Chapter 115: Difficult to Express

As far as the eye could see, flying ships and storied vessels from various profound sects were anchored outside the mountain gate of the Xuanzhen Sect. They were adorned with brilliant lights and auspicious mists, shimmering with radiant hues.

The White Crane Grotto, the Huanhua Sword Sect, Mount Lianyan, the Water-Fire Pavilion... layers of precious light soared into the sky, swirling in a dazzling display that dyed the heavens above Mount Xiaogan into a hazy, dreamlike, glass-like spectrum.

Judging by the styles of these vessels, they were clearly delegations sent by various sects. Shadows could be seen flickering on deck, suggesting a significant number of people. Historically, however, the Xuanzhen Sect had never been on good terms with the surrounding sects; there was even deep-seated blood enmity between them. Even after Ai Jian later cowed the cultivators of the six nations into submission with a single sword, leaving them unable to resist, fear and resentment far outweighed any sense of reverence. There was certainly no unity of heart.

Usually, during festival celebrations, these sects would merely dispatch one or two disciples to hurriedly present tokens of respect. They would convey a gesture of feigned submission before departing, unwilling to stay even for a moment. A scene like this—a grand, public arrival under their own banners, riding flying vessels, and formally requesting an audience—was something not only never witnessed before but never even heard of.

If not for the fact that he could see several disciples in Xuanzhen robes moving in and out of those foreign vessels, laughing and chatting while being treated with great deference by the surrounding members of other sects, Chen Heng would have almost suspected that the nearby sects, unable to bear Ai Jian’s tyrannical pressure any longer, had finally joined forces to storm Mount Xiaogan and exterminate the Xuanzhen Sect.

However, beyond the pretext of the Yuchen Sect’s Daoist lineage examination, Chen Heng could think of no other reason for these sects to set aside their pride and shift from arrogance to servility. It couldn't be that Ai Jian had achieved a first-grade Golden Core or cultivated a Dharma-form Primordial Spirit, could it?

Chen Heng watched for a moment, a trace of doubt flickering across his face. Deciding not to dwell on it, he bypassed the foreign vessels, circled in the air a few times, and descended toward the mountain gate.

As he reached the peak, several disciples from the Deacon’s Hall rose into the air. After verifying his identity, they waved him through. Within the Xuanzhen Sect, Chen Heng was already a well-known figure, and following the incident with the Ten-Thousand-Mile Reflection Talisman at Fuyu Lake, his reputation had spread even further. The deacons, seeing him arrive on his cloud-chariot, looked hesitant; only after he removed his mask and they glanced at him did they gesture for him to enter, though they all wore expressions of suppressed curiosity, as if there was much they wanted to ask.

"Senior Brother... Chen," a pretty girl of only fifteen or sixteen suddenly spoke up, ignoring the astonishment of her fellow disciples. She stepped forward, stole a quick glance at Chen Heng, then lowered her head, acting coy. "Senior Brother’s reputation for vanquishing demons at Fuyu Lake is truly grand. Several senior sisters have—"

"Ling’er!" A young man with a broad nose and deep-set eyes, dressed in yellow, glared and barked an angry reprimand, cutting her off. "Senior Brother Yan Ping has already reached the second stage of Foundation Establishment—the Realm of Size at Will. Elder Yan even bestowed his own Fire Crow Pot upon him. I heard that after a banquet, Yan Ping boasted he would skin you alive in the Earth Abyss and send you down to keep Senior Uncle Yan Zhen company! The essence of the fire crows within that pot is extremely volatile; unless one can suppress it with sheer force, only Yin-turbid energy can counter it. Senior Brother Chen, you must be extremely careful of Senior Brother Yan Ping. He is narrow-minded and treacherous. When you are in the Earth Abyss, be on your guard and don't fall for his schemes!"

The girl, Ling’er, shot the young man a sidelong glance and curled her lips. After a giggle, she spat out these words like a string of firecrackers. Once finished, she quickly shrank her neck and retreated behind the others, putting more distance between herself and the young man.

"Alright, Senior Brother Sun Xiu, I’ve said my piece," she stuck out her tongue and spread her hands with an innocent expression. "If there’s nothing else, we won’t stay longer. Time to head back, right?"

"You—" The man called Sun Xiu turned dark with rage, rolling up his sleeves as if to teach the girl a lesson. But as he stepped forward, he was blocked by the other deacons who hurriedly urged him to calm down. By the time he broke free, the girl had already vanished.

"Beauty is a curse! A curse! Yan Ping is the one who wants to fight him, what does it have to do with you? If this talk spreads, let alone Yan Feichen and that narrow-minded Yan Ping, the punishment from our master alone would be enough to break me!" Sun Xiu was so frustrated he felt a tightness in his chest, cursing the girl silently hundreds of times. Thinking of his master, Master Yuanji’s temperament, he felt a sense of impending doom.

"My master said that Elder Yan Feichen seems to have received some news and intends to reconcile with you, Junior Brother."

After weighing his options, and realizing the damage was already done, Chen Heng suddenly heard a voice transmitted directly into his mind after a moment of silence. He looked to the side. Sun Xiu still looked furious, teeth gritted, his sleeves still rolled up.

The secret transmission continued: "But the Fire Crow Pot is real, and Yan Ping’s hatred for you is surely just as real. That man and Senior Uncle Yan Zhen were... *cough*! You spent more time by Senior Uncle Yan Zhen’s side than I did, so you surely know the inside story better than an outsider like me. I won't babble further. In any case, when you go down to the Earth Abyss, keep an extra eye out for him!"

The voice ceased.

...

Chen Heng took a deep look at Sun Xiu. The man showed absolutely no change in expression, masking his thoughts perfectly. After pondering for a moment, Chen Heng activated his fetal breathing technique and continued to fly his cloud toward the interior of Mount Xiaogan.

...

Streams wound through gullies, peaks towered overhead; clouds drifted sluggishly, and waterfalls hung like silver threads. Mount Xiaogan possessed eleven peaks, nine major ridges, and twenty waterfalls. Within the vast Southern Region, it had once been ranked among the four hundred famous mountains—a place of vibrant terrestrial energy. Otherwise, Ai Jian would not have chosen it as the site for his mountain gate after much deliberation. Nor would the nearby Daoist sects have fought over its ownership, resulting in a bloodbath before finally relenting.

Once Chen Heng reached the heart of the mountain, he felt a surge of primordial essence rising from the ravines, rushing into his body. He activated his Qi-refining technique to assimilate it, but his fetal breathing increased by only an imperceptible amount—better than nothing, but barely.

"The spiritual energy in the Southern Region is not abundant; that much is certain. Even here, it is no exception. No wonder major sects like the Five Light Sect and the Flower Goddess Mansion, despite being native to the Southern Region, have their mountain gates far from the heart of the region. Could it be that the deeper one goes into the Southern Region, the more depleted the spiritual energy becomes?" he mused to himself.

Before long, he arrived at Luoxia Peak and descended before a cave entrance. "It is already dusk. It would be an intrusion to visit now. I shall seek out Senior Brother Xu Zhi tomorrow." He glanced at the dark red clouds above and pulled a flying talisman from his sleeve. He whispered a few words and tossed it; the talisman whistled off toward Xu Zhi’s cave.

This was a simple communication talisman, a mundane item cultivators used in daily life, alongside things like food-making tripods, dust-cleansing talismans, wine-transforming branches, and beauty brushes. Because they were not very valuable, they were categorized as sundries. When Chen Heng bought several anti-ghost talismans, the shopkeeper had thrown these in as a bonus.

After sending the talisman, Chen Heng shifted the seal-stone and entered his own cave. Having been unoccupied for several months, the bookshelves, bamboo curtains, and tea table were covered in a thick layer of dust. Fortunately, the dwelling was simple and lacked furnishings; after using a few dust-cleansing talismans, it was spotless. Chen Heng took a final look around, retrieved an apricot-yellow meditation cushion from his storage bag, sat upon it, and silently began to circulate his cultivation technique.

The night passed without incident. The next day, as the sun broke over the horizon, dyeing the pale mountain mist a reddish-gold, Chen Heng finished his meditation and flew off to find Xu Zhi.

Of the eleven peaks of Mount Xiaogan, Luoxia Peak and Xu Zhi’s Xiongqing Peak were not far apart, but when Chen Heng arrived at his cave, there was no response.

"The flying talisman I sent is gone, meaning it was received. Senior Brother always practices alchemy and cultivation within his own walls and rarely leaves. Where could he have gone?" Chen Heng frowned slightly.

As he turned to leave, he felt something and looked down. In a pavilion built into the mountain flank, he heard the sounds of chirping and laughter. Dozens of beautiful women, all elegant and graceful, were crowded around a young Daoist carrying a long zither on his back, packing the pavilion so tightly that not a drop of water could pass through.

Amidst the playful teasing, the young Daoist’s face was beet-red, filled with embarrassment. He held his hands protectively over his chest, head bowed, trying desperately to push his way out of the pavilion. But every time he moved, he was shoved back by the women. He looked like an ox with both hooves stuck in the mud, unable to move no matter how hard he struggled.

Chen Heng saw sweat beading on his forehead; under the women's teasing, he looked as if he would rather crash his head into a pillar.

"Senior Brother Xu Zhi?" Chen Heng was slightly surprised. He stepped forward, truly seeing the young Daoist’s face.

As if sensing something, the humiliated and furious Xu Zhi looked up blankly and saw a Daoist in white robes standing before his dwelling. He paused, then his face lit up with joy. "Junior Brother! Junior Brother? Why have you returned to the mountain gate? Isn't it still several days before you depart for the Earth Abyss?"

The group of female cultivators surrounding Xu Zhi was startled and looked in the direction of his gaze, their eyes lighting up.

"Although it is a few days away, it is not far off. I wanted to make preparations early," Chen Heng performed a Daoist salute. "It seems I have come at a bad time."

"Not at all! Not at all!" Xu Zhi seized the moment of the women's distraction to exert all his strength, finally pushing his way out. He let out a long sigh of relief, as if granted amnesty. "You have come at the perfect time!"

...

He learned that Xu Zhi had just refined a gourd of "Face-Preserving Pills," and somehow word had leaked out, leading to him being swarmed by the female cultivators. Only after promising to open his furnace a few more times and ensuring everyone would receive a pill did the women leave, satisfied.

Finally free, Xu Zhi invited Chen Heng inside for tea. They sat and chatted for a while, discussing the intricacies of Qi-refining and sword techniques. Xu Zhi had clearly heard of Yan Ping’s drunken boasts and was deeply worried. He urged Chen Heng to decline the Earth Abyss mission. But seeing Chen Heng smile without answering, it was clear his mind was made up. After nagging for a long while, he finally gave up.

"However, since you are determined to go to the Earth Abyss and cannot back out, I have something to lend you," Xu Zhi said with a faint smile. He reached out, took a sword from the wall, and held it out to Chen Heng. "This sword is named 'Mai She,' meaning 'the heart stores the pulse, the pulse stores the spirit, and the spirit resides within.' Although it is a low-grade talismanic weapon, it has nine divine treasure restrictions. It is quite a sharp blade!"

He extended his hand, adding proudly, "Take it for protection. I haven't even placed my mark on it yet. With this sharp weapon to assist you, your chances of survival will surely increase!"

Chen Heng was stunned. He set down his teacup. "Senior Brother, did you sell the Six-Yin Heaven Ghost Banner and the Five-Light Pendant of the Yangshan Daoist to buy this sword?"

"How did you know?" Xu Zhi was shocked.

"I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother. But I also have a sword to gift you. I was fortunate enough to acquire some wealth at Fuyu Lake," Chen Heng took out the Zhanzhu Sword he had taken from Qin Xian of the Blood Lotus Sect, placed it on the table, and bowed. "Since I began my cultivation, you have helped me greatly. Please accept this as a token of my gratitude. Do not refuse."

"This—" Xu Zhi’s mind reeled, his hand trembling. He looked at Chen Heng in disbelief, then at the Zhanzhu Sword, his eyes filled with awe. "You, this is impossible—"

He was stunned for a long time before he gave a bitter smile, stood up, and shook his head. "A mid-grade talismanic weapon is too precious. I cannot shamelessly accept it. Besides—" Xu Zhi paused, smiling wryly, "Aren't you afraid that I am an ungrateful wretch? I fled the battle and caused the death of a fellow disciple. My reputation in this sect is not exactly good."

"Why demean yourself, Senior Brother? My reputation in the sect is not good either," Chen Heng also stood up. "I have troubled you for too long. I shall not stay. If you feel guilty about the Zhanzhu, treat it as a loan. When you achieve greater cultivation, you can return it." Before Xu Zhi could refuse, he added with a smile, "But by then, you must pay some interest."

Xu Zhi was silent, speechless. Only after Chen Heng had walked out the door did a voice slowly call him back.

"Elder Gu Jun’s only son... I did not kill him..." His expression shifted like clouds before a summer storm, finally settling into a profound grief. "Junior Brother, I did not fear the battle—" He struggled to breathe, his heart pounding heavily, each beat an effort. The unbearable past and the sorrow washed over him like a massive tide, threatening to swallow him whole. "I—"

"Senior Brother, say no more," Chen Heng’s voice interrupted him.

Xu Zhi looked up. Chen Heng turned his face away, refusing to look at his bloodshot eyes. "I believe you."

Xu Zhi slowly straightened up, watching Chen Heng’s retreating figure. Only after he was long gone, and an unknown amount of time had passed, did he collapse back into his chair, drained of all strength, dripping with sweat. He bowed his head, his eyes complex, covering his face with his sleeve.

"Thank you..."

...

Several days passed in a blur, and soon it was time to depart for the Earth Abyss. At noon, as Chen Heng sat in meditation, he was startled by a heavy knock on his door. He stood up, adjusted his robes, and opened the door. Upon seeing the visitor, his pupils contracted slightly.

"Elder Yan?" Chen Heng spoke. "A rare guest indeed."