Chapter 26: Ethereal Essence


    In the 1,370,000th year of the Wanhua Immortal History, Xiao Wuheng from the Ghost Domain infiltrated the borders of Wanhua''s Tiyu State. He was discovered by Yuan Huan of the Taichu Sect, and the two battled at Fenghuang Mountain. The fight spanned from Fenghuang Mountain to Shuangxia Valley,sting fifteen days until Yuan Huan''s Golden me Spider pierced Xiao Wuheng''s chest. Defeated, Xiao Wuheng retreated to the Ghost Domain, but Yuan Huan, severely wounded, fell into the mountains of Shuangxia Valley and disappeared. Some said he went into seclusion to heal; others believed he returned to Taichu, while some spected he died from his wounds…


    Despite various legends about this battle and Yuan Huan''s fate, none have been verified.


    Yes, the immortal path is long, and in the blink of an eye, 198 years have passed.


    As the saying goes, when powerful beings sh, lesser cultivators suffer. During that battle, most of Tiyu State was destroyed, with 80% of the sects affected. Among them, Chixiu Pce in Shuangxia Valley was hit the hardest.


    Shuangxia Valley, already impoverished, became even poorer, as did Chixiu Pce. Rebuilding Chixiu Pce drained most of Lady Yingshuang''s resources and the sect''s reserves. Many disciples couldn''t withstand the hardship and left, reducing the sect from 56 members to 36. Lady Yingshuang, who once aspired to expand the sect, was deeply disheartened and spent her days sighing in the Ju''an Hall.


    However, for the past 198 years, Tiyu State has been peaceful, with no disturbances. The reason behind Xiao Wuheng''s secret infiltration remains a mystery.


    "Hey, do you know why Tiyu State is called Tiyu State? It’s because, millions of years ago, this ce was a spiritual sea… Do you know what a spiritual sea is? It''s a sea formed by spiritual energy, an immense source of power. When discovered, it became a battleground for major sects and the immortal-magic realms. Blood ran like rivers. Eventually, an immortal from the higher realm couldn''t stand it and cast a forbidden spell, sinking the spiritual sea underground and cing seven mountains over it. Since then, no one has found the spiritual sea. It''s said that on the day the sea was sealed, the spirit-eating fish leapt onto thend, crying non-stop. Thus, this ce was named Tiyu State. Xiao Wuheng came here to find that spiritual sea!"


    As Ji Yaoge exited the Ju''an Hall, she saw the young cultivator Zong He standing on a y table, waving an old piece of sheepskin, sharing the legend with a group of new disciples.


    "Think about it. The spiritual sea still lies somewhere beneath these mountains. If we find it, hehe…" Zong Heughed, stroking his chin. "This sheepskin map I have marks the entrance to the spiritual sea. It took me immense effort to get it. For my fellow disciples, it’s only 10 spirit stones per copy. I made five copies, so act fast!"


    "What map? Let me see," a voiceughed.


    Zong He turned and immediately jumped off the table, bowing respectfully, "Senior Sister Ji." The surrounding disciples also stood aside and greeted her in unison, "Hello, Senior Sister Ji."


    Ji Yaoge nodded and grabbed the map from Zong He. With a quick nce, she rolled it up and knocked him on the head, "Scamming people again?"


    The legend of Tiyu State is well-known. Stay here long enough, and you''ll know that the sheepskin maps sold for 1 spirit stone at the Deer Ridge Immortal Market are fakes, with different versions every period.


    Hearing her words, the crowd realized they were being tricked and dispersed swiftly, making dismissive sounds.


    "Senior Sister, you shouldn''t say that. Senior Brother Bai Yan sold me this map initially. How could his words be false?" Zong He carefully retrieved the map.


    Ji Yaoge rolled her eyes—Bai Yan''s words true? Hardly.


    Zong He had been tricked by Bai Yan into spending fifty spirit stones on that map. Even if it were fake, as long as he hadn''t recouped his cost, he had to treat it as real. Zong He remembered the reason he got tricked was because he tried to cozy up to Ji Yaoge, thinking she was kind and skilled when he first joined Chixiu Pce. Bai Yan noticed and yed a prank, costing him all his fifty spirit stones.


    "Senior Sister Ji, do you need any help? I''m willing to serve you," Zong He offered, still hoping to find a golden leg to cling to.


    "She doesn’t need anyone. I do. Will youe?" a sinister voice interrupted, sending chills down their spines.


    Zong He stiffened and turned to see Bai Yan. He forced a smile, "Senior Brother Bai," before making a swift exit.


    Bai Yan gave him a cold re before turning to Ji Yaoge with a smile, his eyes softening like a spring breeze.


    "Why bother with a child?" Ji Yaoge asked.


    Ten years since entering the sect, with a lifespan of only thirty years,pared to them, wasn’t he still a child?


    Time flies, and 198 years have passed. Bai Yan was now 200 years old, and she, having transitioned from Bai Yun to Ji Yaoge, was nearly 500 years old. After spending over two centuries in Wanren Mountain, she had now stayed nearly two hundred years in Shuangxia Valley.


    On the day of her Foundation Establishment, Tiyu State was in chaos. The celestial phenomenon caused by her breakthrough went unnoticed amidst the turmoil. While her sessful Foundation Establishment surprised many, the destruction of Chixiu Pce diverted much attention. By the time the chaos settled and she helped rebuild the sect, Ji Yaoge had be one of the top disciples, second only to Yingshuang’s three direct disciples. She was no longer the low-level, waste-boned cultivator she once was. Bai Yan, too, had be one of the top senior brothers.


    Today, Ji Yaoge''s cultivation was in thete Foundation Establishment stage, a speed not as fast as in her past life as Bai Yun but still impressive for an ordinary cultivator.


    "A child? I was the same age at the time. You never treated me like a child," Bai Yan snorted.


    "Your scheming nature made it impossible to see you as a child," Ji Yaoge replied with a smile, heading back to her cave.


    Bai Yan paused slightly, watching her slender figure in the sunlight. They had been cultivating here for 198 years; in two more years, it would be 200. He found it increasingly difficult to connect her to the cautious Ji Yaoge from the past. Though her face remained unchanged, she...


    She grew more enchanting.


    There was no one more beloved in Chixiu Pce than her. Kind and gentle, she was like the flowers and nts of the valley, drawing people close.


    Yet flowers and nts are heartless.


    To her, all living beings were the same.


    "Why did Madam call you to Ju''an Hall?" Bai Yan asked, catching up as she walked away.


    "She wants me to deliverst year''s collected Seven-Star Grass to Shigong Ridge," Ji Yaoge exined.


    "Wasn''t that always Sister Yelong''s job?" Bai Yan asked.


    "The Tiyu Mountain Lord has invited experts from various mountains to catch the Wutou Owl King of Feixiang Mountain. Madam has sent Brother Yan, along with Sisters Yelong and Yue Xiao, so she asked me to handle this task temporarily," Ji Yaoge exined.


    Yingshuang''s first disciple, Yan Xun, was Chixiu Pce''s senior brother. However, as he often trained outside, Ji Yaoge rarely saw him.


    "Who knows who lives in Shigong Ridge, requiring offerings from all seven mountain gates? The path there is tough. Let me apany you," Bai Yan suggested.


    "Alright," Ji Yaoge nodded in agreement.


    ————


    Shigong Ridge lies at the border of Shuangxia Valley and Quejin Mountain, a perilous location with towering peaks and rocky terrain where little vegetation grows. From afar, the pile of giant stones resembles a lion lying on the mountain, hence the name Shigong Ridge. During the battle between Yuan Huan and Xiao Wuheng 198 years ago, Xiao Wuheng''s blow cut off half a peak, leaving half a lion, with the other half forming a suspended stone cave mid-mountain.


    Fifty years ago, a wandering cultivator suddenly settled there, carving a cave dwelling and staying for five decades. No one knew his identity, but the Tiyu Mountain Lord decreed that this cultivator''s needs would be supplied by the seven mountain gates. The Mountain Lord, regarded as the highest realm cultivator in the region, governed this territory, and all cultivators respected and relied on him. As such, the sects followed hismand, annually delivering the requested items to the mysterious resident.


    By dusk, the twilight bathed the green-grey cliffs in an orange hue.


    Outside the suspended cave dwelling at Shigong Ridge, arge area was marked off with stones, cultivating medicinal herbs and raising spirit beasts. Under the evening light, it was a serene, fragrant, and harmonious scene.


    The mysterious cultivator mentioned by everyone sat on a low stone outside his cave, carving a piece of wood. The wood had taken shape as a slender waisted figure of a woman.


    "Make the chest bigger…"


    "Waist slimmer!"


    "Hips higher, make them perkier!"


    "What’s this carving? I don''t care. This is to be my body. Follow my instructions exactly!"


    A delicate female voice echoed continuously, yet apart from the man carving, no one else was present.


    Finally irritated by the nagging voice, the man harshly sliced the wood, shaving off most of the wooden woman''s chest.


    "Scream all you want. Next time, I’m throwing you into the furnace to melt!" He lifted his head, speaking coldly to a floating blue glow.


    Had he known how annoying this ghostly essence would be, he wouldn’t have brought it back. It had been pestering him for 198 years and showed no sign of stopping.


    The soul, senseless and fearless, flew up to his face, quivering its glow, "You wouldn''t dare. You enjoy mypany. I keep you entertained. You’re not lonely, right, Brother Yuan?"


    “Screw your Brother Yuan.”


    The man grudgingly grabbed the blue glow and slipped it onto his pinky. The glow transformed into a blue ring, settling quietly around his finger.