A Sect from a Spirit Vein

Chapter 73: Chapter 70: Making Plans

Lu Qian was delighted upon hearing this and opened the door, seeing the moonlight as gentle as water, and a graceful silhouette standing alone, holding the giggling Baitao in her arms; it was none other than Jiang Qingfeng.

Upon hearing the commotion, Jiang Qingfeng glanced with bright eyes and smiled slightly at Lu Qian. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Zhou Chao following Lu Qian out.

She then gathered her happiness and slightly cupped her hands: ”Fellow Daoist Zhou is here?”

Zhou Chao returned the gesture, but his mind was a tangled mess, leaving without saying much and quickly bidding farewell.

Watching his figure vanish into the night sky, Lu Qian sighed: ”Indecisiveness leads to chaos. The Zhou Family is going to be in turmoil.”

He then turned back to Jiang Qingfeng and, sensing the aura from her, smiled: ”Congratulations, Senior Sister, on breaking through to the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation. At this stage, every increase in power is invaluable.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingfeng felt a bit worried, as some information obtained during the daytime surged in her mind. Meanwhile, the now-fully satiated Baitao was relaxed and kept yawning, so Qingfeng took her into the room to rest. The little girl mumbled unclearly: ”Sect Leader Senior Brother, I’ve saved some delicious food for you, don’t forget...”

Once Jiang Qingfeng had settled Baitao and returned, she saw Lu Qian had already gone back to the guest hall, where he spread out a large map on the table.

Seeing Jiang Qingfeng enter, Lu Qian nodded and gestured for her to sit at the table. Qingfeng didn’t hesitate, and after sitting down, she relayed some discoveries and her speculations from the daytime, finally taking out an invitation card and handing it to Lu Qian.

Lu Qian took the invitation card, opened it, and as Qingfeng said, representatives including Zheng Duan and two other cultivators, as representatives of the Zhou Family’s outsiders, wanted to visit at 7:00 AM the next day. Although the words on the invitation were courteous, there was an undeniable urgency, which made Lu Qian’s heart stir, and he agreed.

He then summarized the discussion he had with Zhou Chao tonight for Jiang Qingfeng. Qingfeng felt a bit tense; they had hardly settled in, and now faced such trouble?

She couldn’t help saying: ”Junior Brother, this place is really too chaotic.”

Lu Qian laughed lightly: ”Indeed, a truly chaotic and dangerous place. Senior Sister, do you remember on the day we bid farewell to Tan Hong and his wife, you asked me where we could settle. Back then, I told you that if no one helped us, we’d find a place of chaos and conflict and start from the smallest village and land.”

Jiang Qingfeng’s eyes brightened, and she took a deep breath: ”Junior Brother, are you saying...”

Lu Qian nodded, his eyes refocused on the map of Chongming County: ”This indeed is the right place. With the sects in a struggle like this, complex powers are at play, and the situation is ever-changing. We can use Lotus Peak as a springboard to seek a true mountain gate of our own!”

This speech stirred Jiang Qingfeng; she remembered something: ”Then are we not going to Ningzhou Danxia Sect?”

”No.” Lu Qian shook his head, ”We must go, and go now. We need to see if Master Chi Yu there has a better opportunity. If not, we will ask him to help us seek the Spirit Vein.”

Jiang Qingfeng was about to ask more, but saw Lu Qian lift a pen and start drawing on the map, instantly focused entirely on it.

The Rootless Fire in the room was about to burn out, and Qingfeng hurriedly stood up to put new Spirit Stones into the lamp holder. The lamp’s light immediately stabilized, becoming soft and bright. Jiang Qingfeng sat back down, resting her delicate hand against her cheek, and quietly watched Lu Qian’s earnest profile. The room fell silent again, except for the rustling of the pen across the paper.

Who knows how long had passed when the Rootless Fire extinguished with a slight cracking sound, startling Jiang Qingfeng awake. Unbeknownst to her, she had fallen asleep at the table.

Bright morning light filled the room. Hastily straightening up, she saw Lu Qian’s long robe draped over her, warming her heart.

Raising her eyes, Lu Qian, dressed in moon-white inner clothes, held the map, which was densely covered in lines. Seeing Qingfeng awake, Lu Qian smiled: ”Senior Sister, you’re awake?”

Jiang Qingfeng blushed, lowered her head, and handed back the robe, feeling her heart racing.

Lu Qian chuckled softly and put on the long robe: ”Senior Sister, I’ve made up my mind. Once I settle these affairs, I’ll head to Ningzhou Danxia Sect.”

”...Ah?” Jiang Qingfeng was still a bit dazed, ”But Elder Zhou is still unconscious and cannot endure a long journey. If left here, he needs someone to take care of him.”

Lu Qian smiled and nodded: ”Exactly, which is why I’ll go alone this time. You stay here to look after Elder Zhou and Taotao.”

”No way!” Jiang Qingfeng was startled and fully awake, ”The journey is long, wouldn’t it be too dangerous for you alone?”

Lu Qian spoke softly: ”Senior Sister, traveling on the Wind-Controlling Giant Beast only takes a few days. What danger could there be? Once I finish my business, I’ll return immediately. Lotus Peak has many things needing your management, Elder Zhou and Taotao cannot be left unattended. With danger lurking everywhere now, we must act separately yet collaboratively to ensure safety.”

Seeing the earnest expression in Lu Qian’s eyes, Jiang Qingfeng knew it was critical, and suppressed her emotions, standing resolute: ”Alright, just instruct me, Junior Brother.”

The two of them discussed in the hall for half an hour, setting various plans. Jiang Qingfeng was sometimes astonished, sometimes solemn, but eventually looked determined, her doubts cleared.

Leaving the guest hall, they first went to check on Master Xuan Ji. Master Xuan Ji was still sleeping, and at that moment, Lu Qian was quite envious of this old man, with all the complicated affairs, yet he could sleep without a care.

Lu Qian ignored whether Master Xuan Ji could hear him or not, greeted him symbolically, and took from him a set of the Array Base and Array Map of Five Elements Command Banner. This Array Base is a Mid-Tier Magical Artifact, with a smaller burden; Lu Qian planned to borrow it for protection during his journey. As for the fully repaired Jade Seal Array Base and Jade Array Map, Lu Qian was about to use them.

To set up the Mountain Protection Grand Array on Lotus Peak.

Having not rested all night, Lu Qian sat down first, took an Elixir to restore Spiritual Power to optimal state, but his mental exhaustion was uncomfortable. In less than two hours, representatives of the Zhou Family’s outsiders would come to visit, and according to plan, laying out the Mountain Protection Grand Array by then was essential.

Hence he simply took out the bottle of Star Dew Nourishing Spirit Pill, swallowed one, adjusted his breath for a moment, feeling clear and alert, fatigue vanished, Divine Sense active and vibrant, though this time it’s just recovery, without any growth.

Well, in the future should seek guidance from Honored Guest Fang.

Without further delay, he took the Jade Seal Array Base and Jade Array Map from the Storage Pouch, revisited Master Xuan Ji’s teachings and Li Zhenru’s insights in his mind.

Lu Qian held the Array Base and Array Map, along with Jiang Qingfeng, approached the Spirit Vein Lotus.

He reached out a hand, and Spiritual Power surged, the Jade Array Map fell precisely onto the Lotus.

A flash of light, Lotus petals quivered. The Array Map emitted radiant light, suspended above the Lotus, as streams of pure Spiritual Qi surged into the Array Map like tides.

Five Jade Seal Array Bases soared into the sky, flashing with lights of Five Elements Spiritual Qi: Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—the Five Elements Grand Array gradually rose!