Xiao Jingting endured the heartache of turning the Qinggang Lingyun bamboo1 he had painstakingly cultivated into a robe and a protective shield.
“Father, can the magical artifacts you made really work…” Xiao Xiaodong asked with doubt. These magical artifacts looked really strange.
Xiao Jingting glared at Xiao Xiaodong and said irritably, “How could they not work? You have no eye for quality.”
They were ugly alright, but that didn’t affect the good materials! Although they didn’t look good, as long as their function was fine, that was enough. If his younger son had crafted them, these two magical artifacts’ effectiveness could probably be improved by twenty percent. What a pity…
Xiao Jingting secretly thought he needed to study artifact refinement when he returned. His current craftsmanship was really too embarrassing.
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaodong and said, “You all wait at home. I’ll go and come back quickly.”
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting, hesitated, and said, “Let me go with you.”
Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “No need. There are some cultivators outside catching lone Foundation Establishment cultivators to scout ahead. You stay here and wait for me. It’s more convenient for me to escape alone.”
Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Alright then.”
Xiao Jingting followed the map and came to Wind Refining Cliff.
From a distance, Xiao Jingting saw a mountain cliff surrounded by blue fierce winds. Where the cliff was located, no birds or beasts could be found.
Xiao Jingting threw a piece of diamond toward the cliff. The football-sized diamond was instantly pulverized by the fierce wind.
Xiao Jingting swallowed hard. Diamond was considered fairly high-grade artifact refinement material, yet…
Xiao Jingting took a deep breath and entered the wind.
As soon as Xiao Jingting entered the fierce wind’s encirclement, he brought out the protective shield refined from Qinggang Lingyun bamboo.
To Xiao Jingting’s surprise, the originally violent hurricane slowed considerably when it contacted the protective shield. However, the shield also showed slight damage. The robe made from Qinggang Lingyun bamboo on Xiao Jingting’s body heated up, firmly protecting Xiao Jingting.
Xiao Jingting didn’t dare be careless and passed through the fierce wind at the fastest speed. The wind circle’s range was extremely wide. Xiao Jingting spent considerable time before passing through the fierce wind.
After passing through the fierce wind, Xiao Jingting entered a stone cave. In the cave was a stone pool with a Soul Refining Stone. The water in the pool was originally ordinary spring water, but because it had been soaking the Soul Refining Stone, it gradually became Soul Refining Water that could enhance soul power.
Because the fierce wind was violent, no one had entered this place for a long time. The Soul Refining Water had soaked the Soul Refining Stone for so long that its quality had become extremely high.
Xiao Jingting transferred all the spirit water into his jade pendant space.
Xiao Jingting went down into the pool water and tried to transfer the Soul Refining Stone, but discovered this stone indeed couldn’t be moved, so he had to give up.
Xiao Jingting discovered there was a stone platform beside the Soul Refining Pool with a book on it. Only when Xiao Jingting approached did he realize it was a Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Manual. Xiao Jingting tried to move the stone book but found it completely immovable, so he could only make rubbings of the stone book’s contents.
……
As soon as Xiao Jingting left, Xu Mu’an fell into worry. A few days later, Xiao Jingting appeared in Xu Mu’an’s cave dwelling looking disheveled.
“How are you?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “I’m fine. Almost capsized in the gutter2.”
“What happened! Was Wind Refining Cliff really that dangerous?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “That was actually fine. The hurricane at Wind Refining Cliff was indeed extremely sharp, but Qinggang Lingyun bamboo is the natural enemy of that wind – the wind automatically avoided it. It’s just that when I came out, I encountered people from Tianshen Sect.”
“People from Tianshen Sect?” Xu Mu’an asked.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Yes! Those two geniuses from Tianshen Sect went to Wind Refining Cliff and came back empty-handed, but they actually left people there to monitor Wind Refining Cliff’s movements.”
“When I went, I didn’t notice there were people monitoring Wind Refining Cliff. When I came out, I encountered several cultivators blocking me. Having no choice, I could only continuously self-detonate Fire Thunder Beads and formation plates for self-protection.”
Xu Mu’an narrowed his eyes and said, “Tianshen Sect?”
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin and said, “Although the several cultivators outside Wind Refining Cliff are all dead, the news has probably already spread. Now I’m afraid even more people will be looking for the killing madman.”
Xiao Jingting smiled self-mockingly. Ever since he killed quite a few people from Yingui Sect, the Yingui Sect people had never stopped searching for him. However, because he had never shown himself, the spotlight was gradually overshadowed by others. Due to frequent accidents in the secret realm, there were also rumors that the killing madman had already died.
Xiao Jingting’s appearance this time might cause Yingui Sect to make a comeback, and Tianshen Sect would probably also intensify their search for him.
Xu Mu’an frowned and said, “It’s good that you’re fine. Just be careful about everything from now on.”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “I know. Speaking of which, I obtained several space rings from those Tianshen Sect cultivators. There are quite a few good things in the rings. Tianshen Sect cultivators are really wealthy!”
……
“Father, Tianshen Sect is offering a bounty of five high-grade Spirit Stones to search for the killing madman,” Xiao Xiaodong said.
Xiao Jingting: “……” Aiya, his value had increased again.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Xiao Jingting and said, “Father, you’re so valuable. You must take care of yourself.”
Xiao Jingting glanced sideways at Xiao Xiaodong and said, “Do I need you to tell me that?”
Xiao Xiaodong: “……”
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin. Although he had killed all the Tianshen Sect people outside Wind Refining Cliff when he left, the Tianshen Sect people should still know quite a bit, such as that he had a way to enter and exit Wind Refining Cliff. The other party should also have guessed that the Soul Refining Water was in his hands.
Xu Mu’an had learned about the Soul Refining Water from the other party. He just didn’t know if the other party knew there was a Heavenly Demon Body Refinement Manual in Wind Refining Cliff. That body refinement technique was quite extraordinary. Many Golden Core cultivators died under heavenly thunder when advancing to Nascent Soul, so tempering one’s constitution became especially important at the Golden Core stage.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at the thoughtful Xiao Jingting and said, “Father.”
Xiao Jingting looked at Xiao Xiaodong and asked, “What is it?”
Xiao Xiaodong narrowed his eyes and said, “That Heavenly Fire Thunder probably can’t be used anymore.”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “I know.” If people found out that he had seized the Soul Refining Water from under Tianshen Sect’s noses, he would be finished. Even if he could protect himself in the secret realm, he would die without a burial place once he got out.
Xiao Jingting narrowed his eyes. As long as he had sufficient soul power, he could easily control those scorpions under his command. This way, even if he encountered tricky situations, he should be able to protect himself.
Xiao Jingting patted Xiao Xiaodong’s shoulder and said, “Cultivate well.”
While the outside world was in uproar over the mysterious person’s bold venture into Wind Refining Cliff, Xiao Jingting was constantly tempering his soul power with the support of Soul Refining Water. The Soul Refining Water, rumored to be miraculous, indeed didn’t disappoint Xiao Jingting. After more than a month, Xiao Jingting’s soul power became three times more robust than before.
Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Jingting and said, “About ready?”
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Mm, my soul power cultivation is about done.”
“Then we can set out. Chen Xu has already come to urge us several times,” Xu Mu’an said with a smile.
Xiao Jingting nodded and said, “Mm.” Chen Xu was probably thinking about the Xiling grass.3 He wondered if they could find it.
“Then let’s set out,” Xiao Jingting said.
……
Chen Xu looked at Xiao Xiaodong thoughtfully.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Chen Xu and said, “What’s wrong?”
Chen Xu shook his head and said, “Nothing. I heard someone took the things from Wind Refining Cliff.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Mm, the news has spread everywhere.”
“After those two geniuses from Tianshen Sect went to Wind Refining Cliff and returned in crushing defeat, the two didn’t give up and left people there to guard it. They unexpectedly saw someone enter Wind Refining Cliff, and then those people quickly passed the news to the two talented figures in their sect.”
“Unfortunately, those two geniuses were both tied up with other matters at the time, so they had the remaining cultivators try to delay that cultivator. It’s a pity that when the two Tianshen Sect geniuses arrived, the other party had already escaped. It’s good that person ran fast, otherwise the two Tianshen Sect cultivators would have arrived.”
Xiao Xiaodong smiled without saying anything. Xiao Xiaodong understood that Chen Xu had probably guessed something.
Xiao Xiaodong looked at Chen Xu and said, “How do you know so much?”
“Last time I met the young master from Lingbao Pavilion, I asked him for a transmission talisman. I can ask questions if needed, but have to pay some Spirit Stones,” Chen Xu said.
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “I see!”
Chen Xu looked at Xiao Xiaodong and said, “Uncle Xiao’s matters should be about settled, right? Then after some more time, we should be able to go to the inner city.”
Xiao Xiaodong nodded and said, “Should be.”
……
Tianshen Sect’s power was considerably greater than Yingui Sect’s. Last time with Yingui Sect, Xiao Jingting had actually only offended a few ordinary elites from Yingui Sect. But this time with Tianshen Sect, he had essentially snatched food from the tiger’s mouth4.
Those two young ancestors from Tianshen Sect were putting all their effort into tracking him down. Xiao Jingting learned from Chen Xu that soul power was extremely important for cultivators.
Cultivators with powerful soul power had much greater chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul. Treasures in this world that could improve soul power were all priceless.
Having no choice, Xiao Jingting had to play the turtle5, keeping his head down. No matter how chaotic it was outside, he resolutely refused to show himself.
With the inner city opening imminent, after Tianshen Sect searched for a while, they had no choice but to send people toward the inner city, leaving a small portion of cultivators to continue searching.
“How is it outside?” Xiao Jingting asked.
Xu Mu’an shook his head and said, “Many people are looking for you.”
Xiao Jingting suddenly felt like he had become Tang Seng6 – everyone wanted to take a bite.
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin and said, “Looks like I need to hide for another while.” Every time he became a legend, he had to play the turtle!
“That boy Chen Xu seems to know something,” Xu Mu’an said.
Xiao Jingting stroked his chin. Xiao Xiaodong had used formation plates in front of Chen Xu. If Chen Xu didn’t make some connections, he would probably have rocks in his head. Obviously, although Young Master Chen had shallow experience, unremarkable aptitude, and mediocre cultivation, he definitely wasn’t a fool.
“Since Xiaodong likes him, let him marry the guy.” Only by becoming one of his own people could he sleep peacefully!
Xu Mu’an shook his head and said, “Let them follow their natural course.”
Notes:
- Qinggang Lingyun bamboo (青罡靈韻竹) – Special bamboo that resists fierce winds ↵
- “Capsized in the gutter” (陰溝裡翻船) – meaning to fail at something that should be easy ↵
- Xiling grass (洗靈草) – “Spirit Cleansing Grass” – What Chen Xu is seeking ↵
- “Snatched food from the tiger’s mouth” (虎口奪食) – Taking something very dangerous or risky ↵
- “Play the turtle” (當縮頭烏龜) – Chinese idiom meaning to hide or avoid confrontation ↵
- “Tang Seng” (唐僧) – Reference to the monk from Journey to the West whose flesh was said to grant immortality, making him a target for demons ↵
Hmmmm….. marry vs natural course… does he mean not to say anything until the pair comes forward on their own accord?
Yeah like they can see the kids are getting closer and want to be prepared financially, but when it comes to asking them if they really like each other, they’d rather not get involved ＼(*T▽T*)／
I am not sure …. the mindset of arranging a marriage is common for the world they are in. I wonder why Jingting was the one going for this solution. And Xu Muan, who grew up here and should have the mindset to go for marriage, was the one opting for consent instead. Really interesting flip. I would love to hear the reasening behind it.