Chapter 56: The Tree of Boundary
On a sunny morning, the Cai Mansion's carriage carrying Mr. Cai and several others drove into the Imperial Master's Palace.
The spirit bones of Master Cai had been tested when he took the initiative to ask to become his disciple. He did not say what his aptitude was, but it certainly could not be bad, otherwise the Imperial Master would not have accepted him as a disciple.
As for the remaining servants, they would have to be tested separately again. Scholar Cai brought a total of five people, including Ruan Xing. Ruan Xing was a maid who took care of Cai Jiao, a middle-aged male servant who looked honest, and the remaining two were people who heard the news and paid money to buy the places.
They were led by the Taoist boy to a room that was semi-arc shaped downwards. In front of them was a slender archway made of something that looked like gold or jade. It seemed to be flashing green light as the light and shadow changed.
Several people walked through the archway, and soon the Taoist boy told them that the maid and the two people had spiritual bones and could enter the outer gate, but the others did not have spiritual bones.
The two men were so happy upon hearing that, they immediately expressed their willingness to join the outer sect. Unexpectedly, the maid refused, and the Taoist boy did not force them. After briefly explaining a few words about the rules of the National Master's Palace, he led them to continue walking down. According to the slope and distance they walked, Ruan Xing preliminarily judged that they were now five or six meters underground.
They were not subjected to a body check when entering the Palace of the Imperial Master. Anyway, private fighting was prohibited in the Palace of the Imperial Master. Even if they brought some dangerous goods in, they would be detected by the barrier and turned into ashes before they could be used.
When they arrived at the place, Ruan Xing finally saw the true face of the barrier that had caused her to die tragically several times.
This is an underground pool. The bottomless water emits a fluorescent blue color. In the middle are tangled roots. The dark brown roots penetrate into the pool like breathing blood vessels, flashing a faint blue light with each breath.
"This is the barrier tree." The Taoist boy who led the way introduced it with some pride. "The barrier tree protects the National Master Palace. Anyone who has evil intentions and disobeys the prohibitions will be punished by it. It has existed for thousands of years, as long as the history of the National Master Palace. Come here, cut your wrists, and let the blood flow into the pool. The barrier tree will absorb the blood and recognize you as its own. From now on, you must come here once a month to drip blood... No, you won't be here next month."
The Taoist boy knocked his head, regretting his negligence, "Okay, hurry up and bleed me. We have to go back after that."
Several people cut their wrists one by one and let their blood flow. This was also part of Ruan Xing's simulation yesterday, but she still successfully left [Liuyang Study] and arrived in the town. Until the evil cultivators invaded when she was 23 years old, the barrier tree seemed to have no effect on her.
Moreover, as long as she could avoid the evil cultivators before she turned twenty-three, [Liuyang Study] would naturally be destroyed by the evil cultivators, and she would not have to worry about anything.
After letting the blood out, the Taoist boy led a few people out along the original route, sent the two disciples who were going to enter the outer sect to another residence, and then took them back to where Master Cai lived.
The maid and the male servant went in with their bags. When they saw the Taoist boy was about to leave, Ruan Xing quickly pulled him back and said, "Little Senior Brother, wait a minute. Could you please introduce me to the Imperial Master Palace?"
As she spoke, she stuffed a small gold cake into the Taoist boy's sleeve.
Silver notes are useless in the world of immortal cultivation, but gold is valuable. Even a taciturn person will say a few more words after seeing gold.
Although he was called a Taoist boy, he was only about 11 or 12 years old. He probably rarely received unexpected money in the Imperial Master's Palace. He pinched his sleeves with some appreciation, stopped walking, and asked curiously, "You can't even live in the Imperial Master's Palace for a month. What do you want to know?"
"Why can't you even stay for a month? Junior brother, do you know when the National Master will leave?" Ruan Xing was sure that the National Master was a Jindan Zhenren, but why did even a little Taoist boy know the specific whereabouts and date of the National Master?
The little Taoist boy patted his chest and said, "Of course I know. I grew up in the Imperial Master Palace and I know a lot about the Imperial Master Palace! Each Imperial Master's term of office is fourteen years, and this one will soon be over."
"So, Senior Brother, are you also an outer disciple? Have you ever met the Imperial Master?"
"I am not one yet, but I have spiritual bones, so I will be one sooner or later. However, my parents said that I should take the imperial examination first. If I can become an official, I can directly enter the inner sect. If I fail the imperial examination, I can wait for the next imperial master to leave and then leave together. As for the imperial master, I have only seen him once or twice, and I can hardly remember what he looks like."
Being an official? Ruan Xing was keenly aware of the amount of information in the gossip and asked quickly, "Why can one enter the inner gate by being an official?"
"You don't understand this, right? Although our family, which has served the Imperial Master Palace for generations, cannot leave the Imperial Master Palace from birth to death, we also have some privileges, and naturally have one more chance to enter the inner gate than others. The cultivation method of the Imperial Master Palace is to enter the Tao through literary talent and official luck. When you retire, the higher the official position you hold and the better your writing, the faster you will practice in the future, and the upper limit will be higher than those who entered the outer gate early."
The little Taoist boy looked very proud.
Ruan Xing suddenly understood. Originally, because there were no female disciples in the Liuyang Study, she had always thought that they were practicing Buddhist techniques that she could not practice. However, she did not expect that this was the way to enter the Tao. In this mortal dynasty, women were not allowed to serve as officials, so how could they have a chance to become officials?
No wonder [Liuyang Study] kept a mortal dynasty a secret from everyone in the immortal cultivation world. This was the basis for their entry into the Tao. Without this dynasty, there would be no inner disciples to replenish fresh blood.
No wonder people here value literature over military affairs, and everyone regards studying and taking imperial examinations as their first hope in life. This is probably due to the subtle influence and guidance of Liuyang Study.
But it was useless to know that. She simply could not write such complicated and difficult articles. Even if she had worked hard to become an official and waited for sixty years, it would be better for her to go to the world of immortal cultivation early and find a technique that was more suitable for her.
Ruan Xing thanked the Taoist boy for telling her about this, and then asked about the information of other disciples living in the palace of the national teacher. In consideration of the gold cake Ruan Xing sent, the Taoist boy told her without hiding anything, "In addition to the scholar Cai you follow, there are five inner sect prospective disciples. But you don't have to worry about whether they are easy to get along with, because you basically don't see them. They are all ministers who retired in the past few years. The oldest one is almost eighty years old, and his legs and feet are not good. After obtaining the skills, he has been practicing in his own residence. I'm afraid you will have to wait until you become a mortal and your body is rejuvenated before you will have the opportunity to see them."
If one has not practiced martial arts before the Qi training stage, then his physical fitness will not be high after the Qi training, because the Qi training stage does not increase his lifespan and he is still in the state of a mortal. When the foundation is established, he can cleanse his essence and marrow and extend his lifespan by 200 years. This is probably what the little Taoist boy calls "transcendence from the ordinary."
These old men are also racing against time. It is hard to say whether the day of foundation building or the day of death will come first.
However, this technique has significant advantages. Although the initial swing time is a bit long, it is a good way to accumulate strength and eventually produce a disciple in the Foundation Establishment stage. If you are lucky, you can even reach the Golden Core stage directly. No wonder this sect has been able to exist for thousands of years. Ruan Xing has seen many cultivators who are still stuck at the fourth or fifth level of Qi training at an old age in the town.
"but……"
Ruan Xing was analyzing the Taoist boy's words when he suddenly heard the other party change the subject. He quickly regained his concentration and asked, "But what?"
The Taoist boy continued, "But there is one person in the Imperial Master's Palace that you must be careful not to offend. The scholars said that he is a quasi-inner disciple, but he has not formally become the Imperial Master's disciple. The person I'm talking about is different. He was brought back from outside by the Imperial Master. It is said that—"
The Taoist boy lowered his voice.
"He is the direct great-great-grandson of the National Master. He was sent to the National Master's Palace when he was young, and was taken away by the previous National Master. Now he is brought back by the National Master again. It may be because he has no literary talent or official luck, so it is difficult for him to practice."
"Ah?" Ruan Xing followed the Taoist boy's gossiping tone, "He really shouldn't be provoked. I wonder what he usually does and where he likes to go? I can avoid him."
"That's why I reminded you." The Taoist boy suddenly became serious. "He likes girls of your age the most. He is not restricted by the rules of the Imperial Master's Palace. I don't know where he often goes. If it is not necessary, you'd better stay in the residence with your scholar and don't come out."
"Thank you for reminding me, I'll take note of it."
After thanking him, Ruan Xing watched the Taoist boy leave, closed the door and went back to the house. The maid and the male servant were tidying up and cleaning the bedroom, and Cai Xueshi was sitting on a recliner outside, reading a book in his hand.
"What are you looking at?" Ruan Xing moved forward.
Scholar Cai slowly spread the book on his knees and showed it to Ruan Xing without hesitation, "Do you want to see the cultivation method that the national teacher gave me?"
Ruan Xing lost interest as soon as she heard it, as she couldn't repair it. But after thinking about it, she decided to read it once and memorize it, maybe she could use it for reference in the future.
She was concentrating on memorizing the contents of the book when she suddenly heard Scholar Cai say, "I heard from the maid that you don't have any spirit bones?"
Ruan Xing nodded subconsciously.
Cai Xueshi asked inquiringly, "How did you hide it from the Spirit Stone?"
Ruan Xing said with a bit of amusement, "Why should I hide it? Even if I am found to have spirit bones, can't I just refuse to join the outer sect? Can't it be that I really don't have spirit bones?"
"If you don't want to talk about it, forget it." Master Cai curled his lips and continued to look at the skills in his hands.
"I do have something I want to ask you. The Imperial Master has a disciple who is said to be his great-great-grandson. Do you know this person?" Ruan Xing inquired. This person did not exist in the memory she simulated, but for some reason, Ruan Xing always felt a little uneasy.
Cai Wen was stunned, put down the book in his hand and was silent for a while.
"Maybe he knows. The day I brought Nannan to see the Imperial Master, he had a very close disciple beside him. After the Imperial Master diagnosed Nannan, he actually wanted to send me to the Imperial Master's Palace for training, but at that time I was completely hopeless and wished I could go with Nannan, so I rejected the Imperial Master. Later, the disciple beside him told me that he was interested in Nannan and wanted to buy her. He insulted me like this, and I was furious and scolded him. The disciple also looked unhappy and pushed me. The Imperial Master scolded him and drove him away."
"They treat Nannan as an object... I am extremely reluctant to enter the Imperial Master's Palace again, but you have convinced me. The Imperial Master and I have no relationship, so why would he help me? I am the only one in the world who still cares about Nannan. If I give up, Nannan will really have no hope at all."
"So that's how it is." Ruan Xing said thoughtfully. She decided to wait and simulate a few investigations on this disciple. If he was just a brainless playboy who was arrogant and domineering because of his background, she would just hide from him for the time being. After all, there was a Jindan Zhenren behind him and she couldn't confront him head-on.
"I don't know what your plans are in the Imperial Palace, but you'd better avoid him, otherwise, it will definitely affect you."
This old man is too conspiracy-minded. Ruan Xing is a little helpless. But it's okay. It is precisely because of his suspicion that Ruan Xing can use him without worry.
Just at this moment, the maid came to report that the room had been cleaned, and Ruan Xing went into the inner room without any hesitation.
Domineeringly choosing a spacious main room, Ruan Xing put down his things, crossed his legs and lay on the bed, starting to simulate in his mind.
[Simulating]
At the age of six, you moved into the Imperial Master’s Palace.
The disciple of the national master caught your attention. You inquired about the other party's news in the national master's palace and followed him secretly. You were discovered by him after a few days. He was not angry, but asked you with a smile why you followed him and whether you wanted to go home with him.
You didn't answer and turned around to leave, but the other party attacked you and didn't let you go. You used your true energy to resist, and you died.
[End of simulation]
Ruan Xing had looked at the memory and thought that the disciple had beaten her to death because of his advanced skills. However, she did not expect that the scene shown in the memory was that she was detected by the barrier at the moment of resistance and was directly turned into powder.
...Yes, private fighting is prohibited in the Imperial Master's palace, but the Imperial Master's disciples are not bound by this rule.
This made Ruan Xing feel a little restrained. She couldn't get into conflict with the other party. She simulated it again. Because she didn't know the man's cultivation level or how he discovered her, she didn't dare to follow too closely. She could only follow and pay attention from a distance. However, she found that the other party always seemed to be in a hurry and busy, and had close contacts with people outside the National Master's Palace.
Half a month later, she followed the other party to the Star Picking Terrace. Because the Star Picking Terrace was the residence of the National Master, she did not dare to go in rashly. She only heard a loud noise coming from inside. On the second day, she asked the Taoist boy and learned that the National Master was furious. Not only did he punish the disciple, he also killed a group of Taoist boys who were close to the disciple in the National Master's palace. Even some merchants outside the National Master's palace who often gave the disciple exquisite gifts to please him were not spared.
After that, it was the same old story. He boarded the Black Hawk and flew to the world of immortal cultivation. However, the disciple was nowhere to be seen beside the national master. Could it be that he had done something that made the national master completely disappointed in him?
Did this unknown thing he did affect her? That's why she was so uneasy?
Ruan Xing thought about it, opened the simulation again, and sneaked directly into the other party's residence.
Although he was discovered again, Ruan Xing did not resist this time. Instead, he was caught by the other party and put into the secret room.
In the secret room, she saw seven or eight little girls, the youngest was five or six years old, the oldest was thirteen or fourteen years old. They all had dull and numb eyes, and their bodies were covered with scars. Only one older girl, who was wearing the Taoist uniform of the National Master Palace, was relatively normal in her mind. She told Ruan Xing that as long as she was obedient, she could live longer here.
The apprentice would occasionally come to the secret room to torture them, whipping them with a whip like a madman, or scratching their skin with a dagger, shouting "Why, why!". When he calmed down, he would bandage the girls' wounds and give them delicious meals, showing self-blame but tenderness.
They were not restrained. Some girls could not stand the torture and wanted to attack him, but before he was hurt, they would be destroyed by the barrier.
There were a few girls who had no reaction at all and became toys that he didn't like. The method of destroying them was very simple, which was to put a dagger in the other's hand and then cut himself, using the barrier to destroy the body and cover up the traces.
During the ten days that Ruan Xing was locked in the secret room, four girls disappeared in this way.
Perhaps because the secret room became empty and the apprentice had brought in new goods, he carried a girl down the stairs step by step into the secret room, and gently said to the girl, "I don't want you to die too soon," while breaking the girl's limb joints.
The girl gritted her teeth and didn't make any sound. When she turned around, Ruan Xing saw a face that made her heart stop.
Thanks to Bai Zhi for the monthly ticket~
Thanks to 人间五月天_Cd for the monthly ticket~
(End of this chapter)
