69: Chapter 70 Jade Register

After Grain Full, the water Qi at Luoxi Mouth gradually grew stronger.

Half of the newly constructed irrigation ditches by the stream were already flowing, and the Sun Family members were walking along the ridges to inspect the water inlets.

Jiang Yuhe stood on an open patch of ground outside the stream mouth, suppressing her cultivation to the Early Stage, using only a shallow breath of Grain Rain Qi to spar with Sun Jingxiu.

Sun Jingxiu was already nearing the fourth level of Qi Refining, and he appeared much more composed than before.

He gripped a short-handled water awl in his hand; as he started, he borrowed the water mist from the stream to spread a curtain of rain, first protecting himself, and then probing Jiang Yuhe's footwork bit by bit.

This surprised Jiang Yuhe slightly.

Sun Jingxiu usually appeared gentle, even possessing a touch of youthful naivety, but once he entered a spar, his mind was very clear.

Rainwater Qi was not suited for one-hit kills, so he did not force a quick attack; instead, he used the fine rain to form a curtain and hid the sharp edge within the water awl, occasionally borrowing the stream water to flick up a water arrow, forcing Jiang Yuhe to adjust her steps.

The two exchanged dozens of moves; although Sun Jingxiu was consistently at a disadvantage, he showed no immediate signs of defeat.

Jiang Yuhe withdrew some of the force she had intended to use to expose his flaws, nodding slightly in her heart.

Sun Jingxiu truly had some talent in the way of combat.

If the Sun Family could produce a truly capable Middle Stage Cultivator, then in the future, the Jiang Family would not need to personally oversee every matter regarding the water vein at Luoxi Mouth.

Just as Sun Jingxiu was using the rain curtain to conceal himself, attempting to circle around from the side, Jiang Yuhe felt a shift in the water essence within her sleeves; just as she was about to force him back to his original position, Listening to Rain suddenly stirred slightly.

She looked up toward the horizon.

In the distance, a streak of spiritual light was flying in from the direction of the riverbank.

That person was riding the wind using only a green talisman, with a layer of golden, brilliant protective spiritual light covering their body.

When they drew closer, it was clear that this was a very young Cultivator, dressed in a pale red Daoist robe, with a lake-colored long sword hanging at their waist; they did not conceal their aura while approaching.

Perfection of the seventh level of Qi Refining.

Jiang Yuhe's eyes narrowed slightly.

The youth also spotted her in mid-air.

His sword-like eyebrows twitched, and his gaze swept over Sun Jingxiu only briefly before landing on Jiang Yuhe, clearly having discerned who was truly in control of this sparring session.

Jiang Yuhe raised her hand to signal Sun Jingxiu to retreat, and only after the youth flew above the stream mouth did she raise her voice to ask, "Fellow Daoist, where do you come from?"

The youth landed by the stream and bowed to her with cupped hands.

"Han Zhaoye of the Han Family, greetings, Senior Yuhe."

Han Zhaoye.

The moment this name was spoken, Sun Jingxiu's expression changed immediately.

Since that night at Luoxi Mouth, the two words "Han Family" had become like a thorn in the hearts of the surviving Luoxi Mouth Cultivators.

The Han Family naturally denied the massacre of the Luo clan, but at that time, the only party openly capable of taking advantage of the Luo family's retreat to wipe out Luoxi Mouth was indeed the Han Family.

Furthermore, a red-robed Han Family spy had once died at the foot of Baili Mountain.

Han Zhaoye had a youthful face, still carrying a hint of lingering boyishness, with clear, prominent brow bones, lively eyes, and a smile on his lips.

The layer of golden protective spiritual light on his body was extremely solid, and the spiritual energy of the lake-colored long sword at his waist was pure and restrained.

A Perfection of the seventh level of Qi Refining in his early twenties.

Truly astonishing.

Jiang Yuhe's current cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining was the result of being recorded in the family genealogy, receiving Cultivation Techniques, and the accumulation of numerous spiritual resources.

Yet Han Zhaoye was merely a newly promoted Late Stage Cultivator of the Han Family; to reach the Perfection of the seventh level at such an age, if one did not count the direct descendants of great clans like the Gu or Shen families, he was likely one of a kind along the banks of the Baishi River.

She remained silent for several breaths.

Han Zhaoye was not annoyed, merely asking with a smile, "Senior Yuhe, have you heard of the Chengtian Sect opening a tournament for combat?"

Jiang Yuhe was unwilling to follow his lead.

The Han and Luo families were now irreconcilable, and since the Jiang Family had taken in the remnants of the Luo family and occupied Luoxi Mouth, they naturally stood against the Han Family.

Since Han Zhaoye had come here in person, he was clearly not here to offer any apologies or seek forgiveness.

She looked at him and suddenly said, "For a Fellow Daoist of such a young age to possess such cultivation, you are indeed a natural talent."

"However, since the matter between the Han Family and the Luo Family remains unresolved, you dare to come to Luoxi Mouth alone; aren't you afraid that my Jiang Family might keep you here to avenge the Luo Family?"

"I am naturally afraid," Han Zhaoye laughed heartily.

He laughed openly, as if he truly did not find those words jarring, then suddenly his expression shifted, revealing a sense of dejection unbefitting his age.

"However, the matter at Luoxi Mouth truly has nothing to do with my Han Family. There must be some villain framing us, solely to sow discord between the Han, Jiang, and Luo families and cause us to attack one another. I ask Senior Yuhe to see the truth."

Jiang Yuhe smiled slightly.

She naturally knew that regardless of whether the Han Family was the true culprit, the person before her would never admit it.

She said, "There is no use in saying more. Why don't you speak plainly about the purpose of your visit, Fellow Daoist?"

Han Zhaoye nodded gently and said, "I merely wished to inform Senior…"

Before he could finish, a flash of green light appeared in the distance.

A long, narrow flying boat tore through the air; the boat's body was a deep green, its prow resembling a phoenix tree leaf splitting the clouds, and spiritual patterns rippled gently from its stern. In the blink of an eye, it arrived before the two of them.

The Green Phoenix Cloud-Splitting Boat.

On the boat, Young Master Gu Xingzhi wore brocade robes, the Saber Qi at his waist not yet restrained, and he himself was like a bright, scorching mountain stream. As soon as he steadied his figure, his gaze collided directly with Han Zhaoye.

Their gazes met for an instant in the air.

The smile on Han Zhaoye's face paused slightly, and then he lowered his head very quickly, his posture respectful.

"Greetings, Young Master Gu."

Young Master Gu Xingzhi raised a smile, looking at him a few extra times, that smile carrying a bit more interest.

"Han Zhaoye?"

Han Zhaoye said, "That is indeed me."

Young Master Gu Xingzhi smiled, "I have heard of you."

He stopped abruptly after saying this and did not speak further.

Han Zhaoye did not ask further, merely looking back at Jiang Yuhe and saying, "I came here only to remind Senior Yuhe of one thing."

"Do not fight to the death with the Han Family over some unfounded accusation. Cultivators should take longevity as their Dao and should not be easily burdened by worldly grudges."

He spoke earnestly, as if he were genuinely offering advice.

Jiang Yuhe did not respond.

Han Zhaoye did not seem to wish to stay long between the two; after cupping his hands in farewell, he turned and rode the wind away.

The golden protective spiritual light still covered his body, and another layer of spiritual screen adhered beneath his robes, vaguely isolating him from external probing.

Jiang Yuhe's "Listening to Rain" remained wrapped around him.

But that layer of spiritual screen was different from ordinary protective light; the sound of rain falling upon it was like falling into a silent membrane, unable to glimpse the fate within or probe the deeper flow of Qi.

Until the moment Han Zhaoye turned to leave.

His lapel moved slightly, and an object inside his chest was gently brushed by the spiritual screen.

"Listening to Rain" suddenly became clear for an instant.

Jiang Yuhe saw a Jade Tablet.

It was hidden close to Han Zhaoye's chest, only half a palm in size, white tinged with green, its edges as round as the moon.

Jiang Yuhe only took one look, and her heart gave an inexplicable jolt.

The next moment, "Listening to Rain" surged toward that Jade Tablet as if beyond her control.

The appearance and every detail of the Jade Tablet were engraved into her mind in an instant.

At the same time.

Canghu Market.

Jiang Chengning was standing in front of a spiritual materials shop.

A few Formation nails and Restrictions were laid out on the counter.

The ancestral grounds of Baili Mountain needed to complete their Formation, and the medicine fields at Qinggeng Slope also lacked some defensive Restrictions; Jiang Chengning had come to the market specifically to purchase such supplies.

The shopkeeper clicked his abacus and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, if you take all these, I'll round it down for you—twenty-one Spirit Stones."

Jiang Chengning hesitated, comparing the prices with the previous shops, and was just about to start bargaining.

Suddenly, a sharp pain struck his brow center.

His fingertips trembled, and he nearly knocked over the Formation nails on the counter.

The shopkeeper was startled.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang?"

Jiang Chengning suppressed the churning blood in his chest, not daring to show the slightest abnormality on his face. He merely pulled his hand back into his sleeve and said slowly, "It is nothing; I suddenly remembered an important matter in the clan that has not yet been verified. I will return later."

After speaking, he turned and left the spiritual materials shop.

Jiang Chengning's eyes constantly saw another scene surfacing.

A youthful appearance, pale red Daoist robes, a lake-colored long sword, and a layer of golden, brilliant protective spiritual light covering his body.

And inside his chest, that Jade Tablet, white tinged with green like the moon.

Now, his spiritual platform was shaking violently, causing the spiritual power in his Meridians to surge in reverse, and his ears were buzzing.

This was the market, with many eyes about. If he showed any abnormality here, it might be noticed by someone with ulterior motives, sparking their curiosity.

Jiang Chengning forced himself to walk toward the corner of the street.