Chapter 9: Rabbit Hole

Shen Qi was brought to Wuwang Peak by Jinni.

Wuwang Peak stood in the east, a solitary mountain rising straight and tall, covered in dense forests that concealed a majestic Daoist palace. 

The only path up the peak was an extremely steep, winding stone staircase barely wide enough for one person. 

Without sufficient cultivation to ride a sword, ascending would be impossible for most.

At this moment, Shen Qi was merely an ordinary mortal who had yet to set foot on the path of cultivation, making the climb naturally difficult. 

Suppressing his displeasure, he had no choice but to let Jinni carry him up by sword.

“Our Wuwang Peak is the tallest mountain in all of Profound Ridge. There’s a spiritual vein running beneath it, abundant in qi and beautiful in scenery. Shizun is also lenient with his disciples. Every year during the sect’s recruitment, countless disciples fight tooth and nail just to come here. 

If not for Shizun frequently going into seclusion and rarely accepting disciples, Wuwang Peak would probably be the liveliest place in all of Profound Ridge.”

Jinni chattered away as he flew on his sword, introducing Wuwang Peak to Shen Qi with unmistakable pride.

Shen Qi gazed at the approaching peak and, unusually, didn’t find Jinni’s noise irritating. 

Instead, he seemed lost in thought.

The guardian elder of Celestial Mystery Palace in Profound Ridge was said to be exceptionally talented, a once-in-a-generation genius of the sect. 

Before even reaching a hundred years of age, he had already stepped into the Half-Step Ascension Realm, earning him the title “Starry River Myriad Turns” Xie Cifeng.

Nowadays, Daoist arts were in decline, and cultivation was arduous. 

Aside from the ancient monsters who had clung to life from earlier eras, most cultivators of the newer generation remained in the Mortal Shell Realm or the Forget Dust Fate Realm. 

Except for a handful of outstanding talents, many would never even glimpse the threshold of the Supreme Celestial Realm in their lifetimes. 

As for the legendary Ascension Immortal Realm, it had long become a myth-even Half-Step Ascension cultivators could be counted on one hand.

That Xie Cifeng had reached Half-Step Ascension before turning a hundred was precisely why, despite the current decline of the cultivation world and the weakening of various sects, Profound Ridge still firmly held its position as the leader of the Daoist sects.

It was said that Xie Cifeng was not only proficient in talismanic arts but also skilled in divination, capable of glimpsing the secrets of heaven. 

However, what truly made him renowned across the western lands were his self-created “Three Enclosures Sword Art” and the sword of the same name. 

Legend had it that the Three Enclosures Sword was engraved with the Grand Formation of the Nine Heavens’ Star Constellations. 

When drawn, it could summon the power of the stars-capable of shattering galaxies with a single stroke, splitting the sun and moon with another.

Unfortunately, in his past life, when he had sought out Xie Cifeng in admiration, all that remained of Profound Ridge were ruins.

The eleven guardian elders were said to have sacrificed themselves to mend the Ten Directions Grand Formation, while the sect leader, Sikong Qingyang, had vanished without a trace. 

The remaining disciples were forced to retreat to Langzhou, barely clinging to survival.

Even after gouging out his Heart-Protecting Scale, the Ten Directions Barrier had only held for a mere century.

In this life, with him added to the mix, it would likely collapse even sooner.

A malicious curve tugged at Shen Qi’s lips as he looked toward the towering Daoist palace hidden among the trees.

“This is Celestial Mystery Palace,” Jinni said, sheathing his sword and leading the way. 

“Beyond that bamboo grove lies the residence of the eldest disciple, Hidden Herons in Bright Moon. But Eldest Senior Brother has never liked others getting close-Hidden Herons in Bright Moon has always been his alone. I’ll take you to Fengxing Pavilion first to settle in.”

The unspoken message was clear: Don’t cause trouble, and even if you do, I won’t dare take you there.

Shen Qi tilted his head slightly, glanced over, and twisted the wooden bracelet around his wrist, letting out a quiet tsk in his mind.

This trip really wasn’t a mistake.

Xie Cifeng clearly valued this eldest disciple of his Hidden Herons in Bright Moon occupied the best location on all of Wuwang Peak, situated where spiritual qi converged, serene and secluded. 

The surrounding flora, clearly well-tended, thrived in vibrant abundance.

The more he was told not to approach, the more he wanted to take a peek into the rabbit’s den.

Shen Qi withdrew his gaze without a trace of expression.

Jinni led the person to Fengxing Pavilion but then found himself at a loss. 

Since all affairs of the Celestial Mystery Palace were managed by the second senior sister, he thought it best to call her to make the arrangements.

“Wait here and don’t wander around. I’ll go find senior sister first,” he said before hurriedly rushing off to seek help.

Shen Qi found a seat by the window and gazed down at the grand Taoist palace structures below the mountain, a dark glint flashing in his eyes since he was already here, wouldn’t it be a waste not to explore?

He lowered his head, his pupils transforming into vertical slits like those of a beast, and sent a voice transmission through the wooden bracelet: “If anyone comes, notify me.”

Before the words even faded, his primordial spirit had already left his body, and he strode out with hands clasped behind his back.

Having reached the pinnacle of the Supreme Celestial Realm, as long as he didn’t directly encounter Xie Cifeng, he could roam freely across Wuwang Peak without being detected.

The first place to visit was naturally the rabbit’s den.

Hidden Herons in Bright Moon was located on the southern side of Wuwang Peak, where spiritual energy converged below and a sheer cliff with a cascading waterfall stood behind a place highly suitable for cultivation.

Shen Qi easily broke through the restrictions Mu Congyun had set up and stepped inside.

The layout of this dwelling was as simple as its owner. 

Compared to the lush forests and blooming flowers outside, the interior was rather plain, furnished only with the most basic necessities.

There were plenty of rooms, but all were empty.

Shen Qi examined them one by one, pausing at a room on the eastern side-this one contained daily necessities, likely the rabbit’s den.

Without hesitation, he stepped inside and carefully surveyed the arrangement.

The room was filled mostly with books, the shelves packed to the brim, covering everything from cultivation techniques and swordsmanship to travelogues and miscellaneous writings. 

Shen Qi casually pulled out one and found heavy signs of frequent reading. 

Some even had annotations, though the script was peculiar-similar yet distinct from Western script.

He stared at it for a moment before randomly flipping through a few more books, discovering that all the annotations were in the same script, written by the same hand.

This seemingly honest rabbit wasn’t so honest after all-he had quite a few secrets.

After returning the books to their original positions, Shen Qi turned his attention to the curio shelf.

While others displayed rare and precious collectibles, Mu Congyun’s shelf was sparsely lined with an assortment of gourds.

Curious, Shen Qi opened one and found it filled entirely with fasting pills.

Frowning, he checked another—still fasting pills, fasting pills, fasting pills.

All in different flavors.

After inspecting five or six, he finally found one that didn’t contain fasting pills.

Ah, this one held plum candies.

The kind only mortal children ate.

Shen Qi laughed in exasperation.

“No wonder I never saw him in my past life-Profound Ridge probably didn’t dare let him out for fear he was too foolish?”

His interest waning, he returned the gourds to their places and was about to explore elsewhere when he suddenly received a message from the red falcon.

Back so soon?

The thought barely crossed his mind before his primordial spirit returned to his body.

Just as he lifted his head, Mu Congyun walked in through the door. 

“Shizun has agreed to let you stay on Wuwang Peak. I’ll take you to meet him. If your spiritual roots are decent, you might even be accepted as his disciple.”

As he spoke, Mu Congyun’s eyes seemed to glow faintly, the icy demeanor on his face softening slightly.

Since returning to Wuwang Peak, he had relaxed considerably, his expression now carrying a hint of near-smiling ease.

Become Xie Cifeng’s disciple?

Shen Qi instinctively frowned, but quickly changed his train of thought.

Profound Ridge was the leader of the Daoist sects, and Xie Cifeng was likely to be its next sect leader. 

If he became Xie Cifeng’s personal disciple, the expressions on the faces of these so-called righteous sects when the truth was revealed would surely be quite delightful.

Moreover, Profound Ridge had a long-standing heritage, undoubtedly harboring many rare cultivation techniques and treasures not found elsewhere.

With some time still left before the Fire Essence emerged, he could use this identity to stay and make the most of it.

Having made up his mind, Shen Qi looked at Mu Congyun, his dark eyes appropriately showing confusion and anticipation: “If I become a disciple, can I call you shixiong?”

“Mm.” 

Mu Congyun patiently explained: 

“Shizun has only accepted four personal disciples. The Jinni you’ve met is the third. There’s also second shimei Guan Lingyue and youngest shimei Xiao Guanyin. If you can become Shizun’s disciple, you’ll be the youngest shidi.”

He turned to speak to Shen Qi, not noticing Guan Lingyue and Jinni approaching from the other side.

Guan Lingyue, observing his patient demeanor, curiously asked Jinni: 

“What exactly happened during your trip down the mountain? Dashi-xiong has changed quite a bit.”

Jinni scratched his head in confusion: “Nothing much happened?” 

He pondered: “Maybe it’s because Shen Qi speaks even less than dashi- xiong. When two quiet people meet, one has to talk, right?”

Guan Lingyue shook her head, unconvinced by his explanation.

Having been fellow disciples for years, she knew better than anyone how guarded dashi-xiong’s heart was.

Though she was his shimei, she was actually a year older than him.

At fifteen, her parents had sold her to a brothel to fund her younger brother’s education. 

Unwilling to accept this fate, she escaped when the guards weren’t looking. 

But she hadn’t gotten far before they caught up. In desperation, she ran into dashi-xiong.

Back then, he was only fourteen, dressed in white like a pampered young master from a wealthy family.

She clung to this last hope, begging him to save her.

The young dashi-xiong was even colder than now, like carved jade without a trace of warmth, showing no response to her pleas.

Yet when the brothel guards came to drag her back, it was this same dashi-xiong who drew his sword and stood in front of her.

Later, when Shizun accepted her as a disciple, she learned that Shizun thought dashi-xiong was too withdrawn and had been traveling with him to expose him to more of the world.

Saving her had been his first voluntary interaction with anyone other than Shizun in four years.

Even though he hadn’t responded, he’d stood in front of her.

After returning to the sect, grateful, she regarded him as her savior and tried to repay him, only to find her gratitude caused him great discomfort.

-He disliked close or excessive contact with others.

Shizun said he had unresolved issues that only he could work through.

Guan Lingyue didn’t know what he’d been through, but she stopped disturbing him. 

She focused on managing Wu Wang Peak’s affairs, making it easier for him to live there comfortably.

Now, six years later, they were no longer children, but dashi-xiong remained as aloof as ever. 

If not for Shizun’s requests, he might have stayed forever in Hidden Herons in Bright Moon without emerging.

How could such a person so easily open his heart to someone he’d just met?

There must be some reasons unknown to them.

Guan Lingyue glanced at the silent Shen Qi beside her, noticing certain traits in him that resembled those of the eldest senior brother.

She did not call out to stop the two, but quietly watched as they gradually walked away.

Yet in her heart, she hoped this might be the opportunity Shizun had spoken of.