“Concentrate your mind and quiet your spirit, place yourself in nothingness, act according to your heart, and feel the world around you.”
Following Immortal Venerable Zhongyi’s instructions, Jiang Xuning closed his eyes and concentrated once more. However, after a long time had passed, no matter how he tried to sense it, he simply could not feel that wisp of breath, nor could he touch that barrier. He couldn’t help but feel discouraged.
“It doesn’t matter. Take your time; it will be fine if you just try a few more times.”
Immortal Venerable Zhongyi spoke words of comfort, his face as peaceful as always.
But seeing this, Jiang Xuning felt increasingly guilty. “This disciple is dull-witted and has caused trouble for the Immortal Venerable.”
In the past half-month, he had already tried countless times, yet the results were mostly unsatisfactory. Coming to his senses, he understood that this clearly wasn’t something he could achieve just by trying a few more times. One could only say his natural talent was insufficient and he was destined to have no connection with the path of immortality. Thus, seeing Zhongyi teaching him so meticulously again made him feel even more ashamed.
“You are not dull-witted.”
A bit of a smile appeared on his peaceful face as Zhongyi looked up at the youth before him. “You are sensible and know when to advance or retreat. You are much smarter than those two disciples of mine.”
He spoke meaningfully, a flash of light flickering through his glazed-colored eyes, vanishing in an instant.
“Furthermore, everyone has their own destiny. Perhaps your timing simply hasn’t arrived yet. As for the trouble you mentioned…”
Zhongyi smiled again, speaking mysteriously, “I said before that there is a predestined bond (fated connection) between the two of us.”
This was the second time Jiang Xuning had heard words about a bond between them from the person before him, yet he grew even more confused. He didn’t understand why a first-ranked person of the immortal sects, a high-and-mighty Immortal Venerable, would have a bond with an ordinary mortal like him. Thus, he couldn’t help but ask, “Why?”
“All things in the world have cause and effect.” Zhongyi did not feel offended; instead, he began to explain patiently.
“That you could enter Wangyue Peak and see me is the ’cause.’ And that I saved you, that is the ‘effect.’ If there were no bond between us, how could there be this cause? And without this cause, how could there be this effect?”
He consoled, “Don’t overthink it; just let nature take its course.”
Following such words, Jiang Xuning did indeed feel a bit more enlightened, yet he also felt a bit of shame.
It wasn’t that he was overthinking, but rather that before this, he had always thought Immortal Venerable Zhongyi was a cold and heartless person. As for why, it was because that book once wrote that the Dao practiced by Immortal Venerable Zhongyi was the “Great Dao of Forgetting Emotions” the heartless path. Aside from all living beings, other external things were nothing but drifting clouds in his eyes.
It was precisely because of this that when he saw in the book how much Zhongyi cared for A-Heng, he had once suspected whether the Immortal Venerable had developed feelings. Looking at it now, he realized that the Immortal Venerable hadn’t “moved his heart,” nor was he a cold and heartless person; he simply had a universal love for all living beings and cared for everyone equally.
Thinking thus, Jiang Xuning lowered his head and stopped looking at the person before him.
…
Zhongyi did not know what he was thinking and assumed he was still distressed by the matter just now. Just as he was about to say something more, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
“Who is it?”
His train of thought interrupted, Zhongyi subconsciously looked toward the door. Such hurried footsteps were clearly not Hu Qing’s.
“Master, it is I.”
The young man spoke slowly; the newcomer was indeed Huo Ling.
“Wumian?”
Hearing this, Zhongyi couldn’t help but be slightly stunned, feeling confused by his sudden arrival. He didn’t remember summoning him up the mountain today. Nonetheless, he spoke up, “Come in.”
“Master.”
As the door was pushed open, Huo Ling walked in. Today he was again dressed in all black; his unsmiling face added a bit more coldness and detachment to him, and today it was especially so.
He bowed his head in salutation, which softened his aura slightly.
“Wumian, what business brings you to see me?”
Zhongyi didn’t think anything was wrong. After all, in his eyes, this disciple of his was like this all day long, so he didn’t pay much attention to it. Rather than that, what he cared more about was why he had suddenly come to find him.
“This disciple has come because there is an important matter to discuss with the Master.”
Huo Ling did not answer his question directly, only speaking again, specifically emphasizing the words “important matter,” and then said no more.
Zhongyi knew his disciple’s temperament well. This kind of hesitating and abnormal behavior was clearly a bit off. Just as he was about to inquire, the youth to the side suddenly stood up.
Perhaps due to his illness, Jiang Xuning was particularly sensitive to the outside world. Since a moment ago, Huo Ling’s gaze had been resting on him constantly. Especially when mentioning the “important matter,” the gaze landing on him became even more obvious, it was meant for him to hear.
He was not one to be tactless. Seeing that the other intended to avoid him, he did not plan to stay any longer.
“Immortal Venerable, since you have an important matter to discuss, then I shall not stay here and disturb you.”
The youth performed a salute and took the opportunity to bid farewell. Without waiting for the two to react, he stood up and walked out of the room.
“This…”
Zhongyi was completely bewildered, not understanding why he would suddenly leave. By the time he wanted to speak again, the youth had already disappeared without a trace. It wasn’t until Huo Ling called him again that he withdrew his gaze.
“What exactly is the matter?”
Hu Qing was in the courtyard, so he wasn’t worried about the youth’s safety. He turned to look at the disciple before him, his gaze becoming more investigative due to the abnormality.
However, Huo Ling ignored it directly. His expression remained unchanged, even more calm than before. He said in a low voice, “To answer Master, news came from the Affairs Hall saying that three days from now, a secret realm will appear in the west. Therefore, this disciple has come specifically to discuss it with you.”
“A secret realm? Is it the Xuan Cang Realm?”
Zhongyi became a bit more serious. Speaking of this Xuan Cang Realm, he actually had some impression of it. Legend says it was left behind by an ancient powerhouse and opens once every twenty years. A hundred years ago, when he was still a disciple, he had been there once.
“Exactly.”
Huo Ling said, “News also came from the Sect Master, saying he hopes that Junior Brother and I can also go together.”
Zhongyi’s expression softened, and he then said, “Since it is the Sect Master’s arrangement, then you two should go. It just so happens that Heng-er has recently broken through his Core, and you are also on the verge of forming your Nascent Soul; you need to gain some experience.”
He reached out and calculated briefly, then added, “Perhaps you will encounter some opportunities.”
“Yes.”
Huo Ling had no doubts and nodded in agreement. With his Master’s cultivation, if he calculated that they could encounter opportunities on this trip, then it was almost certainly true.
Having obtained the permission of the person before him, Huo Ling did not intend to stay any longer. He performed a salute and was about to turn and leave.
But before he could move, Zhongyi spoke first, “Since you are going to the Xuan Cang Realm, then take Xuning along with you as well.”
Hearing this, Huo Ling was stunned for a moment. He looked up stiffly, seemingly not having expected this, and his voice unconsciously became deep.
“Why?”
However, Zhongyi did not notice, only maintaining a face full of smiles as he said warmly, “I just calculated for him. There is a ‘Spirit Clearing Pond’ within the Xuan Cang Realm, which might be beneficial to his cultivation.”