"That mountain peak, although it looks ordinary, is the source of the eight-thousand-mile-long spiritual vein of Purple Bamboo Mountain. Around Purple Bamboo Mountain, thirteen branches extend... A few of my friends have each carved caves in these branches, focusing on their cultivation."

Panda Kongmingzi, with the Monkey and Ning Xunqiu, enthusiastically introduced the seemingly unremarkable mountain peak in the distance.

Ning Xunqiu responded politely, then used the "Sword Demon Heart Eye" to gaze at the mountain. He saw a multicolored mist cascading down around it like a winding rainbow river.

This is a hundred times more exaggerated than the spiritual qi inhaled and exhaled by the "Profound Dragon Pearl"...

Just as Panda Kongmingzi was about to introduce a lower mountain peak, the Monkey excitedly interrupted, "Sir, that area is Spirit Dove Valley."

"Bailing’Er is very well-informed," the Monkey continued, "She also planted a Spirit Dates Tree, which blossoms every three years, and bears fruit after three more years. But, I’ve tasted those dates, they melt in the mouth and have no discernible taste."

"If you ask me, Brother Niu’s brewed wine is the best."

As he spoke, the Monkey began to drool unconsciously.

This Monkey was clearly familiar with every treasure at Purple Bamboo Mountain, accustomed to taking advantage of them, no wonder he wanted to return home.

"Look over there, at the foot of Cliff Mountain, lives Xiaoyu’Er..."

The Monkey enthusiastically introduced, "She has a Wave Water Spirit. Every summer when it’s unbearably hot, I go there to surf, it’s amazingly fast."

Upon hearing "Spiritual Object" and "Water Spirit," Ning Xunqiu’s eyes lit up slightly.

Panda Kongmingzi noticed this and promptly suggested, "Sir, at Purple Bamboo Mountain, we regularly gather to brew tea and discuss the Dao, exchanging what we have. At that time, I will introduce them to you."

"Thank you, fellow Daoist." Ning Xunqiu readily agreed.

A hundred miles away, a man, a monkey, and a panda walked and talked, taking about an hour to finally arrive.

"Demon Master, are you there?"

Panda Kongmingzi stopped at the foot of the mountain and loudly called out to the peak, "Disciple Kongmingzi has important matters to see you."

The few of them patiently waited for a few moments.

A sword light descended from the sky, landing steadily beside them.

As the sword light dissipated, Ning Xunqiu looked over and discovered that the newcomer was a woman.

She wore a simple Daoist robe, with an ancient long sword tied at her waist. Her hair was casually pinned with a wooden hairpin, and a red mark adorned her brow. As the breeze blew, a few strands of hair gently floated, adding an unrestrained and carefree charm.

The woman’s gaze swept over the three of them, finally landing on the Monkey.

"Little Monkey, do you still know to come back? It’s been a hundred years. I thought you had died outside," the woman said teasingly.

"Big Sister..." The Monkey scratched his head, greeted her.

"The master found a secret technique, the ’Green Sea Rejuvenation Skill’ for you, which can revert you to your stone essence form and lock your spirituality from dissipating. Stay at Purple Bamboo Mountain and cultivate well," the woman waved her hand.

"Demon Master..." The Monkey, hearing this, felt a warm stream in his heart, and his eyes couldn’t help but moisten.

"Alright, alright, you’re a grown man, stop crying,"

The woman, expression showing impatience, quickly stopped the Monkey, instructing, "In the future, don’t keep running away from home. Little Monkey, remember, you are a living being of Purple Bamboo Mountain, and the master treats everyone equally."

"I won’t leave, I won’t leave." The Monkey nodded repeatedly.

Ning Xunqiu stood aside, quietly observing this scene.

It seemed... the Qi Cultivators within this Qingxu Realm aren’t so dark? Or is Purple Bamboo Mountain an exception? He couldn’t help but start to consider staying here for a long time.

The woman finished scolding the Monkey, then turned to Panda Kongmingzi, "Panda, what brings you here?"

"Greetings, big sister."

Panda Kongmingzi cupped his hands in salute and introduced Ning Xunqiu to the woman, "This is Mr. Ning, a Qi Cultivator from the Human Race. He traveled here and wishes to see the Demon Master."

"I am Ning Xunqiu. Greetings, fellow Daoist." Ning Xunqiu bowed in salute, knowing more courtesy was never a fault.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist, I am Wenren Hong, the senior sister of Purple Bamboo Mountain." Wenren Hong returned with a bow, "Three years ago, the master was invited to Jade Sky Immortal Island to listen to the Three Immortals discuss the Dao, and it will probably be a hundred years before he returns."

"I am now in charge of Purple Bamboo Mountain. Fellow Daoist, if you have any matters, feel free to tell me."

Wenren Hong’s attitude was gentle. She had a good first impression of Ning Xunqiu, aside from his proper appearance and courteous manners, primarily because of the attitudes of the Little Monkey and Panda.

At East Sea Linyuan Domain, aside from her father and a few True Cultivators treating spiritual beings equally, it was rare for a human loose cultivator to get along so harmoniously with Spirits.

Jade Sky Immortal Island? Immortal?

Ning Xunqiu pondered, considered a bit, and said, "Fellow Daoist Wenren, I traveled here and wish to build a dwelling and cultivate at Purple Bamboo Mountain for some time. May I?"

Wenren Hong remained silent.

Purple Bamboo Mountain does indeed have branches available for cultivation, but why should they?

"Big sister, the gentleman is a Pill Master." Panda Kongmingzi stepped forward, handing a "Dust-removing Pill" to Wenren Hong, "This is a Dust-removing Pill..." He also spoke a few good words on behalf of Ning Xunqiu.

"Pill Master?" Wenren Hong listened and took out a pellet, sniffing it. "This pill is indeed extraordinary."

"As long as Fellow Daoist provides the necessary treasure medicine, I can refine pills for you for free, as a rent for my cultivation at Purple Bamboo Mountain," Ning Xunqiu took the opportunity to suggest.

"Aren’t you an East Sea Loose Cultivator?" Wenren Hong’s beautiful eyes stared at Ning Xunqiu, then she suddenly realized.

This kind of situation is quite common,

The competition for the Divine Land Ancestral Vein is fierce, and the Divine Dynasty’s laws are strict; non-Orthodox Qi Cultivators are not allowed to live freely.

Loose Cultivators have a hard life; the Divine Dynasty’s decrees prohibit them from cultivating freely for a hundred years. Those who do not conform would have their mountains cut down. Loose Cultivators who don’t want to be driven away can only escape to the Four Seas, seeking a peaceful place for cultivation.

Loose cultivators like Ning Xunqiu often have only two or three members in their line, and their cave abodes and spirit veins are seized. Not being skilled in conflict, they have no choice but to escape to the Four Seas, looking for a glimmer of hope.

But it could also be that he is a violent fugitive seeking refuge...

Should she accept or not?

Wenren Hong thought for a long while, glanced at the tense expressions of the Panda and Little Monkey, and then spoke:

"Fellow Daoist, you may choose a branch to cultivate on Purple Bamboo Mountain."

Wenren Hong paused, her expression solemn.

"But—you must not kill or capture any of the ’living beings with spirituality’ in the mountains without cause.

This sword was refined by my Master over a hundred years to slay demons and remove evil, its power is immense."

Suddenly, Wenren Hong raised her hand, and the Ancient Sword at her waist, under her will, transformed into a sword light shooting towards the sky, its speed astounding, splitting open a large gap in the clouds.

"What do you think of the power of my magical artifact, the Feihong Sword?"

"Impressive!"

Ning Xunqiu exclaimed in admiration, then seriously said, "As a guest, I will certainly abide by the agreement with Fellow Daoist."

"You’ve seen the power of the Feihong Sword, so naturally you will adhere to the rules of Purple Bamboo Mountain in the future." Wenren Hong crossed her arms, her expression proud.

Ning Xunqiu understood.

Wenren Hong indeed had reason to be proud.

Magical artifacts in the Qingxu Realm are roughly categorized into three levels: Magical Artifacts, Magical Treasures, and Spiritual Treasures.

Magical Artifacts have strengths and weaknesses, depending on the level of Dao Practice. Magical Treasures do not have high or low distinctions, only mutual reinforcement or restraint, while Spiritual Treasures are supreme treasures for the suppression of a Dao Lineage.

An offensive magical artifact equates to invincibility of the same level, especially dealing with loose cultivators who have no magical artifacts or Guardian Skills, like cutting through a path of no resistance.

It’s akin to an ordinary person wielding a semi-automatic firearm facing ancient warriors; the scene is unimaginable.

Such power, a true magical artifact, is extremely difficult to refine, the main challenges being the rare materials - one being the "Dharma Seed," followed by "Evil Qi," and "Spirituality."

Combined with rare high-tier spiritual materials as a carrier, creating a true magical artifact requires hundreds of years of effort from a regular Qi Cultivator.

It is evident that the magical artifact, the Feihong Sword in Wenren Hong’s hand, is precious.

But a mere magical artifact?

Ning Xunqiu’s Supreme Divine Weapon Flame Sparrow in the Qingxu Realm is tantamount to—a Spiritual Treasure!!

Yet Wenren Hong wielded a magical artifact, "showing off" before him... What could Ning Xunqiu do?

What could he do?

He could only smile silently.

"In the future, I ask Fellow Daoist to be self-respecting."

Wenren Hong nodded in satisfaction, retracted the Feihong Sword that had been freely soaring in the sky, took out the "Green Sea Rejuvenation Skill" and handed it to the Monkey, reminded it with a word, and returned to the mountain peak for cultivation.

Panda Kongmingzi, taking the Monkey and Ning Xunqiu, left, found a branch point, and built a house halfway up the mountain. Then he walked away with a smile.

The Monkey stayed behind, staring at Ning Xunqiu, scratching its head, several times wanting to speak but hesitating.

That secret technique, "Green Sea Rejuvenation Skill," merely reverted it to its essence of the stone, allowing it no more than a meager extended life, still needing to learn the Acupoint Opening Skill to embark on the path of cultivation, to continue to live free.

Ning Xunqiu, seeing this, grew playful, lightly tapped the Monkey’s head three times, and then stood silently, hands behind his back, looking up at the sky. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Oh? Hmm?" The Monkey saw Ning Xunqiu not speaking for a long time, looking around, not understanding his intentions.

Ning Xunqiu, resigned, turned back, breathed out a line of sound transmission, "Monkey, come here quietly at the third watch tonight... as agreed, I’ll teach you the Acupoint Opening Skill."

The Monkey was overjoyed and nodded vigorously.

...