飘零影音

Chapter 71 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 71: Planting The Seed of Double-Vein Grass

Translator: Lynn

<<The Start of Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate>>

One day later, Xu Ziqing returned to the Loose Cultivator Alliance.

Upon seeing the young master’s return, Qingfeng and Miaoyue was overjoyed and immediately prepared wine and food to welcome Xu Ziqing. After their meal, Xu Ziqing asked Chonghua to practice outside while he entered the cultivation room.

Seated cross-legged on the futon, Xu Ziqing opened his left palm, revealing a packet of seeds.

These seeds came in two colors: light yellow and milky white. They were the seeds of golden grass and silver grass, the Double-Vein Grass obtained from the Wang family.

After leaving Shanyanling the previous day, Xu Ziqing visited the Wang family. Unexpectedly, the Gui Yin-Yang sisters were still there, waiting for him at Wang’s house.

Upon Xu Ziqing’s return, the Gui Yin-Yang sisters seemed relieved and bid him farewell with smiles. As soon as they left, everyone in the Wang family wiped their foreheads, relieved.

After Wang Kangde paid his respects, he discussed the matter of Shangyan Ridge with Xu Ziqing. Wang Kangde had already learned from the Gui Yin-Yang sisters about Nian Hongzhi and the others plotting against Xu Ziqing, so he apologized repeatedly. Wang Kangde, being a scheming person, quickly realized that his second son had acted as a cover for the three conspirators. If not for Xu Ziqing’s quick thinking on the first day, their plan might have succeeded. He was initially resentful, but after seeing Xu Ziqing’s cultivation breakthrough upon his return, he let go of his grievances and issued an apology.

While talking with Wang Kangde, Xu Ziqing discovered that he was unaware of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine incident, which relieved him.

Then, on the pretext of being involved in the matter but still protecting Wang Yingwu, Wang Kangde wanted to give Xu Ziqing a pair of Double-Vein Grass.

However, Xu Ziqing wasn’t interested in the Double-Vein Grass but wanted the seeds instead.

These seeds weren’t hard to find, and wood monks often obtained them over the years. The Wang family was known for its generosity in giving away such seeds for good fortune. However, others couldn’t grow Double-Vein Grass as well as the one cultivated by the Wang family. This was the craft that allowed the Wang family to stand tall in Lin Li’s family.

Xu Ziqing then opened his right palm, revealing several seeds of different colors. He had purchased them from the trading hall on Xu Ziqing Road, and now, upon closer inspection, he couldn’t discern any differences.

After contemplating for a while, he held a golden grass seed in one hand and a silver grass seed in the other. He silently channeled his spiritual power and infused it into each seed.

In the next moment, the seeds underwent a sudden transformation.

Both the left and right seeds sprouted simultaneously, quickly burying their roots into Xu Ziqing’s palm. Emerald green stems grew out, reaching a length of about a foot in a short time.

Once the grass stems stopped growing, leaves sprouted on both sides. The leaves had the thickness of a finger and initially shared the green color with the grass stems. However, as time passed, a faint golden pattern gradually appeared in the middle of the leaves. Eventually, the color turned dazzling gold, signifying that the golden-veined grass had ripened.

Xu Ziqing immediately ceased his spiritual power input and stopped the process.

He examined the left and right sides closely, but before he could observe any differences, the roots of the two golden-veined grasses withered, and the entire spiritual grass wilted.

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but be startled.

Suddenly, he remembered that the Double-Vein Grass was named so because it originated from the same root. Now he realized that perhaps a single plant couldn’t survive.

With this realization, he firmly held a pair of light yellow and milky white seeds in both hands and proceeded in the same manner.

This time, the growth of the golden grass and silver grass was extremely rapid, matching their previous speed. Xu Ziqing even noticed that the roots of the two types of spiritual grass intertwined and entangled with each other from their inception, becoming inseparable in no time. As they grew upward, their stems and leaves resembled their roots, protecting and intertwining like twins.

Upon maturing, the gold and silver patterns complemented each other, accentuating the emerald-like green. The stems and leaves were brimming with spiritual aura, exuding delicacy and beauty.

The peculiar thing was that the two Double-Vein Grasses Xu Ziqing had cultivated, the golden-veined grass and the silver-veined grass, were almost identical in thickness and shape. Xu Ziqing carefully pondered the process but couldn’t identify any special technique he had used. If anything, it was due to his utilization of the “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique,” which involved channeling pure Ethereal Wood Qi with a consistent amount. His original intention was to control the growth environment of the spirit grass in both hands, but he hadn’t anticipated this unexpected outcome.

However, this made him realize that there was indeed no discernible difference between the Double-Vein Grass seeds obtained from the two locations.

With a sigh of relief, Xu Ziqing gently moved his palms, causing the fully grown Double-Vein Grasses to float up. Upon second thought, he placed them into his storage ring.

Setting the seeds aside for the moment, Xu Ziqing calmed himself and silently settled down.

Fortunately, he still possessed the cultivation base of the ninth level of refining Qi. However, it was astonishing that giving birth to only a few Double-Vein Grass seeds consumed 30% of his spiritual power. It became evident that while the “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique” was remarkable, its effectiveness improved with a higher level of cultivation. Given Xu Ziqing’s current condition, he couldn’t perfect its execution.

Yet, as he contemplated the future, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing in his heart.

However, longing alone was insufficient. If he wanted to turn his aspirations into reality, he needed to work harder. Thus, he resumed his practice without fatigue, ceasing only when the spiritual power in his dantian had replenished.

With a determined expression, Xu Ziqing carefully selected two fully colored, round-grained Double-Vein Grass seeds. He then removed his clothes, revealing his youthful and upright physique.

Next, he took the two seeds and placed them in his cupped palms, clasping his hands together. Swiftly, he initiated the “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique”, causing a sudden surge of heat throughout his entire body. The area where the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine had seemed to stir slightly.

A shimmering green light swiftly emerged from the point where his palms met, gradually intensifying until it enveloped both hands completely.

In that instant, Xu Ziqing abruptly opened his eyes, radiating a dazzling glimmer while an enigmatic aura pervaded his entire being.

If anyone happened to be present in the room, they would witness him resembling a flawless jasper sculpture, exuding a completely natural presence. However, no one should intrude…

After a considerable duration, Xu Ziqing gradually separated his palms.

At this moment, the two seeds in his hands didn’t fall; instead, they quietly hovered in front of him.

With a cautious expression, Xu Ziqing lifted his right arm and traced a mysterious trajectory in the air before him. Then, in a soft voice, he spoke, “Double-Vein Grass, you belong to me.” He shouted again, “Enter my dantian!” Subsequently, a beam of blue light shot forth from Xu Ziqing’s dantian, striking the two Double-Vein Grass seeds.

Under the influence of the green radiance, the Double-Vein Grass seeds initially resisted but soon became obedient. The resistance lasted no more than a breath before they surrendered. Embraced by the radiance, the seeds were swiftly pulled back into Xu Ziqing’s dantian.

Exhaling slowly, most of the green light surrounding his body dissipated, leaving only his abdomen still bathed in its gentle glow.

Closing his eyes, Xu Ziqing entered a state of deep meditation, once again initiating the “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique” to sense the newly planted seeds in his dantian. As expected, amidst the formerly harmonious and tranquil lower dantian, two regions caused slight discomfort—the locations of the Double-Vein Grass.

Within the internal world of his body lay the realm of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine.

Xu Ziqing called out, “Rongjin.”

The Bloodthirsty Demon Vine lifted its head with joy, saying, “Mother?”

Xu Ziqing choked up momentarily before issuing an order, “I have found two allies for you. Go and communicate with them.”

Naturally, the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine had already sensed the presence of intruders within its domain, prompting it to respond, “Understood, Mother!” Xu Ziqing smiled faintly and whispered softly, “Rongjin is truly adorable.”

The Double-Vein Grass eagerly rushed forward.

After all, it was Xu Ziqing’s life tree and an eerie, bloodthirsty monster with a massive consciousness and formidable aura. Its influence far surpassed that of the Double-Vein Grass. It didn’t take long for the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine to arrive, and its consciousness swiftly fragmented into thousands of fragments, firmly holding and floating within the dantian, under the control of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine.

The area surrounding the seeds of the Bloodthirsty Demon Vine—indeed, the core of the dantian—was now established.

After successfully taming the Double-Vein Grass seeds, Xu Ziqing felt a sense of relief. He quickly immersed himself in his practice once again.

Since then, time seemed to pass swiftly, and before he knew it, another year had gone by. During this year, Xu Ziqing didn’t seclude himself completely, but he chose to live in a secluded place. He rarely left the mountain, only venturing down once a month to attend occasional dinners or visit the trading hall to acquire necessary items and dispose of unwanted ones. There were no disturbances or malicious schemes, creating a relatively comfortable existence.

However, half a month later, an unexpected visitor arrived.

Qingfeng, who was always aware of his master’s gentle temperament, couldn’t help feeling more reverent since Xu Ziqing’s return. Initially cautious and attentive, Qingfeng now served his master even more thoughtfully.

In the past, even if someone of lower status came to visit, Qingfeng would politely decline, requesting the visitor to return once his master finished his seclusion. However, this visitor was different and needed to be informed.

Su Xin, the young leader of the Loose Cultivator Alliance, was publicly regarded as someone who couldn’t be offended due to his high status. Privately, he and Xu Ziqing were good friends who had engaged in Taoist discussions and had frequent interactions. Therefore, his visit couldn’t be refused.

Helpless, Qingfeng stood outside the quiet room, lightly touching the barrier a few times, and quickly whispered to Xu Ziqing, “Master Xu, the young leader is here.”

By touching the barrier in a familiar manner and subtly adjusting his tone, Qingfeng conveyed the urgency of the situation without explicitly stating it.

Xu Ziqing didn’t blame Qingfeng, understanding that he couldn’t help the circumstances. Based on Xu Ziqing’s knowledge of Su Xin, he knew that his friend would never disturb his practice unless it was truly important.

With that in mind, Xu Ziqing promptly stood up and walked out of the room.

Just as he reached the door, a gust of hot air swept over him, causing him to startle. Could it be that Su Xin was testing him? However, upon further reflection, something felt amiss.

The hot air carried a hint of fire, but it wasn’t intense. Xu Ziqing sensed it mainly due to his heightened sensitivity.

Raising his head to investigate, Xu Ziqing was momentarily taken aback.

Before him stood a handsome young man dressed in a fiery red cassock. His entire being exuded an air of fury, with not only his cultivation greatly enhanced but also his overall temperament undergoing a profound transformation.

Standing there, he seemed to blend into a sea of flames, his very presence resembling a raging wave of fire that could intimidate anyone at first sight!

Yet, Su Xin greeted Xu Ziqing with a smile and said proudly, “Brother Ziqing, do you notice the difference in me?”

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