New Year’s Eve.

It was another New Year’s Eve.

Throughout the Sect, there was a unique scenery.

Several Cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm, stepping on Flying Swords and propelled by Spiritual Qi, hung Spiritual Talisman lanterns one by one on the eaves of various buildings throughout the Sect.

On Entrance Plaza, the mountain path and stone steps were covered with a thin layer of snow.

Several Outer Sect Disciples walked together, about to descend the mountain.

They happened to meet the Cultivators on duty at the mountain gate, who knew them and bid them farewell.

"Be careful on your way. If you can return before the seventh day of the New Year, the dining hall still has Spiritual Meat dumplings to claim."

"Understood, Senior Brother!"

It was truly strange.

The path of Cultivation, it was said, required one to be emotionless and sever worldly ties to seek the Dao and eternal life.

Other Sects in the Chu Region Cultivation World were all like this; while they wouldn’t suppress Disciples, they certainly wouldn’t promote celebrating these worldly festivals.

However, the Cave Abyss Sect was the exact opposite.

When the Sect Master founded the Sect, he set a rule that from New Year’s Eve until the seventh day of the New Year, the entire Sect would have a collective holiday.

It was no different from the Mortal world.

Outer Sect chores and Inner Sect mission deadlines were all postponed.

If one wished to go down the mountain and return home for the New Year, they could inform the Elder in charge and leave a few days in advance, only needing to return to the Sect before the eighth day.

However, during these New Year days, the taverns and dining halls operated as usual.

Disciples who stayed to help in the Sect could receive extra salary as compensation.

According to some older Disciples in the Sect, if the Sect Master was not in closed-door Cultivation on New Year’s Eve that year,

Then Disciples who remained in the Sect might even receive a handwritten New Year’s greeting from the Sect Master.

However, this was only a rumor.

Song Yan was dressed very impressively today.

In a full set of steward’s Daoist robes, he looked very dashing.

That’s right, he was one of the Outer Sect Disciples who voluntarily stayed on duty in the Sect this year.

The original steward Disciples had all returned home for the New Year.

For the past half month, his state of mind had been clear, his Spiritual resources abundant, and his Cultivation progress could be described as rapid.

Such a Cultivation state was not always available, so he planned to strike while the iron was hot and continue this Cultivation state.

Moreover, in previous years, he had gone down the mountain to Stone Ridge for New Year’s Eve.

Staying in the Sect for the New Year this time also had a unique flavor.

Actually, there was nothing bad about staying on duty in the Sect.

Although it was called patrolling the Sect, everyone was actually in the dining hall, hiding in private rooms with three or five friends, chatting and drinking.

Just like this.

Junior Sister Gu Qingqing sent a sound transmission talisman early in the morning, saying she had invited many acquaintances to have New Year’s Eve dinner together in the dining hall.

When he first heard the word ’acquaintances,’ he was a bit dazed.

Where did he get acquaintances?

But then he thought, there were indeed a few people in the Outer Sect now who could be called friends.

The dining hall was quite crowded today, mostly with Cultivators on duty.

Following the room number mentioned in Junior Sister Qingqing’s sound transmission talisman, he pushed open the wooden door of the private room.

"Senior Brother Song!"

Perhaps to welcome the New Year, Gu Qingqing was wearing an apricot-red brocade jacket today, with her black hair tied in twin buns, adorned with red strings.

She looked very festive and adorable.

"Come, sit down."

Inside the room, as expected, were all familiar faces.

Besides Gu Qingqing, Li Qingfeng and Shao Sichao were also there, and there was also a Junior Sister who seemed to be Gu Qingqing’s.

Song Yan found her somewhat familiar but couldn’t recall who she was.

"Senior Brother Song?"

The female Cultivator, seeing Song Yan’s appearance, exclaimed in surprise.

"Hmm? You... know me?"

She had a delicate and pretty appearance, but spoke with poise: "I do, I do. Senior Brother Song might have forgotten."

"That day on Xiawei Peak, my two Senior Brothers and I encountered danger. It was thanks to Senior Brother Song’s help that the three of us were able to return to the Sect safely."

"Ah..."

He did have an impression of that.

At that time, he had just returned from the trip to Jiran Valley.

Out of politeness, Song Yan casually asked, "What’s your name?"

"My name is Yang Yuerong."

Unfamiliar.

"A very beautiful name."

Gu Qingqing curiously pulled Yang Yuerong, asking her this and that about what happened that day.

The two female Cultivators whispered to each other, no longer paying attention to Song Yan.

"Long time no see, Qingfeng."

Li Qingfeng and Song Yan had a life-and-death friendship; ever since the Peach Blossom Dock trip, the two often sparred and occasionally exchanged insights on Cultivation.

Regarding the various events in Peach Blossom Dock, everyone had a tacit understanding and rarely mentioned them.

Song Yan’s methods were sharp and powerful, and Li Qingfeng’s Cultivation Technique was even stranger; neither could criticize the other.

Cultivators, who didn’t have an Opportunity? Making a fuss would only be beneath them.

"Senior Brother Shao."

Shao Sichao greeted Song Yan, then refocused his attention on the menu in his hand.

From Song Yan’s perspective, he had already had quite a few interactions with this Senior Brother Shao.

But from the other party’s perspective, it was probably just getting acquainted during the Jiran Valley trip.

Originally, there were two female Cultivators in this private room, and Li Qingfeng was very reserved and awkward. After Song Yan arrived, it got much better.

"It’s so lively today. I didn’t expect you, Old Song, not to go home either?"

"Stone Ridge, I remember, is very close to the Sect."

At least, he could now speak.

Song Yan explained the reasons, and everyone suddenly understood.

"It’s not that I’m not going home. When my Cultivation is more stable in the future, I’ll go back to visit. The folks are all there, it’s the same."

Everyone nodded.

The conversation opened up, and Li Qingfeng asked, "Hey, speaking of which, where are you all from?"

Gu Qingqing was the first to answer: "I’m from Danyang Prefecture, Chen Prefecture. Have you been to Xiqi River, Senior Brother Qingfeng?"

"No."

"Heh, you really haven’t seen much of the world."

"Old Song, have you been there?"

"No."

Song Yan had been an honest child since he was little; except for one time when he went with his grandfather to Lin Prefecture for free medical consultations, he had never traveled far.

Gu Qingqing chuckled: "Then next time, I’ll take Senior Brother Song to play!"

Li Qingfeng couldn’t help but complain: "How come when it’s me, it’s ’haven’t seen much of the world’?"

"Hahahahaha..."

Everyone burst into laughter.

Danyang Prefecture, Chen Prefecture.

If he remembered correctly, the Wan family, where Wan Songran was from, seemed to be over there.

"Qingfeng, what about you? Not going back to your hometown to see?"

At the mention of this, Li Qingfeng’s expression became slightly unnatural, but he quickly recovered.

He laughed self-deprecatingly: "Me? My hometown is Xin’an Prefecture, Lin Prefecture."

Xin’an Prefecture?

That was the capital of the Chu Region.

"However, in the Mortal world, I was just a stray dog; my relatives have all passed away."

Song Yan was startled and patted him on the shoulder.

"What about Senior Brother Shao?"

Li Qingfeng suddenly asked, "Where is Senior Brother Shao from?"

"Me? I’m from Longquan Prefecture. There’s a Sun Family Market near Bei Ya Mountain."

Shao Sichao answered casually: "It’s been many years since I went back."

"Oh."

Li Qingfeng suddenly changed the subject: "Hey, Old Song, where’s your little snake? Didn’t she come?"

"Xiao He? She’s right here..."

Hiss—

Snake Babe suddenly poked her head out from Song Yan’s sleeve.

The voice of a human girl, very proper: "Happy New Year!"

Yang Yuerong was startled by the sudden appearance of the snake demon, and her flustered look made Xiao He burst into laughter.

The cheerful atmosphere in the room resumed.

Not long after, the New Year’s Eve dinner was served one by one.

In the center was a copper pot, with brightly colored soup bubbling inside, its aroma wafting through the air.

Around it were placed Pepper and Eight Treasure Rice Pudding, Spiritual Mushroom spring rolls, and some Spiritual fish slices and other Spiritual plants and Spiritual meats whose types were indistinguishable.

Everyone chatted and ate, enjoying the rare atmosphere.

"Huh?"

As midnight approached, there seemed to be some movement outside.

Qingqing, by the window, got up and pushed open the small window of the private room.

"Wow..."

Looking out the window, on the Sect mountain path, Spiritual lanterns suddenly lit up one after another, their warm yellow glow reflecting the Spiritual Talisman lanterns on the eaves.

The Mountain Protection Array shimmered with Spiritual light.

An inverted ’Fu’ (blessing) character lit up.

Suddenly, several streaks of Spiritual light floated into the night sky.

"Bang—"

Peach blossom-shaped Spiritual flames bloomed in the night, illuminating the snow-covered Entrance Plaza.

Everyone stopped eating, walked to the window, and watched the fireworks in the night sky together.

"I wonder how A Nian, A Yun, and Da Rong are doing recently..."

"Has Uncle Meng’s health improved..."

"Did Granny Qin return home today?"

At this moment, perhaps everyone’s hearts were thinking of their hometowns and loved ones.

Shao Sichao stood at the back of the crowd, sighing softly, his playful attitude gone, with a hint of loneliness in his eyes.

"Thousands of miles from home, when will be the return date..."

Clang, clang, clang... From Dragon Head Peak, the sound of bells echoed through the sky.

Under the night sky, a streak of azure Spiritual light suddenly flew out from a certain part of the Sect.

In an instant, it transformed into thousands of Spiritual butterflies, slowly drifting towards various parts of the Sect.

Several streaks of Spiritual light flew towards the dining hall, hovering beside everyone.

"This is..."

Gu Qingqing saw the dazzling Spiritual light and lightly tapped it with her fingertip.

A seal script slowly unfolded, and Spiritual light transformed into ink, falling upon it.

Eight strong and powerful characters appeared.

"A new year begins, all things are renewed."

The small characters of the signature on the side read: Li Jun.

"The Sect Master’s handwritten message!"

Everyone couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

They all collected the azure Spiritual light hovering beside them.

The content of the characters on them was the same, but the handwritten message also contained a special wisp of Spiritual Qi.

Li Qingfeng suddenly felt something, drew that wisp of Spiritual Qi, and absorbed it into his Dantian Qi Sea.

His expression was astonished: "This..."

Everyone followed suit and discovered that this wisp of Spiritual power was incredibly pure. After integrating into their Dantian Qi Sea, within a few breaths, their own Realm had actually advanced significantly.

It was noisy outside the dining hall.

Listening closely, it turned out that someone who had received the Sect Master’s handwritten message had broken through a Bottleneck on the spot, and the surrounding Disciples were all offering congratulations.

On this New Year’s Eve, the Sect Master was not in closed-door Cultivation; not only did he give handwritten messages to Disciples, but he also divided his Spiritual power to aid their Cultivation.

Song Yan thought to himself that his Sect Master was truly very humane.

Was this Spiritual power considered his "lucky money" for the younger generation in the Sect?

Disciples on duty all received something.

Everyone’s faces were beaming with joy.

"Senior Brother Song, why don’t you open it and take a look?"

Gu Qingqing saw Song Yan’s indifference and couldn’t help but ask.

He had actually already accepted it, but originally wanted to open it back in his Immortal Cave. However, the atmosphere was lively now.

Opening it here wouldn’t hurt.

With a light tap of his fingertip, the seal script slowly unfolded, and Spiritual Qi transformed into ink, falling upon it.

Unexpectedly, that Spiritual light transformed into eight characters different from everyone else’s.

Song Yan was suddenly stunned.

He stared at these eight characters, lost in thought.

A sharp and clear Spiritual Intent suddenly surged from the seal script.

It transformed into a brilliant light, sinking into the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, merging with the Dao Seed... "Diligently Cultivate Sword Intent, do not fail the Opportunity."

...Cave Abyss Sect, Forbidden Land.

In a secluded valley.

The mountain wall was carved with characters, their strokes sharp, as if engraved with knives and swords.

A young man in white robes sat before a green stone tablet, talking to himself.

"Junior Sister, a few days ago, I spent quite some effort to suppress my Heart Demon."

"Once I entered closed-door Cultivation, it’s been this long."

"Leaving you alone for Mid-Autumn Festival and Little New Year, I’m truly sorry... You won’t blame your Senior Brother, will you?"

He looked up at the fireworks in the night sky and continued, "This place, Feng’an, is so dry and cold."

"More than three hundred years have passed, and your Senior Brother still can’t get used to it."

"This is quite different from what you used to say about Jun Mountain, about it being ’a place of outstanding people and Spiritual energy’ and ’a land of natural beauty.’"

The young man suddenly burst into laughter, and as he laughed, he fell silent again.

In front of the green stone tablet, a pear tree was planted. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Under the tree, there was a wine jar and two empty bowls.

"Your Senior Brother was careless and forgot to fetch wine from Feng’an. I’ll make it up to you next time."

"Today, let’s drink some clear tea while staying up for the New Year."

He poured some Spiritual tea into the bowls, spilled one bowl in front of the tombstone, and drank the other himself.

"Speaking of which, there’s a very interesting junior in the Sect."

"He’s following the same path as me, yet seems a little different..."

"Legend has it that the Sword Ancestor of ancient times originated from your Chu Region."

"Now, a small Cave Abyss Sect actually harbors two Sword Cultivators..."

"The Destiny and Opportunities within are truly wondrous."

"Recently, traces of Demonic Cultivators have been increasing. Your Senior Brother must also Cultivate diligently, otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold on to this small piece of Feng’an."

The young man stood up, glanced at the huge stone wall behind him.

He turned and left... Yanran Mountain Range, Fuyu Peak.

A woman in white stood at the summit, her robes gently fluttering in the cold mountain wind.

She gazed towards the Cave Abyss Sect.

The mountain gate was brightly lit, and the Mountain Protection Array flowed with festive Spiritual light.

The azure flames in the sky were reflected in her pale yellow vertical pupils.

"Humans..."

"How interesting."

Under the night sky, hundreds of Spiritual Talisman lanterns lit up one after another.

Some young Disciples, like Mortal children setting off firecrackers, threw out strings of exploding Fire Crow talismans.

"On a certain specific day, they exchange some meaningless blessings..."

"Forgetting hardships, shedding burdens, embracing new life."

"When disaster strikes, they rally their spirits; when fortune smiles, they are cautious."

"No matter what, they always find a way to go on."

"Perhaps this is why human Cultivators were able to carve out a path to survival step by step amidst the ancient Chaos."

Looking at that streak of Spiritual light drifting from Dragon Head Peak to various places.

She suddenly remembered Xiao He; when she spoke of that human Cultivator, her eyes sparkled.

With a light tap of her fingertip, a wisp of Demonic Qi entangled a lone azure butterfly.

That wisp of pure Spiritual Qi and the characters within it subtly emerged.

"However..."

"Fireworks cool easily, Spiritual butterflies are short-lived..."

The woman in white flicked her sleeve, dispersing the Demonic Qi, letting the azure butterfly stumble and fly towards the depths of the Yanran Mountain Range.

"From hope and vitality, falling into despair and destruction..."

"It’s but a blink of an eye."

...The short Chapters for the New Year transition have been combined and released.

After the Cave Abyss Sect finishes its New Year celebrations, the more formal plot will slowly unfold.