Once the old man and the young man acknowledged their familial bond, it was as if a window paper had been pierced—their relationship advanced by leaps and bounds in an instant.
Jiang Yi stepped forward with a slight bow, proactively supporting Yang Xun.
“This mountain path is slippery. Please take care, Sir.”
A proper cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement, Yang Xun showed no signs of blood and qi decline despite being over eighty. There was no way he couldn’t walk steadily.
But Jiang Yi knew perfectly well that this was exactly what the other man enjoyed.
Probably stemming from the regret of losing his son, Executor Yang most enjoyed the familial bliss of having grandchildren gathered around his knees.
“Every spring, the Inner Peak sets aside a few候补 candidate slots.”
Even though Yang Xun could tear tigers and leopards apart with one hand, he was happy to be treated this way by Jiang Yi.
He deliberately slowed his pace, speaking unhurriedly:
“Any cultivator in the Qianji Sect under twenty years of age, at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, may attempt it.”
Jiang Yi was surprised. He had never heard before that the Inner Peak recruited disciples externally.
Even an old veteran like He Laohun seemed unaware of this.
Yang Xun chuckled:
“Nowadays on the Yanfu Continent, anyone can cultivate the Dao; Dao teachings can be found everywhere. How could there be a shortage of usable talent?
The reason the Qianji Sect releases these slots is, first, the sect’s marketplaces need someone to oversee them;
Second, several of the sect’s properties, such as the Hundred Beast Grotto, Soulfall Gorge, and Heartseizer Forest also need manpower.
Plus, every year, a few disciples are lost to varying degrees, freeing up vacancies.
But for a minor sect to fuss over a grand opening ceremony every year would be making a great commotion without necessity.
Thus, they distribute these slots to the executors of the various outer peaks.
Ordinary mortal servants can’t get wind of this—how would they know?”
So it was all internal referrals!
Jiang Yi suddenly realized. This meant that all the executors of the four outer peaks could nominate one person as a candidate.
Each year, the disciples who entered the Inner Peak were selected from among the “talents” they favored.
“On Crimson Flame Peak, Old Tang is lecherous and Old Zhou is greedy. Their connections don’t lack people seeking them out, so they’ve likely already occupied the slots.
Therefore, this old man wants you to step into the fourth layer of Qi Refinement before spring, without fail.”
Yang Xun spoke earnestly. His willingness to acknowledge and cultivate Jiang Yi wasn’t entirely because the boy was sweet-tongued and clever.
In a few more years, he would retire—either return to his hometown to live out his old age, supported by his clan; or be demoted to a marketplace to spend his remaining years.
The demonic Dao lineage had always emphasized “making the most of every resource.”
Useless individuals would be ruthlessly expended.
Yang Xun had witnessed such things countless times over the years.
Thus, he also wanted to secure a retreat for himself.
Jiang Yi said with absolute certainty:
“I will certainly not disappoint Grandfather.”
Hearing this “Grandfather,” Yang Xun felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. He forced himself to remain composed and nodded slightly.
The two walked and chatted, soon arriving at the great mansion.
The young Daoist gatekeeper saw Inspector Jiang and his own master in a scene of harmonious familial joy like grandfather and grandson, nearly dropping his jaw in shock.
“Master, Inspector Jiang…”
“Child, from now on you should address him as ‘Young Master.’”
Hearing Yang Xun’s order, the young Daoist was even more dumbstruck.
He thought to himself:
“How did Inspector Jiang coax the master into such a grandson-like state!”
Crossing the threshold, they entered the front hall.
Yang Xun had the young Daoist brew hot tea, then said leisurely:
“The Minor Forge Origin Fire Control Art that you cultivate—this old man stopped at Grand Mastery, never reaching Perfection.
Dao scriptures say that arts are divided into three levels.
But speaking in detail, before Minor Accomplishment there is Entry;
And after Grand Mastery, there is Perfection.
Cultivated to the Minor Accomplishment level, the fire nature condenses into faint light, fine as ox hair, piercing through heart and bone.
At the Intermediate level, the fire contains spiritual mechanisms, deriving a hundred manifestations, responding to thought, unpredictable in its changes.
After reaching Grand Mastery, internal and external intersect, true qi never extinguishes, the burning body does not vanish, water cannot quench it…”
Jiang Yi listened carefully. Based on his experience frequently eavesdropping on leaders’ speeches, the main event should be coming up.
Sure enough.
Yang Xun paused, his peripheral vision sweeping over Jiang Yi who was listening with rapt attention, and slowly said:
“You comprehended the text without a teacher and grasped the essential meaning, showing considerable talent in cultivating arts.
I won’t say much else. Here is a handwritten journal containing my cultivation insights from day and night study. You may use it to identify deficiencies and remedy them.”
With that, he took out a thin booklet from within his robes.
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Jiang Yi received it with both hands, gratitude welling from his heart.
When he first obtained the Minor Forge Origin Fire Control Art, he had considered becoming accomplished through self-study. Only after his attempts proved fruitless did he seek help from the Heavenly Book.
From then on, he understood that on the path of cultivation,
“Methods” were hard to obtain, but “Secret Essentials” were even rarer.
Having only the method but not the secret essentials was still like a blind man touching an elephant.
Unable to find the door to enter, one could only wander outside.
“Additionally, if you wish to advance further in cultivating the Fire Control Art, this old man has a secret technique that can assist you.”
Yang Xun wasn’t a stingy man by nature. Since Jiang Yi was perceptive and tactful, having formed this good karma with him,
Handing over some of his best-kept treasures was no issue.
Jiang Yi understood the underlying message, stood up and bowed:
“Please, Grandfather, fulfill my desire to advance.”
He was best at dealing with “fatherly superiors” and knew exactly how to appear well-behaved and sensible.
“This technique was bestowed upon me by Elder Sui of the sect. It is called the Water-Fire Pool and Marsh Body Tempering Technique, ranked eighth grade—quite rare.”
There seemed to be a nostalgic look in Yang Xun’s eyes; he likely had no shallow friendship with that Elder Sui.
An eighth-grade technique!
Jiang Yi’s heart burned hot. The ninth-grade Fire Control Art had allowed him to treat Zhang Chao and Dong Ba—cultivators of the same level—like chickens and dogs!
If he learned an eighth-grade technique, wouldn’t he soar to the heavens?
“As the saying goes: water tempering brings moist nourishment to generate essence; fire tempering brings radiance to generate spirit.
The Fire Control Art also mentions this. Water represents yin essence, while fire represents yang spirit.
The general idea of this technique is to use ancient ceremonial rituals to construct water pools and fire marshes, enter them naked, refine the spirit, and temper the body.
Once successful, it can mend one’s foundation and increase primal qi.
It saves a hundred days of bitter cultivation and strengthens the fire nature throughout the body.”
This was exactly what he needed—like receiving a pillow when feeling drowsy!
Jiang Yi felt overjoyed, like an industrious beast of burden given pie-in-the-sky promises by its boss, wishing he could work half a year’s overtime in one breath.
Fortunately, he still retained a shred of rationality and asked:
“Grandfather, these water pools and fire marshes surely aren’t easy to construct.”
Yang Xun nodded, showing approval.
This child was indeed promising, not being blinded by the eighth-grade body tempering technique.
“Ceremonial rituals are inheritances of the immortal Dao; they have always been costly.
For one water pool, one needs eight pieces of top-grade cold jade to lock in yin fiendish qi, plus three hu of rootless spiritual water, half a jin of hundred-year stalactite… For one fire marsh, nine jin of cinnabar, one solar flame object…”
Yang Xun didn’t hide anything, explaining each item one by one.
The more Jiang Yi listened, the uglier his expression became. How much talisman money would this cost?
Not to mention anything else, just the top-grade cold jade and solar flame object alone were spiritual items, starting at ten thousand at the very least.
Gathering everything together, a rough estimate would come to around eighty or ninety thousand.
No wonder Yang Xun had asked him if he had two hundred thousand talisman money to support his cultivation.
“Grandfather, I’m afraid I cannot make use of this water-fire tempering.”
Jiang Yi pretended a bitter smile, lowering his head.
Waiting for Yang Xun to continue.
The quality of a leader, most of the time, depended on just one thing.
Whether they only painted pictures of cakes without giving real benefits, or whether after whetting one’s appetite they were willing to let one eat their fill.
According to Jiang Yi’s judgment, Yang Xun should belong to the good leader type.
“You brat, are you deliberately trying to discomfort this old man! Since I brought up the water-fire tempering myself, I naturally have made plans. How could I let you pay?”
Yang Xun said with a laugh and a scold.
“Grandfather’s kindness, Jiang Yi will engrave within my five organs, never forgetting it in this life.”
Jiang Yi bowed in thanks once more. Although he had used schemes to attach himself to Yang Xun, he truly harbored gratitude.
Having spent a long time in the cutthroat world of fame and fortune in his previous life, he deeply understood how difficult it was to encounter a “leader” who truly wished to cultivate him.
“No need to stand on ceremony, Ah Yi.”
As the form of address grew more intimate, Yang Xun’s gaze grew increasingly gentle.
“If you truly possess Dao talent, even without this old man’s assistance, you would stand out sooner or later.”
Jiang Yi still maintained a respectful demeanor. One’s attitude toward a leader must be consistent.
He accompanied the old man in idle chat for a while, learning more about the Qianji Sect’s situation, before finally leaving the executor’s mansion at the summit of Crimson Flame Peak.
“Should I look for a quieter, more spacious place? After all, I’m not lacking five hundred or a thousand talisman money now.”
Returning to the work shed, Jiang Yi’s thoughts drifted. This crowded compound had turbid qi; it wasn’t a suitable dwelling for cultivation.
“Wait a bit longer. There’s no difference between a tile house and a shack. If I’m going to live somewhere, it should be a cave abode!”
Jiang Yi quickly tossed this notion aside and earnestly counted his “gains.”
The results delighted him beyond his expectations!
“Eh, it was actually Zhang Chao who had saved the most money—fully fifty thousand talisman money. No wonder he looked at me with eyes about to spit fire. Ten years of hard work scattered in a single morning!”
Jiang Yi curled up the corner of his mouth. Robbing homes was indeed a path to sudden wealth.
If he had to work hard for it, who knew how many years it would take.
Now with a small move of his hands, his purse was stuffed.
Dong Ba didn’t have much wealth remaining. It was said this man was an old whoremonger, visiting brothels as soon as he received his talisman money.
“Added together, barely over sixty thousand. First, repay the money borrowed from Sister Qin. Then take thirty thousand to show filial respect to Executor Yang… Although this grandfather is generous, my own attitude must be made clear.”
Jiang Yi’s heart was clear as a bright mirror. Thirty thousand talisman money was but a small sum to an executor, but the “grandson’s” sincere intention was a priceless treasure.
“Water pools and fire marshes, tempering the body and refining the spirit… I feel it can not only help me break through to the fourth layer, but might even allow me to ascend to the fifth!”
Having finished counting the “gifts” from Zhang and Dong, he began thinking again about the eighth-grade body tempering technique Yang Xun had mentioned.
On the path of cultivation, one’s foundation and底蕴 were supremely important.
Before, he had lacked the means. Now that he finally had a path, of course he had to max it out!
His eyes flickered as a golden page appeared.
[I respectfully request the Heavenly Book show me the optimal cultivation plan for my current state!]
“Having eliminated Zhang Chao and Dong Ba, no one on Crimson Flame Peak will come looking for trouble with me anymore.
Finally, I can follow the Heavenly Book’s guidance and cultivate in peace!”
Jiang Yi let out a long breath and once again began meditating, breathing in and out, tempering his fire nature.
While waiting for the Heavenly Book to answer his questions and resolve his difficulties.