"So a Dao tradition was founded upon a Dharma Lineage. Only with a Dharma Lineage could one attempt to establish a Dao tradition. That made sense. The sages of old walked ahead, and those who came after followed-only then could it be called a 'Dao Path.'"
"In that case, the Demonic Dao forbidding indiscriminate slaughter and Dharma Lineages forbidding reckless conduct might be a kind of 'sustainable development'? The bigwigs above needed insignificant mortals to exist beneath their Dao traditions, within their Dharma Lineages?"
"Tsk, tsk. They nearly gave the Jambudvipa Vast Land a fifth Dao tradition. Even after a hundred and twenty thousand years, sword cultivators still stood alone at the forefront, a head above other cultivators... The splendor of this 'Sword Dao' really made one yearn for it."
By the time the lesson ended, it was nearly five in the afternoon. Jiang Yi remained seated in his corner for a long while, silently digesting Elder Xu's "semi-public lesson" and slowly sorting through what he had learned.
In all fairness, there really had not been much substance.
That elder in charge of imparting teachings barely discussed cultivation. Even when he mentioned the secrets of Daoist arts, he skimmed over them like a dragonfly touching the water.
He was plainly keeping things tucked away, with no intention of teaching anything real.
No wonder He Laohun had gritted his teeth and spent his entire fortune, persisting through eleven lessons without gaining anything.
I could listen once or twice on occasion, just to broaden my knowledge.
Jiang Yi considered that, empty though Elder Xu's semi-public lessons were, they could broaden the horizons of someone like him, stuck in the outer sect.
You got what you paid for. To expect to study the Great Dao and practice supreme arts for a few hundred Talisman Money-
That really was a fool talking in his dreams, imagining things far too beautifully.
Jiang Yi slowly rose from his cushion and glanced up at the sky. A dim mist veiled the sun and shrouded its light.
It was time to return to the outer sect.
Fine though the Inner Peaks were, they were not somewhere he could linger.
"Junior brother, please wait!"
Jiang Yi had just been about to retrace his steps when a voice suddenly reached him.
That familiar turn of phrase made his heart tighten.
"May I ask which peak of the outer sect you belong to, junior brother?"
Jiang Yi turned to look. The man was a little over thirty, with a broad face, a thick beard, and square, upright features.
During Elder Xu's lesson, his cushion seemed to have been not far from Jiang Yi's?
By the look of him, he was also an outer sect Mortal Laborer?
Unsure of the man's background or intentions, Jiang Yi offered a Daoist salute and said politely:
"This humble junior is Jiang Yi. I work in the Quenching Room on Crimson Flame Peak. May I ask which peak you belong to, senior brother?"
"So you serve under Duty Officer Yang. I'm from the Banner-Making Room on Soul-Nourishing Peak. My surname is Wang, my given name Heng. I'm seventh in my family, so everyone calls me 'Wang Seven.'"
Jiang Yi was surprised. He rarely dealt with Mortal Laborers from the other peaks.
The reason was simple: there were few opportunities to interact.
The Outer Sect's Four Peaks were not far apart, but neither were they close. Traveling back and forth took time.
Besides, they did not work in the same workshops, making it even harder to develop any deep bonds.
"So it's Senior Brother Wang. What advice do you have for me?"
"Advice is too grand a word. We're both Mortal Laborers of the outer peaks, and we both aspire to enter the Inner Peaks. We could get to know each other better."
Wang Heng laughed heartily, his manner thoroughly forthright:
"It doesn't look too late yet. Would you be interested in a chat at Heshui Cave near Qigong Court, Junior Brother Jiang?"
After a moment's consideration, Jiang Yi smiled freely.
"Since you think well enough of me to invite me, Senior Brother Wang, it would be discourteous to refuse."
Wang Heng grew warmer still and led Jiang Yi toward Heshui Cave.
According to Wang Heng, Heshui Cave was a three-story stilt building suspended over a sheer cliff.
The first-floor hall was for meals and conversation, the second for drinking tea and admiring the scenery, while the third had several quiet rooms set aside for Inner Peaks disciples to meditate and cultivate.
It counted as one of the pleasant spots on Wavelooking Peak.
Along the way, the two chatted, finding the conversation quite enjoyable.
"You might think I've been rather forward, Junior Brother Jiang."
Wang Heng said softly:
"Among the Mortal Laborers in the outer sect, very few are like us-set on the Inner Peaks and willing to spend Talisman Money to come here.
"Most are just making a living. Once they've saved enough money, they go down the mountain to enjoy comfortable lives."
Jiang Yi nodded. The outer sect's Mortal Laborers came in every stripe, each living a different way.
"Workshop life is exhausting and bitter. Trying to cultivate on top of that is harder still.
"That's why people like us ought to huddle together for warmth and help one another! Otherwise, how could we stay in the Inner Peaks for long?
"After Elder Xu left, I saw you remained for a good while, Junior Brother Jiang. I thought you must be eager to learn, so I called out to stop you!"
The corner of Jiang Yi's mouth twitched. He had never expected to hear such pure, unadulterated "chicken soup for the soul" while in the Demonic Dao.
How rare!
For a moment, he almost thought he had come to the wrong place and wandered into the Immortal Dao of the Eastern Victory Continent!
"Senior Brother Wang, gathering outer sect Mortal Laborers together..."
Jiang Yi feigned hesitation.
"I understand what you mean, Junior Brother Jiang."
Wang Heng led Jiang Yi into Heshui Cave. He must have been a regular, for an attendant ushered him into a superior private room as soon as he entered.
"Bring a pot of Biluochun Tea and two plates of fruit first.
"More people will be coming later. We'll order wine and dishes then."
After giving his instructions, Wang Heng invited Jiang Yi to sit and continued:
"You must think that Mortal Laborers are at the bottom of the outer sect, and that even banding together won't amount to much.
"Junior Brother Jiang, forgive my bluntness, but your horizons are too narrow, your outlook too small."
Jiang Yi was not annoyed. He asked sincerely:
"Please enlighten me, senior brother."
Wang Heng took a satisfied sip of hot tea and explained patiently:
"Though the Qianji Sect isn't a major sect, it receives tribute from the Zhao Kingdom, occupies hundreds of li of land, and has a full range of businesses and cultivation markets. It still counts as a regional power.
"And Sect Master Liu is at the tenth level of Qi Refining, determined to reach the top of the Twelve-Story Tower and establish his Dao foundation. Even in Northern Mang Ridge, he's a figure whose name rings loud."
Oh!
Jiang Yi's eyes brightened with interest. Senior Brother Wang's "lesson" had more substance than Elder Xu's!
It was worth listening to!
"Under the rule of the Dao traditions, all opportunities to advance lie within the various Dharma Lineages. Even if a rural Qi Refining clan is lucky enough to find a fortuitous encounter, obtain high-grade cultivation instructions, and nurture seedlings for cultivation, it still has to seek a talisman decree from a Dharma Lineage before founding a sect!"
Seeing Jiang Yi's interest, Wang Heng indulged in being a teacher and explained in detail:
"Rather than go to all that trouble, many rural Qi Refining clans simply send their promising youngsters into sects.
"They don't send them there to toil like oxen and horses. Instead, they pour everything into supplying cultivation resources, hoping to secure a place as a proper disciple.
"After a hundred years or so, with generation after generation throwing themselves into the effort, they might just nurture an outstanding talent who soars into the heavens in a single flight!"
Wang Heng glanced at Jiang Yi's unchanged expression and added:
"That was how the Illuminating Nether Sect and the Fu and Kang Households, which now dominate Northern Mang Ridge, rose to prominence."
Jiang Yi understood. He could not help thinking of Zheng Dajiang, whom he had met in the Ice and Fire Cave. The man probably belonged to this category.
With a rural clan supporting him and access to the right connections, he did not have to toil away miserably. Instead, he had ambitions of becoming a workshop's duty officer.
But what does that have to do with me?
Jiang Yi's expression turned odd.
Senior Brother Wang seemed to have misjudged him.
He did not come from a rural clan. Three generations of his ancestors had all been mortals; he was a small-town boy with thoroughly ordinary roots.
Before he could speak, people began arriving in the superior private room one after another.
Wang Heng rose to greet them and took the opportunity to introduce Jiang Yi:
"This is Junior Brother Jiang. He works in the Quenching Room on Crimson Flame Peak.
"At Elder Xu's lecture today, I saw his extraordinary bearing and brought him along to meet everyone."
Then Wang Heng turned to Jiang Yi and said:
"Senior Brother Lu, Lu Yun, is the oldest. He's been on Herb-Gathering Peak for twenty-one years. Whenever we need good medicinal herbs with sufficient age, we ask him for help..."
"Junior Brother Zhao, Zhao Fang, is the youngest. He's also from Crimson Flame Peak and was assigned to the Engraving Room..."
"This is Junior Sister Li, Li Ruohan. Don't be fooled by her being about your age-she's already an Inspection Officer in Sewing Peak's Thread-Spinning Room..."
After introducing everyone in turn, Wang Heng invited them to take their seats. Senior Brother Wang truly had long sleeves that danced well; he could exchange a few words, jokes, and banter with anyone.
Once everyone was seated and bowls of Spirit Cuisine and medicinal preparations, simmered for a long time, had been served, Wang Heng did not rush to eat. Instead, he said slowly:
"Senior Brother Lu comes from the Miyang Lu Clan. His clan's ancestor is at the sixth level of Qi Refining... Junior Brother Zhao and I are practically fellow townsmen, both from Dalin Lake... Junior Sister Li's background is truly impressive: the Bojun Li Clan, a renowned Aristocratic Clan of the Zhao Kingdom, with an eighth-level Qi Refining ancestor presiding over it."
"Oh, I haven't had a chance to ask yet. Where are you from, Junior Brother Jiang? Let me think. There are two Jiang clans in Northern Mang Ridge: the Changling Jiang Clan and the Longqiu Jiang Clan..."
All smiles, Wang Heng looked at Jiang Yi with eyes full of expectation:
"Which rural clan do you come from, Junior Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Yi raised his head and squared his shoulders without a trace of timidity, answering solemnly:
"I grew up in the town below Guling. If we absolutely have to put a name to it, I could just about count as a member of the 'Guling Jiang Clan.'"
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