Chapter 146: Chapter 35: Grand Dharma Assembly

Qianmu Temple.

The plaza outside the Inner Courtyard was bustling with activity. The crowd was a diverse mix of officials, Daoists, warriors, scholars, and wealthy merchants, all gathered in hundreds of small groups and conversing in low voices.

This was one of the few Dharma Assemblies Qianmu Temple had held since its rise to prominence. The invited guests were all individuals with deep and intricate ties to the temple, comprising nearly all the leading figures from every walk of life in Nanlin Road and the surrounding areas.

The Dharma Assembly was scheduled to last for seven days, during which there would be various activities such as academic exchanges, discussions on Daoist principles, and martial arts competitions. On the final day, Yu Cheng Taoist would lead his disciples and the assembled guests in a ceremony to worship Heaven.

「Mountain Peak Dojo.」

Compared to the bustling scene down the mountain, it was much more tranquil here.

In a clearing in the middle of Lin Garden, a table was set with several jars of fine wine. Under a lush Spirit Wood Tree, two men, Guangxuan and Liu Zixiu, were engrossed in a board game, a chessboard laid out between them. Their respective disciples stood watching behind them.

In another clearing not far away, Hu Qianqian was skillfully roasting a leg of lamb. A pot of mutton simmered nearby, and next to it was a smaller pot that Yu Lian had used to cook shrimp. The fire under the small pot had already been extinguished, as Yu Lian had eaten her fill. She was now soaring on a cloud beside Hu Qianqian, making idle conversation.

「At the courtyard entrance.」

Wang Ping and Liu Shuang stood facing each other. The scene looked much like a master testing his disciple’s progress.

"You’ve already reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Haven’t you decided whether you want to break through to the next realm yet?" Wang Ping asked bluntly. It was not a question that required delicacy.

Just as Liu Shuang was about to answer, Wang Ping added with deliberate confidence, "I, your master, have broken through to the Second Realm. I can now effortlessly suppress the Wood Spirit Qi. With the added protection of the Nine Extremes Array, it’s virtually impossible for your advancement to fail."

The key to the Wood Gathering Skill was confidence. As long as one maintained enough confidence, failure was impossible. However, when one’s own life was on the line, fear would inevitably and unconsciously surface, even if one knew the importance of being confident. This was extremely dangerous, and Wang Ping needed to use such words to eliminate that trace of fear from Liu Shuang’s heart.

Upon hearing this, Liu Shuang’s eyes indeed brightened. She immediately said, "Thank you, Master. However, I need some time to consider. I will give you my answer before this Dharma Assembly ends."

"Good!"

A smile touched Wang Ping’s lips, but just as he was about to say something more, the sound of a heated argument drifted over from a distance. It was Liu Ling and Zhao Yu’Er. They were arguing so fiercely that they had thrown all consideration for the elders’ presence and basic etiquette to the wind.

The men playing chess under the tree heard the argument, but after a single glance, they paid it no further attention. To them, quarrels among the younger generation were perfectly normal. Yu Lian and Hu Qianqian, however, were listening with great interest.

Liu Shuang sighed and explained, "Ling’Er failed her Foundation Establishment, while Yu’Er succeeded. Their respective statuses have changed as a result."

Wang Ping felt a headache coming on. If an elder tried to forcibly intervene in something like this, it would only backfire. The best approach was to hold both parties accountable and then separate them for a while.

Liu Shuang’s solution was a good one. She called over Su Sea, who was preparing ingredients, and had him, in his capacity as a junior martial uncle, go and mediate. With Wang Li assisting from the sidelines, the argument finally came to a temporary halt.

"Ling’Er used to have a cultivation partner, but after she failed her Foundation Establishment, he became distant. Recently, he’s even been trying to flirt with Yu’Er. Thankfully, Yu’Er isn’t interested in him, but that girl still loves to bring it up all the time."

Liu Shuang relayed this bit of gossip in a lowered voice.

Wang Ping found it all rather melodramatic. After a moment’s thought, he asked, "Have you met this man?"

"I have..."

"What’s he like?"

"He has a handsome face, but he’s very calculating."

"This needs to be resolved as soon as possible—and at the root of the problem. Also, investigate if he has anyone backing him."

"Alright!"

’Master is being a bit paranoid,’ Liu Shuang thought to herself, but she agreed to handle it nonetheless.

Just then, the young acolyte guarding the gate hurried over to report, "Grandmaster, Senior Zuo Xuan has arrived."

"Fellow Daoist Changqing, congratulations!" Zuo Xuan was right behind the acolyte. As soon as the announcement was made, he stepped forward, cupping his fist in salute.

"You’re too kind," Wang Ping said, gesturing for him to come closer. "This way, please." He led Zuo Xuan over to Guangxuan and Liu Zixiu and made a simple introduction.

After they exchanged greetings, Guangxuan seemed to remember something and quickly said, "Liu Chang will be here later as well."

"Why didn’t he come with you?"

"The people of a certain region were praying for rain, so he had to go make it rain first."

"It seems he’s doing quite a good job as a Dragon King..."

"Yes. I think he’s considering staying, but he’ll need his parents’ permission. Lishui Prefecture has many rules." As Guangxuan spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the chessboard. Even with his breakthrough-level cultivation, he seemed to be struggling to outmaneuver Liu Zixiu.

"Lishui Prefecture does have many rules, just like the Imperial Palace," Zuo Xuan added.

As they were speaking, the acolyte from the gate approached again, this time presenting Liu Chang’s calling card. Wang Ping examined it carefully before personally writing a reply. He then had Hu Qianqian take his reply and go greet the guest.

After his breakthrough via the path of water, Liu Chang’s appearance had improved dramatically from his previously deformed state. At the very least, he now had a slightly draconic look, and his skin was no longer covered in a disgusting slime.

Liu Chang seemed to be an avid chess player. The moment Guangxuan was defeated, he immediately pulled him aside and took his seat to play against Liu Zixiu.

Halfway through the game, Wang Ping received another calling card, this one from Feng Miao. This time, he sent Liu Shuang to receive the guest. The two hadn’t seen each other in over eighty years, and their reunion felt like a meeting from another lifetime.

When Wang Ping asked about Cheng Ji, the light in Feng Miao’s eyes dimmed. "I’m afraid Cheng Ji couldn’t make it. He failed to ignite the furnace fire during his breakthrough and has passed away, his body and soul dispersed."

The Upper Dan Sect’s method for breaking through involves igniting a furnace fire within the Qi Sea. Failure results in being burned to death by the flames.

An image of Cheng Ji’s optimistic face flashed through Wang Ping’s mind. The sorrow in his heart was fleeting; over the years, too many friends and relatives had passed away. He had grown accustomed to this feeling.

The two chatted for a few moments before Wang Ping introduced Feng Miao to his other friends.

Everyone’s attention then returned to the chessboard. Liu Chang had a great passion for the game, but unfortunately, his skill was even worse than Guangxuan’s. In the end, it took Zuo Xuan stepping in to finally defeat Liu Zixiu.

The defeated Liu Zixiu was indignant and demanded another game, but just then, Hu Qianqian announced that the food was ready.

Wang Ping reluctantly pulled a protesting Liu Zixiu away from the chessboard. Afterwards, the group dispensed with formalities; the elders gathered around the table to drink, while the juniors found places to sit wherever they could. After three rounds of wine, Zuo Xuan looked at Wang Ping with a smile. "I have a little piece of news that I’m sure you’ll find interesting."

"What news?" It was Yu Lian who asked eagerly. She was even more interested in the things that interested Wang Ping.

"Daoist Hongchen of the Six Heart Sect suffered a qi deviation during his Qi Cultivation some time ago and was locked in the dungeon beneath the Daoist Scripture Hall," Zuo Xuan said with a chuckle. "I hear he lost control of his emotions and fell into deviation right after hearing that you had advanced to the Second Realm."

"..."

Wang Ping was utterly astonished.

At that moment, Liu Shuang glanced at Liu Ling and said pointedly, "A long time ago, everyone in the Daoist Scripture Hall was saying that Daoist Hongchen would inherit the Lord’s mantle. A century later, he ends up in this state, all because of jealousy."

"Jealousy is the greatest obstacle to cultivation!" Liu Zixiu declared, looking at his own disciple, Zhang Xinghuai. As a teacher, he certainly wasn’t going to pass up such a perfect cautionary tale.