Chapter 6: 6. Mirror Mirror

After leaving his disciple behind, Ji Jiang continued watching through his spiritual sense. Not that he had a habit of spying on people, but his disciple was just too weak. Ji Jiang had serious concerns about him dropping dead after tripping over nothing!

It took him ten thousand years to find a suitable disciple! Death, was not allowed! Not on his watch!

While he was keeping an eye on Chen Li, a voice transmission arrived.

<Junior brother, I heard you’ve finally accepted a disciple…>

Ever since Ji Jiang became the peak master, only the master of the 1st peak, Li Bai, could call him junior brother.

Ji Jiang guessed that underneath the calm voice, Li Bai was probing. He replied without thinking too much about it. <Yes, I finally found a good seed after all these years.>

The silence lasted for a few breaths. <Junior brother has found another Heavenly Lightning root genius?> Asked Li Bai, with his voice laced with doubt.

<No, my disciple has inferior earth roots.>

<…>

Ji Jiang smiled as imagined what kind of face Li Bai could be making right now.

Soon, Li Bai spoke again, this time with some uncertainly in his voice. <… Junior brother. Did you take ten thousand heaven-grade marrow cleansing pills, the entire Sea of Tempering, more than a million heaven-grade cultivation pills, a dozen high-grade spiritual veins, and put up a requisition order for two hundred billion spirit stones worth of materials?>

Ji Jiang’s reply was immediate. <Nn.>

<…>

13th peak had never withdrawn or requested resources from the sect. Over the past 10000 years, this much amounted to nothing, both of them knew. Ji Jiang had the right, even if he wasn’t a peak master!

However, Ji Jiang understood his senior brother’s curiosity. Since this also affected his disciple, he decided to explain.

<Senior brother, even if I can find another person that can use my cultivation technique, so what? What’s the worth of being able to absorb spiritual energy faster? What’s the worth of being able to swing a sword like lightning?

What I want is a disciple that can handle my inheritance. Every other consideration is meaningless.>

<… Junior brother, you’ve always had your own considerations. That’s it! Tomorrow I will visit this martial nephew!>

The voice cut off, leaving Ji Jiang with a wry smile.

* * *

Chen Li woke up the next day with a feeling of overflowing vitality.

It was a truly odd sensation. He was sure that he had never felt so alive!

Did the marrow cleansing pill suppose to have such an effect? He decided to ask his master the next time he saw him.

‘… I’m not even hungry, what the hell?’ Chen Li remembered that he hadn’t eaten anything yesterday. He was used to skipping meals during his expeditions, so he hadn’t questioned the lack of hunger last night.

‘Was it the pill, or was it the pool? Looks like both weren’t ordinary…’

Truthfully, if Chen Li had some sort of talent, he would’ve been beyond terrified at this point! The treatment he received so far would’ve satisfied the requirements of a possession plot, there was no doubt in Chen Li’s mind!

‘I wonder if Su Yan is alright…’ Comparatively, his sister would’ve received even better treatment, right?

Since Chen Li couldn’t do anything even if there was a nefarious plot in the works, he decided to go with the flow. What could he do with his paltry 2nd stage of Qi Condensation realm cultivation base? The only way for him to influence the plot right now was to get a stupidly-OP sign-in system.

Chen Li stood still for a moment and looked around. ‘Yep, still no system…’ Then he went outside, only to find himself inside the practice room.

Ji Jiang’s voice came from behind. “You’ve digested the marrow cleansing pill better than I thought. Not bad!”

Chen Li met the eyes of his master and gave a martial salute. “Master.”

“Mm. Continue taking one every evening. Normally, just eating one marrow pill is enough, even if you have lower aptitude, the result would be satisfactory. But, there is a lesser-known effect. Continuously taking them will unclog your meridian and raise the quality of your blood qi.”

Once Chen Li nodded, Ji Jiang patted his shoulder. “Let’s sit. I’ve got some questions for you.”

Master and disciple sat on two mats rather than chairs. Though this felt really Xianxia-like, Chen Li realized he would’ve preferred chairs, particularly, comfortable ones. But he wasn’t about to complain!

Ji Jiang sized him up while nodding. “Looks like you haven’t practiced either external or internal martial arts.” Seeing Chen Li’s blank nod, Ji Jiang explained. “Your meridians are weak, even for your average aptitude. You almost have no muscles that are formed by martial arts. This is easy to tell even with the naked eye when you know what to look for.

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This isn’t a bad thing; in your situation it is the opposite, actually. You will understand what I mean by that later. Now, how is your combat experience like?”

Though Chen Li has never practiced any official martial art, he did have some muscles. In Ji Jiang’s mind, he would’ve likely been beaten up at least once or twice.

Chen Li didn’t know what this would lead to, but he didn’t hide anything. “In the past year I’ve hunted some spiritual beasts like desolate boar, iridescent beaver, black squirrel, and savage two-headed dove. But I’ve never entered combat.”

“… Never entered combat? How did you hunt then?”

“Through traps. And preparations.” Chen Li described how he hunted a few animal types.

Ji Jiang didn’t display any emotions, but inwardly he was surprised. “Have you ever fought anyone?”

Chen Li shook his head. “No.” This time, he noticed that his master’s gaze seemed to be… frozen.

“Really?” Asked Ji Jiang, because even though he knew Chen Li wasn’t lying, he found it hard to believe.

“Still Water city is protected by the Qin empire, and is relatively safe. Although sometimes fights happen within the walls, they resolve quickly, and generally happen far away. My parents work as paper makers, our home is inside the commoner district. Sect, cultivator, or noble disputes usually do not intersect with our way of life.”

As he explained, Chen Li once again, felt quite thankful for the peaceful life within the city walls.

“Within our neighborhood, not even kids would fight each other. The most serious argument I’ve had with a friend ended with a bet.”

Ji Jiang stared at Chen Li for a good while. In the world of cultivation, where the strong ate the weak, how could this kid have such a peaceful life? Could it be that the so-called Qin empire really ushered in a new era of stability? This was hard to believe, yet it seemed to be the truth. At least for Still Water city. At least for Chen Li’s family.

“Mm, this changes things…” Ji Jiang smiled. “I thought you would have developed some combat awareness to counteract your deficiencies. But since you don’t, this is even better. We can start right now!”

Ji Jiang flicked his wrist, and a giant, circular mirror appeared out of nowhere. Chen Li felt his consciousness weaken as he glanced at the nine silver dragons at the edges.

“This is the Self-Reflection Mirror. Though the name is unimaginative, its effects are not bad. It will draw your mind inside and let you face the reflection of yourself.” Ji Jiang lovingly smiled at the mirror. “I used to think this was a peerless heavenly treasure! Afraid that others would covet it, I desperately hid it away from others…”

Chen Li’s ears perked up. This thing, why did it sound so much like a cheat item? However, something was off... “Master, is it not a peerless heavenly treasure?” He asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

“Hahaha… No. After a few hundred years, I realized no one really looked for this kind of treasure.”

His master’s words left Chen Li with even more questions. Seeing this, Ji Jiang chuckled. “Although treasures like this Self-Reflection Mirror are rare, no one really wants to use them. For an ordinary cultivator, the effect is only so-so. While the risks can be unimaginably high.

When your mind enters the mirror, your reflection will know every technique you possess. It will fight you to the death. Mercy, is not within its thoughts. Honor, it couldn’t even think of such a concept. It, will come after you, without resting, without stopping.

Take your time and think. Why wouldn’t a normal cultivator find such a treasure desirable?”

Chen Li fell into deep thought.

‘… Why the f*ck wouldn’t they want it? Isn’t this the stereotypical MC power-up treasure?’

Though he had read many Xianxia stories, he had never encountered a genuine treasure before. Still, Chen Li tried to deduce while using the available information.

‘He said he realized no one looked for it after a few hundred years. So, it should have some long-term use, at least when the user’s cultivation level is on the lower side.

The effect isn’t good, and the risk is high. But he told me not having fighting experience makes me a better candidate…’

Chen Li shook his head. In Xianxia terms, he could only come up with one, rather flimsy reasoning. “Could it be that relying on this treasure one complacent?”

Ji Jiang raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“…” Chen Li’s ideas about the matter weren’t solid enough to articulate them on the spot. Thankfully, his master remained silent, and allowed him to collect his thoughts. “… Without challenging the unknown, it is easy to get stuck… inside the local maximum…?”

A strange light flashed within Ji Jiang’s eyes. “Local maximum?” He asked.

“It’s…” Unknowingly, when presented with an unexpected question, Chen Li’s mind had started working in English, and some terms unknown by locals popped up. Though he did his best to explain, some awkwardness around his wording remained. “… A single hill on the vast plains can be seen as the highest point…”

While Chen Li was trying to find a Xianxia-like way to convey his thoughts, Ji Jiang spoke in high spirits.

“But to reach higher heights, one has to climb down first.” Ji Jiang looked at Chen Li with shining eyes. “Good! Good! Always remember this! If you can’t let go of your own pride, you can never improve!”

Suddenly, Chen Li picked up on the fact that the his master wanted him to enter the Self-Reflection Mirror, and fight himself to the death.

'F*ck...'

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