Deng Gang's eyes burned brightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Brother Liu, I know you possess a secret method and talent capable of shaping the heavens and earth."
"Under the rule of demonic sects, the people are living in misery, which you have seen with your own eyes."
"Why hesitate now? Why refuse to help me sweep away this chaotic era and grant the common folk of the Huang Kingdom a prosperous age of peace?!"
Liu Zhijian remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "Since Brother Deng asks in all sincerity, I shall answer in equal sincerity."
Deng Gang nodded slightly, listening attentively.
"First, my ambition lies in the Immortal Dao."
Liu Zhijian's eyes were resolute as he said softly, "I spent half my life sinking into the mundane world, and only entered the path of cultivation after being guided by Master."
"Now, with my gathering qi incomplete and Master's grace unpaid, I truly dare not divide my attention."
Deng Gang's tone was less firm than before, disagreeing with Liu Zhijian's words as he continued to persuade, "Pacifying the world brings offerings and support. Far from being an obstacle, it aids cultivation. When the time comes, obtaining the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth will be effortless."
Liu Zhijian, having painstakingly studied the Dao scriptures as well, shook his head and said, "Mortal Turbid Qi is most capable of destroying one's resolve and wearing down one's Dao Heart."
"Since Brother Deng has already entered the Dao to cultivate, do not lose the great for the small and ruin your path."
Deng Gang was somewhat skeptical, frowning as he asked, "Pacifying this chaotic world and protecting mortals is my life's ambition. How could it destroy my resolve or wear down my Dao Heart?! Shouldn't it gather fate and greatly benefit my cultivation?!"
Liu Zhijian could not help but laugh softly. Without arguing, he continued, "Furthermore, does Brother Deng truly believe that winning over the hearts of mortals can determine the situation in the Huang Kingdom?!"
"No matter how much one schemes, when high-level cultivators intervene, one can only sigh in helplessness."
Deng Gang pondered for a moment before speaking slowly: "I naturally understand what Brother Liu means."
"However, as far as I know, several powerful demons of the Taixuan Demonic Sect have already departed."
"Currently, the sect master on the mountain is merely at Qi Refining, and even entered the Dao using low-grade Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth. His cultivation realm isn't much higher than mine, and his battle strength might even be inferior to mine."
"Ever since that demon took charge of the demonic sect, he has only dared to hide on the mountain. When an outside sect took over Huichun Prefecture, he didn't even dare to show his face."
"I heard that the demon even confined the Hua family's direct daughter and became besotted with women. His poor character speaks for itself."
"Those Hua family remnants at the foot of the mountain are all mere mortals, hardly worth mentioning."
Liu Zhijian was taken aback upon hearing this.
Deng Gang had actually investigated Mount Taixuan's details so thoroughly.
It was just that the details were wildly inaccurate.
Unable to explain on his master's behalf, Liu Zhijian earnestly advised, "Mount Taixuan has endured for a thousand years without falling. How could it not possess some formidable trump cards?!"
"Besides, above them lies the Nanya Immortal Alliance."
"Which royal family among the kingdoms of Nanya Province doesn't have an immortal sect as a backer?!"
Deng Gang listened quietly without a change in expression, then said softly, "I have one as well."
Liu Zhijian was somewhat surprised, but after thinking it over, he didn't find it unexpected.
Deng Gang was no fool; since he dared to launch a rebellion, how could he lack a powerful backer?!
Liu Zhijian sighed, still shaking his head. "Rebelling like this is no different from negotiating with a tiger for its hide or pulling chestnuts from the fire. Brother Deng, you finally managed to swallow qi and enter the Dao—why go through all this trouble?!"
"Very well."
"Since Brother Liu's mind is made up, I won't force you."
Deng Gang knew he could press no further without damaging their friendship, so he softened his tone: "Back then, Brother Liu saved my life and even retrieved the flood dragon's precious blood for me, showing me great kindness."
"I keep it in mind at all times."
"No matter what, I will obtain the 【Kan Water Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth】 for you."
"Just wait for my news!"
...
...
Having found a backer, Deng Gang set off to contend for hegemony in the Huang Kingdom, of which no more need be said.
Liu Zhijian also underwent a change.
By day, he accompanied Jiang Xiaoyu in her play and taught her to read and write along the way.
Unfortunately, Jiang Xiaoyu only cared about playing. She grew sleepy at the sight of paper and brush, and eventually began avoiding Liu Zhijian altogether.
Liu Zhijian could only laugh at himself; an uneducated slacker like him had actually turned into one of those annoying adults urging children to study hard.
Thus, he simply stopped bringing it up.
Sure enough, Jiang Xiaoyu returned to her usual self.
Every night, Liu Zhijian still went to fish in the river.
Unfortunately, his harvest was meager.
Occasionally, he caught a fine-scaled little fish, but upon checking the fish basket after returning, it would be empty.
Liu Zhijian was no fool and naturally noticed the anomaly.
Those fine-scaled little fish were clearly the 【Clear Qi Above the River】 he had been painstakingly searching for.
After months of night fishing, Liu Zhijian had vaguely worked out the pattern.
In the dead of night when the bright moon hung high, he would use the seven emotions and six desires in his heart as bait to fish by the river, casting his hook toward the reflection of the moon in the water.
"The moon embodies Taiyin, utmost pure and pristine, while governing all waters."
"The inverted reflection of the moon in the great river is precisely the purest and cleanest spot of the entire White Dragon River, perfect for gathering 【Clear Qi Above the River】."
Once Liu Zhijian understood this, he suddenly felt a wave of enlightenment.
"No wonder the sect seniors did not record the details of gathering qi."
"It seems everyone's predestined affinity is different."
"When I fish in the river, 【Clear Qi Above the River】 manifests as fine-scaled little fish."
"It doesn't even require collecting water to refine qi as described in the 【Qi Gathering Method】."
"Presumably, for others with different predestined affinities, the details of the Qi Gathering Method and the imagery presented by the 【Clear Qi Above the River】 would differ as well."
"Writing it down would instead easily lead future generations astray."
Yet, after realizing this, Liu Zhijian instead fell into a cognitive barrier, unable to settle into meditation to catch the fine-scaled little fish.
"My cultivation is still lacking; my Dao Heart is not pure enough."
Liu Zhijian sighed softly, knowing he was unlikely to gain anything today. He simply lifted his fishing rod and glanced at the fish basket.
In the basket, over a dozen fine-scaled little fish were already swimming around out of thin air.
Such a strange phenomenon would vanish once the sun rose, the moon set, and daylight broke.
It was truly extraordinary and wondrous.
"It seems filling the fish basket completely is what counts as gathering a full strand of 【Clear Qi Above the River】."
With a clear estimate in mind, Liu Zhijian was no longer in a hurry. He picked up the fish basket and walked unhurriedly toward Mount Yandang.
He returned a bit earlier today.
The eastern sky was not yet bright, with only a few wisps of morning glow barely emerging.
Liu Zhijian waited at the crossroads for a moment.
Only when he saw Jiang Xiaoyu open the door with a yawn and sit on the threshold resting her chin in her hands while staring blankly did he step forward and walk toward the thatched cottage.
Jiang Xiaoyu saw Liu Zhijian, leaped up, and ran over excitedly, clinging to the fish basket to peer inside. "Let me see, let me see!"
"Che, how is it just a few little fish again? They're not even enough for one bite."
"What do you know? These little fish are hard to catch and taste great too. One of them is worth at least ten big fish!"
"I don't believe you! Bleah bleah bleah..."
"Hold your head still while I braid your hair."
...
...
Mount Taixuan.
Within the Huang Kingdom, a formidable figure named Deng Gang had arisen. He had already pacified an entire prefecture and even issued a call to arms to contend for world hegemony.
The royal family of the Huang Kingdom was surnamed Chu.
Strictly speaking, they were distant relatives of Mount Taixuan's previous sect master, Daoist Wu.
Regrettably, Daoist Wu himself did not acknowledge them, taking only Chu Siyue with him when he returned to the Central Continent.
Having lost their greatest backer and lacking the strength to defeat Deng Gang, they saw their reign teetering on the brink of collapse.
Panicked, the Chu clan repeatedly sent messengers to Mount Taixuan to deliver letters pleading for help.
Li Chengxuan simply accepted the letters and sent the messengers away without meeting them.
He couldn't be bothered to spare even a single glance for these power struggles in the mundane world.
The only thing worth noting was that Deng Gang had already entered the Dao to cultivate, and seemed deeply hostile toward Mount Taixuan.
Although Mount Taixuan had ruled the Huang Kingdom for a thousand years, it had rarely paid much mind to governing it.
The small Qi Refining clans, rogue cultivators, and bandit cultivators under its rule had long cycled through countless generations.
It was only natural that a few cultivators would target Mount Taixuan for revenge.
However, in a thousand years, no one had ever managed to storm Mount Taixuan.
Huh, phrasing it like that sounded suspiciously like raising a flag, which was quite dangerous.
Li Chengxuan collected his stray thoughts and received another letter passed on by the Hua family at the foot of the mountain.
"This is far too brazen."
"Before I could even make my move, the mastermind behind the scenes stepped out on their own."
Li Chengxuan opened the secret letter, read it through, and frowned. "The Qingyun Sect wants to establish a market..."
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