Chapter 4 (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Ling’e, do you know what Qi is?
“Qi is the arteries and veins of the heaven and earth. It is the breath of all living things. All methods for cultivation start from Qi. All divine powers were created using Qi. A Heavenly Cycle is completed when one practiced breathing exercises and allowed the Qi to circulate in their body.
“Today, I will be teaching you the basics of our sect’s Single Qi Heaven Regularization Chant.
“This is the technique for establis.h.i.+ng one’s Dao foundation. It is a brilliant foundation establishment technique even if one were to compare it with other techniques in the five continents. Even if you want to practice other cultivation techniques in the future, this technique will still be able to help you establish your foundation.
“Ling’e… Ling’e?”
“I’m listening!”
Lan Ling’e was standing under the shade of the willow beside the lake. Her gaze kept turning towards the middle of the lake involuntarily, and she stuck the tip of her tongue out nervously.
The old Daoist priest, Qi Yuan, looked towards the middle of the lake and smiled. “Your Senior Brother is trying to comprehend Water Escape techniques. Do not be distracted by him. Listen to me. I’ll explain this basic cultivation technique to you.”
“Yes!”
Lan Ling’e focused her attention and concentrated on the marvelous technique that her master was teaching. She tried her best to understand the meaning of those words.
However, after a while…
Lan Ling’e’s almond-shaped eyes widened into a circle. She pointed at the lake and exclaimed, “Master! Senior Brother has disappeared!”
Qi Yuan turned his head and looked over. He smiled helplessly and said, “That is an escape technique! Come. Let’s go inside the room to practice! Your Senior Brother is interested in all kinds of escape techniques. This should be the sixth escape technique that he has mastered.”
“Master, what are escape techniques?”
Qi Yuan combed his beard and said while smiling, “Escape techniques are a kind of Dharma spell. It enables the pract.i.tioner to travel instantly to different places. Water Escape allows one to swoop through the water and move faster than the fish. Look. Your Senior Brother has appeared beside the lake. His escape speed is really remarkable.”
Lan Ling’e tiptoed and looked over just in time to see her senior brother appear at the far end of the lake. He stood quietly on the water surface.
Ling’e complimented softly, “Senior Brother is so impressive!”
“Speaking of escape techniques, your Senior Brother’s escape techniques are indeed very impressive compared to others in our Immortal Du Sect.” Qi Yuan looked a little helpless. “If he spent half the amount of effort in other Dharmic spells as he did in escape techniques, I would be much more a.s.sured.”
Lan Ling’e blinked her eyes gently and followed her master into the straw hut.
Qi Yuan summoned two meditation cus.h.i.+ons and closed the wooden door of the straw hut. He hit his little disciple’s head softly with the horsetail whisk in his hand. “Pay attention!”
“Oh.” Lan Ling’e crossed her legs and sat down properly hurriedly. She could finally concentrate this time.
Li Changshou was walking on the surface of the lake. After taking two steps, he suddenly transformed into a stream of water and disappeared. In a few breaths’ time, he reappeared in the middle of the lake.
‘Water Escape worked, yet it took so long.’
However, he could integrate himself into the water while performing the Water Escape technique—that could s.h.i.+eld him from attacks using some Dharma treasures.
‘Water benefits all yet it doesn’t demand credit for its contributions. Water can make everything float without collapsing. It is indeed something worth exploring.’
Li Changshou stood with his hands behind his back. After thinking for a while, he continued walking on the water surface. However, he would disappear and reappear with every few steps.
After continuous attempts, Li Changshou did not need to walk on the water surface to perform the Water Escape technique anymore. As long as he came into contact with the lake, Li Changshou could immediately perform the Water Escape technique.
However, Li Changshou was still not satisfied. He continued thinking about ways to improve his Water Escape technique and was completely oblivious to the time pa.s.sed.
That continued until the evening when Qi Yuan sent a voice message asking him to go back.
“Ling’e has yet to practice inedia, but she should not be eating satiety pills all the time. While you are constructing the straw hut, later on, build a stove as well. Make her a meal every day until the day she practices inedia.”
Li Changshou cupped his hands and said, “At your command, Master.”
“I shall proceed with my cultivation. Ling’e, if you face any troubles, you can speak to your Senior Brother.”
“Yes, Master!” Lan Ling’e copied her senior brother’s actions and answered with her hands cupped. However, her tummy growled at that very moment, making her face flush.
Qi Yuan laughed out loud. He transformed into a wisp of smoke and vanished. Li Changshou was also full of smiles, yet he turned and looked at the lake to avoid making his junior sister feel awkward.
“Senior Brother! Did Master just use the Smoke Escape technique?”
“Huh? Smoke Escape technique?” Li Changshou was momentarily stunned. Afterward, he broke into a burst of laughter. “That was just an illusion spell. It is mainly used to protect one’s life when one is battling with their enemy. It can be used to deal damage or trap the enemy. It can be considered one of Master’s best spells. Do you want to learn it? You will have to wait until your cultivation sees some improvements. Master will teach this to you then if you ask him to.”
“What about Senior Brother’s Water Escape technique? Can Ling’e learn that now?”
“Water Escape can only be learned later. You will need to reach the Soul Formation Realm of Qi Refinement before learning this, as well as the other element escape techniques. Leave that at the back of your mind as of now, rookie cultivator. You have only just completed your first meditation session.”
Lan Ling’e blinked and asked, “What does rookie mean? Does it refer to a clumsy beginner?”
Li Changshou’s eyes turned into a line as he smiled. He brought Lan Ling’e over to the empty s.p.a.ce beside the herb garden. “What do you want to eat? We have a lot of wildlife around here. If you do not have any dietary restrictions, I will recommend you some.”
‘Wildlife?’
“Senior Brother, are we eating… these medicinal herbs this afternoon?”
“Of course not.” Li Changshou stretched his right palm in front of him. A piece of stone flew towards him from one side and spun one round in his palm. Afterward, it flew towards the forest with a piercing whizz.
Lan Ling’e could not help but exclaim in awe. Meanwhile, a commotion stirred in the forest, startling flocks of birds.
Very soon, a golden pheasant that was born with tri-colored feathers swooped in the air. The stone was etched in the golden pheasant’s chest—that spiritual beast was long dead.
The stone flew into the forest and back. Afterward, Li Changshou threw it at a nearby bush casually. That made Lan Ling’e’s eyes s.h.i.+ne brightly.
Not before long, Li Changshou had skillfully set up a barbeque rack beside the lake. He stripped the feathers of the golden pheasant and removed its innards. He took out a few bottles of seasoning ingredients that he valued a lot and started ‘seducing’ his junior sister, her saliva, more specifically.