Chapter 7: The Spell

Early morning.

The dazzling morning light leaped out from Dali Mountain, caressing the golden Yue Lake. The wind swept through the endless reed fields, bringing the sounds of children playing and laughing by Meichiriver.

Chen Erniu sat on the field ridge, gazing worriedly at the crops in the field, thinking about the woman who was bedridden.

Chen Erniu was born in Li Chuan Kou on the east side of Dali Mountain. More than twenty years ago, Li Chuan Kou suffered a sudden and inexplicable drought. Not only did no rain fall, but white smoke also rose from the ground, scaring the villagers into fleeing in all directions.

At that time, he was still a half-grown child, and in a daze, he fled to Lijing Village. After his desperate pleas, the farmer Li Gen Shui took him in. The following year, Li Gen Shui even rented him an acre of land to survive.

When he grew older, he rented another acre of paddy field, built a mud house, and married Li Gen Shui's daughter, settling down in the village with a grand ceremony.

However, his wife suddenly fell ill. Fortunately, he had saved some money over the years. He took her to Mr. Han at the village entrance for a consultation—just a minor illness, a few doses of medicine would do. He left his wife with Mr. Han, but his heart remained heavy, for one illness could ruin three generations!

"Uncle!" Chen Erniu was lost in thought when a cheerful voice startled him.

He saw a handsome young man walking towards the courtyard entrance, a warm smile on his face, greeting him.

"Oh, Changhu, you're too polite, too polite!"

Chen Erniu bowed repeatedly. He had only married a secondary daughter of the Li family and was their tenant, so he truly didn't deserve such a respectful address from the eldest son.

Li Gen Shui was shrewd and capable but had a wandering heart. He married a wife but also took in two women as concubines. His wife gave him two sons, while his concubines gave him three sons and four daughters.

When Li Gen Shui was old and about to die, his only legitimate youngest son suddenly died. The several illegitimate sons, young and strong, eyed the family's dozen acres of land with greed.

At this moment, Li Mutian, who had left home, returned with a knife and a group of people. This ruthless veteran killed the treacherous steward with one stroke of his knife. The powerful family that had planned to take over his younger brother's land was completely wiped out, not even a dog was spared.

Li Mutian and his two brothers, with blood-dripping knives, dragged the bodies on a cart, leaving a bloody trail from the end of the village to the beginning. Every household in the village closed their doors, and everyone was in a state of panic. Li Mutian's younger brothers were terrified, thinking that with the master's return, they would have no share of the land.

However, Li Mutian called his brothers and said that they were all of the same blood, regardless of legitimacy. He divided the land of the powerful family, giving each of them two acres, and gave four acres to each of the men he brought back. The younger brothers were so grateful that they called him "Big Brother," thus establishing their status.

Looking at Li Changhu's gentle smile, Chen Erniu couldn't help but think of Li Mutian's cold, blood-splattered face. He shivered in the bright sun and respectfully asked:

"Changhu, what brings you here?"

"Oh, Uncle is too polite." Li Changhu smiled and said softly,

"I heard that Aunt is ill. My father thought that Uncle might not have time to cook, so he specially sent me to invite you and Xiaze to come and try my mother's cooking."

"This... I'm really too embarrassed." Chen Erniu forced a smile, feeling caught between a rock and a hard place.

"It's settled! Mother has already prepared the meal." Li Changhu patted Chen Erniu's shoulder and left.

"Alright." Chen Erniu smiled and shook his head, shouting into the house,

"Xiaze, tidy up, we're going to your uncle's house for dinner tonight."

The Li family had renovated their house two years ago, expanding it several times. The entire courtyard faced south, with a rectangular layout. The front yard was paved with stone bricks and had stone locks, looking like a place for martial arts practice. Chen Erniu, seeing the weight of the stone locks, couldn't help but praise them,

"Does the Li family have a method for martial arts practice? What a fine set of stone locks."

Stepping on the stone bricks, he entered the main courtyard. In the center was a pond with a few green fish swimming in it. The main hall, surrounded by green stones, had side rooms for Li Changhu and Li Tongya. The houses, corridors, main gate, and secondary gate were all built with stone slabs or steps, looking very grand.

Li Tongya also entered the main courtyard. He was already eighteen but had not yet married. Li Changhu, on the other hand, had married the second daughter of the Ren family and had a grand wedding not long ago.

Chen Erniu and the Li family had dinner together, chatting casually in the courtyard. Suddenly, Li Chijing hurriedly entered the front yard and whispered something into Li Mutian's ear.

Li Chijing was only nine years old but was very handsome and intelligent, making him a favorite among his uncles and brothers.

Li Mutian was leisurely watching his children chat when he heard Li Chijing whisper,

"Father, the... mirror is shining!"

He remained calm, patted his legs, and said to everyone,

"I'm getting old and can't sit still. I'll go rest, you all continue chatting." He then turned and went to the back courtyard. Everyone quickly agreed, and Chen Erniu bowed to take his leave.

In the back hall, there were several rooms. Li Mutian entered the largest and most spacious ancestral hall in the center. Inside the hall, there were ancestral tablets and offerings of fruits, dedicated to the six generations of ancestors found in the village records.

Li Mutian pushed the wall, revealing a hidden room behind it.

The hidden room had a skylight, and the moonlight shone on a green stone platform inside.

On the platform was a grayish-green bronze mirror, which was indeed emitting a bright, water-like white light.

"Three years... Chijing, go and call your brothers." Li Mutian said, frowning as he looked at the grayish-green bronze mirror.

"Yes." Li Chijing nodded vigorously and went out to find his brothers.

——

When Lu Jiangxian woke up, his mind was filled with heavy information. He took a moment to calm down and began to read the information on the jade stone.

*The Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Cultivation Sutra*!

This spell mainly teaches how to control the earth's spiritual energy through the "acupoints" in the human body, invoking the moon's essence. By cultivating the six wheels of fetal breathing, one can extend life and perform various spells. Once the six wheels are cultivated to fullness, one can enter the Qi Cultivation stage.

Several minor spells were also attached, such as the Golden Light Spell, the Clean Clothes Spell, the Water Avoidance Spell, the Evil-Driving Spell, and the Heart Meridian Spell. As long as the six wheels are cultivated, one can activate these spells by channeling spiritual energy according to the spell.

The spell also mentions that the six stages of cultivation are Fetal Breathing, Qi Cultivation, Foundation Building, Purple Mansion, Golden Core, and Yuan Baby. The jade stone records the Fetal Breathing and Wheel Cultivation method of the Yuehua Immortal Mansion of the State of Yue, which is distributed to the Fetal Breathing disciples of the Yuehua Immortal Mansion for study and cultivation.

After consuming the jade stone, Lu Jiangxian felt a profound understanding of many things. Not only did his divine consciousness expand to twenty meters, but the limit of the moon's essence also increased by several dozen times. As long as the moon's essence was sufficient, the minor spells recorded in *The Taiyin Breathing and Wheel Cultivation Sutra* could be performed within a meter of the mirror.

Most importantly, a spell emerged from the mirror's memory, called:

*The Mystic Pearl Spirit Worship Spell*!

(End of Chapter)