“Qingran, this is our Sword Pavilion’s cave dwelling!” On the flying sword, Senior Apprentice Sister Yue Qianchi pointed to a ten-thousand-foot high peak in the distance.
Li Qingran looked closely and could faintly see many man-made caves or small stone huts. Near these caves and huts were spiritual fields managed by cultivators themselves. The plants and decorations outside the caves and huts also reflected the different tastes of these cultivators.
For example, one cultivator had planted chrysanthemums all over the entrance of their cave, while another had planted giant cacti. Although she hadn’t seen them in person, Li Qingran secretly thought that these two must be very different personalities.
Seeing Li Qingran deep in thought, Yue Qianchi mistakenly thought that Li Qingran found the mountain peak shabby, so she smiled and explained, “Unlike other sects, our Sword Pavilion doesn’t have many paradises. To increase the concentration of spiritual energy, the sect leader used arrays to gather the spiritual energy from other peaks onto this one. Although it makes each sect member crowded living here, they can enjoy a better cultivation environment and it’s more lively, isn’t it?”
Li Qingran nodded at this, her eyes revealing a hint of admiration.
The pavilion leader must be a practical person.
Willing to sacrifice the sect’s reputation to improve the disciples’ benefits.
When she was in the Bluecloud Sect, she had wondered why the sect leader didn’t gather the spiritual energy from several peaks together instead of letting the disciples compete with each other.
She mentioned this to Qingxuan Daoist, who scolded her for being foolish.
He said that cultivating immortality is about competing with heaven, earth, and others.
If everyone eats from the same plate, how can the differences in talent and personal effort be demonstrated? But she believed that the sect should be like a family, where everyone works together and helps each other, not competing.
Maybe her thoughts were too naive?
“Do you have anything to say, younger sister?”
“No,” Li Qingran blushed as she looked into Yue Qianchi’s clear eyes and whispered, “Senior Sister, I think this place is great. Which caves are empty?”
Yue Qianchi pointed up the mountain.
“See, most of the caves above the waist are empty. Some are self-created by disciples, some are pits made when the masters chased away the sect’s guardian beast. You can create your own if you’re not satisfied.”
“Why do everyone prefer to live down below?” Li Qingran asked curiously.
“It’s convenient,” Yue Qianchi shrugged. “Flying on a sword can be tiring. Our Sword Pavilion’s motto is: when traveling, stand if you can, sit if you can’t stand, lie down if you can’t sit, sleep if you can’t lie down, and die… cough, nothing after that.”
Li Qingran: “…”
Is this the attitude of Sword Pavilion cultivators?
It’s quite ostentatious.
As they got closer to the mountain, she indeed saw many sword cultivators lounging around, such as a sword cultivator lying on a turtle’s back sunbathing by a waterfall.
At first glance, it seemed very lazy.
But upon closer inspection, there was a unique Zen-like quality to it.
“That’s Brother Yu Yushu, who cultivates the path of emotionlessness. He is meditating. This person is usually as boring as a coffin board,” Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes, then sped up to fly past and circled the mountain once more.
“How is it, younger sister? Have you decided where you want to stay?”
Li Qingran blinked, and in her mind appeared an image of the cliff top at sunrise, with birds singing.
“Senior Sister, I want to stay at the top of the mountain.”
“Okay.” Yue Qianchi wasn’t surprised.
Most disciples chose the top of the mountain when they first came to the Sword Pavilion.
The view is good and the scenery is expansive.
Thinking that flying on a sword every day is fine.
But no matter how beautiful the scenery is, it will eventually get old.
Over time, they would realize how painful it is to fly on a sword to attend morning classes every day. Not only do they have to wake up early, but they get exhausted quickly compared to those who walk slowly.
During the hottest days of summer, under the blazing sun, they would obediently stay put. Surviving through summer, winter comes with fierce storms and snow, while the valley below is full of birdsong and flowers, and the mountain is covered in ice and snow, making them obedient again after a night of freezing.
Within half a year, these disciples would challenge their seniors to move their caves closer to the foot of the mountain.
The closer to the foot of the mountain, the stronger the disciples’ strength.
Yue Qianchi brought Li Qingran to the top of the mountain, where there was already a small stone hut covered in dust, clearly unvisited for a long time.
“Alright, younger sister, I’ll leave you here. If you need anything, you can call me using a sound transmission talisman. Welcome to come visit my cave at the foot of the mountain.”
A faint scent of alcohol suddenly spread in the wind.
Yue Qianchi, who had been lazy, immediately brightened up. She hurriedly put Li Qingran down and licked her red lips: “Senior Sister, I’m going to drink now, hehehe~ goodbye!”
Yue Qianchi flew down the mountain with a series of loud noises.
Her voice still echoed in the mountain.
“Younger sister, remember to attend the morning class tomorrow, don’t be late!”
The sound gradually faded away, then resounded again:
“Junior Brother Xu An, I’ll count to three, hand over your new wine, or I’ll smash your cave!”
“Brute, you won’t get it!”
Boom!
Two sword intents rose in the mountain, followed by a series of fighting sounds, even the ground trembled. A few cranes by the cliff were comfortably dozing off, clearly used to these commotions.
Li Qingran stood by the cliff for a moment.
Then turned and walked into the stone hut.
“It’s time to start a new life. After attending the morning class tomorrow, I’ll go to the scripture hall.”
She had to help her master detoxify!
She wanted her master to live forever!
Li Qingran clenched her fist to motivate herself, picked up the broom by the door to clean the dusty room.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the void.
[Qingran, have you missed me?]
