Chapter 116: The Northern Yin Bestows the Taiyin (First Installment)

Deep within the Jin estate, beside the corpse of the Golden Qilin, sat the bamboo-bodied Cheng Xinzhan.

His "Swallowing Thief" consciousness slipped into the bamboo body, heading straight for its Water Palace. Cheng Xinzhan’s thoughts trailed closely behind. Upon entering the Water Palace, he saw the water-element essence, usually accumulated there, transformed into a clear, vast lake. Hovering above this lake was a bright, luminous moon.

Cheng Xinzhan was perplexed. The moon, like a jade wheel, radiated a pure, silvery glow. Under this light, the lake rippled rhythmically, like the tides. The moonlight was clear and the sound of the water was soothing—it felt harmonious and serene, not at all like the malevolent aura of a ghost talisman. Still, he dared not be careless, guiding the "Swallowing Thief" slowly toward the moon.

The moment the "Swallowing Thief" touched the moon, it shivered in resistance, startling both Cheng and his consciousness. The "Swallowing Thief" bristled, all nine of its tails standing on end. From that tremor, a mist emerged, and within it, dozens of light points appeared, like stars arching over the moon. Beyond that, the moon grew still once more.

Cheng Xinzhan studied the "stars arching over the moon" and pondered deeply. After a long while, he seemingly grasped something; his consciousness vibrated violently, causing the lake in the Water Palace to churn with massive waves. He forced himself to calm his mind, steadying his thoughts until the lake returned to stillness. He then slowly used his consciousness to stir those points of starlight.

"Receiving the spiritual energy of the Twelve-Story Pavilion, first knock at the Heart Palace, then turn to the Crimson Palace for homage. Reverse the flow through the Conception Vessel, pass the navel, descend, bypass the Yellow Court without entering, then turn to the Governor Vessel. Follow the qi through the Perineum, Coccyx, Gate of Life, Great Vertebra, Jade Pillow, and ascend to the Hundred Meetings. Sweep past the Purple Gate, return to the Twelve-Story Pavilion, and upon passing the pavilion, return to the Heart Palace."

The scene of his master entering his inner landscape to guide his qi for the first time flashed through his mind! His master’s teachings now echoed in his inner world like the tolling of a great bell.

The Mingzhi Mountain tradition required opening the Heart Palace first. His very first circuit of qi flow had been the "Single-Phase Fire-Element Small Heavenly Circuit" passed down through generations at Mingzhi Mountain. Since then, every technique his master taught—whether from golden books or jade records—required that same qi-flow map as the key. It was the ancestral secret key of Mingzhi Mountain.

Yet, Cheng Xinzhan now clearly saw that these stars arching over the moon, in their layout, encompassed every single acupoint of that very circuit!

Cloud Residence—Heart Palace—Crimson Palace—Navel—Yellow Court—Perineum—Coccyx—Gate of Life—Great Vertebra—Jade Pillow—Hundred Meetings—Purple Gate—Cloud Residence—Heart Palace.

Cheng Xinzhan’s consciousness wove through the stars, lighting up each point representing the circuit’s acupoints one by one. Upon reaching the last one, the mist of stars dispersed, and the moon shattered like bubbles, revealing the items within. One mass of brilliant light suddenly expanded, transforming into a human figure!

The man wore a faint, orchid-like smile. With a temperament as fresh as mountain wind after rain, he looked like a hermit who had dwelt in the mountains for ages. He was handsome, his body as straight as green bamboo, with shoulders and neck held in a proud, unyielding posture.

The lake in the Water Palace began to churn violently again. Though it was only a fleeting glimpse, Cheng Xinzhan recognized him—this was the man who had blocked the Sword Master of Yingshan’s strike, the one the demon who had captured him called "Beiyin"! And having fought the demons of the Ice and Snow Palace for days, how could he not know that the name Beiyin belonged only to the Palace Master of Beiyin in the Ice and Snow Palace? But how could this titan of the demonic path know the secret key of Mingzhi Mountain?

"Your uncle disappeared in the North."

His master’s words echoed in his mind. In an instant, he seemed to understand, and his heart leaped with joy. Yet, fearing a mistake, he dared not fully believe it.

At this moment, Beiyin’s voice resonated: "I never imagined that after all these years, I would see Mingzhi Mountain again within your spell-manifested landscape."

How could Cheng Xinzhan have known that the Mingzhi Mountain he watched and meditated upon day and night was the very same place another haunted in their dreams? He could not have known how hard Beiyin had struggled to keep his composure while sitting face-to-face with the Blood God in the Blood Cloud Palace, while Cheng Xinzhan was using his manifestation of Mingzhi Mountain to intercept Shang Sansi.

Cheng Xinzhan transformed his consciousness into a human form and bowed respectfully to Beiyin: "Twenty-sixth generation disciple of Sanqing Mountain, twenty-first generation successor of Mingzhi Mountain, Cheng Xinzhan, greets you, Uncle!"

Beiyin looked at Cheng Xinzhan for a long time, then suddenly burst into loud, lingering laughter.

***

"How is she?"

Cheng Xinzhan knew exactly who his uncle meant. "Master is well," he replied.

Beiyin nodded with a smile. "A few years ago, I heard from the Southern Sect demons that she went to Rotten Peach Mountain to save her disciple trapped in a malefic cave. That was the last time I heard news of her, and that was when I learned our Mingzhi Mountain had a new successor."

Cheng Xinzhan felt a pang of sorrow.

"Later, I heard that at the Pearl-Returning Master’s sword-fighting tournament, a young man named Cheng Xinzhan from Sanqing Mountain shone brilliantly. I was overjoyed. In Sanqing Mountain, if there were another young man of the 'Xin' generation, who else could it be but one of our own? That night, in the Northern Frontier, I gazed at the moon and toasted to your success."

Cheng Xinzhan bowed again.

Beiyin continued, "You are excellent. After I arrived at West Kunlun, I kept a sliver of my divine sense on the battlefield. I watched your sword techniques, talismans, spells, thunder arts, wind arts, and the Five Elements; you are proficient in everything. Your natural talent is even better than mine and your aunt’s. However, there are too many divine senses covering this battlefield—the Blood God is not the only one at the Fifth Realm. I noticed several powerful masters observing you. To my knowledge, Jian Bingru of Emei frequently spies on you. His divine sense is like a sharp sword; I cannot be mistaken, so I dared not watch you for too long."

Cheng Xinzhan was stunned; he had no idea there was such a struggle unfolding above the battlefield.

"Your performance against Shang Sansi was seen by many. I believe it was truly stunning, especially the deity you manifested—it wasn't just Shang Sansi who was shaken. The others, especially Jian Bingru, are likely feeling quite uneasy. When you split into hundreds of incarnations, they were all watching your physical body. Taking that opportunity, I saw your bamboo body and risked sending these things to you."

Beiyin looked around, as if observing the bamboo body. "Back then, when our master wanted to pass down the Spirit Staff, your aunt offered to let me have it, but we both insisted it go to her. Your master was daring; she loved to explore secrets, and there was no place in heaven or earth she wouldn't venture. She could wield the staff well—I just didn't expect she hadn't used it, and instead passed it to you."

Cheng Xinzhan replied, "I accidentally fell into a malefic earth vein, causing true evil energy to breach my acupoints and turn my body rigid. That is why Master granted me this bamboo body to walk and cultivate."

Beiyin nodded. "So you have suffered such hardships. But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With your physical body tempered by true evil energy and your soul nurtured within the bamboo, your foundation is indeed solid. When your aunt and I practiced the avatar technique, we didn't have such a treasure."

Cheng Xinzhan said, "Master treats me very well; everything she bestows is exquisite."

"You are good, too, and have not disappointed her. You have already practiced the *Secret Decree of the Immortal Fetus Manifesting Spirit* to the point where your three souls and seven spirits can manifest." Beiyin looked at the "Swallowing Thief" in its "Lu Wu" form, then at Cheng Xinzhan’s solid consciousness, and smiled.

"I am not as learned as you in other traditions, but my cultivation of the *Secret Decree* is no slower than yours. So rest assured, I am not some demon who stole memories through soul-searching. No one in this world can steal my memories before I destroy my own spirit. I am your true uncle. If you are still worried, let Grandmaster Tongxuan examine me when you return to the sect."

Caught with his suspicions laid bare, Cheng Xinzhan hurriedly said, "Please forgive me, Uncle!"

Beiyin laughed. "There is nothing to forgive. Caution is a virtue."

Since his uncle had cleared the air, Cheng Xinzhan asked, "Uncle, what is your situation now?" Was he an undercover agent? Was he forced? Cheng Xinzhan refused to believe he had defected to the demonic path.

Beiyin, or rather, Chen Suxing, was silent for a moment. "A bit of both, perhaps."

Cheng Xinzhan said, "Should we inform our elders to come and rescue you?" The sect believed he was dead.

Beiyin shook his head. "No. Once you return to the sect, you only need to tell your aunt, the Grandmaster, and the Sect Leader that I am alive. Do not have them do anything, and do not come to the Northern Frontier to find me. I have my own plans."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. "Is there anything else you want me to relay? Who harmed you back then?"

Beiyin shook his head. "Let us not speak of the past. It is enough that they know I live." He changed the subject. "I see from your aura and your manifested deity that you have used Bing Fire to open the Heart Palace, Xin Metal for the Lung Palace, and Wu Earth for the Spleen Palace. Are you planning to use Gui Water to open the Kidney Palace next?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded.

"Do you have any ideas?"

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head. He had only just gained insight into the Spleen Palace deity and hadn't decided on the Lord of the Water Palace. It was a critical choice; it had to harmonize with the Heart Palace to achieve the balance of water and fire. It wasn't simple.

Beiyin smiled. "Let your uncle give you one!"

Cheng Xinzhan was surprised.

"I have spent many years in the North, and my greatest gain is the cultivation of the Taiyin path. The Ice and Snow Palace may be a demonic sect, but it holds the most complete Taiyin heritage in the world. Since you used Taiyang to open your Heart Palace, it is only fitting to use Taiyin to open your Kidney Palace."

Cheng Xinzhan was overjoyed. That was exactly it! He had realized this when he meditated on the Pleiades to open his Heart Palace, but he had two reasons for his hesitation. First, true deities of the Taiyin and Taiyang lines were incredibly rare, and those with extant meditation maps were even rarer. Second, he was unwilling to settle for a minor lunar deity. He wanted a Lord of the Moon.

"Uncle, which Taiyin deity?"

"Naturally, the Lord of Taiyin: The Saintly Empress Taiyin of the Shangqing Moon Palace, of the Yellow Flower and Pure Essence!"

Indeed! Cheng Xinzhan never expected that this uncle he had never met would gift him such a treasure upon their first meeting.

Beiyin waved his hand, and the object revealed after the moon shattered expanded into a scroll. The background was a bright, luminous moon, and within it stood a forest of purple laurel with red branches and orchid leaves. Before the forest was a palace made of cold jade—the Vast Cold Cave-Yin Palace. A goddess stood suspended before the palace, wearing a star crown, vermillion shoes, and a white silk gown, holding a purple sword to slay incoming demons.

"This *Portrait of the Empress Slaying Demons in the Moon Palace* is a secret treasure of the Ice and Snow Palace. Because of its name, the Palace Master disliked it and gave it to me after I performed a meritorious deed. Study it well; it contains not only the true form of Taiyin but also profound sword techniques and the intent to destroy demons."

Cheng Xinzhan stared at the portrait, speechless, and bowed in deep gratitude.

"I have one more technique to teach you, called the *Essentials of Water-Refining Yin Cauldron*, a treasure for cultivating the stomach orifice. It is labeled as a demonic art because it was created by a demon, but in practice, it is no different from any other orthodox manual. Our sect emphasizes moderation and balance, but the stomach cauldron is dominant and melts all things. In this regard, the demonic path has insights we lack. Study it carefully; one should not blindly belittle the demonic path, nor should one take it lightly."

Cheng Xinzhan bowed in agreement.

"Well, now that I have told you all this, this sliver of my consciousness is about to dissipate. Let the 'Swallowing Thief' absorb it; do not waste it." Beiyin smiled as his figure began to fade.

Cheng Xinzhan hesitated, then shook his head. "How can I use the body of an elder as nourishment? I shall respectfully see you off, Uncle, and wait for the day we meet again!"

Beiyin was stunned, then laughed and shook his head. "It seems that staying in the demonic path for so long has had its effects. Very well, you are a good child."

As Beiyin’s figure faded away, Cheng Xinzhan bowed, feeling a sense of loss. He had thought his uncle long dead, only to meet him in such a place. He had never imagined that a disciple of Sanqing Mountain’s Mingzhi lineage would become the Beiyin Hall Master of the Ice and Snow Palace.

He must relay this news to the sect immediately. Looking at the *Portrait of the Empress Slaying Demons*, he realized that just as his master had pointed him toward the Lord of the Earth Palace, his uncle had found him the Lord of the Water Palace. It was all so perfect.

He finally understood why his Heart Palace had rejected the bamboo body—it was not rejecting the body, but rather the Taiyin Empress, whose rank was even higher than the Pleiades!