Chapter 52: Upon Lotus Shadow Peak

A few days later.

At Lianyou Peak of the Deep Abyss Sect.

Song Yan and Li Qingfeng sat together in the lakeside courtyard, with Gu Qingqing seated across from them.

“Gu... Junior Sister Gu, there are female cultivators everywhere on Lianyou Peak. If Senior Brother Song and I wait here for Senior Sister Qin, isn’t that a bit inappropriate...” Li Qingfeng spoke hesitantly, “Maybe we should wait at the outer sect’s chores hall instead.”

“No need, no need.” Gu Qingqing shook her head, her smile gentle. “It’s all right. Senior Sister Qin said so herself. She should be reporting the matter of the demonic cultivator at Peach Blossom Dock to the elders right now and will return soon.”

Her lashes curved as she smiled, and dimples graced her cheeks.

“If you don’t mind, please try some of Lianhua Peak’s pastries.”

It was Song Yan’s first time visiting Lianyou Peak. To be honest, where the sect’s female disciples resided, it truly was like spring all year round, the scenery enchanting. Every flower and blade of grass seemed meticulously tended by outer sect disciples.

Xiao He had already slipped out from Song Yan’s sleeve, taken on human form, and was playing about everywhere. Song Yan’s possession of a little snake spirit beast was hardly a secret anymore.

From time to time, female cultivators passed by the flowery courtyard. Spotting male disciples on the peak, they couldn’t help but look over curiously, pointing and whispering among themselves.

“Who are those two male disciples... why are they here?”

“No idea... Oh? Junior Sister Qingqing is there too.”

“My, that junior brother is quite handsome.”

“He looks familiar...”

Conversing in their own domain, the women had no need to hide their voices or transmit sound secretly, so the three in the courtyard could hear everything clearly.

Gu Qingqing couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

Song Yan didn’t mind at all; as Xiao He often said, he had been praised as a striking youth since childhood by everyone for miles around. Li Qingfeng, however, had grown up in the mundane imperial palace, with his master always warning him not to interact with the palace maids on pain of severe punishment. That curious yet wary attitude toward women had followed him up the immortal mountain.

“Junior Sister Gu, do you know why Senior Sister Qin called us here?” he asked.

“I’m not sure either.” Gu Qingqing’s serene and gentle expression showed a hint of puzzlement. “By rights, the mission is complete, and our rewards as outer disciples have already been distributed.”

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. “Ah, Senior Sister Qin is here.”

A pale blue arc of light swept in from the east, descending onto Lianyou Peak. The sword light faded, and with every step the figure took, lotus flowers bloomed beneath her feet.

Upon seeing Qin Ying’s graceful bearing once again, they were all struck by her otherworldly beauty.

She landed in the courtyard and approached them.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Qin.”

“Greetings, Senior Sister Qin.”

Qin Ying nodded slightly. “I called you here because of the incident at Peach Blossom Dock a few days ago.”

“Although the sect has credited me with the final merit for destroying the demonic cultivator, I, Qin Ying, am not one to covet fame or fortune. If not for your ingenious moves in disrupting the Blood Refining Formation, I fear our fates would have been in jeopardy...”

Her tone was always cool and distant as she spoke: “All the spoils from the battle are here. Each of you may choose one item to take.”

The three were startled—these were the spoils of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

As they hesitated, Qin Ying added, “The items among them that must be handed over to the sect, such as the Blood Refining Scroll, I’ve already deposited at the Affairs Hall. There’s no need for doubt or delay—choose and take what you like.”

“Yes...”

They all turned to Song Yan.

During the battle alongside Qin Ying against Jiang Xiao, each of the three had fought desperately for survival, using every trick they had at their disposal. But if you really counted it up, there was no doubt that Song Yan, who had disrupted the formation’s core with his black sword and helped Qin Ying break through Jiang Xiao’s protective spirit robe, had contributed the most. Li Qingfeng came next, Gu Qingqing last.

Having been through life and death together, it was only natural that Song Yan should choose first.

He didn’t hesitate; opening the storage pouch.

How could he refuse something freely given?

There was an impressive array inside—not only items belonging to Jiang Xiao, but also cultivation resources and treasures hoarded from disciples of various sects and lone cultivators he’d slaughtered at Peach Blossom Dock over the years.

There were defensive artifacts, spirit-refining pills, mysterious talismans, and even a special pale blue spirit stone.

A mid-grade spirit stone!

In the world of cultivation, spirit stones came in many grades. The ones Song Yan usually spoke of were all low-grade, with mixed spiritual energy and many impurities—abundant but not very effective. A mid-grade spirit stone, however, contained spiritual energy almost ten times purer, with far superior absorption efficiency.

Though the official exchange rate at the major markets and spirit stone banks was one mid-grade to a hundred low-grade stones, in practice, the price would rise by thirty to fifty percent because of the superior quality and special uses of higher-grade stones.

Trouble!

Song Yan looked at the dazzling array of treasures and felt a pang of regret. He wanted them all.

But since he could only pick one, there was no doubt...

His gaze settled on the black flying sword.

Though Song Yan was retracing the path of the ancient sword cultivators and external swords weren’t as crucial, a sword’s body as a core for the life-bound flying sword could greatly enhance its power if it was suitable.

“Come to think of it... why didn’t Senior Sister Qin keep such a divine weapon for herself?” he wondered. “Why offer it as a reward for us to choose from?”

Judging by the sword’s might on the day of battle, it was certainly no ordinary artifact.

It was puzzling, but Song Yan had little interest in guessing at the hearts of women—except perhaps for Xiao He.

Without further hesitation, he chose the flying sword.

“Senior Sister, I’ll take this one.”

Qin Ying’s gaze lingered on the sword, a flicker of unease passing through her heart, though she quickly forced it down.

In truth, leaving the sword among the rewards was a deliberate choice. First, the sword was incompatible with her cultivation method and thus of little use to her, plus the demonic resonance it displayed that day had truly unsettled her. Second, Song Yan had somehow managed to connect with the sword during the battle, suggesting fate was at play.

Li Qingfeng, with his strange cultivation method and kitchenware artifacts, would be best served by one of the talismans or the mid-grade spirit stone. Gu Qingqing, gentle by nature and averse to violence, would never choose the sword.

In short, this sword...

Was always meant for Song Yan.

With her Qin family growing more aggressive by the day, urging her to win over elders and cultivate confidants within the Deep Abyss Sect—and with her master having shown such regard for Song Yan, whose talent with the sword was now undeniable—wasn’t this the perfect blank slate delivered right to her door?

“This sword...”

To Song Yan’s surprise, Qin Ying seemed hesitant.

“Though the demonic cultivator is dead, the sword itself still feels sinister. I’m concerned...” She paused, as if making up her mind. “You may have it, but... you must agree to one condition.”

What condition? Song Yan was puzzled. What could she possibly request that he, a mere outer sect disciple, could refuse?

“When you reach late-stage Qi Refinement and advance to the inner sect...” Qin Ying’s face was as impassive and cold as ever. “You must become my disciple and acknowledge me as your master.”

“What?”

Not only Song Yan, but also Gu Qingqing and Li Qingfeng were all stunned.