Chapter 23: Return to Ancient Water Village

Chapter 23: Return to Ancient Water Village

“Pay you back?”

Sha Lifei rubbed his bald head, feigning confusion. “Master Wang, you must’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m just a humble Jianghu wanderer—how dare I owe money to a Mystic Gate cultivator like you?”

Wang Daoxuan fell silent. “That spring in Chang’an… the Drunken Flower Pavilion…”

“Oh! Now I remember!”

Sha Lifei spun his tale with a straight face. “You’ve got it wrong. I only invited you for drinks, but you got roaring drunk and insisted on hiring the most famous dancer. I couldn’t stop you…”

“Did that happen?”

“Of course! And I didn’t abandon you either. A Jianghu brother was in mortal danger—I had to rush off to save him!”

“You know how I am—always loyal to righteousness…”

“Haha, forget it then. Consider it my treat.”

“Master Wang, look… next time, my treat!”

“You’ll actually pay?”

“Have you met Sha Lifei? When have I ever lied?”

The trio rode down the dusty Imperial Road, their horses kicking up clouds of yellow earth.

Perhaps because Li Yan’s face was unfamiliar—and his disguise effective—or because Meng Haicheng held little importance, the Divine Boxing Society hadn’t noticed their departure from the city.

Sha Lifei was a slick Jianghu rogue, while Wang Daoxuan was earnest to a fault. No one understood why these two mismatched souls always found endless conversation.

They chatted idly as they rode, while Li Yan lingered behind, silent and brooding.

By dusk, Li Yan had finally pried details from Wang Daoxuan about Mystic Gate cultivation. The world was far more complex than he’d imagined.

Martial artists cultivated through stages—Mingjin, Hidden Strength, Transformational Strength, Danjing, Gang Strength, Innate, and Grandmaster—each level amplifying their power.

But Mystic Gate practitioners focused on Mental Visualization: summoning divine spirits to command supernatural abilities. Success would let him suppress his unruly powers.

Yet this was only the beginning. Human desires and worldly troubles threatened to shatter these spirits, forcing cultivators to rebuild them repeatedly. The solution? Constructing shrines within one’s consciousness—a “Spiritual Abode” to stabilize the divine.

Thus, a Mystic Gate disciple’s “cultivation level” was measured by how many “floors” their spiritual palace held. Some sects even named their masters after these tiers.

Martial cultivation and Mystic Gate arts weren’t mutually exclusive. Some Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao priests mastered both, though few could balance both paths. Wang Daoxuan, for instance, had abandoned martial arts entirely, relying only on basic self-defense.

Yet both paths shared a grim truth:

There was no "Ling Qi" here—no mystical energy. Even the mightiest cultivator could perish as easily as any mortal.

The world instead teemed with Vital Energy and Malevolent Qi. Mountains and rivers absorbed celestial power, forming “Innate Gang,” while temples drew Divine Vital Energy from incense offerings. Even weapons could absorb these forces, for good or ill.

His Heaven-Sundering Demon Tassel, for instance, was a tool to suppress evil.

But Li Yan’s crisis was deeper: Mental Visualization.

Adult minds were too cluttered, especially his—burdened with memories of two lifetimes. To fully believe in a divine spirit felt impossible.

His only path? Visualize the statue within his Dantian.

Yet this was perilous. With no one to consult, he resolved to focus his mind first, then investigate the Lu estate’s mystery before retreating to Li Village Fortress for cultivation.

…

As they neared Ancient Water Village, dusk painted the fields gold. Wheat reapers toiled in the fields, their backs bent under the sun, scythes flashing as carts groaned under harvested grain.

A makeshift tent stood by the road. Lord Lu sat within, flanked by concubines and guards, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

“Why aren’t they here yet?”

Steward Lu wiped sweat. “I sent discreet word. There’s a Tai Xuan priest in Xianyang’s City God Temple…”

Lord Lu’s face darkened. “I’ll handle it. Must you lecture me?”

“No, Master!” Steward Lu trembled, cursing Sha Lifei inwardly.

The distant clatter of hooves finally came.

Seeing the trio, Steward Lu rushed forward. “Took you long enough!”

Sha Lifei shrugged. “Master Wang’s busy—today alone, three nobles invited him! Only my reputation got us here!”

Wang Daoxuan cut in, bowing. “Apologies, Master Lu. I delayed us.”

His sincerity disarmed Steward Lu. “No trouble at all, Master.”

Inside the cool pavilion, Lord Lu rose. “Master Wang, I’ve prepared wine.”

“Gratitude, Master Lu.”

As Li Yan and Sha Lifei moved to follow, Steward Lu blocked them. “You two—dine in the side court.”

Wang Daoxuan turned. “Actually, Master Lu… Sha is my assistant for selecting the sacred site, and Li is my junior disciple. May they join?”

A prearranged lie. The pair suspected hidden dangers in the Lu estate—the more eyes, the better.

Lord Lu hesitated, then relented.

The Lu estate sprawled with towering walls, its inner courtyards revealing gardens, studies, and servant quarters. Ornate carvings adorned the halls, their splendor rivaling nobility.

Sha Lifei gawked. “Master Lu’s place could dizzy even a thief from Rong’s Gang!”

A hulking guard scoffed. “Our men guard this place—no rat from Rong’s would dare!” Zhao Cheng, head of the Lu guards, glared.

Sha Lifei grinned. “Just teasing, friend!”

They entered the Lanfang Courtyard, where servants bustled and roasted meats perfumed the air.

“Eight cold, eight hot dishes,” Lord Lu announced. “Pig ears, braised beans, shrimp salad, steamed fish…”

The feast was lavish for commoners, but Wang Daoxuan raised a hand. “First, Master Lu… why did you truly summon me?”

His smile faded. “It’s… not just about selecting a site, is it?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end