Chapter 381
Chapter 381
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 382
Chapter Title: Generational Favoritism
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Before departing, Chen Shi passed on the Yin-Yang Tempering Art taught to him by Tianzhen Daoist to both Changying Daoist and Qiongyang Ancestral Master. He said,
“This tempering technique isn’t an immortal-level cultivation art, nor is it something like the Water-Fire Tempering Art for refining corpse-dissolved immortals. Still, cultivating it might prevent tragedies like what happened to Jinghong Daoist.”
Qiongyang Ancestral Master carefully studied the mysteries of the Yin-Yang Tempering Art and pondered it several times. She couldn’t help but be moved.
“If he’d cultivated the Yin-Yang Tempering Art, Senior Brother Jinghong could have completely avoided demonic transformation! Whether he could achieve immortality is hard to say, but at least he’d have kept his sanity and wouldn’t have harmed the world.”
Her heart pounded fiercely.
Yes, cultivating the Yin-Yang Tempering Art could refine away the evil qi within one’s body, ensuring it could never fully corrupt them. If so, couldn’t she then cultivate the Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding Heavenly Immortal Chart?
Before leaving, Yan Xizhi had Taihua Qing Palace hand over the Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding Heavenly Immortal Chart and Jinghong Old Daoist’s corpse to the court for safekeeping, but the Qing Palace would naturally have kept copies!
If she cultivated this art, even if she couldn’t achieve eternal life, she could live a very long time!
Changying Daoist seemed to sense something and shot her a wary glance, secretly on guard in his heart.
Qiongyang Ancestral Master was no meek soul. Back in the day, she’d dug up ancestral graves alongside Chen Yindu—they’d been the masterminds, while Qingyang had merely been coerced into being an accomplice.
If Qiongyang hadn’t cared about the greater good of her sect, Chen Yindu would have swept her away too!
Qiongyang Ancestral Master was absolutely the type who’d do anything for the Dao and longevity!
“If she can’t resist the temptation, she might end up as another Jinghong Sect Leader!” Changying Daoist thought to himself.
Chen Shi smiled and said, “Changying Sect Leader, I’d like to borrow Yulingzi for a few days.”
Changying summoned Yulingzi and laughed, “Top Scholar Chen, use him as you wish—just bring back a live one. Yulingzi, follow Top Scholar Chen and don’t stir up trouble.”
Yulingzi assented, “Rest assured, Sect Leader.”
Chen Shi fetched a small red box and handed it to Qiongyang Ancestral Master with a smile. “Qiongyang Grandma, if you want to head down early to join my grandpa, just toss out what’s in this box. If you’d rather meet him again in the mortal world, take this instead.”
Qiongyang Ancestral Master took the red box, puzzled. She opened it to find a bright red fruit the size of a fingertip, exuding a fragrance that seeped into her lungs.
Chen Shi led Yulingzi along, called for Blackie Pot and the wooden cart, activated the Heavenly Court Token, and stepped into the Minor Heavens. Qingyang stayed behind at Taihua Qingyang Palace and didn’t leave with him.
Once the Heavenly Court portal vanished, Changying Daoist turned to her, his face grave. “Uncle-Master Qiongyang, you mustn’t cultivate the Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding Heavenly Immortal Chart! Even with the Yin-Yang Tempering Art, there’s no guarantee you won’t suffer demonic transformation.”
Before he could finish, Qiongyang Ancestral Master shook her head. Her expression held surprise, joy, and a touch of sorrow. She cut him off with a smile. “I won’t be cultivating the Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding Heavenly Immortal Chart.”
The joy in her heart stemmed from the sudden extension of her lifespan.
Moments ago, she’d swallowed the ginseng fruit from the red box, gaining over three hundred extra years—longer even than her current life!
She was nearing a hundred now, at the end of her natural span. Though her appearance remained youthful as a girl, she’d been counting down her days. But with one spiritual fruit down her throat, she’d suddenly tripled her remaining time!
As for that faint sorrow, it came from her long-held wish to rush to the underworld ahead of other women and reunite with Chen Yindu. This spiritual fruit had delayed that by over three centuries!
That lingering ache of parting swirled in her heart, unsettling her mind.
Changying Daoist didn’t understand. He’d clearly sensed her ambition and obsession just now—how had it vanished so suddenly?
Qiongyang Ancestral Master stood atop the mountain peak, gazing into the distance. A spark of curiosity suddenly bloomed in her. “Where did Little Ten get such a spiritual medicine? Wait—
What did he mean by saying I could meet Chen Yindu again in the mortal world?”
She shot into the sky. A bolt of thunder crashed down with a crack, and Qiongyang Ancestral Master vanished on a beam of lightning. Her voice echoed from afar, “Changying, I’ll be away for a while. Guard the sect well!”
Changying Daoist hurriedly called out, “Uncle-Master, where are you going?”
“To find Little Ten!”
Changying Daoist stood dumbfounded on the mountain, at a loss. He muttered, “Chen Yindu stayed on the mountain for years and couldn’t lure her away, but his grandson shows up and whisks her off in days! Well, at least Ancestral Master Qingyang is still here—”
A few days later, in Qingyang Palace, Qingyang had flown the coop.
Changying Daoist stood woodenly before the palace. On the ground lay Ancestral Master Qingyang’s crooked scrawl: “Taihua Qingyang Palace is no fun—sitting on the altar pretending to be a statue every day. I’m off to have some fun! If anything comes up, find me at Qianyang Mountain! No need to miss me!”
Changying Daoist quietly erased the crude words from the ground and said to the Daoist beside him, “From now on, tell outsiders Ancestral Master Qingyang has gone into secluded cultivation in the Minor Heavens.”
Yulingzi marveled endlessly as he wandered this strange void realm. He saw many Red Mountain Hall talisman masters reforging the sun, moon, and stars,
rearranging the configurations of the stellar rivers. The starry sky was filled with stars utterly unlike the original ones. Even the stars’ appearances had changed dramatically.
Though he was from the Heavenly Court, he’d only just returned to the mountain when he got shut away for breaking his fellow disciples’ fingers. This was his first time entering the Minor Heavens, and he couldn’t help but be shocked.
But when he saw the Six Ministries’ offices, his shock reached new heights.
The Ministry of Rites among the Six Ministries even housed a massive cultivation art treasury, leaving him utterly stunned!
The Six Ministries were already operating in an orderly fashion. The Ministry of Revenue had divided Red Mountain Hall branches across the fifty provinces of West Cattle New Continent into various Clear Clerk Divisions—for instance, Xinxian Province fell under the Xinxian Clear Clerk Division, handling民生, finances, silver, storage, and more, all managed by specialized talisman masters.
The Ministry of War was formed from talisman masters of local Red Mountain Hall branches, creating a force centered on talismans, talisman soldiers, and firearms.
The Ministry of Works focused on crafting talisman soldiers and firearms, while also building halls for Red Mountain branches everywhere.
Beyond that, there were offices for selecting and assessing talents, temporarily under the Ministry of Rites.
The Minor Heavens were practically a miniature court!
“Little Uncle-Master really knows how to plot a rebellion!” Yulingzi thought to himself.
He promptly applied to join the Ministry of Rites. Chen Shi recalled his finger-breaking frenzy and tested him. “Don’t you think the Ministry of Justice would suit you better?”
Yulingzi shook his head like a rattle. “I may not have taken the top scholar exam, but I know propriety. I’ll go to the Ministry of Rites.”
Chen Shi let him have his way, thinking, “Li Tianqing of the Ministry of Rites and Granny Sha are no pushovers. Add in this finger fanatic, and for future battles, maybe send the Ministry of Rites instead—they might be even more effective than the Ministry of War.”
Yulingzi burrowed into the Ministry of Rites’ scripture pavilion, devouring cultivation arts day and night in a trance. Li Tianqing was there too. Chen Shi found him and said, “Keep an eye on this little Daoist—don’t let him starve to death. Among our Red Mountain Hall instructors, the exceptional ones are few.
This little Daoist counts as one. Have him train the other talisman masters. Don’t treat him like a person—work him like a beast.”
Li Tianqing assented. “What of the Taihua Qing Palace prodigy’s actual cultivation and strength?”
Chen Shi laughed. “You can test him out. I don’t even know how far he’s progressed lately.”
With everything arranged, Chen Shi left the Minor Heavens, exiting from Chen Tang’s Heavenly Court Token back to Huangpo Village.
Now, Red Mountain Hall branches blanketed the fifty provinces, making travel via the Minor Heavens extremely convenient.
“It’s just unclear where the limits of this Minor Heavens’ power truly lie.”
Chen Shi pondered as the Heavenly Court Token on Chen Tang’s back gradually dimmed, returning to normal.
Qiongyang Ancestral Master’s voice came from outside. “Little Ten, you’re just back? I’ve been waiting ages!”
Chen Shi was utterly astonished. He hurried out to find Qiongyang Ancestral Master already in Huangpo Village, chatting with his mother and Chen Tang.
“Qiongyang Grandma, how’d you get here?” Chen Shi asked.
Qiongyang abandoned Chen Tang and Witch Qingyu, grabbed his hand, and rushed outside with glee. “There are outsiders here. Let’s find somewhere quiet to talk!”
Witch Qingyu and Chen Tang watched them go. Witch Qingyu arched a fine brow. “Ah Tang, Qiongyang Ancestral Master really doesn’t seem to like you.”
Chen Tang sighed. “Generational favoritism.”
Witch Qingyu shook her head. “She looks at you like you’re the enemy—practically calling you her rival’s son. But with Little Ten, it’s like he’s her own grandson.”
Chen Tang’s face fell, saying nothing, but thinking, “There are probably dozens more women like her.”
Qiongyang pulled Chen Shi to a secluded spot and asked, “Earlier you said if I wanted to meet again in the mortal world, I should take what was in the red box.
What did you mean by that?”
Chen Shi answered honestly, “My grandpa died, but not completely. He can still be saved.”
Qiongyang’s emotions surged with joy and sorrow. She laughed, “Back then, I didn’t dare go with him—I had to look after the sect. But now I can! Right, no one else knows, do they?”
Chen Shi shook his head.
Qiongyang was over the moon, pacing back and forth with laughter. “They don’t know—they think dying lets them reunite with Chen Yindu. Little do they know, I’m the one who can stay with him forever! Hahaha, those little vixens could never outdo me!”
She beamed smugly. “Little Ten, don’t call me Qiongyang Grandma anymore. From now on, I’m your real grandma!”
Chen Tang heard the laughter from afar, his expression wooden. “Generational favoritism, indeed.”
The next day, Huangpo Village gained a new “house”—more like a lavish palace.
The villagers were long used to oddities. Ever since Chen Shi returned from the capital, the village had filled with strange folk: fishing father and daughter, Red Mountain Hall talisman masters, cute ones, fierce devils like Zhong Dao and Tie Lu, and the occasional vanishing stone house.
In Huangpo Village’s shadows, one could spot an enormous black dog.
A new palace was just par for the course.
Witch Qingyu glanced worriedly toward the yellow earth slope. Ever since Chen Shi returned from Taihua Mountain, he’d been taciturn, as if burdened by worries.
These days, he spent most of his time under the old willow tree, lost in thought, forgetting to eat or sleep—sometimes even spending nights there.
Witch Qingyu said to Chen Tang, “Your son has something on his mind. Go ask him.”
“Probably lovesick. He’s at that age.”
Chen Tang said, “Boys that age all get spring fever.”
Witch Qingyu smiled ambiguously. “Husband, and you? At Little Ten’s age back then, which girl did you have in mind?”
“I never did.”
Chen Tang said seriously, “Back then, I only wanted to study and cultivate, to outdo Chen Wu.”
Fearing further questions, he added, “I’ll go ask Little Ten which family’s girl he’s pining for. Maybe we should prepare to propose marriage. Little Ten turns fourteen by lunar age after the new year. Village folk marry young—if he likes her, we’ll go propose right away. We can set the betrothal first,
and wed in a couple years. Once betrothed, he’ll settle down.”
Witch Qingyu agreed.
Chen Tang reached the yellow earth slope. “Your mom says you have something on your mind. Thinking about a girl?”
Chen Shi flushed red and shook his head. “Dad, what’re you thinking? I’m pondering a cultivation puzzle.”
Chen Tang said, “Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
Chen Shi hesitated, then spilled the puzzle he’d been mulling over. “I’ve been wondering if yin-yang mutual promotion can interfere with the external world?”
Chen Tang’s expression didn’t change. “Elaborate.”
Chen Shi perked up. “Lately, I’ve been puzzling over why Jinghong Daoist suffered demonic transformation. The Golden Cicada Shell-Shedding Heavenly Immortal Chart he cultivated is orthodox, refining a corpse-dissolved immortal by shedding his original flesh. He took a new path,
with divine embryo, divine descent, and void refinement—why still transform?”
Chen Tang said, “He didn’t know the Primordial Star Chart.”
Chen Shi shook his head. “That’s not key. Dan Chengzi knew it and still transformed—he’s hiding in my sea of consciousness now. So transformation isn’t tied to the Primordial Star Chart. It might just make cultivation smoother and merging with the Dao easier. I think the real issue is this world.”
He looked up at the sky, staring at the sun and moon. Twin suns blazed; the moon glowed faint white.
“This world might already be in the midst of transformation.”
Chen Shi said, “So whether new methods or the True King’s old ways, merging with the Dao causes transformation. That’s my guess.”
Chen Tang remained calm. “Go on.”
Chen Shi grew excited, pacing. “The problem likely hits during Dao-merging with heaven and earth. Old methods fail earlier, at Body Integration or even Void Enlightenment peaks! So why merge with heaven and earth? Why not make heaven and earth merge with me!
The external world’s corrupted. Merging my Dao with its great Dao subjects me to influence and transformation. But what if I take precedence, making the external great Dao merge with me?”
His eyes sparkled. He stopped, staring into Chen Tang’s eyes, voice urgent. “Dad, if the external Dao merges with mine, with me as primary, could I then influence the external world?”
Chen Tang felt a bit dizzy but kept his straight face. “Indeed. You’ve got it right.”
Chen Shi whooped with excitement, clenching his fists. “I knew you’d agree! Even Blackie Pot says I’m right!”
Chen Tang glanced at Blackie Pot, who looked back blankly—clearly clueless.
Chen Tang said, “Both of us say you’re right, so you are. Keep going.”
Chen Shi paced wildly with thrill. “So I wondered if I could use Yin-Yang Tempering to comprehend yin-yang mutual promotion. Lone yin doesn’t birth; lone yang doesn’t endure. Only pure yin or pure yang can’t last—yin and yang must aid each other to thrive. Yin-yang mutual promotion could create that cycle in my Dao domain, mutually supporting and strengthening—Dad? Dad? Where’re you going?”
Chen Tang ignored him, heading down the slope to Witch Qingyu. “Yep, he’s thinking about women. Leave him be. He’ll be fine in a few days.”