Chapter 2: The Life and Death of San Shou Daoist

"These two spirit beasts will wait outside for now," the boy attendant said again.

Ji Ning nodded, and Xiaoqing and Bai Shu obediently waited in silence nearby. They both understood that within the Daoist temple was none other than the most renowned and supreme great power in the Three Realms, 'Patriarch Bodhi'—how could they dare to act rashly?

"Let's go." The white-robed Lord Jiang led Ji Ning into the temple.

"Uncle Bai, our master is about to meet the Patriarch. It all feels like a dream." Xiaoqing's eyes were filled with excitement.

White Water Marsh nodded gently. Even now, he remained in shock. That little child who once practiced swordsmanship and archery was now going to pay respects to the great power 'Patriarch Bodhi'. "The vicissitudes of life are truly inconceivable."

…

Inside the temple.

On an open ground lay many meditation cushions. In front of the ground were steps, and atop the steps was another cushion, on which sat a gaunt old man with white hair and beard. He wore a loose Daoist robe and sat cross-legged, exuding an aura that calmed the mind involuntarily.

"Is he Patriarch Bodhi?" Seeing the white-haired old man, Ji Ning couldn't help but feel nervous. This was a true great power, one who had even slain other divine demon patriarchs, and was known as the most mysterious patriarch in the Three Realms!

How could Ji Ning not be nervous before such an existence?

"Master, Ji Ning has been brought." The white-robed Lord Jiang was extremely respectful.

"Greetings, Patriarch." Ji Ning also spoke respectfully.

Patriarch Bodhi opened his eyes, looked at Ji Ning, smiled slightly, nodded gently, and instructed Lord Jiang, "You may withdraw. Leave Ji Ning here."

"Yes." The white-robed Lord Jiang respectfully withdrew.

Only Ji Ning and Patriarch Bodhi remained.

Patriarch Bodhi said with a faint smile, "No need to be nervous. Pick a cushion and sit down."

"Yes." Ji Ning chose a cushion nearby and sat cross-legged.

"I also watched the Grand Xia world's Immortal Gathering. Among you, Ji Ning, Mu Chuan, and the Slovenly one were the most outstanding," Patriarch Bodhi commented. "Chiming ultimately chose Mu Chuan… as I expected. Chiming values character above all when selecting disciples, and Mu Chuan's temperament suits his preferences best."

Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

The spirit of the water mansion had once said that Patriarch Bodhi was very skilled at teaching disciples. In comparison, Patriarch Chiming and Emperor Xuanwu were far less capable. Even Patriarch Bodhi considered 'Mu Chuan' and 'the Slovenly one' to be promising, so they indeed had great potential.

"But in my view, you have more potential than the two of them," Patriarch Bodhi said.

Ji Ning felt a surge of joy.

This was the first time someone had said he had more potential than the Slovenly one and Mu Chuan, and the speaker was Patriarch Bodhi.

"The path of immortal cultivation is full of hardships and difficulties. Therefore, one must take steady steps and walk firmly. That is correct," Patriarch Bodhi said. "In this regard, Mu Chuan and the Slovenly one are excellent disciples. Their foundations were the most solid at the Immortal Gathering, and their minds were the most settled."

"However… heaven and earth are divided into yin and yang," Patriarch Bodhi continued. "While steadiness and solidity are important, sharpness is equally vital."

"One needs steadiness, but also sharpness."

"Steadiness is yin; sharpness is yang. The alternation of yin and yang allows one to go further." Patriarch Bodhi smiled. "Ji Ning, your sharpness is far greater than those two, and your foundation is also very solid. However… disciples like you are harder to teach. Disciples like the Slovenly one and Mu Chuan are very easy to teach—let them cultivate slowly, let them explore gradually, and they will naturally improve."

"As for you, your progress will be faster than theirs, but also more dangerous. Your future achievements may surpass theirs, or you may fall midway." Patriarch Bodhi looked at Ji Ning. "Today, I will give you a few words. You must keep them in your heart."

"On the path of immortal cultivation, aim high. Take Pangu and Nuwa as your goals."

"On the path of immortal cultivation, keep your eyes on the road. Remember to build a solid foundation. Do not reach for the stars and lose everything, ending in death and destruction."

"On the path of immortal cultivation, be cautious. A careful person sails safely for ten thousand years."

"On the path of immortal cultivation, be sharp. Only with soaring spirit can you go further."

Patriarch Bodhi's words were simple, yet they touched the essence of the immortal cultivation mindset.

Those summoned before Patriarch Bodhi would not lack in talent or comprehension. At this point, what determined future achievement was more importantly the mindset!

"Ji Ning will surely remember these words." Ji Ning said earnestly.

"How to aim high without reaching for the stars, how to be cautious yet have soaring spirit… this you must grasp yourself. Heaven and earth, yin and yang—between them lies the heart." Patriarch Bodhi said.

Ji Ning nodded.

Meeting him for the first time, the Patriarch imparted these words. Ji Ning understood their importance. He also grasped the principles the Patriarch spoke of, but 'knowing is easy, doing is hard'. On the path of immortal cultivation, one must constantly self-reflect to avoid straying. The Patriarch's four admonitions were like four whips on the path, lashing him time and again.

…

Patriarch Bodhi continued, "I observed the Immortal Gathering. You should have learned the divine ability 'Star Picking Hand'."

"Yes." Ji Ning admitted.

Since the Patriarch had named 'Star Picking Hand', there was no point in hiding it.

"Daoist San Shou finally has a true successor. This divine ability will once again appear in the Three Realms!" Patriarch Bodhi sighed with emotion. "Little Bear, come out."

Whoosh.

A figure appeared beside Ji Ning out of thin air—the yellow-furred bear.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning was surprised to find that the yellow-furred bear seemed more real, as if alive, unlike the illusory form in the 'Water Mansion Spirit'.

"Little Bear pays respects to the Patriarch." The yellow-furred bear knelt and kowtowed.

"It seems you indeed entered the 'Star Picking Mansion' to learn this divine ability." Patriarch Bodhi nodded.

Ji Ning looked puzzled. "Patriarch, the Star Picking Mansion?"

The yellow-furred bear beside him said, "The Star Picking Mansion is the true name of the Water Mansion. Although this mansion was left by my master for his disciples, it was also his former cave dwelling. In the Star Picking Mansion, my master often entertained friends, and even some divine demons came to listen to his lectures."

Ji Ning immediately recalled the many cushions in the main hall of the Water Mansion—indeed, many had once listened to lectures there.

Patriarch Bodhi said, "The Star Picking Mansion was to San Shou what the Slanting Moon Three Star Cave is to me. In those days, San Shou knew the great calamity would be hard to overcome, so he meticulously prepared. He added a great many treasures to his former cave dwelling, even melting down several innate spirit treasures and enlisting the help of several great powers to forge it. Finally, he cast it out, letting Little Bear seek a successor."

"Please enlighten me, Patriarch."

The yellow-furred bear kowtowed heavily, even tears in his eyes. "Tell Little Bear, where is my master now? Is he alive or dead?"

His kowtows made a thumping sound, showing his urgent longing. He had waited for this day for endless ages.

"Sigh."

Hearing this, Patriarch Bodhi's expression grew complex. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "San Shou was my close friend, a friend for life and death! We met in the chaos and roamed together. I was somewhat dull, while Brother San Shou was more sharp and aggressive. I delighted in contemplating heaven and earth, comprehending the mysteries of the Dao, and did not meddle in the power struggles of the ancient world. But Brother San Shou was filled with battle intent, extremely fond of fighting. A great many divine demons followed under his command, carving out a vast territory in the ancient world, earning him the title 'Divine Lord'."

"Due to losing an arm early on, he painstakingly meditated and devised a shocking great divine ability, the 'Star Picking Hand'!"

"Chaos true gods were already extremely skilled in battle. Some great Luo patriarchs of the qi-refining school were unwilling to engage in life-and-death struggles with chaos true gods. But Brother San Shou, having realized this 'Star Picking Hand', especially after the sixth turn, possessed inconceivable power. In the ancient world, he was renowned, ranking among the foremost of true gods and patriarchs."

Patriarch Bodhi's gaze drifted as he spoke slowly. "But he never fully comprehended the Heavenly Dao, so his premonition of danger was relatively weak. During that great calamity—the greatest since Pangu created heaven and earth—San Shou insisted on going. I tried to stop him, but his innate battle intent was overwhelming; he refused to retreat. Knowing it was extremely dangerous… his warlike blood drove him to go. Before leaving, unwilling to let his 'Star Picking Hand' be lost, he invited several friends to help, adding many treasures to his original cave dwelling and refining it, thus creating the new Star Picking Mansion for inheritance."

"After creating the new Star Picking Mansion, when the calamity descended, he went to face it without hesitation."

"In that battle, I retreated." Patriarch Bodhi's gaze was distant.

Ji Ning's heart trembled.

Patriarch Bodhi had retreated?

The greatest calamity since Pangu created heaven and earth?

"That calamity, the greatest from chaos to the present, shattered the ancient world from the very start. Countless experts fell, divine demons perished. Even those stronger than San Shou died one by one." Patriarch Bodhi shook his head with emotion. "Tragic, tragic. San Shou was extremely warlike, naturally in the thick of it. His 'Star Picking Hand' was truly a top-tier great divine ability, praised even by Nuwa. In his frenzy, San Shou killed several divine demon patriarchs. I only watched the battle through 'Dream of the Three Realms', never participating."

"This divine ability was born from San Shou's innate battle intent, combined with some insights from Pangu and Nuwa, culminating in a great divine ability. Realizing a divine ability requires talent. I have realized far more divine abilities than San Shou, but none can compare to this Star Picking Hand." Patriarch Bodhi looked at Ji Ning. "Now that this divine ability has been passed to you, you must never let it gather dust."

Ji Ning nodded heavily.

So Daoist San Shou had also slain several divine demon patriarchs with the 'Star Picking Hand'. From Patriarch Bodhi's words, this divine ability was clearly terrifying.

The yellow-furred bear's heart trembled. "Patriarch, my master…"

Ji Ning also looked at Patriarch Bodhi.

Was Daoist San Shou alive or dead? This was something he had longed to know for a long time.

"Little Bear." Patriarch Bodhi looked at the yellow-furred bear and sighed softly.

The yellow-furred bear's heart jolted, his expression changed, and he kowtowed heavily, thumping loudly. "Please tell me, Patriarch, is my master alive or dead?"

"Little Bear, you have known the answer in your heart for a long time. Why ask further?" Patriarch Bodhi shook his head.

…