Chapter 67: The Sensible Tree

That night, Qin Yue instructed Xu Liang to settle all the people from the Ice Abyss together in a single area.

“You’ve interacted with them in the past. From now on, I’m entrusting you with their care.”

Receiving this trust, and sensing the compassion and importance Qin Yue placed on the Ice Abyss people, Xu Liang thumped his chest and promised to accomplish the task. He even took the initiative to confess his past mistakes—“Influenced by the sect’s general attitude, I did many things to them before that were excessive, always thinking myself superior. It was you, my lord, who taught me to understand and learn how to respect others.”

Qin Yue nodded approvingly. “You’ve done well. Starting tomorrow, your monthly resources will be doubled. Raise your cultivation as soon as possible.”

Xu Liang was so moved, tears welled up in his eyes; he nearly fell to his knees to kowtow to Qin Yue. After wandering aimlessly for half his life, he finally felt he had found a worthy master.

With these arrangements in place, Qin Yue did not hurry to meet her fourth sister, Ye Yu, and the others. They were deeply poisoned and would need some days to recover; what they needed most now was rest, and also a little time to digest all that had happened.

Returning to her own cultivation quarters, Qin Yue first took out a transmission stone and sent a “message” to Hu Jiuyan with a spiritual fluctuation, updating her on recent developments. She also sent separate messages to Feng Qianning and Mu Xingruo. However, perhaps because they were in a sealed minor world, the messages might not reach them—she had never received a reply. She decided she’d go down the mountain at the next opportunity.

Afterward, she took out a large quantity of spirit stones, set up a spirit-gathering array, and began cultivating. The spiritual energy within the stones was transformed into a small amount of “spirit essence” and a larger portion of spiritual power, which were split into two streams: one to strengthen herself, the other to heal the giant rat.

Spiritual energy is acquired postnatally, while “spirit essence” is a higher-level, innate source energy that requires advanced techniques to refine and extract. The amount of spirit essence contained within spirit stones is actually far less than that of various spirit herbs and precious medicines, and it’s very hard to draw out with ordinary cultivation methods.

Her Northern Sea Devouring Breath technique, after reconstruction in the giant rat’s world, had already reached the level of an advanced law, nearly an ultimate technique, worthy of being called the Northern Sea Devouring Breath Sutra. It could efficiently extract every thread of innate spirit essence from spirit stones. This method of cultivation was clearly on a much higher level!

This was likely why she considered herself at the twelfth layer of Sweeping Illusions, while Mu Xingruo believed she had surpassed the thirteenth layer.

After the battle with Qiao Cheng, Qin Yue had a much clearer understanding of her own combat strength. Without the help of the little cauldron, she was still no match for someone at the fourth layer of the World-Cleaving realm.

Guiding spirit, drawing essence, sweeping illusions, observing subtlety, and cleaving worlds—World-Cleaving was already the Dao realm, a qualitative difference from the Art realm. Even if she had surpassed the ninth layer of Sweeping Illusions and possessed the peak strength of Observing Subtlety, she was still a whole major realm below Qiao Cheng.

Still, she sensed that the gap was not insurmountably large; with just one more step up, she might be able to fight Qiao Cheng to a standstill even without the little cauldron!

At the banquet just now, Yue Mingxi had personally mentioned Qiao Cheng’s realm. He even recalled congratulating Elder Qiao when he broke through to the fourth layer after being stuck at the third for years—who would have thought he’d die in such a baffling manner?

Ling Chen had blurted out that anyone who practiced demonic arts deserved such a fate, making the atmosphere awkward. But Qin Yue found the young master rather agreeable and clear-sighted.

Now “Liu Tong” was still hiding within the sect, and there were several other old demonic cultivators from the contact list, none of whom Qin Yue intended to spare once her cultivation rose higher!

With these thoughts, Qin Yue calmed her mind completely. With so many spirit stones at her disposal and no concern for cost, a single night of cultivation brought her more progress than others might make in a month.

…

At dawn, she went to visit Qin Xin, Ye Yu, and the others.

They were already awake, and after washing, their spirits were greatly improved compared to their previous haggard, dispirited state. Seeing her approach, their eyes lit up with irrepressible delight.

Xu Liang came over to report, “My lord, they woke up early and wanted to cook, but I stopped them. What they need most now is to get rid of the poison and recuperate. I’ve arranged for a few female disciples to prepare the meals—Sister Tang is very attentive, and they’re all skilled cooks!”

Qin Yue nodded. Then she addressed Qin Xin and the others, “You don’t need to do anything for now. Focus on your recovery. Xu Liang—”

“My lord?”

“Assign two female disciples to teach them reading and writing. Dong Zhuang and the others should learn as well.”

“Yes, my lord, I’ll see to it immediately.”

At this, not only Qin Xin, Qin Zi, and Ye Yu, but even the three other Ice Abyss girls, were left stunned.

Ice Abyss criminals… were allowed to learn to read and write? Were there truly good people in Zhaoyang Sect?

After breakfast, Qin Yue was collected by Chai Shanze.

Vice Sect Master Yue Mingxi had gone so far as to openly challenge Ling Jinsong for her sake, and naturally she intended to repay him. Truth be told, Zhaoyang Sect had medicine gardens in abundance—its foundations were just too deep! She would observe further, but if Yue Mingxi could truly be won over, perhaps there was no need to take advantage of him. In fact, helping him become an even stronger ally might not be a bad idea.

…

Returning to Yue Mingxi’s domain, the vice sect master greeted her with a broad smile.

“Elder Qin, sorry to trouble you again!”

“Vice Sect Master, you’re too polite. This is my duty.”

“I can’t accompany you today; I’ve been summoned to a closed-door meeting with the sect master,” Yue Mingxi sighed quietly. “It’s likely about Elder Qiao Cheng’s incident.”

Qin Yue asked, “Was it really the work of an internal traitor?”

Yue Mingxi nodded. “According to current evidence, it’s very likely. We haven’t found the culprit yet… But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

Qin Yue thought to herself that she could protect herself perfectly well, but outwardly she smiled sincerely. “Thank you for your concern, Vice Sect Master.”

“Young man, your greatest flaw is being too polite—too honest! You can’t always be like that, or you’ll be taken advantage of,” Yue Mingxi advised earnestly.

“That won’t happen. I’m only like this with those who treat me well. Anyone who bullies me—I won’t let them off either!” Qin Yue grinned.

Thinking of how Qin Yue had handled Xue Feng, Pang Jia, and the other senior inner sect elders yesterday, Yue Mingxi laughed as well, then took his leave.

Chai Shanze led Qin Yue once more to the medicine garden. He was very tactful—perhaps on his master’s instructions—and waited at the entrance, letting Qin Yue handle matters within.

Qin Yue strolled into the garden and approached the grand Enlightenment Tree.

“Heavens! You’re back again? Won’t anyone save this poor tree? There’s a monster trying to eat me!”

As soon as she drew near, the gluttonous demon tree began “shouting” loudly, shaking so violently that a dozen leaves fell to the ground with a rustle.

“Alright, quit shaking. Any more and you’ll end up a bald chicken!” Qin Yue scolded, then asked curiously, “How do you even know I mean you harm? I haven’t had any such thoughts.”

“You’re lying! You reek of thievery—I can sense from afar you’re no good. So many poor flowers and grasses have been pilfered by you!” the tree retorted.

It truly had become a spirit; its sensitivity was remarkable.

“Little Chacha, you’d best keep your mouth shut. Haven’t you noticed I’m the only one who can communicate with you? If you dare speak out of turn, I won’t hesitate to dig you up and chop you for firewood!”

“Brother, my mistake.”

The Enlightenment Tree surrendered instantly, so quickly it caught Qin Yue off guard.

Qin Yue stepped up to the trunk, examining it top to bottom, and used her Stealing Heaven and Swapping Sun technique for a careful inspection.

Sap was trickling down the trunk again…

If not for the certainty that it was just a tree, Qin Yue might have suspected there was a failed tribulation-crossing human soul trapped inside—it was that human-like. Its intelligence and reactions were far from typical demonkind.

“I’d say you’re suffering from overnutrition…”

“I am, I am! Brother, whatever you say!” The Enlightenment Tree’s mind reacted almost instantly.

“Just keep quiet!”

“Okay.”

Qin Yue hadn’t yet had time to learn more about plants from Old Yu, but her Stealing Heaven and Swapping Sun technique revealed that the tree indeed contained an unimaginably vast reservoir of life force. If she were to absorb it, she had no idea how much her strength would increase.

Within the entire medicine garden, the combined life force of all the Art realm and Dao realm spirit herbs and medicines probably didn’t compare to this tree’s.

This thing had to be an immortal seed!

“The problem is that the vice sect master has treated you too well, giving you the finest soil and the best fertilizers he could find.”

The branches quivered gently; the tree dared not speak but was eager to express itself.

“Go ahead,” Qin Yue invited.

“That Yue fellow treats me well because he wants something—he hopes I’ll regrow an immortal root and help him become a celestial!”

“For someone who’s never been to school, you sure know a lot…” Qin Yue commented drily. “So your issue is clear. You know as well as I do that your life force is overwhelming.”

“I do, I do. My problem isn’t overnutrition or anything like that—it’s that no mundane soil in this world can help me regrow an immortal root and ascend.”

Qin Yue nodded. “You want to ascend?”

“Of course I do! I’m an immortal seed, stranded here by fate, a beauty doomed to a short life—”

Qin Yue cut the chatterbox tree short. “Enough with the dramatics. You have two choices now.”

“I’m listening, brother!” The Enlightenment Tree was quick to comply.

“First, let me extract your excess life force. You’ll quickly flourish again and recover your vigor.”

“Are you sure that’s helping me?” the tree asked cautiously.

“Of course. I’m not done,” Qin Yue said. “And if I get the chance, I’ll help you find real immortal soil… Such a thing exists, right?”

“You don’t even know that, and you claim you want to help me…” the tree grumbled. “Overseas immortal mountains and some forbidden life zones have immortal soil. If you can find an ancient battlefield, you might find fragments fallen from the immortal realm—but not all immortal soil will suit me. You’ll need to look—”

The chatterbox tree went on at length, seriously explaining what soil components it needed and how to find and identify them.

Suddenly, it remembered there was supposed to be a second option and asked.

“What’s the second choice?”

Qin Yue replied, “Chop you down for firewood.”

The Enlightenment Tree said, “Brother, let’s talk this out. It’s just a little life force—go ahead and take it!”