13: Chapter 13 Cracks

Tianxuan Calendar, Year 18 of Taiping, Summer.

Three days after his Breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage 2, Lu Chen discovered a problem.

His Dantian was leaking Qi.

It was not a literal leak, but the consumption rate of Spiritual Qi was much faster than before.

When he was at Level 1 Qi Refining, he could retain eighty or ninety percent of the Spiritual Qi he obtained through Guiding Qi into the Body.

Now, he could only retain sixty or seventy percent of what he stored.

The remaining twenty or thirty percent disappeared somewhere, and he did not know where.

He flipped through the bamboo slips of Wang Qishan, but he did not find the answer.

Wang Qishan only wrote up to Qi Refining Level 3, and he was a Cultivator with a Spiritual Root; his method of Cultivate was different from Lu Chen's.

Many problems regarding the Grey Spirit Root were not mentioned on the bamboo slips at all.

"I need to ask someone."

But who could he ask?

Mo Wen was dead.

Qin Wu was not around.

Su Qing would only come in three months—only one month had passed so far.

Lu Chen sat in The Ruined Temple, staring at his palm.

The pale golden light was still there, but it was slightly dimmer than the day of the Breakthrough.

"If I do not replenish resources, will the spiritual power fade on its own?"

This was his guess.

But he did not dare to gamble.

He had Cultivate to Qi Refining Stage 2 with such difficulty; if he regressed to Level 1 because he lacked resources, then the price he had paid would be in vain.

He stood up, picked up the firewood knife, and walked out of the temple door.

Go up the mountain, dig for medicinal herbs.

Regardless of whether they were useful, he would dig them first.

Summer came early to Qingniu Ridge.

In May, the mountains were completely green, and the leaves were so dense that even light could not penetrate them.

The wild grass on the ground grew to knee height; stepping on it felt soft, and he could hear the sound of grass stems breaking.

Lu Chen bent over, looking for medicinal herbs in the forest.

He did not know many medicinal herbs, just those few kinds over and over—polygonatum, lingzhi, polygonum, and poria.

Mo Wen had taught him seventeen kinds, but he only remembered twelve.

The other five had been absorbed by the bone fragment.

It was not that he had forgotten them; it was as if the knowledge about those five medicinal herbs in his mind had completely vanished.

It was like someone had torn a few pages out of a dictionary, and when he turned to that section, it was blank.

He dug up the polygonatum he found, held it in his hand, and absorbed it.

Spiritual Qi surged into his Dantian.

Very little.

A five-year-old polygonatum could only provide about one percent of Spiritual Qi to his Dantian.

Moreover, half of this Spiritual Qi would dissipate within twenty-four hours.

"The efficiency is too low."

Lu Chen tossed the withered polygonatum away and continued searching.

After circling half the mountain, he only found four usable medicinal herbs.

He absorbed them all, and the net content stored in his Dantian was less than three percent.

At this rate, it would take him at least a year to fill his Dantian to the next "fissure."

"A year."

Too long.

He could not wait.

It was not that he lacked patience, but the bone fragment could not wait.

The bone fragment absorbed memories every few days, and the speed of absorption was getting faster.

His familial affection was already gone, and his friendship would soon follow.

He did not know what would come after friendship.

But Wang Qishan had written a sentence in the bamboo slips—"The price will not stop.

The higher you go, the faster it comes.

After Qi Refining Level 3, you will lose something every month.

When you have nothing left to lose, it will be your turn."

After Qi Refining Level 3, you lose something every month.

Lu Chen was currently at Qi Refining Stage 2.

He was still one "fissure" away from Level 3.

"I must reach Level 3 within three months," he told himself.

Not because he was anxious, but because Qin Wu and Su Qing would return in three months.

By then, regardless of what was at the bottom of the mountain or what the secret of the bone fragment was, he needed enough strength to deal with it.

Qi Refining Stage 2 was not enough.

What level was the Gray-robed Man at?

He did not know.

But since he could fly on a sword, he was at least at the Late Stage—above Level 6.

Qin Wu was at Qi Refining Stage 2, similar to Su Qing.

But they had factions behind them.

Qin Wu had the Loose Cultivators Alliance, and Su Qing had the Danding Sect.

Lu Chen had nothing.

Only a bone fragment that absorbed his memories.

On the fifth day.

While Lu Chen was digging for herbs on the mountain, he heard the sounds of a fight.

It was not human voices, but the sound of weapons clashing—clanging, coming from the back of the mountain.

He crouched down, gripped his firewood knife tightly, moved about a hundred steps in the direction of the sound, and hid behind a large tree to look out.

In an open space on the back of the mountain, two people were fighting.

One wore a gray robe, and the other wore a black robe.

The Gray-robed Man used a sword, with white light attached to it; every time he swung the sword, he could hear the sound of air being torn.

The Black-robed Man used a saber, a black saber, without light, but every parry produced a dull thud, as if two pieces of iron had collided.

Lu Chen recognized the Gray-robed Man's clothing—it was the same as that Gray-robed Man who had flown over the town earlier.

But it was not the same person; this one was shorter and fatter.

He did not recognize the Black-robed Man.

Both of their cultivation levels were higher than Lu Chen's.

He could not tell exactly how high.

But he could feel it—every time they made a move, the air vibrated, as if someone had thrown a stone into water, with ripples spreading outward in circles.

The fight lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The Gray-robed Man pierced the Black-robed Man's shoulder with one strike.

The Black-robed Man groaned, turned, and ran.

He ran very fast, disappearing into the forest in a few steps.

The Gray-robed Man did not chase him.

He stood in place, wiped the blood off his sword, and sheathed it.

Then he took a piece of paper from his bosom, looked at it, and tucked it back in.

"The third one," the Gray-robed Man muttered to himself, "should be on the mountain."

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat.

The third one.

He was talking about him.

The Gray-robed Man turned and glanced toward the mountain.

Lu Chen crouched behind the tree, holding his breath.

The Gray-robed Man watched for a few seconds, then turned and walked away.

He walked down the mountain, not up.

Lu Chen crouched behind the tree, waited for the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, and confirmed the Gray-robed Man was far away before standing up.

His back was drenched in sweat.

Not because of the heat, but because of fear.

He was not afraid of death; he was afraid of being caught.

If he was caught, his Cultivate would be interrupted.

If his Cultivate was interrupted, the price he paid would be in vain.

"They know of my existence."

The Gray-robed Man was looking for him.

The last Gray-robed Man had brought twenty-something people up the mountain and taken something from The Cave.

This time, this Gray-robed Man was fighting someone at the foot of the mountain and mentioned "the third one."

"They are looking for me.

Or—looking for the bone fragment."

Lu Chen looked down at the bone fragment on his chest.

The bone fragment was pressed against his skin, ice-cold.

He remembered Su Qing's words—"The deacon of the Danding Sect is chasing him.

You had better use those two pills in your hand as soon as possible.

If they find out, you will have trouble too."

Qin Wu had stolen the blood essence pill.

The blood essence pill belonged to the Danding Sect.

People from the Danding Sect were chasing Qin Wu.

But the Gray-robed Man was not from the Danding Sect.

The clothes the Gray-robed Man wore were different from Su Qing's.

There was no mark on Su Qing's gray robe, but the Gray-robed Man's gray robe had a character embroidered on it—[Sword].

"Ten Thousand Sword Sect?"

Lu Chen remembered Mo Wen saying that there were three sects and four schools.

The three sects were the Xuantian Sect, the Ten Thousand Sword Sect, and the Hehuan Sect.

The four schools were the Tianji School, the Talisman School, the Danding Sect, and the Array Dao School.

The Gray-robed Man—Ten Thousand Sword Sect.

Su Qing—Danding Sect.

Qin Wu—Loose Cultivators Alliance (not belonging to the three sects or four schools).

"Three different factions, all on this mountain."

What were they looking for?

Lu Chen did not know.

But he knew that he was in the middle of what they were looking for.

On the seventh day.

Lu Chen spent the night in The Cave.

It was not because he was afraid that The Ruined Temple was not safe, but because he wanted to look at the words on The Cave wall again.

After his Breakthrough to Qi Refining Stage 2, his understanding of these words was different.

Before, when he saw "Immortality is death," he only felt it was terrifying.

Now, it felt like a hint.

Immortality is death.

Immortality means death.

What did that mean?

It did not mean that immortality equals death; it meant that to obtain immortality, one must experience the process of "death"—not the death of the physical body, but the death of what?

The death of emotion?

The death of memory?

Or—the death of a person?

Lu Chen stood before The Cave wall and reached out to touch the four characters.

"Immortality is death.

What is it that dies?"

No one answered.

He turned around and looked at the "Never Cultivate immortality" written by Wang Qishan again.

Wang Qishan had Cultivate, and he died.

Was the "Don't Cultivate immortality" he wrote a genuine piece of advice, or—was he reminding himself?

Lu Chen did not know.

But he knew one thing—Wang Qishan never understood what the price was until he died.

He only knew the price existed, but he did not know the rules of the price.

That was why he died.

Lu Chen did not want to die.

So he needed to figure out the rules of the price.

The words on the bone fragment were still appearing.

He looked down.

"Second time, remove friendship.

To be completed."

"After friendship, destination—"

The text broke off.

It was not that it had not finished appearing; it was blocked by something.

Lu Chen flipped the bone fragment over.

There were words on the back too.

They had not been there before; they had just appeared.

"Third item: remove—"

Another broken sentence.

But this time it was not blocked; the text itself was incomplete.

It was as if someone had been writing halfway, their hand had stopped, and they had not finished.

"Remove what?"

Lu Chen stared at it for a long time, but could not make it out.

He stuffed the bone fragment back into his clothes.

No matter what was removed, he did not care.

He had already lost his family, lost his friends.

Losing anything else would not hurt more than these two things.

Because he could no longer feel pain.

On the tenth day.

Lu Chen found a corpse at the entrance of The Ruined Temple.

It was not a human corpse, but a beast's—a wild boar, its head smashed by something, blood still flowing; it had just died.

Beside the corpse was a cloth bundle.

Lu Chen crouched down and opened the cloth bundle.

Inside were Spirit Stones.

Five of them.

And a note.

"Don't ask.

Use them."

It was Qin Wu's handwriting.

Lu Chen put the Spirit Stones away and looked at the wild boar's corpse.

"He has been nearby the whole time."

Qin Wu said he would come back in three months, but he had been in the vicinity of Qingniu Ridge the entire time.

Sending Spirit Stones, sending Medicinal Pill, sending wild boar meat—but he never showed himself.

"Why not meet?"

Lu Chen thought about it, but could not figure it out.

But he did not press the issue.

Qin Wu had his reasons; Lu Chen did not care.

What mattered was that the five Spirit Stones were in his hands.

He placed the Spirit Stones by his pillow, lay down, and closed his eyes.

The light from the Spirit Stones was weak, but warm.

Spiritual Qi seeped out from the Spirit Stones and was absorbed by his body.

It was much faster than medicinal herbs.

Overnight, he had drained three of the five Spirit Stones.

The Spiritual Qi in his Dantian had increased by about ten percent.

Adding what he had stored before, his Dantian was now about thirty percent full.

He was still seventy percent away from the next "fissure"—Qi Refining Level 3.

"Five Spirit Stones increase it by ten percent.

To reach Level 3, I need thirty-five."

Thirty-five Spirit Stones.

Could Qin Wu send thirty-five?

He did not know.

But at least, he now had a path.

On the fifteenth day.

Su Qing arrived.

More than two months earlier than promised.

She stood at the entrance of The Ruined Temple, her complexion not looking good, her lips pale, a cloth strip wrapped around her left arm, with blood on the cloth.

"Are you injured?" Lu Chen asked.

"Being chased," Su Qing said, "I am borrowing this place to hide for a bit."

"Why should I let you?"

Su Qing looked at him.

"One qi gathering pill."

"Deal."

Su Qing walked into the temple, sat down against the wall, and unwound the cloth strip from her arm.

The wound was very deep; he could see the flesh inside, and blood was still seeping out.

"Do you need help?" Lu Chen asked.

"Do you know how to treat wounds?"

"No."

"Then you cannot help."

Su Qing took a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, poured out some white powder, and sprinkled it on the wound.

The moment the powder touched the blood, it made a hissing sound, like water entering a hot pan of oil.

She gritted her teeth, and sweat dripped from her forehead.

Lu Chen watched from the side, not moving.

It was not indifference; he really did not know how to treat wounds.

Going up to help would only make things worse.

Su Qing treated the wound, wrapped the cloth strip again, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes to catch her breath.

It was silent for a long time.

"Do you know what they are chasing?" Su Qing asked.

"The thing on you?"

"Yes." Su Qing opened her eyes and looked at him.

"The Danding Sect is looking for a Pill Formula.

An ancient Pill Formula.

Legend has it that it can refine the 'forgetfulness pill'—after eating it, you will not lose your memories when breaking through Realms."

Lu Chen's expression changed.

"There is such a thing?"

"Yes," Su Qing said, "but the Pill Formula is incomplete.

Half is in the hands of the Danding Sect, and the other half—is on this mountain."

"Where on the mountain?"

"I do not know," Su Qing said, "but someone knows.

The bone fragment you are wearing, the words on it, might have the answer."

Lu Chen looked down at his chest.

"So the Danding Sect is not looking for Qin Wu, but the bone fragment?"

"They are looking for both," Su Qing said.

"Qin Wu stole the blood essence pill, but they do not care about the blood essence pill.

What they care about is—who Qin Wu gave the blood essence pill to.

He gave it to you.

You are using the blood essence pill to Cultivate.

You are the holder of the bone fragment.

So if they find you, they find the bone fragment."

Lu Chen was silent for a few seconds.

"You are telling me this, are you not afraid I will not let you see the bone fragment?"

"I am afraid," Su Qing said, "but I have to gamble.

Because I know one thing that you do not."

"What thing?"

"The words on the bone fragment, it is not just you who can read them," Su Qing said.

"Cultivators above Qi Refining Level 5 can forcibly read them using their Divine Sense.

They do not need you to translate, and they do not need you to be alive."

Lu Chen's fists clenched.

"So whether I am willing or not, they will get it."

"Yes," Su Qing said, "the only difference is—whether you get it while alive, or they get it after you are dead."