Chapter 38: Chapter 37: Eight Thousand Miles Across Purple Bamboo Cliff Mountain, Brewing Tea and Discussing the Dao with Friends

"Why don’t we ask Fellow Daoist Wenren?"

Ning Xunqiu had a thought.

He left Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth and returned to the small courtyard on Purple Bamboo Mountain.

"Coo, coo, coo."

Just then, a red Spirit Dove flew down from the tree, landing on Ning Xunqiu’s shoulder and making a sound.

"Purple Bamboo Mountain meeting? Bailing is back?"

Ning Xunqiu’s heart stirred.

"The Cyan Pine Pill finally has a lead."

Purple Bamboo Mountain meeting.

On a protruding rock bluff on the mountainside, there grows a thousand-year-old tree.

Under the tree is a stone table and several stone stools, with a pot of tea and a few teacups set on top.

Wenren Hong and Panda Kongmingzi were boiling tea and chatting leisurely, while nearby, a monkey squatted on a stone stool, bored, munching on peaches and fruits.

Ning Xunqiu arrived dressed in a cyan robe, controlling the air, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Wenren, Fellow Daoist Kongmingzi, Little Monkey."

"Fellow Daoist Qingyun has arrived, please sit quickly." Wenren Hong and Panda Kongmingzi smiled and returned the bow.

[Qingyun] is the Dao title Ning Xunqiu took on Purple Bamboo Mountain.

Over time, people reveal their true nature, and in seven years, they’ve seen Ning Xunqiu’s character clearly—a "homebody" Qi Cultivator who loves alchemy and knows a bit about everything.

Of course, he also has a slight vice—collecting addiction!!

"Mr., Mr., eat peaches, eat peaches."

The monkey, upon seeing Ning Xunqiu, broke into a wide grin, holding a large peach with both hands, offering it eagerly.

"It’s done." Ning Xunqiu naturally accepted, taking a bite of the peach.

After seven years together, they were like both master and friend, no longer as formal or distant as before.

"Heh heh."

The monkey practiced the Chaos Seven Orifices Chapter and opened seven orifices. Along with the Alien Spiritual Aperture, it achieved a human-shaped Primordial Spirit. Its cultivation speed far surpassed that of the other aliens on Purple Bamboo Mountain.

Ning Xunqiu didn’t chat much about this matter but took a seat, picking up a cup of tea to chat leisurely with Wenren Hong, and then asked about how Qi Cultivators can produce offspring. He had heard that the Zizhu Demon Master had Qi Cultivation Success and only had Wenren Hong at the age of eight hundred.

Wenren Hong looked at him strangely but didn’t hold back:

"Indeed, Qi Cultivators find it difficult to bear offspring. Master sought out a Middle Grade Spirit Medicine, the Creation Profound Ginseng, for my mother to consume and refine, resulting in my birth."

"Besides these, there are Low-Grade Spirit Medicines such as the Jade Dew Fragrance Seed, Earth Vein Purple Jade Lotus, Earth Treasure Spirit Flower... These can also be used."

Wenren Hong listed several rare spirit medicines.

Ning Xunqiu memorized them one by one.

Qi Cultivators classify Heaven and Earth Great Medicine into four grades: Treasure Medicine, Spiritual Object, Spirit Medicine, and Spirit Root, with Low Grade, Middle Grade, and Top Grade distinctions.

Treasure Medicine: non-ranking herbs and trees, old trees of hundreds, thousands, or even ten thousand years without any born spirituality.

Spiritual Object: rare items born with a wisp of spirituality, inherently possessing spiritual qi.

Spirit Medicine: complete spiritual charm, an unbelievable wonder, with Top-Grade Spirit Stones like the Profound Dragon Pearl considered as Top-Grade Spirit Medicines.

Spirit Root: can be used to forge an Innate Spirit Body, the supreme treasure of heaven and earth.

Spirit Medicine is the third grade, already exceptionally precious.

He adjusted his life by gathering information well.

"Qingyun!!"

Just then, a large dove dragging a brilliantly colored tail flew gracefully from the cloud, turning lightly in mid-air, transforming into a petite girl in dazzling feathers, who excitedly dashed towards Ning Xunqiu.

"I found it! Coo! I found the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Evergreen Pine Branch, and... the wisp of White Cloud Qi you wanted." She rushed over, eagerly boasting of her accomplishments.

The newcomer was Bailing from Spirit Dove Valley; despite her appearance as a little lolita, she was actually a Spirit Monster cultivated from a seven-colored Spirit Dove, already five hundred years old, with three hundred years of deep Dao practice, being the earliest born creature on Purple Bamboo Mountain.

Older than Panda Kongmingzi.

Bailing excelled in the Five Elements Escape Skill but was not proficient in magical combat. Both she and Ning Xunqiu were akin to each other in treasure collection, exchanging and discussing, with a deep relationship.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Bailing."

Ning Xunqiu gently placed down the excited Bailing and accepted the Evergreen Pine Branch she handed over and the transparent Jade Bottle, containing a white cloud mist resembling a fish swimming inside.

This was the nascent Cloud Spirit, just born with spirituality, and could not be used for cultivation of the Cloud Riding Skill, requiring a thousand years to grow.

But its spirituality was enough for Ning Xunqiu to designate it as the Heaven and Earth Primordial Spirit of Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth.

Bailing then took out a small cloth bag from her feather clothes, "Inside here are thirty Dust-removing Pills..."

Ning Xunqiu smiled slightly and gestured, "These Dust-removing Pills can be your reward, Fellow Daoist."

Bailing didn’t decline and accepted them smoothly, spinning around and expressing joy with a cheerful exclamation.

"Coo coo yay!"

She knew from the first day that Fellow Daoist Qingyun was the most generous and magnanimous!

Ning Xunqiu chuckled.

Knowing one Qi Cultivator allows you to know countless Qi Cultivators.

After he built his hut, all the spirits from Purple Bamboo Mountain came to visit.

The panda sent over an array that can prevent beasts from intruding, Bailing sent over three Jade Sea Spirit Dates, and the black bull Niu Da sent a jar of Hundred Fruit Wine. He offers free artifact refining, but you need to provide the materials.

The Carp Princess Bi Ji sent along a spring and an ancient tea tree, while Wenren Hong sent a piece of spiritual material, Hundred-year-old Purple Wood.

The monkey brought all kinds of melons and fruits along with tables and chairs from his tribe.

He also returned the favor to each of the six accomplished practitioners of Purple Bamboo Mountain with a bottle of "Dust-removing Pill." The mountain’s atmosphere was harmonious, free from intrigue and conflicts, making interactions with the living beings of Purple Bamboo comfortable.

Ning Xunqiu felt he came to the right place at Purple Bamboo Mountain.

Wenren Hong, looking at the Evergreen Pine Branch, was moved and couldn’t help but speak: "Fellow Daoist Qingyun, if this "Cyan Pine Pill" is refined successfully, I wonder..."

"I can exchange it with a Spiritual Object."

Ning Xunqiu welcomed Spiritual Objects gladly, "Any extra Cyan Pine Pills will naturally go first to Purple Bamboo Mountain."

"Fellow Daoists, provide your pill formula and botanical Spiritual Materials for me to refine for you, no charge." He added, as botanical Spiritual Materials entered "Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth," he could offer "Moonlight Dew" freely.

As for the other Qi Cultivators, there were three refusals.

If there weren’t two portions of Spiritual Material, it wouldn’t be refined.

Without thirty thousand catties of gold, it wouldn’t be refined.

If a second Spirit Pill is needed, it wouldn’t be refined.

They also needed to line up.

Panda Kongmingzi inquired, "Fellow Daoist Qingyun, about getting that ’Profound Origin Clarity Pill’..."

Ning Xunqiu was slightly surprised, yet outwardly calm, "Ah, Fellow Daoist, no rush, I recently made a breakthrough in practice, need to stabilize it, give me another three to five years—the Profound Origin Clarity Pill will surely succeed!"

"Of course, Qingyun, you are an Alchemy Master!" Bailing said admiringly.

Ning Xunqiu merely smiled politely.

Bailing in recent years boasted everywhere about his remarkable alchemy skills, leading some Qi Cultivators to bring their pill formulas to Purple Bamboo Mountain looking for him. Although most were simpler than the "Dust-removing Pill," with a dozen tries, he could succeed once.

As for what was said publicly, it was naturally a success on the first try.

Not worth mentioning.

With an air of a seasoned Alchemy Master, unshakable by any pill, such a distinguished title became a golden signboard, better attracting loose cultivators.

And then...

A strange achievement was unlocked.

[Congratulations, you have successfully unlocked the Blue Achievement "Alchemy Master Close to the Dao - Fake": Your alchemy always succeeds on the first try, recognized by the loose cultivators of Purple Bamboo Mountain and the East Sea as an "Alchemy Master Close to the Dao."

Yet truthfully you are secretly just a beginner stacking up numbers by sheer quantity.

If you do not want to see your reputation collapse, strive harder in secret!

Obtained the Fire Control and Pill Formation Technique - Ten Years of Experience (Claimed)] 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

...

Before long.

Niu Da and the Carp Princess Bi Ji arrived one after another.

As everyone gathered, they sat around a stone table, brewing tea and discussing the Dao, sharing insights on cultivation. Mostly it was Wenren Hong speaking, while the other six listened intently.

As the sunset filled the sky with its glow.

Panda Kongmingzi gently strummed an ancient zither, its music moving Wenren Hong’s heartstrings, prompting him to draw his sword and dance. Soon, the Carp Princess Bi Ji joined, dancing in harmony with water, causing ripples to follow her steps.

Bailing transformed into a Seven-Colored Spirit Dove, resonating with the flock.

Her melodious voice intertwined perfectly with the music and sword dance, weaving a symphony of the heavens and earth, rendering everything else insignificant.

As the performance and ritual concluded.

Ning Xunqiu, the monkey, and Niu Da lingered in the enchanting aftertaste for a long time before eventually returning to their senses, exchanging smiles and cheering in unison.

They then gathered to enjoy Spiritual Food, listening to "Bailing" recount amusing anecdotes encountered with Qi Cultivators, broadening their experiences.

Sporadic laughter echoed from Cliff Mountain.

...

Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth.

Ning Xunqiu planted the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Evergreen Pine Tree branch on the mountain peak, an "IOTA of White Cloud Qi" was appointed as a Cloud Spirit and released.

Gracefully, it danced in the air, swiftly transforming into a nimble fish swimming freely in the azure sky.

"Woo——"

A long call reverberated throughout Cyan Mountain Heaven and Earth, filled with uncontrollable excitement.

"I have decided to cultivate in seclusion at Purple Bamboo Mountain, not leaving for three hundred years. Why then... is the three-hundred-year calamity in the Celestial Derivation Volume still present, affecting things so broadly?"

"Am I not the Soldier Master with Divine Weapons, not one for conflicts, how could I fall here?"

"What indeed?"

Ning Xunqiu’s expression subtly changed as he opened the Celestial Derivation Volume, taking up his pen to write down the final segment.

[I continue devoted cultivation in Purple Bamboo Mountain, refining Spirit Pills to barter with the Qi Cultivators of the East Sea, entrusting Bailing to gather information on Spiritual Objects and Spirit Medicines.]

[Would you like to use ten points of Fortune to rewrite this segment of life?]

"Rewrite."

...