Chapter 59

The gentle breeze blew.

The grass and trees were lush and green.

The elegant scholar in the blue robe was in seclusion, deducing and perfecting the Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Ancestral Qi True Technique, and had not emerged yet.

Qin Xianyu sat cross-legged in meditation, and after completing his practice, he quietly pondered under the tree.

The Cold Year Grass was right beside him, its seven golden leaves shining brightly.

The elegant scholar had only asked for the Ghost Suppressing Seal and had not taken an interest in the Cold Year Grass. It was understandable; such a person likely possessed countless spiritual medicines and would not be interested in a mere hundred-year-old Cold Year Grass.

However, for Qin Xianyu, the Cold Year Grass was quite precious, especially the leaves from a hundred-year-old plant. Moreover, this Cold Year Grass's roots and stems were gradually changing, with the potential to turn entirely golden, which would greatly benefit the future growth of its leaves.

Compared to the Ghost Suppressing Seal, the Cold Year Grass might actually be more useful.

The Ghost Suppressing Seal might be an extraordinary treasure, but it was of little use to Qin Xianyu. At least for now, he had no practical use for the Ghost Suppressing Seal. Being able to exchange it for the opportunity to perfect his cultivation technique made Qin Xianyu quite pleased.

"Speaking of which, this senior is truly a man of high moral character," Qin Xianyu thought to himself. "If another highly cultivated person had come, they would likely have tried to seize the treasure I possess. This senior deduced and perfected my cultivation technique, putting in so much effort and energy, truly a man of integrity."

Deducing and perfecting a cultivation technique was no easy task, and Qin Xianyu, though not well-versed in it, knew it required immense effort and energy. Moreover, the elegant scholar was deducing the technique up to the Golden Core realm.

The Golden Core was revered as the Earth Immortal, a realm of immortality.

Anything related to immortals was bound to be complex and mysterious.

"Right, this senior mentioned a secret place several times. I wonder what it is and whether it involves any secrets. When he emerges from seclusion, I'll try to ask him. If he answers, that would be best, but if he doesn't, I won't worry about it."

With that thought, Qin Xianyu resumed his cross-legged meditation.

When he opened his eyes again, half a day had passed.

The elegant scholar in the blue robe was sitting on a green tree ahead, leaning against the trunk, eyes closed, resting.

He had already emerged from seclusion and seemed to be waiting for Qin Xianyu to finish his cultivation.

Qin Xianyu thought to himself, "What a sin, to make this senior wait for me. It's a great sin."

Qin Xianyu hurried forward just as the elegant scholar slowly opened his eyes.

The elegant scholar's eyes were dull, lacking the previous vitality, and his aura seemed weaker. He smiled faintly, his voice slightly weak, and said, "Fortunately, I did not fail my mission. The cultivation technique has been perfected."

Qin Xianyu felt a sense of clarity in his mind and body, his eyes shining brighter.

"The main issues with the technique were minor, mostly basic foundations that were easy to improve. The additional changes in realms, such as condensing Earthly Fiendish Qi and Heavenly Martial Qi, and finding Yin and Yang to form Dragon and Tiger, were more challenging to integrate without conflict," the elegant scholar said, his face slightly pale. "Fortunately, the deduction was successful, and the technique is now thoroughly perfected."

Qin Xianyu was deeply moved and performed the disciple's salute, saying, "Sir, you have guided me through the fog and improved my cultivation technique. I, Qin Xianyu, am eternally grateful."

Seeing him perform such a grand salute, the elegant scholar could not help but smile and said, "Actually, you don't need to thank me. The Ghost Suppressing Seal was once a sect's most precious treasure, extremely valuable to me. Although perfecting the technique caused some damage, you also lost a great treasure."

Qin Xianyu shook his head and said seriously, "The Ghost Suppressing Seal is indeed precious, but it is of no use to me. Even if I had ten treasures, I would be willing to use them to perfect the technique! Moreover, Sir did not take advantage of me, showing high moral character, which I greatly admire."

Another not-so-subtle compliment.

The elegant scholar's smile widened, and he said, "The Ghost Suppressing Seal contains some Yin Qi. It was originally a peak Qi Practitioner, a nine-inch true qi fox demon, which made a mistake while condensing Earthly Fiendish Qi, leading to its death and the dissipation of its path. Because it was a cultivator, its innate Primordial Ancestral Qi was more concentrated, so it did not dissipate but instead condensed with the Earthly Fiendish Qi, forming Yin Qi, becoming a ghost spirit as described in folklore."

"The Ghost Suppressing Seal is actually a great treasure for suppressing ghosts."

"Of course, when ordinary people die, their innate Primordial Ancestral Qi dissipates, leading to the complete loss of their soul. Only cultivators have the potential to become ghosts because their cultivation leads to a greater accumulation of essence, making their innate Primordial Ancestral Qi more concentrated, so it does not dissipate immediately. When they encounter certain opportunities, such as Earthly Fiendish Qi, they can condense into Yin Qi, becoming ghost spirits."

The elegant scholar continued, "You possess the Thunder Seal, and once you cultivate to the Heavenly Martial Qi stage, you can use Palm Thunder. Thunder is the supreme yang power, specifically effective against yin entities. So, the Ghost Suppressing Seal is indeed of little use to you."

After the elegant scholar's explanation, Qin Xianyu understood more about ghosts and felt no regret about losing the Ghost Suppressing Seal. Hearing this, he felt even less regret.

The elegant scholar waved his hand, and a manual flew out.

Qin Xianyu was excited but dared not read it on the spot for fear of being impolite.

The elegant scholar smiled and said, "I only filled in the gaps and added changes in realms, such as condensing Earthly Fiendish Qi and Heavenly Martial Qi, finding Yin and Yang, and forming Dragon and Tiger. Other parts remain largely unchanged. It is still the Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Ancestral Qi True Technique."

"I need to study the Ghost Suppressing Seal to benefit myself. You should cultivate and study the added parts of the technique to understand their subtleties."

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

The elegant scholar smiled again and took out another booklet, saying, "While perfecting the technique, I noticed some shallow flaws that should not have been there. These are common knowledge among ordinary cultivators, but Guan Xu Daoist, who had no contact with cultivators, likely made these mistakes. I see you also lack knowledge of cultivation basics, so I have compiled this booklet, which covers some common issues. I will give it to you."

Qin Xianyu bowed in gratitude, took the booklet, and when he looked up, the elegant scholar was gone.

A faint laugh echoed in his ears, "If you have any doubts, just call out, and I will appear."

The voice was still in his ears, but the elegant scholar was nowhere to be seen.

Qin Xianyu, with his excellent eyesight, looked around but saw nothing. He extended his gaze to the horizon but still found no trace of the elegant scholar. He could only think, "Truly a profound cultivator, appearing and disappearing like a ghost."

After that, Qin Xianyu eagerly flipped through the books.

The records about Qi Practitioners, Earthly Fiendish Qi, Heavenly Martial Qi, Dragon and Tiger, and Golden Core were extremely detailed.

"Qi Practitioners, Earthly Fiendish Qi, Heavenly Martial Qi, Dragon and Tiger, and Golden Core, these five realms are further divided into many stages."

Seeing the records of these realms, Qin Xianyu's heart was not calm. He thought, "The Qi Practitioner realm has three stages, with nine-inch true qi as the peak, allowing true qi to be released externally. However, without condensing Earthly Fiendish Qi and advancing to a higher realm, one can only remain at this stage, with nine-inch true qi being the highest, unable to progress further."

"However, the Primordial Ancestral Qi True Technique can exceed the nine-inch true qi limit, reaching thirteen-inch true qi, making it the peak of the Qi Practitioner realm."

"According to this senior's speculation, this Purple Mansion Divine Court Primordial Ancestral Qi True Technique is extraordinary, thus not bound by the nine-inch true qi limit, allowing the cultivation of thirteen-inch true qi. However, thirteen-inch true qi is also the limit of the Qi Practitioner realm, unable to progress further."

"The Earthly Fiendish Qi and Heavenly Martial Qi realm has two stages: condensing Earthly Fiendish Qi and forming Heavenly Martial Qi, but one must also break through the body's acupoints. There are seventy-two Earthly Fiendish Qi acupoints and thirty-six Heavenly Martial Qi acupoints. Therefore, these two stages are also known as the seventy-two Earthly Fiendish Qi and thirty-six Heavenly Martial Qi."

"The subsequent Dragon and Tiger, Golden Core, and Inner Womb realms are further divided into many stages, truly profound and mysterious."

Qin Xianyu whispered to himself, "Qi Sensitivity, True Qi, and True Qi Release, these three stages are just the three levels of the Qi Practitioner realm."

"Master Guan Xu cultivated all his life but only remained at the Qi Practitioner realm, just at the first threshold of cultivation?"

Qin Xianyu exhaled, "No wonder martial artists can only be ordinary, while cultivators are mysterious and unpredictable. Because even a Grandmaster of martial arts has reached the pinnacle of martial arts, with no further path ahead, while cultivators are just at the beginning of their cultivation journey when they reach the True Qi Release stage."

The path of cultivation ahead was clear and bright, like a fog lifting to reveal a broad road, making Qin Xianyu feel extremely good.

In the following days, Qin Xianyu read the cultivation technique daily and occasionally the booklet on cultivation basics.

If he had any questions, he would note them down and wait to call the elegant scholar to ask all at once. After all, it would be inconvenient to call him every time he had a question.

After a while, he had noted down everything and read through it many times, leaving only the unresolved questions to be answered by the elegant scholar when he emerged from seclusion.

Qin Xianyu wanted to call out, but remembering that the elegant scholar was in seclusion to study the Ghost Suppressing Seal, he did not want to disturb him and sat quietly for another half an hour.

"Within this River and Mountain Immortal Map, there are living plants and trees, but it seems only he is here?"

"Who is this gentleman?"

"Wait, he said that over the past few hundred years, every ten years, three people enter the River and Mountain Immortal Map. That means he has been in this world within the map for several hundred years?"

Qin Xianyu only realized this now, and his body stiffened.

The elegant scholar looked like a man in his forties, with a youthful and refined appearance, not at all like an old man. But from his earlier words, he was likely a few hundred years old.

Cultivators could live long and seek immortality, which Qin Xianyu already knew, and it was one of his interests in cultivation.

But to actually meet someone who was a few hundred years old, Qin Xianyu still found it hard to believe.

"You don't need to be puzzled."

The elegant scholar had appeared without Qin Xianyu noticing, smiling. "I was originally a cultivator, but later, due to a stroke of luck, I became inseparably linked to the River and Mountain Immortal Map, almost as one. Hmm... perhaps you can think of me as the River and Mountain Immortal Map."

Qin Xianyu stood there, unable to accept this statement for a long time.

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