Chapter 43: The Green Fox Clan, the Jade Green Lotus

Only one year remains!

A Golden Core being might come looking for him to seek revenge.

The gap between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages was far too vast. Unless Jiang Sheng could open his Purple Mansion within a year, he would undoubtedly face certain death when confronting a Golden Core being!

Gazing at the bright moon in the sky, Jiang Sheng's thoughts were somewhat cluttered.

Even though Jiang Sheng believed his innate talent and comprehension were extraordinary, cultivation had always been a process of accumulation, bit by bit.

Without a monumental stroke of luck, he would be unable to open his Purple Mansion within a year.

Thinking back, it had taken him over a year to reach the middle stage of Foundation Establishment after achieving Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment at the age of eighteen.

Since descending the mountain to travel after reaching the middle stage, it had taken another two years to reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

With a light sigh, Jiang Sheng cast aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind; no matter what, he had to try.

Every increment of spiritual qi brought him one more chance of opportunity.

Just as Jiang Sheng turned to return to the front hall to begin his secluded cultivation, he suddenly paused.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jiang Sheng caught sight of a white, fluffy mass mixed among the snowdrifts outside the Taoist temple. Had he not been sharp-eyed, that thing might have truly gone unnoticed.

"That is..."

Jiang Sheng narrowed his eyes to observe, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The flowing light water curtain shielding the Qingxuan Temple suddenly opened a gap, and the Green-Robed Taoist stepped out of the temple, walking straight toward the object.

The thing was huddled in the pure white snowdrifts outside the temple; being night, it was hardly conspicuous under the moonlight.

Jiang Sheng said softly, "This poor Taoist has only been in seclusion for a mere year, yet Qingping Mountain has become so lively."

"Speaking of which, I am truly curious. Not to mention ordinary Foundation Establishment demons, even Purple Mansion demons wouldn't dare come to Qingping Mountain to seek my bad luck. You, a mere Qi Refining little demon, where do you get the courage to peer outside my place of practice?"

"Eh?"

This sound directly startled the little thing, causing its fur to stand on end.

In the next moment, the little thing spat out a burst of wind and snow and turned to run, only to be immobilized in place by a strand of spiritual power.

The little thing struggled incessantly, but was lifted by the spiritual power and delivered right in front of Jiang Sheng.

Looking at the white, fluffy little creature before him, the smile in Jiang Sheng's eyes grew more pronounced: "A white fox?"

"Logically speaking, there are many green foxes in these mountains. Where did a Qi Refining stage white fox come from?"

Bai Ying's heart was in a state of great complexity.

She was currently being held mid-air by a terrifying Taoist using spiritual power.

She was at the Qi Refining stage, while the opponent was at the Foundation Establishment stage; she had absolutely no power to resist.

The thought of potentially ending up skinned and deboned made Bai Ying tremble like a sieve, nearly to the point of wetting herself from fear.

She never expected that the terrifying Taoist, who had been in seclusion for over a year, would actually emerge—and that she would happen to run into him on this very day. What kind of cursed luck was this?!

Thinking of how this handsome Taoist had first killed the famous Great Tiger King of Qingping Mountain and then killed the River God of the Taiping River—whom no one dared to provoke—Bai Ying felt that this Taoist was shrouded in killing intent!

Was she about to be killed now?

Just as Bai Ying was about to faint from terror, another voice suddenly rang out from the forest: "The Taoist is a renowned virtuous and accomplished master. All living beings in Qingping Mountain respect you immensely. Please, Taoist, spare this little fellow."

The voice was gentle, not soft or sickly sweet, like that of a graceful and dignified lady from a great family. It was pleasant to the ear, making one feel as if they had encountered an old friend.

However, the smile in Jiang Sheng's eyes had already vanished. He casually withdrew the spiritual power, and after the little white fox tumbled onto the snow, it scrambled into the forest.

Jiang Sheng looked toward the forest, standing with his hands behind his back, his voice calm and mild: "Though I wouldn't dare call myself a virtuous master, I am no villain. Why should I lose my temper with this child?"

"However, there is one matter I do not understand, which requires an explanation from this fellow Daoist."

"And what if I cannot explain it clearly?" the voice rang out again.

Jiang Sheng's right hand dropped, and a three-foot green blade appeared in his palm: "This sword is three feet and six inches long, jet black in color, and wrapped in green lotuses. I have specially named it Qingping."

"Does fellow Daoist wish to test the sharpness of this blade?"

The voice fell silent for a moment before letting out a faint sigh: "Sigh."

The sigh was melodious and moving, making one feel as if a gentle beauty had suffered a grievance, making one want to cherish and protect her.

But Jiang Sheng's eyes remained clear: "Do not display such cheap tricks before me."

"You have one breath of time left."

Hearing Jiang Sheng's blatant threat, the person in the forest finally revealed themselves.

It was not a gentle, delicate beauty, but a green fox the size of a person.

Following closely beside the green fox was that same white, fluffy little thing.

The green fox spoke in human tongue: "I am Qingman. Greetings, Taoist."

"You know of me?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Qingman's eyes were incredibly spirited, as if she truly were a beauty with flowing eyes: "Living here in the twelve hundred miles of Qingping Mountain, who does not know the prestigious name of Taoist Jiang?"

"The year before last, you slew the Yellow Mountain Lord who occupied the main peak; at the end of the year, you slew the River God of the Taiping River. You have intimidated countless evil cultivators and demonic creatures."

"Though you have been in seclusion for a year and those outside the mountain may have forgotten you, who among the living beings within the mountain would dare forget you?"

Qingman's voice was melodious as she recounted Jiang Sheng's deeds as if she were a beauty admiring him, naturally eliciting goodwill.

Jiang Sheng, however, gave a light chuckle: "In that case, why have you come to my place?"

"Qingping Mountain spans twelve hundred miles and covers three prefectures."

"You should know that as long as you do not come to my place, you are free to roam the vastness of Qingping Mountain, and I will not bother with you."

Qingman looked at the huddled Bai Ying beside her with a complex expression before finally explaining the reason.

Bai Ying was naturally not a local fox of Qingping Mountain.

The locals were all green foxes; Bai Ying was actually from elsewhere, the child of one of Qingman's elder sisters.

Bai Ying had come to Qingping Mountain because her mother and father's territory had been seized by a Black Fire Snake.

Although her parents were also at the Foundation Establishment stage, they were only at the early stage and were no match for the late-stage Black Fire Snake. They had been forced to flee their territory and seek refuge here in Qingping Mountain.

Naturally, Bai Ying had followed them.

These events had occurred during Jiang Sheng's seclusion, so he was naturally unaware.

The entry of two Foundation Establishment beings into Qingping Mountain had naturally bolstered the strength of the green fox clan.

However, the elders of the green fox clan had warned them who the true master of Qingping Mountain was and who must absolutely not be provoked.

Consequently, the two Foundation Establishment beings stayed steadily within the green fox territory, rarely approaching the main peak of Qingping Mountain, and even daring not approach the vicinity of Qingping Town for fear of offending Jiang Sheng in the Qingxuan Temple.

The creatures of Qingping Mountain knew Jiang Sheng's habits: as long as they did not approach the main peak, they could live freely and leisurely.

Although Bai Ying had been warned by her parents, she could not resist the urge to come and see.

In truth, Bai Ying had been observing the Qingxuan Temple from a distance for a long time. Only after discovering that Jiang Sheng was in seclusion did she dare to run over.

After all, the location of the main peak was the best; the Qingping Town was right outside, and from the main peak, one could perfectly view the fireworks from the outside.

Bai Ying had actually come specifically to watch the fireworks, never expecting that Jiang Sheng would emerge from seclusion on this day.

"Since that is the case, then take this little one and leave." As Jiang Sheng spoke, he turned to return to the temple.

"The Taoist is willing to let us go?" Qingman was somewhat surprised.

Jiang Sheng glanced at Qingman, his voice peaceful: "You are not great villains, nor do you have any conflict or dispute with me."

"If I were to kill you just because this little one came to my place to watch fireworks, then what purpose would my cultivation or my pursuit of the Dao serve?"

"Depart. If you wish to see fireworks in the future, go elsewhere. I am going back into seclusion."

Seeing that Jiang Sheng intended to go straight back into seclusion, Qingman suddenly blurted out: "Does the Taoist not wish to know why that Black Fire Snake wants to seize my sister and brother-in-law's territory?"

Jiang Sheng entered the temple without looking back, leaving only one sentence: "This matter has nothing to do with me, and I do not care. If they wish to continue staying in Qingping Mountain, I will not stop them."

Seeing the flowing light water curtain about to close again, Qingman hurriedly sent a voice transmission: "There is a Jade Green Lotus on the territory occupied by the Black Fire Snake!"

Jiang Sheng's footsteps halted.

Qingman saw Jiang Sheng turn around; the starlight-like eyes of his gaze were no longer cold and indifferent.

"What did you say?"

Hearing Jiang Sheng speak, Qingman said rapidly: "There is a hidden estate within my sister and brother-in-law's cave dwelling, and within that estate, a Jade Green Lotus still remains."

A Jade Green Lotus was no ordinary spiritual plant; it was a spiritual treasure ranked among heavenly treasures.

A single Jade Green Lotus could significantly increase a being's cultivation and foundation.

If a water-attribute being consumed a Jade Green Lotus while opening their Purple Mansion, they would have a ten percent higher chance of condensing a high-grade divine ability while in the Purple Mansion stage.

For demons, the greatest use of the Jade Green Lotus was to provide a ten percent higher chance of ascending to the Purple Mansion stage and reducing the tribulation fire by thirty percent.

If Jiang Sheng could obtain that Jade Green Lotus, opening his Purple Mansion within a year would no longer be a mere illusion!

Jiang Sheng was tempted.

Faced with such a heavenly treasure, he could not help but be moved.

But Jiang Sheng remained vigilant. At his most critical moment, he happened to encounter this matter, and happened to encounter a heavenly treasure like the Jade Green Lotus.

Such luck made it difficult for Jiang Sheng not to doubt its authenticity.

"Why has your Green Fox clan not gone to seize such a treasure?"

Qingman's expression turned bitter upon hearing this: "The Taoist may not know, but in the Green Fox clan of Qingping Mountain, aside from the elders who are at the late Foundation Establishment stage, I am the only one at the early stage, and my sister and brother-in-law are also only at the early stage. As for the elder, she is nearing the end of her lifespan and can no longer take action."

So that was it; Jiang Sheng understood.

If it was truly as Qingman described, then it was not strange.

The only late-stage Foundation Establishment being could not act, and the three who could act were only at the early stage; facing a late-stage Black Fire Snake was indeed seeking death.

Jiang Sheng put away the Qingping Sword and studied Qingman: "I will not lie to you; I am indeed interested in the Jade Green Lotus."

"But are you not afraid that I will go and take it myself?"

Qingman decided to be blunt: "If the Taoist goes to take it himself, then my sister, brother-in-law, and I naturally cannot stop you."

"But setting aside whether the Taoist can find the location, even if the Taoist finds the place and kills the Black Fire Snake, you will not be able to open that hidden estate."

Jiang Sheng finally smiled: "In that case, I am at ease."