Qi Condensation Talisman Drawing

"Practice the Thirty-Six Foundation Establishment Fist Forms I taught you, once, for me to see."

In the early morning, in the small courtyard of Tianhao Peak where Luo Bei lived, a man in a black robe, with his hair casually tied back, his face as cold as still water, watched Luo Bei perform the forms one by one.

This man with an icy expression, who seemed to have never smiled, was Duan Tianya, the seventh disciple of Yan Jingxie, who managed the Geli Peaks.

Over the past ten-plus days, Luo Bei had already memorized most of the introductory classics of Shushan. Xiao Xiao no longer came, and Duan Tianya took over teaching him the Thirty-Six Foundation Establishment Fist Forms, the Shushan introductory set.

These Thirty-Six Foundation Establishment Fist Forms were not meant for harming enemies; they were all postures for guiding energy and strengthening the body. The temperature in the mountains changed drastically between day and night. Persistently practicing these forms could help disciples who had just begun cultivation without yet learning formal techniques to relax their meridians, invigorate their blood, strengthen their bones and muscles, and avoid illness.

Unlike Xiao Xiao's approachable and amiable demeanor, Duan Tianya was always cold, never smiled, and was extremely strict with Luo Bei.

"This move, Martial Uncle Duan told me yesterday, my left and right hands should be as extended as possible, and at the same level..."

When Luo Bei reached the "Drawing the Bow" stance, the thirty-sixth form, he recalled what Duan Tianya had told him during yesterday's practice, and his body faltered slightly.

Duan Tianya's eyes turned cold. Because of this pause, Luo Bei incurred his reprimand: "You were wrong here yesterday, and you're still hesitating today. You're clearly being lazy and haven't practiced enough! Do it five times for me!"

Luo Bei wasn't being lazy and practicing too little. In fact, after Duan Tianya left yesterday, he had practiced it more than ten times, making the Thirty-Six Forms very proficient. It was just that with Duan Tianya present now, his momentary nervousness had caused the mistake.

But Luo Bei didn't argue. He simply and diligently performed the forms five more times.

"These Thirty-Six Forms are passable, but intention must precede action. When you practice these forms again, you must remember that before the body moves, the intention must move first." After watching Luo Bei diligently perform the forms five times without a single mistake, Duan Tianya's eyes showed no hint of praise. He just said this coldly.

After saying this, Duan Tianya turned around and pushed open the door of Luo Bei's courtyard. "Come with me. From today on, you will cultivate with the martial brothers of Tianyu Peak."

"I can go now?" Luo Bei looked up in surprise.

"Cultivation requires enduring loneliness. Practice is not child's play; there is nothing to be so happy about." Duan Tianya walked out of the courtyard without looking back. As Luo Bei followed him to the long mountain path, facing Tianyu Peak shrouded in clouds and mist, Duan Tianya said coldly, "Luo Bei, you should know that most people in Shushan will consider your aptitude extraordinary. But I have seen many people with extraordinary talent who, in the end, achieve less than those with ordinary aptitude. The more exceptional their talent, the less they achieve, the more disappointing and looked down upon they become. Keeping you living here alone is a special consideration for you, but I hope you don't think of it that way. You must remember that those who achieve greatness often do not do so because of superior talent, but because they put in more effort than ordinary people. Whether you cultivate with your martial brothers or continue to live here, you should view this extra walk on the mountain path as additional cultivation, not as a sign of your innate superiority."

Was this a scolding or well-intentioned advice?

Luo Bei was stunned. He suddenly felt that Duan Tianya, who was speaking to him now, was not as cold as he appeared on the surface. But when he looked up again, Duan Tianya was already walking coldly on the mountain path ahead.

Duan Tianya was indeed not as cold as he appeared, but he didn't know that Luo Bei possessed a resilience beyond his imagination. He also certainly wouldn't have thought that as Luo Bei followed him on this rugged mountain path, barely wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side, his thoughts were: Senior Brother Lin Hang has to run this mountain path every day to bring me food; it's not easy. What Martial Uncle Duan Tianya said makes a lot of sense. I can mention it to Senior Brother Lin Hang too.

***

"Is he Luo Bei?"

Following Duan Tianya, after walking briskly for over an hour along the mountain path, Luo Bei felt dozens of gazes fix upon him as soon as he crossed the threshold of a grand hall on Tianyu Peak, which bore a plaque with the words "Hall of Nourishing the Heart."

"There aren't too many disciples in the Geli Peaks either. Becoming a Shushan disciple is certainly not an easy task."

Luo Bei swept his gaze across the hall. He saw dozens of yellow mats laid out, with thirteen or fourteen youths around his age and two young girls of similar age sitting on them. In front of these youths and maidens was a large table. Standing before them was a scholar Luo Bei had never seen before, dressed in a blue robe, appearing to be in his thirties, slightly short and plump, but with a kind expression.

Senior Brother Lin Hang... Luo Bei saw Lin Hang sitting alone in a corner, his small frame starkly contrasting with the surrounding emptiness and the others.

Luo Bei also saw Zi Xuangu and Ling Dong Shan sitting among them, nodding slightly at him. Before he could get a good look at anyone else, Duan Tianya said coldly, "Quickly pay your respects to Martial Uncle Ming Hao."

Martial Uncle Ming Hao. Luo Bei bowed to Ming Hao, who was wearing a blue robe and scrutinizing him. Duan Tianya then turned and walked away coldly. "From today on, you will temporarily cultivate with Martial Uncle Ming Hao."

Ming Hao in the hall seemed accustomed to Duan Tianya's demeanor. He didn't mind Duan Tianya's cold departure and simply smiled slightly. "Luo Bei, just pick a spot and sit down."

"Why does Luo Bei prefer to be close to that good-for-nothing?!"

Hearing Ming Hao's words, Zi Xuangu and Ling Dong Shan immediately shuffled over quietly, leaving a space beside them. But to their surprise, Luo Bei did not sit beside them. Instead, he sat next to Lin Hang.

"Lo... Senior Brother Luo Bei..." Lin Hang was too emotionally stirred to speak.

"This is the Luo Bei they speak of, the one with the highest aptitude among the new disciples. I refuse to believe I'm inferior to him!" As Luo Bei sat down, a youth with his hair in a topknot, a face like jade, and a handsome appearance from the left side of the hall, fixed his cold gaze on Luo Bei.

"So this is Senior Brother Luo Bei. They all say his aptitude is good, and I didn't expect him to be good-looking too." Among the two very beautiful girls, the slightly older one, with a rounder face, secretly sized up Luo Bei with her bright eyes.

"Hmph! Senior Sister Yanran is daydreaming again. Luo Bei went to sit with Lin Hang instead of us, is he trying to show he disdains to associate with us? I think he's just an arrogant fellow relying on his talent!" The one who let out such a disdainful cold snort in her heart was the younger of the two girls, with a delicate and beautiful appearance, like a porcelain doll.

"Luo Bei, tomorrow morning, you will come here to practice the Thirty-Six Foundation Establishment Fist Forms." Ming Hao didn't say much more. After clearing his throat, he stood before the table and said, as if teaching in a private school, "I will now officially begin today's cultivation lesson. Everyone, watch carefully. I will only do it once. If you don't remember it, don't blame me."

Luo Bei had never attended school. In Luofu, he had mostly listened to Old Zhao Nan's explanations and memorized them. Now, sitting with so many people his age to listen to Ming Hao's teachings felt incredibly novel. But upon hearing Ming Hao say he would only demonstrate once, Luo Bei immediately cast aside all other thoughts and stared intently at Ming Hao in front of him.

"What is this?!"

His eyes suddenly lit up. Ming Hao, without moving his body, made several gestures in the air. In the space before him, an illusion appeared: a strange plant resembling a green onion but bearing blue flowers.

"Wow," a chorus of gasps erupted. As Luo Bei watched the illusion Ming Hao conjured with astonishment, he heard these sounds around him. Clearly, the others had also never seen Ming Hao use such a technique.

"Martial Uncle Ming Hao," a chubby youth couldn't help but ask the question in Luo Bei's mind, "What is this?"

"Wen Huan, remember next time not to interrupt with questions before I say you can ask." Ming Hao was clearly much kinder than Duan Tianya. Although he spoke sternly, he patiently answered the question of the little fatty named Wen Huan. "This is Zhu Yu Grass. I'll tell you its effects tomorrow. Today, you just need to remember what this herb looks like, because this is the first herb you will be searching for today."

"Martial Uncle Ming Hao, I remember. But I wasn't asking what herb it is, I was asking what technique you used to conjure the image of the herb." The chubby youth nodded repeatedly.

"This is the technique of condensing qi to draw talismans. In the future, when you learn the secret methods of talismans and reach a certain level, you will be able to condense qi to draw talismans to fight enemies. I am merely using this qi condensing technique to manifest the appearance of this herb."

As Ming Hao said this, Luo Bei turned his head in surprise to look at the slightly younger girl sitting on the other side, several people between him and her.

He was surprised to look at the girl because, even before Ming Hao said this, Luo Bei had heard the girl softly snort, "So ignorant. Isn't this just the technique of condensing qi to draw talismans?"

As Luo Bei's gaze turned towards the girl, the delicate girl seemed to notice him looking at her and turned her head as well. Their eyes met. Suddenly, she blinked a few times at Luo Bei, then secretly made a few hand gestures towards him.

"What?" Luo Bei didn't understand what the girl meant and was momentarily stunned, looking confused.

Seeing his reaction, the girl blinked a few more times and secretly gestured again. Luo Bei became even more bewildered. Suddenly, a hint of a triumphant smile appeared on the girl's face. At that moment, Luo Bei heard Ming Hao say, "This is the second herb you will be searching for today, Ci Tong Grass. Remember it clearly, don't forget it."

"Oh no!" Luo Bei started, and when he suddenly turned his head, the second illusion Ming Hao had conjured before him had already begun to fade and disappear.