Chapter 70: Choosing a Cave Residence

"Qingran, this is where our Sword Pavilion's cave residences are!" On the flying sword, Senior Sister Yue Qianchi pointed to a towering peak in the distance.

Li Qingran focused her gaze and could vaguely make out numerous man-made caves and small stone houses. Around these caves and houses were spirit fields tended by the cultivators themselves, and the plants and decorations outside the caves and houses reflected the unique tastes of their inhabitants.

For example, one cultivator's cave entrance was filled with chrysanthemums, while another was surrounded by giant cacti. Although she hadn't met them yet, Li Qingran speculated that these two must be individuals with completely different personalities.

Seeing Li Qingran lost in thought, Yue Qianchi thought she found the peak shabby and smiled as she explained, "Our Sword Pavilion isn't like other sects. We don't have many blessed lands or spiritual sites. To increase the concentration of spiritual energy, the Sect Master used arrays to gather the spiritual energy from other peaks to this one. As a result, although the disciples from all peaks live here and it's a bit crowded, we have a better cultivation environment, and it's livelier, don't you think?"

Li Qingran nodded, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

The Sect Master must be a pragmatic person.

Willing to sacrifice the sect's prestige to improve the welfare of the disciples.

Back in the Qingyun Sect, she had wondered why the Sect Master didn't gather the spiritual energy from several peaks into one, instead allowing the disciples to compete with each other.

When she mentioned this to Qingxuan Daoist, he scolded her for being foolish.

He said that cultivating immortality was about competing with heaven, earth, and people.

If everyone ate from the same pot, how could the differences in talent and personal effort be highlighted? But she believed that a sect should be like a family, where everyone united and helped each other, not competed.

Perhaps her thinking was too naive?

"Do you have anything to say, Junior Sister?"

"No," Li Qingran replied, her face reddening as she looked into Yue Qianchi's clear eyes. She lowered her head and murmured, "Senior Sister, I think this place is great. Which cave residences are available?"

Yue Qianchi pointed up the mountain.

"See, most of the caves above the mountainside are empty. Some were dug out by disciples themselves, while others were formed when our masters hunted the sect's guardian beasts. If you're not satisfied, you can make your own."

"Why does everyone prefer to live lower down?" Li Qingran asked curiously.

"Convenience," Yue Qianchi shrugged. "Flying on a sword is exhausting. Our Sword Pavilion's motto is: When you're out, stand if you can't fly, sit if you can't stand, lie down if you can't sit, sleep if you can't stay awake, and die… cough, never mind the rest."

Li Qingran: "…"

Is this the life philosophy of Sword Pavilion cultivators?

It's certainly laid-back.

As they got closer to the peak, she indeed saw many sword cultivators lounging around, such as one lying on a turtle's back by the waterfall, basking in the sun.

At first glance, it seemed lazy.

But upon closer observation, there was a unique sense of Zen to it.

"That's Senior Brother Duan Feng, who cultivates the Emotionless Dao. He's in the midst of enlightenment. Usually, he's as dull as a coffin board—not interesting at all." Yue Qianchi rolled her eyes, sped past with Li Qingran, and circled the peak once more.

"So, Junior Sister, have you decided where you want to live?"

Li Qingran blinked, envisioning the cliff at the mountain's summit, the rising sun, and the chorus of birds.

"Senior Sister, I'd like to live at the summit."

"Alright," Yue Qianchi wasn't surprised.

Most disciples chose the summit when they first joined the Sword Pavilion.

The scenery is beautiful, and the view is open.

They think flying on a sword every day is no big deal.

But even the most beautiful scenery becomes boring over time.

As time goes on, they'll realize how painful it is to fly on a sword to attend morning classes every day. Not only do they have to wake up early, but they'll also be exhausted and slower than those who leisurely walk.

By the peak of summer, when the sun is scorching, a day under the heat will humble them. After surviving summer, winter brings howling winds and snow. While the foot of the mountain is filled with birds and flowers, the summit is a frozen wasteland, and one night of freezing cold will also humble them.

Within half a year, these disciples will challenge their seniors to move their cave residences as far down the mountain as possible.

The strongest disciples live closest to the foot of the mountain.

Yue Qianchi brought Li Qingran to the summit, where there was a small stone house covered in dust, clearly long abandoned.

"Alright, Junior Sister, I'll leave you here. If you need anything, you can use a message talisman to call me. Feel free to visit me at Cave Residence No. 1 at the foot of the mountain."

Suddenly, the scent of wine wafted through the air.

Yue Qianchi, who had been lazily lounging, immediately perked up. She hastily dropped off Li Qingran, licked her red lips, and said, "Senior Sister is off to drink, hehehe~ See you!"

Yue Qianchi flew down the mountain on her sword with a roar.

Her voice echoed through the peaks.

"Junior Sister, remember tomorrow's morning class—don't be late!"

Her voice faded into the distance, then rose again:

"Junior Brother Xu An, I'll count to three. Hand over your newly brewed wine, or I'll smash your cave residence!"

"You manly woman, forget it!"

Boom—!

Two sword intents rose in the mountain, followed by a series of fighting sounds, and the ground trembled. A few cranes at the cliff edge dozed off comfortably, clearly accustomed to such commotion.

Li Qingran stood at the cliff edge for a while.

Then she turned and walked into the stone house.

"It's time to start a new life. After tomorrow's morning class, I'll visit the Scripture Pavilion."

She was determined to cure her master's poison!

She wanted her master to live a long life!

Li Qingran waved her fist to cheer herself up, picked up the broom at the entrance, and began to clean the dusty room.

Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in the void.

[Qingran, it's been a day. Have you missed your master?]

…

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