Chapter 83: Fragmented

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He Hongjun was well aware that if anything were to happen to the leader’s father, it was likely that his only son wouldn’t survive either!

“It seems we’ll need to assign more people to guard the leader’s residence.”

…

The next day.

Over a hundred li away, in Lingcheng County.

The True Spring Daoist Temple was located just outside the county, and it wasn’t difficult to find.

Soon, Qin Yi arrived at the entrance of the temple with He Xiaoming. The temple was quite large in scale.

Even early in the morning, visitors could be seen coming to offer incense.

Upon entering, a young Daoist greeted them with a bright smile. “Are you here to offer incense and pray for blessings or to fulfill a vow?”

“To offer incense,” Qin Yi replied.

“Very well, let me lead the way for you,” the young Daoist said.

On the way, Qin Yi probed, “Little Daoist, what is the name of the literary cultivation you study during your morning and evening lessons? I’ve always been passionate about the Daoist Canon and literary cultivation, and I’d like to study it here if possible. I’m willing to donate a hundred taels of incense money.”

“You wish to study literary cultivation?” The young Daoist was taken aback.

It was the first time he’d heard of a devotee actively seeking to learn literary cultivation. Generally, only the major benefactors who were especially devoted and obsessed with praying for peace would be persuaded by the elders to study it—along with paying a fee for instruction.

Unlike martial cultivation, literary cultivation was not forbidden to outsiders in their temple.

“That’s right.”

“Our temple’s literary cultivation is called ‘Tranquil Profundity Technique.’ Of course, you may learn it.” The young Daoist quickly replied. After all, a hundred taels was a considerable sum!

“Who in your temple is the most accomplished in the Tranquil Profundity Technique? May I learn from them?” Qin Yi asked.

“The abbot is the most accomplished, but he’s usually very busy. I’m not sure if he’ll have time to teach you,” the young Daoist answered, uncertain whether the abbot would be available to instruct a devotee.

“Little Daoist, please introduce me to your abbot. I’ll speak with him myself.” Qin Yi slipped a tael of silver into the young Daoist’s hand.

He wanted to learn from the highest authority because he had questions. His system had failed to help him break through to the fourth level in two types of literary cultivation, and his mind was full of doubts. He needed to consult someone with a deep understanding of literary cultivation; perhaps he might gain something from it.

“Certainly!” The young Daoist, taking the money, led Qin Yi straight to where the abbot resided.

On the way, Qin Yi learned that the abbot’s name was Qing Chengzi.

Soon, Qin Yi saw an elderly Daoist sitting on a meditation mat in a courtyard, cultivating in silence.

He appeared to be over seventy, yet his features were youthful with white hair—a picture of serene longevity.

“Abbot, this devotee wishes to see you,” the young Daoist announced respectfully.

Qing Chengzi opened his eyes and looked at the two before him. “What brings you to me, gentlemen?” he asked.

“Abbot, I am deeply interested in Daoist literary cultivation and the Daoist Canon. I wish to study here and am willing to donate two hundred taels of incense money if you would personally instruct me. What do you say?” Qin Yi said sincerely, bowing.

He had no intention, for now, of revealing that he was a disciple of the Azure Micro Palace. If money could solve it, all the better.

Upon hearing the offer of two hundred taels, Qing Chengzi immediately thought, what a generous patron!

“Of course!” Without hesitation, Qing Chengzi agreed.

Moments later, Qin Yi donated the two hundred taels, and the two conversed happily.

In the courtyard, Qin Yi also sat on a meditation mat, exchanging thoughts with Qing Chengzi.

“Abbot, I’d like to start learning the Tranquil Profundity Technique immediately. Do you have time to instruct me now?”

“I do,” Qing Chengzi nodded. In truth, as abbot, he had little to do aside from cultivating.

“Since you wish to learn, allow me to explain our Tranquil Profundity Technique. It is divided into five levels: Foundation, Heel Breathing, Circulating Qi, Guarding Tranquility, and the Mysterious Pass…”

After several thorough explanations, Qin Yi listened attentively with great care.

Indeed, just as in other Daoist branches, the literary cultivation was divided into five levels.

“Abbot, may I ask which level you have reached?” Qin Yi inquired curiously.

“I have reached the third level—Circulating Qi,” Qing Chengzi replied.

“And in what year did you reach this level?” Qin Yi continued.

Qing Chengzi thought for a moment. “I reached the third level at fifty. It has been over twenty years since then.”

There was a trace of sigh in his voice, perhaps lamenting the swift passage of time.

“So you haven’t been able to break through to the fourth level in over twenty years?” Qin Yi mused inwardly. As expected, there was something odd about Daoist literary cultivation!

By rights, having reached the third level at fifty, Qing Chengzi was rather gifted; yet, for more than twenty years, he hadn’t advanced further. How strange!

“No, I haven’t. For over twenty years, I’ve practiced the Tranquil Profundity Technique diligently every day. By all reasoning, I should have broken through to the fourth, or even the fifth level by now, but I simply cannot understand it,” Qing Chengzi said thoughtfully.

“Abbot, your situation isn’t unique to the Tranquil Profundity Technique. I am deeply passionate about the Daoist Canon and literary cultivation, and I have visited many other Daoist temples. The Daoists there encounter the same issue—none can progress beyond the third level. Even their ancestors and predecessors left no record of breaking through to the fourth level,” Qin Yi explained with a smile.

“Is that so?” Qing Chengzi was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected this young man to have visited other Daoist branches. It seemed his passion for the Daoist Canon and literary cultivation was genuine—he’d never met such a young person before.

“Indeed!”

“In fact, an elder uncle of mine at the True Spring Daoist Temple was exceptionally gifted. According to our records, he reached the third level of the Tranquil Profundity Technique at the age of thirty. He lived to be one hundred and one, but for the rest of his life, he was unable to break through to the fourth level…” Qing Chengzi recalled.

“Third level by thirty?” Qin Yi was taken aback.

If that man had no special advantages, his talent was truly remarkable. Yet in the seventy-one years that followed, he never broke through the fourth level…

This suggested the barrier to the fourth level was not a matter of talent.

Could it be a question of difficulty? But difficulty made no sense—his own system should have been able to ignore difficulty!

“Abbot, what do you believe is the reason for being unable to break through the fourth level?” Qin Yi asked.

“I have pondered this question before. Given what you’ve said, I suspect the Daoist literary cultivation techniques have a flaw—or are incomplete—which prevents progress beyond the third level,” Qing Chengzi conjectured.