Chapter 116: The Lineage of Yuxu

"Qingcheng?" Zhou Qian was startled by the mention of the name. He hurriedly tried to rise, but a wave of dizziness and a chill penetrating his body forced him to take several deep breaths before his vision cleared. The sky was vast and clear, adorned with drifting white clouds. Looking down, the rivers appeared like silver ribbons of varying sizes, weaving intricately through a beautiful, lush landscape. Ahead of him, he saw the back of a man sitting atop a sword. The autumn breeze ruffled the man’s robes, giving him a dashing, carefree air.

The man turned his head, and Zhou Qian saw a face that looked to be in its thirties—refined and handsome, with an imposing aura. A scar on his left cheek only added to his heroic appearance.

"Qin Yu. From now on, I am your Senior Brother, Junior Brother Zhou."

"Senior Brother—" Zhou Qian murmured. If his memory served him correctly, this was the disciple of the Immortal Master Ai, was it not?

"You have been unconscious for twenty-six days and nights. It is quite fortuitous that you woke up just now. We have already crossed the Min River; in another half-hour, we will reach the gates of Qingcheng Mountain," Qin Yu said gently.

"How did I end up here?"

"After the sword battle at the Two Realms Pass, Master had other pressing matters, so he instructed me to bring you into the sect. You and I are both disciples of the Yuxu school, so there is no need for formality. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Zhou Qian breathed a sigh of relief. This Senior Brother Qin Yu seemed easy to get along with, far better than the sword immortals of the Lianshan Sect. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Senior Brother, did we win the battle between the righteous and the evil?"

Qin Yu, focused on steering the flying sword beneath his feet, nodded, looking quite spirited. "The righteous path won a great victory! The old demon Moluo was slain by the Emei sect leader, Master Fang. Seventeen practitioners of the primordial spirit realm perished, and countless others were killed or injured. The lineage of the Middle-Level Demon Sect is now completely withered!"

Zhou Qian felt a surge of joy. He had deeply loathed the various atrocities of the Demon Sect; countless innocent souls in Luodu still could not rest in peace because of them. And there was his master, and Sister Zhao... At this thought, his expression dimmed, and he fell silent. Qin Yu, noticing his sorrow, was considerate enough to leave him be.

After a long while, Qin Yu spoke softly, "The scenery nearby is quite good. You may take a look."

Zhou Qian blinked and looked around. They had indeed crossed the Min River. The sword light was now moving above the Qionglai Mountains, winding along the side of a deep gorge. The cliffs stood like walls, thousands of feet high, swathed in clouds and mist. The rock faces were covered in thick, vibrant green moss, making them impossible to climb. Below lay a deep ravine where rushing waters battered the stones, sending up a mist that shrouded the area in a vast, white haze.

After riding the sword for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the surrounding mists thinned and eventually vanished. Suddenly, Qin Yu let out a long, hearty laugh: "We have arrived at the mountain gate!"

As the mist cleared, the terrain revealed itself to be rugged and steep, with jagged peaks piercing the clouds. Thousand-foot summits were visible everywhere. Where the cliffs broke, massive waterfalls cascaded from various heights, converging into countless clear, wide and narrow streams. They looked like hundreds of jade dragons hanging against the horizon, their roar echoing like thunder. As the sunlight spilled down, rainbows stretched across the gorges, vibrant and colorful—a truly magnificent sight.

Zhou Qian had never seen such a celestial paradise. Had his master, the Wine Daoist, not opened his "Immortal Eyes," this majestic scene would likely have remained hidden behind the shifting mists, visible only to the eyes of sword immortals and never to the sight of a mortal.

Pointing in one direction, he saw five ten-thousand-foot peaks standing in isolation. Their formation was like the Five Ding giants carving out the mountains, converging in the center. The peaks pierced the clouds, their grandeur a testament to the work of divine craftsmanship. One could not help but marvel at the power of nature, a sight beyond the imagination of the mundane.

Qin Yu brought the sword light to rest on the northernmost peak. The mountain was sharp at the top and broad at the base, as straight as a sword. Looking up, one could not see its summit, only the clouds and the rainbow cutting through the sun. The two landed on a cliff ledge in the shadows of the mountain. The scenery here was enchanting: exotic flowers and rare grasses bloomed, with the chirping of birds constant in the air. Fragrant breezes blew, and patches of unmelted snow reflected the sunset, casting iridescent hues. Where the snow had melted, it formed babbling brooks that chimed as they flowed. Ten yards to the right, a great rock jutted out, and a waterfall plummeted from it like a suspended river, crashing against the jagged rocks and turning into a spray of mist that surged upward.

With a wave of his hand, the flying sword turned into a streak of yellow light and vanished into his mouth. He smiled and asked, "Junior Brother Zhou, what do you think of your Senior Brother's White Jade Abode?"

Zhou Qian, still mesmerized by the view, turned his head. The mountain wall was translucent, with a pale, white luster that seemed natural, as if carved from a single piece of jade. Two stone doors were set into it, and the words "White Jade Cave" were inscribed upon them with a flair that captured the mystical essence of clouds and lightning.

"A celestial mountain and spiritual vista—truly extraordinary!" he exclaimed in sincere admiration.

"Since you haven't officially entered the sect yet, you may stay with me for a while. Once your cultivation achieves success, you can open your own abode, how about that?"

"Then I thank you, Senior Brother!" Zhou Qian nodded gratefully.

They pushed open the doors and descended a stone staircase. After about a hundred steps, they reached the bottom of the cave. Ten stalactite columns stood on either side, supporting the ceiling. Beyond the pillars sat a massive alchemy furnace. It stood three yards high, colored a deep, translucent green, and was engraved with lightning seals and wind patterns—a truly strange and marvelous object.

"This is the Water-Fire Alchemy Furnace, a gift from Master. It is said to have been obtained from the Heavenly Water Legacy Abode of the Immortal Master Wangwu after he ascended," Qin Yu explained.

The two continued forward, passing through a doorway into a space with dozens of rooms carved from jade. Touching them felt warm yet cool, perfect for absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and for calming the mind. Further in, a faint five-colored aura flowed, but Qin Yu did not explain it and stopped walking.

"You may choose any of these stone rooms. The larger one on the west is where I practice, so it is a bit inconvenient for now, but I will invite you to visit in a few days..." Before he could finish, a streak of red light pierced into the White Jade Cave and circled him twice. Qin Yu raised his hand, and the light landed in his palm, transforming into a small sword with a letter attached.

He opened it and frowned. Qin Yu looked apologetic. "Junior Brother, I have some urgent matters to attend to. Would you mind waiting here for a while? You can pick a room and rest."

"Senior Brother, please go about your business. Don't worry about me," Zhou Qian said understandingly.

"At most, it will take an hour. The room to the right contains dozens of acres of herb fields; I grow some immortal herbs and spiritual flowers there. They may not compare to those on Taisu Peak, but they are decent. To the left, there are three rooms stocked with food, clothing, and wine; help yourself. If you are bored, feel free to walk around, but don't go too far, or you might lose your way. There are formations set up in the back cave, so do not wander in. When your cultivation is deep enough, I will tell you what is inside..." Qin Yu added a few quick instructions before rushing out of the cave, mounting his sword and disappearing.

Zhou Qian exhaled a long breath. From now on, he would be spending a long time here. Would he get used to it? Or would he miss the past? He wasn't sure. After all, this was the path of seeking immortality! If only his master could come here, he wondered how happy he would be—

He shook his head, casting aside his melancholy. He found a jade room, grabbed some food, picked out a couple of garments, and found himself with nothing to do. The room contained only a bed and a meditation cushion. Zhou Qian sat for a while, wanting to nap, but having been unconscious for over twenty days, he felt no sleepiness. He decided to go outside to admire the scenery and breathe the fresh air.

Emerging from the White Jade Cave, he looked down from the heights at the distant, towering mountains and the vast, misty expanse. His heart felt open, the shadows in his mind lifting. He marveled at the waterfalls and springs, the white streams soaring through the air like silk.

The White Jade Cave was nestled halfway up the cliff, with only a small path leading into the mountain. Zhou Qian pushed aside the vines and walked slowly. Old trees twisted their roots, and the shade was so dense that little sunlight reached the ground, creating a cool, serene, and peaceful atmosphere.

Suddenly, a commotion in the woods disturbed his peace. He frowned, turned to the right, and braced himself. A figure darted out from the lush foliage. The person looked young, with narrow eyes, a turned-up nose, and a thin build. Upon seeing Zhou Qian, the person froze and muttered, "Why is there a mortal here? I must flee!"

He dove back into the woods and vanished. Zhou Qian could not gauge the person's strength, but he was undoubtedly a practitioner of the immortal path. Why was he hiding? And why didn't he ask anything upon seeing a stranger? It felt quite strange.

He thought for a moment and decided to take a different path. Though curious, he knew better than to provoke the affairs of immortals while he lacked the ability himself.

Halfway along, feeling a bit tired, he found a large tree and sat down against it, calculating the time and deciding it was almost time to return.

"Hey! Kid, don't move!" A familiar voice came from behind him.

He hurriedly turned around. It turned out that by sitting there, he had inadvertently touched the withered vines, revealing the person hiding behind them. It was the same person from before!

"Eh? You little monkey, I've never seen you before. What is your name? Which master do you serve?"

Just as he was about to answer, the man leaped backward and vanished again. *'Never seen me before?'* Zhou Qian muttered to himself. *Didn't we just meet?*

Qingcheng Mountain had many strange occurrences. Could this be some kind of mountain spirit or tree demon? Zhou Qian wasn't afraid, but he knew he was no match for such beings. He stood up and prepared to return, deciding it was best to avoid trouble.

As he neared the path, the vines forced him to push them aside, making quite a bit of noise.

Five yards to the right, a head popped out from behind a large tree. It was the same person again, looking panicked. He whispered, "Kid! Don't make a sound! If you lead her here, the three of us are doomed!"

"That's right, mortal! Hurry and find a place to hide!" another person waved from the bushes.

"Where did this guy come from? How come I've never seen him?" a third head popped out from behind a rock on the left, looking curious.

These three—their appearance, their clothing, their voices—were exactly identical!!!

"Hide! If she comes over, my brothers and I are dead!" The three of them scrambled in a panic. Zhou Qian didn't understand why, but he sensed the gravity of the situation and quickly found a spot to hide.

Rustling sounds came from the bushes and trees opposite. He couldn't help but swallow hard. A monster? A demon lord? What could make three sword immortals so terrified?

Finally, the monster revealed itself—

With small hands and feet, dressed in pink clothes and wearing her hair in two buns, a little girl of four or five years old, looking as if she were carved from pink jade, stepped onto the scene with a menacing air...