Having already broken through the Soul Formation level, Yan Qing had a thorough perception of the heavens and the earth. Cultivating to the Foundation Building, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul stages was as easy as drinking water for him. After cultivating for a while, he grew bored and decided to go out and have some fun.
Jadeclear Peak was so remote that even birds rarely passed by. It was like a secluded place set apart from the vastness of the sect.
Xie Shiyi held a high position and had been in seclusion for a hundred years, so he had a lot of matters to deal with.
Yan Qing didn't want to disturb him, so he took Trouble with him on a stroll through the plum forest. He pulled Trouble out of his sleeve and asked with pleasure, "Come on, tell me, why are you so afraid of Xie Shiyi?"
Trouble fluttered his wings, quite depressed. "I don't know, but in any case, I'm afraid of seeing him! Don't give me to him again!"
After he finished speaking, he couldn't resist flying far away from Yan Qing, spreading his wings in the air and basking in the sun.
Yan Qing complained, "Are you really a bat?"
Trouble tilted his head. "What did you say?"
Yan Qing didn't say anything more, because he saw a group of suspicious people.
There was only one bridge on Jadeclear Peak that led to the outside world. The cliffs were steep, and the wind carried snow. This group of people was standing in the shadows of the trees, grabbing at the branches, pushing and shoving each other and tiptoeing to look over at Yan Qing. Their strange behavior forced him to pay attention.
Yan Qing walked over to them from Jadeclear Peak.
When he appeared on the suspension bridge, the people who were pushing and shoving each other were scared stiff. They slipped in a moment of carelessness, screamed and fell to the ground in a heap.
Yan Qing couldn't help but chuckle. Dressed in his blue robe, he walked over and stood in the snow before them, asking, "Might I ask what you are doing?"
The people were all wearing the robes of Desireless Sect disciples. Their cultivation ranged from Golden Core to Nascent Soul. They were all outstanding talents in the sect, but when they saw Yan Qing, their faces turned pale and they stammered, "Shixiong, we just want to take a look, we won't do anything else."
Yan Qing raised an eyebrow: "Take a look?"
One of the teenagers held his breath for a while before he carefully opened his mouth: "Yes, I heard from someone on the training ground that Xie-shixiong is back, so I wanted to see if it was true."
"Oh, I see." Yan Qing nodded and then gave them directions. "It's true. He should be in Jadeclear Palace now, but you won’t be able to see him from here. Perhaps I should take you there?"
The teenager was first overjoyed and then terrified. His eyes widened and he waved his hand hurriedly: "N-n-no need, no need, thank you, Shixiong. Jadeclear Peak is a sacred place, we'll just take a look from here."
Seeing the way he looked, Yan Qing felt a little itchy at heart.
In fact, he was quite curious about what Xie Shiyi seemed like in the eyes of others.
Judging from the performance of the people from Springturn Sect, Chengying feared Xie Shiyi more than anything, Tianshu both loved and respected him and Hengbai purely worshipped him. These three were all elders.
People from the same sect and other sects, the young and the old, had completely different attitudes toward Xie Shiyi.
Thinking of this, Yan Qing asked with a half-smile, "Can I be presumptuous and ask you a question? What kind of person is Xie-shixiong?"
The disciples were still immersed in the joy of Xie-shixiong's return to the sect when Yan Qing suddenly asked them this question.
"Ah?" They said.
The disciples looked at each other. Although the young man in blue robes in front of them only had Qi Refining cultivation, he came from Jadeclear Peak, so they didn’t dare to ignore him. After listening to Yan Qing repeat himself twice, the leading disciple scratched his head embarrassedly and said, "Shixiong, we’ve only been part of Desireless Sect for a short time, and we haven't seen Xie-shixiong in person yet. However, Xie-shixiong is the sect's chief disciple, and he has outstanding talent. He won first place on the Bluecloud Ranking a hundred years ago. He is also the leader of the Immortal Alliance, dedicated to upholding justice, slaying demons and eradicating evil. I believe he is a gentleman as clear and bright as the moon and wind."
After he finished speaking, he giggled a few times, his eyes full of sincere admiration for his idol.
The others agreed.
"That's right, that's right. Xie-shixiong hasn’t yet reached 300 years of age, so he can still participate in the Bluecloud Conference. If he’s willing to compete again this time, I'm afraid he’ll set a new record on the Bluecloud Ranking and become the first person to win the championship twice in a row."
"What are you talking about?! Xie-shixiong is already at Soul Formation level and he’s the leader of the Immortal Alliance. How can he participate in the Bluecloud Conference?"
The young people were arguing, full of vigor, like new bamboo shoots in the snow, their faces full of liveliness.
After hearing this description of the head of the Immortal Alliance, Yan Qing was silent for a moment. He could guess how most people in the world would evaluate Xie Shiyi.
It was strange. As soon as he was reborn, he came into contact with people like Tianshu, Zixiao, and Jing Ruyu. They were all experienced and powerful. Everything they said about Xie Shiyi held secrets.
As a result, Yan Qing's first impression of the Immortal Alliance was that it was cold and ruthless, representing the supreme power over life and death.
In fact, only a small number of people had this impression of the Immortal Alliance. In the eyes of ordinary people, the Immortal Alliance was an organization established to eliminate demonseeds and protect the peace of the world. It was awe-inspiring and admirable.
Ordinary demonseeds that caused chaos were usually dealt with by disciples of cultivation families.
The demonseeds that the Immortal Alliance took action to eliminate were often those that people from the nine great sects and the three noble families didn’t dare to touch.
The Alliance was a silent blade hovering above the upper realm, its cold light intimidating everyone.
But ordinary people may not even see it once in their lifetime.
In the eyes of these young disciples of Desireless Sect, their Xie-shixiong was a son of heaven who is dedicated to the Dao, aloof, pure and clean. They never thought about how much blood and intrigue lay beneath such power.
Their thoughts were simple, but sincere.
Yan Qing finally found a sense of belonging in the upper realm. He agreed wholeheartedly — yes, that's how it should be for the major sects in the cultivation world! Everyone should cultivate together, train together, and participate in the Bluecloud Conference in harmony! What kind of nonsense had he encountered before in Springturn Sect?!
The corners of the young reborn city lord's mouth hooked up, and he blended seamlessly into the group. Yan Qing tried to make friends with them: "Which peaks are you from?"
The leading disciple said shyly, "Shixiong, my name is Mingze, and I'm from Twincalm Peak. They’re all from the same peak as me."
Twincalm Peak was one of the ten inner peaks of Desireless Sect.
Yan Qing waved and smiled at the group of disciples who were about the same age as him. "You don't have to call me Shixiong. Maybe I'll be the one calling you Shixiong when I join Desireless Sect in the future."
Mingze froze for a moment: "Ah?"
The others also said in unison: "Ah?"
Mingze couldn't believe it. "Y-you're not a Desireless Sect disciple yet?"
"That’s right." Yan Qing nodded, his eyes curving: "I'm new here, so please take care of me in the future."
Mingze reached out with a trembling hand, pointing to Jadeclear Peak behind him: "Then how did you...why did you come from Jadeclear Peak?"
Yan Qing thought for a moment and said: "Well, your Xie-shixiong brought me here."
The group of people: "..."
Mingze looked at him with even more fear. "Are you a disciple Xie-shixiong took in from outside?"
Yan Qing: "?"
Xie Shiyi as his so-called master?
Keep dreaming.
Yan Qing said slowly: "No, I'm an old acquaintance of your Xie-shixiong."
Mingze and the other disciples knelt down on the ground with a thump. "Greetings, Senior!"
Yan Qing sighed, squatted down and pointed to himself. "Look at my Qi Refining cultivation. How couldI be your senior? Don't kneel down. I just happened to meet your Xie-shixiong, and then he brought me back here in passing."
He reached out to help Mingze up. Mingze's legs were still weak, but the fear in his eyes slowly dissipated. He looked at Yan Qing seriously.
After being reborn, Yan Qing had tempered himself in the cold spring. Now his hair was dark against his clear skin, his features were bright and handsome, the corners of his mouth were curved up and he had a vivid temperament. At a glance, he made a pleasant impression.
Mingze said: "You..."
Yan Qing said: "Just call me by my name, Yan Qing."
Mingze: "...Oh, Yan Qing. You really have a connection with Xie-shixiong?"
Yan Qing: "Well, a relationship is a matter of fate. I can’t reveal too much."
Mingze swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
Just then, the noon bell of Desireless Sect rang out, its deep sound echoing through the peaks. Mingze straightened up instantly, anxious. "Oh no, we have to go back." Before leaving, he didn't forget to say goodbye to Yan Qing. He scratched his head and said, "If you really join Desireless Sect in the future, Yan Qing, we'll see each other in the classroom."
Yan Qing: "Sure, sure."
Trouble, who had been flying freely in the plum grove, finally returned to Yan Qing's shoulder, satisfied after flying for half the day. He said with surprise, "I’ve discovered something. The plum trees here are always blooming. As long as one blossom falls to the ground, a new one will grow immediately in its place!"
Yan Qing said perfunctorily: "Wow, you're so smart. That's amazing."
Trouble looked at him and then asked: "What are you laughing at?"
Yan Qing yawned and walked back to the peak, lazily saying: "Nothing, I just think it's nice to think about how I'm going to amaze the entire sect and steal the limelight from a certain genius."
Trouble "..." This guy needs help.
When Yan Qing returned to his room, a certain genius was still in the main hall.
Feeling motivated, Yan Qing closed his eyes and cultivated for a while. When he reached the late stage of Foundation Building, it was already evening. His dantian had been reshaped under the influence of Xie Shiyi's spiritual sense. It was unstable in the early stages, so Xie Shiyi said he would come over to help him take care of it.
When Xie Shiyi walked in, his clothes were covered in snow.
Before the chill could spread into the room, he closed the doors and windows.
He lit fifteen candles, and the red light warmed the room.
Yan Qing was playing with the red threads in his hand. These threads were dyed red with his own blood.
Threads that could be used as soul threads had to have a connection with Yan Qing himself. They could either be strands of hair or bloodstained threads. In order to avoid going bald early, Yan Qing could only choose the latter.
Yan Qing looked up and asked: "Is everything settled?"
"Yes." Xie Shiyi didn't really want to talk to him too much about the Immortal Alliance, but since Yan Qing asked him, he answered calmly.
Yan Qing became interested. "What did Yinlie say? Are you satisfied this time?"
Xie Shiyi sat down with lowered eyes and said in a cold tone: "Since he was able to bring Qin Changxi, his answer isn’t important."
Yan Qing: "Qin Changxi? From the Qin family?"
Xie Shiyi changed the subject and asked him: "What is your cultivation level now?"
Yan Qing: "Foundation Building..."
Xie Shiyi raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. "Foundation Building?"
Yan Qing said: "What's with that tone?"
Xie Shiyi said: "I thought you would at least form your golden core today."
Yan Qing thought that he could’ve done that, but he had gone out to play. But without thinking, he said, "What do you know? I'm shattering my dantian and rebuilding it from scratch. It’ll be troublesome in the early stages."
Xie Shiyi looked up at him, his eyes seemingly able to see through everything. Then he lowered his gaze again, his lips hooking up with an ambiguous meaning. "If it's always this troublesome, you probably won't be able to amaze the entire sect."
Yan Qing said, "...You heard that?"
Xie Shiyi said, "Yes."
Yan Qing said, "Next time, don't extend your spiritual awareness so far."
Xie Shiyi ignored the question. "Take this." He took out a jade-white pill from his sleeve.
Yan Qing blinked curiously. "What is this?"
Xie Shiyi said, "It will stabilize your cultivation level."
Yan Qing said, "Oh."
The moment he swallowed the pill, he was surprised to find that the feeling of suffocation and heat that he had felt after cultivating to Foundation Building level had completely disappeared.
Xie Shiyi said again, "Tell me the night before you form your golden core."
Yan Qing said, "Ah?"
Xie Shiyi said calmly, "If I’m not here, don't form your golden core on your own."
Yan Qing obediently replied, "Oh." At the same time, he wondered, Could it be that the sect library really had everything? Otherwise, why was Xie Shiyi so proficient in everything, whether it was rebuilding his dantian or helping with every step of his subsequent cultivation? It was as if he could predict all his difficulties in advance.
Xie Shiyi said nonchalantly, "I asked the sect leader. If you want to become a Desireless Sect disciple, the fastest way is to join Jadeclear Peak."
Yan Qing almost sprayed out a mouthful of water. Without thinking, he said, "No!"
Xie Shiyi paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, his tone cold. "So unwilling to be my disciple?"
Yan Qing said, "I said no, so I mean no. Don't even think about taking advantage of me!"
Xie Shiyi couldn't be bothered to argue. In the eyes of the world, who was taking advantage of whom?
Yan Qing sat up straight, quite excited, and said to the other man, "Xie Shiyi, I met a few Twincalm Peak disciples sneaking around and peeking at your peak today. What's going on with the classrooms of your sect?"
Xie Shiyi pursed his lips. "They must have been from Driftform Hall. All new disciples study there for one year."
Yan Qing: "Then have you ever been there?"
Xie Shiyi: "No. When I joined Desireless Sect, I became a peak lord."
Xie Shiyi could almost see through him. Having been reborn, Yan Qing was like a bird set free, doing whatever he wanted and making no attempt to hide his emotions or thoughts.
"You want to enter Driftform Hall?"
Yan Qing tapped his fingers on the table, smiling. "That's right."
Xie Shiyi said: "Driftform Hall teaches the sect rules and disciplines, and the three thousand ways of the Dao. What are you going to listen to that for?"
Yan Qing: "I have to go through the process, right? Which peak is Elder Tianshu from? Sign me up with him."
Xie Shiyi looked at him with cold eyes: "Have you asked Elder Tianshu's opinion?"
Yan Qing thought about Elder Tianshu's kind-hearted appearance and nodded: "I asked him." Anyway, the answer would be the same whether he asked or not.
Xie Shiyi rarely returned to the sect, and a hundred years separated him from his youth of cultivation. So he couldn't understand why Yan Qing would be willing to go to Driftform Hall. In fact, if Yan Qing hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't even have remembered that Desireless Sect had such a place.
However, he still said, "Yan Qing, I’ll tell you three things. First, don't cause trouble. Second, don't leave the mountain. Third..." Xie Shiyi said in a cold tone, "Don't go around flaunting yourself as my old friend."
Yan Qing: "?"
Just how much prejudice do you have against the term "old friend?!"
***
cela's notes:
1:02 hours
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