Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 600: The True Meaning is Heard in Qichi Hall, Jiang Qing Receives the Sword and Elixir Diagram

————Xuanwei City, Fei Family

Inside the Qichi Hall of the Fei family in Yingzhou, the "Concentrating Incense" in the incense burner was burning steadily, and the wisps of blue smoke swirled around the "Sword and Elixir Painting" specially displayed on the beams today.

The posture of the monk standing with his sword in the picture is surprisingly similar to that of Jiang Qing, who is standing quietly in the hall.

There were no ordinary chairs in the hall today, only a soft cushion with cloud patterns about ten feet square behind the table.

Fei Tianqin was lying on the soft cushion, his wings folded, and a wisp of crimson feathers on his head trembled slightly. Suddenly, the old bird raised his eyelids, and his golden eyes, clear as glass, fell on Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing had been in the hall for half a day. His black sword robe hung down to the ground. Even after entering the hall, Fei Tianqin didn't utter a single word, but there was no sign of urgency on his face.

Only when Fei Tianqin made a move did Third Master Jiang slowly regain his composure, bow and say, "Junior Jiang Qing greets Ancestor."

Fei Tianqin spoke gently: "You've been in this hall for half a day, yet you haven't looked at the books here, nor swept away the alchemical texts on the beams, only maintaining this tranquility. In your opinion, this composure accompanied by the sword is more important than the path to Core Formation?"

Jiang Qing bowed his head and replied, "Ancestor is joking. Core formation is the crucial point on a cultivator's path, and I dare not be disrespectful."

"From the very beginning of my cultivation, I have been taught swordsmanship by my senior brother. Since he instructed me to practice, I have never dared to be negligent. From initial dislike to current reluctance, over a century has passed, yet it is still difficult to change my ways in a short time."

He spoke these words calmly yet with unwavering conviction, his fingertips unconsciously tensing.

That was a habit formed from carrying a sword for many years; it was as if as long as one thought of the sword, one's fingertips would have the strength to grip it.

As soon as Jiang Qing finished speaking, the Tongming Sword Ape sitting on his left shoulder raised its head, its bright eyes looking at Jiang Qing, then at Fei Tianqin, before lowering its head again.

Fei Tianqin's golden eyes narrowed slightly, his crimson crest trembled slightly. In his view, Jiang Qing's few words alone surpassed those of many noble families and privileged elites. But then he heard the old bird cough lightly and say in a calm voice:
"You are so sincere in your pursuit of the sword, no wonder you have such good fortune. Don't try to flatter your lazy senior brother. Do you think I don't know that in his hands, whether it's a sword or a staff, it's practically the same thing? How could he possibly be qualified to teach you swordsmanship?!"
Hmm. That young man in black shoes may not have taught you much, but he's certainly on the right track. It's strange, really, you and your nephew come from this humble place, where did you get any proper teachers?

In my opinion, your path might not be any less ruthless than those sword fanatics of the Sky-Splitting Sword Sect. Heh, speaking of that young fellow Black Shoes, I wonder how he fared on his solitary journey to the outer seas.”

At this point, Fei Tianqin shook his head, clearly not optimistic about the Black Shoes Taoist's path.

After all, in this old bird's view, Kang Dabao was willing to humble himself before the Fei family. Although he lacked heroic spirit, he was ultimately able to achieve a mid-grade elixir because of the Fei family's assistance.

Compared to the crucial matter of a smooth future cultivation, the Black-Shoeed Taoist's pursuit of "freedom and ease" is insignificant.

If the Black-Shoeed Taoist had been less ambitious, he might not have ended up in such a precarious situation.

"As for top-grade Golden Elixir," Fei Tianqin sighed inwardly and chuckled.

He first cleared these thoughts from his mind, and then said, "Young friend Jiang, do you know how much criticism from the clan my brother and I endured before we could return to Yingzhou?"

When Fei Tianqin suddenly mentioned Fei Shuhe, who had just boarded the Fei family's hearse yesterday, Jiang Qing didn't know how to respond and could only listen patiently.

“Hey, I’m not exaggerating. Besides your senior brother Kang Dabao, you also deserve great credit for Shuhe’s good fortune.”

"This junior is flattered!"

“Just telling the truth, why make such a fuss?” Fei Tianqin murmured, his tone ambiguous, before continuing:
“If it weren’t for the fact that you and that lazy boy have always been of one mind and brotherly affection, this matter might have been accomplished, but it would have made me hesitate for a long time.”

"After much hesitation, Shuhe may never have such an opportunity again in her lifetime." Fei Tianqin's golden eyes shifted slightly, and his tone became more serious as he changed the subject:

“Young friend, you are different from your sect leader. His theory of alchemy was also discussed with me by Nan Ying back then. His ambition is too great, which is not a good thing. It is not something that a minor cultivator like him, or even my Fei family of Yingzhou, can bear.”

Even if one were to succeed by chance, it's hard to say whether one will rise to great heights or stagnate. But you, my young friend, have only the sword in your eyes and are single-minded, which makes things much easier for you.

"I, your ancestor, have cultivated for thousands of years, and my eyesight is no less than that of an ordinary immortal. I also possess some insights I can share with you. If you carefully remember them, even if they don't match your abilities, they will be without error."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing's expression turned solemn, and he bowed, replying, "This junior would be most grateful for guidance from the venerable ancestor."

Fei Tianqin chuckled softly, parting a feather to create a gentle spiritual energy that dispersed in mid-air, further dispersing the incense smoke in the hall.

"For cultivators to form their core, the theory of alchemy is of paramount importance. The theory of alchemy is not the art of furnaces, cauldrons, lead, and mercury, but rather the path of self-realization for cultivators. Take your senior brother's 'Clear and Turbid World' as an example. It says, 'When the mind is turbid, the world is turbid; when the mind is clear, the world is clear. It is not that heaven and earth create turbidity, but that people's minds are confused.' These words are somewhat meaningful and also resonate with this principle."

However, after hearing this, you don't need to dwell on the distinction between purity and impurity. Just carefully consider the two characters "混元" (Hun Yuan) in your "混元镇霄" (Hun Yuan Zhen Xiao) phrase.

“The two characters ‘Hun Yuan’ should be pondered carefully,” Jiang Qing murmured for a moment, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

"Does the Ancestor mean that 'Hun Yuan' is not only a principle of swordsmanship, but also the key to my Core Formation?" Jiang Qing looked up, his eyes filled with inquiry. The Tongming Sword Ape on his shoulder seemed to sense something as well, raising its little head to look at Fei Tianqin.

The old bird chuckled: "This is what I think, young friend. You can ponder and comprehend, but when it comes to cultivation, even if the one teaching you is a Great Immortal, you still cannot completely trust him. You must dare to think and ponder before you can prove yourself."

Fei Tianqin paused here, then continued, "Your lazy senior brother has thought this through very clearly."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing felt as if he had suddenly gained some clarity, and even the vague theories of alchemy seemed to have a clearer direction. He then bowed to Fei Tianqin and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor."

"Ha, what kind of teaching is this?!" Fei Tianqin shook his head and spoke again:
"I've heard that your family has a senior uncle surnamed Lian who is quite favored by Master Jiangxue. In his early years, he learned a superior sword theory from Hong Wen of the Rift Sky Sword Sect, which was once the subject of gossip. I wonder if you, young friend, could have been taught it?"

"To be honest, Ancestor, if it weren't for the great kindness of my Uncle Lian, I wouldn't have been able to comprehend this sword principle, and I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to save my life from Wei Guze!"

Upon hearing this, Fei Tianqin's eyes showed a strange light. Although someone of Lian Xuepu's status could not possibly obtain the true meaning of Hong Wenshang's sword theory, it was still rare for Jiang Qing, a mere cultivator, to be able to comprehend the sword theory taught by a peak cultivator.

After all, to be honest, this old bird has served three dynasties and cultivated for thousands of years. He has always been unrestrained and unruly among those below the True Person level, but Hong Wenshang, the cultivator of the Rift Sky Sword Sect, is one of the few people who can truly make him wary.

Fei Tianqin nodded slowly and said in a low voice, "Your senior brother has managed the Chongming Sect quite well. Your uncle is barely able to protect himself, yet he still thinks about you juniors. If young Kang proves himself and can maintain stability for another two or three hundred years, so that this spirit of unity and cooperation can not be lost, your family's future will be immeasurable."

"Thank you for the praise, Ancestor."

Since Fei Tianqin had praised his own senior brother, Jiang Qing accepted it readily. However, he then pondered the phrase "Lian Xuepu could hardly protect himself" in Fei Tianqin's words for a while, and was about to ask a question when...

But then Fei Tianqin, seeing the reaction, suddenly smiled, and then softly recited:

"If we follow the advice of the younger generation in the family, we should take you in as a son-in-law of the clan, just like your senior brother, so that we can continue to educate you. Otherwise, outsiders might say that the Fei family of Yingzhou is only trying to make good connections because my younger brother is about to die, or that we are inviting trouble."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing was about to explain, but Fei Tianqin interrupted him, saying:
"This is utterly laughable. The younger generation all think that marrying off some daughters will unite the families into one, ensuring a life of shared destiny. But they don't realize that this method must be applied appropriately to each individual."

Fei Tianqin's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery as he spoke again: "Kang Dabao may be warmed by the love and devotion of this poor couple, but not you, my friend. Even if you married ten or a hundred daughters to you, it still wouldn't work."

Although the old bird's words were a bit rough, Jiang Qing was taken aback by the directness of the statement. After a moment, he didn't bother to explain and simply straightened his face and remained silent.

However, Fei Tianqin was not surprised by his reaction. Instead, he specially explained, "It's not that you're wrong to say that, but in the end, you and your black-shoeed master are actually the same kind of people."

Jiang Qing's gaze faltered, but she remained silent until Fei Tianqin continued:
“It is only natural for cultivators to prioritize themselves. However, compared to that junior in black shoes, you are still somewhat lacking in purity. Besides yourself, you also value those two senior brothers too much. In fact, you might value them more than yourself.”

The old bird chuckled again and said in a cheerful voice:
"If that's the case, if Kang boy continues to be close to my family, then it's impossible for my young friend not to be close to my family as well. Why bother marrying off another daughter to win him over, and even wasting some dowry?! I, your old ancestor, also know that no matter how good we are to my young friend, it's just icing on the cake."

"Ha, but I, your humble ancestor, am not stingy in adding this icing on the cake."

Fei Tianqin's words were so blunt that they caused Master Jiang's expression to darken and his heart to flutter with slight alarm. The latter thought to himself, "This old bird is not only incredibly powerful, but he also seems to understand people's hearts so well."

"However, while brotherly love and respect are good things, this may go against your wishes and become a shackle on your future spiritual practice."

As for whether and how this will change in the future, that is for you to decide alone. Afterwards, whatever outsiders say, do not readily believe them.

Hearing this, Jiang Qing realized that the old bird had delivered such a long speech just to lead to this last sentence as a warning.

Such earnest and heartfelt advice was something even many of the Fei family's senior members had never received, yet he truly regarded them as close relatives and nephews.

Jiang Qing's emotions were rarely stirred, but in this situation, he couldn't help but feel sincere gratitude towards the old bird, and he bowed deeply to him despite being advised against it.

"Heh," Fei Tianqin's eyes gleamed with smugness, and his words were unusually tame. He was about to utter the words "kowtowing worm" when he swallowed them back down.

It then divided the feathers, held the feather roots upside down, and pointed them towards the "Sword and Crimson Diagram" on the beam above its head, whispering instructions:

"This was prepared for you back at Bearfall Peak. A junior from the Blood Sword Sect, overestimating himself, personally gifted it to me. Yet those scoundrels from Burial Spring Tomb dared to snatch it, hehe."

But seeing the old bird open its sharp beak as if it were amused, Jiang Qing knew that those audacious cultivators at the Burial Spring Tomb would likely meet a bad end.

"Although it is a fragment, it is enough for you to consult, and it may help you in your Core Formation. When my Fei family moved to Fengming Prefecture in the north of the mountain, all the books were moved with us. However, Donggu, Nanying, and I have also collected some for you, which should be enough."

Following Fei Tianqin's gaze, Jiang Qing saw that in addition to the figure of a cultivator carrying a sword, there were also several subtle spiritual energy patterns hidden in the corner of the "Sword Elixir Diagram," which he had not noticed before.

The patterns on the sword meandered like veins, subtly mirroring the path of spiritual energy flow when he practiced swordsmanship. The light spots condensed at the tip of the sword in the picture were remarkably similar to the gathering of spiritual energy in his dantian.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Ancestor." Jiang Qing bowed again, his tone full of solemnity. He knew that the "some books" Fei Tianqin mentioned were no ordinary items, let alone this "Sword Elixir Diagram" that had gone through so many twists and turns. This sentiment was beyond words.

Fei Tianqin flapped his wings, his tone returning to its usual calm: "Don't thank me too soon. While these things can provide some assistance, you'll need to understand them yourself, and my family won't provide you with any Core Formation materials."

With your "Primordial Chaos" sword principles, coupled with the patterns of this "Sword Elixir Diagram," if you can comprehend the principle of "sword and elixir sharing the same origin," you might even be able to aspire to improve the quality of your elixir.

Just remember, do not treat classical texts as dogma, just as you wouldn't copy someone else's sword techniques when practicing swordsmanship. The path to Core Formation is crucial for future cultivation; do not do anything you will regret.

It paused, a complex expression flashing in its golden eyes: "My younger brother is a cautionary tale."

"I understand." Jiang Qing raised his head, the confusion in his eyes gradually fading.

"That's good," Fei Tianqin said, his golden eyes showing approval. "It's getting late, so as your senior brother requested, you will cultivate at the Fei family from now on. If you have any questions about cultivation, you can ask Dong Gu or Nan Ying if they have the time, even if I am not here."

Jiang Qing responded with a "Yes," and with a wave of his hand, a gentle breeze carefully lifted the "Sword Elixir Diagram." He then took the several scrolls of books handed to him by Fei Tianqin, but instead of putting them into his storage bag, he carefully held them in his arms.

The luminous sword ape on his shoulder seemed to know how important these things were, so it also restrained its usual liveliness and obediently lay on his shoulder, no longer moving around.

As Jiang Qing reached the entrance of Qichi Hall, he suddenly turned around and bowed deeply to Fei Tianqin: "I will never forget the teachings of the Ancestor today."

Fei Tianqin flapped his wings, his tone revealing a touch of nonchalance:
"You just focus on your cultivation. I have been cultivating for thousands of years and have plenty of connections outside. There is no need for you, a junior, to worry about me."

The Fei family of Yingzhou has thrived since the beginning of the previous dynasty, and there's a reason for that. We don't need a junior like you to maintain our standing.

Jiang Qing expressed no further gratitude, only bowing his head in thanks. Fei Tianqin, however, did not respond. Instead, he flapped his wings, closed the door, and addressed the empty hall:
"Those who are loyal, trustworthy, and capable may seem somewhat laughable and pitiful, but they are the ones worth betting on. Fortunately, Nan Ying now understands this principle."

After speaking, the old bird was unsure of what to do next, so he pondered Jiang Qing's earlier words about swordsmanship in the hall and found them quite interesting.

However, after only about half a cup of tea's time, its enthusiasm waned considerably, and it began to murmur the news that had recently arrived:
"Shen Lingfeng, the Silver Knife Prince Consort, can actually move again. There has been a change in the capital region. Families may have to change their current estrangement from the imperial family. This is not a good thing for my Fei family."

However, after a long while of murmuring, Fei Tianqin murmured again, "This leisurely life won't last much longer. Even if Bai Canhong is just ahead, I, the old ancestor, must go to that northern mountain road."

(End of this chapter)