When Jiang Yi emerged from the Five Solitary Hall, quite a few people still clustered at the entrance. Some wore placards on their chests; others had straw markers stuck in their tangled hair, waiting to be picked.
Had this been when he first arrived at Three Harmonies Ward, he would surely have wondered: why put themselves through this?
But from everything he had seen and heard along the way, Jiang Yi had gained a rough understanding of the myriad lives at the bottom of the Demonic Path Lineage, and began to understand and accept them.
Take the Five Solitary Hall's selection of "medicinal ingredients," for instance. Many lower cultivators flocked there, finding it sweet as honey.
Old Grain Noodles at five Talisman Money a bowl could only stave off hunger and fill the belly, hardly nourishing the body. Anyone who wanted Spirit Rice or Spirit Cuisine had to toil at manual labor and odd jobs.
And so the lower cultivators, long since grown weary, idle, and numb, would rather come to the Five Solitary Hall to test medicines in exchange for pills. At least they could taste a little Spiritual Qi.
As for whether this would ruin their foundations or damage their Dao Paths-that could wait until later!
Besides, they were already scraping a living in Three Harmonies Ward. Who still cared about that?
"Looked at that way, Brother He actually counts as 'ambitious.'"
Jiang Yi parted ways with He Laohun at the entrance to Double Abundance Street. He had wanted to find somewhere to treat him to a good meal, only to see He Laohun rub his hands and say sheepishly:
"I won't trouble you tonight, Brother Yi."
Huh, has Brother He turned over a new leaf? He's passing up a free meal?
Following He Laohun's occasional glances toward an alley entrance, Jiang Yi saw several pink lanterns hanging deep inside, flickering in and out of sight, decadent and suggestive.
So he can't wait to experience Three Harmonies Ward's local customs?
"Take care of your health, Brother He."
Understanding, Jiang Yi cupped his hands.
"Ahem... it's not what you think, Brother Yi."
He Laohun looked sheepish, his old face reddening.
"There's an old acquaintance I met here years ago... I'll tell you about it another day."
As he spoke, he kept peering toward the alley entrance and waved hastily.
"It's getting late. Head back, Brother Yi. Three Harmonies Ward isn't all that peaceful either."
Jiang Yi nodded farewell and returned to Dai Tower shortly afterward.
He sat quietly and regulated his breathing for half an incense stick's time, circulating and transforming the Fire Nature of his True Qi.
At a quarter past the start of Zi Hour, Yang Xun finally returned.
"Have you had supper, Grandpa?"
Jiang Yi rose, opened his door, and went to the room next door.
Seeing the fatigue on Yang Xun's face, he hurriedly poured a cup of hot tea and offered it to him.
"A few things went wrong at the last minute. Fortunately, nothing serious. Everything's been dealt with."
Yang Xun blew gently over the tea, took a few sips, and said slowly:
"A True Person from the Great Talisman Sect arrived in his august conveyance, shaking the whole of Northern Mang Ridge. The Illuminating Nether Sect and the True Gu Sect both sent people over, waiting for an audience and instructions.
"Refinement and deliverance through the Water Pool and Fire Marsh is an Immortal Dao Ritual. On this trip down the mountain, I meant to ask a few old friends to gather the materials I needed.
"But that True Person from the Great Talisman Sect sealed the surrounding three thousand miles with a single talisman. No one knows what he's investigating. He's made everyone jump at the wind and the cries of cranes, and even this little matter of mine has been put on hold."
The corners of Jiang Yi's eyes twitched at that.
Foundation Establishment Great True Persons truly acted with overbearing force, especially cultivators from Sect-tier organizations. Their arrogance was crushing.
Three thousand miles, sealed with one talisman!
Without so much as a word beforehand?
What imposing might!
"The Illuminating Nether Sect and the True Gu Sect are in complete chaos now. It mainly affects cultivators above the seventh or eighth realm of Qi Refining. They aren't allowed to take flight, much less open their storage pouches and bags. How are they supposed to travel the world or trade with one another?
"The unluckiest was an Elder of the Illuminating Nether Sect. His cultivation had reached the Twelfth Level of Qi Refining, and he was at a critical juncture in seclusion.
"When the Great Talisman Sect's True Person arrived, he shattered the Spirit Aura laid around the Elder's cave abode, shocking him out of seclusion by force. They say he even coughed up blood..."
As Yang Xun sighed, a trace of yearning appeared in his eyes.
Hearing of the methods of Upper Cultivators, lower cultivators naturally found it easy to yearn for their splendor.
If only they could take their place!
"What could have prompted the Great Talisman Sect to make such a huge fuss?"
Jiang Yi could not help being curious.
"Who knows? Rumors are flying everywhere now. Some say a traitor fled the Great Talisman Sect with a precious treasure; others say their chief True Disciple defected to the Immortal Dao... Everyone has a different story. It's a mess."
Yang Xun shook his head.
"Fortunately, I'd already sent letters down the mountain asking people to gather the main materials. Most have been collected by now. But with the seal in place, they can't be taken out for the time being. We'll likely have to wait a while."
Only then did Jiang Yi breathe a sigh of relief. He added:
"Thank you for all your effort, Grandpa."
Yang Xun waved a hand.
"There's no need for courtesies between us. Whether Men-tier or Sect-tier, in the end, we all work for the Dharma Lineages above us.
"I haven't the ability to reach the heavens. I only hope that someday, Jiang Yi, you'll stumble upon a Fortuitous Encounter and reach the threshold of those great teachings and Upper Sects."
Jiang Yi merely smiled at his words.
Great teachings and Upper Sects were beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. Such places accepted only true Dao Talents, extraordinary standouts who would have been exceptional even in ancient times. Only those people could enter their gates.
Even though the Heavenly Book had once revealed a Fortuitous Encounter involving Master-Inheritance, he had never considered that possibility.
After all, any connection with a great teaching or Upper Sect was far beyond what a mere fifteen-day extrapolation could reveal in full.
"Stay here in Three Harmonies Ward with your mind at ease. Going out is fine, but don't wander far, lest you encounter Bandit Cultivators."
After a few words of advice, Yang Xun began to look weary. Jiang Yi tactfully withdrew and gently closed the door.
"The Great Talisman Sect... Three thousand miles is such a vast stretch of land, yet one talisman has everyone 'imprisoned' here. Truly, their might runs deep as the sea!"
Back in his room, Jiang Yi sighed in wonder.
These past few days, he had grown accustomed to the myriad lives of lower cultivators. Suddenly hearing of an Upper Cultivator's methods could not help shaking his mind.
His thoughts drifting, Jiang Yi sat by the window and pushed it open to gaze at the moon. His gaze gradually steadied.
"Having entered this path, how could I retreat at the sight of a lofty mountain? Now is precisely the time to cultivate!"
With that thought, he gathered in his stray thoughts and closed his eyes.
Once again, he sat in meditation, breathing and circulating his Qi through its heavenly circuit.
"What a damned rotten place! Even cultivating is a struggle!"
A stream of curses drifted through the high heavens of the Azure Firmament, only to be scattered by the biting astral winds.
The octagonal flying tower that had once appeared over Northern Mang Ridge hung suspended in the air. Clear radiance poured from it like a waterfall, shutting out the raging tumult outside.
On its highest floor sat a young cultivator in water-blue ritual robes, laboriously pouring all his magical power into a palm-sized Golden Talisman.
The talisman looked as though it had been cast from pure gold, without the slightest flaw or any extraneous markings. Only the striking character "Seal" stood out, its brushstrokes winding like dragons and serpents.
"And Master, too! He had to go and fight an enemy halfway here, leaving me to hold the talisman and seal Northern Mang Ridge... Poor me, only a half-step into Foundation Establishment with incomplete Five Phases. How am I supposed to sustain this drain? What misery!"
The young cultivator brimmed with complaints. The talisman in his hand had been shaped by his master using Golden Dharma and drew in twenty-four kinds of Higher Vehicle Spirit Chance, like a bottomless pit that could never be filled. And Northern Mang Ridge just had to be a barren, run-down place.
He could only keep channeling his own True Qi to supply it.
Trapped in the Dharma Tower every day-it was practically prison!
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother!"
The Dharma Tower's Artifact Spirit suddenly sprang out. It looked like a little boy three inches tall, with red lips, white teeth, and an adorable, rosy complexion.
"The Elders from the Illuminating Nether Sect and the True Gu Sect are here again! They're asking when you can lift the seal!"
The young cultivator's head throbbed at the words, and he snapped angrily:
"What use is asking me? How would I know? I can only hold this talisman, not wield it! Besides, until Master comes back, would I dare put away the 'Seal' talisman on my own?
"What if that Little Ancestor really slips away to Eastern Victory Continent or Western Maitreya Continent? If I have to take the blame for Master then, the punishment from above will be enough to last me two hundred years!"
The little Artifact Spirit drew in his neck in fright and timidly retreated downstairs.
Two or three breaths later, he poked his head out again and asked quietly:
"Senior Brother, should I tell them the master isn't here, then? And ask them to come back another time?"
The young cultivator slumped his shoulders and drooped his head, saying listlessly:
"Don't be so polite! We're the Great Talisman Sect! Show some spirit and don't disgrace us!
"Just tell them to get lost! Remember, sound fierce!"
The little Artifact Spirit answered, "Oh," and practiced as he went downstairs:
"Get lost... get lost... get lost!"
Unfortunately, his babyish voice carried little menace.
The young cultivator sighed mournfully and was about to complain some more when a thunderous roar came from still higher in the Azure Firmament, like heavenly drums beating, shattering the Great Void!
He hurriedly lowered his head and spoke as though in prayer:
"Bless us, Dao Lord! Please don't let Master lose! Otherwise, I'll be stuck in prison so much longer!"
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