Chapter 123: Returning to the Ancestral Fold

On the ground, a flash of radiance flickered, and Cheng Xinzhan returned, accompanied by the white mouse.

Shiyiniang and Deng-ge immediately approached. Seeing the white mouse was still there, Shiyiniang’s brows furrowed, her face darkening with a hint of menace. "Xinzhan, did it deceive you?"

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head and smiled. "I have already obtained the fruit pit. I invited Master White to return to Sanqing Mountain to spend his twilight years, and he has agreed."

Shiyiniang’s anger turned to joy. "Spending his twilight years on a celestial mountain—that is quite a windfall for him."

The white mouse smiled but did not retort. It was, after all, Sanqing Mountain; they were certainly not lacking a seven-hundred-year-old ginseng like him.

"Shiyiniang, I have stored the fruit pit within my acupoint. I dare not bring it out for you to see right now, lest it trigger celestial anomalies and invite covetous eyes. I intend to take it back to Sanqing Mountain to plant and nurture. Why not accompany me back? You can observe the divine object closely then, how about it?" Cheng Xinzhan looked at her candidly, stating plainly that he intended to take the pit back to the sect.

Shiyiniang smiled. "I have just finished my duty report and the autumn hunt. I am in a rush to return to Haiqing City to settle some matters, and after that, I must head to Peacock City. Once I reach Peacock City, the road will be shorter, and I shall visit you in Yuzhang."

"That works," Cheng Xinzhan nodded, understanding her meaning.

"Xinzhan, you came all the way through Bohai to see me, gifted me the Wood Essence, and helped me capture the Wood Spirit and succeed in the autumn hunt. I am truly grateful. The celestial mountain is a place of purity, and it would not be proper for me to visit frequently, but White Jade Capital is lively. When you have the time, do come often so I may properly thank you," Shiyiniang said.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and agreed.

With that, Shiyiniang flew into the sky, heading toward Haiqing City.

After watching her depart, Cheng Xinzhan produced a command arrow. Using his hand as a brush, he wrote something upon it, sealed it with a talisman, and tossed it into the void, where it vanished instantly. This was a Sanqing Mountain communication arrow, a technique first taught to him by Daoist Jianxian.

He had no intention of visiting any more friends; he needed to return to his sect immediately. Furthermore, he had requested that the sect send a Fourth Realm expert to escort him. He realized now that his own life was not as valuable as the fruit pit within him. If this sprouted pit could take root at Sanqing Mountain, the sect’s legacy would be secured for another five thousand years. If any accident occurred on his journey home, his own injury would be a trifle, but losing the pit would be an unforgivable sin.

After sending the arrow, Cheng Xinzhan concealed himself and waited.

The sect arrived faster than he expected. Less than an hour later, a streak of light descended from the southeast, manifesting as a human figure.

"Daoist Fu!" Cheng Xinzhan was surprised to see who had arrived and dispelled his concealment.

The newcomer was a vigorous old man with white hair and a silver beard, someone Cheng Xinzhan knew all too well. The sect had indeed granted his request and sent a Fourth Realm master! The man was Fu Shouzhen, the Five Thunders Envoy of the Five Thunders Institute at the Shuji Mountain, also revered as a Grand Elder of the sect, two generations senior to the current Shuji Mountain Master, Zhao Wuji. Cheng Xinzhan had attended his lectures while studying at the Five Thunders Institute.

"Little Cheng, what kind of treasure have you stumbled upon that required me to come and fetch you?"

Cheng Xinzhan smiled mysteriously. "Daoist Fu, let us talk once we return."

Fu Shouzhen smiled, agreed, and cast a profound light that enveloped Cheng Xinzhan, the dog, and the mouse. They transformed into a streak of light and vanished.

***

Sanqing Mountain, Lian Blessed Land, Flat-top Mountain, Sanqing Palace.

The Sect Leader, Ji Hehe; the Deputy Leader of the Pure Yang Hall, Shi Tongxuan; the Deputy Leader of the Primal Yin Hall, Dong Shouren; the Deputy Leader of the Jade Capital Peak, Lu Duxing; and the Master of Mingzhi Mountain, Wen Sukong, were all waiting there.

"Tongxuan, what kind of surprise do you think this lad has for us? What treasure requires a Fourth Realm expert to retrieve?" Sect Leader Ji Hehe asked with a smile.

Tongxuan shook his head. "I cannot predict him. After the war in West Kunlun, he refused to return to the sect; I suspect he was still brooding. This command arrow was sent from Changbai Mountain, right, Duxing? I wonder how he ended up all the way over there."

Lu Duxing nodded. "Indeed. Because it involved Xinzhan and a Fourth Realm expert, the message came directly to me. What kind of extraordinary treasure could there be in Changbai Mountain that the Medicine King Temple failed to discover right under their noses?

"On a side note, Shouren and Sukong, we cannot let Xinzhan run off again once he returns. The people from Longhu Mountain have approached me several times. Their Longhu Dharma Assembly has been delayed for over a year—first due to the Blood God Cult and then the rotation in West Kunlun. Now that the war is over, they insist Xinzhan attend. Out of consideration for his feelings, we haven't told him or forced him to return, but Longhu Mountain has been waiting for half a year. Since he is returning now, it wouldn't do to keep them waiting any longer."

Wen Sukong remained expressionless; she cared little for such things, but she nodded out of respect for the Deputy Leader. Dong Shouren, the Deputy Leader of the Primal Yin Hall in charge of Mingzhi Mountain, had come from Danxia Mountain and had been in seclusion for a decade, only emerging last year. He had yet to meet Cheng Xinzhan, though he had heard the name mentioned often. He nodded as well, though he left room for maneuver, saying, "When the child arrives, we shall simply ask for his opinion."

They did not have to wait long. A flash of lightning appeared, and Fu Shouzhen landed at the Sanqing Palace with Cheng Xinzhan.

Cheng Xinzhan had been carried by Third Realm masters before, but this was his first time traveling with a Fourth Realm expert, and he felt slightly dizzy. After landing, he shook his head, took a few deep breaths, and regained his clarity. Seeing the people in the hall, he knew where he was and immediately bowed. "Greetings, Sect Leader, Grandmaster, and..."

"This is the Deputy Leader of the Primal Yin Hall; you may address him as Leader Dong," Tongxuan introduced.

Cheng Xinzhan acknowledged this and continued, "Greetings, Leader Dong, Leader Lu, and Master."

"Good child, no need for formalities. Sit," Sect Leader Ji Hehe said with a smile.

Cheng Xinzhan sat on a cushion opposite them. The Sect Leader noticed the white mouse and said, "You brought a guest, I see."

Inside the Sanqing Palace, Deng-ge lay obediently on the floor, eyes fixed downward. The white mouse, terrified by being carried by a Fourth Realm expert and overwhelmed by the vast, deep auras of the people in the hall, nearly fainted. Seeing the Sect Leader look his way, he trembled, unable to speak.

Cheng Xinzhan interjected, "Sect Leader, I owe this guest a debt of gratitude for the treasure I found. I brought him back and wish to let him spend his years here at Sanqing Mountain. I ask for your permission."

Ji Hehe nodded with a smile. It was a trivial matter. "See that our guest is well cared for. Let no one say Sanqing Mountain does not know the way of hospitality."

Cheng Xinzhan agreed.

"Xinzhan, is everyone here? Can you tell us about this 'monumental matter' you mentioned in your arrow?"

Cheng Xinzhan, having noted who was present, realized some were missing. "Sect Leader, I believe we should invite the Deputy Leader of Goddess Peak, the Master of Ni Mountain, and the Master of Jade Void Peak."

The group exchanged surprised glances, followed by smiles. This was quite the grand affair. Was this boy planning to turn Sanqing Mountain upside down?

"I will summon them," said Lu Duxing.

Soon, others arrived. The Master of Jade Void Peak, You Weixu, was the first, bowing and taking a seat behind Lu Duxing. The Deputy Leader of Goddess Peak, Su Duyi, arrived second, nodding to the group before sitting beside Wen Sukong. The Master of Ni Mountain, Mao Weigong, arrived last and took a seat at the edge.

"Everyone, our disciple from Mingzhi Mountain, Cheng Xinzhan, has found a treasure while abroad. He claims it is a monumental matter, so let us listen," Ji Hehe said.

Only at Sanqing Mountain would a single word from a disciple assemble all the leaders. Cheng Xinzhan did not disappoint them, and his first sentence was earth-shattering: "I have found a sprouted Ginseng Fruit pit."

"What?!" Even these powerful cultivators could not help but cry out in shock. Everyone leaned forward instinctively. Mao Weigong, who had spent his life tending to flora, nearly jumped out of his seat at the mention of the Ginseng Fruit.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. "Yes, masters. It is a seedling of a Ginseng Fruit tree." He took out the sprouted pit from his storage space.

The moment the pit left his possession, five-colored radiance surged into the sky, and a profound, surging vitality filled the hall. Ji Hehe reacted instantly; with a single thought, the Sanqing Palace emitted a soft, clear light, suppressing the five-colored radiance within the hall. Everyone stared, transfixed, at the pit in Cheng Xinzhan's hand.

"Masters, I believe this was once a complete Ginseng Fruit." His words shocked them further. "I do not know when it fell to the earth, but over long ages, the fruit's essence was absorbed by the pit. The pit then traveled through the earth veins, absorbing their vital energy, and only a few months ago did it sprout in the west of Changbai Mountain.

"I troubled you all because I believe such a divine object requires an environment of the highest quality. I fear we must mobilize the entire sect to create the conditions necessary to keep such a treasure. But even if we have to plow through all of Sanqing Mountain, I believe it is worth it. Once the seedling becomes a tree, it will ensure the prosperity of Sanqing Mountain for ten thousand generations."

The hall fell silent. Everyone stared intently at the pit, their Dharma eyes wide open, their gazes weaving into rainbows. Feeling the absolute silence, the dog stopped breathing.

"Hahahaha!" Sect Leader Ji Hehe suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Great joy! Great joy! Hahahaha! The ancestors have shown mercy! Well done, good child! Ten thousand generations of prosperity!"

Everyone was laughing, some even shedding tears of joy. The laughter seemed more powerful than the five-colored light, nearly lifting the roof of the palace.

"Sect Leader!" Shi Tongxuan suddenly stood, bowed to Ji Hehe, and said, "I resign from my position as Deputy Leader of the Pure Yang Hall. I request to be the guardian of the fruit tree."

The laughter froze. Ji Hehe frowned, thought for a moment, and then smiled in relief. "Very well. It was your disciple who brought the seed back, so I suppose the benefit is yours! I have no objections. Since the other deputy leaders are here, does anyone else have an opinion?"

The other four deputy leaders looked at each other and smiled, pointing at Shi Tongxuan. "The benefit is yours!"

Shi Tongxuan laughed and bowed repeatedly. "Many thanks to you all!"

From that point on, the ten people in the palace never left. Others were summoned to discuss, while Cheng Xinzhan returned the pit to his storage space. Fearing any delay, the entire sect was mobilized. By the next day, major plans had been finalized.

They began moving mountains and clearing ridges to construct Nanping Mountain, connecting the southern ends of East and West Ping mountains. They linked the three ridges, using the Lian Blessed Land, the myriad peaks, and the Shouyin Mountain as connecting points, while channeling the earth veins to unify the energy of the hundred peaks.

They adjusted the positions of the Jade Capital, Yuhua, Yuxu, Dantai, and Toujian mountains, and built two new mountains, Yunzhong and Lixue, to form a Big Dipper formation. They excavated a new river, the Fenji River, starting at Jade Capital Peak and ending at Lixue Mountain, where it turned into an underground river.

They mobilized the "Six Dragons Returning to the Sun" great formation to collect rain and earth water, injecting it into the Fenji River while concealing the activity and sealing the sect from the outside world.

Finally, they built a new mountain in the direction of the Big Dipper, known as the "Five Mansions." It was a low, modest mountain, but underneath it flowed the dark river, and a tunnel led directly to the fire vents of Danxia Mountain. They buried gold essence and jade within, planted exotic trees, and established a formation to absorb the energy of the surrounding ranges.

When a sect with a six-thousand-year heritage acts with full force, nothing is difficult. On the tenth day, the Five Mansions Mountain was completed. The Sect Leader decreed that until the seal was lifted, only the leaders, the Master of Ni Mountain, and Cheng Xinzhan could enter.

On the eleventh day, the five elements of the Five Mansions Mountain were harmonized, and the energy of all Sanqing Mountain’s peaks converged there.

Ji Hehe, Dong Shouren, Lu Duxing, Su Duyi, Mao Weigong, and Cheng Xinzhan arrived at the Five Mansions Mountain. Cheng Xinzhan looked around. The mountain was only a hundred feet high with gentle slopes, but it was brimming with spiritual energy. Exotic grasses were everywhere, though pine and chrysanthemum predominated, giving it an antique charm. As he walked, his movement stirred the thick spiritual energy, turning it into dewdrops.

On a sunny slope, there was a flat area—the "Eye of the Five Elements." Someone was already waiting there. Cheng Xinzhan recognized him immediately: it was Grandmaster Tongxuan.

Ji Hehe walked over and pointed at him, laughing. "It's only been ten days, and I feel your hair has turned darker. Does stepping down from the deputy leadership make you feel so refreshed?"

Shi Tongxuan laughed. "Is there anything more refreshing than being free from the burden of paperwork?"

Everyone laughed and then turned their gaze toward Cheng Xinzhan. Understanding, he walked to the center of the clearing and took out the fruit pit. It glowed with radiance. With the green sprout pointing upward, he pressed the pit into the soil.

Everyone watched, waiting to see if the pit was satisfied or if it would attempt to flee—though the mountain was already sealed by formations.

One breath, two breaths, ten breaths, one hundred breaths. They waited, their hearts gradually relaxing. After a full half-hour, they finally felt at ease. It seemed the massive effort had been worth it; as long as this "master" was satisfied, it was enough.

They prepared to depart, leaving Shi Tongxuan to stay behind.

"Wait, look!" Shi Tongxuan whispered. Though his voice was low, the joy within it was clear.

Everyone turned and activated their Dharma eyes. They saw it: at the base of the pit, three or four tender, white roots were emerging and digging into the soil.

They wanted to roar with laughter but feared disturbing the divine seedling, so they restrained themselves, some letting out low, stifled chuckles. In that moment, the high-ranking cultivators who had moved mountains and diverted rivers were no different from old farmers watching a seed sprout in a field.