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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Xuanyuan
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> "Only the Three-One Sage ~ is a small Supreme Ultimate ~ universally receiving the mandates of calamity-stricken families ~ cauldron-bearing boundless merits and praises ~ bestowing blessings and resolving calamities, universally aiding the living and the dead, Dao crowning the heavens, grace extending to the three realms, great compassion and great vows, great sage and great mercy."
The chanting voice, rising and falling, echoed continuously within the spacious cavern. All six Clear Wind Temple disciples, including Li Huowang, sat cross-legged on prayer mats, following along with their master's morning lesson.
No one had a scripture book in front of them. Li Huowang could only mumble along vaguely with his fellow disciples.
As he chanted, Li Huowang raised his head, his gaze focusing on Danyangzi seated at the very front. The malice in his eyes had just begun to surface when he quickly suppressed it.
For this repulsive man, he now wished he could eat his flesh and skin him alive, but Li Huowang knew he was far too weak at present and no match for him.
His opponent was powerful. He couldn't act rashly. What he needed most now was to endure and secretly seek an opportunity.
It might be fraught with difficulties, and he could even be discovered by Danyangzi and die a gruesome death, but Li Huowang no longer cared about any of that.
When he saw Danyangzi slightly turn his body, Li Huowang swiftly shifted his gaze upward, past the three sticks of tall incense, toward the three statues placed within the hollowed-out rock wall.
The three deities, each with distinct features, wore yellow Daoist robes and held whisks. Their eyes showed neither sorrow nor joy as they gazed down at the insignificant mortals below.
They carried not a trace of immortal grace or Daoist aura; their appearances were utterly ordinary. Without the Daoist robes, they would seem like nothing more than three oversized commoners.
Li Huowang, of course, had no idea who these three deities were, but he committed their faces firmly to memory.
At this point, the chanting slowed. After the final short passage was recited, a nearby child struck the red drum three times heavily, signaling the end of the morning lesson.
All the disciples rose together with Danyangzi, simultaneously pinching their left thumbs with their right hands, placing the four fingers of their left hands over those of their right, raising their hands above their heads, and bowing to the statues.
After the礼 was completed, Danyangzi slowly turned around, surveying the disciples behind him.
When he saw Li Huowang, dressed in Daoist robes and standing calmly at the very back of the group, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Xuanyuan, Xuanyang has just joined our sect and surely doesn't understand many things yet. As his senior brother, teach him."
"Yes, Master." A round-faced, slightly plump middle-aged man bowed to Danyangzi.
"Alright, it's past the hour of Mao. If there's nothing else, go have your meal." With that, Danyangzi placed his hands behind his back and walked toward a nearby cave entrance.
A gloomy-looking young man wearing a Hunyuan scarf followed right behind him.
"That's Senior Brother Zhengkun. Ever since Senior Brothers Zhengkan and Zhengzhen defected, he's Master's only inner sect disciple. Remember to show him respect if you run into him in the temple—he's not as good-tempered as Master."
Xuanyuan walked over to Li Huowang's side and explained the man's background to him.
Li Huowang nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother Xuanyuan, for clearing that up. Does he have divine abilities like Master's too?"
He didn't know much else, but Li Huowang knew Danyangzi could control objects with his powers, and his strength was astonishing—he could lift several hundred jin stone jars.
Yet that wasn't the most concerning part. What troubled Li Huowang most was that Danyangzi seemed to know everything that happened in the cavern, whether it was Li Huowang calling him a fart or the fact that he hadn't agreed to escape together before.
If he truly wanted to deal with him, this point had to be clarified.
"How would I know what he's learned from Master? He's an inner sect disciple." Li Huowang detected the jealousy in the man's words.
"One person's strength is too feeble. Should I find other allies within Clear Wind Temple?" The thought surfaced in Li Huowang's mind, but it quickly faded.
Anyone with a rebellious spirit had likely been devoured by Black Tai Sui last time. Those remaining were probably either utterly devoted to Danyangzi or cowardly weaklings.
"Come on, let's walk and talk." With that, Xuanyuan turned and led Li Huowang toward the kitchen. "I know what you're thinking. Don't covet Master's immortality cultivation method—it gets passed down by seniority, and you're last in line."
"Just focus on your duties in peace. Whatever Master assigns you, do it. When your turn comes by rank and tenure, it'll naturally be yours."
By now, they had reached the cavern where meals were taken. Other senior brothers who had arrived early were already sipping their porridge.
Among them were three he recognized: the two Daoists with long swords, Changming and Changren, and Xuanyin, whom he had briefly met before.
Adding Xuanyuan and himself as Xuanyang, all five named disciples of Clear Wind Temple were now gathered here.
"Clear Wind Temple's rule: no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping. I'll teach you the rest after the meal." With that, Xuanyuan sat down and began drinking his porridge.
Li Huowang sat as well, lifting the black pottery bowl for a sip as he silently observed the behavior of the other senior brothers.
They varied in appearance—none too striking or too ugly. Yet seated together in Daoist robes, Li Huowang couldn't shake a strange feeling about them.
When he saw Xuanyin pinch one side of his nose and forcefully blow a thick glob of snot onto the ground, while the other two brothers furrowed their brows slightly, Li Huowang finally realized: their temperaments differed.
Some carried more of a scholarly air, while others had thick, callused joints on their hands and feet, like laborers.
"Where did Danyangzi find these five disciples? They couldn't all have been promoted from apprentice bait like me, could they?"
One by one, empty bowls were set down. The other senior brothers didn't spare a glance at the new Junior Brother Xuanyang as they strode toward the exit.
After the meal, Xuanyuan continued leading Li Huowang around Clear Wind Temple, introducing him to its workings. From this, Li Huowang learned that the five named disciples each handled different areas of the temple.
Some managed the Daoist children, some handled external procurement, others tended to Black Tai Sui. Even the more senior ones juggled multiple roles.
It hadn't been this busy before, but after so many died last time, the responsibilities had no choice but to fall on the survivors.
Li Huowang's duties were obvious: he handled everything in the Material Room. And everything these disciples did was to assist Master in achieving immortality.
After circling around all day like this, Li Huowang finally gained a detailed understanding of the entire temple from Xuanyuan.
He committed it all firmly to memory. This was no longer some illusion he could leave at any time—if he was to kill Danyangzi, this information might prove crucial.
After spending the day together, Xuanyuan and Li Huowang's rapport had warmed somewhat. They were walking back from Zhengyi Hall.
"Junior Brother Xuanyang, no need to be so tense. Your work won't keep you that busy—Master doesn't refine pills every day."
"Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Xuanyuan."
"Pill refining is closely tied to celestial phenomena and hours. Some medicines must be made at specific times to maximize their effects. For instance, today and tomorrow aren't suitable, but the coming zi hour the day after is an excellent time."
(End of chapter)