The Difficult Path Part 1

The wind howls before the coming mountain rain.

Perhaps as an omen of impending calamity, miraculous events filled the entire cultivation world during this millennium.

Twelve golden lotus flowers bloomed simultaneously in the Kuchan Valley. The White Moon Pavilion discovered a new spiritual vein. The Chengkong Temple once again witnessed the reincarnation of a spiritual child prodigy. And a disciple from the Lingxu Sect took the first place token in the Xuanwu Conference.

Subsequently, the cultivation world saw the emergence of even more exceptional talents, reaching the pinnacle of martial prowess.

After a hundred years, Bai Lingxiao also emerged from seclusion.

Through a hundred years of cultivation and with the aid of Zhang Jingmo's Molten Fire Pill, he finally broke through, advancing from early Nascent Soul stage to the middle stage, just a step away from ascending to the immortal realm.

His emergence caused quite a stir, but the Lingxu Sect disciples seemed accustomed to all kinds of strange phenomena and didn't kick up too much of a fuss.

Bai Lingxiao's emergence meant the internal power structure of the Lingxu Sect would be reshuffled again.

The Gong family, who originally wanted to make trouble for Zhang Jingmo, had to temporarily give up their plans to deal with him due to Bai Lingxiao's emergence, putting on a facade of harmony and friendliness.

Zhang Jingmo had been waiting outside the entire time Bai Lingxiao was in seclusion.

The stone door slowly rose and Bai Lingxiao calmly walked out.

With one glance, Zhang Jingmo could see that Bai Lingxiao's aura was very different from a hundred years ago.

If the Bai Lingxiao from a hundred years ago was a sharp sword out of its sheath, then the current Bai Lingxiao had already been resheathed. The sharpness between his brows had lessened, replaced by a gentleness.

Bai Lingxiao greeted Zhang Jingmo, calling him "Qingyuan".

Zhang Jingmo said, "Congratulations Senior Brother on your breakthrough."

Bai Lingxiao looked Zhang Jingmo up and down, seeming a bit puzzled. "Why has your cultivation regressed after not seeing you for a hundred years?"

Zhang Jingmo's expression didn't change as he softly said, "It's a long story."

Bai Lingxiao coldly said, "Then tell it slowly. I want to see who dares to bully my junior brother."

With that, the two of them went to Zhang Jingmo's cave abode.

Bai Lingxiao's emergence was a major event for the Lingxu Sect. After his breakthrough, his cultivation placed him in the top three of the entire sect. From now on, as long as he was present, no one would dare bully Zhang Jingmo again.

Zhang Jingmo was also enjoying the protection of a powerful backer. He recounted in detail to Bai Lingxiao everything that had happened in the past hundred years.

Upon hearing what Tianlu from Kuchan Valley had done to Zhang Jingmo, Bai Lingxiao's face darkened. He said, "This Tianlu is taking advantage of the Lingxu Sect having no one around!"

Zhang Jingmo said, "Senior Brother, no need to get angry. The revenge that needed to be taken, I've already taken it."

Bai Lingxiao sneered, "You call this taking revenge? Let me tell you, alchemy is ultimately a side path. Only cultivation is the true way."

Zhang Jingmo knew that although Bai Lingxiao's words were harsh, they were for his own good. However, no one understood the trade-offs involved more clearly than Zhang Jingmo himself. So he just smiled and didn't take Bai Lingxiao's words to heart.

Next, Zhang Jingmo picked out the important parts and told Bai Lingxiao about the other matters.

As the two were conversing, Lu Guijiu arrived from afar, carrying someone on his back.

In truth, there were few ugly cultivators in the Lingxu Sect. Even the servant boys in Zhang Jingmo's residence could be considered elegant and refined.

Naturally, Bai Lingxiao was also quite handsome. Compared to Zhang Jingmo's cold and aloof bearing, his features were chiseled and his sword-like brows gave him an oppressive air when he wasn't speaking. Sitting beside Zhang Jingmo in his dark robes, the two of them seemed quite compatible.

This shouldn't have been anything unusual, but in Lu Guijiu's eyes, this scene was a bit jarring. To him, anyone sitting beside Zhang Jingmo looked jarring.

Bai Lingxiao also took note of Lu Guijiu. He said, "This boy really formed a ninth-grade spiritual foundation?"

Zhang Jingmo smiled and nodded.

Bai Lingxiao sighed, "Back then, I asked him if he was willing to become my disciple. Alas..."

Zhang Jingmo grinned. "Senior Brother, this disciple of mine, you can't steal him away."

Bai Lingxiao said, "Not necessarily. With a master like you making so little progress, and with that disciple's talent, I believe he'll definitely form his Golden Core within five hundred years."

Bai Lingxiao indeed had a discerning eye, seeing Lu Guijiu's extraordinary talent. However, even he didn't imagine that Lu Guijiu would only take three hundred years to form his Golden Core. In five hundred years, he might even refine his Nascent Soul.

Lu Guijiu didn't know what Zhang Jingmo and Bai Lingxiao were discussing, only feeling that Zhang Jingmo's gaze towards him was growing increasingly gentle. He set the person he was carrying on his back onto the ground and said, "Master, I brought the person."

Bai Lingxiao looked at the ground and saw a thin, weak youth who looked only twelve or thirteen years old, his face still full of childishness.

Bai Lingxiao said, "What's going on here?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "Senior Brother, since you've emerged from seclusion, as your junior brother, I naturally have to give you some gifts."

Bai Lingxiao said, "Just this boy?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "Haven't you always been looking for a disciple? I've brought one back for you." After saying this, he removed the talisman on the youth's head.

A moment after the talisman was removed, the youth opened his eyes. He was a bit dazed at first, but upon seeing the people before him, he directly kneeled down and called out "Master", though it was unclear if he was addressing Zhang Jingmo or Bai Lingxiao.

Seeing this, Bai Lingxiao didn't respond, but reached out and pinched the youth all over.

The youth turned a bit red from Bai Lingxiao's pinches but didn't dodge, his eyes instead revealing eagerness and hope.

After the pinching, Bai Lingxiao said, "His bones are quite good."

Zhang Jingmo inwardly laughed. Back then, anyone he took a liking to naturally had good bones.

Bai Lingxiao then said, "But I don't know about his temperament."

The youth loudly said, "As long as Master is willing to teach me, I can endure any hardship!"

Bai Lingxiao didn't reply, only indifferently saying, "Since this is a gift from my junior brother, even if I'm not satisfied, I still have to accept it to not be rude."

Zhang Jingmo smiled, "If Senior Brother is truly unsatisfied, I naturally won't force the matter."

These words were indeed true.

Bai Lingxiao looked at the youth for a long time before slowly saying, "I won't accept you as my disciple."

The youth revealed a look of despair upon hearing this.

Bai Lingxiao then said, "Follow me for a period of time first. If you can endure it, I'll then accept you as my disciple." After despair, hope was regained. The young man instantly showed a look of ecstasy, repeatedly calling out "Master".

Bai Lingxiao didn't pay attention to the young man. He calmly said to Zhang Jingmo, "You don't need to worry about the affairs of the Gong family. Since I've come out, I won't let them touch a single hair of yours."

Zhang Jingmo naturally believed Bai Lingxiao's words. He wasn't sure if it was his misconception, but he felt that Bai Lingxiao seemed to have more of a human touch this time after coming out of seclusion, no longer solely focused on sword practice with a completely cold demeanor like before.

Such a Bai Lingxiao taking in a disciple wasn't bad either.

After saying these things, Bai Lingxiao returned to his cave abode.

After Bai Lingxiao left, Zhang Jingmo shifted his gaze to Lu Guijiu.

Unknowingly, in a hundred years, the little child who originally didn't even reach his knees had grown taller than him. Now standing in front of him, his eyes looked at him gently, filled with deep feelings of attachment.

Somehow, Zhang Jingmo suddenly felt a bit hesitant about what he was going to do next. People all have emotions. Even with a dog, one feels heartache after raising it for a long time, let alone a person who could smile when happy and cry when sad.

He remembered Lu Guijiu was a crybaby when he was little, but now that he had grown up, he no longer shed tears.

Zhang Jingmo had always lived a cold and lonely life. He didn't have anyone or anything he particularly cared about. Everything he did in this life was just to escape from this reincarnation and be reborn.

But now, the opportunity was placed in front of him, yet he actually felt a bit hesitant.

Lu Guijiu didn't know what Zhang Jingmo was thinking. He only needed to look at Zhang Jingmo and his heart would soften. Just as he was thinking about this, he heard Zhang Jingmo softly call out, "Guijiu.".

Lu Guijiu responded with a "Yes".

Zhang Jingmo seemed to have something to say but stopped. His hand gently rubbed the cold stone table surface, as if making a difficult decision.

Lu Guijiu didn't disturb him. Just like what Lu Shu said, he believed in Zhang Jingmo. As long as it was something Zhang Jingmo wanted him to do, he would do it.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Guijiu, your master needs to go out for a trip."

Lu Guijiu pursed his lips and said he knew.

Zhang Jingmo then said, "I don't know how long it will take." When he said this, there was a hint of weariness and helplessness between his brows.