VHSTS CH19

Taihua Mountain, the number one sect of the Xuantian Continent, held its Sect Grand Competition once every seven years.

As the undisputed premier sect of Daoist cultivators, Taihua Mountain never feared revealing its strength; instead, it encouraged its elite young disciples to showcase their peerless skills to the fullest, displaying the supreme glory of illustrious Taihua.

In every past Sect Grand Competition, major powers across the continent would attend to offer their congratulations.

This time, the gathering was even more momentous. Every invited minor power dispatched its sect master or First Elder to lead a delegation, while the Four Great Sects, Eight Great Clans, and Sixteen Sects each directly sent a Tribulation Transcendence elder to offer congratulations.

As the leading lights of the younger generation, Luo Jianqing and Zuo Yunmo shouldered the responsibility of receiving the guests. Once all these visiting cultivators had formally settled into Taihua Mountain, Haoxingzi Zunzhe immediately convened everyone to discuss the punitive expedition against the demon cultivator and the upcoming exploration of Flowing Flame Valley.

Ordinary disciples naturally had no right to participate in such high-level deliberations, yet Luo Jianqing sat calmly inside Lingyun Hall, listening quietly to the debates among these Body Integration and Soul Formation powerhouses. He was present as the representative of Yuxiao Peak—Xuanlingzi rarely concerned himself with such tedious matters, and a mere Nascent Soul demon cultivator was certainly beneath his notice.

Nor did that demon cultivator occupy the elders’ attention for long; what concerned them far more was the situation at Flowing Flame Valley.

Flowing Flame Valley opened once every fifty years. Legend had it that tens of thousands of years ago, during a great war between the two races, a Heaven-grade fire-attributed Demon Venerable had fallen in Chang Prefecture, giving birth to Flowing Flame Valley. The flames within the valley had never been extinguished for millennia, and only cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm could enter to explore its secrets and seek great fortuitous opportunities.

A Heaven-grade demonic beast was equivalent to a human Deity Transformation cultivator!

With just a single step further, a Heaven-grade demonic beast could ascend to immortality and achieve an indestructible golden body.

The importance of Flowing Flame Valley to cultivators went without saying.

That Flowing Flame Valley had opened ahead of schedule naturally left many powers green with envy. After debating for a full day and night, Haoxingzi finally swept his sleeve to draft a formal covenant; once the representatives of the other sects signed their names and left their spiritual sense imprints upon it, everyone finally reached a consensus regarding the Flowing Flame Valley expedition.

After the sect masters and elders of those powers departed, Luo Jianqing remained behind alone. Haoxingzi Zunzhe spoke to him: “Jianqing, Flowing Flame Valley opening early this time is actually a stroke of good fortune for you. Otherwise, at your rate of cultivation, when Flowing Flame Valley opens again twenty-four years from now, you would already have reached the Nascent Soul realm and been barred from entering.”

Luo Jianqing nodded. “Jianqing understands.”

Haoxingzi continued, “However, the timing of Flowing Flame Valley’s opening is also somewhat unfortunate—our Taihua Mountain’s younger generation is still growing, caught in a transitional gap between generations. As Eldest Shixiong, you must guide your shidi and shimei to act with caution and prioritize their lives above all else.”

After giving a few more instructions, Haoxingzi dismissed Luo Jianqing.

Just as Haoxingzi had said, Taihua Mountain was indeed experiencing a generational gap; among disciples below the Golden Core threshold, the highest-cultivated was mid-Golden Core Luo Jianqing. Disciples of Luo Jianqing’s generation possessed formidable strength, yet their years of cultivation were still too brief—and with Flowing Flame Valley opening right now, there was no choice but to send them in.

Upon returning to Yuxiao Peak, Luo Jianqing did not go back into his bamboo cottage to cultivate; instead, he flipped his hand to summon the Shuangfu Sword and began practicing in the bamboo grove.

His pale white robes fluttered gently in the air, the faint blue-green patterns resembling emerald bamboo—refined and tasteful. Gleams of sword light flickered across the Shuangfu Sword, tiny serpents of lightning seeming to slither along its cyan edge, glowing like precious jade beneath the moonlight and radiating brilliant splendor.

Every single move Luo Jianqing executed was controlled with exquisite precision. His sword qi made the emerald bamboo sway incessantly and sent bamboo leaves fluttering down like flower petals, yet not a single stalk of bamboo was harmed. Anyone observing closely would even discover that the sword qi was calibrated precisely to make the bamboo sway without leaving even the faintest scratch upon the stalks.

With a tranquil expression, Luo Jianqing raised his sword and danced through forms, practicing for a full shichen.

Just as he finished retracting a sword stance from the Nine Lotuses True Heart Record, a cool, aloof voice sounded from behind him: “Your heart is not still, so your sword Dao is not pure enough. Jianqing, is this the level of skill with which you intend to display the swordsmanship of Taihua Mountain’s Yuxiao Peak before the world at the Sect Grand Competition in two days?”

Luo Jianqing’s entire body stiffened. He immediately turned around and bowed his head. “Shifu, this disciple knows his fault.”

Clad in a white lapel robe with his long black hair falling naturally down his back, Xuanlingzi looked calmly at his disciple before him. After gazing intently at him for a long while, he suddenly stepped forward and grasped the sword in Luo Jianqing’s hand.

Subconsciously, Luo Jianqing tightened his grip on the hilt, only to hear Xuanlingzi say with satisfaction, “Not bad—at least you know to hold onto your sword.”

Luo Jianqing lifted his head in puzzlement. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, the words froze abruptly in his throat.

—Too close.

As though having just bathed, Xuanlingzi’s long hair flowed loosely without any jade crown or hair ribbon binding it, utterly unrestrained. Pitch-black strands fell beside those cold, sharp phoenix eyes, making his face look even more aloof and unworldly, as cool and detached as moonlight.

Taihua Mountain’s disciples had always loved gossiping; some had even joked behind closed doors, “It’s only right that Yuxiao Peak has restrictive wards—how noble is Xuanlingzi Zunzhe? Rumor has it that the Supreme Elder of the Flying Flower Sect, one of the Four Great Sects, has secretly pined for him for years. And that’s not even mentioning our Eldest Shixiong! Without those wards, forget whether little shijie would sneak up the mountain every night—plenty of female cultivators from outside wouldn’t be able to hold themselves back either!”

Yuxiao Peak’s brilliance lay not solely in the strength of this master and disciple, but in every aspect of their being.

They were like flawless fine jade without a single blemish—so perfect that everyone yielded to them in genuine admiration.

Momentarily transfixed by the sight, Luo Jianqing watched as Xuanlingzi channeled a trace of spiritual power into his palm and took hold of the Shuangfu Sword. Subconsciously, Luo Jianqing tried to retain his grip, and Shuangfu vibrated twice in strong protest, yet Xuanlingzi exerted just a slight bit of force and subdued Shuangfu completely.

Xuanlingzi said, “Jianqing, watch closely.”

“At the dawn of primordial chaos, a single lotus was born; blooming nine petals, it transforms into Nine Lotuses.”

Barely had his words fallen when Xuanlingzi raised the sword and began to move, vast sword qi surging forth like a rushing tide.

Beneath the moonlight, the black-haired, white-robed Zunzhe moved gracefully through the sword dance, every single stance seeming calculated down to the finest hairsbreadth—leaving any onlooker unable to help sighing in awe at such a feast for the eyes. His sword qi was a hundred times stronger than what Luo Jianqing had unleashed moments ago, yet not a single bamboo branch in the grove swayed, and even the bamboo leaves rested silently upon their stems.

At last, the boundless sword aura condensed into golden light, shooting straight toward Luo Jianqing standing nearby before halting a mere cun in front of his eyes.

Xuanlingzi handed the sword back to Luo Jianqing and asked, “Jianqing, did you see clearly?”

Luo Jianqing nodded. “Yes, I saw clearly.”

Xuanlingzi said, “Then perform it once more.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Luo Jianqing raised his sword and began. After the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, he sheathed his stance and looked toward his Shifu, only to see the latter furrow his brows slightly before suddenly stepping forward and taking hold of Luo Jianqing’s hand!

Luo Jianqing froze completely.

Carrying a faint, clean fragrance, Xuanlingzi murmured softly beside his ear, “You are too impatient.”

As his words fell, Xuanlingzi guided Luo Jianqing’s hand, moving slowly through the sword form together.

Scorching warmth transmitted through the point where their skin touched, flowing along his veins throughout his entire body. When Xuanlingzi withdrew his hand, Luo Jianqing suddenly felt as though something were missing from his heart. Lifting his head in a daze to look at his Shifu, he realized abruptly… that tonight, this person seemed extraordinarily gentle.

Xuanlingzi spoke in a soft voice, “There are still two days left; there is no need to rush. Do you know what day… today is?”

Luo Jianqing blinked slightly and shook his head. “This disciple does not know.”

Xuanlingzi slowly curved the corners of his lips, revealing a gentle smile: “Today is your birthday.”

Luo Jianqing froze abruptly on the spot.

“Thirty-six years ago, I found you by the banks of the Luo River. The birth of Transcendent-grade spiritual roots is inevitably accompanied by celestial phenomena. Your parents abandoned you beside the Luo River back then; I secretly left them some silver taels and brought you back. Thirty-six years have passed since then, and a few days ago I divined that this year marks the end of your parents’ mortal lifespans. Jianqing, do you wish to go back and take a look?”

Luo Jianqing smiled faintly. “There is no need, Shifu. Since you already severed my mortal ties with them back then, all matters of life and death between us have long ceased to have any connection.”

Gazing at the handsome, striking young man before him, Xuanlingzi lowered his eyes slightly and said, “Your celestial phenomenon at birth was divine thunder descending from the heavens, and eighteen thousand li of the muddy Luo River gradually cleared—thus, I named you Luo Jianqing. Over these thirty-six years, have you truly never wished to go see the life you might otherwise have lived?”

Luo Jianqing broke into a radiant smile, his voice softening involuntarily: “Shifu, having you is more than enough for Jianqing.”

That single sentence left Xuanlingzi suddenly speechless. Gazing at this peerlessly handsome youth beneath the watery moonlight, his fingers couldn’t help trembling faintly, and even the spiritual power within his body showed a trace of turbulence. Looking upon that breathtakingly refined face, his chest burned as though a raging inferno had ignited inside, and his Dao heart wavered subtly.

Xuanlingzi’s expression suddenly turned cold as he said, “Weishi¹Weishi (為師): Literally “as your master”—a traditional, formal self-referential pronoun used by masters when speaking to their disciples (equivalent to “I, your master”). will celebrate this birthday with you, and from this year onward, you shall have no further entanglement with the mortal world. Put aside worldly attachments, devote your heart wholeheartedly to the Dao from now on, and ascend to immortality at an early date.”

Luo Jianqing blurted out, “How does one put aside worldly attachments?”

Xuanlingzi paused briefly before answering, “Sever your mortal roots and keep only the Grand Dao in your heart.”

Luo Jianqing asked again, “How does one sever mortal roots?”

After a long silence, Xuanlingzi replied, “You already have no ties left to the mortal world; from this day forward, your mortal roots may be considered severed.”

Hearing this, however, Luo Jianqing smiled. “Shifu, I have never severed my mortal roots. In my heart are Taihua Mountain, Second Shidi, Third Shimei… and every elder and Zunzhe of Taihua Mountain who cares for me.”

His words halted there abruptly. Lifting his eyes gently, Luo Jianqing gazed intently at Xuanlingzi with bright eyes brimming with a brilliant smile, his voice clear and melodious, sounding like the sweetest confession of love in the world: “Shifu, in my heart… there is also you.”

Xuanlingzi did not reply, his face still wearing only its cool, aloof expression, yet Luo Jianqing kept looking at him with a smile.

After a long pause, Xuanlingzi swept his sleeve and said, “We are not your mortal roots. When you reach that realm, you will naturally understand.”

As his words fell, Xuanlingzi flew into his bamboo cottage. Immediately afterward, Luo Jianqing felt a gust of wind sweep past, drawing him straight inside the cottage as well. Holding a jade hairpin, Xuanlingzi gently slid it into Luo Jianqing’s hair, his fingers brushing lightly through the dark strands and sending a faint tremor through Luo Jianqing’s heart.

“This is crafted from Emerald Spirit Jade Marrow and stores a single strike carrying sixty percent of Weishi’s power. Jianqing, once you use it, it will become an ordinary ornament with no further function—use it with caution.”

Luo Jianqing smiled until his eyes curved into crescents. “Yes.”

Afterward, Luo Jianqing combed Xuanlingzi’s hair and helped bind it up into his jade crown.

Though called a birthday celebration, throughout the entire night, master and disciple spoke very few words, sitting beside a Go board and placing stones one after another in turn. When the sky began to brighten at dawn, Zuo Yunmo’s voice echoed up from the foot of Yuxiao Peak, calling Luo Jianqing to go handle affairs for the Sect Grand Competition together.

Luo Jianqing stood up immediately, yet upon reaching the doorway, he couldn’t resist turning around to ask, “Shifu, this disciple wishes to know—have you severed your mortal roots?”

Standing with his back to the door, Xuanlingzi gazed straight down at the Go board.

After a long silence, just when Luo Jianqing thought he would never receive an answer, Xuanlingzi’s voice sounded like a soft sigh: “Weishi… has not.”

Luo Jianqing bowed in salute and took his leave, and tranquility instantly returned to the bamboo cottage.

Sitting upright on the bamboo couch, Xuanlingzi lowered his eyes to gaze at the Go board. After a very long time, he reached out and slowly stroked every single stone Luo Jianqing had placed moments ago. His movements were exceedingly gentle, lingering with tender reluctance—until his fingers brushed the very last stone, when Xuanlingzi’s body jolted, pulling his hand back as if burned.

“Jianqing…”

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Footnotes:

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  Weishi (為師): Literally “as your master”—a traditional, formal self-referential pronoun used by masters when speaking to their disciples (equivalent to “I, your master”). ↩︎