Chapter 63: Entering the Peak and Ascending to Immortality

"Brother, what should one pay attention to when cultivating?"

"Just cultivate according to what's written in the books."

"That simple? What if the books are wrong?"

"Sister, it's quite rare and commendable that you're thinking this way even before you've officially started cultivating."

"So what should I do then?"

"If you think something in the books is incorrect, you can bring it to me, and I'll help you discern it."

"Uh... and big brother is always right?"

Ning Changjiu gave her a calm glance.

Ning Xiaoling sat up straight, nodded earnestly, and said, "Yes, big brother is definitely right!"

Beside them, Zhao Xiang'er, draped in a dark cloak with her neat ponytail tied by a red string, listened to their conversation, silently turned her head away, and rubbed her ears.

Lu Jiajia smiled helplessly.

"Brother, I'm fourteen and only just starting. Is it too late?" Ning Xiaoling asked, worried.

"Not at all. There are many extraordinary people and strange occurrences in this world. I once heard of an old farmer who tilled his fields for over forty years. During a great drought, when there was no harvest and mountain monsters descended to prey, he was so enraged that he grabbed a hoe, went out, and single-handedly killed a monster of the 'Reaching Immortal' realm. Afterward, he was noticed by a major sect, invited to be an honored guest, and his cultivation grew increasingly profound, even advancing into the 'Violet Court'."

"But I'm very ordinary. I don't know anything about farming..."

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then said, "The main point of this story I made up is to tell you that in cultivation, as long as your talent is high, it's never too late; you might even surpass others eventually."

"Oh..." Ning Xiaoling's expression showed sudden enlightenment, and a hint of confidence gleamed in her eyes.

Zhao Xiang'er couldn't listen anymore. She pressed her hand to her chest and silently walked out the door.

The girl strolled around outside, then finally jumped onto the rooftop and watched the sunset amidst the crimson twilight.

Spiritual energy filled the world, and the setting sun was as beautiful as a lady's fresh makeup.

Zhao Xiang'er recalled the events of these past years, watching the setting sun, remembering the scene of the Vermilion Bird divine statue carrying her through three thousand worlds, and imagining the legendary all-encompassing Western Realm there. She was certain that even what she had seen yesterday was just the tip of the iceberg of that beautiful world.

That was a place she would reach one day.

Zhao Xiang'er suddenly extended her hand, her fair wrist exposed as her sleeve slid back. Her palm faced upwards, her slender fingers naturally curved. The girl's eyes were slightly closed, and with a stir of her divine sense, a brand-like rune suddenly appeared in her palm. Then, from the shadows behind her, a large, dark bird flew out, circling around her.

It was truly pitch black, as if all light that fell upon it was absorbed. Although it had the shape of a bird, it had no three-dimensional features; its entire body lacked thickness, resembling a true silhouette.

As Zhao Xiang'er turned her wrist, the large bird lightly circled her body like the wind.

This was her acquired spirit.

Zhao Xiang'er felt much better and smiled faintly, "From now on, I'll call you Nine Feathers."

With a thought, Nine Feathers spread its wings and circled beside her. Zhao Xiang'er smiled lightly, leaped up, and Nine Feathers ascended into the sky, circling over the city after the catastrophe. The world's scenery passed before her eyes like a miniature scroll.

She clutched her chest; it still ached faintly.

The reconstruction of her Purple Mansion Qi Sea was not something that could be achieved overnight.

In Nine Feathers' inherited memories, to truly reconstruct a unique Purple Mansion Qi Sea in this world, she would need to soak a great demon's core in white spirit bone, perennial cherry leaves, illusory snow lotus, and other yin-cold materials, then consume it. However...

"Just how big of a demon would that be..." Zhao Xiang'er sat cross-legged, resting her chin on her hand, her body still feeling weak.

As the sun set, Nine Feathers soared high above the imperial city.

What Zhao Xiang'er hadn't expected was that the endless conversation between the brother and sister was still ongoing when she returned from her stroll.

"Brother, I'm actually quite shy with strangers. What if I get bullied by the senior disciples on the mountain?"

Lu Jiajia, who was beside them, finally couldn't help but interject, "One of the rules of the Yu Sword Celestial Sect is that unauthorized internal conflicts among disciples are forbidden. You can rest assured."

Ning Xiaoling nodded, then asked, "What do the immortals on the mountain eat?"

Lu Jiajia replied, "Spiritual energy is abundant on the immortal mountain, and there's an endless supply of immortal fruits and fine brews. You'll know when you enter the mountain."

Ning Xiaoling didn't quite grasp the concept yet, but her heart was filled with anticipation.

"Oh, right, Brother. When that old fox demon possessed my body earlier, it didn't do anything inappropriate to you, did it?"

"Inappropriate? No, not at all. She merely tried to kill me."

"Oh... that's good then." Ning Xiaoling asked again, "So how did you defeat it?"

Ning Changjiu said, "I grabbed her by the neck, pulled her out of your body, and your sister Xiang'er, quick as a flash, brought her blade down and butchered it like a chicken."

"That's amazing..."

"Of course it's amazing. Later, another one came... a big black ox. Then an unnamed hero, with a swift strike of his blade, also slaughtered it, and everything was peaceful again."

"An unnamed hero? Were they very powerful?"

"Extremely powerful, inspiring awe. It's just a pity you were unconscious, little sister, and didn't witness the elegance of that sword strike."

"Then how long do I need to train to become very powerful?"

"You'll have to ask your big sister Lu about that."

Ning Xiaoling turned her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lu Jiajia.

Lu Jiajia smiled slightly, "Oh? You remember that I'm her future master? I thought you had quite a knack for teaching earlier."

Ning Changjiu pretended not to hear her sarcasm and calmly said, "Little sister is my blood sister, and it's my duty to guide and educate younger generations."

Lu Jiajia sighed, "If you truly manage to step onto the path of cultivation, I fear you'd lead your future disciples astray, one by one, teaching them unorthodox ways."

Ning Changjiu said, "I have no interest in founding a sect."

Lu Jiajia paused, surprised. She had just said it casually, not expecting Ning Changjiu to actually think he could found a sect.

She said helplessly, "That's good, then. At least you won't mislead anyone."

Seven days passed in a flash.

As autumn ended and winter began, dried leaves fell throughout the city. The great banyan tree in the imperial city stood solitary, its last "leaves" being the birds perched upon its branches.

Early in the morning, Zhao Xiang'er rose. The early winter wind was cold, but she wore a crimson, fur-lined cloak that tightly enveloped her graceful figure, revealing only a thin black dress underneath. Beneath the cloak, her dainty, snow-white ankles and feet were bare, seemingly oblivious to the cold stone tiles as she stepped on them, leaning against the doorway in silent contemplation.

In just seven days, her Purple Mansion Qi Sea was almost entirely reconstructed. Even standing still and breathing, she could feel the spiritual energy flowing smoothly and mysteriously through her body. The Violet Court at the center of her Qi Sea had already taken shape, transparent and flawless, radiating brilliance.

Once the Purple Mansion was complete, she could enter the Violet Court realm.

After entering the Violet Court realm, she would then need to find a way to hunt a great demon, consume its core, and elevate the grade of her Purple Mansion even further.

What now sealed her final talent was the character "Xiang" in her name. She scarcely dared to imagine the monumental changes her body would undergo once the seal of "Xiang" was broken.

"Good morning, Miss Zhao."

Outside the door, Ning Changjiu, clad in a green robe, waved to her.

Since their injuries had mostly healed, they naturally no longer shared a room. Zhao Xiang'er was glad for the peace and quiet, no longer having to listen to the incessant chatter of the brother and sister.

She glanced indifferently at Ning Changjiu and asked, "When are you leaving?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Today."

Zhao Xiang'er nodded, "Cultivate diligently. Don't disappoint me."

Ning Changjiu shook his head gently, "Actually, I don't have much confidence."

Zhao Xiang'er didn't find it strange. She said, "Three years from now, even Sister Lu won't be my match, let alone you."

Ning Changjiu sighed, "Nothing is absolute. Take care of yourselves."

Zhao Xiang'er nodded, "Alright."

"Oh, and," Zhao Xiang'er suddenly added, "don't go around saying you're my fiancé. I've never acknowledged that. If I hear it, I might just take some time to climb the Yu Sword Celestial Sect mountain and beat you up."

Ning Changjiu chuckled, "Your Highness needn't worry so much about your reputation. Anyway, I'll come back in three years to... annul the engagement."

Zhao Xiang'er rolled her eyes at him, rubbed her wrist, and said, "Do you want to die right now?"

As they spoke, Ning Xiaoling walked out with a small satchel on her back and waved to Zhao Xiang'er.

Lu Jiajia, dressed in white, stood behind her. Her complexion had now recovered, and with a long sword at her waist, her figure was even more striking.

"When you go to the immortal sect, cultivate diligently. I think your future is far brighter than your brother's," Zhao Xiang'er said with a faint smile.

Ning Changjiu said, "Miss Zhao needn't worry about my little sister. Don't let her silly act fool you; she's actually very clever."

Ning Xiaoling rolled her eyes.

Lu Jiajia let out an exasperated chuckle, "What? Are you two that reluctant to part? Still bickering even at farewell?"

Zhao Xiang'er scoffed, wrapped her cloak tighter, turned, and walked back into the room.

Ning Changjiu glanced at her retreating back, then quickly averted his gaze and said to Lu Jiajia, "Let's depart."

Lu Jiajia nodded. With a thought, a small blue-and-white palanquin appeared in mid-air, settling steadily before them. Between its snow-white gauze curtains, the blue palanquin curtain swayed in the wind, and small flowers danced gracefully.

The world was largely wild.

Even with scattered human dynasties establishing territories, most of the world remained untamed wild mountains and ancient forests.

The Yu Sword Celestial Sect was located deep within the mountains of Nanzhou.

The small blue-and-white palanquin swept past several human cities, then transitioned into desolate, uninhabited mountains and wild lands.

At one point, ripples of space, barely visible to the naked eye, spread through the seemingly transparent air. A massive, sky-reaching curtain silently parted, faintly revealing a corner of the immortal mountain. After a fleeting glimpse, the blue-and-white palanquin flew into the space behind the curtain.

What was originally a barren plain transformed into an entirely new scene. Suddenly, four colossal, strange peaks rose from the ground, steep and towering. They didn't look like natural mountains, but rather like divine rock carvings, wreathed in green smoke and white mist, exuding a harmonious beauty.

Outside the blue-and-white palanquin, immortal cranes flew past. Ning Xiaoling covered her eyes, feeling a panicked sense of height, yet she couldn't resist peeking at this otherworldly realm she had never seen before.

Ning Changjiu remained still and silent, simply watching out the window.

The illusion that had previously isolated the immortal mountain from the mundane world was called the "Peach Curtain." From the outside, nothing could be seen, but from the inside, it was completely transparent. It could conceal the true appearance of the immortal mountain and also gather the spiritual energy budding from the surrounding world.

Halfway up the mountain, the blue-and-white palanquin slowly came to a stop.

Lu Jiajia rolled up the curtain and stepped out. She then stored the blue-and-white palanquin in a cave halfway up the mountain and said, "The rest of the way, we walk."

Ning Xiaoling cautiously glanced at the high mountain, which had no railings. A sudden cry of a crane made her shiver, and she quickly pulled her head back, following closely behind the two.

The higher they ascended the immortal mountain, the more the thriving rare trees and immortal herbs gave way to countless jagged, strange rocks and natural caves, which stood like menacing ghosts or gaping demon mouths.

At the summit, the view was expansive, with continuous rows of neat and clean rooms. In the center was a Sword Hall, and above its entrance were inscribed the four characters "Long Listen to the Earth's Music."

Outside the Sword Hall, dozens of disciples in white sword attire were practicing swordplay, led by a tall woman in a white sword-robe. As Lu Jiajia arrived, the leading woman's eyes lit up, and she said with delight, "Master... Acting Peak Master has returned."

Lu Jiajia smiled faintly, "Junior Sister Yazhu, there's no need for such formality."

The woman called Yazhu's gaze fell behind Lu Jiajia, looking at the clear-eyed young boy and girl. She asked, "Are these... the new disciples you've taken, Senior Sister?"

Lu Jiajia nodded, "One will be an inner disciple, and the other a registered disciple. I'll make arrangements shortly, then I'll guide them through the master-disciple ceremony."