Chapter 42: Even Mortals Harbor Unyielding Pride

"With a formidable enemy threatening my Master, if this disciple were to run away now, I would have no face left to live in this world."

"As a newcomer to the path of cultivation, this disciple has never witnessed the might of a Golden Core master."

"Please, Master, simply regard me as a newborn calf that knows no fear."

Tian Ming'an knelt on the ground, refusing to lift his head, his voice trembling slightly.

"Ha, what a joke."

Jiang Sheng could not help but laugh. "Are you still harboring some kind of hope?"

"Such as hoping your Master can summon some powerful expert to lend a hand?"

"I might as well tell you plainly: your Master is merely an inner sect disciple of Penglai, and the most ordinary kind at that."

"There are countless inner sect disciples in Penglai, and it is commonplace for them to die during external trials. No one will come to help your Master, and certainly no one will come to avenge me."

"Knowing this, do you still wish to stay here and court death?"

Tian Ming'an raised his head, his expression resolute. "This disciple wishes to stay."

Seeing Tian Ming'an's stubborn appearance, Jiang Sheng simply dropped a casual remark: "Then stay."

With that, Jiang Sheng flicked his sleeve, releasing a surge of spiritual energy.

The Flowing Light Azure Water Array set up around the Daoist temple was thoroughly activated, and a curtain of flowing light and water rose up, enveloping the temple and cutting it off from the outside world.

"Take care of yourself. Your Master is going into seclusion."

Jiang Sheng dismissed Tian Ming'an, sealed the front hall doors of the Daoist temple, and after that, not a single sound came from within.

Tian Ming'an looked at the tightly shut front hall, bit his lip, and turned to enter the side hall.

From then on, the Qingxuan Temple plunged into absolute silence, and outsiders could no longer probe the state of affairs within.

The first to discover that the Qingxuan Temple was inaccessible was Tian Guofu.

He had wanted to go up the mountain to see his grandson, but to his surprise, the entire temple was blocked by a layer of water screen, making it impossible to get even halfway close.

Tian Guofu tried to call out, but his voice seemed to be sealed off from the outside as well.

With no other choice, Tian Guofu had to turn back.

By the time of the Waking of Insects solar term, Zhang Qing also wanted to come to the temple to seek an audience with Jiang Sheng, and similarly found herself unable to approach the temple.

Upon returning to the county office, Zhang Qing shared this news with Zhang Qingyun, deducing that Jiang Sheng was in seclusion and did not wish to be disturbed by outsiders.

Thus, Zhang Qingyun joyfully issued a public notice, informing all gentry, wealthy merchants, and commoners of the county that Daoist Master Jiang had entered seclusion for cultivation and that idlers were strictly forbidden from approaching Qingping Mountain.

At first, some people refused to believe it, thinking this was one of Zhang Qingyun's ruses.

However, after several groups of gentry went up the mountain and were indeed blocked outside the temple, everyone knew that Daoist Master Jiang had truly gone into seclusion.

From then on, although a few stragglers still wanted to come and beg for incense or talismans, they were all blocked by the water screen and returned empty-handed.

Consequently, within the span of a few short months, Qingping Mountain gradually faded from the memories of ordinary people.

Compared to the mysterious Daoist Master Jiang whom they could never even meet, the immediate concerns of firewood, rice, oil, and salt were far more worthy of ordinary people's attention.

Meanwhile, rogue cultivators were all bustling and risking their lives for cultivation resources such as spirit stones, elixirs, and cultivation techniques, leaving them no time to care about anyone else.

The names Qingxuan Temple and Daoist Master Jiang thus faded from the sight of the people in Dongjun.

As for Jiang Sheng inside the Qingxuan Temple, he felt that this period of time had been exceptionally comfortable.

Every day, he greeted the morning mists at dawn and gathered the moonlight at night, transforming all the morning glow and lunar essence into the pure spiritual energy within his body, improving his cultivation realm bit by bit.

Every single day, Jiang Sheng's advancement was visible to the naked eye.

For ordinary rogue cultivators, small sects, or minor aristocratic families whose innate talent and comprehension were mediocre and who lacked cultivation resources, it was perhaps common for their cultivation not to increase by even a sliver over ten days, half a month, or even half a year.

Yet for a cultivator like Jiang Sheng who had achieved Heaven-Foundation Establishment, the Dao foundation within his body constantly absorbed the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.

Coupled with the extraordinary nature of Penglai's cultivation manual, the *Heaven-Earth Water Scripture*, Jiang Sheng's cultivation realm grew at a rapid pace.

Within a mere three months, Jiang Sheng's strength had increased by another tier.

In June, at the Summer Solstice.

More than three months after entering seclusion, Jiang Sheng left the front hall for the first time.

During these three months, not only had Jiang Sheng reaped considerable gains, but Tian Ming'an had also developed a certain feel for cultivation.

He was now a cultivator at the second layer of Qi Refining.

When Jiang Sheng emerged from seclusion, Tian Ming'an was pleasantly surprised: "Master, you've come out of seclusion?!"

"I merely came out to catch some breath and check on your progress along the way."

Jiang Sheng glanced at Tian Ming'an and nodded approvingly. Tian Ming'an's comprehension was not bad; to be able to cultivate to the second layer of Qi Refining in three months without guidance was already quite impressive for a newcomer.

"If you have any troubles in your cultivation, speak of them quickly. Who knows when Master will come out next," Jiang Sheng said.

Hearing this, Tian Ming'an quickly voiced the doubts he had encountered while practicing the *Qingyuan Talisman Scripture*.

Jiang Sheng himself had cultivated up to the ninth layer of Qi Refining using the *Qingyuan Talisman Scripture* before switching exclusively to the *Heaven-Earth Water Scripture*, so his understanding of the former was naturally extremely profound.

Coupled with the fact that Jiang Sheng was now in the Foundation Establishment realm, his insights into the *Qingyuan Talisman Scripture* from this higher vantage point were even deeper.

Consequently, Jiang Sheng quickly resolved all of Tian Ming'an's doubts.

Jiang Sheng even went so far as to project his spiritual energy externally to demonstrate the circulation of the technique for Tian Ming'an, and explained two defensive arts contained within the *Qingyuan Talisman Scripture*.

Through Jiang Sheng's explanation, Tian Ming'an clearly gained a great deal.

This was precisely the truth behind the saying: a single sentence from a true master outweighs ten thousand books of false teachings.

Having someone to guide you versus practicing blindly by yourself yielded completely different speeds of progress.

Seeing that Tian Ming'an was intent on practicing according to his methods, Jiang Sheng added, "Ming'an, your Master is currently only at Foundation Establishment, but certain insights remain universal to you."

"Remember this: any cultivation manual is compiled by its creator based on their own specific circumstances."

"If the creator achieves a hundred percent effect from their practice, then when applied to outsiders like us, it may only yield seventy or eighty percent, or even less."

"The *Qingyuan Talisman Scripture* has actually been continuously refined by generations of true inheritors from the Daoist sects to achieve its present state of balance and neutrality, making it suitable for the enlightenment of all cultivators."

"Even so, everyone's circumstances differ, and cultivation cannot be generalized."

"What I have taught you is merely my personal insight; you must never blindly copy me entirely. You must incorporate elements of your own."

"Do you understand?"

Tian Ming'an nodded thoughtfully. "This disciple understands."

Jiang Sheng nodded, raised his head, and gazed through the Flowing Light Azure Water Array out toward the rolling mountains, where the undulating peaks were entirely cloaked in verdant green. "All things are growing and flourishing; truly, this is a fine time."

The next day, Jiang Sheng returned to the front hall to continue his seclusion.

After bustling with life for merely a single day, the Qingxuan Temple once again fell into complete silence.

Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged before the portrait of the Patriarch, quietly running his technique and practicing Qi meditation.

Whenever his practice reached high noon, Jiang Sheng would take a Yuan-Gathering Pill; as evening approached, he would swallow a Vitality-Nourishing Pill.

Jiang Sheng consumed only these two pills daily, never being greedy for more.

No matter how superior an elixir might be, the issue of medicinal toxins still existed.

In the vast realm of mountains and rivers, an immortal elixir completely devoid of medicinal toxins, whose efficacy could be one hundred percent absorbed and utilized by a practitioner, had never once appeared.

Jiang Sheng knew deeply that one must not be insatiable, and cultivation must proceed with measured progress.

Every month, Jiang Sheng even set aside specific time to purge the medicinal toxins from his body, lest these impurities affect his future core formation.

The sun and moon revolved; summer rains gave way to autumn winds.

In the blink of an eye, the season reached late autumn, and the Qingxuan Temple had vanished from the eyes of the common folk in Qingping County for over half a year.

During these past six months or so, Zhang Qingyun had felt exceptionally comfortable.

With Jiang Sheng making no appearance, Zhang Qingyun felt as though the towering mountain pressing down upon him had vanished, leaving his entire body feeling incomparably light and free.

Moreover, as more than half of the deeply entrenched gentry in Qingping County had been purged, those who remained all understood who was truly calling the shots now.

One by one, they were utterly subservient to him, making Zhang Qingyun's governance remarkably smooth.

In Qingping County today, with no gentry to obstruct him, no river deity lurking at his side, and even Jiang Sheng in seclusion, Zhang Qingyun had never felt better.

They say happy events bring a buoyant spirit; after more than half a year of fermentation, the imperial court had truly bestowed rewards upon Zhang Qingyun.

The court's commendation was secondary; what made Zhang Qingyun the happiest was the quota bestowed by the court to enter the Qingzhou Dao Palace for cultivation.

That was the quota he had yearned for and striven to secure for his daughter.

However, when Zhang Qingyun shared this news with Zhang Qing, she appeared very calm and did not seem particularly joyful.

"Qing'er, this is a qualification to cultivate in the Qingzhou Dao Palace! Aren't you happy?" Zhang Qingyun asked in utter puzzlement.

Zhang Qing, however, replied, "Since Father has secured such a rare resource for your daughter, naturally I am pleased."

"Yet, Father, what is the cultivation realm of the lecturing masters at the Qingzhou Dao Palace?"

"The Purple Mansion realm. Is that not enough?" Zhang Qingyun asked, uncomprehending.

Zhang Qing said, "The Purple Mansion realm is naturally not low; after all, the eight great aristocratic families of the eight counties in Qingzhou are only at the Purple Mansion realm."

"However, Father, above the Qingzhou Dao Palace, there are still the three major sects of Qingzhou."

"Compared to Golden Core masters, is the Purple Mansion realm still anything to rejoice over?"

With that, Zhang Qing raised her head to look at the blazing sun in the sky. The autumn sunlight was still somewhat dazzling, forcing her to raise her delicate hand to shield her eyes.

"Father, since one embarks on cultivation, naturally one should follow the very best."

"Although your daughter does not know how good her innate talent and comprehension are, she considers herself clever."

"Your daughter also has ambitions. My mother spent her entire life as a mere Qi Refining cultivator, driven and exhausted to her death by the family; and even a Foundation Establishment cultivator is merely an ordinary elder within a clan."

"Your daughter wishes to forge a Golden Core and witness what kind of scenery exists at the realm of Golden Core masters."

Zhang Qingyun sat in stunned silence for a long while before sighing wistfully, "It turns out this father has indeed underestimated you."

The autumn wind blew desolate and bleak; leaves fell and withered yellow.

From late autumn to the depths of winter, it felt like nothing more than the blinking of an eye.

A whole year of time had slipped away just like that.

Mortals sighed that time flows swiftly and grows old overnight, and that withered beauty cannot rival the past.

Time, whether to mortals or cultivators, was infinitely precious.

Even those in the mortal world with wealth rivaling nations, sitting atop countless fortunes, could not buy back time, while longevity elixirs in the cultivation world were harder to find than rare treasures.

Yet while mortals felt a century was too long, cultivators instead felt a year was far too short.

As a full year passed thus, and countless people lamented whether their year had been spent in carefree leisure or dreary boredom, Jiang Sheng within the Qingxuan Temple finally emerged from seclusion once more.

In the dead of winter, it was the start of yet another new year.

Outside the mountain, fireworks filled the skies, accompanied by firecrackers, lanterns, and joyous festivities.

Inside the mountain, all was quiet and still, bathed in cold moonlight and isolated from the world.

The Daoist stood in the courtyard, gazing into the depths of the late-night sky at the bright moon. Feeling the solid and undeniable late Foundation Establishment realm cultivation within his body, Jiang Sheng's expression remained tranquil, devoid of any overwhelming joy.

"Only one year left."