Chapter 33: Three Days of Protection, One Word to Shatter Delusion

Jiang Youling walked at a leisurely pace, and to her surprise, it had taken only three hours to return to Danyang Mountain!

It had taken half the time she spent on her journey there.

"Junior Sister Jiang?"

Wang Chujun, who was busy catching insects from the spiritual plants, put down her work and looked at Jiang Youling in astonishment.

Several days had passed since this Junior Sister Jiang had departed without return; she had thought the poor girl had met with misfortune. She never expected her to actually come back!

"Senior Sister Wang."

Jiang Youling felt a deep sense of gratitude toward this senior sister.

Had she not been given the Miasma-Avoiding Pill before her departure, she likely would have lost consciousness on the road to the Profound Nether Valley from inhaling too much miasma.

Wang Chujun nodded with a smile. "It is good that you have returned safely. Master Hong instructed that once you returned, you should go directly to his cave dwelling to see him."

"Alright."

Jiang Youling nodded to Wang Chujun and stepped into Master Hong's cave dwelling.

She happened to have doubts in her heart and wished to seek his guidance.

She looked around; the cave was filled with stone marrow crystals and winding vines etched with runes; the prayer mats were a deep jade green, and the jade tables shimmered with light. It was truly incomparable to ordinary places.

Jiang Youling stood with her head bowed, waiting quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, the stone door of the inner chamber opened with a "hum," and a figure stepped out—it was Hong Dengyuan.

He maintained his usual air of nonchalance and arrogance, as if he held no one in regard. After a casual glance at Jiang Youling, he sat himself down in the high-seated grandmaster chair.

Jiang Youling took a step forward and spoke proactively.

"Master, there is something I do not understand. I clearly ignited my Heart Lamp some days ago; why did it ignite again after I spent three days in the Cold Pool? And why does it burn steadily without extinguishing?"

Furthermore, she could clearly feel that the sensation of the Heart Lamp igniting these two times was different.

When the Heart Lamp first ignited, the lamp was formless and the flame was cold; it could not be perceived or seen without visualization.

Now that it had ignited again, although the lamp remained formless, the flame was hot. Even without visualization, she could feel a point of searing heat in her chest.

"The first ignition is Recognition; the second ignition is Nature."

Hong Dengyuan tapped the table lightly with his fingertip, and suddenly produced an ancient bronze lamp from the table.

This lamp was quite peculiar; though the wick was unlit, a faint halo of light drifted within it.

"Look at this lamp."

With a flick of his finger, the wick ignited with a "hiss" into a wisp of green flame. "This is mortal fire."

As he spoke, he placed a piece of cold jade beside the lamp. The flame was initially nearly extinguished by the chilling vapors, but after adapting to the cold for a moment, glints of gold began to emerge within the flame amidst the shifting light, gradually melting the cold jade.

"The first ignition of the Heart Lamp is merely borrowed kindling. It arises from thought and is but a superficial appearance."

Hong Dengyuan pushed the inverted lamp toward Jiang Youling. "The three days in the Cold Pool were meant to temper away the superficial flames on this lamp."

He tapped the girl's chest lightly with his finger. "What remains within you now is the true fire that you have condensed yourself. Others cannot see through this change; only you can feel it."

Hearing Hong Dengyuan's explanation, Jiang Youling froze, speechless for a long time.

She was not a dull person; she almost immediately realized that Master Hong's "torment" of her these past few days, which seemed like punishment, was actually a test.

The hundred-mile journey to deliver the message was to test her Dao heart and physical constitution.

The three days in the Cold Pool were to temper her perseverance and will.

Even the familiar yet unbelievable figure she saw by the pool at the brink of life and death, and the "lamp oil" that appeared out of thin air when she was about to collapse, were all inextricably linked to the man before her.

He had set the trial—what appeared to be a life-and-death predicament was actually using the power of the Cold Pool to help her catalyze a spark of true fire.

He had hidden his presence, guarding the perimeter of the Cold Pool for three days and three nights, just to protect that spark of true fire from being extinguished.

It was also him who, at the Hall of Dao-Listening, advocated vehemently for those with spiritual roots and expressed deep disdain for those without.

"...Why?"

Hong Dengyuan smiled, but his expression remained calm.

"Are you asking why I deliberately suppress the ordinary servant disciples, or are you asking why the Sect does not pass down the True Methods to your kind?"

Jiang Youling remained silent, then bowed deeply. "I beg the Master to resolve my confusion."

Hong Dengyuan accepted the salute candidly. "Actually, the question is very simple. For a mortal with a turbid body, awakening this spark of true fire requires a life-and-death tribulation and the meticulous protection of a Master; it is no easy feat.

Furthermore, once awakened, they not only consume more cultivation resources, but their cultivation speed is far inferior to those born with spiritual roots. Moreover, the sect's miscellaneous chores still need someone to do them...

From the perspective of the Sect, mortals have no value in cultivation."

Jiang Youling was shaken; her reverence for the Immortal Sect collapsed completely, and her body trembled uncontrollably.

So, the Taixuan Sect's so-called "opening of the immortal gates" and "selection of the immortal path" was nothing more than finding young, agile, and useful cheap labor!

Her hands clenched involuntarily. She did not know if she was clenching them for herself, for the thousands of servants, or for the aged backs like Grandmother Cui, who were hunched over in spiritual fields and mines, using their flesh and blood to pave the way for their children.

"How dare the vast Taixuan Immortal Sect deceive the heavens and the world by spreading false methods?"

Hong Dengyuan shook his head. "They are not false methods, but rather practical foundations. The methods passed down by Taixuan can still allow you to warm your meridians and strengthen your body, allowing you to cultivate without illness or disaster until the middle or late stages of Qi Refinement.

Those with profound karmic connections can even, despite having mortal bodies, use external arts to temper their physiques and forcibly open the gates of Foundation Establishment. It is simply that the hope is slim."

Jiang Youling remained silent for a long time before the burning emotions in her heart slowly cooled.

The weight of those with spiritual roots versus mortals was already self-evident.

It was actually quite logical for the Taixuan Sect to choose this way.

Even if the Sect passed down complete Daoist methods, even if the servant disciples possessed a steadfast heart for the Dao and feared no terror of life and death, how many Foundation Establishment Masters would be willing to spend their effort to protect a mere servant's entry into the Dao?

If that happened, disciples who glimpsed the True Methods but could not enter the gate would inevitably grow resentful over time, causing the hearts of the people to waver and the foundation of the Immortal Sect to become unstable.

It was just the thought of Grandmother Cui, who was over seventy yet held the utmost reverence for the Immortal Sect, exhausting her life's blood to provide for her children.

Her mother and uncle, who had failed countless times and wasted immense amounts of time trying to enter the Immortal Sect.

And Shen Yingshu and Xu Ke, who were full of longing for the Immortal Sect and vowed to achieve greatness...

In the end, Jiang Youling could not find peace.

"So, the Master's deliberate air of disdain and harsh words were intended to wake those disciples who were deluded by the Sect's immortal dreams?"

Hearing this, Hong Dengyuan instead gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"As it turns out, my actions were nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree. I couldn't even convince a single small, newly-entered disciple like you, and I was even put in an awkward position by your direct confrontation.

I fear that I have now become a laughingstock in the hearts of you servant disciples!"

Jiang Youling showed a face of shame and hurriedly bowed to Master Hong. "The Master's thoughts are profound, while Youling's vision is short-sighted and cannot reach them."

"Forget it. This matter was originally due to my lack of thorough consideration and biased actions. You were merely speaking the truth; what wrong have you done?"

Hong Dengyuan gave her a half-smile. "Actually, when I called you here a few days ago, I was willing to let you learn a lesson. Who knew you would be such a stubborn donkey, refusing to yield even an inch on a matter you believe is right!"

Jiang Youling said bashfully, "The Master is correct. Through this trip to the Cold Pool, Youling has realized that the Master used 'thunderous methods to show a Bodhisattva's heart,' helping this disciple temper away the superficiality to see her true nature.

Had it not been for the Master's guidance, this disciple would likely still be lost in delusion without knowing it!"

Hong Dengyuan shook his head indifferently.

"Enough. To obtain such fortune was originally your own destiny. Since I have protected your entry into the Dao, I originally should have taken you as a disciple, but your status as a servant is inconsistent with my cultivation philosophy..."

Jiang Youling hurriedly bowed. "The Master has cared for Youling to this extent; Youling is already infinitely grateful. How would I dare to ask for more?"

Hong Dengyuan nodded. "You are a sensible one. In the future, if you have time, you may frequently come to Danyang Mountain to find your Senior Sister Chujun to seek guidance on cultivation.

As for what I said today, remember to let it rot in your stomach once you leave this cave. Do not bring disaster upon yourself and implicate me.

As for why your cultivation progressed so quickly, if anyone asks, just say I rewarded you with a Meridian-Opening Pill."

Hearing this, a crystalline shimmer seemed to float in Jiang Youling's eyes.

Since Senior Sister Wang was a disciple of Danyang Mountain, her character and conduct were likely long known to Master Hong.

That Miasma-Avoiding Pill was likely entirely within the Master's expectations.

Amidst her shifting thoughts, Jiang Youling lifted her hem, knelt before Hong Dengyuan, and solemnly kowtowed three times.

"Although the Master is unwilling to take me as a disciple, I have accepted you as my teacher. The grace of passing down the law is like being reborn; Youling shall never forget it as long as I live!"

Having spoken, Jiang Youling rose and silently left the cave dwelling.

Watching her departing figure, Hong Dengyuan sighed leisurely, "Uncut jade and pure gold... alas, the common folk have little voice. We shall see what your destiny holds in the future."