Stepping out of the valley, the mottled sunlight fell upon everyone's shoulders, yet it failed to dispel the gloom in Hu Feng's heart.
The soaring ambition he felt when first entering the Canglan Kingdom seemed to have been mostly sliced away by the sharp blade of reality, leaving behind only exhaustion and melancholy. As loose cultivators without a sect to rely upon, they met with walls at every turn; let alone seeking top-tier cultivation techniques and secret manuals, finding even a mediocre immortal cave where they could settle in peace proved exceedingly difficult.
Arriving at a bustling marketplace, immortal cultivators came and went in groups of three or five, all dressed in sect garments with expressions of arrogance or leisure. Only Hu Feng and his party wore coarse cloth garments; though their bearing was extraordinary, they could not conceal the down-and-out aura of loose cultivators.
The teahouse by the street was a clamor of voices. Hu Feng raised a hand to signal the others to step inside and rest for a while, and by the way, gather some information. They ordered a few pots of spiritual tea, the tea aroma curling upward, yet unable to thaw the heavy atmosphere.
Chen Xuan frowned, toying with his teacup with both hands, and broke the silence first: "Senior Brother, the sect forces in this Canglan Kingdom are intricate and deeply rooted. For loose cultivators like us to forge a future is simply too difficult. I heard that the Lingyun Sect monopolizes the southeast spirit veins, and their disciples walk around with their noses in the air. Yesterday, when we went to ask for a chance to do odd jobs, we were actually humiliated and driven out. Then there is the Boshui Pavilion, which only recruits female cultivators and has exquisite, gentle techniques—yet for us men, they won't even let us through the front gate." With that, he slammed the teacup down heavily, splashing a few droplets of tea, his face full of indignation.
Hu Feng let out a long sigh, his gaze deep and tinged with helplessness: "How could I not know? I thought that with our abilities, we could find some fortuitous encounters, forgetting that we are like rootless duckweed—once the wind and rain come, we sway helplessly and struggle to hold on. But to give up just like this, how could we face our fallen sect mates? How could we face the legacy of the Rosy Clouds Sect?"
Lin Yao gently took Hu Feng's hand, her palm warm, and softly comforted him: "Senior Brother, do not fret. The hardship is only temporary; we will figure something out slowly." Her gaze was clear and steadfast, like a bright lamp in the dark night, warming Hu Feng's heart slightly.
At that moment, the conversation of a few loose cultivators at the neighboring table drifted over: "Hey, have you heard? Recently, the Zixiao Palace has thrown open its mountain gates to recruit disciples, regardless of background, looking only at aptitude and fate. Even though the assessment is harsh, once selected, you get rewarded with high-tier techniques and magical treasures. So many people are breaking their heads to squeeze inside!" "Humph, it's not nearly that easy. The Zixiao Palace's recruitment of disciples has always been a hundred-to-one selection; most people just end up as cannon fodder."
Chen Xuan's ears twitched, hope flashing in his eyes. He turned his head and urged eagerly: "Senior Brother, this is a rare opportunity with the Zixiao Palace. Shall we go try our luck? Maybe we'll succeed!"
Hu Feng, however, shook his head, his expression solemn: "The Zixiao Palace expanding recruitment on such a scale this time surely has ulterior motives. Besides, once you enter a sect, you are bound by numerous rules. Whether we can still wholeheartedly seek revenge for the Rosy Clouds Sect is hard to say."
Chen Xuan jumped up anxiously, his hands clenched into fists: "But if we stay outside, we can't even gather enough cultivation resources, let alone talk about revenge! Senior Brother, you cannot give up eating for fear of choking! I don't want to be a miserable loose cultivator for the rest of my life!"
The other junior brothers also showed hesitation, their gazes wandering, clearly moved.
Hu Feng's gaze was sharp as he looked straight at Chen Xuan: "Chen Xuan, have you forgotten the blood debts we bear? Have you forgotten the tragic state of the sect ruins? If you abandon your original intent for the sake of a bright future, then no matter how high your cultivation becomes, you will have no face to face our departed sect mates!"
Chen Xuan's body trembled, guilt flashing across his face, yet he still gritted his teeth: "Senior Brother, I haven't forgotten! But enduring this kind of bitter hardship—when will it ever end? I don't want to drag everyone down, and I also want to grow strong sooner." With that, his eye rims turned red, and tears welled up.
Hu Feng was silent for a moment, then said slowly: "If your mind is made up, I will not stop you. But once you step out this door, from now on we each walk our own path. I only hope you do nothing to harm the reputation of the Rosy Clouds Sect."
Chen Xuan dropped to his knees with a thud and kowtowed: "Senior Brother, I'm sorry! I... I truly have no other way. Once I gain a foothold in the Zixiao Palace, if Senior Brother has any need of me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" With that, he got up and resolutely walked away.
The other two junior brothers looked at each other, then knelt down one after another, their faces full of reluctance and guilt: "Senior Brother, we are sorry. We also want to fight for a future. May you take care!" Having said that, they hurriedly followed in Chen Xuan's footsteps.
Hu Feng watched their figures leave, his eyes moist, gripping his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms and blood seeped out. He muttered, "So be it. Everyone has their own ambitions; I wish you a smooth journey."
Lin Yao's eye rims were red, tears falling in a rush, and she choked out: "Senior Brother, do not grieve. There is still me, and the three junior sisters. Since they have left, we must hold on even more firmly!"
The three junior sisters beside her nodded one after another, their gazes resolute.
The fourth junior sister, Su Yao, pulled out a handkerchief, gently bandaged the wound on Hu Feng's hand, and spoke softly: "Senior Brother, from now on we will depend on each other. Although it is difficult, as long as we are of one heart, there is no hurdle we cannot overcome. This is the Ice-Heart Jade Pendant I brought from home; it can calm the mind and assist in cultivation. Please take it."
Hu Feng accepted it, feeling its warm texture, and was deeply moved: "Su Yao, thank you."
To find a place to settle, the group hurried about for several days until they finally found an abandoned immortal cave deep in the mountains.
The immortal cave was gloomy and damp, overgrown with cobwebs, with a broken stone door, and the surrounding spiritual energy was also extremely thin. Hu Feng, however, breathed a sigh of relief: "Although dilapidated, at least it can shelter us from the wind and rain. After a cleanup, it will be a home."
Everyone rolled up their sleeves and set to work cleaning up. Lin Yao summoned the Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet, its light flashing as it shattered cobwebs and boulders; the second junior sister, Chu Li, cast the "Qingfeng Art", summoning a gentle breeze to scatter the rotting stench; the third junior sister, Ye Xuan, then set up a simple gathering-spirit array to raise the concentration of spiritual power.
Busy until late into the night, the immortal cave took on a completely new look.
They sat around in a circle to take inventory of their supplies. Hu Feng produced their remaining medicinal pills: "This is the Blood-Coagulating Soul-Returning Pill. We have three left, to be used to save lives at critical moments. There is also not much Spirit-Gathering Powder left, so we must use it sparingly. Aside from the Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet and the Hunyuan Spirit Shield, we only have a few spirit talismans left. In future actions, we must be extremely cautious."
Lin Yao pulled a few spirit crystals from her bosom: "A few days ago, I picked up a few spirit crystals by the stream. They contain decent spiritual power and can aid in cultivation."
From then on, the group went out to adventure by day, slaying Monster Beasts and searching for spiritual plants; at night, they went into seclusion to cultivate and comprehend techniques. During one expedition, the group encountered a Tier 2 Monster Beast, the Blood-Striped Demonic Panther. The blood stripes on its panther body flashed, and its speed was extremely fast, with fierce offensive moves. Its sharp teeth and claws carried black demonic flames, scorching grass and trees wherever it passed.
Hu Feng drew his sword and shouted angrily, "Watch out!" He met the enemy first, summoning the Taiji Chaos Banner to distort space and restrict the panther's movements. Lin Yao and the junior sisters closely cooperated; the Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet's light burst forth, trapping the panther's four limbs. Chu Li deployed the Ice Soul Silver Needle, its cold light flashing as it nailed into the panther's vital spots. Su Yao and Ye Xuan chanted incantations, their spiritual power transforming into vines that wrapped around it layer by layer. After a fierce battle, they finally slew the panther, harvesting its demonic core and skin.
Yet on the path of a loose cultivator, trials followed one after another.
On one occasion, the group went to the marketplace to sell spiritual plants and demonic cores in exchange for cultivation supplies, only to be targeted by a gang of local ruffians. The ringleader had a flesh-bound face, bared his chest, shook a folding fan, and spoke in a strange, mocking tone: "Yo, a few loose cultivators, and you've harvested quite a bounty! Hand over the goods obediently, and this lord will spare your lives. Otherwise, humph, there's no place for you to reason things out in this marketplace!"
Hu Feng glared with furious eyes: "In your dreams! In broad daylight, such wild behavior will not be tolerated!"
The ruffians smiled at each other, drew their weapons, and swarmed forward to surround them. Hu Feng executed the "Hunyuan Heart Scripture", his sword shadows like rainbows as he batted away several people; Lin Yao used the Hunyuan Spirit Shield to block attacks, seizing the opportunity to counterattack as the Spirit Rhinoceros Bracelet transformed into a spiritual prison to trap several enemies. The junior sisters were not to be outdone either, each employing their own methods. But two fists could not match four hands; gradually, they found themselves outmatched, their clothes ragged and covered in wounds.
At the critical moment, a passing old man in a green robe stepped in to help. With a wave of his long sleeve, the ruffians were sent flying backward like fallen leaves, fleeing in disarray.
The old man looked at them with a gentle gaze and sized them up: "Little fellows, your skills are not bad. Why bother being loose cultivators and suffering this kind of humiliation? I am an executive of the Qingfeng Valley. Seeing that your aptitudes are passable, would you be willing to enter my valley and become registered disciples?"
Hu Feng bowed with cupped hands in gratitude: "Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives! It's just that we bear a sea of blood debts and cannot enter a sect for the time being. I hope Senior will understand."
The old man nodded slightly: "Since that is so, I will not force you. However, the jianghu is treacherous; be very careful in your future actions." Having said that, he drifted away.
Through this encounter, the group deeply realized the weakness of loose cultivators, yet it only solidified their determination for revenge.
Upon returning to the immortal cave, Hu Feng stayed awake all night, sitting alone at the cave entrance and meditating while looking at the twinkling stars: "Father, Mother, Sect Master, this disciple is unfilial, failing to protect our sect mates and leaving everyone to wander here. But I will never give up. Even if I am all alone, I will revitalize the Rosy Clouds Sect and slay our enemies with my own hands!"
Lin Yao quietly walked over and draped an outer garment over him: "Senior Brother, the night is deep; don't catch a chill. I know your mind is heavy, but don't forget, we are still here to accompany you. No matter how dark the road ahead is, we can walk through it hand in hand."
Hu Feng turned his head, his gaze gentle, and grasped Lin Yao's hand: "With you here, I have the backbone. From now on we will step up our cultivation and seek more fortuitous encounters. I refuse to believe that with our perseverance and wisdom, we cannot turn things around!"
Lin Yao nodded heavily: "Mhm! Things are bound to look up."
Time leisurely passed, and several more months went by.
One day, while Hu Feng was in seclusion comprehending the Taiji Chaos Banner, the banner's body burst with brilliant light, its runes surging wildly as if trying to break free from his control. He clenched his teeth tightly, pouring his spiritual power in to the limit to guide this violent force.
A spiritual vortex formed around his body, and his meridians felt as though they were being hammered by heavy weights. Severe pain struck, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered.
After a long while, with a loud "rumble", the bottleneck within his body shattered like glazed glass, and majestic spiritual power surged to flood his body—Foundation Establishment was successful!
Hu Feng broke out of seclusion, his entire body glowing with brilliant light, his bearing transcendent and refined.
Lin Yao and the others gathered around in joyful surprise: "Senior Brother, congratulations!"
Hu Feng's face was full of gratification: "Thanks to everyone sticking together through thick and thin, half of this credit belongs to you! Now that my Foundation Establishment is successful, my strength has greatly increased. In the future, when seeking fortuitous encounters and fighting external enemies, our chances will be much greater. The bitter days we've had are almost at an end!"
Everyone cheered and danced with joy, hugging each other and weeping.
Right as they were excited, Su Yao's sharp eyes caught sight of an anomaly in the sky outside the immortal cave—a gorgeous ray of rosy light pierced the firmament, as if a heavenly treasure had appeared in the world.
Hu Feng's gaze grew stern: "It must be a fortuitous encounter! Let's go and take a look!"
Carrying hope in their hearts, the group packed their gear and sprinted toward the rosy light. Even though the road ahead was unknown and fraught with dangers, having endured countless tribulations, they were already fearless. They only hoped that this time they could seize the fortuitous encounter, add bricks and tiles to their path of revenge, make the name of the Rosy Clouds Sect shine once more in the Immortal Cultivation World, and reignite the brilliance extinguished by the fires of war.