Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu-Chapter 36: If We Meet Again, Don’t Blame the Ruthless Swords and Sabers

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The layout of the Beast Driving Hall differed significantly from the Cultivation Hall. From the mountain peak, all one could see were golden haystacks.

The air was filled with the Harvest Aura.

Unfortunately, these were merely fodder for the spirit beasts.

Surrounded by rows of green pines, Chen Qing walked into the Beast Driving Hall, with Ju Xiu walking leisurely among the pines, exuding the charm of a landscape beauty painting.

"There are quite a few spirit beasts in the Beast Driving Hall, and they have a strong odor, so we’ve planted a lot of greenery outside to isolate and absorb the smell."

Just as Chen Qing was about to speak, a warm breath brushed past his ear, and Ju Xiu whispered, "But I see it’s not very effective."

This senior sister was wealthy and generous.

"Hahaha, let’s go!"

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"Hurry up, hurry up. I have lots to do!"

Upon sitting in the hall, Ju Xiu waved a young and cute junior sister to serve tea, "Junior brother, what’s your business this time?"

Chen Qing said, "The day before yesterday, I tried watering the Spiritual Field with Demon Blood. Thanks to my Grass Spirit Butterfly, I should be able to cultivate Blood Ginseng."

"I wonder if you can provide some Demon Blood here."

Ju Xiu replied, "We do have it, and we can supply it stably."

"But you know, the Demon Blood extracted from spirit beasts isn’t as effective as the real thing."

"It’s much weaker in terms of spirituality."

Chen Qing said, "Then let’s do this. However much you can provide, I’ll see how much I can cultivate."

Ju Xiu said, "Once it’s done and Gongsun Xiu brews the Blood Ginseng Wine, I want two-tenths!"

Chen Qing said, "That won’t do. I have to offer fifty percent to the sect elders, and I can’t shortchange Brother Gongsun Xiu. If I give you two-tenths, wouldn’t I have worked for nothing all year?"

Ju Xiu pondered for a moment, "At least one and a half-tenths. It’s not easy to extract blood from spirit beasts."

Chen Qing cupped his hands, "Thank you, senior sister."

Ju Xiu waved her hand, "Qingqing, take Master Chen to get the blood and send it to the Spirit Plant Hall."

Then, she seemed to remember something, "Forget it, I’ll go myself!"

The young girl named Qingqing looked at Chen Qing reluctantly, clearly disappointed.

...

When Chen Qing returned to the Spirit Plant Hall, a giant rat followed behind him. Ju Xiu sat atop it, her curvy body swaying with its movements.

On the way back to the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing noticeably felt the heightened vigilance of the entire Wuyou Mountain, with brothers from the War Affairs Hall patrolling everywhere.

Not long after he returned to the Spirit Plant Hall, he had just tended to the Spiritual Ginseng Field when Gongsun Xiu came with wine.

"There aren’t many Spirit Ginsengs recently. With Junior Brother Wu watching over the Cultivation Hall, I’m free and came to drink with you."

This was to ensure his safety, fearing that the ascetic might make a move on him.

It was unclear if this was the Mountain Master’s idea or his own.

At night, on his way home, Chen Qing gathered more information.

It was said that the ascetic was named Zhang Yangdao, at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, and he had been an ascetic for thirteen years. Unfortunately, his most crucial Gu still hadn’t transformed into a butterfly.

It seemed this guy wanted to have this critical Gu transform into a butterfly before using it as his Lifebound Gu for Foundation Establishment.

When Zhang Yangdao explicitly stated his willingness to offer Spirit Stones to pay his respects to the mountain, Wuyou Mountain ultimately chose not to lightly initiate a conflict.

It was said that his itinerary had been arranged by the Mountain Master, allowing him to play on Wuyou Mountain for three days, debate for three days, and finally be permitted half a day in the Spirit Plant Garden.

Once these procedures were complete, Zhang Yangdao could leave Wuyou Mountain and proceed to the next location.

If he insisted on staying, Wuyou Mountain would have to be unkind.

Playing for three days was easy to understand, but he certainly wouldn’t be allowed into any too-sensitive spots.

Chen Qing didn’t attend the three days of debate, but he heard that Senior Sister Yu Qingshuang had made quite a splash.

Initially, Zhang Yangdao only watched Gongsun Xiu and Yu Qingshuang spar.

After watching for a while, he proposed wanting to try some moves, without using the sword Gu, of course.

Gongsun Xiu was soundly defeated, barely able to fight back.

But Yu Qingshuang managed to make Zhang Yangdao surrender his sword after just ten moves.

But they were all friendly matches; everyone stopped at the point, and no one got hurt.

On June 23, Chen Qing had just gotten up when early-rising Yu Qingshuang called him to breakfast.

"Grandfather asked me to invite you over for breakfast."

After breakfast, the Spirit Plant Elder shared some instructions for Chen Qing.

Chen Qing and Yu Qingshuang proceeded to the Spirit Plant Hall and, after waiting for a while, saw Feng Qi accompanying Zhang Yangdao over.

Zhang Yangdao still wore that tattered Daoist robe, though he seemed in better spirits over the past few days.

As the Hall Master of the Spirit Plant Hall, Chen Qing naturally had to make an appearance. He had already ordered the Spirit Plant Garden to be cleared.

He strode to within ten steps of Zhang Yangdao, "Before entering the garden, I have no acquaintance with you, Wuyou Mountain!"

Zhang Yangdao offered a slight bow with a smile, "After leaving the garden, I am not connected to you, Wuyou Mountain!"

Chen Qing sidestepped to make way, gesturing with his hand, "Please!"

Zhang Yangdao bowed, picked up an herb basket, and waved his sleeve as he walked in.

Chen Qing immediately called Yu Qingshuang and Feng Qi to prepare some dry fruit tea in the Spirit Plant Hall while waiting for Zhang Yangdao to come out.

Feng Qi chuckled, "In the end, the half-day here with you, junior brother, was the most valuable."

Chen Qing said, "After all, it’s a direct financial transaction."

But Feng Qi said, "I sensed a heavy aura of bloodshed on him and am considering recommending him to visit Lotus Cave. What do you think?"

This was to kill with a borrowed knife.

The bunch of bastards in Lotus Cave didn’t have the best temperament. Encountering this guy, they might actually take action.

Chen Qing said, "If they team up, wouldn’t we be shooting ourselves in the foot?"

If Zhang Yangdao were to join forces with Lotus Cave, it would indeed be quite troublesome.

Feng Qi fell silent, immersed in thought.

The half-day passed quickly, and by the time Zhang Yangdao emerged, Chen Qing and Feng Qi were already standing at a square table just beyond the garden gate.

Zhang Yangdao placed his herb basket on the table, then pulled ten middle-grade Spirit Stones from his sleeve and placed them on the tabletop.

Chen Qing glanced at the herbs in the basket and began, "The source of your goods, I won’t inquire about."

Zhang Yangdao reached back into his sleeve and pulled out two more middle-grade Spirit Stones, setting them on the table.

Only then did Chen Qing continue, "From today onward, we shall part ways."

He solemnly cautioned, "If we meet again, don’t blame the sword and blade for their mercy."

He stepped back and cupped his hands, "I wish you a successful transformation of your treasure Gu into a butterfly, Fellow Daoist Zhu!"

Zhang Yangdao cupped his hands in return, "Thank you!"

Finishing his words, he picked up his herb basket and, with his back to the glaring sun, started down the mountain path.

Having sent Zhang Yangdao off, Chen Qing breathed a deep sigh, finally getting rid of this ascetic.

Yu Qingshuang stood beside Chen Qing, sighed, and said, "I hope that when my father and the others are wandering outside, they can encounter sects like ours, Wuyou Mountain."

Chen Qing comforted, "Senior sister’s swordsmanship is exquisite; surely, uncle’s swordsmanship is even more brilliant, so there’s nothing to worry about."

Yu Qingshuang pouted, "What use is exquisite swordsmanship when the sword Gu I’ve raised for over ten years is only at the Seventh Transformation?"

"I’ll go back and tell grandfather that, since that ascetic couldn’t defeat me, I should be allowed to join the War Affairs Hall!"

The next day, Chen Qing heard that Yu Qingshuang and Gongsun Xiu had gone through over fifty moves at the Spirit Plant Hall.

Yu Qingshuang was defeated!

Gongsun Xiu hadn’t used any real moves against that ascetic!

These guys are truly black-hearted!

Probably, Zhang Yangdao was also pretending!

When my sword Gu transforms into a butterfly, even Yu can’t defeat me—how will she feel about that?

Putting these thoughts aside, Chen Qing inspected the Spirit Plant Garden and headed home early.

The sword Gu was about to reach the Eighth Transformation!

Returning to his cave abode, Chen Qing shut the door and immediately transformed into fog, drilling into the cellar beneath the kitchen.

Placing the sword Gu on the stone bed, Chen Qing watched it devour the last small piece of Gold Seeking Stone.

Watching the sword Gu earnestly consume it, Chen Qing sat cross-legged beside it to commence cultivation.

After two hours of cultivation, Chen Qing glanced at the sword Gu, which was already petrified by the last piece of Gold Seeking Stone.

Another half a quarter-hour passed, and the solidified sword Gu finally started to move anew.

Its skin trembled, revealing an ever more vigorous sword Gu from within.

[Mortal Sword Gu]

Quality: Eighth Transformation

Life Span: 12/76

Effect: Converts six strands of Spiritual Energy into one strand of Sword Qi.

Growth Requirements: Purple Pattern Bamboo

Growth Progress: 0/100

Promotion Requirements: One Sword Gu, three strands of Geng Metal Qi, at least a three-hundred-year-old Aged Green Snake Gallbladder

The day before, he had earned twelve middle-grade Spirit Stones from Zhang Yangdao. Although it was the earnings of the Spirit Plant Hall, as its Hall Master, he could share in some of the profits.

Time to purchase some Purple Pattern Bamboo.

Chen Qing absorbed the sword Gu into his body, a wisp of Sword Qi emerging from his fingers, sharper and longer than before.

They say a weapon in hand naturally breeds killing intent.

Yet Chen Qing felt none of that.

He still hadn’t fully integrated into this world.

The following evening, Chen Qing went down the mountain to a food stall in the market, feasting before wandering around the market alleys.

He donned a black robe as he walked through a deserted dark alley.

Barely a few steps in, Chen Qing suddenly felt an extremely cold aura.

It seemed familiar.

He slowed his pace and approached a stall to inquire, "Brother, how much do you want for this stone jade?"

The stall owner replied, "Ten lower-grade Spirit Stones per tael."

Chen Qing picked up a piece, examined it, and then put it down. "Too expensive."

As he sensed the person with the cold aura pass by him, he turned to look, seeing him clad in a clean sky-blue Daoist robe and wearing a conical hat.

After a few steps, Chen Qing seized a chance to catch a glimpse of his side profile.

He quickly turned away, a single thought echoing in his mind:

If we meet again, don’t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy!

If we meet again, don’t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy!

If we meet again, don’t blame the sword and blade for their lack of mercy!

It was a warning.

As a regular ascetic, you’ve seen the sights here, gathered your treasures, and exchanged swordsmanship.

Theoretically, you should be leaving.

But why are you appearing again in the market?

Panic surged through his heart; this man was casing the place!

With his black robe and the cover of night, keeping his head down, he hoped he wouldn’t be recognized.

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