Chapter 33: Xiao Yuansi

“Qinghui Peak of the Qingchi Sect?”

Li Tongya and Li Xiangping exchanged startled glances. After a few seconds of hesitation, Li Tongya spoke

“An envoy from the Immortal Sect... it must be related to Jing'er.”

Li Xiangping hurriedly stood up and led the group down the mountain. To their surprise, just as they exited the courtyard gate, they encountered a cultivator dressed in moon-white robes with a string of silk pouches hanging from his waist.

The cultivator possessed a handsome countenance and an ethereal temperament. He stood quietly before the courtyard, watching them with a gentle smile.

“Xiao Yuansi of Qinghui Peak greets you, fellow Daoists.”

Xiao Yuansi cupped his hands lightly, speaking with a smile.

“Li Xiangping of the Li family pays respects to the Qingchi Sect envoy.”

Not daring to be presumptuous, Li Xiangping led the group behind him in a hasty bow. Xiao Yuansi stepped slightly to the side to avoid the gesture and said with a smile

“You are all my junior brother's family; there is no need for such formal etiquette. I have come here today merely as an individual, not as some official envoy of the Immortal Sect.”

The group responded in unison. Li Xiangping said respectfully

“Please, Immortal Master, come in.”

In the presence of this high-level cultivator from the Qingchi Sect, Li Tongya and the others were no different from mortals; their address of "Immortal Master" was filled with genuine reverence.

Xiao Yuansi stepped into the courtyard, found a place to sit, and said softly

“I was originally tasked by my sect with an important mission to hunt demons in Lixia County. However, my junior brother missed his family dearly, so I had him write a letter and brought it with me to Mount Dali.”

“I have been chasing a demon for several days, which caused some delay. I only managed to slay it yesterday, so I have arrived unannounced. I hope you will not take offense.”

“We wouldn't dare! For an Immortal Master to travel such a vast distance just to deliver a family letter, the Li family is profoundly grateful!”

Li Xiangping replied respectfully. Seeing Xiao Yuansi hand over a green bamboo tube about the thickness of a thumb, he hurriedly accepted it.

“You may read it first!”

Xiao Yuansi took the tea offered by a servant, took a light sip, and said with a smile.

Li Xiangping and the others nodded eagerly. Li Tongya used his thumb to gently wipe away the wax seal on the bamboo tube and poured the contents into his palm, revealing a curled, pale-white letter. He quickly unfurled it to read.

“Jing bows his head. It has been over a year since I left home. I do not know if my father’s health remains robust. Everything is well with Jing'er in the Immortal Sect. I have now mastered the Azure Essence Wheel, Yujing is in sight, and I have also practiced sword techniques, leading to great progress in my cultivation...”

“My senior brother, Xiao Yuansi, has reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement. He is most skilled in alchemy and is honest and gentle. If there are matters in the family that cannot be decided, you may seek his help. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to ask him; when I return, I will make up for it within the sect...”

“I am sending a jade slip along with this letter. The sword mantra recorded within is called the 'Mystic Water Sword Manual.' I have practiced some spells, but they are passed down within the sect and must not be leaked; only this Qi Refinement sword technique was gifted by my senior brother. I have asked him, and he said it could be sent home. The difficulty of this technique is not high; the family can practice it for self-defense.”

“I have heard of frequent border provocations from the Tangjin Sect; the family should continue to practice restraint for now. I have already asked my senior brother to notify the guardian cultivators of Lixia County. If anything happens at home, simply use the jade seal to call for help...”

“I am very comfortable in the Immortal Sect, so do not worry. Cultivation here is twice as effective for half the effort, much better than Mount Dali. Is there any major news at home? Is Xuanxuan still obedient? Is there... anything unusual at home? Please write back to me.”

After Li Xiangping finished reading the letter, a wave of bitterness rose in his heart. His eyes reddened slightly as he cupped his hands toward Xiao Yuansi.

“How rude of us. We have kept the Immortal Master waiting.”

Xiao Yuansi waved his hand with a smile and placed a jade slip on the mahogany table, saying

“No need for formalities; it is only human nature. This is something my junior brother asked me to bring along as well.”

Seeing Li Tongya step forward to take the jade slip, Xiao Yuansi said softly

“If there are any difficulties or doubts in the family, feel free to bring them up.”

Li Tongya and Li Xiangping exchanged a glance and spoke in unison

“We do have some doubts. Please, Immortal Master, follow us.”

The group dismissed the servants and walked up the stone path of the mountain courtyard. Before long, they arrived before a lush, large banyan tree. They gently walked around the tree, and behind it stood a small tree bearing five fruits.

“Oh?”

Xiao Yuansi looked down and performed a hand seal. His hands immediately glowed with a jade-white light. He reached out to touch the fruit and spent a few moments carefully identifying the leaves before explaining

“This spiritual root is called the Snake-Dragon Fruit. A single plant should bear six fruits. Following this root upward, the higher the fruit, the earlier it matures. When the first fruit matures, you must pick it before the one below it can continue to ripen.”

“This is the nature of this spiritual root. The interval between the maturation of the second and first fruit is about five years; you could say it bears fruit once every five years, one at a time. Looking at the quality of this first one, the previous fruit was picked over four years ago, so this one is about to mature.”

Xiao Yuansi brushed aside the leaves at the very bottom of the Snake-Dragon Fruit plant and indeed saw a small, pale-green fruit—the newly grown sixth fruit.

“I wonder what the use of this fruit is?”

Listening intently, Li Tongya asked respectfully.

“Our Qingchi Sect also has over a dozen of these plants. It takes hundreds of years for a golden fruit to bear, which then nurtures a new plant. These red Snake-Dragon Fruits are mostly used to refine Snake Essence Pills, which are given as rewards to disciples in the Fetus-Breathing and Qi Refinement stages who have performed meritorious service, to increase their speed in nourishing the wheel and refining Qi.”

Li Tongya and Li Xiangping looked at each other in shock. The Li family was currently penniless—where would they get an alchemist? They had been cultivating for so long, yet they had never even tasted a medicinal pill.

Seeing their troubled expressions, Xiao Yuansi chuckled.

“If this fruit were eaten raw, it would likely only suffice to shorten the cultivation time for one person.”

Noticing their hesitant looks, Xiao Yuansi realized something and said

“As for this current fruit, I can first refine a batch of pills for you. With my current level of alchemy, this Snake-Dragon Pill will likely yield about seven to eight pills. However, according to the rules, I will give you six, and the surplus belongs to me.”

Li Tongya and the others naturally agreed in unison, thanking him with great joy. Xiao Yuansi nodded and tapped the silk pouch at his waist, and a jade box immediately appeared in his right hand.

Xiao Yuansi channeled a strand of magical power, tapping the fruit at its stem, and then used his power to catch it. The Snake-Dragon Fruit fell gently into the jade box.

“Aside from certain special herbs and spiritual fruits, most must be stored in jade to avoid damaging their spirituality. Using magical power to harvest them ensures the fruit is not harmed.”

Xiao Yuansi explained softly as he picked the fruit.

“I shall open the furnace to refine the pills tomorrow!”

He tapped the silk pouch lightly, and the jade box vanished from his hand, leaving Li Tongya and the other man looking on with intense envy.

“Is there any other important business?”

Xiao Yuansi stowed the jade box and asked with a smile.

“Thank you, Immortal Master!”

After Li Xiangping and the other man thanked him, they pulled a beast-skin scroll from their sleeves and offered it to Xiao Yuansi with both hands.

Xiao Yuansi took the scroll, untied the white cord binding it, and spread it out with a gentle motion of his right hand.

“A Confusion Array?”