Liu Zhijian had condensed the 【Kan Water】 phenomenon on his own back on Earth, and upon arriving in the cultivation world, he had received the favor of the Heavenly Dao as well.
Cultivating should have been smoothly effortless, if not divine.
Yet when Li Chengxuan observed him now using the 【Qi Peering Technique】, he was instantly filled with astonishment.
The 【Kan Water】 phenomenon on Liu Zhijian was still dense.
However, it looked thoroughly unpromising.
The originally clear and pristine 【Kan Water】 now appeared murky and turbid.
The anomalous vision of swimming fish and shrimp alongside flourishing water weeds had vanished as well.
It was like a pool of stagnant water whose vitality was being severed, giving rise to rot and stench.
Hearing this, Liu Zhijian was startled in his heart and hastily asked, "Could something really have gone wrong?! Is there still a way to save me?!"
Li Chengxuan did not answer, but instead fell into deep thought with a furrowed brow.
If it had been before, he likely would have been completely helpless.
After all, how mysterious and profound were phenomena and fate?
How could a minor Qi Refining cultivator who governed a fallen sect possibly comprehend them?!
But ever since Li Chengxuan obtained the 【Two-World Bead】, he had experienced much and read many Dao theories. By correlating the two, his Dao cultivation had advanced substantially.
After pondering for a moment, a few ideas truly took shape in his mind.
"There is no need to panic."
Li Chengxuan raised his head and comforted him with a smile. "If my expectation is correct, it is not a major problem, and there should be a solution."
Liu Zhijian breathed a sigh of relief.
It had not been easy for him to step onto the path of cultivation.
If he were to stop here, it would indeed be a pity.
Li Chengxuan organized his thoughts slightly. Rather than putting forward a solution, he diverted the topic to his encounter with Duanmu Ren on Earth.
Although Liu Zhijian was somewhat puzzled, he listened intently and could not help but laugh. "I'm actually going to have a county magistrate junior brother?!"
Li Chengxuan also nodded with a smile.
His chief disciple's disposition was indeed superb.
Had it been anyone else whose cultivation suffered a major issue, they would likely be scared out of their wits by now, filled with intense anxiety and dread, rather than having the mind to jest like Liu Zhijian.
Li Chengxuan pulled back his smile and said with a solemn expression, "【High Shaman】 is an ancient Dao lineage whose rise predated the Five Elements."
"Duanmu Ren's disposition, life experiences, and even the official position you mentioned all align remarkably well with 【High Shaman】."
Knowing his master intended to guide him, Liu Zhijian furrowed his brows and pondered earnestly, a faint realization dawning in his heart.
Without pressing further, Li Chengxuan went on to talk about the turmoil of the Hua family in Spring Return Valley and the history of the 【Yimu Wood】 Dao lineage.
Passing over ancient history in a brief sentence, he focused primarily on the Hua family's Foundation Establishment matter of 【Burning Body to Face Death】 and their current rift between direct and branch lines.
Liu Zhijian was lost in thought after listening.
【High Shaman】 was barbaric and ancient, long severed from the world and absent from public view.
【Yimu Wood】 was right before his eyes, making it an excellent reference object.
"Is burning the body to embrace death meant to complete the imagery of 'unquenched even by wild fire'?"
"The Hua family's lineage was severed, falling into the mortal realm... is that also... leveraging 【Yimu Wood】's imagery of 'leaves fall and stems wither, roots buried in soil' to accumulate fate?!"
Liu Zhijian did not hide his deficiencies out of shame. Though he spoke with a trace of hesitation at first, his tone became increasingly firm and fluent, his eyes growing bright. "Then doesn't their current split between direct and branch lines amount to pruning stems and branches to cultivate new plants?!"
This old fisherman truly possessed no small amount of Dao wisdom, understanding things instantly with just a point of guidance.
Li Chengxuan nodded with a smile and added, "Besides that, Yimu Wood also carries the imagery of 'clinging to rocks and trees'."
"The Hua family's direct branch seeking refuge with Mount Taixuan is clinging to the Nanya Immortal Alliance and the Old Method."
"The concubine branch going to the Qingyun Sect—where they reportedly focus on Wood spells—naturally borrows strength from the Central Continent Dao Alliance and the New Method."
Pausing at this point, his tone faltered slightly. "In truth, the Hua family might not truly possess such far-reaching calculations."
"It is simply that the Old Method's fate has not yet run out, and Nanya Province has only just seen the Heavenly Dao manifest."
"Among all these matters, how much is human calculation and how much is heavenly decree is no longer something I can see clearly."
Liu Zhijian nodded after hearing this, understanding Li Chengxuan's meaning. "So for my cultivation of 【Kan Water】, I must also strive to conform to the imagery of its Dao lineage?!"
Li Chengxuan nodded. "That is naturally so."
Liu Zhijian racked his brains in deep thought when a flash of inspiration suddenly struck him. He clapped his hands in enlightenment and exclaimed, "The imagery of 【Kan Water】 lies in big rivers, streams, and surging, flowing waters..."
"So my cultivation hit a wall with hardly any progress not because of my talent or technique, but because I sat in secluded cultivation for too long, violating the aura of 【Kan Water】?!"
Seeing that he could comprehend the cause on his own, Li Chengxuan nodded with a smile.
Liu Zhijian asked with a mix of apprehension and anticipation, "So, I need to go down the mountain to cultivate?!"
"I haven't even finished opening my meridians yet. Wouldn't it be too early?!"
Li Chengxuan chuckled upon hearing this and shook his head. "What do you think the situation down the mountain is like?! Foundation Establishment walking everywhere, while Qi Refining is treated like dogs?!"
"In truth, cultivation in the world has long become a legend."
"The vast majority of mortal commoners will never encounter a person of cultivation from birth to death."
"Since your meridian-opening method has reached entry level, placing you in the secular world makes you a martial master at the Houtian Peak."
"As long as your luck isn't terrible, traveling in all directions to act heroically will not bring you any real danger."
Fearing that Liu Zhijian would become arrogant after hearing this...
There were some words that Li Chengxuan did not spell out completely.
After all, as the first Child of Fate to arrive in the cultivation world from Earth, Liu Zhijian was bound to possess the favor of the Heavenly Dao.
As long as he did not seek his own death while traveling down the mountain, he would at least be safe and sound, if not constantly blessed with fortunate encounters.
Liu Zhijian felt greatly reassured. He actually developed a few traces of urgency, unable to help saying, "Although cultivation is wonderful, I still prefer fishing."
"After cultivating in the mountains for so long, my hands are itching now, and my heart is itching even more."
Li Chengxuan smiled at his words. Far from worrying that Liu Zhijian would indulge in play and lose his ambition, he agreed instead, "Everything must have a beginning."
"Old Method cultivation places greater emphasis on unhindered thoughts."
"Since you have developed the intent to depart, then go down the mountain."
...
...
After descending Mount Taixuan, Liu Zhijian identified his direction and walked eastward.
For his master had said that to the east lay a mighty river that traversed Nanya and emptied straight into the South Sea.
The meridian-opening method was indeed useful.
Not only was walking on level ground as fast as a galloping horse...
Even when faced with steep slopes and sheer cliffs, it proved no trouble at all.
However, the farther he traveled from Mount Taixuan, the more ruined and desolate the land became.
Vegetation was sparse, and the surroundings were exceedingly barren.
For a time, Liu Zhijian could not figure out the situation either.
After walking for a long time, he finally spotted signs of human habitation.
They were all impoverished commoners who were gaunt and pale with hunger.
After making a few inquiries, he finally arrived at a small city along the bank of the great river.
"Finally made it!"
Liu Zhijian was actually somewhat excited, his hands trembling slightly.
Using the long staff bestowed by his master for self-defense as a fishing rod, he carefully pulled out the hook and line he had prepared long ago, assembling them with practiced ease.
Baiting it with merely a tender green leaf, he cast his line into the water. His entire body could not help but shudder briefly. "This feeling is truly comfortable!"
Liu Zhijian had once experienced traveling and fishing across the entire country, so his way of handling matters was fairly seasoned.
Now that he cultivated the meridian-opening method as well, he was more than capable of handling himself in the secular world.
Thus, he settled down in this small city called Danzhou.
Every day, he went fishing and brought his catch into the city to trade for food, continuing to practice the meridian-opening method only at night.
Even though his cultivation time was significantly less than when he was on Mount Taixuan...
Liu Zhijian could distinctly feel that his meridian-opening speed was more than several times faster than on the mountain.
In just a month's time, he had actually forced open twenty percent of the meridians across his entire body.
Liu Zhijian became more and more sincerely convinced of the Dao theories Li Chengxuan had imparted.
Being a newcomer unfamiliar with the place and its people, Liu Zhijian naturally encountered some malice as well.
But relying on his mature mind and remarkable martial prowess, he settled them with ease.
He even forged friendships with three to five individuals, all of whom were deeply loyal and righteous.
In particular, one of them named Deng Gang also possessed a passionate love for fishing. Meeting Liu Zhijian, he felt an immediate affinity, and the two hit it off instantly.
In the wilderness outside the city, the two built a fire to roast fish, opened a jar of unrefined wine, and raised their cups to drink together.
As the alcohol surged into their heads, they chatted casually about whatever came to mind.
Being able to hit it off at first sight naturally stemmed from having similar backgrounds, in addition to their shared personalities and hobbies.
Liu Zhijian could sense that Deng Gang harbored quite a bit of mystery.
Even if he had not entered the path of cultivation, he had certainly practiced a meridian-opening method.
Taking a gulp of unrefined wine, Deng Gang looked at the surging river before them and spoke up: "Does Brother Liu know that a few months ago, this great river actually flowed backward and dried up to the riverbed?!"
Liu Zhijian was startled, then realized. "No wonder I saw that the livelihoods of the people along the river were desolate and the vegetation was sparse. It turns out they suffered a natural disaster."
"Heh, natural disaster..."
"Bah!"
Deng Gang sneered upon hearing this and spat out a fish bone. "What natural disaster?! It was clearly a man-made calamity!"
"A man-made calamity?!"
Liu Zhijian surveyed the broad river surface, asking in some confusion, "Could it be that two nations went to war and breached the river mouth?!"
"No."
Deng Gang shook his head and said with deep hatred, "To the west lies the Taixuan Demonic Sect! For their own selfish desires, they harmed the entire world!"
"Ah?!"
Liu Zhijian was truly shocked this time. "The Taixuan Demonic Sect..."
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