Chapter 179 - Arc 12: Ruyi Xianzhuang | Chapter 179: Practice

Chapter 179 - Arc 12: Ruyi Xianzhuang | Chapter 179: Practice

Translator: Lynn

The birthday banquet was scheduled for the evening, leaving several hours in between. Xu Ziqing, captivated by the beauty of the hibiscus, had no intention of returning to simply enjoy the scenery. He believed it would be more delightful to find a spot to practice alongside his seniors.

Yun Lie and this junior brother had a longstanding familiarity. Not only were they of the same mindset, but their understanding of each other was also profoundly intuitive. Thus, he did not decline, merely nodded and released his spiritual consciousness, searching for a suitable, serene place.

Soon, the two dao siblings located an isolated area—a bamboo grove beyond the myriad flowers, situated on a hillside. Within the bamboo grove, the bamboo swayed, creating a relatively spacious area.

As the wind blew, the green bamboo leaves rustled and fell, exuding a particularly elegant ambiance.

Xu Ziqing felt at ease and began contemplating which techniques to practice first when he sensed the sound of the wind approaching from behind. The speed was swift, yet there was no trace of hostility. He instinctively turned and caught the object approaching him. Upon inspection, he found it was a jade bottle.

He turned around and uncorked the jade bottle, revealing a strong fragrance of pills. It contained a bottle of pills, each resembling a longan in shape, milky white in color with a flowing radiance. Judging by their quality, they were top-grade Yiyuan pills—a potent tonic for replenishing true essence.

Yun Lie spoke at this moment, “You’ve exerted a lot of real energy just now. You should replenish it with one or two pills.”

Xu Ziqing didn’t hesitate, swallowing one of the pills immediately. He sat down cross-legged and initiated his cultivation exercises.

In an instant, a surge of warmth rushed down from his throat, rapidly pouring into his dantian. The medicinal properties were more potent than many elixirs. However, he understood well that despite being top-grade, swallowing the elixir at a low level might cause the true essence to surge uncontrollably, making it challenging to manage.

The medicinal potency seeped directly into the dantian. In merely three to five breaths, the dantian felt full, indicating the recovery of true energy. Some medicinal power spilled out, coursing through the limbs and bones, transforming into a gentle warmth that swiftly alleviated the dryness in his meridians.

Xu Ziqing marveled at the effectiveness of the Yiyuan pill. He opened his eyes, returned the jade bottle to Yun Lie, and expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Shixiong. I’ve completely recovered.”

Yun Lie didn’t take it back, remarking, “It’s of no use to me. You should keep it.”

Xu Ziqing smiled gratefully and tucked it away. Although he already had a bottle, he had left it in his cave and never carried it with him. The care shown by his senior brother made him value it even more.

Later, he inquired, “Shixiong, are we about to practice our techniques now?”

Yun Lie nodded slightly, raising his hand and releasing a sword energy. It zoomed past Xu Ziqing’s ear, sending a strand of his hair soaring.

Xu Ziqing immediately noticed it and turned his head to evade. Otherwise, the sword energy wouldn’t have flown past his ears, aiming instead for his face.

“Shixiong, you...” Xu Ziqing sighed, “...your precision is truly remarkable.” As he spoke, his brows shifted, and a blue light burst forth. The Qingyun needle also targeted Yun Lie’s face.

There was a continuous exchange.

Yun Lie remained still, only using his fingers to tap.

The sword qi at his fingertips resembled sharp arrows, creating a “chi chi” sound in the air. Each collision between sword qi and the Qingyun needle resulted in the shattering of the sword qi, but the Qingyun needle remained undeterred.

However, this time, the bamboo leaves didn’t slice open but burst into multiple fragments.

During this, Xu Ziqing realized that while his Qingyun needle had a prototype, utilizing it was akin to the sword intent Yun Lie had just showcased, but it wasn’t as effortless as Yun Lie’s. He lacked the control that Yun Lie possessed.

This realization taught him a crucial lesson—despite the supernatural powers derived from his own flesh and blood, he lacked the same proficiency as they truly held. He was far from mastering power manipulation.

Simultaneously, he comprehended that if he could control the Qingyun Needle as adeptly as Yun Lie handled the Sword Intent, he could greatly conserve his true energy in future battles. Furthermore, he could become intimately familiar with the Qingyun Needle, identifying potential weaknesses.

Suddenly, Xu Ziqing came to a realization, a smile playing on his lips as he retrieved the Qingyun needle.

With a slight sway, he found himself standing atop a bamboo shoot.

At this moment, Xu Ziqing loosened the reins of his consciousness and explored the bamboo forest. Swiftly, his form transformed into a blue blur, gracefully gliding across the expanse of bamboo.

After approximately two breaths, he descended and settled across from Yun Lie.

Xu Ziqing extended his hands, presenting an array of turquoise bamboo rice delicately. They sparkled, exuding an ethereal beauty. He smiled and remarked, “Once I cultivate this bamboo as a tree and plant it on the peak, my brother and I can use the bamboo leaves for future practice in a bamboo forest.”

Yun Lie noted, “It’ll be an empty green bamboo forest. Its Qi will be potent, reserved for your use.”

A deeper smile graced Xu Ziqing’s lips. “Ziqing extends heartfelt gratitude to Shixiong for granting this access.”

Mastering the Qingyun Needle with bamboo leaves demanded more than a few hours in this bamboo forest. Thus, Xu Ziqing made a decision, gladly collecting the bamboo rice and setting this plan in motion.

Yun Lie’s gaze drifted to his hair. He inquired, “How is your refining technique progressing?”

Momentarily perplexed, Xu Ziqing followed Yun Lie’s gaze to his right hand and encountered a solid, cold object—the bamboo hairpin that tied his hair. He removed it.

The bamboo hairpin, a hue of light blue, glistened like a sapphire, a gift from his senior brother upon their initial encounter.

Xu Ziqing tenderly caressed the bamboo hairpin, smiling as he responded, “Brother’s reminder is appreciated. I have acquired the fundamental skills of weapon refining; I just need to consecrate it.”

This object possessed the ability to clear and concentrate the mind. During moments of emotional turmoil, it guided him through various challenges. However, it had never been fully consecrated, offering assistance only during dire circumstances, unable to be utilized at will.

Observing the instructional intent in Yun Lie’s words, he stated, “You will remain here for a few more days. Amidst diverse influences, having this artifact by your side will stabilize your Dao heart.”

Acknowledging this advice, Xu Ziqing responded, “Yes, Shixiong.”

Originally planning to wait until his refining skills had progressed further, Xu Ziqing now found himself less hesitant.

Upon making this resolution, he didn’t delay and settled into a cross-legged position. He retrieved a talisman, ignited it with a flick of his fingers, and exhaled a verdant stream of air. The fire blazed, forming a sphere of cerulean flames, hovering in the air. Subsequently, he lifted the bamboo hairpin, and with a gentle tap of his finger, it descended directly into the azure fire.

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