Chapter 11
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Qi Wuhuo looked at the old man and nodded in response. However, as soon as he made this movement, the natural aura that had harmonized with the environment dissipated.
The sparrow, startled, flew away.
The old man watched the bird take flight and smiled: “Once you refine the innate Qi, you will be able to naturally merge with heaven and earth. At that point, all beasts and birds will not be disturbed by your presence.”
With a glance, the old man could tell that Qi Wuhuo had already nurtured his Primordial Qi.
This was not the same as the internal energy pursued by martial artists in the Jianghu, which was focused on combat effectiveness. Primordial Qi, Primordial Essence, and Primordial Spirit were meant to elevate a person’s physical and mental state to its most perfect condition.
Only then, in this state of perfection, could one embark upon the path of the Dao.
[TL_Note: Dao = Way]
The old man retracted his gaze, stroked his beard, and said: “Today was your first time meditating and practicing a breathing technique. You lasted a full five hours. However, in the future, you must not do this. Prolonged meditation and contemplation will not only harm your body but also damage your Spirit. Half an hour is sufficient..”
Qi Wuhuo nodded in agreement.
He closed his eyes and sensed the changes occurring in his body. His breathing had become longer and steadier. His Primordial Spirit presided above, his breath had stabilized, and the flow of vital energy had formed. His Primordial Qi circulated constantly through his body, merging with his flesh and blood. He felt a subtle transformation, as if his body was undergoing an imperceptible, gradual improvement.
Though slow, it was continuous and unceasing.
Furthermore, the previous headache and sensation of exhaustion after using his Primordial Spirit had disappeared. The difference felt as if before, his feet were dangling in mid-air, but now they were finally planted firmly on solid ground, bringing a newfound sense of peace and stability to his heart.
Beside him, the old man sat next to a small red clay stove, brewing tea. He smiled faintly and said: “In our Daoist practice, our foundational skills and advanced practices are divided into two categories: [Ming Gong] and [Xing Xue].”
[TL_Note: Possible translation Life Skills and Nature Study]
“Xing Xue emphasizes ‘planting a lotus in the fire’, while Ming Gong is about ‘seeking the profound beneath the water.’.”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Seeking the profound beneath the water…”
“Kan represents water, referring to the function of the kidneys, and is associated with Primordial Essence.”
The old man smiled and clapped his hands, saying:
“Exactly, that is what it refers to. Cultivating the Primordial Essence is of utmost importance. There are many schools of thought on this, but if one doesn’t understand the difference between Qi(氣 postnatal) and Qi(炁 innate), and only seeks to merge Primordial Qi with the Primordial Spirit to step into the Dao, they will only cultivate the Yin Spirit capable of leaving the body.'”
“But this path inevitably leads to suffering later on.”
“Those who consume qi do not die, while those who achieve spiritual enlightenment endure forever.'”
“If you only merge Qi and Spirit, discarding your Primordial Essence, it may seem as though you’ve achieved freedom. But in the end, it leads only to becoming a withered corpse in the tomb.”
“One can only achieve the state of a [Corpse-Transcending Immortal].”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “How can one cultivate Primordial Essence to its fullest?”
The old man replied: “For ordinary people, it involves consuming vast quantities of meat and then using martial arts to temper and strengthen the body. Their vital energy becomes as dense as mercury and as vast as smoke, but this is a postnatal path that goes against the natural order reversing the innate process”
“In the Daoist way, Essence is pure and undiluted.”
“The key lies in purity.”
“As for you, your Primordial Spirit has already been established. By using your Primordial Spirit to drive your Primordial Qi, and having your Primordial Qi circulate through your blood and flesh, over time, you will naturally refine your Primordial Essence into purity. However…”
The old man’s voice paused, and he looked at the young man whose eyes shone with spiritual light. He smiled playfully and said: “Because of the jade pillow given to you by Fire Dragon True Person, your Primordial Spirit is far stronger than your Qi and Primordial Essence. If you don’t wish to follow a deviant path and want to cultivate all three to their highest limits, it may take you 30 to 50 years.”
“By then, your vital energy might begin to decline, your Primordial Qi could dissipate, and you may never set foot on the Great Dao, only achieving a long life. What do you think? Cultivating to become a Corpse-Transcending Immortal would allow you to live for 300 to 500 years, and even after your body decays, your Primordial Spirit will remain.”
“If you are fortunate enough to receive a decree from the Heavenly Emperor and consume some heavenly treasures, you could extend your life even further.”
The young man cupped his hands and said: “I wish to seek the Great Dao.”
“Excellent aspiration!”
The old man laughed heartily, then waved his hand and said:
“However, as I have said, I will only teach you one technique.”
“You may use this technique as you wish, whether you exchange it with others or teach it publicly, but I will not teach you a second technique.”
“I will not go back on my word.”
Qi Wuhuo replied earnestly: “The grace of passing on this method is something I will never forget. How could I still hope for more?”
He prepared breakfast, consisting of a steamed bun made of various grains. The side dish was cabbage stir-fried with dried rabbit meat. The three strings of coins given by Teacher Su were slightly less valuable than three taels of silver, approximately two taels and eight coins.
In today’s world, ten jin of white flour costs only one silver coin.
Ten jin of tea costs only one tael of silver.
For Qi Wuhuo, three taels of silver was a significant amount, and it meant he no longer needed to be so financially strained. After finishing his meal, the old man mentioned that he had stayed up all night keeping watch over him and was now feeling drowsy. With a yawn, he lay down on his side and fell asleep.
Qi Wuhuo walked over to a small storage room on the side.
Upon opening it, he was greeted by a chill. Various unused items were stored inside, including a single wheel, an old wooden scale beam with visible cracks, and many other assorted things.
People who had endured years of famine tended to collect anything that might be useful in case of emergencies. Qi Wuhuo sorted through his little treasure house.
He then moved aside half of a hand cart, revealing a stone mill beneath it.
With a bit of effort, he pushed aside the stone mill’s grinding plate, uncovering a round hole. Inside, a thread was suspended. Qi Wuhuo took a deep breath and pulled up the thread. The already cool storage room became even colder in an instant, with a faint cold light flickering.
It was a sword.
A soldier’s sword.
During the famine that year, even the army rebelled. On the road to this place, he had picked up a sword and a dagger. At that time, without any sharp weapon for protection, it would have been very difficult for him to survive until now.
Taking out the sword, Qi Wuhuo ran his fingers along it and felt the coldness of the sword. This brought a sense of peace and a feeling that was both familiar and unfamiliar. The familiarity was from his dreams, as he had studied swordsmanship in his youth while traveling the world.
The unfamiliarity came from the fact that it was all just a dream.
Holding the sword, he placed the grinding stone back.
Qi Wuhuo stood in the courtyard. The sword should have felt heavy and difficult to wield easily. However, at this moment, it felt just right in his hand.
The strength he could exert now was roughly equivalent to that of his sixteen or seventeen-year-old self in the dream. Qi Wuhuo gripped the hilt of the sword, exerted a bit of force with his wrist, and the long sword swept through the air with a whooshing sound.
Swordsmanship, or rather martial skills,
Beyond their combat effectiveness and potential for causing harm, they also play a role in tempering the body. Only with a powerful physique can one fully unleash the destructive power of sword techniques.
Although not entirely aligned with the process of purifying Primordial Essence.
But preliminary aspects of swordsmanship, as Qi Wuhuo has confirmed, do have the effect of tempering the body. Holding the sword, Qi Wuhuo practiced the sword forms at a slow and balanced speed, stretching his muscles and bones, and refining his vital energy.
Primordial Qi represents the harmonious fusion of vital energy and blood.
Accompanying the movements, he could feel the flow of Primordial Qi within his flesh and blood gradually increasing, radiating warmth.
This indicated a slight acceleration in the tempering of his Primordial Essence.
Primordial Essence, Primordial Qi, Primordial Spirit.
When these three aspects are perfected, one can enter the Great Dao.
Qi Wuhuo lowered his gaze, reflecting on the various experiences from his dreams. The passage of time, the transient nature of the world and he grew older. His movements became increasingly serene. After practicing the forms thirty times, he was covered in a light sweat, and despite the cold winter, a faint heat emanated from his body.
Suddenly, he stomped his foot, exerting force with his waist. The previously slow long sword accelerated abruptly, tearing through the air with a deep, resonant sound, leaving behind a cold gleam. The momentum was quite terrifying.
The sword struck.
The wind rose.
Qi Wuhuo’s breath momentarily converged like a turtle or crane.
Rehearsing the sword techniques from his dreams served two purposes: one was to explore the potential for accelerating the tempering of his Primordial Essence, and the other was to provide himself with a means of self-defense.
To seek longevity, one needs protective methods.
And what he sought was the Great Dao.
He was in search of eternal life.
Only after cultivating the Complete Essence, Complete Qi, and Complete Spirit would he take the next step. Before achieving that, without any specific techniques or methods, swordsmanship remained the most convenient and straightforward option.
The young man slowly exhaled a breath.
His vast Primordial Spirit controlled the Qi as it circulated through his limbs and body, flowing through the flesh and blood.
His body trembled slightly, shedding fatigue.
He opened his eyes and exhaled gently. He held the sword horizontally in his right hand while his left hand rested behind his back. His black hair fell to the sides of his temples, a fallen flower landed on the sword’s blade.
Seeing the flower bloom and wither was like witnessing the passage of his own life.
Qi Wuhuo’s gaze was calm and resolute.
He brushed the fallen flower away.
“To seek the Great Dao.”
In the Li family residence.
After inviting Qi Wuhuo, Li Puyu finally breathed a sigh of relief when he returned home. He then set off to amuse himself, as a fifteen-year-old youth would. He had planned to visit his second uncle to discuss the interesting happenings in the capital.
However, his father had summoned his second uncle away.
Thus, he reluctantly returned home to practice the Qin with the hired tutor.
At this moment, Li Puyu’s father looked at the middle-aged man, who bore a three-part resemblance to himself, and at the gold on the table, his expression suddenly freezing: “You, you said you were engaged in business outside.”
“What kind of business are you doing?! In a year’s time, acquiring a hundred taels of gold? Such profits!”
Li Puyu’s second uncle, Li Yixian, said: “It’s just business.”
Li Yuelin’s face turned grim: “Such outrageous profit, business…”
“Are you trafficking in people?!”
Li Yixian said: “We are not selling people.”
He sighed, leaning back slightly:
“Rather… selling ghosts!”
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