At dawn, the morning mist in Green Forest Town had not yet dissipated, lingering on the ancient town's bluestone streets, as if temporarily isolating this mortal land from the vast world of cultivation.
The restaurant's wooden door opened earlier than usual, Old Jiang used a clean new cloth to repeatedly wipe the old wooden table that bore witness to the past year.
The wood grain revealed a deep, understated luster as he carefully stroked it.
Today is a special day; it's the day his granddaughter, Jiang Tingting, formally becomes his apprentice, a chance that might change the fate of the Jiang Family.
Soft, light sounds came from inside. Little Tingting was wearing a light blue cloth dress that her grandfather had altered and washed clean overnight.
The carefully trimmed new fabric edges on the collar and cuffs made her look like a new bud unfurling in the morning dew, exuding a natural and delicate charm.
"Grandpa, will Master like me dressed like this?"
The girl tilted her head towards the old bronze mirror of the Jiang Family, whose edges were already somewhat rusted. Although the mirror was no longer bright, it still clearly reflected the expectation and a hint of nervousness that flickered in her clear eyes.
"Yes, it will, it definitely will."
Old Jiang put down the cloth, and a kind and solemn smile spread across the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
"Although Mr. Li looks young, he is a truly capable and wise man. It is a great blessing for you that he values you."
Seeing how thoughtful and considerate you are, he will definitely be very pleased.
He turned around and brought over a bowl of perfectly cooked Linggu porridge from the still-warm stove.
The rice flour was left by Li Qingshan the day before. The unique fragrance it emitted while cooking made this simple eatery seem full of vitality. He knew that this stuff would be very good for his granddaughter.
Just then, the hazy morning mist was silently parted by a steady figure.
Li Qingshan arrived through the mist, carrying a seemingly simple wooden box. His black robe shimmered with a faint Daoist aura in the dim morning light, and the Sun Mark condensed from golden lightning power on the hem of his robe was faintly visible.
This is both a commemoration of his recent tribulation and his struggle against the Emperor's Shadow, and a testament to the solemnity with which he takes today's apprenticeship ceremony.
His steps were unusually steady today, and his aura was harmonious and restrained. The moment he stepped into the restaurant, it was as if he had quietly incorporated the rules of this small world into himself.
"Mr. Li, you've arrived!"
Old Jiang hurriedly greeted him, his tone filled with heartfelt respect, even a hint of the natural restraint one feels when facing an extraordinary being.
Li Qingshan nodded, his gaze passing over the old man and landing on the small figure in the light blue dress. A gentle smile curved his lips, " Tingting very energetic today."
Two blushes rose on the girl's cheeks. Following her grandfather's repeated instructions from the previous day, she stepped forward, tilted her head back, and called out in a clear and earnest voice, "Master."
The call was particularly clear in the damp morning air, as if some kind of vow that transcended the boundaries between the mundane and the spiritual realm was quietly being made.
Li Qingshan's mind stirred slightly.
He knew that from this moment on, he had taken on not just a simple master-disciple relationship, but also the heavy responsibility of guiding the rare Taiyin Physique onto the path of cultivation.
This concerns the continuation of a life, and also the confirmation of one's own understanding of the Union with the Dao Yin-Yang.
He placed the wooden box on the spotless table. The lid opened, revealing two objects exuding an extraordinary aura, displayed quietly on a dark red velvet cloth:
A jade pendant that is pure white and seems to have moonlight flowing inside, and a jade plaque with a bluish hue and ancient and intricate patterns engraved on its surface.
"Today, in this ordinary eatery, we are holding a ceremony to formally accept an apprenticeship."
Li Qingshan's voice was not loud, but it was as steady as a bell, carrying a strange Daoist resonance that clearly entered the hearts of the two people present. "Although there is no incense table to offer sacrifices to the heavens, and no elders of the sect to witness it, I, Li Qingshan, hereby accept Jiang Tingting as my disciple. From this day forward, I will impart all my knowledge of the true methods of cultivation to her and protect her on her path."
Upon hearing this, Old Jiang's eyes welled up with tears, and he quickly pulled Xiao Tingting to the table.
Although the old man did not understand the complicated rituals of the spiritual world, he knew that "taking a master" was a very important matter.
He immediately knelt down, wanting Tingting to perform the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows.
Although young, Tingting could see her grandfather's seriousness. She awkwardly but earnestly bent her knees, her small body trembling slightly from the effort, but without the slightest hesitation.
Li Qingshan stood in front of the table and did not stop them.
Looking at the small figure before him with such a devout expression, a warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he felt the purest entrustment and trust.
After they finished their third kowtow, he slowly raised his hand, and a gentle divine force supported their bodies. " Tingting, it's enough that your heart is there."
These three kowtows are your respect for the teachings of your teacher, and also my promise to carry on this tradition.
He first took out the lustrous white jade pendant and handed it to the girl's small palm. "This is the Mysterious Yin Origin-Nourishing Pendant. It is made from the essence of cold jade that I obtained from Kunlun Immortal Mountain, combined with my understanding of the five elements' mutual generation and restraint."
You possess the Taiyin Physique, which, while powerful in its essence, can easily backfire on you.
Wearing this jade pendant close to the body can slowly nourish the Lunar Origin, harmonize the Yin-Yang within the body, help you smoothly pass through the initial stages of cultivation, and alleviate the pain caused by physical limitations.
The moment Tingting received the jade pendant, she felt a cool yet not piercing aura, instead carrying a gentle vitality, naturally spreading along the meridians of her arm, creating a mysterious resonance with the Lunar Origin hidden within her body, like a "frozen sea".
The subtle five-element patterns on the surface of the jade pendant seemed to come alive at this moment, shimmering with a faint moon-white glow in the gradually brightening morning light, making her feel much lighter and more comfortable all over.
Then, Li Qingshan picked up the cyan jade tablet. Under his divine sense, the ancient patterns on it seemed to contain a universe within. "This is Three-Turn Dao-Protecting Plaque." The defensive sacred patterns engraved on it were obtained from a relic.
Ordinary cultivators would find it difficult to damage its core.
Although Old Jiang was not skilled in cultivation and possessed only mortal eyes, he could still sense the immense power and extraordinary origin contained within the flowing light on the jade tablet, which seemed to embody some profound principle of heaven and earth.
Deeply moved by Li Qingshan's meticulous protection, her eyes welled up with tears again, and she murmured, "This, this is too precious."
"Since he is my disciple, there's no need to talk about his value."
Li Qingshan's tone was calm yet firm.
"The path of cultivation is long and fraught with danger. The things that protect the path are not for showing off strength, but for preserving life in order to pursue the Great Dao."
Tingting, you must remember, external forces can be relied upon temporarily, but not Lifetime; self-cultivation is the foundation.
"Okay! Tingting understands, thank you Master!"
Xiao Tingting nodded vigorously and carefully held the jade pendant in her arms.
"The ceremony is complete. Now we will begin to teach you the true methods of cultivation and guide you into the realm of Secret Realm Method."
Li Qingshan's expression turned solemn, and the air in the restaurant seemed to freeze as well. "The path of cultivation is a path to explore the mysteries of one's own body and unlock the potential of life. The most important thing is the secret realm."
The Sea of Bitterness is the foundation, the Dao Palace contains the spirits of the five internal organs, the Four Extremes connect heaven and earth, the Dragon Transformation Nine Changes to leap through the Immortal Gate, and finally reaches the Immortal Platform to comprehend longevity.
Your constitution is unique, Lunar Origin is too abundant. As you begin your cultivation, you need to use gentle methods to first stabilize your essence and open up the Bitter Sea before considering further progress.
He pointed his fingers together like a sword, and a wisp of purple mist naturally condensed at his fingertips. The purple mist seemed to have a life of its own, as vibrant as the rising sun and as profound as the starlight in the vast ocean.
This is the " Zixia Nurturing Dao Scripture," an ancient inheritance he obtained at the place where the Ancient Saint passed away in Mount Kunlun.
This method uses innate purple energy to connect with heaven and earth and harmonize all things. It is especially good at balancing and nourishing various extreme constitutions, making it a perfect and supreme method for Jiang Tingting to start her education and solidify her foundation.
"This method is called the ' Zixia Nurturing Dao Scripture.' You must concentrate your mind and carefully comprehend it."
As Li Qingshan finished speaking, the wisp of purple energy at his fingertips began to move like a serpent, not in the air, but in a deeper dimension, outlining complex primordial Dao patterns in the Void that contained the ultimate principles of the Great Dao.
" The Sea of Bitterness Secret Realm is located three inches below the navel, where the Wheel of Life's Source is located. It contains the Sea of the Bitter Sea. Crossing the Sea of the Bitter Sea will lead to the Life Spring, where Divine Bridge will be built to reach the Other Shore."
Only when the four realms are fully understood can one see the beginning of cultivation, and only then can one draw upon divine power and unleash supernatural abilities.
Before the words were finished, the Dao patterns outlined by the purple aura suddenly transformed into a stream of light, as if traversing space, and directly entered Xiao Tingting's brow. The girl's body trembled slightly, a feeling of sudden enlightenment washing over her.
She felt as if a heavy door had been pushed open a crack in the area three inches below her navel, an area that had previously only felt faintly cold and silent.
A warm current quietly rose from the place known as the " Wheel of Life," and the once lifeless " Bitter Sea " began to ripple.
This was the first time in her life that she had so vividly perceived the existence of her own secret realm. The mysterious and indescribable sensation made her involuntarily close her eyes and immerse Divine Capital completely in it.