Chapter 29

“I achieved the core even before senior brother Fuyun became the headmaster.” Su Qinghuang looked on indifferently. “I went from being a casual disciple to an inner disciple and started cultivating the Hongluan Sky Scripture at Hongluan Peak. At the age of 98, I became a Sage. That’s when I achieved the core, and was ranked among the direct disciples. After that, I wasted 300 years, unable to advance an inch.”

“Why?” Chen Jingzhai couldn’t help but ask.

A rare talent was required to achieve the core and become a Sage at the age of 98. But how was it possible for her to stop advancing after such achievements?

“First of all, natural aptitude is not very useful after achieving the core. The Hongluan Sky Scripture pays special attention to temperament,” said Su Qinghuang. “Second, the Hongluan Sky Scripture has lost the latter part of its method.”

“The Hongluan Sky Scripture is incomplete?” There was a flash of confusion in Chen Jingzhai’s eyes.

“Master Mingyue recorded it on the stone tablet inside Xuanming Cave at the peak. When I achieved the core, the tablet was shattered and destroyed. There was nothing left.” Su Qinghuang sighed softly.

“What about the other senior sisters or masters?” Chen Jingzhai asked.

“There was a senior sister of the same generation whose cultivation was not as good as mine. At the time, she only possessed foundational cultivation. After the stone tablet of the Hongluan Sky Scripture was destroyed, she followed the headmaster’s suggestion and started cultivating other methods,” Su Qinghuang continued. “After all, it was split from the Luotian Celestial Scripture, so a change in cultivation is possible if the core has not been achieved.”

“As for the master, because of the particular nature of Hongluan Sky Scripture, Hongluan Peak only accepts two disciples every time: one official and one unofficial, one mediocre and one outstanding. When the time comes to accept the disciples, it also means that the time of death is fast approaching!”

“Coincidentally, before the tablet was destroyed, my master, Mu Siqing, had already fallen. The clan investigated the matter for ten full years before determining that nothing was amiss and that there were no external factors in her death.”

Chen Jingzhai was silent. The situation at Hongluan Peak was utterly unexpected for him.

Its heritage was interrupted, and the branch was in decay. There did not seem to be any hope in sight.

Even the beautiful senior sister in front of him did not have much time left.

After a cultivator had established the foundation, the life span was set between 200 and 220. The cultivator of the Core Plane had a lifespan of about 500 years. Even if there was a life-extending treasure or elixir, extending it beyond 600 years was impossible.

This was predestined and could not be changed no matter what!

Judging from that, Su Qinghuang only had a life span of about 200 years. For the first time, Chen Jingzhai felt a little lost inside his heart.

“I didn’t want to accept a disciple, but Hongluan Peak is part of the Luo Sheng Sword School.” Su Qinghuang’s eyes were dreamy. “Without a Sage, the line of our branch could not continue, and I couldn’t refuse the kindness of the headmaster.

“Your biological age is 14, not yet 15. Regardless of your aptitude, your only end would be to become a casual disciple of the Luo Sheng Sword School just like the other aspirant cultivators.

“And you will be just like them, having to endure years of hardship to improve your cultivation slowly under the nurturing of the branch and eventually being promoted as an inner disciple. However, you are a little different from the rest.

“There has never been a 14-year-old aspirant cultivator who can pass the test of the heart, or even pass the remaining two levels of tests, and complete the name asking in the Hall of the Masters. From this perspective, your temperament is indeed compatible with Hongluan Peak.”

When Chen Jingzhai heard her words, he lost his usual excellent composure.

Chen Jingzhai’s breathing quickened a little as he looked at her. “Did you want me to cultivate Hongluan Sky Scripture so you could use me to help you break through?”

“I did have such an idea.” Su Qinghuang sighed softly. “However, the headmaster forbade it and made you my younger brother to prevent any such possibilities.”

She had been reluctant to go to Cloud Palace because she thought she still had time and could carefully select the disciple at her own pace. But when the headmaster used the script to compel her presence, she had no choice but to go. After she got there, she found out that it was a male disciple whom she had to accept.

Of course, she was disappointed, but Chen Jingzhai did pass the test on the twenty-eight. It was entirely acceptable for him to come to Hongluan Peak with such qualifications. Ultimately, he was not her disciple, but her younger brother.

This significant change disrupted all of her plans, and all she could do was accept the outcome begrudgingly.

Chen Jingzhai’s mind was weighed heavily by this, and he did not speak again. Su Qinghuang, too, lost any interest in talking. So, as the two walked on the cloud road, they increased their traveling speed without meaning to do so.

After about ten minutes, Chen Jingzhai felt his body being turned upside down. In the blink of an eye, he and Su Qinghuang both landed on a giant boulder.

“This here is the eye of the matrix at the back mountain of Hongluan Peak. Besides me, Hongluan Peak also has two mountain-guarding beasts. Let’s go to Xuanming Cave first to pay our respects to the masters. To the peak!”

As Su Qinghuang spoke, she grabbed his arm as she moved forward.

Xuanming Cave was not far from the back mountain, and the entrance to the cave had nothing to cover it. Chen Jingzhai followed Su Qinghuang into the cave and instantly felt a cooling sensation wash over him.

The air inside the cave was refreshing, and the essence power seemed to be even more profound. As they traveled forward, navigating through one turn after another, Chen Jingzhai arrived at the deepest part of the cave.

Under a portrait, more than 20 wooden plaques were set on a table with an incense burner in front of it.

Under the supervision of Su Qinghuang, Chen Jingzhai offered incense to the masters of yore.

Then, Su Qinghuang took him on as a disciple on behalf of her late master, Mu Siqing. This was how Chen Jingzhai became the third heir of Hongluan Peak.

After the ceremony, Su Qinghuang introduced the names of the twenty-one masters to him. Even though it was just a general introduction, it took a great deal of time.

“This is the remnant of the Hongluan Sky Scripture, which can be cultivated to the Core Plane. After all, you are now part of Hongluan Peak. Even if you don’t cultivate it, you should still take a look. The child at the entrance of the cave is named Pearl. She will take you to choose a cave residence. There are other side residences here, as well as cave residences. You can choose whatever you please. Don’t disturb me unless necessary!”

Su Qinghuang threw a jade slip at him, then turned and disappeared. Chen Jingzhai was stunned before he grabbed the jade slip and left Xuanming Cave.

Sure enough, at the cave entrance, there was a girl of about eight or nine years of age, clad in Taoist attire.

“Pearl greets my Lord!” the girl chirped.

“As you were. Take me to choose a side residence,” Chen Jingzhai said.

“Sir, don’t you want a cave residence instead?” Pearl asked, surprised. “The essence power in the cave residences is far more plentiful. Many of the side residences have fallen into disrepair for a long time. Although formations protect them, they have not been cleaned.”

“It’s fine,” Chen Jingzhai said with a gentle smile, “I like to be in the sun!”

Pearl’s eyes lit up a bit as she looked at Chen Jingzhai, giggling. Then she walked ahead of him to lead the way.

Hongluan Peak appeared ordinary, but the side residences were constructed nicely.

After all, it was a branch belonging to the Kun Path, and the construction of their side residences was built with aestheticism.

Finally, Chen Jingzhai chose a side residence located on the east side of Hongluan Peak.

This side residence was ingenious because it integrated harmoniously with its surroundings, which appeared natural and comfortable. Chen Jingzhai took a tour around the place and nodded with satisfaction.

“Pearl, is it just us on Hongluan Peak?” he asked.

“There is also a lazy donkey, which is usually stationed at the foot of the mountain, for it never comes up the mountain,” Pearl replied.

“Then what do you usually eat?” Chen Jingzhai asked.

“Eat?” Pearl tilted her head thoughtfully. “The dew is my drink, and the mountain breeze is my sustenance. All of nature is my source of food.”

“Is that so?” Chen Jingzhai’s face was without emotion, but he was shocked inside.

He knew that the successful cultivation of Qi made short periods of fasting possible. With the successful building of the foundation, one could do without eating.

The girl, Pearl, in front of him, looked very ordinary, without anything particularly remarkable about her.

At the very least, she could be a Foundational Cultivator and may even be a beast guarding Hongluan Peak!

Chen Jingzhai remained calm as he continued talking with Pearl.

Afterward, he started cleaning up the side residence. He did not waste time but cast a spell for help.

Although his cultivation was lost, he could still mobilize the essence power of heavens and earth to cast spells.

After cleaning up the vicinity of the side residence, Chen Jingzhai’s package was delivered by Pearl. This package wrapped in animal skin was what Chen Jingzhai had procured while in the Blessed Land.

Previously, it was in the temporary safekeeping of Taoist Zhang Xi.

Now that it had been delivered, Chen Jingzhai checked and did not find anything missing.

He was not demure either and gave Pearl some of the fruits given to him. Happily, Pearl bid her farewell and took her to leave.