"Ah, looking at your expression, I guess you think you've had some extraordinary encounter, right? Don't get your hopes up. In the past, many Dao traditions had this idea called 'Spread Throughout the Land,' aiming to disseminate their teachings so that everyone could learn and practice their path." Shen Shuibei saw Li Qi's expression and quickly added, as if she had seen it many times before.
"Everyone being able to hear and follow the Dao, learning the path they want, practicing their own way—this was a shared aspiration of many great powers within various Dao traditions. After reaching an agreement, they began this plan," Shen Shuibei explained.
"So~." She raised a finger, her face showing a proud expression: "Nowadays, everywhere, everyone has traces of cultivation techniques. Everyone can learn these techniques, use them to strengthen their bodies, gain various strange abilities—all are results of this plan."
However, saying this, she became gloomy again and fed Li Qi another mouthful: "But in the end, the plan failed. With the Dao being too easily accessible, even commoners could attend lectures by sages. For the first hundred years, the Dao spread across the land, and all creatures rejoiced. But over the next thousand years, it gradually developed into a situation where no one revered the Dao anymore. Worse, people started modifying Dao traditions for their own purposes, leading to chaos throughout the world."
"After that came the Great Chaos of Ten Thousand Daos. Old traditions, new traditions, those not considered traditions—all became a sweeping catastrophe across the land."
"The leaders of various Dao traditions finally reached an agreement and established the rule that 'the Dao must not be lightly transmitted, nor should methods be casually taught.' Thus, cultivators gradually faded from the public eye."
"And now, almost everywhere retains remnants from that time. Most people have some fragments in their hands, allowing them to improve their lives with cultivation techniques. The technique you have is likely one of those fragments from back then," Shen Shuibei continued. "If you don't mind, let me see it. I might be able to trace its origins and find the complete source of this cultivation technique rather than just the fragment."
Li Qi was stunned after hearing this.
He was not only surprised by the stories of the past but also amazed by Shen Shuibei's suggestion.
"You mean my Pai-bo Technique could possibly be a fragment from the 'Spread Throughout the Land' initiative?" Li Qi asked.
"Not possible, but certain. Otherwise, how could there be so many cultivation techniques in the world, all self-created? There might be some self-created ones, but ninety-nine percent are remnants of old Dao traditions. You managed to condense a sliver of internal Qi using this, indicating it might be a Martial Dao method, albeit incomplete. If you give it to me, I might truly be able to trace its origins," Shen Shuibei said confidently, her face full of pride.
She was Her Ladyship's rabbit!
Having been with Her Ladyship for hundreds of years, she had read countless books!
Li Qi naturally had no objections. After all, the Pai-bo Technique was simple to practice, without any complex parts. He quickly recited the mantra and the training method.
As for keeping cultivation techniques secret?
That was for ordinary people. Would Shen Shuibei trick him with this garbage technique? Perhaps Pai-bo Technique was important to him, but Shen Shuibei was a Fifth Rank cultivator!
Fifth Rank!
What did that mean?
A high-level expert, incredibly high!
If Shen Shuibei hadn't self-destructed her cultivation, he would never have had any connection with such a girl.
So he felt no pressure.
However, after listening, Shen Shuibei frowned, even stopping feeding him, standing still as if lost in thought.
Knowing she was single-minded and tended to forget other things while thinking, Li Qi didn't urge her. Instead, he picked up the pot and drank directly.
The pot contained about ten pounds of porridge, filled with various mountain goods, wild vegetables, cured meat, crushed rice cakes, and coarse salt, cooked fragrantly. Li Qi ignored the heat and slurped it down quickly.
After finishing the pot, his belly was full, feeling satisfied, strength returning to his body, and the weakness gradually fading.
But he knew this condition seemed to be due to... that sliver of internal Qi?
His injuries shouldn't be so lively, but the internal Qi was breaking down within him, providing vitality to his body, suppressing pain.
Even helping him resist miasma, poison, cold, and heat.
It felt like inner energy from wuxia novels, consuming which provided numerous special effects.
Additionally, eating well helped his body recover. The weakness caused by exhausting his essence, Qi, and spirit was gradually recovering.
Indeed, for humans, eating was the most crucial and restorative thing.
After a meal, even before digestion, Li Qi felt strength returning.
He got up and looked at the sky.
It was morning.
Still in time.
He quickly performed the Four Times Worship to the Eastern Azure Dragon, despite his illness, completing today's worship.
Receiving a sliver of Great Forest Wood Qi, he immediately used it.
Vast vitality poured in, making his wounds start to itch, signs of healing.
Indeed, much more reassuring.
After doing all this, Li Qi lay back down.
By tomorrow, he should be recovered.
This crisis could be considered resolved.
Just as Li Qi was about to close his eyes, Shen Shuibei suddenly clapped her hands happily: "I figured it out! This is Carp Flow Intent!"
Startled, Li Qi sat up abruptly, aggravating his wound, and immediately lay back down.
So painful.
But Shen Shuibei paid no heed. She rushed over, smiling broadly: "I remembered, Li Qi, your method is clearly a small technique within Carp Flow Intent!"
"Carp Flow Intent is a small martial arts technique under our Luofu Mountain. Practicing it can align with the true intent of Luofu Mountain, entering the Daoist gate!" Shen Shuibei ran to Li Qi and said proudly, as if expecting praise.
"What do you mean, Pai-bo Technique is from Luofu Mountain?" Li Qi was astonished.
"Yes, though it's coincidental, it really is a martial arts technique under Luofu Mountain. Do you want to learn it? I can teach you," Shen Shuibei offered.
"Then thank you, Miss Shen," Li Qi sincerely thanked her.
"Alright, I'll teach you later. It's not something rare anyway; practicing it fully only leads to Eighth Rank martial skills. But before that, do you want to meet Old Horse?" Shen Shuibei suddenly asked.
"Old Horse? Isn't he eating grass?" Li Qi looked around but couldn't see Old Horse.
Where did Old Horse go?
"He feels embarrassed to see you because those people were chasing him," Shen Shuibei explained.
Hearing this, Li Qi waved his hand: "Oh, I thought it was something else. Better call him back quickly. Without him, we won't be able to travel in the future."