Chapter 78: Pure Spiritual Energy and Rising Purple Smoke

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was at its purest in the early morning, making that time exceptionally precious. Qin Haoxuan sat cross-legged and circulated the Celestial River Dao Art once more. With Xuanji’s detailed guidance from the previous day, the process was even smoother than before. As he did, the Dao Heart Seed Demon Art began to circulate on its own. In effect, he was practicing two techniques at once. The speed at which he absorbed spiritual energy was far greater than with a single art. The energy in the small guest room was seemingly vacuumed out in an instant, gathering around him in a mist so dense it became milky white, shrouding him completely. To an outside observer, a cloud of roiling vapor, like boiling water, would be seen swirling around his head, faintly emanating a vast and righteous aura.

If Xuanji had witnessed this, he would have been utterly astonished. While the quantity of spiritual energy Qin Haoxuan absorbed wasn’t much faster than any other Uncolored Seed, its purity far surpassed that of even a Gray Seed. And the righteous aura it gave off was even more profound than that of the Celestial River Dao Art itself.

After completing one small cycle, Qin Haoxuan wanted to practice a few more times, but he found that drawing in spiritual energy had become more difficult. The ambient Qi was no longer as dense and rich. As a result, the cultivation speed of his demonic art also slowed, and the misty spiritual energy around him began to dissipate. It seemed the Celestial River Dao Art truly was best practiced only in the pure morning air. He decided to stop. There was no point in continuing if his progress had slowed.

Beside him, Pu Hanzhong was also meditating, lost to the world. After they both completed a major cycle, Pu was the first to emerge from his trance. He was secretly amazed by the quality of the spiritual energy lingering around Qin Haoxuan. When his junior brother had finished, Pu cleared his throat, a warm expression on his face. “Very good. Take it slowly. There is much more to cultivation than just meditating. Only by diligently studying all aspects can you raise your realm and extend your lifespan… ahem…”

Noticing Qin Haoxuan’s curious glance, he smiled and changed the subject. “Today, we’ll teach the Mighty Apes how to farm!”

As Qin Haoxuan followed him, he looked at his senior brother’s back, which seemed to be growing older and more stooped by the day. He felt a strange pang of sadness. What’s wrong with Senior Brother Pu?

When they returned to their plot in the Spirit Field Valley, most of the other disciples had already finished clearing their land. Those with Attendants watched as their helpers worked tirelessly. Those without were toiling away themselves, their faces to the yellow earth. Although Zhang Kuang’s disappearance had caused a great stir, the new disciples had quickly realized that searching for him was a task far beyond their capabilities.

While others were nearly ready for planting, Qin Haoxuan and Pu Hanzhong hadn’t even started clearing their land. The other new disciples looked at them, and their troop of monkeys, with doubt. The other Guiding Senior Brothers watched them with a kind of pity. Only those from the Nature Hall, unable to attract any Attendants, would resort to such a desperate measure as using beasts. It was something they, from the four great halls, would never have to do.

Pu Hanzhong began to chant an incantation, his hands forming a series of seals. He channeled his spiritual energy, and the Mighty Apes began to work. They were completely subdued, not a hint of resistance in their eyes. At his command, they split up and began the tasks of tilling the land and fetching water.

The moment he began, Little Gold, who had been lounging lazily on Qin Haoxuan’s shoulder, sat up straight. It watched Pu Hanzhong’s every move with rapt attention, a bright light shining in its eyes, looking eager to try. After Pu had finished a complete demonstration, Qin Haoxuan patted Little Gold’s furry head. “Alright, Little Gold,” he said, pointing to the apes. “Your turn!”

The little monkey leaped excitedly from his shoulder. It cast a smug look at the large white apes that had once bullied it, then gave Qin Haoxuan a playful wink, as if to say, “Watch me show off for you.” Its adorable antics made Qin Haoxuan laugh. He gave it an encouraging gesture, and Little Gold enthusiastically got to work.

The other disciples looked on, baffled. Were they really letting that tiny monkey command the larger ones? It seemed absurd. But the scene that followed left them all gaping in astonishment.

Little Gold expertly formed the hand seals, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth instantly began to swirl violently towards it. With a few gestures, it effortlessly took control of the Mighty Apes. Then, following Qin Haoxuan’s earlier instructions, it began to direct them with a series of chirps and squeaks, and the apes set about clearing the land with gusto. Under the little monkey’s command, they worked even harder than humans. The new disciples who were toiling on their own land watched with unconcealed envy. A few of them immediately started talking with their own guides about catching some apes for themselves.

Satisfied, Pu Hanzhong left a bag of honey-coated dried figs as a reward for Little Gold. “There is still much to learn about the Six Arts of Cultivation,” he said to Qin Haoxuan. “Let’s find a quiet place, and I will teach you more.”

Since Little Gold had the farm work well in hand, Qin Haoxuan was more than happy to leave it in charge. He followed Pu Hanzhong to find a place to study. After they left, Murong Chao, who had been working his own plot and was drenched in sweat, looked over at the orderly troop of apes on Qin Haoxuan’s land with a flicker of envy. He hesitated, looking as if he wanted to go over and ask for a couple of apes to help him, but then he stopped. Qin Haoxuan and Pu Hanzhong were already gone. The one in charge now was the little monkey. He couldn’t very well go and negotiate with a monkey, could he?

Later that night, Qin Haoxuan thought about his fruitless search in the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley and couldn’t help but feel disheartened. If he couldn’t find any heavenly treasures to aid him, his cultivation speed would plummet, and he would gradually fade into mediocrity. Has the valley been picked clean of all its treasures? The thought filled him with a growing unease.

After enduring the long day, he lay down early that night and sent his soul into the snake, heading straight for the valley. Though he hated the place, the desire for the treasures within was too strong to resist. He steeled himself and slipped inside, beginning a carpet-style search of the area he could access, inch by painful inch. If the snake had been able to dig, he would have already started; he had heard that many rare spirit herbs grew underground. But to his disappointment, after an entire night of meticulous searching, he found nothing.

That was two nights in a row with no results. The fear that the valley was empty grew stronger. He decided to ask Pu Hanzhong about it the next day. Even if his senior brother didn’t know for sure, he might have heard some rumors.

The following day, they went to their field. Little Gold had already directed the apes to till nearly half of it. In another two days, they would be ready to plant. Standing on the ridge between the fields, Qin Haoxuan asked casually, “Senior Brother Pu, I’ve heard there are many treasures in our sect’s forbidden ground, the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley. Do you know anything about it?”

At the mention of that name, Pu Hanzhong’s relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a grave seriousness. “Many years ago, that was the main battlefield of the war between immortals and demons,” he said, his voice low. “Countless masters from both paths fought a decisive battle there. When the demonic path was on the verge of defeat, the Myriad Poison Demon Venerable self-detonated, taking legions of experts from both sides with him to the grave. So, yes, many treasures were left behind.”

He paused, his tone turning stern. “But while the valley is filled with treasures, it is also incredibly perilous. The air is filled with a toxic miasma so deadly that even our sect’s patriarchs cannot withstand it.”

“Are the rumors true?”

“Of course. In fact, one of the reasons the Taichu Sect was founded on Emperor Peak was to wait for the day the poison in the valley dissipates. With our proximity, we’ll be the first ones in to plunder its riches.” He warned again, “Junior Brother Qin, the poison in that valley is no joke. Even our patriarchs, who have lived for hundreds of years, would die from the slightest contact. Until your cultivation surpasses theirs, do not even think of going there to hunt for treasure.”

Qin Haoxuan felt the genuine concern in his voice and nodded silently. But in his heart, he was thinking: I can only explore the first one hundred and fifty paces of the outer edge. I’ve already found the Formless Sword, the One-Leaf Golden Lotus, and the Seven Star Mushroom there. If I can strengthen my Spiritual Sense and go deeper, I’m sure to find even greater treasures. But there might also be beings even more powerful than the Undying Witch Fiend. I must be even more cautious.

As he was contemplating this, his keen hearing, a benefit of his Body Tempering cultivation, picked up whispers from nearby.

“Did you see? Elder Chu’s hair has turned completely white overnight!”

“Well, with an Unsurpassed Purple Seed lost like that, it’s not surprising…”

Hearing their words, Qin Haoxuan struggled to keep his expression neutral, but his heart was filled with worry. If they discover that Zhang Kuang is dead, they will surely hunt for the killer…

(End of Chapter)