Chapter 53 - 52: My Heart is Set on the Dao
Stepping out of the Scripture Pavilion, the afternoon sun was a little dazzling, but its warmth was pleasant as it fell upon him.
Just as Chu Bai was about to tuck the newly acquired Jade Scroll into his robes, a voice suddenly came from his side. It was tinged with amusement and carried the distinct arrogance of youth.
"So, you’re Chu Bai from Anping County?"
Chu Bai paused and followed the sound of the voice with his eyes.
Several youths were walking toward him, blocking his path.
The leader was about fifteen or sixteen years old. He wore a Cloud Brocade Daoist Robe cinched with a Jade Belt, and a formal cap upon his head. He was quite handsome, but his slightly raised chin and the innate sense of superiority in his expression made him seem unapproachable.
Half a step behind him, Li Han stood with his head bowed. His hands hung awkwardly at his sides, his expression was complicated, and his gaze drifted about, refusing to meet Chu Bai’s.
Seeing this, Chu Bai understood everything.
His expression, however, remained impassive. He simply gave a faint nod. "I am. And what can I do for you?"
The richly-dressed youth didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he sized Chu Bai up and down as if inspecting goods, his gaze finally landing on the grayish-white Jade Scroll still in Chu Bai’s hand.
"The Guiyuan Technique?"
The youth raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Instead of choosing a Water Element Technique that matches your affinity, you picked such a mediocre, jack-of-all-trades skill... As the Top Scholar, your way of thinking is certainly... unique."
"What suits me is what’s best," Chu Bai said calmly, unprovoked by the other’s tone.
"Heh, interesting."
The richly-dressed youth chuckled, snapping his folding fan shut with a sharp CLICK. He finally looked Chu Bai straight in the eye. "Let me introduce myself. Dong Feng, of the Prefecture City’s Dong Family."
Dong Feng.
As soon as the name was spoken, many of the new students who hadn’t yet left turned to look.
The Dong Family was a famous Cultivation Family in the Prefecture City. It was said that the current generation had produced several promising talents, and Dong Feng was one of them.
"I heard you placed first in the top three of the County Examination and took the title of Top Scholar? And you even received a Class A-plus in the Nascent Spirit trial?"
Dong Feng toyed with the Jade Fan in his hand, his gaze burning as he stared at Chu Bai. His tone was thick with a strong competitive urge. "That’s not easy. But the County Examination is just child’s play, after all. This Prefecture Daoist School is filled with hidden masters and countless prodigies.
I’m quite curious whether a Top Scholar from the countryside like you actually possesses such heaven-defying talent, or if it was all just a fluke."
"In the upcoming assessments at this Daoist School, you and I will have to properly test each other’s skills."
His words were so blunt it was practically a declaration of war.
For a proud scion of a Noble Family like Dong Feng, having an unknown Lower-class Youth suddenly appear and outshine him was a challenge worthy of attention—one he felt compelled to crush.
Chu Bai looked past Dong Feng, giving Li Han a long, hard look.
Here at the Prefecture Daoist School, besides the examiners and instructors, only Li Han knew the full extent of his results. Even many of the instructors probably hadn’t looked closely at the details, yet Dong Feng had blurted out his "Class A-plus" rating without hesitation.
Clearly, someone had not only offered up a pledge of loyalty to join a new circle but had done so in the most thorough way possible.
Faced with Dong Feng’s aggressive posturing and the gazes of the surrounding crowd, who were all eager for a show, Chu Bai did not back down.
His expression was as tranquil as still water. He didn’t flush with anger, nor did he cower in fear before the Noble Son.
He merely said coolly, "The Daoist School has many trials, so there will naturally be plenty of opportunities. If Brother Dong wishes to compete, I will be ready at any time."
His words were neither servile nor overbearing, carrying a natural dignity.
The atmosphere instantly grew taut with tension.
A flash of surprise crossed Dong Feng’s eyes. He hadn’t expected this youth in a plain student’s uniform to have such composure, to remain so utterly unfazed by his pressure.
Just as he was about to say more, Jiang Kuo came forward with a hearty laugh, stepping right between the two of them.
"Well now, if it isn’t Second Young Master Dong?"
Although Jiang Kuo’s family wasn’t as prominent as the Dong Family, he was still a familiar face in the Prefecture City’s social circles. They all moved in the same spheres, so a certain amount of courtesy was expected.
He was playing the peacemaker, his face plastered with that trademark friendly smile of his. "We’re all fellow students here. It’s only the first day, why make things so hostile?
There’s plenty of time ahead! We’re all in the same boat now, and we’ll be seeing each other all the time."
Without waiting for Dong Feng’s reaction, he slung an arm around Chu Bai’s shoulder and began half-pulling, half-dragging him away.
"Let’s go, Brother Chu! We need to hurry back and try out our new Cultivation Techniques. I’ve been looking forward to it all day! We can’t let Second Young Master Dong hold up our important cultivation business!"
Dong Feng watched them leave and didn’t stop them.
He just narrowed his eyes and snorted, lightly tapping the folded fan against his palm. "He certainly knows how to keep his cool. I hope he’s not just all talk and no action, or life at this Daoist School will be far too boring."
Behind him, Li Han hadn’t looked up once. Only after Chu Bai was gone did his tense shoulders seem to sag, almost imperceptibly.
...
「Back in Room B-7」
Once the door was closed, the trademark smile vanished from Jiang Kuo’s face, and his expression turned a little more serious.
He didn’t rush to start cultivating. Instead, he pulled Chu Bai over to the round table, poured himself a glass of water, and sighed.
"Brother Chu, you’ll have to be careful around that Dong Feng from now on."
Jiang Kuo took a sip of water and began to give Chu Bai the rundown. "The guy has a bit of a young master’s temper, but he’s definitely earned the right to be arrogant. He’s from the direct line of the Prefecture City’s Dong Family and has been groomed as a successor since childhood."
"He and I used to study at the same academy. The guy’s a total ’Martial Zealot.’ The only thing he cares about is his cultivation performance. He can’t stand any imperfections, and he especially looks down on anyone worse than him."
At this point, Jiang Kuo lowered his voice, his tone taking on a gossipy edge. "I heard that in this Daoist School examination, he scored Class A in both the Nascent Spirit and Spirit Control trials. He was aiming to be First Place in the Top Three. The problem was the third trial, the Heart Inquiry, where he only managed to get a Class B."
"Think about it. He’s a proud prodigy from a Noble Family, and in the end, his overall score was lower than yours—a ’Humble Family’ Top Scholar from little Anping County. On top of that, you swept all three top spots. How could he possibly stomach that? The fact that he came looking for you on the very first day makes it obvious he refuses to accept it and wants to get his pride back by beating you."
Hearing this, Chu Bai finally understood.
’So that’s how it is.’
For a chosen one like Dong Feng, born with a silver spoon and used to a life of smooth sailing, losing to someone of equally noble birth might have been acceptable. But losing to a mud-foot commoner? That was the ultimate humiliation.
"Thank you for the information, Brother Jiang," Chu Bai said with a cupped-fist salute. "Know your enemy and know yourself. I have a clear picture now."
"Don’t worry too much," Zhou Tong chimed in, fiddling with the new Jade Scroll he’d received. "The rules in this Daoist School are strict. He can’t do anything to you openly. At most, he’ll try to trip you up during assessments or competitions."
"I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Chu Bai’s expression was calm; he wasn’t the least bit flustered.
No matter what storms raged outside, the only thing that truly mattered was one’s own strength.
He thanked his roommates for their concern, said no more, and went straight to his own bed.
The room was silent save for the faint hum of the Spirit Gathering Array.
Chu Bai was grateful to Jiang Kuo for defusing the situation, but he didn’t dwell on Dong Feng or bother judging Li Han’s actions. ’My heart is set on the Dao,’ he thought. ’Why would I ever want to get involved in such petty squabbles? Overthinking things is a waste of energy. Nothing is more important than cultivation.’
He sat down cross-legged and regulated his breathing until his mind was as tranquil as still water.
Then, he took out the gray Jade Scroll inscribed with the Guiyuan Technique and gently pressed it to the spot between his eyebrows.
As his Divine Sense probed it, there was a great RUMBLE, and a vast yet gentle stream of information flooded into his mind.
Unlike the crude and straightforward Qi Circulation Technique of the Small Qi Gathering Technique, the Heart Method Mantra of the Guiyuan Technique was far more obscure and profound. Every word and phrase seemed to contain some ultimate principle of the universe, exuding an all-encompassing, magnificent aura.
’Qi returns to its primordial origin, all laws return to one... Absorb the Five Elements without stagnation, contain yin and yang to nurture one another...’
Chu Bai silently recited the mantra, guiding the Magical Power in his body—which had fused with the Purifying Spirit Flow—to begin circulating along the new meridian pathways of the Guiyuan Technique.
At first, the flow of his Magical Power was slightly stiff and awkward.
But he soon discovered that under the guidance of his Divine Sense, the Magical Power flowed more and more smoothly through the new meridian pathways. There was none of the rejection or stagnation that usually accompanied switching to a new Cultivation Technique.
His previous insights from reaching the Mastery Level in the Small Qi Gathering Technique—from capturing and refining Spiritual Qi to nourishing and flushing his meridians—now flowed into the new technique’s circulation as perfectly as a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.
The Guiyuan Technique was like a massive vessel, accepting all his previous accumulations and elevating them to a higher level.
HUMMM!
As the first Grand Circulation completed, Chu Bai felt a jolt run through his entire body.
The total amount of Magical Power in his body hadn’t increased, but its quality had undergone a world-altering transformation.
The once light-blue Magical Power gradually became deeper and more condensed, its color shifting to a nearly transparent state, yet deep within it, one could faintly perceive a five-colored shimmer.
If his previous Magical Power was a cheerfully flowing stream, then this new power was a bottomless, icy pool.
Though its surface was calm, it contained a much deeper and more majestic power.
He slowly opened his eyes. A bright light flashed within them for an instant before vanishing. He then summoned his status panel.
[Name: Chu Bai]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation First Layer (6/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: Guiyuan Technique (skilled 161/200)]
[Skill: Spirit Water Needle (skilled 8/200)]
Seeing the change in his Cultivation Technique stats, the corners of Chu Bai’s mouth lifted into a satisfied smile.
It was just as Instructor Jii Yu had said. When switching to an advanced Cultivation Technique of the same origin, the loss of progress was minimal.
If he had switched to a different type of technique, he would have had to start all over again and spend a great deal of time catching up.
’It shouldn’t take long to get back to the Mastery Realm.’
’I should aim even higher. I wonder what marvels lie beyond the [Mastery] realm.’