Chapter 5, The Cause and Effect of the World, Solitude on Mount Lu.

"So many geniuses came up with such a method, isn't that clever?" Yuan Tianyi said dismissively, "Moreover, how can one even climb up like this?"

Yuan Tianyi looked again at the shimmering blue light of the Mouchazhu in her hand. When she raised her head, the glow of the crescent-shaped jade plate that had been hovering silently above her and Yuan Tianyi vanished.

At the speed of the original Tianyi flying through the sky, it was still deep night when departing from the East Sea, yet by the time he reached this valley, the sun was already rising. Upon exiting the valley, the young man saw thick, colorful mists rising between the warm and humid mountains. Suddenly, he spotted several vividly colored poisonous snakes coiled around the branches. Although they were several zhang away from the original Tianyi, those snakes and insects had already begun to slither away. However, the sight of these poisonous snakes and insects scattered everywhere in this desolate and uninhabited landscape compelled the young man to ask, "What place is this?"

Yes, the young man nodded.

Yuan Tianyi's words were cold and resolute, leaving no room for retreat. The young man glanced at the chilling steepness and the iron chains hanging in the mist, but he said no more. After bowing to Yuan Tianyi, he broke off a branch, pushed aside the underbrush, and headed towards the small wooden cabin where the Miao and Yi people were said to reside, quickly disappearing into the dense rainforest

"The yin gives rise to the yang; one must observe the changes in climate. Why go through so much trouble?" Looking at Lao Zhaonan, who was intently watching the ash of the reeds swirling in the Huangzhong pipe, a scroll that would make many practitioners of the Dao envious, the "Jinding Qiyuan Neijing Jing," embroidered with golden threads on brocade, was casually tossed onto the wooden table beside him.

"Master achieved great success in the Void Life and Death Sea Glass Technique sixty years ago. I, an old servant, am dull-witted and cannot perceive what the Master perceives" said the old Zhao Nan, shaking his head

This was sixty years ago, when the original Tianyi practiced the "Kong Sheng Mie Hai Liuli Jue" and emerged from Luofu, the place where he first beheld the sea

Lao Zhao Nan scratched his head, "Three years? Or five years? That's too long; it's a bit unclear now."

"Is that so? Old Zhao Nan, you have been out of the world for so long that you may not know that the world is once again in turmoil, with famine and death everywhere. This young man’s eyes are filled with unwillingness and anger, a defiance against his fate, and he draws forth a surge of courage to support himself." Yuan Tianyi looked coldly at the old man, "If we are to discuss temperament and talent, Old Zhao Nan, you should understand the principle of seeing a person's heart over time, shouldn't you?"

The hunched boy nodded vigorously once again

"What you are experiencing today is merely a small pain. The true suffering and horrors encountered in genuine cultivation are hundreds or even thousands of times greater than this. My teachings at Luofu are unique; it is a matter of life and death. Are you truly certain that you want nothing else and wish to become my disciple?" Yuan Tianyi observed the boy's extreme suffering and, unable to suppress her heavy breathing, slightly displeased, flicked her sleeve.

Lao Zhaonan raised his head to look at the ethereal figure, barefoot and seemingly not of this world, dressed in a celestial garment. He smiled and said, "This can help pass the time. Master, there should be a heavy rain in three days, right?"

The night was moonless, yet a crescent-shaped jade disc hung silently in the sky above the head of the original celestial garment, gently radiating a soft glow that illuminated the nearby sea for dozens of miles.

The pearl fell into the water but did not sink, instead it floated and swayed with the waves. Suddenly, it split open as if breaking free from a cocoon. The young man was astonished to see a sapling rapidly growing out of it, floating on the water's surface, its branches and leaves transparent, glistening like ice shards. "What is this?" The young man could not suppress his nature and could not help but ask.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the young man felt a sense of unease in his heart. To him, the group of people like Hetu and the Real Man of the Fierce Sun were like mere ants in front of Yuan Tianyi. In his eyes, Yuan Tianyi was a true deity, and to inquire without permission was naturally understood as an offense.

"This child is not exactly foolish," Old Zhao Nan remarked, a glimmer flashing in his golden eyes. Just like three days ago, the boy was still striving to climb higher. He bore even more scars on his body, yet he had tied ropes made of cloth strips around his hands and waist. When he was exhausted, he would secure the ropes to the iron chain, hanging himself on the chain to rest, much like Old Zhao Nan had done with the cured meat two days prior. In the past, the boy had never climbed beyond a quarter of the height, but today he was already nearing the mountainside.

The sea breeze gently sways, stirring up clusters of white foam.

Sixty years have passed like a fleeting moment, gone in the blink of an eye

The youth was uncertain whether the cave of the Luofu Sect was as ethereal and enchanting as the legendary abodes of immortals, filled with celestial aura and abundant divine nectar. However, the desolate mountains and treacherous waters before him were certainly far removed from those mythical sanctuaries. The morning sunlight cast a golden glow on his and Yuan Tianyi's faces, while the towering peak behind them loomed steeply, sending a chill down their spines. The mountain was covered with trees and vines, and a thick white mist enveloped the midsection, obscuring its true height. There were no paths or steps leading up the peak, only an old black iron chain hanging down from above.

Three days later at noon, the first thing Lao Zhaonan did after waking from his death-like stillness was to break into a smile. Before him stood the original Tianyi, seemingly merging with heaven and earth, while the light-splitting mirror, which required immense magical power, quietly floated in the air before the original Tianyi.

This pearl, which would cause the vast majority of cultivators in the world to lose their resolve and become obsessed with it, was thus cast into the deep blue waters of the lake by Yuan Tianyi, where thin sheets of ice would emerge from the bottom.

"Loneliness?" Yuan Tianyi was momentarily taken aback. Then, seeing the small yet vibrant crystal tea floating on the surface of the lake, she softly remarked in her heart, "Ignorant youth, what do you understand? In this world, what is not lonely?"

"Indeed, the time is too long; you have already resorted to these activities to pass the time." Yuan Tianyi looked at Lao Zhao Nan and said, "I am devoted to the Dao, hoping to comprehend the mysteries of all beings. For sixty years, do you know what I have seen?"

"Master," as the figure of the young man just vanished into the woods, an elderly figure appeared behind Yuan Tianyi. His grayish-white hair was sparse and disheveled, and the wrinkles on his face resembled the undulating hills of a mountain range. However, what was most striking were the two deep scars on the left side of his face. The old man was dressed in the local Miao attire, with the wax-dyed blue fabric bearing the marks of smoke and fire. It would be quite normal for such an elderly man to quietly sit in the stilted houses of a Miao village, his dim eyes drawing on a water pipe. Yet, the elderly man standing respectfully beside Yuan Tianyi had eyes that shone with a brightness that was incongruous with his age, resembling the color of the rising sun. Gazing in the direction the young man had disappeared, the old man softly remarked, "Master, this young man possesses a resolute and enduring character, and his aptitude is commendable; he truly seems to be a person of great potential."

Lao Zhaonan did not speak, but squinted his eyes and turned to look at the four-cornered bronze wind chimes hanging on the wooden house. Now, these wind chimes began to ring out with a pleasant sound, as a storm, often seen in the Luofu mountains, officially commenced.

"What the master says is true. It is just that I am already old enough." In Lao Zhao Nan's gaze, there was unexpectedly a look of contentment with fate, "As long as the master is here, I am here; when the master is no longer here, what boundaries are there between life and death"

Yuan Tianyi looked at the young man with a cold gaze and said, "I can agree to accept you as my disciple, but according to the rules of my Luofu Sect, anyone wishing to join must undergo an entrance examination. I cannot make exceptions in this matter. If you fail, you will not be able to make any further requests. Have you considered this carefully?"

"Isn't that the only one that has always existed? Isn't it very lonely then?" the young man said

The sea breeze was damp and cold, the young man was dressed in tattered clothes, his face already turning blue from the cold. However, having been magically transported by Yuan Tianyi from the Sichuan region to this distant East Sea, the young man remained silent during the time Yuan Tianyi stood still. Only when Yuan Tianyi looked at him directly did he respond: "Can you take me as your disciple"

"May the immortals bless us!" On the distant sea, aboard a fishing boat that had risen early in the dark to fish, several fishermen gazed at the pale blue glow, all bowing down in reverence, filled with awe and trepidation

On the shores of the East China Sea, the original Tianyi stands atop a giant rock

"To take you as my disciple?" Yuan Tianyi glanced at the young man and said, "Wealth and fame, even if you desire gold and silver in abundance, riches that rival a nation, I can help you achieve that. Do you truly want nothing else, but to be my disciple?"

Yuan Tianyi brought the young man to a valley nestled between high mountains

A white light with a hint of blue rose from the shores of the East China Sea, moving southward at a speed that was more than ten times faster than the sword lights of Mount Shu

Is this where the initiation test is to be held? The original Heavenly Garment did not mention it, and the young man did not dare to inquire. Before him lay a peculiar scene: a deep blue lake resembling a bright mirror, surrounded by mountains and forests reflecting in its waters. The shores were adorned with unknown shrubs and flowers, many of which bore berries of various colors. However, it was April, the season of spring blooms, and surprisingly, white ice floes drifted on the lake's surface. Upon closer inspection, the young man noticed that beneath the deep blue water, transparent ice fragments continuously floated up.

Regardless of how Lao Zhao Nan perceives the differences between the youth and others, there is no record in any of the texts of Luo Fu Zong that someone has achieved success effortlessly due to another's admiration. The next day, Lao Zhao Nan continued his activities, remaining motionless for half a day in a meditative state, before finally retrieving a stone mortar that had not been used for a long time. He began to pound millet slowly, resembling a truly aged man, quietly watching the golden husks being blown away by the mountain breeze through the mortar.

Yuan Tianyi frowned slightly; it was evident that this was an ordinary mountain boy. However, the more she looked, the more she felt that this slender youth was extraordinary. His pair of clean eyes sparkled with a fierce light, unlike the fear and numbness typically seen in ordinary beggars

At that time, Yuan Tianyi was wholeheartedly devoted to the Dao, having severed the emotional ties with the immortal He Cangyue. However, upon entering the secret realm of the Celestial beings, Yuan Tianyi did not anticipate the myriad knots in his heart. Over the course of sixty years, his cultivation was akin to unraveling those knots, yet this single Miaocha Pearl remained elusive, rendering the final knot impossible to untie. Now, this Miaocha Pearl lay before him, and it could finally be resolved. With this bond removed, perhaps he could truly take that final step and transcend the mortal realm. Yet, the scenery remained unchanged, and when he beheld this pearl again, it was already in the hands of a young beggar. The soft jade fragrance lingered in the air, but that person had long since departed. In Yuan Tianyi's gaze, it was unclear whether he felt joy or sorrow.

Several wooden cabins are situated atop the mountain. These cabins are constructed from logs sourced from the mountain itself, appearing quite rudimentary. The mountain, however, is exceedingly high, reaching a thousand fathoms, piercing through the thick clouds. From the summit, one can see numerous mountain peaks rising above a sea of clouds.

This is a mountain range characterized by a mild climate, ample moisture, and dense vegetation, quietly lying in the vast desolation devoid of human presence

It is said that not all legends in the world are entirely true. At that time, the most outstanding and beautiful disciple of Cihang Jingzhai over the decades, the Fairy Cangyue, stood beside him. The Fairy Cangyue extended her hand to him, but he placed the Mouchazhu in the palm of her hand

"The law of nature is that the weak are preyed upon by the strong. This is how the universe operates." Yuan Tianyi said calmly, "You may harbor no ill will towards others, yet others may wish to harm you. If you do not kill, others will seek to kill you."

Lao Zhaonan, with his back to the howling mountain wind, ignited the reeds in a black iron pot, then packed the burnt ashes into a yellow bell tube. During this process, his face, etched with the vicissitudes of time, was filled with a focused expression, as if he were polishing a delicate piece of porcelain

Yuan Tianyi did not respond, gazing thoughtfully at a well-sharpened axe and some split firewood scattered in another place, and asked in return, "Old Zhao Nan, how long has it been since we last lit a fire?"

Yuan Tianyi stood beneath a towering peak, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the desolate mountains shrouded in mist, and slowly said, "This is where Luofu is located"

"Three miles south from here, there is a small cabin where the local Miao and Yi people occasionally settle in the wilderness. The customs of the Miao and Yi are simple and honest, and the cabin is stocked with food and fresh water. If any travelers wish to stay temporarily, they need only replenish the food and fill the water before leaving. You have not slept all night and your body is weak; you may rest there first." Yuan Tianyi had always been as quiet and cold as the floating ice on a lake to the young man, but at this moment, he suddenly spoke so much. The young man was momentarily taken aback, yet he heard Yuan Tianyi point to the straight peak behind him, "This peak is nameless, but my Luofu Sect is located atop this mountain. If you can reach the summit, you will be considered a disciple of Luofu. If not, then you should leave the mountain on your own."

Yuan Tianyi remained silent, and suddenly the youth saw a flash of silver light in his eyes. Immediately, he felt a wave of scorching heat erupt directly at the top of his head. In an instant, the scene transformed; he was no longer standing on the giant rock by the sea, but instead was suspended in mid-air, plummeting into a volcanic crater. Below him lay a sea of boiling, fiery red lava. As he fell into the magma, his flesh and blood were scorched and rotted, causing such excruciating pain that it felt as if his scalp might explode. He instinctively wanted to let out a horrifying scream, but no sound escaped his lips. Scalding lava surged into his mouth and nose, burning him from within. Yet, he did not die; as his flesh was scorched and rotted, tender skin would regrow, and this cycle continued, subjecting him to endless torment and agony.

"You see that none of them are my match, envious of my supernatural powers, which is why you wish to become my disciple? But do you understand, as the book knows, that cultivating the Dao is like extracting chestnuts from a fire? Practicing my secret methods of Mount Luofu requires enduring endless suffering and torment, both physically and spiritually." The faint voice of Yuan Tianyi suddenly descended from the sky. When the voice faded, the young man realized he was still standing on the giant rock by the sea, yet the painful sensation of his flesh being burned and rotting seemed to linger within his body, and in an instant, beads of sweat the size of soybeans drenched him completely.

However, Yuan Tianyi casually remarked, "This is the Crystal Flower, which blooms in a hundred years and bears fruit in a thousand. After it bears fruit, it will wither and die. This Mouchazhu is the seed it produces."

Lao Zhaonan rubbed his rough hands, and he saw a frail boy struggling to climb up along the iron chain. The chain and the surrounding branches scraped numerous wounds on his palms and body, yet he continued to climb with all his might. However, for a child of twelve or thirteen years, this peak was simply too steep and too high. After reaching less than a quarter of the way up, he finally exhausted himself and slowly slid back down

"Do you really think he can climb up here?" Yuan Tianyi turned his head away, saying nothing further. With a flick of his long fingers, which would make any woman in the world envious, he instantly cast a profound spell, causing strands of white mist to disperse and transform into a light-splitting mirror over eight feet in size. The scenery from the base of the mountain to its midsection appeared clearly on the mirror. This was a powerful spell that only a legendary earth immortal could wield, capable of reflecting the majority of celestial techniques and spells. Yet, he merely used it as a mirror for peering. Most cultivators would surely view such an act as a wasteful extravagance, akin to a nouveau riche squandering resources. However, this spell, which required immense magical energy, seemed to have no effect on him at all.

"It seems he cannot climb up." Lao Zhaonan had never doubted Yuan Tianyi's words, but after respectfully saying this, the elderly man with a strong Miao dialect smiled and said, "But Master, the moment I saw him, I felt he was somewhat different."

Is this not the cause and effect of the world that one cannot yet comprehend?

The original celestial garment, emanating barefoot, walked to the lakeside, and the pearl of the frog fell from his hand into the water.

He stood quietly for a moment, then slowly turned to face the young man beside him. "You have already heard that person speak in Shu earlier. I can grant you one request. What do you wish for? As long as I am able to do it, I will certainly help you fulfill it"

Yuan Tianyi felt that by saying this, the young beggar would surely change his mind. However, to his surprise, the boy, who was hunched over in pain, appeared even more frail in the sea breeze, yet his face bore an unprecedented determination. After nodding vigorously, the boy, having bitten his lip, replied in a hoarse voice that sounded as if it had been scorched: "I am not afraid"