Xu Ziqing immediately collected his thoughts and straightened his expression. “Yes, Senior Brother.”
He felt ashamed. His senior brother had plainly been protecting him, yet after breaking through, instead of offering thanks, he had indulged in thoughts that felt disrespectful to Yun Lie. That was truly improper.
Yun Lie looked him over, saw nothing particularly amiss and said, “You’ve broken through repeatedly in a single year. Are your foundations steady?”
Xu Ziqing circulated his true essence through his body and back into his dantian. It settled there in the form of essence liquid, denser and heavier than before, almost like a substantial stream of water. That was the result of reaching Essence Transformation. He also checked his former internal injuries. Thanks to the timely Spirit-Gathering Formation, they were all healed.
Everything seemed reasonably sound.
He smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother. This breakthrough was a little dangerous, but it hasn’t done me any lasting harm.”
Yun Lie nodded and took Xu Ziqing’s wrist.
Xu Ziqing did not withdraw. He lowered his lashes slightly, his gaze gentle.
Yun Lie sent his own true essence inside and examined his junior brother’s body. The hidden injuries were indeed gone, and his foundations were reasonably stable. Yet he had advanced too quickly. His foundations were solid enough, but still lacked depth.
Within a single breath, Yun Lie had learned what he needed and withdrew his hand.
He said, “Your meridians have expanded more than twofold, but your dantian remains the same size as before. If this continues, it will limit your accumulation.”
Xu Ziqing considered this. “Then please instruct me, Senior Brother.”
Yun Lie replied, “In my earlier cultivation, I used Metal qi to stimulate my dantian, causing it pain so it would expand. I then pressed all my true essence into the dantian and prevented it from flowing through the meridians. In time, this enlarged it. But you possess Wood qi, which differs from Metal qi. You should explore a suitable method yourself.”
Xu Ziqing thought it over and began to understand.
He remembered the occasion when his own true essence had entered Yun Lie’s body and he had glimpsed his senior brother’s extraordinarily deep dantian. It was like a black hole. Such foundations made breakthroughs more difficult than for ordinary people, but the benefits were beyond calculation.
Now was the time for Xu Ziqing to accumulate strength carefully. He too ought to focus on his dantian to expand his potential. As for advancing to the next cultivation stage, his strength had already grown by leaps and bounds in a mere year. Continuing at the same pace could leave hidden problems. There was no need to hurry.
Xu Ziqing had always been a patient person, unconcerned with temporary gains and losses. Once he made up his mind, he settled on a future plan of cultivation. Unless something extraordinary happened, he would examine the matter carefully and stick to that plan.
So he said seriously, “Senior Brother’s advice is sound, but…”
Yun Lie looked at him when he hesitated.
Xu Ziqing continued, “But I have a favor to ask, though I’m not sure whether Senior Brother…”
Yun Lie said, “Speak.”
Xu Ziqing replied, “My understanding of immortal cultivation is still shallow. You have already formed your Golden Core and have far more experience. I was thinking that at regular intervals I might ask you to examine my condition. If something is wrong, I can correct it before going astray and wasting my time.”
He truly wished to walk beside his senior brother along the immortal path and therefore wanted to proceed more cautiously. But Xu Ziqing had experienced many dangers and knew how perilous it could be to let another person’s true essence enter his body. Yun Lie was the only person he trusted enough.
Fortunately, examining his internal condition took no more than a breath. His senior brother had always cared for him and would probably inspect him now and then as he had today, even without being asked. Xu Ziqing was merely requesting that he do so more often. Given their closeness, surely Yun Lie would not refuse.
As expected, Yun Lie agreed. “Very well.”
Xu Ziqing smiled, his eyes and brows full of tenderness.
Yun Lie looked at him again but said nothing further.
Once they finished discussing his cultivation, Xu Ziqing remembered what he had overheard in the forest. It was extremely important, and his expression grew grave.
He said, “There is something else I must tell you, Senior Brother.” After a pause, he continued, “This matter is of great importance. Please establish the strongest possible restrictions so that nothing can leak outside.”
Seeing Xu Ziqing so cautious, Yun Lie nodded. His right hand swiftly formed a seal. A chilling sword intent shot upward and enclosed the entire courtyard.
He raised his hand again, and twelve short black-gold swords flew from his sleeve, taking their positions in every direction to form a sword formation. Any probing spiritual sense or hostile force that struck its perimeter would be shredded!
Only after seeing these precautions did Xu Ziqing relax. He took a deep breath and recounted everything he had heard concerning Mu Wuxin and Lang Tianqi, including Mu Ronghua’s origins and the schemes Yu Nongqing and Lang Tianqi had pursued against one another. He related every detail without omission.
The telling took a full half shichen, one hour, before he had explained everything clearly.
Usually Yun Lie was calm and impassive, but when he heard the words “Mu Ronghua is the daughter of an immortal and a demonic cultivator,” even he frowned, almost imperceptibly.
Xu Ziqing noticed and fell silent at once, a bitter smile appearing on his face.
A matter of this magnitude was beyond his ability to decide. Even his senior brother could not settle it.
Yun Lie evidently agreed. Without hesitation, he said, “This is not something we can interfere in. We must report it to the Sect Master as soon as possible.”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “Senior Brother is right.”
Yun Lie stood and said to him, “I’ll send sword talismans to summon the others. Remain silent.”
Xu Ziqing understood the gravity of the situation. “Please don’t worry, Senior Brother.”
Yun Lie immediately released four sword talismans, sending them streaking away in four directions.
In less than half a ke, under seven or eight minutes, several auras approached from the distance and soon arrived at the gate.
Yun Lie swept his sleeve and threw the door wide. Four distinguished-looking cultivators, men and women, entered in succession with urgency evident on their faces.
They were the four core disciples of the Wuling Immortal Sect who served Yun Lie as one deputy and three guardians.
Ou Mubai was the most senior among them and asked at once, “Eldest Senior Brother has summoned us with sword talismans. What urgent matter requires our attention?”
The three guardians added, “Please instruct us, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Yun Lie said plainly, “I’ve obtained information of great importance. We must activate the Spirit-Communicating Treasure Mirror together and contact the Sect Master.”
The core disciples exchanged glances. Ou Mubai asked, “What matter is it?”
Yun Lie answered, “I cannot explain it to you.”
All four were Golden Core Perfected Ones of considerable experience. They immediately understood that this was beyond their power to resolve and did not press him further.
Ou Mubai said, “In that case, let us activate the Spirit-Communicating Treasure Mirror so Eldest Senior Brother may speak directly with the Sect Master.”
The others had no objections.
Yun Lie flicked a finger, and a six-sided treasure mirror appeared before him. Its brilliant radiance shifted and flowed, radiating intense spiritual energy.
He touched the mirror first. A drop of blood emerged from his fingertip and fell onto its surface, where it was immediately absorbed. The mirror blazed with light that seemed ready to burst through the heavens, but the surrounding sword formation contained it and prevented any glow from escaping.
Seeing how careful Yun Lie was being, Ou Mubai and the others dared not delay. They each forced a drop of blood from a fingertip and sent it into the mirror. Each additional drop made the radiance fainter, until, when the last person had contributed, the light remained only upon the mirror’s surface and no longer penetrated beyond it.
White light gathered upon the mirror. Before long, a distant voice emerged.
“Yun Lie, why have you activated the mirror? What do you have to report?”
It was a man’s voice, simultaneously near and far, stern yet peaceful, inspiring reverence and forbidding any hint of insolence.
None of the listeners could quite identify the voice by its sound, yet somehow they understood at once that the Sect Master was speaking.
Once the mirror was functioning, Yun Lie sent Ou Mubai and the others outside.
He then sealed the courtyard again, established another restriction and turned back toward the mirror.
A faint human image appeared in its surface, merely a side profile. Even so, it gave the impression of being heavier than a mountain, as though the person reflected there could kill someone with a single finger despite being an immeasurable distance away.
Such authority was almost impossible to describe.
Yun Lie said, “Ziqing, come here.”
Xu Ziqing drew a deep breath, stepped forward and approached Yun Lie. “Xu Ziqing of Little Bamboo Peak pays his respects to the Sect Master.”
He knew that he had discovered the secret, and with their cultivation at its present level, there was no possibility of hiding anything if they wanted to inform the Sect Master. Yet he had never met the Sect Master before and could not help feeling nervous.
The Sect Master looked upon the inexperienced young cultivator in the mirror without surprise. “Since only you can explain the matter, tell me.”
His voice was neither warm nor especially stern. Unexpectedly, he did not release any overwhelming pressure, nor did Xu Ziqing feel uncomfortable in his presence.
Xu Ziqing’s nervousness eased a little.
The Sect Master truly occupied a position far above him, but he was also an elder of their tradition. Xu Ziqing could revere him without being excessively afraid.
After collecting his thoughts, Xu Ziqing repeated the entire account, just as he had told Yun Lie, preserving the events and Mu Wuxin and Lang Tianqi’s conversation exactly, without inserting his own judgments or changing a single detail.
He understood that he and Yun Lie were not in the same cultivation realm as those two people. The Sect Master, however, might perceive something different in their conversation.
The Sect Master listened patiently without interrupting, and pondered the matter when Xu Ziqing had finished.
At last he said, “Xu Ziqing, to overhear such important information demonstrates extraordinary fortune. To reach your present cultivation after only a year also shows considerable aptitude. Yun Lie, since you value your junior brother, continue to guide him carefully.” Then he added, “Neither of you is to mention this to anyone else. Before the Immortal Fruit Gathering, I will send several elders to you. For your part, simply compete for the Posuo Fruits and trouble yourselves no further over this affair.”
Both Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing understood and accepted his instructions.
A flash of white light followed, and the Sect Master’s image vanished from the Spirit-Communicating Treasure Mirror.
Yun Lie put the mirror away and looked at Xu Ziqing. “If anyone asks, say you know nothing.”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “Yes, Senior Brother.” After a moment of hesitation, he added, “But I keep feeling there are deeper currents here. This matter may be far more complicated than what we’ve seen.”
Yun Lie’s expression and gaze remained perfectly calm. “For the next several days, do not leave my side.”
Xu Ziqing paused, then smiled. “Yes. I will obey Senior Brother’s instructions.”