“Only one month?!”
Liang Yan’s heart went cold. He asked nervously, “Has Martial Uncle discerned the nature of this technique?”
Zhou Yan and Lin Fei exchanged a glance, both wearing traces of a bitter smile.
“Nephew Liang, it is not that your Martial Uncle Lin and I are unwilling to help you, but this thing is truly bizarre. With our current abilities, we can only manage to seal it temporarily. If you wish to eradicate it completely, I fear you will have to seek other opportunities elsewhere.”
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of Liang Yan’s mouth, but he still cupped his hands in a respectful salute.
“I am deeply grateful to both Martial Uncles for stepping in so gallantly! To be able to extend my life by even a month is already a tremendous blessing; at least it has given me a glimmer of hope.”
Hearing this, Lin Fei frowned and said, “Actually, there are some records regarding various observations and knowledge within the Hall of Instruction. You could go in and consult them. If you can identify the technique that has afflicted you, perhaps you can find the right remedy.”
Liang Yan nodded, bowed once more to both Lin Fei and Zhou Yan, and then turned to leave.
Watching Liang Yan’s retreating figure, Lin Fei sighed. “A fine junior. Although his aptitude is insufficient, his intelligence and character are exceptional. It is a pity his fate is so ill-fated.”
Zhou Yan glanced at him and said, “Each person has their own karma. With so many Qi Refining juniors in the Starry Pavilion, how can you worry about all of them? Besides, you have long since repaid the kindness the senior bestowed upon you back then. You need not blame yourself any further.”
Lin Fei nodded and said no more.
As Liang Yan left Lin Fei’s cave dwelling, a sense of loss washed over him. He hadn't expected that even his two Foundation Establishment Martial Uncles, Lin Fei and Zhou Yan, would be helpless. How could a mere Level 5 Qi Refining disciple like himself possibly break this technique?
He thought back to not long ago, when he had made grand proclamations while confronting the Lord of the Zither, vowing to break the shackles of destiny and achieve Foundation Establishment of the Spiritual Platform. Yet, before long, he was left with less than a month to live. It was a massive irony.
“Martial Uncle Lin said I could try to find a way in the Hall of Instruction, but unfortunately, I have already used up my ‘Petition Order.’ With my status as a handyman disciple, I am not qualified to borrow books there. Although my promotion to an outer disciple is a certainty, I only have one month left; I fear I won't live to see that day.”
As Liang Yan walked, his thoughts raced, and he felt that no matter what he did, it was a dead end. In his anxiety and distraction, he had unconsciously returned to the thatched cottage in the Apricot Grove.
He felt a sudden sensation and looked up, only to see a person standing in the courtyard. The man wore a moon-white robe and a scholar's cap, looking elegant and extraordinary, with a precious sword hanging at his waist. He was currently looking at him with a smile.
“Junior Brother Liang, it has been a while!”
“Senior Brother Zhuo!”
The person before him was none other than Zhuo Bufan. Seeing him, Liang Yan suddenly remembered that he had been so preoccupied lately that he had forgotten to help him refine pills. Counting the time he spent on the mission in Yongle Town, they had not met for several months.
“Junior Brother Liang’s cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds. We haven't met for only two or three months, yet your aura has become increasingly solid. You must have made great strides in your divine abilities!”
“Why must Senior Brother Zhuo tease me? My meager cultivation could never catch your eye,” Liang Yan said absentmindedly.
Zhuo Bufan smiled slightly and said, “On the path of cultivation, aptitude is certainly important, but opportunity and hard work are equally indispensable. I see that your Dao heart is steadfast and your cultivation is diligent. If you encounter the right opportunity in the future, you will surely break through your shackles and soar to great heights.”
Liang Yan knew these were merely polite formalities. The fact that Zhuo Bufan had come to find him personally was likely due to the pill refining.
Sure enough, Zhuo Bufan shifted the topic and continued, “Junior Brother Liang, do not blame me for interrupting your cultivation, but this ‘Sword-Nurturing Pill’ is very important to me. Once one begins taking it, the course cannot be interrupted. Since the last time you helped me refine pills, I don't have many left. I hope Junior Brother Liang can help me refine a batch today. As for the reward, I can increase the Spirit Gathering Pills to five. If you have any other requests, feel free to bring them up; everything is negotiable.”
Upon hearing this, Liang Yan gave a bitter laugh. “Senior Brother Zhuo, it is not that I am unwilling to help, but I can barely protect myself right now. I fear that after I refine this batch, there will be no next batch!”
Zhuo Bufan was startled and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Liang Yan did not hide anything. He told him everything: how he and Tang Diexian had gone down the mountain, how they encountered Blood Mad, how he had been struck by Blood Mad’s secret technique, and his current predicament. He only omitted the specific details of the combat and glossed over certain confidential matters.
When he reached the part where he mentioned having only one month of life remaining, even someone as composed as Zhuo Bufan could not help but be greatly shocked.
“Such a thing exists?!” Zhuo Bufan stared at Liang Yan, his eyes flickering as if he were deep in thought.
The two fell into silence for a long time. Eventually, Zhuo Bufan asked, “Does Junior Brother Liang have any other way to save himself?”
Liang Yan shook his head with a bitter smile. “Even the two Foundation Establishment Martial Uncles are helpless; how could I, Liang, have any way? The unluckiest part is that my six-year term is not yet up and I am still a handyman disciple, so I cannot access many of the sect's resources. With disaster imminent and only one month left, I am truly at my wits' end.”
Zhuo Bufan nodded, then suddenly said seriously, “If that is the case, I actually have a method. However, this method is quite unorthodox. Would Junior Brother Liang be willing to hear it?”
Liang Yan was shaken and immediately replied, “Please, Senior Brother Zhuo, speak plainly!”
“Are you aware that there is a treasure within the sect called the Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp?”
“The Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp?”
“Indeed!” Zhuo Bufan said. “The Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp is a soul-type secret treasure specifically designed to counter filthy and evil techniques. An ordinary disciple, when illuminated by this lamp, can dispel evil, avoid misfortune, and nourish their soul. Any disciple in the sect who has been possessed by an evil technique or practices soul-type cultivation techniques would desire to be illuminated by it. Since the red light orb in your body is an evil technique targeting the soul and consciousness, the Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp should be its natural nemesis!”
“Such a treasure exists!” Liang Yan’s heart stirred, but he immediately smiled bitterly. “A treasure so precious... I imagine not every disciple would have the chance to be illuminated by it.”
“You are correct,” Zhuo Bufan nodded. “The Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp is located in a forbidden canyon within the sect. Every five years, the sect issues invitations for the lamp to disciples of various paths who practice soul-type secret techniques. Every invited disciple must pass a test specific to their path. For example, disciples of the Array Path must break a formation, those of the Talisman Path must duel with talismans, and those of the Pill Path must open a furnace to refine pills. As for the four arts of Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, they must naturally demonstrate their expertise. Only those who pass the tests of their respective paths are qualified to enter the canyon and be illuminated by the lamp.”
Liang Yan asked urgently, “Then when is the next time invitations are issued?”
“Unfortunately, it will be another two years before the Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp is opened again.”
“What? Then I have no chance!”
Zhuo Bufan shook his head. “Not necessarily. Right now, there is actually a massive opportunity!”
He then leaned close to Liang Yan’s ear and whispered, “There are seven entrances to the canyon where the lamp is located, corresponding to the seven different tests. Each entrance is guarded by an Elder of our sect, and they will never allow anyone to enter for the trials unless it is the official opening period. However, the Great Mystical Calligraphy Assembly is approaching. This is our sect's greatest event and a massive opportunity for every cultivator at or above the Foundation Establishment stage. At that time, these guarding Elders will temporarily leave to attend the assembly, and their duties will be handed over to their Qi Refining disciples for half a day. This is your only chance, Junior Brother Liang.”
Liang Yan was shocked. “You want me to sneak into the canyon and take the Seven-Star Soul-Guiding Lamp privately?!”
Zhuo Bufan nodded. “If there is no other way, this may be your only path to survival. However, if you are discovered by the sect, according to the Laws of the Law Pavilion, while it might not result in expulsion or the loss of your cultivation, you will certainly face at least forty or fifty years of wall-facing punishment. As for whether to take the risk, it is up to you.”
Liang Yan fell silent for a long while, then suddenly gritted his teeth. “I fear I have no other choice. Facing punishment by wall-facing is ten thousand times better than death. As long as I keep my life, perhaps everything can change in the future!”