Starting Cultivation During a Trip

The night was cool as water, the lake’s light like a mirror.

A fishing boat drifted by the shore of Pearl Lake, swaying with the chilly breeze, chasing the undulating waves.

Art supplies were strewn messily at the bow, vivid oil pigments splattered everywhere, making this dilapidated little boat appear even more filthy and chaotic.

The painting old man propped his cheek with one hand, beating rhythm with the other. His eyes were half-closed, while the radio played old-style opera singing, its wavering notes echoing in the clear and cold night, mingling with the sound of waves—producing a flavor all their own.

"I await only heaven’s desolation, earth’s end—how could the True Dragon be forced into an ant’s lair..."

The painting old man hummed softly to himself, his breathing slow and deep.

Buzz...

Suddenly, the singing in the radio broke off, replaced by a crackling wash of electronic static.

"Hmm!?"

The painting old man slowly opened his eyes. Ripples began to spread across the surface of the lake all around.

He rose steadily, looking to the sky; his aged brows tinged white arched, and in his heavy gaze a look of grave solemnity appeared.

"Tonight’s sky... is so dark."

The painting old man murmured, his voice drifting into the lake water, slowly dissolving, going who knows where.

...

Qin Ancient Town, One-Person Alley.

In a quiet little courtyard, Qiu Shangqing sat cross-legged, basked in moonlight that seemed to breathe in time with his form’s subtle rise and fall.

Just then, that clear, white moonlight suddenly vanished, as if black clouds covered the moon, as if an abyss had swallowed the stars.

"Hmm!?"

Qiu Shangqing’s eyebrow jerked up, his eyes flew open. He looked up and saw the Great Moon still hanging high in the sky, clear and bright as ever.

"Uncle Shangqing, what’s wrong?"

Beside him, Qiu Buyi also woke from his cultivation. To train by the side of someone in the Celestial Master Realm was a rare experience, an enormous opportunity.

For such a being abides always in Unity of Heaven and Man; to learn from him is to study nature itself.

Seizing such a chance, Qiu Buyi felt his mind open anew; many past mysteries and blockages became crystal clear within this moment.

He was still immersed in it, when he sensed Qiu Shangqing’s state of mind change—like ripples breaking the still lake, growing ever broader, even touching him.

"Black as hell... Why is tonight’s sky so mixed and dark?" Qiu Shangqing said gravely.

"Black? Where is it black?"

Qiu Buyi looked to the sky, completely bewildered.

At this moment, the Great Moon hung high, the stars dotted bright—an unusually pure scene.

"The heavens have changed!" Qiu Shangqing murmured softly.

In this instant, the boundless firmament in the eyes of this Celestial Master Realm expert was mixed black, like a ten-thousand-fathom abyss, as though the nine heavens had sunk to earth; celestial light could not emerge, earth’s light could not rise, all was muddled, and all life thrown into chaos.

...

Jiangbei Province, Zhenwu Mountain.

Behind Nanxuan Palace.

"Immortal Golden Pill buried in sand and dust, all must sooner leave home. Fix all hope on the Longevity road, yet gods and demons come to kill..."

"Gods come to kill, demons come to kill..."

"Hahaha, let them all kill, let it all be empty... empty and hollow... then it will be done... it will be done..."

A bout of crazed howling echoed from the ancient cave behind the mountain, mingled with the heavy clanking of chains. The sound made one’s hair stand on end, scalp tingling.

"Senior Brother Po Jie, Little Uncle is growing more and more deranged."

Under night’s cover, a handsome Daoist looked to the rear cliffs and couldn’t help but speak.

"The Technique Little Uncle cultivates is extraordinary—seeking the Dao through demons, parted from the Divine Demon Holy Embryo... Alas... a single thought astray, and there’s no turning back from endless calamity..." Taoist Pojie lamented, yet in his eyes lurked a trace of admiration.

The path of seeking Dao is long; looking back, but three or five ever persist—through ages past, who has truly gained Longevity?

Even so, some are born to it, die for it, go mad seeking it but never live to find it.

Such madness demands true resolve—pitiful, yet worthy of respect.

"Let’s go!" Taoist Pojie waved a hand.

For now, that ancient cave was the most dangerous place on all Zhenwu Mountain; no one could approach lightly.

Buzz...

Suddenly, a resonant hum rang out from the sheer cliff of Nanxuan Palace—dragon’s song, sword’s song.

"Hmm!?"

Taoist Pojie’s face changed dramatically as he snapped his gaze upward.

Buzz... buzz...

That humming chorus grew ever sharper and more dreadful, accompanied by boulders tumbling from the precipice; in an instant, the whole of Nanxuan Palace seemed to tremble faintly.

"The Pure Yang Magic Sword!?"

Taoist Pojie’s eyes widened wildly with disbelief.

Since Ancestor Lv left the sword at Zhenwu Mountain, the Pure Yang Magic Sword has been passed down for over six hundred years...

This wooden sword, battered by wind and rain, was just a tourist sight to outsiders, never before like today—self-manifesting, wondrously coming into the world.

Buzz... buzz...

The Pure Yang Magic Sword’s vibrations grew ever more fearsome; a terrifying aura made all Nanxuan Palace shudder. Even the howling from the ancient cave fell silent at this moment.

"Senior Brother, what’s happening?" The little Daoist at his side quavered with fear.

At this moment, his legs had gone weak, feeling as though his Spirit Platform at the center of his brow would crack open, his Primordial Spirit trembling beyond control.

"Quick, go call the master!" Taoist Pojie cried out urgently.

This sword was left by Ancestor Lv, a Pure Yang Treasure; once it manifests, it’s never a trifling matter. Only Chu Chaoran on Zhenwu Mountain can truly subdue it.

Whoosh...

Just then, the mountain wind whipped past. Taoist Pojie felt his vision blur—there stood a figure atop the cliff, wide robes flapping in the gale. In this instant, the mighty Zhenwu Mountain seemed to shrink small beneath his feet.

"Master!" Taoist Pojie yelled involuntarily.

"Old friend, calm yourself—for now!"

Chu Chaoran spoke softly, reaching his right hand gently outward.