Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 71 Records of the Customs and Scenery of the Great Qian Dynasty

Thirteen strands of milky-white true qi, as thin as gossamer threads, yet shone brightly, carrying a vigorous and burgeoning vitality.

It successively transformed into thirteen barely perceptible beams of clear light, which pierced straight into the chest's dantian!

In his mind, it was as if thirteen sparks were thrown into an endless deep pool. Although they did not stir up towering waves, there seemed to be a very faint and indescribable sense of "acceptance" in the depths of the sea of ​​qi, which was as silent as ancient ice.

Instead of disappearing completely like a clay ox sinking into the sea, they are more like seeds, silently sinking into fertile but uncultivated soil.

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a long breath of turbid air, and the white breath shot out like an arrow, disappearing more than a foot away.

My bones cracked slightly, my muscles felt relaxed, and my blood and qi surged like a river. Far from feeling weak and tired after the previous qi cultivation, I felt full of energy and my spirit was complete!

The dew from the herbs doubled the vital energy of the internal organs, and with the support of the powerful medicinal effects of the "Nourishing Qi and Strengthening the Origin Soup," they finally managed to survive this arduous task of defying the laws of nature!
"Thirteen strands!" Qi Yun's heart burned with excitement, his five fingers clenched tightly, feeling an unprecedented sense of power within his body.

At this rate, breaking through in a month or so is no exaggeration!

The sun was setting outside the window, casting golden-red afterglow that spilled in.

The inn was quiet, and there was hardly any sound from downstairs.

Qi Yun got up, pushed open the door, and went downstairs.

The lobby was empty. The portly shopkeeper, who had been dozing behind the counter, was startled awake by the noise and hurriedly greeted the servants with a smile: "Master, you're awake? Would you like to eat? I'll instruct the kitchen right away..."

"No need to trouble yourself, I'm going out for a walk."

Qi Yun waved his hand and left the inn.

The streets of Jiujiang Prefecture were still bustling and prosperous.

Qi Yun had no interest in lingering. His gaze swept across the shops along the street and he quickly found a bookstore with an old-fashioned facade and a plaque that read "Hanmo Zhai" (翰墨斋).

Qi Yun currently has no idea what dynasty he has traveled to in ancient times.

Everything else is even more hopeless.

It's not convenient to ask others about such basic common sense things.

Therefore, if you have the opportunity now, you should buy books and read them yourself.

Moreover, he also knew that the timeline of time travel was not fixed. Last time, he had not asked Xuanjizi about the specific time when Xuanqing died and disappeared.

This makes it impossible to determine the exact consequences of Xuanqing's trip to the Three Yang Prefecture!

Now that we have the opportunity, the more we learn about this era, the better!

The shop was deserted, with only the old shopkeeper inside.

Upon seeing a customer arrive, a quick-witted waiter hurriedly came forward: "What kind of books would you like to read, sir? We have classic texts, poems by great scholars, annotated collections of contemporary essays, and vernacular stories and legends."

Qi Yun's gaze swept over the shelves full of thread-bound books: "Do you have any local chronicles, historical books, maps, or the like? It doesn't matter if it's from the current dynasty or a previous one, the more detailed the better."

The waiter was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sir, you have a refined taste! Yes, yes!" He quickly walked to the inner bookshelf, tiptoed to take down a thick blue cloth-covered book, and brushed off the dust. "How about this book, 'The Records of the Great Qian Dynasty'?"
Although not an official compilation, its compilers traveled extensively throughout the country, meticulously recording everything from mountains and rivers to local customs and traditions, and even major events in the transition between the current and previous dynasties—a truly comprehensive work!

Qi Yun took it; it felt heavy in his hand.

He opened the title page, the scent of ink filling the air. He quickly glanced at the table of contents and, sure enough, found entries such as "Geography," "Basic Annals," and "Tales of the Strange," and was satisfied. He closed the book: "How much silver?"

"Thank you, one tael and two mace of silver." The shopkeeper said with a smile.

Even though Qi Yun was somewhat prepared, he was still startled by the price.

One ounce and two mace! Enough to last an average family of three for several months' worth of food!

No wonder this shop is deserted.

I knew ancient books were expensive, but I never imagined they would be this expensive!
He sighed inwardly. Fortunately, Xuan Qing had given him ten taels of silver before parting. He gritted his teeth, took out a small piece of silver, and handed it over: "This will do."

Carrying this expensive book of "common sense," Qi Yun entered another clothing store.

I chose two sets of sturdy and durable fine cotton clothes, one blue and one black, and a pair of cloth shoes with a thousand-layer sole, which cost me nearly five qian of silver.

Only then did he pick up his bundle and return to the inn.

He instructed the innkeeper to prepare a large tub of boiling hot bath water and bring it to the room.

Before long, the steaming wooden barrel was properly placed.

Qi Yun closed the door latch and took off his old Taoist robe, which was stained with dust and sweat.

Hot water washed over my shoulders and neck, scalding my skin until it turned slightly red, and an indescribable sense of comfort instantly rushed from my feet to the top of my head.

Outside the window, the last rays of the setting sun, like molten gold, slanted through the window frame and reflected obliquely on the misty vapor, creating a play of light and shadow.

He closed his eyes and leaned against the barrel, feeling the fatigue from days of travel and sleeping in the mountains, along with the burning pain and tension from the Qi refining, being gradually dissolved and carried away by the scalding hot water. His muscles and bones relaxed, and his mind calmed down, with only the faint sounds of the city outside the window and the gentle ripples of the water in the barrel remaining.

He then took out the "Records of Customs and Things of the Great Qian Dynasty," which he had purchased at great expense, and began to peruse it. After reading through it, Qi Yun learned the following.

The dynasty he lived in was called the Daqian Dynasty, in the sixth year of Jingyuan.

One hundred and thirty-five years have passed since the founding of the nation.

There were major events before, such as the "Five Kings' Rebellion" and the "Great Defeat at Cangyun Mountain".

The major defeat at Cangyun Mountain was a result of the battle between the Qian Kingdom and its neighbor, the Sui Kingdom. The main force of the Qian Kingdom suffered a major defeat at Cangyun Mountain, and the Qian Kingdom subsequently ceded three prefectures to quell the war.

Upon seeing this, Qi Yun realized that this place was a completely different world from the modern world!

The original nine provinces of the Qian Kingdom were reduced to six provinces after the great defeat at Cangyun Mountain.

They are: Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Liang, and Yong.

Jiujiang Prefecture was located in Xuzhou, and it was adjacent to Qingzhou, where Sanyang Prefecture was located.

Qi Yun kept reading until the bathwater cooled down before putting down his book.

I got up and changed, feeling refreshed.

New clothes fit snugly, cloth shoes fit well, and I feel comfortable all over.

Dinner was personally delivered by the innkeeper: a plate of glistening and fragrant stir-fried diced pork, a bowl of snow-white crucian carp and tofu soup with a fresh and delicious aroma, a plate of crisp and tender green seasonal vegetables, and two large bowls of glistening rice.

As the lights gradually came on outside the window and the hustle and bustle of the city grew louder, Qi Yun sat alone in the room, slowly chewing his food.

The food was ordinary, but the scene was different.

With food in his belly, new clothes on his body, and hope in his heart, enjoying a peaceful room all to himself, this was a rare moment of leisure for him since he had transmigrated.

After the meal, the leftovers were cleared away.

Qi Yun did not rest, but instead stood still in the open space of the room.

With a calm mind, slowly unfold the Xingyi Quan stance.

Chop, collapse, drill, cannon, horizontal—the five elements flow.

Every move and stance resonates with the muscles and bones, the strength is concentrated, and the Qi flows freely, reaching a state of mastery where "Qi and strength are united".

However, the mysterious connection between intention and energy remains elusive, like trying to see flowers through a fog.

The fist is finished, the stance is settled, and the breath is long and deep.

He then joined his fingers together like a sword and began practicing the Five Elements Thunderclap Sword.

The focus, however, is not on the sharpness of the sword strikes, but on the feet. Step into the air!

Xuanqing's words still echoed in my ears: This step is the foundation of the Five Elements Thunderclap Sword. Stepping on the Heavenly Gang, the body moves like stars shifting and constellations changing, mysterious and unpredictable. Only when the Qi flows throughout the body can one remain undisturbed by a speck of dust.

The Five Elements Thunderclap Sword technique begins with the sword itself; to master it, one must focus on mastering the Stepping Stance!
As soon as Qi Yun had a thought, his figure moved like a ghost through the not-so-spacious guest room.

Advance, retreat, dodge, sidestep, spin... the footwork seems simple, but it secretly corresponds to the Big Dipper. With each step, the waist and hips twist, the breath sinks, and the toes lightly touch the ground before rising again, striving to be silent and stealthy, like a cat treading on snow.

As she turned, a gentle breeze stirred up the candlelight, but the flame only flickered slightly, neither startled nor extinguished.

He immersed himself in it, repeatedly honing the fundamentals of lightness and agility. His figure stretched, twisted, and moved swiftly in the candlelight until late at night.

I slept soundly through the night, without any dreams.

Three roosters crowed outside the window, and the sky was just beginning to lighten, like the first blue of a crab shell. Qi Yun had already naturally woken up.

His eyes were open and closed, yet they shone brightly, showing no signs of fatigue.

After a night of rest, the vital energy of the five internal organs has been restored and replenished under the lingering nourishment of the dew from the herbs.

He got up to prepare the medicine and drink the soup, then sat cross-legged in meditation, drawing out the essence of the five internal organs, and then performed the Five Qi Returning to the Origin exercise.

Thirteen strands of true qi condensed and entered the dantian; outside the window, it was already broad daylight.

Pushing open the wooden window facing the street, the golden-red sunrise leaps onto the rows of rooftops.

A refreshing morning breeze carries the scents of cooking smoke, the aroma of breakfast, and the sounds of the city awakening.

The long street awakens, farmers carrying fresh vegetables hurry along, and women heading to the early market haggle over prices.

Steam rises from the steamer, billowing white mist; tea stalls are set up, rough porcelain bowls clinking together; peddlers shake their rattles, mules and horses carry goods, their hooves clattering, and the drivers' shouts are loud and long.

Just then, footsteps could be heard outside the door.

(End of this chapter)