Seeking the Tao in the Mortal World

Note: Went on vacation, so a little late for the post.

Ju Yunxiu looked at Qin Yi with a half-smile, and Qin Yi looked at her without blushing.

After watching for a while, Ju Yunxiu asked with great interest, "Is it true that you are here for me, as Zheng Yunyi guessed?"

"You can say that I came here for you." Qin Yi said calmly, "But not because of your beauty. Because you are the only person in this Myriad Tao Immortal Palace who can give me the immortal intent."

"Really not for the beauty?"

"Hmm... maybe a little bit. At least you're pleasant to my eyes, and Qing Cha is also cute. People of course like to stay with beautiful and cute girls rather than a group of drunkards and gamblers."

Ju Yunxiu finally couldn't help but laugh, "Okay, do you have anything for me? Just to make your eyes pleasant?"

Qin Yi also laughed, "If I tell you that I just came here to greet you, would you believe it? I'm more otaku than you, believe it or not."

Ju Yunxiu smiled and said, "I believe."

Just when Qin Yi thought it was going to be awkward, Ju Yunxiu quickly continued, "Actually, even if you didn't come, I was going to find you."

"Huh?" Qin Yi frowned slightly, "What for?"

Ju Yunxiu said calmly, "After what happened between you and Xi Xiangzi, at least in the short term, there shouldn't be anything for you to do. But you seem to have forgotten that my original intention of inviting you is to be a protector. So you must at least master the basics of piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I know you are also interested in them, otherwise you wouldn’t have stayed in the first place.”

"Hmm..." Qin Yi scratched his head, "Do I have to learn all four?"

"In the short term, you must choose at least one subject to achieve a certain level. Otherwise, if one day you compete with others on behalf of our sect, and you still use your brute strength, how can you justify that?"

Qin Yi nodded. He had originally planned to learn one. As Liu Su said, mastering one thing could help in the understanding of the other. Besides, the painting in the cave houses really shocked him and made him want to learn.

Ju Yunxiu looked at him again and asked, "What is the singing, dancing, and rapping that you told Xi Xiangzi that day?"

Qin Yi was sweating profusely. "Skip this, let's talk about something else..."

"Have you no interest in the art of music?"

"I'm indeed interested..." Qin Yi thought for a while, "Playing the flute with a divine sword on my back, this image seems good..."

"Why the flute?"

Qin Yi looked at her red lips sincerely "If you can just blow on that..."

Ju Yunxiu intuitively felt that these words seemed to have some bad intentions, but for a person who really studied music, she really couldn't think about it wrongly. She said, "If you want to learn flute, I can teach you. But if you just want to learn it for a good image, it's meaningless.”

After a pause, he stood up again and walked into the house, "Come and draw a painting picture for me."

Qin Yi followed in and saw Qing Cha lying there reading a book. Ju Yunxiu glanced at it, and she quickly walked over and grabbed the book.

Qing Cha said in confusion, "Even you can read it..."

"Get lost, this is not something you can read! Bring the brush and watch your Master's Junior Qin paint."

Qing Cha jumped up and brought the brush and paper, "Master's Junior Qin must be very good at painting."

"..." Qin Yi held up the brush with a blush.

He learned painting in the university, but he really didn't want to make a fool of himself. He knew that his painting skills were only at the mortal level, and he was even at the level of a student. Not to mention Ju Yunxiu, he couldn't even compare to Qing Cha. He initially could draw a painting so that Ju Yunxiu could give some guidance, but since Qing Cha said this, he really couldn’t afford to embarrass himself.

He held it in for a long time, and his heart moved slightly. Since he couldn't do serious painting, he could show off the new style of painting. So I asked, "What is the content of the painting?"

Ju Yunxiu said, "Person."

Qin Yi looked at her sideways for a while as if he was planning to paint her. Ju Yunxiu let him look at her without hiding.

Qin Yi paused his pen and quickly drew an "ω" shape slightly above the middle.

Ju Yunxiu's face quickly turned red. She said with a half-smile, "What are you drawing?"

Qin Yi forced a cough. "What do you think this is?"

Ju Yunxiu snorted contemptuously and subconsciously pulled the front of her clothes.

Qin Yi asked Qing Cha, "What do you think this is?"

Qing Cha scratched her head, "Nose."

Qin Yi praised, "Look, this is what they call 'the impure see impurity'. Qing Cha is so pure."

"Who would draw such a big nose in the middle of the painting?" Ju Yunxiu said in annoyance. "Let's see how you draw a face with this so-called nose!"

Qin Yi smiled slightly. After adding a few strokes, it turned into a (?ω?). Then based on Ju Yunxiu's facial features, he gradually drew a cartoon version of Ju Yunxiu. It had a big head, a small body, and short arms that couldn't even touch its head. It was smiling and looked cute.

The nose really belonged to where it should be.

Ju Yunxiu looked at the painting with wide eyes. She had been painting all her life, but had she ever thought about such things as "cartoons"?

Although the lines were rudimentary, the techniques were rough, and the person was completely distorted, they could tell at a glance that it was indeed Ju Yunxiu with very clear features.

"So cute!" Qing Cha was overjoyed. She repeatedly compared the painting with Ju Yunxiu's face. "The Master in the painting is much cuter than the real person. It would be great if Master really looked like this..."

Ju Yunxiu's face turned gloomy, "If I really look like this, I might as well jump off a cliff!"

But having said that, her eyes were still focused on the painting.

No matter how rough the painting skills were and no matter whether the painting was practical or not, this new way of painting had attracted her.

"Senior Ju, Senior Ju?" Qin Yi shouted twice, but Ju Yunxiu was still looking at the painting without giving any response.

She had forgotten all about the assessment of his piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Qin Yi was dumbfounded. He even suspected that she might not react if he touched her secretly at this moment.

No wonder Jing Ze said that this place was full of idiots. As long as they were obsessed with something, they could ignore anything else. At first, he couldn't feel this kind of obsession from Ju Yunxiu, but he finally saw it today.

And most people were only obsessed with one thing. If Ju Yunxiu was obsessed with piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, that was a lot of things. No wonder Qin Yi felt that her temperament was a bit mixed, probably due to the influence of different ways.

He did not disturb Ju Yunxiu, and he asked Qing Cha, "How long will your Master stuck in this obsession? It won't last a few days, right?"

Qing Cha looked at him sideways and said, "This simple painting method is not difficult at all. Master can master it in less than fifteen minutes. You think too much."

Qin Yi was a little embarrassed.

Qing Cha lowered her voice again, "But if you want to be my Master's Husband, this is a good sign. Master has never been attracted by other people's methods. Keep it on, master."

"Why do you always look like you want to marry your Master?"

"I heard people say that when a woman has a man, she will be much gentler and will not just soak her apprentice in water to make tea."

"..."

While they were still talking here, Ju Yunxiu suddenly picked up the brush and started painting on another piece of paper.

In an instant, a big-headed Qing Cha and a bald-headed Qin Yi were painted on the paper. They were exaggerated and comical, but also lifelike.

Qin Yi almost cried.

In just a few minutes, she learned everything I had learned for several years. She even developed her own unique painting style, and her painting is much better than his...

No, she actually learned from me and then painted me bald!

The cute version Qing Cha and the cute version Qin Yi in the painting suddenly jumped out.

The cute version Qing Cha said, "I'm an idiot." The cute version Qin Yi said, "I'm a pig head." They punched each other in the face, and then they both returned to the painting with their hands covering their heads.

Qin Yi, "…"

Qing Cha, "…"

"This kind of painting style can actually capture the essence of soul." Ju Yunxiu clapped his hands and smiled, "Interesting, very interesting."

Qing Cha sniffed and asked Qin Yi, "Master's Junior, don't you think it's time for a man to take care of this woman?"

Qin Yi showed no expression.

-

"I didn't expect to be inspired by Junior Qin before I teach you the way of painting yet." Ju Yunxiu finally regained her elegant appearance and bowed to Qin Yi. "As Senior, I have nothing to repay, so..."

Just pledge to marry me?

Ju Yunxiu picked up Qing Cha and shook her. Qing Cha turned into a tender green tea leaf with a pop.

Ju Yunxiu weighed the tender tip of the tea leaf and threw it into the teapot, "Let me offer you some tea."

After saying this, she curled her fingers, and the tender tip of the tea leaf jumped out of the teapot again and turned back into Qing Cha again. She stood aside with a wet body and a look of despair.

Ju Yunxiu very elegantly raised the pot and poured a cup for Qin Yi, "Don't worry, Qing Cha is absolutely stainless and is made of pure immortal aura. No one else has drank it. Junior Qin is the first one except me."

"..." Qin Yi looked at the tea in front and then at Qing Cha who was about to cry. He was speechless.

By the way, Senior Ju, you can stop acting elegantly. Your elegant fairy persona has been ruined.

Ju Yunxiu took a sip of tea and said, "Junior Qin, you have your own unique way of painting, so you should invest in this way. There is no need to consider other subjects. From today on, I will teach you how to paint."

Qin Yi's heart moved, "How to teach?"

"Junior Qin, what is on your mind?"

"Ah, nothing, nothing."

Ju Yunxiu smiled slightly, stretched out an index finger, and touched Qin Yi's forehead.

Qin Yi's mindsea shook slightly, and countless inexplicable consciousnesses penetrated inward like entities. Light and shadow, lines, light and shade, weight, color, use of spirit... finally combined into the 'way of painting'.

"This is how you teach?" Qin Yi's expression was as despairing as Qing Cha's next to him.

"Isn't immortal teaching like this?" Ju Yunxiu looked at him strangely, "Do you expect me to teach you step by step?"

Qin Yi was really embarrassed to ask for the step by step teaching, so he sighed and said, "Okay, since this is the teaching method, teach me the way of flute as well. It doesn't harm to possess more skills."

Ju Yunxiu once again pointed his forehead, "That is easy. It only takes a moment to teach you all kinds of musical instruments. But if you are not really obsessed with this, you will only learn the skills, not the way."

"Acquiring skills is enough. It can refine my character, nurture my nature, and cleanse the mortal attachment. This is my way." Qin Yi bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior Ju, for teaching me the skills."

Ju Yunxiu was a little curious. "Why did your temperament change so quickly? Where was that pitiful and disappointed expression just now?"

Qin Yi smiled, "Because I should understand that I’m here to visit tao after all, not for other random objectives."

Ju Yunxiu nodded thoughtfully, turned her delicate hand, and took out a white jade flute, "This is an embryonic instrument. I'll give this to Junior Qin. It's entirely up to you to refine any effect you want. If you need any adjuvant ingredients, let the attendant get them from me."

Qin Yi took the jade flute, bowed, and left.

This was also fate.

Mace was a martial art weapon, not an enchanted immortal weapon. As a dual cultivator of immortal and martial arts, Qin Yi lacked an enchanted weapon. That Demon Slayer was too high-level, and he could only use its ultimate move. After consolidating the Piano Heart Stage, he should refine an enchanted weapon suitable for himself.

He hadn't thought about what kind of enchanted weapon he should craft, but he didn't have to think now.

Watching Qin Yi leave, Ju Yunxiu thoughtfully and absentmindedly looked at the sky.

Qing Cha tilted her head to look at her.

Ju Yunxiu said expressionlessly without turning her head, "What are you looking at?"

"Master's attitude towards this Master's Junior is different from those who had ill-intentions in the past. You taught him the true skills and gave him the embryonic instrument that you originally wanted to refine."

"Because he brought me a new painting style, I should repay him in return."

"That kind of painting style has very little value to the master. It is just a supplement at most." Qing Cha curled her lips and said, "Isn't it because Master lacks 'partner' among 'wealth, partner, law, and land', so you are looking forward to him?"

"Piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting are all my partners. Men are all pigs. What is there to look forward to?" Ju Yunxiu yawned and went back to the house, "I'm back to sleep. I'm feeling good after learning a new style. I will surely have sweet dreams.”

On the other side, Qin Yi had returned to the cave house, sat by the stream next to the medicinal garden, and twirled the jade flute in his hand. "Stick Stick, I really didn't expect to learn the way of painting and music on this visit. This isn't my initial intention, but it seemed to be happening naturally. The ethereal serenity of the immortal way can't be without poetic charm. Maybe I can really find my way in this place."

If you really cultivate in a cave, it may be difficult for me to improve. I had this feeling in the ancient corpse cave house. There is a difference between that kind of meditation and the cultivation I initially thought.

Learning the way of music and painting in the mountains is maybe more suitable to me. So I’m not learning music or painting, but I’m trying to find the meaning of transcendence, just like the immortal intent I had when seeing Ju Yunxiu play the piano.

Therefore, the immortal way that suits me is not the typical taoist.

I was right to stay in the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting sect.

He held the flute to his lips and played a tune gently.

It was exactly the piece that Ju Yunxiu played before. With just one finger, he didn’t even need to learn the music score.

The little birds curiously stopped on the branch after hearing the music. Qin Yi smiled and stretched out his hand, and the bird fluttered and landed in his hand.

The pool image in his body became more ethereal and powerful. He had a feeling of spiritual and physical sublimation.

I improve faster than just meditating in the cave house.

No wonder Ju Yunxiu doesn't need to meditate at all. Since she is cultivating when playing piano, painting, and reading books, why not sleep in her free time?

This is really fun.

"Stick Stick, cultivating to be an immortal is really fun."

"More fun than women?"

"Well, I must add that because Senior Ju is a beauty, cultivating to be an immortal is fun."

Liu Su laughed. "I might be ruining your moment."

Qin Yi smiled and said, "I know what you want to say... It's time for me to refine the enchanted weapon, right?"

"Yes." Liu Su said, "Do you know what I thought of when Ju Yunxiu gave you this embryonic instrument?"

"Huh? What is it?"

"If it is used against enemies, how many uses can you think of for music?"

"Sound waves can hurt people, entrance people, and inspire allies. That's pretty much it, right?"

"That's right..." Liu Su said slowly, "Do you still remember the peach you got in the rift? That soul snatch fine gold is a perfect match for refining this enchanted weapon. Your previous harvest seemed to be a setup for this.”

Qin Yi was stunned.

Is it really predestined?

Liu Su said, "Ming He once made a divination in a cave house, and I took a peek."

Qin Yi said, "So?"

"It is 'the dragon soars into the sky or lurks in the abyss, but advance without hesitation' (divination made in chapter 128). Even if you interpret it with superficial common sense, you should know that no matter what you choose, it will be right in the end. Just let nature take its course and follow your heart."

Qin Yi was stunned for a moment, "Was that divination for herself or for me?"

"Is there any difference?" Liu Su said lightly, "She thought it was her, but how could the situation at that time be separated from you? It can be either you or her or the relationship between you two."

-

Weapon refining sounded a bit similar to weapon forging, but it was actually not the same thing.

An enchanted weapon could be of any shape, even a flower or a tree.

No matter how great the swordsmith is, it was impossible for him to forge Meng Qingying's handkerchief.

Just like mace and flute were not the same thing.

Casting this mace might require a very professional skill, which Qin Yi knew nothing about. But the refining of this flute was entirely up to his own mind. With suitable materials and his spiritual force, he could achieve the effect he wanted. Refining an enchanted weapon was almost the only way for all immortal cultivators.

The embryonic instrument given to Qin Yi had been fused with various kinds of immortal jade and had many effects.

For example, Qin Yi once complained that mace did not have the function of amplifying spiritual force, accelerating aura flow, and enhancing spell effects, but this flute had all of them. In game terms, it was an equipment that increased spell casting speed and spell damage.

And the increase was relatively large... After all, this was given by Ju Yunxiu, a Radiant Yang Stage powerhouse. If it was too low-level, it would be a disgrace to herself.

Not to mention the sound quality itself, it had the function of enhancing sound wave vibration and could emit strong sound waves with a low spiritual force.

This was the basis of an enchanted weapon that could be used for combat.

As for other functions, Qin Yi needed to add them according to his own wishes. If done well, he could also improve the material of the embryonic instrument, break through the enchanted weapon level, and ascend it to a low-level noble weapon.

If something too high-level was added, it was beyond Qin Yi's current control. It would be meaningless if it could only be used as an ultimate move like Demon Slayer. At the same time, it was not advisable to add too many complicated effects, which were likely to repel each other and actually lower the level.

The best choice at this time was naturally soul snatch fine gold, which enhanced the entrancing effect.

In other words, it couldn't be used as a flying enchanted weapon... Qin Yi still had to use the sissy handkerchief to fly.

But that was enough.

In the refining room, a piece of peach-shaped fine gold floated in the air, Qin Yi released Voodoo Ritual Fire from his hands. A red lotus-like flame emerged from the ground and fused with the Voodoo Ritual Fire, then they wrapped the fine gold and gradually dissolved it.

Golden water dripped bit by bit and fused with the jade flute below.

The jade flute was placed on a stone platform. There was flowing water on the stone platform, giving off a faint cold air. This was the golden jade condensation water used by professional refiners to fuse jade. Fire couldn't be used to fuse jade, otherwise the jade would break.

The biggest difference between enchanted weapon refining and sword refining was reflected in similar places.

Qin Yi concentrated on using his spiritual force. The tip of his nose was full of sweat beads.

That soul snatch fine gold peach couldn't even be smashed by the mace, so its sturdiness could be imagined. Now it was slowly melted by the flames. The spiritual force that needed for the process was also his limit. If it weren't for the Red Lotus Heart Fire, he might not have enough strength to melt it.

This happened to be what he could refine to the limit now. It was really like predestined.

However, he couldn't just focus his spiritual force on melting. He also had to refine the jade flute to fuse the soul snatch fine gold into the jade.

In this process, the jade flute would naturally be bound to him and bear his imprint. If someone else snatched it away, it couldn't be used unless his imprint was erased.

This was not even a noble weapon.

The true noble weapon was to be refined with the soul and would grow together with one's own cultivation. If the noble weapon was damaged, one would also be greatly damaged. Qin Yi had not yet unlocked such soul cultivation.

After several days and nights, Qin Yi couldn't count how long had he channeled his spiritual force. The process of refining the weapon was also a process of spiritual force training.

Slowly, the fine gold was finally melted completely, and the jade flute emitted a dazzling golden light.

The light gradually dissipated, and there was a faint golden dragon on the jade flute.

This was not carving, but it had already become part of the jade flute.

Qin Yi's spiritual force was completely exhausted. He sat tiredly and said with satisfaction, "Stick Stick, this is my first enchanted weapon. Can you give it a name?"

Liu Su was silent for a moment, "This is a noble weapon. This refinement has improved the quality of the embryonic instrument."

"Huh?"

"This is really a low-level noble weapon, probably above the grade 8."

"What is the difference between a noble weapon and an enchanted weapon?"

"The difference between an enchanted weapon and a noble weapon is the qualitative changes." Liu Su said, "It is too complicated and there is no need to delve into it. The biggest difference is that the enchanted weapon has been determined and cannot be changed, but the noble weapon can still be refined into something else again."

Qin Yi happily examined the jade flute over and over again.

The mace, the green shirt, the jade pendant, and even the handkerchief technically didn't belong to him.

Although this embryonic flute was given by others, it was indeed the first thing that he refined with a lot of spiritual force. Of course, he felt attached to it. He didn't have to abandon it just because of his low level cultivation, and he could still refine it. Of course, he was happy about it. Compared with this value, it was less important how much power it had increased.

The flute was cool and smooth, very comfortable to touch. He could feel the clear flow of spiritual force and the connection between the flute.

Qin Yi knew that if he used this flute to cast spells, the effect would be much better than making a seal.

A noble weapon was like a godly item for an immortal cultivator, and the buff it gave was prominent.

As a warrior, if he didn't have the mace, his strength would be greatly reduced. He might not even be qualified to fight Meng Qingying. As an immortal cultivator, his strength would be greatly improved after obtaining the flute, and he also didn't have to rely too much on martial arts.

At this moment, Qin Yi was a standard cultivator with a full set of equipment. The value gained by joining a sect was immediate.

Through this refinement, his cultivation had also improved, reaching the Piano Heart Stage level 2. The advancement speed was incredibly fast.

If it was displayed like the game panel, it should look like this:

Martial Arts Way: Muscle Alteration Stage level 3. The core technique: 'Unnamed Secret Manual'. Consists of physique training, qi essence, and stick technique.

The mace was suspected to be an artifact. It had infinite physical damage, able to break defenses, and never wore out. The rest was unknown.

Immortal Way: The Piano Heart Stage level 2. The core technique: 'Transformation Golden Chapter'. Specialized in transformation.

Noble weapon jade flute, rapid casting +20%, spell damage +666, special effects sound wave amplification, and soul-snatch.

Cheng Cheng's hand-woven green shirt had physical defense +10, five-element resistance +50, and status resistance +10.

The jade pendant given by Cheng Cheng increased spiritual force recovery speed by 20%.

There was also a handkerchief for flying, Demon Slayer for ultimate move, and a storage and protective ring.

Well, numbers were just made up, but the general idea should be correct.

Liu Su seemed to be racking her brains to think of a name. After thinking for a long time, she finally gave up and said, "I'm not as flashy as you all when it comes to naming things. Ju Yunxiu is a cultural person, and the embryo is also hers. Let her name it."

"Okay." Qin Yi walked out of the cave house.

From today onwards, he was a mature cultivator. He could tease Little Qing Cha and visit the funny Senior Ju.

Qin Yi took the flute and rode on the handkerchief to the main peak.

Qing Cha wasn't there, but the door was open. The house was quiet. Qin Yi walked slowly into the house and saw Ju Yunxiu sleeping on the chaise by the window.

A book was placed on his lower abdomen. She seemed to have read until she got tired.

Like a drunken imperial concubine.

Qin Yi swallowed subconsciously and thought to himself. Senior Ju, you can't just fall asleep unprotected like this. What if someone breaks in?

While thinking about it, Ju Yunxiu seemed to sense someone entering the door and opened her eyes soon.

Qin Yi didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed that she was still alert.

Ju Yunxiu lay slightly on her side, supporting her head with one hand. She looked at Qin Yi and said lazily, "Why are you here?"

"Well, I have refined the flute, so I'm here to tell you." Qin Yi took out the jade flute.

"Oh, it's been upgraded. Noble weapon, not bad."

"It's all credit to Senior Ju's embryonic instrument. Please name it, Senior Ju."

"Since it is my embryo, let's call it Clouded-Mount Flute." (Clouded-Mount=Yunxiu)

As she said, the words 'Clouded-Mount' appeared on the flute. The noble weapon was finally finalized.

"If there's nothing else, I'll go back to sleep." Ju Yunxiu yawned and went back to sleep again.

Qin Yi added with a strange look, "In other words, when I play this flute from now on, I will always put Yunxiu to my lips?"

Ju Yunxiu stood up suddenly.