The Turtle's Temperament

Inside Zhu Fengdan's main hall, the three people and one horse sat facing each other.

Zhu Fengdan sat in the main seat, Li Qi sat opposite her, and Shen Shuibi sat next to Li Qi, facing Zhu Fengdan.

Old Ma sat at the side table, eating heartily with his mouth wide open, enjoying as much of the medicinal herbs as he could.

He had never eaten at such a feast in his life, and he didn't want to eat anything else, only picking out the Spirit Flower to eat.

At least the ninth-grade flowers, including peonies, herbaceous peonies, kerria, magnolias, roses, hibiscus, roses, golden silk, jade hydrangeas, miniature peonies, crabapples, brocade plums, lingering plums, roses, pink buds, azaleas, precious flowers, thousand-petal peaches, scarlet peaches, fragrant plums, purple smiles, evergreens, bauhinia, golden sparrows, smiling faces, fragrant orchids, daffodils, azaleas, and so on, were all extremely rare and wonderful, and were all top-quality ingredients for making medicine and incense. Old Ma didn't even look at them, and chewed them all up and ate them.

Inside the main hall, the exterior decorations had also changed. The pile of things that looked like trash but were actually treasures had been put away, probably packed up and thrown away by Zhu Fengdan, and replaced with an exquisitely beautiful scene.

Swallows chatter on carved beams, orioles sing in ornate railings, the quiet courtyard and bright pavilion are bathed in soft, warm light. To truly appreciate the beauty of this scene is beyond words.

As for Old Ma's side, it's all vegetarian, but on this table, it's a mix of meat and vegetables.

Orangutan lips, roasted meat, horned swallow's fin, rich meat, porridge tendon, the scallion of the dangling, the promise of the elephant, cassia blister beetle, stone abalone, the butter of the river beetle, the trout of Gongluo, the crucian carp of Dongting, the ray of the East Sea, the precious pearl and jade, the yellow pufferfish, the turtle, roasted lamb, duck, stew, imperial green, water chestnut of Guazhou, the beam of Jiye, fragrant wild rice, fine barley, wild rice of Kuaiji, rice of Buzhou, the grain of Xuanshan, the millet of Yangshan, the black bean of the South Sea, the flower of the longevity tree, the leaf of the black tree, the dream of the marsh Celery, the greens of Juqu, ginger of Yangpu, cinnamon of Zhaoyao, mushrooms of Yueluo, eggs of Changze, dew of Sanwei, peaches of Kunlun, yellow-chinned stew, mackerel that has been sobered up, sugarcane with 13 sections, pears that bloom once a year, rice, pine, kiln loach, cockle sauce, perilla paste, purple squid, thousand-mile orchid, sashimi called ten thousand feet, and crab feet. Among them, the red silk is exquisite, refined through countless chiseling and refining, exotic fruits and delicacies, and fragrant aromas. All of these are the finest ingredients from various regions, and the cooking methods are also quite superb.

Just by finishing this table of food, Shen Shuibi estimated that she could save herself a hundred years of arduous cultivation, allowing her slowly polished skills to advance by leaps and bounds, directly eliminating the need for cultivation time.

However, no one is willing to appreciate these beautiful views right now, and no one is picking up any food.

The main issue is that Zhu Fengdan's expression was rather awkward.

He reached out his chopsticks and placed a piece of fish on Shen Shuibi, saying, "Ahem, it's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. Look, you didn't even bring a visiting card beforehand. If you had brought one, this wouldn't have happened..."

At this point, he suddenly held his chopsticks upright, his face instantly darkening. He slammed the chopsticks down on Li Qi's head, saying, "You bastard! I can tell you're doing this on purpose! You even told my apprentice's wife not to be so formal. Do you think I'm such a casual and rude person?!"

With a crisp thud, Li Qi gasped, quickly lowered his head, and closed his eyes to avoid losing control of his expression.

Damn it, his Primordial Spirit was completely stunned by the impact!

Damn it, my IQ dropped by five points.

But there was nothing he could do... Li Qi had indeed said that there was no need for formal invitations, and he felt that he was right.

But what can be done?

Just accept the beating.

If you open your mouth to defend yourself, it won't just be a tap on the head.

Shen Shuibi, on the other hand, lowered her head slightly and glanced at the orchid beside her.

Thankfully... the other party didn't blame me.

Her eyes immediately turned red, and she was so bold as to attack Great Shaman.

In this situation, she should already be dead.

Fortunately, the other party was indeed as Li Qi had said, not bothered by such trivial matters, and immediately returned the money. In fact, he even bowed his head and apologized to him as the Great Shaman.

Judging from his expression, it seemed like a genuine and sincere apology.

To be honest, Shen Shuibi felt flattered. She had never seen such a powerful person who could do whatever he wanted before. It seemed that the Daoist spirit of freedom was better reflected in him.

However, given the other party's attitude, Shen Shuibi couldn't really continue to pursue the matter. So she said, "It is indeed a misunderstanding. Great Shaman, please don't take it to heart. We have already been impolite to come here so abruptly, and we feel ashamed. We hope Great Shaman."

Zhu Fengdan looked Shen Shuibi, then said, "Sigh, I'm glad you don't blame me. By the way, this kid usually avoids me, afraid of meeting me. Why did you take the initiative to visit me this time?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuibi immediately stood up, placed her hands in front of her chest, and bowed her head in greeting. "Li Qi and I have been married for a long time, yet I have not come to pay my respects for so long. This is unbecoming of a wife, disrespectful to my teacher, and a disloyalty to my own flesh and blood. This is not a good thing, and I feel ashamed in my heart. It is considered a breach of etiquette by the Shaman Path, and it is suspected of being unfriendly to the ancestral temple. Therefore, I am eager to come back this time and have come to pay my respects to my esteemed teacher in order to fulfill my proper etiquette."

"Hey, it's just a small matter. But it's good, it'll give me a chance to see you two. Hey, your master hasn't even found you a wife yet, and you've already got one. Really, how come you're so successful?" Zhu Fengdan chuckled, then pressed down on Li Qi's hair, seemingly forgetting that she had almost smashed Li Qi's head open just now.

"Ahem, it's all thanks to Master's excellent teaching." Li Qi dared not say more now, and could only say this.

"Teaching my ass! I never taught you how to do this. It's just that you have a good eye for things. You started planning when you were still a nobody, and now you've achieved success. You have good judgment." Zhu Fengdan didn't hold back at all and said these words in front of Shen Shuibi.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuibi straightened her back and sat up even more upright. Judging from her tone, Zhu Fengdan seemed to want to give her some feedback.

Great Shaman's comments were something we dared not disregard.

"Your body is both gentle and strong, pure and fragrant like an orchid. You seem to sway with the wind in the pines, yet you secretly harbor the essence of dew. You grow slender roots to establish your foundation, and your beauty blossoms. You contain Spiritual Qi within your heart. In the ebb and flow of life, your heart remains calm, and your path will naturally be determined. Your future is much brighter than that of your sister," Zhu Fengdan said to the young couple, offering her assessment.

Upon hearing this, Li Qi felt reassured.

These words clearly show that Zhu Fengdan really likes her apprentice's wife, which is quite a high compliment.

And what you said really hit the nail on the head.

Rabbits may appear weak and seemingly incapable of doing anything, agreeing with whatever you say, but in reality, they are more determined than anything else when it comes to their goals.

She lived for over nine thousand years, spending all that time silently cultivating herself, doing almost nothing else, which demonstrates her unwavering perseverance.

Furthermore, Zhu Fengdan also said, "Growing slender roots to establish the foundation, forming beautiful flowers and hanging down in splendor."

In other words, it acknowledges the results of Shen Shuibi's efforts, believing that she has "built a solid foundation" and has achieved her own unique results, rather than simply copying others, following in the footsteps of her predecessors, and becoming a mere imitator.

However, after saying all this, Zhu Fengdan looked at Li Qi.

Li Qi felt uneasy under that look, so Li Qi immediately asked, "Teacher, is there a problem?"

"She is like that, but you are not," Zhu Fengdan said, shaking her head.

Li Qi felt ashamed and lowered his head, remaining silent.

Yes, but Li Qi is not like that. Li Qi still hasn't figured out anything of his own, that is, he hasn't found his own path. Although the things he cultivates are broad and varied, they are all other people's things.

While picking up food and chewing, Zhu Fengdan said casually, "Your Daoist aura is very mysterious. It's not very strong, but it's incredibly convenient for cultivation. You can directly read other people's Daos and even learn them directly. This makes it easy for your cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, especially in the early stages."

"Look at you, you've already advanced to the sixth rank in less than ten years of cultivation. This speed has already alarmed the upper echelons of Wushen Mountain. Otherwise, given the mess you've made, even with my protection, you would still have suffered a bit."

"Several sorcerers have already started paying attention to you, wanting to see what you will do next. We're all family here, so let's not mince words. Your next move will determine whether you're just a fleeting glimpse of brilliance or if you can truly reach the top."

Upon hearing this, Li Qi immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "Please teach me, teacher."

He knew that Zhu Fengdan was getting down to business.

This is indeed the most urgent matter he is currently facing.

How did he get promoted to the sixth rank?

It's very simple. He directly infused his brain with the third-grade Dao, absorbed a portion of it, and read the other party's understanding of the Dao, thus advancing to the sixth grade.

In other words, at this moment, his sixth rank is almost a complete replica of that third rank of the Dao of Human Path. This is the other party's Dao, not Li Qi's own.

Besides that... it seems the others are the same.

The Buddhist path is the path of Chanzhi Zhi and the Buddhist Scriptures that Li Qi reads.

The Daoist sect directly copied Shen Shuibi.

Human Path comes from the professors at the Imperial Academy and the special tutors provided by the Chancellor.

The Shaman Path, of course, is the Zhu's Path, the orthodox tradition of Wushen Mountain.

The demonic path was directly bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Demon; Li Qi had never even learned it himself.

His cultivation involves picking up other people's things along the way. He seems to learn very quickly, but most of the time he's just a photocopier or a library. Only occasionally does he need to think and integrate things on his own.

"Your cultivation is too convenient. Others need a long time to comprehend it, but you only need to glance at it. This is not only because you are intelligent, but also because of your Daoist charm. However, the Daoist charm is not the problem; the problem lies with yourself. Do you still remember what the Demon Prince said to you?" Zhu Fengdan asked Li Qi.

"What did the Demon Prince say to me?" Li Qi recalled.

The Demon Prince said to him... Hmm, could it be that sentence?

The Demon Prince is described as 'weak' and too conservative.

That's why the Demon Prince forced him, constantly pressuring him to use methods he had never used before.

Zhu Fengdan looked at Li Qi and said, "You have learned so many things, but the more you know, the more afraid you become, and the more terrified you are of using those methods that you don't know or understand, because you know that sometimes just using and understanding them can cause serious and irreparable damage to your Dao Path."

"So you've really stopped moving forward, you're afraid to take that first step. Then let me ask you, aren't you already being held back by your biggest 'hidden wound'?"

These words made Li Qi break out in a cold sweat.

Yes, Li Qi was very afraid of taking the wrong turn.

He said more than once that the Dao Path is arduous, and if you take the wrong path, you may not have any chance in the future. You may not even realize that you have taken a wrong step, but when you reach a high level of cultivation in the future, you may suddenly find that this step was fatal and directly sealed off all your possibilities.

The more Li Qi learned, the more he understood this point. So he kept testing and testing, preparing to understand and master everything he had learned.

Li Qi believed that doing this was to solidify his foundation. Anyway, he had plenty of time. As long as he understood the effects and drawbacks of all the methods, he could choose the right path and explore it step by step to ensure that every step was correct.

This was his idea, and he was prepared to do it, because the Great Mi Xin had told him about the qualities a long-lived person should possess.

Since he is already an immortal, lifespan is meaningless to him, so he might as well spend more time and proceed more cautiously.

Rapidly advancing to the sixth rank was not a good thing for him.

The Demon Prince mocked him as a 'weakling' and forced him to use the tricks he dared not use. So, Li Qi finally had no choice but to take this step. But this also strengthened Li Qi's resolve. He began to feel more and more that "fast cultivation is not a good thing" and prepared to solidify his foundation at the sixth rank, making up for the shortcomings he had made before.

But now, Zhu Fengdan suddenly tells him that doing so has put him in another crisis.

Zhu Fengdan casually picked up some food and said, "It's true that one shouldn't be reckless on the path of cultivation, but if one is timid and hesitant, it's no different from being reckless. Without the courage and Dao heart to advance, the road ahead will only become more difficult."

"I've noticed that you're starting to confuse 'conservative' with 'cowardly'. Tell me, what are you planning to do next? Also, don't just stand there like an idiot, making it seem like I'm lecturing you. Sit down and eat. Do you know how much the takeout at this table costs?" Zhu Fengdan tapped her bowl and chopsticks, displaying a complete lack of table manners.

Takeout...

Li Qi wiped away his sweat, and his tense mood eased a little.

Thinking about it, it really makes sense. How could a teacher cook for themselves? When they and others suddenly arrived, and a table full of delicious food and drinks appeared out of nowhere, they must have ordered takeout.

"Come, come, my dear apprentice, you eat too. Let's ignore him. He's overly meticulous and conservative. It's good to let him stand there and think about it." Zhu Fengdan seemed to feel no pressure at all and urged everyone to eat.

He himself was also busy, eating very quickly, but not in a messy way. Although he ate quickly, he still had some manners, although his habit of tapping his bowl with his chopsticks was quite unrefined.

As for Li Qi, he didn't stand either, but sat down, but didn't touch his chopsticks, just lowered his head and pondered.

Shen Shuibi didn't touch her chopsticks either, but looked at Li Qi with a slightly worried expression.

Old Ma, on the other hand, was carefree; he was already eating his fill at his own little table.

Zhu Fengdan, on the other hand, ate for a few minutes and then felt a little awkward seeing that the two of them hadn't moved.

So he put down his bowl and said, "Think about how the Demon Prince provoked you? I think my disciple's wife is the only thing that can make your turtle-like temper so agitated and angry, isn't she?"