Chapter 16

Join the same sect?

Shen QingXian increasingly found that the Jade Scroll was mentally handicapped.

He and Gu JianShen were taught by the same sect. In regards to seniority, Gu JianShen even had to call him (SQX), ShiShu. They were originally of the same sect, where did the need for them to join the same sect come from again.

The Jade Scroll had not breathed its last yet. Without delay, another line of text appeared: “P.S: The past does not count, only looking at the present!”

Shen QingXian: “……”

The Jade Scroll feared the DaLao would not understand and so without delay, another line appeared: “Join the same sect, reside in the same living quarters, do……”

This sentence was finished before the Jade Scroll lost its breath.

Stupid…….

Shen QingXian was puzzled, why did the Great Dao appoint this idiot to assist him in restoring the Heavenly Staircase.

Whatever, for the Heavenly Staircase’s sake, he won’t make a fuss about it anymore.

Joining the same sect is not difficult. There were many sects under the heavens. If he wanted to go somewhere, no one could obstruct him. The problem was how to join the same sect as Gu JianShen.

This fellow was Heart Domain’s Esteemed Emperor. Would he be willing to join a sect of the Heavenly Dao?

Leaving the Moonset Secret Realm, there were a lot of sects recruiting disciples outside.

This was a big benefit of bravely traversing Moonset Secret Realm. This secret realm only had one exit. As long as one could walk out of there, it meant that one had traveled across the entire secret realm and that one had a certain amount of strength and fate.

In order to recruit outstanding disciples, a few small sects would one after another, station disciples there all year round, hoping to be able to gain an exceptional talent.

Before exiting, Shen QingXian asked Su Yu, “What are your plans for the future?”

Su Yu replied, “I want to continue cultivating!”

Shen QingXian said, “Take a trip back to WanXiu Mountain, the Esteemed Lord will personally arrange things for you.

Su Yu shook his head, “Since His Excellency Esteemed Lord allowed me to descend the mountains, then he wishes for me to learn through experience by myself. If I don’t have some kind of achievements, I would be embarrassed to go back and meet his old self.”

Shen QingXian then said, “Then you can go see Zeng ZiLiang.”

Su Yu immediately said, “It’s not appropriate. His Excellency Zeng* will definitely give me the best cultivation environment and resources but this is no good…….”

*I’ve been tling 大人 as His Excellency. Here it is 曾大人 which sounds weird in English but I got nothing else.

During these few days in Moonset Secret Realm, Su Yu conscientiously felt the gap between him and other people.

It was not aptitude nor resources but experience.

The road of cultivation was slow. One couldn’t merely rely on a burst of hot bloodedness to touch upon the Great Dao.

Shen QingXian gave a slight nod to express his agreement.

Su Yu asked him again, “Chao Yan, do you plan to return to your clan with older brother Qing Shen?”

Right…….the background story Gu JianShen added for the two of them was that they were both part of the Willow Clan and that he (GJS) had come to pick up the Holy Son to return.

Not waiting for Gu JianShen to open his mouth, Shen QingXian said a step ahead, “I’m not going back.”

Su Yu blinked. “Why?”

In a deadly earnest manner, Shen QingXian spouted some nonsense, “After returning to the clan, I will only be treated as the Holy Son. The elders will, for certain, give me the best of things. Just like you said, the road of cultivation is not so easy. Living in a comfortable environment, even if one’s cultivation is high, someday in the future it will be hard to obtain great achievements.”

Su Yu glanced at Gu JianShen and worriedly said, “But…….”

Shen QingXian also looked at Gu JianShen. He raised his head and stretched taut his small face yet the aqua eyes contained a faint sense of beseechment, “Qing Shen, let’s not go back, okay?”

Let’s not mention Gu JianShen, even Su Yu’s heart violently trembled a bit: My god, so…….so cute!

It was obvious that Gu JianShen stared blankly for a moment. Following, it seemed as if ripples dispersed in his eyes. With a gentle and deferential bearing, he bent over and gave a salute as he said, “Sincerely abiding with the Holy one’s wishes*.”

*general gist is, ‘as you wish’ but on a whole higher different level.

Shen QingXian went ‘he he’ in his heart but his face showed trust. “Thank you, older brother Qing Shen.”

When this form of address was heard a thread of dark red quickly flashed in Gu JianShen’s blue eyes.

However, he was currently lowering his head so it was not discovered by anyone.

Shen QingXian was thunderstruck by his own self* that he was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. He didn’t want to speak anymore.

*meaning, just before SQX said older brother Qing Shen and that sort of goes against his character design. Another way to interpret it is, getting goosebumps and the cause is yourself.

Su Yu was the happiest. Yay*, they can still be together!

*raw didn’t say ‘yay’ it said ‘so good’, the meaning is the same and ‘yay’ flows better

Once they exited Moonset Secret Realm, a cultivator that looked sage-like but actually had yet to build his foundation, walked forward. “Heavenly Martial Peak is accepting disciples, don’t know if you three cultivators* have an interest in taking a look?”

*raw is 三位 so the word ‘cultivator’ is not present but this is sort of formal speech so i added this word to make is sound more polite than just ‘you three’

Heavenly Martial Peak – 天武峰. 天 – sky, heaven, day, God. 武 – military, valiant, fierce. 峰 – peak.

Su Yu just had his curiosity piqued when a lithe and graceful female arrived and said, “Little fellow cultivator’s aptitude is extraordinary. Only our Hell’s Garden is your most optimum choice.”

Hell’s Garden – 森罗苑. 森罗 – 森罗殿 means Yama’s palace (the place where Yama resides) so I tled it as “Hell’s” since “Yama’s Garden” does not sound as cool. 苑 – garden, park.

That sage-like cultivator immediately looked displeased, “Little fellow cultivator, you must not be misled by this nefarious person. That Hell’s Garden is Heart Domain’s demon cultivation!”

The female also didn’t shirk responsibility*. “What my Heart Domain’s cultivation demands is a clear conscience. How could you fake Daoists understand!”

*gist is that the female didn’t give an f when the sage-like cultivator exposed her as a demonic cultivator

The cultivator also was someone who exploded with one touch. “Clear conscience? Killing people like flies, wantonly indulging in debauchery, and unbearably preposterous. You even dare call this having a clear conscience?”

In a just and confident tone, the female said, “Killing people that ought to be killed, following one’s heart, what guilt should there be?”

Nevermind recruiting disciples, these two had already raised the roof.

Su Yu’s head was full of black lines* as he roasted, “So childish.”

*you know in anime, those black lines that appear on a character’s head when something awkward happens or they eat something disgusting.

Shen QingXian and Gu JianShen simultaneously experienced what a critical hit was.

Cough cough…….actually not really. The disciples quarreling was the disciples’ matter. The two of them were very much amiable, they had even slept together for two nights.

As for the first night which could be called the young founder’s amalgamation of ice and fire*, the two DaLao had both decided to forget.

*This is pulled directly from BaiDu: 冰火两重天 – refers to during a short period of time one/something receives/is placed under two contrasting situations. The english tl that BaiDu gave me was ‘amalgamation of ice and fire’.

Su Yu was someone with his own thoughts. The ones that shouted as hard as they could were usually small schools and sects that were unable to recruit people. All the standard and organized sects would be waiting for people to come over.

For example, the Meridian Monastery in front of them: a dignified atmosphere, solemn and reserved, and the most important thing was that the line to register was very long, the end couldn’t even be seen.

Su Yu’s eyes lit up, “Let’s look over there!”

Shen QingXian’s brows jumped a bit.

If he didn’t remember incorrectly, Meridian Monastery was the sect Ye Zhan was in charge of.

He still had some impression of this grand-disciple (disciple’s disciple).

Mainly because Ye Zhan is a bona fide huge fan of the Esteemed Lord. Everytime he (YZ) sees Shen QingXian, he (YZ) would become abnormally excited. Now that he (YZ) has gotten older it’s a bit better. He (SQX) remembered that when he (YZ) was first appointed as the sect leader, he (SQX) had met him (YZ). After this brat (YZ) went back, he (YZ) had hid in his own room and hadn’t come out for seven days and nights.

Ye Zhan’s master, Chi YangZi, became worried, so he (CYZ) kicked open his (YZ) room. What he (CYZ) saw was this brat crying to the point that his (YZ) eyes had become swollen.

赤阳子 – Chi YangZi. 赤 – red, scarlet, naked, loyal, single-hearted, a surname. 阳 – sun, positive, male (as in yin yang where yin refers to female and yang refers to male). 子 – son, seed.

Chi YangZi asked, “What are you doing?”

Ye Zhan choked with emotion as he said, “Meeting the Esteemed Lord, I’m moved to tears!”

Even his (YZ’s) master wanted to expel this idiot from the sect.

Chi YangZi treated this matter as a joke when he told this to his own master which was Shen QingXian and so Shen QingXian had remembered this child.

In any case, having cried for seven days and nights, forgetting it just like that was not too good.

According to Shen QingXian’s plan, he only wanted to enter a sect with no grand-disciples, great-grand-disciples, and great-great-grand-disciples. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about being recognized, simplifying matters a lot.

Seeing those two childish brats quarreling, Shen QingXian thought, Let’s not wrong myself. In any case, Meridian Monastery still looks a bit more like a sect*.

*Meaning is that unlike the other sects that are hollering, Meridian Monastery is acting prim and proper, a model that other sects should follow.

Although the line was long, because it was only registering one’s name, the progress was very fast. Before long, it was their turn.

Su Yu was in front and he was very nervous. He stood as straight as a pencil, his eyes glistening.

The cultivator that was seated asked him a few questions and after making some calculations, said, “Tomorrow, please come to the bottom of Meridian Mountain to wait for the examination.”

子午山 – Meridian Mountain. 子午 – the same Meridian in Meridian Monastery. 山 – mountain.

Su Yu hurriedly replied in agreement.

For Shen QingXian and Gu JianShen it was the same, it’s just that that person glanced at Gu JianShen a few more times.

It wasn’t that Gu JianShen was exposed but because his (GJS) appearance was too conspicuous. It’s not only that cultivator, when they were lining up, there were a lot of people peeking at him nonstop.

Nevermind females looking at him, there were even a lot of males unable to take their eyes off of him…….

As they were leaving, Shen Qingxian said in a low voice next to him (GJS), “His Majesty is exceptionally beautiful and makes one feel protective of you.”

The implicit and explicit meaning of his words described him (GJS) as if he (GJS) was a girl. This counted as a prerogative of the Esteemed Lord LianHua.

Gu JianShen countered, “Eating vinegar*?”

*eat/drink vinegar – be jealous. There are other variations that also mean to be jealous such as ‘are you sour’ and ‘under the lemon tree is me’. Although, for lemons, it’s envious more so than jealous.

Shen QingXian: “……”

Gu JianShen slowly and softly said, “Don’t worry, JianShen’s eyes only have ShiShu.”

Shen QingXian fell limp and numb all over. Of course it was because he had been struck by lightning*!

*again, SQX was not really struck by lightning, think of goosebumps

That night, they rested at the bottom of Meridian Mountain.

Although the exam was tomorrow, it wasn’t really something to be anxious about. This kind of entering the sect exam, it’s nothing other than looking at one’s aptitude.

With Su Yu’s aptitude, there definitely won’t be any problems.

Why would Shen QingXian and Gu JianShen worry over this kind matter? These two were still whispering amongst themselves*.

*说悄悄话 – means whispers but another meaning is saying sweet nothings, it’s the former here but just letting you guys know (>ω・)

Gu JianShen asked Shen QingXian, “Esteemed Lord is not afraid that I will destroy Meridian Monastery?”

Meridian Monastery was one of Heavenly Dao’s Six Great Sects. It could be said to be an important place very close to the leader*. Gu JianShen, this Heart Domain’s Esteemed Emperor, infiltrating this kind of place could be deemed as extremely threatening.

*I’m assuming and describing here. 肱骨之地 is close to the phrase 肱骨之臣. 肱骨之臣 means an important official that assists the emperor and that official is very close to the emperor so 肱骨之地 might mean an important place that is close to the leader (aka SQX). what i’m getting is that b/c Meridian Monastery is one of the Six Great Sects and has ties to SQX, if GJS goes to Meridian Monastery, there is a chance GJS can pry out some sort of secrets and/or weaknesses that would be disadvantageous to SQX

Shen QingXian glanced at him, “Can you even destroy it?” What he (SQX) meant was, you’re going to pretend I’m not here?

Gu JianShen just liked this appearance of his (SQX) and couldn’t help but tease him (SQX), “Whatever place ShiShu is in, I naturally cannot bear to destroy.”

Shen QingXina: He he*……

”

”

*sfx for dry laugh

Endure, everything was for the sake of moving bricks.

The night quickly passed. The next day, they arrived at the bottom of Meridian Mountain in an orderly fashion.

The exam was really not that difficult. First, climb the mountain using the stairway path. Afterward, bear the spiritual pressure. Then, look at the spiritual field*.

*by spiritual field, it would be something similar to the DanTian, don’t get it confused with the spiritual field used to grow spiritual plants. From here spiritual field would refer to something similar to DanTian. As for the spiritual field for plants, if this appears in the future, maybe I’ll add the word ‘plant’ before the word ‘field’ to differentiate.

Climbing the mountain stairway path was the same as going on a spring excursion. The three talked and laughed along the way and that was it. Although, two third of their peers collapsed.

Bearing the spiritual pressure was similar to being tickled. They had not even felt anything before it was over. Although this time even Su Yu’s face became pale and he was dripping with sweat, as for the others, their legs had softened and they were close to kneeling.

Last was looking at the spiritual field.

In fact, this exam set’s true purpose was only at the last part.

Spiritual field was innate aptitude. The bigger the scope, the more spiritual qi could be stored so cultivation yielded twice the result with half the effort.

How to determine the size of one’s spiritual field? The easiest way was ‘Expend’.

Climbing the mountain stair path was okay, bearing spiritual pressure was fine. In fact, both were ‘Expending’. If after these two parts, there were still some excess, then that meant one’s aptitude was not bad and could enter the sect.

But after entering the sect, there was still the division of inner sect, outer sect, and registered disciples.

This distinction would be determined at the last hurdle.

In order to motivate everyone, the cultivators had even listed out the material benefits of each status that one could enjoy.

For example, inner sect disciples had their own cave dwellings*, had a lot of resources, and could even receive the personal teachings of the elder(s). Their future outlook could be called immeasurable. Of course, the quota was very few and it was difficult for there to be one in tens of years**.

*imagine a living space but in a cave, BAM, there’s your cave dwelling. I have a pic attached but it only shows a small bit and not a whole cave dwelling. The pic is from the c drama Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, for those who watched the drama, recall the cave Bai Qian lived in.

**clarification: few people have the aptitude to be able to become an inner sect disciple so the event of one becoming an inner sect disciple won’t happen for tens of years after one person has become an inner sect disciple. For example, one person became an inner sect disciple and it could be 50 or 80 or even 1100 years later before another person becomes an inner sect disciple.

In comparison, outer sect disciples were a little bit worse off but there were still standard disciples of Meridian Monastery. If they put in great effort, in the future they still had prospects. As for registered disciples, they were no different from servants*.

*if anyone read my “essay” underneath c1, you’ll notice I said that 外门弟子 are considered servants and blah blah blah, throw it to the back of ur brain and go with what the author has here

Shen QingXian didn’t pay attention to these. What he saw was only the points concerning lodging.

Inner sect disciples——reside alone.

Outer sect disciples——two-person small house.

Registered disciples*——sleep together on a wide bed**.

”

”

*remember back in c1 this phrase was mentioned. This is a copy and paste: 记名弟子 – registered disciples, basically they have been accepted by a master but that’s only in name, they haven’t been formally accepted but their name has been registered in.

**imagine japanese people and their futon beds. The futons beds are placed next to one another. Now instead of sleeping on the floor, it’s on a raised rectangular pile of wood/bricks. I have an image linked above.

Su Yu looked at it a bit more attentively. He said, “I reckon the spiritual energy I have left over can only allow me to enter the outer sect…….”

Saying this, he looked at Shen QingXian, “Chao Yan, if we enter the outer sect, then it just happens that we can live together!”

Shen QingXian: “ ! “

No…….young man, you must enter the inner sect*.

*SQX means SY needs to become an inner sect disciple.