Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Outcome

Within the alchemy chamber, the Everlasting Spring Tree had grown lush and full, and at the tip of one of its branches, a pale yellow blossom had opened. The entire tree was a symbol of Chen Jiu’s cultivation progress. Each time it bloomed and bore fruit, it marked a new level reached on his path. The very first fruit to form would become his life-bound artifact, accompanying him throughout his journey as a cultivator.

At this moment, above his alchemy chamber, a mass of crimson energy churned restlessly, rising and falling in agitation. This purified demonic energy brimmed with pure power and was the most effective means for breaking through bottlenecks. There was a risk of falling into the demonic path, but having come this far, Chen Jiu resolved to give it a try.

A short while later, he closed his eyes halfway, casting out all distracting thoughts from his mind. Breaking through a cultivation barrier was the moment when a cultivator was most prone to losing control and falling into madness, forfeiting their steadfast heart. Only by holding firm to one’s spirit and unwavering resolve could one survive the tribulation within.

Once his internal state had returned to its peak, Chen Jiu’s mind was as tranquil as still water. His lips parted softly.

“Break.”

The moment the word fell, the blood-red energy cluster suspended within the chamber suddenly split open a narrow gap, and from within, a pillar of scarlet light burst forth, shining directly upon the Everlasting Spring Tree.

In an instant, the blood-colored radiance swallowed the pale yellow blossom, and pure power surged from all directions. Chen Jiu’s brows furrowed tightly, and his complexion flushed with vibrant color. This was the result of an immense influx of pure energy within his body.

The blood lotus platform beneath him now appeared incredibly strange, emitting waves of scarlet light that enveloped Chen Jiu, isolating his spiritual consciousness from the outside world.

“Trying to use my demonic energy to break your bottleneck? Ha! What a fanciful dream.” The blood demon’s voice was laced with derision.

Ordinary human cultivators shunned demonic beings like them, fearing contamination by demonic energy. Should one’s heart waver, they would fall onto the demonic path and become a scourge upon the land. A century ago, five demon gods emerged in the southern provinces of the Jin Dynasty. Though they called themselves the “Five Divine Spirits,” their hearts were filled with malice. They not only terrorized the countryside but were also notorious for abducting women.

Later, because one among them kidnapped the wife of the local chief administrator, experts from the Hanging Eye Office and the House of Extraordinary Talents were dispatched. Only then were the “Five Divine Spirits” suppressed, and the demon cultivators vanished from sight.

Thus, in the Jin Dynasty, though demon cultivators existed, they dared not show themselves openly, for they would only draw the wrath and pursuit of others.

At this moment, Chen Jiu’s entire focus was within his alchemy chamber, utterly unaware of the blood demon’s deliberate attempts at interference. Under the impact of the surging power, the pale yellow blossom now pulsed with a blue-green glow, waves of light rippling outward from its heart.

Chen Jiu’s difficulty in breaking through was, at its root, due to his cultivation technique.

The Everlasting Spring Technique was never easy to practice. Most of its primordial power nourished the body, lacking the overwhelming might of elemental or thunder techniques. Furthermore, the life-bound artifact born of this method was random. Even if Chen Jiu succeeded, the artifact he obtained might not align with his wishes. For these reasons, this technique was scorned by most cultivators.

Yet Chen Jiu could never understand why his master, knowing full well how unpopular the Everlasting Spring Technique was in cultivation circles, still insisted he practice it. Surely Li Fenglai possessed more than one technique and had no reason to deliberately make things difficult for him.

No matter how Chen Jiu puzzled over it, he could not grasp the motive. Still, with his “Familiarity” ability, even this technique could not truly stump him. It simply meant every breakthrough was harder than for others.

Time passed quietly.

The blood demon continued its daily curses, while Chen Jiu remained unmoved, waiting patiently for the blossom to wither and the fruit to ripen.

Two months later.

Mining was forbidden today on Red Jade Mountain, leaving the villagers puzzled as they whispered to one another in the streets.

“Have you heard? Apparently, some important officials arrived today!”

“That’s right. Even the county magistrate came in person, and there’s supposed to be someone even higher up…”

On Red Jade Mountain itself, at a gentle slope, more than a dozen men from the Office of Public Order stood in ornate robes, swords at their sides. Each bowed their heads slightly, their expressions solemn, not daring to meet the gaze of the few people before them.

“Ninth Young Master, is this really where you emerged by teleportation that day?” The man speaking stood behind Su Jiu, clad in brocade and jade, but his sword’s hilt was set with white jade—a symbol of the chief administrator. Yet before Su Jiu, the chief showed such deference that one would think him a subordinate, his tone gentle, devoid of the arrogance expected of a second-tier immortal cultivator.

Su Jiu nodded. “Yes. However, I’m not certain if that person is still alive.”

At those words, the chief straightened up and barked coldly to the men behind him, “You lot, search this area thoroughly with the Spirit-Seeking Talismans. If you detect any spiritual presence, report immediately!”

“Yes, sir!” the subordinates responded in unison, quickly scattering in all directions.

The chief then changed his severe expression to a smiling one. “Ninth Young Master, is this person a close acquaintance of yours?”

Su Jiu glanced at him indifferently. “We are but passing acquaintances. I made him some promises, and if he truly died here, I’ll simply burn those things for him as offerings.”

The chief listened to Su Jiu’s cold words and nodded. Then he added, “By the way, I have already reported to Chief Su, and he instructs you not to spread word of the blood demon…”

At this, Su Jiu’s eyes narrowed. He turned to face the deferential chief. “Chief, tell me—who do you think is more tight-lipped, my father or myself?”

The chill in Su Jiu’s voice sent a pang of bitterness through the chief’s heart, and he cursed himself for speaking out of turn. After a moment’s hesitation, he slapped himself hard several times until his cheeks were red, then said miserably, “Your subordinate misspoke. Please punish me, Ninth Young Master!”

Su Jiu waved his hand impatiently. “Enough! I’ll keep my mouth shut. And stop using my father to threaten me!”

Seeing Su Jiu’s anger abate somewhat, the chief breathed a sigh of relief. He answered meekly, “Understood.”

Whenever Su Jiu thought of his father—the cold-blooded man who never cared for his family and wouldn’t even return when his wife was gravely ill—he seethed with anger.

Just then, several subordinates of the Office of Public Order hurried back.

“Reporting, Chief! The Spirit-Seeking Talismans showed nothing. There is no spiritual presence in Red Jade Mountain.”

The chief waved them away, then turned respectfully to Su Jiu. “Ninth Young Master, what are your instructions?”

Su Jiu’s eyes flickered. He stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said, “Fellow cultivator, I have done all I can for you. Perhaps this is the tribulation you must face. When you reach the underworld, do not slander me as a selfish man.”

With that, Su Jiu’s form blurred into a sphere of light and soared away.

“Chief, shall we continue searching?”

The chief raised an eyebrow. “No, let’s return!”

“Achoo!”

Chen Jiu’s eyes fluttered open as he sneezed for no reason. The elders often said that when someone curses you behind your back, you’ll sneeze.

He curled his lips, but a smile gradually appeared.

For within his alchemy chamber, the red light had vanished entirely. All the pure energy had been expended.

Now, where the pale yellow blossom had once been, a fist-sized orb of blue-green light encased the branch’s tip. A surge of vibrant life force radiated gently from within.

The flower had withered; soon, fruit would form.

He had successfully broken through!