Chapter Sixty-Six: Returning Across a Thousand Miles to Seek Familiar Ground

Page 1/3

At the Festival of Awakening in the second month, all things emerge from the Thunder Trigram; thunder signifies the stirring of new life, and so it is called the Awakening of Insects. At this time, hibernating creatures are startled awake by thunder and begin to move about.

Now that the season of rain has passed and spring thunder resounds, all things are renewed with vitality. But one wonders if Peach Mountain, now a notorious place of evil, still sees peach blossoms bloom.

Cheng Xinzhan opened his eyes. After half a month, he had become thoroughly familiar with this new body.

With the underground creatures awakened by spring thunder and rushing about, and after dwelling half a month in the Carefree Cave, it was time for him to step outside.

He still wore his usual attire: the Autumn Water sword at his left, a seal at his right. This outfit reminded him of his travels and also of the white dog he had left behind at the Miao market town. He thought he should go back to fetch the white dog, but this time, with the "Dragon Chariot" speeding his journey, it would only take two or three days rather than a long trek.

As luck would have it, just as Cheng Xinzhan was preparing to leave, a command token suddenly flew before him, and Wen Sukong's voice sounded from within: "If you are free, come to see me."

Cheng Xinzhan accepted the summons and walked toward the Bamboo Stele Pavilion.

When he drew near the bamboo pavilion, he saw many wooden chests of various sizes placed on the ground. A quick glance told him there were probably over thirty.

He came before Wen Sukong, bowed respectfully, and asked, "May I ask, Master, for what reason have you summoned your disciple?"

Wen Sukong looked at him, somewhat surprised, and said, "This is more than just an illusion, isn’t it? Have you begun practicing the art of transformation?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded slightly and explained, "I have indeed begun to study the Transformation Mantra, but it is obscure and difficult to grasp. At present, I only have a superficial understanding and can barely sense a bit of its essence."

From Wen Sukong's perspective, her magical sight pierced through the illusions on Cheng Xinzhan’s surface, and what she saw was not the original bamboo staff, but a vague human figure. His talent for sorcery and his comprehension of magical principles amazed her time and again.

Yet Wen Sukong did not offer special praise. She pointed at the chests on the ground and said, "These are thank-you gifts sent from Redwood Ridge and Azure Dragon Grotto, all for you. What they sent is not limited to these, but although they claim to thank you, their real intention is to establish ties with Mount Sanqing, so most of the gifts are for the sect. I haven’t met those people; they’re being received by the External Affairs Hall, and I can’t be bothered to manage it.

"One more thing: the southern families have agreed on the division of the evil site. I hear the old abbot of Azure Dragon Grotto finally made an appearance. Emei is too far away to have gained much, but several families from the Three Xiang region got a share.

"They even gave that true evil force a name: the Violet Fire Rotten Peach Sha—an evil of the second wood and fourth fire, yin in nature. As for which force is dissipating and dying, there’s been no news. Presumably, it already has an owner who is keeping it secret.

"In truth, you are the first to have absorbed this evil into your body. To say you have gained fortune from disaster is to underestimate the pain you have endured. But honestly, it has saved you the trouble of seeking out an evil force in the second realm.

"Once you refine the true evil within your body into evil water, when you reach the second realm, you can use it directly. This is a newborn evil force of apparently high grade, and since it has long dwelled within you, your flesh has adapted. When you refine it in the second realm, it will be much easier, leaving you free to focus on seeking the Profound Gang force."

Page 2/3

Cheng Xinzhan nodded in agreement; it was indeed so.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

Just then, a loud barking came from one of the large wooden chests.

His eyes lit up, for the sound was familiar. He quickly walked over to the chest, which was sparsely nailed and more like a cage. Upon opening it, he found White Dragon inside.

White Dragon leaped out of the box, circling around Cheng Xinzhan. The dog’s eyes held a hint of confusion—there was no mistaking the voice or the appearance, but the scent seemed just a little off.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and scratched White Dragon's chin. The dog immediately wagged its tail in delight, knowing for sure this was its master.

Wen Sukong watched in some surprise and said, "Did you really keep a dog outside the sect?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. "I passed through a Miao village while traveling, and the villagers gave him to me."

Wen Sukong laughed. "Well, it’s good to have a companion on the path of cultivation. This dog is of fine stock; its bloodline must be distinguished. If you feed it some elixirs and spiritual food, it shouldn’t be hard for it to become a spirit beast."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and nodded; that was exactly his intention.

"All right, take these things away. And since your transformation technique has reached a minor success, you may now begin to study the thunder arts. I’ve written a note for you; take it."

Wen Sukong tossed him a pale green bamboo slip, rolled up into a scroll.

Cheng Xinzhan accepted it, offered thanks, and took his leave.

He summoned his magical power to lift more than a dozen chests, lining them up to trail behind him. White Dragon ran circles around him, afraid that his master might leave him behind again.

Back at the Carefree Cave, he brought all the chests inside.

White Dragon dashed around the cave for a quick inspection, then ran through the bamboo grove outside before returning, content and cheerful. But when he remembered how the people had stuffed him into that wooden box and hadn’t brought along the cloth bundle he’d always used for bedding, he barked indignantly.

Cheng Xinzhan understood what the dog wanted and fetched an old garment of his, worn before he joined Mount Sanqing. White Dragon seized the garment, dragged it to the cave entrance, and lay down beside the door, immediately falling into a deep sleep as if he hadn’t slept for days.

Even in sleep, however, the dog’s ears remained perked, alert to every sound.

With so much to sort through, Cheng Xinzhan was in no rush to leave. He opened the chests one by one. There were spirit herbs and fruits from Redwood Ridge, as well as marvelous pills and elixirs. To his surprise, there was even a manual on refining peach-mud miasma and its poisonous vapors. With the emergence of the true evil, this peach-mud miasma would doubtless become increasingly rare.

Page 3/3

From Azure Dragon Grotto, they had settled the payment for his talisman work at the market, and had also sent him numerous manuals on movement techniques and swordplay—clearly deducing from his previous commissions that Cheng Xinzhan cultivated the physical sword arts.

By the time Cheng Xinzhan had sorted and stored all these items within the cave’s stone recesses, a day had passed.

Rising again, he left the cave, and the sleeping dog instantly sprang up to follow him.

Cheng Xinzhan summoned the "Dragon Chariot" and stepped aboard. White Dragon leaped up as well. Smiling, Cheng Xinzhan patted the dog's head, then soared away from Mount Mingzhi at a measured pace, heading for the Minor Ten Thousand Mountains.

He first visited the External Affairs Hall to cancel his record of absence.

The Daoist at the hall, seeing Cheng Xinzhan’s return, joked that a new evil force had emerged in the south and several sects were fighting fiercely over it—had Cheng Xinzhan witnessed the excitement?

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and shook his head, replying that he had already departed by then.

He then asked about Feng Jihu and Pu Jixuan, and was told they had returned a month earlier than him.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled to himself, thinking that good things did come one after another.

Afterward, he returned to Lantern Street to greet everyone and bid them farewell, saying that he had found a great opportunity on his travels, opened his Heart Palace, and become a true disciple, now heading to Mount Mingzhi to cultivate.

Everyone was surprised, but recalling that Cheng Xinzhan had mastered the six-breath fasting technique, their astonishment faded. They congratulated him warmly and praised his fine dog.

Cheng Xinzhan laughed, saying he would soon reserve tables at the Grand Kitchen and treat everyone to a feast the next evening. All replied with laughter and hearty agreement.

After bidding farewell to Lantern Street, he visited other streets to invite familiar faces, ensuring none would miss the banquet.

Throughout this whole process, not a soul realized that Cheng Xinzhan’s current form was nothing but a bamboo staff.

The second chapter is offered. Seeking monthly votes at the beginning of the month so this book can reach more readers. Thank you all.

(End of chapter)