Chapter Six: The Marvels of Kunlun

As soon as Ren An spoke, Li Changqing's face turned ashen, filled with despair. He had never imagined that his favoritism this time would cost him his position as the chief outer disciple. That role was the first step towards joining the inner sect, and without it, there was no telling how many years it would take to become an inner disciple. He looked at Yang Nan, unable to hide the deep malice and resentment in his gaze.

Yang Nan, however, was unsurprised. Buxu had already told him that with the Xuan Flame Sword and the family background of a Confucian Grandmaster, becoming an inner disciple would not be difficult. But to rise from inner disciple to true successor was another matter entirely.

Ren An, noticing Yang Nan’s calm demeanor, was inwardly amazed. For someone so young to become an inner disciple of the greatest sect under heaven, an ordinary person would be wild with joy—yet Yang Nan only smiled faintly? Such composure promised even greater accomplishments in the future. Stepping forward, Ren An said warmly, “Junior Brother Yang, come with me to the Divine Reflecting Mirror for examination.”

Yang Nan understood well that in the world of cultivation, strength was everything—and having powerful support was a form of strength as well. Without Buxu’s jade token, he too would have been bullied by the Li family. Ren An’s cordiality was only natural. Yang Nan returned his smile, replying, “Then I’ll trouble Senior Brother Ren.”

Little monk Yuan Na, learning of Yang Nan’s background, was overjoyed for him. Yang Nan smiled at him and said, “Little monk, focus on joining the sect first. I’ll come find you another day.”

Yuan Na nodded. The bond they’d formed on the path of seeking immortality was deeper than ordinary friendship; should Yang Nan succeed in the future, he would have someone to rely on.

Ren An led Yang Nan up the mountain, past the Immortal Welcoming Pavilion to the first main peak of Kunlun—Azure Luan Peak. The main peaks of Kunlun were named after the seven colors: black, white, purple, blue, red, green, and yellow, each representing a fundamental element of the world. Azure Luan Peak was the gateway of all Kunlun peaks, and above it hung the Divine Reflecting Mirror, a protective spiritual treasure created by an ancestor of the sect.

Every inner disciple had to be tested by the Divine Reflecting Mirror and heard by the Listening Beast before being recognized as a true disciple. The Mirror examined one’s soul, the Beast listened to one’s heart. No matter how powerful your cultivation, nothing could hide your true intentions from these wonders. Any with treacherous thoughts would be revealed—thus, Kunlun had never harbored a traitor.

Outer and registered disciples, however, were spared this ordeal; the Divine Reflecting Mirror was a spiritual treasure, and ordinary people could not even trigger its light.

Ren An, seeing Yang Nan’s inexperience, explained these rules in detail. Yang Nan took it in stride. After all, Kunlun bestowed cultivation methods, taught the way, supplied pills and provided dwellings—if, after such painstaking effort, they nurtured a traitor, wouldn’t the greatest sect in the world be filled with fools? Where there were benefits, there were always measures of restraint. What you gained, you must repay—this was the fundamental law of heaven and earth, true even for those who sought immortality.

Following Ren An, Yang Nan soon arrived before Azure Luan Peak. The octagonal, radiant mirror floating above instantly turned to shine upon them. The light was intangible, cool as water. As it enveloped him, Yang Nan felt a chill pour down from above, as if he stood naked before it, completely exposed. It was a strange sensation, as though the mirror’s light was probing his very thoughts—his bones, flesh, meridians, and spirit all laid bare in an instant. The scrutiny was formidable, and there was no way to resist it.

The Divine Reflecting Mirror withdrew its light in a mere moment, resuming its place in the air as if nothing had happened.

Ren An smiled. “Don’t be startled, Junior Brother Yang. The Divine Reflecting Mirror can only examine those below the rank of Venerable. It probes the soul and can even harm it. There are nine hundred and ninety of these mirrors across Kunlun, forming a Soul-Destroying Array to guard the mountain against intruders. This is but one of them; the main mirror resides in the Hall of Forgetting Worries atop Celestial Loft Peak. If anything is amiss, the sect master will be informed at once.”

Yang Nan was fascinated by the mirror. He wondered how a Kunlun ancestor had forged such a peculiar treasure. To perceive hidden intentions—it was as if it could measure another’s loyalty, a function both bizarre and extraordinary.

He followed Ren An onward. Soon, at the base of Azure Luan Peak, they passed a vast pool where a giant lion with enormous ears lay sprawled amidst curling white fur, exuding majesty and power. Its ears were as large as doors, and it seemed to be enjoying the cool water in lazy contentment. As they approached, the lion suddenly pricked up its monstrous ears, listened in Yang Nan’s direction, then opened its jaws to emit a series of low, rumbling roars, as if speaking.

Ren An had explained that spirit beasts differed from monsters; monsters could take human form in a few centuries, but spirit beasts might remain unchanged for millennia. Monsters and spirit beasts had different bloodlines; monsters rarely became saints, though transformation was easy, while spirit beasts were rare and innately gifted. Once they took human form, their powers were vast. Among the seven known deities, several were spirit beasts who had ascended to godhood—such was their might.

Hearing the Listening Beast’s roar, Ren An turned to Yang Nan. “Are you carrying any demon weapons, Junior Brother? The beast says it senses demon aura on you, hidden within a storage artifact, though not much.”

The Listening Beast could perceive all spiritual energies nearby—no storage artifact could shield anything from its massive ears. Its extraordinary abilities left Yang Nan inwardly startled.

That Ren An could understand beast-speech impressed Yang Nan even more. Humans had their language, beasts theirs; learning it was no easy feat. He quickly replied with a smile, “I learned the Supreme Demon Physique from Uncle Buxu, so I carry a hundred or so demon weapons for my techniques. I didn’t expect the beast to sense them—please don’t laugh at me, Senior Brother.”

Ren An, seeing Yang Nan’s surprise, smiled inwardly. The Listening Beast was a primordial anomaly, gifted with a single power: to perceive fate and discern truth from falsehood. Save for legendary innate treasures, nothing could escape its hearing. The Supreme Demon Physique was well known to Ren An, and since Yang Nan claimed Buxu as his teacher, he believed him. At his current strength, Yang Nan could only command a hundred minor demons; what trouble could they cause in Kunlun? Besides, the Divine Reflecting Mirror had shown no ill intent in Yang Nan, so the matter was dropped.

Ren An took Yang Nan aloft on his flying sword, soaring over Kunlun’s peaks. Looking down, Yang Nan saw countless mansions and caves at the foot of every main peak, all exquisite and splendid, stirring his anticipation for the inner disciple’s privileges.

They flew over peaks and pavilions, amidst blooming flowers and spiritual trees, with endless herbal gardens below. Each area was guarded by monsters or spirit beasts, with young acolytes and stewards overseeing their duties. With his spiritual sight, Yang Nan noticed a boy in tight robes furiously punching a white ox at the foot of one peak, scolding, “Idiot! I told you not to steal food! Now I have to suffer with you!”

The white ox bellowed softly in protest, its massive body pierced with a ring through its nose, still chewing a spiritual herb. The boy’s fists were mere tickles, but the ox did not resist, as if admitting its fault.

Yang Nan couldn’t help but laugh. Ren An, noticing his curiosity, brought him down nearby. The boy, abandoning the ox, cupped his fists and greeted them, “Wu Yue greets Uncle Masters. Where have you come from today?”

Yang Nan saw that this boy’s features were clear and carried the air of the Dao, admirable for a mere acolyte—evidence of Kunlun’s deep reserves. Ren An laughed, “Why are you beating your ox today? Isn’t it your spirit beast? It’s your lifeblood, after all…”

The boy replied resentfully, “This greedy ox broke into Uncle Huo Lian’s herb garden and ate three stalks of Black Frost Grass. I was scolded half to death—how could I not punish it?” As he spoke, he pouted in annoyance.

Yang Nan, amused by the boy’s innocence and charm, smiled. Ren An said, “This is our new Junior Uncle Yang. Aren’t you going to greet him?”

The boy was astonished, staring at Yang Nan, who was only a few years older than himself, his bright eyes scrutinizing him. “Disciple Wu Yue greets Uncle Yang,” he said, thinking to himself, “This young master is barely older than me and his cultivation is so low—how did he enter the inner sect? How strange! Every inner disciple is a master; how could one so weak suddenly appear among us?”

Yang Nan, amused by the boy’s curiosity and confusion, pointed behind him and said, “Wu Yue, your ox is eating spirit herbs again—why are you staring at me?”

Wu Yue spun around in alarm and saw the ox once more heading for the herb garden. If it succeeded, disaster would strike. Frightened out of his wits, he dashed off after it, cursing, “You damn ox, I’ll teach you a lesson this time…”

His endearing clumsiness made Yang Nan and Ren An laugh aloud. No wonder the ox managed to steal herbs with such a distracted keeper! After their laughter subsided, Ren An summoned his flying weapon and took Yang Nan onward.

They traveled among the peaks for a long time, finally reaching a towering and perilous summit crowded with pavilions and bustling with disciples. Ren An led Yang Nan to a quiet hall and landed.

Finding the hall deserted, Yang Nan asked in puzzlement, “Senior Brother Ren, why have we come here? When will you take me to see the sect master?”

Ren An, seeing his confusion, patiently explained, “Junior Brother Yang, the sect master has ordered that you, being low in cultivation, are to train here on Purple Qi Peak for now, without taking up any duties. Senior Brother Hu Yuan in the inner sect will explain everything inside the Hall of Purple Qi. The sect master will not receive you; please be patient.”

Were it not for Buxu’s backing, Ren An would not have treated him so courteously. Yet it was highly irregular for an inner disciple to neither meet the sect master nor be assigned a post. Yang Nan quickly understood: the mysterious sect master clearly intended to let him quietly cultivate in Kunlun. If he proved himself, he would be formally accepted; if not, the inner disciple title would merely serve as compensation for the Xuan Flame Sword.

“This Kunlun sect master is truly shrewd!” Yang Nan muttered inwardly, but he had no alternative. Normally, every inner disciple was a master—how could a novice like himself be admitted? If he failed to improve, he would only be a laughingstock; the sect master’s arrangement was sensible. In cultivation, strength was everything. If he were already a master, the sect master would surely have treated him differently…