I possessed a natural talent for Taoist studies.
Under my master's meticulous guidance, I quickly memorized over a hundred incantations and hand seals.
The incantations, however, were beyond my full comprehension in such a short time.
I would need to study them further and ask my master for explanations.
But to truly master a Taoist art,
it wasn't enough to simply memorize the incantations and perform the seals.
The key was the state of mind.
That was the most challenging aspect.
One had to skillfully regulate the true qi within the body,
circulating it through the meridians and releasing it at the opportune moment with the incantations and hand seals.
It sounded easy enough.
But achieving that perfect coordination and mental state was incredibly difficult.
Among the three incantations, the "Li" (Force) mantra was the simplest.
The "Fa" (Law) and "Dao" (Way) mantras were the hardest.
My master was currently only having me memorize the incantations for the latter two.
For now, I was to focus on practicing the "Li" mantra.
I heeded my master's words.
Thus, for the next three hours, I practiced the "Li" mantra from the Qiankun True Method on the mountain.
Driven by my passion and aspirations,
I practiced with utmost seriousness.
Previously, when my master taught me talismans and spells, I could grasp them in the shortest possible time.
But tonight, despite practicing diligently for hours, I made no progress.
I hadn't even touched the threshold of the Qiankun Method.
Seeing my growing impatience, my master merely smiled.
He explained that the Qiankun Method was called a "True Method" for a reason.
It was a difficult Taoist art.
Beyond incantations, hand seals, and qi manipulation, it required a state of mind that could perceive all things and the five elements of heaven and earth.
He also mentioned that the Qiankun True Method involved borrowing qi from the cosmos.
We ourselves merely served as conduits.
The practitioner was simply guiding the cosmic qi for their own use.
My master spoke with an air of nonchalance,
but I remembered his words firmly.
Because comprehension was a mystical thing.
A hundred people would have a hundred different perspectives on matters.
Therefore, to achieve that state of mind, I had to put in my own effort.
My master, seeing that it was getting late,
and that I had been practicing for a considerable time, said to me:
"Xiao Qin, it's getting late.
Let's stop for tonight!"
"Master, I want to practice a bit longer!"
It was only around nine o'clock.
I had gained a surge of fighting spirit and didn't want to return so early.
Seeing my persistence, my master nodded:
"Alright then!
Practice for a while longer. I'll head back first. I have a team battle to join soon!"
With that, he picked up his pipe and walked down the mountain.
He was preparing to return to his shop to play his snake game.
I watched my master leave and smiled.
Then I continued my diligent practice by the cliff edge.
The Qiankun Method incantations and qi circulation pathways echoed in my mind.
Time and time again, I attempted to sense that state of being, and each movement of the spellcasting hand seals.
In the old Yellow Mountain at this hour, besides the chirping of insects, the only sounds were those of my continuous practice.
I had no idea how long I had been practicing on the mountain.
Even though I was exhausted and drenched in sweat without realizing it, I remained enthusiastic.
Because I knew very well that only by becoming stronger and mastering true skills,
could I safely navigate this path.
Otherwise, sooner or later, I would become prey to those "unclean things" or demonic cultivators.
At this moment, I circulated my true qi once more.
I calmed my mind and focused on sensing that spellcasting state.
This time, my movements were slow, without haste.
Instead, I formed the hand seals meticulously, reciting the True Method incantations:
"The Great Dao gathers the meridians, the divine intent envelops the hundred coalescences…"
As my finger seals shifted in rhythm with the incantations, I felt the surrounding qi.
The qi of heaven and earth.
In a haze, I seemed to sense it.
I sensed that wondrous state.
It was as I recited the incantations and continuously formed hand seals.
Beyond the circulation of my own true qi, the surrounding qi also seemed to converge towards my hands as I formed the seals.
That feeling was entirely different from before.
Though relatively weak, I could truly sense the surrounding qi converging towards my hand seals.
I maintained this state and mindset, finally completing the hand seals.
I chanted:
"Heaven and Earth without limit, Qiankun possesses the Way, Break!"
After speaking, I struck a large tree nearby, which was almost bare from my previous attempts, with a palm strike.
And with that palm strike,
I suddenly felt a surge of Taoist energy erupt.
The bursting sensation was immense and filled with power.
With a "bang" from the palm strike,
the bark of the large tree instantly cracked from the impact. A palm print appeared on the trunk.
Even the wood inside was dented.
Seeing this, my expression shifted from surprise to excitement and elation.
"I... I succeeded, hahahaha, I succeeded..."
I exclaimed, filled with emotion.
It was already past midnight. From dusk until now,
I had practiced diligently for most of the night, without even a sip of water.
Now that I had finally succeeded, how could I not be excited?
But amidst my excitement, I felt a chill wind approach from behind.
A cold sensation instantly enveloped my entire body.
This chill wind was favorable for movement, and my expression tensed.
Yin qi, there were souls nearby...
My professional instincts made me nervous.
I turned around abruptly.
But in the next second, I saw a black silhouette.
Slowly emerging from the small grove of trees…