Chapter 334 - 212: Qi Blood Second Transformation

Chapter 334: Chapter 212: Qi Blood Second Transformation

Winter had passed, and flowers bloomed everywhere on Cloud Mountain.

Unlike the staggered bloom described in the saying, "In the fourth month, worldly fragrance fades; the mountain temple’s peach blossoms just begin to bloom," the climate on Cloud Mountain was much more like the pleasant areas at its base, thanks to the concentrated Spiritual Qi. In fact, it was even more agreeable.

On a mountain range where it was like spring year-round, when true spring arrived, the slopes were covered in a breathtaking vista of blooming flowers.

However, a cultivation Sect could not be too gaudy. The peaks where the Sword Sect resided had been manicured and cultivated over many years. They were dominated by fresh, pleasant pear blossoms and white magnolias, interspersed with oleander and purple-leaf plums for accent. The overall effect was one of white without being plain; a dignified and proper air that still held a touch of liveliness.

Ruyun Peak was shrouded in thick clouds, rarely seeing sunlight throughout the year. It had fewer flowers but was lush with greenery and teeming with life. One glance was enough to know spring was here.

Xie Yuan opened the gate of his small, cliffside courtyard. His gaze fell upon a sheer precipice. Amidst the drifting white mist, layers of verdant mountains and fields of wildflowers would occasionally reveal themselves, a sight that broadened one’s spirit.

Whenever Xie Yuan grew tired from his cultivation, he only had to push open his gate and look at this magnificent scenery to feel his spirits lift and his fatigue vanish.

A person’s choice of residence likely reflected their personality. Of the four who had entered the Inner Sect from the Outer Sect together, Lin Cheng had chosen a small courtyard on a gentler, grassy slope further back. Lin Zhen had picked an even more secluded dwelling by a stream. This probably had to do with their wealthy upbringings; despite the great changes they had suffered, their natures remained peaceful. As for Pei Yu, he had chosen a spot with strange rock formations, a place few people visited, which suited his cold and reclusive disposition.

And then there was Xie Yuan. He had chosen to live right on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the abyss. Gazing down upon the thousands of mountains and ravines every day truly helped increase one’s grandeur when practicing martial arts.

This choice didn’t quite match his alias Zhang Shan’s persona as a simple and honest person, but of course, no one had noticed such a minor detail. And even if they noticed now, Xie Yuan didn’t much care.

’Several months have passed, and it seems the incident on Sword Peak has been forgotten. Everyone is busy with their own cultivation. No one brings it up. Who has the time to care about other people’s old news?’

Xie Yuan mused.

’Maturity, as they say, is realizing that other people don’t really care about ninety-nine percent of what happens to you.’

’Even though I caused a huge uproar throughout the Sect back then, it was gradually forgotten after those in charge intentionally or unintentionally ignored it.’

Now, Xie Yuan was just an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple. He checked in and practiced his martial arts daily, and no Grandmaster came inquiring after him.

A month ago, some people had whispered about it. Why had a whole round of Grandmasters come and gone without taking him as a disciple? But no one could figure out why. Whether they discussed, teased, or mocked Xie Yuan behind his back, as the days passed, the matter was gradually pushed to the back of their minds.

The disciples’ attention was one thing, but it was the fact that the elders no longer seemed to treat him as someone special that truly allowed Xie Yuan to relax.

’I wonder if all those elders went to argue with the Sect Leader. They all ended up spilling dirt on him, so it seems the Sect Leader wasn’t exactly a simple character in his youth... then again, a simple person probably couldn’t become Sect Leader anyway. But after that, everything really did go back to normal. It’s as if everyone agreed to pretend it never happened.’

Xie Yuan didn’t know if Li Xingtuo had explained something to the elders or if they had all reached some consensus. From the looks of it, he was now truly just an Inner Sect Disciple—harmless, honest, and dutiful, someone the masters didn’t need to worry about.

And Xie Yuan himself was relieved as well.

In this environment, he could finally settle down and train diligently, cultivating himself. Coupled with his gains from the Slaughter Tower, his cultivation progress over the winter had been as swift as the wind in the ravine below.

The Blood Lingzhi truly lived up to its name as a Holy Medicine for replenishing blood, and the Mountain King Ginseng was the king of mountain ginsengs. These two Treasure Medicines, along with his other miscellaneous gains, had comprehensively advanced Xie Yuan’s Cultivation Technique progress.

Most fundamentally, of course, was the fact that his Golden Bell Shield was about to break through to the 5th Layer, which represented the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm.

[Golden Bell Shield: 4th Layer (4960/5000)]

With dedicated closed-door cultivation, he could break through in three days at most.

Xie Yuan had already been in closed-door cultivation for days. He had come out now just to get some fresh air, take a breather, and shake off his fatigue.

"Junior Brother Zhang!"

A familiar voice called out from behind him. Xie Yuan didn’t even need to turn around to know it was probably Lin Cheng, who must have seen him while practicing his swordsmanship on the lawn behind and was now coming over to greet him.

Sure enough, Lin Cheng came running down from the lawn, smiling and waving.

"Junior Brother Zhang, tired from training? Out for some fresh air?"

Just as Xie Yuan had spent the past few months tirelessly training inside his courtyard before coming out for air, Lin Cheng also used nearly every spare moment to practice his Swordsmanship on the lawn in front of his own residence. That was why Xie Yuan saw him almost every time he stepped outside.

Lin Cheng walked to the cliff’s edge and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Xie Yuan. Looking at the thousands of mountains below, he couldn’t help but recite:

"One day I will stand on the highest peak, and see all other mountains as small!"

Among the peaks of Cloud Mountain, Ruyun Peak was second only to the main peak, towering above all the others.

"Junior Brother Zhang, every time I see this magnificent view from your gate, I think you really chose a good spot."

Lin Cheng said with a sigh.

Xie Yuan smiled and said:

"Senior Brother Lin, there’s still a vacant spot on the other side. If you like it so much, why not move?"

Lin Cheng shook his head vigorously.

"Forget it, forget it. If I practiced my sword here, I’d be afraid the wind would blow me right off... Hah, though that might not be a bad thing. Maybe I’d find the ruins of a cave down below and receive the inheritance of a great expert. That’s always a classic trope in the stories."

Xie Yuan chuckled. Funnily enough, he had actually had the same curious thought in his spare time. He had used it as an excuse to practice his Cloud Dragon Step and had already explored the cliff face below.

The Cloud Dragon Step was incomparably exquisite. Forget the cliff here, which wasn’t even completely sheer; he could even scale the towering main peak with it.