Liu Zhijian suddenly coughed repeatedly, a large surge of clear water gushing from his mouth. Such an unusual sight was truly alarming.
Jiang Xiaoyu's eyes widened, and she was about to step forward to see what was happening.
Hua Chunning was quick to act, grabbing Jiang Xiaoyu in a flash.
In the Ancestral Hall, right before the sect master, the modern senior disciple of Mount Taixuan had suddenly broken out with a strange affliction—this was truly not something a mortal young girl could intervene in.
Liu Zhijian was stunned himself. He wanted to speak and explain, only to find clear water flowing from his mouth, nose, eyes, and ears.
Li Chengxuan's expression remained unchanged. He turned to Hua Chunning and said, "Leave us."
"Yes." Hua Chunning dared not delay. Grabbing Jiang Xiaoyu, who was still struggling incessantly, she exited the Ancestral Hall.
Inside the Ancestral Hall, only Li Chengxuan and Liu Zhijian remained.
Li Chengxuan was in no rush to handle it. Instead, he spoke casually, "Normally, after ingesting qi, one should immediately begin practicing a cultivation method, harmonizing their physical senses with their concept-imagery.
"Yet you delayed outside for quite some time. Now, your concept-imagery has far surpassed your physical body and divine consciousness, causing it to overflow due to excess.
"In ancient times, many of the 'innate phenomena' recorded in the biographies of mighty cultivators were mostly like this."
After his initial panic, Liu Zhijian's mind gradually settled. Seeing that his master even had the leisure to tell ancient lore, he knew his life was in no danger.
The overflowing 【Kan Water】 concept-imagery followed the 【Clear Qi Above the River】, turning into clear river water that continuously welled up and spilled from his mouth and nose.
A moment later, Liu Zhijian returned to normal. Looking at the clear water on the floor, he could not help but sigh with emotion.
The path of cultivation was truly miraculous.
Li Chengxuan produced two jade slips and introduced them, "These are the two highest-grade 【Kan Water】 cultivation methods in our sect. Both are Third-Rank, capable of taking one to 【Foundation Establishment】 great perfection, though both lack the portion needed to break through to the 【Purple Palace】."
Lifting his left hand, he continued, "This manual is named the 【River and Great Mound Classic】; I pulled it out from the sect's Scripture Library.
"I flipped through it briefly. It is undoubtedly an orthodox ancient method. Its concept-imagery is drawn from 【Surging Rivers, Obstructing Mounds】, emphasizing dissolving danger to cross tribulations and condensing fate density. It carries quite an ancient charm, though it is harder to cultivate."
He then introduced the jade slip in his right hand, "As for this manual, it is called the 【River and Sea Single Qi Classic】, sent over by Qixia Mountain. Its intent lies in 【Swallowing Rivers and Absorbing Seas in a Single Breath】—that is, swallowing rivers and incorporating them into oneself. It was likely created by some grand cultivator prior to the tribulation struggle between the New Method and Old Method, rendering it a 【Harmonized Ancient】 method.
"Because it incorporates concepts of the New Method, it is much easier to cultivate.
"Two manuals, two paths. The choice is yours."
Having listened, Liu Zhijian pondered for a brief moment before coming to a decision. He extended both hands and accepted the 【River and Great Mound Classic】.
Li Chengxuan offered no judgment either way as he put away the other jade slip, asking casually, "Why not choose the easier 【River and Sea Single Qi Classic】?"
"Reporting to Master," Liu Zhijian did not conceal anything, speaking his true thoughts, "your disciple is not a conservative person who reveres antiquity while scorning the present, nor do I truly care about a manual's origins or difficulty of cultivation.
"It is just that after hearing Master's explanation, I could not help but recall my past experiences with recreational fishing.
"Rivers, lakes, and seas originally belong to nature and Heaven and Earth.
"Yet some people, for their own selfish desires, forcibly claim them as private property without taking the slightest care to protect them, turning many clear rivers foul and filthy, severing all vitality.
"Your disciple utterly despises this.
"Unfortunately, my status was low and humble, and I was powerless to stop it.
"I am merely an ordinary angler. Entering the immortal path is already enough to satisfy my heart. Thus, even if my Dao path is severed, I will never do such things as 【Swallowing Rivers and Absorbing Seas】.
"In this life, I may lack the power to change the world, but I wish to hold fast to my true heart and not allow the world to change me."
...
Having chosen his cultivation manual, Liu Zhijian departed to enter secluded cultivation and organize his concept-imagery.
Jiang Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was completely carefree. Even in a totally unfamiliar place, she showed not the slightest tension or fear, scrambling up and down the mountain every day, playing until she was drenched in sweat, thoroughly enjoying herself.
At times, she would also tag along right behind Hua Chunning, ostensibly to help, but actually causing trouble.
"Senior Sister, Senior Sister!" Jiang Xiaoyu cajoled. "Take me down the mountain to play again!"
"Call me Martial Aunt!" Hua Chunning corrected her with some helplessness.
The sect master allowing Jiang Xiaoyu to enter the Ancestral Hall, a sacred ground of the sect, had already made his stance clear.
Jiang Xiaoyu was now also a registered disciple of Mount Taixuan.
It was just that being under Liu Zhijian, she was considered a junior relative to Hua Chunning.
At the foot of Mount Taixuan, Liu Zhijian calling her "Junior Sister" had granted Hua Chunning a bit of 【Kan Water】 blessing, barely supplementing her concept-imagery.
Hua Chunning was naturally immensely grateful.
However, Liu Zhijian was the sect master's personal disciple and the modern senior disciple of Mount Taixuan; his status and position were far beyond what Hua Chunning could compare to.
Now he had gone into secluded cultivation.
Thus, Hua Chunning transferred that gratitude onto little junior niece Jiang Xiaoyu, whom Liu Zhijian had personally brought up the mountain and cared for almost like his own child. She selected several introductory Daoist scriptures and personally taught her.
Unexpectedly, though Jiang Xiaoyu looked bright and clever, she was truly not material for studying, caring only about playing around.
The moment she sat down, she began inspecting the material of the cushion; upon opening a scripture, she immediately wanted to tear out a couple of pages to fold paper cats and dogs.
In the end, Hua Chunning dared not forcefully discipline or restrict her, having no choice but to let her be.
Having gained her freedom, Jiang Xiaoyu inexplicably set her sights on the Scripture Library.
A few days ago, she stole fire starter from the Hua family and covertly prepared to burn down the Scripture Library at night to eliminate future troubles once and for all.
From then on, Hua Chunning never dared bring Jiang Xiaoyu down the mountain again.
After pestering her for a while, Jiang Xiaoyu felt bored and simply grabbed a medicinal hoe she had stolen from the Hua family at the mountain's foot. She went to the spiritual stream on the mountain to dig a canal, planning to divert water and flood the Scripture Library instead.
The spiritual stream on the mountain did not carry much water, and the Scripture Library was protected by formations.
Regarding Jiang Xiaoyu's grand plan to flood the Scripture Library, Hua Chunning simply pretended not to see it.
In the blink of an eye, the Grain Rain solar term arrived.
A pitter-patter of fine rain began to fall over Mount Taixuan.
Hua Chunning felt a touch of emotion.
If she had not encountered the Mortal Tribulation in the grotto-heaven, she might still be supplementing her concept-imagery, gathering the three pentads of 【Grain Rain】, without any of the subsequent twists and turns.
Just as she was thinking this, she faintly heard the roaring sound of rushing water.
Jiang Xiaoyu dropped her medicinal hoe, her two short legs sprinting at top speed as she ran and shouted, "Flooding! It's flooding!"
Hua Chunning froze in surprise upon hearing this.
How could a flood possibly happen on Mount Taixuan?!
While she was still bewildered, rolling waves surged out from behind Jiang Xiaoyu, sweeping the girl into their midst.
Hua Chunning paled with shock. She quickly stepped forward, pulling Jiang Xiaoyu out of the water and lifting her up in her hand.
Jiang Xiaoyu looked thoroughly aggrieved and bewildered.
Hua Chunning looked closely and discovered that it was actually the mountain's little stream. Its water volume had unaccountably multiplied many times over, rushing down along the tiny canal Jiang Xiaoyu had dug.
A rolling mountain torrent poured down, charging straight toward the immortal cave where Liu Zhijian was in secluded cultivation.
Inside the cave, a figure was slowly walking out—it was none other than Liu Zhijian.
The rushing turbid current smashed toward Liu Zhijian, but as if blocked by a great mound, it could no longer advance a single inch. It could only reverse its flow and turn back, dispersing into a tranquil, wave-less stream, devoid of its previous terrifying momentum.
Hua Chunning set Jiang Xiaoyu down and bowed. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on successfully cultivating the technique."
Having organized his 【Kan Water】 concept-imagery using the 【River and Great Mound Classic】, Liu Zhijian had become restrained and ordinary, showing none of his previous alarming presence. He shook his head slightly and said, "It is merely barely an entry."
The stream's waters, which had swelled violently under the influence of Liu Zhijian's technique completion, gradually receded.
Jiang Xiaoyu paid none of this any mind. She stepped forward and said in all seriousness, "Senior Brother Liu, I checked carefully—there are no fish in the mountain stream at all. It's no fun whatsoever!"
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