Azure and Yellow Interwoven in Harmony

In the Cang Water Secret Realm, within the Azure Water Hall.

At that moment, Su Yao and the Shengyu egg were the only ones in the hall.

Su Yao sat cross-legged, brilliant Li Fire blazing around him.

Suddenly, the Li Fire around Su Yao rapidly contracted into a single point and entered the space between his brows!

Then he slowly opened his eyes, a smile on his face.

He thought to himself:

At last, I've mastered this Southern Emperor Profound Light.

This Technique is of the seventh grade and belongs to the path of Li Fire. Although Rainbow Clouds has an affinity for fire,

Fire virtue has five manifestations. Li Fire is where the Red Emperor dwells and belongs to the human path. Rainbow Clouds, however, belongs to the immortal kind, so the difference between them is considerable.

This Law Technique is already high in grade, and what is rarer still is its killing power. Among the fires of fire virtue, this one is the most radiant.

Just as he was marveling to himself, the restriction he had placed at the entrance to the Azure Water Hall began to tremble violently.

His heart jolted. Could the azure mist have dissipated?

A month ago, azure mist had spread throughout the Cang Water Secret Realm. Unable to determine the cause, he had begun cultivating Law Techniques.

The two of them were standing guard for him and would never disturb him without good reason. It seemed something had happened outside.

He hurriedly swallowed a pill to restore his Law Power, then rose and headed out.

When he reached the entrance, he removed the restriction, but did not open the doors.

He immediately heard Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi laughing excitedly, and had a rough idea of what had happened.

He discreetly sensed Little Red's and Little Orange's condition.

Only then did he open the doors, reassured.

Outside the hall, Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi heard the movement behind them and turned around.

They saw Su Yao emerge from the Azure Water Hall with a delighted look on his face, and his familiar voice reached them:

"What is it? Why are you so happy?"

Liu Yunhe immediately came over, pointed to the right, and said with a smile:

"Daozi, please look."

Su Yao followed the direction he pointed, but noticed nothing at first.

After looking closely for a few breaths, however, he realized something was different.

The azure mist that filled the entire secret realm was dissipating.

He then looked at their ecstatic expressions. Though he still had doubts, he asked:

"When did the mist begin to thin?"

Liu Yunhe answered with a smile:

"This morning."

Su Yao nodded, feeling somewhat reassured.

He then looked at the two of them:

"This mist may well disperse in the next few days. Get yourselves into good shape. Nanzhao is no safe place."

The two nodded.

Su Yao was just about to turn back into the hall when Li Siyi called out to him:

"Daozi... have you mastered the Law Technique?"

Su Yao turned his head to look back, a point of Li Fire flickering between his brows.

Li Siyi stared in astonishment and stood dazed for a moment:

"Daozi, could you..."

She paused, her face reddening slightly, and said awkwardly:

"Give us... some pointers?"

Seeing that Su Yao had not answered, she hurriedly said:

"Fellow Daoist Liu and I have also been cultivating the Azure and Yellow Interwoven in Harmony that you bestowed on us last time, Daozi. We still haven't managed to complete the encirclement."

Su Yao was taken aback. More than a month ago, when azure mist had filled the skies of the Cang Water Secret Realm, he had needed to cultivate a Law Technique himself.

Remembering that the two had shown some tacit understanding when they fought together before, he had bestowed that sixth-grade Law Technique, Azure and Yellow Interwoven in Harmony, on them. It was a joint attack Technique; when used alone, it was only fifth-grade, but when used together, it was sixth-grade.

He looked at them:

"Show me."

The two exchanged a glance and stepped forward.

Liu Yunhe formed the Azure Wood Growth Seal with both hands and murmured:

"He Wood governs bonds; cast off the old and bring forth new splendor. Emerald feathers perch on branches; turn vines into ribbons.

"Rooted in deep earth, fear no overturning. Azure Qi flows all around, life renewing itself as before."

On the other side, Li Siyi formed the Wu Earth Abundant Virtue Seal with both hands and chanted:

"Wu Earth governs the center; abundant virtue bears all things. Five mists condense into splendor; mountains gather into a wall.

"With wood to loosen it, neither stagnation nor rot remains. Yellow Qi settles andcondenses, forever securing my earth."

As both finished speaking, their Law Power converged, forming a halo of interwoven azure and yellow that gradually spread into a circular domain thirty zhang across.

Su Yao quietly sensed it.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, rosy light shimmered over him. He looked at the two again:

"Attack me."

Both hurriedly shook their heads. Su Yao said sternly:

"Attack!"

Only then did the two nod, chanting in unison:

"Azure and yellow interwoven in harmony, Spirit Roots forever secure.

"Wood and earth give rise to each other; no evil may enter.

"Join to form a city wall, transform into a prison.

"Forest walls and earthen ramparts, let no baleful thing trespass."

As their voices fell, earthen spikes rose one after another beneath Su Yao's feet. Atop the spikes, towering trees appeared out of thin air and closed in on him.

But Su Yao made no move, simply standing there, and the giant trees and earthen walls remained unable to close around him.

Seeing this, Su Yao let a point of Li Fire flicker between his brows. It was the Southern Emperor Profound Light he had just mastered.

The radiance of the Li Fire shone forth, and the giant trees instantly withered. Then the Li Fire turned into a raging blaze, and the earthen walls burned away as well.

Their Law Technique broken, Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi each spat out a mouthful of blood.

Su Yao pondered for a moment before speaking:

"Your Azure and Yellow Interwoven in Harmony has only the form, but not the spirit."

He looked at Liu Yunhe. "For He Wood, the important word is 'harmony.' Above, it accords with the seasons of heaven; below, it joins with the Qi of the earth; between them, it unites the hearts of men. Yet when you formed the seal just now, you were thinking of 'trapping the enemy,' not 'giving rise to each other.' Wood sought to give rise to earth, yet you used wood to trap earth; earth sought to nourish wood, yet you dragged it into a wall. Wood and earth should aid each other like husband and wife, and depend on each other like flesh and bone. But you two each acted on your own. Though the Law Technique took shape, its spirit had already scattered."

He then looked at Li Siyi. "Wu Earth's abundant virtue bears all things without contention. Yet you were eager to form a city wall and build a prison, losing the softness of earth's nature. Wood's roots cannot sink deep into rigid earth, so naturally azure and yellow do not intertwine, and the flow of harmony is blocked. What's more, I shone the Southern Emperor Profound Light upon it. Li Fire scorched the wood, and once the wood withered, the earth had nothing to bring forth; the fire also burned the earth, and once the earth was scorched, the wood had nothing to rely on. Your domain looks like a weave of azure and yellow, but in truth, azure remains azure, and yellow remains yellow. They have never truly blended."

He paused, his tone softening:

"After you return, each of you should reflect in silence: Liu Yunhe, practice 'harmony'; Li Siyi, practice 'acceptance.' When you can bury an unripe fruit in the earth, neither hasten nor aid it, and let it naturally take root and sprout, then bloom with flowers of mixed azure and yellow, you will have truly learned the basics of this Law Technique. Go."

Liu Yunhe bowed:

"Yunhe will remember Daozi's guidance. I will reflect on 'harmony' as soon as I return."

Li Siyi also lowered her head and replied:

"Siyi has learned from your instruction. I will quietly contemplate 'acceptance' and dare not be hasty again."

Su Yao nodded:

"Go."

After the two had each gone to a side hall, he shook his head to himself.

As for how useful this Law Technique was, that was uncertain. He had merely taken the opportunity to make the two of them put aside the grudges in their hearts and learn to achieve harmony together.

What he truly wanted was for the two of them to be able to contend and compete within certain bounds-competing for merit, comparing their progress, or testing whose Law Techniques were superior were all fine.

He only hoped they could contend without falling apart, and be harmonious without being the same.

Though it was not obvious now, wherever there were people, there would be a jianghu. He still had to guard against trouble before it arose.

Besides, they were leaving for Nanzhao soon, and would have to work together for a long time afterward.

If infighting damaged their relations and ruined important matters, it would do no one any good.

"Azure and Yellow Interwoven in Harmony"-azure was He Wood; yellow was Wu Earth.

Wood and earth gave rise to each other, interweaving in harmony.

The key lay in "harmony," not "strife."

The Law Technique was the surface; the human heart was what lay beneath. Only when the outer and inner were one could there be perfection.