Hearing this question, Jing Jiu recalled the scene on Heavenly Longevity Mountain, beside the Heavenly Access Well.
At that time, the Immortal Register had blazed with light in White True Person's hands.
Countless bright rays had answered the Immortal Register's summons and come from beyond the heavens, their source that Sun.
Then he recalled another scene: in a cold, dark world, a white, burning fireball hung silently in the distance, watching over that world.
White True Person had asked him this question because he had once been to that world.
"I don't actually need your answer." Looking at Jing Jiu, she said, "There is an Immortal Curtain on Yunmeng Mountain through which we can see that world. I've seen that burning fireball many times since I was young, so I know this world's Sun isn't real. Or rather, it is only a projection of that Sun."
Jing Jiu looked up at the spring Sun in the sky and said nothing.
White True Person continued, "Why do Daoist cultivators have no Immortal Qi before their Ascension, yet possess it the moment they attain the Dao?"
Jing Jiu turned to glance at her, but still said nothing.
"Because that pale, burning fireball radiates the true Primordial Light, and that is Immortal Qi."
White True Person said, "That is why you cannot possibly be my match."
A gentle breeze came slowly, carrying the fragrance of pines and stirring her ribbonlike white robes.
Jing Jiu wanted to say something, but in the end, he merely shook his head.
"Don't say that because I am not an Ascension One, I cannot wield Immortal Qi."
White True Person said calmly, "You and I cannot even know for certain who we are, so how can we determine what we can and cannot do?"
Many years ago, Jing