Void Clarity
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu's heart skipped a beat, but he did not back down, maintaining his bowed posture, his voice clear and resonant:
"Supreme True Person Excellency, the disciples are making a fuss because they have sharp edges in their hearts. If these edges are not sharpened, they will not know the immensity of heaven and earth; if these edges are not revealed, they will find it difficult to see the true essence of the Dao. This is true for Brother Qingyan, and it is also true for Yang Xiu."
He slightly raised his head, his gaze clear, and looked directly at the boy:
"As for the respect shown when receiving the imperial edict, it is not out of fear. Under the majesty of Heaven, one should naturally restrain one's nature and mind. This is not only a matter of etiquette, but also a matter of law. If the disciples of the Jade Void Sect do not even know how to respect their own imperial edict, that would be a real disaster, not a blessing."
He paused, then bowed again, and added:
"Even if this disciple causes a huge uproar in private, I am still a disciple who abides by the rules of Jade Void. Being able to make a scene, maintain order, and bring things under control—this is probably the skill that all the Supreme True Person, True Person, Immortals, and Heavenly Venerable most want their juniors to learn. This disciple is merely learning."
Upon hearing this, the boy's gaze lingered on Yang Xiu for a moment before he suddenly burst into laughter.
Before his laughter had even faded, his tone suddenly shifted, becoming sharper:
"What? Are you so sure that the Sect Leader's decree is for your benefit, not for your punishment?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu immediately spoke up:
"I have done nothing wrong and have made no mistakes, so naturally I will not be punished."
After he finished speaking, there was a long silence.
Seeing this, Yang Xiu calmly continued:
"In the previous battle at the Longchuan River, I single-handedly held off two beasts; I must have rendered meritorious service."
Upon hearing this, the boy was first taken aback, then burst into laughter:
"Longchuan River certainly deserves credit. But..."
He paused, his tone subtly hardening:
"Because of your impulsive actions in breaking through to the Purple Mansion here, the Sect Master had to spare some of his energy to look after you all, and even transferred several of your Supreme True Person and True Lord to secretly oversee you, which has caused considerable delays in matters in Jiangnan."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu finally fell silent for a moment.
He knew the boy was telling the truth.
The breakthrough at Qingnuo Mountain was overseen by two Supreme True Person Immortals from the Golden Court Dao Lineage alone. Meanwhile, Su Yao and Zilin, Jieshi broke through at Golden Ao Mountain, and Xuan Yan, Wisdom Light Ying Qi, and Jade Spring Mo Li at their respective villas, each family likely sent senior members to provide support. Furthermore, according to this Supreme True Person, the Sect Master was also secretly providing assistance...
"This disciple knows his mistake." He lowered his head again, then paused, "After this matter, this disciple will request punishment from the sect and Jade Void. However, since the Supreme True Person has come with an imperial decree today, he is surely not here to settle this score."
Upon hearing this, the boy gave a soft snort, seemingly both helpless and appreciative of Yang Xiu's attitude of "knowing his mistake but refusing to admit defeat," and then said:
"Very well. Since you say you've made a contribution, then reward you accordingly."
He stepped forward, and the edict in his hand unfurled slowly without any wind.
Above the imperial edict, Jade Pure One light flowed, each word seemingly carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. Then He spoke:
"By Jade Void decree of Yu Xu, Yang Xiu, a disciple of the Golden Court Dao Lineage and Wangwu Dao Tradition, possesses exceptional talent and a steadfast Daoist heart. After ten years of studying the profound mysteries, he has finally attained Purple Mansion Palace. For his meritorious service in escorting the reincarnation of the True Lord in the Longchuan region, he is hereby bestowed the Daoist name ' Void Clarity ' and enters the 'Xu' generation of the Golden Court lineage. It is hoped that you will uphold Illuminating the Heart, practice the bright Dao, and not lose your righteousness due to calamities, nor obscure your truth due to Profound Qi. Furthermore, from this day forward, in Yang Xiu's affairs in Nanzhao, he should be led by Qingyan Yan, the abbot of Qixia Temple. In all matters involving Proclaiming Earth, he should assist and accompany him, and not act unilaterally."
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiu trembled.
As soon as the words "Void Clarity" entered his ears, streams of Jade Pure One and ethereal light, like beams of heavenly light, pierced into Rising Yang, instantly igniting the Profound Qi within his body.
The grayish-purple Law Power vibrated and reorganized itself the instant the oracle was placed, as if it had been infused with some ancient law.
He clearly felt that the Profound Qi Dao, which he had cultivated for many years and thought he had mastered to the extreme, had opened a new door at this moment. It was the original meaning of "brightness" and a point of pure light that could not be extinguished in the midst of calamity.
The Golden Court Ancestor, Heavenly Venerable Daoxing, is one of the Twelve Golden Immortals taught by the Dao Ancestor Yuqing... In addition, Heavenly Venerable is a person favored by the Dao Ancestor through the Jade Pure One Secret Technique, sensing the Fruition Position he has attained. Now, under the blessing of the Jade Pure One Purity Immortal Light, Yang Xiu's Body Divine Ability are even more profound.
After a moment, he said:
"Disciple... accepts the decree."
After saying this, he knelt down on both knees, raised his hands high, and accepted the imperial edict.
Above, the boy looked at him for a long time, then suddenly said:
"Your Daoist name has been bestowed. Before I depart, I would like to say one more thing to you in my personal capacity."
Yang Xiu looked up and saw that the boy's face was still blurry, but the emotion in his voice was exceptionally clear:
"You previously swore in public to protect the people within a three-hundred-mile radius of Qingnuo Mountain. That matter has gone too far."
Yang Xiu was taken aback upon hearing this:
"Why does the Supreme True Person Being say this?"
The boy said calmly:
"Meng Shixi is delivering congratulations on behalf of the King; you may accept it. Why make a vow? A vow made in the Purple Mansion will be reciprocated by one's own Fruition Position in the the Unseen. Once uttered, this vow becomes a shackle on the Dao Path. If one day, calamity strikes and you cannot protect this three hundred miles of land, or if you are forced by something greater and abandon it, the power of the vow will backfire. Do you think that 'the Way of the Profound Qi is the source of calamity' can stop it?"
Yang Xiu was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled:
"The Lord is Supreme True Person. Oaths do indeed have shackles. But I believe these shackles should be worn."
The boy was slightly surprised.
Yang Xiu continued:
"The path of Profound Qi is to cultivate calamities and control calamities. Without this oath to bind me, the day I emerge from seclusion, I will merely be a ' Purple Mansion cultivating calamities,' no different from those 'great figures' who come and go freely in the skies above Nanzhao and treat the common people like dirt."
His eyes were clear, but his voice grew increasingly heavy:
"The sect leader bestowed upon me the title ' Void Clarity,' meaning 'brightness,' which implies clarity. If I cannot even protect the people within three hundred miles, what right do I have to speak of understanding the Way?"
"This oath was placed upon myself by this disciple. Naturally, this disciple must abide by it."
After speaking, he paused, then looked up and stared directly at the boy:
"It is precisely because of these shackles that I will not become another calamity over the skies of Nanzhao."
Upon hearing this, the boy stared at him intently.
After a long silence, He sighed softly, a smile that was neither a smile nor a frown:
"It seems you and Qingyan are ultimately not meant to be..."
Yang Xiu smiled but did not reply.
Su Yao was good in every way, except that he treated the common people too lightly. However, this was due to the difference in their backgrounds. He had lived at the foot of the mountain for over ten years before being discovered by Golden Court and taken in. Su Yao, on the other hand, was taken to Qixia Mountain at birth. In addition, the Zhongnan Daoist lineage was located in Rainbow Clouds, close to immortals and far from the mortal world, so their personalities were naturally different. But these differences could not affect their relationship...
Above, the boy, seeing this, said no more, and his figure vanished like smoke.
Only a single, almost imperceptible sentence remained, swirling in the mountain breeze of Qingnuo Mountain:
"If that's the case, then you'd better take care of yourself."
Yang Xiu respectfully kowtowed in the direction where the sound disappeared.
As he stood up, the mountain wind filled his golden robes, the golden bells hanging from his waist rang out with a clear and melodious sound, and the Profound Qi mark between his brows appeared faintly.
A poem says:
The moon hangs over Golden Ao Mountain, its glow tinged with rosy hues; a single sword, cold as frost, flashes Azure Firmament.
Where the clear light shines, all spirits find peace.
The traces of immortals are untouched by the world; why bother asking about mortal life?
The golden bells rang outwards from beyond the Green Nuo, and the Profound Qi surged like the sea.
He traded shackles for popular approval.
We both obeyed the Void Clarity decree, each leaning on the railing amidst wind and rain.