"A very strange power. I can't even be sure if it's some kind of toxin or energy. There are still too many unknowns in this world. This curse of your Zagrama tribe alone could be enough for several generations to spend their entire lives researching."
"Our people have spent two thousand years trying to break this curse, but we still haven't been able to." Partridge Whistle's expression turned somber as he said this. The pressure of the curse was simply too much for him to bear.
"Don't be so discouraged. You need to understand one thing: times are changing. Modern medicine is much more advanced than it was two thousand years ago. Technological methods are also improving rapidly. And with the unification of the country, this pace will accelerate even further. Perhaps this will end before your curse takes effect."
"Is there no way for you, senior?" Partridge Whistle's face showed obvious disappointment.
"We are powerless against this curse. However, it's not entirely hopeless. We are powerless against the curse, but we can still do something for you. Based on the current situation, I can basically conclude that your body is fighting against the curse. This struggle will consume your life force, making it difficult for your people to live past forty."
So, since we can't break the curse, let's make you stronger. Strong enough to endure for a longer time. The longer you live, the greater your hope.
“Senior brother is already the most powerful person in the world. How can he become even stronger?” Hua Ling interjected from the side.
"Hua Ling, shut up. Have you forgotten that we are powerless against our seniors?"
"That doesn't count. Seniors don't count as people."
Lu Xuan: "......"
"Shut up. Hua Ling is still young and doesn't know any better. Please don't blame her, senior." Partridge Whistle looked embarrassed.
"Haha, that's not entirely wrong. I can barely be considered a half-cultivator. I am indeed different from most people. If they are both willing, I can take them both in. I possess a Qi cultivation technique, which should be able to help you resist this curse."
"Master, please accept Partridge Whistle's bow. You two, hurry up!" Partridge Whistle was truly worried sick about the future of his people. You must know, he was the leader of the Mountain Moving Clan, a renowned figure in the martial arts world. But now, he was being forced to kneel.
"Very good. There are no special rules for my disciples. As long as you don't do evil, just follow your heart. You can go and rest now. We will officially begin tomorrow."
After the three left, Hong Gu came out of the inner room carrying a bowl of chicken soup.
"What exactly is this curse on them?"
"It happened more than two thousand years ago, who can say for sure? I have a vague idea that they seemed to have glimpsed a power they shouldn't have. Something ancient that was hidden beyond the world. Just one glance at it could have led to annihilation."
"That sounds terrifying."
"It really is terrifying. Okay, stop changing the subject. Let's get down to business."
"I don't want to."
"Hurry up, don't dawdle."
"But, it's disgusting."
"Even if you feel nauseous, you should still drink it; it's good for your health."
"I have no health problems."
"I'm a doctor, and whether there's a problem or not is up to me. You've been trained in the ancient magic tricks of the Moon Gate since you were a child. That kind of training is based on individual talent, relentlessly pushing your body's potential to achieve results. Although it gave you extraordinary skills in your teens, it came at the cost of damaging the foundation of your body."
You won't feel it now. But after thirty-five, all sorts of problems will appear. After forty, you might not even be able to walk. While you're still young, I can use my inner energy, along with medicine, to slowly help you recover. Any later, and it will leave lasting health problems.
"Couldn't you make this medicine taste a little better?"
"Do you know what 'good medicine tastes bitter' means? You can't just add anything else to a medicine. Hurry up."
"Then feed me."
“…” Lu Xuan paused for a moment, then took a sip himself.
.............
The next day, in the courtyard, Lu Xuan explained the basics of Qi cultivation to the three members of the Mountain Moving Team.
"The concept of Qi cultivation has existed since ancient times. However, people have almost never seen any real Qi cultivators. Even I can only achieve some of the superficial aspects of those legendary Qi cultivators."
As Lu Xuan spoke, he gently waved his right hand. A willow tree beside him swayed slightly. A willow leaf gently floated into his hand. However, the leaf did not fall completely. The three of them saw with their own eyes that the leaf actually hovered steadily three fingers above Lu Xuan's palm.
"Qi exists between heaven and earth. You can't see it or touch it. But it's there. You can call it primordial energy, spiritual energy, or just qi. It doesn't matter."
To mobilize the primordial energy of heaven and earth, you need to use your own energy to guide the surrounding energy. But as mentioned before, energy is invisible and intangible. So how can you possibly possess energy? This is the first and biggest challenge in cultivating energy. The first step is to develop a sense of energy.
Partridge Whistle thought for a moment and then said.
“Master, our Mountain Moving lineage has always concealed our true identities as Taoist priests. Therefore, we have also learned some Taoist breathing techniques. However, apart from strengthening the body, we haven't felt the presence of Qi. Is our method incorrect?”
"It's hard to say. No one dares to say that the methods passed down in Taoism are necessarily fake. But while the methods themselves may not change, times will. From what I understand, the primordial energy between heaven and earth is actually changing. It's not a change in quantity, but rather a change in activity. Simply put, from ancient times to the present, the primordial energy of heaven and earth should be getting less and less active."
"If energy isn't human, why would it become lazy?"
"Let me put it this way. If we compare the primordial energy of heaven and earth to water, in ancient times, water was simply water. Whoever could find it could drink it. But in modern times, water has turned into ice. Finding water isn't enough; you need to melt it before you can drink it. This makes drinking water much more difficult."
As time goes by, the ice will become harder and harder, until one day, even ordinary fire cannot melt it. At that time, we will be completely unable to drink water. This is what Buddhism calls the Dharma-ending Age.
After Lu Xuan finished speaking, all three disciples fell into deep thought. After a while, Partridge Whistle, who was more experienced and knowledgeable, was the first to react.
"I think I understand what Master means. Cultivation is already so difficult now, do we really still have hope?"
"Hope lies in yourselves. Partridge Whistle, the three of you are both unfortunate and fortunate. Unfortunate because you bear this inescapable curse. Fortunate because we are now on the edge of the Dharma-ending Age, so there is still a glimmer of hope."
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Chapter 201 Farewell (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Creating something from nothing is the hardest step. But for the three who had received a master, it was the easiest step. Because Lu Xuan could directly inject his vital energy into their bodies, creating a sense of energy.
In martial arts novels, major sects are always able to continuously produce mid-level skilled fighters. Masters are also constantly emerging. In contrast, wandering swordsmen in the common folk can only produce one top-tier master every few decades.
Those within the established order can easily cross the threshold of creating something from nothing. But those who are unaffiliated will be stuck at the very first step. Those who can cross that threshold on their own are undoubtedly geniuses, one in ten thousand. That's why they are so few in number, but each one can become a top master in the future.