Journey to the head

The endless flags tore through the thick clouds, and the huge fleet headed north. The sound of the fluttering sails gathered like rumbling thunder, which spread from near to far over Pinghu County and gradually disappeared.

When the last shadow of the fleet was swallowed up by the re-gathering clouds, the disciples who stayed behind to see them off dispersed, and Li Sheng also walked towards his own courtyard.

The food, clothing, housing, transportation, monthly rations, and corresponding treatment of Yunshan disciples are closely related to their rank. Li Sheng had just arrived at the mountain gate and had to start his promotion from the lowest rank of "Gui" disciples. But he was the master's direct disciple and belonged to the fifth generation of disciples. If he lived with the new disciples, it would be too conspicuous and would attract attention and affect everyone's practice. Therefore, an exception was made and a small courtyard was allocated to him in a secluded place in the shade of the mountain.

The environment here is elegant and quiet, which is conducive to focused cultivation. Li Sheng, who is eager to improve quickly and catch up with his fellow disciples, is very satisfied.

Now the whole sect has entered a wartime state, and the disciples in various sequences are all very nervous and busy. Only new disciples such as Li Sheng have not been classified into the sect sequence. Their main task is to practice and study, with the focus on completing the foundation teaching in the initial stage of Qi training and receiving basic training in the 100 arts of cultivating immortals.

At the same time, completing some basic sect tasks is also to further understand the operation of the sect and gradually participate in the construction of the sect.

From the top of the mountain to his own courtyard, there was a rugged mountain road that few people walked on, and several sections in the middle were even completely covered by trees. Li Sheng squatted down and tightened his leggings, then tied up his sleeves, spread his feet apart, and with a light crackling sound, his figure flashed and rushed into the forest and mountain road.

He stepped on the Tiangang, his body spun quickly, passing through the dense branches and bushes, his steps light and powerful. When he turned around and was about to hit a towering ancient tree in front of him, the meager spiritual power in his Dantian activated, and he lightly kicked his feet and flew into the air, leaving a series of imperceptible footprints on the moss on the tree trunk, and then he turned over again and passed the bushes, tapping his toes lightly among the rocks in the stream, causing a little splash of water.

This is the mortal martial art in the Baoguang Realm, the ultimate light skill called "Lingxudu".

When Lu Qian came to the Baoguang Realm, in addition to collecting the top-level cultivation techniques that had been passed down for thousands of years from the Amaterasu Palace, Baiyujing, etc., he also collected a batch of mortal martial arts.

During his spare time in the Baoguang Realm, Lu Qian pondered over this mortal martial arts and actually figured out some of the mysteries.

Most of the time in the Yuanchen Realm, ordinary people are taken care of by monks, or simply "raised" well, leaving no room for martial arts to develop. However, monks with abundant cultivation resources have been introducing spiritual energy into their bodies since the beginning of their spiritual seedlings. Even the various methods of martial arts cultivation are based on the use of spiritual energy to temper the body and hone the body's strength.

In the Baoguang Realm, due to the decline of spiritual energy, mortal martial arts evolved. This is to constantly tap the potential of the body, refine the internal breath into internal force, and then refine the internal force into true qi, to achieve the so-called innate perfection, and create all kinds of strange moves externally to achieve the effects of attack, defense, speed, control and so on.

Even if mortal warriors do not have spiritual power, they can still possess a certain combat power through martial arts. Even the masters among them can defeat those monks who are in the early stages of Qi training, whose spiritual consciousness is scattered and unable to control objects, and who can only use crude talismans and spells.

If we use spiritual power to drive martial arts, what effect can we achieve? If low-level cultivators practice martial arts, will they perform well?
So Li Sheng naturally became the first experimental subject. He had already learned internal skills, and as a native of Baoguang Realm, he had a deep understanding of the concept of martial arts. Now he was reborn into Taoism, and while practicing the "Qianyun Sutra" to breathe in spiritual energy and nourish spiritual power, he also practiced martial arts, and soon made some progress.

After experiments, Lu Qian discovered that although once a cultivator learned to control objects, mortal martial arts would be of little use, before that, martial arts were indeed very useful.

First, it can effectively make up for the lack of means of low-level Qi training monks, and greatly improve their abilities in attack and defense, escape and survival.

Second, the spiritual roots are not yet mature in the spiritual seedling stage, and it is not possible to formally start cultivation, and it is impossible to exercise the acupoints and meridians through spiritual energy tempering. However, if you practice some martial arts at this time, you can effectively exercise the body meridians and lay a solid foundation for entering the Tao in the future.

Third, mortal martial arts is not a closed-door practice, but a new way for those who cannot practice to understand and apply the great principles of heaven and earth. Many top martial arts are also learned from heaven and earth, and contain the rhyme of Taoism. Practicing them carefully can increase the ability to understand, which is of great benefit to future cultivation.

Therefore, Lu Qian has now instructed Lin Le to lead the Transmission Department to sort out the top martial arts of the Baoguang Realm, while also sorting out the mortal martial arts of the Baoguang Realm, and compiling a martial arts manual suitable for young spiritual seedlings and low-level cultivators to practice.

However, due to the sudden invasion of hundreds of tribes, this work had to be put on hold temporarily, so now Li Sheng was the only one in Yunshan who truly practiced martial arts.

He used his spiritual power to activate his Qinggong, and dodged in the forest without touching a single leaf, very quickly. However, the young golden-winged eagle showed no regard for him, and seemed to snort lightly, and spread its wings, and golden light flowed, and it left Li Sheng behind and disappeared into the forest.

Li Sheng had been practicing Taoism for more than a year, but his cultivation was shallow. The golden-winged eagle's cultivation was far superior to his, so he had never obeyed. It was only respectful on the surface when Lu Qian was around, but as soon as Lu Qian left, its true colors were revealed and it became wild and difficult to tame.

The golden-winged eagle escaped, but Li Sheng didn't care at all. He had a ban to control the young eagle, so he wasn't afraid that it would really escape from the Biluo Peak. Moreover, he was arrogant and had his own ideas, so he didn't bother to use a ban to control the golden-winged eagle.

After running for more than ten miles along the rugged mountain road, Li Sheng finally returned to the courtyard, with sweat already appearing on his forehead.

The mortal steward came forward eagerly and took his outer robe: "What do you want, young master?"

Li Sheng waved his hand gently: "Get ready to take a shower and change clothes."

Then the mortal servants in the courtyard began to work in an orderly manner, while Li Sheng walked to the courtyard and stood still, using the standing posture kung fu to regulate his internal breath.

The mortal steward arranged servants and waited far away. After spending these days together, he had discovered that the second disciple of the headmaster was different from other immortal masters in this mountain.

He is proud, but not arrogant; he is confident, but not conceited.

He gladly accepted all service and rightly demanded more.

The pride and grace that naturally exudes from every gesture and movement cannot be faked.

When those lead-gray pupils turned towards me, even though I had served several important figures of the Yunshan Sect, I didn't dare to look him in the eye.

He must come from a very high family!
As expected, he is the master’s disciple!
All the mortal servants in the courtyard were trembling with fear and served him wholeheartedly, not daring to cheat or be slacking off just because of his young age.

Li Sheng has turned stillness into movement. Wearing only a green inner garment, he performs a palm technique in the courtyard, which is called "Yin Yang Palm".

For a moment, all you could see in the yard were robes fluttering, figures dancing, and palms piercing the air with a hissing sound.

He started to fight faster and faster, and in the courtyard, only a green shadow could be seen spinning back and forth, and it seemed that there were yin and yang fish shapes spinning in the green shadow. Then he fought slower and slower, and each move was slow, drawing perfect arcs.

After an incense stick of time, Li Sheng raised one hand and lowered the other, drawing a big circle with both palms, and then slowly retracted them to his dantian. He had just let out a long breath when he heard someone clapping and laughing at the gate of the courtyard.

"Uncle Li, great palm technique!"

Li Sheng looked up and cupped his hands, "So it's Junior Brother Fang. My cultivation is shallow, and this palm technique is just a minor skill of ordinary people. Please forgive me for making fun of you."

Junior Brother Fang came forward with a big smile on his face, followed by a group of mortal servants carrying all kinds of furniture.

"Uncle Li, you are too modest. I have never seen this set of palm techniques before, but each move seems to contain the principle of the rotation of yin and yang. It is truly mysterious and extraordinary. I guess it is a mysterious skill taught by the headmaster himself?"

Li Sheng took the sweat towel handed over by the mortal manager, wiped his head and face, and then shook his head.

"This is what Master got by chance. These martial arts are best used to lay a foundation for starting. By the time Junior Brother Fang is in the late stage of Qi training, they are no longer useful." "Now the Transmission Department is sorting it out. I estimate that when our sect returns victorious and begins to recruit seventh-generation disciples, these martial arts will become the standard enlightenment learning for spiritual seedlings, replacing the original basic physical training courses."

"The seventh generation of disciples, the generation that has been practicing martial arts since childhood, will definitely be very different."

Upon hearing this, Junior Brother Fang even forgot to ask the mortal servants to unload the various furniture, and asked in surprise: "My sect is going to recruit the seventh generation of disciples?"

Li Sheng smiled slightly, "That's right. Master said it himself. Now that the ancestral bloodline has been recovered, the whole sect is celebrating. It's time to pass on the genealogy and start a new branch. When Master returns to the mountain, it will be officially launched. By then, nephew Fang will also be addressed as uncle."

Junior Brother Fang's face was full of longing. The Yunshan Sect had already recruited the sixth generation of disciples for one hundred and thirteen years, and fellow disciples often talked about this matter. However, they did not expect that the next generation of disciples was right in front of them and that they would become teachers themselves.

Thinking of this, he could not help but sigh that Li Sheng was close to him and well-informed. Thinking that Li Sheng was only a teenager, and had just entered the Qi training stage, but he was a disciple of the head sect with a respected status and a bright future, he had to respectfully call him "Uncle Master", which made him even more complicated, but his face was even more respectful and humble.

Li Sheng noticed the subtle changes in his expression, but just smiled and ignored it. He called the steward over and asked him to arrange the newly delivered furniture. He thanked Master Fang and sent him out of the courtyard. Then, surrounded by four maids, he went to bathe and change clothes.

After washing away his tiredness with the help of the maid and changing into new clothes, Li Sheng came to the study. He saw that the room had been lit with fragrant incense, vases were placed in place, lighting beads were hung, and plain mattresses were laid out. Then he nodded slightly.

"Leave one person to hold the lamp, one to grind the ink, and the rest of you can leave."

He took out the book and began to study, occasionally underlining the key points with a brush in ink or red. He read very quickly, finishing a volume in just one stick of incense, and then starting over with a new one.

Just when I was reading the third volume, there was a knock on the door.

Li Sheng frowned, and the steward at the door said in fear: "Young Master, Lord Kong Meng Ling is here."

Li Sheng stood up quickly. Before he could say anything, the door was pushed open. Wu Yan walked in with her head held high. She looked around and saw two maids kneeling in fear and trepidation. The ink on Li Sheng's notebook was still wet and there were no strange traces in the room. She heaved a sigh of relief.

Li Sheng bowed respectfully: "Senior Sister, you are here."

Wu Yan nodded: "Master told me before he left that I would be responsible for your studies while he was away. From now on, I will come to check on you every five days."

Then he asked, "How much have you learned now, brother?"

Li Sheng replied: "I have finished learning the content of the Ling Miao 'beginner class' two days ago, and now I have learned half of the 'intermediate class'. I estimate that I will be able to finish it in two days."

Wu Yan was slightly surprised when she heard this.

Li Sheng was personally enlightened by Lu Qian on the practice of cultivation. But cultivation is more than just practicing. Now that Li Sheng has returned to the mountain gate, he must receive systematic education, starting with the spiritual seedling enlightenment education, and rebuilding his foundation.

Yunshan Lingmiao’s enlightenment education is divided into three classes from easy to difficult, namely junior, intermediate and advanced levels, and the content is divided into three categories.

The first is cultural courses, including literacy, writing and painting, Yunshan School's ideology and culture, and a brief history of the cultivation world; the second is the main courses of cultivation, including the identification of meridians and acupoints, the identification of herbs and minerals, the principles of the operation of spiritual energy, and the basic theories of all arts; the third is basic physical training.

Apart from physical training, the other contents are very complicated. Generally, it takes three to five years to learn all the spiritual skills. Even if Li Sheng is older, sensible and attentive, he cannot learn so quickly!

Wu Yan pondered for a moment, then immediately began to test him, asking about some cultural knowledge, the basics of cultivation, and the theory of the Hundred Arts that would be learned in the beginner and intermediate classes.

Unexpectedly, Li Sheng answered every question without any delay or omission, which surprised Wu Yan very much. She thought to herself that my junior brother is knowledgeable, has a good memory and extraordinary talent.

Li Sheng smiled and explained, "I have been following Master for more than a year, spending time with him day and night, asking for advice day and night. Although I learned bits and pieces before, Master actually taught me the general idea. Now that I am learning systematically, my progress is naturally very fast. I can review what I have learned and gain new insights."

Wu Yan nodded silently, and Li Sheng took the opportunity to ask about the doubts he had in the learning process one by one, and Wu Yan answered them carefully.

In this way, an afternoon passed quickly with questions and answers.

Li Sheng benefited a lot and bowed to express his gratitude.

Wu Yan became serious: "Junior brother, I heard from the Transmission Department that you were asking about the assessment standards for 'Ren Deng' disciples? You are indeed progressing very fast, but you must know that the path of cultivation requires you to be down-to-earth in order to achieve long-term success. Being too impatient is absolutely not advisable."

Li Sheng smiled, "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I just learned about it in advance, not that I will take the test now. My key points are loose now, and I will break into the third level of Qi training in the next few days. When I reach the fourth level of Qi training, finish the spiritual seedling 'advanced class' and the foundation of the initial stage of Qi training, and accumulate some daily task merit points, I will apply for the assessment."

Seeing that he had arranged everything in an orderly manner and was very opinionated, Wu Yan nodded and reminded him, "In addition to our cultivation, the disciples of our sect are assessed on their thoughts and character, sect rules, and the various arts of cultivation. They must develop in an all-round way. As disciples of the head sect, we must set an example and bring honor to our master."

After hesitating for a moment, she recalled the rumors she had heard in the past few days and said, "We cultivators must not indulge in material desires and lose the spirit of hard work and struggle."

Li Sheng just smiled: "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I will not waver."

Wu Yan sighed, nodded and walked out, thinking to herself, my junior brother has excellent talent and character, but he has some arrogance from a wealthy family. As his senior sister, I must guide him carefully and never let him go astray.

Suddenly, Li Sheng asked, "Sister, if you have time today, could you tell me the story of how the old Yunshan Sect was destroyed and our master went into exile and rebuilt the sect? It is in the book, but it is not as detailed as what you have told me."

Wu Yan's heart moved, and she turned around: "Okay, now that the ancestral bloodline has returned, you should understand the story."

So she sat down and slowly spoke to Li Sheng who was sitting upright.

Just as Lu Qian had told her many years ago.

At this moment, the sun has set and the moon is rising.

The endless, dazzling and eye-catching spiritual light has locked the border of Beichu County and is slowly shrinking inward.

These are the left and right armies led by Taoist Xichan and Lingxuan Lingjun, who are driving the monsters of various tribes towards the slowly advancing Lu Qian’s central army. (End of this chapter)