Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 125 - 121 Returning to the Clan Part 1

Chapter 125: Chapter 121 Returning to the Clan Part 1

Sword Sect of the Pine Forest

Clang... Clang... Clang...

A series of melodious bell sounds slowly drifted down from the mountain peak.

Lin Xin, carrying the Red Flower Sword, stood on a flat boat. The waters of Ming Shui River flowed slowly, just as they had when he had left.

"Villa Master, what is our purpose for coming to the Sect this time?" There was another person on the boat, with delicate features, almost resembling a girl, but he was a young man.

"Hua Ying, this might be the place where you will live for a long period in the future," Lin Xin said softly, gazing at the Sect’s peak while reminiscing about his own life there.

"Live? Do you mean...?" The young man called Hua Ying blinked in surprise, then a look of ecstasy spread across his face.

"You are the disciple our manor has chosen to recommend for admission to the Sect. So, what is there to doubt once you are here?" Lin Xin smiled gently, gazing at him reassuringly.

Hua Ying was the prodigy, burdened with a great vendetta, as mentioned by Ou Yinghong, who joined the manor to seek revenge. Both his temperament and talents were exceptional. To emphasize his significance, Lin Xin had personally brought him to the Sect, separate from the other disciples, hoping that friends and senior mentors within the Sect would take care of him.

Lin Xin paid no heed to Hua Ying’s expression of joy.

With a thrust from the boatman, the small boat slowly moved toward the shore.

As the two disembarked, two youths were already waiting for them on the shore.

Two young boys in white robes waited respectfully by the shore, with a large white basket, resembling a flower basket, next to them.

"Brother Lin, Master has been waiting for you," said the two younger disciples taken in by Master Ji Lu over five years ago. They barely seemed to age, still possessing the appearance of young boys.

"Thank you," Lin Xin nodded. He and Hua Ying lightly jumped into the flower basket. The two boys also stepped in, stood firm, and then cast a Decree with their hands.

A faint glow illuminated beneath the flower basket, and suddenly the entire bottom of the basket exploded with a loud noise, propelling the basket into the air.

Poof.

Within the huge white basket, Lin Xin and Hua Ying clung tightly to the edges, looking down at the ground and Ming Shui River rapidly receding below them. Hua Ying’s face was visibly tense.

"Don’t worry. This is one of our Sect’s special Magic Artifacts for ascending the mountain. It’s very safe," one of the boys said with a smile.

Wind filled Hua Ying’s mouth as he opened it, unable to speak.

Lin Xin shook his head; it was his first time using this device, and he had rarely returned to the Sect over the years.

Thinking that he would soon see Master Ji Lu, he felt a slight contraction in his heart. If the red Spiritual Energy was discovered, the consequences would be severe. His body was now densely covered with numerous Concealment Arrays. It was just a matter of seeing how effective they were.

As the flower basket soared into the air, a burst of white light exploded from its base. Another powerful force propelled the basket toward a peak on the right.

In the air, there seemed to be an invisible line, suddenly sticking to the basket, sliding toward the top of the mountain.

It was as if they were sliding smoothly along an iron cable leading up the mountain.

The four of them stood in the basket, still able to calmly look down at the scenery below.

From the edge of the basket, Lin Xin looked down and saw the white expanse of Tingjian Valley surrounded by countless green forests below. From above, one could still vaguely see many yellow-robed disciples moving in and out of Tingjian Valley, a constant stream of activity.

"It seems the Outer Sect has recruited quite a few disciples," Lin Xin casually remarked.

"Yes, the conflicts with the Demon Sect have been intensifying recently, and the selection criteria have been lowered," one of the boys nodded. "Some days ago, when Master was creating Talismans, someone even tried to offer a gift to let their descendants cultivate in the Cave Mansion, but they were rejected."

"Master’s Cultivation is deeply profound now; indeed, there’s no need for him to bother with such worldly trifles. Establishing the Foundation is critical," Lin Xin agreed.

The boys concurred.

Following the invisible cable, the basket ascended quickly to a peak surrounded by white clouds before plunging downward.

Lin Xin looked around, seeing scattered Cave Mansions and Taoist Palaces thinly spread across the forest, like white mushrooms, faintly visible. Above some Taoist Palaces, one could even see Immortal Cranes soaring up and down.

Taking a deep breath, the cool mountain air, seemingly infused with a trace of Spiritual Energy, seemed to open up his entire chest.

The basket landed firmly.

Lin Xin, carrying Hua Ying, leaped out of the basket, landing in front of a Cave Mansion.

A wave of heat blasted out from the Cave Mansion as if it contained a huge furnace inside. Flickering red lights appeared and disappeared intermittently.

Two yellow-robed disciples guarding the entrance saw Lin Xin and the boys and immediately came forward to greet them.

"The teacher is still making Talismans, please allow me to notify him."

"No need, Lin Xin, come in," the voice of Ji Lu came from inside.

Lin Xin had Hua Ying wait outside while he himself strode alone into the cave.

After turning this way and that for several hundred meters, he finally entered a large, reddish cave.

Inside, a middle-aged man with slightly graying temples was sitting cross-legged—it was Ji Lu. Across from him, with eyes closed, sat a long-haired woman whose dimple at the corner of her mouth was distinctly visible. It was none other than his Taoist partner, You Xuan.

Both were dressed in white robes, with numerous candlesticks densely packed around them on the ground. The candlelight flickered slightly in the cave, emitting waves of intense heat.

"It’s been several years, Lin Xin, you actually remember to visit me," Ji Lu opened his eyes and looked at Lin Xin, "In the past, it was only through letters; what brings you here this time?" With his current cultivation at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, he had not discerned Lin Xin’s real strength; had he done so, he would surely have shown a surprised expression.

"Is Master Uncle practicing dual cultivation?" Lin Xin joked with a smile.

"Looking for death, are you? Little Lin Xin is getting cheekier and cheekier," You Xuan opened her eyes and replied with a twinkle of annoyance. "And here I thought your meeting between Master Uncle and disciple might involve some serious matters, but look at how unserious you are." A blush spread across her cheeks.

"Can Sister You not add ’little’ before my name? After all, I’m also a father now. Give me some dignity..." Lin Xin said, exasperated, as You Xuan at forty still appeared exuberant.

"Not adding ’little’, you are still Little Lin Xin in my eyes," You Xuan laughed. "Alright, let’s get to the point. Do you have some important matters for this visit?"

Ever since she and Ji Lu became Taoist partners eight years ago, they had moved to live together in this current cave mansion.

Lin Xin found a chair and sat down.

"I came here to copy some data on Qi Refinement Realm’s formations for study. I want to see if employing Spirit Jade in formations could work."

"Formations for the Qi Refinement Realm?" Ji Lu sounded surprised, "You don’t have the spiritual energy of the Qi Refinement Realm to activate Spirit Jade; even if you know how to set up the formations, you wouldn’t be able to test them... Have you made some breakthrough in your research?"

"I’m aware of that, but naturally I have my methods. It’s not yet a breakthrough," said Lin Xin casually, "I’m just consulting it; I won’t disclose anything."

"Whether you disclose it or not actually doesn’t matter much. Since you are not a Qi cultivator, the Sect won’t let you comprehend its critical arrays. At most, you’d get some basic, common formations, and even if those are disclosed, they are the basics found in all sects, and thus not a concern," Ji Lu said straightforwardly, tossing over a white token.

"This is my token; you can take it and naturally have the authority to enter the Qi Refinement Formation Loft. Remember to return it to me when you leave."

"Don’t worry, just borrowing it for a while!" Lin Xin caught the token and tucked it into his bosom.

He suddenly glanced at You Xuan’s stomach and his lips curved slightly.

"Looks like I’ll need to prepare a congratulatory gift before long..."

"Not serious at all!" You Xuan couldn’t help but laughingly scold, "How long have I been pregnant?

"Just know to behave well. Quickly leave, so as not to disturb me and your Master Sister’s dual cultivation!" Ji Lu added laughingly.

"Yes, yes, yes." Lin Xin laughed as he exited the cave mansion, pinching the token.

"Hua Ying, follow me."

"Yes, Villa Master." Hua Ying had been chatting intermittently with a few people at the cave mansion, apparently already establishing relationships, which was part of Lin Xin’s purpose in bringing him there.

Upon hearing his voice, Hua Ying quickly followed him.

After respectfully bidding farewell to the boys and the guards, the two followed the side path down the mountain.

This was the Elixir Hall mountain peak. Dotted along the mountain were various institutes and manor caves belonging to older brothers and uncles from the Elixir Hall; one could not trespass recklessly, as accidentally entering a cave mansion’s array would be troublesome.

The two adhered to the proper rules of the pathway through the woods, with the Elixir Hall being serene. Most cultivators were inside their cave mansions practicing alchemy. Lin Xin had also visited the Sword Hall, which was spacious, decked with white jade platforms observing disciples from the Inner Hall practicing swordsmanship, quite different from this serene place.

With the token in hand, Lin Xin confidently continued down the familiar path. After about a half-hour through the valley, he ascended another mountain called Qing Shan, marked by a large stone stele at the entrance stating, "Formation Hall Peak."

A few Qi Cultivators who had just come down met them, chatting and laughing in a dialect Lin Xin couldn’t understand.

After watching these people leave, Lin Xin, leading Hua Ying, continued up the hill without stopping. They passed three differently colored and shaped mountain gate arches, soon catching sight of a majestic black Taoist Palace.

The palace resembled a massive black harmonica. Looking from left to right, the edge was not in sight, only a dense array resembling cave entrances lined up.

In front of the Taoist Palace, there was a giant incense burner ten meters in diameter, from which thick yellow incense sticks emitted thin, pale blue smoke. This smoke lingered long around the Taoist Palace, giving it an aura of ethereal mystique.

At the entrance of the Taoist Palace, various formally-dressed Qi Cultivators occasionally came flying out, some leaped into the palace, others gently landed at the entrance, seemingly waiting for someone.

Two Qi Cultivators, looking like a Taoist couple, walked out with troubled expressions—perhaps they were short of money. A few others exited with expressions of pain, clearly having spent too much.

Lin Xin, with Hua Ying in tow, approached them and told him to stay well outside while he himself took out the token in his hand.

Like the three different colored arches they had passed earlier, this place also had special array restrictions. The entire Formation Hall Peak was protected by four layers of arrays. Without the token and identity registration of an official disciple, it was absolutely impossible to enter or exit.

Lin Xin was accompanied by Hua Ying only because he had Ji Lu’s token. Ji Lu, being a master of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refinement, who had promising prospects for Foundation Establishment, had a status and authority far superior to ordinary cultivators. Naturally, bringing someone into Formation Hall Peak was a breeze for him.

However, it was already special that Hua Ying could enter the Formation Hall Peak; naturally, it was impossible to further take him into the Taoist Palace of the Formation Hall. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote and recommend it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)