The current Dueling Convention of Zhou City. At one end of the main street in the east of the city stood the Qingyun Temple | Qingyun Temple was the foremost Daoist temple in Qingzhou territory. It was also renowned throughout the entire Southern Liang Kingdom, ranking among the top three.
In the bustling Qingzhou City, where land was worth its weight in gold, Qingyun Temple occupied nearly a hundred acres. The entire complex was even larger than the Qingzhou City Magistrate’s residence or the Prince Liao’s Estate. Every day, streams of devotees came to offer incense, an endless parade of carriages and people.
Above the temple's vermilion bronze gates hung a gold-lacquered plaque inscribed with the four characters, "Ling Bu Qing Yun" (Soaring to the Blue Clouds). The calligraphy was vibrant and powerful, instantly refreshing the spirit and dissolving worldly troubles upon sight. It was rumored that centuries ago, a renowned immortal from the Southern Liang Kingdom personally inscribed these words when visiting the Abbot of Qingyun Temple.
This immortal connection gave Qingyun Temple its name and propelled its fame. There was once a common saying that for every three people in Qingzhou, one was a devotee of Qingyun Temple, and the other two were that devotee's spouse and children, illustrating the temple's immense popularity, nearly reaching the point of universal household faith. Of course, some scoffed at this claim.
The people of Qingzhou believed not in Qingyun Temple itself, but in the ways of immortal Dao; yet, since the majority of the respected Daoist masters in Qingzhou were affiliated with Qingyun Temple, the populace naturally gravitated there. This day marked the grand opening of the Dueling Convention. In front of the Qingyun Temple gates, over ten Daoists, lean of appearance and possessing an air of immortal elegance, stood in a straight line, formally welcoming guests from all directions.
On this day, a young man clad in white robes arrived outside Qingyun Temple. He glanced at the "Ling Bu Qing Yun" inscription on the plaque above the main gate and offered a faint smile. That immortal from centuries past must have been quite the character.
The four characters themselves held nothing extraordinary; rather, the plaque was inscribed with a formation that calmed the mind and focused the spirit. Upon looking at it, one naturally felt refreshed, all worries vanishing. This person was Ye Qin.
He had promised to stay in Qingzhou City for ten days to assist the Shi siblings, Fan Xia, and others in taking the city from Prince Liao’s Estate. Only five or six days had passed; several more remained. Ye Qin had not originally planned to attend this Dueling Convention held within Qingyun Temple.
He intended only to finish his business here before riding his sword toward the Northern Qi Kingdom. However, Prince Liao’s men remained entrenched in their residence, refusing to meet him in open combat, leaving Ye Qin with little to do for the remaining days. Having completed his cultivation exercises for the day, Ye Qin, out of boredom, recalled the matter the Old Shopkeeper Wu at the inn incessantly discussed.
He decided to see what this Dueling Convention of the mortal realm in the Southern Liang Kingdom was all about. Ye Qin arrived at Qingyun Temple, presented a gate pass inlaid with gold foil to the Daoists guarding the entrance, and then entered the temple grounds to listen to the esteemed masters expound upon the Daoist teachings concerning the cultivation of the immortal mindset. Such a gate pass carried considerable weight; it had cost a full hundred gold leaves to acquire.
This was unavoidable. Although Qingyun Temple was vast, it could not accommodate the millions of eager common folk in Qingzhou. For this convention, only five thousand devotees were permitted inside the temple to watch firsthand, and they needed this specially made gate pass from Qingyun Temple.
Those who could enter were mostly wealthy merchants or influential officials. Ordinary people were barred entry; they could only wait outside the temple grounds. However, they still had a way to "watch" the duels between the masters.
Certain scholars would meticulously record the scenes, words, and actions of the combatants inside the dueling arena and relay the reports to the numerous taverns and teahouses outside the temple. Storytellers would then vividly and skillfully reenact the entire process before the gathered patrons, offering a feast for the ears of the devotees. When Ye Qin arrived, the convention had already begun.
He entered the Qingyun Temple grounds and made his way to a vast plaza. The periphery of the plaza was densely packed, almost every seat taken by thousands of guests and devotees. Such a massive crowd, yet it was utterly silent—truly remarkable.
In the center of the plaza stood a large, square high platform. Four Daoists, possessing an immortal aura, sat facing the four cardinal directions. Their expressions were solemn as they discussed the Way of the Immortal Mindset.
Their voices were resonant and carried immense influence; even the farthest tables in the plaza could hear them clearly. Ye Qin casually sat down at a vacant table within the plaza, ordered a few light vegetarian dishes and some mild wine, and listened while sipping his drink. The convention commenced with the participating cultivators taking turns detailing their interpretations of the Immortal Mindset Dao.
This was followed by mutual debate over whose interpretation was superior, continuing until one party was thoroughly refuted into silence—that signified victory. Round after round of such duels continued until the cultivator with the deepest insight for this session’s convention was determined. It was rather amusing, Ye Qin thought.
He, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, was sitting in a mortal Daoist temple, listening to a group of mortals who had never truly cultivated the immortal path argue about how to achieve immortality. If this tale spread, it would surely leave mortal men dumbfounded and cause immortal cultivators to burst into laughter, dismissing it as absurd folly. Thus, while the Dueling Convention of the Southern Liang Kingdom was famous in the secular world, it was hardly ever mentioned in the Spiritual Mist Cultivation World; it held no prestige there.
Ye Qin, however, paid no mind to secular taboos, and having no urgent matters at hand, he came to hear what this convention offered. Initially, Ye Qin paid little attention to the insights of these secular masters. It was natural that their words contained flaws, as secular Daoists lacked spiritual roots and had never truly practiced immortal Daoist methods, causing him to chuckle inwardly.
However, after listening for a while, he occasionally paused, letting his chopsticks hover mid-air between sips of wine and bites of food. These secular Daoists had achieved such widespread fame for a reason. Among the mortals, there existed exceptionally brilliant minds and towering intellects.
Though they could not cultivate immortality, it did not negate their talent. Occasionally, one or two astonishing insights, words capable of being recorded in the annals of the Southern Liang Kingdom, would leave Ye Qin momentarily stunned and unable to recover his composure. When an astonishing statement was made during the convention, the audience would erupt in excitement, cheering loudly.
This caused Ye Qin to stare at the secular Daoists on the high platform, deep in thought. Unconsciously, the wine and food on his table lost their flavor, his entire being focused on the debate unfolding between the few secular Daoists and monks on the dais. After listening to the debates for half the day, Ye Qin completely retracted his initial condescending attitude.
Not many qualified to step onto the stage at the annual Dueling Convention. The most renowned temples, monasteries, and academies in Qingzhou City—each devoted to the immortal path—sent forth one person highly skilled in the cultivation of the Mindset to compete. In total, only sixteen highly respected individuals were eligible to participate.
Four individuals took the stage for each duel, debating the principles of cultivating the Mindset Dao, either as two pairs or one against three. Only the victor remained on stage. The convention progressed rapidly.
After several days, the final round of debate arrived. Ye Qin even offered a wry smile, regretting his background as a hunter. He hadn't had the chance to study much when he was young, and though he had acquired many books in Zhuqi County while foraging, most of his time was spent gathering herbs.
After joining the Qingdan Sect, he devoted himself entirely to alchemy. Only during the six months he stayed at the sect grounds after achieving Foundation Establishment did he manage to read a few things. When the masters on stage debated fiercely, they occasionally uttered extremely obscure and ancient phrases, which Ye Qin found difficult to follow.
Unable to fully grasp them, Ye Qin could only commit them to memory, intending to reflect on their deeper meaning later. The final debate featured a white-browed old Daoist, a stout monk, a middle-aged nun, and a young scholar. The four were seated on the high platform, arguing over: What were the various realms of the Immortal Dao?
What were the states of Minor Perfection, Major Perfection, and the ultimate highest realm of Complete Perfection? After reaching the realm of Great Perfection, how did one leap beyond the mundane, transforming into a transcendent, accomplished immortal? In this four-way debate, the old Daoist undoubtedly possessed the deepest skill; his eloquent arguments flowed continuously, leaving the other three struggling to counter.
Next were the stout monk and the middle-aged nun. The weakest was the young scholar, who spoke less and was largely on the defensive. However, Ye Qin focused his attention entirely on that young scholar.
The scholar spoke little but never committed any obvious, fundamental errors. He did not conflate true immortal cultivation with the secular Immortal Dao, nor did he assert that merely reaching the Perfection of the Mindset could lead to becoming an immortal. This unintentionally made the young scholar the target of everyone else, besieged by the other three.
The other three, while verbally gifted, made fundamental errors, believing that once Mindset cultivation reached completion, one could ascend to immortality. Naturally, Ye Qin paid far more attention to the young scholar on the stage. Most importantly, while arguing about the delineation of the Perfection realms, the young scholar, in his agitation, blurted out a sentence: “Meditative stillness, transcending thought, unblemished and unharmed—this is the Minor Perfection realm of the Mindset.” This immediately startled Ye Qin.
After all, the first volume of the Zuowang Sutra centered entirely on this very phrase as the core essence of the entire Qi Condensation stage cultivation method, spanning from the first level to the ninth. How could that scholar claim this was the realm of Mindset Perfection? Ye Qin’s heart could not remain calm.
He desperately wanted to understand why that scholar would utter such a sentence. Regrettably, the young scholar was shouted down by the other three and ceased speaking. This frustrated Ye Qin greatly.
At the same table as Ye Qin were two other men: one, a refined gentleman dressed like a scholar, with a hooked nose and slicked-back hair; the other, a slightly overweight young master from a wealthy family. These two were chatting quietly, offering intermittent critiques of the four on the platform, which drew Ye Qin’s attention. Ye Qin bowed slightly and asked them with a smile, "Gentlemen, may I ask who the four on stage are?" The young master of the rich family sized up Ye Qin.
Ye Qin wore simple, plain robes, offering no clue to his origins, but those without status rarely gained entry here. He smiled and replied, "Esteemed brother, your accent suggests you are from out of town. The four on stage are, respectively, Daoist Master Wu of Qingyun Temple, Master Changzhi of Shuanglong Temple, Nun Wuchen of Qingwan, and Grand Official Shen of Baiyi Academy." Ye Qin asked doubtfully, "The one who constantly spouts classical jargon and uses difficult, convoluted language—is that Grand Official Shen?" The rich young master burst into loud laughter.
"Indeed, that is Grand Official Shen. Do you know his background? His real name is Shen Jun.
He is a prodigious talent born right here in Qingzhou City. At only sixteen, he achieved the top three ranks consecutively in the imperial examinations, personally appointed as the number one scholar of this dynasty. The current Emperor praised him as the paragon of Qingzhou talent, saying he possessed the makings of a Prime Minister, and even privately promised him a high post in the Grand Secretariat in the future.
However, this fellow is incredibly ambitious; he actually abandoned his official career and returned to Baiyi Academy in Qingzhou City to diligently study the Dao of the Immortal Mindset. Later, our Qingzhou compatriots affectionately nicknamed him 'Grand Official Shen.' Who would have thought that in his debut appearance at the Dueling Convention this year, he would make it into the final four, and not be at a disadvantage? It is truly remarkable." The refined gentleman sneered, "What is so great about Grand Official Shen?
Over ten years ago, he even attended the private school in the city with this gentleman. But after he became successful, he pretended not to know us former classmates—it’s truly shameful." The rich young master chuckled derisively, "Spare us. You've been mixed up in private academies for over a decade and are still just a xiucai (scholar).
That man is a top imperial scholar; of course, he has no face to acknowledge a former classmate like you. I was fortunate enough to share a drink with him back then, but now his fame is too great; he certainly doesn't have time to mingle with mere small figures like us." The refined gentleman's face flushed crimson, and he muttered a few angry words. Once Ye Qin learned the surname of the scholar on the high platform, he stopped chatting with the two wealthy disciples.
He took a few more sips of wine and, seeing that the Dueling Convention was dispersing and the young scholar was heading toward the inner court of the temple, he rose. He left a silver leaf on the table and followed, intent on resolving the doubt that had plagued him. He needed to ask Shen Jun directly why his description of the Mindset realms so closely mirrored the tenets of the Zuowang Sutra.
A red-faced middle-aged Daoist stood guarding the entrance to the inner court. Seeing Ye Qin approach, he quickly blocked his way and barked, "This is a place of pure Daoist cultivation. Unauthorized personnel are forbidden entry.
Please leave." Ye Qin paused for a moment and said, "I am looking for the scholar who just went in." The red-faced Daoist opened his mouth wide. "Absolutely not. If you disturb the tranquility of our temple's Daoists or interrupt their cultivation, young man, you will bear the consequences." Ye Qin felt a surge of annoyance; he did not wish to engage in a verbal wrangle with this Daoist.
He formed a hand seal and pressed it lightly on the red-faced Daoist’s shoulder. A faint blue light flashed. "Immobilize." Then, Ye Qin swaggered into the inner court.
He used no powerful magic against a mortal man; the Immobilization Curse would naturally dissipate after three or four hours. The red-faced Daoist froze instantly, his eyes wide with terror, his mouth agape in a strange posture. The Daoists entering and exiting the inner court looked at him curiously, wondering what strange technique he was practicing.
Ye Qin quickly caught up to Shen Jun. "Brother Shen, please wait. I have a question to ask." Shen Jun was hurrying along, head down.
However, he was generally even-tempered. When stopped abruptly and asked a question, he showed no displeasure, merely cupped his hands and replied calmly, "Esteemed brother, please speak." Ye Qin asked, "When you were debating on stage, you mentioned, ‘Meditative stillness, transcending thought, unblemished and unharmed, is the Minor Perfection realm.’ May I ask, Brother Shen, why you hold this view?" As he spoke, Ye Qin closely scrutinized Shen Jun’s expression. Shen Jun was immediately startled.
He looked up at Ye Qin and opened his mouth. This sentence was something he had blurted out unconsciously in a moment of desperation when being pressed by the other three debaters on stage. As soon as he spoke it, he regretted it immensely; that statement should never have been voiced.
He was rushing back to the inner court now to report to his master and seek pardon. Shen Jun considered for a moment. Unwilling to lie, yet also unwilling to reveal the truth, he said, "Esteemed brother, if we trace the origin, this phrase comes from a work titled Zuowang Ming written by a scholar named Zheng from ancient times.
It states: ‘Constant silence preserves vital energy, few thoughts let inner light shine. No anger keeps the spirits harmonious, no distress yields cool clarity of mind. Desire nothing to be complete, non-attachment allows flexibility.
No greed negates fear of wealth, no compromise brings fear of the court.’ The meaning is: remain constantly silent, do not argue over trivial matters, do not dwell excessively on insignificant details, and stop worrying about external possessions. By doing so, one’s vital essence is conserved as much as possible. If this passage is condensed, it becomes the original intent of ‘Meditative stillness, transcending thought, unblemished and unharmed.’ I have some mundane matters to attend to; I must take my leave first." Shen Jun did not wish to elaborate further.
After bowing, he turned hastily toward the inner court, glancing back once to ensure Ye Qin was not following before quickening his pace. Ye Qin remained standing, watching him leave with a contemplative gaze. The first volume of the Zuowang Sutra outlined the Qi Condensation stage cultivation method, which explicitly required silence, detachment, and the cessation of mental stirring to reduce the depletion of vital energy.
That this foundational immortal cultivation technique originated from a secular mortal text greatly surprised him. What surprised him even more was Shen Jun’s demeanor; it was clear the scholar was trying to conceal something.