Chapter 84: Mastering the Five Elements

Chapter 86: Refined Study of the Five Elements

“Xin Zhan, do you think this change of formation was ordered by Lord Hongwu or Lord Yongle?” Zhu Jianmo watched as the golden light vanished into the celestial realm, speaking with a languid air.

Cheng Xin Zhan shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Elder Jin Mingzi is someone ruthless to his enemies but magnanimous to his friends—that’s enough.”

Zhu Jianmo nodded and let the matter drop. In the distance, Sun Miaoshu and the other three approached, having witnessed the same scene.

“Was that Elder Jin Mingzi?” someone asked.

“Yes, the elder has ascended,” Cheng Xin Zhan replied. “By the way, how did you manage to sever the connection between the capital’s dragon vein and the imperial palace so quickly?”

Sun Miaoshu explained, “Our Sanqing Mountain is revered as the ancestral court, so naturally we have branches throughout Jiangnan. We went straight to the Qingzhou Fengyang branch, known as Qinglin Temple, had them contact the local authorities, disperse the populace, and bury explosives. That’s how it was accomplished.”

“Oh, so that’s how.” It was simpler than Cheng Xin Zhan had expected.

“But we didn’t anticipate Elder Jin Mingzi would ascend directly. We still need to visit Qinglin Temple to coordinate our statements.”

So the group promptly made their way there. Qinglin Temple was much like Yulin Temple—both grand temples of the mortal world.

They reported to the temple master, saying that since before the founding of Ming, a corpse immortal had been nurtured in the land, and by coincidence, the Ming ancestor also chose this auspicious site for the ancestral tombs. The Zhu Ming dragon vein suppressed the corpse immortal, who would wreak havoc if it were to break free. Fortunately, this corpse immortal was benign and, encountering them on their travels, summoned them to release the dragon vein. Now freed, the corpse immortal had ascended.

For the mundane world, they omitted mention of the corpse immortal, instead saying that the Zhu family ancestor, after four hundred years of incense offerings, had achieved perfect merit and ascended.

The temple master accepted the explanation and, after seeing them off, hurried to reassure the people.

———

Back at Sanqing Mountain, the six were led by Sun Miaoshu deep into its core, flying toward Yuhua Peak.

The three peaks—Yuhua, Yuxu, and Yujing—are the highest in all Sanqing Mountain, serving as its administrative heart. Only those above the second realm practice or conduct affairs here.

Yujing Peak oversees all internal and external daily matters, with departments for administration, culinary, education, assessment, evaluation, engineering, medicine, foreign affairs, and more.

Yuhua Peak handles emergencies and has the authority to marshal all people and resources within the sect. When Daoist Jianxian and Cheng Xin Zhan discovered the shifting earth veins linked to the mortal capital, Yuhua Peak received the urgent message, organized measures, dispatched personnel, and coordinated the response.

Yuxu Peak manages the mountain gate’s defense and overall strategy, maintaining the protective formations and legal boundaries, as well as the layout of mountains and rivers.

These three peaks are seen as the incarnations of the Three Pure Ones—Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing. Out of reverence, disciples seldom use their true names, instead calling them Grandfather Mountain, Faithful Mountain, and Cloud-Regulating Mountain.

The group landed on Yuhua Peak, where numerous palaces stood. They entered the Red Dust Hall, responsible for worldly affairs, and were received by the presiding elder.

They narrated their journey in detail, including the ascension of the corpse immortal—the source of the disturbance in the earth veins—and clarified the grievances involved.

The elder listened, nodding repeatedly, and praised them, saying,

“So there’s such complexity behind it. We’ll have the Foreign Affairs Institute inquire about the Ming emperor’s health in Yan and Zhao to corroborate. Well done—no casualties, and you considered the impact on the mortal world, unified your statements, and forged a good bond with a corpse immortal. This mission will be rated upper grade; I’ll contact the Assessment Institute to grant your rewards.”

They thanked him.

Cheng Xin Zhan then said, “Elder, Elder Jin Mingzi also spoke of his origins, his connection to our founder, and some matters concerning the founder. We request an audience with the sect master to report.”

The elder was startled. “Wait here,” he said, hurrying away.

They waited for about half an hour before the elder returned, announcing the sect master’s summons. Arrangements had been made with Yuxu Peak, and the formations and spiritual wards were open; they could proceed to the central Flat-top Mountain in the Lotus Paradise.

They departed Yuhua Peak, riding clouds toward Flat-top Mountain.

———

Flat-top Mountain’s true name is Liangyi Mountain, but its descriptive moniker is so apt that most in the sect use it, seldom calling it Liangyi Mountain.

Cheng Xin Zhan had been here before, but this time he saw its entirety.

The summit was smooth and level, as if sliced by a blade. The flagstones, each thirty paces wide, either paved later or cut from the original rock, divided the mountaintop like a chessboard.

Mist draped over the stones, moistening their surfaces. Each block bore a thin film of water, reflecting like a mirror, so one’s likeness appeared vividly below.

From afar, the summit seemed a vast lake, reflecting blue sky, white clouds, and cranes—making the group appear to walk atop water.

Three great halls sat quietly atop the summit, stately but unadorned, each with white walls. The left hall’s roof was red glazed tile, the right was black gold, and the rear was sky-blue jade.

The three halls stood symmetrically, their reflections in the stone’s moisture lending a sense of tranquility and solemnity.

At first, the group chatted among themselves. Apart from Cheng Xin Zhan, who had once visited with Wen Su Kong, the others were new here, and none had ever seen the sect master. They speculated about his character, but as they walked, the serene atmosphere gradually quieted them.

They passed between the Pure Yang Hall and the Original Yin Hall, arriving at the last palace.

On its doors hung a plaque, inked in a casual, cursive hand—Three Pure Palace.

The palace doors stood open. Inside, three jade statues towered to the ceiling, exquisitely carved. The central Taiqing Sage was depicted as an elder with hands clasped; the Yuqing Sage on the left as a middle-aged man stroking his beard; the Shangqing Sage on the right as a youth with hands behind his back. All three wore expressions of compassion and kindness, making those before them feel like ants.

Before the massive statues sat an incense burner, curling with blue smoke.

An embroidered cushion lay ahead of the burner, upon which a figure sat, watching their arrival.

They entered, heads bowed, yet each stole glances upward.

Cheng Xin Zhan peered as well and finally saw what kind of person the sect master of Sanqing Mountain was.

Surprisingly young—that was Cheng Xin Zhan’s first thought.

He’d expected an old man with a white beard, but the sect master looked only thirty. Wearing a plain azure Daoist robe, nothing flashed with magical light, everything seemed entirely ordinary. He wore a lotus crown, hands empty, resting naturally on his knees.

His features were delicate and fair, a bit slender, with phoenix eyes and faint brows—like a scholar. Yet he radiated a relaxed, absolute confidence, a smile hovering at his lips, as though nothing concerned him, yet as if everything was under his control.

If Cheng Xin Zhan had to compare, he’d say the sect master was like a phoenix.

“All here, are you? Sit and let’s talk,” the sect master said, his voice clear and elegant as a phoenix’s call, like the sound of a flute.

Six cushions appeared before him.

They saluted and each took a seat.

“You all seem unfamiliar; I don’t believe we’ve met. Please introduce yourselves first,” the sect master said gently, not asking about Jin Mingzi straightaway, but inviting them to introduce themselves.

“Forty-sixth generation disciple, Sun Miaoshu of Purple Smoke Mountain, greets the sect master.”

“Forty-eighth generation disciple, Xu Jishen of Shaking Light Mountain, greets the sect master.”

“Forty-seventh generation disciple, Zhu Jianmo of White Tiger Mountain, greets the sect master.”

“Forty-sixth generation disciple, Wang Miaoyuan of Hundred Herbs Mountain, greets the sect master.”

“Forty-eighth generation disciple, Feng Jihu of Azalea Valley, greets the sect master.”

“Twenty-sixth generation disciple, Cheng Xin Zhan of Mingzhi Mountain, greets the sect master.”

They answered respectfully.

The sect master smiled and nodded. “Very good, all young people. Cultivate well and don’t waste your youth. Sanqing Mountain’s future rests with you. Here, I have six lotus seeds; they can be planted or used in medicine. Take them.”

He drew six lotus seeds, glowing with blue light, from his robe. Opening his palm, the seeds floated to each of them.

“Thank you for the gift, sect master!” they responded in unison, accepting the lotus seeds.

“Good, now tell me about the elder who ascended,” the sect master said, smiling, now turning to business.

On the way, they’d agreed that if asked, Cheng Xin Zhan would answer, since he alone had been involved from start to finish.

Cheng Xin Zhan briefly recounted the events, focusing on Jin Mingzi’s first celestial ascension and subsequent slaying, then his second ascension as a corpse immortal. He also repeated Zhu Jianmo’s and his own questions, explaining the absence of golden immortals in the celestial realm, the qilin’s search for the founder, and the interpretation of the metal attribute.

The sect master listened quietly, never interrupting. When Cheng Xin Zhan finished, he spoke,

“Elder Jin Mingzi’s words are pearls of wisdom. You must thoroughly contemplate the nature of metal. I have understood the matter. Regarding Jin Mingzi, the founder, and the mundane dragon vein, you need not speak of it further—not even to your masters. I’ll tell them not to inquire. You’ve worked hard; return to your cultivation. Xin Zhan, you stay for a moment.”

The other five glanced at Cheng Xin Zhan, surprised, then rose, saluted, and departed.

Cheng Xin Zhan was unsure why he’d been asked to stay, feeling a bit anxious.

“How many years have you been on the mountain, Xin Zhan?” the sect master asked.

“Replying to the sect master, this is my third year.”

He nodded. “You’re aware of Mingzhi Mountain’s situation, I suppose?”

Cheng Xin Zhan assumed he referred to its sparse inheritance and high seniority. “I know some of it.”

“Hmm,” the sect master nodded. “The sect master of Three Pure Palace, the vice sect masters of Pure Yang Hall, Original Yin Hall, Yujing Peak, and Divine Maiden Peak—these five leaders, aside from Divine Maiden Peak’s vice sect master, all have been from Mingzhi Mountain.”

Cheng Xin Zhan was startled, staring at the sect master.

The man smiled and shook his head. “Not me—I came from Purple Smoke Mountain’s Flying Immortal Platform. It seems you didn’t know that. I tell you this because I see you’re refining the five elements, aren’t you? Sanqing Mountain has an unwritten rule: only those who refine both five elements and yin-yang thoroughly can serve as sect master.”

Cheng Xin Zhan was a bit confused. “Sect master, what does it mean to refine the five elements?”

“Oh, you don’t know yet? Su Kong never told you? Yes, she’s always careless, focused solely on cultivation. It’s hard for her to train disciples.”

He chuckled and continued, “Most cultivators, when training the five elements, find one that suits them best. In the Qi Refining stage, they focus on the corresponding organ, contemplating its innate or acquired principles, paying less attention to the others—just seeking to open all, gather the five, and establish the Scarlet Palace. Their techniques, spells, and talismans then favor that element. In the second realm, preference leans toward yin or yang. During pill formation and refinement, there’s further emphasis, and even in merging with the Dao, this influence persists throughout life.”

“For example, your fellow disciples: it’s clear Sun Miaoshu favors earth, Xu Jishen and Wang Miaoyuan favor water, Zhu Jianmo favors metal, and Feng Jihu favors wood. Later, you can guess Sun Miaoshu and Zhu Jianmo favor yang, while Xu Jishen, Wang Miaoyuan, and Feng Jihu favor yin.”

“But you’re different. Though you first opened your heart palace, using visualization to absorb yang fire and form the internal god of the Altair constellation—which is excellent—from your question to Elder Jin Mingzi about the nature of metal, I knew you don’t focus solely on fire, do you? I also sense traces of metal within you. You aim to refine yin metal with yang fire, perfecting all five elements and harmonizing yin and yang, right?”

Cheng Xin Zhan nodded; indeed, he didn’t favor any single element, feeling each held endless mysteries.

The sect master smiled. “That’s what we call ‘refined study of the five elements.’ Each element must be thoroughly explored; each is a key to understanding the Dao of Heaven and Earth. Your master, Su Kong, is not like this—she favors water and metal, both in yin. It’s a matter of talent and perception. Some wish to cultivate all five but lack the ability and, facing the end of their lifespan, hastily choose one to specialize in. Others have the capacity but innately prefer only one or two elements—Su Kong is the latter.”

“What instruction does the sect master have for me?”

He sighed. “Nowadays, the cultivation world grows restless; fewer truly refine all five elements. I saw you and knew you could follow this path. So I wanted to remind you: don’t pursue only immediate gains in cultivation. Keep your eyes on the long term. See, Su Kong chose your Dao name well—‘Xin Zhan,’ to look far ahead.”

“And among the eight lotus branches, only Purple Smoke Mountain and Mingzhi Mountain have lineages that directly address yin-yang and encompass all five elements, so most sect masters come from these two. Mingzhi Mountain hasn’t produced a sect master for several generations now; your disciples are few, and Su Kong can’t be relied upon, so you must work harder.”

Suddenly, the sect master grinned mischievously. “In this generation, the number of sect masters from Purple Smoke Mountain and Mingzhi Mountain is exactly equal. The future depends on you juniors.”

(End of chapter.)