Immortal Travel of Longevity

Thinking about the Yin-Yang Balance, Chen Changsheng found himself stuck again.

If he just balanced them, the ingenious parts of this cultivation method would be completely bypassed. That way, it would probably be worse than an ordinary technique.

So, the Yin-Yang Balance might not be a good solution after all.

To satisfy both aspects, he really needed to find a different approach. One that preserved this technique’s brilliance while minimizing its harmful effects on the practitioner.

“Perhaps…”

Chen Changsheng suddenly had an idea. He picked up his brush.

The Yin Energy, the cold energy from the outside, could affect the practitioner. But what if it was utilized instead? By harnessing this cold energy to surpass the six Yin limit, preventing the seventh Yin from occurring naturally.

That way, the harmful influence from the outside would be cut off, and cultivation would become much more efficient.

However, this seemed to go beyond the realm of ordinary martial arts.

Methods involving luck and energy circulation weren’t mortal techniques at all.

After deep thought, Chen Changsheng still felt he should make these aspects subtle, setting them as passive effects, not something actively performed. That way, it wouldn’t be so conspicuous.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want Ruyi to learn these cultivation things. She was simply still too young and inexperienced right now. She needed more exposure to the world before dealing with them.

The road needed to be walked step by step.

After all, the Cultivation World was nothing like Jianghu.

Ruyi just sat beside him, watching Uncle Chen write and pause, frown sometimes, then write again. His brush moved swiftly and smoothly, and the text in the book became more and more altered.

She didn’t understand just how mind-boggling it was to modify a cultivation method like this. She only thought it was very impressive.

Uncle Chen had always been someone she admired.

After about an hour, Chen Changsheng finally put down his brush.

He flipped through the book from the beginning, checking the areas he had modified for mistakes. He even tested it briefly. After confirming everything was fine, he handed it to Ruyi.

Ruyi took it, clutching it like a treasured jewel.

She started leafing through it, but as she turned the pages, a confused look appeared on her face.

“Uncle Chen…”

“What part don’t you understand?”

“The technique… how do I practice it?”

Chen Changsheng paused. That was a problem.

To be honest, he wasn’t very sure how to teach someone to guide their Blood Qi through their Meridians. He had never practiced martial arts himself.

Ruyi understood nothing right now; she was starting from absolute zero. She didn’t even know the basics for beginners.

Chen Changsheng said, “First, memorize these Meridian points and locations. Tomorrow, I shall teach you how to sense your Blood Qi.”

“Alright!”

Ruyi hugged the book, very excited.

She was even beginning to fantasize about becoming a legendary heroine, feared and respected across all Jianghu.

Perhaps only after she had experienced it herself would she learn that reality was often harsh.

In this Jianghu, it wasn’t just having powerful martial skills that allowed one to do anything they wanted. Even the best fighter in the world wouldn’t dare boast too much. If you provoked a crowd and got swarmed, you’d still end up hacked to death by countless blades. This was a completely different concept from cultivation.

That whole afternoon, Ruyi spent memorizing the texts.

Chen Changsheng told her to study hard while he went out.

He had considered having Ouyang Feng teach her, but decided against it. Primarily because he wasn’t certain it was safe, and secondly, Ouyang Feng was currently seriously injured and couldn’t handle it anyway.

Better to find someone suitable, someone of spotless character and with the right knowledge.

Chen Changsheng walked through streets and alleys, arriving at the West District.

The West District was much more densely packed. It was said this area was once the poorest, filled with small huts and dilapidated houses. It had improved a lot after being renovated by the authorities, at least it was less chaotic now.

After navigating the complicated back alleys, Chen Changsheng stopped in front of the gate of a small courtyard.

The gate hung with couplets he had written himself. The festive red color had faded a little; they were probably hung during the New Year.

“Knock, knock, knock…”

Chen Changsheng rapped on the door.

The courtyard door opened, revealing a fair-skinned scholar.

The scholar froze momentarily upon seeing the visitor outside, then quickly cupped his hands in greeting. “I see you, Mr. Chen.”

“Master Zhu, no need for such courtesy.”

After entering the yard, Zhusheng brought tea and some snacks.

The courtyard was very tranquil. Calligraphy scrolls and paintings hung all around, all written by Zhusheng himself.

Chen Changsheng explained his purpose: he wished to ask Master Zhu to instruct Ruyi in her martial training. He didn’t entirely trust others for this task, but he believed in Master Zhu’s character.

Hearing this, Zhusheng sighed helplessly. “To be honest, it’s not that I refuse to help. It’s that regarding this martial path… I truly have only a partial understanding.”

“Master Zhu has never had any contact before?”

“I’ve interacted with some Martial Artists, but only acquaintance-level conversations. Since Mr. Chen came to ask me, you surely understand why my knowledge is limited here.”

Chen Changsheng felt a mixture of amusement and helplessness. He hadn’t realized he wasn’t the only one unfamiliar with martial arts.

Zhusheng paused, then said, “However, I might be able to recommend someone to you, Sir.”

“Who?”

“A colleague of mine. Lan Ting, Master Lan.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “I’ve heard Master Lan’s name before, but have never met in person.”

Back in the day under Prince Yu, the Master Zhulan (Bamboo-Orchid), there had been two Masters: Master Zhu, meaning his current host Zhusheng, and another, Master Lan. Chen Changsheng had never met that one.

Zhusheng said, “Lan Ting has been moving among the Mortal World these years. Firstly, to find the Prince. Secondly, because her heart lies with the affairs of the Mortal World. She has great insight into the path of martial arts. Before she ever stepped onto the cultivation path, she was a martial officer under the Prince, specializing in spear techniques.”

“Moreover, Lan Ting is also a woman. For her to guide Miss Ruyi would seem especially fitting.”

“A woman?”

Chen Changsheng paused. “Why did I hear that Master Lan is a man?”

Probably heard it mentioned by Yan Huanglou.

Zhusheng smiled faintly. “Back in the capital Shangjing, Lan Ting had always followed closely beside the Prince, which stirred gossip about him. Since then, she has always presented herself as male. She’s just gotten used to it over the years and can’t change now.”

Chen Changsheng nodded to show understanding, then asked for Master Lan’s current whereabouts.

“She should be somewhere in the Mortal World. I will write a letter to her, explaining everything. She should arrive in Qingshan City within a few days.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “But what if Master Lan is tied up with matters and cannot come?”

Zhusheng took a deep breath and said, “Her sole focus is finding the Prince. What other matters could truly occupy her?”

Chen Changsheng glanced at Zhusheng sharply.

Zhusheng shook his head slightly. “I haven’t dared to tell her. So she still has no idea.”

Chen Changsheng sighed softly but said nothing.

Zhusheng continued, “Lan Ting has a rather stubborn temperament. Her whole heart and mind are fixed on the Prince. If she learned he was dead… I don’t know how she would react. So I thought it better to keep it from her.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “But if she finds out one day, what then?”

Zhusheng cupped his hands respectfully. “To be honest, Sir, I suggested Lan Ting partly out of selfish concern. I hope… that in the future, should Lan Ting discover the truth, you would be willing to lend a hand, Sir, and ensure she remains unharmed.”

Chen Changsheng nodded upon hearing this. “That goes without saying.”

Zhusheng breathed out a sigh of relief. “I thank you on her behalf, Sir.”