"There are roughly several kinds of cultivation methods in this world: Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, the Four Seasons, and the Five Elements. The Daoist temples around Mount Yi all practice Yin-Yang methods, while the temples below the mountain mostly practice Heaven-and-Earth methods. These two are the most common."
Wang Ji Zi spoke in a clear, ringing voice:
"Although we practice Yin Yang Spiritual Law, I still need to tell you about the other kinds. They are all Spiritual Resonances of this world, and the connections between them go far beyond simply drawing parallels. In many ways, they are interconnected.
"Daoist temples below the mountain mostly absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, also called mixed qi of heaven and earth or the Spiritual Resonance of mountains and waters. It is the simplest method of cultivation, moderate and balanced. Once cultivated, all kinds of magic come easily to hand.
"Spirits and Monsters mostly absorb Sun Moon Essence, also called Yin Yang Spiritual Charm. Some people practice Yin Yang Spiritual Law, too. It is more difficult to cultivate, because maintaining balance between yin and yang is hard. But Yin Yang Spiritual Charm itself is more mysterious, so once one cultivates it to a profound level, one naturally gains longevity. And after practicing it, one can cast all kinds of magic without hindrance.
"Five Elements Spiritual Qi is hidden within everything under heaven and earth. It is even more obscure and elusive. Among ordinary people, the wise may manage to comprehend one element, but those who can comprehend all five and harmonize with them are exceedingly rare. That is why Daoist temples practicing Five Elements Spiritual Law are uncommon. Instead, some recluses who build huts to cultivate practice it. After learning it, they often naturally understand the simplest Five Elements Magic. They also find it easier to learn and cast other Five Elements magic, and become far more skilled at it than Daoists who practice the other kinds of Spiritual Law.
"Many of the techniques used in Spell Combat are rooted in the Five Elements, so those who practice Five Elements Spiritual Law are mostly skilled at Spell Combat.
"Lastly, the Four Seasons Spiritual Law is the most elusive and abstruse. Cultivators must comprehend the differences between the four seasons and draw in the Spiritual Resonance of each season. The demands it places on a cultivator's talent are extremely exacting. Apart from seeing it mentioned in Ancient Books, I have never heard of anyone practicing it, and I do not know its mysteries."
Now and then, a young Daoist would ask a question, and the old Daoist would patiently answer.
Perhaps it was his age, but he seemed even-tempered enough, not as unapproachable as he had seemed at first.
From time to time, the young Daoists whispered among themselves or turned to look at Lin Jue and Junior Sister sitting behind them. They would steal a glance, then look away, each with a different expression.
"The first line of the Yin Yang Scripture says, 'Heaven has Five Qi, and earth bears yin and yang.' Let us begin with the first line.
"'Heaven has Five Qi, and all things take form.'
"Yet why speak only of heaven? Humans also have Five Qi.
"Human Five Qi are likewise divided into metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They differ not only in strength, but also in purity and turbidity.
"An Ancient Book says: 'When wood is pure, it is benevolence; when fire is pure, it is courtesy; when metal is pure, it is righteousness; when water is pure, it is wisdom; when earth is pure, it is thoughtfulness. When all Five Qi are pure, the virtues of a sage are complete. When wood is turbid, it is weakness; when fire is turbid, it is lewdness; when metal is turbid, it is violence; when water is turbid, it is greed; when earth is turbid, it is stubbornness. When all Five Qi are turbid, one is among the lowest of the people.'"
Junior Sister naturally could not understand it. It just felt like listening to her Senior Brother recite the Yin Yang Scripture in Mountain Moving Hall at their Daoist temple every morning. She needed him to explain it to her, so she instinctively stole a glance at him.
Lin Jue, meanwhile, was deep in thought.
He could not help remembering the Ancestral Hall in Heng Village. When he had first encountered that spirit, it had also spoken of his Five Qi, seeming to judge his character from them. Could this be the principle behind it?
At the same time, he noticed Junior Sister looking at him.
But they were in someone else's territory, so he could not explain it to her right away.
Fortunately, once Wang Ji Zi had finished reciting, he explained:
"It means that heaven has five kinds of Vital Energy: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. All things change and come into being through them.
"Humans also have these five kinds of Vital Energy.
"The five kinds of Vital Energy in a person are profoundly mysterious. No matter how high your cultivation or cultivation base, as long as you are human, you cannot see them. Only a few Spirits and Monsters and some Ghosts and Monsters can.
"If your wood qi is pure, it means you are kind and benevolent. Pure Fire Qi means you are gentle and courteous. Pure metal qi means you are righteous and strong. Pure water qi means you are clever and wise. Pure earth qi means you are honest and simple. If all Five Qi are pure, you possess the virtues of a sage.
"If your wood qi is turbid, you become weak. If your Fire Qi is turbid, you become lewd and impulsive. If your metal qi is turbid, you become violent and combative. If your water qi is turbid, you become insatiably greedy. If your earth qi is turbid, you become stubborn. If all Five Qi are turbid, your character is poor.
"So, you little brats, remember this well. Cultivation is not just about refining the body or absorbing the Spiritual Resonance of heaven and earth. You must also nurture your character, or sooner or later you will fall into demonic ways.
"Even if you do not, once you venture out and encounter Spirits and Monsters or Deities—or even if you never leave Mount Yi, and the Mountain God of Mount Yi sees you—he will know exactly what sort of people you are.
"..."
The young Daoists below were still trying to make sense of it when they were suddenly startled.
Could one's character really be seen?
Did Deities truly know whether people were good or evil?
Wasn't that far too mysterious?
Some of them did not understand why, but accepted it easily enough and simply committed it to memory. Others furrowed their brows, unable to understand, and unable to stop thinking and wondering.
It was hard to say which kind would achieve more in cultivation one day. Then someone asked:
"Is that true?"
"Abbot, I don't understand either. Five Elements and Five Qi come from heaven and earth, and I can accept that humans have them too. But why are they connected to a person's thoughts? Why should they affect a person's character?"
"That's right! Master, why does pure or turbid water qi mean wisdom or greed and stupidity? Why does pure or turbid metal qi mean righteousness and strength, or violence and belligerence?"
Wang Ji Zi smiled without answering, merely sweeping his gaze over everyone.
Almost all the disciples were perplexed.
Some of them were already thoroughly puzzled.
Wang Ji Zi studied their expressions. He was not testing them for right or wrong; he was simply looking for some insight. But no one met his gaze with clear eyes.
His gaze finally came to rest at the back of the hall.
There sat the only two visiting Daoists who were not wearing Daoist robes. One was scratching his head in deep thought, while the other furrowed her brows as if considering something.
"What were your names again?"
"Reporting to the Abbot, Lin Jue."
"Reporting to the Abbot, Liu Qingyao..."
Both were a little surprised, then answered.
"Your Floating Hill Temple has always been famous for choosing its disciples well, so I'll test you on behalf of your master." Wang Ji Zi looked at them. "What do you think?"
"This disciple does not know..." Junior Sister answered honestly, lowering her head.
"And you?" Wang Ji Zi looked at him and could not help smiling. "Heh, that old Daoist Yunhe really does know how to choose disciples."
"Reporting to the Abbot, this junior does not know the reason behind it. But hearing your words did give me a few thoughts."
"Let's hear them."
"They're just scattered thoughts."
"You're all beginners. What is there to be embarrassed about? The Five Elements are mysterious to begin with. Any insight counts as insight. Besides, even a sage might not be able to tell whether some ideas are right or wrong."
The young Daoists all turned around to look at Lin Jue.
"..."
Lin Jue gathered his thoughts, then spoke:
"You said just now that the Five Qi are born from heaven, and that there is Spiritual Resonance of yin and yang in this world. That made me wonder: there is Five Elements Spiritual Resonance, the Spiritual Resonance of mountains and waters, and the Spiritual Resonance of the Four Seasons. So why say heaven gives birth to only 'Five Qi'? Perhaps people simply selected five kinds of qi and named them after the Five Elements, while giving the others different names."
"Hmm?"
Wang Ji Zi could not help smiling.
"Go on."
"A few days ago, I heard my master talk about the relationship between people, cultivation, and heaven and earth. Since heaven and earth have qi and Spiritual Resonance, and people are part of heaven and earth, might people have them too?
"People comprehend the Great Dao through the changes of heaven and earth, and cultivate themselves by absorbing the Spiritual Resonance of heaven and earth. So it is hardly surprising that changes in people would be reflected in the world around them. The so-called metal, wood, water, fire, and earth Five Qi, I would guess, are like the many Spiritual Resonances of heaven and earth and the Five Qi of the Five Elements: they are simply five kinds of qi in people, named after the Five Elements. These five kinds of qi happen to be some of the changes in the human body reflected in the world. Just as the changes in heaven and earth can be perceived by those with cultivation, cultivation experience, or knowledge, perhaps people have more than these five kinds of qi.
"I do not know what the Five Elements and Five Qi of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth really are, or whether I am right or wrong. But I once heard a renowned doctor near my hometown say that grief is not actually in the heart, and kidney deficiency is not actually in the kidneys. Those are simply names we use for them, to make them easier to understand. So it is enough to know what they do. There is no need to delve too deeply."
Lin Jue paused. Seeing no one speak, he added:
"You spoke of the Five Qi before explaining yin and yang, and spoke of human Five Qi before explaining the Five Qi of heaven and earth. I imagine you weren't trying to teach us exactly what human Five Qi are. You simply wanted to remind us to cultivate our minds and character before beginning cultivation.
"It is like the stories in books from below the mountain. Some do not need to be judged true or false or understood completely. If they help people, give them something to learn from, and encourage them to do good, then they are already good books."
Wang Ji Zi's eyes had brightened halfway through Lin Jue's words. Now he finally looked away, and when he looked at Lin Jue again, he could not help feeling both jealous and regretful.
After thinking for a moment, he did not say whether Lin Jue was right or wrong. He simply said:
"Yunhe has a good eye."
The other young Daoists understood at once that their Abbot had at least approved of what Lin Jue said. Though they still kept turning to look at the two of them and whispering, their expressions now held a little more respect.
Wang Ji Zi continued teaching everyone.
This time he truly taught them about the Five Qi of heaven and earth, and truly taught them about yin and yang.
He taught for nearly the whole day.
Lin Jue and Junior Sister had brought dried provisions, but Immortal Source Temple had provided them with lunch, so they had saved their food.
Needless to say, though the meal here was ordinary, it was still much better than what they got at Floating Hill Temple.
By the time the two left the Daoist temple, the sun was already slanting low in the west. They hurried down the stone steps. In the distance, ancient pines leaned out over sheer cliffs, their shadows stretched long by the setting sun; the shadows of the two of them were cast down into the gorge as well.
"Ah!"
A crow flew over and led the way for them again.
"Senior Brother, why do the young Daoists at Immortal Source Temple keep looking at us?"
"You should call them Daoist friends."
"Daoist friends!"
"They belong to Immortal Source Temple, and we belong to Floating Hill Temple. We didn't know each other before, and this is our first meeting. It's normal for them to be curious about us, to compare themselves with us, or even to feel some aversion."
"Oh..."
Junior Sister answered obediently, then added, "Dao Master Wang Ji Zi seems quite nice. At first I thought he was fierce, but he even gave us lunch."
"I think so too."
"Senior Brother, look! The flowers on this tree look like tiny hanging bells. They're so small, not even as big as my thumb. They're so cute."
"They're called bellflowers."
"Bellflowers... Senior Brother, did you understand what he taught?"
"I understood some of it."
"I didn't understand any of it."
"Don't worry. It may be too elusive and abstruse. Practice is the best teacher. Just remember it, and you'll understand in time. I've only learned a little more because I started studying the Qi Nourishing Method before you."
"When can we start cultivating and learn magic like Master's?"
"No need to rush. It should be soon."
Lin Jue was not usually the sort to be so laid-back and unhurried. But since arriving at Floating Hill Temple, he had clearly seen from the old Daoist and the senior brothers' attitudes that they did not want to keep the two of them from learning. Rather, they had a more complete plan for passing on their teachings, and that plan was surely more sensible than anything an outsider like him could come up with.
"Senior Brother, you can already use magic!"
"It's just a little evasion technique."
"It's amazing! If you went to a temple fair in the city, people would take you for an immortal!"
"How can that be called being an immortal?"
"Then what is an immortal?"
"Of course, an immortal is carefree and at ease, and never grows old."
"..."
Junior Sister fell into thought, then finally said:
"That still makes you an immortal!"
Before Lin Jue could answer, she looked up at the sky. Seeing that it was already late, she reached into her shoulder bag, took out two small bottles, and handed one to Lin Jue.
The bottles were only as big as her thumb and looked very cute. The first time Lin Jue had seen one, he had wondered where Second Senior Brother had gotten such a tiny bottle, as if it had been made just to hold one pill. Later, he learned that Fifth Senior Brother, who was skilled in medicine, had made it. Nearly all the bowls, plates, and porcelain ware at their temple were his work.
"This morning, when we left, Second Senior Brother gave each of us a Divine Speed Pill. He said that if the lecture ran late, we should take one so we could get back for dinner earlier and wouldn't have to walk in the dark."
As she spoke, she lowered her head and tapped the little Porcelain Vase against her other palm, trying to get the pill out. Her fair palm quickly turned red from the tapping.
"I wonder what it feels like!"
Her eyes were full of curiosity and excitement, but she seemed a little nervous too.
Once it fell out, she stared right at Lin Jue. Only after she saw him swallow his pill did she put hers into her mouth.
"Gulp..."
The pill reached his stomach and immediately turned into Spiritual Resonance.
Lin Jue felt something strange again.
He savored the sensation. The Spiritual Resonance became a warm current that flowed down from his throat into his chest and abdomen, then slowly spread throughout his body. His feet were farthest away, and the warmth reached them last.
He took a light step forward—
His feet felt warm and numb, and he had no idea where all that strength had come from or how his body had become so light. With the slightest effort, he sprang into the air, nearly flying. A single step carried him half a zhang, and he almost crashed into the ancient pine ahead. If he had pushed a little harder, he might have brushed past it and plunged over the cliff.
Then he heard a cry behind him.
"Ah..."
A figure flew past him.
Lin Jue silently reached out and caught her.
The little girl was pulled back down. Though shaken, she did not scream. Instead, she immediately told him solemnly, "Senior Brother, I haven't told you yet. Second Senior Brother said we should walk slowly to get used to it after taking the pill."
"..."
A short while later—
The setting sun slanted across the strange peaks and ancient pines. The crow led the way ahead as the two of them darted through the mountains, light as swallows, their feet flying. At times, they even passed between the pines. A single step on a pine branch was enough to carry them across difficult stretches of mountain path. Their hearts raced with every breathtaking leap, yet the mountain wind blew over the treetops, scattering pine needles and blossoms in their wake, and they felt utterly free and at ease, in a way too wonderful for words.
If freedom had a shape, perhaps this was it.
If there was such a thing as an immortal, then to the people below the mountain, they must have looked like immortals.
Before you continue