Chapter 187: The Ancient Path of the Qingchi Sect

Qingchi Peak is the primary peak of Mount Qingchi. The mountain is steep and rugged, and at its foot stands a stele inscribed with the two characters "Qingchi" (Green-Late). Newly promoted disciples are often confused as to why the stele reads "Qingchi" (Green-Late) instead of "Qingchi" (Green-Pool), but the senior disciples have long since kept their mouths shut and refused to explain. As time passed, no one bothered to ask anymore.

Chi Zhiyun stood before the gate, sword in hand, waiting respectfully for a long time before the stone gate finally opened silently. A white-haired old man walked out slowly with a kind expression, holding a jade bowl in his hand. His aura was impossible to gauge, making him look like an ordinary old man.

"Junior Zhiyun greets the Ancestor! Congratulations to the Ancestor on the perfection of your divine ability!"

Chi Zhiyun called out respectfully. The white-haired old man smiled slightly and said in a low, aged voice:

"It cannot be called a perfection of divine ability. I merely consumed precious medicine to extend my vitality and finally cultivated this fifth divine ability, gaining the qualifications to attempt a breakthrough to Golden Core."

Glancing at Chi Zhiyun, Chi Wei cleared his throat, and unexpectedly, two voices rose simultaneously. One was sharp and thin—a woman's voice—while the other was weathered and heavy—the old man's voice. They said in unison:

"Foundation Establishment mid-stage; not bad at all!"

This scene was quite eerie, and Chi Zhiyun felt a shiver in his heart, yet he dared not show it and said respectfully:

"My cultivation is meager, and I dare not catch the Ancestor's eye."

Chi Wei stepped forward, his voice returning to normal, and said slowly:

"I have come out of seclusion this time because that old ghost Duanmu is about to break through to Golden Core and has invited me to observe the ceremony. Although your immortal foundation shows no signs of gestating a divine ability yet, it is good to take a look."

Chi Zhiyun's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he thanked him repeatedly. Chi Wei stared at him for a moment, then clouds rose beneath their feet, and they drifted gracefully into the sky, heading toward Great Lishan.

Chi Zhiyun stood behind Chi Wei, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice:

"Ancestor, I wonder about that Li Chijing..."

"He has already been refined into a pill and delivered into my hands. I will use it to assist me when I break through to Golden Core."

Chi Wei replied indifferently. Chi Zhiyun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and Chi Wei then said:

"Most of the cultivation techniques of the Three Sects and Seven Gates originate from the Moon Brilliance Origin Mansion, and that 'Moon Lake Reflecting Autumn Art' stems from the 'Secret Decree of Moon Brilliance Records' of the Moon Brilliance Origin Mansion. The immortal foundation it cultivates, 'Lake Moon Autumn,' has the ability to command all other techniques. This immortal foundation will be of great benefit to my Golden Core breakthrough."

Chi Wei spoke of some secret lore, which left Chi Zhiyun enthralled and greatly encouraged. Seeing his expression, Chi Wei continued:

"It is only a pity that Li Chijing was born fifty years too late. By the time he reached Qi Refining, I already possessed four divine abilities and one immortal foundation. If he had been born fifty years earlier, I could have seized his 'Lake Moon Autumn' and would not have had to choose the far inferior 'Remaining Nurturing Nature,' giving me half a chance more at Golden Core."

Chi Zhiyun also shook his head in regret. The Early Zifu technique was profound, and within a few words, they arrived at Great Lishan. They drifted lightly over Lijing Town and East Shanyue, causing Lu Jiangxian on the mountain to shrink tightly into the Dharma Mirror, lying flat on the stone platform like a dead object.

Fortunately, Chi Wei flew high and did not investigate the situation below. He flew straight over East Shanyue and stopped at the edge of Mount Wushan, where the steps were paved with white jade. They bumped into a person coming from the opposite direction, also riding a cloud. His dharma robe shimmered with golden light, and his beard and hair were all white, yet his face still appeared middle-aged. His aura was also at the peak of the Early Zifu realm. Seeing Chi Wei and his companion, he cupped his hands and smiled:

"Brother Chi Wei, it has been a long time!"

"Seventy-three years."

Chi Wei replied in a clear voice and answered:

"Brother Zhang is the same as ever."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly. Chi Zhiyun raised his eyebrows and glanced over, seeing that behind this Ancestor surnamed Zhang stood another person, at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. His appearance was plain, and he carried a long saber on his back. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Chi Zhiyun, his eyes filled with provocation. Chi Zhiyun sneered, feeling quite displeased in his heart, and thought to himself:

"Zhang... most likely from the Golden Feather Sect. This person is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, yet he is so arrogant. Does he truly think everyone is Li Chijing, and that anyone can step on me to make a name for themselves?"

The two Early Zifu cultivators chatted for a few moments, and the grand array on Mount Wushan opened. A middle-aged man in a black robe flew out. He paused in the air, seeing that the Three Sects and Seven Gates, the various rogue cultivators, and even the Early Zifu cultivators from neighboring countries had all arrived, and then he said coldly:

The crowd amidst the clouds paused, and someone spoke up:

"We understand these rules. Senior Duanmu is the eldest among all the Early Zifu cultivators, and we respect him the most, which is why we have all come to observe the ceremony."

Duanmu Kui sneered and looked down at Mount Wushan beneath his feet. All the disciples were looking at him with trepidation. How could Duanmu Kui not know that these disciples had long since colluded with the Three Sects and Seven Gates? As soon as he failed, these people would immediately disperse. Duanmu Kui, however, did not care at all in his heart; he had established Mount Wushan purely to find people to run errands, and these disciples held no status in his heart.

Chi Wei watched quietly, his expression filled with emotion, and said to Chi Zhiyun beside him:

"Duanmu Kui is the only person who has survived from the era when the Moon Brilliance Origin Mansion manifested in the world. When I was still young, I heard his legends. He obtained the immortal's bestowed technique under a mulberry tree in the ancient city of Li, rising from a beggar to the Early Zifu immortal cultivator he is today. His life has been magnificent."

Chi Zhiyun hesitated for a moment and asked:

"This senior... what are his chances of breaking through to Golden Core?"

Chi Wei paused and said in a low voice:

"Greater than any of ours."

Duanmu Kui did not have high talent, but he relied on the techniques bestowed by the immortal to suppress the world for an era. He lived for a full six hundred and forty-seven years, exhausting all sixteen methods of life extension from the book "Answers to the Beggar Under the Mulberry Tree" bestowed by the immortal, and finally cultivated five divine abilities.

"He said... I can become a Golden Core."

Duanmu Kui was twenty-two that year, lying under the mulberry tree on the verge of starvation. The immortal gave him a bowl of noodles. Duanmu Kui said he had no way to repay such great kindness, and the immortal said:

"Eat slowly."

Duanmu Kui wandered for eleven years, and upon hearing these words, he wailed loudly. The immortal stuffed that book, "Answers to the Beggar Under the Mulberry Tree," into his arms and said softly:

"Cultivate to Golden Core, and I will come to find you in five hundred years."

"Please wait a moment, two seniors."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd of Early Zifu cultivators retreated in fear. Duanmu Kui tilted his head to listen, seeing a sharp and thin voice say:

"If you fail the breakthrough, fellow Daoist, you will vanish into ashes. If you succeed, we will have to call you an Immortal."

Duanmu Kui smiled slightly, and the other four divine abilities flew out from his body, stirring the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, hovering and rising beside him.

"'Do Not Investigate Me,' 'Earth Witch Blessing,' 'Foolishly Driving Mountains,' 'Drinking People's Blood.'"

Duanmu Kui called them out one by one, sighed softly, and a trace of hatred rose on his face. If not for the lack of that one ingredient, "Responding Emperor King," he would not be in such a sorry state today. His eyes swept fiercely across the Daoist sect of the Yue Kingdom. Duanmu Kui steadied his mind, and the faint light of the "Locust Shade Ghost" rose first, ascending into the air and triggering bursts of invisible fire.

(End of chapter)