Chapter 14: Exploration
Bamboo slips have been used since the pre-Qin era, varying in length from a dozen centimeters to over half a meter, with characters carved into them by knife.
The bamboo slip in Wang Xuan's hand was golden in color, glowing softly under the light.
It was eight centimeters long, three centimeters wide, and two centimeters thick — relatively short.
It felt heavy and solid in his hand, clearly dense enough to sink immediately if dropped in water.
Instead of characters, the golden bamboo slip was engraved with several images: a human-headed, snake-bodied creature depicted in different postures.
It had long flowing hair, its gender indistinguishable. Some images showed it coiled like a snake, others showed it rolling on the ground, and one depicted its tail planted firmly on the earth like a sharp sword pointing toward the sky.
There were no writings on the slip, only these carvings, and no obvious connection to the old arts — at least, Wang Xuan could not discern any value from it.
"I can't penetrate its meaning or understand it. It's been in my hands for years, just a jade-like object to fidget with," said a middle-aged man wearing a cyan mask.
He had thick short hair and sat silently.
"I got very few of those; most of the golden bamboo slips ended up with the financial clans over in the New Star territory. I only managed to seize two pieces back then," he said calmly.
Wang Xuan was certain this man was a master, likely with impressive achievements in the old arts.
He had dared to snatch these slips from the claws of the financial clans' forces—a feat not easily accomplished.
These bamboo slips were considered rare treasures even in the New Star region. Every major faction kept them secret and studied them covertly, making them nearly impossible for outsiders to see.
"Has anyone in New Star deciphered anything?" Wang Xuan asked.
"Not that I know of," the short-haired man replied briefly, unwilling to continue on this topic.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Two years ago, Wang Xuan had met this man, and it was then he first realized this seemingly peaceful city had a dark underbelly.
Deep underground beneath a landmark building, on the ninth floor below ground, an old arts combat tournament was held every Friday night. Fighters were locked in iron cages, battling fiercely with brutal bloodshed. Losers often lost limbs.
Outside the iron cage, masked spectators of various identities—men and women—cheered and screamed wildly, excitement and chaos mingling.
Wang Xuan had refused the man's offer on the spot, making it clear he would never walk the gray area. He loved studying the old arts but would never perform blood-soaked shows for others.
The short-haired man laughed and told him he was only showing him another side of the city—the real world was far more complex than the peaceful facade.
The blood-soaked iron cage fights were only loosely related to them; they only occasionally scouted potential talents there.
They were explorers.
What they faced was far more dangerous, thrilling, mysterious, and even terrifying, because their expeditions extended into space, beyond the old earth.
The man told Wang Xuan that, in terms of both future prospects and power, explorers were brilliant — far beyond the wandering gray zone factions and their organizations.
They talked several times during that period, but Wang Xuan still declined.
The short-haired man gave him a golden business card, saying that if he changed his mind after graduation, he could come find him.
Two years ago, the man also predicted that the old arts experimental class would inevitably dissolve and the investment project would be suspended.
"Why me?" Wang Xuan once asked him seriously.
The man replied that the old arts experimental class had caught his eye, but he observed all the students and only found two with true potential.
Most others lacked determination or doubted the old arts, so their achievements would be limited.
Indeed, after Wang Xuan embarked on the old arts path, he advanced rapidly — successfully gathering Qi and nurturing his body within just a few years.
The man believed Wang Xuan had great potential and would likely achieve extraordinary results.
This organization was relatively loose and free but undeniably powerful and mysterious, with reach already extending into space, rivaling New Star.
"Let me officially introduce myself. You can call me Qingmu," said the short-haired man wearing the cyan mask, breaking the silence.
"So, does this mean I've joined?" Wang Xuan asked.
Qingmu replied, "Not yet. You're one of the promising recruits I've selected these past years, but you're not the only one."
"Is there a trial or test?"
"Yes, that's the established rule. Though I favor you, I can't change it."
Qingmu told him that within two days there would be an expedition, which would serve as his trial, and asked if he wanted to participate.
"Count me in!" Wang Xuan nodded.
"After you join us, you'll understand that the expedition is dangerous — life-threatening at times. Think carefully," Qingmu said seriously.
"I've thought it through. No problem," Wang Xuan answered.
Qingmu added sternly, "You'll stay here for now. We must ensure no information leaks before this mission — it's extremely important."
Wang Xuan agreed without hesitation.
Holding the golden bamboo slip, he looked at Qingmu sitting behind the rosewood desk and asked, "May I ask some questions?"
"Depends on the questions. If you want to know some startling secrets, even if you succeed in joining us, you'll have to pay a price," Qingmu warned.
Wang Xuan asked, "Is the peak of the old arts path truly just the top tier of the alchemists? Is there no further path ahead?"
Qingmu sighed, "I understand how you feel. I also started from practicing the old arts. It's a tough path, demanding countless efforts and decades of toil, with rare success. The theoretical peak is the alchemist level — a fixed endpoint."
This was the same answer from the New Star's life research.
"Worse still, even if you know where the path ends, very few can reach that level. Since pre-Qin times, fewer and fewer have achieved the alchemist rank, and in recent times, none at all."
The old arts were declining, and alchemists had become legends, impossible to glimpse.
"Is there no one attempting to go beyond the alchemists?" Wang Xuan asked.
"Far from easy. Even true alchemists throughout history never appeared again, so how could their successors dare to think beyond?" Qingmu shook his head bitterly. "In ancient times, a few bold masters tried to push the boundaries further, but none succeeded."
"Why could those alchemists perfect the old arts, yet no one after could surpass them?" Wang Xuan inquired.
"Do you think it was just a few alchemists' efforts? No. It was generations of powerful alchemists refining and improving the arts until no path remained. Those top alchemists may have been the strongest individuals of ancient humanity."
...
That night, Qingmu arranged all the expedition gear for Wang Xuan — including alloy knives, daggers, protective suits, and lifelike synthetic human masks.
There were even hot weapons!
At dawn the next day, they departed.
First, they went outside the city to a secret estate, boarding a small advanced spacecraft heading to Qingcheng Mountain.
The spacecraft was highly advanced, undetectable by the old earth's satellites.
It was Wang Xuan's first time boarding such a ship; everything felt new, but he stayed calm and observed silently.
He knew there was much to learn.
Qingmu himself participated in the mission, showing the importance of the task.
Besides Wang Xuan, four others joined, all wearing lifelike synthetic masks, their real expressions unknown.
Qingmu said, "Our target is Qingcheng Mountain. The New Star financial clans have secretly excavated there, and that's also our destination."
"Why has Qingcheng Mountain attracted New Star's financial clans?" someone asked.
Before the mission, all details were kept secret; even the team didn't know the destination until recently.
Qingmu replied seriously, "Someone seems to have discovered something extraordinary in bamboo slips left by a pre-Qin alchemist. The target points straight to Qingcheng Mountain."
"Are they still interested in the alchemists' legacy?" someone doubted. New Star had developed super arts, and the old arts were officially abandoned.
Qingmu emphasized, "The deciphered bamboo slips record some secrets. Qingcheng Mountain apparently holds something that excites and stirs even the alchemists. That's why the financial clans secretly came again."
Everyone perked up, including Wang Xuan's heart skipping a beat.
A new discovery in Qingcheng Mountain? Something that even alchemists crave? Could it be related to the Lie Xian (Transcendent Immortals)?
The top alchemists were believed to be Lie Xian.
Some disagreed, thinking there might be something even more mysterious and powerful beyond the alchemists.
"Zhou and Ling clans have dug into the underground palace and actually found the target!" Qingmu whispered, having just received fresh intelligence.
Wang Xuan's heart leapt — those two clans?!
Time was short; they were approaching the destination.
Qingcheng Mountain, known as one of the Four Sacred Taoist Mountains and one of the Five Great Mountains.
It was also regarded as one of the birthplaces of Taoism. Zhang Daoling once built a hut here to preach Taoism, and some say he ultimately ascended to immortality in this very mountain.