Chapter 111: Naturalization and the Tiger-Horse Duel

Within the Xiaoxi Mountain detached residence, the group had already changed into brand-new Taoist robes—all of them dark, black-dyed garments with cross-collars and wide sleeves.

Each person had their hair coiled into a Taoist bun, secured simply with a boxwood hairpin, tied at the waist with a smooth silk sash, and wearing cloud-topped shoes. Ji Ming stood among the crowd, his face set in its naturally sharp, caustic expression, his hands tucked into his sleeves. This crowd of freshly minted Taoist laymen fidgeted, waiting anxiously for the summons.

"Dong!"

A bell tolled. The old Taoist, the monk Fa Wen, and a fair-faced Taoist priest approached together to lead the laymen into the Patriarch’s Shrine to pay their respects. Inside the hall, two large stone steles stood upright. On either side, several statues of star lords stood with varying expressions and poses, while the beams and pillars were carved with dragons, phoenixes, and other auspicious beasts. Both steles featured solar discs carved in relief and rested on lotus pedestals. The stele in the front bore the six characters: "True Lord of Great Peace, Gan Xiong." The stele behind it bore the six characters: "Direct Disciple of the Vast Heaven, Bo He."

Although the True Lord of Great Peace’s stele was placed in the front, most prominent position, Ji Ming believed that most others, like himself, were more focused on the "Direct Disciple of the Vast Heaven" stele. Ji Ming knew that True Lord Gan Xiong had founded the Taiping Mountain lineage and was revered as the Ancestral Master, while Bo He, as the True Lord’s teacher and a direct disciple of the Vast Heaven, was regarded as the Primal Ancestor.

Under the witness of the old Taoist, Fa Wen, and the fair-faced priest, the new laymen bowed repeatedly within the shrine.

"Register!" the old Taoist chanted.

In an instant, Ji Ming’s muscles tightened with tension. His inner primal spirit felt inexplicably dazed, and he had a faint sensation that the statues of the star lords surrounding him were coming to life, their eyes rolling wildly. Those shifting eyes, set against the fierce and holy statues, created a jarring contrast that made Ji Ming feel nauseated.

A long time later, as the sensation gradually faded, he felt a softness in his limbs, as if he were walking on clouds, much like a man recently recovered from a grave illness. Around him, the other new laymen were mostly pale and trembling. One or two who were better informed said joyfully, "A portion of our true spirit has been stripped and recorded in the Taoist registry—have we achieved 'perfected merit'?"

"Is it done?"

Ji Ming caught the gaze of the fair-faced priest, his eyes seeking confirmation, and the other man gave a gentle nod in response. The monk Fa Wen did not notice this exchange; he was staring at the two great steles. He wondered if his master, the Earth-Rank Taoist official, were to be promoted to a Heavenly-Rank official, he would be qualified to browse the Taoist registry at Taiping Mountain and ferret out that "Heavenly Human." Unfortunately, even if his master broke through to the fourth realm, the Golden Elixir, he might not necessarily become a Heavenly official; the fifth realm, Fetal Spirit, might be required. Fa Wen patted his shiny, bald head, wondering why he was overthinking today. He needed to hurry and search for the "Stone Tai Sui."

Though this matter could not be publicized, he trusted the instructors around him. To fulfill his master’s orders as soon as possible, he had to make use of the forces at his disposal.

"Eh? Where is my trusted instructor, Shi Long?"

In the shrine, Fa Wen had intended to draw close to Shi Long, only to find that the man had already left. He pondered for a moment, assuming Shi Long must be selecting a fine residence within the detached compound.

Outside the shrine, in a small courtyard, the fair-faced priest—who was the senior brother of Xuan Jing from the Crane Temple—walked ahead, with Ji Ming following. Ji Ming took the opportunity to inform him about the "Stone Tai Sui" mentioned by the green-eyed female Taoist.

Upon hearing Ji Ming’s account, Xuan Jing’s footsteps faltered for a moment before he continued walking. "She did not come here today?"

"No."

Ji Ming found it strange himself. After he had made it clear that Xuan Jing was his backer, he had explicitly told the woman to come and check in today, yet she had not appeared all day.

"This matter is of great importance. I will go and apprehend her. You may choose to linger in this courtyard for a while or leave as you please."

Ji Ming stopped and bowed. "The business here is concluded, and I have a private matter to attend to, so I shall bid you farewell, Senior Brother."

Both were decisive men; they parted ways immediately to attend to their own affairs. Donning a bamboo hat, Ji Ming left the mountain gate of the residence without looking back, heading straight for the southern official road. He was going to meet the Jin Ni brothers.

On the official road, Ji Ming pulled a "Horse-Armor Talisman"—a travel essential—from his shaman’s pouch, slapping one on each leg. In a single day, he covered over a hundred miles.

"Virtuous Brother!"

"Virtuous Brother!"

Ji Ming was moving as fast as a galloping horse, but suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind him. Ji Ming’s pace quickened, and he ducked from the official road into the woods.

*How did he catch up?* Ji Ming didn't need to look back to picture the fat-eared Monk Hu Ma.

He dashed through a small grove, and just as he was about to catch his breath, the monk’s voice rang out again: "Virtuous Brother, why did you leave the residence without cause?"

Before him stood a sheer cliff. Ji Ming channeled his Crane-Control energy, flipped his body, and pushed off the ground with his palms. The recoil sent him soaring into the air, straight up the cliff face. Facing the rock, he struck rapidly with his palms, the kinetic force propelling him continuously upward.

"Virtuous Brother possesses fine esoteric skills."

Ji Ming looked toward the sound. Monk Hu Ma was sitting cross-legged, his massive buttocks supported by five large-headed ghost bhikshus who were holding him up. The monk held a string of prayer beads, grinning broadly and waving a hand, looking every bit the high-ranking master. Even on this near-vertical cliff, the five ghosts carried him as if he were walking on flat ground.

*Five-Ghost Carrying Technique!* Ji Ming thought.

This was a technique evolved from the esoteric "Five-Ghost Soul-Severing Palm." Even though it was popular among rogue cultivators and not a formal orthodox art, its power as a spell could not be ignored.

"Brother, I have an urgent matter. Why don't you return to the residence first? I will return later to explain."

"Haha!" Monk Hu Ma laughed, his tone shifting to one filled with murderous intent. "You 'Song Po Sect' brat, I treated you with kindness, yet you play tricks on me."

They were already over ten feet above the ground, where raptors soared. Ji Ming pushed off with his palm and, using the recoil, grabbed a protruding rock on the cliff, hanging like an ape while staring down at the approaching monk.

"Master, is there some misunderstanding?"

Ji Ming was somewhat nervous about facing a second-realm Qi cultivator head-on; unless necessary, he really did not want to fight here.

"Misunderstanding!" The monk sneered, secretly urging the five ghosts to speed up. "I wondered how you learned such unheard-of esoteric skills; so, you had secretly defected to the Crane Temple."

"You saw it?" Ji Ming asked.

The monk’s eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected the boy to be probing him even now. Very well, he would let his old friend lose all hope.

"I cannot afford to provoke that Daoist Xuan Jing, so I dared not track his movements. But catching you is the same. When the time comes, you will transcribe your esoteric skills for me and confess everything before Fa Wen, and I shall spare your life."

"Very well." Ji Ming nodded as if resigning himself to his fate.

Seeing Ji Ming’s submissive posture, Monk Hu Ma said happily, "Good brother, I shall make room for you. Once this passes, I will ensure your wealth remains intact." As he spoke, the monk truly shifted on the ghosts, revealing two pairs of ghost hands for support.

"Good brother, I am coming."

Ji Ming released his grip and dove down, landing straight onto the ghost-seat, no more than three feet from the monk. Their eyes locked, and both revealed a flash of killing intent.

"I knew you were up to no good!"

In an instant, they both shouted and struck. One palm was wreathed in dark winds with the phantom sounds of wailing ghosts; the other seemed plain and unremarkable, yet carried the force of a thousand jun.