Jiang Tong withdrew his spiritual sense from the Spring and Autumn Bell just as dawn was breaking.
To prevent Gu Xianyu from being alone for too long, he set the flow of time inside the bell to the lowest setting, telling her that, having consumed the Soul Nourishing Elixir, he needed to enter another period of slumber.
Before leaving, he casually tossed her some pills and discussed some Sword Dao insights with her. The little disciple looked as if she’d just experienced an “I have comprehended” moment.
Even so, for every hour that passed in the real world, three days would go by inside the Spring and Autumn Bell. He still had to take time out now and then to check on her.
“Hmm?”
Jiang Tong noticed two dots of light appear around the Spring and Autumn Bell. Those must be this time’s rewards.
With a thought, a few lines of regular script floated up beside the lights.
[Breakthrough to Qi Refining Eighth Layer]
[Unblocked two meridians]
He’d spent a long time inside the bell this time, so the rewards were quite generous.
But Jiang Tong hesitated for a moment and did not choose to absorb them.
His master said she had found a Medicine Formula. He wanted to see what it was.
He couldn’t let down his master’s kind intentions, could he?
“Jiang Tong.”
Dim light filtered in as the silhouette of a woman appeared outside the door, her figure full and shapely. “Are you up?”
Jiang Tong put the Spring and Autumn Bell away into his sea of consciousness and replied, “Just woke up, Master.”
Two seconds of silence, then the door was hesitantly pushed open. Jiang Yueliu walked in slowly, surveying the room, a trace of doubt flickering in her cold eyes.
It seemed she’d just sensed the aura of a powerful artifact, but now it was gone without a trace.
She gently set down the white porcelain bowl in her hand, then sat at the table. Jiang Tong immediately took the seat across from her, curiously peering at the medicine soup in the bowl.
“Master, what’s this?”
He leaned in and sniffed lightly.
A faint bitterness and a refreshing aroma, mingled with some mysterious fragrance.
But why was the medicine soup faintly milky-white?
“The Medicine Formula I mentioned to you yesterday.” Jiang Yueliu gazed into his eyes.
“With the Grand Competition approaching, this may help you clear your meridians and resume your cultivation.”
Jiang Tong noticed a trace of worry in her eyes, and his heart gave a little skip.
He had disciples himself now, so he could understand a master’s concerns.
He lifted the bowl, and under Jiang Yueliu’s watchful gaze, drank it down little by little.
Wiping the white liquid from the corner of his mouth, Jiang Tong felt a coolness in his stomach, strangely comfortable.
“Master, did you add Cold-Attribute Medicinal Herbs?”
“Mm.”
Jiang Yueliu responded softly, her gaze fleeting as their eyes met.
“Well? Is it working?”
“It seems…” Jiang Tong could feel his body changing; three meridians had truly been unblocked.
The blockage of his meridians was originally a side effect of the Spring and Autumn Bell. Now that the bell had awakened, even an ordinary treatment was enough.
“It definitely worked.”
“Truly?” Jiang Yueliu asked earnestly.
“Several blockages have been cleared.” Jiang Tong looked up and smiled at her. “Master, you’re so good to me.”
Still worried, Jiang Yueliu grabbed his wrist, closed her eyes to sense his condition, then finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Her gaze toward Jiang Tong seemed a little complicated.
“Eight years.” She murmured, a faint smile crossing her eyes. “Eight years.”
“To walk the Immortal Path again, it’s not too late.”
“Hehe, all thanks to Master.” Jiang Tong stifled the urge to act spoiled, and winked at her. “What do you want to eat today, Master? I’ll make it for you.”
He was already eighteen. If he still acted like a child asking Jiang Yueliu for hugs, he might get beaten up.
Unexpectedly, Jiang Yueliu stood, picked up the medicine bowl, and the corners of her lips quirked up. “Let’s skip it for today.”
Master smiled?
Jiang Tong could hardly believe it.
“Yesterday the Demonic Cultivators acted up again, destroyed an Eastern Small Sect. Yao Xining sent me a message this morning, asking me to go with her to take a look.”
Mentioning Demonic Cultivators, Jiang Yueliu’s features took on a trace of icy coldness.
Jiang Tong knew his master had always loathed evil cultivators, even more so than the orthodox sects did.
She truly killed every one she saw, without hesitation.
“There’s another piece of bad news.”
Jiang Yueliu suddenly looked at him and spoke slowly, “After a meeting among the Elders, it was decided that the sect Grand Competition will be moved up to tomorrow.”
Jiang Tong probed, “Is the situation… that serious?”
“Besides the Demonic Cultivator activity, the Northern Demon Clan is also stirring, apparently plotting something. That’s the key issue.”
Jiang Yueliu shook her head. “Advancing the Grand Competition will allow Shangyuan Sect to free up people more quickly to deal with the coming upheaval. But you…”
The joy from before vanished, and her fine brows drew together.
Jiang Tong understood. His master was worried about him.
He said softly, “It’s all right, Master, no need to worry. I know what I’m doing.”
Jiang Yueliu nodded gently:
“I’ll be there tomorrow as well. Don’t feel too much pressure, just do your best.”
“You too, Master.”
Jiang Tong earnestly reminded her, “Be extra careful today. If things get too dangerous, retreat. Don’t just pick up your Sword and fight Demonic Cultivators to the death.”
Oh no.
As soon as he finished, Jiang Tong started to worry.
He’d just come out of the Spring and Autumn Bell and hadn’t adjusted his tone, still speaking as if to his own disciple.
He thought Master would get angry, but instead, she seemed dazed for a moment, silent, as if struck by something.
The room was quiet for a while before Jiang Yueliu said softly, “I didn’t hear that clearly. Say it again.”
Jiang Tong hesitated for a moment: “I said, Master, you should be careful too…”
“All right.”
Jiang Yueliu replied calmly, “Your master won’t act rashly.”
Jiang Tong was left confused as Jiang Yueliu picked up the bowl and walked out.
She leaned against the wall and exhaled lightly, as if someone was whispering words of caution in her ear.
A hundred years had passed, but the voice was still so familiar.
……
Master has gone out to subdue demons.
Jiang Tong sat in the courtyard, bored, pondering what he should do next.
First was the medicine for treating Cold Soul Jade Body; he needed to find that Medicine Formula quickly. Time inside the Spring and Autumn Bell passed much faster than outside; he couldn’t let Gu Xianyu’s condition worsen, or it would become even more troublesome.
Next was spirit stones.
The Spring and Autumn Bell required spiritual energy to operate—it was like a money pit.
Just last night alone, with the flow of time increased, he’d lost more than thirty top-grade spirit stones.
Usually, Jiang Tong would make pills or forge some weapons, and over time, it became a craft—his little treasury had accumulated a lot of spirit stones. It had been a while since he’d taken on that kind of work.
But if this kept up, it wouldn’t last… he’d have to go back to his old trade.
Glancing at the Spring and Autumn Bell in his sea of consciousness, he saw his little disciple diligently cultivating, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Cultivate, cultivate. Once you’re strong enough, your master can benefit from it too.
Jiang Tong had already decided to look for a pill recipe in the morning. Just as he closed the courtyard gate, planning to visit the Scripture Repository, he heard a slightly familiar voice.
“Senior Brother Jiang.”
It was Ji Nianxue, dressed in a blue skirt.
She still wore that Osmanthus Hairpin, and called to him a bit nervously, as if she’d been waiting at the gate for a long time.
“What is it?” Jiang Tong replied calmly, but in his mind flashed the image of Yao Xining’s unpredictable temper from last night.
This crazy woman’s disciple has a completely different personality from Yao Xining at this age…
“Didn’t I say I’d come find you today?”
Ji Nianxue took out her Sword and said, “I want you to spar with me.”
“Now?” Jiang Tong smiled, helpless. “Sorry, my cultivation is crippled—I’m an utter fool at Sword Dao…”
“I can pay in spirit stones…”
Ji Nianxue bit her lip and stared into his eyes. “If you lose, I’ll give you fifty top-grade spirit stones. If you win, one hundred.”
Jiang Tong: “Though I’m a fool, I do know a bit.”
“Wait, let me go get my sword.”