Chapter 35: New Year’s Dawn
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
As the New Year approached, the days grew longer and the nights shorter. In the realm of Azure Clouds, this was a particularly auspicious and significant festival. It marked the beginning of the seasonal cycle, symbolizing the revival of all living things.
Every year during this time, the capital city of Sheng Jing would light up with festive lanterns and host both lantern festivals and temple fairs. In the countryside, people prepared Spring Praying Banquets and crafted Spring Talismans, praying for an early spring and the melting of snow.
At this moment, along the bustling Almond Blossom Alley in Sheng Jing, a group of disciples from the Mountain and Sea Pavilion hurriedly made their way through the crowd. Their leader was Qiu Ni, a man once known for spending a single silver coin to practice swordsmanship at the Heavenly Script Academy. He now held a portrait, asking shopkeepers and locals whether they had seen the individuals depicted. The group had lost five disciples the previous day and had spent an entire day and night searching for them, yet there was no trace.
Meanwhile, on the upper floors of the Almond Blossom Pavilion, a group of outer-court disciples from the Heavenly Script Academy sat drinking and discussing recent events within the academy.
“Chu He condensed his seventh Celestial Aura yesterday; he’s only two steps away from breaking through to the next stage.”
“It’s not just Chu He. What about Du Zhu? Do you remember him?”
“The one from Liang Prefecture, already at the pinnacle of Essence Refinement?”
“Exactly. It’s like he suddenly had an epiphany. A month ago, he perfected the lower three stages, then took a leave to visit his family. When he returned, he’d already condensed two Celestial Auras.”
Hearing this, the disciples who weren’t familiar with the details exchanged astonished glances. Chu He’s breakthrough, though sudden, seemed logical—his family’s extraordinary talent was widely recognized. Similarly, Ji You, though a wandering rogue cultivator from humble beginnings, had climbed the ranks steadily, earning respect. His recent feat of using three sword strikes to hold off two battlefields and rescue senior brothers from the Inner Court only heightened his renown.
However, Du Zhu’s sudden rise from obscurity to surpassing many was truly shocking.
“I thought Ji You’s entry into the Inner Court was guaranteed, but now it seems full of twists and turns.”
“Cultivation is indeed enigmatic.”
“Ji You isn’t from a prestigious clan. If he actually surpasses us and enters the Inner Court, wouldn’t it be a slap in the face for everyone?”
The group’s chatter grew lively. Meanwhile, they couldn’t help but glance toward the opposite Harmony Pavilion, where Lu Qing Qiu was hosting a gathering, which included Ji You. Originally, she had invited Chu He and Du Zhu as well, but since their breakthroughs, they had become reclusive, engrossed in their cultivation.
“Chu He now has seven Celestial Auras, nearing the upper five stages. What does Young Master Ji think?”
“As long as he doesn’t take my spot as Sect Master.”
“?”
Lu Qing Qiu assumed he was joking to mask his worries. Smiling, she noticed his furrowed brow. She had thought she’d befriended a promising future Inner Court disciple, but Chu He and Du Zhu’s rapid progress had clearly changed the landscape.
Qian Yun Xiao picked up a dish with his chopsticks and turned to Bai Ru Long. “Ah Long, why are you so quiet today?”
Bai Ru Long frowned. “A few days ago, my family sent me a Spirit Pill to aid my cultivation, claiming the family’s honor rests on my shoulders. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
Having taken pills since childhood, Lu Qing Qiu found nothing unusual. “Taking pills is common practice.”
“But something feels off.”
“What could be wrong with a pill?”
Bai Ru Long crossed his arms. “Ever since my mother passed, my father has favored the second wife, giving all resources to my younger brother. If this pill were truly valuable, why would it come to me?”
The group recalled the day Bai Ru Long mentioned his younger brother, Bai Si Hu, when discussing the attack during their sword delivery. Bai Ru Long had suspected Bai Si Hu of orchestrating the assault to cripple him and secure the family inheritance.
Ji You emptied his plate. “Pills are three parts poison. It’s better to avoid them when possible to prevent long-term harm. Many who rely on pills for breakthroughs never progress beyond Mystic Enlightenment. Look at me, I’ve never taken a pill.”
Bai Ru Long stared blankly. “Isn’t that because you’re broke?”
“That’s just my disguise,” Ji You replied indignantly, snatching Bai Ru Long’s untouched ginseng soup.
Lou Si Yi, suddenly remembering something, spoke up. “Speaking of breakthroughs, the young Appraiser Master of Spirit Sword Mountain broke through recently.”
“Five years from Profound Comprehension to Dao Fusion, and now, three and a half years later, another breakthrough?”
“Yes, twenty-two years old, reaching Heaven Resonance—the era’s mightiest direct disciple. I wonder if they’ve manifested their Form yet.”
Lou Si Yi added admiringly, “It’s said something amusing happened during the breakthrough.”
Lu Qing Qiu, ever curious about gossip, leaned forward. “What happened?”
“A direct disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect, who has long admired the young master, arrived with extravagant gifts to congratulate them but never met them.”
“Why?”
“The sect master claimed they left the mountain immediately after breaking through and were nowhere to be found. But many believe that was just an excuse.”
“Spirit Sword Mountain rivals the Heavenly Script Academy in standing. The Dao Seeking Sect’s eagerness to form ties was too hasty. No wonder they were snubbed.”
As the group conversed, a sudden gale swept through the city, causing lanterns to sway violently. They paused mid-drink, their waist tokens emitting a faint golden glow. Stunned, they noticed the Heavenly Script Academy disciples nearby rushing back in haste.
“It’s a Summons Order!”
“I’ve never seen one activated before. I thought it was just an ordinary token.”
“Something extraordinary must be happening tonight.”
Exchanging glances, they set down their chopsticks and returned to Mount Ni under the dusk’s fading light. Upon arrival, they found a large number of disciples gathered at the White Jade Terrace of Ascension. Standing before them were the three stewards of the Office of Affairs, their faces grave and fists clenched.
The stewards solemnly announced the cause of the emergency. Every New Year’s Eve, the Pill Sect transported large quantities of Spirit Pills to sects across the region. However, tonight, the convoy was ambushed near the Thousand Marks Mountain just outside the city.
While the Pill Sect specialized in alchemy, its members were not particularly skilled in combat. Moreover, higher-quality Spirit Pills were notoriously unstable and prone to destruction, which was why five alchemists always escorted each batch. Given the cultivation world’s heavy reliance on pills, this incident was of grave concern.
Due to the suddenness of the attack, the stewards had no choice but to activate the Summons Order. With a sharp motion, they brought their fingers together. A massive Flying Sword roared through the air, landing on the White Jade Terrace.