Chapter Eleven: Returning at Last to Cloud Soaring Island

Master Huanglong narrowed his eyes, gazing at Qin Yi from afar as if he wished to discern something hidden within him.

"Uncle-Master, is there something else?" Master Zixuan was the first to speak.

"I simply feel the test was not rigorous enough. It needs to be done again," Master Huanglong said slowly.

At these words, Master Qingfu frowned and addressed Master Huanglong, "Do you doubt my skill in the art of talismans, Uncle-Master?"

"Not at all," Master Huanglong replied with a smile and a shake of his head. "I merely think a single trial is insufficient, especially the third rune test. It should be performed again."

Though Master Zixuan's expression remained calm, Qin Yi could sense that a storm stirred beneath his master's composed exterior. Qin Yi himself was surprised. He had always known that Master Huanglong was the most senior figure on Mount Taiyi and, in his previous life, his grand-uncle-master. It was clear his cultivation was extraordinary, but Qin Yi had not expected Master Huanglong to see through the spiritual mark his master had just left in his body with a single glance.

Since Master Huanglong had spoken, there was no avoiding it. Then, Master Lingxu also voiced his support for Master Huanglong's suggestion.

Qin Yi was not particularly surprised this time. If Master Huanglong could see through it, it was only natural that Master Lingxu, as the head of Mount Taiyi, could as well.

Master Zixuan narrowed his eyes, glancing at Qin Yi at his side. He knew there was no way out of it now. Suddenly, a thought flashed across his mind: perhaps it was time to see if this boy was truly his lost disciple. If not, so be it. But if he was, then even if he had to oppose everyone present, he would protect him.

"Let us do as Uncle-Master and Senior Brother have said," Master Zixuan replied after gathering his thoughts, offering no further objection.

Earlier, when Qin Yi awakened his Supreme Dao Embryo, Master Zixuan had sensed a familiar aura, which was why he had revealed himself. Yet now, everything about this Qin Yi seemed so natural, as though he were an entirely different person. If Qin Yi truly was not his disciple, there would be no need to conceal his identity.

On the other hand, Masters Huanglong and Lingxu began to doubt themselves. Perhaps their earlier suspicions had been nothing but illusions. Master Zixuan had evidently done nothing to tamper with Qin Yi, so there was nothing more to say. They signaled for Master Qingfu to begin.

Qin Yi was puzzled, unable to discern what his master was truly thinking. Had he not recognized his own disciple? Or perhaps the three spiritual marks his master left could not distinguish one from another. Qin Yi was more inclined to believe the latter.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Master Qingfu's Spirit Transformation Talisman was already before him. The crimson rune, burning like a fierce flame, slowly enveloped Qin Yi. At that moment, Qin Yi sensed something was wrong—the two spiritual marks left by his master inside him did not react at all as the talisman entered his body. He silently wondered, "Could it be that the spiritual marks only respond to their corresponding runes? What now? What else can I do?"

“One begets two, two beget three, three beget the myriad things.”

Just as Qin Yi was about to despair, he clearly heard an ancient voice echo in his mind, repeating this phrase. In the next moment, Qin Yi was astonished to find the Spirit Transformation Talisman unleashed by Master Qingfu was completely neutralized. Qin Yi froze, the phrase lingering in his mind, as if he recalled something important.

“It’s that mysterious Foundation Establishment technique... I never imagined it would be so powerful!” Qin Yi murmured in awe. He had known it was extraordinary, but not to this extent.

From his seat above, Master Huanglong and Master Lingxu exchanged uneasy glances as the Spirit Transformation Talisman passed through Qin Yi without eliciting the slightest reaction. Perhaps their earlier suspicions truly had been mistaken.

Master Zixuan’s face remained impassive. Was he pleased to have accepted a disciple of such remarkable talent, or quietly disappointed that this was not his lost disciple, Qin Yi?

“Honored Masters, does this not prove that I am truly myself?” Qin Yi looked up at the head of Mount Taiyi and the assembled peak lords, smiling as he asked. The question itself seemed almost comical.

The venerable Masters Huanglong and Lingxu forced awkward laughs. “Naturally, of course. You may now enter Mount Taiyi with confidence.”

“Disciple Qin Yi pays respects to Master.” Qin Yi turned to Master Zixuan, whose expression was unchanged, and performed a deep disciple’s bow, emphasizing his name as he spoke. Yet, after this long-awaited gesture, Qin Yi seemed lost in reverence, for he did not rise for some time, until Master Zixuan with a sweep of his sleeve brought him back to Cloud Ascending Island, giving him no chance even to bid farewell to Zhang Chen.

On the Taiyi Platform, the congregation saw Master Zixuan’s hasty arrival and departure without surprise. Yet many would remember this year’s Mountain Entry Ceremony, for indeed, it was truly unlike any before.

From afar, Qin Yi gazed at Cloud Ascending Island with nostalgia. It was just as he remembered. Because the island was small, there was only a single courtyard, the rest occupied by vegetable plots and little else.

As he drew nearer, Qin Yi was surprised to see a familiar youth at the gate. The boy’s plain clothes could not hide his chubby face and plump features, lending him an air of affluence. This was Zhu Chunfu—Qin Yi’s Third Senior Brother from his previous life, renowned as a prodigy of the alchemic arts among the disciples of Mount Taiyi. Qin Yi had not expected to see his third brother here rather than out adventuring.

“Master!” From a distance, Zhu Chunfu called out, but as Master Zixuan drew closer, he stared in disbelief, his mouth agape. “Little junior brother, you’re back? How have you grown young again?”

“He is your Fifth Junior Brother, Qin Yi,” Master Zixuan announced as he and Qin Yi alighted at the gate, shooting Zhu Chunfu a stern look.

Zhu Chunfu seemed dazed, and after a moment stammered, “Isn’t this... isn’t this Qin Yi, my junior brother?”

Master Zixuan had no patience for further questions and strode straight into the courtyard, with Qin Yi following behind.

At dinner that evening, Zhu Chunfu was uncharacteristically subdued. His mouth hung open, food untouched, as he struggled to digest the news he had just received.

“Senior brother, are you all right?” Qin Yi asked gently, seeing Zhu Chunfu still in a daze.

“I’m fine, little junior brother... no, little junior brother,” Zhu Chunfu stammered, clearly still overwhelmed.

That night, Zhu Chunfu arranged for Qin Yi to stay in his old room—the second one on the left—since Master Zixuan rarely took on disciples and there were no spare rooms. Thus, Qin Yi could only return to the room he had lived in during his previous life.

Everything was just as he remembered, and the room was spotlessly clean, as if someone tended to it every day.

“Little junior brother, I’ll leave you to rest. Tomorrow morning, you’ll have to formally acknowledge your master,” Zhu Chunfu said, placing a set of blue Mount Taiyi robes on the table before leaving the room.

“Take care, third brother,” Qin Yi replied, turning to the doorway as Zhu Chunfu left.

Outside, Zhu Chunfu gazed at the moonlit courtyard, melancholy in his voice. “Little junior brother, both our eldest and second brothers went to the Wild Marshes to find you. You must be all right...”

Walls have ears, as the saying goes. Qin Yi, listening from behind the door, murmured sadly, “So Eldest and Second Brother both went looking for me?”

Calming his mind, he searched for the Foundation Establishment technique in his memory. Now, with nothing else to do, all he could do was cultivate. Yet after searching for some time, he found only those few enigmatic words remained of the technique. With no other choice, he could only rest early.