by Fang Xiang
Zuo Mo furiously told his frantic self. He had always assumed that when he became an inner sect disciple, it meant that his hard days had come to an end and his good days were coming! But now he knew, he was wrong, extremely wrong! He had only jumped from one hole to an even deeper hole. He wanted to cry because he had willingly jumped, tried everything to jump in! He had thought his previous days were hard because no one was there to guide him. But now that he became an inner sect disciple, had a master, what was the difference?
After a long moment and then his emotions steadied.
He was completely disregarded by his master, Zuo Mo’s stubbornness came on. Wasn’t it just a fasting pill? Wasn’t it just making dan? Wasn’t it just not being taught?
After half a day’s worth of effort, he had read every single jade stick in the room. The total amount was five hundred and seventeen jade sticks. And what he could see were only twenty one of them.
The twenty one jade sticks that he had picked out were all floating in front of him.
[Fire Cloud Dan Chapter], not what he wanted, thrown to one side.
[Blue Ice Dan Chapter] no, thrown to one side.
[Vaporized Dan Chapter], thrown.
……
Only when he saw [Basics of Making Dan] did Zuo Mo’s mind become alert. He grabbed it and brought it over. This was what he wanted.
As though he was starving, he read [Basics of Making Dan]. He quickly became enraptured. The contents inside the jade stick were extremely new to him, a completely new world for him to explore. There weren’t any complex contents inside [Basics of Making Dan]. Everything was some of the basic fundamentals of making dan, like the matching of herbs, the usage of the cauldron, how to control the fire etc etc.
When he raised his head, he saw that the sky had darkened. Unknowingly, he had stayed for a number of hours in the study.
Exhaling a breath, he stood up and moved his sore neck and legs. His eyes were still slightly dull. He was still thinking. [Basics of Making Dan] wasn’t a high grade jade stick but the details of the contents weren’t anything that could be brought on the market. Having the experiences of being an outer sect disciple, Zuo Mo deeply understood the value in this opportunity.
As to whether his master would teach him, it had been thrown to the back of his head. It was like he had found treasure as he repeatedly started to read again.
The following days, he spent soaking in knowledge at the study. Any jade stick that he could read, he didn’t miss a single one of them. They might be useful in the future. Putting in some effort now, he didn’t need to worry in the future. If he converted these jade sticks into jingshi, it was enough to buy ten Zuo Mo.
If there was one day when he was in poverty, he could sell the contents of the jade sticks for jingshi.
In the study, Zuo Mo snickered.
After memorizing the jade sticks until he was dizzy, Zuo Mo finally managed to remember the entire contents of the twenty one jade sticks. Only now did he remember the dan room in the right wing was going to be for him and excitedly ran into the right wing.
What was most eye-catching in the room was a copper cauldron in the middle of the room. About two people tall, three round bellies protruding out, and several mats laid around it. There were a few tables against the wall with things piled up on it. The ten portions of materials that Master had prepared for him were also there.
Zuo Mo circled around the dan-making cauldron, muttering: “So stingy.”
Don’t just look at the size of the thing but in reality, it was only a first grade cauldron. The most important part of a cauldron was the Li [ii] Fire Seal Formation. Beside the body of the cauldron, there was a yinyang eight trigrams plate. Pouring ling energy in that could control the li fire seal formation.
Controlling the fire was the most important step in the process of making dan. Like the ‘three by three of flowing fire’. Three by three meant vertical three, horizontal three, and flowing fire was a very special kind of fire. Its main flame would roll along the channels.
Zuo Mo put his hands on the eight trigrams plate and added ling energy. As expected, a ball of fire lit up at the bottom of the cauldron.
According to the method recorded in [Basics of Making Dan], he carefully controlled the li fire seal formation. The li fire seal formation in a first grade cauldron wasn’t some high end thing and only had six transformations. Zuo Mo quickly familiarized himself with the process.
As he played around with the flame, Zuo Mo suddenly felt that the feeling of controlling fire was very similar to him casting [Art of Crimson Flame].
The five basic spells of a ling plant farmer belonged to the five elements and yinyang. Supposedly, ling plant farmers believed that all things in the world were either yin or yang and belonged to the five elements. [Art of Crimson Flame] belonged to fire in the five basic element spells. Speaking from that perspective, the two were connected. However, while the five elements and yinyang had once been a popular path, but as sword cultivators rose, they gradually became a separate system and most practitioners were roaming cultivators.
Whether making dan had similarities to ling plant farmers, Zuo Mo wasn’t clear.
But, if sword essence could merge with [Art of Aged Gold], he wouldn’t be surprised at a connection between controlling fire and [Art of Crimson Flame].
The [Art of Crimson Flame] that he had brought was very rough. Learning it to the third level was already at the extreme limit. There were no instructions for anything further. What he could study were only the first three levels.
Closing his eyes, his two hands were spread on the eight trigrams plate on the wall of the cauldron, he carefully experienced the subtle aspects of the li fire seal formation.
After a long time, he didn’t have any breakthroughs. He had the feeling that those two could be combined together but no matter how he changed it, there was no reaction. With no other solution, he temporarily put the thought to the side. In the area of dan-making, he was the greenest of the green. It was too early to start discussing inventions.
He should obediently make the fasting pills. Otherwise if he couldn’t give out five at the end of the month, he didn’t know how his cold-faced master would punish him.
The method for making fasting pills, he remembered it, but what he was lacking was actual experience.
There were ten portions of materials piled on the table. They had all been treated. One of the jobs of the female disciples in the yard was to simply treat all kinds of medicines. Fasting pills were the most basic dan and naturally didn’t have very complicated preparations.
Carefully putting each type of material in the cauldron according to the ratio, Zuo Mo sat down facing the cauldron. He sorted out his mind, his two hands on the eight trigrams, and sent ling energy in.
A light red light came out of the bottom of the cauldron. Zuo Mo carefully and nervously manipulated the ling energy.
Two hours passed. A fine layer of sweat appeared on Zuo Mo’s forehead.
He felt it was becoming difficult. It was extremely laborious to continuously input in ling energy steadily for a long time. Damn it! Two hours had passed but the ingredients had just seemed to start combining together. Based on the progress, if it didn’t take a few hours, he guessed it was hopeless.
Thinking that he had to continue to maintain this level of ling energy for long hours, Zuo Mo felt that it was going to be trouble.
After another two hours, sweat poured down his back.
Suddenly, his ling energy became unstable.
Poof!
A black wisp of smoke came out of the cauldron. A burnt smell filled the room.
Huff, huff, huff. Having no time to be angry, Zuo Mo took back his ling energy and sat on the floor as he panted. His entire body was soaked in sweat. One factor was exhaustion from long term ling energy output, another was that he was very close to the cauldron. The fire inside the cauldron cooked him like a cooked shrimp, body completely red.
He didn�
�t immediately start making dan a second time. He struggled up and climbed onto the grey beaked goose to return to West Wind Valley. It was lucky that he was an inner sect disciple and could ride a steed inside the mountain. He hadn’t felt it a moment ago, but lying on the back of the grey beaked goose, he felt weak all over, not willing to raise even a finger.
He had never felt such deep exhaustion like today. Fighting was gathering up all the strength in the body at one and making dan was like spinning silk from cocoons. Bit by bit, until it wrung out the last bit of ling energy from the body. Even if his ling energy wasn’t weak now, but facing such intense ling energy output, he couldn’t bear it. And if he was the slightest bit inattentiveness, all the effort before were completely ruined.
Zuo Mo sighed in grief inside. From his perspective –– as expected, any method that easily earned jingshi, none of them were simple.
Jingshi wasn’t easy to earn!
[i] 散人: title for a roaming xiu.
[ii] 离: One of the Eight Trigrams, li represents fire
Chapter 40: Aid
On top of the mat inside the stone room, Zuo Mo serenely mediated, motionless.
Through the twenty fourth point of the governing, the seventeenth point of the conception and the first point of the kidney vessels, thick ling energy entered his body. It especially entered from the governing vessel point. When the ling energy entered, it had a slightly cool feeling, extremely pleasant. After Zuo Mo had completed one breath, his breathing through the mouth and nose was much less important. Right now, he had only opened three points. If he could reach ten breaths, not only just all three hundred and sixty one points would be opened, all the pores in his body would be unblocked and he would breathe with the world.
Of course, for him at the moment, that was very far away. His consciousness had increased, but up until now, he hadn’t found any uses for spiritual power. What he needed now was ling energy, continuous accumulating ling energy in hopes of entering zhuji soon.
When he woke up from the mediation, Zuo Mo’s breath shot out like an arrow.
How was Shixiong doing in the Sword Cave, the thought popped suddenly into Zuo Mo’s mind.
In reality, he was very envious about the road that Shixiong had picked. It only needed to pay attention to one matter. However, he was clear enough to realize that Shixiong’s road wasn’t suited for him. So he might be envious, but he would keep doing what he needed to do. He always felt that he didn’t have too much talent in the area of the sword. If it wasn’t for Pu Yao’s existence, not just getting a sword essence, but it was impossible to do what Shixiong was doing.
His talents laid in the five elements.
Other than [Art of Aged Gold] which had been helped by Pu Yao, he had learned the other four spells on his own. So he was more enthusiastic about five elements spells. Sometimes he would think, had he once been a roaming xiu before?
Only roaming xiu liked five elements spells.
However, even if he had been a roaming xiu, he must have been a silent and unknown xiu living in the lowest classes.
But if that was the case, why was his appearance changed and mind erased? He unconsciously tightened his fist.
Carefully retreating out of the stone cavern, he walked to the opening. The sunlight outside made his eyes squint. The warm sunlight made Zuo Mo’s mood unintentionally better. Walking to the ling fields and seeing the vigorous ling herbs, his mood became even better. A ling plant farmer was the profession that was the easiest at showing the relationship between work and result. When you paid in effort and worked hard, the joy at the bountiful harvest made life seem full of hope. Even Old Black, who had a harsh life, smiled when it was harvest time .
Zuo Mo calculated the time in his mind. The new cycle of ling grains should be starting soon. His previous yard had been yielded to Old Black. Old Black had been yearning for that five mu of ling fields for a long time. If it hadn’t been for Old Black, he wouldn’t have been introduced to Wei Sheng Shixiong. With that connection there, his friendship with Old Black was naturally different.
With nothing to do, Zuo Mo thought to go see him. However, he didn’t find anyone at the yard. Zuo Mo guess that Old Black had gone to the ling fields and headed to the fields. As expected, he found Old Black in the fields. Also there was Guo Lu. However, the former Guo Lu Shixiong was now the present Guo Lu Shidi. That made him slightly unaccustomed. No matter the age or cultivation, outer sect disciples had to call inner sect disciples shixiong or shijie. This was the same in every sect.
Old Black saw Zuo Mo and made a happy expression: “Little Mo Ge.”
It seemed that Guo Lu’s illness had healed. He wasn’t familiar with Zuo Mo and reservedly gave a bow: “Zuo Shixiong.”
Zuo Mo felt extremely awkward being called shixiong by two people whose ages far surpassed him. Thankfully, his face was frozen and nothing could be detected.
“Old Black’s ling grains are really well grown.” Zuo Mo scanned the ling fields and couldn’t resist praising it. He calmly started a spell, instantly a ball of clouds floated over and the silver strands poured down continuously. Old Black instantly revealed a happy expression. Admiration appeared on Guo Lu’s face. The fourth level of [Little Art of Cloud and Rain], people rarely reached it.
Guo Lu had been recovering on the sickbed in the previous months but the big events that happened in the sect, he had heard them from Old Black.
In one year, three outer sect disciples became inner sect disciples. The sect had never been so flourishing. All the outer sect disciples were greatly encouraged and many of them became even more hard working.
Guo Lu attentively examined this young shixiong. Little Zuo Mo Shixiong was the inner sect disciple with the lowest cultivation in the sect, a lianqi disciple that hadn’t entered zhuji! But the genius of the little shixiong had passed on. To be able to receive a spring sprout jade medal in lianqi, Guo Lu had never heard of it.
His best was [Art of Aged Gold]. He had work hard these years but never could breakthrough to the third level. Looking at the little shixiong who had already become a ling plant farmer, his heart couldn’t help moving.
Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but be envious of Old Black. No matter if it was Wei Sheng Shixiong, or Zuo Mo shixiong, they all had good relationships with Old Black. The waters rose and the boat became high, Old Black was now extremely popular in the outer sect disciples. But Old Black was very down to earth and still planted his ling grains. Because Guo Lu had been wounded last time when he had helped Old Black, and Old Black had taken care of him in the recovery, the two had a great relationship.
“This is two mud turning earthworms. It doesn’t have a great use, but it is useful in plowing fields.” Zuo Mo handed both of them each a small bamboo tube. Sealed inside each tube was a mud turning earthworm. He hadn’t thought that Guo Lu would be present but he had enough mud turning earthworms.
The two hurriedly gave their thanks.
Guo Lu saw Zuo Mo moving to leave and after struggling and hesitating for a second, he couldn’t resist speaking and at the very end: “Little Shixiong, my [Art of Aged Gold] has been stuck at the second level. Please, shixiong, give some advise. Guo Luo would be deeply grateful.”
Zuo Mo was astounded but still stopped in his footsteps. He was respectful of this old farmer-like shixiong who had stood up last time. Right now, his income didn’t depend on things like making rain so the two naturally didn’t have any conflicts in interest. Quite the opposite. If Guo Lu could break into the third level of [Art of Aged Gold], he could take on much of the pest problems in the sect for him.
Thinking through all the possibilities, he decided to help Guo Lu: “Killing worms is still killing. Gold’s main purpose is to kill. This [Art of Aged Gold] belongs to the path of killing. How to kill? There are countless ways in this area. Adding on aged gold energy can transform in many ways, if other methods of killing could be added in, the matter is half solved already.”
Guo Lu listened
attentively, afraid of losing even a word. When Zuo Mo finished, he was pinned to his spot, face deep in thought.
Seeing the situation, Zuo Mo floated away.
Leaving behind the ling fields, he headed for the Eastern Peak. The recent changes made him felt that it was a different lifetime. The female disciples of the Eastern Peak had meant to rely on him, but who would have thought he would become an inner sect disciple. Usually, he wouldn’t be able to care for them anymore. But since he received benefits from them, that the black gold worm had been their present, Zuo Mo decided to help them.
When Xiao Guo saw Zuo Mo, a surprised expression came onto her round apple face. She timidly said: “Shixiong!”
The gold horned copper cow was still leisurely eating ling grass, not paying any attention to Zuo Mo.
Zuo Mo felt slightly helpless towards this little girl, especially the always timid expression on her face.
Last time when he had fainted, the little girl had been afraid but still persisted in protecting him. When he had heard of this from the others, he was very moved and felt that he owed her a favour.
“What? Unhappy to see me?” Zuo Mo decided to tease the little girl. His face didn’t have any expression in the first place. Adding on a slightly stern tone, it was quite frightening.
Xiao Guo instantly was frightened, her small head furiously shaking, mist rising in her large yes, her mouth hurriedly explaining: “No, no……”
Zuo Mo instantly realized if he continued, she would really cry. He instantly regretted his action.
Wasn’t this making trouble for himself?
He hurriedly relaxed his tone: “Alright. Coming this time, there’s something to give to you.”
The mist in Xiao Guo’s eyes instantly stopped. She looked in puzzlement at Zuo Mo and asked timidly: “What thing? Shixiong.”
“This is some sword scriptures, you take it and practise and can pass it on to your other shijie and shimei.” He handed two jade sticks over to the little girl. One of the sticks stored some basic sword moves that he had picked out from the jade stick that Wei Sheng shixiong had given him. At the same time, he took off the gold sword ring from his hand and handed that as well to her: “This is gold sword ring. It can store three sword energies. But you first need to learn a gold spell. En, one of the jade sticks has five elements spells inside. After practising the [Art of Aged Gold] for a while, you can use this talisman.”