/
“Your Excellency Su Yi, I have brought the Qinglan Water Monarch to see you!” Tao Qingshan bowed in greeting. He looked like a dwarf, with white eyebrows and a white beard, and his gaze was awed and reverent.
A solidly-built, honest-looking youth in simple cloth robes stood beside him. He looked courageous and strong, and his skin was dark, while his eyes were bright and expressive.
When he saw Tao Qingshan bow, the youth hurriedly followed suit, seeming both eager and uncertain.
Su Yi waved from the wicker chair. “No need for all this politeness. I’ve never liked elaborate displays of etiquette. “
Both of them hurriedly straightened their backs.
However, when they faced Su Yi, both were obviously somewhat reserved, and they couldn’t hide the reverence in their expressions.
Su Yi was already a legendary cultivator!
He had climbed to the pinnacle of three nations all on his own. Never mind the ordinary martial artists; even the true cultivators could only look up to him.
Tao Qingshan and the youth in simple cloth robes had both heard tales of Su Yi’s accomplishments. Now, standing before him again, they felt as if they were gazing upon a deity.
Su Yi looked the youth up and down. “Not bad at all. It’s been less than three months, but you’ve already taken on human form, and your foundations are pretty exceptional.”
The young man was none other than the Qinglan Water Monarch. His original body was a softshell turtle, and he lived at the bottom of the Qinglan River.
When Su Yi visited the Great Zhou’s Jade Capital, he crossed the Qinglan River on the turtle’s back.
At the time, Su Yi directed him, telling him to visit Tao Qingshan and learn the art of transformation. Su Yi also said that, so long as the softshell turtle metamorphosized into a true yao cultivator and entered the Origin Dao within three months, he’d teach him a suitable cultivation method.
This was a trial.
Who would have thought the softshell turtle would actually pull it off?
The youth in simple cloth robes said gratefully, “Everything I’ve accomplished today, you gave to me. If you hadn’t permitted Mountain Monarch Tao to share the secrets of transformation, I have no idea when I would have become a true yao cultivator.”
Something suddenly occurred to Su Yi, and he said, “Alright. I agreed to teach you a cultivation technique, and I naturally won’t go back on my word.”
He paused, then continued, “I have two cultivation methods suitable for you. One is called the ‘Heavenly Yao Nine Revolutions Incantation.’ It’s enough to support your cultivation until you reach the Spirit Dao.”
Tao Qingshan and the youth gasped. Both were visibly shaken.
Both were minor yao who’d only just barely stepped onto the path of cultivation. A legacy they could cultivate all the way to the Spirit Dao was no different from an unparalleled immortal blessing!
However, before they could respond, Su Yi continued, “The other secret inheritance is called the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra. In terms of subtlety, it’s far beyond the Heavenly Yao Nine Revolutions Incantation. However, I’ll only share the methods and incantations for the Three Realms of the Origin Dao. Furthermore, if you want to obtain this legacy, you must agree to do something for me in return.”
The youth’s heart shook, and he clasped his fist. “Your Excellency, please, enlighten me.”
“When I go to the Great Xia, I want you to come with me,” said Su Yi.
The youth in simple cloth robes was dumbstruck. He’d assumed that Su Yi would demand something incomparably arduous and exacting. Who’d have thought all he had to do was accompany Su Yi on his journey?
Tao Qingshan was practically green with envy. How is that even a trial? That’s obviously an opportunity as grand as the heavens themselves!
If he accompanies His Excellency Su Yi and serves at his side, isn’t he sure to receive his guidance?
Especially since His Excellency said that the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra far surpasses the Heavenly Yao Nine Revolutions Incantation!
Tao Qingshan tugged on the youth. “Don’t just stand there! Hurry up and thank him for benevolence!”
The youth in plain cloth robes reacted as if awakening from a dream. He stammered, “Senior, if it means an opportunity to serve by your side, I’ll agree to anything!”
It was obvious that he was so excited that he didn’t know what to do with himself.
Su Yi nodded, then took out a jade slip and used his divine sense to engrave it with methods and incantations for the Three Realms of the Origin Dao.
“Although this jade slip only contains the method for cultivating the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra in the Three Realms of the Origin Dao, it’s enough for a yao of your level to undergo metamorphosis, like a carp becoming a dragon. Once you’ve memorized its contents, destroy the slip.” Su Yi passed the youth the jade slip.
“Understood!” The young man in simple cloth robes hurriedly accepted it with both hands, then sensed its secrets with his divine sense.
A while later, he destroyed the jade slip, then clasped his fist. “Senior, I’ve already committed it to memory.”
When Tao Qingshan saw this, he couldn’t help but rally his courage and say, “Your Excellency, this humble one is willing to pledge his life to your cause! No matter the difficulty, I won’t refuse!”
Su Yi glanced at him. “That so? If you’re willing, you can remain here, at the Profound Amplification Sect, but don’t get excited too quickly. I won’t teach you anything in the next ten years, nor will I offer you even the slightest words of guidance. Think it over carefully, then tell me your decision.
The Dao was not to be passed on lightly, and the Dharma was not to be taught casually.
The softshell turtle had received a legacy because their meeting was an act of fate, and because Su Yi had already given his assent. The youth had passed his test, so Su Yi didn’t mind lending him a hand in his pursuit of the Grand Dao.
But Tao Qingshan was different. This nature spirit born of a Pure Yang Fire Peach Tree had already received his guidance back in Mother Ghost Ridge.
If he wanted to stay at Su Yi’s side and work for him, he naturally needed to pass a test first. Only then could he gain insight into Tao Qingshan’s heart and polish his temperament.
Of course, Tao Qingshan could choose to refuse his offer.
However, after only a moment’s silence, Tao Qingshan said solemnly and determinedly, “Your Excellency, I understand. Never mind ten years; even if I had to wait a century or a millennium, I would be willing to follow you!”
Su Yi nodded but said nothing. He wasn’t accepting a disciple, so there was no need to be too exacting.
He thought for a moment, then ordered, “You’ll remain here from now on. In a bit, go find Palace Master Ning. She’ll arrange everything for you.”
“Yes, sir!” Tao Qingshan and the youth in simple cloth robes agreed in unison.
“Right.” Su Yi suddenly recalled something. He turned to the youth and said, “Back then, I agreed that once you took on human form, I’d give you a Daoist name and title. Are you willing to accept it?”
After a brief, stunned pause, the youth went mad with delight, and his knees thudded to the ground. He said in a quavering voice, “Senior, please grant me a name!”
Su Yi thought for a moment, then said, “You made your home beneath the Qinglan River, and although you’re a yao, you have a heart that pursues the Dao with determination. That’s truly rare and precious. How about we call you ‘Yuan Heng’, or ‘Original Perseverance?’”
“Yuan”, or “origin”, meant remembering one’s starting point and initial intentions. It also sounded just like the word “soft-shell turtle.”
“Heng”, or “perseverance”, befit one who persistently pursued the Grand Dao.
The youth in cloth robes understood the deeper meaning immediately, and he was so grateful that he almost wept. He kowtowed, “Thank you, Senior! Thank you!”
When Tao Qingshan saw this, he was envious to his very bones.
Cultivators were very particular about their Daoist titles. They didn’t just contain the giver’s hopes for the recipient; they were also a form of acknowledgment and protection!
Rumor had it that in ancient orthodoxies, there was even a rite specifically for receiving a title. It was a solemn, grand ceremony, a major event for the entire sect. Only highly influential and prominent experts could preside over it.
Who chose a disciple’s Daoist title could even influence their future prospects!
A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled.
Of course, ordinary disciples generally just chose their titles for themselves as little more than a way to boost their own prestige, but they could be safely ignored.
Tao Qingshan was naturally well aware that to the softshell turtle, receiving a name from Su Yi meant receiving his acknowledgment and protection!
Of course Tao Qingshan was jealous. How could he not be?
So long as I pursue the Dao with determination and work loyally on His Excellency Su Yi’s behalf, I can surely earn his recognition too! Tao Qingshan took a deep breath, calming himself down.
He was a rootless, unaffiliated yao cultivator. He was enormously lucky to even have a chance at seizing “immortal fortune”!
Staying here to work on Su Yi’s behalf was already enough for Tao Qingshan.
After making arrangements for Tao Qingshan and the youth in simple cloth, Yuan Heng, Su Yi sank back into contemplation.
He didn’t teach Yuan Heng the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra purely because he thought it suited him.
When he visited the Great Xia, he planned to use the aura of Yuan Heng’s cultivation technique to lure out the supremely cowardly and cautious Ge Qian.
In this way, he could determine whether or not Ge Qian truly practiced the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra or not.
As the technique’s creator, Su Yi was naturally well aware that people who cultivated the Xuanwu True Essence Sutra could sense each other from a hundred thousand feet away. Their auras would produce a subtle, miraculous resonance between them!
Thus, even if the cowardly Ge Qian chose to keep hiding, so long as he appeared within a hundred thousand feet of Yuan Heng, Yuan Heng would sense him immediately.
I hope Ge Qian really did go to the Great Xia. If not, I’m afraid I’ll have done all this work for nothing
 thought Su Yi.
Shortly after, Ning Sihua returned. “Fellow Daoist, I’ve already gotten Tao Qingshan and Yuan Heng settled in.
Su Yi nodded, then announced his decision. “I plan to leave for the Great Xia tomorrow morning. Before I go, I have some things to ask of you.”
Ning Sihua’s eyes lit up, then immediately dimmed again. She sighed helplessly, “It sounds like I’ll have no choice but to stay behind and house-sit again.”
She, too, had heard that the curtains would soon open on the event all the world’s cultivators were watching: the Great Xia’s Orchid Terrace Dharma Assembly. Of course she wanted to participate!
Su Yi said, “If you’re not willing, I won’t insist.”
Ning Sihua shook her head, and deep emotion appeared on her immature features. “My position as palace master of Heaven’s Origin Academy might have seemed glorious, but in truth, my cultivation was arduous and bitter, and I faced all manner of perils and difficulties along the way.
“However, ever since I met you, everything has changed completely. I now lack neither cultivation methods nor resources, and as I pursue the Grand Dao, I’ve received your guidance on multiple occasions.” Ning Sihua laughed. “They say that when someone achieves the Dao, even their dogs and chickens will ascend. Perhaps this is what they mean?
“After everything you’ve given me, going to the Great Xia isn’t very important at all. Never mind staying home to house-sit; even if you demanded I commit atrocities against both heaven and reason, I’m afraid I wouldn’t refuse.”
Su Yi looked at the youthful, seemingly immature beauty with admiration. “Say no more. Fellow Daoist, I’ll be sure to return with a token of my gratitude.”
Ning Sihua’s heart shook. She was naturally well aware that a “token of Su Yi’s gratitude” was no small matter!
Her eyes shone with anticipation, and a charming smile spread across her lips as she laughed, “Gifts are unimportant. Your concern is thanks enough.”