Apprenticeship

Strictly speaking, this is Li Fan's fifth year since he transmigrated to this other world.

Startled, Li Fan quickly flew to Lou Guandao Pagoda to check the situation. The Old Taoist at Lou Guan were also taken aback by him.

One year to Golden Core, one year to Nascent Soul Stage, and three years to stabilize one's cultivation level—wow! That's terrifying!

For the natives, Qingyue, Dao Seed, was already advancing at an inhuman speed.

But even though he slept for three years, Li Fan still felt a little cheated. The most obvious thing about it was his monthly salary, because he hadn't received his Golden Core salary for almost four years, and he only received 480 guan in one go.

Now that his Dao certificate has been updated to Nascent Soul Stage True Person, he no longer receives Divine Astral Coin. Instead, according to the old system of the Three Realms, cultivators at the True Person realm receive a monthly stipend of two thousand shi of grain, consisting of five grains. Whether it is rice, wheat, or millet depends on the produce of each country and region. In the Li Country, it is rice.

Five years ago, the price of rice was fifty coins per shi (a unit of dry measure), and a Nascent Soul Nascent Soul Stage's monthly salary was only one hundred guan (another unit of dry measure). However, five years later, due to the escalating war in the north and the turmoil throughout the Central Plains, the Li Country's grain not only had to supply the army but was also being snapped up by foreign merchants. Local businesses were engaging in rampant speculation, the weather was becoming increasingly severe with signs of drought, and there were also a series of problems such as the proliferation of counterfeit and inferior Divine Astral Coin. As a result, the price of rice has now soared to two thousand coins per shi!

Yes, one string of cash used to buy twenty bushels of grain, but now it can only buy five bushels!

Therefore, with this conversion, Nascent Soul Stage cultivator's monthly salary would be two thousand strings of cash! And that's not all! This is just the base salary!

Cultivators who reach the Nascent Soul Stage naturally receive important positions and are courted by their sects, most typically by being granted the title of Guardian True Person. Therefore, Guardian True Persons also receive additional offerings from their territory. These offerings generally include Heavenly Treasure, the production of various grains and silk crops, not to mention the filial piety shown to protect local powerful families and guide their descendants to enlightenment. Thus, a Guardian True Person is essentially a super-landlord. However, with his two powerful backers, the Abbot and the Supervisor, absent, Li Fan cannot yet obtain the title of Guardian True Person.

In short, this one nap cost him at least 100,000 strings of cash! Li Fan really wanted to lie on the ground in a miserable position...

Of course, this was just a thought, because in reality he had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm, so there was nothing to be pretentious about. If we're talking about who's miserable in this world, he's far from being among the most pitiful.

"After the alliance meeting at the Peach Immortal Palace, the two major sects of Xuanmen and Xiangong decided to devote all the strength of the Central Plains to sending troops to attack the Divine Sect."

Currently, seven armies have invaded Kun Country to fight against the Divine Cult. Two of them have come from Li Country: one led by Crown Prince Nangong Wushuang, and the other led by Grand Commandant Wang E of Li Country, to flank the Divine Cult from the south.

The Immortal Palace's Three Enclosures mobilized the four armies of Xun, Zhen, the Western Guard, and the Thunder Department, sending a massive army sweeping across the land from the east towards Kun Country. Although they didn't have many experts, the Western Guard consisted of the four major Imperial Guards, the Thunder Department was composed of battle-hardened elites, the Xun and Zhen kingdoms were also very powerful, and there were local accomplices in Kun Country. The Three Enclosures had been preparing for this for two years before making their move, and this time they were serious.

The main force of the Xuanmen sect is on the northern border of the Dui Country, engaging in a magical duel with the Sect Leader the Divine Sect. That is the most dangerous main battlefield, where experts gather. It is said that seven or eight of the Ten Absolute Divine Lords have come, and the leaders of the Nine Great Xuan Sects have also assembled a large group. Lou Guan, along with many Nascent Soul Stage experts led by Guanzhu Feng, has also gone to assist. The outcome of this campaign against the Kun Country will likely depend on whether this battle can produce a victor.

No one knows for sure who will win among the Three Great Sects. But the burden on the people of the Central Plains is already heavy to support the seven armies. The Southern Country has enjoyed peace for a long time, and the people are barely able to feed themselves. In the North, bandits have risen up everywhere, and demons have emerged.

Inside the Heavenly Clothes, Xu Ziqing gossiped with Li Fan about the current political situation while showing him the account book. "Rice prices have been rising daily these past two years. I took it upon myself to convert all the money from the trade into grain and store it in Shatang Village. If you wish to withdraw it..."

Li Fan shook his head. "Let them use it. I don't lack a few bushels of grain. If they can't hold out in Li Country, why not have them migrate to Ink Bamboo Mountain? I heard that Bamboo Mountain is recruiting refugees for construction."

Xu Ziqing knew more about this matter. "Arrangements are already being made. Heavenly Craft Peak has recruited many apprentices, and Liu Qing from Tianmen Peak is leading the Southern Faction to organize refugees to clear the land. Our followers have also been spreading the word, persuading people to come and seek refuge. However, firstly, it's hard to leave their homeland, and secondly, with the chaos of war outside, too many refugees gathering might attract the attention of the government, leading to them being treated as bandits and suppressed. Besides, the road into the mountains is too difficult to travel. We can only have Yuan Houzi protect them and proceed slowly, one group at a time..."

"By the way, Master, shouldn't you get yourself a new set of clothes? You've reached the Nascent Soul Realm now, your attire should change too, for good luck, you know. Look at this Purple Sash Immortal Clothes, it's the latest style..."

"Great! What can I buy with 480 strings of cash? I'll take one item."

So Li Fan changed into a pair of straw sandals and left the Heavenly Clothes...

Well, these are Nascent Soul Stage level straw sandals, at least they're sturdy and durable...

Unexpectedly, upon waking, the peaceful and prosperous era vanished like smoke, and the Three Great Sects were once again locked in a bloody battle. After centuries of recuperation, it seemed this time a major war was imminent, and it wouldn't stop until rivers of blood flowed and corpses littered the fields. The fact that Kun Country had been chosen as the battlefield was truly tragic; who knew how many immortals would perish, or how many ordinary people would suffer the ravages of war...

Li Fan was wandering the streets in a daze when he suddenly sensed a trace of demonic energy and immediately became alert.

Could it be that another monster has infiltrated and caused trouble while the Three Great Sects of the Central Plains are locked in a fierce battle and Ink Bamboo Mountain is vulnerable?

So he used his stealth ability to rush towards the location of the demonic aura, but when he looked down, he was taken aback.

There were three little foxes playing in a garden. One was white, one was yellow, and one was red. They all wore jade ornaments around their necks to conceal their demonic aura. However, the white fox's jade ornament was knocked off during the game, and Li Fan noticed the slight demonic aura that leaked out. The fox was completely unaware of this and was happily jumping and playing in the snow.

Foxes... Where did so many foxes come from in Ink Bamboo Mountain? They're probably kept by the Yan family.

Li Fan swept his hand up, grabbing the three fox cubs by their necks and lifting them up. He then flicked his finger to take the jade talisman in his hand and examined it. Sure enough, the magic power within the talisman seemed familiar, and upon closer inspection, the level of skill in crafting and refining was indeed quite high. He only wondered how it concealed the demonic aura.

But Li Fan only took a tentative look before the talisman inside the jade immediately activated, probably signaling an alarm.

It seems that although Brother Yan did not pass down his swordsmanship, he must have carefully taught his daughter the basics of the Five Arts of the Xuanmen.

"Fellow Daoist! These children... are my pet spirits! I was careless in watching them, please do not harm them!"

Li Fan stood there and waited for a while, and Madam Yan caught up with him.

She was extremely nervous at the moment, wearing only a thin garment, her makeup was undone, and she was even barefoot. A strand of hair was stuck to her face, and there was some drool at the corner of her mouth. She had probably just dozed off on the shore and then ran out. Her neckline was open, revealing her full and round breasts wrapped in a silk bodice.

Li Fan was taken aback.

"Fellow Daoist! True Immortal! Please be merciful and return my little pet. Whatever you ask, I, Yan Niang, will do!" The fox was truly anxious, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, looking as if she was about to cry. She stared nervously at the cub in Li Fan's hand, trembling all over, making her graceful figure appear even more exquisite.

"Ahem, so it's Madam Yan's spirit pet. It was a misunderstanding. My apologies." Li Fan could vaguely see the fleshy color of her plump thighs under her skirt, so he quickly looked away and used a gentle breeze to send the fox cub back into Madam Yan's arms.

"Thank you! Thank you so much for your kindness!" Madam Yan breathed a sigh of relief, her body relaxed instantly, and she hugged her three children to her chest, almost collapsing.

That explains the fear; if you really encounter some unreasonable people, you'll skin them alive...

Li Fan looked at the jade pendant in his hand. "Madam Yan, how do you conceal demonic energy with this jade Magic Treasure?"

"This is a small matter. This is my family's 'Guide to Ordinary True Qi Refining,' which is how Yan Niang improved the talismans. I wish to offer it to the True Immortal."

Li Fan was embarrassed; it seemed he had truly frightened Madam Yan, who had directly offered up her family's secret Cultivation Method. But "Guide to Ordinary True Qi Refining"? Didn't that name sound familiar?

Out of curiosity, Li Fan scanned the jade slip given to him by Madam Yan with his Divine Sense and understood it after reading it once.

This is clearly the "<Ordinary True Essence Sword Transformation Guide>" from the Outer Sect of the Beichen Sword Sect, only it has obviously been modified by Brother Yan. Because the meridian structure of demons is slightly different from that of humans, even though they are both five elements of true qi, their composition will be slightly different, with more impurities, and some even have a certain smell, so the difference can be seen immediately.

Moreover, it's not just demonic creatures; even rogue cultivators with poor Cultivation Method and aptitude, or those with hidden injuries or hidden dangers, will produce true qi that is impure and biased, not much better than demonic qi. Therefore, one can tell whether someone is True Cultivator from a righteous sect by simply looking at the purity of their true qi.

However, the "Cultivation Method to <Ordinary True Essence Sword Transformation Guide>" has a unique feature: it can refine the impure true qi of scattered cultivators into pure sword qi, just like forging a sword with qi.

The revised version of the <Guide to Ordinary True Qi Refining> by the Yan family is an upgrade and improvement based on the original by Yan Xingyun. Its purpose and function are very clear: to refine the more impure and inferior demonic energy into pure Dao Breath! Of course, he completely deleted and modified the part about sword energy, focusing on pure Dao Breath, but it is already quite remarkable!

No wonder Madam Yan's true energy was so pure that not a trace of demonic energy could be detected!

These three little ones are too young now. Hopefully, they'll be able to follow the right path when they cultivate this method in the future.

It has to be said, Brother Yan really went to great lengths for this family of demons, actually managing to carve out a major path for the Demon Race...

"The Yan family's traditions are truly remarkable, Qingyue is impressed..." Li Fan couldn't help but sigh, such comprehension, what a pity, Brother Yan...

"Qingyue? Is that Master Li from Qingyue Creek?" Madam Yan finally remembered Li Fan. "So it's you! Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master."

Li Fan smiled and said, "Does Madam still remember me?"

"Ah, yes, back when we ran the restaurant, Kun from your estate would come for a meal once a week. Sometimes he'd come with Chen Xiaomei, and sometimes he'd ride his leopard. The money was all on credit in your name... no, but Chen Xiaomei paid it all off before she left the mountain to train."

Li Fan was speechless for a moment, "... Why is Madam Yan's restaurant closed?"

Madam Yan smiled wryly, "Yan Niang just wants to find a place to live in seclusion. Being out in public is just too attention-grabbing... Ah!"

Only then did she realize that she had run outside with her clothes disheveled and her breasts half-exposed. She blushed with embarrassment, hugged her three cubs to cover her ample bosom, buried half her face in her fluffy tail, and peeked at Li Fan, saying, "This is so, so incredibly rude!"

"Ahem, I apologize for disturbing your rest, Madam. I was merely curious and had no intention of taking anything from your home. Please leave now, lest you catch a cold." Li Fan handed the jade pendant and jade slip back to Madam Yan.

"Thank you so much..." As Madam Yan reached out to take the things back, her slender fingers accidentally brushed against Li Fan's palm. His skin was as smooth as mutton fat, warm but not greasy, and her cheeks were flushed with a Phoebe blush, like a lotus petal on jade. Her voice was as intoxicating as warm wine. "Madam Yan will take her leave now."

Li Fan nodded, watching the beautiful woman with red ears flee the scene of the incident, and only after a long while did he swallow hard.

It may be presumptuous of me to say this, but this fox spirit is truly extraordinary. Every gesture and movement she makes is naturally captivating and alluring. When it comes to using her to warm the bed, how can the Emei God, who has killed countless people and has blood on his hands, compare?

Who knows, Brother Yan might actually be a secretly brilliant person...

And it turns out Madam Yan is quite well-endowed! Her size must be at least a D cup, right? I wonder if she's still breastfeeding, cough cough cough!

Li Fan! You should know shame, Li Fan! Our sect is still fighting a bloody battle! The common people are still suffering! How can you be so greedy for worldly pleasures and infatuated with beautiful women! If you slip up and end up in a 404-indexed state, you will be doomed forever!

Li Fan took a deep breath, calming his restless Dao body and Dao heart.

Kun Country is too far away, and Li Fan powerless to fight the war Three Great Sects. Moreover, there are definitely opposing forces involved. Right now, he has only just stabilized his realm, and his main priority is to prepare to Moon Worship and officially begin his cultivation with the Mo Shan lineage.

So Li Fan flew to Bamboo Mountain, found a spiritual vein, set up a magic array, and arranged the Revered Heavenly Demon of the Thousand-Faced Immortal. He then took out a futon and waited for nightfall.

Although Li Fan's mind would occasionally conjure up images of Madam Yan's delicate and graceful body, radiating warm female hormones, while he meditated, it wasn't that there was a problem with Li Fan's Dao heart. It was mainly because he had a photographic memory, and he had been holding back for three years!

In short, forget about Madam Yan! She's just a pretty face and a skeleton! Go find the Mountain Lord! Exploring the Great Dao of the Primordial Universe is the real business! Moon Worship!

After a gust of black wind, Li Fan opened his eyes.

Before them stood an elegant pavilion with an architectural style similar to that Ink Bamboo Mountain Grotto-Heaven. In the courtyard, a blood pool had been carved out, and the mountain lord was bathing in the pool with four beauties.

Li Fan: "... Disciple Qingyue greets Master."

"Oh, Qingyue, you're here! Come down and join us. Whichever one you like, take it."

The mountain lord chuckled and waved his hand. The four beauties rose from the blood and smiled as they displayed their beautiful figures to Li Fan.

"... This disciple dares not." Li Fan bowed deeply on the spot.

He wasn't being polite, nor was he pretending; he genuinely didn't dare.

Although these four beauties were exceptionally beautiful and had stunningly tall figures, they were missing a pair of eyes, leaving only two bloody holes with the flesh of their eyes twitching. They deserve at least a deduction of 10 points!

Moreover, he only glanced at it, and the alarm for 'my mood has dropped a little' immediately popped up. Even if he looked down and didn't look, his mood kept plummeting, which was completely different from what Gui Xu Nascent Soul had said!

Okay, it's not that he practiced a fake Gui Xu Nascent Soul, but rather that there's absolutely no baleful energy in this world. What's going on? Could it be that he's still in the Taiji Realm? Or is the Mountain Lord too powerful, and he's been affected?

"Heh, you used to be such an open and honest person, how come you've learned so many pointless rules in such a short time? How boring." The mountain lord waved his hand. "If you don't want to, then forget it. You're a born Dao Seed, no need for me to keep telling you. The Mo Mountain's inheritance is all written outside, go learn it yourself, let's do our own thing! Hahaha!"

He beckoned, and the four beauties laughed and rushed into his arms. The five of them tumbled and sank into the pool of blood.

"Thank you, Master, for transmitting the Dharma!"

Li Fan was covered in cold sweat. He lay on the ground and spun around for a while before raising his head to look outside the courtyard.

The first thing that catches the eye is a centipede.

Because this centipede was so enormous, at least a thousand feet long, with a red back, black legs, green teeth, and a black head, its head and tail joined together, it perched atop a ring-shaped mountain range surrounding the Immortal Pavilion, as if the mountaintop had grown a layer of crimson iron armor. Each segment of the centipede's carapace was densely covered with scriptures and incantations, probably each segment being a copy of the Tai Su Cultivation Method of Ink Mountain.

Looking further up, wait a minute? This scene seems a little familiar...

It was a vast, dark, and desolate sky, without a single star in sight, except for a huge blue moon that illuminated the entire heavens as if it were daytime...

"Holy shit..."

Li Fan's mood dipped slightly.

That looks like Earth.