Chapter 27: Separate Paths to Power

After leaving the dormitory, Qin Haoxuan felt the searing heat return. Having spent the afternoon reading instead of cultivating, the unprocessed medicinal power in his body began to rage again, as if his very flesh and blood were about to spontaneously combust. He needed to find a place to meditate immediately, to frantically absorb spiritual energy and neutralize the scorching power within him.

The medicinal power of the One-Leaf Golden Lotus was far too strong, its effects lasting for days. This experience gave him a new appreciation for the value of the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley and an understanding of why the Taichu Sect had been founded here. If one day the sect could truly enter the valley, to what heights would it rise?

But for now, according to the elders, no one would be entering that valley for thousands of years.

As early winter approached, the mountain nights grew bitterly cold. A layer of frost had already formed just after sunset. An ordinary person would feel chilled to the bone, but Qin Haoxuan, shirtless, still felt unbearably hot.

He activated the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art, and a large amount of spiritual energy was drawn into his body. The energy in the Spirit Field Valley, while lacking the “hot poison” of the Lava Cellar, was still very dense. He was now quite proficient at neutralizing the restless medicinal power inside him with this external energy, then skillfully guiding the combined force into his Dantian to nourish the tiny roots that had just begun to grow from his Immortal Seed.

If anyone else had undergone such high-intensity, prolonged cultivation, their body would have collapsed long ago. But with the foundation of the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, Qin Haoxuan didn’t have to worry. He cultivated in the frosty thicket until dawn. Though he hadn’t slept a wink, he was full of vigor and showed no signs of fatigue.

In the middle of the night, the bearded middle-aged man had paid another quiet visit. Seeing Qin Haoxuan still cultivating diligently, with almost no fluctuation in the spiritual energy around him—a stark contrast to the boiling torrents a Purple Seed would create—he felt a mix of admiration and pity. The boy is diligent, but his aptitude is just too poor. The amount of spiritual energy he absorbs in one night is less than what a Purple Seed absorbs in a single breath. Still, if he can persist like this and find some opportunities, perhaps he can still achieve something.

Like Qin Haoxuan, Zhang Kuang also hadn’t slept all night.

News of him being intimidated by Qin Haoxuan’s unstoppable aura had somehow reached the ears of the Sect Master, Perfected Man Huanglong.

Every Purple Seed was a rising star of the sect, a future genius of the cultivation world. Perfected Man Huanglong was unwilling to let him develop a psychological scar from this incident, which could hinder his future progress. He sent for him to be brought to his personal cultivation residence, the Hidden Dragon Abbey.

The Hidden Dragon Abbey was the traditional training ground for the sect masters of Taichu. It was situated atop a “Spirit Eye”—a place where spiritual energy was at its absolute densest, a natural marvel that was of immense benefit to cultivators. Spirit Eyes were incredibly rare; one might not be found in ten mountain ranges. The vast Soaring Dragon Nation had only one, here on Emperor Peak.

This was one of the reasons Li Jing and Zhang Kuang coveted the position of Sect Master. Occupying the Spirit Eye for just three to five years would be enough to leave the other two Purple Seeds far behind.

As the Sect Master’s private residence, it was not a place just anyone could enter. The guide stopped near a grove of purple bamboo and looked at Zhang Kuang with envy. “Beyond this bamboo forest is the Hidden Dragon Abbey.”

Zhang Kuang bowed in thanks, showing none of the arrogance he displayed in front of the menial disciples. He knew that anyone who could come and go freely in such a sacred part of the sect, even a mere guide, could be an incredibly powerful figure.

Following the path through the serene purple bamboo forest, he saw a hexagonal, four-story pagoda built from black and white bricks. A faint purple glow hovered above its roof—a sign of spiritual energy so dense it had materialized into a cloud.

Seeing this, he couldn’t help but think that ten days of cultivating here would be more effective than three months outside. His ambition swelled, and he swore to himself that he would one day claim the position of Sect Master, if only to be able to cultivate in this place day and night. But knowing who he was about to meet, he took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent thoughts, and put on an even more humble smile as he stepped into the holy land of every Taichu disciple’s heart.

The first sensation upon entering was the sheer density of the spiritual energy. It was so thick it was almost hard to breathe.

Perfected Man Huanglong, dressed in a silk Daoist robe, was seated cross-legged at the center of a giant bagua diagram. The spiritual energy around him was so dense it was almost tangible, brushing against Zhang Kuang’s skin like smooth silk.

Sensing his arrival, Huanglong took a deep breath and ceased his cultivation. The thick, viscous spiritual energy instantly thinned. He opened his eyes, glanced at Zhang Kuang, and said softly, “Sit.”

Just as he was about to bow, Zhang Kuang felt a struggle within himself. His mind wavered, but he managed to give a hasty bow before sitting down.

His performance pleased Huanglong. An ordinary person would have been completely overwhelmed by his Spiritual Sense, but Zhang Kuang, as expected of a Purple Seed, had a will stronger than most.

“This disciple was rude. I beg the Sect Master’s forgiveness.”

A moment after sitting, Zhang Kuang remembered his gaffe and quickly apologized.

“Do not worry. It was just a small test,” Huanglong said with a slight smile, this time without using his Spiritual Sense. “I heard you had some unpleasantness with Li Jing today? And then a conflict with a weak-seeded disciple named… Qin Haoxuan?”

So it’s about this. Zhang Kuang’s heart tightened. He immediately went from sitting to kneeling, prostrating himself before the Sect Master. “A few of my friends had a verbal disagreement with some of Senior Brother Li Jing’s friends, but I put a stop to it. As for the conflict with Qin Haoxuan, we are from the same town and have had some friction in the past.”

Huanglong just smiled faintly. With a raise of his right hand, a powerful force lifted the prostrate Zhang Kuang and set him back down in a seated position.

“I did not call you here today to assign blame. I simply wish to tell you that as a Purple Seed, you have great responsibilities. Wasting your time quarreling with a weak-seeded disciple will only affect your state of mind and hinder your cultivation. Your rivals should not even be Li Jing and Xu Yu from our own sect. You should set your sights higher, beyond the Taichu Sect, to the entire cultivation world. This is my hope for all three of you.”

Huanglong’s words made Zhang Kuang’s heart soar, and he had an epiphany.

That’s right! I’m a Purple Seed disciple! Why am I so obsessed with Qin Haoxuan, a weak seed with a limited future? Once my cultivation is profound, won’t it be as easy as turning my hand to kill him?

The problem that had been plaguing him was instantly solved. The mountain that was Qin Haoxuan, which had been pressing down on his heart, vanished.

“Thank you, Sect Master, for your guidance. This disciple will not disappoint you.”

Sensing his enlightenment, Huanglong smiled with satisfaction. These three Purple Seeds were the hope for the Taichu Sect’s rise. He didn’t want their bright futures—and the sect’s golden opportunity—to be ruined by petty squabbles and insignificant people.

After speaking with him for a while longer, he had the guide escort him back to the Spirit Field Valley.

By the time he returned, it was the middle of the night. As he neared his room, he sensed something was amiss with Zhang Yang’s room.

Having completed the Rooting Stage, his senses were much sharper. Zhang Yang’s room was only a hundred meters away. Normally, he should be able to hear his breathing, but the room was dead silent.

He walked over, pushed the door open, and saw the bed neatly made. He was gone.

He recalled that Zhang Yang had been disappearing frequently lately, rarely seen outside of class.

Is he hiding something from me? Or has he found a place with dense spiritual energy to cultivate? The thought crossed his mind, but he didn’t dwell on it. Although he and his cousin were not close, Zhang Yang was just a Gray Seed. He was no threat. As the Sect Master said, he needed to set his sights higher.

What he didn’t know was that Zhang Yang had indeed found a place to cultivate, but it wasn’t in the Spirit Field Valley. It was in the Ancient Cloud Hall.

After bribing Huanglong to accept Zhang Yang, Master Guyun had grown increasingly anxious about the three Purple Seeds. Unable to wait for the three-month training period to end, he had been secretly bringing Zhang Yang to his hall to cultivate.

Every day, he fed Zhang Yang pills as if they were meals, personally guided his cultivation, and even used his own True Qi to perform Marrow Cleansing on him. With such an opportunity, although Zhang Yang hadn’t completed the Rooting Stage yet, he was the most advanced disciple after Zhang Kuang.

Tonight, Master Guyun had brought him here again. Zhang Yang was very close to completing the Rooting Stage, and he wanted to help him succeed tonight, so he wouldn’t fall too far behind Zhang Kuang.

“Focus your mind and discard all distracting thoughts. I have just performed the final Marrow Cleansing for you. You can begin the Rooting Stage now!”

Master Guyun’s voice was serious, with a hint of nervousness, as if he were the one about to make the breakthrough.

Zhang Yang opened his eyes, swallowed the large, longan-sized pill placed before him, and then sat down to meditate, preparing to establish his roots.

As Zhang Yang swallowed the pill, Master Guyun’s chubby cheek twitched. The pill was a Myriad Spirit Pill, which he had paid a hefty price to get from that skinflint, Master Xiayunzi. It contained a vast amount of gentle spiritual energy, which could be consumed by an Immortal Seed Realm disciple without fear of a backlash.