Jade Shakes the Thousand Mountains - Chapter 12: Inexhaustible Sect (Revised)

Chapter 12: Inexhaustible Sect

One of the top major sects… Cultivators possess seventy-two inches of Spirit Veins within their bodies.

These Spirit Veins store the cultivator’s Spiritual power, allowing them to utilize it for their own purposes.

The Spiritual power within the body serves as the source of strength for a cultivator’s Sword moves and spells. If all seventy-two inches of Spirit Veins are unblocked, the Spiritual power within becomes as vast as an ocean, truly inexhaustible and limitless.

Now, Lu Chanji can cultivate, but only one inch of her Spirit Veins has been unblocked, with seventy-one inches remaining sealed.

Through her bloodline instinct, she can freely manipulate her own shadow. Beyond that, she cannot perform a single Mystic incantation.

Because she has never studied them.

With such scarce Spiritual power within her body, it’s uncertain whether Lu Chanji can execute a complete Sword move. Without a sword at hand, she cannot even attempt it.

The urgent task now is to improve her cultivation.

Lu Chanji asked the Inexhaustible Tree, “I want to leave Long Island. Do you know the way out?”

Over these days, Lu Chanji had traversed Long Island, but all she saw was desolate devastation.

Most plants had withered, and birds and beasts were nowhere to be seen, as if it were a land of death.

More importantly, Long Island was isolated by a layer of seal those outside couldn’t enter, and those inside couldn’t leave.

The Inexhaustible Tree continued to burn quietly.

It said, “The seal on Long Island was set by me to protect the few remaining Ancient Remnants here. Although they are merely plants and flowers, in the eyes of some cultivators with ulterior motives, they possess many unique uses. Only by secluding ourselves can we avert disaster.”

Hearing this, Lu Chanji’s already pale face turned ashen, and she stood rigidly in place for a long time.

Lu Wenshu likely didn’t know she was an Ancient Remnant; he only knew her constitution was special and thus targeted her.

The plants and flowers are not at fault, but their rarity makes them guilty.

A person without the ability to protect themselves, yet possessing a great treasure, is like a child carrying a fortune through a bustling market easily provoking the evil in human nature.

Recalling the taste of human evil she had experienced from Lu Wenshu, Lu Chanji’s body slightly hunched over, and she bit her lip to suppress her trembling.

The Inexhaustible Tree said, “Take my Endless Fire Leaf, and you can leave. But… are you sure you want to enter the world?”

It quietly “gazed” at Lu Chanji, then let a leaf drift down from its canopy.

This leaf was different from the others; one could see starlight-like specks of radiance flowing along its veins.

Lu Chanji took the leaf and held it in her hand, standing in silence for a long time without speaking.

She seemed to recall many things, and only after collecting her thoughts did she answer the Inexhaustible Tree’s question: “There is someone I must meet, and he is not on Long Island.”

Lu Chanji said, “In this lifetime, I must see him again. Otherwise, the obsession in my heart will remain unsettled, and I will never find peace.”

The Inexhaustible Tree fell silent for a moment, offering no persuasion, and simply stated, “If you enter the world, you can take my leaf and seek out my old friend. He left Long Island many years ago and has since achieved fame and success outside, unwilling to return. You can seek refuge in his sect. He possesses the Aura Concealing Pill, which can conceal your origins and allow you to move freely in the world.”

“I’m not helping you for nothing. By going to find him, you can also do me a favor bring a leaf to my old friend, convey my greetings, and tell him that I am well here on Long Island.”

Upon hearing these words, Lu Chanji was momentarily stunned before replying gratefully, “Thank you.”

After obtaining the Endless Fire Leaf, Lu Chanji bid farewell to the Inexhaustible Tree and quickly departed from Long Island.

While traveling hidden within the shadows of flying birds, the Endless Fire Leaf in her hand occasionally flickered with a silvery gleam. Whenever Lu Chanji was about to lose her direction, it would continue guiding her forward.

Throughout her journey, she would seize opportunities to hide in the shadows of passing birds and beasts, letting them “carry” her along for a stretch.

Following the guidance of the Endless Fire Leaf, Lu Chanji soon left Long Island far behind.

However, as time passed and the scenery before her grew increasingly familiar, Lu Chanji’s expression subtly shifted.

She never expected that the Inexhaustible Tree’s old acquaintance would also be on the Flame Continent.

–

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

After a thousand years, the snow on the Flame Continent remained just as heavy.

She hadn’t liked it before, and a millennium later, she still didn’t.

The only difference was that with her spiritual power, the wind and snow no longer cut like knives, and walking barefoot on the snow no longer felt cold.

She landed on the snow-covered ground, wearing a black gauze veil hat that matched her dark clothing. The Endless Fire Leaf in her hand flickered with a dim light once more. Looking down, Lu Chanji saw it pointing her in a new direction and continued following its guidance.

After an unknown length of time, Lu Chanji arrived at a valley lush with green vegetation.

At the entrance stood an extremely plain wooden archway bearing three characters: “Inexhaustible Sect.”

This was the Inexhaustible Sect.

The place the Inexhaustible Tree had sent her.

Though a snowstorm raged outside, it couldn’t penetrate the valley in the slightest.

Flowers and plants grew freely, bees and butterflies fluttered about undisturbed, completely unaffected by the harsh weather.

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

Even knowing this wasn’t Azure Peak or the Sword Inheriting Sect, Lu Chanji’s expression still changed.

The narrow courtyard and plain gate plaque showed no traces of the “success and achievement” the Inexhaustible Tree had described.

Realizing the information from the Inexhaustible Tree might be inaccurate, Lu Chanji immediately became wary.

She stopped her forward progress, refraining from advancing recklessly. Instead, she turned back and disappeared into the snowstorm.

The market formed by spontaneous gatherings of cultivators had gradually expanded over time, eventually developing into a town.

The town offered inns for cultivators to rest, food, magical artifacts, and more – all requiring transactions and spirit coins.

Lu Chanji had no spirit coins, no money, but fortunately, she was no longer an ordinary mortal.

When night fell, she would rest hidden in the shadows of inns – costing nothing and disturbing no one.

With spiritual power, she wouldn’t starve even without eating.

Thus she spent several days in the town like a shadow. Finally, the heavy snow cleared and the sky brightened.

Lu Chanji emerged from the inn’s shadows, planning to gather information about the Inexhaustible Sect.

She needed to confirm the sect was safe before proceeding.

Otherwise, she would have to wait until she obtained a sword and could protect herself before delivering the Inexhaustible Tree’s leaf.

She would help the Inexhaustible Tree, but before that, she needed to ensure her absolute safety.

Lu Chanji found it difficult to easily trust others again. Not even the warm and comforting Inexhaustible Tree could change that.
As soon as the snow stopped, more cultivators appeared in the town, and numerous small stalls lined the streets.

Some stalls displayed finished Magical Artifacts, while others offered various medicinal herbs, among other things.

Lu Chanji had never seen such sights before.

Although she had lived in the Great Ocean Ten Continents for thirteen years, her trips down the mountain during that time could be counted on one hand.

Back then, she never even needed to use Spirit Coins Lu Wenshu took care of everything. But by the same token, he never told her about the other side of the Great Ocean Ten Continents, such as what she was witnessing now.

Now she needed a sword, but where to find one was unclear for the moment. If she had to buy one, the question of how to earn the money was also a problem.

Lost in thought, Lu Chanji became deeply absorbed in her musings.

Just then, a commotion broke out up ahead as a crowd gathered.

Lu Chanji initially intended to slip away quietly, wanting no part in disputes among cultivators. But out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the distinctive white robes of the Sword Inheriting Sect.

Her steps halted abruptly.

Two disciples in the white attire of the Sword Inheriting Sect stood before a small stall, arguing with the stall owner.

After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Chanji approached and blended into the crowd.

One of the Sword Inheriting Sect disciples snapped, “How can you be so ungrateful? We’re doing business with you out of respect. Don’t undervalue our offer trading a sword for these herbs of yours is already a loss on our part.”

The stall owner, a woman in purple, had a medicine basket and a small hoe beside her, with various spiritual mushrooms and herbs spread across her stall.

Her face flushed crimson, clearly seething with anger.

Biting her lower lip, she argued, “For this sword, I only offered three spiritual mushrooms. You insist on five…”

The other Sword Inheriting Sect disciple scoffed lightly, “Swords forged by the Sword Inheriting Sect nowadays are highly sought after and hard to come by. Even if we took all the herbs on your stall, you’d still be getting the better deal. We’re only asking for five consider it a favor.”

“Exactly. If we weren’t in urgent need of Elixirs, we wouldn’t even consider trading our matched swords.”

The purple-clad woman was so upset she nearly burst into tears.

Yes, she knew that swords from the Sword Inheriting Sect were in high demand after all, the sect was a major faction that everyone flocked to.

But she wasn’t a Sword Cultivator and had no use for a sword; she merely thought it looked nice and would be good for chopping firewood or herbs, so trading three spiritual mushrooms for it seemed fair.

But five century-old spiritual mushrooms? That was a rip-off!

Trading five century-old spiritual mushrooms for a firewood-chopping sword was she out of her mind?!

Clenching her lower lip, the purple-clad woman remained silent and unyielding.

Just then, a pair of delicate, pale hands reached out and picked up the sword.

The woman looked up to see a figure clad entirely in black holding the Sword Inheriting Sect’s sword, examining it calmly in her hand.

Judging by the slender wrist and composed movements, one could imagine that beneath the black Veil Hat was a woman of refined and extraordinary grace.

With a swift “shing,” the long sword was drawn.

The blade gleamed coldly, its green steel reflecting Lu Chanji’s stern, veiled face beneath the black gauze.

No one had expected her to act so boldly, and the onlookers were startled.

Especially the two Sword Inheriting Sect disciples, whose expressions darkened as they prepared to rebuke her. But before they could, the black-clad woman who had taken the sword said coolly, “Not bad. It is indeed a sword forged by the Sword Inheriting Sect.”

Upon hearing her words, the Sword Inheriting Sect disciple’s expression softened, and he said with a smile, “You have a good eye, miss. This is indeed a genuine Sword Inheriting Sect sword. So these five century-old lingzhi mushrooms”

As he spoke, he bent down to pick up the mushrooms from the stall, but unexpectedly, Lu Chanji continued, “What a pity it’s a defective product a piece of junk picked from the Sword Cemetery.”

“You”

The two Sword Inheriting Sect disciples’ faces instantly turned grim. Beyond anger, they wore expressions of sheer astonishment, as if their trick had been exposed, leaving them humiliated and furious.

Before they could say anything, Lu Chanji went on calmly, “The Earth Fire Magma of the Sword Inheriting Sect is the remnant embers from when Gong Gong shattered Mount Buzhou. Only Kunwu Stone from Liuzhou can withstand the thousand temperings and hundred refinements of the Sword Inheriting Sect’s earth fire, and only Kunwu Stone can be used to forge the sect’s swords.”

“Kunwu Stone is extremely hard, making it immensely difficult to smelt into usable iron for sword forging. To improve success rates, the Sword Inheriting Sect adds other agents during the forging process. If the sword is successfully forged, these agents do not affect the blade. But if the forging fails, when spiritual power is channeled into it, the sword will glow red and shatter upon use.”

As Lu Chanji finished speaking, she channeled a stream of spiritual power into the blade with both hands.

Then, before everyone’s eyes, the frost-white sword that had gleamed like autumn water gradually turned crimson. With a gentle pinch of her slender, pale fingers, the sword snapped effortlessly.

It crumbled into dust.

Lu Chanji stated, “And such unsuccessful swords are all marked as failures the moment they are forged and discarded into the Sword Cemetery.”

The two Sword Inheriting Sect disciples stared in shock, as if they had seen a ghost, and for a long moment, they were speechless.

This was indeed a flawed sword selected from the Sword Cemetery.

Outwardly, it looked no different from a proper sword.

Even they, as disciples of the Sword Inheriting Sect, could not distinguish the difference by appearance alone.

How did she know?

Who was she?

“You… you…” the two disciples stammered for a while, unable to form a complete sentence.

The other cultivators had already seen through their deceit, and now even their status as Sword Inheriting Sect disciples was of no use.

Though seething with anger, they could not vent it openly.

For this woman in black was truly enigmatic she knew secrets even they, as sect disciples, were unaware of, making her impossible to ignore.

Dressed entirely in black and wearing a black veil hat, her attire clearly did not belong to the Sword Inheriting Sect’s uniform.

Yet, to know the sect’s intricacies so thoroughly, she must have deep ties to the Sword Inheriting Sect… Even if she were a disciple, she likely knew more than any of them.

“Dare I ask, miss, how do you know so much about our Sword Inheriting Sect?” one of them asked timidly.

She learned it from Lu Wenshu.

Thinking of Lu Wenshu again, Lu Chanji froze slightly, her expression beneath the veil turning exceedingly unpleasant.

“I have a friend who worked at the Sword Casting Valley for three months, forging iron. I heard it from him,” Lu Chanji replied casually.

I have a friend… As everyone knows, that phrase usually refers to oneself.

To be able to forge iron at the Sword Casting Valley…

He must have been an inner sect disciple.

Someone of high status, not to be offended.
Never thought they’d end up deceiving one of their own. The two Sword Inheriting Sect disciples exchanged a look of chagrin, but due to their lowly status as outer sect disciples, they could only bow respectfully to Lu Chanji with clasped fists before transforming into streaks of light and vanishing.

Internally, they were seething with anger.

This fellow sect member showed absolutely no consideration for their dignity, publicly exposing their deception. While she earned plenty of applause for herself, she sacrificed their entire sect’s reputation in the process.

She didn’t act like a Sword Inheriting Sect disciple at all more like an enemy. Running into her today was truly unlucky.

With the main parties gone, the gathered onlookers gradually dispersed as well.

A few cultivators attempted to strike up conversation with Lu Chanji, but her silent, aloof demeanor quickly deterred them.

Only the stallkeeper in purple persistently followed behind Lu Chanji, completely undaunted by her cold expression. She chattered incessantly: “Fellow cultivator, I must thank you for stepping in earlier. Without your help, I wouldn’t have known what to do. I’m truly grateful.”

Receiving no response from Lu Chanji, the purple-clad woman gave an awkward laugh and retrieved a small medicine bottle from her pouch.

“Please accept this,” she said, her gaze lingering on Lu Chanji’s black veil as she pressed the bottle into her hand. “A small token of gratitude. I hope you won’t find it beneath you.”

Currently worrying about how to earn Spirit Stones, Lu Chanji saw no reason to refuse this freely offered Elixir, so she accepted the small bottle.

Noticing the woman’s gentle demeanor, Lu Chanji’s expression softened slightly. Holding the bottle, she remarked, “If you didn’t want to buy their swords, you could have simply refused the exchange. It’s not like they could have forced you.”

From what she observed earlier, it clearly resembled a coercive transaction.

“That’s true, but…” The purple-clad woman lowered her head. “Who would dare offend the Sword Inheriting Sect? Nowadays, the sect is rising like the sun everyone flocks to join this major faction. And this is Flame Continent, their territory. What if they hold a grudge against me? My sect is small and weak. I don’t want to cause trouble for myself by provoking them.”

After speaking, the woman covered her mouth in sudden regret. It occurred to her that although this black-clad woman had helped her, judging by the two disciples’ attitude, what if she was also from the Sword Inheriting Sect? Wouldn’t that mean she had still ended up offending them?

The purple-clad woman hurriedly added, “I I mean, the Sword Inheriting Sect is now one of the top major sects. Minor sects like ours should show them proper respect…”

“One of the top major sects?” Lu Chanji was momentarily stunned. If she remembered correctly, among the five great sects, the Grand Micro Sect ranked first, while the Sword Inheriting Sect was last.

She instinctively asked, “What about the Grand Micro Sect?”

“The Grand Micro Sect? They’ve long been in decline, nothing like their former glory,” the purple-clad woman whispered. “The righteous path’s Champion belongs to the Sword Inheriting Sect now their sect leader is the Number One of Sword Way. How could the current Grand Micro Sect possibly compete with them?”