Chapter Thirty-Eight: Drunken in the World of Red Dust

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Just now, hearing that Jade Immortal’s voice—so clear and melodious, like the song of a yellow oriole, gentle and girlish—left Liu Ping momentarily stunned. He immediately began to guess: with such a lovely voice, could this great Jade Immortal perhaps be a peerless young maiden?

He did not dare to let his mind wander further as he listened to the summons. Circling the screen, he immediately caught sight of the Jade Immortal’s appearance.

As he had suspected, the Jade Immortal truly looked like a young girl. Liu Ping’s eyes widened, staring fixedly, rooted to the spot and at a loss for words.

The Jade Immortal had delicate, refined features, an air of transcendence that set her apart from the world. Her black hair was coiled into a flying celestial bun; she wore a simple, elegant Daoist robe, and sat casually in a chair. Glancing at Liu Ping’s dumbfounded expression, she couldn’t help but laugh: “Staring at me like that—you’re really being quite rude.”

Startled, Liu Ping immediately bowed his head and saluted, apologizing, “I did not expect the Daoist to be so young and beautiful, so different from the image I had in my mind. I was so shocked that I lost my composure and acted offensively. Please forgive my rudeness.”

The Jade Immortal replied, “It’s nothing; I’m not one to hold grudges. It’s enough that you’re aware of it.” Gesturing to the seat beside her, she added, “Come, sit here.”

Liu Ping did not stand on ceremony. “Yes, thank you,” he answered, and promptly sat down beside her.

This easy composure surprised the Jade Immortal inwardly. To be so unreserved, even knowing her reputation—no wonder Uncle Master Xuan Zhenzi took him as a disciple; he truly has talent.

Recalling the earlier question, Liu Ping explained, “I was only taken as a disciple last autumn. It’s no wonder the Daoist did not know me.”

The Jade Immortal said indifferently, “Last autumn? Yet you are already at the peak of Ghost Immortal cultivation, about to face the Yang Fire Tribulation. One more breakthrough and you’ll be a Human Immortal. To reach such a realm in so short a time—your talent is indeed remarkable. But words are no proof. Please, show me your credentials.”

Liu Ping found it odd—wasn’t the Jade Immortal supposed to be clairvoyant? Shouldn’t she be able to divine the truth?

As if reading his mind, the Jade Immortal smiled and said, “Do you really not know, or are you pretending? Your fate is a tangled mess—nothing about you can be discerned. I summoned you simply because I was curious and wanted to ask you myself.”

Liu Ping understood. “As for credentials, I am not sure. My master only instructed me to cultivate and bestowed upon me a jade pendant. I wonder if this counts as proof?”

As he spoke, he produced the jade pendant. Upon seeing it, the Jade Immortal said, “That suffices. Only direct disciples of our sect receive such an item—it must have belonged to my uncle-master himself, and since he had no further use for it, he gave it to you. Still, it’s rather odd—since you’re cultivating under Xuan Zhenzi with his guidance, why would you need this? It would be better if he gave you a magical treasure instead.”

Liu Ping smiled wryly. “Though I took Xuan Zhenzi as my master, he gave me this jade pendant and then left…”

The Jade Immortal was even more surprised. “How is that possible? Even if no one instructed you, to reach this realm in a few short months, exploring on your own, already proves extraordinary talent. Why would my uncle-master not have you follow him for further guidance?”

Liu Ping spoke honestly, “It wasn’t that my master didn’t want to take me with him—it’s that I was unwilling to leave the mortal world. I still have my parents and younger sister; I simply couldn’t bear to part with them.”

The Jade Immortal’s eyes lit up, gazing at Liu Ping with keen interest.

That look made Liu Ping uneasy, so he hurriedly recounted the events of the past, omitting, of course, the little tales of Drunken Red Dust and his own greedy misadventures—such things he would never mention before such beauty.

“To refine yourself in the mortal world? Ha! You really do have a lofty ambition. Still, there is truth to the saying: ‘The minor hermit hides in the wilds, the middling hermit in the city, the great hermit in the court.’ There is some Dao in that. No wonder my uncle-master allowed you to drift amid the world of dust.”

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As the Jade Immortal listened to his story, her beautiful eyes shone with interest. Among the elders of the Immortal Sect, all were aloof in their Dao hearts and did not acknowledge her; now, at last, she had found a kindred spirit, and she could not help wanting to look after him.

Liu Ping, somewhat embarrassed, said, “I was indeed overly bold back then. Only now do I realize the difficulty. That’s why I’ve hesitated to face the Yang Fire Tribulation and have been searching through Daoist texts for clues to help me cross safely…”

The Jade Immortal poured a cup of tea, placing it by Liu Ping’s side. With a slender jade finger, she gestured at the cup. “Drink it. In immortal teas, purple is the rarest; though this is but green tea, just a small cup will do you much good. Treat it as my gift for our first meeting.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister!” Liu Ping responded cheerfully, not at all reserved. Since she referred to Xuan Zhenzi as ‘Uncle Master,’ by seniority she was indeed his senior sister. Not knowing her Daoist name, calling her ‘Senior Sister’ felt much friendlier than the formal ‘Daoist.’

Having thanked her, he drank it all in one gulp. At once, a warm current settled in his stomach, spreading throughout his body—a most comfortable sensation.

His words and manner pleased the Jade Immortal. She couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Looking up methods in the classics? That’s a bit reckless. Still, you’ve had no guidance and have been groping your way alone—it’s rather pitiful. Since you’ve researched it, I’m curious—have you found any clues?”

Liu Ping’s heart leapt with excitement. Whether it was the tea or the guidance to come, the benefits were self-evident.

He replied at once, “I have found a few clues… The Yang Fire Tribulation can only be passed once. If one’s soul can gradually adapt to it, the process would be much safer. I discovered a method: after absorbing the Yang Fire, before it erupts, I continuously shift among the four elements—wind, fire, earth, and water—allowing my soul to acclimate gradually.”

Surprised, the Jade Immortal asked, “You’ve already comprehended the unity of the Four Elements?”

Liu Ping replied, “Just a little. When I first began cultivating and couldn’t break through, I came up with the notion that understanding the unity of the Four Elements might be the key—that’s what finally allowed me to enter the path.”

Hearing this, the Jade Immortal’s heart trembled—he understood the unity of the Four Elements even before entering the path?

This was completely backwards! Not just reckless—utterly chaotic!

Usually, for a cultivator, three months to enter the path, a hundred days to build a foundation, then after becoming a Ghost Immortal, one spends years accumulating spiritual power. Only after passing the Yang Fire Tribulation does one begin to grasp the unity of the Four Elements and step into the Human Immortal realm.

Never had she heard of someone comprehending the Four Elements before even beginning the path!

Moreover, this understanding must be realized by oneself; it cannot be taught or pointed out by others.

What kind of genius could achieve such comprehension before even entering the Dao?

The Jade Immortal’s astonished expression made Liu Ping nervous. Had he made a mistake? He quickly asked, “Senior Sister, is there a problem with my cultivation? It’s just that everything has gone so smoothly… Am I doing something wrong?”

So smooth? If these words were heard in the Immortal Sect, who knows how many diligent cultivators would cough up blood in frustration? The Jade Immortal shook her head, smiling. “You’ve done nothing wrong. In fact, I’m even more curious. How do you understand the Four Elements?”

Liu Ping gathered his thoughts and explained his scientific reasoning as best he could in terms appropriate to this era.

The Jade Immortal nodded. “Though some of your terms are unfamiliar, your understanding is correct. To have entered the path in such a manner—you are truly remarkable.”

The praise left Liu Ping stunned. Had he not erred, but instead was simply too exceptional? He quickly replied, “I dare not accept such praise.”

The Jade Immortal said, “Since you have doubts, let me resolve them. I can offer you two methods to cross the Yang Fire Tribulation—you may choose whichever you like.”

The main event had come. Liu Ping’s heart pounded as he said, “I am all ears!”

The Jade Immortal said, “The first is to use your own method. I can teach you a technique to harvest the Yang Flame—after you have adapted, you can cross the tribulation. But I do not recommend this path. Crossing the Yang Fire Tribulation this way does not temper the soul enough. There are cons as well as pros—this route is much safer, though.”

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“The second method: I can give you three taels of Azure Essence Liquid. If you take it before the tribulation, the pain will be much less, and it will continuously restore your soul, helping you through the Yang Fire Tribulation. However, this method carries some risk. As long as you don’t encounter the Two-Colored Yang Fire Tribulation, you won’t perish, but if you fail, you may not be able to try again for an entire lifetime.”

“A lifetime?” Liu Ping frowned.

“A lifetime is thirty years,” the Jade Immortal replied. “Which path do you choose?”

Liu Ping considered for a moment, then stood up. “I choose the second!”

“Good,” the Jade Immortal said, smiling. “You have spirit. Don’t worry—with your talent, you should cross safely. In fact, these three taels of Azure Essence Liquid are the best support for disciples of our sect facing the tribulation. In comparison, that first method, the technique, is not worth much.”

Liu Ping saluted. “Thank you, Senior Sister!”

“No need for formalities.” With a turn of her hand, the Jade Immortal produced a small bottle and handed it to Liu Ping. “Take it before the tribulation.”

Liu Ping accepted the jade bottle. “Yes!”

Suddenly, Liu Ping noticed that the cabinet behind him had opened a crack, as though an eye was peering at him.

Alarmed, he turned to look, but the cabinet closed at once.

Puzzled, he glanced at his Senior Sister. The Jade Immortal just smiled without a word.

Liu Ping quietly stepped over and threw the cabinet open.

Inside, squatting, was a little girl, wrapped entirely in a blanket with only her small head visible—adorable as a flower fairy. In her hair was a bronze fruit-shaped hairpin. She glanced at Liu Ping shyly, protesting in a tiny voice, “No, you mustn’t open it.”

Looking at her hairpin, Liu Ping asked, “Are you called Guo’er?”

“Mm…” the little girl ducked her head bashfully, hiding further inside the blanket.

“How adorable,” Liu Ping couldn’t help but say.

Guo’er, her face buried in the blanket, blushed deeply and whispered, “Quick, close it…”

Liu Ping closed the door, turned to the Jade Immortal, and asked, “Forgive my curiosity, Senior Sister, but may I ask your Daoist name?”

The Jade Immortal replied, “My Daoist name? Don’t laugh when you hear it.”

Liu Ping hurriedly said, “I wouldn’t dare.”

The Jade Immortal replied, “My Daoist name was once Huang Qingzi. Now, it is Drunken Red Dust.”