7 Chapter 7: Descending the Mountain

After handing over the Alchemy Technique to Lin Jing, Steward Li directly said farewell to Han Jing.

"Senior Han, I take my leave."

Having said that, Steward Li left with Yuan Luo, this time Han Jing did not stop them.

After the two had gone, Han Jing looked at Lin Jing with a strange expression in his eyes.

"Your father used to say that you were an honest person, but now it seems there must have been some misunderstanding about you."

Lin Jing immediately felt embarrassed, having just gotten a little too proud of himself, hardly the image of an honest man, so he quickly defended himself:

"Senior Han, my father passed away suddenly, and for a living, I had to act this way."

Han Jing nodded and did not harbor any doubts.

"I was worried earlier that you were too honest, that you might be bullied after coming down the mountain, but now it seems I was overthinking."

"Senior Han, you knew my father, how come I never heard him mention you?"

"Naturally, it's because of you."

"Forget it, it's already late today, you get some rest early, I will tell you when you descend the mountain tomorrow."

This conversation was cut in mid-sentence, leaving Lin Jing momentarily unable to react.

"Uh… Okay, then."

Seeing that Han Jing had no intention of continuing, Lin Jing had no choice but to let it be.

"Get some rest early."

After saying this, Han Jing left the thatched cottage and flew away on his sword.

Leaving Lin Jing standing there, watching enviously as he left on the sword.

"Just you wait, once I've learned to fly with the sword, I'll fly non-stop for three days and nights."

......

The next morning, Lin Jing woke up early.

Ever since he began cultivating, he needed less sleep, and despite the many events of the previous night that had kept him up late, he was still full of energy now.

After washing up and grabbing the package he had packed earlier, he stepped out of the thatched cottage. Perhaps it was the remnants of his original consciousness, but leaving this time made Lin Jing feel somewhat reluctant.

He took one last look inside the house, then Lin Jing closed the cottage door, turned, and strode away.

"One must look forward."

He might have been saying this to himself or perhaps to the original occupant of the body.

......

When he arrived at the village, Han Jing was already waiting for him.

"Let's go."

Han Jing called out and then immediately started walking forward, with Lin Jing quickly following behind.

The Qingyuan Sword Sect was located on Qingyuan Mountain, and the several surrounding peaks were also under the jurisdiction of the Qingyuan Sword Sect.

The place where Lin Jing had stayed was Qingtian Peak on the southern side of Qingyuan Mountain. Going down Qingtian Peak and about two hundred miles further south was Lin Jing's current destination—Nanshan Market.

However, traversing the mountain forest was not easy as various wild animals roamed and even Demonic Beasts would occasionally appear.

It was only a large power like the Qingyuan Sword Sect that could remain unafraid of these Demonic Beasts; Lin Jing had been on Qingtian Peak for so long and had never heard of an attack by beasts or Demonic Beasts.

That was because the Qingyuan Sword Sect had early on set up Formations on Qingtian Peak, and additionally, they had arranged for Disciples to patrol.

Other smaller Sects and cultivator families did not enjoy such luxuries; being attacked by wild animals was common,

and they would even occasionally suffer from Demonic Beast attacks, which often resulted in heavy losses for them.

Leaving Qingtian Peak, the two entered the mountain forest, and Han Jing handed Lin Jing a Godspeed Talisman, saying:

"My Flying Sword cannot carry two people at once, and we have to make our way through the forest. You are too slow, use this Godspeed Talisman if you want to keep up with me."

"Alright."

Lin Jing did not say anything more, took the Godspeed Talisman, activated it, and stuck it onto his leg.

By then, Han Jing had already moved quite a distance ahead.

With the Godspeed Talisman attached, Lin Jing quickly caught up. Han Jing was indeed very fast, and with the boost from the Godspeed Talisman, Lin Jing could barely keep up.

"Your father, he actually joined the Qingyuan Sword Sect quite early, and he had a small reputation among the Outer Sect Disciples,"

Han Jing walked and began to talk about Lin Jing's father's history.

Lin Jing followed closely behind Han Jing, listening intently.

"However, later, a mission from the Sect led him to suffer severe injuries, and his Cultivation plummeted."

"It was during that mission that he acquired a Foundation Building Elixir."

Han Jing, not waiting for Lin Jing's response, continued to speak:

"He knew he had no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, so he gave the Foundation Building Elixir to me and entrusted me to take care of you,"

"So, you don't owe me anything."

Lin Jing frowned. He knew nothing about this, from his predecessor's memories, his father was just a spiritual farmer and had a good relationship with the previous steward.

"But why would father keep it from me?"

Turning his head to look at Lin Jing, Han Jing spoke,

"Because you have a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root."

"With a Five Elements Mixed Spiritual Root, the path of cultivation is bound to be short, and you don't even qualify to become an outer sect disciple."

"If you can't cultivate, it's better to hide it from you from the start, let you be a spiritual farmer, and lead a stable life."

"Moreover, your father had quite a few enemies when he was young, and by doing this, he was also protecting you."

After saying this, Han Jing sighed.

"It's a pity, even so, there are those who wouldn't let you off."

"Your expulsion from the sect this time was due to one of your father's old enemies, who secretly informed Steward Li that your father possessed a Foundation Building Elixir."

"In the sect, it's forbidden to kill fellow disciples."

"That's why Steward Li tried to find a way to expel you from the sect."

"He couldn't do it openly while you were inside the sect."

"Your father's enemy is too vengeful, obviously unwilling to let you go, and the person is also an inner sect disciple, so even I can't do much about him."

"So, I simply went with the flow and let you sever ties with Qingyuan Sword Sect. Although life may be hard in the future, at least you can save your life."

"So that's how it is, thank you, Senior Han, for your help."

From then on, Lin Jing finally understood that there were still people in Qingyuan Sword Sect who wanted his life.

If it weren't for Senior Han's help, even if he could avoid this time, he might not be able to escape the next.

And according to what Senior Han just said, the other party was also an inner sect disciple, which means they are at least at the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation.

Being targeted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator is terrifying, and leaving Qingyuan Sword Sect was the best choice.

"I've said that you don't owe me, you don't need to thank me."

"Without your father's Foundation Building Elixir, I might have rushed the Foundation Establishment stage and it's likely I would have exploded and died."

Thinking about his own attempt at the Foundation Establishment stage, Han Jing was still frightened by the close call. Thankfully, the Foundation Building Elixir had allowed him to succeed in breaking through.

"Also, the Alchemy Technique Steward Li sold you is incomplete. You should be able to concoct First Rank elixir medicines without a problem, but from the Second Rank onward, your failure rate will drastically increase."

"Of course, that's what I've heard from others. As for how it really is, you'll have to verify it yourself. If it really doesn't work, just throw it away."

"If that fails, you could join a small sect, becoming a spiritual farmer is also an option."

"Ah... incomplete?"

Lin Jing was dumbstruck.

"Otherwise, why do you think he would sell it?"

"If you manage to cultivate it by luck, you should still look for other Alchemy Techniques later on."

"If it doesn't work out, it's better to give up early and find another path."

"Senior Han, I understand."

Lin Jing nodded in acknowledgment.

In fact, Han Jing had left some words unsaid; he didn't believe Lin Jing could become a Second Rank Pill Master, even First Rank seemed a bit of a stretch.

Without a skill down the mountain, it was difficult to survive, so there was no harm in letting him try.

"However, that Controlling Fire Technique is a good thing; you should cultivate it diligently."

"Yes, don't worry, Senior Han."

Afterward, the two of them walked silently, as if they each had their own concerns.

It wasn't until the afternoon that they emerged from the forest and reached the main road.

Han Jing said his goodbyes to Lin Jing.

"Alright, I'll see you off here. Just follow this road straight, and you'll soon see Nanshan Market."

He then handed Lin Jing a Storage Bag.

"There are some Spirit Stones inside, enough for you to use for some time. If you run out of the Spirit Stones inside before reaching the status of a First Rank Pill Master, it means you don't have the talent for alchemy, and you should give up by then."

"Take care."

After finishing, Han Jing rode his flying sword into the air and headed toward Qingyuan Mountain.

"Senior Han, take care."