IVYSCP - Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Chu Qianshan blinked, her thoughts drifting back over a hundred years.
She had taken in a child of extraordinary talent. The child was excellent in every way, except her temperament was too cold, too withdrawn. Sometimes she could face a formation array alone for more than half a year without speaking a word. She had nothing to say to her master either. If she gave you a look, you could count that as her being in a good mood.
Chu Qianshan thought maybe there were no playmates on Little Cangshan, so she went to a neighboring minor immortal sect and borrowed a few young cultivators to keep Pei Yin company. Before half a day had passed, the group of children had fled. It was only after Chu Qianshan asked several sect elders that she learned the reason: Pei Yin looked so icy cold that they thought she didn't welcome them.
At the time, Chu Qianshan thought to herself, she acts like she doesn't welcome me, her own master, either.
If she couldn't bring people into the household, then she would send Pei Yin out. It happened that Shangtianqiong was holding lectures, so Chu Qianshan spoke with Shangtianqiong's sect leader, Wang Changming, and sent her off.
After about a dozen days, Chu Qianshan received a transmission from her little disciple. It nearly moved her to tears. It was the first time Pei Yin had ever initiated contact with her.
Before Chu Qianshan could even ask if she was cold or warm, Pei Yin dropped this on her out of nowhere:
"Master, your disciple intends to form a Dao bond."
Chu Qianshan's heart nearly stopped. She had only wanted to send her out to make a few friends, and now, barely half a month later, she was saying she wanted to form a Dao bond with someone!
"With who? Which family? How old? Who is her master? Have you been deceived?"
"Master, should we prepare the bonding ceremony gifts? Follow the rites of Cangshan or Shangtianqiong? Forget it, she likes lively occasions. Cangshan is too bleak and cold. Follow Shangtianqiong's rites. I've prepared a gift list. Master, listen and see if we need to add more: Void Grass, Poria Tree, Blood Phoenix Wood..."
Chu Qianshan was hearing Pei Yin speak at such length for the very first time, only to find she wanted to empty Little Cangshan outright. Did she even listen to herself? A Poria Tree? Giving some leaves or fruit would be one thing, but it was a whole tree! And she was ready to give it away!
Chu Qianshan didn't hear her out. She directly cut the connection, planning to go to Shangtianqiong the very next day and bring her back.
The next day, Pei Yin sent another transmission. Chu Qianshan thought she was going to say something else utterly devoid of conscience, but instead she heard a low, quiet sob.
Now, a hundred years later, hearing those words again, Chu Qianshan tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her state of mind was considerably calmer than the last time. "The Immortal Venerable's first trip out of the mountain was the awakening of first love. Now, on your second trip out, what is this? The reawakening of first love?"
Pei Si: "..."
In the past, her master never used to speak in such a sarcastic, passive-aggressive manner. Ever since she developed a heart demon and nearly succumbed to cultivation deviation, her speech had become neither here nor there.
"What do you need this time? Should I prepare the bonding ceremony gifts according to the list you made last time?"
Pei Si thought about it, and answered very seriously, "It might need a few additions."
Chu Qianshan inhaled sharply, clearly angered again. "Dream on! I won't give you a single tree leaf!"
Pei Si laughed.
Hearing her laugh, Chu Qianshan thought to herself, her little disciple sure moves on quickly. A couple days ago she was ready to die for that wretched girl Ling Qingyue, and now today she's ready to form a Dao bond with someone else.
"That's just as well. Resolve the Emotion Transference before the bonding. It's better for you and for her." After saying this, Chu Qianshan was about to ask which family the other party was from.
"I won't resolve it." The words came without the slightest hesitation.
Chu Qianshan: "???"
"Pei Yin." Chu Qianshan's tone turned stern. "I never taught you to be fickle. If you want to form a Dao bond, you will resolve the Emotion Transference for me. What, do you plan to hold one in your arms while longing for another in your heart?"
Pei Si: "..."
Letting out a light sigh, Pei Si explained helplessly, "Master, the person I intend to bond with this time is still her."
There was a stretch of silence from Chu Qianshan's side. It was a long while before her voice came through. "Have you... developed a delusional disorder?"
Ling Qingyue had been dead for a hundred years. Her soul was gone. Where could she go to form a Dao bond with her?
"This matter can't be explained in a few words. Master, prepare the items on the gift list. In the future, I will bring her back to Cangshan and give them to her then." After saying this, Pei Si brought up the main issue. "Master's transmission this time, have you already found the second method to undo the Emotion Transference?"
Chu Qianshan didn't know whether to be angry or worried. In the end, she laughed in exasperation. "This master is truly blessed in this life to have accepted you as a disciple."
The transmission was cut off, and two lines of golden characters materialized in midair.
Emotion fuses with flesh and blood. Meridians completely destroyed.
Pei Si extended her hand and gathered it slightly. The golden characters were drawn into her palm.
Meridians completely destroyed...
That's still manageable. She could just reforge them again. She just needed to find an opportunity to avoid Ling Qingyue, couldn't let her see it.
Thinking of Ling Qingyue, Pei Si's mind stirred slightly, and she turned and went out.
She went to find Nie Wenxiao, to prepare some things, for the Dao bonding.
On the other side, Ling Qingyue had just completed circulating a major heavenly cycle. She extended her spiritual sense outward and discovered a figure sneaking furtively in a corner.
She hooked the corner of her lips, re-formed a hand seal, her movements deliberately slow.
"Mind like still water, all thoughts empty. One breath, three exhalations, cycling endlessly... Move with the breath... Observe within..."
These were the hand seals and incantations for the Qi Condensation stage. Ling Qingyue no longer needed them, but someone else did.
The figure in the corner memorized the hand seals and incantations, fiddled with them for a good while before attempting to follow along. At first, she likely couldn't grasp the meaning. She grew frustrated, even cried from anger. After crying for a bit, she sat cross-legged again and formed the hand seal. This time, she seemed to sense the presence of spiritual qi. She slowly calmed her mind and attempted to draw qi into her body.
Xue Zizai did not notice that the person who had originally had her back to her, high up, was now turned around, her elbow propped on her knee and her cheek resting on her hand, watching her.
Xue Zizai had entered the Immortal Realm. She would sooner or later embark on cultivation. And for a beginning cultivator, too much hatred was not a good thing; it made one prone to seeking quick results and straying onto a deviant path.
Ling Qingyue sighed inwardly, then her eyes curved into crescents.
She really was such a good person. Xue Zizai used to give her such a sour face, and now she could let bygones be bygones and guide her onto the righteous path.
Just as she was praising herself, the person in the corner suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her face turning deathly pale.
Ling Qingyue was alarmed, flashed over, and swiftly tapped three major acupoints on Xue Zizai's body. Spiritual energy followed the meridians inward, and then she suddenly exhaled in relief. She raised a hand and delivered a smack to the back of Xue Zizai's head. The little bells in Xue Zizai's hair chimed in response.
"With meridians that tiny, you still want to swallow a whole feast in one bite? Why didn't you burst from overeating?"
"Follow my lead."
Ling Qingyue released wisps of spiritual energy, guiding the single breath of qi within Xue Zizai's meridians to circulate and flow.
It wasn't a difficult task, but the problem was that Ling Qingyue herself was only at Foundation Establishment right now. She also had to control the strength of her spiritual energy, afraid that one careless moment would injure Xue Zizai.
After one minor heavenly cycle, Ling Qingyue's forehead was already covered in sweat.
Just as she was preparing to guide her through another major heavenly cycle, a figure suddenly swept over beside her, bringing a familiar cold fragrance with her.
"Withdraw your hand. I'll do it."
Ling Qingyue was about to nod, then decisively refused. "No, you can't use spiritual power..."
A light laugh came from beside her ear. "I can still spare this tiny bit of spiritual energy."
Ling Qingyue: "..."
What was that supposed to mean? Looking down on Foundation Establishment?
A thread of pale golden spiritual energy entered Xue Zizai's meridians from the other side. Ling Qingyue withdrew her hand in time, handing the guiding authority to Pei Si.
A handkerchief suddenly appeared before her eyes.
"Wipe your sweat."
Ling Qingyue took it and reflexively raised it towards Pei Si's face. Her gaze halted. "Where's the sweat?"
Pei Si glanced at her.
Ling Qingyue saw her gaze travel from her own forehead to the tip of her nose, and only then realized she meant for her to wipe her own sweat.
Ling Qingyue wiped her sweat and caught the familiar fragrance on the handkerchief, the same scent that clung to Pei Si.
After Pei Si patiently guided Xue Zizai through one major heavenly cycle, she withdrew her spiritual energy. With the guidance from the two of them just now, when Xue Zizai resumed circulating on her own, she was no longer as reckless and impulsive. She learned to proceed gradually.
"Let's go." Ling Qingyue nudged Pei Si's arm.
Pei Si glanced at Ling Qingyue's empty hand and smiled silently.
"I went to find Sect Leader Nie just now," Pei Si volunteered her earlier whereabouts.
The corners of Ling Qingyue's lips curled upward. "Oh. What did you go to her for?"
"Asked for some things, for the Dao bonding."
Ling Qingyue couldn't keep the corners of her mouth down. She leaned in and hugged Pei Si's arm. "What kind of things?"
A hint of a lilting tone crept into the end of her words, like she was acting spoiled.
Pei Si smiled lightly. "The bonding contract, bonding robes, a gift list, the bonding gift, the fate-binding stone. Piaomiao Sect doesn't have some of these things. We might have to wait until tomorrow."
The bonding gift...
This, Ling Qingyue knew. Back when her senior sister was preparing to form a Dao bond with Sister Yue, she had agonized over the bonding gift. The bonding gift was a gift exchanged between the two people entering the bond.
But right now, she was utterly penniless. Where was she supposed to find a bonding gift for Pei Si?!
"No, no, this can't be so fast," Ling Qingyue said urgently.
Pei Si laughed. "Wasn't it you who said Dao bonding didn't need to wait?"
"I didn't know there was so much to prepare." Ling Qingyue muttered, "I've never formed a Dao bond before."
Pei Si took her hand, feeling she was somewhat nervous, and squeezed her fingertips. "These are the rites of other immortal sects. If we follow the rites of Cangshan, the bonding contract, the bonding gift, and the fate-binding stone are the most important."
"Then we'll follow Cangshan's," Ling Qingyue said without hesitation. Then her voice softened. "But it still can't be too fast. I need to prepare too."
Pei Si nodded. "Alright."
The first time was bound to be a bit nerve-wracking. She knew this from deep experience.
Early the next morning, Ling Qingyue blocked Nie Wenxiao, who was on her way to the East Courtyard.
Nie Wenxiao looked at the person who had suddenly bounced out in front of her and fell silent for a moment. "Are you also here to ask for things for the Dao bonding?"
Could the two of them coordinate a little when they had requests?
"No, no." Ling Qingyue shook her head. "Is there any secret realm opening near Piaomiao Sect soon?"
Nie Wenxiao gave her a look of surprise.
Ling Qingyue was puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"The Tianyan Yue Family sent word yesterday. The Ancient Yao Forest Realm will open in half a month, right at the southern border of Piaomiao Sect."
Ling Qingyue's face lit up with delight.
Ancient Yao Forest! Truly, speak of what you need and it appears. That secret realm was teeming with ancient yao. Ancient yao were treasures from head to toe. Her bonding gift was within reach!
Nie Wenxiao saw her eager to try and couldn't help but kindly remind her, "This secret realm permits entry to Core Formation cultivators."
Ling Qingyue looked at her gloomily. "What are you implying?"
Nie Wenxiao coughed lightly and smiled. "Breaking through to Core Formation in half a month is already difficult. But the harder part is Immortal Friend Ah Xi's lightning tribulation."
Three bolts for Foundation Establishment were already that arduous. Core Formation had a full nine bolts.
Ling Qingyue pondered for a moment, then looked up at Nie Wenxiao.
She had heard from Lu Yao that Nie Wenxiao was on very close terms with the master of Linglong Pavilion.
Nie Wenxiao's eyelid twitched.
"Sect Leader Nie, are you on good terms with Linglong Pavilion?"
Nie Wenxiao's eyelid would not stop twitching.
"Sect Leader Nie, could you ask them to lend us the Nine-Tribulation Lotus?"
Nie Wenxiao: "..."
Was it really borrowing? Could it truly be returned in good condition?
Taking a deep breath, Nie Wenxiao decided to stake every bit of credibility she had accumulated over half a lifetime.
"I can!"
When the time came, she would just say she was helping to withstand a Core Formation lightning tribulation.
Core Formation was indeed Core Formation. It was just that the lightning tribulation was not quite ordinary.
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