Chapter Thirty-Two: Birth of Greed, Stirring of Departure

“Endless night, all things wither, the stars grow dim, under the command of Taurus, shine!”
A cluster of crimson-gold light appeared.
Joy blossomed across Jiangnan Jing’s face as he gazed delightedly at Yun Qi.
“Benefactor, I have mastered it!”
Yun Qi, exhausted, nodded and managed a weary smile, truly unwilling to speak further.
He swallowed, then asked, “How many days has it been?”
Jiangnan Jing’s cheeks were flushed. “As you taught me, benefactor, I visualized the radiant sun by day, and at night imagined all beings lost in eternal darkness, yearning for the return of light. I cycled this process seven times.”
Yun Qi nodded numbly. “You’ve learned it, good, good. For now, just keep practicing. Once you’re familiar with the intent of the spell, you can begin to reduce the incantation.”
Jiangnan Jing, a dutiful child, caught Yun Qi’s meaning. “Rest, benefactor. I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait, one more thing.”
Yun Qi stopped Jiangnan Jing.
Jiangnan Jing turned back. “What else do you ask of me, benefactor?”
“In the future, if anyone asks, don’t say I taught you this incantation. And don’t claim it’s my own creation.”
Jiangnan Jing found this perfectly reasonable, thinking Yun Qi simply didn’t want the origin of the spell to be known. He respectfully agreed and immediately swore never to divulge it.
Yun Qi watched him depart and finally let out a long sigh.
———
Jiangnan Jing exited Wind Lotus Cottage, seeing few people along the way. He was puzzled until he returned to his family’s courtyard, where his uncle, father, and teacher awaited him.
When the three saw Jiangnan Jing return, his steps light and his complexion rosy, they sensed good news and joy brightened their faces.
“Did young Cheng teach you a spell?”
Jiangnan Jing had intended to conceal it, but realized that practicing at the family cottage made secrecy impossible, so he nodded.
“Did you master it?”
He nodded again.
Their delight grew, and the western tutor, Daoist Xianjing, marveled, “No wonder he comes from a great sect. He taught you a spell in just seven days—remarkable youth!”
Jiangnan Jing agreed, though he wondered if it was his imagination that his benefactor had originally intended to teach him by demonstrating it just once.
But how could that be possible?
Could there truly be such a person? Was his benefactor really so extraordinary? Jiangnan Jing doubted it, even considering Yun Qi’s exceptional talent.
“Could you show it to your teacher?”
Jiangnan Jing nodded, a little anxious, since he had just succeeded once.
He extended his left hand, pointed his index finger, focused his thoughts, and recited:
“Endless night, all things wither, the stars grow dim, under the command of Taurus, shine!”
Light glowed from his fingertip, bathing the room in crimson.
The three men before him also had light shining in their eyes.
“Excellent! Excellent! It’s Taurus!”
Daoist Xianjing lost composure, exclaiming loudly, “Taurus is a star official of the ancient heavenly court, a true ancient god, recorded in the annals of heaven and earth, possessing supreme power. Who knows how many ages have passed—being able to invoke such a god is a rare fortune, a tremendous blessing!”
———
Jiang Yuexing pondered the essence within the crimson-gold light. “[Fierce], [Radiant], [Dispersing], [Sunfire]—excellent, excellent, Jing’er, this spell matches perfectly with your life treasure, the Golden Light Seal. You must deeply comprehend its meaning!”
Jiang Yanxing stroked his beard and nodded. “Young Cheng is worthy of his great sect, even as a registered disciple. His understanding of spellcraft is profound, and he has taught you a spell aligned with your cultivation. It proves he’s versed in many spells.”
Jiangnan Jing nodded. “Indeed. When benefactor saved my life, he performed four spells, covering the Five Elements of the Grand Void. Each was a one-word spell.”
The three were astonished, exchanging glances.
Covering the Grand Void’s Five Elements, all one-word spells—the weight of these words was not lost on any cultivator.
Looking back, when Jiangnan Jing forced his life treasure, his lungs were injured. Everyone forbade him from speaking, and after his return, they rushed to treat him. He went to thank his benefactor the next day, but no one had yet asked about that day’s events.
The family knew of the gaunt Daoist—he was a demon from the southern wilds, claiming to be from the Dharma Aspect Sect, now wandering Jiangnan, notorious for his skills and for evading capture. He had gained some renown locally, but no one knew when he arrived at Lake Poyang.
That day, near the Golden Aspect Sect, was a small gate called Bai Lu’s Zhou family, who made meditation mats. The Zhou family’s purchasing steward set out with funds to buy mat materials, and was soon targeted by the gaunt Daoist, who killed him and took the money. Jiangnan Jing witnessed this, and, acting rashly, saw the murderer—thin, in green robes, clearly a demon—and pursued him alone.
Fortunately, their battle was seen by a concerned observer. After all, the young master’s pipa from Mingguang Hall was conspicuous.
Word reached Mingguang Hall, and three immediately followed the witness south. They arrived to find Jiangnan Jing forced to seize his life treasure, but had never asked what occurred between. At the time, they felt lucky simply to have saved his life.
“Benefactor used the [Suppress] spell to immobilize the Daoist mid-flight, the [Seize] spell to capture the talisman arrow meant for me. When the Daoist used a magic tool to kill me, benefactor summoned a huge wave with the [Flood] spell, blocking the ghosts, and finally used [Burn] to injure the demon. I nearly fainted, so I couldn’t see how wounded he was, only heard his cry as he fled.”
Jiangnan Jing recounted carefully.
“That’s the power of disciples from a great sect! Jing’er, you must learn—spellcraft alone can determine the battle, overwhelm opponents, so the practitioner need not risk himself. You were too reckless, almost causing disaster. Thankfully, you met Daoist Cheng.”
Daoist Xianjing wore a stern face, seizing the moment to instruct, as was his duty.
Jiangnan Jing nodded and continued:
“Actually, the Sunlight Spell benefactor taught me is itself a one-word spell, but I lack talent and failed to grasp its essence. Benefactor thus amplified it to a nine-word spell, then thirteen, and taught me various visualization methods. He said with diligent practice, I could trace back to the original one-word spell.”
The three were at a loss, unable to fathom it.
“Benefactor said the spell was originally created for introspection—to illuminate the inner landscape of the body. It greatly aids in circulating qi, opening houses and palaces, and later the merging of dragon and tiger. Using it externally is just an ancillary effect. Seeing my affinity with golden light, benefactor taught me the external method first, thinking it easier for me to grasp.”
Though all three were second-realm cultivators, they felt as if listening to celestial scripture.
Jiangnan Jing himself was startled, nearly slipping that the spell was benefactor’s own creation. The family could not be kept from knowing benefactor taught him, but that the spell was his invention must remain secret—a promise he made.
Remembering this, he said, “Teacher, Uncle, Father—benefactor instructed me that this spell is his gift and must not be revealed!”
The three snapped from their reverie and nodded repeatedly. “Naturally, naturally!”
Jiang Yuexing told Jiang Yanxing, “Brother, this is a profound method of the great sect. Warn all who know—never let the teachings leak, especially to the other halls!”
Jiang Yanxing glared at his brother. “I hardly need you to remind me!”
Jiangnan Jing wanted to clarify that the spell was benefactor's own creation, not a sect transmission, but he could not explain.
Daoist Xianjing sighed, “With such talent, Daoist Cheng, though only a registered disciple now, likely faces only strict rules and high thresholds. Yet with such brilliance, he will soon be among the true successors.”
Jiang Yanxing pondered, then asked Jiangnan Jing,
“Jing’er, why did Daoist Cheng suddenly teach you this spell? Did he ask anything of you? Tell him, whatever he wishes, Mingguang Hall will provide.”
Some words could only be spoken in his heart. The great sects act uniquely—such prodigies are simply to be supported fully. How could they let him live so frugally, wandering without even a spirit stone?
Luckily, their hall did brisk business on Lake Poyang. Though spirit stones are precious, the family could afford them as a token of thanks. More than that, it was an opportunity to forge a bond with Daoist Cheng.
Jiangnan Jing shook his head. “Benefactor said gold-and-stone gifts were too precious. Wanting to return the favor but possessing nothing, he gave me a spell instead.”
Jiang Yanxing asked, “Did you tell Daoist Cheng your gold seal was musk gold?”
Jiangnan Jing shook his head. “No, I only said it was ordinary refined gold.”
Jiang Yanxing sighed, “Daoist Cheng is a gentleman. Even if the gold-and-stone gift was heavy, now that he’s given you this spell, the gift feels light. Let us prepare another token. You have not yet learned the introspection method—visit the cottage often; you won’t be disturbed. If Daoist Cheng desires anything, tell me at once.”
———
Jiangnan Jing shook his head. “Benefactor seemed exhausted teaching me this spell. Perhaps my talent is lacking, and he’s spent much effort. I feel embarrassed to trouble him further. If I don’t learn the introspection method, I’m already content with the external spell.”
At this, Jiang Yanxing rarely showed anger, while Jiang Yuexing and Daoist Xianjing sighed deeply.
“Learning the Dao is never easy!”
Jiang Yanxing spoke loudly, “The ancients said, ‘The law is not passed to six ears.’ Whenever a top sect releases a teaching, people vie fiercely for it. How do you think the Golden Aspect Sect was founded? Our ancestor received a spell from the Taiyi Golden Light Immortal, used it to establish our sect, because it aligned with the great Dao of the Five Elements. That’s why we’re considered orthodox, otherwise we’d be no different from the Red Conch Jiang family, the Yellowfish Jiang family, or Bai Lu’s Zhou family.”
“Not to mention distant places—look at the nearby Thunder Investigation Sect, which you know, just a thousand miles away on the lake. Do you know how their founder rose and established their mountain? He was a mortal Daoist, who at thirty left the coast of Fujian, trekked to Yuzhang, and knelt at the foot of Military Edge Mountain, seeking the thunder method. To prove his resolve, he built a hut, planted jujube trees for ten years, carried ten thousand pounds of water, cultivating over nine hundred acres. When the trees reached the triple-nine, the immortal mountain sent him a spell book, with the four words ‘Thunder Convergence Investigation.’ With those four words, he awakened and cultivated, ultimately founding his sect on Lake Poyang, honoring Military Edge Mountain as ancestral court, and the Divine Firmament Sect as origin, achieving orthodox status.”
“Now you have such an opportunity, yet you hesitate—how laughable! Is your embarrassment worse than ten years of planting jujubes?”
Jiangnan Jing blushed, apologizing repeatedly.
“Just go and ask. If Daoist Cheng rebukes you, accept it without retort. If he requests anything, grant it. Do you understand? Since he’s willing to teach a great sect method, I fear he asks too little. Do you understand?”
Jiang Yanxing fixed his gaze on his nephew.
Jiangnan Jing felt uneasy—these words made it sound as if he were trying to coax or trick the spell from his benefactor. But seeing the earnest eyes of his uncle, father, and teacher, he nodded quietly.
———
The next day.
Despite his family’s endless urging, Jiangnan Jing went early to Wind Lotus Cottage.
Yun Qi, refreshed after a night’s rest, greeted him smiling. “Jiangnan, just in time. Today I’ll teach you the introspection method. I’ve figured out how to teach you—let’s aim for five days. I’ve lingered long enough; it’s time to continue my journey.”
Jiangnan Jing was startled. “Benefactor, why leave so soon? Was my hospitality lacking?”
Yun Qi shook his head. “I came out to travel, not to stay at your house indefinitely—that’s not wandering, that’s vacationing.”
“Then stay a few more days and leave later!”
“No need, Jiangnan. Where there is gathering, there will be parting. With your gift of the seal, when I return to Yuzhang, I’ll visit you.”
With the conversation at its end, Jiangnan Jing had nothing more to say.
“Now, let me teach you the introspection method. It is similar to the external spell. For ordinary mortal eyes, the inner world is pitch black—in this, too, you visualize the sun…”
Yun Qi taught in detail, Jiangnan Jing listened earnestly, and the day passed in a blink. Yun Qi said Jiangnan was progressing well, so they paused for the day and would continue tomorrow.
Returning home, Jiangnan Jing immediately told his elders Yun Qi was planning to depart.
Everyone was powerless to change it.
On the third day, Jiangnan Jing brought a Water Repelling Pearl.
Yun Qi was displeased.
Jiangnan Jing was anxious, explaining that the gold-and-stone gift was for saving his life, so a separate token was needed for teaching the spell. Otherwise, he dared not learn the introspection method.
Yun Qi, helpless, asked about the price of small spiral shell earrings on Lake Poyang.
Jiangnan Jing answered honestly: live shells, one silver per piece; magical shells, ten silver per piece; magical shells with sealed mud, one tael each. But they were hard to buy, always snapped up immediately.
Yun Qi told him to take back the Water Repelling Pearl, saying that the gold-and-stone treasure plus a hundred sealed magical shells would suffice as thanks for saving him and teaching the spell.
Jiangnan Jing could not refuse and agreed.
For the next few days, Yun Qi taught with even greater dedication and speed, eager to leave. He feared the Jiang family’s hospitality—and his own greed—would overwhelm him.