Reading Is Also Cultivation

Shi Yi had originally planned to ask about some passages in the Great Vehicle Tathagata Sutra that he did not understand when he went to the Ninghe County Daoist temple.

Now, it seemed he could not ask.

If possible, borrowing books related to Daoist cultivation and comprehending them himself would be best.

He could even take a master and join the Daoist temple, cultivating the techniques within it. That way, there would be no trouble.

This thought flashed through Shi Yi's mind and became one of his backup plans.

"What exactly did Mr. Xuanming mean when he said at the end, 'Reading is also cultivation'?"

"Could it be that this world has methods for Confucian cultivators as well?"

Lou Xuanming's final words to him kept surfacing in Shi Yi's mind.

He could not quite grasp their meaning.

"Jixia Academy is one of the sacred lands under heaven. Could it truly be a place that trains Confucian cultivators?"

Shi Yi thought of the several sacred lands Lou Xuanming had mentioned.

Jixia Academy, Zhengyi Immortal Dao, and Great Putuo Temple.

Anything called a sacred land was naturally no ordinary place.

Of the three, he had now encountered two. One was Jixia Academy. When Shi Yi had taken Lu Feng as his master, the Anyang Martial Arts School Master had mentioned that the school's founder was connected to Jixia Academy. The Lesser Heavenly Cycle Strength Training Fist that he cultivated had come from Jixia Academy.

As for the other, Great Putuo Temple, the Great Vehicle Tathagata Sutra within the Vajra Bodhi Bracelet Mother Bead he had acquired was surely one of Great Putuo Temple's important cultivation techniques. He simply did not know how precious it was.

He had not encountered Zhengyi Immortal Dao, but judging by its name, it should have been a major Daoist sect.

Shi Yi was not sure whether the Daoist temple in Ninghe County was connected to it.

"Phew!"

"I can't overthink this. I still have plenty of time. I'll take it one step at a time."

"I'll find a chance to ask Mr. Xuanming about it properly."

Shi Yi took a deep breath and calmed his emotions.

Lou Xuanming's words had nevertheless left their mark on his heart.

On his way back to the martial arts school, Shi Yi heard the sound of weapons clashing from an alleyway not far away.

But he paid it no heed.

Ever since the people from the Divine Constable Bureau had arrived, Anyuan Town had been far from peaceful these past few days.

People from the Five Tigers Gang, Jinyang Gang, and Blood Sword Hall frequently clashed, causing no small number of deaths.

The Town Magistrate and other officials seemed wholly unaware, allowing the gangs to fight as they pleased.

In Lu Feng's words, those dying were gang members. The authorities simply would not care.

As for whether ordinary civilians had been caught up in it, Shi Yi did not know. But he knew very well that people of status in Anyuan Town had certainly not been affected.

The gangs in Anyuan Town bullied the weak and feared the strong, only ever raising their blades against those weaker than themselves.

Shi Yi could not interfere, nor did he have the ability to.

Ignoring it was what Lu Feng had told him to do.

Not long after Shi Yi left, several wounded men emerged, the blades in their hands all stained with blood!

If one ignored the blood flowing from the alley entrance, the alley could be said to have returned to peace.

"The next time I visit Mr. Xuanming, I should borrow the Four Books and Five Classics and copy them out!"

After Shi Yi completed his training at Anyang Martial Arts School and returned to his residence, an idea had already formed in his mind.

Whether Lou Xuanming had been hinting at something or merely intended for him to read more books, it made no difference.

Reading the Four Books and Five Classics would not waste Shi Yi's time. Since he had already begun reading, he naturally ought to read the books that represented this world's imperial examinations.

The Four Books and Five Classics had been passed down in this world for a long time and were highly representative. Besides, copying books was no issue for Shi Yi. He had an electronic copying method, quick and convenient.

Given enough time, he could copy every book in Lou Xuanming's collection.

Part of the reason Shi Yi had this idea was that Lou Xuanming had told him that the renowned martial arts experts of the Great Zhou Dynasty had all read many books.

Clearly, reading more was also greatly beneficial to martial cultivation.

He could not yet see the connection, only because he had not reached that stage.

Shi Yi opened his waterskin and, as usual, took a small sip of Hundred-Year Stone Milk. Now, he generally drank it after cultivation because he had discovered that its nourishing effects were better once he had finished training. At the same time, it could mend hidden injuries within his body.

With martial cultivation, hidden injuries would still accumulate over the years. Now, the Hundred-Year Stone Milk directly prevented that!

Moreover, ever since he began drinking Hundred-Year Stone Milk, he had felt his mental state growing better and better.

"The Hundred-Year Stone Milk is almost gone!"

"It has been six days since the people from the Divine Constable Bureau left, and seven days since I last collected Hundred-Year Stone Milk."

"Fewer people have been going to Mount Jiuhua these past few days. Hardly anyone went today, and there will definitely be even fewer tomorrow!"

"I'll go tomorrow night to see whether the Hundred-Year Stone Milk is still there. If it is, I'll see how much has gathered and figure out roughly how long it takes to fill up."

Shi Yi was also calculating the timing in his heart.

He had held back these past few days and not gone, precisely to prevent anyone from discovering him when he did.

Though the possibility was slim, it was not nonexistent. So many people had gone there that it would not be strange if a few possessed unusual abilities. If someone happened to have a special ability for tracking people, going to Mount Jiuhua would not be a good thing for him.

If he was not inside, he would not make any commotion. Naturally, no one could discover him.

Thus, Shi Yi planned to wait one more day.

Only a patient hunter could reap greater rewards.

Given the current situation, as time passed, each additional day would bring more people back empty-handed. Fewer would enter Mount Jiuhua in search of opportunities, making it safer for him to collect the Hundred-Year Stone Milk.

Once no one thought of seeking opportunities there anymore, no one would discover the secret of the Hundred-Year Stone Milk!

"My supply is nearly used up too. I need to replenish what I have on hand. Otherwise, I could wait even longer before going."

The Hundred-Year Stone Milk in Shi Yi's waterskin was nearly at the bottom!

Even this rate of consumption was the result of Shi Yi restraining himself. Otherwise, he could have drunk much more.

The effects of Hundred-Year Stone Milk were extremely mild, and the energy it contained was easily absorbed by the human body. Drinking more of this earthly treasure had no adverse effect.

Just like the first time Shi Yi had directly drunk half his supply, his body had shown no ill effects.

The energy stored within his body was also absorbed during his daily cultivation, advancing his progress.

"It's getting late!"

"I should return to Blue Star and rest!"

Shi Yi rested in the room for a while. Once he felt that his body had more or less finished absorbing the Hundred-Year Stone Milk, he prepared to leave.

After nightfall, he would not remain here.

But as the thought arose, Shi Yi frowned slightly.

Because he heard footsteps.

"That fellow surnamed Jiao seems to have run off ahead. Chase him! He's badly wounded and can't have gone far. Don't let him get away!"

"He's a hall master. Catch him, and the credit will be enough for us brothers to rise through the ranks."

Outside, a group of people shouted. Then a clamor of footsteps ran off into the distance.

They were clearly giving chase.

Anyuan Town had been highly unsettled these past few days. Whether by day or night, it was even more dangerous at night. Lu Feng had also told Shi Yi not to go out after dark.