Chapter 60: Secluded Cultivation and an Old Friend's Visit

"Master, you have returned."

Tian Ming'an looked at Jiang Sheng with pleasant surprise.

Ever since Jiang Sheng left Qingping Mountain, the people who came to climb the mountain to pay their respects grew higher in status and deeper in cultivation day by day. Although Tian Ming'an had acted according to Jiang Sheng's instructions, he still inevitably felt somewhat pressured. Now that Jiang Sheng was back, Tian Ming'an finally had his backbone and anchor.

"Who has come to visit me while I was away?"

Returning to Qingxuan Taoist Temple, Jiang Sheng was in high spirits. Within his own domain, he felt an incomparable sense of comfort.

Tian Ming'an hurriedly retrieved a stack of calling cards. "This is the calling card of Senior Zha Liangping."

"This one was sent by Senior Zhao Hong of the Zhao family in Hai County, who mentioned that he is acquainted with you."

"The major Purple Mansion clans of Qingzhou have all sent calling cards, as well as the Heaven Sword Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect, and the Embracing Moon Sect."

"As for those Foundation Establishment clans, there are simply too many to count."

Jiang Sheng smiled and waved his hand. "Pay no mind to these things."

Tian Ming'an spoke up again, "Master, the Azure Cloud Sect and the Heaven Sword Sect also sent you a welcoming gift."

Jiang Sheng casually took the gift inventory and glanced through it; a long list of materials was recorded upon it.

Third-tier spirit-attracting gold, fire copper stone, blazing jade marrow, dark ice crystal...

There were also third-tier spiritual herbs such as nine-leaf ganoderma, dragon-subduing ginseng, phantom-heart grass, and five-willow root.

"This truly is a generous gift. Did they mention any reason?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Tian Ming'an shook his head. "They didn't give any reason. They simply left the items along with the calling cards and departed."

Jiang Sheng chuckled softly, tossing the inventory back to Tian Ming'an. "As expected of Golden Core sects with thousands of years of heritage; their worldly tact is truly flawless."

"Ming'an, find a side hall to serve as a storeroom and store all these items properly."

"Once I have some free time later on, I can use them to refine pills and forge weapons."

Tian Ming'an smiled and replied, "Your disciple obeys."

Upon returning to Qingxuan Taoist Temple, Jiang Sheng resumed his peaceful cultivation.

After submitting their calling cards, neither the three major sects nor the eight great clans of Qingzhou came to disturb Jiang Sheng again, even though they knew he had returned.

Jiang Sheng similarly secluded himself within Qingping Mountain and never stepped outside, both sides maintaining this rare and tacit understanding.

Whether it was the three Golden Core sects or the eight Purple Mansion clans, they all understood Jiang Sheng's temperament very well. Jiang Sheng was not the kind of person who would stir up the entire world just because he achieved a momentary success. Having emerged from an orthodox sect of the Mysterious Gate, Jiang Sheng possessed an exceptional state of mind; he was untethered by external objects and devoted his heart entirely to cultivation.

This posed no threat to the existing powers of Qingzhou, nor would it affect their status. After all, Jiang Sheng was merely cultivating in seclusion here and might gather his supreme medicinal ingredients and return to Penglai at any moment.

A crossing dragon could not disrupt the local river serpents, so both the clans and the sects were quite willing to be on good terms with Jiang Sheng, knowing he harbored no covetous desires toward them. On the contrary, if a rogue cultivator or someone with poor temperament gained such strength, they would turn the local region upside down, eager to make everyone aware of their might. Furthermore, such individuals would contend with local sects and clans for resources and territory, disrupting regional stability.

Reasonably and sentimentally alike, the sects and clans of Qingzhou far preferred a high-ranking master from Penglai like Jiang Sheng. Those hailing from orthodox Mysterious Gate lineages never fell short in their conduct and dealings.

Time flowed like water, with winters and summers passing in the blink of an eye.

The fame of Qingxuan Taoist Temple on Qingping Mountain resounded throughout Qingzhou. Although the Daoist priest Jiang Sheng had not shown his face for several years, who among the cultivators in Qingzhou could ever forget that exceptional Daoist master who had crossed realms to defeat a Purple Mansion cultivator while still in the Foundation Establishment stage, and then slain a Golden Core master with a sword while in the Purple Mansion realm?

At the summit of the main peak of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng had cleaved the peak flat with a single sword stroke, bringing Tian Ming'an here to cultivate.

"Left, right, right, left!"

Tian Ming'an struggled to parry and dodge, barely withstanding Jiang Sheng's offensive.

To call it an offensive was an overstatement; in reality, Jiang Sheng was merely casually plucking a tree branch to test Tian Ming'an's swordsmanship.

Seeing Tian Ming'an's battered and exhausted state, Jiang Sheng sighed with helpless amusement.

"In the span of a single breath, you manage to reveal three flaws."

Tian Ming'an lowered his head. "Master, your swordsmanship has reached a transcendent and divine level. Even when you suppress your cultivation, it is still simply not something your disciple can withstand."

Jiang Sheng could not help but laugh. "You certainly know how to flatter people."

"Very well, let us stop here for today."

Hearing this, Tian Ming'an hurried forward. "Master, tell me about Penglai."

Jiang Sheng casually selected a smooth stone slab and sat down. "As for matters concerning Penglai, I cannot tell you too much just yet. But I can tell you about Yuanqiao."

"Yuanqiao?" Tian Ming'an immediately sat up straight and proper, waiting for Jiang Sheng to continue.

With his eyes slightly narrowed and a faint smile on his face, as if recalling past events, Jiang Sheng said, "Indeed, Yuanqiao is one of Penglai's outer islands, and also the place where I lived for more than a dozen years."

"Yuanqiao spans a radius of a thousand miles and is home to millions of living beings, half of whom are mortals and the other half cultivators."

"Every hundred years, Yuanqiao briefly reveals itself. When that time comes, all living beings in the Eastern Wastelands may venture out to sea to search for it. Anyone who manages to find Yuanqiao and pass its three trials is qualified to enter Penglai as a disciple."

"I stayed on Yuanqiao until I was fifteen years old, and only after passing the three trials did I enter the Daoist sect."

Tian Ming'an asked with some confusion, "Master, with your status, could you not enter Penglai directly?"

Jiang Sheng chuckled. "What status do I speak of? I was merely an orphan abandoned by my parents the moment I was born."

"The elderly man who saved me was merely an inner disciple of Penglai. How could he possibly secure my direct entry into the sect?"

"Ming'an, do you know why there are so many mortals and cultivators on Yuanqiao? The vast majority of them are the descendants and retainers of Penglai's past generations of disciples."

"Yet even if they are the offspring of some elder, if they fail the three trials, they are still forbidden from entering Penglai and must remain living on the outer islands. This is an ironclad rule."

"Penglai does not belong to any single family or surname."

Listening to this, Tian Ming'an could not help but reveal a look of yearning.

A Penglai that did not belong to a single family or surname—whether one was a master-transmitted disciple or a clan descendant, background was disregarded entirely, and only one's personal capability mattered.

Only a sect of this caliber could hold the reins of the entire world, perhaps?

"Do not let your mind wander too much on such things. You must cultivate diligently; otherwise, if you fail the three trials in the future, do not expect your master to bail you out."

Jiang Sheng's voice was gentle, but Tian Ming'an understood the weight of this warning.

"Rest assured, Master, your disciple will definitely be able to enter Penglai in the future," Tian Ming'an said with utmost solemnity.

Jiang Sheng smiled. "With that resolve, practice diligently. I do not possess many skills; my swordsmanship, talisman-making, and pill-alchemy are merely passable."

"For now, you need not ponder other matters. Simply master your swordsmanship and learn the art of talisman-making."

With that, Jiang Sheng stood up and looked down toward the Qingxuan Taoist Temple halfway up the mountain.

He had stayed on Qingping Mountain for nearly ten years now, and the spiritual Qi within the mountain had grown increasingly abundant. The spiritual vein hidden beneath the main peak clearly possessed a grade far exceeding the third tier.

With such a spiritual vein, Jiang Sheng could steadily cultivate up to the late Purple Mansion stage and subsequently travel across the Eastern Wastelands to seek his opportunity for Golden Core formation.

To achieve a superior-grade Golden Core, having an essence, breath, and spirit that were flawless and unblemished was merely one requirement. The opportunity for Golden Core formation did not refer solely to supreme medicinal ingredients; most importantly, it lay in wandering amidst mountains and rivers to temper one's Dao heart and attain self-realization. As for the medicinal ingredients for core formation, they were secondary.

The fourth-grade treasure talisman rewarded to him by the sect leader was useful for core formation only because it contained a Bodhi fruit.

"To steal a moment of leisure amidst a busy life is already a rare blessing. Cultivate well."

Having spoken, Jiang Sheng leaped down the mountain and returned to the Qingxuan Taoist Temple to continue his secluded cultivation.

Several more years slipped by, and the reputation of the Qingxuan Taoist Temple on Qingping Mountain grew increasingly illustrious throughout Qingzhou. The less Jiang Sheng showed his face, the more miraculous the legends surrounding him became.

By now, not only the cultivators of Qingzhou, but cultivators across several states of the Qi Kingdom all knew that an extraordinary prodigy was living in seclusion in Qingzhou.

On this day, a young Daoist priest wearing dark robes and a green crown strolled leisurely onto Qingping Mountain.

The Daoist had stern, handsome features and an extraordinary bearing; his steps carried the carefree and natural grace of someone taking a stroll in his own courtyard.

Arriving before the Qingxuan Taoist Temple, he looked upon the tranquil and elegant Daoist architecture, sensed its aura for a moment, and could not help but smile. "Truly a blessed sanctuary."

"Greetings, Senior. May I ask the purpose of your visit to the Qingxuan Taoist Temple?"

Tian Ming'an looked at the Daoist before him with a hint of vigilance. This Daoist's strength was unfathomable; by all appearances, he seemed entirely comparable to his own master. How could Tian Ming'an not be on guard? When had such a profound Daoist master arrived in Qingzhou?

The Daoist smiled. "Young Daoist child, is Jiang Sheng, also known as Jiang Yuanchen, cultivating here?"

Before Tian Ming'an could reply, his master's voice rang out.

"May I ask which Jiang Sheng, and which Jiang Yuanchen, our esteemed guest is looking for?"

The Daoist smiled. "Naturally, the Jiang Sheng of Yuanqiao Town and Jiang Yuanchen of Penglai's Eastern Courtyard."

Jiang Sheng strolled out leisurely from the temple, gazed at the Daoist before him, and suddenly smiled. "Fifteen years have passed since our parting at Penglai. How have you been, Yunxuan?"

"I have been doing very well indeed. I wonder how Yuanchen has fared?" the Daoist replied with a smile.

Jiang Sheng laughed heartily and said to Tian Ming'an, "This is a good friend of mine from the Daoist sect, Lin Fan, Lin Yunxuan. You should address him as Uncle-Master Lin."

Tian Ming'an hurriedly bowed. "Ming'an greets Uncle-Master Lin."

Lin Fan chuckled. "Yuanchen, this disciple of yours is quite clever; he is bound to become a figure of note in the future."

"Since this is our first meeting, I have nothing particularly good to give him. Earlier in the Wei State, I happened to slay a flood dragon. Take this single horn as a plaything."

With that, Lin Fan produced a flood dragon horn measuring a full six feet in length. The ferocious aura emanating from it clearly indicated that this was the horn of a flood dragon on the verge of forming a Golden Core.

Tian Ming'an took the dragon horn with a flustered expression and hastily expressed his gratitude.

By now, Jiang Sheng had already led Lin Fan into the temple.

In the front hall, Lin Fan cautiously took a sip of tea and then let out a satisfied, lingering sigh. "I haven't tasted this Immortal-Platform Mist-Hidden Tea for over a dozen years. I knew Yuanchen must still have some of this treasured tea hidden away."

Jiang Sheng said with feigned annoyance, "I don't have much of this tea left either. Since you, Lin Yunxuan, have graced me with your presence, could it be solely for a cup of my tea?"

Lin Fan burst into hearty laughter, his expression turning serious immediately after. "Of course not!"

"My aspirations, Lin's ambitions, are like a great river flowing eastward into the sea—how could I ever linger over a mere cup of tea?"

"I have come this time because I discovered a stroke of fortune. Would Yuanchen care to accompany me?"

"What kind of fortune?" Jiang Sheng's interest was piqued; he was quite curious as to what wonderful treasure could prompt Lin Fan to travel thousands of miles to seek him out.

Lin Fan replied, "Water and Fire Spirit Pearls!"