“Could it be that these past few days, the eldest Mei son has been researching nothing but this?” Bi Zhen smiled mischievously, “Actually coming to me for advice? How cute!”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment, “You’re the expert. If not you, then who should I ask? Stop fooling around. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I give up,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing, “Is this even an issue? You’re no stranger to this, right? Just do it the same way as always.”
Mei Qing beamed, “So you’re saying there’s no problem at all, no impact whatsoever? I can just go ahead and do as I please?”
“There’s a huge problem! I’m your cultivation partner, and you actually came to ask me how you should share intimate moments with your chamber maid? How could you say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of indignation and amusement.
“Bi Zhen, fellow cultivator,” Mei Qing’s expression turned solemn and sacred, “We must not consider ourselves ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and aspirations, people who have transcended base desires. Jealousy, such a mundane and trivial behavior, how could it possibly have anything to do with you, who has long surpassed worldly concerns? Even if I doubt everyone in this world, at least I should be able to trust you!”
Bi Zhen was so amused by Mei Qing’s manner and speech that she giggled, “Acting all weird, huh? Where do you get these strange tones from? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your chamber maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—your current cultivation level makes it difficult to enjoy the pleasures you used to have in the bedroom. To quote your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, shouldn’t you at least care about your Cloud girl? I get it now—you’ve been neglecting her lately, and she must have cried her eyes out, right? Did you spend half the night hugging her and calling her ‘my darling’ yesterday?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression instantly melted like snow in spring, “You… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Jin Yi Wei has spies in my house… or have you attained the divine ear ability? Bi Zhen, fellow cultivator, not that I’m accusing you, but even if you were jealous, you shouldn’t use magical arts to eavesdrop on our private conversations…”
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And he even came to ask me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really admire you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as usual.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “Are you saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just do as I please?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you come to ask me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. Jealousy, such a mundane and trivial behavior, how could it possibly have any connection with the transcendent you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen was amused by Mei Qing’s demeanor and words, laughing heartily. “You’re just being weird! Where did you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, with your current cultivation, it might be difficult to enjoy yourself in bed as before. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, at least care about your Yun girl, right? I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, didn’t she? Last night, did you spend half the night comforting her with sweet nothings?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Go away!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a flirt, always sweet-talking me, so I knew you’d do the same with your maid! Who would eavesdrop on you? And who would be jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and walked away angrily, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, holding the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy himself in bed as before. The cultivation had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s the big deal about being a “seven times a night man”? Now I’m a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but lasting all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by Mei Qing’s sudden affection, and although her long-neglected body was like a parched land craving rain, and although she wished to melt in Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, although Duo Yun was willing to give her all for one night of joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, stopped the assault. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for her inadequacy, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to spend a long time comforting her before she finally stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing indignantly accused Bi Zhen. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Well, since I can’t go to anyone else, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you to vent my frustration!”
“Come on,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her alluring charm, her eyes dreamy. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m still yours…”
“Afraid of you?” Mei Qing pounced on the enchanting Daoist like a hungry tiger, pinning her down on the low couch, his hands roaming freely. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, the disheveled Bi Zhen lay in Mei Qing’s arms, her face flushed, continuing to educate Mei Qing on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view matters of love as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain chaste to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
As the saying goes, “The old do not practice martial arts, the young do not refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many who embarked on the path of cultivation did so in adulthood. The most important point was that refining elixirs was ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By this age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve tranquility.
It is said that the young are full of vigor and must guard against lust. If one begins cultivation in youth, the hurdle of lust is the most difficult to overcome. The more one remains chaste, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can feign indifference and control one’s actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true nature.
Of course, this does not mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. Although cultivators are not celibate, they are still required to exercise moderation in sexual matters. For those who have just begun cultivation and whose bodies are still weak, they must first replenish their vitality through methods of repairing deficiencies before they can warm and nurture their foundation, officially starting their cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining the body can one engage in sexual activities without harming one’s cultivation. If done properly, it can even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved significant cultivation, with a strong and robust body, it would be difficult for an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated to withstand his vigor. Moreover, the cultivation method he is now practicing, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already achieved success. With a single thought, he can bring his partner to the heights of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“Does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it at will, there will be no issue. But for now, it’s not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blanket, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A bright tomorrow is still quite far away. Mei Qing had to work hard to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. He had to focus on both, and both had to be done well! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were now presentable. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which, compared to the cultivation methods, were slightly easier. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly correct, but the subsequent methods were difficult to fully interpret.
It wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault that annotating this part was challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen had found were all about Daoist methods. With little reference, annotating naturally became doubly difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called Shen Xiao refers to the nine layers of heaven, with Shen Xiao being the highest. As the saying goes, “The lofty Shen Xiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method was passed down from the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Law King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The theory of the Five Thunders does not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the Five Elements Thunder of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason it is called the Five Thunders rather than the Five Elements is that it uses the qi of the Five Elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name Five Thunders.
“Attract the essence of the Five Qi, mix with the generals of the Five Thunders; with the spirit of my original destiny, summon the spirits of the void; with the qi of my own body, merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Gang, the secret spells and talismans, stirring the mechanisms of transformation, matching the talismans and covenants…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen remained silent, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao school stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the dangers involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully after a long silence.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen finally said with some desolation.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the talismanic and elixir-refining methods of the world, combining both, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved drawing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body, “The Five Elements are rooted in the Two Qi, the Two Qi divide into the Five Elements. One can gather the qi of the Five Elements, use the qi of the Five Elements to form the Five Thunders, the Thunder God is within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit,” and the merging of qi into the body required the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming a pill. The golden pill was the core of the Thunder Method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained the Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they began cultivation, and had proceeded steadily, it would have been excellent. But now that their elixir path was already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone like Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao Sect, with his level of cultivation, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on annotating the subsequent Thunder Method techniques carefully, and then we’ll see. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, forcing herself to be optimistic.
Mei Qing nodded, but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s exclamation from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
Saying this, she stormed off angrily, not forgetting to deliberately stomp on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even twisting it a few times for good measure.
“Ouch, mother of…” Mei Qing winced in pain, hopping on one foot, “If you’re like this without being jealous, what would you do if you actually were jealous—cut me off completely?”
That night… more precisely, in the early hours of the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Cloud, waiting until she fell asleep before sitting in meditation, his mood gloomy, to welcome yet another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy the pleasures of the past. After cultivating this technique, he had become this vigorous and powerful—Cloud’s untrained body simply couldn’t handle it.
What’s seven times a night? Pfft! Now I’m a standard once-a-night guy—once a night, one time per night…
Although Cloud was overjoyed that her young master suddenly wanted to make love, although her body, long deprived of intimacy, was as thirsty for rain as parched land, although she wished to melt into Mei Qing’s passion… before Mei Qing’s fierce and enduring fighting spirit, everything eventually crumbled and collapsed like a house of cards.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you come to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really admire you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just do as I please, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you come to ask me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. How could something as mundane and trivial as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen burst into laughter at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a character! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation level, it might be difficult to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Yun girl. I get it now. You must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Did you spend last night comforting her with sweet nothings?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecher. You always comfort me the same way, so I know you must do the same with your maid. Who would eavesdrop on you? And who would be jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night—or rather, early the next morning—Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome the dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy himself in bed as before. The cultivation had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated at all, couldn’t handle it.
What’s the big deal about being a “seven times a night” man? Now I’m a “once a night” man—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, and although her long-neglected body was like a parched land craving rain, and although she wished to melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice her life for a day of his joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, halted his advances. Duo Yun, feeling useless, teared up, and Mei Qing had to spend a long time comforting her before she finally stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting. Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing indignantly accused Bi Zhen. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since others won’t do, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her alluring charm, her eyes misty. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and my cultivation being greatly damaged, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Who’s afraid of you!” Mei Qing pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the infinitely charming Daoist nun to the low couch, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the knowledge of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view love and intimacy as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one has a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many who embark on the path of cultivation do so in adulthood. The most important point is that refining elixirs is ultimately a cultivation of the mind. By this age, most people have already experienced and witnessed the various splendors and temptations of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve tranquility.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, beware of lust” applies here. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more one has not experienced it, the more tempting it becomes. Even if one can pretend on the surface and control their actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. While cultivators are not forbidden from sexual activity, they are still required to exercise moderation. For those who have just begun cultivation and whose bodies are already weakened, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can warm and nurture their foundation, officially starting their cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining the body can one engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it might even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, with a strong and solid body, it would be difficult for an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated to withstand his vigor. Moreover, his current cultivation of the Insight Method has reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Insight Method and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s still not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the quilt, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, quietly rejoicing outside.
A bright tomorrow is still quite far away. Mei Qing had to work hard to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. Two hands, both must be strong! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shenxiao True Explanation” were ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shenxiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the cultivation methods. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly correct, but the subsequent methods were difficult to fully interpret.
It’s not Mei Qing’s fault that annotating this part was challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little to refer to, annotating naturally became doubly difficult, and progress was slow.
Shenxiao originally refers to the highest of the nine heavens. The saying goes, “The lofty Shenxiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shenxiao Thunder Method was passed down by the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord. The essence of the Shenxiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The theory of the Five Thunders does not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason it’s called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is that it uses the qi of the Five Elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the Five Qi, mix with the generals of the Five Thunders; with my primordial spirit, summon the spirits of the void; with my own qi, merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, the secret spells and talismans, stirring the mechanisms of transformation, matching the talismans and covenants…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shenxiao sect stands unrivaled in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the dangers within are also vastly different from the norm,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long contemplation.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen concluded somewhat despondently.
Originally, the Shenxiao Thunder Method was quite different from the worldly talismanic and elixir-refining methods, combining both into one, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involves absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body, “The Five Elements are rooted in the Two Qi, and the Two Qi divide into the Five Elements. One can gather the qi of the Five Elements and use it to form the Five Thunders. The Thunder Gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one must use the Shenxiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into an elixir. The Golden Elixir is the core of the Thunder Method and the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shenxiao Thunder Method before they began cultivating, it would have been perfect to proceed steadily. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shenxiao Thunder Method? Even someone like Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Profound Sect, with his high level of cultivation, couldn’t turn back the clock, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on interpreting the subsequent Thunder Method techniques carefully, and then we’ll decide. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s exclamation from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Has Young Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you come to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop changing the subject. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really can’t believe you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just go ahead as I please, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you come to ask me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not lower ourselves to the level of ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended base desires. How could something as mundane and trivial as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation level, it might be difficult to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Yun girl. I get it now. You must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Last night, did you spend half the night comforting her with sweet nothings?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted away like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Go to hell!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecherous guy, always sweet-talking me, so I knew you’d do the same with your maid. Who would eavesdrop on you? And who would be jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d hate to see what she’d do if she were!”
That night—or rather, early the next morning—Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to greet the dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen had said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. It turned out that practicing this technique had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated at all, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun had been overjoyed by her young master’s sudden desire, and although her long-neglected body had been like parched earth yearning for rain, and although she had wished to melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of his formidable and enduring stamina, everything had crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice herself for a single day of pleasure, Mei Qing, out of concern, stopped his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, her eyes brimming with tears. Mei Qing had to spend a long time comforting her before she finally stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
No need to pat her back this time, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to anyone else, and you’re right here, be careful—I might just take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen said without fear, displaying her alluring charm with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I’m all yours anyway. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and damaging my cultivation, go ahead and do it. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Afraid of you? Not a chance!” Mei Qing pounced on the enchanting Daoist like a hungry tiger, his hands roaming everywhere as he growled, “We’ll see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her clothes in disarray and a blush on her face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing her mission to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation didn’t view matters of love and desire as taboo, nor did it require celibacy. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, most cultivators began their journey in adulthood. The most important aspect was that refining elixirs ultimately involved the cultivation of one’s mind. By this age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and complexities of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve peace.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, but one must guard against lust” holds true. For young cultivators, the hurdle of lust is the most difficult to overcome. The more inexperienced one is, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can feign composure and control their actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be swayed by such temptations and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. While cultivators aren’t required to abstain, they are still expected to exercise moderation in matters of intimacy. For those who have just begun their cultivation journey and whose bodies are still weak, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can begin the process of building their foundation and officially start their cultivation. Only after their bodies have been sufficiently strengthened can they engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. In fact, if done correctly, it can even be beneficial.
However, for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, his body is now incredibly strong. If he were to engage in intimacy with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated, few would be able to withstand his vigor. Moreover, the technique he’s been practicing, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already reached a level where a single thought or intention from him can send his partner into ecstasy, making it even more difficult for any ordinary woman to endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you’ve truly mastered the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it at will, there should be no problem. But for now, it’s not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found out that Duo Yun had spent the entire day in bed, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing entered, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blankets, but even Wu’er’s face turned red.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A bright future still seems far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to work harder on both his cultivation and his annotations. He needed to focus on both, and both needed to be done well! Mei Qing thought with a sense of melancholy.
After days and nights of relentless work, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were finally ready to be presented. After all, these two scrolls mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which, compared to the actual cultivation techniques, were slightly easier to understand. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly accurate, though some of the subsequent methods were still difficult to fully interpret.
It wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault that this part was so challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had ever studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen had found were all about Daoist philosophy. With so little to go on, the annotations naturally became much more difficult, and progress was slow.
The term “Shen Xiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. The saying goes, “The lofty Shen Xiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held together by firm energy.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method is said to have been passed down by the Jade Pure Saint Realm’s Primordial Law King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the concept of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder, but rather to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they are called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is because they use the energy of the five elements to stir the energy of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five energies, combine with the generals of the five thunders; use the spirit of my original life to summon the spirits of the void; use the energy of my own body to merge with the energy of the void, along with the steps of the Dipper, the hand seals, the secret incantations, and the spiritual talismans, to stir the mechanisms of transformation and align with the seals of the covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen remained silent, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao school stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed incredibly profound, but the dangers involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long period of contemplation.
“It’s a pity, though, that neither of us can likely cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen added with a hint of sadness.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the talismanic and alchemical cultivation methods of the world, combining both into one, integrating both elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved drawing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body, “The five elements are rooted in the two energies, and the two energies divide into the five elements. One who can gather the energy of the five elements and use it to form the five thunders, the thunder gods are within my spirit, using energy to merge with energy, using spirit to merge with spirit.” The process of merging energy into the body required the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming a golden elixir. The golden elixir was the core of the thunder method and the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they began their cultivation, they could have steadily progressed and achieved great success. But now that their alchemical paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as the Xuanjiao Sect Leader Zhang Liusun couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly remarkable. You should focus on interpreting the remaining thunder techniques and Daoist methods carefully before making any decisions. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, they suddenly heard Ming Jing’s voice from outside the door, “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly, “You knew all along, didn’t you? Hmph, and you still laughed! Fine, since seeking help elsewhere doesn’t work, since you’re right here, don’t think I won’t take you to relieve my frustration!”
“Come and get me,” Bi Zhen showed no fear, displaying her alluring beauty, her eyes dreamy as she said, “After all, I’m yours. If you want to proceed despite the risk of me failing my emotional tribulation and suffering a major loss in cultivation, then go ahead. In life, I belong to you; in death, I’m still your ghost…”
“You think I’m scared!” Mei Qing pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the seductive female cultivator onto the couch, his hands roaming all over, growling, “Just wait and see if you beg for mercy!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… Ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, her clothes in disarray, lay in Mei Qing’s arms with a blushing face, continuing to enlighten Mei Qing on cultivation knowledge.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s imagination, cultivation doesn’t view romantic and intimate matters as a terrifying flood, nor does it hold the view that one must be a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude is quite open.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you come to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really can’t believe you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it the same way.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you come to ask me how to share intimate moments with your chambermaid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing’s expression was solemn and sacred. “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended base desires. How could something as mundane as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get these strange ideas? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your chambermaid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, with your current cultivation level, it might be difficult to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Miss Duo Yun. I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Did you spend last night comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed! You lecherous guy, you always comfort me the same way, so I know you must have done the same with your chambermaid! Who would eavesdrop on you, and who would be jealous of you!”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy himself in bed as before. After cultivating this technique, he had become so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated at all, couldn’t keep up.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? Now I’m a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her body, long deprived of intimacy, thirsted for it like rain after a drought, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, although Duo Yun was willing to give her all for a single night of joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, stopped his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being inadequate, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
No need to pat her back this time, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing angrily accused Bi Zhen. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to someone else, and you’re right here, I might as well take my frustration out on you!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her alluring charm, her eyes hazy. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Who’s afraid of you!” Mei Qing pounced on the infinitely charming Daoist like a hungry tiger, his hands roaming all over her body. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, the disheveled Bi Zhen lay in Mei Qing’s arms, her face flushed, continuing to educate Mei Qing on the knowledge of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view love and intimacy as taboo, nor did it require virginity for cultivation. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many cultivators began their journey in adulthood. The most important point was that refining elixirs was ultimately a cultivation of the mind. By this age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve peace.
The saying “Young men are full of vigor, but they must guard against lust” holds true. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more inexperienced one is, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can feign composure and control their actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. While cultivators are not celibate, they are still required to exercise moderation in intimate matters. For those who have just begun cultivating and whose bodies are still weak, they must first replenish their vitality before they can begin the process of nurturing their foundation and officially start cultivating. Only after achieving a certain level of physical cultivation can one engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. In fact, if done correctly, it can even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, his body is so strong that it would be difficult for an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated to withstand his vigor. Moreover, his current cultivation of the “Ru Shi Guan Fa” has reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“Does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the ‘Ru Shi Guan Fa’ and can control it at will, there will be no problem. But for now, it’s not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing arrived, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blankets, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A better tomorrow is still far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to work harder on both his annotations and his cultivation. He needed to focus on both, and both had to be done well! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of relentless work, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the actual cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Method” was mostly complete, but the subsequent techniques were still difficult to fully interpret.
It wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault that this part was so challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the references Bi Zhen had found were all about Daoist methods. With so few references, the annotation process was naturally more difficult, and progress was slow.
The term “Shen Xiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. The saying goes, “The lofty Shen Xiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method was passed down by the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the concept of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder, but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they are called the Five Thunders rather than the Five Elements is that they use the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the five thunders; use the spirit of my original life to summon the spirits of the void; use the qi of my own body to merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, the secret incantations, and the spiritual talismans, to move the mechanisms of transformation, to match the talismanic contracts…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually serious.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao sect stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the risks involved are also far beyond the ordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long contemplation.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen concluded somewhat despondently.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the talismanic and elixir-refining methods of the world, combining both into one, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body, “the five elements are rooted in the two qi, the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements, use the qi of the five elements to form the five thunders, the thunder gods are within my spirit, using qi to merge with qi, using spirit to merge with spirit,” and to merge the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into an elixir. The golden elixir is the core of the thunder method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they began cultivating, it would have been perfect for them to proceed steadily. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as the Xuanjiao Sect Leader Zhang Liusun couldn’t turn back the clock, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on annotating the subsequent thunder techniques, and then we’ll see. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded, but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
As for the saying that young men, full of vigor and vitality, should be cautious about lust—if a youth begins cultivation, this temptation of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more inexperienced one is, the more difficult it becomes to resist this temptation. Even if one can pretend on the surface, and control one’s words and actions, the heart demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Therefore, those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their original mind.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’re coming to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m really impressed by you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as usual.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We can’t equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. Jealousy, a mundane and trivial behavior filled with worldly desires, how could it have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen was amused by Mei Qing’s manner and words, laughing heartily. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange tones? To be honest, I wouldn’t be jealous of your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation, trying to enjoy yourself in bed as before might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Yun girl. I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Last night, did you spend a long time comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Are there spies from the Imperial Guards in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecherous guy, always sweet-talking me the same way. I know you must be doing the same with your maid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot before leaving, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If she’s like this when she’s not jealous, what would she do if she were? Cut me in half?”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. After practicing this technique, he had become so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her long-neglected body was like a parched land craving rain, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything was ultimately shattered like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice her life for a day of joy with Mei Qing, he, out of concern, stopped the assault. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and immediately fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting, Mei Qing thought somewhat gloomily.
“You’re too bad, too bad!” Mei Qing indignantly accused Bi Zhen. “You knew it all along, didn’t you? Hmph, still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to others, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her enchanting charm, her eyes dreamy. “I’m all yours anyway. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Afraid of you?” Mei Qing pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the infinitely charming Daoist nun on the low couch, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her clothes in disarray and a blush on her face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s imagination, cultivation didn’t view love affairs as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many who embarked on the path of cultivation started as adults. The most important point was that refining elixirs was ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By this age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and luxuries of life, making it easier for their minds to tend towards peace.
The saying “Young men, full of vigor, must guard against lust” holds true. If one starts cultivating at a young age, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more one remains a virgin, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can pretend on the surface and control their words and actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Therefore, only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that refining elixirs encourages indulgence. Although cultivators aren’t required to abstain, they still need to exercise moderation in sexual activities. For those who have just started cultivating and whose bodies are already weakened, they need to recover their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can warm and nourish their foundation, officially starting their cultivation. Only after their bodies have been refined can they engage in sexual activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it might even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, with a strong and robust body, trying to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated would be difficult. Moreover, the technique he’s now practicing, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already been mastered. With just a thought, he can make his partner experience ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could withstand.
“Does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you’ve truly mastered the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found out that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er taking care of her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blanket, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, happy outside.
A better tomorrow is still quite far away. Mei Qing had to work hard to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. Two hands, both must be strong! Mei Qing thought somewhat wistfully.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing believed that the two volumes of “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which, compared to the cultivation methods, were slightly easier. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly correct, but the subsequent methods were difficult to fully interpret.
It’s not Mei Qing’s fault that annotating this part was challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had learned real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little reference, annotating naturally became doubly difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called Shen Xiao refers to the highest of the nine heavens. “High above Shen Xiao, a million miles from the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method is said to be passed down by the Jade Pure Saint Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason it’s called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is that it uses the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the five thunders; with my primordial spirit, summon the spirits of the void; with my own qi, combine with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, secret spells, and spiritual talismans, stirring the mechanism of transformation, matching the talisman’s covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao sect stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely marvelous, but the dangers within are also vastly different from the ordinary,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully after a long silence.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen finally said somewhat despondently.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the world’s talisman and elixir cultivation methods, combining both, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use the qi of the five elements to form the five thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, combining qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To combine the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into a pill. The golden pill was the core of the thunder method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they started cultivating, it would have been perfect to proceed steadily. But now that their elixir paths were already formed, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone like Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao sect, with his level of cultivation, couldn’t turn back the clock, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on annotating the subsequent thunder methods and techniques, and then we’ll see. Some of the applied techniques might be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s exclamation from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’ve come to seek my advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m really impressed by you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as usual.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no issue, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar desires. How could something as mundane as jealousy have any connection with your transcendent self? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s demeanor and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation, trying to enjoy yourself in bed like before might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Yun girl. I get it now. You must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Last night, did you spend half the night comforting her, calling her ‘my sweetheart’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Go away!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecher. You always comfort me the same way, so I know you must have done the same with your maid. Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and walked away angrily, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, holding the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, what would she do if she were? Cut me in half?”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed like before. After cultivating this technique, he had become so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated at all, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, lasting the whole night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her long-neglected body was like a parched land thirsting for rain, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything was eventually crushed and shattered.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice her life for a day of his joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, stopped his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, her eyes brimming with tears. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she finally stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting. Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Well, since I can’t go to someone else, and you’re right here, be careful. I might just take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen said fearlessly, displaying her enchanting charm with a dazed look in her eyes. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Afraid of you?” Mei Qing pounced on the infinitely charming Daoist nun like a hungry tiger, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation didn’t view love and desire as a scourge, nor did it require one to remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many cultivators began their journey in adulthood. The most important point was that refining elixirs ultimately involved cultivating one’s mind. By that age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and luxuries of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve peace.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, but one must guard against lust” holds true. If one started cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust would be the hardest to overcome. The more one had never experienced it, the more tempting it became. Even if one could pretend on the surface and restrain their actions, the inner demons couldn’t be forcibly expelled. Only those who had experienced it were less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that refining elixirs encourages indulgence. Although cultivators aren’t required to abstain, they must still exercise moderation in sexual matters. For those who have just begun cultivating and whose bodies are already weakened, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can nurture their foundation and officially start cultivating. Only after achieving success in refining the body can one engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. In fact, if done correctly, it can even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, with a strong and robust body, trying to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated would be difficult. Few could withstand his vigor. Moreover, the technique he’s now cultivating, the “Thusness Observation Method,” has already reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Thusness Observation Method and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s still not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er taking care of her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the quilt, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A bright future still seemed far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to work harder to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. He had to focus on both, and both had to be done well! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shenxiao True Explanation” were now presentable. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shenxiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Method” was mostly correct, but the subsequent techniques were difficult to fully interpret.
This wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little to refer to, the annotation process was naturally more challenging, and progress was slow.
The term “Shenxiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. The saying goes, “The lofty Shenxiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shenxiao Thunder Method was passed down by the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The essence of the Shenxiao Thunder Method lies in the concept of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders don’t simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they’re called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is that they use the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the five thunders; use the god of my original life to summon the god of emptiness; use the qi of my own body to merge with the qi of emptiness, combined with the steps of the Dipper, secret incantations, and spiritual talismans, to stir the mechanism of transformation, in accordance with the talisman’s covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shenxiao School stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the risks involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully after a long silence.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen finally said with some desolation.
It turned out that the Shenxiao Thunder Method was quite different from the worldly methods of talismans and elixir refining, combining both into one, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved drawing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use it to form the five thunders. The thunder god resides within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shenxiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into an elixir. The golden elixir was the core of the thunder method and the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shenxiao Thunder Method before they started cultivating, they could have steadily progressed. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shenxiao Thunder Method? Even someone like Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Profound Teaching, with his level of cultivation, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on interpreting the later thunder techniques and then decide what to do. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Mingjing’s voice from outside the door: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“So… does that mean I can’t…” Mei Qing frowned.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’re coming to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop sidetracking—do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m really impressed by you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no issue, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We mustn’t lower ourselves to the level of ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble aspirations and pursuits, people who have transcended base desires. Jealousy, a mundane and trivial behavior, could never have any connection with someone as transcendent as you. Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, I wouldn’t be jealous of your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—with your current cultivation level, it’s going to be difficult to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to. To borrow your words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Miss Duo Yun. I get it—you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Last night, did you spend hours comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted away like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Do you have spies from the Imperial Guards in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen’s face turned red. “I guessed! You’re such a flirt—you always comfort me the same way, so I knew you’d do the same with your maid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel into it a few times.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night—or rather, early the next morning—Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome the dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen had said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. After cultivating this technique, he had become so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated at all, couldn’t handle it.
What’s the big deal about being a “seven times a night” man? Now I’m a “one time a night” man—one time, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, and although her long-neglected body was like a parched land craving rain, and although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of his fierce and enduring stamina, everything crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, even though Duo Yun was willing to give her all for just one night of pleasure, Mei Qing, out of concern for her, stopped the assault. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to spend a long time comforting her before she finally stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
No need to pat her this time, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re too bad, too bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to anyone else, and you’re right here, be careful—I might just take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen said fearlessly, displaying her alluring charm with a dreamy look in her eyes. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a emotional tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m still your ghost…”
“Who’s afraid of you!” Mei Qing pounced on the enchanting Daoist like a hungry tiger, pinning her down on the low couch. His hands roamed all over her body as he growled, “Let’s see if you’ll beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her clothes in disarray and a blush on her face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation didn’t view love and intimacy as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, and young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited a tradition, many cultivators began their journey in adulthood. The most important point was that refining elixirs was ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By that age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve peace.
It’s said that young men, full of vigor, must guard against lust. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more inexperienced one is, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can pretend on the surface and control their words and actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. Although cultivators aren’t forbidden from intimacy, they are still required to exercise moderation. For those who have just begun cultivating and whose bodies are still weak, they must first replenish their vitality before they can warm and nurture their foundation, officially starting their cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining the body can one engage in intimacy without harming their cultivation. If done properly, it can even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, with a strong and solid body, it would be difficult for an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated to withstand his vigor. Moreover, the technique he’s been cultivating, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, making it impossible for any ordinary woman to endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you’ve truly mastered the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it freely, with a clear mind, there will be no issue. It’s just that you’re not there yet.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found out that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er taking care of her. When Mei Qing arrived, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the quilt, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A better tomorrow still seemed far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to speed up both his translation work and his cultivation. He needed to focus on both, and both had to be done well! Mei Qing thought with a sense of melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were finally ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which was relatively easier compared to the actual cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly complete, but the subsequent methods were still difficult to fully decipher.
It wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault that this part was so challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen had found were all about Daoist methods. With so little to refer to, the translation naturally became twice as difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called “Shen Xiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. “The lofty Shen Xiao, a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held together by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method was said to have been passed down by the Jade Pure Sage Realm’s Primordial Law King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lay in the concept of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders didn’t simply refer to ordinary thunder, but rather to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they were called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements was because they used the qi of the five elements to stir up the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, combine them with the generals of the five thunders; use the spirit of my original destiny to summon the spirits of the void; use the qi of my own body to merge with the qi of the void, along with the steps, gestures, secret incantations, and spiritual talismans, to stir the transformative mechanism and align with the cosmic order…” Bi Zhen read Mei Qing’s translation of the Five Thunder True Method, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually serious.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao sect stands unrivaled in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed incredibly profound, but the risks involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully after a long silence.
“It’s a pity that neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen finally said with a hint of sadness.
The Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the usual talisman and elixir cultivation techniques, combining both into one. It involved both refining elixirs and refining qi. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use them to form the five thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into a pill. The golden pill was the core of the thunder method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they began cultivating, it would have been perfect for them to proceed step by step. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone like Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao sect, with his level of cultivation, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly remarkable. You should focus on translating the remaining thunder techniques first, and then we’ll see. Some of the practical applications might still be useful to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded, but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s voice from outside the door: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
That evening when Mei Qing returned home, he learned that Cloud had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er taking care of her. When they saw Mei Qing come back, both Cloud, whose face was buried in the quilt, and the little girl Wu’er, whose face was flushed red, were embarrassed.
Only Lao Zhong was secretly delighted, happily celebrating alone outside.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’re coming to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop distracting me. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m really impressed by you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no issue, no impact, and I can just go ahead as I please, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing’s expression turned solemn and sacred. “We can’t equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. Jealousy, such a mundane and trivial behavior, how could it possibly have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange tones? To be honest, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, with your current cultivation level, trying to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Miss Duo Yun, right? I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, didn’t she? Last night, did you spend hours comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecher, always sweet-talking me the same way. I know you must be doing the same with your maid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stomped away, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun. After she fell asleep, he sat in meditation, welcoming another dawn with a look of frustration.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy himself in bed as before. Cultivating this technique had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s the big deal about being a “seven times a night” man? Now I’m a standard “once a night” man—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her body, long deprived of intimacy, was like a parched land thirsting for rain, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice everything for a single day of pleasure, Mei Qing, out of concern, halted his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and finally fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to someone else, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her alluring charm, her eyes misty. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’ll still be your ghost…”
“Who’s afraid of you!” Mei Qing pounced on the infinitely charming Daoist nun like a hungry tiger, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you’ll beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the knowledge of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view love and intimacy as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain chaste to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one has a unique opportunity or inheritance, many who embark on the path of cultivation start as adults. The most important point is that refining elixirs is ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By this age, most people have already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier for their minds to tend towards peace.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, but one must guard against lust” holds true. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The more one has not experienced, the harder it is to resist the temptation. Even if one can pretend on the surface and control their words and actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. Although cultivators are not celibate, they still require moderation in intimate matters. For those who have just started cultivating and whose bodies are already weakened, they must first recover their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can begin the process of nurturing their foundation and officially start cultivating. Only after achieving success in refining their bodies can they engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it might even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved a high level of cultivation, his body is already strong and resilient. If he were to try to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated, few could withstand his vigor. Moreover, the technique he’s cultivating now, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s still not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the quilt, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, quietly rejoicing outside.
A beautiful tomorrow still seems far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to work harder to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. Two hands, both must be strong! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of relentless overtime, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were now presentable. After all, these two scrolls mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which, compared to the cultivation methods, were slightly easier. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly correct, but the subsequent methods were difficult to fully interpret.
This wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault for finding this part challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the references Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With so few references, interpreting and annotating naturally became doubly difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called Shen Xiao refers to the nine layers of heaven, with Shen Xiao being the highest. The saying goes, “High above Shen Xiao, a million miles from the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method is said to be passed down by the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Law King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason it’s called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is because it uses the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name Five Thunders.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the Five Thunders; with my primordial spirit, summon the spirits of the void; with my own qi, merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Gang, the secret incantations, and the spiritual talismans, stirring the transformative mechanism, matching the talismanic contracts…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao sect stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the dangers within are also vastly different from the ordinary,” Bi Zhen said thoughtfully after a long silence.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen finally said with a hint of melancholy.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the worldly talismanic and elixir-refining methods. It combined both, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved drawing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use them to form the Five Thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming it into a pill. The golden pill was the core of the Thunder Method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they started cultivating, it would have been perfect to proceed steadily. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao sect, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should focus on interpreting the later Thunder Method techniques carefully before making any decisions. Some of the practical techniques might be beneficial to us, who knows?” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’re coming to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m really impressed by you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it the same way.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no issue, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“It’s a big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. How could something as mundane as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a character! Where do you come up with these strange tones? To be honest, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation level, trying to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Miss Duo Yun. I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Did you spend last night comforting her with sweet nothings?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Get lost!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a lecher, always sweet-talking me the same way. I know you must do the same with your maid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding it a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to greet the dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. It turned out that practicing this technique had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, and although her long-neglected body was like parched land yearning for rain, and although she wished to melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice her life for a day of his joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, halted his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being inadequate, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there’s no need to pat her, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing indignantly accused Bi Zhen. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since others won’t do, and you’re right here, be careful or I’ll take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her enchanting charm, her eyes glazed over. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of my emotional turmoil and cultivation loss, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Afraid of you? Not a chance!” Mei Qing pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the infinitely alluring Daoist nun to the low couch, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view matters of love as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain chaste to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “The old do not practice martial arts, the young do not refine elixirs.” Unless one has a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many who embark on the path of cultivation do so in adulthood. The most important point is that refining elixirs is ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By this age, most people have experienced and witnessed the various splendors and temptations of life, making it easier for their minds to achieve tranquility.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, beware of lust” holds true. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the most difficult to overcome. The less one has experienced, the more tempting it becomes. Even if one can feign composure and restrain their actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that cultivation encourages indulgence. While cultivators are not forbidden from sexual activities, they are still required to exercise moderation. For those who have just begun cultivating and whose bodies are already weakened, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can warm and nurture their foundation, officially starting their cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining their bodies can they engage in sexual activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it might even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved significant cultivation, with a strong and solid body, trying to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated would be difficult, as few could withstand his vigor. Moreover, the Insight Method he’s now practicing has already achieved success. With a single thought, he can make his partner experience ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Insight Method and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s still not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found out that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blanket, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, quietly rejoicing outside.
A better tomorrow still seems far away. Mei Qing had to work hard to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. He had to tackle both tasks with equal determination. Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of “Shenxiao True Explanation” were ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shenxiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the cultivation methods. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Technique” was mostly complete, but the subsequent methods were difficult to fully interpret.
This wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little to refer to, interpreting and annotating naturally became more difficult, and progress was slow.
Shenxiao refers to the highest of the nine heavens. The saying goes, “The lofty Shenxiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shenxiao Thunder Method is said to be passed down by the Jade Pure Sage Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Lord. The essence of the Shenxiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they are called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is that they use the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the five thunders; use the spirit of my original life to summon the spirits of the void; use the qi of my own body to merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, the hand seals, the secret incantations, and the spiritual talismans, to stir the transformative mechanism, in accordance with the talismanic covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shenxiao School stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the risks involved are also far from ordinary.” After a long contemplation, Bi Zhen finally spoke.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method.” Bi Zhen concluded somewhat despondently.
It turned out that the Shenxiao Thunder Method was quite different from the worldly talismanic and alchemical cultivation methods, combining both into one, integrating alchemy and qi refinement. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use them to form the five thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed the Shenxiao Method to purify and condense it into a pill. The golden pill was the core of the thunder method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shenxiao Thunder Method before they started cultivating, it would have been ideal to proceed steadily. But now that their alchemical paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shenxiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao Sect, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should focus on interpreting the subsequent thunder methods and techniques first, and then we’ll see. Some of the practical applications might be beneficial to us, who knows?” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
This wasn’t entirely Mei Qing’s fault for struggling with this part. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had ever learned authentic Taoist techniques. The reference materials Bi Zhen had gathered were all about Taoist methods. With so few references available, the interpretation naturally became twice as difficult, and progress couldn’t be rushed.
Shen Xiao originally referred to the nine heavens, with Shen Xiao being the highest. As described, “The highest Shen Xiao is a hundred thousand miles from the earth; clouds accumulate to form the Xiao, supported by firm energy.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Technique was said to have been personally transmitted by Yu Qing Sacred Realm Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Lord of Heaven—and its foundation lay in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The theory of the Five Thunders didn’t simply refer to ordinary lightning but represented the thunder of the five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The reason it was called Five Thunders rather than Five Elements was because it used the energy of the five elements to attract the energy of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name Five Thunders.
“Drawing the essence of the five energies, blending the generals of the five thunders; summoning the spirits of emptiness with my original life spirit; combining my own energy with their ethereal energy, adding the steps of the Big Dipper, secret spells, and talismans, manipulating the mechanism of transformation, conforming to the talisman’s power…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s interpretation of the Five Thunder Correct Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen remained silent, her expression unusually serious.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao sect can stand alone at the top of the world. This technique is indeed incredibly profound, but the dangers involved are also extraordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long silence.
“Unfortunately, I’m afraid neither you nor I can cultivate this technique,” Bi Zhen added with a sigh.
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And he even came to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really admire you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just go ahead as I please, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your chambermaid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing’s expression was solemn and sacred. “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended base desires. How could something as mundane and trivial as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a character! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your chambermaid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation, trying to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Yun girl. I get it now. You must have neglected her recently, and she came to you crying, right? Last night, did you spend a long time comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Go away!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You lecherous guy, you always comfort me the same way, so I knew you must be doing the same with your chambermaid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and walked away angrily, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to welcome another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. It turned out that practicing this technique would make him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts the whole night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her body, long deprived of intimacy, was like parched land yearning for rain, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice everything for a day of her master’s joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, halted his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being inadequate, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting. Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re too bad, too bad!” Mei Qing indignantly accused Bi Zhen. “You knew it all along, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since others won’t do, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her alluring charm, her eyes hazy. “It’s all yours anyway. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and my cultivation being greatly damaged, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m your ghost…”
“Afraid of you?” Mei Qing pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the infinitely charming Daoist nun on the low couch, his hands roaming wildly. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s imagination, cultivation didn’t view love and intimacy as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, many who embarked on the path of cultivation did so in adulthood. The most important point was that refining elixirs ultimately involved the cultivation of one’s mind. By this age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various splendors and temptations of life, making it easier for their minds to tend toward peace.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, but one must guard against lust” applies. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the hardest to overcome. The less one has experienced, the more tempting it becomes. Even if one can feign composure and control one’s actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true nature.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that refining elixirs encourages indulgence. Although cultivators don’t abstain from sexual activity, they still require moderation in such matters. For those who have just started cultivating and whose bodies are already deficient, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can warm and nourish their foundation, officially beginning their cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining their bodies can they engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it might even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who has already achieved significant cultivation, with a strong and solid body, trying to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated would be difficult. Few could withstand his vigor. Moreover, his current cultivation of the Insight Method has reached a level where a single thought or intention can bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Insight Method and can control it at will, with a clear mind, there will be no issue. It’s just not possible now.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er attending to her. Seeing Mei Qing return, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the quilt, but even Wu’er, the little maid, blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A beautiful tomorrow still seemed far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to speed up his efforts in both interpretation and cultivation. He needed to work hard on both fronts! Mei Qing thought with some melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shenxiao True Explanation” were ready to be presented. After all, these two scrolls mainly described the “principles” of the Shenxiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the actual cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Method” was mostly accurate, but the subsequent techniques were difficult to fully interpret.
It wasn’t Mei Qing’s fault that interpreting this part was challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little reference, interpretation naturally became doubly difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called Shenxiao refers to the highest of the nine heavens. “High above Shenxiao, a million miles from the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong energy.” The Shenxiao Thunder Method was passed down by the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The essence of the Shenxiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the Thunders of the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. The reason they are called Five Thunders instead of Five Elements is that they use the energy of the Five Elements to stir the energy of Heaven and Earth, moving like thunder, hence the name Five Thunders.
“Attract the essence of the Five Qi, combine with the generals of the Five Thunders; with my primordial spirit, summon the spirits of the void; with my own Qi, merge with the Qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, secret incantations, and spiritual talismans, to move the mechanism of transformation, in accordance with the talisman’s covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she softly read Mei Qing’s interpretation of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen didn’t speak, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shenxiao School stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the risks involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long contemplation.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen concluded somewhat despondently.
It turned out that the Shenxiao Thunder Method was quite different from the worldly talismanic and elixir-refining methods, combining both into one, integrating elixir refining and Qi refining. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The Five Elements are rooted in the Two Qi, and the Two Qi divide into the Five Elements. One can gather the Qi of the Five Elements and use it to form the Five Thunders. The Thunder Gods are within my spirit, merging Qi with Qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the Qi into the body, one needed the Shenxiao Method to purify and condense it, forming an elixir. The Golden Elixir was the core of the Thunder Method and the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shenxiao Thunder Method before they started cultivating, they could have steadily progressed. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shenxiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao Sect, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly excellent. You should first focus on interpreting the subsequent Thunder Method techniques carefully before making any decisions. Some of the practical applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Mingjing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you’ve come to consult me?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop interrupting. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I’m impressed,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it as you always have.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no issue, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you’re asking me how to share intimate moments with your chambermaid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended base desires. How could something as mundane as jealousy have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a character! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your chambermaid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. With your current cultivation level, trying to enjoy yourself in bed as you used to might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, you should at least care about your Miss Duo Yun. I get it now—you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, right? Did you spend last night comforting her, calling her ‘my darling’?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Go away!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed it! You’re such a flirt. You always comfort me the same way, so I knew you’d do the same with your chambermaid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, what would she do if she were? Cut me in two?”
That night—or rather, early the next morning—Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to greet the dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen had said it would be difficult for him to enjoy himself in bed as before. The cultivation he had been practicing had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? I’m now a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, and although her long-neglected body was like parched land craving rain, and although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s formidable and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, though Duo Yun seemed willing to sacrifice her life for a day of his joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, halted his advances. Duo Yun, feeling useless, began to cry, and Mei Qing had to spend a long time comforting her before she finally fell asleep.
This time, there was no need for patting, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re too bad, too bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Well, since I can’t go to someone else, and you’re right here, be careful—I might just take you down to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen said without fear, displaying her alluring charm with a seductive gaze. “I’m all yours. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and losing my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’ll still be your ghost…”
“Afraid of you? Not a chance!” Mei Qing pounced on the enchanting Daoist like a hungry tiger, pinning her to the low couch. His hands roamed freely as he growled, “Let’s see if you’ll beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, Bi Zhen, with her disheveled clothes and flushed face, lay in Mei Qing’s arms, continuing to educate him on the intricacies of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation didn’t view love and desire as taboo, nor did it require celibacy. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one had a unique opportunity or inherited knowledge, most cultivators began their journey in adulthood. The most important aspect was that refining elixirs ultimately involved cultivating one’s mind. By that age, most people had already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier to cultivate a peaceful mind.
The saying “Youth is full of vigor, but one must guard against lust” holds true. If one began cultivation in youth, the hurdle of lust would be the most difficult to overcome. The more inexperienced one was, the harder it was to resist temptation. Even if one could feign composure and control their actions, the inner demons couldn’t be forcibly expelled. Only those who had experienced it were less likely to be swayed by such temptations and lose their true selves.
Of course, this didn’t mean that cultivation encouraged indulgence. While cultivators weren’t required to abstain, they were expected to exercise moderation in intimate matters. For those new to cultivation whose bodies were already weakened, it was necessary to restore vitality through methods of replenishment before they could begin the foundational stages of cultivation. Only after achieving a certain level of physical refinement could one engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. In fact, if done correctly, it could even be beneficial.
But for someone like Mei Qing, who had already achieved a high level of cultivation, his body was too robust for an ordinary, non-cultivating woman to handle. Moreover, the cultivation method he was practicing, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” had already reached a level where a single thought or intention could bring his partner to the brink of ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you’ve truly mastered the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it at will, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found that Duo Yun had been bedridden all day, with Wu’er attending to her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blankets, but even Wu’er’s face turned red.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A bright future still seemed far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to speed up both his translation work and his cultivation. He had to tackle both tasks with equal determination. Mei Qing thought with a hint of melancholy.
After days and nights of relentless work, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of the “Shenxiao Zhen Jie” were finally presentable. After all, these two scrolls mainly described the “principles” of the Shenxiao Thunder Method, which were relatively easier compared to the actual cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Method” was mostly complete, though some of the subsequent techniques were still difficult to fully decipher.
This wasn’t entirely Mei Qing’s fault. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen had found were all about Daoist principles. With little to reference, the translation was naturally more challenging, and progress was slow.
The term “Shenxiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. “High above Shenxiao, a million miles from the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by the firm qi.” The Shenxiao Thunder Method was said to have been passed down by the Jade Pure Sage Realm’s Primordial Law King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The essence of the Shenxiao Thunder Method lay in the concept of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders didn’t simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason they were called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements was because they used the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the Five Thunders; use the spirit of my original destiny to summon the spirits of the void; use the qi of my own body to merge with the qi of the void, combined with the steps of the Dipper, secret incantations, and spiritual talismans, to move the mechanisms of transformation, aligning with the covenant of the talisman…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly as she read Mei Qing’s translation of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen remained silent, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shenxiao School stands alone in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed incredibly profound, but the risks involved are also far beyond the ordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long contemplation.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen concluded with a hint of sadness.
It turned out that the Shenxiao Thunder Method was quite different from the usual talisman and elixir cultivation techniques. It combined both, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved drawing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use them to form the Five Thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed to use the Shenxiao method to purify and condense it, forming a golden elixir. The golden elixir was the core of the Thunder Method and the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained the Shenxiao Thunder Method before they began their cultivation, they could have progressed steadily and naturally. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shenxiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as the Xuanjiao Sect’s leader, Zhang Liusun, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly remarkable. You should focus on translating the remaining thunder techniques and then we’ll decide. Some of the practical applications might still be useful to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, they heard Mingjing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Has Master Mei been studying this all along these days?” Bi Zhen asked with a smile. “And now you come to me for advice?”
Mei Qing showed no sign of embarrassment. “You’re the expert. Who else should I ask? Stop changing the subject. Do you have a solution or not?”
“I really can’t believe you,” Bi Zhen rolled her eyes at Mei Qing. “Is this even a problem? You’ve done it before, just do it the same way.”
Mei Qing was overjoyed. “So you’re saying there’s no problem, no impact, and I can just go ahead with it, right?”
“Big problem! I’m your Dao companion, and you come to ask me how to share intimate moments with your maid? How can you even say that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll get jealous?” Bi Zhen’s expression was a mix of anger and amusement.
“Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen,” Mei Qing said with a solemn and sacred expression, “We must not equate ourselves with ordinary people. We must always remember that we are cultivators, people with noble sentiments and pursuits, people who have transcended vulgar interests. Jealousy, a mundane and trivial behavior, how could it possibly have any connection with someone as transcendent as you? Even if I don’t trust anyone else in the world, I should at least trust you!”
Bi Zhen couldn’t help but laugh at Mei Qing’s manner and words. “You’re such a weirdo! Where do you get all these strange ideas? Honestly, jealousy wouldn’t extend to your maid. But don’t say I didn’t warn you, with your current cultivation level, trying to enjoy yourself in bed like before might be difficult. To use your own words, even if you don’t care about your own body, at least care about your Miss Duo Yun, right? I get it, you must have neglected her recently, and she came crying to you, didn’t she? Last night, did you spend half the night comforting her with sweet nothings?”
Mei Qing’s solemn expression melted like ice. “How… how did you know what I said last night? Could it be that the Imperial Guards have spies in my house… or have you reached the level of Heavenly Ear? Fellow Daoist Bi Zhen, I must say, even if you’re jealous, you shouldn’t use magic to eavesdrop on us…”
“Stop it!” Bi Zhen blushed furiously. “I guessed! You lecher, you always comfort me the same way, so I knew you must be doing the same with your maid! Who’s eavesdropping on you? And who’s jealous of you?”
With that, she turned and stormed off, deliberately stepping hard on Mei Qing’s foot as she left, even grinding her heel a few times for good measure.
“Ouch!” Mei Qing hopped on one foot, clutching the injured one. “If this is how she acts when she’s not jealous, I’d be in real trouble if she were!”
That night… or rather, early the next morning, Mei Qing gently comforted the exhausted and guilt-ridden Duo Yun until she fell asleep. Then, with a look of frustration, he sat in meditation to greet another dawn.
No wonder Bi Zhen said it would be difficult to enjoy himself in bed like before. Cultivating this thing had made him so vigorous that Duo Yun, who hadn’t cultivated, couldn’t handle it.
What’s a “seven times a night man”? Now I’m a standard “once a night man”—once a night, but it lasts all night…
Although Duo Yun was overjoyed by her master’s sudden affection, although her long-neglected body was like a parched land yearning for rain, although she wished she could melt into Mei Qing’s passion… in the face of Mei Qing’s fierce and enduring stamina, everything eventually crumbled like a house of cards.
In the end, although Duo Yun was willing to sacrifice everything for a single day of joy, Mei Qing, out of concern, stopped his advances. Duo Yun couldn’t help but blame herself for being useless, tears welling up in her eyes. Mei Qing had to comfort her for a long time before she stopped crying and finally fell into a deep sleep.
This time, there was no need for patting, Mei Qing thought with some frustration.
“You’re so bad, so bad!” Mei Qing accused Bi Zhen indignantly. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you? Hmph, and you’re still laughing! Fine, since I can’t go to someone else, and you’re right here, be careful, I might just take you to vent my frustration!”
“Come on then,” Bi Zhen fearlessly displayed her enchanting charm, her eyes dreamy. “I’m all yours anyway. If you’re not afraid of me suffering a love tribulation and damaging my cultivation, go ahead. In life, I’m yours; in death, I’m still your ghost…”
“Afraid of you? Not a chance!” Mei Qing pounced on the infinitely charming Daoist nun like a hungry tiger, his hands roaming all over her body. “Let’s see if you beg for mercy later!”
“I won’t, I won’t, I won’t… ah…”
As usual, the disheveled Bi Zhen lay in Mei Qing’s arms, her face flushed, continuing to educate Mei Qing on the basics of cultivation.
Contrary to Mei Qing’s expectations, cultivation did not view love and intimacy as a taboo, nor did it hold the belief that one must remain a virgin to cultivate. In fact, the attitude was quite open.
The saying goes, “Old men don’t practice martial arts, young men don’t refine elixirs.” Unless one has a unique opportunity or inheritance, many cultivators begin their journey in adulthood. The most important point is that refining elixirs is ultimately about cultivating one’s mind. By this age, most people have already experienced and witnessed the various temptations and distractions of life, making it easier to cultivate a peaceful mind.
The saying “young men are full of vigor, but they must guard against lust” holds true. If one starts cultivating in youth, the hurdle of lust is the most difficult to overcome. The more one has not experienced, the more tempting it becomes. Even if one can pretend on the surface and control their actions, the inner demons cannot be forcibly expelled. Only those who have experienced it are less likely to be tempted and lose their true selves.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that refining elixirs encourages indulgence. Although cultivators are not celibate, they are still required to exercise moderation in intimate matters. For those who have just begun cultivating and whose bodies are still weak, they must first restore their vitality through methods of replenishment before they can warm and nurture their foundation and officially begin cultivation. Only after achieving success in refining the body can one engage in intimate activities without harming their cultivation. If done correctly, it can even be beneficial.
But for a seasoned cultivator like Mei Qing, whose body is already strong and robust, trying to be intimate with an ordinary woman who hasn’t cultivated would be challenging. Moreover, the cultivation method he is practicing, the “Ru Shi Guan Fa,” has already achieved success. With a single thought, he can make his partner experience ecstasy, something no ordinary woman could endure.
“So, does that mean Duo Yun and I can’t…” Mei Qing looked troubled.
“Not necessarily,” Bi Zhen said with a smile. “Once you truly master the Ru Shi Guan Fa and can control it freely, it won’t be a problem. But for now, it’s still not possible.”
When Mei Qing returned home that evening, he found out that Duo Yun had been lying in bed all day, with Wu’er taking care of her. When Mei Qing returned, not only did Duo Yun bury her face in the blanket, but even Wu’er blushed.
Only Uncle Zhong was secretly pleased, smiling to himself outside.
A bright future still seems far away. Mei Qing had no choice but to speed up the progress of his annotations while also accelerating his cultivation. He had to work on both fronts with equal determination! Mei Qing thought with a sense of melancholy.
After a period of working day and night, Mei Qing felt that the two volumes of “Shen Xiao Zhen Jie” were ready to be presented. After all, these two volumes mainly described the “principles” of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method, which was relatively easier compared to the cultivation techniques. The “Five Thunder True Qi Refining Method” was mostly accurate, but the subsequent techniques were difficult to fully interpret.
It’s not Mei Qing’s fault that annotating this part was challenging. Neither he nor Bi Zhen had studied real Daoist techniques, and the reference materials Bi Zhen found were all about Daoist methods. With little to refer to, annotating naturally became twice as difficult, and progress was slow.
The so-called “Shen Xiao” originally referred to the highest of the nine heavens. “The lofty Shen Xiao is a million miles above the earth; clouds accumulate to form the heavens, held by strong qi.” The Shen Xiao Thunder Method was passed down from the Jade Pure Holy Realm’s Primordial Dharma King—also known as the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The essence of the Shen Xiao Thunder Method lies in the theory of the Five Thunders.
The Five Thunders do not simply refer to ordinary thunder but to the thunders of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The reason it’s called the Five Thunders instead of the Five Elements is that it uses the qi of the five elements to stir the qi of heaven and earth, moving like thunder, hence the name.
“Attract the essence of the five qi, mix with the generals of the five thunders; with the spirit of my original destiny, summon the spirits of the void; with the qi of my own body, merge with the qi of the void, adding the steps of the Dipper, the hand seals, the secret incantations, and the spiritual talismans, stirring the mechanism of transformation, aligning with the covenant…” Bi Zhen’s beautiful brows slightly furrowed as she softly read Mei Qing’s annotations of the Five Thunder True Method.
For a long time, Bi Zhen remained silent, her expression unusually grave.
“No wonder the Shen Xiao School stands unrivaled in the world. This method of cultivation is indeed extremely profound, but the risks involved are also far from ordinary,” Bi Zhen finally said after a long contemplation.
“It’s a pity, but I’m afraid neither of us can cultivate this method,” Bi Zhen concluded with a hint of sadness.
It turned out that the Shen Xiao Thunder Method was quite different from the talismanic and elixir-refining methods of the world, combining both into one, integrating elixir refining and qi refining. The method involved absorbing the essence of the sun and moon into one’s body. “The five elements are rooted in the two qi, and the two qi divide into the five elements. One can gather the qi of the five elements and use them to form the five thunders. The thunder gods are within my spirit, merging qi with qi, spirit with spirit.” To merge the qi into the body, one needed the Shen Xiao method to purify and condense it, forming a pill. The golden pill was the core of the thunder method, the source of Daoist techniques.
If Mei Qing and Bi Zhen had obtained this Shen Xiao Thunder Method before they began cultivating, it would have been perfect for them to proceed steadily. But now that their elixir paths were already established, how could they abandon their own cultivation and start over with the Shen Xiao Thunder Method? Even someone as accomplished as Zhang Liusun, the leader of the Xuanjiao Sect, couldn’t turn back time, let alone the two of them.
“Even so, this method is truly remarkable. You should focus on annotating the remaining thunder techniques first, and then we’ll see. Some of the applications might still be beneficial to us,” Bi Zhen said, trying to stay positive.
Mei Qing nodded but before he could speak, he suddenly heard Ming Jing’s startled voice from outside: “Young Master Guo, please stop!”
“Even so, this technique is truly wonderful. You’d better first work hard to interpret the remaining several thunder techniques and then we can discuss further. Perhaps some of the practical applications might benefit us,” Bi Zhen tried to sound optimistic.
Mei Qing nodded. Before he could speak, a startled cry suddenly came from outside the door: “Young Master Guo, please wait!”
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