41: Chapter 41 Bestowing Favors

"Big Brother, two batches of people who shouldn't have come have arrived."

Wang Yaowu opened the booklet, pointed at the last few lines, and used his eyes to signal four directions within the crowd.

"I have already asked Shouyi and Qingyan to keep an eye on these four people."

Wang Yaozu nodded, and then transmitted his voice to the third brother regarding the two people he had discovered, reminding him to pay closer attention.

Seeing that the arrangements were properly made, Wang Yaozu immediately gave his third brother a reassurance: "With Uncle Chongyang presiding over the situation, there is no need to drive them away. Let them listen. Honest and upright things are not afraid of being seen by others."

Wang Yaowu nodded, glancing at the "six Loose Cultivators" who were still pretending to be nonchalant.

He let out a scoff, closed the booklet and tucked it into his bosom, and turned to walk toward the stone platform. When passing by those suspicious Loose Cultivators, his footsteps did not pause in the slightest.

Yet after he walked past, those two Loose Cultivators who used fake names simultaneously felt a needle-like chill crawling up their backs.

At three-quarters past the Si hour, a gray shadow cut through the air from the direction of Lotus Pier.

There was no dazzling escape light, nor any astonishing pressure.

Wang Chongyang stepped on a most ordinary iron sword, his gray robe fluttering loudly in the mountain wind, and his full head of white hair distinct down to every strand in the morning light.

When he landed on the stone platform, not even a trace of dust was kicked up.

That iron sword flew into the scabbard on his back on its own, emitting an extremely light and crisp sound.

Everyone on the stone terrace stood up.

"This humble one greets..."

"This Junior greets..."

"Greetings, Master Chongyang."

"Greetings, Master Chongyang..."

Wang Chongyang sat cross-legged on the cattail mat, his gaze slowly sweeping across the stone terrace.

There were over two hundred and thirty people, old and young, male and female.

"I originally thought there would only be around a hundred people. It seems after so many years, there are still people who remember this old man."

When Wang Chongyang spoke, his voice was not loud, yet it clearly transmitted into the ears of everyone present, as if someone was whispering right beside your ear, and yet also as if the sound originated directly from the depths of your heart.

"This old man is Wang Chongyang, at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, and one hundred and seventy-one years old this year.

Among everyone present, there are old fellows like me whose limit is approaching, and also young people who have only stepped onto the Immortal path for a few years.

Within half a year, this old man will open the altar to lecture on the Dao three times, which can also be considered resolving cultivation doubts for all Fellow Daoists.

The three lectures will proceed step by step. Today, this old man will not lecture on the Dao of Foundation Establishment, but will only speak about Qi Refining, because the Dao of Foundation Establishment is something the vast majority of people present cannot use.

However, if the Qi Refining Foundation is laid well, you will at least be able to walk further on this road of Cultivation, and in the future, you will also have the opportunity to strive for the hope of Foundation Establishment.

The path of Cultivation is not easy, especially for Loose Cultivators. This old man also went through trials when he was young and knows the hardships within."

"Among you, there might be those who cannot establish their Foundation in a lifetime, and there might be those who cannot even reach the Late Stage of Qi Refining. But what this old man wants to talk about today can allow you to take a few more steps in the Qi Refinement Stage; even if it is just taking one more step, it is still good."

The stone terrace was dead silent.

That old Daoist priest who hurried over from Funiu County sat in the front row. When he heard the two words "Loose Cultivator", his entire body trembled slightly, and something flickered within his murky eyes.

Loose Cultivators—in this vast cultivation world, which Cultivator with a background would condescend to associate with Loose Cultivators? Resources, Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills—which of these do Loose Cultivators not fight for with their lives?

Yet precisely because of this, Loose Cultivators are out of tune with these large families and major Sects. This is similar to a saying in the Mortal world—'martial artists use martial arts to violate the prohibitions'; only in this cultivation world, Loose Cultivators are—'martial heroes use martial arts to disrupt the Dao!'

Wang Chongyang's words finally set the minds of the already anxious Loose Cultivators at ease.

"Even if Master Chongyang only reveals a tiny bit, that is still a great benefactor to us Loose Cultivators!"

"Master Chongyang is of noble righteousness!"

...

There were many similar flattering words. Wang Chongyang did not waste words and went straight to the point.

"The path of Qi Refining, from guiding Qi into the body to spiritual power turning into liquid, is divided into a total of nine layers. The first three layers are the Early Stage, the middle three layers are the Middle Stage, and the final three layers are the Late Stage. Today, we will first talk about the Early Stage—Volume One of Qi Refining Foundation Treatise》: Chapter on Guiding Qi."

"Guiding Qi? I am already at the third layer of Qi Refining and passed the Qi-guiding stage long ago. Did I come for nothing today?"

"Guiding Qi is good, guiding Qi is good. I just started Cultivating and don't know how to skillfully and quickly guide Qi yet."

"You don't even know such a simple Cultivation method? Just inhale. Go wherever there is more Spiritual Qi to Cultivate."

"I do know where there is more Spiritual Qi, but the problem is, can we Loose Cultivators get in?"

"Hhahahaha."

...

Wang Chongyang smiled slightly, not taking the banter of the Cultivators to heart. He took out a Jade Slip from his bosom, not pressing it to his brow, but merely placing it on his knees.

Clearly, he had already memorized the contents of that Jade Slip thoroughly; taking it out was merely to give a reference for those listening to the lecture.

"Heaven and Earth are misty and undifferentiated, and Spiritual Qi flows and diffuses across the Eight Desolations. The Mortal body is a turbid shell of flesh and blood, and the seven emotions and six desires imprison and block the spiritual platform, hence it cannot see the Innate pure Qi, trapping one in birth, aging, illness, and death for a hundred years—this is called a Mortal. Those who refine Qi are at the initial stage of Cultivation, performing the work of refining essence to transform Qi."

He paused for a moment, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire audience.

"Everyone sitting here has already passed the trial of guiding Qi into the body. But this old man wants to ask you a question—when guiding Qi into the body, what kind of Qi is being guided?"

The stone terrace went quiet for an instant, and someone tentatively answered: "Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."

"And what is Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?"

No one could answer. Someone opened their mouth, then closed it again, revealing a blank expression.

"The 《Yellow Court Scripture》 states: Immortals and Daoist priests are not born with divinity; they accumulate essence and build up Qi to achieve truth."

"What is Qi? It is the primordial one Qi when Heaven and Earth were not yet divided; when scattered it becomes all things, and when gathered it becomes spiritual opportunity. The Mortal body is turbid, heavy, and sluggish, separated from the pure Qi; therefore, one must borrow breathing as a bridge, use intent as a boat, and guide the pure Qi to ferry the turbid body."

"The guided Qi enters the Meridians, and then begins to blend with your flesh and blood, stained by your seven emotions and six desires, and disturbed by your distracting thoughts and idle worries."

"If your mind is wandering when guiding Qi, that Qi has already turned turbid once it enters the Dantian. If your murderous intent is fully exposed when guiding Qi, that Qi will carry a fierce aura. If you are eager for quick success and instant benefits when guiding Qi, swallowing too much and too fiercely in one breath, that Qi will rampage through the Meridians and leave behind hidden injuries."

"This is why two people with the exact same Spiritual Root and the exact same Cultivation Technique will produce vastly different Qi."

Some people half-understood, while others revealed looks of sudden realization. For great families, this was a compulsory course for clan Cultivators before entering the Dao; but for Loose Cultivators, no one had ever told them these things.

Most Loose Cultivators, upon accidentally obtaining a Cultivation Technique, would eagerly start trying to Cultivate, how could they care about their state of mind during Cultivation, only thinking about successfully Cultivating quickly?

Wang Chongyang slowly extended his right hand, palm facing upward.

A faint cyan Qi current floated up from his palm, like smoke and mist, almost transparent under the sunlight.