Blossoming in Two Places

Although he had long harbored suspicions, Zhou Chengyuan only learned later that Yan Zhilan was Yan Feihong's most beloved granddaughter. She was also a Guide Qi cultivator, but her spiritual light measured a mere 1.9 cun, leaving little hope for her to ever break through to the Qi Condensation realm.

Because of her lively and vibrant nature, Yan Feihong always kept her by his side to manage various matters within the Alchemy Pavilion.

His other descendants, however, were entirely mediocre. The vast majority were mere mortals. To prevent them from being swept up in the fierce factional struggles of the Sect, Yan Feihong left them in a small city at the foot of the mountain. Relying on his influence, they naturally lived quite comfortable lives.

Yet, Yan Feihong knew all too well that if he were to pass away, his descendants would suffer a catastrophic fall from grace, left to be bullied and suppressed by others. Thus, he secretly worked to play matchmaker between Zhou Chengyuan and Yan Zhilan, assigning her to handle the many trivial matters surrounding Zhou Chengyuan's alchemy.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. Both were in the prime of their youth. With Zhou Chengyuan's open, cheerful disposition and Yan Zhilan's lively yet sensible nature, their long months of daily interaction naturally drew them much closer.

Within a small pavilion on the Alchemy Peak, Zhou Chengyuan was having a joyful conversation with a middle-aged cultivator.

This man was Zhao Zhongquan of the Zhao family from Fuyang County, one of the four southern counties. Like many, he had joined the Baishan Sect to secure protection for his clan. He was currently an Elder of the Technique Impartation Courtyard, and ever since learning of Zhou Chengyuan's presence, he frequently visited the Alchemy Peak.

Zhou Chengyuan gazed out at the majestic, towering mountain peaks of the Baishan Sect and could not help but sigh in admiration. "The mountain ranges are as majestic as coiled dragons, drawing in Spiritual Qi from all directions to ascend to the heavens."

The Baishan Sect's grand mountain-protecting formation gathered the qi of the eight directions to nourish the peaks. Every morning and evening, bathed in the rosy light of dawn and dusk, it created a truly magnificent spectacle.

Zhao Zhongquan offered a flattering smile. "Fellow Daoist Zhou is truly remarkable. Not only are your alchemy skills exquisite, but you also possess such a profound understanding of the landscape. The younger generation is formidable indeed."

"Not at all. When I was young at home, my grandfather often gathered the winds and clouds to amuse me," Zhou Chengyuan replied with a modest, shy smile.

Though Zhou Chengyuan appeared carefree and naive, phrasing his words as mere grandfather-grandson affection, he was deliberately leaking a piece of information to Zhao Zhongquan: Zhou Ping's cultivation was tied to the winds and clouds.

Zhao Zhongquan secretly committed this to memory. Although the various families of the four southern counties shared a common enemy, grasping more of another's foundation might prove useful in the future.

He then continued, "Now that the Huang family has grown so powerful, our families must huddle together for warmth. There is a banquet in three days, and several fellow natives of our four southern counties will be attending. How about you join us for a gathering, Fellow Daoist?"

Zhou Chengyuan smiled, just about to reply.

Yan Zhilan hurried over from the distance. She first bowed respectfully to Zhao Zhongquan. "Greetings, Elder."

She then turned to Zhou Chengyuan. "Elder Zhou, my grandfather asked me to call you over."

Hearing this, Zhou Chengyuan offered an apologetic look. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I am truly sorry. Senior Yan is likely calling me to refine pills. I will not be able to step away for quite some time, so I am afraid I must decline the banquet."

"It is no matter. We can always gather another time," Zhao Zhongquan said with a smile, watching the two leave. Only when they were far away did his expression instantly turn cold.

"It seems that old man Yan is quite protective of this boy."

Meanwhile, the moment Zhou Chengyuan and Yan Zhilan stepped inside the Alchemy Pavilion, they could no longer hold back their laughter. Yan Zhilan put on a stern, formal face and bowed to him. "Elder Zhou, how do you fare?"

Although Zhou Chengyuan was a Qi Condensation cultivator, his warm, loving upbringing meant he carried none of the haughty airs typical of his peers. Coupled with their similar ages and growing intimacy, Yan Zhilan felt perfectly comfortable making such jokes.

"You little rascal, you are asking for a beating." Zhou Chengyuan feigned anger and took a step toward her.

"Ah! Brother Chengyuan, I wouldn't dare do it again!"

Yan Zhilan immediately put on a terrified expression, and the two happily chased each other through the hall.

"Ahem." Yan Feihong coughed lightly from the side chamber. "Chengyuan, come here. Zhilan, go clean the eastern chamber. We will need it later."

"Understood, Grandfather." Yan Zhilan flashed a playful smile at Zhou Chengyuan before heading off to the eastern chamber.

Zhou Chengyuan, feeling somewhat embarrassed, walked over and sat down respectfully in front of Yan Feihong.

"It is best if you interact less with that Zhao Zhongquan in the future. He belongs to Grand Elder Sima's faction. Do not get yourself tangled in their disputes," Yan Feihong said softly.

Zhou Chengyuan nodded. "I will keep that in mind."

The longer he stayed in the Baishan Sect, the more thankful he felt for being assigned to the Alchemy Peak.

Within the Baishan Sect, factions stood as deeply entrenched as mountain peaks. Setting aside the Qing clan-the bloodline of the Baishan Ancestor-the five Grand Elders all commanded their own factions. Countless other Elders had established their own family lines as well. The struggle for authority and influence among them was brutally fierce.

The Eight Courtyards had long since been reduced to battlefields for these factional wars. Without power or influence of one's own, the only choice was to pick a side.

Only the Four Peaks remained relatively untouched. Because their functions were vital to the Sect, and their governing Elders strictly minded their own affairs, the various factions neither heavily suppressed nor actively courted them.

After all, the labor of the Four Peaks was grueling. Whoever brought them under their wing would be forced to shoulder their heavy responsibilities in turn-a burden that far outweighed the benefits.

The Qing clan and the Grand Elder factions already cultivated their own artisans in the Four Arts, which was more than enough to supply their respective lineages. They had no need to shoulder the Sect's burdens just to win over the Peaks.

Though called a Sect, the Baishan Sect was, in truth, nothing more than an instrument of exploitation for the Qing clan and the myriad factions.

Had Zhou Chengyuan agreed to Zhao Zhongquan's invitation, he might well have been branded with Grand Elder Sima's label, instantly opening himself up to suppression and targeting from rival factions.

Over the past year, Yan Feihong had shielded him from such traps on several occasions. Zhou Chengyuan had naturally learned to be wary, using Yan Zhilan to help him maintain his cover.

If his formidable soul had not secured his place on the Alchemy Peak, and if he had not encountered Yan Feihong, he might currently be just like Zhao Zhongquan-reduced to a mere pawn in a faction's schemes.

Driven by the earnest nature of his youth, how could he betray such sincere kindness upon meeting a worthy teacher? Even knowing Yan Feihong harbored his own motives, Zhou Chengyuan refused to let him down.

Yan Feihong looked at Zhou Chengyuan, his eyes brimming with satisfaction. The young man was open-hearted, kind, and sincere, and above all, he valued loyalty and righteousness.

Over the past year, he had passed down four different pill formulas, hoping to spur Zhou Chengyuan's rapid growth in the decade or so he had left to live.

"Today, I shall demonstrate the refinement of the Qi-Nourishing Pill. This pill aids a cultivator's progress and serves as the most foundational and common resource in the cultivation world. However, its refinement process is deeply complex and tedious, requiring you to maintain absolute unity of mind and spirit at all times."

Standing by his side, Zhou Chengyuan listened with utmost concentration.

...

Baixi Mountain was awash in boundless, verdant green, brimming with vibrant life.

Zhou Qianling was currently brewing spirit wine beside the Purple Gold Vine. Her aura resonated with the vine, complementing it perfectly as it slowly, subtly grew stronger.

Though she had only been in Qi Condensation for eight years, her cultivation had not fallen behind in the slightest. She had already reached the third level of Qi Condensation. Her spiritual power flowed with a lush, verdant radiance, like a gentle breeze sweeping through the mountains-far more condensed and formidable than Zhou Ping's had been when he practiced the Mountain Stream Clear Flow technique.

The Purple Gold Vine itself had grown to half a zhang in height. Several of its tendrils snaked up into the surrounding canopy, weaving ink-black and purple-red hues together like a piece of exquisitely crafted art.

A true bond of symbiosis had already formed between the two.

Meanwhile, somewhere deep beneath Baixi Mountain, the continuous growth of the Purple Gold Vine steadily enriched the mountain's ambient Spiritual Qi. This naturally accelerated the condensation of the spirit vein. The bedrock surrounding the Spirit Origin Stone had already become crystal clear, even radiating a faint spiritual light.

Zhou Ping sat cross-legged nearby. His body continuously exuded a jade-like aura, causing the spirit vein to shimmer with a profound, mystic glow.

Cultivating by swallowing the Jade Rock Green Origin Pill, he ensured the resulting jade aura radiating from his body did not go to waste, instead using it to carefully nurture the spirit vein.

After a short while, Zhou Ping exhaled a breath of turbid qi, a look of distinct joy rising in his eyes.

"The fourth level of Qi Condensation."

He was now fifty-six years old, leaving him with sixty-four years of life ahead. With his aptitude elevated to 3.5 cun, his cultivation speed had noticeably quickened. He was absolutely certain he could break through to the seventh level of Qi Condensation within twenty years.

Once he reached the seventh level of Qi Condensation, he would have complete confidence in weathering any desperate, deathbed strike Huang Bailin might attempt.

After all, the Jade Rock Spirit Origin Art possessed exceptionally deep reserves and formidable offensive power. With his jade seal Magical Artifact in hand, even if Huang Bailin reached the eighth or ninth level of Qi Condensation, Zhou Ping would not fear him.

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