After Accidentally Entering the Forbidden Land and Forming a Bond with the Grandmaster - Chapter 30

Next, inside the house, Xie Zhuo began his instructions. He taught the meridians, the dantian, and breathing techniques, teaching them one by one. Many of these lessons required repeating several times.

When they reached the topic of the dantian, Chu Lanci asked, “Master, you said humans have three dantians. Why is spiritual energy stored specifically in the lower dantian?”

Xie Zhuo replied, “That is simply how it is. There is no reason why.”

Chu Lanci sighed and said, “But I do not understand.” He felt that if he did not grasp the logic, he would be unable to continue learning.

Xie Zhuo said, “Actually, understanding is not necessary. For some things, simply knowing them is enough.”

Chu Lanci complied obediently and even comforted Xie Zhuo, saying, “It is okay, Master. It does not matter if you do not know either. I will go find the answer myself.”

Xie Zhuo was speechless for a moment before explaining, “The lower dantian is the easiest place to store spiritual energy. Only when you reach the Soul Transformation stage will it move to the upper dantian to open the Sea of Consciousness and the Spirit Abode. The lower dantian stores Essence, the middle stores Qi, and the upper stores Spirit. Most ordinary cultivators are lucky if they can just keep their Essence guarded. Do you understand now? Furthermore, does understanding this actually help you awaken your spiritual roots or learn the Reversal of Fate Decree?”

Chu Lanci said earnestly, “It is not particularly useful, but it is good to have a bit more knowledge.”

Xie Zhuo was once again silenced. He suddenly understood why their progress was so slow.

By the time they finished talking, they looked out the window and saw that it was already dark. Chu Lanci’s stomach growled, and the sound was caught immediately by Xie Zhuo.

“Go eat something,” Xie Zhuo said.

“Sure,” Chu Lanci asked. “Where should I go to eat?”

“The Pavilion of Delicacies.” This was the location in Qianshan dedicated to gourmet food.

Just as they were about to set off, Xie Zhuo received a voice transmission. He frowned after reading it and said, “Master has some business to attend to. Can you go by yourself?”

Chu Lanci replied, “Of course, Master. Go ahead and get to work.”

Xie Zhuo nodded and left Chu Lanci a generous amount of high-grade spirit stones before vanishing in a flash of light.

Chu Lanci tucked away the spirit stones and wrote down the key points Xie Zhuo had mentioned on paper, memorizing them as he walked along the road. He did not have many friends in Qianshan. His only two friends, Wei Daoping and Wan Biaoli, were currently serving punishments. He also remembered Cui Jin, but he seemed very busy as well.

He knew his Master was busy, yet so far, Xie Zhuo had spent quite a lot of time with him. He wondered if perhaps Xie Zhuo was not as busy as he thought.

As for the other fellow disciples, Chu Lanci was not well-acquainted with them yet. He considered himself to have a good personality and was quite warm. Back in his village, everyone from the elderly to the young liked him. However, since coming to Qianshan, his warmth seemed useless. Everyone was cold and focused entirely on themselves. While they were incredibly driven, they were also quite indifferent.

It was currently dusk, and as Chu Lanci walked alone on the stone paths of Qianshan, he felt a sense of loneliness. Back in Tingfeng Village, many people would greet him on his way home. They would kindly ask, “Lanci, you are back?” or “Lanci, why are you back so late?”

The last time he returned from the Forbidden Land, his students came to see him, and the elderly neighbors brought him all sorts of delicious food because they feared he was not faring well. In Qianshan, however, everyone came and went like the wind without making a sound.

These cultivators only became vocal during the monthly Sect Competition. Their worship of the strong was immense. Because of this, even though Xie Zhuo had come out of the Forbidden Land, they still adored their Sect Leader. They seemed driven to madness just for a chance to catch a glimpse of him.

None of this really concerned Chu Lanci. His mind was occupied with his plan to sell Night Orchids, hoping to make a small profit. While he thought, he admired the scenery along the path, such as the ancient pines with canopies like umbrellas and the zigzagging corridors built over the void.

Because the residence Xie Zhuo had arranged for him was near the Palace of Immortals, it was actually quite far from the Pavilion of Delicacies and the disciples’ quarters. Chu Lanci had to walk for a long time.

When he finally reached the Pavilion of Delicacies, a few cultivators were scattered about the first floor. Judging by their clothes, they were Foundation Establishment disciples who were there together.

Chu Lanci had been hoping the Pavilion would be empty. It was not that he did not want to interact with the people of Qianshan, but given his current relationship with Xie Zhuo, he assumed they did not like him. Even several of his senior brothers had issues with him. He was not stupid and could feel the tension.

These people were no different. The moment he entered, they turned to glance at him. Though they said nothing, Chu Lanci felt their gazes were far from friendly. It was as if through that one look, he could tell they were cursing him behind his back. However, he also knew they did not dare offend him because of Xie Zhuo.

After a while, they finished eating and prepared to leave. Chu Lanci breathed a sigh of relief. But as he was about to buy his food, he overheard their gossip from a short distance away.

“I do not think he looks like much. What exactly does the Sect Leader see in him? He is so ordinary.”

“The Sect Leader was in the Forbidden Land for too long, so he is probably just desperate, haha.”

“If he were truly desperate, I have not seen him choose anyone else. I heard the Sect Leader is personally teaching this little junior brother. I bet this Chu Lanci has some seductive tricks, or maybe he is actually from the Demon Race. He cannot possibly be just a normal human, right?”

“The Sect Leader is so wonderful, why would he? What a pity. I do not think they will last long. Once the Sect Leader comes to his senses, Chu Lanci’s good days will be over!”

As they spoke, Chu Lanci frowned. He had a good temper, but he was not someone to be pushed around. After a moment of hesitation, he walked out and stood before the three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Look at me,” he said calmly.

The cultivators looked at each other in confusion. Up close, he was indeed quite handsome. His skin looked supple, and his aura was excellent. He had phoenix eyes with a very faint tear mole at the corner of his left eye. If they did not know better, they might have thought he was some powerful master.

“Senior Brother Chu, what do you mean?” Although Chu Lanci’s cultivation was lower than theirs, his seniority was much higher. The rules of Qianshan were strict, and they did not dare be disrespectful.

Chu Lanci said righteously, “I want you to see if I have any seductive tricks or if I am a member of the Demon Race.”

The cultivators were silenced. One of the more timid ones immediately said, “Senior Brother Chu, you have misunderstood. We were not talking about you. You misheard.”

Chu Lanci countered, “Really? You were not talking about me?” He was simply seeking the truth, but in the eyes of others, he seemed to be pressing them aggressively.

Terrified that Chu Lanci would complain to Xie Zhuo, the three cultivators apologized one after another. “Truly, we really were not talking about you.”

Chu Lanci did not quite understand and asked, “But I heard you say things like ‘he does not look like much’ and ‘why did the Sect Leader choose me.’ Were those words not about me?”

The only Chu Lanci who had recently married Xie Zhuo was him.

“You are clearly talking about me, yet you will not admit it. You say I do not look like much, yet the Sect Leader still chose me. What does that prove? It proves I am excellent. Besides, I am not bad-looking, so is it not natural for Master to like me? Furthermore, Master treats me very well, so the scenario where he kicks me off the mountain should not happen. If you do not believe me, look.” He pulled out the jade pendant Xie Zhuo had given him. “He even gives me things, though it is not anything valuable.”

The three of them stared, dumbfounded. They wondered how that could not be considered a valuable item. That was a magical jade pendant the likes of which they had never seen in their lives.

They were forced to add another crime to Chu Lanci’s list: this person was pretentious. For something so incredibly expensive that they could not afford it in a lifetime, he actually claimed it was not valuable. They felt there was no need to flaunt his relationship like this.

They were left speechless. The fact was that Xie Zhuo enjoyed pampering Chu Lanci, a fact known throughout Qianshan. If it were just a little disciple, they might have something to say, but he was technically a legitimate Dao companion. If he did not pamper his spouse, who would he pamper?

The three had to apologize to Chu Lanci again, repeatedly explaining that their words were not directed at him.

“Senior Brother Chu, it really was not you. We were talking about someone from the Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect.”

They explained so desperately that Chu Lanci eventually believed them. Having received Chu Lanci’s approval, the three felt as if they had been granted a grand amnesty and fled in disgrace. They had not expected a junior brother with zero strength to be so difficult to deal with.

In reality, Chu Lanci was not difficult; he was just single-minded and never took such things to heart. Once he saw them leave, he returned happily to the Pavilion of Delicacies and ordered a vast array of food. He ordered over a dozen dishes, including Spirit Rice in Lotus Leaves, Thousand-Layer Snow Pastries, Steamed Cloud Bass, and Chilled Glazed Eggplant.

After eating his fill, Chu Lanci felt a bit stuffed. He slowly hummed a little tune as he made his way back to his residence.

The next morning, since he was free, he did not wait for Wei Daoping and ran to the Hall of Merit to collect Night Orchid seeds. To his surprise, Deacon Qian stubbornly refused to let him have them. The Hall of Merit operated on a strict system where all items had to be collected using Merit Points.

Merit Points were obtained through participating in trials and performing tasks for the sect. Since arriving at Qianshan, Chu Lanci had only attended a few classes. Aside from his personal time with Xie Zhuo, he had essentially contributed nothing to the sect. Therefore, he had no Merit Points.

Deacon Qian not only refused him but was also quite arrogant, saying, “As I said, all Qianshan disciples are treated equally. Even if you are the Sect Leader’s Dao companion, it will not work.” Deacon Qian was elderly and quite old-fashioned. He had picked up rumors and decided Chu Lanci was not good material, assuming he had entered Qianshan’s inner circle solely via the Sect Leader.

He could not afford to offend the person, but as for the rules, even if the Sect Leader himself came, they would remain the same. Without Merit, Chu Lanci could collect nothing.

Having been turned away, Chu Lanci thought it was fine and decided not to collect them. They were just a few Night Orchid seeds, and he could just go back to Tingfeng Village to get some. He did not want to argue with the old man because he respected the elderly. Regarding his entry into the inner circle, he did indeed have a bit of a guilty conscience.

As he turned to leave, a nearby cultivator grabbed him and said, “Senior Brother Chu, you are going to endure this? This Qian Bugou is making things difficult again. He even dares to target you!” The subtext was that he was the Sect Leader’s Dao companion.

It turned out this Deacon Qian of the Hall of Merit was named Qian Bugou, also known as Mr. Iron Abacus. He was at the Nascent Soul stage and was notoriously stingy. Whenever disciples came to collect items, they felt as if they were taking things from his own home.

While the disciples disliked him, he was exceptionally upright and saved resources for the sect. Therefore, the various elders of Qianshan liked him very much. After Xie Zhuo became Sect Leader, he replaced many people, but Mr. Iron Abacus remained.

The disciples disliked Qian Bugou, and they also disliked Chu Lanci. If these two clashed, it would be a great show, so some people began to egg him on.

Chu Lanci thought about it and felt that while the man was harsh, his words made sense. “It is fine. I really do not have any Merit.”

The cultivators beside him urged, “Senior Brother Chu, you do not have any, but the Sect Leader does! On the Qianshan Merit Leaderboard, the Sect Leader has so much Merit he could never use it all. Just go take a look.”

“Exactly! Just give the Sect Leader’s name. Make Qian Bugou open the doors of the Hall of Merit for you.”

On the Qianshan Merit Leaderboard, Xie Zhuo was indeed at the very top. The calculation of Merit was extremely complex. Xie Zhuo had performed countless deeds for Qianshan and had placed first in every major trial. Even after having thousands deducted for his past mistakes, he still had hundreds of thousands left.

Furthermore, many of the resources in the Hall of Merit had been donated by Xie Zhuo himself. A single trial of his was enough to sustain a whole nest of Foundation Establishment disciples. While it was called Qianshan’s treasury, it was essentially Sect Leader Xie’s personal warehouse. As Xie Zhuo’s Dao companion, why should Chu Lanci not be allowed in?

If Chu Lanci had shown even a hint of the authority that comes with being the “Sect Leader’s Consort,” he could have thoroughly humiliated Qian Bugou.

That was what the onlookers thought. Chu Lanci, however, did not see it that way. The man was simply following the rules, and it was true that Chu Lanci had no Merit Points to his name. He waved his hand dismissively and said, “Forget it, forget it.” Without another word to the crowd waiting for a scene, he headed back.

The news of this incident naturally reached Xie Zhuo’s ears as soon as he returned to Qianshan. After a moment of thought, he summoned Mr. Iron Abacus. Upon arrival, Qian Bugou immediately knelt and said, “Greetings, Sect Leader.”

Seeing that Qian Bugou was about to launch into formal, wordy platitudes and elaborate etiquette, Xie Zhuo cut him off. He asked, “Chu Lanci went to see you for some Night Orchid seeds. Why did you refuse him?”

Qian Bugou had anticipated this question. It seemed the rumors were true: the Sect Leader was deeply infatuated. He replied, “Sect Leader, Chu Lanci has yet to contribute to the sect. He possesses no Merit.”

Knowing the old man’s stubborn nature, Xie Zhuo produced a collection of miscellaneous treasures he had recently acquired, which were more than enough to offset tens of thousands of Merit Points. He said, “Take these to settle the account. Then, have someone deliver the Night Orchid seeds to him.”

Seeing Xie Zhuo’s protective stance, Qian Bugou did not argue. He said, “I shall obey your command.”

As he was about to withdraw, Xie Zhuo added, “Did the Beast Taming Sect send over some cute spirit beasts? Is there one that looks a bit foolish but is actually quite clever?”

Qian Bugou was puzzled by the description and replied, “There is a small beast that looks dim-witted but is exceptionally good at protecting itself. One might call it ‘great wisdom appearing as folly’.”

Xie Zhuo smiled at the phrase and said, “Yes, exactly that. Bring it to me first.”

Before long, the small spirit beast was delivered. Xie Zhuo observed the creature. It looked like a round glutinous rice ball with snow-white fur tinged with pink. Its eyes were like two tiny black sesame seeds, making it utterly adorable. It appeared dazed, but at the slightest hint of danger, it would curl into a ball and roll away happily. It also had a great passion for eating.

Xie Zhuo decided, “This is the one. Send Little Sticky Rice over to him.”

Shortly after the order was given, Chu Lanci received both his Night Orchid seeds and the little creature. To his surprise, they were delivered personally by Qian Bugou. Chu Lanci felt a bit overwhelmed. Just yesterday, this old man, whose upturned beard seemed harder than steel, would not even look at him. Today, he was standing at his door.

“Deacon Qian, thank you for bringing these yourself. Thank you,” Chu Lanci said, his eyes squinting into a happy crescent.

Looking at the youth’s bright smile, Qian Bugou felt a rare stir of emotion. In Qianshan, almost everyone was a snob. Those with a slightly higher cultivation acted like lords, while they cowered like dogs before their superiors. By all rights, Chu Lanci had every reason to be arrogant because he had Xie Zhuo backing him. This was Xie Zhuo they were talking about.

Qian Bugou had expected the boy to be spoiled by such favor and to fight him to the bitter end. He never expected him to simply walk away that day. The boy’s request was so simple: just a few seeds.

He thought to himself that this was a good child and hoped Qianshan would not spoil him. Outwardly, his expression remained flat as he said, “It was no trouble. I shall take my leave.” Since it was a task assigned by the Sect Leader, he had to deliver it personally to prevent others from using it as an excuse to cause trouble. He valued his position in the Hall of Merit.

Before Chu Lanci could even examine his new items, Xie Zhuo arrived just as Qian Bugou was leaving. Not knowing Xie Zhuo’s deeper intentions, Chu Lanci picked up the white fluff-ball and asked, “Master, why did you send me this?”

Xie Zhuo asked, “You do not like it?”

“I love it,” Chu Lanci replied.

Xie Zhuo smiled and said, “It is a reward for not using my status to bully Qian Bugou.”

Chu Lanci was blunt as always and said, “Well, I really did not have any Merit. But Master, your Merit is incredible.” He had later learned that Xie Zhuo had millions of points while others had a few thousand at most. It was an exaggerated difference.

Xie Zhuo explained, “That is because I started working very early.”

His two fathers had sent him to Qianshan at a young age. His talents were extraordinary, and the number of trials, competitions, secret realms, and battles he had participated in was countless. His path to power had been too smooth, backed by two powerful fathers. It was precisely because everything had been so easy that he had struggled to recover when he finally faced a major setback.

Chu Lanci gave an understanding nod and crouched down to hug the little rice ball, saying, “It is so cute.” Seeing his sparkling eyes, Xie Zhuo’s gaze softened involuntarily. He said, “I am glad you like it.”

“By the way, Master, Deacon Qian is actually quite a nice person. He brought the things to me himself. People say he is harsh, but I do not see it,” Chu Lanci noted.

Xie Zhuo replied, “That is because you do not know him. Sometimes he even shuts the door in my face.”

Chu Lanci judged people by his heart. If his heart told him someone was good, then they were good. To him, both Qian Bugou and his Master were wonderful.

Chu Lanci held up the seeds and said, “Even to you, Master? But you are so kind. You even gave me Little Sticky Rice. So, I have decided that the first batch of Night Orchids I grow in Qianshan will be a gift for you to show my gratitude. Master, do you want to plant them with me? It is very easy.”

Xie Zhuo was silent. To be honest, he had not come here today to garden.

A moment later, the two of them stood in the clearing behind the house. It was not exactly an empty lot because there were green mountains, a waterfall, and several nameless trees. Chu Lanci rummaged through the house and produced a pile of tools. When he had moved up the mountain, he had used the spirit ring Xie Zhuo gave him to bring all his farming equipment.

He handed Xie Zhuo a hoe and took one for himself, then donned a bamboo hat to shield himself from the sun. To grow flowers, one first had to till the soil. Xie Zhuo looked at the tool, confused, and asked, “What is this for?”

“Tilling the land,” Chu Lanci said with a grin. “Master, we have furniture now. Once we plant some Night Orchids, it will be perfect.”

Xie Zhuo remained silent. He certainly was not going to actually swing a hoe. Just like before, he used a spell to make the hoe work by itself. In an instant, the ground was turned. He then casually tossed a handful of beans, which transformed into small grass-and-wood constructs to sow the seeds. Finally, he channeled spiritual energy directly into the soil to accelerate the growth.

With the addition of Chu Lanci’s special rootless water, it took almost no time at all for a vast field of lush, white Night Orchids to begin swaying in the wind. The flowers bloomed in a sea of white, filling the air with a fragrant, beautiful scent.

Chu Lanci had not even had the chance to put his hoe down yet. His eyes widened because this was way too fast. Xie Zhuo finished the work and turned back to ask, “Are you satisfied?” In the Forbidden Land, they had built a home together. Now, they had a garden.

Chu Lanci was shocked every time Xie Zhuo used magic. The spells were so dazzling, and the flowers rose from the ground like drifting clouds. It was vibrant and incredibly beautiful. He had said his first harvest would belong to his Master, but now his Master had done all the work. He wondered if he should still give them to him.

“Master, you…”

“What about me?” Xie Zhuo casually plucked a delicate flower and placed it in Chu Lanci’s hand. He asked, “What else do you want to plant?”

There was still room for fruit trees or other things. For Xie Zhuo, it was just a flick of his fingers. Chu Lanci shook his head and said, “I cannot think of anything else for now.”

“Then let us go inside,” Xie Zhuo said. He stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Chu Lanci’s waist, and led him into the house. Once inside, he reached out and removed the bamboo hat. Without the hat, Chu Lanci’s clear, fair face was revealed. He did not look like a flower farmer at all. His skin was as white as fresh snow, and he was slender. He was more like a sheltered young master from a wealthy estate who would stun the world the moment he stepped outside.

But if he were truly just a sheltered young master, Xie Zhuo would have found him boring. He loved the contrast: he loved the version of Chu Lanci that was full of drive and energy. He was a delicate flower, yet one that grew wildly in the countryside. When you got close, you could almost smell the fragrance of the earth on him. He was full of life.

Seeing Chu Lanci standing there dazed, Xie Zhuo could not help but poke his soft cheek and ask, “What are you thinking about?”

Chu Lanci was thinking that Master had finished all his work again. What should they do next?

Then he remembered: the first month was up.

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