Chapter 80: Do Not Squander the Divine Opportunity (Union)
New Year's Eve.
Another Lunar New Year's Eve had arrived.
The entire sect was enveloped in a unique festive atmosphere.
Several Foundation Establishment cultivators stood atop their flying swords, channeling spiritual energy to hang spirit talisman lanterns, one after another, at the corners of every eave throughout the sect.
At the Dao Entry Terrace, a thin layer of snow covered the mountain path and stone steps. A few outer disciples walked together, about to descend the mountain. They happened to meet the gatekeeper cultivator, who recognized them and bid them farewell.
“Be careful on your journey. If you return before the seventh day, the dining hall still has spirit meat dumplings for you to claim.”
“Understood, Senior Brother!”
It was indeed peculiar. Cultivation was said to require severing worldly ties and emotions, abandoning all mundane attachments to pursue longevity. Other sects in Chu's cultivation world abided by this, not suppressing their disciples but certainly not encouraging these secular festivals.
Yet, the Dongyuan Sect was the exact opposite.
When the Sect Master founded the sect, he established a rule that from New Year's Eve until the seventh day, the entire sect would rest collectively.
Just like the mortal world.
All outer chores and inner sect tasks were postponed. If one wished to return home for the New Year, a simple notice to the steward elder sufficed, and one could leave a few days early, provided they returned by the eighth day.
Still, during the Spring Festival, the taverns and dining halls operated as usual.
Disciples who stayed to help in the sect received extra stipends as compensation.
Some senior disciples mentioned that if the Sect Master was not in secluded cultivation on New Year's Eve, those staying at the sect might even receive a handwritten New Year's greeting from him.
But that was only rumor.
Today, Song Yan was dressed impressively in a steward’s Dao robe, looking quite dashing.
Yes, he was one of the outer disciples who had volunteered to stay on duty in the sect this year.
Most of the original steward disciples had returned home for the holiday.
In the past half month, his mind had been clear, spiritual resources abundant, and his cultivation progress swift as the wind. Such a state was rare, so he intended to seize the momentum and continue cultivating.
Moreover, in previous years, he had always returned to Shiliang for New Year's Eve.
This time, celebrating in the sect felt refreshingly different.
Staying on duty in the sect wasn't bad at all.
Though it was said to be a patrol of the sect, in reality everyone gathered in the dining hall, hiding in private rooms with friends, chatting and drinking.
Sure enough, Junior Sister Gu Qingqing had sent a transmission talisman early in the day, saying she had invited some familiar faces to have New Year's dinner together in the dining hall.
Upon hearing the word “familiar,” he felt a bit disoriented.
How could he have familiar acquaintances?
But thinking again, there were indeed a few in the outer sect whom he could now call friends.
The dining hall was bustling today, mostly with disciples on duty.
Following the room number from Qingqing’s transmission talisman, he pushed open the wooden door of the private room.
“Senior Brother Song!”
Perhaps to welcome the new year, Gu Qingqing wore a pink brocade jacket, her hair tied in two buns with red ribbons—festive and adorable.
“Come, sit.”
Inside, the faces were all familiar. Besides Gu Qingqing, Li Qingfeng and Shao Sichao were present, as well as another girl who seemed to be Gu Qingqing’s junior sister.
Song Yan felt she looked familiar but couldn’t recall her name.
“Senior Brother Song?”
The female cultivator saw Song Yan and exclaimed in surprise.
“Hm? You know me?”
She was delicate in appearance but spoke with poise: “Yes, I do. Perhaps you’ve forgotten, Senior Brother Song. On Xiawei Peak, I and two fellow disciples encountered danger. Thanks to your intervention, we were able to return safely.”
“Ah…”
He remembered now.
He had just returned from a trip to Silent Valley then.
Out of courtesy, Song Yan asked, “What is your name?”
“I am Yang Yue Rong.”
Unfamiliar.
“A lovely name.”
Gu Qingqing curiously tugged at Yang Yue Rong, asking about the events of that day. The two girls whispered together, leaving Song Yan aside.
“Long time no see, Qingfeng.”
Li Qingfeng and Song Yan shared a bond forged in life-and-death, ever since their journey to Peach Blossom Cove. They often sparred and exchanged cultivation insights.
The happenings in Peach Blossom Cove were understood but rarely discussed.
Song Yan’s methods were fierce, Li Qingfeng’s techniques eccentric—neither judged the other.
Cultivators all have their opportunities; to make a fuss would be beneath them.
“Senior Brother Shao.”
Shao Sichao greeted Song Yan, then returned his attention to the menu in his hands.
To Song Yan, he and Shao Sichao had crossed paths several times, but to Shao, perhaps only during the trip to Silent Valley.
With the addition of Song Yan, Li Qingfeng seemed less tense amidst the two female cultivators.
“It’s lively today. Didn’t expect you wouldn’t return home, Old Song?”
“Shiliang is close to the sect, isn’t it?”
At least, he could speak freely now.
Song Yan explained his reasons, and everyone nodded in understanding.
“It’s not that I don’t care for home. When my cultivation stabilizes, I’ll go back and visit. The villagers are still there, nothing’s changed.”
They all nodded.
Li Qingfeng then asked, “So, where is everyone from?”
Gu Qingqing replied first, “I’m from Danyang Prefecture in Chenzhou, by the West Qi River. Have you been there, Qingfeng?”
“No.”
“Ha, truly inexperienced.”
“Old Song, have you been?”
“No.”
Song Yan had always been a well-behaved child, only once traveling to Linzhou with his grandfather for medical relief, never venturing far otherwise.
Gu Qingqing chuckled, “Next time, I’ll take Senior Brother Song for a tour!”
Li Qingfeng grumbled, “Why is it that with me, it’s always ‘inexperienced’?”
“Hahaha…”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Danyang Prefecture in Chenzhou.
If he remembered correctly, the Wan family that Wan Songran belonged to was based there.
“How about you, Qingfeng? Not visiting your hometown?”
At this, Li Qingfeng’s expression grew a bit awkward, but he quickly masked it with a self-deprecating smile. “Me? My hometown is Xin’an Prefecture in Linzhou.”
Xin’an Prefecture?
That was the capital of Chu.
“But in the mortal world, I was just a homeless stray. My family has all passed away.”
Song Yan was startled, patting his shoulder.
“What about you, Senior Brother Shao?”
Li Qingfeng suddenly asked, “Where are you from, Senior Brother Shao?”
“Me? I’m from Longquan Prefecture, from Sunjia Village near Beiya Mountain.”
Shao Sichao answered carelessly, “It’s been years since I’ve gone back.”
“Oh.”
Li Qingfeng abruptly changed the subject, “Hey, Old Song, where’s your little snake? Didn’t bring her?”
“Xiao He? She’s right here…”
Hiss—
The snake spirit suddenly poked her head out from Song Yan’s sleeve.
With a girl’s clear voice, she greeted earnestly, “Happy New Year!”
Yang Yue Rong was startled by the sudden snake spirit, her flustered look making Xiao He laugh in delight.
The room regained its cheerful atmosphere.
Soon, the New Year’s feast was served.
In the center was a bronze hotpot, its soup bubbling brightly and fragrant. Around it were Eight Treasure Pepper Rice, spirit mushroom spring rolls, and various spirit fish slices and other spirit plant and meat dishes.
As they chatted and ate, they savored the rare festive mood.
“Hmm?”
Near midnight, there seemed to be some commotion outside.
Qingqing, by the window, got up and opened the small casement.
“Wow…”
Looking out, spirit lanterns gradually lit up along the sect’s mountain paths, their warm glow mingling with the talisman lanterns hanging from the eaves.
The mountain protection array radiated spiritual light.
An inverted character for “fortune” shone brightly.
Several streaks of spiritual light soared into the night sky.
Boom—
A peach blossom-shaped spirit firework exploded in the darkness, illuminating the snow-covered Dao Entry Terrace.
Everyone paused, chopsticks in hand, and gathered by the window, watching the fireworks together.
“I wonder how A’Nian, A’Yun, and Da Rong are nowadays…”
“Is Uncle Meng’s health better…”
“Did Granny Qin return home today?”
At that moment, perhaps everyone was thinking of their hometowns and loved ones.
Shao Sichao stood at the back, sighing softly, his usual irreverence replaced by a touch of loneliness.
“Home is thousands of miles away—when will I return?”
Dong, dong, dong…
On Dragon Peak, bells and chimes rang through the clouds.
In the night, a streak of azure spiritual light flew from somewhere within the sect, splitting into countless spirit butterflies that drifted toward every corner of the sect.
Several strands of spiritual light floated toward the dining hall, hovering beside the group.
“What’s this…”
Gu Qingqing, seeing the dazzling spiritual light, tapped it with her fingertip.
A scroll of seal script slowly unfurled, spiritual energy turning to ink upon it.
Eight strong, bold characters appeared:
“A New Cycle Begins, All Things Renewed.”
On the side, in tiny script: Li Jun.
“Sect Master’s handwritten words!”
Everyone exclaimed in surprise.
They each received an azure spiritual light hovering by their side.
The calligraphy was identical, but each contained a unique strand of spiritual energy.
Li Qingfeng sensed something, guiding the spiritual energy into his dantian and sea of qi.
His expression changed: “This…”
Everyone followed suit, discovering the energy was pure and, upon merging with their dantian, their cultivation advanced noticeably within moments.
Outside the dining hall, there was growing excitement.
Listening closely, it turned out someone had received the Sect Master’s calligraphy and broke through their bottleneck on the spot, with disciples all around congratulating them.
This New Year’s Eve, the Sect Master was not in seclusion; not only did he gift handwritten blessings, but he even split his spiritual power to aid cultivation.
Song Yan thought to himself, their Sect Master was remarkably humane.
Was this spiritual energy a kind of “lucky money” for the younger disciples?
All disciples on duty benefited.
Everyone was overjoyed.
“Senior Brother Song, why don’t you open yours?”
Gu Qingqing noticed Song Yan’s lack of response and asked.
He had already received it, intending to open it back in his cave residence, but with the lively atmosphere, it felt appropriate to do so now.
He tapped it with his fingertip; the seal script slowly unfolded, spiritual energy became ink upon it.
Unexpectedly, the light formed eight characters different from the others.
Song Yan was stunned.
He gazed at the words, lost in thought.
A sharp and transparent spiritual intent surged from the calligraphy, turning into light and merging into the Sword Pavilion, fusing with his Dao seed.
…
“Diligently Cultivate Sword Intent, Do Not Waste Spiritual Opportunity.”
…
Dongyuan Sect, Forbidden Grounds.
In a secluded valley.
Words were carved into the cliff, their strokes sharp, as if etched with sword or blade.
A young man in white sat before a green stone stele, speaking to himself.
“Junior Sister, it took much effort to suppress my inner demon these past days.”
“My seclusion lasted quite long.”
“I made you spend Mid-Autumn and Little New Year alone. I’m truly sorry… You won’t blame your senior brother, will you?”
He looked up at the fireworks in the night sky and continued, “Feng’an is such a dry and cold place.”
“After more than three hundred years, I still can’t adapt.”
“It’s nothing like what you described in Junshan—‘a land of talent and spirit,’ ‘a place of beauty and fortune.’”
The young man suddenly laughed aloud, then fell into silence.
In front of the green stone stele grew a pear tree.
Beneath the tree sat a wine jar and two empty bowls.
“I was careless and forgot to fetch wine from Feng’an. I’ll make it up next time.”
“Tonight, let’s drink tea and keep vigil.”
He poured spirit tea into the bowls, one for the grave, one for himself.
“Speaking of which, there’s an interesting junior in the sect.”
“He follows the same path as me, and yet… it’s somewhat different.”
“Legend has it the ancient Sword Ancestor hailed from your Chu region.”
“Now, in this small Dongyuan Sect, there are two sword cultivators…”
“The workings of fate are truly wondrous.”
“Recently, demonic cultivators have been appearing more frequently. I must train diligently, or I might not be able to defend Feng’an anymore.”
The young man stood, gazed at the massive stone wall behind him, then turned and departed.
…
Yanran Mountains, Floating Jade Peak.
A woman in white stood atop the mountain, her robe fluttering in the cold wind.
She gazed toward Dongyuan Sect.
The mountain gate was ablaze with lights, the protective array radiating festive spiritual energy.
The azure fireworks in the sky were reflected in her pale yellow vertical pupils.
“Humans…”
“How intriguing.”
Under the night sky, hundreds of spirit talisman lanterns lit up in succession.
Some young disciples, like mortal children setting off firecrackers, cast strings of exploding Fire Crow talismans.
“On certain days, they exchange seemingly meaningless blessings…”
“Forget suffering, lay down burdens, embrace new beginnings.”
“When calamity strikes, they rally their spirits; when fortune shines, they tread cautiously.”
“No matter what, they carry on.”
“Perhaps this is why human cultivators, in the primordial chaos, managed to carve out a path of survival.”
Watching the strand of azure light drift from Dragon Peak to every corner, she suddenly thought of Xiao He, recalling the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke of that human cultivator.
With a tap of her finger, a wisp of demonic energy ensnared a lone azure butterfly.
The pure spiritual energy and the script within faintly emerged.
“But…”
“Fireworks fade quickly, spirit butterflies live short lives…”
The woman waved her sleeve, dispersing the demonic energy, letting the butterfly stumble away toward the depths of the Yanran Mountains.
“From hope and vitality to despair and destruction…”
“All in a blink of an eye.”
…
This transitional chapter for the New Year is posted as a whole.
After the New Year in Dongyuan Sect, the formal plot will gradually unfold. Thank you all for your continued support!
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