Volume 4 Chapter 2

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

Volume 4 Chapter 2: The Future

Outside the "Herb Garden," the night deepened, while stars and the moon remained bright.

Standing at the top of Jiuhua Mountain, it seemed like one could reach for the stars and moon, but upon stretching out a hand, they still appeared distant.

When Xu Qingfan rode the "Nimbus Cloud" back to his cave in the mountain, he found his room filled with shadows moving under the lamp’s glow.

Xu Qingfan paused for a moment, then quickly stepped inside, only to discover Jin Qinghan, Li Yuhan, and Sheng Yushan, who had left with him earlier, were already back, waiting for him. Ting’er quietly sat nearby, reading the books Xu Qingfan had left behind, looking peaceful and gentle.

Besides them, Lv Qingshang was also there, though it was unclear why he did not stay with his mentor, who suffered from severe Divine Sense injury, and instead came to see Xu Qingfan.

The other visitor was Dongfang Qingling. Perhaps due to the many people around, her cheeks were slightly flushed when she came to find Xu Qingfan alone. Upon seeing Xu Qingfan enter, they turned even redder, losing her usual boldness.

However, her concern was unnecessary. Jin Qinghan was naturally aloof, Li Yuhan steady, Sheng Yushan quiet, and even Lv Qingshang, often carefree, was too worried about his mentor to joke, so despite the crowd, no one teased her.

Previously, Dongfang Qingling stayed with Zhang Xusheng atop Zhantai, then traveled with elders and disciples of various sects to Jiuhua Mountain but did not partake in the conflict. Even after hearing her sisters describe the dangers of Jiuhua’s turmoil and knowing Xu Qingfan was unharmed, she couldn’t help but worry, so she secretly came to find him. Unfortunately, she arrived just after he left, making her wait the longest among them.

When Xu Qingfan came in, everyone stood up to greet him, but Ting’er just glanced at him before continuing to read her book.

"Senior Brother Xu, why are you back so late? Did Martial Uncle Liu have something important to discuss with you?" Li Yuhan asked.

Xu Qingfan laughed and said, "It’s not that I came late, but that you all arrived too early. I thought it would take you much longer to escape."

As he spoke, Xu Qingfan turned to Lv Qingshang, who had a furrowed brow, and asked, "Senior Brother Lv, how is Elder Hou’s injury? Is it serious?"

Lv Qingshang shook his head sadly and said in a deep voice, "Not well at all. Although the ‘Mind Taking Technique’ has been lifted, the forced use of it has severely damaged his Divine Sense. He is still unconscious, and according to the healer Elder Ma, whether Master can fully recover is uncertain."

Saying this, a deeper sadness filled Lv Qingshang’s eyes.

Hearing Lv Qingshang’s words, Xu Qingfan also felt sorrowful and hurriedly consoled, "Senior Brother Lv, don’t worry too much. Good people will have fortune on their side. With Elder Hou’s profound cultivation, he will surely recover quickly."

"Yes, indeed. Jiuhua has many secret healing herbs, and quite a few are effective for Divine Sense. I believe if Elder Hou takes them daily, he will recover quickly," Li Yuhan also comforted.

Lv Qingshang smiled, gesturing for everyone to be at ease, and said, "I know. It’s just that with Master’s injuries so severe, I can’t help but worry."

Seeing the worry still lingering in Lv Qingshang’s eyes, Xu Qingfan quickly changed the subject and said, "Senior Brother Lv, since that’s the case, why are you not accompanying Elder Hou and have come here to find me instead?"

Lv Qingshang explained, "Junior Brother Xu, I’m here to bid you farewell."

Hearing Lv Qingshang’s words, Xu Qingfan was slightly shocked and quickly asked, "What do you mean by that, Senior Brother Lv? Are you going down the mountain to travel?"

Lv Qingshang shook his head and slowly said, "No, the sect has arranged for me to practice in seclusion in the ‘Jiuji Cave.’ I probably won’t be able to come out for a while. Not just me, Junior Brother Jin, Junior Martial Sister Dongfang, Nephew Li, Nephew Sheng, and Junior Brother Feng are also going to the ‘Jiuji Cave’ to train. I suspect they came here for the same purpose as me."

‘Jiuji Cave’ is one of the legends of Jiuhua Mountain, but it is not a cave or an underground cavity in the true sense. It’s a Spirit Qi vortex formed by the powerful Spirit Qi during the reverse operation of Jiuhua Mountain’s ‘Nine Pole Array.’ Although it’s made purely of Spirit Qi, it is extremely stable, and the Spirit Qi within is dozens of times more concentrated and purer than the most concentrated place in Jiuhua Mountain. Training inside is ten times faster than usual.

However, because of this, very few disciples enter the ‘Jiuji Cave’ to practice. First, forming the ‘Jiuji Cave’ requires reversing the ‘Nine Pole Array,’ which demands a massive amount of spirit stones, not to mention the implications of reversing the array. It means Jiuhua Mountain must face a situation of isolation, affecting its accessibility and hindering Jiuhua’s interactions with the cultivation world.

More importantly, due to the overly dense and pure Spirit Qi in the ‘Jiuji Cave,’ it’s almost in a solid state. Thus, those with insufficient skill who enter to train may suffer Qi deviation due to the excessive Spirit Qi rushing into their bodies, causing more harm than good.

In Jiuhua’s history, only five times have cultivators entered the ‘Jiuji Cave’ for training, and those five cultivators were Jiuhua elders stuck at the late stage of the Golden Core Stage for hundreds of years, unable to break through. They aimed to use the cave’s special conditions to reach the Mahayana Stage and stayed in seclusion in the ‘Jiuji Cave’ for only two to three years.

But now, is Zhang Hualing really going to reverse the ‘Nine Pole Array’ to create the ‘Jiuji Cave’? More importantly, this time, those entering the cave to train are not highly skilled elders but ordinary disciples like Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang? What if they suffer Qi deviation? Why is Zhang Hualing doing this? Does he not care about the impact of Jiuhua’s isolation, nor fear that these elite Jiuhua disciples may suffer Qi deviation?

Thinking about this, Xu Qingfan looked at Jin Qinghan, Li Yuhan, and the others with a questioning gaze. Seeing Xu Qingfan’s inquisitive look, Jin Qinghan and the others nodded, indicating that they indeed planned to enter "Jiuji Cave" to practice, as Lv Qingshang had mentioned. They had come to say goodbye to Xu Qingfan.

Seeing his former companions all going to practice in "Jiuji Cave," while he was the only one left on Jiuhua Mountain, Xu Qingfan felt a bit gloomy and couldn’t help but feel a little unbalanced.

The gloom was because Xu Qingfan felt that he was the only one left from their group on Jiuhua Mountain, which was somewhat lonely. The imbalance came from realizing that he was the only one not arranged to enter "Jiuji Cave" for practice, which made him feel somewhat overlooked.

Xu Qingfan understood that his body couldn’t retain the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth. Even if he practiced in the "Nine Pole Array," he could only reach the peak of the Lingji Stage and then progress no further. So, it was understandable that his teacher hadn’t arranged for him to enter "Jiuji Cave" for practice. However, that feeling of being underestimated still made Xu Qingfan uncomfortable. This wasn’t about being selfish or desperate to enter "Jiuji Cave" to practice, but rather about the natural human desire not to be overlooked.

But after all he had been through, Xu Qingfan could already control his emotions. The slight gloominess was quickly hidden away.

Since he had been overlooked, Xu Qingfan could only choose to rely on himself and wish his friends well.

In fact, Xu Qingfan had misunderstood this time. Although given his aptitude, it was indeed unlikely that Zhang Hualing would arrange for him to practice in "Jiuji Cave," the main reason Zhang Hualing hadn’t done so was because Li Xuhan intended to personally teach Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan had no idea that his opportunity in some ways was stronger than Jin Qinghan’s and the others’. After all, practicing in "Jiuji Cave" might lead to quick progress, but having a Mahayana Stage master personally guide you is a rare and invaluable chance.

So, now Xu Qingfan was still feeling a bit resentful, forcing a smile as he said to everyone, "Oh? Are there really that many people entering ‘Jiuji Cave’ this time? As far as I know, the Spirit Qi inside is so dense and pure that practicing there increases the risk of Qi deviation. You all must be very careful."

No one noticed Xu Qingfan’s forced smile, as everyone always thought of Xu Qingfan as an easy-going person. Compared to endless training, Xu Qingfan preferred to brew a cup of tea and enjoy a good book.

Unknown to them, after the strange events in Jiuhua, Xu Qingfan’s thoughts had begun to change silently. Although he still longed for a leisurely life of tea and reading, Xu Qingfan also desired to become stronger, at least enough to protect himself and those around him.

Among the group, it was Jin Qinghan, who usually wasn’t good at reading people’s expressions, who noticed the changes in Xu Qingfan’s eyes. He had known Xu Qingfan the longest and understood him well, so he saw through Xu Qingfan’s change in expression.

After hearing Xu Qingfan’s arrangements, Li Yuhan smiled and said, "This time, not just us, but all Martial Uncles on Jiuhua Mountain who have reached the Lingji Stage will enter the ‘Jiuji Cave’ for strenuous training. According to the Sect Master, there are about thirty-three of them."

Then Lv Qingshang continued, "As for the problem of Qi deviation, Junior Brother Xu, you don’t need to worry. Along with us in ‘Jiuji Cave’, there are also more than ten elders from Jiuhua. They will monitor our changes, and if anyone shows signs of Qi deviation, they will immediately intervene."

Hearing Li Yuhan and Lv Qingshang’s words, a bitter feeling welled up in Xu Qingfan’s heart.

All Jiuhua disciples who reached the Lingji Stage would enter the "Jiuji Cave" for training, but he was the only one left out?

Yet Xu Qingfan suppressed the changes in his emotions and smiled at everyone, saying, "Is that so? That’s great then, I suppose. I imagine that when you come out, your strengths will be greatly increased, right? But how long will you be training in the ‘Jiuji Cave’?"

Li Yuhan replied, "According to Sect Leader Martial Uncle Zu, the initial plan is ten years. If the results are not satisfactory, we will continue training in the ‘Jiuji Cave’ until someone reaches the Condensed Core Stage. After all, we only have thirty years left."

Hearing Li Yuhan’s words, Xu Qingfan was slightly taken aback and asked in surprise, "Ten years? And it might even be extended? Does that mean Jiuhua Mountain will be sealed for ten years or more? Aren’t you afraid of losing contact with the cultivation world? And what if disciples need to leave the mountain? Also, what do you mean by only thirty years of time?"

Faced with Xu Qingfan’s barrage of questions, the group appeared somewhat gloomy. After a long silence, Li Yuhan slowly replied, "Senior Brother Xu, you may not know yet. Due to the severe damage from the recent upheaval, our Jiuhua is taking precautions against opportunists. The Sect Master has decided to seal the mountain for at least a cycle of sixty years, until our strength is restored or the spirit stones within the mountain are depleted. As for the thirty-year limit, it’s because nearly half of our forty Jiuhua elders have only thirty years left to live."

"What!?" Li Yuhan’s words were like a thunderbolt from the blue to Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan knew about the severe damage to Jiuhua Mountain, but he hadn’t imagined that half of the Jiuhua elders, the foundation of Jiuhua, had only thirty years left. He momentarily forgot his previous bitterness and eagerly asked for more details.

Then, Li Yuhan and Lv Qingshang meticulously explained Zhang Xusheng’s scheme to Xu Qingfan, how Zhang Xusheng had given the "Sky Spiritual Pill" to Zhou Huahai, and how Zhou Huahai had forced the elders who joined him to consume it, explaining the pill’s dangers in the process.

"According to Elder Ma, who is most knowledgeable about pills, the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill’ is indeed a chronic poison that boosts a cultivator’s level at the cost of eroding their life force. Once taken, it requires continual consumption, with the addiction worsening over time. Based on the pill’s properties, those elders have only about thirty years left to live," Li Yuhan grimly concluded.

Lv Qingshang added, "With consent from the elders who took the ‘Sky Spiritual Pill,’ they will each find a disciple of good potential before they pass, using the ‘Grand Empowerment Technique’ to pass on their lifetime of cultivation, thus strengthening Jiuhua’s next generation as quickly as possible."

Listening to their explanation, Xu Qingfan felt enlightened yet horrified, realizing Jiuhua Mountain was in such a precarious situation. In the cultivation world, sects that suffer a great loss of strength can be attacked overnight by unknown sects, their treasures plundered, and rapidly vanish from the world. A wealthy and historic sect like Jiuhua Gate, with thousands of years of accumulation, is particularly at risk. No wonder Zhang Hualing was so urgent.

The "Grand Empowerment Technique" is a basic cultivation method known among cultivators. It involves transferring a cultivator’s lifetime of power into another, with these Spirit Qi sealed within the body. Each time the cultivator enhances a level of skill, a seal is unlocked, allowing for faster skill improvement.

However, this cultivation method has three drawbacks. First, its effectiveness is too low. A cultivator using the "Grand Empowerment Technique" can only transfer two-thirds of the Spirit Qi within themselves into another cultivator, while most of it is wasted during the transfer process.

Second, this power transfer method can only occur between cultivators of the same level. A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator can only empower another Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, a Condensed Core Stage cultivator can only do so for another Condensed Core Stage cultivator, and a Mahayana cultivator is the same.

Third, once a cultivator has received empowerment from another, they can never perform the "Grand Empowerment Technique" themselves. Additionally, a person can only receive this power transfer once in their lifetime.

These three reasons are why, despite being widely known in the cultivation world, the "Grand Empowerment Technique" is rarely used.

Jiuhua has suffered a great loss of power this time. It is clear that Zhang Hualing plans to create a group of Condensed Core Stage cultivators within thirty years using the "Jiuji Cave" and then use the "Grand Empowerment Technique" to quickly enhance their strength, thereby strengthening Jiuhua’s power and preparing for future challenges in the cultivation world.

Although Xu Qingfan felt this method seemed a bit too hasty, he had to admit that it was the best strategy for Jiuhua’s current situation.

Putting aside his initial bitterness, Xu Qingfan asked Li Yuhan, "Is this what the Sect Master called you for? Is there any news about your master?"

Li Yuhan nodded and replied, "The sect leader uncle met with me and Senior Brother Sheng about this matter and advised us not to feel pressured about the ancestral master’s situation. As for our master…"

At this point, Li Yuhan slightly frowned, then continued, "As for my master, uncle said he committed suicide out of guilt, but strangely, his body disappeared afterward."

When Li Yuhan spoke, Xu Qingfan felt that things were not as simple as they seemed, but since such matters were not for an ordinary disciple like him to consider, Xu Qingfan just made a note of it and didn’t think much more.

Afterwards, everyone chatted about other things and encouraged one another before dispersing. It seemed Dongfang Qingling had something she wanted to say privately to Xu Qingfan, but seeing everyone leaving, she shyly glanced at Xu Qingfan and then left with the group.

Before leaving, Jin Qinghan said to Xu Qingfan, "The size of your heart largely determines how far you can go. External support is only external support after all. Senior Brother Xu, I believe when I return from my seclusion, you will have even greater surprises for me."

Xu Qingfan was slightly taken aback, but quickly realized that Jin Qinghan had sensed his earlier discontent, smiled, and said, "I know, don’t worry, I won’t let you all leave me far behind."

Jin Qinghan nodded but said nothing more and left with the others.

Xu Qingfan saw them off at the door, watching as his past companions departed, his gaze complicated.

Just then, Ting’er quietly appeared beside Xu Qingfan and, for the first time, reached out to hold his hand tightly, as if wishing to warm him with her touch.

Surprised, Xu Qingfan looked down at Ting’er, who was gazing intently at him, and couldn’t help but smile, realizing that apart from Jin Qinghan, Ting’er also understood his feelings.

As his companions pursued their own goals and worked hard for them, Xu Qingfan resolved to put in twice the effort.

Xu Qingfan thought to himself.

Help is help, conditions are conditions, and the future is just the future. Although they are connected, the final decision lies with oneself.

"After you come out of ‘Jiuji Cave,’ I won’t be too far behind you."

Thinking of this, Xu Qingfan looked down and gently said to Ting’er, "Ting’er, starting tomorrow, will you practice with Uncle at the mountain top?"

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s words, Ting’er looked up towards the top of Jiuhua Mountain, but found it concealed by the dark night, like an unknown realm. Just like everyone’s future, a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes, but Ting’er obediently nodded.