Zhang Xiaohua, of course, would not say it outright, and only said: “Then forget it. In any case, there was nothing valuable there, just something I was used to using before.”

“Don’t, little uncle-in-law. How could I ignore your instructions? Just look, those boys around us are all watching you. As long as you say a word, they’ll run even faster than I will.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled. Indeed, the other eight children, around ten years old, who had come together to the Incense Spreading Sect were all clever sorts. Although they had not known who Zhang Xiaohua was before, during the farewell at Spring Rebirth Valley, he had been so close with their young lady that it went without saying he must be an important figure in Spring Rebirth Valley. When such a person came to the Incense Spreading Sect, he would certainly receive special care. Since they had come here together with him, if they did not move closer to him and gather around him—the center of this new group of Spring Rebirth Valley medicine boys—how could there be any benefits later?

Thus along the way these boys had tried every means to approach Zhang Xiaohua. Unfortunately, Zhang Xiaohua was either riding on the Sibu Xiang or hiding inside the carriage with his eyes closed, practicing cultivation, never giving them any opportunity. Moreover, these children did not understand Zhang Xiaohua’s temperament, so no one dared approach him rashly.

Zhang Xiaohua glanced at the few pairs of eyes secretly looking over, but did not mind. He went straight to look for Steward Yang. Seeing Zhang Xiaohua so casually go to find the steward they regarded so highly, the several children became even more certain that this thigh must absolutely be hugged.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua come over, Steward Yang looked around and asked in a low voice: “Where did you go early this morning? This is the Incense Spreading Sect. If you cause any trouble, don’t blame this old man for not giving face to Spring Rebirth Valley!”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and said: “You worry too much. Along the way, have you seen me cause any mishap? I only woke early in the morning and went into the woods to practice a few rounds of fist techniques.”

Steward Yang’s expression eased somewhat when he heard this, and he said: “Practicing martial arts is a good thing, and keeping the fist from leaving the hand is as it should be. But you must also choose the right time. We still have not arrived at our Pill Expansion Hall, and other disciples may find fault. If something truly troublesome happens, even this old man may not be able to protect you. Ah, forget it. We will soon set out again. Once we reach Baiyue Peak, we will talk about it.”

“Baiyue Peak?” Zhang Xiaohua was startled. Just as he was about to ask what this Baiyue Peak was, Steward Yang had already turned his head to call the others.

“Perhaps Baiyue Peak is the mountain where the Incense Spreading Sect is located,” Zhang Xiaohua thought.

The convoy was soon arranged again, forming into a single line as before, and proceeded toward a valley.

This time, the convoy of the Pill Expansion Hall did not receive any special care. Presumably, Lady Kong Que had already left the convoy and gone ahead earlier.

After leaving the valley, Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes lit up. This was a lush green place. In the distance stood several great mountains whose peaks could not be seen, and at the highest places, there was thick white mist covering them, making them impossible to see clearly. The mountains were covered with verdant forests. Nearby, mountain streams flowed gently, water plants grew in abundance, and many unknown wild grasses swayed in the breeze.

The climate was exceptionally mild; even the spring scenery of Dianchi could not compare with this place. Zhang Xiaohua’s heart stirred, and he quietly released a thread of his divine sense. Suddenly, he discovered that the Yuan Qi of Heaven and Earth here was actually several times denser than beside Dianchi, even much richer than the inner valley of Spring Rebirth Valley.

Zhang Xiaohua felt both pleased and puzzled. What pleased him was that with such dense Yuan Qi, there would certainly be many spiritual herbs growing here. In the future he would not have to worry about materials when refining pills. What puzzled him was where exactly this Baiyue Peak was in relation to Dianchi. In his memory, that enormous wooden ship had not sailed for very long—so how could the Yuan Qi have changed so drastically?

“Oh, perhaps it’s the formation that controls entry and exit to the Incense Spreading Sect playing tricks.”

Zhang Xiaohua could only think of it this way.

The convoy continued forward for the time it took to eat two meals. Directly ahead stood a great mountain whose peak could not be seen. The dozen or so carriages at the front of the convoy, driven by disciples, went straight up the wide mountain road toward the summit, while the other carriages turned and headed in another direction.

Zhang Xiaohua was startled. “Could it be that this isn’t Baiyue Peak?”

However, Zhang Xiaohua was still at the very end of the convoy, while Steward Yang had already moved to the very front. Even if he wanted to ask, he could not.

Afterward, they passed three more towering mountains whose peaks likewise could not be seen. From either the front or rear of the Pill Expansion Hall convoy, more than a dozen carriages would leave the group and head up the mountainside. It was not until the sun was directly overhead that, under Steward Yang’s lead, the Pill Expansion Hall convoy also separated from the moving procession and turned onto the road going up the mountain. Ahead of them were other carriages belonging to Pill Expansion Hall.

By this time, Zhang Xiaohua had already realized something. It seemed that the Incense Spreading Sect was not located on a single mountain peak; rather, each hall possessed its own peak. The mountain before them must be the Baiyue Peak that Pill Expansion Hall was heading to.

Sure enough, not long after they began climbing the mountain, Steward Yang shouted loudly: “Brothers, put in a little more effort. We’ve already come up Baiyue Peak. Walk a bit more and we’ll reach Pill Expansion Hall. If we’re quick, we might still catch the hall’s noon meal.”

Everyone burst into laughter. “We’ve eaten the hall’s food for decades—it’s never changed at all. Eating outside is much better. Who would miss the hall’s noon meal?”

Steward Yang also laughed loudly. “People are iron, food is steel. Miss one meal, and you’ll be starving. In a moment, if anyone thinks the food tastes bad, try going hungry for two days.”

As he spoke, Steward Yang stopped, let the carriages pass, and walked to the end of the convoy. Smiling, he said: “Ren Xiaoyao, can you sit still in that carriage?”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua jumped down from the carriage and said: “I’ve long wanted to get down and walk a bit, but since you hadn’t given the order, I didn’t dare come out.”

Zhang Xiaohua asked curiously: “Steward Yang, just now you mentioned Baiyue Peak. I had thought that the Incense Spreading Sect itself was located on Baiyue Peak. But just now, many carriages went up different mountains, and I realize now that each hall is on a separate peak, isn’t that right?”

Steward Yang smiled. “Then, before you came to the Incense Spreading Sect, what did you imagine it to be like?”

Zhang Xiaohua thought for a moment and then described the image of the Piaomiao Sect as he had imagined it.

Steward Yang nodded. “You’re not wrong. Most martial arts sects in the jianghu are just like that. But our Incense Spreading Sect is uniquely blessed. Thousands of years ago, we took hold of this wondrous land. How could a single peak possibly accommodate our entire Sect?”

Zhang Xiaohua cupped his hands. “I listen to Steward Yang’s teaching.”

“In simple terms, our Incense Spreading Sect has nineteen main peaks: Yixiang Peak, Shixin Peak, Baiyue Peak, Kuanglu Peak, Jiuhua Peak, Fuqiu Peak, Longshou Peak, Qionglong Peak, Xuanmu Peak, Dongting Peak, Sanmao Peak, Tianmu Peak, Jingshan Peak, Xiling Peak, Wanwei Peak, Tiantai Peak, Yandang Peak, Luofu Peak, and Huaiyu Peak. Among them, Yixiang Peak is the most honored, standing right at the center.”

Then, with a hint of admiration, Steward Yang added: “Yixiang Peak is where the leaders of our Incense Spreading Sect reside—the Sect Master, the elders, many of the devoted attendants, and even the inner disciples all live and cultivate there.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled. “Lady Kong, Lady Chen, and the others must have gone there as well, right?”

“Of course. Last night, Lady Kong arrived at Jinghai Lake and returned directly with Abbess Xuezhen and the others to Yixiang Peak. Only we remained resting on the shore. Oh, and by the way, that lake you passed just now is Jinghai Lake. Normally, it’s deserted, with only patrolling disciples to watch over it. In the future, unless there’s something important, you shouldn’t go there.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded, thinking to himself: What nonsense. Why would I go there if it’s nothing important? …Ah, but I do need to go there eventually. Otherwise, how would I find a way out?

He released his divine sense and quietly observed Steward Yang. There didn’t seem to be any suspicion—just the usual warnings—so he relaxed and asked: “Then Baiyue Peak must naturally be the base of our Pill Expansion Hall. What about the other peaks?”

Steward Yang smiled. “Baiyue Peak is indeed the base of our Pill Expansion Hall. It’s where the hall’s headquarters are, with the Hall Master and other Pill Expansion Hall institutions located there. But Pill Expansion Hall specializes in herbs and requires large areas to cultivate spiritual herbs. So compared to the other halls, we also control several additional peaks—such as Tianmu Peak, Jingshan Peak, and Sanmao Peak—all part of Pill Expansion Hall, dedicated to growing herbs, though their distances and locations vary.”

After hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua began to form a rough understanding in his mind. Of course, he was even more curious about the Piaomiao Sect, so he cautiously asked: “If possible, Steward Yang, could you tell me which peaks the other halls are located on?”

“It’s not really a secret. The longer you stay here, the more you’ll naturally know. But I can tell you a little. The peaks we just passed—the nearest one is Kuanglu Peak, which belongs to the Refining Hall. Like Baiyue Peak, it has an underground earth fire conduit, so they can refine weapons there. A bit farther on are Xuanmu Peak and Longshou Peak, where the Wuming Hall is located—that’s where our outer disciples of the Incense Spreading Sect cultivate. Xiaoyao, if you want to leave the Sect eventually, the first step is to enter Wuming Hall and advance in martial arts; only then will you have a chance to pass the trial assessments.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled. “Looks like I’ll have to rely on Steward Yang’s guidance a lot in the future.”

Steward Yang looked up at Baiyue Peak towering into the clouds and gave a wry smile. “I’ve known Valley Master Nie for decades, so it’s natural that I’d lend a hand when I can. It’s just… sigh, you’ll understand when you get to Pill Expansion Hall. My position there is limited; I won’t have many chances to speak up. Of course, nephew, rest assured—where I can help, I will.”

He had never called him “nephew” before; Zhang Xiaohua was momentarily stunned, then immediately smiled. “Uncle Yang, you are too humble. No matter what, your favor is deeply remembered.”

“Hehe, that’s good, that’s good. Your pill-refining skill is quite good, and your martial arts are solid as well. You’re different from these little medicine boys ahead of us. Perhaps in the future, I’ll need to rely on you to give me a hand too.”

Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly lowered his head in modesty. “Not at all, not at all. My skills are just crude, hardly anything to speak of.”

Then Zhang Xiaohua asked: “The outer disciples must hold a fairly high position in the Incense Spreading Sect, right? But last night I saw many of them pitching tents and doing rough work—why is that?”