Uncanny Immortal 7

Chapter 7

Under the moonlight, by the turquoise water, the two sat facing each other.

“Close your eyes and memorize the incantation—sit in stillness and collect your thoughts, focus your spirit on the void, as if sitting atop a high mountain gazing upon all other mountains and waters, as if lighting a celestial lamp to illuminate the nine hells and nine shades. Once the mind is still, follow the breath naturally…”¹

Mo Jiangxue spoke a line, and Xie Qingzheng silently repeated it in her mind. Although she didn’t fully understand the meaning of the incantation, she committed it firmly to memory.

The incantation was about two hundred characters long. After Mo Jiangxue recited it once, she had Xie Qingzheng repeat it.

Xie Qingzheng had memorized it by rote and, surprisingly, remembered a great deal. When she recited it back, she only made two or three mistakes.

Mo Jiangxue corrected her and had her recite it again. The second time, she repeated it without hesitation, not a single word wrong.

Mo Jiangxue nodded. “Reasonably intelligent.”

Unexpectedly praised by this ice-cold person, Xie Qingzheng’s heart bloomed with joy. She opened her eyes and smiled faintly.

Mo Jiangxue’s gaze was like ice. “Do not move. Focus your spirit and calm your qi.”

Startled, Xie Qingzheng quickly closed her eyes again.

Mo Jiangxue guided her from the side, “Inhale deeply, exhale slowly, banish all distracting thoughts…”

Xie Qingzheng followed her instructions. At first, her mind was turbulent, filled with a jumble of thoughts, making it difficult to empty. But as she listened to the rustling of the bamboo leaves by the pool, her heart gradually grew calm.

Slowly, she felt a cool stream of air enter through her nose, descending slowly down her throat to her abdomen.

Her abdomen grew slightly warm, and that cool stream of air began to circulate slowly within her body. The fatigue and discomfort in her body dissipated bit by bit.

Gradually, the surroundings became incredibly quiet. She could no longer hear any external sounds.

She sat like this for an unknown amount of time, until the crisp call of a bird broke the silence.

She slowly opened her eyes.

The sun was just rising, its light glinting on the surface of the pool.

She stood up, faced the dawn, and took a deep breath.

She smelled the fresh scent of bamboo leaves and felt her ears and eyes were clearer. Her body also felt much lighter, a sensation of ease and freshness she had never experienced before.

Yesterday, she had been groggy and disoriented. Now, after sitting all night without sleep, she didn’t feel the least bit tired or sleepy.

It was truly miraculous.

Mo Jiangxue sat cross-legged on a bamboo branch. She loosely clenched her left hand into a fist, covering her lips as she gave a light cough.

As if nothing had happened, she dissipated the pool of black blood in her palm, then floated down from the bamboo branch and instructed, “Today is the third day of the second month. From now on, you are to come here to cultivate once a month for one year. You must not be lax.”

Xie Qingzheng nodded, then looked at Mo Jiangxue with concern. “Are you… really alright?”

Her face was as pale as paper, and she looked weaker than yesterday. The color of her eyes was light, and she stared at her without blinking, her thoughts unreadable. The seven parts of sickness on her face seemed to diminish the three parts of coldness about her.

“Is there a doctor nearby? I’ll go with you to see a doctor, alright?”

Mo Jiangxue coughed twice more and shook her head. “I’ll take you back to your room first.” The plain fabric of her robe stirred in the wind, and her voice was much softer than yesterday.

Xie Qingzheng had wanted to ask her about her mother and Wen Family Village, but seeing her in this state, how could she dare to say more?

What if she coughs up a pool of blood mid-sentence…

They returned to the guest room from yesterday. Mo Jiangxue left her with a single sentence, “Wait here for a moment,” and then departed.

She left so quickly that in the blink of an eye, she was gone.

Xie Qingzheng recalled her pale face and couldn’t help but let her thoughts run wild: What method did she use to get rid of the poison in my body? Was the cost great? I really hope she gets better soon… We met by chance. I wonder when we’ll see each other again? I hope she’s fully recovered the next time I see her.

She didn’t know where this place was. Out of boredom, Xie Qingzheng raised a hand to touch the cinnabar mark between her brows.

A trace of my mother’s spiritual energy… Does this mean my mother was also a cultivator? The barriers and seals in Wen Family Village, and that Tianxuan Sword, were they also left by my mother?

As she was pondering, the door to the room was suddenly pushed open. A woman with her face veiled in white gauze walked in and said in a cold voice, “Greetings, young lady. Our Sect Master requests your presence. Please follow me.”

The woman’s eyes were like cold stars, her figure graceful. She wore a black and white Daoist robe and carried a long sword and a jade xiao at her waist. She also looked like a cultivator.

Are all the cultivators here this cold and frosty?

Xie Qingzheng followed the woman with a bewildered expression to meet the so-called Sect Master.

On the way, she asked the woman where they were.

The woman answered succinctly, “The Xuanji Sect.”

The Xuanji Sect was situated on the East Sea, amidst vast, blue waves.

Looking around, she saw white mist coiling, verdant mountains, and vast waters. From time to time, the cry of a crane would echo from beyond the clouds, high and resonant, reverberating through the mountains.

The mountains stretched on endlessly, some planted with ancient pines, others with green bamboo. Fine snow drifted down on the mountains, their peaks covered in snow year-round, giving the serene landscape an air of vastness.

Xie Qingzheng had spent many years in the dilapidated Wen Family Village. Even in her dreams, she could not have imagined such an otherworldly, immortal paradise.

The white-veiled woman’s name was Shui Yan. She was the head disciple of the Xuanji Sect’s Master. She was very tight-lipped along the way, not giving anyone a second glance or saying an extra word.

The vast immortal estate was utterly silent, without a hint of clamor. It was so quiet that not even the sound of the wind could be heard.

They arrived at a grand, solemn hall.

Inside the hall, the fragrant smoke of Lakawood incense curled upwards. On the main seat sat a woman in a jade crown and Daoist robe, looking up from a scroll with a gentle smile on her lips.

The woman was beautiful, with a hint of heroic spirit. She carried a horsetail whisk on her back and wore a black and white Daoist robe embroidered with cranes about to take flight.

The most peculiar thing was that her hair was as black as ink, but her two eyebrows were as white as snow.

When their eyes met, Xie Qingzheng’s heart gave a slight jolt.

This person looks so familiar. I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before, but I just can’t remember…

Xiao Wangqing dismissed Shui Yan and walked towards Xie Qingzheng, speaking warmly, “You are a lovely child, with clear and fine features. When I saw you last night, I wanted to take you in. But you are from the Xie clan of the Tianshu lineage and have deep ties to the Tianshu Sect. I could not make the decision on my own, so I sent a message to Sect Master Xie overnight.”

Xie Qingzheng listened, completely bewildered.

What Tianshu Sect? Xie clan lineage? And what Sect Master Xie?

Xiao Wangqing seemed to see her confusion and explained slowly, “Your mother’s name was Xie Fuyun. She was from the Tianshu Sect and was a renowned cultivator in the Xuanmen in her time. She and I were old friends. After she died, I sent people everywhere to search for you. I never expected you to have been sealed away in Wen Family Village along with everything else.”

Xie Qingzheng’s confusion was written all over her face.

She told Xiao Wangqing that she couldn’t remember her past and asked Xiao Wangqing to tell her something about her mother and Wen Family Village.

But Xiao Wangqing just shook her head. “I am not very clear on the details either. I only know that before Wen Family Village was destroyed and your mother’s soul was scattered, a plague broke out in the village, which may have been related to the demonic cult of the wildlands. It is a long story, and even if I told you now, you might not understand. When you are older, I will tell you.”

Soul scattered…

Xie Qingzheng’s attention was completely captured by these two words.

She had heard her aunty say that those who died with unfulfilled wishes or strong resentment could become ghosts and linger in the mortal world.

She had wondered before why the people of Wen Family Village could become ghosts to care for her after they died, but her mother could not.

So not even her soul exists in this world anymore?

Xiao Wangqing continued, “The current Sect Master of the Tianshu Sect is your mother’s junior martial sister. I sent a message to her last night and told her about your situation. She said you can stay at the Xuanji Sect with peace of mind from now on.”

Although Xie Qingzheng was still confused, seeing Xiao Wangqing’s gentle and loving gaze, a warmth spread through her chest. She thought of her aunty in Wen Family Village and couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort.

It turned out that not all cultivators were so cold and frosty.

Xiao Wangqing and Mo Jiangxue were two completely different kinds of people.

Xiao Wangqing often smiled before she spoke, making her seem very kind and approachable. She was especially gentle and concerned towards her.

Her anxious heart gradually calmed down.

On the day she entered the sect, Xiao Wangqing gave her a waist token with her name on it and said seriously, “Zheng’er, although you are the daughter of an old friend, once you enter my sect, all are treated equally, regardless of noble or humble birth, regardless of close or distant relations. I will not show you any favoritism. You will go with your senior sister to the outer sect and begin your training there.”

Xie Qingzheng agreed.

Xiao Wangqing then instructed her, “Your background is very complicated and involves the Tianshu Sect. Not many in the Xuanji Sect know of your origins. If others ask about your background, you must not say much, to avoid complications. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “Qingzheng understands.”

She didn’t really understand why it would cause complications. Was her background not respectable?

On second thought, it was good enough to have a place to stay. As a guest under someone else’s roof, it was better to be obedient and sensible.

Xiao Wangqing smiled. “Good child. From now on, you must cultivate diligently and not disappoint my expectations for you.” She summoned a senior sister.

Xie Qingzheng took the waist token and followed the senior sister to the outer sect.

The senior sister had delicate features and was about seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore a jade xiao at her waist. Walking ahead, she said with a smile in her voice, “Greetings, Junior Sister. My name is Min He. I am the Sect Master’s second disciple and am in charge of new initiates. The Xuanji Sect has a thousand disciples in total. You are the one thousand and first.”

“Greetings, Senior Sister. My name is Xie Qingzheng.”

Min He: “Qingzheng… That name has an affinity with our Xuanji Sect. Junior Sister Qingzheng, follow me. I will take you to Weiming Peak.”

Xie Qingzheng had a habit of remembering people’s voices before their faces.

Senior Sister Min He’s appearance was not stunning, but her voice was both sweet and gentle, and listening to it was incredibly comforting.

Xie Qingzheng followed behind her, passing by pavilions and plank roads.

The cultivators on patrol all wore black and white robes embroidered with cranes. Besides their swords, some had flutes at their waists, some carried seven-stringed qins on their backs, and some held konghou harps…

Xie Qingzheng looked down at her own clothes, which were covered in patches, and felt that she didn’t belong here.

But when those ethereal-looking cultivators saw her, there was no strange look in their eyes. They just smiled faintly and gave a simple nod of acknowledgment.

She didn’t know how to return the courtesy, so she just smiled back.

Min He introduced, “Our Xuanji Sect was formed from the merger of the Tianxuan, Tianji, and Yaoguang sects. ‘Xuanji’ takes one character from Tianxuan and Tianji. The sect’s attire retains the black and white tradition of the Yaoguang sect.”

“The cultivation world is full of sects. The ones with the deepest ties to our Xuanji Sect are the Tianshu Sect, Tianquan Manor, Yuheng Palace, and Kaiyang Sect. Our major sects were born from the same lineage, sharing a common ancestor eight hundred years ago. Although our cultivation methods differ now, we all enter the Dao through the sword, follow Daoism as our creed, and take it as our duty to slay demons and eliminate evil.”

“Our sect has many music cultivators. Junior Sister Qingzheng, if you pass the inner sect assessment in a year, you can choose a musical instrument as your bonded magical weapon.”

Xie Qingzheng suddenly remembered that Mo Jiangxue’s weapons were a xiao and a qin. While unconscious, she had also heard her talking with Sect Master Xiao. She wondered, where in the Xuanji Sect was she?

“The Sect Master and Vice Sect Master live on Zixiao Peak. The Sect Master is in charge of all sect affairs. Vice Sect Master Pei is in poor health and rarely involves herself in sect matters. The other four elders—Gold, Green, Red, and Blue—each manage a peak. Outer sect disciples who have not yet taken a master live on Weiming Peak.”

Min He walked ahead, muttering to herself. The little girl behind her had a soft and gentle voice and seemed very well-behaved. Although she didn’t look like she came from a wealthy family, she had an air of untainted purity. But she was dressed in rags, had not a shred of cultivation, and was even tainted with a good deal of ghostly energy.

These days, with all the chaos of war, the Sect Master often brings back children. Sometimes she picks one from a crowd of displaced refugees, sometimes from a fallen noble family. This little girl was probably also picked up from some refugee camp or a pile of dead bodies…

Min He pondered for a moment and said, “Weiming Peak has four classes: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. They are all new initiates from this year. But most of the students in the first few classes have had fortuitous encounters with immortals since they were young and have been cultivating. Junior Sister Qingzheng, you are a new initiate with no cultivation foundation. You won’t be able to keep up with the first few classes. How about you start by learning the introductory knowledge in the Yellow class?”

Xie Qingzheng said softly, “I will follow Senior Sister’s arrangements.”

Min He said, “No matter where you are, cultivation is the cultivation of the mind. It mainly depends on the individual. Our Xuanji Sect is the sect in the cultivation world that cares least about background. We advocate for education without discrimination and equality in the Dao. Unlike the Tianshu Sect, which, unless one is exceptionally talented, only accepts disciples from famous families, noble clans, or royalty. Those children of wealth and privilege always act superior even in the cultivation world, just like their Sect Master. Oh—never mind.”

Min He remembered the sect rule of “speak and act with caution,” lightly slapped her own mouth, and smiled. “Junior Sister, once your foundation is stronger, I will see about moving you to one of the higher classes.”

Xie Qingzheng said, “Alright, thank you, Senior Sister.”

She thought to herself: This Senior Sister Min He and the previous white-veiled Senior Sister Shui Yan are both high disciples of the Sect Master, yet their personalities are complete opposites. One is warm and cheerful, the other cautious and reserved.

Min He: “When you have free time, you can wander around the various peaks, but of course, only at the foot of the mountains. The areas above the midpoint of each peak are protected by barriers. Without an inner sect disciple to guide them, outer sect disciples cannot enter. Even if you did get in, if your cultivation level is not high enough, it would be difficult to withstand the cold qi on the mountains.”

“Our sect also has a guest elder who lives in the Ten-Li Plum Grove on Ethereal Peak. She lives alone, prefers quiet, and dislikes being disturbed. The entire peak is protected by a barrier. You must not go near it, or you will be repelled by the barrier. Currently, only the Sect Master and Vice Sect Master go to see her each month to discuss the Dao over tea or play qin and chess. I occasionally go with them to collect snow from the plum blossoms for tea.”

Xie Qingzheng nodded and said, “Alright, thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister.”

But in her heart, she thought: Will drinking snow from plum blossoms give you diarrhea… Ethereal Peak, that sounds a bit familiar…

Wait, Ethereal Peak! Jade Water Cold Pool! Isn’t that where I was meditating last night? Could Mo Jiangxue be—

Xie Qingzheng’s voice suddenly rose. “Senior Sister, what is that guest elder’s name?”

Min He turned to look at Xie Qingzheng, seeming a little surprised.

Xie Qingzheng felt she had lost her composure. Her ears burned, and she explained in a small voice, “I was thinking it might be… someone I know.”

The term “elder” sounded like a white-haired, highly respected senior. Mo Jiangxue looked only three or four years older than her. Was she already an elder of a sect?

Min He clearly didn’t believe that this ordinary-looking little girl would know their sect’s guest elder. She smiled and said, “The guest elder’s name is Mo Jiangxue. She is a reclusive cultivator from the immortal mountain of Penglai. She entered the world a year ago and has been roaming the mortal realm, acting as a righteous and free-spirited hero. She once defeated ninety-seven Golden Core stage masters in a single day with her Ninth Heaven Qin and Flowing Frost Xiao, making a name for herself throughout the world. Not many in the cultivation world know her personally, but quite a few know of her.”

It really is her!

Min He seemed to be very fond of Mo Jiangxhe, chattering on endlessly, “Our Elder Mo’s cultivation is unfathomably profound. Everyone says she has a ‘soul of jade and a spirit of ice, the heart of a musician and the courage of a swordsman.’ They even gave her the elegant title ‘Cloud Melody, Flowing Frost.’”

“‘Cloud Melody’ refers to how well she plays the qin, sounding like the celestial music of the heavens. ‘Flowing Frost’ refers to her personal xiao, and also to her as a person, as cold as moonlight, as frost and snow.”

Xie Qingzheng asked, “Senior Sister, will I be able to see Elder Mo often in the outer sect?”

Min He shook her head. “Elder Mo has a solitary nature. She likes to play the qin alone on Ethereal Peak and doesn’t come out to wander much. Whether or not you can meet her in the sect depends on fate. But Junior Sister, I can teach you how to recognize her at a glance.”

Xie Qingzheng: “Um…”

Perhaps that won’t be necessary.

We’ve already met… and even shared a bed…

Author’s Note:

Little Xie: She sounds so strong and amazing. What do I do if I want to become her disciple even more now!

[1] Adapted from the China Taoist Association website, “Taoist Internal Alchemy Cultivation, Part Three: Daoist Arts, Foundation Building.”