Rising Sword of the Five Elements Chapter 114: Unwavering Through a Hundred Hardships
Dragon Virtue Hall.
Rain dripped from the eaves.
Xiao Qian reclined sideways on the dragon throne, his right hand resting on his knee, his left hand holding a folded scroll detailing casualty reports.
His eyes were closed, as if feigning sleep.
Empress Hu sat to his right.
Li Qingqiu, holding a dust whisk, sat slightly bowed behind the emperor and empress.
Feng Yuyan, dressed in golden official robes, strode briskly along the stone path, entering Dragon Virtue Hall directly.
He stopped ten paces before the raised platform.
“Your Majesty, the ten most heinous sinners within the demonic cult have all been eliminated by this old servant.”
Xiao Qian opened his eyes, placing the scroll on the desk.
“Yuyan, the casualties among demon hunters and civilians have exceeded my expectations... What did Su Ye's leader's decree say?”
“To ban the underground black market and strictly prohibit the manufacture of demonic pills containing organs as ingredients,” Feng Yuyan replied with a bow, his voice echoing in the spacious hall. “In the name of the Holy Fire Sect, they are to purge the demon fiends residing at the harbor.”
“Were there any objections?”
“Instantly, the sect transformed from a demonic cult into a completely opposite faction, so naturally, there were dissenting voices.”
“And then?”
“The South Lotus sect eliminated several opponents, silencing the dissent,” Feng Yuyan lowered his voice. “However, a few formidable harbor masters refused to believe the leader would issue such an order... They clamored to go to the main headquarters to confront South Lotus personally.”
Xiao Qian turned his head to look at Li Qingqiu standing by.
“Minister Li, take another trip.
Resolve this matter quickly and have the Holy Fire Sect join the demon suppression forces.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Li Qingqiu bowed in response.
His figure shimmered and vanished without a trace.
Feng Yuyan withdrew his gaze and stood respectfully.
“Where is Su Ye?” Empress Hu inquired softly.
“Your Majesty, he took the Buddhist treasure returned by South Lotus and proceeded to Mount Putuo.”
“Once all the Buddhas are restored to their places, Su Ye will enter Yun Capital.
Preparations can begin in advance.”
Empress Hu’s voice was gentle.
Xiao Qian sat upright, murmuring softly:
“The imprisonment of the Three Sages is finally about to be lifted.”
-----
On the path of Mount Putuo, Master Jingyue and Nun Cixin stood.
A gentle breeze stirred.
Two figures materialized from the mist.
Su Ye supported Luo Jinghong as they appeared within the sight of the two monks.
“Amitabha.”
Both pressed their palms together, welcoming the distant pilgrims.
Luo Jinghong regained her senses and, along with Su Ye, pressed palms in salute to the enlightened monks.
Nun Cixin said:
“Patron Su, I will take Patron Luo to the Pure Water Nunnery.
Once matters are settled, I will properly offer my thanks.”
Su Ye pressed palms in response.
Nun Cixin gently grasped Luo Jinghong’s wrist, a faint pink spiritual aura enveloping them, their forms becoming translucent.
In a moment, they disappeared without a trace.
Master Jingyue watched them leave before withdrawing his gaze.
“Patron Su, please come with me to the temple.”
Su Ye smiled: “Master, please return to the temple first and have Hongren wait for me at the temple gate.”
Master Jingyue smiled, pressed palms together, and gradually vanished.
Su Ye’s first visit to Mount Putuo was to seek the recipe for the Longevity Pill.
Only after resolving the murder on Drum Mountain did he clear the filth from the mountain path.
Now, the path leading to Ci’en Temple was once again covered with bodhi leaves.
As if it had never been swept.
For those who cultivate the heartless Dao, seeing such a scene would surely cause them to abandon their attempts, influenced by this realization.
Seasons passed—autumn to spring, cold to heat.
Regardless of whether human tribes exist in the Three Thousand Worlds, the Great Dao endures.
It is not swayed by anyone’s ascension or fall, nor affected by the extinction of races.
It supports the river of time, nurturing all living beings.
Though the heavenly way is indifferent... to survive in a chaotic demon-ridden era, one must give their all.
Su Ye entered a pavilion and took up a broom resting inside.
Starting from the first stone step, he slowly swept upwards.
Silently counting the steps.
Reaching the midpoint where Ci’en Temple stood, he did not stop but continued straight to the mountain summit.
Silently counting, there were twelve hundred steps to the top.
With each step, his body’s fatigue accumulated.
Knowing bodhi leaves would continue to fall, he never paused for a moment.
He swept all the way to the summit, gazing at the distant bright sun.
As long as the sun shines, shadows can only hide in the corners.
Su Ye turned and looked at the mountain path he had taken.
Compared to his first arrival at Mount Putuo, the rate of falling leaves had slowed considerably.
He quickened his pace down the mountain, returning to the main gate of Ci’en Temple.
Hongren stood outside, waiting respectfully.
Su Ye held the broom, smiling:
“Hongren, do you still remember when I helped you fulfill karma and lent you a broom?”
Hongren scratched his head, eyes squinting like crescent moons:
“I have to chant sutras and practice staff techniques every day... How could I remember things from long ago when I can barely recall this morning?”
“Monks do not utter falsehoods,” Master Jingyue’s voice came from the temple gate. “Go take the broom from Patron Su and sweep the mountain path.”
Though not stern, his words carried an unchallengeable authority.
Hongren stuck out his tongue and hurried to Su Ye’s side, taking the broom with both hands:
“Patron Su, this novice admits his mistake.
Whether in training or cultivation, every drop of sweat is never wasted.
I will sweep the mountain path clean, then come find you.”
After speaking, he stepped onto the mountain path with the broom.
Su Ye watched Hongren’s frame, much sturdier than when they first met, and felt a surge of emotion.
“Patron Su, have you counted the steps on the mountain path clearly?” Master Jingyue asked softly.
“Twelve hundred steps in total.”
“Actually, it is one hundred flights of twelve steps each.”
Su Ye turned to the smiling Master Jingyue upon hearing the unusual explanation.
“Worldly cultivation is divided into three levels: the highest Three Realms belong to semi-immortals who periodically endure the heavenly tribulation of thunder.
Gathering qi and concealing spirit belong to the preparatory stages of cultivation.
By the strictest standards, they are not regarded as true cultivators.
The middle ten realms each have twelve layers.
These one hundred and twenty layers of realms are like climbing a mountain path, each layer more difficult than the last...”
Only then did Su Ye fully understand the complete cultivation system of the Three Thousand Worlds.
“Master, will my future cultivation be very difficult?”
“You once possessed boundless talent, but it was closely linked to evil... Due to various worldly causes, you had to abandon this extraordinary gift.
Your current cultivation talent is hardly exceptional...”
Su Ye laughed lightly:
“I have long been mentally prepared for this.
I am just curious... why does each cultivation level have twelve layers, rather than ten, which signifies completeness?”
“The mortal world divides time by the twelve zodiac signs, with twelve months in a year and twelve double-hours in a day.
Thus, the ancestors who created the cultivation system in ancient times divided the middle ten realms into one hundred and twenty layers.”
“One thousand two hundred layers...” Su Ye looked at the mountain path. “So you mean my cultivation will be ten times harder than ordinary people?”
“Possibly a hundred times,” Master Jingyue replied candidly. “Spiritual roots are the foundation for condensing spiritual energy.
Having them does not necessarily make one a prodigy.
But without them, one is closer to an ordinary person.”
“What Hongren said just now applies to myself as well,” Su Ye smiled. “I will keep moving forward until I become an immortal.”
“Patron Su, your steadfast heart inspires my reverence,” Master Jingyue pressed one hand in salute. “If there were only one person in this world who could tread the immortal path with a mortal body, I would believe that person to be you, Patron Su.
Amitabha.”
Su Ye pressed palms together, clarity illuminating his mind.
No matter the hardships, he harbors no regrets.