Chapter 16: The County Town Dilemma, The Reclusive Jiang Sheng

“Such techniques are mere parlor tricks to Foundation Establishment cultivators like us.”

“After all, whether they use food, water, or other objects as a medium, they eventually have to leave them with us.”

Xu Xiao spoke with confidence.

“No matter how obscure the attached spiritual power is, it can still be detected. If they plant poisonous insects, unless their cultivation is one stage higher than ours, we can suppress them and then incinerate them with True Fire.”

“What we fear most are when they possess our hair or fingernails, and secondly, our personal belongings. Using these things in conjunction with our birth dates, names, and origins to perform rituals—that is truly difficult to defend against.”

“We cultivators from sect backgrounds have been informed of these subtleties by our sect elders. Therefore, we generally do not leave any objects lying around in public, let alone hair or fingernails.”

Hearing Xu Xiao's words, Zhang Qing immediately said, “Father, we must hide our personal belongings well. As for hair, nails, and other items, they must be burned directly; no traces can be left behind.”

Zhang Qingyun nodded repeatedly. “Qing'er is right. But if those evil cultivators continue to take lives in the city, what should we do?”

Zhang Qing smiled. “Lately, those rogue cultivators have been eating and drinking among us without ever lifting a finger. Isn't now the perfect time to put them to use?”

“We can post notices informing the public that evil cultivators are causing chaos, and that anyone who catches them can claim a reward at the county magistrate's office. As long as we provide appropriate rewards, there is no need to worry about these rogue cultivators not working hard.”

Zhang Qingyun clearly approved of this idea, but then he sighed. “It's just a pity that Daoist Jiang and the others are likely too lazy to bother with such matters.”

Xu Xiao added, “If Daoist Jiang is willing to help, that would naturally be for the best. I heard Daoist Jiang hails from Penglai?”

Seeing Zhang Qingyun and Zhang Qing nod, Xu Xiao continued, “Penglai is a renowned orthodox sect of the Mysterious Gate, and Penglai's talismans are considered number one in the entire Eastern Domain Continent.”

“If Daoist Jiang were to take action, those evil cultivators would have nowhere to hide.”

“Unfortunately, Daoist Jiang has already returned to Qingping Mountain for cultivation. I fear he will not descend the mountain before our plan begins.”

At these words, Zhang Qing felt a bit discouraged.

Since revealing the plan that night, although Jiang Sheng and the others had expressed their agreement, they were all the type who wouldn't act without seeing results first.

Since the plan had not yet commenced, these strongest Foundation Establishment cultivators were either in secluded cultivation or traveling through the various towns of Qingshan County. Jiang Sheng had even gone directly back to his Taoist temple on Qingping Mountain.

Currently, within Qingshan County, only Xu Xiao and a few early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators remained.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qingyun grew somewhat anxious. “Let's try using these people first. If it truly doesn't work, I will personally invite Daoist Jiang.”

Zhang Qing sighed. “That is all we can do.”

***

Meanwhile, on Qingping Mountain, heavy snow was falling, covering the entire peak in a layer of pristine white.

Ordinary trees had all turned withered and yellow, leaving only the green pines and emerald bamboos to maintain their color—one of the few signs of life surrounding the Taoist temple.

As the large snowflakes drifted down, the black-brick and blue-tiled temple became hazy in the snow.

Only the curling wisps of blue smoke continued to linger above the temple every day, undisturbed by the wind and snow.

In such a midwinter season of falling snow, ordinary people would never venture deep into the mountains.

Not to mention the rugged and slippery mountain paths, the snow often concealed various dangers.

However, on this day, Tian Guofu arrived at the Qingxuan Temple, undeterred by the wind and snow.

Not only did Tian Guofu come, but he also brought his young grandson, claiming he wanted to offer incense to the True Monarch.

Jiang Sheng looked somewhat helplessly at Tian Guofu, who was wrapped in a fur coat like a bloated marmot, struggling to kneel on the prayer mat. “Town Mayor Tian, why have you come again?”

Tian Guofu chuckled. “Daoist, this vast temple is far too lonely with just you here on ordinary days.”

“My little grandson may not know much else, but he is quick and nimble. He can help you clean the temple every day, which will save you some trouble, won't it?”

Jiang Sheng glanced at the young master of the Tian family beside Tian Guofu.

This young master was named Tian Ming'an. He was twelve years old this year, with a proper and handsome appearance; clearly, the Tian family genes were not bad.

Tian Ming'an was young yet intelligent and sensible. Ever since Tian Guofu brought him up the mountain, he would come up alone every few days to offer incense and treated Jiang Sheng with great respect.

He treated Jiang Sheng entirely as an elder and would even take the initiative to help clean the temple.

One cannot strike a smiling face, and Tian Ming'an's behavior was indeed beyond reproach, so Jiang Sheng allowed him to study within the temple.

Originally, Tian Ming'an only came every few days, but ever since Tian Guofu heard that evil cultivators were causing chaos in Qingshan County, he had brought Tian Ming'an up the mountain to stay indefinitely.

Clearly, he was terrified that those chaotic evil cultivators would harm his precious grandson.

Jiang Sheng ignored Tian Guofu and studied Tian Ming'an for a moment before finally dropping a sentence: “Then let him come up the mountain every day to clean the temple. He must provide his own food; this poor Daoist has nothing to eat here.”

Such conditions seemed meager, but Tian Guofu was overjoyed. Not to mention Qingping Town, countless people in the entire Qingshan County wanted to send their children to the Qingxuan Temple to serve as errand boys or laborers.

Among them were many wealthy gentry, yet Jiang Sheng had rejected them all.

Who didn't know that entering a Taoist temple meant the possibility of becoming a cultivator in the future?

In the entire State of Qi, cultivators held the power. To become a cultivator meant that even if one could not join Penglai, becoming a Daoist official in the State of Qi would bring endless wealth and honor.

Tian Guofu knew that Jiang Sheng had essentially accepted his grandson. He said excitedly, “That’s perfect, that’s perfect! Ming'an, hurry and thank Daoist Jiang.”

Tian Ming'an quickly stepped forward and bowed. “Ming'an thanks the Daoist.”

Jiang Sheng said nothing more, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

***

The next day, the snow stopped.

The winter sunlight shone upon the mountains, making the white snow exceptionally dazzling.

In the black-brick and blue-tiled Qingxuan Temple, Tian Ming'an was sweeping the accumulated snow in the courtyard. He was working continuously with his broom, sweating profusely.

Jiang Sheng sat quietly before the portrait of the Ancestor in the front hall, his eyes slightly closed.

Spiritual power surged from his dantian, circulating through his meridians in a complete cycle.

With every completed cycle, the spiritual energy within his dantian became a fraction more condensed. As the condensed energy accumulated, it would naturally coalesce into a drop of spiritual liquid.

Cultivation was a process of slow, steady refinement.

In the Qi Refining stage, one needs to continuously absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to transform it into one's own, accumulating it in the dantian until it reaches perfection to ascend to the next stage.

Qi Refining is the process of constantly refining the spiritual energy within the dantian and repeatedly expanding it to accommodate more energy.

Once one reaches the ninth level of Qi Refining and the spiritual energy in the dantian can no longer be further refined or expanded, one can attempt Foundation Establishment.

An ordinary cultivator, provided they have a Foundation Establishment Pill to assist them and can condense nine drops of spiritual liquid within their body, can barely step into the Foundation Establishment realm.

However, this can only be called a Low-grade Human Path Foundation Establishment, and its upper limit is extremely low.

Most rogue cultivators can only stop at the early stage of Foundation Establishment for their entire lives; even if they reach the late stage, there is no hope for the Purple Mansion realm.

For a Mid-grade Earth Path Foundation Establishment, one also requires a strand of Earthly Fiend Qi to use its ferocity to temper the spiritual energy within one's meridians and dantian, making the spiritual liquid purer and more condensed.

In this way, twenty-four drops of spiritual liquid can be condensed, meaning one's starting point is comparable to the level of an ordinary Low-grade Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Furthermore, an Earth Path Foundation Establishment not only allows for a smooth progression to the late stage but also makes the Purple Mansion realm achievable.

Most sect disciples and children of noble families aim for Earth Path Foundation Establishment; achieving Mid-grade Foundation Establishment is enough to make one proud.

As for the High-grade Heavenly Path Foundation Establishment, it requires not only Earthly Fiend Qi but also Heavenly Astral Qi.

One must harvest the Astral and Fiend Qi and consume them, transforming them into power that can be used by oneself.

Thus, as long as one can endure the bone-deep, agonizing pain of the Astral and Fiend Qi rampaging through the meridians and subdue them—merging the Astral/Fiend power with the internal spiritual energy—one can condense thirty-six drops of spiritual liquid.

The spiritual liquid condensed this way is infused with Astral and Fiend power, making it incomparably pure, and every single drop contains infinite strength.

Even if an ordinary Low-grade Foundation Establishment cultivator reaches the late stage, they might not even have as many drops of spiritual liquid as a Heavenly-grade Foundation Establishment cultivator at the early stage, let alone the level of purity.

And for a Heavenly Path Foundation Establishment, once they grow, they are destined to achieve the Golden Core realm; the Great Dao is within reach!

Every Heavenly Path Foundation Establishment cultivator is a true seed and a future pillar for great sects and powerful forces.

Only a Heavenly Path Foundation Establishment cultivator can become a Dao Foundation cultivator.

The so-called Dao Foundation is the foundation of the Great Dao itself.

Jiang Sheng was a Heavenly Path Foundation Establishment cultivator.

During his Foundation Establishment, Jiang Sheng had consumed the Heavenly Astral and Earthly Fiend Qi to temper his spiritual energy. This not only widened his meridians and dantian but also made them exceptionally resilient under the tempering of the Astral and Fiend forces.

Consequently, the spiritual liquid in Jiang Sheng's dantian had long since gathered into a pool of azure spiritual liquid. Whether in terms of the purity of his spiritual power or the quantity of his reserves, Jiang Sheng far surpassed ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The primary goal of the Foundation Establishment realm is to continuously increase the amount of spiritual liquid in the dantian.

Once the spiritual liquid in the dantian is accumulated to perfection and one reaches the late stage of Foundation Establishment, one can attempt to control the internal spiritual energy to strike the Great Dragon of the Spine.

If the spiritual energy can penetrate the Great Dragon of the Spine, one can open the Purple Mansion between the brows, adding four sixty-year cycles (240 years) to one's life, enjoying a lifespan of five hundred years.

Ordinary rogue cultivators often struggle to find complete Foundation Establishment cultivation methods; being able to establish a foundation at all is a stroke of luck, and being stuck in the early stage for life is quite common.

Those who achieve the Purple Mansion realm must have encountered unique fortuitous opportunities.

Furthermore, if one wishes to preserve their vital blood and leave room for recovery when striking the Purple Mansion, one needs spiritual items like the Purple Sun Jade to assist, so as to protect most of one's primordial essence.

This allows for further cultivation over the years and the possibility of attempting the Purple Mansion again.

Otherwise, if a cultivator gathers all their spiritual power and vital blood to strike the spine and fails, they will, at best, suffer a massive drop in cultivation and a sharp decrease in lifespan; at worst, they will be instantly crippled or even die on the spot.

However, if one does not use auxiliary spiritual items like the Purple Sun Jade and instead uses their own spiritual power to penetrate the spine in one go, their comprehension and innate talent must be superb.

Their starting point in the Purple Mansion realm will be more than one grade higher than those who used spiritual items for assistance.

Just as a cultivator who establishes their Dao Foundation without external aid during Foundation Establishment possesses more resilient meridians and more abundant spiritual energy in their dantian.

With both his aptitude and his cultivation method being extraordinary, the Purple Mansion would not be difficult for Jiang Sheng.

His only concern was that he would be unable to practice in quiet seclusion.

But such is life: the tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease.