After observing for a while, Zhang Xiucai borrowed paper and a pen from the village chief and stepped outside to write an IOU. Meanwhile, Li Tan summoned a small flame of Dan Fire at his fingertips and lightly flicked it onto the village chief’s corpse. Under his control, the fire spread rapidly, and within moments, the bodies of the entire village chief’s family turned to ashes, scattered by the breeze.
Li Tan closed the door and left the room. Soon after, Zhang Xiucai finished writing the IOU and placed it under a porcelain bowl on the table in the main hall.
The two rejoined the caravan, which immediately departed from the village and resumed its journey toward the imperial capital.
After two days of travel, the caravan finally left the desert behind, and the scenery around them transformed into lush green hills and clear waters. During a short rest by a river, Zhang Cong actively approached Li Tan, who was quietly cultivating in a secluded corner, and declared earnestly, “I’ve made up my mind!”
Li Tan, who had a deep impression of this brave young man, smiled and asked him to state his wish.
Zhang Cong took a nervous deep breath and said firmly, “Brother Li, would you teach me how to cultivate?”
This response was unexpected, yet understandable. Li Tan hesitated slightly, but quickly gave a positive reply, “Alright, but have you really thought this through?”
“I have thought it through!”
Zhang Cong nodded.
Li Tan asked seriously, “Are you certain?
You don’t possess particularly good talent; in fact, you could say you have no talent at all. If you want to achieve anything on the cultivation path, you’ll not only have to work twice as hard as others, but you’ll also need considerable luck.”
Zhang Cong hesitated briefly but nodded again.
Li Tan remained silent for a moment before saying, “Fine, I’ll teach you how to cultivate, but you must complete a task before we reach the capital.”
“I can complete any task!”
Zhang Cong’s face lit up with joy at Li Tan’s agreement.
Li Tan quickly cooled his enthusiasm, “Don’t be too hasty to celebrate. If you fail the task, I won’t teach you cultivation.”
Zhang Cong’s enthusiasm was undeterred, “Just tell me, I’ll complete the task even if it costs me my life!”
Li Tan said calmly, “Before we reach the capital, break through to the middle stage of the late foundation building.”
Zhang Cong’s smile froze instantly, his enthusiasm seemingly extinguished.
“If you regret it now, it’s still not too late. I’ll give you a chance to change your wish.”
Li Tan glanced at him.
Zhang Cong lowered his head, hesitating.
From here to the capital, at most half a month’s journey, breaking through to the middle stage of the late foundation building was simply impossible for him.
After all, he had worked hard for two whole years yet remained stuck at the early stage of the late foundation building. How could he possibly achieve in half a month what he couldn’t accomplish in two years? Wasn’t that simply absurd?
Li Tan had been observing Zhang Cong all along. He didn’t make this demand out of mere formality; rather, it was precisely because he valued this matter that he set such a high bar.
Becoming a cultivator and bringing honor to one’s family was the lifelong dream of everyone in the Nine Provinces. However, cultivation was not as glorious and warm as most people imagined; quite the contrary, it was extremely harsh and filled with despair. Still, Li Tan didn’t set an impossible task just to make things difficult for Zhang Cong. This was actually a test.
Earlier, when Li Tan used his Qi to probe Zhang Cong’s body, he thoroughly understood his cultivation condition. Although Zhang Cong’s talent was poor, his relentless cultivation day and night had brought his Qi to a state of saturation. He was merely one step away from breaking through.
Zhang Cong himself was unaware of this. Years of ridicule and rejection had nearly shattered his confidence in cultivation. Under such heavy psychological pressure, whether he could persevere and calmly continue his cultivation was the real test Li Tan had set for him. It was a test of his Dao heart.
If he gave up on cultivation because of this setback, Li Tan would choose never to let him become a cultivator, allowing him to perish by someone else’s blade.
Conversely, if he could firmly uphold his Dao heart and remain steadfast in his determination, even if he ultimately failed to break through to the middle stage of the late foundation building, Li Tan would secretly lend him a helping hand.
Whatever the outcome, it was all for Zhang Cong’s own good.
Zhang Cong couldn’t possibly have understood all this. He silently returned to his carriage, sitting there blankly without uttering a word.
Li Tan withdrew his gaze. Soon, the caravan resumed its journey. Several hours later, Li Tan noticed that Zhang Cong was no longer sitting idly; instead, he began practicing his breathing exercises with a solemn expression.
During tea and snacks, Zhang Xiucai muttered with concern, wondering what had come over his son to start cultivating so intensely without eating or drinking. Days passed, and the caravan set up camp beside an inn at the foot of a large mountain. Li Tan temporarily left the caravan and walked up the mountain.
This was the territory of the Moyang Pavilion.
Li Tan strolled slowly up the mountain and soon arrived at its base. On the cliffside here were inscribed the three grand characters “Moyang Pavilion” in flowing calligraphic style. Below them were winding stone steps carved into the mountainside, and at the foot of the steps stood two youths dressed in disciple robes.
“Halt! What business do you have here!”
The two guarding disciples shouted warily.
Li Tan stopped and replied, “I’m here to visit a relative.”
“Visit what relative?
If everyone came to visit relatives, wouldn’t everything be in chaos?
Be off with you, or don’t blame us for being rude!”
The disciple on the left said impatiently.
Li Tan didn’t get angry at this remark because, in fact, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. Except during specific periods, no sect would allow the families of disciples to enter freely. Therefore, he took out five or six spirit stones from his storage ring and quickly slipped them into the hands of the two disciples, whispering, “Could you make an exception?”
Seeing the spirit stones, the two disciples nearly popped their eyes out. This was a whole month’s worth of their allowance! This person must not be ordinary; offending him might bring trouble. Besides, why should they quarrel with spirit stones?
Thus, the two simultaneously and tacitly stuffed the spirit stones into their pockets and stepped aside, saying, “Go ahead, but hurry down. If anyone asks, say you’re here to settle the payment for the previous fifty shi of rice.”
“Thank you.”
Li Tan bowed slightly and stepped onto the stone steps.
However, before he had walked more than a few steps, a discordant voice came from nearby.
“You two have quite the nerve to secretly let outsiders up the mountain! Do you know what crime that is?”
A middle-aged man with sharp ears and a monkey-like face slowly descended from around the corner. The two guarding disciples’ faces changed drastically, and they quickly knelt to the ground, “Disciples acknowledge our crime!”
“Hmph!” The middle-aged man glared at Li Tan disdainfully and stopped in front of the two guarding disciples, silently staring at them.
The two guarding disciples exchanged glances and together took out the spirit stones they had just stuffed into their pockets, respectfully placing them before the middle-aged man and sincerely saying, “These ill-gotten gains are all handed over to you for handling.”
As the middle-aged man picked up the spirit stones, a smile appeared on his face, but he quickly resumed his stern expression as he looked at the two guarding disciples and said, “This time I’ll let it slide, but don’t let me catch you again.”
“Thank you, Director Chen, for your leniency!”
The two disciples kowtowed together.
The middle-aged man no longer paid attention to them but turned to face Li Tan and questioned him, “What are you here for?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage