Chapter 102: Journey to the Scarlet Serpent Mountains

Time flew by, and a year passed.

Ever since Song Zhiqiao obtained the Velvet Blossom, she came running to cling to Li Guanxuan almost every day, even willingly lowering her head to take his sacred staff between her lips.

Her eagerness drove Qin Jiyue into a fury, while Wen Rongxin was left utterly bashful.

One day, Liu Xiaoxian found herself longing for the little green tea’s particular brand of tea-making and called her over to brew a pot. The little green tea, however, declared with great solemnity that she had no time and refused outright, saying that she needed to work diligently at her cultivation and strive to attain the Dao and become an immortal.

That infuriated her beautiful master, whose assets were well above an E-cup.

She immediately went to Peaceful Garden, intending to teach the little green tea a lesson… only to wait outside for an entire hour.

In the end, it was Wen Rongxin who came stumbling over to open the door.

The moment Liu Xiaoxian saw her beloved disciple’s rosy, radiant appearance, blooming like a rose, she instantly understood what the girl had been doing inside in broad daylight.

For a female immortal who had lived for more than a century, dual cultivation was hardly anything remarkable.

After all, there were three thousand great paths, and every one of them could lead to immortality.

Since her precious disciple had found another path, that was naturally a good thing.

Besides, as her master, there were times when she truly ought to understand the state of her disciple’s cultivation.

What was dual cultivation to her? She was a dignified peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. What sort of scene had she not witnessed? How could she possibly care about this trifling matter?

If word got out, people might actually mistake her for an eighteen-year-old beauty.

Hmph!

Thus, Liu Xiaoxian strode inside openly and without the slightest hesitation.

However…

The inside of Peaceful Garden was an entirely different world from the outside.

Outside, the silence was terrifying. Inside, the celestial music was especially intense, wave after wave rising and overlapping, recreating the enchanting harmonies of ancient times.

As the immortal music flowed around her ears, Liu Xiaoxian wanted to flee on the spot. But when she saw Wen Rongxin standing there with her head lowered, her face flushed with embarrassment, she could only force herself to pretend that nothing had happened and walk inside.

Wen Rongxin had long since been mortified beyond words.

The worst part was that her master seemed to have no intention of leaving!

How was she supposed to face her master ever again?

Yet for the sake of etiquette, no matter how exhausted she was, Wen Rongxin still had to entertain Liu Xiaoxian personally.

As for the little green tea… she had passed out long ago.

It was only two hours later, at sunset, that the tall, handsome sword cultivator finally emerged from the main room.

When he noticed the situation in the hall, he froze. Then he hurried forward to pay his respects to his master, coaxing her, massaging her, and pinching her shoulders while exhausting every possible word of praise. Only then did he manage to make his beautiful master smile again.

The awkward atmosphere gradually eased as well.

Relying on her status as his master, Liu Xiaoxian continued lecturing Li Guanxuan, telling him to engage in less dual cultivation in broad daylight. The best time for such things was during the moonless night.

Li Guanxuan naturally offered no objection. He nodded repeatedly and said, “Yes, yes, exactly…”

In the end, Liu Xiaoxian still failed to drink tea brewed personally by the little green tea, and she happened to have other matters to attend to.

Before leaving, she could not help asking, “After putting yourself through all that, can your body really withstand it?”

Although sword cultivators possessed exceptionally tough physiques, high-intensity dual cultivation still took a toll on the body.

Li Guanxuan casually replied, “I’m doing all right.”

He could hardly tell her that this was merely routine.

What did two or three hours amount to? He had once managed eight hours a day. It only required the slightest bit of external assistance.

…

On this day, Song Zhiqiao finally raised all four of her elemental spiritual roots to mid-grade and, with the help of medicinal pills, broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining. Her entire being seemed to have been reborn.

Ever since the little green tea learned that she had hope of living forever—and that she would be able to spend that eternity with the person she loved most—the smile on her face had grown brighter with each passing day, and her personality had become livelier than before.

Previously, Song Zhiqiao had certainly been cheerful, but a trace of sorrow still lingered between her brows, as though a great stone weighed upon her heart.

Her husband and sisters were either establishing their foundations or preparing to temper their bones, while her own prospects remained distant and uncertain. How could she not feel anxious?

But after obtaining the Velvet Blossom, Song Zhiqiao was completely at ease.

With Brother Li occasionally guiding her in the art of formations, she had also steadily advanced to become a first-tier high-grade formation master.

“I’ve reinforced every formation in the house. With the support of talismans, even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator would be trapped here and meet his end.”

Over the years, Li Guanxuan had also been gathering materials to strengthen the formations around Peaceful Garden, lest anyone break in and attack their home.

After all, to him, no matter what happened, nothing could be allowed to happen to his family.

Wen Rongxin nodded slightly. Over the coming year, she too would refine immortal energy and break through to the ninth level of Body Tempering before preparing to temper her bones. Her husband was clearly concerned for her safety.

“These years of dual cultivation have allowed me to accumulate a great deal of immortal energy. It will be enough to cultivate all the way to the Bone Tempering stage,” Wen Rongxin said softly.

She knew that Li Guanxuan’s explanation meant he was preparing to leave on some errand.

“Old Chen has been recuperating in the Scarletflame Mountains for several years without ever showing himself. I’m worried about him, so I need to go and take a look.”

Li Guanxuan drew Wen Rongxin into his arms and said softly, “In my entire life, I have only one true friend. I can’t simply watch him die there. Otherwise, it will become a lifelong inner demon for me.”

“I understand, husband,” Wen Rongxin replied gently. “I’m here at home. No matter what happens, I will protect my sisters.”

Qin Jiyue and Song Zhiqiao watched from nearby.

Neither woman felt particularly envious. They both believed it was only fair.

Wen Rongxin was her husband’s first wife, the woman who had accompanied him as he grew. She naturally deserved to be cherished in this way.

If their husband failed to love this woman dearly, then they would truly have been angry.

“I’ve already told Master about this as well. She’ll watch over Peaceful Garden, so you can cultivate and break through without worry.”

Li Guanxuan reminded them, “In the entire Silver Maple City, apart from Old Brother Zheng, Master is the person we can trust most. If you encounter any trouble, notify her at once.

“Zhiqiao has accumulated quite a bit of immortal energy too. By the time she reaches the eighth level of Qi Refining, Jiyue and I should be back.”

After exchanging a few more words, Li Guanxuan and Qin Jiyue finally left Peaceful Garden together.

…

Ever since the Thunderfire Sect took control of Huajing Immortal City, it had not changed the city’s name.

After several years of recuperation and consolidation, the Thunderfire Sect had gained immense benefits. It also announced plans to purge the surrounding region of demonic cultivators and bandits, thereby providing the cultivators of the Immortal Ruins with a better environment for cultivation.

Those with ulterior motives, however, understood clearly that the Thunderfire Sect’s purge had already extended as far as Shanggu City. It was plainly setting its sights on that particularly lucrative prize.

After all, the former city lord was dead. The new city lord, Luan Pei, was merely a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. Even with Ge Wen assisting him, he would find it difficult to stir up any real trouble.

Thus, under the banner of “suppressing demonic cultivators and bandits,” the Thunderfire Sect was displaying its formidable strength to Shanggu City and issuing an implicit threat.

The clans and forces that had become vassals of the Thunderfire Sect also contributed to the campaign.

The Patriarch of the You Clan learned that the demonic cultivators Chen Yinshan and Fang Xingzhi were hiding in the Scarletflame Mountains, not far from Shanggu City, and volunteered to accompany the Thunderfire Sect’s stewards and elders in carrying out the purge.

Those two demonic cultivators shared a blood feud with the Beast-Taming You Clan. Unless he saw them die with his own eyes, the You Clan Patriarch could not sleep peacefully.

Furthermore, Li Guanxuan had heard that Yan Mingyao was among the stewards who had come to the Scarletflame Mountains this time.

With that ruthless man involved, Li Guanxuan was even less willing to let Chen Yinshan remain in the Scarletflame Mountains. Thus, after making every arrangement and preparation, he entered the mountains to rescue Old Chen and Fang Xingzhi.

After leaving home, Li Guanxuan and Qin Jiyue both put on the magical rings Liu Xiaoxian had given them.

The rings could alter their appearances and auras, so they had no need to worry about their identities being exposed.

“Sang Shaoxian has been besieging Falling Moon Valley for nearly a year, yet he still hasn’t managed to break through. It seems the Valley Master truly has some skill.”

Li Guanxuan had just exchanged a spiritual transmission with Zheng Huangjin and learned about the situation in Azure Peace City.

After Sang Shaoxian attacked Falling Moon Valley, the Bloodhand Sect, the Deathblow Tower, and the Azure Thunder Sect had all chosen to stand by and watch.

No one had come to Falling Moon Valley’s aid.

Of course, no one had helped the Joyful Mountain either.

After all, Sang Shaoxian had been driven away by them in the past.

They also bore some responsibility for the death of Joyful Mountain’s ancestor.

But there was nothing they could do. Sang Shaoxian had offered benefits tempting enough to move their hearts, so they had chosen not to intervene. Instead, they were waiting for the clash between the two forces to reveal its outcome.

“She won’t simply sit around and wait for death.”

Qin Jiyue smiled. “She has invested tremendous effort into the mountain-protecting formation, and she will certainly have poured equal effort into preparing the rare treasures required for Core Formation.

“In my view, it won’t be easy for Sang Shaoxian to seize Falling Moon Valley anytime soon. He’ll also have to pay an enormous price… Husband, this is good news for us.”

Li Guanxuan nodded and gave a quiet hum of agreement.

When he had left Azure Peace City, Falling Moon Valley had already been watched covetously by three major powers, yet its Valley Master had still held on.

Now that Sang Shaoxian wanted to reclaim the sect’s former grounds, how could it possibly be easy?

Any woman capable of cultivating to the peak of Foundation Establishment was decisive and ruthless. Not one of them was simple.

If he had not displayed sufficient strength back then, the Valley Master of Falling Moon Valley might truly have kept him there and placed him under house arrest.

After all, within Falling Moon Valley, he had sensed the auras of no fewer than four late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Clearly, Falling Moon Valley had not been as weak as it appeared over the years. It had been developing and growing in secret all along.

The presence of at least four late Foundation Establishment auras was the clearest proof.

“Now, I actually hope that the Valley Master of Falling Moon Valley forms a false core. If that happens, Sang Shaoxian will find it difficult to reclaim the sect’s former grounds.”

Li Guanxuan smiled, then shook his head, deciding that it was unlikely.

The Valley Master of Falling Moon Valley was certainly formidable, but Sang Shaoxian, the master of Joyful Mountain, was by no means mediocre either.

Moreover, over the years, Sang Shaoxian had continually recruited talented people and befriended powerful figures. With such an extensive network behind him, he was surely ninety-eight percent confident of reclaiming the sect’s former grounds.

“Forget it. For now, we should head to the Scarletflame Mountains. Until Old Chen’s life is secured, I won’t be able to put my mind at ease.”

Li Guanxuan let out a long sigh, summoned his flying sword, and wrapped an arm around the white-haired witch’s supple, serpentine waist, its softness tempered by remarkable resilience. The sensation was exquisite as they sped toward the Scarletflame Mountains.

End of chapter.