Amidst the surging sea of clouds, the sword lights of the two peaks went their separate ways. Hu Ji Peak's sword glow was dim as if covered in dust, while Chen Ming Peak's sword qi soared like a white rainbow.
"The Disciple understands," Qing Feng responded earnestly, secretly calculating that if the Blood Core from the Thousand Moon Realm couldn't save his dog brother, he might truly have to risk searching for a sixth-grade Spirit Core.
"Instead of praising him for winning the competition, you're putting on Master airs? Qing Feng used a seventh-grade sword technique to defeat Zhao Yu's ninth-grade; that's much better than some people who used a ninth-grade against an eighth-grade back then and still lost miserably," Zi Yun teased, leaning against the doorframe, her gaze pointedly sweeping towards Qin Heng.
The green-robed cultivator immediately shrank his neck: "That's because I was going easy on Luo-shixiong!"
Seeing Master's ears redden and still try to be stubborn, several Disciples hurriedly lowered their heads and bit their lips, Qing Feng's shoulders trembling as he struggled to hold back his laughter.
The rewards for Chen Ming Peak's resounding victory on the Sword Testing Platform were quickly prepared: human-grade magical robes shimmering with light, a cold gleam from the heart-protecting lock, three ninth-grade jade pendants jingling, a stack of Heavenly Thunder Talismans half a foot high, and various ceramic bottles of Spirit Core filling the table.
"The Thousand Moon Realm's most dangerous beasts are merely Foundation Establishment demonic beasts; do you think you're going to break into the Demonic Abyss?" Qin Heng stared at Zi Yun stuffing human-grade magical robes into her Qiankun Bag, his heart aching as he gasped, "Even Golden Core cultivators find it hard to break through this magical robe's defense."
"You said the same thing when the Mystic Realm collapsed the year before last," Zi Yun stuffed two more bottles of detoxifying Spirit Core inside. "If Qing Feng has any mishap, Senior Sister will overturn Chen Ming Peak."
Seeing the two about to bicker again, Qin Yue lightly coughed, "Yan Yi-shimei from Dan Refining Peak is also going. Tomorrow, I'll take Qing Feng to visit Apothecary Jin Shishu and ask her to look after him."
"That alchemist of hers, she'll still need me to protect her," Qing Feng blurted out, a vision of the young girl always dressed in a moon-white ruqun appearing in his mind. Zi Yun slapped a talisman on the table: "Alchemists are the safest people to be around. How many cultivators in the Thousand Moon Realm scramble to escort people from Dan Refining Peak?"
Magical artifacts are divided into nine grades, above which are the Heaven, Earth, and Human three-tier magical treasures.
At this moment, the jade pendant on Qing Feng's waist was only ninth-grade, but he carried a human-grade supreme treasure in his embrace.
He lowered his head, caressing the silver patterns of the magical robe, listening to the fading bickering of his Master and Shishu, a smile unconsciously curving his lips. This trip to the Thousand Moon Realm was becoming more and more interesting.
The mutation of the laws of heaven and earth triggered drastic changes in the cultivation world, and the alchemist lineage suddenly rose to become the Sect's lifeline.
In the past, cultivators only dared to use Spirit Core at critical breakthroughs, but now, with the prevalence of killing to prove the Dao, various healing secret medicines and soul-burning forbidden Spirit Core have become essential for survival.
The Beast Taming Sect even designated Tianshu Peak next to Zhijian Peak exclusively for alchemists, and spared no effort to ensure the inheritance of the alchemist lineage, capturing demonic beasts for them to practice on. Even the Thousand Moon Mystic Realm, which direct Disciples found difficult to enter, alchemists could enter and exit at will.
At this moment, Qing Feng was following his Senior Sister Qin Yue to Dan Refining Peak. He secretly planned to conceal his cultivation in the Mystic Realm; if discovered by the accompanying guards, he would be in danger unless he silenced them, but silencing them would go against his Dao heart.
"Tomorrow, follow Yue'er to find Apothecary Jin Shishu. Be cautious in all matters," Zi Yun's parting instruction still echoed in his ears.
At dawn, the two had already landed at the foot of the peculiar peak shaped like an inverted Dan Refining furnace. Looking up, pale green medicinal mist steamed from the mountain, and even breathing could enhance cultivation.
They dutifully walked along the stone steps for five hours, finally seeing a ten-mile peach forest in full bloom, each petal adorned with profound array patterns.
"Chen Ming Peak's Qin Yue and Qing Feng request an audience with Apothecary Jin Shishu."
As the clear voice fell, the sea of flowers suddenly parted like a living thing, forming a small path. A plain-clothed woman stepped forth, fragrant, her black hair like a waterfall unadorned with pearls or jade, her brows and eyes as clear and cold as a snow-capped plum blossom—it was indeed Yan Yi, Apothecary Jin's first Disciple.
"You finally deigned to come see me?" She feigned annoyance, but warmth bloomed in her eyes.
Qin Yue smiled and linked arms with her: "Those people from Hu Ji Peak caused trouble and delayed us. If you find me annoying, should I go back now?"
"You wouldn't dare!" Yan Yi glared at her, her gaze sweeping over Qing Feng: "Master has already prepared the Spirit Core. Follow me."
As the peach blossom array closed again, Qing Feng watched the bickering backs of his two Senior Sisters and suddenly felt that this Mystic Realm trip might not be as dangerous as he had imagined.
"Qing Feng is Qing Feng, and yearning is yearning; they don't interfere with each other," Qin Yue said with a smile, linking arms with Yan Yi.
The two young women walked on, treading on fallen peach petals. Turning past a winding flower path, they suddenly saw a gray-robed cultivator leaning against an ancient peach tree with gnarled branches, tea smoke curling from a stone table.
"Greetings, Apothecary Shishu," Qing Feng and Qin Yue greeted in unison.
"No need for formalities," Apothecary Jin stroked the rim of her teacup, her gaze sweeping over the young man's heroic brows and eyes, as if seeing the stubborn youth who first entered the Sect Twenty Years Ago. "Have you come for the Thousand Moon Realm?"
"Precisely. Although there are no rumors of danger, I always want to be more prepared," Qing Feng said as he sat on the stone stool, a falling petal from the branch landing precisely in his tea.
Apothecary Jin lightly tapped the stone table with her finger, sending ripples outward: "That Mystic Realm is in eternal night without day, with a thousand strange moons suspended in the sky. Demonic beasts there, once slain, condense into Blood Cores, which are greatly beneficial for cultivation. But most importantly..." He suddenly lowered his voice, "Beware of living people refining Spirit Core."
Qing Feng's pupils constricted, his knuckles gripping his sword turning pale. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to guarding against hidden arrows, but the bloodiness in this calm tone still sent a chill down his spine.
"Back then, I saw a scarlet ginseng spirit that scorched sparks on the ground as it fled," Apothecary Jin tossed over a yellowed silk scroll. "Following the map, you might find the spiritual medicine to help your Spirit Core dog re-establish its foundation." He suddenly smiled again: "If there are enough Blood Cores, Shishu guarantees you'll achieve Foundation Establishment perfection in three years."
As dusk settled, the glazed tiles of Dan Refining Peak reflected the sunset like blood. Qing Feng caressed the hilt of the sword in his embrace, watching Qin Yue and Yan Yi arranging newly picked medicinal herbs under the corridor. In the distance, the sound of a bell echoed through the sea of clouds; the Thousand Moon Realm was about to open.
Half a month later, sword light rained before the cliff of Heaven Sword Peak. Qing Feng, in his green robe and jade pendant, stood at the edge of the crowd, listening to Qin Yue's whispered words: "Zhou An from Zhijian Peak is skilled with twin ring blades, and Liu Dan from Dragon Yang Peak has that gilded short knife at his waist..."
She suddenly stopped, dozens of gazes shooting over like sharp arrows, as Yan Yi approached, smiling, linking arms with two beautiful Senior Sisters.
"Follow big sister, and I guarantee you'll walk sideways," Dan Refining Peak's Senior Apprentice Sister's red dress fluttered, her waist pouch jingling.
Qing Feng gazed at the moon-patterned vortex gradually appearing on the cliff face, the talisman in his palm faintly warming.
The Thousand Moon Realm's moonlight flowed, revealing a flash of cold light from a certain fellow Disciple's sleeve in the shadows.
Qin Yue naturally had confidence to say such words. As an alchemical genius, she had few rivals among her peers; her storage bag was full of Spirit Core and talismans; not to mention, she also had Luo-shixiong overseeing things beside her, a Foundation Establishment ninth-layer sword cultivator from Ziyan Peak, who practically walked sideways in the Foundation Establishment realm.
"Do you think everyone is like you? No one dares to touch you, but they might not dare not to touch him."
Qin Yue kicked a stone at her feet in frustration, "If I had been in the Sect then, I definitely would have gone to the Thousand Moon Realm with Qing Feng." Thinking of the missed opportunity, she wished she could grind her back teeth to dust.
Yan Yi bent over laughing: "Who told you to run around randomly? Serves you right!"
Qin Yue glared at her best friend, about to retort, but was interrupted by a distant sword cry. Three streams of light fell from the clouds; Qi Lin from Hu Ji Peak, leading the way, walked over with a smile, as if they had just arrived.
