Pill Dao

Seeking the Dao in the Mortal World!

Early the next morning, the former Crown Prince was buried.

It should have been a funeral presided over by the King himself, but the one in charge was Dong Huazi. During the grand ceremony, the siblings Li Qinglin and Li Qingjun stood silently to the side. Li Qingjun's eyes were swollen from crying, while Li Qinglin was expressionless.

His thoughts had long drifted to the palace, where his father was summoning Qin Yi.

His father's health had been deteriorating over the past two years. Yesterday's banquet had been very taxing for him, and this morning he was too weak to attend the ceremony, resting in the palace instead. Yet, his father himself didn't feel his health was worsening; on the contrary, he often thought he was more energetic...

Li Qinglin sighed softly. Turning to look at his sister, whose face was streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain, he felt a sense of contradiction.

On one hand, he hoped his sister could always remain so innocent and carefree, while on the other, he wished she would mature and become sensible... Not understanding anything made her annoyingly foolish, but if she truly understood, it might instead be the beginning of a rift between them.

Speaking of which, he felt a little envious of Qin Yi, who was calm and unseeking, thus having far fewer worries.

Meanwhile, Qin Yi was led by a palace attendant towards the sleeping quarters, feeling incredibly uncomfortable the entire way.

He obviously couldn't bring the Wolf Tooth Club to see the King in the sleeping quarters. He had left Liu Su in his guest courtyard before leaving, carefully hiding her within the core of the Wooden Sword Array. After thinking he had hidden Liu Su properly, he felt uncomfortable all over the moment he stepped out, as if something was missing.

It was like forgetting his phone when going out before he transmigrated... It was even more severe, a feeling that half his heart was empty, and his hands were itching. He almost wanted to pick up the eunuch beside him and carry him around.

This was the first time he had been separated from Liu Su since transmigrating.

Fortunately, he had recently crammed a lot of knowledge about Daoist magic, so he wouldn't easily reveal his lack of skill. As for divination, he could just spout some common sense nonsense, which was probably about the same as Dong Huazi. Alchemy and medicine were his specialties. Looking at Dong Huazi's shoddy pills, Qin Yi felt he could completely crush him in this area. Overall, he had some confidence in this audience with the King and wouldn't become useless just because Liu Su wasn't with him.

This was a scene Qin Yi had imagined when he first came out of the mountains. (ps: I don't know what kind of brains some people have to think that Qin Yi coming out of the mountains was just to recklessly fight Dong Huazi. It's so obvious that the prince's invitation was for political struggle and gaining favor. The level of dealing with Dong Huazi was mainly based on politics, not combat. If you can't even understand this, do you think Liu Bei invited Zhuge Liang to charge into battle and kill generals with a fan? Do you think this is Dynasty Warriors?)

Upon reaching the sleeping quarters, the scent of sandalwood assailed his nostrils. Walking in, he saw the King wearing a Daoist robe, sitting cross-legged on a futon, surrounded by swirling sandalwood smoke, with palace maids gently fanning him.

Qin Yi was speechless. Your eldest son is being buried today, and even if you were ill and couldn't get up, you are here cultivating the Dao!

At yesterday's banquet, the King sat high on the main seat, somewhat distant, and his attention was mainly focused on Dong Huazi and Mang Zhan, so he hadn't paid much attention to the King's appearance. Looking at him up close now, the King had very handsome features, no wonder his children were both good-looking. He was at most forty or fifty years old, with black hair and a ruddy complexion, indeed looking like someone skilled in maintaining health, which was also why he would believe Dong Huazi.

But Qin Yi could see that this ruddiness was not normal.

This King Wude had also been on the battlefield in his youth and was a martial artist. A martial artist who had achieved some cultivation should still be in their prime at forty or fifty years old. Unless they were naturally red-faced or practiced a special technique, a normal complexion was the norm.

Can you imagine Li Qinglin's face being flushed red when he's forty or fifty?

This ruddiness of his was due to pill toxins, which were already affecting his health. Moreover...

This strong scent of sandalwood seemed to be covering up the faint odor emanating from his body.

"Your Majesty, Qin Yi has arrived," the eunuch whispered softly.

The King opened his eyes. For a moment, there was a hint of turbidity, which slowly cleared.

"Five Signs of Decay," such a term popped into Qin Yi's mind. He was slightly shaken. He didn't know if his knowledge of medicine was still too poor, but if he were to judge based on his current level, it seemed this King wouldn't live much longer...

"Daoist Qin," the King's tone was very amiable. "Daoist is young. May I ask which sect you belong to?"

Qin Yi was prepared and said, "My master is Liu Su Zhenren, who travels the four seas. I do not know which sect."

The King thought for a moment: "I have not heard of her... However, there are many people of the Dao in the world, and indeed it is not something I can fully know."

Qin Yi thought to himself, You are incredibly ignorant, not just unable to fully know? Of course, he wouldn't say it out loud, only bowed.

"Daoist Qin, please be seated," the King pointed to the futon opposite him.

Qin Yi sat down cross-legged in a relaxed manner, his sleeves gently fluttering. His palms were placed upwards on his knees, a standard posture. Yet, he didn't look like a cultivator; instead, he had a touch of ethereal handsomeness. The King watched him intently for a while, then nodded slightly. "Double Lotus Position, Five Hearts to the Sky. Very standard. You indeed have a lineage."

"..." Qin Yi was almost speechless. What exactly did Dong Huazi teach you? Treating such a basic thing as a serious criterion for judgment?

The King continued, "What school do you primarily cultivate in, fellow Daoist? The art of divination?"

"Divination is just something I dabble in," Qin Yi said. "I primarily cultivate the Dao of External Pills, which can help people eliminate illness, ward off sickness, and extend their lifespan."

The King's eyes lit up slightly. He added, "That's similar to what the National Teacher studies. Fellow Daoist, you might benefit from seeking more guidance from the National Teacher."

This immediately placed Qin Yi in the position of Dong Huazi's student, showing how highly Dong Huazi was regarded in his heart. Qin Yi said indifferently, "It's not impossible for fellow Daoists to exchange ideas."

The King then said, "The National Teacher's pills have reached the Ninth Revolution and can lead to longevity, while yours merely extend lifespan and ward off sickness. Fellow Daoist, you are young and vigorous. Although you have a lineage, you still need to humbly seek the Dao."

"Saying 'extend lifespan and ward off sickness' is being humble. The Great Dao is arduous. I believe achieving longevity requires a lifetime of seeking. On the contrary, speaking boastfully and claiming to help others achieve longevity? Speaking too full of oneself is not being humble."

The King was momentarily stunned. He said, "The National Teacher hasn't spoken full of himself either. The true method of Nine Revolutions to Immortality is also still being explored. But regarding the pills he usually makes, I feel quite clear-headed and intelligent, and they have had practical effects."

Qin Yi almost blurted out how useless those pills were, but remembering Li Qinglin's reminder, he suppressed it. He said, "I will seek guidance from the National Teacher another day."

The King nodded. Suddenly, he said, "Since fellow Daoist is a pure cultivator seeking the Dao, regarding Zhaoyang..."

Qin Yi immediately bowed down. "We are deeply in love and wish to be Dao companions."

The King seemed not to have expected this fellow to be so direct. The words he had prepared were choked back. He looked at Qin Yi with a strange expression for a long time before slowly saying, "Fellow Daoist, your worldly ties are not pure. How can you speak of seeking the Dao? I have a suggestion..."

Qin Yi directly interrupted, "Has the National Teacher's Pill Dao ever mentioned this phrase?"

The King was interrupted but didn't show displeasure. He still said kindly, "Please speak, fellow Daoist."

"When Lead and Mercury First Combine, Dragon and Tiger First Embrace, Sun and Moon Intersect, Yin and Yang Interact, Thus the Pill is Born from Chaos. Without the foundation of Dragon and Tiger, the essence of Yin and Yang transformation, rashly throwing in gold and stone, attempting to create a Returning Pill, is like seeking chickens and rabbits in water, or asking for fish and dragons on a mountain. It's wrong!"

The King was stunned for a moment and fell into contemplation.

Qin Yi felt refreshed.

Acting like a tearful child and begging the King not to marry off his daughter was useless. Using the Pill Dao, which the King valued most, to show off was the real way to impress!