"Taoist Master, please wait." A sweet voice called out from behind.
Lin Yi felt a chill run down his spine. Luckily, it wasn't "Fellow Daoist, please wait," otherwise he would have turned and run without looking back. From then on, whenever he encountered the other party, he would deliberately avoid them.
"Is there something you need?" Lin Yi asked.
"Please, Taoist priest, have mercy and save my sister!" the woman in white said, then knelt down with a thud. Her pretty face was streaked with tears, making her look pitiful.
At this moment, most people's attention was drawn to the monks, Taoists, and strange people on Zhuque Street, but several people standing on the periphery turned around after hearing the commotion.
The closest one was a handsome young man, about twelve or thirteen years old, with a sallow complexion but sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a dignified appearance, and a touch of scholarly air.
"Get up and talk quickly." Lin Yi said, walking quickly forward and pulling the girl in white up from the ground.
The white-clad girl's hands were soft and boneless. But that wasn't the point. The point was that Lin Yi sensed a faint demonic aura emanating from her.
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Chapter Forty: The Radiance of the Five Elements, Showing Great Compassion
In the Seven Phoenix Realms, the human race holds the legitimate position, while the demon race is frequently targeted and threatened.
However, it's somewhat ironic that the mainstream of human cultivation in this world—the Xuanmen Daoist school—was actually founded by the demon race. Of the current ten patriarchs of the Daoist school, six were ancient demon sages.
In ancient times, gods and demons were indistinguishable, and all living beings were incredibly powerful. Some were as tall as hills, some had three heads and six arms, could summon wind and lightning, and some had eyes like the sun and moon, and could hold the four seas in their hands.
Ever since Nuwa gathered the bloodlines of the ancient people and created living beings, the bloodlines of later generations have been mixed with those of the ancient gods and demons. This includes the bloodlines of primordial beasts, ancient dragons, the seven phoenixes of creation, and even the human race.
Therefore, only humans can cultivate the ancient ways of gods and demons, and only humans possess the bloodline of the ancient gods and demons. Other beasts, plants, birds, objects, and stones cannot cultivate the ways of gods and demons.
Only then did the Great Sage of the Demon Clan observe the changes in the heavens and earth, the alternation of the four seasons, the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, and comprehend the wonders of the growth of all things, thus creating the art of Qi Refining.
Later, the art of Qi cultivation was introduced to the human race, where it was further developed and eventually overwhelmed the path of gods and demons, successfully taking the lead and becoming the dominant force.
These thoughts flashed through Lin Yi's mind. He released the girl in white's hand and said, "This is not the place to talk. Come with me."
Lin Yi led the girl in white away, and most of the people around turned their attention back to Zhuque Street, marveling at the monks, Taoists, and other extraordinary people.
Only the sallow-faced boy standing to the side, after witnessing this scene, thought of his own teacher when he passed through his hometown, who also displayed extraordinary qualities, but in the end, only he noticed.
The yellow-faced youth muttered to himself, "This is the immortal destiny that countless people dream of, but when it truly appears before them, they often turn a blind eye. I don't know how many lifetimes of good deeds I've accumulated to be able to obtain this opportunity for cultivation, I must cherish it dearly."
Before he finished speaking, the yellow-faced boy had already left Zhuque Street. The bustling and lively atmosphere here could no longer hold his attention.
………………
On the other side, Lin Yi led the girl in white to a secluded spot and then drew a circle with his hand.
Instantly, all sounds from outside could no longer be heard.
Lin Yi looked at the girl in white with a half-smile and said, "Aren't you afraid that I'm some kind of heretical cultivator, a scoundrel of unorthodox practices, who will capture you and use you to replenish your yin and yang, to haunt your soul and refine you, so that you'll never be reincarnated?"
The girl in white curtsied and said, "I am Su Huan, and I was born with a pair of spiritual eyes that can see the radiance of the five elements. Daoist Master, there is a clear aura swirling above your head, and your spiritual light is bright and clear. You are clearly a highly accomplished Daoist."
Lin Yi nodded and said, "I see."
Humans have five orifices and seven apertures, each emitting spiritual light that condenses into five kinds of radiant energy, each with its own mysteries.
The five types of qi are blood qi, killing qi, literary qi, official qi, and wealth and nobility qi.
Blood and Qi are the foundation of a person; a strong body has abundant Qi, while a weak body has deficient Qi.
The murderous aura was fierce and violent, and the blood-red light was overwhelming.
Literary talent refers to the profoundness of one's writing and the astonishing level of moral cultivation. Legend has it that great Confucian scholars could form beautiful writing on the top of their heads, causing ghosts and gods to retreat.
When one enters the officialdom and rises to a high position, surrounded by followers and able to make decisions with a single word, such a natural thing will happen.
As for the air of wealth and nobility, those born into wealthy and powerful families, living in luxury and eating fine clothes, naturally exude an air of wealth and nobility in their every word and action.
Lin Yi was naturally familiar with the theory of the Five Elements. He had just used his Dharma Eye to observe the monks, Taoists, and strange people on Vermilion Bird Street and asserted that nine out of ten of them were charlatans without any magical power. The basis for his conclusion came from this theory.
For cultivators, the art of observing qi is an introductory lesson. They can discern nine-tenths of each other's strength and weakness, and their level of cultivation at a glance.
If you can't tell the other person's skill level, it's either because their skill level is ten times higher than yours, or they've used some special magic or treasure to conceal their true strength.
For example, Lin Yi's cultivation of the Seven Star Robe has this effect.
As for the idea that one can discern one's fortune or destiny through observing qi, without extraordinary means and boundless magical power, it's all just empty talk.
After understanding the whole story, Lin Yi smiled and said, "It's fate that we met. Tell me about your sister. As long as it's not too troublesome, I'm willing to lend a hand."
The implication is that things that are too troublesome should not be mentioned.
Lin Yi cultivated immortality and sought the Dao for the sake of freedom and eternal life, but he had no intention of saving all living beings from suffering.
The former is the goal, while the latter is merely scenery along the path of spiritual practice; these two must always be clearly distinguished.
"Master, please forgive me. My elder sister and I were cultivating in seclusion in the Hundred Thousand Mountains of Miao Territory when our wicked neighbor, Wang Daoyuan, came to our aid, plotting to kill us. This Wang Daoyuan is a three-hundred-year-old Iron-Backed Wolf who, instead of cultivating, only seeks shortcuts. He has fought with my sister many times, and although he has lost each time, my sister, being magnanimous, has always let him go, but..."
At this point, Su Huan's eyes turned red, and tears slid down her cheeks. She wiped away her tears and continued, "But I never expected that this villain would be so vicious as to collude with Yao Kaishan of Heshan Road and plot to capture my sister, intending to kill her and practice his unique evil magic."
"It just so happened that Emperor Li was going to hold a grand water and land ceremony. Yao Kaishan heard that those selected as cultivators could be granted official positions and rewards, so he was tempted by the prosperity and came to Chang'an from Miao territory."
“I followed these two men all the way, trying to rescue my sister. However, I was unfamiliar with Chang'an, and Yao Kaishan’s magic was extremely powerful. I tried several times but failed, and I almost got myself into the hands of these two thieves.”
"Please, Daoist Master, have mercy and save my sister's life. I am willing to be your slave for the rest of my life."
After listening, Lin Yi did not rush to speak. He secretly recalled that Su Huan and her sister were descendants left behind in Miao territory by a certain dragon from the East Sea on a whim.
However, the East Sea Dragon Clan values bloodline the most. Although Su Huan and her sister inherited a small portion of the true dragon bloodline, they were born as snake demons, just like their mother, and were therefore abandoned.