White-Robed Chief

Shen Xu smiled as he nodded. “You and our Amethyst Mountain go way back – it’s our fate. Although it has been delayed for a long time now, our paths finally cross again!”

Yu Qing smiled. “Junior Chu, we’re now a family. Congratulations!”

“What’s your real name, Senior Yu Qing?” Chu Li smiled.

Yu Qing answered, “Mo Qingyu.”

“Why are you here?” Chu Li looked around the house.

Mo Qingyu revealed a smile. “Is Junior Chu looking down on me?”

Chu Li replied, “No, but I feel that this is too aggrieved for you. How can a disciple of Amethyst Mountain reside in such a place?”

Mo Qingyu shook her head and smiled.

Shen Xu added, “Chu Li, once you enter the sect, you should know that there are twelve peaks in Amethyst Mountain. Each peak has its individual martial arts. There are various ways to cultivate. Most of them can’t be done cooped up in the mountain. This is the main difference between our Amethyst Mountain and the three other sects.”

Chu Li nodded in consideration.

Shen Xu continued, Take the disciples of the Ethereal Peak, their main heart technique is the Ethereal Heavenly Heart. They need to observe the minds of others and reach a conscientious on others’ nature and character to realize the Ethereal Heavenly Heart. The disciples of the Ethereal Peak are proficient in concealing their cultivation. Mo Qingyu’s Ethereal Heavenly Heart has shown some success yet you’re able to detect something amiss about her. You have the qualities to join Amethyst Mountain!”

Chu Li smiled, “Senior Mo is not only here for cultivation purposes, right?”

Mo Qingyu pursed her lips into a smile. “Of course, I am also doing a meritorious service whilst cultivating the martial arts study of the remaining eleven peaks.”

Shen Xu commented, “All the martial arts studies of the twelve peaks can be cultivated, but our peak aside, the heart technique of the remaining eleven peaks require a sufficient contribution to cultivate.”

Chu Li fell deep into thought, “I am now a disciple of the Nature Peak Manifestation. If I would like to cultivate the Ethereal Heavenly Heart, do I need to perform meritorious services too?”

This system proved to be a huge stimulation to the disciples. They couldn’t just bury their heads into cultivation, they needed to enter the mortal world to perform meritorious service.

“Yes,” Shen Xu nodded. “However, the Phantom Yin Peak is an exception. All the disciples can cultivate the martial arts study of the Phantom Yin Peak. The Phantom Yin Peak’s Martial arts is the representation of our Amethyst Mountain. It is compulsory to learn and cultivate.”

“Then is the martial arts study of the Phantom Yin Peak the strongest?”

“The Phantom Yin Peak is the weakest of the twelve peaks but the easiest to master,” Shen Xu shook his head and sighed. “The martial arts study of the remaining eleven peaks is harder to cultivate. The current spiritual force is sparse and with the major changes in the land, it proves to be a struggle. Thankfully, we have the Phantom Yin Peak.”

Mo Qingyu smiled. “Just like the Ethereal Heavenly Heart of my Ethereal Peak, without the talent, it can’t be cultivated even if one gave it a lifetime of focus. After mastering it, a mortal’s heart becomes a heavenly heart, not to be influenced by any external source. Cultivating the martial arts study would then become easy work as the mind becomes powerful. Even the same martial arts would become more powerful.”

Chu Li added, “How are you accumulating meritorious service?”

“Junior Chu is from the Secret Guardians Hall, you should know,” Mo Qingyu gave him a sideward glance. “The guests of the Verdant Cloud Brothel are either rich or hold authority. The information that comes from their mouth is priceless.”

“This information would just scratch the surface of whatever topic they mention, it may not be that crucial,” Chu Li shook his head.

The important intel wouldn’t be told in the Verdant Cloud Brothel, it usually presented itself in the secret hideouts at home, which could be preyed upon by the Secret Guardians Hall.

Thus, the intel collected by Mo Qingyu wasn’t that important, so gathering meritorious service would be difficult.

Mo Qingyu smiled. “I am also in charge of seeking out talents to recommend to the sect as well as monitoring them. Whatever way it goes, I always have my hands full, I don’t worry that there’s nothing to do.”

Chu Li nodded. “Does the sect have any goals now?”

Shen Xu shook his head and sighed. “There is only one target now, that is to surpass the Tempest Temple!”

“Enlightened Master?” Chu Li asked, “The sect wants to produce an Enlightened Master?”

“Yes,” Shen Xu nodded, “You are one of our hopes. You were able to restrain Fa Yuan and have such unique endowment. You are most suitable of cultivating the martial arts of the Phantom Yin Peak. With proper nurturing, it’s impossible to beat out Fa Yuan and snatch that Enlightened Mastery!”

Chu Li shook his head and smiled. “You’re overestimating me.”

Shen Xu continued, “As long as there’s a chance, the sect will treat it with all seriousness, if not, why would the sect bear with you? I have already remained here at the Verdant Cloud Brothel for a few days and carefully investigated you. I can’t believe you came here yourself. If you didn’t make your way here, we would have contacted you in about two days. Thus, it’s apparent that you and Amethyst Mountain are destined to cross paths. You should become a disciple of Amethyst Mountain by nature!”

“What a coincidence,” Chu Li smiled and slowly nodded. “I will do my best!”

If Xiao Qi’s Inner State was not already fixed, he wouldn’t have thought to cultivate the Nature Restoration Manifestation and wouldn’t be looking for Mo Qingyu on his own accord. The wonders of life really had him on the edge. He felt as though there was a shapeless arm controlling him like a puppet. It was so hard to predict where he would end up next.

The sect wanted to create an Enlightened Master and he coincidentally wanted to become one. Both of them had the same goal. He originally only wanted to learn the Nature Restoration Manifestation, but now he had some respect for Amethyst Mountain.

He turned and smiled. “Senior Mo, we’re now family, we have to help one another.”

Mo Qingyu pursed her lips and chuckled softly. “I will need to depend a lot on you.”

Chu Li shook his head. “It’s helping one another.”

Shen Xu remarked, “Amethyst Mountain has two basic rules, one is that the disciples are not to lay hands on one another, and the other is not to spread the martial arts of the mountain elsewhere. There are a few other minor rules alongside this. Your senior will be explaining all of it to you. Today, I will first teach you the heart technique.”

Chu Li said, “Senior Shen can just go the Imperial Residence for a stay.”

Shen Xu shook his head. “You’re a disciple of the Hidden Clan. Do not let others know of your identity. I will remain here for a while. It’s time to leave before anything happens.”

Chu Li did not say more and simply nodded.

Mo Qingyu added, “Master’s Senior Shen, Junior Chu, go to the room behind the courtyard.”

She led them out of the hall and into a different room. She then excused herself.

In the tight little room, there was nothing else apart from a bed. It was clean and tidy.

“There’s no need for the initiation. You can just swear upon the rules of Amethyst Mountain,” said Shen Xu.

Chu Li followed the procedure and swore in. He then turned and looked at Shen Xu with seriousness.

Shen Xu was carrying a solemn look as he deepened his voice, “The Nature Restoration Manifestation is different from the conventional martial arts study. It is a skill of deduction.”

Chu Li’s eyebrow raised.

Shen Xu continued, “The introduction of this technique is hard, and its impact can vary widely. There are people who have cultivated it and are now able to gain insights that penetrate all beings whilst there are others who, after cultivating, able to avoid danger with much effort.”

Chu Li grew curious. What kind of peculiar technique was this?

“The Nature Manifestation is through one element, and through nature, it returns to one element. Humans are but a being, with the manifestation of all beings coming from the heart. Each action, each movement, all of this are controlled by the heart – this is the fundamental core of the Nature Manifestation,” Shen Xu said seriously.

Chu Li frowned. “Isn’t this Buddhism’s Eye of Insight?”

If that were the case, he needed not learn this as his Omniscient Mirror had the same function, which was to see one’s true nature.

Shen Xu continued, “The Nature Manifestation goes deeper than the Eye of Insight. You need to know that the human mind is hard to predict, as it’s as fickle as a spirit monkey. The Eye of Insight sees only a momentary view as the surface level. It’s like lowering your head to look at the grass, whereby you can only see the edge of the grass but not its roots. The Nature Manifestation pries deep into the soul. Many people do not know what lies within their heart, they lie to themselves, in which case even the Eye if Insight is lied to. However, it cannot go past the Nature Restoration Manifestation.”