A Spirit Mansion on the Back Mountain

Tang Tiansong frowned slightly, and his internal Spiritual Qi fluctuated.

"Tiansong, you also have Spiritual Qi? Does that mean you're a cultivator now?" Cui Xueyong asked in surprise.

"Uh... I guess so..." Tang Tiansong said nervously, "I have just embarked on the path of cultivation, and after more than an hour of cultivation, I have indeed absorbed Spiritual Qi into my body."

But I still can't control the Spiritual Qi within my body, and now Cui Xueyong has discovered it. How can I explain this?

"I can't exactly tell the truth and say that all my siblings and I have taken the [Aperture-Opening Pill], can I?"

"Could the rumor that your father is a cultivator be true?" Cui Xueyong frowned, and seeing Tang Tiansong nod, he continued, "Could it be that Tiansong has eaten some special food or pills recently?"

"Well...

The day before yesterday, Tianlan and I caught a hundred-year-old crayfish. It weighed over 300 jin (150 kg). Yesterday, we made crayfish tofu, and I drank a big bowl of it."Tang Tiansong's lips twitched slightly.

"Haha, that's right!" Cui Xueyong slapped his thigh and excitedly grabbed Tang Tiansong's hands. "Tiansong, tell me quickly, Tianzi ate crayfish tofu too, right?"

Tang Tiansong nodded, puzzled. "She ate two big bowls, and our whole family ate crayfish tofu. Could it be that these century-old crayfish are poisonous?"

"No, no, not at all! The hundred-year-old crayfish is not only non-toxic, but also a miraculous medicine!" Cui Xueyong breathed a sigh of relief, excitedly spun around three times, and started talking non-stop.

Only those who are born with "Aperture Opener" can cultivate immortality.

There are fewer than three in a thousand people who are born with "Aperture Opener," but if one of one's parents is a cultivator or both of them are cultivators, the probability of being born with "Aperture Opener" increases significantly.

Generally, by the age of nine, it can be discerned whether a person is naturally Aperture Opener or not; however, there are a few exceptions, known as those Late Aperture Opener."

Those Late Aperture Opener " may not show signs of their " Innate Aperture " opening by age nine, but by age eighteen at the latest, if they consume certain special Spiritual Qi foods, their " Innate Aperture " may open.

Cui Xueyong liked Tang Tianzi, and seeing that Tang Tianzi was unable to cultivate immortality, he searched through countless books for a solution. He eventually found a book called "The Immortal Affinity Food Records" that Late Aperture Opener " could directly open their " Innate Aperture " by consuming certain special spiritual herbs and items.

"Tiansong, the ' Immortal Affinity Food Records ' records 365 kinds of spiritual herbs and beasts. Those Late Aperture Opener can directly open their Innate Aperture by consuming them, and this hundred-year-old crayfish is one of them."

Tang Tiansong's lips twitched slightly, and he thought to himself, "This ' Immortal Affinity Food Records ' is a big fraud. Why doesn't it record a thousand kinds of spiritual herbs and beasts?"

However, Cui Xueyong did give himself a barely plausible explanation for why his whole family suddenly became "Aperture Opener" overnight.

"Oh, no wonder. After I ate crayfish tofu, I felt a change in my body last night. Coincidentally, there were some cultivation books left by my father at home, so I tried practicing them."

"Tianlan, Tianzi, and Tiandong also sensed something unusual yesterday. Could it be that the three of them can also cultivate immortality?" Tang Tiansong looked as if he had just realized something.

It should be, absolutely.

"Haha, Tianzi can cultivate immortality too! Now my dad has no reason to object to me marrying Tianzi!" Cui Xueyong exclaimed excitedly.

"Hmm..." Tang Tiansong cleared his throat. "As the eldest brother, I haven't agreed to Tianzi marrying you yet."

However, Cui Xueyong completely failed to grasp Tang Tiansong's anger and continued, "Haha, from now on we can address each other as 'fellow Daoist'."

Hehe, Tianzi and I will definitely be the most loving dao companion in the world from now on...

Eh...

Tiansong, you've just started cultivating immortality.

You might not be familiar with the first Principle of cultivation: killing someone of a higher level is absolutely impossible.

In other words, those with higher cultivation levels will absolutely crush those with lower cultivation levels.

"The demon rats down your mountain are at the Meridian Opening Sixth Layer the Qi Refining stage. To be on the safe side, it would be best to hire a cultivator at the Qi Refining Stage." Cui Xueyong looked worried...

With Cui Xueyong's explanation, Tang Tiansong also learned about the so-called free cultivators he mentioned.

Cui Xueyong's family has a guest elder who is at the Qi Refining First Layer. This Cui Household elder is always away for most of the year and has just returned this month.

"This guest advisor surnamed Zhao was invited by my grandfather. He has been with my family for over 20 years and is absolutely reliable."

"I think killing a Meridian Opening Sixth Layer demon rat is a piece of cake for him." Cui Xueyong said confidently.

"The world is bustling with activity, all for the sake of profit."

Your guest advisor might intervene because of your family's affairs.

However, since my family and your family are no longer related, he might not help.

"Furthermore, our Tang Household doesn't want to owe others too many favors." Tang Tiansong shook his head.

At this moment, Tang Miao knocked on the door and entered the courtyard, Cui Xueyong immediately put away the soundproof cover.

"Xueyong, thank you for your kindness in any case."

I have a few Divine Travel Talisman, but it will still take ten days to travel to and from Huai'an City in Heavenly River Commandery.

Here's what I'll do: this morning I'll go to the cultivator market in Huai'an City to see if I can find a cultivator to kill the demon rat.

"If I can't get you here, I'll visit you at noon nine days from now." Tang Tiansong looked at Tang Miao, "Brother Miao, Tianzi, Tiandong, and I have some errands to run today. Why don't you accompany Cui Xueyong for a walk?"

"How about I go to Huai'an City too?" Cui Xueyong asked expectantly.

Tang Tiansong smiled without saying a word, and glanced at Tang Miao.

"Xueyong, let Tiansong go about his business."

"Xueyong, I've wanted to learn your signature piece, ' The Azure Sea, Forgotten Feelings, Desolation,' for a long time. Could you give me some pointers?" Tang Miao took out a bamboo flute.

Cui Xueyong knew that Tang Miao and Tang Tianzi were cousins and had a very good relationship.

If I can win over Tang Miao and get him to say a few good words about me to Tang Tianzi, it will definitely be a plus for me.

Cui Xueyong picked up the jade flute with an arrogant expression, "Of course."

While Cui dared not presume to be arrogant in his spiritual practice, he did possess some skill in music.

Tianzi also praised my flute playing, saying she'd like to play a duet with me on the qin and xiao sometime.

"Remember to take this bag of rice with you. Thank you." Tang Tiansong picked up the cloth bag and handed it to Cui Xueyong...

The path to immortality requires seizing every moment.

Finally, Tang Tiansong arranged for Tang Tianlan and Tang Tiandong to go for a stroll in the back mountain, while he and his third sister, Tianzi, went to Huai'an City.

Because Tang Yuan wrote in his letter, "There is a spiritual abode in the back mountain, which is beneficial for cultivation."

Tang Tiansong and Tang Tianzi each took a "Spirit Gathering Pill," circulated their Spiritual Qi, and slapped [Divine Travel Talisman] on their legs. Sure enough, they moved with incredible speed, covering thousands of miles a day.

Tang Tiansong and his companion set off from Dangwu Yuan and traveled eastward for about three hundred li, passing by Ji Household Stockade.

Ji Household Stockade is a merger of several villages of varying sizes, with a population of ten thousand, and is managed by the Ji Household, a Lineage of cultivators.

It is said that, unlike most cultivators who practice the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, the entire Ji Household Stockade believes in Buddhist Cultivation, which originated from the north.

Passing through Ji Household Stockade, and traveling more than 100 li south, you will arrive at Iron Bridge Village.

The surrounding villages and towns within dozens of miles of Iron Bridge Village were all under the jurisdiction of the Ye Household of Iron Bridge Village.

After passing through Iron Bridge Village and more than a dozen other villages of varying sizes, and traveling more than two hundred li eastward, you will arrive at the Cui Household.

The Liu Household family lives to the south of the Cui Household.

Upon reaching Cui Household Village, turn east and travel 800 li, crossing Dragon Breath Valley, and you will arrive at Pingyang Commandery.

I've heard that the entire Pingyang Commandery, spanning over a thousand miles, is under the jurisdiction of the Wu Household, a powerful Aristocratic Clan specializing in cultivating immortality.

The vast majority of shops for ordinary people and markets for cultivators in Huai'an City are owned by the Wu Household...