Xuanying

"Fellow Daoist Pine, this is the Jade Rinsing Technique." Qin Xuan held the booklet up to the pine tree, unsure how to show it to her. "Set it upon the stone table and turn it page by page." "Alright." Qin Xuan complied, turning through the pages one by one. The technique spanned barely thirty-odd pages and was completely turned in moments. Just as he was about to ask, his eyelids felt heavy, and drowsiness surged over him like a tide. The feeling was all too familiar, so he offered no resistance and let Songsong drag him into a dream. This dream, however, was vastly different from before. The scene before him was crystal clear, as if he had stepped into another realm entirely. In the misty expanse, atop a sheer cliff shrouded in swirling clouds, a verdant pine stretched its gnarled, twisting boughs out over an abyss of ten thousand fathoms. Perched quietly upon the pine's highest branch was a figure draped in green. He could only see her back. Her hair hung unbound, falling to her waist like an ink-dark cascade. When the mountain wind brushed past, fine tresses swayed alongside the pine needles, and her gossamer pale-green robe fluttered like clouds, faintly outlining her slender, ethereal silhouette. She faced eastward. Morning light was creeping up from the edge of the sea of clouds, gilding her figure with a soft, pale jade glow. The woman in the dream seemed somewhat cheerful. Sitting in the tree, she swung her slender calves back and forth lazily, looking quite lively. Holding a scroll in her hands, she recited the familiar yet subtly different Jade Rinsing Technique. Her voice remained exceedingly gentle as she murmured softly: "Murmuring dark springs seep from stone cavities, trickling jade fluid descends the storied towers. Softly hold a mouthful of Flowery Pool water, nourishing the dantian's ocean stream..." Unconsciously, Qin Xuan sat cross-legged in stillness: eyes watching nose, nose watching heart, heart watching dantian. He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth, erecting the heavenly bridge to connect the Conception and Governing vessels. Relying on his state of embryonic breathing, he regulated his breath continuously, subtle as though present yet absent. After a long while, he felt a warm, moist sensation three inches below his navel, like spring ice just beginning to thaw, or morning dew faintly congealing. An epiphany struck his mind: this was the sign of "the jade sprout first budding" from the Jade Rinsing Scripture. Qin Xuan immersed himself within it, losing all track of time. Suddenly, a voice echoed in the dream: "That Jade Rinsing Technique of yours is actually the Jade Rinsing Scripture. Now this mind technique is complete. Use it to cultivate through the Twelve-Storied Tower until you forge your Dao foundation. "As for the magic power you refined before with the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Mind Technique, follow the Five Elements principle of Metal generating Water and scour it with the jade-rinsing water for seven times seven—forty-nine circulations—to complete the transformation. "Alright, out you go. I'm going to sleep. Don't forget to water me, or I'll pelt you." As the voice faded, pine nuts once again pelted his head, knocking Qin Xuan awake. When he opened his eyes, the night was already deep and still. He looked up at the sky to see a luminous river of stars. Indeed, as the night deepened, constellations shone brilliantly, hanging distinct like suspended pearls. The stars were lovely, but Qin Xuan's mood was lovelier still. He brushed off the moonlight resting upon his shoulders, feeling his body lighten even further. The Jade Rinsing Scripture truly suited him; the changes within his body could not be mistaken. Moreover, the scripture contained the principle that Heaven generates Water first, giving rise to water qi. Operating the Clear Water sword talisman with it would allow him to sustain it twice as long as he could with the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Mind Technique—a perfect match. Qin Xuan poured water around the base of the pine tree again and again. Though Old Pine wasn't very likable when gossiping about people's flaws, Songsong was rather endearing when explaining techniques and bestowing scriptures. That night, Qin Xuan took one Solidifying Origin Pill after another, immersing himself in cultivating the Jade Rinsing Scripture. That same night, however, someone else was feeling restless. Under cover of darkness, they made their way to the rear mountain of Yuansong Temple... Deep in the forest stood two figures: one stooped over to the side, while the other crouched on the ground, preparing to light incense. "Senior Brother Shen, what is the meaning of this?" With his hands behind his back, Zhou Cang looked utterly bewildered. "The deaths of the Xieling Sect members have nothing to do with us, so there is no karma or bad luck to speak of. What are you erecting a grave for them for?" Shen Yunfei pointed toward the sky. "Is the moon round tonight?" "Very round. But what does that have to do with anything?" "The moon has its phases of waxing and waning, and men have fortunes that turn in a day. Our luck hasn't been good lately, so we ought to go with the flow of fortune and find something convenient to do. Burying a few dead men, for instance, puts the mind at ease." Zhou Cang gave an appreciative sound and nodded involuntarily. "That actually makes sense. "Still, what should we do about what Luogu Peak instructed?" Zhou Cang picked up a hoe, rested his chin against the handle, and said, "Qin Xuan joined forces with Zhao Huaimin and terrified the Xieling Sect to their marrow. I heard their Third Elder possesses immense magic power for nothing—he became a frightened bird, fleeing underground and not daring to show his face. "The demon clans made a move, only to be stopped by someone from the Western Religion. It's getting harder and harder to make sense of things." "That's not the point." "Then what is?" Shen Yunfei pointed at the mound of dirt before them. "The point is that we mustn't end up being buried here ourselves." "Fine, I'll follow your lead." Saying this, Zhou Cang took the tombstone handed over by Shen Yunfei and glanced over the inscription. "Mm, perfectly fitting." With a casual toss, he planted it atop the mound. Inscribed upon it was: "Tomb of the Burrowing Immortal." Turning around, Zhou Cang read aloud the epitaph: "Yesterday a tiger of Mount Tong; today a rat tunneling through the earth. "I never realized it before, but that Qin Xuan truly has a ruthless streak. "Let's go. First to Elder Ji's place. Remember my words: don't let him use us as pawns. Elder Pan Ang is a cautionary tale." "..." The following afternoon, the sun blazed fiercely. Along the mountain path of Yuansong Temple, a young man with crab-like eyes swayed downhill with staggered steps, his face—faintly lined with horizontal ridges—suffused with fury. Having committed wicked deeds around the Yishui River, Lord Gutless had been hunted by numerous factions. Only under the protection of General Manager Black Catfish was he able to appear openly in the commandery seat. This time, the manager had ordered him to 'invite' Qin Xuan to the Lan River Water Palace. He had prepared an entire speech filled with tempting benefits no Qi Refining cultivator could ignore to trick Qin Xuan into coming, never expecting he wouldn't even catch a glimpse of the man. The moment the mountain-guarding disciples saw him, they blocked his way without a word and delivered Qin Xuan's message. Something about how "a crab has six legs and two pincers, yet without the burrows of snakes and eels, it has nowhere to dwell." They also called him a six-clawed bandit, the scum of the Yishui River... This had incensed him to the point of exploding with rage. Curse him! Qin Xuan deserved to die! Lord Gutless's cultivation was nearly on par with the River God's; having mastered water arts, he was merely a step away from forming a core—a demon forming a monster core was equivalent to a Core Formation cultivator. As formidable and awe-inspiring as he was within the water palace, his rage was just as immense now. "Qin Xuan will become a disastrous trouble sooner or later; the manager was not overthinking it! Right now he hides away like a turtle in its shell, so finding an opportunity won't be easy. I must head back to the River God's estate first and recruit helpers to see this done!" Just as he reached the octagonal pavilion at the foot of the mountain—the place where Qian Fan had met his demise—a gust of mountain wind blew past, bringing a biting chill. Before he could pass beyond the pavilion, a voice suddenly called from behind: "Fellow Daoist Gutless, please wait!" Lord Gutless stiffened and turned his head, spotting a stooped youth with leopard-like eyes alongside a burly man. "Who are you? Does Qin Xuan wish to see me?" "No." "We are merely messengers," Shen Yunfei said with a smile. "Elder Ji of our sect mentioned that he wishes to purchase some top-grade clam pearls from the Yishui River God. As for the specifics, they must be discussed in person." Clam pearls? Lord Gutless snapped open his folding fan. This presented an opportunity to slip into Yuansong Temple. "Very well, let us go see Elder Ji." Zhou Cang smiled. "Elder Ji finds it somewhat inconvenient and has arranged to meet Fellow Daoist at the foot of the mountain." With that, he gave the name of an inn. Lord Gutless rolled his eyes, growing all the more intrigued. "I shall wait for him." Shen Yunfei and Zhou Cang escorted him a few steps before returning to the temple to seek out Ji An's residence. Elder Ji was sitting cross-legged in meditation. Hearing their footsteps, he did not open his eyes. "Where is that Lord Gutless?" Shen Yunfei answered dutifully: "Just now, Elder Luo was at the mountain gate. Seeing that the fellow from the River God's estate was having an unpleasant altercation with the disciples, he chased him off. The fellow doesn't dare enter the temple now, so we had to ask you, Elder, to meet him at an inn downhill." He reported the address. Ji An frowned, waved the two away, and shortly after stepped out. "Senior Brother Shen, is this wise?" Watching Elder Ji depart, Zhou Cang felt slightly uneasy. "What does it have to do with us?" Shen Yunfei's tone was calm. "It wasn't an order handed down by Luogu Peak, nor have we colluded with external factions. Elder Ji wants to buy clam pearls; let him buy them." ... Qin Xuan remained in the small courtyard for three days, ceaselessly refining magic power until he finally completed seven times seven—forty-nine circulations. Songsong's method was sound, though it consumed far too many medicinal pills. He had burned through an entire gourd of Solidifying Origin Pills—an expenditure ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could never afford. Yet the results were delightful. The Jade Rinsing Scripture had not only transformed all the magic power from the Lesser Heavenly Circulation Mind Technique, but had also taken him a step further, smoothly breaking through the only aperture of the Qi Refining stage: the Xuanying aperture. This signified that his embryonic breathing had reached perfection! He examined the Nether Root Divine Wood inside his Hundred Treasures Bag; the item showed no change. However... the spiritual nature of the water within the earthen crock was completely drained. Qin Xuan drew another halo of spiritual radiance from the ancient mirror and cast it into the crock. He was resolved to see this through to the end: since the Nether Root Divine Wood could absorb it, he would let it drink its fill. Before returning to Jinghu Manor, he greeted Fellow Daoist Pine, but received no response. Qin the Patriarch gave a few instructions to the two birds under his wing, telling them to watch over the courtyard, then paid a visit to Pine Breeze Lodge. With a single glance, Old Daoist Wu saw right through his purpose. Lowering his brow, the old Daoist spoke leisurely: "Once Xuanying springs forth, one can rinse the saliva. Take mountain springs as an example: the nature of water is to flow downward, yet how is it that spring water can reach the mountain summit?" Unlike before, having cultivated the Jade Rinsing Scripture, Qin Xuan understood the old Daoist's words in an instant. Thus he replied, "Subterranean water qi follows the earth's veins, steaming upward through fissures in stone." Hearing this, Old Daoist Wu nodded and continued, "Transforming the qi of the lower burner to ascend, it reaches the mouth and turns back into saliva. Circulated ceaselessly like this a hundred, thousand, or ten thousand times, the achievement is akin to turning milk into ghee. Then one can open the Flowery Pool and comprehend the secret of the Jade Fluid Reverted Dan." Leaving behind three gourds of wine brewed with spirit water, Qin Xuan expressed his thanks and departed, his back vanishing down the winding, secluded path. He Wushuang's eyes followed him until he was completely out of sight, yet the crane continued to gaze in that direction. "Zihou seems to be revealing a corner of immortal grace. It feels unfamiliar to me, yet his wine still carries that same old flavor. "Old Daoist, how much longer do you think you can teach him?" Old Daoist Wu pondered earnestly and replied, "Until the Twelve-Storied Tower, before absorbing the vital qi of the five directions and five elements. Beyond that, each person's path diverges." Right at that moment... *Boom!* A sudden crack of thunder rumbled in the distant sky. Serpentine lightning flashed across the heavens, illuminating the man and crane in brilliant clarity. To the north of the commandery seat, a massive mass of dark clouds was drifting toward the city on the wind. *Rumble!* Thunder roared in succession! "A torrential rain is coming; the Lan River and Luo River will soon swell. Every year at this time, yang qi peaks and the five poisons rise, always brewing no end of trouble." As the white crane spoke, it divided Qin Xuan's spiritual wine into three shares. One share was for Zhao Huaimin, though he entered secluded cultivation whenever he had nothing else to do, making him hard to find most of the time. Old Daoist Wu and the white crane drank as they reminisced about the past. The white crane always brought up its homeland of Yudu. Old Daoist Wu, in turn, would recount their first encounter, back when the white crane was battling a clam demon and got its long beak clamped shut by the clam shell, only for Old Daoist Wu to resolve the crisis and forge their bond. They conversed for a long time, talking all the way up to when Li Yanshen brought Qin Xuan into the mountain. The white crane chuckled. "Even back then, Zihou was remarkably clever. He chose to remain in the temple rather than follow his maternal grandfather's people to Laidu." Just as it was about to praise Old Daoist Wu further... Suddenly, Old Daoist Wu's expression shifted drastically, and he instantly turned into a streak of shadow rocketing into the heavens! ... After leaving Yuansong Temple, Qin Xuan walked slowly as he pondered the secrets of the Flowery Pool that Old Daoist Wu had explained. Raindrops fell in continuous threads from the sky. He formed the incantation for a water-avoiding charm, keeping the rain from touching his body. Yet the journey from the east of the city to Jinghu Manor was a considerable distance. Near the inner river, he suddenly felt moisture against his face—rain had actually fallen onto his body. Above him, a massive mass of dark clouds had already gathered. His water-avoiding charm had been broken. Sensing no killing intent, he looked around. At the edge of the inner river, five zhang away from him, an elderly man past sixty with a thick back and waist like a bear was taking off the bamboo hat atop his head. "Boy, you certainly kept this old man waiting." Qin Xuan recognized that face—it was Zhang Laosan of the Xieling Sect. Qin Xuan keenly sensed something amiss. Yuansong Temple had joined forces with the Divine Way factions, yet Zhang Laosan had slipped in so easily and even showed himself so brazenly. Zhang Laosan could never be this audacious on his own. Remembering the possible presence of the Xieling Sect's vice sect master, an intense sense of crisis welled up in Qin Xuan's chest, and he pinched a spirit talisman without hesitation! "Zhang Laosan, several major factions in the city are hunting you down. You're quite bold to still dare show your face." "Hehehe..." The Third Elder let out a long, sinister chuckle as he stepped toward Qin Xuan. "What does this old man have to fear? Whoever has the guts to chase me can follow me down into the Netherworld and see who's unlucky enough to run into the demons first." Qin Xuan backed away slowly, simultaneously forming a sword incantation. "Zhang Laosan, step forward again, and I will slay you." Zhang Laosan merely smirked without replying. The disparity in their magic power was vast, and having come prepared, he did not fear sword art. While Zhang Laosan stayed silent, Qin Xuan spoke up to buy time, shouting in all directions, "Vice Sect Master Feng, since you have arrived, why not show yourself?" "Ha, ha, ha!" A booming laugh laden with crushing pressure descended from the sky. "So young, yet quite daring. I will give you a chance to join the Xieling Sect: speak the truth about Geng Zhi, and this sect master will let bygones be bygones." Qin Xuan looked up at the dark clouds in the sky, where a silhouette faintly loomed amidst the churning mist. It was none other than the vice sect master of the Xieling Sect, Feng Wen! Creatures of the Divine Way truly could not be relied upon! Showing no sign of fear, Qin Xuan sneered in mockery instead: "Vice Sect Master Feng, hiding in the clouds does make you somewhat more respectable than a hole-burrowing rat like Zhang Laosan." The figure in the sky was not in the least angered, laughing instead. "Fascinating. I admire you more and more. Let this sect master see just what marvels lie within the sword art that could slay my Xieling Sect's five great disciples and destroy the Mount Tong corpse general..."