The two martial brothers said no more and hastened onward. After several days and nights of travel, they returned safely to their sect.
They encountered no further difficulties along the way.
Upon returning, they ought naturally to pay their respects to their master.
But when they reached Little Bamboo Peak, they learned that their master had entered seclusion. Xu Ziqing was startled and asked their third junior brother, Qiu Ze, “Is Master well?”
He was worried that their master might have encountered some difficulty over the past few years.
Qiu Ze looked delighted instead. “Master sensed an opportunity to break through and went into seclusion to try. It’s been a year since he last came out. I expect everything is fine.”
Xu Ziqing was even more astonished.
His master’s aptitude and accumulated foundations were merely average, and he possessed no miraculous medicines. How could he be so close to a breakthrough already?
Noticing his second senior brother’s puzzlement, Qiu Ze explained, “Reporting to Second Senior Brother, I don’t know the reason either. One day, Master suddenly mentioned going into seclusion, then sealed his cave residence. So…”
In truth, none of them had guessed what had happened. When Perfected Qiu He saw how generously his two disciples had offered him a precious treasure like the Posuo Fruit, he had been deeply moved. Although his aptitude was limited, his foundations were reasonably solid. The real reason he had made little progress since forming his Golden Core was a barrier in his state of mind. In part, he had believed he could advance no farther. He also carried guilt over having neglected his beloved eldest disciple during childhood, leaving that disciple less close to him and almost setting him on the path of the Ruthless Slaughter Sword Dao, a path commonly regarded as a dead end. Even after his eldest disciple successfully broke through, gained remarkable strength, and brought back another extraordinarily gifted disciple, the master’s regret had not faded.
But the Posuo Fruit made Perfected Qiu He recognize that he had been needlessly troubling himself. His eldest disciple had devoted himself to the Sword Dao; as his master, he should simply be happy for him. Even with his seven emotions frozen, had that disciple not continued to respect his master and care for his junior brother? People’s dispositions differed. Perhaps his eldest disciple would have been equally reserved even without cultivating the Ruthless Slaughter Sword Dao. Why should he continue dwelling on the matter and thereby slight his disciples’ sincere intentions?
Once he understood this, the barrier in his heart vanished. Cultivation became much smoother.
In that state of mind, Perfected Qiu He actually sensed an opportunity to break through.
He might not succeed during this single seclusion, but at least he had finally touched the boundary and could once again glimpse the immortal path ahead.
Returning to Xu Ziqing, he listened to Qiu Ze’s explanation and nodded, choosing not to press him further.
Soon the eight junior sisters also came to pay their respects to the two senior brothers. Long Xuan and Yue Jun, who had been staying on Little Bamboo Peak, were nowhere to be seen. Qiu Ze said they too had gone out to temper themselves.
Xu Ziqing distributed some of the rare treasures he had gathered in the secret treasury among his junior brothers and sisters, and selected several useful spiritual artifacts to give them as well. With his fellow disciples watching happily, he and Yun Lie returned to Little Slaughter Peak.
The peak remained solitary and proud, sword qi soaring skyward. Ordinary people still dared not approach it.
The martial brothers stood on a cloud. Yun Lie drew a line with two fingers, recarving the words “Little Slaughter Peak” upon the cliff beneath the mountain. The sharp intent erupting from the inscription was several times stronger than before.
From then onward, the territory of Little Slaughter Peak became even more dangerous.
The commotion awakened someone below. A spirit bird suddenly flapped out of a mountain cave and transformed into a plainly dressed youth, who bowed from the mountainside.
Xu Ziqing smiled at him and waved him back.
Only then did the brothers descend to the summit.
It was still filled with chilling sword qi, which had lingered even throughout its master’s years of absence.
Xu Ziqing looked around and was overcome by a little emotion.
He had been reborn into this world for more than twenty years, yet Little Slaughter Peak was the only place where he had truly felt a sense of belonging.
Only here did he feel exceptionally safe.
Yun Lie stood quietly at the summit and pointed several times, laying down restrictions of black-gold sword qi around them and sealing Little Slaughter Peak even more securely.
It seemed he had some plan in mind.
Xu Ziqing did not interfere. He waited quietly to one side.
After Yun Lie finished arranging the restrictions, he said, “Come with me.”
Xu Ziqing smiled and followed.
Although he often practiced swordsmanship with his senior brother and the summit was by no means forbidden to him, he had never once entered the cave where Yun Lie lived.
He was rather curious about it.
The two entered the mountain cave and found it quite spacious within.
From outside, the opening appeared only a little more than a zhang high and nearly a zhang wide. But inside it extended several zhang deep, with thick stone walls on either side.
Sword marks covered the walls and floor, making them neither smooth nor even. There was no bedding, no furniture, and no decoration of any kind.
Had there not been a stone platform near one side, the cave would have been completely empty.
Xu Ziqing was startled, but quickly decided it was exactly what he should have expected.
Given his senior brother’s disposition, anything unnecessary would naturally be disregarded. No wonder his residence was so austere.
Yet this simplicity made Xu Ziqing feel genuinely at ease.
Yun Lie raised a finger once more. A streak of sword aura shot out and carved a new stone chamber into the right-hand wall.
Xu Ziqing turned to look. Apart from a scattering of stone chips, the new chamber was smooth and level.
Yun Lie said, “You will stay here.”
…What?
Xu Ziqing turned sharply. “I’ll stay… here?”
Yun Lie nodded. “If the space is insufficient, it can be enlarged.”
Xu Ziqing felt a little awkward. That had not been what he meant.
He simply did not understand his senior brother’s intention.
Yun Lie added, “We’ve been away for five years. I should enter seclusion, and so should you.”
Xu Ziqing began to understand.
His senior brother was still concerned about him. Letting him cultivate here would make it easier to keep an eye on him.
He felt grateful and faintly rueful.
His abilities were still so inadequate that his senior brother had to expend such effort looking after him. He really should work harder. Their previous travels had left him too little time to refine the techniques and abilities he had acquired. Now was an excellent opportunity to master them all. With no urgent business remaining, he should build up a solid foundation before emerging again.
Until then, perhaps he ought not to wander outside seeking experience.
After reflecting for a moment, Xu Ziqing smiled. “Thank you, Senior Brother, for taking such good care of me.”
Yun Lie glanced at him. “There’s no need to thank me.”
Xu Ziqing entered the chamber and swept away the dust and stone fragments with a wave of his sleeve, tidying the space.
Unlike Yun Lie, he cast a spell that covered all four walls in emerald-green leaves. He then released a seed and made it grow into a great tree that supported the ceiling. Fresh wood qi filled the chamber, though compared with the cold sword qi outside, it still seemed rather weak and likely to be influenced by it.
He thought for a while, and an idea occurred to him.
He took out several divine-wood seeds and rubbed them together until they became pure wood qi, which the tree absorbed.
With both Jia-Wood and Yi-Wood qi circulating within this enclosed space, the chamber became lush, green, and vibrant with life.
Once he had finished, Xu Ziqing came out again and found Yun Lie, who had been sitting cross-legged, opening his eyes and rising to his feet.
Had his senior brother been waiting for him? Somewhat surprised and abashed, he said, “I’ve kept you waiting, Senior Brother.”
Perhaps there was something else his senior brother wished to tell him.
Yun Lie said, “The killing intent at the summit is too strong. Set the Cold Jade Pool into your cave residence below.”
Xu Ziqing immediately remembered. He really had forgotten about it. Fortunately his senior brother had reminded him.
He agreed and was just about to excuse himself and head down.
Unexpectedly, Yun Lie stepped forward as though intending to accompany him. Xu Ziqing thought nothing of it and went down the mountain with him.
No one had entered Xu Ziqing’s cave residence for many days. Yan Shuang, who guarded the peak, could not reach the areas above the mountainside and naturally had been unable to tend it.
That was no great trouble. Xu Ziqing waved his sleeve and swept the residence spotlessly clean.
Then the two entered.
Xu Ziqing’s cave residence was large, with a strong abundance of plant energy and an agreeably warm atmosphere.
He took out the jade carving into which the Cold Jade Pool had transformed, breathed a stream of green qi over it, and cast it forward. The carving shone brightly, slowly descended, and merged into the floor.
A wave of cold immediately swept toward them. Water vapor filled the cave, and frost glittered everywhere.
…It seemed to have acquired quite a bit more character.
The twin lotus flowers swayed in bloom in the pool. Xu Ziqing shook his sleeve and released two balls of light.
One red and one white, they quickly took on the vague forms of Yuehua and Yanhua.
The two had considerable awareness. Although they had been kept in his sleeve, Xu Ziqing had not deliberately concealed events outside from them. They knew this was their master’s cave residence, and the sight of the Cold Jade Pool settled here made them even more grateful.
They immediately came forward and bowed to their two masters. “Thank you, Master.”
Xu Ziqing smiled. “I’ve brought you here to become familiar with your new home. From today onward, cultivate here.” He took out a beast-control token and opened it with a spell. A little white bundle tumbled out, followed in the next instant by an enormous spirit bird whose wings stirred up a furious wind.
The white bundle was naturally Hu Xue’er, who carried Heavenly Fox blood, and the great bird was the eagle Chonghua.
They had been confined for so long that their patience had nearly run out. At last released, they hurried to Xu Ziqing and nuzzled him affectionately, unable to stop seeking his attention.
Xu Ziqing smiled indulgently. “Xue’er, Chonghua, come meet Yuehua and Yanhua.”
The fluffy white fox looked at them with bright, watery eyes, unbearably adorable. The splendid eagle nodded his head with a slightly comical earnestness.
Yuehua and Yanhua exchanged a glance. They treated the two beast companions with respect and greeted them politely.
The meeting was harmonious, and before long all four had formed decent first impressions of one another.
Relieved, Xu Ziqing said, “I will soon enter seclusion with Senior Brother. All the resources you need are here in this cave residence. None of you may be lazy. Cultivate diligently. Chonghua in particular must work harder. Otherwise, I may not be able to bring you along the next time we leave the mountain.”
As Xu Ziqing’s cultivation increased, the dangers they encountered would only grow. Chonghua’s rank was still too low. He could not simply keep the eagle imprisoned in a beast-control token all the time. What difference would there be between bringing him and leaving him behind?
Chonghua bobbed his head repeatedly.
After giving these instructions, Xu Ziqing left behind many beast cores and other resources useful to demonic beasts and plant spirits. Only then did he return to the summit with Yun Lie.
When they entered the cave again, Yun Lie sealed its entrance.
Xu Ziqing said, “Senior Brother, I’ll take my leave for now.”
He started toward his new stone chamber.
Yun Lie nodded slightly. “When you form your Golden Core, we’ll hold a ceremony.”
Xu Ziqing was startled, but nodded in agreement.
A ceremony… He knew something about such occasions. Under ordinary circumstances, when a cultivator formed a Golden Core, the sect would hold a celebration and invite friends to attend, provided no major matter intervened. Back when his senior brother had formed his Golden Core, one problem after another had arisen, and no ceremony had been held.
Now that Xu Ziqing’s turn was approaching, his senior brother actually wanted to celebrate for him… The thought made him happy and wistful at once.
Well, forming his Golden Core was the most important matter now.
His senior brother’s foundations were deep, so he might not form his Nascent Soul any time soon. If Xu Ziqing accumulated enough experience and formed his own Golden Core soon, he might finally draw a little closer.
Although his fighting strength would still fall far short of his senior brother’s, it would give him much more confidence.
Besides…
Since his senior brother remembered the matter of the Cold Jade Pool, he must also remember what had happened in that demonic land.
Yet he had not become distant toward Xu Ziqing because of it. Perhaps… there was still some hope.
Xu Ziqing smiled faintly.
After forming his Golden Core, perhaps he could finally confess his feelings to his senior brother.