That evening, Chen Shaojie climbed onto Grandmaster Qing Zhu's magic treasure and departed for the Grandmaster's residence on Qing Ming Peak.
Before this, the only magic treasure Chen Shaojie had used before was the Flying Shuttle.
That was a standard-issue magic treasure used by all the stewards specifically to transport the servant disciples to their work places.
There was an enclosed space in the middle of the Flying Shuttle which housed the passengers. During the transit, the servant disciples could not see the outside at all, and would only be let out after the Flying Shuttle had reached the destination.
But Grandmaster Qing Zhu's magic treasure was different. It was a giant section of bamboo that even had leaves on it.
After climbing onto the bamboo, Chen Shaojie stayed on the surface, so he had an unobstructed view of everything around him during the flight.
To give a more easily understood comparison, if the Flying Shuttle was a large container truck, then the big bamboo was an open-top sports car. The experience they gave the passengers was vastly different.
Originally, Chen Shaojie was only interested in Grandmaster Qing Zhu himself, but after getting on the giant bamboo, his attention was gradually pried away by the scenery, because it was simply too beautiful.
The sky outside was a scenery of ice, snow and clouds.
But within the massive mountain protection spell array, the five peaks of the Qing Yu Mountains hid behind clouds and mist.
There was another layer of protective array encasing the main mountain, the Qing Ming Peak, where the sect headquarter was located.
Light floated on the outside of the spell array, illuminating the Qing Ming Peak even in daytime, making it appear mysterious and surreal.
"This is my residence, kid."
After passing through the spell array of Qing Ming Peak, the giant bamboo slowly flew southwest of the mountain peak.
It soon landed on a flat area atop a precipitous cliff.
Resting against the mountain was a shabby-looking grass hut. Grandmaster Qing Zhu was actually pointing at the grass hut, telling Chen Shaojie that was his residence.
A big shot of the sect was living in such terrible conditions?
Chen Shaojie surveyed the grass hut. Honestly, he was rather disappointed.
According to the information he acquired from asking around, Grandmaster Qing Zhu was one of the five Mountain Guardian Elders of the sect.
The Qing Yu Mountains consisted of a total of five mountains. Each mountain had its own Mountain Guardian Elder. Grandmaster Qing Zhu was the Guardian Elder of Qing Zhu Peak, so he had a pretty high status.
Who would have thought that a high-ranking Elder like him would live in such a mediocre residence.
Grandmaster Qing Zhu only needed a glance at Chen Shaojie to guess what was on his mind. He said with a smile, "Are you disappointed? This is what you're getting in exchange for ten Qi Attracting Pills. It's not too late to change your mind, you know. If you want, you're free to take the ten Qi Attracting Pills, and I'll immediately send you back to the lower court."
What I exchanged the ten Qi Attracting Pills for is you, Grandmaster...
Chen Shaojie firmly shook his head. "Since I've chosen to take a look at your residence, I won't change my decision.
"A word spoken is an arrow let fly?"
Grandmaster Qing Zhu considered the meaning of the words and nodded. "Is this also a saying from your hometown? Not bad, well said!"
After a pause, he put away the mischievous look on his face and smiled more relaxedly. "In that case, come with me, kid. My grass hut may be simple, but it's not a place where anyone can visit whenever they want."
After pushing open the door of the grass hut, Grandmaster Qing Zhu casually strolled inside.
Chen Shaojie also stepped through the door, following close behind the Grandmaster.
He had already made up his mind – he would find a way to spend the night here no matter what. He would not stray more than five steps away from Grandmaster Qing Zhu's side.
But the moment he entered the door, he immediately froze. His steps halted despite himself. Even though Grandmaster Qing Zhu had walked far away, he did not follow after the Elder.
"This place... how..."
Chen Shaojie could feel a surge of spiritual Qi rushing at him from the inside of the hut, wrapping around him tightly.
Even someone who had as weak a Qi sense as him could feel how rich the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth here was. It was hundreds, thousands of times richer than the outside.
Grandmaster Qing Zhu was already seated on the only bed in the grass hut. He asked with a smile, "Do you understand now how special this grass hut of mine is, kid?"
He pointed underneath his bed. "There's a spiritual vortex here, one of the largest spiritual vortexes on Qing Ming Peak. I sealed the spiritual Qi inside the grass hut with a spiritual gathering spell array. Cultivating for a day here is as effective as cultivating for a month outside."
So the real estate mantra from Earth held true even here: Location! Location! Location!
It did not matter how run-down a house was. As long as the location was good, it was a good house.
This trip is definitely worth it, thought Chen Shaojie. He quickly moved to within five steps of Grandmaster Qing Zhu and pleaded, "Grandmaster, I wonder if I can spend the night here."
"I thought you'll be leaving after visiting for a short while?" Grandmaster Qing Zhu asked knowingly.
"That would be too big of a loss for me, Grandmaster. There's nothing spectacular about your grass hut itself. To exchange ten Qi Attracting Pills for a short visit is not worth it at all... That's why I'd like to cultivate here for one night so I can claw back some of my losses," Chen Shaojie replied cheekily.
Grandmaster Qing Zhu laughed and nodded to indicate his approval.
After thinking for a moment, Grandmaster Qing Zhu took out the bottle of Qi Attracting Pills and tossed it to Chen Shaojie. "These ten Qi Attracting Pills were meant for you anyway, so just take them."
Now this was an unexpected surprise...long live the Elder!
Chen Shaojie accepted the Qi Attracting Pills and said, "Thank you, Grandmaster."
Grandmaster Qing Zhu waved his hand. He looked at Chen Shaojie with a bit of regret in his eyes. "I checked the sect records. It's really too bad that you have unremarkable potential. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind taking you under my wings, considering how well we get along."
Chen Shaojie felt that Grandmaster Qing Zhu was too kind and was being very polite with his words. Chen Shaojie's potential was far from "unremarkable"; it was unbelievably bad.
But he had thick skin. He decided to fight for the chance even though he knew very well how lousy his talent was. "If I manage to promote from the lower court to the upper court in the future, Grandmaster, will you be willing to take me in?"
Grandmaster Qing Zhu shook his head. "Considering your talent... Even if you can get promoted to the upper court, you won't have much of a future in the path of cultivation."
Chen Shaojie kept up his desperate struggle. " Maybe you need someone around to do the odd jobs, Grandmaster? I believe I'm up to the task."
"If you can get promoted to the upper court, you will be a proper disciple of the sect. Even if you won't go far in the path of cultivation, you can still do other things. Why waste your time here?"
Grandmaster Qing Zhu gave him a warm smile. "Don't stray from the right path, kid. What happens in the future can be discussed in the future. What you need to do now is to focus on your present task."
But I want to be with you, Grandmaster...
Chen Shaojie bemoaned from the bottom of his heart. Basking in the Grandmaster's glow enabled his cultivation speed to become 10,000 times as fast. Where else could he find something so amazing?
But the Grandmaster was obviously unwilling to accept him. He could only take it slow. If he was too anxious, he might expose his secrets.
"Look around as you please. Just don't go into the room at the back."
After saying that, Grandmaster Qing Zhu sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes.
Chen Shaojie had zero interest in the run-down grass hut. His target had always been the Grandmaster himself.
Therefore, when he saw the Grandmaster close his eyes, he immediately sat cross-legged next to the Grandmaster and started cultivating as well.
A cultivation speed of 10,000 times. He really wanted to experience it.
Not to forget the top class cultivation environment here where a day of cultivation was equivalent to a month outside.
The spring night was short. He must cherish every moment.