Chapter 11

When Aizhongwen recommended a person who could surpass Moyuan, Zhengxun's face lit up with joy and said, "I wonder which junior brother Aizhongwen is referring to, and where he is now?"

Aizhongwen replied, "This person is named Zhang Yan, a disciple of Shan Yuan Guan. He has been in seclusion recently and has not attended the Dharma Assembly. I believe he is still in his residence, cultivating in seclusion. I hope Senior Brother can bestow the Xiazhe Golden Sword to invite him."

The Xiazhe Golden Sword is a type of metal sword used by cultivators to transmit messages over long distances. It is a common means of communication among senior disciples of the upper academy, though the lower academy also has some, all of which are in the hands of the senior disciple Zhengxun. They are generally not used for trivial matters.

Zhengxun found it strange and said, "I know the disciples of Shan Yuan Guan mostly live on Zhuoyue Peak, which is connected to Dangyun Peak by three cableways, a journey of no more than an hour. Why use the Golden Sword?"

Aizhongwen explained, "First, this person resides on Wangxing Peak, the fifteenth peak. Sending someone to invite him would take several hours to and from Dangyun Peak, possibly delaying until tomorrow. Second, this person is not an ordinary disciple and cannot be summoned casually. Using the Golden Sword shows respect and hopes he will interrupt his seclusion and come quickly."

Zhengxun looked puzzled. Although Wangxing Peak is under the name of Shan Yuan Guan, it is usually where disciples without strong backgrounds cultivate. Why would the person Aizhongwen recommended live there?

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Is this disciple surnamed Zhang? Is he from the Fengyan Zhang family, the Gengkun Zhang family, or the Mianze Zhang family?"

Aizhongwen slowly shook his head.

He did not know Zhang Yan's true background. Although he knew Zhang Yan was the son-in-law of the Zhou family, it seemed Zhang Yan did not want to publicize his background, so Aizhongwen did not want to spread it around and risk losing a friend and gaining an enemy. Therefore, he could not answer this question.

Just as Zhengxun was about to ask more, someone interjected, "Is this person from one of our Daoist families?"

Aizhongwen could not speak plainly and could only say tactfully, "Senior Brothers, there is no need to doubt. This person has an extraordinary background and cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

The person sneered, "What do you mean by 'cannot be judged by ordinary standards'? He is just a nominal disciple, and you are using the Golden Sword to invite him. I think Senior Brother Aizhongwen has been in the mud for too long and has forgotten his origins. He has been tainted by the company he keeps." He bowed to Zhengxun and said, "Senior Brother Zheng, I know this Zhang Yan. About half a day ago, he humiliated Senior Brother Hu's steward and cheated him out of a page of the secret scripture. Senior Brother Hu, is what I said correct?"

He then turned his gaze to Hu Shengyu, his eyes filled with ridicule.

Sitting to Zhengxun's left was Lin Yuan of Shan Yuan Guan. He said calmly, "I also heard from my cousin Lin Tong about this person. It is said he is just a nominal disciple with no background, relying on some unknown method of eroding text to deceive some ignorant people."

The disciples on both sides were seated according to their cultivation levels. Hu Shengyu was also seated in a prominent position on the right. He was introverted and proud, and did not interact much with other disciples. He did not know about the incident between Bian Qiao and Zhang Yan. Upon hearing this, his face turned dark, and a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Aizhongwen inwardly cursed. He had intended to recommend Zhang Yan to win against Moyuan, but instead, he had caused trouble. After some thought, he regretted it. He had been too concerned and had forgotten that these people only cared about their own reputations. Why had he meddled?

Zhengxun's face showed disappointment when he heard this, and he shook his head without saying anything.

The other disciples were even more dismissive. Since Zhang Yan was not from a prestigious family, he was not even in their eyes. Some even mocked Aizhongwen for disregarding his own status and associating with inferior people.

Aizhongwen had spoken up for the sake of the sect's reputation. Traditionally, the host of the Dharma Assembly would arrive at the peak first. He had heard that the disciples of Guangyuan Sect and Nanhua Sect had already reached the foot of Cangwu Mountain and were on their way. If they arrived at the peak first, what face would the Mingcang Sect have left? So he could not delay any longer and needed to make a quick decision.

However, his good intentions were met with verbal humiliation. The people present cared only about their family status and not the sect's honor. He was annoyed and said, "I am also a nominal disciple, so I must be an extra person as well. I should not stay here any longer. Senior Brothers, I take my leave!" He bowed, flicked his sleeves, and stormed out.

Outside the side hall, he looked at the lush pines and cypresses, their branches standing tall and proud. He thought, "I, Aizhongwen, am also skilled in eroding text. Can I not achieve anything without these short-sighted people? I will go and meet Moyuan myself and see if his reputation as a prodigy is true." With this thought, a surge of courage rose in his heart, and he strode confidently toward the second mountain gate.

...

After walking less than a hundred steps, Zhang Yan's pace slowed as he pondered, "What did that Daoist mean by her words?"

After reaching the Zhenyuan stage, his senses had become sharp. He had clearly heard the conversation between the Daoist and Zhao Ying, and those words... seemed to be intentionally said for him to hear?

The Daoist appeared to be deliberately provoking him, but Zhang Yan's intuition told him she was not so shallow. There must be a reason for her to ask him such a question out of the blue.

"Xianghe, Xianghe, overflow when full, round when scarce..."

Zhang Yan frowned in deep thought, repeatedly pondering. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks, thinking of a possibility. Could she be referring to his cultivation?

Thinking about this, he found it increasingly plausible.

In theory, with the *Linyao Wenfa* in hand, his cultivation should have progressed, even if not as smoothly as before. However, he felt that although his inner qi was robust, he could not advance no matter how hard he tried, unable to reach the threshold of "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen." He had always thought it was because his practice was not yet sufficient, but now, reflecting on the Daoist's words and examining himself, he realized it was not a matter of insufficient practice, but of excess!

The problem lay in the phrase "too much is as bad as too little"!

It was as if a bolt of lightning had flashed before his eyes, and Zhang Yan suddenly understood. The fog in his mind cleared, and he laughed aloud, "So that's it, so that's it!"

He turned and bowed in the direction of the Daoist.

While the levels of cultivation in the Daoist arts were known to all, there were hidden pitfalls and secrets.

For example, the Zhenyuan stage is said to have two levels: "Ningyuan Xianyi" and "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen." However, there is actually another step in between, called "Cuiyuan Quewu."

After "Ningyuan Xianyi," to advance further, the essence of the inner qi is not about quantity but purity.

Cultivators who do not understand this often spend years, even decades, in deep cultivation. Over time, the fiery and impure qualities in the inner qi gradually dissipate, eventually condensing into a pure form, allowing them to reach the "Yuan Cheng Ruzhen" stage and open their meridians.

However, this process takes much longer, and unknowingly, they fall far behind those who know the secret.

After opening the meridians, the cultivation methods differ significantly from before. The gap between the levels is vast, and a single step behind means being perpetually behind. Without great fortune or outstanding talent, it is almost impossible to catch up with those who have taken the lead.

Those not from Daoist families have no way of knowing this secret.

The step "Cuiyuan Quewu" is only secretly taught between master and disciple, passed down orally, and never written in any scriptures. Even if it was, such books have been sealed and destroyed by Daoist families over the centuries.

This deliberate and tacit control is how the major families maintain their hold on the path of cultivation within each sect.

In fact, the Daoist families have many more such hidden maneuvers. For cultivators not from prestigious families, the path of cultivation is like walking on thin ice, and a single misstep means no way back.

Zhang Yan had a clear mind and, after some thought, vaguely guessed the possible reason.

The Daoist must have seen that his cultivation was at this critical point and could not directly tell him, so she used a reference to hint at it. Although he did not know why she did this, he remembered the favor.

Although Zhang Yan did not know how to refine his inner qi, he had read extensively on Daoist classics and could roughly deduce the problem he was facing. He had some ideas and was confident that with the残玉 (residual jade) in hand, as long as he knew the cause, he could find the right method through repeated attempts.

Thinking about this, he could hardly wait to find a place to meditate and ponder.

At that moment, he felt a presence and turned to see a familiar figure.

Aizhongwen was walking angrily on the mountain path. Looking up, he unexpectedly saw Zhang Yan, his face lighting up with joy. He hurried forward, bowed, and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, you are already here. Did you also hear about Moyuan and come here?"

Zhang Yan, puzzled, asked, "Senior Brother Ai, what is it?"

Seeing that Zhang Yan seemed unaware, Aizhongwen sighed and said, "Sigh, it's a long story. Senior Brother Zhang, please follow me, and I will explain it to you."

The two walked forward, talking as they went. After about a thousand steps, Zhang Yan finally understood the situation.

However, what interested Zhang Yan was not Moyuan but Senior Brother Chen Feng.

"Senior Brother Ai, you mean Senior Brother Chen was at the same cultivation level as us, but he displayed great prowess at the Dharma Assembly and opened his meridians soon after returning?"

Aizhongwen's eyes showed admiration, "Exactly." Although he was now facing retaliation from the disciples of two sects because of this Senior Brother Chen, he still admired his courage in blocking the disciples of two sects from reaching the peak.

Zhang Yan's eyes flashed, and he had a vague idea. He asked, "How many disciples from the sixteen sects are currently on the peak?"

Aizhongwen shook his head, "Our Mingcang Sect is the host, so the disciples of other sects are waiting to save face for us. However, I heard that the disciples of Guangyuan Sect and Nanhua Sect have already reached the foot of the mountain and may climb the peak today."

At that moment, he looked up and said, "We're here."

Zhang Yan looked up and saw a three-tiered stone platform that could accommodate a hundred people. On the highest tier, a purple copper incense burner was emitting a wisp of blue smoke. A pavilion with a beam structure was half-embedded in the mountain wall, and about a hundred disciples from the three observatories were gathered there, the scene was very quiet.

Coincidentally, Min Lou, whom he had not seen since parting from Yuexiong Peak, was also in the crowd. He was staring intently at the scene, his fists clenched, looking tense.

Zhang Yan and Aizhongwen quickly ascended the stone platform. In the middle of the platform, two people were sitting opposite each other at a table. A middle-aged man in a Daoist robe was holding bamboo rods, carefully deducing the eroding text in front of him, but sweat was already beading on his forehead.

Aizhongwen whispered, "This is Senior Brother Cheng from Dexiu Guan. Although he is also a nominal disciple, he is from the Hengchang Cheng family and is quite skilled in eroding text."

Opposite Cheng was a young boy, presumably Moyuan. He was about thirteen or fourteen, with a faint mustache on his upper lip, and his brows were filled with arrogance.

Both had excellent eyesight and could clearly see the eroding text on the page between them. Zhang Yan glanced at the scattered bamboo rods by Moyuan's side and couldn't help but smile.

Aizhongwen, who was observing closely, frowned and said, "This is not good."

Sure enough, soon, Senior Brother Cheng's face fell, and he stood up, shaking his head and sighing, "Junior Brother, you are truly skilled. I admit defeat."

When these words were spoken, Min Lou, standing nearby, stomped his foot in frustration, as if he had lost.

Moyuan curled his lip and sneered, "The Mingcang Sect is nothing more than this!"

The contempt in his words made the Mingcang Sect disciples feel humiliated, and many of them looked angry.

Since Senior Brother Cheng had admitted defeat, he did not say anything more to save face. He took out a small cloth bag and threw it in front of the young boy, bowing hastily before leaving.

Zhang Yan, puzzled, asked, "What does this mean?"

Aizhongwen explained, "That is Yanchen Sand. Moyuan came alone and feared that the disciples would challenge him one after another, so he set a bet. Any non-entry disciple who challenges him must put up one pound of Yanchen Sand as the stake."

Yanchen Sand is a type of divine sand found in turbulent rivers, accumulating in the crevices of river stones over time. It is more precious the longer it accumulates. The Mingcang Sect produces a lot of it. Zhang Yan thought Moyuan was clever, not only blocking the path of the disciples but also making a small profit.

On the table, there were already five small cloth bags, indicating that Moyuan had won at least five times.

A few more people came forward, but they all lost without exception.

Aizhongwen sighed, "I am not as good as him."

In the crowd, Min Lou stomped his foot in anger, "Even if we don't mention the entry disciples, just with Junior Brother Zhang Yan here, he can definitely win this boy!" Although Min Lou's family had once produced a powerful cultivator, it had long since declined, and he did not look down on Zhang Yan's background like the entry disciples.

Hearing this, the others, who had been somewhat dejected, were suddenly reminded and felt they had found a lifeline. They nodded in agreement, unwilling to let Moyuan mock the Mingcang Sect as having no one.

Moyuan, hearing this, raised an eyebrow and sneered, "What Senior Brother Zhang, are you willing to come out and face me?"

Aizhongwen, standing beside Zhang Yan, suddenly turned to look at him, his eyes filled with expectation.

However, he was soon disappointed.

Zhang Yan did not step forward but instead gave Aizhongwen a meaningful look and turned to leave.

Aizhongwen was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and then followed.

After walking a few hundred steps, Zhang Yan suddenly stopped and turned back, smiling, "Senior Brother Ai, do you think I, Zhang Yan, am retreating in the face of battle?"

Aizhongwen forced a smile, "Senior Brother Zhang must have a deeper reason."

Zhang Yan smiled, "Actually, defeating Moyuan is not difficult."

"Really?" Aizhongwen was stunned.

Zhang Yan smiled confidently, "I am not boasting. I observed Moyuan, and although he is quite skilled in eroding text, he still needs to use bamboo rods to deduce at difficult points. In terms of calculation, he is far inferior to me."

Aizhongwen nodded, unable to disagree. Zhang Yan never used bamboo rods to interpret eroding text, a skill no other junior disciple in the lower academy could match. However, this made him even more puzzled. If Zhang Yan had the ability, why didn't he step forward? Was there some hidden reason?

"Senior Brother, are you puzzled why I have a chance to win but do not challenge?" Zhang Yan said with a half-smile, "If I step forward and lose, I will only invite ridicule. If I win, the senior brothers will hate me, and I might even lose my life."

Aizhongwen was taken aback, then thought about it and had to admit Zhang Yan was right!

If a nominal disciple could win while the entry disciples were blocked, it would imply that the entry disciples were inferior. Even if the true situation was different, once the rumor spread, it would severely damage their reputation, and there would be no benefit, only resentment.

Aizhongwen bowed, apologetically, "Senior Brother Zhang, I apologize for not understanding this."

He then thought of Hu Shengyu's dark face in the side hall and wanted to warn Zhang Yan to be careful. However, Zhang Yan continued, "However, I am also a disciple of the Mingcang Sect and cannot stand by while disciples of other sects come to bully us!"

Aizhongwen's spirits lifted, "What do you plan to do, Senior Brother?"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly, "If the Guangyuan Sect can block the path of the disciples, why can't we?"

"Senior Brother Zhang, you mean..." Aizhongwen's eyes were fixed on Zhang Yan, his expression slightly excited. A vague, indescribable idea was growing in his mind, but he couldn't quite put it into words.

"I heard that three years ago, Senior Brother Chen Feng blocked the disciples of two sects, preventing any of them from reaching the peak. I admire him and want to emulate him. If they block our disciples for a day, I will block them for a day." Zhang Yan straightened his back, his eyes filled with determination, "Senior Brother Ai, are you willing to join me?"

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PS: Two chapters combined. Another update will be posted later tonight.