The Transmigrator's Cultivation - Chapter 373

After traveling continuously for over two hours, they finally arrived at the Feng family’s territory.

This place, located by a snowy cliff, had a large formation that cleared an area free of snow, isolating a warm space.

The Feng family residence was situated here.

Feng Qi led his eleven or twelve subordinates back to their family safely at last.

Turning to glance at the two figures in fur cloaks who had been following at the rear, his eyes were full of gratitude.

Had they not happened to encounter these two, not only would they have failed to retrieve the Ten Thousand Year Xueyin Ginseng, but their entire party would likely have been annihilated.

Upon arrival, Feng Qi flashed his identification token, and the formation opened. Instantly, a wave of warmth surged out, bringing a sense of relief.

The weary cultivators quickly entered, and Feng Qi immediately beckoned to Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie, fearing to show any neglect.

Once inside, Xu Ziqing glanced around and saw that the architecture and arrangement of the residence were vastly different from the icy plains. The houses were built tall, with unknown stone blocks that appeared extremely sturdy. It seemed that even if the formation were broken, these buildings would serve as a form of defense.

He admired the design in his heart but didn’t slow his pace, following Feng Qi along the stone-paved path deeper into the residence.

Feng Qi, not hiding the presence of these two strangers from his fellow clan members, naturally drew some curious glances. However, most of the family members remained cautious and refrained from asking questions.

Before long, Feng Qi settled the two in the best guest rooms in his personal courtyard. Apologetically, he explained, “This is Feng’s private residence, but I must attend to some tasks and report to the family head. I will also promptly report anything you may need.” As he spoke, he gestured to a young man who had just sheathed his sword. “This is my younger brother, Feng Jun. He will entertain you in my stead. Please don’t take offense.”

Xu Ziqing smiled and said, “No need to be formal, fellow Daoist Feng, carry on.”

Feng Qi instructed his brother, “Take good care of Senior Yun and Senior Xu.” Then he quickly departed.

After Feng Qi left, Feng Jun immediately came forward to pay his respects. Judging from his older brother’s attitude, he understood that these two were no ordinary guests, so he treated them with great reverence. “Feng Jun greets the two seniors.”

Xu Ziqing smiled lightly. “No need for such formalities.” As he spoke, a ball of white light appeared in his palm, which he passed over. “I see you have some skill in the sword path, so take this as a meeting gift.”

Feng Jun quickly accepted and looked down, filled with joy.

Within the white light was a mid-grade water-element spirit sword!

By custom, it was appropriate for a junior to receive a gift from a senior upon their first meeting, but Feng Jun had only expected a few spirit stones, never imagining he would be gifted a mid-grade spirit sword. He was currently only in the late stages of Foundation Establishment and relied on his elder brother’s help to acquire a low-grade spirit weapon, which wasn’t of the best quality. But now, this mid-grade sword was of such high quality that even the faint spiritual glow it emitted spoke to its superior craftsmanship.

Feng Jun’s gratitude became even more heartfelt as he thanked them once again. “Thank you, seniors, for your generous gift!”

After expressing his thanks, he hurriedly summoned the household maids and servants, who quickly brought out fine spirit tea and fresh fruits, presenting them on trays with utmost care.

He truly treated the two like the most honored of guests, showing them sincere respect and warmth.

Xu Ziqing smiled as he and Yun Lie sat on the couch, then took up the jade chessboard Feng Jun had specially selected, beginning a leisurely game.

Standing respectfully by the chessboard, Feng Jun quietly observed their game.

As their chess pieces alternated across the board, the two players displayed completely different styles. Yet, despite one advancing and the other retreating, they seemed perfectly in sync. The complexity and unpredictability of their moves were mesmerizing, with each piece either sharp or meticulous as it was placed. Before long, Feng Jun found himself utterly engrossed.

He felt as though he had fallen onto a battlefield, transformed into a mere foot soldier. At times, he charged forward in fierce combat; at others, he withdrew, engaging in guerrilla tactics, all while being manipulated by the course of the battle. Suddenly, he saw a flash of sword light strike directly at him, as if sword energy was about to cleave him in two—startled, he let out a cry. As he snapped back to reality, the illusion vanished, but he was drenched in cold sweat.

Exhaling slowly, Feng Jun realized that his mind had been completely absorbed by the chess match, causing his soul to waver.

Looking up, he saw that the two had finished their game. The red-clad senior had turned to look at him, his gaze gentle and kind.

Feng Jun blushed and took a step back, feeling quite embarrassed.

Xu Ziqing, seeing this, chuckled slightly and looked at Yun Lie, saying, “Shixiong, it seems young friend Feng has been frightened by you.”

Yun Lie glanced at Feng Jun and commented, “He shows some aptitude in the way of the sword.”

Feng Jun was not a foolish person. He had initially stayed to observe their game of chess partly out of his duty as a host, but more so because from the moment the black-clad cultivator entered, Feng Jun had recognized him as a senior with profound swordsmanship. He hoped to gain some insight from observing the game.

Now, hearing the seniors’ remarks, Feng Jun seized the opportunity and boldly asked, “May I ask if Senior Yun is a sword cultivator?”

Yun Lie nodded slightly.

Feng Jun, thrilled to receive confirmation, hesitated for a moment before stammering, “I wonder… I wonder if Senior could possibly… possibly…”

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but laugh. “Could it be that you wish for some guidance?”

Feng Jun quickly nodded, “Yes, exactly!” He was just a young man, not yet twenty, who had been sheltered and cared for by his elder brother. With many resources provided by his brother and his own decent aptitude, he had achieved his current cultivation. However, due to years of secluded practice within the family and little experience outside, his personality remained quite simple. Now, in his eagerness, his face turned red, making him appear rather endearing.

Seeing Feng Jun in such a state, Xu Ziqing cleared his throat and turned to Yun Lie. “Shixiong, since young friend Feng is so dedicated to the way of the sword, and we are guests here, it wouldn’t hurt to offer him some guidance.”

He knew well that receiving even a single word of praise from Yun Lie was no small feat, indicating Feng Jun likely had notable potential in swordsmanship.

Opportunities are often serendipitous. Meeting Feng Qi during their search for the divine water was a chance encounter, and the fact that it led Feng Jun to meet his shixiong could very well be a stroke of fortune on Feng Jun’s path of cultivation. And since it was fate, why not fulfill it?

Upon hearing this, Yun Lie looked at Feng Jun and said, “Speak.”

Feng Jun was momentarily stunned, not understanding at first. He instinctively turned to Xu Ziqing for help.

Xu Ziqing smiled and explained, “You should talk about how long you’ve practiced swordsmanship, your insights into it, the techniques you’re proficient in, the methods you’ve cultivated, and what kind of sword path you hope to attain in the future. If you don’t express these things, how can my shixiong offer you guidance?”

Suddenly enlightened, Feng Jun hurriedly organized his thoughts and quickly recounted his journey in sword cultivation.

Thus, two refined individuals sat cross-legged on the platform while the young man stood respectfully below.

The youth practiced his sword technique, occasionally pausing to ask the black-clad sword master questions. Although the master remained cold and spoke sparingly, every word he uttered made the young man’s expression light up with understanding.

Meanwhile, across from the black-clad master, the red-clothed youth watched them with a gentle smile, his expression warm and kind.

This scene, full of subtle warmth, was what Feng Qi witnessed upon his return.

The moment Feng Qi saw this, he knew at once that the sword master was guiding his younger brother’s swordsmanship. His heart swelled with gratitude, though it was difficult to express. Yet, as he recalled the matter he needed to discuss, a sense of guilt also welled up inside him. This was because the task of borrowing the Yinbo Ox from the clan leader had not gone smoothly.

Earlier, after entrusting Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie to his younger brother’s care, Feng Qi had immediately gone to meet with the clan leader to report on his mission.

After presenting the Ten Thousand Year Xueyin Ginseng, he detailed every aspect of his journey, making sure to emphasize his deep gratitude toward Xu and Yun for saving his life multiple times. He even went so far as to meticulously describe the strength of their abilities, hoping to persuade the clan leader to lend them the Yinbo Ox.

The clan leader, indeed, took their strength seriously after hearing all this, but even so, he was unwilling to lend out the Yinbo Ox.

It wasn’t that the clan leader was being unreasonable or taking advantage of Xu and Yun’s relative lack of influence. Rather, he had his own considerations.

The Yinbo Ox was a treasure of the clan, greatly increasing their resource-gathering abilities. It was also key to finding the divine water, so how could such a valuable asset be handed over so easily? The ox was personally raised by the clan leader, and if it were to be used for treasure hunting, the leader would need to go himself—there was no way he’d let outsiders control it. If it were stolen, how would they recover it?

Furthermore, though Feng Qi had praised Xu and Yun’s abilities to the skies, the clan leader, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, held little fear of even the most powerful Golden Core cultivators. He certainly wouldn’t lower himself to pave the way for two Golden Core juniors. Unless those two had extremely deep ties to the clan, it wouldn’t be worth the leader’s dignity to make such a concession. While they had indeed helped the family and saved a few disciples, none of those disciples were irreplaceable prodigies, and the Ten Thousand Year Xueyin Ginseng could have been obtained by others as well. Therefore, the clan leader was willing to offer extra compensation but would not personally guide the Yinbo Ox to help them find the divine water.

Feng Qi nervously relayed the clan leader’s stance, anxiously watching the expressions of the two men before him. His heart pounded with dread. He had earnestly tried to broker this arrangement, but he hadn’t expected such a refusal from the clan leader… Yet these two had saved his life, and even treated his younger brother kindly. Now, he felt his face burning with shame at how poorly the situation reflected on him.

However, upon hearing Feng Qi’s words, Xu Ziqing didn’t appear surprised. He had already expected that this request would likely fail and had only agreed to it because of Feng Qi’s enthusiasm. Whether it was saving lives or retrieving the Xueyin Ginseng, it was all something they had done along the way. For him, simply learning about the existence of a beast like the Yinbo Ox that could locate divine water was already a significant gain. Now that Feng Qi had tried so hard on their behalf, how could he possibly blame him?

After pondering for a moment, Xu Ziqing replied, “Feng Daoist, you needn’t worry. A treasure as valuable as a clan’s guardian beast, and a clan leader of such esteemed status, are naturally not easily swayed. It’s no surprise. My shixiong and I are only here to ask what we can do to gain your clan leader’s assistance.”

“We’ll still need your help to open that door for us.”

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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