A Fragrance That Travels a Thousand Miles
Page (1/3)
The East Sea, Demon Talisman Sect, Bright Lake Island.
A beam of spiritual light shot into the sky, faintly accompanied by the cry of a phoenix.
Dense spiritual energy from heaven and earth converged, swirling around the light to form a towering pillar.
Lian’er stood outside, gazing at Qin Shuyi’s closed-door cultivation chamber, her face radiant with joy.
Seven years had passed; she had blossomed into a graceful beauty, gentle in temperament, with an air of ethereal elegance.
Lian’er’s cultivation aptitude was mediocre, and she had reached only the third level of Qi Ingestion, with no hope of advancing to the Dao Foundation.
Recently, Qin Shuyi had sought a Face-Preserving Pill for her, allowing her beauty to remain timeless.
Today, Qin Shuyi broke through her limits, formally advancing to the Dao Foundation stage!
After a long while,
The celestial phenomenon dispersed.
The door opened, and Qin Shuyi emerged serenely.
Time had left no trace on her peerlessly beautiful face.
The plum blossom mark between her brows had grown more mystical, imbued with spiritual vitality, making her appear even more enchanting.
“Congratulations, sister!”
Lian’er, filled with excitement, stepped forward to grasp Qin Shuyi’s hand, her happiness evident.
Qin Shuyi swept her gaze around, smiling sweetly, “In three years, we’ll journey to Star-Gazing Island. After that, we may never return here. These rare years of peace, I intend to guide your cultivation well.”
Lian’er nodded, then sighed as if recalling something, “Speaking of which, since the contest, we haven’t spoken to that Taoist Xu... Who would have thought he’d perish in the outer sea.”
“Hush!”
Qin Shuyi spoke softly, “This matter must not spread. All will be revealed after three years, when Taoist Xu’s mission ends.”
“There’s no outsiders here.”
Lian’er shrugged, smiling, “Sister, you’ve finally seen your hardships turn to blessings—not only advancing to Dao Foundation, but finding someone who truly loves you. Following you is a fortune earned in a past life!”
A tender look flickered in Qin Shuyi’s beautiful eyes as she turned to ask Lian’er, “During my seclusion, has there been any news from Fellow Daoist Qu?”
“All right here!” Lian’er nodded, producing several paper cranes.
...
Dragon Scale Island.
Pang Yue set aside a jade slip, falling into deep thought.
The jade slip contained a travelogue.
Its author was a Dao Foundation rogue cultivator who had spent half his life wandering the outer sea.
One entry mentioned that he had found an ancient cave mansion of a Golden Core cultivator in a certain sea region, but regrettably failed to break the mansion’s wards to enter.
What happened after was unknown.
On the day the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends and the demoness of the Joyous Union Sect attacked, Pang Yue activated his improved Five Sacred Mountains Suppressing Array, inadvertently killing the Five Friends on the spot.
The Joyous Union demoness survived, but her physical body collapsed and her soul faded, soon dissipating entirely.
Only then did Pang Yue realize that not everyone could withstand the pressure of the Five Sacred Mountains Suppressing Array as Zheng Peng did.
Though all were late Dao Foundation, the gap between rogue cultivators and the scions of great cultivation clans was enormous.
If Zheng Peng’s strength was rated at one hundred, the rogue cultivators barely reached ten.
The Joyous Union demoness had mysterious magical power, but was inept in combat and met her end in bewilderment.
The combined wealth in their storage bags was less than what Zheng Peng alone possessed.
The only items of value were this jade slip and the Joyous Union Sect’s dual cultivation secret technique.
An ancient Golden Core cultivator’s cave mansion.
If it hadn’t been explored, its worth would be immense!
Page (2/3)
Pang Yue found a jade slip in the Joyous Union demoness’s storage bag, which recorded a secret technique—Yin-Yang Cave Mysteries Return to Origin Method.
It detailed the arts of absorbing yin to supplement yang, absorbing yang to supplement yin, and harmonizing yin and yang, with thorough explanations for increasing magical power and breaking through realms, its efficacy seemingly surpassing that of elixirs!
Pang Yue used the Innate Infinite Monument to deduce it and quickly mastered it.
He had decided that, once the mission ended, he would devote himself to helping Qin Shuyi break through to Dao Foundation.
As for the Golden Core cave mansion, it appeared to be not far from Dragon Scale Island, definitely worth investigating.
...
Demon Talisman Sect’s Outer Sea Teleportation Array Marketplace.
Masked, Pang Yue once again entered the doors of Antiquities Pavilion.
The shopkeeper was assisting a young cultivator in selecting magical implements; upon seeing Pang Yue, he signaled for him to wait.
Over the past few years, their transactions had been steady and their cooperation pleasant.
Pang Yue nodded in greeting, walked familiarly into a private room, and brewed himself a pot of spiritual tea.
“Shopkeeper Gu, that fellow cultivator just now seemed unfamiliar, didn’t he?”
The young cultivator played with a wheel-shaped implement, glancing at Pang Yue’s private room with a grin.
The shopkeeper replied with a half-smile, “Oh? Brother Qian, can you see through his mask?”
“No, when I say unfamiliar, I mean his mask,” the young cultivator laughed.
“Well then, I won’t disturb your business. Remember to keep an eye out for those few people for me.”
With that, he set down the implement and departed breezily.
The shopkeeper entered the private room, and without wasting words, the pair began their transaction.
“Thirty Dao Foundation beasts, still thirty thousand spirit stones. Do you want spirit stones or materials?”
The shopkeeper, in good spirits, glanced casually at the storage bag and spoke directly.
“How’s the material collection?” Pang Yue asked.
The shopkeeper sighed, “The list you gave me at first is still the same—those items are too rare. But the materials list from two years ago is basically complete.”
Two years prior, after Pang Yue obtained the main material for the Formless Sword—Voidsteel Essence—he immediately commissioned the shopkeeper to gather supplementary materials.
He hadn’t expected them to be assembled so quickly.
“How many spirit stones?” Pang Yue asked, barely able to contain his delight.
The shopkeeper held up five fingers, “Five hundred thousand spirit stones. If I didn’t know you’re not short on spirit stones, I wouldn’t dare take on this deal for the average Dao Foundation cultivator!”
He handed over a storage bag for Pang Yue to inspect.
Upon examination, Pang Yue found that the materials for forging the Formless Sword were nearly complete, and the missing items could be substituted with alternatives.
Moreover, the quantity of each supplementary material was ample, enough to forge several Formless Swords.
Though expensive, Pang Yue hadn’t lacked spirit stones these past few years, so he had no complaints.
The transaction concluded swiftly.
As Pang Yue prepared to leave, the shopkeeper stopped him.
“Fellow Daoist, I have a favor to ask. Have you seen these people?”
The shopkeeper produced a scroll and unfurled it before Pang Yue.
On it were portraits of five people—the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends!
“Never seen them,” Pang Yue replied without hesitation.
The shopkeeper rolled up the scroll and said, “If you ever encounter these five, please keep an eye out. Any information you can provide, I’ll pay handsomely for.”
Pang Yue’s expression flickered, “Oh? Who are they, to merit such attention from you?”
The shopkeeper explained, “They’re a group of rogue cultivators known as the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends, all late Dao Foundation, quite formidable, and well-known in the outer sea. Someone has commissioned me to gather their whereabouts, and that person’s master happens to be my uncle.”
Page (3/3)
Pang Yue chatted casually with the shopkeeper before departing.
...
The young cultivator left Antiquities Pavilion, heading to a cultivators’ inn on the east side of the marketplace.
In a third-floor room,
Four cultivators sipped tea and conversed idly; upon the young cultivator’s arrival, one immediately activated the room’s wards, isolating it from the outside.
Finding this insufficient, he produced six talismans and arranged them into a formation, further dividing the room from the outside world.
The young cultivator looked toward the man seated at the center and laughed, “Fellow Daoist Long, so secretive in summoning us, and asking me to investigate the whereabouts of the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends—what’s this about? Now that everyone’s here, you can speak freely!”
The cultivator surnamed Long was pale and beardless, dressed in a scholar’s robe, resembling an ordinary teacher from a mundane town—unremarkable at first glance.
He was short and plain-featured, yet occupying the seat of honor, he gave off an unsettling impression.
“Don’t be impatient, Fellow Daoist Xun.”
He glanced at the young cultivator and spoke unhurriedly, “I have a younger sister, Long Ying’er, an inner disciple of the Joyous Union Sect.”
The four exchanged looks.
The Joyous Union Sect was no less powerful than the Demon Talisman Sect, a leading force in the East Sea.
Among those present, some were rogue cultivators, others from cultivation families; all fell short compared to an inner disciple of a major sect.
Long Yanzi continued, “Two years ago, my sister sent me a message via the Thousand-Mile Fragrance Transmission, saying the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends had obtained the location of an ancient Golden Core cultivator’s cave mansion and planned to explore it... Unfortunately, she never managed to obtain the exact location, but the general area is in these waters.”
Faces changed subtly, each revealing delight.
What did an ancient Golden Core cultivator’s legacy mean?
Magical treasures!
Elixirs!
Golden Core-level inheritance!
Rare materials and treasures beyond the reach of Dao Foundation cultivators!
Any one of these would be priceless.
Long Yanzi’s expression remained calm, but cold light flickered in his eyes, “I’ve been in contact with my sister these two years, but seven days ago, we lost touch completely!”
Xun Yuan, the young cultivator, asked, “Could it be that she entered the cave mansion, severing contact?”
Long Yanzi shook his head, “Absolutely not. She and the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends had not yet entered, for she and I had agreed she would inform me before going in.”
Another cultivator sighed, “Then there’s only one possibility—she fell victim to the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends!”
“My sister’s cultivation was considerable, but all Five Friends are late Dao Foundation... Fellow Daoists, I summoned you for two reasons: to seek the Golden Core cave mansion together, and to enlist your help in avenging my sister!”
Long Yanzi spoke gravely.
Xun Yuan nodded in realization, “I see! Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to help you avenge her.”
The others voiced their support as well.
“Sadly, there’s been no news of the Bamboo Mountain Five Friends. I’ve used connections and called upon the Gu family’s local influence, but have found nothing,” Xun Yuan lamented.
His master was an elder of the Gu family, a Golden Core clan under the Demon Talisman Sect. Though not formally in the sect, Elder Gu was a powerful cultivator who oversaw the Gu family, so Xun Yuan held significant status.
A round-faced cultivator beside him said, “The Gu family’s Antiquities Pavilion has operated here for over a thousand years. If nothing turns up, it’s time to try other methods.”
Xun Yuan smiled, “What do you suggest, Fellow Daoist Qian?”
The cultivator surnamed Qian—full name Qian Yufeng—was a rogue cultivator renowned for his alchemy, with contacts throughout the Demon Talisman Sect’s marketplaces.
Short and rotund, Qian Yufeng wore luxurious robes that radiated spiritual light, apparently a magical artifact.
He turned his gaze to Long Yanzi, “Liu Xuantong of the Demon Talisman Sect’s Thunder Demon Hall has guarded the island’s teleportation hall for thirty years. His master, Master Huang, has long crafted treasures in the outer sea. Master Huang is famed for divination and deduction in the East Sea, and Liu Xuantong has inherited several techniques. Why not request his assistance...?”