Chapter 1210: Qilin Prodigy Child
After learning Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate as a break, Lu Yang resumed his study of cultivation techniques.
The matter of cultivation techniques was pivotal to his future cultivation path. Even with the safety net of Yun Zhi helping him to revise his cultivation technique, he dared not slack off in the slightest.
In a flash, months passed.
Lu Yang had remained in the scripture library all this time, not once leaving the top floor. He had memorized every cultivation technique on the top floor, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.
“Guan Shanhai’s Mountains and Seas Immortal Mantra can make heaven and earth evolve, while the Fate Arbiter’s Deity Investiture Mantra makes one the source of faith. Whether the cultivation techniques are at the immortal or Transcendent Tribulation level, each comes with an inherent effect.
“The only effect of the Clear Heart True Nature Mantra is staying true to oneself and recognizing one’s original heart... Immortal Fairy, could the condition for condensing the Everlasting Dao Fruit simply be staying true to oneself and recognizing one’s original heart?”
Recalling the behavior of Yun Mengmeng and the Everlasting Immortal Fairy, he could easily find the similarities between them.
“Is this the reason you’ve always said I can condense the Everlasting Dao Fruit?”
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy drifted around him and giggled. “That is indeed one of the reasons. The most basic requirement for the Everlasting Dao Fruit is to maintain an everlasting heart. One must not undergo drastic changes in temperament with the passing of time or stray from their original aspirations.”
“Are there many people like that?” Lu Yang didn’t recall meeting anyone like that.
The Everlasting Immortal Fairy yawned. “There are plenty of them. It’s just that you cultivated too quickly to meet any. In the ancient era, I saw countless people who became increasingly fixated on pursuing power, growing less and less human as they lived longer.
“You don’t need to worry about that, since you cultivate the Clear Heart True Nature Mantra.”
Realization dawned on Lu Yang. Only now did he understand Yun Zhi’s painstaking efforts. It must be for this reason that she made me cultivate the Clear Heart True Nature Mantra from the beginning.
Having grasped the true meaning of the Clear Heart True Nature Mantra, Lu Yang gained new ideas for writing the Transcendent Tribulation chapter.
~~~
“Big Senior Sister, this is the new chapter I’ve written.”
Lu Yang presented the text, its ink still not yet dry. Months of accumulated insights had been poured into this cultivation technique.
Recalling the times he had shown Yun Zhi his cultivation technique drafts, he fidgeted anxiously, worried that she would reject it again.
Only when he noticed a faint smile on her face did his heart skip a beat.
“Not bad.”
“Big Senior Sister, did my cultivation technique pass?”
Yun Zhi didn’t answer his question directly, returning the text to him instead. “Since you’ve reached the Transcendent Tribulation Stage, everything you do could become the catalyst for condensing an Incipient Dao Fruit, and your cultivation technique is especially integral in this regard.
“If I interfere too much, it’ll only be a detriment to you. Once you reach the Transcendent Tribulation Stage, the cultivation journey ahead is one you’ll have to walk on your own.”
Hearing this, Lu Yang felt no joy but a sense of loss.
The path Big Senior Sister has laid for me ends here. I can now break free from the protection of her wings and grow by myself. But this also means she will no longer offer her help from now on.
Rumble.
A sudden crack of thunder jolted Lu Yang from his melancholy.
“Someone’s about to undergo a tribulation and break through?”
Lu Yang followed the sound of the thunder and discovered it was coming from Meng Jingzhou’s location.
“Right. It’s about time Old Meng breaks through.”
With the sun’s seal removed and its solar and luna powers restored to the levels they had been in the ancient era, Meng Jingzhou’s fortuitous opportunities came in an endless stream. It was to the point that his life became a living hell.
Before Lu Yang entered the scripture library, he had heard that Meng Jingzhou had gone off somewhere to temper himself in the mundane world. Since he had attracted a lightning tribulation, his training was clearly successful.
One after another, awe-inspiring lightning strikes descended. Meng Jingzhou seemed as tiny as an ant before them. His skin and flesh lacerated, yet he tenaciously held on.
“Strange. Why does Old Meng’s tribulation only have eighty-one lightning strikes?”
Since Lu Yang had encountered one hundred and sixty-two strikes, he had expected the same for Meng Jingzhou.
“As I thought, the Heaven Mandate Immortal was targeting me?”
Meng Jingzhou’s tribulation drew just as much attention. The members of the Dao-Seeking Sect watched him undergo his tribulation on the mountain summit.
After the lightning and heart tribulations were over, sweet dew descended from the heavens to nourish his body.
Meng Jingzhou clenched his fist. Sensing the explosive power surging through him, he let out an exhilarated howl.
I’ve also reached the Transcendent Tribulation Stage.
As long as I condense an Incipient Dao Fruit, then a Dao Fruit to become an immortal, I’ll be free!
Immortal ascension is within sight. How can I not be thrilled?
“Ha ha ha, good, good, good! My Meng Family has a worthy successor!” Before the crowd could celebrate, Meng Junzi appeared at the Dao-Seeking Sect.
As Meng Jingzhou was the most outstanding rising star among the Meng Family’s younger generation, how could Meng Junzi not show up for such an important event like his tribulation?
Lu Yang noticed Yun Zhi’s calm expression. Senior Meng Junzi must have informed her beforehand.
“Old Ancestor.” Only after putting on his clothes properly did Meng Jingzhou bow. After eighty-one lightning strikes, any garment would have been reduced to ash.
“Truly a Qilin prodigy child[1] of our Meng Family!” Meng Junzi felt he had never been happier.
Oh wait, I was equally happy when I defeated Jiang Ping’an before founding the nation.
“Old Ancestor, isn’t calling me Qilin prodigy child a bit...” Meng Jingzhou said cautiously. Although it sounds like praise, isn’t there only one Qilin in the world—the Qilin Immortal?
Won’t that make me the Qilin Immortal’s son?
“That does make sense. Never mind, it’s not important. Your old ancestor will take you to meet some old friends.”
Without giving Meng Jingzhou a chance to object, Meng Junzi dragged him straight to the imperial city.
Recently, there had been uplifting news in the Great Xia imperial family. The reclusive old ancestor Jiang Ping’an had emerged once more to instruct the imperial princes and princesses in cultivation.
The Xia Emperor sold off his children without hesitation. He believed that receiving personal guidance from the old ancestor was best reserved for his younger generation to enjoy.
The imperial princes and princesses were drenched in sweat, enduring ineffable misery. With a hoe in hand, Jiang Ping’an was extremely strict as he pointed out every flaw in their movements.
Meng Junzi barged into the palace with Meng Jingzhou. “Aiya, Old Jiang, teaching like this won’t yield results. Look at this kid, Jingzhou. I barely did anything, and he’s accidentally reached the Transcendent Tribulation Stage.”
He patted Meng Jingzhou on the back. “Come on, call him grandpa.”
“Hello, Grandpa Jiang,” Meng Jingzhou greeted obediently, looking like the well-mannered child other parents bragged about.
Jiang Ping’an’s eyelid twitched. He wished he could swing his hoe at them.
“Old Jiang, now that this kid has called you grandpa, shouldn’t you give an introductory gift? I’m not asking for much; just any immortal artifact will do.
“I think your Supreme Sword would be pretty good.”
“Get lost!”
Meng Junzi left the imperial palace in satisfaction and continued taking Meng Jingzhou to meet other old friends.
They visited three of the Five Great Immortal Sects, skipping only the Dao-Seeking Sect and the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace. Only then did Meng Jingzhou learn that the five half-immortals who founded the Five Great Immortal Sects were all still alive.
Just imagining his old friends’ envious expressions made Meng Junzi feel as refreshed as downing a bucket of iced plum soup on a sweltering summer day.
“Jingzhou, what wish do you have? Just name it, and your old ancestor will grant it!”
Meng Jingzhou was overjoyed. “Old Ancestor, my good brother Lu Yang has Big Senior Sister to back him up, giving him confidence whenever he goes out. Could you become stronger than Big Senior Sister? That way, I’ll also have that same confidence.”
“What did you just say?”
“Could you become stronger than Big Senior Sister?”
“The line before that.”
“My good brother Lu Yang has Big Senior Sister to back him up.”
“The line before that.”
“Old Ancestor.”
“I’m not your old ancestor. From today onward, you’re the Qilin prodigy child.”
1. A “Qilin child” refers to a child prodigy or an exceptionally talented young person ☜