Walking the Ten Thousand Daos

Chapter 57: Widespread Throughout the World

"Ah, judging by your expression, you probably think you've had some fortuitous encounter, right? Don't even think about it. In the past, many Daoist orthodoxies had this idea of 'spreading widely throughout the world.' They wanted to spread the Dao so that everyone could hear it and practice it," Shen Shuibi said, observing Li Qi's expression, as if she had seen it many times before and immediately added.

"For everyone to hear and practice the Dao, to be able to learn the path they desire and walk their own path, that was the shared aspiration of many great powers among the Daoist orthodoxies. After reaching a consensus, they initiated this plan," Shen Shuibi explained.

"And so~" She raised a finger, a triumphant look on her face. "Now, all of you, in all places, have traces of cultivation methods. Everyone can learn cultivation methods, and everyone has cultivation methods to strengthen their bodies and bring various strange abilities. These are all the results of this plan."

However, as she spoke, she became disheartened again, and fed Li Qi another mouthful. "It's just that the plan ultimately failed. It was too easy for all living beings to hear the Dao, even commoners and uneducated folk could listen to the sages preach. Thus, while the Dao spread throughout the world and all beings rejoiced for the first hundred years, in the thousand years that followed, it gradually evolved into a scene where no one respected the Dao. Some even arbitrarily modified Daoist orthodoxies to establish their own, leading to great chaos across the land."

"After that, it was the great chaos of myriad Dao. Old Daoist orthodoxies, new Daoist orthodoxies, and even those that weren't considered Daoist orthodoxies, became a catastrophe that swept across the world."

"The leaders of the various Daoist orthodoxies reached a consensus at the last moment, establishing the rule that 'the Dao should not be lightly transmitted, nor the techniques lightly imparted.' Only then did cultivators gradually fade from the common populace."

"And that leads to the present, where basically every place has remnants from that time. Most commoners have some fragments in their hands, so they can all use cultivation methods to improve their lives. The cultivation method you have should be one of those fragments from back then," Shen Shuibi said. "If you don't mind, you can let me see it. I might be able to trace it back to its origin and find the true source of this cultivation method, instead of just its current fragmented state."

Li Qi was stunned upon hearing this.

Not only was he surprised by the stories from the past, but he was also amazed by Shen Shuibi's suggestion.

"You mean, my Wave-Breaking Force is very likely a remnant of a Daoist orthodoxy distributed during the 'Widespread Throughout the World' plan?" Li Qi asked."Not just possibly, but definitely. Otherwise, are all the numerous cultivation methods under heaven self-created? There might be some self-created ones, but ninety-nine percent are legacies of former Daoist orthodoxies. The fact that you condensed a trace of internal Qi with it indicates that it might be a Martial Dao technique, just incomplete. If you give it to me, I might truly be able to trace it back to its source," Shen Shuibi said with great confidence and pride when discussing these matters.

She was the Lady's rabbit, after all!

She had been with the Lady for hundreds of years and had read countless books!

Li Qi naturally had no objections to this. Anyway, the cultivation method for Wave-Breaking Force was quite simple, with no convoluted parts. He quickly recited the incantation and cultivation method.

As for the notion of not leaking cultivation methods?

That was for ordinary people. Would Shen Shuibi actually try to trick him with this trashy cultivation method? Perhaps Wave-Breaking Force was important to him, but Shen Shuibi was a fifth-rank cultivator!

Fifth-rank!

What kind of concept was that?

An expert, an unimaginably powerful one!

If Shen Shuibi hadn't crippled her own cultivation, he probably wouldn't have had any connection with a girl like her in his entire life.

So, he felt no psychological pressure whatsoever.

However, after listening, Shen Shuibi frowned deeply, and even the hand feeding him stopped. She remained motionless.

Li Qi knew that this girl's mind was single-threaded; she would automatically forget other things while thinking. So, he didn't rush her. Instead, he took the pot himself and started drinking.

The pot of porridge, a full ten jin, contained various mountain goods, wild vegetables, cured meat, and crushed rice cakes, seasoned with coarse salt, and cooked until fragrant. Li Qi ignored the heat, slurping it down, and quickly finished the entire pot.

Li Qi's stomach was round from eating. His previously empty stomach was now full, and he felt a wave of satisfaction. Strength surged through his entire body, and the feeling of weakness gradually disappeared.

But he knew that this situation seemed to be because of... that trace of internal Qi?

His injuries shouldn't have allowed him to feel so vital, but that internal Qi was breaking itself down, providing vitality to his body and suppressing the pain.

It was even helping him resist miasma, poisonous Qi, cold Qi, and heat Qi.

It was a bit like the internal force in wuxia novels; consuming it could provide various special abilities to the body.

Furthermore, being full, his body was also gradually recovering. The weakness caused by previously overexerting his Essence, Qi, and Spirit also gradually recovered due to eating.

Indeed, for humans, eating was still the most important and most nourishing thing.

After one meal, even before it was fully digested, Li Qi felt he had regained his strength.

He got up and looked at the sky.

It was morning.

There was still time.

He quickly offered sacrifices to the Eastern Azure Dragon, dragging his ailing body, racing against time, completing his daily Four Seasons Sacrifices.

Upon receiving a wisp of Great Forest Wood Qi, he immediately used it.

A tremendous surge of vital energy poured in, causing his wounds to immediately start itching, indicating they were healing.

Indeed, this brought much more peace of mind.

Having done all this, Li Qi lay back down.

With this, he should recover by tomorrow.

This crisis was also resolved.

Li Qi was about to close his eyes, but Shen Shuibi suddenly clapped her hands and joyfully exclaimed, "I remember! This is indeed Carp Flowing Intent!"

Li Qi was startled, abruptly sitting up, but his movement triggered his wounds and he immediately lay back down.

It hurt so much.

But Shen Shuibi didn't pay attention to these things. She quickly came over, her face beaming with joy. "I remember, Li Qi, this method of yours is clearly a small technique from Carp Flowing Intent!"

"Carp Flowing Intent is a Martial Dao cultivation method of a small sect under my Luofu Mountain. Cultivating it to later stages can align with the True Intent of Luofu and enter the Dao Gate!" Shen Shuibi said, standing before Li Qi.

Her expression was triumphant, her face practically shouting, "Praise me, praise me."

"What did you say? Wave-Breaking Force is a Luofu Mountain cultivation method?" Li Qi was astonished.

"En, though it's quite a coincidence, it truly is a Martial Dao technique from under Luofu Mountain. Do you want it? I can teach you," Shen Shuibi said.

"Then many thanks, Miss Shen," Li Qi sincerely thanked her.

"Mhm, I'll teach it to you later. It's not anything rare anyway; even fully cultivated, it's only an eighth-rank Jianghu technique. But before that, do you want to see Old Horse?" Shen Shuibi suddenly asked.

"Old Horse? Wasn't he eating grass?" Li Qi looked around but didn't see Old Horse anywhere.

Huh, where did Old Horse go?

"He's too embarrassed to see you, because these people were chasing him," Shen Shuibi said.

Hearing this, Li Qi waved his hand. "Oh, I thought it was something else. Hurry and call him back. Without him, we won't be able to travel."

(Chapter End)