Chapter 107 – The Sumeru Ring (2/2)

With a thought, he switched back to the Innate Method of Practising Qi. In the beginning, the process was extremely difficult, and he would leave his state of meditation with the slightest bit of carelessness, pausing his cultivation of the Spirit Turtle’s Method of Sea Suppression. However, he gradually grasped the trick and made the Spirit Turtle’s Method of Sea Suppression into an automatic behaviour; it became like breathing for a sleeping person. This had nothing to do with Li Qingshan’s intelligence. Instead, the ability was simply too profound, much more than what he could imagine.

Afterwards, he would practise the Innate Method of Practising Qi in this state of semi-consciousness, using both a human and a daemon’s method at the same time.

Li Qingshan discovered that the daemon core would not be as greedy as before under such a state, saving him much more of his fruits of labour.

In this state, his rate of practising the Innate Method of Practising Qi reached an unprecedented high as well. His vitality was extremely powerful. Going several days without food or drink posed no problem to him at all.

For three whole days and nights, Li Qingshan did not sleep, rest, eat, or drink. He was completely submerged in cultivation. Finally, when he opened his eyes again, he had forcefully pushed his way back to the first layer with the Innate Method of Practising Qi.

He exhaled deeply as he felt pangs of hunger. He took out the Cursive Sword Calligraphy again and channeled the extremely pure true qi into it. Before his true qi had even run out, a calligraphy stroke lit up, and a strand of sword qi shot out.

Earlier, his actions were akin to tossing moist, green wood into a furnace. As such, he struggled to even light a fire. However, what he used now was high quality charcoal, which was extremely easy to set alight and could also provide large amounts of heat.

The two disciples of the Iron Fist school that guarded the entrance suddenly felt a chill run down their spines. They looked at each other. “Don’t you feel a bit cold?” “I really do a little. So much for summer.”

Li Qingshan stowed away the Cursive Sword Calligraphy and took off the sumeru ring, hanging it around his neck again before standing up. He opened the door, and the sunlight dazzled him.

“Young hero Li, you’ve finally emerged!” one of the disciples said while the other went to report the news.

Before long, Yan Song and Liu Hong had arrived.

Liu Hong said, “Qingshan, you’ve emerged? I even thought something had happened to you. There were almost a few times when I wanted to burst through the door.”

Li Qingshan smiled. “Apologies. The cultivation method from protector Yan was just too profound. I got carried away with comprehending it, and I forgot about the time.”

Protector Yan said, “Were you really practising qi? What layer did you reach?”

Li Qingshan said, “I just reached the first layer.”

Yan Song said, “That’s not slow at all.” However, it definitely was not fast either. The first layer of the Innate Method of Practising Qi was the easiest. He had personally witnessed talented children complete the first layer within two hours. Obviously, Li Qingshan was not fast.

However, spending three days on practising qi in a single sitting during one’s first time was unheard of.

Li Qingshan said, “I’ve made you all wait. We can set off now!”

Liu Hong took out a wad of silver notes and gave it to Li Qingshan. Li Qingshan had originally come to collect his debt after all.

Li Qingshan said, “School master Liu, you’ll be looking down on me if you do that. Protector Yan has been so generous, so how can I be stingy? Let’s not mention the matter of money again.” He never liked to owe anyone anything. Only when he was debt-free could he find peace. Although the Innate Method of Practising Qi was nothing outstanding, it was extremely important to him. Even just getting his hands on it earlier than usual was better than nothing.

Liu Hong was delighted. Obviously, he could not make Yan Song return the money he had given to him. That was his savings for retirement.

Yan Song developed a good opinion of him as well, turning down a sum of over ten thousand taels of silver casually like it was nothing. It would be nothing surprising if he came from a wealthy clan, but he was a teenager from the mountains, so such an attitude was very rare. This child has been born with extraordinary magnanimity. It’s no wonder that people would appreciate him.

Only after a series of declinations out of courtesy did Li Qingshan accept two thousand taels to cover travelling expenses.

When Li Qingshan arrived outside the Iron Fist school, all he saw and heard were a series of deafening drums and firecrackers where it was normally cold and cheerless. There were even lions and dragon dancers that completely crowded the surroundings of the Iron Fist school.

Four children with red eyes were delivered before Yan Song. They were the children that he had picked. They had the opportunity to leave this tiny Qingyang city and enter an even vaster world, but they would have to leave their homeland and their relatives.

Li Qingshan watched on from one side with folded arms. Suddenly, he heard someone call out his name. Turning around, he saw village head Li and caretaker Liu in the crowd as well. Beside them were the two brothers, Li Hu and Li Bao, and behind them were a few people from the Crouching Ox village.