After everyone finished discussing the situation at the Imperial Court, they ate lunch at the neighboring aunt’s house and then went their separate ways.
Back in Room A9, Li Qingxian checked Yur Ping’s wounds. He took out two bottles of oral Healing Medicine, giving one to Yur Ping and one to Han Anbo.
"I was swamped yesterday. Today, have someone deliver this bottle of medicine to Captain Zheng. I noticed his Essence, Qi, and Spirit seemed off. While you’re at it, find a doctor and have them prescribe some medicine to replenish qi and blood," Li Qingxian said.
"I already sent a batch of medicine last night. But this medicine of yours is good; I’ll have someone take it over." Han Anbo took the bottle.
"Tell me what’s happened these past few days," said Li Qingxian.
Han Anbo then recounted the events of the past several days one by one.
After Li Qingxian left, Han Anbo went to Yar Street, avoided Tang Enxuan’s search parties, and then found some brothers to help him investigate the situation.
Once Tang Enxuan gave up, he began gathering intelligence while also starting to establish the Art Troupe.
Thanks to the connections he’d built up over the years, establishing the Art Troupe went very smoothly. They were just waiting for Li Qingxian to provide the initial funding.
Li Qingxian took out ten silver notes, each worth one thousand taels.
Yur Ping’s eyes lit up. Han Anbo laughed and said, "Someone with a Qiankun Bracelet is really on another level. Still, this ten thousand taels will probably only last us half a year."
"Let’s go to the rented house in a bit. I have quite a few antiques and jewels. You can pick out some that can be sold, exchange them for silver taels, and use it to fund the Art Troupe."
"Alright."
"Money is slipping through our fingers like water. We still need to find a long-term source of income," Li Qingxian said.
"Let’s lay low for a while. Once the heat dies down, you can use your Fate Skill for Observing Fate and Qi to earn money and avert disasters. In your Fate Skill Realm, this is called ’accumulating luck.’ With your reputation, high-ranking officials and nobles will probably be breaking down the door to see you."
Li Qingxian said, "A single ’luck-accumulating’ Divination session only brings in a few hundred taels of silver. At most, maybe a thousand or eight hundred, and it’s time-consuming. It’s not suitable as a long-term income source."
"’Accumulating luck’ is indeed a small income stream, but Changing Fate, Accelerating Life, Tribulation Transformation, and averting disasters—those are the major sources of income," Han Anbo said.
"Unfortunately, my Grade Level is too low. Those Great Fate Masters start at one hundred thousand taels of silver for a single job. They can even get shares in businesses, land deeds, and the like," Li Qingxian said.
"How many Great Fate Masters are there in total? Not many people can afford them. I’ll have my people find out which wealthy merchants or rich officials have run into major trouble and need a Fate Master—specifically, the kind who have already hired a Fate Master but haven’t solved their problem. They’ll be desperate. When the time comes, I’ll arrange for some people to casually mention you. If the client isn’t interested, we’ll move on to the next one. If they are, they’ll come looking for you themselves," Han Anbo said.
"When it comes to this kind of thing, you’re the man, Old Han," Li Qingxian said with a laugh.
Han Anbo laughed. "You have real skills and use genuine Fate Skills; it’s a fair trade. Besides, you have a calligraphy piece personally bestowed by the Emperor. That’s the best seal of approval in the world. You might not make a name for yourself in one or two jobs, but here in the Divine Capital, ten jobs at most, plus some promotion from the Art Troupe, and I guarantee word of your Fate Skills will spread throughout the entire city."
"Let’s not promote it on a large scale at the beginning. It’s better to be cautious. We can start the publicity once I advance to Middle Grade; it won’t be too late then," Li Qingxian said.
"Alright, that’s the cautious approach."
After discussing for a while, Li Qingxian sat on his bed, performed Mind Guarding Spirit Platform, and began his Cultivation.
Within his Spirit Platform, the Double-Headed Thunder Dragon Fire Seal pulsed, breathing in and out Magical Power, connected as one with the four Inner God Children.
Above the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal, Magical Power gathered into a column of pure white smoke that shot straight up into the void.
The column of magical smoke entered his Life Mansion, nourishing everything within.
A wisp of refined essence was left over, nourishing his entire body.
The Essence, Qi, and Spirit from his whole body continuously converged on his Spirit Platform, strengthening the Thunder Dragon Fire Seal in a repeating cycle.
Li Qingxian had previously tried to nourish his Life Mansion with the Fate Measuring Skill, but its effects were far inferior to this Divine Sky Technique.
’Logically, a Fate Sect Cultivation Technique should be the most compatible with a Life Mansion. Even if Daoist Destiny allows for dual cultivation, the effect should be much weaker. It must be the Divine Sky Thunder Seed, plus these four strange Children, that forcefully make the Divine Sky Technique surpass the Fate Measuring Skill.’
’The Thunder Dragon Fire Seal needs to be tempered once every three grades, so there’s no rush. At the Ninth Grade, I Sealed a Child; at the Eighth Grade, I’ll need to Seal a Warrior. Children are gentle in nature; they primarily guide qi and direct techniques, with their phenomena manifesting internally rather than externally. Starting with the Warrior, they can be manifested outwardly. The Celestial Soldiers and Generals that Jiangg Youfei summons are based on Inner Gods...’
’At the Ninth Grade, one Opens the Spiritual Eye. At the Eighth Grade, one needs to establish Qi Meridians—eight in total, which eventually merge. Normally, one forms illusory Qi Meridians at the peak of the Ninth Grade, which gradually solidify after reaching the Eighth Grade. But with the Divine Sky Thunder Seed, I can form solid Qi Meridians directly at the Ninth Grade.’
’Establishing Qi Meridians requires observing rivers to build momentum. Those with the means either go north to watch the Great River or south to see the Guanyu River. People from the major Martial Arts Halls, Sects, or Academies watch a panoramic view of the Great River using Imaging Magical Artifacts. After I return from the Beast Bridge and my Ninth Grade foundation is stable, I’ll ask Uncle Zhou or Youfei how to go about this cultivation.’
’For others, the focus of the Ninth Grade is Opening the Spiritual Eye, but my Spiritual Eye is already open. My focus is on establishing Qi Meridians and Sealing Inner Gods.’
Finally, Li Qingxian’s gaze fell upon the four strange Children.
Logically, no matter the Cultivation Method, he should have to spend a great deal of time on cultivation and visualization—especially for the Daoist School, which requires three practice sessions in the morning, noon, and evening.
But these four Children were simply too powerful. He only needed to silently recite the Divine Sky Technique once a day, and the four Children would help him cultivate for the entire day, faster than if he meditated all day himself.
After that, Li Qingxian visualized his Middle Dantian.
The Righteous Sword Cloud continuously absorbed the light of a nine-colored rainbow, and that nine-colored light was even more brilliant than on the first day.
’Mother Poem Fourth Grade, Child Poem First Grade; the child surpasses the mother. It must be that many Literature Cultivators have heard of this poem and are using it as a basis to create new verses. Every time a new Child Poem and Verse is derived, the nine-colored rainbow representing "Touching Dragon Gate" grows stronger. The stronger the nine-colored rainbow, the stronger the Righteous Sword. Although this Righteous Sword can only be used once, if it’s nourished by this immense rainbow light for a few years, its power will be greatly enhanced, possibly even reaching the Super Grade...’
Lastly, Li Qingxian took a stroll through his Life Mansion.
In all aspects, there was no...
Li Qingxian looked up at the sky. Deep in the void, in an extremely distant place, a familiar-looking constellation flickered in and out of view, releasing a faint power that protected him.
’The power of the Royal Family’s Great Trend Formation.’
’Most Great Trend Formations are hidden and do not manifest. The appearance of the Royal Family’s Great Trend Formation this time, just as Uncle Zhou said, is a display Emperor Taining put on for the Literature Cultivators. This protection won’t last long, unless I continuously perform meritorious deeds.’
Li Qingxian exited his cultivation state and slowly contemplated how to protect himself.
A man who does not think of the future will soon have sorrows at his door.
After thinking for nearly a whole hour, inspiration struck Li Qingxian. He took out the finest ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone he had bought before, laid out a felt mat, placed the first sheet of paper on top as a cover, dipped his brush in ink and prepared it, then slowly wrote a column of text on the cover.
Humble Listening to the Holy Explanation Notes.
After finishing, Li Qingxian took out a second sheet of paper and began to write in a slow, leisurely manner.
"I, Li Qingxian, am ignorant of the classics and have no mind for literature. I spent my youth wandering the streets, but now I have seen the error of my ways and turned over a new leaf."
"The way of being a person is like learning to walk as a toddler. In the past, I was muddled and confused, but now, I must study hard."
"The Four Books and Five Classics are too difficult, and the wisdom of the Saints is too profound. I’m afraid I can’t learn them, especially since I was never good at studying to begin with. I may not be able to learn from books, but I can learn from people."
"In this vast sea of people, a sky full of brilliant stars, who should I learn from?"
"After much thought, if I am to learn from someone, I should learn from the greatest, most glorious, most correct, and most respectable person. The only one who embodies all four of these virtues is the current Emperor!"
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This book avoids the character "教" (jiào) as much as possible. The Demon Sect (魔门) took "门" (mén), the Fate Sect (命宗) took "宗" (zōng), and "道" (dào) has been defined as the Daoist School (道家). This Daoist School is different from the Daoist philosophy of the Spring and Autumn period.