When one is focused, ti flies swiftly.
Qin Zheng was very adept at seizing opportunities, and all the more so when it ca to legendary chances for immortality. He didn't want to waste a single mont.
By day, he tilled the fields and practiced martial arts; by night, he read books and sought enlightennt.
Ninety percent of the Scripture Pavilion's collection were jade slips, but even the remaining ten percent of beast skin booklets could be considered vast. Especially since many were ancient texts from hundreds of years ago, having now beco rare editions, they greatly broadened Qin Zheng's horizons.
That evening,
Qin Zheng finished reading "Annals of Hongchang Revival" and looked for the next historical record. Suddenly, he ca across a booklet titled "Legend of the Three Heroes".
"Could it be a narrative of the lives of three heroes?"
Unable to resist his curiosity, he began to read and found that it was a cultivators' tale, unlike mortal imaginations, written with extre realism.
Becoming a disciple, obtaining treasures, dueling magic, vanquishing demons...
Qin Zheng quickly fell into the fantastic world and read through the night, finishing the first volu of the tale in one breath.
"Evil demons ought to be slain! How exhilarating!"
He exclaid in admiration and put the booklet back, but upon reflection, he felt sowhat flat. He was supposed to read history that night, particularly why, just over fifty years after the Hongchang Revival, there was a change of dynasty.
This event had occurred a thousand years ago, and the Great Qian Dynasty's official records were secretive about the details, rely proclaiming it the mandate of the Sage Emperor.
"First, I shall tend to the Spirit Ginseng field. Tonight, I will return to my historical studies."
Qin Zheng's martial prowess grew stronger by the day, and even without sleep, he was full of vigor, carrying his hoe to go flatter the Spirit Ginseng dolls.
Compared to the unfathomable and capriciously tempered Zhou Yi, Qin Zheng preferred to interact with the innocent-spirited Spirit Ginseng dolls. It wasn't that he wanted to unearth any secrets; rather, the casually spoken words were celestial secrets.
Of course, what mattered more was the promised Spirit Bamboo!
After a day of farming and martial training, Qin Zheng returned to the Scripture Pavilion in the evening. He picked up the "Annals of Yongxing" and read a few pages, but felt restless inside.
"Maybe I should finish the second volu of 'Legend of the Three Heroes' first?"
Until dawn.
Qin Zheng, still not satiated, returned the tale to its place. "Qin Zheng, oh Qin Zheng, how can you be so decadent! Have you forgotten the aspirations you once set for yourself?"
The next day.
Qin Zheng spent another night imrsed in the tales.
A month later.
Even with Qin Zheng's robust Qi-Blood, he couldn't handle a month without sleep, and he actually fell asleep in the Scripture Pavilion while reading "Tales of Three Thousand Ascending Companions".
At dawn, Qin Zheng slowly awakened, constantly reflecting and blaming himself.
"This cannot continue. Tonight, I must read history, or if I look at tales again tomorrow, may I go blind!"
Another ten days passed.
Qin Zheng realized the tales in the Scripture Pavilion were indeed fascinating, not only abundant in quantity but also complete in variety.
After introspection, Qin Zheng truly changed.
He no longer read tales throughout the night, stopping at the hour of Yin to ditate and practice, ensuring he remained energetic.
Days turned to months.
A year passed by, which to Zhou Yi seed like just a few seclusions for martial practice.
Dawn.
Zhou Yi specially took out a pot of Immortal Brew to see Qin Zheng off.
"As we part today, it's quite likely we'll never et again, so let's bid farewell over wine!"
"I thank you deeply for your teachings," Qin Zheng bowed deeply in gratitude. "Being able to enter Kunlun Mountain is an honor I will never forget in this lifeti."
He drained his cup of Immortal Brew in one gulp, feeling his soul refreshed and clear, evidently an extraordinary brew.
Just as he was about to express his thanks again, he heard Zhou Yi say,
"Once you leave Kunlun Mountain, you won't be able to eat Spirit Rice again."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zheng imdiately began eating, devouring an entire pot of rice, his eyes slightly reddened.
"The favor you've done for is akin to being reborn. I will devoutly honor it, and so shall my descendants!"
"No need for such trouble,"
Zhou Yi took out a Beast Skin Booklet from his storage bag and said, "This book cos from Moyun City. Keep it safe, and one day, return it on my behalf."
Qin Zheng took the beast skin and flipped through several pages before his eyes widened in shock, he imdiately checked the last page for the na of the author.
Jin Ang.
"The original of Martial Ancestor!"
Qin Zheng exclaid in astonishnt, "Master, how did this book co to be in your possession?"
Zhou Yi had already thought of an excuse, "It was about six or seven hundred years ago when a youngster strayed into Kunlun Mountain, claiming to be from Moyun City, left this book behind before departing."
"Master, this item is of great use to , so I will not refuse it."
Qin Zheng tore off a piece of his brocaded robe and carefully wrapped the book, his face showing a shade of embarrassnt, "Master Shen, you gifted a piece of Spirit Bamboo, and out of greed, I never ntioned this matter to you."
"It doesn't matter."
Zhou Yi waved his hand, and a piece of Spirit Bamboo about three or four feet long flew over.
Star spirit fire surged from his hands, lting the Spirit Bamboo into a turquoise liquid. Under Zhou Yi's shaping, it gradually condensed into the form of a sword, and he waved his hand to infuse it with the prohibitions of sharpness, heaviness, and sturdiness.
The Spirit Bamboo transford into a precious sword, asuring three feet and three inches in length, its body as green as jade stone.
"This sword is just right to give you for protection."
"I thank you, Master!"
Qin Zheng, holding the sword, knelt on both knees and kowtowed three tis, "I vow to devote my entire life to fulfilling my oath!"
The Spirit Ginseng doll stood by, its gaze tinged with a slight reluctance. After a long hesitation, it spat a stream of verdant qi towards Qin Zheng.
The overwhelming vitality poured into his body, shattering the bottleneck that had troubled Qin Zheng for months. A cavity naturally condensed in his Dantian, and not stopping there, another six cavities ford before the energy was spent.
"Master Shen..."
Approaching the Spirit Ginseng doll because he found it innocent, Qin Zheng also got the chance to learn many secrets of the path of immortality. Now that he had received such a huge favor, he was overwheld with sha.
"Boundless fortune and safety to you!"
As the prohibitive spiritual lights flickered, Qin Zheng felt an irresistible force of repulsion, and then, with a flash of white light, he vanished from the spot.
The Spirit Ginseng doll looked forlorn for a mont before reverting to its lively and mischievous self, jumping onto Zhou Yi's shoulder and asked in confusion.
"Immortal, why did you tell Qin Zheng about those Spiritual dicines, and even didn't hide the Jianmu from him?"
"If you aren't willing to scatter the bait, how will you get the fish to bite?"
Zhou Yi said proudly, "Moreover, I am the first under the heavens!"
Being the first under the heavens was naturally a jest; since Jianmu had already recognized its master, he could just swallow it and hide in the sea's depths for a few thousand years. With the mobile Spirit Vein and Dao treasury, Zhou Yi no longer had to tread lightly in fear and trepidation.
The Spirit Ginseng doll said, "What if he spills the beans?"
Zhou Yi stroked the green leaf on its head and murmured.
"People do not believe in the truth, they will only think he's a lunatic who dread of the Immortal Realm, deluding himself with the fantasy of eternal life!"
...
Qianjing City.
Qin Zheng looked at the familiar yet strange city walls and the bustling crowds of the people, certain that he had returned to the Mortal World.
The past year had been like a dream.
"It was indeed the most real of dreams!"
Qin Zheng felt the surging Qi-Blood within him and glanced at the Immortal Sword that could slice through iron as if it were mud at his waist, and said with determined eyes, "Once I take control of Qing Kingdom, I will investigate the world, in search of the entrance to Kunlun Mountain."
He then went to the office of Honglu Temple in the Great Qian Dynasty and got in touch with officials from the Ministry of Rites of Qing Kingdom.
The official exclaid with joy, "Your Highness, you're still alive!"
"I accidentally fell into a ravine and was fortunate enough to enter the abode of an immortal. I have been in secluded cultivation ever since, and only now have I ended my retreat."
Qin Zheng asked in detail about the assassination attempt from last year, and learned that the Great Qian Dynasty's investigation concluded that it had been bandits, who had since been eradicated by a dispatched army.
As for why the bandits had powerful bows and crossbows capable of defeating the Qing Kingdom's imperial guards, that was unknown.
The Qing Kingdom official's face was filled with fear, everyone knew that there was sothing strange, and it was likely involving the power struggle among the Imperial Court's princes, and he feared Qin Zheng would continue to inquire.
"Do you have rice?"
"What?"
"I'm hungry, I want to eat stead rice!"
Qin Zheng repeated, having just left Kunlun Mountain, he was already missing the sweet fragrance of Spirit Rice.
Reviews
All reviews (0)