Chapter 60: “The Peerless Fairy—Lu Xue’er”
Xiao Yu observed the elegant woman before him, noting her dignified deanor and an aura of righteousness. Her composure and refined charm suggested a maturity born of experience, and though she appeared to be in her thirties, Xiao Yu knew better than to trust appearances. Cultivators, sustained by the essence of heaven and earth, often defied the ravages of ti.
With a courteous tone, he replied, “I am Xiao Yu, a disciple of Tianyong City. May I know who you are?”
The woman softened her expression upon hearing his introduction, her gaze kindling with recognition. “So, you’re from Tianyong City,” she remarked with a gentle smile. “I am Han Xiuning, the High Priestess of Wung Spirit Valley. My people call Lady Xiuning. I ca here because of the celestial anomaly earlier. Did you notice anything unusual?”
[Han Xiuning (韩休宁) can be interpreted as: “A tranquil and refined individual from the Han lineage.”]
Han Xiuning!
Xiao Yu’s eyes narrowed as he studied her again. It clicked. This was Han Xiuning, the mother of Baili Tusu. Her extraordinary beauty—dignified yet exuding a mature allure—was unmistakable. Few won could rival her graceful charm.
Xiao Yu’s heart skipped as he realized the celestial phenonon she ntioned was likely caused by his recent acquisition of the Huangmie Sword, its dazzling radiance having pierced the skies. Keeping a calm deanor, he answered, “I happened to pass by when the phenonon occurred. It seed to originate in the east. Perhaps Lady Xiuning might wish to investigate there.”
“Thank you for the direction.” Han Xiuning nodded graciously. “By the way, what brings a disciple of Tianyong City to Wung Spirit Valley? Surely you’re not here by coincidence.”
Xiao Yu decided there was no harm in revealing his purpose, “I am here to gather herbs for a personal endeavor.”
Upon hearing this, Han Xiuning’s lips curled into a graceful smile, “So, you’re here to collect herbs.” She added kindly, “As a disciple of Tianyong City, you are welco to gather any herbs you find in the outer valley. However, the inner valley, which houses the Fenshen Sword , is off limits. I’m sure you will understand.”
“Of course. Thank you for your generosity, Lady Xiuning.” Xiao Yu cupped his hands politely.
Her words also carried a reassurance—there was no indication that the seal on the Fenshen Sword had weakened. Xiao Yu deduced that Han Yunxi , the eventual wielder of the Fenshen sword, was likely still a carefree youth, untouched by its malevolent influence.
[Han Yunxi (韩云溪): The youthful na of Baili Tusu, destined to wield the Fenshen Sword in the future.]
“If you’ll excuse .”
With that, Han Xiuning turned and ascended into the air, flying eastward in pursuit of the celestial anomaly.
Xiao Yu’s gaze lingered briefly on her graceful silhouette before he shook his head with a wry smile. Mounting his flying sword, he glided low to the ground, releasing his spiritual senses to scan the area for herbs.
Beneath his spiritual senses, the surrounding forest revealed its every secret. Every blade of grass, every tree, and every stone beca part of Xiao Yu’s perceptive domain.
As a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, Xiao Yu’s spiritual senses extended across a radius of ten li . While not as expansive as the consciousness of Nascent Soul cultivators, it was more than sufficient for his purpose.
His goal was to refine the wolf demon’s inner core. To do so, he needed eigh of rare herbs. By midday, he had collected all of them, thanks to the valley’s abundant resources.
“Sky Spirit Ganoderma!”
Hovering above a cliffside, Xiao Yu’s eyes lit up as he spotted a rare dicinal herb nestled among the rocks. The Sky Spirit Ganoderma was one of the two herbs he still lacked.
“Not bad!” he muttered, his spirits lifting. “Now, all that’s left is the Dragon Rock Fruit.”
The Dragon Rock Fruit, as described in the Burning Heaven Manual, thrived in dark, damp caves, often guarded by serpent-like demon beasts. Such creatures prized the fruit for its ability to enhance cultivation, jealously protecting it until it ripened enough to be devoured.
Xiao Yu ascended into the sky, performing Tianyong City’s Spirit Eye Technique. Hovering above the dense forest, his gaze swept across the landscape, seeking the telltale signs of a serpent’s lair.
He identified twelve potential locations and ticulously checked each one. Unfortunately, his efforts yielded no results.
“Looks like I’ll have to search the outermost parts of the valley,” he mused.
Releasing a sigh, Xiao Yu mounted his Pure Yang Sword and shot off in a streak of golden light, heading toward the valley’s edge.
A mont later, Xiao Yu paused his flight, hovering above a snow-capped peak. The towering mountain lood majestically, its summit shrouded in eternal frost.
“Roaaar!”
A thunderous roar broke the silence.
“Foul human woman, leave my territory at once!”
A massive silver serpent hovered midair, its scales gleaming like molten silver. Its forked tongue flickered nacingly as it glared at a lone figure standing defiantly before it.
The figure was a woman, clad in pristine white robes. A blue sword rested on her back, radiating a celestial glow. She stood unyielding against the beast, her snow-white garnts fluttering gracefully in the wind.
“Such elegance!” Xiao Yu murmured, captivated by the sight.
A gust of wind swept through, lifting the woman’s flowing hair. Her delicate profile ca into view—a face of peerless beauty, pale as moonlight, with features so exquisite they seed otherworldly.
“It’s Lu Xue’er!” Xiao Yu gasped.
This was Lu Xue’er, the prodigy of the Bamboo Peak in the Zhu Xian Sect. Renowned for her unparalleled swordsmanship and ethereal grace, she was a celestial being among mortals.
On her back rested the legendary Tianya Divine Sword, a weapon of imnse power capable of cleaving through all obstacles.
[Tianya Divine Sword (天涯神剑) can be interpreted as, “The Divine Sword of the Horizon” or “The Celestial Sword of Boundless Reach.”]
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