Gui Water Dharma

"Moistening rain slants gently, its rightful position in the northwest. Faint yang rises from within the earth to meet abundant yin, granting it the power to nourish all things."

Shang Qingzheng had barely spoken when Jiang Yang's head buzzed. His heart jolted, and his gaze immediately fixed on the girl opposite him.

Nothing else had caused it. Those words, "moistening rain slants gently," had abruptly reminded him of the mysterious verse revealed within the Peach Blossom in his [Dao Fruit].

"Moistening rain slants gently; a clear note seems to rise. The pattering rain falls silent—could a jade-like beauty be drawing near?"

Although he did not understand its meaning, Jiang Yang had always regarded this verse as a clue—a clue to gaining complete mastery over this Dao Fruit.

Flowers blooming and falling, the branch becoming a Peach Immortal—apart from that verse, he had no idea what direction his efforts should take. How could he not be excited to hear a new clue so unexpectedly?

After all, the first Peach Blossom alone had granted him the talent [Lush Peach and Plum]. Setting aside its other benefits, the wondrous ability to improve his aptitude had already brought him boundless rewards.

The Peach Branch drifted within his sea of consciousness, flickering with clear light, reminding him constantly. Even if he could not immediately gain mastery over the Dao Fruit, what if he managed to make a second Peach Blossom bloom? Would that not grant him another talent?

At this thought, Jiang Yang suppressed the fluttering in his heart, pressed one hand against the stone table, and asked:

"And then? What does it mean?"

Under his stare, Shang Qingzheng's heart skipped a beat. The boy's gaze seemed extraordinarily intense, yet when she looked more closely, it seemed as though nothing had happened at all.

This left her secretly embarrassed, but she was too shy to ask. She could only lower her eyes and avert her gaze as she continued:

"A gentle rain nourishes both things and people, but it doesn't happen without a reason. It comes from being enveloped by Divine Powers.

"Otherwise, no matter how abundant the surrounding water veins were, there would be no reason for rain to fall day after day, all year round."

"Divine Powers..."

Jiang Yang's thoughts sharpened as he murmured inwardly. Even though he was only a minor cultivator who had just entered Qi Refining, he understood the weight those words carried. Without reaching the Violet Palace, one could not cultivate Divine Powers.

That meant this rain must have been caused by someone. A cultivator at the level of a True Person had to be behind it.

At this point, Shang Qingzheng curled a finger, caught a raindrop on its tip, and said:

"Rain Xiang Mountain, rain on Xiang Mountain. Our Sect's lineage comes from the Celestial River Tradition, so the essence of each peak's inheritance lies largely in water arts. Our Dawn Rain Peak is naturally no exception."

"Its fundamental inheritance is called the 'Nine-Gate Gui Water Dharma.' Its gate lies at hai; hai is yin water and occupies the northwest. Through it, one cultivates the Divine Powers 'Moistening Drizzle.' Its nature is fierce, yet its substance is soft. At rest, it has the virtue of watering all things; in motion, it has the power to drown mountains and rocks."

"Moistening Drizzle," "moistening rain slants gently"... does this point to a divine ability?

With this new clue, Jiang Yang repeated the words inwardly. But merely knowing it was a divine ability was not enough. He still had to discover who had cast it.

"The 'Treatise on the Five Elements of the Heavenly Domain's Spiritual Waters' states: water divides into clear and turbid and spreads throughout the four directions. It has the merit of moistening downward and aiding earth, and the virtue of nourishing all things. In the heavens, it is rain and dew; in the earth, it is springs and water veins. This is called yin water, also known as gui water."

Seeing him lost in thought, Shang Qingzheng assumed he was awed by the Divine Powers and thought nothing of it. Instead, she shared in its glory. A smile appeared on her fair face as she indicated the raindrop and said:

"It means this rain is produced by Divine Powers and contains sweet rain that nourishes all things. It's nothing like the ordinary moisture brought down by the 'Little Cloud-and-Rain Art' we cast.

"The constant drizzle is actually part of the Sect's arrangements. It covers Falling Rain, Morning Rain, and Beneficent Rain Peaks, nourishing the newly admitted inner and outer disciples there so they can enter cultivation easily and progress smoothly."

"Wait, then my..."

Now Jiang Yang truly froze. So his cultivation speed in the Lower Court, despite his lower-middle-grade aptitude, had actually owed something to this spring rain. And to think he had been secretly congratulating himself before.

"Wait, doesn't that mean..."

Jiang Yang had barely been stunned for a moment before realization struck. One look at his expression told Shang Qingzheng what he was thinking, and she hurriedly replied, "That won't work."

Then she shook her head and emphasized again:

"It won't. Wondrous as a divine ability may be, it still can't pull up seedlings to help them grow. This nourishing power only benefits disciples in the hundred meridians embryonic breath realm. For cultivators like us who have entered Qi Refining, its effect is negligible."

"All right, I was being too greedy..."

Jiang Yang shook his head with a rueful laugh. On reflection, it made sense. If there were no limits based on cultivation realm, would everyone not be able to cultivate immortality just by standing in the rain?

Shang Qingzheng waved a hand, her plain sleeve swaying lightly, to show she understood.

"It's fine. You're not the only one. I thought the same thing when I first heard about it. It's only human nature."

Jiang Yang still had not forgotten the crux of the matter, so he asked casually:

"Divine Powers truly are wondrous. But which senior has worked this marvel of gentle rain?"

Shang Qingzheng had been waiting for that question. She raised her fair chin slightly, pride mingling with a touch of girlish innocence, and declared:

"My master—True Person Dawn Rain."

"So it really is True Person Dawn Rain's Divine Powers. No wonder you hold her in such high esteem.

"In that case, True Person Dawn Rain's merit is truly boundless. For a disciple from the Lower Court like me, her kindness is nothing short of giving me a second life."

Jiang Yang had already vaguely suspected it. Now that it was confirmed, his praise came sincerely from the heart.

After praising her, Jiang Yang pondered in silence again. Following the riddle-like verse, he knew he had now found the person it pointed to. But how was he to fulfill the conditions of flowers blooming and falling? For now, he had no idea.

If he wanted any further change, his most pressing task was to make contact with True Person Xi Yu. Yet she was an exalted Violet Palace True Person and the master of Dawn Rain Peak. Why would she lower herself to meet a mere Qi Refining cultivator like him?

After considering it, Jiang Yang turned to Shang Qingzheng and ventured:

"Say, do you think... is there any chance your master might make an exception and accept a male disciple?"

Shang Qingzheng pressed her lips together and chuckled.

"I already told you these Divine Powers have no effect on anyone in Qi Refining. Stop counting your chickens."

"Of course that's not it! I admire the True Person's virtue, wish to behold her bearing, learn from her character, and repay her kindness in helping me along. I really do want to become her disciple."

Jiang Yang widened his eyes, his face brimming with sincerity.

Having finally found a new clue, he certainly was not going to give up over a few words. Besides, his admiration for her virtue was no joke. He truly was grateful for the help she had given him.

Without this spring rain's assistance, he would not have entered Qi Refining so quickly. Without reaching Qi Refining, he could not have activated the Dao Fruit. Each link joined the next; in every sip and morsel, fate had its place.

Jiang Yang's string of polished little phrases left Shang Qingzheng unable to suppress her amusement. Holding back her laughter, she avoided looking at his face.

"If you have the ability, go tell Master yourself. I can't decide for her when it comes to her rule against accepting male disciples."

Jiang Yang replied with no small regret:

"But... why is that?"

"I don't know either."

Shang Qingzheng shook her little head and continued:

"Anyway, Master has accepted four disciples, and the three above me are all senior sisters. No male disciple has ever come and gone on the main peak."

"Ah... well..."

At that, Jiang Yang could only furl his banners and still his drums. He let out a barely perceptible sigh. Asking any more would only put her in a difficult position.

Still, he soon gathered himself. There was plenty of time ahead. As long as he remained in the Sect, an opportunity to meet her would eventually come.

Seeing the boy lower his eyes and sigh, the light seemingly gone from his gaze, Shang Qingzheng felt a little sorry for him and offered a reminder:

"If you truly want to become her disciple, then work hard at your cultivation.

"I heard from Sister Zhou Ying that there'll be a Court Examination at the end of the year. Master will appear there too, so you can see whether there's an opportunity then."

She thought it might not be a bad thing if Jiang Yang became her master's disciple. At least they could see each other every day, rather than having to travel back and forth like this.

Besides, having a junior brother like him might be something new and interesting. At the very least, he could bring more laughter to the peak and make it feel less cold and lonely.