Chapter 40

In the evening, Tanggu returned to Shiyan Town.

Walking down the bustling street, after living on the mountain for a whole one or two months, Tanggu felt a sense of unfamiliarity, as if he no longer belonged to this world.

However, he quickly regained his former feeling and adjusted his mindset.

He arrived at a shop in the eastern part of the town, which specialized in selling colored paper and bamboo frames. The last time he made a lantern, he had bought many things from this shop.

"Tanggu, you're here?"

The shop owner, a middle-aged man, saw Tanggu's figure and couldn't help but feel a bit pleased, warmly welcoming him, clearly remembering him.

"Yes, shop owner, I'll buy some more candle paper."

Tanggu replied.

After a short while, Tanggu, familiar with the process, bought the items he needed, carrying a large bundle of colored paper, bamboo frames, rice paste, candles, and other items out of the shop, ready to head back to Moonblade Peak.

However, as he left the shop, Tanggu was suddenly attracted by a commotion. He turned his head and saw a crowd gathered at the stone monument outside the town, people of all ages discussing and jostling, seemingly vying to read something.

"What is it?"

Curious, Tanggu approached and saw that on the stone monument, which was usually used for posting town announcements and Qinglong City government notices, a striking, bright red paper was now posted.

"Announcement: In six months, Xinglin Manor will simultaneously recruit five alchemy attendants and two entry-level disciples in the entire Qinglong City and its thirteen towns. Those interested should come to the 'Xinglin Branch' in Qinglong City on June 15th of next year for the assessment."

"Requirements: 1. Qi Dao cultivation at the first level or above. 2. Age under twenty. 3. Clear family background and good character. 4. Basic knowledge of alchemy or herbal identification."

"Xinglin Manor?"

Tanggu's expression instantly changed, understanding why.

This news, even he couldn't help but be moved, let alone ordinary people.

Xinglin Manor was one of the six major sects in the Konglun Snow Region. The Konglun Snow Region, not too large or too small, spanned several thousand miles, with three thousand seas and countless large and small islands.

The most powerful forces in this region were the six major sects: Hai Tang Jade Palace, Badao Valley, Supreme Autumn Wind Pavilion, Xinglin Manor, Kuangxue Meishan, and Red Leaf Ghost City.

Each of the six major sects had its own specialties, different from one another. Hai Tang Jade Palace was a unique sect entirely composed of women, with no men in it.

Badao Valley was famous for its swordsmanship, claiming invincibility in sword arts; Supreme Autumn Wind Pavilion placed the greatest emphasis on sword techniques, with sword qi spanning three thousand miles.

Kuangxue Meishan was situated at the top of a snowy mountain, focusing on cultivation and self-cultivation, with the fewest disciples but consistently producing elites.

Red Leaf Ghost City was mysterious and unpredictable, with the most intense competition. To vie for an inner disciple position, major families often engaged in armed conflicts, leading to mutual slaughter, and even within the sect, bloodshed was common.

However, the disciples trained in this way were all naturally warlike, cruel, and feared by all.

Xinglin Manor, on the other hand, was the most unique among them. It was a sect dedicated to alchemy and medicine, never involving itself in any conflicts. The Qi Dao cultivation of its disciples was possibly the lowest among the six major sects.

However, the importance of this sect among the six major sects was the greatest, and no sect dared to start a war with it casually.

The other five major sects occasionally engaged in conflicts over resources, but Xinglin Manor always remained neutral, growing stronger over thousands of years.

When its disciples traveled in the world, the other five major sects of the Konglun Snow Region would also show some respect and provide care.

Now, Xinglin Manor was actually recruiting disciples in the area around Qinglong City, which was extremely rare. This was a great opportunity to enter one of the six major sects, but Tanggu also knew that the few positions available would be very hard to obtain.

"Shiyan Town," though just a small town with a population of about 380 households, located in a remote area, still had nearly 2,000 people.

The entire Qinglong City domain, including one city and thirteen towns, had a population of nearly 30,000 in just the thirteen towns.

Qinglong City itself had a population of over 100,000. Selecting just five alchemy attendants and two entry-level disciples from over 130,000 people, even though not everyone would participate and only a few might meet the criteria, was still extremely difficult.

Most importantly... although this sect was powerful, it was renowned for its alchemy skills and was not a specialized martial cultivation sect. In terms of Qi Dao cultivation, it was the weakest among the six major sects.

Frowning, Tanggu glanced at the red notice on the stone monument again, then left the town without lingering.

After all, there was still nearly half a year before the Xinglin Manor entrance assessment. In this half year, he would see if there were any other changes, and if not, he would consider whether to participate in the Xinglin Manor selection.

However, a thought flashed through Tanggu's mind. If he really wanted to participate in the selection, it would be extremely difficult for him, who knew nothing about alchemy and medicine.

But if it were Shui Xue... with her intelligence and love for alchemy, the chances of passing would be much greater.

However... thinking of her upcoming marriage to the son of the Qinglong City mayor in a year, even if there was this opportunity, she probably wouldn't go, and Tanggu lost interest.

Back on the mountain, in the thatched cottage, Tanggu quickly began making new lanterns. These lanterns were simpler to make than the walking lanterns, just requiring a bit of bamboo paper to be pasted together. As long as the proportions were right, they were very easy to make.

In just a quarter of an hour, Tanggu had made over a dozen simple but beautiful lanterns. However, he still felt that these were not enough and continued to make more.

A day passed in a flash, and it was already dusk the next day.

At this moment, inside Tanggu's house, a pile of lanterns, as high as a mountain, had accumulated, numbering nearly a thousand!

These were the results of his tireless efforts over a day and night without sleep.

In the evening, all the materials were finally used up. Tanggu went outside, stood at the cliff's edge, and quietly looked down, waiting for Shui Xue to arrive.

Sure enough, after a short while, as the sky grew dark, Shui Xue, still wearing a white veil and a black cloak, arrived as promised, immediately spotting Tanggu waiting on the cliff.

"Tang Brother!"

She smiled, knowing that if Tanggu was waiting for her, it was likely that the lanterns he had been making were really completed. Thinking of Tanggu's mysterious demeanor, she couldn't help but feel excited.

When she climbed up the mountain, Tanggu led her to the thatched cottage and pointed to the pile of rough lanterns, saying, "Here, look, these are them!"

"Ah, so many?"

Shui Xue was surprised at first, but when she saw the rough and unattractive appearance of the lanterns, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. Were these the legendary lanterns that were said to be a thousand times more beautiful than the walking lanterns?

Seeing the doubt in Shui Xue's eyes, Tanggu didn't explain but smiled and said, "Come and help me. Move them all out, light them one by one, and you'll know in a moment!"

"Okay."

Shui Xue agreed, though puzzled, she knew that Tanggu wouldn't deceive her. The two of them worked together, and after a while, nearly a thousand lanterns of different colors and sizes were moved to the cliff.

Then, Tanggu waved his hand, and with a light flick of his fingers, hundreds of red flames flew out, landing on the candles hanging below the lanterns.

"Whoosh!"

One by one, the flames shot up, the heat rising, and the lanterns slowly floated. As the wind blew, the lanterns rose higher, instantly filling the sky with countless lights, like a sea of stars, the candlelight floating above their heads, creating a breathtaking scene.

The entire Moonblade Peak, at this moment, outshone even the moonlight in the sky.

"Ah!"

Shui Xue covered her mouth in surprise, holding her breath, unable to blink, completely stunned.

Her eyes misty, she murmured, "Tang Brother really didn't lie. These lanterns are so beautiful, so beautiful... What kind of lanterns are these?"

"These are Kongming lanterns! Also called blessing lanterns or peace lanterns, or 'wish lanterns.' Some say that as long as you close your eyes and make a wish when the lanterns rise, the stars in the sky will feel your sincerity, and your wish will come true."

"Make a wish?"

Shui Xue murmured, looking at Tanggu, then with a complex expression, slowly closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and looked up at the sky.

At that moment, Tanggu, standing beside her, turned his head and saw a corner of her veil lifted by the breeze, revealing a face as beautiful as a silver arc.

At that moment, she was as beautiful as a cherry blossom, radiant like a piece of glass.

PS: Second update, please give me 1 recommendation.

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