Chapter Forty-Three: A Fox from the Mountains Comes Knocking

Only one year left!

A Golden Core being could come to exact revenge upon him at any time.

The gap between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment realms is insurmountable. Unless Jiang Sheng can forge his Purple Palace within a year, facing a Golden Core being means certain death!

Gazing at the bright moon in the sky, Jiang Sheng's thoughts were somewhat turbulent.

Even though Jiang Sheng considered his innate constitution and comprehension to be extraordinary, cultivation has always been a matter of gradual accumulation.

Without a monumental stroke of fortune, it would be impossible for him to forge his Purple Palace within a year.

Thinking back, he had achieved Heavenly Foundation Establishment at the age of eighteen, yet it still took him over a year to reach the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

After descending the mountain to travel during his mid-stage Foundation Establishment, it took another two years and more to advance to the late-stage of Foundation Establishment.

With a soft sigh, Jiang Sheng cast away the chaotic thoughts in his mind. No matter what, he had to try.

Every shred of spiritual energy gained would grant him an extra sliver of opportunity.

Just as Jiang Sheng turned around, intending to return to the front hall for secluded cultivation, he suddenly halted.

From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a ball of white, fluffy thing mixed within a snowdrift outside the Taoist temple. If not for his sharp eyes, he truly would have let it slip by unnoticed.

"That is..."

Jiang Sheng narrowed his eyes to inspect it, a trace of a smile unconsciously appearing at the corners of his mouth.

The radiant water curtain shielding the Qingxuan Taoist Temple suddenly parted, and the Taoist in green robes stepped out, walking straight toward the creature.

The creature was cowering within the pristine snowdrift outside the temple. Being nighttime, it was completely inconspicuous under the moonlight.

Jiang Sheng said softly, "This poor Daoist has only been in seclusion for a mere year, yet Mount Qingping has unexpectedly become so lively."

"Come to think of it, I am truly quite curious. Ordinary Foundation Establishment beasts, let alone Purple Palace beasts, would not dare to come and court disaster at Mount Qingping. You, a mere Qi Condensation demon, where do you get the audacity to spy outside my Taoist domain?"

"Hmm?"

This single word startled the little creature so much that its fur stood entirely on end.

The next moment, the little creature spat out a blast of wind and snow, turning to run, but was locked in place by a stream of spiritual power.

Struggling incessantly, the little creature was lifted up by the spiritual power and brought right before Jiang Sheng.

Looking at the white, fluffy little thing in front of him, the smile in Jiang Sheng's eyes grew increasingly distinct: "A white fox?"

"Logically speaking, the mountains are mostly populated by green foxes. Where did a Qi Condensation white fox come from?"

Bai Ying's emotions were deeply complex.

At present, she was being suspended in mid-air by a terrifying Taoist using spiritual power.

Her cultivation was at the Qi Condensation stage, while the other party was at the Foundation Establishment stage; she had no power to resist whatsoever.

The mere thought that she might end up skinned and deboned made Bai Ying's body tremble like a sieve, almost causing her to pee herself from fright.

She never could have imagined that the terrifying Taoist who had been in seclusion for over a year would emerge right now, and that she would happen to run into him on this very day. What kind of ghostly luck was this?!

Thinking of how this extremely handsome Taoist had first killed the notorious Tiger Lord of Mount Qingping, and then slain the River Lord in the Taiping River whom no one dared to provoke, Bai Ying felt as though the man exuded an aura of pure slaughter!

Now, was she going to be killed as well?

Just as Bai Ying was about to faint from terror, another voice suddenly rang out from the forest: "The Daoist priest is a renowned and virtuous sage, and every living creature on Mount Qingping holds the Daoist priest in the utmost respect. I beg the Daoist priest to spare this little fellow."

The voice was soft and gentle, neither cloying nor overly sweet, resembling that of a gentle and poised young lady from a noble family. Hearing it made one's mind and spirit feel entirely at ease, as if encountering a long-lost friend.

However, the smile in Jiang Sheng's eyes had already vanished. With a casual wave of his hand, he withdrew his spiritual power, and the little white fox dropped onto the snow, scrambling in frantic haste to flee back into the forest.

Jiang Sheng gazed toward the forest, standing with his hands behind his back, his voice calm and gentle: "Although this poor Daoist dares not claim to be a sage, neither am I an evildoer. Why would I harbor resentment toward a mere child?"

"However, this poor Daoist still has one matter that remains unclear, and I require Fellow Daoist to explain it clearly."

"And if this concubine cannot explain it clearly?" That voice rang out once more.

Jiang Sheng lowered his right hand, and a three-foot azure sword materialized in his palm: "This sword is three feet and six inches long, pitch-black throughout, entwined with green lotus. This poor Daoist has specially named it Qingping."

"Does Fellow Daoist wish to test the sharpness of this sword?"

Upon hearing this, the voice fell silent for a moment before letting out a forlorn sigh: "Alas."

The soft sigh was lingering and moving, making one feel as though a gentle beauty had suffered a grievance, making them wish to cradle her in their palms and cherish her.

Yet the clarity in Jiang Sheng's eyes remained unchanged: "Spare me these underhanded tricks; do not flaunt them before this poor Daoist."

"You have one breath remaining."

Hearing Jiang Sheng's blatant threat, the person in the forest finally showed herself.

It was not some gentle and delicate beauty, but rather a green fox the size of a grown human.

Following closely beside the green fox was none other than the white, fluffy little creature.

The green fox spoke in human language: "This concubine, Qingman, pays her respects to the Daoist priest."

"Fellow Daoist knows me?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Qingman's eyes were exceptionally expressive, as if a true beauty was casting enchanting glances: "Who living within these twelve hundred li of Mount Qingping does not know the mighty reputation of Daoist Jiang?"

"The Daoist priest beheaded the Yellow Mountain Lord who usurped the main peak the year before last, and slew the River Lord of the Taiping River at the end of last year. Who knows how many evil cultivators and demonic monsters that struck terror into?"

"Although the Daoist priest has been in seclusion for a year and outsiders may have grown forgetful of you, among the creatures surviving within the mountains, who would ever dare to forget the Daoist priest?"

Qingman's voice was melodious and pleasant, recounting Jiang Sheng's deeds as if she were an admiring beauty, naturally winning favorable impressions.

Yet Jiang Sheng merely chuckled lightly: "If that is the case, why come to my dwelling?"

"Mount Qingping spans twelve hundred li and covers the territory of three commanderies."

"You should all know that as long as you do not come to this poor Daoist's place, Mount Qingping is vast enough for you to roam freely, and this poor Daoist couldn't be bothered to interfere."

With a complex expression, Qingman glanced at the cowering Bai Ying beside her and finally revealed the reason behind the matter.

Naturally, Bai Ying was not a native fox of Mount Qingping.

The native foxes of Mount Qingping were all green foxes; Bai Ying actually came from elsewhere and was the child of one of Qingman's older sisters.

Bai Ying had come to Mount Qingping because the territory of Qingman's sister and brother-in-law had been usurped by a black fire snake.

Although Qingman's sister and brother-in-law also possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation, they were only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment and were no match for the powerful late-stage Foundation Establishment black fire snake. Forced to abandon their territory, they fled to Mount Qingping.

Naturally, Bai Ying had followed them to Mount Qingping as well.

These events had transpired while Jiang Sheng was in seclusion, so he naturally knew nothing of them.

The arrival of two Foundation Establishment beings in Mount Qingping naturally greatly increased the strength of the green fox clan.

However, the elders of the green fox clan had also warned them who the true master of Mount Qingping was, and who must never, under any circumstances, be provoked.

Therefore, those two Foundation Establishment beings had remained peacefully within the territory of the green fox clan, rarely approaching the main peak of Mount Qingping, and not even daring to venture near Qingping Town, lest they provoke Jiang Sheng residing in the Qingxuan Taoist Temple.

The creatures of Mount Qingping all knew Jiang Sheng's habits: as long as they did not approach the main peak of Mount Qingping, they could live in carefree ease.

Although Bai Ying had been warned by her parents, she still could not resist the urge to take a look.

To be precise, Bai Ying had actually observed the Qingxuan Taoist Temple from afar for a long time. Discovering that Jiang Sheng remained in continuous seclusion, she had dared to wander over.

After all, the main peak of Mount Qingping occupied the best location, with Qingping Town situated just beyond it. From the main peak, one could perfectly view the fireworks of the mortal world below.

Bai Ying had simply run over to watch the fireworks, never expecting that Jiang Sheng would emerge from seclusion precisely on this day.

"Since that is the case, take this little fellow and leave." Jiang Sheng said as he turned to return to the temple.

"The Daoist priest is willing to let us go?" Qingman asked, somewhat surprised.

Jiang Sheng glanced sideways at Qingman, his voice calm: "You are not heinous evildoers, nor do you have any conflict or dispute with this poor Daoist."

"If I were to kill you simply because this little fellow came to my place to watch fireworks, what kind of spells would I cultivate, and what kind of Dao would I ponder?"

"Leave. In the future, go elsewhere to watch fireworks; this poor Daoist must resume his secluded cultivation."

Seeing that Jiang Sheng intended to return directly to his seclusion, Qingman blurted out, "Does the Daoist priest not wish to know why that black fire snake usurped the territory of my sister and brother-in-law?"

Jiang Sheng paused without looking back as he stepped into the temple, leaving behind a single sentence: "That matter has nothing to do with this poor Daoist, and I care nothing for it. If they wish to continue staying on Mount Qingping, I will not stop them."

Seeing that the radiant water curtain was about to close once more, Qingman hurriedly transmitted her voice: "In the territory usurped by the black fire snake, there is a Jade-Green Lotus!"

Jiang Sheng halted his footsteps.

When Qingman saw Jiang Sheng turn around, the cold detachment in those starlike eyes was finally gone.

"What did you say?"

Hearing Jiang Sheng speak, Qingman quickly answered, "Within the immortal's cave of my sister and brother-in-law lies a hidden grotto-heaven, and within that grotto-heaven, a Jade-Green Lotus still survives."

A Jade-Green Lotus was no ordinary spiritual plant; it was a rare treasure classified among the supreme bounties of heaven and earth.

A single Jade-Green Lotus could vastly enhance a living creature's cultivation base and foundational heritage.

If a water-attribute being consumed a Jade-Green Lotus while forging their Purple Palace, it would increase their chance of condensing a superior divine ability during the breakthrough by ten percent.

As for demonic beasts, the greatest utility of the Jade-Green Lotus was granting them an extra ten percent assurance of ascending to the Purple Palace while mitigating thirty percent of their tribulation fires.

If Jiang Sheng could obtain that Jade-Green Lotus, forging his Purple Palace within a year would no longer be an idle delusion!

Jiang Sheng was tempted.

Faced with such a supreme heavenly treasure, it was impossible for him not to be moved.

Yet Jiang Sheng remained vigilant. At the most critical juncture of his cultivation, he happened to encounter this affair, and coincidentally stumbled upon a heavenly treasure like the Jade-Green Lotus.

Such remarkable luck made it difficult for Jiang Sheng not to suspect its authenticity.

"Such a treasure—why hasn't your green fox clan gone to seize it?"

Hearing this, Qingman wore a bitter expression: "The Daoist priest is unaware; within the green fox clan of Mount Qingping, aside from our elder who is at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, there is only myself at the early stage, while my sister and brother-in-law are also merely at the early stage. As for the elder herself, her lifespan is nearly exhausted and she cannot take action."

So that was how it was. Jiang Sheng felt a sudden wave of understanding.

If things were truly as Qingman described, it was hardly strange.

With their sole late-stage Foundation Establishment elder unable to fight, and the remaining three capable fighters only at the early stage, facing a late-stage Foundation Establishment black fire snake would indeed be tantamount to seeking death.

Jiang Sheng put away the Qingping sword and eyed Qingman: "I will not conceal it from you; this poor Daoist indeed has an interest in the Jade-Green Lotus."

"Yet are you not afraid that this poor Daoist will go and take it for himself?"

At this point, Qingman cast aside her reservations: "If the Daoist priest goes to take it himself, then this concubine, along with my sister and brother-in-law, naturally cannot stop you."

"However, setting aside whether the Daoist priest can even find the location, even if you found it and slew the black fire snake, you would still be unable to open that hidden grotto-heaven."

Jiang Sheng finally broke into a smile: "In that case, this poor Daoist is truly at ease."