12dz Chapter 4 Battle of Wits
Chapter 4 Battle of Wits
The group continued their journey for several more days.
They have been eating and sleeping outdoors for days.
A group of hundreds was being chased by the crisis of hunger.
If they can't find food and shelter, the most unbearable tragedy of cannibalism will occur within three days.
Xie San led several young men in shifts day and night to keep watch. He looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes, but he was not discouraged.
Since receiving guidance from Shen Gui, his first level of fetal breathing has become increasingly stable, the blockages in his meridians have been cleared, and his spiritual energy flows smoothly with each breath. He has already faintly reached the threshold of the second level of fetal breathing.
My reverence for Shen Gui grew day by day.
In the past few days, Shen Gui appeared to be quietly recuperating and rarely spoke, but in reality, he worked day and night to stabilize his cultivation level.
The spiritual energy he had accumulated over fourteen years was beyond imagination; even after breaking through to the first level of the embryonic breathing stage, his spiritual energy remained as deep and boundless as the ocean.
As night deepened, the moon hung high in the sky, all was quiet, and most of the refugees were fast asleep when Shen Gui broke through once again.
Sitting cross-legged under a tree, Shen Gui formed the hand seals of the Canglan Sect's Nourishing Qi and Energy Mantra, his breath resonating with the heavens and earth.
The spiritual energy within his body surged forth, rushing entirely towards the Xuanjing Wheel in his dantian.
In less than half an incense stick's time, a round, white spirit wheel with restrained magical light slowly condensed and took shape, hovering steadily above the Xuanjing Wheel. The two resonated with each other, and their magical power flowed in a circular motion.
Second level of embryonic breathing, Chengming Wheel, complete!
A surge of magical power, several times stronger than before, flowed through his limbs and bones, instantly dispelling his fatigue.
Shen Gui slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, and exhaled a long breath.
In just a few days, he broke through two realms, opening up a vast path to enlightenment.
Moreover, there is still spiritual energy remaining in the body, and the progress to the second level of perfection is about halfway done.
He clenched his fist slightly, clearly feeling the power within his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
He turned his head to look at Ahe, who was nestled and fast asleep beside him.
The little girl's face was slightly sallow from hunger, her brows were furrowed, and her small body was curled up in a ball.
Shen Gui's heart softened, and he reached out to gently brush away the stray hairs from her forehead.
It's time to officially register her with Mingtianzhong.
"Ahe, wake up."
His voice was soft and gentle.
Ahe rubbed her sleepy eyes, nodding her head slightly, and mumbled, "Master... is it dawn yet? Ahe still wants to sleep..."
"It's not dawn yet," Shen Gui chuckled. "Your master will teach you a mantra. Once you recite it, you will be my rightful personal disciple."
Ahe instantly snapped out of her daze, her eyes sparkling. She nodded vigorously, her little face incredibly earnest: "Ahe wants to be Master's personal disciple! Ahe will remember!"
Shen Gui raised his eyes to look into the deep night, his tone solemn, and slowly spoke, word by word:
"His disciple Ahe."
Ahe took a deep breath, puffed out her small chest, and recited along crisply.
"His disciple Ahe."
"I wish to become a disciple of Shen Gui and inherit his teachings."
"I wish to become a disciple of Shen Gui and inherit his teachings."
"Follow the Tao wholeheartedly and never succumb to your original intention."
"Follow the Tao wholeheartedly and never succumb to your original intention."
"May the heavens grant you a name, register you in the clan, and enroll you in the family lineage!"
"May the heavens grant you a name, register you in the clan, and enroll you in the family lineage!"
The last word fell.
Within Shen Gui's sea of consciousness, the ancient and profound Mingtian Bell suddenly trembled slightly, and the second line of characters slowly appeared on the bell's surface.
Ah He.
His name corresponds to Shen Gui's, and he is officially included in the sect's register.
There are three spots left.
At the same time, two orbs of light, as white as jade and warm and lively, gathered in mid-air on one side of the bell and gently pulsated.
Shen Gui was overjoyed.
Indeed, accepting disciples and registering them in the Taoist register can lead to Taoist merit!
Two opportunities to receive the teachings are sufficient for emergency use.
But he was in no hurry to use it.
Ah-He has no foundation now, and has never even been exposed to breathing techniques. His most urgent task is to lay a solid foundation.
The Canglan Sect's "Neiyuan Yanglun Jue" is already a top-tier third-grade fetal breathing technique. It is balanced and peaceful, with profound potential. It can be perfectly integrated with most subsequent Qi cultivation and techniques, making it most suitable for a pure and promising talent like Ahe.
However… Shen Gui suddenly remembered one of the miraculous uses of the Ringing Bell.
Although my cultivation level is limited, it's just for looking at; it won't cost me anything...
By simply activating one's Daoist cultivation, one can foresee a disciple's innate talent based on the teaching options and reveal the cultivation method that aligns with it.
This is equivalent to seeing through someone's innate qualities, comprehension, and potential in advance, which is crucial for their future development.
Shen Gui's heart stirred, and he silently recited the incantation, drawing upon the power of the Mingtian Bell, and gently placed it over Ahe.
"Ahe, concentrate, don't resist."
"Um!"
Ah He obediently closed her eyes, her mind completely clear.
Shen Gui recited the mantra in a soft voice with practiced ease, requesting that Ahe be granted the Dharma.
The next moment, the contents of two profound cultivation techniques slowly appeared in Shen Gui's sea of consciousness, and the information was clearly transmitted into his mind:
First Method: Heavenly Flame Elixir
The second method: The Method of Nourishing the Fields and Filling the Spirit
Although there were only two methods, they caused Shen Gui's pupils to suddenly shrink, his heart to leap, and he almost lost his composure.
It's these two!
The first one clearly indicates that Ahe has a talent for alchemy!
All the arts of cultivating immortality require extremely high talent, and alchemy is among the most difficult to master.
Of the thousands of outer disciples of the Canglan Immortal Sect, fewer than three hundred are truly qualified to learn any of the Hundred Arts.
And Ah He was actually a promising student of alchemy!
Shen Gui suppressed the excitement in his heart, and when he saw the second method, he was even more shocked and gasped.
The method of nourishing the fields and filling the spirit.
Efficacy: By using special methods to nurture mortal soil, ordinary farmland can be gradually transformed into spiritual fields where spiritual herbs can be grown.
Spirit Field!
A spiritual field is a place where the rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges. It takes many years to form, sometimes several decades, sometimes hundreds of years.
Except for a very few powerful beings at the Purple Mansion Realm who can forcibly create them with heaven-defying divine abilities, it is simply impossible for them to be artificially produced.
This method can actually... turn ordinary fields into spiritual fields?
What does this mean?
With this method, the sect will have no worries about spiritual herbs, food, or foundation!
As long as there is land, life can continue endlessly and be self-sufficient. This is the fundamental path that countless major sects dream of!
Shen Gui looked deeply at the innocent and obedient little Ahe who was still keeping her eyes closed. He felt both excited and helpless, and sighed softly to himself.
"My good disciple, you are truly a peerless gem bestowed upon me by heaven..."
The Dao of Alchemy and the cultivation of spiritual fields are talents tailor-made for establishing a sect.
But reality is incredibly cruel.
Alchemy cultivation is the most expensive path in the entire cultivation world.
Elixirs, alchemy furnaces, materials, and recipes—all are incredibly expensive.
Given his current situation of being penniless and having nowhere to stay, he simply cannot afford to support a pill cultivator.
Even with the "Heavenly Flame Elixir," one cannot even provide the most basic herbal medicine furnace, let alone cultivate.
"I'm afraid I'll have to make do with this for now," Shen Gui thought to himself. "Let's put the alchemy aside for now, focus on establishing ourselves, building our sect, and surviving. Once the sect has a solid foundation, I will do everything in my power to let you focus on alchemy."
At that moment, he suppressed all his excitement and whispered to deceive Ahe, "The request for the Dharma has been answered; it's the third-grade Qi Cultivation and Wheel Nourishing Method."
"Master?" Ahe blinked her clear eyes.
"From this day forward, I will teach you the 'Nourishing Essence and Cultivating the Wheel Technique,' a top-tier method of embryonic breathing. If you diligently practice it day and night, you will not only strengthen your body but also achieve immortality and vanquish demons in the future."
"Really?!" Ahe's eyes lit up instantly. "Ahe wants to train! Ahe wants to become stronger! Ahe wants to protect everyone!"
Shen Gui felt a warmth in his heart and patiently and meticulously taught her the formula and key points, word by word.
The little girl was highly perceptive; in just one hour, she had memorized most of it. Although she couldn't yet circulate her spiritual energy smoothly, she had already grasped the basics.
The next morning.
A suppressed, panicked report shattered the tranquility of the morning.
"Third Brother Xie! Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened! The grain... is almost gone! Last night, several people stole a lot of grain and ran away!"
"If we can't find food soon, we...we'll all die here!"
Xie San's face turned deathly pale, his whole body trembled, he staggered a step, and his eyes were filled with despair and helplessness.
His eyes were red as he strode to Shen Gui and knelt down with a thud, his voice hoarse and choked with sobs.
"Immortal Master! Please, Immortal Master, show us a way to survive! We...we really can't hold on any longer! If we can't find food soon, chaos will erupt within three days, and...we might even see cannibalism!"
Seeing this, the surrounding refugees also knelt down on the ground, a dark mass of them, kowtowing and begging.
"Please, Immortal Master, save my life!"
"Please, Immortal Master, show mercy!"
"We don't want to die! We want to live!"
Cries, pleas, and desperate gasps mingled together, a heartbreaking sight.
In the past few days, Shen Gui has been treating people, guiding them, and instructing Xie San in cultivation, creating many miracles in everyone's eyes.
Shen Gui slowly stood up, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd.
He is very clear.
Mingtianzhong upholds the righteous path and highly values the common people and the continuation of the family line.
If the refugees under his command were to engage in acts of cannibalism or cannibalism, it would inevitably violate the inner rules of the sect. If the most precious treasure were to be rejected, that would be a great disaster.
Whether for public or private reasons, we must break this deadlock today.
"Are there any villages or other settlements nearby?" Shen Gui's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Xie San quickly looked up and replied urgently, "Yes! There is a village called Daling! It's only ten miles from here! But... but the villagers who escaped from the village said that Daling Village has been occupied by two immortals! Those two call themselves the Soul-Driving Ancestor and the Overlord King, and they kill people if they don't obey them at all, and even... even extract the blood and energy of mortals to cultivate secret techniques!"
"What is their cultivation level?" Shen Gui asked casually.
"We don't know," Xie San said through gritted teeth, "but there should at least be at least the first level of the embryonic breathing stage!"
Shen Gui's eyes flickered slightly.
No matter how prestigious their reputation, they are still just rogue cultivators entrenched in small villages, and their cultivation methods are bound to be incomplete and fragmented.
Moreover, daring to use such a grand name shows a lack of concern for taboos. In the Canglan Sect, only those at the Foundation Establishment stage can be called Daoists, and only those at the Purple Mansion stage can be called True Persons. Such a random name suggests that the person has no sect affiliation.
"Go to Daling Village," Shen Gui said calmly.
Everyone was taken aback.
Xie San was stunned: "Immortal Master! Those are two evil cultivators! The Immortal Master is injured, and I'm only at the first level of the Nascent Soul stage... This is going to our deaths!"
"Sending yourself to your death?" Shen Gui chuckled lightly.
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint pressure emanating from the second level of the Fetal Breathing stage quietly spread out.
It exudes a righteous, profound, and incomparably pure aura of magical power.
Xie San was shocked, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stared at Shen Gui in disbelief.
"Immortal Master...you...you actually...at the second level of the Nascent Soul stage?!"
He had always thought that Shen Gui was just a disciple of a major sect who had just recovered from serious injuries, with a profound foundation, but his cultivation level might not be that high.
But at this moment, this pure, profound, and unadulterated magical power is clearly that of a genuine second-level embryonic breathing cultivator! Where is there any sign of injury?
"That's right." Shen Gui nodded frankly.
The entire room fell silent.
Hundreds of refugees stared in disbelief at the sage who had always been gentle, quiet, and kind.
Second level of fetal breathing!
His cultivation level is even higher than Master Xie's!
There's hope! They're saved!
"I will obey your orders, Immortal Master!" Xie San slammed his fist into the ground, his eyes blazing with fury. "I'll risk my life to take down Daling Village!"
"Take over Daling Village!"
"Survive!"
"Survive!"
The despair that had been suppressed for many days by hundreds of people instantly transformed into the courage to fight to the death, and their roars shook the mountains and forests.
Shen Gui nodded slightly, his expression calm, and began to give orders:
"Xie San, you lead the way and negotiate at the village entrance to test their attitude and background. As long as they haven't reached the fifth level of the Nascent Soul stage, they lack spiritual awareness and won't be able to see through me hidden in the group."
"Yes!" Xie San replied.
"Su Wanniang," Shen Gui looked at the beautiful widow who had been silently taking care of everyone, gentle yet resilient, "You lead the women and children, stay at the rear of the group to keep everyone calm, don't panic, don't run around."
Su Wanniang gave a slight curtsy, her voice gentle yet firm: "Wanniang obeys, and will certainly not fail the immortal's trust."
With arrangements made, the team set off immediately.
........................
From a distance, Daling Village sits at the foot of the mountain, with dilapidated earthen walls and low houses.
Two monks were leaning against each other in the open space at the entrance of the village.
A man with a sinister face, high cheekbones, and holding a long iron sword, appeared to be middle-aged.
An old man, holding a whisk, closed his eyes and meditated.
"Stop." Shen Gui raised his hand.
The group came to an immediate stop.
Shen Gui looked at Xie San: "Go, but remember, only probe the situation, don't take any action, and wait for my orders."
"clear!"
Xie San gripped his broadsword tightly, took a deep breath, and strode towards the village entrance.
"Huh? Where did this stinking beggar come from, daring to cause trouble in Daling Village?" The sword-wielding cultivator glanced at him sideways, his face full of disdain, and spat. "Get lost, or I'll break your bones!"
Suppressing his anger, Xie Sanqiang clasped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoists, we are refugees who have fled here. We only ask for a place to stay in this village and a mouthful of food to survive. We dare not disturb your cultivation. We will surely repay you in the future."
"Rewards?" The sword-wielding cultivator sneered, his greedy eyes sweeping over the dark mass of people behind Xie San, especially the women and children among them. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips. "What rewards could you mortals possibly offer?"
The old cultivator with the whisk spoke in a sinister tone: "Leave half the people, only the women. The rest, for your sake, may be taken away."
"You!" Xie San roared in fury.
The two evil cultivators exchanged a glance and then burst into wild laughter.
Before the laughter subsided, their eyes suddenly hardened, and without further ado, they launched a fierce attack!
"Let's see who's the real deal."
The evil cultivator wielding the sword flashed, his iron sword gleaming coldly, and thrust straight at Xie San's heart!
The old monk gently stroked the whisk, without making any movement.
"Well done!"
Xie San roared, his eyes bloodshot, and swung his broadsword with all his might, unleashing his full cultivation.
He was by nature fierce and had been taught by Shen Gui, so he was filled with resentment. When he met the challenge head-on, he showed a fighting spirit.
clang!
The clang of metal rang out, and sparks flew everywhere.
Xie San felt a sharp pain in his arm, his tiger's mouth split open, and a powerful force forced him to retreat repeatedly, his chest heaving with blood and qi.
The opponent's cultivation level is stronger than his own, but he can still barely hold his own. He is probably at the second level of the embryonic breathing stage!
Within three moves, he was already struggling to defend himself and was in grave danger.
"Third Brother Xie, be careful!"
"Get out of the way!"
The refugees cried out in alarm, their faces filled with anxiety, yet they were powerless to help.
Su Wanniang stood at the front of the crowd, biting her lip tightly, watching Xie San being surrounded and attacked by the two men, encountering danger at every step, and felt extremely anxious.
Shen Gui walked up behind Su Wan Niang at some point and whispered something in her ear.
"This Daoist nun will also lend a hand; please watch the talisman!"
Su Wanniang held a talisman that shimmered with a faint magical light in her hand!
The two evil cultivators were slightly taken aback, and subconsciously turned their heads to look, their attention instantly drawn to the scene.
The old monk with the whisk grabbed Xie San and said urgently, "That woman has a talisman! You must stop her from using it."
The sword-wielding cultivator didn't even know what talismans were, but seeing the old man's expression, he knew it was extremely dangerous, so he drew his sword and charged forward.
A glint flashed in Shen Gui's eyes, and he poured all of his second-level embryonic breathing power into his feet without reservation!
His movements were extremely fast, and he dashed out in an instant.
His goal was clear: he headed straight for the evil cultivator wielding the sword!
The person was already close, and his attention was entirely focused on the talisman in Su Wan Niang's hand, leaving his back completely exposed and full of flaws!
"How dare you!" The sword-wielding evil cultivator was startled by the strong wind coming from behind. His expression changed drastically, and he tried to turn around to block, but it was too late!
Shen Gui's eyes were calm. He formed his right palm, gathered his magic power, and without any mercy, he slammed his palm heavily onto the right arm joint of the opponent who was holding the sword!
Click!
A crisp sound of bone cracking rang out clearly!
"what!"
The evil cultivator wielding the sword let out an extremely shrill scream, his entire right arm twisting at a bizarre angle.
With his fingers loosened, the iron sword clattered to the ground!
one move!
With just one move, he crippled the opponent's most relied-upon sword-wielding arm!
Shen Gui understood immediately upon touching it.
The opponent's power was mixed and turbid, like mud and sand, sluggish in its operation, and his technique was incomplete and not even worthy of being called a first-grade technique. It was purely a second-level embryonic breathing technique that was forcibly built up by absorbing blood energy, with a weak foundation and vulnerable to attack.
Compared to him, who had accumulated fourteen years of experience, possessed top-notch skills, and had an incredibly solid foundation, the difference between them was like heaven and earth.
After all, who else in the world has cultivated the first level for fourteen years?
Although I couldn't break through at the time, the nourishment that spiritual energy gave to my body was real, and my physical qualities were much stronger than those of others at the same level.
"You little bastard, you dare to scheme against me!"
The evil cultivator wielding the sword was in pain and furious, his face contorted. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his arm, he clenched his left fist and smashed it hard into Shen Gui's head!
Shen Gui's expression was indifferent.
The opponent had just made a forceful move when their breath changed, their magical power was disrupted, and their opening became even wider!
Shen Gui shifted his feet slightly, dodging the punch with ease.
At the same time, he raised his left hand, his palm containing pure and powerful magic, and struck the opponent's abdomen with a palm strike!
The practice of observing fetal breathing is also useful in combat. After making contact, one can already see the key points of the opponent's meridians.
"Bang!"
A muffled thud.
The pure magic power surged into the opponent's meridians, instantly shattering his chaotic spiritual energy and shaking his unstable foundation!
"puff!"
The evil cultivator wielding the sword coughed up mouthfuls of blood, his body flying backward like a broken sack, crashing heavily to the ground. He convulsed a couple of times before losing consciousness, completely incapacitated.
One move cripples an arm, one palm strike severely injures!
In the blink of an eye, a heretical cultivator at the second level of the embryonic breathing stage was dealt with!
The old cultivator with the whisk was stunned.
Frozen in place, hesitant to make a move.
"Who...who are you?! A disciple of a major sect...you're a disciple of a major sect!"
Shen Gui did not answer, but took the talisman from Su Wan Niang's hand, and the sachet at his waist shone with magical light.