Jiang Liu also threw the two pieces of material into his storage space, and kept playing with the Blood Jade Cicada. He obtained the Nine Provinces Cauldron fragments without anyone noticing, without leaving a single flaw.
The fragments of the Nine Cauldrons entered the space created by "The Vanished One," and even a terrestrial immortal couldn't take them away.
As Jiang Liu walked out of the "Longquan" shop, a look of joy appeared on his face. He lost all interest in shopping and couldn't wait to go back and take out the Nine Cauldrons Fragment to study it carefully.
However, he still managed to hold back and strolled to the pill shop next door, "Baopu Mountain," where he had the alchemist in charge of "Baopu Mountain" examine Xie Hong's body.
The old alchemist, with his white hair, white beard, and white eyebrows, hesitated for a long time before giving his diagnosis: congenital damage and weakened spirit.
Chapter Sixty-Two: Xie Hong's Demeanor
Humans have three souls, namely Heaven, Earth, and Man, which were anciently called “Tai Guang, Shuang Ling, and You Jing”. They also have seven spirits: the first spirit is Tian Chong, the second is Ling Hui, the third is Qi, the fourth is Li, the fifth is Zhong Shu, the sixth is Jing, and the seventh is Ying.
The human soul, through the Tianchong and Linghui souls among the seven spirits, governs thought and wisdom. Through the Qi and Li souls, it governs action. Through the Jing and Jing souls, it governs physical strength. Only the Zhongshu soul is the center of the seven spirits.
The seven souls correspond to the seven chakras of the physical body, with the spirit soul being the root chakra. The root chakra is the lowest and most fundamental of the seven chakras.
The root chakra is located at the base of the body and is the root of the entire energy system of the human body. All energy originates from the root chakra.
Xie Hongying's spirit was damaged, and his root chakra was leaking, just like the roots of a tree were broken. Naturally, he was weak and sickly, and ordinary medicine could not cure him.
"To fully recover, you will need at least a fourth-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, which can only be refined by an Earth Immortal and is worth a hundred spirit stones. If you need one, you can pay a deposit first, and I will be able to obtain one through the elder. It will arrive in three months."
Inside the pill shop on Baopu Mountain, the white-bearded old alchemist stroked his beard and spoke, but he seemed somewhat absent-minded. This was a big deal, and he didn't believe Jiang Liu had the financial strength to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills.
Not to mention the enormous benefits of Foundation Building Pills for cultivators, which can cleanse the marrow and bones and increase the chances of breaking through to Earth Immortal, they are in high demand and short supply.
Furthermore, those hundred spirit stones represent a massive amount of resources, almost equivalent to a small spiritual vein, something that ordinary people cannot afford.
A hundred spirit stones would be enough for Jiang Liu to travel through time, but even if he had them, he wouldn't be willing to part with them now.
"Master, are there any other treatment methods... Of course, consider this old ginseng as payment for this diagnosis!"
Jiang Liu took out an old ginseng root. He had three more ginseng roots of this quality, so he didn't care much, and it wasn't even worth a spirit stone. This world was rich in spiritual energy, making medicinal cultivation very simple. Even artificially cultivated ginseng was no less valuable than the hundred-year-old ginseng from the "Dragon and Snake" world. Jade, on the other hand, was naturally formed by nature and could not be regenerated, so its value was naturally much higher.
The white-bearded alchemist didn't refuse. He placed the ginseng aside, pondered for a moment, and said to Jiang Liu, "There is a method. I observe that this young man has achieved success in cultivating his qi. He must be a disciple of the Confucian school! Only the Confucian school can teach without discrimination, allowing one to cultivate even if their soul is damaged. However, the righteous qi of the Confucian school has no strengthening effect on the physical body. The root chakra will not recover with successful cultivation. Even if one reaches the level of a great Confucian scholar comparable to an Earth Immortal, it will have no effect whatsoever."
The Confucian school aims to bring peace to the world, and cultivation naturally has both advantages and disadvantages! I see that his root chakra is inherently flawed, but his other six souls are stronger than ordinary people, especially the Heavenly Rising Soul in his crown chakra, which is extremely powerful. Now that the Tang Dynasty is holding its imperial examinations, if he can be listed among the successful candidates and achieve the third, second, or even first place, he can borrow the dragon energy of the Li family and the fortune of the Tang Dynasty to build his foundation, similar to, or even better than, the Foundation Building Pill. This would naturally repair the damage to his root chakra.”
"Third place, second place, and top scholar!" Xie Hong gave a bitter smile. Although he believed he had already achieved success in his studies, to be among the top three was not just a matter of having enough knowledge; one also needed to meet the examiner's expectations and have a great deal of luck.
"I'm quite confident of passing the imperial examination, but as for the top three, that's up to fate!"
The white-bearded alchemist laughed and said, "Young man, you have quite the big mouth. The Tang Dynasty holds its imperial examinations only once every four years. Countless Confucian disciples across the land compete fiercely for a single spot. And you're so confident?"
"Although I am physically weak, I have a wealth of knowledge and knowledge in my heart. It is only natural that I can easily obtain the title of Jinshi!" Xie Hong said calmly, displaying extraordinary demeanor.
"With a wealth of knowledge and learning, young man, you have quite the bearing!" The old alchemist stroked his beard and said, "I have some connection with Mr. Yuan'an, the headmaster of Mingde Academy. I've heard him say that he has taken on a disciple who is exceptionally learned, but has a congenital deficiency and is physically weak. It must be you, Xie family lad!"
"That is indeed me, my given name is Hong!"
"How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan? What a fine name!"
The white-bearded alchemist then said to Jiang Liu, "Fellow Daoist, this is the best treatment for him. Other methods would require either expensive pills or intervention from immortals to defy fate, which are all unrealistic. Moreover, his root chakra is incomplete, and his lifespan is short. If he cannot establish his foundation within three to five years, there will be no hope."
I see a life force within him; it must be a second-grade Rejuvenating Pill! While pills for Qi cultivators are good, they are potent and cannot be taken regularly. As a mere mortal, he will have difficulty expelling the toxicity from these pills, which is a serious problem. Therefore, he should definitely not take Soul-Nourishing Pills or Origin-Returning Pills to restore vital energy. It's better to treat him through diet and gradually regulate his condition; that's the right way.”
"Thank you for the reminder, Master!"
Xie Hong remained calm upon hearing that he only had three to five years to live, showing no anger, surprise, fear, or despair. Jiang Liu nodded inwardly, impressed by the extraordinary cultivation of inner strength in Confucianism. As the ancients said: "A brave man is not alarmed when suddenly confronted, nor angered when unjustly wronged, his expression remains unchanged even if Mount Tai collapses before him, and his eyes do not blink even if a deer walks beside him."
This unwavering and composed demeanor can be described as that of a true hero.
Xie Hong's demeanor was truly courageous.
"If he can pass the imperial examination, he will be a great help. Since you have the potential to become a great Confucian scholar, my investment is worthwhile!" Jiang Liu thought to himself and decided to help Xie Hong. Not only could he get Xie Chou as a great help now, but it would also be a brilliant move if Xie Hong entered the court as an official in the future.
The world is in turmoil, and the Tang Dynasty is destined for prosperity. The great calamity of the Journey to the West is about to begin. Jiang Liu has also decided to make a move and compete with all the gods and Buddhas in the world.
Jiang Liu bought three more Rejuvenation Pills and six Blood Qi Pills before returning to Wuyi Lane.
Of course, on the way back, he also bought some daily necessities, such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, meat, fruits, and vegetables, as he planned to stay in Jinling City for a long time.
With the invasion of the Eastern Sea Kingdoms, the Ghost King's rampage, the City God of Huaiyin City eyeing the spiritual veins of Qianlong Mountain, and a lone corpse demon lurking in the shadows, Jiang Liu of Qianlong Temple has no intention of returning anytime soon.
Moreover, Jinling City is protected by the Azure Dragon Formation, making it absolutely safe.
Xie Hong, upon learning he only had three to five years to live, was not discouraged. When he returned, he was exactly the same as usual, reading and practicing calligraphy...
After Jiang Liu returned, he sat by the Qinhuai River, seemingly lost in thought as he gazed at the setting sun, but his mind was completely absorbed in the fragments of the Yangzhou cauldron in his hand.
The significance of the Nine Tripods of antiquity is self-evident, and the Yangzhou Tripod, one of the surviving Nine Tripods, is implicitly a symbol of one of the Nine Provinces. Although it has been damaged to a great extent, its underlying significance is extraordinary.
In fact, Jiang Liu knew very well that if it weren't for "The Vanished One" sensing this fragment, there would have been no way he could have obtained it. And now that "The Vanished One" was completely unresponsive, he naturally had no chance to study this thing at all. A piece of purple copper, a few rough lines, presumably a map of the Yangzhou landscape, but other than that, there was nothing to be gained.
As the sun sets in the west, the river turns crimson.
A small boat drifted downstream, carrying a graceful woman with a veil over her head—none other than the "Red Dust" woman seen in the "Longquan" shop.
Chapter Sixty-Three: The Red-Robed Woman (Part 1)
The setting sun casts its slanting rays, turning the river crimson!
A small boat drifts along the current!
A gust of wind lifted the gauze, white as snow on the mountain, bright as the moon in the clouds, and the beauty was as lovely as jade.
The small boat quietly docked, and the beautiful woman stepped up the stone steps.
Although the Wang and Xie mansions are now abandoned, the bluestone embankment and ancient stone arch bridge along the Qinhuai River still stand, though they are weathered and ancient.
Jiang Liu couldn't fathom the fragments of the Yangzhou Cauldron, nor could he do anything about the vengeful spirit of the Dragon King within the Blood Jade Cicada. He sat listlessly on a blue stone by the shore, sketching on the ground with a withered twig in his hand. He glanced at the ruins, then at the setting sun, and finally let out a long sigh, his initial excitement fading away.
"Alas! Even a swordsmith at the peak of the Refining Essence to Qi stage couldn't fathom the depth of this thing, so it's normal that I can't either. Let's wait for 'The Vanished One' to give us a hint! However, we can try to communicate with the vengeful spirit of the Dragon King inside this Blood Jade Cicada. The Dragon King of the Yangtze River? According to Xie Hong, the Dragon King worshipped in the Dragon King Temple in Jinling City is Ao Qing, and the true form in the temple was sculpted three years ago... The true form was reconstructed three years ago? It seems that the power transition of the Dragon King is also full of intrigue and bloodshed! The victor is king, the loser is villain, just like the Wang and Xie families in Wuyi Lane, right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing in the end..."
He kept toying with the blood jade cicada in his hand, but to no avail, it didn't react at all.
A beautiful young woman walked slowly towards them. By this time, she had removed her shawl, revealing a face that could bring ruin to a country. When she smiled, her lips pursed into a crescent moon shape.
"Greetings, Daoist Master! I am Li Fu, a native of Chang'an. I met you at the Longquan Sword Shop this morning, and I apologize for my rudeness. Now, while strolling along the Qinhuai River, I have encountered you again. What a coincidence! May I ask if this is the elegant Wuyi Lane, the place of the Wang and Xie families?"
Jiang Liu looked at the graceful young woman, and the words "Red Dust Woman" came to mind again, but he remained calm and pointed to the ruins, saying, "Miss, that is Wuyi Lane, and across from it is Zhuque Bridge. The elegance is gone, and there is only devastation."
The young woman looked around and smiled slightly, “I’ve heard that the Xie family still has descendants living here. They are all exceptionally talented. With such descendants, every place in Jin is a place of great renown! I’ve come here to make some acquaintances. Perhaps I can become the top scholar in next year’s imperial examination. I’d better try to curry favor with them first.”
Li Fu blinked, looking quite playful.
Jiang Liu chuckled. This woman certainly knew how to talk, but her purpose was probably not just to see Xie Hong. How could a Qi Refining cultivator who was about to enter the Qi Refining stage possibly take a weak and sickly scholar seriously?
However, Jiang Liu didn't reveal the truth. He wanted to see who this "Li Fu" really was and what his relationship was with the "Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust".
"Xie Hong is in that room. I'll take you there!"
Li Fu's gaze swept across the area and landed right in front of the large blue stone where Jiang Liu had just been sitting. There were four lines of poetry, totaling twenty-eight characters, on the ground.
"What a fine poem! The Taoist priest has excellent writing skills!"
"Hmm!" Jiang Liu followed Li Fu's gaze and looked at the poem he had just composed on a whim. He paused for a moment, naturally not admitting that he had plagiarized it. Besides, Liu Yuxi hadn't even been born yet, so there was no question of plagiarism.
His expression was somewhat strange, but he still smiled and said, "Just something I felt compelled to say! It's not bad, is it?"
Wildflowers bloom by the Zhuque Bridge, and the setting sun slants over the Wuyi Lane.
The swallows that once graced the mansions of the wealthy and powerful now nest in the homes of ordinary people.
Li Fu read slowly, nodding occasionally, thinking to himself: Master said that a person destined for greatness would be born in Jiangnan. He consulted divination and the stars, sacrificing a hundred years of his lifespan to deduce that the person would be in Jinling City. In the world of divination and stargazing, only Uncle-Master Huang Guanzi can rival Master, so Master's calculations are naturally accurate. However, he hadn't expected such a dramatic change in Jiangnan. Jinling City is now in turmoil, with a large number of Qi cultivators gathered there. He hasn't yet attained enlightenment and must be careful. He also wonders who this person destined for greatness is… this Daoist priest might be one.
Today I cast a divination and received the auspicious Qian hexagram, symbolizing a dragon and the encounter with a virtuous person. The Book of Changes says: "The movement of heaven is strong; the superior man makes himself strong and untiring." This perfectly matches Xie Hong's identity; he is a virtuous person, and also one who strives unceasingly… Since Heaven has brought me here, I will break through from Xie Hong.
With this in mind, he followed Jiang Liu into the newly built courtyard.
At this moment, Xie Chou was busy. He possessed the strength to uproot mountains, making him even more effective than a crane. This was a world with immortals, so it wasn't surprising for mortals to see Xie Chou's superhuman strength. There were many materials among the ruins, countless large polished bluestones. However, the wood had rotted and was unusable due to the wind and rain. Jiang Liu, with his wealth, naturally didn't need to worry about it, as timber merchants supplied the goods.
Money makes the world go round, let alone building a house. It was erected in a single day. Although it lacked elaborate decorations, it appeared even more simple and unadorned.
Xie Chou moved a large blue stone and placed it in the courtyard to serve as a table. There were also several stone stools, smoothed by the giant axe, which served as benches. The purchased household items, such as beds and chairs, had already been moved into the house, and everything was in perfect order.
"Master, who is this young lady?" Xie Chou asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"This is Li Fu, Miss Li, who has come to admire Xie Hong's talent! Hey, Xie Hong, we have a guest! Please have a seat, I'll make you a cup of tea!"
As he spoke, he walked towards the kitchen. Seeing that it was a traditional stove, he had no interest in lighting a fire. He took a small stove and then took out a premium Da Hong Pao tea from the storage space.
This is a fine tea from the world of "dragons and snakes," the top-grade Da Hong Pao harvested from the mother tree in Wuyi Mountain. Legend has it that less than one pound can be obtained in a year. When Nixon visited China, Mao Zedong presented him with four ounces of Da Hong Pao, saying that he had given away "half of the country," which shows how precious this tea is.
Jiang Liu also lacked tea ceremony skills; he had heard of it and seen it, but had never tried it himself.
"It's just brewing tea!"
He filled the iron kettle about 70-80% full with water and poured in some Da Hong Pao tea. He then walked over, carrying a small stove in one hand and the iron kettle in the other.
Xie Hong and Li Fu chatted happily, while Xie Chou and Bai Lu observed the uninvited woman from afar.
"Ah Chou, this woman is a cultivator, and she should be close to attaining enlightenment!" Bai Lu whispered to Xie Chou from her shoulder.
"Hmm, he said he came from Chang'an. If Ah Hong passes the preliminary examination this year, he will definitely go to the capital to take the imperial examination. We are demons, so we may not be able to help. What do you think of this girl? Use your spiritual eyes to see if she has any ill intentions?"
"I've already seen it. No offense intended. What do you think of them as a couple? They look like a perfect match!"
Xie Chou shook his head, his expression somber, and said in a low voice, "This woman is almost at the pinnacle of enlightenment, and she's still quite young. If nothing unexpected happens, she should be able to reach the peak of her cultivation, which would grant her a lifespan of three hundred years. Even if Ah Hong reaches the level of a great Confucian scholar, his lifespan will still be that of an ordinary person... It all depends on fate! We can't force it... The abbot has come out. Speaking of which, the abbot and this woman are quite a good match! A handsome man and a beautiful woman..."
P.S.: Guess who I assigned as Li Fu's master? Very famous! Extremely famous!
Chapter Sixty-Four: The Red-Robed Woman (Part Two)
Vital energy emanated from Jiang Liu's palm, and a dark blue flame appeared on the flame core stone in the small stove. He then placed a copper kettle filled with water on the flame.
Using primordial energy as its raw material and flame core stones as its ignition source, the flames possess immense power, far surpassing that of charcoal or firewood.
Jiang Liu carefully controlled the amount of vital energy and the temperature changes of the flames. This exquisite control was beyond his expectations. Fortunately, there wasn't much water, and it soon started bubbling and boiling.
Jiang Liu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, quietly wiped away his sweat, and felt quite tired.
It didn't consume much of my vital energy, but it did consume a great deal of my mental energy.
"I almost got humiliated instead of showing off! I'll have to be more careful next time..." Jiang Liu thought to himself.