Crimson_Lore
patreon
Chapter 77: Mount Building Residence
🕑 Added 2025-04-21 11:43:40 +0000 UTCChen Xiao slowly lifted the soft brush, and Tong Nuonuo eagerly rushed to take a look. The paper talisman before him, just like the previous ones, had a bright surface. Its lines were sharp, like iron drawn with silver hooks, giving it an extraordinarily imposing and powerful appearance.
"It looks really impressive," Tong Nuonuo remarked, clearly satisfied with Chen Xiao's work. With such an appearance, it was at least worthy of the precious mineral essence used to create it.
Wu Qing, too, couldn't wait to examine the talisman closely. After studying it for a while, he sighed with some regret, "What a pity, this is just a spirit-gathering talisman. If it were an attack talisman, the mental force attached to the characters would likely amplify its power."
As Chen Xiao sat reflecting after finishing his work, he couldn't shake the feeling that while his success was great, something felt slightly off. Then he heard Wu Qing's words, and it suddenly dawned on him. The spirit-gathering talisman was meant to assist cultivators, with a gentle, nurturing quality. The fierce and sharp style he had drawn was not right for it. It was like calligraphy, it's not just about writing excellent lines but ensuring that the style matches the content.
Once he realized this, he calmly began packing up his things. He didn't want Tong Nuonuo to know that, in some ways, even though the experiment was a success, there was still a significant flaw. He tried to comfort himself, this was definitely a well-meaning concealment. As of now, the talisman's effect hadn't been fully seen. Perhaps the superior materials would affect its results.
Wu Qing, being the most experienced with the talisman, had the most authority to comment on it. After finishing his critique, he waited until the talisman had dried before carefully tucking it away for safekeeping. Shortly after, he was struck with a sudden realization, both surprised and delighted. "It seems that the mental force attached to it isn't entirely ineffective. The spirit-gathering effect is noticeably stronger, and the speed has increased."
Chen Xiao quickly asked, "How does spiritual energy behave? Is it still as gentle as before?"
Wu Qing shook his head. "No matter how gentle the spiritual energy, once its speed increases, it also becomes a bit more turbulent. It's like a stream, when it's slow, the surface is calm, but when it speeds up, the surface becomes rough."
Chen Xiao had already anticipated this, so he wasn't disappointed upon hearing it. Nodding, he asked, "The effect has been enhanced; that should be one aspect of it. How about the duration? Do you have any predictions, Master Wu?"
Wu Qing didn't dare to jump to conclusions and answered cautiously, "We'll need to observe it further."
Despite the cautious tone, Wu Qing periodically took the talisman out to check on it. Since they had spent a long time drawing the talisman, by the time they reached the canyon's edge, the sky was nearing dusk. There were no roads on either side of the canyon, so they had to walk along the mountain walls. Traveling through the night without light was too dangerous, so they decided to enter the canyon first thing the next morning. Chen Xiao was happy with this plan; it would allow him to see the results the next day.
The results surprised all four of them. After nearly a day of wearing it, the talisman's luster and the oiliness of the lines showed no signs of fading. Wu Qing confirmed, "The spirit-gathering talisman will last for three to five years. This is still influenced by the quality of the paper; otherwise, it could last even longer." Wu Qing's mood was complicated, and he couldn't bring himself to mention that if the paper were of higher quality, the talisman would not only be able to last longer but could also be kept as a valuable heirloom.
Chen Xiao let out a long breath of relief. With this, he estimated that the accumulated spiritual energy provided daily for three to five years could be converted into offensive power. Even if his opponent was at the Golden Core or even Nascent Soul level, he would have a fighting chance. Finally, he no longer had to be on the receiving end of attacks in this world!
Excited, Chen Xiao continued along the mountain path with high spirits. Du Rong had to remind him, "If you keep this up, we may need to find a place to stop and wait for you to calm down before continuing." However, with cliffs on both sides of the canyon, there was no place to rest, so they had to keep going in one go. Chen Xiao immediately composed himself, and by just after noon, they finally reached the valley.
Crossing through the passage into the valley, the familiar garden from over a month ago appeared before them.
Tong Nuonuo exclaimed, "It's so big!" Du Rong, equally surprised, added, "They've put up a plaque, and now it has a name."
Chen Xiao quickly looked and noticed the plaque at the main entrance, which read "Mount Building Residence" in flowing, elegant characters. Wu Qing praised, "The characters are well-written, and the name is good."
There appeared to be someone at the gate, and a young man came out when he heard their voices. Upon seeing them, he hurriedly welcomed them, "You’ve finally arrived! Immortal Master Xi and all the senior and junior disciples have been concerned about you. You've had a hard journey; please come in and rest."
The nearly thirty people from Changjia Village who had joined Chongxuan Sect all shared the same generation, regardless of their age, and were considered disciples of the same generation, as long as they weren't taken in by different masters. Since Immortal Master Xi Yunqing was their elder, the disciples felt a sense of safety and belonging at the new location. After just a few days, they had already fully embraced this peaceful "Mount Building Residence" as their new home.
Chen Xiao and the others smiled and followed the young man inside. Although they had been resting every night on their journey, nothing compared to the comfort of lying on a bed. Chen Xiao asked, "Where are we staying?"
The young man smiled and replied, "Master has already instructed us to prepare the south courtyard. It's all cleaned up, so you can rest there as soon as you arrive."
Du Rong couldn't help but be surprised. "We're still staying in the south courtyard? Where do you all stay? The whole garden only has a kitchen in the south courtyard. How do you manage meals if you're not staying there?"
Clearly, Chen Xiao and Du Rong both thought that this time, they'd be given a different courtyard to stay in, especially since one couldn't cook and the other had average skills. It would be a waste for them to take over such a large kitchen. It would be better for the Changjia Village people to stay in the south courtyard while they took the north or west courtyard.
The young man replied in an admiring tone, "Now, everyone stays in the west courtyard to avoid disturbing Immortal Master Xi's peace. Master immediately had the kitchen and dining hall renovated, so it's very convenient for meals." The young man seemed to be deeply impressed by Immortal Master Xi Yunqing's wealth and efficiency. Chen Xiao and Du Rong had been similarly stunned by the master's quick action, not to mention these villagers who had grown up in the mountains and seen little of the outside world.
Thinking back to when the cultivators had flown overhead carrying construction materials, Chen Xiao couldn’t help but chuckle. He then asked, "May I ask if there is still food in the dining hall?" Only someone like Chen Xiao, who secretly loved food, would directly ask such a question.
The young man quickly replied, "Yes, of course! Immortal Master Xi has instructed that meals be kept warm and ready for your return."
Chen Xiao was immediately touched. Immortal Master Xi was so thoughtful and considerate!
And so, without bothering to unpack or change their clothes, the group quickly washed their hands and faces by the well and headed to the dining hall in the west courtyard.
The moment they entered the dining hall, they could sense the grandeur of a large sect. The room was brightly lit, with white walls, red pillars and beams, and black lacquered tables and chairs. The distance between the tables and chairs was spacious, creating an atmosphere of comfort and luxury.
The courtyard itself was large, with over twenty rooms, each about thirty square meters. Immortal Master Xi Yunqing had renovated five rooms in the corner of the west courtyard, providing ample space for thirty people to dine together.
With abundant ingredients and advanced stoves, the dishes were even more delicious, and Chen Xiao thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The food was prepared by the same skilled woman they had met before. Currently, the management of the kitchen was in her hands, with a younger woman assisting her. In addition to the two of them managing the entire kitchen, the others took turns helping out each day. Otherwise, with so many people, they wouldn't be able to keep up with the cooking duties.
