Chapter 104: Only Because One Is in the Midst of the Mountain

The next day, the first day of August, Cheng Xin Zhan still kept his physical body in the Wuyou Cave to refine his Qi, while his bamboo body went to the Heavenly Court of Yingyuan in the Nine Heavens to study the Dao. However, this time, he specifically transferred the Blood Dragon of his Heart Mansion into the bamboo body's acupoint.

A few months ago, after nearly a year of effort, Cheng Xin Zhan finally entered the path of Divine Thunder and applied to transfer from the Northern Pole Division’s Demon-Slaying Bureau to the Penglai Division’s Sweet Dew Bureau to continue practicing the Water Thunder technique.

However, from last year’s Awakening of Insects to this year’s, he not only entered the path of Divine Thunder but more importantly, he also began to grasp the broader Thunder techniques. The Divine Thunder practice alone did not consume much of his time, which allowed him to quickly dissolve the True Sha.

The same applied to Water Thunder.

The master who taught Cheng Xin Zhan Water Thunder was Daoist Jian Ping, the mentor of He Jiyuan. Jian Ping believed that Cheng Xin Zhan’s ten days of practice per month equaled several months of He Jiyuan’s effort. Of course, this was not to say He Jiyuan was inferior; Jian Ping also admitted that his own comprehension was far less than Cheng Xin Zhan’s.

When Jian Ping heard that Cheng Xin Zhan wanted to practice Dragon Thunder, he nodded and said, “You have indeed entered Water Thunder. Next is the grinding work, but Dragon Thunder can only be cultivated by those who possess dragon might. You know this, right?”

Cheng Xin Zhan nodded.

Jian Ping smiled knowingly and said, “There are very few people in the bureau who cultivate Dragon Thunder—the head of the Northern Pole’s Demon-Slaying Bureau is one, and the elders of the Five Thunder Institute are the others. I suggest you go directly to the mountain master to see if you can enter the Five Thunder Institute to study. Since you have to cultivate Divine Thunder, Water Thunder, and Dragon Thunder, it’s better to master all Five Thunders there. I think you have the aptitude.”

Cheng Xin Zhan nodded. Since the sect leader had opened the door for him, there was no reason not to take this path.

He went straight up to the ninth floor to the Jade Pure Heavenly Court. Seeing the wooden sign at the entrance that read “Administrative Affairs, Entry upon Registration,” he said, “Cheng Xin Zhan, apprentice of the Penglai Division’s Sweet Dew Bureau, requests an audience with the court master.”

“Enter.”

Cheng Xin Zhan stepped in and saw a man busily writing.

“It’s Xin Zhan. What brings you here?”

The man did not look up but continued reviewing documents.

Cheng Xin Zhan bowed. “Court Master, I wish to cultivate the Five Thunders simultaneously.”

Zhao Wuji paused his pen, looked up, and smiled. “That’s more like it. I was worried you only practiced thunder for the purpose of dissolving True Sha. If you want to cultivate the Five Thunders together, you are most welcome.”

Previously, because of Wen Sukong’s request, Cheng Xin Zhan was allowed to practice in the Thunder Court but had not attracted much attention. However, after his fame spread in Baiyu Capital and the sect leader issued an order for the Three Mountains to teach him the true transmission, Zhao Wuji began to pay attention.

He had asked both Jian Xian, the teacher of Divine Thunder, and Jian Ping, the teacher of Water Thunder, as well as the heads of the two bureaus. The consistent answer was:

“They wish to transmit the Thunder Court’s true legacy to him.”

These people had also approached Zhao Wuji, asking him to transfer the boy from Mingzhi Mountain. But Zhao Wuji knew Wen Sukong’s temper and would not truly do so. Besides, the deputy sect leader overseeing Shujiji Mountain was also a founder of Mingzhi Mountain.

Publicly, a transfer was impossible, but secretly, if the boy wished to stay in the Thunder Court, no one could force him away.

Currently, he was auditing for two years, but Thunder techniques were profound. What could be learned in two years? If he audited for ten or twenty years, transferring him later would still be possible.

“Among the Five Thunders, you have already practiced Divine Thunder and Water Thunder. The others are Celestial Thunder, Social Thunder, and Dragon Thunder. Celestial Thunder governs the rise of fortune; Social Thunder governs demolishing mountains and temples; Dragon Thunder governs rewarding merit and punishing evil. Celestial and Social Thunder are manageable, but Dragon Thunder requires the bearer of dragon might, which is a bit troublesome.”

Zhao Wuji was pondering. Dragon might was rare; otherwise, Dragon Thunder would not be the most difficult of the Five Thunders.

Generally, for humans to possess dragon might, they must be an earthly emperor, have refined Dragon Energy, or receive it as a gift from a dragon lineage.

All three were difficult. Earthly emperors had dragon might but were destined not to cultivate Dragon Thunder. Even if they wished, no one dared teach them. As for royal bloodlines, only the crown prince acting as regent might possess a bit of dragon might; others were not considered.

Dragon Energy was even rarer. Among the thirty-six Heavenly Energies, Dragon Energy was extremely scarce, with only three or four types in total.

As for gifts from dragon lineages, they were not simple either. The dragon lineage had to be that of a mature dragon. True dragons and their nine offspring were rarer than celestial beings. Among dragons, only the noble bloodlines—jiao, chi, qiu, pan, jin, and li—counted; mixed bloodlines such as shen, hui, yu, and mang were merely draconic in shape but not true dragon lineage.

Even for the noble bloodlines, possessing a bit of blood, horns, scales, or hair was not enough to bear dragon might. The blood had to be essence; the horns marrow; the scales fin scales; the hair jaw whiskers—all treasures among dragons, never given lightly.

“Court Master, I have been fortunate to gain some opportunity. I believe I already have dragon might within me.”

Seeing Zhao Wuji deep in thought, Cheng Xin Zhan whispered this.

“Hm?”

Zhao Wuji looked over, surprised. “Release it for me to see.”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xin Zhan thought for a moment. The Blood Dragon of his Heart Mansion swam swiftly, and a surge of dragon might emanated.

Zhao Wuji felt it and nodded. “Not bad. You have a rare opportunity. Dragon might is as vast as a prison or sea; it will indeed aid your cultivation of Dragon Thunder.”

“In that case, don’t study in the bureaus anymore. Go to the Five Thunder Institute. The elders there are probably bored in their spare time. You can accompany them and relieve their boredom.”

Cheng Xin Zhan was delighted to hear this; it suited him perfectly.

————

The elders in the Five Thunder Institute were indeed numerous and old, as the young ones all served in the bureaus.

When Zhao Wuji led Cheng Xin Zhan there, he praised him at length, attracting the curiosity of the elders. Upon hearing that the boy wished to cultivate the Five Thunders simultaneously, their interest peaked. Several elders casually asked questions, and Cheng Xin Zhan answered fluently with ingenious ideas, earning continuous praise.

The result was that Cheng Xin Zhan was released quite late.

When he flew back to Mingzhi Mountain, he suddenly noticed thunder intent soaring high near the Bamboo Stele.

Was his master back?

He immediately descended.

Indeed, in the bamboo pavilion, he saw his master.

“Master.”

Cheng Xin Zhan approached and greeted.

Wen Sukong smiled and nodded.

Seeing the thunder aura swirling around Wen Sukong, full of vitality, Cheng Xin Zhan smiled and said, “Congratulations, Master, on successfully crossing the tribulation.”

Wen Sukong laughed, “It went smoothly enough.”

Curious, Cheng Xin Zhan, unaware of his master’s exact realm, asked, “Master, how many tribulations have you undergone?”

Wen Sukong looked at him but did not answer immediately.

“I was presumptuous,” Cheng Xin Zhan apologized quickly.

“Second refining,” Wen Sukong answered briefly.

“Ah?” Cheng Xin Zhan was surprised. Was his master only at the second refining?

Seeing his apprentice’s stunned expression, Wen Sukong smiled and said, “Do you think my realm is low?”

“My apprentice would never dare,” he shook his head.

“This is my incarnate’s second refining.”

Wen Sukong’s voice softened.

“Ah?” Cheng Xin Zhan was even more surprised.

“What, you think only you have incarnates?”

Wen Sukong laughed.

“My apprentice would not dare,” he repeated.

“Splitting one’s spirit to cultivate incarnates is one of Mingzhi Mountain’s fundamental techniques. My incarnate is not as good as yours but has been trained from the lowest level up.”

Wen Sukong explained further, “When your physical body and incarnate both reach the third realm, it brings another benefit: others cannot discern your true realm.”

Cheng Xin Zhan instantly understood. Indeed, no one could know if it was the true body or an incarnate crossing the tribulation.

“My true body is at the sixth refining of the Golden Core,” Wen Sukong revealed his real realm.

It was even higher than Cheng Xin Zhan had imagined.

Speaking of cultivation, Cheng Xin Zhan reported recent progress to his master, mentioning the Yang Palace sword refining and simultaneous cultivation of the Five Thunders.

Wen Sukong nodded, saying it was all very good.

Cheng Xin Zhan was a bit worried. Recently, thunder, sword, and refining arts cultivated together had progressed rapidly, but the path of Qi refinement itself was slow.

With the Fire and Metal Mansions opened, he told Wen Sukong of his plan to open the Spleen Mansion with Earth element next.

Wen Sukong listened carefully and approved, saying it was well reasoned.

Seeing her agreement, he expressed a recent concern.

“Master, Earth corresponds to mountains, has status, and governs yin and yang, life and death. I intended to visit Mount Tai and Mount Lao to see for myself. However, the sect leader wants me to study within the sect for two years. I fear this will delay me.”

Wen Sukong looked at her clever apprentice thoughtfully and said, “Do you know why the sect leader wanted you to stay two years?”

Cheng Xin Zhan blinked. Was it just to let him learn more and better?

“The sect leader values you, yes, but the two-year period is because the Dragon-Tiger Ritual Conference happens the year after next. He specifically named you to attend and doesn’t want you running around and risking mistakes.”

Cheng Xin Zhan nodded. So there was this matter as well.

“The Dragon-Tiger Ritual Conference happens once every three cycles of sixty years. It is the founding discipleship ceremony of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, inviting great sects from Yuzhang to witness. After admitting disciples, sects perform demonstrations and debates. It is a rare grand event in Yuzhang,” Wen Sukong explained.

“Also,” she added, “not every time you open a mansion do you need to seek opportunities outside. This time you looked far when you could have chosen closer paths.”

Cheng Xin Zhan didn’t understand.

“Tell me, what is Mingzhi Mountain’s main cultivation?”

Cheng Xin Zhan was stunned.

Of course! Mingzhi Mountain practiced yin-yang arts, specializing in corpse release and soul return. That seemed fitting!

However, Mingzhi Mountain was indeed an immortal mountain but was not a status mansion.

Wen Sukong guessed Cheng Xin Zhan’s thoughts and said meaningfully,

“Do you think the characters ‘Ming’ and ‘Zhi’ were chosen at random?”

Cheng Xin Zhan frowned.

“Ming.”

“Zhi.”

Thinking carefully, his eyes widened. Those two characters were exactly favored by high-ranking dignitaries!

“I…” He didn’t know what to say.

“Mingzhi Mountain is now just you and me. If something were to happen to me someday, you will be the mountain master. Some things you should know.”

Wen Sukong spoke earnestly.

Cheng Xin Zhan’s face grew solemn.

“Come with me.”

Wen Sukong stepped out of the bamboo pavilion, and Cheng Xin Zhan followed.

She stopped before the “Zhan Biyun Bamboo Repository” stele, traced several symbols in the air, and told Cheng Xin Zhan to remember them, then shot a light talisman into the stone tablet.

The surface of the stele shimmered, revealing a luminous portal!

She led the way inside.

Cheng Xin Zhan followed.

The light was dazzling. He closed his eyes entering, then reopened them, utterly shocked by the scene before him.

“Th-this is…”

He stammered.

“This is the interior of Mingzhi Mountain,” Wen Sukong said calmly.

Cheng Xin Zhan could hardly believe it.

Mingzhi Mountain was hollow inside!

The entire mountain had been hollowed out!

The depths below seemed bottomless, as if connecting to the Nine Hells and Yellow Springs!

Within this vast space, countless coffins floated densely!

These coffins were divided into gold and jade types, arranged to form a yin-yang fish pattern. The gold represented yin, the jade yang, closely fitting and slowly rotating, forming a moving Taiji diagram!

What kind of formation was this!

Who were buried in these coffins?

“The jade coffins contain the remains of the Golden Core realm predecessors of Sanqing Mountain through the ages.”

This sentence shook Cheng Xin Zhan to the core.

He stared at his master blankly.

“Mingzhi Mountain is Sanqing Mountain’s mausoleum. You and I and the predecessors of Mingzhi Mountain are the tomb guardians,” Wen Sukong said.

“Master, why is this so?” Cheng Xin Zhan asked, puzzled. Cultivators, even if unable to ascend, would sit in meditation at life’s end, their essence returning to the world, leaving nothing behind. At the Golden Core realm, dying was called feathering, where the physical body’s essence returned to the world, birthing new life from the death aura, while the soul reincarnated, and the aging Golden Core transformed into a white crane soaring the heavens, witnessing the life and death of the practitioner.

The only exception was sudden violent death, where the body might be sealed by some spiritual energy or turned into a walking corpse.

But with so many coffins, how could the predecessors of Sanqing Mountain have ended up this way?

“These are predecessors who, after life’s span ended, voluntarily locked their physical essence, becoming corpses. This was to prepare for the day when a force might attack Sanqing Mountain so ruthlessly that heaven and earth would fail to respond. At that time, Mingzhi Mountain’s disciples could summon tens of thousands of corpses to fight the enemy! Among these corpses, the lowest cultivation level in life is Golden Core, and there are even immortal corpses!”

Wen Sukong’s voice trembled slightly.

Cheng Xin Zhan was silent for a long time. His Nine Suns refining eyes had never felt dazzled before, but now they stung with a subtle soreness.

“Is this why you always urged me not to neglect corpse nurturing techniques?” he asked softly, as if afraid to disturb the predecessors.

“Yes,” Wen Sukong nodded. “This is the duty of Mingzhi Mountain’s disciples, so the sect doesn’t need many disciples. A few tomb guardians are enough. This is one of Sanqing Mountain’s greatest secrets. But no matter how few disciples Mingzhi Mountain has, its legacy will never be broken. If Mingzhi Mountain’s line ends, the living old ancestor becomes the new mountain master and immediately starts recruiting disciples to continue the lineage.”

“If even the old ancestor is gone, then the deputy sect leader of the Primordial Yin Hall will become the new mountain master and continue the legacy. This is why the deputy sect leader of the Primordial Yin Hall manages Mingzhi Mountain. The first thing each new deputy sect leader is informed of by the sect leader or mountain master is this secret!”

Wen Sukong glanced at Cheng Xin Zhan and smiled. “I know many Dao lineages want you to transfer, but unless you wish to, even if they beg the sect leader, it’s useless! Mingzhi Mountain’s inheritance is Sanqing Mountain’s greatest matter!”

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