Beside the isolated island in the Heart Lake Sea, every cultivator who had climbed to a vantage point stared in stunned disbelief. The scene before their eyes had surpassed all expectations.
The corpses floating upon the black water were dragged down one after another by the fiends lurking beneath, sinking completely into the depths in mere moments. Dead—every last one of them was dead!
"The sound of thunder pealing... What terrifying swordcraft!"
On the shore, an elderly Qi Refining cultivator from Pingyuan Commandery sighed with emotion. "The Little Sword Immortal of Yuansong Temple truly lives up to his name. He is indeed a swordcraft genius rarely seen in our commandery in a thousand years."
Someone else remarked, "The hunters became the hunted. Those Lan River demon clans were completely outmaneuvered by him." People recalled the scene when the pair had boarded the boat earlier.
Qin Xuan's withered, feeble aura upon departing the island had clearly been an act put on for the demons—a ploy to lure his enemies out. No one dared make a move while on the island, and had the Lan River demon clans remained under the sanctuary of the ascension grounds, they would never have perished.
The onlookers traded chatter, and the edge of the lonely island quickly grew lively with discussion. Toward the island's northern shore, the grey-robed elder mixing mortar revealed an unusual expression. "He has been cultivating for only six years?"
Xubai Zi turned toward his disciple. The deputy peak master of Tiandu Peak harbored an intricate look in his eyes.
He had originally been operating in secret, working in tandem with Jin Tu—one in the open, one in the shadows—to deal with the successor of the Huanyin Sect master. Unexpectedly, catching a whiff of wine fragrance in the commandery city had pulled him into the Wine Tribulation Immortal's Dao field. Xubai Zi had indeed heard rumors regarding this disciple of Yuansong Temple.
Yet the casual chatter in the marketplace was often exaggerated; listening to it was fine, but it had never seemed worth going out of his way to investigate. Now, however, the situation was entirely different.
He stared at Xu Youde with a frown. "You lingered in the city for so long and met with the people from Guanjiang Mountain, yet you knew nothing at all?"
Xu Youde replied unhurriedly, "Master, your disciple was merely weighing whether the intelligence gathered was accurate."
"Tell me first."
"Yes."
Xu Youde knitted his brows. "According to the locals in the commandery, Qin Xuan embarked on the path of cultivation quite late, yet he established his Dao foundation in a mere six years. Even in a great sect, that would count as genius. However... just now, he was distinctly channeling fiend-qi..."
"Which is to say, in only six years, he has already attained the Core Formation and fiend-refining level."
"Then he is no ordinary genius, but..."
Xu Youde cast a glance at his master. "Judging from what we just witnessed, he possesses the talent of a true disciple of a great sect."
Xubai Zi stroked his chin, far from pleased. Jin Tu was right here in Pingyuan Commandery.
That old codger was handling affairs in Pingyuan Commandery, and Yuansong Temple was a Lower Court of his branch. Wouldn't that mean he was about to scoop up a true disciple for nothing? It was maddening! What kind of dog-blind luck did that old fellow have?
What rankled even more was...
This kid's relationship with Guanghan Fairy did not appear ordinary either, seeing as Fairy Ji had been willing to lend him a hand.
The Lingbao Great Sect was seeking to ease relations with the Ancient Immortal Province before the arrival of the great era. Even though both were branches of the Lingbao lineage, this had originally been Zijin Mountain's advantage. Now Guanjiang Mountain was set to reap a bargain as well.
At the thought of Jin Tu's grinning face, Xubai Zi felt utterly choked with annoyance.
He peered toward the small boat receding into the Heart Lake Sea. This kid's talent was truly extraordinary. To cultivate such attainment in a Lower Court and possess the courage to venture to the island in the lake demonstrated an exceptionally firm Dao heart. Furthermore, he had just personally slain his mortal enemies! Sss...
Xubai Zi drew in a cold breath.
Once this lad entered the great sect, he was bound to grow even further. Mindful of this, he said to Xu Youde, "Jin Tu is also in this Dao field and has surely heard about it. He will most likely accept him as a disciple. Cultivate diligently, lest this kid be corrupted by Jin Tu in the future and come looking to spar over the Dao with you."
Xu Youde chuckled. "He won't."
"Why wouldn't he?" Xubai Zi snapped irritably. "I've traded blows with him for a thousand years. Could I possibly not understand him?"
"No, no..."
Xu Youde waved his hands repeatedly. "Master, Martial Uncle Jin will not take this Junior Brother Qin as his disciple."
"Oh?" Xubai Zi was taken aback. "Why do you say that?"
Xu Youde cleared his throat and mimicked Jin Tu's cold, aloof cadence, repeating the words he had overheard in the city: "'This brat named Qin Xuan falls far short of the threshold for this old man to take a disciple. Have your master, Xubai Zi, come and take him instead...'"
Xu Youde imitated him to perfection, clearly having an intimate understanding of Martial Uncle Jin.
Xubai Zi scoffed, his eyes darting as a pleased smile spread across his face. "Did he truly say that?"
"Your disciple swears to the heavens—not a single word differs!"
"Splendid!"
Xubai Zi's smile broadened. "That old codger actually has moments when he can be likeable! Since he put it that way, this old man shall take it as truth. A dignified deputy peak master of Luogu Peak, a figure merely half a step away from braving the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, surely wouldn't treat his own words like passing wind.
"Wouldn't you say so?"
Xu Youde smiled. "Master, you couldn't be more right."
Xubai Zi began to scheme. "My Tiandu Peak happens to possess two sword arts. It's just that the flying swords in my possession are too shoddy to present decently. However, Senior Brother Yunyang Zi owns a set of Red Sunset Streamer Swords; begging a single blade from him for my precious disciple shouldn't be difficult."
Xu Youde lamented, "Master, aren't you being far too partial?"
"Partial about what? You don't cultivate sword arts anyway."
Xubai Zi straightened his expression. "Tell me everything about Yuansong Temple in detail. Your master needs to do some plotting."
"Yes."
Xu Youde could see that his master intended to take Jin Tu at his word and pull off a clean preemptive strike. At once, he recounted everything he knew down to the smallest detail.
***
Out on the Heart Lake Sea, aboard the small wooden boat.
Qin Xuan had not expected Old Fu to be adept at preparing fish. In his hands, the nearly four-hundred-year-old fat catfish was soon charred crisp on the outside and tender within over the alchemy furnace's flame. Afterward, it was set into a pot to stew.
"I haven't cooked in many years, so my touch is rusty. If we added some green eggplant to this fat catfish, the flavor would be even better."
Old Fu made a modest remark, gazing at the fish before him and the wine in his hand, momentarily lost in a daze. He had never imagined another moment like this in his life.
Only when Qin Xuan raised his cup to clink it against his did Old Fu snap back to reality.
"Roasting fish demands mastery over the heat. Fellow Daoist Fu's skill is quite respectable,"
Qin Xuan remarked while tasting the meat. Fairy Ji watched from the side; she did not drink wine, at least not for the moment. Old Fu, on the other hand, downed cup after cup.
After draining seven or eight cups in succession, an air of reminiscence settled over his face as he spoke: "To tell the truth, I feel quite ashamed. Fu started out as a cook and had no idea he possessed the aptitude for cultivation. At twenty-three, I opened a food stall at the foot of Niufu Mountain. When war broke out between the states of Zhu Jin and Anxi, my food stall was destroyed. While fleeing, I used the dry rations and fruit on my person to save an old man by a riverbank.
"He passed down to me an Eternal Spring Art.
"From then on, Fu's life took an entirely different turn."
While Qin Xuan wondered in silence, Ji Qingni chimed in from the side, "In which province do the states of Zhu Jin and Anxi lie?"
Old Fu dispelled their confusion. "The two of you naturally wouldn't know. My homeland lies in the Shangyuan Realm, one of the three thousand small worlds subordinate to the Nine Provinces."
Qin Xuan and Ji Qingni both revealed looks of astonishment. "Fellow Daoist Fu is actually an ascendant!"
Old Fu chuckled, then sighed. "The Shangyuan Realm is merely a tiny place; compared to the Nine Provinces, it is like a drop in the vast ocean. The state of Anxi where I lived was not even as large as a single commandery here. Yet in the Nine Provinces, a commandery is just a tiny speck of land."
This was by no means an exaggeration.
Pingyuan Commandery was crossed by eight waterways and traversed by three great rivers; an ordinary mortal on horseback would need a full month to travel from south to north.
Yet Pingyuan Commandery was merely a small eastern corner of Yunzhou Prefecture, to say nothing of the entire Eastern Ascendant Continent.
Reflecting on this, Qin Xuan praised, "To ascend from a small world means you were bound to be a legend of an entire realm. Previously, I had only ever heard of ascendants; I never imagined I would be sharing wine and meat with Brother Fu. It is truly marvelous."
Old Fu explained, "The Qi Refining cultivators of my Shangyuan Realm can sense the heavenly tribulation once they reach the Golden Core stage. Once they achieve the Nascent Soul, the upper realm's lightning tribulation descends. Upon surviving it, one can briefly perceive the void and traverse it to enter this vast grand world of the Nine Provinces.
"Every lower-realm cultivator dreams and searches desperately for this.
"Only here does the true Great Dao of longevity exist.
"The cultivators of my homeland referred to this place as the Immortal Realm."
Qin Xuan nodded slightly. The Nine Provinces possessed those who had attained the Dao, along with supreme orthodox lineages; for small-world cultivators to call it the Immortal Realm made complete sense.
Old Fu took a sip of wine, his tone carrying a touch of melancholy. "Fu began Qi Refining at twenty-three, established his foundation at forty, and attained a false core at one hundred and three. Later, I was pursued by enemies into the Shangyuan Realm's foremost peril, the Xuanhui Secret Realm.
"Fu struggled in that secret realm for over seventy years. Just as my lifespan was about to expire and I was about to pass away, I accidentally tumbled off a cliff and stumbled into a treasure ground within the secret realm.
"That place was extraordinary. I consumed life-extending precious herbs and obtained fortuitous encounters left behind by predecessors. After one sexagenary cycle, I finally attained the Golden Core.
"Once I broke out of the secret realm, I slaughtered every one of my foes, becoming one of the Shangyuan Realm's six great Golden Cores. Because the first technique I practiced was called the Eternal Spring Art, I founded the Changchun Sect in the state of Anxi, at the foot of Niufu Mountain, where I had once run my food stall.
"Over the subsequent five hundred years, Fu brought his Golden Core to great completion, becoming the foremost figure in the Shangyuan Realm. The Changchun Sect had over a thousand disciples, talented geniuses emerged in droves, and it became the greatest sect.
"Then, on an evening when dark clouds veiled the sun, under the watchful eyes of the entire realm's cultivators, Fu survived the lightning tribulation and ascended to the Immortal Realm.
"In nearly ten thousand years in the Shangyuan Realm, Fu Molin was the sole ascendant."
Having reached this point, his melancholy gave way to a hint of smug satisfaction.
Qin Xuan could not help but raise his cup. "Mighty Figure Fu, a legendary figure of an entire realm—you must drain this cup!"
Hearing this, Old Fu downed the cup in a single gulp.
Both Qin Xuan and Ji Qingni wore rather wondrous expressions.
They had never imagined that the middle-aged man before them, with his disheveled hair and honest appearance, had once been the foremost figure of a small world who had lived such a dazzling life.
Old Fu was clearly not finished speaking, so neither of them interrupted, listening quietly as Qin Xuan poured him another cup.
Old Fu looked up at the sky of this small world. "The Immortal Realm of the Nine Provinces is entirely different from the Shangyuan Realm, first and foremost in the disparity of spiritual qi. When I first ascended, I even experienced a sensation of temporal displacement.
"As the saying goes, 'A day in heaven is a year on earth.'
"Though that is an exaggeration, I felt that time flowed much more slowly in the Nine Provinces. One day here would likely equal more than a dozen days in the Shangyuan Realm. Consequently, the moment I arrived, my cultivation destabilized, leaving me completely bewildered and muddled.
"Unfortunately..."
"While traversing the void, Fu accidentally strayed into a mining region belonging to a great sect of Zhongzhou. Taken for an ore thief, I was forced into sixty years of labor in the earth veins. As a newcomer, I naturally dared not resist.
"One sexagenary cycle—I figured I could endure it and pass the time, while gathering information about this place from fellow miners.
"Yet what I never anticipated was..."
"After a sexagenary cycle, a great battle erupted underground, causing the mining district to collapse. Along the edge of a subterranean chasm's subterranean river, my foot stepped into a spatial sinkhole. Space shifted, and when I woke up, I smelled a waft of wine fragrance—and became the ferryman of this Dao field."
Having finished his tale, Old Fu drank continuously. Qin Xuan and Fairy Ji were left utterly speechless.
In other words, after Mighty Figure Fu ascended to the world of the Nine Provinces, he had not even glimpsed the sky of the Nine Provinces.
The foremost mighty figure of the Shangyuan Realm, the sole ascendant in ten thousand years, had been reduced to a miner and a ferryman in the Nine Provinces. His luck was truly wretched.
Old Fu spoke at length about matters within the Wine Immortal's Dao field, and under the influence of the wine, he reminisced further about his days in the small world. Qin Xuan and Ji Qingni listened throughout, interjecting only occasionally.
The small boat drifted slowly toward the shore. Most of the fat fish had gone into Old Fu's belly, as had the wine.
As the drunkenness took hold, it would likely not be long before he fell asleep on the boat. Before he passed out, Qin Xuan asked, "Brother Fu, is there anything you still wish to do?"
Old Fu pointed at the sky. "If, before my lifespan runs dry, I could catch a glimpse of the vast sea of clouds of the Nine Provinces, my journey here would not have been in vain."
With those words, Old Fu closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. When Qin Xuan stepped ashore, his footing was slightly unsteady.
Seeing the flush of wine rising to his face, Ji Qingni could not help but remark, "You are drunk."
"I am not drunk, but this tipsiness is precisely what I need."
Qin Xuan took the lead toward the southern shore of the town. While he could not suppress the potency of the wine, he could stimulate its aroma to make himself appear thoroughly intoxicated. Sure enough, the moment the people on the shore saw them return, they gathered round at once.
Every time Qin Xuan had ventured onto the Heart Lake Sea, he had caught river spirits. This time, however, his hands were empty.
Noticing his state, everyone could tell he had drunk heavily. Wine of the highest grade naturally carried an intoxicating punch.
Qin Xuan spotted Master Jin Guan, Captain Lu, and Mountain God Tan among the crowd in a single glance.
Master Jin Guan was eager to pry into Qin Xuan's secret for catching river spirits. Whether mortal or immortal, a person's tongue loosened easily when drunk.
"Amitabha."
Master Jin Guan chanted a Buddhist moniker and stepped forward. "Benefactor Qin, did your journey go poorly? Could it be that the river spirits of the Heart Lake Sea were not at home?"
The surrounding onlookers also cast their gazes over.
In this ascension ground, the two most lucrative trades were brewing wine and capturing river spirits.
This Little Sword Immortal of Yuansong Temple not only reigned supreme in worldly romance with a beauty at his side, but was also a double champion at both brewing wine and catching river spirits.
Even pooling together all the Qi Refining cultivators from the surrounding commanderies, not one could stand as his equal. They knew little of the ancients residing in the ascension ground, but among those who had entered from the vicinity of the royal tomb this time, the young man before them was the most sought-after figure.
As Master Jin Guan stepped forward to inquire, the crowd pricked up their ears.
Yet Qin Xuan merely gave Master Jin Guan a sneering smile. "The river spirits were naturally at home."
Mountain God Tan folded his arms. "It seems Young Master Qin's methods for catching river spirits have lost their magic."
Qin Xuan put on an intoxicated air, casting him a contemptuous glance. "What would you know? I went to the island to pick spirit fruits, slay a black catfish, kill the River Earl of Yishui, and butcher a spider demon. When would I have had the leisure to catch river spirits?"
Hearing this, the onlookers were startled and doubtful, taking it for drunken bluster.
Captain Lu let out a cold snort. "Your character when drinking is poor indeed. You are merely seventy or eighty percent drunk, yet here you stand spouting wild boasts."
Qin Xuan could not be bothered to waste words. Reaching into his hundred-treasure pouch, he dragged out a massive fish skeleton and tossed it before the captain. Then he held out a hand, and five glowing spirit fruits appeared in his palm.
Their radiance was identical to the light emanating from the isolated island, and their aura was unique to the ascension ground.
"They truly are the spirit fruits from the isolated island!" someone gasped in shock.
"He really set foot on the island in the lake and picked the spirit fruits!"
A clamor erupted all around.
Both Mountain God Tan and Captain Lu experienced a shift in expression.
They looked back at the fish skeleton; Qin Xuan's claims were likely genuine. For a moment, a chilling dread welled in their hearts. Yet on second thought...
In this ascension ground, no matter how immense his talent, there was nothing to fear.
Greed surged within Master Jin Guan. Seeing Qin Xuan's drunken state, he pressed his palms together. "Benefactor Qin's methods are truly remarkable. Since Benefactor Qin possesses the ability to harvest spirit fruits, you can surely retrieve more upon returning to the island. Why not sell these few spirit fruits?"
"Even if I were to sell them, could you afford them?"
Qin Xuan's tone reeked of drunken swagger, his footing swaying slightly. Fairy Ji stepped forward to steady him, but he pushed her hand aside without the slightest tact.
"Two hundred immortal cowries per spirit fruit! If you can afford it, why shouldn't I sell them to you?"
Captain Lu and Mountain God Tan's gazes shifted!
Rumors about the wondrous efficacy of these spirit fruits were rampant throughout the town. Greed flared within them, yet they were helpless—they could neither seize them by force nor afford the price.
However, this proved no obstacle for Master Jin Guan. His eyes rolled, and he offered a benevolent smile. "Benefactor Qin, this poor monk shall give you sixty immortal cowries first, and write an IOU for the remainder. This poor monk earns twenty immortal cowries a month and can pay it off within a year."
Captain Lu and Mountain God Tan experienced a sudden flash of insight. Leave it to the Western Sect to find a way!
Mountain God Tan said, "Indeed, I can write an IOU as well."
Captain Lu added, "Young Master Qin said you would sell if we could afford it, but never specified when it must be paid in full. Surely you wouldn't go back on your word?"
Qin Xuan frowned and scolded, "How could it be that easy? If you want to write an IOU, I'm raising the price to five hundred immortal cowries! Don't you dare think of welshing on my debt!"
"Excellent, excellent."
Seeing his drunken stupor and assuming he had drunk with reckless abandon after slaying the black catfish demon, Master Jin Guan feared Qin Xuan might renege. He drew up a promissory note on the spot:
"Acknowledging debt owed to Qin Xuan of Yuansong Temple, Pingyuan Commandery: four hundred and forty immortal cowries in full.
"Debtor: Master Jin Guan of Liangfeng Temple (thumbprint affixed).
"Eastern Ascendant Calendar, Great Yan, seventy-fourth year of Zhenyuan."
He handed over an additional sixty immortal cowries. Qin Xuan hesitated momentarily, but unable to retract his words, he had no choice but to accept the cowries and the note, concluding the transaction with Master Jin Guan. Next...
Captain Lu and Mountain God Tan followed suit.
Both obtained a spirit fruit from Qin Xuan's hand. Rolling the fruits in their palms and feeling the spiritual essence within, joy overwhelmed their hearts.
These were items sixty immortal cowries could never buy. At the same time, they remained vigilant against Qin Xuan playing tricks.
The three inspected the spirit fruits thoroughly, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
Watching this unfold, how could the surrounding crowd hold back? Shouts went up one after another, all clamoring to write IOUs, only for Qin Xuan to flatly refuse them.
"I only have five fruits! The remaining two are reserved for great purposes. It won't be too late to sell more after I ascend the island to harvest them again!"
With that, he stowed the other two spirit fruits away and ambled with unsteady steps back toward his pavilion.
"Will they suspect anything?"
"They certainly will."
Halfway there, Qin Xuan transmitted his voice in reply: "However, the sensation the fiend on that island gave me was very similar to Mo Jianli. When those three received the fruits, they showed no signs of realizing it, which means they couldn't detect anything.
"I know a bit about them. Aside from being wicked, they are greedy. Even if they harbor suspicions, they will likely spend the night studying the fruit.
"Tonight, their residences ought to be quite lively."
Qin Xuan thought of that cassock, as well as the incomparably vile Lamp Oil Chan practiced by Liangfeng Temple and the others. He only hoped the fiend would prove ferocious enough to wipe out these three banes.
Returning to the pavilion, Qin Xuan shut the door and gestured toward the island in the lake.
Ji Qingni knew what he was asking and transmitted her voice: "That ancient mulberry tree is likely on par with True Lord Yuanhai, who underwent corpse liberation. Unlike us, it intercepts Dao profundities with an eye toward the Wine Immortal's Dao fruit. For the Wine Immortal to let it linger on the lonely island, he likely lacks the surplus energy to deal with it."
Qin Xuan's heart gave a slight jolt.
Even more troublesome than True Lord Yuanhai, yet he had actually sheared its wool. That island was certainly off-limits from now on.
Seeing him lost in thought, Ji Qingni felt both deep confusion and a sense of unreality, unconsciously reflecting upon every detail since departing Zijin Mountain for this place.
***
At dusk.
Along the same street by the town's inner river, inside Master Jin Guan's residence.
Captain Lu, Mountain God Tan, and Master Jin Guan sat gathered in a circle, scrutinizing the spirit fruits purchased from Qin Xuan.
Mountain God Tan wore a guarded look. "That brat harbors no good intentions. I fear there is something deeply fishy about these spirit fruits."
Having calmed down, the three pondered carefully, yet still could discern nothing amiss.
Master Jin Guan remained prudent as well. "These fruits undoubtedly originated from the island in the lake; buying them is by no means a loss. That brat owes us plenty, so naturally there is no need to repay the immortal cowries owed to him. Still, we must maintain our guard. While the spiritual nature of these fruits is extraordinary, do not consume them for the time being, lest we fall into his trap."
Captain Lu suggested, "Tomorrow, let us first clarify the situation regarding the Lan River demon clans, then seek out some of the ancient residents to gather information related to the spirit fruits.
"For instance, that old ape should know something."
"Agreed."
"Tomorrow, once the old ape comes knocking, we can spend a few immortal cowries to question him, and the truth will naturally come to light."
Having concluded their discussion, they suddenly felt a gust of fierce wind sweep outside. Night was falling.
A chilling, eerie sensation surged from all directions, as if something were watching them from the shadows. Having resided in the ascension ground for half a year, they knew the perils of the night.
Today's ghostly wind blew far more violently than usual, and their faces shifted, suspecting an upheaval had arisen in town.
Mountain God Tan rose to his feet. "Let us return first and make further plans at daybreak."
"Very well."
Mountain God Tan and Captain Lu stepped out the door, each shivering involuntarily. Seeing the figures in the street dwindling, they quickened their pace and headed straight for their homes. Fortunately, the distance was short—mere dozens of paces away.
As Mountain God Tan closed his door, he felt something staring at him from outside.
Unease gnawing at his heart, he made sure the latch was firmly in place. Then, he brought out that spirit fruit once more.
Advancing his Dharmic cultivation was of secondary concern to him; he had heard from the elders in town that this fruit was nurtured by the island's spirit spring and possessed a certain life-extending efficacy. What he lacked most right now was lifespan.
Master Jin Guan had seized upon this exact weakness to persuade him to cultivate the Lamp Oil Chan: inciting disasters, quelling them, severing karmic ties, and repeatedly reaping merit.
Practicing the Lamp Oil Chan required putting on an act before those foolish mortals. Yet this fruit of the Wine Immortal could simply be consumed!
Mountain God Tan stared at the fruit, his eyes glowing. Yet recalling the green-robed figure who had roasted Young Master Wuchang alive right before his eyes, a murderous intent welled within him. In the end, he reined himself in and refrained from swallowing it whole.
Night fell completely.
Mountain God Tan lit a lamp and admired the spirit fruit not far from the window.
He channeled his Divine Way Dharmic powers, probing it slowly. There came a knock at the door downstairs, but he paid it no heed.
After an unknown amount of time, the flame before him suddenly flickered. Mountain God Tan paid it no mind, yet the light within the room grew increasingly dim, as though something was lurking behind his back.
A chill ran down his spine, and the knocking downstairs grew thunderous. The person outside shouted:
"Benefactor, an unclean thing has entered your home! Let this monk inside! The moment this unclean thing encounters this monk's fire arts, it will instantly disperse like smoke!"
The shouting outside sent a tremor of palpitations through Mountain God Tan's chest.
He could even hear someone knocking and shouting at Captain Lu's doorstep not far next door, claiming an unclean thing had entered his home as well.
How had this thing gotten in? And how could it be such a coincidence?!
Mountain God Tan suddenly looked at the spirit fruit in his hand, his expression changing drastically in an instant: Qin Xuan wanted his life! This fruit was drawing unclean things into the room!
Though parting with it broke his heart, for the sake of his life, Mountain God Tan pushed open the window sash without hesitation and hurled the spirit fruit out! Yet...
The light in the room remained dim. A mass of black mist manifested, surging toward him from all directions. What... what was this?!
Mountain God Tan swung his hands to gather his Divine Way Dharmic powers, condensing his incense evil qi into a giant axe—the exact technique he had once used to chop at Qin Xuan. Before the giant axe could swing down, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the room!
The black mist transformed into vines that bound Mountain God Tan tight, extracting his soul in practically a single breath. Then...
The black mist gradually shifted into Mountain God Tan's likeness, opened the door, and walked outside.
At the same time, the door of Captain Lu's home next door swung open, and a ghostly Captain Lu stepped out. Together, they made their way to Master Jin Guan's pavilion.
This wicked monk from Beijuluzhou unleashed bizarre methods, holding aloft an ancient lamp and using the merit flames flickering with dark light to steadily repel the black mist.
Master Jin Guan knew he had fallen into a trap and had long discarded the spirit fruit. The oil in the ancient lamp was being depleted continuously, unable to sustain him for long. He hurriedly cried out toward the black mist:
"Friend! This poor monk hails from Xiaoye Temple in Beijuluzhou! My abbess is Granny Pushou, who is currently working alongside an ancient Buddha to forge a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss far surpassing the Western Sect! I ask my friend to grant some face and spare me this karmic knot!
"If my friend requires souls, this poor monk possesses countless means to provide them!"
Yet the bizarre entity within the black mist paid him no heed whatsoever. The lamp oil was on the verge of running out.
Master Jin Guan knew he was finished. His face warped savagely, devoid of any Buddhist demeanor, and he roared outward as though possessed:
"Qin Xuan! How dare you plot against my Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?! Someone from our temple will surely settle accounts with you! You will be hauled to the ancestral shrine of Beijuluzhou and rendered into lamp oil for the Pure Land!"
"Ah—!"
Before his threats could finish, the scream was abruptly cut short. Shortly thereafter...
Master Jin Guan's front door swung open, and he stepped out alongside Captain Lu and Mountain God Tan. The three stood in neat alignment.
The massive commotion here stirred the surrounding townsfolk. Some caught on, recalling the scene of the spirit fruit transaction on the southern shore earlier today. Cold sweat drenched many a spine.
These spirit fruits could actually summon bizarre entities uninvited to devour one's soul! Those three who had bought the fruits had been completely outplayed by Yuansong Temple's Little Sword Immortal.
No fighting was permitted in town, yet he had used these fiends to scheme his enemies to death! Those who had mocked the empty promissory notes earlier in the day were now rendered speechless. What he had sought was not money, but their very lives.
A single thought crossed everyone's mind: if those who bought the spirit fruits met such grim ends, how was the one who picked them surviving the night? Many gazes peered through door gaps and window cracks toward Qin Xuan's pavilion.
That place was lively beyond measure. Terrifying black mist enveloped the entire structure, ghostly shadows leaping within as yin winds whistled and howled. Outside, numerous fiends knocked on the door, clamoring to enter and assist—a veritable riot of ghosts and dancing demons. A single glance was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.
No one dared imagine the horrifying scene within. Yet...
Contrary to all imagination, the interior of Qin Xuan's pavilion was remarkably quiet.
"Fairy Ji, is someone calling my name outside?"
"No. You are drunk; go back to sleep."
Inside the coffin, it was a bit cramped.
Just like the previous time, the two lay within the coffin while the old ghosts and fiends outside paced in frantic frustration.
The Zhongzhou Sword Madman could at least be lured by the Mad Sword Art, but these black mists pursuing them from the island could do nothing beyond roaring in futile fury, posing no actual threat. Having slain his mortal enemy today and listened to Old Fu's tale, Qin Xuan had consumed a fair amount of wine despite exercising restraint.
Thus, lying within the coffin as the alcohol took effect, he sank into a groggy state, half-asleep and half-awake. Ji Qingni, however, had not touched a single drop of wine.
She remained wide awake, able to hear every gentle breath Qin Xuan took.
Falling asleep would have been fine, but under such circumstances, she felt staying alert was safer to avoid mishaps. Yet Fairy Ji's heart was far from calm.
For a certain Little Sword Immortal was sleeping on his side next to her, practically cradling one of her arms against his chest. When had Guanghan Fairy ever experienced such insolent behavior? She was nearly tempted to swat him awake with her fan. On second thought, she held back.
In her mind flashed the image of him casually gifting her the Dao profundity earlier that day.
Today, he had slain his great enemy, entrapped his foes, harvested the crucial spirit fruit for brewing wine, and drunk quite a lot... Fine, he was drunk anyway, so she would indulge him as a little pillow.
With that thought, Ji Qingni did not pull her arm away. Peering sideways at him, she saw he was sleeping quite peacefully.
She thought back to her days cultivating in the Eastern Lands' Ji clan, followed by her master bringing her into Guanghan Palace, meeting all manner of people along the way. Yet the man beside her was the most peculiar of them all, because...
In the words of both her master and her mother, one ought to keep a polite facade with ill-reputed youngsters of the generation and maintain proper distance.
Especially someone titled "Breeze and Moon Little Sword Immortal." Hearing that moniker alone made it clear they should never cross paths.
Yet these past six months had allowed her to see past the surface.
A certain someone was actually quite the gentleman; one could not judge him merely by his reputation. As for personal hobbies, why be overly harsh?
Whatever memory crossed her mind, a smile she had not even realized surfaced at the corner of her thin vermilion lips...
***
Toward the latter half of the night, the fiends outside grew increasingly frantic, their hissing roars never ceasing. Qin Xuan woke from his half-dreaming state. He examined his surroundings.
Noticing Fairy Ji was asleep, he quietly returned the soft arm he had been cradling. With that slight movement, Ji Qingni awoke.
"Little Sword Immortal Qin, what did you just do?"
As Ji Qingni said this, she nearly failed to stifle a laugh, though fortunately Qin Xuan did not notice. Qin Xuan explained, "Just now in my dream, I felt as though I were at the edge of a cliff, my feet dangling in midair, on the verge of falling at any moment. Only upon waking did I realize Fairy Ji had been holding onto me throughout the dream. Fairy truly has a kind heart."
"Where did you learn such lines?"
"The books said so."
Ji Qingni smiled, changing the subject. "For your upcoming trip to the Wine Immortal Tower, do you intend to present wine brewed with those spirit fruits?"
"Yes,"
Qin Xuan replied. "The knowledge Brother Crane, Huaimin, and the others provided, along with the techniques from Master Xiong's wine shop—I have largely grasped them over these past few months. I have a broad understanding of the Wine Immortal's preferences. It's just that I don't know what effect adding this spirit fruit will produce."
Ji Qingni said, "I have a premonition that your chances of success are quite high."
"Why?"
"Because the person from three thousand years ago obtained Dao profundity and also harvested the spirit fruit." She continued, "By the way... once we exit the ascension ground, if you meet my master, you must never mention what happened here. She is a stern, formidable elder, yet she treats me very well..."
Qin Xuan let out an 'oh' and adopted a dejected tone. "Rest assured, I shall treat Fairy as a total stranger."
The moment the words left his mouth, a fan tapped against him.
"No need to be so extreme. Just keep your lips sealed; otherwise, it won't be easy for me to sneak out in the future.
"Also..."
Ji Qingni smiled. "Would you like to visit my Ji clan? Our Old Ancestor would certainly treasure your talent. She is very open-minded; she won't mind your fondness for romance. If you can decipher the immortal scrolls, our Old Ancestor might even arrange for people to pen romantic tales exclusively for you."
"Truly? You're making me tempted."
The two chatted idly until daybreak.
As the morning sun rose over the ascension ground, its wondrous rules caused all the fiends in Qin Xuan's pavilion to disperse. Like the Zhongzhou Sword Madman, once they entered the pavilion without claiming their quarry, they could never leave. Shopkeeper Hu's words had also proven true.
Upon a fiend's death, a single one was equivalent to ten river spirits! Qin Xuan had drawn over thirty of them.
Emerging from the coffin, he saw the floor littered with immortal cowries. A fortune—a massive haul!
Ji Qingni said immediately, "I have no further need for immortal cowries. If you are still short, you may have all the ones on me."
Having obtained a wisp of Dao profundity, other fortuitous encounters no longer mattered to her. Qin Xuan did not stand on ceremony, collecting every single immortal cowrie.
Added to what he had previously accumulated, he had over three thousand six hundred immortal cowries in total. He was thrilled.
It was enough to imprint the divine sense onto the bronze divine beast zun, with plenty left over to trade for other treasures.
Pushing open the window sash, he peered outside. The commotion last night had been immense, and many people had come out to watch the spectacle. A leopard cart approached from the rear mountain.
Shen Yunfei, Zhou Cang, and the old ape hoisted the corpses of Mountain God Tan, Captain Lu, and Master Jin Guan onto the cart one by one. Shen Yunfei cast a glance toward Qin Xuan, then looked at the three upon the flatbed cart.
"Junior Brother is brilliant after all. Not only did he swindle their money, but he collected their lives as well."
The old ape remarked, "By comparison, we still have a bit more conscience."
Zhou Cang's leopard head leaned near Master Jin Guan, saying to Shen Yunfei, "These three share some karma with us. Senior Brother Shen, should we bestow a monument name upon them?"
Shen Yunfei paused. "Let them be called the Bad Debt Immortals.
"These three were full of rotten accounts—never paying their debts in life, leaving behind only IOUs in death."
The old ape was about to offer another critique when he suddenly felt Qin Xuan looking at him from the pavilion. With his former temperament, he naturally would have had nothing to fear, but with Zhang Laosan's consciousness acting up, he felt an urge to slip away. Pushing the cart, he lingered no longer.
Chatter buzzed constantly throughout the town, with the most discussion centering on Master Jin Guan. He was originally the abbot of Liangfeng Temple, the foremost Buddhist faction in Pingyuan Commandery. Everyone had assumed he hailed from the Western Sect, never expecting him to expose his true roots while threatening Qin Xuan last night.
Certain discerning individuals, hearing Master Jin Guan mention Beijuluzhou, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and Xiaoye Temple, connected the dots. This was a wicked lineage that even the Western Sect could not tolerate.
Now that it had been snuffed out in the ascension ground, the Qi Refining cultivators around Pingyuan Commandery felt Qin Xuan had performed a great deed. Qin Xuan, however, paid no mind to the discussions.
Having confirmed the demise of the three villains, he smiled and made his way to the rear courtyard, coordinating with Ji Qingni to begin brewing wine. There was no secret technique involved—merely the simple operation kept strictly within the sect: soaking in spirit water. The spirit fruits from the isolated island in the Heart Lake Sea were submerged as well...
***
Twenty-six days after the black catfish great demon was stewed.
Qin Xuan went to the rear courtyard as usual to inspect the fermenting wine. Over these past few days, as the wine aroma deepened, a strange sense of familiarity welled within him.
The six jars of newly brewed wine, infused with the island's spirit fruits, had indeed changed in flavor. It was growing increasingly familiar.
That evening, Qin Xuan paced back and forth in the rear courtyard. After a long silence, Ji Qingni finally could not help asking, "What are you thinking about? Is something wrong with the wine?"
Qin Xuan looked at her, musing, "This wine... feels like something I've tasted somewhere before."
Ji Qingni let out a soft exclamation. "Could you be mistaken?"
"I can't be mistaken. Let me think."
Just as the setting sun sank behind the mountains, a scene surfaced in Qin Xuan's mind. It was after he had paid respects at the ancestral shrine of Yingzui Mountain and taken on his first mission from the Records Hall, descending the mountain alongside his junior martial brother and sister, Liu Xi and Yu Han.
*"Senior Brother Qin, do you know why Pingyuan Commandery City is called Luo City?"*
Those words rang loudly in Qin Xuan's mind.
He instantly recalled the first time he met Geng Zhi, when the leather-clad bladesman Old Huang had offered a cup of wine: *"Misty willows and wine beneath a half-drawn blind, marketplace ballads sung in the spring breeze."*
Geng Zhi had mentioned "Luo wine" back then, and later in his farewell letter, he noted that the recipe for Luo wine originated from the tomb of the Prince of Pingyuan. That was it!
The only time he had ever tasted Luo wine was that cup Old Huang had handed him on Geng Zhi's orders.
Qin Xuan's eyes widened slightly, and he looked down at the wine jars on the ground. Lifting a bamboo lid, he drew in a deep breath.
No mistake!
It was indeed Luo wine! The fragrance of this spring brew was exceptionally distinctive, leaving an indelible impression. Seeing Fairy Ji's inquisitive look, Qin Xuan gave her a broad account of his experience.
Perhaps a bystander saw things more clearly; while Qin Xuan was still pondering why Luo wine was connected to the immortal brew of the Wine Immortal's Dao field, Fairy Ji's bright eyes flashed. "I have a conjecture.
"The Prince of Pingyuan you mentioned was a figure from three thousand years ago, and three thousand years ago happens to be when someone obtained the Dao profundity and walked out of the ascension ground. That person was very likely the Prince of Pingyuan.
"This feudal prince incurred the wrath of powerful enemies, resulting in the annihilation of his entire clan. This aligns perfectly with Mighty Figure Fu's words—he said the person who walked out of the ascension ground had numerous foes and fought a massive battle upon the Heart Lake Sea, slaughtering until the river was filled with floating corpses."
Qin Xuan caught on instantly.
Old Fu had said that when that person slaughtered his foes, he wielded a formidable magic treasure upon the Heart Lake Sea. Looking at it now, that magic treasure was very likely the bronze divine beast zun resting in his hundred-treasure pouch...
Chapter 94