Chapter 21
it seemed like two magnets with opposite poles attracted to each other, and it merged into Xuanqing’s mind in an instant.
Hum~
An extremely weak, mysterious warmth emerged in his mind.
Along with this warmth, there was a faint whispering sound.
At this moment,
Xuanqing felt an inexplicable urge to absorb the power of this incense fire.
However, he knew that if he really absorbed this weak incense faith, he would create a subtle and weak karmic connection with the little girl believer.
It wouldn’t matter on ordinary days, but if her faith collapsed one day, he would suffer an equivalent backlash.
“No wonder it is said that incense fire is toxic and shouldn’t be absorbed easily!”
Xuanqing took a deep breath, resisting the urge in his heart.
He couldn’t absorb it, with the bright future set before him, how could he possibly absorb incense fire and walk down the fruitless path of becoming a god through incense fire.
With a thought,
“Convert all the power of the incense fire into ingots!”
[Ding~ Recharge successful, ingot +0.5]
Accompanied by a crisp mechanical prompt sound, the belief power that had been swirling around his body and tempting him dissipated.
“Phew~”
Xuanqing breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed that in the future, after capturing the incense fire, he must immediately charge it into the system; otherwise, if he accidentally absorbed it, it would be troublesome.
…..
The next day,
early in the morning,
people came to the Taoist temple to offer incense one after another.
Most of them were young people. Occasionally, families would come up the mountain together. They all had one thing in common: they had all seen Duoyin’s promotional video.
Xuanqing was also immersed in the bustling atmosphere.
It had to be said, the internet of this era was powerful.
Who would have thought that such a remote and desolate Taoist temple could attract so many incense guests just because of a short video?
At first,
whenever someone came to offer incense, he personally went to the door to greet them, leading them to the main hall for incense.
Later, as more and more people came, he was too busy to keep up. So he simply put up a sign pointing the way, allowing the incense guests to make their way to the main hall themselves according to the sign.
In the main hall,
two young men came in together.
Xuanqing opened his eyes and pointed to the corner, saying, “Immeasurable Longevity and Fortune, short incense for two yuan a pack. The main god of this temple is the Five Thunder Court…”
Like those before them,
These two young men were amazed by Xuanqing’s temperament and were only awakened when they heard his voice.
However,
When they scanned the QR code to pay for the incense and picked it up from the table, they thought of Xuanqing’s words that the main god of this Taoist temple was the Five Thunder Court Right Judge.
“Brother, who should we offer incense to first?”
“As the saying goes, the current magistrate is better than the county magistrate. Let’s offer incense to the temple’s main god first. What if it really works?”
“You’re right.”
The two young men whispered and finally unanimously decided to offer incense to the god tablet of the Five Thunder Institute Right Judge under the statue of the Three Pure Ones first.
On the side,
hearing the two people’s discussion,
Xuanqing’s mouth curled up slightly.
Through previous attempts, he had learned that the thickest incense fire power generated by a person was when they first kowtowed.
Of course,
he had those who offered incense first to his own god’s tablet and then to the Three Pure Ones.
Fortunately,
these two young people were among the more devout believers and both generated incense fire belief.
Afterward,
Xuanqing absorbed the incense fire belief generated by the two.
[Ding~ You can currently recharge and exchange 2.5 ingots. Do you want to exchange all ingots?]
“Exchange all of it!”
[Ingot+2.5]
The power of incense fire generated by each person is related to their mental and health status, as well as their devotion to the gods.
…..
Just like that.
Time came to the afternoon of the third day.
[Beep! Player’s cultivation has reached its limit, standby cultivation status stops, continue to activate standby after breakthrough!]
A system prompt forced him to close the door of the Taoist temple early and post a notice on the door saying, ‘The temple owner is out for a few days and is not accepting incense guests temporarily.’
There was no other way.
Apart from his cultivation being on the verge of a breakthrough, the Loose Cultivator Trade Fair in Journey to the West World was about to begin. He had to use the remaining two thunderstruck woods to exchange for some cultivation resources and subsequent cultivation techniques.
Little did he know.
He still only knew one ‘breathing method’ that didn’t quite count as a cultivation technique, which allowed him to absorb mana.
But for refining essence into qi later on, an ordinary mortal like him, who had no cultivation techniques and relied solely on passive breathing exercises, would probably never be able to break through to the next level even in his old age.
Back in the bedroom.
“Enter the game!”
….
Journey to the West World, in a corner of the Black Wind Mountain Range.
In the Cave House.
“Huff~”
Xuanqing opened his eyes and exhaled a long turbid breath, ending his standby cultivation state.
The slightly swollen feeling in his Dantian told him that his cultivation had reached the limit of the middle stage of Qi Introduction.
With a thought!
“Break through!”
A trace of brilliance flashed in Xuanqing’s eyes.
He controlled the mana in his Dantian and fiercely charged towards the barrier.
The next moment.
These qi, like wild horses, surged towards the acupoints and meridians all over his body, and his cultivation reached the late stage of Qi Introduction.
After all.
Qi Introduction was just the first realm of cultivation.
Its main purpose was to wash the body with ‘qi,’ preparing it for subsequent cultivation of refining essence into qi.
“I’ve broken through.”
“Now all I have to do is wait a few days to attend the Loose Cultivator Trade Fair and see if I can use the thousand-year-old Thunderstruck wood to exchange for a cultivation technique for later stages.”
Xuanqing took a deep breath and thought to himself.
Afterwards.
With a thought.
“Open personal interface.”
[Name]: Xuanqing
[Grade]: Taiji Palace Chosen Scholar: Right Magistrate of the Five Thunder Court, Conjoined with Thunder Administration Affairs (9th Rank)
[Cultivation]: Qi Introduction (Late Stage)
[Cultivation Method]: Basic Breathing Method (Passive)
[Ingot]: 110
In terms of cultivation, he had already broken through to the ‘late stage of Qi Introduction.’
Next, he had to allow the qi that permeated his body to nourish and cleanse him of worldly impurities, preparing for the subsequent cultivation of refining essence into qi.
After three days in the real world.
His ingot count had not decreased but increased, reaching a total of 110.
If all were used for standby cultivation, he could hang up in Journey to the West World for nearly four months, which would be equivalent to eleven days in the real world.
As previously agreed, he would go to Black Bear Essence’s cave in a few days.
Before leaving, Xuanqing instructed Fat Ya, the child in charge of watching the house, not to run around and to take good care of the spiritual grains planted in Ling Tian.
…
A few days later.
Outside Black Wind Cave.
From a distance, two figures, one black and one white, stood at the entrance of the cave, gazing into the distance.
“Haha, Friend Xuanqing, you’re here! We’ve been waiting for you!” Black Bear Essence laughed heartily, warmly greeting him.