Chapter 144: The Night-Blooming Flower, the Magical Artifact, and Wine

Three days before the Cloudstep Sect’s secret realm opened, the sect replaced the large number of its own disciples originally scheduled to enter with a crowd of wandering cultivators. An upheaval of that magnitude could not possibly escape the notice of the five great sects.

Yin Quan, Zhu Xian, and the others had already braced themselves for questioning. In the end, however, only Madam Duan and Xi Xu of Lesser Yingzhou sought out Zhu Xian to voice their grievances.

Madam Duan was worried that, with so many rough men entering the secret realm, her delicate young daughter might face unforeseen danger. Xi Xu, meanwhile, felt that although the Cloudstep Sect had sent Jiang Yan, it had withdrawn a large number of its own disciples as well. Such half-hidden maneuvering clearly suggested that the sect intended to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight below.

What Yin Quan truly cared about was how the two people from the Talisman Diagram Sect would react.

Pu Pingping made no move. For one thing, he was already at the middle stage of Core Formation. Even if he suppressed his cultivation when the time came, he would still be far beyond those wandering cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, and thus did not regard the Cloudstep Sect’s little maneuver as significant. Besides, something else had disrupted the plans he had made before coming, leaving him somewhat caught off guard.

Qi Xiuning had suddenly broken through over the past two days and had actually succeeded in forming her core.

For someone of Qi Xiuning’s age to successfully form a core was an astonishing achievement. It was a joyous occasion for the Talisman Diagram Sect, but she now had to consolidate her realm and had no time to concern herself with the secret realm. Instead, Pu Pingping had to remain constantly at the side of this junior grand-aunt, answering the difficulties she encountered.

Qi Xiuning’s unexpected Core Formation meant that she could no longer enter the Cloudstep Sect’s secret realm. Pu Pingping found himself inexplicably irritable. When he heard that the Cloudstep Sect intended to let a group of wandering cultivators into the realm, he merely gave a cold laugh and planned to slaughter them without mercy, so as to serve as a warning to the rest.

Hong Jian had settled on entering the sect’s secret realm under the assumed name Chai Xiaohong, but Lu Yanchang was deeply worried.

Hong Jian’s cultivation method was too unconventional, and she lacked effective means of attack. Moreover, this journey into the secret realm had come suddenly, leaving no time to prepare a powerful spirit artifact for her protection. Though Jiang Yan would be accompanying her, anything could happen inside the realm, especially during the period immediately after entering, before the two of them had reunited. Even the Immortal Rainbow Radiance might not prove useful then.

Hong Jian comforted him. “Don’t worry. Among all these Foundation Establishment cultivators, I wouldn’t dare claim that my spiritual sense is the strongest, but it certainly ranks among the best. At worst, I can simply keep out of their way.”

After a pause, she added, “Still, if you have a spirit artifact that can replace my cultivation method and deliver a fatal blow, it would be wonderful if I could borrow it for a while.”

Back when she had been at the Cinnabar Cliff Sect, Hong Jian had found the spirit artifact Moon Surge very convenient and had carried it with her constantly. Later, when Gong Tengfa and the others took her to the Demon-Refining Prison, everything on her person was searched and confiscated. Gong Tengfa had not thought much of the small artifact, and had destroyed it on the spot.

Now that Hong Jian needed a suitable spirit artifact, it was obvious that money alone would not buy one. Jiang Yan would have to find a way.

“A water cultivator’s artifact… That really isn’t easy to arrange. There are too few water cultivators in the sect. Wait…” A sudden idea struck Jiang Yan. He glanced at the sky and said to Hong Jian, “Uncle-Master Guan in the Immortal Garden behind the mountain likes tinkering with artifact refinement whenever he has nothing else to do. He must have something suitable for you. I’ll secretly take you to see him this evening. But we can’t go empty-handed.”

Neither Hong Jian nor Lu Yanchang knew much about Elder Guan of the Cloudstep Sect. Hearing this, they hurriedly asked, “What does he like?”

Jiang Yan smiled. “Uncle-Master Guan likes drinking. Whenever we junior disciples have something to ask of him, we offer him fine wine to put him in a good mood. Ordinary good wine has long since failed to interest him. Ah, it’s getting late. We must think of something quickly.”

Hong Jian and Lu Yanchang exchanged glances. Jiang Yan, however, had already dashed away like a gust of wind, evidently off to find a solution.

Jiang Yan hurried to the mountain gate. The selection of wandering cultivators for entry into the secret realm was already nearing its end. Yet the later it became, the more chaotic the scene grew. Those who had been selected had handed over their spirit stones and submitted their life-and-death pledges, but feared some change might occur and refused to leave. Those who had not yet pushed their way to the front had heard that only a few places remained and were terrified of missing out.

Some shoved, some cursed, and some took advantage of the confusion to strike viciously, hoping to knock everyone around them flat at once. Voices rose in a deafening uproar, and the entire scene descended into chaos.

The Cloudstep Sect had already replaced its earlier staff with several seasoned Foundation Establishment cultivators at the peak of the realm. So long as the wandering cultivators did not cause trouble right in front of them, the sect members pretended not to hear or see anything and did not interfere.

Jiang Yan had grown impatient with the troublesome conclusion of the selection and had summoned several senior fellow disciples to help. When those men saw him return, they were all somewhat surprised.

Without a word, Jiang Yan first asked, “How many are still needed?”

One of the senior disciples glanced at the list. “Only three.”

Jiang Yan squeezed in beside him and said repeatedly, “I’ll do it. I’ll do it.”

The senior disciple yielded his place. Jiang Yan rapped hard on the table and shouted, “Stop making such a racket! There are only three places left. Hurry up! Whoever has thousand-year-old spirit wine or ten-thousand-year-old vintage liquor, bring it forward first. The three best offerings will be selected. The rest of you can go back wherever you came from. Clear out and stop wasting time!”

The crowd erupted with a roar. Quite a few wandering cultivators enjoyed their liquor, but very few happened to have brought genuinely fine wine with them that day. Even the few lucky ones who had been struck by fortune were both delighted and anxious. After all, more than three people had stepped forward, and there was still competition to come.

Those who had brought only spirit stones were even worse off. They had hurried over as soon as they heard the news, only to discover that the good fortune still had not fallen to them. Some complained of unfairness, some refused to leave, and some continued clinging to the hope that the Cloudstep Sect might change its mind.

Jiang Yan ignored them. He pulled over a senior fellow disciple who also enjoyed a drink or two and asked him to help judge the quality of the wine.

The senior disciple leaned closer and asked with a quiet laugh, “Junior Brother Jiang, are you planning to ask Uncle-Master Guan for a favor?”

“You truly are a perceptive man, Senior Brother. Come, help me choose.”

“Haha, all right. Let me have a look. But there are three bottles. Might I have a share of the reward?”

Jiang Yan quickly selected three bottles. True connoisseurs of wine had sealed their spirit liquor in exquisite jade vessels reinforced with magical power, fearful that even the slightest part of its rich fragrance might dissipate. The three bottles looked exceptionally distinguished when placed together, and Jiang Yan was immensely satisfied. After thanking the senior disciple for his help, he registered the three original owners of the wine on the list.

The selection of wandering cultivators was now completely over. Jiang Yan put away the spirit wine and waited for evening, when he would take Hong Jian to the Immortal Garden behind the mountain.

Darkness soon fell. The two of them found an unfrequented path and slipped into the rear mountain without anyone noticing.

Afraid of causing Jiang Yan trouble, Hong Jian asked, “Will your Uncle-Master Guan lend me an artifact? Will he question me about my origins and background?”

Jiang Yan was not entirely certain himself. “Uncle-Master is usually very easygoing. We’ll see how things develop.”

The spiritual energy throughout the rear mountain was so dense that it seemed almost to condense into mist. Walls enclosed the Immortal Garden on every side, and green vines covered the lofty stonework. At this time of year, the vines were blooming with small, star-shaped flowers of every color, while bees, moths, and other flying insects circled among the blossoms.

The immense garden was utterly silent. Even the buzzing flutter of insect wings could be heard clearly.

Hong Jian’s spiritual sense reached only as far as the walls before being blocked. It could go no farther. Someone had evidently placed a restriction there.

After Jiang Yan made certain that no one was nearby, he leaned out and whistled.

A moment later, a parrot with red and green plumage flew over the wall and landed directly on a parasol tree beside Jiang Yan. Lowering its head, it examined Hong Jian and Jiang Yan with bright, intelligent eyes.

Jiang Yan spoke to it. “Lian’er, where is Uncle-Master? Go and announce that your nephew Jiang Yan has come to pay his respects.”

“Master is asleep. He ordered that he is not to receive anyone.”

The parrot named Lian’er was truly extraordinary. If one closed one’s eyes, it was almost impossible to tell that the voice belonged to a bird.

“Whoever heard of someone speaking in his sleep? Stop fooling around and go tell him that your nephew has obtained several bottles of fine wine from the wandering cultivators and has brought them especially as an offering. If he isn’t interested, I’ll drink every drop myself right now.”

Jiang Yan was clearly not falling for that excuse.

Lian’er gave a disdainful snort and declared proudly, “Stop pretending, Jiang Yan. You’ve come to ask Master for another favor, haven’t you? Let me tell you, Master really has been sleeping all day today. Even that woman from the Immortal Rosy Cloud Cave came by, and he refused to see her. Wait here!”

With that, it spread its wings and flew back into the Immortal Garden.

The two waited for a while. Then Jiang Yan’s expression shifted slightly. “Uncle-Master has sent a message. He says we may enter.”

Hong Jian followed Jiang Yan through a side gate into the Immortal Garden. Beneath their feet lay a winding path paved with moon-white pebbles, leading straight into the depths of the flower shadows. Branches drooped overhead, mountain springs tinkled nearby, and several nameless birds beside the water leisurely preened their feathers.

The evening breeze brushed past, carrying the fragrance of flowers and trees. Hong Jian could not help closing her eyes slightly and drawing a deep breath. In a soft voice, she sighed, “Even a true immortal’s dwelling could hardly be better than this. Your Uncle-Master Guan certainly knows how to enjoy himself.”

A laugh came from deep within the garden, followed by an aged voice. “You claim to have come bearing an offering for your uncle-master, yet you brought an outsider with you. Do you really think your uncle-master is so easily deceived? Jiang, you little rascal, tell me honestly. What exactly do you want?”

Hearing the voice, Jiang Yan quickly led Hong Jian toward it. Beneath a large cluster of flowering trees stood a stone table and a reclining chair. Uncle-Master Guan Yibai lay sprawled in the chair, holding a wine jar and squinting contentedly as he drank and admired the flowers.

Jiang Yan approached and gave a casual bow. He placed the wine obtained from the wandering cultivators on the stone table, then bent over with a fawning smile.

“Uncle-Master, that accusation is terribly unfair. These past two days, my master sent me to deal with the wandering cultivators outside the mountain gate. Since I had the opportunity, I naturally made them hand over their best wine. They brought it from far away themselves. Why don’t you take a look?”

Guan Yibai sniffed. “Xigong Wine from the Central Continent. Mm. It has indeed been many years since your uncle-master last tasted it.”

He raised his eyelids and glanced at Jiang Yan, then gave a mocking laugh. “You little scoundrel, if you were truly so filial, you would have left by now. Are you still waiting for your uncle-master to praise you?”

Jiang Yan smiled ingratiatingly. “Uncle-Master, which bottle is the Xigong Wine? Let me pour you a cup first. I’ve barely been inside this Immortal Garden a few times. Today I happened to meet a friend, so I brought her along. Didn’t you mention that there was a celestial epiphyllum here? Where is it? Let us broaden our horizons.”

Guan Yibai lifted a hand and pointed into the distance. “Over there.”

Jiang Yan had asked merely in passing. But when he followed the direction of Guan Yibai’s finger, he was instantly drawn to a celestial epiphyllum several yards tall, and all his attention was captured.