Chapter 6: The Art of Longevity, the Everlasting Spring Skill!
“Boom!”
A deafening thunderclap tore through the sky, instantly illuminating the cloud-covered night.
Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, and Fu Jun A were already far from the winding creek.
They had entered a wide river.
The three looked up at the sky, only to see dark clouds like raging tides.
They quickly enveloped the entire sky, swallowing the starlight and moonlight in an instant!
In their place, a torrential downpour descended, like countless angry arrows, striking down furiously.
The peaceful river transformed into a raging torrent in a short period of time!
The black surface of the river seemed to boil, waves crashing, spray flying!
It was pitch black around them, even the nearby river was difficult to see.
Fishing boats bobbed up and down in the current, tossed about like toys by the relentless force!
The boat the three were in also swayed uncontrollably in the raging river!
Apart from the endless darkness, there was nothing else.
The rain arrows struck the three like blades!
Their drenched clothes clung tightly to their bodies!
A gust of cold wind sent a bone-chilling chill through them, making them utterly uncomfortable.
Kou Zhong felt his clothes were soaked, he turned his head, and.
Shouted to Xu Ziling loudly:
“Ling Shao, dock the boat, let’s find a place to settle nearby!
“This terrible weather, if it doesn’t stop soon, it will be dangerous!”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ziling immediately used his oars vigorously, trying to bring the boat closer to the shore!
Finally, the three successfully landed, they braved the wind and rain!
Taking deep and shallow steps, they walked towards the boundless wild forest!
To temporarily escape the wrath of nature…
On the docks of Yangzhou City, the night had been ripped apart by the lights of five giant ships.
The light from the lampposts shone out, illuminating the entire area like daylight.
These giant ships were the masterpiece of the deceased founding minister of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Su!
They were called Five-Tooth Great Ships, with five levels on their decks!
They towered like mountains, each ship could accommodate eight hundred warriors!
Yu Wenhua Ji sat inside the cabin of the largest ship, his face cold and icy.
His shoulder was wrapped in bandages, it seemed his wounds were not healed…
The atmosphere inside the cabin was also exceptionally cold due to the coldness emanating from him.
The stormy weather outside added to the chills!
Even the guards standing at the door couldn’t help but shiver.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded on the deck.
A soldier clad in silver armor walked into Yu Wenhua Ji’s cabin.
This man was Zhang Shi He, Yu Wenhua Ji’s trusted subordinate.
He knelt on one knee, his expression anxious, he said:
“My lord, those three have disappeared without a trace! The rain has blocked their presence…”
Yu Wenhua Ji’s brow furrowed, the suppressed anger could no longer be controlled!
“Bang!”
He slammed his palm onto the table!
His palm carried a glacial force, the table instantly froze!
Then the ice shattered, turning into ice shards scattering on the floor!
Zhang Shi He immediately lowered his head.
Yu Wenhua Ji looked down at his hand.
Then he stood up, his eyes cold as he looked out at the rain outside.
His voice was frigid as he said:
“Continue searching, you must find them!”
A hint of a disdainful smile appeared on his lips as he continued:
“His Majesty is obsessed with the Taoist alchemical arts of immortality, how ridiculous!”
“If such an extraordinary art truly exists, there should have been immortals appearing long ago!
“But looking back at those Taoist sages, who wasn’t destined to die?”
As he spoke, a strange gleam flashed in his eyes, he sneered:
“If it wasn’t for the fact that the *Longsheng Jue* is woven from celestial gold thread, impervious to fire and water.”
“We could just find someone, create a fake copy, and fool everyone!”
Zhang Shi He could only stand up at this point, and with a flattering smile, he said:
“Your Majesty has been secretly investigating for many years, only recently did he learn about this book, naturally, he is eager.”
Yu Wenhua Ji nodded, then said:
“Make arrangements.”
Zhang Shi He bowed and left…
Leaving Yu Wenhua Ji alone in the room, his eyes shadowed as he gazed out the window.
…
In a secluded mountain valley far from civilization, trees were lush, blocking out the sun.
It was silent here, occasionally a few bird calls and insect chirps echoed, further highlighting the isolation of this place.
Kou Zhong and the other two found temporary shelter in such a hidden corner.
They then built a simple wooden hut.
The roof was covered with a thick layer of leaves and branches, to shield them from wind and rain.
After settling in, the three went to rest.
The next morning, a ray of sunlight pierced through the wooden hut.
Fu Jun A had already had the two sit cross-legged on an empty patch of ground.
Her cold voice echoed through the forest:
“Both of you have never practiced any internal family techniques, I don’t know if you can succeed…”
Fu Jun A took the *Longsheng Jue* that Kou Zhong had given her, and began to read:
“On the banks of the Milky Way, mysteries abound, the mechanisms of all things come and go. The initial thoughts and intentions are early, it turns out that gathering and dispersal are good.”
“The true essence of life, it is necessary to understand the *Longsheng Jue* clearly…”
“Fate is like a furnace of alchemy, the rise and fall, heart precepts and actions are hidden, the best is like water, let it flow…”
“The five elements return to the Dao, busy, yin and yang intertwine, forgetting, the silent heavens and earth are full of grace, moving to suspend the three realms, facing the nation…”
Under Fu Jun A’s gentle guidance.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling sat facing each other.
Their left legs were outwards, their right legs inwards, forming a posture of yin and yang intertwining.
It seemed to resonate with the most primordial power of the universe.
As Fu Jun A continued to chant, the two slowly closed their eyes.
They transcended the self, entering a strange state of seemingly sleeping, yet not sleeping, seemingly awake, yet not awake!
Their breathing became slow and deep.
Their bodies seemed to transform into a wisp of smoke, dissipating into the void!
The images of the *Longsheng Jue* appeared in their minds at the same time.
Those intricate patterns and lines seemed to come alive!
They rotated and merged in their mental world!
They no longer paid attention to any arrow instructions!
They simply drifted vaguely, their consciousness fixed at an indescribable level!
Kou Zhong practiced according to the sixth diagram of the *Longsheng Jue*.
A freezing true energy entered his head, flowing into all the major and minor meridians!
The chill was so cold, it made him uncomfortable!
But with his deep foundation in the Elephant Armor Skill, he easily resisted the chill.
Xu Ziling, on the other hand, cultivated according to the seventh diagram.
For a moment, he only felt a burning sensation in the soles of his feet, like fire, then the heat surged upwards!
It flowed into his meridians in a myriad of threads!
His body seemed to be ignited, his blood boiling, every cell was cheering and leaping for joy!
A series of rapid air currents appeared around them!
Their faces were alternately blue and red, constantly changing!
Fu Jun A witnessed all this, she was shocked beyond belief!
Was this really their first time practicing?
Their first practice, they actually drew out spiritual energy!
Impossible!
This was something that only a Xiantian Zongshi (innate Grandmaster) could achieve!
She had also tried to practice the *Longsheng Jue*, but found that she could not!
Whenever she practiced, her blood and qi would flow in reverse, eventually her meridians would be destroyed!
Yet Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling had no internal energy at all!
To be able to instantly master the *Longsheng Jue*, it was simply unbelievable!
The setting sun was like blood, dyeing half the sky red.
Two figures stood on the peak of a cliff, like two statues standing on the mountaintop.
They gazed into the distance, as if they could see their future glory in that sliver of setting sun.
Xu Ziling still looked childish, with bright lights flashing in his eyes, he looked up at Kou Zhong.
He said excitedly:
“Zhong Shao, I’ve already mastered the first level of the *Longsheng Jue*, I feel so much lighter!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he flipped over, light and agile like a nimble cat!
He performed two consecutive somersaults, landing steadily on a nearby boulder.
Two flushes of red appeared on his cheeks, his eyes were full of pride and joy.
“Look!”
Days had passed since their first practice.
Xu Ziling’s body, which was previously a bit malnourished, now had a healthy glow!
His already charming features now had an air of spirit!
His thin cheekbones were now full of color, he was a lively and sunny young man!
Kou Zhong smiled slightly.
He knew that these changes were brought about by practicing the *Longsheng Jue*.
But seeing Xu Ziling’s changes, these days, these changes had also appeared on him!
However, a hint of worry lingered in his heart, like a dark cloud obscuring the sun.
Xu Ziling, beaming with joy, did not notice anything amiss with Kou Zhong.
He said excitedly:
“It was you and Fu Lady who built the hut the other day, today it’s my turn to do something!”
“I’m going to catch some fish to eat!”
Before the words were out, he was already like a soaring eagle!
“Bang!”
He leaped from the cliff, creating a huge splash of water, disappearing into the river.
Kou Zhong watched his disappearing figure, he couldn’t help but smile.
The changes brought about by the *Longsheng Jue* were naturally extraordinary!
But…
He always remembered!
The *Longsheng Jue*, while able to allow cultivators to prolong their lifespans through practicing refining essence into qi, was still a very powerful skill.
To maintain youthful looks, it was a life-extending effect, like that of a tortoise!
But the price of practicing this skill was a reduction in fertility!
It would prevent cultivators from leaving descendants!
Thinking of this, Kou Zhong’s face became uncomfortable.
He couldn’t help but wonder if it was right for him to have practiced the *Longsheng Jue* so rashly?
But thinking about his future grand ambitions, some things would have to be sacrificed.
In order to achieve it!
He shook his head, it was not like the *Poxie Sword Manual* where you had to castrate yourself.
At least he was still a man, he could still do things between men and women…
Looking at the clear river below.
He felt a little eager to try, wanting to experience the feeling of leaping off the cliff.
However, just as he was about to jump, a clear, crisp voice echoed in his mind!
【Ding! Congratulations, host, you have successfully cultivated the *Longsheng Jue*, successfully obtained inheritance progress, and received a reward: *Everlasting Spring Skill* (first four levels)!】