飘零影音

Chapter 52 - Arc 5: Loose Cultivator Alliance | Chapter 52: Scheme

Translator: Lynn

It turned out that these three individuals had indeed encountered Xu Ziqing before, specifically on the sea.

The Daughter of the Purple Light Sect’s Patriarch, Li Jiaoran, had desired a third-rank demon beast called the Winning Fish with an ancient bloodline as a demon pet. To capture it, he had taken twelve cultivators ranging from the sixth to eighth levels of Qi refinement.

The fish was incredibly fierce, using its divine ability to stir up thousands of waves in the sea, leaving the cultivators helpless and resulting in several deaths.

A few of the cultivators, dissatisfied with serving under the domineering young lady Li Jiaoran, had abandoned her and fled for their lives. They spread false information, claiming that the young lady had been taken away but never returned to the clan. They shifted the blame onto those who had already lost their lives.

However, the monks had misjudged the patriarch’s nature.

When the four or five monks who had escaped first reported back, they were met with the furious wrath of the Patriarch, who swiftly killed them with a few slaps.

Wang Jun, Nian Hongzhi, and Ruan Yuanliang had just returned to the clan, and the gate guard, favored by Wang Jun, informed them about the patriarch’s anger. Fearing for their lives, they had to flee.

Now, the three of them had become brothers, with Nian Hongzhi as the eldest, Wang Jun as the second, and Ruan Yuanliang as the youngest. Wang Jun, who possessed some intelligence, suggested that they head to the Alliance of Scattered Cultivators, a distant place from the Purple Light Sect. By joining the alliance, they could escape their previous status as sect disciples and become scattered cultivators.

The three of them traveled tirelessly day and night until they reached Shangluzhou.

Along the way, they abandoned all their magic clothes, storage bags, and magic weapons, just to be cautious.

Nian Hongzhi and the others had hoped for a peaceful life, but they never expected to encounter the young cultivator they had encountered on the sea within the Loose Cultivator Alliance.

They had presumed that he, being only at the seventh level of Qi refinement, would have perished at the hands of the Ying Fish. Yet, not only had he survived, but his cultivation had even advanced by one level.

Ruan Yuanliang recognized Xu Ziqing and grew anxious. He addressed his brothers, “Big brother, second brother, what should we do?”

Wang Jun took a deep breath and replied, “We must ensure he doesn’t reveal our identities to the Patriarch. Otherwise, our lives will be in danger.”

Nian Hongzhi’s gaze turned deep, and a hint of ruthlessness flickered in his eyes. “Then let’s make sure he keeps it a secret.”

—-

Having acquired three storage bags, Xu Ziqing proceeded to the next level. Although the three men seemed familiar to him, the chaotic waves on the sea and the blurred memories prevented him from recognizing them. The sense of familiarity passed by, so he didn’t pay it much attention. Little did he know, those three individuals had already identified him and were plotting their next move.

After spending quite some time in the trading hall, Xu Ziqing had already formulated plans for what would follow. Since he had obtained the storage bag, it was time to exchange it for additional cultivation resources and then continue his seclusion.

If he truly aimed to break through the Foundation Establishment stage within three years, he would need to work diligently.

With these thoughts in mind, Xu Ziqing first headed to the first level of the pagoda to exchange his contributions. He decided to keep a low profile, especially considering the high quality of the spirit herbs he possessed and the attention he had garnered previously. However, the beast cores posed no problem.

Despite the demon vine consuming a significant amount of flesh and blood from demon beasts over the years, most of the beast cores were only of the first and second ranks, with no more than twenty or so of the third rank.

At this moment, Xu Ziqing’s plan involved selling a certain number of first and second-rank beast cores. After all, it was not surprising for a casual cultivator to possess such items they had accumulated over time.

With his hands concealed in his sleeves, he discreetly placed many beast cores into two different storage pouches.

Upon reaching the first level, Xu Ziqing sought out a steward who was responsible for collecting various beast cores, as he had observed earlier. He had memorized the names of the demonic beasts listed on the silk cloth.

As Xu Ziqing approached the steward, another man came out from the room, and Xu Ziqing brushed past him, entering the room and kneeling down in front of the steward.

The steward inquired, “What do you wish to sell?”

Xu Ziqing smiled gently and replied, “I have saved up for many years, but I have no use for these items, so I would like to sell them here.”

The elderly man nodded and said, “Just take them out, and I will exchange them for contribution points.”

Xu Ziqing smiled and placed the two storage bags in front of him.

The strict old man examined the contents of one pouch with his eyes closed. A glint appeared in his eyes as he remarked, “All first-rank beast pills?”

Xu Ziqing smiled and confirmed, “Indeed, there are a hundred and three of them.”

The old man then closed his eyes and examined the second pouch, stating, “Second-rank beast pills, fifty-two in total.”Xu Ziqing nodded in agreement, saying, “That is correct.”

As the two conversed, a group of curious cultivators gathered behind them, wondering why the transaction was so secretive and time-consuming. Unfortunately, the old man did not reveal the contents of the pouch, leaving them unable to pry.

Xu Ziqing appreciated the old man’s discretion and kindly said, “Please make an offer, senior.”

After a brief moment of contemplation, the old man responded, “The prices here are fixed. Calculating accordingly, the first-rank beast pills are usually fifty contributions each, but you have three that are urgently needed. As for the second-rank beast pills, they are five hundred contributions each, amounting to a total of thirty-one thousand three hundred contributions.”

Xu Ziqing had also done his calculations and handed over his token.

The old man raised two fingers, and a silver light flashed at his fingertips as he imprinted a series of numbers on the token. He stated, “You may keep the token, and you can use it to exchange for contributions within this hall.”

Xu Ziqing retrieved the token with a smile and obtained two more empty storage bags before standing up. The beast pills had allowed him to acquire a substantial amount of contributions, which should be sufficient for exchanging for cultivation resources.

With a clear objective in mind, Xu Ziqing didn’t spend much time on the second level. He had already decided to exchange the pills only for Pills, as there were some impurities in them. With his single spiritual root, his cultivation speed was already decent, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to rely on pills to improve further.

His main focus was on exchanging for some seeds of spiritual trees, spirit pearls, and a few wood-based techniques. Although his spiritual power was advancing rapidly, his offensive capabilities were limited, and his repertoire of techniques was also quite limited. Therefore, he needed to make up for these shortcomings.

With sufficient contributions in hand, Xu Ziqing’s trip proceeded smoothly. He exchanged for some common spiritual tree seeds and specialized vine seeds, acquiring over a hundred spirit pearls and several wood-based spells. This cost him a significant amount of contributions. Afterward, all he needed to do was take the Pill of Cleansing and continue his cultivation in his secluded room.

With his decision made, Xu Ziqing’s mind remained focused. He walked out of the seven-story pagoda, intending to head towards the High Guest Residence. However, after taking a few steps, he suddenly noticed a figure appearing hurriedly in front of him. It was Su Xin, the remarkably beautiful young man who had recently sought him out.

Upon seeing Xu Ziqing, Su Xin appeared slightly breathless but wore a smile on his face. He exclaimed, “Brother Ziqing, I have finally found you!”

Xu Ziqing felt a slight surprise and wondered, “Why is Younger Brother Xin in such a hurry?”

Knowing Xu Ziqing well and having a kind disposition toward him, Su Xin approached and tugged on his sleeve, explaining, “I handed over the Blood Demon’s flesh to my master, who wishes to meet you.”

Xu Ziqing was taken aback. While he preferred to maintain minimal contact with his master, it was only natural for a concerned master to want to see his disciple.

He smiled and replied, “I have received many benefits from the League, so I intend to express my gratitude by paying a visit to the League Master.”

Su Xin was delighted and said, “Then come with me. I have been searching for you for a while, and I believe Master is also eagerly awaiting your arrival.”

Xu Ziqing smiled faintly and allowed Su Xin to lead him away. He found Su Xin quite adorable because of his clear sense of right and wrong.

The two of them swiftly flew through the air, heading directly toward the Inner League.

Unbeknownst to Xu Ziqing, their hasty departure did not go unnoticed by others.

The three brothers, each with a different surname, harbored certain intentions toward Xu Ziqing. However, they discreetly followed him as if nothing had happened. Xu Ziqing, preoccupied with his search for resources, remained oblivious to their schemes.

Now that Su Xin had whisked Xu Ziqing away and displayed such warmth toward him, it made the three brothers feel uneasy. Ruan Yuanliang, the youngest and least astute among them, wore a worried expression on his face as he asked, “Elder brother, second brother, is that man the Young Alliance Master?”

Both Nian Hongzhi and Wang Jun wore grim expressions. Nian Hongzhi confirmed, “Yes, it is indeed him.”

With a gloomy gaze, Wang Jun wondered, “Could this person be connected to the Scattered Cultivation Alliance? Why else would he be so close to the Young Alliance Leader?”

Hearing their discussion, Ruan Yuanliang’s face turned pale, and he exclaimed, “Then, what should we do? We escaped from the clan, only to find ourselves in the jaws of the wolf!”

Nian Hongzhi raised his hand and placed it on Ruan Yuanliang’s shoulder, trying to reassure him. “Don’t panic, third brother. This is merely speculation. We shouldn’t act recklessly to avoid…”

Ruan Yuanliang felt reassured, and his anxiety subsided a bit. He replied calmly, “I will listen to my elder brother.”

Wang Jun also felt a sense of panic in his heart. He spoke sternly, “Don’t let fear cloud your judgment!” The two younger brothers became slightly calmer, and he continued, “Xu Ziqing is young and possesses exceptional talent. Although he was previously at the seventh level of Qi refinement, he has now advanced significantly. He is not someone to be underestimated. I am no match for him in terms of cultivation, so if we plan to take action, we cannot afford to delay for too long.”

Upon hearing his elder brother’s composed words, Wang Jun’s mental strength grew, and he chimed in, “What our brother said is true. If we intend to eliminate him, we must find the right moment.”

Ruan Yuanliang’s eyes brightened, and he asked, “When should we do it?”

A flash of insight crossed Wang Jun’s mind, and a plan emerged. “When we previously confronted Xu Ziqing, he let us go too easily. He is gentle and kind, not deeply involved in the world…”

Most importantly, we can get close to him by inviting him to join us on a mission, and he will undoubtedly fall for it.”

Ruan Yuanliang understood, and together with his two brothers, they shared a laugh.

Having interacted with Xu Ziqing twice, they were able to perceive his character. However, little did they know that Xu Ziqing’s nature would remain unchanged in the future.

In their eyes, eliminating someone who is already dead carries the least risk.

Su Xin took Xu Ziqing along, soaring on their flying swords as they ascended the stone steps until they reached a majestic mountain.

The mountain stood tall, adorned with peculiar rocks and cascading waterfalls that seemed to defy gravity.

As Xu Ziqing arrived at this place, a refreshing breeze greeted his face, instantly rejuvenating him. It felt as though his body and mind had been cleansed and purified.

There must be a spiritual vein within this mountain!

Su Xin smirked and asked, “Brother Ziqing, what do you think of this mountain?”

Xu Ziqing’s smile faded, but he replied, “It’s excellent.”

Su Xin held his sleeve and eagerly showed him all the wonders of the mountain, floating around with him.

Xu Ziqing allowed him to do so, and his gaze softened. The more time he spent with Su Xin, the more he realized that Su Xin was a pure and straightforward person, which made him quite likable.

The two of them wandered aimlessly, completely forgetting about returning.

Suddenly, a cold hum resonated from the mountain, followed by a voice that echoed, “Kid, you were told to bring guests, yet you’re lingering around selfishly!”

Although the voice wasn’t loud, it reached their ears clearly.

“Ouch!” Su Xin exclaimed as he stumbled, his sword slipping from his feet. He quickly steadied the sword before regaining his balance and letting out a sigh of relief. He retorted loudly, “Elder Hua! Why are you scaring me like this?”

The energetic man retorted, “You lazy boy! It’s a shame the scare didn’t make you drop the sword! Hurry up and get your ass in here!”

Su Xin shouted back, “What’s the rush? I’m coming in now!”

Amused by their exchange, Xu Ziqing stood on his flying sword and let them continue their conversation. Suddenly, someone coughed, and both Su Xin and the man fell silent simultaneously.

Su Xin felt a bit embarrassed and apologized, “Brother Ziqing, I apologize for the disturbance.”

Xu Ziqing shook his head and replied, “It’s alright. It’s truly admirable how close Xiandi Xin is to the elders.”

Su Xin grumbled, “What’s there to admire? That old man is so stubborn and inflexible!” Unaware that others perceived him in a similar way, as someone with a temper.

After exchanging a few words, Su Xin realized that the people inside the Inner League had waited long enough. He didn’t linger any further and swiftly used his flying sword to ascend straight into the mountain.

In the heart of the mountain stood a grand and solemn hall with the words “Hall of Elders” inscribed on the front in iron and silver, emanating a powerful presence.

What a breathtaking sight and atmosphere!

Xu Ziqing sighed inwardly, though he maintained a composed expression.

As the flying sword landed in front of the hall, Su Xin pulled Xu Ziqing and gracefully descended, leading the way to the entrance of the hall. Several cultivators were meditating by the door, and upon seeing Su Xin’s arrival, they glanced at him and granted him passage.

The statue within the hall wasn’t crafted from gold or jade, but it exuded an incredibly imposing aura that lingered in the air.

Xu Ziqing recognized the statue as the ancestor of the Scattered Cultivation Alliance, yet the aura emitted by the statue here was a hundred times stronger than that of the portrait in the Governor’s Pavilion.

Coming to a halt, Xu Ziqing respectfully bowed before the towering statue.

Xu Ziqing mimicked Su Xin’s actions, and upon standing upright, he noticed Su Xin’s joyful expression as he gazed at him. Returning the smile, Xu Ziqing trailed behind Su Xin towards the side entrance.

Behind the main hall lay an inner chamber, which, despite being secluded, was more expansive and could accommodate a larger number of people.

Upon reaching the entrance, Su Xin adjusted his robe and composed his countenance. Observing this, Xu Ziqing likewise straightened his attire. The two exchanged smiles, and Xu Ziqing eased into a state of relaxation, following Su Xin inside.

As they stepped into the hall, an onslaught of over ten immense pressures surged forward, resembling colossal waves that dominated the sky.

Xu Ziqing felt like a small boat amidst the turbulent waves, utterly helpless, as if he could be capsized and submerged in the depths of the sea if he wasn’t cautious.

These were the pressures exerted by high-ranking cultivators—startling him, or rather, testing him!

Xu Ziqing couldn’t spare a moment to glance at Su Xin’s condition. He only had time to unleash his entire body’s spiritual energy, preventing himself from being bent under the overwhelming pressure.

Taking deep breaths, Xu Ziqing realized that a qi mass had formed within his dantian, constantly rotating and absorbing the external spiritual energy. It transformed the energy into spiritual power, releasing it to withstand the pressure.

After an unknown duration, Xu Ziqing felt every inch of his muscles groaning in pain, his skin seemingly cracking under the strain, and his meridians on the verge of bursting… The speed of his spiritual energy accelerated, akin to a spinning flywheel, gradually approaching its limit.

Slowly but surely, feelings of exhaustion and pain engulfed his body, and time grew more arduous. Yet, the pressure persisted like a dozen mountains, looming majestically overhead, akin to a tidal wave infiltrating his limbs, bones, senses, and orifices in a dense manner.

The limit was akin to a taut wire, then a slender strand, stretching thinner and thinner… Xu Ziqing could feel cold sweat breaking out all over his body, the beads on his forehead connecting like a streaming train of water, rushing down!

Unable to… hold on any longer!

The parched sensation in his throat intensified, breathing became laborious, and his internal organs tingled with searing heat, threatening to revolt. Xu Ziqing didn’t notice that his eyes were also bloodshot at that moment.

His mind went blank, leaving no space for coherent thoughts…

Suddenly, the pressure eased.

Xu Ziqing’s body was instantly liberated, his legs growing weak and nearly buckling. However, in the next moment, an extremely sturdy piece of wood materialized in his palm, forcefully grounding itself against the floor, supporting him firmly!

“Dang!”

The sound of steel and wood colliding with the stone surface reverberated like a deluge of bells, mercilessly assaulting the ears of the onlookers.

Gradually, Xu Ziqing regained control of his breath, and the rotation of the airflow within his dantian gradually calmed. The wooden energy seemed to permeate his entire body in an instant, alleviating the internal injuries incurred from the intense resistance to the pressure. Swiftly, vitality returned, and the miniature world within his body swiftly returned to its normal state.

Only then did Xu Ziqing hear a voice from behind.

It was Su Xin calling out anxiously in his ear, “Brother Ziqing, Brother Ziqing? Are you alright?”

Exhaling softly, Xu Ziqing stood up and straightened his spine. “Younger Brother Xin, I am fine,” he replied.

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