Chapter 25: A Sudden Spark of Insight on the Green Screen Grounds

"The Daoist priest resides in seclusion on Green Screen Mountain, watching the winds rise and the clouds surge from afar."

"Though you never step beyond your threshold, you know the affairs of the entire world. Hidden away in your temple, you hold sway over a radius of a thousand miles; what a truly divine life you lead."

A dashing young nobleman, dressed in flowing white robes cinched with a floral-patterned sash, a blue cap upon his head, and boots adorned with lions playing with pearls, leaned against the temple door and chuckled. Though his features held a touch of feminine softness, it did not hinder his grace; rather, it added a sense of carefree elegance, much like a top-ranking scholar of the imperial court.

Jiang Sheng remained indifferent. Sitting cross-legged on a straw mat with his eyelids lowered, he held a book, turning the pages slowly. "And what is wrong with that? Though, I must say, I have heard quite a bit of news about you, my friend."

"It is said that the renowned, dashing poet of Qingzhou is currently traveling through Qingshan County, enjoying the sights and waters. Everywhere he goes, he is accompanied by beautiful women, composing poetry and laughing at the passing seasons. How enviable."

"Master Kongxu, if you have no intention of continuing your carefree life, why have you come to seek me out?"

The visitor was none other than the "Master Kongxu," a rogue cultivator with quite a reputation throughout Qingzhou.

Master Kongxu scanned the front hall. Everything was brand new, and one could still catch the faint scent of timber. The hall lacked excessive decoration; there were only blue bricks, straw mats, an incense table, and the portrait enshrined upon it.

After a moment of silence, Master Kongxu asked, "Is the Daoist aware that rumors have been spreading like wildfire in Qingshan County lately?"

"What does that have to do with me?" Jiang Sheng countered.

Master Kongxu’s eyes twitched. He could not help but say, "Daoist, if chaos erupts in Qingshan County, it will hardly be a good thing for either of us!"

"Do not forget our objective: the River God in Taiping River! If Qingshan County falls into complete disarray, who will have the energy to deal with that River God?"

Jiang Sheng looked at Master Kongxu, his lips curling slightly. "Master Kongxu, are you truly worried about the task of slaying demons, or are you worried about the lives of the Qingshan County magistrate and his people?"

"Or perhaps, are you worried about the Ziyang Jade that the magistrate promised you?"

Ziyang Jade is a treasure of protection for Foundation Establishment cultivators when they attempt to open their Purple Mansion. Such a spiritual treasure is enough to increase one's chances of opening the Purple Mansion by ten percent, and should the attempt fail, it can protect the cultivator's heart meridian, preserving the majority of their cultivation and preventing them from dying on the spot. With Ziyang Jade, even if one fails to open the Purple Mansion, there is always a chance to try again.

Such treasures have always been controlled by the Qi Dynasty court, the great noble clans, and the major sects of each province. Although Master Kongxu had stumbled upon the legacy of a Purple Mansion cultivator, that cultivator was a rogue, and his assets were meager. It was difficult enough for Kongxu to reach the Foundation Establishment stage; resources for the Purple Mansion were scarce, let alone a precious heavenly treasure like Ziyang Jade.

However, just because Master Kongxu could not obtain it did not mean Zhang Qingyun could not. Zhang Qingyun had become a county magistrate at the age of forty, and his family had contributed significantly to his success. Furthermore, as an official of the imperial court, Zhang Qingyun received periodic allotments of cultivation resources from the state—resources typically diverted to Daoist palaces or government offices. This was why Master Kongxu chose to cooperate with him.

The same applied to the famous rogue hero of Qingzhou, Wen Renjie. The technique Wen Renjie practiced was incomplete, and his path was cut off at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. If he wished to continue, he would either need to complete the missing sections or switch to a new technique. Yet, were not all techniques capable of reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishment firmly held by the court, noble clans, or sects? As for techniques that could reach the Purple Mansion, unless one chanced upon the grotto of a predecessor, the only way to acquire one was to sell one's life to the court or a clan, or become an outer sect elder—and even then, one could rarely practice it to the late Purple Mansion stage.

Not just in the Qi Dynasty, but in all the nations of the Eastern Domain, was this not the case? The court, the clans, and the sects firmly controlled all resources: techniques, spiritual veins, pills, artifacts, spiritual plants, and treasures. The line between "one of our own" and an outsider was starkly clear. Setting aside the clans bound by blood, even the meritocratic court favored its own, and the sects were even more focused on raising disciples from childhood.

Rogue cultivators lived difficult lives wherever they went. Thus, every rogue cultivator who could achieve Foundation Establishment and open a Purple Mansion was legendary, for each possessed immense destiny. For the sake of his technique, Wen Renjie, and for the sake of the Ziyang Jade, Master Kongxu, they were the ones who least wanted Zhang Qingyun to fail and most hoped for the success of the demon-slaying mission.

Now, with rumors swirling in Qingshan County and the hearts of the people in turmoil, the local gentry and merchants were uniting to resist the magistrate’s decrees, while the villagers outside the city were petitioning for the office to abandon the operation. The county office had become the eye of a storm. Zhang Qingyun was being roasted on a spit, and the person hiding in the shadows was likely watching with a smile as he was being fried.

Given this situation, how could Master Kongxu not be anxious? Wen Renjie had already rushed back to the county to assist Xu Xiao. After much thought, Master Kongxu felt he had to invite Jiang Sheng to come down from the mountain. After all, Jiang Sheng’s strength was plain to see; the Eight Wolves of the East County had died by his hand. If Jiang Sheng stepped forward, the unrest in Qingshan County would surely subside.

But now that Jiang Sheng had punctured his intentions with a single sentence, Master Kongxu did not know how to continue.

"Master Kongxu, if you are truly worried about your Ziyang Jade, you should be in Qingshan County right now, not here with me," Jiang Sheng said.

Master Kongxu smiled. He looked around the serene and elegant Daoist temple, then turned to gaze at the distant peaks, suddenly laughing. "Daoist, this Green Screen Mountain is blessed by heaven, with spiritual energy subtly emerging. It is truly a precious land!"

"If one were to cultivate here, I suspect it would not be long before my bottleneck loosened. Breaking through to the late Foundation Establishment stage, or even opening the Purple Mansion, would be no difficult task."

Jiang Sheng’s gaze toward Master Kongxu shifted slightly. Even though Master Kongxu’s back was turned, he felt a sudden, piercing sensation, as if he were being pricked by needles. It was only for an instant, but it made his body stiffen. Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Master Kongxu gave a dry laugh. "Haha, since the Daoist is unwilling to come down from the mountain, I shall not disturb you further. I will return to the county to lend Fairy Xu a hand."

With that, Master Kongxu left the temple with an air of feigned composure, then immediately rode the wind away, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Sheng watched the direction of his departure in silence. The relaxed, indifferent expression in his eyes had long since been replaced by coldness.

"Master..." Tian Mingan appeared behind Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng said softly, "Mingan."

Tian Mingan replied, "Master, I am here."

"If someone set their eyes on your family's wealth, what would you do?" Jiang Sheng asked.

Tian Mingan answered without hesitation, "Naturally, I would fight back. Why should the wealth of the Tian family be coveted by others?" After a pause, he added, "If the other party is more powerful than us, we would have to endure for the time being, waiting until our family grows stronger or an opportunity arises before striking back."

Jiang Sheng nodded. "Indeed. One does not fear the thief who steals, but the thief who covets. When others set their eyes on your belongings but remain silent, hiding in the dark and waiting for an opportunity..."

"To encounter such a thing is truly my good fortune."

Tian Mingan asked cautiously, "Master, has that Master Kongxu set his sights on us?"

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. "He has that intention."

Tian Mingan asked again, "Then Master, what do you plan to do?"

Jiang Sheng withdrew his gaze from the distance and continued turning the pages of his book. "Do you know where Master Kongxu went wrong?"

Tian Mingan pondered and said, "Is it because he coveted our things?"

Jiang Sheng put down the book and looked at Tian Mingan. "Wrong. His mistake was not in discovering my secrets, nor in coveting my belongings."

"His greatest mistake is that his strength is inferior to mine, yet he dares to covet what is mine."

Tian Mingan nodded, half-understanding, and watched as Jiang Sheng stood up to stretch. "However, he will not die today, for he is still useful to me while he remains alive."

"Never mind, pay him no further thought. Let me see how your training has progressed these past few days. As for Master Kongxu, I will deal with him after the River God’s Grand Sacrifice."

Tian Mingan was overjoyed. He quickly said, "Master, I feel my body has grown much stronger these past few days, and my thoughts are clearer. I can faintly sense the flow of energy in my abdomen; surely, I will be able to draw energy into my body soon."

Jiang Sheng laughed softly. "Why are you in such a rush? Are you trying to catch up to me?"

"Do you know? I grew up in the Daoist Sect, from a child in swaddling clothes to learning to speak and walk. Even though I showed early wisdom, I did not begin to touch the path of cultivation until I was eight."

"The start was all about learning literature and martial arts; it took four full years before I could draw energy into my body."

"Cultivation is not something to be rushed."

Tian Mingan felt a little disappointed, but he quickly adjusted his mood and began to demonstrate his martial arts to Jiang Sheng with meticulous focus.

Jiang Sheng watched the seriousness on the boy’s face, but his thoughts had already flown far away. "This Green Screen Mountain is the domain I have claimed; it is the place I have designated to open my Purple Mansion and eventually condense my Golden Core!"

"Not to mention that I have an apprentice now. Master Kongxu, you covet my domain, but do I not also desire your opportunities?"

"Master Kongxu, do not be impatient. Once the business of slaying demons is concluded, I will send you into the cycle of reincarnation."