Wandao 029
At dawn the next morning, the light of morning seeped gently through a mist that had yet to lift. Outside the cave dwelling, vines swayed lightly in the morning breeze, casting off droplets of dew—each fall soft and serene, lending the place an air of peace.
Wan Xiaochuan, clad in a simple azure robe, sat cross-legged beside his alchemical furnace. A faint trace of golden luster still lingered between his brows—a lingering echo of the spiritual energy stirred during his late-night cultivation.
He exhaled a slow, turbid breath. The tension in his brow relaxed as a warm current surged from his dantian, flowing steadily through every meridian in his body. The stream merged gradually with the energies of the Titanform Sutra, saturating muscle, bone, and sinew with a sense of grounded resilience and calm.
"Xiaochuan, the way your aura flows now—you're starting to look more and more like a real mid-tier Qi Cultivator." Lin Qixian stood at the entrance of the cave, smiling with eyes half-curved, still holding a compendium of spiritual herbs. He now wore the formal robe of a certified alchemist, adorned with detailed flame sigils along the hem and a greenwood badge over his chest—marking him as a newly accredited Tier-One Alchemist.
"I owe that to your guidance these past few weeks." Wan Xiaochuan rose, brushing the dust from his knees. He gazed into the sunlight threading through the dense woods, a new sense of clarity blooming in his heart.
Just then, the stillness was sliced apart by the cry of a sword—a sharp whistle of steel carried from the depths of the forest. The blade itself had not yet arrived, but the wind stirred in anticipation, as though the very heavens had been drawn taut by a refined sword intent. Leaves rustled against no breeze, and even the smallest insects fell silent in awe.
Wan Xiaochuan and Lin Qixian exchanged a glance. In each other's eyes, they saw the same flicker of alertness—and a touch of awe.
"This sword intent... it's extraordinary." Wan Xiaochuan spoke low, a gleam of fighting spirit igniting in his gaze.
"Not hostile. It's sharp, yes—but restrained... and there's a spiritual herb aura clinging to it." Lin Qixian flexed his fingers ever so slightly. The pouch containing his spirit bugs gave a faint twitch, reacting to the incoming presence.
Then, like a curtain drawn back, the morning mist parted.
A figure stepped lightly from branch to branch, her movements graceful as bamboo in a breeze. A young woman emerged—slender and poised, dressed in robes of deep green and pale white. Delicate vine-flower embroidery adorned the hem of her sleeves, shifting gently with each step. Her skin was porcelain-fair; her features quiet and refined. At the center of her brow was a faint vine-shaped marking, a pale spring-green bloom upon a calm mountain. Her eyes, clear and bright, held a tranquil warmth.
"Have either of you seen this vine before?" she asked gently as she approached, holding aloft a twisting tendril of pale violet, faintly aglow with spiritual light. Her voice was soft and lilting, touched with a hint of a northern accent.
Wan Xiaochuan had yet to answer, but Lin Qixian had already gasped in surprise.
"Is that... the Soulvine Wisteria? Where did you find this?"
Her brows arched slightly at the recognition, a flicker of surprise passing through her expression. Then she smiled faintly. "You know it? Good. Then I've found the right people. This strain grows near the outer walls of Spiritvine Valley. Recently, it's started expanding out of control. I've been sent to find aid in resealing the spiritual matrix and curbing its spread. You are Wan Xiaochuan and Lin Qixian, yes?"
Wan Xiaochuan offered a formal salute. "That's us. Might I ask your name, fairy maiden?"
"Jiang Lingshan," she replied with a calm grace. "Daughter of Elder Jiang Fuyun, outer sect guardian of Spiritvine Valley." She returned the courtesy with a shallow bow. "Your names are known to us—your expertise in alchemy and spiritual herb cultivation especially. I came seeking your help to delve into the depths of Spiritvine Valley. The spiritual veins there are in turmoil. I believe your skills may be essential."
"Spiritvine Valley? Hasn't that place been sealed for decades?" Lin Qixian's expression grew serious.
Jiang Lingshan nodded slightly. Her voice turned solemn. "This is no ordinary disruption. I believe it may stem from the remains of an ancient formation. If it's not handled soon, the spiritual ecosystem of the northern quadrant may collapse entirely. Should you be willing to assist me, the Valley shall reward you well."
Wan Xiaochuan took a moment, then turned inward—his consciousness entering the sword-spirit realm to consult with Renee, the spirit of his Wind and Thunder Blade. She appeared in his sea of awareness, her phantom form outlined by faint lightning. She nodded. "That valley likely connects with a wind-aspected spiritual vein. It could greatly benefit both your lightning blade... and your Titanform body."
A resolute light flashed in Wan Xiaochuan's eyes. He nodded. "We accept."
Jiang Lingshan smiled, flipping her hand to produce three jade tokens, each glowing a soft emerald green. She handed them over. "Tomorrow at noon, we'll gather at the outer gate of Spiritvine Valley."
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, its light scattered through the trees in shifting gold. Jiang Lingshan turned to leave, her presence lingering like a faint breath of swordwind.
Watching her recede into the forest, Lin Qixian cleared his throat, leaning in with a grin. "Xiaochuan, I'm getting a feeling... someone's about to bloom into another love story, eh?"
Wan Xiaochuan gave a helpless smile and stroked the hilt of his sword. "She's a cultivator of Spiritvine Valley. We should stay focused on the disruption ahead."
The wind stirred again. Fate had shifted.
With her arrival, Jiang Lingshan had already entangled herself—like a vine winding through ancient stone—into the fates of those around her.
This journey… might be far more profound than any of them had expected.