C16 Nine Apertures Exquisite Heart

Her senior sister had an aversion to anything filthy. When she hurled people using her spiritual energy, it was excruciatingly painful. Kicking, on the other hand, was a bit gentler, but since he was too dirty, she refused to use her feet.

He was going to be beaten like a dog.

Wu Pingfan let out a low sigh, "Help me sort the beans, please."

To save him from being crippled by his senior sister, it seemed best to lend a hand.

Lou Wei pondered for a moment. His benefactor must have exerted considerable effort to bring him up the mountain. If he offered no gratitude in return, he would be utterly without conscience.

He readily agreed.

The beans Wu Pingfan cultivated were no ordinary beans; they were the Nine-Colored Rainbow Beans.

They were Ling Long's favorite treat, perfect for making colorful bean candies.

But when the nine varieties were mixed, they became incredibly distasteful, hence the expression about sorting the beans.

Lou Wei, a prodigy of the Gentledawn Sect, immediately recognized the abundant spiritual energy within the beans. A single bite could replenish his depleted reserves.

Unable to resist, he bit into a red bean.

The spiciness turned his entire face red.

"Unripe beans have a strange taste, so don't eat them haphazardly."

Wu Pingfan was instructing Ling Long when he caught sight of Lou Wei's beet-red face.

He continued, unfazed, "Exactly like that."

The table immortals were always keenly observing the junior brother's companions, so when Lou Wei showed up, Zhuo Xianqun thoroughly investigated his background.

The premier successor of the Gentledawn Sect, the top figure in the Spirit Absorption Stage?

She glanced over the jumbled titles before passing them to Yao Jing, who was astonished.

It was Lou Wei, the foremost individual in the Spirit Absorption Realm. It seemed he needed to personally meet this Young Master Lou.

Zhuo Xianqun remarked nonchalantly, "Judging by his appearance, he seems like a good person. He probably won't mislead our Little Junior Brother."

Yao Jing felt uneasy. He resolved to tidy himself up and pay a visit to Young Master Lou.

Before reaching the side peak, they encountered a man squatting on the grass, intently sorting beans with his hands. His movements were incredibly swift, deftly separating the beans of various colors in front of him into nine distinct piles.

Yao Jing couldn't help but marvel.

This man surely possessed a heart with nine apertures.

"Don't interrupt my bean sorting, old man."

Lou Wei lifted his dark eyelids, transforming into a creature that devoured iron.

He appeared as though he had lost his three souls.

Yao Jing stepped back and cautioned, "Young man, it's troubling to see your spiritual energy wane at such a young age. You must rest soon."

Lou Wei shook his head.

As the premier successor of Gentledawn, how could he falter at such a minor setback?

If he couldn't handle such a straightforward task, how would he face his fellow disciples?

Lou Wei persisted in his laborious task.

Yao Jing sighed deeply. It was such a waste.

The youth was too obstinate. How could he pursue his cultivation?

"Is Young Master Lou present?" Yao Jing inquired with respect upon reaching the peak.

"Young Master Lou is below. Master Yao, you've arrived?"

Ling Long emerged from the inner room, cradling a large black dog in her arms, causing Yao Jing's heart to race.

How could the revered ancestor casually embrace a fourth-stage spirit animal? What if her clumsy handling provoked it?

To Yao Jing's surprise, the large black dog seemed to relish Ling Long's embrace, even stretching its legs disdainfully in Yao Jing's direction.

"Young Master Lou is below?" Yao Jing was confused, then suddenly recalled the man he had met earlier.

Was that Young Master Lou?

Gentledawn was the wealthiest among the five great sects, and unlike the Sword Sect, its members were known for their lavish spending.

Many, like Lou Wei, would carelessly spend all their silver.

But there was a common trait among Gentledawn's disciples: they were exceptionally headstrong, particularly the first successor, Lou Wei.

He had nearly overlooked this detail. Upon returning, he discovered Lou Wei collapsed in the beans, unconscious.

It was a case of spiritual energy depletion, a critical issue for cultivators.

If one's spiritual energy was compromised, it could lead to such dire consequences.

"Dad, did you come to see Lou Lou?"

Wu Pingfan, who was being stubbornly clung to around the waist, was momentarily taken aback.

Perhaps he shouldn't have tasked Lou Wei with splitting the soybeans.

"Senior, this is my fault."

Wu Pingfan accepted the blame with good grace.

"He was just a beggar, and yet I gave him a hard time. From now on, he'll be under my care."

Despite his youth, Wu Pingfan was remarkably mature.

Yao Jing nodded approvingly, his hand pausing mid-stroke through his beard.

A beggar? But this was Young Master Lou!

If the leader of the Gentledawn Sect found out his son had been reduced to a fool, it would cause an uproar!

A chill ran down Yao Jing's spine as he hurriedly dashed off.

This was urgent; the Immortal Master had to be informed!

"Gentledawn Sect? What's that to me? Even if the Garlic Sect or the Spicy Sect showed up, I'd kick them out just the same."

Zhuo Xianqun dismissed the notion with a nonchalant air.

She stretched lazily.

"I can't keep my eyes open any longer. I'm going to cultivate for a month or so. Starfall Peaks and the Little Junior Brother are in your hands now."

With that, Zhuo Xianqun departed.

Meanwhile, Yao Jing spent the entire night restless and unable to sleep.

That is until a message from the Gentledawn Sect arrived.

They demanded the return of their top disciple, threatening to level Starfall Peaks if their demands were not met. That night, Yao Jing finally slept soundly.

Where was Lou Wei in all of this?

Lou Wei spent his days carrying water, feeding chickens, and enjoying the simple life alongside Wu Pingfan. Wu Pingfan, feeling remorseful and noting that Lou Wei's cultivation was only at the Spirit Absorption level – hardly enough to be considered for sect entry – kindly taught him a sword technique. As Lou Wei practiced, he advanced to the Martial Mortal Realm.

Lou Tianzhong, Lou Wei's father and an elder of the Gentledawn Sect, witnessed the sudden lightning and sighed to himself.

"It's been years since I've seen a Spirit Absorption cultivator make such a breakthrough. I must find out who it is and get acquainted."

Upon arriving, he saw his son, who had been thought a simpleton, sitting at the mountain's peak, enveloped in spiritual energy, with a pair of swords in hand, exuding an aura of readiness for battle.

Beneath an aura of fierce battle intent, the heavenly thunder struck on cue.

Lou Wei gripped his swords and charged into the storm of lightning.

Just as Lou Tianzhong was about to remark that heavenly thunder should be blocked, not attacked, Lou Wei was struck by the lightning and reduced to a charred figure.

Lou Tianzhong was at a loss for words.

Shaking off the charred remnants from his body, Lou Wei stood up, seized his swords, and once again braved the heavenly thunder.

Meanwhile, Lou Tianzhong found a perch on an adjacent peak. He settled onto a small stool beside a disciple from Starfall Peaks, observing his son's tribulation in silence.

One must not interfere with a tribulation.

His son's foolishness was his own—if he was to be struck dead by the lightning, it was due to his own folly.

"I never taught you this sword technique," Lou Tianzhong mused, perplexed.

"Yet, this technique is quite impressive. I'm curious who your master is."

"This is my master's sword technique," Wu Pingfan revealed.

Lou Tianzhong reached into a bowl and plucked out two vibrant, multicolored candies, mimicking the child's actions as he chewed thoughtfully. The candies were surprisingly delightful.

"Could your master be one of the exalted from Starfall Peaks?" Lou Tianzhong's eyes bulged. "These candies... are they spiritual beans?"

He examined the precious candies in his hand, wondering which mighty being could afford to treat spiritual beans so casually.

A chill ran down Lou Tianzhong's spine. He was relieved he hadn't made a move against Starfall Peaks—what if an almighty being had struck him down with a single blow?

Even the wealthy Gentledawn Sect wouldn't dare to indulge in spiritual beans as if they were common fare.

In that moment, a dragon's roar thundered across the heavens.