Chapter 138: Actually, the Disciples are Divided into Three

"This Apprentice knows. Teacher once said that since the first kalpa of this sect's teachings, although predecessors have attained the Dao Foundation, there is not a single one on the surface who has attained anything above the Middle Grade."

Lin Qinhu replied in a deep voice: "This Apprentice was lucky, yet I had the opportunity to become the first cultivator in the sect to successfully cultivate this method and attain an Upper Grade Dao Foundation."

"Heh, Upper Grade Dao Foundation. In this world, the number of Qi Refining methods capable of attaining an Upper Grade Dao Foundation is countless, but those that can possess the intent of 'Perfected' are not many. Even among the great Profound Sects, there are only a few. That the sect can pass down such a marvelous method can be considered a matter of destiny."

Jiao Zhenren's expression did not change, and he said indifferently: "Others could not cultivate it, yet you could, which shows that the destiny of this method lies with you. Since the destiny lies with you, you must have been able to refine your True Qi to a state of primordial unity before stepping into the Dao Foundation. Why did you not cherish this opportunity? Just because you encountered a small setback, you wasted ten percent of your Dharma Power for nothing, only to attain an Upper Grade Dao Foundation."

Lin Qinhu remained silent.

Jiao Zhenren glanced at him and added: "You remember my other words, so do you remember me saying that most of the methods in the sect's fundamental He Mountain Scripture are pieced together and incomplete, and the path of the Dao is rugged?"

The intent of 'Perfected'?

Chen Ci was in the crowd, pricking up his ears to listen.

Among the two Upper Grade Qi Refining methods in the He Mountain Sect, the Five Ghosts Possession Method is actually a notch better than the Thousand Mountains Pulse Traveling Method. He had heard Lin Laohu mention it before, but basically no Apprentice could cultivate it, so the sect actually didn't value it as much, instead holding tightly onto the Thousand Mountains Pulse Traveling Method.

However, listening to what Jiao Zhenren said today, it seems there are some other differences?

"This Apprentice remembers."

Chen Ci inexplicably felt that they, these He Shan Outer Disciples, had a sense of being subtly excluded.

Lin Laohu likely had his own considerations, but Jiao Zhenren was just frustrated that he couldn't turn iron into steel.

It turns out this cheap Senior Brother cultivated the Five Ghosts Possession Method and had the True Qi cultivation to open three hundred and sixty acupoints or close to it, but he had never been able to attain a Perfected Dao Foundation. In the end, seeing that he was nearing one hundred and twenty years of age and had failed to succeed, or perhaps stimulated by the Earth Sha affairs at Xishan Prefecture's Quanshan, he simply gritted his teeth and hastily attained an Upper Grade Dao Foundation with three hundred and twenty-four acupoints, then rushed off to behead that member of the Yao Clan.

"This Apprentice would not dare!"

Jiao Zhenren looked a bit impatient and waved his sleeves: "It's just for now. When your Dharma Power is insufficient in the future and you are lacking that little bit, you will know the severity of it. It truly makes one annoyed. Your cultivation is not for my sake; if you don't take it to heart, why should I be angry?"

Jiao Zhenren scanned the people in the field: "Do you all feel the same as the one on the ground, thinking that since you have natural talent, marvelous methods, and no lack of opportunity, attaining the Dao Foundation is easy, and if you attain an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, you are even more self-satisfied?"

"The difficulty of Qi Refining lies in the rarity of marvelous methods, the limitation of lifespan, and the difficulty of subduing True Qi."

Behind that Daoist nun True Person stood five people, four stood in the middle, and then there were the cultivators from Red Dragon Temple plus Chen Ci, totaling six people. Not to mention their standing positions, even their Daoist robes and cultivation temperament felt somewhat distinct. It seems that no matter where one is, there are small cliques.

Jiao Zhenren sighed: "Only the Qi Refining methods that can cultivate all three hundred and sixty acupoints are few and far between. The number of the celestial cycle implies perfection. Even those great Profound Sects, if they can complete a Qi Refining method to three hundred and fifty-nine acupoints, if it cannot cycle back to the beginning, this method can never be 'Perfected'. Therefore, methods with the intent of 'Perfected' are precious indeed. Even if they are not Longevity marvelous methods, they are still the closely guarded secrets of great sects. If one condenses Dharma Power with three hundred and twenty-four acupoints of True Qi, although it is an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, it is not 'Perfected', and the Dharma Power is not self-generated."

Chen Ci had not reached that stage, so it was hard to say who was right or wrong, but he noticed that the expressions of the cultivators in the field were all different.

Chen Ci grinned; he didn't expect his cheap Senior Brother to have such a stiff mouth.

There were more than ten cultivators in the field, and although it wasn't very obvious, one could still see they were divided into three small groups.

However, just looking at his sallow complexion being three parts worse than before, it was clear that this Jiao Zhenren was still quite angry inside.

Hearing this, Chen Ci was also enlightened; he roughly understood why this Jiao Zhenren was angry.

"No regrets?"

Lin Qinhu buried his head and whispered: "This Apprentice has no regrets."

"The foundation of Longevity begins with Qi Refining. Ninety-nine percent of the cultivators in the world are in this realm."

Everyone in the field dared not breathe loudly, and Lin Qinhu did not dare to make a sound either.

Natural talent? Marvelous methods? Opportunity? Dao Foundation?

Looking at the people in the field, Chen Ci suspected that his share had been averaged out, but looking at it this way, he noticed something wrong.

"There are millions of Qi Refining methods in the world, especially among the miscellaneous rogue cultivators. They might luckily comprehend a few Qi Refining mantras and begin to open acupoints. If it is passed down for a few generations and a few geniuses appear in the sect, it is not impossible to slowly complete the Qi Refining method one acupoint at a time. Some miscellaneous lineages can produce a Dao Foundation High Cultivator, or even condense a Void Core True Person, for this very reason."

A portion seemed to have realized something, a portion was full of ambition, and a portion—not a portion, but the remaining Red Dragon Temple cultivators—had expressions of confusion, as if to say 'what is this talking about', very much like poor students attending a remedial class, not understanding a single word.

"Qi Refining cultivators have not yet shed their mortal bodies. The years of true cultivation are only about a hundred. Those with aspirations for the Dao naturally open as many acupoints as possible before charging at the Dao Foundation. This is the difficulty of lifespan."

Jiao Zhenren spoke slowly: "However, condensing Dharma Power from True Qi is like a mortal wielding a heavy hammer. If you have a hundred catties of strength and go to wield a hundred-catty hammer, the difficulty is self-evident. If you have a hundred catties of strength and go to wield an eighty-catty hammer, it is much easier. It is just that three hundred and sixty acupoints is the extreme number. If you cannot subdue every strand of True Qi and polish the True Qi in your whole body into a primordial unity without wasting a single bit, you cannot attain a Perfected Dao Foundation."

"Teacher, Mistress once said that although True Qi cultivation should strive for excellence, there is no need to force it. It is normal for cultivators to go into seclusion for a year or a half. Often, geniuses have obsessions and pass away in the quiet room when their lifespan ends, which is quite a pity."

Perhaps seeing Jiao Zhenren pointing out the cultivation of the crowd today, a handsome cultivator in a green robe with eyebrows reaching his temples cupped his fists and asked: "As both are Upper Grade Dao Foundations, besides the Dharma Power being a notch weaker, does it have any major impact on the path of the Dao?"

"We cultivators all cultivate the methods of the sages. Although there is a path under our feet, it is difficult to change direction."

Jiao Zhenren stroked his long beard, looked at this child, and nodded slightly: "If the path of the Dao is clear, there is no impact; you can just follow it. But if the path of the Dao is difficult to speak of, if the True Qi is cultivated to perfection, one does not need a Dao Foundation diagram to weave Dharma Power. The True Qi in the whole body can self-condense into Dharma Power, fitting one's own body, and in the future, there will be a few more choices, so one will not be left with no path to walk."

"Thank you, Teacher, for clearing up my confusion."

The cultivator bowed and retreated, a smile on his lips, though it was unknown what he was smiling about.

But Chen Ci also cultivated the Five Ghosts Possession Method and heard the flavor in it. Although the He Mountain Sect had this Upper Grade Qi Refining method passed down, because no Apprentice had successfully practiced it, the methods for subsequent cultivation in the fundamental He Mountain Scripture were probably not very clear. Although Lin Laohu attained an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, his Dao Foundation Dharma Power was not very perfect, and it is estimated that the subsequent path of the Dao would not be easy to walk.

Hmm... If Lin Laohu has a difficult path ahead even after attaining an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, doesn't that mean that if I cultivate the Five Ghosts Possession Method and cannot practice it to perfection, it is also a dead end?

Sigh, a side-door is a side-door; the road is full of pits.

I wonder if I can cross the river by feeling for my cheap Senior Brother.

"Hoo... stay calm. At least there is still Jiao Zhenren, a big thigh to hug. Although it's difficult, it's not yet hopeless."

Chen Ci smoothed the Qi in his chest and decided to practice the Five Ghosts Transportation Method hard when he went back, then practice the Five Ghosts Possession Method hard, to charge at the cultivation of Nether Yin True Qi.

"On the path of cultivation, if every step is 'almost', 'almost', when you reach the critical step, you will be 'a little bit' off, 'a little bit' off, and then the future will be cut off, and you will regret not doing it right from the beginning."

Jiao Zhenren curled his lips: "Get up. You are such a big person, what is the decorum in kneeling down at every turn? Just remember what you said today, 'no regrets'. Since you want to fight, fight to the end. As for the future... forget it, let's talk about the future in the future."

"Get up, Qinhu. Attaining an Upper Grade Dao Foundation, you could be a True Inheritor in any sect. It's just your master who has gained an advantage and is still acting spoiled."

The Daoist nun True Person lightly waved her horsetail whisk, helped Lin Qinhu up from the ground, and said to Jiao Zhenren with a coquettish smile: "You are busy running around all day and haven't pointed out much of their cultivation. Instead, you come to point fingers after the Apprentice has broken through his cultivation. Aren't you ashamed? If you are not happy, give Qinhu to me as an Apprentice; that would also be excellent."

"Hmph hmph."

Jiao Zhenren stroked his long beard and did not dare to speak again.

Lin Qinhu rose with the momentum: "It is this Apprentice's unfilial behavior that disappointed Teacher."

"Although it is not yet the New Year, in a few days, your Teacher and I will be visiting elders and friends, and we won't have time to summon you all to teach the Dao. Let's have a simple meal together today and have some fun."

This white-robed Daoist nun True Person was clearly the one in charge, and she made the decision immediately.

"This Jiao Zhenren, we still have important matters in the temple, so we won't stay to disturb you."

The one who spoke was Senior Brother Shen from Red Dragon Temple. He cupped his fists and bowed, a look of apology on his face.

As outsiders, although they were fellow He Mountain disciples, it would be a breach of etiquette to stay for such a family banquet.

And for some reason, Chen Ci felt that this Dao Foundation High Cultivator from Red Dragon Temple seemed to be slightly afraid of this Madam Jiao.

"No need to rush, stay and have a simple meal together."

Jiao Zhenren waved his hand without saying more. The five from Red Dragon Temple naturally dared not refuse again, but joy appeared on their faces; they had come just to show their faces, and now being able to stay for a meal, perhaps they might even gain some cultivation of Daoist arts, which was naturally an unexpected delight.

Melons, fruits, seasonal vegetables, small side dishes, rice, and a pot of wine.

Chen Ci was also stunned. This simple meal hosted by a Golden Core True Person was truly just a simple meal, not to mention there wasn't even a shred of meat or fish, and the food on it was all common fare, with no spiritual items or rare treasures. Aside from a few Daoist acolytes serving in the hall, one couldn't even see a hint of dance or music.

No, the He Mountain Sect only has this little bit of fine tradition left of eating, drinking, and having fun; other things can be forgotten, but one cannot skimp on eating and drinking.

If it weren't for the fact that all the cultivators in the hall were being treated this way, Chen Ci would have suspected that they, these few He Shan Outer Disciples, were being targeted, especially him, sitting at the very end, looking as if he were about to be outside the hall.

In the center main seat, naturally, were Jiao Zhenren and Madam Jiao.

As for the apprentices in the hall, they were divided by male and female; on the right were four female cultivators, and on the left were twelve male cultivators. Chen Ci was at the very end, followed by the cultivators from Red Dragon Temple, but fortunately, Lin Qinhu sat above Chen Ci, so he didn't abandon his cheap junior brother.

However, this seating arrangement felt awkward no matter how one sat. Although the hall was still lively, the liveliness belonged to others and had nothing to do with those in the back. Those few female cultivators only spoke and toasted with Madam Jiao and the few cultivators in the front rows. As for the cultivators from Red Dragon Temple and others, they were all very silent, burying their heads in their food, never saying a word.

"Don't look anymore. Teacher Jiao is a practitioner of pure cultivation. There is usually no food in this temple. Being able to have a meal is already not bad."

Lin Qinhu said indifferently, picked up his wine cup, and took a small sip.

Well, his cheap senior brother was likely still being resented by Jiao Zhenren; otherwise, with his Upper Grade Dao Foundation cultivation, he shouldn't have been sitting in the second-to-last seat with him.

Thinking of this, Chen Ci inexplicably felt much more balanced. He raised his cup to toast with Lin Qinhu and asked in a low voice, "Senior brother, how should one address Madam Jiao so as not to be impolite? By the way, which lineage do those fellow apprentices belong to? Could they be disciples from other major surnames in the sect? Why does it feel like the methods they cultivate are different from ours?"

Chen Ci wasn't talking nonsense; the style of the cultivators in this hall was truly somewhat different. How to put it? The front half had the aura of immortals, while the back half had the style of a side-door sect.

"Teacher's wife's maiden name is Yang. As for these people, heh, they can't be considered our fellow apprentices."

Lin Qinhu held his wine cup and said calmly, "The few in the front seats are disciples Teacher Jiao took in at Tianhe Daoist Temple; they do not enter the He Mountain Sect. Those female cultivators are the apprentices of Teacher's wife, hailing from Longhu Mountain."

Eh, which lineage of the He Mountain Sect names things so grandly... wait.

Chen Ci blinked and slowly typed out a '?'.

"Mm, you didn't think wrong, so I told you to be careful. If you get killed by someone, there's nowhere to reason."

Lin Qinhu chuckled, "Teacher's wife is a Golden Core expert from Longhu Mountain. If you provoke her disciples, Teacher won't say a single word."

"Bang~"

Chen Ci's hand shook, and he accidentally knocked over the wine pot on the table, making a soft sound.

Surprise was one thing; after all, the reputation of the He Mountain Sect was there. Although it wasn't to say that everyone who saw them would beat them, if some disciples of major sects really wanted to act on behalf of Heaven, few would kill the wrong person.

Admiration was another thing. Jiao Zhenren was truly a role model for their generation. It was just unclear whether he was eating soft rice hard because he wanted to advance, or if he was enduring humiliation for the sake of the He Mountain Sect's great cause. He, Chen, really needed to learn more.

"I cannot hold my liquor, I cannot hold my liquor."

Chen Ci gave a sheepish smile, hurriedly straightened the wine pot, and took a sip of wine to calm his nerves.

In the future, just in case, if he really fell into the hands of Longhu Mountain disciples, could this kind of relationship let him off the hook?

But it was also possible he would die faster.

After a mouthful of wine went down, Chen Ci realized something. Wait, so they, these He Mountain fellow apprentices, were really not welcomed here?

Could this Jiao Zhenren be holding the script of a Dragon King's son-in-law?!

It was unknown whether this soft sound interrupted something, or if Jiao Zhenren raised his wine cup, but the talking in the hall gradually faded away.

Jiao Zhenren stroked his long beard, raised his cup, and said, "Cultivators of our generation all take Daoist conduct as the foundation. Drain the cup; you must not slack off and still need to strive."

"Yes, we obey Teacher's (True Person's) command!"

Everyone in the seats hurriedly stood up and returned the toast.

"Qinhu, at today's banquet, your Daoist conduct has progressed the most. Although it doesn't quite suit my wishes, there should still be a reward for you."

Jiao Zhenren held his wine cup and asked indifferently, "Pills, talismans, books, or doubts in your cultivation—is there anything you want or want to ask?"

(End of chapter)