Chapter 99
‘Let’s see, I showed my face to the injury feigning man for so long…he should be able to remember me. Who knows when he’ll come to the college town with a group of cronies to lynch me?’ Song Shuhang tossed the bulging wallet up and down, hoping that the man would get a group to gang up on him, so that he could train his basic fist technique.
Actual combat could deepen his understanding of basic fist techniques.
Although, as a cultivator, using normal people to practice was somewhat shameful… at his current stage, there were no other good opponents. He’d better get stronger faster and find a suitable practice partner!
After finding something to feed his stomach, Shuhang hurried to Medicine Master’s residence and helped optimize Body Tempering Liquid as usual.
This time, Medicine Master added two more normal Chinese medicinal herbs, increasing the final portion of ‘Body Tempering Liquid’ by one spoonful.
After refining was over, it was already past four in the afternoon.
“Very good, my reasoning these days has been correct. In another two days, I can finish improving the new recipe.” Medicine Master was perfectly content. He then gave Shuhang the ‘Body Tempering Liquid’ and one stinking pill obtained from this experiment.
“Thank you, Senior.” Song Shuhang received the two treasures and leaned against the chair to recover from the exhaustion after pill refining.
“Tomorrow, I’ll have Purple Mist bring over a ‘fire-controlling magical treasure’ and give you some time to familiarize yourself with it. Before I leave Jiangnan area, I’ll let you learn and test out the new recipe using the pill furnace,” Medicine Master laughed aloud.
Once the Body Tempering Liquid’s recipe was optimized, he would leave Jiangnan area. Before that, Song Shuhang could take the chance to familiarize himself with the pill furnace.
“No problem. But… Senior, you’re leaving so soon?” Song Shuhang was happy to cooperate, but in actuality, being by Medicine Master’s side, he inadvertently learned a lot of pill refining knowledge—this knowledge was the true priceless treasure!
“I’ve already stayed here for quite a while. If I stay any longer, many people wanting me to refine them pills will visit, and it’ll be extremely troublesome.” Medicine Master was immersed in recording the data on the current experiment and replied without lifting his head. “Oh right, have you had any problems these past two days in cultivating?”
“No, my cultivation has been going smoothly.” Song Shuhang nodded, it was the most basic Hundred Days Foundation Establishment after all.
“Good then. Still the same advice, if you have a problem, immediately ask the seniors in the group. Don’t struggle blindly, if a problem occurs, your path of cultivation can end right there and then.” Medicine Master again cautioned him.
“Yes, I will remember firmly. Oh, Senior, I wanted to ask, does helping souls pass on in Buddhism strengthen one’s own physique?” Song Shuhang thought of the Western monk back on the train.
Even though helping a soul pass on did not strengthen the body by a lot each time, it was still more effective than pure workout.
“Now that you mention it, I do recall that when Buddhists help a soul pass on, they receive a sliver of virtue power. At First Stage, it can strengthen one’s physique. For cultivators of Second Stage and above, it doesn’t have much of an effect. Why? You want to cut off your hair to become a monk, and join Buddhism? Recently, society has been devoted to harmony and coexistence, joining Buddhism is a not a bad choice.” Medicine Master smiled as he asked.
“Senior, stop joking, I’m still prepared to get a girlfriend during college.” Song Shuhang waved repeatedly, and said, “I just wanted to know whether Daoists have a similar method of helping souls pass on? And if it can strengthen one’s physique?”
“There should be something, but my focus is pill refining and I have little knowledge of five virtue cultivation techniques. You can ask within the group when you have time, maybe one of the seniors has a Daoist soul ferrying technique.” Medicine Master chortled, his teacher was a pill refiner, and he had never been short of medicine pills. Qi and blood pills were in infinite supply during his Foundation Establishment, so he had never thought of learning soul ferrying techniques.
Song Shuhang nodded in silence; he was not in a rush concerning this matter.
“By the way, Senior, when I killed Altar Master, I met a Western monk from a Buddhist sect.” Song Shuhang briefly described the events on the train with the Western monk.
“I’m a little concerned about that guy, I’d thought he would have a way to easily take care of Altar Master’s body. Unthinkably, that guy brazenly took the blame.” Song Shuhang didn’t know whether to cry or laugh as he reiterated the story.
“Pff, what an interesting guy.” Medicine Master couldn’t help but laugh. He pondered, then said, “I think you don’t need to worry. Since the monk was confident in taking the blame, then he must have a way of freeing himself. Nowadays, the mortal world is developing faster and faster, and the cultivation world’s infiltration of the mortal world is becoming deeper and deeper. Perhaps the Western monk will be free soon.”
With Medicine Master’s affirmation, Song Shuhang instantly felt reassured.
All I can hope for is that the monk is safe and sound, right?
He should be safe and sound, right? The scene when the Western monk was caught while smiling with snow-white teeth emerged in Song Shuhang’s mind.
Medicine Master was still rapidly recording in his notebook.
Song Shuhang took advantage of the opportunity to find a place to cultivate a round of ❮Basic Buddhist Fist Technique❯ and ❮True Self Meditation Scripture❯. When he returned to school, he still needed to secretly train, and worry about being seen.
It still felt the safest to cultivate at Medicine Master’s place.
After one round of training, he guided the qi and blood into the Heart Aperture. Song Shuhang took a deep breath, feeling relaxed both mentally and physically.
Right then, Medicine Master finished recording. He nodded at Song Shuhang, “Not bad, you can already control the ‘amount’ of qi and blood directed into the Heart Aperture; your Hundred Days Foundation Establishment completion is imminent.”
“Hehe.” Song Shuhang tittered.
Next, Medicine Master took advantage of the free time to explain to Shuhang some basic cultivation knowledge and points of concern when cultivating.
As they chatted, Song Shuhang finally asked a question he had long wanted to ask, “By the way, Senior… there’s something that I’ve always been concerned with.”
“What?”
“Why do seniors communicate using chat software? I think there should be ‘thousand mile sound transmitter,’ a technique, or some other very impressive communication methods among cultivation techniques, right? Isn’t that more high-end, and also safer and more secretive?” Song Shuhang asked. In that case, at least there wouldn’t be someone like him who was added by accident, right?
“Is there a need to think about it? It’s because of ease and convenience! What era is it already, why would anyone use a sound transmitting technique limited to a thousand miles and not use the various Internet communication tools? Look at things now, one only needs to create a chat group to be able to send messages, voice chat, and even video chat; the chat log can also be saved, making it easy to search for the records. It also has various mini-games to kill boredom such as farming games, airplane shooting, and so on. As for ‘thousand mile sound transmission’ techniques, they all have a space and distance limitation. When many people use it at once, it can create all sorts of chaos. If you were us, what would you choose?” Medicine Master replied with a question.
“To use your viewpoint as an example, the brick phone ten years or more ago and the smartphones now are both communication tools. However, if I gave you a choice now, when you go out, would you like to bring a large brick phone, or a small compact smartphone that has twice the amount of functions? If you, child, choose the brick phone, then all I can say is you have nothing better to do.”
“Senior, what you said makes so much sense.” Song Shuhang sighed—he was unable to retort!
“Speaking of which, remember to upgrade the field in your farm later! Waiting for your vegetables to ripen is so exhausting; it takes such a long time. And, if you have time, learn to drive earlier… you only have so much qi and blood pills at hand, it won’t be enough for you. So, don’t think about rejecting Northern River. Just accept the harsh reality.” Medicine Master closed his notebook and instructed Song Shuhang in a grave and sincere tone.
“…” Song Shuhang.