Never Seen Anyone So Shameless

The process of opening up meridians was slow. At this time, the meridians had not been formally utilized, their foundations were fragile, and they couldn't withstand forceful, violent flushing. They required a period of adaptation. It was like a low-quality water pipe that would easily burst if subjected to high pressure.

The meridians through which Qi flowed within the body were the foundation of True Qi cultivation. There was a saying in cultivation called 'Foundation Establishment.' This so-called Foundation Establishment was essentially about building a strong, web-like network of Qi meridians within the body, allowing the internal True Qi conduits to handle high pressure and withstand high-speed impacts. Once this foundation was laid, one would reach the so-called 'Foundation Establishment' realm and could then unleash their abilities. Of course, the quality of the foundation also varied. The better the foundation, the greater the pressure resistance.

He had only recently started in the Qi Cultivation realm, and was still far from the Foundation Establishment realm.

The process of clearing the meridians wouldn't be completed in just a day or two. This was meticulous work that required a certain amount of time, not to mention that he still had to show his face and play along during the day.

As dawn broke, he immediately ceased his practice, drawing a wisp of True Qi back into his Dantian. It was like a hovering, upright treasured sword, poised to strike, its Qi fully charged.

After washing up and bathing, he removed the smell of blood. Standing in the courtyard, he spread his arms to welcome the first rays of sunlight. His True Qi had been cultivated, and he felt the long-lost sensation of his body being filled with vital energy.

He dealt with Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo during the day. As soon as night fell, he temporarily set aside other cultivation and immediately entered the state of clearing his meridians.

The days passed one by one. It seemed no one was focusing their main energy on him, and he felt as if he were in a forgotten corner.

However, Song Yanqing often thought of him, visiting every few days to ask if he had memorized his teacher's poems. Niu Youdao naturally responded with evasive answers, not showing his hand until he saw results.

A few days later, Elder Luo Yuangong arrived. This man was a Transmission Elder of the Shangqing Sect, possessing a robust and imposing presence. With three strands of ink-black long whiskers, he exuded an aura of natural authority. In comparison, Elder Su Po appeared taciturn and spoke little in the impression of the Shangqing Sect disciples, while Elder Tang Susu seemed rather sharp, perhaps due to her gender.

Song Yanqing also came along. There was no other business for the group; it was to formally impart cultivation techniques to Niu Youdao. Luo Yuangong's presence was merely a small ceremony.

Even so, Niu Youdao greatly admired Song Yanqing's capabilities. The fact that he could get Luo Yuangong to come demonstrated the Song family's influence within the Shangqing Sect.

There was also a statue of the sect's ancestor in Peach Blossom Hall. After paying respects to the ancestor, Luo Yuangong ordered the accompanying disciples to hand several scriptures to Niu Youdao. He then made Niu Youdao kneel before the ancestor and swear a poisonous oath not to leak the cultivation techniques.

After the ceremony concluded, Luo Yuangong looked at Niu Youdao with a rather complex expression. He knew the inner reasons best; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he felt a sense of guilt, especially when facing the ancestor's statue. After a moment of hesitation, his stern demeanor softened, and he gently admonished, "My Senior Brother had quite discerning eyes; the disciples he took on were all outstanding talents. Your master was one of them, a rare prodigy for the Shangqing Sect in recent years. I hope you cultivate diligently and do not betray your master's dying wishes. May your achievements be great, and may you contribute to the future of our Shangqing Sect."

"Yes, this disciple remembers!" Niu Youdao, holding the scriptures, bowed respectfully, though inwardly he was ecstatic, eager to flip through the scriptures in his hands and devour them.

Luo Yuangong then turned to Song Yanqing and said, "Fellow disciples should help each other. Your Uncle Dongguo has passed away, and Niu Youdao has no one to teach him cultivation techniques. Guiding him and answering his questions in his cultivation will be your responsibility. Do you have any complaints?"

Song Yanqing immediately cupped his hands and replied, "No complaints. This disciple will do his utmost!"

Luo Yuangong nodded, then wandered around Peach Blossom Spring for a while. Perhaps it was due to lamenting Dongguo Haoran's early demise, he let out a few sighs and left with a melancholic expression.

Once the outsiders were gone, Niu Youdao immediately began eagerly poring over the scriptures, his eyes shining. After all the hardships, this was what he had come for.

One was the "Shangqing Heart Sutra," the orthodox cultivation technique of the Shangqing Sect.

Another was the "Shangqing Supplementary Records," which was all-encompassing and divided into several chapters, including the Herbal Medicine Chapter, Pill Chapter, Birds and Beasts Chapter, External Affairs Chapter, and so on. The so-called External Affairs Chapter recorded the deeds of figures in the cultivation world. Niu Youdao briefly flipped through it and could tell from the recording dates that it was continuously being updated and added to.

The "Shangqing Supplementary Records" was exactly what Niu Youdao needed. It would be of great help in understanding the current situation. However, he only skimmed through it for now and set it aside. His main focus was on the "Shangqing Heart Sutra," which was what he urgently needed.

As he began to read, he became engrossed. In his previous life, to cultivate the "Taiyi," he had consulted countless ancient texts and visited many masters for clarification before he could fully comprehend the "Taiyi" scriptures. The knowledge he had accumulated played a role in his current interpretation of the "Shangqing Supplementary Records," making it not difficult to understand, but rather quite enjoyable.

He knew that the Shangqing Sect must still have some methods that they hadn't taught him, and they wouldn't give him everything at once. He had no complaints; he understood the principle of taking things step by step and not biting off more than he could chew. What he had was enough for him to study for a long time.

The next day, Song Yanqing came again, looking for poems. His promise to Luo Yuangong was as if it were nothing. Niu Youdao, holding the "Shangqing Heart Sutra," asked about the meaning of a certain passage, but the other party had no patience to explain. In short, he had given Niu Youdao what he promised, and Niu Youdao had to give him what he promised!

"You bastard!" Niu Youdao cursed him silently in his mind. He ground ink, picked up his brush, and wrote another poem for him.

Song Yanqing was overjoyed after reading it and exclaimed, "Do you have any more?"

Niu Youdao put on a pained expression. "I can only think of one for now!" He couldn't possibly give it all away and leave himself with no fallback.

"Just one?" Song Yanqing's face fell.

Niu Youdao said, "Senior Brother, my memory isn't very good. You have to allow me some time to think! What does this passage mean?" He then held up the "Shangqing Heart Sutra" again to ask for clarification.

Song Yanqing impatiently replied, "If you don't understand something, go ask Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo. Don't neglect the important matters I've assigned you, or don't blame me for being impolite." He uttered the threat and turned to leave.

As he said, Niu Youdao went to ask Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo about the parts he didn't understand in the "Shangqing Heart Sutra." It wasn't that his previous life's knowledge was useless, but rather that the customs of the two worlds were somewhat different, and there were indeed some points that were still unclear and required clarification.

Thus, he studied the scriptures during the day and focused on cultivation at night, continuing to clear his meridians.

While clearing his meridians, he discovered another problem. The problem left by Dongguo Haoran within his body, the Protective Talisman embedded in his acupoints, was like a spiderweb, coiling within the acupoints. His current cultivation was insufficient to remove it. He tried forcefully, but the Protective Talisman seemed like a grand formation, already connected to his blood essence. Forcible removal would trigger a backlash. His Taiyi True Qi was too weak in comparison, and it was directly repelled.

With the Protective Talisman coiled like this, it somewhat affected the circulation of his True Qi. Now that he had cultivated True Qi, he could trigger it and release it. However, considering that the item did indeed have a protective effect, he decided not to waste it and kept it for protection, as it had no drawbacks.

"Enter my door of longing, know my suffering of longing. Longing for you, I remember you always; short longing, endless..."

In the quiet courtyard, Tang Yi strolled along, holding Song Yanqing's calligraphy. She recited softly, and when moved, she held it to her chest and savored it for a long time.

She then asked people to inquire about Song Yanqing's whereabouts. There was still no sign of Song Yanqing receiving any external letters; instead, he had gone to Peach Blossom Spring again.

Niu Youdao was engrossed in cultivation, Song Yanqing disturbed him every few days, and Tang Yi received Song Yanqing's excellent works every few days.

"What is love in this world, that it makes life and death pledges..." Tang Yi strolled in the courtyard.

"Having seen the vast ocean, nothing else is water; except for Wushan, no other cloud..." Tang Yi stood before her dressing table.

"Guan guan goos goos, on the river islet. Fair and lovely lady, a gentleman's good match..." Tang Yi leaned against the windowsill.

"Amidst fallen flowers, I stand alone; in the light rain, swallows fly in pairs..." Tang Yi stood on the small building, slowly putting down the paper in her hand, her bright eyes gazing at Peach Blossom Spring on the opposite cliff.

If she hadn't known Song Yanqing's background, she would have been almost fooled by him. He sent a good poem every few days, all of them love poems. The offensive was too fierce, enough to stir the heart, making her heart flutter, and she was almost overwhelmed.

She had figured out the pattern: whenever Song Yanqing went to Peach Blossom Spring, he would send a good poem.

Who was in Peach Blossom Spring? Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo were on duty, and they missed seeing Song Yanqing, who went there frequently. This left only the person under house arrest.

But she couldn't figure it out. Even if a country boy had read books and could write poetry, how old was he to be able to write these love poems?

If not, then who wrote them? Song Yanqing himself? Impossible. If he truly had such talent, why wouldn't he have revealed it until now?

She vaguely suspected that Niu Youdao had heard them from somewhere. But if he had heard them, why didn't he just write them all out at once? Why did he make Song Yanqing go there every few days?

There were too many doubts, and this matter troubled her like a dense fog...

"Senior Brother Song, take care!"

Niu Youdao cupped his fists in farewell. After watching Song Yanqing leave the courtyard, he muttered, "I've seen shameless people, but never one as shameless as him. He just won't quit... Ah, Senior Brother Chen!" He saw Chen Guishuo walking in with a cheerful grin.

Chen Guishuo glanced at the food container placed to the side and said with a sigh, "Senior Brother Song has been really good to our junior brother lately, always bringing him food and wine himself."

Niu Youdao felt both annoyed and amused. Song Yanqing's fawning probably meant he had won Tang Yi's favor.

Putting that aside, Niu Youdao followed their usual routine, picking up the food container and opening it to share with Chen Guishuo. The two of them drank and chatted, already quite familiar with each other.

As for other matters, Niu Youdao didn't care about them for the moment. All the meridians in his body had been unblocked, and he discovered his cultivation aptitude was quite good, filling him with joy. He poured all his energy into cultivating the "Shangqing Heart Sutra."

As he practiced, he encountered another problem. He wasn't sure if he was mistaken, but the "Shangqing Heart Sutra" he had painstakingly obtained for cultivation seemed to be less effective than the progress he made with "Taiyi." And the difference in progress was more than just a little.