FFSC_03
The cultivation world has Nine Thousand Prefectures: six thousand lower prefectures, two thousand middle prefectures, and one thousand upper prefectures. Each prefecture is a great thousand world.
Jiugai Prefecture is the largest upper prefecture, home to both the most renowned cultivation nation, Zhou Country, and the number one major sect in the cultivation world, Tianshu Sect.
Zhou Country’s hundreds of thousands of teleportation arrays connect many worlds, both large and small. Due to its proximity to Tianshu Sect in the east, the tens of thousands of teleportation arrays in its eastern territory require no spirit stones and can be used freely.
"Look! It's Tianshu Sect disciples!"
Before the teleportation array, a group of young men and women approached carrying swords, their wide sleeves fluttering in the wind, drawing the attention of onlookers.
They were outer sect disciples of Tianshu Sect who had received a sect mission to travel to other lower prefectures.
As the number one major sect in the cultivation world, Tianshu Sect possessed countless resources and naturally had no shortage of teleportation arrays. Yet, these disciples still chose to use external teleportation arrays, walking all the way and basking in countless gazes of fervent admiration and flattery.
Passing by one person who stood unmoving by the roadside, a disciple at the end of the Tianshu Sect line glanced over.
The person wore a plain white veil hat, partially draped over a blue robe. Beneath the veil's gauzy edge, a pair of slender, jade-like hands gently held a plump, adorable, yet low-spirit-beast. As the light gauze fluttered, an ordinary and unremarkable face was revealed.
The Tianshu Sect disciple withdrew his gaze, disinterested, and overheard his senior brothers and sisters ahead softly complaining.
"The overseer is biased, dumping all the dirty, unwanted tasks from the inner sect onto us. Clearly, in the past…"
In the past, when 'that person' acted in place of the sect leader, all sect missions were clearly assigned according to strength and treated everyone equally.
"Not much time has passed, yet things have already changed so much…"
"Better stop talking. I heard the sect leader intends to gift Chenjie to Senior Brother Xiao."
Chenjie, the second-ranked sword second only to 'Yanluo', was a world-shaking weapon of slaughter forged by the Tianshu Sect leader's first disciple, Chen Moqing, who ventured alone into an extremely dangerous secret realm and used immortal iron left behind by an immortal to create it.
Thereafter, Chenjie, following its master, beheaded demons, suppressed the Demon Abyss, gained fame in a single battle, and became renowned across the Nine Thousand Prefectures.
Chen Moqing died, and Chenjie was also reclaimed by his master, Yu Bai.
A pair of snow-white furry beast ears perked up slightly. The private conversation those Tianshu Sect disciples believed outsiders couldn't overhear clearly reached Cang Shun's ears.
He lazily lifted his eyes. From this angle, he could see the human's delicate jawline. Those thin lips showed no curve of emotion, neither happy nor angry, calm and undisturbed.
Not long ago, they were still in the northern territory of Zhou Country, needing to use concealment talismans to pass through the directional teleportation array.
A certain Demon Emperor, who had been carried off by the fluffy creature, was still angry and said sarcastically: [You’re only at Qi Refinement. Even if you leave this place, you won’t escape your enemies.]
Chen Moqing remained silent, simply drawing a low-grade concealment talisman before taking out a single snow-white piece of fur.
Before Cang Shun could react, he saw his fur instantly refined by Chen Moqing, and a top-grade concealment talisman was completed.
Cang Shun: “???”
Chen Moqing clearly hadn't expected to refine Cang Shun's belonging so instantly either. Thinking it was this Demon Emperor who had helped him, he rubbed the noble little head of the Demon Emperor as a gesture of thanks.
Cang Shun: “......”
He did not!!
The soft fur of His Majesty the Demon Emperor bristled again, clearly unable to comprehend why this human could refine his things in one go.
If he could refine his fur today, wouldn't that mean tomorrow he could—
Chen Moqing very casually stroked the little fluffy ball that had puffed up into a fluffy cotton mass and, quite nonchalantly, tucked the two thin white strands of fur that fell off into his sleeve.
Cang Shun: “…......”
Using that top-grade concealment talisman refined from the Demon Emperor's fur, they passed through the teleportation array at the northern border without leaving a single trace.
Now, even if Yu Bai stood before him, within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he wouldn't be able to see through his disguise.
The teleportation array in the eastern territory activated. This was a large array hub connecting many lower prefectures. Traveling from an upper prefecture to a lower one was easy, but ascending from a lower prefecture to an upper one was as difficult as climbing to the heavens for those who were not natives of the upper prefecture or sect disciples.
Chen Moqing looked up, his gaze penetrating the myriad swirling array patterns, landing on the prosperous and imposing ancient city. At the distant top of the towering city wall, above the ethereal layers of clouds, floated a magnificent and majestic sect illusion.
The next time we meet, it will be to question with the sword.
He stepped onto the broad, open road without looking back.
...
Dongzhou, a small state among the six thousand lower states. In the southwestern region, mountains are green and waters clear, with wind rustling through bamboo groves reflected on the river's surface.
An ox cart traveled through the mountain wilderness. A young man dressed in black, with his hair tied up, sat in the back, cross-legged and upright with his eyes closed. The bumpy dirt road occasionally jostled grains of rice against him, but it did not disturb his cultivation.
A round, snow-white little beast lay beside him. Bored, it would occasionally lift a paw to bat at the high ponytail hanging down at his waist.
Having not seen the mortal world for a thousand years, Cang Shun was very excited, chattering questions one after another in Chen Moqing's ear with a constant stream of mews and murmurs, unconcerned about disturbing him.
[What about the Demon Abyss?]
[Benzun has been asleep for so many years, yet you still know of the Demon Abyss. It must have reappeared in this world.]
"It has already been sealed."
[Oh? Who did it?]
Chen Moqing remained silent.
Cang Shun rolled over: [Definitely not you. If you had subdued the Demon Abyss, how could you have ended up in such a state?]
Chen Moqing chuckled lightly: "That makes sense."
A leaf drifted down from the sky. The snow-white little beast's head followed its movement, suddenly pouncing forward to deftly catch it, then twisting mid-air to jump back onto Chen Moqing.
It proudly swished its tail.
After batting at the leaf for a while, it grew bored and went to paw at the rice plants the old man driving the ox cart had grown.
A slender hand gently pressed down on its furry paw and tucked it back.
[Stingy]
Cang Shun grunted. After a while, he lifted his paw again to bat at the black hair tip hanging before his eyes.
By noon, the ox cart had traveled from the countryside to a nearby small town. A long line formed at the city gate, and in the muddy ground, a wonton stall was set up, steaming heat rising from the pot.
The old man driving the ox cart glanced at the wonton stall, swallowed hard, and with dark, cracked hands, fished out half a small, cold and stiff flatbread from his pocket.
Chen Moqing approached the wonton stall, took out a few of his meager copper coins, ordered two bowls of wontons, and invited the old man to sit with him.
Thin-skinned, generously filled wontons dropped into the clear, boiling broth, bobbing and tumbling amidst the chopped scallions. The old man liked strong flavors; with trembling hands, he added several large spoonfuls of chili sauce. Red oil spread across the surface of the clear broth, and a mouthful of the spicy, savory hot soup warmed his stomach.
Chen Moqing also added a small spoonful of chili oil to his own bowl. Just as he picked up his spoon, he saw two furry, snow-white paws resting on the edge of the table, a small head also placed there, staring unblinkingly at his bowl.
Chen Moqing recalled how, for the past several months, this palm-sized beast had been chewing on grass roots by his side. He took out his last few coins, ordered another bowl of wontons, and bought the bowl and spoon along with it, gently pushing it in front of Cang Shun.
[That, I want some too.]
Cang Shun stretched his paw toward the chili oil jar.
Chen Moqing remained silent, simply using the purchased spoon to scoop up a spoonful of clear broth and adding a tiny drop of chili oil.
Cang Shun drank a sip of the soup from his hand.
“......”
His fur fluffed up, panting lightly.
Without another word, he buried his head in his own clear broth.
After downing four liang* of wontons, the old man’s face flushed with a tipsy warmth. Wiping the oil from his lips with the back of his hand, he muttered, “The immortal’s great kindness,” then drove his ox cart into the city.
*t/n; a traditional Chinese unit of measurement for weight, about 200 grams.
"Meow."
The snow-white little beast lifted its head from the empty bowl.
[Any more?]
Chen Moqing lifted his sleeves, indicating that only a clear breeze remained between them.
Along the journey, the little spirit stones he had obtained by exchanging low-grade talismans he drew himself were now gone. For the past few days, they had been sleeping outdoors.
Cang Shun calmly pondered for a moment, then let out another 'meow'.
[What if you sell my fur for money?]
Chen Moqing wordlessly looked at this Demon Emperor, who had been gnawing on grass roots with him for two months, and began to wonder if all the hardships His Majesty the Demon Emperor had endured in his life had been with him.
—Although this life had only been a few months.
Then he refused: "No."
Even if this place was remote and people only regarded Cang Shun as an ordinary demon beast, his fur circulating out could still risk detection of the Demon Emperor's aura.
He wasn't worried about Cang Shun shedding fur everywhere. After leaving the northern territory, this Demon Emperor seemed to have cast a spell to secure his fur. It was no longer possible to casually stroke him and come away with a few strands.
After hearing this, Cang Shun fell silent for some reason.
He cares so much for my things.
This thought drifted unbidden through his mind, like a tiny petal falling onto a lake, stirring a faint ripple.
Chen Moqing raised his hand and shared the remaining half-bowl of wontons with Cang Shun.
Then he noticed that the Demon Emperor glanced at him once, then again.
In just a few seconds, he looked at him frequently several times.
"Hurry up and eat. We need to hit the road after."
"......"
In the afternoon, Chen Moqing strolled around the city, holding the snow-white little beast whose fur had, for some reason, become much softer.
This was a mortal city, where cultivators were rare. The occasional passersby were only at the Qi Refinement stage, so naturally, there was no place to exchange talismans for spirit stones.
He was now penniless, and the place he needed to reach was still hundreds of miles away.
—Qingzhu City, the largest city in Dongzhou, a gathering place for many talisman cultivators.
He had come into contact with the path of talismans early on, but Yu Bai believed that anything other than the path of the sword was inferior. He had reprimanded him several times for this, so later, Chen Moqing only studied it privately in his spare time, and no one in the sect knew he was actually also skilled in talismans.
These days, he had also tried to return to the path of the sword. Although he had cultivation at the Qi Refinement stage, he could no longer condense even a trace of sword intent.
—Yu Bai’s four strands of sword qi still lingered in his spiritual sea. Even if he could reshape his foundation bones in the future, as soon as he condensed a trace of sword intent, it would be scattered by Yu Bai’s sword qi.
Chen Moqing was not disheartened by this. One day, he would finally be able to wash away the sword qi through external means, or rely on himself to surpass the peak of the Mahayana stage—by then, all restraints would be mere dust.
As the sun set in the west, a small merchant caravan of only a few people, fully loaded with goods, headed east.
In the single-person carriage at the rear of the caravan, a snow-white little beast sat on a soft cushion, occupying a corner of a black robe.
Not long ago, a wealthy young master in this merchant caravan was purchasing tea leaves in the city, intending to sell them in Qingzhu City. The tea shop passed off mid-grade tea leaves as similar-looking top-grade ones to him, but Chen Moqing pointed it out. The wealthy young master thanked him repeatedly and, upon learning that Chen Moqing was heading in the same direction, invited him to travel together.
For some reason, ever since that wealthy young master enthusiastically extended the invitation earlier, a certain Demon Emperor’s gaze had been somewhat strange. Now, his tone was even more peculiar: [Just over a bit of tea, you can spin a thousand and one tales. Humans really are fond of following refined tastes.]
Chen Moqing said calmly, “When I was young, my family was poor. Thanks to kind people looking after me, I worked in a tea shop for several years. I saw a lot, so I came to know these things.”
Cang Shun immediately fell silent.
[Apologies.]
Two seconds later, he said quietly.
Chen Moqing felt slightly surprised and lowered his gaze.
The snow-white little beast, hanging its head, curled into a small, round ball and gently kneaded the corner of his robe with its paw.
"Brother Jiang!"
A spirited young man poked his head into the carriage door, it was that wealthy young master, Liu Yu.
Chen Moqing introduced himself as 'Jiang Yu' outside. Hearing this 'Brother Jiang', he responded with a faint smile.
Cang Shun furrowed his brow slightly and began scratching the carriage wall with his paw.
The carriage wasn’t large. Young Master Liu squeezed next to Chen Moqing, and as his arm brushed against Chen Moqing’s, Chen Moqing shifted aside slightly.
Cang Shun scratched one mark after another on the carriage wall.
Liu Yu was an outgoing and familiar type, chatting with Chen Moqing about everything under the sun. It wasn’t long before he indirectly asked whether the young demon beast by his side had a name.
Chen Moqing lowered his gaze. Cang Shun met his eyes and arrogantly lifted his chin.
You may announce Benzun’s name.
Chen Moqing looked up: "Mimi."
Cang Shun: “???”
Liu Yu watched as the snow-white little beast suddenly jumped up, lifted its little head, and loudly 'meowed and murmured' at its owner. He burst out laughing: "Indeed, it suits its name!"
"Brother Jiang, I quite like your spirit pet. I’m willing to offer a thousand spirit stones to purchase it. Could you part with it?"
Cang Shun’s raised paw paused in mid-air, his demonic eyes narrowing.
Liu Yu was a cultivator at the early Qi Refining stage. He could tell that this Brother Jiang’s cultivation was similar to his, at most at the mid-stage. Cultivators who had just begun practicing were often most in need of spirit stones.
Chen Moqing’s smile remained faint. He casually pulled the snow-white little beast into his arms: "He is of utmost importance to me. I would never part with him."
This Demon Emperor had seen his hidden cards, so he would never hand him over to anyone. Doing so would be no different from seeking his own death, placing his own throat in another’s grasp.
Cang Shun curled up in Chen Moqing’s arms, opening his round, demonic eyes wide and staring unblinkingly at those brows and eyes that held a faint smile.
He was… this important in his heart? So important that he couldn’t bear to part with him?
Well, alright then.
The plump little beast quietly lay down, its soft belly pressed tightly against that slender wrist.
Liu Yu didn’t say more. Smiling, he invited Chen Moqing to be sure to visit his home in Qingzhu City. As he bid farewell, he even cupped his hands toward Cang Shun: “I’m off now, Mimi.”
Cang Shun: “???”
When getting off the carriage, Young Master Liu, perhaps tripping over his own left foot with his right, fell flat with a thud, letting out a pained 'ow!' cry.
Just as Chen Moqing was about to get down, Liu Yu scrambled back up by himself. While laughing loudly and saying 'no problem, no problem', he nervously glanced around and hurriedly ran off.
He left behind a package of osmanthus cake, a local specialty.
An expensive delicacy, molded intricately, even the oiled paper wrapping was of superior quality.
Chen Moqing gazed at the pristine cake, the ink-darkness in his eyes still and deep.
A small, snow-white head peeked over again.
Why the unhappy look?
…Because that person left?
Without a word, Cang Shun pressed a paw on the package of osmanthus cake and swiftly snatched it away.
Chen Moqing lifted his eyelashes slightly and said, “You can have it.”
In the end, nearly half of that osmanthus cake ended up in a certain Demon Emperor’s stomach.
Cang Shun swallowed the sweet little treat, counted the remaining pieces of osmanthus cake, then looked at the person beside him who had started cultivating again. He lifted a paw, neatly stacked the pastries, and said: [Within your body, there remain four strands of sword qi far surpassing your own power.]
Chen Moqing’s brows were tightly knit, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead. He paid him no mind.
[If the sword qi can be cleansed, there’s still a possibility to rebuild the path of the sword.]
Chen Moqing opened his eyes: "I beseech you, Senior, for your guidance."
Cang Shun hummed.
Chen Moqing personally offered a piece of osmanthus cake.
Cang Shun paused for a second, then bit into it from his hand, chewing away.
[Who is the one who injured you?]
Chen Moqing: "My master, at the peak of the Mahayana stage."
Cang Shun snorted lightly.
[A mere Mahayana. Once my cultivation recovers by seventy percent, I can help you cleanse the sword qi.]
Chen Moqing: "I wonder, Senior, what level your cultivation is at now?"
[This snack tastes quite good.]
Chen Moqing closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
Cang Shun: “......”
A moment later, a deep male voice drifted over: [Benzun has lived for five thousand six hundred years, yet this is the first time I’ve encountered a human like you.]
"Five thousand three hundred and one years ago, the Demon Emperor’s life ended."
Chen Moqing’s eyes remained closed, his clear, pleasant voice flowing like a gentle stream in a forest.
"So, you should be two hundred and ninety-nine years old."
"A demon clan’s three hundred years, converted to human age, means you haven’t passed eighteen."
"You’re even younger than me, Mimi."
Cang Shun: “......”
The snow-white little beast was fuming, turning its body away to leave behind another cool, plump back, ignoring him.
Chen Moqing paid no attention to the small commotion beside him, his consciousness returning to his spiritual sea, gazing distantly at the crimson token suspended high above the chasm.
After cultivating for several days, he still couldn’t break through to Foundation Establishment.
To break through from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, one must wash the spirit platform with spiritual energy, ensuring it remains stable and unwavering. This process is like scraping flesh with a blunt knife, tempering both body and mind.
Ordinary cultivators can repeatedly attempt this after failure, but he has only one chance. Failure means death.
The best method is to find a third-grade Spirit Protection Talisman—it can stabilize a Golden Core cultivator’s spiritual sea.
However, third-grade talismans require a talisman cultivator at the Golden Core stage or above to refine. In many lower prefectures, a Golden Core cultivator can dominate a region. Hiring a Golden Core talisman cultivator or purchasing a third-grade Spirit Protection Talisman would come at a great cost.
However, there is another way—
The carriage was startled, jolting violently. Chen Moqing’s body lurched forward, about to brace himself against the window frame, when he was shielded by a powerful yet gentle force, pressing him back onto the soft cushion.
He turned his gaze; Cang Shun beside him met his eyes in silence for two seconds, then quickly looked away.
"Come out. We know you are here. We’ve been waiting for some time."
A cold voice came from above the carriage.
"If you don’t come out within three breaths, we kill one person. If you don’t come out within ten breaths—we kill ten."
Comments
Post a Comment