Chapter 16
JANUARY 7, 2022 TRRAVEN1 COMMENT
Since then, the cultivators’ attention has been on Xu Zifeng and the three beast corpses. Now that they heard Xu Zifeng’s call, they realized that someone else was there and all looked over.
They saw a square mountain stone slowly moving to the right, revealing a narrow cave entrance sitting at the height of a person. A young man in a short brown outfit walked out of the cave. He looked like he was only twelve or thirteen with a handsome appearance and a calm and gentle temperament.
The young man bowed slightly to the crowd, and said respectfully, “Xu Ziqing has seen Senior Xu, the Young Masters, and Miss Meng.”
Surrounded by many lines of sight, he was not timid, but his complexion was still a little pale, and his cultivation base was only within the threshold of initial cultivation.
Xu Zifeng glanced at him, “Xu family?”
Xu Ziqing hung his vision, “Precisely. This junior is a worker in Baicao Garden and came this time with Steward He, but accidentally got separated. I stayed in the cave for a night last night, but I never expected that I would see snakes and eagles fighting when I came out today. This junior’s cultivation base is not good, so he had to hide in the cave. This junior was recovering from shock and was unable to come out to show proper courtesy in time. I still hope everyone can please forgive me.”
He explained the reason honestly with these words. With Xu Zifeng asking the questions, even if someone wanted to vent their anger on him, it wouldn’t be good to be bothered too much about it. As such, the group’s chests were full of disappointment and annoyance, and after informing Xu Zifeng, they stepped on their magical tools and flew away.
Xu Zifeng looked cold, but said to Xu Ziqing, “Steward He is looking for you, come with me to his location. ”
Xu Ziqing smiled, “Thank you for your trouble Senior.”
Because he was taking Xu Ziqing along with him and the other member of the Xu Clan was following, Xu Zifeng didn’t use the technique of transforming into light. He took the sword off his back and cast it into the air before stepping up on it. Then he waved his sleeve at Xu Ziqing, and Xu Ziqing involuntarily also landed on the sword.
The long sword hummed and flew off into the air. The other member of the Xu Clan had a gourd magic tool, so he also used it before following Xu Zifeng’s flying sword closely.
Xu Ziqing stood on the sword and lifted his eyes to see the view of Xu Zifeng’s back. It seemed as if he were far away, unable to touch him even if he reached his hand out. But his feet were very stable, and although the thin sword body was rushing extremely fast, there was no turbulence at all.
They were already a thousand feet away from the ground below. Xu Ziqing looked down and saw countless trees and scenes flying past, but it was impossible to see anything clearly. It made one feel a burst of thriving heroism in their chests, instantly broadening their minds.
Only half an hour later did the flying sword incline and lower down to the ground. As soon as Xu Ziqing saw the flowers before his eyes, he felt that his body had fallen into place, and he was already standing firm.
Looking at Xu Zifeng again, he pinched a finger, and the flying sword turned into a green light that flew straight to his back and into the sheath.
That’s amazing! Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but secretly praise it in his heart, and while thinking, he wondered when he could get to this cultivation base.
Xu Zifeng didn’t say much. He only brought Xu Ziqing, nodded slightly to Old Man He, sat cross-legged under the tree disregarding how envious others looked at him, and then just closed his eyes and meditated.
This place was a valley. After the Xu Clan came into the secret realm, they were mostly left nearby by the prohibition, and then gathered together soon after to discuss their plans for the future. Xu Zifeng also arrived here. Right now there were only two or three experts of Foundation Establishment who had entered the Linyuan Secret Realm. He was one of them and bore the responsibility of guarding all the juniors.
Old Man He did not land here, but on the far periphery. He stayed in the area that night, and found this location after dawn, but didn’t expect that his promising little handyman was not here. Thinking of the dangers in the secret realm, he made the prompt decision to ask Xu Zifeng to look for him.
Xu Zifeng had heard from his sister that he was helpful when she asked for spiritual herbs that day, so he agreed. Only then did he transform into light to search for the other, but he didn’t expect that he would gain something from going out this time. Although the cultivation base of the three beasts was a bit low for him, there were traces of ancient blood, which was remarkable. And when he saw the person Old Man He was looking for there, he naturally brought him back without any trouble.
Seeing that Xu Ziqing was unharmed, Old Man He showed a rare smile on his face and said, “Boy1, this time you owe Young Master Zifeng.”
Xu Ziqing also smiled and said, “I am indeed thankful to Senior Xu. Steward He, this junior is useless and has troubled you.”
Now that his person was safe, and Old Man He wasn’t a long-winded person, he raised his tobacco pipe, took in a breath, and blew it out, “There is plenty of spiritual energy in the secret realm. Since this is the case, you can cultivate first. I’ll protect you.”
Xu Ziqing bowed, sat on the ground according to his words, and began to impact his acupoints.
Previously, he had opened up eight acupoints of the Governing Vessel2, and because he practiced in the cave overnight, the remaining acupoints were slightly loosened. Now it was just right to strike the iron while it was hot. He only hoped that he was able to impact the ninth acupoint so he could make further progress.
As soon as Xu Ziqing started to circulate his spiritual power, he felt spiritual energy from the air surging downward. Unexpectedly, cultivating in the open air actually attracted several times more wood spiritual energy than in the cave. The secret realm really was extraordinary, the spiritual energy being like a whale breathing in water, flowing straight into him.
Then suddenly it seemed that some obstacle was washed away by the constant spiritual power, and was finally broken open! Immediately, his body felt two points lighter, and the spiritual power that was originally very rough when it was circulated seemed to be a little smoother…
His mediation lasted a shichen3. Xu Ziqing opened his eyes and restrained the shock rising in his chest.
In such a short period of time, he not only broke through the ninth acupoint, but even the tenth one was wavering! With such abundant spiritual energy, the obstruction between the acupoints was like papier-mâché and it didn’t take a long time for him to be successful.
If it weren’t for knowing that it was impossible, Xu Ziqing would want to stay and cultivate in the secret realm forever!
When Old Man He saw he had received an accomplishment, he smiled and asked, “Boy, how is it?”
Xu Ziqing flushed with embarrassment and said, “The spiritual energy in the secret realm is really extraordinary. This junior has made some progress.”
Old Man He laughed with a ‘haw-haw’, “This is your first time here so you naturally didn’t know. This secret realm is the most mysterious, and the spiritual energy inside is more than ten times more than the outside world. Therefore, even if someone who enters the secret realm doesn’t adventure, there are still endless benefits!”
Xu Ziqing felt moved and smiled, chiming in with, “That this junior can gain this benefit, I must thank Steward He for his kindness in bringing me here. This junior is extremely grateful.”
Old Man He nodded, didn’t bother with these words, and changed the subject. He became two points more solemn and asked, “You spent the night outside, what insights have you gained?”
The secret realm had only been open for three days, and now one-third of it was gone. He brought Xu Ziqing into this secret realm with the original intention for him to gain experience. Therefore, having this question would be also considered as an examination.
Xu Ziqing reflected for a moment. He had been apprehensive and cautious trying to survive the whole time and actually didn’t pay too close attention, but he didn’t gain nothing. He memorized many ancient books and knew many names and characteristics of spiritual plants by heart for a while, so even if it was just a glance, he could recognize them.
He sorted it out and said, “In the secret realm, there are many spiritual plants. What this junior saw was the Dragon Claw Flower, Thousand Millet Grass, and Golden Silk Grass… These are all types that the Baicao Garden has. There was also the Coral Plant, Kidney Bean Herb, and Viper Herb… These types of spiritual herbs were among the unremarkable and of least worth. As for what isn’t in Baicao Garden… This junior only saw a type of Fire Snake Herb, but unfortunately, it looked as if it was still not yet mature.”4
Old Man He squinted his eyes and listened carefully before nodding slightly, “Yes, in terms of knowledge, you have a good foundation.”
Xu Ziqing said, “It is thanks to Steward He for giving his support.”
As the two were talking, Old Man He led Xu Ziqing to the side of the valley where clusters of spiritual herbs grew and asked him to identify them one by one and describe them in detail in order to give him guidance.
There were some Xu Clansmen who were different. They did not come to the secret realm just to absorb spiritual energy, but to find rare mountain treasures. Although most of these spiritual herbs were of good quality, on one hand, they were not good at identifying them, on the other, they definitely weren’t treasures that defied the natural order, so in the end, they were not within the scope of collection.
The people of the Xu Clan dispersed as early as when Xu Ziqing started meditating and only took refuge in the valley every night. Some of the juniors asked for a Summoning Jade Talisman so that just in case they seriously encountered danger, they could ask for help and naturally, nearby people from the Xu Clan could go to rescue them.
Xu Zifeng was still meditating. Looking at his situation, it seemed that he had no interest in the various treasures in the secret realm.
After a while, the renowned spiritual herbs in the valley were all recognized by Xu Ziqing. He had a solid foundation and Old Man He was quite satisfied. By noon, Xu Ziqing’s stomach was already growling with hunger. Old Man He’s expression was relaxed, took him aside, and handed him a pale yellow pill.
Xu Ziqing was startled, “Steward He, what is this?” While saying so, he also knew that the old man would not harm him and had already picked it up.
Old Man He said, “Inedia Pill, it is guaranteed to keep you from hunger for fifteen days.”
When Xu Ziqing heard these words, he was happy and ate it right away.
He had heard of the Inedia Pill. Cultivators under the Golden Core stage must still eat and have to eat foods that have spiritual energy. Therefore, every single great family and sect must plant spiritual grains and other belly-filling things.
The Inedia Pill was made from several kinds of common spiritual herbs. The low grade could fill the stomach for half a month, the middle grade for half a year, and the high grade for a year. As for the top grade… It was a legendary thing. People wouldn’t know hunger ten years after taking it.
Old Man He said that the one he gave Xu Ziqing could last for fifteen days, so naturally, it was low grade.
Nowadays, alchemists were extremely rare. The Xu family was a large clan, but there were only a few dozen of them. The amount of refined pills was limited and were only regularly sent out to the outstanding juniors in the sect. Even if the low class like Xu Ziqing had heard of it, they would never see it with their own eyes.
However, Xu’s alchemy method had been inseparable from Baicao Garden since ancient times. The grade of a pill was related to the method and cultivation base of alchemists, together with the fire, the pill cauldron, as well as the spiritual herbs. Old Man He was in charge of Baicao Garden. If he wanted any pill, it was naturally not difficult to obtain.
But in the end, it was difficult for alchemists to improve the grade of pills, and the majority could only refine the low grade pills. At most, the alchemists in the Xu family could refine only up to mid grade pills, but the quantity was very small.
And the reason why Xu Zifeng was so polite to Old Man He was related to the good-quality Thousand Millet Grass that his younger sister brought him for refining a mid grade Qi Replenishment Pill. But these were things that Xu Ziqing didn’t know.
Xu Ziqing took the Inedia Pill and immediately a warm stream of heat flowed down his throat, gurgling with a delicate fragrance. Then there was a groan of satisfaction in his stomach, the warm energy remaining in the center of his abdomen for a while, warming up his body in the process. After a short moment, his hunger disappeared completely.
This pill was really extraordinary!
His heart was full of surprise, but suddenly there was a commotion not far away. Old Man He and Xu Ziqing both heard it and looked over.
Footnotes
1, This is an address in which a senior calls a junior, but among the few options of things like, boy; lad; son; young man, I felt because of Old Man He’s grumpy nature using ‘boy’ fit best.
2, Before I used the pinyin version of the Governing and Conception Vessels as the Channels of Du and Ren. Following my decision to use less pinyin in this novel, I will be using their translated versions. For extra information on this, please refer to Chapter 9.
3, two hours, aka one of the 12 two-hour periods of the day
4, Again, following my decision for less pinyin, previously mentioned herbs were given translated names (even if they sounded stupid… aka Kidney Bean Herb). Chapter 7‘s Qianji Grass is now Thousand Millet Grass, and Shanhu Plant from Chapter 14 is now Coral Plant.
T/N, I went along with previous translators ranking of the quality of ones spiritual roots, such as Xu Zishu’s aptitude of medium-low and our MC’s aptitude of lower-low, but after binge reading, I Have Medicine by the same author up to date, I noticed the translator used numericals for the ranking/grading/class system. As such, I will integrate it here as well. As such, the ‘classes’ will now be known as, 上上 1st, 上等 2nd, 上下 3rd, 中上 4th, 中等 5th, 中下 6th, 下上 7th, 下等 8th, 下下 9th. This makes our MC’s class, 9th class instead of ‘lower-low’. Xu Zishu’s previously mentioned medium-low ranking is now 6th class.