The Science of Cultivation [Xianxia]

Chapter 143: Eroding March Pavilion

A shadowy figure sat on a vantage point that overlooked a beautiful landscape. Their eyes were shut as they tightly held onto a talisman. Whatever they were doing was draining stamina as sweat began to build up on their brows as time passed.

They remained completely still even when a sparrow flew onto their shoulder. The bird made itself comfortable and chirped to its heart’s content. Like that, time flowed, with the winds bustling and sounds of life from the forest giving off a vibrant atmosphere.

After some time, the figure finally opened their eyes. Eyes were called the windows of the soul for a reason, because right now, they fully displayed the shadowy figure’s anger. As if able to sense the human’s emotions, the bird swiftly darted away.

Despite the person’s anger, they still moved in a calm manner, slowly taking out a purple jade from within their robes.

“Master,” the figure let out a distorted voice. “I have an update.”

It took a full ten minutes before the figure received a response.

“Speak.”

“The plan failed. Someone from Nightmoon Valley intervened.”

“...Have you been discovered?”

“No, I made sure to erase any traces.”

“Then it’s fine. No big deal, but come back anyway to be safe. I’ll send someone else to take over.”

The mysterious disciple hesitated for a split second, wanting to overturn his master’s order, but his rationality won out.

“Understood.”

Placing the jade away, the figure finally stood up. He was on top of a thick tree branch that was a few stories above ground. He gave one final glance toward a distant black Skyrunner before sighing to himself.

“Nightmoon Valley,” the figure muttered hatefully. “I thought they only acted when injustices occurred, not normal engagements with Qi beasts. They’re making our people soft. What they are doing is harmful to the Luminescent realm!”

Back in the airspace near Polarity City, a black Skyrunner made steady progress toward the city. Various other vehicles flew past them as they cruised.

“Thank you for saving us again. You’re even giving us a ride. I don’t know what to say,” Gui Hong politely said.

“You don’t need to say anything. You’ve said your thanks like five times already. I don’t need any more of your thanks,” Sima Xue cried out, evidently annoyed.

“Now, now. Let’s get along,” Li Lang mediated. “It’s not long before we arrive.”

“Umm, is there a reason why we’re moving so slow?” the only other girl in the Skyrunner sheepishly asked.

The words provoked an immediate response from her fellow disciple.

“Ning Fei, these people are our benefactors! What are you doing complaining to them?”

“Still…We could reach the city within a few minutes if we sped up.”

“You can’t be so—”

“Stop right there guys,” Li Lang interjected himself again. “I asked Sima Xue to slow us down so we can have some time to chat. If you’re in a hurry, then I apologize. We’ll stop delaying right away.”

The two disciples from Eroding March Pavilion exchanged looks. Through communicating with only their gaze, Ning Fei relinquished the decision-making power to her fellow disciple.

“We’re happy to follow your arrangement,” Gui Hong happily declared. “I’d love to get to know more about the famous young lady from Nightmoon Valley and her companions.”

Sima Xue only spared him a disinterested glance before bringing her full attention back to operating the Skyrunner.

Wei Ping didn’t let that stifle the mood and jumped on the question train.

“So, y-you said you guys were f-from the Eroding March Pavilion, you say? Isn’t that where Gui Tianzi is from?”

“That’s right. He’s my cousin,” Gui Hong replied with a shy smile.

“Then y-you must also be as talented as him.”

“Senior Gui Tianzi is so much more amazing!” Ning Fei jumped to talk answer. “Not only is he humble, having kept a low profile throughout the years, he’s unchanged even now. He still treats us the same as he used to, even people like us who have only just reached the seventh stage. That’s pretty commendable considering how everyone in the realm now recognizes his talents after the pocket realm.”

From her gaze alone, it was easy to tell how enamored she was with him. It was what Wei Ping loved to see. People ran their mouths about things they were passionate about. Her talking without being urged made intel gathering easy.

“I s-see. Well, his humbleness is n-not surprising, considering y-your pavilion’s reputation.”

“Yea…” the girl smiled with a tinge of red coloring her cheeks. “As you may have heard, our techniques are not the most…elegant. We like to keep to ourselves.”

Wei Ping didn’t press any further into their organization’s techniques. It wasn’t a secret in the past, and definitely common knowledge now. With the rise of a new genius that supersedes Sima Xue, Tang Yulian, and Liang Po, everyone in the Luminescent realm had heard of Gui Tianzi and the organization he hailed from by now.

They were well known for using various insects and invertebrates as their familiars. It gave others the image of grotesque possibilities. While many claimed not to fear death, few had the same tune when told their death would be subjected to being eaten alive by numerous insects from the inside out. Their gruesome techniques were why everyone steered clear of them until now.

As they grew closer to the city, the two parties got more and more familiar with each other. The only exception was Sima Xue, who abstained from the conversation and was entirely focused on driving. However, the journey was so short that no hostility was felt.

Once they landed outside Polarity City, the Eroding March Pavilion duo swiftly departed.

“Thank you guys so much for your help. We’ll be sure to pay you back once we get the chance.”

Li Lang’s group watched them pass through the city gates as they prepared to enter themselves.

“Should we head in too, now?” Li Lang directed a questioning look at Sima Xue. She was the reason they were standing there, as the group waited for her to drive the Skyrunner into the city.

“Why did you offer them to ride along with us?”

“What? We already saved them, and their Skyrunner was damaged. Isn’t it the right thing to do to give them a lift? I mean, it was just for a short while.”

“Them being so close was exactly why we should’ve just left them be. Their Skyrunner was damaged, but still working. Even if they didn’t want to risk it, they could’ve made it here by foot before night fell.”

“Like we said before deciding to help them, we wanted to make a connection with them. What better way than having a cordial chat?”

“That should’ve taken place another time, within the city. Li Lang, you need to take safety into consideration. Allowing others to get so close to you is dangerous. Even if my cultivation is higher than theirs, it’s hard to say what kind of items they carried in their space ring.”

Li Lang frowned at her words. Upon reflection, he found her words to be true. Talismans that were an entire grade ahead of a cultivator’s strength could not be activated, but there were other treasures in the world that didn’t have that limitation. Artifacts were the obvious ones. Even he could control Ruby and the Crucible somewhat due to cooperation with the artifact spirit. There was also the possibility of something akin to a bomb.

The existence of a space ring made transporting dangerous items especially easy.

“Sorry, I should’ve consulted with you more.”

Seeing how sincere his apology was, Sima Xue sighed.

“It’s fine. It’s not your fault. It wasn’t that big of a deal or else I would’ve stopped you. These are things I learned over the years with my master, so I shouldn’t keep you to the same standards. Just know that Nightmoon Valley’s protocol on this is there for good reason. We’re known to stick ourselves into other’s business within the Luminescent realm. That means we’re experienced enough to know how to deal with people.”

Li Lang took a brief glance back at the reaction of his two male friends to check if they were enjoying his lecture. He found their gaze wandering around, not wanting to be part of the ongoing conversation.

These traitors. It’s Long Yi’s idea originally to get involved and I have to suffer for it.

Before Li Lang could sulk, Sima Xue finally steered the Skyrunner forward. The now-turned carriage made its way to the city gates and was immediately greeted by a guard.

“Friends from Nightmoon Valley, please feel free to enter straight away,” a guard politely gestured for them to walk on through, cutting ahead of the line.

Seeing this preferential treatment, no one in the party corrected the guard and proceeded as instructed.

The onlookers in the line watched on quietly as they allowed them to pass. Li Lang spied a person handing over a red Qi crystal as an entry fee when he arrived at the front.

Hmm, it should be ten spirit stones per month. A red crystal is a hundred stones, so the price differs. Probably based on the cultivation level. I guess there are downsides to everything, after all.

Those idle thoughts were quickly shelved as the group entered the city proper. The streets were bustling with numerous cultivators wandering about. One thing immediately stood out to Li Lang, that left him stunned.

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