Chapter Ten: The Purple Mist Path

  A few days later, a small number of disciples successfully created a one-star yuanqi symbol and immediately took it out to show off, feeling quite pleased with themselves. This attracted many envious glances. Li Muran, who had seven yuanqi symbols on him, smiled but didn't say anything when he heard about this, not intending to make a big deal out of it.

  One day half a month later, Li Muran was sitting in meditation in his house.

  Although the speed of cultivation during the day is slow, it's better than nothing. The yuanqi cultivated during the day won't disappear for no reason. So Li Muran continued to cultivate, only resting for a few hours before dinner.

  A sudden knock at the door interrupted him, he put away his skills, opened the door, and saw a tense-looking Mu Li.

  "Little Wooden Brother, what's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" Li Muran asked in surprise.

  Mu Li panted and said: "Zhao Shixiong, I just heard that Zi Xia Shishu has returned to the sect!"

  "So fast!" Li Muran's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't panic much, after all, he had several Yuanqi symbols in his arms.

  Li Muran asked: "So, we should go and pay our respects immediately and ask him to accept us as his disciples?"

  Mu shook his head and continued, "I heard Qingfeng Shixiong say that Purple Mist Shishu encountered some unexpected situation, seemingly got injured, and will be closing up for a month to recover. As for the matter of accepting disciples, it will have to wait until after Purple Mist Shishu comes out of seclusion."

  "After I knew about this matter, I immediately ran over to inform Brother Zhao, so that Brother Zhao can make some preparations!"

  Li Muran nodded, he saw Mu Li covered in sweat, apparently having run a considerable distance, and felt quite grateful.

  "Thank you, Mu Shidi!" Li Muran said: "Actually, I have made some preparations and believe that I can move Zi Xia Shibo. I don't know if Mu Shidi has any response? After all, a month's time is too short, even if one practices diligently during this period, their cultivation will hardly show significant improvement."

  Mu Li let out a somewhat dejected sigh and replied: "I'm thinking of a solution, but for the time being, I don't have any good ideas."

  Li Muran's mind moved and he said: "If Wood Shidi trusts me, hand over those few talismans to me!"

  "Are you going to make talismans, Zhao? I tried twice before and failed, wasting a lot of precious yuanqi. I don't dare try again. There are eight sheets left, I'll give them all to you!" Mu Li took out an oilcloth package from his bosom, pulled out several neatly stacked talisman papers, and handed them over to Li Muran.

  For these newly initiated disciples, these few talismans are the most precious things, so they have been carrying them with them all along.

  "I'll go inform a few other fellow disciples so they can also be prepared!" Mu Li cupped his hands together and was about to leave.

  "Hold on!" Li Muran shouted, stopping Mu Li. He furrowed his brow and said, "Mu Shidi, do you know what it means to go notify the other brothers?"

  "What did Elder Zhao mean by those words?" Mu Li's eyes widened in confusion.

  Li Muran said calmly, "Even if Master Zixia really intends to take on disciples, she probably won't accept all of us. Naturally, she'll choose the best two or three among us. You'd better inform those fellow disciples so they can prepare early and increase their chances. As for you, your chances will be smaller! In the end, it's you who'll be at a disadvantage!"

  Mu Li was stunned for a moment and couldn't say anything for a while.

  Li Muran continued, "In your situation, many people will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, secretly using all sorts of tricks and tactics against their peers in order to stand out. You don't resort to these methods, which is already quite rare, there's no need to go out of your way to help your competitors - including me."

  These words must have been spoken by someone with a certain amount of experience, and it's indeed rare to hear them from the mouth of a young man. Mu Li heard this and also fell into silence.

  In Mu Li's view, this Zhao Wuming, Zhao Shixiong was usually taciturn and rarely spoke, this was the first time he opened his mouth to say such a long speech, indeed full of profound meaning.

  A moment later, Mu Li smiled and said: "Thank you, Brother Zhao, for your guidance! I understand what you mean, but I still plan to inform those fellow disciples. The path of immortality is long and distant, not everyone has the opportunity to come into contact with it. Even if I myself do not obtain immortal destiny, being able to watch other fellow disciples continue their cultivation is also a comfort and joy."

  Li Muran nodded and said with great admiration, "You can think this way, it's really rare! However, although I don't despise plotting and scheming, I also don't have the same feelings as you. I won't accompany you anymore."

  Mu Li bid farewell and left immediately, Li Muran gazed at his back, seemingly lost in thought.

  Whether the other masters can move Zixia Shifu and stay in the sect depends on their own fortune and ability; however, this Mu Li Mu brother, Li Muran wants to help him a bit.

  Not for anything else, but for that one meal's favor and that rarely seen chivalrous heart!

  Li Muran, as a bystander disciple without a sect, isn't entirely a bad thing. At least during this period of time, he is an idle person with no miscellaneous matters on his body and no orders from his master in effect, so he can focus solely on cultivation.

  His diligence was evident at this time, as he practiced every morning and afternoon. He would take a nap in the afternoon and wake up before dinner; after dinner, he continued to cultivate. Of the twelve hours of the day, eight or nine were spent practicing. While others were deep in sleep, it was his most vigorous time for cultivation.

  Li Muran discovered that although the heavenly and earthly primordial energy cultivated at night could not be retained in the body for long, it could be used to blast open holes and channels before it dissipated.

  The eight extraordinary meridians in the human body are not as unobstructed as other meridians, but are blocked to varying degrees by worldly impurities. Chong hole Tongmai is itself a process of washing the flesh with the primordial energy of heaven and earth and purifying impurities. In this process, sometimes it makes people feel comfortable and relaxed, while sometimes it's painful and unbearable, like being bitten by thousands of ants.

  Although all the disciples knew that they had to improve their cultivation, this pain was inevitable; however, facing this unbearable suffering, these 15- or 16-year-old boys couldn't help but retreat. Only a few people could grit their teeth and continue to cultivate without interruption.

  A month later, Li Muran and several other disciples received a notice to go to Zixia Peak to meet the Taoist of Zixia.

  "Wood Shidi, are you ready?" Li Muran asked Mu Di on the road.

  Mu Li said with some worry: "I have prepared something, but I don't know if it will meet the standards of Master Zi Xia."

  Li Muran smiled slightly, took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it to Mu Li, saying: "It doesn't matter, if not, present the talisman in this pouch to Master Shibo, he might just accept you as his apprentice!"

  Mu Li was taken aback, opened the brocade pouch and took a look, and suddenly saw a stack of neatly stacked yuanqi symbols, counting them, there were seven in total.

  "These were all painted by Master Zhao?" Mu Li was shocked and somewhat disbelieving.

  Li Muran smiled and nodded, acknowledging: "The hard work of the past few years has finally paid off. Eight talismans, I lost one, but got seven yuanqi talismans. You can possess seven yuanqi talismans, among all the disciples, you should be considered a top-notch!"

  Mu Li was deeply moved, and he muttered to himself: "To make so many yuanqi symbols, how much yuanqi would that take! Zhao Shixiong's cultivation is not easy, for the sake of his younger brother, he spent so much heart and soul, his younger brother really can't bear it! Take all these yuanqi symbols away, Zhao Shixiong, I'll just keep one, being able to draw one yuanqi symbol is enough to report to Zi Xia Shifu!"

  Li Muran waved his hand and said, "Let's get through this hurdle first, who knows if Master Zi Xia has high standards and strict requirements for her disciples, it may not be something that can be solved with just a Yuanqi symbol!"

  Li Muran resolutely refused to take back the talisman, and Mu Li had no choice but to put it away, feeling quite grateful.

  After crossing several mountain peaks, I entered the mountain gate of Zixiao Temple and soon came to a Taoist temple that was not small in scale but somewhat ancient. A familiar figure stood at the door of the temple, it was Qingfengzi.

  "Nice to meet you, Qingfeng Shixiong!" Li Muran and the other person hastily paid their respects.

  "Both of you, please enter the main hall and wait. Master will arrive soon." Qingfengzi gave a gentle order, leading the two into the grand hall.

  The grand hall was empty and quiet, which made both of them even more tense.

  Before long, the remaining few disciples also arrived one after another. They looked at each other and saw a few threads of unease and worry in each other's eyes.

  The disciples waited silently for a short while, and finally there were light footsteps coming from the inner hall.

  Immediately, a man in his forties with a black goatee walked to the front of the main hall and gave a slight smile to the disciples:

  "Are you the few disciples who were mentioned by Master Zhang as being present at the lecture?"

  The disciples immediately woke up and hurriedly bowed to the middle-aged man: "Disciples pay respects to Master Purple Cloud!"

  Li Muran noticed that this Purple Mist Master, although claiming to be a Taoist, did not dress like one. Instead, he looked more like a middle-aged scholar. He also wore a smile, but unlike the kindly and approachable smile of the Sect Leader Cang Xia, Purple Mist Master's smile seemed to convey a sense of dignity and authority that commanded respect without being angry.

  Zi Xia's face was somewhat pale, which coincided with the previous rumors that he had been injured. It is unknown whether his mood would be affected by this and influence his decision to accept disciples.

  "The disciples all focus on the Tao, seeking Master Zixia to accept them as his apprentices!" The crowd of disciples bowed again, expressing their intentions.

  Zi Xia Dao Ren chuckled and said, "This Daoist accepts disciples, although not limited to so-called talent or innate ability, but also has certain requirements for his disciples. Tell me, what are your special features, how can you enter under my Daoist gate?"

  As he spoke, Zixia Dao Ren's eyes flashed with a sharp light, his piercing gaze sweeping over the disciples one by one. When he saw Li Muran, his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.