When Jiang Yishu opened her eyes, she was greeted by a deathly pale face. She was about to draw her sword and strike when she remembered this was the Ghost Slave her fourth senior brother had gifted her last night.
“Is your name really Ghost Slave?”
“Yes, Master.”
“How about I call you Huangquan from now on? It pairs well with my Biluo Sword, and anyone hearing it will know you belong to me.”
Huangquan knelt on one knee, cupping his hands in salute. “Thank you for bestowing this name, Master.”
Noticing traces of medicinal ointment on her body, Jiang Yishu asked, “Did you apply the medicine for me last night?”
Huangquan shook his head and explained, “It was Gu Jin. After bringing you back, he applied the medicine and kept comparing several sheets of paper to the scars on your waist.”
“I see. Remember, if I’m ever unconscious, don’t let anyone approach me.”
She had been too careless, allowing herself to get drunk.
Sensing Jiang Yishu’s displeasure, Huangquan knelt on one knee again. “Please punish me, Master!”
“No need. Just don’t let it happen again.”
Jiang Yishu changed into a Biyun Immortal Gauze Skirt, its fabric light as clouds and emerald green like rippling waves. She casually tied her hair with a green ribbon, and the combination looked effortlessly beautiful.
Jiang Yishu felt an inexhaustible energy within her body. Moreover, she discovered faint traces of Thunder Spiritual Power, Earth Spiritual Power, and Wood Spiritual Power that had somehow accumulated inside her.
Perhaps because she primarily practiced Water Element Cultivation Arts, her weak Fire Spiritual Root absorbed Fire Spiritual Power the slowest. If not for the faintly visible Fire Spiritual Power swirling around, Jiang Yishu would have thought it was her imagination.
“The dangers of the Thousand-Step Spike Stairs truly bring both fortune and misfortune. Going through that ordeal actually stimulated my body to absorb other spiritual energies.”
Jiang Yishu’s frown deepened.
At the time, she had intended to flee the Qingyun Sect directly, but a persistent voice had urged her to climb the Thousand-Step Spike Stairs.
Whose voice could it have been?
“Never mind. I’ll focus on the present for now and explore the Qingyun Sect when I have time. If I wrap a thunderball inside a water sphere and hurl it at an enemy, wouldn’t they suffer two types of attacks simultaneously?”
Jiang Yishu carefully condensed a thunderball, but each time she was close to success, it dissipated. After much effort, she finally succeeded, but as soon as she attached it to the water sphere, a crackling sound erupted, and the water sphere burst.
The small grass on the ground was instead electrocuted into a withered state.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Jiang Yishu channeled the Wood Spiritual Power she had absorbed into the grass. Unexpectedly, the ankle-high grass instantly grew to waist level.
Startled, Jiang Yishu stumbled back half a step, bumping into Huangquan’s chest.
Huangquan steadied her and then respectfully retreated one step behind her.
“Huangquan, did you see that? The grass grew to my waist in an instant. If I hadn’t stopped channeling power in time, it might have grown taller than me.”
“I saw it, Master. Your affinity with Wood Spiritual Power is very high.”
“Let me try Earth Spiritual Power next. It would be even better if it had unexpected effects.”
Jiang Yishu focused her mind, attempting to mobilize the surrounding soil to form an earthen wall. However, after several attempts, she failed, instead leaving several cracks in the lush green ground.
“It seems I still need to diligently study Water Element Cultivation Arts and quickly condense my Golden Core.”
Jiang Yishu pulled out the simplified sect map Xie Lingjun had given her.
“The Cold Abyss should be nearby. Why haven’t I reached it after walking for so long? Master said Body Tempering in the Cold Abyss would yield twice the results with half the effort, but he forgot to mention the exact location. Do I have to go find Master again?”
Jiang Yishu could clearly sense the dense water spiritual energy around her, yet after circling several times, she still couldn’t find the entrance.
Having many disciples in the sect came with its own troubles, while having few brought its own worries—she couldn’t even find anyone to ask for directions.
“Little Junior Sister? Where are you headed? Let your senior brother give you a ride.”
Youming lay on the sedan chair as if boneless, with no proper posture to speak of.
His purple-red robes billowed in the wind, revealing a glimpse of his fair chest muscles. His jet-black hair fluttered, accentuating his unrestrained demeanor.
“I want to go to the Cold Abyss. I’ve been searching according to the map for a long time but can’t find the entrance.”
Youming rubbed his forehead. “That unreliable old man, our master, didn’t even tell you about the cultivation site. Come on up, I happen to be heading to the Cold Abyss as well.”
Jiang Yishu leaped lightly and settled steadily beside Youming.
The sedan chair looked ordinary, but once aboard, she realized it was surprisingly spacious and incredibly soft—far more comfortable than flying on a sword.
“Now this is living. No wonder Fourth Senior Brother is always either lying down or sitting.”
A gentle breeze brushed past, and Jiang Yishu’s green hair ribbon drifted into Youming’s hair. The hem of her jade-green skirt intertwined with his robes, like a fresh sprout emerging from parched black soil.
Youming stared intently at the corner of her clothing pressed against him and murmured softly, “No wonder that stubborn old man, who swore never to take another disciple, likes her. Who wouldn’t be drawn to vitality?”
The wind howled past their ears, and Youming’s voice was too low. Jiang Yishu only saw his lips moving but couldn’t hear his words.
“Fourth Senior Brother, what did you say? I didn’t catch it.”
Youming straightened slightly, a faint smile unconsciously curling at the corner of his lips.
“I said green suits you, Little Junior Sister. It looks full of hope.”
Jiang Yishu’s eyes curved into crescents. “You think green is beautiful too, right? I love wild grass—it’s tenacious and resilient. To me, green is the most beautiful color.”
“It truly is beautiful. Would you like to visit my little garden, Junior Sister? Perhaps you’d like it there too—it’s brimming with life.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely visit your place when I have time.”
Youming chuckled wryly. “People who say ‘when I have time’ usually never end up going.”
“It’s not just a polite remark—I mean it. But why does Fourth Senior Brother enjoy tending to flowers and plants?”
Youming propped his chin on his hand. “When you can’t find meaning in living, you have to fall madly in love with something to keep going. Otherwise, how dull would life be? If you truly can’t find anything interesting, just watch the flowers bloom and the water flow, the sun rise and the moon set. You’ll always find a little joy.”
“I think Master is right. Slowly, watching flowers bloom and wither becomes a great pleasure in itself.”
Jiang Yishu felt that although the Xiaoyao Sect was named “Carefree,” everyone in the sect was rather peculiar.
It was like a mixed family formed by a group of people trying to save themselves.
Jiang Yishu suddenly spoke up. “Senior Brother, being able to live well is truly fortunate.”
Youming fell silent. “Perhaps.”
It was just that he didn’t particularly want this fortune. He would rather his mother had lived well, instead of…
Jiang Yishu said softly, “Once I break through to the Golden Core, I’ll definitely visit your little garden. You must take good care of those flowers and plants.”
“Mm.”
With Youming leading the way, they soon arrived at the Formation Eye.
“Press your Disciple Token here, and it will open the door to the Cold Abyss.”
Only after the door opened did Jiang Yishu finally understand why the Cold Abyss was so hard to find. Just the spiritual energy that spilled out when the door opened made her feel as comfortable as if she were soaking in a spiritual spring.
“The Cold Abyss has nine levels in total. The further down you go, the greater the pressure and the better the Body Tempering effect. Start by adapting to the first three levels. Beyond that, you’ll need Master’s guidance to avoid losing your life here.”
“Understood. Farewell, Senior Brother. I’ll go give it a try.”
Youming stood in place, watching his junior sister struggle yet resolutely step into the Cold Abyss.
Jiang Yishu reached the bottom of the first level. Rather than a pool, it resembled a waterfall.
The water of the Cold Abyss was icy and piercing, and the force of the cascading water from above was so strong that it was nearly impossible to sit steadily beneath the waterfall.
Jiang Yishu was swept away over a dozen times before finally managing to sit firmly at the bottom of the first level.
With each impact, her body grew more resilient. Despite the cold water, her blood gradually began to boil, and the once crushing weight of the water felt as light as feathers falling upon her.
Once Jiang Yishu no longer felt the impact, she immediately proceeded to the second level of the Cold Abyss.
As expected, with each increasing level, her body felt as though it were being torn open by the water’s force. Amid the pain, water spiritual energy rushed into her body, alleviating the agony. Yet, the newly healed meridians seemed unable to withstand the impact, showing signs of fracturing.