Chapter 9
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 9
The news of Gong Wu obtaining the Primordial Pill quickly spread.
Both she and Tu Xuixin were cautious, merely smiling and stating that they had finally advanced to the Insight realm, without delving into further details.
Though there are few who ascend to immortality in the valley, there are numerous entrance disciples in the Insight realm, and she blended into the crowd, continuing to maintain a low profile.
Most people simply offered their congratulations without probing further.
On the day they departed the valley, Master Ancestor, though still recovering from injuries, made a special effort to see them off.
Hua Tingxiao and his disciple flew on their swords, Tu Xuixin rode a deer, and Gong Wu, taking advantage of her master’s generosity, sat behind the spirit deer.
She wasn’t yet adept at using the newly acquired magical umbrella, but it was indeed crafted from exceptional materials; she could sense its spiritual essence with just a touch.
In the future, soaring through the skies on the umbrella would undoubtedly exude an immortal aura~
The frost flower deer, a specialty of Moonfire Valley, were naturally snow-white and slender. As they carried the two, they shook their heads in mild discontent, their sharp, branch-like antlers nearly poking Master Hua’s eyes.
“Subei is diligently cultivating in seclusion at home and will return to check on your progress.”
Ji Yang tucked his hands into his sleeves and said, "Safe travels! Have fun, everyone, and if you have time, bring back some local specialties."
The frost flower deer let out a couple of gentle moos and soared through the clouds alongside the flying swords.
The outline of the world continued to shrink, and soon even Moonfire Valley became a narrow line that gradually faded from view.
Gong Wu, still unaccustomed to the strong winds at such a height, clung tightly to her master’s sleeve, too afraid to glance downward.
Master Hua, noticing the little girl’s unease, casually steered the conversation to a new topic.
“Chao Sheng, have you ever heard of the bell beneath the tree?”
Tu Xuixin, who was busy scratching the frost flower deer, paused to think. “Is it that spiritual creature at the foot of Yin Mountain?”
“Ah, so you’ve heard of it,” Master Hua said with a drawn-out sigh. “Then I suppose there’s no need for me to tell the story.”
“Master Hua, I want to hear it!”
Gong Wu’s attention shifted, and she gradually forgot about the perilous heights below.
Master Hua cleared his throat and began to recount tales from his travels.
Both little disciples, who had never heard this intriguing story before, listened with rapt attention.
In the Central Plains, there stood Yin Mountain, and at its base grew a thousand-year-old Arahant pine.
Over time, as the world changed, the soil beneath the tree was gradually eroded by the river, revealing its gnarled and twisted roots.
Local children, digging in the earth for fun, discovered a large bell buried beneath those roots.
The Arahant pine was said to have existed for several dynasties; now, its roots ran deep, and its lush foliage resembled a giant Buddha.
Whether the bell had been planted there alongside the pine or buried later by someone remained a mystery.
Over time, many tried to dig up the bell to sell it for profit, but they couldn’t even scrape away the moss clinging to its surface, nor could they discern what material it was made of.
To ordinary passersby, the bell remained silent.
“…But when a cultivator passes by, the bell begins to speak.”
Gong Wu’s eyes widened in astonishment. “A bell that can talk?”
“It likely communicates through spiritual energy, engaging in a kind of conversation with those who possess it.”
Tu Xuixin, who had been quietly listening, couldn’t resist chiming in. “I went to see it once and even spoke to it.”
“Hey!!”
Master Hua shot him a slightly annoyed look. “Are you telling the story, or am I?”
“Alright, alright, go on…”
Master Hua raised a finger and spoke with an air of solemnity. “The bell only says one thing to any cultivator.”
‘Will you give me your complete cultivation?’
Gong Wu chuckled softly.
“It has quite the appetite, no wonder it’s stuck there, unable to free itself.”
Who would willingly give their entire cultivation to a stranger merely passing by?
As Master Hua reached this part of the tale, he noticed they were nearing the confluence of the three rivers and began their descent.
“Let’s go, deliver the invitation now.”
The spirit deer seemed to understand human speech and descended gracefully alongside the flying sword.
Yuncang Palace’s senior moved with elegance, soon landing lightly beside Master Hua.
Tu Xuixin hesitated for a moment, noticing Gong Wu clutching him tightly without a word, and prompted, “Aren’t you curious about what I said to the bell?”
Gong Wu’s face had turned pale from the rapid descent.
“Master! Slow down, slow down!!”
Tu Xuixin tapped the deer’s antlers, urging it to land more gently, though he still held back half of his words.
Ask me quickly!!
Anyone!! Just ask me what I said to the bell!!
The scenery before them opened into a flat, expansive vista, more dynamic than the flower-filled Moonfire Valley.
Three rivers converged from different directions, wild grasses sprawled across the plains, and the rivers surged over high cliffs, their splashes glittering like a sea of stars under the bright sun.
It was Master Hua’s first time here; he gazed at the waterfall, as if he had sliced through the clouds with a sword.
“Ah, so this is Jin Yan Tuo.”
When the water flowed swiftly on sunny days, mist rose from the sides, resembling golden smoke ascending.
“Are we planning to plunge into the waterfall?”
Tu Xuixin furrowed his brows as he looked at him.
“Fine, fine, I’ll let it slide this time,” Master Hua chuckled. “Now, tell me, what did you say to the bell?”
Tu Xuixin snorted haughtily and replied eagerly, “It asked me for something, but I didn’t give it.”
“Then I said, how about I dig you out?”
“It said if no one agrees to help it, it would be trapped there forever.”
Yuncang Palace’s senior asked curiously, “So, is its voice male or female?”
“It sounded both male and female, could be either.”
“I asked it, what would you give me in return if I gave you all my cultivation?”
Master Hua perked up, listening intently.
“It whispered mysteriously—I’ll give you a big treasure!”
“Hah, what could that possibly be?”
For cultivators, their cultivation is the most precious thing. If they lose it, what use would a spiritual treasure be?
Gong Wu was surprised. “Then it must have said the same thing to others.”
“The Demon Realm is always hunting for treasures. Wouldn’t they kidnap a weaker cultivator to make the exchange?”
“Probably someone placed a curse on it,” Master Hua explained knowingly. “It has to be a sincere offering, or the curse can’t be broken.”
Tu Xuixin finally finished sharing half of the story, feeling quite satisfied.
The vast waterfall was wide enough for horses to run across, and through the flowing water, they could faintly glimpse the Moon Gate hidden among the cliffs.
Master Hua instructed Gong Wu in just a few phrases on how to use spiritual energy to create a rain-blocking barrier around herself, then shouted loudly, “Get ready to enter! Three! Two! One!!”
A deer and two swords charged through the waterfall, splashing water like bursts of fireworks.
In the blink of an eye, the rushing water flowed over their heads, entirely blocked by an invisible barrier, and they stepped into the darkness before suddenly finding themselves in a cave.
To enter Jin Yan Tuo, they first had to walk down a dark path lined with fish fat lanterns nailed with iron chains on both sides. The light was dim but could burn for years.
Upon reaching the end, a checkpoint blocked their way.
“Who enters the sect? State your name!”
Hua Tingxiao took out the invitation personally written by Master Ancestor and presented it respectfully.
“I am Hua Tingxiao of Moonfire Valley, and beside me is Tu Xuixin of Tianhua Palace. We have come with our disciples for a visit.”
The guard at the entrance stood straight with a silver spear, took the invitation, compared it with the four of them, and turned to report.
After waiting for a short while, the guard returned lazily, looking much less alert than before.
“Come with me.” The guard waved his hand dismissively, lacking any respect. “Once you enter our sect, you must not explore the paths alone or touch the magical items. These are basic rules, understand?”
Tu Xuixin’s smile vanished as he replied coldly, “Are you implying that we’re nothing but beggars looking for scraps?”
“I didn’t say that,” the guard scoffed. “Let’s go. You’re quite sensitive.”
This entrance appeared deep and simple, but once they stepped inside, they would see a whole new world.
Jin Yan Tuo was originally an imperial tomb from hundreds of years ago, hollowing out most of the Han Guan Mountain to build palaces and bridges along the dragon’s vein, making it quite grand.
After several changes, the land was claimed by the sect’s ancestor, who discovered that the spiritual energy here was rich and exceptional, leading to renovations and the establishment of the sixth-largest sect in the world.
The palace was built on the mountains, suspended in mid-air, with the heavens opening above, shining brilliantly.
Ordinary people passing by Han Guan Mountain would be unaware that they stood on a magical formation above the void. Even if they could see the lush greenery of the mountains, it was all an illusion.
A large peach-shaped mountain was hollowed out, leaving only a thin skin, while the inside had long become a holy land for cultivation and enlightenment.
After passing through the entrance, the narrow path revealed tiles made of multicolored glass, each step glittering beneath their feet.
On both sides of the floating bridge were rockeries and landscapes, with koi swimming, and white cranes flying overhead, while a silver waterfall flowed through the palace.
Standing on the glass bridge, they could see the distant palace like a mirrored image of two mountains.
The lower mountain housed the bottom-tier disciples, crowded homes stacked like pine needles without much decoration, totaling eight levels.
Meanwhile, the upper mountain had golden eaves and jade hooks, adorned with pearl drapes and silver screens. From afar, they could glimpse the beautifully arranged palaces, where courtyards varied in height based on rank, summing up to nine levels.
Even a fleeting glance at the view revealed hints of immortal aura amidst the swirling clouds and mist.
Both masters remained calm enough to hold onto their smiles, albeit strained.
The two disciples looked up to see the highest point, then gazed down to the very bottom, overwhelmed by all they saw.
This… is just too, too big!
Would seven or eight Moonfire Valleys even compare to Jin Yan Tuo?
The guard watched them, raising his brow. “Now you’ve seen the world, haven’t you?”
But a long voice cut off his words, warm and clean.
“Do not be rude.”
They saw a female disciple dressed in a gold-threaded lotus robe approach to greet them, smiling as she exchanged pleasantries while addressing the Master Ancestor of Moonfire Valley.
“I am Luo Zhusheng, the Palace Lord of the Upper Seven Palaces. The invitation mentioned an important matter to discuss with the Master of Jin Yan Tuo, so I have come to welcome you.”
“The Master is occupied with numerous affairs and cannot meet guests. If you have any requests, you may convey them to me.”
Gong Wu sensed the same disdain in her insincere smile as she did from the guard.
The invitation clearly sought the Master of Jin Yan Tuo, yet they sent someone from the Lower Seven Palaces instead, making their disrespect evident.
Tu Xuixin did not look at her, maintaining a gentle smile as he lowered his gaze.
Just then, a wave of spiritual energy surged down like a tide, forcing the nearby guard to kneel abruptly!
“The invitation from my Master Ancestor is not something you can bear.”
