Chapter 80: Do Not Waste the Spiritual Opportunity
The thirtieth of the twelfth month.
It was New Year’s Eve once again.
Throughout the sect, a unique spectacle unfolded.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators stood upon their flying swords, channeling spiritual energy to hang spirit talisman red lanterns one by one beneath the eaves of every building in the sect.
On the Enter the Dao Platform, a thin layer of snow covered the stone steps of the mountain path.
A group of outer disciples traveled together, heading down the mountain.
They happened to encounter the cultivator on duty at the mountain gate, who knew them and bade them farewell.
“Be careful on the road. If you can return before the seventh, the dining hall still has spirit meat dumplings to give out.”
“Understood, Senior Brother!”
Speaking of which, it was truly strange.
On the path of immortal cultivation, they all said one needed to transcend emotion and sever worldly ties to seek the Dao of eternal life.
This was how it was in the other sects of the Chu Kingdom’s cultivation world. Though they did not suppress their disciples, they would never encourage celebrating these secular festivals.
But the Eastern Abyss Sect was precisely the opposite.
When the sect master founded the sect, he established the rule that from New Year’s Eve through the seventh, the entire sect would collectively rest.
It was no different from the mortal world.
All outer sect chores and inner sect mission deadlines were postponed.
If one wished to descend the mountain and return home for the New Year, they simply needed to inform the elder steward and could leave a few days early, returning to the sect before the eighth.
However, during the Spring Festival days, the taverns and dining halls continued to operate as usual.
Disciples who stayed to help at the sect could receive extra stipend as compensation.
Some of the senior disciples said that if the sect master was not in seclusion on New Year’s Eve, the disciples who remained at the sect might receive the sect master’s handwritten New Year’s greeting.
However, this was merely a rumor.
Song Yan looked particularly dashing today.
In his steward’s daoist robe, he cut a splendid figure.
Indeed, he was one of the outer disciples who voluntarily stayed at the sect for duty this year.
The original steward disciples had all returned home for the New Year.
For the past half month, his state of mind had been clear and his spiritual resources abundant. His cultivation progress could be described as advancing a thousand li per day.
Such a cultivation state did not come often, so he planned to strike while the iron was hot and maintain this state.
Moreover, he had returned to Stone Ridge for New Year’s Eve in previous years.
Spending the New Year at the sect this time would offer a different flavor.
Actually, staying at the sect for duty was not so bad.
They were supposed to patrol the entire sect, but in reality everyone gathered in the dining hall, hiding in private rooms with a few friends, chatting and drinking freely.
And so it was.
Junior Sister Gu Qingqing had sent a voice transmission talisman early in the morning, saying she had invited several acquaintances to have New Year’s Eve dinner together at the dining hall.
When he first heard the word “acquaintances,” he was somewhat dazed.
Where would he get acquaintances?
But upon reflection, there were indeed a few people in the outer sect who could now be called friends.
The dining hall was quite crowded today, with most being cultivators on duty.
Following the room number on Junior Sister Qingqing’s voice transmission talisman, he pushed open the wooden door of the private room.
“Senior Brother Song!”
Perhaps to welcome the New Year, Gu Qingqing wore an apricot-red brocade jacket today, her black hair tied into twin buns with red thread.
She looked festive and adorable.
“Come sit quickly.”
Inside the room, familiar faces filled the seats.
Besides Gu Qingqing, Li Qingfeng and Shao Sichao were also present, along with what appeared to be one of Gu Qingqing’s junior sisters.
Song Yan found her face somewhat familiar but could not remember who she was.
“Senior Brother Song?”
The female cultivator cried out in surprise upon seeing Song Yan.
“Hmm? You… know me?”
She had a delicate, modest appearance, yet spoke with poise: “I do, I do. Senior Brother Song may have forgotten.”
“That day at Mist-Veil Peak, I was in danger along with two fellow disciples. It was thanks to Senior Brother Song’s rescue that we three returned to the sect safely.”
“Ah…”
He did have some impression of that.
He had just returned from the venture to Silent Valley at the time.
Out of politeness, Song Yan casually asked: “What is your name?”
“My name is Yang Yuerong.”
A stranger.
“That’s a very nice name.”
Gu Qingqing curiously pulled Yang Yuerong aside, asking questions about what happened that day.
The two female cultivators whispered together, paying Song Yan no more attention.
“It’s been a while, Qingfeng.”
Li Qingfeng and Song Yan shared a bond forged through life-and-death experiences. Since the Peach Blossom Wharf venture, the two often sparred and occasionally exchanged cultivation insights.
Regarding what happened at Peach Blossom Wharf, they all understood tacitly and rarely mentioned it.
Song Yan’s methods were fierce and formidable, while Li Qingfeng’s techniques were even stranger. Neither could critique the other.
Those who cultivated the immortal path all had their opportunities. Making a fuss about it would only be inferior.
“Senior Brother Shao.”
Shao Sichao greeted Song Yan, then returned his attention to the menu in his hands.
In Song Yan’s view, he had already had many interactions with this Senior Brother Shao.
But in the other party’s mind, they had likely only met during the Silent Valley venture.
Originally, with two female cultivators in the private room, Li Qingfeng had been quite reserved and uncomfortable, but it improved after Song Yan arrived.
“It’s so lively today. I didn’t expect you not to go home either, Old Song?”
“Stone Ridge, I recall, is quite close to the sect.”
At least, he was already able to speak.
Song Yan explained the reasons, and everyone finally understood.
“It’s not that I don’t miss home. Once my cultivation stabilizes a bit in the future, I’ll go back to visit. The villagers are all there, it’s the same.”
Everyone nodded.
The conversation opened up, and Li Qingfeng asked: “Hey, speaking of which, where are all of you from?”
Gu Qingqing answered first: “I’m from Danyang Prefecture in Chen Province, West Qi River. Senior Brother Qingfeng, have you been there?”
“No.”
“Heavens, you’ve truly never seen the world.”
“Old Song, have you been there?”
“No.”
Song Yan had been a well-behaved child since childhood. Except for one trip to Lin Province with his grandfather for charitable medical treatment, he had never traveled far.
Gu Qingqing giggled: “Then next time I’ll take Senior Brother Song to visit!”
Li Qingfeng could not help but complain: “Why is it that when it comes to me, I’ve never seen the world?”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
Everyone laughed together.
Chen Province, Danyang Prefecture.
If he remembered correctly, the Wan family where Wan Songran resided was apparently in that area.
“Qingfeng, what about you? Aren’t you going back to your hometown to visit?”
At this mention, Li Qingfeng’s expression became slightly unnatural, but he quickly recovered.
He laughed self-deprecatingly: “Me? My hometown is in Xin’an Prefecture in Lin Province.”
Xin’an Prefecture?
That was the capital of the Chu Kingdom.
“But in the mortal world, I was just a stray dog without a home. All my relatives have already passed away.”
Song Yan was taken aback and patted his shoulder.
“Senior Brother Shao?”
Li Qingfeng suddenly asked: “Where is Senior Brother Shao from?”
“Me? I’m from Longquan Prefecture. There’s a Sun Family Settlement near North Watch Mountain.”
Shao Sichao answered casually: “I haven’t been back in quite a few years either.”
“Oh.”
Li Qingfeng abruptly changed the subject: “Hey Old Song, where’s your little snake? Didn’t she come?”
“Xiao He? She’s right here…”
Hiss—
The little snake suddenly poked her head out from Song Yan’s sleeve.
A voice like a young girl’s spoke with utmost seriousness: “Happy New Year!”
Yang Yuerong was startled by the sudden appearance of the snake demon. Her panicked expression amused Xiao He greatly.
The room regained its joyful atmosphere.
Before long, the New Year’s Eve dinner was served one dish after another.
In the center was a copper pot, with vibrant broth boiling inside, its fragrance wafting through the air.
Around it were placed pepper cloud eight-treasure rice, spirit mushroom spring rolls, and some unidentifiable slices of spirit fish along with other spirit plants and spirit meats.
Everyone ate and chatted, enjoying the rare atmosphere.
“Hmm?”
Near midnight, there seemed to be some commotion outside.
Qingqing, by the window, rose and pushed open the small window of the private room.
“Wow…”
Looking out the window, spirit lanterns along the sect’s mountain path suddenly lit up one after another. Their warm yellow glow intermingled with the spirit talisman lanterns beneath the eaves.
The mountain protection formation surged with spiritual light.
An inverted character for “Fortune” illuminated.
Several streaks of spiritual light suddenly floated up into the night sky.
“Boom—“
Peach blossom-shaped spiritual flames bloomed in the night, illuminating the snow-covered Enter the Dao Platform in brilliant light.
Everyone set down their chopsticks and walked to the window to watch the fireworks in the night sky together.
“I wonder how A-Nian, A-Yun, and Da-Rong are doing lately…”
“Has Uncle Meng’s health improved…”
“Did Grandma Qin return to her hometown today?”
At this moment, perhaps everyone’s hearts were thinking of their homelands and relatives.
Shao Sichao stood at the back of the group, letting out a soft sigh. His cynical demeanor vanished, replaced by a trace of melancholy between his brows.
“My homeland is ten thousand li away. When will the day of return come…”
Clang, clang, clang…
From Dragon Head Peak, the sound of bells and chimes echoed through the heavens.
In the night, a streak of cyan spiritual light suddenly flew out from somewhere within the sect.
In an instant, it transformed into thousands of spiritual butterflies, slowly drifting toward every corner of the sect.
Several streaks of spiritual light flew toward the dining hall, hovering beside the group.
“This is…”
Gu Qingqing, seeing the dazzling spiritual light, lightly tapped it with her fingertip.
A seal script scroll slowly unfurled, and the spiritual light transformed into ink, landing upon it.
Eight powerful characters appeared.
“The cycle renews, all things are reborn.”
At the side, in small signature script: Li Jun.
“The sect master’s handwriting!”
Everyone could not help but cry out in surprise.
They all collected the cyan spiritual light hovering beside them.
The calligraphy on each was the same, but the handwriting also contained a wisp of special spiritual qi.
Li Qingfeng suddenly sensed something and guided that wisp of spiritual qi into his Dantian sea of energy.
His expression turned to astonishment: “This…”
Everyone followed suit and discovered that this wisp of spiritual energy was incomparably pure. Merging into the Dantian sea of energy, within just a few breaths, their cultivation realms had advanced significantly.
Outside the dining hall, it was bustling with noise.
Upon listening carefully, it turned out someone who had received the sect master’s handwriting had broken through a bottleneck on the spot, and surrounding disciples were congratulating them.
On this New Year’s Eve, the sect master was not in seclusion. He not only gifted his disciples handwritten calligraphy but even distributed spiritual energy to aid their cultivation.
Song Yan thought to himself that his sect master truly had a human touch.
Could this spiritual energy be considered the “lucky money” he gave to his juniors?
All disciples on duty received their share.
Everyone beamed with joy.
“Senior Brother Song, why don’t you open yours and take a look?”
Gu Qingqing noticed Song Yan’s lack of response and could not help but ask.
He had actually collected it long ago but had planned to open it back at his cave dwelling. With the atmosphere so lively, there was no harm in opening it here.
He lightly tapped it with his fingertip. The seal script slowly unfurled, spiritual qi transforming into ink upon it.
Unexpectedly, the spiritual light formed eight characters different from everyone else’s.
Song Yan suddenly froze.
Staring at those eight characters, he fell into a daze.
A sharp and lucid spiritual intent suddenly surged from the seal script.
It transformed into radiance, merging into the Sword Repository of the Dao and fusing with his Dao seed.
…
“Diligently cultivate sword intent. Do not waste the spiritual opportunity.”
…
Eastern Abyss Sect, forbidden grounds.
In a secluded valley.
Words were carved into the cliff face, their strokes sharp and fierce, as if etched by blade or sword.
A young man in white robes sat before a blue stone tablet, speaking to himself.
“Junior Sister, in recent days I spent considerable effort suppressing the inner demon.”
“As soon as I entered seclusion, it took this long.”
“Leaving you alone through the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Little New Year… I’m truly sorry. You wouldn’t blame your senior brother, would you?”
He raised his gaze toward the fireworks in the night sky and continued: “This place of Feng’an is dry and cold.”
“Over three hundred years have passed, and I still haven’t adapted.”
“It’s quite different from what you used to say at Junshan about it being ‘blessed with talent and spiritual energy’ and ‘a place of exceptional beauty.'”
The young man suddenly burst into laughter, then gradually fell silent.
Before the blue stone tablet, a pear tree was planted.
Beneath the tree sat a wine jar and two empty bowls.
“I was careless and forgot to fetch wine from Feng’an. I’ll make it up to you next time.”
“Today, let us drink some clear tea to keep vigil for the new year.”
He poured some spiritual tea into the bowls, splashing one bowl before the gravestone and drinking the other himself.
“Speaking of which, a rather interesting junior has emerged in the sect.”
“He walks the same path as I do, yet seems somehow different…”
“Legend has it that the Sword Ancestor of ancient times hailed from your Chu lands.”
“Now this small Eastern Abyss Sect actually harbors two sword cultivators…”
“The karma and circumstances of it all are truly wondrous.”
“Recently, the traces of demonic cultivators have been increasing. I must cultivate diligently as well, lest I fail to protect this small territory of Feng’an.”
The young man rose to his feet and cast a glance at the massive stone wall behind him.
He turned and departed.
…
Flame Mist Mountain Range, Floating Jade Peak.
A woman in white stood at the mountain’s summit, her robes fluttering gently in the cold mountain wind.
She gazed into the distance at the Eastern Abyss Sect.
The mountain gate was ablaze with lights, the mountain protection formation flowing with festive spiritual light.
The cyan fireworks in the sky reflected in her pale yellow vertical pupils.
“Humans…”
“Truly fascinating.”
Beneath the night sky, hundreds upon hundreds of spirit talisman lanterns lit up one after another.
Some young disciples, like mortal children setting off firecrackers, tossed strings of exploding fire-crow spirit talismans.
“On certain designated days, they exchange meaningless blessings with one another…”
“Forgetting suffering, casting off burdens, welcoming new life.”
“When disaster strikes, they rally their spirits. When fortune smiles, they remain cautious.”
“No matter what, they always find a way to keep going.”
“Perhaps this is why human cultivators were able to carve out a path of survival, step by step, amidst the primordial chaos.”
Watching that streak of spiritual light drift from Dragon Head Peak toward all directions.
She suddenly recalled Xiao He, and how her eyes had sparkled when speaking of that human cultivator.
Her fingertip lightly touched, and a wisp of demon qi ensnared a stray cyan butterfly.
That wisp of pure spiritual qi and the writing within it faintly materialized.
“However…”
“Fireworks cool easily, and spiritual butterflies have short lives…”
The woman in white flicked her sleeve to disperse the demon qi, letting the cyan butterfly stumble and flutter into the depths of the Flame Mist Mountain Range.
“From hope and vitality, plummeting to despair and destruction…”
“It is but the blink of an eye.”
…