Wang Ping did not attend the discipleship ceremony.
Partings were always filled with sorrow, a feeling he disliked. The disciples from down the mountain didn't disturb him. The day passed both quickly and, it seemed, very slowly.
The next day, Wang Kang came up the mountain again, this time bringing others with him: three newly appointed Stewards of the Inner Sect. Due to the temple's increasingly busy affairs, a new Steward position for managing punishments had been created.
The three were ranked by age as Yu Cheng Taoist's seventh, eighth, and ninth disciples, named Zhao Qing, Lv Xin, and Tao You, respectively.
Wang Ping's gaze swept over the three, finally resting on the youngest, Tao You. He could see that Tao You had the most abundant Spiritual Qi, which meant he had the best aptitude of the four. He might even be able to undergo Marrow Cleansing and Foundation Establishment, but cultivating a Secret Technique would be difficult.
After the five exchanged greetings, they discussed matters of cultivation. It was nearly Noon when Wang Kang finally left with his three junior brothers.
From this day forward, Qianmu Temple took on a new look…
But Wang Ping remained as he always was. After clearing the ripple of emotion from his heart, he went to Yu Cheng Taoist's courtyard in the back mountains to brew tea until evening, then once again entered a state of ascetic cultivation.
However, less than a month later, the tranquility he had just managed to restore was shattered.
On this day, Wang Ping was meditating and cultivating as usual. At noon, an acolyte brought his meal as always. Just as Wang Ping was about to eat, Yu Cheng Taoist suddenly appeared beside him. With a flick of his sleeve, he snatched the steamed bun from Wang Ping's hand.
"This is poisoned!"
A stream of greenish-blue light appeared on the hand with which Yu Cheng Taoist held the bun. Immediately after, fine, visible black threads seeped out from within the bun.
Wang Ping's heart trembled at the sight.
"A technique of the Taiyin Sect. A Cultivator who hasn't reached the initial stage would be unable to detect it. If eaten, it would slowly corrode your aptitude. If not discovered in time, it could eventually destroy it completely!"
"Is it those people from Mozhou Road? Have they come for me?"
Wang Ping tried his best to appear calm.
But Yu Cheng Taoist shook his head. "The Taiyin Sect of Mozhou Road would never bother with a minor figure like you. Think again: who would want to destroy your foundation?"
With him asking that, there was only one possibility…
"One of the disciples from our temple?"
"Correct. The human heart is the most complex thing of all. I have cultivated the Dao for many years and can see through many principles, but I have never been able to peer into the hearts of men."
"But why? Don't they know that something like this could never escape your discerning eye, Master?"
Yu Cheng Taoist was silent for a few breaths before speaking. "Does an ant comprehend the power of a man? They simply cannot imagine what a true Cultivator is like. The perspective of mortals is limited."
As those last words left his master's lips, an expression of disbelief crossed Wang Ping's face. He stared at his master for a long moment before asking in a very low voice, "Who was it?"
"Some insignificant people. By a stroke of luck, they obtained a few fragmented Cultivation Techniques from the Taiyin Sect—heretical techniques that had been altered by an Evil Cultivator. They likely wanted to seize your aptitude, but they have no idea that aptitude is innate. It can be improved through a Secret Technique, but it can never be stolen. You must remember: in this world, everything you achieve in cultivation must be done by your own efforts."
"Yes, this disciple understands."
"One more thing. The path of cultivation is fraught with hardship. I told you long ago: on this path, trust no one."
"What about those people?"
"You want to see them?"
"Yes!"
"They are already dead. They were insignificant, and you need not give them any further thought."
Wang Ping silently recited the Mental Tranquility Technique to keep himself calm. He then walked over to the locust tree and sat down cross-legged. Sensing his emotions, Yu Lian gently coiled around his waist and rested her head on his lap.
Yu Cheng Taoist watched Wang Ping, who was trying to enter a meditative state. He had appeared calm from the very beginning.
In his meditative state, Wang Ping was currently rejoicing in his good fortune. It wasn't because he had escaped this calamity, but because he was fortunate enough to have become his master's disciple. Otherwise, he might very well have ended up like those other disciples, taking desperate risks for a sliver of a chance at long life.
The allure of immortality is immense for mortals. It can drive a normal person to madness and make a gentryman of immense wealth squander his entire fortune. This path is destined to be a bloody one.
And he, under his master's protection, could avoid most of these calamities. But one day, he too would have to face adversity alone.
…
Time flows without a trace.
The only change this small incident brought to Wang Ping was to further strengthen his resolve to cultivate the Dao.
Spring passed and autumn came; three years went by. It was summer once again. The locust tree Wang Ping had planted was now over ten feet tall, and Yu Lian had completed her Qi Cultivation, finally no longer crying out in hunger every day at mealtime.
"It's so hot!"
Yu Lian lay listlessly on a branch of the locust tree, flicking her forked tongue out of boredom.
"Today's cultivation is crucial. You need to be quiet, understand?" Wang Ping instructed her seriously.
"I know!" As Yu Lian replied, her body rapidly shrank. She then leaped onto Wang Ping, coiling around his wrist as she had when she was small, and closed her eyes, ready to cultivate with him.
Wang Ping let out a soft laugh, keeping his mood light. As he sat down cross-legged before the locust tree, he took out his moon blocks and cast them for a three-part reading.
The divination seemed somewhat inauspicious, yet without any major problems.
After Wang Ping calmed his mind and focused his spirit, a glowing screen-like panel appeared before his eyes:
[Guiyuan Technique (Marrow Cleansing Chapter): Use the Spiritual Qi converted from Qi Cultivation to wash the body from the inside out, increasing the body's affinity with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. There are no shortcuts for this step. Your aptitude is superior. Persist in performing Marrow Cleansing ten times a day, and it can be completed in eight years. (Progress: 99/100, Today's Progress: 0/10)]
Eight years of ascetic cultivation, and he was finally about to complete the Marrow Cleansing step.
Gazing at the words on the light screen, Wang Ping's memories became something of a blur. In this daze, he entered a meditative state and completed the ten rounds of Marrow Cleansing for the day. The total progress for his Marrow Cleansing silently reached (100/100).
There was no change inside his body, but in the world of Spiritual Qi, Wang Ping's body was now like a magnet that had received its final polish. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi no longer required him to circulate his technique to be absorbed; it now gathered toward him automatically.
When Wang Ping completed the Marrow Cleansing, Yu Lian sent out a wave of joy from deep within his Spirit Sea. She could now rely on his body to absorb Spiritual Qi even faster for her own growth.
"Not bad, not bad at all!" Yu Cheng Taoist appeared at Wang Ping's side.
"Master!"
"The effects of the Marrow Cleansing are even better than I imagined. But your path of cultivation has only just begun."
"Yes!"
"Foundation Establishment should be very simple for you, but the final step must not be underestimated. According to our sect's old rules, disciples must prepare their own Foundation Establishment Materials…"
"But right now, you are the only disciple I have…"