"There aren't, but there are also some ordinary houses of regular height," Xi Yunqing replied.
Chen Xiao asked, "Is the Chongxuan Sect built on a mountain or a plain?"
Xi Yunqing answered, "The sect's territory is vast, encompassing mountains, hills, and forests."
Chen Xiao's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Then isn't it as big as the entire Dai Kingdom?"
Xi Yunqing curved his lips slightly. "Even bigger."
Chen Xiao was secretly shocked. Based on what he had gathered, the Dai Kingdom was about the size of three northeastern provinces from his previous life combined. And yet, a single immortal sect occupied an even larger area! No wonder there were rumors that entire nations were subordinate to immortal sects, it didn't seem far-fetched at all.
As he processed this revelation, a moment of silence settled between them.
Perhaps noticing that Chen Xiao had been the only one asking questions so far, Xi Yunqing unexpectedly took the initiative to say, "Within the Chongxuan Sect, aside from the areas where the disciples live, there are also regions designated for low-level disciples to train, places where fierce beasts and even vicious creatures are kept. Additionally, large tracts of land are allocated for the cultivation of spiritual beasts, spirit plants, and medicinal herbs. The areas where sect members conduct their daily activities make up only a small portion of the territory."
"Oh… I see." Chen Xiao nodded in understanding. So, an immortal sect was essentially like the ancient noble estates of his past life. They occupied vast lands divided into various zones; a hunting ground, orchards, and grain fields. The only difference was that this estate was the size of an entire nation.
For Xi Yunqing, taking the initiative to say this was rare. The two sat facing each other, and Xi Yunqing quietly observed Chen Xiao. The young man before him had shed his youthful immaturity and was transitioning into adulthood. His once-soft facial features were becoming more defined. No matter how much he grew, his sharp features and refined bone structure ensured he would mature into a strikingly handsome young man. If the sect's female disciples saw him, they would undoubtedly flock around him, leaving him with no peace at all.
Xi Yunqing unconsciously compared himself. It seemed he was destined to be less popular than the boy in front of him. After all, when he returned, his sect brothers would surely spread rumors, and his fellow disciples would once again keep their distance from him.
Although Xi Yunqing remained silent, sitting there quietly like a picturesque figure, Chen Xiao found the silence unsettling. He always felt somewhat ill at ease in such moments. So, he spoke again.
"There's something I've been curious about. I'm not sure if I should ask."
Xi Yunqing found this odd. From what he knew, the young man before him was not one to hesitate, he usually spoke his mind without reservations. "Go ahead."
Chen Xiao hesitated briefly before cautiously asking, "Why did you choose to build a hut here, Immortal Immortal Master Xi? It's not far from Hanshan City, and there are plenty of secluded spots there. But this place is desolate, lonely, and inconvenient."
Xi Yunqing's five senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's. Sitting so close, he could clearly detect Chen Xiao's careful expression, no matter how well he tried to conceal it. For a brief moment, Xi Yunqing had the illusion that the young man had seen right through him. But that was impossible.
The truth was, he hadn't planned on staying here. During his journey, he unexpectedly made a breakthrough, advancing to a higher realm. Every time he improved, his uncontrollable abilities would temporarily become unstable, making it difficult to suppress their effects. That was why he had kept returning to the dock while traveling by boat. Eventually, the sect's administrative office noticed their delayed return and sent someone to investigate, allowing Xi Yunqing to freely engage in combat without worrying about secrecy.
He had then chosen this isolated spot to stabilize his cultivation. Once his disruptive abilities settled, he would continue to Hanshan City.
Of course, he couldn't explain all this to Chen Xiao. After a brief pause, he replied, "I had a sudden insight during my journey, so I chose to stay in this valley. Once my breakthrough stabilizes, I will proceed to Hanshan City."
Xi Yunqing's expression remained perfectly composed, and Chen Xiao instantly believed him. It made sense, cultivators placed immense importance on breakthroughs. Even Du Rong, a high-ranking cultivator, had insisted on including a clause in their contract allowing him to dissolve their agreement on the spot if he sensed an imminent breakthrough, with his employer having no right to interfere.
Chen Xiao felt relieved. He had initially worried that Xi Yunqing had been left behind by his group and was feeling down, choosing solitude to be alone with his thoughts. If that were the case, his and Du Rong's arrival would have disturbed his peace.
But that wasn't the case at all. As expected, Immortal Immortal Master Xi wasn't so fragile—he had been overthinking it. With a grin, Chen Xiao said, "Then let me congratulate you, Immortal Immortal Master Xi." He then curiously asked, "Has your realm stabilized yet?"
Xi Yunqing pressed his lips together slightly before answering in a low voice, "Not yet." While it was better than before, based on his past experience, he still needed more time to fully regain control.
Truthfully, given his current state, where his uncontrollable abilities brought misfortune to those around him, he shouldn't have allowed Chen Xiao and Du Rong to stay the night.
However, they had already met by the stream, and they had recognized each other. He couldn't justify driving them away for no reason, especially when night had already fallen. The path out of the valley was treacherous, and even Du Rong might not make it through safely, let alone Chen Xiao. If they got into trouble in the darkness, while it wouldn't be directly his fault, he would still feel responsible.
It was better to let them rest for the night and leave in the morning. At worst, he could secretly watch over them until they reached a safe area.
Besides, this region held no significant resources, so very few cultivators roamed here. There weren't any fearsome beasts, either, at most, some wild animals. Given Du Rong's skills, he could handle them. As long as they safely passed through the dangerous stretch of the valley, there would be nothing to worry about.
Xi Yunqing's voice was deep, making Chen Xiao suddenly feel that his mood might not be as indifferent as he appeared. Just as Chen Xiao was puzzled over this, Xi Yunqing stood up and said, "You two should rest early. I'll take my leave."
Before Chen Xiao could get up, Xi Yunqing had already walked out. Twisting his body to glance back, he saw Du Rong waiting in the room they were using as a temporary living area. He wasn't sure how long Du Rong had been standing there, perhaps he had refrained from entering because he saw the two of them talking.
Curious, Chen Xiao asked, "Uncle Rong, when did you return?" He had thought Du Rong would be meditating for a long time. Whenever he cultivated, it usually took two to three hours before he finished.
Du Rong stepped inside and said in a low voice, "Just now, not long ago. Master, you should rest. We have to wake up early tomorrow."
Although he was curious about what his employer and Immortal Immortal Master Xi had been discussing, with only two walls separating him from Xi Yunqing, Du Rong didn't dare eavesdrop.
He opened his bundle and took out two blankets, one folded and laid on the floor as bedding, and the other handed to Chen Xiao for warmth. Cultivators were strong and resilient, typically wearing light clothing even in winter. When traveling, they carried only a single blanket to drape over themselves at night.
But that wouldn't work for Chen Xiao. He was particularly sensitive to the cold, so Du Rong had prepared two blankets for him, one to insulate him from the ground and the other to cover him.
As for himself, Du Rong simply covered himself with a spare garment and didn't feel cold at all.
No matter how large a travel pack was, there was a limit to how much it could hold. Carrying an extra blanket meant sacrificing space for food, which would shorten the duration of their journey. From Du Rong's experience, the space taken up by one blanket was enough to store five days' worth of rations for two people. Without those extra supplies, they would be forced to turn back sooner when venturing into the deep mountains. The time and effort spent on the journey far outweighed the value of a single blanket.
That was how Du Rong had convinced Chen Xiao in the first place. After all, he was a cultivator, and the weather was warming up. A single spare set of clothing was enough for him to last through the night. They were both grown men, if his clothes got dirty, then so be it. Would Chen Xiao really scold him just because he didn't have a change of clothes? Of course not.
Chen Xiao had agreed to Du Rong's arrangement, though he still felt guilty about it. Deep down, he thought of himself as useless. Back when they first set out into the mountains, he hadn't yet trained his body. He couldn't even help carry a smaller pack, which meant they could only bring the bare minimum of supplies.
"Uncle Rong, there's no need to lay the blanket tonight. Use it to cover yourself instead." Chen Xiao handed the folded blanket back to Du Rong. "The floor in this meditation room is already covered, just sleep as it is."
Du Rong thought about it and agreed. Honestly, with a proper roof over their heads and no wind blowing through, he didn't even need an extra layer. However, since his employer was offering out of goodwill, he accepted it.
If Chen Xiao knew how indifferent this rough man was toward comfort, he would have found it both amusing and exasperating. Since they finally had proper shelter and Immortal Immortal Master Xi was next door, there was no need for Du Rong to keep watch. He took off his outer robe, wrapped himself in the blanket, and settled in for a proper night's sleep. It was far better than resting in just his clothes.
As expected, the next morning, Du Rong woke up feeling completely refreshed. His energy was at its peak, and he even went down to the stream to catch some fish. By the time Chen Xiao got up and finished washing, Du Rong had already roasted the fish to perfection.
As he ate, Chen Xiao asked, "How much dry food do we have left?"
Without hesitation, Du Rong replied, "Enough to last another twenty days."
Chen Xiao nodded thoughtfully. Swallowing his food, he said, "We'll travel a few more days, then head back."
They had already been out for a month. So far, they hadn't found any traces of a dragon vein, nor had they reached the highest peak of the mountain range. But Chen Xiao wasn't discouraged, finding a dragon vein was never an easy task. There was no guarantee that it would be in the direction they had chosen. It might be somewhere else entirely, or perhaps this mountain range didn't even contain a geomantic treasure at all. Only by exploring every inch of land underfoot could he be certain.
Du Rong said, "Master, actually, our rations could last even longer if we're willing to endure harsher conditions."
Chen Xiao's eyes lit up. "Hardships don't matter! Uncle Rong, if you have a plan, just tell me."
Du Rong explained, "With the weather warming up, edible wild greens will soon be abundant. Plus, hibernating animals are starting to emerge, making it easier to hunt. If we supplement our food with wild greens and increase our intake of meat, the remaining rations could last us another two months."
There was another option Du Rong didn't mention, if he gave all the dry rations to Chen Xiao and survived solely on wild greens and meat himself, he could stretch their supplies for three months. If he were traveling alone, he wouldn't even need dry rations; he could survive in the mountains until winter arrived. But knowing his employer, Chen Xiao would never agree to such a plan, so Du Rong didn't even bring it up.
Chen Xiao was no stranger to wild greens. Though his childhood memories were vague, after moving in with his master, Fang Gu had a habit of eating fresh Chinese toon, purslane, and dandelion every spring, claiming it was to "remember the hardships of the past." Chen Xiao had followed this tradition every year, so he had no aversion to eating wild greens.
"Alright, let's do that," he agreed.
After breakfast, the two bid farewell to Xi Yunqing and set off toward the canyon's exit. Since they had confirmed that the aura here wasn't from a dragon vein but rather from Immortal Immortal Master Xi himself, they had no choice but to spend another two days retracing their original path.
By the time they navigated the treacherously narrow rock paths and made it across, half a day had already passed. Without stopping to rest, they ate their meal and pressed on, climbing over another mountain.
Then, just as evening fell—
A massive creature, carrying the stench of blood, suddenly emerged from the ridge ahead!