Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the two groups had already entered the vast forest behind the academy along different paths. Fu Shaoping's group had six disciples, including Lin Xiaohu, whose palms were sweating with nervousness.

"Stop." Fu Shaoping suddenly raised his hand, squatted down, and pointed to a patch of damp soil. "Look what this is?"

The disciples gathered around and saw several shallow indentations in the soil. Lin Xiaohu blinked: "Footprints?"

“That’s right.” Fu Shaoping nodded. “They’re rabbit tracks, and they’re quite fresh, meaning it just passed by.” He moved his finger along the direction of the tracks. “By observing the spacing and depth of its strides, we can determine its speed and size.”

The disciples all showed expressions of sudden understanding. Fu Shaoping continued to guide them: "The way of hunting is seven parts tracking and three parts archery. Learning to understand these natural cues is more important than hitting a target from a hundred paces."

Meanwhile, another group led by Nangong Wan was traversing a dense thicket of bushes. She gestured for her disciples to stop and pointed to an old pine tree not far away: "See the marks on the branches?"

Disciple Zhao Ming narrowed his eyes: "It looks like... it was brushed against by something?"

“It’s a wild boar,” Nangong Wan explained softly. “Wild boars like to scratch themselves on tree trunks, leaving marks like these. Also,” she bent down and picked up a few hairs from the ground, “their hair is coarse and dark in color, making them easy to identify.”

"Should we go after them?" one of the disciples asked excitedly.

Nangong Wan shook his head: "Wild boars are among the most dangerous animals in the mountains, especially mothers with piglets. Our purpose today is to observe and learn; unless necessary, we should not provoke them."

She beckoned her disciples closer: "Now, everyone hold your breath, close your eyes, and listen."

The forest fell silent. At first, there was only the rustling of leaves in the wind, but gradually, the disciples began to distinguish more sounds—the babbling of a distant stream, the chirping of birds overhead, and even the rustling of insects crawling underground.

“Hunters must first learn to become a part of nature,” Nangong Wan’s voice was like a whisper. “Your steps must be light, your breathing slow, and your gaze sharp yet unobtrusive. Only in this way can you approach your prey without disturbing them.”

As noon approached, the two teams met in an open area to rest. Fu Shaoping took out some dry rations from his backpack and distributed them to his disciples, while Nangong Wan checked on everyone's condition.

"Lin Xiaohu's wrist is slightly sprained," she whispered to Fu Shaoping. "It might be due to incorrect bow-drawing technique."

Fu Shaoping nodded and walked to the child's side. "Hold out your hand." He grasped Lin Xiaohu's wrist, gently massaging it a few times, a wisp of warm spiritual energy seeping into his muscles. "Hunting isn't about showing off. If you feel unwell, speak up immediately."

Lin Xiaohu nodded, blushing. The other disciples sat around on the grass, sharing what they had learned in a harmonious and enthusiastic atmosphere. Watching this scene, Fu Shaoping couldn't help but recall his own first time accompanying his master into the mountains when he was young. The nervousness and excitement he felt then were so similar to those of these children.

After resting, the group decided to work together to track a herd of deer. Fu Shaoping was responsible for interpreting the footprints and droppings to determine the herd's direction, while Nangong Wan taught his disciples how to use the terrain to approach them covertly.

“Wind direction is very important,” Fu Shaoping said, pointing to a thin rope hanging from his waist. “Deer have an extremely keen sense of smell, so we must ensure we are downwind.”

Just as everyone was focused on the pursuit, an accident occurred. Lin Xiaohu, in his excitement, rushed forward a few steps and accidentally snapped a dry branch. The crisp "crack" sound was particularly jarring in the forest, followed by a series of rapid hoofbeats and grunts—they had not disturbed a herd of deer, but a group of wild boars foraging nearby.

"Back off! Back off slowly!" Fu Shaoping immediately stepped in front of his disciples, warning them in a low voice. But it was too late. A huge boar had already spotted them, its hooves pawing the ground and its tusks gleaming coldly, clearly preparing to attack.

"Climb the tree! Quickly!" Nangong Wan shouted sharply, drawing his sword at the same time. The disciples panicked, and some of the younger ones even forgot how to climb trees. The wild boar had already charged forward, and Fu Shaoping quickly formed hand seals, erecting an invisible wall of energy in front of everyone.

"Bang!" The wild boar crashed heavily into the air wall, causing Fu Shaoping to take a half step back. Cracks appeared in the air wall, and more wild boars were rushing out of the bushes.

Nangong Wan's sword flashed like a bolt of lightning, but instead of attacking the wild boars, she severed several thick vines. "Use the vines to entangle their forelegs!" she shouted to her disciples. "Don't panic, do it as we practice!"

Perhaps due to their rigorous daily training, or perhaps because the crisis had unleashed their potential, the disciples actually calmed down. Zhang He and Li Yan quickly gathered vines and, following the knot-tying techniques taught by Nangong Wan, strung together tripwires among the trees. When the wild boars charged, several were tripped, and their attack was thrown into disarray.

Taking advantage of the situation, Fu Shaoping guided his disciples to retreat to safety in an orderly manner. Nangong Wan covered the rear, her sword light weaving a silver net in front of her to block any wild boars that tried to pursue. Only after confirming that everyone was safe did she leave the scene last.

Back in safety, Lin Xiaohu was sobbing uncontrollably: "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault."

Fu Shaoping crouched down to look him in the eye: "Do you know where you went wrong?"

"I shouldn't have acted on my own; I shouldn't have disobeyed orders."

"Anything else?" Nangong Wan added, "In the mountains, any reckless action could endanger everyone's safety. If it weren't for everyone's excellent teamwork today, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Lin Xiaohu's shoulders trembled even more violently. Fu Shaoping patted his head: "Just remember this lesson. Now, wipe away your tears, we still have half a day's journey ahead."

This unexpected event, however, made the disciples more united and cautious. During the afternoon's tracking, everyone was fully focused and looked out for each other. As the sun began to set, they finally succeeded in hunting two rabbits and a pheasant—a rather good result for beginners.

Just as they were preparing to return home, Zhao Ming suddenly exclaimed, "Dean! Come quick!"

Following the sound, the group discovered something unexpected in a hidden crevice in the rocks—several plants that were entirely purple, with leaves that spread out like clouds, thick roots, and a faint medicinal fragrance.

"Purple Cloud Ginseng!" A hint of surprise flashed in Fu Shaoping's eyes. "This is a rare medicinal herb, priceless on the market." He carefully brushed aside the surrounding soil. "It seems the wild boar herd inadvertently became our guide; they dug through this land, revealing these hidden treasures."

Nangong Wan immediately directed her disciples to maintain a perimeter while assisting Fu Shaoping in collecting medicinal herbs. She skillfully used a specially made wooden shovel to dig through the soil, ensuring the roots were not damaged.

“These plants are at least a hundred years old,” Fu Shaoping whispered to Nangong Wan. “Enough to refine a batch of top-quality Qi-Nourishing Pills, perfect for disciples about to break through.”

On the return journey, the atmosphere was even more joyful than when they set out. This was not only because of the bountiful prey they had brought back, but also because of the rare medicinal herbs they had unexpectedly discovered. The disciples took turns carrying the specially made wooden box containing the Purple Cloud Ginseng, each with a solemn expression, as if they were shouldering some sacred mission.

The setting sun cast long shadows on everyone. Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan walked at the back of the group, watching the chattering disciples ahead.

"I didn't expect to get so much out of them on our first trip," Fu Shaoping said with a smile.

Nangong Wan gazed at the distant, undulating mountains: "The children learn very quickly. They handled today's unexpected situation very well, especially Zhang He and Li Yan, who remembered to use vines as an obstacle at a crucial moment."

"You taught me well," Fu Shaoping said sincerely. "Ten years ago, I would have just confronted you head-on in this situation."

Nangong Wan shook his head: "We're all growing. Before, we only thought about how to defeat our opponents, but now we have to consider how to protect others." The academy was already in sight. Xiao Mingyuan led the other disciples out to greet them, only breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing their safe return. When he saw the few Purple Cloud Ginseng plants, his eyes widened: "This, this is..."

“We were lucky,” Fu Shaoping explained briefly about the discovery. “We’ll have an extra feast tonight; let’s roast all the prey to celebrate our first successful hunt.”

A bonfire was quickly lit in the open space of the academy. The rabbit and pheasant were cleaned and roasted over the fire, sizzling and dripping with oil, filling the air with a fragrant aroma. The disciples sat in a circle, excitedly recounting their experiences of the day, bursting into laughter from time to time.

Fu Shaoping took out his small wine flask and drank with Nangong Wan. The wine was brewed from wild fruits from the mountains, with a sweet and sour taste and a slight astringency, just like their ordinary yet fulfilling days.

“Master, tell us about your hunting experiences!” Zhang He suddenly suggested, and the other disciples immediately echoed.

Fu Shaoping pondered for a moment: "Alright, then I'll tell you one. It was in the glacial region of the Northern Territory, when your Dean Nangong and I were tracking a Snow Soul Bear."

As he spoke, the disciples' eyes gleamed in the firelight. Nangong Wan occasionally added a few details, but most of the time he listened quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

As night deepened and the stars shone brightly, Fu Shaoping looked at his energetic disciples, then at Nangong Wan beside him, and a sense of unprecedented satisfaction welled up within him. The swordplay and intrigue of the martial world, the treacherous schemes of the cultivation realm, all seemed distant and blurred at this moment. Only the warm campfire before him and these young faces were real and tangible.

"It's time to rest," Nangong Wan reminded softly. "There's morning class tomorrow."

The disciples reluctantly dispersed. Fu Shaoping took one last look at the dying embers of the campfire and murmured, "Life like this isn't bad."

Nangong Wan didn't answer, but simply reached out and took his hand. In the moonlight, their shadows merged into one, silently casting their light onto the mottled walls of the academy.

The hunting trip to the back mountain of Qingsong Academy yielded an unexpected harvest of purple lotus ginseng, causing quite a stir within the academy.

Fu Shaoping carefully stored the medicinal herbs in the academy's medicine pavilion and set up a restriction to prevent the herbs from losing their potency. However, the aura of the medicinal herbs could not be completely concealed.

That night, a dark figure quietly swept over the academy's wall and silently sneaked into the vicinity of the Tibetan Medicine Pavilion.

—**Someone has their eye on Ziyun ginseng.**

The next morning, a commotion was heard outside the academy.

"Listen up, people of Qingsong Academy! I am Zhao Wuyai, a steward of the Xuan Yin Sect. I have heard that you have obtained the Purple Cloud Ginseng. This item was left by our sect's ancestors, and I have come today to reclaim it!"

Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly—**the newcomers are up to no good**.

The Xuan Yin Sect is a notorious heretical sect in the area, known for its domineering ways and penchant for plundering and seizing. Now that they have their eyes on the Purple Cloud Ginseng, they clearly won't give up easily.

Fu Shaoping sneered and stepped forward: "Deacon Zhao, the Purple Cloud Ginseng was obtained by my academy's disciples by chance in the mountains and forests. How can you say it was 'left by our ancestors'?"

Zhao Wuyai smiled sinisterly: "Dean Fu, you can't just say things like that. The place where this Purple Cloud Ginseng grows is the territory of my Xuan Yin Sect. Your unauthorized harvesting is already an overstepping of your bounds!"

Nangong Wan's eyes turned cold as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword: "If this is truly your territory, why didn't you mark it earlier? Now that you've seen the treasure, you're turning around and accusing us. It's utterly shameless."

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Wuyai's eyes: "It seems that Qingsong Academy has no intention of reasoning with us?"

Before he finished speaking, several Xuan Yin Sect disciples behind him quietly dispersed, forming a subtle encirclement.

Fu Shaoping remained expressionless and secretly transmitted his voice to Nangong Wan: "They outnumber us, so a direct confrontation would be disadvantageous. Keep them calm for now."

Nangong Wan nodded slightly, then said loudly, "Steward Zhao, since you believe that the Purple Cloud Ginseng belongs to the Xuan Yin Sect, how about this—in three days, we will invite the appraisers from the 'Heavenly Mystery Pavilion' to determine its ownership, what do you say?"

The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is a recognized neutral force in the cultivation world, specializing in identifying the origins of spiritual items. Zhao Wuyai was clearly taken aback by Nangong Wan's proposal and was momentarily speechless.

But soon, he sneered, "Why bother? If you don't hand over the Purple Cloud Ginseng today, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Just as the atmosphere was becoming increasingly tense, a clear shout suddenly rang out from among the academy disciples—

"Master! Be careful!" — It was Zhang He!

He keenly sensed that one of the Xuan Yin Sect disciples was secretly making hand seals, seemingly preparing to unleash some kind of insidious spell!
Fu Shaoping reacted extremely quickly, waving his sleeve and instantly creating a spiritual energy barrier that blocked a black beam of light that was attacking him!

"Despicable!" Nangong Wan roared, drawing his longsword with a flash of cold light!
The battle is imminent!
The disciples of the Xuan Yin Sect unleashed their magical artifacts, causing black mist to billow and poisonous miasma to rise. Fu Shaoping and Nangong Wan joined forces to resist, but the enemy outnumbered them and could not be suppressed for the time being.

Just then, Li Yan suddenly shouted, "Master! Use the 'Vine Formation'!"

She swiftly pulled a thin rope from her waist, and with spiritual energy flowing through her fingertips, she instantly formed a simple binding array!

—This is exactly the technique that Nangong Wan taught me during the hunt!
A hint of appreciation flashed in Fu Shaoping's eyes. He immediately cooperated with her formation, channeling his spiritual power. Suddenly, countless vines sprouted from the ground, entangled several Xuan Yin Sect disciples!
Enraged by this, Zhao Wuyai gathered a ball of black energy in his palm and slammed it down on Li Yan!

"Watch out!" Zhang He leaped forward, actually using his body to shield Li Yan!

At the critical moment, Nangong Wan's sword flashed, its sword energy like a rainbow, forcefully cleaving through the black mist!

Seeing the situation was dire, Zhao Wuyai gritted his teeth and shouted, "Retreat!"

The Xuan Yin Sect members retreated in disarray, but before leaving, he coldly uttered a single sentence—

"Qingsong Academy, we'll see!"

(End of this chapter)