Chapter Ten: The Mysteries of the Five Elements

For a month, Su Fan had not left his cave dwelling, immersing himself in the study of the Five Elements Technique. Gradually, the mysteries of the five elements became increasingly clear to him. The so-called Five Elements are metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Metal refers to metals, and with some proficiency, one can master the use of ordinary mortal artifacts.

Mortal artifacts are the weapons used by cultivators, categorized into three ranks: mortal, magical, and treasure, each further divided into lower, middle, and upper grades. Cultivators in the Qi Refining stage mostly use mortal artifacts. Once they are adept at using these, they can fly. That green-robed young man, Li Yuan, wielded a sword of the lower mortal grade.

Wood represents living things. Upon attaining proficiency, one can draw vitality from all living beings to replenish oneself. Though cultivators enjoy longer lifespans, they are not immortal. Mastering the wood technique allows for some replenishment, but the loss is considerable—a thousand years of vitality may only grant a few more years of life. Moreover, this technique is extremely difficult to cultivate and is rarely practiced, considered more trouble than it's worth.

Water involves gathering moisture from the air, channeling spiritual energy into it to form a new manifestation, which can then be used to attack. Water seeps everywhere, and its harm is often invisible.

Fire is similar to water, but manifests as flames. Like the black-robed man that night, who used the fire technique from the Five Elements. Normally, fire techniques transmute spiritual power directly into flame. This flame is unlike ordinary fire; it can melt all metals in the world, but can be extinguished by water techniques. Yet, all things are relative—if one's mastery of fire is high enough, the flames can evaporate water, and strong enough metals can cut through the flames, as Su Fan had done when he extinguished the black-robed man's fire.

Earth is a gentler technique, often used in alchemy and artifact forging, where precision is paramount. Even the slightest error can ruin precious materials. Using earth techniques minimizes such risks. Earth can harmonize with any of the metal, water, or fire techniques, and can be used in conjunction with any other element. However, earth is suppressed by wood; earth contains vitality, and wood techniques can absorb all the vitality from earth, leaving the practitioner drained of life.

Su Fan slowly opened his eyes, his fingers forming various seals. Suddenly, a flame appeared before him, a manifestation of the fire technique. He had only read it once and already learned it. Though his constitution was weak, his comprehension of techniques was extraordinary.

Su Fan let out a long sigh. "The path of cultivation truly is wondrous. If one day I attain mastery, I shall roam the skies like Senior Brother Li. Yet, I still cannot progress in the Five Elements Technique."

He spoke casually, but if Senior Brother Liu in yellow heard this, he would surely be infuriated. When Liu was merely a registered disciple, it took a year just to grasp the Five Elements Technique, and another five to learn to conjure flame. Su Fan, however, remained ignorant of this; he was just a youth not yet steeped in cultivation.

Much had happened in the past month. Xiao Lin's cultivation had advanced rapidly to the seventh layer of Qi Refining, earning him an exception from the blue division elder, who made him a formal disciple and took him to Tianyuan Sect. He had not told Su Fan, fearing it would disturb his training.

Seven days ago, two young men fought fiercely over a spiritual herb, and Liu expelled them from the cave, reclaiming their tokens. Three days ago, a new disciple, unable to endure the hardships of cultivation, tried to escape and fell into a bottomless gorge, his fate unknown.

Su Fan knew none of this, for he did not wish to leave his cave, intent on cultivating in peace. Yet, this wish was not to be fulfilled.

A loud shout pierced through the heavy stone door, reaching Su Fan's ears, the voice like a brass bell—clear and resonant. The message: "All registered disciples, gather at the plaza."

Su Fan sighed and made his way to the plaza, the spot where they had first arrived. It was vast and open, capable of accommodating thousands.

The mountain path teemed with people, some pointing at Su Fan and whispering, but he paid them no mind, aware that his aptitude was a source of ridicule.

As soon as Su Fan arrived, Senior Brother Liu greeted him with a smile. It seemed the earlier shout had been his, though his thin frame hardly suited the booming voice. Now, he wore an ingratiating expression, bowing low. "Junior Brother Su, how goes your cultivation in the cave? Do you need some spiritual herbs?"

Su Fan was puzzled by Liu’s sudden attentiveness, giving an awkward smile. "I am fine, do not need any herbs, thank you, Senior Brother Liu."

Liu feigned a frown. "Junior Brother Su, don’t be so distant. Before leaving, Junior Brother Xiao specifically asked me to look after you."

Su Fan quickly asked, "Junior Brother Xiao? Where has Xiao Lin gone?"

Liu’s face brightened. "You don’t know? The other day, the chief elder of the blue division passed by and met Xiao Lin. He took a liking to him and brought him to Tianyuan Sect. I hear he’s already been accepted as a disciple."

Su Fan smiled lightly. "Junior Brother Xiao is truly fortunate." He also realized why everyone had been pointing at him—it was because he and Xiao Lin were friends.

Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed from the sky. Liu’s face instantly changed to one of reverence, gazing upwards. The registered disciples around them fell silent and looked skyward.

A streak of red light flashed across the sky, landing in the center of the plaza, revealing three youths in red robes. The leader’s gaze was cold and arrogant.

He surveyed the crowd and spoke icily, "By order of the sect master, I am here to assess the registered disciples. Now, everyone extend your left hand to your forehead."

Everyone complied. The red-robed youth formed a seal, sent a paper talisman flying, touched it, and it burned to ash. He traced a strange symbol in the air with the ashes, then struck it toward the crowd.

Gradually, dozens of hands began to emit a faint red glow. The red-robed youth continued coldly, "Those whose hands are glowing, step forward."

Su Fan’s hand glowed as well. Liu’s eyes widened in shock, muttering, "Impossible, a month ago his cultivation was only at the third layer of Qi Refining. How could he have advanced so quickly?"

The red-robed youth surveyed the disciples who had stepped forward, his expression softening slightly. There were eleven in total, including four women. All eleven looked bewildered, glancing at each other.

When the youth’s gaze fell on Su Fan, his brow furrowed, but then returned to normal.

He announced, "These eleven have reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining. We will now hold a small competition. The final winner will follow me into Tianyuan Sect as an inner disciple."

With a command, six arenas were cleared. This competition was by lottery, each participant assigned a number. Whoever drew the same number would be their opponent.

Su Fan tightly gripped number seven, remaining silent.

After the draw, the red-robed youth declared, "Number seven will skip the first round and proceed directly to the second."

Such is the way of cultivation—some luck always plays a part. Su Fan watched the matches with relief, though his mind was filled with conflicting emotions.

At some point, Senior Brother Liu approached, patting Su Fan on the shoulder with a smile. "It seems, Junior Brother Su, that you and I will soon be fellow disciples. If you join the yellow division, we will truly be brothers."

Su Fan forced a smile and said nothing. The changes had come so suddenly—he had wanted to cultivate, then was pushed into study, and now, after striving to refine himself for five years, was thrust into a competition, and his cultivation had inexplicably advanced.

In the first round, five won—four men and one woman. The female disciple stood out; she had mastered the fire technique and defeated her opponent in a single exchange.

Among the men stood a particularly short youth with an unusually large head. Though his appearance was strange, his performance was remarkable, launching ten consecutive attacks without allowing his opponent to respond, and with the eleventh, knocked him off the stage.

In the second round, Su Fan faced a frail youth, who carried a sword made of ordinary iron—a toy to cultivators.

The two saluted each other. The youth’s sword moves were graceful and fluid, forcing Su Fan to retreat and defend against dozens of attacks, unable to use his spiritual energy.

The sword continued to thrust at Su Fan, its cold edge and bleak intent mirrored in the youth’s determined eyes. Yet Su Fan was not weak.

He flicked his fingers in the air, subtly shifting the sword’s tip. The youth quickly formed a seal to steady it, but in that instant, Su Fan conjured a flame and struck the blade, which immediately melted into molten iron.

The youth stared in disbelief, his hands frozen mid-seal, then knelt and whispered, "I concede."

Su Fan smiled gently, helping him up. "My name is Su Fan."

The youth managed a bitter smile. "I am Qin Yu. Next time we meet, I will defeat you."

Su Fan simply smiled, watching his opponent’s departing figure with thoughtful eyes.