Greed Stirred, and the Urge to Leave Arose

"Endless eternal night, all things languish, the stars grow dim. Mao Lodge Decree-Zhao!"

A ball of crimson-gold light appeared.

Joy spread across Jiang Nanjing's face, and he looked delightedly at Yunqi.

"Benefactor, I've learned it!"

Utterly exhausted, Yunqi nodded and forced a grin. He really did not want to speak anymore.

He swallowed. "What day is it today?"

Jiang Nanjing's complexion was rosy. "As you taught me, Benefactor, I visualized the great sun shining in all directions during the day, and at night, I visualized all living beings trapped in eternal darkness, longing only for light to return. I went through seven cycles of day and night like that."

Yunqi nodded numbly. "Good, you've learned it. Good. Let's leave it there for now. Think it over on your own, and once you're familiar with the spell's meaning, you can start trimming down the incantation."

Jiang Nanjing was a good lad and understood what Yunqi meant. "Then please rest, Benefactor. I'll take my leave."

"Oh, one more thing."

Yunqi called Jiang Nanjing back.

Jiang Nanjing turned around. "Is there anything else you wish to tell me, Benefactor?"

"If anyone asks in the future, don't say I taught you this incantation, and certainly don't say I created it myself."

Jiang Nanjing looked as though this went without saying. He thought Yunqi simply did not want anyone to know the origins of this spell. He respectfully agreed, then immediately swore never to divulge it.

Yunqi watched him leave, then finally let out a long sigh.

Jiang Nanjing left the Wind Lotus Retreat without seeing many people along the way. He was still puzzled when he returned to his own courtyard, only to discover his uncle, father, and tutor all waiting for him.

Seeing Nanjing return with light steps and a rosy complexion, the three knew it must be good news, and delight appeared on their faces.

"Was Young Friend Cheng teaching you a spell?"

Nanjing had meant to keep it secret, but on reflection, they were in his family's own retreat. How could he possibly hide it? He nodded.

"Have you learned it?"

Nanjing nodded again.

The two men's brows lifted with delight, while his tutor, Daoist Manifest Tranquility, sighed in admiration. "As expected of someone from a higher sect. He taught you an incantation in just seven days. The younger generation truly deserves our awe!"

Nanjing agreed, though he did not know whether he had imagined it: he kept feeling that his benefactor had originally intended to demonstrate it once and consider the lesson finished.

But how could that be possible?

How could anyone like that exist in this world? Could his benefactor be such a person? Nanjing thought not, even with his benefactor's exceptional talent.

"Could you demonstrate it for your teacher?"

Nanjing nodded, feeling a little apprehensive. After all, he had only succeeded once just now.

He extended his left hand, held out his index finger, focused his thoughts, and recited:

"Endless eternal night, all things languish, the stars grow dim. Mao Lodge Decree-Zhao!"

Light shone at Jiang Nanjing's fingertip, bathing the entire room in crimson.

Light likewise gleamed in the eyes of the three men standing before Jiang Nanjing.

"Good! Good! Good! It's actually Hairy Head Lodge!"

Daoist Manifest Tranquility lost his composure and exclaimed loudly, "Hairy Head Lodge is a star official of the ancient Celestial Court, a true ancient god whose name is inscribed in heaven and earth, possessed of supreme magical power! Who knows how many ages have passed since then? That you can invoke such an ancient god is a tremendous opportunity, a tremendous blessing!"

Jiang Yuexing was sensing the magical essence within the crimson-gold radiance. "[Blazing heat], [radiance], [dispelling], [yang fire]. Good, splendid! Jing'er, this spell is a perfect match for your life-bound treasure, the Golden Light Seal. You must carefully contemplate its meaning!"

Jiang Yanxing stroked his beard and nodded. "Young Friend Cheng truly lives up to his higher-sect origins. He's only a nominal disciple, yet his understanding of incantations is so profound. And the spell he chose to teach you fits your cultivation precisely. That shows he must be proficient in quite a few spells."

Jiang Nanjing nodded. "Exactly. When my benefactor saved my life that day, he used four spells covering the great void five elements. Every one was a single-word incantation."

The three were startled and exchanged glances.

Covering the great void five elements, all single-word incantations-any cultivator should understand the weight of those two statements!

Come to think of it, Jiang Nanjing had injured his lung aperture that day by forcibly wielding his life-bound treasure, and everyone had kept him from speaking. After returning, they had been busy tending to his injuries, then had gone to express their thanks the following day. Even now, they had yet to ask exactly what had happened.

The Jiang family did know of that Thin Daoist. He was a fiend from the Southern Wastes who claimed to hail from the Dharma Appearance Sect. He now roamed the Jiang Nan region and already had plenty of blood on his hands. His abilities were formidable, however, and he excelled at concealing himself and escaping. He had gained something of a reputation in the region, but no one knew when he had come to Poyang Lake.

What happened that day was this: on Poyang Lake, near the Golden Aspect Sect, there was a small household called the White Reed Zhou Family, which made meditation cushions for a living. That day, their purchasing steward had taken some money out to buy materials for the cushions. Not long after leaving, he was spotted by the Thin Daoist, who killed him on the spot and stole his money. Jiang Nanjing happened to witness it nearby. Acting rashly, the young man saw that the murderer was as thin as a skeleton and wore a blue-green robe, recognized the fiend, and actually pursued him alone.

Fortunately, someone observant saw the two fighting as they went. After all, the pipa belonging to the young master of the Golden Aspect Sect's Bright Light Hall was quite distinctive.

When word reached the Bright Light Hall, the three immediately headed south as the witness had directed. By the time they arrived, Jiang Nanjing had been forced to draw on his life-bound treasure. They really had not asked in detail what happened in between; at the time, they had thought recovering his life was already an enormous stroke of luck.

"At the time, my benefactor used the [Suppress] incantation to immobilize the speeding Thin Daoist, and the [Seize] incantation to take the Talisman Arrow he meant to harm me with. When the Thin Daoist used a Demonic Artifact to kill me by force, my benefactor used the [Drown] incantation to raise a huge wave and block the Ghost Creature summoned by the artifact. Finally, he wounded the fiend with the [Burn] incantation. Unfortunately, I was on the verge of passing out and didn't see how badly the fiend was injured. I only heard him cry out in pain and flee."

Jiang Nanjing spoke earnestly.

"Now that is a disciple of a great sect! Jing'er, you must learn from him. With spells alone, he could control the battle and overpower his opponent without putting his own body in danger. You were far too reckless and nearly made a terrible mistake. Thankfully, you encountered Daoist Cheng."

Daoist Manifest Tranquility put on a stern expression and took the opportunity to instruct him. That was his duty as a private tutor.

Jiang Nanjing nodded, then added:

"Actually, the Great Sun Radiance Mantra my benefactor taught me was also originally a single-word incantation. But I was too dull to grasp its essence, so he expanded it into nine-word and thirteen-word incantations for me and taught me how to visualize the different words. He said that as long as I practice diligently, I can trace it back to its single-word form."

Now the three did not know what to say, nor could they comprehend it.

"My benefactor said the original purpose of creating this method was actually bene-um, internal vision. It's meant to illuminate the little world within the human body, and it greatly benefits qi circulation through the heavenly circuit, opening the inner dwelling and palace, and the later union of dragon and tiger. Using it outside the body is merely an incidental effect. Seeing that my path harmonized with golden light, he taught me the external application first, thinking that would be quicker for me to understand."

Although all three were cultivators of the Second Realm, they might as well have been listening to a heavenly scripture.

Jiang Nanjing himself had also received a fright. He had nearly let slip that his benefactor had created this method himself. After all, his family had seen his benefactor teaching him magic, so he could not conceal that, but he still had to keep its creator secret. He had promised.

With that thought, he said, "Teacher, Uncle, Father, my benefactor instructed me not to publicize the fact that he taught me this method!"

The three seemed to wake from a dream and nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course!"

Jiang Yuexing then said to Jiang Yanxing, "Elder Brother, this is a wondrous method from a higher sect. We must warn everyone in the family who knows: the teaching of this spell must never leak out! Especially to the other halls!"

Jiang Yanxing glared at his younger brother. "Do I need you to teach me that?!"

Seeing this, Jiang Nanjing badly wanted to say that his benefactor had created this method himself, rather than learned it from a higher sect, but he could not explain.

Daoist Manifest Tranquility sighed in admiration. "With Daoist Cheng's talent, the fact that he's still a nominal disciple must simply mean the higher sect has many rules and a high threshold for entering its life register. Given his gifts, though, I imagine it won't take long before he becomes a True Disciple."

Jiang Yanxing thought for a moment, then asked Jiang Nanjing,

"Jing'er, why did Daoist Cheng suddenly teach you this incantation? Does he want something? Tell him that whatever he asks, as long as our Bright Light Hall has it, we will certainly oblige!"

There were some things Jiang Yanxing could only say in his heart. These higher sects really do things strangely. They ought to pour all their resources into supporting such a prodigy. Why keep him so poor that he didn't even bring a Cave Stone when he came out to gain experience?

Fortunately, their hall traded in aquatic products on Poyang Lake and fairly reeked of money. Cave Stones were precious, but his family could still afford to offer one as a gift of thanks. Now that he thought about it, that was not enough; they had to seize this chance to forge a strong friendship with Daoist Cheng.

But Jiang Nanjing shook his head. "My benefactor only said the gifts of gold and stone were valuable, and he wanted to return the favor. Since he had no material possessions to give, he offered a method instead."

Jiang Yanxing asked again, "Then did you tell Daoist Cheng that the golden seal was made of musk gold?"

Jiang Nanjing shook his head. "No. I only told him it was ordinary gold essence."

Hearing this, Jiang Yanxing sighed. "Daoist Cheng is a gentleman. The gifts of gold and stone might originally have been generous, but now that he's taught you this spell, they are too meager. Let us think it over carefully and prepare another gift. Besides, you still haven't learned this internal vision method. Visit the retreat more often over the next few days. No one will disturb you two again. If Daoist Cheng wants anything, just come and tell me."

Jiang Nanjing shook his head. "Teaching me this incantation seemed to exhaust my benefactor. Perhaps my talent is lacking, and I made him expend too much effort. I really feel too embarrassed to trouble him again. Why don't we forget about internal vision? I'm already satisfied with learning the external application."

At these words, Jiang Yanxing showed a rare flash of anger, while Jiang Yuexing and Daoist Manifest Tranquility both sighed.

"When has learning a method ever been easy!"

Jiang Yanxing spoke loudly. "As the old saying goes, a method is not passed to six ears. Whenever a supreme tradition in this world opens even a crack and sends down a single decree of teaching, who among those below doesn't fight until their heads are bloodied for it? How do you think the Golden Aspect Sect came into being? Our ancestor merely received a spell bestowed by an immortal of the Taiyi Golden Light Teachings and used it to establish a sect and lineage. Only because we have a traceable magical lineage and stand within the great Dao of the five elements can we call ourselves a sect and count as an orthodox Daoist tradition. Otherwise, how would we differ from the Red Conch Jiang Family, the Yellow Croaker Jiang Family, or the White Reed Zhou Family?"

"Forget distant examples. Take one nearby: you know the Thunder-Examining Sect. It's right here on the lake, barely a thousand li from us. Do you know how its patriarch rose to prominence and founded his sect? He began as a mortal Daoist priest. At thirty, he set out from the Eight Min Coast, crossing mountains and rivers all the way to Yu Zhang, where he knelt at the foot of Swordpoint Mountain and begged for thunder methods. To prove his sincerity, he built a hut below the mountain, planted jujubes for ten years, and carried ten thousand jin of water, cultivating more than nine hundred mu of jujube groves. When the acreage reached the count of three nines, the immortal mountain passed down a book of teachings bearing precisely four words: 'Verify and Harmonize Thunder.' Through those four words, the patriarch gained enlightenment and cultivated, eventually coming to Poyang Lake to found his sect. He honored Swordpoint Mountain as his ancestral seat and the Divine Empyrean School as his source, taking his place among orthodox Daoist traditions."

"Now you have such a wonderful opportunity, yet you're ashamed to thicken your skin? Isn't that ridiculous? How does the difficulty of swallowing your embarrassment compare to planting jujubes for ten years?"

Jiang Nanjing flushed with shame and repeatedly admitted his mistake.

"Just go and ask. If Daoist Cheng grows impatient or scolds you, you must accept it, not talk back. Whatever he requests, agree to it. Do you understand? Since Daoist Cheng is willing to teach a higher sect's method, our only fear is that he'll ask too little. Do you understand?"

Jiang Yanxing stared at his nephew as he spoke.

Jiang Nanjing felt uncomfortable hearing this. It made it sound as though he was going to lure his benefactor with profit and trick a method out of him. But faced with the eager gazes of his uncle, father, and tutor, he still nodded softly.

The next day.

Amid his family's unending nagging, Jiang Nanjing arrived early at the Wind Lotus Retreat.

After a night's rest, Yunqi felt much better mentally. Seeing Jiang Nanjing arrive, he smiled in greeting. "Jiang Nan, you're here. Perfect. Today I'll teach you internal vision. I've already worked out how to teach you, and I'll aim to have you learn it within five days. I've stayed quite a while. It's time I set off and continued my travels."

Jiang Nanjing was startled. "Benefactor, you've only just arrived. Why are you leaving? Have I failed to entertain you properly?"

Yunqi shook his head. "I left my sect to travel and gain experience. How can staying at your home the whole time count as that? Wouldn't it just be sightseeing?"

"But surely you could stay a few more days before leaving!"

"Say no more, Jiang Nan. Where there is a meeting, there must be a parting. We share the friendship of your gift of the seal. When I return to Yu Zhang, I'll certainly come see you."

With things put that way, Jiang Nanjing had no reply.

"All right, let's begin teaching you internal vision. It achieves the same wondrous result as the external application by a different route. To mortal eyes, the little world inside the human body is also pitch-black. You likewise visualize the great sun..."

Yunqi taught meticulously, and Jiang Nanjing studied earnestly. A day passed in the blink of an eye. Yunqi said Jiang Nan was gradually finding his footing, called an end to the day's lesson, and told him to return tomorrow.

After going home, Jiang Nanjing immediately told his elders that Yunqi intended to leave.

There was nothing any of them could do.

On the third day, Jiang Nanjing brought a Water-Avoidance Pearl.

Yunqi was displeased.

Nanjing was frightened and said only that the gold and stone had been thanks for saving his life. Now he had to offer separate thanks for being taught a method; otherwise, he would not dare learn internal vision.

Helpless, Yunqi asked how much Little Coiled-Ear Nail Snails were worth on Poyang Lake.

Nanjing answered honestly: a live snail cost one zhu of silver, a magical snail ten zhu, and a magical snail with sealing clay one tael. However, they were in high demand and not easy to buy; whenever any became available, they were immediately bought up.

Yunqi told Nanjing to take back the Water-Avoidance Pearl, saying that the treasures of gold and stone, along with a hundred magical snails with sealing clay, would be enough thanks for saving his life and teaching him a spell.

Unable to prevail against Yunqi, Jiang Nan nodded in agreement.

Over the next few days, Yunqi taught with greater care and at a faster pace, thinking only of leaving as soon as possible. He had grown afraid of the Jiang family's enthusiasm-and of his own greed.

Here is a hefty four-thousand-character chapter.

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