The Ancestor's Test

Shangshui Commandery. The Dongyan Mountains.

This was the home territory of the Dongyan clan, strictly forbidden to outsiders. Now, a great warship flew majestically through the azure sky, entering deep into the mountain range.

“We’re back.” Nine Lotos gazed into the distance at this familiar mountain range. This was her homeland.

“Xiaoyun, let’s go. We’re going to see the Ancestor,” said Immortal Northom.

Nine Lotos obediently followed.

Mist materialized around them. Immortal Northom led Nine Lotos upon a cloud, flying directly towards the forbidden region of the Dongyan Mountains.

“Is the Ancestor really going to stop me?” Nine Lotos thought silently. When she was a child, the Ancestor had doted on her. She had also admired and worshipped him the most, and always listened to his words.

Whoosh.

They flew through one restricted area after another within the Dongyan clan’s territory. The guards of these restricted areas saw Immortal Northom and Nine Lotos, but none moved to stop them.

After flying for a short while, they arrived at a quiet, ordinary valley.

A river flowed through the valley. By the riverside sat a man in simple blue robes, leisurely fishing.

“Ancestor.” Immortal Northom descended and spoke with reverence.

Nine Lotos looked at the blue-robed man, admiration in her eyes. She whispered softly, “Ancestor.”

“Northom, withdraw. Xiaoyun, stay.” The blue-robed man continued to fish, not even turning his head.

“Yes.” Immortal Northom bowed respectfully and retreated.

The valley was now left with only the blue-robed man and Nine Lotos. Nine Lotos was very familiar with this valley; she had spent her childhood here. It was because of the Ancestor’s support… that she had been designated as the next leader without any dispute.

“Xiaoyun.” The blue-robed man turned to look at her. A faint, warm smile graced his features, making him seem approachable. Sitting there fishing, he was like an ordinary mortal, without the slightest aura of a mighty figure. Yet, the Immortals of the entire Dongyan clan were all respectful and deferential before him, not daring to offer the slightest offense.

“Ancestor.” Nine Lotos suddenly felt a bit constrained.

“I heard you chose a Dao-companion,” the blue-robed man said with a smile. “Is it Ji Ning?”

“Yes.” Nine Lotos nodded.

“Forget about him for now,” the blue-robed man instructed.

Nine Lotos grew anxious. “Ancestor, you made me the next leader of the tribe. Does that mean I can’t even choose my own Dao-companion? I know our Dongyan clan needs to grow even stronger, and that my Dao-companion ideally should be a member of the Grand Xia royal clan, or a direct descendant of some feudal marquis clan. But even if I chose a Grand Xia prince as my Dao-companion, the help to our Dongyan clan would be limited. Ancestor, are you really going to force me?”

“You think I would force you?” The blue-robed man looked at her.

Nine Lotos was stunned.

“Even a Grand Xia prince as your Dao-companion would provide only limited help to our Dongyan clan. Would I force you for that?” The blue-robed man shook his head. “Nine Lotos, you are far too young.”

“But, Ancestor, you told me to forget Junior Apprentice-Brother Ning…” Nine Lotos was frantic.

“Do you understand what a ‘Dao-companion’ truly is?” the blue-robed man suddenly asked.

Nine Lotos hesitated.

A Dao-companion?

“Isn’t it a partner on the bumpy road of Immortal cultivation, one who supports the other through a thousand years, ten thousand years, even eternity, a companion who never abandons or leaves their side?” Nine Lotos said softly.

The blue-robed man let out a sigh. “Anyone can say that. But a Dao-companion who truly supports each other, never abandoning the other… how rare they are. In my life, I have seen too much betrayal between Dao-companions, Dao-companions killing or abandoning one another… far, far too much. Nothing in this world is certain.”

Nine Lotos was taken aback.

“You are too young,” the blue-robed man shook his head. “Ji Ning is also too young. Are the two of you certain… do you truly understand what it means to be Dao-companions? Do you understand what it entails?”

“A Dao-companion is someone for whom you can die!”

“A Dao-companion is someone whom, even if the gods and Buddhas themselves stand in your way, you would slaughter them to reclaim.”

“A Dao-companion is someone who, even if they die, through endless eternities of time, you still cannot forget them, as if they are always living by your side.”

“A Dao-companion… is the other half of your very life! Without them, your life is no longer complete!”

The blue-robed man looked at Nine Lotos, infinite vicissitude in his eyes. “Are you certain… that you can die for him? Are you certain that you have the courage to war against the gods and Buddhas for him?”

Nine Lotos opened her mouth to speak.

Die for him?

Fight against the gods and Buddhas for him?

“If you are sure you can do these things without any hesitation, then I will not stop you; I will only support you,” the blue-robed man sighed. “But I can see from your eyes that you are hesitating, you are wavering…”

“If you cannot treat him as the other half of your life, if you do not have the courage to die for him and to war against the gods and Buddhas for him, then why are you looking for a Dao-companion?”

“Without this resolve, then there is no need to choose a Dao-companion.”

“Immortal cultivation… is a path of defying the heavens.”

“One can travel this path alone.”

“One can also walk it side-by-side with a Dao-companion, but it is a difficult and bumpy road. If you wish to choose a Dao-companion, you must choose one with whom you share a true bond of life and death. You must be able to die for him, and he for you. Otherwise… it is better to walk alone.”

The blue-robed man looked at Nine Lotos. “Nine Lotos, what do you think?”

“I, I…” Nine Lotos was completely stupefied.

Was I wrong?

“You are still too young, and Ji Ning is even younger than you. The experiences you have shared are far too few! You have not yet reached the time to choose a Dao-companion because your hearts are not yet firm enough. This is merely a hazy infatuation you have for each other,” the blue-robed man shook his head. “This kind of hazy infatuation will not last.”

“I will not forcefully stop you and Ji Ning,” the blue-robed man said.

A trace of joy appeared in Nine Lotos’s eyes.

“But you need to be patient. Wait until the day you become a Primal Daoist. If, at that time, you still feel Ji Ning should be your Dao-companion, then go ahead and choose him. For now, you must learn to endure,” the blue-robed man said.

“Become a Primal Daoist?” Nine Lotos was taken aback. “But that will take so long?”

“I have spoiled you too much. The tempering of your Dao-heart has truly been very mediocre. Go to the ‘Ten Thousand Lotus Cave.’ I will set up a formation. You are not permitted to leave until you can find your way out of the Ten Thousand Lotus Cave,” the blue-robed man instructed.

Nine Lotos said urgently, “The Ten Thousand Lotus Cave? The formation you set up, Ancestor—how can I possibly break through it?”

“It is merely an illusion formation meant to reflect your Dao-heart,” the blue-robed man shook his head. “No more arguing. Go.”

“I must send word to Ji Ning.” Nine Lotos knew she could not refuse, and quickly spoke.

“Go,” the blue-robed man said calmly.

Nine Lotos immediately mounted her lotus magic treasure and quickly departed to arrange for someone to inform Ji Ning.

The blue-robed man watched her leave, lightly shaking his head. “So naive. But… Ruyin… she really looks so much like you. How long has it been… I still remember you and I fighting side-by-side in the ‘Celestial Light Major World.’ That battle… no matter how long passes, I cannot forget it. Cannot forget it, no…”

He then silently returned to his fishing. His hook attracted countless fish to swarm around him, but the hook was straight. It would never catch a single fish.