Chapter 11: Xuanyuan

"Only the Sages of the Trinity, like a small Taiji, endure the family's widespread calamities and receive immeasurable praise... They bestow blessings, dispel misfortunes, universally aid the living and the dead, their teachings crown all heavens, and their grace permeates the three realms, embodying great compassion and great vows, great holiness and great mercy."

The sonorous chanting echoed continuously within the spacious grotto. All six disciples of the Pure Wind Temple, including Li Huowang, sat cross-legged on their meditation cushions, participating in the morning lesson with their master. With no scriptures before them, Li Huowang could only vaguely follow his senior brothers as they recited the morning prayers.

As he chanted, Li Huowang looked up, his gaze fixed on Dan Yangzi, who sat at the very front. The surge of malice in his eyes quickly subsided. He detested the man, wishing he could devour his flesh and flay his skin. Yet, Li Huowang knew he was currently too weak to be his opponent. Given Dan Yangzi's formidable power, Li Huowang understood he couldn't act rashly. His foremost task was to endure and subtly seek an opportunity. This path would likely be fraught with difficulty, and he might even be discovered by Dan Yangzi and meet a brutal end. However, Li Huowang no longer cared.

When Dan Yangzi subtly shifted, Li Huowang's gaze quickly moved upward, past three tall incense sticks, to the three divine statues nestled within the hollowed rock face. The three immortals, distinct in appearance, were clad in yellow Daoist robes, each holding a whisk. Their eyes, devoid of sorrow or joy, gazed down upon the insignificant mortals below. They exhibited no trace of immortal grace; their appearances were remarkably ordinary. Were it not for their Daoist robes, they would simply appear as three large, unassuming individuals. Li Huowang, naturally, did not recognize these three divine figures, but he etched their appearances deeply into his memory.

The chanting then began to slow. As the final short passage was uttered, an acolyte nearby struck a red drum three times, signaling the end of the morning lesson. All the disciples rose with Dan Yangzi. They performed a ritual bow to the statues, using their right hand to pinch their left thumb, placing the four fingers of their left hand over the fingers of their right hand, and raising their clasped hands above their heads.

After the bows were completed, Dan Yangzi slowly turned, surveying the disciples behind him. He nodded with satisfaction upon seeing Li Huowang, clad in a Daoist robe, standing calmly at the very back of the group.

"Xuan Yuan, Xuan Yang has just joined our sect; he will undoubtedly have many questions. As his senior brother, please instruct him."

"Yes, Master," replied a middle-aged man with a round, slightly plump face, bowing to Dan Yangzi.

"Alright, it's past the hour of Mao," Dan Yangzi said, placing his hands behind his back. "There's nothing more for now; go and eat." He then walked towards a nearby cave entrance. A somber-faced young man, wearing a Hunyuan scarf, followed close behind him as they exited.

"That's Senior Brother Zheng Kun," Xuan Yuan explained, walking over to Li Huowang, clarifying the man's identity. "Since Senior Brothers Zheng Kan and Zheng Zhen defected, he's the master's only inner disciple. Remember to show him respect if you encounter him in the temple; he doesn't possess the master's amiable disposition."

Li Huowang nodded. "Thank you for the clarification, Senior Brother Xuan Yuan. Does he also possess supernatural abilities like the master?"

Li Huowang didn't know about others, but he was aware that Dan Yangzi possessed the ability to manipulate objects and had astonishing strength, capable of lifting stone urns weighing hundreds of catties. What truly unnerved Li Huowang wasn't these powers, but Dan Yangzi's apparent omniscience within the grotto. He seemed to know everything, from Li Huowang's silent insults to his earlier refusal to join the escape. If he genuinely intended to confront him, he needed to understand this phenomenon.

"He's an inner disciple; how would I know what he learned from the master?" Xuan Yuan replied, a hint of jealousy detectable in his voice.

*A single individual's strength is too meager. Should I seek other allies within the Pure Wind Temple?* The thought sparked in Li Huowang's mind, but was swiftly dismissed. Anyone with a rebellious spirit was likely consumed by the Black Grand Marshal during the last incident. Those who remained, even if not utterly devoted to Dan Yangzi, were likely timid and cowardly.

"Let's go; we can talk on the way," Xuan Yuan said, turning and leading Li Huowang toward the kitchen. "I know what's on your mind. Don't set your heart on the master's immortal cultivation techniques. You're at the very end of the queue for those."

"As for you, just focus on your tasks. Do whatever the master instructs, and when your turn comes by seniority, it will naturally be granted to you."

By now, they had reached the grotto used for meals. Other senior brothers who had arrived earlier were already consuming their porridge. He recognized three: the two Daoists carrying long swords were Chang Ming and Chang Ren, and there was also Xuan Yin, whom he had met once before. Including Xuan Yuan by his side and himself (Xuan Yang), all five registered disciples of the Pure Wind Temple were now assembled.

"The rules of the Pure Wind Temple dictate 'no talking while eating, no talking while sleeping.' I'll teach you more after we finish our meal." With that, Xuan Yuan sat down to join him in eating porridge.

Li Huowang sat down, picked up his black pottery bowl, and took a sip, silently observing the demeanor of his fellow senior brothers. These individuals varied in appearance, none particularly striking nor exceptionally plain. Yet, seeing them seated together in their Daoist robes, Li Huowang felt a peculiar sense of oddity. When he observed Xuan Yin pressing one nostril and forcefully blowing his nose onto the ground, while the other two senior brothers subtly frowned, Li Huowang finally grasped it: their dispositions were different. Some of them possessed a more scholarly air, while others had thick, calloused hands and feet, suggesting a life of manual labor.

*Where did Dan Yangzi find these five disciples? Surely they weren't brought in as "medicine inducements" like me?*

As empty bowls were set down one by one, the other senior brothers, without a glance at their new junior brother Xuan Yang, strode towards the exit. After the meal, Xuan Yuan continued to guide Li Huowang through the Pure Wind Temple. From him, Li Huowang learned that the five registered disciples were each responsible for different areas within the temple. Some were tasked with managing the Daoist acolytes, others with procurement outside the temple, and some with feeding the Black Grand Marshal. A few of the more experienced disciples even held multiple responsibilities. It hadn't always been this busy, but unfortunately, after a significant number of disciples perished, their responsibilities were forcibly redistributed among the remaining few. Li Huowang's responsibilities, naturally, were comprehensive: he was in charge of all matters in the ingredients room. And every task undertaken by these disciples was to assist their master in achieving immortality.

After a full day of touring, Li Huowang finally gained a comprehensive understanding of the entire temple from Xuan Yuan. Li Huowang committed these details firmly to memory. This was no longer an illusion he could simply leave. Whether he could kill Dan Yangzi might very well depend on this information.

After spending a day together, Xuan Yuan and Li Huowang's relationship had become somewhat more relaxed. The two were now walking back from the Hall of Proper Unity.

"Junior Brother Xuan Yang," Xuan Yuan began, "there's no need to be so tense. Your duties won't be that demanding, as the master doesn't refine elixirs every day."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Xuan Yuan."

"Elixir refining is closely tied to celestial phenomena and specific timings. Some elixirs only achieve their maximum efficacy when prepared at precise hours. For instance, today and tomorrow are unsuitable for refining elixirs, but the Hour of Zi the day after tomorrow would be an excellent time."