Taiyi True Qi

Song Yanqing's eyes widened, "What do you mean 'seems like'? If it's there, it's there. If it's not, it's not."

Niu Youdao pointed to his hand, implying that it was obvious and of course he had it.

Song Yanqing immediately put on an enthusiastic expression, "Junior Brother, quickly write out all the poems and lyrics your teacher wrote. While you have free time, let me appreciate them."

Niu Youdao shook his head, "My master instructed me on his deathbed to cultivate diligently at the Shangqing Sect, not to write such things."

"..." Song Yanqing was stunned for a moment, then said with a hint of disappointment, "Cultivation doesn't depend on just one or two days. Writing this won't take much time."

Niu Youdao put on an innocent expression, "But I can't recall them right now."

"..." Song Yanqing was speechless, and finally said helplessly, "Since you have nothing else to do, think hard. Write them down as soon as you remember, and show them to me later." He then carefully rolled up the paper in his hand.

Niu Youdao seemed to ask curiously, "Senior Brother Song, my teacher said that scholars are useless. What's the use of writing this?"

Song Yanqing raised his eyelids and slung an arm around Niu Youdao's shoulders, "Junior Brother, I have my uses. Just write them down when you remember them, and Senior Brother won't treat you unfairly. By the way, don't tell anyone else about this, understand?" He gave Niu Youdao a look that implied he'd better comply.

Niu Youdao, however, appeared completely uninterested and asked a tangential question, "Senior Brother, I want to cultivate the Shangqing Sect's techniques. I hope to be able to fly around like you all soon."

Song Yanqing was a little displeased, "Finish what I asked you to do first!"

Niu Youdao seemed to be acting out with youthful temper, "Senior Brother, I'm bored and agitated here. Who knows if I might accidentally let something slip one day."

Song Yanqing narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Are you threatening me?"

Niu Youdao calmly replied, "I just think that if I can fulfill my master's dying wish sooner, I can also settle down and recall those poems and lyrics written by my teacher, so I can better complete your request."

Song Yanqing couldn't help but let out a cold chuckle. He scrutinized Niu Youdao from head to toe for a long time, finding his cheap junior brother quite interesting, possessing a maturity beyond his years. He was negotiating terms with him. Then again, if what this junior brother wrote could truly help him win over his senior sister, agreeing wouldn't be impossible. What if he cultivated? He wasn't afraid this kid could shake the heavens, but the key issue was that he couldn't decide whether to let this cheap junior brother cultivate or not.

Slap! After a moment of consideration, Song Yanqing slapped Niu Youdao on the shoulder, grabbed his shoulder, and said, "Alright, it's settled then. I'll put in a good word for your cultivation; it shouldn't be a big problem. But if what you write doesn't satisfy me, I guarantee you'll have nowhere to regret it." This wasn't an empty threat. Although he couldn't make the final decision on some matters, the Song family had a significant influence on the Shangqing Sect. If he really wanted to help, Niu Youdao's cultivation wouldn't be too difficult to arrange.

After speaking, he casually pushed Niu Youdao, who fell to the ground with a loud thud, landing face-first.

By the time Niu Youdao got up, Song Yanqing had already strode away. Gritting his teeth from the pain, Niu Youdao unbuttoned his collar and looked at the shoulder that had just been squeezed. Five red and blue finger marks were left, showing that the other party had intended to teach him a lesson, nearly crushing his shoulder bone. It was swollen and painful.

All along, Niu Youdao didn't want to offend Song Yanqing and cause trouble for himself, especially after learning about Song Yanqing's background. But what was the purpose of his arduous journey to the Shangqing Sect? Having finally seized a sliver of opportunity, he naturally didn't want to miss it and couldn't help but reveal some of his capabilities and take a risk...

In the past, the Shangqing Sect had over ten thousand disciples, but now there were only a few hundred, so the residences were quite spacious.

Returning to his own courtyard, Song Yanqing eagerly entered the study, preparing his writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. He was momentarily dumbfounded when he realized he had forgotten to ask the title of the poem, so he gave it a name himself and began writing.

In the evening, Song Yanqing sought out a secluded mountain valley. Emerging from the valley, he looked up, his gaze fixed, and a smile appeared on his face.

At the foot of the mountain ahead, before two newly made graves, stood a graceful figure. It was none other than Tang Yi.

Buried within the two graves were the fellow disciples Tang Mu and Situ Haoran. The Shangqing Sect still couldn't figure out what had happened to the two, but from Tang Mu's words, they understood that the matter was not trivial. Following Tang Mu's last wishes, they kept the deaths secret, and no names were inscribed on the tombstones.

Song Yanqing guessed that Tang Yi would be here, and indeed, he straightened his attire and walked over quickly, calling out "Senior Sister," and then respectfully bowed to the two new graves.

After he finished, Tang Yi frowned, "What brings you here, Junior Brother Song?"

"The poem I wrote last time didn't impress you." Song Yanqing turned around, presented a scroll of calligraphy with both hands, and said cheerfully, "I've put a lot of effort into writing a new lyric this time. Please, Senior Sister, appreciate and guide me."

Tang Yi was somewhat impatient with his pestering. How could she not understand Song Yanqing's intentions? She had also heard about his dissolute behavior in the capital's entertainment districts. However, the current Shangqing Sect relied on the Song family, and Tang Susu had repeatedly urged her not to fall out with him and cause embarrassment for everyone, asking her to consider the bigger picture and handle it tactfully. Regardless of whether anyone had previously complained about Dongguo Haoran associating with Shang Jianbo and implicating the Shangqing Sect, the fact was that with the death of Prince Ning Shang Jianbo, the Shangqing Sect had lost its last deterrent and was now in a precarious state. They truly couldn't afford to offend the Song family.

She could only patiently accept the calligraphy from Song Yanqing and unfold it. At first, she looked casually, but upon seeing the content, her lips couldn't help but part slightly as she silently read aloud, "When the golden wind meets the jade dew, it surpasses countless encounters in the mortal world... If two hearts are meant to last, why should they care about being together day and night..." She recited it several times, her expression becoming somewhat entranced.

Song Yanqing, who was observing her reaction, was overjoyed, knowing that he had indeed moved her.

He usually didn't dare to stare rudely at her face to face. This time, however, he took the opportunity while Tang Yi was distracted to look at her closely from a distance. Her cold beauty mixed with gentleness, her fair neck like a swan's, her graceful and moving figure, and especially her transcendent, immortal aura were extremely elegant, like a pure lotus standing alone in the dust of the world. This kind of beauty was incomparable to those so-called beauties adorned in flashy clothes. It was precisely for this beauty that he was willing to stay in this wild place; otherwise, he would have long returned to the bustling capital. He wouldn't have the patience to endure the desolation of the wilderness, and the Shangqing Sect couldn't stop him if he wanted to leave.

After coming back to her senses, Tang Yi's bright eyes scanned the characters on the paper and asked, "Did you write this lyric?"

Song Yanqing felt a little guilty, but then he thought that Niu Youdao couldn't stir up any trouble. Even if it got out and that so-called fallen scholar found out, he wouldn't be able to say anything. So, he smiled and said, "My humble work has made Senior Sister laugh."

Tang Yi gave him a strange look. How could she not know what kind of person he was? It would be a miracle if he could write such a lyric. However, out of consideration for his feelings, she didn't expose him, merely nodded and praised it as a good lyric.

The two left the place, chatting along the way. After leaving the valley, they went their separate ways, with Tang Yi refusing Song Yanqing's escort.

As soon as Tang Yi turned around, she started asking people if Song Yanqing had received any new letters or anything similar. However, there was no such feedback. She only knew that Song Yanqing had gone to Peach Blossom Spring that day. Pondering the lyric, Tang Yi wondered if that prodigal son had actually written it.

Floating clouds obscured the moon.

Within Peach Blossom Spring, Niu Youdao, who was sitting cross-legged on the couch, felt his eyebrows tremble incessantly. His heart was not calm, and even more so, his body was not calm, like turbulent waves.

At this moment, the aura within his body was extremely chaotic, so much so that even he could hardly control it. The unseen forces within his internal organs and throughout his limbs seemed to have accumulated to a certain point, and his flesh and blood could no longer contain them. They churned within his body, rising and falling like rolling waves.

Boom! Finally, a violent thunderclap, as if imagined, seemed to erupt within his body, shaking his body and mind. Amidst the colliding and churning waves, a bolt of lightning seemed to be brewing. To be precise, it was a strand of True Qi!

The process of its evolution was more like a chemical reaction. Niu Youdao, with his eyes closed, showed a faint expression of excitement on his face.

He never expected it. Just like in his previous life, he was cultivating the "Taiyi" technique. In his previous life, it took him a full three years to cultivate the first strand of True Qi. Now, he had succeeded in less than two months. The spiritual energy content in this world was clearly far beyond his imagination.

This strand of True Qi was weak and slender, but as soon as it appeared, it was like a True Dragon swallowing clouds and mist, twisting nimbly in the clouds. The surrounding mist rapidly gathered towards it. In a short while, the turbulent waves within his body were all swept away and absorbed by this strand of True Qi.

After swallowing so much, the tiny being did not seem to grow at all, but it appeared more vibrant, emitting a powerful aura that was connected to Niu Youdao's flesh and blood. If he let it run wild, the aura could even seep out of his pores. This feeling of the aura permeating his flesh and blood clearly increased the vitality and strength of his physical body.

Before achieving True Qi, one only knew about practicing Qi and breathing exercises. One could not feel the flow of Qi through the meridians. Once True Qi appeared, there was a tangible substance within the body that could be truly felt, albeit gaseous. This was the origin of the so-called 'True Qi'.

With a real sensation, one could regulate and control it; otherwise, there was no way to start controlling it.

After the unruly and drastic changes within his body subsided, Niu Youdao, with his expression returning to calm, began to guide the True Qi to circulate through his meridians. He was very familiar with this process. Most people's meridians had many areas that could not be utilized to their full potential throughout their lives. They were smooth at birth, but as they grew, their lifestyle habits, such as the production of impurities, caused most areas to become blocked or semi-blocked. He intended to use his Qi to clear all the blocked areas, making it easier to circulate his Qi and control his physical body in the future. This was also a way to check if his meridian structure was suitable for cultivation.

This process was slightly painful. Having not encountered external forces for a long time, being suddenly invaded could be imagined. Wherever the True Qi went, under the pressure of clearing, a substance resembling blood impurities gradually seeped out of his pores. A faint smell of blood and a fishy odor wafted through the room.