Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 77: Qi is like inkstone, Qi gathers at the tip of the pen

County Magistrate Feng took Wang Ji away, and the people at Changting did not gather for too long.

After rejecting everyone's invitation, Chen Xu found an inn to stay in with the students from Jichuan County.

As for what Wang Mochuan had said before, inviting Chen Xu to live in the Wang family's mansion in the provincial capital, that was no longer possible.

Wang Mochuan didn't even dare to mention his family now, let alone tell Chen Xu that Wang Ji was the young master from the direct line who would take the examination for the scholar this year as he had originally mentioned.

What's more, Wang Mochuan himself wanted to cut off all ties with his direct family.

He already had a premonition that great turmoil was about to come to the Wang family.

It all depends on how the important figures in the clan make choices and whether they can overcome this difficult time.

At night, Wu Zhengze gathered all the students from Jichuan County in the inn for another discussion.

First, we discussed the ghost market.

Wu Zhengze said: "It is difficult to say whether this incident was accidental or there was something else going on, but no matter which one it is, we just happened to pass by and had no intention of getting involved.

This matter is over and done with. Even if there is something behind it, it is not something we can intervene in.

Do you understand what I mean?"

Wang Mochuan quickly took the lead and said, "Yes, Master, from today onwards, I will just regard what happened before as a dream.

Apart from Brother Chen’s great kindness, I don’t remember anything else.”

This was a very funny thing to say, and immediately caused everyone to laugh.

The serious atmosphere in the room relaxed a lot immediately. Wu Zhengze nodded, and then reminded everyone not to be affected by the ghost market and to focus on the exam for the time being.

The students hurriedly said, "Yes, Master, we are here only to take the exam, and we will not cause any more trouble!"

Speaking of which, among the eleven people from Jichuan County, there is no need to mention the three coachmen. Although they were also involved in the ghost market, the transactions with the ghosts were completed very easily.

One of them paid more than ten taels of silver, and the other two gave a few strings of copper coins each.

This happened to be all the property they had on them. The ten taels of silver were obtained because Cui Jingxian paid compensation.

In a blink of an eye, the ten taels of silver were all spent in the ghost market, but fortunately, they came out intact, which is better than losing both money and life.

Afterwards, Wang Mochuan came forward and took the initiative to give each of them two strings of copper coins as a consolation.

As for the scholars, both Wu Zhengze and Yao Qing had no problem composing poetry, but they just couldn't make it come alive on paper.

Among the remaining students taking the exam, one was missing a toe, and another suffered from intestinal cramps for a long time in the ghost market.

The one who suffered from abdominal and intestinal colic was Wang Mochuan's cousin Wang Xin. Fortunately, the pain was only temporary and he did not lose any limbs.

Although the one who lost a toe had some physical damage, the dynasty stipulated that as long as there was no obvious physical defect, it would not affect his or her chance of passing the imperial examination.

Damage to the toes can be covered by shoes and socks, so it will not affect your future.

Generally speaking, the students in Jichuan County were in a relatively good situation. After being instructed by Wu Zhengze, they dispersed.

Finally, Wu Zhengze left Chen Xu behind and suggested to him, "Why don't you stay with me tonight... No, from now on until the day of the exam, you will stay with me."

When these words were spoken, Chen Xu was really shocked.

After being shocked, I was moved.

He understood what Wu Zhengze meant. The instructor was worried that Chen Xu would become famous in the ghost market and would be hated by others, so he wanted to protect him.

If it was before he obtained the magical power of the Netherworld, Chen Xu would really have to consider Master Wu's suggestion carefully.

Especially since the county magistrate Feng Yuanbai had glanced at him earlier, this glance inevitably made Chen Xu feel doubtful.

But Wu Zhengze was only a Juren (a successful candidate) in academic achievement. Whether in status, position, or accomplishment, he was far inferior to Feng Yuanbai. If Feng Yuanbai really came, even if Wu Zhengze wanted to protect Chen Xu, how far could he go? He had to avoid harming Master Wu in the end.

But Chen Xu possesses the magical power of the Netherworld. Even if he can't win... he can always run away, right?

Of course, Feng Yuanbai would not necessarily resort to violence.

These are just Chen Xu's precautionary measures.

Chen Xu was very grateful. He thanked Wu Zhengze for his kindness, but then declined with an excuse. Then he asked, "Master, I would like to know the difference in the levels of cultivation between scholars and Taoist monks. Could you please explain this to me?"

"Scholars and Taoist monks..." Wu Zhengze was stunned for a moment, suddenly shook his head, and then he laughed as if he had thought of something.

"Did you see Magistrate Feng's every move and gesture so strange today that you started to have fantasies?"

This was a very good reason. Chen Xu said hurriedly, "That's right. I'd like to ask for your help."

"In fact, the way scholars cultivate their qi is no different from that of Taoist monks." Wu Zhengze said this in a startling way, and then he explained in detail:
“It’s just that scholars focus more on the spirit, while Taoist monks focus more on the essence.

The spirit is both the mind and the spirit, and is the combination of the human body, mind, and soul.

Essence is gathered from the innate roots of the human body and is the foundation of human constitution. The stronger the essence and the deeper the foundation, the more magnificent and vast the vitality will naturally be.

In short, while Taoists cultivate health and prolong life, scholars hope to connect with the saints through their spirits. Writing books and leaving their names in history, even if their lives last only a hundred years, their spirits live on after death. How is this different from immortality?

As for the Daoist sect, we do not care about past lives, nor seek after lives, but only cultivate in this life!"

Wu Zhengze paused slightly at this point. For some reason, Chen Xu heard an indescribable excitement in his words.

What kind of courage is it to only cultivate in this life?
As Chen Xu listened, he felt his heart boiling slightly.

He felt that his God-Eating Method was actually inspired by Taoism, but it was quite different from traditional Taoism.

Then I heard Wu Zhengze say: "But whether it is Taoism or Confucianism, the cultivation of qi is the same."

He laughed as he said this: "We are all human beings. It can't be that the anger in your family is anger, but the anger in my family is not anger, right?"

Hearing this, Chen Xu couldn't help but laugh. Master Wu was not always serious, he would also tell jokes.

"Master, is this Qi true Qi? Or is it innate Qi?"

"Innate Qi? That's a nice thought!" Wu Zhengze chuckled. "Once a person is born and breathes the first breath of air in the world, they naturally move from innate to acquired. It's incredibly difficult to return to their innate state.

What that group of old Taoists are wholeheartedly pursuing is to return the Qi to its original state, and then condense the original Qi into a golden elixir, which is the supreme golden elixir!

As scholars, we start to cultivate qi by using literary qi, use literary qi to open up the dantian, and then refine essence into qi, unblock the meridians and condense the elixir.

However, there are few scholars who can successfully condense the elixir, and even great scholars may not be able to do it.

Therefore, after we have achieved the title of Juren and cultivated our Qi to the point where our meridians are open, we will open up the Upper Dantian in the Sea of ​​Consciousness."

Wu Zhengze pointed to the center of his eyebrows.

Then he told Chen Xu: "After the upper Dantian is opened up, the originally scattered and elusive literary energy can be condensed into substance.

The literary spirit of a scholar is as strong as an inkstone. The amount of ink in the inkstone represents the richness of his literary spirit.

The literary energy of a Jinshi can be gathered into the tip of his pen, and can be condensed into silver hooks and iron paintings. At this point, the scholar truly has the ability to be sharp in every move even without rare treasures.

If he is a great scholar, it is said that his spirit can penetrate bells and tripods, and he has various strange visions, but this is something that I, your teacher, cannot know in detail."

Finally, Wu Zhengze emphasized: "Of course, the fighting ability of us scholars is always inferior to that of Taoist priests and warriors. Even if you cultivate your energy in the future, you must remember not to be brave and aggressive.

Otherwise, it would hinder the concentration of literary energy, and it might not be possible to defeat those Taoist warriors who specialize in combat."

Chen Xu fell silent when he heard this.

(End of this chapter)