“This is the sixth elder of the Xuanqing Sect, Zhong Wuxi. Doesn’t he look just like a kitten?”
The young woman tapped Zongzheng Lan on the head. “Do not be rude.”
The woman standing before Zhong Wuxi was breathtakingly beautiful. Senior Sister Xuan Ling was also beautiful, but her charm was gentle and non-threatening. This woman, however, possessed a fierce, captivating elegance—bold and noble. She bore a striking resemblance to Zongzheng Lan, and with her Kunlun jade phoenix crown and gold-plated peacock hairpins, she was clearly a princess of the Xiling Dynasty.
Zhong Wuxi bowed. “Greetings, Princess.”
Zongzheng Lan paused for a moment before speaking. “This is my mother, the Empress.”
Having analyzed the situation incorrectly, Zhong Wuxi felt embarrassed. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“You may simply call me Auntie,” Zongzheng Lan suggested, glancing at Zhong Wuxi. “My mother formed her Gold Core at nineteen, and her appearance has remained fixed ever since. You are not the first person to mistake her for someone younger.”
The beautiful woman smiled. “My name is Qian Fei. I studied at the Xuanqing Sect for ten years and am quite close with Xuan Ling. If you do not mind, you may call me Senior Sister.”
Zongzheng Lan objected. “That will not do! If he calls you Senior Sister, wouldn’t he be a generation higher than me?”
Zhong Wuxi blinked. “But I am already your Junior Martial Uncle!”
Seeing Zongzheng Lan was left speechless, Zhong Wuxi performed a Daoist salute and introduced himself formally.
Qian Fei smiled warmly. “Little Lan has told me much about you. He said that when the Xuanqing Sect selected disciples, you were the only one to pass the secret realm unscathed, the only one to awaken a mutated spirit root, and the only one of his age and cultivation level.”
“He also said you were the best-looking.”
Zongzheng Lan’s face darkened. “I never said that.” A moment later, he corrected himself: “What I said was, although he is not as handsome as I am, he…”
Before Zhong Wuxi could hear the rest, he was pulled away by Liu Wan toward her father. “Father, this is Junior Martial Uncle Zhong Wuxi, the one who gave me the fairy grass and the sixth elder of the Xuanqing Sect.”
“And Father, please keep the fact that he is the sixth elder a secret.”
Liu Wan’s father was a man with a rugged face. He thanked Zhong Wuxi solemnly and presented him with many hidden weapons unique to the Liu clan of Xianzhou.
Afterward came Ye Yizhou’s sister.
An hour later, Zhong Wuxi finally escaped the main hall to the back mountain, sitting on a meditation cushion Zongzheng Lan had prepared. “I have never seen Qixia Peak so lively, but this is far too many people.”
Zongzheng Lan replied, “When children travel far, parents worry. Since it is the first time the new disciples are descending the mountain for training, it is natural for their families to be anxious.”
“I thought the Xuanqing Sect was a place apart from the world, where outsiders were not permitted.”
“Cultivation does not mean isolation from the world. Even followers of the path of Buddha like Senior Brother Wuchen still…” Zongzheng Lan paused. “Not to mention that many disciples of the Xuanqing Sect come from noble families; how could they possibly sever ties with their kin?”
Zhong Wuxi turned his head. “Are only personal disciples descending the mountain? I have lived on Jimo Peak for so long that I have become quite disconnected from sect affairs.”
“Not just personal disciples, but inner disciples as well. You have lived on Jimo Peak for so many years; have you never considered moving elsewhere?”
“The scenery of Qixia Peak is quite good; you could move here. I forgot, Qixia Peak is for receiving guests.”
Zongzheng Lan glanced at Zhong Wuxi. “Apart from Qixia Peak, Piaomiao Peak has the most pleasant climate, warm as spring all year round.”
The cool mountain breeze brushed his cheeks, and Zhong Wuxi sighed contentedly. “If Master does not leave Jimo Peak, I will not leave either. Besides, there are many cute snowmen on Jimo Peak that Master and I built together.”
“Only children play with snowmen!”
Zhong Wuxi turned, staring at him in astonishment.
Why was this little phoenix angry again? Had Senior Sister Qian Fei scolded him? He tugged at Zongzheng Lan’s hem. “What is it? Did Senior Sister Qian Fei lecture you?”
“My mother would never treat me that way; she is different from those people in the palace.” Zongzheng Lan suddenly remembered something. “By the way, do not mention the succession to the throne in front of my mother, or she will be angry.”
“Will you inherit the throne?”
Zongzheng Lan held his head high. “Of course. I am the only one among all the princes and princesses with the True Phoenix bloodline.”
Zhong Wuxi was curious. “Why is it that only you inherited the Emperor’s True Phoenix bloodline?”
Zongzheng Lan snorted. “The True Phoenix bloodline allows for extremely fast cultivation with no bottlenecks in reaching Foundation Establishment or Gold Core. In moments of mortal danger, one can be reborn from fire. If every member of the Zongzheng imperial family possessed such power, the world would fall into chaos.”
Zhong Wuxi stared at him with envy. “What a powerful protagonist halo.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. I said you are very powerful.”
Zongzheng Lan was extremely satisfied with the praise. He took a translucent glass bead from his qiankun bag and handed it to him. “Kittens like to play with balls. Take this as a reward; go play!”
Zhong Wuxi took the bead and held it up to the sunlight; a faint red mist swirled within.
“What is this?”
Zongzheng Lan held out his hand. “I gave you a gift; shouldn’t you give me one in return?”
“Fair point.” Zhong Wuxi pulled out a jade bottle. “This is Blood-Coagulating Powder refined by my Master. He instructed me that if I am injured, I must take it.”
Zongzheng Lan accepted the powder, bowed toward the direction of Jimo Peak, and said, “I must return to practice. Please thank the Holy Monarch for the medicine on my behalf!”
Zhong Wuxi stood stunned. “He calls himself this prince before me, but uses I before my Master. Why is this little phoenix so inconsistent?”
“Right, how detestable!” The Snow Cloud Ribbon transformed into a small fur ball and pounced into its master’s arms. “But what does inconsistent mean?”
“That is not important. What matters is that there is another important thing I have forgotten!”
The Snow Cloud Ribbon was nearly dizzy from its master’s words, but after a while, it realized, “You mean you were going to ask for gifts from your senior brothers and sisters today.”
“Exactly.” Zhong Wuxi picked up the fur ball. “The Sect Leader and Senior Sister Xuan Ling are both receiving guests on Qixia Peak. Let us go to Zhuiyun Peak to find Senior Brother Xuan Mu first!”
Zhong Wuxi had never been to Zhuiyun Peak. He had expected it to be hot, considering Senior Brother Xuan Mu possessed a pure Fire Spirit Root, which was inherently violent and often involved fiery cultivation techniques. To his surprise, the peak was not hot at all, but rather refreshing and invigorating.
Xuan Mu, the Fourth Elder of the Xuanqing Sect, was handsome, with shoulder-length black hair tied back with a simple band. He carried himself with a casual ease that contradicted his name.
“Junior Martial Uncle, is Zhuiyun Peak to your liking?”
“It is, but Senior Brother, this climate cannot be beneficial for your cultivation, right?”
“It is of no benefit, but no harm either,” Xuan Mu laughed. “Comfort is the most important thing; cultivation should follow one’s heart.”
Zhong Wuxi sighed. Indeed, the entire Xuanqing Sect seemed steeped in an atmosphere of peaceful complacency. However, Zongzheng Lan, that little phoenix, remained exceptionally diligent; no wonder he was the protagonist.
Zhong Wuxi emptied his qiankun bag. “Look, Senior Brother: this is Blood-Coagulating Powder for rapid healing; this is Phoenix Pill for purifying impurities; this is the Half-Moon Ruler.”
Zhong Wuxi blinked. “These are all gifts from Master for my journey down the mountain.”
“Understood.” Xuan Mu was very accommodating; he poured the contents of his own bag out, which was literally a small mountain.
“This is Spirit-Ice Iron from the Northern Underworld snowfields. Once you form your Gold Core, you can forge your own sword.” Xuan Mu patted the small mountain that was taller than himself. “Spirit-Ice Iron is the finest material in the Qingyuan Realm, perfect for someone with your innate spiritual body.”
“If you reach the Spirit Transformation stage, you can nourish your own soul-bound spirit sword. I believe with your talent, you will surely reach that stage one day!”
Zhong Wuxi shook his head. “Master has never taught me swordsmanship.”
“What? Your Master is the number one sword cultivator in the Qingyuan Realm,” Xuan Mu said, stunned. “Have you never heard the rumors of how he slaughtered the city of Zhaoye with the Jiuli Sword a thousand years ago?”