Chapter 119: The Second Senior Brother

The Fire Pool is the place where the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect forge their swords. Mount Qingcheng sits in the western reaches of Sichuan, deep within the hinterland; it is a land of gentle breezes, timely rains, and tranquil rivers, devoid of any natural volcanic lava. Yet, sword immortals must rely on the spiritual fires of heaven and earth to temper their blades. While the Emei Sect possesses Laozi’s Bagua Hunyuan Qiankun Cauldron, the Qingcheng Sect faced a challenge. Fortunately, their ancestors had means of their own; they laid out a Primordial Fire-Gathering Array within the mountain’s belly, transforming the ambient spiritual energy into a source of rootless immortal fire. Over time, the mountain rock liquefied, the heat intensified, and the ground subsided, expanding into a basin—thus, the Fire Pool earned its name.

Two streaks of light descended before the entrance, a wave of heat rushing to meet them. Though fire flickered occasionally within the belly of the mountain, the location was remote enough that the surrounding landscape remained unaffected.

"Who goes there?" Two Qingcheng disciples guarding the stone gate blocked their path.

"Qin Yu of Yuxu Peak." The yellow light dispersed, revealing two figures.

"Oh, it’s Senior Brother Qin! And Junior Brother He, Junior Sister Lu. And this is?"

"Junior Brother Zhou Qian is a new disciple of Uncle Wine. These two are Senior Brothers Li Jing and Wang Yu from Five Dragons Peak. Why are you two on duty today?"

"Don't even ask. It’s scorching in here; no one wants this miserable chore," Li Jing complained. He looked at Zhou Qian with curiosity. "Uncle Wine actually took on a disciple? That’s truly rare!"

"Zhou Qian greets both Senior Brothers!"

Both men waved their hands dismissively. Wang Yu smiled, "The Yuxu and Five Dragons lineages are on good terms; no need for such formalities. What brings you here, Senior Brother Qin?"

"I’m here to check on the progress of the Immortal Flood Dragon Sword that Junior Brother Song is forging, and to let my junior brother meet his seniors."

"Ah, that’s fine. But Senior Brother Qin, have you heard?" Li Jing whispered, suddenly mysterious.

"Heard what?" Lu Xiaoxian asked curiously.

"The Five Peaks Sword Tournament is being moved forward. I heard from my master that it’s scheduled for two or three years from now." For some reason, Zhou Qian felt a hidden trace of amusement in Li Jing’s tone.

"What!" Qin Yu’s expression darkened. "Isn't it supposed to be held every ten years according to tradition?"

"I don't know the reason myself. Heh, Senior Brother Qin, my condolences!"

"Hahahaha..." The two burst into laughter, leaving the others bewildered.

"Hmph! Let’s go!" Qin Yu said, annoyed.

"Senior Brother, what is this Five Peaks Sword Tournament?" Zhou Qian asked on their way in.

"We’re going to be embarrassed and humiliated again!" He Hua looked miserable. "Why did they have to move it forward?"

"Senior Brother?"

"The Five Peaks Sword Tournament is an ancient tradition meant to hone young disciples. Every fifteen years, we juniors must compete against disciples from the other four peaks. The Sect Leader, the peak masters, and the seniors from all lineages will watch and judge. Those who win are invariably the top talents of our generation!"

"I saw it once when I was little! Senior Sister Liu took third place!"

"That’s because you didn't notice Yuxu Peak's ranking!" He Hua glanced cautiously at Qin Yu ahead and lowered his voice. "In terms of strength, Chongxuan Peak is always a cut above, followed closely by Zhaoyang Peak and Taisu Peak. Yuxu and Five Dragons are brothers in misfortune, taking turns at the bottom. But since Qin Qi, a genius, emerged from Five Dragons Peak, he stole the show at the last tournament, taking second place. That left us at Yuxu to bear the brunt of the shame. I’ve only participated once; in that tournament, three of our five brothers lost in the first round, and the rest were wiped out in the second. We became the laughingstock of the entire Qingcheng. In the tournament before that, only Senior Brother Qin Yu made it to the third round, only to be defeated by the young Daoist Shou Jingzi from Chongxuan Peak—"

"In short, it’s been a series of tragedies. At this rate, we’re going to make fools of ourselves again!" He Hua concluded with a bitter face.

"Don't worry! With Senior Sister Xiaoxian here, I’ll definitely win first place for you all!" Lu Xiaoxian declared with a bright, childlike voice, taking on the responsibility with gusto.

"Look at Junior Sister Lu! And look at you! Can’t you show some ambition?" Qin Yu’s voice roared from ahead, frustrated by their lack of spirit.

*The Five Peaks Sword Tournament? That shouldn't have anything to do with me,* Zhou Qian thought to himself.

There were six fire pools in the mountain’s belly, each a hundred feet wide and long. Magma churned and bubbled, occasionally releasing white smoke that drifted into the massive alchemy furnaces above. The furnaces were ancient and simple, square at the top and round at the bottom, resembling a pagoda inserted into a copper bowl. They rested on four legs, decorated with carvings of the four mythical beasts, hovering in the air with a slight sway.

The four of them arrived at the leftmost pool. Qin Yu exhaled a puff of blue energy, which manifested as a spiraling staircase of clouds connecting their feet to the mouth of the furnace. He turned back and said, "Last time we were here, Second Junior Brother had already forged the body of the Immortal Flood Dragon Sword. He’s likely engraving the restrictions now. We shouldn't disturb him too much, but we can go in and observe."

They ascended the steps and entered the furnace. Inside, a large man sat cross-legged. Immortal fire shot out from eight vents, appearing almost invisible yet causing the surrounding air to ripple with heat. A pure blue sword light darted back and forth. Song Dazhu traced symbols with his fingers, the sword blade humming, with arrays and characters flickering in and out of existence. After a long while, he finally stopped, his breathing heavy.

He opened his eyes and chuckled honestly, "Haven't seen you all in days. Are you here specifically to see me?"

Zhou Qian observed his Second Senior Brother, Song Dazhu. Though he looked like a black tower—thick-limbed and burly—his face was honest and kind, immediately winning one’s favor.

"We came specifically to introduce someone to you. This is Junior Brother Zhou Qian, the new disciple of Uncle Wine."

"Oh? That’s truly rare," Song Dazhu said, slightly surprised. "Is this the junior brother?"

"Greetings, Second Senior Brother!"

"No need for such formalities," Song Dazhu stood up and laughed. "Junior Sister Lu must be overjoyed!"

"Heehee, Senior Brother Song, you guessed it right."

"Since we’re meeting for the first time, I must give you something." He scratched his head, pondered, and then clapped his hands. "Got it!"

He gestured with his large hand, and with a flash of golden light, a gourd appeared. "I cultivated this while on Yuxu Mountain. When I was bored during rainy days, I would fly into the storm clouds to capture lightning and thunder energy to forge these Lightning-Fire Pellets. I only have one gourd left, so I’ll give it to you as a gift."

"Second Senior Brother, that’s your treasure!" He Hua exclaimed in shock.

"Forging the Immortal Flood Dragon Sword is enough for me; these are just external objects," Song Dazhu said nonchalantly.

Zhou Qian saw how valuable it was and didn't know whether to accept it. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Yu relieved him of the dilemma: "Take it. Your Second Senior Brother has always been generous. Besides, this item is unique in all of Qingcheng; only someone like him, who practices both the *Fire True Scripture* and the *Shenxiao True Explanation*, could forge such a marvel."

Having been given the nod, Zhou Qian accepted it, feeling a deep sense of gratitude. It is easy to bestow favors, but difficult to part with one's own treasures. He knew these pellets must be precious to Song Dazhu.

"You’ve met your senior brother. Now, for the second test," Qin Yu said with a serious expression.

"This trial involves absorbing the rootless flame energy. I will teach you both the method to collect this fire. You need to collect fifty strands to pass, but the more, the better. If you try to slack off, your Senior Brother is not blind." When he said this, Qin Yu glared at He Hua, who shuddered in fear.

The two sat cross-legged by the fire pool. The collection technique consisted of nine hand seals combined with specific breathing patterns. Soon, they entered a state of profound emptiness.

The rootless flame smoke nearby was slowly drawn toward them, flowing into their bodies. At first, the heat was unbearable, as if their internal organs were being roasted. Soon, other sensations followed—pain, itching, sourness, and numbness—as if their hearts were being torn apart. Yet, neither the lazy He Hua nor Zhou Qian, with his mere mortal frame, acted like children. They gritted their teeth and endured. Qin Yu and Song Dazhu nodded with satisfaction.

After a long while, a cacophony of sounds filled the air—from the chirping of insects and ants to the blooming of flowers and the singing of birds, to the roar of gales and thunder, and the wailing of thousands of spirits. Strange scents filled their noses—the fragrance of orchids, the fresh scent of morning grass, and the foul stench of rotting fish. A thousand tastes filled their mouths.

They endured with all their might. However, as they sat in the same place, a difference emerged. He Hua had already absorbed over fifty strands of the rootless smoke, while Zhou Qian had only managed thirty. This smoke not only strengthened the soul and meridians but also tested one's natural constitution. He Hua was clearly a gem, while Zhou Qian, though not bad, was unremarkable.

Qin Yu shook his head slightly. Song Dazhu, however, was more open-minded: "This constitution is not bad. Even if it were worse, could it be worse than mine?" Even Master Qin could only offer a bitter smile at that.

"So boring!" Accompanying Lu Xiaoxian’s murmur, both had now absorbed over fifty strands, yet they continued to persist. He Hua was fine, given his natural talent, but Zhou Qian’s body had reached its limit. His face was flushed crimson, and his body trembled slightly. The pain was far worse than the bone-scraping sensation he had felt earlier.

Deep within Zhou Qian’s soul, his emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and desire—assailed him. In his mind, a woman in white robes appeared, drifting slowly toward him. Her face was painfully familiar.

"Little Husband Zhou, do you still recognize me?" Her eyes seemed to drip with tears, filled with deep affection.

"Sister Zhao!" Zhou Qian whispered.

"I’ve missed you so much~"

"But why didn't you save me! You left me to be haunted by ghosts until my soul scattered! It’s all your fault! All your fault..." Her voice turned shrill and hateful, her beautiful face twisting.

"He’s consumed by fire poison! Junior Brother, don't you want to give up?!" Song Dazhu frowned.

"We can't wait any longer!" Qin Yu pointed his sword-finger, and a streak of blue energy pierced Zhou Qian’s forehead. He woke up with a jolt, drenched in cold sweat, gasping for breath.

*How could I suddenly think of that!*

Shortly after, He Hua woke up as well. Because Zhou Qian had pushed himself so hard, the gap between them had narrowed to less than twenty strands.

"Junior Brother, are you alright?" Lu Xiaoxian asked with concern, patting Zhou Qian’s head.

"I’m fine, I’m fine." Zhou Qian stopped his heavy breathing and replied.

"Today’s test is over. There are three trials left; we’ll continue tomorrow," Qin Yu announced, seeing Zhou Qian’s pale complexion.

After resting for a long time, they finally recovered and felt a sense of comfort and transcendence. This was the benefit of the rootless smoke, though its greater effects would only manifest during cultivation.

Song Dazhu still needed to refine the Immortal Flood Dragon Sword, so the remaining four flew back. The sky had grown dark, and the sun had already set.

Just as they were about to return to Yuxu Peak, a brilliant, ten-foot-long jade-colored sword light, pulsating with immortal energy, flashed past them on the right.

"Qin Qi from Five Dragons Peak? He didn't even greet us when he saw his senior brother!" He Hua said indignantly.

Qin Yu’s insight was much keener. He saw much more: *His cultivation has already reached the ninth layer of the True Essence Body Protection realm?! And he possesses a sentient immortal sword!!*

Returning to White Cloud Cave, both had their own thoughts and no appetite for conversation, so they retreated to their respective rooms.

Around midnight, Zhou Qian slowly walked out of the cave. He heard the sound of the waterfall and saw the moonlight like water, diffuse and hazy. Since Mid-Autumn had passed, the moon was no longer full, a piece missing from the jade plate, which made Zhou Qian feel a sense of shared sorrow.

*I have entered the immortal path, but where are you now? I... I miss you so much.*