Chapter 1 Brother and Sister

  The Lushan Mountains have always been rich in spiritual energy. Every time the morning sunlight climbs up the mountain waist, the thick fog that cannot be seen far away comes with it, slowly drifting and floating among the mountains and valleys, which is in contrast to the tranquility of the small town at the foot of the mountain, everywhere is filled with a sense of wonder that makes people feel like they are in a wonderful place.

  Lü Chen has been away from home for three months and has not returned yet. Lü Chen is not homesick, but he is used to living alone in a small house, which is quite lonely for someone who grew up in the city and likes lively places. Fortunately, during his first year at Qianyu Gate, Lü Chen spent many days without companionship, and recently he has become very interested in talisman crafting, so his life is not dull. At least, he doesn't have to do chores like some of the other disciples who have just entered the gate.

  During this time, Zuo Qingwan often ran to the small bamboo forest, but she never dared to set foot in this forbidden place. Instead, she met with Lu Chen outside the bamboo forest. Afterwards, the two of them would sit on the cliff at the top of the mountain, enjoying the warm sunlight and reminiscing about old times, their laughter never ceasing.

  However, as a novice disciple, Zuo Qingxue was mostly supervised by Lan Yu, spending her time on cultivation, so that every time the two met, they could hardly exchange a few words before being called back by the annoying bell of Qingyue Peak. As a result, Lu Chen had thought more than once about smashing that inhumane bell one day, so it would no longer disturb his quiet moments with Hua'er.

  It's just that Lu Chen would never do such a thing.

  In the absence of Ling Xiang, Lu Chen's only way to pass the time was to cultivate.

  Yu Yang gave him fifty pieces of low-grade spirit stones, which were quickly used up. However, his boundary was still stuck at the fourth layer of Qi Refining, even though he had already come extremely close to the fifth layer. He always felt that he couldn't break through. For this, Lu Chen sighed countless times, deeply feeling that cultivation was not easy.

  More than 500 talismans were used up, and based on the first fireball talisman's success, Lu Chen was very careful when drawing talismans afterwards, his speed slowed down, but his success rate increased. Within three months, Lu Chen had mastered more than 40 fireball talismans, seven immobilization talismans, and even obtained three to five of the most difficult-to-refine Vajra talismans and Demon-suppressing talismans. Lu Chen was already very happy with this result. Not for anything else, but because he had inquired from Yang Zhen's mouth during these three months that only a few disciples who had just entered the sect could refine spiritual talismans.

  It's not that he wasn't capable enough, nor was it that he didn't concentrate hard enough. It's just that no one was as generous as him, directly giving him over a thousand talismans with the Jade Sun Palm technique.

  Apprentice disciples can receive 100 talismans within the sect every month.

  Three months, those with a bit of talent and luck can produce one or two decent works per month, which are still the lowest level, similar to fireball talismans. As for golden talismans or immobilization talismans, no one has ever had them.

  "Hmm..." Sitting in the small hut, Lu Chen let out a breath, finally using up the last talisman paper and obtaining another Demon-Calming Talisman.

  He shook his wrist, a numbness spreading through it, and Lu Chen sighed, muttering to himself: "Who says drawing talismans is easy? It still requires true yuan to support it, or else it won't take effect."

  Lu Chen closed his eyes with a satisfied smile, immersing himself in the pleasant feeling of recovery from his three months of cultivation.

  Before long, Yu Yang Zhen Ren appeared.

  For the past three months, Yu Yang has also done his part as a senior brother, coming over from time to time to check on him and guide Lu Chen in understanding and applying the Taoist arts.

  Needless to say, in Lu Chen's eyes, Master Yu Yang was indeed a top-notch master of the Golden Elixir stage, and he really had two brushes.

  Under Yu Yang's guidance, Lu Chen's comprehension of the three doors' Dao techniques has indeed increased. From now on, he can use the Earth Piercing Technique. Ah, not just any ordinary earth piercing technique, although its form is still earthy, this time it comes with a pointed tip.

  The earth wall technique was still effective, able to support a small thick wall of less than one meter in front of Lu Chen, which could withstand the attack at critical moments.

  Ludan's best move is the Quicksand Technique, two large pits of floating sand that appear and disappear repeatedly. No matter what object, as long as it steps on or falls into the quicksand pit set by Ludan, it will sink in. Moreover, these two pits of floating sand can be manipulated at will by Ludan, covering an area of about 100 meters. The consumption is very small, and when the true yuan is sufficient, even if used desperately, it can produce more than a hundred and eighty consecutive times.

  Yu Yang was most satisfied with this point, after all, it's an earth-based Dao technique, there's no big attack, after reaching the 7th layer of Qi cultivation, you can drive the flying sword to fly in the sky, without standing there foolishly and letting you use the ground stabbing technique to slash back and forth, isn't that uncomfortable?

  The Quicksand and Earth Wall techniques are different, often used for main defense and control, with many uses, able to turn the tide of battle in actual combat.

  "Hmm." Yu Yang Zhen Ren stood outside the small hut, watching Lu Chen's skillful display of the Five Elements Earth System Dao technique, nodding his head in satisfaction. He silently praised Master Dust, thinking that this kid was indeed a promising material for cultivating immortality.

  Lu Chen finished his comparison, and Yu Yang Zhen Ren pointed out a few more things before saying: "Younger brother, how many of those fifty lower-grade spirit stones are left?"

  "It's gone." Lu Chen replied truthfully.

  "Is that all?" Yu Yang Zhen Ren was taken aback, and then said: "It can't be, ordinary disciples who have just entered the sect, when they reach the third layer of Qi cultivation, use at most ten low-grade spirit stones in a month. You've used fifty in three months, which is quite fast, and you've reached the fifth layer of Qi cultivation?"

  It was already known that Lu Chen had reached the fourth layer of Qi training. Upon hearing Lu Chen's response, Yu Yang was also taken aback.

  "There's no way..." Lu Chen disappointedly curled his lip, this kid only remembered that the two were fellow disciples and didn't care that Yu Yang was a sect leader. Walking to Yu Yang's side, he casually picked up a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp, saying: "Senior brother, I'm also puzzled, I wanted to ask you, with fifty pieces of low-grade spirit stones, shouldn't it be enough to reach the fifth layer of Qi Refining? But now?"

  Lu Chen shrugged and looked puzzled.

  Yu Yang was also greatly perplexed, and his spiritual awareness made a thorough investigation. Indeed, it was still the fourth level, and he was still wandering at the peak, without making any progress. He said, "This is strange, could it be that your master didn't teach you the 'Tao Te Ching'?"

  "Hmm..." At this point, Lu Chen suddenly remembered and chuckled: "Indeed not, Master said that this body of mine is not suitable for practicing that."

  "Oh..." Yu Yang suddenly realized and didn't continue asking, he knew that Liedust had his own thoughts, as a disciple, since the master hadn't said anything, there must be a reason, so it's not convenient to ask more.

  The topic suddenly changed, Yu Yang said: "Junior brother, in two days it will be the three-month trial period for new disciples. At that time, the disciples from various peaks will form groups to go to Lvxī Mountain to test their Taoist skills and martial arts. As for you..."

  Yu Yang was somewhat embarrassed and said: "The master does not allow your matter to be made public, nor can I make arrangements. This is indeed a troublesome thing. I'd like to know, what are your thoughts, junior brother?"

  It's true that Yu Yang, as the sect leader, was indeed quite polite to Lu Chen. In Yu Yang's memory, even Qing Yun and Lan Yu didn't receive such treatment. No choice, who let Dusty Master dote on this kid?

  Lu Xichen thought for a moment and said indifferently, "Forget it, let's not go. The old man has a weird personality, if something goes wrong, we'll be in trouble when we get back and will have to take the blame. I'd rather just stay here and draw talismans."

  "Old man?" Yu Yang's mouth twitched, but he didn't say anything. He looked at Lu Chen with a very strange gaze. However, his expression seemed to be in agreement with Lu Chen's words, and he nodded repeatedly.

  Lu Chen glanced sideways, understanding a bit, wanting to laugh but not laughing out loud, thinking to himself: "It seems that Master also didn't spare the old man's rod back then, and still has lingering fears now."

  The old man is Lucheng's usual nickname for Dust, but he has never said it in front of Dust before. Today, with his temper, and also because Dust was not around, it slipped out of his mouth, and he felt that his words were inappropriate. However, since he had already said it, he just smiled and pretended nothing was wrong, making Yuyang look at him with a bitter smile. It's true that no one has ever called their teacher by such a nickname before.

  Changing the subject, the two chatted again for a while, mostly about Yu Yang telling Lu Chen about Taoist techniques and talismans. In the end, Lu Chen shamelessly swindled several pieces of cinnabar and talisman paper from Yu Yang before letting him leave.

  Yu Yang had just left when Yang Zhen appeared outside the bamboo forest, and what made Lu Chen feel greatly surprised was that she was accompanied by Xiao Lian Tou Zuo Qing Hua.