Chapter 4: As a furnace cauldron, ignite the alchemical fire
In his previous life, Su Li possessed a rather unique talent, which was the ability to temporarily solidify and halt certain low-density fluids. He had experimented with stopping the flow of air, water, and blood, and this was the secret behind his becoming a surgeon with a 100% success rate in operations...! ... Any surgery he performed would never result in a critical situation of massive hemorrhage, which certainly ensured stability!
"Well, regardless of whether you are sincere or not, at least your ability to articulate these thoughts indicates that you have truly grasped these principles," the old Daoist said. It seems that Su Li's overly mature demeanor has become a drawback in the old Daoist's eyes, but fortunately, he does not seem to care too much about it.
"Go away, don't disturb me if there's nothing important." The solitary rower waved his hand, seemingly impatient
The old Taoist waved his hand dismissively and said: "Enough, do not put on such an expression, I know you are not truly alarmed. From now on, we shall rely on each other for companionship. As a humble Taoist, you may call me 'Master' when you are in a good mood, or 'Old Taoist' when you are not feeling well; it matters not to me. As long as you manage my worldly affairs well, allowing me to focus on my cultivation, feel free to ask me any questions you may have regarding your practice."
Su Li found it somewhat difficult to understand, but upon reflecting on his own abilities and the fact that this world does not adhere to scientific reasoning, he decided to stop thinking about it altogether. He simply felt a warm and comfortable sensation in his lower abdomen and accepted this state of affairs.
This is quite awkward, and Su Li could only remain silent, ignoring the topic and continuing on his way. However, the old Daoist then said: "There is no need to worry so much. As I approach my end, I am too weary to concern myself with whether you truly have such thoughts. If it comes to the worst, at least you would be the one to collect my remains, right?"
The old Taoist's seemingly pointed words sent a chill down Su Li's spine. Could this old Taoist possibly have mind-reading abilities? He could only respond with restraint: "My lord is joking. This trip will surely be a success. I believe this is crucial for my lord, so how could my lord lack confidence in himself?"
It seemed that in consideration of Su Li, the old Taoist actually slowed his pace. As he walked, he asked, "What is the child's name? When did he join the Sword Sect?"
Su Li could tell that the meaning of the solitary boatman seemed to indicate that he was currently at a critical juncture. He first escorted the solitary boatman into the room, and just as he was about to take his leave to return to his own room to organize his thoughts, the cold-faced yet warm-hearted old Taoist suddenly said: "Child, your dantian is now sufficiently filled with fuel; you should use this body as a furnace and attempt to ignite the inner alchemical fire."
"Thank you for your guidance, Master Xie. I, Su Li, will certainly strive to do my utmost." Su Li quickly expressed his gratitude, understanding that this was the advice given to him by the old Taoist priest
The old man was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and then he laughed heartily, saying: "Indeed, indeed, although this time it is a matter of life and death, how can one lack confidence in oneself? I never expected that I, a solitary rower, would need a young child to guide me through the confusion."
However, the changes in his body at this moment did not escape the observation of the old Taoist. In the eyes of the old Taoist, Su Li was currently a body whose vital energy had intentionally gathered in the dantian, having differentiated a portion of its energy... This was quite spiritual; it appeared that Su Li had realized the importance of this vital energy and demonstrated remarkable insight.
"It has been two years since you entered the sect, and you have been performing menial tasks all this time. Do you harbor any resentment in your heart?" the old priest asked again
"My lord, I..." Su Li quickly displayed a look of utmost fear and trepidation, regardless of whether he was truly fearful or not
The old Taoist... No, the solitary rower opened the conversation and spoke at length, as if he had truly accepted Su Li. However, Su Li was not so optimistic; he first sincerely expressed his gratitude, but then returned to his previous demeanor, remaining silent and honest.
On this first day, the solitary boatman did not travel too far. He slowly brought Su Li to an inn at the foot of the mountain to rest. Su Li could sense the old Taoist's care for him, as he was given time to digest all that he had learned along the way. To this end, the old Taoist even requested a separate room for him and instructed the innkeeper to deliver dinner directly to the room, specifically advising not to disturb him unless necessary
The Sword Sect located on the Tianlie Mountain is one of the few great sects of cultivation in this world. Although its Qi training methods are basic, they are certainly not comparable to the ordinary methods found outside. ... Su Li understood that this was the celestial opportunity he had been waiting for, so he truly did not dare to relax at all ... ? ... Who knows if this old Daoist will have the patience to recite it for him again next time?
However, this seemingly insignificant talent brought Su Li a considerable surprise this time. As his mental energy stirred, the scorching essence that he had painstakingly gathered in his dantian was completely blocked within it and did not disperse. Could it be that this heat flow within the body is also considered a fluid
Su Li could only feel grateful. After a slight pause, Su Li said: "After all, my family can pay significantly less in taxes because I entered the mountains, allowing my older siblings to live a bit more comfortably. As for myself, I am also well-fed and well-clothed in the mountains, which is already much better than an ordinary family."
However, Su Li still respectfully bowed and then exited, retreating all the way to the door and closing it. Only then did he suddenly turn around and rush into his own room. The old Taoist said that his firewood was sufficient, which surely meant it was enough, and he had also learned the methods of breathing and energy cultivation. At this moment, he was truly eager to refine his first breath of true energy.
"Returning to the master, the young boy's name is Su Li, who was sent to the Sword Sect at the age of six." Su Li answered honestly, somewhat puzzled as to why the old Daoist had suddenly become so amiable. However, this was fine with him, as he was glad to have it a bit easier.
The solitary oarsman did not become angry; instead, he began to recite a difficult scripture that involved the principles of yin and yang, the five elements, and the layout of meridians... Upon hearing this, Su Li quickly took note, for he understood that the old Taoist was imparting to him the true method of cultivating qi.
Indeed, "little talent" is how Su Li defines this ability of his, after all, he believes that such a talent should be considered insignificant in this world of cultivation
The solitary rower was quite satisfied upon seeing this, as he did not expect that the young Taoist boy would grasp his meaning so quickly. Initially, he had been worried that choosing such an eight-year-old child might have been a bit hasty, fearing that not only would the child be of no use to him, but he would also have to take care of the boy in return. However, it now seemed that the mature Su Li was just right for him; he understood everything with just a hint, which made him feel extremely at ease.
Only after confirming that he had also inherited this talent did Su Li refrain from truly discarding Chi Lao as a fraud. After all, while some of Chi Lao's words might not be entirely reliable, he had indeed allowed Su Li to experience the dreams of his past life and inherit this unique little talent
Su Li secretly thought it was a disaster; being urged to mature by Chi Lao had its pros and cons. The advantage was that he would no longer be as naive and defenseless as an eight-year-old child. The disadvantage, however, was that it could lead others to perceive him as having a deep-seated cunning at such a young age, raising concerns about his character.