Chapter 103: The Rift Spring

After a month’s journey, they finally arrived near Mount Zhurong at Yiqing City.

Yiqing City, like Lingyun City, was an affiliated settlement of the sect. Near Lingyun City were the Taibai Sect and Guanhui Temple, while near Yiqing City lay the Qisha Valley and Lisheng Temple.

Upon reaching Yiqing City, their flying boat descended onto a specially constructed high platform. The Foundation Establishment cultivator steering the boat shouted, “We’ve arrived! Disembark!”

The disciples, hearing the bustling voices outside, knew they had reached Yiqing City. They leaned forward to admire the scenery, then at the call, hastily packed their belongings into their spatial bags and went up to the deck.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator led them off the flying boat, away from the platform, pointing to a nearby pavilion. “That is our sect’s branch in Yiqing City. When you return, use this place to rent flying boats. Also, if you encounter any trouble, you can seek help here.”

Everyone responded in unison.

He waved his hand, indicating they were free to explore, and went off to the branch.

Ling Yu once questioned why a Foundation Establishment cultivator would pilot a flying boat carrying a group of Qi Refining disciples for over a month, seemingly wasting time. Xu Jibo explained that when steering the flying boat, the cultivator only needed to lightly focus, allowing them to cultivate simultaneously with minimal impact. Most of the rental fees went to the pilot, so if they wished to avoid adventuring, this was a decent income.

Ling Yu hadn’t expected that in a few years, Xu Jibo would improve so much—not only in cultivation but also in understanding sect affairs, surpassing even her, who had been stationed at the guardhouse for years.

The group of over a dozen, bearing the Taibai Sect’s disciples’ tokens, smoothly exited the city under Liu Sibo’s lead, flying on the Paper Crane towards Mount Zhurong, not far from Yiqing.

After a couple of hours, Ling Yu felt the environment grow noticeably hotter. Though as Qi Refining disciples they were less impervious to cold and heat than Foundation Establishment cultivators, they were still unafraid of the elements. However, the closer they approached Mount Zhurong, the higher the temperature rose. When a hazy red shadow appeared on the horizon, many were sweating profusely.

“Senior Sister Cheng,” Xu Jibo flew closer and handed something over. “Take this.”

Ling Yu took it, finding a piece of white jade. It seemed to be...

“This is Frozen Jade,” Xu Jibo whispered. “Carrying it cools you greatly.”

Ling Yu immediately felt it was like holding an eternal ice, endlessly radiating cold, cooling her whole body.

“Thank you,” she nodded gratefully.

Xu Jibo’s face flushed slightly. “Mount Zhurong is a mountain of fire, so it’s naturally hot. I thought this might help, so I brought it along.”

Ling Yu looked at her in surprise. Xu Jibo was not like Shi Jingbai, who would blush easily. This needn’t be explained—everyone had been told to bring their own supplies.

Frozen Jade seemed a precious refining material. Judging by this, Sister Xu must be quite wealthy. Ling Yu tucked the jade into her bosom and cupped her hands respectfully. “This is a temporary loan. I will surely return it when we leave.”

“Senior Sister Cheng, you’re too polite. What kind of friendship do we have?” Xu Jibo smiled warmly, returning to her usual cheerful self.

With the Frozen Jade, Ling Yu and Xu Jibo remained calm while others sweated heavily. At the foot of Mount Zhurong, they indeed saw a spring bubbling forth; the water sparkled and shimmered.

Ling Yu was surprised; this fissure spring was quite expansive, comparable to a medium-sized lake, covering several dozen acres if not a hundred.

“Everyone, let’s descend,” Liu Sibo called, leading the group down. This was already within Mount Zhurong’s domain; if they delayed, even their Paper Crane would not hold.

Beside the fissure spring stood a simple tea stall, a tall flag with the large character “Tea” fluttering above it. The flag was a low-grade spirit artifact.

Though low-grade spirit artifacts were worthless in the Cangming Realm, even a tea flag being one was a bit excessive.

Inside the stall sat a few scattered tea guests, but the owner lay lazily on a reclining chair. Around him, several assistants either stood or sat, all with fierce, threatening expressions.

Ling Yu frowned. The owner and assistants gave her a strange feeling—not because they were cultivators, but their clothes looked ill-fitting, as if hastily changed, causing them to tug awkwardly at their garments now and then.

Liu Sibo, however, remained calm and explained, “This was set up by Qisha Valley. Since the fissure spring appeared, many low-level cultivators came to Mount Zhurong. Qisha Valley, not skilled in commerce, took advantage of the terrain to establish this tea stall. Cultivators who come to train here must pay a few tea coins—a sort of toll.”

This was common in Lingcang. Qisha Valley was a sect full of fierce characters, and most would pay the toll for peace of mind.

“Senior Brother Liu, how much is the tea fee?”

“Not much. Ten spirit stones.”

Ten spirit stones were not much for sect disciples; most Qi Refining disciples had hundreds if not thousands in savings as long as they weren’t lazy. But with such a vast fissure spring and many cultivators coming to train, the total revenue was considerable. Since Lisheng Temple was a legitimate Buddhist sect, it didn’t collect these fees, leaving Qisha Valley to profit.

No one objected—after all, they were already here. Would they turn back just to save ten spirit stones?

Each paid at the tea stall and received a small wooden token. Ling Yu glanced at hers and tossed it back into her spatial bag. For ten spirit stones, the craftsmanship was poor, only bearing a simple talisman.

“All right, everyone, feel free to do as you wish. We plan to return in a year, but if anyone wants to leave earlier, you can take someone else’s flying boat,” Liu Sibo said. After consulting with a few friends, he found a spot near the fissure spring where the flames were less intense.

Others paired up with friends or traveled alone but kept some distance. When out in the world, sect disciples helped each other to avoid being bullied.

“Senior Sister Cheng, what about you?”

Ling Yu was discussing with Qian Jiale which fire source was better when she heard Xu Jibo’s voice. After thinking, she replied, “I plan to cultivate fire first. Sister Xu, why not join those senior brothers?” She pointed to a group heading toward the fissure spring, all practicing water attribute techniques.

Xu Jibo hesitated but did not move.

“Why? Is there some difficulty, Sister Xu?”

“I’m not familiar with those brothers,” Xu Jibo said, “and besides, they’re all men…”

Ling Yu agreed; even among sectmates, there were distinctions between men and women, especially among strangers.

“By the way, where is Abi? Did you bring her along?”

Ling Yu nodded and released Abi from the spirit beast pouch.

Abi immediately began fanning herself wildly. “So hot! What kind of place is this? I’m about to catch fire!”

“Stop yelling,” Ling Yu rolled her eyes. “Go into the fissure spring; it’s cooler there.”

Xu Jibo brightened and tugged Ling Yu’s sleeve. “Senior Sister Cheng, let Abi stay with me. We’ve known each other a long time. It’s better to have company.”

Ling Yu had no objection. Abi was a troublemaker; she wouldn’t feel safe leaving her alone. Xu Jibo was lively but prudent; with her watching, nothing would go wrong.

“Thank you, Sister Xu. Please take good care of her.”

“No problem,” Xu Jibo waved her hand. “It’s nothing. Senior Sister Cheng, don’t be so formal.”

Xu Jibo took Abi into the fissure spring. Ling Yu and Qian Jiale surveyed the area and finally chose a spot. They laid down a simple spirit gathering array and sat to sense the fire’s intent.

Ling Yu temporarily stored the Frozen Jade in her spatial bag. While it was more comfortable to carry, it hindered cultivation.

Mount Zhurong was worthy of its name. Once seated, Ling Yu felt pure, intense flames rising. Unlike mundane fires, these flames resembled the pure fire within a cultivator’s dantian—clean and without impurities. Gazing at the fiery mountain, she wondered about its origin. Why was the entire mountain aflame? There were countless wonders in the world, and fire seeds were innate, but a whole mountain of fire was unheard of—Mount Zhurong seemed unique in the Cangming Realm.

After a while, Qian Jiale stopped cultivating with a troubled expression just as Ling Yu opened her eyes. “Senior Sister Cheng, are you feeling uncomfortable too?”

“Yes,” Ling Yu admitted. Despite the fissure spring’s cooling effect, the pure flames burned directly into her dantian.

“Senior Brother Qian, where does Mount Zhurong come from? These flames are too overwhelming.”

Qian Jiale ceased cultivation, took out several spirit talismans to temporarily block the flames and recover, then replied, “I don’t know either. Let me see... Ah, the records mention a calamity about ten thousand years ago. The Cangming Realm was separated from the mortal realms. Everywhere—whether it was Lingcang in the Western Sea, Dameng Marsh, the Xingluo Sea, or the Eastern Sea’s Great Wilderness and Tian’a—dramatic changes occurred. Mountains, rivers, lakes, forests, and terrain all transformed to various degrees. The Abyss was not as deep before, and the East and West Seas were connected. After the calamity, the two seas were cut off except for people from Dayan City, who could travel between the shores.”

“Calamity? Dayan City?” Ling Yu’s mind filled with questions. This was news to her.

“Eh, Senior Sister Cheng, you didn’t know?” Qian Jiale was even more surprised, then realized, “Oh, I forgot—you said you came from some minor thousand-world.”

Ling Yu had recently learned that minor thousand-worlds were common in the Cangming Realm. They were not complete worlds but attached to the realm. Some resembled upper worlds; others were barren and uninhabitable. Most were interconnected with the Cangming Realm; only a few were unknown. The world she came from was spirit energy-poor and lacked special resources; though known, no one opened a passage.

This was no secret to hide, and Ling Yu told Qian Jiale openly.

“How shall I put it...” Qian Jiale pondered, then asked, “Senior Sister Cheng, you know the various cultivation stages, right?”

Ling Yu nodded. “Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment… The highest is Great Ascension. Legend says after Great Ascension, one must await the arrival of an unknown Heavenly Tribulation. Overcoming it allows ascension to immortality and Dao enlightenment.”

“And what about the highest cultivators in the Cangming Realm? What stage are they?”

Ling Yu hesitated, realizing his implication, then slowly answered, “I heard that when Nascent Soul cultivators in major sects ascend to Divine Transformation, they leave the sect and travel to a hidden place...”