On his very first day of cultivation, Wei Yuan already felt as though he could not continue. That full moon watched him unceasingly, and every half-breath he drew violently jarred him out of deep meditation. Continuing down this path would almost certainly invite qi deviation. Soon, however, word spread that the entire peak's spirit gathering formation had suffered a malfunction. Over a dozen cultivators each from the Hall of Heavenly Craft and the Hall of Heavenly Secrets arrived to inspect and repair the arrays with great fanfare. It was said that without ten days to a half-month, it could not possibly be mended.
Upon hearing the news, Wei Yuan understood. So the drying up of the spiritual vein was because the spirit gathering formation had broken down.
Unable to cultivate for the time being, Wei Yuan planned to head to the Hall of Broad Contemplation to borrow several records of Dao Foundation realm insights. Before he could step through the door, two young Daoists arrived at his cave dwelling, announcing that the Palace Master had summoned him.
The two Daoists appeared remarkably young, yet their cultivation was unfathomably high, standing merely a breath away from the dharma idol realm. Guiding Wei Yuan aboard the clouds with a magical treasure, they arrived a short while later atop an isolated peak at the edge of the Hanging Azure of the Empty Valley.
The peak was slender and sheer, with a roiling sea of clouds lying a hundred zhang below. Leading Wei Yuan to the precipice, the two young Daoists quietly departed.
At the cliff's edge sat a man upon a jutting crag, holding a fishing rod and angling into the sea of clouds. Dressed in simple cloth robes, he appeared as utterly ordinary as could be. Yet this aura of returning to pure simplicity made it clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.
Though sensing neither the slightest aura nor any immortal power fluctuation, Wei Yuan was so nervous that he found it difficult to breathe. Stepping behind the figure, he bowed respectfully. "Wei Yuan greets the Immortal Monarch!"
Pei Tinghai, one of the two great Immortal Monarchs of the Palace of Grand Beginning. During the Palace Master's long years of secluded reclusion, he was the towering pillar upholding the palace.
Without turning his head, Pei Tinghai asked leisurely, "Wei Yuan, I heard that upon entering the palace, you once asked: if the immortal path is so marvelous, why do mortals still starve to death? Do you have an answer now?"
Wei Yuan shook his head. "I do not. I have only scratched the surface."
Pei Tinghai did not press further, saying instead, "It so happens that I have three questions for you. Listen closely. First: once one attains Unity and steps into the immortal gate, wielding supreme might in oneself, why must one still study history?"
In truth, Wei Yuan had pondered this question many times. Not just Wei Yuan, but most young cultivators entering the Palace of Grand Beginning harbored the same doubt. Out of the seven centralized instruction courses, history occupied three. Though the Traditionalist Faction did not take part in centralized instruction, history was still taught in each hall without cutting a single lesson. Many disciples could not help but wonder: studying history did not increase one's spiritual power by half a thread, nor did it grant additional Daoist arts, so why study such a thing?
"The second question: You have been to the Liao domain, so naturally you know what that world looks like. It is said that the Dao emulates nature, and that heaven and earth have endured from antiquity and have their own principles. Yet for humanity to survive, they must war against heaven. So is heaven in the wrong, or are humans in the wrong?"
"The final question: A flying vessel sails above the Dark Abyss, about to crash. Only by casting half the people aboard down into the depths can it cross the abyss. Who should live, and who ought to die?"
Wei Yuan could form at least some thoughts on the first question, but the latter two were entirely unheard of to him; let alone answering, he lacked even the faintest thread of an idea. Especially the last question—without any premise or context, half the people simply had to be chosen to die. How could one answer that?
Having posed the three questions, Pei Tinghai said, "You may choose any one of these three to ask me."
Pondering for a moment, Wei Yuan decided to ask why one must study history. At least with this question he possessed some ideas of his own, allowing him to corroborate his thoughts against the Immortal Monarch's explanation and gain the most insight.
Pei Tinghai replied, "In truth, for the vast majority of cultivators, studying history is indeed useless."
Wei Yuan was taken aback, never expecting such an answer.
Yet Pei Tinghai continued, "However, once one cultivates to Scenery Command and achieves an inner heartscape world, studying history becomes useful. Back when the Human King founded Great Li, the Immortal Monarch was the Human King, and the Human King was the Immortal Monarch. The first few Human Sovereigns of Great Li attained their thrones through abdication. Over the subsequent hundred thousand years of rise and fall, who knows how many dynasties rose and vanished. Great Li eventually became Great Tang, and Tang split into the nine feudal states, leaving the throne of the Son of Heaven increasingly vacant. Once one steps into the immortal gate, every single movement implicates countless karmic causes and effects, and every decision determines whether countless people live or die. Furthermore, supreme might affects not only the present and future, but also the past.
"Studying history ensures that when you encounter matters such as imperial in-laws meddling in state affairs, eunuchs monopolizing power, warlord factionalism, or empty-headed purists ruining the realm, you will at least know how to handle them."
Wei Yuan felt deeply enlightened, though he sensed there was more beneath Pei Tinghai's words—depths he could not yet fully grasp.
Suddenly, the fishing rod in Pei Tinghai's grip shuddered and bent into a crescent. As he lifted the rod, it was plainly an arduous effort, as if a great fish in the sea of clouds were thrashing with all its might.
Yet Wei Yuan clearly saw that the rod bore no fishing line at all.
Pei Tinghai exerted himself several times before abruptly raising the rod high. A withered branch flew out of the sea of clouds and landed in his hand. Examining the foot-long dried branch, Pei Tinghai smiled faintly and said, "A branch of the ancient lunar laurel immortal tree. It suits you rather well. As it happens, you took first place in the Grand Examination, yet nothing was awarded to you. Take this branch and see if you can keep it alive."
With a casual toss from Pei Tinghai, the branch plunged straight into Wei Yuan's sea of consciousness and planted itself in the ground beside the jade mountain.
Before Wei Yuan could voice his thanks, he suddenly felt a stir from the Merit Board booklet kept inside his robes, as though some important message had arrived. But facing the Immortal Monarch, Wei Yuan naturally refrained from pulling it out to look.
Having fished out the immortal tree branch, Pei Tinghai set down the rod, rose, and walked over to a jade basin nearby to wash his hands in the clear water. His hands had seemed plain and ordinary, yet the moment he rinsed them, they became drenched in blood, and the clear water in the jade basin turned a brilliant crimson!
Shock stirred in Wei Yuan's heart, and for a fleeting moment he felt the urge to turn and flee. Fortunately, having been composed since childhood, he showed no outward sign of alarm.
Pei Tinghai had clearly discerned Wei Yuan's thoughts and smiled faintly. "Angling in the mortal world, how could one's hands not be stained with blood? Wanting to stain them less is simply impossible; it is merely a question of whose blood they bear."
Pei Tinghai washed his hands for a long time. The water grew redder and redder, yet the blood upon his hands diminished not in the slightest. At last, he picked up a nearby square cloth and wiped them dry. The cloth was instantly soaked in a glaring crimson, but his hands were finally clean.
Setting down the cloth, Pei Tinghai said, "Xuan Yue staked his entire fortune and life upon you, and you indeed did not let him down; your Dao Foundation possesses unmatched potential. The palace ought to tilt its support in your favor. Let us do this: I shall give you two choices, and you may decide according to your heart.
"First: the palace shall grant you one million merit points to cover all your cultivation needs. Over the next ten years, you will cultivate diligently within the palace. I shall allocate a dedicated peak exclusively for your practice until you attain the Revival realm. Only then shall we discuss descending the mountain for worldly tempering."
Before Pei Tinghai could finish, Wei Yuan immediately said, "Disciple chooses the second option!"
Pei Tinghai asked with amused interest, "You have not even heard what the second option is. How can you make a decision?"
Wei Yuan replied, "Having cast a Dao Foundation, disciple ought to accomplish something and give back to the mortal world. Though the first choice is wonderful, remaining behind the sect gates for ten years—how would that differ from being a useless parasite? Disciple encountered the barbarians of the Liao domain during the Grand Examination. While I cannot yet expand our borders, I am confident I can hold my own against them. Therefore, disciple wishes to take part in tempering related to the alien races. At the very least, broadening my experience will allow me to know both myself and my enemy, and honing my blade against the alien races would be best of all!"
Pei Tinghai smiled. "It is truly rare to possess such drive. As it happens, there are currently several matters suited for you to undertake, though I must deliberate on which one to entrust to you. Return for now to cultivate on your own; when the time is ripe, someone will notify you."
The two young Daoists reappeared and escorted Wei Yuan back to his residence.
Once Wei Yuan had departed, Pei Tinghai strolled over to a stone table and sat down. Upon the table lay a weiqi board with an unfinished match. Pei Tinghai picked up a stone, pondered for a long time, and finally placed it down gently. He murmured to himself, "With this stone placed, they will be unable to swallow it or spit it out. That should be enough to bring that thing back, shouldn't it?"
After playing the stone, he moved no further, merely gazing at the board in contemplation.
After an unknown stretch of time, a young Daoist clad in black robes suddenly materialized atop the peak, taking a position beside Pei Tinghai. "Western Jin has dispatched an envoy who just departed their capital, seeking to hold Wei Yuan accountable for his crimes."
Pei Tinghai remarked indifferently, "If they wish to find fault, how could a mere vice general suffice? At the very least, dragging in two commanders-in-chief or a duke would look respectable. Lu Ming grows pettier by the day, sending an envoy over such a trifle."
"How should this be handled?"
"Have Yanshi shift that envoy's fortunes a bit—whip up some natural disaster or human calamity to deal with it. If the envoy vanishes halfway without rhyme or reason, unless Lu Ming has gone completely senile, he should know what to do."
The young Daoist hesitated. "Isn't the cost of altering fortune a bit steep? How about I make the trip, toss them all into the Eastern Sea, and ensure the karma is clean?"
The corners of Pei Tinghai's mouth curved slightly into a faint smile. "This time, there is no cost."
The young Daoist bowed, his silhouette vanishing into thin air.
A moment later, within a simple courtyard, a youthful Daoist looked toward where the black-robed Daoist had vanished, lost in thought. He then reached out two fingers to pinch the lid of his teacup and gave it a gentle twirl; it was indeed light and effortless.
Pondering for a moment, he called out, "Liuli, come see me."
Moments later, Ji Liuli entered the small courtyard, bowed, and asked, "Why has Grandmaster summoned me? Has someone lodged another complaint? Which one has a death wish this time? Is it Xu Henshui?"
True Monarch Yanshi scolded with a laugh, "You only ever think of revenge, never knowing how to conquer people with virtue."
Ji Liuli replied, "My martial virtue is abundant; isn't that conquering people with virtue?"
Feeling a mounting headache, True Monarch Yanshi reprimanded, "Spend less time mingling with those people from Sky Azure Hall in the future! All you learned was a sharp tongue!"
Ji Liuli stuck out her tongue, swallowing the words 'and I learned how to fight.'
True Monarch Yanshi snorted. "This old man is in a fine mood today. Come, accompany me to Xuan Yue's place for tea!"
Ji Liuli looked baffled. "Tea? What good tea could he possibly have?" She knew her grandmaster was obsessed with tea and exceedingly picky; he would never allow even half a drop of common tea past his lips.
True Monarch Yanshi realized at once. "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten in my rush to find Xuan Yue. Go into the room and take down a tin of tea leaves from the third shelf. We are going to Xuan Yue's place for tea!"
"We have to bring our own tea just to visit him? Grandmaster, all your teas are immortal-grade treasures!" Ji Liuli was even more astonished.
True Monarch Yanshi said, "The important part is visiting Xuan Yue, not drinking tea. Well, drinking tea matters too. Hmm, let us do this: once we arrive at Xuan Yue's place, you will brew the tea, and drop two leaves on the ground."
Ji Liuli was shocked anew. A single sip of these immortal teas could enhance a True Monarch's comprehension, elevate their foundation, and even subtly shift their fortunes; they could not be bought with immortal silver, nor exchanged for with heavenly merits! Purposely drop two leaves on the ground?
True Monarch Yanshi snorted, speaking with exasperation at her lack of ambition, "Look at your pathetic lack of nerve! I want Xuan Yue to see that even if two leaves of immortal tea hit the floor, I won't even bother to pick them up! With all of this old man's abilities, if only you were willing to..."
Just as the young Daoist began to lecture, Ji Liuli was already nowhere to be seen, having darted inside to fetch the tea leaves.
Chapter 97