Chapter 293 - 259: [Revised] Discussing the Dao beneath the Moon
Jiang Yuebai didn’t do anything to Xie Jingshan during this time. Regardless of what happened, it was because of Xie Jingshan that she and the others from the Heavenly Interference Sect were sheltered and looked after by the Xie Mansion, keeping the chaos outside from affecting them.
Moreover, Xie Jingshan wasn’t entirely wrong; she dared to invite lightning at the age of ten, truly ruthless enough not to spare even herself.
However, upon seeing her appear, Xie Jingshan was startled enough to panic and fell into the pond.
Jiang Yuebai shook her head with a smile and nodded to Zhuo Qingfeng as a gesture of greeting. Without waiting for him to say anything, she passed by him with the wind.
The Heavenly Interference Sect disciples living in the various parts of the courtyard, as well as a few recently moved members from the Guiyuan Sword Sect, came running out upon hearing the commotion outside. Jiang Yuebai saw that Yun Shang, Ge Yuchan, and the others were all well.
Those familiar with her simply exchanged smiles, while those not usually close surrounded her with concern and chatter.
"Senior Sister Jiang, it’s really great to see you’re okay. These past days I’ve been so worried about you I could hardly eat or sleep."
"Eat and sleep? Wipe those crumbs off your mouth! Junior Sister Jiang, on behalf of us old disciples, thank you. If it weren’t for your timely action—not poison, I mean intervention—we would have been trapped inside."
"Yes, yes, Junior Sister Jiang was so quick to respond. As soon as she noticed a problem, she acted immediately. Truly worthy of being the leading disciple of the young generation of the Heavenly Interference Sect."
"Though there was a mishap at the last moment, our sect alliance managed to turn the tide. It can be said our sect alliance won, thanks to Junior Sister Jiang."
Everyone chimed in with praise, gratitude, and compliments.
Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but ask, "Don’t you feel that using poison isn’t a righteous method, and rather despicable?"
Righteous Dao cultivators usually despise such insidious methods, especially noble families like the Kong Family that cultivate the Way of the Gentleman.
To exaggerate, anyone daring to use poison as she did would surely be seen as an evil cultivator. That’s why she refrained from using poison directly.
After asking, she noticed some senior brothers twitching and senior sisters awkwardly pulling at their lips.
"No, when urgent, we adapt. We understand."
"Yes, yes, Junior Sister Jiang’s character is noble. Who dares speak ill of her?"
Jiang Yuebai felt something was off. Maybe everyone was biased toward her because they were fellow disciples.
But why were those people from the Guiyuan Sword Sect in the distance also giving awkward smiles? Their eyes seemed to carry inexplicable awe.
Did her master do something? Is that why everyone feared her?
Thanking everyone for their concern, Jiang Yuebai squeezed out of the crowd and pulled Yun Shang and Ge Yuchan to Yun Shang’s room. Inside, she saw Yuu Qiuqi meditating cross-legged and left with an apology, then went to Ge Yuchan’s room.
They chatted for half a day, roughly recounting recent events.
Regarding Lu Nanzhi, neither Yun Shang nor Ge Yuchan inquired or even mentioned her name.
The rumors outside were growing rampant, and everyone basically believed the widely spread story that Lu Nanzhi was responsible for slaughtering many disciples of the Fang Family, backed by the Ghost Clan and Three Elements Sect.
Since the Ghost Clan originally derived from the Demon Clan, they’re considered the Demon Clan’s minions.
The result of the Three Alliances’ discussion is still unknown, but lately, things in Kongfang City have been relatively calm. Moreover, Ding Lanzhi mentioned that the lock down would be lifted in a few days. Jiang Yuebai speculated that the Fang Family and the Lu Family wouldn’t clash for the time being.
As night fell, Jiang Yuebai bid farewell to Yun Shang and Ge Yuchan, preparing to return and continue her seclusion.
Upon exiting, Jiang Yuebai felt an itch all over, as if everyone was secretly watching her.
Passing by the small garden, Jiang Yuebai saw True Monarch Fuyi’s senior disciple, the money-loving but life-valuing Golden Core Master Li Shen Zhi, as if intentionally waiting for her. It’s said he was also trapped in the upper secret realm this time and barely escaped.
Li Shen Zhi awkwardly chuckled at Jiang Yuebai, "I’m embarrassed, Nephew Disciple. I have some questions to ask if it’s convenient for you now?"
Jiang Yuebai curiously said, "You are my Master Uncle. Even if asking questions, it should be me who asks you."
Li Shen Zhi said, "A high cultivation level doesn’t mean high knowledge. I have a single spiritual root aptitude. Cultivating before the Golden Core Stage wasn’t challenging, but once I entered the Golden Core Stage and started studying the Five Elements Law in preparation for Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation, everything became obscure and challenging."
Due to limitations of lifespan and aptitude, very few with Five Spirit Roots can smoothly reach the Golden Core Stage. But after the Golden Core Stage, cultivation becomes relatively easier; with persistence, it’s slightly easier to breakthrough to Divinity Transformation than with a single spiritual root.
Conversely, those with a single spiritual root find it easy before the Golden Core Stage, but from the Golden Core to Peak Nascent Soul, they must comprehend and complete the Five Elements, which becomes extremely difficult due to spiritual root limitations.
Only when the Five Elements are complete can one prove the Yin Yang Gods.
Even with such circumstances, whether in sects or noble families, they still prefer to nurture disciples with good spiritual root aptitude. Even if they can’t reach Divinity Transformation, there’s a better chance to reach the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms, becoming the mainstay of the sects and noble families.
Furthermore, with the long lifespan of Golden Core and Nascent Soul, there is more time to seek ways to break through. Hence, in terms of numbers, there are still more Divinity Transformation cultivators with good spiritual root aptitude than those with Five Spirit Roots.
Due to the high cost in resources and time, Five Spirit Roots are gradually abandoned by most people as the limitations of lifespan make it easy to fall halfway, rendering the effort futile.
If it weren’t for a serendipitous encounter and her own efforts, Jiang Yuebai would never have been able to reach her current realm at the age of twenty-five.
If all goes well, she is expected to reach the Golden Core Stage before the age of forty, about the same time as someone with a Single Spiritual Root.
"Master, are you intending to ask me questions related to the Five Elements?"
Li Shen Zhi nodded, looked around, then leaned closer and said, "To be honest, during my recent confinement, I had an unexpected gain—I saw a fragment of the Law on the boundary of the Secret Realm. This gave me some insights into the concept that Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things."
"However, it also raised a lot of questions. I know that you and True Monarch Jiuchuan cultivate the path of our ancestral technique, and your understanding of the Five Elements Path must far exceed that of ordinary people. Consulting with you cannot go wrong."
Jiang Yuebai did not expect that being trapped inside could turn misfortune into a blessing, which is a creation of destiny.
Her comprehension of those Law fragments is also quite limited, and what Li Shen Zhi just mentioned coincides with her current idea of transforming Golden Water Spiritual Objects from the existing Wood, Fire, Earth Spiritual Objects using the Mutual Generation Method.
On the Xuanming Battlefield, there was even a moment where she felt she was about to succeed in rotation, but now she can’t recall that feeling, nor does she know what she’s missing.
Discussing with someone of higher cultivation might also provide her with helpful inspiration.
"Let’s find a quieter place."
"Oh, great!" Li Shen Zhi was overjoyed.
At this moment, an exceptionally tall figure walked out from around the corner, carrying the Hundred Treasures Box on her back. It was Yuu Qiuqi, Yun Shang’s aunt.
"I want to consult as well."
Li Shen Zhi asked in surprise, "You also saw the Law fragment?"
"Yes." Yuu Qiuqi nodded.
"Me too." Fang Yuxing also emerged from the room.
Li Shen Zhi couldn’t help but shout, "Weren’t you not trapped inside?"
Fang Yuxing held up his sword, "I’ve been forcefully suppressing my cultivation at the Peak Foundation Establishment for a long time, and I’m about to form a core. There are always benefits to listening to you discuss the Dao."
"I want to hear it too."
"Count us in, we have nowhere to go every day, it’s so boring."
"A discussion on Dao cannot happen without me."
Senior brothers and sisters of the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment all walked out from their rooms, looking intensely at Jiang Yuebai. They all knew about her tactical collection and were eager to find an excuse to consult her.
Li Shen Zhi twitched at the mouth, watching helplessly as a private consultation turned into a group discussion, disappointed that he couldn’t quietly learn alone.
Jiang Yuebai also felt a headache, but hearing that several people trapped inside said they saw the Law fragments, she had no choice but to agree reluctantly in order to hear everyone’s different insights.
"Let’s do it in this little garden; you guys go get your mats."
Everyone hurried back to their rooms to get their mats. Jiang Yuebai took out an old mat from her bracelet and chose a spot under the garden’s rock formation to sit down.
The bright moon shone clear, and the scent of osmanthus filled the air.
Everyone gathered more friends and brought their mats, coming over, sitting in front of Jiang Yuebai in neat rows, straightening their backs and stretching out their heads, eyes gleaming.
Li Shen Zhi, Yuu Qiuqi, and Fang Yuxing claimed the front row seats.
Ge Yuchan, Hee Wangchen, and a few others in the Early and Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment also joined the bustle, except Yun Shang, who didn’t like crowds and didn’t come out.
Jiang Yuebai blinked in confusion, wasn’t this supposed to be a joint discussion?
Why does it feel like she’s the main speaker? Is everyone overestimating her?
Jiang Yuebai felt a bit apprehensive; her knowledge wasn’t enough to instruct so many people, as she had always been the one asking others questions.
At this moment, she suddenly had a bit of understanding of why her master often felt headaches and wanted to run away.
Seeing everyone’s expectant eyes, Jiang Yuebai took out the jade scroll in which she had previously recorded her insights into the Law fragments and held it in her hand, asking Li Shen Zhi.
"Master Li, could you first elaborate on your questions?"
Li Shen Zhi cleared his throat, pondered for a moment, then slowly began speaking without revealing his own vulnerabilities.
"I have a friend..."
