"Daoist Zhenyang!" Daojun Jinghe stormed into Dao Lord Zhenyang's cave abode with an imposing aura, shouting as if confronting a sworn enemy. "Come out!"
Dao Lord Zhenyang's cave abode was as simple and unadorned as most cultivators', yet lacked nothing essential. As one of the mere four or five late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in Tianji and the de facto highest authority of the Xuanqing Sect, his abode was naturally heavily guarded with numerous restrictions. If a true enemy had come calling, they would have gained no advantage. Yet, it happened to be Daojun Jinghe, leaving the gatekeepers helpless to stop his free comings and goings.
Dao Lord Zhenyang, who had been cultivating, opened his eyes and waved a hand to dispel the restrictions around him, allowing Daojun Jinghe entry.
In stark contrast to Daojun Jinghe's ostentatious, decadent-emperor style, Dao Lord Zhenyang wore simple sect robes, his hair tied in a Daoist knot. With his crane-like white hair and youthful face, calm and composed, he truly looked the part of an otherworldly transcendent, exuding an air of immortal grace.
Seeing Daojun Jinghe barge into his cave abode, Dao Lord Zhenyang merely lifted an eyelid before letting it droop again, his voice gentle and steady. "What is it?"
"What is it? You're asking me what is it?" Daojun Jinghe exclaimed strangely. "I say, old Daoist Zhenyang, are you jealous because I took on a heaven-defyingly gifted disciple, too afraid to admit it?"
Probably within the entire Xuanqing Sect, no, likely the whole of Tianji, only Daojun Jinghe would dare speak to Dao Lord Zhenyang like this. Dao Lord Zhenyang himself had once borne the title of genius, advancing to Nascent Soul in his two hundreds, reaching the late stage in his six hundreds, and had since dominated Tianji for centuries. Only three or four other late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators could rival him. The uncertainty between three or four stemmed from one old monster at the late Nascent Soul realm who had long ago retreated from the world, his survival unknown.
As for Daojun Jinghe, judging by his cultivation record, whether within the Xuanqing Sect or Tianji, he couldn't be considered top-tier, merely excellent. Yet, only Daojun Jinghe spoke this way, and Dao Lord Zhenyang tolerated it. There were reasons: first, although Daojun Jinghe's cultivation was only at the mid-stage Nascent Soul, his nature was bellicose, deeply researched in the art of combat, and his treasures and secret techniques were numerous. Even late-stage Nascent Soul grand cultivators dared not claim certain victory over him. Second, his personality was simply like this, something Dao Lord Zhenyang understood well. Why bother arguing over such trivialities?
Thus, despite Daojun Jinghe's loud clamor, Dao Lord Zhenyang remained placid, not even deigning to glance at him more.
"You take your disciples, I have mine. Why should I be jealous?"
"Not jealous?" Daojun Jinghe put on a sneering expression. "If you're not jealous, why did you let your disciple come flirt with mine?"
This phrasing gave Dao Lord Zhenyang slight pause, and he lifted his eyelids. "Flirt?"
The term was truly inelegant, but Daojun Jinghe continued sneering. "Don't tell me you don't know. You took on a Single Spiritual Root disciple, treasure him like nothing else. I don't believe you wouldn't know about this 'major event' of him flirting with my disciple."
Deliberately stressing the words 'major event,' Daojun Jinghe arched an eyebrow and looked askance at Dao Lord Zhenyang, meaning: Don't try to fool me!
"You mean Yanfei?" Dao Lord Zhenyang glanced up. A Single Spiritual Root disciple was a rarity even in the entire Xuanqing Sect; a slight thought told him who Daojun Jinghe meant.
"You're not senile yet!" Daojun Jinghe mocked, then adopted a tone of feigned earnestness. "I say, old Daoist Zhenyang, my disciple is excellent. But you should have asked me if flirting was allowed, shouldn't you? Otherwise, damaging the harmony between us would be most unfortunate, wouldn't it?"
Dao Lord Zhenyang wasn't fooled by his words and merely asked, "What exactly is going on? Either speak properly or don't waste my time."
Within the entire Xuanqing Sect, only Dao Lord Zhenyang could speak to Daojun Jinghe like this.
Hearing such bluntness, Daojun Jinghe knew the old Daoist was losing patience. Knowing when to stop, he immediately chose to speak properly. "That disciple of yours, I don't know what's gotten into him, keeps fawning over my disciple, to the point mine doesn't dare go out anymore. Well? Do you really not know?"
"Why would I know about such trivial matters?" Hearing this explanation, Dao Lord Zhenyang couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. This Jinghe, really! Would a disciple necessarily report to his master just because he was courting a girl? Who else was as idle as him, at the Nascent Soul stage, personally coming to interrogate over such a minor matter as his disciple being courted? Still, he softened his tone to confirm. "You're saying Yanfei is pursuing your disciple? Hmm, the little disciple you just took on?"
"Right," Daojun Jinghe nodded, then slung an arm over Dao Lord Zhenyang's shoulder, again adopting an earnest tone. "Senior Brother Zhenyang, don't say I'm not giving you face. My disciple is good, but I really can't give her to your disciple. Tell your disciple to give it a rest, alright?"
Dao Lord Zhenyang, however, didn't understand. "My disciple is unmarried, yours is unwed. What's the problem? Is such a trivial matter worth you making a personal trip?"
Hearing this, Daojun Jinghe bristled. "Trivial? I'm telling you, this is not trivial!" He mysteriously glanced left and right, leaned closer to Dao Lord Zhenyang, and whispered, "This disciple of mine was brought back by that kid of mine. You know his temperament. For him to bring back a girl, how rare is that! Right now, he's busy attempting to form his Nascent Soul and can't attend to this. If I don't keep an eye on her for him, he'll be furious with me when he emerges!"
After saying this, Daojun Jinghe added, "You'd better tell your disciple clearly, don't come pestering my disciple anymore. Wishing is useless!"
Having heard the earlier explanation, Dao Lord Zhenyang had already understood, but Daojun Jinghe's smug addition displeased him. "Your disciple has her merits, but my disciple is a Single Spiritual Root talent that appears once in a century, young and promising, with a bright future ahead. Does he need to pester your disciple? I think he's just bored and chatting with your disciple. Young people interacting, don't overthink it."
"I'm overthinking?" Daojun Jinghe cried out. "If I were overthinking, would that kid keep asking my disciple out? Old Daoist Zhenyang, don't just shield your disciple! Not to brag, but although your disciple has a Single Spiritual Root, compared to mine, he's just so-so. Want to know what my disciple's aptitude is? Heh heh, I won't tell you just yet!"
Seeing his boastful manner, Dao Lord Zhenyang's face darkened. "Enough. Don't treat your disciple like a treasure. If my disciple wants a cultivation partner, plenty are willing. Does he need to rush to fawn over your disciple? Why are you worrying unnecessarily?"
"Hey, I say, old Daoist Zhenyang, you're jealous! Jealous!"
"Me, jealous? With a Single Spiritual Root disciple, why would I need to be jealous of you? Is such a trivial matter worth you making a special trip? You can leave now!" Having his disciple constantly belittled, Dao Lord Zhenyang grew angry, flicked his sleeve, and issued an order to see the guest out.
"You tell me to leave and I leave?" Daojun Jinghe locked horns with him. "I'm telling you, my disciple has a Primordial Chaos Spirit Root! Do you know what a Primordial Chaos Spirit Root is? She's even obtained a Primordial Chaos cultivation technique. Not even thirty yet, and she's already at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Can your disciple do that? A measly Single Spiritual Root, wanting to catch up to my disciple in the future? Still far from it!"
"Primordial Chaos Spirit Root?" Dao Lord Zhenyang, who had been fuming, paused upon hearing this. "Your disciple has the Primordial Chaos Spirit Root passed down from ancient times?"
"Exactly!" Daojun Jinghe lifted his head high.
In the next moment, however, Dao Lord Zhenyang still sneered. "So what if it's a Primordial Chaos Spirit Root? Lost for hundreds of thousands of years, who knows how it will turn out! My disciple is a genuine Single Spiritual Root; he can't be that bad no matter what!"
"Old Daoist Zhenyang!" Having waited for Dao Lord Zhenyang to concede defeat a moment ago, Daojun Jinghe also flared up upon hearing this. "What's the use of a Single Spiritual Root? Among us Nascent Soul cultivators, how many ascended with a Single Spiritual Root? That old fogey Songfeng has Three Spirit Roots, and you still can't defeat him!"
Mentioning this matter angered Dao Lord Zhenyang as well. "When did I ever fail to defeat him? We just never determined a victor!" Then he mocked, "Haven't you always looked down on old fogey Songfeng? Why speak up for him now? You're a Single Spiritual Root yourself. Aren't Single Spiritual Roots good? How did you ascend?"
"Precisely because I'm a Single Spiritual Root, I won't speak up for them! What's so great about Single Spiritual Roots? How many Single Spiritual Roots can't even reach Nascent Soul!" Daojun Jinghe was now being deliberately unreasonable.
Dao Lord Zhenyang was directly provoked into a laugh. "Qin Jinghe! You old rascal, itching for a fight on purpose, aren't you? This old man will oblige you!" Saying so, he took out an object, pressed his palms together to transform it, and threw it over.
Daojun Jinghe dodged, and a surge of violent spiritual energy blasted a stone wall into dust. He, too, was incensed, pulling out a gourd, raising it, and spewing a stream of True Fire from it as he shouted, "Old fogey Zhenyang! If I don't show you some color, you really think I'm easy to bully!"
Dao Lord Zhenyang said nothing, merely retracting his magic treasure and attacking again.
Mo Tiange naturally had no idea that her casual remark had resulted in the two most powerful Nascent Soul cultivators of the Xuanqing Sect brawling, nearly leveling Dao Lord Zhenyang's cave abode.
Of course, this was mainly because Daojun Jinghe was too adept at stirring up trouble. Any matter from his mouth came out unpleasant to hear; her involvement wasn't significant.
At this moment, she stepped into Ye Zhenji's small hut with a solemn expression.
Two years had passed. Ye Zhenji had grown considerably taller, and his cultivation had improved. Recently, he had completed his studies at the Meng School and become an official disciple. Because the provisions and management methods for elite disciples differed from those for ordinary disciples, and since Ye Zhenji resided in Shangqing Palace where the Administration Hall had limited jurisdiction, making it hard to silence gossip, Daojun Jinghe had waved his hand grandly and directly indicated that Ye Zhenji be registered under Perfected Lord Shoujing.
Mo Tiange had originally disapproved. A child she personally taught, why register him under someone else? Especially someone who wouldn't manage him at all.
But Daojun Jinghe argued that she was only at mid-stage Foundation Establishment now. Even if she cultivated rapidly, she would need fifty or sixty years before attempting Core Formation. By then, Ye Zhenji should have long attempted Foundation Establishment. The method of distributing Foundation Establishment Pills differed for elite and ordinary disciples. Would she hold back his Foundation Establishment?
For this reason, Mo Tiange had no choice but to acquiesce. Currently, Ye Zhenji still lived here, having never even met his nominal master.
Walking to the Cold Jade Bed and seeing Ye Zhenji slumped on it, Mo Tiange frowned slightly. She helped the child up, placed her hand on his Tianling Cap, and channeled spiritual energy.
After a long while, Ye Zhenji groaned and woke up. Seeing her, he whispered, "Aunt."
Mo Tiange released him and said, "Aren't you going to take your medicine and heal?"
Ye Zhenji flushed red, quickly took out a pill and swallowed it, then sat cross-legged properly.
Mo Tiange stayed by his side, quietly observing his condition.
Earlier, while cultivating, her spiritual sense had monitored the surroundings. Suddenly, she detected fluctuations in spiritual energy here. Upon closer examination, it turned out Ye Zhenji's internal spiritual energy was in chaos, showing signs of Qi Deviation. The moment she touched Ye Zhenji's Tianling Cap, she identified the problem—the child had clearly taken several Qi-Gathering Pills. The medicinal force was too fierce, beyond his control, nearly causing Qi Deviation.
Not long after, the spiritual energy within Ye Zhenji's body finally slowly calmed. The moment he opened his eyes and saw Mo Tiange standing before him with a stern face, he lowered his head. "Aunt, I'm sorry."
Mo Tiange returned to her senses and shook her head. "Sorry for what?"
"...I made you worry."
Hearing this, Mo Tiange sighed and sat beside him. "What does worrying about me matter? The one who bears the consequences is you. You cultivate not for me, but for yourself."
"Yes," Ye Zhenji acknowledged, then hesitated. "Aunt, you're not angry with me?"
"Angry about what?"
"I... earlier, it happened because I recklessly took Qi-Gathering Pills. Aren't you angry I acted rashly?"
Mo Tiange smiled. "What's the use of being angry with you? The important thing is you won't make the same mistake again. Hmm... if you feel uncomfortable, tell your aunt. Why did you take so many Qi-Gathering Pills? Didn't you consider there might be problems?"
"Well..." Ye Zhenji paused, then answered honestly. "I felt my cultivation was too slow, so I wanted to take more pills to speed it up."
"Cultivation slow..." Mo Tiange couldn't help but laugh. "You're only twelve now and already at Qi Refining third layer. How is that slow?"
"But Hualing is the same age as me and already at Qi Refining fifth layer!"
Hualing was the young disciple of Perfected Lord Mingzhen, Daojun Jinghe's current second disciple. Being similar in age to Ye Zhenji, he could be considered his little playmate for now.
Mo Tiange smiled. "Hualing is a blood descendant of your Uncle-Master Mingzhen, and his Spirit Root is superior to yours. He's been carefully taught since childhood. How can you be compared to him?"
Hearing this, Ye Zhenji pursed his lips, his gaze dimming. "I know my aptitude can't match his. But if you put it that way, doesn't that mean I can never catch up to him in my lifetime?"
"Of course not," Mo Tiange patted his head. "The path of cultivation isn't only about aptitude. If you can't match him now, as long as you keep cultivating diligently, you will catch up eventually. Besides, in these two years, you've advanced from first to third layer, two whole stages. Hualing only barely advanced to fifth layer recently. What are you afraid of?"
Seeing Ye Zhenji bury his head in silence, Mo Tiange knew he still felt unconvinced and smiled. "How about this? Ten years. Spend ten years cultivating diligently and see who reaches Foundation Establishment first, you or him. How's that?"
Ye Zhenji thought for a moment. In ten years, he had good hope of advancing to Foundation Establishment and smiled. "Okay."
"But we must agree: you can't do things like today's rash act of forcing growth. Cultivation must proceed step by step. Impatience brings no benefit. If you accidentally suffer Qi Deviation, you'll be delayed for many years. That would be a case of the gain not worth the loss."
"Okay, I'll listen to you, Aunt."
Meanwhile, Daojun Jinghe, having finished the fight, flew back towards Qingquan Peak in a fury. His resplendent, golden dragon robe was burnt to cinders, his face smeared with unknown grime or dirt, even his handsome short beard half-singed, a sorry sight.
He flew back, muttering as he went, "Old Daoist Zhenyang, I gave you face today! If I had invoked my Sun-Severing Great Art, you'd be dead or at least half-dead! Hmph, letting you off because we're sect brothers!"
The 'old Daoist Zhenyang' he referred to was currently directing disciples to clean up his cave abode with a dark face. He summoned his young disciple into a relatively intact stone chamber and launched into a scolding. "You have too much free time, don't you? Not cultivating properly, going to flirt with that old scoundrel Qin Jinghe's disciple? Of all people to fancy, why his? That old thing is a complete rogue! If the upper beam isn't straight, the lower ones will be crooked. How good can his disciple be? Behave yourself, and we'll let this matter rest!"
Bai Yanfei was scolded inexplicably. "Master, I told you about this..."
Dao Lord Zhenyang was taken aback. "Told me? When did you tell me?"
"Last time when you were cultivating, I said I wanted to find a cultivation partner. You said it was up to me..."
Thinking carefully, there seemed to be such an incident. Feeling his face couldn't be saved, Dao Lord Zhenyang continued his angry scolding. "I said it's up to you, and you really took it casually? Our sect has many female cultivators with high cultivation and beauty. Why did you set your sights on that old thing's disciple?" Now he didn't even want to say 'Qin Jinghe,' directly calling him 'that old thing.'
Bai Yanfei felt even more wronged. "I said I'd choose from among the disciples of the several Uncle-Masters. You said fine. After looking around, I found Senior Sister Mo suitable..."
"But you didn't tell me!" Dao Lord Zhenyang thought about it and blew his beard. "Doesn't your Uncle-Master Miaoyi also have a girl under him? I remember she's not old either, quite suitable for you. Why not choose her?"
Bai Yanfei glanced carefully at his master and said, "That Senior Sister Wu... her appearance isn't very..."
He only said half, but how could Dao Lord Zhenyang not understand? He glared angrily. "You, you! As a cultivator, why cling to superficial appearances? Beauty and ugliness are merely skin over bones! Besides, how ugly can a cultivator be? That old thing's disciple isn't that beautiful either!"
Seeing his master in a rage, Bai Yanfei wisely shut his mouth. Right now, his master had just quarreled with Uncle-Master Jinghe. Saying more would only add fuel to the fire.
Dao Lord Zhenyang paced around the chamber a couple of times and added, "Let this matter rest. Don't think about that girl anymore. That old thing is saving her for his own kid. It's not your turn!"
"Ah?" Bai Yanfei was stunned. "Master, what do you mean?"
"I mean that girl is Qin Shoujing's. Understand now?"
This news shook Bai Yanfei, but he quickly cried out, "What does it have to do with him? I asked; Senior Sister Mo clearly has no intention of taking a cultivation partner!"
"That's none of your business either." Dao Lord Zhenyang looked at his disciple and sneered. "Alright, you'd better be smart. Your master just had a falling out with that old thing. If you go provoke his disciple again, aren't you slapping my face? Let this matter rest. If you want a cultivation partner, just pick someone else!" With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave the stone chamber.
Although he understood the sneer wasn't directed at him, Bai Yanfei still gritted his teeth in frustration.