Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 562 On the Theory of Late-Blooming Elixir and the Teaching of Daughters by Shuhe
————Xiao Huanshan, Chongmingzong, and Hunyi Academy
"When Heaven and Earth were first separated, the pure and the turbid were in the same abyss. The Way was not originally pure, so how could all demons be annihilated? Holding the three luminaries to illuminate the darkness, wielding the two halberds to maneuver. Cleansing the filth is not to seek the Jade Palace, but to preserve the barrenness to nourish the spiritual root."

When we see the turbid waves surging into the sky, it is not because we have abandoned benevolence to establish authority, but because we have preserved goodness to save those who are drowning; when we see the demons, we do not abandon compassion to maintain purity, but rather we hold to the middle way to dispel delusion. Therefore, even though mountains of corpses lie across the fields, we do not forget to bury and collect the bodies; even though seas of blood surge to the heavens, we still rescue those who are drowning and support the weak.

Small acts of kindness, like dew, can moisten the gravel of a parched plateau; subtle virtues, like stars, can ultimately dispel the veil of eternal night. A halberd sweeping away a thousand evils is not violence, but the hanging of a mirror of benevolence; a boat ferrying across ten thousand calamities is compassion, and forges ironclad rules!

Thus, the Nine Netherworlds were made a furnace to forge the pure soul, and the Asuras were transformed into fields to plant tender shoots. Only when the turbid waves tempered the halberds and their cold light shone through did the Milky Way appear to roll back, radiating spiritual brilliance!
Therefore, killing is the scale, and compassion is the sail. Those with ambition can absorb the raging torrent into a mustard seed, transforming demons into fields of merit. Awaiting the attainment of primordial chaos, this is the state where purity can encompass turbidity and transform turbidity into clarity; when turbidity reaches its extreme, purity is born, and the elixir is formed.

This third-tier spiritual land, which was built by the sect leader Kang Da at the cost of the entire sect's resources, was now immersed in the thick twilight.

The locust leaves, falling with the wind, twirled and slowly settled on the inkstone pool in front of a stunningly beautiful female cultivator. As ripples spread across the water, Fei Wanqing, her eyes closed and murmuring to herself, pressed her fingertip against the last line of vermilion annotation on the jade slip, completely absorbed.

The female Taoist felt the spiritual energy within her body suddenly surge like an underground river during the spring flood season, tearing fine cracks between the twelve-story buildings. In an instant, Fei Wanqing felt a salty, metallic taste rolling in her throat, and her palms gripped the bamboo slips tightly in her hands.

He was currently only reciting the detailed explanation of the Great Master Kang's Treatise on Core Formation, but the meridians that had been secretly injured due to the forced breakthrough were now throbbing with pain.

This unexpected turn of events, however, did not annoy the noblewoman of the Fei family in the slightest; on the contrary, it brought her a touch of joy. This prompted her to softly ask again, "By embracing yin and guarding yang, how can one distinguish between purity and turbidity?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as she uttered those few words, Fei Wanqing suddenly began to tremble.

"This checkpoint has held me back for over sixty years! My chronic illness is gone, and my mind is clear!" As soon as she uttered this soft exclamation, the knuckles on the bamboo slips were stained with a bluish-green color.

The copper bell hanging from the eaves of the main hall suddenly fell silent. A few drops of black blood slowly rolled down from Fei Wanqing's earlobes, turning into blood streaks that brushed past her fragrant shoulders before finally falling into the inkstone in front of her.

The "pop" sound was like a heavy object falling into the pool, and after a few breaths, these drops of blood and sweat turned the pool of clear water in front of Fei Wanqing into thick ink.

However, she seemed to have found the crux of her problem in failing to form her core at this time, so she had no time to be distracted and could only keep reciting silently to herself.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but just as another locust leaf from the courtyard brushed against her eyelashes, Fei Wanqing opened her eyes, and the movements of her constantly shifting, delicate hands abruptly ceased.

When her vision was blurred, she seemed to see herself in her prime, when she was a rising star, full of vigor and ambition; when the leaves fell, she saw herself buried in her books, looking haggard and pitiful.

The letter states: "When the heart is turbid, the world is turbid; when the heart is clear, the world is clear. It is not that heaven and earth create turbidity, but that people's hearts are confused." A turbid heart leads to a turbid world, and a clear heart leads to a clear world.

"So that's how it is! We were wrong! We were wrong!!" As soon as the words were spoken, a burst of joyful laughter suddenly rang out in the courtyard.

Fei Wanqing felt that she had never had such a smooth and pleasant time in many years. After hearing what the clan elder said and coming to Chongming Sect, it was indeed a wonderful experience.

Among them, the most helpful thing was Kang Dabao's Golden Core Formation Manual.

After all, compared to the vast and magnificent Fei family library, the Jingqiu Tower, which was painstakingly built up by the disciples of Chongming Sect, is far inferior.

Therefore, even if other inheritances have some merits, they are far inferior to Kang Dabao's Golden Core Manual in terms of Fei Wanqing's Perfected Elixir Theory.

"My brother-in-law's theories on alchemy are exquisite, in no way inferior to any of my Fei family's ancestors. No wonder he was able to achieve a mid-grade alchemy skill despite his humble origins; truly remarkable! Sister Shuhe, you are indeed very fortunate to have found such a good match."

This noblewoman of the Fei family cleared her mind of all distractions and abandoned her lotus-like sitting posture.

As she gracefully rose, she made a hand seal, summoning a gentle breeze to dispel the fragrant sweat covering her body. With a flick of her sleeve, six jade-colored pills sprang from her sleeve and fell one after another into the inkstone in front of her.

But after the pill was placed in the water, the inkstone, which was originally as dark as ink, suddenly became clear and bright. A large amount of black vapor rose up and disappeared completely before it reached the crown of the big locust tree.

Then the clear spring water gurgled and released spiritual energy, gradually calming down only after filling the small courtyard with more spiritual energy.

Upon seeing this, Fei Wanqing nodded slightly, her pretty face full of satisfaction.

You should know that these six Taiqing Jade Pills were specially sent by Ancestor Ye Sui when he heard that she had attained the Ice Leaf Dao Foundation at the young age of twenty. He said that these pills would be of great use when she formed her core.

However, after today, Fei Wanqing felt that she no longer needed this pill and could already attain the Golden Elixir.

However, this pill is not a common item, and it is an important spiritual pill that can help with the formation of the core. Yet it was used as nourishment to enhance the effect of this spiritual pool. This shows that Fei Wanqing is quite like her father and has a rather straightforward personality.

Six Taiqing Jade Pills, enough to exchange for a somewhat flawed low-grade magic weapon, were transformed into a pool of spiritual water that could enhance a cultivator's foundation building. This demonstrates that Fei Wanqing's noble aura was something that ordinary people could not cultivate.

Have you ever seen a certain sect leader who has traveled all over the country over the years begging for and scrambling for resources, yet has he ever left anything for any of his masters?
Fei Wanqing took one last look at the large locust tree in the courtyard. When she came in, she had been wondering why such a place, rich in spiritual energy, would need to have a locust tree of such low quality moved here.

Now that it was time for her to leave, she still couldn't figure it out. However, Fei Wanqing didn't dwell on it. She simply poured another pot of spiritual liquid onto the roots of the old tree and said crisply, "Thank you for your companionship over the past few months, fellow Daoist."

This spiritual liquid was clearly of a high grade, but only Fei Wanqing, who came from a wealthy family, would be willing to use it on the ordinary spiritual plant, the Big Locust Tree, when she was in a good mood.

The sudden rustling of leaves in the courtyard clearly showed how excited the big locust tree was.

After all, given Kang Da's pragmatic and down-to-earth nature, if Fei Wanqing hadn't pleaded to borrow this Hunyi Courtyard, this old locust tree probably wouldn't have been able to drink such spiritual liquid for another eight hundred years.

Fei Wanqing looked up with a slight surprise: "Can this spiritual plant communicate with spirits?"

The noblewoman of the Fei family exclaimed softly, but then realized that she was overthinking it.

After all, the spiritual plants are far less spiritual than the demonic beasts.

In fact, even in the Imperial Garden, one or two such examples are only heard of every few hundred years, and each one is a rare treasure intentionally made by a real person. How can this ordinary old locust tree in front of us compare?

After thinking about this, Fei Wanqing simply shook her head and chuckled, stroking the tree trunk as she said in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist, cultivate well. Perhaps we will meet again in the future."

After speaking, without waiting for the big locust tree to react, she turned around and went to the courtyard gate. With her five slender fingers curling and bending, she formed a Tai Chi seal, released the spiritual restriction, and stepped lightly out of the courtyard.

"Miss Wanqing has emerged from seclusion." Granny Tang, who was guarding outside the courtyard, was overjoyed to see the gate wide open. She then rushed forward, her face full of smiles.

"Thank you so much, Granny, for protecting me,"

Being able to read between the lines is indeed an essential skill for a servant, especially for someone like Granny Tang who came to the profession later in life and whose relationship with Fei Shuhe is far less close than that of the former Granny Sun, so she has to be even more careful.

But then the old woman glanced at her and said some nice words: "Congratulations, Miss Wanqing, on finding the perfect method of alchemy. You will soon be able to achieve advanced cultivation."

"Thank you for your kind words, Granny Cheng, but I'm afraid it won't be that easy." Fei Wanqing was indeed in a great mood, but she had just found the root of her problem and was eager to go home, so she had no time to exchange pleasantries with a governess.

She parted her lips slightly and asked in a clear voice to Granny Tang, "Has my brother-in-law returned? And where is Sister Shuhe?"

The latter replied honestly, "So that Miss Wanqing may know, the young master is still leading troops in Huangpi Road and has not yet returned; as for Miss, he is in Qinghan Courtyard examining Miss Lingyi's studies."

"Please lead the way, Granny Lao."

"Yes, Miss Wanqing, this way please."

It was as if Granny Tang had eyes in the back of her head. She kept her body bent and adjusted her pace to match Fei Wanqing's speed without getting tired. Before long, she led the latter to the outside of Qinghan Courtyard.

After their talismans were verified by the guards at the gate, the two stepped into the courtyard. A short while later, they saw Kang Lingyi surrounded by the sect leader and a group of female relatives.

Unlike her two younger brothers who were less gifted, Kang Lingyi, as the only daughter of the Kang family, was truly promising, having already achieved Foundation Establishment a full cycle long ago. Although her aptitude remained low, she still managed to live to be four Jiazi, which was enough to greatly comfort Zhang Qingran and the Kang family's headmaster. Fei Shuhe only managed to achieve Foundation Establishment by a narrow margin thanks to the mountain of resources piled up by her uncle, Fei Nanying.

Therefore, in the path of cultivation, she rarely gave guidance not only to Kang Lingyi, who was also a true cultivator, but also to her two youngest sons, Kang Changzhao and Kang Changyan, whose cultivation levels were quite low.

Therefore, what Fei Shuhe wants to test with Kang Lingyi today is something different.

As soon as Fei Wanqing and her companion entered, they saw Fei Shuhe sitting with several women in a bamboo pavilion. The stepmother was sitting upright in front of a jade table, her fingers caressing a Jian ware teacup with crackle patterns.

On the clean desk, there were three stacks of account books, each marked with the words "Linggu", "Fakuang" and "Shuwu" written in pine soot ink.

The worn corners of the book were carefully covered with brocade, just like Fei Shuhe's way of managing a household: even the slightest flaws on the edges must be properly and neatly arranged.

"How much of the two hundred shi of red flame pig meat paste purchased last month is still in the warehouse?" Fei Shuhe suddenly looked up at Kang Lingyi, who was standing with her hands at her sides.

The young-looking Kang Lingyi immediately opened the seventh volume of the General Affairs Book, her fingertips tracing the vermilion annotations as she softly replied, "There are actually seventy shi of grain. Thirty of them are preserved with ice talismans and are specially supplied to the disciples of the Alchemy Room to make body-tempering ointments. The rest were sent to the Spirit Food Hall the day before yesterday and were fumigated with freshly cut silver cinnamon."

A light rain was falling outside the pavilion, but Fei Shuhe's pearl-adorned hairpin remained perfectly still: "What kind of firewood should we use for the smoked meat?"

"Originally, we should have used neem wood, but Senior Brother Zhu Yunsheng, who is in charge of all matters of the outer sect, said that this year's insect plague has damaged the timber donated by various families in Cold Crow Mountain." Kang Lingyi pulled out a piece of yellow silk from her sleeve and handed it over.

"The daughter then followed the emergency procedures taught by her mother and ordered people to remove the old year's amulets for protection. The ashes were then scattered into the sacred field to repel insects—the account was recorded on the third line of the supplementary page of the general affairs book."

Fei Shuhe gazed at the neat, small characters on the letter paper, and suddenly noticed two shallow smudges of ink spreading out between the ink marks. She was slightly taken aback: "What, did you cry before?"

Hearing the doubts, Kang Lingyi's ears turned slightly red. After thinking for a while, she spoke up and said, "That day when I went down the mountain to arrange the peach charms, I unexpectedly saw the hardships of the people in the area and I shed a tear with them."

But Mother was relieved; the required peachwood charms had not been reduced. Her daughter had simply asked the junior disciples at the charm-making workshop to draw some more after returning to the clan, and they were just about to choose a time to distribute them to the subordinates.

Upon hearing this, Fei Shuhe exchanged glances with Zhang Qingran and Yuan Xiyue. The three women had different expressions, but they all smiled inwardly at Kang Lingyi's compassionate heart.

After all, if the lives of all the cultivators under the jurisdiction of Chongming Sect are considered difficult, then where else under the jurisdiction of the Duke of Qin can be considered a paradise?
"I haven't seen enough, and I still lack experience."

After these words, Fei Shuhe's test was considered complete. Seeing Yu'er take the silk scroll from her stepmother, Kang Lingyi immediately made a gesture behind her.

Then a maid in green brought in pre-rain tea. At the bottom of the plain porcelain cup was a round green plum, which Kang Lingyi had pickled that morning to relieve depression.

Fei Shuhe used a silver stick to pick up a green plum and sniffed it. The fine needle holes on the plum skin clearly formed the character "安" (An). She felt that Kang Lingyi had learned this skill perfectly, and a look of satisfaction immediately appeared on her pretty face.

You should know that such ingenuity, though seemingly useless, is the difference between ordinary noble families and poor families.

Shen Lingfeng, the Silver Knife Prince Consort, suddenly became a nobleman and no longer cared about such things. As a result, Princess Xuanwei was ridiculed by other noble families behind her back in her early years.

However, Shen Lingfeng's solution was straightforward. After he became a True Person, the ridicule directed at him almost disappeared, and Princess Xuanwei was able to finally hold her head high.

As for the Silver Knife Prince Consort, who has now completely shed his shabby appearance and is more adept at all etiquette than the governesses in the Xuanqiong Palace, and whose only desire is to gain the recognition of the Dawei family, led by the Gui family of Liaoyuan, and whose family has risen to become a prominent clan, that is simply for later purposes.

"The way of a steward is not about being petty." Fei Shuhe took a sip of spiritual tea, emphasized the words, and then gave another instruction: "Just remember that the person in charge should have a clear mind, able to see the smallest details without hurting feelings."

As the candle flame crackled and popped, Kang Lingyi was wiping the ink stains on her mother's fingers with a silk handkerchief.

Fei Shuhe lowered her eyes and looked at the small hands that resembled Chunwei's. Suddenly, she pushed the Jianzhan in front of her to the young lady: "You've done well this month. The newly gushing spring water is a reward for you to water that wilted Su Guan He."

This Yunyu is the purest spiritual water from the spiritual spring in Qinghan Courtyard. Only a handful can be obtained each month. It is indeed an excellent substance for nurturing spiritual plants. Kang Lingyi was overjoyed and bowed in a clear voice, saying, "Thank you, Mother."

Fei Shuhe smiled and pulled Kang Lingyi to sit down beside her, saying gently, "The examination is over now, there's no need for such formalities."

The latter was, after all, the only daughter of the Kang family, and someone she had personally raised. Fei Shuhe was naturally very satisfied with her; otherwise, she wouldn't have needed to put so much effort into teaching her.

As for why Fei Shuhe taught Kang Lingyi how to manage household affairs, it was naturally so that the latter could have a good future. After all, for a female Daoist like Kang Lingyi, who was unlikely to achieve true immortality, finding a good match based on her family background was indeed a very worthwhile thing.

Fei Shuhe, who had already earned the title of Lady of the Ninth Rank, was well aware of this.

A woman's primary concerns are food and clothing. If she has a choice, then practicality and dignity are both indispensable.

Fei Shuhe, who has recently become much more distinguished due to her title as the wife of the Marquis of Wuning, has already selected many candidates for Kang Lingyi. Once the latter has been properly trained in these household management matters, she can rest assured and slowly make her mark.

Just then, Fei Wanqing stepped in. Because of her exceptional talent, she and Fei Shuhe were indeed on different paths. She focused solely on cultivation and never paid attention to the trivial matters the latter had just mentioned.

Although the two cultivated different paths, their relationship remained close. Upon seeing Fei Wanqing emerge from seclusion, Fei Shuhe's smile deepened, and despite the drizzle overhead, she quickly stepped out of the pavilion to greet her.

"Oh dear, I've been so busy with the exams that I've neglected my sister." Fei Shuhe led Fei Wanqing into the pavilion, then asked with a smile, "How was it?"

The latter immediately understood, but didn't say much, only nodding slightly: "Thank you, sister and brother-in-law."

Fei Shuhe was overjoyed, but she still had to maintain the dignified demeanor of a first wife at this moment. So she had to suppress her emotions and said in a cheerful voice, "It's good that it's done. In this way, my husband and I have finally done something for the clan over the years. My husband will be very happy to know this."

Upon hearing her elder sister mention Master Kang, Fei Wanqing turned her gaze back to Kang Lingyi. After thinking for a while, she whispered, "Sister, have you already found a husband?"

"How could it be so fast? In remote and desolate places, far from the capital, it's always difficult to find a suitable one."

Seeing Fei Shuhe shake her head slightly, Fei Wanqing said again, "In that case, we might as well wait a few more years. Sister, you see that this girl is quite young when she started to establish her foundation. Even if her aptitude is not good, it is not impossible for her to make further progress. Even if she obtains the false core, it is not impossible."

Unexpectedly, Fei Shuhe shook her head again, knowing: "Last time at the banquet for the son of Senior Chu of Fengming Prefecture, I took this girl to pay my respects. Even though my family has such a deep relationship with the Qi family, she did not respond. For the time being, it is difficult to find a suitable teacher to instruct her."

"Oh, I see." Chu Yanran is a rare high-level female cultivator in the vicinity. Even though Fei Wanqing has been cultivating diligently for many years, she has heard of Chu Yanran.

Not only his Core Formation cultivation, but also his newly advanced third-level Farming Master skills are worthy of admiration. Upon hearing this, even Kuang Liuting was so tempted that he summoned him to his headquarters to serve as a Farming Colonel.

However, this also shows that Kang Lingyi's intelligence is only average, otherwise why would Chu Yanran have rejected her?

"In that case, I wonder if my sister would be willing to wait?"

"What are you waiting for?"

"Once my younger sister returns to Fengming Prefecture and completes her Core Formation, I will take Lingyi as my first disciple."

"Oh!?" Fei Shuhe's face lit up with joy, and the corners of her mouth lifted. Then she turned to Zhang Qingran and said, "What do you think, sister?"

The latter was about to blurt out her agreement, but the words were already stuck in her throat. Instead, she said, "Sister, let Lingyi make the decision herself. She has always been quite decisive since she was a child."

Kang Lingyi was somewhat stunned by this unexpected windfall, but before she could answer, the sound of the gatekeeper and others chatting in the courtyard drifted in, causing her to frown.

"Master of the Star-Picking Pavilion, are you getting started?"

(End of this chapter)