After the space of a cup of tea, Li Qiu finally came to his senses, though it felt as if a very long time had passed. He wondered inwardly, "What just happened? I felt as though I had left the secular world far behind and transformed into a green mountain, experiencing a boundless, unnamable sense of freedom. Could a mere line of poetry evoke such a state in me?" He then spoke of these thoughts to his teacher.
Hearing this, the Old Scholar nodded slightly and said, "What you just experienced and thought is known as a flash of insight. It is a form of spiritual practice in Buddhism. Legend has it that some Buddhist disciples attained Buddhahood through such sudden enlightenment—truly miraculous. In Taoism, however, this state is called comprehension, which is a stirring of the heart and mind that occurs when what you encounter resonates with your inner self. Do you feel now that your mind is much broader and your horizons much higher?"
Li Qiu checked within himself, and indeed it was so.
The Old Scholar said, "Remarkable. To have such a high level of insight at your age means your future potential is boundless. In truth, glory, wealth, fame, fortune, and the seven passions and six desires are all like passing smoke, not worth mentioning. Only eternal life matters!"
Hearing such words for the first time, Li Qiu was inevitably puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Master, what is eternal life?"
"To endure as long as heaven and earth, and shine as brightly as the sun and moon. To have all things at your command, to move mountains and fill seas, and to rend the vast firmament. To roam freely across heaven and earth, and wander at will through the Milky Way! That is true supreme freedom."
Li Qiu's eyes widened. When had he ever heard such earth-shaking words before?
In the past, even when he heard storytellers speak of demons, ghosts, and ethereal matters, he had merely taken them as jokes and casual entertainment, assuming they were all falsehoods. Now, hearing his teacher speak of these things firsthand, he couldn't help believing a few points.
"Seeing that you have good insight, and are both courageous and resourceful, I will tell you today of some matters that mortals know nothing about." After a pause, as if having made up his mind, he continued, "In this human world, aside from us ordinary mortals, there is another kind of people called Immortal Cultivators, or Cultivators."
"Immortal Cultivators? Are they immortals?!"
"Heh, not immortals. Cultivators are both mortals and yet not mortals. Because they master divine powers—the lesser ones can turn stone into gold, while the greater ones are sufficient to move mountains and drain seas. Whether true immortals exist or not, no one knows. But Cultivators truly, tangibly exist."
"Ah? That being said, could it be that Master has seen an Immortal Cultivator?"
"I have not seen one. But there is a profound connection between one and me. He is my ancestor," the Old Scholar said, looking with reverence at the portrait hanging in the center of the room.
"It's just that he died some three hundred years ago. I am already eighty-three, how could I have met him? His Taoist title was Master Yuanzhen, and as for which sect he belonged to, I do not know either. I only know that until his death he never reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. It seems he only cultivated to the Qi Condensation 7th Layer. Right, cultivation is divided into the Qi Condensation Stage, Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, and Nascent Soul Stage. As for what lies beyond the Nascent Soul Stage, I do not know. The Qi Condensation stage is further divided into the Early Qi Condensation Stage, Mid Qi Condensation Stage, and Late Qi Condensation Stage, with each stage divided into three layers, making a total of nine layers. I have exhausted my entire life and could only enter Qi Condensation Level 3, and for the past ten years, I have made not an inch of progress. My aptitude is truly subpar... Watch closely."
With that, he gently lifted his right hand and gradually opened his palm. Right in the center of his palm, a tuft of cyan Qi was unmistakably and gently rolling. The Old Scholar took a deep breath and shouted, "Go!" That tuft of cyan Qi seemed to possess a spiritual awareness as it flew toward the direction the Old Scholar had called out—straight toward the square table in the room.
When the cyan Qi struck the square table, it was like water entering the vast sea, without causing the slightest ripple.
Li Qiu had originally expected to see bricks split and stones shattered next, but seeing no such reaction, just as he was feeling disappointed, he saw the four legs of the table slowly sprout roots, gradually bud, turn green, and finally grow into a small tree whose branches almost poked him.
Li Qiu's jaw nearly dropped to the floor; he had never witnessed such a magical sight. Seeing that the small tree was still growing and about to pierce the roof, he cried out in fright, "Aiya!"
Then he heard the Old Scholar shout, "Stop." The four small trees immediately ceased growing. However, the four trees had intertwined into a single large tree.
A wave of woody fragrance wafted over. Li Qiu plucked a leaf and chewed it in his mouth, the bitterness making his tongue go numb. Knowing this was truly the method of immortals, he fell flat on his kowtow, addressing him as Master and declaring that he would not get up unless he was accepted as a disciple.
The Old Scholar ignored him, letting Li Qiu kneel on the ground, and shouted, "Withdraw." The tree seemed to shrink; with a series of cracking sounds, the leaves vanished, the roots vanished, and shortly thereafter, it was once again an intact square table.
That tuft of cyan Qi reappeared in the Old Scholar's hand. He closed his palm, and the cyan Qi vanished. After doing all this, the Old Scholar looked as though he had expended a great deal of effort, with fine beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. He slowly sat down on the square stool beside the table to regulate his breath, ignoring Li Qiu entirely.
Seeing this, Li Qiu hurriedly poured a cup of tea and said, "Master, have a cup of tea." The Old Scholar took it and drank, then suddenly snapped to awareness and asked, "What did you just call me?"
"Master, of course. Hehe, Master, you already acknowledged it just now."
The Old Scholar laughed and scolded, "You rascal! Very well, consider this drinking your master-induction tea. Kowtow to me three more times, and the apprenticeship ceremony will be complete; then you will truly be my disciple."
Li Qiu fell over to bow, paying no mind to whether it was three kowtows or thirty, bowing endlessly.
Between laughter and tears, the Old Scholar said, "Alright, get up. Now that you have taken me as your master today, as your master I shall pass my mantle on to you. Wait here."
He flashed into the inner room. When he came out a moment later, his hands held several books and a bag.
The Old Scholar handed the items to Li Qiu, who took them and looked: one book was the Azure Wood Formula, one was the Tao Te Ching, and one was the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
The Old Scholar explained, "This Azure Wood Formula is the cultivation mantra of your master; the Tao Te Ching is for consolidating your state of mind, while this Classic of Mountains and Seas can broaden your horizons. Remember, this Azure Wood Formula must never be shown to others, lest it arouse the covetousness of villains and bring down a calamity of slaughter upon your head. This bag is called a Storage Bag, also known as a Sumeru Pouch, though its efficacy falls short of a true Sumeru Pouch by more than a thousand miles. It can hold many things, and its functions will only become known to you once you enter the Qi Condensation Stage."
A tumultuous storm had already risen in Li Qiu's heart; an unknown world was opening up before him: immortals, soaring through the skies, turning stone into gold, moving mountains and filling seas...
In his heart, he felt both excitement and fear. Forcing down the turbulent emotions in his breast, he knelt down and knocked his head three more times, saying, "For Master's great kindness, this disciple will be grateful to the end of my days."
With a wave of the Old Scholar's hand, Li Qiu felt a hand gently lift him up. Knowing it was his master's spell, he wasn't too surprised, and lowered his head to listen to his master's teachings.
The Old Scholar said, "Neither my father nor my grandfather possessed spiritual roots, and so they never learned this formula. I, however, managed to reluctantly cultivate to Qi Condensation Level 3. Now I dimly sense that my limit has arrived, and my entry into the cycle of reincarnation is right before my eyes. I fear this formula would turn to dust along with me, which would truly be a pity. You are someone I watched grow up from childhood. Your nature is kind and quick-witted; though mischievous, you have not lost your true character.
Ten years ago, when I broke through the second layer to enter the third, although I could not see it very clearly, I could sense that you possessed spiritual roots. As for what kind of spiritual roots they are and how your aptitude is, my cultivation was too low to perceive it clearly.
I had wanted to take you as my disciple back then, but you were too young. Moreover, with your mischievous nature, had you gone around showing off Tao Dharma, the consequences would have been unimaginable. You must understand that this Cultivation World is far more dangerous than the mortal world; a moment of carelessness and you are left without a burial place, not even a chance at reincarnation. This is the principle of 'an innocent man treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime.' Only recently, when you pulled off your empty-handed wolf trick, did I know you are both courageous and resourceful, which gave me much gratification. Even if I pass the Tao Dharma on to you, presumably you will not bring trouble upon yourself. And so this affinity of ours was fulfilled. Hahahaha..."
Hearing his master say this, Li Qiu's face flushed red, and he said with shame, "So that's how it was. It's all my fault for being too mischievous in my youth, actually making Master wait ten years."
The Old Scholar said, "Not at all. Affinity is naturally decreed by heaven. When affinity has not arrived, no one can force it. Sooner or later, neither will yield a result. The Great Tao is non-action; one merely follows the natural course of things. Besides, you have been my student for so long—our affinity goes far beyond something so simple. You would rather borrow books from me to study at home than accept my charity; this refusal of food offered in scorn possesses the demeanor of the ancients, and suits my wishes entirely. To have such a disciple, what more could I ask for?"
Li Qiu bowed once more: "Thank you, Master!"
The Old Scholar continued, "The master brings you through the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. How far you can walk on this road depends entirely on your own fortune. I know you have formed sworn brotherhood with Li Zhuo, Wang Suo, Zheng Shude, and others, sharing life and death. But you must remember, everyone has their own fortune; you must not disrupt the future of others for the sake of selfish desires. Some love wealth, some seek filial piety, some value fame and fortune, while others pursue eternal life. Each seeks their own goal. There is no need to be too harsh on others. The Great Tao is ruthless; what must be forsaken will eventually be forsaken. Be careful in everything when you go out into the world. Remember: 'Tigers and wolves are detestable, but human hearts are the most venomous.'"
Li Qiu thought to himself: Why does Master sound just like my father? Can human hearts truly be this terrifying?
The Old Scholar added, "If the day you return I have already passed away, burn me and bury my ashes beneath the large tree north of the village."
Li Qiu was greatly startled, and just as he was about to speak, "Master..."
The Old Scholar said, "Go, and spare me your little-girl theatrics." Li Qiu wanted to say more to his teacher, but he felt a mighty force push him out of the thatched cottage, and then the door was locked as if bolted in gold. Helpless, Li Qiu had no choice but to leave.