A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 64: Chapter 61: After Awakening

Upon entering meditation, Lu Qian only felt a peacefulness in his soul, as if he had returned to the womb, warm and comfortable, completely isolated from the outside world.

It seemed as if he had been immersed for a long time, yet also like only a moment had passed. When he opened his eyes again, Lu Qian saw the brilliant sunlight outside the window.

How long have I been meditating? As soon as Lu Qian moved, he felt a bit stiff all over. After stretching a bit, he jumped to the ground and gave a lazy stretch, his joints cracking crisply.

He felt fantastic, with abundant spiritual power throughout his body, his divine sense full, and his whole being light. There was even a swelling sensation in his Niwan Palace, enhancing his senses considerably.

Huh? Lu Qian tentatively released his divine sense, extending it outwards, beyond the door, down the stairs, and out of the small building, sensing every plant and tree outside. The wind rustled the foliage, a bug suddenly took flight, and with a thought, his divine sense swiftly retracted.

My divine sense has become stronger!

The range of sensing expanded, and the precision of his divine sense improved significantly.

Was this the result of constantly using and replenishing my divine sense, or the effect of the Star Dew Nourishing Spirit Pill?

If this pill truly had such miraculous effects, then a thousand spirit stones was worth it; even at ten thousand spirit stones, people would still fight to buy it.

Lu Qian decided to consult Honored Guest Elder Fang when there was an opportunity. That Feathered Scholar should be proficient in medicine and have deep research into divine sense. His own ”Consciousness Collection” was a treasure envied by everyone, but he only knew how to use it and didn’t understand the principles, with more secrets waiting for him to discover.

Just as he was pondering, he suddenly sensed someone lightly tiptoeing outside the room, and a smile appeared on Lu Qian’s face as his divine sense moved.

The door was gently pushed open, and the delicately crafted little girl cautiously poked her head in, her bright black eyes meeting Lu Qian’s.

”Taotao!”

”Senior Brother Sect Leader!”

Jiang Baitao shouted happily as she accelerated into Lu Qian’s arms. Lu Qian laughed heartily, holding her, and spun around several times.

They giggled for a moment, then Baitao suddenly turned her face away, pouting, ”Stupid Senior Brother, you left me at the inn, and I haven’t forgiven you yet, so don’t be so close to me.”

Lu Qian playfully pinched her cheek, ”We really had something important to do. Taotao isn’t that petty, right? I promise it won’t happen next time, okay?”

Baitao huffed, ”You said that last time too, I don’t believe you anymore!”

Just as Lu Qian was about to console her, he heard familiar footsteps outside, so he released Baitao and smiled at the silhouette entering the room, ”Senior Sister, you’re here.”

”Junior Brother, you’re finally awake.” Seeing the invigorated Lu Qian, Jiang Qingfeng was overjoyed. She took a couple of quick steps towards Lu Qian, but stopped abruptly when she saw Baitao clinging to his arm, and scolded, ”Taotao, did you wake up Junior Brother?”

”Stupid Senior Brother, rotten sister, I’m not playing with you guys anymore!” Baitao stomped her foot angrily and dashed out.

”Senior Sister, you wrongly blamed her.” Lu Qian shook his head helplessly, but there were too many pressing matters at hand, no time to coax the little girl, ”Has Elder Zhou woken up?”

Jiang Qingfeng nodded and started recounting the events of the past days.

Zhou Chao and others had discussed with the three sects and reached a resolution. They invited Jiang Qingfeng to witness for the Yunshan Sect. The three sects reaffiliated under the Zhou Family, pardoned for past errors in light of the current achievements, fined only an eight-year contribution.

This was indeed a lenient treatment, considering the three sects were already three years behind on their contributions, effectively only penalizing an additional five years’ worth. The three sect leaders were relieved and quickly made declarations of undying loyalty, even Jiang Qingfeng received much gratitude.

With matters settled, Zhou Chao came several times to visit Lu Qian, but Lu Qian remained in meditation, so Zhou Chao had to return with the Feathered Scholar to the Zhou Family, instructing Qingfeng to notify him as soon as Lu Qian awoke.

During Lu Qian’s meditation on the third day, Master Xuan Ji woke up once, drank some water, then fell back into a deep sleep, and was still asleep. Jiang Qingfeng had obtained a prescription from Honored Guest Elder Fang and visited Plum Blossom Marketplace to get the medicine for Master Xuan Ji, also bringing Baitao back, and returned with the newly recast Jade Seal Array Base Five Elements Formation.

”Zhou Chao appeared quite guilty; from the annual salaries seized from the three sects, he allocated three thousand spirit stones to me for Elder Zhou’s medicine expenses, and he promised to cover the rest.” Jiang Qingfeng hesitated a bit and handed a storage pouch to Lu Qian, ”Junior Brother, how should we deal with him?”

Lu Qian pondered for a moment, ”Zhou Chao is not inherently bad; he can even be said to be loyal and trustworthy. He faltered at the critical moment this time, but who knows why; we need to figure it out. But this incident reminds me that allies are just allies; we must never hinge the crucial part of victory on them. We need our team, our combat strength.”

Leaning on others is just borrowing strength; had I thirty elite disciples at the middle and late stage of Qi Cultivation, this battle wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Jiang Qingfeng nodded, suddenly remembering something, ”Oh right, the host here, Zhao Xianzong, checks daily to see if you’ve awoken, quite anxious. People from the other two sects haven’t left either; it seems they’re all waiting for you to wake up.”

Lu Qian laughed heartily, ”They’re not waiting for me; they’re waiting to divide the spoils. Alright, since I’m awake, let’s go see them. We’ve invested so much effort this time, who knows how much reward we’ve actually received.”

Though he said this, Lu Qian first went next door to check on Master Xuan Ji’s condition.

He still lay on the bed, but with steady, long breaths, and a faint flush returning to his complexion, looking in good condition.

Never had anyone seen Master Xuan Ji so quiet. He was always loud and a bit disjointed; any place where he was, was always lively.

But now he lay quietly asleep, his whole body sunk into the bedding, his wrinkles appearing even deeper.

Looking at him now, he truly was just a frail old man, his body aged, with not much lifespan remaining.

Standing by the bedside, staring at Master Xuan Ji, Lu Qian remained silent.

Jiang Qingfeng gently held Lu Qian’s hand, ”Junior Brother, don’t worry. Those spiritual medicines for nourishment—I bought a batch back. Feathered Scholar Fang instructed that once he fully wakes, he can take them regularly. Rest assured, now that we have a temporary place to stay, with good care, Elder Zhou will soon recover.”

Lu Qian nodded, with the phrase ”temporary place to stay” striking a chord in him, ”Senior Sister, help me write a letter and have Spirit Snake Peak disciples deliver it to Zhou Chao, saying I’ll visit tomorrow.”

Just as the two of them came downstairs, opened the door, and bumped into Zhao Xianzong, who was about to push the door open.

Zhao Xianzong paused, then broke into a smile, ”Sect Leader Lu, you’re finally awake.”

Lu Qian smiled, ”Indeed, if I hadn’t awoken, you three might’ve dragged me out of bed in a panic.”