With the matters concerning Pan and Shen finally settled, Qi Xiu felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He entrusted miscellaneous tasks and other trivial matters to Zhan Yuan, handed over the Sect Leader's authority and the corresponding token to Zhang Shishi, and then called the disciples over one by one to give them instructions.
By the time he finished all this, the sky had already darkened. He decided to rest early to conserve his energy for the long journey to the Soldier's Outpost Market the next day.
The night passed without incident.
Just before dawn, when the sky was still more dark than light, Qi Xiu quietly got out of bed and put on his slightly worn-out Chu Qin Sect crimson robe.
Ever since they discovered the pond at the foot of the mountain, he had ordered the sect to stop using the Cleansing Talismans. Instead, He Yu and the others, who took turns training at the base of the mountain, would bring back water for washing clothes, bathing, and drinking.
The robe Qi Xiu wore was the same one he had brought with him from his secluded house to the Clear River Market. Not knowing he would not return to his house again, this half-new, half-old garment was the only clothing he had taken with him. Now, after a month, even with the Cleansing Talisman, it had become quite worn.
He gently stroked the storage pouch at his chest. Inside, along with various essential supplies, was a rectangular wooden box containing the gift he had prepared for Wang Guan and the red jade formation plate—all neatly organized.
The small wooden box with the Foundation Establishment Pill and the farewell letter was still hidden in the old spot, known only to Zhang Shishi.
After picking up the Wind Array Spirit Boat and making sure nothing was left behind, Qi Xiu took a deep breath, pushed the door, and stepped outside.
The main hall still had that big communal bed laid out, with disciples sleeping soundly side by side. Their soft snores rose and fell, creating a peaceful rhythm. As Qi Xiu's gaze swept across their young, innocent faces, he felt a surge of affection, and his determination to fight for the sect grew even stronger.
He went over to fix the blanket for Gu Ji, who had the messiest sleeping posture, then quietly slipped out of the temple.
"Sect Leader."
Today, it was Huang He's turn to keep watch outside. When he saw Qi Xiu, he quietly stepped forward to greet him. Qi Xiu gave him a pat on the shoulder and a few encouraging words.
With Huang He watching, Qi Xiu summoned the Wind Array Spirit Spirit Boat and, without hesitation, flew northward into the deepest darkness of the pre-dawn sky.
This journey was going to be different from the previous trip to the Ninth Three Market—It would take a whole day of flying over the black river that ran from north to south, with no place to rest. It was going to be exhausting.
Zhan Yuan had spent seven days on his trip, with two of those days just spent on the road, going back and forth. For a Qi Condensation cultivator at the second stage, it was a massive challenge.
Zhan Yuan had also mentioned that you might run into other cultivators on the road, and if your luck's bad enough to cross paths with someone looking to kill and steal your treasures, your life could be in serious danger.
After flying for a while, the red sun began to rise from the eastern horizon, painting the sky and clouds a deep red. The black river below, which constantly emitted a foul stench, looked even more ominous in the sunlight, its thick fog rolling and twisting like a giant black serpent slowly crawling along.
As the sun climbed higher, the temperature rose, heating up the black mist, which was most active during this summer season. More powerful cultivators usually flew above the clouds to avoid the stench.
Qi Xiu, lacking sufficient cultivation, could only frown and maneuvered his Wind Array Spirit Boat to fly higher, avoiding the nauseating black stench below. He then took out a Fragrant Coix Seed Pill from his chest pocket, placing it in his mouth. A refreshing aroma filled his senses, blocking out the foul odor, allowing him to continue on.
He remembered that half a year later, in the coldest part of winter, there would be a short window of about a month when mortals could cross the black river with the help of these Fragrant Coix Seed Pill. By then, Qin Ji should have arrived with the mortal immigrants under Chu Qin Sect's protection, and they might just catch this once-a-year opportunity.
But when they arrive, how are they going to settle down near this Black River? That's another big problem, Qi Xiu thought, feeling anxious again. There were so many loose ends, so many uncertainties, and it was all taking a toll on him.
In spite of the fact that his time as the sect leader had strengthened his decision-making and presence, the countless unknowns of the future still left him feeling helpless and frustrated.
This struggle was deeply tied to his personality. For nearly thirty years, Qi Xiu had lived a life where everything was arranged for him. Now that he had to make decisions on his own and bear the weight of the entire sect's future, his confidence was severely lacking.
If it weren't for the support of the Southern Chu Sect throughout this journey, Qi Xiu feared that if he had taken Chu Qin Sect off Chu Qin Peak on his own, the sect would have fallen apart within three days.
Qi Xiu's unambitious nature, limited imagination, and lack of personal charisma made it unlikely that he could lead the sect into the future. He doesn't even have a clear goal or the authority to command respect. What could he have done, take everyone to the Clear RiverMarket to set up a stall? And even if he'd done so, why would anyone have followed him?
But Qi Xiu had many strengths as well. He treated others sincerely, was willing to lower himself to get things done, was proactive, and had some understanding of mundane affairs. Among Daoist cultivators, he is also quite thick-skinned. Under the protection of the Southern Chu Sect, he follows a predetermined path that effectively conceals his flaws.
It seemed that both this sect leader and the sect itself might just manage to get by.
Suddenly, a streak of sword light shot across the sky above him.
The cultivator on the flying sword didn't even acknowledge Qi Xiu in his wind array spirit boat.
Qi Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.
The atmosphere of conflict in Southern Xinjiang, as described in the Southern Chu Sect's jade slips and by Kan Lin, was far more brutal than in Qi Yun Kingdom. When three sects attacked Chu Qin Mountain, not a single life was lost, and such a situation would be impossible in South Xinjiang.
Chu Qin Sect had now been here for almost a month. Aside from Kan Lin, other cultivators frequently passed by Black River Peak. Some would leave immediately upon seeing the protective array, while others would come down to investigate.
Even those who initially appeared fierce and intimidating became much more polite once they learned of the relationship between Chu Qin Sect and the Southern Chu Sect.
Qi Xiu kept his head down, focusing on the journey ahead. Finally, around midnight, just as his spiritual energy was nearly depleted, he spotted the distant glow of the Soldier's Outpost Market's protective formation.
Unlike most marketplaces built on mountain peaks, this one was set within a stone fortress on the plains. Designed as a military outpost to defend against beast attacks, the outpost wasn't very large.
It had a simple cross-shaped layout, with one main road running north-south and another running east-west, connecting the four gates of the stone city. Above, a prohibition formation preventing flying or entering the area.
Qi Xiu breathed a sigh of relief as he landed outside the southern gate. The gray-white stone walls weren't particularly tall, and the wooden city gate had long since disappeared.
After storing away his Wind Array Spirit Boat, he strolled into the city. Under the glow of fluorite lamps, the streets were bustling with people, even at this late hour. Many of the cultivators weren't dressed in traditional Daoist robes, and the place was far livelier than the Three-Ninth Market, though not quite on the level of the Clear River Market.
No one questioned his background or identity, The people here didn't seem to care much about the origins of the cultivators who came by, despite being in a region where several major sects' territories overlapped. It seemed the local owners of this place, backed by the super Qi Yun Sect, had the confidence that others wouldn't dare cause trouble here.
Qi Xiu wandered around briefly. The layout was quite similar to other marketplaces, but with a lot more local specialties from the White Mountain. One shop even specialized in selling live spirit beasts consigned by the Beast Taming Sect—many of which he didn't recognize.
Running the marketplace should be my strong suit, so it wouldn't look good if I end up worse than Zhan Yuan. Looks like, aside from the main business, I need to spend some time here to observe and learn more about everything in South Xinjiang, Qi Xiu thought to himself.
For now, though, he focused on the task at hand. Despite the late hour, he entered one of Wang Guan's businesses, found a Wang family cultivator, and handed over the gifts and a letter of introduction, asking him to pass them on to Wang Guan.
After receiving a positive response, Qi Xiu finally made his way to an inn where visiting cultivators could rest and settled in for the night.