Eternal Life through Drawing Lots

The third assessment tested the art of musical healing.

The so-called art of musical healing involves stimulating the five notes—Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zhi, and Yu—to treat a corresponding subject.

This is because these five notes correspond to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. They can connect with the five emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, worry, and fear, and influence the five zang-organs: the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys...

"Phew..." Fang Yang let out a soft breath.

He now found himself in a pristine white, sealed chamber.

Before him was a wooden table. Further ahead was a listless Snow Sparrow.

However, there were no musical instruments on the table.

For this round, one had to provide their own instrument.

Fang Yang narrowed his eyes, gazing at the Snow Sparrow in its cage.

After a moment of contemplation, he did not take out the Yimu Guqin, but instead a spare White Feather Guqin.

The next moment, he placed the White Feather Guqin on the table and sat cross-legged before it.

"TWANG..."

With a single pluck of the strings, the dozing Snow Sparrow snapped awake, its eyes wide.

Following that, Fang Yang continued to pluck the strings, producing a series of soaring, stirring notes. The Snow Sparrow grew excited, even beginning to dance along with the music!

Seeing this, Chen Ying’s eyes sparkled. ’Ah Yang is getting more and more incredible. He’s truly amazing. I wonder what it would sound like if we played together with my Ancient Zither?’

Outside the hall, the three elders, including Second Uncle Fang, all nodded slightly upon first hearing the music.

Clan Elder Lin Bin shook his head, as if intoxicated by the sound. "I’ve long heard that the Carp Eagle inheritance has some connection to the immortal music of the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life. I never expected it to have even inscribed parts of the Daoist tones."

"Based on this skill alone, some Tier Three Alchemy Masters are no match for Fang Yang." A faint smile appeared on the Ruan Ya Clan Elders’ exceptionally beautiful face.

Of course, they wouldn’t lose themselves just because of Fang Yang’s music.

What they admired was the uplifting Daoist rhythm within it.

Facing the congratulations of his two friends, Second Uncle Fang clasped his hands behind his back. He narrowed his eyes, smiling toward the source of the music.

The Carp Eagle inheritance was undeniably powerful, but its true strength depended on who wielded it.

After the passing of the ’Carp Eagle Saint,’ Ancestor Fang Nian, the Fang Clan had no shortage of prodigies who specialized in cultivating this inheritance.

But prodigies like Fang Yang were rare. No, forget like Fang Yang—there were few who could even compare to the ’Carp Eagle Saint,’ Ancestor Fang Nian, himself.

’It’s not the Carp Eagle inheritance that’s strong, it’s Ah Yang...’ Second Uncle Fang clenched his fists.

...

He passed.

Just like that, Fang Yang easily passed the Tier Two Alchemy Master assessment.

And just like the year before, he left all the other candidates in his cohort far behind in the dust.

As he put away the White Feather Guqin and walked out of the hall, that Banker Pool was still struggling with his Alchemy. Even the step of controlling the flames looked incredibly difficult for him.

Now, led by a disciple of the Medicine Hall, Fang Yang followed the bluestone steps into the inner hall.

In the inner hall, Fang Yang saw Chen Ying again.

Chen Ying was holding a wooden tray, taking delicate steps as she gracefully approached.

On the tray rested a purple Pill Master’s robe and an Identity Token engraved with Fang Yang’s name.

"Fang Yang, congratulations on becoming a true Tier Two Alchemy Master."

Chen Ying smiled faintly, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

"After the Xuan-Yu Battle ends, I’ll most likely be heading to the Celestial Domain to cultivate at the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life.

If you don’t get recommended to the Thunder Saint Academy after the Xuan-Yu Battle, you can write to me.

I’ll definitely help get you into the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life!

But by then, I’m afraid we’ll have to see each other primarily as fellow disciples of the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life."

With that, she piled the purple Pill Master’s robe and the Identity Token into Fang Yang’s arms.

After doing this, she scurried away like a little thief, not giving Fang Yang a chance to reply!

’Cultivate at the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life?’ A thoughtful glint flashed in Fang Yang’s eyes.

If he remembered correctly, back then, that scoundrel Fang Nian’s first confidante, ’Qing Rushang,’ had also rushed off to the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life to cultivate!

He had to admit, Chen Ying had just given him another option.

To go and cultivate at the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life!

Besides, if he wanted to achieve the Kunpeng Spirit Body, dealing with the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life was unavoidable.

To advance from the Carp Eagle Spirit Body to the Kunpeng Spirit Body, he needed to refine two Sacred Objects and comprehend one phenomenon.

These two Sacred Objects were the [Heart of the Black Moon Water Kun] and the [Wings of the Golden Sun Wind Roc].

The phenomenon to be comprehended was the [Tai Chi Yin Yang Diagram Phenomenon].

And the [Tai Chi Yin Yang Diagram Phenomenon] just so happened to be one of the supreme true inheritances of the Daoist Mansion of Eternal Life!

"Hm? What’s that smell?" Fang Yang’s nose twitched as he caught the scent of jasmine.

Following the fragrance, he looked down at the purple Pill Master’s robe in his hands.

At that moment, a thought occurred to him, and his sharp brows arched slightly.

Then, he slowly lifted the purple Pill Master’s robe.

A sachet!

It was a purple sachet embroidered with a Kunpeng, and it was the source of the faint jasmine fragrance.

Suddenly, Fang Yang fell silent.

Not only that, but his expression grew dazed, as if he had returned to the bloodline dream from before.

In that bloodline dream, the scoundrel Fang Nian also had a sachet.

And that sachet had been a gift from Qing Rushang!

"Phew..." Fang Yang let out a breath and then put the Pill Master’s robe away.

He then turned and strode out with purpose.

Just after Fang Yang strode away, Banker Pool emerged.

Banker Pool looked utterly dejected. Obviously, he had failed.

He had exhausted so much of his energy and True Essence that he’d been forced to give up on the assessment.

As soon as Banker Pool came out, he hurried toward his master, the Ruan Ya Clan Elders.

Just as he returned, he was stunned to see his senior martial sister, Chen Ying, gazing after Fang Yang’s departing figure!

At that very moment, a blaze of fury erupted in his chest.

His face was ferocious, twisted, yet he was utterly powerless.

He was so consumed by jealousy that his features were completely distorted!

"PFFT—" A mouthful of blood, spurred by emotional turmoil, spewed from his lips.

Chen Ying turned, saw this, and quickly took a few steps back.

"Heh heh..." Banker Pool gave a miserable laugh.

He felt like a complete and utter idiot.

Fang Yang hadn’t even made a move, yet he had already lost this badly.

’If Fang Yang had acted, could I really be standing here unscathed?’

"Sigh. Pull yourself together," Clan Elder Lin Bin sighed heavily, patting Banker Pool’s shoulder in a consoling manner.

Sometimes, the gap between people is even greater than the gap between a person and a dog.

Some people are just born winners. You can’t even begin to compare.

And when it comes to matters of the heart, it’s always feast or famine. It’s hard to make sense of it.

「At the same time.」

「Elsewhere.」

A carriage was creaking its way forward, heading toward the Beast Rushing Mountain Range.

Inside the carriage, Fang Yang leaned against one side, resting with his eyes closed.

’Perhaps I can use Chen Ying as my key to obtaining the [Tai Chi Yin Yang Diagram Phenomenon] inheritance?’

At this moment, Fang Yang strongly suspected that the [Tai Chi Yin Yang Diagram Phenomenon] that scoundrel Fang Nian had perceived was obtained from Qing Rushang.

As Fang Yang pondered, the carriage continued onward, advancing in its set direction...