Chapter 18: A Chance Encounter
To suddenly be elevated from an outer disciple of the Orthodox Unity Sect to the personal disciple of a certain elder in the Gate of Life and Death, Zhou Qi was uncertain whether fortune or misfortune awaited him.
Yet the advantages were immediately apparent: early the next morning, his new clothing and token as a personal disciple were delivered to him.
The attire of the Orthodox Unity Sect’s disciples was quite distinctive. The outer disciples’ robes bore a large “Death” character on the back; the inner disciples, a “Life” character. As for personal disciples, they were privileged to have both, “Life” and “Death” together—one look at the robes, and anyone could tell a disciple’s status. Zhou Qi recalled that Shen Bai’s back bore the character for “Life,” marking him as an inner disciple.
As a personal disciple, the benefits and privileges were evident. Each month, even without undertaking sect missions, there was a minimum stipend of spirit stones: fifty low-grade stones during the Qi Refining stage, ten middle-grade stones at the Foundation Establishment stage, fifty middle-grade stones at the Golden Core stage. Upon reaching the Nascent Soul stage, one could become a sect elder, and the calculation of spirit stones changed entirely.
Compared to the Orthodox Unity Sect, the difference was like heaven and earth. Zhou Qi wondered what the Heavenly Dao Sect must be like in comparison.
After changing into his new robes, Zhou Qi decided to collect his guaranteed fifty low-grade spirit stones. On the way, when other disciples saw him in the personal disciple’s attire, they greeted him from a distance and made way, so he enjoyed a moment of glory.
He sought out the steward in charge of internal affairs. The steward, seeing him come to claim the fifty low-grade spirit stones, was rendered speechless. Never before had a personal disciple come to collect the basic stipend—it would have been much easier to wheedle it out of his master than to make this trip.
The Gate of Life and Death was vast; the range for sword-riding among Qi Refining disciples was limited. Zhou Qi had flown in on his sword, but for the return journey, he had to walk.
He was in no hurry, and wandered leisurely toward Liu Ruitai’s cave residence. He wondered what this cheap master of his had in mind, for he always felt a vague fear in his presence.
As he strolled, he took in the scenery of mountains and rivers. He spotted many spirit herbs and grasses that tempted him to pick them, but he restrained himself. If the newly appointed personal disciple of the Gate of Life and Death were caught stealing spirit herbs on his first day and executed, he’d surely become a sensation in the Huangxuan Domain.
As he pondered this, he saw a man and woman approaching together. The man, dressed in white, was tall and slender, his hair stirred by the wind, his eyes bright and spirited, and a faint, enigmatic smile always played about his lips, lending him an air of elegance and charm.
Beside him, the woman wore the robes of a personal disciple of the Gate of Life and Death. She was beautiful as a flower, her smile captivating, her figure superb; not even the sect’s severe attire could conceal her beauty. Indeed, those who are truly beautiful look good even in sackcloth.
It was too late to avoid them, so Zhou Qi bowed in greeting.
“Greetings, Senior Sister. Greetings, fellow Daoist.”
The two returned the gesture, both with kind smiles.
“Greetings, fellow Daoist.” “Greetings, Junior Brother.”
They brushed past him, and after they’d gone a long way, the man asked, “Junior Sister Xia Shu, do you know who that was?”
“That’s the personal disciple Elder Liu Ruitai accepted in our Gate of Life and Death. He was originally from the Orthodox Unity Sect, but after taking first place in the Five Sects Competition at the Qi Refining stage, Elder Liu took a liking to him. Why, Brother Feiyu, are you interested in him?” the woman, Xia Shu, replied.
“I just felt an affinity with him, that’s all. Qi Refining stage?” the man asked again.
“Yes, he took first place at the Qi Refining seventh level—a dark horse this year,” Xia Shu said with a smile.
The man fell silent, thoughtful.
“Hurry on, don’t look back.” The voice of True Lord Tianxuan echoed in Zhou Qi’s mind.
Startled, Zhou Qi realized that for True Lord Tianxuan to be so tense, the other soul-holder must have appeared. Was it the woman or the man?
He hastily used the remnants of his spiritual power to fly away on his sword.
Whether it was the man or the woman, he couldn’t possibly face them now. Still, they wouldn’t act openly in broad daylight; as much as he wished to remain hidden, so would the other party.
Not until he’d gone a great distance did True Lord Tianxuan’s voice return.
“The other party likely sensed something, but isn’t certain. You must be careful. Their soul might well be stronger than mine. That man is at the third level of Foundation Establishment—you are no match. If you meet him, there will be no escape from death.”
“True Lord, do you know about my apprenticeship?” Zhou Qi asked hastily.
“Yes. That Liu Ruitai certainly harbors no good intentions. I’m not sure of his aims yet, but you should continue cultivating the Tianxuan Nine Transformations—it’s extremely beneficial for tempering the body.”
“He won’t sense your presence, will he?” Zhou Qi worried.
“Don’t worry. Though I am but a remnant soul now, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator like him cannot perceive me.”
Zhou Qi was startled. For True Lord Tianxuan to refer to a Nascent Soul cultivator as “mere,” how high must his own cultivation have been in life?
“There is a Ghostshade Flower among the spirit herbs he cultivates—it’s useful to me. Go and obtain it.”
“How? With what excuse?” Zhou Qi asked.
“Find a way yourself.” With that, True Lord Tianxuan fell silent.
Just moments ago he’d called a Nascent Soul cultivator “small”; now he expected Zhou Qi to find a way on his own. But Zhou Qi understood that True Lord Tianxuan was now powerless to act—otherwise, he wouldn’t be hiding in the soul sea of a mere Qi Refining cultivator.
Having encountered another bearer of Tianxuan True Lord’s soul, Zhou Qi felt the pressure mount. There could only be a fight to the death between them; there was no other resolution. But his current strength was far from sufficient to contend with the other.
When he returned to Liu Ruitai’s cave, he found Liu Ruitai tending his spirit herbs. Streams of spiritual spring water danced between his fingers; with a flick, he sent the water precisely to the roots of each plant.
Zhou Qi was amazed—even watering plants could be performed with such artistry!
“You’ve returned?” Liu Ruitai paused in his work.
“Yes, Master,” Zhou Qi replied, bowing.
“Watch closely. From now on, you’ll be responsible for tending these spirit herbs. I’m going into seclusion.” Liu Ruitai tossed him a book, which detailed the methods for caring for spirit herbs and feeding spirit beasts.
Zhou Qi accepted the book respectfully.
Liu Ruitai added that the Orthodox Unity Sect’s cultivation methods were too crude and that he would teach Zhou Qi a new technique. During his seclusion, Zhou Qi was to focus on cultivating diligently.
As he finished speaking, a new cultivation method appeared in Zhou Qi’s mind.
Lotus Mystical Technique.
Zhou Qi bowed deeply in gratitude.
When he looked up again, Liu Ruitai had already vanished without a trace.
Zhou Qi could only take up the book and study it carefully. If he managed to kill the spirit herbs or spirit beasts, who knew if Liu Ruitai would fly into a rage and finish him with a single blow.
After reading through the book, Zhou Qi identified the Ghostshade Flower True Lord Tianxuan had mentioned—a flower entirely black, with five petals, strikingly conspicuous among the other spirit herbs.
He suppressed the urge to pluck it at once and turned to inspect the other herbs: Nine Suns Grass, Bleeding Branch...
He examined each plant in turn—all were precious spirit herbs, any one of which could fetch untold spirit stones. Was all this truly entrusted to him for safekeeping?
Was this a test, or genuine trust?