Chapter 86: The One She Awaits

To open an independent space, one must first stir the forces of the space outside oneself, twisting them to a certain degree, and then, through some profound method, create a small, separate pocket of existence.

This was the first step to mastering the Hidden Star Sword Technique.

Even this initial step made Fang Junmei furrow his brows in confusion. He understood the words, but had no idea how to proceed. After pondering for a while, Fang Junmei simply drew his sword and slashed into the empty air before him.

Behind the sweep of the blade, invisible waves of air arose.

Yet Fang Junmei knew well that these were merely currents of air set in motion by the sword’s power, not the shifting of space itself.

"Space... the final form of the Yellow Springs Ghost Rain Sword... the Hidden Star Sword Technique... It seems I am destined to be entangled with the Way of Space," Fang Junmei muttered to himself with a bitter smile. Then, thinking of the Three-Breath Divine Stone, he wondered if the strange power within that ancient ring was some kind of temporal force.

Space and time—these two ways had always been the hardest to comprehend among all the laws of heaven and earth. Now, Fang Junmei found himself involved with both. If he succeeded, it would shake the heavens; if he failed, he would waste countless years.

After musing on this, Fang Junmei returned to contemplation.

...

He meditated for ten days.

Fang Junmei made no headway. He thought of seeking advice from Fan Lanzhou and the others, but both Fan Lanzhou and Linghu Jinjiu were still recovering from their injuries, and Yang Xiaoman was likely immersed in cultivation, preparing to break through to the Dao Embryo realm. He decided not to disturb them.

Leaving Immovable Peak alone, Fang Junmei made his way to the Scripture Repository on Steward Peak.

He searched for all records pertaining to the Way of Space. Unfortunately, within the section of the repository he had free access to, there were no such records. So he turned to his second purpose: reading about rare heavenly materials and treasures.

He had never forgotten the Blood-Drip Pellet in Chunyu Qian's possession; one day, he might have to leave the sect, so it was wise to prepare in advance.

There were quite a few jade slips on this topic in the first tier of the repository, and Fang Junmei’s horizons broadened as he read. After asking the steward disciples, he learned he could copy the slips to take with him. So, after reading them all, he made copies, just in case he forgot anything.

Leaving the repository, Fang Junmei wandered through the shops on Steward Mountain.

Now that Immovable Peak had been preserved, with its disciples displaying great strength, and with Fang Junmei’s own mysterious reputation—fueled by various rumors—he drew much attention. No one came to provoke him, however; just ten days prior, the Celestial River Daoist himself had brought Fang Junmei to the repository, and word of this had spread.

He continued browsing the shops one by one.

In the end, Fang Junmei bought several new outfits and some fine spirit wine. He had realized that in the cultivation world, clothes wore out faster than one's own body.

Leaving Steward Peak, Fang Junmei paid a visit to his warm-hearted elder brother Song Shede on Medicine King Peak. Song had also participated in the Dust Group competition this time, but like Linghu Jinjiu, had only reached the quarterfinals.

Song Shede was delighted at Fang Junmei’s visit, and a feast of wine and meat followed.

A shrewd man, Song Shede never once asked about the Blood-Drip Pellet. When Fang Junmei inquired about the Way of Space, Song was at a loss.

A good drinking session lasted more than an hour before they parted.

Back at Immovable Peak, Fang Junmei had nothing more to attend to and devoted himself to cultivation.

He focused on the Triple Shackles Secret Record, a technique for the Dust Settling stage. As for the Hidden Star Sword Technique, he set it aside for the time being.

He was a calm soul, open-minded, aware that the Way of Space was not something to grasp in a day or two—it would likely require a moment of insight. Better, then, to focus on advancing his realm for now.

...

Time began to fly by.

The Vagrant Daoist was still asleep.

Fan Lanzhou and Linghu Jinjiu’s wounds gradually healed, though Fan Lanzhou’s lost arm remained, a source of constant concern.

No news of a limb-regenerating elixir had come from either the sect or Gu Xijin.

Fan Lanzhou and Linghu Jinjiu, frustrated and anxious, had left the sect several times to search the cultivation world, but still failed to find Earth Dragon Saliva.

One day, the two returned to the sect once more.

By now, fifty years had passed since the grand sect competition.

Ascending Immovable Peak and entering the courtyard, they immediately saw Yang Xiaoman sitting idly beneath a tree.

Compared to fifty years ago, Yang Xiaoman had clearly matured. No longer the fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl, her features were more refined, her figure taller and more shapely, her presence imbued with a distinctly feminine charm—she was strikingly beautiful.

Her cultivation, too, had reached the early Dao Embryo stage, surpassing Linghu Jinjiu, who was still at the late Dust Settling stage. Whether due to the three Dao Embryo Pills or her own extraordinary aptitude, it was hard to say.

"Xiaoman, you’ve finally grown up. Now your Senior Brother can rest easy. You should have no trouble marrying off now," Linghu Jinjiu teased, amazed at her newfound femininity.

"Third Senior Brother, you’re incorrigible," Yang Xiaoman blushed, shooting him a playful glare. Her shy smile only made her more alluring.

Fan Lanzhou smiled warmly at the sight.

"Xiaoman, were those Dao Embryo Pills sweet or salty? Give your Senior Brother one to try," Linghu Jinjiu said, feigning the tone of a trickster deceiving a naïve girl.

Yang Xiaoman and Fan Lanzhou both burst out laughing.

"Forgive me, Third Senior Brother. I did want to save one or two pills for you to use in your own breakthrough, but I had to take them all to succeed," Yang Xiaoman admitted a bit guiltily.

Linghu Jinjiu waved it off; he had only been joking.

After congratulating Yang Xiaoman on her advancement, they asked about affairs on the mountain.

"Master is still asleep. The youngest Brother has been cultivating constantly, only occasionally emerging. Nothing major has happened within the sect," Yang Xiaoman replied quickly.

Both nodded.

"Still no news of Earth Dragon Saliva?" Yang Xiaoman asked.

Linghu Jinjiu shook his head, looking a bit downcast, while Fan Lanzhou remained relatively cheerful.

"You two should focus on your cultivation in the sect for a while. I’ll go out to search," Yang Xiaoman offered.

"No need. I’ll do it myself. I’ve already delayed Linghu’s training for too long—I can’t drag you into this as well," Fan Lanzhou replied, ever the gentleman.

Yang Xiaoman smiled. "Second Senior Brother, didn’t you always tell me not to get too caught up in cultivation, that going out into the world is just as important? Have you forgotten? I’ve been training long enough and have reached the early Dao Embryo stage. Even if I travel through the neighboring kingdoms, there shouldn’t be much danger."

Fan Lanzhou frowned, still uneasy.

"Besides, this journey isn’t just for you. I need to temper my own resolve and gain experience in life-or-death battles," Yang Xiaoman said firmly.

After careful thought, Fan Lanzhou finally relented, urging her to be careful and detailing all the places he and Linghu Jinjiu had already searched.

"Some of those fellows from the Five Great Demon Sects seem to be stirring. Be especially cautious," Fan Lanzhou warned her in the end.

"When the time comes, don’t hesitate to strike hard," Linghu Jinjiu added, his tone chillingly cold.

Yang Xiaoman’s eyes flashed with determination. After a few more words, she departed, seemingly eager to set out.

The two watched her go, unable to shake an indefinable sense of unease.

...

Leaving aside the affairs of the Peach Blossom Sword Sect, let us follow Yang Xiaoman. After descending the mountain, she traveled far and wide, inevitably encountering battles and quests along the way.

More than twenty years later, she flew in a certain direction.

By then, she was no longer in the Great River Kingdom, but in Meng, a northern realm known for its harsh climate. Only the hardiest of mortals could survive there. It was a land teeming with ice cultivators, and its most powerful sect was called the Divine Snow Sect.

Upon arriving in Meng, Yang Xiaoman did not seek out sages or hunt demons. Instead, she went straight to the capital, Grand City.

There, she found an inn and settled in. By day, she wandered the city streets; by night, she cultivated behind closed doors. Her life was leisurely and carefree.

Half a year passed in this manner.

One evening at dusk, Yang Xiaoman was strolling through the market, eating a stick of candied hawthorn.

"Xiaoman, come meet me at the Daoist temple on the mountainside, a hundred miles southeast of the city," a man’s deep, resonant voice suddenly sounded in her mind.

Yang Xiaoman’s eyes brightened—the person she had been waiting for had finally arrived.