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Chapter 153 What is a Monk
Wang Xi went out for a while.

Zhang Fuyun followed behind eagerly.

"Senior brother, where are you headed?"

"Yanchun Restaurant".

"Hey, what are you doing over there, senior brother? Didn't you eat enough earlier? You can eat whatever you want later, senior brother, I'll pay!"

“No.” Wang Xi glanced at him. “I’m going to buy some wine and food to visit a friend.”

"That's alright, your senior brother's friend is my friend, Zhang Fuyun's friend. I'll pay the bill!"

“Fuyun”.

"What are your orders, Senior Brother?"

"That's why Miss Zhao looks down on you."

"..."

Zhang Fuyun was stunned and remained silent for a long time.

Only after his senior brother walked away and said, "Go back and practice your stance. I'll teach you how to be a Qilin man later," did he perk up.

“Yes, Senior Brother!” Zhang Fuyun called out.

...

...

Wang Xi spent a whole silver dollar to order three main dishes from Yanchun Restaurant: steamed shad, twice-cooked pork, and braised lion's head meatballs. He also bought a small pot of Shaoxing wine.

We immediately headed to the crooked-necked tree on the southern outskirts of the town.

When Wang Xi returned to the thatched cottage, he was surprised to see the peddler working in the vegetable garden through the wooden fence.

Is he just stopping here temporarily?
Why are you even helping people plant crops...?

"Hey, young man?" The peddler took off his straw hat, turned around, wiped his sweat, and smiled. "Come in and sit down."

"I'm sorry to bother you." Wang Xi said politely, pushed open the fence gate and went in, placing the food box and wine pot on the table. "I was passing by Yanchunlou and brought some food and wine with me."

"You're too kind, sir."

The peddler dropped his hoe, wiped his hands with a towel, and came over. He then opened the lid of the food box.

"Wow, it smells delicious!"

"Qingwei Town is not large, but Yanchunlou has some of the best food and wine. I hope it will suit your taste."

Wang Xidao.

The peddler eagerly picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to wolf down his food. The two chatted as they ate, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

After several rounds of drinks, the peddler patted his belly contentedly, picked his teeth with a bamboo skewer, and suddenly squinted his eyes and smiled:

"Young man, you've gone to such lengths today, surely you have something to ask me?"

Wang Xi put down his wine cup and said seriously, "Sir, you are wise enough to ask me something."

"Speak freely." The peddler also took a sip of wine and said readily, "We are kindred spirits, so as long as it is something I know and can talk about, I will definitely tell you everything I know."

"I would like to ask you, sir, how can one become a monk?"

Wang Xi cupped his hands and asked.

The peddler fiddled with his wine glass, remaining silent for a moment.

Then he uttered a key word:
"god."

"god?"

“That’s right.” The peddler nodded. “The ‘spirit’ among essence, energy, and spirit is the key to becoming a cultivator.”

"Throughout history, there have been those who possess innate divine talent, having the ability to embark on the path of cultivation from the moment they are born. However, the vast majority of cultivators acquire their aptitude only through hard work and replenishment of their primordial spirit."

"I see that you are already a grandmaster of external martial arts at such a young age, so you must be aware of the difference between internal and external martial arts. Internal martial arts cultivate essence, qi and spirit, which makes it easier to reach the realm of cultivators than external martial arts."

The peddler sighed.

"The reason I gave you the 'Peach Blossom Mountain Travelogue' last night was precisely for this reason."

"Only with a sufficiently strong primordial spirit can one open that door..."

Wang Xi murmured, lost in thought.

Then the peddler explained:
"External cultivation of life, the Nine Palaces and Two Elements, transcends the limits of the physical body; internal cultivation of nature, the Five Qi and Three Flowers, gathers Qi and transforms breath to strengthen the primordial spirit."

“And cultivators must possess a primordial spirit.”

"Why is that?" Wang Xi asked, puzzled.

"Without the spirit, one cannot look inward and cannot see the three souls and seven spirits."

The peddler poured wine for the two men and said leisurely.

"What cultivators cultivate is precisely the three souls and seven spirits."

He then explained in detail to Wang Xi, citing the very classic and core Taoist internal alchemy theory: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit to return to emptiness, and returning to emptiness to unite with the Tao.

The external and internal styles of martial arts correspond to the first two stages—namely, transforming the fundamental energy of life and integrating energy with consciousness.

However, in the third stage, before breaking through the boundaries of self-awareness and touching the soul, in terms of combat power alone, the master of the external martial arts is superior to the master of the internal martial arts.

In other words, an external martial arts master can easily kill an internal martial arts master in a one-on-one fight. However, an internal martial arts master can more easily access higher realms and embark on the path of cultivation.

Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

of course.

Throughout history, there have been grandmasters who cultivated both inner and outer strength, but they are extremely rare. Most of them became cultivators, and some even attained enlightenment, leaving behind various legends.

After listening to the peddler's story, Wang Xi seemed to be deep in thought.

He incorporated the cultivation system of the mystical world into his own understanding and couldn't help but think:
Therefore, external martial arts masters can be considered to be in the "Body Refining Stage," internal martial arts masters in the "Qi Refining Stage," and cultivators who have achieved Spirit Refining and Return to Emptiness are in the "Foundation Establishment Stage"?

"Sir, may I ask what the final stage, returning to emptiness and merging with the Dao, is like?"

Wang Xi humbly sought advice.

The peddler didn't hide anything and explained:

"When heaven and man are in harmony, the three souls and seven spirits are unbreakable, and the essence, energy, spirit and soul all converge in the Niwan Palace, naturally evolving into the 'Yellow Court Inner Landscape', and the metal nature is indestructible."

"These are great cultivators who have broken through the limits of lifespan and achieved immortality, either by becoming saints in their physical bodies or ascending to heaven."

Wang Xi was stunned.

So, is this considered the "Golden Core Stage"?

What is the "Huangting Neijing"?
Where does this so-called "ascension" take them?

He was filled with doubts, but when he pressed the peddler for more information, the peddler kept shaking his head, saying that it was a secret that could not be revealed.

Wang Xi did not doubt the truthfulness of what the other party said, but everything was too unfamiliar and mysterious for him to understand.

"Have you ever met a great cultivator, sir?"

Seeing that the other party did not answer, he lowered his voice and asked, "What should I ask?"

The peddler didn't respond, only silently sipping his wine. But in that instant, Wang Xi keenly caught a glimpse—a barely perceptible trace of reminiscence, and a deep, piercing pain—in the other's eyes. 'Uh, could it be… his former lover was a powerful cultivator? Was it simply because the paths of immortals and mortals are different, that they were ultimately destined to part?'

This thought couldn't help but surface in Wang Xi's mind.

Or is it that fortunes change every thirty years, and one should never underestimate a young person's potential?

If that's the case, Wang Xi can only say:

classic.

...

...

As noon approached, the sun rose higher.

"Sir, to be honest, I haven't yet unlocked the 'Two Principles Tiger' in the human body. I wonder if I could buy the relevant secret manual from you?"

Wang Xi asked.

Upon hearing this, the peddler frowned and stared intently at the young man.

"Haven't fully reached the 'Nine Bulls and Two Tigers' level yet? How is that possible... Could it be that you were born with superhuman strength?"

"That's not right either," the peddler muttered, then calculated with his fingers before narrowing his eyes. "So that's how it is. You recently went through a life-or-death ordeal, had a profound awakening, and emerged from your cocoon like a butterfly."

Wang Xi felt a chill run down his spine.

Just as he had guessed, the peddler was indeed skilled in divination!
"The nine palaces are connected, but the two elements are still missing."

The peddler was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head and sighed.

"To be honest, I was blind and failed to see your true strength. Very well, in that case, I will sell you two more manuals on external martial arts to help you cultivate both internal and external skills... But martial arts training is a slow and steady process; you can't bite off more than you can chew. I don't know whether what I did today will help you or harm you."

He originally thought that the young man had already become a master of external martial arts, otherwise he wouldn't have such a powerful aura and such immense strength in every move.

Unexpectedly, the other side was still far from being halfway there!
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have taken out the "Peach Blossom Mountain Travelogue," since cultivating both inner and outer qualities is truly difficult.

"Thank you for your help, sir."

Wang Xi was delighted and bowed to express his gratitude.

"How much money?"

"Although they are two incomplete copies, they are just enough for you to open up the Yin and Yang, and only cost 100 yuan."

When business was discussed, the peddler's smile returned.

Wang Xi couldn't help but think to himself that he only had one hundred coins left, but if he had five hundred, the other party would most likely offer five hundred...

"By the way, sir, I would also like to buy some magical artifacts to ward off evil spirits."

He suddenly remembered the strange funeral procession he had encountered that night, and decided to buy some countermeasures from the peddler.

The peddler chuckled and didn't ask why.

He took out two tattered, incomplete thread-bound books, a yellow paper talisman, a peach wood sword, and a bronze Bagua mirror from the container.

"We're selling these three premium items as a package, plus a small yellow croaker."

"no problem."

Wang Xi readily took out the last ten ten-yuan banknotes and the small yellow croaker from his leather pocket and handed them over.

The peddler beamed and, as usual, said:

"Cash on delivery, no refunds or exchanges."

...

...

Wang Xi was walking back to the martial arts school.

He was playing with three talismans for warding off evil: a "Five Thunder Talisman," a "Thunderstruck Peach Wood Sword," and a "Bagua Bronze Mirror."

According to Caius's investigation, talismans have the effect of warding off evil spirits and dispelling negative influences. The talisman's head is adorned with raindrops, and the inner core is inscribed with the words "Imperial Decree of the Thunder Department, Heavenly Lord Xin" in cinnabar.

Peach wood swords are quite effective against vengeful spirits and evil spirits. Bronze mirrors, on the other hand, can defend against curses and spells.

However, all three of these are disposable ritual implements.

Once used, it's discarded.

'That peddler is something else; he gets all the real stuff!'

Wang Xi said secretly.

pat!

As he was pondering this, he stopped in his tracks.

A bone-chilling cold suddenly crept up my spine.

It was midday, and the sun was blazing overhead.

But the main street that should have been bustling with activity was now deserted!
'When did it become like this?!'

Wang Xi was puzzled; he had only been distracted for a moment, yet everything around him had subtly changed.

He looked around warily, but couldn't find a single living creature in sight, not even a stray dog. The once bustling street was now deathly silent.

'Just like that night…'

Wang Xi's expression was solemn, but he showed no sign of panic.

After all, he was holding three magical artifacts in his hands at that moment.

Take a deep breath and start walking.

After walking a short distance, Wang Xi frowned and fixed his gaze on what lay ahead—

An old rickshaw was parked alone in the middle of the road.

The carriage roof was half-open, and a faded black-and-white portrait sat upright on the seat. It depicted a handsome young man with striking eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high-bridged nose; a smile played on his lips, but his eyes held an indescribable coldness and chilling intensity.

It is Wang Xi's own portrait.

On both sides of the carriage shaft, wreaths were clustered together, white paper lanterns hung high, and elegiac couplets hung down, such as "The fist guards the mountains and rivers" and "The voice and appearance are still there," as if the whole street was in silent mourning.

Jingle Bell--

jingle--

The rickshaw's bell rang automatically without wind, its sound echoing through the empty street.

It looked like someone had just gotten off the bus.

Bang! !

A sudden explosion rang out, and a figure flashed past.

The yellow paper talisman has been slapped onto the portrait!
"Who are you trying to scare?"

Wang Xi grinned maliciously and pressed down on the "Five Thunder Talisman".

I'll electrocute you!

(End of this chapter)