Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter - Transmigration (1)

At the end of summer, the scorching heat still lingered, blazing down upon the heads of those on Du Su Mountain.

The path up Du Su Mountain was steep and rugged, with towering rocky outcrops on either side. A cascading stream ran from top to bottom, its glistening waters crashing against the azure rocks, creating tiny, airborne water droplets.

A line of carriages and riders had come to a halt beneath the shade of trees by the stream. Travelers and horses alike took respite by the cool waters. These carriages belonged to the Wang family of Yue City, en route to the Duzhou for the prestigious Taiyan Sect disciple selection.

The Taiyan Sect stood as one of the prominent sects in the Duzhou. Every decade, it attracted the finest talents from various cities, all converging here to showcase their exceptional abilities. Their goal was clear: to distinguish themselves in the selection competition and embark on the path of cultivation.

Seventeen-year-old Wang Shao, the young master of Yue City, relaxed inside one of the carriages, seeking solace from the heat. With his cultivation at the mid-level of Foundation Establishment, he was merely a step away from the third stage. Several dozen days remained until the competition on Mount Gufeng. With daily use of spiritual pills and dedication to his practice, there was a chance he might enter the late Foundation Establishment stage even before the competition commenced.

Wang Shao represented the hope of the entire Yue City.

Yue, a modest border town, was so obscure that it didn’t even earn a place on the Duzhou’s maps. For countless years, it hadn’t produced a cultivator who successfully reached the Golden Core stage. Wang Shao had commenced his Qi refining at the age of ten, achieving Foundation Establishment by twelve. Progressing from the first stage to the second took a full five years. Should he succeed in this breakthrough, he would become Yuecheng’s first genius to reach the late Foundation Establishment stage before turning eighteen. If he could join the Taiyan Sect, the entire population of Yuecheng would hold their heads high with pride.

Therefore, all the spirit stones, spiritual herbs, and elixirs in the entire Yuecheng were offered as tribute to this genius.

By Wang Shao’s side sat a charming young woman dressed in green. She was Wang Shao’s fiancée, Miss Yang Zanxing, the eldest daughter of the Yang family in Yue City. She accompanied Wang Shao to the Taiyan Sect selection competition. Miss Yang had little interest in cultivation. Though she was of a similar age to Wang Shao, her cultivation had barely reached the early stage of Qi refining. For the women of Yue City, it was more common to marry a cultivator as a husband than to diligently cultivate themselves. Such a choice ensured not only prestige but also a comfortable life, free from worries about food and clothing.

“Ah Shao, have some tea,” Miss Yang said with a beaming smile as she offered a cup of tea to Wang Shao’s lips.

However, Wang Shao’s gaze was fixed elsewhere. He stood up and said, “I’ll be right back.”

He left the carriage abruptly, leaving Miss Yang staring in the direction he had walked. A hint of resentment flashed across her beautiful face, and she gritted her teeth, muttering, “That vixen!”

Her maid, Hong Su, approached with a worried expression and asked, “Miss, could it be that the Young Master wants to take that woman as his concubine?”

“She’s dreaming!”

Wang Shao walked for a while, then halted, gazing at the young girl in a yellow dress seated by the tree. This girl appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, with exceptional beauty. Her skin was somewhat pale, making her look even more delicate. Wang Shao looked at her and suddenly smiled, asking, “Miss Liu, it’s quite hot outside. Would you like to come into my carriage and sit for a while?”

Liu Yunxin felt somewhat intimidated by him and replied timidly, “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master, but it’s fine here.”

Liu Yunxin had come to the Taiyan Sect selection competition with her foster brother, Mu Cengxiao. They were not blood-related siblings. Many years ago, Yunxin’s parents had taken in the orphaned Mu Cengxiao. After the passing of Yunxin’s parents, the two of them had relied on each other for support. Wang Shao had long been captivated by Yunxin’s beauty. However, due to her humble background, marrying her as a wife was out of the question for him. As for becoming a concubine… that was another matter entirely.

Unfortunately, Yunxin was unaware of her own worth. She had repeatedly ignored his advances, and what’s more, her foster brother, Mu Cengxiao, guarded her like a vigilant sentinel, making it difficult for Wang Shao to find an opportunity.

Sure enough, as soon as he had exchanged a few words with Yunxin, Mu Cengxiao, who had been fetching water, noticed the situation and immediately strode over, positioning himself in front of Wang Shao with a stern expression. He demanded, “Wang Shao, what are you trying to do?”

Wang Shao looked at Mu Cengxiao who was standing before him.

The young man possessed had sharp eyebrows and a gaze that sparkled with youthful vitality. Despite his attire being patched and worn, his facial expressions exuded a clear and resolute determination. He had also begun his Qi cultivation at the age of eight, and during that time, the people of Yue City had held high expectations, believing he might be another genius. However, as time passed, he hadn’t managed to reach Foundation Establishment.

“Miss Liu,” Wang Shao spoke with a composed demeanor, his words carrying no trace of irritation as he addressed Liu Yunxin, “I’ve heard about your health concerns. It’s possible that Brother Mu intends to join the Taiyan Sect with the hope of obtaining spiritual herbs and elixirs to aid in your recovery. While I respect the bond you share as siblings, I can’t help but wonder…” His gaze shifted briefly towards Mu Cengxiao, a trace of disdain appearing in his eyes. “Is it not somewhat naive to place your hopes on someone who has not yet managed to break through Foundation Establishment? Perhaps it might be wiser to consider becoming my woman. After I gain entry to the Taiyan Sect, you would have access to the abundance of spiritual herbs and elixirs…”

“Shut up!” Mu Cengxiao interjected before Wang Shao could finish, his voice laced with anger. “You have no shame!”

“A useless waste like you has no right to speak about others!”

The two of them were on the brink of drawing their swords when suddenly, a cry for help echoed from the streamside. “Young Master, something’s wrong… please come and see!”

Both of them, distracted from their dispute, turned their heads toward the stream.

The sky was clear, devoid of any hint of a breeze. As the stream flowed downward, its waters glistened like strands of white silk, with a faint shadow seemingly passing beneath the surface. In the next instant, several dark figures abruptly burst from the water, darting into the shadows of unsuspecting people. Immediately afterwards, a series of screams rang out.

“Ouch!”

“Ahhh, help! What is this?”

“My eyes, my eyes!”

The sudden shock caused the horses and carriages to jolt forward, but the reins were securely tied to a tree, resulting in passengers spilling out of the carriages. Miss Yang scrambled out, crawling and rolling, until she found refuge behind Wang Shao. In a state of panic and confusion, she asked, “Oh God, what is happening?”

“This is the demonic beast, Yu” Mu Cengxiao muttered.

“What’s a Yu?” Wang Shao furrowed his brow.

“It’s a legendary creature that lurks in the water, launching stealthy attacks on people. The Yu harbors sand grains in its mouth, which it can shoot at people. Those struck by it develop painful sores, and those whose shadows are hit won’t survive!” Mu Cengxiao sprinted toward the streamside without looking back. “I’ll rescue those people. Wang Shao, protect Yunxin and make sure it doesn’t touch your shadows!”

Wang Shao watched Mu Cengxiao’s retreating figure, pulling Yunxin back at the same time. He couldn’t resist a mocking taunt, “I’ve never seen someone so eager to send themselves to their doom!”

At this moment, the water passage nestled between the two cliffs surged violently. The water level rose abruptly, almost reaching their feet, as if it intended to engulf the very ground they stood on. Simultaneously, the dark shapes beneath the stream became more conspicuous. The maids and attendants nearby let out a series of “plop, plop, plop” screams, painting the surrounding water in shades of crimson.

Wang Shao, gripped by fear, bolted without a second thought, leaving behind his fiancée and Yunxin. Yunxin, already frail due to her illness, could only manage a few steps before gasping for breath. Witnessing this, Miss Yang’s eyes darkened, and she urgently grasped Yunxin’s shoulder, seemingly intent on pushing her into the water.

A tiny droplet of water fell from the splashing stream, shattered against a moss-covered rock, only to seamlessly reform into the shape of a dewdrop in the blink of an eye.

Yunxin let out a startled cry, her eyes widened in alarm.

A hand firmly seized her arm.

Turning around, Yunxin saw Miss Yang gripping her arm tightly, genuine concern evident in her unguarded expression. “Are you alright?”

Yunxin was taken aback, ready to speak, when suddenly a voice from behind shouted, “Yunxin, run! It’s behind you!”

The water’s surface abruptly rose, turning what had been a level ground into a turbulent sea. Amid the splashing stream, Yunxin got a glimpse the true form of “Yu” – a vague, shadowy mass resembling a giant insect, enveloped in an overpowering aquatic odor.

“Be careful!” a woman’s alarmed cry echoed in her ears.

Yunxin felt a force pushing her backward, and the green figure beside her was instantly engulfed by the dark shadow.

Gradually, the water’s surface settled, and as the moist earth along the stream was bathed in sunlight, faint iridescent hues emerged. Everything that had just transpired felt like a fleeting illusion.

Yunxin whispered softly, “Miss Yang… she fell.”

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CULTIVATION LEVELS (COURTESY OF WUXIA WORLD)

Ranks / Levels / Layers (级 jí) (层 céng) – a common way to quantify martial power or the progress made in cultivation. In many cases (although not all) where these are used, there are 9 ranks/levels/layers to each stage of cultivation, with rank 1 being the start and rank 9 being the peak. After breaking through to the next stage, the practitioner starts at rank 1 of that new stage. The number 9 has a great deal of symbolism.

• • Another set of commonly used terms are Early-stage (初期), Middle-stage (中期), Late-stage (后期) & Peak (巅峰). For example, someone might be a “late-stage Core Formation expert” or they could be at “the peak of the Nascent Soul stage”.

• • A half step to __ (半步__境) – refers to someone who’s infinitely close to breaking through to the next stage of cultivation, but hasn’t achieved it yet. For example, someone who’s “a half step to Foundation Establishment” is still technically at the Qi Condensation stage, but they’re only a hair’s breadth away from Foundation Establishment.

Houtian & Xiantian (后天 hòutiān / 先天 xiāntiān) – the names of two cultivation stages which appear in several novels, with the Houtian stage preceding the Xiantian stage. Houtian can mean Posterior Heaven / Postcelestial / Acquired. Xiantian can mean Anterior Heaven / Precelestial / Innate. Very roughly, the idea is that something “Xiantian” is primordial and thus close to the Dao, while something “Houtian” is degraded or further away from the Dao.

• • “Houtian & Xiantian” are derived from Daoism and Internal Alchemy. There’s a belief that people are born with a small amount of Xiantian treasures (Essence, Qi and Spirit). By practicing Daoist cultivation and internal alchemy, they can absorb and refine the Houtian Qi of the natural world to steadily increase their supply of Xiantian treasures (which grant health and longevity benefits).

• • Read more about it here (pages 19-20) and here.

Qi Condensation (凝气 níngqì) – also known as Qi Refining (炼气 liànqì) or Qi Gathering (聚气 jùqì). An initial stage of cultivation which involves absorbing Qi from the natural world and refining it inside the body.

Foundation Establishment (筑基 zhùjī) – also translated as Foundation Building. The stage after Qi Condensation. Once a cultivator’s Qi crosses a certain threshold (in the volume and/or density of the Qi), they’ll be able to breakthrough to this stage.

• • This term is derived from Internal Alchemy. Read more about it here. (page 25- onward)

Core Formation (结丹 jiēdān) – sometimes left untranslated as “Jiedan”. The stage after Foundation Establishment. It involves forming a Golden Core (金丹 jīndān) by using the Dantian as a crucible and the Cultivation Base as raw material.

• • The Gold Core is sometimes left untranslated as “Jindan” or is more literally translated as Golden Pellet. In scholarly articles on Chinese internal alchemy, it is translated as the “Golden Elixir“. It is somewhat analogous to the Philosopher’s Stone of Western alchemy, although there are many differences between the two.

• • More information here.

Nascent Soul (元婴 yuányīng) – sometimes left untranslated as “Yuanying”. Literally translates as “Origin Infant”. The stage after Core Formation (in some novels). The Nascent Soul resembles an infant or miniature person and resides in the Dantian, typically sitting in a meditative position. In some novels, the Nascent Soul can travel outside the body and is like a second life for cultivators – if their main body dies, their consciousness can continue to exist in the Nascent Soul.

Immortal Ascension (成仙 chéngxiān) – also known as Apotheosis. The stage wherein the cultivator becomes a Daoist Immortal. There are many differences between novels, but usually the cultivation/maturation of the Golden Core or Nascent Soul plays a key role in ascending to Immortality.

Click here to read the glossary of general cultivation terms.