《Ordinary Bone》 Chapter 1 - A Snowy Night, Little Taiping Knocks for Charcoal "Bang, bang bang..." In the howling cold wind, a thin, shivering little boy knocked on a family''s courtyard gate. It was New Year''s Eve, and laughter occasionally rang out from inside the courtyard. "Bang, bang bang..." After waiting for a long time with no response, the little boy reached up and grabbed the door ring, gently knocking a few times. "Phew..." It was so cold that after knocking, he immediately put his hands to his mouth and breathed on them to warm up. Not just his hands, but the grass shoes on his feet were almost numb from the cold. "Who is it?" Finally, someone inside the courtyard responded. The little boy''s face lit up. "Second Uncle, it''s me," he quickly replied. "Creak..." Soon, the courtyard gate opened, and a sturdy middle-aged man poked his head out. "Oh, it''s Taiping. What brings you here so late?" the man asked the little boy. "Second... Second Uncle... the charcoal at home is all used up. I was wondering if I could borrow some charcoal from you. When spring comes and I can go up the mountain to chop wood, I''ll definitely return it," the boy said, averting his eyes shyly. "A few pounds of charcoal aren''t worth much. Wait here, I''ll get it for you!" the man waved his hand and agreed readily. "Taiping, have you eaten?" the man suddenly stopped and turned back to ask. "I... I... Grandfather... Grandfather hasn''t eaten..." the boy''s voice trailed off, barely audible as he clutched his clothes. The middle-aged man sighed, then smiled and said, "Wait here, Taiping. I''ll be right back." "Okay," the boy nodded slightly. Another cold wind swept by, making the boy shiver, but his heart felt a little warmer. "Taiping!" Shortly after, the middle-aged man came out carrying a winnowing basket. "Take this," his uncle said, breathing white vapor as he quickly walked to the gate and pushed the basket into the boy''s arms. Taiping looked down and saw not just several pounds of charcoal, but four steaming white mantou (bread rolls).Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. "Second Uncle, I..." Seeing the white mantou, the boy looked anxious, but having not eaten all day, he couldn''t help swallowing involuntarily. "Take it!" the middle-aged man laughed heartily. "Er Niu, why are you still dawdling in the courtyard?" At this moment, a robust woman strode to the courtyard gate. Both the little boy and the middle-aged man''s expressions changed upon seeing her. "Taiping... Taiping came to borrow some charcoal," the man said with a forced smile, his eyes darting nervously. "Second... Second Aunt," Taiping greeted her. The woman first glared at the man, then looked at the boy, her gaze finally settling on the basket with the charcoal and bread. Seeing the mantou placed on the charcoal, her face immediately darkened. "These white mantou were meant for Xiaotiger. I wouldn''t even eat them myself, and you''re being so generous!" she scolded, grabbing two mantou. "Mom, is the roast goose ready? I want roast goose, not bread!" a chubby boy in a new cotton jacket walked out, looking displeased at the mantou. "My child, why are you out? It''s cold, go back inside quickly," the woman hurried to the boy. "Mom, I don''t want bread, I want roast goose!" the chubby boy stomped his foot, looking like he might cry. "Okay, okay, the roast goose is almost ready. These mantou are for Ah Huang to eat," the woman cooed, casually throwing the two mantou into the dog''s cage near the eaves. The middle-aged man frowned and sighed helplessly. Taiping watched the mantou being eaten by the dog, bit his lip, then hugged the basket of charcoal and looked up at the man, smiling, "Thank you, Second Uncle. I''m going now." "Be careful on the way. When burning charcoal, remember to leave a crack in the window and cover your grandfather with blankets," the man waved. "Xu Er Niu! If you don''t come back inside right now, don''t even think about getting on my bed tonight!" the woman''s nagging came from inside. "Coming, coming!" the man quickly responded, giving Taiping an embarrassed smile before closing the gate. After the gate closed, the last bit of light in the snowy ground disappeared, and the world was again swallowed by night, with only a small lamp flickering in a thatched cottage to the east. "With these charcoals and two mantou, Grandfather will definitely get better," the boy muttered to himself in the darkness, not feeling afraid. He tucked his head down, laughing softly, and hugged the basket of charcoal and bread, bouncing and skipping towards the small lit earth house. ... In front of the small earth house. "Creak..." The boy pushed open the door. "Taiping... is that you?" An old, hoarse, and somewhat weak voice called from the lamp-lit room. "It''s me, Grandfather," the boy rubbed his frozen face, trying to squeeze out a smile before stepping through the curtain. As he entered, a strong medicinal smell hit him. Without a fire, the room''s temperature was no different from outside. At the innermost part of the room, on a bed cobbled together from wooden boards, an old man so thin he was just skin and bones was curled up under a worn-out quilt. "Grandfather, Second Uncle lent me some charcoal and gave me two mantou. We''ll roast them and eat soon," Taiping said cheerfully, pouring the charcoal into the stove. "Good... good..." the old man smiled and nodded. Though the old man looked frail, his cloudy eyes suddenly regained their brightness when he saw Taiping. "Taiping... these past few years... living with grandfather... you''ve suffered," the old man said with difficulty, his gaze full of love. "Grandfather, I''m not suffering. Not at all," Taiping turned, grinning and shaking his head. "Silly child... truly a silly child... If not for you taking care of me these years, grandfather would have been gone long ago..." The old man reached out to pat Taiping''s head, sighing with compassion. "Don''t say such unlucky things, Grandfather. You''ll definitely live to be a hundred!" Taiping shook his head firmly while roasting the mantou. "Taiping," the old man suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard of immortals?" [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 2 - On the Sickbed, Receiving a Treasure from Grandfathers Deathbed I''ve heard of them "Yes," Taiping nodded, then said with admiration, "Uncle Zhao at the village entrance says there are immortals on Cloud Lu Mountain not far from our village. A few years ago, the snake demon in Qingshui Town was slain by an immortal from the mountain, flying through the sky, incredibly powerful." The old man chuckled and asked, "So Taiping, do you want to be like those immortals - immortal and able to fly?" "Of course I want to!" Taiping nodded without hesitation, then scratched his head bashfully and added, "But Uncle Zhao said to cultivate, you must be born with a spiritual bone. If you''re born with a spiritual bone, your name automatically appears on the immortal register, and immortals will personally come down the mountain to take you for cultivation. Otherwise, with just a common bone, you can''t cultivate immortality." His tone was clearly disappointed. "Taiping..." The old man hesitated, then looked seriously at Taiping and whispered, "If there was an opportunity to get an immortal register, but it meant risking your life, would you be willing?" "Could I... get an immortal register?" Taiping first looked stunned, then began to think seriously. "Grandfather, if such an opportunity truly exists, I want to try," he said, raising his head with determined eyes. "Why? That could mean certain death," the old man smiled, staring into Taiping''s pure eyes. "Because if I become an immortal, I can help cure your illness," Taiping answered matter-of-factly. The old man was momentarily stunned, then smiled again. "Taiping, take..." He struggled to lift his hand, extending a somewhat worn wooden box to Taiping. "Grandfather?" Taiping looked puzzled at the box in his hand. Since he could remember, his grandfather had always carefully guarded this box, never letting anyone see it. "Open... it," the old man said with great effort. "Okay..." Though confused, Taiping obediently nodded and opened the box. Inside, Taiping saw a vermilion wax pill and an ordinary yellow bean seed. "This red wax pill," the old man explained, "was given to me by a Taoist priest I encountered ten years ago. It''s called a Spiritual Bone Pill. After consuming it, it can transform a common bone into a spiritual bone and make your name appear on the immortal register." "Such a miraculous medicine exists in the world?" Taiping asked in disbelief. "The world is vast, with endless wonders. What''s one Spiritual Bone Pill?" the old man nodded seriously. "If this Spiritual Bone Pill is so effective, why didn''t you take it?" Taiping suddenly asked.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "The Taoist said this pill is only effective for children between nine and eleven years old. I was sixty-three when I got it, and your father and uncles are already middle-aged. It would be useless for us," the old man said with a bitter smile. It was clear he felt regret. Who wouldn''t want to seize such an opportunity? "Moreover, after taking the Spiritual Bone Pill, its effects last only half a year. If you cannot reach the ''qi transformation'' realm within that time, your common bone status will be discovered by the sect. Your name will be removed from the immortal register. The lightest punishment is being expelled from the mountain, the most severe is having your soul''s memory erased, turning you into an idiot," the old man said, frowning. Taiping was shocked by these words. After careful consideration, he still nodded, looking earnestly at the old man. "Grandfather, I still want to try." In his mind, once he entered the immortal sect and learned immortal techniques, he could cure his grandfather''s illness. So it was worth the risk. "Good," the old man, satisfied with Taiping''s resolute nature, nodded. He took the wax pill, peeled off the wax coating, and personally placed it at Taiping''s mouth. "Eat." Taiping didn''t hesitate and swallowed the Spiritual Bone Pill whole. As the pill entered his stomach, Taiping felt a warm current, like a warm hand caressing his entire body. But apart from that, nothing seemed special. "Is this... all?" Taiping asked the old man in surprise. "In a few days, immortals from the mountain will come down to take you," the old man smiled and nodded. His expression was complex, with both joy and worry. He was naturally happy - Taiping was his favorite grandson, and being able to walk the path of seeking immortality was cause for celebration. But he was worried because this path would inevitably be difficult. Taiping might not even survive half a year before being expelled from the sect and becoming an idiot, ruining his life. "In the long red dust of life, a common bone seeks immortal fate. If one does not taste a thousand human hardships, how can the jade tower''s celestial gate open?" The old man suddenly recalled the words of the beggar Taoist priest before he left. Thinking this, his eyes became resolute again - "Letting Taiping walk this path is not a mistake!" "Grandfather, what''s the use of this bean?" Taiping, feeling somewhat nervous, picked up the yellow bean from the box. "This was also left by that old Taoist. He didn''t explain its specific purpose, only said that if you''re fortunate enough to enter the immortal sect, plant this bean in mountain spirit soil. At that time, you''ll receive another great opportunity..." the old man answered weakly. "Cough, cough, cough..." After saying this, he began to cough violently. "Grandfather, drink some water, don''t speak anymore," Taiping said worriedly, moving to support the old man. "Taiping... keep that bean safe... what I''ve told you tonight... you must not... must not tell anyone..." The old man gripped Taiping''s wrist firmly. "Grandfather, don''t worry, I won''t tell a soul!" Taiping nodded vigorously. "Taiping, though you''re precocious, the world is treacherous. You must be extremely careful..." Coughing blood at the corner of his mouth, the old man suddenly grabbed Taiping''s shoulders with both hands, staring intensely into his eyes with all his remaining strength. "Taiping, I''ve spent my entire life searching for the immortal path but was ultimately trapped by this common bone. You must fight! Fight for all those with common bones!" After these words, the old man''s body stiffened and fell straight back onto the bed. "Grandfather? Grandfather?" Taiping''s heart went cold. His small, trembling hand reached to the old man''s nose, finding no breath. His eyes dimmed. "I... I no longer have a grandfather..." Taiping stood there in a daze, tears welling in his eyes, finally breaking into a loud cry. He hadn''t cried when his parents died years ago, nor when he rolled down a mountain slope while gathering herbs, nor when he was trapped by wolves for days without food. Because he knew he wasn''t alone - he had his grandfather. ... This night, Taiping lost his grandfather. This night, a name appeared on the Spiritual Bone Register of the Qingxuan Gate on Cloud Lu Mountain - Xu Taiping. "A young man named Xu Taiping from Blue Ox Village at the foot of Cloud Lu Mountain has developed a spiritual bone. Quickly notify the Seventh Peak''s master to send disciples to escort him." The elder guarding the Spiritual Bone Register placed a letter in a white crane''s beak. "Disciple obeys," the white crane spoke human words, then spread its wings and flew into the sky. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 3 - The First Seven Days, The Wicked Aunt Sells Her Nephew into Slavery Six days later. At Xu Taiping¡¯s second uncle¡¯s house. ¡°What? You¡¯re going to sell Taiping?!¡± Xu Taiping¡¯s second uncle, Xu Erniu, looked at his wife in disbelief. ¡°Shh! ...¡± His wife, with a face full of hostility, raised a finger to her lips, signaling for Xu Erniu to lower his voice. "What do you mean sell? He''s going to Bai Family Manor to work as a servant. That¡¯s not an opportunity just anyone can get!" She rolled her eyes at her husband. ¡°That¡¯s true, but in the end, he¡¯ll be entering servitude¡­¡± Xu Erniu hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. ¡°At the Bai Family, he¡¯ll eat well, drink well, and live well. What¡¯s wrong with being a servant? Stop meddling. I¡¯ve already accepted the deposit.¡± With a wave of her hand, the wife decisively ended the argument. ¡°Alright.¡± Unable to overpower his wife, Xu Erniu sighed lightly and nodded. ¡°Where¡¯s Taiping?¡± the wife asked. ¡°He¡¯s still at the ancestral hall. Today is the seventh day since the old man¡¯s passing, and Taiping wants to keep vigil for him.¡± Dressed in mourning clothes, Xu Erniu wiped his mouth as he answered. ¡°The people from Bai Family Manor are already waiting at the village entrance. Bring him back quickly.¡± The wife glared at Xu Erniu. ¡°They¡¯ve arrived already?¡± Xu Erniu was taken aback. ¡°The young master of the Bai Family is starting private school next month, and he happens to need a study attendant. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have come this soon. Stop talking nonsense and quickly bring the boy back from the ancestral hall.¡± She cast a sharp look at her husband and urged him again. ¡°But¡­ but today is the seventh day. Can¡¯t we let Taiping stay until the night is over before sending him off?¡± Xu Erniu scratched his head in hesitation. After Xu Taiping¡¯s grandfather passed away, the couple had been discussing how to deal with this ¡°burden.¡± Still, Xu Erniu had a shred of kindness left and didn¡¯t want to send Taiping off before the seventh day was over. ¡°Seventh day, seventh day¡­ What¡¯s more important, this ceremony or silver? You!¡± She poked Xu Erniu¡¯s forehead with her finger, her expression one of disdain and exasperation. Then, leaning in with an air of secrecy, she whispered into his ear: ¡°Do you know how much the Bai Family is willing to pay? Thirty taels. Thirty taels of silver!¡± Her eyes glinted with greed. Hearing this, Xu Erniu froze for a moment before nodding firmly. ¡°I¡¯ll go fetch Taiping right away.¡± Half an hour later.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. At the entrance of Qingniu Village. Xu Taiping looked reluctantly in the direction of the ancestral hall, then turned to his second uncle and aunt to plead: ¡°Second Uncle, can¡¯t I leave tomorrow instead?¡± ¡°Taiping, going to Bai Family Manor as a servant is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don¡¯t go today, there won¡¯t be a chance for you tomorrow!¡± His aunt smiled warmly, speaking to Xu Taiping in a seemingly kind tone. ¡°Second Aunt, you¡¯re just worried that if we wait until tomorrow, you won¡¯t be able to sell me for a good price, right?¡± Xu Taiping gave his aunt a cold look. He had been keeping vigil these past few days, but having endured countless hardships since childhood, he was not naive. He was well aware of the schemes his aunt and uncle had been plotting in secret. Taiping hadn¡¯t resisted for two reasons: first, because he had no power to fight back; and second, because he himself thought going to Bai Family Manor might not be a bad idea. After all, his grandfather had passed away, and he had no attachments left in the village. ¡°You child, how can you talk to your aunt like that? She¡¯s doing this for your own good!¡± Hearing Taiping¡¯s words, his uncle scolded him harshly, glaring at him. ¡°Stop dawdling and get on the carriage! Lately, there have been rat demons spotted in this area at night. We need to get to Bamboo Ridge before nightfall.¡± At this moment, the steward from Bai Family Manor, seated on the carriage, urged them impatiently. ¡°Coming, coming!¡± Hearing this, both his uncle and aunt grabbed Taiping by the arms and forcibly dragged him toward the carriage. Taiping didn¡¯t resist. He only felt a coldness in his heart. On the carriage, the Bai Family steward held up a contract and said: ¡°Young man, take a good look. This is your contract of servitude with the Bai Family. From today onward, you are a servant of the Bai Family and have no further ties to Qingniu Village or the Xu family.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Taiping nodded expressionlessly. ¡°It seems the pill Grandpa gave me has lost its effect. It¡¯s been six days, and no immortals have come to take me.¡± As the Bai Family steward conversed with his uncle and aunt, Xu Taiping silently looked up at the sky. He wasn¡¯t particularly disappointed about his failed pursuit of immortality. After all, his desire to become an immortal had stemmed from wanting to cure his grandfather. ¡°Wait, is that¡­ a white crane bigger than a water buffalo?¡± ¡°Where? Where?¡± ¡°Hold on, it looks like¡­ there are two people standing on its back!¡± At this moment, the villagers gathered at the entrance of the village suddenly erupted in cries of surprise. Hearing the commotion, Xu Taiping, the Bai Family steward, and his aunt and uncle all looked up. Sure enough, they saw a massive white crane in the sky. On its back were two faint human figures. ¡°Imm¡­ Immortals?¡± After a stunned moment, Xu Taiping softly uttered two words. ¡°Immortals! They must be immortals!¡± The villagers began shouting excitedly. ¡°Caw!¡± With a resonant crane cry, the two figures descended from the sky, floating down gracefully to the village entrance. One was a man dressed in a sky-blue robe, the other a woman in a red dress. The man had sharp brows and bright eyes, exuding an air of nobility, while the woman was so stunningly beautiful that the surrounding scenery seemed to dim in comparison. ¡°Everyone, sorry for disturbing you. We are disciples of Qingxuan Sect from Yunlu Mountain. Today, my junior sister and I have come to this locale in search of a young man.¡± The man politely cupped his hands toward the crowd. The villagers of Qingniu Village gasped in astonishment upon hearing this. They hadn¡¯t expected these two to truly be immortals, let alone disciples of the renowned Qingxuan Sect from nearby Yunlu Mountain. ¡°May I ask, is there a young man named Xu Taiping among you?¡± The red-clad junior sister also cupped her hands toward the crowd, her face adorned with a warm smile as she asked. That smile could captivate both men and women alike. ¡°Xu¡­ Xu Taiping?¡± ¡°It¡¯s him! That¡¯s Xu Taiping!¡± After a brief pause, several villagers pointed toward Xu Taiping, who stood beside the carriage. Most of the villagers recognized Xu Taiping and his family, as they were one of the few outsiders in the village. ¡°You are Xu Taiping?¡± The red-clad woman stepped forward, her face lighting up with joy as she looked at the young Xu Taiping. ¡°Yes.¡± Taiping nodded. He had already guessed the identities of these two. ¡°Senior Brother,¡± the woman quickly turned to the man behind her. ¡°The jade slip of inheritance is reacting. He¡¯s the one we¡¯re looking for.¡± The man nodded, raising a faintly glowing jade slip in his hand toward her. ¡°Excuse me, Immortal Lady, has my nephew committed some wrongdoing?¡± Unable to hold back, Xu Erniu finally asked. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Before the woman could respond, his wife pulled him back and maintained a distance of five or six steps from Xu Taiping. Not just them¡ªother villagers also stepped back, maintaining a cautious distance from Taiping. Clearly, like Xu Erniu, most of the villagers assumed Xu Taiping might have committed some transgression that had drawn the immortals down from the mountain. After all, Qingniu Village was near Yunlu Mountain, and though most hadn¡¯t witnessed it personally, they had all heard stories of immortals descending to subdue demons. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 4 - Thirty Taels, Young Taiping Cuts Ties with the Mortal World "What crime did he commit?" Hearing this question, the red-clad female disciple chuckled and waved her hand, saying: "We have not come down the mountain to subdue demons. We are here to take this boy, Xu Taiping, back to the mountain." "Back to the mountain?" The crowd, including Xu Erniu, still looked confused. "Xu Taiping possesses a spiritual bone and has been entered into the Immortal Registry. We are here today to bring him to the mountain to join the Qingxuan Sect." The male disciple explained with a calm and emotionless expression. "Join¡­ the Qingxuan Sect? Does that mean¡­ he¡¯ll become an immortal in the future? Our Xu family¡­ our Xu family will have an immortal?" Hearing this, Xu Erniu stood as if struck by lightning, mumbling to himself, completely dumbfounded. The two disciples of Qingxuan Sect ignored the villagers and extended their hands toward Xu Taiping. "Young Taiping, come with us. From now on, you¡¯ll be our junior disciple on the Seventh Peak." The red-clad female disciple smiled warmly, her voice gentle as she spoke to Xu Taiping. Hearing her voice, Xu Taiping felt a warmth in his heart, as though he had once again gained a family. "Wait!" Just as Xu Taiping was about to reach out to take her hand, his second aunt grabbed his arm and stopped him. "Dear Immortals, you can¡¯t just take our Taiping away like this! He¡¯s the pillar of our family and is destined to become a top scholar and bring glory to the Xu family!" The plump second aunt smiled ingratiatingly at the Qingxuan Sect disciples, her expression full of exaggerated "reluctance." Hearing her words, a chill ran through Xu Taiping¡¯s heart. From as far back as he could remember, his second aunt had always treated him as a money-wasting burden, a bringer of bad luck. When had she ever hoped for him to bring glory to the family? The two Qingxuan Sect disciples were unaware of the situation and assumed the second aunt was genuinely reluctant to part with him. "A mere mortal scholar cannot compare to a disciple of the Qingxuan Sect. However, since you are his uncle and aunt, take this golden bowl as a token of our meeting." The male disciple reached into his sleeve, took out a golden bowl, and stretched out his hand to give it to Xu Taiping¡¯s second aunt. "No¡­" "Dear Immortals!" Before Xu Taiping could reveal the truth, the Bai Family steward suddenly jumped down from the carriage. Grabbing Taiping¡¯s arm and holding up the contract of servitude in the other hand, he loudly declared: "This Xu Taiping has already been sold to our Bai Family by his uncle and aunt! The terms are clearly written in black and white¡ªhe is now part of the Bai Family. This golden bowl belongs to us!"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The sight of a gift from an immortal had everyone salivating. Hearing this, the male and female disciples of Qingxuan Sect frowned in unison. "That¡¯s nonsense!" The plump aunt angrily retorted, stepping forward to snatch the contract from the steward''s hand. "I only sent Taiping to work for the Bai Family, not to sell him as a slave!" "Exactly! My nephew is now a disciple of the Immortal Sect. This contract with the Bai Family is null and void!" Xu Erniu also stepped in to join the struggle for the contract. "Enough!" Seeing the chaos unfolding, the male disciple of Qingxuan Sect couldn''t hold back and shouted sternly. With his voice, an invisible pressure radiated from his body, making him appear like a furious tiger. Both the second aunt and the Bai Family steward froze in terror, their mouths snapping shut. "Taiping, is it true that you were sold to the Bai Family as a servant?" Once the commotion had subsided, the red-clad female disciple stepped forward and asked Taiping with concern in her voice. Taiping glanced at the female disciple, then nodded. "Yes." As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a sudden sense of relief, as though the chains that had bound him were broken. The female disciple¡¯s gaze softened, now filled with sympathy and pity. "You ungrateful little brat! How can you spout such nonsense? Over the years¡ª" "Let go." As the plump aunt prepared to grab Taiping, the red-clad female disciple waved her long sleeve. A gust of wind burst forth, directly pushing the woman¡¯s bulky frame back. "You¡­ You may be immortals, but you must act reasonably, mustn¡¯t you? I¡­ I¡­" Frightened by the female disciple¡¯s display of power, the aunt stammered, though she continued to back away. "Dear Immortals, I have the contract signed with Xu Erniu right here, stamped with a red handprint! Xu Taiping is now part of the Bai Family. His uncle and aunt can¡¯t deny it!" The greedy Bai Family steward handed over the contract. The male disciple took it, glanced at it, and then smirked coldly, looking at Xu Taiping¡¯s aunt and uncle. "A disciple of Qingxuan Sect, sold for a mere thirty taels?" Hearing this, the young female disciple pursed her lips angrily. "You two sold your nephew for a pitiful thirty taels and now dare to ask for more benefits from us? It seems you¡¯re asking to be punished!" The fiery-tempered female disciple, who loved justice, was already preparing to wave her sleeve again. "Mercy, Immortal Lady! Mercy!" Xu Erniu and his wife hurriedly begged for forgiveness. "Junior Sister, remember our master¡¯s instructions." The male disciple placed a calming hand on her shoulder, giving her a meaningful look. Though still visibly upset, the female disciple withdrew her hand. "Since this contract is legitimate, how much silver would suffice for Qingxuan Sect to redeem him?" The male disciple held up the contract and looked at the Bai Family steward. "This¡­ This¡­" The steward hesitated, swallowing nervously before raising three fingers. "Three¡­ Three hundred taels!" "A disciple of Qingxuan Sect, worth only three hundred taels?" The male disciple smirked again. Reaching into his sleeve, he pulled out a bulging pouch and tossed it to the steward. The steward opened the pouch and froze¡ªit was filled with gold ingots. The surrounding villagers, including Xu Taiping¡¯s aunt and uncle, gasped in shock at the sight of the gold. "Is this enough?" The male disciple asked with a faint smile. "Enough! More than enough! This gold is worth three thousand taels of silver!" The Bai Family steward nodded excitedly, hugging the pouch tightly. Hearing this, Xu Taiping¡¯s aunt and uncle turned pale. They weren¡¯t well-educated, but they knew the difference between thirty taels and three thousand taels. "Dear Immortals, this money shouldn¡¯t go to the Bai Family! We only took thirty taels!" The plump aunt lunged toward the male disciple, but he easily sidestepped her, causing her to fall flat on the ground. "Taiping, tell the immortals that this silver belongs to your uncle!" Seeing his wife fail, Xu Erniu reached for Taiping, only for the red-clad female disciple to grab Taiping¡¯s hand and pull him several steps away in a blink. Unable to get their hands on the gold, Xu Erniu and his wife turned on the Bai Family steward, shouting and fighting over the pouch. "Taiping, your ties to the mundane world are severed. Are you willing to follow us to Yunlu Mountain and seek your destiny as an immortal?" The male disciple tore up the contract in his hands and extended his hand toward Xu Taiping. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 5 - Crossing the Sea of Clouds, the Hidden Azure Mysteries of Yunlu Mountain On the other side, the young girl holding Xu Taiping''s hand simply smiled and silently watched him. Xu Taiping looked at the young man in front of him, then at the red-clothed girl beside him, and finally at his second uncle and aunt, who were still wrestling with the Bai family steward. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes faded away. "I am willing." Xu Taiping nodded firmly toward the two young disciples. Hearing this, the young man laughed heartily and then waved his wide sleeve. A gust of wind swept Xu Taiping and the red-clothed girl into the air and onto the back of an immortal crane. "Taiping, my name is Dugu Qingxiao. I am the second disciple of the Seventh Peak of Qingxuan Sect." "And I am Zhao Linglong, the sixth disciple of the Seventh Peak of Qingxuan Sect. From now on, I¡¯ll be your senior sister." "Taiping greets Senior Brother and Senior Sister." Amid playful chatter, the villagers could only watch as the immortal crane gradually disappeared into the sea of clouds. In the blink of an eye, it was gone. As for Xu Taiping''s second uncle and aunt, they ultimately failed to overpower the Bai family steward and his servants. Left with nothing¡ªneither money nor property¡ªthey could only slump under the old elm tree at the village entrance, pointing at the sky and cursing loudly. Yunlu Mountain In just one day, Xu Taiping, riding the immortal crane, reached the legendary Yunlu Immortal Mountain. To be precise, what the mortal world referred to as Yunlu Mountain was merely the entrance to Qingxuan Sect. It was akin to an iceberg in the sea: the part visible above the water''s surface was only a small portion of the whole. "The Yunlu Mountain you mortals speak of is merely the barrier to the Seven Peaks of Yunlu. The true Yunlu Seven Peaks are perpetually shrouded by a barrier of clouds and mist. One must have a spirit beast to guide the way in or out." As they ascended into the sea of clouds near the mountain¡¯s summit, Linglong enthusiastically explained to Xu Taiping while sitting on the immortal crane. "So how big is the real Yunlu Mountain?" Hearing Linglong¡¯s introduction, Xu Taiping couldn''t help but grow curious about Yunlu Mountain. "The Yunlu Mountain range stretches for ten thousand miles, with its seven main peaks towering over ten thousand zhang (heights). Its area is likely no smaller than your Great Liang Kingdom. However, because the entire Yunlu Mountain exists in its own isolated realm, it appears to mortals as just a small peak." This time, it was Qingxiao, who had been meditating nearby, who answered Xu Taiping¡¯s question. "No smaller than the Great Liang Kingdom?" Xu Taiping¡¯s understanding of the world was shaken once again. "Exactly. In the cultivation world, there are many other secret realms like Yunlu Mountain. Our Qingxuan Sect on Yunlu Mountain is merely a third-tier cultivation sect," Linglong said with a smile. "What¡¯s above third tier¡ª" "Boom!" Before Xu Taiping could ask more about the cultivation world, a sudden gale hit them, and the immortal crane let out a sharp screech.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Junior Brother, this is the protective grand array¡¯s barrier wind! Hold onto Senior Sister¡¯s hand, or you¡¯ll fall!" Linglong shouted as she grabbed Xu Taiping¡¯s hand. "Understood!" Xu Taiping nodded and tightly gripped her soft, boneless hand. "Whoosh, whoosh..." In the blink of an eye, the chaotic barrier winds dispersed. Before him, Xu Taiping saw a clear, pristine sky, with rolling mountain ranges, towering peaks piercing the clouds, and numerous floating mountains hidden within the sea of clouds. "This is the real Yunlu Immortal Mountain," Zhao Linglong said proudly, standing up to look out at the view. "Qingxiao, Linglong." At that moment, a sweet, gentle voice came from the side. Xu Taiping turned to see a streak of azure light emerging from the sea of clouds. Upon closer inspection, it was a tall and beautiful woman with a sweet smile, accompanied by a little girl, both standing on a flying jade gourd. "Senior Sister Ziyan? Why have you come down the mountain too?" Zhao Linglong waved enthusiastically at the woman called Ziyan. "Not long after you went down the mountain, the Spirit Bone Monument responded again. This time, the Sixth Peak has also been blessed with a disciple chosen by the monument," Ziyan said with a smile, glancing at the little girl behind her. The little girl wore a white dress and had jade-like skin, appearing like a flawless porcelain doll, stunningly beautiful. "What a pretty little girl," Zhao Linglong praised sincerely. "Congratulations, congratulations! The Sixth Peak has gained another promising talent. It seems Sixth Peak will take the top spot in the next Seven Peaks Competition," Qingxiao said with a laugh, cupping his fists toward Ziyan. Hearing this, Ziyan covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, her brows exuding a subtle charm. "Buyu, greet Senior Brother Qingxiao and Senior Sister Linglong," Ziyan said as she patted the little girl on the shoulder. "Buyu greets Senior Brother Qingxiao and Senior Sister Linglong," the little girl said, somewhat stiffly, bowing to them. "No need to be so formal," Qingxiao replied with a smile. Linglong, on the other hand, turned to Xu Taiping, patted him on the head, and said, "Taiping, quickly greet Senior Sister Ziyan and your future Junior Sister Buyu. Among the Seven Peaks, the Sixth Peak is the wealthiest, so you¡¯d better get on her good side." "Taiping greets Senior Sister Ziyan and Junior Sister Buyu," Xu Taiping said, though still a little dazed, bowing respectfully towards Ziyan. "No need for such courtesy. Once you officially become a disciple of the Seven Peaks, I¡¯ll gift you a Foundation-Building Pill," Ziyan said with a smile. "Thank Senior Sister Ziyan right this instant!" Zhao Linglong pushed Xu Taiping¡¯s head to bow again, urging him to express his gratitude. "Th-thank you, Senior Sister Ziyan," Xu Taiping stammered, still somewhat overwhelmed. "Qingxiao, are you heading to the Dragon Gate Hall next?" Ziyan asked, changing the subject. "Indeed. Before Taiping officially joins the Seventh Peak, we must assess his Spirit Bone at the Dragon Gate Hall," Qingxiao confirmed. "In that case, I¡¯ll accompany you," Ziyan said, steering her flying sword to approach the immortal crane. "Let¡¯s go together, then," Qingxiao nodded. "How about this, Senior Sister Ziyan? Why don¡¯t you ride the crane with my senior brother, and I¡¯ll take Buyu flying on the sword?" Zhao Linglong said mischievously, a sly grin on her face. "Zhao Linglong, do you want me to smack you?" Ziyan¡¯s cheeks turned red as she scolded playfully. "If you keep talking nonsense, I¡¯ll kick you off the crane myself!" Qingxiao added, glaring at Linglong. "I won¡¯t dare anymore! I swear!" Linglong hugged Xu Taiping¡¯s shoulders playfully, repeatedly begging for mercy. At this moment, Xu Taiping¡¯s face was also flushed. Never in his life had he been so close to a woman, let alone hugged by one. But what occupied his thoughts more was Qingxiao¡¯s earlier statement¡ª"We need to assess your Spirit Bone at the Dragon Gate Hall." "Senior Brother Qingxiao, why do we need to assess the Spirit Bone?" Xu Taiping couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Although you were chosen by the Spirit Bone Monument and can join the Seventh Peak without testing, it¡¯s still necessary to determine the type and grade of your Spirit Bone. This will greatly benefit your future cultivation," Qingxiao explained. "Little Taiping, you probably don¡¯t know yet," Linglong chimed in, wrapping an arm around Xu Taiping¡¯s shoulder and gesturing theatrically as she began to explain. "In the cultivation world, having a Spirit Bone means you can cultivate. However, Spirit Bones are divided into different types and grades." "For types, the most common are the five elemental Spirit Bones¡ªgold, wood, water, fire, and earth. Beyond those, there are rarer types like ice, lightning, and wind." "As for grades, they¡¯re divided into four tiers: Purple Spirit Bone, Gold Spirit Bone, Black Spirit Bone, and White Spirit Bone. Among them, the Purple Spirit Bone is the rarest and is also known as the Heavenly Spirit Bone, while the White Spirit Bone is the least useful." Hearing this, Xu Taiping finally began to understand. "Why is the White Spirit Bone considered the least useful?" he asked curiously. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 6 - Leaping the Dragon Gate, Elder Black Dragon Guards the Mountain Gate "White Spirit Bones, also known as False Spirit Bones, may allow for cultivation, but the speed is extremely slow. Often, decades pass without even breaking through the ''Opening Gate'' realm. They''re not much better than those without Spirit Bones," Zhao Linglong sighed. "If it¡¯s determined that I have White Spirit Bones, does that mean I won¡¯t be able to become a disciple of the Seventh Peak?" Xu Taiping hesitated before finally asking the question that had been weighing on his mind. In his view, while the pill his grandfather left him might have allowed his name to appear on the Spirit Bone Monument, it might not be enough to deceive the Qingxuan Sect¡¯s rigorous Spirit Bone assessment. After all, he was very aware that he didn¡¯t actually have a Spirit Bone. "Technically, yes, but since you¡¯ve been chosen by the Spirit Bone Monument, even if you don¡¯t have a rare Heavenly Spirit Bone, you¡¯re at least guaranteed to have a Gold Spirit Bone, or at the very least, a Black Spirit Bone. There¡¯s no way it could be a White Spirit Bone," Zhao Linglong said confidently. "Your Senior Sister is right. Disciples chosen by the Spirit Bone Monument are usually Gold Spirit Bones or even Heavenly Spirit Bones. There¡¯s no need to worry too much, Junior Brother," Qingxiao added with a reassuring smile, patting Xu Taiping on the head. "Exactly! Even if it turns out to be a White Spirit Bone, there¡¯s no need to worry. Disciples with White Spirit Bones can still train at the base of the mountain for three years. If they pass the assessment after those three years, they can still become disciples of the Seven Peaks," Zhao Linglong said with a smile. "Okay." Xu Taiping nodded, forcing a faint smile on his face. Hearing that even those with White Spirit Bones wouldn¡¯t be immediately expelled gave him a small sense of relief. A Short While Later Qingxuan Sect, Dragon Gate Hall The Dragon Gate Hall was a grand temple located on a floating mountain. The surrounding mountains were adorned with vibrant flowers, and rare, exotic beasts roamed freely. The path leading to the mountaintop temple was extraordinarily steep. If not for Zhao Linglong and Qingxiao accompanying him, Xu Taiping doubted he would¡¯ve been able to reach the top, even if given several days. "Who goes there?" As soon as they stepped onto the open ground before the temple, an ancient yet authoritative voice rippled out from within the hall like waves across water. "Seventh Peak, Dugu Qingxiao." "Seventh Peak, Zhao Linglong." "Sixth Peak, Xu Ziyan." "Greetings to Elder Black Dragon." Upon hearing the voice, the three disciples respectfully announced their identities and bowed deeply. Xu Taiping, unfamiliar with this Elder Black Dragon, followed their lead and made an awkward bow toward the temple. Meanwhile, Lin Buyu, the quiet little girl, remained calm and composed, standing silently in place.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. "What business brings you to the hall today?" The ancient, commanding voice echoed once more. "Today, Junior Sister Ziyan from the Sixth Peak and I have each brought back a disciple chosen by the Spirit Bone Monument. We wish to have their Spirit Bones assessed by Elder Black Dragon before returning to our peaks," Qingxiao replied with utmost respect. "Enter." Shortly after, the voice echoed again, granting them entry. Inside the Hall "So this is¡­ Elder Black Dragon?" The moment Xu Taiping stepped inside, he was startled by the sight of Elder Black Dragon seated in the middle of the grand hall. The elder was an unusually burly man, sitting cross-legged on an enormous palm-leaf fan. Standing in front of him, Xu Taiping felt as though he were facing a small mountain. What was even more intimidating was the elder¡¯s appearance. While his body was clad in a luxurious purple robe and appeared human, his head resembled that of a fearsome water dragon, ferociously monstrous. "Don¡¯t be frightened," Zhao Linglong whispered, anticipating Xu Taiping¡¯s reaction. "Elder Black Dragon was originally a spirit dragon from the waters of Xunyang River. After 500 years of cultivation, he attained a human form. He later followed the ancestor of our Qingxuan Sect and became one of its Guardian Spirit Elders. Though he looks terrifying, he¡¯s actually very kind-hearted." "Got it, Senior Sister. I¡¯m not scared," Xu Taiping nodded. He was more surprised than afraid. "Ziyan, what a coincidence," a man''s voice suddenly interrupted. A man in white robes, accompanied by an extravagantly dressed young boy, stepped out from beside Elder Black Dragon. "Jin Hezhi?" Ziyan frowned the moment she saw him. "What are you doing here?" Qingxiao asked bluntly, his tone dripping with hostility. While Xu Taiping didn¡¯t know the reason, it was clear that both Ziyan and Qingxiao strongly disliked this man. "I happened to be hunting demons in Tianlang Kingdom recently and discovered that this young prince of Tianlang has a Spirit Bone. I brought him here to have it assessed by Elder Black Dragon," the man replied with a smirk. Throughout his explanation, Jin Hezhi didn¡¯t spare Qingxiao a glance, instead letting his gaze roam freely over Ziyan and Linglong. "It¡¯s been years, Linglong. I see you¡¯ve blossomed into quite the young lady," Jin Hezhi remarked, his smile carrying a hint of mischief as he stared at Zhao Linglong. "If you don¡¯t want those eyes anymore, I¡¯ll gladly pluck them out for you," Qingxiao stepped forward, blocking Jin Hezhi¡¯s line of sight. "Oh? I¡¯d like to see you try¡ª" "Enough!" Elder Black Dragon, who had remained silent with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, revealing a pair of eerie golden vertical pupils. "This is not the Seven Peaks or the First Peak. This is my Dragon Gate Hall," Elder Black Dragon declared coldly, his gaze sweeping over both Qingxiao and Jin Hezhi. "Yes, Elder." Both Qingxiao and Jin Hezhi immediately stepped back. "Bring the children forward for the Spirit Bone assessment," Elder Black Dragon commanded. As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a Dragon Pearl. The pearl was as large as Xu Taiping¡¯s head, its crystalline surface glowing like translucent amber. Azure ripples of light radiated outward from it, spreading like gentle waves. Simultaneously, Xu Taiping, Lin Buyu, and the elaborately dressed young prince stepped forward to stand before Elder Black Dragon. "You three, step forward one at a time and place your hand on this pearl," Elder Black Dragon said, his gaze briefly scanning the three children. "I¡¯ll go first!" Before the elder had even finished speaking, the young prince in his luxurious robes rushed forward and placed his hand on the Dragon Pearl. Elder Black Dragon frowned slightly but didn¡¯t comment further. "Close your eyes and concentrate. Do not open them until I tell you to," Elder Black Dragon ordered coldly. Golden light radiated from the elder¡¯s body, streams of energy channeling into the Dragon Pearl in his hand. The pearl in turn emitted a golden glow that enveloped the young prince. "Hummm¡­" Moments later, a faint hum resonated as the Dragon Pearl¡¯s golden light grew even stronger. Flames began to flicker and dance around it. "Fire-Element Gold Spirit Bone! A Fire-Element Gold Spirit Bone, hahahaha!" Jin Hezhi burst into laughter, standing beside Qingxiao. Though Elder Black Dragon frowned at Jin Hezhi¡¯s disruptive joy, he didn¡¯t say anything. After all, having a disciple with a Fire-Element Gold Spirit Bone join Qingxuan Sect was indeed a rare and joyous occasion. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 7: Testing Spiritual Bones, Xu Taiping Fails to Join the Seven Peaks "Senior Brother Jin, I told you long ago¡ªI''m no ordinary spiritual bone." The finely dressed young man opened his eyes, and upon seeing the changes in the dragon orb, his face filled with pride once again. Xu Taiping, however, remained perfectly calm. There was no envy, no jealousy. Lin Buyu, standing nearby, shared the same composed demeanor. "Young one, what is your name?" Elder Black Dragon retracted the dragon orb and asked the proud, finely dressed youth. "I am Ye Xuan, the Ninth Prince of Tianlang Kingdom. From a young age, I..." "That''s enough. Step aside now," Elder Black Dragon interrupted with a wave of his hand, clearly displeased with Ye Xuan¡¯s arrogance. Although Ye Xuan seemed somewhat unhappy, he dared not argue. With a reluctant expression, he moved to stand beside Ling Hezhi. "You, step forward." Elder Black Dragon pointed at Lin Buyu. Lin Buyu nodded and took small steps forward. She stretched out her petite hand and placed it on the dragon orb. Seeing this, Zi Yan of the Sixth Peak felt her heart tighten. While the Spiritual Bone Monument rarely made mistakes, there was always a slim chance it could. The difference between a Golden Spiritual Bone and a Profound Spiritual Bone was monumental. Furthermore, there were classifications even among spiritual bones. It was impossible for Zi Yan not to feel anxious. "Buzz..." A faint hum resonated once again as the dragon orb in Elder Black Dragon¡¯s hand began to emit a golden glow. However, this time, the flames surrounding the orb transformed into crackling electric sparks. "A Lightning Variant Bone¡ªand at the Gold Spiritual Bone level!" Even the usually composed Zi Yan couldn¡¯t suppress a gasp of astonishment when she saw this. "Congratulations, Junior Sister Zi Yan! The Lightning Variant Bone at the Gold Spiritual Bone level¡ªit¡¯s been centuries since we¡¯ve seen one in Qingxuan Sect." "Zi Yan Senior Sister, the Sixth Peak has really struck gold this time. You¡¯ll have to treat us at Drunken Immortal Pavilion in celebration!" Qing Xiao and Zhao Linglong stepped forward to congratulate her. Even Ling Hezhi reluctantly offered his congratulations despite his unwillingness. "Congratulations, Junior Sister Zi Yan." At that moment, Elder Black Dragon, who rarely smiled, suddenly burst into hearty laughter. His voice reverberated through the grand hall, causing it to tremble. "One lightning, one fire, and both are Gold Spiritual Bones¡ªQingxuan Sect has hope for revival!" Elder Black Dragon exclaimed with joy. Meanwhile, Xu Taiping observed everything with a calm heart. His expression remained serene. As Lin Buyu walked past him, he quietly muttered, "Congratulations, Sister Buyu." Lin Buyu turned her head to glance at Xu Taiping, nodding slightly. "Thank you," she replied. The two of them were the kind of people who remained indifferent to fame and disgrace, though Lin Buyu seemed even more aloof. "Young one, it¡¯s your turn," Elder Black Dragon¡¯s voice echoed again.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Xu Taiping looked up at Elder Black Dragon, whose vertical pupils were filled with anticipation as they locked onto him. Even Qing Xiao and Zhao Linglong seemed suddenly tense, their gazes fixed on Xu Taiping. "Yes," Xu Taiping replied calmly. After briefly meeting Elder Black Dragon¡¯s gaze, he stepped forward. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Xu Taiping placed his hand on the dragon orb and began to concentrate. "Buzz..." A warm force slowly enveloped Xu Taiping as he closed his eyes. Before long, he felt the dragon orb vibrating beneath his hand. Opening his eyes, Xu Taiping saw that the previously clear dragon orb had turned an ashen white, resembling the color of decayed animal bones left abandoned by the roadside. "As I expected," Xu Taiping murmured to himself. His suspicions were correct. The pill his grandfather had given him had allowed his name to appear on the immortal registry but had not granted him a true spiritual bone. "White... White Bone?" Seeing the bone-white dragon orb, Senior Sister Zhao Linglong¡¯s eyes filled with disbelief. Although Qing Xiao said nothing, his expression revealed no less shock than Zhao Linglong¡¯s. "The Spiritual Bone Monument actually selected a White Bone. Your Seventh Peak¡¯s luck is as terrible as ever," Ling Hezhi of the First Peak suddenly said with a mocking laugh. "You¡ª" "Junior Sister," Qing Xiao interrupted Zhao Linglong as she prepared to retort. "Elder Black Dragon, could you test him again?" Qing Xiao requested. "Qing Xiao, you should know better. This dragon orb does not make mistakes," Elder Black Dragon replied with an air of authority, retracting the orb as he spoke. Qing Xiao let out a long sigh, unable to refute the elder¡¯s words. "Zi Yan, Hezhi, take your recruits up the mountain. There¡¯s nothing more for you here," Elder Black Dragon said after glancing at Zi Yan and Ling Hezhi. "Elder Black Dragon, Qing Xiao, Zhao Linglong, farewell." Ling Hezhi smirked, taking Ye Xuan by the hand as they turned to leave. "Ling Senior Brother, our Qingxuan Sect won¡¯t actually accept White Bones, will we?" "A waste like that? At least the First Peak won¡¯t take him." Their mocking voices drifted back from the doorway, making Qing Xiao and Zhao Linglong seethe with rage but leaving them powerless to respond. Once the others had left, Elder Black Dragon reopened his eyes. "White Bones are unqualified to become disciples of the Seven Peaks. You have two options: remain at the foot of the mountain as an unregistered disciple for three years and participate in the next selection, or leave immediately." His gaze fell upon Xu Taiping, who stood silently in place, waiting for a decision. "Taiping..." "Let him decide for himself," Elder Black Dragon cut off Zhao Linglong before she could speak further. Recognizing the elder¡¯s authority, Zhao Linglong fell silent. "If I pass the Seven Peaks selection in the future, can I join the Seventh Peak and become a disciple of Senior Sister Linglong and Senior Brother Qing Xiao?" Xu Taiping asked, turning toward Qing Xiao and Zhao Linglong instead of answering the elder directly. "I can promise you this on behalf of my master," Qing Xiao replied solemnly. "If you pass the selection, the doors of the Seventh Peak will be open to you." "Taiping, passing the selection would be great, but it¡¯s incredibly difficult," Zhao Linglong said worriedly, shaking her head. Xu Taiping smiled at her, then turned back to Elder Black Dragon. "Elder, I choose to remain at the foot of the mountain for three years." Having made a promise to his grandfather, Xu Taiping would not go back on his word. Elder Black Dragon nodded indifferently upon hearing Xu Taiping¡¯s decision. He handed him a jade slip and said, "Take this slip. Someone will guide you to your accommodations and inform you of what you need to know." "Thank you, Elder," Xu Taiping said, accepting the jade slip. "Elder Black Dragon, since I brought him here, may I escort him down the mountain?" Zhao Linglong asked. After a brief pause, Elder Black Dragon nodded. "Very well. Just this once. Remember, you cannot linger for more than two hours, nor involve yourself in matters below the mountain." A moment later, outside the Dragon Gate Hall, Qing Xiao prepared to leave. "Junior Sister, I must report this to our master. Take care of Taiping and ensure he¡¯s settled in properly. It will be difficult to visit him again later," Qing Xiao instructed. "Don¡¯t worry, Senior Brother. I¡¯ll handle it," Zhao Linglong assured him. As Qing Xiao departed, Zhao Linglong smiled at Xu Taiping. "Let¡¯s go, Taiping. First, we¡¯ll register you, and then I¡¯ll help you find the perfect place to both earn merit and cultivate." "Earn merit?" Xu Taiping asked, puzzled. "Yes," Zhao Linglong explained. "Outer disciples must earn merit every year to remain in the Qingxuan Sect. Without sufficient merit, they¡¯re expelled." When Xu Taiping asked how merit was earned, Zhao Linglong explained that all outer disciples were allotted resources¡ªfields, herb gardens, or livestock¡ªand could accumulate merit by cultivating or raising them for sale. "Thank you, Sister Linglong. I understand now," Xu Taiping said, nodding. "Come on, let¡¯s get you registered at Westwind Pavilion and start making plans for your cultivation," Zhao Linglong said, smiling as she took him by the hand. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 8: Green Bamboo Residence, Xu Taiping Bids Farewell to Linglong Yunlu Mountain, Westwind Pavilion. This was one of the locations in Qingxuan Sect responsible for handling outer disciples'' affairs. "Fairy Linglong, the registration for this young man has been completed. Here is a copper mirror and a jade slip for passing on techniques. Please take them." Inside Westwind Pavilion, an elderly man with graying hair handed a wooden box containing the copper mirror and a white jade slip to Linglong. "Taiping, keep this copper mirror safe. It serves not only as proof of your status as a registered outer disciple but also as a tool for listening to the lectures of the sect elders in the future," Linglong explained as she handed the items to Xu Taiping. "That¡¯s correct," the elderly steward of Westwind Pavilion added with a smile. "Outer disciples do not receive the direct guidance of teachers as inner disciples do. Instead, on the first and fifteenth of each month, they can use this copper mirror to watch the lectures of the sect elders." "And what about this jade slip?" Xu Taiping asked as he picked it up. "That¡¯s a jade slip for passing down techniques. It contains a basic Qi Refining cultivation method. To use it, simply calm your mind and press it to your forehead," the elderly man explained. "Yes, and the jade slip also includes instructions on how to use the copper mirror, as well as the rules and guidelines you need to follow as a disciple. Once you¡¯ve settled in, you can go through it carefully," Linglong added. "Understood," Xu Taiping nodded. "Pavilion Master Liu, do you have any herb gardens under your supervision that still need caretakers?" Linglong asked, turning to the Pavilion Master. "Well..." Pavilion Master Liu hesitated, his expression stiffening. In the outer sect, herb gardens were undoubtedly the easiest way for disciples to earn merits. The work was light, and the rewards were plentiful. "Pavilion Master Liu, this child is distantly related to me. If you can help with this matter, consider it a favor. The Seventh Peak¡¯s Zhao Linglong owes you one," Linglong said sincerely. Hearing this, Pavilion Master Liu¡¯s eyes lit up immediately. He was well aware of Linglong¡¯s status¡ªshe was the direct disciple of the Seventh Peak¡¯s master and had a bright future ahead of her. A favor from her was worth a great deal. "Since Fairy Linglong has asked, I¡¯ll naturally help," Pavilion Master Liu said after a moment of thought, nodding his head. Hearing his response, Linglong breathed a sigh of relief. Standing nearby, Xu Taiping cast a grateful glance toward Linglong, silently noting this debt of gratitude in his heart. "To be honest, Fairy Linglong, there is indeed an herb garden under our jurisdiction that currently lacks a caretaker. It¡¯s located in Yunqi Valley, about three thousand li from Westwind Pavilion. The place is called Green Bamboo Residence. It includes half an acre of spiritual herb garden and a small courtyard suitable for living and cultivation," Pavilion Master Liu explained as he pointed to a map on the wall.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Half an hour later. At the entrance of Westwind Pavilion. "Pavilion Master, wasn¡¯t there a report about evil spirits haunting Green Bamboo Residence? If that child ends up in trouble, how will we explain this to Fairy Linglong?" one of the Westwind Pavilion stewards asked worriedly, watching as Linglong and Xu Taiping flew away on a spiritual crane. "Those were just baseless rumors. A few disciples from the Fourth Peak investigated recently and found nothing unusual," Pavilion Master Liu replied dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Besides, even if something does happen, he¡¯s just an outer disciple from beyond the mountain. If he dies, so be it. Each year, only half of the new outer disciples who enter the mountain manage to survive. If I had to take responsibility for every single death, how could I continue being Pavilion Master?" he added, shooting the steward an annoyed glance. "You¡¯re right, Pavilion Master. I was overthinking it," the steward said, retreating with an embarrassed expression. Another half-hour later. Green Bamboo Residence. "Fairy Linglong, we¡¯ve arrived at Green Bamboo Residence," said the spiritual crane, speaking in human language. With a gentle shake of its wings, it landed Linglong and Xu Taiping steadily on the ground. Once Xu Taiping found his footing, he looked ahead. Nestled within a verdant bamboo grove was a small courtyard with mud walls. The ground was littered with fallen bamboo leaves, nearly covering the threshold. "Little Taiping, from now on, you¡¯ll have to rely on yourself," Linglong said, glancing at the sky. She seemed reluctant to leave. The time she had agreed upon with Elder Black Dragon was almost up. "Thank you, Sister Linglong. I¡¯ll work hard in my cultivation and strive to reach the Seventh Peak as soon as possible," Xu Taiping said, his youthful face showing a determination beyond his years. "I believe in you," Linglong said with a smile, patting Xu Taiping¡¯s cheek. She then pulled a bone flute and a coin pouch from her sleeve and handed them to him. "This bone flute can summon nearby spiritual birds. The coin pouch contains thirty merit coins provided by Westwind Pavilion for every new disciple. If you urgently need anything, you can use one merit coin to have a spiritual bird fetch it for you. But unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary, don¡¯t waste these coins. Your herb garden is likely abandoned, so you¡¯ll need these coins to buy seeds and food supplies." "I won¡¯t waste them, Sister Linglong," Xu Taiping promised, carefully accepting the bone flute and coin pouch. "Little Taiping, take care. Until we meet again," Linglong said with a smile as she mounted the spiritual crane. "Goodbye, Sister Linglong," Xu Taiping replied, waving at her. "Whoosh!" With a powerful flap of its wings, the spiritual crane stirred up a gust of wind and soared into the sky. "Little Taiping, I hope we meet again," Linglong murmured softly as she watched his figure grow smaller and smaller from above. Having grown up in Qingxuan Sect, she knew all too well that outer disciples with White Bones rarely succeeded in joining the Seven Peaks. Most failed to pass the selection within the three-year deadline. "Creak..." After Linglong left, Xu Taiping pushed open the courtyard gate and strode inside, heading straight to the herb garden in the backyard. "Just as Sister Linglong said¡ªthe herb garden is indeed abandoned," Xu Taiping muttered, looking at the overgrown, desolate patch of land. But he hadn¡¯t come to the garden just to confirm this fact. Carefully, Xu Taiping took out a wooden box from his robe. From the box, he retrieved a small porcelain bottle and poured out a single yellow bean-like seed. Yes, it was the seed his grandfather had left him. "Grandfather said that if I plant this seed in an immortal mountain, I¡¯ll gain a great fortune," Xu Taiping murmured as he crouched down and dug a small hole in the soil with his hands. He gently placed the yellow seed into the hole. "Since the pill he gave me was real, this seed must be real too," Xu Taiping said to himself as he carefully covered the seed with soil, packing it gently with his hands. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 9: Planting Soybeans, Finding Opportunity in the Pods "Should I water it too?" "Snap!" Just as Xu Taiping was about to fetch some water, the clod of soil he had used to cover the soybean was suddenly pushed aside by something. "Huh? It¡­ sprouted? So fast!" Curious, he crouched down and was utterly stunned to find that the soybean he had just planted in the ground had already begun to sprout. Not only that, but as soon as the sprout broke through the soil, it began to grow visibly before his very eyes. The stem and leaves quickly developed, and it bloomed and bore fruit in mere moments. In the blink of an eye, a fully grown soybean plant stood before Xu Taiping. The plant was about four feet tall, its leaves a lush, vibrant green that seemed to drip with life. It bore three pods that glowed like translucent jade, their extraordinary nature apparent to anyone who saw them. "Is this the opportunity Grandpa spoke of?" Xu Taiping muttered in astonishment, staring at the three pods on the vine. He reached out, intending to pick the three pods. "Little one." Just as Xu Taiping reached for the pods, a melodious voice suddenly emerged from the plant. Startled, Xu Taiping watched as a milky-white light, like mist, emanated from the stem and leaves of the plant. The light gathered before him, eventually taking the shape of a breathtakingly beautiful celestial maiden. "Don¡¯t be so hasty to pluck them," the maiden said with a sweet smile, looking at the now-dumbstruck Xu Taiping. "Y-you¡­ Are you a demon? Or¡­ or a celestial being?" Xu Taiping stammered, trying to steady his nerves, though his voice still wavered. "A celestial being? Perhaps I once was," the maiden mused, her smile tinged with bitterness. "But now, I am merely a remnant soul clinging to life, parasitically bound to this soybean." She paused before continuing with a faint, self-deprecating smile. "Don¡¯t be afraid, little one. I mean you no harm, nor am I capable of harming you. I¡¯ve appeared only to propose a deal." "A deal?" Xu Taiping asked, puzzled. "My name is Chu Lingyue," the maiden began. "Six hundred years ago, I was betrayed by an enemy. My physical body was sealed, and my soul was shattered. Only this fragment of my spirit managed to escape, using this soybean as a vessel. Over countless miles, the bean eventually ended up in your grandfather¡¯s hands, and he passed it down to you. Today, you planted it in this sacred soil, allowing it to be reborn¡ªand granting me the chance to manifest once more." Her tone was sincere, and Xu Taiping listened intently. "If I hadn¡¯t planted it, would you have stayed trapped inside the bean forever?" Xu Taiping asked curiously.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Though mature for his age, Xu Taiping was still a boy of ten or so, and his curiosity outweighed his fear. "Yes," Chu Lingyue nodded. "And not just trapped¡ªin another year or two, when the energy within the bean is completely depleted, even this fragment of my soul would dissipate into nothingness." She didn¡¯t hide the truth from Xu Taiping. "So what¡¯s the deal you mentioned?" Xu Taiping asked, his curiosity giving way to focus. "Out of the three pods on this plant, could you take just one and leave the other two for me?" Chu Lingyue asked earnestly, her expression serious. "According to what you said, only I can harvest these pods, correct?" Xu Taiping blinked his wide eyes at Chu Lingyue. Her bright eyes widened slightly in surprise before she let out a bitter laugh. "With such a clever grandson, your grandfather, Xu Zhian, must be at peace in the afterlife." She nodded and confirmed, "That¡¯s right. Only the one who planted the seed can harvest its fruit." "I see," Xu Taiping nodded, understanding. "Since this is a trade, what are you offering in exchange?" "If you agree to take just one pod, I will share with you some secrets about this bean, as well as provide you with a formula for a medicinal elixir that aids in cultivating bone-deep strength." Her tone was sincere, and her gaze no longer regarded Xu Taiping as just a child. Hearing that she had a recipe to aid in cultivation, a glimmer of joy flashed in Xu Taiping¡¯s eyes. "How do I know I can trust you?" he asked cautiously. "I¡¯ll give you the formula first," Chu Lingyue replied openly. "You can test it yourself. If it works, then we can finalize the trade." Xu Taiping stared unblinkingly into Chu Lingyue¡¯s eyes. After a long moment, he nodded. "No need to test it. I¡¯ll agree to the trade." "What? You¡¯re not afraid I¡¯ll deceive you?" Chu Lingyue seemed surprised by his quick agreement. "Grandpa said that planting the bean would bring me an opportunity. Now it seems clear to me that you are that opportunity," Xu Taiping answered earnestly. Chu Lingyue was briefly taken aback before covering her mouth with a laugh. "I didn¡¯t expect you to be so articulate. In that respect, you¡¯re much better than your grandfather." "You knew my grandfather well?" Xu Taiping asked, his curiosity piqued. From her words, he could sense that she must have had interactions with his grandfather in the past. "I don¡¯t have much time to remain outside. Let me first tell you about this bean," Chu Lingyue said, steering the conversation away from the topic. "Alright," Xu Taiping nodded, letting the previous question drop. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his posture attentive as he prepared to listen. "The soybean your grandfather gave you is known as the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit. It¡¯s an extraordinarily mystical artifact. When planted in a sacred mountain, it absorbs the mountain¡¯s spiritual energy and uses it as a foundation to nurture unique treasures within its fruit." Chu Lingyue explained directly, without withholding anything. "So you¡¯re saying that planting it in different sacred mountains will yield different results?" Xu Taiping asked, astonished. "Exactly," Chu Lingyue nodded approvingly. "Every sacred mountain contains distinct spiritual energies, just as no two humans are identical. Because of this, the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit produces entirely unique treasures depending on the mountain in which it¡¯s planted." She elaborated further. "A tiny soybean with such extraordinary properties¡ªno wonder Grandpa called this a great opportunity," Xu Taiping said, his face full of amazement. Initially, he had assumed the bean was merely a type of rare fruit or treasure. He never imagined it was a divine artifact capable of nurturing treasures. "Now, pick one pod and open it," Chu Lingyue instructed, pointing to the three pods on the plant. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 10: Acquiring the Spirit Crystal, Mysteries Within the D矛zè„¿ng Fruit "Alright." Following Lingyue Immortal''s instructions, Xu Taiping carefully plucked one of the pods from the soybean vine and gently peeled it open. "Immortal, what is this?" Inside the pod, instead of beans, Xu Taiping saw small crystal-clear beads shimmering with a radiant glow. "These are Spirit Crystals, condensed from the spiritual energy of this land," Lingyue Immortal explained confidently. "In the future, when you cultivate, you can place one in your mouth. Coupled with the medicinal formula I¡¯m about to give you, even white bones can rapidly be refined and strengthened." "Really?" Xu Taiping blurted out in disbelief. "Refining white bones for cultivation isn¡¯t particularly difficult," Lingyue Immortal replied nonchalantly, nodding. "It¡¯s just that on this continent, much of the knowledge and legacy of cultivation has been lost, leading to situations where people believe white bone refinement is impossible." She continued, "Among the treasures nurtured by the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit, Spirit Crystals are actually the lowest grade. This land is exceedingly barren, so it can only produce treasures of this quality. Even if you allowed the plant to grow longer, it would merely improve the grade of the Spirit Crystals slightly¡ªit wouldn¡¯t be able to produce the divine artifacts with supernatural abilities that true treasures are capable of." Hearing this, Xu Taiping nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "If I were to plant this seed on the Seven Peaks, would it then be able to nurture the divine artifacts you mentioned?" "You¡¯re quick-witted. If I weren¡¯t just a remnant soul, I¡¯d take you as my disciple," Lingyue Immortal said, clearly growing more fond of Xu Taiping with every passing moment. Embarrassed by the compliment, Xu Taiping scratched his head awkwardly. "However," Lingyue Immortal continued, "to make the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit produce more powerful treasures, planting it on the Seven Peaks isn¡¯t enough. There¡¯s one more thing you and I must do." "What is it?" Xu Taiping asked eagerly. "First, pluck the remaining two pods from the vine and peel them open," Lingyue Immortal instructed, pointing to the two remaining emerald-green pods on the plant. "Alright." Having chosen to trust Lingyue Immortal, Xu Taiping acted decisively. Without hesitation, he plucked the two pods and carefully peeled them open. As expected, the pods also contained beads resembling tiny yellow beans¡ªSpirit Crystals, just as Lingyue Immortal had mentioned. "Immortal." Xu Taiping carefully pocketed the Spirit Crystals that belonged to him before holding out the remaining ones in his palm, offering them to Lingyue Immortal¡¯s ethereal form. He was true to his word: he didn¡¯t take a single extra bead, nor did he shortchange himself by leaving any behind.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. This integrity earned Lingyue Immortal¡¯s silent approval. She thought to herself, "So young, yet so meticulous and decisive. He acts with both prudence and boldness¡ªa rare talent indeed." However, she didn¡¯t voice these thoughts to Xu Taiping. Instead, she gave a slight nod and opened her mouth, inhaling the Spirit Crystals from Xu Taiping¡¯s palm. "Hiss..." With a soft inhaling sound, the seven or eight Spirit Crystals dissolved into streams of purple energy, flowing like rivers into Lingyue Immortal¡¯s illusory form. After absorbing the essence of the Spirit Crystals, Lingyue Immortal¡¯s figure became noticeably more defined, no longer swaying like a mist in the wind. "Thank you, young friend Taiping, for extending my life." Lingyue Immortal¡¯s gratitude was sincere. "You don¡¯t need to thank me, Immortal. This was part of our deal." Xu Taiping remained calm and composed, his expression steady as he shook his head. "Well said," Lingyue Immortal acknowledged with a nod. She then gestured toward the soybean vine below. "Now, take another look at the plant." At her prompting, Xu Taiping looked down. He was surprised to find that the once-vibrant soybean plant had completely withered, reduced to a dried-up husk resembling a wild weed. "Immortal, the plant has withered. How are we supposed to harvest seeds from it now?" Xu Taiping asked, startled but not panicked. He trusted that Lingyue Immortal would have a solution. "Good question," Lingyue Immortal said with a smile. "This is the second task I mentioned earlier." Hearing this, Xu Taiping immediately straightened his posture, his eyes serious and focused as he awaited her explanation. Lingyue Immortal wasted no time, diving straight into her explanation: "Each time the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit bears fruit, the plant will wither once all its pods are harvested. Even if you wait until the following year, it won¡¯t bear fruit again." "To make it bear fruit again, you need to use the Fire Without Roots to burn the withered plant to ashes. Only when it is completely reduced to ash will new seeds emerge from the remains. We call this process ¡®Seed Burning.¡¯" Her explanation left Xu Taiping astonished once more. However, his curiosity quickly outweighed his surprise. Of all the things Lingyue Immortal mentioned, what intrigued him most was the Fire Without Roots. "Immortal, what is the Fire Without Roots?" Xu Taiping asked. It seemed Lingyue Immortal had been waiting for this question. She smiled warmly before explaining: "The Fire Without Roots is exactly what its name suggests¡ªa flame that doesn¡¯t rely on external fuel to burn." "There are two types of Fire Without Roots. One occurs naturally and is known as Spirit Fire. Such divine flames are rare and nearly impossible to obtain. The other type is called True Fire, which cultivators refine using their own qi and techniques." "True Fire is often stored within magical artifacts or talismans." Lingyue Immortal had no need to go into such detail if her goal were merely to explain the fire. Clearly, she intended to guide Xu Taiping toward the path of cultivation. "Thank you for your guidance, Immortal," Xu Taiping said, bowing respectfully. "So, Immortal, are you suggesting I search for a talisman containing True Fire?" he asked, seeking confirmation. "Smart," Lingyue Immortal replied, nodding in approval. "True Fire Talismans aren¡¯t particularly rare, and the first ¡®Seed Burning¡¯ for the D¨¬z¨¤ng Fruit doesn¡¯t require a high-grade True Fire. However, given your current situation, you likely don¡¯t have the means to purchase one. You¡¯ll either need to master cultivation and refine True Fire yourself in the future, or diligently manage this medicinal garden and earn enough merits to exchange for one. There¡¯s no need to rush." "Don¡¯t worry, Immortal. I¡¯ll work hard to cultivate and take care of this small medicinal garden. I¡¯ll strive to obtain the True Fire needed for Seed Burning as soon as possible," Xu Taiping said earnestly, nodding with determination. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to +10 Advance chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 11: Gift of the Prescription, Xu Taiping Obtains the Bone-Cleansing Decoction "Very well." Fairy Lingyue smiled faintly at Xu Taiping. For some reason, even though the boy in front of her was just a teenager, there was a steadfastness in his heart that far surpassed many adults. He reminded her of someone she had known long ago. "Bring your head closer." Fairy Lingyue suddenly beckoned Xu Taiping with her finger. "Is there something else the fairy wishes to instruct me on?" Xu Taiping asked, stepping forward with a puzzled expression. "Slap." At that moment, Fairy Lingyue extended a single finger and lightly tapped Xu Taiping¡¯s forehead. Before Xu Taiping could react, he felt a refreshing coolness seep into his mind. Almost instantly, a white piece of paper materialized in his thoughts, containing both a prescription and detailed instructions for brewing the medicine. "Bone-Cleansing Decoction? This really is a prescription for cultivation through the refinement of bones!" After reading the effects described in the prescription, Xu Taiping couldn¡¯t help but show joy on his face. "Don¡¯t get too excited too soon, little one," Fairy Lingyue said, dousing his enthusiasm with a dose of reality. "This Bone-Cleansing Decoction was originally meant to be used in conjunction with another medicinal recipe. However, the ingredients for the other prescription are far too rare. Giving it to you would be meaningless. As such, you¡¯ll face some challenges when using the Bone-Cleansing Decoction on its own." "What kind of challenges?" Xu Taiping asked immediately. "Without the second prescription, your entire body will feel excruciating pain during the Bone-Cleansing Decoction bath. It will be as if your flesh is being scraped from your bones." Fairy Lingyue¡¯s expression grew serious as she spoke. Xu Taiping thought deeply for a moment before shaking his head resolutely. "I¡¯m not afraid of pain." Fairy Lingyue wanted to say, You¡¯ve never experienced such agony before, or you wouldn¡¯t answer so confidently. But for some inexplicable reason, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to voice her doubts. She had a strange belief that the young man in front of her would never go back on his word. "Since I¡¯m in a good mood today, aside from the prescription I promised, I¡¯ll give you something else as well," Fairy Lingyue said suddenly with a smile. She raised her hand and made a light grasping motion. In an instant, streams of white light converged in her palm like flowing ribbons. When she opened her hand again, three radiant, crystalline beads had formed. As the three beads solidified, Xu Taiping noticed that Fairy Lingyue¡¯s figure became more transparent, and her aura weakened visibly. "Whoosh!" Before Xu Taiping could ask what the beads were, Fairy Lingyue abruptly raised her hand and flung the three beads into different parts of the medicine garden.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Afterward, she began softly chanting an incantation. Pale green light began to emanate from the three beads, converging into a mysterious rune-like formation that enveloped the entire medicine garden. "This is a Small Three-Talents Spirit Gathering Formation. While it¡¯s not as potent as a true Spirit Gathering Formation, it will triple the yield of this half-acre medicine garden for the next year." Having completed the process, Fairy Lingyue explained this to Xu Taiping, though her tone was tinged with weariness. "Triple the yield?" Xu Taiping¡¯s face lit up with joy when he heard this. He quickly pulled four yellow beans out of his pocket¡ªspiritual crystals¡ªand offered them to Fairy Lingyue. "Fairy, please accept these four beans. My grandfather always said that fairness is key in any exchange; otherwise, it won¡¯t endure." Hearing this, Fairy Lingyue couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. But soon, her expression turned serious, and she replied, "You¡¯re not wrong. Fairness is indeed essential in all dealings. However, your cultivation will require these spiritual crystals. Think of it as me lending them to you for now. Once the Earth Fruit bears treasures again, you can repay me then." Xu Taiping thought about her words carefully before nodding. "When I repay you next time, I¡¯ll add interest. I¡¯ll return five spiritual crystals instead of four." "Good, good. Interest should be included." Fairy Lingyue covered her mouth and laughed again. At that moment, her figure became even more transparent, and her aura weakened further. "Little Taiping, this remnant soul of mine is too frail. I¡¯ll need to rest and recover inside the Earth Fruit for at least a month or two before I can come out again. During this time, you¡¯ll need to manage the medicine garden and focus on your cultivation. Don¡¯t drag me down¡ªI still need the Earth Fruit to restore my true form." Fairy Lingyue¡¯s tone carried a hint of jest as she gave her instructions. "Don¡¯t worry, Fairy. Cultivation is my own responsibility. I won¡¯t drag you down." Xu Taiping¡¯s eyes were filled with determination. "Well said. Cultivation is indeed a personal journey. Others may help you temporarily, but they can¡¯t support you forever. In the end, you must rely on yourself." Fairy Lingyue nodded approvingly. Then, she pointed to a withered bean plant in the garden. "Taiping, go inside and see if you can find a shovel. Dig up this plant and bury it in the center of the medicine garden." "Understood." Xu Taiping nodded without hesitation and turned to head inside the house. As he turned away, Fairy Lingyue¡¯s previously gentle expression turned sharp. She abruptly spun around to face the courtyard wall. Following her gaze, one could see a pair of ghostly blue eyes peeking into the courtyard with ill intent. The moment the intruder realized Fairy Lingyue had spotted them, they tumbled off the wall in a panic. "Whoosh!" In the next moment, Fairy Lingyue¡¯s ethereal form transformed into a gust of wind, rushing out of the courtyard. She struck the figure who had fallen from the wall with a single blow, sending them flying. "Mercy, Immortal! Mercy! I¡¯m just a lowly ghost servant, forced into this by Lord Tiger of Green Peak Gorge!" Before Fairy Lingyue could speak, the rotting corpse-like figure with exposed white bones prostrated itself before her, begging for mercy. "A lackey for a tiger demon? The phrase ''aiding the wicked'' was coined for scum like you." Fairy Lingyue sneered and struck the ghost servant again with an air-palm, sending it flying. Her demeanor now was entirely different from the gentle one she had shown Xu Taiping. But just as she was about to deliver a killing blow, she hesitated. "Wait. My strength hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet. I might not be able to defeat that tiger demon. Killing this ghost servant now could bring trouble later. It¡¯d be better to cast a Soul-Bewildering Curse on it, making it forget everything it saw here. When Taiping has grown stronger in his cultivation, he can deal with the tiger demon himself. That would make for excellent training." Muttering softly to herself, Fairy Lingyue withdrew her hand. A small smile appeared on her face as she formulated her plan. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to +10 Advance chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy Chapter 12: Opening the Bronze Mirror, Xu Taiping Hears the Teachings for the First Time "Slap!" Fairy Lingyue extended a finger and lightly tapped the ghost servant¡¯s forehead with a glow of milky white light. A rune was gently inscribed on its brow. When the rune merged into its forehead, the ghost servant¡¯s expression became blank. It stood up stiffly, seemingly unaware of Fairy Lingyue¡¯s presence, and muttered to itself as it turned to leave: "Why did I fall here? Never mind, I¡¯d better return and report to my master. When I see the king, I¡¯ll tell him there¡¯s now a novice cultivator guarding the medicine garden at Green Bamboo Residence. We can wait until the spiritual herbs in his garden mature, then come back to take his life and claim all the herbs. By then, the king might even reward me with a fresh, tender liver. Exquisite! Marvelous!" At the end, the ghost servant swayed its head in satisfaction, clearly very pleased with its own plan. "Sigh¡­ letting a tiger return to the mountain is always risky, but I hope little Taiping will one day understand my good intentions as his teacher," Fairy Lingyue murmured as she watched the ghost servant shuffle away. Although she had yet to formally accept Xu Taiping as her disciple, and didn¡¯t even know if he was willing to take her as his master, it didn¡¯t stop Fairy Lingyue from mentally placing herself in the role of a mentor. Of course, she would never admit that her real motivation was the unbearable loneliness she had endured, trapped within the Earth Fruit for centuries. She simply wanted to amuse herself. The Next Day Xu Taiping woke up early. First, he cleared the weeds in the medicine garden. Afterwards, he added a few more shovels of soil to the spot where the Earth Fruit was buried, knowing that the fruit was his greatest asset for survival in the cultivation world. He couldn¡¯t risk anyone stealing it. Since Fairy Lingyue had returned to the Earth Fruit the previous night and hadn¡¯t appeared since, Xu Taiping figured she might truly need a month or two to recover before reemerging. After tidying the medicine garden, he spent the entire morning cleaning up the three thatched cottages of Green Bamboo Residence. The cottages were extremely simple. One was a bedroom with only a bed, another was a living room, and the third was a kitchen. There was also an outhouse at the back, near the medicine garden. While cleaning the kitchen, Xu Taiping stumbled upon two curious items: a water jar that never ran dry, and a rice jar that produced a full jar of rice whenever a single merit coin was placed inside. With water, rice, and a piece of dried fish hanging on the wall, Xu Taiping managed to cook his first meal since arriving at Qingxuan Sect. After eating, he made up his bed with the sheets and blanket left in the cabinet, then sat cross-legged on the bed, taking out the jade slip and bronze mirror given to him by the West Wind Pavilion. "Fairy Lingyue transmitted the Bone-Cleansing Decoction prescription to me with a single touch to my forehead. This jade slip likely works the same way¡ªpressed against my brow to transfer its contents. That must be the common method for imparting knowledge in the cultivation world," Xu Taiping muttered to himself.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. According to the master of West Wind Pavilion, the jade slip contained a basic Qi-refining technique of Qingxuan Sect, as well as the sect¡¯s rules and instructions for using the bronze mirror. He pressed the jade slip to his forehead. "Phew¡­ The information in this jade slip is far more than what Fairy Lingyue transmitted with her touch," Xu Taiping murmured as he felt a torrent of text and knowledge streaming into his mind. It overwhelmed him so much that he grew dizzy and nearly fell off the bed. Fortunately, the flow of information ceased before long, allowing him to catch his breath. However, he quickly realized another issue: The information in his mind wasn¡¯t immediately digestible. It was like a library of books placed on a shelf¡ªhe had to actively read and comprehend the contents to make use of them. "So, the jade slip¡¯s method of transmitting knowledge is different from Fairy Lingyue¡¯s method. She directly imparted practical knowledge to me, while the jade slip just dumped all the information into my head," Xu Taiping reflected. "But this may also be because of the difference in the content being transmitted," he reasoned, dismissing the matter to focus on reading the material in his mind. Three Days Later After nearly three days of effort, Xu Taiping finally finished reviewing all the information contained in the jade slip. As the West Wind Pavilion master had said, the jade slip contained three main items: During this time, he also worked on tilling the soil of the medicine garden. "According to the jade slip, after tilling the soil, I should collect animal manure and fallen branches to make compost and enrich the land," Xu Taiping mused. "But there¡¯s no rush for that. Today is the first day of the lunar month, the day Elder Ziyang gives his lecture. He¡¯ll be discussing the ''Remnant Sunset Sutra'' and foundational cultivation techniques. This only happens once every three months, so I can¡¯t afford to miss it." "After the lecture, I can use the bronze mirror to choose which seeds to buy. That way, I won¡¯t waste the merit coin." While eating in the living room, Xu Taiping planned out his day. He tore a page off the almanac hanging on the wall, exposing the date: the first day of the lunar month. Written in bright red ink were favorable and unfavorable activities: "Auspicious for learning, inauspicious for digging." The almanac was one of the items he had purchased yesterday through a spirit bird delivery. It had cost him six merit coins, and he still felt a bit pained by the expense. After the Meal Xu Taiping returned to the bedroom, carefully placing the bronze mirror on a battered old table. On the table, he also placed a half-bowl of clean water, a few flower petals, and a Qingxuan Sect merit coin. Recalling the instructions for the bronze mirror, he dipped his fingers into the water and sprinkled a few drops onto the mirror¡¯s surface. Then he added the flower petals and the merit coin. "Whoosh¡­" The moment the merit coin touched the mirror, a soft breeze emanated from it, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood. A voice emerged from the bronze mirror: "Xu Taiping, outer disciple of Qingxuan Sect, has taken his seat. Do not leave. Elder Ziyang¡¯s lecture will begin shortly. If you miss it today, you¡¯ll have to wait three months." Having already read the "Chronicle of Bronze Mirror Functions", Xu Taiping wasn¡¯t startled by the voice. He knew it was the spirit of the mirror speaking. According to the chronicle, the spirit acted as a guide, helping users navigate the mirror¡¯s functions. Of course, the sect¡¯s forbidden areas were off-limits, and each use of the guide cost a merit coin. "Thank you, Spirit of the Mirror." Xu Taiping expressed his gratitude. The mirror spirit wasn¡¯t a simple, lifeless object, so he felt it was only proper to show respect. [--------------------------------------------] Enjoyed the chapter? If you want early access to +10 Advance chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support means a lot and helps me bring more great content to you! Join me on Patreon: Patreon.com/flokixy