Chapter 5: The Five Elders of Unity
The ethereal figure simply stated, "My wine, I shall take my leave first." After saying this, they vanished from the spot without a trace.
Li Feng lay under a tree, sincerely expressing his feelings: "Indeed, this is a celestial abode; life here is truly easy. Every day is just about eating and drinking, I feel like I have become a martial arts master." He clicked his tongue, crossed his legs, and hummed while shaking his head: "Ah, this is really comfortable, truly comfortable. These ganoderma and ginseng, I used to steal and eat them before, and they tasted terribly bitter. Yet here, each one is incredibly sweet; they are indeed treasures of the immortals."
With a sly grin on his face, he felt a familiar itch in his palm. Having learned of the benefits of herbs, he recalled the group at the Jinxiufu fighting over the Qingling Pill. He instinctively sensed that the elixirs crafted by immortals must be extraordinary treasures
The five old masters in the sky, with ears sharper than anyone else's, heard the sigh of a stranger and had already summoned a beam of golden light to appear before Li Feng. The one in the center, the head of the Yuanzong sect, Master Qingbo (also known as Master Qingquan), focused intently as he examined Li Feng from head to toe. After glancing at the 'Jade Rhinoceros' sword in Li Feng's hand, he immediately burst into laughter: "Congratulations, Junior Brother Songzi, congratulations, congratulations. This must be a disciple brought by Master Xiaolongzi, right? Indeed, excellent talent! All meridians are unobstructed, with abundant innate vital energy and no residual impurities from acquired cultivation. Truly excellent talent."
Master Qingbo nodded: "Good, very good"
Li Feng understood: "Those old Taoist doors are locked tightly; can't you get in either?"
That large python also suffered an innocent disaster, having guarded this red fruit tree for over five hundred years under the protection of the Yuan Sect. Then it encountered the calamity known as Li Feng. If it were only Li Feng, it might have been manageable; upon seeing the python as thick as a water bucket, Li Feng would surely have fled in an instant. However, this little tiger has already begun to exhibit the aura of a celestial beast. After two mighty roars, the large python fled without looking back, leaving behind the red fruit it had painstakingly guarded for Li Feng.
The emaciated, ethereal old Taoist shook his head repeatedly: "A heavy aura of malice is good, indeed, a heavy aura of malice; it leaves no room for the mind to cultivate the Dao. Once he has completed the preliminary skills, he will be sent down the mountain to collect..." The ethereal one suddenly closed his mouth and began to chuckle foolishly.
The little cat was filled with difficulty, staring blankly at the fierce wind. If it could speak, it would have long since declined repeatedly. This Yuan Sect, after all, is the orthodox of the cultivation world, with profound Daoist principles. The crucial location for alchemy has long been sealed tightly by layers of formations. Not to mention a mountain-watching tiger, even highly skilled cultivators from other sects could not just slip in. As for those elixirs, does the little cat not want to eat them? It has long wanted to, but the problem is that it cannot get them. Even highly skilled cultivators from other sects could not just slip in. As for those elixirs, does the little cat not want to eat them? It has long wanted to, but the problem is that it cannot get them.
Li Feng let out a cry of despair, drenched and pushed back five or six steps. Just as he got back up, he fell to the ground again. The fourth rule of survival for ruffians: when encountering someone you cannot provoke, immediately kneel and act submissive. Thus, Li Feng promptly knelt on the ground and shouted loudly: "You are a hero, you are a hero, I am a coward, damn it, I can't fight you... A bachelor only fights to the ninth, not beyond that. If you strike again, it would be somewhat unreasonable."
The real person Lingwei nodded repeatedly: "That's right, so, Lihongzi, you must work hard... Yue'er, come back to the cave with me and see if you have gained any insights in the past six months?" After saying this, he grabbed Zhao Yue'er and transformed into a gentle breeze as they departed.
The Master of Fire Cloud reassured: "Rest assured, Li Fengzi, among the disciples of our Yiyuan Sect, it is rare for so many to be in seclusion at the same time as today. Generally, you can always find an elder to consult about difficult issues. In other words, although you are nominally a disciple of Xiao Longzi, you are also a disciple of the entire Yiyuan Sect. As long as you can find an elder who is not in seclusion, they will guide you."
Zhao Yue'er was quite easy to talk to. She gently shook her head and smiled, saying: "You haven't offended anyone, so why should I hold a grudge? If it was Senior Brother Xiao Longzi who brought you up the mountain, then you haven't yet paid your respects to my father, have you? Just in time, my father and the others have come out early, so I will take you to meet them now... Little Cat, you were instructed by Senior Brother Xiao Longzi to accompany Li Feng, weren't you? I was wondering why I couldn't find you anywhere after you came out."
As for Li Feng, the benefits he gained were pitifully few. So many spiritual herbs were raw and unrefined; he had no understanding of how to absorb their essence through his cultivation. A small portion of the essence accumulated in his stomach, while the majority was expelled from his body in a rush. Moreover, he was unaware of the principles of monarch and minister, and indiscriminately consumed countless herbs. How could his body withstand this? In just one day, he suffered from severe diarrhea seven or eight times. He was unaware of the principles of monarch and minister, and indiscriminately consumed countless herbs. How could his body withstand this? In just one day, he suffered from severe diarrhea seven or eight times
Li Feng was startled and jumped up, grabbing the "Jade Rhinoceros" and shouting: "Who, who, who is talking over there? Damn it, if you're a real man, come out and spar with me. Sneaking around like this is not what a man does"
The Fire Cloud Real Person also struck his forehead fiercely and exclaimed, "Oh no, those three purple mushrooms I left at Baiyun Diao, everyone, I shall take my leave first." A burst of red light rose, and one could see a large mass of red light whistling away towards the south.
The kitten opened its mouth wide and let out a few cries. It knew where the three oldest Taoists had gone, but it couldn't articulate its thoughts. Suddenly, a light laugh came from above the head of Li Feng, and a clear voice said: "You are referring to the three old fellows, Cang Yue, Tou Xing, and Pian Tian, right? They have now transformed into countless forms and are on the verge of becoming ethereal. The heavenly tribulation is approaching, so they have gone to the Little North Pole's Nether Sea to engage in arduous cultivation."
Chen Songzi also nodded repeatedly, stroking the three-inch-long beard on his face and continuously praising: "This Xiao Longzi is usually lazy and indifferent, yet he is quite diligent in his practice. This time, when he was asked to take a few disciples up the mountain, he indeed found a promising talent. Senior brother, what do you think?"
Chen Songzi, the direct ancestor of Li Feng, looked at the dazed Li Feng, blinked, and said: "Fengzi, you should go find your master later and ask him to assign you your daily schedule and tasks. I have just refined a few 'Gathering Embryo Pills', and now is the crucial time; I need to check on the progress. " As soon as the words were spoken, a thunderclap erupted from the ground and in an instant, it vanished without a trace.
The young Taoist nun gently nodded and said: "It seems you have just arrived at the mountain. I have never seen you here before. Hmm, my father said that those older than me should be addressed as 'senior brother', but you are clearly younger than me, so I should call you 'junior brother', right? ... What is your name, where are you from, and who brought you to Qingyun Ping?"
Li Feng was stunned for half a day, and suddenly raised his sword, cursing angrily: "Damn it, a bunch of shameless old bull-nosed people, after all this time, I'm still wandering alone in the mountains... Oh heavens, open your eyes, in such a sect, there is no future, my future is bleak..."
The little cat nodded repeatedly at the picture book, its eyes rolling as it pondered: "That kind of elixir that allows one to become an immortal with just one pill, those Taoists from the Yuan Sect cannot concoct it. However, there are still a few pills that require over a hundred years of hard cultivation to refine. If you could sneak in and steal one, I, the little cat, would have long rushed in to feast... Not to mention those formed elixirs, even the wild herbs out here, if it weren't for you, the spendthrift, coming along, I wouldn't dare touch a single one."
As he spoke, a layer of soft light emerged from the mountain peak suspended in the center. The crisp sound of forty-nine jade chimes resonated, causing Li Feng to tremble all over. A stone door in the middle of the peak suddenly swung open with a loud bang, and a beam of golden light surged forth. Just as Li Feng felt a sharp discomfort in his eyes, the golden light faded, revealing five Taoist priests in purple robes appearing in the sky
If he had known what this creature thought of him, Li Feng would have struck it down with a single sword long ago. However, now that he saw the kitten shaking its head repeatedly, he felt disheartened and abandoned the thought of rebelling against the sect so soon after joining. Instead, he patiently awaited the elders of his sect to emerge from their seclusion and formally accept him as a disciple.
Li Feng looked at the little cat as if he had encountered a gambler who was his creditor, and approached it affectionately, rubbing his large head against the little Daoist girl's calf. Suddenly, he realized that this little Daoist girl must be an elder of the Yuanzong sect, and her age was uncertain. It was just like the self-proclaimed two-hundred-year-old Xie Yuezi, who appeared to be only in her early twenties. Thus, Li Feng stood up honestly and bowed respectfully: "Senior Sister, I, Li Feng, pay my respects... This, I am called Li Feng, a native of Suzhou, and it was that old Daoist named Xiao Longzi who brought me up the mountain." It was just like the self-proclaimed two-hundred-year-old Xie Yuezi, who appeared to be only in her early twenties. Thus, Li Feng stood up honestly and bowed respectfully: "Senior Sister, I, Li Feng, pay my respects... This, I am called Li Feng, a native of Suzhou, and it was that old Daoist named Xiao Longzi who brought me up the mountain."
The kitten's head drooped down, and it let out a long sigh, almost as if it were lamenting
The young nun suddenly burst into laughter: "Is that so? My name is Zhao Yue'er. The sect leader, Qingbo Zhenren, is my father, and Lingwei Zhenren is my mother. However, because I am my father's daughter, I have not yet formally joined the sect. Since you came to the mountain with Senior Brother Xiao Longzi, you are my junior apprentice and cannot call me senior sister."
Lying on his back beneath the pine tree, the lazy wind asked, "Little cat, apart from me, the One Yuan Sect has three generations of disciples. However, I heard from that old Taoist, Xiao Longzi, that the current sect leader is merely from the second generation. Where have the most powerful ones gone?"
However, on the surface, this fellow was still very polite and quickly bowed, saying: "Respected Master, I, Li Feng, pay my respects to you. I was unaware of your esteemed presence earlier and inadvertently caused offense. Please forgive me, please forgive me."
Li Feng weakly replied, "Returning to Master Ancestor, my name is Li Feng"
In less than a day, Li Feng had thoroughly consumed five pieces of aged Ganoderma, three ginseng roots that had matured, and two lumps of Poria that were at least two thousand years old. Moreover, he was quite fortunate; perhaps, as Xiao Longzi said, he had good fortune. He found a Zhu Guo tree that originally grew in a remote rock crevice and managed to snatch thirteen Zhu Guo fruits from the grasp of a large white-scaled python, sharing the spoils with a fierce tiger cub and devouring them completely.
The little cat lay beside Li Feng, continuously rubbing its swollen belly with its tail. This tiger is a spiritual beast used by the Yiyuan Sect to guard the mountain, and these medicinal herbs are limited in number. If it weren't for the fact that Li Feng had already been taken under the wing of Xiao Longzi, if Li Feng dared to waste the herbs like this, it would have been pounced on and killed by the tiger long ago. Now that Li Feng is also a member of the sect, this matter is much easier to discuss. As Li Feng indulges in eating, drinking, and studying, the little cat takes the opportunity to benefit, doesn't it? This tiger, having attained spiritual intelligence, really thinks it is foolish?
Who knows that Li Feng has not yet had the chance to go mad, Qing Bo has already continued: "Starting today, you are officially included in the ranks of our Yiyuan Sect. Our Yiyuan Sect does not have many rules; as long as you do not set fire to the mountains or engage in actions that provoke the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, our elders will not interfere with you. In the future, if you have any questions, you can consult any elder you encounter... However, as a new disciple of the Yiyuan Sect, you still need to perform some menial tasks to temper your body and restrain your inner fire. Therefore, your main tasks for the next three years will be to cultivate your energy, chop wood, carry water, and tend to the alchemy furnace."
Li Feng wore a smile on his face, respectfully bowing his head in silence, presenting an appearance of honesty and reliability. However, inside he was already cursing: "Damn it, you old hag, what have I done to provoke you? I haven't smashed your head with a brick, so where is my bad luck coming from? ... You filthy monkey spirit, damn it, do you think of me as your slave to command? Once I have mastered the basics, you want to drive me down the mountain? Bah, you old monkey, just wait, I will stubbornly stay on this mountain and not leave, can you bite me?" You filthy monkey spirit, damn it, do you think of me as your slave to command? Once I have mastered the basics, you want to drive me down the mountain? Bah, you old monkey, just wait, I will stubbornly stay on this mountain and not leave, can you bite me?
This time it was quite good; he became so enthusiastic that he simply moved into the pine forest where the herbs were most abundant. He lay on the ground, indulging in food and drink, and whenever he had a stomachache, he would immediately relieve himself in the crevices of the rocks. The essence of heaven and earth absorbed by these herbs gradually accumulated within him.
After finishing this half-black, half-white nonsense, Li Feng secretly raised his head. At that moment, his heart suddenly twitched a few times, nearly causing him to faint. Less than two feet in front of him squatted a young girl who appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen, with her hair styled in a Daoist bun, dressed in a coarse blue Daoist robe, and a short sword about a foot long hanging at her waist. This young Daoist girl was not very old, but her features were picturesque and her beauty was extraordinary. Coupled with the pure aura emanating from her, it made Li Feng feel a sense of reverence that he dared not violate. At this moment, the young Daoist girl was tilting her head, curiously looking at the disheveled Li Feng sprawled on the ground, her expression resembling that of a five or six-year-old child who did not understand much, exuding an exceptional cuteness.
The treasured "Jade Rhinoceros" struck fiercely at the tree root, and a cluster of purple ganoderma, roughly the size of a human head, was immediately cleaved off. Li Feng grabbed the cluster of ganoderma and rinsed it in the nearby stream, then began to chew on it with large bites, much like eating an apple. Ever since he discovered this pine forest yesterday evening, Li Feng had made it his home. The forest was filled with ganoderma, ginseng, poria, and yam, making it easy to find food with just a reach, which was quite convenient for this lazy person. Ever since he discovered this pine forest yesterday evening, Li Feng had made it his home. The forest was filled with ganoderma, ginseng, poria, and yam, making it easy to find food with just a reach, which was quite convenient for this lazy person
Qingbo coughed lightly and said earnestly: "Our Yiyuan Sect is a prestigious and orthodox school in the realm of cultivation. The Dao follows nature, profound and mysterious. As long as you diligently cultivate with sincerity, you will eventually ascend to the heavenly realm and achieve the status of a Golden Immortal. Our Yiyuan Sect does not impose many strict rules; everything is based on the natural way. As long as you possess a natural heart, a pure and effortless mind, free from desires and demands, external evils will not invade, and internal fires will not rise... Oh, by the way, what name did your master ask you for?"
Qingbo nodded repeatedly: "Li Feng? A good name. Then, your future Dao title will be Li Fengzi. Once your Dao skills deepen, those outside will also call you Fengzi Zhenren. Do you understand?"
However, the efficacy of these herbs is remarkably powerful, as the postnatal impurities within Li Feng have been completely purged, leaving only a compact mass of pristine innate flesh. It is exceptionally pure. Ordinary martial artists, unless they possess internal skills and scholarly cultivation spanning over a hundred years, cannot achieve such a solid and refined physique without meticulously honing their meridians and vital energy. Li Feng himself has felt the benefits; as he consumes more herbs, the purging intensifies, and his body grows stronger. With each step, he can leap five to six feet, a stark contrast to his previous state. Ordinary martial artists, unless they possess internal skills and scholarly cultivation spanning over a hundred years, cannot achieve such a solid and refined physique without meticulously honing their meridians and vital energy. Li Feng himself has felt the benefits; as he consumes more herbs, the purging intensifies, and his body grows stronger. With each step, he can leap five to six feet, a stark contrast to his previous state.
The thin-faced old Taoist beside the Taoist nun spoke weakly, sighing repeatedly: "If we are to speak of it, we must blame our three masters. Once they reached a profound level in their cultivation, they no longer cared for us, leaving us to spend our days in closed-door training. Otherwise, how could we deepen our Taoist practice? This has resulted in us having no time to descend the mountain and explore the world. If the three masters could stay longer at Qingyun Ping and offer us more guidance, we would not have to endure such years of arduous cultivation."
Four old Taoists and a Taoist nun had been suspended in the air for quite some time. After a while, the oldest Taoist on the far left, whose complexion was ancient and seemed as enduring as a timeworn pine, became extremely agitated and began to scold: "These disciples nowadays are becoming increasingly unreasonable. We have finally emerged from our seclusion, yet not a single shadow of them can be seen... This is simply outrageous. Last time I attended the ceremony at the Golden Summit of Emei, when the Emei master emerged from seclusion, over a thousand disciples from seven generations came to congratulate him simultaneously. Our Yuanzong, in terms of origins, is even older than the Emei sect. How is it that when this master emerges from seclusion, not a single disciple is present?"
Ling Wei said softly: "Aside from being a bit too ominous, there are no other shortcomings."
Li Feng suddenly stood up, his gaze fixed intently on the kitten. In a low voice, he said: "Kitten, I know you have lived here for a long time, and you must be aware of where the treasures are hidden. So, take me to the places where those old Taoists keep their elixirs. I believe these unrefined herbs can help me leap nearly a yard in a single step. If I consume the refined elixirs, wouldn't that mean I could become an immortal directly? Be a good kitten and take me to see where they refine their elixirs."
With a heavy kick, Li Feng was sent flying seven or eight steps away. A female voice, irritated, said: "I am not a hero to begin with, so why should I come out to spar with you? Hmph, do you think you are impressive? Then I shall compete with you... Seven Stars Gather Spirit, obey my command, go." Suddenly, a white water column surged up from the nearby stream, forcefully rushing towards Li Feng's backside. ... Seven Stars Gather Spirit, obey my command, go. " Suddenly, a white water column surged up from the nearby stream, forcefully rushing towards Li Feng's backside.
Real Master Qingbo glanced at the sky and suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear! I cultivated a furnace of 'Nine Turns Fiery Elixir' before my seclusion, and now it seems the time is about right; I should go check on it. Li Fengzi, you must work hard." After saying this, he vanished in a flash of golden light
Chen Songzi gently patted Li Feng's shoulder and smiled as he said: "What is your name? As for Xiao Longzi, he will be your master from now on. I, on the other hand, will be your grandmaster. These several individuals are respectively Qingbo Shibo, Lingwei Shibo, Huoyun Shibo, and Miaomiao Shibo... Oh, and this is your Zhao Yue'er Shibo; you must remember them all."
Will this fierce wind still be polite? Thirteen red fruits were split evenly, with one person and one tiger enjoying a hearty meal. The golden light in the little cat's eyes, which was originally only about a foot long, now, after consuming the red fruits, emitted a golden light that was a full five feet long after the little cat struck a pose and practiced its skills. The little cat was so delighted that its long tongue licked fiercely on the fierce wind's face.
Li Feng was taken aback, cursing furiously within: "Damn it, what are you people from the One Yuan Sect doing? Clearly, you are Taoists, yet you are getting married and having children. If you were going to have a child, you should have done it earlier. Now you have a daughter who is barely ten or eight years old, and in terms of seniority, I would have to call her 'mother.' Why am I, Li Feng, so unfortunate?"
It is truly a joke. Li Feng's innate talent is considered to be above average, and after consuming so many spiritual herbs in the past two days, if he still lacks sufficient spiritual energy, he might as well jump off a cliff to die
The old Taoist next to Songzi, with a flushed face, sighed: "Don't say anything more, sigh, we are now scolding our disciples. Think about our past; when the three masters and uncles emerged from seclusion, who among you was there to greet them? Weren't you all busy with your own secluded cultivation? ... Hmph, this is the cycle of heavenly principles, retribution is inevitable ... I have made up my mind; from now on, I will send my disciples down the mountain, take in more apprentices, and gather a few more foolish heads, letting them wander around the mountain all day long. At least on Qingyun Peak, we can still see a few living people."
The beautiful Taoist priestess beside the old Taoist fiercely pinched him and whispered reproachfully, "How can you still say that? When has our Yuanzong ever been prosperous? Even during the time of our founding master, the entire sect had at most twenty-three members... If you want to expand the sect, you must also descend the mountain to travel; otherwise, how could any disciples come to us here in Qingyunping, which is deep within Mount Hua?"
Li Feng's expression was extremely grim, exceptionally grim. He understood that the five old Taoists floating in the sky before him were the five most important figures in the Yuanzong sect today. However, looking at their appearances, did each of them have a problem with their heads? In Suzhou, which gang does not strive to recruit more members? The more people they have, the greater their strength; the greater their strength, the larger their territory; the larger their territory, the more financial resources they have; and the more financial resources they have, the more members they can recruit. Yet, it seemed as if they were lacking a few screws in their heads, stubbornly refusing to take on more disciples.
The Taoist priest nodded repeatedly: "Brother Huoyun speaks well. Other sects have at least a hundred gatekeepers, and our Yuanzong should recruit at least eighty. This task will be entrusted to Brother Huoyun." Instantly, a dark cloud appeared on the face of the old Taoist Huoyun, clearly displeased.
Laziness, it must be laziness... Damn it, I, Li Feng, have considered myself quite remarkable in my lifetime, yet I have joined such a sect. If even the master is too lazy to guide me, when will I ever rise to prominence?
The fierce wind roared loudly in his stomach: "It's over, it's over, this time I'm dead, this time I'm dead... Damn it, the most beautiful courtesan at Chunyi Tower, not even a finger of hers can compare... It's over, it's over, what does it matter that A Long peeked at that girl bathing last time? Doesn't he know that A Zhu and I were also peeking from another window? But if this girl were to strip completely, she would be more beautiful than Chunyi Tower... No, even all the girls in Suzhou combined wouldn't be as beautiful as her when she's naked."
The old Taoist standing in the middle sighed and said: "Songzi, didn't I tell you all to take in more disciples? It would be best to recruit some who are not fond of practicing meditation to help maintain appearances. Yet, over the past few hundred years, which of you has been willing to listen? This has resulted in our entire Yuanzong being sparsely populated, and it is simply unacceptable to let this be known to the outside world"
Li Feng's eyes nearly bulged out: "Damn it, so this is how you all come up with your titles? Just add a 'zi' after your name and that's it? Damn it, I, I, I, am now Fengzi Zhenren? Crazy Zhenren? I must be insane to accept this name. Damn it, I need to resist early, otherwise this name, oh my god..." Once Li Feng thought about how countless Taoists would bow to him in the future and say: "Crazy Zhenren," he felt an overwhelming urge to go mad. I must be insane to accept this name. Damn it, I need to resist early, otherwise this name, oh my god..." Once Li Feng thought about how countless Taoists would bow to him in the future and say: "Crazy Zhenren," he felt an overwhelming urge to go mad.