Chapter Sixty-Six: The Three Sects Seek the Stone

“Cultivating?”
Xu Xing pondered—if the Sage of Medicine truly was in seclusion, where should he go to seek him?
The figure he was searching for, already shrouded in uncertainty, now seemed even more elusive. The mistake he made in the past must now be rectified; it was a debt he owed.
If he hadn’t offered the decaying wood to Ziyan for sustenance, none of these complications would have arisen. Yet, it was strange—why hadn’t Kong Mo come looking for him?
Kong Mo had not told Xu Xing how to find the Sage of Medicine. Wandering blindly in search would be no different than searching for a needle in the vast sea.
“Hey, kid, why do you always drift off like that?” Zhou Cangsheng patted Xu Xing and asked.
“Huh? No, I was just thinking—there are many things I haven’t yet processed, so I’m still pondering,” Xu Xing replied quietly, lowering his head.
At that moment, Zhou Cangsheng turned away, his back to Xu Xing, and produced a stone from his pouch, handing it to him.
“My master foresaw that you would come seeking him, so he left this behind. Though honestly, I don’t quite know what use it has.”
As he spoke, Zhou Cangsheng handed Xu Xing a stone, its surface polished smooth, clearly shaped by the Sage of Medicine himself.
The stone felt familiar. Xu Xing channeled his spiritual energy into it, hoping to awaken some hidden memory.
Emerald energy poured in, turning the stone green; then crimson, then azure… in one breath, he infused it with six different colors.
With each surge of spiritual energy, the stone changed rapidly, and Zhou Cangsheng, watching nearby, shuddered in astonishment:
“Damn, kid, just how many spiritual roots do you have?”
“Uh… the five elemental roots, plus the chaos root. As far as I know, that’s all,” Xu Xing answered calmly.
“Hell, comparing people only brings misery. I thought my three roots were extraordinary—now it seems they’re nothing… I shouldn’t compare.”
“What’s the big deal?” Xu Xing asked, puzzled.
“Your clan truly deserves its reputation as seekers of the Dao—born for the pursuit. I envy you,” Zhou Cangsheng sighed, admiration bright in his eyes.
Xu Xing did not reply; he knew that responding might only provoke jealousy or resentment. It was best to remain humble.

The two fell silent, watching lotus flowers swirl around Ziyan. They couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of these things crafted by Heaven.
When Ziyan’s cheeks grew rosy and her condition stabilized, Zhou Cangsheng regarded Xu Xing with appreciation and said softly,
“Nine Swordsmen, the Qingyang Swordsman, and hundreds of experts in the city all fell by your hand. You’ve made quite a name for yourself.”
Xu Xing was puzzled—how did Zhou Cangsheng know? The inn was far from the site of the battle, and he had sensed nothing of Zhou’s presence before returning, nor was Zhou’s clothing dampened by the rain.
“How did you find out?” Xu Xing asked.
“To be honest, I’m something of an expert myself. Few in the city can match me; I’ve already stepped into the Nascent Soul realm. My sense for space is above yours, so it’s only natural,” Zhou Cangsheng replied smugly, occasionally rubbing his head.
What!
Zhou Cangsheng was in the Nascent Soul realm? That explained everything.
“And you, kid, show no mercy to the fairer sex. Do you remember our first meeting?” Zhou Cangsheng laughed.
Xu Xing recalled yesterday—he had unleashed the sword formation, causing quite a stir. Yet it wasn’t his doing; Zhou Cangsheng still bore a grudge.
“But it doesn’t matter. You’ve reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so it’s irrelevant. Your first priority now is to find the paired item for the stone in your hand,” Zhou Cangsheng said, glancing sideways.
“Huh? Paired item? So the stone isn’t standalone? There’s another that matches it?” Xu Xing asked, confused.
“Of course. Otherwise, why would I give it to you? Now it’s up to you. By coincidence, you must head to the North Sea Sect—the matching item for the stone is there as well.”
Xu Xing didn’t know how to respond. If he went, what would become of Ziyan?
Sensing his concern, Zhou Cangsheng said, “Don’t worry. I’m here, after all. But you must return every half month to offer your blood and stabilize Ziyan.”
That was true; Xu Xing remembered Kong Mo had told him the same. But could he entrust Ziyan to Zhou Cangsheng? Ziyan was the one he cared for most.
How could he leave her here alone?
“Relax, it won’t be me tending to her. My junior apprentice-sister will take care of everything. She helps me run the inn; she’s probably already asleep,” Zhou Cangsheng smiled knowingly. Men understood men’s worries.

He thought back—when he first entered the inn, there had indeed been a much younger girl: skin radiant and fair, her hair tied in two buns.
“Ah… now isn’t the time for hesitation. You must look farther ahead. If you only see the surface, how can you go far? I know your worries, but rest assured—with me here, she is safe.”
Zhou Cangsheng patted his chest in assurance.
There seemed to be no better choice. If Xu Xing stayed by Ziyan’s side day after day, he’d never find the Sage of Medicine. Only by seeking the paired item for the stone would he have a chance to find the Sage—and thus save Ziyan.
“Very well. Tomorrow is the recruitment ceremony for the three great sects—I’ll set out early.”
After a long conversation, Xu Xing slowly walked toward the cellar exit, Zhou Cangsheng beside him, while Ziyan remained sealed below.
This Eight Trigrams formation was, in essence, a sealing array—capable of suppressing evil entities. By placing Ziyan within, they could seal the other presence inside her.
But it was not a permanent solution. After all, Zhou Cangsheng had not fully mastered the Sage’s techniques and was unfamiliar with the array.
Finally, Zhou handed Xu Xing a token—the recruitment token for the three great sects. Only those bearing it could enter.

Returning to his room, Xu Xing spent a sleepless night, losing track of time. As dawn broke, sunlight flooded the streets and alleys, and the hawker’s cries drifted through the window, reminding him it was morning.
Looking outside, wisps of white smoke clung to the new lanterns. Lanterns in daylight bore white smoke; at night, they glowed softly—a beautiful sight.
His sword vibrated; Xu Xing could feel it. The Dragon Scale Sword trembled, while the short sword at his waist seemed to be in slumber.
“Let’s go. Let me ascend to greater heights.”
Xu Xing soared out the window, riding his sword toward the fortress-like place he’d visited yesterday.
As he departed, Zhou Cangsheng shouted,
“Hey, kid, don’t speed! Sword-flying in Lantern City has a speed limit. Flying that fast, are you in a hurry to be reborn?”