Chapter 9: Enlightenment
A wisp of true energy was drawn from the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, gently enveloping Li Feng's entire body, cleansing it of any remnants that were already minimal. It continuously strengthened every nerve, every blood vessel, and every muscle within him. Although the degree of this enhancement was slight, as long as it was sustained, it represented the first step towards achieving immortality and enlightenment.
Li Feng awkwardly chuckled a few times, then suddenly raised his head and said seriously: "Ah, Master, I would like to make a bet with you."
Zhao Yue'er gritted her teeth and pinched for a full quarter of an hour. Li Feng's cheeks were already pinched to a bluish hue, causing him such pain that he instinctively clawed around, ultimately grabbing Zhao Yue'er fiercely a few times with both hands, which were agonizingly close to her.
A long howl echoed deep within Mount Hua: "Master, just wait, you are definitely going to be my wife..."
There exists a substance that is both formless and primordial. It is silent and vast, standing alone yet unchanging, circulating endlessly without peril, and can be regarded as the mother of heaven and earth. I do not know its name; I shall forcefully call it the Dao, and I shall name it the Great. Zhao Yue'er slowly recited this passage from the Dao De Jing, only to find Li Feng staring blankly at a mountain dove under the pine tree outside the window. Unable to help herself, she struck Li Feng's head sharply and said, "Pay attention, or else if you lose your mind and your life, do not blame me."
A white shadow flashed, and Zhao Yue'er transformed into a gentle breeze, dissipating into the air
Zhao Yue'er let out a hum, and golden light gradually emanated from her hands: "Good, good, finally that scolding from that day has enlightened you, and you now understand the need to work hard on your cultivation. Now, go fetch some water for me. If you dare to slack off, just wait and see. Little cat, I don't even need to use a talisman to pressure you; just keep a close watch on this fellow and make sure he doesn't slack off. " After saying this, a small bolt of lightning struck directly from the roof.
Li Feng suddenly raised his head, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment, and exclaimed: "Hey, hey, hey, Master, how can you say that? I am your first disciple after all, is it really necessary to belittle me like this? Am I only allowed to take on disciples and not do anything else? I am wholeheartedly aiming to become an immortal, I just want to beat up a few people... Besides, I may have been a bit lazy on some days, but Master, you don't spend all your time cultivating either. You have your share in sneaking some elixirs, digging up 'Cold Night Orchids', destroying 'Little Peaches', and bullying little cats too."
Old Cangyue, you better wait for me, I will beat you, the chief constable of Suzhou, into a pig's head
Zhao Yue'er sighed, weakly slapping Li Feng's face with her palm, shaking her head and saying: "How should I put this? If what the senior brothers say is correct, then if you cultivate according to the normal pace of a practitioner for ten years, aside from those who have reached the innate realm, no martial artist in the mortal world can surpass you in true essence. If you can cultivate normally for twenty years, it is likely that all martial artists in the world would need to gather to contend with you. But as for being invincible under heaven, hmph."
The Code of the Rogue: One must never allow a woman to look down upon him. In the presence of women, even if it requires gritting one's teeth, one must act as the leader. In front of women, even if there are a hundred people ahead waiting to fight, and you are alone, if you are a true iron-hearted rogue, you must charge forward with a brick in hand. Losing face in front of brothers is not a big deal, but one must absolutely not lose face in front of women, as that is something one cannot hold their head up about for a lifetime.
Zhao Yue'er suddenly panicked and exclaimed: "Hey, I pinched your face, why is there blood flowing from your nose? Don't move, don't move." She formed a spell with her hands, a flash of white light appeared on her fingers, and she waved it towards Li Feng's nose.
Zhao Yue'er smiled and softly reprimanded, "Nonsense, what does the number of people have to do with the number of those who have attained immortality? The three oldest monsters in our Yiyuan Sect, who hold the highest rank, are likely the only three individuals currently approaching the Transformation Void stage. This is also why our Yiyuan Sect is renowned far and wide; although we have few disciples, no one dares to offend us. What we practice is the most authentic Daoist arts, and our achievements naturally surpass those of others."
There, on the mountain path, the fierce wind thrusts the axe, and he shoulders the heavy water bucket, seemingly bouncing down the steep trail like a bullet. With a little cat guarding him from behind, he is not at all worried about the possibility of falling off the cliff. He casually draws upon the trace of true energy within him and applies the foundational cultivation method. Instantly, he feels his body become much lighter, as if he is floating down with the wind.
Li Feng was in so much pain that he cried out like a monkey with its tail on fire, awkwardly kneeling on the table. Li Feng mumbled a plea for mercy: "Master, please spare me, if this goes on, someone will be in danger... I, I, didn't the sect leader say that my meridians were unblocked? How could I not withstand that bit of true energy? Ah, it hurts, it hurts, please stop pinching me..."
The scroll in hand was forcefully smashed onto Li Feng's head, and Zhao Yue'er pouted, saying: "I am merely offering you some kind advice. First, I want you to understand that there are countless cultivators in this world, and many are striving diligently to improve themselves. Cultivation is not so easy; I advise you to work hard, lest you find yourself in a situation where even the King of Hell cannot save you. Second, I am also kindly informing you that as long as you put in the effort, our Yuanzong's profound teachings can certainly help you progress day and night, so you won't lose confidence in your cultivation due to my criticisms. Who knows, you bite the hand that feeds you, hmph, I can't be bothered to say more to you."
Li Feng barely felt a bit of movement and strength, and he hummed, "Master, does this mean I still have hope?"
The 'Zhu Long Grass', which was consumed by Li Feng without any noticeable reaction, had its medicinal power continuously swept away by Li Feng's true energy. A small portion of this medicinal power gradually detached and merged into Li Feng's true energy and the hundred meridians. The reason why 'Zhu Long Grass' can assist those in the Golden Core stage to quickly form their Nascent Soul is that its medicinal power enables the body to better communicate with the heavens and earth, allowing more and stronger heavenly and earthly essence to enter the body, thus catalyzing the maturation of the Golden Core. The reason why 'Zhu Long Grass' can assist those in the Golden Core stage to quickly form their Nascent Soul is that its medicinal power enables the body to better communicate with the heavens and earth, allowing more and stronger heavenly and earthly essence to enter the body, thus catalyzing the maturation of the Golden Core
Li Feng tilted his head, pinched his completely blocked nose with his hand, and awkwardly opened his mouth to take a breath, saying: "Well, well, let's make a bet. If you lose, you have to agree to one of my requests... If I lose, I will bow to you as a sign of respect."
Little cat, just wait, I will eventually pluck all your fur...
After laughing a few times, Li Feng shook his head vigorously, suddenly recalling the day he first arrived at Qingyun Ping. Watching the two majestic eagles soaring upwards, he felt a moment of enlightenment. He abruptly slapped himself and shouted loudly: "Damn it, I refuse to believe that I can't become an immortal. When I surpass you and become who I am meant to be, I will change that saying to 'little girl bites Li Feng, ungrateful to a good person.' Hahahahaha"
Zhao Yue'er’s beautiful face scrunched up as she furrowed her brows and exclaimed: "Stop daydreaming. If you focus on your cultivation, after three years in the Body Refinement stage, you will be able to enter the Qi Induction stage, which means you can draw the primordial energy of heaven and earth into your body. This is the preliminary skill of the innate realm in the mortal world. However, if you continue to indulge in these fantasies, I fear that even after thirty years or three hundred years, you will still be unable to make any progress."
Zhao Yue'er was born in the deep mountains and grew up in the wilderness, feeling little or perhaps lacking any awareness. However, Li Feng felt his hands touch two soft, towering objects, and his mind immediately recalled the scenes he had witnessed in Suzhou, where young women entertained guests. With a loud 'bang' in his head, Li Feng shook his head, and finally, two streams of nosebleed erupted from his nostrils. He had just finished meditating, and his internal energy was at its peak; how could he withstand such stimulation? A nosebleed was merely a minor issue.
In simple terms, it is akin to a rogue who, in a fit of desperation, raises a brick and strikes it against his own head while shouting at someone’s door: "Will you give me money? If you don’t give me money, I will die right in front of you." This reflects a certain kind of character.
Li Feng exclaimed: "So many? How many households are there in the Ming Dynasty in total?"
Li Feng shivered all over and immediately sat up straight. The ninth rule of survival for delinquents is that any advice that contributes to one's personal safety must be heeded
Li Feng let out a cry of despair, clutching his head and covering his still-freezing nose as he rushed outside. The kitten emitted a triumphant meow, striding forward as if it were a gust of white wind, and lunged fiercely at Li Feng's backside, forcing him to quicken his pace even more
Zhao Yue'er spat lightly: "Enough of that. How long can people truly live in this world nowadays? Among cultivators, being fifty years old is considered young. How many people in your world’s household registration can influence the realm of cultivation? There are countless old monsters who have been in seclusion for hundreds of years... Let me tell you, even if you reach the Qi Condensation stage, which is the innate realm in the mortal world, the most basic level of cultivation in the realm, do not entertain the notion of being invincible across the world."
Zhao Yue'er took out a piece of pure white roll paper and began to sketch on it with a brush: "In addition to the foundational stage of cultivation, which is the ordinary Qi refining practice, the realms of cultivation, according to the standards of our Yuanzong, are further divided into four major realms: 'Qi', 'Dan', 'Shen', and 'Xu'. Each of these is further subdivided into twelve minor realms: 'Yin Qi', 'Ning Qi', 'Hua Qi', 'Niang Dan', 'Ning Dan', 'Cui Dan', 'Po Shen', 'Yang Shen', 'Fen Shen', 'Kui Xu', 'Dong Xu', and 'Hua Xu', with each minor realm having three levels: upper, middle, and lower."
Zhao Yue'er frowned slightly and said with some distress, "Cultivating the Dao胎元婴 is not that easy, is it? Senior Brother Xiao Longzi has just achieved the ethereal purple qi, and at most, his cultivation is somewhat profound. The Senior Brother Xie Yuezi you know has only formed his Golden Core for a little over ten years. As for Senior Brother Gu Lingzi, after more than two hundred years of hard cultivation, he has pondered over the Golden Core countless times, yet his cultivation is still insufficient to transcend to the Yuan Ying. Otherwise, why would he be so anxious about the 'Zhu Long Cao' that could assist him?"
Upon hearing the term 'Half-Immortal Body,' Li Feng immediately became spirited, casting aside the chaotic thoughts in his mind. He eagerly asked, "Master, how many years of effort does it take to cultivate the Yuan Ying? Is it difficult? Will it allow one to achieve immortality? Can one then ride the clouds and split a mountain with a single palm?"
Li Feng nodded vigorously: "No problem, I will definitely work hard from now on. If I dare to be lazy, I will admit defeat right away. May the heavens bear witness, no one is allowed to go back on their word"
Zhao Yue'er was stunned. After rushing in for the last time, she finally asked the kitten in surprise: "Kitten, this guy, he, he, he wouldn't have suddenly attained enlightenment just because I scolded him once, would he? For thousands of years, there have only been a handful of people across the Nine Provinces who attained enlightenment in a single night."
A piercing scream echoed as Li Feng's nosebleed, along with the blood inside his nose, was frozen into ice blocks by the 'Ice Cold Technique.' The pain was so excruciating that Li Feng cried out in despair while holding Zhao Yue'er tightly: "Heavens, Master, do you intend to kill me? If you want to kill, please do not use such methods; just strike me down with a single sword!" Just moments ago, his nose had been gushing blood, but now it was filled with ice blocks. The coldness, the freezing sensation, the swelling almost made him faint.
With a few triumphant laughs, Li Feng kicked open the scroll of the entrance guidelines, and just like that, he sat cross-legged on the table. His palms overlapped, with the thumbs pressing against each other, the palms facing upwards, forming a heart shape when viewed from the front. He unexpectedly entered a meditative state just like that.
The little cat beside him let out a complaining shout, and with a powerful paw, it struck Li Feng's backside, knocking him to the ground. Li Feng, annoyed, cursed a few times and awkwardly got back up, saying: "Alright, alright, I didn't say you should be lazy... um, Master, in any case, from today onwards, the disciple will work hard. If the disciple can cultivate a Nascent Soul before the Master, hehe..."
Li Feng sat in meditation for a full nine days and nights this time. During this period, Zhao Yue'er stormed in to find him seven times, but each time she saw Li Feng sitting cross-legged, the characteristic flamboyance of that little rascal had vanished without a trace. Instead, he bore a solemn expression reminiscent of an enlightened monk, one who has comprehended all the mysteries of the world in his state of transcendence.
It was quite easy; Li Feng truly felt that his body was filled with the true essence transformed from spiritual energy, and he was momentarily unable to absorb it all into his dantian. Thus, he gradually ceased the circulation of his vital energy and slowly opened his eyes. He looked up at the sky and let out a big yawn, lazily stretching his body. As a result, the joints that had been stiff for nine days and nights emitted a series of cracking sounds. A pure breath circulated throughout his body, thoroughly cleansing him and making him feel so comfortable that he began to hum softly.
The fierce wind laughed a few times and raised his hand to make a vow, a vow that was a hundred times more malicious than Zhao Yue'er. He was laughing wildly inside: "Hahaha, Master, I don't want you to steal a Yuan Pearl, nor do I want you to do anything else. As long as I cultivate to the Yuan Ying before you do, I just want you to be my wife. Just like your mother married your father, hahaha. By then, you won't need to cultivate Yuan Ying anymore; you can just have babies directly, hahaha." He was laughing wildly inside: "Hahaha, Master, I don't want you to steal a Yuan Pearl, nor do I want you to do anything else. As long as I cultivate to the Yuan Ying before you do, I just want you to be my wife. Just like your mother married your father, hahaha. By then, you won't need to cultivate Yuan Ying anymore; you can just have babies directly, hahaha."
Zhao Yue'er laughed heartily: "If becoming an immortal were so easy, then everyone in the world would be an immortal. My father has diligently cultivated for seven hundred years, and now he has only just entered the later stage of spirit nurturing. He can barely manifest a dozen or so incarnations and travel thousands of miles, yet he is still far from the realm of splitting his spirit, where the incarnations can transform into myriad forms and traverse the universe in an instant. How could it be so easy?"
Zhao Yue'er, filled with anger, raised her hand and shouted: "With the Three Pure Ones as witnesses, and all the deities in the heavens as witnesses, I, Zhao Yue'er, hereby make a bet with my disciple Li Fengzi. If he achieves the transformation into a Nascent Soul before I do, I will grant him any one request, without the possibility of retracting it. Should I violate this, I will be struck by the Five Thunders, my soul will scatter, and I will be reborn in the cycle of animal existence, never to ascend again... Ha, now you can rest assured, right? A practitioner of the Dao swears by the Three Pure Ones, and such a vow is absolutely irrevocable." If I violate this, I will be struck by the Five Thunders, my soul will scatter, and I will be reborn in the cycle of animal existence, never to ascend again... Ha, now you can rest assured, right? A practitioner of the Dao swears by the Three Pure Ones, and such a vow is absolutely irrevocable.
A peculiar smile emerged from Zhao Yue'er’s lips: "This water and firewood are naturally useless waste. When we refine pills, we at least use thousand-year-old stalactites for water, and as for firewood, it is unnecessary; we use the Three Flavors True Fire condensed by formations. Did you really think that earthly flames could produce spiritual pills? Hehe, you run pretty fast; even the little cat can't quite catch up to you. Next time, I'll give the little cat a 'Divine Movement Talisman' to carry; let's see how you handle that... Hmm, let's make a bet. I can't afford to lose; I should really put in some effort."
Zhao Yue'er also panicked, allowing Li Feng to hold her as she wiped the blood from her nose onto her robe. She could only helplessly say, "Don't panic, don't panic, this talisman won't kill anyone. The master doesn't intend to kill you. I'll give you two spirit pills later, and everything will be fine. Stop shouting, stop shouting, your voice is really unpleasant."
Zhao Yue'er blinked and struck Li Feng's head hard with the scroll in her hand, saying, "Cultivating is not for the purpose of seeking revenge on others, but to ascend to the Heavenly Dao and pursue immortality... However..." Zhao Yue'er smiled oddly and continued, "According to several senior brothers who were expelled from the mountain and traveled, the methods of refining Qi in the mortal realm are simply absurdly poor. After struggling for forty to fifty years, only those with exceptional talent can barely step into the postnatal realm, which is far inferior to our cultivation methods."
Zhao Yue'er squinted her eyes and forcefully pulled off Li Feng, who was hanging on her shoulder like a monkey. She struck him heavily on the top of his head and scolded, "Oh, you laugh! Just look at what my clothes have become! Did you do this on purpose?" The light blue Daoist robe she had just changed into was now smeared with tears, mucus, saliva, and nosebleed. Although Zhao Yue'er was a practitioner of Daoism and did not pay too much attention to such matters, she was still a young girl by nature and could not stand dirty things.
Zhao Yue'er’s face instantly turned bright red. Out of a moment of kindness, she looked at Li Feng, who spent his days idly, and in her heart, she truly considered herself to be Li Feng's mentor. Consequently, she used her mother's reprimands against Li Feng. Little did she know, she was only four or five years older than Li Feng. Whenever there were mischievous or destructive activities, they would always go together. Now, being exposed by Li Feng struck at the most embarrassing part of her heart, forcing her into a fit of anger and shame. Little did she know, she was only four or five years older than Li Feng. Whenever there were mischievous or destructive activities, they would always go together. Now, being exposed by Li Feng struck at the most embarrassing part of her heart, forcing her into a fit of anger and shame.
Li Feng stood up excitedly, decisively leaning over the table, his head just a foot away from Zhao Yue'er, his face full of flattering smiles: "Master, dear Master, please tell me, if I train hard, will I become a top expert in three years? If I train for three sets of three years, wouldn't I be invincible across the world?"
Especially apart from our Yuan Sect and the ancient sects such as the East and West Kunlun, the Dragon Clan of the East Sea, the Aurora Wonderland of the Far North, and the Carefree Immortal Mansion of the Far South, other cultivation sects have a large number of disciples traveling the world year-round, accumulating external skills. Without the attainment of the Golden Core and the imminent transformation into the Nascent Soul, who would dare to act recklessly in the mortal realm
The little cat became even more furious and began to roar wildly, and one could hear the howling of the fierce wind sounding even more mournful by three degrees, with faint sounds of clothing being torn apart coming through.
Li Feng was momentarily stunned, then looked up to the sky and howled in despair: "Heavens, after more than two hundred years, I still haven't formed my Yuan Ying. How many more years will it take for me to achieve immortality... I was counting on becoming an immortal in the future, so I could return to Suzhou and give Gu Tuo and Hu Laoda a good beating. Is the heavens blind? Is it really that difficult to become an immortal?"
Thus, Li Feng did not consider anything at all, channeling his internal energy with all his might as it flowed vigorously within his body. For a moment, his mind was completely empty, devoid of any thoughts, and the circulation of his internal energy had become a kind of instinct for him. Who would have thought that this precisely aligned with the profound principle of the Unity Sect, which emphasizes a mind free from distractions and the fusion with heaven and earth
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yue'er felt a surge of competitive spirit. She wrinkled her nose and pointed her index finger at Li Feng's nose, leaning her face close to his bloodied and icy visage, and said: "Ha, ha, ha, do you think you can cultivate the Nascent Soul before me? I don't believe it. If I were to be surpassed by my disciple, where would my dignity be? Especially since I am already at the late stage of Qi Condensation and have cultivated a wisp of ethereal purple qi. You are several realms behind me; how could you possibly catch up?"
Beyond the Northwest Sea, north of the Chishui River, lies Zhangwei Mountain, where there is a divine being with a human face and a serpent body, whose eyes are straight and clear. When it closes its eyes, it becomes dark; when it opens them, it becomes bright. It neither eats, nor sleeps, nor rests; it is visited by wind and rain, it is the Zhu Jiu Yin, and is known as the Zhu Long... Imagine the Zhu Long from mythology; when it opens its eyes, the world is in daylight, and when it closes them, the world is in darkness. What immense power it possesses to communicate and transform the energies of heaven and earth, the five elements? The Zhu Long Grass, named after the Zhu Long, naturally possesses such characteristics.
Zhao Yue'er scoffed, "Am I going to regret it? Do you think I would regret it? Hmph, I have never regretted anything in my life so far."
The little cat also looked at Li Feng in astonishment, its big head shaking vigorously. How could these two know that Li Feng was not in a state of enlightenment, but rather fighting desperately, a reckless struggle where a small thug was willing to risk his life. It was akin to a street brawl, where faced with an opponent far stronger than oneself, a small thug brandished a brick and charged forward, his face either contorted with ferocity or bearing a solemn expression as if he had seen through everything. It was akin to a street brawl, where faced with an opponent far stronger than oneself, a small thug brandished a brick and charged forward, his face either contorted with ferocity or bearing a solemn expression as if he had seen through everything
The Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, and Three begets all things. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and they harmonize through the interplay of Qi... Before the emergence of heaven and earth, everything was in chaos. The reason why our One Yuan Sect is called the One Yuan Sect is that it grasps the essence of cultivating the Dao, allowing humanity to merge with heaven and earth, pursuing that elusive 'One' that generates all things, thereby attaining the supreme Dao. Xiaofeng, listen carefully, you are lost in thought again. With a 'pop', Zhao Yue'er glared and once again delivered a sharp blow to Li Feng's head.
The fierce wind and beautiful dreams reach perfection, involuntarily eliciting a strange "hehe, hehe" laugh.
The little cat disdainfully glanced at Li Feng, letting out a huff through its nose. This tiger was still complaining; if it weren't for this brat, why would it have to run over four hundred miles of mountain roads every morning for the past ten days? Especially when it had to zone out while listening to the introductory teachings, it was simply a typical example of someone lacking ambition. Even I, as a tiger, was still listening attentively; not everyone has the opportunity to hear a disciple of the One Yuan Sect analyze the essence.
Li Feng chuckled a few times, thinking to himself: "Washing clothes? No problem at all, it would be best if I could wash all the close-fitting garments." However, he maintained a serious demeanor and said, "Disciple has finally come to understand that cultivating is indeed arduous, but the disciple will certainly work hard and strive to become a deity as soon as possible. In the future, the disciple will absolutely not be lazy, will absolutely not slack off, and will absolutely not resort to tricks, even if the little cat wants to be lazy, I will definitely not learn from it."
Li Feng was taken aback and cursed inwardly: "Damn it, what a venomous little girl. It's one thing to run like a dog, but to have such a huge tiger behind me, are you trying to make me look foolish? However, 'Yuan Zhu'? It has the same name as Yuan Zong, thinking about it, it is indeed a precious treasure. But what do I need a treasure for? A dead treasure can't compare to you, a living treasure"
Zhao Yue'er began to hum: "Fetching water and chopping firewood, these are the fundamental tasks that all entry-level disciples must undertake; otherwise, how can one cultivate their mind and character? Especially since Mother said your fierce aura is too strong, if you don't properly temper your wild nature, you might really cause a stir... However, I truly can't see it. You are bullied by me and the little cat every day; where is this fierce aura? Could it be that Mother is mistaken?"
... ...
In any case, the introductory outline has already been provided to you, and the foundational mantra for the first step has been fully given as well. I even expended my own true essence to help you organize the spiritual energy within your body. Whether you choose to put in the effort is entirely up to you www.hetushu.com. After saying this, Zhao Yue'er, feeling somewhat disinterested, let a gentle breeze carry her away. She felt regret and helplessness in her heart; on one hand, she had to act like an adult and a teacher in front of Li Feng, while on the other hand, the two of them were being mischievous together. How could this possibly earn Li Feng's respect? Even she suddenly realized that such a relationship was rather awkward. Li Feng was disobedient, and she couldn't solely blame him for that.
Li Feng was already stunned, and Zhao Yue'er shot him a glance before continuing: "As far as I know, there are currently hundreds of sects among cultivators. On both the righteous and demonic sides, there are at least two or three individuals in the Void Transformation stage, and more than a dozen in the Insight and洞虚 stages. These individuals are either hidden deep beneath the sea or have retreated to remote mountain caves, no longer showing their faces. As for the great masters who have reached or are close to the Spirit Division stage, there are at least three hundred in total from both sides. My father, mother, and three uncles are all at this stage. In the God Breaking and Spirit Nurturing stages, which means those who possess Dao胎元婴, there are at least over a thousand, and these are figures capable of shaking mountains with a mere gesture. As for those who have reached the Golden Core path, there are at least over three thousand, while those still struggling in the Qi stage number at least one hundred thousand."
Zhao Yue'er rolled her eyes a few times and suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha, what does it matter if I agree to you? It's just a request, right? Even if you want me to steal the town's treasure, the 'Yuan Pearl,' I wouldn't mind, hum hum. However, if you lose, I don't want you to bow down; you are already my disciple, so what’s the point of bowing? I want you to carry a kitten and run around Mount Hua like a little dog."
Li Feng waited as the vortex within his dantian rotated for eighty-one cycles. Following the prescribed foundation-building mantra, Zhao Yue'er used her own true essence to activate the marked meridians for him. The spiritual energy vortex flowed smoothly through Li Feng's meridians, continuously absorbing the spiritual energy transformed from the spiritual herbs. After several cycles of swirling, it forcefully expelled the energy, causing subtle changes in its properties. The previously clumsy accumulation of spiritual energy within Li Feng's body began to show a tendency to merge with his physical form. The spiritual energy vortex flowed smoothly through Li Feng's meridians, continuously absorbing the spiritual energy transformed from the spiritual herbs. After several cycles of swirling, it forcefully expelled the energy, causing subtle changes in its properties. The previously clumsy accumulation of spiritual energy within Li Feng's body began to show a tendency to merge with his physical form.
Li Feng, however, had other thoughts in his heart. Embracing Zhao Yue'er, whose soft and fragrant body was so delicate, this young man, despite his age, was filled with impure thoughts and couldn't help but murmur: "What a beautiful little girl, oh no, I can't believe I am holding her. Just now, I think I even touched a place I shouldn't have. Oh no, I am so moved... I swear, I must have her as my wife. Master, please be my wife. Even if I, Li Feng, am a celestial being, I still want you to be my wife."
The fierce wind howled: "Damn it, you people who practice the Dao are all crazy, your heads are all messed up. You want me to fetch water and chop firewood, yet you don't even start a fire to cook. What do you need water and firewood for? Every time I bring water, it just gets poured into the stream on the mountain, and the firewood is simply thrown into the valley. Do you think I'm just a laborer? ... Wow, little cat, you still bite, still bite. Once I succeed in my cultivation, I will burn off your fur, skin you, pick out your bones, and chop off your tail to make hot pot."
According to the foundational mantra of the One Yuan Sect, Li Feng took a deep breath, allowing the breath to flow directly into his Dantian. With his spiritual consciousness, he gently guided it to spiral upward. In an instant, it felt as if a turbocharged engine had been infused with gasoline; the abundant spiritual energy within Li Feng's Dantian began to move vigorously, spinning relentlessly with the small vortex. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth continued to rotate, gradually forming a rapid whirlpool that drew in all nearby spiritual energy into motion. It felt as if a turbocharged engine had been infused with gasoline; the abundant spiritual energy within Li Feng's Dantian began to move vigorously, spinning relentlessly with the small vortex. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth continued to rotate, gradually forming a rapid whirlpool that drew in all nearby spiritual energy into motion.
Li Feng pouted in grievance, tilting his head and staring blankly at Zhao Yue'er. A thought involuntarily crossed his mind: "This little girl’s master is a bit too fierce; she will definitely have trouble getting married in the future. However, they are cultivating immortals, so they probably won’t marry... Yeyeye, that’s really strange. How did the sect leader and the second master conspire to have a daughter? Could it be that the sect leader is a fire-dwelling Taoist? But a fire-dwelling Taoist who can start a family is specifically responsible for the kitchen... Yeyeye, that’s really strange. How did the sect leader and the second master conspire to have a daughter? Could it be that the sect leader is a fire-dwelling Taoist? But a fire-dwelling Taoist who can start a family is specifically responsible for the kitchen? Odd, odd, does the kitchen of the Yiyuan Sect really require the sect leader to manage it personally?
Li Feng suddenly felt invigorated: "So, what you're saying is that if I practice for a few years, I can be considered one of the top experts in the world? Is that right, Master? Huh? Is that right? Hehe, by then, I will be quite impressive. I will take my little cat and return to Suzhou, and anyone who crosses me will be dealt with. ... Damn it, I will snatch the Golden Dragon Gang from Old Niu and make it even more powerful than the Cangfeng Fortress. Hahaha!" Li Feng was momentarily lost in a beautiful dream, laughing wildly. Damn it, I will snatch the Golden Dragon Gang from Old Niu and make it even more powerful than the Cangfeng Fortress. Hahaha!" Li Feng was momentarily lost in a beautiful dream, laughing wildly.
At this moment, Li Feng was exactly in such a state. According to his usual standards, he would typically need to get up and move after a day and a night of meditation at most. However, the stubborn and wild spirit within him surged, and he told himself: "Damn it, I must achieve results in my training; otherwise, a little girl would dare to look down on me. How embarrassing would that be? In the future, I will make that little girl call me 'Master,' hm, hm, hm..." The vanity of a man (or boy)...
Zhao Yue'er stood up lightly, holding Li Feng's ear and said: "These are the words my mother often told me. I use them to speak to you, hoping that you can put in a bit more effort. In just over ten days, you have only learned a little over twenty characters, and they are all the simplest ones. Your internal progress is almost negligible. Even when fetching water, if it weren't for the little cat chasing and biting you from behind, you would have been slacking off. If this continues, you might as well listen to Master Miao Miao's arrangements instead of reading books. You could use elixirs to cultivate yourself and then go to the human world to recruit disciples for the One Yuan Sect."
The fierce wind murmured to himself: "Hmph, with over a hundred thousand cultivators, it's nothing like this. When I become the number one expert in the world, just wait and see how I will eliminate all you bastards. At that time, I will make you, little girl, admit that I am invincible across the world."
Li Feng said with a crooked mouth: "That is because you have never made a bet. I am sure you will definitely regret it by then, unless you swear now, and I will swear too."
Zhao Yue'er looked at her robe with a hint of annoyance and said, "What kind of bet are you talking about? Have you lost your mind, meditating for nine consecutive days? Is there something wrong with your head? Look at what you've done to my clothes! You should be punished to wash them for me... You did this on purpose, didn't you?"
Zhao Yue'er tilted her mouth, gripping Li Feng's face tightly with both hands, desperately pulling his cheeks to the sides while loudly reprimanding him: "You are quite capable, aren't you? Sitting in meditation for nine days and nights on your first attempt, do you think you are some kind of genius? Even if you are a genius, you wouldn't dare to cultivate for such a long time on your first try. An ordinary person's meridians are not even opened; they simply cannot withstand the sudden surge of true energy. Are you trying to throw your life away?"
Li Feng's entire face was filled with bitterness. He lowered his head and said: "A few hundred years? A few hundred years! By the time I become an immortal, I will have grown old... By the time I become an immortal, that guy, Gu Cangyue, who usually oppresses us, will have died of old age. What is there left for me to take revenge on then"
Li Feng remained oblivious to his own condition, yet his body, with the genuine assistance of the medicinal properties of the "Zhu Long Grass," had become remarkably refined. If it were not for his insufficient cultivation level, he would have already reached the stage of "Qi Induction." Compared to ordinary cultivators, he had at least saved five years of arduous effort. Of course, the medicinal properties of the "Zhu Long Grass" were certainly not limited to this extent, but this was the extent of the effects that Li Feng could currently manifest.
Li Feng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly jumped up: "Damn, the little girl looks down on me. I am a dog; are you a deity? A dog biting Lü Dongbin, hum..." Li Feng suddenly said in a low voice: "Oh, but if you let me take a bite, I would actually be willing, just afraid that you, little girl, wouldn't want to. Hehe..."
Zhao Yue'er did not answer his question, but simply said: "In any case, I have already informed you of the general principles for entering the One Yuan Sect. I can assert that among the myriad schools and methods in the world, our One Yuan Sect progresses the fastest and poses the least risk of falling into obsession. The way of heaven rewards diligence, which means that even the heavens favor those who strive diligently and never give up. Even if one does not succeed in this lifetime, what of the second or third? The Master of Emei Mountain underwent tribulations for seven lifetimes, enduring a total of two thousand five hundred years before finally ascending to the Western Buddhist realm. What immense perseverance and willpower that requires! If you cannot even master the skills of one lifetime, then you are destined to be unable to become an immortal."
Zhao Yue'er had no idea that within Li Feng's mind, chaotic and filthy thoughts were swirling. However, seeing that he had finally focused his attention on her, she nodded in satisfaction and began to explain the foundational teachings of the One Yuan Sect: "Therefore, the most fundamental practice of the One Yuan Sect begins with the cultivation of qi. First, one must refine the physical body and train the internal breath. Then, by extensively studying the Daoist texts, one can reach a state of communication with heaven and earth, naturally drawing in the primordial qi of the universe. This will condense into the purple energy of the Purple Palace. Once the time is ripe, one will naturally form the Golden Elixir. The innate Golden Elixir, combined with the arduous practice of the Nine Transformations of the Mysterious Art, will eventually give rise to the Daoist Fetus and the Primordial Infant. As long as the Primordial Infant is successfully formed, one will attain a semi-immortal body."
Zhao Yue'er did not ask Li Feng what exactly he wanted her to agree to, but simply nodded and said: "Alright, no problem. If I lose to my own disciple, what face do I have left? However, it seems you have finally come to your senses. After meditating for nine days and nights, you suddenly decided to put in the effort? I must tell you, if you become lazy or try to take shortcuts in the future, that will also count as your loss"
Li Feng pondered for a moment, then nodded emphatically and said: "No problem, we have a bet, no backing out. The one who backs out, heh heh... If I lose, I will carry the kitten and climb. If you lose, you must agree to one thing for me."
Li Feng's head hung limply on the table as he lamented: "Oh heavens, there is no bright future ahead. I thought that if I worked hard for thirty years, I could become an immortal. It turns out... after hundreds of years of diligent practice, only two or three people reach the highest level. Truly... I have entered the wrong temple. The Yiyuan Sect has only a dozen members; on average, it seems that no one from the Yiyuan Sect can become an immortal. Other sects have thousands of members, while our Yiyuan Sect only has... I have entered the wrong temple. The Yiyuan Sect has only a dozen members; on average, it seems that no one from the Yiyuan Sect can become an immortal. Other sects have thousands of members, while our Yiyuan Sect only has..." In that moment, Li Feng was completely devastated.
The fierce wind has even devised a perfect plan: "Look, what good is there on this mountain? No big fish or meat, no gold or jewels. Damn it, once I become invincible in the world, I will go to Suzhou to establish my career and family. Master, just wait to enjoy a life of comfort with me. What is Cangfeng Fortress? By then, even the emperor will have to listen to me"
Nine days and nights have passed, during which Zhao Yue'er has been anxiously pacing. Even if she is an extraordinary genius, it is impossible to continuously cultivate for nine days and nights right after establishing her foundation. She has long wanted to seek help from her fellow disciples, but Xiao Longzi and the others have each sealed their alchemy chambers tightly, leaving Zhao Yue'er with no way to intrude. Meanwhile, the Five Elders of Yiyuan are currently refining a Buddhist artifact, the "Lengjia Heart Lamp," and have also closed their doors tightly, leaving Zhao Yue'er here in a state of anxiety.