Chapter 11 Xuan Yuan
"Only the Saint of the Supreme Unity—bearing the Minor Taiji—receives the destiny of the great catastrophe. Endowed with boundless commendations, he blesses and relieves disasters, extensively aids the living and the dead, crowns the heavens, graces the three realms with mercy, holds great compassion, and embodies great holiness and kindness."
The chanting of scriptures, with its varying pitch and rhythm, echoed nonstop within the spacious cavern. All six disciples of Qingfeng Taoist Temple, including Li Huowang, sat cross-legged on cushions, following their master in morning lessons.
None of them had scriptures before them, and Li Huowang could only mumble along with his senior brothers.
As he chanted, Li Huowang raised his head, his gaze focusing on Master Danyang, who was seated at the very front. A flash of malice appeared in his eyes but was quickly suppressed.
Regarding this detestable fellow, Li Huowang longed to tear his flesh and flay his skin, but he knew he was far too weak now to be his opponent.
The other's strength was formidable; he could not act rashly. His priority was to endure patiently and seek opportunities in secret.
Although the journey might be fraught with difficulties, and he could even be discovered by Master Danyang and die a terrible death, Li Huowang did not care anymore.
When he saw Master Danyang shift slightly, Li Huowang's gaze swiftly moved upward, passing the three tall incense sticks, to observe the three divine statues placed within the hollowed-out rock wall.
The three immortals with distinct appearances wore yellow Taoist robes and held whisks. Their eyes showed neither sadness nor joy as they watched over the insignificant mortals below.
They bore not the slightest air of immortals exuding an aura of transcendence. Rather, their appearances were so ordinary that, if not for their Taoist robes, they looked like mere ordinary men of a larger stature.
Who these three statues represented, Li Huowang did not know. However, he etched their faces deeply into his memory.
By this time, the chanting had slowed. After the last few words of scripture were spoken, an apprentice forcefully struck the red drum three times to signal the end of the morning lessons.
All disciples stood up, following Master Danyang, and performed a salute by clasping their right thumb with their left hand, the four fingers of the left hand placed over those of the right, raising their hands above their heads towards the divine statues.
After the salutation, Master Danyang slowly turned around, surveying his disciples.
When he saw Li Huowang standing calmly at the very end of the group, dressed in his Taoist robe, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Xuan Yuan, Xuan Yang has just joined our sect, and surely there are many things he does not understand. As his senior brother, teach him," Master Danyang instructed.
"Yes, Master," a round-faced, slightly plump middle-aged man saluted Master Danyang.
"Enough, after the hour of Mao, if there's nothing else, go and have your meal," Master Danyang said, then turned and walked towards the cave entrance with his hands clasped behind him.
A young man wearing a mixed Yuan cap with a gloomy expression followed behind him and left together.
"That is Senior Brother Zhengkun. Since Senior Brothers Zhengkan and Zhengzhen defected, he has been Master's only Inner Sect Disciple. Remember to show respect if you encounter him in the temple; he does not have the same good nature as Master."
Xuan Yuan came to Li Huowang's side and explained the identity of the man.
Li Huowang nodded, "Thank you, Senior Brother Xuan Yuan, for the clarification. Does he also have the same divine skills as Master?"
Li Huowang didn't know much else, but he knew that Master Danyang possessed the ability to control objects and had incredible strength, able to lift stone jars weighing several hundred pounds.
Yet that wasn't what Li Huowang feared the most; what truly concerned him was that anything happening inside the cavern was known to Master Danyang—whether it was when Li Huowang called him a fart or when he had not agreed to escape together previously.
If he truly wanted to deal with him, he must understand this point clearly.
"He's an Inner Sect Disciple, what he learns from Master, how would I know?" Li Huowang sensed the jealousy in the other's words.
"One's strength is too feeble alone, should I seek other allies within Qingfeng Taoist Temple?" Li Huowang contemplated, but the thought was quickly extinguished.
Those with rebellious hearts probably got devoured by Black Taisui during the last incident; those remaining are either utterly devoted to Master Danyang or too timid and cowardly.
"Let's go, we can talk as we walk," Xuan Yuan said, then turned and led Li Huowang toward the kitchen. "I know what you're thinking, stop coveting the Master's Immortality Cultivation Technique, you're the last one in the pecking order for that."
"Just focus on your duties. Do whatever Master tells you to do, and when it's time according to seniority, it'll naturally be your turn."
By then, they had reached the dining cave, where the early-arriving fellow disciples had already started drinking their porridge.
Among them, he recognized three: the two Taoists, Changming and Changren, who carried longswords, and Xuan Yin, whom he had met once before.
Together with Xuan Yuan by his side and himself, Xuan Yang, the five registered disciples of Qingfeng Taoist Temple were now all gathered here.
"It's the rule of Qingfeng Taoist Temple to keep silent during meals and at bedtime; I'll teach you more after we've eaten," Xuan Yuan said as he sat down to join in eating porridge.
Li Huowang took a seat, lifted his black pottery bowl, sipped, and quietly observed the behavior of his fellow disciples.
These people varied in appearance, none too striking nor too ugly. Yet, dressed in Taoist robes and seated together, Li Huowang always felt something was off.
When he saw Xuan Yin blowing his nose hard against the ground while the other two disciples slightly furrowed their brows, Li Huowang finally realized it—their auras were different.
Some had more of a scholarly air while others had larger joints on their hands and feet, suggesting they were used to rough labor.
"Where did Master Danyang find these five disciples from? They couldn't all have been promoted from serving as Medicinal Guides like me, could they?"
As each bowl was emptied, the other brothers didn't glance at the newly arrived Xuan Yang brother and strode towards the doorway.
After finishing the meal, Xuan Yuan continued to show Li Huowang around Qingfeng Taoist Temple, from where he learned that the five registered disciples each had different responsibilities within the temple.
Some were in charge of managing the apprentices, some were responsible for making purchases outside the temple, and some took care of feeding Black Taisui, with several of the more senior ones taking on multiple roles.
Things wouldn't have been so busy, but after the death of a batch of people before, their responsibilities had to be forcibly distributed among the remaining disciples.
Needless to say, Li Huowang's responsibilities were clear, everything concerning the storeroom was his duty, and all that these disciples did was to assist the Master in achieving immortality.
Thus, after circling around the whole day, Li Huowang finally acquired a thorough understanding of the whole Taoist temple from Xuan Yuan.
Li Huowang firmly memorized these matters, realizing that this place was no longer just a transitory illusion; whether he could kill Master Danyang or not, this information might prove very useful.
After spending the day together, the relationship between Xuan Yuan and Li Huowang had slightly warmed, and the two were walking back from Zhengyi Hall.
"Xuan Yang brother, there's really no need to be so tense, your tasks won't be that busy, and Master isn't always concocting elixirs," Xuan Yuan reassured.
"Oh? Please enlighten me, brother Xuan Yuan," Li Huowang responded.
"Alchemy is closely related to celestial events and timing. Some elixirs must be concocted at fixed times to maximize their effects. Take, for instance, today and tomorrow are not suitable for alchemy, but the hour of Zi on the day after is a very auspicious time," Xuan Yuan explained.