, Parting at the Abode: A Farewell to the Clouds and Mud

"Steward Wang is too kind. As a disciple of the Jade Sleeve Sect, Junior Brother should naturally prioritize the interests of the sect."

"Those mere 'outsiders' dare to covet the resources of my Jade Sleeve Sect? They truly deserve to die!"

Yan Chen spoke righteously and loudly.

Having been a disciple of the Jade Sleeve Daoist lineage for more than half a month, he had gained some understanding of the survival patterns in this region.

Ordinary tasks are merely "consumables" that are replenished as needed; only by demonstrating personal value can one be considered a "talent."

There are also good and bad "talents".

The uses of a "talent" at the first level and the "talent" at the second level are different, and they also demonstrate their personal value in different ways.

As for what kind of "talent" it is, aside from the empty praise from the engineering college supervisors, only Principal Mitani has the right to define it.

Hence Wang Guian's exclamation—"Having refined one's Qi twice, he is truly a talent."

Considering what happened last night, and also the incident at the Forging Academy before.

Yan Chen estimated that he had already caught the eye of Senior Sister Zhu from the Gold Melting Valley and could barely be considered a "talent".

What's needed right now is simply to cultivate a public image and demonstrate loyalty!

This is to let the other party know that this person is a sensible and worldly-wise person with potential, which is why they will start to cultivate him.

Sure enough, after hearing Yan Chen's words, Wang Fu's expression became even more satisfied, and he completely lost the airs of a steward in the valley.

He reached out and gently patted Junior Brother Yan's shoulder, smiling as he said:

"Junior Brother Yan's sincerity is well known to your senior brother. The Melting Gold Valley will never turn a blind eye to promising talent!"

As he spoke, he lightly waved the wide sleeves of his black and red robe.

In the blink of an eye, a simple and elegant jade pendant with a dark red color was held in his palm.

Yan Chen's gaze fell upon it, and he saw a prominent character "融" (rong) surrounded by intricate cloud patterns in the center of the jade tablet.

"Steward Wang, may I ask what this is...?"

"In private, you can just call me 'Senior Brother.' Calling me 'Deacon' is too formal!"

Wang Fu frowned, feigning displeasure.

"Yes, Senior Brother Wang."

Yan Chen immediately bowed respectfully, his demeanor calm and composed, his tone gentle, showing neither obsequiousness nor arrogance.

What a humble and well-mannered young man!

Wang Fu nodded slightly and said:

"Junior Brother has now entered the first level of Qi Refining. Can you feel that, following the Qi Absorption Technique of your current cultivation method, your progress is slower than before, or even stagnant?"

"Senior brother hits the nail on the head. I have indeed been quite puzzled about this lately!"

Yan Chen was intrigued and immediately adopted an eager and impatient demeanor, asking in a pressing tone:

"Please enlighten me, senior brother!"

Taoist priests like Wang Fu, who have reached the third level of Qi Refining, may seem glamorous, but they are just like ordinary servants who fawn over their superiors, needing to be at the mercy of their masters and observe their every move.

Therefore, Wang Fu was quite pleased with Yan Chen's attitude.

Originally, I was thinking of using both "big sticks and sweet dates" to give benefits while also establishing my authority.

Now it seems there's no need for that.

With that in mind, Wang Fu stopped beating around the bush and got straight to the point:

"As the saying goes, to cleanse the body of impurities, one must rely on the flow of Qi, reverse the flow of Qi through the meridians, break through barriers and obstacles... Only in this way can one achieve a pure and spiritual body!"

"After a cultivator enters the first level of Qi Refining, their physical body, tempered by true qi, begins to show its extraordinary nature. Their bones and muscles are like iron, their internal organs are powerful, and they are impervious to needles and water..."

"Therefore, relying solely on the method of absorbing qi is insufficient to stimulate the qi seed and allow true qi to circulate within the body's meridians. In such a case, how can one talk about circulating qi throughout the body?"

"Therefore, a knife and a sword are needed to cut down and break through these formidable passes."

"In this process, not only are the muscles and bones repeatedly tempered to perfection, but the Qi seed in the dantian is also cleansed of impurities from the inside out, concealing its brilliance, condensing and sublimating, and finally evolving into Qi mechanism!"

"Only in this way can one demonstrate the completion of the early stage of Qi Refining!"

Wang Fu felt he had said everything he needed to say, and glanced at Yan Chen's expression.

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were lost in thought or pondering something.

Wang Fu paused for a moment, waiting for Yan Chen to regain his composure, before slowly pushing the jade plaque engraved with the character "融" (róng, meaning melt) in front of him.

continued:

"This is the transmission token of my Gold Melting Valley. With this token, the steward can enter and exit the 'Flame Pavilion' in the valley once to purchase the Daoist calligraphy techniques for the current realm."

"In other words, this token is exclusive to the Gold Mine Valley."

"The reason I'm giving this to you is because Senior Sister Zhu cherishes talent and, considering your continuous merits, she's making an exception for you."

"Now that you have reached the first level of Qi Refining, you will naturally not be eligible for the Daoist techniques and secret formulas within the Melting Gold Valley."

"However, you can go to the 'Elite Academy' at the foot of the mountain and use this token to purchase a Qi-guiding technique, which can resolve your current cultivation difficulties!"

"Thank you, Yuxiu, for your grace! Thank you, Master Zhu, for your guidance!"

Cast your net every day, and you'll eventually reap the rewards!

Yan Chen was delighted, but he was also clear-headed, knowing that all of this was based on his own "usefulness".

No one values ​​themselves for no reason, let alone when it comes to betting.

It's simply a matter of hoping that one day I'll be able to use myself.

Yan Chen was mentally prepared and was not averse to it. On the contrary, he found it simple, direct, and straightforward!

He accepted the delicate jade pendant and bowed to thank Wang Fu.

Yan Chen then carefully put it away, his manners impeccable and impeccable.

At the same time, Lu Zhou slowed down, and through the car window, he could already see the beautiful peaks of the Jade Sleeve Sect in the distance.

Wang Fu slowly stood up, paused, and finally said:

"The art of guiding qi may be difficult or easy, depending on one's natural talent. If you have any questions or difficulties, you can take the flying shuttle to the Gold Melting Valley to listen to your senior brothers and sisters preach and teach."

"Are there any classes taught by senior students?"

Yan Chen asked with a smile on his face, quite seriously.

Wang Fu shook his head with a wry smile and said:

"Junior brother, you're out of luck. Senior brother already finished his shift yesterday, and the next one won't be for another ten days."

"That's a real shame..."

Yan Chen shook his head in frustration, his eyelids drooping, as if a golden glint flashed and disappeared.

Wang Fu, completely oblivious, laughed heartily:

"It's alright, it's alright if I miss the regular classes."

"But there's a sermon in the Melting Gold Valley three days from now. Junior Brother Yan, you absolutely must go and attend!"

"Could it be a certain powerful senior brother or sister?"

Yan Chen asked.

Wang Fu shook his head mysteriously and said:

"It cannot be said, it cannot be said. You will know the truth of what you say when you go!"

……

Lu Zhou slowly came to a stop. After saying goodbye to Wang Fu, Yan Chen left the crowd.

Instead of returning to the Forging Institute, he walked towards the small white-walled courtyard at the foot of the mountain.

Just now on the boat, Wang Fu told me that he had been granted permission by the Gold Rush Valley to "buy labor".

The so-called "buying labor" means paying someone to do the work for you, so you can do other things without having to worry about the miscellaneous tasks at the engineering college.

Yan Chen initially received 10,000 coins from Qu Ying and the other person. He then spent over 2,000 to repay the loan. Including the income from working for a few days, he still has over 8,000 left.

Adding the eight thousand coins he shared with Chen Xuyang, the total came to over sixteen thousand, which was quite a sum, giving him ample resources and confidence.

"If it's for the sake of cultivating the Tao, what's a little money for the Dharma?"

In the blink of an eye, Yan Chen had already followed the mountain path to the "Yingcai Academy" with its white walls and black tiles.

Looking at the two familiar couplets, Yan Chen smiled knowingly, but without any hesitation, he calmly pushed open the main hall door.

Inside the main hall, Wang Gui'an was reclining comfortably in a large huanghuali chair.

Suddenly realizing someone was approaching, he trembled and quickly opened his eyes to look.

Immediately, a handsome young man with clear features and an elegant demeanor stood in front of him with a smile on his lips.

Wang Guian recognized the young man; he was talented but also cunning and opportunistic.

These were the only impressions he had of the other party after their two visits.

Wang Gui'an, still half asleep, didn't bother to examine Yan Chen closely, assuming that the other party was trying to find a shortcut again, and was about to say something to get rid of him.

However, the next moment, a delicate jade pendant was placed steadily on the table.

"Don't use these strange gadgets..."

Before Wang Guian could finish speaking, his gaze suddenly fell upon the character "融" (rong, meaning melt) engraved on the jade tablet. He immediately sat up straight and leaned closer to examine it closely.

Finally, she looked at Yan Chen with disbelief in her eyes.

Only then did he realize that the young man in front of him had already reached the first level of Qi Refining!

Back then, the other party hadn't even opened their meridians or begun cultivating Qi... In just half a month, the difference has been like heaven and earth!

"Manager Wang, the Gold Melting Valley has ordered me to use this token to purchase a Qi-guiding technique from you to enhance my cultivation!"

Yan Chen's expression was calm, and his words were respectful, neither humble nor arrogant.

Just like the first time I set foot here.

……