Chapter 140: Peak Master’s Hall

Tonight, Sky Cavern Peak was like a colossal furnace. Flames and smoke billowed from the caves on its upper slopes, as if intent on refining the entire mountain.

It was the fire within Hidden Peak.

Bodies were being incinerated en masse. The bright glow wasn't from real flames, but from a vast amount of dissipated spiritual energy that had ignited. It emitted no heat, yet illuminated Sky Cavern Peak completely. However, amidst this radiant beauty, the countless individuals reduced to ashes seemed to foreshadow Sky Cavern Peak's impending decline.

For Sword Peak, already struggling with a lack of new talent, decline was almost inevitable after this upheaval.

Eventually, the Cold Prison was sealed once more, but most of its prisoners had perished or been injured. In the years to come, Sky Cavern Peak would struggle to compete with the other three peaks for spiritual energy. As for the mysterious, black-mist-shrouded peak bottom, no one dared to venture there for the time being.

The disciples of the Inner Peak couldn't access Hidden Peak. They vaguely sensed a major event had occurred on the mountain, but remained unaware of the specifics.

After the clamor, everything returned to peace.

The firelight died out, and night enveloped the peak's stones. The spring wind sweeping through the ravines sounded like ghostly wails, never ceasing.

Ning Xiaoling sat on her bed. She had taken her healing herbal soup and was covered by a blanket, her fingers tracing the creases in the fabric. Her small, soft hands had grown thinner, and white marks from gripping her sword for a long time still lingered on her palms.

She turned her head slightly, gazing at the dim night outside the window. Moonlight spilled across the layered clouds, as if a silver kingdom lay hidden among them.

"Senior Brother..." Ning Xiaoling murmured softly, her eyes fixed on the high moon. It was as if the moon were a mirror, reflecting the face of the person in her heart.

She recalled what her Senior Brother had said to her during the day.

A small money pouch... new copper coins...

What did Senior Brother want to tell her?

Ning Xiaoling's mind raced as she thought intently. Suddenly, her 'Purple Mansion' stirred. The young girl pressed her chest as wisps of white light emanated, condensing into the form of a snow fox.

Having been "squeezed" by Ning Xiaoling for two months, the snow fox looked a bit small at the moment, its short tail plump and round, resembling a fluffy ball.

She cradled the Innate Spirit Snow Fox, her fingers stroking its back before gently pinching its tail. Curiously, she asked, "Little fox, do you have something to tell me?"

Of course, the snow fox wouldn't answer. Most reactions from an Innate Spirit were expressions of its owner's subconscious.

Ning Xiaoling thought seriously for a moment, then grabbed the Innate Spirit by the scruff of its neck, lifted it in front of her, looked into its eyes, and remembered some things.

The existence of an Innate Spirit could help its master cultivate at nearly double the speed, and also served as a hidden pair of eyes, secretly recording many events.

Ning Xiaoling's hand stroked the snow fox's head.

She closed her eyes, her mind connecting with the snow fox without hindrance. Soon, Ning Xiaoling saw some forgotten scenes.

It was a dark space, illuminated by numerous milky-white, pea-sized lights that seemed to float in mid-air like will-o'-the-wisps, or perhaps rested on long pillars. On the ground, countless indistinct objects were scattered about, resembling stones of various sizes, giving off an eerie and sinister aura.

Ning Xiaoling was terrified, unsure why she was seeing such a scene. The subsequent images made her forehead tremble even more.

She saw a colossal bone serpent, its form complete and unblemished, coiled like an ancient dragon, absorbing and exhaling all the mist. The bone serpent filled so much of her vision that she vaguely sensed a pair of eyes glowering eerily at her from behind it. She couldn't see those eyes, but the mere thought of their presence sent shivers down her spine.

"Ying—" Ning Xiaoling, startled by the bizarre vision, accidentally gripped the snow fox a little too hard. The fox yelped, pulling her back from the dream to reality.

Only then did she realize she was covered in a cold sweat.

Ning Xiaoling raised an arm to wipe her forehead. She threw off her blanket and hastily got out of bed, her bare feet fumbling on the floor for her shoes.

She was still in her white undershirt and trousers, without even putting on her outer robe, but she impatiently hurried out the door. She suddenly remembered something from before and felt a pang of doubt, wondering if her master would be in Senior Brother's room again tonight. What if she stumbled upon them doing something strange?

Ning Xiaoling didn't know what "strange things" meant, but she just felt it was odd for them to be together late at night.

Ning Xiaoling performed the Taoist Concealment Art, tiptoeing to Senior Brother's room. She first cautiously looked around, fearing another "little tail" like Lerou last time.

Then Ning Xiaoling knelt before the door, pressing her ear against it, carefully listening for any sounds inside.

Only after confirming there were no strange noises inside did Ning Xiaoling gently knock on the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

In the utterly silent corridor, the sound of her own knocking startled Ning Xiaoling.

But there was no response from inside the room.

She knew that if Senior Brother was in the room, he would surely hear her knock. But... why was there no reaction?

Where had Senior Brother gone?

Ning Xiaoling knocked a few more times, feeling confused, then dejectedly retreated to her room, silently fuming for a while.

Inside the Peak Master's Hall, Ning Changjiu sat cross-legged on the cold white jade window platform. Lu Jiajia also sat behind him, channeling spiritual energy into his hollow-like body.

"Why were you in Hidden Peak? Who allowed you to enter?" Lu Jiajia's tone was slightly cold, and frost covered her lustrous red lips on the cold jade bed.

Ning Changjiu didn't hide anything. He told her about a scroll on "Small Flying Array Formations" in the library and the incident at Hidden Peak. After a moment's thought, Ning Changjiu added, "Since I can enter Hidden Peak, I can naturally cultivate there."

Lu Jiajia scoffed, "What twisted logic? You're being unreasonable."

Ning Changjiu asked, "Isn't the Peak Master's Hall also off-limits to disciples?"

As soon as he said this, Ning Changjiu felt a pang of regret. Fearing Lu Jiajia might angrily kick him out, he immediately feigned weakness, hunching his back slightly and coughing twice.

Lu Jiajia didn't react much, only saying softly, "If anything like this happens again in the future, you must tell me first, understand?"

Ning Changjiu nodded.

Lu Jiajia placed both hands on his back, her palms offering a warm yet cool touch. She continued, "How did you get out?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "There seems to be a secret passage at the peak's bottom... I fell into the peak bottom, briefly looked around, fumbled in the darkness for a while, and then found a hidden passage, through which I exited the peak bottom."

"Hidden passage?" Lu Jiajia wondered, "How could there be a hidden passage at the peak's bottom? Who built it?"

Ning Changjiu shook his head gently. He felt he might have misremembered something, but couldn't confirm it.

Lu Jiajia continued to ask, "What happened after you got out?"

Ning Changjiu unfastened the inner disciple's jade token from his waist and smiled, "Please examine this, Master."

Lu Jiajia had already noticed he had changed his token, but no joy showed on her face. She merely said blandly, "Why didn't you return to the peak first?"

Ning Changjiu recalled how Lu Jiajia had descended the peak alone for him, almost putting herself in danger during the Hidden Peak turmoil. Touched, he smiled and said, "I've troubled you, Master."

Lu Jiajia calmly replied, "As long as you're not dead."

Ning Changjiu coughed a few times, and the paleness on his face gradually gave way to color.

Lu Jiajia recalled another matter and asked, "I heard Yazhu say your swordplay is excellent?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "My swordplay has always been excellent."

Lu Jiajia did not pursue the topic. She retracted her hands, and after adjusting her breath, lowered her palms to rest on her knees. She said, "Your body should be mostly fine now. I don't care where that sword technique of yours comes from, but it's a skill that harms eight hundred of your own for every thousand enemies killed. It greatly damages your Qi Sea and spiritual meridians. Remember to be careful in the future."

Ning Changjiu nodded, already having his own thoughts on the matter. After resting for a moment, he said, "Shall we continue then?"

"Hmm? Continue what?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Ning Changjiu turned his head.

Lu Jiajia's long hair was unbound, cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders, with a few strands falling over her chest. Her face showed weariness, and her autumn-water-like eyes, mixed with the cold mist, made her resemble a moon palace fairy sitting alone on a cold couch.

She met Ning Changjiu's gaze for a moment before quickly looking away, saying, "Let's call it a day."

Ning Changjiu said, "Turn your back."

Lu Jiajia was displeased by his tone. "I said, let's stop for today."

Ning Changjiu said, "Master came down the peak to find me today. I'm touched, and I feel like I can't repay your kindness."

Lu Jiajia said nothing.

Ning Changjiu, however, placed his hands on her shoulders, slowly turning her body around.

Ordinarily, the room was dark, and while they had some minor physical contact, neither thought much of it. But now, the white jade cold bed emitted light, clearly illuminating both their figures. They were very close, and the rising cold mist offered no concealment.

"Then I'll trouble you," Lu Jiajia said softly.

She straightened her back, sweeping the beautiful hair scattered across it to the front. As her hair parted, her slender, straight, swan-like neck was revealed. Only then did Ning Changjiu notice the thin silver necklace around her neck.

Ning Changjiu suddenly asked, "If I had fallen to the bottom of the peak and never came back up, what would you have done?"

Lu Jiajia replied coolly, "Don't misunderstand. I am the Peak Master, and you are my disciple. It is my responsibility to save you."

Ning Changjiu asked with a smile, "What did I misunderstand?"

As he spoke, Ning Changjiu touched Lu Jiajia's back with a finger. The Golden Crow energy coiled around his finger, transforming into threads of golden light. Part of it seeped out along her sword robe, while another part penetrated her clothing, igniting her body.

Lu Jiajia let out a soft hum. After composing herself, she said, "You already have a fiancée. From now on, you must never say such frivolous and reckless words to other women."

Ning Changjiu said, "It was just a wager between us."

Lu Jiajia sneered, "I doubt even Xiaoling would fall for that."

Ning Changjiu said, "Zhao Xiang'er, that arrogant little girl, what's good about her besides her excellent looks?"

Lu Jiajia chuckled, "'Little girl'? I don't think you're much older than her."

Ning Changjiu also laughed, saying, "Indeed, I'm not as 'big' as Master."

"Silence," Lu Jiajia snapped softly.

"Master, don't misunderstand," Ning Changjiu explained with a smile.

Lu Jiajia no longer wished to engage with him.

Meanwhile, the temperature in Ning Changjiu's hand had significantly risen. The Golden Crow energy flowed into her jade-like body, dispelling the cold and making her delicate, pale skin hot to the touch. Slight wisps of heat emanated from her body, her cheeks began to flush, and her earlobes turned into glowing rubies. At the same time, the cold air from the white jade cold bed constantly tried to drive away her body's warmth.

Between the alternating cold and heat, Lu Jiajia experienced a strange, ambiguous sensation in her heart.

She disliked this feeling. She could distinctly sense that Ning Changjiu was acting with a certain "retaliatory" mindset. Just now, whether intentionally or not, he had deliberately provoked her 'Purple Mansion,' stimulating the sword embryo within. She had been on guard too, maintaining a composed expression and pretending to be immune to it.

Ultimately, this was under another's 'control.' While Lu Jiajia's personality was never particularly forceful, she disliked being manipulated.

Finally, after enduring for a long time, Ning Changjiu withdrew his finger. Lu Jiajia's body relaxed slightly, her flushed earlobes looking as if they were on fire. If Ning Changjiu hadn't been present, she would have immediately sprawled herself on the cold jade bed, greedily seeking coolness to dispel the heat within her body.

Ning Changjiu moved a finger, and the Golden Crow, which had been poised on his fingertip, leapt onto his shoulder. He asked, "What will Master be teaching in class tomorrow?"

Lu Jiajia pondered for a moment, then said, "The Qi Cycle of the spiritual meridians."

Ning Changjiu nodded.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Do you have any insights?"

In the past, after their body tempering sessions, Lu Jiajia would also take the opportunity to ask Ning Changjiu questions about cultivation. Ning Changjiu's extensive knowledge meant that his answers always greatly benefited Lu Jiajia. Ostensibly, Lu Jiajia was discussing with him, but in reality, Ning Changjiu was dispelling her doubts.

This time, Ning Changjiu seemed to still bear a grudge from their previous conversation. He said, "I'm your disciple; how could I be capable of answering anything? If Master genuinely wants to know, why not just take me as your master?"

"?" Lu Jiajia heard his words and hummed in confusion, turning her head. Her slightly reddened cheeks were tinged with cold. She stubbornly said, "I'm merely discussing with you."

Ning Changjiu didn't expose her. He responded with a sound and began to explain the many characteristics of the Qi Cycle of the spiritual meridians to Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia nodded gently, her expression serious. But for some reason, her thoughts became somewhat muddled whenever she recalled what Ning Changjiu had just said.

She thought, if she had met him a few years later, with his talent, he truly might have become her master... She could hardly imagine herself truly acknowledging this young man before her as her master. Of course, fortunately, she had acted first, so such a thing could never happen.

She sat upright, her posture erect, retaining the Peak Master's dignity and solemnity even as a listener, as if she were the one imparting wisdom.

Following the principle of discussion, the two then clarified some detailed questions.

Lu Jiajia exclaimed, "Did you learn all this from books?"

Ning Changjiu nodded. "Yes."

Lu Jiajia didn't believe him. She said softly, "When will you tell me your true origins?"

The smile on Ning Changjiu's face gradually faded. He seemed to recall something, a hint of nostalgia appearing on his features.

Seeing his reluctance, Lu Jiajia didn't press him. She said, "The Month of No Gods is coming soon. All disciples will descend the mountain together to hunt demons. Try to avoid desolate wilderness areas where no one has set foot. The duty of cultivators is to protect the human realm; there's no need to risk slaying demons that don't disturb the mortal world."

Ning Changjiu nodded. "Yes, something should also be hidden among these four peaks. You should be careful too."

Lu Jiajia said, "I know. I will protect this peak thoroughly."

Ning Changjiu continued to nod, saying nothing more.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lu Jiajia began to dismiss him: "If there's nothing else, I'll send you back to rest."

Late at night, Lu Jiajia donned her black robe. To avoid detection, she didn't take the main path but instead embraced Ning Changjiu, soaring through the air directly back to his room through the open window.

At this moment, Lu Jiajia no longer even needed a celestial sword to fly through the air. However, this also made her feel a bit strange: if she herself was the sword, what was Ning Changjiu, who traveled with her? The sword-wielder?

She didn't wish to dwell on this question, and after escorting Ning Changjiu back to his room, she departed silently.

That night, Ning Changjiu didn't go straight to sleep. He drew his sword and began to replicate the strange sword techniques.

He had previously memorized many sword moves while Yan Zhou was asleep. He recalled a total of twelve stances. Each movement didn't resemble swordplay but rather a peculiar dance performed during a ritual.

He began to try these sword moves again.

Ning Changjiu found that even though he had killed three people consecutively with this sword art, it was still difficult to master the techniques when merely practicing in the air. It was as if true life and death were the whetting edge on the sword, allowing the art of breaking through everything and striking at vital points to be utilized to its fullest.

Ning Changjiu, being well-informed, knew this sword art was far from simple and might even be related to the legendary second half of the 'Heaven's Mandate Sword Scripture.'

However, his intuition also told Ning Changjiu that this shouldn't be the second half of the Scripture. His subconscious seemed to know the whereabouts of the Scripture's second half, but he couldn't recall it.

Sword light illuminated the moonlight, tearing through the darkness repeatedly. Ning Changjiu's sword movements grew faster and faster, and the application and variations of these twelve stances quickly became proficient in a short time.

Then, he discovered that these twelve sword moves seemed interconnected; they appeared to point towards a single ultimate sword strike.

These stances had all originated from that one sword strike.

Ning Changjiu couldn't help but recall the most fundamental Taoist scripture in the Immutable View, the 'Heaven's Heart Scroll.' It was the scripture he had learned upon entering the sect, but only after reaching higher levels of cultivation did he realize that subsequent Taoist arts, such as the Taoist Concealment Art or Water Moon in the Mirror, were all derivations and variations of the Heaven's Heart Scroll.

Could it be that this sword art, like the Heaven's Heart Scroll, also embodied the Taoist principle of 'one producing all things'?

Ning Changjiu, engrossed in studying sword art and Taoist practices at this moment, was unaware that Ning Xiaoling had come to find him earlier that night.

The next day, Ning Changjiu didn't attend morning class but instead went directly to the library to see Yan Zhou.

Old man Yan Zhou was still sound asleep, so Ning Changjiu picked up a book and casually flipped through it.

"I already know about the Hidden Peak incident," the old man slowly spoke, after an unknown amount of time. His life force was extremely faint, like a solitary spider silk thread in the wind.

Ning Changjiu put down the book in his hand, looked at Yan Zhou, and stated directly, "I killed Yan Feng."

Yan Zhou was slightly surprised. He hadn't heard this; he only knew that Yan Feng had died at the hands of a white-robed person, and that person had fallen into the peak valley. Given his knowledge of the valley, he believed that even if the white-robed person didn't shatter into pieces, they would be corrupted and eroded by the evil artifacts at the bottom of the peak, leading to a fate worse than death.

But he hadn't imagined that person would be Ning Changjiu.

This matter was inherently incredible, but if it concerned this young man who carried many secrets, it seemed not entirely inexplicable.

Yan Zhou sighed. "Yan Feng wanted to kill you, and you wanted to kill him. Life and death are unpredictable, and one must bear the consequences. I have nothing to say about this outcome. I suppose you've also guessed that I secretly ordered Yan Feng's release. If you're still dissatisfied, you can draw your sword and kill me."

Ning Changjiu smiled faintly and said, "Senior Martial Uncle, you're overstating things. I didn't come to you today because of that."

"Hmm?" Yan Zhou was slightly puzzled and chuckled, "Then what do you want with an old man like me? Are you perhaps asking about Lu Jiajia? I watched that girl grow up, and even I didn't expect her to turn out so devastatingly beautiful."

Ning Changjiu felt a slight stir within him. He suddenly wanted to follow Yan Zhou's lead and inquire about Lu Jiajia's past, but he resisted, maintaining a neutral expression. He said, "It's not about my master."

"Oh? Then what is it?" Yan Zhou asked.

Ning Changjiu said, "Aren't you curious how I killed Yan Feng?"

Yan Zhou nodded. "I am curious. At your cultivation level, you should have surely died. I assumed someone helped you in secret. Was that not the case?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I only used one sword strike to truly kill Yan Feng."

Yan Zhou opened his eyes and looked at the fair-faced, white-robed young man. "One sword? What kind of heavenly sword art can instantly kill someone across two cultivation realms?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Only those of the Violet Court can be called immortals. Mortals below the Violet Court can, of course, be killed by any means."

"What you say has some truth, but I still want to know, what kind of sword was it?"

No sooner had Yan Zhou spoken than the sword appeared three feet in front of him. Yan Zhou was not alarmed, as at his cultivation level, there was no way Ning Changjiu could break through his protective aura. Yet, a strange brilliance still shone in his pupils.

"Where did you learn this sword art?" Yan Zhou blurted out.

Ning Changjiu saw that his expression wasn't feigned, and felt even more puzzled. He asked, "Have you seen this kind of sword art before?"

Yan Zhou first shook his head, then fell into thought. "I'm certain I've never seen it, yet it feels vaguely familiar. Where... did you learn it?"

Ning Changjiu hesitated for a moment, then said, "When I was young, I once apprenticed myself to an itinerant Taoist priest. He taught me a few strange sword techniques."

Yan Zhou, unsure of the truth, merely sighed, "You are indeed very fortunate. That must have been an extraordinary master from beyond the mundane world."

Ning Changjiu stared at him, as if trying to catch a ripple of emotion on his face, but Yan Zhou's expression showed no flaw. After a while, Ning Changjiu opened the book in his hand and asked casually, "Could you tell me more about the story of the Dragon-Entangling Pillar and the situation at the peak bottom?"

Yan Zhou shook his head. "You've been there. You should know more than I do."

Ning Changjiu didn't press further, merely saying, "Do you really intend to imprison yourself in the library for the rest of your life? The world is vast. A cultivator's entire life of cultivation shouldn't be confined by such trivial matters."

Yan Zhou, however, said, "How is this a trivial matter? This is my great Tao..."

That night, in the Peak Master's Hall, as soon as Lu Jiajia saw Ning Changjiu, she began to reprimand him: "Why didn't you attend morning class and the Cloud Platform Sword Arena today? You are already an inner peak disciple; you should abide by the rules. What kind of behavior is this?"

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Are you perhaps planning to hit me with the disciplinary ruler again?"

Lu Jiajia now needed his help with body tempering daily, so it was naturally impossible for her to repay kindness with enmity. However, the sect rules could not be arbitrarily broken. She thought for a moment, then justified herself: "During the Hidden Peak incident, you rendered great service in protecting the peak. Now, committing some minor errors can be offset by your contributions. I won't pay too much attention to these things, but this is ultimately improper. In the future, remember to come to class and don't make things difficult for me."

"Hmm, alright."

"Oh, and I'll arrange a special seat for you. Constantly moving a chair next to Xiaoling is truly improper."

"No need, sitting next to Junior Sister is quite nice..."

"No, Xiaoling is only fourteen now. She needs to be properly refined and polished; she shouldn't develop too strong a reliance on you."

"Then I'll listen to you."

"Alright, let's begin..."

The two sat one in front of the other on the cold, white jade bed.

Today's body tempering session ended quickly, as both Ning Changjiu and Lu Jiajia noticed that its effects were becoming weaker day by day.

"Perhaps in just a few days, my Sword Spirit Integration technique will truly reach full mastery," Lu Jiajia said, her expression like that of a little girl anticipating the New Year.

Ning Changjiu, however, poured cold water on her enthusiasm: "I doubt it."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"I think perhaps the temperature isn't high enough," Ning Changjiu guessed, looking at the Golden Crow on his finger.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Then what are your thoughts?"

Ning Changjiu said, "Your clothes might be a bit too thick."