Opportunity

Qi WuHuo nodded quietly, then looked at what was in front of him and said, "Old man, please wait for me for a moment."

Even though there was an opportunity, he didn't rush forward immediately. Instead, he finished what he was doing first.

The minced meat given by the butcher was originally intended to be eaten only half of, with the rest stored in the cold, damp cellar of the storeroom to be eaten for two more meals later. Now, however, he took it all out. While mixing the filling, he took out the sesame oil, which was usually only added a little to dishes during the New Year, and poured it into the minced meat.

After wrapping the buns, he put them on to steam.

He then cut some vegetables, washed his hands, and sat down in front of the old man.

The old man stroked his beard and smiled, "When you carried me down the mountain back then, I told you I was here to visit a friend. Do you remember?"

Qi WuHuo nodded.

"I remember."

The old man sighed, "And now I have stayed with you for a month. It's time for me to leave."

Qi WuHuo subconsciously said, "I'll see you off."

The old man laughed heartily, "My legs and feet have already recovered. Our karmic connection has ended, and there's no need to force me to stay. I didn't tell you when I arrived, and you shouldn't see me off when I leave. That's how it should be."

"I will leave you a gift. If you cultivate diligently without rest, perhaps we will have a chance to meet again in the future when you enter the Dao."

"However, my gift is not so easily obtained."

He then stroked his beard, thought for a moment, pointed to Qi WuHuo's room, and said with a smile, "There are many scrolls in your room."

"The Yellow Millet Dream, though absurd, the books you've read are not false."

"How about this, I want to build a new Daoist temple and I'm currently short of a couplet for the entrance. If you're willing, write one for me to see."

"A couplet?"

Qi WuHuo was confused, but he still went back to his room, took out paper and brush. This brush cost about ten large coins, more expensive than a pound of pork, and yet it was the cheapest brush available. As for the white paper, it was also the cheapest kind, called [Ben Paper]. One hundred and fifty sheets cost six qian of silver. Qi WuHuo, being poor in the past, had bought some but cherished them dearly.

He searched through the paper and found the whitest and cleanest sheet. Although it was called one sheet, a sheet of paper in this era was quite large.

Qi WuHuo spread it out.

He then fetched well water, dissolved the ink, and while mixing it evenly, he organized his thoughts, picked up the brush, and dipped it in ink.

Numerous thoughts churned in his mind. He subconsciously thought of his own wondrous dream and the dream the old man had given him with that pillow. Previously, he had only been struggling to survive, but now he could see a more distant world. Looking up at the mountains and rivers, recalling the scenery he saw after becoming the Mountain God, he fell into thought and then put brush to paper.

[Daoist temple locks mist and rosy clouds]

The first stroke depicted the scenery, and then the artistic conception extended.

[Know that beyond the sky there is sky, sun and moon like shuttles empty all thoughts.]

The old man stood to the side, stroking his beard, and raised his eyes slightly, smiling, "Not bad."

"It has both scenery and the meaning of the passage of the sun and moon. Excellent."

Qi WuHuo's mind calmed down, and he put brush to paper to write the lower line.

"True Person spreads teachings and transformations."

He paused, recalling the two profound dreams, and wrote:

"First realize dreams hide within dreams, time flies like an arrow through spring and autumn."

The old man read the last line, stroking his beard and looking at the calm-faced youth.

From this couplet, he discerned Qi WuHuo's understanding and gratitude towards him. However, it seemed to be an experience from a few years ago. Even though he had many emotions in his heart, Qi WuHuo always showed very little.

Being mature beyond his years was not a blessing.

It often represented having gone through much hardship in the past.

Only then could one grow up in a short period.

The old man sighed inwardly, smiling, "Not bad, not bad."

"Although it seems a bit petty for a Daoist temple, it contains your understanding."

"The Yellow Millet Dream is all contained within it."

"It's enough to earn my gift to you."

Qi WuHuo saw no movement, but a pill bottle suddenly appeared out of thin air. It was a white porcelain bottle with a slender neck, its texture translucent, emitting a spiritual light. Just by breathing in, he smelled the aroma of the elixir, and Qi WuHuo felt his body tingle with vitality. The old man looked at the bottle of elixir and with a slight movement of his finger, he imperceptibly erased the four cloud-script characters "[First Revolution Golden Elixir]" on the bottle.

Then he smiled and said:

"This is... hmm, let me think, this is [Life-Extending Elixir]."

He uttered a simple and unadorned name, and then said:

"Your Primordial Spirit cultivation is too high, far exceeding your Qi and Essence. When cultivating, no matter how restrained you are, your Primordial Spirit will gradually improve. Even with methods to temper your Qi and Essence, and diligent effort, it would take decades to achieve Complete Three Talents. If you wish to travel the world and observe all things, it is still insufficient."

"This medicine was refined by me personally. Its properties are mild."

"There are fifty pills in total."

"One pill can extend your life by one year, adding fifty years to your lifespan, which is enough for you to refine Primordial Prenatal Qi."

"By then, your Primordial Spirit, Qi, and Essence will all be nurtured to an extremely strong level. Once you step into Primordial Prenatal Qi, your foundation will be extremely solid."

"If fate allows, we will meet again then."

Qi WuHuo paused. "Fifty years of life extension?"

The old man smiled and replied, "Yes, and there's no more if you think it's too little."

"If you have another fortuitous encounter and break through early, that would be best, and you can still keep this medicine."

"You can take it yourself or give it to someone else, as you please."

"This elixir is not merely for extending life; its effect is unrelated to one's cultivation realm."

"Primordial Prenatal Qi can extend life, and so can a True Person in the mortal world."

"Even a celestial official whose lifespan has ended can have it extended."

The old man's tone was light and effortless.

In an instant, Qi WuHuo understood the preciousness of this gift.

The Three-Legged Cauldron, a treasured item the Mountain God prided himself on, could refine the Qi of the mountains. The Spiritual Liquid it produced had the effect of extending life by one year. Its primary purpose was to repair hidden injuries in the body and replenish Qi, and its life-extending effect could not be stacked. In other words, this Spiritual Liquid and spiritual fruits extended postnatal lifespan.

However, the elixir in the old man's hand likely extended heavenly lifespan.

Even when reaching the limit of one's lifespan, taking a single elixir could grant another year of life.

Dividing the elixir into its current form was likely because the old man felt that no matter how Qi WuHuo indulged himself, he would cultivate the orthodox Mystic Gate and Primordial Prenatal Qi within fifty years. If he didn't need this elixir, he could pass it on to others. Those True Persons nearing the end of their lives would certainly not be stingy, offering a major inheritance, or even a magical treasure or elixir, in exchange for this elixir that could extend heavenly lifespan.

Therefore, this fated encounter should be—

To extend your heavenly lifespan by fifty years.

Or, fifty instances of karmic connection sufficient to forge a deep relationship with a True Person.

Anyone possessing this elixir could enter a major Daoist sect in the mortal world simply by visiting their mountain.

With ten elixirs, one could receive the ancestral teachings of a Mystic Gate orthodox sect. And if all of these were given to a True Person, as long as their talent wasn't so low as to be beyond saving, a realm of Primordial Prenatal Qi would be guaranteed. Even if they were completely untalented, it could ensure a lifetime of wealth and establish a foundation for Earthly Deities for three to five hundred years after death.

Extending heavenly lifespan without any realm restriction.

It was overwhelmingly powerful.

And the old man before him had given it away so casually.

Qi WuHuo said, "I... This gift is too precious. How can I accept it?"

The old man stroked his beard and chuckled, "It's nothing, it's nothing. Consider it payment for this month's meals."

Qi WuHuo did not reach out to take it, but softly asked, "Does the old man dislike this couplet?"

The old man chuckled wryly, "It's not that I dislike it, it's just that for me, it's still not quite enough."

"It's good, of course, but it emphasizes one's own understanding. It's still somewhat lacking in terms of ethereal immortal energy."

"But that's normal. You've only been cultivating for a little over a month, and to have such insight, to see through the reality of this dream, is enough to earn my gift. Just keep it well."

"Then I won't accept it for now."

"I'll try writing another one. Though this isn't something I wrote myself; I heard it once."

Qi WuHuo took a step back, cupped his hands, then unrolled the scroll he had just written, took out fresh paper, and dipped his brush in ink.

He remembered a passage he had seen in a dream he'd had since he was young.

The old man chuckled. He knew this child's personality well.

He must be determined to write a couplet that would satisfy himself, right?

His disposition was a bit too serious. The old man didn't mind this; in fact, he quite appreciated such a temperament. However, he wasn't sure if this child could write something that would satisfy him.

This [Life-Extending Elixir], or perhaps it should be called the [First Revolution Golden Elixir].

While it wasn't much among his collection, releasing it would still be a great opportunity.

The fated encounter was complete.

Unless he could exceed his expectations, he wouldn't give anything else, no matter what.

He would never go back on his word.

At this moment, with a hint of amusement, as if watching a junior sulk a little, he leaned in, curious to see what he would write.

This time, Qi WuHuo's brushstrokes were sharper and more unrestrained.

When the old man saw the words already written, the smile on his face slightly subsided.

By the time he finished the first line, the playful expression was gone from his face, and he slowly read aloud:

"White Jade Capital in the Heavens, Twelve Towers and Five Cities."

"An immortal strokes my crown."

"Tie hair and receive longevity..."

It was plain, simple, and filled with a natural immortal aura.

It washed over him.

The old man's movements paused, and he sighed inwardly.

...A miscalculation.