Chapter 22 - Sixth Layer of Qi Refining

“This hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum [Tuber Fleeceflower (common in China)] looks good!”

“This two-hundred-year-old Lingzhi mushroom is definitely needed for our junior disciple!”

“And this, I don’t know what kind of fruit this is, but it contains more spiritual energy than ginseng!”

…

The Seven Heroes of Wudang were bustling like village bandits as they entered Mount Song’s treasury. They activated the Heavenly Eye Talisman and began to plunder freely, searching for various items imbued with spiritual energy.

“Mount Song Sect is indeed wealthy!” Zhang Cuishan couldn’t help but exclaim. Strictly speaking, Mount Song had even more treasures than Wudang. This was not an exaggeration. Although Wudang had Zhang Sanfeng, a true Grandmaster, he was easy-going and taught his disciples to be righteous. He wouldn’t forcefully take possessions.

Most of the treasures in Wudang were either unclaimed items or gifts from others. In contrast, Mount Song Sect, while appearing to be righteous on the surface, engaged in secret activities.

“Senior Brother, come quickly! There’s abundant spiritual energy inside this stone!” Yin Litin’s voice rang out with excitement, drawing everyone’s attention. They gathered around and activated the Observation Talisman, witnessing a dazzling cluster of spiritual light flashing within the stone, causing them all to inhale sharply in surprise.

Before them was a black-red giant stone, nearly as tall as a person, an absolute treasure!

“Bring it back! Our junior brother will definitely love it!” The group couldn’t help but reveal joy. This smooth progress was all thanks to their junior brother’s talismans. They were determined to bring back something that would satisfy him.

…

Yue Buqun and the others watched as the Wudang disciples carried away bundles of items, even two disciples carrying a huge stone together, and they couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

“Brother Song, what are you doing?” asked Yue Buqun.

Song Yuanqiao smiled faintly, “Our junior disciple likes these things, so we’re shamelessly taking them back to Wudang.”

Yue Buqun and the others’ eyes lit up. “So it’s something Young Master Ning likes?”

“That’s right, we have to repay him for this favor. Thanks to him, we were able to suppress Zuo Lengchan and Ren Woxing, those two scoundrels. When we return to the mountain, we’ll organize everything and send it to Wudang along with copies of the Daoist scriptures and classics we borrowed.”

Song Yuanqiao’s face lit up.

“How can we help?”

Yue Buqun and the others quickly tried to please him. They also had some ulterior motives. Ning Changge’s talismans displayed astonishing power, and they thought that perhaps they could ask Ning Changge for a few talismans as life-saving treasures. Of course, they would need to cater to his preferences for that.

Song Yuanqiao and the others felt even more delighted. If it were for them, they would refuse any gifts. But for their junior disciple? They would gladly accept anything!

After some more work, everyone finished dealing with the affairs of Mount Song. Yue Buqun and the others promised to start copying the Daoist scriptures and classics to send to Wudang in a few days. Song Yuanqiao and the others were relieved and prepared to return to the mountain, intending to hand over the batch of spiritual treasures they had obtained from Mount Song to their junior brother.

…

Wudang.

Scripture Chamber.

Ning Changge swallowed the last Ascension Pill.

Boom!

The immense medicinal power erupted within him, only to be absorbed by the countless tiny vortexes created by the Eternal Verdant Art. This time, the spiritual energy within Ning Changge’s body finally reached a certain limit. The surging spiritual energy converged in his dantian, breaking through the bottleneck.

He successfully broke through to the Sixth layer of Qi Refining realm!

A powerful pressure radiated from Ning Changge’s body, making the entire chamber feel as if some primordial beast had taken up residence, filling everyone with awe. The few disciples who were present couldn’t help but look towards the higher floors of the building.

They knew that it was where their junior uncle master stayed.

Each of their eyes was filled with admiration and fervor.

Ning Changge suppressed his aura and smiled. His cultivation had grown again, and he was ecstatic.

“My approach was indeed correct. Taking pills is the best way to go. With the Yin-Yang Great Grinding and Tempering Technique, I can increase my strength more quickly! If I were to absorb spiritual energy alone, it would take months to advance by a single level.”

In reality, advancing a level in a matter of months was already quite fast. It showed the profoundness of Ning Changge’s Eternal Verdant Art. But he wanted to grow even faster.

“The only drawback is the consumption of spirit medicines.”

Ning Changge was somewhat troubled. The raw materials for refining Ascension Pills weren’t readily available. At this rate, the spiritual medicines in Wudang’s treasury would be depleted sooner or later.

There was nothing he could do. His master, Zhang Sanfeng, was used to a life of tranquillity and inaction, and having this much in the treasure was already quite remarkable.

“It’ll work itself out in due time.”

Ning Changge closed his eyes. He had started to grasp the principles of alchemy over these days. Unfortunately, Wudang’s treasury didn’t contain many spiritual energy ores, limiting the opportunities for experimentation.

He planned to first forge a pill furnace, which would allow him to maximize the use of the spiritual medicines. Every bit saved would be beneficial.

At this moment, something suddenly occurred to him.

“Didn’t Senior Brother ask me to teach these junior disciples something? Wasn’t it today?”

Ning Changge’s heart skipped a beat.

Whenever he entered a state of enlightenment during his cultivation, it often took him one or two hours. Now, he feared that these disciples had been waiting on the martial arts field for a long time.

The scripture chamber was now completely quiet, except for Ning Changge.

He blinked and suddenly appeared outside the repository.

He then proceeded to the martial arts field.

…

Martial arts field.

The third-generation disciples of Wudang were sitting respectfully, waiting.

All of them had expressions filled with anticipation and excitement.

A few days ago, Song Yuanqiao and the others had told them that their junior uncle master would give them guidance on Daoist teachings. They were all eagerly anticipating this day.

This was actually a Wudang tradition. Second-generation disciples would instruct third-generation disciples in martial arts once a month, passing on their knowledge.

In the past, Ning Changge had never been called upon because he was always immersed in his cultivation within the scripture chamber. Now that he had successfully advanced to the Sixth layer of Qi Refining, and with the Seven Heroes of Wudang preparing to leave the mountain for a period of time, the responsibility had naturally fallen on Ning Changge.

For other senior brothers and sisters, the third-generation disciples wouldn’t be so eager. But Ning Changge was different. The astonishing phenomenon they had witnessed a few days ago was deeply etched into their minds, creating an unparalleled sense of admiration and curiosity.

This was the first time Ning Changge would be teaching them about Daoism.

Although it had been two hours since they were supposed to start, no one was impatient.

However, there was some nervousness.

“Could our junior master have changed his mind and decided not to come?”

One third-generation disciple couldn’t help but voice this concern.

Just then, someone shouted, “Junior Uncle Master is here!”

The crowd instantly perked up, looking ahead, but there was nothing to be seen. Then, they looked up and were met with a collective gasp.

A Daoist in a white robe stood there casually, hands behind his back, moving with grace and charm. Even his hair seemed to exude an unimaginable ease.

Everyone’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

This was their junior uncle master!

Even his entrance was so unique.

This only increased their anticipation for the teachings to come.

On the martial arts field, cheers and applause erupted.

“We pay our respects to Junior Uncle Master!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ning Changge showed no change in expression as he stood on the elevated platform.

“You may dispense with the formalities.”