Qin Chuan had just tasted the sweetness of the leap in divine sense brought by the Thirteen Startling Spirit Transformations. Though delighted, he did not overlook the hidden danger lurking within this cultivation art.
He had to break through to the next level within a set number of years. Otherwise, his divine sense would swell uncontrollably, his Niwan Palace would collapse, and the result would be death and the dissolution of his Dao.
“If it were anyone else, they would likely feel as though a sharp sword hung above their head, never knowing when it might fall. They would live in fear day and night, forced to cultivate bitterly without pause. But for me, this seems… not to be a problem.”
He weighed the matter calmly.
Though he had yet to try it personally, he already knew of another wonder of the Tianyun Furnace—returning Dharma essence to the furnace to augment cultivation arts.
For him, he needed only to accumulate Dharma essence continuously and add it layer by layer to the Thirteen Startling Spirit Transformations. A breakthrough would naturally follow when the time was ripe.
He simply did not know how much Dharma essence would be required to raise this art to the second level.
“There is no harm in testing that later.”
On his first day in the city, he had already picked up such a tremendous bargain in the market. Though it relied on the marvel of the Tianyun Furnace, he still felt this was an auspicious sign—a fine beginning.
“Tonight, I’ll cultivate properly and see just how many spirit particles I can accumulate in one night. Tomorrow, I’ll go back to that market and try my luck again.”
Qin Chuan sat cross-legged in silent meditation and devoted himself to qi cultivation.
It was not until dusk had gathered outside the window that he looked inward at himself.
“Three thousand seven hundred particles!”
He had intended to continue cultivating, but his stomach rumbled like thunder. He could only stop for the time being.
Having only just stepped onto the Dao path and not yet reached even the first level of qi cultivation, he was far from the realm of inedia. He still needed mortal food to sustain himself, so he had no choice but to push open the door and go out.
He was just about to set up the small clay stove he had brought from the countryside, cook some millet porridge, warm some dry rations, and make do with pickled vegetables for dinner, when his landlord, Mr. He, came over with a smile.
“If you don’t mind, why not have dinner with my family today? Consider it a welcome meal for the new guest in our little courtyard.”
“This… I’m afraid I shouldn’t trouble you. I…” Qin Chuan declined politely.
“No need to be so courteous.” Mr. He stepped forward, took him by the hand, and said warmly, “Xingchen just returned and heard that a fellow Daoist had moved into the courtyard, so he wanted to invite you over for a chat. Besides, Dongsheng Langyin is about to be broadcast on the Mystic Light Mirror. We can eat while we watch. Isn’t that perfect?”
Mr. He’s hospitality was difficult to refuse. After Qin Chuan declined several times to no avail, he was eventually pulled into the main hall of the landlord’s home.
The furnishings in the hall were simple and clean, all made of solid wood.
On a rosewood table, a “Mystic Light Mirror” about fourteen inches in size was covered with a white cloth.
There were no cobwebs on the walls. Instead, quite a few posters and documents hung there.
Qin Chuan swept his gaze across them and saw that several of the documents had been carefully framed. They were clearly the young master of this household’s “Daoist Admission Notice,” as well as a certificate awarded by Langyin Pavilion: “Outstanding Langyin Daoist, He Xingchen.”
As he was looking around, a clear voice came from the inner room, ringing like metal striking stone, each word distinct:
“This must be Fellow Daoist Qin, who is staying in our courtyard for the time being?”
The door curtain lifted, and a young man in standard black-and-white Daoist robes strode out. He stood tall and straight, his features proper, a smile on his face. He cupped his hands to Qin Chuan in greeting.
“I am He Xingchen.”
“I am Qin Chuan. Fellow Daoist He, a pleasure.” Qin Chuan immediately returned the salute.
The term “fellow Daoist” was the formal address among cultivators under the Heavenly Court, meaning a friend of shared aspiration who sought the Great Dao together.
“When I returned from duty today, I heard from my father that a fellow Daoist had come to live in the courtyard, so I thought to invite you over for a meal and get acquainted.”
He Xingchen’s words carried the vigor unique to young Daoists. “In the future, we’ll be living in the same courtyard, and we are both cultivators. I imagine there will be much for us to talk about.”
Affected by his warmth, Qin Chuan also smiled and said modestly, “I have only just entered the Dao path, and this is also my first day in the city. There are many things I still don’t understand.”
“No matter. In the future, if there is anything you don’t understand in cultivation or official work, you may ask me.” He Xingchen laughed heartily and turned sideways to lead him in. “Please, have a seat.”
“Little Qin—allow me to call you that. Xingchen is quite right. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, just go to him. Treat him as you would an elder brother.” Mr. He arranged for Qin Chuan to sit, his tone warm and familiar.
Feeling the earnest warmth of this father and son, Qin Chuan was somewhat surprised.
Though the status of a Daoist was esteemed, the other party was also a Daoist household. Why were they being this enthusiastic? Before wine had even touched their lips, they already seemed intent on treating him like a brother.
He Ruifeng naturally had his own calculations.
Although Qin Chuan was merely a newly admitted Daoist, the “Agricultural Spirit Temple” to which he was about to be assigned was the office within the Heavenly Court system specifically in charge of all spirit plants, spirit farmers, spirit fields, and spirit beasts in the blessed lands of the prefectures and counties. Its authority was significant, concerning the overall planning and coordination of the entire spirit-planting industry in Jiuchuan County.
If he could learn even a little in advance from Qin Chuan, who would henceforth be serving in the Agricultural Spirit Temple, about the planting trends for the coming year, then the harvest from his family’s more than twenty mu of spirit fields in the countryside would far surpass that of others.
At this moment, Qin Chuan had yet to truly step into the system, so he naturally had no awareness of these inner workings.
Just then, the young girl He Qingxuan’s voice came from the kitchen. “Brother, Brother Qin Chuan, dinner’s ready!”
She carried over a tray with four dishes and one soup.
Qin Chuan and He Xingchen rose at the same time to receive it.
They were all ordinary home-cooked vegetables, along with a bowl of clear radish soup. Though not extravagant, such fare was already far better than what many had in the countryside.
A moment later, Mother He also took off her apron and joined them at the table.
“Qingxuan, the Xu hour has arrived. Dongsheng Langyin is about to begin. Turn on the Mystic Light Mirror,” He Ruifeng instructed while holding his bowl.
He Qingxuan muttered softly, “What’s so interesting about Langyin…”
Even so, she obediently ran to the table, first lifting the white cloth from the mirror, then taking a jade slip from the drawer and tapping it several times.
Zzzzt—
The mirror surface immediately flickered with a screen full of snowy static, drawing everyone’s eyes at the table.
Soon after, within that fourteen-inch mirror, the static gradually faded, revealing a black-and-white image:
“Good evening, viewers.”
A man and a woman, both dressed in Daoist robes and possessing dignified appearances, appeared on the screen as broadcast cultivators, their expressions solemn.
“Today is the sixth day of the fifth month in the year 9728 of the Heavenly Venerable Calendar. Welcome to Dongsheng Langyin. I am Langyin Daoist Zhu Hui/Ni Qing.”
“Next, we will introduce the main contents of today’s program…”
Looking at the black-and-white flickering Mystic Light Mirror, Qin Chuan was momentarily dazed, as though he had returned to some familiar era.
“Are there also color tele… color Mystic Light Mirrors?” Qin Chuan blurted out subconsciously, then immediately corrected himself.
Hearing this, He Xingchen smiled. “Of course there are. In some wealthy regions of the Lushan Blessed Land, they have gradually become popular, though the price is considerable. This object only appeared a little over ten years ago. Many of its core array patterns must be engraved beyond the heavens. Our Dongsheng does not yet possess such craftsmanship, so we can only rely on imports from beyond the heavens.”
Qin Chuan nodded as if half understanding, then asked curiously, “Fellow Daoist He, the specialty I tested for was ‘Agricultural Spirit,’ so I know little about this. What exactly is the imaging principle of the Mystic Light Mirror? And what does it rely on to provide spiritual power for its daily operation?”
“The key lies in array transmission and spiritual power conversion…” He Xingchen was indeed a professional Daoist of Langyin Pavilion. He naturally knew the treasure he dealt with every day like the back of his hand, and with just a few words, he gave Qin Chuan a general understanding.
After listening, Qin Chuan grasped the basics. The Mystic Light Mirror’s power supply relied on a device called a “Mystic Light Pillar,” installed inside the mirror body, which could absorb the spiritual qi of heaven and earth on its own to sustain operation.
The amount of spiritual qi consumed was very small, roughly equivalent to a few days’ wages for one person per month.
As they were speaking, He Xingchen suddenly stared at the Mystic Light Mirror, surprise and doubt appearing on his face.
“The new Heavenly Laws… have truly been issued?”
Qin Chuan also focused his gaze on the mirror.
At this moment, the image in the mirror had already switched to a scene of the Heavenly Court’s Lingxiao Treasure Hall.
From off-screen came Langyin Daoist Zhu Hui’s clear and precise broadcast, accompanied by written explanations:
[In the year 9728 of the Heavenly Venerable Calendar, the Imperial Discourse of Ten Thousand Immortals concluded successfully. Several provisions of the Heavenly Laws were passed during the discourse, establishing new statutes.]