Chapter 20: The Primordial Pearl

Over the next month, Ji Chuxue watched Jiang Yan practice every day. With his five-element spiritual roots, extraordinary memory, and keen understanding, Jiang Yan naturally sought to develop himself in every aspect. The cultivation manuals he studied taught him the arts of talisman drawing, swordsmanship, alchemy, beast taming, illusion weaving, and even the craft of mechanical devices.

Outside his daily training, Jiang Yan buried himself in these manuals, his interest particularly piqued by talisman drawing and mechanical arts.

“Senior Sister, does our sect have talisman paper?” Jiang Yan asked Ji Chuxue.

“Yes, but talisman paper must be purchased with spirit stones,” Ji Chuxue replied.

Jiang Yan was speechless yet again! He distinctly remembered that when he took his vows, his master had promised all sect resources would be available to him. Why, then, must he buy them with spirit stones?

Undeterred, he asked, “What about alchemy materials?”

“As long as they’re not exceedingly rare, the sect has them. However, the quantity is limited and you must buy them with spirit stones. Oh, and alchemy furnaces are also for sale.”

Jiang Yan inwardly cried out: Oh swan, why must everything be bought with spirit stones? Is the sect really so stingy?

“Senior Sister, when I took my vows, Master said all resources within the sect were mine to use. Surely he didn’t mean I had to pay with spirit stones?” Jiang Yan asked in a small voice.

“Little brother, Master didn’t lie to you. Everything can be used. He just didn’t tell you that payment is required,” Ji Chuxue replied sympathetically.

Jiang Yan was dumbfounded. His master—a consummate trickster! No wonder he hadn’t seen him for so many days.

“Senior Sister, as you know, I still owe two thousand high-grade spirit stones, and I haven’t earned any yet. Could I buy what I need on credit?” Jiang Yan asked hopefully.

“You can. What do you want to buy?”

“I’d like five hundred sheets of talisman paper.”

“That’ll be two hundred low-grade spirit stones.”

“Good, deal.”

After receiving his talisman paper, Jiang Yan set off to the back mountain in search of materials for mechanical devices. Ji Chuxue watched as he hauled back several large logs, mystified by his intentions. Each night, she saw his shadow inside the thatched hut, tinkering away and chuckling to himself. The hut echoed with clattering and banging noises.

“Hehehe, heaven never shuts all doors. No golden finger? Then I’ll make my own. I truly am the chosen one, hahahahaha…”

Ji Chuxue often overheard her junior muttering to himself. Shaking her head, she left him to his business. Alas, it seemed he might be losing his mind…

She recalled how she once dismissed the mechanical arts in the manuals as useless. Yet seeing her junior’s eyes gleaming with excitement, she found herself bewildered.

Elsewhere, in a forest outside the Profound Spirit Sect, Lin Qi held a compass in his hand, calming his breath as he closely observed the needle’s direction. Strangely, the needle remained steadfastly pointed toward the sect, unwavering.

He sighed helplessly. “It seems I must infiltrate the Profound Spirit Sect to obtain the item. Let’s hope the compass is accurate and the thing is truly inside.”

As night fell, Lin Qi donned black clothing for stealth, attaching an invisibility talisman that would keep him hidden for half an hour. Of course, a cultivator with advanced skills might still detect his presence.

He carefully evaded the patrolling disciples, following the compass’s guidance. When he reached the outside of a side chamber, the compass suddenly stopped.

Delighted, he thought: The item must be inside.

He affixed a clairvoyance talisman and peered within—only to see a pair locked in a passionate embrace. Hastily, he covered his eyes and silently recited: Do not look, do not look!

Shaking his head, he thought to himself: These young people, always lost in romance, never focusing on their cultivation.

Wait—something was off. He thought he recognized the man’s silhouette… Wasn’t that the famously austere Daoist Master Xuanqing?

To confirm, he looked again.

The fervent kiss had already ended.

“You—how dare you! Do you know what you’re doing?” The man in white spoke coldly, his tone accusatory.

Lin Qi recognized his face—it was indeed Daoist Master Xuanqing!

“Master, I… I couldn’t help myself. I admire you deeply. If I’ve caused you distress, I’ll leave of my own accord,” the woman said, tearful, her gaze filled with longing.

“This must never happen again. Today will be as if it never occurred. We are master and disciple—you shouldn’t harbor such feelings. Focus on your cultivation,” Xuanqing said, his voice complex.

He felt conflicted inside. He should have been furious, yet he couldn’t bring himself to anger with this woman.

Had it been anyone else, he would have avoided her the instant she approached. What was happening to him?

Others might miss it, but Lin Qi was no ordinary man—he noticed the female disciple was subtly absorbing Daoist Master Xuanqing’s fortune. Not much, but enough that only a keen observer would notice.

So she possessed the Primordial Pearl…

As Lin Qi pondered how to obtain the pearl, those inside the room seemed to sense his presence.

“Who’s outside?” Xuanqing’s voice carried a powerful pressure.

Immediately, Lin Qi activated a teleportation talisman. He wasn’t about to use a speed talisman—he’d surely be caught.

Xuanqing dashed out, but found no trace of anyone. He scanned the area with his divine sense, but within hundreds of miles, he detected no unfamiliar aura.

“Who could it be? What are they after?” he muttered through gritted teeth.

“Master, where did the thief go? Was he after me?” Lin Ruyan followed, feigning fear.

“Don’t worry. He’s gone. I’ve set up a barrier—no strangers can approach.”

“Thank you, Master!”

“Rest now. Come early for cultivation tomorrow.” With a wave of his sleeve, Xuanqing soared away.

Once he departed, Lin Ruyan returned to her chamber, closed the door, and reinforced the barrier.

She retrieved a spirit pearl from her spatial ring. It immediately expanded, quivering as if in fear—nearly exposed…

“Spirit Pearl, what’s wrong? Why did you absorb so little fortune just now?” Lin Ruyan asked.

The pearl displayed a line of words: Someone noticed.

Lin Ruyan was startled. She had thought only she knew of the pearl’s existence.

Just what was this spirit pearl?

“Spirit Pearl, did that person come specifically for you?”

The pearl displayed another line: Yes. Must not be discovered.

Lin Ruyan’s heart tightened. She needed to hide the pearl well. If only she could learn the intruder’s identity and eliminate him in secret, there would be no more worries…

[Handy Tip: In the cultivation world, spirit stones are divided into low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade. The exchange rates are as follows: Low-grade spirit stones: relatively low value. Mid-grade spirit stone: 1 mid-grade = 100 low-grade. High-grade spirit stone: 1 high-grade = 10,000 low-grade.]