Chapter 302: Chapter 226: A Prophesied Great Opportunity, an Exquisite Jueyin Woman (Part 2)

’If I change my appearance, it should save me a great deal of trouble.’

Jiang Yi thought to himself as his immense Magical Power, like a celestial river flowing in reverse, slowly receded into his body.

In his palm, he held a barnacle-like gourd the size of his hand. Inside it were twenty-six wisps of clear Spiritual Qi, swirling like mist and rosy clouds, condensed and unmoving.

This was "Qian Heaven True Jun Qi," a gift from Master Lu for the Daoist to use in refining his gang qi.

’Killing Power is turbid and heavy, increasing the might of Daoist Skills. Gang qi is refined and integrated into True Qi, nourishing and solidifying the Primordial Gate, and benefiting the Divine Sense.’

Jiang Yi’s eyelids drooped slightly. As he looked inward, he saw that within his Primordial Gate—a place wreathed in clouds and mist like an Immortal’s paradise—twelve Dharma Platforms had actually been erected.

His blazing Divine Sense, like a miniature person, sat in solemn dignity upon them.

The barnacle-like gourd originally contained thirty-six wisps of Qian Heaven True Jun Qi. In recent days, Jiang Yi had already refined ten of them, making his Primordial Gate several times more stable than before. His Divine Sense had also grown purer, radiating a brilliant light.

The so-called Divine Sense is formed when a person’s Primordial Spirit condenses its spiritual will, blending it with the three hun and seven po souls.

It governs the internal and external, manipulates Magical Power, and directs Profound Light. It is all-powerful.

The "Gang Refining" stage of the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer involves absorbing the pure essence from the Qingming High Heaven to gradually strengthen one’s Divine Sense.

This step is like polishing a piece of jade. One must not only make it shine with a brilliant, clear luster,

but also be extremely careful to avoid damaging it and creating flaws that would ruin its quality.

Ordinary Cultivators are all timid and hesitant, daring to proceed only after long and careful deliberation.

Jiang Yi, however, was uniquely blessed. His single sliver of golden nature surpassed countless high-grade Spiritual Objects in the world that were meant to protect the Divine Sense and nourish the Primordial Gate.

’If I only had First Grade True Qi, thirty-six wisps of Qian Heaven True Jun Qi would be enough for me to reach Perfection in the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer.’

Jiang Yi mused:

’I’m afraid even the Grand Master didn’t expect that I could gather the Six-in-One Great Medicine and condense a supreme-grade True Qi. One gourd of gang qi essence is no longer enough. I’ll need more.’

He calculated for a moment, roughly estimating the time and resources needed to cultivate the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer to Perfection.

Then he rose to his feet. With a sweep of his great sleeve, a Magical Profound Light enveloped True Master Xuanmiao, and they transformed into a streak of rainbow light, speeding toward the central hub of Everlight Heavenly Lake.

He had kept Shao Guansu waiting for so long. It was time to see him today.

...

...

Inside a palace hall in Everlight Heavenly Lake, Shao Guansu held his breath and focused his mind as he entered. He bowed low and said:

"To behold the Daoist’s celestial face today is truly my fortune of three lifetimes."

Jiang Yi sat upon an embroidered couch, thinking to himself, ’This True Master Shao from Zhen Peak is quite flexible, able to bend and yield as needed.’

He spoke softly.

"Be seated."

At his side, He Shouzheng quickly brought over a rosewood chair, placing it in the center of the hall so that Shao Guansu could easily converse with the Daoist.

’This He Shouzheng really knows how to curry favor. He’s not as honest and loyal as he appears on the surface.’

Shao Guansu glanced out of the corner of his eye at the Twin Lotus sisters standing attendance to the side, noting that each possessed her own unique charm, like the plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum.

Furthermore, one was Cultivating Ren Water and the other Kui Water. Their jade-like faces were soft and radiant, their skin like fine cream.

Even among the great clans, they would be considered rare "treasures."

’The Daoist is young, and he is the new lord of Shao Yang with a miraculous aptitude for union. If he enjoys studying the ways of Yin and Yang... ’

Shao Guansu’s mind started turning. Seeing the Twin Lotus that He Shouzheng had sent to Everlight Heavenly Lake, he began to ponder gathering "beautiful maidens" for the Daoist’s pleasure.

Jiang Yi bent a finger and tapped lightly on the low table beside him. With a leisurely air, he said,

"True Master Shao, you have lingered here for quite some time. What important matter brings you here? If it is only about how you slighted me when I returned to the sect, there is no need to mention it again."

Shao Guansu lowered his gaze deferentially and said,

"The Daoist is magnanimous and unwilling to pursue my offense, but rules are what give us order. How can the hierarchy of status within the sect be overstepped so casually?

I slighted the Daoist and should be punished. Only then can it serve as a warning to the other Disciples in the sect."

’Just as expected of the Direct Lineage of a great clan descended from the Eight Monarchs. His words are a seamless, watertight performance.’

The corners of Jiang Yi’s lips curled up slightly as he asked with a smile,

"What you say, True Master Shao, is not entirely without reason. In that case, what punishment do you think I should give you to make an example of you?"

Shao Guansu gritted his teeth and said,

"I am willing to enter Everlight Heavenly Lake and be at the Daoist’s disposal, to manage the affairs of the various halls for you, mint sect currency, and serve you like a loyal dog or horse."

Jiang Yi’s expression remained unchanged. ’A trustworthy person with no background like He Shouzheng would certainly serve with all his heart and strength if brought into Everlight Heavenly Lake.

But Shao Guansu is a bona fide descendant of the Eight Monarchs, the Direct Lineage of a great clan. For him to suddenly come seeking shelter, it’s hard not to be suspicious.’

"True Master Shao, you have only recently achieved Foundation Establishment. Instead of focusing on seclusion to advance your Merit, you wish to come to Everlight Heavenly Lake and serve as a subordinate official. Is that not a great waste of your talents?"

Hearing this, Shao Guansu understood that the Daoist harbored doubts, and he respectfully explained,

"I will not hide it from the Daoist. The True Monarch Shao of my clan abdicated his position many years ago and has long since journeyed beyond the heavens in search of an Opportunity to merge with the Dao. For nearly two thousand years, there has been no news of him.

Among the descendants of the Eight Monarchs, the Shao Clan has already declined. We are far from being a match for the Luo Clan, whose True Monarch is still in power."

Jiang Yi nodded slowly. He knew that within the Innate Sect, there were only eight True Monarchs in total who could preside over the upper halls and reside long-term in grotto-heavens.

Each one had to have achieved brilliant, great merits to enjoy this special honor.

Take his master from Kan Peak, for example. This True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing, who appeared cold and ethereal, had once single-handedly slain several True Monarchs of the Clear Qi path.

This had caused the Clear Qi path to be weaker than the Water Virtue path for the last fifteen hundred years.

This was a great merit sufficient to be recorded in the sect’s history.

"The reason I was so audacious as to use He Shouzheng as a sounding stone back then was that I wanted to see what kind of person the Daoist truly was."

Shao Guansu said in a grave voice,

"Being a descendant of the Eight Monarchs sounds lofty and superior, but in reality, there is also a distinction between master and servant.

Now that the Shao Clan has declined, we can only be reduced to being the hand that wields the blade for other clans."