Bi Xingjian laid out the Jade Slips one by one. Never mind Jiang Yang—even Bi had never seen so many fundamental cultivation methods.
Curious though he was, he could not read them. The sect had sealed all these Jade Slips with a secret art; without the Secret Key, he could read only the opening of each method. Any attempt to force the seals would only destroy them.
In the Ancestral Court, True Person Xuan Di had bestowed only one Secret Key to unlock them. The choice rightly belonged to his junior brother, and he dared not usurp that role.
Jiang Yang finished brewing the tea and pushed a cup toward Bi Xingjian, asking in wonder:
"Are there really so many cultivation methods for the path of Yi Wood?"
He had thought his master would bestow only a single method, not seven or eight Jade Slips.
Bi Xingjian shook his head and replied:
"Only four of them are Yi Wood methods. Master told me that earlier. After meeting True Person Xuan Di, he added several Weak Water methods to the selection..."
"He said you should examine them yourself and make your own comparisons. But you may choose only one to cultivate, and once you choose, there is no going back."
He then passed the Jade Slips over and cautioned him again:
"Take a look, junior brother. You must be careful. Matters of the Dao path... can determine the rest of your life."
Jiang Yang accepted the Jade Slips and nodded solemnly.
"I understand."
With so many choices, Jiang Yang examined them in order. He picked up the first emerald-green Jade Slip, engaged it with his spirit sense, and sank his mind into it to read.
Deer-Green Long-Cliff Scripture!
This was a fifth-grade Yi Wood method. The immortal foundation it formed was