Chapter 40: Five Cauldrons Boiling

Wang Shen sighed: “I know it well. Enough—this is the only solution I can think of on short notice. Give me some time; I’ll find another way.”

Lin Wanmo nodded, turned to leave, then paused at the door and asked tentatively: “What if I weave him a cage…”

“Impossible,” Wang Shen said. “That’s where the Golden Core resides—the Danxiu’s Purple Mansion, a place beyond description, profoundly mysterious. If another’s hand interferes, even a slight mistake could ruin his Danxiu cultivation—but worse, the explosive Golden Core might detonate!”

Wang Shen added: “Don’t even think of weaving it and letting him ingest and refine it. This method must be done by himself—he must refine it with his own internal fire. Once the cage is touched by his internal fire, even approaching the explosive Golden Core will trigger its detonation.”

Lin Wanmo’s expression grew even more troubled.

Wang Shen, seeing this, felt pity and said: “Wait a moment.”

Wang Shen ascended the upper floor, then returned a while later—this time she landed safely, without scattering debris across the floor.

“This is my cultivation method. Yuan hasn’t yet acquired a Danxiu method—take it back to him,” Wang Shen handed over a yellowed ancient book.

Lin Wanmo stepped back quickly, waving his hands: “This is your most precious possession…”

Wang Shen gave a bitter smile, stroking the ancient book as she murmured: “In my youth, this truly was my most cherished treasure. Back then, no one could ask for it—I wouldn’t give it to anyone.”

Suddenly, Wang Shen shoved it firmly into Lin Wanmo’s hands: “Now? I don’t even know if I’ll live until next Mid-Yuan Festival. What’s precious or not? Take it. My cultivation method is extraordinary—the Golden Core it produces is far more stable and dense than any other method. It should help Yuan last longer.”

Lin Wanmo wanted to express his thanks, but this gift was too precious—any words felt shallow.

Wang Shen smiled warmly: “Enough. Go back now. I’ll think if there’s another way.”

Lin Wanmo said no more, bowed deeply to Wang Shen with the ancient book in hand, then left.

…

Wang Shen’s cultivation method was called “Five Cauldrons Boiling.”

Among the Seven Great Sects, any cultivator who enters, even without a method, can progress step by step, ascending gradually.

Qi circulation, ingesting elixirs, gathering and refining—these are the only means of cultivation.

One major reason the Seven Great Sects are called “Great” is this foundational convenience.

Once one begins, cultivation continues naturally, and the number of cultivators grows steadily.

In contrast, minor sects often require special “talents” or demand strict adherence to specific cultivation methods.

Yet the Seven Great Sects do have cultivation methods—and any well-known method increases cultivation speed by over half.

Wang Shen’s “Five Cauldrons Boiling” method was brought from her homeland in the Inner Province.

The Wang family was once a major clan in the Inner Province; they should never have been assigned to the River Labor Conscription.

It was because the Eastern Depot’s someone coveted their “Five Cauldrons Boiling.”

He wanted to claim it to pass on to one of his adopted sons.

The Wang family was ruined by a sliver of integrity.

If another noble had desired it, we Wangs would have given it willingly.

We could have negotiated—I’d offer this treasure with both hands; wouldn’t my lord grant some favor in return?

Major clans don’t end up in those ridiculous folktales where someone refuses a powerful lord over a family heirloom, gets destroyed, and twenty years later a survivor returns for revenge. [81] Cough cough, this morning I finally saw my name on the list, but by noon I was kicked off and vanished—embarrassing.

You want it? If you’re strong enough, we’ll hand it over gladly.

But you? A eunuch? We Wangs won’t bow!

As a result, the main branch of the Wang family was exiled to Jiaozhi to dig canals; the other branches immediately knelt before the Eastern Depot official.

They handed over an incomplete version of “Five Cauldrons Boiling” as a decoy.

The main branch suffered heavy losses; now only Wang Shen remains.

All family assets in the Inner Province were seized and divided by the collateral branches, who now refuse to acknowledge Wang Shen or her kin.

Since Xu Yuan’s grandfather’s generation, no Danxiu method better than “Five Cauldrons Boiling” has been seen in three generations.

Moreover, “Five Cauldrons Boiling” is a complete, comprehensive method—it includes not only cultivation, but also techniques for refining both Golden Core and External Elixir.

It has unique methods for Qi circulation, ingesting elixirs, and gathering and refining.

Many famous cultivation methods in the Ming Dynasty are merely skilled in one of these five areas.

With this method, “the great cauldron boils” at an extraordinary speed—usually over three times faster, and sometimes exceeding five times!

Since the five techniques—Golden Core, External Elixir, Qi circulation, ingesting elixirs, and gathering and refining—exactly match the five cauldrons, the ancient master who created this method fancifully named it “Five Cauldrons Boiling.”

The Wang family was already ruined because of this method, and since the Ming Dynasty strictly upholds “methods are not lightly transmitted,” even ordinary methods are rarely passed on—so Wang Shen holds this method in especially high regard.

For example, Xu Yuan’s father once believed Wang Shen would take “Five Cauldrons Boiling” to her grave.

The stepmother returned home with “Five Cauldrons Boiling,” but Xu Yuan was gone.

…

Xu Yuan hung up his clothes and went out.

Master Qiao’s residence in the county seat lies in the northeast corner of the “Wangjing Ward.”

This place is entirely different from River Labor Alley.

River Labor Alley is old, low, and dilapidated; here, it is solemn, grand, and clean.

It is the only area in the entire Shanhe County with a ward wall and gate.

The ward wall has thirty-six corner pillars, each adorned with a auspicious beast painted with cinnabar eyes. Two stone lions, each as tall as a man, stand before the gate.

These objects deter evil spirits far better than door gods—so even on “Night Ban” nights, walking within the ward gives one a fifty percent chance of survival.

Completely eliminating the strange is impossible—even the imperial palace in the Northern Capital cannot achieve it.

The Wangjing Ward houses the wealthiest and most powerful people in the entire Shanhe County.

Master Qiao’s footstep shakes the entire Qihetown; here, he is merely a minor figure.

This place is called “Wangjing Ward” because it lies in the northwest corner—the closest point in the county to the Northern Capital of the Inner Province.

Back when the river was opened, which official, soldier, or civilian stranded here didn’t dream of returning to the Inner Province?

Xu Yuan first went to “Jinzhuang Building” to buy new clothes—only here in the county do they sell ready-made garments.

It cost him three taels and two mace of silver.

In the past, Xu Yuan’s entire year’s clothing never cost this much.

Emerging from Jinzhuang Building, dressed in silk and brocade, Xu Yuan looked every bit a wealthy young master.

During daylight, two “civilian guards” always stood at the ward gate—Xu Yuan’s previous attire would never have been allowed in.

Master Qiao’s residence in the southwest corner of Wangjing Ward is a three-hall courtyard, housing over ten wives, concubines, servants, and maids.

Xu Yuan scaled the wall into the back courtyard, used his agility to avoid people, and began searching for Qiao Zia’s study.

A Wenxiu’s treasures are always hidden in his study.

The back courtyard had nine rooms; Xu Yuan glanced through the window cracks and could tell instantly which was the study.

He found two that weren’t it; when he reached the third, he suddenly heard a muffled sound from inside.

Like a cat’s soft cry.

Xu Yuan peered quietly—the room was a bedroom, where a beautiful woman in her thirties had half her body exposed outside the curtains, hmm, probably cold.

She bit down on a crimson silk embroidered with mandarin ducks mating, her sweat dampening her cloud-like hair.

Inside the curtains, a robust shadow was exerting great force.

The shadow and the bed shook continuously.

Xu Yuan glanced a few more times, compared the woman to Widow Yang, and concluded: Master Qiao truly has great fortune!

Too bad the one enjoying it now is someone else.

Fortunately, Xu Yuan remembered his mission—he reluctantly moved to the next room.

He searched three more rooms before finally finding the study.

But Xu Yuan didn’t enter immediately—he crouched and peered through the door crack.

Qiao Zia was deeply calculating and treacherous; Xu Yuan didn’t believe his study lacked protective measures.

Cough cough, this morning I finally saw my name on the list, but by noon I was kicked off and disappeared—so embarrassing.

Pitifully begging for monthly votes.

Also, regarding the stepmother’s issue in the previous chapter and her relationship with Xu Yuan as “siblings”—there will be no romance.

Also: another chapter tonight.

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(End of Chapter)