Chapter 22: Bingxin Jue

Fulong Mountain, outer perimeter.

Chen Zhao sat cross-legged on the Qingfeng Blade, swallowing a Soul-Replenishing Pill.

Riding an object for flight consumed immense Spirit Qi; fortunately, he had plenty of Soul-Replenishing Pills, allowing him to maintain full speed continuously.

Besides, they had mostly been circling the mountain, so they were not far from the Market.

Less than half a day.

Chen Zhao landed within the Market.

Unlike before, there were far more sect disciples around; several of them crept about suspiciously, not seeming like decent folk.

After changing clothes and masking his face in an alley, Chen Zhao dared to find an inn to stay at.

"The people around here are likely Mu Qing's spies..."

"Since she went to such great lengths to lure Wan Yao out of the mountain and coordinated with insiders and Robber Cultivators to ambush her, it means she wants to stay out of it, afraid to act inside the sect."

"Therefore, she won't let us live to reach the mountain—if I were her, I'd station heavy troops in ambush at the sect gate, to prevent any escapees."

After a brief review, Chen Zhao decided to first try contacting Li Zhiwei, asking her to bring him up the mountain.

"Communication Talismans won't work."

"Sending a message through someone else probably won't let me meet Sister Li."

Chen Zhao frowned deeply, straining his thoughts.

"Sending a letter might work... but the letter would have to pass through Dan Tang, and could be intercepted by Su Muqing..."

He needed an excuse.

He spread out paper and dipped his brush in ink:

Dig three feet deep, Spirit-Avoiding Taisui, one furnace yields four pills.

He activated Biling Shu and pulled a Handyman into the alley.

"Youngling, do you want a chance?"

Chen Zhao pulled out the letter and three Low-grade Spirit Stones.

"Take this letter to Tiankui Sect, deliver it into the hands of Inner Sect Disciple Li Zhiwei, and tell her: a former acquaintance waits below."

The Handyman had never seen such a scene.

Three Low-grade Spirit Stones were nearly equal to his two-month stipend, let alone the chance to connect with an Inner Sect elder.

He nodded vigorously at once.

With incentive secured.

The letter reached Dan Tang with exceptional efficiency.

Su Muqing and the others stared at the letter.

Ordinary paper, ordinary ink...

And Li Zhiwei's parents were dead—why, of all times, would a "former acquaintance" suddenly appear?

None of them understood the letter's meaning, yet all agreed it was almost certainly a bluff.

The sender was likely Chen Zhao.

But,

Who would dare intercept an Inner Sect Disciple's letter?

The letter mentioned herbs and pill quantities—what if there truly was something meant for Sister Li?

Everyone looked at Su Muqing; after a moment of hesitation, she could only allow it to pass.

A stick of incense later.

Chen Zhao sat cross-legged within the Vortex Guarding Origin Array, calming his breath and meditating.

Suddenly,

The blue water-like barrier rippled, and before Chen Zhao could react, Li Zhiwei stood before him.

"Speak—why this roundabout method of messaging? Did you find another treasure?"

Chen Zhao smiled bitterly.

It seemed his past help in finding treasures had made her think of him as a treasure-hunting rodent.

He sighed lightly and recounted his entire journey, requesting reinforcements for Fulong Mountain and asking her to bring him back to the sect.

He repeatedly assured her that another opportunity definitely lay near the Ling Tian cottage.

Of course,

Chen Zhao couldn't control the Divination Tube—he made that up just to get his sister to help.

After all, as long as he lived, the "opportunity" could still be fulfilled—there was always hope.

But after hearing Chen Zhao's account,

Li Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, ignoring his empty promises, and murmured:

"Bingxin Jue?"

"From your description, that old woman cultivates Bingxin Jue—but how could she have learned it?"

Chen Zhao froze.

He revealed how Wan Yao had explored an ancient cave abode and auctioned off Bingxin Jue, omitting the gathering entirely.

Li Zhiwei sighed softly.

She led Chen Zhao out of the Market, formed a hand seal, and pointed upward.

A broad, white cloud drifted gently to a stop before them.

"This matter has karmic ties to me—get on, and guide me."

Chen Zhao dared not ask further.

He placed his hands on the clouds, trying to climb up.

Huh?

Is this real?

Soft and squishy, fleshy—when squeezed, it had a lively feel...

"Stop squeezing, you're hurting it."

Li Zhiwei pulled him up and explained:

"It's a Cloud-Scaling Finch, normally hidden among the clouds, tasked with vigilance and reconnaissance—it was left to me by my father."

As she spoke, she removed her hairpin and placed it in her palm:

"My father was a lone cultivator and Rune Master; he once passed the Ice Heart Scripture to me, hoping I would inherit the Rune Path."

"But later, I showed promise in Spirit Pill alchemy, so he began traveling throughout Yue Guo, searching for Spirit Pill prescriptions and texts for me."

"Five years ago, he suddenly sent me a letter saying he had stumbled upon a rare opportunity and found several pages of Spirit Pill prescriptions, which he had hidden within the Ice Heart Scripture. He included a hairpin with the letter, then vanished without a trace."

"Who would have thought karmic cycles would lead to this."

Chen Zhao froze.

In his mind, something intangible and imperceptible flashed by—like a goose's shadow crossing a cold pool, leaving no trace.

When he came back to himself,

a sound of shattering glass came from below.

The pale blue barrier cracked open a wide gash; inside, Xin Tong's facial meridians had turned black, densely woven like a spider's web.

Though unconscious, she still maintained the Array.

"Such a devoted pair of sisters—don't blame old woman when you go down."

The withered old crone flicked her hand in a seal.

A massive ice mountain materialized and plummeted from thin air; even the gale generated by her technique alone was enough to crack the earth and shake it.

Li Zhiwei shook her head at the sight.

She didn't form a seal—she merely flashed to the side of the ice mountain and flicked her finger.

In an instant,

the ice mountain shattered inch by inch, turning into glittering fragments.

The old crone felt her Qi stall, then her limbs exploded—leaving only her head rolling on the ground.

Her mouth hung open, her face filled with nothing but shock:

"Qi Refining... eleventh layer?"

Li Zhiwei curled her slender finger, snatching the Ice Heart Scripture into her hand.

The head and the Storage Bag flew into Chen Zhao's grasp, squawking wildly.

"The Ice Heart Scripture is mine. Take the head back to report—don't say I killed her."

With that, Li Zhiwei stepped lightly and went to heal the others.

Chen Zhao held the head, suddenly at a loss.

This head wasn't on the mission list; even if he dared to present it for reward, there'd be no reward to claim.

If so,

let's ask some questions.

"Answer a few questions, then you can go."

Chen Zhao held the head.

Though he didn't know how Li Zhiwei had kept her alive, the woman wouldn't die anytime soon.

"Why did you agree to Su Muqing? Do you have proof?"

"I'm just a head now—what chance do I have of survival?"

Hearing this, Chen Zhao whispered, tempting:

"Think about it—my sister could leave you alive as a head, so perhaps she could make you truly live. It all depends on your cooperation."

The old crone nodded frantically, cooperating:

"She promised that after success, all of us could join the Su Family as servants, enjoying the privileges of collateral disciples. I have the Contract Jade Slip as proof—in my Storage Bag."

Chen Zhao's eyes lit up.

The Contract Jade Slip bore the blood seals of two people—Su Muqing had no way to deny it.

Still, he certainly wouldn't be the one to step forward.

At that moment,

Li Zhiwei tossed Liu Chen onto him and said coolly:

"Done asking? If so, help me carry these people."

She then lifted Su Xin's two girls onto the Cloud-Scaling Finch and added casually:

"Don't meddle in this again—this water's too murky."