Chapter 85: The Performance of the Golden Boy

When the words "celestial-blooded" were spoken, many eyes turned toward Ji Ming in unison.

Ji Ming's hands, crossed and tucked within his sleeves, tightened unconsciously; only a moment later did he realize that "celestial-blooded" was merely a compliment, not a declaration of his true nature.

He let out a soft breath. To others, that only made him seem overly nervous.

The old Daoist Feihu had sent him to the Jiheng Mountains of Zhexiong Province and told him to be careful, but he had not expected Ji Ming to expose his heavenly identity here. Yet Ji Ming was determined to play dead to the very end, resolved, unless forced by necessity, never to reveal his six-fingered trait.

The ancient ape before the altar praised him at length: "This immortal child has a clear bone structure, a bright spirit, and lovely features. I often travel through the mountain grottoes, yet have never seen one to compare with him."

It was obvious the old ape was speaking in accordance with the master’s wishes, and the master was indeed one who judged by appearance; hearing it made him glow with delight.

"Little ape, you have listened to my teachings here for more than a hundred years, I suppose. Though I have no sectarian bias, no distinction between man and demon, I have not entirely escaped the prejudices of the common world.

"You have completed three hundred years of cultivation. If you can pass the mortal tribulation and shed your demon heart for a human one, thereby attaining the human path, you may enter my tutelage."

At once the old ape wept and cried, "This lowly wild demon dares not defile the immortal gate. To be merely a mountain beast guarding the cave would already fulfill my wish."

For some reason, both his words and his manner had a distinctly performative air, and Ji Ming instinctively disliked it, perhaps because they were both enthusiasts of performance.

"Brother Treasure."

Below the high altar, Linggu in Susu's arms saw Ji Ming "dragged" up onto the platform to serve as a child attendant for the sermon, and immediately clamored to do the same.

Seeing this, the master on the dais asked Ji Ming in a grave voice, "Do you think I should add a child attendant seat for this noisy little brat?"

Noticing the solemnity on the master's face, the cultivators in the cave immediately grew quiet, pricked up their ears, and listened carefully. Linggu at the foot of the altar froze in place before realizing she had angered the master.

"Of course," Ji Ming replied without hesitation.

"Why?" The master showed no trace of pleasure or anger.

"Since there is a Golden Boy, how can there not be a Jade Girl?" Ji Ming's little face was full of innocence, his expression completely natural, truly without a trace of performance.

Seeing him like this, the old ape below the altar inexplicably felt a flicker of tension.

Ji Ming had not said this lightly.

As the saying goes, one may infer a teacher's disposition from the conduct of the student.

The master's second disciple, Susu, knew enough to present a precious mirror to make up for the sorrow of their separated siblings, which showed that in her character, right and wrong were clear and her principles strong.

From the student, one could judge the teacher; it was likely the same here.

Linggu was his own younger sister. If he yielded to the master's wishes out of fear of offending him, then the master might truly become displeased.

More importantly, at his age, whatever he said could be dismissed as the innocent chatter of a child.

"Good!"

The master had not yet spoken when the old ape clapped his hands and laughed. "That little girl is also gifted with clear spirit and fine bone. I think a seat should indeed be added."

As a hundred-year guest of the cave and a visitor before the master's altar, once the old ape spoke, the other cultivators roughly understood the master's intentions and all began to echo his words.

The master gave a slight nod, then "lifted" Linggu up as well, and said to Ji Ming, "Feihuzi has taken in an excellent seedling."

He saw that Ji Ming's expression did not change and that he showed no delight at the praise; this made the master think even more highly of him, and his appreciation deepened.

How could Ji Ming possibly be unmoved? He was silently grumbling inside all the while.

A true cultivator of the fourth realm was using such stratagems on a child like him to test his character. The man really had no scruples.

He could only hope this master's probing was merely a passing impulse, otherwise he would truly have to tread on thin ice in the Burning Ruins Cave from now on.

"Brother, did I cause you trouble?" Linggu sat beside Ji Ming, her face full of remorse, her eyes already brimming with tears.

Ji Ming gently shook his head and gave her a reassuring look.

A chime rang out, and the master began to expound the wondrous law. Ji Ming quickly composed himself and listened intently.

"Since the Three Heavens began their joint rule, the path of the divine and true has flourished. The three great sects of the Azure Heaven each cultivate wondrous methods of elixir work, and to form a single golden pill, one must practice both the greater and lesser heavenly circuits, so that the three flowers may gather at the crown and the five energies may converge.

"This lecture concerns the threshold within the lesser heavenly circuit, where the yang fire advances and the yin talismans retreat.

"When the lesser circuit is first practiced and the small medicine is obtained, it must be continuously refined within the elixir field, endlessly generated and nourished; this is the attainment of the essence flower.

"Then, during the six times of rising yang energy, one guides the flow of breath by intention from the tailgateway up along the Governing Vessel, passing through its twenty-eight acupuncture points; this is the work of advancing the yang fire.

"During the six times of gathering yin energy, one guides the flow of breath by intention from the tailgateway down along the Conception Vessel, passing through its twenty-four acupuncture points; this is the work of retreating the yin talisman.

"When the Conception and Governing Vessels are both opened, qi flows smoothly, the path is unobstructed, vital energy is full, and one loses the urge to eat; from this, the qi flower may be formed."

Ji Ming listened in rapture upon the altar and could not help but quietly compare it against his own state. He was currently at precisely this stage, the essence energy in his dantian threading in slender strands, beginning to perform the work of yang fire and yin talisman through the Conception and Governing Vessels.

"Now let us speak of the spirit flower!"

The master continued, all the way to the threshold of the gathering of the three flowers at the crown. Ji Ming wished he could memorize every word on the spot.

Compared with the explanations in the shamanic scripture, the master's discussion of the lesser heavenly circuit was far more profound and elevated, and many of Ji Ming's previously vague points suddenly became clear.

For instance, the six yang periods and six yin periods were described in the shamanic scripture only as suitable times.

Likewise, the twenty-eight points of the Governing Vessel and the twenty-four points of the Conception Vessel were in the shamanic scripture merely described as the yang fire advancing through the Governing Vessel and the yin talisman descending through the Conception Vessel.

"Decoding the talisman diagram!"

The old Daoist Feihu had left behind a scroll of talisman diagrams, but no explanatory text whatsoever. Clearly, he intended for Ji Ming to decipher the talisman diagrams himself through ritual and liturgy, thereby obtaining the method of lesser heavenly circuit cultivation.

On the high altar, the master spoke of Dharma for a while, then of meditation for a while; it was exceedingly disorganized, as though he taught whatever came to mind, unconstrained by Dao or Buddhism, or even by orthodox and heterodox paths alike.

Then he paused his teachings and called on a few people below the altar to answer their questions.

Ji Ming saw that those named below the altar were indeed only cultivators in the first three rings outside the altar; those farther away were simply not worth the master's glance.

"Little Golden Boy!"

Suddenly the master called on Ji Ming. "Do you have any doubts?"

Ji Ming nodded, then shook his head, and glanced at Linggu. "We never learned the ritual methods and don't know how to read talisman diagrams. We really couldn't understand much of what was said earlier."

"I understood the earlier part about the lesser heavenly circuit," Linggu said softly, covering her mouth. "Sister Susu has taught me a great many things lately."

"Your bones and roots have only just formed, and your souls have only just grown strong. It was right of Feihuzi not to teach you cultivation techniques before."

The master considered for a moment atop the high altar, then said, "I had originally only planned to give you a few explanatory texts. But today, after seeing your two talents, it would not do to treat you carelessly."

The ever-resourceful old ape gave Ji Ming a respectful salute, then said to the master, "Why not let this old ape teach them for the time being?"

"Very well."

After a slight hesitation, the master still nodded.

After explaining the Dharma and answering questions, the master also spoke of methods for refining offerings, feeding the liberated dead, and roasting the elixir embers. This time Ji Ming truly could not make head or tail of it.

When the sermon ended, the old ape waited especially for Ji Ming and Linggu, and said, "You two must surely be tired from listening. Why not return first and rest? Recover your strength, and then I shall teach you cultivation."

"Elder Ape, let me take Linggu with me." Susu came over and drew Linggu to her side.

"Very well." The old ape had no objection, and smiled. "With the second young lady of the Burning Ruins Cave guiding her, this little jade girl will surely progress by leaps and bounds."

After Susu and Linggu left, the old ape and Ji Ming looked each other over.

"Master Ape!"

Ji Ming slightly raised the two hands crossed within his sleeves and called out with a smile.

The old ape dodged the gesture and said in a level tone, "I would not dare. I am much older than you; just call me Elder Ape."

"Very well. Then I will trouble Elder Ape."

For some reason, once Ji Ming changed the address, the old ape visibly relaxed, which only deepened Ji Ming's suspicion.

The old ape pointed toward a flying gorge in the south of the Burning Ruins Cave and smiled. "We will cultivate there tomorrow. Little Golden Boy, would that be acceptable?"

Ji Ming nodded. In front of this old ape, he truly could not bring himself to act like a child; he always felt that the other man could see through him at a glance. So he simply said, "My name is Zhang Bao. Elder Ape, please do not call me Golden Boy anymore."

"How could that do!" The old ape adopted a stern expression and respectfully bowed toward the direction where the master had departed. "The master has already approved that title. Not only I, but everyone else must address you as Golden Boy."

"This old ape..."

Ji Ming sighed inwardly.

The master had already left, and the cultivators had dispersed one by one. Whom was he performing for now?

He could not help but feel a rising sense of crisis. There was room in one cave for only one top actor.