Chapter 8: The First Encounter with Cultivation

At this moment, the two had entered Pingxi Village, and the peculiar attire and appearance of the bamboo staff elder immediately attracted countless members of the Lu clan to gather and inquire.

The villagers in the community were unknown to him, yet they warmly invited the old man with the bamboo staff to stay overnight

On the banks of the Nu River, at this moment, a figure approached from a distance, capturing Lu Li's attention

The old man with the bamboo staff did not hesitate and agreed to stay for one night. The clan leader, Lu Mingjie, immediately had arrangements made and ensured he was well treated

Lu Li curiously asked: "What is Lingquan Stone Milk?"

Lu Li grew up day by day, becoming smarter with each passing day. He often ran to Canglu Mountain without a care, having completely forgotten the warning of the red silk.

Lu Li said proudly: "My name is Lu Li, and I am twelve years old"

In the blink of an eye, seven years have passed. Lu Li is now twelve years old, tall and robust, appearing to be around fifteen or sixteen years old

In the blink of an eye, spring gives way to autumn, and time flows by

In the setting sun, a figure approached from afar, gradually becoming clearer in appearance. It was an old man dressed in a coarse robe, carrying a cloth bag over his shoulder, wearing a pair of straw sandals, and holding a green bamboo vine in his hand

The old man with the bamboo staff shook his head and sighed, feeling an immense regret for Lu Li's arrogance

Lu Li was even more astonished upon hearing this, as he did not expect that this old man actually knew the name of Fairy Yun Qing. It seemed that he was certainly not an ordinary person

The old man glanced at Lu Li and said calmly, "I am an old man with a bamboo staff, residing a thousand miles away in the green bamboo forest. This time, I am searching for the Heavenly Dew Cave to collect some spiritual spring stone milk as a medicinal ingredient."

Lu Li sat by the campfire, gazing at the bamboo staff elder and the children of his clan a few meters away, his eyes reflecting deep contemplation

With a leap, the old man with a bamboo staff stood suspended in mid-air. He tossed a green bamboo vine towards the sky while chanting incantations. A radiant glow gathered around him, forming a blue light barrier that enveloped the entire Pingxi Village.

The elder said: "Your arrogance is ill-timed, and it will make people dislike you. If you wait until you have the ability, then you can be arrogant, and no one will dare to look down on you."

Suddenly, a cry of an eagle pierced the sky, carrying a sharp and jarring intensity, akin to a thunderclap on a clear day. In an instant, it spread across the sky above Pingxi Village, startling the Lu clan members into exclamations and causing chaos.

The old man looked at Lu Li, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise, and asked, "What is your name, and how old are you?"

After the party, the clan members gradually dispersed. Under the invitation of his father, Lu Fei, Lu Li also got up to prepare to return and rest

At that moment, the old man with a bamboo staff, who was telling a story to the children, seemed to sense something. He pushed aside the child next to him, stood up, and looked up at the horizon

The old man frowned and said, "Canglu Mountain, that is the territory of the Cloud Blue Fairy"

In the initial two years, Lu Li often found himself at a disadvantage, occasionally returning home with injuries.

Lu Li sat on a large tree by the river, swinging his legs back and forth, with a blade of grass in his mouth, watching with great interest the whirlpools forming one after another in the Nu River

The tranquil days gradually receded as Lu Li grew up; he changed daily, exhibiting a different temperament each day. His eccentricities became increasingly pronounced, and he became known as the peculiar person in Pingxi Village

The children of the Dahe Book Club ran to the old man with the bamboo staff, asking questions about everything. The old man responded to each inquiry, attracting countless onlookers

Lu Li was taken aback and casually remarked, "I have heard that there are numerous caves in Canglu Mountain; I wonder if the place you are looking for is among them"

Lu Li said: "It is not a matter of wanting to be; it is a certainty that one can become such a person"

With the spiritual energy of the Yin-Yang Spring having been absorbed in the Tianlu Cave, the current Lu Li, though unrefined, is already able to demonstrate considerable strength

The old man walked lightly and soon arrived under the large tree where Lu Li was. Without raising his head, he asked, "Young man, is there a place nearby called Tianlu Cave?"

Luffy is at a loss with him; he admires his intelligence yet detests his arrogance, feeling extremely conflicted.

A gentle breeze caresses, and the fragrance of flowers permeates the air

Lu Liqi smiled strangely and followed along, asking as he walked, "Who are you, and why are you looking for the Tianlu Cave?"

Over the course of seven years, Lu Li gained a general understanding of his body and discovered that every full moon night, a powerful force would surge within him. This force could absorb the power of the moon and devour the life force of spirits and monsters, transforming it into a strength that he could wield.

For seven years, Lu Li has almost daily ventured into Canglu Mountain, confronting the mountain spirits and demons, honing his skills.

Lu Li disdainfully said: "I am arrogantly inclined towards the heavens, indifferent to the words and mockery of others"

The Bamboo Staff Elder said: "Those who practice cultivation generally seek longevity, gathering the spiritual essence of heaven and earth within themselves, attempting to escape the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death, capable of soaring through the skies and traversing the earth, wandering the vast seas by day and resting in the Cangwu Mountains by night"

The kindly old man with a bamboo staff took the initiative to clarify his intentions and inquired about the matters concerning Tianlu Cave

After that night, Pingxi Village returned to tranquility, and Canglu Mountain no longer echoed with any strange cries. Everything was quiet and peaceful, and the days passed one by one

The old man with the bamboo staff laughed and said, "There are indeed such people, and not just one. Do you wish to become such a person?"

In the following five years, Lu Li gradually grew stronger, roaming freely in Canglu Mountain, causing those妖兽精怪 to avoid him and unwilling to confront Lu Li again

Lu Li Zhi asked: "What is there to regret?"

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun spills over the Nu River, rolling endlessly with the surging waves.

The old man shook his head with a sigh and turned to walk towards Pingxi Village

Lu Li asked: "What is a practitioner of cultivation?"

On this night, Pingxi Village held a rare bonfire party, with all the villagers gathered around the fire singing and dancing, celebrating the arrival of the Bamboo Staff Elder

The old man with the bamboo staff had a grim expression and shouted, "Everyone, do not panic, lie down on the ground."

Lu Li questioned: "Are there really such people in the world?"

Leaping down from the branch, Lu Li examined the elderly man before him, who appeared to be in his seventies or eighties, and said softly: "It is getting dark. You might want to go to Pingxi Village to inquire; perhaps some of the elders in the clan will know about the Tianlu Cave."

The Bamboo Staff Elder said: "That is a type of earth spirit energy, capable of nurturing the essence and solidifying the foundation, healing a hundred ailments. For ordinary people, it is a miraculous medicine; for practitioners, it is a wondrous elixir that enhances their cultivation."

The old man furrowed his brow slightly and murmured: "Pride is innate, looking down on everything. What a pity..."