The Six Heart Sect.

It was located in the vast mountains a hundred li east of Jinhuai Prefecture City. The area open to the public was merely an Incense Fire Daoist Temple, but the true core was the sprawling forest Dao Field that stretched for hundreds of li behind it.

The Heart Inquiry Hall.

This was Xiao Shan Lord’s place of cultivation. Though called a "hall," it was actually a garden nestled in the mountain wilderness. Within the garden were three small huts, a small courtyard that nearly blended into the surrounding forest, and a few pavilions and gravel paths scattered throughout.

This was completely different from what Wang Ping had imagined. He had pictured the place where Xiao Shan Lord would summon him as a grand palace on a Cloud Platform, like something out of a myth. The Lord would be seated on a cloud throne, flanked by First Realm cultivators awaiting his command.

In reality, if one were to judge by appearance alone, the Lord’s Dao Field was hardly different from Wang Ping’s own small one. Internally, however, they were worlds apart.

The most immediate difference was the density of Spiritual Qi. Here, it was several times denser than in his own Dao Field. Furthermore, the Spiritual Qi here had automatically converted into Wood Spirit Qi. Just by being here, the Spirit Communication Talisman within his body began to operate and integrate on its own.

’If I could cultivate here, the integration speed of the Spirit Communication Talisman would probably increase significantly.’

...

Wang Ping was currently seated cross-legged in a pavilion outside the Dao Field, observing Taoist etiquette. Attending to him was a Qi Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Incidentally, Yu Lian had not come with him this time.

The master of the Dao Field, Xiao Shan Lord, had entered a state of meditative seclusion before Wang Ping’s arrival, so all he could do now was wait patiently.

He waited for three days before Xiao Shan Lord finally emerged from his hut.

Throughout these three days, Wang Ping had remained fully awake, while the Foundation Establishment Qi Cultivator beside him had kept him company like a wooden statue.

The moment he saw Xiao Shan Lord step out of the hut, Wang Ping rose to his feet and couldn’t help but study the man closely.

Xiao Shan Lord’s appearance wasn’t much different from that of an ordinary cultivator. His long, black hair was casually tied back with a hemp cord, he wore a loose-fitting, grayish-white linen robe, and he sported a beard like a scholar’s.

His eyes... As Wang Ping met Xiao Shan Lord’s gaze, he realized the man was also studying him. He quickly lowered his head.

"You must be Fellow Daoist Changqing. Come, have a seat." Xiao Shan Lord sat down in an armchair in the courtyard, leaning back comfortably into the sunlight.

"Thank you, my Lord!" Wang Ping quickly bowed and walked over as instructed. The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had led him here simply stepped aside and stood still.

"Sit!"

Staring up at the sun, Xiao Shan Lord repeated his invitation for Wang Ping to sit.

Wang Ping cupped his fist in thanks once more and sat on a nearby mottled bamboo stool. Just then, he heard Xiao Shan Lord ask, "I suddenly have a craving for fish. Would you like some?"

The Lord’s first question stumped Wang Ping. At Qianmu Temple, eating meat was permitted, but consuming fish with its strong, "fishy" smell was discouraged.

Xiao Shan Lord glanced at Wang Ping, then called out to the Foundation Establishment disciple in the distance, "Bring me a roasted fish, and a vegetarian meal for Fellow Daoist Changqing."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator bowed upon hearing the order and departed. Xiao Shan Lord continued, "Seeing you now reminds me of my eldest senior brother. He was just like you, so rigid and methodical in everything he did. I told him that when breaking into the First Realm, he needed to seize the moment the Locust Tree Divine Soul relaxed. But he refused to listen, insisting on following our Master’s advice to search for that ’flash of Spiritual Light.’ In the end, he searched his entire life and never found it."

Hearing this, Wang Ping’s mind raced, trying to decipher the meaning behind Xiao Shan Lord’s words.

But Xiao Shan Lord turned to him and chuckled. "You don’t need to be so tense, and you don’t need to analyze the hidden meaning of my words. I’m just making small talk. Don’t overcomplicate our conversation, understand?"

"I understand."

"I heard you successfully broke into the First Realm after only two years of meditation?"

"Yes!"

"How did you do it?"

"I discovered that the best time to inscribe the Spirit Communication Talisman is when the Locust Tree Divine Soul is happy!"

"Oh?"

Xiao Shan Lord’s eyes lit up. "You are indeed talented. It’s rare for someone to be able to sense the Locust Tree Divine Soul’s emotions while breaking into the First Realm. Even I only managed it by taking a shortcut."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping instinctively cupped his hands, about to say something modest.

"I already told you, there’s no need to be tense." Xiao Shan Lord waved his hand dismissively, looking Wang Ping up and down. "Your foundation is very solid. Reaching the Second Realm should be a natural progression for you, as long as you can continue to seize those moments of happiness you sense from the Locust Tree Divine Soul."

"Yes..."

...

The topics Xiao Shan Lord discussed weren’t as lofty and profound as Wang Ping had expected. They were all things he could understand. Most of the time, the Lord asked about details of Wang Ping’s cultivation, and in turn, shared his own insights, much like a kind elder guiding a junior.

When the roasted fish and vegetarian meal were served, Xiao Shan Lord changed the subject. "I recall that your Qianmu Temple has a book passed down called *Annotations on the Celestial and Human*, correct?"

"That is correct."

"When you have free time, remember to read it often. It contains the wisdom of the ancient sages, and we need their wisdom to stabilize certain parts of our human nature... For example, eating this fish. It allows me to clearly perceive the memories within my human nature, reminding me of when my master caught me eating fish and scolded me back when I first started cultivating, or of the hunger I felt when my parents passed away."

Xiao Shan Lord was incredibly earnest as he said this. Afterwards, he began to seriously enjoy the roasted fish in his hands. Wang Ping also quickly finished the vegetarian meal that had been brought for him.

After the meal, Xiao Shan Lord glanced at Wang Ping. "That’s all for now. We’ll talk again when you reach the Second Realm."

"Yes, my Lord."

Wang Ping quickly stood up and walked toward the garden gate.

Just as he was about to reach the gate, Xiao Shan Lord spoke again: "When you have Direct Disciples of your own, don’t tell them to sense the emotions of the Locust Tree Divine Soul. They most likely won’t be able to. I was the one who misled my eldest senior brother back then, causing him to waste a hundred years for nothing."

Hearing this, Wang Ping stopped, turned back, and bowed to Xiao Shan Lord.

...

「Outside the Heart Inquiry Hall」

Wang Ping saw a familiar face.

Hongchen. He always maintained that same proud and cold demeanor. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Fellow Daoist Changqing..." A hint of a smile appeared on his proud face. It looked completely fake, but that was consistent with his usual persona.

"Fellow Daoist Hongchen," Wang Ping replied politely.

"And I must congratulate you, Fellow Daoist." The fake smile on Hongchen’s face widened slightly.

"What is there to congratulate me for?"

"The Lord just issued an order. From now on, you are a Patrol Envoy of the Nanlin Road Daoist Scripture Hall. My master has instructed me to personally take you to process your new identity token!"

Wang Ping was stunned.

A Patrol Envoy for a whole Road... The power that made Wang Ping most envious was the ability to fly freely within the jurisdictional area. The Daoist Scripture Hall appointed no more than four Patrol Envoys for each Road, one of whom was a High-level Patrol Envoy—a position with access to most of the confidential intelligence for that entire branch of the Daoist Scripture Hall.

’The Lord is a master schemer after all. He didn’t use any flashy tricks, nor did he give me a chance to present my own bargaining chips. He just directly brought me and Qianmu Temple entirely into his fold.’

’Refuse?’

’Of course, that’s impossible. This appointment is, in itself, a bargaining chip. I have a premonition that once I advance to the Second Realm, Xiao Shan Lord will come to collect on this advance payment.’

After completing the procedures for the Patrol Envoy position with Hongchen and leaving the Six Heart Sect, Wang Ping immediately exercised his new privilege, taking to the sky and flying toward Shang’an Prefecture.

In less than half a day, he returned to his Dao Field. But before he even had a chance to ask about the fire at Sanhe Temple, Yu Lian gave him some terrible news...

His mother had passed away the day after he left for the Six Heart Sect.