Celestial Official!

"Um?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhilan raised an eyebrow slightly, but showed no sign of displeasure. Instead, she asked with great interest:

"There are many disciples in the Golden Melting Valley, among whom are many with outstanding wisdom and keen insight. However, over the years, I have only had the Golden Boy and Jade Girl by my side."

"Then what exceptional qualities do you possess that make you worthy of my dedicated cultivation?"

Yan Chen looked down at his nose, his nose reflecting his heart, pondered briefly, and then spoke:

"As the manager of Cui Shu Lou, I have learned these past few days that you were at most at the first level of Qi Refining before."

"The current decision to promote my junior brother to this post is naturally based on my own considerations."

Zhu Zhilan said calmly:

"Then tell me, what are my considerations?"

Yan Chen paused for a moment, then continued:

"Many heretical cultivators linger outside Xuchunfang, among whom one who calls himself the 'Qingsheng Sect' is the most powerful and occupies the largest area. They are like annoying mosquitoes, always trying to get their hands on Cuishulou and even many other interests of Xuchunfang."

"Junior brother thought to himself that he should not have his reputation tarnished by such filthy people, which would only tarnish the dignity of the Gold Melting Valley and even the Jade Sleeve Sect."

"If Senior Sister is willing, Junior Brother can immediately return to the market, and together with all his fellow disciples, we can cut down mountains and break through paths to gain merit, which we will then offer to Senior Sister!"

Yan Chen spoke with righteous indignation and resounding conviction.

Before coming here, he had already prepared a speech in his mind. This speech was the result of repeated deliberation and was by no means unfounded.

First of all, Senior Sister Zhu definitely has other plans for Xuchunfang, otherwise she wouldn't have shown such importance to it.

This can be seen from the fact that he was promoted to manager as soon as he broke through to the second level.

Kexuchunfang itself is nothing special.

If we had to name a specific group, it would be the heretical cultivators or even heretical sects who linger outside the market!

The Jade Sleeve Sect has always been ambiguous about these heretical "insects" who "plagiarize others," and even somewhat indulgent. As long as they don't interfere with their own interests, they don't bother to pay much attention to them.

Therefore, Yan Chen guessed in his heart—

Could it be that there's something outside the market that's attracting Senior Sister Zhu?

However, due to their status or other concerns, they were unable to take action themselves, so they entrusted the task to others to do it on their behalf.

This is the source of Yan Chen's confidence in his words just now.

Even if there are some errors or omissions, they are not significantly different.

Ultimately, it's all about showing the other party something.

I am not a mediocre person who cannot see the situation clearly, but a "useful person" who is insightful about the world and can calm his mind and worry!

Otherwise, on what basis would the other party impart "Taoist teachings" to him?

After hearing Yan Chen's words, Zhu Zhilan's eyes flickered slightly.

However, he ignored the so-called "apprenticeship" talk and directly changed the subject.

He simply said:

"Activate your cultivation technique and let me see your two streams of true energy."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

Yan Chen flicked his sleeves and immediately sat cross-legged on the ground. He freely operated the Crimson Cloud Bright Fire Control Technique and the Azure Origin Bright Elixir Formula, and his true energy rose and flowed along his meridians.

Before long, he condensed a point at the tips of his index and middle fingers, and split it into two streams of true energy, namely the "Red Cloud Bright Tunnel Qi" belonging to the Bing Fire element and the "Azure Origin Bright Qi" belonging to the Jia Wood element.

Zhu Zhilan glanced at it and then nodded slightly.

Yan Chenfu suddenly realized something, immediately withdrew his true energy, and stood up.

Then the other party spoke:

"Cultivating both sexes is a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation. You are only at the second level of Qi Refining, yet you have managed to cultivate such a high level of Wood-type True Qi by relying on your inner aperture. This is indeed not easy."

"However, if one wishes to go further and condense another strand of earth-elemental true energy within the body, it is absolutely impossible."

"Therefore, this earth-elemental true energy must be refined by external objects and absorbed by the vital energy."

"Refining external objects and absorbing vital energy?"

Yan Chen's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the key point was coming, and he immediately adopted a seeking attitude.

Zhu Zhilan seemed to be in high spirits and explained patiently:

"To give an analogy, your 'Crimson Glow Bright Fire Qi' is a fiery energy that is born from the cultivation method you practice. Once refined, it is free from any constraints."

"In this world, besides the Qi obtained through cultivation, there are many unknown places called 'spirit-gathering places' that can autonomously generate Qi and summon it at will without the need for refining. If a cultivator encounters such a place, it can be called a 'heaven-sent opportunity'."

"However, such an opportunity is rare and hard to come by. In the vast land of Nanzhuo, only one senior brother of my Jade Sleeve Sect, a Daoist disciple, accidentally entered a place of spiritual energy and successfully broke through to the peak of Qi Refining in the last fifty years."

Yan Chen frowned slightly.

Only one person encounters such great fortune every fifty years; this unique Qi, born of heaven and earth, must be extremely rare to find.

It cannot be obtained without a "destiny" that brings great fortune!

Thinking of this, he didn't say anything more.

Immediately, Zhu Zhilan continued:

"In addition to this, there is another method for gathering and refining Qi, which is far less refined than the former, but much easier."

"All things in this world, regardless of life and death, movement and stillness, likes and dislikes, plants and animals... all have their virtues, which can also be called 'virtue'."

In ancient times, the word "virtue" was unique to the Celestial Dynasty, symbolizing "the bestowal of monarchical power by the Celestials" and representing the orthodox laws and regulations conferred by the Celestial Officials.

"Now, with the fall of the Great Liang Dynasty, the term 'virtue' has gradually taken on a new meaning. One of its meanings refers to the various Qi mechanisms based on 'Yin-Yang and Five Elements,' namely the Ten Heavenly Generals and the Twelve Earthly Fiends."

"Regardless of Bing Fire, Jia Wood, Ji Earth... they all belong to the Ten Heavenly Generals."

"If you want to refine a certain Qi mechanism, you need to find something that contains this 'virtue' and then begin the refinement process."

"This is the 'Qi Gathering Method,' also known as 'Qi Purification' or 'Qi Absorption.'"

Zhu Zhilan gently picked up her cup, sipped her tea, and said nothing more.

Yan Chen lowered his eyelids and remained silent.

Upon first encountering these profound teachings on spiritual practice, his thoughts surged like a turbulent tide, leaving him unable to recover for a long time.

Until Zhu Zhilan gently put down the cup, making a soft, crisp sound.

Yan Chen then took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, and said sincerely:

"Thank you, Senior Sister Zhu, for imparting knowledge and resolving my doubts."

……

After bidding farewell to Senior Sister Zhu and leaving the Melting Gold Valley, it was already noon.

Yan Chen boarded a flying shuttle and returned to the market town at the foot of the mountain.

Standing on the bare mountain path, my gaze passes over Xuchunfang and looks towards the undulating peaks. I can vaguely see a stilted building, like a blade cutting across the mountainside.

"Crushing mountains and breaking through paths is not so easy... It requires at least the third level of Qi Refining!"

"But where can we find that substance containing the 'earth' energy?"

As Yan Chen was pondering, he suddenly felt something and looked up at the sky.

Then a streak of light appeared, accompanied by howling wind, flying rapidly from afar and disappearing in the direction of the Three Valleys.

……

Inside the shuttle, the sandalwood incense is delicate and the wall fire is warm and inviting.

On a large sandalwood chair lay a handsome young man dressed in a white brocade robe, a blanket draped over his legs. His eyes were half-open as he gazed out the window, and he suddenly asked:

"Junior Brother Qi, where's next? It looks quite lively."

A young man in a Taoist robe walked over, bowed respectfully, and said:

"Reporting back to Steward Luo, this is Xuchunfang."

He paused, then continued:

"It belongs to the market town under the jurisdiction of the Gold Melting Valley and the Danlan Valley."

The handsome young man responded with an "Oh".

He then slightly closed his eyes, turned his head away as if he were dozing off, and stopped making a sound.

……