After bidding farewell to Su Kong, Yun Qi turned and retraced his steps out of the bamboo forest.
Just as he emerged, a flock of silver pheasants soared into the sky from deep within the forest.
Faintly, he thought he heard laughter echoing from the depths of the bamboo grove.
The bamboo forest was cool and shaded, but as soon as he stepped out, the warm sunlight bathed his body.
He glanced at the sky; the sun hung in the southeast, indicating it was still mid-morning.
Yun Qi recalled his teacher’s words about how absorbing qi should align with the time of day and the environment.
Now, standing on high ground with a clear sky and the sun blazing overhead, the yang energy was at its peak.
It was the perfect time to absorb fire qi.
With this in mind, Yun Qi immediately assumed a stance and began using the "He" character mantra to absorb qi.
Sure enough, he felt the warm flow of energy entering his body more intensely than it had in the cool bamboo pavilion.
Seeing no need to rush, he decided to stay and continue absorbing qi until He Bingkun finished his evening class, so they could return together.
During breaks in his breathing exercises, Yun Qi also pondered the concept of mental concentration.
Building a palace in his mind was no easy task.
It wasn’t just about visualizing the surface; his teacher had emphasized constructing it brick by brick.
Once formed, it had to be maintained, not forgotten after a couple of days.
The palace was complex, but its core had to be a divine hall—a place of worship within the palace.
Outside the mountains, the Yulin Temple had many such halls: the Hall of Wang Lingguan, the Hall of the Four Deities, the Hall of the Mystic Capital Grand Master, the Hall of Guangcheng Daojun, the Hall of Doumu Yuanjun, as well as the Hall of the Three Pure Ones and the Hall of Ge Xian.
On the flat-topped mountain of the Lotus Blessed Land, there was also a Hall of the Three Pure Ones, dedicated to the Three Pure Ancestors, as well as the Hall of Fuxi, dedicated to the ancestor of humanity, and the Halls of Yin and Yang, dedicated to the ethereal energies of yin and yang.
Yun Qi needed to decide which hall to build first.
His teacher had mentioned that it should ideally be connected to visualization techniques, inner deities, and the opening of his dantian.
This would make the process more efficient...
“What are you daydreaming about?”
Yun Qi was startled when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
It was He Bingkun.
“How did you get here so fast… Wait, it’s already dark?”
He Bingkun chuckled. “You’re quite good at entering a meditative state. That’s a good thing. Let’s head back.”
The Thunder Sparrow escorted the two back to their quarters.
“How was today?”
“Not bad. I absorbed some qi.”
“Huh? Did you learn how to absorb qi, or did you actually absorb it?”
He Bingkun’s voice suddenly rose in pitch.
“I learned how to absorb qi, and I also absorbed it.”
“In one day? You absorbed qi in one day?!”
He Bingkun grabbed Yun Qi’s head, scrutinizing it from all angles. “What kind of monster are you?”
Yun Qi smiled and pulled out a thin green slip from his pocket.
The slip, as thin as bamboo shavings, bore a delicate and elegant inscription:
"Cheng Yunqi achieved qi absorption within six breaths after learning the method. Witnessed by Wen Sukong. Dated the ninth day of the fourth month, 424th year of the Mingzhi Era, at Mingzhi Mountain."
“My teacher said I can use this slip to claim a reward at the Teaching Hall.”
He Bingkun’s eyes nearly glued themselves to the slip. “Six breaths? You absorbed qi in six breaths?”
Having spent half a month together, He Bingkun had sensed that Yun Qi was no ordinary person, but he hadn’t expected him to be this extraordinary.
“Not ‘should be able to,’ but ‘definitely can.’ Let’s go! We’re heading there now!”
He Bingkun burst into laughter, grabbing Yun Qi’s wrist and striding out of the courtyard, heading straight for the Teaching Hall.
The streets were lined with lanterns hanging from eaves and cave walls, some fiery red, others orange-yellow, forming two glowing ribbons that illuminated the mountain path clearly.
He Bingkun was known for his booming voice, and his laughter now drew attention like a magnet.
Doors along the path swung open as people poked their heads out.
“Has Old He opened his dantian?”
“Has the Thunder King opened his dantian?”
“Has He Bingkun opened his dantian?”
Congratulatory voices spread faster than He Bingkun’s laughter, filling the air with well-wishes.
He Bingkun’s face turned red, though it was hard to tell under the lantern light. “Opening my dantian is a natural progression. It’s not time yet, so there’s no need for congratulations.”
“You fool, laughing so loudly at night disturbs our cultivation!”
“Maybe all that thunder summoning has fried his brain.”
“All brawn, no brains.”
In an instant, the congratulations turned into curses.
“My roommate, Cheng Yunqi, learned a technique today and absorbed qi in six breaths. We’re heading to the Teaching Hall to claim his reward. Isn’t that worth a laugh?”
The small mountain street fell silent.
The next moment, dozens of people poured out from both sides of the street, surrounding He Bingkun and Yun Qi.
No one paid attention to He Bingkun’s smug expression; they were all scrutinizing Cheng Yunqi.
“Six breaths to absorb qi!”
“He’s quite handsome.”
“Wait, is he from Mingzhi Mountain?”
“Oh, I remember now! The new young Daoist!”
The crowd buzzed with chatter, and Yun Qi was taken aback.
Was absorbing qi in six breaths really that shocking?
“Let’s go with them!”
Someone shouted.
“Of course, we’ll go together!”
“Naturally, we’ll go together!”
And so, the laughter and shouting grew from one person to a whole crowd.
Yun Qi felt uneasy.
This was too much attention.
Somehow, things had spiraled out of control.
“Haha, don’t worry, Yun Qi. It’s been a long time since someone like you appeared on Lantern Street. We’ve got to make the most of it. You don’t know, but two years ago, a newcomer on Ancient Vine Street learned a technique in the morning and absorbed qi by evening. They bragged about it endlessly. Even though the Teaching Hall was right above them, they made a show of parading down our street before heading up. Now that we’ve got this chance, we’re not letting it go.”
With that, the crowd surged up the mountain, surrounding Yun Qi.
Having spent half a month holed up in his room reading, Yun Qi didn’t know any of his neighbors.
By the time they reached the Teaching Hall, he had been introduced to everyone.
“Brother Jiabao, I’m really just an ordinary person, not some Daoist prodigy. You’ve been asking me this the whole way.”
Yun Qi sighed as he answered again.
The question came from a plump man with a big belly and a perpetually smiling face.
“If you’re not a Daoist prodigy, then this is truly astonishing.”
“What exactly is a Daoist prodigy?”
Yun Qi couldn’t help but ask.
“The child of a Golden Core Daoist couple.”
Yun Qi nodded.
That was indeed impressive, and probably rare.
As they reached a certain street, the crowd’s cheers grew louder.
Yun Qi tugged at He Bingkun’s sleeve. “Brother He, maybe we should ask everyone to keep it down. This feels a bit too much.”
He Bingkun laughed. “This is Ancient Vine Street!”
Yun Qi looked around.
The mountain path was lined with thick ancient vines, and the people here lived in vine-woven huts, creating a unique atmosphere.
What was once a tranquil place was now bustling with noise.
Yun Qi worried that it might lead to conflict.
The vine huts on Ancient Vine Street were eerily quiet.
“Something’s wrong.”
He Bingkun finally dropped his smug expression, his face turning serious and vigilant.
In that moment, he truly looked like a tiger surveying its territory.
“Those brats from Ancient Vine Street are definitely up to no good!”
He Bingkun wasn’t wrong.
Under the cover of night, Ancient Vine Street came alive.
Countless vines silently crept toward the crowd.
“What’s that?”
Someone shouted in alarm.
It was like a signal.
The discovered vines quickly sprang into action, moving like snakes or lightning, swiftly encircling the people from Lantern Street.
Except for a few who had trained in movement techniques and were still dodging, most were tightly bound.
“Tian Lingzhi, you shameless scoundrel!”
He Bingkun, skilled in movement techniques, was still evading the vines as he shouted a name.
He knew Tian Lingzhi was the leader of Ancient Vine Street and was surely behind this.
As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound filled the air.
“Haha, you brainless fools! You’re all brainless! Wang Xianyou is in seclusion, and you’re following He Bingkun’s nonsense. Hahaha!”
Figures appeared rapidly on Ancient Vine Street, moving swiftly toward the trapped crowd.
Under the cover of vines and darkness, they were almost impossible to see.
“By the decree of the Lightning Mother, let the electric light flow like gold, revealing all that is hidden!”
Yun Qi watched as He Bingkun formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation.
A brilliant white light burst from his fingertips, illuminating the entire Ancient Vine Street as if it were daytime.
The figures were now clearly visible.
The attackers squinted in the bright light, their movements slowing.
Yun Qi looked at the leader—a young man in a white robe and a green crown.
The man saw Yun Qi and smiled before casting his own spell:
“By the decree of the Wood Lord, let all things grow and entangle!”
New chapter delivered! Please leave your comments and feedback below.
(End of Chapter)