It all started with one person becoming a shaman, but the Stand user...

Why don't you give up all that alcohol and other frivolous things, and then diligently cultivate for a few more years? Imagine watching your own disciple ascend to immortality—wouldn't that be exhilarating? How glorious would that be!

He wasn't just making things up.

Based on his experience over the past few years, most ordinary people reach level five to seven after reaching adulthood.

Qinghe Miao began formal training under Master Chai at the age of eight and a half, and is now fourteen years old.

Aside from the basic improvement brought about by the body's natural growth, it leveled up by about 5 levels.

On average, it's almost one grade per year.

I now understand why the characters in the original work get stronger with age.

It truly takes a year of hard work to gain a year's worth of skill.

Although we haven't figured out what level the ascension to immortality is yet, let's assume we take an integer of 100.

If we maintain this "normal" pace, avoid causing trouble, and simply cultivate and accumulate knowledge slowly and quietly...

To reach the maximum level, wouldn't it take a hundred or two hundred years?

Fortunately, he only needs to consider that he has enough "experience points" to level up directly, so there is no bottleneck.

Theoretically, it won't be like the "fierce thug" Xia Liuqing in the original storyline, who was infamous in his youth but became physically weak in his old age, possessing great skill and technique but unable to keep up, resulting in a significant reduction in his strength.

This is one of his major advantages as a "time traveler" who carries a system with him.

Just take it slow and wait it out.

"Nonsense! You're spouting complete platitudes!"

Master Chai was amused, but also somewhat exasperated, and rolled his eyes at him:

"Your fur hasn't even fully grown in yet, and you're already lecturing your master? Seventy or eighty years... Do you think I'm some kind of cunning old turtle that can live that long?"

They know their own situation best.

Master Chai knew it perfectly well.

With his meager cultivation of life force, even with the fact that the temple worships Granny Bai, who can occasionally help with recuperation, he is still vulnerable.

He might be confident that he could live another ten or so years in good health without any illness or disaster.

But what if you want to live another seventy or eighty years, or even a hundred years, to witness your disciple's "ascension"?

That would require him to first attain immortality.

"That's alright. I'll try my best with your apprentice."

Qinghe Miao waved his hand dismissively, then, feeling a bit thirsty, picked up the small glass in front of him and took a small sip.

The liquor is spicy, but it transforms into a warm current as it enters the throat.

He was serious, but not necessarily obsessed with the goal of "ascending to immortality".

The kindness of others is remembered for a thousand years.

Master Chai may not have been very skilled in his life, and his personality wasn't particularly outstanding; he was just an ordinary old man from the countryside.

But he was truly open and honest with his apprentices, without holding anything back or harboring any ill intentions.

In Qing Hemiao's view, this simple teacher-student relationship is enough.

If possible, why not give this old man, who has taught and guided him throughout his life, a little more glory?

It's our own master, so we should pamper him!

Seeing his own disciple speak so casually, as if ascension were a matter of course, a trivial matter that would come naturally.

Master Chai smiled and shook his head, simply attributing it to the youthful exuberance unique to young people.

Who hasn't felt in their youth that nothing in the world is a problem, and that where there's a will, there's a way?

It's just that they really have the talent to say such things.

Even if he fails to recreate the legendary miracle that has been lost for thousands of years, as long as he can grow up peacefully, his future achievements will far surpass those of this old man.

Thinking about his apprentice's future, Master Chai's self-pity was somewhat lessened.

He tapped his pipe, then suddenly remembered something important, and his expression became slightly more formal:

"By the way, there's been some progress on that thing I mentioned to you before."

Qinghe Miao raised his eyes, his expression questioning.

"I've told you about the head of the largest sect in our lineage outside the Great Wall before, right?"

Master Chai lowered his voice, a hint of barely perceptible excitement in it:

"Coincidentally, the 'leader' she invited is from the same lineage as our family's revered Granny Bai, so they're distant relatives! Our Lady Bai happens to be somewhat related to her! A few days ago, I shamelessly asked Lady Bai to pass on a message to her..."

He paused, a flush rising to his face:

"Lady White also thinks highly of you, and she might reply in a few days! If it works out, you'll come with me and give it your all! If the Grand Master takes a liking to you and gives you some pointers or a chance, that would be... that would be a huge honor for our little sect! Be smart, kid, you'll get your share of the benefits!"

Qinghe Miao's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood who his master was referring to.

She is Guan Shihua, the representative figure of the Asura lineage outside the pass in this era in the original story, and one of the "Ten Elders" with a respected status in the world of supernatural beings. Her code name is "The Witch Doctor"!

Thinking about this, Qinghe Miao couldn't help but sigh that the tradition of shamanism on his own land was indeed quite interesting.

Nowadays, with the changing environment, there are fewer and fewer spirits that can awaken their intelligence and embark on the path of "becoming a spirit" through cultivation.

Moreover, each spirit needs to spend a long time to achieve mastery in cultivation.

Therefore, within the limited "spirit circle," regardless of their social standing or the size of their sect, everyone knows each other to some extent, forming a vast and hidden network of relationships.

Chapter 12 Leaving Home

Each successful shamanic disciple and the temple behind them are equivalent to a local "local tyrant" or "powerful figure," relying on one or more "spirit" connections.

On this black soil outside the pass.

Almost anything that can be thought of can be connected through the "deity" they worship.

Therefore, in various stories about the practice of shamanism, a unique solution can often be seen.

They don't easily resort to physical fights; instead, they first engage in various "inquiries," revealing their backgrounds and connections to see whose "master" has the most influence and the strongest relationships.

Often, settling disputes and resolving conflicts depends not on the level of magical power, but on the amount of "face" one has, and on who can get a more influential person or "spirit" to speak up.

This trend is exactly the same as the social custom of people outside the Great Wall who "think about whether they know anyone or can ask for help before doing anything".

It exudes a special sense of authenticity and down-to-earthness.

For a formal Taoist priest to pay homage to a figure like the contemporary Celestial Master Zhang Zhiwei, the only options are to disguise himself as an ordinary tourist and take a photo with him from afar on Longhu Mountain.

Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult for ordinary people to even meet.

But in the small plot of land belonging to the shaman, the situation is quite different.

Regardless of the other party's final attitude, as long as you are willing to put aside your pride and use your family's "spirit" to deliver the message in a roundabout way.

It's even possible that they could connect with the current Grand Master who is in charge of the outer sect in one fell swoop.

This is the unique network woven from geographical ties, lineage, and "divine" connections.

Qinghe Miao, however, disagreed with this and was not fixated on the character interactions in the original storyline:

“Master, why bother? Cultivation is a personal matter. Isn’t tranquility and freedom the right path? Meeting those important figures is nothing more than receiving some pointers. Don’t you still have to temper your own ‘life’?”

There is a very clear setting in "Under One Person": the mechanism cannot compare to the ultimate numerical value.

This is what is known as "cultivating both body and mind".

Or rather, in the face of the ultimate "life," those so-called mechanisms are nothing more than fancy tricks.

However, a person's golden cultivation time is limited, and they will inevitably be troubled by worldly affairs, leaving them with limited energy.

If you lean towards one direction, your abilities in the other direction will naturally suffer.

How to balance these two directions is a matter of skill and ability for individuals and sects.

Qinghe Miao, who possesses the system, is precisely the kind of person who can painstakingly improve his stats.

It can be said that once he learns the basic techniques of Qi cultivation, he will definitely be "second only to one person" for a period of time in the future.

"You don't understand, do you? Miaozi, this isn't about climbing the social ladder, it's about 'getting acquainted' with the right people!"

Master Chai was quite pleased with his apprentice's philosophy, and taught him in a tone that suggested he was a child who hadn't experienced the harsh realities of life:

"Even if you can cultivate to become a Great Luo Golden Immortal, the prerequisite is that you are alive and not crippled."

Qinghe Miao is usually too smart and sensible, so there's not much he can teach her.

It's convenient, but it lacks a sense of accomplishment.

Now that he could impart his life experience to his apprentice, he still tapped the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) with considerable pride, his tone solemn:

“In our circle, what matters is having a clear lineage and a solid background. You’re so talented. If you really succeed in the future and people ask about your lineage, and you say you’re my disciple, Chai Ningshen, they might have to think about who I am.”

But if you could get a connection with the Grand Master Guan Shihua, even just to make an appearance, it would be a completely different story when you travel around this region outside the Great Wall! This is the rule, and it's paving the way for you! Even if you offend someone, others will have to consider your safety and spare your life.

As a master, Chai Ningshen knew very well that he had already taught Qing Hemiao all the meager skills and knowledge he could.

I'm afraid it won't be enough for this disciple soon.

Qinghe Miao's talent is indeed astonishing. Perhaps, as he himself jokingly said, he can achieve extraordinary success through hard work.

But precisely because of this, as a master, no matter how incompetent you are, you cannot help but think more about your apprentice's future.

Finding a better platform and a broader perspective for his apprentice is the only thing he can do now, and it is also his responsibility that he feels he should fulfill.

Otherwise, he might be blamed by his master even a hundred years later.

Seeing the unusual stubbornness in Master Chai's eyes, I knew that this was the social rule of Master Chai's era, and that he was genuinely doing it for his own good.

Qinghe Miao had no choice but to comply.

"Alright, alright, I'll do as you say."

He relaxed his grip and raised his glass in a gesture of respect:

"Anyway, it's just a trip with you to broaden my horizons, and there's nothing to lose."

The master and apprentice chatted for a long time over peanuts and melon seeds until it was completely dark outside the window and the village lights gradually went out. Only then did Qinghe Miao take his leave and return home under the moonlight.

The nun wanted him to stay for dinner, but he politely declined.

There's nothing we can do; our master and mistress are getting old, and they prefer their food to be cooked too soft and mushy.

He has a full set of teeth now and really can't get used to eating it.

However, Qinghe Miao did not expect that her master would be so efficient.

The summer vacation had barely begun, and before he could even enjoy it, Master Chai arrived at the door right on time, saying he was going to take him on a long trip that would likely last for a while.

Knowing that both of them possessed genuine skills, Master Chai then...

It's nothing more than taking the children to visit a highly respected elder to broaden their horizons; it's a legitimate business within their "industry."

Although Qing's parents were reluctant and worried about their son leaving home, seeing Master Chai's serious attitude and their son's helpless yet composed appearance, they could only nod in agreement in the end.

I quickly packed my luggage, which consisted of a few changes of clothes, some toiletries, and various foods that my mother insisted on putting in my luggage.

The next morning, Qinghe Miao set off with a bulging old schoolbag on his back.

Before his departure, Qing's mother straightened her son's collar and gave him many instructions:

"When you arrive at a certain place, remember to find a way to call home and let them know you've arrived safely... Do you have enough food and drinks in your bag? Sigh, should I buy you a cell phone? It'll be easier to contact you in the future."

Qinghe Miao weighed the heavy schoolbag in her hand. If a real fourteen-year-old child had to carry this weight all the way, it would be torture.

If I were this age in my previous life, I probably would have started complaining long ago.

“Mom, that’s really enough. Don’t forget, your son was born with knowledge, I’m not an ordinary child.”

He could only offer a wry smile to comfort his mother:

"To put it bluntly, in this vast world, there may be many people or things that can defeat me, but there is absolutely nothing that can keep me here and prevent me from returning."

His tone was calm, yet it conveyed a certainty beyond his years: