Chapter 596: Sisters Reunited, The Arduous Cultivation Process |
The main hall of the Heavenly Sound Hall was not particularly large, roughly fifteen meters in length and width, but the various furnishings and decorative items inside were all top-notch.
The walls of the hall were coated with silver slurry, carved with dragons and painted with beams. There were goddesses floating in mid-air playing the qin and making music, there were scenes of ten thousand flowers seemingly competing in beauty, and there were desolate, piercingly cold wilderness snow forests. Among the snow forests, one could even vaguely see Frost Beasts crouching on the trees... Each pattern was vivid and lifelike, and special coloring techniques were used. One look and you knew they were the work of Great Xia's top craftsmen.
On both sides of the hall stood twelve human-sized beast bone sculptures. Their styles varied, some were birds, some were beasts, and there were even rarely seen aquatic Frost Beasts. The key point was that these bone carvings were, without exception, all jade-green in color, clearly all sourced from high-tier Frost Beasts, meaning Jade Bones.
You must know, Jade Bones are essential resources for Warmth Realm cultivation, and are even the main ingredient for refining the sacred pill for Sun Manifestation Level training, the Bone-Consolidating Pill. They are considered one of Great Xia's controlled resources, and private trading is simply not allowed.
The Xia people, to be precise, those high-level squads of the Hunting Department, after hunting high-tier Frost Beasts, can only surrender the Jade Bones to the Camp Supply Department. And the price set by the Camp Supply Department for their recovery is 5,000 taels per catty.
A high-tier Frost Beast typically only yields 3 to 5 catties of Jade Bones. Each of these human-sized bone sculptures in the hall weighed at least 10 to 15 catties. If you factored in the cost of hiring a craftsman, the value of these twelve bone sculptures was at least over a million taels.
Right in the middle of the great hall was a silver cauldron two meters in diameter. The coal stones inside were burning fiercely. Silver pipes were laid beneath the cauldron, connecting to various places on the hall's floor. Combined with the deep blue fleece blanket covering the floor, no wonder the hall was so warm even during the day, to the point where you could feel the warmth through the soles of your shoes.
This was currently the most popular heating method in Great Xia, but how could ordinary families afford silver cauldrons and silver pipes? Not to mention the blue fleece blanket on the floor. She recognized it the moment she entered the great hall. This kind of blue blanket with fine fleece on the surface was made from Frost Wolf fleece. To achieve such a deep blue color, it must have come from high-tier Frost Wolves, and from the outermost layer of head fleece at that.
A high-tier Frost Wolf was only about a meter long in body length. Moreover, because they could only be obtained through hunting, getting a complete wolf pelt was very difficult. The main hall of the Heavenly Sound Hall was roughly over 200 square meters in area. To make such a large deep blue fleece blanket, how many complete wolf pelts would have to be consumed?
Walls, silver cauldron, silver pipes, fleece blanket, jade carvings... The phrase "resplendent and magnificent" was already insufficient to describe the nobility of this great hall. Su Xing'er couldn't help but feel the sigh rise within her again, that even the Mufu of a feudal town was nothing more than this.
It seems like a long description, but in reality, it was just an instant. Although her origins weren't particularly high, during those years following Xia Hong, she had seen quite a bit. So, forcibly suppressing the shock in her heart, she quickly fixed her gaze on the source of the qin music.
At the very top of the great hall, a young girl was concentrating intently, lowering her head as she played the qin. Two palace maids stood in attendance on her left and right. Although their posture was respectful, from their eyes that occasionally squinted, one could tell they too were immersed in the qin music.
The qin-playing girl wore a sky-blue cloud-brocade embroidered dress adorned with golden threads. Her full head of black hair was tied up behind her head with two exquisitely crafted Silver Phoenix Hairpins. The silver ornament on her forehead, upon closer inspection, was actually made from hundreds of tiny, fish-scale-sized bright pieces that shimmered brilliantly under the Cold Light, dazzling and eye-catching.
Around her neck hung a single Milky-White Jade Ring, and at her waist hung two Emerald-Green Jade Pendants. Although her entire person exuded nobility from head to toe, there wasn't a trace of arrogance between her brows. Her beautiful eyes were as tranquil and gentle as autumn water, yet carried a thread of sorrow that evoked pity, making one inexplicably feel compassion for her.
Although Su Xing'er had not been studying the qin path for very long, her natural talent was extremely high. Coupled with the Five-Colored Magic Qin gifted by her master Xia Hong, and being instructed for over half a year in Linchu County City by the qin master before her eyes, Cai Shiqin, her attainments in the qin path were already far from weak.
Seeing Cai Shiqin again after three years, Su Xing'er discovered that although the other's appearance hadn't changed much, the soft smile she used to have was gone from her face, and a thick thread of sorrow had appeared between her brows. Even the qin music she was playing at this moment no longer had the liveliness and playfulness of before, only endless melancholy and despondency.
Looking at Cai Shiqin above, boundless compassion suddenly surged in her heart.
........
"Xing'er, he hid it from you so bitterly!"
A long time later, the qin music ended. Looking at the Heavenly Sound Princess before her, Su Xing'er's expression shifted from longing to joy, to complexity, and finally, as if she had figured something out, became relieved, before she slowly opened her mouth to speak.
Seeing the series of emotional changes on Su Xing'er's face, Cai Shiqin immediately understood that she already knew about the things she had done in Evergreen Valley, and naturally couldn't help but feel a surge of guilt in her heart.
Her capturing of the Evergreen Valley commoners was, to put it bluntly, rebelling against Great Xia. Whether it was serving Caiqiu's Sun Manifestation Level masters or rescuing the Evergreen Valley commoners, she had sufficiently justifiable reasons for doing these things. But only in front of Su Xing'er, she truly couldn't be righteous and confident.
Three years ago, during that period living in Linchu County City, Su Xing'er had truly treated her like a biological younger sister. Not only did she impart all her knowledge on the qin path without reservation, but later, when she was in danger during the trial in the Blood Mire Plains, the other had even risked her own life to save her.
Su Xing'er was a genuine descendant of Great Xia's Fang Bo lineage, while the things she had done in Evergreen Valley cooperating with Great Xia, from a certain perspective, were indeed somewhat unfair to her.
"Shiqin elder sister, I'm sorry..."
Cai Shiqin was, after all, just a young girl not yet twenty. Her heart already filled with guilt, under Su Xing'er's gaze, she didn't know what to say either. Soon, her eyes reddened, and she lowered her head.
Seeing Cai Shiqin's reaction, Su Xing'er instead felt somewhat unable to bear it. She stood up, quickly walked forward, took her hand, and said softly, "Alright, it's all in the past. The two families have already ceased hostilities and made peace now. Since I've been married over here, I am no longer a person of Great Xia. Matters of Great Xia, no matter what, have nothing to do with me anymore..."
Hearing this, Cai Shiqin felt even worse in her heart. She shook her head guiltily and said, "Shiqin elder sister, it's me who is sorry for you. It's just that I was never a person of Great Xia to begin with, and... Caiqiu has great kindness towards me!"
Caiqiu!
Hearing Su Xing'er mention the word 'master', Cai Shiqin immediately recalled the Great Qin prince Hong Yu from three years ago in Linchu County City. Her tone became faintly melancholic as she said, "Xing'er, your master's identity as the Great Qin prince Hong Yu is fake, right? He is my current husband, the master of Great Xia, Xia Hong, isn't he?"
Su Xing'er nodded gently, not attempting to explain anything.
The moment her identity was exposed in Evergreen Valley, her master's false identity couldn't be maintained among the Four Feudatories. Caiqiu and Chencang could easily find out with a little investigation.
"Shiqin elder sister, how did you get married over here? Heavenly Sound Princess, I don't remember you having this title."
Seeing that Cai Shiqin didn't wish to dwell on this topic, Su Xing'er tactfully changed the subject, asking about her Marriage Alliance and title experience.
She had known for a long time that Caiqiu had sent a Heavenly Sound Princess to form a Marriage Alliance with Great Xia. If she had known the Heavenly Sound Princess was Cai Shiqin, she would have come looking for her long ago.
"It was just specially conferred for the Marriage Alliance. Caiqiu suffered a major defeat. The women in the clan, upon hearing they were to form a Marriage Alliance with a town-level camp, all made excuses and refused. In the end, it fell to me, someone without strong backing. Although my parents tried their utmost to stop it, once the Mufu had made its decision, I could only marry over."
Hearing this, Su Xing'er immediately fell silent. During that over half a year living in Linchu County, she had spent day and night with Cai Shiqin for a long time, so she had some understanding of this sister.
Cai Shiqin came from the Linchu branch of the Cai clan, but her father's aptitude was average, only reaching Warmth Realm cultivation even now. That she could ascend to one of the five prince positions of Linchu County Prefecture and become a princess was entirely due to her own exceptional aptitude, as well as diligence and effort that surpassed ordinary people.
Who would have thought that after striving for so many years, finally managing to succeed, she would be pushed out by Caiqiu for a Marriage Alliance, married far away to such a distant place as Great Xia.
But marrying into Great Xia wasn't necessarily all bad. Her master was so powerful, and Great Xia was now flourishing day by day. Establishing a feudal town in the future was almost a certainty. Cai Shiqin's future didn't seem necessarily so bleak either.
The First Madam!
As Su Xing'er thought, a person suddenly popped into her mind. Then, recalling those messages about the First Madam she had heard in the outer city, especially the reputation for jealousy, she immediately broke out in a cold sweat for her little sister's future.
"Shiqin elder sister, have you met... master?"
"No, from the time I married over until now, I have always lived in this great hall. I haven't seen him even once..."
It had been almost three months since she married over, yet she hadn't even met her husband's face. It must be the Madam causing trouble from within.
Thinking this, Su Xing'er naturally felt even more sympathy for her sister.
Little did she know that when she uttered the word 'master', Cai Shiqin seemed to have detected something unusual. The way she looked at her also became meaningful.
"Xing'er, I am alone and helpless in Xia City. Now, I can't even see my husband's face. Living in this Xia Palace, I don't know a single person. Now that I've finally found you, can you stay by my side from now on?"
Hearing Cai Shiqin's invitation, Su Xing'er was first stunned, then thought of something, and visible excitement rose on her face.
"This... is it allowed?"
Although excited, she still didn't rashly agree. Instead, she spoke with a hint of awkwardness to confirm, then her eyes intentionally or unintentionally looked behind her, at the maidservant Mingyue who had just brought her into Xia Palace.
She wasn't that familiar with Xia Palace. It was mainly because when Cai Shiqin asked that question just now, she had also clearly looked at Mingyue, which was why she acted this way.
"May I trouble Sister Mingyue to go and request instructions from the First Madam. Xing'er is an old acquaintance of mine from Caiqiu. She is now also a Xia person. Having her enter the Heavenly Sound Hall, whether as a maidservant or to do other things, shouldn't break the rules, should it?"
Sure enough, everything in Xia Palace was decided by that First Madam. Cai Shiqin also bore the title of Madam, yet she couldn't even arrange for a maidservant as she wished, having to so politely ask Mingyue to go seek instructions from the other.
Cai Shiqin understood immediately that Mingyue, including all the other maidservants serving Su Xing'er, were all Li Xuanling's people. Her sympathy for her good sister's tragic situation naturally increased even more.
"Madam, you are too polite. I will go to the Star Gathering Hall to request instructions from the First Madam right away!"
Mingyue's seemingly relaxed reply actually hid a great sigh of relief in her heart.
When Su Xing'er issued the invitation to Cai Shiqin just now, her heart had skipped a beat. All personnel comings and goings in Xia Palace had to be decided by the Madam Li Xuanling. She had been afraid Su Xing'er would directly ask for Cai Shiqin to stay.
After speaking, she didn't linger any longer, directly turning and walking towards the Star Gathering Hall, intending to ask for Madam Li Xuanling's opinion.
Cai Shiqin, meanwhile, took Su Xing'er's hand and continued chatting. Of course, they talked about their respective experiences after the Blood Mire Plains trial three years ago. Reunited after a long separation, both had endless things to say. As bursts of laughter rang out, the originally silent and empty Heavenly Sound Hall quickly gained a bit more vitality.
................
"Alright, I understand. You may go down!"
Just as the sisters were reunited in the Heavenly Sound Hall.
Below the Lord Leader's Hall, in the Star Gathering Hall, the residence of the Xia Hong couple, on the Star Gathering Platform, Sunyan had finally reported the matters of Dongchuan City truthfully and in detail to Li Xuanling.
The Star Gathering Hall was the Lord Leader's residence. Sunyan was not qualified to enter, so after being brought over by Hanshuang, he stood the entire time on the outer corridor of the Star Gathering Platform, always speaking with his head lowered. Only when Li Xuanling's voice came from within the hall did he cup his hands in salute, then turn and leave.
Inside the Star Gathering Platform, Li Xuanling slightly opened her eyes. The frost-white skeletal manifestation Golden Body behind her had already infinitely approached six zhang, gathering all the surrounding medicinal efficacy. Then her expression became slightly downcast.
"The Blood Jade Crystal has raised my Jade Bone Battle Body by another level. It should be at the same level as his now. That is to say, a nine-zhang Golden Body is no longer my limit. Six zhang is still only the middle stage. Lacking that lotus platform's cultivation enhancement, my cultivation speed has actually slowed down this much. To raise the Golden Body above six zhang will take at least another year..."
Slow, too slow!
If her husband were still here, Li Xuanling naturally wouldn't be so anxious. But Xia Hong had been missing for almost half a year, with not a single message coming through. If it weren't for the fact that Xia Hong's clan leader Spirit Tablet in the Ancestral Temple had always been normal, how could she possibly sit here so peacefully cultivating?
"Sun Manifestation Level strength improvement is too slow. Three years ago during the Shuishan Alliance, my base strength was 11 jun, and I could unleash up to 19 jun of strength. Now my base strength has barely passed 20 jun. The improvement is too small. Only by breaking through cultivation can there be a significant improvement..."
This was Li Xuanling after all. Improving 9 jun of base strength in three years, the Sun Manifestation Level cultivators of the Four Feudatories wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death. If they knew Li Xuanling was still only at the early Sun Manifestation Level cultivation, still a hair's breadth away from the middle stage, they would probably have their Dao hearts shattered on the spot.
"You two, you're awake, what are you pretending for?"
Just as Li Xuanling was frowning deeply, she suddenly sensed something, turned her head to look behind her, and spoke somewhat annoyed.
It turned out she wasn't the only one on the Star Gathering Platform. Behind her were two half-grown children sitting cross-legged in cultivation. Who else could be on the Star Gathering Platform cultivating with her besides Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng?
The two little ones opened their eyes upon hearing this, looking at their mother with pleading eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. Unless your father returns, if you want to go out, two conditions: either break through to the peak of the Warmth Realm, or turn fifteen and have the capping ceremony performed. Everything else is out of the question!"
Hearing their mother's unyielding words, Xia Yuyao and Xia Yusheng both obediently closed their eyes. The former was slightly better off, closing her eyes and directly starting to continue cultivating. The latter pouted, trying to throw a little tantrum.
Unfortunately, even with his eyes closed, Xia Yusheng could feel his mother's stern gaze. He quickly gave in, putting down his pouting mouth, and imitated his older sister, honestly continuing his cultivation.
"In a few days, I'll call your eldest brother and eldest sister over. Then the four of you can cultivate together."
Li Xuanling ultimately softened a bit. Although the two little ones still had their eyes closed upon hearing this, clear smiles appeared on their faces, obviously quite satisfied with their mother's decision.
"Madam, Mingyue has come. She says there is something from the Heavenly Sound Hall that requires your instructions."
Hanshuang's voice suddenly sounded from outside. Hearing this, Li Xuanling's brows slightly furrowed. Seeing that the two younger ones had started cultivating, she thought for a moment and still stood up, walking towards the outside.