Chapter 98: Nine Peaks Mountain Phoenix Summit

Human World

Human World

The dharma robes issued by Yuanzhao Sect were utterly destroyed in the cave explosion. Qin Sang had no time to clean himself up, and after several months of continuous escape, he had become no different from a wild man.

As the weather grew warmer and human settlements became increasingly dense, the towns along the way flourished. Qin Sang felt it was time to change into a clean set of clothes. He blended into a small town and inquired about his current location.

"Zheng State..."

Qin Sang was devouring fresh meat buns at a steamed bun shop. He had just learned that this place was within Zheng State and felt a sense of familiarity, suddenly recalling that Zheng State was marked on the geomantic map given to him by Immortal Master Han.

Leaving the steamed bun shop, Qin Sang found a secluded spot. He pulled out the geomantic map from his mustard seed pouch, secretly congratulating himself on his luck.

Indeed, Zheng State was marked on it, located at the westernmost edge of the map. If he were to travel much further west, he would go beyond the map's coverage.

Zheng State was southwest of the You Mountain range, separated by a considerable distance.

In the southern part of Zheng State, there was a place called Jiuding Mountain. Judging from the small depiction on the geomantic map, while it couldn't compare to You Mountain, it was considered a famous mountain in the vicinity.

Qin Sang pondered for a moment and decided to go to Jiuding Mountain. He would find a spiritually rich and secluded place to establish a cave dwelling, first healing his old injuries. Then he would see if he could find other cultivators, gather some information, and then continue south, escaping into the heartland of the righteous cultivation forces.

Although Qin Sang didn't know the outcome of that night, thinking of the terrifying great sun and the unexpected appearance of the Golden Core venerable at the end, he felt that the Kuiyin Sect might not have fared well.

For such a long time, he hadn't seen any Kuiyin Sect members pursue him, which gradually calmed his anxious heart.

Jiuding Mountain, Phoenix Peak.

Phoenix Peak was once the most beautiful of Jiuding Mountain's nine peaks, with countless moving legends.

From a distance, Phoenix Peak looked exactly like a divine phoenix spreading its wings, ready to fly. Unfortunately, later, an inexplicable earthquake occurred on Phoenix Peak, causing the Divine Phoenix Stone to collapse and be destroyed.

Although Jiuding Mountain was still called Jiuding Mountain, Phoenix Peak was gradually forgotten, becoming an utterly ordinary mountain peak.

Then, one day, Phoenix Peak was suddenly enveloped by a perpetual thick fog. Mortals who accidentally entered the fog would get lost, only emerging after wandering for most of the day. Various legends gradually began to circulate again.

Little did they know, this former Phoenix Peak had now become a small gathering place for cultivators near Jiuding Mountain. The surrounding thick, lingering fog was actually just a simple minor restriction, designed only to block mortals.

At the end of each ten-day period, rogue cultivators and cultivators from small cultivation families near Jiuding Mountain would gather there. The number of attendees was not necessarily large, incomparable to a cultivation market, and they were all low-level cultivators. However, they could exchange resources, share cultivation insights, and exchange minor news.

Today was the end of a ten-day period. Early in the morning, several streaks of light arrived together, and then, one after another, people walked into the fog.

When daylight was bright, a woman around thirty years old landed in front of Phoenix Peak. With a look of pleasant surprise, she said to the young man beside her, "Fellow Daoist Qin, your Cloud Evasion technique is indeed effective. It's more concealed and much faster than my Water Evasion technique. Thank you for sharing it so generously."

Qin Sang nodded with a smile.

The woman traveling with him was named Li Youniang. Already over thirty, she was originally an ordinary person from a small mountain village outside Jiuding Mountain, having married in her teens.

Later, while her husband was chopping wood on the mountain, he saved an injured cultivator. The cultivator was severely wounded and dying. To repay the life-saving kindness, he decided to pass on immortal arts to them before his death. Unfortunately, only Li Youniang possessed spiritual roots, and she had quadruple spiritual roots, taking her many years of cultivation to reach the third level of the Qi Refining stage.

However, after receiving the cultivator's inheritance, Li Youniang did not leave the village to seek immortality and the Dao. Nor did she disdain her husband for being a mortal. Instead, she remained hidden amidst mundane affairs, living the life of an ordinary person.

She now had three children, and her family lived in joyful harmony.

Half a month ago, her husband suddenly fell seriously ill. Li Youniang anxiously went to Phoenix Peak to seek medicine, passing by Qin Sang's cave dwelling. Qin Sang stopped her.

At that time, Qin Sang had found a secluded mountain stream in Jiuding Mountain to establish a cave dwelling and had been in secluded cultivation to heal his injuries.

He had originally intended to contact local rogue cultivators to gather information. When Li Youniang appeared at his doorstep, he was naturally willing to befriend her. Hearing of her difficulties, he immediately took out a spiritual elixir and gave it to her. As expected, the medicine cured the illness.

Li Youniang regarded Qin Sang as her savior. Hearing Qin Sang's request, she readily agreed to bring him to Phoenix Peak for the gathering. She also told him that if he wanted to gather information, it would be best to wait until the end of the month.

Her master had a good friend named Yu Lian, a disciple of the Yu family, a cultivation family near Jiuding Mountain. He was well-informed, enjoyed making friends, and would engage in lively discussions at Phoenix Peak every month-end.

The rogue cultivators in the vicinity mostly gleaned their understanding of the cultivation world from him.

Qin Sang stayed at Li Youniang's home, only setting off on the day of the month-end. Seeing Li Youniang's family live in such harmony and joy, he admired her persistence, even though he didn't necessarily agree with her choices.

Li Youniang composed herself and suppressed her joy. She said, "Fellow Daoist Qin, please follow me. I will introduce you to Elder Yu."

Phoenix Peak's illusionary restriction was useless against cultivators. By simply employing the Qi-gazing technique, one could see a clear path leading directly to the summit. Qin Sang followed behind Li Youniang and was surprised to find that Phoenix Peak possessed a unique charm.

On the remains of the Divine Phoenix Stone lay a hollowed-out white rhino horn. It was a low-grade magic tool whose sole purpose was to condense water vapor. Its opening faced the stream below, and a continuous flow of water cascaded from the white rhino horn. The stream gurgled and meandered down the mountain, with pavilions and waterside retreats, and winding waterways for floating wine cups, creating an exceptionally elegant scene.

In the various pavilions, large and small, there were already many cultivators gathered in small groups. Li Youniang greeted people as she walked up, seemingly very familiar with them, as they were all rogue cultivators from near Jiuding Mountain.

Seeing Qin Sang, a new face, everyone was curious, but no one asked too many questions.

Li Youniang led Qin Sang all the way to the summit of Phoenix Mountain, to a bamboo pavilion. Inside, seven people were gathered around a goat-bearded old man, about seventy years old, drinking and talking.

"Speaking of recent events in the cultivation world, indeed, several major things have happened..."

The goat-bearded old man took a sip of wine, slightly tipsy and feeling lively. He deliberately raised his voice. Just as he was halfway through, he saw Li Youniang and Qin Sang and waved enthusiastically. "Youniang is here! Come in quickly and sit down. Help Elder warm two pots of wine. Oh? And who is this fellow Daoist?"

"Elder Yu, this is Fellow Daoist Qin. He is Silang's savior," Li Youniang introduced Qin Sang, explaining the whole story.

Qin Sang stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Qin Sang pays respects to Senior Yu."

The tipsiness on Yu Lian's face disappeared. His small eyes surveyed Qin Sang. He said, "Youniang and Silang are truly fortunate to have encountered a kind and benevolent friend like Fellow Daoist Qin. Please, come in quickly."