Chapter 37: The Five Realms of Cultivation

A long robe of pale yellow, wide sleeves, and a straight hairpiece. The man who turned back appeared to be around forty, yet he was spirited and exuded a powerful presence. The moment he glanced over his shoulder, the lively street instantly fell silent once more. The townspeople dared not move as Lu Xin watched the man slowly approach on horseback, an uneasy premonition rising in his heart.

“Disciple of the Supreme Heavenly Sect, Dead Fox, it seems he's here for you,” the scholar whispered, his breath quickening with apprehension. Speak of the devil, and he appears; they had just been worrying about running into someone from the Supreme Heavenly Sect, and now one had materialized.

The man held the reins, his horse pacing languidly. With his movement, the other six disciples and the officials from the Commander’s Office all turned as well. In an instant, the entire street was struck dumb with tension. Ordinary folk always feared officials—how much more those in armor, armed with blades and spears.

“Supreme Heavenly Sect, Huang Yuyi. May I ask where you three have come from?” The man halted, towering above them from his horse, coldly scrutinizing Lu Xin and his companions. Seeing this, the bystanders breathed a collective sigh of relief, their expressions shifting to ones of eager curiosity. Lu Xin had always detested being scrutinized like some performing monkey in public, both before and after his journey to this world.

His displeasure was thinly veiled on his face. “Where we’re from? If someone from the authorities asked that, it would be in the course of an investigation. But the Supreme Heavenly Sect—what are you, one of the imperial ministries?”

“Courting death! You don't even know the Supreme Heavenly Sect of Longcheng, Deng Prefecture? Boy, have you lost your mind?” Lu Xin’s words instantly enraged the group behind the man. Four men and two women all wore looks of contempt, as though being a disciple of the Supreme Heavenly Sect was a matter of supreme pride, and to not recognize it was a grave insult. Huang Yuyi’s expression darkened as well; with a wave, he restrained his agitated followers and spoke even more icily, his gaze shifting from Lu Xin to Moonless Night.

“There’s been a murder outside Xuanzhou City, connected to an Onmyoji. We’re here on sect orders to assist the authorities in capturing the culprit. You possess spiritual power; I’m questioning you on behalf of the court.” As he spoke, Huang Yuyi produced a blood-red jade from his robes, about the size of an egg, glowing with a faint light.

“Superior Blood Jade, a peerless talisman! So this is the stature he commands within the Supreme Heavenly Sect.” Moonless Night was inwardly startled, his expression turning grave as he eyed the blood-red jade in Huang Yuyi’s hand. Onmyoji cultivation consisted of five realms: Gazing into the Void, Returning to Subtlety, Entering Divinity, Uniting with Heaven, and Becoming a Sage, each divided into nine stages.

The last two realms, Uniting with Heaven and Becoming a Sage, were nearly unheard of in the present age. Masters who had reached Entering Divinity typically served as heads of sects, their numbers few. Below that was Returning to Subtlety—those who achieved this were already top-tier Onmyoji, elders within their sects, like the Eight Bodhisattvas of Wujin Buddhist Mountain or the chief of the Divine Temple, Wei Tun Yun. This showed just how arduous the path of the Onmyoji was.

In truth, the vast majority of Onmyoji in this era remained at the first realm, Gazing into the Void. Even so, those of the first stage could perceive the invisible, see through ghosts and demons, refine the essences of the five elements, and wield astonishing powers. In terms of combat, a first-stage Onmyoji could easily fight ten men; at the ninth stage, with nine strands of Daoist True Fire merging, they could plunge alone into a thousand-strong army and emerge unscathed.

Moonless Night’s grave demeanor upon seeing the blood jade was because it was actually a talisman of immense power—if activated, it possessed the full might of a ninth-stage Gazing into the Void Onmyoji. Though the cultivation of monsters differed from humans, after sixty years of arduous practice in the mountains, his power was equivalent to a sixth-stage Gazing into the Void practitioner.

Should conflict arise with the Supreme Heavenly Sect, victory was out of the question; the talisman alone could reduce him to ashes. Yet under the watchful, predatory eyes of the crowd, Moonless Night’s expression remained unchanged.

“Your insight is keen, sir. I do possess some modest cultivation, but compared to the disciples of your esteemed sect, it truly amounts to nothing. If you suspect me of murder, you are welcome to use your methods to investigate. I will cooperate—there’s no need for such a display.”

With a fawning smile, Moonless Night looked at the Supreme Heavenly Sect disciples, his demeanor deferential. The two female disciples, seeing his handsome features, quickly softened their previously indignant looks.

“Hehe, this young man knows his manners. Brother Yu Yi, I think the murderer must have fled after the deed—who would dare enter Xuanzhou City now? We’d best hurry over; perhaps we’ll find some important clue.”

“Yes, Brother. And this Daoist doesn’t look like the type to kill indiscriminately. We’re just assisting the Commander’s Office—no need to be so strict.”

“Very well. Since my junior sisters plead your case, the questioning is over. Xuanzhou is a strategic town; you are not ordinary folk. Mind yourselves.” Huang Yuyi put away the talisman coldly, wheeled his horse, and soon vanished at the end of the street. When they had all left, Moonless Night’s eyes grew fierce as he spat on the ground.

“Bah! Do I owe you any explanation for my comings and goings? ‘Mind yourselves’—who do you think you are? The Great Emperor of the Monster Tribe, or the ruler of Heaven, master of the mortal realm? You dare meddle in my affairs? One day I’ll see you dead.”

“I say! What did you just say? ‘A humble cultivator, compared to the Supreme Heavenly Sect, like a firefly to the moon, not worth mentioning…’” The scholar, seeing Moonless Night’s change of attitude, spat as well, taking the chance to mock him. Lu Xin was in no mood for their banter; the display at the Commander’s Office suggested the murder outside the city was serious, and the involvement of the Supreme Heavenly Sect confirmed it. Recalling the events at the ruined temple the day before, his expression darkened.

“You idiot scholar, are you ill? If I hadn’t used my looks just now, you’d still be there getting grilled.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… They were questioning you, not me. I’m just a mortal with no spiritual power—what’s it got to do with me?”

“All right, let’s find a place to stay. Xuanzhou may seem calm, but just in case, we should leave at first light.”

Lu Xin had intended to stay several days in Xuanzhou. After days of travel and two fierce battles in the ruined temple and mountain valley, he was utterly spent. Without rest, he’d collapse. Besides, he’d planned to tour the lands on his way to Chang’an—passing through Xuanzhou, he naturally wanted to experience the local culture. Yet, as always, things did not go according to plan.

About half an hour later, the three finally found an inn to their liking. Lu Xin wanted to retire to his room immediately, but the scholar clamored for food, claiming he was starving. Moonless Night, too, said he hadn’t tasted mortal fare in ages. Unable to refuse, Lu Xin joined them for a meal downstairs.

Two meat dishes, three vegetables, a large bowl of soup, and a heaping basin of rice: all was devoured in under ten minutes. Lu Xin barely ate a few bites. When it came time to pay, Tu Chengli immediately clutched his stomach, his face broadcasting that he was a freeloader and proud of it. Though Moonless Night looked wealthy, he hummed a tune by the window, saying nothing.

“Damn you beasts! I already paid for the rooms—must I foot the bill for this meal too? Scholar, you ate the most. Figure it out yourself.”

Lu Xin slapped his sword on the table, thoroughly disgruntled. He had indeed brought a few taels of silver for his journey to Chang’an, enough for himself or maybe two people. But for three, it was clearly insufficient—he had no wish to end up on the streets because of these two freeloaders.

“Heh, Xin, you know I don’t have a copper on me. Ask the fox for the money. It’s new, and a beast—it should contribute.”

“You’re the beast! Not sick anymore? You ate the most—whoever eats most pays.”

“Oh, Xin, my stomach hurts—worse and worse. I must visit the privy. You two take your time…”

As the two bickered, Lu Xin, though prepared for this, still wanted to curse them. The shrinking weight of silver in his purse pained him. Just as he was about to speak, a woman’s voice sounded at his ear.

“Three paupers, can’t even pay for a meal yet dare to roam the land as heroes. I thought the people of the Central Plains were all gallant men, but turns out they’re nothing but snakes and rats.”

The sudden voice, thick with a regional accent, made Lu Xin turn. The speaker was a young woman dressed in Miao garb, no more than sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features and a unique ethnic charm in every gesture. Beside her sat another girl, similarly dressed and of similar age and beauty. Clearly, they were Miao sisters, and Lu Xin was momentarily transfixed, forgetting to speak.

“Hmph, who are you to talk? How dare you interrupt a top scholar’s meal—cough, cough. Ladies, there’s a misunderstanding here. We’re only teasing each other, nothing more. Who would eat and not pay? Hehehe…”

The scholar’s irritation vanished the instant he saw the women’s faces, his tone turning oily and ingratiating.

“Hehe, sister’s right. These Central Plains men are so stingy. Not like us Miao, who care nothing for money.”

“No, no, you’re mistaken, miss. We scholars follow the teachings of the sages and regard wealth as dirt. This meal is on me, of course.”

With a lascivious grin, the scholar began to pick at the patch on his sleeve.