Chapter 78

Lu Rongbo, hearing Yue Qing's question, called the child to kneel before him: "When I was a disciple, I followed my father to practice in the Xuan Shuang Cave on Tuer Cliff in the Mangcang Mountains. My fellow disciple Yang's master, Daoist Master Cui, was acquainted with my father. He brought him to Tuer Cliff as a guest. We were young then, and like children, we collected flowers and plants to decorate the cliff walls. By mistake, we picked the aphrodisiac He Huan Lotus, which led to my pregnancy. After Master Cui took Yang back to the mountain, my father suspected my purity and wanted to kill me with a flying sword. Fortunately, Immortal Ji Le had foreseen this and left a spirit talisman that split the cliff and sealed me inside. Later, my father ascended to the heavens after the ice in the Beihai Sea melted. I practiced alone in the mountains and gave birth to him after twenty-one years, as he was conceived with the essence of the mountain and rocks, so I named him Shisheng. When I was ready to ascend, I left him in the mountains, thinking I would only see him again in the celestial realm after he achieved enlightenment. However, many unexpected events happened later. Two years ago, my master and my uncle discussed recruiting disciples to expand our sect, so I brought him here."

Shisheng was quite obedient, kneeling and kowtowing to Yue Qing, calling him "Granduncle Master."

Yue Qing asked, "You've been on the mountain for more than two years. What are you practicing now?"

Shisheng replied, "Granduncle Master, I have completed the Five Elements Techniques and am now practicing the Taiyi Mystical Art. Not long ago, Grandmaster also taught me the Hunyuan True Qi, but I am slow in progress." His tone revealed some frustration.

Yue Qing smiled, "The Hunyuan True Qi is the path to becoming a celestial immortal. No one can progress quickly, but its benefits are irreplaceable by other techniques. You should continue to focus on the Taiyi Mystical Art, but don't neglect the Hunyuan True Qi." He paused and then asked, "Show me your flying sword and treasures."

Shisheng took out a pile of items. As Yue Qing picked up each one, Shisheng explained: "This was left by my maternal grandfather, this was given by Grandmaster, and that was given by Granduncle Liu."

Yue Qing said, "Is this the Taibai Fenguang Sword passed down by Immortal Ji Le?" Seeing Lu Rongbo nod, he smiled, "When my master opened the Tian Gong Furnace to refine treasures, Immortal Ji Le was invited to help. Before he left, he asked for a flying sword to reward an uninitiated disciple, which was this sword." He then had Yang Li bring the two Feixing Swords he had given, and when the three swords were together, a large cluster of silver stars shot out. "These swords were originally three, all from the same furnace!"

Everyone was enlightened, especially Yang Li: "No wonder I found Shisheng's sword familiar when he came to the mountain. When I compared it with the Feixing Sword, they were identical. This is the reason."

Yue Qing said, "Since there is such a connection, and you are both his uncle and his master, why don't you give him the sword to complete the set?"

Yang Li quickly replied, "The combined power of the three swords is more than ten times greater. I had thought of this, but since the sword was given by my master, I didn't dare to pass it on. Now that Master says so, I will give it to him."

Yue Qing gave the three swords to Shisheng, gave some instructions, and then said to Yang Li, "I haven't checked your progress recently. I won't ask about other things, but how is your practice of the Hunyuan True Qi?" Yang Li flipped his hands, and two tea-cup-sized balls of true qi formed in his palms. Yue Qing nodded, "That's acceptable. Since you've given your flying sword to Shisheng and don't have a good sword to use, as I mentioned earlier, our Wutai Sect is famous for sword techniques, and the flying swords our disciples carry should not be shabby." He took out the Lieque Double Hooks he had obtained from Sikong Zhan, "These hooks were refined by the ancient immortal Lieque and were cultivated by Sikong Zhan for nearly a thousand years. I repeatedly refined them with the Hunyuan True Qi, erasing all traces of his cultivation, and then spent a long time refining them to make them recognize a new master. Now I will give them to you. Go back and refine them with the Hunyuan True Qi. Do not use them until you achieve oneness with them, and do not use them lightly when you encounter Sikong Zhan."

Yang Li was overjoyed, "Such a precious treasure, how can I dare to..."

"How can you not! You are my disciple and will be the first male immortal among the second generation of the Wutai Sect, on par with Rongbo. It is fitting for you to wield this ancient immortal's treasure." After saying this, he bestowed the double hooks. Yang Li was delighted, holding the green and blue immortal hooks, and stepped aside.

Yue Qing then talked with Xu Feiniang and Liu Quan about the events of the past few years. Xu Feiniang said, "In recent years, we have been keeping a low profile, focusing on cultivation and rarely going out. At first, many old acquaintances came to visit, but after a few rejections, they gradually stopped. The same is true for other sects with foresight, such as the Chunyang Sect, Laoshan Sect, Maoshan Sect, Kunlun Sect, Wudang Sect, and our familiar Emei Sect. They are all developing quietly, recruiting many disciples, and accumulating strength. Only the demonic sects are causing trouble, with Wei Fengniang in Qingshelu being the most active. It is said that she obtained secret manuals left by two elders of the Northern Demonic Sect, cultivated supreme demonic arts, and gathered many wandering cultivators to rebuild the Northern Demonic Sect, creating a huge stir. The Eastern, Western, and Southern Demonic Sects have also been influenced, refining treasures and recruiting disciples. Even those we drove off the mountain, such as the Ciyun Temple, are thriving and forming alliances, preparing to fight a decisive battle with the Emei Sect. I used the先天神卦 (Xiantian Shengua) to divine, but the heavenly signs are unclear. However, in about six or seven years, there will be a major calamity, followed by a series of disasters, which is truly unsettling."

Liu Quan also said, "All sects are accumulating strength, especially the Emei Sect, which has recruited many disciples with excellent aptitude and physical constitution. My sister and I went out a few times but found few suitable candidates. My sister mentioned that she met an old friend last year, whose daughter, Lian Shoujing, has extraordinary aptitude and physical constitution, but she wants to serve her parents and only leave home after their passing, so we had to put it on hold."

Yue Qing smiled, "There are many people in the world, and there are still many good candidates. It's just that the right time hasn't come yet. In recent years, I have thought about the future of the Wutai Sect and have divined several times about our disciples. Now, several connections have matured. You should go back and refine the new flying swords and treasures you have obtained. Those who haven't received them should practice their techniques more diligently. In half a month, I will take you all down the mountain to recruit those disciples."

Everyone was delighted, as the Wutai Sect has strict rules and many enemies, and they are not allowed to go out casually to avoid trouble. Now, hearing that they could go out, how could they not be happy? Especially Situ Ping, who is now ten years old and has grown taller, though still somewhat thin, but with a strong aura and a condensed spirit. He was holding Shisheng's hand and talking about the outside world. Shisheng was sealed in a stone wall since birth and could only leave the cliff after his mother ascended. Even then, he couldn't go beyond a ten-mile radius. After being brought to Wutai Mountain by his mother, he never left again. He always listened to Situ Ping talk about the outside world, yearning to go out and play.

In no time, half a month passed. Yue Qing gathered everyone and first said to Xu Feiniang, "Sister, go to the Bingyuan Mountain on Juling Island in the Beihai Sea to find Ling Weisou. When he was not yet enlightened, he had a child with a wealthy woman and took him to Wuding Island. Xiankong Laozu disliked the child's background and refused to accept him. Ling Weisou had to raise him elsewhere. I have divined that the child was a cultivator in his previous life and has extraordinary aptitude. You can propose to Ling Weisou to take the child as a disciple. Ling Weisou is worried about the child's future and will not refuse."

Xu Feiniang smiled, "That's easy. I once heard Ling Weisou mention his son, who troubled him, but I never met him. If I had known he had such extraordinary aptitude, I would have taken him as a disciple years ago."

Yue Qing then said to Liu Quan, "Brother Liu, go to the Tiancan Ridge in the Mangcang Mountains. There is a filial son living there. My divination shows that his mother is seriously ill. You can cure her with a magic pill and take him as a disciple. There are also ten-thousand-year-old Qingqing and Taiyi Essence sealed in a square green stone, along with many mature He Shouwu and Huangjing nearby. Collect them and have Wei Kan bring them back here. Then immediately head to the area near Qingshelu to meet me."

Liu Quan was surprised, "Qingshelu is not what it used to be; it has become a den of demons. Is Master planning to challenge them?"

Yue Qing smiled, "With just the two of us, how can we challenge them? I have divined that one of your old fellow disciples is in trouble there. We will rescue her and invite her to join our Wutai Sect."

Liu Quan frowned, thinking, "One of my old fellow disciples? If Master values her, she must be extraordinary. Could it be Chan Deng or Pidi Lao Ni?"