Blade - Unbound

"Baxian Terrace?" Li Yan pondered for a moment before nodding. "It is indeed quite far away, but as long as there's a spiritual node there, the extra effort is worth it."

Mountain climbing in the Great Xuan Dynasty was nothing like it had been in his previous life. Back then, every famous mountain and scenic destination had been developed. No matter how remote or dangerous a place was, it would always be crowded with tourists. Those unwilling to walk could simply take a cable car up and down in a day. Those willing to hike had broad mountain paths waiting for them, the only price being a bit of wear and tear on their knees.

With the aid of modern technology, even Mount Everest had become overcrowded. The only real danger was the various scams lurking around tourist attractions.

The Jin Sect's Ghost and Spirit Swindles, the Yan Sect's Honey Traps, the Ma Sect's Fake Antiques, the Feng Sect's Immortal Con Games... The names changed, but the tricks remained the same.

Things were different in this life. Every road and cliffside walkway had been carved out through human sacrifice. Many locations were practically death zones, not to mention the wild beasts roaming the mountains.

Baxian Terrace could be considered the highest point in the east of the Divine Continent. The journey would undoubtedly be difficult, but since it already had a name, that meant a route existed.

"Well..." Hearing Li Yan's answer, Steward Bai hesitated before turning to Yu Linzi. "Junior Brother may not know this, but distance isn't the main problem. Back in the sixth month of the year, melting ice near Baxian Terrace caused a rockslide. Two spiritual nodes were exposed, but because the location was remote and the observatory was still under construction, we never had time to reinforce or develop the site.

"Later, when we finally had some spare time, I sent Junior Brother Yu Xiangzi and several others to investigate how the area should be arranged. There, they discovered several corpses, all of them pilgrims whose curiosity led them to explore Baxian Terrace."

Yu Linzi looked surprised and shook his head. "That happened? I've been occupied every day with morning and evening lessons lately, and helping Master record astronomical observations. I haven't paid much attention to palace affairs. Senior Brother, how did those pilgrims die?"

Steward Bai started, "They were killed by a demon..."

Before he could finish, Sha Lifei exclaimed in shock, "This is a blessed land and a sacred Daoist sanctuary. There are still demons and evil creatures here?"

Yu Linzi shook his head and explained, "It's not quite that simple. The Divine Continent is blessed with extraordinary spiritual energy. The three great dragon veins crisscross the land, and countless locations exist where innate astral energies naturally form powerful configurations.

"The Orthodox Daoist sects and major cultivation lineages occupy many of these blessed lands. Since they receive support from the imperial court, they also bear responsibility for protecting the surrounding regions.

"However, the mountains are vast. Even with spiritual troops patrolling and searching the ranges, it is impossible to watch every corner. Furthermore, blessed lands naturally attract spiritually awakened creatures seeking cultivation.

“Heaven cherishes all life. Some spirits are naturally kind-hearted and even rescue travelers lost in the mountains. Such beings cannot simply be slaughtered. However, others are extremely vicious, and capturing them becomes our responsibility."

Turning to Steward Bai, he asked, "Senior Brother, what kind of creature is it?"

Steward Bai replied gravely, "A mutated earth centipede. It's quite large, capable of burrowing underground and concealing its aura. It seems to enjoy feeding on human blood essence.

"The creature is also exceptionally cunning. Several junior brothers established ritual altars and deployed spiritual troops to hunt it, but it simply hid itself. We stationed guards there for days without even catching a glimpse of it.

"Now that the Winter Solstice Grand Ritual is approaching, manpower is stretched thin. We don't have people to spare for constant surveillance, so I reported the matter to Chang'an. They dispatched a demon hunter to deal with it.

"People like them are far better at handling this sort of monster."

A demon hunter?

Li Yan and Wang Daoxuan exchanged glances, and immediately guessed who it was.

After speaking, Steward Bai glanced outside, clearly in a hurry.

Standing up, he said, "That location was never part of the original plan. If you're determined to go, five hundred taels will do, but you have to be careful."

With that, he hurriedly took his leave. The three men were left speechless.

What a guy! Even for a dangerous and remote location they weren’t planning to sell, he still demanded five hundred taels. Steward Bai really seemed desperate for money.

Seeing their expressions, Yu Linzi shook his head helplessly. "That's the situation now. If you ask me, it's better to wait. Recently, several evil entities have been causing trouble in the Guanzhong Plains.

"During this Winter Solstice Grand Ritual, the sanctuaries of Zhongnan Mountain, Mount Li, and Mount Hua will conduct joint operations. They'll dispatch spiritual troops to patrol the Qinling Mountain range, search the ranges, and eliminate evil creatures. After that, the area will be much safer."

Li Yan frowned. "Are the spiritual nodes unusable after the Winter Solstice?"

Yu Linzi nodded. "Heaven and Earth follow their own laws. Spiritual nodes within blessed lands also have cycles of expansion and contraction. After the Winter Solstice, yang energy declines while yin energy rises. Cultivating inside them during that period would actually be harmful. They only return to normal after the beginning of Spring."

Li Yan hesitated before sighing.

Wang Daoxuan suddenly cupped his hands toward Yu Linzi. "Then we'll have to trouble you."

Turning to Li Yan, he smiled. "Don't worry about me. Cultivation has always been like this. If there were no hardships, wouldn't everyone be able to achieve success in cultivation?"

He knew Li Yan was concerned for his safety.

"Very well." After some thought, Li Yan nodded. "Then we'll trouble you. Also, we would like to purchase some incense and ritual implements."

Constructing an inner temple was not merely a matter of meditation. One needed not only a spiritual node within a blessed land, but also the appropriate rituals and supporting spiritual instruments.

Moreover, each successive level became increasingly difficult. Starting from the fourth floor, heavenly treasures were required, driving costs even higher. Fortunately, the first three floors only required ordinary ritual items.

Premium incense, Soul-Guarding Lotus Lamps, talismans, Rootless Water...

Queen Mother Courtyard stocked all of them, and they had been consecrated upon ritual altars year-round. The blessed land and these disposable low-level ritual tools were one of the Taixuan Orthodox Sect's primary sources of income.

A modest amount of silver was enough to purchase everything needed. After spending a night at Queen Mother Courtyard, the three men packed their belongings and, under the guidance of a young Daoist attendant, headed deeper into Mount Taibai.

***

"Be careful, everyone. We're almost there!"

A fierce mountain wind howled across the ridgeline, nearly knocking them off their feet.

The route from Queen Mother Courtyard to Baxian Terrace required first descending one mountain and then climbing another. They saw countless scenic wonders and remnants of ancient ruins whose ages were impossible to determine along the way.

The dramatic changes in elevation brought equally dramatic shifts in temperature. However, those difficulties were manageable. The true challenge began once they reached the higher elevations. The freezing wind there numbed the mind.

Even Li Yan, who practiced martial arts year-round, felt slight tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing. However, the scenery grew ever more magnificent. Boundless mountain ranges stretched endlessly as the sea of clouds rolled beneath them. As they walked across glaciers, moss-covered terrain, and strange geological fault lines, they felt as though they had stepped back into some primordial age.

The guide Yu Linzi had assigned them was one of his disciples, a young Daoist named Dian Shu. If he eventually succeeded in cultivation, he would earn the title Dian Shuzi.

The young Daoist was cheerful and enthusiastic. After being effortlessly charmed by a few words from Sha Lifei, he chatted nonstop throughout the journey.

"Look over there!" He pointed toward a ridge on the opposite mountain. "That place is called the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. Legend says that when the Grand Duke conferred divine titles atop Baxian Terrace, many immortals and gods stood there waiting to receive their appointments."

Sha Lifei exclaimed, "Is that actually true?"

Dian Shu scratched his head and grinned. "It's just a legend. Those events happened far too long ago. Even the Daoist records are vague. Take it as an entertaining story."

As they spoke, a rocky prominence appeared ahead. It looked like a pile of massive boulders stacked atop a mountain ridge. Rubble, soil, and solid ice mixed together, forming a narrow path that led upward toward the summit.

Pointing elsewhere, Dian Shu continued, "The newly discovered spiritual nodes aren't actually on Baxian Terrace itself. They're located in a mountain crevice on the opposite side. Would you like to head straight there, or take a look around Baxian Terrace first?"

Although Wang Daoxuan's lips had turned blue from the cold, he had already adapted to the environment and appeared far more energetic. With a wide smile on his face, he said, "Since we're already here, how could we not visit it?"

The least physically capable among them had spoken. Naturally, Li Yan had no objections. Fortunately, the distance wasn't great.

Despite the slippery ice, it took less than half the time of burning two sticks of incense for them to reach Baxian Terrace. The summit consisted almost entirely of weathered pale stone, which formed the remains of an ancient altar. However, the structure had long since decayed into little more than ruined walls and broken foundations.

Standing there, one could feel how vast the world was. The sky seemed boundless, and the landscape radiated a primordial majesty. As the setting sun illuminated the sea of clouds, countless breathtaking sights unfolded before them.

Surveying the surroundings, Wang Daoxuan nodded slightly. "This place is indeed extraordinary. The terrain gathers and condenses endless energy. Looking down upon the dragon veins from, it may truly have been a site where gods were titled."

Li Yan activated his divine ability, and what he sensed was even more astonishing. Mount Taibai was the highest mountain in the Qinling Mountain Range, and where they stood was the highest point of Mount Taibai itself.

Innate astral qi flowed here from every direction. It felt as though countless divine beings were lifting a ritual altar toward the heavens. The overwhelming force immediately left him dizzy. Quickly forming the Yin Seal, he sealed off his divine ability. Only then did he recover.

Dian Shu laughed, "Benefactor, you really shouldn't use divine abilities here. One of our ancestral masters once attempted to establish an altar and perform rituals here. He nearly exploded the altar, and fainted on the spot.

"This is the seat of the Grand Duke. Even gods retreat before it. It must not be offended."

Li Yan rolled his eyes. "You could have warned me earlier instead of watching me make a fool of myself."

The young Daoist laughed awkwardly in response.

By the time they were done, dusk had arrived. After making a brief circuit of the summit, the group descended before darkness fully fell. They rounded the mountain ridge and arrived on the opposite side.

Dian Shu pointed ahead. "It's over there."

Looking up, they saw two narrow fissures in the mountainside above piles of scattered rocks. The openings resembled giant breathing vents within the mountain itself.

As they walked, Dian Shu explained, "Spiritual nodes in blessed lands are named according to the positions of the Nine Palaces. This location occupies the position of ‘Heaven’ of Mount Taibai. So the two nodes are called Heaven One and Heaven Two..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yan suddenly grabbed him and pulled him backward. A metallic sound rang out as the Guanshan blade leapt from its sheath.

He positioned himself protectively in front of everyone as in the distance, among a pile of rocks, a certain "boulder" began moving. Moments later, the disguise lifted. It turned out to be a piece of camouflage cloth, revealing a certain figure.

On closer examination, they discovered she was the female demon hunter known as Red Yaksha. Her expression remained as cold as ever.

After glancing at the group, she looked toward Dian Shu. "I already told you. Nobody is to disturb my work. Why have you brought people here again?"

The young Daoist looked embarrassed and hurriedly bowed. "Benefactor Luo, these people have come to cultivate and construct their inner temple within the spiritual nodes. They'll only stay for a day. And if the monster appears, they may even be able to help."

"Nonsense!" Red Yaksha's voice carried obvious irritation. "That creature is cunning. It specializes in ambushes. After feeding on blood essence, it won't appear again for several days. The more people present, the more troublesome it becomes."

Dian Shu looked equally helpless. "They've already come all this way. The journey wasn't easy. We can't exactly send them back now. Please don't worry, Benefactor Luo, it'll only be one day. They won't interfere with your work."

Red Yaksha took a deep breath before sighing. "Very well. Then take care of yourselves. If something happens, don't expect me to save you."

With that, she walked to the far side of the rocks and led out a mountain goat hidden there. Ignoring everyone, she headed toward another area, clearly intending to set traps.

Dian Shu shrank back as he chivvied them onward. "Let's go."

As they walked, he whispered, "Please don't take it personally. Benefactor Luo may seem fierce, but she's actually a good person. She's helped many villagers hunt demons and suppress evil spirits."

Since they had indeed interrupted her work, Li Yan and the others naturally had no grounds for complaint. However, soon, their attention was completely drawn to the spiritual nodes.

The so-called nodes were actually caves, but these two caves were unusually strange. Neither extended more than a dozen meters deep. The surrounding walls were smooth, as though naturally sculpted by Heaven itself. A thick layer of solid ice coated every surface.

The moment Li Yan stepped inside, shock filled his eyes. He could clearly sense innate astral qi circulating throughout the cave, intertwining with the yin energy of the earth veins below. The energies surged upward and downward like a naturally formed furnace.

That was a natural formation formed by high concentrations of innate astral qi!

Every force had its origins. Just as mountains possessed mountain force and terrain possessed terrain force, a formation formed a self-contained world where astral qi and killing qi flowed endlessly within.

If an expert used such a place to establish a formation array, outsiders might walk right up to it without ever noticing. The two caves were roughly the same size. One was spacious and open, resembling a stone chamber where everything could be seen at a glance. The other was more winding and contained several areas piled with rubble.

Dian Shu smiled honestly. "Spiritual nodes in blessed lands are considered treasured locations within every sect. Ordinarily, they'd be properly developed with ritual altars, meditation chambers, and various facilities. But manpower has been stretched too thin lately. We'll have to wait until next year to develop this properly. Please make do with them for now."

Li Yan was already eager to begin. "That's fine."

Turning toward Wang Daoxuan, he asked, "Daoist, who should go first?"

"You should." Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard and smiled. "It is relatively simple to construct your inner temple since you are doing it for the first time. I still need to make some preparations."

Li Yan nodded. "Fair enough."

By the time their conversation ended, the sun had fully set. After eating a simple meal of dried provisions, they began helping Li Yan establish the ritual altar.

The first floor of the inner temple, even when following the strangely powerful Luofeng Scripture, was comparatively simple to arrange. Twelve Soul-Guarding Lotus Lamps formed a circle below, symbolizing the Twelve Earthly Branches. Incense, Rootless Water, and ritual seals were placed to attract and guide innate astral qi.

Once everything was prepared, Li Yan remained inside the cave. Sha Lifei and the others worked together to move massive stones, sealing the entrance.

Simply put, if the spiritual node was a furnace, then sealing the cave was equivalent to closing the furnace door. The ritual itself would ignite the furnace, and allow astral and baleful energies to permeate the practitioner.

Soon, the cave entrance was completely blocked. Sha Lifei and the others would remain outside until after midnight. Only after would they know whether Li Yan had succeeded.

The three men settled at a sheltered spot nearby and lit a campfire. As they warmed themselves, they waited.

Sha Lifei removed a flask from his waist and was about to take a drink when he noticed Dian Shu beside him. Quickly, he handed it over. "Daoist, have a few sips, it'll warm you up."

The young Daoist was obviously tempted but hesitated. "We still have to stand guard. What if that monster appears?"

"No problem!" Sha Lifei grinned proudly.

He pulled two bamboo tubes from his waist and handed one to Wang Daoxuan. Then he laughed. "Little Yan gave us a treasure for protection. Whatever demon or monster shows up will die the moment it sees us."

The bamboo tubes were none other than the Nether Torches that Li Yan had entrusted to them before entering the cave. Demons were merely spiritually awakened beasts. If one of those weapons hit them, they would die all the same.

After hearing Sha Lifei boast about their power, Dian Shu finally relaxed and took a few sips. Almost immediately, his face flushed red.

Wang Daoxuan chuckled at the sight, then a thought occurred to him.

"Little Daoist friend," he asked, "Just what kind of demon is that mutated centipede?"