Chapter Sixty-Eight: Blossoms Fall Only at My Door

Because the signs of thunder had long hinted at something unusual, many practitioners had already gathered in Luoyue County beforehand. Later, when the primordial divine thunder erupted, more upheavals ensued.

Those cultivators aligned with Nanliang feared that outsiders might intervene and vie for fortune, and were equally unwilling for solitary cultivators to hear word and flock there. Thus they summoned troops to garrison Luoyue County and sealed all information.

To ordinary people, the truth was naturally beyond comprehension. But for those on the path of cultivation, the presence of large numbers of Nanliang soldiers suggested something of state importance. So long as they paid it little mind, they would not suspect a connection to cultivation.

Even those cultivators with a mind to probe the matter would find it no easy feat to face off against ten thousand soldiers and break their way into Luoyue County.

To a cultivator, a multitude of common soldiers are like ants. Yet an army of ten thousand, united in murderous intent and harnessing the momentum of heaven and earth, is no force an ordinary cultivator could withstand.

Any cultivator capable of withstanding the killing aura of such an army must be highly advanced in their path, and there would be little reason to bar such a figure.

Within Luoyue County now resided several Daoists from the Orthodox Sect, as well as envoys from the Flower-Washing Pavilion of the far south—both inheritors of the Dao Ancestor, not to be underestimated.

Additionally, Luoyue County had long been home to hidden cultivation clans and sects, who, being natives, could also take part. And then there were the solitary practitioners, most of them unaffiliated wanderers, whose numbers were not few.

It was said that strife and conflict abounded within, and it was the Orthodox Sect that finally established rules to bring order.

As for what those rules were, Bai Jiye only wrote in his letter that he did not know clearly.

“Unclear?” Qingyuan gave a soft, amused laugh.

Bai Jiye’s attainment was not high; perhaps he truly did not understand the shifting situation. Or perhaps, this well-informed, bookish branch head of the Bai clan simply did not wish to reveal all to him.

Qingyuan did not mind. He set the letter aside, wrote a reply, and entrusted it to the white hawk to return to Yuanjing City and deliver to Bai Jiye.

“Now, only a select few powers have the right to enter Luoyue County freely.”

“As for unaffiliated cultivators, unless they are highly accomplished—able to break through ten thousand soldiers and deal with the Daoists of the Orthodox Sect within—they can only be turned away.”

Qingyuan pondered for a long while, musing to himself: “The Orthodox Sect has not expelled the solitary cultivators already within, but those cultivators loyal to Nanliang, unwilling for their nation’s fortune to fall into outsiders’ hands, have summoned troops to cut off the outside world.”

“What then is the way to enter Luoyue County?”

“Should I disguise myself as one of those powerful sects within Nanliang? Or slip in unseen?”

If Luoyue County were within Shu, then with the power of the Bai clan of Lindong, entry would pose no difficulty. But it lay within Nanliang.

Nanliang and Shu had warred for years; as a great clan of Shu, the Bai clan of Lindong could not easily step into Nanliang’s lands.

Qingyuan picked up the letter, crumpled it into a ball, and with a twist of his palms and a surge of true energy, reduced it to ashes that scattered and fell.

“Fuzhong Mountain… Why did this so-called primordial divine thunder have to descend upon Fuzhong Mountain…”

His gaze grew grave, voice low.

At this moment, he felt both relief and unease.

Relief, because the matter of Luoyue County had not been sparked by that particular treasure hidden within Fuzhong Mountain. As yet, the treasure remained concealed, unknown to outsiders.

Worry, because with the Luoyue County affair centered on Fuzhong Mountain, should cultivators searching for thunder inheritance within the mountain stumble upon the treasure’s hiding place by chance, then…

Qingyuan closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

Yet another anxiety weighed on his heart.

Had that treasure already been taken by the ancient master of Guangyuan? Was the earth-dragon within the mountain beast left behind only because its form had not yet coalesced at the time?

If it had not been taken by the ancient master of Guangyuan, would some other fated soul soon claim it?

“My fear is… that this descent of divine thunder on Fuzhong Mountain will draw forth the treasure, and it will then fall into the hands of some so-called fated one…”

Seated in his chair, Qingyuan pondered in silence for a long time.

“My path of cultivation is built upon my own attainment; spells, divine arts, treasures—all are secondary. Yet this treasure, to me, is not merely an object, but a matter of life and death.”

He grasped his iron staff, murmuring, “That fated one can only be me—it must not fall to another.”

…

Gu Cang was still cultivating.

He could sense that the barrier to the second heaven could no longer restrain him.

Very soon—perhaps even today—he would break through that barrier and become a cultivator of the second heaven.

He had once been but a spirit beast, but now, having set foot on the path of cultivation, all he knew and understood was vastly changed. Especially the myriad terms and wondrous principles of the Daoist tradition—all required the patient instruction of his master.

His master had warned him: Even those with inheritance may not succeed in cultivation; as for solitary practitioners, groping their way alone, no matter how gifted or diligent, few truly succeed. Most stall midway, or worse, go astray and lose all their progress.

Thus, Gu Cang listened to his master’s teachings with utmost seriousness, never daring to slack.

“Gu Cang.”

Qingyuan set aside his iron staff and said, “Let’s go.”

Gu Cang opened his eyes, acknowledged him, then slipped on his black robe and pulled up the hood.

“You’re close to the second heaven now, aren’t you?” Qingyuan asked unexpectedly.

“Yes, Master,” Gu Cang replied with a chuckle. “It should be within these few days.”

Qingyuan paused, then asked, “Why not let me pay in advance at the inn so you can stay here and focus on your breakthrough?”

Gu Cang shook his head vehemently, waving his hands. “No, I want to go with you.”

Qingyuan frowned. “But you’re at a critical moment in your cultivation.”

Gu Cang responded, “I can cultivate on the road as well.”

Qingyuan thought for a moment, then said gravely, “Where I’m going, in the eyes of many cultivators, is extremely dangerous, with unpredictable consequences. It would be best if your abilities were even greater. I had hoped you could stay and reach your breakthrough here, but matters have grown urgent—I dare not delay any longer.”

Originally, Qingyuan had intended to enter Fuzhong Mountain, find the treasure’s hiding place, and then cultivate quietly nearby, waiting until his own cultivation advanced or the threat of death drew near, before making an attempt to seize the treasure.

But after reading Bai Jiye’s letter, he understood the current situation was now a matter of pressing urgency.

Now, he could only hurry into Fuzhong Mountain, hoping to quietly claim the treasure before anyone else and be rid of future troubles.

Gu Cang said nothing, but his eyes held a steely resolve.

“Very well, then come with me,” Qingyuan said, drawing a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment.