nyslfriends Chapter 36 The Path to Immortality
Chapter 36 The Path to Immortality
"Fellow Daoist Liu, I still have many things to take care of, so I won't stay any longer. See you at our next gathering."
Seeing this, Yang Changsheng smiled slightly, said nothing more, and bowed to take his leave.
"OK."
Liu Xiaoying smiled sweetly, nodded, her long hair flowing, her beautiful eyes sparkling, like a blooming lotus, fresh and refined.
She carefully put the crystal box into her sachet, her fingers trembling slightly, the warmth surging in her heart dispelling the chill of early spring.
After finishing everything, I left the market and embarked on my journey home.
As the fishing boat glided across the golden lake, Yang Changsheng felt exceptionally peaceful.
The crisis at Black Wind Pass was completely resolved. His cultivation breakthrough was successful, the stolen goods were safely sold, and he received a large amount of spirit stones and the necessary supplies in return, as well as repaying a favor.
He glanced back at the port market, which was gradually disappearing into the twilight.
In the storage bag in his arms were seven Marrow Cleansing Pills, basic puppet materials, and the remaining one hundred and twenty-five spirit stones.
Within his sea of consciousness lay the insights gained from studying "Spiritual Eye Technique," "Comprehensive Explanation of Materials," and "Basic Rune Diagrams" over the course of more than a month.
The road ahead is long and arduous, but he walks with increasing steadiness and determination.
The evening breeze from Biyue Lake, carrying moisture, brushed against Yang Changsheng's cheeks, and he felt his Dao heart was more stable than ever before.
Refining Qi to the third level is just the beginning; the door to puppetry has only just been opened a crack.
He has time, patience, and, more importantly, the determination to move forward steadily and step by step.
"The path to immortality should be like this."
A serene and contented smile appeared on Yang Changsheng's face, his gaze becoming even more profound, like the boundless universe.
He rowed with his long oar, guiding the small boat toward his tranquil waters, leaving only a ripple that gradually subsided on the lake's surface.
……
As dusk settled like smoke, it pressed heavily on the blue lake, gradually silencing the hustle and bustle of the port market.
The warm touch of the crystal box seemed to linger on Liu Xiaoying's fingertips, as well as the faint warmth beneath Yang Changsheng's calm face when he took his leave.
She walked lightly through the gradually thinning crowd in the market, heading southeast.
As the hustle and bustle faded away, lights gradually came on, outlining the contours of a quiet alleyway.
Bichao Lane is a residential area for artisans with considerable wealth.
The spiritual energy here is noticeably richer than elsewhere, comparable to the inner area of Biyue Lake.
The buildings in the alley are all independent courtyards with white walls and black tiles, upturned eaves, and copper bells hanging under the eaves occasionally make a very light and crisp tinkling sound in the evening breeze.
The Liu family's courtyard covers a large area. The vermilion gate is tightly closed, and a black jade plaque hangs above the gate, engraved with the four characters "Tingchao Xiaozhu" in vigorous calligraphy.
Two stone Pixiu statues in front of the gate are hidden in the twilight, their shapes ancient and simple.
Liu Xiaoying took out a warm, lustrous blue jade pendant from the sachet at her waist and gently pressed it against an inconspicuous groove on the door knocker.
The jade plaque shimmered with a faint light, and the door silently slid open a crack inward.
A tranquil aroma, a blend of moisture, the fresh scent of medicinal plants, and the faint fragrance of ink, wafted towards us.
"The Third Miss is back." A calm, aged voice rang out.
Behind the door stood an old man in black, his white hair neatly combed and pressed against his scalp. He was thin and bony, like a withered bamboo that had weathered many storms, and his face was deeply wrinkled.
The old woman's eyes seemed cloudy, yet the moment she stepped in, a faint glimmer seemed to flash across them, like a dragon darting through the depths of an ancient well.
He was none other than Chen Bo, the old servant of the Liu family. On the surface, his cultivation level was at the sixth level of Qi Refining, but in reality, he was a great cultivator at the peak of the mid-stage of Core Formation.
"Uncle Chen." Liu Xiaoying parted her red lips slightly and gave a graceful bow.
Uncle Chen's cloudy gaze swept over her, and his nostrils twitched almost imperceptibly.
His wrinkled face remained expressionless as he calmly bowed and said, "The banquet is ready. Master and his wives are waiting for you at Shuiyun Pavilion."
His cloudy gaze lingered on the sachet at her waist for an extremely brief moment, a very subtle hint of doubt flashing across his eyes, too quick to catch.
The lingering, refreshing fragrance, carrying a hint of the burgeoning life force of plants, must be from an extremely expensive beauty-enhancing pill on the market.
Given the Third Miss's current monthly allowance of fifteen spirit stones, coupled with her frugal and diligent nature in cultivation, it's absolutely impossible for her to be willing to spend money on such a purchase.
Liu Xiaoying felt a slight chill in her heart, but nodded without showing any change in her expression and quickly walked through the front courtyard.
The courtyard is deep and secluded, with ever-changing scenery at every turn. Underfoot is a smooth cobblestone path, flanked by craggy rocks of various shapes, dotted with clumps of bamboo and several tuberoses in full bloom.
A small, clear lake occupies the center of the courtyard. The water is so clear that you can see the bottom, and several silvery-white carp swim slowly among the sparse green water plants.
In the center of the lake stands a small artificial hill, with a trickle of water flowing gently down from the cracks in the rocks at its summit, merging into the lake and creating a melodious tinkling sound, adding a touch of liveliness to the tranquil night scene.
The three-story main building features flying eaves and bracket sets, with crystal chandeliers streaming through carved windows, illuminating the "Shuiyunxuan" pavilion overlooking the water.
Stepping into the pavilion, one is greeted by warmth and an abundance of spiritual energy.
A large, round table made of rosewood was already set with exquisite spiritual dishes.
The jade crystal rice, glistening with spiritual energy, was served in a variety of ways. The steamed silver perch exuded an enticing aroma, and there were also several dishes of spiritual vegetables and fruits imbued with spiritual energy, making it a feast for the eyes and the palate.
One person sits at the head of the table.
He wore a moon-white brocade robe with dark cloud patterns. He was exceptionally handsome and looked to be only twenty-three or twenty-four years old. His black hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin. He had a gentle and refined temperament, yet also a calm and dignified demeanor.
It was Liu Xiaoying's father, Liu Qing, whose apparent identity was a first-tier high-grade talisman master with a perfected ninth level of Qi Refining cultivation.
He looked gently at his daughter as she walked in: "Ying'er is back. We've been waiting for you."
"Father." Liu Xiaoying quickly bowed, her gaze sweeping across the table.
To Liu Qing's left sat a woman dressed in a light blue gauze dress.
Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, with only a few strands loosely held back by a simple jade hairpin with an antique design that subtly hinted at nine phoenixes circling around her. Her figure was slender and graceful, her skin as white as snow, and her temperament elegant and refined, like a solitary orchid under the moon.
With a resemblance of five or six points between her eyebrows and eyes to Liu Xiaoying, she was none other than Lin Qingge, Liu Xiaoying's biological mother.
She simply nodded slightly to her daughter, a faint smile playing on her lips, without saying anything more.
On the right and below are four women with different appearances and temperaments.
The woman, Aunt Su Wan, dressed in a magnificent purple palace gown, possessed a dignified and elegant demeanor, a graceful figure, and smiling eyes; she appeared to be around twenty years old.
The woman, Yunzhi, the second concubine, was dressed in a light yellow gauze dress. She was beautiful and graceful, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a touch of girlish charm.
The woman, Third Aunt Lian Honglian, was dressed in a fiery red silk robe. Her shoulders were partially exposed, and her figure was alluring and voluptuous. She appeared to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, and her eyes exuded a captivating charm that was mesmerizing.
The last one was Lan tide, the fourth concubine, who wore a light blue dress and had a cool and aloof temperament. She had a curvaceous figure, a beautiful face, and eyes as deep as a cold pool.