"唯三一圣人～乃一小太极～普受浩劫家命～鼎膺无量品褒～赐福解厄,普济存亡,道冠诸天,恩覃三界,大悲大愿,大圣大慈...."
The rhythmic chanting of scriptures echoed throughout the vast cavern. Li Huowang, along with five other disciples of Qingfeng Temple, sat cross-legged on meditation mats, following their master in the morning lesson.
No one had a scripture book in front of them, and Li Huowang could only mumble along, mimicking his senior brothers.
As he chanted, his gaze drifted upward, settling on Dan Yangzi, who sat at the front of the group. A flicker of hostility flashed in Li's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
I'd love to tear this disgusting man to pieces, Li thought, his fists clenching slightly. But he knew he was too weak—no match for the man before him.
Dan Yangzi's strength and abilities were overwhelming, and Li couldn't afford to act recklessly. His top priority now was to endure, to bide his time, and to wait for an opportunity.
Though he knew the risks—being caught by Dan Yangzi could mean a gruesome death—Li had already given up on everything else.
As Dan Yangzi slightly turned his body, Li's gaze shifted upward, past the three tall incense sticks, to the three statues carved into the hollowed-out rock wall.
The three deities wore yellow Daoist robes, each holding a horsetail whisk. Their expressions were neutral, neither joyful nor sorrowful, as they gazed down upon the tiny mortals below.
Unlike the divine elegance one might expect of celestial beings, these statues appeared plain and ordinary. Were it not for their Daoist robes, they could have been mistaken for three oversized, regular people.
Li Huowang didn't recognize these deities, but he made a point to memorize their faces.
The chanting began to slow. When the final line of the scripture was uttered, a young Daoist struck the red drum beside him three times, signaling the end of the morning lesson.
All the disciples stood, following Dan Yangzi's lead. They clasped their right hand over their left thumb, and their left fingers over their right, raising their hands above their heads to bow deeply toward the statues.
After completing the gesture, Dan Yangzi slowly turned around, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group of disciples.
His eyes landed on Li Huowang, standing calmly at the back of the group in his Daoist robe. Satisfied, he nodded.
"Xuanyuan," Dan Yangzi called. "Xuanyang is new to our sect. Teach him what he needs to know."
"Yes, Master," replied Xuanyuan, a round-faced, slightly chubby middle-aged man. He bowed respectfully to Dan Yangzi.
"That's all for now. After the Hour of the Rabbit, go eat." Dan Yangzi clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward an adjoining cave.
Following him was a sullen young man wearing a Daoist cap.
"That's Senior Brother Zhengkun," Xuanyuan whispered to Li Huowang. "Ever since Senior Brothers Zhengkan and Zhengzhen defected, he's been the master's only inner disciple. Be sure to show him respect—he's not as patient as the master."
Li nodded. "Thank you, Senior Brother Xuanyuan, for explaining. Does he have the same abilities as the master?"
Li's mind turned to Dan Yangzi's terrifying powers—the ability to control objects at will, his immense strength capable of lifting hundreds of pounds, and, most disturbingly, his apparent omniscience about everything that happened within the cavern.
If Li were to ever confront him, he needed to understand how Dan Yangzi could know so much.
"He's an inner disciple. Whatever he's learned from the master, I wouldn't know," Xuanyuan replied, a hint of jealousy creeping into his voice.
A single person's strength isn't enough. Should I try to find allies within Qingfeng Temple? Li wondered. But the thought quickly faded.
Anyone with rebellious intentions had likely been fed to the Black Taishui long ago. Those who remained were either blindly loyal to Dan Yangzi or too cowardly to resist.
"Let's go. I'll explain as we walk," Xuanyuan said, leading Li toward the kitchen. "I know what you're thinking. Don't bother dreaming about the master's immortality techniques. If they ever trickle down, you'll be the last in line."
"And you?" Li asked.
"Just focus on your work. Whatever the master assigns you, do it. When your time comes, you'll get what you deserve."
They arrived at the dining cave, where several senior brothers had already started eating their porridge.
Li recognized three of them. Two were the sword-carrying Daoists, Changming and Changren, and the third was Xuanyin, with whom Li had crossed paths before.
Including Xuanyuan and himself, all five registered disciples of Qingfeng Temple were now gathered.
"Qingfeng Temple has its rules," Xuanyuan said. "No speaking while eating or sleeping. After we eat, I'll teach you more."
With that, Xuanyuan sat down and began eating.
Li followed suit, lifting the black ceramic bowl to his lips. As he drank the porridge, his eyes scanned the others, carefully observing their behaviors.
Each disciple had a unique appearance—none were particularly striking, yet none were grotesque. Still, something about them felt off to Li.
When Xuanyin pinched one nostril and blew snot onto the ground, causing the others to frown slightly, Li finally realized what it was: their auras were different.
Some had a scholarly air, while others had the rough, calloused hands of laborers.
Where did Dan Yangzi find these disciples? Could they, like me, have been promoted from medicine extractors? Li wondered.
The empty bowls were set aside, and the senior brothers left without sparing a glance at their new junior.
After eating, Xuanyuan continued to show Li around the temple, explaining that each registered disciple was responsible for different duties.
Some managed the young Daoists, others handled external procurement, and one even tended to the Black Taishui. Senior disciples often bore multiple responsibilities, especially after the recent deaths had left so few of them.
As for Li, his responsibility was obvious—overseeing everything in the storeroom. And all their duties, Xuanyuan emphasized, were in service of helping their master achieve immortality.
By the end of the day, Li had a thorough understanding of the temple's structure.
He etched every detail into his memory. This was no longer just a hallucination he could escape at will. If he wanted to kill Dan Yangzi, this information might prove invaluable.
After spending the day together, Xuanyuan and Li Huowang had grown slightly more familiar. The two were returning from the Zhengyi Hall when Xuanyuan spoke again.
"Xuanyang, there's no need to be so tense. Your responsibilities won't be too burdensome. The master doesn't refine pills every day."
"Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Xuanyuan."
"Refining elixirs is closely tied to celestial phenomena and the timing of the heavens," Xuanyuan explained. "Certain elixirs can only reach their full potency when made at specific times. For example, neither today nor tomorrow are suitable for refining, but the Hour of the Rat the day after tomorrow is an excellent time."