Chapter 36: Is Looks Important?

After class, Wei Yuan returned to his small courtyard and saw Zhang Sheng.

After he paid his respects, Zhang Sheng asked him a few questions about his studies, then smiled and said, “Today, our Ancestor specifically broke his seclusion to see you. You’ve brought great honor to Tianqing Hall—our Ancestor is delighted. Let’s see what fine treasures he might give you!”

Hearing this, Wei Yuan also grew eager. He washed and tidied himself, and Zhang Sheng summoned a flying sword. Instantly, it grew from the size of a palm to two zhang long. Zhang Sheng stepped onto it with Wei Yuan, and they shot into the sky.

For the first time riding a flying sword, Wei Yuan was both exhilarated and terrified. As the courtyard and valley below shrank rapidly, his legs grew weak and trembling, as if he might fall at any moment.

Zhang Sheng lightly tapped Wei Yuan’s back. Instantly, Wei Yuan felt as if immersed in warm water—utterly comfortable. The flying sword seemed to merge with him; he was the sword, the sword was him, and he no longer feared falling.

Zhang Sheng flew slowly; occasionally, others zipped past, vanishing in an instant.

Riding the sword, Wei Yuan rose higher and higher, heading straight for a floating peak in the sky. Soon, they landed on a green jade square at the mountain’s base.

Zhang Sheng retracted the sword and led Wei Yuan up the winding stone path, through forests and across streams, until they stood before a grand hall. The hall’s most striking feature was two crimson jade pillars, from which flames continuously rose. Even from afar, Wei Yuan felt waves of heat wash over him. Fortunately, a fine mist of green rain appeared around Zhang Sheng, shielding Wei Yuan and easing his discomfort.

At that moment, the hall doors opened without wind, and a deep voice rang out: “Enter!”

Wei Yuan felt both anticipation and unease. In the past two days, between classes, he’d heard many tales of Tianqing Hall. Master Xuan Yue rarely acted—but when he did, it shook heaven and earth. Among his True Persons, Master Fenhai had the most legendary exploits and the most glorious victories; his Dao art of burning heaven and boiling seas was nearly unstoppable. Thinking of meeting such a legendary figure, Wei Yuan could not help but tremble with excitement.

Zhang Sheng led Wei Yuan straight through the hall into the back courtyard, where they saw an old Daoist feeding fish by a pool. But the pool held no water—it burned with roaring earthfire. The fish swam freely within the molten lava, utterly at ease.

The old Daoist turned slowly, his gaze falling on Wei Yuan. Instantly, a searing stream of fire entered through Wei Yuan’s crown and surged through his entire body, nearly igniting him from within!

At that moment, a jade toad appeared in Wei Yuan’s spiritual sea, opened its mouth, and swallowed the entire fire stream in one gulp. The toad’s body turned red—but a few strands of black mist flickered in its eyes, the red faded, and its body gradually returned to luminous white, leaving only a thin red line along its back.

In that instant, steam rose from Wei Yuan’s head, his body drenched in sweat, his mouth parched—but his body felt lighter and more transparent than ever.

The old Daoist was astonished. “The heavenly fire I used to refine your foundation—you swallowed it whole?”

Both the old Daoist and Zhang Sheng had clearly seen the phenomenon in Wei Yuan’s spiritual sea. Zhang Sheng had never witnessed such a transformation and was baffled. The old Daoist stepped forward, scrutinizing Wei Yuan from head to toe. His gaze pierced like a sword, examining every inch of him.

Wei Yuan looked up and finally saw the old Daoist’s face. The Daoist was short, even gaunt, his features ordinary—except for a faint red streak at his brow. Otherwise, he looked like a simple mountain elder, utterly unlike the famed Master Fenhai.

As he gazed, the old Daoist’s face slowly broke into a smile. “Your foundation isn’t even fully formed, yet your contemplation chart already carries divine essence. This child is exceptional! Disciple, finding him means your years haven’t been wasted.”

Zhang Sheng said, “Wait—what do you mean?”

Master Fenhai said, “The future glory of Tianqing Hall rests on this grand-disciple of mine!”

Zhang Sheng stared in shock. “So now I’m irrelevant because I have a grand-disciple?”

Master Fenhai’s gaze never left Wei Yuan; his face beamed as if blooming with flowers. “The new wave pushes the old wave forward—and you, my boy, are the old wave. This is the natural order! Disciple, learn to accept it!”

Zhang Sheng’s face darkened. “Aren’t you the old wave too?”

Master Fenhai stroked his beard. “No matter. It’ll take decades for this young wave to grow. That’s not long—I, your master, can wait!”

Saying this, Master Fenhai scooped up Wei Yuan. “Come now, good boy—let Grandmaster hold you!”

But Master Fenhai was short, and Wei Yuan was tall—this embrace was awkward.

Zhang Sheng’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you really this blatant in your favoritism? What does this boy have that I don’t?”

Master Fenhai didn’t turn. “He’s prettier than you.”

“Uh…” Zhang Sheng nearly choked. His long hair stirred without wind, faint blue sword qi flickered in his eyes. “That’s just my body! My physical shell! You compare him to my shell? What’s the point?! Why not compare me to him directly?”

Master Fenhai continued studying Wei Yuan. “Fine. I won’t mention appearance—don’t want to hurt your feelings. This child swept the martial trials, humiliated every noble house—never seen in a thousand years. This isn’t just about bringing honor to me or Master Xuan Yue. Don’t you understand the significance?”

“Without my Heaven-Earth Madman Art, he’d sweep nothing! And what do you mean ‘don’t hurt my feelings’? In looks alone, who am I worse than?!” Zhang Sheng had completely lost his composure.

Master Fenhai said calmly, “You created it—but you can’t use it.”

Zhang Sheng’s face turned as black as soot. He couldn’t speak. Master Fenhai’s tongue was as infamous as his heavenly fire.

Master Fenhai finally set Wei Yuan down. “This child’s celestial fortune is extraordinary, but whether it’s good or bad remains unclear. Giving him the Jade Toad Gazing at the Moon Chart was right—it converts fortune into extra foundation, harmless and beneficial. But since celestial fortune doesn’t belong to our world, the foundation it produces is inherently unstable and needs extra effort to solidify.”

Master Fenhai stroked his beard, thought for a moment, then grimaced as if losing something precious. “Alright—I still have three layers-defining sea-stabilizing pills. They’re miraculous for reinforcing foundation. After he finishes them, he must take one cultivation-nourishing pill every three days. You, as his master, must arrange it.”

Zhang Sheng grumbled, “I’m not as good-looking as him, and now I have to prepare his pills?”

Master Fenhai glared. “And what of it? When you were young, did I neglect you? To forge your Dao foundation, I begged and borrowed, humbled myself, scraped together materials. I spent three full years repaying the celestial silver I owed!”

Zhang Sheng’s heart softened. He sighed. “Fine. I’ll find a way.”

Master Fenhai grunted. “That’s better. Oh, by the way—I’ve already submitted your Heaven-Earth Madman Art to the palace. But since no one can use it, the reward won’t be much.”

Zhang Sheng said, “I created it on a whim, meant only for Yuan’er. Has the Ancestor not emerged yet?”

“On the day of your exam, the Ancestor debated with three opponents at once and took minor injuries. Otherwise, those noble houses wouldn’t have let you take first place.”

Zhang Sheng was startled. “Three opponents? I only sensed two.”

Master Fenhai snorted. “Bao Man Shan of the Bao family snuck in from beyond heaven to strike. Of course you didn’t sense him.”

Zhang Sheng fell silent for a moment, then said gravely, “Good. I’ll remember this. Yuan’er—you remember too.”

Wei Yuan nodded firmly.

Master Fenhai’s old face lit up again. “Ah, what are you doing? Don’t corrupt the child! Tianqing Hall isn’t a place for holding grudges!”

Master Fenhai looked at Wei Yuan, growing fonder by the moment. He gently patted his head. “Child, True Persons take three hundred years to repay a grudge—wait until your Dao is fully perfected. If you meet Bao Man Shan again, don’t go too far. We’ve known each other so long—just break a few limbs, that’s enough.”

(End of Chapter)