Chapter 57

"Congratulations, young master, for obtaining the Cicada Wing Step and the Palm Thunder, two great secret techniques."

When Qin Xianyu woke up, these words drifted into his ears.

Qin Xianyu looked in the direction of the voice and saw a scholar in a green robe bowing to him.

"Every few hundred years, three people enter the Mountain and River Immortal Map every decade, and their cultivation is all quite high. However, they all seek opportunities and transformations here, with restless hearts. But you, young master, actually started by observing the subtle details, watching the cicada pupa transform into a golden cicada."

The scholar in the green robe said with admiration, "Your state of mind far surpasses that of ordinary people. You were able to start from the subtle details, witness the miraculous transformation, and comprehend the Cicada Wing Step. Furthermore, due to the thunderstorm caused by the golden cicada's transformation, you obtained the Palm Thunder."

As he spoke, he sighed, "Young master, you truly are a person of great fortune."

Hearing this, Qin Xianyu recalled that he had comprehended a body technique when the golden cicada flapped its wings, and then used the technique to reach the peak of a mountain, catching the golden cicada in his hand. Later, he was struck by lightning.

It turned out that the thunder was a tribulation caused by the golden cicada's transformation.

Qin Xianyu's heart stirred. His body moved like a swift wind, without any trace of烟火之气 (smoke or fire), and in one step, he leaped several yards, as if using a divine skill to shrink the earth.

He was overjoyed, stopped, and looked at his left palm, where there was a complex rune.

This rune, similar to a fire talisman, was likely the source of the Palm Thunder secret technique.

He closed his eyes slightly, feeling the true qi flow to his left palm, with a faint heat, as if a powerful and domineering force was about to burst forth from his palm.

"Cicada Wing Step?"

"Palm Thunder?"

"I actually obtained two great secret techniques?"

Qin Xianyu was overjoyed.

His sword techniques, learned from the initial understanding of swordsmanship, combined with his abundant true qi, were very powerful. However, he had never learned any sword techniques or their variations, so he could only use one sword strike. If he encountered a martial arts expert, he would surely be at a disadvantage.

With the Cicada Wing Step, he could engage in combat more effectively.

With the Cicada Wing Step's ability to move stealthily, others might not even react before Qin Xianyu's sword strike reached them.

Moreover, the Palm Thunder was clearly a divine skill recorded in the Daoist scriptures. For a cultivator like him, the ability to summon wind and rain and control thunder was something he had always dreamed of.

Calmly, Qin Xianyu came back to his senses from his excitement.

"The Cicada Wing Step is a great secret technique that can be used regardless of one's cultivation level," the scholar in the green robe said with a smile, offering some guidance. "As for the Palm Thunder, it has already changed according to the cultivation method you practice, ultimately forming a thunder rune. This rune is based on your cultivation method, and as long as you have true qi in your body, you can use it. However, your cultivation level is insufficient, making it difficult to use."

"Insufficient cultivation level?" Qin Xianyu bowed slightly and said, "Esteemed senior, please teach me."

The scholar in the green robe smiled and said, "The Palm Thunder is extremely yang and powerful, and thunder is the might of heaven, which only immortals can wield. Although the thunder helped you form the thunder rune, your cultivation level is still shallow. You need to reach a higher realm to勉强 (barely) use it."

"Realm?" Qin Xianyu, recognizing that this person was no ordinary being, likely on par with Liu Quanbaimu or even Lin Jingtang, respectfully said, "I, Qin Xianyu, only know of the qi sensing, true qi, and external true qi realms."

The scholar in the green robe nodded and said, "These are the three levels of the Qi Cultivation Realm."

Qin Xianyu was taken aback and said, "Qi Cultivation Realm?"

Seeing Qin Xianyu's surprised expression, the scholar in the green robe was slightly stunned and hesitated, "You... only know of the three levels of Qi Cultivation?"

"Junior only knows that the highest realm of cultivation is the external true qi. However, I have heard that there are more profound realms beyond the external true qi. This time, entering the Mountain and River Immortal Map, I encountered a great person, but I do not know what realms exist beyond the external true qi."

After saying this, Qin Xianyu took a step back and bowed, "Please, esteemed senior, enlighten me."

The scholar in the green robe was quite surprised and said, "I see that you are young but have already cultivated true qi, which is quite impressive in a secret place. In the secular world, you would be considered a young talent. I assumed that you had been taught by a great cultivator, so how could you not know about the different realms?"

Surprised, he added, "Cultivation methods are also divided into levels. You have achieved such a high level at your young age, so your cultivation method must be extraordinary. Could it be that you have never seen a cultivation method beyond the Qi Cultivation Realm?"

Qin Xianyu was puzzled but, hearing the words "cultivation method," he gritted his teeth and took out a secret manual from his chest, presenting it with both hands.

The scholar in the green robe took it and was suddenly startled.

On the cover of the manual, it clearly read: "The Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Qi True Technique."

"This scholar in the green robe, since he appeared in the Mountain and River Immortal Map, must also be a cultivator. I can sense qi, but I cannot see through him, so he must be beyond the external true qi realm," Qin Xianyu thought, feeling somewhat uneasy. "This Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Qi True Technique was created by my master Guanxu, but he himself is only at the external true qi realm. Since this person's cultivation level surpasses my master, he is unlikely to covet my cultivation method."

However, after taking the manual, the scholar in the green robe remained silent for a long time.

Seeing this, Qin Xianyu's heart raced, feeling nervous, "Why is his reaction so strange? With his cultivation level, he should not be so surprised by a cultivation method that stops at the external true qi realm!"

Qin Xianyu became even more anxious but knew that this person was a cultivator of extremely high realm, and was willing to converse with him. Missing this opportunity might mean never having such a chance again.

Master Guanxu had practiced for a hundred years and sought the Dao for decades, but he had never encountered a cultivator beyond the external true qi realm.

With this in mind, Qin Xianyu dared not hesitate and decided to be honest, hoping the other person would be kind and offer guidance.

After waiting for a while and seeing no response from the scholar in the green robe, Qin Xianyu took a deep breath and thought, "He can appear in the Mountain and River Immortal Map, so he must be one of the top cultivators. Could it be that this cultivation method is useful to him, leading to some enlightenment?"

"Originally, this cultivation method practices the primordial qi of the innate," the scholar in the green robe sighed, "No wonder there are no realm distinctions."

He then looked at the thunder rune on Qin Xianyu's left palm and pondered, "The primordial qi of the innate is the source of the human body. Since the true qi you cultivate is the primordial qi of the innate, it can be said to point directly to the essence of the Dao."

"Having such innate primordial qi that aligns with nature, it is reasonable that you could comprehend the Cicada Wing Step from the golden cicada's transformation."

"This thunder was originally the tribulation of the golden cicada, but it sensed the innate primordial qi in your body, circled through it, and formed the thunder rune according to the cultivation method you practice."

The scholar in the green robe nodded and said, "From this perspective, it is understandable that you obtained two great secret techniques."

Pointing directly to the essence of the Dao? Although Qin Xianyu did not fully understand, he knew that these words were extraordinary, and the scholar's serious tone made him even more surprised. He thought, "Could it be that this cultivation method was not created by Master Guanxu? That doesn't make sense. Master Guanxu has no reason to hide it from me. Could he have stumbled upon a different path? How should I cultivate in the future?"

While Qin Xianyu was troubled, the scholar in the green robe also frowned and said, "This cultivation method, who created it? It doesn't seem right."

"Being able to create a cultivation method that points directly to the essence of the Dao suggests a deep understanding of the essence of cultivation and a clear view of the world," the scholar in the green robe mused. "However, this cultivation method has many flaws and errors, which are quite obvious. How could someone who created such a method make such shallow mistakes?"

Qin Xianyu took a deep breath and said, "This cultivation method was created by my master."

"Really?" The scholar in the green robe was surprised, "If you have been taught by such a great person, how could you not know about the different realms?"

Qin Xianyu said softly, "My master practiced for a hundred years and sought the Dao all his life, but he only reached the external true qi realm."

"What?" The scholar in the green robe was shocked, "How is that possible?"

Qin Xianyu gritted his teeth and said, "Although my master's cultivation stopped at the external true qi realm, he had a far-sighted view. Here is a notebook containing his insights on talismans. Please, sir, take a look."

The scholar in the green robe became interested and took the notebook, flipping through it.

Qin Xianyu waited by his side.

This young Taoist was quite clever and, without realizing it, had changed his address from "esteemed senior" to "sir," making it slightly more intimate.

After a long time, the scholar in the green robe returned the notebook and sighed, "Indeed, he is a genius. His understanding of the Dao is so clear and profound, no wonder he could create the Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Qi True Technique."

"It's fortunate that his cultivation stopped at this level, allowing him to focus on this aspect. If he had continued to practice, he would have been fully devoted to the Dao, seeking immortality, and would not have analyzed these principles so thoroughly."

The scholar in the green robe was puzzled, "But I wonder why such a talented person does not know about the realms beyond cultivation."

Qin Xianyu was about to answer when he saw the scholar in the green robe frowning and deep in thought.

"Although cultivators should not reveal their methods to ordinary people, he is at the peak of Qi Cultivation, with external true qi, and is considered a cultivator. How could he not have met fellow cultivators?"

"Could there be some secret around him?"

"Or could someone have isolated him from other cultivators for decades, like an ordinary person, preventing him from seeing the truth of the Dao? But if the person hiding in the shadows could remain hidden for decades, why not just kill the old Taoist outright instead of spending decades watching over him?"

"That would be too absurd."

The scholar in the green robe thought for a long time, finally shook his head, and looked at Qin Xianyu, "This is your karma, and you should resolve it yourself. I will not interfere."

While the scholar was speculating, Qin Xianyu's heart was in turmoil, but when the scholar pointed out the karma, he finally calmed down.

After a moment, seeing the scholar still deep in thought, seemingly pondering the Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Qi True Technique and the insights in the notebook, Qin Xianyu gritted his teeth and bowed, "I, Qin Xianyu, have limited knowledge. Although I have obtained this extraordinary cultivation method, I fear I will follow in my master's footsteps and stop at the external true qi realm. Please, sir, show me the way."

The scholar in the green robe came to his senses and pondered silently.

Qin Xianyu performed a deep bow, sincerely and respectfully, "Please, sir, teach me."

The scholar in the green robe sighed and nodded slightly.

Qin Xianyu was overjoyed, feeling the world clear and the fog on his path beginning to lift.

PS: Thank you to the classmate "Headache from thinking of a nickname" for the tip...

Also, after the update at noon, I mistakenly placed the wrong volume, causing the chapters to be discontinuous. It took over an hour to fix, and I had to seek help from the editor and the backend. Please use your favorites, recommendations, and tips to comfort me!

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