Chapter 27

(I had to go out temporarily tonight, so the update is late. The first chapter tomorrow will be at midnight. It's going to be Monday soon, so I'm asking for recommendations in advance to boost the new book rankings. I'm asking everyone for their support. Thank you.)

Qingyang Ravine.

Located among the seventy-two peaks of Wudang, Qingyang Peak was one of them. Five hundred years ago, the lineage of Qingyang Peak was severed. The last peak master, Jiyuan Zhenren, and the head of the Desire Demon Sect, one of the thirteen sects of the Demon Gate, both perished in a thunderstorm battle.

"The 'Qingyang Sword' and the 'Qianli Yuanheng Step,' the top martial arts that made Qingyang Peak famous in the world, unfortunately became extinct five hundred years ago," Qingye's eyes gleamed. "And the 'Xiuming Dao' and the 'Zele Palm' are also profound and exquisite top-tier martial arts. Unfortunately, none of them were passed down. The battle five hundred years ago was too sudden, and Qingyang Peak declined instantly. We speculate that Jiyuan Zhenren's divine soul world likely contains the legacy of Qingyang Peak. If we can obtain it, according to Wudang's rules, we can inherit the Qingyang Peak lineage, take charge of Qingyang Peak, and when someone reaches the First-Class Huanyuan Realm, they can reopen the sect and select disciples."

Reopening a lineage and taking charge of Qingyang Peak!

Even Su Qinnian was deeply moved upon hearing this. To become the master of one of Wudang's seventy-two peaks was something he had never dared to dream of before. As the head of a national great sect, the masters of Wudang were almost all divine soul cultivators, renowned top figures. Being listed alongside these figures, his status and position would far surpass ordinary second-class or even first-class figures in the martial world.

In five years, with the identity of the future master of Qingyang Peak, he would likely have more influence and more confidence when facing the imperial family.

...

That night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, the cold wind was biting, and the north wind outside the window was fierce, making the thatched cottage creak as if it might collapse at any moment.

Su Qinnian sat in meditation, his expression calm and composed. The fire in the brazier in front of the bed burned brightly, and the pages of the "Taiji Song" on the nearby table were not yet dry. If Jingdu Daoist were to see them now, he would notice that Su Qinnian's handwriting seemed to have changed, with a harmonious and unified aura in every stroke.

At dawn, by the shore.

Daoist Jingdu stood on thin ice, the boxing form of the "Turtle Snake Skill" in his hands was very simple, not appearing profound.

But today, Su Qinnian's observation was different. The fourth form of the Turtle Snake Fist, "Panfeng Zuoshui," had reached a profound level, and his understanding of the Taiji Yin-Yang principles of Wudang had deepened. He suddenly realized that it wasn't that Daoist Jingdu's performance of the "Turtle Snake Skill" was shallow, but that his boxing had advanced beyond mastery, returning to simplicity, with each move containing the profound principles of Yin and Yang, though the essence was concealed and not easily discernible without a deep understanding of Yin and Yang.

Sixth level!

Soon, Daoist Jingdu's boxing form reached the sixth level.

Su Qinnian's eyes glowed faintly, and in a short time, his understanding of this level advanced by a large margin. By the time the seventh level was demonstrated, Su Qinnian exhaled lightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The sixth level of the "Turtle Snake Skill" was now complete!

Next, it was just a matter of blood and qi supplementation, a process of refinement. With sufficient resources, Su Qinnian was confident he could advance his cultivation to the sixth level's perfection in just one day.

Another round of the Turtle Snake Fist, the fourth form, which had reached a profound level, was like a burning coal, continuously heating and assimilating the surrounding charcoal. Daoist Jingdu's boxing form was like a bellows, fanning the flames. By the end of the morning practice, Su Qinnian felt the other four forms of the fist break through their constraints, entering the third realm of martial arts, the realm of enlightenment.

In addition, Su Qinnian had some insights into the sixth form, "Dihuo Mingyi," but as it was a new understanding, it was still at the first level of initial comprehension.

"Su Qini, what are you still watching? Go back to sleep."

"Come on, Su Qini, do you want me to teach you the first form of the Turtle Snake Fist? I bet you haven't even understood the first form yet, ha ha!"

Some of the reprieved convicts laughed, finding it even funnier when they saw Su Qinnian standing motionless, deep in thought in his tattered clothes.

Ignoring them, Su Qinnian shouldered his medicine basket and walked alone into the deep mountains.

The second thatched cottage by the water's edge.

At the window, a pair of eyes gleamed like swords, watching Su Qinnian's disappearing back until a long time later, the gaze retracted.

Three days later, on the night of the full moon.

The winter moon was like ice and jade. Behind the thatched cottage, Su Qinnian moved like a ghost, entering the old forest of Wudang Mountain.

In front of the bamboo pavilion, under the eternal lamp.

Daoist Jingdu stood with his hands behind his back, his body dark and his beard fluttering in the cold wind. His tiger-like eyes shone brightly in the moonlight, like the purest ink jade in the world.

Watching the distant hunched back disappear, after ten breaths, another familiar figure vanished into the old forest. He frowned slightly, sighed, and then turned to enter the bamboo pavilion.

The night in Wudang Mountain was very quiet, and the mist in the old forest was thick. Even the venomous insects and snakes had returned to their nests to prepare for winter. In such a season, even the venom just out of the mouth would freeze.

Su Qinnian's steps were not fast. He still hunched his back, and it took him half a day to reach the secluded valley with the ancient osmanthus tree.

The moonlight was like water, and the ancient osmanthus tree swayed gently. The osmanthus flowers fell onto Su Qinnian's head and shoulders, filling the air with a fragrant aroma that calmed the mind.

Reaching out to move aside the fallen leaves, a red string wrapped in ancient copper wire was revealed. At the end of the red string was a six-leafed old mountain ginseng.

The old mountain ginseng, yellowish in the moonlight, appeared somewhat translucent, emitting a faint ginseng fragrance that could not be overwhelmed by the osmanthus scent, slowly and steadily spreading.

However, just as Su Qinnian hunched his back to dig with the medicine shovel from his basket, a voice, slightly playful and greedy, sounded from not far behind.

"Su Qini, you have great fortune. In less than a month in Xiaoyao Valley, you've found such a precious wild mountain ginseng."

"Who's there!"

Su Qinnian exclaimed, instantly turning around to see a familiar figure.

A middle-aged Daoist, wearing a miscellaneous duty robe, with a familiar and ordinary appearance. At that moment, his face was filled with greed and malice, and his eyes flashed with a cold light.

"What, didn't you expect it?" the miscellaneous duty Daoist sneered. "You thought your body was weakening for no reason? You should thank me for your beggar's reputation."

"It's you!"

Su Qinnian's face was full of anger, his eyes turning red, and he stared intently at the miscellaneous duty Daoist ten paces away. He tried to straighten his hunched back, but his body was weak, and he even coughed occasionally. After several attempts, he failed.

Seemingly recalling something, the miscellaneous duty Daoist showed a curious look and said, "I was very puzzled before. How could you gather so many herbs, even after being exploited by those few people in the water's edge cottages, you still managed to submit enough. Now I understand. I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable about herbs. I've heard about the principles of ginseng cultivation, and I guess it was you who trapped this wild mountain ginseng. No wonder."

"What's your purpose! Who's behind you! Who in the court is so eager to act now!" Su Qinnian shouted in pain.

Hm?

The miscellaneous duty Daoist's pupils contracted slightly, showing a hint of fear and hesitation, but he quickly composed himself. Looking around and then at Su Qinnian, he showed a cold expression and said in a chilling voice, "I didn't expect you to be so smart, guessing so much. You're not wrong, but as for the one behind me, it's better you don't know. Don't die in despair. Who in the court, do you think I would tell you? That person said you should die with your eyes open."

Saying this, the miscellaneous duty Daoist shook his head and sighed, "I thought it would take another two months for the medicine to accumulate enough to make you weak and powerless, letting you die alone. I didn't expect you to give me such an opportunity. It can't be blamed on me. Entering the mountains at night to gather herbs, not all of Wudang Mountain is pure."

"You want to kill me?" Su Qinnian's face was full of disbelief.

"Why say it out loud?" the miscellaneous duty Daoist sneered. "Every year, a few reprieved convicts die in the deep mountains and old forests of Xiaoyao Valley. One more or one less doesn't matter. Isn't this a clean solution? Remember to be reborn well in your next life." (I had to go out temporarily tonight, so the update is late. The first chapter tomorrow will be at midnight. It's going to be Monday soon, so I'm asking for recommendations in advance to boost the new book rankings. I'm asking everyone for their support. Thank you.)