked even older than before.

"You hurt me in those years." With grimmer face, Shiao Wenting pulled uphis left sleeve, showing an ugly scar wriggling from the chest like a huge and deformed scolopendra.

Hearing this, Shiao Wenshan shivered a little and then smashed his left arm ruthlessly and directly.

Crack!

Clear sound of bone fracture echoed in the room while Shiao Wenshan's face turned pale and lips quivered due to the pain.

"Brother, is this enough to make it up to you?"

With a poker face, Shiao Wenting rested his eyes on Shiao Wenshan who was humiliated for a long while, and then said inexorably, "Don't say I haven't given you a chance. Tomorrow you can bring your son to the family." Then he collected the jade lion seal in his chest and left with the other two men.

Seeing they left the room, Shiao Wenshan trembled slightly and fell on the ground. After a while, he burst out weeping.

"Mother, please forgive me, your unfilial son. But I have to do this. Even I'm humiliated, I must earn this chance for my son. Mother, please forgive me."

Tears flowing from his aged eyes, Shiao Wenshan cried out with hoa.r.s.e voice.

Outside the room, Shiao Chen covered his mouth with hands and fell on the ground involuntarily.

As a son, seeing his father being insulted by others without any solution, Shiao Chen was buried in sorrow. He clasped his hands and roared in the heart madly, "I will avenge my father's suffering. One day, I, Shiao Chen, will make all of you pay for what you have done today!"

Chapter 2: Shiao Family

Shiao Town, Shiao Family.

As its name suggested, the status of Shiao Family in the town could be seen clearly. However, the defiant guardians of Shiao Family at ordinary times were now full of respect and caution. Though dressed well, they behaved very humbly in an ingratiating manner. With the gate of Shiao Family opened now, a row of beautiful maidservants lined at each side of the road and red lanterns hung high under the eaves. It was so ceremonious and seemed someone special was coming.

"Father, are the envoys from Luoyun Valley so unattainable? Do we really need to be so prudent considering our strength?" At the hall, haughty Shiao Lin asked his father. As the eldest childe of Shiao Family, he had been praised and respected by whoever knew him, which leaded to his arrogant character.

"Shut up!" Hearing this, Shiao Wenting changed the expression suddenly and berated him seriously. Looking around carefully for a while and finding nothing abnormal, he was a bit relieved, though still grim-faced. Then he continued, "Stop it, if you say anything annoying the envoys, wait and see how I will punish you."

Shiao Lin's face turned gray. He never thought his affectionate father would be so furious to him because of this. However, he was not that stupid to argue with him, so he didn't say a word any more.

"Now, in case any of you offend the envoys and spell disaster for this family, I need to remind you something beforehand." Shiao Wenting stated with a solemn face. All other princ.i.p.als of Shiao's branches were listening seriously.

"Luoyun Valley doesn't belong to any secular power, or we won’t need to act so cautiously and humbly to flatter them. It is a sect full of high and powerful cultivators who can topple the mountains and overturn the seas. Even a disciple can destroy our family easily." There were awe and longing in the eyes of Shiao Wenting while he talked about it. He had seen it by himself. Notorious thieves and the best martial art experts became ashes with nothing left of them under the attack of a small fireball from one of Luoyun Valley's cultivators.

"Fortunately, our ancestors had history with Luoyun Valley, so every twenty years, there will be a chance for us to send age-appropriate boys to have a test. If they are gifted for being a cultivator, they will be the disciples and have a chance to be immortal."

"What? Do immortals really exist?"

"So we are here to have a test? Really?"

"Ah, great, I have a chance to be immortal."

"Immortal! I will become an immortal."

Dozens of young boys from Shiao Family in the hall turned excited immediately.

"So all of you remember to act respectfully and cautiously when the envoys are here. If there are any mistakes and our family suffers due to that, it will not be atoned for even you die one hundred times." Shiao Wenting said the last sentence with loud voice and stern expression.

"Yes, clan leader." Hearing this, all teenagers became serious, eyes full of revere and expectation.

Shao Wenting nodded with satisfaction. Actually he was too cautious. The divine envoys were usually cold and prideful and cared nothing about the flatter of ordinary people. They wouldn’t even take a sip of the tea provided and would leave as soon as they found potential disciples. So there would hardly be any chance to offend them even if someone wanted to.

At the moment, a servant in green clothes ran in and kneeled down with a pained look, saying cautiously, "Master, there's a man and a boy outside claiming they belong to a branch of Shiao Family and intend to attend the selection today. They look unfamiliar and I haven't seen them before, however, what they wear…are the clan costumes, so I'm here to ask for your instruction before allowing them in."

He said this with scrupulousness while feeling perturbed in the heart. Today was the most important day in twenty years, if the guests belonged to this family, everything would be all right; if not, he would definitely be punished…however, the man outside presented a gentle aura, so he couldn't be a cheater, right?

Hearing this, Shiao Wenting sneered with cold expression, and then waved his hand and said, "I have known it, just bring them in."

While the servant left, the second man on the left side frowned and asked, " Brother, three branches with eight households of our family are all here. The two people outside are obviously lying, so why do you let them in? If they deliberately cause troubles and offend the divine envoys, won't it be a problem?"

"Ho ho, brother, you are wrong. Technically, there are three branches with nine households in total. Have you forgotten one of our brothers was expelled from the family?" Full of squib, he continued, "Yesterday, he invited me and your other two elder brothers out and begged for a chance to let his son take part in the test of Treading Divine Gate. I agreed seeing he's so pitiful."

"Oh, it's him! When he left, he said he would never set foot in this family, now what? Come here so eagerly. Hum, just see how I will make him ashamed." The fifth son of the Shiao, Shiao Wenbin, looked at the entrance of the hall with ruthless eyes when speaking of this.

Meanwhile, two figures showed up and came into the hall. They were of course Shiao Wenshan and Shiao Chen.

"Hey, you may not know that. In front of us is an awful man who was favored by the previous master. However, later he planned to take over the property in confidence, which was discovered and so he was expelled by our master's mother. Now how dare he come back?"

"Hum, of course for the coming test of Treading Divine Gate. Knowing our elder brother is lenient, he just comes here to beg for mercy. For me, I will throw them out. Really annoying!"

"Look at his son, so weak with that pale face. How can he dream to be chosen by the divine envoys."

For a moment, the hall resounded with satire and cynicism while Shiao Wenting just looked at everyone with a cold smile on his face.

Shiao Wenshan clasped Shiao Chen's shoulder with full strength and stopped his intention to refute with stringent eyes.

After a while, Shiao Wenting waved his hands to stop all the sneers, then he began to talk, "I will stick to my promiseto give you the chance. But remember, this is your last chance. After this, no matter you live or die, never step into this family again."

"Now step aside and don't offend the divine envoys."

"Yes." Regardless of how others thought of them, Shiao Wenshan pulled Shiao Chen to the corner.

"My son, don't ask why I’m doing this and never regard it as a burden. Now just remember one thing. After you leave with the divine envoys, try everything to stay there."

Hearing this, Shiao Chen nodded violently. Although his eyes were red, he didn't let one drop of tear fall down because his father had always taught him that a real man could bleed but never drop tears.

Chapter 3: The Test of Entering Divine Gate

An hour later, a swishing sound of sharp objects cutting through air was heard, and then three flying sword landed before the great hall of Shiao’s family. On those swords were standing three young men of more than 20 years old with cold faces.

“Is the Master of Shiao’s family here? We come here under orders. Bring the candidates to us fast.”

They were cold and arrogant, and their eyes swept the crowd occasionally as if they were high above the others.

Shiao Wenting led his family members out in a hurry to greet the three guests. “Three Immortals, you have come a long way here. Please do me the favor to rest in the great hall and have a cup of tea.” His face was modest and his voice humble.

The drastic difference made Shiao Chen secretly clenched his hands and sworn to be a powerful Immortal one day to make his parents proud.

“No need. Once we have all the candidates for the Test of Entering Divine Gate, we’ll leave.” One of the three young men who appeared to be in charge replied in cold voice, frowning.

“Yes! Yes!” Shiao Wenting nodded hastily, daring not to meddle any more.

“Go!” The three young men muttered some incantations and suddenly pointed their hands to the flying swords under their feet, which at once grew big enough for dozens of people to ride on.

“Come up and stand in sequence. Don’t be afraid.”

The teenage boys of Shiao’s clan were all held in awe by the three Immortals who were able to travel on flying swords and make them grow bigger with spells, so they obediently did what they were told to do.

“Rise!”

After all the boys were up on the swords, the three young men immediately steered the flying swords and flew away without the courtesy to say goodbye. In a blink of eyes, no trace of them could be found.

Watching him leaving, Shiao Chen’s father was unable to suppress the injuries any longer. His face turned deathly pale in an instant, still he managed to hobble across the hall and left.

“Patriarch, why did you agree to permit Shiao Chen to attend the Test? Even though he is a member of our family, he will never be one of us. We have offended him and his father. If he gets lucky and pa.s.s the test, none of us can sleep tight at night.” Shiao Wenbin complained.

Shiao Wenting laughed. “Wenbin, don’t worry. Shiao Chen is not in good health. I even bet he will die young. How can the Immortals pick such a weak boy? You can rest a.s.sured.”

In his heart, the only boy who would succeed was his own son, Shiao Lin, who had taken a valuable treasure just in case.

Above the cloud, three gigantic swords were flying. The wind blew straight at the faces of the people who were standing on them. It was so strong that nearly no one was able to open their eyes.

Shiao Chen was on the last sword. He clenched his hands into fists, trying his best not to look frightened.

The young man steering the sword laid his eyes on Shiao Chen, a bit of surprise mixed with a bit of admiration.

“Hu!”

The wind abruptly got stronger, and its direction suggested they were descending in a fast speed. A moment later, a cold voice said, “We are here. Get down.”

Until then did all the teenage boys of Shiao’s family open their eyes and find them in an unknown place.

Shiao Chen followed others down the flying sword and examined the surroundings. It was a verdant valley of several thousand meters long, a fairy land full of green trees, exotic flowers and rare herbs, even the air smelled faint fragrant.

Dozens of teenage boys and girls had arrived before them, except they all stared at them with a bit of hostility.

“Line up in pairs. The Test is about to begin.” Before the boys and girls was a stone table, and before the table was sitting a stout old man, about 50 years old. The three young men who escorted Shiao Chen and the others saluted him in a respectful manner and retreated to his side.

Shiao Lin, as the oldest son of his family, had received instructions from his father, so he bowed to the old man and led his brothers queue up quickly.

“All right. Now come to me one at a time to take the Test.” The old man opened his eyes, darting penetrating glances at them as if he could see them through. Most of the teenagers lowered their heads, afraid to confront his eyes.

“Let’s start with Mei’s.”

Hardly had the sound fade away, a 16 or 17-year old boy, strong and with bright piercing eyes, promptly stepped forward from the far left group. Anxiously, he bowed before he put his hands in the old man’s.

In a moment, the old man opened his eyes and announced emotionlessly, “No spiritual root. Go to the left.”

The young boy obeyed and walked to the empty land on the left downheartedly, as if all his energy had been drained off by these words.

“Next!”

A young girl came to the old man gingerly and put her hands in his.

“No spiritual root. Go to the left.”

……

The Test went on in a very fast speed, and half of the candidates had been tested by the old man, but no one was ever qualified.

“Next!”

The old man slightly furrowed his brows, and a touch of impatience crept on his face.

This time was a young girl of 16 years old with snow-white skin and black hair to her waist, as stunning as a fairy exiled to the mortal world.

“Ji Yuewu from Ji’s clan! I did not expect her today.”

“It is said she taught herself to gather nimbus when she was 10. She must possess a spiritual root.”

“Anyone with a spiritual root has the ability to become an Immortal. How lucky she is!”

Shiao Chen listened to these whispers and concluded that the Test seemed to concern only the spiritual root, not the physical fitness at all. He secretly felt relieved a bit. He would have no chance if the Test was all about physical fitness, but the fact that more than 30 boys and girls had failed made him worried. What on earth was a spiritual root, which seemed so rare?

“Spiritual root of wooden attribute! Excellent talent! Great! Great! Great!” The old man opened his eyes, beaming with great joy and surprise.

Shiao Chen was interrupted from his thinking. He raised his head and happened to see that Ji Yuewu withdrew her hands, so calmly as if she was not surprised at all.

“You go to the right. I’ll take you to see our Chief Master after this.” The old man’s spirit was lightened, which softened his voice when he opened his mouth.

Ji Yuewu slightly nodded and walked to the right with her head lifted high in the admiring eyes of others, like a real fairy descending to the man’s world.

“Next!” The old man was encouraged and his voice sounded more vigorous than before.

It took another 15 minutes to finish the tests of the rest candidates except Shiao’s. A boy and a girl pa.s.sed the Test besides Ji Yuewu, but their spiritual roots were not as good as hers judging from the normal reaction of the old man. Even so, they still attracted admiration from those who failed.

“Next!”

The first candidate from Shiao’s clan was no other than Shiao Lin, who was the oldest son of the Patriarch. He straightened his clothes, bowed to the old man and held out his hands with great antic.i.p.ation.

The old man did not even look, and he just closed his eyes after he held Shiao Lin’s hands. Soon he shook his head. “No spiritual root. Fail.”

Shiao Lin’s face turned pale and then regained a little bit red after he remembered his father had given him a secret gift.

“Immortal, my father asked me to bring you a gift when I left home. Please do me a favor for the sake of it.” Before the old man could reject, he took a brocade bag from inside of his robe with great care.

A sneer played on the old man’s lips. He was a cultivator high above the mortal world. What kind of gift could a mortal family give to catch his eyes? Still he opened the bag and saw a black stony thing.

“Iron Essence!” The old man’s eyes brightened. He held it in his hands and carefully examined it for a while. His joy increased. This Iron Essence was so pure, enough for him to refine a spiritual weapon when he advanced to the late phase of the Foundation Establishment.

“Hm! I’ll take it, and I’ll accept you as a nominal disciple for its sake. If you do well, you’ll have the opportunities to become a formal disciple.” The old man narrowed his eyes and put the Iron Essence in his storage bag before others could notice.

“A nominal disciple?” Shaio Lin found it hard to believe.

“You have a problem with that?” The old man lowered his voice and asked.

“No, no. How dare I? Master, please allow me to kowtow to you!” Shiao Lin kneeled on the ground and bowed.

“Em! Now go to the right.” The old man nodded his head unsatisfactorily.

“Aye.” The admiring eyes from the others instantly swept away Shiao Lin’s discontent of being a nominal disciple, and he swaggered to the right.

“Next!”

……

“Next!”

……

Soon, everyone from Shiao’s clan had taken the Test except Shiao Chen, but no one was found to have the spiritual root.

“It has been 300 years. Not a single candidate from Shiao’s clan ever has a spiritual root. It’s nothing like a great family lasted from the ancient times. I shall suggest to the Chief Master to disqualify them.” The old man muttered in secret, and then raised his voice impatiently.

“Last one!”

Shiao Chen was the last candidate. He went forward with great hope. The antic.i.p.ating eyes and the humiliation his father suffered to win him this opportunity made him determined and eager.

“Please! Please!”

A moment later, the old man opened his eyes and shot a cold glance at him. “No spiritual root. Not qualified!”

Every word thundered in his ears and made him even paler. Darkness came over his eyes when he thought of his father. His head was spinning, and he nearly fell on the ground under the gloating stars of others. All he could think of was how to tell his father that he failed!

To fight for his candidacy, his father had broken his vows and suffered a lot, but in the end he failed!

Chapter 4: Dao Seeking Fall

“All right. The Test of Entering Divine Gate is now at its end. Those who have failed please wait here for a moment. You will be allowed to stay in Luoyue Valley for 15 days before going home.” The old man turned away. Ji Yuewu and the three candidates who pa.s.sed the Test followed him toward the outside of the valley.

“So it is true that Ji Yuewu is born with a spiritual root of good quality. I’am afraid it is of good quality according to Elder Hu’s reaction. She is sure to be a big shot in the future.”

“You are right. And the boy surnamed Sun, who expected such an ordinary boy could be born with a spiritual root? When he returns to his clan, maybe his family line will thrive and even replace the direct line. Who knows?”

“And Shiao Lin, he doesn’t have the spiritual root either, but he has good luck and a treasure to offer to Elder Hu.”

The boys and girls talked about the Test in words full of admiration and jealousy.

“This is no ordinary place for you. No one shall make any noise, or you shall be expelled at once.” A sudden shout frightened them and they all shut their mouths. The cultivator who gave the shout was quite satisfied and revealed a complacent smile. “Line up and follow me to the Fairy Yard. Though you don’t have the spiritual roots to take on the journey of cultivation, the abundant nimbus in the valley could still benefit you.”

Shiao Chen’s mind had been in turmoil since the Test, so he heard nothing along the way to his room. When he finally came to his senses, it was already midnight.

He lay on the narrow stone bed, exhausted yet not able to fall asleep. In one moment he would see the extremely disappointed eyes of his father after he returned to Shiao’s mansion, in another he would see himself become an almighty Immortal who could travel from the heaven to the h.e.l.l on a flying sword……

The next day at daybreak, Shiao Chen was awakened by noises from outside of the door. He seemed confounded for a moment, and then he quickly cleaned his face with cold water and went out to the yard. All candidates who had failed yesterday’s Test had gathered there, and in front of them was Elder Hu.

For some unknown reason, Shiao Chen’s heart beat fastened. Was there a favorable turn?

“Elder Hu, the teenagers who came to the Yard are all here now, waiting for your command.” A middle-aged man in a common black robe tried to please the old man.

“Em.” Elder Hu slightly nodded his head and swept the teenagers with half-open eyes. “Luoyun Valley is in need of some lay disciples, so we a.s.semble you here to offer you a second chance: if you are willing to stay as lay disciples, follow me to attend one more test. And if you are lucky enough to pa.s.s it, you can stay.

“Lay disciples are not equal to direct disciples, still we will teach you some cultivation methods. After you finish your a.s.signed work every day, the time is all yours. You can use it to learn and practice. Diligence and a bit of luck may pave your way to be an Immortal!”

The announcement stirred up huge excitement from the teenagers. Even a lay disciple of Luoyun Valley could bring honor to the whole clan, let alone a slim chance to become a respectable Immortal.

Shiao Chen was more anxious than others. This was his last chance. He would never miss it no matter what.

“All right. Follow me.”

The Dao Seeking Fall was a famous place in Luoyun Valley, which was said to be a masterpiece of Luoyun Immortal, the founder of Luoyun Valley and an extremely powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm. In order to test the disciples’ determination in pursuing Dao, he had set up a formation through his magic power to forcibly channel the icy water from the top of the mountain down to the valley. Since then, Luoyun Valley had declined and none of his disciples had ever broken through the Nascent Soul Realm. Things had gotten even worse for this generation, and only the Chief Master had reached the Middle Phase of the Gold Core. Nonetheless, the Dao Seeking Fall had been reserved intact.

And it would be the very place to carry out the test for lay disciples today.

Elder Hu stopped. More than a hundred meters away, a steep slope came into sight. On it was a water channel of about one meter deep and dozens of meters wide abruptly inserted inside. Icy water ran from the top to the bottom, and the chill made the teenagers shiver even at such a distance.

Elder Hu seemed not notice it. He pointed to the channel and said, “Anyone who can climb to the top within 4 hours will be accepted as a lay disciple in Luoyun Valley.”

The slope was built in the air with no support from the ground, and the water came from nowhere, which did not surprise the teenagers much, considering they were at a fairyland. They gained some confidence when they found the steep channel was no longer than 200 meters.

They waited for Elder Hu to announce the start of the test and then dashed to the channel, shouting in madness.

Comparing to others, Shiao Chen was thin and weak, so he lagged behind since the very beginning.

The water did not run fast at the bottom, and its low temperature was still tolerable. Some of the teenagers, who were in excellent physical fitness and had learnt Ku Fu, climbed up nearly 50 meters in a blink of eyes. After that, the current suddenly doubled its speed and its temperature dropped below the freezing point. Small pieces of ice were hidden in the current, sharp as knife when they rushed down with rapid flow. Any carelessness would led to a long cut.

The climbing became much harder from there.

Shiao Chen struggled for air, and he felt his lungs were burning. Great drops of sweat broke out from his forehead and fell into his eyes, burning like h.e.l.l. The next second the sweat was washed out by icy water, so he could see a lit clearly.

The higher he arrived, the slower he climbed. He lowered his body as close to the bottom as possible with an effort to decrease the impact of the current, so he was basically immersed in the water. He used both his hands and feet to grasp the rocks and ledges at the bottom, trying his best not to fall. The clothes wrapped his knees and elbows were soon worn out, and bare skin was quickly cut by the ice in the water and rocks at the bottom. Blood spilled out from the cuts was soon washed clean by the icy water.

The other teenagers also struggled. Climbing the 200-meter long channel was as difficult as touching the sky. Cutting wounds increased with the pa.s.sage of every second, and blood added red to the water.

The Dao Seeking Fall looked like an evil blood river from the distance, while the teenagers were like small fishes swimming against the current, miserable yet horrifying.

Even the several cultivators of Luoyun Valley couldn’t help but reveal complicated looks.

“One hour till the end!”

The cultivator responsible for timing shouted. His voice, amplified by his true force, spread all over the mountain. Several strong teenagers were not far from the top then, but the current became more torrential and the small pieces of ice grew to big ones.

All of a sudden, a crushed ice crashed on the forehead of one of the teenagers and blood spurted out at once. He lost his balance and was washed down by the current.

At the same time, the cultivator in charge of safety flew to the channel and took the boy safe to the bottom of the slope.

Elder Hu shot a emotionless glance at the boy and instructed, “Treat his injuries and send him home after he recovers.”

The boy, whose head was covered with blood, pleaded in a weak voice. “Immortal, please give me another chance. I beg you. I was so close.

“I am telling you the truth. I was just one way from the top. Why can’t you give me one more chance? Why?” The boy’s mind collapsed and burst into a rage of tears.

Elder Hu furrowed his brows, and snapped, “Cultivator requires both talent and opportunity! When the crushed ice hit you, you have lost your opportunity. Demanding is useless. Now leave us!”

A cultivator bowed in a respectful way, held the boy in his arms and fly away.

Seeing what had happened, the teenagers who were still struggling got despaired.

“Aa, I’ve run out of time!”

“Half of the distance has already taken me 3 hours, and the current runs faster and its temperature gets lower with every stop up, I think I’d better give up!”

“Forget about it. I am done. I am so tired!”

One by one, the teenagers cried in despair. They all stopped climbing, just holding tightly to the rocks, waiting.

All these whispers were heard by Shiao Chen, but he did not listen. At this moment his mind had long been disintegrated, yet he was still moving up bit by bit when others had all given up, all for the sake of his unyielding will.

His palms, elbows and knees were all badly mutilated. His face, arms and chest were covered with numerous wounds made by ice. However, neither the torrential cold water nor the sharp pain all over his body could stop him, not even the despairing wailing of other candidates.

He had only one belief in his heart. Keep climbing. Keep moving. Never stop!

Nothing could stop him. He must succeed. He must make his parents proud. No one should look down upon them any longer.

He must succeed. He had to!

Chapter 5: Master Alchemy Taoist

“Hey! You fool. There’s no way we could pa.s.s the test. Why don’t you stop?”

“Bro, have some rest. Don’t struggle any more. It’s useless.”

“Do you want to die? If you do not quit now, it will cost your limbs and even your life!”

The other candidates came to notice Shiao Chen, a weak weirdo who kept moving and caught up to those who had given up one by one in spite of all the difficulties. The sneer that had crept upon their lips was gradually replaced with admiration.

The words came out of their mouths, no matter what, had little effect on Shiao Chen. He just looked down on the channel and climbed up inch by inch, emotionless.

“Oh! I win! I pa.s.s the test!” A surprising shout was heard from the finishing line. The victory belonged to a robust boy. He straightened up from the channel, proud of himself, even though the icy water had turned his wounds to black and purple.

Right now, Shiao Chen had just covered more than half of the distance. The faster current, the colder water and the bigger pieces of ice made him as slow as possible, but he showed little sign of flinching, just like a little junk struggling in the sea which could always get to the sh.o.r.e safe no matter how raging the sea was.

Every other while since then a surprising shout would give out on the top, and every one of them were either in good physical fitness or had learnt Ku Fu before. The Dao Seeking Fall may badly injure them, yet was not difficult enough to stop them from reaching the end line.

Shiao Chen, comparing to them, was like a tiny little loach trapped in a muddle. No matter how hard he tried, he would still embarra.s.s himself.

Yet at some point, he had attracted enough attention with admiration from both the candidates who had quit the test halfway and the winners.

“Time is up!” The cultivator in charge of timing at the bottom of the slope gave out a shout, sighing secretly.

“Finally it’s over!”

“What a pity! He tried so hard, yet he still failed.”

“I have told him it’s useless, but he would not listen. In the end he is no better than us.”

“He is the most persistent guy I have ever met. The failure today will certainly not stop him from get successful in the future.”

Both the winners and those who failed felt great relief and a bit of sorry for Shiao Chen when they heard that the test was over. They all wondered would he ever climb to the top if he was given more time.

But time was up and the test was finished.

“Go get them down from the channel. Take those who pa.s.sed the test to the Chief Steward of the lay disciples and send those who failed back to their rooms and later back to their homes in 15 days.” Elder Hu frowned, showing a bit of impatience. He had been preparing to break through to the next level these days, so he had no intention to waste more time on those candidates who failed two tests.

“Aye!” More than 10 cultivators summoned their flying swords and flew to get those teenagers who were still in the channel. Soon only one figure was still climbing towards the top inch by inch.

“Elder Hu, what do we do now?” One of the cultivators hesitated and landed to ask for instructions.

“Hum! No need to ask me. The test is over. Do you expect me to waste my time here? Get him back and treat his injuries. We don’t want any trouble if he get disabled because of this.” Elder Hu got more impatient, waving his hand irritably.

“Aye!” The cultivator dared not to disobey, so he got on his sword and was about to fly.

“Wait!” At this moment, a laugh came near from afar.

In the meanwhile, a green light came across the sky and stopped at the bottom of the slope. When the light disappeared, Elder Hu was surprised to find Alchemy Taoist standing there. He asked in a respectful tone of voice. “Senior, what brings you here?”

Alchemy Taoist, the fifth disciple of the last Chief Master whose cultivation reached the Complete Phase of the Foundation Establishment and a third-cla.s.s alchemist as well, held a far more important position than Elder Hu in Luoyun Valley, so the latter looked cautious and respectful even a bit of ingratiating in the face of the former.

“Uncle Master!” The other disciples greeted Alchemy Taoist with respectful bows.

Alchemy Taoist waved his hands and smiled. “He is persistent. I am intrigued to find out if he can climb to the top or not.”

“Senior, if that’s what you want, I’ll give an order not to interrupt him.” Elder Hu smiled as well. He was only an Elder in the Valley. How could he dare to reject such a small request from Alchemy Taoist, who was not only a good alchemist but also was likely to upgrade to the Gold Core in the future.

Thus a weird scene appeared before the Dao Seeking Fall, where dozens of cultivators stood and watched a boy climbing against the icy water inch by inch.

The higher he got, the slower he climbed. Cutting wounds covered all over his body and some of them swelled due to blood lost and cold water.

Admiration flashed across Alchemy Taoist’s eyes. Shiao Chen’s tenacity and strong will would have made him a rare talent for cultivation. What a pity that he had no spiritual root at all.

6 hours had pa.s.sed, and darkness fell in the valley. Now Shiao Chen was only one step from success.

Finally, a b.l.o.o.d.y hand reached at the end line and grasped a rock, trying to pull its owner up. Slowly he got to his feet and straightened up in the astonishing eyes of all the audience. He stood at the top of the channel, swaying back and forth, as if a breeze could blow him down.

He opened his eyes, trying to force a smile on his face, but all of a sudden he fell backward. The unyielding will that had supported him all the way to the last vanished when he finally stood at the top, and his strength diminished along with it.

A gentle force held up his body before he fell to the ground. Alchemy Taoist had come to his side at some point. He looked at the boy with a faint smile on his face, frowning.

“You have the will and determination for cultivation, unfortunately not the spiritual root! Luckily you have met me! I will keep you by my side, and your future lies in your own hands.

“Elder Hu, I will take him in as a nominal disciple. Please send his jade ID tablet to my residence.” After this, Alchemy Taoist flew away like a beam of light, leaving the other teenagers full of admiration.

……

Herb Valley, Alchemy Taoist’s residence, was an important place in Luoyun Valley because its owner was not only a powerful cultivator who had great hope to level up to the Gold Core but also a third-cla.s.s alchemist.

It was several kilometers long, planted with countless rare spiritual herbs which gave off strong fragrance. In one of a dozen stone rooms, a young lay on the bed with his brows furrowed.

“Did I pa.s.s the test or not? Where is this place?” Shiao Chen opened his eyes and examined the room with great care.

It was a small room, clean and simply decorated. Sunlight spread through the window and shone on an unknown green plant.

He remembered he had been climbing the Dao Seeking Fall but not a clue what had happened next. It seemed he had pa.s.sed out.

Then did he pa.s.s the test?

At that moment, the door was pushed open from outside and a pretty figure walked in.

She had an exceptional face with curved brows, a high nose and a small mouth, n.o.ble and otherworldly. Her skin was white and smooth, and her black hair curtaining to her waist, elegant and graceful.

She was Ji Yuewu!

She froze a bit when she saw Shiao Chen was awake, but soon she regained her calmness and said plainly. “Master has left an order that you drink this bowl of medicine when you wake up and then find him in the Herb Valley.” She put down the bowl and turned away.

Her eyes had never looked at Shiao Chen through the whole length.

He did not notice her indifference toward him. Even if he had, he would not take it personal. She was a gifted talent with a spiritual root beyond compare, and naturally she would be more proud than others. Besides, he was anxious about his own fate right now. It appeared he had pa.s.sed the test, or how to explain a direct disciple was asked to bring him medicine? Still he was restless before anything was certain.

He gulped down the medicine, stretched a bit and then walked out of the room. He noticed that he seemed to be stronger and full of energy that would never ran out. He gave a thought about it and concluded that no need to be so surprised since Luoyun Valley was such a prestigious school.

Anxiously he walked through the yard and felt the jealous stares from the lay disciples taking care of the herbs. When he caught a sight of the figure not far way, he stopped and kneeled with respect and caution. “Immortal, Shiao Chen is here to thank you for your grace of rebirth!” Though he had been out of consciousness that day, he remembered how badly he had been injured. Now he was completely recovered, it was not hard to guess who treated him.

Alchemy Taoist turned his head and smiled. With a basket full of herbs on his back and soil on his hands, he was no different than an ordinary old man who was picking herbs in the mortal world.

Yet Shiao Chen’s respect for him did not lessened.

“Rise to your feet, young boy. I take you have accept me as your master. This is your jade ID tablet. From now one you will be a nominal disciple of mine.” Alchemy Taoist put the tablet on Shiao Chen’s hands, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for this young boy, who unfortunately had no spiritual root or else would be a perfect candidate to inherit his legacy.

As haughty as him, if he had not moved by his unyielding will and determination, he would never have taken a disciple with no spiritual root.

Chapter 6: Cultivation World

“Oh…” Shiao Chen was in a trance when hearing it, then rejoiced with wild excitement, kowtowing ceaselessly and saying, “Thanks, Master, thanks a lot.”

Finally, he was collected by Luoyun Valley, so all his father had suffered was not in vain. In the future he would make his parents be proud of him and no one could ever humiliate them any more.

Shiao Lin, the patriarch Shiao Wenting’s son, was the nominal disciple of Master Hu, and Shiao Chen was the nominal disciple of Master Alchemy Taoist whose ident.i.ty was unsure. However, judging from the presence Master Alchemy Taoist owned, he should be superior to Master Hu at Luoyun Valley.

“Alright. You have slept for one day, now go back to your room. I’ve asked your senior sister disciple to send you some jade sheets which recorded the common sense of the cultivation world. Read them first and come to find me a few days later.” Then Master Alchemy Taoist waved his hands and turned around to fiddle with his herbs.

Shiao Chen saluted politely and then couldn’t wait to go back. Cultivation world! Here he came!

Three jade sheets were lying on the table when he returned to his room. However, the senior sister disciple, Ji Yuewu, was not there. Caring nothing about it, Shiao Chen picked up one of the sheets and attached it to his forehead when numerous contents appeared automatically in his mind.

Six hours later, Shiao Chen put down the jade sheet while kneading his head, with eyes full of astonishment.

Cultivation world! This was indeed the cultivation world.

Divided into eight realms, there were Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Gold Core, Nascent Soul, None Descending, Super Combination, Immortal Turning and Mastery in the cultivation world. Anyone who could reach the last realm would be immortal and live eternally like Heaven and Earth.

Each realm would then include early, middle, late and complete stages. But the gap in power among the four stages could be insurmountable, especially for the stage of complete.

When reaching the realm of Gold Core and going through a Heavenly Tribulation, one’s cultivation would be booming and he could live for five hundred years, but if he failed, he would become ashes and vanish from the world forever.

At the realm of Nascent Soul, one needed to experience 27 Heavenly Tribulations. If he succeeded, he would be the master in Nascent Soul and live as long as one thousand years, or he would perish.

Then if entering the realm of None Descending after Nascent Soul, which was the highest realm in the cultivation world recorded, one had to break through to the Spiritual World to get further improvement. However, to get to the Spiritual World, he must pa.s.s the thunderclap disaster, or he would be doomed to die.

Above the None Descending Realm, there were no more records. However, what he learnt already shocked him, making his whole back soaked in cold sweat. The path of cultivation was indeed arduous, what’s worse, one could easily lose his life with any carelessness. But the tyrannical power a cultivator could attain lured Shiao Chen more. Unfortunately, without spiritual root, all these seemed irrelevant to him.

After he calmed down, he picked up the second jade sheet.

Things like images, functions and collecting methods of countless spiritual herbs were recorded in it. With a glance of it, there were more than ten thousand types, so after scanning a while, Shiao Chen put it down. He couldn’t remember all of it overnight, thus decided to learn it carefully when he had more time.

The color of the last jade sheet was a bit different from that of the other two. When he held it in his hand, a 1000-word article showed up in his mind, with the name of Tricks of Plants Refining.

Below it were some small characters that read, “Shiao Chen, my disciple, born without spiritual root doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate at all, but you will do it very slowly. The Tricks of Plants Refining isn’t a precious manual, however, it requires little of cultivation talent. Now I give it to you, hoping you can practice a.s.siduously and never give up.”

It was really good news for Shiao Chen who was now excited and kept focusing on reading.

“During the formation of the universe, the Heaven and Earth appeared, with five elements namely gold, wood, water, fire and earth…”

Though Tricks of Plants Refining was a basic cultivation manual, the methods of cultivation it recorded were really obscure to understand for Shiao Chen at the first sight. However, he perceived there were some implicit Taoism laws behind it.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already dark outside. Looking exhausted, there was a touch of excitement on his face too. He finally remembered the manual in the heart hours after. Though there was still something vague to understand, he had done his best.

For the most time of the next few days, Shiao Chen kept digging into the Tricks of Plants Refining at his room. At other times, he just took a walk and got to know a few outside disciples accidentally.

After understanding all the contents of Tricks of Plants Refining, Shiao Chen decided to begin his cultivation.

Taking a deep breath, Shiao Chen sat on the bed crossing his legs and began to absorb the spirit in the universe using the way recorded on the manual.

Two hours, four hours, six hours…

Sitting cross-legged for the whole six hours, Shiao Chen could hardly feel his legs. What discouraged him more was the fact that he hadn’t perceived the spirit mentioned in the Tricks of Plants Refining. It was said the manual was easy with low cultivation requirement and beginners could sense the spirit and absorb it within an hour. However, why didn’t it work to him?

Spiritual root – that must be the cause.

Feeling bitter in the heart, Shiao Chen realized without a spiritual root, he may need to double the work on the road of cultivation. However, he had determined that if it wouldn’t work with six hours, then he would try twelve hours, or even twenty-four hours. He wouldn’t accept that he couldn’t cultivate.

Forgetting about the time unconsciously, Shiao Chen suddenly felt something like light spots suspending around him. However, when he tried to see them through, everything became too vague.

The Tricks of Plants Refining was still running in his body while the floating light spots flied towards him slowly, which turned into a fresh and clear breath and integrated into his body.

“Hm?” Surprised by the cool breath, Shiao Chen withdrew from the fantastic feeling. Opening his eyes and finding he was still in the empty room, Shiao Chen was delighted secretly to perceive the cool breath like tiny silk in the body.

“Is this the spiritual power cultivators owned?” Collecting his mind and forcing himself to calm down, Shiao Chen felt those floating spots again after a while. Without neglect, he performed the Tricks of Plant Refining and absorbed those light spots gradually. With one more light spot, he could feel the cool breath from his genuine energy increased, so did its volume.

Chapter 7: Yellow Talisman

"Hu!" Exhaling a mouthful of foul air gradually, Shiao Chen opened his eyes while trying to hold back his smile. He could feel a strand of true force thin as hair was travelling along his meridians! Without sleeping for the whole night, he still felt vigorous and the numbness of the legs was relieved by the magical true force which though small, had encouraged him a lot.

It was the first step that cost troublesome. After feeling the existence of the nimbus, Shiao Chen was immersed in meditation crazily besides having meals. Though things ticked over, the nimbus within his body was enlarged bit by bit.

Like usual, Shiao Chen revolved the nimbus around his body for a circle before opening his eyes. Then an akustisch talisman emerged out of the void in his room and blazed up, coming out the voice of Alchemy Taoist, "Shiao Chen, come to my room now."

A touch of admiration appeared in Shiao Chen's eyes, because only at the Foundation Establishment Realm could one use this kind of talisman. After greeting a few acquaintances along the way, he rushed to his Master's room without delay.

"Master, I'm here to see you." Shiao Chen spoke with great respect outside Alchemy Taoist's room.

"Just come in." Alchemy Taoist answered mildly.

Pushing the door open and walking into the room, Shiao Chen found his Master sitting cross-legged on the cattail ha.s.sock with his eyes closed. However, there was an intangible majesty coming out of him, which awed Shiao Chen and made him a little nervous while standing by.

Disclosing his eyes and looking at Shiao Chen, a flicker of surprise flashed by in Alchemy Taoist's eyes. He then inquired, "Have you gained anything from the practice of the Tricks of Plants Refining these days?"

Hearing this, Shiao Chen was a little embarra.s.sed and whispered, "Sorry Master, stupid and without any spiritual root, I could only manage to perceive the nimbus outside and absorb some into the body with a dozen days' cultivation."

Nodding to show he got it and looking at Shiao Chen again, Alchemy Taoist sighed in the heart. Understanding the Tricks of Plants Refining and forming a wisp of true force within such a short period indicated Shiao Chen's ability of comprehension was excellent. However, it was really a pity for there wasn’t any spiritual root in him. He became a little anxious with the thought of it, so he waved and said, "This is your ID token. Take it and register at the lay affairs department. Then collect two Wind Walking Talismans and go home with your senior brothers. Remember, return within five days or you will be punished based on the disciplines."

Shiao Chen nearly couldn't control his excitement while hearing it. He took over the ID token gingerly and then turned around to leave.

"How’s father doing? Is he bullied by the Shiao Family?" With worries in the heart, Shiao Chen lowered his head and trotted down the road. When a patch of white clothes came into his eyes at the corner, Shiao Chen was a little surprised and hurried to get out of the way. However, the white shadow reacted fast and went a few steps back agilely, with an angry face.

"Oh, sister." Seeing it was Ji Yuewu, Shiao Chen was a little embarra.s.sed. Just now he was too hurried to notice anyone. However, when they ran into each other, he seemed to have touched something soft while lowering his head. Seeing Ji Yuewu in anger with a red face, Shiao Chen set his eyes on her bosom.

"Hum!" Seeing the boy's eyes were wandering about on her, Ji Yuewu became more irritated and then snorted.

"Ah, I'm so sorry, sister. Master told me to do the registration and go home with senior brothers just now. Then I was just thinking about my family and acted a little abruptly. Please forgive me if I offended you unwittingly." Being aware of his impoliteness, Shiao Chen stepped back and apologized.

"Never mind." Hearing this, Ji Yuewu changed her expression a little, though still cold.

"Em…thank you. Then please allow me to leave now." Smiling embarra.s.sedly, Shiao Chen ran away after saying it.

Not until a long while later, did Shiao Chen got a bit relieved. Thinking of the mistake a moment ago, he felt bitter in the heart. If he offended Ji Yuewu who was a cultivator with excellent spiritual root just now, could he sleep tight at night from now on? However, judging from Ji's expression, things couldn't be that bad, right? Shiao Chen comforted himself while going straight to the lay affairs department.

On the way, he met many lay disciples who worked busily in order to spare more time for cultivation, so that they could become a direct disciple of the sect one day.

"Is brother Liu here? Shiao Chen wants to see you." Liu Tao who was in charge of the lay affairs department had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining Realm. His cultivation ranked in the top three among all lay disciples which granted him this position.

Although nominal disciples were superior to lay disciples in status, Shiao Chen acted humbly when facing Liu Tao since he knew he was far behind Liu Tao.

"Shiao Chen? Oh, you are a disciple of the fifth master Yao Daozi in Herb Valley. Please come in." While speaking, an enthusiastic man around 30 years old came out.

"h.e.l.lo, senior brother," Shiao Chen saluted.

"No, no, you are now a disciple of the fifth master, your cultivation will surely soar up in the future, then how can I be your senior brother? If you don't mind, just call me Liu Tao." Looking affectionate, Liu Tao invited Shiao Chen to his room.

"Is there anything I can help you today? Just tell me and I will do my best." Liu Tao inquired while patting his chest. In a few words, they seemed to have known each other for many years with intimate relationship.

" Brother, you are so kind. I just come here to record my first return home with other senior brothers. After all, if I miss this chance, I will have to wait for another year to go home." Shiao Chen understood Liu Tao's enthusiasm was built upon his Master Yao Daozi' renown, so he kept acting modestly without any arrogance.

Liu Tao praised Shiao Chen in the heart. If he was indeed an uppity boy, Liu would look down upon him with apparent reverence. However, seeing Shiao Chen act so politely, he'd like to fawn on him and get along well with him. After all, Yao Daozi supplied the medical pills and elixirs for the whole Luoyun Valley. If he kept well connection with his disciples, he would benefit from it someday.

"Haha, so it is. No problem. Then how long do you need? I can give you at most 10 days."

"Not that long. I just need five days as my Master has requested it. Brother, please do me another favor and give me two Wind Walking Talismans for coming back." Waving his hands, Shiao Chen answered with smile.

"No problem. Please wait a second." Liu Tao replied quickly and went into his bedroom then. Soon he went back with five yellow talismans on his hands which should be the Wind Walking Talismans.

"I'm not sure how far it is from your home to our valley, so I prepare three more than you have asked. With one Wind Walking Talisman on the leg, you can walk one hundred kilometers, so these should be enough for your return." Saying this, Liu Tao foisted the five Wind Walking Talismans on Shiao Chen’s hands and then brought out another talisman from his chest, "This is a first level Fireball Talisman which can be used for ten times. You can launch it with little spiritual energy. Every fireball contains the power of an attack at the fifth level of Qi Refining Realm. Take it as a gift for our first meeting to defend yourself in case of any risks and dangers on the way." Though Liu Tao said it easily, there was distressed feeling behind it. Obviously, the Fireball Talisman was also precious to him.

"No, no, no, this is too much." Shiao Chen refused that immediately with his face changing.

"Please, I insist. It’ll be much appreciated if you remember it and give me a hand when you can in the future. You're despising me if you don’t take it." Liu Tao said it pretending to be unhappy.

Hearing this, Shiao Chen wore a wry smile. It seemed his Master really enjoyed a high position in the Luoyun Valley, or how could a senior brother with cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining Realm act so humbly in front of him? Looking at the exquisite and complicated talisman in his hands, Shiao Chen could feel the obscure and terrifying energy undulation within it.

Collecting the talismans into his storing bag, Shiao Chen saluted to express his grat.i.tude.

Then Shiao Chen left and rushed towards the valley where they were tested for spiritual roots, finding more than ten disciples having waited there.

"Sorry, brothers. Please forgive me.I had something to deal with just now." Shiao Chen walked towards them and apologized sincerely.

"Ho ho, it doesn't matter. We just got here a few minutes ago. Now you are here, let's set off." The head of the disciples waved his hands after hearing it and then continued, "I came here four years earlier than you did, if you don't mind, just call me senior brother w.a.n.g. I'll be sending you back home later, is it ok?"

"All right, thank you a lot, senior brother w.a.n.g." Shiao Chen answered with a smile, feeling inured to the unusual respect he got because of his Master.

Meanwhile, the candidates who didn't pa.s.s the test stared at Shiao Chen with jealousy. They were all treated the same before the test, however, now Shiao Chen could talk with the divine envoys freely. For the ten teenagers from the Shiao Family, they were full of more complicated and mixed feelings seeing Shiao Chen talk with senior brother w.a.n.g happily.

Shiao Lin, at the same time, clenched his hands tightly. Although they were both nominal disciples in Luoyun Valley, the status of their masters varied a lot. He never thought he, the heir of the family, would be inferior to Shiao Chen. However, he dared not show any discontent on the face though no matter how much he hated Shiao Chen inwardly. A presentiment emerged in his heart that there would be a huge transformation in the family with Shiao Chen's rise.

Chapter 8: Return Home

Standing on the huge sword calmly, Shiao Chen felt pleased seeing the ingratiating expression on the faces of other boys in the Shiao Family.

"Go!" Senior brother Liu and other disciples shouted together, making the sword soar up into the sky and then fly quickly far away.

Squinting at the fleeting mountains and rivers under him, Shiao Chen swore secretly in the heart that he would become a strong and omnipotent cultivator who could go into heaven and earth as he'd like to someday.

Shiao Town, Shiao Family.

As usual, after half a month, the candidates of each family would be sent back home no matter they pa.s.sed the Test or not.

At the Shiao's mansion, Shiao Wenting sat at the prominent seat with a steady face, though a little uneasy at heart. He wasn't sure whether the Iron Essence that he got by chance could help Shiao Lin get accepted by Luoyun Valley or not. Scanning around the others in the hall and setting his eyes on Shiao Wenshan at the corner, Shiao Wenting sneered coldly. Whatever, his son's chance to be a cultivator was the greatest among all. If he failed, no one would ever succeed. Shiao Chen, in particular, would never be chosen by the immortals with that weak physique.

"When will they come back? My son Shiao Li has some foundation of internal force, will he be favored by the immortals?" The sixth master of the family walked anxiously while murmuring.

"Haha, it's really hard to tell. The immortals will choose the ones with spiritual root. Without it, even the leader of martial arts will be disdained," another master with fair and clear face laughed.

"The daughter of our second brother is smart since young. Bright and beautiful, she must own the so called spiritual root and be chosen by Luoyun Valley."

"The son of the seventh brother is also great with tall and strong figure, and there should be a great chance for him to be chosen."

"In my opinion, only Shiao Lin stands a good chance to be a disciple. He has always been the best one in this generation. If there's a chance, it should fall on him."

"Yeah, yeah, I agree with you."

"If Shiao Lin got chosen by Luoyun Valley and became a cultivator, the status of our family will definitely rise."

"Aye, how dare the Wu Family swagger around in front of us when we get a cultivator in our Family? With a fireball, Shiao Lin will kill all of them."

Hearing the discussion below, Shiao Wenting was happy and inflatable, but he said humbly, "All our children are excellent and have the chance to be chosen."

"Patriarch's right. However, there is one person here who actually doesn't belong to our family. He was expelled by our master's mother when she was alive, and swore not to step into this family ever again. But now he stands here and begs our master shamelessly to send his son to attend the Test of Entering Divine Gate. Hm, even our master has promised him, how can his son be chosen by the immortals of Luoyun Valley? Think about that thin body of his which could easily be blown down by wind. He will definitely die young." Shiao Wenbin took a glance at Shiao Wenshan, sneered coldly with undisguised satire.

"That’s right. Patriarch, I think maybe you are wrong to let Shiao Chen attend the Test. He will just bring shame to this family."

"They were expelled by our master's mother long ago and didn't belong here. Patriarch, you did them a favor this time, but I do suggest setting a boundary with them. With fame and prestige, how can we let some shameless people step into this family?"

"Enough! I already apologized in front of you. What do you want? Honestly, I will never walk into your door even I die if not for earning a chance for my son to stand out in the future." Shiao Wenshan yelled out with a sullen face.

Shiao Wenbin rolled his eyes and said with sarcasm, "Yo, look someone’s showing off now. You are not invited here and if don't want to stay here, just leave! This is our family’s mansion, how dare you act presumptuously here?"

"Shut up. When father was still alive, he intended to appoint me as the next patriarch. It was all of you here, who ganged up on my mother and me. Answer me with your conscientiousness, who on earth will be at that seat of honor if you didn’t use all those low-leveled tricks?" Shiao Wenshan reproached with his eyes fixed on Shiao Wenbin.

"Enough!" Shiao Wenting interrupted him with a gloomy face. He knew everything well since his mother had plotted everything. "Shiao Wenshan, never challenge me here. Now get out of here, or you will pay the price."

"Get out of here? Haha, how can you say this? If not because of your dirty dogs, I will be the one sitting on your place now!" With the destiny of his son settled, Shiao Wenshan felt unenc.u.mbered. Turning prideful like before, he sneered and cursed out of rage.

"The first and second hidden guards, do your work and kick him out of here. Shiao Wenshan, rest a.s.sured, when your son's back, he will be treated just like you. Never show up in front of me again." Shiao Wenting stared at Shiao Wenshan arrogantly, like looking at a nonent.i.ty with an apathetic face.

"Yes, patriarch."

Two middle-aged men standing behind Shiao Wenting fleered and flew to Shiao Wenshan immediately.

The hidden guard was the most powerful force of the Shiao Family. As leaders, the first and second hidden guards' Kung Fu was transcendent, so the power within one move was impressive.

Although Shiao Wenshan's Kung Fu was beyond average, with a fractured arm, he was no match for these two strong opponents. Soon enough, he was slapped on the chest, spitting blood and then fell to the ground.

The hidden guards sneered and were about to catch Shiao Wenshan when a harsh noise came through the air.

Chuu!

Shiao Wenting's expression changed suddenly and then he waved his hands and commanded, "Just catch him and keep an eye on him. Don’t offend the immortals." Then he sorted out his clothes and ran towards the immortals with other masters.

"Shiao Chen, is this your home? It's really majestic. No wonder you are so excellent." Senior brother Liu got familiar with Shiao Chen on the way, so he sounded quite friendly now.

Shiao Chen smiled without response when hearing it while the others' faces, especially Shiao Lin’s, turned red immediately.

Glancing around the hall, Shiao Chen frowned when he couldn’t find his father, which gave him a bad feeling.

"Thank you so much for sending our children back. Please come in and take a rest before leaving." With a humble smile, Shiao Wenting played up to the immortals.

"Ho ho, if you insist. Thank you." senior brother Liu replied, smiling gently.

Chapter 9: The Unexpected Kill

Shiao Wenting was a bit of lost. The Immortal was amiable and different than the others he had met before, suggesting something good must have happened. So he hastened to lead the way to the great hall.

“Master Shiao, this time in total two candidates from you family have been selected by Luoyun Valley, and a promising future waits for you. Congratulations.” In the great hall, Brother Liu shot a glance at Shiao Chen, who was a disciple of the late Chief Master’s fifth disciple and the very reason why he played nice with his family members. Even a lay disciple of Luoyun Valley could not be estimated.

“What! Immortal, did you just say…two of our boys and girls pa.s.sed the Test?” Shiao Wenting asked in disbelief, ravished with joy.

Brother Liu seemed not surprised at all. He nodded with a smile on his face. “Exactly.”

All the family members looked pleasantly surprised. The heads of each house kept looking at their own sons and daughters, and expectation was all over their faces. 300 years had pa.s.sed and no one in their family had been born with a spiritual root, so none of them had ever expected that two candidates would have been picked on this time. How could they conceal their excitement? If it happened to be their own blood that got lucky, their won houses would also rise in the whole family, even they themselves would be qualified to become the Master.

Shiao Wenting stared at his son, Shiao Lin, short of breath for a moment. Slowly he asked, “Lin, have you……been chosen?”

The attention coming from Shiao Lin’s uncles produced a sense of superiority in his heart, so he nodded with a bit of complacency.

“Great! Haha, that’s my boy!”Shiao Wenting repeatedly praised, and his face was reddened with excitement.

High compliments were also given by the heads of other houses, who were both jealous and eager to find out that who was the other person favored by luck.

Shiao Wenting understood the anxious stare fell on him, so he calmed himself a little and gave a gentle cough. “Lin, then who was the other one? The daughter of your second uncle or the son of your third uncle?”

The question immediately dispersed the complacency on his son’s face who was too embarra.s.sed to make a sound.

A bad feeling welled up in his heart, but he could not figure it out in such a short time.

So he swept the crowd and then fixed his eyes on Shiao Chen. He snapped, “Shiao Chen, you tell us. Who was the other one chosen?”

Shiao Chen darted a cold glance at him with no intent to answer.

His calm and coldness made Brother Liu who had several guesses of what was going on lift his brow and look at others in a weird way.

Such reaction was not expected from Shiao Chen. It aggregated Shiao Wenting. He was trembling with rage, and his face turned red.

“Shiao Chen, having attended the Test of Entering Divine Gate does not grant you any right to defy me! Don’t forget who you are. How dare you stand next to the Immortal? Now get out of here and never let me see you again!”

Shiao Chen raised his head to examine the angry face. The corners of his mouth were quirked up, showing his scorning. He was no longer the country boy who could not fight back under humiliation three days ago. He was a cultivator of Luoyun Valley now, and his master had achieved the Late State of the Foundation Establishment. He had absolute confidence in himself when he stood in the great hall of Shiao’s again.

“Where is my father? Why is he not here?” He slightly felt uneasy. His father, who would never miss such an occasion, had not shown up this whole time.

“Hum! You are as disgusting as your father. Guards, take his father here and let them reunite!” Seeing that he was still ignored, Shiao Wenting got more furious, but then he sneered. He had numerous opportunities and ways to teach this father and son a good lesson after today!

Two guards came into the great hall as ordered with an injured old man between them.

The old man was Shiao Chen’s father, who had an extremely weary and pale face with drops of dried blood on corners of his mouth. His left arm, which had been dislocated once, was twisted in a peculiar angle, clearly it was broken again.

“Kid, take your old man home quickly. If he dies, don’t blame us for not warning you.” One of the guards said to him with a grim smile while they threw the old man on the floor.

“Father!” Shiao Chen froze for a moment before he rushed to his father. Red covered his eyes instantly and anguish-motivated killing surged in his heart.

“Ahem. Don’t worry. I am fine. These scratches won’t kill me. Some rest will cure them.” The old man forced a smile, afraid that his son would do something stupid under rage. Provoking the Shiao family right now would only bring them more insults.

“Father, they hurt you, didn’t they?” All of a sudden, Shiao Chen regained his calmness. The red in his eyes faded, instead chill acc.u.mulated.

“Chen, stay calm. Let’s get out of here at once!” The old man knew his own son, who must have boiled with anger. He was terrified that his son would act out, so he struggled, trying to stand up.

Shiao Chen led his father to sit on a chair and said in a gentle voice, “Father, don’t worry about me. I have grown up and I can protect you now. I will never allow anyone to humiliate you from now on.” Then he stood up and fixed his icy cold eyes on the two guards.

“Brother Shiao, do you need me to take care of this for you?” Brother Liu asked. His face turned pretty dark. Shiao Chen was a member of Luoyun Valley now, yet his father had been badly injured by two mortals. It was a great disrespect to Luoyun Valley. Besides, Shiao Chen was a nominal disciple of Alchemy Taoist and it was said he was highly favored by his master and likely to achieve huge success. Offering a small favor right now might greatly benefit him in the future.

“Thanks. I will do it by my own.” Shiao Chen shook his head. As a son, he must make those who had insulted his father pay for their crimes tens or hundreds of times.

“What! The other one is him!!” When he heard how the Immortal addressed Shiao Chen, Shiao Wenting was stunned. He couldn’t help but give out a scream in disbelief.

Shiao Chen’s father, on the other hand, was full of pleasant surprise.

But the two guards were both struck by panic.

“Run!” They both dashed backwards at the same time. Though their opponent was a cultivator, he had just started and should have not learnt any skills, so they should have the chance to escape. Once they succeeded, they would change their names and conceal their ident.i.ties. Who could find them then?

Shiao Chen sneered. After the two guards ran for more than 10 meters, he took a piece of yellow paper that was depicted with numerous lines and sending out waves of energy from his storage bag. It was the Fireball Talisman that Liu Tao had given to him.

He held the Sign in his hand and injected a weak wasp of Spiritual Qi into it. Immediately he got weaker, but the lines on the Sign brightened and two dark red fire b.a.l.l.s as big as two fists emerged and rushed directly at the two guards.

“Ah!”

“Ah!”

Two sounds of cry rang in the great hall and then abruptly stopped. The two guards stood no chance under the attack of the fire b.a.l.l.s and was burnt into ashes in a blink of eyes.

The attack exhausted the little Spiritual Qi in Shiao Chen’s body, yet it intimidated all the people around, including Brother Liu. The latter decided to make a good friend of Shiao Chen who must have been valued much by Alchemy Taoist if he could have a Sign and produce some Spiritual Qi only a few days in Luoyun Valley.

With the Spiritual Qi ran out, Shiao Chen looked like a fragile boy again, but the eyes fell on him were full of respect and fear.

“Father, tell me, who asked them to beat you?” Though he still remained calm, he frightened others after he killed the two guards without hesitation.

He locked his eyes on Shiao Wenting whose face turned as pale as death in an instant.

“Lin, come and save me. You are also a cultivator now. You must be able to help me!” Shiao Wenting looked at his son and calmed a little bit. His son also became a disciple in Luoyun Valley as Shiao Chen. Was he not able to protect him?

Shiao Lin’s face turned white all at once. Though he was taken in by Luoyun Valley, he was not so lucky. His master had only met him once in the past half of a month and had not taught him anything, how was he able to fight Shiao Chen?

As Shiao Chen approached step by step, Shiao Wenting was shocked with fury, even Shiao Lin kept to walk back.

“Chen, that man was my elder brother. You shall not do things that are hated by both man and G.o.d.” Shiao Chen’s father stepped in.

Shiao Wenting continued as if he grasped a life-saveing straw. “That’s right. Shiao Chen, I am your uncle. Though I did something wrong in the past, I never thought of killing you. How can you treat me like this? I am……”

Chapter 10: Glorious Return

A cold glance darted at Shiao Wenting and made him so frightened that he dared not to finish his sentence. “Father, this man had always treated us like trash, and he even asked his dogs to hurt you today. Why do you still want to protect him?

“Chen, don’t you listen to me now that you are an Immortal? I forbid you to touch your uncle!” Shiao Chen’s father yelled at him.

“Fine. I will spare you for the sake of my father. If this happens again, you are a dead man!”

Then he returned to his father. “Why are you still standing there? Take my father to the room and treat his injuries.”

The family members took actions all at once. They did not only offer the best yard for his father to stay but also sent for the best doctor in Shiao Town.

“Brother Shiao, I suppose you will stay at home for a few more days. I have orders so I can’t stay here too long.” After they were left alone, Brother Liu opened his mouth. “This is a Blood-activating and Stasis-eliminating Pill, nothing special. Please attend your father to take it. Then he will recover in one or two days.

Shiao Chen received it after he gave it a thought. He cupped one hand in another and said, “Thank you for your kindness. If you ever need any help after today, I will never refuse as long as it’s in my power.” Though he received the favor, he would not promise to do any unreasonable things.

“Then I am going now.” Brother Liu was pleased with the answer. He nodded with a smile on his face. It was always delightful to deal with a clever man.

After he left, Shiao Chen hurried back to Flowing Gla.s.s, one of the courtyards in the Shiao family.

It used to be the residence of Shiao Wenting, but now it was given to Shan Wenshan to heal his wounds. Several renowned doctors in Shiao Town had been invited to treat the latter.

“Listen up. I don’t care how much it’ll cost, you must cure him, or you’ll see what we are capable of. Do not mess it up!” Shiao Wenbin stood in the yard, urging the doctors to do their best. He was frightened to death by Shiao Chen who would dare to destroy the whole family if anything happened to his father.

Shiao Chen heard the threats when he entered the yard. He furrowed his brows and then went inside the room under the slightly ingratiatory staring.

Shiao Wenshan was lying on the bed, extremely delightful in spite of the pain all over his body. He was so proud that his son could rise and soar up to the sky.

“Father, how do you feel? Do you feel better?” Shiao Chen trotted to the bedside and asked with great care.

“Don’t worry. I just need to rest for a while.” Shiao Wenshan looked at his son with eyes filled with care and pride.

His father’s high spirit eased his mind a bit. Then he took the Pellet from the storage bag.

“Father, Brother Liu gave it to me before he left. It should help you with your recover, please take it.”

His father frowned. “It must be one of these Spiritual Pellets made by Immortals. I do not have internal injuries and time will cure me. Save it for yourself in case of emergency.”

“I will have more of these pellets. You need it more than me now.” Letting his father to argue no more, he fetched a cup of water and helped his father to swallow it.

“How do you feel? Any better?” His father looked well after the Pellet.

“I feel my whole body is warm and the broken arm itchy and tingling.” The fast recovery made his father shocked with incredibility. “The Immortals’ medicine is indeed miraculous!”

“That’s a load off my mind. Father, please take some good rest. I will go and get Mother to Shiao Town tomorrow. She has suffered a lot these years. Now that I have achieved a little, she can enjoy her life now.” He laughed, feeling relieved.

Watching him leaving, pride filled his father’s eyes again. Raising a son like this was definitely the proudest thing in his father’s life.

Darkness fell upon. The chaotic noises died away, only the watchman’s cries were heard from afar.

Shiao Chen sat on the bed with his legs crossed and tried to absorb the Spiritual Qi through the method Plants Growing Scripture. The mortal world had much less Spiritual Qi, so it took him 6 hours to gather as much of it as he exhausted during the day.

The unstoppable power came along with his ident.i.ty as a cultivator in Luoyun Valley was the very reason that he had been able to kill the two guards and intimidate the family members. He knew it, so he would never get light-headed or slackened in cultivation. The more powerful he got, the better his parents would live.

Later he practiced the method to absorb the Spiritual Qi again and again.

The next morning, he opened his eyes when the first light appeared in the sky. Glimmer flashed across his eyes and soon disappeared. He exhales a mouthful of foul air, content to find that the volume of the Spiritual Qi in his body grew bigger.

“Father, please rest at home. I am going to meet mother and bring her back in the afternoon.” He told his father, who was now seated on the main chair in the great hall, to which not a single member had shown the slightest dissatisfaction.

He swept the family members and no one dared to meet his eyes.

Soon he led a group of people and marched to the small village where he used to live.

“Who are these people? Why do they come here?” The whole village boiled up and the villagers came to Shiao Chen’s home one after another to see what on earth had happened.

“You don’t know? See that sigil, the red one with silver signs on it? That’s the sigil of the Shiao family in Shiao Town, so these are their people.”

“Then why do they come to our small village? And the leader, doesn’t he look like Shiao Chen?”

“You are not wrong. He is Shiao Chen. I came a little closer earlier, he even signaled to me. Who would have known they concealed so much? If I knew, I would have married my daughter to him, a concubine will do.”

……

“Mother, we don’t need all these things, just the valuable ones.” Shiao Chen looked at his mother who wanted to take the broken loom and sadness rose in his heart. He stopped her and told her, “You son has made small achievements now. You don’t need to suffer any more.”

His mother gazed at him with loving eyes and then looked around the house she had lived for more than 10 years, nodding her head gently in approval.

Chapter 11 A Dog-eat-dog Fight

The wagon train of the Shiao Family soon set out on the return journey. Shiao Chen was walking in the front of the line. From time to time, he heard his mother saying good-bye to others in a proud tone.

Shiao Chen smiled, but suddenly his face changed. Sullenly looking at the mountain behind, he ordered the wagon train to move on after a moment of hesitation, then quietly walked alone toward the mountain after telling his mother.

With a Wind Walking Talisman on his leg, Shiao Chen suddenly felt as light as a swallow, treading through the weedy and th.o.r.n.y mountains as if walking on a flat ground.

As he approached, the intense nimbus fluctuation in the distance became more and more conspicuous. Shiao Chen carefully slowed down and quietly moved forward.

The reason why he suddenly left the wagon train was that he felt vaguely the nimbus fluctuation was coming from here, and had been curious for a while, so he decided to take a look.

The closer Shiao Chen got, the paler his face became. The nimbus fluctuation seemed so terrifyingly formidable like a stormy sea that any little bit of it could kill him. But since he already got here, he wouldn’t want to leave without taking a look. Hesitating for a little while, he continued to move forward, but with great caution. Should any danger occur, he would immediately turn away and leave.

Hiding behind a big tree, Shiao Chen popped his head out carefully to get a better view. The scene immediately drove him dumbfounded with an incredible expression.

Only a hundred meters away, dozens of big trees were snapped off from the middle, some of them burning continuously. The ground was scabbed with potholes as if being hit by heavy objects. At the moment, there were four people confronting in a two-vs-two situation in the clearing, but one party of them had been at a disadvantage obviously.

"Hey, I advise you to hand it over as soon as possible; otherwise, don't blame me for relentlessly draining and refining your souls, and you shall never be reincarnated after death." An old man in black looked bleak and shouted coldly to the two men opposite him. A beautiful woman was standing next to him with peach blossom eyes that were very captivating while her clothes were extremely revealing, exposing a large white skin on her chest.

“You old fart, don’t fool us. You two would really let us go if we hand in the treasure?” snorted a middle-aged man, looking pale and short of breath. It was evident that he was seriously injured.

A trace of malignity flashed by in her eyes when the woman heard his words. Then she said with a charming smile, "Brother, these two are being unappreciative. Let’s just kill them directly. Then naturally we will get that thing, so as not to get tangled up and bring about new troubles unexpectedly.”

“My dear, you’re right. You two can go to h.e.l.l!” The Black Ghost laughed sinisterly and shot dozens of black fireb.a.l.l.s which were extremely powerful that the two brothers dared not to make light of and hurriedly shaded themselves with nimbus shield around the body.

The woman giggled, raised her hand and wielded a spirit sword, which burst out a dazzling light that shot right towards those two men.

Shiao Chen was in a bit of a daze, then he realized that it must be a spirit tool!

In the cultivation world, all cultivation treasures were divided into different levels, namely spirit tools, magic weapon, Daoist implements and the legendary spirit treasure. Although it was only a spirit tool of the lowest level, Shiao Chen drooled over it. In Luoyun Valley, even a disciple at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining might not be able to get a spirit tool. It was indeed precious!

“Bro, get out of here with that thing now! I will delay them for a while.” A burst of shouts came, while one of the two buddies suddenly turned back and rushed away.

Expressions of the Black Ghost and the woman altered all of a sudden, eyes gluing to the only man left behind.

“Big bro, how could you turn your back on me like this? Why did you frame me? The treasure is in your hands.” The man shouted angrily and flew back at the same time.

"Let’s separate. We must not allow them to escape." Saying that, the Old Ghost suddenly turned into a black shadow and shot to the person who escaped first, while the woman went after the other with a seducing smile.

‘Ah!’

‘Ah!’

Soon there came two short yet miserable cries. And two figures flew back to the ground quickly.

"Brother, did you get it?" The woman asked him hurriedly and looked exited.

After hearing this, the Old Ghost beamed with amazement. He took out a brocade box from the storage bag, eyes full of fervent greed.

“Ha ha. I got it. I didn't expect the gossip to be true. As long as I get this treasure, I will surely make rapid progress in my future cultivation. If I am lucky enough to advance to the Nascent Soul, I may also be able to set up a sect and become a giant in the world of cultivation.”

“Congratulations! I wish you every success in cultivation and achieve great causes in the future!” Smiling seductively, the woman threw herself into the man's arms.

The Old Ghost felt extremely complacent and cuddled the woman, his hands moving erotically around.

Seeing this, Shiao Chen knew that he must leave immediately although he was really eager to know what kind of treasure was in the box, otherwise he would be killed if these two found him.

However, the situation changed dramatically before he could leave.

“Ah! You…You s.l.u.t. How dare you!” The Black Ghost raged and struck violently at the woman with his hand, throwing her far away.

“Pu!” The woman fell to the ground and vomited blood, her face suddenly getting pale yet her eyes full of excitement.

“Don't blame me for being cruel, big bro. Although I can get benefits from it if you possess this treasure, but it’ll be better if I can have it myself. Don't worry, I smeared Qianji Powder (a lethal poison) on the dagger. It will be over soon.”

“You s.l.u.t, I will kill you!” Spitting out a mouthful of black blood, the Black Ghost ran two steps forward but then fell straight to the ground. He stopped moving after several twitches.

“I know that you ate a strange fruit years ago, making you extremely resistant to toxicity. You can definitely support for some time. Brother, you shouldn’t die so quickly, how can you delude your little sister?” The woman had a sneer at the corners of her mouth, keeping quite a distance from the Old Ghost as if fearing something.

Nothing happened after some time. The woman frowned slightly and then walked carefully to the old man.

She reached out for the brocade box on the ground, her face beaming with ecstasy. But just at this moment, a flash of dark light shot out from the Black Ghost on the ground and flew straight to the woman.

“Pu!”

Although the woman had been on the alert, she got a bit relaxed just now, and it was too late to react. So she could only slightly deflect her body, and the black light penetrated into her shoulder.

“Death Awl!” Face changing suddenly, the woman immediately flew back and tapped her injured shoulder. Only when she swallowed several elixirs from a storage bag did she stop the unholy and lethal aura on her face.

This final attack exhausted all the strength of the Black Ghost. As the toxicity of Qianji Powder spread to his heart vessels, he died soon and collapsed to the ground.

“You d.a.m.n old ghost.” The woman gnashed her teeth and cursed in rage. Not until she looked at the jade box in her hand did her face show some excitement.

Carefully putting the jade box into the storage bag, the woman walked to the corpse of the Black Ghost. Taking off the two storage bags from him, she staggered toward the mountains.

Behind a big tree, Shiao Chen looked thoughtful. The treasure in this box must be extremely precious; otherwise, the brothers would not be against each other and the couple would not fall out. But what attracted Shiao Chen most was that the Black Ghost said it seemed to be quite beneficial to cultivation. Being an ordinary man without spiritual root, it was already something of a fluke that he could be accepted by his master this time. For future cultivation, however, he was completely on his own.

Shiao Chen couldn’t help but feel excited at the thought that if he could get this treasure... Narrowing his eyes, Shiao Chen softened his footsteps and chased after the woman. Although the woman was seriously injured, she was able to drive the spirit tool. Even if she was not a master of Foundation Establishment, she must have reached the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining. He dared not to go off the deep end to rush forward.

After moving on a few hundred meters ahead, the woman who was advancing suddenly turned around and smiled seductively, “Who is following me all the way? Please show up.”

Face changing suddenly, Shiao Chen immediately held his breath and hid behind the trees.

But he did not know how the woman detected him. His heart was thumping rapidly out of tension, and just as he was about to ran away, he uttered “eh” out of confusion and decided to hide again.

Because at this point, the woman looked relaxed after getting no reply.

She raised a small ancient flag in her hand and whispered spells at a stone wall in front of her. A moment later, the stonewall shook like a water wave, revealing a hole large enough for a person in and out.

Sorcery!

Shiao Chen was astonished. It seemed there was a cave.

As the woman went in, the entrance of the cave changed irregularly and returned to its original state.

After waiting for a moment, Shiao Chen walked carefully towards the stonewall. Knitting his eyebrows, he channeled the spirit power in his body to his eyes and immediately saw a ma.s.s of lingering mist above the stonewall. Presumably it was the force of sorcery. He stretched out his hand into the white fog subconsciously. It was empty as he expected. Shiao Chen was pleased and he stepped in directly when he saw there was no danger.

Shiao Chen was very cautious and afraid of making any sound after entering the cavern. Not until he moved on prudently for dozens of meters ahead and reached the depths of the cavern did he see a small adobe.

Inside it the woman looked painful at the moment. The Death Awl on her shoulder had been taken out.

Shiao Chen ground his teeth and made a decision. This woman seemed to have reached a critical point that if she successfully forced out the toxin in her body and recovered cultivation, he would not only lose his chance to get the brocade box, but also his life here.

Walking out of the hiding place with great caution and staring at the woman with her eyes closed, Shiao Chen still dared not to relax even a little. She was in the weakest state at the moment, but a lean camel is still bigger than a horse (meaning when the mighty fall, they continue to command more influence than the ordinary). Any carelessness would plunge him into a life-and-death crisis.

Suddenly, the woman opened her eyes and looked up at Shiao Chen. She was panicked. Shiao Chen was alarmed suddenly and quickly took a few steps back. Only when he saw that she did not plan to launch an attack did he feel relieved.

Chapter 12 s.n.a.t.c.h Treasure

“You followed me all the way. I guess you will definitely kill me and s.n.a.t.c.h the treasure. I do not dare to ask for anything from you, but only hope to be killed without suffering for a long time before death.” The woman was weeping and looked delicate and touching, so that Shiao Chen couldn’t help but feel sorry.

Shiao Chen bit the tip of his tongue hard. He broke into a cold sweat on his back because there was a flashing idea in his mind to desperately protect the woman just now. If he hadn't been more determined, he would have already been under control now. As he a.s.sumed, a cultivator was definitely not easy to be defeated even though she was seriously injured.

Shiao Chen was vigilant inwardly, but he was expressionless and said, “Don't try any more tricks. Hand over the brocade box obediently, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless!”

The woman looked unreconciled in her eyes which could hardly be perceived. “I am seriously injured and can't move, even a little,” then she said pitifully. “The brocade box is in the storage bag at my waist. If you want it, come and fetch it yourself.”

Shiao Chen's eyes flashed instantly and his face looked somewhat hesitant. Then he slowly approached her.

When he was less than three meters away from the woman, a trace of ecstasy flashed in by the woman's eyes. Shiao Chen raised the corners of his mouth slightly, turned over the Fireball Talisman already hidden in his sleeve without hesitation, and then put all his spiritual power into it. A burst of fiery red color broke out. Two fireb.a.l.l.s suddenly appeared and rushed at the woman.

“Ah!” The unexpected change suddenly astonished the woman. She screamed loudly. The distance was so close that two fireb.a.l.l.s. .h.i.t her before she could have any reaction.

Green glow flickering from her body, the woman resisted for a while. But then as endless fright gathered in her eyes, the flame instantly covered her whole body and burned her into ashes.

So far, Shiao Chen was slightly relieved. In order to have the treasure all to herself, the woman even killed her cultivation partner without any hesitation. How could Shiao Chen not take precautions against such a malicious woman whose heart was like that of snakes and scorpions? Moments ago, Shiao Chen did not miss the woman's brightened eyes. Hesitating for a little while, he retreated a few meters, picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the woman's place.

“Pah!” The stone fell to the ground and suddenly something started to rise.

Endless pale green flames burst forth on the originally smooth ground within three meters with the woman's body as the center. The flames constantly twisted to form ghost faces, and from time to time there were dreary cries and screams.

Looking at the green flames, Shiao Chen felt chilly in his heart. Fortunately, he was cautious. If he had rushed to hunt for treasure at the beginning, he might have already become a dead body at this moment. Although he didn't know what this flame was, the gust of cold air chilled his bones.

After a while, the green flames gradually weakened. In the end, it was like a tide sucked into a certain point. The s.p.a.ce shook and a black gourd appeared in front of him.

Shiao Chen once again took out a few stones and threw them towards that place. Only when he found there was no any difference could he be a little relieved.

Quickly walking to where the woman was, he picked up four storage bags on the ground. Once opening, Shiao Chen suddenly felt pleasantly surprised. The former old black ghost and the pair of brothers definitely reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. Shiao Chen discovered five spirit tools from their storage bags unexpectedly. Although the grade was not high, it had already surprised him. Even some true disciples in Luoyun Valley had few spirit tools in the refining period. Shiao Chen put aside the spirit tools happily and successively pulled out dozens of low-order talismans, hundreds of low-order spars and dozens of unknown elixirs. Three of the talismans were obviously similar to the Fireball Talisman, but the patterns on them were several times more complex than those on the Fireball Talismans, and the spiritual power contained in them was incomparable. Shiao Chen carefully collected the talismans and it wouldn’t be late to study their utility after he went back. As for the spars, they were good things and beneficial for cultivation. Therefore, they also should be kept well.

After completely cleaning up the four storage bags, Shiao Chen looked at the brocade box in his hand. He couldn’t help but show a bit of excitation in his eyes. The treasure inside could lead to the life-and-death fighting among the four cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and even the woman killed her cultivation partner. Absolutely it was not an ordinary thing.

Slightly hesitant, Shiao Chen placed the box on the ground, stepped several meters back, and picked up a spirit sword next to him to open its lid carefully.

“Crack!”

At the moment when the brocade box was opened, a cloud of white smoke suddenly erupted from the box and filled the s.p.a.ce within three meters of the box. Shiao Chen was shocked, and immediately felt that his hand was slightly numb. As if losing all his strength, the spirit sword fell to the ground from his hand.

In the white mist, the glow of the spirit sword faded away and the spirituality was lost. In a moment, it became a useless sword.

Shiao Chen was startled and hurriedly looked at his hand. Three fingers had turned a strange black color at this moment. The black airflow was circling quickly, soon it spread to his wrist. The fingers even began to rot, dropping black blood. Feeling the strength in his body disappearing rapidly, he felt a bit of a trance.

Shiao Chen showed a wry face and muttered, “How come?! I would die here when I just stepped onto the road of cultivation?”

He then thought about his parents who had just got rid of the predicament on account of him. Would they be attacked back to their former situation due to his downfall?

There was endless unwillingness in Shiao Chen’s heart. He was absent-minded and walked a few steps forward. Even if he was about to die, he had to see what on earth the cause of his death was!

The brocade box had already been opened. The cloud of white smoke had dissipated moments ago. There appeared a primitive, simple and golden-colored square seal.

Shiao Chen sneered, “It turns out to be such a thing. What a pity! Now I’m dying from it, yet I have no idea what sort of treasure it is.” Shiao Chen lay on the ground and grasped the gold seal firmly in his hand, his eyes losing vitality gradually.

“Dear father and mother, I am not filial since I cannot continue to serve you anymore…”

Muttering to himself, Shiao Chen slowly closed his eyes. His energy became quickly weakened. At this moment, the black airflow already covered his entire arm and rushed towards his heart. There would be no way for him to escape from the desperate situation if he was completely occupied by it, then he would be gone for good!

Although Shiao Chen pa.s.sed out, he was still holding the gold seal on his hand. Drops of black blood fell on the seal, and more and more, eventually the whole gold seal was wrapped by the black blood. Suddenly, the unresponsive gold seal flashed a glimmer of light. The black blood on it turned a bright red color like getting purified and was then inhaled into the seal instantly.

Chapter 13 Gold Seal

It was like some ritual having been initiated. A large amount of black blood, as if being pulled by some unknown force, quickly gushed out from Shiao Chen’s hand and landed on the gold seal and then was completely inhaled into it after being purified. As it absorbed blood, the gold seal gradually radiated a soft golden light. Under the shining of this golden light, the black gas that was spreading rapidly in the body of Shiao Chen seemed to have met its natural enemy and became thin in an instant. After a while, it disappeared completely. The rotten wound in Shiao Chen’s hand was also healing quickly. When the wound was completely healed, it seemed the gold seal also absorbed enough blood, suddenly retracting all its golden light. It became more and more illusory and eventually vanished into Shiao Chen’s body.

In a daze, Shiao Chen felt warm under the bathing of the golden light, his whole body feeling extremely refreshed. In the abode, Shiao Chen moved his fingers a little, and then opened his eyes with some confusion. After seeing clearly, he rejoiced with wild excitement, “I am alive, I am still alive!”

Lifting his hand to his eyes, he was surprised to find that his rotted fingers, originally haunted with black gas, were now intact. Everything was like an illusion.

“The gold seal is gone, so are the toxins in my body. Is there any correlation here?” Shiao Chen looked a bit confused. But then he sensed something unusual about his soul. He immediately closed his eyes and applied the method of internal vision that he had just learned.

The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes, which were full of shock. The disappeared gold seal somehow ran into his soul. Shiao Chen tried to take it out. But no matter how hard he tried, the gold seal did not have any reaction. After some time, he had no choice but to give up. After a careful examination of his body and confirming that there was nothing wrong with him, he felt temporarily relieved. It wouldn’t be late to study it in detail after going out.

The things scattered on the ground were still there. Apparently, no one had ever entered here during his coma.

Shiao Chen picked an inconspicuous one, which was about a dozen square meters big, out of the four storage bags, to replace the original one of his which was only half a square meter big. Putting all the spiritual tools, talismans, spars and pills on the ground into it, he carefully cleaned up the traces. Not until he was sure that no one would find anything related to him, even if they found this place, did he nod with satisfaction.

Before he left, he hesitated for an instant, but then picked up the dark gourd on the ground and put it into the storage bag. It could spew out green fire. If applied well, it would be a good self-defense weapon.

Taking a last glimpse, Shiao Chen turned around and left. The stone wall rippled, then a young boy of 15 or 16 came out of it. He watched around carefully and patted a yellow talisman on his leg, turning into a plume of cyan smoke then disappearing into the jungle.

Shiao Town, Shiao's Hall.

“Brother, my nephew Shiao Chen should’ve returned four days ago. Do you know where he went? Today they will have to return to Luoyun Valley. If late, he will be punished according to the rules.” Sitting beside Shiao Chen’s father in the hall, Shiao Wenting asked carefully while reading his brother’s face.

Shiao Wenshan became worried as soon as he heard this. Shiao Chen left that day to pick up his mother. However, he left the wagon train on the way back and it was already four days without any news. Shiao Wenshan also sent many subordinates to look for him, only to find a heavily destructed place and three corpses but not a single trace of Shiao Chen.

These days, there were rumors spreading in the whole family that Shiao Chen fought with immortals and had already been killed. Hearing that, Shiao Chen’s mother was panic-stricken and cried for days on end. As for Shiao Chen’s father, calm as he behaved, he was also anxious in his heart. Shiao Wenshan did not believe that Shiao Chen was killed. However, he must have got into some trouble; otherwise, he would never be gone for such a long time.

Watching the uneasy expression on Shiao Wenshan’s face, Shiao Wenting was excited and thought, “If Shiao Chen died outside, then his parents will not be able to do anything influential. Shiao Lin will become the only divine cultivator of Luoyun Valley in the Shiao Family. And he, Shiao Wenting, will recover his solid position in the Shiao family!”

However, right at this moment, a voice came from outside the door, “Humph, it is none of your business. Just mind your own things!” As the voice fell, a figure strode in.

Shiao Chen scanned around the room. The whole family suddenly lowered their heads, and no one dared to look at him.

“Father, something delayed me for days outside. Sorry I have worried you.” Shiao Chen would never mention that he nearly lost his life because it would be useless and disquieting for his parents.

“Good good. It is okay as long as you come back safe.” Shiao Chen’s father felt so happy that he answered “good” several times when he saw his son unhurt.

“I will go back to the Sect today. Now I will say goodbye to mother.” Shiao Chen glanced at Shiao Wenting with chill flashing in his eyes, which sent shivers down Shiao Wenting’s spine. A layer of sweat appeared on his head. He then quickly lowered his head.

Shiao Chen nodded inwardly out of satisfaction. Then he turned around and walked out of the hall.

After two hours, under the gaze of the whole family, two figures quickly turned into two black dots and finally disappeared far into the distance.

“Brother, let’s go back.” Obsequiously, Shiao Wenting said to Shiao Wenshan with a smiling face. As long as Shiao Chen was alive, Shiao Wenting, the patriarch of the Shiao Family, would have to treat Shiao Chen’s parents with great respect.

Shiao Wenshan nodded and saw that the whole family all appeared to be fawning. He felt proud to some extent. It all thanks to the good son he raised—Shiao Chen, so that he could come back to The Shiao Family, revered by all.

With a Wind Walking Talisman on their legs, Shiao Chen and Shiao Lin’s speed reached a new high. It was not exaggerated to say that they two could cover a thousand li (one li equals half a kilometer) in a single day.

They two flew swiftly like wind or lightning on the way. Shiao Lin intended to curry favor with Shiao Chen to establish a closer relationship. However, he shut his mouth after a few words when he found Shiao Chen showed no intention to talk with him. By the time of twilight, they returned to Luoyun Valley after a long day.

Upon arriving, the two immediately separated, and Shiao Chen went straight to the Valley of Spirit Elixir.

Arriving at his residence, Shiao Chen washed and dressed up, then hurried out to the place where Master Alchemy Taoist was.

“Master, disciple Shiao Chen came to pay respects.” Standing outside the door, Shiao Chen said respectfully.

“Come in.” Alchemy Taoist’s placid voice came from the inside.

Shiao Chen pushed the door open and walked in. Being amazed by what he saw, he kneeled on the ground calmly.

“I went back home to stay for five days and returned as scheduled.”

Alchemy Taoist was sitting on the futon, with 3 male and 2 female disciples standing on either side. Ji Yuewu was among them standing at the end of one side.

Shiao Chen came in. Except for Ji Yuewu, the other four disciples all cast their eyes towards Shiao Chen. After a slight look, they showed a bit of disdain. They had also heard about the nominal disciple their master just accepted, an ordinary person with no spiritual root. Even he had entered the immortal sect, he would have no achievement in the future.

Taking a glance at Shiao Chen, Alchemy Taoist pointed at the five people and said, “Shiao Chen, these five are my direct disciples, that is, your senior fellow apprentices.”

“Master, I  got it! Glad to meet you,  brothers and sister!” Shiao Chen nodded and greeted the five people respectfully.

Only Ji Yuewu gave him a quick glance. The other four appeared as if they had heard nothing and didn’t give any response at all.

Shiao Chen noticed this but wasn’t affected and walked to the end of the line with no expression.

“Since you are all here today, I have something to tell you.” Alchemy Taoist glanced at them all, emotionless, then he said, “ I’m going to the back mountain for a Closed-Door Cultivation to break through to the Gold Core Realm. Do not bother me with trivial things. During this time, the elixirs needed by the Sect will be handed over to you.”

“Master, you’re ready to advance to the Gold Core Realm?” A man in front appeared to be surprised and asked.

“I got some inspiration during recent cultivation  which made me more confident about forming the gold core.” Alchemy Taoist smiled. Successfully forming the core would not only greatly improve his power but also prolong his longevity to five hundred years. He could also enter the rank of advanced cultivators from then. Thinking of this, sophisticated and tactful as he usually was, Alchemy Taoist couldn’t help being a little excited.

“Congratulations, Master!” Duan Huaming congratulated him sincerely at the moment. If his Master became a Gold Core Cultivator, then all of their status in Luoyun Valley will naturally be improved.

“Master, please rest a.s.sured. The elixir supply will go smoothly as long as we are here.” The second young man standing on the left-side said reverently.

“Good then.” Alchemy Taoist nodded gently then pointed at Ji Yuewu and said, “Your junior sister just crossed the threshold. But I cannot afford the time to teach her  due to the closed-door cultivation. It is easy in terms of cultivation; however, in terms of alchemy, she may need your help. Who would like to teach Yuewu for a period of time?”

“Master, as the eldest brother, it is duty-bound for me to do so. I would like to teach the fifth junior sister alchemy during this period.”

Duan Huaming lowered his head a little, then he looked at Ji Yuewu, some avidness flashing by in his eyes.

Hardly had Duan Huaming’s voice faded away, the young man standing behind him chuckled and stepped forward. “Master,  our eldest brother is at the crucial point of breaking through the sixth level of Qi Refining. In my opinion, he’d better focus on cultivation and make a breakthrough early. Therefore, it is the same that I teach the fifth junior sister alchemy.”

Li Yuedu, the second disciple of Alchemy Taoist, looked like in his early twenties. He was graceful bearing and charming with brocade clothes, exhibiting the air of a n.o.ble childe.

Duan Huaming frowned slightly with a bit of dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes. But he smiled gently, “You are right, brother; however, according to your current alchemy level, I’m afraid that this task is beyond your capability.”

“I’m afraid you are wrong, my brother. Although I am at the first grade of alchemy, I laid a foundation which is solid enough to teach our fifth senior sister. Brother, you should spend more time cultivating to break through the bottleneck.” Shrewdness shining in his eyes, Li made no concessions, even a little bit.

Chapter 14 Pa.s.sing the Duck

Ostensibly, they were in a harmony, but secretly Duan Huaming and Li Yuedu looked ferocious at each other.

Liu Junru was one of the original four disciples of master Alchemy Taoist. She said with a smile, “Well, there is no need to quarrel. It would be better to give me a chance, and it’s more convenient for Ji Yuewu. As you see, I am at the initial level of alchemy with a good foundation, and I am not in a hurry to break through the bottleneck of cultivation. So, I will teach her. Ok?” She smiled and took Ji Yuewu’s arm, saying to her, “What do you think?”

Ji Yuewu took a glimpse of the two senior brothers, words coming from her delicate lips, “Thanks sister Liu for instructing me.”

Duan Huaming and Li Yuedu looked at each other and retreated at the same time as Ji Yuewu gave her answer.

“Alright. This is settled then. But you still have a junior brother. We Elixir Valley is renowned for alchemy. So even though Shiao Cheng is my nominal disciple, he must learn it. Does any one of you would like to take some time to teach him? Huaming, what about you?” asked Master Alchemy Taoist.

Duan Huaming showed a bit reluctant after hearing master’s words, replying in a reverent tone, “Master, I am busy with breaking through the late-stage bottleneck of Foundation Establishment. I am afraid I have no time to teach him. Please think twice, my dear master.”

Master Alchemy Taoist nodded slightly with a thoughtful glimpse on Duan Huaming, then he turned to Li Yuedu.

Li Yuedu declined rapidly, “As Brother Duan said, I am at the initial level of alchemy and not qualified for teaching him.”

A little bit of dissatisfaction flashed by in Alchemy Taoist’s eyes, and he was clear about what they thought. But both two had their reasons, and master Alchemy Taoist knew that he couldn’t force something that didn’t come naturally.

“Master Alchemy Taoist, please leave me alone.” Said Hei Shi, the third disciple who was always unapproachable in the daily life. There was no way that he would offer to help.

Liu Junru rolled her eyes, then smiled, "Master, I have already promised to teach Yuewu martial arts. If I have to take responsibility for teaching another person, it may delay my cultivation. You may not shove this on me."

Standing at the end of the line, Shiao Chen watched his senior sisters and brothers pushing back and forth, then he said with a wry smile, "Master, you don’t need to worry about be. What the senior brothers and sisters said are reasonable. Besides, I am dull in apt.i.tude, so please don’t delay their cultivation for my sake. It’s all right for me to learn from ancient books and cultivate by myself."

Hearing what Shiao Chen had said, the Master meditated for a while, and nodded slowly in approval. Actually, he knew that with Shiao Chen’s qualifications of cultivating, it was difficult for him to make a difference in alchemy.

"All my disciples could get a herbal garden to cultivate in Luoyun Valley. Although you are only my nominal disciple, I will make an exception of giving this qualification to you today. You could follow your eldest brother to the Spirit Resources Loft and find one for yourself." The Master said so due to a little guilty.

"Thank you so much, Master!" Shiao Chen's face beamed out of delight, and he bowed hurriedly and respectfully.

"Well, I will go for a Closed-Door Cultivation from now on. And you all could leave now." The Master waved his hand with his eyes closed, and all disciples got out of the room slowly.

"Sister Yuewu, although I’ll be busy breaking through the bottleneck, if you have any difficulty in alchemy or cultivation, you could consult me. And I can certainly give you some help." Duan Huaming stood outside the Elixir Valley and said to Ji Yuewu with a warm smile.

When Li Yuedu heard that, she smiled and said, “Senior Brother is right. You can also ask me if you have difficulties.”

Ji Yuewu nodded slightly, looking indifferent. It seemed that she turned a blind eye to the enthusiasm of these two people. She suddenly turned to Shiao Chen, saying, "Shiao Chen, if you have any difficulties in the future, you could come to me."

Ji Yuewu spoke too suddenly that she drew everyone’s attention to Shiao Chen. Both Duan Huaming and Li Yuedu looked a bit jealous and surprised. So was Liu Junru. She didn’t understand why this junior sister who was beautiful with a high-level spiritual root would pay special regard to Shiao Chen, a man with no spiritual root.

"Thank you, Yuewu sister." Shiao Chen noticed the hostility in both Duan Huaming’s and Li Yuedu’s eyes. He couldn’t help smiling bitterly in his heart and thought he might be remembered by the two.

"Well, I have to hurry back to teach Yuewu, my junior sister to cultivate. Please pardon our leave, senior brothers." Liu Junru took a gloating glance at Shiao Chen then led Ji Yuewu away.

"Senior brother, I have to leave, too." Li Yuedu took an unnoticed glimpse of Shiao Chen, coldness flashing by his eyes. He then cupped his hand smilingly and left.

Duan Huaming looked at Shiao Chen with an expressionless face, an indiscernible chill flashing by in his eyes. He said quietly, "Now that the Master has granted you the right to own a garden, then come with me." And without looking at Shiao Chen, he turned and went out.

Shiao Chen forced a wry smile. Although he did not have spiritual root, his mind was excellent. He naturally understood the reason for this and cannot help but secretly sigh that beauty was beastly. The words of the ancients were indeed true!

Spirit Resources Loft was the place where Luoyun Valley allocated the cultivation resources. Such an important place was not to be neglected, but was guarded by three elders of Luoyun Valley who had reached the late period of Foundation Establishment. However, the three elders, who were bent on cultivation, seldom took care of ordinary affairs. Most of the affairs in the loft were left to several disciples.

"Junior Duan, it’s quite a surprise that you have time to come here today. Haha. We haven't seen each other for over ten days on end. You have reached the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining, and it looks like your advancement to the seventh level is just around the corner!" Shiao Chen and Duan Yueming entered the Spirit Resources Loft. Far away, a chubby man came up with a warm smile. The strange thing was not only did he lack the nimbus aura that a cultivator usually had, but he also looked philistine like a worldly merchant.

"Senior Ma, you flatter me too much. I am busy in training these days. And it is hard to say whether I can break through the bottleneck." Duan Huaming smiled and cupped his hands rather politely. He did not dare to make light of Ma Yun who looked mediocre. After all, it was said that this person had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining, and he might build the foundation successfully at any time.

They finally got to the point after exchanging several greetings at the door of Spirit Resources Loft.

"Senior Ma, I come here today to take the Junior Brother, Shiao Chen, to apply for a herbal garden. Although Shiao Chen is just a nominal disciple, the Master has made an exception to give him this right." Duan Huaming smiled and said.

Hearing this, Senior Ma was in a bit of a daze. His gaze fell on Shiao Chen , scrutinizing him for quite a while. Then he smiled, "So I see. It’s junior brother, Shiao Chen, the disciple newly accepted by the fifth Martial Uncle. In that case, come with me, and choose a herbal garden at the second floor."

Saying that, Senior Brother Ma led them up the stairs to the second floor.

Chapter 15: The Deserted Herbal Garden

On the second floor, it seemed a little empty only with a few tables and chairs in the hall. Against the stairs was a large scroll painting hanging on the wall. Senior Brother Ma came to it. As he waved his hands with a spell, a glimmer of light flashed by and then the painting began slowly unfolding.

There were some words densely marked on the scroll. Senior Brother Ma cast another spell, and then most areas of the scroll faded away, leaving only a few small ones sparkling.

"Junior Brother Shiao Chen, these are the ownerless herbal gardens of our sect. Now that you have the privilege granted by the Fifth Martial Uncle, you can choose any one of them to be your own." Said the Senior Brother Ma, stepping aside smilingly.

Shiao Chen cupped his hand, then walked slowly to the picture and looked at it carefully.

At this very moment, Duan Huaming laughed suddenly, and said, “Junior Brother Shiao Chen, even though you are the nominal disciple of the Master who gave you the right to have a herbal garden, definitely your cultivation will stop at the period of Qi Refining without a spiritual root. And I’m afraid your attainments in alchemy are also extremely limited. So I think it would be better that I choose it for you in order not to waste the cultivation resources of our sect.”

After hearing this, Shiao Chen stiffened a little. He thought it finally came. He took a deep breath and then slowly turned around. Serenely he said, "All right, please."

Senior Brother Ma’s eyes swept over Shiao Chen's body. Instead of despising him because of Duan Huaming's words, he looked at Shiao Chen with appreciation after seeing his calmness.

"I think this one is not bad, although it has been abandoned for a while. There should be a lot of medicinal herbs left behind. It should be able to take shape if Brother Shiao Chen get some spiritual herbs' seeds and take good care of them after a certain time." Duan Huaming pointed to the most remote corner of Luoyun Valley, where there was a pinkie-sized place marked with "Deserted Herbal Garden" in very small fonts.

Shiao Chen's body tightened, clenching fists under the sleeves. But the next moment, he regained his composure. He knew he must be the one to lose if he fought with Duan Huaming with his current status and abilities.

"You are right, Senior Brother. In that case, I will choose this one." Said Shiao Chen expressionlessly.

Having not expected that Shiao Chen would stand such difficulty, Duan Huaming slightly lifted his eyebrows. If Shiao was unconvinced and quarreled for it, certainly he would have numerous means to let him suffer. But now he had to suppress his temper temporarily because he had no reason for it.

"Ha ha, Junior Brother Shiao Chen, you are really a sensible man. In that case, Senior Brother Ma, please mark this herbal garden under his name." Duan Huaming smiled slightly, with some complacency in his eyes. He thought, no matter how, he gave Shiao Chen a lesson this time. Hope Shiao Chen was clever, or he would have plenty of means to make this guy suffer.

Senior Brother Ma looked at Shiao Chen with more appreciation. He thought that Shiao Chen, who could take temporary setbacks, would be a big shot in the future.

After being busy for quite a while, the garden which had been wasted for many years was officially owned by Shiao Chen.

"Junior Brother Shiao Chen, cultivate harder. Our Elixir Valley is not only superior in alchemy; the cultivation speed of all the fellow disciples are also quite fast. Do not hinder us and be the b.u.t.t of the joke." Duan Huaming rebuked in a superior position while leaving with undisguised disdain in his eyes.

Shiao Chen stood expressionlessly, but his fists were tightly clenched together. Then he immediately felt so frustrated that he had no spiritual root, it meant he couldn’t become a mighty cultivator all the life. How could he wash away the humiliation he had suffered today without enough strength?

After leaving Spirit Resource Loft, Shiao Chen returned to the Elixir Valley and collected some seeds of spiritual herbs and alchemy books from the warehouse. Maybe the Alchemy Taoist thought that he owed Shiao Chen a little bit. So he was quite generous in allowing Shiao Chen to collect all kinds of seeds in the warehouse.

Putting everything in order, Shiao Chen moved toward the deserted herbal garden.

Though psychologically ready for the barrenness, he was stunned by the sight of this herbal garden located in the small valley. The reason why the herbal garden was suitable for planting spiritual herbs was that the soil contained the nimbus. However, here weeds and tiny rocks had swallowed up the garden, and the nimbus in the soil was paltry. He was curious about what the senior brother who took care the herbal garden had done to destroy the herbal garden into ruin.

Shiao Chen took a deep breath and walked to the valley without any expression. Half a quarter later, he tramped all over the little valley. At the moment, as clam and tactful as Shiao Chen usually was, his face turned extremely gloomy. This herbal garden had been abandoned for a long time, and most of the nimbus in the soil had already dissipated. He was uncertain whether the seeds of spiritual herbs planted in the soil would survive or not.

What a sinister trick the Duan Huaming had used! Shiao Chen did not know how long it would take him to simply restore the rank of this herbal garden. The insidious intent of Duan Huaming almost destroyed all Shiao Chen’s prospects of alchemy.

"Duan Huaming, one day, I will certainly impose all today’s mortification that I’ve borne on you!"

Shiao Chen stood amid the valley with a sullen face for quite a while but then he gradually recovered his composure. And then, without any word, he went to the stone house at the corner of the valley. When everything was in order, Shiao Chen sat down with his legs crossed on the futon. His mind gradually settled as still water. At the same time, he began to circulate his inner energy through the Plants Growing Scripture.

For a moment, wondrous thing instantly occurred.

The nimbus filled the air seemed to be pulled by an unknown great force, and flooded into his body at the speed of more than a hundred times faster than ever before.

Shiao Chen suddenly opened his eyes and was shocked by the sudden change. He was just practicing the Plants Growing Scripture as usual, why did this change happen?

A determined look flicked across his capricious face. Then he closed his eyes again. This time, he applied the method of inner vision before he ran the Plants Growing Scripture, paying attentive attention to the circulation of nimbus in his body.

Nimbus entered veins from Dantian, running slowly, and the external nimbus begun to be absorbed into the body gradually. Everything seemed to be normal. Shiao Chen frowned slightly and wondered about the authenticity of the crazy inrush of nimbus just now. Was it an illusion? But he could feel the nimbus had obviously increased. How to explain it?

At that moment he felt a sudden fluctuation in his soul. The familiar feeling came again, and the nimbus filled in the air rushed towards him with a startling rapidity. This time, Shiao Chen had prepared for that, so he paid all the attention to his soul instead of stopping cultivating. The Gold Seal that melted into his soul emitted faint golden glow, which erupted the weird sucking force. The nimbus that flooded into the body, however, was sucked away by it, and Shiao Chen only gained a little.

But even so, in that short time, the volume of his Spiritual Energy had already increased.

Although Shiao Chen opened his eyes with a little confusion, he was more surprised. As long as he owned this Gold seal, whether he had spiritual root or not, his cultivation will definitely speed up to an unimaginable level! He clenched fists tightly and felt more confident than ever.

“Duan Huaming, for today's humiliation, I will make you pay it back a hundredfold in the future!”

The next day, Shiao Chen walked slowly out of the stone cottage, he could hardly hide his delight. This gold seal was more powerful than he had imagined. It was only one night. His tiny nimbus got pinkie-sized, Spiritual Energy diffused in his Dantian, making him feel radiant and fresh all over.

First stage of Qi-Refining Period!

In just one night, Shiao Chen was able to achieve such a level, which, if publicized, would astound all the cultivators! Even those who possessed the saint spiritual root would never have such a terrible cultivation speed.

This gold seal was absolutely Shiao Chen's greatest secret. Once exposed, such a magic treasure would absolutely make all the cultivators covet, and he would die without burial!

Shiao Chen looked extremely solemn. This should be kept only to himself, even those closest to him should not be told.

If he had stayed in crowds, Shiao Chen would have feared that someone might notice his unusual behavior. But this place was a deserted herbal garden at the edge of Luoyun Valley where even the outer disciples would not come. Therefore, his safety was greatly increased.

Shiao Chen scoffed, Duan Huaming would absolutely be angry and spit blood when he knew that he gave Shiao Chen a great help accidentally.

For two days, Shiao Chen had been cultivating in the stone cottage and never stepped out of the valley.

In the stone cottage, Shiao Chen slowly opened his eyes, and a bright light flashed across his eyes.

“Peak of the first stage of Qi Refining!” Shiao Chen clenched his fists tight and smiled.

But then he frowned, looking a bit hesitant. "Although I own this gold seal, there is absolutely no problem with the cultivation. But if someone discovered that I reached the peak of the first stage of Qi-refining in such a short time without spiritual root, it’d be a trouble."

Shiao Chen was in distress, thinking that it would be easier if he could have a cultivation method of hiding his cultivation.

When this thought came to him, there suddenly emerged countless tiny runes on the surface of the gold seal which had integrated with his soul, and on the edge of it was covered with all kinds of mysterious and abstruse patterns, exhibiting a sense of age and n.o.bility.

Facing such an unexpected turn, Shiao Chen was taken aback and then looked at it carefully. The scrawl runes on the gold seal looked like tadpoles, glimmering faint golden light that seemed extremely mysterious.

Soul Muddling Scripture! Although Shiao Chen didn’t know why he could read this scrawl script, the next moment, he was firmly attracted by this cultivation method and completely immersed his mind in it.

Half an hour later, Shiao Chen opened his eyes, which were full of joy! The Soul Muddling Scripture was a cultivation method of refining the soul and it had the ability to conceal his cultivation. This just solved difficulties in front of Shiao Chen. He was absolutely ecstatic.

Chapter 16: The Fickleness of Human Nature

After recalling the method, Shiao Chen made sure that there were no missing errors and he nodded in satisfaction. Then, he closed his eyes and started cultivating.

Five days later, Shiao Chen’s eyelids trembled and then he opened his eyes. Suddenly, a wonderful feeling filled his heart. It seemed that his senses were infinitely more sensitive than before. He could feel everything within 33 square meters, even a leaf’s falling.

It was Divine Sense!

He felt surprised and happy about his change. It was an ability only possessed by pract.i.tioners at the fifth level of the Qi Refining. However, he was only at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining and got the skill of Divine Sense which indicated how incredible Soul Muddling Scripture was.

Just thinking of the skill and the concealing effect of Soul Muddling Scripture was immediately activated. The breath of Shiao Chen suddenly weakened, and finally stayed at the early stage of Qi Refining. Shiao Chen nodded his head with satisfaction and smiled out of delight. He did not know the effect of the concealment. However, he thought that if others did not pay much attention to him, he should not be noticed.

Shiao Chen pushed the stone door open and walked out. Looking at the deserted herbal garden, his face was covered with gloom. Although the restraint for being the disciple of Alchemy Taoist was quite small, he could not escape the semi-annual alchemy a.s.sessment. Should he fail it, he would be expelled.

Shiao Chen had only been the disciple of Alchemy Taoist for a short time. According to the rules, he needn’t to attend the first alchemy a.s.sessment. However, he must take the alchemy a.s.sessment a year later. Duan Minghua must be secretly hoping that he would be kicked out of the sect a year later.

Shiao Chen sneered, but then walked out of the valley after pondering for a while. "Liu San is in charge of picking 50 Spirit-purifying Fruits from back mountain within one month and you’ll get a low-rank spiritual stone after completing the task."

"Hu Wei is responsible for collecting water from the spirit ca.n.a.l from back mountain in one month. The water is for the use of various herbal gardens. And you’ll get a low-rank spiritual stone after completing the task.”

“Sun Ce is in charge of the kitchen firewood in one month, and you’ll get half a low-rank stone after completing the task."

After getting the tasks, the outer disciples were in a hurry to finish those tasks. They worked very hard every month and had little time to practice. So, they could not afford to waste a second.

After completing the monthly routine, Liu Tao hurried to the inner room. Recently, he had reached the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining. And an elder of the sect implied that if he could reach the seventh level of the Qi Refining, he could be the core disciple of the sect. So, he was busy cultivating.

“Senior Liu.” Just then, a familiar voice came from outside.

He paused for a moment and quickly thought of the ident.i.ty of the newcomer. A trace of impatience flashed across his eyes. But then he put on a smile and greeted, "Junior Shiao, long time no see. Come in please.”

Shiao Chen walked in but Liu Tao was just sitting in a chair, said, "Junior Shiao, please take a seat. Why do you come here today?"

Shiao Chen signed in heart and thought it was the human nature. The information that he got a discarded garden must have spread all over the sect. Liu Tao’s att.i.tude was obviously more indifferent than before.

“Oh, I need some help. You must know that the garden I get have been deserted for a long time. So, I want to borrow some people from Senior Liu to clean the garden.”

"Well," Eyebrows knitting together, Liu Tao looked a bit troubled and said slowly, " Junior Shiao, it’s not that I’m not willing to help. I'm afraid no disciples are free. They have their own missions."

Looking at Shiao Chen, Liu Tao pained for the Wind Walking Talismans and Fire Ball Talismans that he gave to Shiao Chen before and behaved even more tepidly. He originally thought that Shiao Chen was quite favored by the Master of Elixir Valley. Now he knew Shiao Chen was a mere n.o.body.

Hearing that, Shiao Chen put on an upset expression, gritted his teeth, and said, "You're right, Senior brother. But I guess there must be some people available. I have a Spirit Quenching Elixir that was bestowed by the Master, and I'm ready to offer it to my senior brother." Shiao Chen looked a bit reluctant but then reached into his storage bag to take a verdant pill, and put it on the table.

“The Spirit Quenching Elixir!” Liu Tao was quite surprised and hurriedly took it in hands. Ascertaining the authenticity of the pill, he beamed with delight. The Spirit Quenching Elixir could help to purify the spirit, which was of great benefit to cultivators at Qi Refining. Having been busy cultivating all the time, he was in urgent need of such a pill to help him improve.

"Aha. It's very kind of you, Brother Shiao Chen. I'll accept it, because I need it indeed. Wait a moment, I'll arrange twenty disciples to help you right now and clean up the herbal garden within half a day." Apparently, Liu's att.i.tude turned politer and more enthusiastic after receiving the spiritual pill.

Watching Liu Tao leaving in a hurry, a faint of sneer crossed his face. The fickleness of human nature among pract.i.tioners was more obvious than in ordinary beings. The Spirit Quenching Elixir was one of the lower spiritual pills of the dozens of pills that he found in Black Ghost’s storage bag. Shiao Chen would never put on an air of wealth. Otherwise he would be blatantly asking for blackmail. What's more, he claimed that this spiritual pill was given by the Alchemy Taoist. Presumably this Liu Tao did not have the courage to verify it. Shiao Chen felt naturally relieved.

At noon, when the 20 outer disciples finished their work and left, the whole valley turned brand-new. Weeds and gravel were all cleared, the ground soil was also turned over.

Shiao Chen nodded his head with satisfaction. He took the spiritual seeds from the storage bag and planted it carefully one by one.

With a jade hoe the size of a palm in his hand, Shiao Chen carefully dug a small hole in the ground about five fingers deep, planted the seeds of calming gra.s.s in his hand and covered the soil.  Not until he pressed the soil with forty percent of his strength did he feel relieved.

Spiritual herb planting was a tricky business, with strict requirements for tools, soil, and even the strength for pressing the soil. If something went wrong, it was likely to waste seeds. After four whole hours, Shiao Chen finished planting only a small half of the valley. Indeed he worked slow.

"Well, I'm afraid I can't finish it till dark." Looking at the large vacant lot left, Shiao Chen could not help but force a smile, leaning heavily against a stone wall behind him.

Dong! A dull noise came from behind him and Shiao Chen was surprised. It was a sound he was not unfamiliar with.

He turned quickly and looked at the smooth stone wall in front of him. Then knocked slightly on the wall.

Dong! Dong! It was hollow!

Realizing this, Shiao Chen looked curious. No one would pa.s.s by such a remote herbal garden, but still Shiao Chen looked around carefully to ascertain that no one was there. Then he took a spiritual tool from the storage bag and knocked on stone wall.

Chapter 17 Secrets in the Depth of the Mountain

When the spiritual force was injected, the spirit sword became so sharp that it could insert into the cliff at a slight movement. Stirring gently with both hands, Shiao Chen easily cut off a piece of rock about half a man's size.

Shiao Chen put the stone aside and looked at the dark cave in front of him. Some hesitation appeared on his face, which then turned into a firm look. He took steps towards the cave.

The light in the cave was extremely dim, and Shiao Chen could only see the road ahead though he had channeled the weak spiritual force in his body to his eyes. So he had to feel his way forward.

After about thirty or forty meters into the cave, Shiao Chen suddenly stopped. Moving his hand away from the stone wall, he twiddled his fingers and felt a bit of moisture. He couldn’t help feeling surprised and m.u.f.fled, "Does that mean there is a subterranean river here?"

He went on for about another thirty meters, the air dampened. When he turned a corner, he heard the sound of running water.

At the same time, a very faint fragrance of herbs came with it.

"Huh? The smell of Jade Lotus?" Suddenly Shiao Chen looked shocked. He had stayed in the Elixir Valley for a few days. Though he did not learn any alchemy skills, when helping the lay disciples to sort out the elixirs, he did remember some precious herbs, in which Jade Lotus was one of them.

"No, the fragrance of Jade Lotus is slightly sweet. Though this smell is very similar, it is slightly acerb. It seems like the smell of some kind of weed." Shiao Chen smiled and shook his head. Jade Lotus was very precious, and it could be used to refine more than ten precious elixirs. How could it be seen everywhere?

But at this moment, Shiao Chen was unable to control his curiosity and stretched his neck to look ahead. It was so dark that he could not see clearly at all, so he went on walking towards the source of the water flow.

“Gurgling, gurgling, gurgling…”

The closer he got, the stronger the fragrance of herbs was. Besides Jade Lotus, the aroma of the top-quality spiritual herbs such as Iron Vine, Golden Gra.s.s and Polygonum Multiflorum also pervaded the air. With just a deep breath, one might feel refreshed all over.

Shiao Chen couldn’t help fastening his pace. When he walked to the end of the stone cave, he found that it was a dead end. But the faint sound of clear flowing water came just from behind this stone wall. Shiao Chen reached out his hand and knocked on the stone wall.

Bang! Bang!

"Fortunately, the stone wall is not thick." Shiao Chen was a little relieved. He reached into his storage bag and took out the spirit sword again. With spiritual power infused in, he wielded his sword to the stone wall with all might, immediately creating a hole that could accommodate one person to go in.

As the stone fell, a bright light shot out of the stone cave. Shiao Chen blocked his eyes with hands and squinted inward. But before he could plunge his head into the cave, an utterly intense fragrance of herbs came instantly out of it.

"Cough! Ahem!!!!!" Inhaling only a small bit of it, Shiao Chen immediately coughed so violently that his face reddened. The fragrance was so intense that it seemed to be a mixture of dozens or even hundreds of spiritual herbs that were sealed and fermented for decades or even centuries.

Although Shiao Chen's face reddened with intense coughing, his dark eyes were full of rapture. Although he suffered quite a bit from the strong aroma, he was extremely sure that in the grotto in front of him grew dozens or even hundreds of spiritual herbs that were absolutely not young! Because when he inhaled that herbal fragrance a moment ago, although it was mottled, the blast of acridity could not be shielded at all!

"Poison Hemlock!” The corners of Shiao Chen's mouth c.o.c.ked, showing a cheerful expression. This smell was absolutely given off by the highly toxic herb that could kill people at a breath! And this pungent flavor was much stronger than the hundred-year Poison Hemlock Shiao Chen had seen in Elixir Valley. It might be inferred that it must have grown for ages!

Shiao Chen waited for a while and calmed the ecstasy in his heart. When the herbal fragrance got slightly dissipated, he covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve and stepped into the cave.

The light fluorescence on the stone walls around him made him feel uncomfortable for a short time. When his sight returned normal and he could see clearly, Shiao Chen was shocked with mouth wide open.

The grotto behind the stone wall was about 333 square meters, and the surface of the stone wall was covered with bizarre crystals of light white color. The slight ray of light was from the crystals. A crack was there above the cave, from which water flew down to the ground. After an unknown number of impacts, the bits of sand and mud carried in the water formed a delta of about 66 square meters in the grotto, on which numerous species of spiritual herbs grew wildly. The water flowed slowly over the delta, and then went into a little pool behind it. This pool should have been connected to the underground river as the water was extremely clear. However, it was so dark and bottomless that he could not know how deep it was.

As Shiao Chen's eyes slowly swept around the stone cave, he closed his eyes tightly in a hurry and took a dozen deep breaths. Only then did he squelch the impulse of screaming!

Polygonum Multiflorum that was two hundred years old!

Golden Gra.s.s that was three hundred years old!

Honeysuckle that was four hundred years old!

Iron Vine that was three hundred years old!

Looking at the various spiritual herbs growing like weeds in this grotto, Shiao Chen almost had a feeling of being in a dream!

After a long time, he slowly calmed down. With a slight frown, he could not help showing some hesitation.

"Why do so many herbs grow in the depths of this mountain? How can they survive in this place?" It was important to know that the cultivation of spiritual herbs was extremely complicated and it required attentive care of cultivators to make them grow and thrive. Apparently, no one had ever stepped in here, so it was odd indeed.

But just at the moment, Shiao Chen's gaze fell on the bizarre crystals on the stone wall. His expression changed a little, and then he closed his eyes slowly, slowly activating and practicing Plants Growing Scripture in his body. The next moment, he opened his eyes in shock. After quite a while, two words jumped out of his mouth, “Spirit vein!”

In this grotto, the nimbus was much abundant than that in the outside world, and even more intense than that in Alchemy Taoist’s medicinal garden in which spiritual herbs were planted! Under such a context, only one thing could explain for this, that was, beneath the stone cave hid a small spiritual vein! This spiritual vein was no means large, just a few meters in size at most, otherwise it must have long been noticed by cultivators in the sect, leaving no chance for Shiao Chen. In this case, the crystals emanating fluorescent on the walls could also be explained. They must have been long eroded by nimbus and gradually transformed into what they were like at the moment. In hundreds or thousands of years, they might even become true spirit stones.

But even if the reason for the survival of the spiritual herbs was found, where did the seed of them come from? Was it possible that they had been created out of nothing?

Shiao Chen glanced over the grotto, and then stopped abruptly. He walked quickly to the pool and stared at the clear water with a sharp gaze, as if he were looking for something. A moment later, his eyes suddenly lit up. He put his hand into the water, grabbing a blue and slightly flat seed in his hand. Looking at the seed, Shiao Chen suddenly remembered that there was only one flowing water running down from the mountain in the whole Luoyun Valley, and it happened to flow through some place not far away from his herbal garden. For such a fact, the water used in all the medicinal gardens of the sect was from this source of water! Shiao Chen looked silently at the seed in his hand, then a smile slowly crept over the corners of his, which quickly spread to his entire face. He murmured, "I am so lucky! This is definitely my opportunity!”

In Luoyun Valley, the spring water was channeled to all medicinal gardens. In this way, the seed of mature spiritual herbs occasionally fell into the water and were washed away. Then the water carrying the seeds flowed right through a crack in the mountain and into the grotto, where there happened to be a small spiritual vein. Such a coincidence gave birth to a medicinal garden hidden in the grotto for an unknown time!

…

After half a day, Shiao Chen reluctantly followed the same way out. Although this deserted medicinal garden was very remote, and few people pa.s.sed by, Shiao Chen still put the stone back in its original place just in case something would happen. Then he randomly arranged some rough stones outside. Not until he was certain that the cave would not be noticed did he nod with satisfaction.

"It was supposed to be an abandoned place, but nature has tricked people. Who would have thought that such a great opportunity is hidden in this deserted medicinal garden!”

"Duan Huaming meant to frame me, but unexpectedly he just sent me a great opportunity!"

Shiao Chen looked up and smiled. Things in the world were wonderful. If it were known by Duan Huaming, he would be so incensed that he would literally cough up three liters of blood and die at the site.

After a while, Shiao Chen regained composure and said to himself, "Although the medicinal garden is very remote, some simple prohibitions should be placed outside the valley to avoid accidents. Even if it cannot prevent people from entering, it will be sufficient to forewarn me."

Alchemy Taoist was very good to him, a nominal disciple. Although Alchemy Taoist did not teach him in person, he had not been stingy with all kinds of elementary jade books. Formation Basics was just one of them.

Shiao Chen made up his mind and hurried back to the stone room in a hurry. He took the jade book from the storage bag, and put it on his forehead, trying hard to meditate its profoundness.

Chapter 18 Trying Alchemy for the First Time

He cultivated dedicatedly in silence the whole night. On the second day, Shiao Chen raised his head which was slightly swollen and tired. He shook it helplessly. The tactical formation was extensive, profound and all-embracing, and it could not be learned overnight. Fortunately, he only chose some simple ones that were psychedelic to block out the sight. After a night’s study, he learned to lay out two tactical formations that were comparatively of low cla.s.s.

Mirage Formation, the consumption of which was quite low, was able to automatically generate light white fog to block out one’s sight after being carried out.

Forewarning Formation, as its name suggested, did not have any offensive or defensive function, but it could give an early warning in a timely manner.

After three hours and seven or eight failures, Shiao Chen managed to deploy the two tactical formations outside the valley. After installing two spars, a white mist was rising. Not until now did Shiao Chen looked satisfied.

After returning to the stone house and leaving most of his belongings behind to give the illusion that he lived here, Shiao Chen entered the medicinal garden in the depth of the mountain.

Putting Alchemy Basics aside, Shiao Chen deliberated it over several times in his heart. After making sure that there were no mistakes, he started his alchemy trials. In his first attempt, he chose the Spirits-gathering Pill, a kind of spirit pill suitable to be used during the Qi Refining period. It was of first level, low grade, and the materials used were comparatively simple.

"Go!"

Casting a spell with his hand, Shiao Chen channeled a little spiritual power into the furnace, where a heat wave immediately rose.

He carefully put the materials into the furnace in sequence as recorded. Soon, a faint medicinal fragrance was released. Shiao Chen felt quite happy, but then a m.u.f.fled noise from the furnace made him stupefied.

Opening the medicine furnace, Shiao Chen sighed helplessly at the dark brown powder.

No doubt, the first trying of alchemy ended in failure.

Lifting his spirit, Shiao Chen soon cleaned up all the herb residues and began the second attempt.

He put the Hygrophila Polysperma in first. When the gra.s.s-blade turned into liquid he put in the Dry-stern Flower, and finally the Heather.

This time, Shiao Chen was very careful. The fragrance of the medicine in the furnace became more and more intense. Now it was the time finalize the pills. If this period went smoothly, the pills would be refined well. Then again, a m.u.f.fled noise came out of the furnace. Shiao Chen's look changed with it.

The second alchemy failed.

Shiao Chen looked a little somber. He calmly cleaned up the residues before starting the third trial.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure!

After eleven consecutive failures, Shiao Chen sat on the ground somewhat dispirited. Maybe he did not have much talent in alchemy refining.

There was still the last copy of herbs. Shiao Chen had planned to give up, but still threw the herbs into the furnace and perfunctorily directed some spiritual power into it. Then he closed his eyes to meditate. As he was now at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining, his many attempts of making Spirits-gathering Pill had consumed most of his spiritual power.

He operated the Plants Growing Scripture, and the rich nimbus from the outside immediately flooded into his body. Shiao Chen sighed and turned his attention to the gold seal that emanated dots of light.

What material was the gold seal made of was unknown. Unexpectedly it could blend directly into the soul of the cultivators. Shiao Chen had never heard of such a thing before. He extended his divine sense carefully around the gold seal, without noticing anything unusual.

"This gold seal is in my soul, it should not be harmful to me. I just might as well integrate my divine sense into it to see if anything would happen." Any other cultivators would not be so presumptuous before thoroughly mastering the gold seal. For if the divine sense was hurt, it would have been a hundred times more difficult to recover than a physical wound, and the process would be most painful. But Shiao Chen had just stepped in immortality cultivation for a short period, so naturally he did not think so much about it.

Just like mingling of water and lotion, Shiao Chen's divine sense went into the gold seal without any obstacles at all.

Every movement of wind and gra.s.s within a radius of 166 meters around him was visible in his mind. Every floating micron-spot fluttered in the air like a feather.

That should be nimbus.

Shiao Chen became a bit excited. After his divine sense entered the gold seal, it was magnified for five times. This might be a kind of unparalleled ability of the gold seal!

The divine sense was taken back slowly from all around. Shiao Chen scanned the furnace with his divine sense. Suddenly, his eyes became focused and brightened. Now, with divine sense, he could see clearly all the changes in the medicine furnace. In his eyes, it was no longer a fusion of drugs, but a more essential being – medicinal efficacy!

Alchemy was created by cultivators who continuously tried and probed via many years of trial and experiment. By combining the power contained in various kinds of spirit herbs, they refined various effective elixirs. But even the best alchemist in the world, or the man whose cultivation achieved Mastery, would never notice the changes of medicinal efficacy in spiritual pills. The ability Shiao Chen owned now already exceeded the understanding of the cultivation world!

From now on, any spiritual pill was no longer a challenge in front of Shiao Chen. As long as he had seen the finished product, knowing how to combine the medicinal efficacy, he was able to formulate his own materials and have them refined according to the example!

"Tong!" A noise came out of the furnace. With no one in control, alchemy failed as expected.

Shiao Chen opened his eyes, paying no attention to it. He was excited in some way. He took a few deep breathes to calm down. In an instant he took out a Spirits-gathering Pill from the storage bag. Then he scanned the pill with his divine sense and instantly he understood the combination of the medicinal efficacy. After carefully scrutinizing it for several times, Shiao Chen slowly withdrew his divine sense.

The herb residues inside the furnace was quickly cleaned up. Shiao Chen waved his hand to input a bit of spiritual power, then the furnace again sent out bursts of heat. Shiao Chen opened the furnace and threw in all the materials needed for making Spirits-gathering Pills. Since he was able to perceive the change of the medicinal efficacy, he could made some change later. Naturally, he did not have to worry about the sequence of placing the herbs any more.

When herbs entered the furnace, they soon turned into traces of medicine juices and blended together. Shiao Chen did not dare to be careless, and his divine sense was wholly integrated in. Then he began to rearrange the herbal potency according to the combination of medicinal efficacy of the Spirits-gathering Pill he just saw a moment ago.

Faint fragrance of pills came out of the furnace, and at this moment, it became more intense. Suddenly, Shiao Chen, whose eyes were originally closed, suddenly opened his eyes and shouted in a low voice, "Complete!"

In an instant, the fragrance of pills in the furnace suddenly became so strong. Shiao Chen opened the furnace carefully and several round pills were lying quietly in the furnace.

He made it!

Ecstasy burst out of Shiao Chen’s heart suddenly. He took out a pill from the furnace and held it in his hand. After carefully comparing it with the finished one for quite a while, he was sure that indeed it was exactly the same as the one owned by him.

With the help of gold seal, the alchemy of elixir was no longer difficult for Shiao Chen. What’s more, there was such a wonderful secret garden here, in which grew all kinds of spiritual herbs..

With all these opportunities, Shiao Chen's cultivation in the future was immeasurable!

Gold Core...or even Nascent Soul was not impossible as long as he was given the time.

Thinking of this, Shiao Chen was trembling with excitement.

Half a day later, Shiao Chen calmed down and looked meditatively at the Spirits-gathering Pill in his hands.

"Although the Spirits-gathering Pill has been successfully refined, there are still some error combinations of medicinal efficacy when scanning with divine sense. Are they necessary for refining pills?"

"Or it means that this is a flaw in the pill? If it can be corrected, what will it be like? Will the grade of the pill be promoted?”

Any kind of pill was divided into three grades of high, middle and low as well as the top grade existed only in legends. But in today's cultivation world, cultivators mostly took pills of low grade. The middle grade pills were extremely scarce, since the rate of successfully refining them was extremely low. As to the high grade and top grade, he had never heard of their existence.

Anyhow, the materials for refining Spirits-gathering Pill were not unusual, so Shiao Chen soon collected several copies and put them in front of him before he started to refine pills again.

This time when combining the medicinal efficacy, after completing the fixed part, Shiao Chen began to decompose and recombine the garbled medicinal efficacy.

As time pa.s.sed, Shiao Chen's face became a little pale. He closed his eyes, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Tong!" There came a noise from the furnace. Shiao Chen opened his eyes at the same time, his face looking gloomy.

The divine sense needed for separating the garbled medicinal efficacy was several times more than that needed for simply combining it. A moment ago, Shiao Chen had carefully decomposed the most part, but because the divine sense was consumed too much, some mistakes took place, messing up the medicinal efficacy. Naturally the refining failed!

"It seems that I am still too rash and impatient. With the present strength of my divine sense, if I want to clean up the deranged efficacy in the pill at one time, it would be like reaching for what is beyond my grasp.” Shiao Chen forced a smile and then sat on the cushion with his legs crossed. The experiment could only be continued tomorrow since his divine sense had been consumed too much today.

The next day, Shiao Chen opened his eyes and resumed his energy. After a night’s meditation, the spiritual power in his body became more replete. It seemed that his breakthrough to phase two of Qi Refining would not be far.

Cleaning up the herb residues in the furnace, Shiao Chen again put in a copy of materials needed for refining Spirits-gathering Pills.

When the pills were ready, Shiao Chen began to decompose the medicinal efficacy again. However, this time, he kept a close eye out for his divine sense and withdrew immediately when he decomposed nearly a half. Opening the furnace, he saw the dozens of Spirits-gathering Pills whose color, fragrance and appearance were greatly enhanced. Shiao Chen beamed with delight.

Middle grade Spirits-gathering Pills!

Sure enough, his conjecture was correct. If he continued to decompose the deranged combination of medicinal efficacy, then the high-grade and even the top-grade pills would no longer be difficult for Shiao Chen.

Shiao Chen carefully put a dozen of middle-grade Spirits-gathering Pills into a jade bottle and stored it in a storage bag. There was a bit rumination on Shiao Chen's face. With the help of gold seal, his cultivation speed had become extremely amazing. At this moment, together with the almost rigged alchemy means, his cultivation pace would certainly increase at quite a leap with the help of the spiritual pills he refined.

For quite some time after that, Shiao Chen had been refining spiritual pills.

When his spiritual force and divine sense were used up, he swallowed pills and meditated for cultivation. In this way, his cultivation pace quickened by leaps and bounds, progressing extremely fast.

Chapter 19 Sect Fair

Through his continuous experiments, he found that with the power of his present divine sense he could at most refine elixirs for cultivators at Foundation Establishment. Decomposing effects of elixirs to improve their grade was beyond his capability. Besides, refining elixirs for cultivators at Foundation Establishment would consume too much power of his divine sense and it was much more cost-efficient to refine elixirs for Qi Refining, so Shiao Chen only refined over 10 elixirs for Foundation Establishment in case of need when he broke through and he used all time left to refine Spirits-gathering Pills and other elixirs for Qi Refining. With the increased times of refining elixirs, the divine sense and time used in refining elixirs kept decreasing, which also helped accelerate his speed of cultivating.

As a nominal disciple, Shiao Chen was appreciated by Alchemy Taoist to some extent due to his composed personality, but without spiritual root, plus long-time absence from others’ eyesight, gradually, he, a nominal disciple, seemed to have been forgotten by all.

But it was within this half a year that Shiao Chen remolded himself, just like a caterpillar broke the coc.o.o.n and became a b.u.t.terfly. He officially stepped on the road of cultivation.

In the stone house, Shiao Chen, who was cultivating with eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes. Some halo seemed to appear on his face but disappeared instantly. He sent off his divine sense in all directions. And taking the herb garden on the hillside as the center, nothing within a radius of over 330m could escape his perception.

“The seventh level of Qi Refining!” Shiao Chen clenched his fist forcefully with a slight smile on his face. During the half a year, he kept eating all kinds of elixirs for Qi Refining. His cultivation had been improving at high speed and finally reached the seventh level of Qi Refining!

Such a cultivation speed even surpa.s.sed that of those so-called genius of big sects.

“Go!”

Shiao Chen paralleled his fingers and shouted in a low voice. Suddenly a spiritual sword was up and flew around him for three times, and then slowly stopped in front of him. Shiao Chen nodded with satisfaction. This was a high-grade spirit tool, belonging to Black Ghost before. Now after being tempered for half a year, it finally could move as he wanted it to. Shiao Chen controlled the sword and played for some more time, and then he reluctantly put it into a storage bag. With his present cultivation, he could fly by steering his sword, but he didn’t want to expose his power, or big troubles would come to him.

“Although I’m at the seventh level of Qi Refining, I do not have any attacking incantations and can’t exploit my power to the full. So, it seems a good time to practice some attacking incantations.” Shiao Chen contemplated with a thoughtful look that the Plants Growing Scripture he was practicing had a threshold so low that it didn’t have any magical power.

After half a day, Shiao Chen walked out of the herb garden on the hillside and slowly went out of the valley after covering the entrance of the cave carefully. The Mirage Formation and the Forewarning Formation were still running and there were no traces of force entrance. Shiao Chen nodded satisfactorily, replaced two spiritual stones with little spirit power left and then went out of the valley.

Half a year before, when he joined Luoyun Valley, he was just a normal kid without any magical power.

Half a year later, he got the gold seal, with which he learnt the formidable techniques of refining medicine. From then on, he could do whatever he wanted to!

When thinking about the changes happened in the half a year, Shiao Chen couldn’t help but smile faintly.

Luoyun Valley was not very big but had a large number of disciples, so it was impossible for the sect to provide everyone all things needed for cultivation. In this case, a Sect Fair among disciples formed gradually.

On the first and fifteenth day of every month, disciples who wanted to attend the Sect Fair had to hand in one spirit stone as admission fee and then they could get a black gown which could block the perception of others’ divine sense. After all those present at the fair were not all acquaintances or good friends, and no one would like to be targeted secretly by others. Although they belonged to the same sect, there were fights among disciples for treasures on the sly.

Shiao Chen arrived at the Sect Fair, handed in a spirit stone to the disciple in charge with a vacant expression and walked in with a black gown.

This black gown was really magical for Shiao Chen tried to get his divine sense through it but failed. He was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining but with the power of the gold seal, his divine sense was no inferior than that of a cultivator at the preliminary level of Foundation Establishment. Therefore, he relaxed to some extent.

“Hey guys, it’s time. It seems that we are all that attend this Sect Fair today. So, I will throw a sprat and be the first one to introduce goods.” There came a husky voice. Clearly, he changed his voice for fear of being identified.

All people at the Sect Fair would do this so no one was surprised.

“I have five Fireball Talismans, one spirit stone each.” After this, he took out five deep yellow talismans from his storage bag. Shiao Chen raised his head and found that they were surely the same as the one given by Liu Tao.

This first grade Fireball Talisman being triggered by spirit power could give a strike like that of a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining. Shiao Chen just gave it a glance and turned away. Now he was at the seventh level of Qi Refining and this kind of talisman was not attractive to him at all.

But not all disciples had the same cultivation as him. Cultivation at the fifth level of Qi Refining was powerful to some extent among disciples of Luoyun Valley, because after all the majority of them were at the second or third level. And even direct disciples who could reach the fifth level of Qi Refining should at least have talents above the average.

Therefore, lots of people wanted to exchange Fireball Talisman. However, there were many others like Shiao Chen who were not interested.

Not surprisingly, these people were real aces who turned their noses at it.

The exchange of the Fireball Talisman was finished very quickly. And then another person stepped forward.

“One low grade spirit tool. Only exchange for spirit stones and elixirs. The highest bidder gets it!”

A spirit tool!

It could only be widely used by cultivators at Foundation Establishment. And it was rare for one at Qi Refining to have a spirit tool.

After seeing clearly that a campilan tulwar like spirit tool was circling around the speaker slowly, disciples of Luoyun Valley were so excited that they started to bid and mark it up.

“15 low grade spirit stones!”

“20 low grade spirit stones!”

“I bid 30. Do not compete with me! This spirit tool is mine!”

“Bah, wanna use 30 spirit stones to exchange for a spirit tool? So inexperienced and ignorant! I bid 50!”

After bidding for some time, there were only 2 people still marking up the price.

“200! These are all I have.” Although the speaker spoke under her breath, judging from her pet.i.t figure, she was a woman for sure. Hesitating for a while, she added, “This spirit tool is very important to me and I will add three pieces of Heart-soothing Powder in order to exchange for it.”

Heart-soothing Powder was also a spirit herb for cultivators at Qi Refining. It could soothe the nerves and improve the effects of cultivation when used. But its grade was really low, even lower than Spirit-gathering Pills and could be barely cla.s.sified into the first grade.

Chapter 20 All-embracing Palm Attacks

“I also bid 200 spirit stones, plus 2 Spirit-gathering Pills.” The other bidder hesitated for a while and said slowly. This price was also the highest he could give. If his rival kept marking it up, he had no choice but to give up.

“Hey, does this junior sister want to keep bidding? If not, this spirit tool will be his.” The owner of the spirit tool said with a smile on face. What he could get from this exchange made him very fulfilled.

“I will add one Spirit-refining Pill. If this senior brother marks it up, then this spirit tool will be his.” The girl said this while biting her teeth.

“Meh, it seems that I do not have the luck to own this spirit tool. It’s yours, junior sister.” The other compet.i.tor forced a smile and stepped aside.

The girl joyfully exchanged with the owner. She played with it for a while, then put it into her storage bag and left in a hurry.

Shiao Chen looked at the shadow of another leaving figure, frowned slightly and hesitated for a while. But then he kept still with a vacant expression.

During the quarter followed, many people took out their goods to exchange with others. But Shiao Chen kept frowning until now he didn’t get any information about attacking incantation. Did he have to go back empty-handed?

At this time, a man in the corner who had been silent said suddenly, “I have some remaining chapters of a book. I found it accidently in an ancient cave but couldn’t read and understand the words on it. But I can guarantee that these remaining chapters are quite something. If any one of you could decode its content, it will definitely make your life different. For exchanging this book, only elixirs are accepted.”

Shiao Chen raised his head and saw some faint yellow pieces of paper in that man’s hand. His body stiffened a little bit but returned to normal instantly. However, instantaneously his face hidden under the black gown was no longer vacant but full of joy.

All-embracing Palm Attacks!

The words on these remaining chapters were the same as those in Soul Muddling Scripture inscribed on the gold seal. Although the words were like tadpoles, they were ancient and elegant as if they were made by the nature. With just one glance, one would know that it was by no means ordinary.

Shiao Chen was determined to get these remaining chapters. Judging from the cover, the book should have certain incantation in it. And since he got the Soul Muddling Scripture, Shiao Chen knew deeply that books written in such ancient words were all marvelous without exception.

These remaining chapters seemed extraordinary, but no one could identify the words in it and only elixirs were accepted for exchange. So, if it couldn’t be decoded, then it was a big loss.

So, the crowd looked at each other and for a while no one bid for it.

“10 Spirits-gathering Pills and these remaining chapters are mine!” Just at this point, these words were suddenly heard from the entrance.

“Senior Brother, Chu Kuang!”

“It is said that Brother Chu Kuang has reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. He doesn’t take the Foundation Establishment Pill to establish his foundation for the sake of dealing with the compet.i.tion in half a year. However, it is said that Brother Chu Kuang is so powerful that even cultivators at the preliminary level of Foundation Establishment can barely defeat him.”

“Why does Brother Chu Kuang come here? He bids 10 Spirits-gathering Pills for these remaining chapters. It seems that they are really something.”

Shiao Chen lifted up his head and looked at the man who walked in from the entrance. Even though he seldom went out, he also had heard of this so called strongest young man among Luoyun Valley.

Chu Kuang was about 22 or 23, in clothes of coa.r.s.e linen and with a huge sword on back, having a domineering imposing manner. As he walked towards the crowd, there was a strong visual impact for all.

Although he didn’t wear the black gown, no one seemed surprised. Obviously, this was not the first time he had done so.

“Brother Chu Kuang!” Everyone cupped his hands and saluted to him except Shiao Chen and a few others who didn’t make a move but just gave him a glance.

“10 Spirits-gathering Pills for these remaining chapters.” Chu Kuang ignored the crowd, went straightly to that disciple of Luoyungu and said this to him.

Shiao Chen frowned slightly. The best choice for him at this moment was to keep a low profile. The more attention he attracted, the more likely it was to expose his ident.i.ty. If it was known that he, a person without spiritual root, could reach the seventh level of Qi Refining in just half a year, his good days would come to an end. However, intuition told Shiao Chen that All-embracing Palm Attacks was extremely important. If he missed it, he must be really regretful.

With frowned eyebrows, he slowly stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Wait a moment. I bid 20 Spirits-gathering Pills for these remaining chapters."

A total silence ensued. Even those who ignored Chu Kuang before looked at Shiao Chen with surprise.

How dare he compete with Brother Chu Kuang! Was he courting death?

At this point, the crowd all looked at Shiao Chen with gird, thinking where this stupid and reckless guy came from and how dare him show off here.

Chu Kuang turned around after hearing these words, suddenly gave off great power and stared at Shiao Chen without a blink. Although he didn’t say a word, it was enough to terrify those who were mentally unstable and with low levels of cultivation.

Shiao Chen remained expressionless. Since he decided to compete for it, he would not back off. He looked straight at Chu Kuang like an island in the sea, standing erect and unshakable without even the slightest change of his breath.

Chu Kuang was surprised and gradually became more serious. He originally thought that Shiao Chen was just a reckless boy. However, after this trial, he understood that the person in front of him was definitely a master, otherwise he had no way to keep his calm under the power he imposed.

“35 Spirits-gathering Pills!” Chu Kuang opened his slightly thick lips and said in a depressed voice.

“50!”

Shiao Chen showed no sign of giving up. During the past half a year, what he had refined most was Spirits-gathering Pills. Even if he ate them every day when mediating, there were still hundreds of pills left in his storage bag.

As for the number of elixirs, there was no one in Luoyun Valley could compete with him except his Master, Alchemy Taoist.

Chu Kuang looked sullen. Hesitating for a while, he said with hands folded in front, “I don’t who you are, but since you can take out so many elixirs, I guess you must be a disciple of the Elixir Valley. I’m on friendly terms with your senior brother Duan Huaming. Besides, these remaining chapters are useful to me. I bid one Small-restoration Pill and 30 Spirits-gathering Pills. Junior brother, please give it up and stop competing with me.”

If it were some ordinary people, Chu Kuang might have already been impatient and beaten him down. But now he couldn’t see Shiao Chen through and had some scruples. That was why he still pleaded with tactful words.

“I’m sorry but these remining chapters are also very useful to me, so I can’t give them up.” Shiao Chen snorted in his heart. If Chu Kuang mentioned another person, Shiao Chen would have some scruples. But he would deal with Duan Huaming sooner or later, so there was no need to save face for him.

“One Spirit-nourishing Pill and 50 Spirits-gathering Pills.” Spirit-nourishing Pills were used for restoring spirit power for cultivators at Foundation Establishment. Even for Shiao Chen, he had only refined over 10 pills.

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help gasping in astonishment and looked at Shiao Chen differently.

In Luoyun Valley, he dared not to give face to senior brother Chu Kuang and Duan Huaming. This kind of things had never happened before. Who this guy was? How dare he act so arrogantly?

Chu Kuang knitted his eyebrows tightly, suddenly turned around and walked out of the fair. Soon he disappeared from their sight.

After Chu Kuang left, everyone stared at Shiao Chen bluntly which kind of exhausted Shiao Chen’s patience. He said in a cold voice, “Since there is no one competing with me, let’s exchange.”

“You bid the highest price, then this is yours.” The owner of the remining chapters said lightly.

Touching the remining chapters of All-embracing Palm Attacks, Shiao Chen felt happy in his heart. But it was not time to read it and the current priority was to leave here immediately. Shiao Chen put these remining chapters into his storage bag and scanned around secretly only to find that many of their eyes flickered greed when looking at him. He sneered in the heart and turned away directly.

Meantime, another five or six people left just after him.

After getting out of the Sect Fair, Shiao Chen swept behind him with his divine sense. Then he laughed grimly and walked in a really fast speed towards one direction.

“Ahem, where is he? I saw clearly that he was here.”

“How could he disappear all of a sudden? He can’t just fly away!”

“Be quick to search the way ahead and don’t let him escape.”

The five or six of them seemed utterly discomfited and went forward in a fast speed.

Behind a cl.u.s.ter of gra.s.s a dozen miles away from where these people were, Shiao Chen smiled complacently. With the help of the concealing function of Soul Muddling Scripture, how could these small potatoes find him.

He stood up, inadvertently glancing at a certain place behind him, and then flew away in a fast speed.

Right after he left, the air of the place where he glanced at jittered. Then a person walked out of the air. That was Chu Kuang.

“Could he see through my tricks of Invisibility?” The glance Shiao Chen gave before he left seemed to gain an insight into his heart, which made Chu Kuang really shocked. But after hesitating for a while, he still leapt into the air and tailed behind Shiao Chen prudently.

During his flying, Shiao Chen sensed someone was following him. He couldn’t hep but sneer and abruptly changed his direction towards the deserted mountain behind Luoyun Valley.

“Ok, there should be on one here. I can finish him here.” Shiao Chen’s gaze looked sharp and cold but that disappeared transiently. Right at this moment, sounds of fighting were suddenly heard from the ground.

“Aha, where could you hide now? This spirit tool has been marked by me, so no matter how far you run, I can always catch you!”

“What do you want? We are all disciples of Luoyun Valley. If you dare to hurt me, the sect will not let you go easily.” A woman reproached, but there were obvious panic and frailness in her voice.

“Oh, I’m so scared! Actually, this place is deserted and even if I kill you here, who knows I’m the murderer. But don’t worry. Before killing you, I will give you an unforgettable s.e.xual experience.”

Shiao Chen frowned. He never expected to run into such kind of things. While he was thinking about it, those on the ground discovered him.

“Brother, please save me! This man disregards the fraternity of the same sect and wants to kill me.”

Chapter 21 Killing the Enemy with Divine Sense

Shiao Chen now had his own business to mind and didn’t want to meddle in others’ affairs. But when he was hesitating, a sudden surge of spirit power came behind him.

Humph!

Shiao Chen snorted quietly and dodged to the side abruptly. Then a campilan tulwar like spirit tool appeared and slammed down from no where

“Hem, I didn’t expect you to be capable enough to get away from what I have set up for you. But since you have known my plan, then there is no way for you to leave here safe and sound.”

Shiao Chen looked down coldly, only to find that a man, in black gown and with a mole at the corner of his mouth, held a campilan tulwar like spirit tool and stared at him with a murderous look. This man clearly wanted to take his life with that hit; and Shiao Chen almost couldn’t constrain the thought of killing him. However, thinking about the person tailing him, he frowned slightly and kind of held that thought back.

“Well, young man, you can only blame your bad luck for coming to this place at this exact time!” Seeing the hesitation on Shiao Chen’s face, the man felt more a.s.sured and instantly rose from the ground with his spirit tool in hand. Although this place was deserted, there were still chances of being discovered by others; and if that happened, he would die a tragic death.

Sharpness and coldness flashed through Shiao Chen’s eyes. This man was at least at the seventh level of Qi Refining and had attacking incantations. If they fought, Shiao Chen wound be defeated before long. And by that time, he would be in big trouble.

“Just fight!” Shiao Chen made up his mind decisively and cruelly. His divine sense broke out, turning into a sharp cone that shot straight to the man in black.

Sense-stabbing Awl!

Included in Soul Muddling Scripture, it was a preliminary divine sense attacking method, with other two advanced forms—Sense-killing Awl and Destruction Wave. It was said that the latter one, if mastered fully, could wound immortal cultivators of None Descending heavily. But without enough power, Shiao Chen could only use Sense-killing Awl once per time. With his present divine sense, magnified five times by his gold seal, even cultivators at the preliminary stage of Foundation Establishment would be wounded heavily if attacked by surprise. He originally prepared to use this to deal with the man following him, but now he had to use it in advance. Otherwise if entangled with this man, he would have to face much bigger trouble.

Hum!

Divine sense attack made no sound, but the body of the man in black shook abruptly and some light green light suddenly appeared, surrounding him. Meantime, Shiao Chen also felt that his divine sense seemed to have hit on the cotton, giving him a complicated feeling.

“Divine sense attack! Shiao Chen must a cultivator at Foundation Establishment!” the man in black suddenly looked horror-struck and kept begging, “I was as blind as a bat to offend you. Which Uncle Master are you? I’m the direct disciple of Kui Shuizi. Uncle Master, for the sake of my Master, please spare me this time.”

At the fifth level of Qi Refining, one could split the divine sense from his body. But if one wanted to attack with divine sense, he had to reach Foundation Establishment!

Shiao Chen’s eyes became sharp and cold, thinking that this man had to die or he had no way to intimidate the man following him; and, if so, he would be dangerous.

“Go to h.e.l.l!”

A low shout came under the black gown. With the mad attacks of the Sense-stabbing Awl, the green shield of that man in black instantly gave off dense clacking sounds and was immediately covered with cracks.

“Ah, you can’t kill me, or my Master will definitely avenge for my death.” The man in black shouted with terror. Seeing Shiao Chen had no plan to stop the attack, he became brutal and malicious, “If you kill me today, what awaits you will be the ceaseless hunting down of Master Mo Li.”

Another cracking sound came!

A jade wore by the man in black broke abruptly and then the green shield. The Sense-stabbing Awl impaled his body. The terrifying look on the man’s face gradually disappeared. But when he was dying, a black light suddenly flew out of his body and shot into Shiao Chen’s body.

This accident made Shiao Chen sullen on the spot. Scanning his body with divine sense, he found a weird black rune in his soul. It must be a special mark that could be perceived by Mo Li so as to find who killed his disciple. This made Shiao Chen even more sullen.

“Thank you…Thank you for saving me, Uncle Master.” Lin Yao’er said with a terrified look. This Master in front of her was so brutal and killed the man in black in a blink of eyes. She was startled, worrying if he would kill her in order to b.u.t.ton up her lips.

“All right, it’s over. You can leave now.” Shiao Chen said while waving his hand. He deliberately changed his voice into that of a middle-aged man about 30 years old.

Lin Yao’er felt so lucky and happy after hearing this and prepared to leave after saluted to him reverently.

“Wait!” Shiao Chen said all of a sudden.

Hearing this, Lin Yao’er was startled, but still turned around docilely and looked at the “Uncle Master” wretchedly.

Shiao Chen hesitated for a while. If he had extra power, he didn’t mind killing this girl. After all, letting her go would greatly increase the chances of exposing himself. But using Sense-stabbing Awl consumed too much of his divine sense and it was hard for him to accomplish such a mission now. Besides, if the man tailing him caught a glimpse of his real condition, he would really be in danger. So eventually, he decided to let this girl walk out of here.

“This spirt tool is what you have exchanged. Take it away with you.”

Lin Yao’er was in a trance and then felt so grateful. She again reverently saluted to Shiao Chen and put that campilan tulwar like spirit tool into her storage bag.

“Uncle Master, please rest a.s.sured. I swear to Internal Demon that I won’t tell what happened here to anyone else.”

Watching the girl left, Shiao Chen relaxed to some extent. The reason he was so gracious was that he wanted the girl to be so grateful that she would promise to keep this secret. But he didn’t expect this girl to directly swear to Internal Demon, which really relaxed him.

Internal Demon was very efficacious for cultivators. If one went back against his words, he would surely end up being obsessed and ruined.

Shiao Chen stood there for some time and until Lin Yao’er had walked far away enough, he turned around and said slightly to the vacant land about 10 meters from him, “How much longer will you keep watching, friend? Do you really want me to ask you to come out?”

After some airwaves, Chu Kuang came out with an awe-stricken face, reverently saluted and said, “Uncle Master, I’m Chu Kuang.”

Shiao Chen looked at Chu Kuang without saying a word and didn’t expose even a breath of his. But doing this only made him more inscrutable. Gradually, a layer of fine sweats emerged on Chu Kuang’s face.

“Uncle Master, please don’t blame me. I follow you out of good intentions. I can also swear to Internal Demon that I will never impart what happened today to anyone else. Uncle Master, please forgive me.”

Shiao Chen, with a vacant expression on his face, made no comments about what Chu Kuang said; instead, he just stared at him emotionlessly.

Chu Kuang kept sweating on his head and pleaded again, “Uncle Master, the reason I follow you is definitely not vicious. I’m just curious about these remining chapters, so please, please do spare me this time.”

“Oh, is that so?” Shiao Chen said in a plain voice, without any changes in his tone.

Chu Kuang’s face whitened. Seeing Shiao Chen did not seem to believe what he had said, he continued decisively, “I know a little about the words in the remining chapters of All-embracing Palm Attacks, but what I know is limited. Half a year ago, I accidently got an ancient map handed down from time immemorial and it was guessed that it could lead to the adobe of a certain cultivator in ancient times. I have tried to explore deep into it, but don’t have the power to get to its end. That’s why I care so much about these remining chapters and followed you here. I just want to make sure if you really can recognize and understand this type of words.”

Chapter 22 The Tenth Level of Qi Refining

After hearing this, Shiao Chen was shocked. A treasure map in tadpole words was definitely extraordinary. Thinking for a while, he said slowly, “You’re right. I do know something about this type of words. Are you asking me to explore the adobe of an ancient immortal with you?”

“Yeah, otherwise with my cultivation, I have no way to get the treasure inside it. I just hope you Master could leave some stuff to me when we make it.” Chu Kuang’s face was so pale, but he insisted on finishing this.

Shiao Chen kept silent for a while and then responded slowly, “I have to consider it for some time. If you will, wait me here five months later and I will give you my answer.”

“Ok, five months later, I will wait for you here, Uncle Master.” Chu Kuang said reverently with his face lit up slightly.

Shiao Chen nodded, then got off the ground and flew to the distance.

Watching the disappearing shadow of Shiao Chen, Chu Kuang kept changing his expressions, and murmured, “This man can attack with his divine sense, so he should be a cultivator at Foundation Establishment. One suspected cultivator at Foundation Establishment and two cultivators at the eighth level of Qi Refining should be enough…Demon Lord…” His voice kept decreasing and finally became obscure.

After quite some time, Chu Kuang left by riding his light shield.

Shiao Chen swept behind him with his divine sense for several times to make sure no one was following him, and then he landed in a forest. He got off that black gown, put it into his storage bag and then went directly to the herbal garden by riding his light shield.

With the right incarnation and gestures, a road appeared among the fog outside of the valley. And after Shiao Chen walked in, the road disappeared like nothing had ever happened.

Shiao Chen checked carefully and after seeing those intact dead leaves on the ground, he nodded satisfactorily and picked them up. It seemed that no one had entered this valley while he was out.

Hesitating for a while, Shiao Chen gave up the idea of casting a defensive spell in the valley; otherwise, as a nominal disciple, he took so much trouble to protect himself, which might be counterproductive to bring too much unnecessary attention.

After entering the herbal garden, Shiao Chen took out a Soul-nourishing Elixir from his storage bag and ate it to help restore his divine sense. Then he sat down, closed his eyes and started to meditate.

Every two hours, he would open his eyes, ate another elixir and then kept meditating.

After 10 hours, Shiao Chen restored all divine sense consumed with the help of large quant.i.ties of elixirs. It was only he who could ate so many elixirs so freely. It would be impossible for anyone else to restore the divine sense without sitting and meditating for three to five days.

“The tadpole words mentioned an adobe of an ancient cultivator! Aha, I’m afraid it won’t be that simple. But five months later, I stand a good chance of establishing my foundation successfully. By that time, I have the say about going or not. The top priority now is to practice the All-embracing Palm Attacks so as to have more means of saving my life when in danger.”

The fight today made Shiao Chen realize his deficiency. If he hadn’t overawed Chu Kuang with his imposing manner, he would probably get into a deadly combat.

Shiao Chen took out the remining chapters of All-embracing Palm Attacks. It was silky but its texture was neither silk nor paper. He tried to rip it but failed even though he really had put forth some strength. Shiao Chen couldn’t help but marvel at the miraculous technique of ancient cultivators.

Shiao Chen Opened the book and studied it with all his hearts. He rose his head slowly after 4 hours with joyful expression on his face.

Although these were only some remining chapters of All-embracing Palm Attacks, the content was extremely magical. If he could master it, Shiao Chen had faith in defeating cultivators at the preliminary stage of Foundation Establishment, and in escaping successfully from fights with a cultivator at middle stage of Foundation Establishment. As for cultivators at latter stage of Foundation Establishment and those who had reached the Complete, he’d better stay far away from them.

After pondering it in mind for several times and making sure there were no mistakes, Shiao Chen started to practice the first magical realm of All-embracing Palm Attacks.

……

……

Several days later, behind a forest about over 150 kilometers away from Luoyun Valley.

“One Finger Devourer!”

Shiao Chen looked solemnly and shouted in a low voice. The spirit power in his body ran quickly to his arm, flowed in his meridians and gave off an air of danger. A finger of his left hand pointed up to the sky and a bright black light suddenly burst out of it like a sharp sword pointing at the sky, so arrogant and domineering.

“Go!”

A bright black light shot out; it was so powerful that even the s.p.a.ce fluctuated wherever it pa.s.sed through. Like a dull thunder, it hit a huge green rock about 10 meters in diameter over 33 meters away and cracked it into pieces, causing debris splashing and snapping old trees nearby. Its power was quite formidable.

The face of Shiao Chen was slightly pale and he took out several Spirit-gathering Pills from his storage bag and swallowed them. With the help of these pills, he looked much better. Although the One Finger Devourer consumed lots of spirit power, its strike force was so mighty that it could equate to the full-might hit of a cultivator at preliminary stage of Foundation Establishment.

“One Finger Devourer almost consumed half of my spirit power. In matter of life or death, I can use it. The double attack’s strike force could be equal to that of a cultivator at middle stage of Foundation Establishment. But afterwards, I’m afraid that my spirit power should be exhausted, and I will be trampled upon at will. Therefore, I can’t use it until the most critical moment.”

Half a day later, a bright rainbow-like light flew out of the forest and towards Luoyun Valley in a fast speed.

The first realm of All-embracing Palm Attacks –One Finger Devourer – was preliminarily mastered. If he wanted to reach the second realm – Clouds and Rains Creator, his cultivation had to be at least above Gold Core. As for the third realm –Sky Ripper, there were only part of it left. So, the second realm was the zenith of these remining chapters of All-embracing Palm Attacks.

After returning to Luoyun Valley, Shiao Chen devoted himself fully into meditating, hoping to establish his foundation as early as possible.

In accordance with conventions in the cultivation world, anyone, with cultivation above the eighth level of Qi Refining and with spiritual root above average, could establish his foundation by taking Foundation Establishment Pills. But Shiao Chen knew himself well. As an ordinary person without spiritual root, the reason that he could reach the seventh level of Qi Refining in such a short time was that he could eat large numbers of elixirs to forcefully build up his power. Therefore, compared with others, it was much harder for him to establish foundation successfully. That was why he didn’t plan to establish his foundation at eighth level of Qi Refining but waited until he reached the tenth level!

In the view of cultivators, they could establish foundation at the eighth level of Qi Refining. In this case, the ninth level was rare and as for the tenth level, it hadn’t appeared for thousands of years.

And Shiao Chen’s goal was to reach the tenth level!

Swallowing pills, meditating, swallowing pills again, and then meditating…

Shiao Chen’s life was extremely dull. Apart from the occasional suspension of cultivation to refine elixirs when he ran out of them, he had never left the futon. But cultivating so crazily really paid off. His speed of cultivating was shocking. He only took half a month to reach the eighth level of Qi Refining, about a month to the ninth level and just two months to the tenth level!

He only took three and a half months to upgrade from the seventh level of Qi Refining to the tenth level, a speed that, if spread away, would definitely drive all cultivators crazy.

Chapter 23 Conflicts

This day, Shiao Chen slowly opened his eyes and faint luminescence flashed across his face. He seemed to be more composed with a sense of detachment in his eyes.

"Marginal benefits of medicinal pills decline as the level increases. I'm now at the 10th level of Qi Refining, which seems to be the cap for the pill benefits to play. It's of little use taking more. And next, I need to get prepared for Foundation Establishment." A sense of excitement arose on Shiao Chen's face. Who would ever imagine that the boy without spiritual root could reach the 10th level of Qi Refining in about just half a year!

"Foundation Establishment Pill." The thought followed.

About nearly half a day, Shiao Chen left the herbal garden again and headed to Elixir Valley. Though he was a master in alchemy, he could not make a pill out of nothing. What was more, to his disappointment, there happened to be no Foundation Establishment Pills in the storage bags he plundered. Thus, he was out for a Foundation Establishment Pill or at least he needed to know its efficacy composition. Elixir Valley was a vital place in Luoyun Valley, for it was the only place for pill production. Though Alchemy Taoist was just at the late-stage of Foundation Establishment, he was respected and befriended by others, including the Chief Master who was at the middle-stage of Gold Core. Alchemy Taoist was not keen on taking disciples and until now had only five disciples including Shiao Chen, a nominal one. However, lay disciples recruited to take care of herbs and manage gardens amounted to about a hundred.

Now, Alchemy Taoist was trying to break through to the next stage, Gold Core, which inevitably greatly improved the status of Elixir Valley.

w.a.n.g Erma was supervising about a hundred of his subordinates who were busy drying harvested herbs stored in the warehouse. Occasionally, rebukes from w.a.n.g Erma were heard, which made him awe-inspiring.

"Be quick! Move, move, move! Get the remaining herbs out and dry them in appropriate places."

"Be careful. These are materials for Spirits-recovering Pills. You certainly can't afford the reimburs.e.m.e.nt once damaged."

"Are you blind? Those are Cryptostylis, which are different from these. And if exposed to the sun, they will lose their medicinal value. Get these back as soon as you can."

After issuing orders for a while, w.a.n.g Erma found his mouth went dry. He turned around, sat beside the stone table, poured himself a cup of water, and drank it. Seeing his subordinates busy executing his orders, he got a little bit complacent. If it were not for his wisdom to attach himself to Senior Brother Duan, there was no way for him to get the position as a leader.

Shiao Chen walked slowly into Elixir Valley. As a nominal disciple of Alchemy Taoist, he was allowed to get in and out of the valley at any time. Seeing the busy scene in front of him, a faint smile arose on his face. He was once one of them.

Identifying an acquaintance pa.s.sing by, Shiao Chen smiled and said, "How come our supervisor drying herbs himself. I remember you've said that you need to remain dignified as a leader. So how come the transformation occurs suddenly."

w.a.n.g Bin was happy and a little surprised to see Shiao Chen. Having heard Shiao Chen's words, he was a little embarra.s.sed. He managed a smile and said, "It is you, Brother Shiao Chen. I haven't seen you for more than half a year. Things have changed for long. I'm no longer the leader. The Elder puts Senior Brother Duan in charge before his closed-door training. And Brother Duan didn’t think I did well."

Though w.a.n.g Bin pretended that it was no big deal, Shiao Chen still could see something from his eyes.

"Is it because of me?" Shiao Chen asked with a deep voice and sullen face.

"Em…, Brother Duan once spoke ill of you and I couldn't help retorting him with a few words. He was irritated and replaced me with a sycophant." Speaking of this, he got a little bit indignant.

His words put Shiao Chen in an even worse mood. However, before he could say anything, there came a sharp reprimand.

"w.a.n.g Bin, do not talk to irrelevant people when you are doing your job. Or I may a.s.sume you're not interested in taking your job any more. All right, if you mean it, pack your things up, get your a.s.s out of here and be a lay disciple. Despite difficulties, there are plenty of disciples fighting their way for a place in our Elixir Valley."

Speaking in an arrogant tone, w.a.n.g Erma apparently recognized Shiao Chen. He knew that Shiao Chen was a nominal disciple of Alchemy Taoist and was much more superior to him. However, as the saying goes, one who wants to beat a dog needs to know who its master is. He was sure that Shiao Chen wouldn’t be at odds with Senior Brother Duan. Shiao Chen, in his mind, was just a boy happened to have good fortune and was easy to be dealt with.

Hearing the reprimand, w.a.n.g Bin's face got pale. If he was driven out of the valley, his life ahead would be doomed.

Shiao Chen's face became sullen. He suddenly turned around and said lightly, "Irrelevant people? Open your d.a.m.ned sn.o.bbish eyes and take a good look. I'm the nominal disciple of the master and who the h.e.l.l do you think you are. How dare you bark in front of me."

Though without releasing his power, as Shiao Chen was now an overmatch at the 10th level of Qi Refining, invisible tension was posed. w.a.n.g Erma nearly knelt down with his heart missing a beat.

"Hehe, I wonder it is who that dare to stir up troubles in our Elixir Valley, and it turns out to be you, my junior brother Shiao Chen. Though your cultivation stage remains the same at the first level of Qi Refining after half a year, your temper gets worse." A voice with scorn came to Shiao Chen's ears. He turned around and found Duan Huaming and Ji Yuewu were coming near from the inner yard.

Shiao Chen took a glimpse of Duan Huaming, who reached the 8th level of Qi Refining in just a bit time over half a year. Not bad talent. However, they were still a world apart compared to what Shiao Chen got.

Then he glanced at Ji Yuewu, amazement flashing by his eyes. The 7th level of Qi Refining! He himself only managed to reach the 10th level with the help of the gold seal and endless pills. However, she was able to do this solely based on her talent without external support. She certainly got an excellent spiritual root! Shiao Chen was startled but remained poker-faced. And then he greeted smilingly, "Sister Ji, I haven't seen you for a while. How have you been?"

Glancing at Shiao Chen, Ji Yuewu was surprised to find that he was composed, neither cringing nor arrogant. Though not talented at all, he seemed to be a mystery, shrewd and scheming. His once rash act of walking right into her suddenly occurred to her. A faint blush came into her cheeks, but she controlled the emotion quickly and answered insipidly, "I'm fine. Thanks for your concern."

Duan Huaming was irritated by Shiao Chen's disregard and gnashed his teeth in anger after seeing the blush flashing across Ji Yuewu's face. In the past six months, Ji Yuewu's progress astonished the whole Sect. The Chief Master met her in person and named her as a core disciple. Besides, she had an extremely pretty face, and then was naturally recognized by four branches as the "Top One Beauty in Luoyun Valley". She also enjoyed a reputation as a fairy on earth. Duan Huaming had been trying to get her attention but failed all the time. Now a burst of resentment came out of his heart for Ji Yuewu acted like a little girl in front of Shiao Chen.

"w.a.n.g Erma, what's the matter? How can you ever irritate Brother Shiao Chen?"

Chapter 24 Foundation Establishment Pills

Seeing his patron came, w.a.n.g Erma immediately felt courageous. He at once narrated what had happened exaggeratedly and pleaded aggrievedly, “Brother Duan, please do justice to me, otherwise who will obey my orders in the future?”

Duan Huangming immediately changed into a stern look, glanced at w.a.n.g Bing sullenly and ordered coldly, “So absent-minded when working. If you damage any of these spirit herbs, even killing you cannot compensate the loss. From this day, you are expelled from Elixir Valley. Now pack all your things and get out of here.”

“Brother Duan, I was on good terms with w.a.n.g Bing in the past. And today we just had a few small talks. Do you really have to wring his neck for so little a thing?” Shiao Chen looked gloomy and argued slowly.

“Ah, brother Shiao, it is not that I want to let you lose face, but it is my duty. Before his closed-door cultivation, our master asked me to manage all affairs in Luoyun Valley. If there is any mishap or accident, it is all my fault. Therefore, this is final. Say no more, brother.”

Duan Huaming thought he had gained the upper hand and couldn’t help but felt pleased.

“What if I disagree with you?” Shiao Chen said expressionlessly.

Duan Huaming squinted his eyes and said with a cold face, “I’m afraid you do not have the qualification to disagree, brother.”

With the two giving t.i.t for tat, the atmosphere gradually became depressed.

But all of a sudden, Shiao Chen smiled slightly, turned around and said to w.a.n.g Bing, “You just go to the Outer Sect and focus on your cultivation. Trust me, you will be back soon.”

w.a.n.g Bing nodded gratefully. Although he didn’t think he had any chance to come back, it was quite generous of Shiao Chen to argue for him. w.a.n.g Bing left, and so did those outer disciples around. At last, only Shiao Chen, Duan Huaming and Ji Yuewu were there.

Thinking that he was a notch above Shiao Chen and also showed his capability in front of Ji Yuewu, Duan Huaming couldn’t help but feel complacent to some extent. He smiled slightly and said, “Brother Shiao, why do you come back to Elixir Valley instead of cultivating in the herbal garden?”

Shiao Chen just gave Duan Huaming a glance. If not that he couldn’t expose his real power now, he would have already killed Duan Huaming. But now he could only answer plainly, “I just come back to borrow a Foundation Establishment Pill from Elixir Chamber. Since Brother Duan is here, it does spare me the trouble of reporting this. Brother, please accompany me to get that elixir.”

There was an Elixir Chamber in Luoyun Valley. And Alchemy Taoist stored lots of elixirs there for his disciples to use for reference when necessary. This was the purpose of Shiao Chen journey.

“A Foundation Establishment Pill?” Astonishment flashed through Duan Huaming’s eyes.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was second grade elixir, which was the hardest to refine for it needed as much as 13 types of spirit herbs. Although these herbs were not precious but they had low rate of forming elixirs. Even if Alchemy Taoist refined it in person, he also only stood a 50-50 chance of making it.

As the first disciple of Elixir Valley, Duan Huaming had already reached the second stage of Alchemy and could refine some elixirs for cultivators at Foundation Establishment, but he just couldn’t succeed in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. Until recently after he broke through the eighth level of Qi Refining, he wanted to try again. So, he came to Elixir Chamber today to get a Foundation Establishment Pill to use as reference.

But he didn’t expect to run across Ji Yuewu here. She was well-recognized by the sect as a rare genius in hundreds of years, who not only progressed fast in cultivation but also had great talent in Alchemy. She reached the second stage of Alchemy in a short time over half a year and was planning to refine Foundation Establishment Pills now.

The two of them were the aces among the younger generations of Luoyun Valley. It was no surprise for them to try to refine Foundation Establishment Pills now, but Shiao Chen was just an ordinary person without spiritual root and what he owned was just a deserted herbal garden. It was hard to say if he had stepped over the threshold of Alchemy. How dare he thinking about refining Foundation Establishment Pills?

With this thought, Duan Huaming showed some taunt on his face and even Ji Yuewu, who was standing aside, looked shocked, but just for a sec.

“Brother Shiao, you are surely extraordinary. Even if you do not have spiritual root, you are endowed with great talent in Alchemy. Since you have confident in refining Foundation Establishment Pills now, I’m sure you will make a great coup and rank top at the alchemy a.s.sessment of our sect several months later. But unfortunately, our master only stored three Foundation Establishment Pills in Elixir Chamber for us. Some time ago, Brother Hei Shi took one and the rest were borrowed away by me and sister Yuewu today. So, it looks that you have to wait for some time.” Duan Huaming complimented, but the mocking in his tone was very obvious.

Shiao Chen frowned slightly. Without a Foundation Establishment Pill to use as reference, there was no doubt that his plan would be disturbed completely.

“If so, please pardon me for leaving now.” Shiao Chen said this without any hesitation. Since he couldn’t get a Foundation Establishment Pill here, he had to figure out other means to get one.

“Wait a minute. Brother Shiao, if you are really in an urgent need of a Foundation Establishment Pill, I can lend mine to you and let you use it first.” Ji Yuewu made the offer suddenly. Ignoring the sullen face of Duan Huaming, she took out an elixir out of her storage bag straight away and threw it to Shiao Chen.

Shiao Chen caught it with his hands, scanned it with his divine sense and then looked kind of excited. Hesitating for a while, he said with his hands folded in front of him, “Sister, thanks for your generosity. I will surely return it back to you in three months.”

After that, Shiao Chen turned around and strode out of there.

“Sister Yuewu, why did you lend your Foundation Establishment Pill to him? Shiao Chen is nothing but an ordinary person without spiritual root. How could he have the ability of refining Foundation Establishment Pills?”

“Brother Duan, I have some other things to do and gotta go now. Besides, please address me as Sister Ji.” Ji Yuewu interrupted Duan Huaming and said this indifferently. She then left directly neglecting his sullen face.

Duan Huaming looked stiff and got completely p.i.s.sed off after Ji Yuewu had walked far away. At last, he snorted and left with a scowl.

In the herbal garden on the hillside, Shiao Chen held the Foundation Establishment Pill in hands and infused all of his divine sense in it to a.n.a.lyze how the efficacy of spirit herbs was combined. 13 types of spirit herbs were needed in order to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill. The complexity of their combination was over ten times as complicated as that of pills for Qi Refining like Spirit-gathering Pills and Spirit-refining Pills. Not until Shiao Chen started to feel a dull pain in head did he finally manage to get the hang of how efficacy of those herbs was combined.

After swallowing several elixirs, Shiao Chen kept recalling the combination while absorbing the effects of those elixirs. Until he was sure that nothing was left out, he finally devoted himself fully into meditation. After two hours, Shiao Chen opened his eyes with his energy and spirit power all back at their peak. Shiao Chen nodded satisfactorily and laid all ingredients prepared before in front of the alchemy furnace.

Shiao Chen waved his hand to send some spirit power into the alchemy furnace and solemnly put one spirit herb after another into it. He then infused all this divine sense into it to prudently track the changes in the efficacy of those herbs.

With the pa.s.sing of time, the aroma of herbs was so strong that it was about to transform into elixirs. But right at this time, a thud came from the furnace without warning, indicating the refining this time was a failure.

Chapter 25 What a Tough Way Toward Foundation Establishment!

Shiao Chen slowly opened his eyes where a touch of depression could hardly be held in. A slightest deviation of the control over his Divine Sense had led to the failure of the whole alchemy process.

Closing his eyes to rest for a while until his mind was re-stabilized, Shiao Chen quickly cleaned up the dregs and started the alchemy all over again.

This time, Shiao Chen couldn’t be careful enough and didn't make any mistakes from beginning to end. After an hour, a strong medicinal fragrance came out of the elixir-refining furnace.

With trace of joy showing up on his face, Shiao Chen opened the furnace, finding a dozen of Foundation Establishment Pills were lying there.

He picked up one of them and examined with great care. It was exactly the same as the one he already possessed. Shiao Chen nodded with satisfaction and put the rest together in the jade bottle.

Mastering the technique, Shiao Chen was able to refine medical pills much quicker. And by the time when night fell, all the 30 packs of materials were used up. Except for one pack failed during the process, the rest 28 packs of materials were successfully turned into 400 Foundation Establishment Pills.

Looking at the four large bottles of Foundation Establishment Pills, Shiao Chen's face burst with exultation. Presumably, even those core disciples from the major sects had never seen so many Foundation Establishment Pills once for a life time.

Shiao Chen hesitated for a while and put three bottles into the storage bag.

"Three hundred pills are enough for me to build the foundation. The rest 100 could be used for further refining so that I might get pills of middle and even top grade, which will sure exert better effect for my cultivation."

Ten hours later, watching, in front of him, the nineteen Foundation Establishment Pills with much better gloss and fragrance, Shiao Chen also felt a little bit grudging for the pills wasted during the refining. Although he had reached the tenth level of Qi refining and his divine sense had greatly enhanced, the difficulty of further refining was beyond his expectation. Only after several rounds of consecutive failures did he succeed. Still, after one hundred trials, he only obtained 19 pills, a success rate of merely 20%. Shiao Chen sighed and carefully packed up the 19 middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pills. Swallowing a few, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

Having refined Foundation-establishment Pills and then further purified them, Shiao Chen had consumed much of his divine sense and spiritual power, so even though he swallowed several elixirs, it took more than six hours for him to completely recover.

Shiao Chen took out another Foundation-establishment Pill and swallowed it. In an instant, the cool and tame spiritual power within his body began to turn violent and desperately rushed along his meridians all over the body again and again. As the medical effect was absorbed, the spiritual power grew stronger and also became purer. Shiao Chen closely guarded his spirit by not intervening in the inside changes and just letting it be.

An hour later, the almost boiling spiritual power within the body gradually subsided. Shiao Chen opened his eyes, wearing a twinge of self-deprecation on his face. Usually, for a person of middle-level talent, foundation could be established after reaching the eighth level of Qi Refining; but sadly for him, foundation was still not built even though he had reached the tenth level and taken many Foundation Establishment Pills, a proof of his poor apt.i.tude.

Fortunately, Shiao Chen was well-prepared for this, so he quickly calmed down after self-ridicule. Carefully examining himself from the bottom to the top, he found that although the foundation-establishment failed, the spiritual power in his body had enhanced quite a bit. This seemed to be attributable to the effect of the elixirs. Shiao Chen collected himself and took one more Foundation Establishment Pill.

With the first experience, this time he a.s.similated the pill faster. Shiao Chen opened his eyes, swallowed another one and continue to absorb it.

Shiao Chen took the third Foundation Establishment Pill. As the elixir was absorbed, the boiling spiritual power seemed to have undergone some changes. Shiao Chen was delighted to himself, “Did I make it?” After the pill was completely a.s.similated, Shiao Chen slowly opened his eyes and attentively felt the changes in his spiritual power.

At this moment, the volume of spiritual power expanded once again, and also became purer than before. At the same time, his divine sense got more powerful than before. Shiao Chen opened his eyes but could hardly pull out a smile. Although he made a breakthrough, he definitely did not manage to establish a foundation. What was his current stage of cultivation? The eleventh level of Qi Refining? It seemed a level never heard of.

Shiao Chen contemplated for a while. Though he did not succeed in building the foundation, his cultivation was ceaselessly increasing. If this enhancement could last to the maximum, he could naturally enter the next phase of cultivation. He collected himself and took one more elixir, thinking resolutely to himself, “I have more than too many elixirs. If one is not enough, I’ll swallow ten; if ten is not enough, I’ll swallow a hundred. I can take as many as it takes to build the foundation!”

For two consecutive months, Shiao Chen secluded himself for cultivation. Days pa.s.sed by in repeated elixir-taking, meditation and elixir-refining.

Twenty-five elixirs taken, Shiao Chen had the feeling of breakthrough for a second time, but the foundation still wasn’t built. And temporarily he defined the current stage as the twelfth level of Oi Refining.

Sixty-four elixirs taken, he made the third breakthrough; the foundation-building failed, and he reached the 13rd level of Qi Refining...

And then 157 elixirs taken, the forth breakthrough; foundation-building failed, and he reached the 14th level of Qi Refining...

By the fifth breakthrough, foundation-building failed again, and he reached the 15th level of Qi Refining...

Shiao Chen opened his eyes, which were full of unyieldingness. The refining of this middle-level elixir only made the spiritual power inside him purer but never increased the volume.

"Alas, it seems I’ve reached the ceiling of Qi Refining. But why can’t I establish the foundation?" This was his tenth attempt, and no progress was made in his spiritual power after nine Foundation Establishment Pills of low-grade were absorbed in a row. Therefore, Shiao Chen decided at once to give up and swallowed a middle-grade pill, but the effect was still greatly limited.

Cudgeling his brains, Shiao Chen looked somewhat painful. Although the 15th level of Qi Refining was reached, no breakthrough was made. Did he get this extraordinary alchemy technique just to find out his cultivation should stop at Qi-refining period?

Shiao Chen was never prepared to yield so he used the Qi concealing technique learned from Soul Muddling Scripture to stabilize his cultivation at the seventh level of Qi Refining. Swallowing a Disguising Pill, he walked out of the valley.

Disguising Pill was a kind of unorthodox pill made of costly materials. Its function was to change the taker's appearance for six hours and could be taken again every other hour. However, it was far from flawless. Anyone with cultivation more than a big realm beyond the taker could easily see through the disguise. Luckily, Shiao Chen had made it to the 15th level of Qi refining at this moment, a stage no weaker than an average cultivator in terms of either spiritual power or divine sense, so he didn’t have to worry about being recognized.

The only capable person — Chief Master had been guarding for Alchemy Taoist who was in his closed-door cultivation of breaking through the Gold Core Realm, so Shiao Chen could put his heart at rest.

Coming out of the herbal garden, Shiao Chen sprang into the air. Although no spirit tool was used, he was extremely rapid. In less than a quarter, he landed some distance away from the Books Pavilion of Luoyun Valley, a library where stored tremendous number of books and records on every aspect of cultivation. Above the pavilion there was a strong spell restriction which prohibited people under Foundation Establishment flying. Although Shiao Chen was able to do so, at the point he did not want to attract any attention, so naturally he would not do anything stupid.