Hidden moth

Chapter 137 Kanli Extraction and White Jade Steaming

The word "fire" is very subtle and even difficult to translate accurately.

For example, when frying mulberry leaves, the oil temperature cannot be too high, but it cannot be too low either; the cooking time cannot be too long, but it cannot be too short either; the starch needs to be very thin, but not so thin that it cannot stick to the sauce...

So can this be solved using standardized processes?

For example, maintaining a constant oil temperature and calculating an accurate time... This may ensure that most mulberry leaves are fried well, but it is almost impossible to achieve the best taste.

Although they are all palm-sized tender mulberry leaves, they vary in size, thickness, and maturity. Even the cooling speed after being taken out of the pot varies due to the difference in ambient temperature.

Even if these are the same, the thickness of the starch cannot be exactly the same.

There is certainly no problem in using the above method to produce industrial foods such as potato chips. In fact, it should be done so to ensure the stability of quality and taste.

Frying mulberry leaves using the same method can surpass the cooking skills of most people in the world at home, but it will never satisfy the tastes of the two elders... In other words, it cannot reach the required temperature.

Li Xiuyuan had just asked Jiang Daozhen how He Kao's skills were going. Of course, he wasn't referring to cooking, but to his second-level cultivation.

Jiang Daozhen asked in return, "How many times do you think he used the power of the Hidden Moth this afternoon?"

Li Xiuyuan: "It's been about a hundred times already."

Jiang Daozhen: "Are you interested?"

Li Xiuyuan: "Gradually I became indifferent."

Jiang Daozhen: "Are you feeling restless?"

Li Xiuyuan: "Stay calm as usual."

Jiang Daozhen: "Then I think it's almost done."

Li Xiuyuan: "Can this meal produce any results?"

Jiang Daozhen: "Who can say for sure? I hope so."

Li Xiuyuan sighed, "Breaking through the Second Realm is difficult because of the right timing. Too many disciples can't make it past this level, and Master can't even openly urge them to do so. It's even inappropriate to say a few more words."

Jiang Daozhen: "That's why the ceremony is necessary. These four dishes and one soup are also a promotion ceremony. It all depends on his fate... I said that your Bai Yuzhen dish was very good!"

Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "I put a lot of thought into it."

Jiang Daozhen: "I mean, you're making me a little greedy!"

Li Xiuyuan: "Actually, I'm a little greedy myself... From what you said, you're still unsure about the right temperature?"

Jiang Daozhen: "No one has practiced the Hidden Moth Technique for over a thousand years, and the techniques I have mastered are incomplete. After the second stage, everything depends on him. I believe he must have inherited the Heart Seal from the Hidden Moth Object."

Li Xiuyuan: "But you have already broken through to the seventh level of great mathematician, can't you make some calculations?"

Jiang Daozhen: "There have been seventh-level mathematicians in the past thousand years, so why do you think I am so capable?"

Li Xiuyuan: "There's no need to favor the past over the present. Those seniors may not understand the art of hidden moths as well as you do."

Jiang Daozhen: "I can only roughly judge the characteristics of the practice of the Hidden Moth Technique. As for the grasp of the heat, the principles are the same..."

What are the characteristics of the Hidden Moth Technique? First of all, the first level of cultivation requires a quick breakthrough. According to Jiang Daozhen's assessment, it is best to break through the second level within a month.

But this kind of thing can't be rushed, so there must be a prerequisite, that is, the foundation-building stage before entering the door must be particularly solid. He Kao undoubtedly meets the requirements, and Old Man Jiang did not wait in vain for twenty-three years.

After He Kao became a first-level stealth, it only took him about a week to break through and become a second-level assassin.

All second-level techniques require gradual progress, otherwise it will harm the body and spirit. However, the second-level cultivation of the Hidden Moth Technique is the exact opposite of the first-level, requiring a long-term accumulation process, with neither reckless advances nor laxity.

It is easy to say, but difficult to do in practice.

The human "behavior-psychology" correspondence pattern determines that if you insist on doing something for a long time, you must maintain a minimum positive feedback pattern and always be able to get motivation and see hope.

It's not a big deal at first, but after a while you can feel progress, even if it's just a little bit.

He Kao developed a quantitative evaluation standard for himself, dividing the second-level cultivation into nine levels, with nine consecutive uses of the power of the hidden moth as a step.

When one day he can travel through space 9981 times in a row, he will have reached the perfection of the second stage and ninth level... It is precisely at this time that the real test will come.

Breaking through at the right time is also a way to grasp the right timing.
If he feels that there is no end to this matter, and no matter how much he practices, he cannot see the scenery of a higher realm, will he slack off?

In contrast to laziness, would he feel anxious? Or would he doubt his master, himself, or the Dharma, perhaps even harboring a hint of doubt and hesitation?

When Qi floats, the mind moves; when the mind moves, the spirit is absent. Breaking through the two realms is actually the work of controlling the fire. Controlling the fire, also known as extraction and addition, in spiritual practice requires more than a superficial understanding of dynamic balance and perfect balance; it holds profound meanings that are difficult to describe.

There is a saying that goes "When drawing and adding, don't forget and don't help."

But how can it be so easy to achieve a natural state where one neither forgets nor dwells on it, where one’s qi is not scattered, one’s mind is calm, one’s thoughts are not moving, and one’s spirit is focused? Even if you go to the gym every day to lift weights, you should deliberately look in the mirror to see your muscle mass.

Many second-level warlocks cannot break through to the third level, not because they don't work hard enough, but because they are just a little bit short of the right timing. If the mindset is not right, no one can help, and even if the master points it out, it may backfire.

The conversation between the two elders was quite interesting. Did He Kao forget he was a Hidden Moth? Of course not! But was he deliberately cultivating his Hidden Moth abilities? No, he was just preparing these four dishes and a soup.

He didn't force himself to use the power of the Hidden Moth with his current ability. He also didn't deliberately count how many times he had used the Hidden Moth power in a row. He didn't even think about why he hadn't been able to break through the level yet?
So both elders judged that this kid was almost ready.

Li Xiuyuan asked again, "According to your estimation, wouldn't it be quite laborious to cultivate the second level of the Hidden Moth Technique? It's only been three months since this kid broke through to the second level, right?"

Jiang Daozhen asked in return, "There are a lot of people who haven't been able to break through the second level in thirty years. Do we really have to compete with them?"

Over there, He Kao finally prepared everything and started to process the ingredients. He thought to himself that it was a pity that no one could help him, because it was not appropriate to ask others to come on such an occasion as today.

Only in front of these two elders could he unleash his hidden moth power so freely without worrying about being discovered. Of course, he didn't realize that this was the promotion ritual the two elders were trying to design for him.

What was different from any previous time was that He Kao used the power of the hidden moth in front of the two elders. His mentality was very subtle as he had never done this before.

The two elders knew what he was doing, but they just sat in the main room drinking tea, deliberately restraining their perception.

The advancement rituals designed and continuously improved by various major schools over the past thousand years all have the same idea. For example, when advancing from the second level to the third level, the so-called ritual is to do a very specific thing.

This matter not only tests whether the second-level cultivation is complete, but also requires one to grasp the mysterious timing intentionally or unintentionally in the process of completion.

These four dishes and one soup are also very particular. The musk deer must be stewed first, for at least two hours. Some side dishes should be added ten minutes before taking the dish out of the pot. Then turn off the fire and let the residual heat of the black pottery pot simmer for a while.

After the anchovies are boiled, steam them for ten minutes and take them out of the pot together with the musk deer. While the anchovies are being steamed, fry the mulberry leaves.

As for the bamboo shoots and soup, they can be made last and it takes very little time.

He Kao seemed busy, but not at all confused. He turned off the fire and moved the black pottery pot away. He lit the fire to steam the fish on one side, and fried mulberry leaves on the other. He dropped the mulberry leaves into the oil one by one, and picked them out with chopsticks at the perfect temperature.

What's the perfect heat? It all comes down to feeling! He Kao truly has a knack for it; he seems to sense when the color, aroma, and flavor are just right. Then, with a gentle chopstick movement, he lets out a little oil before placing the mulberry leaves on a plate.

His movements were very natural, as if the mulberry leaf could listen to the chopsticks and automatically follow them to complete the movements he wanted. He also remained in a very special state -

It seemed like this was the state I should have entered after making this series of preparations.

When the plate of mulberry leaves was almost fried, He Kao had already realized one thing: his cultivation had broken through. He knew very well how he had broken through, but he couldn't describe it accurately.

Surprised or not? Of course he was, but not as ecstatic as he had imagined. He remained calm in this new state of enlightenment.

He tapped the last mulberry leaf in the wok with his chopsticks, and the leaf followed the chopsticks out of the wok, shaking in the air to release the oil. But He Kao's action was not to pick it up with chopsticks; it looked as if the tip of the chopsticks was lifting the mulberry leaf.

Then the fried mulberry leaf flattened itself in the air and was obediently placed on the plate with chopsticks.

Many sorcerers are accustomed to using normal movements when using their spiritual sense to control objects, as this can indeed make it more accurate and natural. He Kao didn't actually need to extend the chopsticks, but using chopsticks to guide them felt smoother.

What does it feel like to break through to the third level? Your senses and body have almost reached a state of perfection based on your innate conditions, and then you inadvertently discover that your perception can extend beyond, not only sensing external objects, but even controlling them.

Although this control is very weak, it is also an extraordinary breakthrough, which is a world of difference from ordinary people!

The black pottery pot was very hot, so He Kao used two rags to hold it when setting the table. The fish was also very hot and difficult to lift from the pot, but He Kao simply lifted it out with his bare hands.

If you look closely at his hands, you will find that they are not actually touching the edge of the plate. There is almost a centimeter of air in between. He is just making the action of carrying a plate, and the plate is floating in the air and being "carried" to the table by him.

He Kao didn't say anything else, just said as he put the plate on the table: "The fish is ready."

Including the fried mulberry leaves, there were already three dishes on the table. He Kao went back to the kitchen to make the last two.

Li Xiuyuan smiled and sent a divine thought to Jiang Daozhen: "This kid is really good at pretending. He has clearly broken through to the third level, but he doesn't say anything and just puts it on for us to see."

Jiang Daozhen said directly: "If it were you, would you get into trouble?"

Li Xiuyuan: "Do you still remember this?"

Jiang Daozhen: "That noise was so loud that it knocked over the shelf where your master kept his antiques. Uncle Cui summoned a cane and it flew up all over the mountain chasing you and beating you... Speaking of steady, this guy is much more steady than you were back then!"

Li Xiuyuan: "This is his own home. Even if he smashes the pot, it is still his own pot."

Jiang Daozhen: "Didn't you notice? This pot of musk deer meat is very heavy. If you accidentally drop it, you'll burn your feet. So he carried it over with his hands, using a rag as a cushion.

As for the fish, it seemed that he was somewhat confident, so he used the method of controlling objects, but his two hands were still supporting it from below to prevent it from losing control accidentally and to catch it in time.

Unlike you back then, when you just broke through and wanted to try your hand, you rashly touched the things on the shelf..."

Li Xiuyuan interrupted, "You're the one who's taking care of things today!"

Jiang Daozhen: "Isn't that why we came here? Aren't you prepared?"

Li Xiuyuan: "What preparations?"

Jiang Daozhen knocked on the table. "A greeting gift! They already call you Uncle Li, and they've prepared such a delicious meal. It just so happens that you've achieved a breakthrough in your cultivation. It's such an opportunity. Shouldn't you show some appreciation?"

He Kao happened to come in with the plate of bamboo shoots and said, "Uncle Li, you're welcome. It's a rare opportunity for you to be my guest, so I should treat you well... Try my cooking first. If you're satisfied, we can talk about other things later!"

**
(End of this chapter)