The Birth of an Immortal and a Buried Fortune

1,806 words

About a thousand li south of Ten Thousand Swords City, the sole Grand Xia city under the Ji Clan's control, there lay a stretch of wild mountain forests, utterly ordinary in appearance. But at this moment, high above that wilderness, a massive vortex had appeared! It was a vortex of brilliant colors, a hundred thousand feet in height, affecting the heavens and earth for a vast region around it.

This enormous, colorful vortex was formed from frenziedly gathering ambient elemental energy. The energy gathered with such ferocity and concentration that, churning and compressing, it gave birth to a hazy, seven-colored light. This titanic vortex of natural energy... also stirred the elemental tides in an even wider area, sending violent ripples radiating in every direction!

The vortex narrowed into a cone, its tip pointing straight down at the earth below, clearly revealing that the source of this gathering of elemental energy was deep beneath the wild mountain forests.

"Whoosh!"

In a patch of empty sky, space itself twisted and a man appeared out of thin air. He had long, unbound hair and wore magnificent black robes embroidered with a strange beast. He wore a tall crown, and his face was as fair as polished jade. He naturally carried an air of lofty authority. His gaze pierced the distance, looking towards the focal point of that immense vortex.

"Oh?" The man in black robes nodded slightly. "With signs like this, someone must have broken through to the Earth Immortal stage. I wonder which faction this new Earth Immortal belongs to... This is the Yan Mountains. The major tribes, sects, and cults around the Yan Mountains can be counted on one hand. The closest is the Skysaint Sect. Could it be that one of their Primal Daoists has made a breakthrough? But if it were a Primal Daoist of the Skysaint Sect, there should be people guarding them."

As he pondered, he stood silently in the sky, watching.

The phenomenon had already manifested, which meant the breakthrough was complete. It was too late to interfere.

Boom~~~

The enormous vortex of elemental energy suddenly collapsed, causing a violent shockwave in the surrounding elemental energies, but it soon calmed. As the vortex dissipated... a man wearing fiery red robes and carrying three great swords on his back appeared out of thin air. Traces of white streaked his temples, and his gaze swept the surroundings like bolts of lightning. He quickly spotted the man in black robes standing in the sky not far away.

"Congratulations, Daoist friend, on stepping into the Void stage and achieving Earth Immortality!" The man in black robes laughed.

"And may I ask who you are, Daoist friend?" The red-robed man with the three great swords on his back asked hastily, not daring to be negligent. He understood that the phenomenon caused by his breakthrough had only lasted a brief moment. The ability to sense it from so far away and appear at the scene in such a short time was no ordinary feat.

The man in black robes smiled. "I am Beishan Luoxiao. And you are?"

The red-robed man was startled.

Beishan?

Throughout the entire Anshan Commandery, this surname represented the most exalted power of all—the Anshan Marquis! The Anshan Marquis was of the Beishan clan! Ever since the Grand Xia Dynasty unified the world and enfeoffed its nobles, the Anshan Marquis Beishan clan had ruled this land. Its roots ran far deeper than any other power in the Anshan Commandery. The only force that could compete with it was the Grand Xia's own elite corps, the Yinglong Guard!

The red-robed man's face lit up with joy as he quickly said, "So it's Immortal Luoxiao! I was just thinking, in all of Anshan Commandery, the only ones who could instantly detect such an elemental disturbance in heaven and earth would be the Beishan clan of Anshan! And to think that the renowned Immortal Luoxiao came personally! Compared to Immortal Luoxiao, I am but a junior. My name is not one you are likely to have heard before, but in the past I was known as Daoist Fire Dragon. Does that name ring a bell, Immortal Luoxiao?"

The Immortal Luoxiao before him was a Loose Immortal who had lived for tens of thousands of years. The older a Loose Immortal grew, the more terrifying they became. Although this Daoist Fire Dragon was confident he could protect his own life before Immortal Luoxiao, he understood that in terms of overall power, as a newly ascended Earth Immortal, he was likely still a step behind.

"Daoist Fire Dragon?" Beishan Luoxiao was taken aback. He truly had never heard the name before. He said, "I haven't, I'm afraid. You must not have been active in the Anshan Commandery area before."

"I went to the Eastern Seas when I was still a Wanxiang Adept," the red-robed man said quickly. "It was while roaming the Eastern Seas that I made my breakthrough to the Primal stage and earned the title 'Daoist Fire Dragon.' Since it was in the remote and distant Eastern Seas, it is not strange that Immortal Luoxiao has never heard of me. About a hundred years ago, I returned to this land. Perhaps it was returning to my old home, but my heart was stirred, fate presented itself, and I found a place to go into secluded meditation. After a hundred years of closed-door cultivation, I succeeded in my breakthrough today."

Beishan Luoxiao nodded. "I see. May I ask, Daoist Fire Dragon, where is your old home?"

"I am a native of Anshan Commandery," said Immortal Fire Dragon. "Unfortunately, my tribe was long since wiped out. To be honest with you, Immortal Luoxiao, I returned this time for two reasons: one, to find any surviving descendants of my tribe and rebuild it; and two, to avenge my tribe's annihilation."

"Hahaha..." Beishan Luoxiao laughed heartily. "So, Daoist Fire Dragon is a man of my Anshan Commandery! How delightful that our Commandery has gained an Immortal. Meeting you today is a matter of fate. As for your affairs, they are the affairs of the Anshan Marquis's estate. Let us not linger here in the wilderness. Come, let us go to Anshan City. Our Marquis will certainly prepare a feast to welcome you."

"Then I shall gratefully accept," said Immortal Fire Dragon with a smile.

An Immortal was a very valuable asset to recruit.

Immortal Fire Dragon was in no hurry to pledge his allegiance to anyone. He needed to see what price the other side was willing to pay. He also understood clearly that this vast land ultimately belonged to the Grand Xia Dynasty. To go far, and to see his tribe flourish once more, it was better to pledge allegiance to the Grand Xia or to a deeply-rooted noble house like this one.

"Let's go." Beishan Luoxiao reached out and grabbed Immortal Fire Dragon's hand.

Whoosh!

The two of them vanished from the sky.

...

Ten Thousand Swords City was the foundation of the Ji Clan. Both Ji Jiuhuo and Granny Shadow resided there. The source of the violent elemental disturbance was only a thousand li from the city. Given their speed, it did not take them long to reach the wild mountain forest.

"It should be here," said Ji Jiuhuo, standing atop a large gourd with Granny Shadow and an old servant. He looked down at the wilderness below. "But no matter how I look at it, this wilderness seems quite ordinary. There's nothing special about it."

"I can't see anything out of the ordinary either," said Granny Shadow, also looking down.

"Big Brother," Granny Shadow said hoarsely, "let me go down to investigate first. A Xing, you stay here."

"Master, I will go," the old servant said in a low voice, directly leaping off the gourd and turning into a streak of light that plunged into the wilderness below.

Granny Shadow was startled. "A Xing!"

"Wait," said Ji Jiuhuo, glancing at Granny Shadow. "That old servant of yours is truly loyal to you."

The disturbance in the elemental energy had been extremely violent, clearly no small matter. Going to investigate first carried great risk. As the clan leader and the Ji Clan's pillar, Ji Jiuhuo could not be placed in danger. That was why Granny Shadow had been about to go down herself, but the old servant had moved first.

"In this world, A Xing is the one who is most loyal to me," Granny Shadow said softly.

A moment later—

A figure shot up from below, landing directly on the gourd. It was the old servant with his wild, unbound hair and animal-skin clothing. Ji Jiuhuo quickly asked, "What is it?"

"Down below, there is a massive amount of spirit stones," the old servant said in a low voice.

"A massive amount of spirit stones?" Ji Jiuhuo frowned. "How many?"

Spirit stones were crystals infused with elemental energy. However, normal cultivators could only refine a limited amount of elemental energy each day. Once a certain threshold was reached, they could absorb no more. Ordinary spirit stones were generally used for formations or for creating puppets, things like that.

As for cultivation? They were not very useful.

Of course, there were some heavenly treasures that, when consumed, placed no burden on the body and could be worth ten or even a hundred years of cultivation. Among spirit stones, only high-grade spirit stones had a special effect. The energy within high-grade spirit stones was extremely pure, placing little burden on the body when absorbed. With high-grade spirit stones, one day of cultivation could equal ten ordinary days. But the consumption rate was also massive! Using a high-grade spirit stone occasionally was acceptable, but long-term use required purchasing several thousand jin or more to supply a single cultivator.

This was not something the Ji Clan could afford.

"A lot. A very large amount," the old servant said solemnly. "It should be a spirit stone vein. And from my preliminary examination, I have already discovered high-grade spirit stones."

"What? A spirit stone vein? High-grade spirit stones?" Ji Jiuhuo was stunned.

A spirit stone vein?

Under normal circumstances, spirit stone veins were formed through special environmental conditions. They could also be deliberately condensed. To ensure a sufficient supply of elemental energy for his breakthrough, that Immortal Fire Dragon had spared no expense in setting up a grand formation to gather the surrounding elemental energy. Over the years, day by day, that process had gradually formed a spirit stone vein.

"A spirit stone vein?" Granny Shadow's face lit up with joy. "Could this be the rise of our Ji Clan?"

"Let's go and have a look first." Ji Jiuhuo suppressed his excitement. Putting away the gourd, the three of them swiftly descended into the wilderness, then delved into the earth to begin their investigation.

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Reading Guide Decoding

Politics, Power, and a Motherlode: The Breakthrough That Changes Everything

Cultural / Xianxia Notes

Let's break down the political landscape we've just glimpsed. The Grand Xia Dynasty is no vague empire; it's a feudal state with a rigid hierarchy. The Beishan clan, holding the title of Anshan Marquis, is the hereditary sovereign of the entire Anshan Commandery. Their power is ancient, deep, and almost unassailable. When a new Earth Immortal appears in their territory, it's not just a spectacle—it's a political event. Beishan Luoxiao's immediate arrival and invitation is classic Xianxia Realpolitik: an immortal is a strategic asset, and you bring them into the fold before a rival can. Note how Daoist Fire Dragon doesn't immediately swear fealty; he accepts the feast. That's the beginning of a negotiation, a dance of mutual benefit that defines how power works at this level.

Now, the Earth Immortal stage. This is a major milestone. An Earth Immortal has successfully passed the Heavenly Tribulation (or at least a portion of it) and "escaped the cycle of the Five Elements," gaining a vastly extended lifespan. But they haven't achieved full Celestial Immortality. Our new friend Daoist Fire Dragon is a Loose Immortal, meaning he's likely a failed ascension who clung to life via a Dharma treasure or special technique, or he's simply an Earth Immortal who hasn't completed the final steps. The text notes Luoxiao has lived "tens of thousands of years," which is the classic mark of a powerful Loose Immortal—old, experienced, and terrifyingly wise. The breakthrough itself created that epic vortex because Heaven and Earth were forced to acknowledge the cultivator's new, elevated state. It's not just a light show; it's the universe stamping a "Level Up" form on the fabric of reality.

Finally, the spirit stone vein. In Xianxia lore, spirit stones are refined elemental energy crystals. They're used for cultivation, formations, puppetry, and currency. A vein is a motherlode. The fact that it contains high-grade spirit stones is game-changing for the Ji Clan, a middle-tier power. A resource like this could fund a century of growth, attract experts, and elevate them from a regional player to a commandery-level threat. The irony is delicious—the Immortal who caused the breakthrough inadvertently created a fortune for the very clan whose land he used.

Chapter Overview

Hold onto your Dao hearts, fellow cultivators, because chapter 87 delivers a double whammy of worldbuilding and pure, unadulterated opportunity. We open with a celestial spectacle: a titanic, seven-colored vortex churning over the Yan Mountains. An Earth Immortal has just been born. But this isn't just a power-up fireworks show—it's a masterclass in political positioning. We meet the new Immortal, Daoist Fire Dragon, and watch him navigate a delicate dance of power with the ancient and mighty Beishan clan. What does a newly ascended immortal do when his breakthrough is witnessed by the number one power in the commandery? He plays it cool and accepts the invitation to the feast, of course. But the real meat of this chapter lies in its aftermath, where the Ji Clan elders—Ji Jiuhuo and Granny Shadow—rush to the breakthrough site only to find something far more valuable than a new Immortal's acquaintance: a spirit stone vein. The clan's fortunes may have just turned the corner.

Key Plot Points

A massive, colorful vortex of elemental energy appears in the wilderness near the Yan Mountains, signaling a breakthrough to the Void stage and Earth Immortality.
The first to arrive is Beishan Luoxiao, a powerful Loose Immortal of the Beishan clan, the rulers of the Anshan Commandery under the Grand Xia Dynasty.
The breakthrough cultivator reveals himself as Daoist Fire Dragon, a native of Anshan who spent centuries roaming the Eastern Seas and has returned to rebuild his destroyed tribe and seek vengeance.
Beishan Luoxiao warmly invites the new Earth Immortal to Anshan City for a feast hosted by the Anshan Marquis, a clear bid to secure the allegiance of a powerful new asset.
Hours later, Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, and her loyal old servant, A Xing, arrive at the site and discover, hidden deep underground, a massive spirit stone vein containing high-grade spirit stones—a resource that could transform the Ji Clan's fortunes.

Reading Guide

This chapter is a brilliant change of pace after the high-octane combat of previous sections. It's pure setup. But don't let the lack of sword-swinging fool you. Every word here is a seed planted for future story branches. Pay close attention to the political maneuvering between the Beishan clan and this new immortal. Will Daoist Fire Dragon become a loyal retainer of the Marquis, an independent agent, or a future antagonist? The Ji Clan's discovery of the spirit stone vein is the real payoff here—a tangible, gigantic resource that could be the key to Ji Ning's ascension. It's the spark that could ignite a clan-wide conflict, especially if other powers learn of it. The calm before the storm. Get comfortable, because the resources are in place. The real race is about to begin.

The "Delegated Awe" of an Immortal

There's a fantastic literary device on full display here: Delegated Awe. We never see Beishan Luoxiao fight. We never see his power directly. We only see the effect of his presence and his reputation. Daoist Fire Dragon, a newly ascended Earth Immortal, reacts with respect and caution the moment he hears the name "Beishan Luoxiao." The fact that a living, breathing Immortal is deferential tells us everything we need to know about Luoxiao's power. This is how Xianxia establishes scale and threat levels without constant explosions. The reader infers the power from the character's awe. It's efficient, elegant, and deeply satisfying.