"There are many Foundation Building techniques in the sect. How should I choose?"
Considering his spiritual root's natural affinity for the metal element of the five elements, Qin Xuan listed several relatively suitable cultivation arts: "Our sect has the *Commentary on You Metal*, the *Lesser Qian Metal Yang Art*, or the *Golden Jade Palace* from the Dao Sect's Supreme Mystery Five Elements Method. These should be the secret arts of the sect that best fit me."
"No, none of those are right for you."
Songsong spoke without hesitation. "Since you cultivate the *Jade Rinsing Art*, practicing the *Cinnabar Dew Flying Transformation Scripture* next is the ideal match. To absorb the Five Sprouts before even establishing your foundation—cultivating those arts you mentioned isn't bad, but it would waste your natural gift."
*The Cinnabar Dew Flying Transformation Scripture?*
The name sounded extraordinary at once. If it existed in the Scripture Pavilion, there was no way he wouldn't know of it.
Qin Xuan searched his memory. "We don't have this manual."
"Impossible," Songsong replied firmly. "This method belongs to your lineage. Even in the Lower Court, it wouldn't be missing. Go and search for it."
Hearing her speak with such certainty, Qin Xuan asked gently, "Do you have the text of this manual on you?"
"I have an impression of it, but I cannot recall the details. You need to find it and show it to me. Even an incomplete fragment will do."
Songsong emphasized, "I only possess a superficial understanding of Daoist lore."
Recalling how the *Jade Rinsing Scripture* had come about, Qin Xuan figured she was telling the truth. Having emerged from a great tribulation, her mind was muddled and her memories hazy; she needed some external catalyst to spark her recollection.
Without delaying, he stepped out the door and headed toward the Scripture Pavilion.
If the Scripture Pavilion didn't have it, he could always consult the temple head.
Before going to the Scripture Pavilion, Qin Xuan stopped by the Records Hall to exchange some surplus items from the demon sect for temple contribution.
If he had already reached Foundation Building, his status as a core disciple would allow him to choose any scripture freely.
For now, borrowing one ahead of time still required some contribution, even if he was well-acquainted with Elder Shi at the Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion was divided into two floors. The first floor mostly held ordinary jianghu secret arts, Innate martial arts, and miscellaneous treatises on medicine. When Qin Xuan had first entered the sect, he had worked here for a time as a library custodian and read through quite a few of them.
"Senior Brother Qin!"
"Senior Brother Qin!"
Just as he stepped inside, two junior sisters walking out of the pavilion greeted him in passing with curious gazes. Qin Xuan smiled at them, then headed toward the corner of the building.
A hunchbacked old man sat there, engrossed in studying talismans.
The breeze talismans, freezing talismans, and Bingyang Fire Talismans Qin Xuan had used previously were all crafted by Elder Shi. The old man rarely ventured outside, caring only for talisman crafts. Others found him eccentric, but Qin Xuan felt he was quite easy to get along with.
Elder Shi raised his head slightly. Seeing Qin Xuan, a peculiar look appeared on his normally expressionless face.
"Elder, why are you looking at me like that?" Qin Xuan could not help touching his own cheek.
Elder Shi lowered his head again, grinding cinnabar as he spoke: "Influenced by you, many disciples have sought me out lately, eager to study the sword arts in the Scripture Pavilion as well. But instead of studying the *Dao Origin Gradual Awakening Collection* to temper and nurture their sword hearts, they came to ask me what romantic chronicle you were reading, and whether it was left behind by a senior of our sect."
Qin Xuan's expression stiffened slightly. "Oh, that..."
Elder Shi suddenly asked, "Tell me the truth, did you do that on purpose, you rascal? To catch the attention of Patriarch Xuannian's lineage? After all, ever since our sect was founded, no one has ever tempered the heart and nurtured the sword in such a manner. If the patriarch hears of it, he might take notice of you."
He offered praise: "A truly ingenious move."
Qin Xuan dearly wanted to punch He Wushuang a few times. He gave a dry laugh. "Just a casual move, Elder. You overpraise me."
Elder Shi added as a reminder, "I've heard that Ancestor Xuangling of our own branch is a man of upright character who upholds virtue. If the other patriarchs find out, he will likely be teased by them without end. After all, he produced a sword art genius like you."
He offered another assessment: "A truly perilous move, too."
Qin Xuan thought to himself: *No matter. I can just follow Senior Mao Yan to Chongjin Pass to eat seafood. Skipping Guanjiang Mountain would be fine by me.*
He smiled, deliberately not taking the old man's bait. "Elder, while browsing our sect's records earlier, I occasionally caught mention of a manual called the *Cinnabar Dew Flying Transformation Scripture*. Does the Scripture Pavilion have it?"
Hearing this, Elder Shi pondered carefully.
"No."
"The Upper Court has the *Great Capital Talisman Flying Transformation* and the *Cinnabar Dew Purple Condensation Method*. The related text kept in the Lower Court is called the *Jade Pool Art*. None of them is the one you mentioned."
He lowered his head, dipped a vermilion brush into the cinnabar, and said, "If you want an early look at Foundation Building arts, you can read the *Lesser Qian Metal Yang Art*. That is what suits you."
"Thank you, Elder!"
After offering his thanks, Qin Xuan departed with the *Jade Pool Art*, leaving Elder Shi looking at him in bewilderment.
*This young lad...*
Elder Shi glanced at his retreating back, then buried his head once more in his work.
Returning to his small courtyard, Qin Xuan felt little confidence. The *Jade Pool Art* was also a piece of exoteric learning, and its name was completely different; it seemed to have nothing to do with what Songsong had described.
Just as before.
Qin Xuan laid the manual on the stone table and flipped through it page by page.
This time, Songsong gave no response for a long while.
He waited and waited, flipping through the manual several times.
The sun had almost reached its zenith.
It seemed the manual was wrong.
The two little birds watched from afar, not daring to come forward and disturb him.
Just as Qin Xuan was growing a little disheartened, only to brace himself again to weigh the pros and cons of other techniques, an ethereal woman's voice drifted into his ears. Qin Xuan felt it might well be one of the most melodious sounds in the world.
Her voice delivered only a few words: "This is the one. Enter the dream."
Qin Xuan's worry turned to joy. Yielding completely, he relaxed his mind and allowed Songsong to draw him into the dreamscape.
The familiar scene reappeared.
A solitary pine on a sheer cliff, the back of a figure in green, black hair fluttering alongside her robes, a slender and ethereal silhouette, and calves swinging leisurely back and forth.
In this space, Songsong was all alone.
Yet she seemed leisurely and content, untouched by loneliness.
Qin Xuan shifted slightly to the side, hoping to catch a glimpse of her face. But strangely enough, no matter which direction he looked from, he could only ever see her back.
Songsong paid no heed to his little movements and said softly, "This scripture still falls somewhat short compared to the supreme learning of the great orthodox lineages. In the eyes of those who have attained the Dao, it might seem utterly ordinary."
"However, as a senior once said, cultivation techniques depend on the individual. It suits you exceptionally well, and perhaps it will allow you to cultivate a presence as ethereal as an immortal."
"Hmm?"
Qin Xuan did not quite understand. "What do you mean by 'ethereal as an immortal'?"
"Clear qi like clouds, form rising with the wind. This scripture is one of the rare arts capable of refining clear qi. You will understand once you study it yourself."
With that, Songsong tossed the book in her hand into the air.
The book dissolved into specks of flowing light, all of which were absorbed by Qin Xuan, condensing into the complete manual of the *Cinnabar Dew Flying Transformation Scripture* within his mind.
The overarching formula surfaced immediately:
*"The body is light not from slender bones; the qi is clear not from eating greens. To attain flying transformation, first forget ascension. The more one seeks, the heavier the burden; the firmer one clings, the deeper the stagnation. Let go of body and mind, rising with the wind, condensing with the dew..."*
Qin Xuan sat cross-legged in this dreamscape, continually contemplating the contents of the manual.
This time, Songsong did not rush to expel him.
She let him stay for a long while.
Qin Xuan failed to notice that on the towering pine branch overlooking the boundless abyss, the green-clad figure had turned around at some point. In her hand was a handful of pine nuts, which she tossed toward him one after another.
Yet every throw veered just off-target by design, never striking Qin Xuan.
Seeming thoroughly immersed in this modest amusement, she ended up amusing herself into a quiet laugh.
Chapter 75