Thunder Seal Qi Concealment

Li Qingyun felt that this world of cultivation was truly different.

Vague and blurry, shrouded in mist.

It seemed the true nature of this world was concealed by transcendent powers high above.

"Immortal" seemed to be a taboo in the eyes of cultivators, something they dared not mention casually.

In this realm, supreme powerful beings were uniformly referred to as "Dao Lords," and the various temples and monasteries established in the mortal world all enshrined Dao Lords.

Those mortal families with the means would also enshrine Dao Lord statues or hang Dao Lord portraits at home, praying for protection and to ward off malevolent spirits and strange demons.

In the perception of mortals, the word "Immortal" did not exist.

The existence of Dao Lords seemed to have replaced the status of "Immortal," becoming the most mysterious and ultimate beings in this realm.

"To understand the true world beneath the mist, I must improve my strength and status..."

After a while, Li Qingyun calmed down, regaining his composure as if nothing had happened.

He walked to another bookshelf and quickly searched for cultivation techniques for the fourth level and above of the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art, as well as spells to conceal one's cultivation aura.

He didn't want to stay in this Scripture Repository any longer!

"[Qi Concealment Art]: Once cultivated to completion, it can restrain one's mana aura. However, those with pupil techniques or other divine abilities, and beings of profound cultivation, can easily see through it..."

This spell was as unremarkable as its name suggested; it worked by restraining mana to hide one's aura, but its flaw was obvious: it couldn't defend against powerful experts.

Anything placed on the first floor of the Scripture Repository was naturally not of the highest quality.

Li Qingyun had no better options. He took the [Qi Concealment Art] and the essential knowledge for levels four to six of the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art, then headed towards the Daoist priest guarding the first floor, intending to copy them.

The guarding Daoist priest was an old man, lying on a rattan chair, dozing. Seeing Li Qingyun wanted to copy spells, he slowly sat up with sleepy eyes.

The old Daoist glanced at Li Qingyun's disciple token at his waist and said in a low voice, "Paper and brush are provided here for free. Copying the [Qi Concealment Art] costs fifty taels of gold, or five spirit stones, or their equivalent. For the fourth to sixth levels of the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art, each level costs the same..."

Li Qingyun's expression changed slightly, and his hands holding the books trembled.

This was a rip-off!

The Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art charged for each level!

The meager possessions he had were not enough to afford the essential knowledge for the remaining three levels of the technique.

"Senior, then I'll just copy this [Qi Concealment Art]. Oh, wait, I'll also copy a [Thunder Seal]..."

Li Qingyun reluctantly put back the subsequent parts of the Precious Furnace Art and replaced them with the [Thunder Seal] spell.

He was too poor to afford copying more than two items!

"You're a good lad, you've already cultivated some mana, haven't you? Why don't you go find a Dao Master in the temple?"

The old Daoist, "understandingly," rambled on, having sensed the aura fluctuations from the young man before him.

"Heh, I've just achieved it. I'll naturally seek a Dao Master later!"

Li Qingyun smiled humbly, took the brush, ink, paper, and began copying the two spells.

He would have to put the Precious Furnace Qi Absorption Art aside for now and find a way to deal with it after reaching the third level of Qi Refining.

He felt a bit envious of the elite disciples in the temple. Those who were apprenticed to Dao Masters like Lu Nanling and Xu Songyuan could get cultivation techniques and even some spells for free, saving a lot of resources.

After finishing copying, Li Qingyun walked out of the Scripture Repository.

It was late autumn night, and darkness had enveloped the area. Lights flickered with varying brightness in different parts of the back mountain, appearing near yet far, indistinct.

Li Qingyun had only heard that the brighter the light, the more prominent the area of Lingbao Temple, and the residences of important figures within the temple.

He walked lightly and briskly along the mountain path.

Having cultivated mana, he could see in the dark, even if not very clearly. Getting lost was impossible.

Approaching his bamboo hut, Li Qingyun saw that the light was already on inside.

A cold mountain breeze swept past, rustling his Daoist robe. In the dim night, the orange light emanating from the window brought a hint of warmth to the returning Li Qingyun.

The loneliness of being alone and adrift in another world was somewhat dispelled by the light.

He gently pushed the door open, not wanting to disturb this rare moment of warmth.

But as soon as he entered, He Xiao's boastful laughter shattered the atmosphere.

"Junior Brother Qingyun, you're finally back! Do you know how wonderful my day has been?"

He Xiao's eyes sparkled with excitement, his face ruddy, looking full of energy.

As Li Qingyun moved a little closer, he could smell a faint scent of perfume on He Xiao.

He couldn't help but chuckle, "Senior Brother is talented and dashing, unrestrained and free-spirited. Junior Brother Qingyun can't compare!"

This remark seemed to hit the right spot, and He Xiao's laughter grew louder.

"Qingyun, when I do chores at the front temple, I not only earn contribution points but also meet many fated individuals. This afternoon, I met two young ladies of exceptional beauty, their demeanor, their figures, tsk tsk..."

"Let me tell you, if you want to have a good life in the temple and get good assignments, you need to stick with Senior Brother Zhang. In a couple of days, Senior Brother Zhang is holding a Dharma discussion meeting. Why don't you come with me to experience it, Qingyun?"

He Xiao spoke enthusiastically about his work at the front temple that day, and casually mentioned Senior Brother Zhang.

According to him, this Senior Brother Zhang, whose full name was Zhang Junlong, was quite influential at Maple Mountain Lingbao Temple. He was the nephew of the Guest Welcomer, Zhang Qiyun, and held some power. He could help disciples in the back mountain secure good assignments at the front temple.

"Senior Brother Zhang is truly capable. I must get to know him if I have the chance. However, I plan to cultivate in seclusion for these next few days, hoping to cultivate Mana as soon as possible..."

Li Qingyun frowned, deliberately showing a hint of hesitation, then politely refused.

He was now dedicating his entire being to cultivation and had no desire to waste time trying to curry favor with some Senior Brother Zhang.

"Doing chores like greeting guests and serving them at the front temple, earning such meager contributions, how could it compare to completing cultivation and then taking on a mission from the External Affairs Hall to suppress a Malevolent Spirit down the mountain, earning a large sum of spirit stones and merit..."

In the circles he currently moved in, everyone was spending money to buy a Dao connection and gild their reputations. Most of them, like He Xiao and Ge Xiaohong, hadn't even cultivated Mana to enter the threshold of Dao cultivation yet. Yet, they held enlightenment banquets and discussion gatherings every few days. Li Qingyun found it amusing and speechless just thinking about it!

As for the work of receiving mortals at the front temple, he disdained it even more in his heart.

He felt that although He Xiao seemed adept at navigating social circles and was doing well in the temple, in the grand scheme of things, he was definitely picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons.

Since he had "obtained a connection" to cultivate in the temple, why not diligently cultivate and seek enlightenment?

If he yearned for the mortal world, why come up the mountain? As the old servant of Yin Xunshan said, it was a life of a solitary lamp, lonely and cold.

Li Qingyun sat down at the desk that belonged to him and casually lit the old oil lamp on it.

He took out the newly copied booklet of the Qi Concealment Art from his embrace, and began to read it carefully under the dim, yellow light.

Once he started reading, he became somewhat engrossed, automatically tuning out He Xiao's earnest "advice."

"Alas, my good intentions are all for naught..."

He Xiao looked at Li Qingyun in front of the oil lamp. A breeze blew in from the window, and a strand of hair on the third young master of the Marquis's Estate's cheek gently fluttered. His profile was picturesque, making him appear even more handsome. His originally pale complexion now looked like fine jade.

He couldn't help but feel a touch of jealousy.