Abbess Leng nodded and said: “You sisters are all outstanding inner disciples of our Incense Spreading Sect. Although this is the first time you have taken on such an important responsibility, and you have rarely ventured into the martial world before, your martial abilities are something your Martial Aunt knows well. Across the entire jianghu, aside from those sect masters and elders who founded sects and established schools, few can compare to you.”

“As for the three sent by the Heavenly Dragon Sect, they must also be secretly cultivated elite disciples. With just the four of you, it could be said that even the head of a mid-tier sect in the martial world might not necessarily be your match. How could one or two ordinary individuals dare to scheme against you? It must have been elite disciples of some sect—accustomed to coordinated cooperation—who also obtained Heavenly Dragon Sect’s ambush plan in advance. Only then could they calculate everything beforehand.”

“And furthermore…” She paused for a moment before continuing, “The art of formations began to gradually vanish ten thousand years ago. Although our Incense Spreading Sect was uniquely blessed and preserved a portion of blessed land and a hidden paradise, all inheritance regarding formations has been sealed away and cannot be used. Only the most basic material is retained for disciples to reference. Therefore, you have only heard of formations but never truly understood them. If even our sect is like this, then the other sects in the martial world are in an even worse state—formations have long since become legend.”

“In ancient times, formations were frequently used. Now they appear only occasionally, which shows how difficult they are to deploy. Several years ago, the Heaven’s Way Alliance somehow obtained the Flag Gate Three Talents Formation. They had to rely on three triplets known as the Auspicious Three Treasures—whose internal energies were both profound and nearly identical—in order to cast it together. That Three Talents Formation was merely a basic array, yet it was already so difficult to execute.”

“If what Kong Que encountered truly was a formation, then even if it were only this Three Talents Formation, it would require at least three people to set it up. Otherwise, it would have ended like the Auspicious Three Treasures, whose formation was forcibly broken by Qin Shiyue, and who ultimately died beneath his sword.”

Kong Que frowned and said: “But this disciple was also inside the array at the time. Why did I not feel as though I had fallen into a formation? And in the end, didn’t the three from the Heavenly Dragon Sect also seem to forcibly break the formation?”

Abbess Qingleng smiled and said: “I only took a casual look earlier and do not truly understand formations. Everything I have said is merely conjecture. If you are interested, then after twenty years—when your cultivation has grown deeper—you may apply at the Elder Pavilion to study and comprehend the Dao of formations.”

“Twenty years?” The female disciples all cried out in astonishment.

“How is it? Has a mere twenty years already begun to feel long to you?” Abbess Qingleng said with a faint smile. “The Immortal Dao stretches vast and endless. Twenty years are but the flick of a finger. Although you are now cultivating the Martial Dao, all of it is the result of ten thousand years of modifications passed down within the Incense Spreading Sect, and it is inextricably linked to the Immortal Dao. Surely you are aware of this.”

“Several years ago, the conditions of Heaven and Earth began to change gradually. If nothing unexpected occurs, the Immortal Dao will slowly flourish once more. In a few decades’ time, perhaps you may even brush against its threshold. If that happens, the Immortal Dao would no longer be beyond hope.”

Chen Chen’s face was filled with longing. “Martial Aunt, Master already told us this seven or eight years ago. But so much time has passed, and the world still looks the same. Perhaps even twenty years from now, it will still be like this.”

Xia Qing also asked softly: “Martial Aunt, is what Master said really true? Will we truly be able to fly in the sky one day—just like in the stories?”

Abbess Qingleng smiled. “And where do you think those stories came from? If no one had ever seen such things, who could imagine something so wondrous out of thin air? Even now, the lightness techniques of our Incense Spreading Sect are already extraordinarily marvelous, yet they are merely derived from the long-lost Wind-Riding Art. Just think about it—how powerful must that lost art have been? To ride the wind, to soar across the nine heavens—that is no idle boast.”

She then turned to Chen Chen and spoke earnestly. “In cultivation, the greatest taboo is impatience. Advancing step by step is the proper path. What of seven years? What of twenty? Even fifty years—so long as you step onto the Immortal Dao, time will no longer leave traces upon your face.”

“Cultivating the Immortal Dao can preserve eternal youth?” Kong Que cried out in surprise. “Master never mentioned that before! Please tell us more, Martial Aunt!”

Abbess Qingleng looked slightly embarrassed. “Well… your Martial Aunt merely happened upon such things in the sect’s ancient texts. They cannot be taken entirely as truth. It is said that cultivating the Immortal Dao can extend one’s lifespan—living two or three hundred years would not be a problem. As for eternal youth…Hehe, just look at your Master, at me, and at many of the elders. Though we are advanced in age, do we not appear much younger than ordinary people?”

Chen Chen pouted. “But that is still old! If we could remain exactly as we are now forever, that would truly be eternal youth.”

“Hehe, what we cultivate now is the Martial Dao. Its effects in prolonging life are already greatly diminished. Who knows what the Immortal Dao might truly achieve? Moreover, the legends speak of many immortal pills. Some, once taken, can preserve everlasting beauty; others grant a lifespan as long as Heaven itself, with one’s appearance remaining exactly as it was in youth.”

Kong Que’s heart stirred. Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua’s face surfaced in her mind. But she quickly smiled to herself—how could that possibly be?

The other female disciples nearby were filled with both envy and disappointment. Chen Chen said: “Forget it. Our Pill Expansion Hall surely doesn’t have such medicines. Otherwise, Hall Master Zishen wouldn’t look the way she does.”

The few of them all pressed their lips together and laughed. Kong Que said: “Martial Aunt, Master has never spoken of these things before. Why are you suddenly so interested in telling us so much today?”

Abbess Qingleng replied: “In these seven or eight years, it has not been entirely as Chen Chen says—unchanged from before. Setting aside the fact that the passage has grown more stable, even several of the sect’s forbidden grounds are showing signs of recovery. The medicinal herbs in the Pill Expansion Hall are also growing well. And as for formations—have they not begun to reappear in the martial world?”

“All of this indicates that the revival of the Immortal Dao is imminent. If we do not begin preparing early, we may very well be left behind by Dalin Temple or the Heavenly Dragon Sect. The struggles of the Immortal Dao are nothing like those of the Martial Dao. Those are divine abilities capable of moving mountains and overturning seas. If they are the first to nurture true immortal disciples, then our Incense Spreading Sect will be in grave danger.”

“For this reason, the Elder Pavilion has decided to gradually explain matters concerning the Immortal Dao to outstanding inner disciples such as yourselves. I am merely opening the discussion today. Once you return to the sect, you will learn much more.”

Kong Que and the others rose and bowed. “Many thanks, Martial Aunt, for your instruction.”

Abbess Qingleng nodded and added: “However, these matters are all secrets of the Incense Spreading Sect. You may understand them in your hearts, but you must not speak of them openly—nor privately tell others.”

The female disciples all nodded in agreement.

Abbess Qingleng was merely overseeing matters by Dianchi Lake and did not concern herself with the completion of their external missions. Kong Que’s perilous encounter was something she had not seen in many years, so she had questioned it carefully. As for the others, she only asked a few casual questions before letting the matter drop.

Finally, Abbess Qingleng smiled and said: “You should each return to your respective caravans and see to them. Although the disciples of the Qiankun Hall are responsible for miscellaneous affairs, until you reach the sect, the mission cannot be considered complete. The caravans are still your responsibility.”

Kong Que and the others took their leave and returned to their respective camps.

By the time the caravan from Spring Rebirth Valley reached Dianchi Lake, everyone had arrived. The shores of the lake were now crowded with people. Kong Que’s assignment had been Mochou City, the most important mission among all the disciples this time. Therefore, her caravan was arranged closest to Abbess Qingleng’s tent, and Spring Rebirth Valley benefited as well, not having to camp far away.

While Kong Que had been absent, Steward Yang had handled all miscellaneous matters. After discussing arrangements with Deacon Lu of the Qiankun Hall, he organized the setting up of tents and other necessities. Once everything was in order, he was about to head elsewhere when Zhang Xiaohua pulled him aside.

With a puzzled expression, Zhang Xiaohua asked: “Steward Yang, I have a question. I’m not sure whether it is appropriate to ask.”

Steward Yang was in an excellent mood. His final mission had been successfully completed, and Zhang Xiaohua would, in the future, be someone under his care. Smiling, he said, “What is it? Go ahead.”

Zhang Xiaohua pointed toward several young boys in the distance and asked: “Steward Yang, that caravan over there also seems to have more than a dozen medicine boys. Are they from our Pill Expansion Hall as well?”

Steward Yang laughed. “Of course. Our Pill Expansion Hall requires many medicine boys—some to plant medicinal herbs, some to refine pills, and some to prepare medicinal salves. If every two years we only selected ten from your Spring Rebirth Valley, how could that possibly be enough? You specialize in cultivating herbs; they may be responsible for preparing injury medicines. As for which sect they came from, I cannot tell you.”

He seemed to be in particularly high spirits, answering one question with three replies. Pointing toward a few tents slightly farther away, he continued: “Those belong to the Weapon Refining Hall. Just like our Pill Expansion Hall, they also go out into the martial world to seek out young apprentices. The ones they recruit specialize in crafting weapons.”

Zhang Xiaohua suddenly understood and smiled. “So that means most of the children around here were brought back by the various halls of the Incense Spreading Sect during their searches.”

Steward Yang nodded. “More or less. There are also some with exceptional aptitude who are admitted directly into the Incense Spreading Sect. Others are here for different errands in the martial world. In short, all the tasks left undone over the past two years must be completed within these few months.”

“Two years?” Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback. But Steward Yang did not respond directly. He merely said: “There’s no need to ask too much about that. You’ll naturally understand in the future.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded and then asked: “So this is the Incense Spreading Sect?” Steward Yang gave a mysterious smile. “Hardly. This is not the Incense Spreading Sect at all. Just wait. By tomorrow night, you will know.”

“Unbelievable—we’ve already arrived here, and they’re still keeping secrets?” Zhang Xiaohua grumbled inwardly. “Even if you don’t tell me, do you think I can’t find out myself? Hehe.”

However, even when Zhang Xiaohua extended his divine sense, he still could not discover anything unusual within the surrounding mountains or the jewel-like waters of Dianchi Lake. Everything appeared entirely ordinary.

The final night by Dianchi Lake passed uneventfully. But at sunrise, as the eastern sky brightened, Kong Que emerged from her tent after circulating her qi to heal her injuries. Her complexion was rosy, her spirits greatly improved, and a trace of joy could be seen between her brows. She hurried off excitedly to thank Abbess Qingleng. After all, not only had her injuries been treated, but her cultivation had also improved. Gaining seven or eight years’ worth of power for nothing—this was precisely the “pleasant surprise” the abbess had mentioned. How could she not be delighted?

The day passed without incident. After the evening meal, disciples from the Qiankun Hall came to urge everyone to pack their belongings. The disciples of the Incense Spreading Sect appeared calm and indifferent, but for newcomers like Zhang Xiaohua, the situation was puzzling. Once again, Zhang Xiaohua extended his divine sense to probe the surroundings. Only then did he discover that, over the course of a single day, fluctuations of Yuan Qi had begun to ripple faintly across the emerald waters of the lake.