Vol.2-Chapter 225 – Carefree Valley

Hearing Elder Dawn Wind’s question, Zhao Jiuge was startled for a moment. He wondered why Elder Dawn Wind had asked him about it. However, he only hesitated for a bit before he talked about how he had fled from his mountain village, came across the cultivation method, and eventually arrived at the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect.

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However, he skipped over the details about Su Su and Elder Yang. After Zhao Jiuge finished telling his story, everyone had different expressions. Elder Waning Moon gently looked at Zhao Jiuge and dotingly stroked his hair.

Jian Wuxian, Elder Dawn Wind, and Elder Pine Tree looked at each other. They all saw the doubt in each other’s eyes.

“Carefree Valley?” Jian Wuxian was the first one to say it out loud, and his tone was somewhat different.

Elder Pine Tree rubbed his nose and then softly said, “Could this Carefree Valley be the one that has been hidden for hundreds of years?”

Elder Dawn Wind had a calm expression and said in an annoyed tone, “If it's not that Carefree Valley, how could such a powerful method leak out?”

Hearing this, Zhao Jiuge noticed that something was wrong and suddenly became nervous. He tightly grasped Elder Waning Moon’s arm and nervously swallowed before asking, “Master Moon, is there something wrong with Carefree Valley?”

Elder Waning Moon blinked and slowly said, “No.” At the same time, she held Zhao Jiuge’s hand and gently calmed him down. Through Zhao Jiuge’s actions, Elder Waning Moon felt a change in his mentality.

“Carefree Valley is equivalent to one of the holy lands. At a time, it was extremely evil, but later on, a change in the valley master changed the entire sect. It rarely does evil anymore. The holy lands laid siege to it once, and after that, the people from Carefree Valley rarely show themselves.”

Jian Wuxian spoke slowly, but his gaze was locked onto the change in Zhao Jiuge’s expression.

After hearing this, there was a huge shock in Zhao Jiuge’s heart. He secretly guessed that Ye Wuyou was someone from Carefree Valley, but he didn't know Ye Wuyou’s status. He would have to find Carefree Valley himself and ask. However, from what his teacher had said, Carefree Valley had disappeared hundreds of years ago and the location of the sect would not be easy to find.

Jian Wuxian noticed the shock in Zhao Jiuge’s eyes, followed by pondering. Jian Wuxian’s gaze turned sharp. His gaze became somewhat cold and he was about to continue when Elder Dawn Wind stopped him with a gaze and shook his head.

Elder Dawn Wind smiled and looked at Zhao Jiuge with a pleasant gaze. “Jiuge, now that your spirit core is grade-8, while not unprecedented, it can be considered a rare existence. You must focus on cultivation during this time. The Thousand Year Chilling Ice Poolis a very good place to cultivate. Although half the spirit force has been used up, there is still plenty left. You will cultivate here until the time for the exchange between the old and the new. We’ll come to pick you up and also announce a few things.”

There were too many doubts in Jian Wuxian’s heart, but had been stopped by Elder Dawn Wind’s gaze, so he could only endure. However, hearing this, he could not hold himself back from asking, “Elder Dawn Wind, could it be that you have already decided on the roster?”

Elder Dawn Wind’s expression was a bit strange and he nodded with a smile that wasn’t a smile.

Jian Wuxian’s eyes shined and he slowly said, “Then what if Du Jun and Zhang Xu don’t agree? This matter won’t be so simple.”

Elder Dawn Wind let out a cold snort. “The three of us will come in person, so you don’t have to worry about it. We have been silent for hundreds of years. Some people really think that my Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect has fallen.”

Jian Wuxian’s face was filled with joy and he let out a breath of relief. With Elder Dawn Wind taking the lead, he naturally wouldn’t have to worry about anything else.

Although Zhao Jiuge didn’t understand the meaning of their dialogue, he understood that the Thousand Year Chilling Ice Pool was something good. As long as it could increase his cultivation, he wouldn’t miss it.

Then Fu Hongling and Elder Waning Moon spoke with him for a bit. They explained that they would come pick him up when the time came, After this, the group left. In the blink of an eye, he was the only person here.

Seeing them leave, Zhao Jiuge could not suppress the excitement in his heart. He carefully observed the grade-8 spirit core inside his body. Now that his spirit core had doubled in size, it rapidly rotated and he began absorbing spirit force much faster than before!

Only now did Zhao Jiuge understand the meaning of the different ranks of spirit cores. The higher rank his spirit core, the faster he absorbed spirit force.

Zhao Jiuge quickly returned to the Thousand Year Chilling Ice Pool and sat down. He ignored the coldness from the pool and began to cultivate.

Strength! Strength! Strength!

At this moment, he muttered this word over and over in his heart. After seeing the rank of his spirit core, he could see a glimpse of his future, and his eyes burned with passion. Who said that those that lacked talent couldn’t compete? Given enough time, he believed he could let everyone know that talent wasn’t everything!

Thinking about this, he couldn’t help but think about the cold and noble woman, that cold gaze that looked at him like he was an ant.

Sitting inside the pool, Zhao Jiuge’s eyes moved and he began to ponder. Then his eyes shined brightly.

“Bo Re, I believe that we will be able to meet soon. I believe by that time, I will be able to shock you greatly!”

After thinking about all this, Zhao Jiuge threw away all distractions and began to peacefully cultivate.

The cave instantly became quiet; only the sound of the waves splashing could be heard from the pool.

While Zhao jiuge was cultivating, he didn’t know that the people that had left were talking about him.

“Elder Dawn Wind, why didn’t you let me ask that child Jiuge more about Carefree Valley? Although Carefree Valley disappeared a long time ago and is not evil like before, its reputation is still not good. It’s much more evil than the current evil sects. I fear.…”

Before Jian Wuxian could finish speaking, Elder Dawn Wind raised his hand to interrupt him.

Elder Dawn Wind revealed a mysterious smile and said, “I know what you are worried about, if Jiuge is someone sent from Carefree Valley. I don’t believe that’s the case, so you don’t have to worry too much. We rarely get such an excellent seed, so let us train him well. During the Battle Competition, our Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect will rise once more. Jiuge and Sha Sha, one in the light and one hidden as the ace.”

Jian Wuxian muttered and carefully observed Elder Dawn Wind’s expression. “Elder Dawn Wind means that the exchange between the old and the new, as well as the competition with the seven holy lands, will be led by Jiuge to pave the way for the Battle Competition?”

“Yes, that’s my intent. I estimate that it might be a bit tricky, but I’ll personally come to arrange it.” Elder Dawn Wind placed his hands behind his back and said with some regret, “Unfortunately, we just lack time. If someone like Zhao Jiuge had appeared just a few years earlier, he would’ve been able to instantly shock everyone.”

On the side, Elder Waning Moon and Fu Hongling were frowning, but they didn’t say anything. Only now did Elder Waning Moon finally say, “I have been getting along with Jiuge for a while, so I understand that child. He won’t be the kind you’re worried about.”

Jian Wuxian and Elder Dawn Wind were both startled and looked at Elder Waning Moon. Jian Wuxian revealed a helpless smile and respectfully said, “Elder Waning Moon, I’m only feeling worried and won’t think too much about it. Now that we have such a good seedling, we will train him well. We have done all we can for him, and now we can only wait.”

Only after hearing this did Elder Waning Moon’s expression behind her shawl became a bit better. As for Elder Pine Tree, he didn’t care about any of this. He didn’t have to worry about these things, so he left all the planning and scheming to Elder Dawn Wind and Elder Waning Moon. He only cared about fighting.

The mountain breeze gently blew by. The wind shook their willow leaves and also their hearts. Only Fu Hongling was calm from the start.

Jian Wuxian looked into the distance and let out a sigh. “It’s about time. We will soon see the disciples of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect line up before the Mysterious Heaven Temple to fight for the glory of the sect. Every time I see those disciples, I can’t help but feel guilty. How many of them will die during the Battle Competition for the sect?”

As soon as he said this, everyone’s expressions changed. Scenes of the past replayed in their minds.

……

Thousand Year Chilling Ice Pool.

Zhao Jiuge sat inside and didn’t come out. As he cultivated, the spirit force inside the pool became thinner and thinner.

During this time, while Zhao Jiuge absorbed the spirit force here, he was also comprehending the third layer of the sword art, Star Moon.

The grade-8 spirit core had also gone through some changes after absorbing the spirit force here. It was no longer as dazzling as when it first formed; there was only a faint halo and some thin fog around it.

Zhao Jiuge hesitated. From the looks of it, he should be ready to make a breakthrough. However, if he was going to reach the mid stage of the Spirit Core Realm, the spirit core should become brighter, yet it was becoming more dim.

However, Zhao Jiuge was too lazy to think about it. He could clearly feel his spirit force increasing, and as long as his strength improved, he didn’t care too much. This grade-8 spirit core was really amazing. With the speed at which it absorbed spirit force, he should be able to catch up to those geniuses soon.

However, his understanding of the sword art and the usage of spells were not as simple as increasing his spirit force.

In his dantian, the four golden dragons were silently coiled up next to his spirit core. The fourth one was the one he had just formed recently. His comprehension of the third layer was going along smoothly and everything seemed to be going in the right direction. The only thing he couldn’t improve was his Sanskrit Divine Body. He lacked the materials to continue its progress.

The days passed rapidly and everything was changing.

1. Author changed from Essence Moon to Star Moon and keeps using Star Moon later on, so officially changing here.