Chapter 54 - After Failing to Find Immortality

This looks like special effects from a low-budget production; it’s as if it’s a staple of various Chinese-themed games. Lin Tianlu was slightly surprised but quickly smiled and said, “It seems Miss Mo has gained something?” Mo Duanyan dispersed the heat around her body with her internal energy and reopened her eyes. But she quickly lowered her head to look at her hands, her eyes filled with bewilderment and shock. She… She had never expected such an outcome. She initially thought Lin Tianlu was merely offering her some pointers out of an elder’s care for a junior, akin to how in the past, when she visited other sects with her great-grandfather, those elderly grandmasters would often give a few light-hearted teachings. Yet she never expected that this seemingly casual sword technique would be so profound! Not only did it contain deep mysteries beyond her comprehension, but just sensing the lingering ethereal sword intent in the tree branch allowed her cultivation to break through in an instant, reaching the Pure Yang stage. Mo Duanyan was stunned for a moment, unable to articulate the shock in her heart. It was as if all the martial arts knowledge she had accumulated over the past ten years was shattered in an instant. But soon, she felt a sense of unease. Such a precious gift could not be easily repaid with mere words of thanks. If she had known earlier just how significant the 'fateful encounter' her great-grandfather spoke of was, she would never have had the audacity to come seeking guidance empty-handed! "Miss Mo, why are you suddenly silent..." “Sir!” Mo Duanyan stood up straight abruptly, and with a trembling voice, she exclaimed, “This guidance is a grace heavier than a mountain to me! In the future, I... I will devote my life to repaying you, sir!” “Please, sir, accept my three kneels and nine kowtows!” With that, she immediately knelt down, her pose meticulous and solemn, performing a grand gesture of gratitude. Lin Tianlu was taken aback. He had only slightly altered her sword technique, an effort no greater than reading a novel—was it really necessary to be so... Could it be that the new sword technique actually worked that well? Feeling bewildered, he quickly stepped forward to help her up, not letting the young girl continue kowtowing repeatedly. “There's no need for such formalities, Miss. If you keep doing that, you'll make me feel like an old man in his seventies or eighties.” “But the grace you’ve shown…” Mo Duanyan’s face was pale, her hands trembling. The more she felt the steady flow of internal energy within her, the more guilty and uneasy she felt. The gentle and kind sir before her might have exerted all his effort, perhaps even secretly transferred his power, allowing her to, in an instant, achieve something that would take years of difficult cultivation, reaching the Pure Yang stage effortlessly. How could she react to this so nonchalantly, pretending to be unaware? As a martial artist, she understood the value of this, and even squandering all her wealth wouldn’t compensate for such a gift! Lin Tianlu chuckled and said, “What grace? I merely gave you a little bit of…” “Sir! Please, let me follow your orders! No matter what the request, I will strive to accomplish it!” Mo Duanyan bowed solemnly. Lin Tianlu: “……” Why does this sound so... strange? Like some weird subplot from those novels... ahem! Lin Tianlu coughed lightly, pretending to be calm. “Since you insist, it would be impolite to decline. If I happen to find any internal energy techniques in the future, perhaps you could lend them to me for reference.” “Sir, I can recite and write down an internal energy technique called 'Heavenly Spirit Technique'!” Mo Duanyan bit her lip. This internal energy technique was a secret her great-grandfather Mo Hong had privately passed down. Obtained during his early years of wandering and perfected over time, it could not be casually imparted to others. But now, she had nothing else of value to offer. If her great-grandfather were to discover in the future, she was willing to accept any punishment! Lin Tianlu shook his head with a smile. “Since it’s so coincidental, I’ll happily accept your kindness.” Relieved, Mo Duanyan hurried to the pavilion to begin writing it down carefully. Once she had finished, she solemnly handed it over. “Sir, though this technique pales in comparison to your gift, it carries some symbolic meaning. Please, do not spread it casually,” she said, biting her lip with a conflicted expression. Lin Tianlu nodded slightly. “Rest assured, I won’t pass it on. After reading it, I’ll burn it without leaving any trace.” Mo Duanyan secretly sighed in relief. "Since you’ve accepted it, I won’t stay any longer. I’ll find a suitable inn in town and visit you again in a few days." Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow. “There’s no need for such trouble, Miss Mo. It's the Mid-Autumn Festival, and in my house…” “I wouldn’t want to impose,” Mo Duanyan said, her face slightly red, lowering her head. “You seem to have an engagement, and if I stay, it might lead to misunderstandings and trouble for you.” Lin Tianlu was momentarily stunned but then smiled lightly. “Miss Mo, you’re very observant. If you’re determined, then I won’t insist.” “I’ll take my leave for now.” Mo Duanyan was about to leave but suddenly bit her lip and hastily took out an exquisite jade pendant from inside her collar, handing it to Lin Tianlu with solemnity. “This is my personal token. Please accept it.” With that, she hurried out. Lin Tianlu looked at the jade pendant in his hand with a peculiar expression. Was this her way of saying… she wouldn’t leave Changling quietly? “A thoughtful and grateful child.” Feeling the residual warmth on the jade pendant, he hesitated slightly before slipping it into his pocket, hoping it wouldn’t lead to any misunderstandings... ... Quickly putting aside those scattered thoughts, he picked up the internal energy manual he had set aside earlier. He had originally intended to find an internal technique to practice, and now, it had conveniently fallen into his lap—a fateful encounter indeed. “This technique... seems quite straightforward.” Scanning through the characters, Lin Tianlu found them to be mostly obscure and complex jargon, with nothing particularly flashy. However— “This girl is indeed meticulous and intelligent.” Lin Tianlu chuckled. Next to the basic instructions, Mo Duanyan had also written down her personal insights and experiences, adding value to the technique. According to her notes, practicing this technique according to the instructions would eventually lead to the cultivation of the first strand of internal energy. For an average person, it would take about a year to reach the first level, but progressing to the second level would require exceptional talent and several more years. The third level would take even longer. Mo Duanyan, with her extraordinary talent, claimed to have reached the second level within two years, already touching upon the third level. However, due to her age and physical limitations, she remained at the Pure Yang stage, unable to break through further. “When the first level is achieved, internal energy flows freely. At the second level, internal energy solidifies and invigorates the blood, causing sweat to evaporate into mist when practicing. At the third level, a red glow appears on the skin. At the fourth level, the eyes glow green…” Lin Tianlu’s expression grew increasingly odd. How come every level makes practitioners look like human traffic lights? When he glanced at the fifth level, it indeed described the skin glowing golden. Great, now they had red, yellow, and green all together. “Nevertheless, this technique does seem quite substantial.” Carefully examining the instructions, Lin Tianlu pondered as he strolled back to the courtyard. The principles in the technique encompassed many ideas from the I Ching, incorporating a myriad of other fields—truly a synthesis of knowledge, making it a profound internal technique. If cultivated properly, it promised seamless energy circulation and boundless stamina, potentially reaching the pinnacle of martial arts mastery. In a world without immortal sects, this internal technique would be invaluable. “The Mo family really is generous.” Lin Tianlu silently marveled. He then began practicing the internal technique to see if it would elicit any change. Zzzzzzz—! To his amazement, he found a blood-red glow flickering in his palm, emitting a sizzling sound like burning air. “It actually worked. But the color looks different from the description?” He frowned slightly, continuously adjusting and activating the internal energy. Instead of becoming more proficient, the blood-red glow in his palm grew darker, almost black. Shhh—! The nearby pagoda tree trembled, and the sword hanging on it buzzed. Noticing the abnormality, Lin Tianlu swiftly crushed the glow in his palm. “This technique... does not match the descriptions at all.” Slightly troubled, he reviewed the contents repeatedly. He couldn’t figure out the level of the blood-red glow. “Perhaps the internal technique is incompatible with my innate energy, causing some unique mutation?” Pondering, he reopened his hand, summoning the glowing blood energy again, this time merging it with a strand of his innate energy. Soon, the sinister red light condensed into a small blood-red jade stone in his palm. Lin Tianlu was a bit bewildered. Had he inadvertently become an alchemist? However, this jade— “It doesn't seem particularly special?” Lin Tianlu casually weighed it in his hand. There were no dazzling special effects, nor did any mysterious lightning from the heavens strike. It looked like just a beautifully translucent jade stone, with only the remaining spiritual energy and the faint red glow within giving it an appearance of deeper color. Interestingly, these two energies seemed to coexist quite harmoniously. Unable to decipher it immediately, he chose to temporarily store the small red jade in his robe. He would figure out its uses later. If need be, he could ask the young girl about it after some time. Glancing up at the sky, he roughly estimated the time and couldn’t help but smile wryly. There was no need to think about cultivation for now. Tonight might bring a different sort of “storm and bloodshed.” … Night quietly descended. But unlike usual, tonight Changling County was brightly lit, as it was the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a time for families to gather and admire the magnificent full moon. The once quiet streets were now bustling with people and tourists, creating a lively atmosphere. Lin Tianlu, dressed in an embroidered robe, stood on an arched bridge, gazing at the dazzling full moon in the sky. In the past, he never had the leisure to come to the market to appreciate the Mid-Autumn Moon. “Is Senior reminiscing about his hometown?” A soft voice rang beside his ear, pulling his thoughts back. Turning his head, he saw a stunningly beautiful girl standing beside him. She was dressed in a light pink embroidered chest-high ruqun, with a thin silk shawl and her hair adorned with jade hairpins, her exquisite and elegant face reflecting a hint of seductive charm under the moonlight. “Perhaps.” Lin Tianlu smiled, “But now, with such lovely company, my heart is naturally swayed.” Hua Shuya unconsciously smiled but quickly pressed her lips together and said, “But Mrs. Mao is even more beautiful.” “Miss Hua, don’t say such embarrassing things!” A slightly shy and coquettish response confirmed the nervousness in the beautiful woman’s heart. She was gently playing with a strand of hair draped over her chest, her enchanting eyes darting about, as if she couldn’t meet Lin Tianlu’s gaze directly. But, as Hua Shuya mentioned, Mrs. Mao’s attire today was far more elegant and majestic than usual. The chest of her ruqun was pushed up high by her ample bosom, forming a tempting curve. Her jade-like wrists were bound with delicate silk, and her figure was accentuated by layers of transparent skirts, revealing her alluring and voluptuous figure, enhancing her enchanting and seductive aura. “Let’s not linger here. We should head to Dengxian Pavilion and find that woman from the Cheng family.” Mrs. Mao lightly coughed, her face subtly flushed. Soon, she slightly narrowed her captivating eyes, a hint of coldness flashing through them, “I can’t wait to… make her acquaintance.” Lin Tianlu laughed awkwardly. Meanwhile, Hua Shuya stood confused, tilting her delicate head, thinking that Mrs. Mao seemed unusually assertive today.