by Fang Xiang
Seeing everyone’s mood, the silver-clad man cautioned, “Everyone, we shouldn’t rejoice pre-emptively. Haven’t you realized that there are many other people after it as well?”
“So what if there are others? Who dares to compete with us?” The yellow-robed cultivator said irritably in a high voice, murderous intent thick in his eyes. Viciousness flashed in the eyes of the other people.
The silver-clad man said, “Everyone should have seen that ship today. A sixth grade treasure ship, it is a rare talisman. If anyone had taken a close look at the tail of the wing boat, you should have seen their emblem.”
“Whose emblem?” The yellow-robed Taoist said suspiciously. When he saw that winged boat today, even he had been slightly shocked.
“The Master of Bright Wave Jie.” The silver-clad male said slowly. Everyone instantly became silent as terror made its way across many of their faces.
The expression of the yellow-robed Taoist also changed slightly but he quickly recovered and shrieked, “Don’t speak nonsense. The Master of Bright Wave Jie had been in seclusion for over sixty years. How could he come to a little place like Sky Moon Jie?”
“I only saw the emblem. In the past, I had spent some time in Bright Wave Jie and remember the emblem.” The silver-clad male said calmly.
Seeing the terror on everyone’s faces, he said with a smile, “Everyone, don’t worry too much. The Master of Bright Wave Jie has not involved himself in common affairs for many years. It’s unlikely that he came. Most likely it is his disciple or subordinate.”
The faces of everyone else relaxed. One of them said, “As long as it isn’t the Master of Bright Wave Jie, I’m not afraid.”
“Yes, yes!” The other people agreed.
“Why would Bright Wave Jie interfere in this matter?” The yellow robed cultivator’s brow furrowed.
“Elder, don’t forget, Sky Moon Jie is under the jurisdiction of Bright Wave Jie. This little brother knows that Stars in Daytime occurred, then it isn’t strange that they would also know.” The silver clad male said.
Suddenly the faces of the yellow robed Taoist and the silver clad male changed slightly and they yelled simultaneously, “Who!”
The two rushed outside like a sword. There was nothing outside in the yard. The yellow robed Taoist flew into the sky and scanned the surroundings before returning. He shook his head at the silver clad male. Both of them had serious and solemn expressions, nothing remained of their previous ease.
The other people all ran out to ask about the situation. By now, the two had resumed their normal expressions. The silver clad male said, “Nothing, nothing, just a false alarm.”
Hearing this, the people released a breath and conversed as they walked back into the room. The yellow robed Taoist followed last. Before re-entering, he glanced back before following.
A moment later, in a shadowed corner, a figure silently appeared. It was the white-clothed Lin Qian.
He revealed a pondering expression before disappearing.
——————
In the Dong Fu Hall, everyone had gathered together. Tian Song Zi, as the local leader, sat at the head with Yu Bai standing by his side. Below him, six people sat and leisurely drank tea.
“This time, we are really troubling you.” The one that spoke was a beautiful matron. Clear eyes, white teeth, and extremely graceful. On her shoulder, there was a little light yellow bird that curiously examined the others.
“Yun Xia [i] xianzi [ii] is too courteous.” Tian Song Zi said with a laugh, “To have so many fellow experts come to my humble place, this one is very honoured. It is a little place. If there is something that we cannot fulfill well, everyone, please forgive us.”
[tl:
[i] = 云霞: Yun is cloud, xia is red cloud
[ii] = 仙子: immortal, goddess. Misogyny in xianxia – the titles of females are usually xianzi, while males get daoren, zhenren, etc. ]
“It will be fine.” Everyone raised their hands in a greeting.
Tian Song Zi’s expression was worried as he continued, “I’m not going to conceal it from everyone. Since the appearance of Stars in Daytime, my heart hasn’t felt steady. I may be inexperienced, but I do know that this isn’t any kind of a good omen. I feel much more secure now that everyone has come today.”
“You don’t need to worry.” Yun Xia xianzi comforted, “Master Yuan is skilled at detecting presences and is very sensitive to yaomo. He will definitely find where the yaomo is hiding.”
At this point, Master Yuan hurriedly said, “Yun Xia xianzi is too complimentary.”
While respectfully standing to side, Yu Bai was very shocked inside. The people sitting here all had significant cultivation. The one that attracted his attention the most was the little girl who had been sitting with a bowed head at the end. Her age appeared almost the same as his, but her cultivation was indecipherable to him. He who had always been proud of his accomplishments felt uncomfortable inside. There were too many geniuses in this world!
—————–
Pu Yao looked extremely poor.
He sat on the gravestone, his face was pale and appeared to be exhausted like a flickering lamp. Zuo Mo instantly was scared. The invincible Pu Yao, why was he suddenly in this state?
Zuo Mo carefully went closer, “Pu, what’s going on?”
Pu Yao opened his eye to look at Zuo Mo. His voice was very calm, and just as confident as usually and asked in exchange, “What what?” Zuo Mo noticed that Pu Yao’s alluring crimson blood eye was much fainter than usual, and even his voice seemed weaker.
But for some reason, when he heard Pu Yao’s confident voice, Zuo Mo felt safe.
“Is it that you don’t have enough jingshi?” Zuo Mo couldn’t help but ask in concern. He didn’t know why he was so concerned about Pu Yao. Logically, the other was a yaomo. The earlier he died the better, but seeing Pu Yao’s state, Zuo Mo couldn’t help but ask in concern.
Looking at Zuo Mo again, Pu Yao seemed to be surprised by Zuo Mo’s question.
“Want to help me?” Pu Yao’s eyebrow rose.
“Hm.” Zuo Mo muddled a response noncommittally. He had learned.
Pu Yao suddenly smiled, “I’ll take you to a place.”
Pu Yao proceeded to take out a few pieces of jingshi. On the ground, he began to make a seal formation that Zuo Mo had never seen before.
Zuo Mo might have never seen the seal formation, but this jingshi, he was familiar with, wasn’t it……
He touched his body and his expression changed. This damned renyao, he took my jingshi again! Before he could speak, light suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. He couldn’t help but close his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, he was dumbstruck.
“Pu, where is this?” He stammered his question.
It was dark and shadowy in front of him. He could feel cold granite under his feet. What was flowing in a nearby stream was fresh red blood. Was this Hell? Zuo Mo forced himself to swallow, his mind tense as he looked at the surroundings.
Pu Yao groaned in pleasure. He spread out his arms, his face intoxicated, completely void of his previous exhaustion.
“Sword cave.” Pu Yao returned to his lazy state. He stuck out his bright red tongue, his eyes bright as he licked his lips, “There are many souls here. Such delicious souls!”
“Sword cave?” Zuo Mo blanked. He had lived in Wu Kong Sword Sect for two years and he had heard of the sword cave before. Wasn’t Wei Sheng Shixiong in the sword cave?
He wasn’t afraid anymore and curiously looked at the surroundings. He asked Pu Yao worriedly, “Wei Sheng Shixiong is also in the sword cave. Would he encounter us?” If he encountered Shixiong, he couldn’t even protest his innocence.
“This sword cave has eighteen levels.” Pu Yao was full of disdain as he looked at Zuo Mo, “Your Wei Shixiong has already descended to the sixteenth level. If you had half the ability of your shixiong, would I be in this sorry state?” As he spoke, he became angry, “I, a Sky Yao, falling t
o such a level. So embarrassing!”
Seeing Pu Yao acting like normal, for some reason, Zuo Mo relaxed significantly. He instantly went at it with Pu Yao, sneering, “None of my business! What Sky Yao, weren’t you wounded by my Shibo? Aren’t you only able to bully the greenhorn zhuji cultivators like me.” He quickly corrected, “Wrong, ge was only lianqi at the time! And you dare to speak of it!”
Pu Yao wasn’t angry and laughed, “This place is good. There’s a lot of yin energy, and it’s so comfortable! There are even souls. Although they are incomplete souls, but it’s better than nothing.”
“How did you find this place?” Zuo Mo was very curious. This sword cave was kept secret. He had stayed here for two years but didn’t know where it was, yet Pu Yao was able to find it. He had heard that it required two jindan cooperating to open the sword cave. Pu Yao was able to easily enter. This guy still has some ability, Zuo Mo thought.
Pu Yao said disdainfully, “In just this tiny Wu Kong Sword Sect I knew after taking a single look.” He then said to Zuo Mo, “In the future, we will come visit this place occasionally.”
“Come here?” Zuo Mo’s eyes widened. He shook his head without any hesitation, “No way, do you know how much jingshi you spent today? Four pieces of third grade jingshi! Four pieces! Do you know how many golden crow pills I need to make to earn four pieces of third grade jingshi? You spent it so easily……”
Pu Yao was full of disdain, “That only shows you are trash. Earning jingshi like you’re giving birth. Meeting such a trash like you……”
Zuo Mo didn’t hesitate to interrupt, also full of disdain as he said, “If you can do it, you go earn it! Aren’t you a Sky yao? What? A Sky yao but you have to extract jingshi from me, like that’s something to be proud of!” As he spoke, it was like the accumulated anger had suddenly erupted, “Ge had worked so hard to earn the jingshi with sweat and blood. Good for you, you just swiped it all away without a sound! You’re freeloading… Ge hasn’t even asked you for rent and you charged me for each lesson. You even started to take jingshi for each experience of sword essence, aren’t you embarrassed??”
Zuo Mo righteously listed Pu Yao’s offences.
Pu Yao was dumbstruck. The reality proved it. Even the most powerful yaomo, facing the even stronger tongue, they would also become dumbfounded.
After Zuo Mo ranted for five minutes he then stopped in satisfaction. That felt good!
After a long while, Pu Yao finally recovered. He tilted his head in thought and said, “Alright then, I’ll teach you a little technique that can earn jingshi.”
Zuo Mo’s mind instantly became alert and he went over, “What technique?”
* * *
Translator ramblings:
We now have scene breaks (——). The ellipses are just ellipses and not scene breaks.
Chapter 70: The Yin Bead
Zou Mo concentrated as his hands moved according to Pu Yao’s instructions, his hands moved like fluttering butterflies and activated the spell. The benefits of consistently practicing [Art of Flora] was evident in the fluid motions of his fingers. This spell, which Pu Yao, called [Art of Concentrating Yin] was complicated but it wasn’t too difficult for Zuo Mo.
Zuo Mo felt the yin energy in the surroundings stir. The energy was saturated with a dark and cold presence causing all the hair on his body to stand on end, but he gritted his teeth and persisted. The yin energy continued to gather in his hands.
After the last movement was completed, a grey-white bead condensed in Zuo Mo’s hands.
Zuo Mo curiously examined the bead, “Pu, what is this?” The bead was a dirty white color, extremely plain, and felt cool in his hands.
“This is a yin bead, created through concentrating yin energy. It can be used in dan-making or forging. The effect is especially beneficial for yin attribute talismans,” Pu Yao’s expression was smug as he glanced at Zuo Mo disdainfully, “The yin energy in this place is very abundant. As long as you do not slack off, and make a few more each day, jingshi will naturally roll in. What I think is you should change your sect. I have never seen such a poor sect. In your sect, other than that shixiong of yours, everyone is just trash,”
Zuo Mo volleyed back, “You, a so-called Sky Yao that was wounded by my Second Shibo, you have the face to say this?”
Pu Yao snorted icily, ‘If I hadn’t been forged under the tower for three thousand years and my spirit terribly wounded, how could a jindan trash cut me?” He was extremely disgruntled.
Zuo Mo followed with an icy snort, “I finally understand how you became a Sky Yao,”
Pu Yao blanked, “How?”
“You boasted [i] about it,” Zuo Mo couldn’t resist and roared with laughter, pointing first at Pu Yao and then pointing at the sky, “A yao, blowing up into the sky, becomes a Sky Yao! Ha ha ha ha!”
[tl: [i] = 吹: chui is used as boasting, but also means being blown as in blown away by the wind. ]
“I’m too lazy to even pay attention to you,” Pu Yao wasn’t angry. He spread his arms, and there wasn’t any movement but the yin energy suddenly started to move. He was like the eye of a horrifying whirlpool, the yin energy in the surroundings to rushed toward him.
“Are you sure that this thing is really worth money?” Not paying attention to Pu Yao, Zuo Mo started at the yin bead on his hand and asked with uncertainty.
Pu Yao, who had been enjoying the experience of absorbing yin energy, felt a vein in his forehead start to throb. His movements suddenly stopped and he almost choked in annoyance.
Since Pu Yao said that the yin bead was very valuable, Zuo Mo held a trustful attitude. He decided to make a few more, but he found that all the yin energy in this area was all pulled towards Pu Yao. He couldn’t manage to form a yin bead and had to move to another location further away.
Luckily, there was only one path in the sword cave. Zuo Mo didn’t need to worry about getting lost. After walking for a while, finding that he wasn’t affected by Pu Yao any longer, he started to make yin beads. It wasn’t too difficult to make yin beads. The finger motions were slightly complicated, but to Zuo Mo it wasn’t a problem. In one go, he made about twenty beads before he stopped.
After making the yin beads, Zuo Mo started to examine the surroundings. What aroused his curiosity the most was the blood river not far away. The river seemed to be composed of a sticky blood. There wasn’t any sound of flowing. For some reason, Zuo Mo felt his heart tremble whenever he saw this silent river of blood.
He picked up a rock from the ground and threw it into the blood river. It was as though the rock had landed in quicksand. It did not make a “splash,” it slowly sunk into the river.
“For your sake, don’t touch it. It’s blood fiends,” Pu Yao’s voice suddenly came from behind. He said with some regret, “Pity I’m not a blood yao, otherwise this would be very beneficial,”
“What are blood fiends?” Zuo Mo couldn’t help asking.
“You wouldn’t understand even if I told you,” Pu Yao never let a chance to mock Zuo Mo slip by. He scanned the surroundings and made a sound of surprise, “Rationally, such a cruel place, there would be some malicious spirits like devilings. Why is it so clean?”
“What are devilings?” Zuo Mo asked again.
“Delicious things,” Pu Yao’s bright red tongue couldn’t help run across his lips, while an expression of yearning flashed across his face. After searching for a long time, he was slightly dazed and sighed, “Your shixiong is really too honest of a person. He actually didn’t even spare one of them. It looks like it needs to a while to recover,”
Refreshed, Pu Yao waved his hand at Zuo Mo, “Let’s go,”
Finishing, he threw out four pieces of jingshi!
Zuo Mo’s expression changed dramatically again. This time, he didn’t even need to check his pocket as he wailed grievously, “Pu Yao……”
The white light rose and his voice stopped.
Returning to the Little West Wind yard, Zuo Mo wanted to cry. Eight pieces
of third-grade jingshi! Going there and back, so much was gone. Just like that half of all the jingshi he had earned by furiously making dan was gone.
“Don’t look that sad,” Pu Yao unconcernedly said with a face full of disdain, “When you sell the yin beads, you’ll get your costs back with profit. You really are trash. Just eight pieces of jingshi, and you are this distraught. You really are making a profit. Entering the sword cave once, it requires two jindan trash to both be present. Using eight pieces of third-grade jingshi to invite two jindan trash, can you get a better bargain than that?”
Zuo Mo could do nothing. He could only pray that the twenty yin beads he had made would sell for a good price. He knew that the yin beads could not be sold through the sect. The origins of the yin beads wasn’t clear. If he aroused the suspicions of the shibo then no matter how many lives he had, he would still die.
He decided to go sell them himself in Dong Fu.
To not attract attention, he didn’t ride the grey beaked goose; rather, he silently left the mountain. As he arrived at the outskirts of the mountain, he darted into the forest. When he came out, he appeared completely different. He had turned into a weak looking man with a waxy complexion. In Elder Wei Nan’s jade scrolls, there were endless methods of changing appearances and concealing one’s tracks. Zuo Mo had picked a method that wasn’t very difficult.
This was the first time Zuo Mo put on a disguise. He was very curious and found it strange.
Right now, he was regretful that the Spirit Traveling seal had been burnt. If he had the Spirit Traveling seal, he could saved some time. His flying paper crane was too eye-catching so he could only walk.
——
Even though his cultivation had increased greatly, his body was still very weak. Exhausted, he arrived at Dong Fu, after walking over the mountains and rivers. However, his thirst for jingshi and his enthusiasm won over his weariness. Almost crawling, he stumbled into the free market.