novelraw Chapter 26: I Don't Think You're Very Professional Either
Chapter 26: I Don't Think You're Very Professional Either
The old peach tree probably couldn't defeat that sword immortal, so it used a method similar to disintegration, controlling its roots to scatter and flee in all directions.
If any root could fortunately escape the sword immortal's pursuit and survive, find some unnoticed remote corner to take root and sprout, in a few hundred years it would be a hero again.
Seeing Li Qiuchen's gaze fall on the root in his hand, the old Daoist's heart tightened, and he quickly continued, "Actually, it's not just this poor Daoist. Several other fellow Daoists also obtained the Immortal's dharma remains. Among them, a senior who calls himself Mohe the Perfected Being is the most knowledgeable. It was he who told us about this Immortal's origins and background."
"It's said this Immortal of Heavenly Pond attained the Dao at Heavenly Pond in West Kunlun, cultivated for three thousand years to form his Golden Core, used supreme immortal arts to establish the Great Luo Divine Sect, and made quite a name in the Central Plains. Unfortunately, he was later besieged by the authorities, his orthodox lineage destroyed, and he fled alone to the northern frontier to cultivate in hiding. Within this Immortal's dharma remains lies infinite profound knowledge. If one can fortunately comprehend even a bit, one will benefit immensely for life..."
That impressive? I don't believe it.
As someone who personally experienced that battle, Li Qiuchen knew better than anyone that the old peach tree was just a stingy miser. Over the years, it hadn't even been willing to bear a single peach, storing all its life essence within its tree core.
As for tree roots, those things grew all over the mountains.
He had a piece of the tree core himself, though it was hidden in the mountains.
He was all too familiar with that smell but this tree root before him... it wasn't that it had no smell, just barely any.
"That's what Mohe the Perfected Being told you?"Li Qiuchen shook his head, saying, "Senior, I think you've been deceived by him. This dharma remain in your hand, if used as medicine, could indeed be considered a decent medicinal ingredient. But if you want to comprehend something from it, I'm afraid you'll waste your effort."
The old Daoist was not alarmed but delighted upon hearing this. He nodded and smiled, saying, "Junior Brother indeed has remarkable insight, but you only know one thing, not the other. Though this dharma remain currently appears lifeless, if one can carefully cultivate it with the Medicine Master's wondrous methods..."
"Oh!"
Li Qiuchen suddenly understood. The two exchanged glances and simultaneously revealed knowing smiles.
What do you do when tree roots aren't enough? Dig a hole, fill it with soil, pour some water, and let it grow again, right?
Even cut potato pieces can sprout. Peach tree roots... as long as there's the Medicine Master's blessing, they can likewise be revived.
Li Qiuchen said in a low voice, "Senior intends to use these villagers..."
The old Daoist quickly waved his hand, saying, "Earlier, I didn't know an expert was cultivating in seclusion here. I've been very offensive. Since Junior Brother has appeared, this poor Daoist should naturally leave and seek another blessed land."
"No, no, none of that matters."
Li Qiuchen waved his hand, saying, "Senior, since you've already come, why go through all that trouble again and waste time for nothing? This junior has an impertinent request. I wonder where one could obtain this Immortal's dharma remains? This junior would also like to... observe them."
Hearing that the other wouldn't drive him away or steal his treasure, the old Daoist was very happy.
There are still so many good people in this world!
"Junior Brother doesn't know, but this Immortal's dharma remains can only be obtained by those with affinity. If you go searching in the mountains, who knows how much time you'll waste, and you still might not find them. However, Mohe the Perfected Being has collected quite a few. The Perfected Being is broad-minded and acts righteously. As long as you come seeking, you'll surely obtain some."
The old peach tree's roots had shattered into who knows how many pieces. This thing's value really wasn't that high.
Its value as medicinal material existed but if you wanted to grow the roots alive, you had to be like the old Daoist, find a remote village, deceive the villagers into being pigs, then build a pigsty and fertilizer heap.
In other words, taking too many was useless.
The fertility couldn't keep up.
After hearing the old Daoist's explanation, Li Qiuchen pressed further, "Then where is Mohe the Perfected Being now?"
The old Daoist showed difficulty on his face and sighed, saying, "To be honest, Junior Brother, we cultivators are repeatedly besieged by the authorities, like homeless dogs living in constant fear. Normally we hide our names and don't dare walk openly in public. We also have almost no contact with each other."
"Where Mohe the Perfected Being is now, this poor Daoist truly doesn't know. However, I imagine he should be nearby and hasn't gone far. Because at the time, he agreed with us on a three-month period. When the time comes, we'll gather at Blue Stone Platform to share our results with each other. Counting the days, there's less than a month left."
"When the time comes, Junior Brother can come find this poor Daoist, and I'll go meet that Perfected Being together with you."
Less than two months left? That's quite tight on time.
It wasn't that Li Qiuchen's time was tight, but the old Daoist before him.
Li Qiuchen glanced at the tree root in the old Daoist's hand and smiled, saying, "I see Senior seems to have... encountered some difficulties?"
The old Daoist's face turned red, and he laughed dryly, saying, "It can't really be called difficulties... Junior Brother, you also know that the great Dao of longevity holds infinite mysteries, how could these common mortals understand? I have the heart to enlighten them..."
"But the villagers are ignorant, only knowing how to seek, but not knowing how to give back?"
"Exactly so!"
The old Daoist nodded vigorously, nearly squeezing out tears.
To put it bluntly, this matter was a problem of eating without defecating.
The old Daoist preached longevity techniques here, the villagers all believed, and followed along in cultivation but he couldn't convert this cultivation result into fertilizer for nurturing the tree root. As a result, more than a month had passed, and the tree root was still a tree root without any change.
Li Qiuchen's gaze toward the old Daoist immediately became subtle.
I thought you were some unworldly expert, but you're also just an amateur.
No wonder I've been deceiving you until now without arousing any suspicion, to the point that my later preparations had no use.
The Medicine Master's blessings also had gradations.
The blessing Li Qiuchen himself received was the very advanced kind. Exactly how advanced, he wasn't clear but obviously, the blessing the old Daoist before him received was definitely not as advanced as his.
This old man hadn't even figured out the basic principles.
Not understanding didn't mean the old Daoist wasn't formidable.
Li Qiuchen hadn't mastered that move of turning a living person into a tree.
"Senior..."
"Junior Brother..."
Each harboring ulterior motives, the two exchanged glances. The old Daoist took the initiative, saying, "Junior Brother has cultivated bitterly in the mountains under a famous master's guidance. You surely look down on this poor Daoist's crude tricks. If you could offer some guidance, this poor Daoist would be immensely grateful."
"Senior is too kind."
Li Qiuchen smiled, saying, "Actually, when I came down the mountain this time, I also harbored the intention of making friends with fellow Daoists and expanding my knowledge. I wonder what school or sect Senior comes from? Can you set aside sectarian views so we can sit down and exchange ideas?"
The old Daoist said joyfully, "This poor Daoist is just an itinerant cultivator, what sectarian views could there be? Normally running here and there, toiling for livelihood, and having to evade government searches, it's unbearably bitter. Even when occasionally encountering fellow Daoists, I don't dare associate too deeply. If Junior Brother has this intention, this poor Daoist couldn't ask for more! Please, quickly sit. I'll have a servant boy come brew tea for Junior Brother!"