Chapter Sixty-Four: The Objective
A fragmented Daoist diagram surfaced in his mind.
Suddenly, Qin Yi sensed that the faint trace of “Qi” within his body had grown lively, as if a cat had caught sight of a fish—brimming with delight.
What shocked him even more was that, in the depths of his meditation, the incomplete Daoist diagram blazed with a sudden radiance!
A refreshing coolness swept through his mind once again.
“As I suspected, this Daoist diagram can indeed substitute for the one paired with the Azure Void Art; I can meditate on it just the same!” Qin Yi was overjoyed.
But in the next instant, the diagram’s brilliance faded, and with a roar, it shattered within his mind!
“Hm?” Qin Yi emerged from his trance, opening his eyes in utter bewilderment.
“My cultivation was forcibly interrupted. Anxious and restless, I can’t settle back into meditation at all.”
After resting for an hour, his spirit finally calmed. He tried again with the Heart Purification Technique and found that both the process and result were identical to the Azure Void Art.
From these two attempts, Qin Yi gleaned several insights.
First, this incomplete Daoist diagram appeared to perfectly replace the original one paired with the Azure Void Art, as well as the Heart Purification Technique. He could meditate on it for either.
Second, this fragmented diagram, when contemplated, had released a faint radiance within his mind. In all his time practicing these two scholarly arts, this had never happened before. Clearly, this diagram was extraordinary—fundamentally different from the ones paired with the Azure Void Art or the Heart Purification Technique. He vaguely remembered Yang Yuanzi mentioning once that the Heart Purification diagram had been painted by the founding master of the Fangxian Sect, then handed down and copied through each generation, so that every disciple possessed one. Presumably, the Azure Void Palace’s diagram was of similar origin.
Perhaps this incomplete diagram was a relic passed down from the main Daoist lineage at the Supreme Purity Palace?
Third, just as he succeeded in meditating on this fragment, he could feel his inner Qi grow especially vibrant. This suggested that the diagram and these Daoist scholarly arts were in perfect harmony—otherwise, how could the Qi become so animated?
“As for the sudden shattering of the diagram in my mind, forcing my cultivation to halt, could it be because it’s incomplete?” Qin Yi speculated.
“If I could restore it, I might gain something beyond my wildest expectations!”
He gazed at the diagram—its area diminished by a fifth—and fell into deep thought.
He didn’t know where Senior Zhang Daoxuan had acquired this remnant. Was it originally from the Supreme Mystery Palace, or had he found it elsewhere?
“It seems I’ll need to make inquiries whenever possible, to see if I can recover the missing portion. Still... the chances are slim.”
How vast was Dayong?
It would be like searching for a needle in the sea.
Qin Yi did not hold out much hope.
He studied the diagram once more before preparing to return it to its box.
Suddenly, he noticed something at the broken edge of the diagram—a character.
No, only half a character! The break had left him with just half, the other half surely residing in the missing fragment.
He hadn’t noticed before, as he hadn’t looked closely enough.
“What script is this?” Qin Yi wondered. Even with only half the character, it didn’t resemble any official script recorded in Dayong.
“Could the other fragment bear more writing?”
“But even if it does, I won’t know what it says until I recover the lost portion. For now, this diagram is of no use to me,” Qin Yi sighed, shaking his head.
He packed away the diagram and made his way to the Fangxian Daoist Palace.
...
Fangxian Daoist Palace.
Along the mountain path, he occasionally passed incense-bearing pilgrims.
Arriving at the mountain gate, he addressed a young Daoist attendant, “Little Daoist, I wish to see Master Yang Yuanzi. Could you announce my arrival?”
The attendant replied, “May I ask what business you have with Uncle-Master Yang Yuanzi?”
“My name is Qin Feng. Your uncle-master knows me—just mention my name and he’ll receive me. I have something important to discuss.”
“Well... very well.”
A quarter hour later, within the quiet chamber, Qin Yi was received by Yang Yuanzi once more.
“Qin Feng, what brings you here today?” Yang Yuanzi regarded him, though in truth, he would have preferred not to.
“Master Yang...”
“Just call me ‘Daoist Priest,’” Yang Yuanzi interrupted, keeping his distance.
Qin Yi did not mind and asked, “Daoist Priest Yang, may I ask where the other seven branches of the Daoist Nine Lineages are located? I intend to visit them when I have the chance.”
“The other seven?”
“Yes.”
“The School of Infinite Dao is on Azure Dragon Mountain. The Spring-True Monastery is in Ling City. The Divine Firmament Monastery is on Kun Mountain...”
“The Supreme Mystery Palace stands on Xuandu Mountain. Unfortunately, not long ago, there was word that they colluded with the Northern Yuan, so the court destroyed them,” Yang Yuanzi sighed.
“For two hundred years, the Supreme Mystery Palace had been the leader of the Daoist Nine Lineages, especially that Zhang Daoxuan—his talent was monstrous. He mastered several sixth-level martial arts and attained the strength of a ninth-level master. Who would have thought...”
So, Qin Yi realized, Yang Yuanzi did not know the truth of what had happened.
“Do you know much about Senior Zhang Daoxuan?” he asked.
“Not much. I only met him once, twenty years ago. But let us not discuss the Supreme Mystery Palace further—it’s a sensitive topic these days.”
“Then, where is the main Daoist lineage, the Supreme Purity Palace, located? If I have the chance, I’d like to visit and see its wonders,” Qin Yi inquired.
“The main lineage...”
Yang Yuanzi pondered for a moment before replying, “The ruins of the Supreme Purity Palace are said to lie atop the Taiji Mountains. I read this in an ancient text, but whether it’s true, I cannot say.”
“The Taiji Mountains?” Qin Yi searched his memory.
He recalled that the Taiji Mountains lay to the west of Dayong—one of its six grandest ranges.
A palace built atop the mountain peaks? That was truly extraordinary!
Having finished his questions, Qin Yi then asked, “Daoist Priest, do you have any other scholarly arts?”
Yang Yuanzi cast him a surprised look. “No more. Are you dissatisfied with the Heart Purification Technique? I told you, scholarly arts are of little use. You’d do better to focus on martial arts.”
“...”
“I understand,” Qin Yi nodded.
After leaving Fangxian Sect, he returned leisurely toward the county city.
“Since that damaged Daoist diagram is of no immediate help, I must find another way to resolve my hidden ailment. Until that’s done, I dare not risk cultivating more martial arts.”
“However, I can at least begin learning the six-level martial art from the other martial academy in the city—just the basics, without advancing further for now!”