Episode 48

  At this critical moment, he suddenly remembered the must-kill technique! This technique has the ability to condense and disperse spiritual power. He hastily wanted to urge this technique to disperse the huge spiritual energy gathered in the meridians from the elixir, to solve this problem, but in a hurry, he couldn't concentrate his mind. Insufficiently wanting to calm down and quiet his heart, but that sharp pain like a small knife cutting inch by inch and the itching of billions of ants crawling, how could it be simply endured!

  When the pain and itching became unbearable, it also triggered the evil nature within him! From the beginning of human beings, all natures are complete! There is goodness in them, but also evil! There is a desire for truth, but also a intention to be false! There is a love for beauty, but also a hidden anxiety! All images and things exist! But it's not just good or just evil! When external objects stimulate emotions and forms, all images can be triggered! At this time, the unbearable pain and itching are actually hard to bear, and the anger makes one forget death! However, he put aside the pain and itching, and instead let them erupt. He sat calmly like an old monk in meditation! Gradually, his heart became calm and his breath evened out. The operation of the killing technique was to dissolve the spiritual energy into dozens of threads, using a single thread to guide the medicinal power from the dantian meridian to a certain part of the body, and then further divide it into finer threads, guiding the accumulated spiritual energy to various parts of the body. After this method was used, the severe pain and itching in the body suddenly decreased. With a relieved heart, he carefully examined the flow of spiritual energy, including the spiritual energy contained in the elixir, which could be manipulated at will! He either solidified the meridians, strengthened the dantian, or tried to transform it into his own spiritual energy! After half a day's work, he finally took a break. When he opened his eyes and looked around, he saw that his clothes were all torn apart, almost in shreds! Suddenly, he furrowed his brow again, sniffing the air, which was filled with a strong and unpleasant smell inside the temple. He covered his mouth with one hand and waved the tattered sleeve of his robe to drive away the stench with the other. Then, he took out an old robe from his package and put it on, throwing aside the torn robe that had emitted the foul odor.

  "What's wrong? Why hasn't Chang'er returned for so long?"

  Insufficient to get up and wanted to go to the temple gate, but did not prevent both legs from going soft, fell to the ground, for a long time could not move his body, and then crawled towards the temple gate on the ground. The threshold of the temple gate was too high, and it was impossible to climb over here, only feeling weak all over, as if he had lost all his strength. Insufficient thought:

  "It's settled that I overcame the pain, but I've lost all my strength!"

  He lay down at the door, quietly waiting for Qing'er. Dazed and confused, he suddenly felt tired and couldn't bear it, and involuntarily closed his eyes. He didn't know how long had passed when he heard Qing'er calling him by his ear:

  "Brother is not enough, brother is not enough, hurry up and wake up, I have brought food."

  "Oh, Chang'er, where have you gone and made me wait?"

  Insufficient to open one's eyes and speak.

  "Brother Insufficient, why are you lying down at the door? Hurry back to the grass mat first."

  "I'm afraid I've lost all my strength, my legs have gone soft and I can't walk anymore."

  "What's wrong with you?"

  Chang'e was shocked and pale, saying:

  "How can you dissipate the medicinal power! Oh dear heavens, you must be unable to bear the pain and itching, and with one burst of energy, you've rushed the medicine's potency to the point where your body can't take it! Insufficient brother, have you forgotten grandfather's teachings? Dan medicine isn't roasted beans, how can you eat so much in one breath!"

  "Cough cough! Someone... isn't being good!"

  Chang'er hastily examined the insufficient pulse condition and saw that her body was not seriously damaged. She was overjoyed and didn't hesitate for a moment.

  "Insufficient brother, how did you manage to dispel the medicinal properties?"

  "Oh, he suddenly unleashed all his power, but it burst out of control. In a desperate situation, he tried to use the logic of his killing technique to transform his own strength into dozens of times, guiding it to circulate throughout his body, and unexpectedly hit the right spot, resolving this crisis!"

  "Ah! Insufficient brother, indeed a lucky person has a predestined affinity! However, this ultimate technique is truly extraordinary, but it's only something that an ordinary person can comprehend. Yet, the profound principle it contains happens to be your lifesaving move!"

  Chang'er spoke as she helped him back onto the grass mat.

  "Chang'e, why are you late!"

  "Alas! Insufficient brother, first, I walked a lot of roads to find the market to buy food, second, I was afraid of meeting the Fang Zhong family's Xiuxiu, so I dared to detour far away."

  "What discovery is there?"

  "There are still a few people searching in the distance, but they're still far from here! Don't worry, just wait until those two have eaten their fill and then we can make our escape!"

  Chang'er smiled and said.

  "Chang'er, bring some food quickly, I'm really starving!"

  "Sorry, brother, the meat dishes are already prepared, but you're injured and I didn't buy wine!"

  "No wine? Never mind, let's fill our stomachs first!"

  Then he ate hastily and voraciously. Zhen'er was so anxious that she kept advising him:

  "Slow down then individual, slow down then individual."

  After dinner, he said to Chang'er:

  "Cultivators can abstain from food! The more superior the method, the longer they can abstain. In the initial stage of practice, one can go without eating for several months; in the stage of solidifying the primordial spirit, one can go without eating for a year or two; in the stage of gathering and refining spiritual energy, one can go without eating for three to five years. Once they reach the realm of Small Enlightenment, they can transcend worldly smoke and fire! I wonder how many years it will take us to be able to abstain from food?"

  "It's not enough, brother. As long as our hearts for the Tao don't die and we continue to cultivate, when the day of ascension comes, what will be difficult?"

  "Yes! It's just that the path of cultivation is fraught with danger and difficulty! Every step you take is filled with a thousand dangers! The pain in your body and mind is actually hard to bear! And what's more, every time your life is at stake, some families even regret bringing you into this perilous situation!"

  "Insufficient elder brother, I have made up my mind. From now on, I will follow you, never leaving or abandoning you. Even if the Great Way is already complete, I am still your little sister..."

  Chang'e's cheeks flushed slightly red.

  "Hehe, I'm afraid certain people... are powerless..."

  "Enough, brother! Don't spout nonsense. Let's take a look at the treasures and elixirs we've obtained instead!"

  "Killing and plundering, the Great Sage of the Mortal World is despised for it, but people take it as normal! Cultivators are even more so! Haha, mortals only know that cultivators cultivate the Tao, but they don't know how ordinary they are. Ordinary is unbearable! Jing'er, bring me the things you've obtained and let's see if there's anything useful."

  "Yes, younger brother."

  Qing'er smiled cleverly and opened a package, revealing two cloth bags and several books on Taoist magic. There was also another object, which she had obtained from a gambler's den, a jade box. She opened the exquisite white jade box and placed a letter inside. Qing'er took out the letter and examined it. After a while, she flipped through several books on Taoist magic, sighed, and said:

  "This book of numbers may have some use, but the Taoist magic and spells are too ordinary. Moreover, with our current level of magical power, we can't even activate its effects in the slightest. In fact, it's not very useful at all. I wonder what these few bottles of elixir are for."

  He then opened more than a dozen medicine bottles he had obtained. Having followed his grandfather in preparing medicines and refining elixirs for many years, he was most familiar with the way of elixir medicines. He carefully examined each one's name and medicinal properties.

  "This green porcelain bottle contains the Hundred Supplement Pill, which can help with Qi and blood circulation. The medicinal properties are ordinary, not rare at all. However, this bottle emitting a blue glow contains the Nine Crossing Pill, which is somewhat meaningful. My grandfather often took it to aid in his cultivation, especially when breaking through boundaries.

  What's truly rare is the monarch medicine of this pill, which is difficult to find and refine. It requires constant consumption to be effective, what a pity! This yellow jade bottle contains the Strong Following Pill, which can assist the six spirits. But in my opinion, this medicine bottle is even more precious than the pill itself! It can actually conceal the spiritual aura of the immortal pill, truly a treasure!

  This golden bottle contains an ordinary pill that can only slightly increase Qi and blood, with minimal medicinal effect. My grandfather didn't think much of it... Ah, what a shame! This grayish-white medicine bottle only has one pill left! But this pill is extraordinary - it's the Mysterious Dragon Pill, also known as the Ascension Pill.

  In the past, my grandfather searched for its main ingredient, the Three-Flavor Dragon Grass, for hundreds of years but couldn't find it. He thought it was extinct, but unexpectedly, there's still one pill left! This single pill can aid in breaking through the spiritual realm with incredible effect! If my grandfather had this immortal pill back then, he would have definitely broken through to achieve the ultimate cultivation.

  Alas, fate was not on his side... Ah, I'm so excited to have obtained this pill that I couldn't help but talk about the principles of alchemy and medicine I learned earlier!"

  "Brother Insufficient, you're really something, actually knowing so many medicinal pills!"

  "When you were practicing alchemy with your grandfather, you were probably still running around naked! Hahaha... Hahaha... Hahaha"

  "What's wrong with you! Insufficient brother is really annoying, I was born earlier than you!"

  Chang'er's face was slightly red, and she said shyly.

  "Oh! Haha... Hey, Chang'er, what's that thing in your hand?"

  "It's just one of those good-for-nothing monks' letters! Not that precious treasure!"

  "Darling! Alas! Chang'er, although I have been forced to do some things, I am not a greedy and insatiable person, nor am I a murderer or a thief! Why do you always treat me like a bandit?"

  "It's not that I think you're a bad person, it's just that I'm not used to getting things from someone who has died!"

  "Some families have always regarded Confucian teachings as worthless. They think that it is only used by foolish people, officials and those who govern the world to cover up people's true nature and innate abilities! Often, kings or so-called sages regard these teachings as sacred objects, but consider themselves above them!"

  "But, brother, what is the purpose of our cultivation? Is it merely to seek immortality and escape from the three realms? Or perhaps to break free from worldly ties and attain great divine powers to roam the universe and rule the world? Or, what is the Dao? What is the purpose of seeking the Dao?"

  "This, this, hmm, some, some family... Chang'er, I am also bewildered and thoughtless! What you said is righteous! We should think carefully about it! However, for now, let me take a look at that letter!"