NOVEL WEB Chapter 21 - Xiao Qin's Ancient Master, the Phoenix Feather
Chapter 21: Xiao Qin’s Ancient Master, the Phoenix Feather
—At the cave entrance—
“Did that Junior disciple Li actually enter the third level of the Divine Blade Cave?”
“Whoa, how did he manage that?”
“No hope for him. A few years ago, an Internal energy Realm disciple accidentally stumbled into the third level. By the time they rescued him, his body was riddled with wounds, and his mind was completely scrambled. Even after treatment, he was left drooling constantly.”
“Hiss… I hope he doesn’t die on our peak.”
“That’s Shang Wu’s disciple… Oh, I just remembered I have clothes at home that need hanging. I’ll head back first.”
The cave entrance was bustling with activity. Many disciples had even forgotten their swords, as they gathered there to discuss the situation.
If something happened to a true disciple in the Divine Blade Cave, it would be big news in the Qingyuan Sect.
Murong Xiao paced back and forth, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
“Brother Li is such a good person. I hope nothing bad happens to him…”
He muttered to himself, suddenly perking up.
“Why are you all gathering here? Get back to your duties!”
Han He led the way, scolding the gossiping inner disciples.
Shang Wu and Li Mo emerged from behind him.
Li Mo still wore that characteristic smile of his.
“Brother Li, are you alright? Do you recognize me? How many fingers am I holding up?”
Murong Xiao rushed over in two strides, waving his hand in front of Li Mo.
“Five… Uh, you do have five fingers, right?”
Li Mo thought it might be some kind of riddle.
“What’s five plus five?”
“…Ten.”
After a brief intelligence test:
“Thank goodness you’re not brain-damaged.”
Murong Xiao sighed in relief, his face full of joy.
Li Mo: “…Thanks.”
Before they could exchange more words, Shang Wu grabbed Li Mo and hauled him into a carriage.
“Off we go, old boy!”
Shang Wu, in high spirits, cracked the whip on the horse’s rump.
The carriage gradually pulled away.
“Take care, Brother Li!”
Murong Xiao waved goodbye to Li Mo.
Han He, observing this, couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
How does my disciple know Li Mo, and why are they so close?
Oh well, it doesn’t matter.
The Nine Peaks Martial Competition had nothing to do with personal feelings. When the time came, they would still have to compete.
No matter how talented Li Mo was, he was still just at the initial Blood Qi realm. The gap between him and Murong Xiao was clear.
But in the future, that could change…
“Xiao’er.”
“In just over ten days, the new disciples will participate in the sect’s trial. During this time, you’ll practice martial techniques with me every afternoon.”
“Yes, Master.”
…
Deep in the night.
The vast Qingyuan Mountain Range lay in complete silence.
In the large courtyard where inner disciples resided, light still shone from one room.
Xiao Qin held a Xuan crystal, and his cultivation had impressively recovered to the ninth meridian of the Blood Qi realm.
The crystal, originally large, had now turned grayish-white over half its surface.
This wasn’t solely due to his efforts.
“Hah…”
“Ten meridians, I’ve finally returned to the tenth meridian of the Blood Qi realm!”
When Xiao Qin opened his eyes again, even his usually stern face couldn’t help but show a trace of joy.
But immediately after, he looked at the now completely gray and ordinary-looking crystal in his palm, and his expression turned puzzled.
“Did I drain the entire crystal? I shouldn’t have been able to do that…”
«Of course you couldn’t have done it alone. It was due to this old man’s efforts.»
Suddenly, an ancient voice sounded by his ear.
“Who are you?!”
«My name… well, that’s a long story…»
Ten minutes later.
Xiao Qin sat there, both surprised and bewildered.
It turned out that the reason for his cultivation level drop was the jade pendant on his chest.
More precisely, it was due to the self-proclaimed ‘Thousand Forms Martial Sovereign’ old grandfather within the pendant.
If what he said was true, then this old grandfather, at his peak, was far more powerful than even the sect leader of Qingyuan Sect!
Moreover…
The old man said he could be Xiao Qin’s Master, and in return, Xiao Qin would need to help him reconstruct a physical body once he became powerful enough.
«It seems the Seven Star Ancient Jade didn’t choose wrong. You persevered in the martial way for so long without giving up, which finally awakened me.»
The ancient voice carried a tone of approval.
He was very satisfied with Xiao Qin’s perseverance and talent.
«Since that’s the case, I should give you a gift to mark you as my disciple, to prevent any misgivings in your young heart.»
As the words fell…
The Seven Star Ancient Jade suddenly lit up, as if a small opening had appeared.
From it floated out a silk pouch.
«Inside this pouch is a feather from a Flame Phoenix. Although it only contains a trace of true phoenix bloodline, after my multiple refinements, it’s still quite precious.»
«Wear it on your body, and it will ward off evil and nourish your physical form. Its uses are endless.»
Xiao Qin held the pouch, feeling warmth spread throughout his body.
But he still honestly said, “If it weren’t for Junior Brother Li giving me that xuan crystal, I don’t know how long it would have taken to revive you, Master.”
«Xuan crystal?»
The ancient voice clearly paused for a moment, before noticing the now fully absorbed crystal in Xiao Qin’s hand.
«In a barren place like the Eastern Desolate Region, Xuan crystals should be extremely rare and valuable…»
«He was willing to give it to you?»
“Yes, Junior Brother Li is a person of high moral character. Master, I wish to repay his kindness by gifting him this phoenix feather pouch.”
Xiao Qin said with bright eyes.
He thought that with this ancient expert by his side, he wouldn’t encounter too much danger anyway.
But this was still a gift from his master.
Giving it away so quickly wouldn’t be right without his master’s approval.
«It’s good that you have such thoughts.»
«In the future, when you’ve achieved success, you can support him then.»
The old man who claimed to be the Thousand Forms Martial Sovereign didn’t stop him.
He was pleased to see that Xiao Qin was someone who remembered kindness and sought to repay it. Such a person would be more likely to help him reconstruct his body later.
Moreover, someone who could casually give away a Xuan crystal must have some background, at least in the Eastern Desolate Region.
“Support Junior Brother Li?”
Xiao Qin smiled bitterly and shook his head, “He’s a true disciple, while I’m still just an inner disciple.”
He had personally witnessed how talented his Junior Brother Li was.
Mastering the Six Harmonies Fist in one day.
It couldn’t even be described as talent anymore; it was simply monstrous.
«A true disciple, even with the brightest future, would at most become an elder.»
«Qingyuan Sect is just a small sect in a single prefecture of the Eastern Desolate Region.»
The ancient voice paused at this point.
Then, he continued in a meaningful tone: «In the not-too-distant future, you will leave this place and shine in a much broader world.»
«As my disciple, never belittle yourself.»
“I will remember Master’s teachings.”
Xiao Qin nodded, albeit with some hesitation.
«Your lack of confidence is not just in yourself, but also in me, your master.»
«Very well, tomorrow I shall also meet this Junior Brother Li of yours, to see just how brilliant he truly is.»
Seeing through Xiao Qin’s thoughts, the Thousand Forms Martial Sovereign couldn’t help but feel a bit curious.
But quickly, he brought the conversation back to the main topic.
«The heart method you’ve been practicing isn’t quite suitable for you.»
«Listen carefully, I will pass on to you a scripture called the Dark Abyss Heart Sutra.»
«Thank you, Master!»
Xiao Qin focused his attention.
Moments later, the Thousand Forms Martial Sovereign fell silent, seemingly returning to his slumber within the jade pendant.
Xiao Qin tucked the silk pouch into his clothes and diligently began practicing the newly learned heart method.
…