From Five Animal Exercises to being hailed as a saint and ancestor

The bustling city of Baiwei is like a giant whirlpool.

It instantly engulfed the disciples of Qinglu Academy.

The city is bustling with people and filled with noise, a cacophony of aromas that create its unique character.

However, beneath this prosperous facade...

Some subtle undercurrents have already begun to stir.

Near the city gate, several ragged beggars huddled in a corner.

They seem to be lazily basking in the sun, or extending their broken bowls towards passersby.

But as the disciples filed into the city, a glint of shrewdness, incongruous with their status, flashed deep within their murky eyes.

One of the thin beggars whispered in a breathy voice that only his companion could hear:

"The fat sheep have entered the pen. They all look good, especially the first few. They are full of vitality and have a solid foundation."

Another old beggar had droopy eyelids, as if he were dozing off, and his lips moved slightly.

"Go and deliver a message to 'Baozi Liu' to find out what's going on, see if we can... take action."

Upon hearing this, the skinny beggar immediately stood up shakily, leaning on a broken bamboo cane.

He limped toward a thriving steamed bun shop not far away.

He moved closer to the steam rising from the steamer, held out the broken bowl, and pleaded:

"Manager Liu, please have mercy and give me a bite to eat..."

A busy street vendor.

He was a burly man with a kind face, wearing a greasy apron, who waved his hand impatiently upon hearing this:

"Get out of the way, don't block my business!"

But as he waved his hand, his fingers subtly tapped the edge of the broken bowl the little beggar was offering him a few times.

The rhythm is peculiar, as if it were some kind of code.

The little beggar acted as if nothing had happened and continued to plead.

About fifteen minutes later, the vendor known as "Baozi Liu" finally seemed to have given up after being worn down.

He grabbed a few less appealing steamed buns and threw them into the little beggar's broken bowl with a disgruntled expression.

At the same time, his eyes were sharp as he looked in the direction in which the disciples of Qinglu Academy had dispersed.

He gave a subtle, almost imperceptible signal.

The little beggar thanked them profusely, then shrank back into the corner with the steamed bun in his hand.

Sharing the food with their companions, everything seemed to have returned to normal.

Only that brief exchange of glances and the subtle tapping hinted at the turbulence beneath the calm surface.

Upon entering the city, the disciples made different choices.

There is a "calm faction" represented by Xuan Yuanpo.

Born into the Xuanyuan family, he was accustomed to the grandeur and prosperity of major cities.

Although the Hundred Flavors City had its own unique features, it failed to arouse much of his interest in visiting.

He values ​​his own self-cultivation and the upcoming assessment more.

Therefore, he did not follow the crowd to go shopping.

Instead, he chose to stay near the landing point of the Xuanhuang Boat outside the city and found a secluded place to meditate and regulate his breathing.

This contrasts sharply with Elder Qin Feng, who, like Elder Qin Feng, was leisurely enjoying tea at a tea stall, creating a scene of contrasting activity and stillness.

Some, however, completely immerse themselves in a quiet world for two.

Zhou Tiancan, this simple-minded big guy, only had eyes for the smiling green-clad girl beside him at this moment.

They had long since forgotten about Junior Brother Yao and Junior Brother Li.

Although Mu Qingqing did not come from a top-tier wealthy family, her family was still a prominent local clan. She had traveled to many large cities with her elders since childhood and had gained considerable experience.

Unlike most young girls, she didn't shout and yell at the dazzling array of goods.

Instead, they took Zhou Tiancan with them and savored the details of the city with great interest.

She would point to the unique auspicious beast carvings on the eaves of a certain building.

Explain in a soft voice the symbolic meaning and the style of the era to which it belongs.

When passing by a time-honored pastry shop, they can accurately describe the origins and proper ways to eat several of their signature pastries.

They could even roughly determine where people came from by observing their clothing and conversation on the street.

"Tian Shen, look at the signboard of that silk shop. It uses 'Yunshui Satin,' which comes from the Yunmeng Marsh in the southern border region. Every inch of brocade is worth its weight in gold. It seems that Baiwei City is indeed wealthy."

Mu Qingqing spoke softly and gently, with an intellectual and rational air, like a knowledgeable older sister introducing the world to her bewildered younger brother.

Zhou Tiancan seemed to understand but not quite, and just nodded sheepishly.

His eyes were filled with admiration and satisfaction as he looked at Mu Qingqing.

For him, what he goes shopping for is not important; what matters is who he goes shopping with.

He believed everything Mu Qingqing said, feeling that the girl before him was omnipotent and radiant.

Wang Le and Huo Ling'er, who had already reached a mutual understanding, were already in love.

Their relationship was clear, and they walked side by side. Wang Le remained as gentle and refined as ever.

He carefully introduced Huo Ling'er to the things that interested her.

Huo Ling'er, on the other hand, is like a joyful flame.

She was full of enthusiasm for everything and often let out a clear laugh, attracting the attention of passersby.

Their interactions were natural and intimate, creating a scene of their own.

However, there are also those who feel the pressure and choose to seize the time for rigorous spiritual practice.

Shi Hao looked at Xu Ziyi, whose cultivation level was originally lower than his, and she broke through to the tenth level of the Meridian Opening Realm at the same time as him.

There was even a faint sense of suppression emanating from him, which greatly increased his sense of crisis.

Xu Zijian felt the same way; his sister's rapid progress made him both gratified and anxious.

The two looked at each other and saw resentment and determination in each other's eyes.

"Elder Qin, I still have some questions about controlling spiritual energy. May I ask for your guidance?"

Shi Hao walked to the tea stall and bowed respectfully to Qin Feng.

Xu Zijian followed closely behind.

For them, lounging around is a luxury; seizing any opportunity that might improve their abilities is the right path.

However, this sweet girl, who put a lot of pressure on Shi Hao and his brother Xu Zijian, was currently filled with inner turmoil.

She watched as her brother chose to consult the elders, and a struggle arose in her heart.

She was still a young girl at heart, full of curiosity and longing for this renowned food city.

The urge to go shopping gnawed at her heart like a kitten's claws.

She glanced at her brother's resolute back, then at the alluring bustle of the city, her little face full of struggle, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her lips slightly pouting.

Ultimately, curiosity about the bustling city, or perhaps... a figure hidden deep in her heart, prompted her to make a decision.

She took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, and then ran lightly toward Yao Mengkang, who was about to go shopping with Li Han.

"Senior Brother Yao! Senior Brother Li!"

Xu Ziyi ran up to her, her cheeks slightly flushed, her breathing a little rapid, and she tried her best to make her voice sound natural.

"I... I'm getting a little bored walking around alone. My brother's gone to cultivate again. Could I... join you?"

As she spoke, her big eyes blinked as she looked at Yao Mengkang.

With a hint of barely perceptible anticipation and nervousness.

She had previously misunderstood that Yao Mengkang and Mu Qingqing had a close relationship, and was secretly heartbroken for a long time.

It was later discovered that the two had no special relationship; they were just ordinary fellow students.

This discovery rekindled the dormant seed within her heart.

This trip together is a great opportunity to get closer!

Yao Mengkang was slightly taken aback as he looked at the pretty young girl in front of him, who had a touch of naivety.

Without giving it much thought, and figuring that having another companion wouldn't hurt, he nodded: "Of course."

Li Han nodded expressionlessly.

To him, it made no difference whether his companions were male or female, or whether they were alone or in a group.

His attention was focused more on observing the street layout, the flow of people, and possible hidden corners, which was an instinct of a shadow walker.

Those subtle feelings between men and women? He felt nothing at all, and even thought it was a waste of time.

Thus, the two-person team became a three-person team.

Walking on the bustling street, Xu Ziyi was noticeably more lively.

She wasn't as learned and rational as Mu Qingqing.

She wasn't as passionate as Huo Ling'er.

Instead, it carries a girlish charm and innocence.

"Senior Brother Yao, look at that candied hawthorn! It looks so delicious!"

Xu Ziyi pointed to a vendor carrying a straw target.

Strings of glistening, sugar-coated hawthorn berries were stuck on top, sparkling in the sunlight.

She tugged at Yao Mengkang's sleeve, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry.

Yao Mengkang looked at the bright red candied hawthorns and then at Xu Ziyi's longing eyes, and couldn't help but chuckle.

This junior sister, who is usually the youngest among the ten disciples but has been gradually rising in prominence, now seems like a child who hasn't grown up.

He wasn't stingy; he went over and bought two skewers, handing one to Xu Ziyi.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yao!"

Xu Ziyi took the candied hawthorn, her eyes crinkling into crescents with joy.

She took a careful bite, and the sweet and sour taste melted in her mouth, making her squint her eyes in satisfaction.

She secretly glanced at Yao Mengkang, who was tall and handsome, standing beside her.

I felt that this candied hawthorn tasted sweeter than any I had ever eaten before.

Li Han watched silently from the side.

I felt nothing at all about Xu Ziyi's youngest daughter's demeanor and Yao Mengkang's act of handing me candied hawthorns; in fact, I found it somewhat inexplicable.

Instead of wasting time, it would be better to observe those beggars who seem a bit strange.

His gaze, like that of the most composed hunter, swept across the direction of the city gate once more.

He memorized the locations of the beggars and the "Baozi Liu" vendor.

Yao Mengkang accompanied Xu Ziyi as they strolled around, sampled some local snacks, and enjoyed street performances.

He also kept an eye on the city of gluttony.

The bustling and vibrant Baiwei City is indeed quite different from the tranquility of Qinglu Academy.

This gave him even more anticipation for the Great Xia capital city he was about to arrive in.

At the same time, his keen intuition also vaguely sensed it.

There seemed to be a faint, unseen gaze watching them, these "outsiders," from the shadows.

Hope is just an illusion.

He took a bite of the osmanthus cake that Xu Ziyi had strongly recommended and insisted he try, and thought to himself.