Chapter 145: Small Town Seven Days

The lotus boat glided into the lake, parting the duckweed. Ning Changjiu watched the colors at the horizon where water met sky, his gaze calm. He gently tapped the boat's side, allowing the lotus boat to proceed as Qiuxiang guided it forward.

Ning Xiaoling maintained a composed expression, but inwardly her heart was pounding, a little nervous.

Xiaolian lay by the edge of the lotus boat, reaching out to splash in the water. She listened to the gurgling sounds, her face constantly smiling, seemingly full of energy and not tired at all.

Ning Changjiu asked, "What kind of demon is it?"

Qiuxiang replied, "A huge snake! A giant python, injured and incredibly large. In the past, even immortal masters have been startled by it and couldn't help but draw their swords."

Ning Xiaoling felt a little more settled, thinking that she had, after all, seen much of the world. How could a mere python scare her?

Their luck was good that day. After the lotus boat had gone some distance, a vast black shape emerged from beneath the already dim water. At that moment, Ning Xiaoling realized she had vastly underestimated the length of this giant python.

The black shadow was dozens of times longer than their lotus boat. When it surfaced from the depths, Ning Xiaoling felt a little dizzy, as if at any moment, the python would flick its body, overturning their small lotus boat instantly. Then, with its gaping maw, the python would devour them all.

Ning Changjiu gently took her hand, reassuring her.

Meanwhile, Ning Changjiu's hand in his sleeve had already formed a sword art, ready to respond to any sudden change.

But everything remained peaceful from beginning to end.

The dragon-sized figure beneath the lotus boat silently glided past the hull. It revealed a glimpse of its black back, creating long, narrow triangular ripples as it swam.

As twilight fell, the giant python docilely accompanied the lotus boat for a while. Qiuxiang didn't urge them, but simply made a soft "hush" gesture to the two immortal masters, as if not wanting to disturb this "river god."

Just before the daylight vanished at the lake's end, this river god-like python finally raised its head. Its head was a deep greenish-blue, like the color of aged roof tiles, imbued with a sense of time. Red lines were drawn on either side of its eyes, giving it a somewhat fierce look. It turned its massive, conical head and flicked its long, slender tongue at the people on the lotus boat.

"Immortal masters, follow it," Qiuxiang whispered.

Ning Changjiu gently tapped the boat's side, steering the lotus boat alongside the great snake. The snake's head was as large as the boat itself, looking terrifying. Ning Xiaoling felt a pang of fear, but seeing seven or eight-year-old Xiaolian unafraid, even reaching out to touch the snake's head, her heart lightened considerably.

Ning Changjiu looked at the deep greenish-blue head and also extended his hand, stroking its fine, hard scales. The scales were very smooth, like pebbles washed countless times by flowing water.

"Does it have a name?" Ning Changjiu asked.

Qiuxiang scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "It's called Big Black."

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then calmly said, "A good name."

Ning Xiaoling pursed her lips, trying hard to suppress a laugh.

The snake named Big Black played with them for a while. Then, as if to prove the origin of its name, it rolled its body. Ning Changjiu's gaze followed its incredibly long body, and his brows suddenly furrowed.

Ning Xiaoling also let out a small gasp.

Only then did they understand what Qiuxiang had meant earlier when he said the great snake was injured.

The great snake was torn open almost from its center; its abdomen was empty, with only a thick, jagged white bone connecting the two ends of its body. It looked like a section of iron chain linking two soft rods. Yet, the great snake seemed completely unperturbed by such a fatal injury, leisurely swaying its body as it sank into the depths of the lotus pond.

A cold mist rose from the far end of the lotus pond.

The moon had unknowingly risen into the sky. The deep blue sky was like a vast cloth, dotted with stars like fireflies. Silver light shimmered on the water, and the moon's reflection swayed into parallel silver strings.

The lotus boat turned back, slow on the outward journey but fast on the return. It soon docked, and Qiuxiang went to return the boat before leading the two immortal masters home.

Ning Xiaoling had met many fascinating demons that day and felt extremely happy. It wasn't until she was back home and settled into her clean new room that she suddenly realized something very important.

She turned her head, looked at her senior brother, and asked, "What exactly were we supposed to be doing here?"

Ning Changjiu said, "It seems we were supposed to help exorcise demons."

Ning Xiaoling said, "But all the demons here have been pacified... what are we supposed to exorcise?"

Ning Changjiu sighed, "It's a good thing for the townspeople here, though."

Ning Xiaoling cupped her face, half of her previous contentment fading. She said, "While other disciples are accumulating countless merits this month, are we just here freeloading for a whole month?"

Ning Changjiu comforted her, "Being able to cultivate peacefully is not a bad thing either."

Ning Xiaoling picked up her sword, drew it from its scabbard, and looked at her troubled face reflected on the mirror-like blade. "So, we just live here for free?" she asked, frowning.

Ning Changjiu said, "Who would have thought this remote wilderness would be so peaceful and prosperous?"

Ning Xiaoling rested her chin on her hand and said, "If I were one of those evil demons, with such a large, resilient Big Black snake guarding this place, I probably wouldn't dare come either."

Ning Changjiu thought of the Big Black snake, and his mind relaxed, fragments of dusty memories vaguely surfacing, slowly piecing together an unformed image.

Ning Xiaoling continued to complain, "Senior brother, why don't we go out of town and have a look? Maybe there are big demons lurking outside!"

Ning Changjiu rejected the idea: "Lu Jiajia told us not to run around. Besides, with my constitution, if I really attract some monster, there might not be anyone who can come to my rescue."

Ning Xiaoling thought of Lady White Bone, and the sword that descended from the sky always made her heart pound. She suddenly felt that a month of pastoral life here wouldn't be so bad after all. There were delicious pastries, interesting demons, a resilient great snake, and the spiritual energy was quite abundant.

"It's quite suitable for retirement," commented Xiaoling, who was only fourteen.

Ning Changjiu smiled, "You said the same thing last time when we went to Linhe City."

Ning Xiaoling scoffed, "For cultivators, the world is their home. Senior brother, you're thinking too superficially this time."

Ning Changjiu nodded with a smile.

Ning Xiaoling boiled a pot of hot water, then went to spread out the neatly folded quilt. Recalling the day's events, she asked curiously, "What's wrong with Xiaolian's mouth? I checked, and it seems perfectly normal. Why can't she speak?"

Ning Changjiu had also investigated and found no answer. He could only say, "This town is inherently strange. It's not hard to understand some abnormal people and odd occurrences here."

Ning Xiaoling then asked, "What about those demons? Why are they so well-behaved, especially that great snake? Anywhere else, it would probably be a formidable demon king."

Ning Changjiu nodded in agreement. The giant python with its greenish-blue head, black body, red markings around its eyes, and a vast tear in its abdomen had a cultivation level difficult to estimate. Its appearance had indeed exerted a natural sense of oppression. In short, it was certainly no weaker than the Blood Feather Lord, who had once been a powerful demonic sparrow dominating Southern Province.

Such a giant python, by all accounts, should have grown horns and been on the verge of transforming into a Flood Dragon. Yet, for some reason, it was willing to guard this small lotus pond.

"Perhaps there's a master residing in this town," was the only reasonable explanation Ning Changjiu could think of.

A single phrase enlightened her.

Ning Xiaoling suddenly understood, nodding repeatedly. "That makes sense! There must be a very powerful master living in seclusion here, maybe even an elder from the Decree Sword Heavenly Sect!"

Thinking of this, Ning Xiaoling's downcast mood largely dissipated. Her regret at not being able to slay demons was suddenly overshadowed by the excitement of searching for a mysterious master.

Her bright, clear eyes looked at her senior brother as she pleaded, "Senior brother, please come with me to find that old immortal tomorrow."

Ning Changjiu thought, "Don't old immortals live in seclusion precisely because they don't want to be disturbed?" But he couldn't resist his junior sister's persistent pleading and reluctantly agreed.

Night gradually deepened.

Ning Xiaoling had already fallen asleep, while Ning Changjiu habitually went to the window, gazing at the scene outside.

The bright moon was like water, and the tiled eaves were like frost. A large banana leaf covered the bamboo window. Extensive bamboo groves swayed in the night breeze, and their continuous shadows rustled on the courtyard wall covered with slender vines.

The world was immersed in stillness. Perhaps it was due to the departure of deities, but the stars were projected onto the sky more clearly than ever.

On a normal day, he would be cultivating Lu Jiajia's body at this moment. Lu Jiajia, after half a month of arduous training, had again encountered a bottleneck. Ning Changjiu had discussed it thoroughly with her and couldn't think of any better methods, believing that the path ahead could only be completed by her own persistent efforts, much like a thousand-mile journey of sword body cultivation.

Lu Jiajia could also sense it; she was just a hair's breadth away from the Purple Court realm. When Ning Changjiu returned a month later, he might be greeted by a Peak Master of the Purple Court realm.

Ning Changjiu's heart grew increasingly calm.

The faint golden spiritual meridians within his body began to flow. His Qi Sea opened like a vortex, and the surrounding spiritual energy poured in, beginning to circulate at an astonishing speed. If he were to open his eyes at that moment, he would see his pupils shimmering with countless threads of golden light, as if holding a great sun.

After several cycles of circulation, the spiritual energy was refined into spiritual power.

Ordinary cultivators could clearly feel their bottlenecks before entering each realm: Entering the Profound, Reaching Immortality, Longevity, and Purple Court. Every realm had a distinct boundary.

However, Ning Changjiu could not perceive his own boundary.

The moment the Golden Crow arrived, all obstacles were swept away. The path of cultivation was a smooth road for him. He could only see a line in the distance, unsure if it represented Longevity, Purple Court, or something even further.

After a night of peaceful cultivation, Ning Changjiu took a short nap. The myriad stars gradually faded, and dew already glistened on the tips of the green grass.

In the morning, Qiuxiang called the two immortal masters for breakfast.

The dish was fish, prepared by Xiaolian.

Ning Xiaoling was initially hesitant, remembering her promise to the little black cat yesterday not to snatch its fish. But after her first bite, she started eating with unrestrained speed. The black cat, also an early riser, gracefully leaped onto the long wooden bench and meowed reproachfully at the girl, scolding her for breaking her promise.

Ning Changjiu simply took two bites.

He had never been particularly interested in the world's delicacies.

After breakfast, sunlight streamed into the house. In the bright hall, the framed paintings hanging on the walls became much clearer.

Ning Changjiu's gaze fell upon them. The paintings covered a wide range of subjects: fishing boats on misty rivers, vibrant green landscapes, incredibly detailed flowers and birds. Even the family's rather spiritual black cat had a lifelike portrait.

Ning Changjiu's gaze slowly swept across, finally settling on a painting hanging in the center of the hall. This painting was quite unremarkable compared to the others, even appearing ordinary due to its overly square layout and rigid lines.

It was a layout map of the small town.

Ning Changjiu stared at it for a while, then gently shook his head, seeing nothing special. Instead, he had the illusion that he himself, after just three months of apprenticeship, could have drawn it.

To the left of the painting, a poem was neatly written. This poem was equally ordinary:"White lotuses sway, their fragrance rings in the wind,Lamps cast shadows on bamboo walls, in courtyards where home-bound sparrows gaze at tall towers,A solitary lamp like water brushes the bright moon."Ning Xiaoling noticed her senior brother's gaze and looked over. After reading it twice, she quietly commented, "I think I could write that too."

Ning Changjiu thought that he and his junior sister were quite a perfect match when it came to poetry and painting.

In the morning, Ning Changjiu chatted casually with Qiuxiang. Xiaolian sat quietly on a stool nearby, listening, occasionally gesturing something.

Ning Changjiu asked him about the reclusive masters in the town.

This stumped Qiuxiang. Although he was only ten years old, the town was small, and neighbors were friendly. He had visited every street and household. There were indeed many strong and capable men, but as for reclusive masters...

He thought of the well-known old men in Lotus Field Town, but shook his head with each one. Their fame mostly came from their extensive knowledge and unique crafts. In terms of martial arts, they probably couldn't even defeat the little white rabbit that liked to patrol the crossroads, despite its fancy moves.

"It seems... there really isn't one," Qiuxiang said, shaking his head helplessly after much thought.

Ning Xiaoling, however, wasn't disappointed. She thought, "If they're easily found, can they still be called reclusive masters? True masters are always hidden from plain sight!"

Ning Changjiu had initially wondered if Qiuxiang's grandfather, the old man in the bamboo house, might be a master. But he carefully observed the strength of the brushstrokes in these paintings. While the brushwork was fluid and skilled, it was merely due to practiced artistry, showing no trace of a cultivator.

Ning Xiaoling, meanwhile, was teasing the black cat with a dried fish. The black cat leaped agilely, its paws swatting. After a few rounds, it made a sudden spring, and in the blink of an eye, only a small piece of fish tail remained between Ning Xiaoling's fingers.

Xiaoling was quite surprised by the black cat's agility. She re-evaluated its combat prowess in her mind, thinking, "If even a small cat here is this powerful, there must be other unassuming but great figures hidden away."

After playing for a while, Ning Xiaoling grabbed Ning Changjiu's hand and pulled him along to search for the master.

Qiuxiang asked if he should accompany them, but Ning Changjiu politely declined.

The small town wasn't particularly large. Its overall layout roughly resembled the Chinese character "丰" (feng, meaning abundance), signifying good fortune.

The spring sun wasn't harsh; it was warm and gentle, radiating a lazy mildness.

They wandered through the town all morning, meticulously scanning with their spiritual senses to see if their spiritual map revealed any bright or unusual points of light.

But for the entire morning, they walked through the town twice, back and forth, yet found nothing.

"A master is truly a master," Ning Xiaoling said, unwilling to admit her failure and firmly believing that the master was simply too profound.

Ning Changjiu smiled helplessly.

"Oh no, how are we going to explain our lack of accomplishments to Master when we get back?" Ning Xiaoling was still worried, her mind involuntarily conjuring images of other disciples heroically slaying demons with flying swords.

Ning Changjiu said, "It's only the second day. Who knows what strange things we might encounter later."

Ning Xiaoling pouted, agreeing with a doubtful sound.

On one house, they saw a massive lizard spirit basking in the sun on the roof tiles. This lizard spirit was raised by an old grandmother and called itself General Gecko, moving swiftly.

Seeing the brother and sister in white, General Gecko chirped, "Immortal masters, immortal masters, eat spotted frogs!"

On the opposite roof, a toad spirit was startled awake and puffed out its round jowls, retorted, "Immortal masters, immortal masters, slaughter four-horned snakes!"

Ning Xiaoling burst out laughing and greeted each of them.

At the crossroads, the rabbit spirit adorned with roof tiles also arrived upon hearing the commotion. It spoke in a rabbit language they couldn't understand, entangling them for a while.

By afternoon, as the two sat by the lotus pond gazing at the lake, Ning Xiaoling finally despaired: "Senior brother, I don't know whether I should be happy or sad anymore."

Ning Changjiu said, "Of course, peace and prosperity for the nation are reasons to be happy. You should learn from your sister Xiang'er and have the demeanor of a ruler."

Ning Xiaoling cupped her face, watching the sunset slowly sink into the lake, and said helplessly, "Then, Senior Brother, if you conquer a realm for me, shall I go sit on the empress's throne too?"

Ning Changjiu smiled as he tossed pebbles into the water, one by one.

"What if other disciples stumble upon some great fortune? Will I be unable to defeat them in the Four Peaks Sword Assembly?" Ning Xiaoling started worrying unnecessarily.

Ning Changjiu said, "After we return to the peak, there's still half a month until the Four Peaks Sword Assembly. You'll have time to gauge their strengths. Besides, the spiritual energy here is abundant, so cultivating peacefully might not put you at a disadvantage compared to them."

Ning Xiaoling found some truth in his words.

Afterwards, seven full days of such peaceful, uneventful living passed. Just as Ning Xiaoling was about to give up on her plan to find a peerless master, another event finally sparked her anticipation.

On the seventh day, outside the archway of Lotus Field Town, a fierce-looking great demon, wielding a spiked club and claiming to be among the top three on the "Wolffang Roster" within a hundred-mile radius, arrived to pay a visit.