Yun Qi carefully stored the seal paste and directly used his spiritual sense to place it into the newly acquired cave stone.
The golden seal was then tied to his belt.
Now, he had a sword on his left and the seal hanging on his right.
The jade pendant issued by the sect, which still carried the aura of his essence blood, was left behind in the Bingchen Courtyard of Little Wan Mountain.
Yun Qi felt quite emotional.
The gifts of gold and stone were indeed generous.
He thought for a moment and said, "Jiang Nan."
"Your disciple is here. Does the benefactor have any instructions?"
"You haven't established your own residence yet, have you?"
"Your disciple is ashamed to admit it."
"Among the five elements, I know that the metal element is your foundation. Apart from metal, do you have any preferences?"
"The path of Kan and Li directly points to the balance of Yin and Yang and is also the essence of internal alchemy. Your disciple has long yearned for it."
"Hmm," Yun Qi pondered for a moment.
"In that case, I have comprehended a spell that focuses on the fire element and complements the metal element. Would you like to learn it?"
Jiang Nan Jing looked at Yun Qi, stunned.
"Is there a rule in your sect against it?" Yun Qi asked, then shook his head.
"Never mind. I just feel that the gifts are too generous, and I have nothing to offer in return. It's quite embarrassing."
Jiang Nan Jing quickly came back to his senses and shook his head.
"No, no! It's just that your disciple was momentarily surprised."
"Oh! Well then, would you like to learn it?"
Yun Qi asked.
Jiang Nan Jing nodded repeatedly.
"If I can learn the profound techniques of the upper sect, it would be a great fortune for Jiang Nan! However, spell techniques are difficult and profound. Your disciple fears that I may not grasp their meaning and waste the benefactor's efforts."
Yun Qi smiled and shook his head.
"You're getting ahead of yourself. This spell is something I personally comprehended, not a secret technique of the mountain sect."
Jiang Nan Jing was stunned once again.
At this level and age, could one really comprehend a spell technique on their own?
Yun Qi, however, misunderstood his reaction and awkwardly smiled.
Indeed, at his level and age, it was expected that others might not be willing to learn a self-comprehended spell.
Even if it worked, how powerful could it be?
"It's fine if you don't want to learn it. Haha, we can talk about it later."
Yun Qi said proactively.
Jiang Nan Jing quickly came back to his senses, almost tearing up in his urgency.
"No, no! Your disciple is just amazed by the benefactor's talent! I am willing to learn!"
Jiang Nan Jing would never forget how, just yesterday, the benefactor had effortlessly toyed with the skinny Daoist using just a few spells.
Moreover, who in the cultivation world didn't know that spell techniques were the most fundamental and closest to the Great Dao?
However, spell techniques were extremely difficult to master, requiring either direct oral transmission or the method of empowerment.
The various intricacies made it nearly impossible to learn without a great master!
And precisely because spell techniques were so hard to teach and spread, magical treasures and talismans had become the mainstream in battles.
After all, using magical treasures didn't require spells, and using talismans only required chanting over the talisman itself, not directly commanding the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
It was much simpler.
Even in the Metal Element Sect, direct commands of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth through spells were rare.
That's why the Metal Element Sect relied more on magical treasures and the musical techniques derived from spells.
More importantly, Jiang Nan Jing had personally witnessed and heard yesterday that the benefactor's spells were all single-word chants!
The simpler the spell, the harder it was, and the closer it was to the Dao.
Generally, spells required calling upon the names of deities, praying and making wishes to borrow the power of gods to command the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Thirteen-word chants and nine-word chants were the most common, while five-word chants were rare, and single-word chants were almost unheard of.
It was widely accepted that those skilled in single-word chants were naturally gifted and close to the Dao.
Jiang Nan Jing had always felt that the skinny Daoist's decision to flee yesterday wasn't just because his elders had arrived, but also because he was wary of the benefactor.
Seeing Jiang Nan's willingness to learn, Yun Qi smiled.
"Good, then I will teach you. This spell is called the 'Great Sun Brightness Spell.' Although it focuses on the fire element, its concept can be traced back to the Great Sun, embodying the idea of yang fire illuminating everything. It complements your metal element."
Yun Qi said this, recalling the dazzling golden light from yesterday.
Jiang Nan Jing nodded repeatedly.
Yun Qi led Jiang Nan out of the house and sat down on the wooden path outside the courtyard, explaining, "This technique has two uses. Originally, I comprehended it for internal observation. It can also be used in battles to create a bright light that blinds the opponent or to dispel evil forces—like what happened to you yesterday."
Yun Qi pointed at Jiang Nan Jing's lung acupoint and smiled, "Of course, its power isn't as strong as yours."
Jiang Nan Jing was once again shocked.
A spell that could be used for both internal observation and external combat? What kind of spell was this? And what kind of talent did the benefactor possess to comprehend such a spell?
"The hand seals for internal observation and external application are different. I'll teach you the external application first, as it's closer to your own path and the essence of magical treasures. It should be easier for you to understand."
Jiang Nan Jing nodded in agreement.
"Raise your right hand to chest level, palm facing left, thumb pressing against the middle finger, ring finger and little finger curling with the middle finger, index finger extended."
Point forward.
"Yes, use more force, tighten."
Not like that, the thumb, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger should be loosely held.
"Not like that, the palm should be straight, the index finger should be straight, don't overdo it, too much is just as bad as too little."
See, like this.
"..."Correct.
"Yun Qi blinked, somewhat surprised. How could a hand seal be so difficult? Hadn't he already demonstrated it right in front of him? Jiang Nan Jing seemed satisfied with his learning speed, his eyes shining as he looked at Yun Qi. Yun Qi avoided his gaze, took a deep breath, and said,"Keep this gesture.
I'll teach, and you chant.
"Jiang Nan Jing pursed his lips and nodded vigorously."
Zhao!
"Yun Qi formed the hand seal with his right hand and uttered a syllable. Immediately, a bright light emanated from his right fingertips. A single-word chant! Jiang Nan Jing struggled to contain his excitement and followed with the same syllable,"Zhao!
"Nothing happened. He looked at Yun Qi."
Voiced sound, make it sharp.
"Yun Qi reminded him."
Zhao!
"Jiang Nan Jing chanted again, but nothing happened."
Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then quickly release it.
"Yun Qi gave another reminder."
Zhao!
"Jiang Nan Jing chanted once more, but still, nothing happened. Yun Qi scratched his forehead. He thought for a moment and said,"Close your eyes, lift your head, and look directly at the sun.
"Jiang Nan Jing complied."
Now, do you see a field of red?
"Jiang Nan Jing immediately nodded."
Good, now imagine this red as a sea of fire, and visualize a great sun rising from it.
Then chant!
""Zhao!
"Jiang Nan Jing chanted again, but nothing happened. Yun Qi scratched his forehead harder."
Let me think, let me think.
""Okay.
"Jiang Nan Jing responded, his face red as if sunburned."
Try this, chant with me again.
"After a while, Yun Qi seemed to have thought of a solution. Jiang Nan Jing quickly nodded."
Yin Fei covers the sun, Mao Su commands, Zhao!
"Yun Qi's fingertips scattered a dazzling auspicious mist."
Yin Fei covers the sun, Mao Su commands, Zhao!
"Jiang Nan Jing's fingertips remained unchanged. Yun Qi felt a bit pained. --- By noon, servants arrived at the cottage to invite Yun Qi and Jiang Nan Jing to a banquet. Today, Jiang Yanxing and Jiang Yuexing were hosting a grand feast to formally express their gratitude.
However, when the servants reached the courtyard gate, they saw the esteemed guest and their young master sitting cross-legged at the entrance, their hands forming seals and their mouths chanting, seemingly in the midst of cultivation. The servants dared not disturb them and returned to the banquet to report to the family head and the second master.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yanxing and Jiang Yuexing were still talking in the banquet hall."
What's going on? It's already time.
Has Jing forgotten to bring the esteemed guest?
"Jiang Yuexing said. Jiang Yanxing replied,"It's fine.
I've already sent someone to invite them.
They should be on their way.
"At that moment, a servant returned and reported what they had seen and heard at the cottage gate."
You're saying they were chanting and forming hand seals, with Young Master Cheng teaching and Jing learning?
"Jiang Yanxing asked in surprise. The servants nodded, saying it seemed that way. Jiang Yanxing and Jiang Yuexing exchanged glances and immediately rushed to the Wind Lotus Cottage. They practically flew over, barely touching the ground. They stood about a hundred steps away from the cottage, listening quietly for a while. Then, Jiang Yanxing and Jiang Yuexing slowly retreated, with Jiang Yanxing giving orders,"Unless the young master leaves on his own, no one is to approach within eight hundred steps of the cottage.
No, everyone, everyone must stay as far away from the cottage as possible!"
Chapter 2 delivered.
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(End of chapter)