Chapter 33: Anticipation

Nine Heavens Fairy, pondering her thoughts, decided to observe Yan Chixia more closely. She summoned her carefully refined magical artifact, the "Heaven and Earth Mirror," from her storage space using her spiritual power—a flash of golden light revealed a mirror with a diameter of about three feet, resembling a faceted glass, floating before her.

Ordinarily, the "Heaven and Earth Mirror" was shrouded in mist, concealing all from view. With a graceful sweep of her long sleeve, the mist dispersed, and the majestic Zhongnan Mountain appeared within its surface.

Under Nine Heavens Fairy’s manipulation, the entire panorama of Pure Void Monastery unfolded before her. Fixing her gaze, she saw a handsome youth sitting beneath an ancient pine, immersed in cultivation on the grassy ground.

She concluded this must be Yan Chixia and enlarged the image with her magic. As she watched, she silently praised, “No wonder Mei’er cannot bear to part with him—Yan Chixia is indeed exceptional and extraordinary. Strange, he appears young, yet within his dantian, the ‘Lotus of the Heart’ has already blossomed into a small, vigorous heart, pulsing energetically… It seems his level of cultivation is the same as Mei’er’s—the ‘Heart Stirring’ realm. Unexpected! Yan Chixia is far from ordinary. I wonder who his master is. To have such a disciple is enviable indeed…”

Just then, the figure of Pure Void Master appeared beside Yan Chixia. “Pure Void Master? So Yan Chixia is his disciple?” Upon seeing this, Nine Heavens Fairy immediately withdrew her power and returned the "Heaven and Earth Mirror" to her storage space, not wanting Pure Void Master to detect her presence.

...

Despite her caution, Pure Void Master still sensed the distant probing spiritual waves from Nine Heavens Fairy. Standing by Yan Chixia, he softly uttered an “Hmm?” and glanced toward Li Mountain.

He was about to use his divine sense to investigate further, but the probing spiritual energy vanished without a trace.

At that moment, Yan Chixia finished his cultivation. Hearing Pure Void Master’s puzzled exclamation, he rose and asked, “Master, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Pure Void Master replied, retracting his gaze. “Danzi, I sensed someone was watching this place just now…”

“Really?” Yan Chixia exclaimed in surprise. “Master, I didn’t feel anything.”

“I can’t sense it anymore either. Perhaps it was merely an illusion.” Pure Void Master’s expression grew solemn. “Danzi, I must go out for a while. I cannot say when I’ll return, perhaps… Well, take care of yourself and continue your cultivation in the monastery.”

---

Hearing this, Yan Chixia was suddenly struck by a sense of foreboding. He realized that Pure Void Master had been busy preparing various golden elixirs in recent days, evidently in preparation for this departure.

Yan Chixia had no idea what Pure Void Master intended, but he clearly felt his master was about to undertake something difficult, and could not help but ask anxiously, “Master, where are you going? It seems you’re in trouble… Please, let me accompany you!”

“No!” Pure Void Master waved his hand. “Danzi, do not worry. I am merely going to fulfill a century-old promise with an old Daoist friend… Even if there are some complications, there is no danger for me. So rest assured!”

“Yes, Master. I trust your word. Please, take good care of yourself!”

“I will.” Pure Void Master gazed at Yan Chixia’s increasingly mature face, feeling genuine satisfaction. “Danzi, cultivate well. I will return safely.”

With those words, Pure Void Master took up his horsetail whisk and soared into the sky, employing the Wind Riding Technique, and drifted away.

Yan Chixia lingered, watching Pure Void Master’s departing figure until it disappeared. He stood on the grass, lost in thought for a moment, then mused, “Master’s cultivation is at the Tribulation Crossing stage—apart from Nine Heavens Fairy, I doubt anyone in this world surpasses him. He said he’s only meeting an old friend, and even if there’s trouble, there’s no real danger. So what am I worrying about? Enough—let me focus on my cultivation.”

Thus, Yan Chixia pulled himself together, took up the Chixia Sword, and began practicing the Chixia Sword Technique with renewed vigor.

As his true energy grew stronger, so too did the power of his swordsmanship. Now, when he wielded the Chixia Sword, it had the momentum of wind and clouds, its force spanning the rainbow. Where the blade swept, there was a flash of cold light, and sword energy radiated, threatening all.

After finishing his practice, it was already midday.

Feeling hungry, he returned to his chamber and used the Paper Talisman Technique to activate five baked pancakes, a plate of cured pork and asparagus, a dish of crisp-fried yellow croaker, and a bowl of mushroom soup. He sat at his desk, enjoying his meal heartily. As cultivation grew more demanding, Yan Chixia’s physical exertion increased, and his appetite swelled—small portions could no longer satisfy his needs.

---

While eating, Yan Chixia suddenly thought of Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Pinecone. He mused, “My sister is surely busy—she must not only cultivate herself, but also teach Xiaomeng and Pinecone their studies and Daoist arts, and care for their meals… At present, her Paper Talisman Technique can only activate small items, not food. But Xiaomeng and Pinecone must eat every day, and it seems she has no food at all… How will she manage?”

He grew anxious for Bai Xiaoyue, but then inspiration struck: “I have it! Tomorrow I’ll visit my sister and use the Paper Talisman Technique to activate extra food for Xiaomeng and Pinecone… That way, I can help her through this difficulty.”

Resolving to act, Yan Chixia was delighted at the thought of helping Bai Xiaoyue. He quickly finished his meal, took up his cinnabar brush, and began painting various food talismans on sheets of paper.

He worked energetically, producing a multitude of food talismans and laid them out on his bed to let the ink dry naturally. Then he stepped outside to the grassy field and began practicing the Air Manipulation Technique.

By the time Yan Chixia finished all his planned cultivation for the day, dusk had fallen.

He was very satisfied with his progress.

As night fell, he returned to his room, approached his desk, and used a fire striker to light the sesame oil lamp.

Lighting the lamp, Yan Chixia recalled Pure Void Master’s words: “Danzi, continue your cultivation. When you reach the Golden Core stage, I will teach you not only how to set up barriers, but also the Fire Control Technique. Once you master it, you won’t need a fire striker for lamps—you’ll simply use Fire Control.”

At this thought, Yan Chixia remembered the wondrous sight of Pure Void Master wielding Fire Control, and his heart brimmed with anticipation for barrier setting and learning the Fire Control Technique.