After Cultivating To Immortality, I Became the Demon Venerable's White Moonlight - Chapter 3

The sunlight was just right, warmly filtering through the gaps in the osmanthus leaves, casting a shower of fine, fragmented gold upon Yi Qinglan’s black hair and profile.

The golden osmanthus blossoms drifted down leisurely, tickling her nose. Unable to help herself, she let out a sneeze and woke up.

Yi Qinglan was reclining on an extremely thick tree branch, surrounded by the incomparably lush canopy of the osmanthus tree, which wrapped her entirely within its embrace.

Ever since she was a child, Yi Qinglan had loved lying up here. She would inhale the fragrant scent of the osmanthus flowers while secretly sipping fine wine she had filched from Elder Miaoyan.

The inevitable result was that she would end up dead drunk in the tree, leaving her master to send people to search the entire world for her. When everyone finally discovered her, they would see a flushed little face peeking out from the embrace of the branches and leaves. One of her hands would be hugging the branch, while the other dangled down, the small wine flask in her grasp still dripping wine drop by drop.

Yi Qinglan held up a translucent, crimson animal-headed jade pendant in one hand, examining it closely against the sunlight.

Just a moment ago, she had been dreaming. She dreamed that she was sitting under the osmanthus tree, resting in a woman’s embrace, the very same woman who had healed her wounds in the restaurant’s guest room the day before. Yi Qinglan’s back had been leaning against her, feeling the body heat radiating from her, which brought a rare sense of peace.

However, the woman had never turned around, preventing Yi Qinglan from seeing her face.

The aura about her always carried a sense of familiarity. Yet, the moment she woke up, it vanished into thin air like a dream.

To leave her such a treasure, one that looked incredibly valuable at first glance after a mere chance encounter, she wondered if they would be fated to meet again in the future.

“First Senior Sister!”

Startled, Yi Qinglan nearly tumbled from the tree. The jade pendant slipped from her hand, but she caught it with quick eyes and agile hands.

Beneath the tree, Fang Shuyue stood carrying a basket, looking up at her.

Tucking the jade pendant away safely, Yi Qinglan flipped herself off the branch and landed in front of her junior sister.

“Junior Sister, are you going to gather medicinal herbs?”

Fang Shuyue nodded. She carefully observed Yi Qinglan’s complexion and reminded her, “First Senior Sister, the miasma has only just been completely purged from your body. You should rest more and avoid overindulging in wine.”

Hearing her junior sister bring up this incident, Yi Qinglan could not help but blush slightly. That day, she had been in such a hurry to pursue the fox demon that she fell into its trap, nearly having her cultivation drained through dual cultivation. She had thought the experiential mission was a failure, only for her two junior sisters to tell her later that they had found the charred corpses of two foxes outside the guest room.

The fox demons had died mysteriously. Though Yi Qinglan was bewildered, a second thought suggested that the strange woman had likely helped her again.

Meeting her little junior sister’s concerned gaze, Yi Qinglan agreed readily.

Reassured, Fang Shuyue turned to leave, adding, “Master is looking for you.”

Yi Qinglan nodded in acknowledgment.

The Jingyun Sect originally had five elders, headed by the Sect Leader Zhang Linghan, known as the Grand Immortal Xuanling. The remaining four were Elders Suyang, Tianchen, Fengkui, and Miaoyan. Three hundred years ago, the Sect Leader passed away, and the position of Sect Leader had remained vacant ever since. The sect was now primarily led by Elder Suyang.

Yi Qinglan’s master was precisely Elder Suyang, Su Junqing.

Su Junqing possessed dual mutated spiritual roots of Ice and Water. These two roots shared the same source and mutually enhanced each other, having both simultaneously was exceptionally rare, a veritable gift from the heavens for a cultivator. It was said that back when the Sect Leader was still alive, Suyang’s strength was not inferior to Xuanling’s. After Xuanling’s death, Suyang single-handedly took up the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Jingyun Sect. That the Jingyun Sect was now prosperous, dominant in its region, and thriving day by day was largely credited to Elder Suyang.

Yi Qinglan crossed a winding covered bridge over the water and arrived at the Yuji Pavilion, where her master resided.

Elder Suyang had always disliked solemn and austere architecture, preferring pavilions and terraces set over water. Compared to the residences of the other elders, the Yuji Pavilion was somewhat secluded, but it exclusively occupied a quiet valley naturally abundant with water. Su Junqing had built her residence over an interconnected network of waterways according to her own tastes. In the sweltering summer, the mist from the water brought a refreshing coolness, while in the winter, hot springs could neutralize the bitter cold, achieving both beauty and practicality.

Just as Yi Qinglan had found her during every previous visit, Su Junqing was sitting in the main hall, reviewing sect affairs.

Although the position of Sect Leader of the Jingyun Sect had been vacant for many years, Elder Suyang effectively stood at the helm, distributing different affairs among the four elders for management, while major matters were decided collectively.

During the day, the doors of the Yuji Pavilion were always flung wide open. Whenever the wind blew, the wind chimes chimed in succession, filling the room with coolness. As the sunlight slanted in, a gentle, beautiful figure leaned over the desk, flipping through the ledger in her hands.

“Master.”

Before Su Junqing even lifted her head, she knew who it was by the voice. Closing the ledger in her hand, she looked up and smiled. “At the Mid-Autumn banquet the day before yesterday, I found a dish of crab to be quite delicious. Unfortunately, you returned too late, so there is none left to eat now.”

Yi Qinglan could not help but smile, choosing a seat beside Su Junqing to sit down. “It is considerate of Master to remember. Next time, you must remember to save some for this disciple.”

Su Junqing scrutinized her for a few moments. “Qinglan, I heard you were afflicted by demon poison during your trip down the mountain? Are you recovered now?”

“Yes, Junior Sister Fang helped me purge the remaining poison. This disciple is perfectly fine now.”

“Mm,” Su Junqing nodded. “The demon race is exceedingly bizarre and possesses numerous methods. Falling into a trap once in a while is normal. While accumulating practical combat experience is very important, what matters even more is your own life and safety.”

Yi Qinglan pondered and said, “This disciple originally thought that after a full year of secluded meditation and finally achieving a breakthrough, coupled with the demon’s low cultivation… I committed the mistake of underestimating the enemy on the spot.”

Su Junqing stroked her head and smiled gently. “It is very good that you can think this way. Cultivation is something where one cannot leap to heaven in a single bound, one must endure loneliness and accumulate slowly. Breaking through in seclusion and drawing lessons after making mistakes are stages that every cultivator will experience.”

Yi Qinglan voiced her agreement, but in her heart, she thought that while cultivation was a long journey, given her master’s natural aptitude, comparing her to ordinary cultivators made the phrase “leaping to heaven in a single bound” hardly an exaggeration.

“The demons you encountered in the past usually only required a head-on confrontation. But fox demons are cunning, not only do they dare to lust after cultivators, but their accomplices also hide very deeply. You will encounter situations like this countless times in the future.”

Su Junqing added, “However, you are naturally intelligent and diligent in your cultivation. Over time, not only will your cultivation steadily rise, but your practical combat experience will also increase, and such incidents can be avoided.”

Comforted by her master, Yi Qinglan felt quite encouraged. Yet, for some reason, a trace of worry arose in her heart, she felt as though she had let her master down.

Yi Qinglan collected her thoughts and cast this distraction aside.

Finally, Su Junqing mentioned: “Right, there is one more matter to inform you of. Recently, there have been some minor disturbances in the western demon realm. It just so happens that the Grand Sect Assembly is about to issue the demon-slaying missions for the next season, and it is our sect’s turn to dispatch disciples. The other elders and I discussed it and decided to focus on sending younger generation disciples at or above the Golden Core stage down the mountain to accumulate experience and advance their cultivation. You youngsters must learn to fight side by side and face demons together sooner or later.”

“This journey carries many risks. Make proper preparations.”

Leaving the Yuji Pavilion, Yi Qinglan pondered her master’s final words as she walked back.

Over the past century, although minor conflicts between the human realm, various cultivation sects, the demon realm, and the demon-beast realm had been constant, a relative state of peace had been maintained due to the formidable strength of each sect.

Every season, the Grand Sect Assembly would release specific quotas for demon-slaying in advance. Each sect had to take turns sending disciples down the mountain to complete the tasks and resolve tribulations for the mortal world. This was a responsibility shared by all sects, and it also united them to face common enemies in times of crisis.

For cultivators, this was an invaluable opportunity to accumulate real combat experience and raise their cultivation. With good luck, one might even obtain their own cultivation opportunities and substantially increase their strength.

Furthermore, when the time came, the Grand Sect Assembly would calculate points for the disciples based on the completion of the demon-slaying missions. Those with higher scores could directly skip the initial preliminary matches at the next Immortal Gate Trial Assembly, making it easier to seize the top spot. Nowadays, talented individuals emerged in large numbers among the younger disciples of various sects, and competition was fierce, performing well would bring glory to one’s own sect.

Thinking of this, she would be heading down the mountain again very soon, likely in a month’s time.

Yi Qinglan felt a secret anticipation in her heart. She was lively by nature and enjoyed going out, but having been brought to the sect by her master since childhood to bitterly cultivate on the mountain, her true disposition had been somewhat constrained.

“First Senior Sister.”

As Yi Qinglan was about to reach her room, a young girl walked toward her from not far away. She appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old but looked exceptionally composed and dignified, greeting her properly as she approached.

This girl was named Qin Yi, an orphan brought up the mountain by Elder Miaoyan a few years ago. Unexpectedly, she was found to have excellent aptitude, possessing the rare Ice Spiritual Root, and thus was taken in as a disciple by Su Junqing. She had now become the youngest inner disciple under Elder Suyang’s lineage.

The moment Yi Qinglan saw her, she smiled. Isn’t this Master’s little stickler for rules? Stepping forward quickly, she swept the girl up and spun her around a few times. Seeing the young girl’s awkward and helpless expression, Yi Qinglan could not help but snicker in her heart.

Setting her down, Yi Qinglan gave her head a thorough rub, thoroughly messing up her neat, long hair.

“Junior Sister Xiao Yi, where are you off to?”

The young girl first smoothed her hair and clothes, pursing her lips. She seemed quite resistant to this deliberately affectionate title from her First Senior Sister, but still replied according to the rules: “Master said that the Baoren Workshop just sent a batch of good swords to the Sword Pavilion, and asked me to go choose one that suits me.”

“Well, well, how promising. Learning to wield a sword at such a young age.” Yi Qinglan unconsciously placed her hand on the girl’s head again, trying hard to suppress the urge to give it another rub.

“First Senior Sister, what is that in your hair?”

Eh? There was something in her hair?

Yi Qinglan often heard other junior brothers and sisters say that this little girl possessed excellent perception and sharp eyesight, making her suitable to be a sword cultivator. It seemed it was indeed true. Following the direction of the girl’s finger, she reached up to feel her hair.

Her palm was completely empty, she felt nothing at all.

Qin Yi said in bewilderment, “I clearly saw something just now, flying around inside your hair.”

Yi Qinglan could not help but break out into a bit of a cold sweat. That sounds a bit creepy. Could a bug have crawled in?

She had the habit of bathing every day, she hoped this little junior sister wouldn’t misunderstand.

Qin Yi stared at her hair for a long while more. Yi Qinglan quickly reminded her that she had proper business to attend to, urging her to go to the Sword Pavilion to collect her sword.

Qin Yi left obediently.

After this episode, Yi Qinglan hurried her steps back to her room and stared intently into the mirror for a long time.

There was clearly nothing there.

In the Demon Realm, outside the Broken Feather Mountain.

Before her eyes lay a boundless desert. Amidst the clusters of crimson firethorn grass growing on the ground, butterflies with black, translucent-veined wings fluttered about.

This place was already close to the southwestern edge of the Demon Realm. A woman in black robes stood with her hands behind her back, facing a statue twice the height of a person.

The stone statue, carved from ochre essence stone, depicted a valiant and heroic female general holding a long spear. Clad in armor, she rode a majestic and ferocious giant beast, facing the desert with her spear as if defending the land behind her.

The statue of the female general was grand and exquisite, except for the location of the heart, which looked as though it had been violently gouged out, leaving a circular void.

Feng Hanyu stood before the statue, her black robes billowing in the wind of the vast desert. She placed her hand upon the female general’s statue, looking up at her countenance.

The female general’s eyes were full of spirit, and every feature of her brow and eyes was carved with great beauty. Her temperament combined both strength and gentleness, inspiring admiration in anyone who beheld her.

“Demon Venerable, the Beast Tribe invaded last night. A mountain imp stole the Xuanling Pearl and headed toward the southwest.”

A shadow soldier, condensed from dense demon qi, reported to Feng Hanyu.

Feng Hanyu lowered her eyelashes. Her expression was devoid of joy or sorrow, revealing no emotion whatsoever. She merely said coldly:

“Watch the territory. I will return in a few days.”