9. The Alliance (Part II)

Through Jin Xiu’er’s reminder, Yao Qian suddenly recalled that she still had the golden silkworm gu eggs gifted by the Golden Silkworm Matron with her.

Jin Xiu’er said, “When it comes to guarding the home, what spiritual beast is more obedient and useful than gu insects? They don’t consume much either; even without fresh flesh, they can be fed with fasting pills.”

Yao Qian’s eyes brightened. Indeed! Raising gu insects to guard the house was far more convenient than raising spirit pets. She said to Jin Xiu’er, “How about I trade you the ritual refining manual for the Yi Mu Divine Needle in exchange for your method of raising gu insects?”

Jin Xiu’er blurted out, “Is that allowed?” The method of raising gu insects was her family’s secret heart technique, and although her ancestor permitted her to teach Yao Qian, the Yi Mu Divine Needle’s ritual manual was the true legacy of Qingmu Valley. If Qingmu Valley found out, would the Yao family get into trouble?

Yao Qian chuckled lightly, “If you don’t say it and I don’t say it, who would know I secretly taught you the manual? Besides, who could Qingmu Valley complain to? The Wuji Sect?”

Jin Xiu’er laughed self-deprecatingly, “You’re right. It seems joining the Wuji Sect has its benefits.” The Wuji Sect was one of the ten great demonic sects, while Qingmu Valley was only a minor third-rate sect. They wouldn’t dare offend disciples of the Wuji Sect.

As the saying goes, a son selling off his grandfather’s fields without remorse. Yao Qian voluntarily explained the Yi Mu Divine Needle manual to Jin Xiu’er first: “This heart technique centers around three talismans. You need to choose a place rich in Yi Mu spiritual energy, breathe in and absorb the true Yi Mu energy, and condense it into three talismanic seals. Once these three talismans are refined successfully, the Yi Mu Needle manual is complete.”

Though Yao Qian herself had never practiced this heart technique, with the aid of the Tianyan Stele, her comprehension of the technique was deeper than someone who had practiced it for over a decade—such was the marvel of the Tianyan Stele.

“This heart technique is called a needle manual, but it’s only half of it. It teaches how to ritual refine the divine needle, but lacks mastery over its use. I suspect this manual is a half-learned technique inherited from an ancestor of Qingmu Valley, which conveniently aligned with the true legacy heart technique, Yi Mu Rejuvenation Manual, and was thus incorporated into the sect’s teachings.”

Yao Qian analyzed further: The Yi Mu Divine Needle manual’s ritual refining aspect was exquisite, but its mastery section was mediocre. The seals used on the divine needle were very basic; it couldn’t even be used for Qi-guided flight, only functioning as a concealed weapon.

Hence, most Qingmu Valley disciples stopped refining the Yi Mu Divine Needle after foundation establishment because it was of little use. “I think rather than spending effort refining the Yi Mu Divine Needle, it’s better to focus on cultivating Yi Mu true Qi.”

She continued, “Given our current situation, fighting is inevitable in the future. Yi Mu true Qi is known for its richness and gentleness. Legend has it that when the Yi Mu Rejuvenation Manual is perfected, it can regenerate severed limbs. Even if our cultivated Yi Mu true Qi lacks such power, it should at least heal ordinary injuries.”

The Yi Mu Rejuvenation Manual was Qingmu Valley’s true legacy, but the Elder was only a regular inner disciple and couldn’t practice it. However, Yao Qian had heard from her senior sister that the Yi Mu true Qi produced by refining the Yi Mu Divine Needle had similarities to the longevity true Qi of the Rejuvenation Manual. That’s why the Elder secretly taught Yao Qian privately.

In cultivation, there is a distinction between Dao techniques and Art techniques. Dao techniques, like the Yin-Yang Herb Gathering Scripture or the Yi Mu Rejuvenation Manual, focus on refining true Qi and advancing the realm. Art techniques emphasize practicality, like the Yi Mu Divine Needle manual, which can be used in combat.

Though Dao techniques are fundamental, Art techniques aren’t necessarily only for fighting; they can cultivate true Qi too, just not as quickly as Dao techniques. Yao Qian dismissed the mediocre mastery part of the needle manual but valued the true Qi refining methods it offered.

“The Wuji Sect grants us three years of focused cultivation time. We may not reach foundation establishment within three years, but we must at least master self-defense techniques,” Yao Qian planned for the future.

Jin Xiu’er’s eyes sparkled. She was the most outstanding child in Black Python Stronghold in decades. Although limited by the stronghold’s weak power and lacking exposure to profound heart techniques, she could still discern quality when she saw it.

The needle manual Yao Qian explained was incomparably superior to their rudimentary gu insect refining methods in Black Python Stronghold. More importantly, Yao Qian’s clear and simple explanations made it easy to understand. Yao Qian was generous, and Jin Xiu’er was not stingy either.

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Jin Xiu’er elaborated on her family’s gu arts: “Although Black Python Stronghold is part of the Black Miao, our family isn’t a traditional Black Miao lineage. Our gu arts are unremarkable, except for the Golden Silkworm Gu.”

“Our Golden Silkworm Gu is a hybrid of the Six-Winged Golden Cicada and the Golden-Backed Scorpion. Naturally, its power is far less than the Six-Winged Golden Cicada, but that cicada produces only one egg in its lifetime, while the Golden Silkworm continuously lays eggs daily after hatching.”

“The newborn golden silkworms are not powerful, but they can ascend by consuming spiritual creatures. The better the food the mother silkworm eats, the faster the gu insects advance. Plus, the golden silkworm mother is gentle; even if you don’t make it your life gu, it won’t harm its master.”

Jin Xiu’er, a Miao girl, had not refined a life gu. Her gu arts were secondary. While gu insects might help in the enlightenment or foundation establishment stages, once advancing to Golden Core, most gu insects were no match against Golden Core cultivators.

Only rare heavenly creatures ranked among the top hundred in the Heavenly Dao Creature List could pose a threat, but such creatures were incredibly rare and difficult to raise successfully. They required top-grade heavenly materials and treasures for nurturing. With such precious resources, one would rather consume them personally than feed them to insects. Hence, the Golden Silkworm Matron allowed Jin Xiu’er to recover only the Golden Silkworm Gu, forbidding her from practicing other gu arts, placing great hopes on her.

As Yao Qian and Jin Xiu’er exchanged teachings and shared cultivation insights, time flew by unnoticed. As dusk approached, Jin Xiu’er hurriedly left, unwilling to delay further.

After Jin Xiu’er left, Yao Qian gathered several heavy stones into her storage bag. Returning to her cave dwelling, she tightly shut the door and barricaded the entrance with the stones. Flowing Mist Peak only had beginner disciples whose strength was similar, so she presumed they wouldn’t clear all the stones away.

She even found a huge boulder to block the skylight of the front chamber. For her, cultivating in a secret chamber or outdoors made little difference, but she preferred caution. She wondered how much a defense talisman array would cost—having one would ensure no interruptions during cultivation.

Looking at the stack of Three Yang talismans in her storage bag, she thought the Wuji Sect must have private markets operated by disciples. She wondered how much one Three Yang talisman could fetch and resolved to save money quickly.

Taking out the golden silkworm gu eggs, she scanned them with her divine sense, selecting the most vigorous one. She infused it with a postnatal purple breath, then pricked the tip of her ring finger with the Yi Mu Divine Needle, dripping a few drops of fresh blood onto the gu egg.

A flash of azure light flickered on the needle. The wound on Yao Qian’s fingertip healed immediately—one of the wonders of Yi Mu true Qi. It could both promote wound healing and absorb living energy. If not for the crude mastery techniques, the Yi Mu Divine Needle would be a fine magical tool.

At night, Flowing Mist Peak had patrols of shadow soldiers, and the beginner disciples dared not venture outside. Yao Qian’s night passed peacefully. Early the next morning, she removed the stones blocking her cave, climbed a nearby hill, and resumed cultivating her Morning Sun Qi Absorption Technique. The more postnatal purple breath she had, the better.

Being young with a body still growing, the purple Qi was beneficial to her now. She had good aptitude, but who wouldn’t want even better aptitude?

Jin Xiu’er had pondered the Yi Mu Needle manual most of the night and was eager to find a place to cultivate at dawn. She said cautiously, “Qianqian, shall we find a place to train?” Without mentioning the Yi Mu Divine Needle manual, mindful that others might overhear in their respective caves.

Yao Qian leapt down from the boulder and asked, “Do you know of any nearby suitable places for cultivation?”

Jin Xiu’er shook her head, “I’ve only been wandering nearby lately, haven’t ventured further. Without companions, I dare not go too far alone. What if the shadow soldiers catch me at night?”

Yao Qian thought for a moment and said, “Let’s check the Internal Affairs Hall for a map of Flowing Mist Peak.” Searching blindly would waste time; the Wuji Sect should have existing maps.

Jin Xiu’er hesitated, “Would maps require contribution points to exchange?”

Yao Qian smiled, “Necessary expenses must be made.” Having lived in the information age in her previous life, she understood the value of information for success. “Even if we don’t buy one, we should at least inquire about sect news in the Internal Affairs Hall and find out where to purchase supplies.”

Upon hearing this, Jin Xiu’er no longer objected. She had waited for Yao Qian to come out before going herself. Despite her cleverness, she was still a child and less tactful than Yao Qian with two lifetimes of experience.

To Yao Qian’s surprise, the Internal Affairs Hall at Flowing Mist Peak was crowded. Many were beginner disciples around their age, all gathered around a black stone stele, gazing up at the flickering script.

The stele displayed various sect-assigned tasks. Each task awarded few contribution points but was suitable for beginner disciples—such as tending fires in the alchemy room or watering plants in the herb garden.

Though these tasks were tedious, the disciples’ eyes sparkled, with a dozen or more competing to take each task. Besides the fundamental Dao techniques for cultivation, other Art techniques required contribution points to learn.

These were novices, easily tempted by magical arts. After all, the allure of cultivation lies in the arts. Yet Yao Qian and Jin Xiu’er remained unmoved. The arts accessible at the enlightenment stage were mostly ineffective, so they preferred to focus on cultivation.

They pushed through the crowd until finding an empty spot. Yao Qian hurried over and respectfully asked the young male cultivator meditating there, “Senior, may I ask if contribution points can be exchanged for a map of Flowing Mist Peak in the Internal Affairs Hall?”

The young male opened his eyes and glanced at Yao Qian, “No.” Of course the Wuji Sect had sect maps, but these were sect secrets and would never be openly exchanged for contribution points.

Seeing he was willing to respond, Yao Qian pressed on, “May I ask, senior, does Flowing Mist Peak have a market?”

The young man grew impatient and tapped his desk, which bore the words “Instructor.” He was here to teach disciples magical arts, not to answer miscellaneous questions.

Seeing this, Yao Qian dared not persist, fearing he might lose temper. She pulled Jin Xiu’er away. Jin Xiu’er was disappointed, her face visibly falling.

Yao Qian felt no discouragement. She glanced around, then tugged Jin Xiu’er’s sleeve, saying, “Follow me.”

Jin Xiu’er obediently trailed behind. Yao Qian approached a teenage male cultivator, clearly a few years older than a beginner disciple, and whispered, “Senior.”

The young man looked about fifteen or sixteen. Cultivators with lifespan still ahead often appeared youthful, but Yao Qian could discern his true age roughly matched his appearance and her own cultivation level.

The youth looked up, surprised that two delicate young girls addressed him as senior, and asked, “Junior sister is calling me?”