58: Chapter 58 Teaching

As night fell, the Xiao Yun Mountain Market was already lit up with warm yellow candlelight and oil lamps, dots of light connecting to form a brightly lit scene; although it wasn't as bustling and lively as during the day, the figures moving about here created a unique charm.

In the twilight, the aroma of spiritual tea and spiritual wine drifted from the wine shops and teahouses, the melodious sounds of string instruments came from the Red Boudoir Tower, along with cheerful laughter like silver bells, rising and falling, adding a different kind of vitality to this tranquil night.

Chen Jiancang had no time to appreciate the night scenery and quickly hurried through the Market streets.

The bluestone path still retained the warmth of the day, and occasionally a night breeze would blow, sweeping up a few fallen leaves that gently swirled in the air.

His steps were light and firm, heading straight for Chen's Treasure Pavilion.

Pushing open the vermillion-painted door, a scent of sandalwood wafted out.

Chen's Treasure Pavilion was brightly lit, and several rogue Cultivators in green robes were chatting with Chen Jianlei behind the counter.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Jianlei turned his head and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Chen Jiancang, you're here so late, is there something urgent?" Chen Jianlei quickly came forward, his tone filled with concern.

Chen Jiancang smiled slightly: "Seventh Brother, no need to worry, some Qi Gathering Pills need to be refined as soon as possible tomorrow, so I rushed over late at night to get the necessary Materials."

Saying this, he took out a list of medicinal ingredients from his Storage Ring and handed it over.

Chen Jianlei took the list and quickly scanned it.

The list contained various spiritual herbs needed to refine Qi Gathering Pills, all of which were commonly seen items.

He put down the list and said with a smile: "No problem, I'll have someone prepare them right away."

"Oh yes, have there been any leads on the Materials I asked Manager Tian to look for yesterday?"

Chen Jianlei patted his forehead: "Manager Tian inquired all over the Market yesterday and did collect a few types of spiritual herb seeds from some old medicine merchants.

However, those precious Materials are still nowhere to be found.

But Manager Tian happened to go to the main branch today and is estimated to return tomorrow.

Once he's back, I'll immediately have someone find you."

Chen Jiancang nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Seventh Brother."

Before long, Chen Jianlei personally sent over the prepared spiritual herbs.

These spiritual herbs were carefully placed on a rosewood tray, each portion neatly arranged by category.

Chen Jiancang reached out and took out several spiritual herbs to examine, finding that both their appearance and spiritual energy content were excellent.

"Seventh Brother's work is indeed reliable."

Chen Jiancang nodded in satisfaction and carefully put away the wooden box.

After paying the spiritual stones and walking out of Chen's Treasure Pavilion, a cool breeze blew, dispelling the day's worries.

The hustle and bustle of the Market gradually faded away, and Chen Jiancang's heart became increasingly calm.

The moonlight poured down on him like water, casting a long shadow on the ground.

The Dan Hall was silent, only the few long-burning lamps in the corridor emitting a faint buzzing sound.

The Seven-Layered Gilded Fire-Patterned Tower flickered with light, completely silent.

Chen Jiancang pushed open the door of the Alchemy room.

The night-shining pearl emitted a cool, faint light like the bright moon, illuminating the entire Alchemy room.

Qingyue had cleaned the Alchemy room quite thoroughly.

Chen Jiancang had no intention of refining pills today.

He gently closed the vermillion-painted wooden door of the Alchemy room, leaving a faint scent of medicine behind the door.

Afterwards, he slowly walked through the corridor and arrived at the courtyard where the servant Disciples lived.

This courtyard was located outside the core area of the Dan Hall, and the buildings were simple and orderly.

The grey bricks and tiles gleamed faintly under the moonlight, and the branches of the phoenix trees in the courtyard swayed gently in the wind, casting dappled shadows.

Chen Jiancang's gaze swept across the courtyard, seeing only scattered candlelight flickering in a few low houses.

At the entrance of the servant courtyard, two servant Disciples on duty saw Chen Jiancang approaching and immediately stepped forward to respectfully bow.

"Greetings, Alchemist Sir."

Chen Jiancang nodded and said unhurriedly: "Go and call Qingfeng and Qingyue to see me."

One of the Disciples took the order and left.

Chen Jiancang's gaze fell on an old locust tree in the courtyard.

The mottled marks on the trunk showed the passage of time.

The crown of the tree was luxuriant, covering the sky.

Several stone benches were placed under the tree, currently empty.

These servant Disciples were all children with mediocre Spiritual Root Aptitude detected by the Chen Family from among Mortals.

After being taken into the Family, they would become the most basic labor force of the Chen Family through systematic training.

Some of those who performed exceptionally well could obtain the Opportunity to marry Mortal women from the Chen Family, thereby expanding the Chen Family's Bloodline.

But most servant Disciples would live their entire lives in mediocrity.

Their status was extremely low, like ants in the Chen Family.

Except for being granted the first few layers of basic Cultivation Technique incantations, they had no other cultivation resources available.

But even so, being able to enter the cultivation world and rely on a powerful Family like the Chen Family, even as the lowest level of existence, was already a great fortune.

After all, in the Mortal world, most people couldn't even see the face of a Cultivator.

And they could not only witness the magical and profound nature of the cultivation world firsthand, but when they had children in the future, the probability of their descendants having Spiritual Roots would also be much higher than that of ordinary Mortals.

Moreover, the division of labor among servants in different halls varied, and the skills they came into contact with were also different.

Dan Hall Disciples could learn about Alchemy, while the Artifact Refining Hall taught basic Artifact Refining techniques...

The knowledge they gained through their work was also something rogue Cultivators needed to spend spiritual stones to learn about.

Furthermore, a very small number of people who showed extraordinary talent even had the Opportunity to receive focused training.

Chen Jiancang's gaze lingered in the courtyard.

At this moment, two small, thin figures walked quickly towards him; they were Qingfeng and Qingyue.

The two quickly walked in front of Chen Jiancang and bowed.

"You two follow me, I will instruct you in cultivation."

He had originally planned to inquire about and guide their cultivation progress today, as entering cultivation was very crucial, but the request from Seventeenth Uncle-Grandfather yesterday had caused him to be absent all day today.

Now that he had free time, it was a good Opportunity to come and give guidance.

The two servant Disciples on duty saw this scene, and a hint of envy flashed in their eyes.

To be personally summoned and guided in cultivation by Alchemist Sir showed how fortunate these two were.

They had been valued since entering the Family, which gave them a big head start over other servant Disciples from the beginning.

As the night deepened, the Dan Hall was silent, with only a few oil lamps in the corridor emitting faint light.

Chen Jiancang led Qingfeng and Qingyue to the Alchemy room.

"Sit down."

Chen Jiancang motioned for the two to sit on the meditation cushions.

Qingfeng and Qingyue obediently knelt down, their backs straight.

Chen Jiancang's gaze lingered on the two for a moment before he slowly spoke: "Did you read the Evergreen Skill I gave you yesterday carefully?"

Qingfeng straightened his body slightly, his tone carrying a hint of confidence: "Sir, I read it, but the content of the technique is obscure and difficult to understand; I don't understand its meaning."

Qingyue, however, lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "R-reporting... reporting to Sir, I can't read."

Chen Jiancang sighed inwardly upon hearing this.

Cultivation requires literacy first.

The two came from the Mortal world; Qingfeng knew a few words, but Qingyue was completely illiterate.

Without being able to read or understanding cultivation common sense, how could they understand the Evergreen Skill?

"Qingfeng, take these cultivation enlightenment books.

From tomorrow onwards, when I am not in the Dan Hall, you will study on your own.

Qingfeng will be responsible for teaching Qingyue how to read first."

"Yes, Sir."

Qingfeng took the books and nodded in response.

Then Chen Jiancang continued: "The path of cultivation emphasizes talent, Opportunity, and effort.

Your Aptitude is poor, and your background is humble, so you must work twice as hard in the future."

Chen Jiancang's voice was gentle but carried a hint of seriousness, "What I want to teach you today is not the technique incantation, but how to perceive spiritual energy."

Upon hearing this, the two's pupils suddenly contracted, and their faces showed excitement, knowing that this was the main point for today.

Their longing for cultivation and the information they had heard from other servant Disciples had given them a basic understanding of spiritual energy.

They knew that spiritual energy was the key to cultivation, and ever since they heard the term, they had been very curious about what spiritual energy actually was.

Now that Chen Jiancang was actually letting them perceive spiritual energy, how could they not be excited?

"Spiritual energy is the essence of heaven and earth.

Cultivators rely on absorbing spiritual energy to improve themselves.

The technique incantation is the method for Cultivators to refine and absorb spiritual energy, so the first step in cultivation is to first sense spiritual energy."

As Chen Jiancang spoke, he gently waved his right hand, condensing a wisp of spiritual energy that seemed both present and absent in front of the two.

Qingfeng and Qingyue widened their eyes, seeing the wisp of spiritual energy floating in the air like a thin mist, emitting a faint cyan glow.

Chen Jiancang continued: "Touch it with your fingers and sense it."

Qingfeng was the first to try.

He held his breath and reached out his finger.

As soon as he touched the wisp of spiritual energy, it was like reaching into a mass of cool, watery mist.