Lin Yi called out to the little foxes in the cave, "Alright, stop fooling around, come and pay your respects to the master."
"Greetings, sir."
"Chirp, chirp."
After handing over the remaining matters to Elder Tu, Lin Yi breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling free.
Most of the little foxes in the secluded valley are just beginning to develop intelligence, like children. They can't be hit or scolded, and they don't understand reasoning with you. Let Hong Yi, the "Son of the Era," have a headache from now on.
If the future Yi Zi is to educate all living beings, he should start with a group of little foxes.
"What are you thinking about, Fellow Daoist Lin?" Consort Yuan asked as she walked over.
Lin Yi turned his head and looked over. On the other side, Hong Yi was talking to Old Tu.
He said slowly, "I've been reading a lot of Buddhist scriptures these days. What is the 'emptiness' that the Buddha spoke of? And how is it different from the 'truth' that one seeks in spiritual practice? Mayflies live and die in the morning, do their lives have any meaning?"
Consort Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, you're overthinking it."
Lin Yi sighed and said, "Yes, I also think I'm overthinking things. But these questions keep popping into my head."
Consort Yuan said, "I didn't know the meaning of life before, I only knew how to live. Later, I had some opportunities and cultivated Taoist arts, so I lived even more diligently. If I had to give an answer, then living might be a kind of meaning."
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Chapter 171 You drank our wine
The first heavy snow of the sixtieth year of the Great Qian Dynasty finally arrived in a magnificent display. The snow was incredibly heavy, blanketing the sky and earth like goose feathers, drifting down in clumps and flakes.
A terrifying "white wind" swept through the western mountains of Yujing City, bringing with it a chillingly cold atmosphere. However, despite the weather, the deep forests and secluded valleys possessed a unique tranquility.
The charcoal fire in the copper basin burned quietly, bringing warmth and driving away the cold.
Master Tu finally perfected the Zhou Tian Qi Refining Method and transformed into a human.
A joyous feast was held in the secluded valley. Hong Yi, who had not yet begun his cultivation, did not understand the profound significance of the feast, but that did not prevent him from enjoying the happiness.
After the banquet, Elder Tu went to Lin Yi's residence to ask for advice on how to proceed with his cultivation.
"Old Master Tu's Taoist arts have reached the level of controlling objects, haven't they?" Lin Yi asked.
Master Tu nodded and said, "Sir, your judgment is impeccable."
Lin Yi said, "The cultivation of Taoist arts begins with calming the mind and leaving the body. Night travel and day travel are the processes of refining the soul. Only when one reaches the level of controlling objects can one wield magical artifacts and gradually develop the ability to protect oneself."
"After controlling objects, one manifests. Using one's spirit to control the primordial energy of heaven and earth, one manifests various kinds of Dharma bodies. This stage is similar to the innate stage of the Qi cultivation path."
"The path of Qi cultivation is uncertain, but the cultivation of Daoist arts has rules to follow. Write it down and think it over carefully: are you willing to continue down this path?"
"If you are unwilling, I can teach you a method of refining Qi into spirit, which uses true Qi to nourish the soul and can accelerate the cultivation of Taoist arts, so that this fate will not be in vain."
"Yes." Old Master Tu bowed and withdrew.
The next morning, Tu Lao appeared at the entrance of the cave where Lin Yi lived and stood quietly.
Many things can be understood quickly if you calm down and think about them.
Old Master Tu is already quite old; it's almost impossible for him to cultivate into a Ghost Immortal before his lifespan runs out. The fact that there are only eight Great Demon Immortals in such a vast world speaks volumes about the difficulty involved.
What if he chose the path of Qi cultivation? Although he had only glimpsed a part of this path, he could still imagine its endless wonders.
Therefore, Professor Tu made his choice very quickly.
This result was not unexpected for Lin Yi.
However, since Elder Tu had not yet reached the Innate Realm and could not sense the existence of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, he began the Nine Revolutions of Jade Liquid cultivation. He still taught Elder Tu a method of "refining qi into spirit".
Once one's Taoist cultivation reaches the level of manifest manifestation, it is perfectly appropriate to then switch to cultivating Qi.
………………
West Mountain.
Amidst the swirling snow, a group of people dressed in luxurious leather cloaks, riding horses, accompanied by hunting dogs and carrying bows, marched into the mountains in a grand procession.
This group of people were clearly royalty and nobles of extremely high status and wealth.
This can be seen from the horses they were riding.
The smallest of these horses was over ten feet long and eight feet tall. They puffed out strong white breath in the wind and snow, their eyes open even as the wind and snow fell, showing no fear or cold.
The strong, powerful bodies, long hooves, and glossy coats without a single blemish all indicate that these horses are no ordinary breed.
If one were a skilled horse breeder in the Great Qian Dynasty, one would recognize that these horses were "Fire Cloud Horses" from the distant Fire Luo Kingdom. They were named for their dark red color and the way they resembled fiery clouds when they ran.
These horses don't eat grass; they have to be fed eggs mixed with soybeans at every meal, and there are many special requirements for them. In the Great Qian Dynasty, each of these horses required three to four grooms to take care of them day and night, and they were simply not something ordinary people could afford to raise.
However, this kind of horse is also extremely fast when it runs, has great endurance, can carry people for thousands of miles a day, and is also intelligent and loyal to its owner. It is a prized possession that many wealthy nobles, princes, marquises, and earls are willing to spend thousands of gold coins to obtain.
Among the group heading into the mountains, there were two men and two women on horseback, and several others dressed in thin clothes but showing no fear of the cold followed behind the horses. These people had a cold and arrogant look in their eyes, moved like the wind, and kept up with the horses without falling behind.
Clearly, these people were all highly skilled guards kept by the princes and nobles.
Inside the secluded cave, a water mirror revealed everything. Although it was just a small spell, its uses were boundless.
This further strengthened Master Tu's determination to switch to cultivating Qi.
Lin Yi's hands moved in a series of hand seals, and he uttered a soft shout: "Rise."