Inside Tianshu Hall.
Daoist Yizhen raised his teacup, took a sip, and set it down before saying to Zhou Wuji, "Not bad. Have a taste."
Zhou Wuji picked up his cup and took a sip. The tea was a verdant green, slightly bitter upon entering the mouth yet bearing a certain woody fragrance, followed by a hint of lingering sweetness.
He was no connoisseur of tea, but with his keen six senses, discerning the liquor and aroma was easy enough.
The flavor on the palate was not the key, however. What truly mattered was the pure spiritual qi contained within.
A single sip felt much like consuming a Purple Qi Pill, only the spiritual qi was purer, gentler, and more soothing, leaving him feeling extraordinarily refreshed and comfortable throughout his entire body.
Zhou Wuji had never tasted, nor even heard of, a tea imbued with such pure spiritual qi.
Daoist Yizhen smiled and said, "This tea is named Biyuchun, which I brought back from Lake Heart Island.
"Once brewed, the liquor holds pure spiritual qi that helps cultivators regulate the true qi within their bodies. It is of immense benefit to practitioners."
"Oh?" Zhou Wuji's interest was piqued. "Martial Uncle has also been to Lake Heart Island on Jiuling Lake?"
"Lake Heart Island spans several dozen li. It is said that beneath it lies a peculiar subterranean aperture that makes the island's soil quite extraordinary. Several thousand-year-old tea trees grow there, and these leaves were plucked from those very trees."
Daoist Yizhen continued unhurriedly, "Over the past two years, evil spirits suddenly began cropping up on Lake Heart Island, causing many casualties. Last year, at the Abbot's request, I went to look into the situation. I stayed there for over half a month, yet found nothing."
He added, "It was precisely because of the affair at Lake Heart Island that I arrived late at Canglong Temple, which led to so many complications."
Zhou Wuji had an epiphany. No wonder Yizhen had arrived so late back then.
At the time, he had been somewhat puzzled: even if Daoist Yizhen did not care for others, how could he not care about his own daughter? Why had he arrived so late?
It turned out he had been delayed by the matter on Lake Heart Island.
"The evil spirits on Lake Heart Island are exceedingly bizarre. Before I arrived, they appeared frequently and slaughtered many people. Yet once I got there, not a trace of them could be seen."
Daoist Yizhen said, "Evil spirits are a kind of yin spirit. Low-grade evil spirits possess no intellect whatsoever; they would never know how to evade or hide. I suspect someone is pulling strings behind the scenes..."
"The Five Dragons Gang?" That was the first group that came to Zhou Wuji's mind.
The Five Dragons Gang practiced sorcery and hexes, behaved viciously, and wielded immense influence in Yunyang, making them the most suspicious.
"Perhaps."
Daoist Yizhen gave a slight shake of his head. The world was in chaos, overrun with all manner of demons and monsters. Unless someone was caught red-handed, one could not make careless assumptions.
He then continued, "Low-grade evil spirits have no intelligence. No matter how formidable they seem, there is always a way to subdue them. People, however, are another matter. You must be careful on this journey.
"Strictly speaking, the assessment was never urgent. If you failed this year, you could simply retake it next year."
Daoist Yizhen paused, an expression of mixed emotions on his face. "Yet next March is the quinquennial advanced study at the Main Abbey. The Lower Abbey receives only two slots.
"If you cannot obtain your ordination certificate this year, you will be ineligible to take part in next year's studies."
The importance of a seventh-rank ordination certificate lay not in the meager stipend provided by the imperial court, but in securing officially recognized legal standing.
According to imperial law, anyone traveling far from home required an official travel permit.
A formal ordination certificate exempted one from all inspections and spared one the harassment and petty obstruction of local officials at every level. It also permitted lodging at official courier stations.
Moreover, when subduing demons and slaying monsters, even if lives were lost in the process, an ordination certificate served as an official justification.
If a Daoist possessing an ordination certificate met with an accident, the local yamen was required to file a report; if they were murdered, it was treated as a major capital offense.
The certificate was the imperial court's most vital endorsement. A cultivator without one was considered nothing more than an unorthodox deviant.
At the sect level, a Daoist with an ordination certificate was naturally regarded as a formal successor of the sect, eligible for greater patronage and resources.
Without an ordination certificate, one would forever remain at the bottom rung of the sect, entirely ineligible for advanced study at the Main Abbey.
Zhou Wuji understood immediately why Daoist Yiding had made things difficult for him regarding the assessment.
Daoist Yiding was undoubtedly aiming for one of the slots at the Main Abbey as well.
With only two places available, the competition was fierce.
Excluding him early on would be immensely advantageous for Wu'ai. Not to mention, Yiding and Yizhen had long harbored friction between them.
Having easily suppressed Wu'ai during their spar today, Daoist Yiding had all the more reason to target him.
Zhou Wuji said clearly, "Rest assured, Martial Uncle, I will surely complete the assessment!"
Instead of being reassured, Daoist Yizhen grew slightly worried. He admonished sternly, "Studying at the Main Abbey is indeed important, but it is not more important than your life.
"You are only twenty-two. Waiting another five years is no great hardship. Do not take reckless risks for the sake of a single slot!"
Zhou Wuji responded with equal solemnity. He naturally understood what hung in the balance and would not wager his life.
"Martial Uncle, I wish to purchase a fine sword, but I do not know where swords are sold?" Zhou Wuji took the opportunity to ask.
If he had a fine blade in hand, he would have nothing to fear even against a sixth-rank cultivator.
"A fine sword..."
Daoist Yizhen pondered for a moment before saying, "Truly fine swords command exorbitant prices and rarely circulate on the market. Most formidable swordsmen commission their own weapons.
"The Main Abbey possesses several high-grade swords. I hear the Yuheng lineage even holds a first-rank treasure sword, but unfortunately..."
Daoist Yizhen sighed softly. Even if the seven lineages were united in harmony, a treasure sword of the Yuheng lineage would never fall into Zhou Wuji's hands.
Zhou Wuji felt a tinge of disappointment. The Lower Abbey was surprisingly impoverished, lacking even a single fine sword!
Then again, it was just as likely that all the good swords already had masters, which was only natural.
Emerging from Tianshu Hall, Zhou Wuji deliberately slowed his pace.
Tianshu Hall stood in an exceptionally elevated location, offering an expansive view of the surrounding mountains from its entrance.
It was midday, and the early April sun was brilliant, the breeze gentle. Across the verdant hills, vast swathes of pink, yellow, and white wildflowers bloomed in radiant splendor.
"Senior Brother,"
Wuming quietly approached from behind, greeting Zhou Wuji in a soft voice.
Zhou Wuji turned around and gave her a smile. "Why didn't you come find me?"
Wuming lowered her bright eyes in slight embarrassment, murmuring, "My father forbade it. He said you were busy with proper business and told me not to disturb you."
She then asked curiously, "I heard the patrolling inspector from the Celestial Master Mansion has arrived. How did the assessment turn out?"
The bright sunlight fell across Wuming's face. Her features were already striking and her skin fair and delicate; beneath the radiance, she seemed almost to glow.
The spring breeze gently stirred a few stray strands of hair beside her ear, lending her an airy, delicate charm that made her breathtakingly radiant.
Most touching of all was the profound concern filling her clear eyes, giving Zhou Wuji the warm sensation of being cherished and cared for. His heart stirred. *Junior Sister truly keeps me in her thoughts...*
Seeing Zhou Wuji remain silent and gaze straight at her with an expression so bright and tender, Wuming's face grew warm for reasons she could not explain, yet a sweet, indescribable joy welled up within her.
In that moment, both felt that the silence was wonderful, and words would only spoil it.
Yet people were constantly passing in and out of the main gate, and someone was already walking toward them.
Zhou Wuji quickly recognized the problem: this was hardly the place for exchanging affectionate sentiments.
He said to Wuming, "I will be heading out in a few days. Where did you buy your White Brow Needles, Junior Sister?"
Wuming hastily replied, "I still have a box left. You can have all of them, Senior Brother."
"That would not do. I need a large quantity, so I had better buy more."
"Oh, I bought mine at Tianji Hall. Their Tianji lineage specializes in artifact crafting, so they have plenty of small gadgets like that."
At this, Wuming suddenly grew excited. "You haven't been to Tianji Hall yet, have you, Senior Brother? I'll take you there!"
*Senior Brother needs help!*
With this excuse, Wuming readily convinced herself and happily led Zhou Wuji toward Tianji Hall.
Though she had said they would head straight there, the two actually strolled leisurely down the green stone steps, chatting about this and that.
Wuming had so much she wanted to say, yet did not know where to begin or how to express it...
Rounding a bend in the path, seeing that no one was in sight along the stone staircase, Zhou Wuji reached out and took Wuming's slender hand. "The steps are a bit steep... let me support you..."
Wuming started for a moment, then allowed Zhou Wuji to hold her hand. Her face quickly flushed warm again, yet holding her senior brother's slender, warm palm brought her immense peace of mind.
After walking in silence for a short while, Wuming suddenly giggled.
Zhou Wuji was slightly puzzled. "What is it?"
"N-nothing, it's just that the mountain path is so steep. Thank you for supporting me, Senior Brother! Hahaha..." The more she spoke, the funnier it seemed to her, until she was shaking with laughter, unable to stop.
"It is only what a senior brother should do. No need for thanks." Zhou Wuji was quite thick-skinned; no matter how much Wuming laughed, he kept his grip firm and refused to let go.
Holding hands felt like a formal ceremony, even more momentous than the clandestine kiss he had stolen on her cheek before. Wuming felt their relationship had clearly advanced a step further. She truly relaxed, and the words in her heart naturally began to pour forth...
"Senior Brother, that Qiongyu Paste you refined is wonderful! My mother absolutely loves it!"
"Senior Brother, the flute score you gave me is so exquisite, with such moving melodies and a complete structure. It's truly marvelous..."
"Senior Brother, your calligraphy stands proud like a crane and carries an immortal grace. Several of my friends said the script is stunning, unmatched in the world! Can you teach me?"
"Senior Brother, when will you teach me swordplay?"
The more Wuming spoke, the more excited and joyful she became, wishing only that they could walk side by side like this forever, on a path that never ended.
"I found that musical score in an ancient book..."
"That style of calligraphy is called Slender Gold script. If you like it, I'll write out a copybook for you to practice with..."
"Once I finish my business, I'll teach you swordplay..."
Zhou Wuji answered casually with an easy grace, though his heart was filled with delight.
A bright spring day, a gentle breeze, and verdant mountains brimming with vitality. Yet the woman beside him was brighter than the spring sun, gentler than the breeze, and more vibrant than the mountains.
Holding Wuming's hand, Zhou Wuji felt as though he were holding the entirety of spring.
He was utterly certain he would remember this beautiful scene forever!
Tianji Hall was not far after all, and seeing they had arrived, Zhou Wuji reluctantly released her hand.
She led Zhou Wuji inside, where a young Daoist boy on gate duty came out to greet them. Seeing Wuming, the boy's face broke into a broad smile as he ushered them in: "Martial Aunt, you're here! Please, come inside."
Wuming was quite familiar with the place. She guided Zhou Wuji to a side hall lined on both sides with long tables covered in an assortment of goods.
At a glance, Zhou Wuji spotted the White Brow Needles. Beside them sat several boxes of other needle-shaped concealed weapons, differing only in design.
He stepped forward and weighed a White Brow Needle in his fingers; it was identical to the one Wuming had given him.
A middle-aged Daoist sat lazily to the side, introducing the wares in an unhurried drawl, "White Brow Needles are two taels of silver each, or a hundred and fifty taels for a box. We also have Golden Light Needles, three times heavier than White Brow Needles and inscribed with Golden Light Incantation runes that can be triggered with true qi, priced at ten taels each..."
In addition to these flying needles, there were coin darts, iron caltrops, and other concealed weapons.
There were also magic implements such as Tianpeng rulers and Demon-Subduing Bells, as well as ritual swords fashioned in the style of the Seven Stars Sword.
Various magic implements and weapons were laid out together, all displaying commendable quality and craftsmanship.
Zhou Wuji found himself quite interested in these items. Not standing on ceremony, he directly picked up whatever caught his eye.
They were all fellow disciples of the Arctic Sect; even if internal strife between the seven lineages was fierce, they would not stoop to petty merchant tricks against him.
The middle-aged Daoist simply sat to the side without interfering, while the young Daoist boy attentively offered explanations by his side.
After a general look, Zhou Wuji judged that the magic implements here were at most seventh rank.
He asked the middle-aged Daoist, "Do you have any high-grade swords?"
The middle-aged Daoist shook his head. "The Main Abbey might, but the Lower Abbey certainly doesn't."
In the end, Zhou Wuji purchased two boxes of White Brow Needles, a wide woven sash, and a black-scaled python-hide sleeping sack.
The azure sash featured brocade on the outside and leather within, finely crafted with a simple, secure clasp and hidden compartments.
It could be used to wear a sword or carry small items, and also provided a degree of physical protection.
To go to Jiuling Lake, he could not simply wear his sword suspended at his waist as he usually did. The sash allowed the blade to rest securely and diagonally against his hip.
The sleeping sack was tanned from the hide of a giant black-scaled python; the leather was soft and breathable, yet impervious to water, fire, and venomous insects, making it extraordinarily practical for sleeping in the wilderness.
Apart from these, the other magic implements were of no use to him.
The three items totaled exactly one thousand taels—a hefty sum indeed.
Fortunately, Zhou Wuji was flush with wealth and did not even bat an eye at spending the silver.
This caught the middle-aged Daoist somewhat off guard. The Lower Abbey was not particularly large, yet this young Daoist was remarkably wealthy—and a stranger to him at that...
Emerging from Tianji Hall, Wuming felt reluctant to part, yet she could no longer follow Zhou Wuji.
With utter earnestness, she said, "May the Northern Emperor watch over you. Senior Brother, on this journey, you are bound to enjoy smooth sailing and swift success!"
"Thank you for your auspicious words, Junior Sister."
Zhou Wuji smiled, cupped his hands, and turned away with effortless grace.
Wuming watched his receding figure until it vanished from sight, standing there motionless for a long time...
Chapter 93