Volume 3 Chapter 4

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Volume 3 Chapter 4: The Visit

Once the formation was set up, dense white mist began to appear around the two wooden houses, forming a circle nine feet away. Despite the constant night breeze, the mist showed no sign of being dispersed. With the surrounding trees casting shadows, Xu Qingfan’s abode looked even more enchanting, adding a touch of ethereal beauty.

This time, Xu Qingfan arranged a formation around his residence called the "Three Element Array," a compound formation consisting of an intermediate defense array, a low-level Spirit Gathering Formation, and a low-level trapping array. It was not a simple intermediate defensive array.

In fact, placing such a formation around his abode was a bit excessive for Xu Qingfan. His residence was already within the protective formation of Jiuhua Mountain, making this additional formation somewhat redundant. If an enemy could break through Jiuhua Mountain’s protection, Xu Qingfan’s formation would offer little resistance.

Generally, formations with moderate defensive strength like this one are used only by rogue cultivators in the cultivation world. Due to their lack of power or influence, they often live in remote areas and typically set up such advanced defensive formations around their abodes to guard against evil individuals seeking to kill and steal. After all, the cultivation world is essentially a place where the weak are preyed upon by the strong. Disciples from major sects, who are protected by their sect’s mountain-protecting formation, seldom use such formations. When they build their abodes, they usually only set up a basic Spirit Gathering Formation along with a simple defensive array to keep unwanted visitors out.

Xu Qingfan was aware of this, but having read many books about cultivators in his youth, he was deeply influenced by their depictions. He believed that a cultivator’s abode should be protected by grand formations and shrouded in mist, complete with celestial cranes, if possible. Thus, Xu Qingfan decided to set up the formation.

Satisfied with the protective formation around him, Xu Qingfan nodded approvingly and turned to head back to his room. Setting up the formation had eased his previous anxiety. With much of his Spirit Qi depleted, he was finally able to calm down, sit cross-legged on his bed, and enter a meditative state.

…

The next day, the sun shone brightly, and a warm breeze blew. Under the control of the mountain’s protecting formation, Jiuhua Mountain was as always, peaceful and beautiful.

When sunlight hit the mist created by the "Three Element Array," the mist reflected rainbow colors, adding a dreamy hue to the entire back mountain.

Despite the mist blocking, a few rays of sunlight still made their way into Xu Qingfan’s room, bringing a slight warmth inside.

Feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his face, Xu Qingfan slowly opened his eyes. After a whole half-day of meditation, the Spirit Qi in Xu Qingfan’s body had almost fully recovered. Yet upon waking, Xu Qingfan didn’t show any joy. Instead, he frowned because he sensed that from the wooden house next door, bursts of fire Spirit Qi and demonic energy were still emanating, just like before he began meditating.

"Has Ting’er been practicing fire techniques all night without resting?" Xu Qingfan wondered, frowning.

Ting’er had only been cultivating for a few days and had little Spirit Qi in her body. How could she endure such prolonged practice? Realizing this, Xu Qingfan quickly left his room and swiftly headed to Ting’er’s room.

When Xu Qingfan pushed open Ting’er’s door, he saw her fingers gently releasing a wisp of black flame that slowly retracted before emerging again, repeatedly. After practicing tirelessly all night, Ting’er’s face was already very pale, yet she persisted in her practice. Her gaze was fixed intently on the black flame at her fingertips, with a mix of determination and… hatred.

After the whole night, Little Green seemed to have adapted to the black flame. Although it was still scared when seeing the black flame, its body no longer trembled incessantly like before.

Seeing Ting’er’s pale face, Xu Qingfan knew she couldn’t hold on much longer. So he briskly walked over to her, swiftly knocking her right hand down, which was casting the fire spell, extinguishing the freshly sprouted black flame at her fingertips.

As Ting’er looked up at him with a cold expression mixed with a hint of confusion and anger, Xu Qingfan remained composed and calmly asked.

"Ting’er, are you so eager to practice the ways of Dao to seek revenge for your father’s death against me?"

…

Xu Qingfan, riding the "Nimbus Cloud," quickly flew toward the front mountain. His face was more somber than ever, while memories of the recent events replayed in his mind.

"Yes."

This was the third sentence Xu Qingfan had heard Ting’er say in the nearly past year.

Hearing this, Xu Qingfan felt a pang in his heart. He knew Ting’er had witnessed him killing his father and couldn’t possibly be without hatred. Yet, over the past year, the uncle and nephew had gotten along relatively well. Sometimes, Xu Qingfan entertained the hope that after spending a year together, Ting’er’s hatred might have faded. But that single word from Ting’er shattered Xu Qingfan’s illusions.

When you find that the only relative you have left in the world harbors a deep-seated hatred for you, the excruciating pain of that moment is something those who haven’t experienced it can never understand. For Xu Qingfan, who longed for family, this pain was even more acute.

But Xu Qingfan had long been mentally prepared for this, so the pain surfaced only for a brief moment before he firmly suppressed it. With a calm facade, he said to Ting’er, "If you want revenge, you should first take good care of yourself. I am currently at the Lingji Stage, and unless I’m very unlucky, I should live over two hundred years. There’s plenty of time for you, no need to rush."

Saying this, Xu Qingfan crushed an "Enchanted Flower." Under the effect of its hypnotic fragrance and sheer exhaustion, Ting’er finally succumbed to sleep on the bed. Ignoring Little Green’s threatening growls nearby, Xu Qingfan slowly stepped outside, a subtle loneliness enveloping his heart.

With a sigh, Xu Qingfan rode the "Nimbus Cloud," swiftly breaking through the protective mist and flying quickly toward the front of Jiuhua Mountain.

On this trip down the mountain, he collected seeds from many rare flowers and plants. Besides those from the Southern Wasteland, he found many others during his travels in Middle-earth over the past six months. These include the "Exotic Musician Fig," "Mud Fruit," "Thunder Rope Tree," and many other unique species that cannot be found within a thousand miles of Jiuhua Mountain.

Before descending the mountain, Xu Qingfan promised Martial Uncle Liu of the "Herb Garden" to gather seeds of various rare plants from the Shenzhou Continent, and today, he was planning to deliver these seeds to Martial Uncle Liu.

However, as Xu Qingfan flew halfway there, he sighed again and turned back toward the kitchen at the front of the mountain. Although cultivators can absorb the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth, those in the Qi Refining Stage still rely on earthly sustenance. With half the disciples at Jiuhua Gate being at the Qi Refining Stage, the kitchen at Jiuhua Mountain is quite extensive.

After arriving at the kitchen, Xu Qingfan found a disciple with the surname "Yu" in charge of the canteen and arranged for meals to be regularly delivered to his residence at the back of the mountain. Since Ting’er is still a mortal, relying on "Inedia Pills" for hunger is not a long-term solution. Moreover, hunting mountain animals isn’t allowed like in the secular world, prompting Xu Qingfan to make kitchen arrangements.

As for Little Green, the large-bellied beast, Xu Qingfan would have to find another way.

After finishing these tasks, Xu Qingfan rode the "Nimbus Cloud" again, swiftly heading toward the "Herb Garden."

The "Herb Garden" is located at the mountain peak of Jiuhua Mountain, where the Spirit Qi is abundant, necessary for growing various Spiritual Herbs. However, due to the steep terrain, cold climate with strong winds, and the odd temperament of its manager, Martial Uncle Liu, few people visit.

Martial Uncle Liu, named Liu Huaxiang, is a very mysterious person. It is said that five hundred years ago, he was quite inconspicuous among the "Hua" generation disciples of Jiuhua Mountain. However, five hundred years ago, he suddenly experienced a great increase in strength, subtly gaining the ability to compete with sect leader Zhang Hualing and Supreme Protector Zhou Huahai. The previous sect leader even appointed him to oversee the "Herb Garden" before his death.

Ever since he took charge of the "Herb Garden," he seemed to be neglecting his duties. Not only did the spiritual herbs inside the "Herb Garden" often disappear without reason, but since he took over, the "Herb Garden" had not submitted a single Spiritual Herb to the sect. Strangely, Master of Jiuhua, Zhang Hualing, didn’t seem to care. So he became even more reckless, eventually planting many aggressive, exotic plants in the "Herb Garden," making it difficult for disciples seeking medicine.

It is said that once, Wu Huamian, who was in charge of the "Alchemy Room," could no longer tolerate it and personally went to Martial Uncle Liu to ask for spiritual herbs. What happened afterward is unknown, but ever since then, the "Alchemy Room" had to send disciples down the mountain to gather the needed herbs for alchemy.

Xu Qingfan sometimes wondered, if it weren’t for his interest in exotic plants due to cultivating "The Formula of Wither and Flourish," how Martial Uncle Liu would treat him.

While Xu Qingfan was lost in thought, the "Nimbus Cloud" had already carried him to the top of Jiuhua Mountain. The summit was vast and run-down, with a sign above the entrance faintly showing the words "Herb Garden." Despite the bright sun, a fierce wind howled through the place.

"Martial Nephew Xu, you’ve been away for just a year, and now you’re back?"

As Xu Qingfan landed the "Nimbus Cloud" at the entrance, a hoarse, old voice echoed from within the courtyard.