Chapter 69: Bullying the Weak, as a Matter of Course

Since she was inquiring about deadly qi, her question was natural, and Qian Chen felt no reservation: “Deadly qi such as Xuan Yin Frost Deadly Qi, Tai Yin True Deadly Qi, Jiu Yin Youquan True Deadly Qi, Mingfu Earthly Deadly Qi, Wu Fang True Deadly Qi, and Di Ji Yuan Ci True Deadly Qi are naturally top-grade; if the nature is similar, they may also be considered, though it will inevitably be more difficult.”

As soon as he spoke, Guan Pingxuan’s expression changed slightly.

“The deadly qi you mentioned are all among the seventy-two Earthly Deadly Qi listed in the Qi Theory…” Guan Pingxuan said: “Such deadly qi are exceedingly rare; even in our Bai Lu Sect, we possess only a few, and most are ranked at the bottom… Deadly qi like Wu Fang True Deadly Qi—the quintessence of the Five Elements—and Di Ji Yuan Ci True Deadly Qi—the rare qi hidden within the Earth’s axis—are among the top treasures of the Underworld.”

“Forgive us, but our sect truly cannot provide any.”

“Even the mid-tier deadly qi such as Tai Yin True Deadly Qi, Jiu Yin Youquan True Deadly Qi, and Mingfu Earthly Deadly Qi are immensely precious… What rare treasures would you be willing to exchange for them?”

This time, Qian Chen learned from his previous encounter with Zhen Daoren and no longer offered his own elixirs; instead, he produced Hong Sihai’s divine weapon, Cangtian Jinlun: “If you have information on such deadly qi, I am willing to offer this artifact embryo as compensation.”

Seeing the golden Cangtian Jinlun, radiant with the brilliance of a great sun, Guan Pingxuan’s expression softened. She tapped the golden wheel, listened to its resonant echo, and nodded: “Indeed, this is an excellent artifact embryo. Exchanging it for information on the seventy-two Earthly Deadly Qi veins is fair.”

Her junior sister, Yan Cai, felt slightly embarrassed—this Cangtian Jinlun had been forged by Hong Sihai from Zhen Yang Shen Jin, which in the Central Plains was also called San Yang Jin, a top-grade spiritual material even suitable for crafting magic treasures.

To exchange this artifact embryo for the deadly qi veins themselves would be grossly unequal, but merely for information, it was already exceedingly valuable.

“Such precious deadly qi, if detected by cultivators, would long ago have been harvested—even transported via talismanic arrays into sects, nourished by spiritual veins to continuously sustain other resources. Those still remaining within the Jiuzhen Great Marsh must be extraordinarily perilous…”

Yan Cai felt a little ashamed; her senior sister’s demands were far too bold. Moreover, luring others into such danger seemed improper.

Deadly qi are either hidden—like the deadly qi beneath the abandoned mansion where Qian Chen once resided—

Or perilous—like the Earthly Deadly Qi veins hidden within the Jiuzhen Great Marsh. The mixed deadly qi of Sanyang Village had long been noticed by Zhen Daoren’s master, yet equally potent deadly qi abound in the Great Marsh; it is precisely because the marsh is so perilous that even though many cultivators know of its spiritual herbs and deadly qi, none dare enter lightly.

Or both hidden and perilous.

Qian Chen had originally intended to enter the Great Marsh to seek such deadly qi that were both hidden and perilous—perilous, so they remained relatively hidden; hidden, so they were not quite so perilous.

But if Guan Pingxuan, a cultivator of her caliber, had detected them, they could no longer be considered truly hidden; yet they remained unharvested within the marsh, proving their extreme danger.

Guan Pingxuan knew of a few relatively pure deadly qi within the marsh, but not their exact types, for those places were too perilous—guarded by dragon-like beasts and exotic poisonous insects; ordinary cultivators who went there died instantly. Bai Lu Sect’s Golden Core cultivators would never risk entering the marsh for such vague information.

Thus, they remained within the marsh.

Guan Pingxuan, as a true disciple of Bai Lu Sect, had her share of prestige; she certainly did not expect to trade such ambiguous information for such a high-grade artifact embryo.

At the very least, she needed concrete information before exchanging.

She was a clever woman; after a moment’s thought, she suddenly said: “The item you’ve offered for exchange is indeed valuable. I cannot accept it lightly. Allow me to return and consult several fellow cultivators, verify the details thoroughly, before informing you. Otherwise, I cannot accept this artifact.”

Yet I’ve heard the types of deadly qi you’re seeking seem highly compatible with a certain Heavenly Gang Qi…

Qian Chen’s mind stirred—he once again felt the urge to fish. He smiled faintly: “You are observant. I do indeed possess a piece of Bingpo Hanguang Gang.”

Upon hearing this, Guan Pingxuan was startled, but instantly suppressed her surprise, revealing her composure.

She engaged Qian Chen in further philosophical discourse, observing that he was unfamiliar with current trends in metaphysical debate and knew little of many doctrines, leading her to believe she had gauged his depth. Yet Yan Cai, beside her, felt that although Qian Chen was unversed in ‘metaphysical principles’ and had never read the scriptures, his occasional words and phrases struck directly at the heart of the Dao, aligning perfectly with its fundamental truths.

Clearly, he was merely unfamiliar with the forms and shells of metaphysical debate—not ignorant of the Dao itself.

After conversing for a while, Guan and Yan took their leave.

No sooner had they departed than Cui Dan apologized to Qian Chen: “Master, perhaps I failed to explain clearly, causing the two senior sisters to be so impolite…”

Qian Chen laughed: “It is not they who are impolite—it is you who are overly formal. Cui Daoist, I am no one of status; I associate only by affinity. Though you claim to be unrestrained, you still cling too tightly to hierarchy and rank… Are common folk, noble families? Is there nobility or baseness in human character?”

Cui Dan pondered long, then shook his head: “There is none.”

Qian Chen nodded: “If so, why be so formal in association?”

Qian Chen left the county office, riding the clouds in silent thought: “Originally, while traveling, I should not flaunt treasures to avoid trouble. But now, Miaokong is the greatest trouble—I must risk it to forge the external elixir. Just now, my spiritual sense stirred slightly—I sensed the seed of a tribulation, so I deliberately provoked it. Tribulations often come with opportunities; let us see if there is a turning point.”

“This woman Guan Pingxuan seems clever, but her preconceptions run too deep—harmful to the Dao. She has filled her mind with outdated cunning.”

“The Supreme One stole from me: ‘The Dao is in excrement and urine!’ That is precisely what he meant—the mind of preconception, the mind of ordinariness.”

“These small sects, these cultivation clans, their circles are far too closed; over time, they warp character… In my past life, these were the ones called ‘enclosed self-indulgers.’ Without experiencing worldly affairs, without seeing all kinds of people, how can one recognize the flaws in one’s Dao-heart, the deficiencies in one’s nature? How can one polish oneself? This woman is far more clever than Zhen Daoren and closer to the true path—but in terms of struggling for the Dao, enduring setbacks with resilience, she falls short of even Zhen Daoren, that wild grass…”

“Cultivators often speak of the childlike heart, yet the childlike heart rarely resides in actual children. That pure, unspoiled simplicity may seem childlike, but it cannot withstand contamination. Pure and radiant as it may be, the true childlike heart is like diamond—while theirs is like glass: outwardly similar, inwardly fundamentally different.”

“Only after enduring countless worldly trials, witnessing human sorrow and joy, the vicissitudes of time, and still retaining a heart as pure and sincere as a child’s—that is the true childlike heart… Just as an old man’s innocence differs from a child’s: one is untouched by the world, the other has returned to simplicity.”

“Though I possess the Dao Dust Pearl and need not fear inner demons, I should still cultivate my nature in this way.”

“In the Louguan Sect, I met those seeking the Dao; gaining insight is good—but I must never, like Zhen Daoren and this woman, seal myself within these limited perceptions, creating countless obstacles. Since ancient times, foolishness has arisen from stubborn knowledge… Yet the Dao-qi one absorbs remains merely absorbed; only by turning inward, polishing oneself, letting this Dao-qi seep into one’s bones and sprout from one’s true heart—this is the true path to refining one’s nature.”

Back at their lodging, Guan and Yan finally saw Guan Pingxuan pause, then write a talisman-letter and send it to her circle of close friends, inquiring about deadly qi.

Yan Cai said: “The deadly qi Qian Daoist described—there seems to be one at Jin Chuan Sect… But that deadly qi is kept within their mountain gate, used only by their own disciples for cultivation. Qian Daoist will never obtain it! I’ve heard from Jin Chuan’s senior disciples that it appears to be Tai Yin True Deadly Qi…”

“Indeed, it is Tai Yin True Deadly Qi!” Guan’s senior sister nodded: “I’ve already sent word to my brother Pei at Jin Chuan Sect. Let’s see if I can act as intermediary.”

“Brother Pei is too proud—he won’t come easily,” Yan Cai laughed. “And that Tai Yin True Deadly Qi is a treasured artifact of Jin Chuan Sect… How could Qian Daoist afford it?”

“He cannot afford Tai Yin True Deadly Qi… but Brother Pei can afford Bingpo Hanguang Gang!” Guan’s senior sister smiled.

Yan Cai gasped: “Sister, you told Brother Pei that Qian Daoist possesses Bingpo Hanguang Gang… How could you? Qian Daoist confided this secret to us—how could you casually reveal it to outsiders? Isn’t that inviting disaster?”

Guan Pingxuan looked at her strangely: “Brother Pei is my kin by marriage; Jin Chuan Sect has always been friendly with our sect. How is he an outsider? Qian the itinerant cultivator is the outsider. Why should we side with an outsider and conceal things from our own? When Brother Pei comes, I will naturally smooth things over for him—I won’t let him suffer. I still have enough face with Brother Pei.”

Yan Cai shook her head: “Sister, you’ve done this wrong.”

“Gang and Sha qi are so precious! When Qian Daoist asked earlier, even though Jin Chuan’s Tai Yin True Deadly Qi was no secret—many of our own knew—it was never mentioned to him, precisely because we dare not casually reveal others’ secrets. I thought you refrained for the same reason.”

“Little sister…” Guan Pingxuan did not grow angry; she merely patted her head: “There is a distinction between inside and outside, between closeness and distance. When you see more, you will understand why I act this way.”

Yan Cai sighed and reached for her talisman brush… Guan immediately stopped her: “Do not send a message to Magistrate Cui.”

Yan Cai laid down her brush: “Now do you see the impropriety?”

Guan Pingxuan merely smiled and shook her head, showing no regret. Yan Cai sighed inwardly: “This conduct is utterly unreasonable! Does my sister truly believe such bullying of the weak is justified?”