"Pay back?"
Sha Lifei rubbed his bald head, feigning confusion. "Master, you've got it wrong. You're a mystic expert—how could I, Old Sha, dare owe you money?"
Wang Daoxuan was dumbfounded. "That spring in Chang'an, at Drunk Flower Brothel…"
"Oh! I remember now."
Sha Lifei started spinning lies with a straight face. "You forgot, I just invited you for drinks. You got drunk and insisted on calling the top dancing girls. I couldn't stop you…"
"Was that how it went?"
"Of course! And I didn't ditch you. A martial brother was in trouble—life-or-death urgency, couldn't wait."
"You know me, always loyal…"
"Hahaha, fine, let's say I treated you," Wang Daoxuan laughed.
"Master, look, next time, I'll treat you!"
"Will you?"
"Absolutely! You know who I, Sha Lifei, am…"
On the dusty official road, three horses galloped.
Perhaps because Li Yan was a stranger and disguised, or because Meng Haicheng's low status meant his loss wouldn't draw the Divine Fist Association's attention, their exit from the city went smoothly.
Sha Lifei was a slippery martial world drifter, while Wang Daoxuan was earnest. Despite their mismatch, the two never ran out of things to say.
They chattered aimlessly along the way.
Li Yan, beside them, stayed silent, lost in thought.
It was nearing dusk. He'd lingered at Wang Daoxuan's, asking detailed questions, finally grasping the mystic world's basics.
This world was far more complex than he'd imagined.
Martial cultivation had stages: Bright Force, Dark Force, Transformative Force, Core Force, Stellar Force, Innate, and Grandmaster, each step boosting a technique's lethality.
Mystic cultivation, however, focused on spirit visualization.
The first step was to visualize a deity, harnessing its power to manage the soul and control divine abilities.
If successful, he could tame his near-uncontrollable divine power.
And that was just the start.
Humans, eating grains and swayed by emotions and worldly troubles, risked their visualized deity collapsing.
Then, they'd need to visualize anew.
The solution was to build a temple or palace.
Through a ritual, a mental palace or pavilion was constructed in the mind's sea to stabilize the deity.
This marked true entry into the mystic world—a "first floor" of cultivation.
The stronger the visualized deity, the higher the mental palace, the deeper the cultivation.
Thus, mystic practitioners spoke of a master's "floors" of cultivation.
Martial and mystic paths didn't conflict. Some Taixuan Orthodox high priests were skilled in Taoist martial arts, though few were grandmasters, as focus and energy were limited.
Some, like Wang Daoxuan, abandoned martial arts entirely, knowing only basic moves—enough for street thugs but useless against true fighters.
One truth stood out for both paths: this world had no spiritual qi!
No matter how high the cultivation, death came all the same.
Instead, the world revolved around stellar qi and baleful qi, varied and numerous.
Famous mountains and rivers, absorbing sun and moon essence, gathered innate stellar qi, often pristine and home to cultivated animals.
Visualization techniques or martial stellar force were acquired stellar qi.
Temple and shrine idols, fueled by incense and vows, held divine stellar qi.
Powerful weapons and ritual tools also gathered stellar qi.
Then there was baleful qi, tied to demons and ghosts.
Stellar and baleful qi weren't good or evil.
Used righteously, they were just; used wickedly, they were vile.
For example, his Three Talents Demon-Suppressing Coin blade tassel was a baleful artifact for warding evil.
All spells, rituals, and even feng shui were rooted in these forces.
Li Yan's current challenge was spirit visualization.
Visualization methods varied, requiring one to form a deity from the heart, not random imagination but a reflection of one's true self.
Over countless years, the mystic world had devised effective methods.
They selected children awakened to the six yang senses, raised chanting scriptures and meditating daily, etching an enshrined ancestor or deity into their minds for seamless visualization.
Wang Daoxuan's method, from the *Western Mysterious Void True Scripture*, revered a three-eyed, sword-wielding Taoist named Lord Chen of Mysterious Qi Manifestation.
The scripture claimed this ancestor hailed from the mysterious Western Mysterious Grotto.
Over eons, mystic practitioners scoured the land, mapping all of Shenzhou's innate stellar qi mountains, known as grotto heavens and blessed lands.
But time blurred some locations. Some were found; others became legends.
The Western Mysterious Grotto, for instance—some said it was in Jinzhou, others Guanzhong, or even Mount Hua. No one knew its exact spot or crucial feng shui node.
Wang Daoxuan suspected the legend was likely fabricated.
Many lineages gave their ancestors grand titles and wild tales to boost prestige and ease visualization.
Li Yan's difficulty lay here.
As an adult with complex thoughts and two lifetimes of memories, fully believing in a deity's existence was nearly impossible.
He had only one path.
Visualize a deity reflecting his true heart.
Li Yan had a plan: use the stand-in idol in his dantian as his visualization target.
But its mystery made the risks unknown.
Tied to his life-saving treasure, he couldn't consult anyone.
Fortunately, visualization required days of pure focus.
Li Yan decided to follow Wang Daoxuan to the Lu household, uncover what triggered the idol's reaction, then return to the Li Family Village for visualization.
---
Back in Gushui Village, it was nearly dusk.
The hired cutters in the fields worked tirelessly, blackened by the sun, sweat-soaked, but their sickles never stopped.
Cart after cart of wheat rolled to the threshing ground.
They had to dry and store it quickly before rain came.
Seizing food from the dragon's mouth was as tense as a battlefield.
The three rode past, unnoticed by the busy cutters.
On a clearing by the fields, a simple canopy stood. Master Lu, his two concubines, the steward, and guards were inside.
The summer harvest was critical for any landlord.
Master Lu supervised personally to prevent slacking and to reward workers for a good yield.
Yet he seemed distracted, glancing often at the road.
"Why aren't they here?"
Hearing his question, Steward Lu broke into a cold sweat, bowing. "You said to keep it quiet, so I could only find these people. I heard Xianyang's city god temple has a Taixuan Orthodox priest…"
Master Lu's face turned cold. "I know what to do. You teaching me?"
"Of course not, sir."
Steward Lu shut up, cursing Sha Lifei inwardly.
He knew well that the kindly, generous-looking Master Lu could be ruthless when angered.
Even the concubines nearby trembled with fear.
Just then, hoofbeats sounded.
Seeing Sha Lifei's group return, Steward Lu exhaled, hurrying forward to arrange for the horses before hissing at Sha Lifei, "What took so long?"
Li Yan was the delay, but Sha Lifei wouldn't say that, grinning instead. "Master Wang's a busy man, in demand. Even Chang'an nobles came calling today. If not for my reputation…"
Wang Daoxuan, unable to listen, stepped forward. "Boundless Longevity, I was delayed. Please don't mind, sir."
Though his skills were modest, Wang's clear gaze inspired trust.
Steward Lu was no exception. "No trouble, Master. You've worked hard."
He led them to the canopy.
Master Lu had risen, exchanging pleasantries before gesturing. "Master Wang, you've come far. I've prepared food and drink. Please."
"Thank you, Master Lu."
Wang nodded slightly, following.
Li Yan and Sha Lifei started to follow but were stopped by Steward Lu, who whispered, "What're you tagging along for? Come to the side courtyard for food."
Before Sha Lifei could argue, Wang turned with a smile. "Master Lu, Brother Sha will assist me in selecting the site up the mountain. This young friend Li has entered the mystic path, my junior brother. Could he…?"
This was their agreed story.
All martial world folk, they saw the Lu job was suspicious. Extra hands meant extra safety.
Master Lu hesitated, then nodded. "Very well."
He led them into the Lu mansion.
The mansion's high walls hid most of it from outsiders, revealing only glimpses of trees and pavilions. Inside, it was a world apart.
Centered on four main courtyards, it had a study yard, flower yard, workers' yard, and outer yard, connected by lanes, adorned with intricate brick and wood carvings.
Even the flowerpots were artfully arranged.
Sha Lifei's eyes sparkled with envy. "Worthy of Master Lu. Even the Rong Family's top thieves would get dizzy in this place."
A towering guard overheard, his face darkening. "With us here, not even a Rong Family rat gets in!"
This was Zhao Cheng, lead disciple of the Zhao Family Fist and head of the guards.
Their trade was protection; such words stung.
Sha Lifei grinned. "Just talk, no offense."
They passed through layered gates into a side courtyard marked "Orchid Fragrance." Servants bustled, and the aroma of food and wine filled the air.
Master Lu spoke. "This is Orchid Fragrance Courtyard, for guests. I've prepared a feast to welcome you."
The table held eight cold and eight hot dishes, eight meat and eight vegetarian.
Not extravagant—cold dishes like pickled pig's ear, beans, cucumber, spinach with vermicelli, and spiced beef; hot dishes like fried fish, braised shrimp, red-cooked pork, and steamed perch.
But these were treats for special occasions in wealthy homes.
Sha Lifei was practically drooling, but Wang Daoxuan remained calm, raising a hand. "No rush, Master Lu. I'm here, but I'm not sure I dare eat yet."
"Why not tell me what's really going on in your house?"
"It's not just about picking a burial site, is it…"
**(End of Chapter)**