Chapter 3

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 3

Among the three sects and twelve factions, Moonfire Valley is ranked near the bottom. When its disciples travel through the Central Plains, most villagers do not recognize its name.

This small sect is situated in the remote southwestern region, adjacent to the perilous Night Poison Mountain. It lacks both heavenly treasures and a renowned doctrine, making it a rather modest place.

Moonfire Valley is known for its herbal and miscellaneous cultivators, who maintain good relations with the surrounding villages.

The climate here is warm and humid, often overrun with snakes and insects, and plagued by various epidemics each year.

The villagers are accustomed to bringing chickens, ducks, and rice to seek medicine, or lying down at the valley’s entrance when they can no longer endure. The disciples then carry the patients into the valley, partly to practice medicine and partly to give new disciples some hands-on experience.

Learning how to prescribe medicine, perform acupuncture, and draw blood can gradually be mastered through practice.

Of course, some reckless disciples might prescribe overly potent medicine or misplace a needle, causing the patient to bleed profusely and grimace in pain.

But everyone understands each other well.

Being poor isn’t shameful. A little pain is no problem; as long as no one dies, it’s fine.

They lived such a harmonious life, but recently, a strange new illness began to rise, leaving hundreds of disciples too busy to attend classes or cultivate, draining the medicinal supplies stored in the valley.

—This illness is quite peculiar and has never appeared in medical records before.

At first, the symptoms include red rashes and pustules on the hands, with some appearing on the backs of the fingers and others right on the elbows.

Then these sores would crawl up the shoulders until they eventually reach the nape of the neck, where, one night, a strange boil round as an eye would suddenly appear.

The large swelling would have a horizontal line in the middle, resembling a closed eye.

Once the boil bursts, revealing a hard core resembling an eyeball inside, the patient would not survive for more than half a month.

In two months’ time, several villages nearby reported similar cases, with the deceased being mostly young and strong youths or middle-aged men.

After being targeted by this eyeball-like ailment, even the strongest physiques would be reduced to skin and bones.

Several village leaders came to Moonfire Valley in tears, seeking help. After the Master Ancestor agreed to assist, not only were the medicine cauldrons in the lecture hall filled, but even the pavilions meant for enjoying the scenery were crowded with patients wrapped tightly in straw mats and blankets. The dense medicinal smell lingered at the foot of the mountain, with daily waste from Wan Shi Pool accumulating enough to fill a large poisonous salamander.

Because of this, Gong Wu, who was in charge of sweeping, disappeared for most of the day. No one in the valley had the time to care, and it was only Ji Yang, returning from gathering herbs, who sensed something was wrong and asked Lin Aoshuang about her whereabouts.

After that, Lin Aoshuang led several junior disciples at Liu Jia Palace to treat the sick, holding a fan in one hand to tend the fire of the medicine cauldron, when suddenly, she spat a mouthful of blood onto the medicine cup and stumbled to the ground.

The little junior sister instinctively checked whether a boil had formed on the back of her neck, but her skin was smooth and undisturbed where her collar stretched, leading her to believe Lin Aoshuang had just overexerted herself and collapsed from fatigue.

However, upon checking her pulse again, the situation felt even more dire.

"Sister—her pulse feels like it can’t hold on!"

They hurried to summon Master Donglu for help. When he arrived, he checked her pulse and anxiously exclaimed that he had come too late. Taking a short knife made of jade and silver, he ignited it before grasping her right arm, aiming for the dark bruise, and suddenly plunged it in!

Usually, when a patient is pierced like this, poisonous blood would gush out, and they would likely cry out in pain.

But Lin Aoshuang, still unconscious, showed no reaction even when stabbed.

What was even more shocking was that as the blade pierced and scraped inside her flesh, it seemingly extracted large clumps of paper fibers!

Human blood vessels are fine and narrow, making it difficult to stuff such fibers inside, even if one cut.

Yet the paper fibers pulled from her wrist were pristine white, seemingly endless, each strand stretching indefinitely.

Master Donglu had never witnessed such a bizarre occurrence. As the ordeal progressed, his complexion turned ghastly pale, prompting him to swiftly dispatch his disciples to the adjacent palace for assistance.

Layer upon layer, the paper scraps accumulated, enough to fill an entire bowl.

As they continued to extract, the paper shreds gradually took on a crimson hue, with the final remnants turning blackened and putrid!

Only after the foreign matter was completely removed did Lin Aoshuang finally draw a deep breath. When she opened her eyes again, her lips were drained of color, and she appeared utterly spent.

"Master…" she murmured weakly, "Disciple is in such pain, it feels as though… as though my entire body is being drained."

In less time than it takes for an incense stick to burn, Tu Xuixin arrived with his disciples, only to find that Lin Aoshuang had already breathed her last.

Cheng Ji still cradled her lifeless body, his back suddenly appearing decades older.

When Tu Xuixin caught sight of Lin Aoshuang’s corpse, a vein throbbed in his temple, and he raised a hand to restrain Ji Yang.

"There’s something suspicious about Little Wu’s situation; we mustn’t question them yet."

This was Ji Yang’s first time witnessing the death of a classmate and senior sister before his very eyes, and he too was rendered speechless.

They all beheld the ceramic bowl and the bloodstained paper scraps within.

Gong Wu was struck with horror and instinctively stepped back, finding refuge behind Ji Yang.

The once cheerful senior sister had suddenly perished, as if in a dream.

At that moment, Liu Jia Palace was enveloped in silence, and soon, high-ranking members from other palaces arrived, eager to ascertain the full story.

Cheng Ji looked haggard and claimed ignorance when questioned.

Someone used silver chopsticks to pick up a paper scrap, attempting to discern its origin.

Others began inspecting the napes of everyone present, fearful that the parasitic eye disease might spread to them.

Suddenly, someone mentioned that Lin Aoshuang had been with Gong Wu that morning.

At those words, all eyes turned toward them.

"Yes," Tu Xuixin said, raising his sleeve to shield his eyes. "I summoned her to assist Lin Aoshuang with the medicine dregs."

"I meant no offense, I merely wished to inquire," a disciple from the adjacent palace explained, "Gong Wu spent the most time with her today. Did you notice anything unusual?"

Gong Wu felt the weight of everyone’s gaze and recalled the series of strange events from the day. Just as she was about to speak, she met her Master’s eyes.

She shook her head and remained silent.

"I have never heard of such a death," Cheng Ji said slowly, rising to his feet and holding the ceramic bowl filled with paper shreds. "Everyone, have you ever encountered such a technique?"

"My disciple was always kind, never provoking enmity with anyone. How could she meet such a tragic end?!" Tears welled in her eyes as she stifled her sobs. "Could it be that a spy from another faction has infiltrated us and employed some dark sorcery?!"

With those words, the focus of the discussion shifted away from Gong Wu.

People began to speculate, each offering various theories.

"Could it be the soul-claiming method from the Miao region?"

"I heard there are powerful ones in the capital’s Satin Red Workshop who can make paper kites soar on the wind. Could it be that someone from the north is trying to incite trouble?"

"Paper? The two major Taoist temples use yellow paper, and the Great Wuxiang Temple’s specialty is tung flower paper; none of them are this white!"

Ji Yang suddenly had an idea, reached out to take the bowl from Cheng Ji, and used silver chopsticks to extract the paper clumps.

Many were taken aback by his actions and paused their conversations in astonishment.

The young man bent down to smooth out the crumpled paper scraps, arranging them neatly on the willow wood table, attempting to reconstruct their original form by following the faint broken lines.

Master Donglu, his eyes reddened, watched silently from the side, occasionally reaching out to assist, hastening the formation of the paper scraps.

In the span of a single incense stick’s burning, the finely shredded paper clumps were miraculously restored to their original appearance.

—It was a paper figure bearing a striking resemblance to Lin Aoshuang’s profile.

Lin Aoshuang, who favored long hairpins, had a rounded nose.

The paper figure was crafted with such lifelike precision that it mirrored her perfectly, sending a chill through the hearts of those who had known her.

Leaving aside the origins of this eerie paper-cutting sorcery,

if it could be crafted to resemble her so closely, could it be the work of someone within Moonfire Valley?

If an insider was responsible for Lin Aoshuang’s death, who else might be in danger? It would be a tragedy to perish without even knowing whom to blame!

Cheng Ji spoke in a hoarse voice, “It is my failure; I cannot even find a trace of the culprit.”

"I will go to the Master Ancestor and beg for his intervention."

"There is no need to seek him out."

At that moment, the curtain stirred with the wind, and eight attendants came forward to escort the Master Ancestor as he descended to attend.

Everyone within and outside the main hall knelt in unison, loudly offering greetings and prayers.

Gong Wu knelt in the back rows, witnessing the Master Ancestor’s presence for the first time.

Her Master had lived for one hundred and fifty-seven years, while the Master Ancestor was said to be over three hundred years old, already possessing an immortal body.

Those who achieve Ascension to Immortality may attain divine roles based on their level of cultivation, and they do not return to the mortal realm.

The Master Ancestor chose to remain in the human world as a dispersing immortal, now with flowing white hair and a benevolent expression.

Gong Wu dared not look for long, her gaze lowered to follow the embroidered silver pine on the hem of his robe as it swept past, hearing the dull thud of the bloodshed vine staff striking the tiled floor.

Cheng Ji knelt in the center of the crowd, his tears barely contained as he choked out, “Master!”

The Master Ancestor sighed softly and gently patted the top of his head.

"Now that it has come to this, let us open the cauldron."

Gong Wu faintly caught the last three words as the crowd began to murmur, exchanging whispers.

"Master Ancestor! The cauldron of the valley truly exists?!"

"Could it be that besides the hundreds of small cauldrons brewing medicine, there is another large cauldron?"

"The Master Ancestor is truly going to take action! We will surely uncover the truth!"

Tu Xuixin, who had been kneeling in the corner with his disciples, also looked up sharply upon hearing the words "open the cauldron," and the next moment he hurried off alongside his Master and the Palace Lords.

Cheng Ji supported the Master Ancestor, leading the way at the front, followed by dozens of high-ranking members from the valley, all heading due north.

Lin Aoshuang’s body was also carried away, leaving Liu Jia Palace nearly empty.

The higher-ranking disciples followed closely, and once most had departed, the lower-ranking disciples cautiously rose to their feet, wary of committing any offense.

Gong Wu’s knees were numb from kneeling, still reeling from the shock of her senior sister’s tragic death.

"What cauldron?" she whispered. "Is it the Master Ancestor’s magical artifact?"

Ji Yang gently brushed the dust from her knees and murmured, "Your spiritual intelligence was unawakened before, so you couldn’t perceive many mysteries."

"To the north lies the large herb-drying courtyard. Do you recall it?"

"I’ve visited a few times," Gong Wu replied, quickening her pace to match his, craning her neck to see over the crowd. "There’s the Waterfall Flower Forest, and the courtyard boasts those exquisite Carved Jade Pillars. I remember it being quite beautiful."

Ji Yang paused thoughtfully, guiding her to a halt at the highest point of the arched bridge.

He raised two fingers and pressed their cool tips gently against her eyes.

"Since you’ve mastered sword flight, your realm has likely ascended to Insight and Glorious Light. Concentrate your Spiritual Awareness on your eyes."

Gong Wu laughed softly, "How could that be…"

As her vision was obscured, her breath instinctively rose.

Before she could finish, Ji Yang withdrew his fingers, his eyes filled with concern.

"Can you see?"

Gong Wu was silent for a few moments.

"I can see."

So this is the world as you see it.

With her Spiritual Awareness focused, every profound practitioner around her was outlined in shimmering light, ranging from bright to faint.

Not only that, but the cauldrons for elixirs and the ancient treasures atop the pagoda also radiated distinct forms of light as she gazed around.

Before she could fully adjust to this newly revealed world, a Slaughterman appeared in the distance, driving pigs and sheep towards them, a gleaming Meat Cleaver in hand.

A procession of attendants followed, bearing offerings of fruits, candles, and wine, with several Masters seated in a circle, resembling a constellation of seven stars.

Gong Wu stood on tiptoe among the curious disciples, then turned back to the herb-drying courtyard, clutching Ji Yang’s sleeve tightly.

"That place—it’s not just a herb-drying courtyard, is it?!"

Before she could finish, a billy goat let out a mournful cry as it was slaughtered.

The blood flowed into the dark trough of the formation, shimmering with a golden hue under the sunlight.

"It’s a Magical Formation," Ji Yang explained calmly. "The flowers, stones, pillars, water—they’re all part of the Ancient Calming Formation."

"Today, the Master Ancestor will activate the formation."