Everything within the valley seemed to be progressing for the better.
One day, as per his routine, Shu Han bathed his inebriated master and tucked him into bed before hastening to the cave, ready to receive the next stage of his martial arts training. He had mastered the Sky-aspiring Sword Technique and the Cloud-Walking Step, and eagerly anticipated Mu Wan'er's teachings of more profound martial arts.
The cave was fully furnished, and Mu Wan'er sat leisurely in a rocking chair, engrossed in a book. Upon hearing Shu Han's footsteps, she unabashedly called out, "Little Han, come over and massage your sister's feet and back!"
Shu Han promptly sat on a stool, smoothly hoisting Mu Wan'er's jade-like feet onto his lap. His hands skillfully kneaded her feet, gradually increasing in intensity while infusing his own internal energy, causing her feet to feel warm. Mu Wan'er couldn't help but let out a soft hum, basking in Shu Han's excellent massage skills.
Over the past six months, they had grown incredibly close. Mu Wan'er had exhibited a prodigious talent for martial arts from a young age and had been rigorously trained by her father without any respite. The past half-year she spent convalescing in this cave, pampered by Shu Han, had been the most relaxed time of her life.
On the other hand, Shu Han was a child from a poor family. It's often said that a poor child becomes a parent early, and Shu Han had been caring for his sister since he was young, nurturing a gentle and considerate personality.
His intelligence paired with these qualities had gradually won over Mu Wan'er, who had grown fond of this boy who was not even ten years old. Shu Han was equally grateful to Mu Wan'er for her meticulous martial arts guidance. In her free time, Mu Wan'er would share many interesting stories about Yanbei with Shu Han, greatly broadening the horizons of this boy from the mountains. Unconsciously, Shu Han felt as though he had gained another elder sister.
Mu Wan'er sighed contentedly and said while lying in her chair, "Ah, Little Han, if you weren't so young, I would definitely have married you without any hesitation. You're smart, have a good temperament, and know how to take care of others. I really don't want to leave."
"Why not stay then? I still want to continue learning martial arts from you."
Mu Wan'er sighed, "You're too smart. In just half a year, there's not much left for me to teach you. When you grow up, your martial arts will surely surpass mine. These past few days, my injury has completely healed. It's time for me to leave this cave and return to the Sky-aspiring Sect."
Upon hearing this, Shu Han's hands stopped in their motion.
Sensing Shu Han's trembling hands, Mu Wan'er said, "Stop massaging and come sit in front of me."
Shu Han wanted to force a smile, but he felt a dull ache in his heart and couldn't do it. He stood before Mu Wan'er, only for her to suddenly pull him into her embrace.
Her soft cheek rubbed against Shu Han's head, and the faint scent emanating from her chest caused Shu Han's face to flush red. In a soft voice, she said, "Little Han, would you sleep with your sister tonight? I might be afraid of the dark..."
Shu Han felt embarrassed and wanted to refuse but found that he couldn't voice it, so he merely nodded slightly. Next, he was pulled onto the bed by Mu Wan'er, the intoxicating fragrance from the girlish bed causing his heart to pound.
Mu Wan'er stroked his head and planted a gentle kiss on his lips, giggling as she said, "That's my first kiss! The elders say that childhood forms man. Little Han, you're quite the mold - possessing cultivation and martial arts, you'll definitely be popular among girls when you grow up. By then, your sister will already be old, so I might as well steal your first kiss now and let those future girls be jealous!"
Shu Han wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. Drowsily, he fell asleep in Mu Wan'er's arms. As Mu Wan'er lightly patted Shu Han, she too gradually drifted into sleep. The night passed like this.
The next day, when Mu Wan'er woke up, she found herself alone in bed. Beside the bed, there were three vials of spiritual medicine and a piece of paper.
"Sister, I'm busy during the day, so I won't see you off. Thank you for your guidance over the past six months. Shu Han will never forget you. These are the three vials of spiritual medicine I'm giving you: one is Clear Spirit Powder, capable of curing all diseases; another is Rejuvenating Dew, able to resist aging; and the last is Jade Pill, which strengthens one's foundation and extends one's lifespan. I've drawn the map of the mountain on the back. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Reading Shu Han's neat handwriting, Mu Wan'er felt an emptiness in her heart and couldn't help but feel her nose sting. Tears the size of beans fell onto the paper. Holding her knees, she cried alone in the cave for quite some time.
Facing the rising sun, Shu Han stood atop a subsidiary peak. His emotions were fluctuating. He wasn't good at farewells, so he hid on this mountaintop, repeatedly practicing his sword dance. The speed of the sword became faster and faster, without stopping.
The Dao of the Immortals is boundless, the Dao of Men is mere.
Now, Shu Han finally understood what was meant by the difference between immortals and mortals. Immortals live long lives, observing the world's rise and fall. Whereas mortals are like duckweed in this vast world, like passing clouds, living in the morning and dying in the evening. Everything will pass away, only the Dao of the Immortals is eternal.
Since then, Shu Han had never missed a day of practicing the Sky-aspiring Sword Technique.
…………
Time flowed like water, youth was no more, and five years had passed. Shu Han had grown from a small child to a tall and graceful young man. No one thought of him as having a large head anymore, aside from his two companions who affectionately reminded Shu Han of his large-headed days with their private nickname.
After five years of rigorous cultivation and countless Qi Gathering Pills, Shu Han's cultivation had far surpassed Erdan's fifth level, reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining! Furthermore, he had also managed to master the five fundamental spells documented in the Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art: Fireball, Wind Control, Azure Light Shield, Object Control, and Energy Concealment!
Among them, he was most proficient at Energy Concealment. This spell could conceal his own aura, thereby masking his cultivation level. It was due to this spell that everyone thought Shu Han was only at the second layer of Qi Refining, even his master, the Second Elder, was none the wiser.
Over these five years, he had thoroughly understood all the pill refining techniques of the Second Elder and had mastered all twelve pill formulas, with his pill formation success rate even surpassing the Second Elder himself. This left the Second Elder immensely surprised, considering Shu Han a rare prodigy seen once in a millennium.
Yet Shu Han knew his own limits. The countless destroyed medicinal herbs buried in the valley were evidence of this. Following this, Shu Han began delving into the field of talisman crafting.
What intrigued Shu Han the most was the art of talisman crafting. Talismans were fascinating, able to store spells for instant use when needed, with incredible power! As Shu Han currently lacked powerful spells, talismans were exactly what he needed.
With the deepening of his cultivation, the Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art provided him with a robust reserve of spiritual power. Yet, he did not have a single high-level spell to squander this spiritual power, with the Fireball spell consuming the most, albeit only having mediocre power.
The Fireball spell was more than enough to deal with ordinary people, but in battles between cultivators, its power was quite lacking. The Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art, while granting formidable spiritual power, did not document any high-level spells to exploit this spiritual power, which puzzled Shu Han greatly. He had an inkling that this cultivation method was incomplete and that the sect had intentionally removed the high-level spells, deliberately keeping disciples from practicing them.
But why would they do this? Shu Han pondered over it but couldn't find an answer. Wouldn't it be better for the sect if the disciples were stronger?
Driven by worry, Shu Han devoted himself to the study of talismans, hoping to compensate for his lack of offensive measures with them. Although talismans were not as complex as pills, the high requirements for rune composition and material made them even scarcer than pills. However, this was not an issue for Shu Han. As long as he could gather the materials for one talisman, he could make millions more.
Seeing Shu Han engrossed in the study of talismans, the Second Elder bestowed upon him a high-level Fire God Talisman for his protection. The elder said that the Fire God Talisman was difficult to make and required a huge amount of materials, which even he did not dare to make casually. Its power was impressive, equal to the full-strength attack of a cultivator at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining!
Upon receiving the Fire God Talisman, Shu Han was overjoyed! With such a talisman, there was no need to cultivate to death. It was better to make hundreds of them and scatter them in case of danger, even Foundation Establishment stage cultivators would have to retreat!
Henceforth, Shu Han no longer continued to take Qi Gathering Pills for cultivation but fully devoted himself to talisman crafting. In his mind, with a multitude of Qi Gathering Pills at his side, it was only a matter of time before his cultivation level would increase. Moreover, even if he reached the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, at most his spiritual power would be several times stronger, but his combat power wouldn't significantly increase. It would be better to devote all his energy to studying talismans and making a pile of Fire God Talismans.
Everything within the valley seemed to be progressing for the better.
One day, as per his routine, Shu Han bathed his inebriated master and tucked him into bed before hastening to the cave, ready to receive the next stage of his martial arts training. He had mastered the Sky-aspiring Sword Technique and the Cloud-Walking Step, and eagerly anticipated Mu Wan'er's teachings of more profound martial arts.
The cave was fully furnished, and Mu Wan'er sat leisurely in a rocking chair, engrossed in a book. Upon hearing Shu Han's footsteps, she unabashedly called out, "Little Han, come over and massage your sister's feet and back!"
Shu Han promptly sat on a stool, smoothly hoisting Mu Wan'er's jade-like feet onto his lap. His hands skillfully kneaded her feet, gradually increasing in intensity while infusing his own internal energy, causing her feet to feel warm. Mu Wan'er couldn't help but let out a soft hum, basking in Shu Han's excellent massage skills.
Over the past six months, they had grown incredibly close. Mu Wan'er had exhibited a prodigious talent for martial arts from a young age and had been rigorously trained by her father without any respite. The past half-year she spent convalescing in this cave, pampered by Shu Han, had been the most relaxed time of her life.
On the other hand, Shu Han was a child from a poor family. It's often said that a poor child becomes a parent early, and Shu Han had been caring for his sister since he was young, nurturing a gentle and considerate personality.
His intelligence paired with these qualities had gradually won over Mu Wan'er, who had grown fond of this boy who was not even ten years old. Shu Han was equally grateful to Mu Wan'er for her meticulous martial arts guidance. In her free time, Mu Wan'er would share many interesting stories about Yanbei with Shu Han, greatly broadening the horizons of this boy from the mountains. Unconsciously, Shu Han felt as though he had gained another elder sister.
Mu Wan'er sighed contentedly and said while lying in her chair, "Ah, Little Han, if you weren't so young, I would definitely have married you without any hesitation. You're smart, have a good temperament, and know how to take care of others. I really don't want to leave."
"Why not stay then? I still want to continue learning martial arts from you."
Mu Wan'er sighed, "You're too smart. In just half a year, there's not much left for me to teach you. When you grow up, your martial arts will surely surpass mine. These past few days, my injury has completely healed. It's time for me to leave this cave and return to the Sky-aspiring Sect."
Upon hearing this, Shu Han's hands stopped in their motion.
Sensing Shu Han's trembling hands, Mu Wan'er said, "Stop massaging and come sit in front of me."
Shu Han wanted to force a smile, but he felt a dull ache in his heart and couldn't do it. He stood before Mu Wan'er, only for her to suddenly pull him into her embrace.
Her soft cheek rubbed against Shu Han's head, and the faint scent emanating from her chest caused Shu Han's face to flush red. In a soft voice, she said, "Little Han, would you sleep with your sister tonight? I might be afraid of the dark..."
Shu Han felt embarrassed and wanted to refuse but found that he couldn't voice it, so he merely nodded slightly. Next, he was pulled onto the bed by Mu Wan'er, the intoxicating fragrance from the girlish bed causing his heart to pound.
Mu Wan'er stroked his head and planted a gentle kiss on his lips, giggling as she said, "That's my first kiss! The elders say that childhood forms man. Little Han, you're quite the mold - possessing cultivation and martial arts, you'll definitely be popular among girls when you grow up. By then, your sister will already be old, so I might as well steal your first kiss now and let those future girls be jealous!"
Shu Han wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. Drowsily, he fell asleep in Mu Wan'er's arms. As Mu Wan'er lightly patted Shu Han, she too gradually drifted into sleep. The night passed like this.
The next day, when Mu Wan'er woke up, she found herself alone in bed. Beside the bed, there were three vials of spiritual medicine and a piece of paper.
"Sister, I'm busy during the day, so I won't see you off. Thank you for your guidance over the past six months. Shu Han will never forget you. These are the three vials of spiritual medicine I'm giving you: one is Clear Spirit Powder, capable of curing all diseases; another is Rejuvenating Dew, able to resist aging; and the last is Jade Pill, which strengthens one's foundation and extends one's lifespan. I've drawn the map of the mountain on the back. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Reading Shu Han's neat handwriting, Mu Wan'er felt an emptiness in her heart and couldn't help but feel her nose sting. Tears the size of beans fell onto the paper. Holding her knees, she cried alone in the cave for quite some time.
Facing the rising sun, Shu Han stood atop a subsidiary peak. His emotions were fluctuating. He wasn't good at farewells, so he hid on this mountaintop, repeatedly practicing his sword dance. The speed of the sword became faster and faster, without stopping.
The Dao of the Immortals is boundless, the Dao of Men is mere.
Now, Shu Han finally understood what was meant by the difference between immortals and mortals. Immortals live long lives, observing the world's rise and fall. Whereas mortals are like duckweed in this vast world, like passing clouds, living in the morning and dying in the evening. Everything will pass away, only the Dao of the Immortals is eternal.
Since then, Shu Han had never missed a day of practicing the Sky-aspiring Sword Technique.
…………
Time flowed like water, youth was no more, and five years had passed. Shu Han had grown from a small child to a tall and graceful young man. No one thought of him as having a large head anymore, aside from his two companions who affectionately reminded Shu Han of his large-headed days with their private nickname.
After five years of rigorous cultivation and countless Qi Gathering Pills, Shu Han's cultivation had far surpassed Erdan's fifth level, reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining! Furthermore, he had also managed to master the five fundamental spells documented in the Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art: Fireball, Wind Control, Azure Light Shield, Object Control, and Energy Concealment!
Among them, he was most proficient at Energy Concealment. This spell could conceal his own aura, thereby masking his cultivation level. It was due to this spell that everyone thought Shu Han was only at the second layer of Qi Refining, even his master, the Second Elder, was none the wiser.
Over these five years, he had thoroughly understood all the pill refining techniques of the Second Elder and had mastered all twelve pill formulas, with his pill formation success rate even surpassing the Second Elder himself. This left the Second Elder immensely surprised, considering Shu Han a rare prodigy seen once in a millennium.
Yet Shu Han knew his own limits. The countless destroyed medicinal herbs buried in the valley were evidence of this. Following this, Shu Han began delving into the field of talisman crafting.
What intrigued Shu Han the most was the art of talisman crafting. Talismans were fascinating, able to store spells for instant use when needed, with incredible power! As Shu Han currently lacked powerful spells, talismans were exactly what he needed.
With the deepening of his cultivation, the Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art provided him with a robust reserve of spiritual power. Yet, he did not have a single high-level spell to squander this spiritual power, with the Fireball spell consuming the most, albeit only having mediocre power.
The Fireball spell was more than enough to deal with ordinary people, but in battles between cultivators, its power was quite lacking. The Dragon Mystical Triple Rotation Divine Art, while granting formidable spiritual power, did not document any high-level spells to exploit this spiritual power, which puzzled Shu Han greatly. He had an inkling that this cultivation method was incomplete and that the sect had intentionally removed the high-level spells, deliberately keeping disciples from practicing them.
But why would they do this? Shu Han pondered over it but couldn't find an answer. Wouldn't it be better for the sect if the disciples were stronger?
Driven by worry, Shu Han devoted himself to the study of talismans, hoping to compensate for his lack of offensive measures with them. Although talismans were not as complex as pills, the high requirements for rune composition and material made them even scarcer than pills. However, this was not an issue for Shu Han. As long as he could gather the materials for one talisman, he could make millions more.
Seeing Shu Han engrossed in the study of talismans, the Second Elder bestowed upon him a high-level Fire God Talisman for his protection. The elder said that the Fire God Talisman was difficult to make and required a huge amount of materials, which even he did not dare to make casually. Its power was impressive, equal to the full-strength attack of a cultivator at the twelfth layer of Qi Refining!
Upon receiving the Fire God Talisman, Shu Han was overjoyed! With such a talisman, there was no need to cultivate to death. It was better to make hundreds of them and scatter them in case of danger, even Foundation Establishment stage cultivators would have to retreat!
Henceforth, Shu Han no longer continued to take Qi Gathering Pills for cultivation but fully devoted himself to talisman crafting. In his mind, with a multitude of Qi Gathering Pills at his side, it was only a matter of time before his cultivation level would increase. Moreover, even if he reached the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, at most his spiritual power would be several times stronger, but his combat power wouldn't significantly increase. It would be better to devote all his energy to studying talismans and making a pile of Fire God Talismans.
