Chapter 35

The treasure of the Green Bamboo Gang is naturally the one that the green-robed man seized, which is related to the Immortal Path.

Although Shen Lian was curious, he was not so impulsive as to forcibly take it.

If one desires everything they see, allowing greed to control them, even if they gain temporary benefits, it is not a long-term solution.

True freedom is not about doing whatever one wants, but about controlling oneself, not being blinded by a single leaf or obscured by desires.

Of course, if An Renjie really gave it to him, Shen Lian would not be pretentious.

"Looks like you don't dare. It's only the tenth day now. Let's see what happens on the fifteenth. Whether you go or not is still uncertain." Shen Lian slightly narrowed his eyes, as if avoiding the cold wind seeping in from outside the door.

This heavy snow shows no sign of stopping.

******

The city of Qingzhou is a snowy scene, and the Jialan Mountain is another snowy scene.

The snow in Qingzhou has footprints, wheel tracks, and the smell of life.

But in the mountain, it is a vast white expanse, clean and uninhabited.

Xin Shisi walked on the snowy path in the mountain. The snowflakes seemed to have a spirit, deliberately avoiding her, or perhaps she was surrounded by an invisible glass shield.

In this freezing weather, she walked barefoot, not feeling the cold at all.

There was not even a trace on the snow.

A corner of a roof jutted out in the distance, covered in snow, sparkling and crystal clear, with long, sharp icicles hanging below, making one feel a chill.

An old plum tree stood proudly in the cold wind, its few white blossoms emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

Xin Shisi was delighted to see the flowers and wanted to pick a branch, but was stopped by a hand.

Compared to her delicate and smooth arm, this hand was truly pitiful, with dry skin and a withered arm, not much different from the plum tree branches.

Yet it firmly held Xin Shisi's hand without any trembling.

Xin Shisi looked up and said, "Father, why did you come out?"

"I just came out of meditation and felt something, so I came to stop you from picking the flowers." The speaker was an old man with silver-white hair, surpassing the snow, thin and showing his age.

"Pick it, pick it. It will grow back next year anyway. I didn't cut its roots."

The plum branch swayed, as if dissatisfied with Xin Shisi's words.

"It's not easy for it to have a bit of spirit. Picking a branch will hurt it. Why cause it pain?" The old man patted Xin Shisi's head and led her into the hall.

The hall was empty, but it did not show the desolate scene rumored outside. The traces of the battle between Ling Chongxiao and the green-robed man were still faintly visible, and the eighteen Jialan statues still stood.

They each took a cushion and sat facing each other.

"Did you see that young man?" the old man asked slowly.

"I saw him. He is really handsome, just like us." Xin Shisi bit her finger, as if ready to bite off her delicate, onion-root-like finger.

"I heard his sword skills are excellent. Did you try them?"

"I saw him draw his sword once. His inner energy hasn't yet connected the Ren and Du meridians, but he is at a critical point. More importantly, he already has the ability of soul projection, showing signs of entering the Immortal Path." Xin Shisi seemed casual, but her words carried a hint of seriousness.

If Shen Lian heard her words, he would be shaken, for Xin Shisi had seen through his true nature at a glance, while he still did not fully understand her.

"Humans are truly favored. In just a few decades, they can achieve such cultivation, and that's without joining an Immortal Sect." The old man sighed slightly. It is truly difficult for other beings to achieve the Immortal Path.

"I don't envy them. What's good about being human? They turn to dust in a few decades or a century." Xin Shisi, though surprised by Shen Lian's talent, did not envy or resent it, for they had their own advantages that humans could not match.

"We are born with longevity, but seeking the Dao is difficult; they are born with short lives, but their path is smooth. The Heavenly Dao is fair, and gains and losses are unpredictable. I can see the end of my life, but I hope you can walk the path of the Dao. The smoother the path for that child, the more likely he is to help you. Don't cause trouble and offend him." The old man paused and said.

"He's not that great. How can he help me? I can take on ten like him." Xin Shisi sat cross-legged with her hands on her hips, somewhat不服气 (unconvinced).

"I don't know the exact cultivation method he uses to calm his soul, but the qi cultivation method he practices was created by the Great Master Taiyi when he roamed the world. Although it is not part of the Immortal Path, it is a legitimate method of the Qingxuan Sect. The Qingxuan Sect opens its gates every fifty years and only accepts ten inner disciples under the age of twenty.

Only those with sufficient talent and opportunity can have a chance to join. The mortal Ling Chongxiao missed the last recruitment, and even if he found the Qingxuan Sect, he would not have had a chance to join. Even if he became the top expert in the mortal world, it would have been in vain.

In fact, if it weren't for the Immortal Master in the Qingxuan Sect who let him off because he practiced the Mingyu Gong, Ling Chongxiao would not have survived until now.

There is another year until the next recruitment of the Qingxuan Sect. If this child participates, with his qi cultivation method related to the Great Master Taiyi and his talent, he has a high chance of being selected.

If he has a smooth path and becomes a true disciple in the future, he will have the opportunity to obtain the handscroll left by the Lady Qingfeng in the Qingxuan Sect. Then you can borrow it and have a chance to achieve the Dao."

The old man spoke calmly, revealing many secrets, even those that Ling Chongxiao might not know, such as the reason he missed the recruitment and the fact that he survived because he practiced the Mingyu Gong.

"Legend has it that the Great Master Taiyi is the most likely to achieve the Primordial state since the beginning of time. The Qingxuan Sect claims to inherit the Taiyi lineage. Given the relationship between Lady Qingfeng and the Great Master Taiyi, why doesn't Father go to them directly to ask for the handscroll? It might even help cure your injuries."

Xin Shisi, hearing this, felt a glimmer of hope. The handscroll of Lady Qingfeng is in the Qingxuan Sect, and she is the most accomplished member of their clan, having escaped calamity and roamed the vast universe.

If they obtain the handscroll, there is a good chance of curing her father's injuries, rather than waiting to die.

"It's not that simple. The Qingxuan Sect recognizes the Great Master Taiyi, but they may not give face to Lady Qingfeng. Besides, we are not her direct descendants. Why would they give us face?

The handscroll is important to us, but it is not essential to the Qingxuan Sect. If this child can join and become a true disciple, it won't cost much to let us borrow the handscroll. If he can't join, we will find another way."

"I'm afraid Father can't wait that long."

"Humans are the most intelligent of all beings and cultivate very quickly. If this child has true talent, he can become a true disciple within a hundred years. I can hold on for one or two hundred years. Besides, even if I am cured, it only extends my life. If you achieve the Dao, you will have the opportunity to meet the Great Master Taiyi and ask him to bring me back to life. How difficult would that be?"

PS: Thank you to Shanhe Youlei for the 1888 reward, and to Zhuan Kang` Teammates, First Kiss in the Night, A Page of the River, Yan Cangtian123, Xiao Mao, Long Ke, Book Friend 151122220328724, Fzyf, and others.