Chapter 15 The Path to the Summit

“So this is the Path Connecting the Peaks?” She had heard before that the sect had set up such roads, using formations to link each mountain. Passing through these formations allowed one to reach destinations much faster.

Unlike the teleportation arrays, the Path Connecting the Peaks was an actual road. The formation merely shortened the distance and concealed the route. While it couldn’t instantly deliver travelers like a teleportation array, it was still very convenient.

Within the sect, flying on a sword was the fastest means of travel, followed by this path. Most people preferred it; it was lively and bustling.

“Yes, that’s right.” The Moon-white Rabbit hopped toward the entrance of the path while explaining to Ji Jiuxuan how to use it.

Riding a rabbit was quite different from riding other spirit beasts. The rabbit rose and fell with each bound, but thanks to the protection of spiritual energy, there was no jostling at all. Ji Jiuxuan found the experience novel and delightful.

At the entrance, she saw various regions marked on the ground’s array patterns. The rabbit injected spiritual power into the pattern labeled “Wangchen Peak,” then hopped toward the entrance.

Ji Jiuxuan curiously observed her surroundings. The road was level, and through the faint veil around them, she could glimpse the outer mountain peaks and spiritual plants. Other disciples were walking along the path, some riding spirit beasts as well.

She had expected chaos, but instead, everyone moving forward kept to the left, those coming the other way kept to the right. The outermost lanes were for pedestrians, the center for spirit beasts.

How similar this was to the traffic rules of her previous life!

“Yuebai, is this path really suspended in midair? What if someone flying on a sword accidentally crashes into it?”

The Moon-white Rabbit showed no impatience at the curious questions of the little cultivator on its back and replied patiently, “No, that won’t happen. Because the path is linked by a formation, it exists in a different space. Judging by your age, you haven’t entered the Academy of Learning yet, have you? The teaching elders there will explain all this very clearly. You’ll understand then.”

“The Academy of Learning covers this too?” Ji Jiuxuan suddenly looked forward to her studies there. She had been reluctant before, thinking it a waste of time to spend over an hour in class and preferring to seek out materials on her own. Now she realized she should go—she might gain unexpected insights.

“Yes, there’s much to learn at the Academy of Learning.” Once a spirit beast reached a certain level of cultivation, it too could attend the Academy, though their curriculum differed from that of human cultivators.

As they chatted, Wangchen Peak quickly came into view.

Ji Jiuxuan used her communication jade to get Feng Hanxiao’s location and asked the Moon-white Rabbit to take her there.

Feng Hanxiao had been waiting outside for a while, joined by several other girls—judging by their identity tokens, they were all direct or inner disciples of Wangchen Peak.

When they saw Ji Jiuxuan, a girl of about eight or nine frowned in displeasure.

Ji Jiuxuan paid her no mind and asked Feng Hanxiao, “Shall we go now?”

Feng Hanxiao nodded, delighted and eager to set off, but the girl beside her spoke in a very unfriendly tone: “It’s early morning; why aren’t you cultivating? Don’t let our little junior sister pick up your bad habits.”

Ji Jiuxuan was startled. Feng Hanxiao’s expression soured, but another young woman interjected, “Jiyue, you go inside first.”

Though unhappy, Jiyue complied with a bow. “Yes, Master.”

Only after Jiyue had left did the woman smile apologetically at Ji Jiuxuan. “Please don’t mind her, little friend Ji. My disciple is always like that—she’s a bit of a headache.”

“Master is glad you’re here to spend time with Hanxiao. She’s specially ordered the Earthwave Beast to guide you.”

“Thank you, I hope it’s not too much trouble.” Ji Jiuxuan’s joy had been dampened by Jiyue’s words, though she couldn’t deny there was truth in them.

“Come on, let’s go!” Feng Hanxiao summoned a black spirit beast from her pouch, as large as an elephant and draped in a comfortable-looking blanket.

The Earthwave Beast crouched down obligingly. Feng Hanxiao pulled Ji Jiuxuan onto its back and patted it cheerfully. “Let’s go! We’ll head to Spirit Beast Peak first.”

Once they were out of Wangchen Peak’s range, Feng Hanxiao turned to Ji Jiuxuan with an apologetic look. “Sorry, Xuanxuan! My senior sister has a blunt personality and often offends people.”

She muttered, “My parents barely nag me, but she’s like an old housekeeper, always fussing over every little thing.”

“You have no idea. Sometimes I wonder if she isn’t an old man or woman from the mortal world reincarnated. She keeps to a strict routine and wants everyone around her to do the same.”

Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but laugh at her deep-seated grudge. “But your senior sister isn’t entirely wrong. Most people seize every moment to cultivate in the early morning, but here I am, keeping you from your training.”

Afraid Ji Jiuxuan would never come to play with her again, Feng Hanxiao hurriedly explained, “Don’t think that way! My parents say this is also a form of cultivation. You can’t just shut yourself in a training room every day—you’ll go silly!”

“So I can come find you to play often? Your parents and Peak Master won’t mind, and even welcome it?” Ji Jiuxuan was a little surprised by this.

“That’s right. My parents don’t confine me, since I’m of the earth element. Being outside benefits me much more than staying in a training room,” Feng Hanxiao replied with a pitiful seriousness. “So, Xuanxuan, you must come play with me! I finally have a kindred spirit as a friend!”

Ji Jiuxuan thought about her own special cultivation technique, which allowed her to be outside at all times with no problem. Judging by Feng Hanxiao’s talent and her words, perhaps she too had something unique. Ji Jiuxuan nodded.

“Very well, but if you have to stay in for cultivation, you must tell me. We’ll have plenty of time to play together, but we mustn’t let it hinder your progress.”

Suddenly remembering that she couldn’t discern Jiyue’s cultivation, Ji Jiuxuan asked, “Hanxiao, what level is your senior sister Jiyue at now?”

Judging by her stern manner, she was clearly very disciplined and upright.

“She’s just reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. She has dual spiritual roots, both of good quality.”

Dual spiritual roots, tested at age three, and four years to reach Qi Refining ninth level—by that pace, her progress was quite good.

“She’ll probably reach Foundation Establishment soon, then? After that, she’ll be able to truly fly on a sword. Only after forming a Golden Core can one truly question the Dao.”

“I doubt it’ll be that soon. She just entered the ninth level. The sect’s grand competition is in a year, and she wants to enter the secret realm for training, so I think she’ll suppress her breakthrough until after the trial.”

Suppressing one’s cultivation to accumulate more power brought many benefits later on; those who could do so often chose to wait.

As the two chatted, they arrived at Spirit Beast Peak. The first thing they saw was a small river teeming with schools of fish.

Looking at the fish, Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help but recall all the different ways they could be cooked, and her mouth watered so much she nearly stopped walking. She couldn’t help but ask Feng Hanxiao, “Hanxiao, do these fish belong to anyone?”

“You want to eat them?” As a fellow foodie, Feng Hanxiao immediately understood what her friend meant.