Chapter 2

Li Zhichang realized that he had not successfully embraced the dan, but his mind had undergone a thorough cleansing, becoming even more acute and unpredictable. He was confident that with hard work, he could recover to his previous level in no more than eighteen years, with even more robust qi and blood than before. However, Li Zhichang bitterly smiled, thinking that even surviving for eighteen hours in his current situation would be a blessing. Fortunately, there is always a way out. Not long after, Li Zhichang suddenly heard the sound of footsteps on the snow from the eastern road. Turning his head, he saw a Taoist.

The Taoist wore a bamboo hat and a straw cloak, his entire body covered in snow. A long sword was slanted on his back, with yellow silk strips fluttering in the wind. Despite the heavy snow, he walked with great strides, exuding an extraordinary presence. Li Zhichang felt a surge of joy, not expecting to meet a fellow traveler, albeit one dressed in a slightly retro style! After so long without seeing anyone, Li Zhichang was not about to let this person pass by. He immediately exhaled and let out a loud cry, which echoed through the mountains. The Taoist walked very quickly, covering over ten zhang in a blink, but he was not running. Such lightness of movement was rare, and Li Zhichang was very impressed. When the Taoist reached Li Zhichang, he tore a large piece of cloth from his body and wrapped Li Zhichang in it. Li Zhichang immediately felt a warm and gentle heat spread throughout his body, making him feel very comfortable. The Taoist, holding Li Zhichang with one hand, said angrily, "I don't know who your parents are, but to abandon you in this icy and snowy place is unforgivable. If I find out, they will pay dearly." The Taoist kicked the ground, and the sword, Wuchang, rose and landed in his other hand.

Later, Li Zhichang learned that the Taoist was Qiu Chuji, one of the Seven Disciples of the Complete Perfection School. That day, after failing to find Bao Xiruo and her son, he decided to return to Zhongnan Mountain as the New Year was approaching. However, he encountered Li Zhichang at the foot of the mountain. Mistaking Li Zhichang for an abandoned child and thinking of Bao Xiruo and her son's unknown fate, he felt a surge of anger. The Taoist carried Li Zhichang up the mountain.

After about an hour, they reached the Golden Lotus Pavilion. The path ahead was steep, with jagged rocks and sheer cliffs. As they passed the Sun and Moon Rocks, the sky grew dark, and by the time they reached the Embracing Son Rock, a new moon had appeared on the horizon. The Embracing Son Rock was shaped like a woman holding a child. Qiu Chuji chuckled, feeling that finding a child and then reaching the Embracing Son Rock was a sign of fate. He had a family in the secular world, but he had not seen them for many years. His Daoist heart wavered, and he felt a deep sympathy for Li Zhichang, asking, "Child, are you tired?" Li Zhichang shook his head. Qiu Chuji was surprised, wondering if the child could understand him. He tried again, but Li Zhichang had already closed his eyes, breathing deeply and soundly asleep.

Qiu Chuji wondered if he was seeing things, but it was not Li Zhichang intentionally pretending to sleep. His infant brain could not support too much thinking, and his body's protective mechanism had automatically put him to sleep. He could control his consciousness, but it would be harmful to his body.

A few months later, Li Zhichang gradually understood his environment. He had somehow traveled to the Song Dynasty, but not the historical Song Dynasty, rather the world of Jin Yong's "The Legend of the Condor Heroes." This was a shock, but since he had already experienced time travel, it was not too surprising. He vaguely remembered that according to the novels, this world might have supernatural powers like internal energy, which gave him a sense of anticipation. However, the most important thing now was to ensure his body developed as perfectly as possible.

Normal human development is often hindered by external factors and bad habits, preventing the full realization of one's potential. Therefore, internal martial arts require specific breathing techniques to correct these habits and promote balanced development. Li Zhichang, now at a level close to the embrace of the dan, could finely control the energy produced by each breath and apply it to the development of every muscle and bone.

If someone observed him closely for a long time, they would notice that his body had a rhythmic vibration. This vibration was very subtle, like ripples in water, but it was continuous. As a result, his bones became denser, his skin smoother like silk, and his muscle fibers continuously evolved, becoming more compact and strong.

Anyone who reached the embrace of the dan could cleanse their body and refine their essence. Li Zhichang, having failed to embrace the dan in his previous life, found it equally difficult this time. Moreover, his previous experience might lead to cognitive barriers during the process. Qiu Chuji, busy searching for Bao Xiruo and her son, could not take care of Li Zhichang and had to entrust him to others at Chongyang Palace. Sun Bu'er and Ma Yu, who were a married couple and had been mothers, took on the responsibility. Li Zhichang did not cry or make a fuss, and although he often crawled around (which was actually a form of exercise), he stayed within a limited area. Sun Bu'er, besides feeding and changing him, had a relatively easy time. Li Zhichang's body was very cute, and he often emitted a pure, star-like fragrance. When he sat still, he resembled the Ginseng Fruit from "Journey to the West," though the novel had not yet been written, so Sun Bu'er did not make the connection.

A year passed, and Li Zhichang finally learned to speak. He could have spoken much earlier, but being in ancient times, he did not want to shock people. After another half year, he showed that he could recognize basic characters, which delighted Sun Bu'er. In the Song Dynasty, there was a famous admiration for prodigies, and everyone, from high-ranking officials to commoners, took pride in having a prodigy in their family. The previous dynasty's Prime Minister Wang Xiang even wrote a famous essay, "Injury to Zhongyong," to criticize this phenomenon.

In any case, the first thing Li Zhichang did after learning to read was to name himself Li Zhichang. Given his genius, the name was not too bad, and Sun Bu'er informed Qiu Chuji, who agreed. After Li Zhichang could move around, he refused to stay in his small room. Qiu Chuji was often away searching for Bao Xiruo and her son, so he rarely stayed at Chongyang Palace. With no disciples, Li Zhichang became the de facto young master of the area. Initially, Sun Bu'er was concerned about his ability to take care of himself, but after seeing him handle affairs efficiently, she left him alone and focused on her own practice. Li Zhichang gradually expanded his activities beyond Chongyang Palace.

Because of his small size and agility, he managed to play outside without being noticed. The Zhongnan Mountains were beautiful, with fresh air, and Li Bai wrote a poem about it:

"Out the door, I see the southern mountain,

Leading my gaze to endless thoughts.

The beauty is hard to name,

The green and blue are always in my eyes.

Sometimes white clouds rise,

Spreading and rolling in the sky.

My heart resonates with them,

My inspiration is never shallow."

Li Zhichang played with the squirrels and monkeys in the mountains, enjoying himself. He often sneaked out because he discovered that the mountains were rich in medicinal herbs, many of which were extinct in his previous life. Herbs like calamus, wild ginseng, and yellow essence were common, and he often found plants over thirty years old. He occasionally took herbs that benefited his development, making his body stronger. However, due to the density of his bones, he still looked like a two-year-old child. But his legs were agile, and his strength was comparable to that of a teenager.

One day, he found a place upstream of a waterfall, where a large rock jutted out, forming a clear pool. The water was crystal clear, and the pebbles at the bottom were visible. It was a perfect place for exploration. The waterfall's downstream flow was gentle, forming a lake. The lake's surface was as smooth as a mirror, surrounded by green mountains like a screen.

Li Zhichang decided to come here to cool off during the hot summer afternoons. If he did not return at night, he would be discovered, so he spent an hour in the lake during the day and returned to Chongyang Palace at night. He enjoyed his days immensely. He also found that the waterfall's impact stimulated his body, benefiting areas that his own exercises could not reach. This was an unexpected bonus.

Five years passed, and Li Zhichang grew to be a seven-year-old boy. Qiu Chuji, after tireless efforts, finally found Bao Xiruo and her son in the capital of the Jin Dynasty. Seeing that Yang Kang had become a prince of the Jin Dynasty, Qiu Chuji thought he could use Yang Kang's identity to infiltrate the Jin Dynasty, so he did not reveal the truth and take Bao Xiruo and her son away. Li Zhichang found this plan naive and unrealistic, but he could only criticize it in his mind, as Qiu Chuji was his savior.

After finding Yang Kang, Qiu Chuji hastily taught him the basics of the Complete Perfection School's martial arts. He then remembered his disciple Li Zhichang, whom he had not seen for a long time. Feeling guilty for teaching Yang Kang before Li Zhichang, he rushed back to Chongyang Palace.

Thus, Qiu Chuji said, "Disciple, today I will teach you the entry-level mystical arts. When I was your age, I only received the teachings from Ancestor Chongyang in my thirties. You are only seven, so you are much better off than I was."

Li Zhichang replied, "Master, I read in our Complete Perfection School's records that you didn't start practicing Daoism until your thirties."

Qiu Chuji, irritated, said, "Remember, this is the song of the Complete Perfection School. I will only say it once." He thought, "You show off your memory all the time. I'll say it quickly and see if you can remember."

Li Zhichang, with his highly developed brain, had never forgotten anything he had seen or heard. Over the years, he had read all the Daoist texts in Chongyang Palace. Even Ma Yu sometimes consulted him when he encountered unclear Daoist terms during discussions. Li Zhichang could always cite sources and provide evidence. Many in Chongyang Palace believed that if Li Zhichang had not become a Taoist, he could have easily passed the imperial exams, if not for the top rank, at least for a jinshi degree.

Li Zhichang also found many lost texts from his previous life in Chongyang Palace, which was a significant gain. "The Great Way begins by opening the nine orifices,

The orifices are originally in the tailbone.

First, from the bottom of the feet, the spring surges,

The spring surges up to the knees.

Passing the knees, it slowly reaches the tailbone,

The mud ball on top of the head spins rapidly.

The golden lock passes through the magpie bridge,

The twelve-story tower descends to the palace."

The Complete Perfection School's song flowed from Qiu Chuji's mouth, and Li Zhichang memorized every word. With his deep understanding of Daoist texts and medical knowledge, he grasped the concepts easily. Many insights flooded his mind, and he could hardly wait to return to his room to practice.

Indeed, it is difficult! Difficult! Difficult! The Dao is the most profound, do not treat the golden elixir lightly. Without meeting a great master to transmit the secret techniques, one can only talk in vain, with a dry tongue and a parched mouth!

Although Li Zhichang was nearly a master, without the guidance of the Complete Perfection School's song, he would not know where to start in cultivating internal energy. This was an unknown field for him, and he did not have the conditions to read all the Daoist texts like Huang Tang. Moreover, the imperial library contained many hidden techniques, which is why Huang Tang could compile the "Nine Yin Manual." Even so, it took him sixty years to complete the full version.

This shows the difficulty of creating martial arts, so it is better to stand on the shoulders of giants. Although the Complete Perfection School's internal cultivation is not as fast as the "Nine Yin Manual," it is the most solid and superior method. Otherwise, Guo Jing and Old Naughty Boy would not have become the top experts in the world.