Chapter 642: Martial Uncle Xu Xiaoshou

The immortal crane cries in the courtyard, and the magnificent peaks emerge from the clouds.

The peaks of Si Ling Shan present a spectacular sight, both above and below. At the base, snow blankets the ground, cold and unmelted; at the summit, flowers and grasses thrive, their divine light eternally radiant. Amid the swirling mists, ethereal palaces hover. Though the environment is harsh, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is abundant; though scaling the peaks is arduous, merely gazing upon them is a sacred experience. Thus, at the foot of Si Ling Shan, various spirit-refining forces still gather.

Not for any other reason.

Here, lifting one's eyes reveals the Sheng Gong!

Sheng Gong, the highest academy in the hearts of spirit refiners across the five domains of the continent, a blessed land rivaling Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, and the birthplace of saints. As the saying goes: "In the void of profound clouds at the beginning, Si Ling Shan below is deemed another heaven; the old saint wanders the mortal world, one azure and one yellow marking the immortal sages."

At the foot of Si Ling Shan, countless people have witnessed the continent's legend—the Ban Sheng descending to the world.

Indeed, Ban Sheng exist in this world.

Yet, unlike the Ban Sheng of Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, who stand as supreme enforcers above all, the saints of Si Ling Shan are the closest to the spirit-refining world. They rise from the lowest ranks of spirit refiners, much like climbing the lofty Si Ling Shan, step by step, to reach the pinnacle. Merely hearing of these sacred feats can inspire endless motivation for cultivation.

What's more, at the foot of Si Ling Shan, many have truly seen Ban Sheng descend and receive guidance.

This is why Sheng Gong is Sheng Gong!

On Si Ling Shan, at Lei Ming Feng.

A beam of seven-colored divine light shoots up from Lei Ming Feng through the swirling clouds and mists, vanishing into the heavens. Then...

"Rumble!"

The sky shakes, and thunderous roars echo. Not only can the outstanding talents on the various peaks of Si Ling Shan witness this, but even the spirit-refining forces and travelers at the mountain's base can hear and see it.

"A sacred sign!"

"This is a sacred sign!"

Those newly arrived gaze in awe at the sacred sign, and anyone who can set foot here knows that the constant thunder on Si Ling Shan is both heavenly punishment and the saints' trials.

As for what kind of trials, probably no one knows.

After all, how can ordinary people secretly observe the actions of saints?

Yet, merely witnessing the thunder tribulation's destructive power being halted midway by saintly force creates such a magnificent scene, offering profound insights. The power of tribulation holds great allure for those at the Zhan Dao pinnacle who dare not yet invoke the "Nine Deaths Thunder Tribulation."

Thus, among those hidden at the foot of Si Ling Shan, you might randomly grab someone and find at least one Zhan Dao-level seeker of enlightenment. They come seeking inspiration, hoping for a breakthrough through observation. Some succeed, some fail. Even if the number of failures and deaths is high, for those pursuing the supreme path, it's worthwhile. At least here, they can witness the descent of tribulation power several times a day.

Elsewhere, Zhan Dao is already the peak.

Who would generously allow outsiders to observe and gain insights from their abilities, except in life-and-death battles?

The thunder fades into silence.

Birds and beasts return to normal, flying serenely.

After the cry of the immortal crane, the seekers on Si Ling Shan, having looked up, return to their cultivation, as if such scenes are commonplace.

At Lei Ming Feng, the main peak.

This mountain is the tallest and most majestic, yet it feels quietly serene, as if untouched by humans. However, among the spiritual flowers and exotic grasses towering several to over ten zhang high, and the ancient trees over a hundred zhang tall, stands a uniquely styled thatched cottage.

The cottage is small, with simple white walls but no roof.

—Bai Mao Wu!

The dazzling light of the thunder emerges from here, astonishing the world before vanishing. The legends of Si Ling Shan originate from this, and the sacred signs of Bai Mao Wu are endlessly circulated in the mortal world.

For truly, a Ban Sheng resides here, honored as "Jin Zhao."

His true name is unspoken, but eternally passed down: Long Rong Zhi!

"Squeak."

The white wooden door of the cottage suddenly pushes open, its sound rough and grating. As it opens halfway, it seems to jam; after a couple of forceful shoves, it slams heavily to the ground with a "bang."

"Uh?"

A voice of surprise comes from inside.

The hand pushing the door retracts, and out steps an elderly man with disheveled white hair.

From his unkempt appearance, grimy robes, and hands charred in places yet faintly hiding spots of white, it's clear.

He should have been an elder with flowing white hair, clad in immaculate white robes, exuding an otherworldly aura, with youthful skin despite his age...

But now, everything is the opposite.

"Failed again... uh!"

Long Rong Zhi sighs, but suddenly chokes.

His throat bobs, and he purses his lips.

"Cough, cough..."

He spits out a thick, black, unidentifiable substance, finally feeling some relief. With a wave of his hand,

Saintly force draws in vital energy, transforming it into a spring.

After drinking several mouthfuls, his breathing eases slightly, and he laments,

"Indeed, these pills that haven't undergone thunder punishment, even if I use Jin Zhao Ning Dan Shu to force them open and swallow them before they fail, it's no use."

"The thunder still strikes, the pills are still hard to stomach."

"Even the faint divinity they once had completely dissipates before they can form."

"How to fix this?"

He scratches his head in frustration.

This seems to be a problem that's troubled him for a long time, with no solution in sight.

He stumbles awkwardly for dozens of steps through the nearby charred and broken trees, reaching the area with radiant divine light and tall medicinal herbs, then turns back and enters Bai Mao Wu, lost in thought.

He looks up at the sky.

Bai Mao Wu has no roof, making it easy to see everything outside.

The tribulation clouds are dissipating.

Immortal clouds drift lightly, and the blue sky remains.

A failed furnace doesn't change the world; it only causes a fleeting ripple in this vast realm.

"Hasn't he come yet?"

Long Rong Zhi murmurs.

Just then, the cry of an immortal crane finally reaches his ears.

Outside Lei Ming Feng, amid the divine light, a man in black robes lightly steps off the crane and lands gracefully at the slightly charred doorway of Bai Mao Wu.

This is a middle-aged man with a respectful expression, thick black hair, and deeply set eyes holding sharp, hawk-like gaze.

He has no eyebrows.

Yet, his high cheekbones and brow bones, shadowed and defined, make his fierce features no less intimidating.

"Shizun."

The man bows slightly, his face full of respect.

"Xiao Lin, you're here?"

Long Rong Zhi's face lights up with joy as he waves. "Come in quickly, come in. Shizun has a question for you—about that 'Bao Li Po Sheng Wan', there's a flaw..."

Mu Lin's mouth twitches almost imperceptibly, and he quickly interjects: "Wait."

"Hmm?"

Long Rong Zhi stops and asks eagerly: "Do you have a solution?"

"No."

Mu Lin steps into the cottage and stands to one side, bowing again. "We can research your various pills later; there's no rush. You called me here—must there be something urgent?"

He knows that if he doesn't ask directly, his shizun could keep him here for days, questioning nonstop.

The key is, these trivial matters solve nothing.

Today it's "Bao Li Po Sheng Wan," tomorrow "Chao Ji Chong Xue Dan," and the day after "Yi Ni Ba Yao"...

If shizun could focus this odd curiosity on the path of the Sheng Di, he probably would have advanced centuries ago.

But alas...

Mu Lin feels regretful. Shizun reached Ban Sheng but hasn't progressed in hundreds of years.

Though the Jin Zhao lineage is meant for battle, he seems to have gone astray, pouring all his efforts into alchemy—such a waste of talent!

Yet, this is his shizun, the one who raised him from childhood, like a father.

No matter how senile he becomes, as a junior, Mu Lin can only accept and follow, not oppose.

"Oh."

"It seems there is something..."

Long Rong Zhi furrows his brow in thought for a long time, finally remembering. He fumbles in his robes and pulls out a charred, half-shredded piece of paper from his sleeve. Staring at it for a while, he mutters, "What is this?"

Mu Lin sighs, takes the paper, and examines it. "Sheng Kui Zhi... How did you manage to blow it up like this?"

Sheng Kui wood is one of the most resilient medicinal woods against the Jin Zhao lineage. Even with white flames, it takes half a day to destroy.

Hearing this, Long Rong Zhi perks up with interest.

"Blown up!"

"Bao Li Po Sheng Wan!"

"Yes, that's what I wanted to ask you. Though this pill can't help you reach sainthood, if we can control the divinity, its explosive power could increase several-fold. It could save lives—let's research it..."

"Shizun!" Mu Lin interrupts. "What about the Sheng Kui Zhi? Have you forgotten?"

"Hmm?"

Long Rong Zhi tilts his head, his expression neutral.

Mu Lin sighs: "It's true your eldest disciple left the palace decades ago and hasn't fulfilled his duties, but I'm still here!"

"You don't need to worry about these miscellaneous things; I can handle them."

"But this Sheng Kui Zhi is your only way to contact him. You couldn't have forgotten that, right?"

Long Rong Zhi turns away, looking toward the large bathtub nearby, silent, like a sulking old man.

Mu Lin continues: "All these years, he hasn't sent word or returned to see you—that's wrong. But now that Sheng Kui Zhi has come through, it means something big has happened."

He carefully puts away the charred half-piece of paper and inquires: "You must have read the contents. It's been destroyed now, so I can't see anything. Tell me what it said, and I'll take care of it."

"Nothing much."

Long Rong Zhi doesn't even turn his head.

Mu Lin sighs again. It's hard for him to reconcile this shizun with the formidable figure from decades ago, who would decisively eliminate anyone who crossed him.

Back then, he truly lived up to the name Long Rong Zhi.

Now, he's barely a shadow of that.

But he keeps his thoughts to himself. Pretending to turn away, Mu Lin says: "Shizun, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave?"

"Wait!"

Long Rong Zhi stands up immediately. Seeing his disciple look back, he forces a smile. "The reason I called you is about the divinity maintenance method for 'Bao Li Po Sheng Wan.' Take it back and study it carefully, then tell me your solution later."

"Understood." Mu Lin nods. "Anything else?"

After a pause, Long Rong Zhi sighs.

"Then there's one more small matter... Your eldest disciple might be in trouble. Go investigate. He sent word about a disciple named Xu Xiao Shou in Dong Yu."

With that, he stops abruptly, sits back down, and stares at the pill furnace, as if to say, "That's all—handle it yourself; I'm refining pills."

"Alright."

Mu Lin's lips curve slightly, but he doesn't ask more. He nods and turns to leave.

He already knew his eldest disciple was in trouble; he was just waiting for shizun to mention it, hoping it might melt a bit of the ice in his heart.

As for having a disciple...

"Xu Xiao Shou, is it?"

Mu Lin muses. This is an easy matter—just a word from him will resolve it.

"Smack!"

The wooden door is reinstalled.

Through Bai Mao Wu, Long Rong Zhi watches Mu Lin leave swiftly, his expression turning serious.

In his life, he has only two disciples.

The eldest, Sang Qi Ye, and the second, Mu Lin—both like the flesh of his heart, nurtured from a single spark.

But their paths diverged completely.

He thought the more even-tempered eldest would stay by his side, but that boy left first, even with resentment.

Meanwhile, the one known for his ruthless nature turned out to be the most devoted.

All these years, except for missions, Mu Lin has stayed in Sheng Gong, attending to his needs without complaint or departure.

"Xiao Sang..."

Long Rong Zhi murmurs absentmindedly, then suddenly remembers something. He jumps up and kicks the door flying.

"Sheng Kui Zhi! Give it back to me!"

Mu Lin, riding the crane, doesn't look back: "It's by the door."

Long Rong Zhi pauses, turns, kicks the door panel aside, and sees the charred half-piece of Sheng Kui Zhi lying there alone.

He picks it up like a treasure, carefully tucks it away, and breathes a sigh of relief.

Just then,

"Thud!"

A muffled sound echoes from inside the cottage, and the surrounding temperature soars.

Long Rong Zhi's eyes widen as he realizes that, in his distraction, the medicinal liquid in the pill cauldron has gone out of control.

He tries to rush back and fix it, but with a boom, a beam of divine light shoots into the sky.

Thunder rumbles immediately, shaking the heavens.

A scorched smell spreads instantly around Bai Mao Wu.

"A sacred sign!"

"Heavens, another sacred sign! This time so soon— the saint is blessing us again."

"To hear the Dao in the morning is to die content in the evening."

At the foot of Si Ling Shan, those looking up cheer once more.

"Bai Lian."

"Yes, Shifu."

In your spirit abode, Mu Lin gazes at the man in white robes.

This is his only successful disciple and currently the leader of the Jin Zhao lineage in Sheng Gong.

"Yes."

Bai Lian nods. "Though she's a woman, her will is strong, she endures hardship well, has a combative nature that rivals men, and shows no interest in alchemy. Shifu, rest assured."

Mu Lin nods slightly, his face expressionless.

"I called you here for two matters."

He raises his first finger. "First, go to Gui Zhe Sheng Shan and protect someone named Sang Qi Ye. If you fail, bring me your head."

Bai Lian is startled.

He knows his shifu acts decisively and ruthlessly, but he's never set such severe consequences for a task before!

This "Sang Qi Ye"...

After a moment's thought, Bai Lian finds the name familiar.

"The holy slave?"

His heart skips a beat.

Sang Qi Ye—isn't that the notorious second-in-command of the holy slaves, a major target in the Sheng Shen Hall's recent encirclement of Dong Yu's Bai Ku?

"Yes, your shibo."

Mu Lin says calmly: "Next time, avoid using the term 'holy slave.' If your shizun hears of it, then you... well, end yourself."

"Uh!"

Sweat beads instantly on Bai Lian's forehead. "Understood... But he's a saint— uh, I mean, he's been captured by Sheng Shen Hall. Such a big issue—how can I protect him?"

Mu Lin frowns. "Are you asking me?"

"No, no! I was just curious—it's my responsibility to figure it out. I'll handle it later."

After a pause, he quickly changes the subject.

"What's the second matter?"

In Bai Lian's spirit abode,

"Hua Sou."

"Yes, Shifu!"

A crisp voice rings out.

The young woman, carrying a large pill cauldron, widens her bright eyes, filled with admiration.

Bai Lian closes his eyes briefly, then rubs his ears and looks at the blood-stained cauldron on his disciple's back.

"You killed someone again?"

"No! Shifu!"

Hua Sou says seriously: "Some guy was disrespectful, calling our Jin Zhao lineage's pills rubbish. I refined him a bit, and now he's much more cheerful!"

"Was it your pills?"

Bai Lian sighs.

"Yes!"

Hua Sou's eyes, like blue gems, sparkle as she adds: "It's the 'Kong Ming Dan' you recently taught me. You said the recipe comes from shizun, so it's from the Jin Zhao lineage!"

Bai Lian falls silent.

When she's quiet, this disciple is quite a refined beauty, but her personality...

He probably only sees her behave in front of him.

Bai Lian has heard that anyone in Sheng Gong her age who refuses her pills gets hammered or refined by that cauldron.

He wonders if sending her out is really a good idea.

It shouldn't cause too much trouble; she needs to gain experience anyway. After thinking, Bai Lian decides.

"I have to leave Sheng Gong for a while, heading to Gui Zhe Sheng Shan to meet someone."

Before he finishes, Hua Sou's eyes light up: "How long?!"

Bai Lian: "..."

He gives her a firm knock on the head. "Don't even think about causing trouble! You'll have a task during this time!"

"Oh."

Hua Sou's eyes dim instantly, and she pouts. She hates tasks; she prefers fighting.

"What task?"

Bai Lian pulls an envelope from his robe, hesitates, then hands it over: "Go to Dong Yu, within Dong Tian Jie, find someone named Xu Xiao Shou, and give him this."

"Leave Sheng Gong?!"

Hua Sou's head snaps up, her eyes full of excitement.

"Thud!"

Bai Lian knocks her head again, scolding: "This task comes from your Shishizu Mu Lin—take it seriously. If you fail, you... well, you don't need to come back."

"Don't need to come back?" Hua Sou doesn't grasp the severity and gets even more excited.

Bai Lian's face hardens: "Not coming back means you're expelled from the sect."

"Uh."

Hua Sou freezes, her expression awkward, and asks again: "Who is it? What's the task? Can I look at the envelope? And Dong Yu—where exactly?"

Bai Lian: "..."

"One last time!"

He smacks her head in frustration. "Dong Tian Wang City, find Xu Xiao Shou, and give him the envelope!"

"Oh, Xu Xiao Shou—who is he?"

"Your shifu's shifu's shixiong's only disciple. If you mess this up, you know the consequences?"

Hua Sou is dizzy from the connections and, after figuring it out, exclaims: "My shishu?"

"Your shibo!" Bai Lian roars.

"Oh, oh, oh."

Hua Sou finally realizes the task's importance.

Your shifu's shixiong?

This is tricky!

"Is my shibo from the Jin Zhao lineage? Easy to get along with? Like you, with a good temper, or like shizun, dark and moody? How old is he? Scary? Does he eat..."

"Shut up!!!"

"Oh."

Hua Sou immediately clams up, then peeks through her lips after a while: "How do I find him?"

Bai Lian snaps: "Are you asking me?"

"Oh, oh, that's for me to figure out—it's my task, right!"

Hua Sou pats her chest confidently. "Got it, I'll complete the mission!"

Then, like deflating, her eyes lose their spark.

With no information, how to find him?

"Can't you give me a hint? What if he's like shizun—hard to approach..."

Hua Sou can't help but ask.

Bai Lian sighs.

His own shifu, Mu Lin, didn't give much info—just the name and location.

But to be the disciple of his shibo—that is, his own shixiong, whom he's never met...

He must be quite strong, right?

"Since he hasn't made a name for himself worldwide, he must be low-key."

"But even if low-key, his abilities speak for themselves—at least, he's famous in his area."

"To find him... Dong Yu is vast, but once you're in Dong Tian Jie, a little inquiry should reveal everything."

Bai Lian can't bring himself to be as stern as his shifu Mu Lin, who would send a disciple on a task with no details.

For Hua Sou, besides her combativeness, he's quite satisfied—especially since she has no future in alchemy.

This way, he won't face shizun's nagging as much.

"Go on!"

Bai Lian waves her off, not wanting to say more.

He has his own matters—a task that, if failed, means his head.

Who knows if he'll see this disciple again...

That shibo, Sang Qi Ye...

Sheng Gong affairs are already overwhelming. This trip might not yield results, and upon return, more busyness awaits—right at the cusp of the Sheng Gong trials.

Two words: difficult.

"Alrighty!"

Hua Sou flashes a carefree smile and bounces away.

The large cauldron on her back thumps with each jump, accompanied by faint, muffled groans.

Bai Lian is lost in thought and doesn't notice.

"Be quiet."

But Hua Sou's stern whisper reaches his ears, making him realize.

After a start, Bai Lian erupts in anger.

"Hua Sou, let that person out! Are you trying to refine someone to death? You're out of control!"