Chapter 9

Ding Ning collapsed on the ground as if he were exhausted, but the excitement in his heart was indescribable.

He had written a Sealing Charm, which could only be written at a later stage, and the level of this charm paper was clearly one grade higher than the Spring Charm.

This success in writing a charm beyond his current realm was significantly beneficial for his cultivation.

Indeed, Ding Ning silently felt the essence energy within his body, and he had made a great leap forward in the middle stage. He had previously been worried that after using this spirit acupoint, he would not be able to advance to the later stage, but now it seemed there was no problem.

Enduring the fatigue in his body, Ding Ning held the Sealing Charm and walked towards the pond.

The loach fish was clearly somewhat fearful, starting to slide uneasily, but it could not abandon the pond. Unlike Ding Ning, who had hands and feet to move around, the loach fish could only guard the pond to the death.

Although the charm paper in the human's hand made it somewhat fearful, the need for survival overcame this fear. The loach fish let out a faint hiss and leaped out of the water again!

Ding Ning remained calm, as the absorption of memories had made him face countless crises. This small scene was no longer a problem. He aimed at the loach fish's flying figure, raised his hand, and when the loach fish was two feet away, he decisively crushed the charm paper in his palm!

"Poof!"

The charm paper shattered, and a wave of pressure descended from the sky, as if it were a tangible force, targeting the loach fish emitting a faint spiritual aura!

"Bang!"

As if struck by a powerful force from the air, the loach fish's body fell heavily to the ground, black liquid seeping from its body.

It struggled on the ground, but it seemed to be restrained by something, only able to make slight movements, looking more like convulsions.

Seeing the loach fish suppressed, Ding Ning made a quick decision, picked up a stone from the shore, and smashed it heavily on the fish's head!

After the blow, the loach fish's head was deformed, and its body still twitched slightly. Ding Ning simply threw the loach fish far away.

After about two minutes, the severely injured loach fish, far from the water source, was unable to return to the pond. After wriggling for a while, it finally died unwillingly.

Ding Ning took a deep breath. Having the memory was one thing, but doing it himself was another.

Finally, he had successfully eliminated this beast. Ding Ning returned to the pond and meditated for an hour, replenishing all the essence energy he had consumed and feeling a slight improvement, which greatly improved his mood.

He went back and collected the loach fish's body. This thing, which absorbed essence energy from heaven and earth, was sure to be delicious. Moreover, it was so large that he could take it home to stew for his mother and master to taste.

When he got home, Thirteen Lady thought Ding Ning had brought back a snake and was startled. Later, she realized it was a large loach fish and was also amazed.

A large pot of stewed fish was made, and the two of them enjoyed a delicious meal. After eating, Ding Ning felt warm all over, not only feeling more strength in his body but also a greater comfort in his heart.

Eating such a spirit-infused thing was highly beneficial to the body. Thirteen Lady, with a slight sweat on her beautiful nose, said to Ding Ning, "I feel so warm after eating. This fish is not ordinary. There's still a lot left; take it to your master."

Ding Ning nodded. His mother would definitely need to take a bath and rest, so he couldn't stay at home. He took a pot of fish to the Guandi Temple.

"Good boy! This fish is a good thing!"

Old Master Situ Huan's appetite was greatly stimulated, and he devoured the pot of fish. After eating, he felt refreshed and looked younger.

Old Master Situ Huan looked at Ding Ning with piercing eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Ding Ning, since your heart has improved, your master has always had high hopes for you, and you have never disappointed me. In fact, you have even exceeded my expectations."

Ding Ning's heart tightened; Old Master seemed to have something to say.

Ding Ning also knew that some things could not be hidden forever, especially from a master who was an absolute expert. His mother might not have noticed anything, but with his recent comings and goings, his master must have noticed something.

Before Ding Ning could speak, Old Master continued, "You don't need to rush to tell your master anything. You are grown up and should have your own path. Your master can only tell you one thing: no matter what you do, you don't have to be upright, but you must be true to your heart!"

After saying this, Old Master's hair and beard stood on end, waiting for Ding Ning's response.

Ding Ning's heart was chilled. Old Master had never spoken like this before. In his memory, Old Master was always a model of propriety, always demanding that Ding Ning be upright. Why was he speaking like this today?

Looking at his master's stern gaze, Ding Ning understood.

He stood up and knelt before his master, "Master, please rest assured. Ding Ning is not stubborn and knows what to do and what not to do. In the future, I will not be rigid, but I will be true to my heart!"

"Good."

Old Master nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and said to Ding Ning, "As long as you are true to your heart, the methods and actions are not something your master will force. The world has changed. Your master has taught you for many years, hoping for your success, not for me, but for you and your mother. Do you understand?"

"Disciple understands."

"That's good. About your background, your mother will tell you in two years. For now, focus on your studies and cultivation, whether it's martial arts or schoolwork. Even... your own little secrets, you should put your heart into them."

Ding Ning nodded heavily, feeling warmth from his master's consideration.

"Alright, get up. Today, your master ate the fish you brought, and I feel my blood surging. I need to meditate now. With your improved health, you are different from before. Your master hopes that before school starts, you can earn the money for your tuition. This will be a lesson for you."

Ding Ning felt a slight pang of sadness. If it weren't for his schooling, his mother wouldn't have to argue with Aunt Wu. He could even feel that if it weren't for his improved health, his master would have found a way to solve the problem.

But now, Ding Ning was different and should be self-reliant.

Just as Ding Ning was about to leave, Old Master, who was already sitting in meditation, suddenly said, "Take the things and leave. Your master will be out tomorrow morning. Come a bit later, and your master has something to give you."

"Where is Master going?"

"Over the Daqing Mountain, there is a village called Yuezhuang. It seems there is some trouble there. Your master will go and check it out and return in three to five days."

"Yuezhuang? Isn't there a land temple there? Master even complained that the land god there stole the incense from our Guandi Temple. What could be happening there?"

"Go, no need to ask more."

Seeing that his master had closed his eyes, Ding Ning felt a sense of emptiness and unease.

In the land temple of Yuezhuang, there was an old man who called himself the land god. Whenever Master talked about this person, he always seemed to have a deep secret. It seemed this person had some skills.

But in Ding Ning's eyes, Master had always been invincible. How could anything happen to him?

Leaving Master's room, the lights in the Guandi Temple were extinguished...

***

After a restless night, Ding Ning got up before dawn the next morning. After eating the loach fish yesterday, his body had been hot, and he had to get up to meditate and cultivate to resolve the surging heat. He was also worried about Master, so his mind and body had not rested well.

He always felt that Master was hiding something from him and decided to go early to see what Master was doing.

At around three in the morning, Ding Ning got up. The heat from the loach fish had been completely resolved, and his body was full of strength. He almost ran up the mountain.

But when he reached the top of the mountain, he found that the Guandi Temple was empty. Master had already left.

Looking at the incense on the table, which had long since burned out, Ding Ning touched the cold ash. Master had left a long time ago, and his large guandao was also gone.

He had left around seven in the evening yesterday, and it was only three in the morning now. Could it be that Master left right after he did yesterday evening?

Entering Master's room, he saw that some things had already been tidied up on the table.

A brand new wolf-hair brush, with an ancient and simple handle and firm wolf hair. Ding Ning knew this brush had some history. From its smoothness, it was definitely one of Master's cherished possessions.

Ding Ning's heart tightened. It seemed Master had known he was secretly writing charms, and this brush was left for him.

Was Master, a pure martial artist, believing in these things? Ding Ning shook his head; he didn't know the answer. Perhaps Master also hoped he would find his own path.

There was also a book, the essentials of fast Tai Chi, which Ding Ning was currently learning.

This kind of book was not available on the market; it had been passed down from Master's predecessors.

Ding Ning quietly collected these things and suddenly noticed a milky white stone beside them.

"This... this stone... this is... this is actually a spirit stone!!!"

Ding Ning was shocked as he picked up the stone. It was indeed a spirit stone!

He never thought he would see such a legendary item from his master. He was stunned. Although it was a low-grade spirit stone, its value was equivalent to the spirit acupoint he had found.

Although it couldn't contain as much essence energy, it was portable. With his current realm, after absorbing the essence energy from the spirit acupoint, using this spirit stone would definitely help him reach the peak of the first stage!

Even at the peak, using it would ensure his entry into the second stage of Qi Induction.

How did Master have such a thing? Ding Ning was shocked and puzzled. He then saw a yellow paper with writing on it.