Chapter 35

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Qi Wuhuo nodded quietly and then glanced at the things before him. “Please wait a moment, Old Sir.”

Even though there was an opportunity, he didn’t rush forward immediately. Instead, he focused on finishing his current tasks.

The ground meat given by the butcher was originally meant to be eaten in halves, with the rest stored in the cold cellar beneath the storage room for two more meals later. But now, all of it was taken out. While mixing the filling, he even used the sesame oil that was usually reserved for the New Year, pouring it into the ground meat.

Once the buns were prepared and steaming, he chopped some vegetables, washed his hands, and then sat down in front of the old man.

The elder stroked his beard and smiled: “When you carried me down the mountain, I told you that I had come to visit a friend. Do you remember?”

Qi Wuhuo nodded.

“I remember.”

The old man sighed: “I’ve stayed here for a month now, and it’s time for me to leave.”

Qi Wuhuo, without thinking, said: “Let me see you off.”

The old man laughed heartily: “My legs have healed, and our fate has run its course. There’s no need for you to try to hold me back. I didn’t tell you when I arrived, and you shouldn’t see me off when I leave—that’s the way it should be.”

“I’ll leave you a gift. If you continue to cultivate diligently, perhaps one day you’ll enter the Dao, and you and I may meet again.”

“But my gift won’t be so easy to take.”

The old man stroked his beard, contemplating for a moment, then pointed toward Qi Wuhuo’s house with a smile. “You have many books in your home.”

“Though the Yellow Millet Dream may seem absurd, the knowledge you’ve gained from reading those books is real.”

“Here’s the task: I’m planning to build a new Daoist temple, but I’m still missing a couplet for the entrance. If you are interested, write one for me to see.”

“A couplet?”

Qi Wuhuo was puzzled, but he still went back into the house and took out paper and brush. The brush cost about ten large coins, more expensive than a pound of pork, and it was already the cheapest one. As for the white paper, it was also the cheapest kind, called ‘ben paper,’ with 150 sheets costing six silver coins. Qi Wuhuo, having grown up poor, had bought some, but he cherished it greatly.

He carefully picked out the whitest, cleanest sheet. Even though it was called a “sheet”, paper in this era was quite large.

Qi Wuhuo spread it out.

He fetched water from the well to prepare the ink, slowly mixing it while organizing his thoughts.

Taking up the brush and dipping it into the ink, his mind raced with many ideas. Instinctively, he thought of the strange dream he’d had, the dream gifted to him by the old man’s pillow. Before, he had been merely struggling to get by, but now he could see a broader, more distant world. He lifted his head, recalling the sights he had seen as the Mountain God, the vast mountains and landscapes, and as he pondered, inspiration struck. He began to write.

【The Daoist temple locks in the misty clouds】

The first line describes the scenery, then extends into a deeper meaning.

【Remember, beyond the heavens, there are greater heavens; the sun and moon shuttle by, emptying all thoughts.】

The old man stood to one side, stroking his beard, glancing up, and smiled. “Not bad.”

“It captures both the scenery and the flowing essence of the sun and moon—excellent.”

Qi Wuhuo, calm and focused, penned the second line of the couplet.

“The True Person spreads enlightenment.”

He paused, recalling those two profound dreams, and then, with steady hands, wrote:

“First realizing that within dreams lie more dreams, time flies like an arrow, spanning the years of spring and autumn.”

The old man recited the last line, stroking his beard as he gazed at the calm and composed youth.

From this couplet, he could sense Qi Wuhuo’s reflections and gratitude. Yet, it was evident that despite the emotions swirling within him, the young man rarely allowed them to show.

Such maturity in one so young was not a blessing—it often meant that the person had endured many hardships. Only through such trials can someone grow quickly in a short period.

The old man sighed inwardly but smiled, saying: “Not bad, not bad.”

“Though it may seem a bit modest for a Daoist Temple, it does carry your personal understanding.”

“The essence of the Yellow Millet Dream is fully embedded within it.”

“That’s enough for me to give you a gift.”

Qi Wuhuo didn’t see any movement, but suddenly, a pill bottle appeared from the void. Its slender neck was made of translucent white porcelain, emitting a faint spiritual light. Just by inhaling the fragrance of the pill, Qi Wuhuo felt his body subtly stir. The old man glanced at the pill bottle, and with a slight flick of his finger, he discreetly wiped away the four cloud-shaped seal characters that read [One-Turn Golden Pill].

Then, with a smile, he said:

“This is… hmm, let me think. This is a [Life-Extending Pill].”

He spoke the simple and unadorned name, then continued:

“Your Primordial Spirit cultivation is too advanced, far surpassing your Primordial Qi and Primordial Essence. Even if you restrain yourself during cultivation, the Primordial Spirit will still gradually improve. Even with the methods to temper both Primordial Qi and Primordial Essence, through diligence and hard work, it would still take decades to fully balance the Three Talents. If you wish to travel the world and see all things, it would not be sufficient.”

“This pill was personally refined by me, and its medicinal properties are gentle.”

“There are fifty pills in total.”

“Each pill can extend your life by one year, prolonging your lifespan by fifty years—more than enough time to cultivate Innate Qi.”

“By that time, your Primordial Spirit, Primordial Qi, and Primordial Essence will all be nourished to an exceptionally strong level. Once you step into Innate Qi, your foundation will be incredibly solid.”

“If fate allows at that time, we shall meet again.”

Qi Wuhuo paused for a moment and asked: “Extend life for fifty years?”

The old man replied with a smile: “Yes. If you find it insufficient, there’s no more.”

“If you happen to encounter another fortuitous opportunity and breakthrough early, that would be ideal. You can still keep this pill.”

“Whether you take it yourself or give it to someone else, that is entirely up to you.”

“This pill is not something that merely prolongs life. Its effect is unrelated to one’s cultivation level.”

“Even at Xiantian One Qi, it can extend life, as it can to a True Person of the mortal world.”

“Even an immortal official in the heavens, if their lifespan is near its end, can extend their life with it.”

The old man’s tone was as calm as the wind and clouds.

In that instant, Qi Wuhuo understood the preciousness of this gift.

The Mountain God’s prized treasure, a three-legged cauldron, could refine the Primordial Qi of the mountain and produce a spiritual liquid with the effect of extending one’s life by a year. Its main function was to repair hidden injuries within the body and replenish more Primordial Qi, though the life-extending effect could not be stacked. In other words, this type of spiritual fruit or liquid extends the postnatal lifespan.

However, the pill in the old man’s hand likely extended his heavenly lifespan.

Even at the limit of one’s lifespan, consuming a single pill would allow you to extend your life by another year.

The pill was likely divided into doses because the old man believed that no matter how indulgent Qi Wuhuo was, within these fifty years of extended life, he would surely be able to cultivate the orthodox path of the Dao, reaching the level of Innate Qi. He might not even need to use the pill and could pass it on to others. Those worldly True Persons who were nearing the end of their lifespan would not hesitate to exchange a grand inheritance method, or even spiritual treasures and pills, for this pill that could extend their heavenly lifespan.

Thus, this opportunity was likely to—

Grant you fifty more years of heavenly lifespan.

Or, it could serve as fifty profound opportunities of karmic fate, enough to forge deep relationships with True Persons.

Anyone in possession of such a pill could go to any of the great Daoist sects in the mortal world, seek an audience, and be accepted into their ranks.

With just ten pills, one could obtain the teachings of the ancestral masters of an orthodox Daoist sect. If all of them were handed to a single True Person, as long as their aptitude wasn’t too poor to be unsalvageable, reaching the Innate Qi realm would be guaranteed. Even if their talent was truly abysmal, they would be ensured a lifetime of wealth and honor, along with the foundation to become an Earth Deity for three to five hundred years after death.

This was an extension of the heavenly lifespan without any cultivation limitations.

It was too domineering.

Yet the old man casually gave it away like it was nothing.

Qi Wuhuo said: “I… this gift is too valuable, how can I accept it?”

The old man stroked his beard and replied with a smile: “No need to worry, no need. Consider it payment for this month’s meals.”

Qi Wuhuo did not reach out to accept it but instead said softly: “Does the elder not like this couplet?”

The old man smiled wryly: “It’s not that I dislike it, but to someone like me, it still falls a bit short.”

“It’s good, indeed, but the key lies in your own understanding. As for its connection to the ethereal nature of immortality, it’s still somewhat lacking.”

“However, this is normal. You’ve only been cultivating for a little over a month, and to have such comprehension, even seeing through the reality of this dream, is already enough to deserve the gift I’m offering. Just accept it and keep it well.”

“Then I won’t accept it just yet.”

“Let me write another one and give it a try. Though, this one isn’t something I’ve composed myself. It’s something I once heard.”

Qi Wuhuo took a step back, cupped his hands, and then unfolded the scroll he had just written. He took out another sheet of paper, dipped the brush in ink, and prepared to write again.

He recalled a phrase he had once heard in a dream from his childhood.

The old man chuckled. He had come to understand the nature of this child before him.

Was he determined to write a couplet that would satisfy him?

His temperament was a bit too earnest, though the old man didn’t mind. In fact, he rather admired this kind of spirit. However, he didn’t believe that this young man could compose something that would truly satisfy him.

As for the [Life-Extending Pill], or rather, the [One-Turn Golden Pill], this item, while not much among his collection, was certainly a great opportunity if taken out and given.

The bond of fate had already been fulfilled. Unless this child somehow exceeded his expectations, there would be no further gifts.

He would never go back on his word.

At this moment, with a slightly playful attitude of watching a younger generation in a small moment of defiance, he smiled and moved closer to see what Qi Wuhuo would write.

This time, Qi Wuhuo’s brushstrokes were sharper and more free-flowing.

As the old man glanced at the characters already written, the smile on his face slightly faded.

By the time he finished writing a single line, the old man’s playful expression was completely gone. In a soft voice, he read aloud:

“In the White Jade Capital of Heaven, twelve towers and five cities stand tall.”

“An immortal strokes my head.”

“Tying my hair to grant me immortality…”

Simple and unadorned, yet filled with a serene, immortal aura.

It surged toward him.

The old man’s movements came to a halt as he sighed inwardly.

…He had miscalculated.