Chapter 24

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Ever since leaving Fenghua Valley, it had been hard to get a good night's sleep. Now, finally free from fear, he hoped to have a good dream. However, just as he was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, he heard a faint voice calling, "Little Brother Wu, wake up quickly..."

Who is making such a racket, can't a person sleep in peace!

Wu Jiu groggily opened his eyes and realized he had shifted from sitting cross-legged to lying on his stomach, leaving a small puddle of drool on the mat.

He thought he was still dreaming, but it turned out he had fallen asleep without realizing it. Looking out the window, he saw the sky was just beginning to brighten. What time is it?

"It's almost the end of the second watch. If you don't get up now, you'll go hungry. Don't say I didn't warn you, or you'll regret it later..."

Wu Jiu hurriedly propped himself up and saw someone standing nearby, urging him repeatedly.

It was Zong Bao, who had chatted with him the night before, and had come early to wake him up. He had a jade pendant and a leather bag tied around his waist, and a short sword in his hand.

Wu Jiu came to his senses, quickly responded, and tidied himself up before heading out.

Zong Bao shook his head and smiled, pointing out, "Take your magical tool, leather bag, and the luminous pearl for lighting, as well as a towel and chopsticks. You don't need anything else..."

The magical tool is the short sword?

Wu Jiu pulled out a bag from under the wooden bed, took out the items mentioned, tied the leather bag around his waist, and tucked the short sword into his clothes. Just as he finished, Zong Bao had already led the way out of the shed. He followed closely, descending the hill.

At this time, the sky was gradually brightening, and the morning mist was spreading. There were figures moving around, clearly fellow disciples.

In no time, they arrived at a mountain spring.

At Zong Bao's gesture, Wu Jiu used the towel to wash his face. Then the two continued on, encountering more and more people along the way.

"Hehe, those are all our fellow disciples. They couldn't bear the damp and cold of the sheds, so they dug caves on the mountain to live in. You're new here, so you'll have to endure for a few days. Once you find a suitable place, you can move."

"Suitable?"

"How could it not be? We may not have any cultivation yet, but we are still considered cultivators. Without a cave to live in, how can we cultivate? The overseers understand this and never interfere."

"Thank you for your advice! But I think Overseer Ge is quite formidable..."

"There are five overseers in the Jade Well. One has left, leaving four, all of whom are powerful cultivators. However, due to their slow progress, they were exiled here. Overseer Ge Qi is the same, and his irritability is understandable. Just keep your distance from him..."

"Besides the overseers, are there no other experts here?"

"There are! The head of the Jade Well is Xuan Ji, who is always in seclusion and doesn't handle daily affairs. All the major and minor matters of the Jade Well are handled by the overseers..."

"What is the leather bag for?"

"Hehe, you're at it again. If it were anyone else, they would have been annoyed by now..."

The two walked and talked, gradually approaching a row of houses in the valley. The torches under the eaves had gone out, and there were two stoves with people in charge. The gathered disciples were lining up to receive food.

Wu Jiu followed Zong Bao, looking around.

The dawn was breaking, and the valley was gradually brightening. There were about thirty to forty disciples receiving food, some dispersing alone, others in groups of three or five. Most were men, with a few women mixed in, their appearances and expressions varied, and their ages ranging from teenagers to the elderly.

Wu Jiu was slightly surprised and whispered, "Those are all disciples of the Jade Well? So old..."

Zong Bao was unperturbed, "Having a spiritual root doesn't mean you'll become an immortal. Many work hard for decades and achieve nothing!"

Wu Jiu fell silent, suddenly realizing that his excitement from last night was a bit naive. If he couldn't become an immortal, would he have to spend the rest of his life here?

In a moment, they reached the eaves.

In the two large pots on the stove, one was boiling clear soup, the other meat.

Wu Jiu took out a clay bowl, scooped a spoonful of clear soup and two brownish-yellow pieces of meat. Not knowing what to do, he followed Zong Bao to a spot and squatted down, listening to his explanation: "The soup contains various medicinal herbs, which nourish the body and replenish energy. The meat comes from the spirit mountain earthworm, which has the ability to cleanse and detoxify..."

What earthworm? Isn't it just a worm used for fishing bait? And it's usually only as thick as a finger, why is it so big here?

Wu Jiu picked up the meat and sniffed it. The smell was pungent, making him feel nauseous. He wanted to throw it away but hesitated and put it in the leather bag.

Zong Bao, however, kept eating and drinking, and laughed as if he had expected it, "Hehe, there will be times when you'll be hungry..."

Wu Jiu was unmoved, took a sip of the soup, and found it bitter. It was comparable to the soup made by Qi Sanren. He winced and spat it out.

"Oh no, what a waste!"

Someone approached, an old man with gray hair and beard, also dressed in blue, with a leather bag tied around his waist. He held an empty bowl and said regretfully, "Little Brother, if you don't like the soup, let me have it..."

Wu Jiu stood up, slightly surprised, but couldn't refuse and poured the half-bowl of soup over.

Zong Bao didn't stop him, just moved aside, saying, "Old Yun, you're taking advantage again..."

The old man didn't hesitate, drank the soup in one go, and then closed his eyes in satisfaction, stroking his beard and praising, "I'm over a hundred years old, yet I'm strong and healthy, all thanks to this longevity soup! Even if immortality is distant, this life is enough... enough!"

If this is longevity soup, wouldn't Qi Sanren's soup be considered elixir?

Wu Jiu was stunned and exclaimed, "Sir, you're over a hundred years old?"

The old man opened his eyes and said politely, "I am Yun Shengzi, just passing the years. I don't know how old you are, Little Brother..."

Wu Jiu hurriedly replied, "I'm only in my early twenties..."

Yun Shengzi's eyes were deep, "From what I see, you are wise and reserved, and must come from a noble family! I also have a background, so we should get to know each other better..."

Wu Jiu's heart skipped a beat, about to answer, but was pulled away by Zong Bao, who whispered, "He's just taking advantage of your newness, ignore him!"

Yun Shengzi, unwilling to give up, said, "Little Brother, I see great potential in you. Let's practice together..."

Wu Jiu turned back apologetically but was pulled away by Zong Bao.

At that moment, someone shouted loudly, "Time's up, up the mountain!"

Two strong men appeared under the eaves, one of whom was Overseer Ge Qi. With his command, the gathered disciples followed the house to the north. Another overseer, said to be Zhong Kai, accompanied them.

Not far ahead, there were steep stone steps. Climbing up, they reached the top of the mountain in about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Not far away was the main peak of the Jade Well, towering into the clouds.

The sun was rising, the clouds were parting, and the sky was filled with colorful light, vast and boundless. Looking far into the distance, the peaks were hidden in the sea of clouds, creating a scene that seemed like a fairyland, making one forget oneself.

The spiritual mountain was indeed extraordinary!

Wu Jiu was still taking in the scenery when he heard Ge Qi's voice again, "Don't dawdle, get into the well. Each person must bring out a hundred pounds of refined jade. Those who don't will be punished. Disciples Xiang Rong and Gou Jun, check each one..."

Following the voice, he saw that below the mountain top was another valley, only a few miles wide, hidden by vegetation, and quite secluded. On one side of the valley were houses, and in the middle of the open space was a solitary shed. Looking in the direction of the shed, there was a dark cave leading into the cliff.

Under the shed, two unfamiliar old men were sitting. From their neat clothing, they were likely overseers. The disciples followed the slope to the valley, passing by the two men, and then headed for the cave entrance about ten yards away.

No need to guess, this must be the Jade Well mine. And those who can't dig a hundred pounds of refined jade will be punished?

Wu Jiu followed Zong Bao, slowly moving forward with the crowd.

The two old overseers, perhaps unhappy with their lives, had fierce expressions, each sitting on a wooden stool, casually shaking a palm-sized jade pendant. They were supposed to be checking, but there were no other actions. The disciples moved forward, one by one entering the cave.

A moment later, chaos erupted ahead. Someone shouted, and a few strong disciples carried a person out of the cave in a hurry.

Wu Jiu, just reaching the shed, stopped to watch. Many disciples gathered around, their expressions serious.

The person was carried to an open space nearby, an old man, eyes closed, face ashen, clearly dead for some time.

The two overseers under the shed remained seated, as if this was a common sight.

Ge Qi walked over, checked briefly, and grunted. His companion raised his hand, and a flame shot out, instantly burning the body to ashes. A gust of wind blew, and not a trace remained, leaving only a slight burn mark, indicating someone had passed this way.

Wu Jiu watched in shock, unable to resist patting Zong Bao's shoulder. Zong Bao glanced back, silent, his previously bright eyes now dark and cold.

Ge Qi, impatient, waved his hand, urging everything to continue as usual.

Wu Jiu took a step, and someone shouted, "Stop—"

Who was being told to stop? Zong Bao didn't stop but looked back curiously. Ge Qi and the other overseer were looking at him, their eyes intimidating.

Wu Jiu turned to the shed and saw the two idle old men suddenly become stern. The one called Xiang Rong raised his hand, and the jade pendant he held glowed. After confirming, he sternly said, "Don't you know the rules?"

It seems they were talking to me. What rule did I break?

Wu Jiu was confused. The old man called Gou Jun suddenly stood up, moved quickly, and with a wave of his hand, tore the belt Wu Jiu had sewn around his waist. It broke with a "ripping" sound and fell to the ground, shattering. The silver coins, animal skin talismans, five stones, jade pieces, and other valuables inside were revealed. Then two short swords fell.

At the same time, cries of surprise arose, "Spirit stones... talismans... jade tablets... magical tools..."

...

PS: There will be another update tonight. Mobile users, please visit http://m.piaotia.net

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