Life as a Rogue Cultivator

Chapter 301: Starting Moves Don’t Match

There was an open clearing under the waterfall, paved with big, heavy bluestone slabs. It was maybe a dozen zhang across, and the stones closest to the water were coated in bright green moss.A dozen or so people were gathered there. Four low tables had been set out: one in the center, two on the left, and one on the right.

Most of those present were women. Leading them was a striking beauty in a dark green robe. She stepped forward, cups her fists, and greeted Liu Xiaolou. “Friend Liu.”

The Elder of Transmission introduced her, and Liu Xiaolou quickly returned the salute. “Greetings, Altar Mistress.”

This beauty in green was none other than the Mistress of Qingyue Altar. In the three altars of Hengshan, once you take the top seat, you inherit the altar’s title as your own. She looked about the same age as Sister Qing, not quite as stunning in the face and definitely missing that sultry charm Qing had, but there’s a clean, dashing vigor about her that felt really refreshing to look at.

She took the central seat and gestured for the others to sit. Liu Xiaolou took the seat to her right, while the Elders of Transmission and Enforcement settled into the two places on her left.

Liu Xiaolou glanced at the Five-Dragon Falls before him. He was just about to praise the scenery when one of the Qingyue Altar disciples standing nearby stepped out from the group. She was a young woman, pretty and a little younger than he was. She bowed deeply. “Senior Liu, please give me your guidance!”

Liu Xiaolou blinked, staring at her hips. Puzzled.

She just came up to challenge him without a word? What the hell was wrong with the people at Qingyue Altar?

“This…” He glanced at the female disciple, then at the altar mistress on his right.

The Qingyue Altar Mistress only smiled and stayed silent. It was the Elder of Transmission behind her who chuckled. “This is our disciple, Xue Bu,” he said. “She’s quite talented. We invited Friend Liu to give her a few pointers.”

Liu Xiaolou thought it over, then asked Xue Bu, “Have you formed your foundation yet?”

Xue Bu replied, “Not yet, Senior. I’m at the tenth layer of Qi Refinement.”

If it had been a male disciple, Liu Xiaolou would have been annoyed. The Qingyue Altar is asking a Qi Refinement disciple to consult me? What’s that supposed to mean?

But since she was a beauty, he dropped the attitude of a Foundation Establishment senior. He smiled, easy and a little warm. “So… how do you want me to help?”

Xue Bu lifted her head and met his eyes without flinching, a blush blooming across her cheeks. “I’ve grasped a fair bit of our altar’s Azure Wood True Scripture. I hope Senior can give me some guidance.”

Liu Xiaolou just smiled. He gestured for her to begin. “Then let me see the skill of your sect.”

Xue Bu rose gracefully, hips swaying as she shifted her weight. Her slender shoulders dipped slightly, and with an elegant flick of her orchid-like fingers she pointed straight at Liu Xiaolou. A cool breeze suddenly stirred the hair at his temples. Right above his head, three feet up, an eight-palm-sized black cloud materialized out of nowhere. Liu Xiaolou stared up at it, completely floored. What the hell…?

This technique was truly mysterious, nothing like the usual combat-oriented methods.

From the cloud, a soft drizzle began to fall. Raindrops pattered down onto Liu Xiaolou’s head, slid across his forehead, and dripped off the tip of his nose.

Real rain!

Brilliant, Liu Xiaolou thought, genuinely impressed.

The dark cloud began to spin, and as it turned, flashes of lightning flickered inside it. Even from three feet away, he could already feel the charge building. If that thing dropped on him, his hair would probably be fried to a crisp.

There were plenty of ways to break the technique, but doing it effortlessly and without embarrassing the young beauty... that was the tricky part.

His mind raced, and he finally settled on the right approach. With a wave, a jade-like bone flute appeared in his hand. He lifted it to his lips and played a gentle, lilting melody, warm as a spring breeze and soothing to the heart.

As the music flowed, the phantom of a spiritual leopard emerged. It leapt toward the spinning cloud, opened its jaws, and swallowed it whole. As the music ended, the leopard dissolved into sparkling shards of crystal-like light.

Xue Bu gasped softly, one hand flying to her chest. Her cherry lips parted, eyes wide with a mix of awe and admiration as she looked at Liu Xiaolou. Then she quickly lowered her head and murmured, “Thank you for your guidance, Senior…”

Liu Xiaolou was more than happy to give guidance like this a few more times. He nodded in approval. “Is this the Cloud-and-Rain Technique from the Azure Wood True Scripture? Not bad at all. You’ve already reached a subtle level.”

He then turned to Altar Mistress and the two elders. “Your sect’s Scripture really is extraordinary.”

The altar mistress smiled warmly. “These useless disciples of ours will need plenty more of your guidance, Friend Liu.”

Whether it was the altar mistress’s smile or Xue Bu’s, each had its own charm. One was bold and open, the other delicate and graceful. One carried a mature allure, the other an innocent freshness. All of it was beautiful, and all of it set Liu Xiaolou’s heart racing.

It felt a little like his wishes were coming true. After Xue Bu stepped back, another young woman came forward asking for pointers. Her name was Sheng Han. Looks-wise, she was a half-step behind Xue Bu, but her body... it was nearly flawless. If Xue Bu’s every glance and smile held the warmth of spring, then every movement Sheng Han made was filled with the ripe fullness of autumn.

Sheng Han asked about feng shui, so there was no need for any hands-on demonstration. She explained her questions out loud, and Liu Xiaolou answered in kind.

The Qingyue Altar specialized in geomancy and feng shui, and Liu Xiaolou, being a formation master, was skilled in those arts as well. He couldn’t quite surpass Sheng Han when it came to pure geomancy, but once feng shui was combined with formation work, he was far ahead of everyone present. Even the altar mistress couldn’t help joining in with two questions of her own, and she seemed satisfied with the answers she received.

By the time the exchange was over, Sheng Han's gaze toward Liu Xiaolou had grown just as soft and lingering, like autumn ripples on water.

Xue Bu and Sheng Han were the two most outstanding women among the Qingyue Altar’s disciples. It showed not only in their looks but in their cultivation as well. Liu Xiaolou enjoyed himself for quite some time, letting his eyes wander over the remaining female disciples. When he found no one who could outshine those two, his excitement finally settled a little.

The Qingyue Altar Mistress glanced back, exchanged a nod with the two elders, then singled Liu Xiaolou out with a smile. “This must be your first time at the summit of Zhurong Peak, Friend Liu. How would you like me to show you around the scenery up here?”

Liu Xiaolou agreed at once. “I’d appreciate that, Altar Mistress.”

As enjoyable as his earlier guidance had been, the main purpose of his visit was to find a suitable Foundation Establishment technique. Han Jiuqian had specifically told him this was an important opportunity. Fun was fun, but he couldn’t neglect real business.

He followed the altar mistress away from the training grounds, circling around the back of the Five-Dragons Falls and into a narrow mountain path. The roar of the falls faded behind them, and the mountains grew quiet and serene.

The altar mistress walked just half a step ahead, pointing out different sights along the way. Liu Xiaolou was half listening, his eyes drifting toward her again and again. Could this Qingyue Altar Master be the legendary "calamitous beauty" everyone talks about? he was thinking to himself.

While he was still lost in his thoughts, they rounded a massive boulder. Suddenly the whole world opened up. Endless peaks stretching out in every direction.

They stopped there, wind whipping around them.

The Qingyue Altar Mistress turned to him, lips curved in a half-smile. “So, Friend Liu… which view exactly have you been enjoying?”

Time to get serious. Liu Xiaolou yanked his brain out of the gutter and cleared his throat. “The Azure Wood True Scripture, the Cloud-and-Rain Technique… all quite good. Xue Bu and Sheng Han… mm, I just don’t know which opening meridians they use when they begin their cultivation…”

She laughed softly. “As for their personal… aptitudes, once you’ve made your choice, you can ask them yourself. For now, let’s talk about you.”