Chapter 7: The Poisonous Scheme of Daoist Jia
No, that kid's leg was not only not broken, but he is also lively and jumping around. This is a servant sent by the village chief to monitor Xu Daoyan's family.
"What clever plan?" Village Chief Cai asked hastily
Although during this period, the spring atmosphere is not as rich as during the hours of Chen and Si, once the scope is expanded, it can be equally significant, with even greater effects at the hours of Chen and Si
Indeed, it will be dark soon, and we won't be able to find anything. Xu Daoyan appeared dejected.
The liver belongs to wood, primarily associated with growth; the lungs belong to metal, primarily associated with harvesting. Naturally, it can also harvest lives. A single breath expelled from the lungs, containing the essence within, can easily reduce a person to dust and bones. Once you cultivate your lungs, you will similarly possess means to attack and defend against enemies. Now, try to heal yourself! The old beggar spoke casually, yet Xu Daoyan wore an expression of disbelief.
On his way home, Xu Daoyan used the Immortal Wood to measure his lifespan
Xu Daoyan nodded slightly, without saying much
While Xu Daoyan and Wu were engaged in their domestic discussions, a shadow swiftly passed by outside the small wooden house, ultimately entering the main hall of the village chief's home
As night gradually fell, Xu Daoyan did not dare to linger any longer. Staying one night at Wu Xiaobai's house was acceptable, but staying for two nights would surely raise his mother's suspicions
Through the playing of musical instruments, one resonates with the hearts of all beings in the universe, facilitating communication and understanding of their innermost feelings. The melodies can touch the hearts of all living things, evoking tears. Furthermore, it can also inspire the forces of nature and all beings to engage in offense and defense against adversaries. This is the essence of music
Xu Daoyan was quite surprised; the effect was not yet apparent? Usually, his own cuts would take ten days to half a month to heal, and they would leave scars. Listening to the old beggar's words, he felt a sense of enlightenment in his heart. He picked up a small dagger he carried with him and cut his own skin, continuing to treat the wound.
"Village Chief Cai, I see that you seem to have something on your mind. Why not share it with me so that I may listen?" Daoist Jia spoke with a light-hearted demeanor, exuding great composure
So it is, I was wondering what it was. I already have a plan in mind to ruin their reputation and bring disgrace upon them. Let the villagers drive them to their deaths, but this must be done slowly and not in haste. A glimmer of cold light flashed in Daoist Jia's eyes, and a cold smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"Good, good strategy. In this way, thank you, Daoist Jia. Come, come, today we must have a good drink, for this year has been a bountiful harvest!" Village Chief Cai's eyes glinted with malice as he laughed heartily, eagerly anticipating the scene of Xu Daoyan's family being destroyed.
"Haha, good!" Daoist Jia was very pleased with Village Chief Cai's performance
Then let me tell you about the teachings of Confucianism among the various schools of thought of the human race, said the old beggar in a detailed manner
First, the Six Arts of Confucianism, which include rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics, are divided into two schools: the civil and the martial
"Hehe, Daoist Jia, your presence at my humble abode is an honor, and I apologize for not welcoming you properly. Please forgive me, please forgive me." Village Chief Cai's expression was not very pleasant, but upon encountering Daoist Jia, he had to force a smile despite his bad mood, as this person before him was someone he could not afford to offend
After repeating this process ten times, Xu Daoyan discovered that the spring energy within him had been completely depleted, and he could no longer use the rejuvenation technique
Listening to the words of the old beggar, Xu Daoyan took a deep breath, drawing upon the spring energy stored within his liver, nurturing all things. This energy flowed into his right hand, transforming into a vital force that gently caressed his left arm. Before his eyes, the severed wound ceased to bleed, and the injury began to gradually heal.
A man dressed in a yellow robe, with thick black hair and a pair of shifty triangular eyes, had a sharp face resembling that of a monkey, giving off an impression of extreme cunning. He was indeed the Daoist priest Jia from that day.
The old beggar spoke concisely, and the power emanating from each syllable allowed Xu Daoyan to deeply appreciate the profoundness of rites, music, archery, charioteering, and the study of numbers, filling his heart with a serene longing
Xu Daoyan listened with great interest and said, "That's impressive, I want to learn..."
This time, he focused his thoughts on the wound, allowing the healing energy to better integrate into the injury, resulting in a significantly improved healing effect, taking less than a quarter of an hour.
"Are you back?" Mother said gently
Confucianism advocates for self-cultivation and nurturing one's character, respecting heaven and valuing the earth, which can lead to the protection of fortune. Therefore, Confucians observe numerous rituals, worship heaven and earth, and treat others with courtesy, engaging in amicable interactions. This invariably elicits kind responses from others, which is the profound essence of the concept of propriety.
Reading the writings of sages and composing exquisite articles can enlighten the world and lead to sudden realizations, this is what books are for
Xu Daoyan felt like cursing right then and there, as all the words spoken were merely to tease his appetite: "I ... ... "
Hahaha, of course it's impressive, but you won't be able to learn it for now. Let me teach you the simplest technique, the rejuvenation technique! The old beggar laughed heartily.
The profundity of Confucianism is profound; what I have discussed is merely the tip of the iceberg
Upon returning home, Xu Daoyan saw Mrs. Wu working on her needlework under the candlelight. After taking a sip of the divine wine, he felt that his mother appeared younger and more beautiful, almost as if she were not much older than himself, which filled his heart with satisfaction
He immediately closed his eyes again, sitting cross-legged in meditation, drawing the spring energy into his body, refining his liver. This time, the absorption of the spring energy from the heavens and the earth expanded even further, reaching a radius of thirty zhang.
Lifespan, one hundred and forty-two years! A step further from breaking through the eighth level of human realm to reaching the seventh level!
The spring energy is the essence of growth, and the technique of rejuvenation is quite simple. It involves drawing forth the spring energy from within one's liver, refining it into a vital energy, and infusing it into the injured area of another. As soon as he finished speaking, the old beggar exhaled and directly inflicted a wound on Xu Daoyan's arm.
What is the path of cultivation? It is solely for the purpose of longevity. Everyone exhausts their efforts for their own lifespan, all in order to extend their life and enhance themselves, repeating this process over and over again
At that moment, a long laugh echoed: "Haha, Village Chief Cai, I have arrived!"
It is impossible. With Cai Wu's skills, dealing with Xu Daoyan would be a trivial matter, as easy as crushing a chick. When he left, did he say anything to you? The expression on Village Chief Cai's face was quite grim, and he was in a very bad mood
"How is that possible! Where has that dog servant Cai Wu gone? He still hasn't returned?" the village chief exclaimed angrily
Xu Daoyan suddenly realized and nodded, indeed it is so
The old beggar had an inscrutable appearance, and Xu Daoyan wore a face full of curiosity and anticipation, hoping to obtain more information from his lips
The old beggar naturally no longer kept them in suspense, as his previous probing had already given him some understanding of the child's character
He said, throughout the entire village, there was no sign of Xu Daoyan, so he went to the back mountain to search, wondering if he might have accidentally wandered into that battlefield graveyard? The servant remarked, causing Village Chief Cai's face to turn pale: "This fool, thinking that just because he has some ability, he can enter the forbidden land. It seems the situation is dire, allowing that little beast Xu Daoyan to escape a calamity!"
"How is it? Has that kid Xu Daoyan's leg been broken?" the village chief said coldly
Do not underestimate the art of rejuvenation. If you desire to be invincible against thousands, you must first ensure your own survival. If you are dead, how can you stand against thousands?
The Rejuvenation Technique is a method for healing oneself and others, and the effectiveness of the treatment is related to the strength of your cultivated liver.
The old beggar would not pay him any mind. After half a day of ineffective protests, Xu Daoyan said earnestly: "The Rejuvenation Technique sounds too unremarkable; I am not very interested in learning it. I want to learn the great skills of a hero who can take on ten thousand enemies!"
To harness the myriad beings between heaven and earth, in harmony with one's own spirit, this is mastery
"Cai Jiaotou has not returned yet; could something have happened?" said the servant.
To deduce the secrets of heaven, to foresee misfortunes and blessings, to seek good fortune and avoid calamity, this is the essence of numerology
Blood gushed forth, and Xu Daoyan was taken aback; this old beggar had actually exhaled a breath that caused his own skin to be cut. This was truly astonishing
After bidding farewell to the old beggar, he immediately ran in the direction of home
The cultivation methods practiced by each individual complement the techniques of magic. You absorb the spring energy from the heavens and the earth, which is the energy of growth. Are you really going to use this vibrant energy to kill someone? It is akin to using a flowing ribbon as a whip to beat someone to death; is that even possible? The old beggar's words were filled with disdain, and upon hearing this, Xu Daoyan was rendered speechless.
This process lasted for a quarter of an hour, and in the end, that wound completely vanished. Xu Daoyan also felt the depletion within himself, his forehead drenched in sweat, and a significant amount of spring energy had been consumed.
The art of rejuvenation may not sound particularly impressive, but it is still essential to learn. Seeing that Xu Daoyan no longer rejects the art of rejuvenation, the old beggar continued:
Using a bow and arrow as a weapon, practicing archery allows one to cultivate a calm mind, focus entirely, and achieve a perfect shot; this is the essence of archery
Your liver has only just begun to cultivate; your understanding of the vital energy is not yet sufficient, and you are unable to apply it effectively, which is why the results are not apparent. Remember, vital energy is life force, it is vitality, do you understand
Silly child, such treasures are to be encountered but not sought after. To be able to obtain one is already rare; how could it be so easy for you to find another? Be content! Wu smiled gently, her expression serene
I will send the ghost to create a disturbance, screaming in front of his house, and the neighboring villagers will surely hear it. At that time, we will say that the haunting during this period is due to Xu Daoyan's father dying in battle, while his mother secretly took a lover and gave birth to a bastard. He died unwillingly, thus causing unrest throughout the village. However, the ghost of the soldier who died in battle is too powerful and requires the villagers to offer more wealth, along with a blood sacrifice from the mother and child. Only then, with the white swallow absorbing the essence of the sun for seven days and nights, can we suppress the anger of the ghost soldiers. Village Chief Cai, when that time comes, not only will our income increase, but you will also be able to vent your grievances, isn't that killing two birds with one stone?" It turns out that Daoist Jia and Village Chief Cai conspired together to deceive the villagers of their wealth, leading the entire village in circles, and he became increasingly excited as he spoke.
Village Chief Cai glanced at the servant, who then retreated and closed the door. After that, Village Chief Cai recounted the matter in its entirety to Daoist Jia