The piece of treasure hidden in the Green Bamboo Sect was that same item where the man in green seized some time ago. It was something related to celestialism.

　　Although Shen Lian was curious about it, he would never snatch it over to make it as his possession.

　　It was never a good thing if one was driven by greed.

　　“‘Freedom’, was not to do whatever you wanted to do but having the ability to control what you are doing and not be deceived by desires.”

　　However if An Renjie wanted to gift that to him, Shen Lian would not hesitate to accept.

　　“I don’t think you have the guts to do it either. It’s only the tenth day of the month, let’s wait until the fifteenth to decide. It’s still unknown if I’d attend or not.”

　　Shen Lian narrowed his eyes slightly as if he was trying to avoid the cold wind from outside. The snowstorm sure showed no sign of stopping.

　　…

　　The snowscape in State Capital of Qing was quite a scene while the scenery on Qielan Mountain was a different ball game.

　　The snow in State Capital was lively with footprints and traces of carriages that passed by.

　　Qielan Mountain, on the other hand, was pure white with no signs of humans.

　　When Xin Shisiniang was walking on the road, the snow seemed to avoid her deliberately. Or perhaps there was an invisible layer of glass surrounding her as she walks.

　　Under such harsh weather, she could walk around barefooted without feeling cold.

　　And she did not leave any trace on the snow.

　　Roofs were covered with white snow and dropping sharp icicles.

　　An old plum tree stood proudly in the cold, releasing a faint fragrance as the wind blows.

　　Xin Shisiniang loved the plum flower. She wanted to pluck it but a hand stopped her from doing so.

　　Unlike her silky smooth hand, this one was dry and scrawny, just like the stalk of an old plum tree.

　　But the hand managed to grip on Xin Shisiniang’s wrist firmly without trembling.

　　Xin Shisiniang looked up. “Daddy, what are you doing out here?”

　　“I just woke up and had a feeling that you’d do something to the flower.” The person who replied her was an elderly man with a head full of silvery white hair. He had a scrawny figure and he looked really aged.

　　“Let me just pluck it. It will grow back next year anyway. It’s not like I cut off its roots.”

　　The plum tree swayed messily as if it was protesting what she said.

　　“Every time you pluck it, you hurt it. Why do you want to put it in such pain?” The elderly patted Xin Shisiniang’s head lightly and took her into the hall.

　　The hall may be empty but it did not seem as abandoned as it is rumored to be. Traces of the battle between Ling Chongxiao and the man in green still remained. There were also eighteen Qielan statues lined in pairs, opposite of each other.

　　“Did you manage to see the boy?” the elderly man asked.

　　“Yes, I did. He sure is pretty, just like us.” Xin Shisiniang bit her finger as if she wanted to finish it in a bite.

　　“I heard that he’s got some skills. Did you manage to test him?”

　　“He showed one trick with his sword. Although the inner Qi has yet to pass through the final meridian, it was on point. And the best part is, he has achieved the ability to go out of the body. Xin Shisiniang answered with a hint of respect.

　　If Shen Lian heard her words, he would be stunned. After all, Xin Shisiniang was able to see through him with just a glimpse and yet he knew nothing about her.

　　“Mortals sure are unique. Just after 10 years of spring and autumn, he managed to achieve that without guidance from any celestial beings,” the elderly sighed.

　　“I don’t envy them, humans. They die after a couple of decades.”

　　Although Xin Shisiniang was impressed by Shen Lian’s ability, there was no jealousy in her. After all, she was beyond the reach of human beings.

　　“We lead a long life but it’s difficult for us to achieve enlightenment. Humans, on the other hand, lived a short life but their road to Dao is easy. I have seen the end of my life and my only hope is that you can go on the road to Dao. The smoother that kid’s journey, the more he could help you. Please behave yourself and don’t offend him,” the elderly said.

　　“He’s not that great, how could he help me? I think I could easily beat up ten of him,” Xin Shisiniang sat down with her hands crossed. She was somewhat unconvinced by the elderly’s words.

　　“I don’t know what is the kid practicing but the way he practiced his Qi is exactly the same as Daoist Master Taiyi when he first came to the human world. Although Shen Lian’s did not train the proper way of the Celestial Masters, his methods are orthodox Qing Xuan. The Celestial Doors of Qing Xuan would only open once every fifty years and would only take in less than ten youths at the age of twenty as their disciples.

　　One would need talent and sheer luck to make it through the doors of Qing Xuan. Ling Chongxiao missed the opportunity to attend Qing Xuan’s disciples’ recruitment ceremony. He managed to find out the location of the Celestial Doors of Qing Xuan but there was still the opportunity for him to enter. He eventually became the best Jianghu master among mortals but his effort to make it to Qing Xuan is still in vain.

　　In fact, if it were not for a Celestial teacher at the Qing Xuan Door who saw his Mingyu martial art and spared his life, he wouldn’t be alive.

　　Next year, the Celestial Door of Qing Xuan will have their disciples recruitment ceremony again. With this kid’s potential and Qigong so similar to Daoist Master Taiyi’s style, he would definitely have made the cut.

　　If his journey was smooth and ended up as a disciple, there was a chance that he would help you obtain Qing Feng Niang Niang’s letters hidden behind the doors of Qing Xuan. By reading the letters, you will have hopes of achieving enlightenment.”

　　The elderly talked openly about the hidden secrets of Qing Xuan. Qing Xuan was so mysterious that Ling Chongxiao probably was not aware of the truth behind his rejection and probably did not know that it was his Mingyu martial art that saved his life.

　　“Legend has it that since the beginning of the world, the Daoist Master Taiyi has witnessed the very first celestial being. Given Qing Feng Niang Niang’s relationship with Daoist Master Taiyi, and Celestial Door of Qing Xan self-proclamation of inheriting the traditions of Taiyi, why don’t daddy approach them directly for the letters? They might even heal your injuries.”

　　Xin Shisiniang had hoped in her eyes after hearing that Qing Feng Niang Niang’s letters were at the safekeeping of the celestials behind the Qing Xuan Door. Qing Feng Niang Niang was the highest ranked being among their race. She was capable of escaping catastrophe and travel among the galaxy.

　　With the letters, her father will have a good chance of recovering rather than helplessly waiting for death.

　　“If only things were that simple. The people of Qing Xuan would recognize the Daoist Master Taiyi but not necessarily Qing Feng Niang Niang. Furthermore, we are not the descendants of Niang Niang, why would they help us? The letters are useless for Qing Xuan but it is everything to us. If this kid could really make it there, he should be able to borrow us the letters without paying a hefty price. If he failed to be accepted, we will just look for other alternatives.”

　　“But daddy, I am afraid that you are running out of time.”

　　“Humans are highly functional and they learn fast. If that kid has real talent, he would be able to achieve Dao in a hundred years. I still can hold on for another a hundred years or two. Moreover, if I recover from my injuries, I am only living slightly longer. But if you do achieve Dao, you will be able to meet the Daoist Master Taiyi. All you need to do is ask him to revive me. And how hard would that be?”