In the past, Xu Ziqing had searched desperately without success, and his frustration had bred an inner demon. Now that his Dao heart was clear again, what he needed seemed almost within reach.
It was a reminder that not everything in life could be forced. A cultivator who followed the Dao of heaven without impatience or agitation might find that rewards came in their own time.
Xu Ziqing’s state of mind grew calmer still. He exhaled gently, and the final trace of oppression in his chest disappeared.
Yun Lie saw this and nodded slightly.
Xu Ziqing smiled. “Senior Brother, shall we go take a look?”
After this trial, even if the information proved false, he would no longer be shaken.
He could faintly sense that he stood only a hair’s breadth from the Nascent Soul realm. If he did not wish to deepen his reserves further and use the initial form of his Minor Cosmos, he might already be able to seize this opportunity to form his Nascent Soul.
But he restrained himself, knowing the time had not yet come.
Yun Lie naturally agreed and traveled with him toward the Hall of a Hundred Ancients.
They reached the hall soon afterward, landed outside, and walked in.
There were many visitors today, and the manager and attendants were busy.
Xu Ziqing took in the interior and swept his gaze across it, wondering who had sent the message.
Sure enough, a young cultivator noticed him. On recognizing Xu Ziqing, the man brightened and hurried over.
He bowed first. “Senior, is your surname Xu?”
Xu Ziqing smiled and nodded.
The young man understood and asked quietly, “Have you come about the divine water?”
Xu Ziqing smiled again.
The young cultivator relaxed. “The person who accepted the task is already waiting in an inner room. Please follow me.”
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie followed him into a quiet chamber at the side.
Someone was indeed waiting there.
He was a fairly young-looking cultivator at early Nascent Soul. In the Qingyun Great World, such a person would certainly count as a genius, but within the Zhou Tian Immortal Sect of the Qianyuan Great World, he was only somewhat stronger than an ordinary inner disciple.
Accordingly, he was not arrogant. Sensing the auras of his two visitors, he grew even more courteous. “May I ask whether you two fellow Daoists are the ones who posted the task seeking metal-attribute Five Elements Divine Water?”
The young guide had already withdrawn silently.
Xu Ziqing cupped his hands and sat opposite the Nascent Soul cultivator beside his senior brother. “We are. Do you happen to possess it?”
The Nascent Soul cultivator smiled. “I don’t have the actual substance.” He studied Xu Ziqing’s expression and saw neither disappointment nor anger. His own face relaxed as he continued, “My name is Shou Liangcheng. I do, however, possess some information. I wonder whether…”
Xu Ziqing said readily, “Please tell us, Fellow Daoist.”
Shou Liangcheng asked, “Have you ever heard of Star Sand?”
Xu Ziqing nodded. “Of course, though I have none in my possession.”
Star Sand was a spiritual material used in artifact refinement. It formed where starlight gathered densely and contained the power of the stars. Though not exceedingly precious, it was uncommon, and cultivators often had to search for it themselves.
Shou Liangcheng smiled. “Unless someone practices star-related arts, most cultivators pay little attention to it. There’s nothing unusual about your not having any. But perhaps you don’t know that where stars converge, after ten million years of accumulation, droplets of water can seep from the surface of Star Sand. Most people pay those droplets little attention and simply wipe them away. Few realize that this liquid is a kind of extreme-yang divine water. Because it accompanies the stars, it is classed as metal-attribute divine water. It also has another name: Myriad-Star Divine Water.”
Xu Ziqing listened thoughtfully.
Shou Liangcheng continued, “To tell you the truth, I discovered information about an ancient ruin hidden in a place where countless stars converge. It has existed for many years and is exceptionally well concealed. It opens only about once every hundred years, however. Anyone hoping to gather Star Sand must wait for that time. I believe the likelihood of finding divine water there is very high.”
Xu Ziqing understood.
Shou Liangcheng’s explanation did make sense.
After a moment’s thought, he looked toward his senior brother.
Yun Lie studied Shou Liangcheng with a cold expression. “What do you want in return?”
Yun Lie’s imposing presence startled Shou Liangcheng, but he quickly recovered. “Since you need divine water and I need Star Sand, and since no one knows what dangers lie in ruins unopened for a hundred years, why don’t we make the trip together?”
Xu Ziqing was surprised. So the man had come to recruit companions?
In truth, Shou Liangcheng had originally been interested in the sword talismans containing perfected sword intent.
Every cultivator knew how formidable sword cultivators could be. Comprehending sword intent was difficult enough. Of ten thousand sword cultivators who had reached even minor accomplishment, perhaps not one could bring it to perfection. Its power and rarity were beyond doubt.
Shou Liangcheng wanted Star Sand from the ruins, but he did not know what he would encounter there. He had hoped to obtain several sword talismans as protection, improving his chances of survival.
But meeting these two gave him a different idea. His practiced eye told him that Yun Lie possessed an extremely powerful aura and was probably more formidable still in actual combat. The young man in green appeared mild and approachable, yet something about him was also unusual. He was clearly no ordinary Golden Core cultivator.
Thus Shou Liangcheng reconsidered.
If these two accompanied him, the sword cultivator could wield his sword intent directly whenever danger appeared. That would be far more useful than being limited to a few talismans.
So he immediately proposed traveling together.
After listening to him, Xu Ziqing hesitated.
He thought for a while before sending Yun Lie a private transmission. “What do you think, Senior Brother?”
Yun Lie replied through transmission, “He does not seem to harbor ill intent. We need only remain cautious.”
Xu Ziqing shared that assessment.
News about metal-attribute extreme-yang divine water was rare. He could not afford to dismiss such an opportunity.
But several questions still troubled him.
According to Shou Liangcheng, the place where the stars converged was an ancient ruin that opened once a century. If Shou Liangcheng had not entered it, how did he know so much? Ancient ruins often contained legacies left behind by their original owners. Why would he share the opportunity with strangers? It might make sense if they were friends who had trusted one another with their lives, but they had only just met. Nor did Shou Liangcheng look inexperienced in dangerous expeditions. His invitation was therefore rather puzzling.
Seeing that the two had stopped communicating privately, Shou Liangcheng read Xu Ziqing’s expression and understood his misgivings.
He explained, “Actually, several companions besides yourselves will be coming with me. We’ve already agreed that Star Sand belongs to me, while everything else found in the ruins goes to whoever can obtain it. The site is large, and I doubt one person could safely enter and leave alone. The area where stars converge is in the outer hall, while the inner hall has many branching paths. When we reach them, everyone can choose a different route. There should be no conflict.”
This resolved some of Xu Ziqing’s doubts. After thinking it over, he said, “You seem very familiar with this place, Fellow Daoist Shou.”
At those words, Shou Liangcheng’s face changed, and an air of loneliness settled over him. “I once had a dear friend. A hundred years ago, he stumbled upon the ruins as they were opening while he was out completing a task. After entering, he discovered Star Sand. He immediately recorded the scene with a crystal and transmitted the images to me. They showed the outer hall and several entrances to passages in the inner hall. That’s how I know so much. He also told me the ruins opened once every century. At the time, he was delighted and even invited me to go with him the following year…” Shou Liangcheng paused, then forced himself to continue. “To be frank, after my friend transmitted those images, I never heard from him again. I fear he met with disaster. Besides collecting Star Sand, my other purpose in going there is to bring him home. If he is still alive, nothing could be better. If not… I want at least to recover his remains and give him a proper burial. Only then could I do justice to our years of friendship.”
Xu Ziqing felt sympathy at his words.
If something like that had happened to one of his own friends, such as Zhuang Wei or Su Xin, he too would have struggled to find peace for years.
Judging by Shou Liangcheng’s aura, he did not appear to be lying.
With the explanation laid bare, Xu Ziqing accepted his invitation.
The ruins were not nearly as far from the Zhou Tian Immortal Sect as the Desolate Snow Icefield. Traveling quickly, they could reach them in three to five days. Including their exploration of the ruins, they might return in around half a month. But accidents were always possible, so it would be prudent to allow a full month.
They agreed to meet in the marketplace two days later. The ruins were expected to open in roughly eight days.
With challengers appearing less frequently in recent years, several Wuling senior brothers had also taken turns leaving the sect to search for resources they needed. In a short time, everyone had grown more powerful, and the mountain domain had become freer to act.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie had not left the sect in the five years since their return. When their fellow disciples heard they finally had information about the last kind of divine water, they were naturally delighted and agreed to take responsibility for any contest the following month. In any case, the trip would not be long, and perhaps no one would come to challenge them at all.
The two sealed their cave residence and prepared everything necessary for the journey.
Two days passed quickly.
Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing returned to the marketplace and soon found an inn and restaurant.
Shou Liangcheng was already waiting outside a private room on the second floor. Delighted to see them, he led them inside.
Five people were waiting within.
It appeared that the two of them had arrived last.
Xu Ziqing smiled and apologized.
The others seemed reasonably good-tempered. They did not blame him and returned his greeting with smiles.
Shou Liangcheng promptly introduced everyone.
Xu Ziqing also gave his own name and Yun Lie’s.
The five were all inner disciples and had each reached Nascent Soul, yet none belonged directly to a mountain domain.
Two came from sects too small and poorly established to gather enough people to defend a Heaven Pillar. The other three had originally belonged to no sect at all and were rogue cultivators. After entering the inner sect, they had been recruited by powerful mountain domains as affiliates.
All five had known Shou Liangcheng for some time and already shared a measure of friendship.
After everyone became acquainted, Shou Liangcheng treated the group to a meal of spiritual food.
Then, wasting no further time, they set off for the ruins together.
Whether the ruins contained rare treasures, spiritual materials, cultivation methods, or secret manuals, anything valuable would be enough to stir the interest of cultivators.
Elio’s Note: Shou Liangcheng says the ruins open once every hundred years, but his recollection also says his friend invited him to come the following year. Those are both in the original text, so I’ve left the timing as written rather than quietly changing it.