Chapter 86: Carving Wood into Spirits, Transforming Them into Dao Soldiers

Within the Crimson Pine Dao Palace.

The ancient pine’s branches spread like a canopy, casting their shade over the temple grounds.

A radiant moon and scattered stars hung among the ancestral pine’s boughs, illuminating the stone pavilion below. This newly built pavilion stood atop the original foundation of the ancient “Inquiry Pavilion.” Though the awe-inspiring sword intent that once lingered here had faded, little else had changed.

Yet beneath the eaves, the former inscription of “Inquiry” had been replaced with two characters, “Fate and Cause,” imbued with a subtle, mysterious resonance. To come by fate, to leave by fate—unlike the lofty and inscrutable aura of the previous inscription, these new words, carved by Lin You’s own hand, felt casual and natural. Even ordinary disciples, upon seeing them, found themselves quietly enlightened.

Within the pavilion, Lin You and Jiang Liunian sat across from one another.

Mist from their tea curled into the air, coalescing into auspicious clouds above the table.

Jiang Liunian sipped the spiritual tea, immediately feeling a gentle sense of comfort. The faint spiritual energy within was swiftly absorbed by the true qi flowing through his body.

Since Lin You established the Path of Merit, Jiang Liunian had kept busy these past two days. Together with his fellow disciples, he had helped resettle many of the refugees from Jiang Prefecture.

On top of the rewards for his efforts in containing the plague, he had managed to exchange them with Xuan Shuang for two bottles of Essence-Nourishing Pills.

With these, he refined his own magical power and finally stepped onto the path of cultivation.

Feeling the circulation of twenty-four streams of true qi within him, Jiang Liunian was overjoyed. After more than a decade in search of the Dao, he had truly entered the ranks of cultivators at last!

Though his current level was only the second stage of true qi, he now had a clear goal for his future training: to travel throughout the provinces and prefectures of Great Yu, earning merit wherever he went.

And not just for himself—every disciple of the Dao Palace could now accumulate merit in exchange for spiritual medicines to further their cultivation.

As for whether there would be enough spiritual medicines to go around, he had already received assurance from Daoist Friend Yuchen, who told him with a smile that there was no need to worry.

Reflecting on this, Jiang Liunian felt a surge of respect. This was nothing less than opening the path of immortality to all the world’s wandering cultivators!

For such itinerant cultivators, it was often a trial by fire just to find a single spiritual herb—and most ended up using them in magical duels, never even reaching the threshold of true cultivation.

Only those exceptionally fortunate—whether inheriting a predecessor’s elixirs or discovering a rare spiritual land or herb—could refine their magical power and become immortals.

If the Path of Merit truly spread far and wide, then the Daoist Friend Yuchen before him could well be called the progenitor of a new way!

At this thought, he suddenly remembered something.

He turned to Lin You with a smile and said, “Daoist Yuchen, while I was earning merit at the foot of the mountain these past two days, I heard an amusing story about you!”

“I’d like to hear it,” Lin You replied.

Lin You smiled, pouring himself another cup of spiritual tea, and sipped quietly.

Jiang Liunian, seeing no need for suspense, continued, “Recently, a sect called the Pill Cauldron Sect—its master, Hu Sheng, has announced via the Alliance of Wanderers that five days from now he intends to challenge you to a pill alchemy contest!”

When Jiang Liunian first heard the news, he was stunned for a good while.

He had heard of this Hu Sheng before—a fourth-stage true qi immortal pill master. In Jiang Liunian’s past eyes, such a person was quite a figure.

But no matter how grand a figure, it all depended on who he was compared to.

In the past, Jiang Liunian would have worried greatly for Lin You upon hearing this; now, it was merely an after-dinner jest.

At the mention of the Pill Cauldron Sect, Lin You’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise.

Wasn’t that Zhao Fan’s sect? And this so-called sect master—why was he suddenly so eager to challenge him in alchemy?

Yet he paid it no real mind, nor was he interested in playing such games for fame or gain.

What mattered most to him now was earning enough spiritual energy to swiftly raise his cultivation to the peak of true qi.

And, at the upcoming Gathering of Daoists, to acquire enough cultivation methods and spiritual treasures.

These two things were critical—matters of his very path. He would not allow anything to interfere.

Should someone truly come seeking trouble, he would not hesitate to send them on their way with a stroke of his Biluo Sword Intent, hastening their return to the cycle of reincarnation.

With this thought, he shook his head and asked Jiang Liunian about the Gathering of Daoists.

Jiang Liunian answered after a moment’s thought, “The Gathering of Daoists is always hosted by the Alliance of Wanderers, and the Pill Cauldron Sect is one of its founding members. Since they’ve announced a pill contest near Crimson Pine Mountain, it’s likely the gathering will be held nearby as well.”

Lin You nodded, losing interest. He cared not where the gathering took place, only whether he could amass enough cultivation methods to deduce the contents of the Foundation Chapter.

Just then, his expression shifted.

Jiang Liunian noticed and asked, “Is something amiss?”

Lin You shook his head, raised his hand, and summoned a piece of pine branch from the ground before him.

Under Jiang Liunian’s curious gaze, Lin You’s fingertip glimmered with sword energy as he carefully carved the pine wood, etching lines of ancient, mystical script upon it.

Before long, a lifelike wooden figure emerged in Lin You’s palm.

With the infusion of Lin You’s magical power, the wooden figure suddenly became animated.

Its carved wooden eyes spun nimbly back and forth.

With a flick of Lin You’s wrist, the little wooden man rode the mountain breeze and drifted into the distance.

...

On a mountain path,

A petite figure fled through the moonlit woods, panic in her steps.

She darted among the trees, desperately trying to elude the two pursuers behind her.

Yet the pair followed relentlessly, shadows that could not be shaken off.

“Sister, why are you in such a hurry? Why not stop and chat?” A voice, laced with enchantment, called out playfully, as if trying to lure the girl ahead to stop.

Under the strange melody of that voice, Jin Yu felt her mind grow hazy, an urge to look back, her steps slowing despite herself.

Seeing Jin Yu falter, the beautiful woman behind her smiled with satisfaction—her spellcasting had not gone to waste.

They had traced her here using a hidden mark on an apricot pit, originally planning to catch both her and the old man she traveled with. But only this little girl had left the city, and she carried no spiritual artifacts.

No matter. Once they captured the girl, the old man would surely hand over his treasures—her spent magical power would not have been in vain.

As Jin Yu’s steps slowed further, the woman’s voice grew more alluring: “Come to me, child! Crimson Pine Mountain is no good for you. Come home with your sister!”

Jin Yu’s eyes glazed over, her will lost in the seductive call. She truly stopped, turning to walk toward the bewitching woman.

“Lady Lin, your enchantment is extraordinary! Even this little wildcat has fallen under your spell!” her companion exclaimed in delight.

Thanks to the fellow Daoist “Swan Who Loves Tea” for the reward of 6,000 coins!

And thanks to all Daoist friends for your monthly votes!

Today’s third chapter will be published at noon!