Chapter Ten: Claiming the Reward

Cloud Qi bid farewell to Su Kong and retraced his steps, heading out of the bamboo grove.

As soon as he emerged, a flock of white pheasants soared from the depths of the forest into the sky. Faintly, he thought he heard laughter echoing from within the bamboo. The grove was cool and shaded, but once outside, sunlight warmed his skin. He glanced at the sky—the sun hung in the southeast, the hour still early.

Cloud Qi recalled his mentor’s teachings: cultivating breath must be attuned to the time and terrain. Now, standing atop the heights, with not a cloud in sight and the sun blazing overhead, the yang energy was abundant—he ought to absorb the fire breath.

With this in mind, Cloud Qi assumed his stance right where he stood and began the breathing spell, employing the “He” incantation to draw in the vital energy. This time, he could clearly feel the warmth flowing into him, more intense than in the cool bamboo pavilion. Feeling no urgency, he continued to absorb the energy, deciding to wait here until He Bingkun finished evening lessons so they could return together.

During moments of rest between breaths, Cloud Qi pondered the matter of concentration. To erect a palace within the mind was no easy feat; mere outward forms would not suffice. His master’s instructions demanded careful construction, brick by brick, tile by tile, and once built, the palace must be maintained—never allowed to fade after just a few days.

The palace was intricate, yet its heart must be the shrine—the sanctum of any temple. Outside the mountain, at Rainforest Temple, there were many shrines: the Shrine of the Kingly Spirit, the Four Divine Shrines, the Shrine of the Grand Master of the Mysterious Capital, the Shrine of Lord Guangcheng, the Shrine of Lady Doumu, as well as the Three Pure Ones Shrine and the Shrine of Immortal Ge.

Within the mountain, atop the plateau of Lotus Paradise, there was also a Three Pure Ones Shrine, venerating the Three Pure Ancestors, alongside the Shrine of Fuxi for the human progenitor, and two Yin-Yang Shrines for the more ethereal energies of yin and yang.

Cloud Qi knew he must first decide which shrine to build. His master had just mentioned it should ideally be tied to the visualization technique, the inner spirit, and the opening of the mansion of the mind to achieve twice the result with half the effort...

—

“What are you daydreaming about!”

Cloud Qi was startled by a tap—He Bingkun had arrived.

“How did you get back so quickly... Wait, it’s already dark!”

He Bingkun laughed, “You’re quick to enter a meditative state. That’s a good thing. Let’s go home.”

Thunderbird escorted the two back to their quarters.

“How did today go?”

“I felt pretty good—I absorbed some energy.”

“Hm? Did you learn the breathing technique, or did you actually use it?” He Bingkun’s voice suddenly shot up.

“I learned it, and I practiced it.”

“One day. You absorbed energy in just one day?!” He Bingkun grabbed Cloud Qi’s head, looking him up, down, left, and right. “What kind of freak are you?”

Cloud Qi smiled and pulled out a slender green slip from his sleeve, thin as if shaved from bamboo, with elegant script on it:

“Cheng Yunqi, after acquiring the method, absorbed energy in six breaths, witnessed by Wen Su Kong. On the ninth day of the fourth month, year 424 of the Bright Era, Mingzhi Mountain.”

“My master said I could take this slip to the Teaching Institute and collect a reward.”

He Bingkun pressed his eyes to the slip, “Six breaths? You absorbed energy in six breaths?”

After half a month together, He Bingkun had sensed Cloud Qi was no ordinary fellow, but hadn’t expected him to be so remarkable.

“It’s not a matter of ‘should’—you definitely can. Come, let’s go right now!”

He Bingkun burst out laughing, grabbed Cloud Qi’s wrist, and strode boldly out of the courtyard, heading straight for the Teaching Institute.

Lanterns hung from the eaves of houses and carved into the mountain walls along both sides of the street, some flaming red, others amber, forming two streams of light and illuminating the mountain path clearly.

—

He Bingkun was famed for his booming voice; now, laughing aloud as he walked, he drew all eyes. Doors opened along the mountain path, and their owners peeked out.

“Is Old He opening the Mansion?”

“Has the Thunder King opened the Mansion?”

“He Bingkun’s opened his Mansion!”

...

Congratulations echoed faster than He Bingkun’s laughter, and for a moment, the air was full of felicitations.

He Bingkun blushed, though it was hard to tell under the lanterns. “The opening of my Mansion will naturally come in time; it’s not yet due, so there’s nothing to congratulate.”

“You brat—your wild laughter ruins others’ meditation at night!”

“Maybe all that thunder-wrangling has addled his brain.”

“All muscle, no brains.”

Suddenly, the congratulations turned to mockery.

“My roommate, Cheng Yunqi, practiced today and absorbed energy in six breaths. We’re off to the Teaching Institute for his reward—isn’t that worth a laugh?”

The mountain street fell silent.

The next moment, dozens of people poured out from both sides, surrounding He Bingkun and Cloud Qi.

No one paid attention to He Bingkun’s smug expression; all scrutinized Cheng Yunqi.

“Six breaths to absorb energy!”

“He’s quite handsome.”

“Isn’t he the one from Mingzhi Mountain?”

“Oh, now I remember—the new young master!”

Everyone chattered at once, and Cloud Qi was startled. Was six breaths really so astonishing?

“Let’s go together!” someone shouted.

“Of course we’ll go together!”

“Absolutely—we’re all going!”

Thus, the laughter and shouting multiplied from one into a crowd.

Cloud Qi felt uneasy—it was all too flashy. He wondered how things had escalated so quickly.

“Haha, don’t worry, Cloud Qi. Our Lantern Street hasn’t seen someone like you in ages—let us enjoy the moment. You don’t know, but two years ago Vine Street had a newcomer who learned the method in the morning and absorbed energy by evening. They boasted about him endlessly. The Teaching Institute was still above theirs, but they went downhill first for a show before claiming the reward. Now heaven’s granted us a chance; how can we let it slip?”

With that, the crowd swept Cloud Qi up the mountain.

Cloud Qi, after half a month shut away reading, hadn’t met any neighbors. Now, surrounded, he got to know everyone before reaching the Teaching Institute.

“Brother Jiabao, I really am just an ordinary mortal, not some scion of the Dao. You’ve asked all the way up here.”

Cloud Qi replied helplessly.

—

The questioner was a cheerful, plump man with a round belly and a smiling face.

“If you’re not a Dao scion, it’s truly astonishing.”

“So what exactly is a Dao scion?” Cloud Qi asked, curious.

“The child of golden elixir Dao companions.”

Cloud Qi nodded—that was indeed impressive, and surely rare.

When they reached a certain street, the crowd’s cheers grew louder. Cloud Qi tugged He Bingkun’s sleeve, “Brother He, perhaps the others should quiet down—it’s not ideal.”

He Bingkun guffawed, “This is Vine Street!”

Cloud Qi looked around. The mountain path was lined with thick ancient vines, the residents living in vine huts—a unique ambiance.

What was once a tranquil place was now raucous, and Cloud Qi worried trouble might brew.

The vine huts on either side were eerily quiet.

“Something’s off.”

He Bingkun shed his boisterous look, adopting a stern, appraising gaze—broad-backed, fierce-eyed, wolfish and eagle-like.

“The Vine Street lot are definitely plotting something!”

He Bingkun was right.

Under cover of night, Vine Street came alive—countless vines silently crept beneath the crowd’s feet.

“What’s this!” someone exclaimed.

As if that were a signal, the discovered vines sprang into action—swift as serpents and lightning, quickly encircling the Lantern Street folk. Most were securely bound, though a few adept in body arts and escape techniques slipped free.

“Tian Lingzhi, you scoundrel!”

He Bingkun moved nimbly, dodging the vines’ grasp, shouting a name. He knew Tian Lingzhi was the Vine Street leader—surely behind this scheme.

No sooner had he spoken than a rustling swoosh split the air.

“Haha, you blockheads—you’re all fools! Wang Xianyou is in seclusion, and you follow He Bingkun’s nonsense, ha ha ha!”

Figures appeared suddenly on Vine Street, darting swiftly toward the trapped group. With the help of vines and the darkness, they were nearly impossible to distinguish.

“Mother of Lightning’s command: let lightning flow like gold, reveal all, manifest!”

Cloud Qi watched as He Bingkun formed a hand sign, recited a spell, and his fingertips flared with a blaze of white light. The brilliance turned Vine Street to day, illuminating the shadowy figures.

The group blinked in the glare, their steps slowing.

Cloud Qi looked to the leader—a young man in white robes and a jade-green crown. The youth spotted Cloud Qi and smiled at him, then began his own spell:

“Lord of Wood’s command: let all things grow, entwine!”