Blade - Unbound

The rest of the journey passed without incident. It also gave everyone a true appreciation of just how perilous Mount Hua really was. After leaving Maonu Cave, they passed through Cloud Gate and arrived at Green Cypress Terrace. There, they had to traverse the Thousand-Foot Precipice.

This was a narrow fissure splitting the face of the cliff. In ancient times, people had carved footholds directly into the rock, creating a route that climbed upward through the crevice at an angle that was nearly vertical.

The steps were astonishingly narrow, barely half a foot wide, and the snow and ice had yet to melt. The Mount Hua of that world was nothing like the one from Li Yan's previous life. There were no safety railings, nor any chains to hold onto for support.

The passage was completely exposed, and little more than an enormous frozen slide. Had it not been for their considerable martial skills, and even though Wang Daoxuan and Yan Jiuling were accustomed to traveling over mountains and ridges, they would most likely have tumbled all the way down.

This was also known as the "Throat of Mount Hua."

According to legend, the passage had first been opened during the Han Dynasty. Originally, the mountain had been so precipitous that no route existed at all. One day, someone noticed monkeys effortlessly leaping up and down through the cracks in the cliffs. Following their path, people had eventually discovered this route.

Du Fu once wrote of it: Once the carriage entered the valley, there was no road back; only a single gate, narrow as an arrow's notch, led toward the heavens.

Naturally, it was also one of the strategic choke points guarding the mountain entrance. Small stone niches lined the tops of the cliffs on both sides, none more than a foot high. These orderly rows were miniature shrines filled with carvings of immortals and deities.

Li Yan could smell incense lingering upon every one of those statues. Divine astral qi gathered around them, making it seem as though countless immortals were lowering their gazes to watch the travelers pass beneath.

Standing at the exit above were two Daoists. The moment they spotted the group in the distance, they respectfully cupped their fists and asked, "Are you Fellow Daoist Li from Chang'an?"

Li Yan quickened his pace and swiftly left the Thousand-Foot Precipice behind. "I am."

Looking up, he carefully examined the pair. One was tall and lean, while the other was short and stout. Both wore dark Daoist robes, and carried treasured swords upon their backs.

Unlike the Daoist they had met below the mountain, those men possessed calm, clear eyes and far gentler expressions.

"This humble Daoist is Yu Fengzi."

"This humble Daoist is Yu Hanzi."

After introducing themselves, the two smiled warmly.

"Our master instructed us to wait here."

"He specifically said that we must properly receive Daoist Li from Chang'an."

Once everyone had made it through, they gestured and invited everyone over.

"Everyone, please follow us."

The Taixuan Orthodox Sect was immense in scale. It effectively presided over the entire Daoist tradition throughout the Divine Continent. Its internal factions were even more numerous and complex.

Li Yan had never been acquainted with the Daoists of the Pure Yang Courtyard. The reason they were being received with such enthusiasm was undoubtedly because of the warning he had given earlier.

The group followed the two Daoists onward. After winding through steep mountain cliffs and trudging through snow and bitter cold, they soon arrived before a temple.

The short and stout Yu Hanzi introduced with a smile, "This is Wangxian Temple. It is commonly used to accommodate fellow members of our order. The vegetarian meal has already been prepared, and you may rest here first. Our master will arrive shortly."

Li Yan immediately frowned. "We're here to attend the Wine Unsealing ceremony. Where are the other fellow Daoists who arrived before us?"

The tall and lean Yu Fengzi replied, "This is the North Peak. Those people are staying at Lotus Peak. There's no need to worry. The accommodations here are even better."

As he spoke, he gave Li Yan a playful wink.

Li Yan immediately understood. Cupping his fists with a smile, he replied, "Thank you. Just as the two of you said, this place is indeed excellent."

Stepping into Wangxian Temple, they found themselves surrounded by ancient cypress trees whose lush foliage shut out the outside world. The temple buildings possessed an ancient simplicity. Snow rested upon the upturned eaves, and the stone railings and red walls showed unmistakable signs of great age.

The guest quarters prepared for them were equally simple yet elegant. The wooden beds carried the fresh fragrance of pine and were covered with warm quilts. A pot of fragrant tea sat steeping upon the small table by the window. In one corner, bluish smoke curled gently upward from an incense burner, naturally calming the mind.

Not long afterward, a young novice Daoist served them their vegetarian meal.

There were stir-fried bamboo shoots with wood ear mushrooms, soft red date cakes, vegetable soup, and dumplings stuffed with vegetables. To be honest, the dishes looked fairly appetizing. The taste, however, was merely passable.

Still, being able to enjoy hot food on Mount Hua was already a luxury. After all, crops could not be grown on the mountain, and every bit of food and supplies had to be carried up.

The group devoured everything before them. After washing it all down with several pots of hot tea, the exhaustion from climbing the mountain completely disappeared.

The master Yu Fengzi had mentioned had yet to arrive, so everyone simply chatted to pass the time. Yan Jiuling naturally became the center of attention. His knowledge was astonishingly broad. He knew virtually every legend and historical anecdote connected to Mount Hua. Quoting classical texts one after another, he held everyone's attention effortlessly.

With heartfelt emotion, he sighed, "I never imagined that Maiden Mao truly existed."

Having seen her with his own eyes, Li Yan still vividly remembered her terrifying appearance. Curious, he asked, "Brother Yan seems to know quite a bit about Maiden Mao. Would you mind telling me more?"

"Of course." Yan Jiuling smiled and continued, "Maiden Mao was originally a palace maid during the Qin Dynasty. Later, amid the chaos that accompanied Qin's downfall, she fled into Mount Hua. There, she received a secret cultivation method from an immortal.

"It is said that she attained longevity by living on pine needles. The Biographies of Exemplary Immortals from the Han Dynasty already contains related accounts. Then, during the early years of Emperor Taizong's reign, Tao Taibai came to Mount Hua to gather medicinal herbs. He claimed to have seen Maiden Mao, and even spoken with her.

"The same was true of Cai Yuanchang. He encountered a woman upon Mount Hua whose entire body was covered in green hair. Her gaze was awe-inspiring, and she moved with astonishing speed. It is also said that Maiden Mao neither felt hunger nor cold."

"Whenever the night grew deepest and all was silent, she would worship the Northern Dipper."

After listening, Li Yan fell into thought. The more he considered these legends... The more they seemed connected to the Longevity Immortal Treasury.

Living on pine needles to achieve immortality... Could it have been some kind of ingestion cultivation method?

Perhaps because of that, Maiden Mao's soul had endured until today, rather than being dispersed by centuries of accumulated incense offerings. Unfortunately, too much time had passed to investigate further. Although Li Yan could communicate with divine manifestations, he still could not converse with her directly. There was simply no way to know what had truly happened back then.

Seeing just how knowledgeable Yan Jiuling was, Li Yan suddenly had an idea. He reached into his robes and produced an object. It was the phoenix-shaped golden ornament he had obtained from Yuan Ba.

He asked, "Do you happen to recognize this?"

Yan Jiuling accepted it. But the longer he examined it, the more astonishment filled his eyes. "Where did Hero Li obtain this? This is an Ancient Chu Token. I never expected one to appear in the Guanzhong Plains."

"I got it from a friend." Li Yan answered vaguely before asking, "Is that a lineage from ancient Chu?"

Yan Jiuling nodded. "That's right. This item is connected to certain hidden matters. To be honest, I've been researching it myself. Its origins are connected to the rites of state sacrifice.

"Every dynasty has maintained state sacrifices. Yet the rituals have never been entirely the same. I can't speak with certainty about the Xia or Shang Dynasties. But the concept of the Altars of Soil and Grain first appeared in the Zhou Dynasty. The Rites of Zhou contain extensive regulations, inheriting the ritual traditions of both Xia and Shang.

"As the saying goes: The Zhou took the two previous dynasties as its model, how splendid and refined its culture became. Toward the end of the Zhou, however, ritual and music collapsed. The feudal states gradually developed different sacrificial traditions. For example, Qi, Lu, and the Three Jin primarily worshipped the Five Emperors and the Eight Gods of Qi.

"Chu, on the other hand, acknowledged only Three Emperors; namely, the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Jun, and Emperor Zhuanxu. At the same time, they also worshipped ten principal deities, including Donghuang Taiyi, the Eastern Lord, the Lord Within the Clouds, the Lord of the Xiang River, and others.

"As for Qin, they placed greatest emphasis upon their chief deity, Shaohao, the White Emperor, that is, the deity of Mount Hua. That is why, when the Han Emperor famously slew the White Serpent before beginning his uprising, the serpent was said to be the son of the White Emperor. It symbolized the destruction of Qin.

"After the Han Dynasty was established, new state rites were instituted. An imperial decree ordered the local deities of every region to be brought to Chang'an and worshipped alongside the old Qin gods.

"As recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian, Treatise on the Feng and Shan Sacrifices: The Liang shamans worship Heaven and Earth... The Jin shamans worship the Five Emperors, the Eastern Lord, the Lord Within the Clouds, and the Director of Fate... The Qin shamans worship the Lord of the Soil Altar and the Protecting Shamans... The Jing shamans worship the First Shaman and the Director of Fate beneath the ancestral hall... The secret ritual blessings of the Han Imperial Palace!

Li Yan immediately understood, Isn't this the origin of Night Crier and the Shang Mountain lineage?!

Meanwhile, Yan Jiuling continued, "Then came the end of the Han Dynasty. The realm descended into chaos, and the orthodox mystic sects rose to prominence. Combined with the disasters caused by the Fangxian Dao, the old Han palace sacrificial system was ultimately abolished.

"The various shamanic traditions then returned to their respective regions. This is the command token of the shamans of the Ancient Chu."

As he spoke, a smile spread across his face. "I've been fascinated by the ancient rites of sacrifice ever since I was a child. My family has collected quite a number of artifacts like this. Unfortunately, I must soon depart for the capital to sit the imperial examination. Otherwise, I would certainly invite Hero Li to view my collection."

Li Yan replied seriously, "If the opportunity arises, I will certainly come and visit."

After hearing everything Yan Jiuling had said, a strong intuition arose within him.

Those relics were probably connected to God Ascendants!

***

As they chatted, the sky gradually darkened, and the bright moon rose into the night.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the temple. An elderly Daoist strode in, followed by a large group of Daoists.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a full head of white hair and a long white beard. His features were honest and dignified, with a rosy complexion despite his advanced age. Though clearly no longer young, every step he took carried an imposing presence.

The moment Li Yan saw him, his expression changed slightly. He realized he could not smell the slightest trace of scent from the old Daoist. That was something only martial artists who had reached the Core Jin Realm possessed!

It was clear to him. The man was, at the very least, a master in the Core Jin Realm!

Such people were exceedingly rare within the mystic path. After all, cultivators generally focused on mystical arts rather than martial arts.

"This humble Daoist is Jing Xuzi, Supervisor of the Pure Yang Courtyard. Greetings."

The old Daoist's voice was warm and gentle, yet beneath it lingered the faint rumble of thunder. Although his manner of speaking made one feel as though basking in a spring breeze, he naturally exuded a commanding aura that inspired reverence in everyone present.

"Greetings, Senior!"

Everyone hurriedly returned the greeting. Even Sha Lifei put away his usual carefree grin.

Since they all belonged to the mystic path of the Guanzhong Plains, introductions quickly led to the discovery of mutual acquaintances. As it turned out, Jing Xuzi was a close friend of Qing Yangzi, the temple keeper of the Xianyang City God Temple. With that connection established, the atmosphere immediately became much friendlier.

Jing Xuzi sighed. "This time, we truly owe our thanks to Young Friend Li. Had you not raised the alarm, a great disaster might have occurred. That Drought Wraith wreaked havoc as early as the late Tang Dynasty. It was eventually suppressed at Dragon Tiger Ridge.

"When the previous dynasty split into north and south and the realm descended into warfare, it disappeared without a trace. The Enforcement Hall in Chang'an lost more than half its personnel transporting it here, expending tremendous manpower and resources.

"If something had gone wrong here, how could our Pure Yang Palace still have the face to continue guarding Mount Hua?"

Li Yan quickly cupped his fists in response. "It was Maiden Mao who gave the warning. I merely passed the message along."

"There is no need to be modest." Jing Xuzi waved his modesty away. "Not everyone possesses the ability to commune with the divine."

As he spoke, he produced a small wooden box.

"This was obtained only because of your warning. Thus, this humble Daoist dares not claim the credit. Please, accept it as a token of gratitude."

With that, he opened the wooden box before everyone's curious eyes. Inside lay a strange beast resembling a lizard. Its body was long and slender, measuring only about a foot in length. It also had six legs and two ridges protruding from its back.

"So this is a Feiyi?" Curiosity filled Li Yan's eyes as he asked, "This is a legendary creature recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. I never imagined I would one day see one with my own eyes."

Jing Xuzi nodded. "This is merely a juvenile Feiyi."

Li Yan cupped his fists. "Forgive this junior's ignorance, but... what use does it have? Isn't it a monstrous creature imbued with the qi of monstrous calamity?"

"Hahaha..." Jing Xuzi stroked his beard and smiled. "Yin and yang each have their proper place within Heaven and Earth. Although a Feiyi is born from calamity and brings disaster, it is also a blessing. We have already removed the qi of monstrous calamity; it is currently being suppressed atop Mount Hua. In another three days, it will disperse completely.

"As for the corpse of this Feiyi, it may be considered a heavenly spiritual treasure. Whether epilepsy, insanity, or any kind of gu parasite that one is infected with, simply dry the corpse, grind it into powder, and swallow a single dose. The ailment will be cured immediately."

Li Yan's eyes instantly lit up. By that description, the corpse of the creature was truly extraordinary. Medicine could not cure those whom fate itself refused to spare. A remedy capable of instantly curing a particular illness was already nothing short of miraculous. To think it could also eliminate gu parasites...

In the future, should he ever encounter a master of gu arts, he would finally possess a way to save the victim.

"Then this junior shall gratefully accept it."

Li Yan naturally would not refuse such a reward. He respectfully accepted the wooden box.

Jing Xuzi smiled as he stroked his beard. "You've earned it. Furthermore, on the day the vault is opened, Young Friend Li may enter with the very first group to make their selection."

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan immediately offered their thanks. The order in which one selected treasures after the vault was opened was no trivial matter.

Ordinarily, the orthodox mystic sects always chose first. The established mystical lineages followed next. Only after them did the unorthodox practitioners who possessed qualification tokens receive their turn.

By then, little more than scraps would remain. There was no helping it. Such was the way of the mystic path, following the law of Heaven and Earth itself. Those with the strongest fists ate the meat. Those without sufficient strength could only drink the soup.

"Young Friend, please stay here in peace. If you require anything, simply inform Yu Fengzi. This humble Daoist has many affairs demanding his attention, so I won't disturb everyone's rest any longer."

After giving a few final instructions, the old Daoist hurried away. It was obvious that important matters still required his attention.

The group exchanged smiles. Receiving such an opportunity immediately upon arriving at Mount Hua could only be considered an excellent omen.

Just then, Yan Jiuling hesitated for a long moment. Finally, gritting his teeth, he cupped his fists before speaking, "Hero Li, I have a favor I would like to ask of you."

After spending time together, Li Yan had formed quite a favorable impression of Yan Jiuling. He smiled warmly in response. "Please, Brother Yan, go ahead. "

Yan Jiuling cupped his fists again. "My mother developed madness three years ago. We searched everywhere for renowned physicians without success. We even sought help from members of the Mystic Sects, but nothing worked.

"She spends every day in a delirious state without even the ability to feed herself. As her son, it pains me deeply. I've traveled through countless mountains, praying before every deity I encountered, hoping only that my mother might recover..."

The moment Li Yan heard him, he understood what Yan Jiuling was asking.

With a smile on his face, he replied, "That's no problem. You should simply continue on to the capital and sit for your examinations. We're planning to leave the Guanzhong Plains anyway.

"Your family is in Yiling, correct? Write us a letter of introduction. We'll stop by on the way and treat her."

According to Jing Xuzi, once the Feiyi was dried and ground into powder, even a tiny amount would cure the illness. Helping save a single person was hardly any trouble at all.

"Thank you, Hero Li." Yan Jiuling's face was filled with gratitude. "My family possesses modest means. I certainly won't allow everyone to help us for nothing."

With that, he hurried back to his room to write the letter.

Li Yan smiled faintly before looking toward Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan. "How about heading to Ezhou afterward?"

"Sounds good."

"I've long wanted to see the lands of Ancient Chu for myself..."

***

The following morning, before dawn had fully broken, Li Yan was already awake.

Mount Hua was one of the great blessed lands. Although the temple itself was not situated atop a spiritual aperture, merely practicing his martial forms there left him feeling refreshed from head to toe.

Just then, a young Daoist entered to report, "Daoist Li, someone outside wishes to see you."

Li Yan immediately stepped outside. Sure enough, it was someone he knew.

The visitor was none other than Shopkeeper Wan! Standing beside him was someone Li Yan had not expected to see at all, the master and disciple from the Mount Mei Faith among the Jingchu delegation.

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