Chapter 12: The Endless Sect (Continued)

Within a cultivator’s body, there are seventy-two inches of spiritual veins. These veins store the cultivator’s spiritual energy, allowing it to be harnessed at will. The spiritual energy within the body serves as the source of power for a cultivator’s sword techniques and spells. If all seventy-two inches of the spiritual veins can be fully opened, the spiritual energy inside would be as vast as an endless ocean, inexhaustible and boundless.

Now, Lu Chanji was able to cultivate, but only one inch of her spiritual veins had been opened; seventy-one inches remained unopened. By instinct of her bloodline, she could freely manipulate her shadow. Beyond that, she could not form a single other spell or technique, for she had never practiced them.

Her spiritual energy was sparse, and she was uncertain if she could even perform a complete sword move. Without a sword in hand, she could not try. The immediate priority was to increase her cultivation level.

Lu Chanji asked the Endless Tree, “I want to leave Changzhou. Do you know the way out?”

In recent days, she had walked through Changzhou once, but all she saw was desolation and barrenness. Most plants were withered, and no birds or beasts were in sight, as if it were a land of death.

More importantly, Changzhou was sealed off by a barrier—no one outside could enter, and no one inside could leave.

The Endless Tree continued its quiet burning and said, “I set the seal on Changzhou to protect the few remaining ancient relics here. Though they are merely plants and flowers, to some cultivators with ulterior motives, they hold unique value. Only by seclusion can calamity be averted.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Chanji’s pale face turned even more deathly white, and she stood frozen for a long while.

Lu Wenshu likely did not know she was an ancient relic, only that her constitution was special, which is why he struck against her ruthlessly.

Plants bear no guilt, yet possessing a treasure invites misfortune.

A person without the ability to protect themselves, yet carrying a precious treasure, is like a child wandering the bustling market with gold; it easily stirs out the worst in human nature.

Recalling the cruelty she endured from Lu Wenshu, a faint shiver ran through Lu Chanji’s body, and she bit her lip to suppress it.

The Endless Tree said, “If you take my Endless Fire Leaf, you can leave. But… are you sure you want to return to the world?”

It ‘gazed’ silently at Lu Chanji, then a single leaf drifted down from its crown.

This leaf was different from ordinary leaves; its veins shimmered faintly with starlight-like glimmers.

Lu Chanji took the leaf in her hand and stood quietly for a long moment without speaking. She seemed to recall many things. When her thoughts settled, she answered the Endless Tree’s question: “I have an old friend I must see. He is not in Changzhou.”

She said, “In this life, I must see him again, or else my heart’s obsession will never be at peace.”

The Endless Tree was silent for a moment, offering no counsel, then said, “If you enter the mortal world, you can take my leaf to find my old friend. He left Changzhou many years ago and has since achieved great success outside. He is unwilling to return. You can seek refuge in his sect. He has a Concealment Elixir that can hide your origin, allowing you to walk freely in the world.”

“I’m not helping you without reason,” it added. “When you go to find him, do me a favor—bring a leaf to my old friend and convey my greetings. Tell him all is well with me in Changzhou.”

Hearing this, Lu Chanji paused, then gratefully replied, “Thank you.”

With the Endless Fire Leaf in hand, she bid farewell to the Endless Tree and soon left Changzhou.

Hiding in the shadows of flying birds, she soared through the air. The Endless Fire Leaf in her hand flickered with a silvery glow from time to time. Whenever Lu Chanji nearly lost her way, the leaf would guide her onward.

Along the journey, she seized opportunities to hitch rides on passing birds and beasts, hiding in their shadows to travel a portion of the way.

Following the leaf’s guidance, she quickly distanced herself from Changzhou.

Yet as time passed and the scenery before her grew increasingly familiar, a subtle unease crept across her face.

Unexpectedly, the Endless Tree’s old friend was also in Yanzhou.

—

When the bird landed, Lu Chanji emerged from its shadow.

Even after a thousand years, Yanzhou’s snow remained just as heavy.

Once, she disliked it; a thousand years later, she still did.

But now, with spiritual energy coursing through her, the wind and snow no longer felt like slashing blades, and walking barefoot on snow was no longer cold.

She stepped onto the snowy ground, her head covered by a black gauze veil matching her black clothes. The Endless Fire Leaf flickered dimly once more. Lu Chanji looked down and saw it pointing her onward, so she followed its guidance.

After an unknown span of time, she arrived at a valley lush with greenery.

At the entrance stood a simple wooden gate inscribed with three characters: “Endless Sect.”

This was the Endless Sect—the place the Endless Tree had directed her to.

Outside, wind and snow raged, but they did not disturb the valley in the slightest.

Plants flourished freely, bees and butterflies danced gracefully, undisturbed by the harsh weather.

For a moment, Lu Chanji almost thought she had returned to Qingfeng.

Though knowing this was neither Qingfeng nor the Sword Bearing Sect, her expression shifted.

The narrow courtyard and plain wooden plaque showed no trace of the “great achievements” the Endless Tree had spoken of.

—

Sensing that the Endless Tree’s information might be incorrect, Lu Chanji’s guard rose.

She halted her steps, refusing to proceed rashly, instead turning back and vanishing into the snowstorm.

—

Markets formed spontaneously by cultivators grew larger over time, eventually becoming towns.

Within these towns were inns, food stalls, and vendors selling magical tools, all requiring transactions and spiritual currency.

Lu Chanji had no spiritual currency, no money, but fortunately, she was no longer an ordinary human.

As night fell, she hid in the shadows of an inn to rest, spending no money and disturbing no one.

With spiritual energy, she did not need to eat and did not feel hunger.

Thus, she spent several days in the town as silently as a shadow.

Finally, after the first snowfall cleared and the sky brightened, Lu Chanji stepped out from the inn’s shadows, intending to inquire about the Endless Sect.

She needed to confirm the sect’s safety before setting out.

Otherwise, she would have to wait until she possessed a sword and the ability to protect herself before delivering the Endless Tree’s leaf.

She would help the Endless Tree’s request, but only once she was absolutely safe.

Lu Chanji found it difficult to trust others easily anymore. Even the Endless Tree, who had been warm and considerate, was no exception.

—

When the snow ceased, more cultivators appeared in town, and the streets were lined with many small stalls.

Some displayed crafted magical weapons, others various herbs, and more.

Lu Chanji had never seen such things.

Though she had lived in the Great Sea’s Ten Continents for thirteen years, she had rarely descended the mountain.

Back then, she didn’t need spiritual currency; Lu Wenshu took care of everything. But he never told her about the other side of the Great Sea’s Ten Continents, the world she now witnessed.

She lacked a sword, and where to find one was uncertain. Buying one was out of the question without funds.

Lost in thought, her mind wandered.

Suddenly, a crowd gathered ahead, and a commotion arose.

Lu Chanji intended to leave quietly; she did not want to get involved in disputes among cultivators. But a glance caught the unmistakable white robes of the Sword Bearing Sect.

Her steps froze abruptly.

Two disciples clad in the Sword Bearing Sect’s white robes were arguing with a vendor at a small stall.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Chanji stepped forward and stood among the crowd.

One Sword Bearing Sect disciple scolded, “How ungrateful you are! We’re doing business with you out of kindness. Don’t be foolish—exchanging this sword for your herbs is already us taking a loss.”

The vendor was a woman in purple robes, standing beside a basket and small hoe, with all kinds of spirit mushrooms and herbs on display.

Her face flushed red with anger.

Biting her lip, she argued, “I only want three spirit mushrooms for this sword. You insist on five…”

Another Sword Bearing Sect disciple sneered, “Swords forged by the Sword Bearing Sect are scarce and sought after. Not to mention three century-old spirit mushrooms, even if we took all your herbs, you’d still be getting a good deal. We’re only asking for five, which is very cheap.”

“Exactly. If we weren’t desperate for pills, we wouldn’t even consider trading a sword for herbs.”

The purple-robed woman was nearly in tears.

She knew the Sword Bearing Sect’s swords were highly prized, as it was a prestigious sect everyone coveted.

But she wasn’t a sword cultivator and didn’t use swords. She simply thought the sword looked good and would be useful for chopping firewood and herbs, so three spirit mushrooms seemed fair.

Five century-old spirit mushrooms was too much.

Trading five for a firewood sword? Was she crazy?

She bit her lip and remained silent.

At that moment, slender white hands suddenly reached out and lifted the sword.

The purple-robed woman looked up to see a figure dressed entirely in black holding the Sword Bearing Sect sword, examining it.

Judging by the poised action and the slender arm, the woman behind the black veil was an elegant and refined beauty.

With a swift motion, the long sword was drawn.

Its blade gleamed coldly, reflecting Lu Chanji’s solemn face behind the black veil.

No one had expected her to do this, and all were taken aback.

Especially the two Sword Bearing Sect disciples, whose faces changed. Just as they prepared to angrily rebuke her, the black-clad woman said calmly, “Indeed, this sword was forged by the Sword Bearing Sect.”

Hearing this, the disciples relaxed, smiling, “You have a keen eye, miss. This is indeed a genuine Sword Bearing Sect sword, worth every bit of the five century-old spirit mushrooms…”

He bent to pick up the spirit mushrooms on the stall, but Lu Chanji interrupted, “Unfortunately, it’s a defective piece, a broken scrap picked from the Sword Tomb.”

“You—”

The disciples’ faces instantly turned ugly, a mixture of anger and disbelief, as if exposed and embarrassed.

Before they could speak, Lu Chanji continued, “The Sword Bearing Sect’s Earth Fire magma is the remnant ember left when Gonggong shattered Buzhou Mountain. Only Kunwu Stone from Liuzhou can endure the Sword Bearing Sect’s fire forging, and only Kunwu Stone is used to forge their swords.”

“Kunwu Stone is extremely hard, and forging it into sword-grade metal is difficult. To increase success, the Sword Bearing Sect adds other potions during forging. If successful, these potions don’t harm the sword. But if the forge fails, when spiritual energy is infused, the blade turns red and shatters upon use.”

As she spoke, she infused spiritual energy into the sword.

Before all eyes, the once pristine white blade gradually turned red. With a faint pinch from her slender fingers, the sword snapped apart easily.

It disintegrated into ashes.

Lu Chanji said, “Such failed swords are marked with a failure brand at the moment of forging and placed in the Sword Tomb.”

The disciples’ eyes trembled as if seeing a ghost, silent for a long time.

This was indeed a broken sword plucked from the Sword Tomb.

Outwardly, it looked no different from a normal sword.

Even they, as sect disciples, could not distinguish it by appearance.

How did she know?

Who was she?

“You, you…” The two disciples stammered, unable to form a full sentence.

Other cultivators had already seen through their deceit. Even their sect identity offered no protection.

Though furious, they could only seethe silently.

For this black-clad woman was deeply mysterious, knowing secrets their own sect disciples did not. She was impossible to dismiss.

Dressed in black with a matching veil, her attire was not that of the Sword Bearing Sect.

To know such intimate details of the sect, she must have close ties. If she were a disciple, she knew far more than they did.

“May I ask, miss, how do you know about our Sword Bearing Sect?” one asked cautiously.

“From Lu Wenshu,” Lu Chanji replied casually.

Mentioning Lu Wenshu, her expression darkened beneath the veil.

“I have a friend who worked in the Sword Forging Valley for three months,” she said offhandedly.

“I have a friend…” is commonly a veiled way of referring to oneself.

To work in the Sword Forging Valley would require being an inner disciple.

A high status, not to be offended.

Unwittingly lying to her own sect members, the two disciples exchanged frustrated glances. Yet constrained by their low outer disciple rank, they bowed to Lu Chanji and vanished in a flash.

Their inner resentment was immense.

This insider had no respect for her own sectmates, exposing their tricks openly. She won applause but cost the sect its reputation.

She didn’t seem like a sect disciple at all—more like an enemy. Meeting her today was truly unlucky.

With the matter settled, the crowd dispersed.

Some cultivators attempted to speak to Lu Chanji, but her cold silence scared them away.

Only the purple-robed vendor persistently followed behind her, unfazed by Lu Chanji’s frosty demeanor, chattering, “Thank you so much for your help earlier. Without you, I wouldn’t have known what to do. Truly grateful.”

Seeing no response, the vendor awkwardly smiled and took out a small pill bottle from her bag.

“This is for you,” she said, eyes lingering on the black veil, pushing the bottle into Lu Chanji’s hand repeatedly. “Please accept it as a token of thanks.”

Lu Chanji, worried about how to earn spiritual stones, could not find a reason to refuse and accepted the bottle.

Seeing the vendor’s gentle attitude, Lu Chanji’s expression softened. She held the bottle and said, “If you don’t want to buy their sword, don’t trade with them. They can’t force you, can they?”

From what she saw, it was clearly forced trade.

“That’s true, but…” The vendor lowered her head and said, “Who dares offend the Sword Bearing Sect? They are at their peak, a highly sought-after sect. This is Yanzhou, their territory. What if they hold a grudge? Our sect is small and weak; I don’t want to cause trouble.”

After saying this, the vendor covered her mouth in regret, realizing that although Lu Chanji had saved her, the two Sword Bearing Sect disciples’ reaction suggested Lu Chanji might be one of them, which could still cause offense.

She hurried to clarify, “I mean, the Sword Bearing Sect is one of the top sects. We small sects must show them some respect…”

“One of the top sects?” Lu Chanji was slightly taken aback. If she recalled correctly, among the Five Great Sects, the foremost was Taiwei Sect, and the last was the Sword Bearing Sect.

She instinctively asked, “What about Taiwei Sect?”

“Taiwei Sect?” the vendor whispered, “It has long declined, no longer what it once was. The righteous path leader is now the Sword Bearing Sect. Their sect leader is the foremost in swordsmanship. How could Taiwei Sect compete now?”