Li Shuilong, his fellow clansman, had left the valley. He was still the same person, but his heart had turned demonic.
Would he ever rise again?
Li Shuidao didn't know. Before, there had been no hope at all. Now, at least, there was a glimmer of light.
If one day Li Shuilong achieved success in cultivation, he would surely become a demonic cultivator!
And his fellow clansman, Li Shuidao, would be the one to lead him down that path.
The Five Poisons Sect was a Demonic Sect.
Who, in the end, was whose whetstone? And who was whose guide?
Had Li Shuidao not learned solid fundamentals in the family, he could never have become a Spirit Plant Master as soon as he entered the sect, earning a status far above that of ordinary disciples.
If he had been like Li Shuilong, sent to scrub toilets the moment he joined and repeatedly bullied by his fellow disciples, he would have had no chance to get ahead without spending four or five years muddling along in the sect.
One could say that this was the fate of most family cultivators who entered a sect.
And by then, after years of wasted time, if they still wanted to gamble on the immortal path to longevity, they could only go on trials—where they would ultimately become one of countless unjustly slain souls.
He and Li Yijun were undoubtedly among the rare exceptions.
Everything stopped at propriety!
Propriety had originated as the weak's respect for the strong.
If the weak did not understand propriety, the strong would crush them with ease, leaving them dead without a place to be buried.
Li Shuidao was a weakling now. A weakling had to know his place.
Though Qin Yue'e's cultivation was only at the Spirit Channeling Realm, she was still the wife of a Spirit Refining Realm cultivator.
Setting aside ethics and propriety, he held the strong in deep reverence.
Whenever Qin Yue'e approached Li Shuidao, trying to make him her lover for a fleeting affair,
Li Shuidao always tactfully rejected her in the name of the bond between master and disciple and the proper ethical order.
At times like these, ethics and propriety, along with his moral principles, were Li Shuidao's best shields.
Such rejection...
Could cool even the warmest heart.
Gradually...
Qin Yue'e gave up on the idea as well.
Their relationship moved in the direction of master and disciple...
Li Shuidao devoted himself to cultivating the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art and the Golden Toad Qi Locking Method. Though he no longer had Qi Circulation Pills and his cultivation slowed considerably, he laid a much firmer foundation.
It wasn't that he had never considered refining pills himself. But his two internal cultivation methods, tending the Spirit Field, and raising the white cranes already consumed all his time. He simply had no energy left to refine pills on his own.
Half a year later...
In the pitch-black night...
Li Shuidao arrived at the quiet little courtyard. His master wasn't at the cave abode today, so he planned to try the final form of the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art.
The final form, Jade Toad Gazing at Moon, had to be practiced at night, beneath a bright, high-hanging moon. It was impossible to practice during the day.
He calmed his mind and steadied his breath. A gentle breeze brushed past...
The water in the courtyard's large stone vat rippled faintly.
Li Shuidao took a deep breath and slowly spread his arms. Then the Mana throughout his body began to gather.
He suddenly lay down and crossed his arms over his chest, just like the Golden Toad Embracing Carp.
Time passed, second by second...
Moonlight spilled down in a wash of silver. Night birds called, and the wind rustled through the woods.
About the time it takes an incense stick to burn...
Li Shuidao was still holding the pose. Wisps of white smoke even rose from his head, a sign that the Golden Toad Embracing Carp had reached a considerable level.
The next moment, Li Shuidao abruptly pushed himself upright.
Water Toad Dragon!
Streams of Mana and true essence unfurled, coursing through his body like swimming dragons in an endless cycle.
The water in the large stone vat began to surge and swell, as if dancing along with Li Shuidao's Mana.
Li Shuidao's gaze grew more and more solemn. He calmed his mind and breath, squatted like a toad, and raised his head to gaze at the sky.
Jade Toad Gazing at Moon!
Moonlight poured into him like the divine nectar of enlightenment, a cool force flowing down from the Baihui acupoint at his crown into his spinal marrow.
A faint layer of moonlight shone around Li Shuidao. The Mana within him seemed to be slowly transforming...
Half a year had passed.
Li Shuidao had finally mastered the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art. But this wasn't the end—only the beginning.
He had to practice the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art again and again to keep transforming his Mana and steadily increase his cultivation.
The two internal cultivation methods worked together to great effect. The only problem was that Li Shuidao lacked offensive spells.
He was lacking in attack, defense, and movement...
For now, Li Shuidao's only means of attack was still hacking away with an ordinary sword.
Now that his foundation was firm, he could find a way to obtain some spells.
Among his master's four great techniques were the Ice Jade Palm and the Taiyin Finger. But without his master's wife's help, Li Shuidao had almost no chance of learning them.
If he wanted suitable offensive and defensive arts, perhaps he could only rely on the family.
Three days later...
Li Tianliang, an elder of the Li Family, escorted his clansman Li Shuilang back to the Golden-Faced Gentleman's cave abode.
The two first met with Li Shuidao.
The moment Li Shuilang saw his fellow clansman, the floodgates opened.
"Shuidao, women! Women! Have you ever been with a woman? Holy crap! Ever since I got back, I've been at it every single day. The first month nearly drained me dry, and Xiao Cui's already showing... I'm telling you, I've even picked out my son's name..." Li Shuilang gesticulated wildly, brimming with excitement.
Li Shuidao: "..."
A moment later, the three arrived at the reception hall.
Inside the hall,
Li Shuilang held a redwood box in both hands and kowtowed to the Golden-Faced Gentleman and Qin Yue'e.
"A small gift, nothing worthy of mention. Please accept it, Master and Mistress." After speaking, Li Shuilang presented the gift box.
The Golden-Faced Gentleman took the box and gently opened it. Inside lay a pair of jade bangles.
They shimmered with Spiritual Energy and seemed to be magical artifacts.
After examining them for a moment, he smiled with satisfaction. "Shuilang, I appreciate the thought. I'll accept this gift."
The Golden-Faced Gentleman handed the jewelry to Qin Yue'e, and the two exchanged a smile.
Qin Yue'e accepted the gift and forced a smile. "Shuilang, you're such a thoughtful child. The gift is lovely. I like it very much."
Hearing his mistress praise him, Li Shuilang hurriedly bowed. "Master, Mistress, this is only a humble gift, just a token of my regard. Being able to cultivate under your protection is a dream I've had for years come true. From now on, I'll work hard at cultivation and bring honor to you both."
The Golden-Faced Gentleman nodded with a smile. "Shuilang, I can't simply accept your gift without giving something in return. Tell me, what is your Spirit Companion?"
When his master asked about his Spirit Companion, Li Shuilang instinctively glanced at Li Tianliang beside him.
Li Tianliang gave him a reassuring look.
The Golden-Faced Gentleman was a distinguished Spirit Refining Realm expert. He would never covet such a small gift from you.
"Master, my Spirit Companion is a scorpion." Li Shuilang raised both hands, and a scorpion crawled out of his sleeve, settling on his palm.
The Golden-Faced Gentleman took a pale gold cloth pouch from his waist. It was a Gu Pouch, specially made to hold poisonous insects. Though it had some spatial capacity, it could not contain a demon beast that was too large.
If a cultivator chose a large demon beast as a Spirit Companion and wanted to carry it around, they had to reach the Mustard Seed Realm.
The Golden-Faced Gentleman patted the Gu Pouch. A tiny, transparent gecko appeared on his palm.
It was a salamander!
Li Shuidao, standing in the hall as well, saw it clearly.
This world did not classify salamanders separately. They were also considered geckos, one of the Five Poisons.
"I caught this little demon insect in a cave while I was there. Take it and feed it to your scorpion," the Golden-Faced Gentleman said with a smile.
Li Shuilang looked overjoyed. "Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
"Earth nourishes metal in the Five Phases. This Spiritual Object will greatly benefit your Spirit Companion. Once your golden scorpion advances to the mid-grade, you'll possess Mana as well, and only then can you follow me in cultivating the Dao arts."
"Thank you, Master! I'll work hard at cultivation and won't disappoint you!" Li Shuilang said excitedly.
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