True Monarch Lu...
Jiang Yi’s expression tightened. Besides Lady Xuan’nv of Fengdu, this was likely the second True Monarch he had ever t.
His face grew solemn, and he bowed deeply.
"This Disciple greets Master Lu."
Curled up in his robes, True Master Xuanmiao cautiously peeked his head out, only to quickly retract it.
’It’s actually True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing!’
’Xiao Jiang really ran into the master’s wife!’
True Master Xuanmiao trembled. His forr master had once caused this very True Monarch Lu to make a vow to "slay all boasters"!
She had even fought True Monarch Longji Ruizhu with True Fire, not hesitating to use her life-bound Magical Treasure that she had spent ages refining and nurturing.
The tangled web of grudges, debts, and passions involved could hardly be explained in just a few words.
But with a True Monarch before them, True Master Xuanmiao didn’t dare give a rash warning. He could only pray that Xiao Jiang would look out for himself and avoid touching upon any of True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing’s old wounds.
"Both Daoist Scriptures are profound and vast treatises with subtle words and far-reaching anings."
Master Lu’s voice was as clear and crisp as a cold spring washing over stone, her tone even and without a ripple.
"The Daoist has not yet reached the required Realm. You have not yet refined the Five Elents or comprehended the most wondrous Divine Techniques. For now, you should focus on condensing your True Qi.
As long as you surpass the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, the sect will provide the Gang Sha needed to help you ascend to the Twelfth Layer Floors."
Jiang Yi nodded.
True Monarch Lu was absolutely right. With Patriarch Mingxuan’s Foundation Establishnt Pill in hand, it was only a matter of ti before he reached the Twelfth Layer, or even the Flying Foundation Establishnt Realm.
But an Upper Cultivator never does anything without reason. Patriarch Mingxuan went to great lengths to seize a celestial star and refine the One Elent, forging an unprecedented and peerless Foundation Establishnt Pill.
It couldn’t possibly be just to create an ordinary Foundation Establishnt True Master.
"The Sect Leader has decreed that the Daoist is the face of the Innate Sect. No expense should be spared, and nothing should be second-rate."
True Monarch Lu stood within the Hall of Transmitted Works, yet her figure seed as ethereal as if she were far away beyond the celestial clouds.
"These are the ’Golden-Silver Children.’ The Daoist may command them to move heavy objects and open restrictive formations.
This is the ’Ear God.’ The Ever-Bright Celestial Pond is extraordinarily vast. It can report any disturbance within a thousand miles and can even distinguish between ons of fortune and disaster.
These are the ’Day and Night Roaming Gods,’ who patrol the inner and outer grounds..."
With each item True Monarch Lu nad, Jiang Yi saw an "object" leap out from the hazy void.
A mont later, the Hall of Transmitted Works beca a lively scene.
Two children, about a foot tall, one in a white robe and the other in yellow, were as exquisitely carved as pink jade. They prostrated themselves before Jiang Yi, kowtowing.
A swarm of Ear Gods, the size of flying insects, were fair-skinned and adorable, dancing in the air around him.
Finally, there were two divine generals as large as houses, clad in official robes and black boots. One carried a lantern, and the other held an iron ruler.
Jiang Yi gave them a cursory glance and instantly understood the boundless scorn contained within the three words, "Qi Cultivation Daoist."
Even the Golden-Silver Children had auras comparable to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer.
To say nothing of the two imasurably mighty Day and Night Roaming Gods, whose Cultivation was nearly on par with Liu Huan, the Sect Leader of Qianji, who was at the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer.
In comparison, it seed his title as the Innate Sect’s Daoist, being called the "lowest of the Eight Sects," was truly well-deserved.
True Monarch Lu said placidly,
"In addition, there is a retinue of a hundred-odd strongn, the Four Shifts Duty Officers, and other staff. Once the Daoist has taken up residence in the Ever-Bright Celestial Pond, you may go to the Qian Peak Grotto-Heaven to receive them."
Jiang Yi nodded in acknowledgnt.
He had learned from the Artifact Spirit of the Great Kui Mystic Drum that the "internal retainers" belonging to a Daoist were massive in scale, numbering from over a thousand to tens of thousands.
They could even recruit guest retainers and expand their force of Dao Soldiers!
’No wonder a Daoist with profound Cultivation who has completed the enthronent is in no way inferior to a Sect Leader. It’s equivalent to a ’crown prince’ who holds military power and can oversee the state.’
Jiang Yi instantly had a new goal—’I will beco a true Daoist who holds sway over the Eight Peaks of the Innate Sect!’
Suddenly, True Monarch Lu spoke.
"What is the Daoist’s relationship with the young woman in green robes outside the hall?"
Jiang Yi’s brow twitched. The Divine Sense hidden in his Primordial Gate, fused with his tal-aspected nature, was no less sharp or perceptive than that of a Foundation Establishnt True Master.
He wasn’t surprised that Master Lu intended to test him. Within the Innate Sect, who wouldn’t want to see what this new Daoist was truly made of?
’But to start by asking about a romantic relationship was rather unexpected.’
His thoughts raced like lightning, and he answered according to his true intentions.
"Miss Qiao and I are betrothed. You could consider us Daoist Companions who are not yet wed."
True Monarch Lu was silent for a mont before turning around.
The watery mist veiling her face dispersed. This scripture master’s eyes and brows seed carved from clouds and moonbeams, her lips were as pale as cherry blossoms, and her figure was graceful and slender. She possessed an elegant, otherworldly air.
"I cultivate the *Marvelous and Essential Scripture of the Supre Daoist Monarch on World Salvation*."
True Monarch Lu said a seemingly random sentence.
Jiang Yi didn’t dare stare at the True Monarch for too long, lest he appear presumptuous and rude. He lowered his head and quietly awaited her next words.
"From it, I comprehended a wondrous technique called the ’Three-Nine Bright-True Dharma Eye,’ which can perceive the changes between illusion and reality, and the flow of inner Qi."
True Monarch Lu continued.
Jiang Yi still couldn’t grasp the deeper aning behind her words.
"The Daoist’s Primordial Yang is stable and has not been leaked, yet there are traces within your body of spiritual will intermingling—the blending of Yin and Yang."
Ripples appeared in True Monarch Lu’s eyes, which were as tranquil as autumn waters.
"The young woman in green robes outside the hall entered the Dao through the tal Elent and walks the path of a Sword Cultivator. Yet within your Primordial Yang, Daoist, there is the essence of Tai Yin moon splendor, as if you have undergone a cleansing..."
Jiang Yi’s expression was strange. ’A dignified True Monarch is using a Divine Technique to inspect *this*?’
"Reporting to the scripture master, the specific circumstances are quite complex. It was a matter of expediency."
He wasn’t flustered. Based on his past life’s experience, issues of romantic conduct were always the least of one’s troubles, no matter the faction.
Besides, when did people of the Demon Dao ever care about preserving their Primordial Yang?
"I am not concerned with the Daoist’s... personal morals."
True Monarch Lu spoke slowly.
"I rely wish to ask how the Daoist views the concept of ’love’? For us cultivators, especially after Foundation Establishnt, we nurture the grace of five lifetis and cultivate the fate of the Five Elents. It is inevitable that we face the many trials of love."
Jiang Yi thought for only a mont, then answered without the slightest hesitation.
"To have love without attachnt, to have love without burden. To be a ’True Master.’"
A glint shone in True Monarch Lu’s eyes as she asked softly,
"And what is a ’True Master’?"
Jiang Yi didn’t even need to I beg the Celestial Book. He spoke his mind, his voice deep and steady.
"My insights from the *Supre Scripture* are that the ’true’ in ’True Master’ is the ’true’ from the saying, ’Truly and constantly respond to things, truly and constantly attain one’s nature.’ Love is like flowing water, and my heart is like a bedrock stone. The water flows over the stone, but it neither stagnates nor leaves a trace.
Therefore, to have the form of a human, but not the emotions of a human—that is a ’True Master.’"
True Monarch Lu seed lost in thought. The answer was brilliant. Jiang Yi spoke neither of "forgetting love, severing love, or having no love," nor did he speak of "ultimate love, deep love, or tender love."
He only spoke of "seeking to beco a True Master."
"The Daoist’s heart is truly resolute."
The female scripture master nodded, her gaze growing slightly distant. For a mont, the figure before her in the aquamarine Daoist Robe seed to overlap with a person sealed deep within layers of somber mories, but then the images separated in an instant.
"A heartless moon in the midday sky; a life of no regrets."
Jiang Yi clasped his hands.
"If love is within the Dao, then I have love. If love is outside the Dao, then I forget love. I ask Master Lu to see this clearly."
Curled up in his robes, True Master Xuanmiao wanted nothing more than to applaud. ’Xiao Jiang’s words were simply beautiful!’
What this True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing appreciated most was a disposition that was sworn to the path of Cultivation, resolute and unyielding.
His forr master had not initially caught True Monarch Lu’s eye; she had found his nature unbearably frivolous and dissolute. If not for several instances of Magical Combat later on, where he revealed a desire for eternal life that a thousand calamities could not shake...
...True Monarch Cunyuan Cunjing would never have fallen for him and strayed from her own path.
"Daoist, I have seen your Dao heart."
True Monarch Lu’s voice was indifferent.
"I only hope you can maintain it and not tarnish the magnificent, ten-thousand-year reputation of the Innate Sect, a na that reaches all heavens."
Jiang Yi focused his Heart Spirit and stared ahead with a serious expression.
"This Disciple will certainly not fail the expectations of the patriarchs or the scripture master."
True Monarch Lu gently flicked her sleeve. A glorious wave of water and clouds surged forward, enveloping Jiang Yi along with the Golden-Silver Children, the Ear Gods, and the Day and Night Roaming Gods in the hall, leaving none behind.
"The Daoist has passed through the four halls. The ceremony is complete. Please follow to take up residence in the Ever-Bright Celestial Pond!"
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